cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing and Staging High-Quality Park and Recreation Experiences Using Co-Creation

While the field of park and recreation has long been focused on designing and delivering quality leisure experiences, the concept of experiences has become increasingly salient across almost all industries over the last two decades. From the time that Pine and Gilmore initially proposed the concept of the experience economy in a 1998 Harvard Business Review article, experiences have become a primary driver of the economy (Pine & Gilmore, 1999; 2011). If an organization is not providing experiences perceived by consumers as high quality and desirable, the organization most likely will not survive. A core concept associated with the design of experiences is co-creation—a collaborative process of value creation between participants and providers (Payne, Storbacka, & Frow 2008; Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2004a). This paper examines the concept of co-creation and its relevance for the field of park and recreation administration. This is accomplished by introducing a three-phased model of co-creation that spans over the three phases of leisure (i.e., anticipation, participation, and reflection) and discussing co-creation’s applicability to park and recreation settings through a descriptive case study. We define co-creation as active participation, dialogue, and collaboration between participants, producers, and a variety of other stakeholders throughout the process of designing, participating in, and reflecting on an experience (Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2004b; Rossman & Schlatter, 2015). Based on the work of Duerden, Ward, and Freeman (2015), we propose a three-phased model of co-creation, which includes co-design during the anticipation phase of an experience, co-actualization during the participation phase of the experience, and co-curation during the reflection phase of the experience. This paper provides specific examples of the different forms of co-creation during each experience phase. This paper also introduces the DART (dialogue, access, risk assessment, and transparency) model of co-creation (Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2002; 2004a; 2004c) and provides examples of its applicability for park and recreation professionals. This paper concludes with a case study exemplifying how co-creation and its associated concepts can be used to design a swim program experience. Although park and recreation professionals have a long history of designing and delivering experiences, they risk seeing their offerings become obsolete if they do not find ways to stay on the forefront of the experience economy. As more organizations come to view themselves as experience providers, the competition for people’s time and resources will increase. We hope the insights in this paper will help park and recreation professionals embrace and apply the concept of co-creation in their experience offerings. Subscribe to JPRA
Clonal and Quantitative In Vivo Assessment of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation Reveals Strong Erythroid Potential of Multipotent Cells.

Hematopoiesis is arguably one of the best understood stem cell systems; however, significant challenges remain to reach a consensus understanding of the lineage potential, heterogeneity, and relationships of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell populations. To gain new insights, we performed quantitative analyses of mature cell production from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and multiple hematopoietic progenitor populations. Assessment of the absolute numbers of mature cell types produced by each progenitor cell revealed a striking erythroid dominance of all myeloid-competent progenitors assessed, accompanied by strong platelet reconstitution. All populations with myeloid potential also produced robust numbers of red blood cells and platelets in vivo. Clonal analysis by single-cell transplantation and by spleen colony assays revealed that a significant fraction of HSCs and multipotent progenitors have multilineage potential at the single-cell level. These new insights prompt an erythroid-focused model of hematopoietic differentiation.
Critical care nurses’ clinical reasoning about physiologic monitor alarm customisation: An interpretive descriptive study

Aims and objectives To explore clinical reasoning about alarm customisation among nurses in intensive care units. Background Critical care nurses are responsible for detecting and rapidly acting upon changes in patients' clinical condition. Nurses use medical devices including bedside physiologic monitors to assist them in their practice. Customising alarm settings on these devices can help nurses better monitor their patients and reduce the number of clinically irrelevant alarms. As a result, customisation may also help address the problem of alarm fatigue. However, little is known about nurses' clinical reasoning with respect to customising physiologic monitor alarm settings. Design This article is an in-depth report of the qualitative arm of a mixed methods study conducted using an interpretive descriptive methodological approach. Methods Twenty-seven nurses were purposively sampled from three intensive care units in an academic medical centre. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone and were analysed using thematic analysis. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) reporting guidelines were used. Results Four themes were identified from the interview data: unit alarm culture and context, nurse attributes, motivation to customise and customisation "know-how." A conceptual model demonstrating the relationship of these themes was developed to portray the factors that affect nurses' customisation of alarms. Conclusions In addition to drawing on clinical data, nurses customised physiologic monitor alarms based on their level of clinical expertise and comfort. Nurses were influenced by the alarm culture on their clinical unit and colleagues' and patients' responses to alarms, as well as their own technical understanding of the physiologic monitors. Relevance to clinical practice The results of this study can be used to design strategies to support the application of clinical reasoning to alarm management, which may contribute to more appropriate alarm customisation practices and improvements in safety.
Controversial Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychiatry: A Survey

A survey was conducted of members of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Science section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) to determine their ethical concerns about controversial items. Issues were included in the survey from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and AAFS Code of Ethics. Strong support was found for those issues. Some AAPL items from a previous version of their guidelines did not receive support. Fortunately, they have been modified in a later AAPL draft, after AAPL received this survey's results. Clarification was obtained on some ambiguous items from a previous AAFS survey. The present survey showed strong support for addressing in forensic psychiatry's ethical guidelines some issues previously considered too controversial.
Distribution and Geochemistry of Arsenic in Sediments of the World’s Largest Choked Estuary: the Patos Lagoon, Brazil

The arsenic (As) contents of sediment cores from the Patos Lagoon in southern Brazil were measured to better understand the biogeochemical cycling of As in the estuary. Sediment cores (ca. 60 cm) were obtained from three locations within the estuary to capture possible changes in As content across the salinity gradient (i.e., where saline, brackish, and freshwater dominated). Two sediment cores were collected at each location, one beneath open water and the other from the fringing salt marsh. Along with As, we quantified the particle size; redox potential (Eh); manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), total organic carbon (TOC), and free (dissolved) sulfide concentrations; and acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and chromium reducible sulfide (CRS) contents. Bioturbation supports oxygen penetration to depths between 20 and 30 cm below the salt marsh surface, where an As- and Fe-rich zone was identified (3-fold higher As than mean As contents of the sediments). A similar subsurface peak of As, Fe, and Mn occurs in the open-water cores, albeit at greater depths between 40 and 50 cm below the surface. The subsurface peak has As concentrations that are 2-fold higher than the average for each core. Vertical profiles of Eh, free sulfides, and CRS for the shallow open-water cores showed similar distribution at depths of 50 cm, suggesting that pyrite formation is an important sink for As in the open-water cores. The data demonstrate clear differences in the geochemical conditions for salt marshes and shallow open waters that can have important implications for As distribution in estuarine sediments.
George F. Handel’s “How Beautiful Are the Feet” as Transformational Object: An Autobiographical Account

Using Christopher Bollas’s concept of transformational object, the author reflects on George F. Handel’s “How Beautiful Are the Feet” as a song that has sustained him and informed his vocational self-understanding as a pastoral theologian. The author reflects on the role of his mother and paternal aunts in fostering a model of care that instilled in him a sense of hope. The author concludes by reflecting on the kinetic quality of pastoral theology and the need to reclaim an agile, even playful understanding of hope.
A 90 day oral toxicity study of blueberry polyphenols in ovariectomized sprague-dawley rats.

Abstract Regular consumption of polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables is associated with beneficial health outcomes. To increase polyphenol intakes, consumers are increasingly using herbal and botanical dietary supplements containing concentrated polyphenol extracts. However, the safety of this consumption modality has not been vetted. To address this, ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley (OVX-SD) rats were orally gavaged with purified blueberry polyphenols at 0–1000 mg total polyphenols/kg bw/d for 90d. No differences in behavior, body weight, or food consumption were observed. No tumors or macroscopic changes were observed, and histopathological analyses showed no differences among groups. Although several statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups were observed in urine (color and pH) and blood (monocyte count, total cholesterol, and chloride ion concentration) analyses, these parameters were within normal ranges and not considered biologically significant. Intestinal permeability assessed via FITC-dextran showed increased intestinal permeability in the highest dose, though no morphological differences were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Given the lack of other systemic changes, this finding is likely of minimal physiological importance. These results indicate a NOAEL for blueberry polyphenols in OVX-SD rats is ≥ 1000 mg total polyphenols/kg bw/d, which translates to a 70 kg human consuming ~10 g polyphenols. Keywords: Blueberry, Polyphenol, Sub-chronic toxicity.
Knowledge use in the development of sugar-sweetened beverage tax policy in Mexico and Chile: a qualitative analysis

Abstract Background Knowledge use is an integral theme of public policy studies. National obesity policy merits attention given its technical and social complexity. Scientific evidence about the obesity epidemic has been contested and obesity prevention is political in nature because it raises tensions between population health promotion and the principle of non-interference in citizens' lives. Countries that are early adopters of obesity policy are enmeshed in this two-fold complexity. In this study, we examine the knowledge that was used in the development of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax policy in Mexico and Chile. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants from the epistemic community, civil society, and food and beverage industry. We also collected documents about SSB tax policy in Mexico, Chile, and elsewhere in Latin America. Interviews were professionally transcribed and translated verbatim. We analysed the transcripts and published material using the same coding scheme. We also conducted a bibliometric analysis of the documents collected. Findings Between February and August, 2018, we interviewed 24 key informants: 16 researchers, five civil society representatives, and three food and beverage industry representatives; nine from Mexico, seven from Chile, and eight international respondents. We included 215 total documents dated from Jan 17, 2002, to Feb 11, 2020, including 175 journal articles, 25 newspaper articles, eight books, five conference papers, one report, and one master's thesis. Three themes emerged from our dataset. First, interviewees focused on the evidence that showed an immediate relation between tax and reduced consumption of SSB rather than SSB's long-term impact on population health. Second, interviewees endorsed the concept of “policy-based evidence making”, defined as an increase in the production of scientific evidence after SSB tax policy was enacted in the two countries. Lastly, the document analysis showed that each type of respondent cited literature published by their peers. Interpretation The study of public policy should include the evaluation of evidence in the national response to population health problems. Our findings on causality, knowledge gaps, and citation homophily have implications for the adoption of controversial health policy. Funding PSC-CUNY Award (#60806-00), jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.
Adaptive Random Assignment

The primary objective of a comparative trial is to provide a precise and valid treatment comparison. Another objective may be to minimize exposure to the inferior treatment, the identity of which may be revealed only during the course of the study. Unrestricted randomization is not generally used because it is susceptible to chronological bias, and this would interfere with the first objective, the valid treatment comparison. Yet, too many restrictions lead to a predictable allocation sequence, which can also compromise validity. It can be a challenge to find the right balance of restrictions on the randomization, and sometimes a covariate-adaptive design is used. When the second objective is considered as well, then the solution must necessarily be a response-adaptive design that evolves depending on the responses of those enrolled. Keywords: covariate-adaptive randomization; response-adaptive randomization
Primary orbital melanoma: A report of a case and comprehensive review of the literature.

To review the clinical features and treatment-associated outcomes of primary orbital melanoma among cases reported in the literature and to present a case treated with orbital exenteration and post...
Validating an opioid prescribing algorithm in post-operative pediatric surgical oncology patients

Abstract Purpose We developed an algorithm to decrease opioid prescriptions for pediatric oncology patients at discharge following surgery, based on a retrospective analysis to decrease variability and over-prescribing. The aim of this study was to prospectively test the algorithm. Methods Opioid-naive patients undergoing surgery for tumor resection at a single institution were included. A prescribing algorithm was developed based on surgical approach, day of discharge, and inpatient opioid use. Prospectively collected data included outpatient opioid consumption and patient/family satisfaction. Total home dose prescribed was equal to that used in the 8 or 24 h, depending on length of stay and operative approach, prior to discharge, divided into 0.15 mg/kg doses. Results The algorithm was used in 121 patients and correctly predicted outpatient opioid requirements for 102 patients (84.3%). For 15 (12.4%) patients, the algorithm over-estimated opioid need by an average of 0.38 OME/kg. Four (3.3%) patients required additional opioids. Using this algorithm, we decreased overall opioid prescriptions from 6.17 to 0.21 OME/kg (p Conclusion Using an algorithm based on inpatient opioid use, outpatient opioid needs can be accurately predicted, thereby reducing excess opioid prescriptions without detriment to patient satisfaction. Type of Study Prospective Quality Initiative Study. Level of Evidence Level III.
Adrenocortical hypertension

Primary aldosteronism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s syndrome, glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism, and corticotropin-dependent forms of adrenal pathology can cause hypertension by excessive production of adrenocortical hormones. Although traditional biochemical assays continue to be used, genetic testing has simplified the diagnosis of glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism. Also, new interventional radiologic approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of corticotropin-dependent forms of Cushing’s syndrome are available. Medical and surgical approaches, however, still remain viable options for treatment.
A unique case of distal tracheoesophageal fistula with proximal esophageal atresia duplication

Abstract Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF) is a congenital malformation typically identified during the neonate period. TEFs are classified according to their anatomic configuration. We present a case that demonstrates a unique anomaly that involves a distal TEF with proximal esophageal atresia duplication. Our case reveals the importance of preoperative planning and intraoperative exploration during this surgical procedure.
On a Two-Dimensional Exponential Sum

In this paper we study the two-dimensional analog of the classical quadratic Weyl sum. We establish a major arc approximation with a strong error term akin to celebrated results of R.C. Vaughan from the early 1980s and the late 2000s. Our main result has applications to the study of discrete maximal operators related to triangular configurations.
Earable Authentication via Acoustic Toothprint

Earables (ear wearable) are rapidly emerging as a new platform to enable a variety of personal applications. The traditional authentication methods thus become less applicable and inconvenient for earables due to their limited input interface. Earables, however, often feature rich around the head sensing capability that can be leveraged to capture new types of biometrics. In this work, we propose ToothSonic that leverages the toothprint-induced sonic effect produced by a user performing teeth gestures for user authentication. In particular, we design several representative teeth gestures that can produce effective sonic waves carrying the information of the toothprint. To reliably capture the acoustic toothprint, it leverages the occlusion effect of the ear canal and the inward-facing microphone of the earables. It then extracts multi-level acoustic features to represent the intrinsic acoustic toothprint for authentication. The key advantages of ToothSonic are that it is suitable for earables and is resistant to various spoofing attacks as the acoustic toothprint is captured via the private teeth-ear channel of the user that is unknown to others. Our preliminary studies with 20 participants show that ToothSonic achieves 97% accuracy with only three teeth gestures.
Geometry, Quantum Field Theory and NMR

We consider the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) problem of calculating the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) echo sequence for spins diffusing in a porous medium in a general magnetic field. We present explicit comparisons between the exact value of the echo sequence and the results predicted asymptotically at the boundaries of the space of parameters of the experiment. We also suggest an exponential term correction to the subleading “boundary” term in the short-time asymptotic formula, which is analogous to the exponential used in quantum field theoretic perturbation theory when going from connected to disconnected Feynman graphs. We discuss briefly how the results presented here answer questions that are analogous to basic questions in geometrical quantum field theory.
3.2. Dynamic Properties of Defects

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the influence that defects have on the dynamic properties of a crystalline host and the extent to which these properties can be elucidated by neutron-scattering experiments. The majority of experimental and theoretical investigations to date have dealt with systems in which the defect was considered to be a substitutional monatomic impurity, and the chapter focuses on such defects. The frequency dependence of the scattering cross section can be then directly related to the frequency distribution of the defect vibrations. The range of wavelengths and energies appropriate to thermal neutrons is well matched to the interatomic distances and the energies of atomic vibrations that occur in crystal lattices. Neutron inelastic scattering measurements provide very good information about the dynamics of both perfect and imperfect crystals alike, making it possible to determine by direct measurement the influence of defects on individual modes of vibration. The chapter also summarizes the theory for the dynamic and the neutron scattering properties of crystals without defects so that the interpretations and the goals of the neutron scattering experiments can be more easily understood. The chapter discusses the basic concepts that enter into the design of an experiment for a triple-axis neutron spectrometer and presents the theory for the dynamic properties of crystals with defects and typical experimental results to illustrate the practical applications of neutron scattering techniques to studies of defect dynamics.
Clinical experience of seropositive ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibody in a tertiary neurology referral center

Introduction: Antibody against the acetylcholine receptor of autonomic ganglia (gAChR-Ab) is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) and several other disorders. Methods: This study was a retrospective evaluation of 95 patients positive for gAChR-Ab. Results: Twenty-one (22%) patients had AAG, with a greater median gAChR-Ab level (0.21 nmol/L) and higher percentage (57%) of antibody levels >0.20 nmol/L when compared with the remaining 74 patients without autonomic manifestations (non-AAG group, 0.10 nmol/L and 15%, respectively). Only 2 new cases of malignancy were diagnosed after gAChR-Ab detection. The non-AAG group was associated with high frequencies of neurological and non-neurological autoimmunity, but also included 23 (31%) patients with mostly degenerative disorders. Conclusion: Detection of gAChR-Ab, especially at a higher level, is helpful for the diagnosis of AAG in patients with corresponding autonomic symptoms. However, its value is limited for predicting cancer risk and for diagnosis and management of patients without autonomic symptoms. Muscle Nerve 52:386–391, 2015
In vitro effect of dopamine and pimozide on human chorionic gonadotropin secretion.

Abstract In human placental explants cultured in vitro, dopamine inhibited human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion into the culture media. In the control flasks, the level of hCG secretion was 751 ± 215 mIU/gm of tissue. When 1 mM of dopamine was added, hCG levels decreased to 321 ± 57.6 mIU/gm of tissue (n = 6, P
Stability Analysis of Singularly Perturbed Systems using Slow and Fast Manifolds

This paper uses slow and fast manifolds to find stability regions for nonlinear singularly perturbed systems. The analysis starts with a two-stage transformation to decouple the slow and fast dynamics. The first transformation based on the deviation from the slow manifold transforms a nonlinear singularly perturbed system to a partially decoupled system where the slow subsystem is driven by the fast variables and the fast subsystem has slowly time-varying coefficients. The second transformation using the fast manifold eliminates the effect of the fast variables on the slow subsystem. For the decoupled system, the region of stability is found using the stable slow and fast manifolds of the unstable equilibrium points of the subsystem. This stability region can then be transformed to the original state space to form the stability region of the original system. Two examples are given to illustrate the results.
A constraint-handling technique for Particle Swarm Optimization

In this paper, a new method to deal with equality or inequality constraints in constrained optimization is proposed. We use the new method with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to solve the well-known 24 benchmark constrained optimization problems in the literature. The PSO algorithm is well known for its fast convergence to the possible optimal position. However, in constrained optimization, the performance of PSO is not as good as it is in unconstrained optimization, partly because PSO is not good at finding the feasible region. Due to the motivation by this weakness of PSO, we develop a method called Numerical Gradient (NG) to find the feasible region. By means of the information that NG can provide, we utilize the PSO algorithm to find the optimal position of the problem. We call this new PSO variant Numerical Gradient Particle Swarm Optimization (NGPSO). A detailed description of the mechanism for NGPSO is provided and some numerical results are presented compared with the results from the existing PSO variants dealing with constraint optimization problems.
Between Risk and Redistribution: The Politics of Employment Insurance Reform

Programs that protect workers typically take the form of employment protection legislation and unemployment replacement rates. The last 25 years witnessed attempts by employers to reduce levels of employment protection and the generosity of unemployment benefits in many OECD countries. This paper examines the relationship between these two programs in a sample of OECD nations from 1985 to 2003. Beyond noting to what extent unemployment benefits depend on levels of employment protection, I also explain why benefits have been reduced in certain countries but not in others. To that end, I develop a model that integrates institutional and individual level explanations of recent employment insurance reforms in Europe. The paper demonstrates that to obtain higher replacement rates for labor market outsiders and the unemployed, insiders in coordinated market economies (CMEs) have had to accept more flexible employment regulations. The findings illustrate the propensity of CMEs to reform themselves in a more neoliberal direction.
Role of ribosomes in Semliki Forest virus nucleocapsid uncoating.

Abstract The mechanism by which Semliki Forest virus nucleocapsids are uncoated was analyzed in living cells and in vitro. In BHK-21 cells, uncoating occurred with virtually complete efficiency within 1 to 2 min after the nucleocapsids entered the cytoplasm. It was inhibited by monensin, which blocks nucleocapsid penetration from endosomes. As previously shown for Sindbis virus (G. Wengler and G. Wengler, Virology 134:435-442, 1984), the capsid proteins from incoming nucleocapsids became associated with ribosomes. The ribosome-bound capsid proteins were distributed throughout the cytoplasm, while the viral RNA remained associated with vacuolar membranes. Using purified nucleocapsids and ribosomes in vitro, we established that ribosomes alone were sufficient for uncoating. Their role was to release the capsid proteins from nucleocapsids and irreversibly sequester them, in a process independent of energy and translation. The process was stoichiometric rather than catalytic, with a maximum of three to six capsid proteins bound to each ribosome. More than 80% of the capsid proteins could thus be removed from the viral RNA, resulting in the formation of nucleocapsid remnants whose sedimentation coefficients progressively decreased from 140S to 80S as uncoating proceeded.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation Research and Fellowship Awards: A 26-Year Review at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to review outcomes of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) Foundation's funding awards to members of the OMS department at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in terms of projects completed, abstracts presented, peer-reviewed publications, and career trajectories of recipients. Materials and Methods Data were collected from MGH and OMS Foundation records and interviews with award recipients. Primary outcome variables included 1) number of awards and award types, 2) funding amount, 3) project completion, 4) number of presented abstracts, 5) conversion from abstracts to publications, 6) number of peer-reviewed publications, 7) career trajectories of awardees, and 8) additional extramural funding. Results Eleven Student Research Training Awards provided $135,000 for 39 projects conducted by 37 students. Of these, 34 (87.2%) were completed. There were 30 student abstracts presented, 21 peer-reviewed publications, and a publication conversion rate of 58.8%. Faculty research awards comprised $1,510,970 for 22 research projects by 12 faculty members and two research fellows. Of the 22 funded projects, 21 (95.5%) were completed. There were 110 faculty and research fellow abstracts presented and 113 peer-reviewed publications, for a publication conversion rate of 93.8%. In the student group, 17 of 37 (45.9%) are enrolled in or are applying for OMS residencies. Of the 10 students who have completed OMS training, 3 (30%) are in full-time academic positions. Of the 12 faculty recipients, 9 (75%) remain in OMS academic practice. During this time period, the department received $9.9 million of extramural foundation or National Institutes of Health funding directly or indirectly related to the OMS Foundation grants. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that 90.2% of projects funded by the OMS Foundation have been completed. Most projects resulted in abstracts and publications in peer-reviewed journals. These grants encouraged students to pursue OMS careers and aided OMS faculty in developing their research programs.
Formant speech synthesis: improving production quality

The authors describe analysis and synthesis methods for improving the quality of speech produced by D.H. Klatt's (J. Acoust. Soc. Am., vol.67, p.971-95, 1980) software formant synthesizer. Synthetic speech generated using an excitation waveform resembling the glotal volume-velocity was found to be perceptually preferred over speech synthesized using other types of excitation. In addition, listeners ranked speech tokens synthesized with an excitation waveform that simulated the effects of source-tract interaction higher in neutralness than tokens synthesized without such interaction. A series of algorithms for silent and voiced/unvoiced/mixed excitation interval classification, pitch detection, formant estimation and formant tracking was developed. The algorithms can utilize two channels of input data, i.e., speech and electroglottographic signals, and can therefore surpass the performance of single-channel (acoustic-signal-based) algorithms. The formant synthesizer was used to study some aspects of the acoustic correlates of voice quality, e.g., male/female voice conversion and the simulation of breathiness, roughness, and vocal fry. >
Fine structure of the chorion and site of sperm entry in the egg of Brachydanio

The fine structure of the chorion and the region of the unfertilized egg immediately beneath the micropylar apparatus of the zebra danio, Brachydanio rerio, were studied using Nomarski differential interference optics, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The chorion consisted of three distinct zones: an outer, electron-dense zone containing pore canal plugs (zona radiata externa), a middle fibrillar zone (superficial zona radiata interna), and an inner zone of 16 horizontal electrondense lamellae alternating with 15 interlamellae of lower electron density (deep zona radiata interna). The zona radiata interna was pierced by open pore canals. The single micropylar apparatus was regionalized into a cone-shaped vestibule and a tapered micropylar canal traversing the entire chorion. The outer diameter of the micropylar canal was 7.5–8.5 μn and the inner diameter about 2.3 μn. Since the diameter of the inner micropylar aperture was slightly larger than the size of the sperm head, the block to polyspermy in eggs of the zebra danio appears to be mechanical and guaranteed by the morphological design of the micropyle. The egg plasmalemma beneath the inner micropylar aperture was differentiated as a circular cluster of 15–20 microvilli-like projections. The cluster of surface projections, approximately 2.1–2.5 μn in diameter under scanning, electron microscopy, was distinguishable from the microplicae covering the rest of the egg surface and identified as the sperm entry site. The cortical cytoplasm subjacent to the sperm entry site was organized as a compact, electron-dense, and homogeneous band. The sperm entry site itself was circumscribed by an area of cytoplasm (approximately 100 μn in diameter) in which cortical granules were typically arranged as a single layer immediately beneath the plasmalemma. However, there was a complete absence of cortical granules in the cytoplasm directly below the sperm entry site. The single row arrangement contrasted with the multilayered rows of cortical granules found throughout the remainder of the egg cytoplasm. Based upon Nomarski and ultrastructural analyses, there was a significant polarity in the cortex created by the size distribution and volume density of the cortical granules layered just beneath the plasmalemma. The cortical granules in the vicinity of the sperm entry site were 2.7 to 2.8 μm in diameter and densely packed. From this region to the vegetal pole, the cortical granules appeared to progressively increase in size and become less densely packed. The polarity in granule distribution established a distinct gradient in the structural organization of the egg cortex from the site of sperm entry to the vegetal pole.
Sorting Bacterium Cells Using Cell-Imprinted Polymer Thin Films: From Concept to Applications

Cell imprinting is a recently developed technology that captures the structural and chemical information on the surface of cells on a polymer surface through template-assisted assembly of functional groups. A polymer is cured around template cells that are removed subsequently, leaving complementary cavities that not only spatially fit but also chemically recognize the target cells {ACS Nano, 6: 4314, 2012}. The cell-imprinted materials thereby function as artificial receptors, which are considerably less expensive to produce and more durable than natural receptors and could potentially be broadly used for cell sorting. One promising potential application is the detection of pathogens causing infectious diseases. However, the involvement of pathogens in the production of the imprinted material as well as in the cell capturing process brings occupational risk of infection. Most recently, we discovered that inactivated bacteria can be selectively captured by a polymer film imprinted with the bacteria inactivated in the same way, avoiding the use of live virulent bacteria; moreover, the inactivation strategies, especially those utilizing chemical reagents, resulted in better selectivity of capture than when living cells were used {ACS Nano, 7: 6031, 2013}. This inactivation process may have played two roles: (1) to eliminate the secretion of extracellular matrix, which helps expose the surface of the cells during imprinting; (2) to fix the cells, which helps preserve the structural and chemical information on their surface. Utilizing a cell-imprinted thin film, we are developing a rapid, culture-free, low-cost and high-sensitivity diagnosis for tuberculosis infection, which may fulfill the significant demand of effective and affordable diagnosis for tuberculosis in low-income countries. Also, we are developing an inexpensive cell-imprinted wipe for rapid detection of bio-contamination on solid surfaces, which may have broad applications in food safety control and public security.
Effects of sex of subject and spouse involvement on weight loss in a behavioral treatment program: a retrospective investigation.

Abstract A subject × treatment model was used to examine the effects on weight loss of sex of subject and spouse involvement in behavioral treatment. Eleven males and 9 females who had completed a 12-week session of behavioral obesity treatment with their spouses, and individually matched male and female subjects who had completed treatment without their spouses, were assessed at follow-up 9–14 months after treatment. Males demonstrated a significantly greater weight,loss than did females on absolute body weight, weight change, percent change in body weight, and the Reduction Index. Males also appeared to maintain weight loss better than females. Spouse involvement had no effect on weight loss during treatment or over follow-up. Differences in weight loss between sexes could not be attributed to differences in age, initial percent overweight, age of onset of obesity, socioeconomic status, number of previous behavioral treatment sessions, self-reported activity level, or self-reported inappropriate eating patterns. Possible explanations of male-female differences in response to treatment are examined, and methodological implications of findings for obesity treatment outcome studies are discussed.
Two notes on Kinande vowel harmony

This paper documents the acoustic reflexes of ATR harmony in Kinande followed by an analysis of the dominance reversal found in class 5 nominals. The principal findings are that the ATR harmony is reliably reflected in a lowering of the first formant. Depending on the vowel, ATR harmony also affects the second formant. The directional asymmetry noted in previous research is also confirmed. Dominance reversal is analysed within the Optimality Theory framework as the combination of dispreferences for affixal triggers and left-headed harmonic domains.
Networking as marketing strategy: a case study of small community businesses

Purpose – The paper examines the building of a new business network by women apparel retailers operating in small Midwest US communities to better understand the network development process and the contributions to small business marketing strategy.Design/methodology/approach – Work draws upon the theoretical and empirical tradition of network studies using prior research for considering current small business owners. This case study approach involved documenting the evolution of relationships among retailers over a five‐year period by means of primary data collection from multiple sources.Findings – Two theoretical network development frameworks were supported in the identification and description of critical transformation phases and the implicit impacts on retail member firms.Research limitations/implications – The case study involves a limited number of business owners in the same retail sector operating in small towns. It may not be representative of retail operations of different size, in different ...
Coronary collateral development during chronic ischemia: serial assessment using harmonic myocardial contrast echocardiography.

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to characterize collateral development in an experimental model of chronic myocardial ischemia by using myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). BACKGROUND Coronary collaterals maintain myocyte viability during myocardial ischemia. The natural history and determinants of collateral development are difficult to study serially in vivo. METHODS The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in nine dogs was encircled (day 0) with a hydraulic occluder and ameroid constrictor to enable reversible and gradual total LAD occlusion, respectively. Myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed using intravenous injection of perfluorocarbon gas-containing microbubbles during two-dimensional harmonic echocardiographic imaging. Myocardial contrast echocardiography images and radiolabeled microsphere flow measurements were obtained during transient LAD occlusion on day 0. Over the ensuing six weeks, MCE imaging was performed during LAD occlusion at 10-day intervals. RESULTS Myocardial contrast echocardiography risk area size (expressed as a percent of the left ventricular short axis slice) decreased over the course of six weeks (32% ± 3% on day 0, 21% ± 3% at day 10, 5 ± 3% at day 20, 1% ± 1% at day 30 and 1% ± 1% at day 42, p ≤ 0.001 vs. day 0). Radiolabeled microsphere-derived LAD flow, normalized to left circumflex flow, correspondingly increased between day 0 and day 42 (0.14 ± 0.02 to 0.90 ± 0.07, p CONCLUSIONS Collateral development occurs relatively early and rapidly in this chronic canine model. Myocardial contrast echocardiography using harmonic imaging and intravenous injection of microbubbles can uniquely track the spatial and temporal course of collateral growth, and may be a powerful tool for noninvasively mapping the efficacy of therapeutic angiogenic strategies in vivo.
Impact of Preoperative Nesiritide on Renal Function after Mitral Valve Surgery

Nesiritide, a recombinant B-type natriuretic peptide used for the intravenous treatment of acute decompensated congestive heart failure. Concerns have been raised about the long-term use of nesiritide, but data is scarce regarding its use in acute congestive heart failure and during cardiac surgery. We conducted a retrospective data review to address the safety of nesiritide for pretreatment of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.
Respecting Autonomy and Understanding Religion

My topic is a long-standing tension in the interpretation of religion. On the one hand, it seems undeniable — seems almost to go without saying — that liturgical and sacrificial practices, sacred dance, divination, procession and pilgrimage are intentional actions undertaken by persons. Yet there is a distinguished tradition in the study of religion according to which religious activity is typically caused by forces over which the agent has little or no control. Visible, latter-day members of this tradition include Hume, Nietzsche, Marx, Durkheim, Freud, and, in some moods, Wittgenstein, but its roster is by no means limited to the religiously unmusical.
Obesity causes very low density lipoprotein clearance defects in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice

We have reported that obese leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob) lacking the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR(-/-)) develop severe hyperlipidemia and spontaneous atherosclerosis. In the present study, we show that obese leptin receptor-deficient mice (db/db) lacking LDLR have a similar phenotype, even in the presence of elevated plasma leptin levels. We investigated the mechanism for the hyperlipidemia in obese LDLR(-/-) mice by comparing lipoprotein production and clearance rates in C57BL/6, ob/ob, LDLR(-/-) and ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) mice. Hepatic triglyceride production rates were equally increased ( approximately 1.4-fold, P<.05) in both LDLR(-/-) and ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) mice compared to C57BL/6 and ob/ob mice. LDL clearance was decreased ( approximately 1.3- fold, P<.01) to a similar extent in LDLR(-/-) and ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) mice compared to C57BL/6 and ob/ob controls. While VLDL clearance was delayed in LDLR(-/-) compared to C57BL/6 and ob/ob mice (2-fold, P<.001), this delay was exaggerated in ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) mice (3.8-fold, P<001). The VLDL clearance defects were due to decreased hepatic uptake compared to C57BL/6 (54% and 26% for LDLR(-/-) and ob/ob;LDLR(-/-), respectively, P<.001). When VLDL was collected from C57BL/6, ob/ob, LDLR(-/-), and ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) donors and injected into LDLR(-/-) recipient mice, counts remaining in the liver were 1.4-fold elevated in mice receiving LDLR(-/-) VLDL and 2-fold increased in mice receiving ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) VLDL compared to controls receiving C57BL/6 VLDL (P<.01). Thus, the increase in plasma lipoproteins in ob/ob;LDLR(-/-) mice is caused by delayed VLDL clearance. This appears to be due to defects in both the liver and the lipoproteins themselves in these obese mice.
The effect of ethanol on the solubility of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate in the system Ca(OH)2-H3PO4-H2O at 37 °C

Solubility values of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate were determined in 0, 7.86, 16.04, 24.53, and 33.38% by weight ethanol-water mixtures at 37 °C. The decreased the solubility of DCPD, expressed as solubility product (Ksp), from pKsp=6.69 at 0% ethanol to 8.91 at 33.38% ethanol, mainly due to the decrease in the dielectric constant. The data were fitted to the simple Born equation as follows: pKsp − 6.69 = 575.2(Iϵ − 0.0135).
Diode Laser Spectroscopy of Chemical Moieties at Surfaces.

Abstract : The use of tunable infrared lead salt diode lasers as spectrally bright light sources for infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) at interfaces will be presented. This new spectroscopy permits in situ, non-intrusive optical probing of the vibrational fingerprint spectrum (500-2000/cm) with sub-monolayer sensitivity at metal interfaces and can work through any moderately transmissive ambient. Recent results and instrumental developments will be presented.
Effect of temperature on hatching and nest site selection in the Green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans (Araneae:Oxyopidae)

Abstract 1. Thirty-seven Peucetia viridans egg sacs were incubated at 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 30, 32.5 or 35 °C. Hatching time was inversely proportional to temperature, and no hatching occurred at the extremes (15, 17.5 and 35 °C). 2. Mean incubation temperature of egg sacs in natural field habitats was 20.0±0.6 °C and mean time until hatching was 30.8±0.8 days. 3. Physical models of egg sacs placed in the field indicated natural incubation sites could vary by as much as 10 °C during the daytime and as little as 1 °C at night. As expected, incubation sites were warmest near the ground and the coolest at the top of vegetation. 4. Regardless of egg sac model placement, predicted hatching time only varied by 2–3 days throughout the incubation period. 5. Natural egg sac placement sites of P. viridans occurred near the top of vegetation indicating females were not selecting the warmest available microhabitats for egg incubation.
Let's celebrate human genetic diversity

Science is finding evidence of genetic diversity among groups of people as well as among individuals. This discovery should be embraced, not feared, say Bruce T. Lahn and Lanny Ebenstein.
4‐Amino‐3‐mercapto‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazoles and propargyl aldehydes: A new route to 3‐R‐8‐aryl‐1,2,4‐triazolo[3,4‐b]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazepines

The pendant amino and mercapto groups on 4-amino-3-mercapto-4H-4H-1,2,4-triazoles can be cyclized by phenylpropargyl aldehydes. The aldehydes experience Michael addition of the SH to the alkyne linkage and imine formation between the NH2 and the aldehyde carbonyl to produce 3-R-8-aryl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazepines.
Diffusion of impurity ions in silver halides

Abstract The diffusion activation enthalpies H of impurity alkali ions in AgCl and AgBr crystals do not scale with ionic radii, as one might surmise, but they do scale with the ions' orbital-moments ratio q . The quantity q serves as a measure for interaction dominance in the delicate balance between van der Waals attraction and short-range repulsion. In order to explain the observed constant activation enthalpies of diffusing halogen ions in AgCl at medium and high temperatures and in AgBr at medium temperature, I propose a novel diffusion mechanism via cation divacancies. The activation enthalpies of the second diffusion mechanism of halogen ions in high-temperature AgBr show a q -dependence similar to that of the impurity cations. This finding indicates the presence of Schottky defects, in addition to the dominant Frenkel defects, in AgBr at high temperatures. The orbital-moments approach yields a Schottky enthalpy of 2.5 eV in AgBr and an estimate of more than 3 eV in AgCl.