cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Female disdain for swords in a swordtail fish

Studies of mate choice evolution tend to focus on how female mating preferences are acquired and how they select for greater elaboration of male traits. By contrast, far less is known about how female preferences might be lost or reversed. In swordtail fish Xiphophorus, female preference for the sword ornament is an ancestral trait. Xiphophorus birchmanni, however, is one species that has secondarily lost the sword. Using synthetic animation playback of "virtual" males, we found that female X. birchmanni preferred a swordless conspecific over a sworded heterospecific. Moreover, when offered the choice between a conspecific without a sword and one with a digitally attached sword, females preferred the former. These results suggest female preferences need not always select for elaboration of male traits, and they provide a plausible explanation for the lack of introgression of a sexual trait in a naturally occurring hybrid zone.
First record of a pygmy backswimmer (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pleidae) from Micronesia

Pygmy backswimmers, pleids, can be common in aquatic habitats with stagnant or slow-moving water that is rich in vegetation. They are small bugs, usually less than 3.5 mm in length and confine themselves to the vegetation in which they hide and where they prey on mosquito larvae and other small arthropods (Schuh and Slater 1995). The family is represented by 37 species in three genera: Plea, confined to the Old World; Neoplea confined to the New World; and Paraplea , the largest and most widely distributed genus (Schuh and Slater 1995).
Sexual Risk Behavior and Heavy Drinking Among Weekly Marijuana Users

Objective:Sexual behavior that incurs increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV incidence is associated with both heavy alcohol and marijuana use. Whereas detrimental effects of alcohol on increased sexual risk have been documented in event-level and laboratory studies, less is known about the combined use of alcohol and marijuana and their relative impact on sexual risk behavior. We examined the degree to which both heavy drinking and marijuana use were associated with condomless sexual intercourse with casual versus main partners in a sample of weekly marijuana smokers.Method:Participants reported substance use and sexual activity using a 60-day Timeline Followback interview method (n = 112).Results:Results of generalized estimating equations indicated that both alcohol and marijuana use were independently associated with greater odds of having sexual intercourse but were not associated with greater odds of unprotected sex with a casual partner. Heavy drinking on a given day was associa...
‘Assimilação crítica’ and research on the periphery

As one of my two contributions to this discussion, I would like to first comment on the state of affairs regarding the development of "um pensamento nacional autentico." Specifically, I would like to address the issue not from the perspective of the Brazilian trying to 'critically assimilate' foreign ideas, and so avoid the transplantation of inappropriate scholarship. Rather, I would like to look at it from the other end of this strained intellectual relationship. Much of my research related to Guerreiro Ramos has confirmed the threat that he raised regarding epistemic colonization, unwittingly exercised by a woefully parochial Anglophone scholarly community. The second topic I would like to discuss is a policy area in which Brazilians, especially in my discipline of public administration, might have something to learn from abroad, raised by Guerreiro Ramos himself in his Patologia social do branco brasileiro.
Religious Pluralism in the Context of an Emerging World Culture

Two at least apparently contrary developments form the context within which a contemporary interpretation of the fact of religious pluralism proceeds. The first is the incipient world culture emerging under the impetus of those processes of modernization which arose initially in the West. And the second is the continuation and intensification of diversity within the various religious traditions. Few observers would deny the existence of either tendency. Yet the combination of the two serves to complicate the problem of interpreting the fact of religious pluralism to a greater degree than is often recognized. Consequently I propose to explore the interrelated implications of both developments in some detail.
Über die Quellung von Β-Gelatine

Es wurden die Quellungseigenschaften vonΒ-Gelatine (Traube), d. h. allgemein von Gelatine mit thermischer Vorgeschichte untersucht. Dabei zeigt sich, dass sowohl die Quellungsgeschwindigkeit als auch die Quellungsstarke grosser ist inΒ-als inα-Platten. Was die Abhangigkeit der Quellungsstarke von der Dauer des Erhitzens (auf ca. 105 ‡C.) anbetriftt, so ergibt sich eine regelmassige, stetige Kurve, deren spaterer Verlauf indessen durch die ebenfalls gesteigerte Loslichkeit derΒ-Gelatine gestort wird. Desgleichen wird auch bei langerer Quellungsdauer der letztgenannte Faktor einflussreicher. Bei Berucksichtigung dieser Umstande erweist sich die Kurve Quellungsstarke × Erhitzungsdauer von derselben resp. spiegelbildlichen Gestalt, wie sie von v. Schroeder fur die Abhangigkeit der inneren Reibung verdunnter Gelatinelosungen und der Dauer ihres Erhitzens gefunden wurde. Der allgemeine Parallelismus dieser zwei Eigenschaften: Innere Reibung und Quellungsfahigkeit speziellstarke, wie er durch fruhere Untersuchungen uber den Einfluss von Saure und Alkali gezeigt werden konnte, bestatigt sich also auch bei der vergleichenden Untersuchung des Einflusses der thermischen Vorgeschichte auf beide Eigenschaften. — Es wird gezeigt, dass die grossere Quellungsfahigkeit vonΒ-Gelatine nicht darauf beruht, dass die bei 50 ‡C. getrocknetenΒ-Platten weniger Wasser in diesem Zustande an sich zu halten vermogen alsα-Platten. Endlich wird darauf hingewiesen, dass die groberen Losungserscheinungen quellenderΒ-Platten von einer bestimmten maximalen Quellungsstarke an, nach welcher wahrscheinlich eine Zerstorung der Mikrostruktur der Platten stattfindet, beginnen.
Electrochemistry of 1,1′-Bis(2,4-dialkylphosphetanyl)ferrocene and 1,1′-Bis(2,5-dialkylphospholanyl)ferrocene Ligands: Free Phosphines, Metal Complexes, and Chalcogenides

The oxidative electrochemistries of a series of chiral bisphosphinoferrocene ligands, 1,1′-bis(2,4-dialkylphosphetanyl)ferrocene (FerroTANE) and 1,1′-bis(2,5-dialkylphospholanyl)ferrocene (FerroLANE), were examined. The reversibility of the oxidation is sensitive to the steric bulk of the alkyl groups. New transition metal compounds and phosphine chalcogenides of these ligands were prepared and characterized. X-ray crystal structures of 10 of these compounds are reported. The percent buried volume (%Vbur) is a recently developed measurement based on crystallographic data that examines the steric bulk of N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine ligands. The %Vbur for the FerroTANE and FerroLANE structures with methyl or ethyl substituents suggests these ligands are similar in steric properties to 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf). In addition the %Vbur has been found to correlate well with the Tolman cone angle for phosphine chalcogenides. The oxidative electrochemistries of the transition metal comp...
Multidimensional Ostrowski Type Inequalities for Banach Space Valued Functions

Here we are dealing with smooth functions from a real box to a Banach space. For these we establish vector multivariate sharp Ostrowski type inequalities to all possible directions.
Effects of deicing chemicals on ecological environment

Deicing chemicals are widely used to clear the pavement snow in the cold areas of China and many other countries, because of their simple operation, low price, and excellent snow-melting effect. With the increasing application of deicing chemicals, their negative effects on ecosystem and environment have appeared increasingly. Based on the related researches in China and other countries, this paper summarized the impacts of deicing chemicals on soil, surface water, ground water, plants and animals, etc., and put forward some suggestions for the further research in this field to provide a scientific basis for the pollution prevention of deicing chemicals on urban environment and related ecosystems.
Aortic Valve Anatomy: Implications for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Comprehensive knowledge of aortic valve and aortic root anatomy is essential for catheter-based interventions on the aortic valve. The aortic valve and aortic root complex extends from the left ventricular outflow tract to the sinuses of Valsalva and primarily functions to support forward cardiac output and provide coronary perfusion. Transcatheter valve prostheses sit within the aortic root. Understanding the normal, as well as abnormal, arrangement and structures of the aortic valve and adjoining structures allows proper sizing and positioning of the transcatheter aortic valve and helps to circumvent complications that may arise during and after implantation.
Structure of the Respiratory System

One of the reasons that air pollution is such a threat to human health it that humans have no choice over the air that they breathe. Thus in our homes, outdoors, and in workplaces, we often breathe air which is not as clean as we would prefer. The average adult breathes approximately 10,000 to 12,000 liters of air each day of life. Individuals who exercise frequently or have jobs that involve strenuous activity breathe a much greater volume of air. Inhalation is the major route of entry into the body for toxic materials. Given the volume of air inhaled, it is not surprising that respiratory illnesses are the fourth most common illness or that occupational lung disease is the most common occupational disease. In order to prepare the reader for discussions of air pollutant-respiratory system interactions, this chapter will give a brief summary of the structure of the respiratory system. The structure of the respiratory system largely determines its function. It is recommended that the reader consult a respiratory system textbook if more detail is desired.
Pneumonia After Solid Organ Transplantation

Pneumonia in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients encompasses a broad spectrum of disease caused by a diverse group of pathogens and may result in significant morbidity and mortality. The risk of pneumonia following SOT is influenced by many factors including the organ transplanted, the time from surgery, the net state of immunosuppression, and the presence of comorbid medical conditions. Pneumonia is particularly common following lung transplantation.
Performance Evaluation of CO2 Huff-n-Puff and Continuous CO2 Injection in Tight Oil Reservoirs

Abstract The CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery (EOR) effectiveness was simulated and analyzed by comparing Huff-n-Puff and continuous injection scenarios. A field-scale numerical compositional reservoir model was built based on typical fluid, reservoir, and fracture properties from the Middle Bakken Formation. The effect of matrix permeability ranging from 0.001 mD to 0.1 mD on the comparison of well performance of these two scenarios was investigated. A critical value of permeability was identified. When the permeability is lower than 0.03 mD, the CO 2 Huff-n-Puff performs better than the continuous CO 2 injection. Subsequently, experiment design and response surface methodology was used to perform sensitivity studies with four uncertain parameters including matrix permeability, number of wells, well pattern, and fracture half-length. The results show that the matrix permeability is the most significant parameter, followed by well pattern and the interaction between fracture half-length and number of wells. Furthermore, three diagnostic contour plots corresponding to 4, 6, and 8 horizontal wells per square mile were generated. Based on these plots, it is convenient to identify the best zone with better CO 2 -EOR effectiveness for different CO 2 injection scenarios. This study can provide a very useful tool for a better understanding of CO 2 -EOR strategy determination in tight oil reservoirs.
Critical inquiry into Detroit's “food desert” metaphor

ABSTRACTOver the last decade, the “food desert” metaphor has emerged, evolved, and expanded. The media use it as a negative metaphorical label applied to the city of Detroit, but those living in the city and working on food advocacy disregard it. The juxtaposition of the media's narrow narrative of a barren Detroit clashes with the sustained efforts of local food advocates and activists who continue to address the inequitable access to food experienced by a large segment of people in Detroit. The persistence of the “food desert” term reveals the unequal power relations between local food advocates and the dominant media and political institutions. This project presents a critical inquiry into the media discourses and ethnographic perspectives of local food advocates addressing food access issues in the purported “food desert” of Detroit.
Stochastic comparison of parallel systems with heterogeneous exponential components

In this paper we provide a sufficient condition for mean residual life ordering of parallel systems with n ≥ 3 heterogeneous exponential components.
Project-Based Strategic Management Education: A Client Perspective on Key Challenges

This paper explores the benefits of project-based learning from the small business client perspective. The reflections of a sample of small businesses were collected through a feedback survey after participating in a semester-long project-based learning process developed for the Strategic Management curriculum in the College of Business at Western Carolina University (WCU). The clients that participated in projects are primarily local and regional businesses in Western North Carolina; they were sourced through the Small Business Centers (SBC) located at the area community colleges and the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) located at WCU. Most participating organizations are existing small businesses or start-ups with a high probability and capacity for growth that will enhance the economic development of the region. Literature review of both small business and project-based pedagogy challenges demonstrated the potential for co-creation of value. This study laid out the steps we took to organize a project-based Strategic Management pedagogy. Our analysis of both close- and open-ended client feedback revealed four key success factor themes for developing a mutually beneficial project-based pedagogy: communication and interaction, project organization and student preparation, quality of work, and co-creation of value; the specific priority actions for each theme are detailed in the paper.
Axiomatics and Formalism in Mathematics

New terminology is defined in terms of old terminology. Any tract of logic contains only finitely many words. Therefore there must be a beginning, and that beginning cannot depend on anything that came previously. There must therefore be elementary terms that remain undefined. These terms are called“undefinable.”We strive to keep the number of these terms to a minimum. Since the terms are formally undefinable, we must describe them in a manner that is heuristically self-evident.
The State of Bullying in Schools

Approximately 246 million children are victimized through bullying across the world annually (UNESCO, 2017). According to the US Department of Education (U.S Department of Education,Washington, DC, 2016), one out of every five students is bullied annually. Thus, bullying continues to be a challenge for schools. Unfortunately, there is a relationship between bullying behaviors and the physical and emotional well-being of students. In an effort to counter the devastating outcomes of bullying, schools have sought to ameliorate the situation through targeted prevention and intervention strategies. Part of the challenge, however, is that while school-based bullying initiatives have been adopted and implemented, it is unclear to what extent and whether the overall results eliminate bullying. This is in part because many anti-bullying programs fail to develop evaluations that answer the questions: does the intervention work and what evidence demonstrates that bullying is eliminated? The purpose of this paper is to examine the “state” of bullying in our schools, based on an extensive literature review and analysis.
ModQuad: The Flying Modular Structure that Self-Assembles in Midair

We introduce ModQuad, a novel flying modular robotic structure that is able to self-assemble in midair and cooperatively fly. The structure is composed by agile flying modules that can easily move in a three dimensional environment. The module is based on a quadrotor platform within a cuboid frame which allows it to attach to other modules by matching vertical faces. Using this mechanism, a ModQuad swarm is able to rapidly assemble flying structures in midair using the robot bodies as building units. In this paper, we focus on two important tasks for modular flying structures. First, we propose a decentralized modular attitude controller to allow a team of physically connected modules to fly cooperatively. Second, we develop a docking method that drives pairs of structures to be attached in midair. Our method precisely aligns, and corrects motion errors during the docking process. In our experiments, we tested and analyzed the performance of the cooperative flying method for multiple configurations. We also tested the docking method with successful results.
Differentiating Streptococcus pseudoporcinus from GBS: could this have implications in pregnancy?

Background Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a common pathogen known to cause neonatal and maternal infectious morbidity. Streptococcus pseudoporcinus (S pseudoporcinus) is a separate, recently identified β-hemolytic gram-positive coccus that can cause false-positive results on standard GBS agglutination testing assays. Objective To determine the prevalence and clinical implications of Streptococcus pseudoporcinus colonization in pregnancy. Materials and Methods This is a 2-year retrospective cohort study comparing pregnant women colonized with GBS to those colonized with S. pseudoporcinus. A proteomics method of identification, namely, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, was used to distinguish between S. pseudoporcinus and GBS colonization. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out on all specimens. Maternal and neonatal chart reviews were conducted to identify predictors of S. pseudoporcinus colonization and to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results S. pseudoporcinus colonization occurred in 1.6% of all pregnancies. A total of 2.5% of all GBS-positive results by agglutination assay were false positive, instead reflecting S. pseudoporcinus colonization. Clindamycin resistance among S. pseudoporcinus isolates is uncommon. S. pseudoporcinus colonization in pregnancy is independently associated with African American race, tobacco use, and body mass index ≥35. Preterm premature rupture of membranes or spontaneous preterm birth was more common in patients colonized with S. pseudoporcinus. Conclusion Although the prevalence of S. pseudoporcinus colonization is low, it primarily occurs in African American women and is associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes or spontaneous preterm birth when compared to individuals colonized with GBS.
Social Support among Oxford House Residents Utilizing Medication-Assisted Treatments

Social support is a resource frequently utilized by persons recovering from substance use disorders. However, little is known about the effects of social support among persons utilizing medication-...
Religious Refusal of Medical Treatment

Various groups, some based solely in the United States and others with worldwide followers, reject all medical care in favor of faith healing while others reject only specified procedures on the basis of their religious beliefs. The refusal of medical care for religious reasons has often been portrayed as a conflict between the religious beliefs of a patient or a patient’s parent(s) and the ethical obligations of the treating physician, the medical profession and the specific religious denomination, or the rights of the parents and the government’s interest in the welfare and safety of society’s children. This chapter explores the religious beliefs of Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witness, and the Pentecostal faith. The chapter then examines physicians’ ethical obligations in providing care to their patients and society’s interest in protecting its children. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the extent to which these varying interests have been considered across jurisdictions within the United States. Where relevant, reference is made to the approach of jurisdictions outside of the United States.
Modeling blood-brain barrier pathology in cerebrovascular disease in vitro: current and future paradigms.

The complexity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and neurovascular unit (NVU) was and still is a challenge to bridge. A highly selective, restrictive and dynamic barrier, formed at the interface of blood and brain, the BBB is a “gatekeeper” and guardian of brain homeostasis and it also acts as a “sensor” of pathological events in blood and brain. The majority of brain and cerebrovascular pathologies are associated with BBB dysfunction, where changes at the BBB can lead to or support disease development. Thus, an ultimate goal of BBB research is to develop competent and highly translational models to understand mechanisms of BBB/NVU pathology and enable discovery and development of therapeutic strategies to improve vascular health and for the efficient delivery of drugs. This review article focuses on the progress being made to model BBB injury in cerebrovascular diseases in vitro.
Cytolytic Vaginosis: a Critical Appraisal of a Controversial Condition

Cytolytic vaginosis is a controversial condition that some clinicians have traditionally included as a potential cause of vulvovaginal symptoms despite the lack of scientific evidence. Recent articles have focused on the evaluation of patients once they carry the diagnosis of cytolytic vaginosis, rather than on diagnostic criteria. Our review revealed inadequate criteria for excluding other causes of vulvovaginal symptoms, especially VVC, when diagnosing women with cytolytic vaginosis. Treatment recommendations have remained stagnant with no single case report or case series with detailed information about affected patients. Finally, with the inconsistencies in sampling sites and inadequacies in sampling techniques across studies, the reported evidence of lactobacilli overgrowth is unreliable and cannot be used to support the diagnosis of cytolytic vaginosis. Any future investigations of the condition would need to have strict criteria for diagnosis which can be reproduced by other investigators, so that common ground for diagnosis can begin as a basis for studies. We further recommend that any study evaluating patient treatments include information about patient demographics, details about their treatment, and the results in terms of changes in symptoms and findings.
Breakdown Field Strength Variations and Energy Density Limits of Nanoparticle Composite Materials

In response to the growing demand for renewable energy storage technologies, current research into nanoparticle (NP) composite materials seeks to push the boundaries of energy density for solid-state capacitive energy storage. To understand the limits of these composites, it is important to understand the electric field patterns and breakdown events that prevent such devices from storing more energy per unit volume. To this end, a novel breakdown path detection algorithm is designed to mimic breakdown events by using the internal electric fields to determine the breakdown voltage of simulated composite materials. This breakdown path detection model is used to calculate the energy density for over 1200 different geometries for BaTiO $_3$ NPs embedded in a P(VDF- HFP) host matrix. These simulations reveal a large normalized variation in the volumetric energy density of up to 54%. Furthermore, these P(VDF-HFP)/BaTiO $_3$ composites are found to have only a modest improvement in energy density of 1.08x compared to the pure P(VDF-HFP) host; however, alternative hypothetical NP compositions composed of SrTiO $_3$ , SiO $_2$ , and HfO $_2$ NP inclusions showed increases in energy density of up to 5.64x for SrTiO $_3$ (volume fraction of 0.48), 8.87x for SiO $_2$ (volume fraction of 0.34), and 2.89x for HfO $_2$ (volume fraction of 0.38).
Diazoxide-associated pulmonary hypertension in a patient with noncompaction cardiomyopathy:

Development of pulmonary hypertension after initiation of diazoxide for the treatment of neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is a rare, but previously described association. Risk factors for dev...
Exploring telemedicine evaluation reliability: ahead of its time and long overdue

Citation:Fields BG. Exploring telemedicine evaluation reliability: ahead of its time and long overdue. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(7):1337–1338.
Breaking a dative bond with mechanical forces.

Bond breaking and forming are essential components of chemical reactions. Recently, the structure and formation of covalent bonds in single molecules have been studied by non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here, we report the details of a single dative bond breaking process using non-contact AFM. The dative bond between carbon monoxide and ferrous phthalocyanine was ruptured via mechanical forces applied by atomic force microscope tips; the process was quantitatively measured and characterized both experimentally and via quantum-based simulations. Our results show that the bond can be ruptured either by applying an attractive force of ~150 pN or by a repulsive force of ~220 pN with a significant contribution of shear forces, accompanied by changes of the spin state of the system. Our combined experimental and computational studies provide a deeper understanding of the chemical bond breaking process. Controlled breaking of a chemical bond by mechanical forces can provide key insight into reaction mechanisms. Here the authors, using atomic force microscopy and computations, measure the forces involved in breaking a single dative bond between a CO molecule and a ferrous phthalocyanine complex.
Overvoltage Correction in Active Distribution Grids using Smart Inverters and Load Control: A Comparison

Active distribution systems, which include significant amounts of distributed energy resources (DERs), are often more reliable and resilient. Paradoxically, these systems are also prone to power quality problems such as harmonics, under-voltages and overvoltages due to reverse power flows and the intermittent nature of most DERs. A major solution to most of these challenges is the use of smart inverters. However, for electric utilities and cooperatives operating demand response (DR) programs, flexible loads could also be used to address some of these power quality problems in addition to peak load reduction purposes. This paper compares the usage of smart inverters and flexible loads for specifically addressing overvoltages in a distribution grid due to the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) resources. The overvoltage phenomenon is simulated using a modified IEEE 13-bus test system within the OpenDSS simulation tool. The use of flexible loads and smart inverters for correcting the observed overvoltages is simulated and analyzed. Finally, the results obtained from both approaches are compared from both performance and cost perspectives.
Autotransplantation as a feasible intervention for combined nutcracker syndrome and Loin Pain Hematuria Syndrome.

Abstract Anterior Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) can occur when the aorta and superior mesenteric artery compress the left renal vein. Loin pain hematuria syndrome (LPHS) occurs as kidney pain resulting from a past insult to the kidney, most commonly from nephrolithiasis. We herein present a case of previously treated NCS. Three months after treatment with GVT, the pelvic congestion was resolved but left flank pain continued concerning for undiagnosed Loin Pain Hematuria. Additionally, we present a treatment algorithm that provides a differential pathway for diagnosis and treatment of combined NCS and LPHS.
Assessing the effects of methodological differences on outcomes in the use of psychedelics in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis:

Background:Classical psychedelics are a group of drugs which act as agonists on the serotonin-2A (5-HT2A) receptor. Evidence suggests they may have a uniquely rapid and enduring positive effect on ...
Pregnant women with more seizures have lower allopregnanolone concentrations.

Neuroactive steroids have rapid, nongenomic effects on neuronal excitability. The effects in humans are less clear. We compared seizure control and concentrations of neuroactive steroids, known to influence neuroexcitability in animal studies, in pregnant women. Participants were prospectively followed throughout pregnancy with seizure-medication diaries and blood samples, assayed for steroid concentrations with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Baseline seizure frequency was calculated for the preconception year, and it was determined if seizure frequency was increased in each trimester. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare neuroactive steroid concentrations in between the group with increased frequency to the group without, as calculated for the respective trimester, with the Holm-Bonferroni method to correct for multiple comparisons. Among eighty-three pregnancies included, twenty-eight had increased seizure frequency during at least one trimester (15, 18 and 10, respectively) compared to preconception seizure frequency. Allopregnanolone concentrations were lower in the 3rd trimester (p < 0.001), with a similar trend in the 1st (p = 0.08), for pregnancies with increased compared to those with stable seizure frequency. Other neuroactive steroid concentrations were similar. Our findings suggest that lower allopregnanolone concentrations are associated with increased seizure frequency during pregnancy. Validation of these finding in a larger cohort has potential important clinical applications.
The binary matroids with no odd circuits of size exceeding five

Abstract Generalizing a graph-theoretical result of Maffray to binary matroids, Oxley and Wetzler proved that a connected simple binary matroid M has no odd circuits other than triangles if and only if M is affine, M is isomorphic to M ( K 4 ) or F 7 , or M is the cycle matroid of a graph consisting of a collection of triangles all sharing a common edge. In this paper, we show that if M is a 3-connected binary matroid having a 5-element circuit but no larger odd circuit, then M has rank less than six; or M has rank six and is one of nine sporadic matroids; or M can be obtained by attaching together, via generalized parallel connection across a common triangle, a collection of copies of F 7 and M ( K 4 ) and then possibly deleting up to two elements of the common triangle. From this, we deduce that a 3-connected simple graph with a 5-cycle but no larger odd cycle is obtained from K 3 , n for some n ≥ 3 by adding one, two, or three edges between the vertices in the 3-vertex class.
Role of SPECT and PET in pediatric epilepsy

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) offer valuable information for the diagnosis, management, and follow up of patients with seizure disorders. These imaging studies can also contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of epilepsy. Intractable epilepsy in children is a serious disorder that has an overwhelming effect on physical, psychological, and social development. Functional imaging with PET and SPECT has been useful in a variety of seizure types and is typically more sensitive compared to anatomic imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging for localizing non-lesional seizure foci. SPECT and PET may be useful in guiding the strategy of implantation in patients submitted to undergo invasive recordings. However, the ability of PET and SPECT to localize a seizure focus may be crucial for tailoring the surgical resection area in patients with intractable seizures. Since most seizure cases begin in childhood, PET and SPECT imaging for seizure disorders is frequently used in this population. In this article, we review the literature on the current uses and indications of PET and SPECT in the study and management of epilepsy in children.
Comparing three methods of measuring human judgment performance in an air traffic conflict prediction task

An experiment using a simulated air traffic conflict prediction task with sensor noise was conducted with one between subjects manipulation and the sensor noise level. Measures from signal detection theory, fuzzy signal detection theory, and judgment analysis were calculated and analyzed. Gender, noise, and session (experience) effects and their two-way interactions were investigated. As different effects were significant for different measures, analysts should take care in relying on the results from any single measure when analyzing human judgment performance.
2R or not 2R: Testing hypotheses of genome duplication in early vertebrates

The widely popular hypothesis that there were two rounds of genome duplication by polyploidization early in vertebrate history (the 2R hypothesis) has been difficult to test until recently. Among the lines of evidence adduced in support of this hypothesis are relative genome size, relative gene number, and the existence of genomic regions putatively duplicated during polyploidization. The availability of sequence for a substantial portion of the human genome makes possible the first rigorous tests of this hypothesis. Comparison of gene family size in the human genome and in invertebrate genomes shows no evidence of a 4:1 ratio between vertebrates and invertebrates. Furthermore, explicit phylogenetic tests for the topology expected from two rounds of polyploidization have revealed alternative topologies in a substantial majority of human gene families. Likewise, phylogenetic analyses have shown that putatively duplicated genomic regions often include genes duplicated at widely different times over the evolution of life. The 2R hypothesis thus can be decisively rejected. Rather, current evidence favors a model of genome evolution in which tandem duplication, whether of genomic segments or of individual genes, predominates.
Effective patient care in the pediatric ambulatory setting: a study of the acute care clinic.

Our study used family compliance and understanding as indices of effectiveness. In a control population of 142 cases, effectiveness averaged 52% of the desired level but only 8% achieved desired levels of effectiveness in all measured categories. Scores were highest in appointment keeping, lowest in understanding of the child9s condition, and intermediate for medication taking and procedure performance. The services of family health management specialists were added to the regular clinic services and resulted in significant improvement in all measured categories. These specialists were trained public health nurses and directed their efforts to an understanding of total family health situation and the capacity and resources of the family for completing recommended care. They undertook full responsibility for medical follow-up in a significant number of cases. Through them the average percentage of effectiveness was raised to an average of 82% of the desired level, although only 31% of the cases were judged to be at an adequate level in all of the categories. Questions still unanswered are which aspects of the services of the family health mnanagemcnt specialist were responsible for the improvement in effectiveness, whether non-professionals can achieve the same improvements, and whether such services can he applied to other clinic and private practice settings.
Inhibition of VIP-stimulated intestinal secretion and cyclic AMP production by somatostatin in the rat.

Abstract The effect of somatostatin on colonic secretion induced by 10 −8 m vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), 10 −2 m theophylline, and 2 × 10 −3 m dibutyryl cyclic AMP was studied in muscle-stripped everted open rat colon sacs. The secretory response to VIP, measured as the decrease in net absorptive flow rate (microliters 30 min −1 mg −1 of dry weight), was maximal and equalled the responses to theophylline or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Somatostatin (10 −5 m) blocked completely the secretory response to VTP but only partially the secretory response to theophylline or dibutyryl cyclic AMP. This difference in the extent of inhibition suggested that somatostatin exerted an inhibitory effect both before and after the point of generation of intracellular cyclic AMP. In order to test the hypothesis that one component of the action of somatostatin involved inhibition of the production of cyclic AMP, measurements of this nucleotide were made in isolated rat colon cells. Control levels of cyclic AMP measured by radioimmunoassay (12.6 ± 1.6 pmoles per 10 6 cells) were not affected by 10 −5 m somatostatin. VIP (5 × 10 −8 m) increased cyclic AMP levels 2-fold ( P
Realizing Reason: A Narrative of Truth and Knowing, by Danielle Macbeth

Kant believes that there are synthetic a priori judgments: it is not incoherent to deny them (as it would be to claim that a bachelor is married), but they can be known independently of experience....
Comparison of resolving power of array processing methods by using an analytical criterion

Resolving power is very important when comparing localization methods in underwater passive listening. The authors introduce a simple criterion that is based on a second-order analysis of different localization functions usually available in array processing: conventional and adaptive beamforming and the MUSIC method. A general procedure is presented in both finite- and infinite-time observation cases, providing a system of equations. Its solutions are shown to describe areas as functions of the spectral levels and bearings of the two sources to be resolved. Explicit analytical formula are given in the asymptotic case. The angular resolving powers of the three methods have been derived by approximations and compared with an ultimate resolution bound. It is found that the resolving power of the classical approach depends only on array geometry, whereas that of the adaptive beamforming and MUSIC methods is varies as the fourth root of the input-signal-to-noise ratio. >
VALIDATION OF SELF-ADMINISTERED QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDY OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

An eight-item, self-administered questionnaire for the ascertainment of peripheral neuropathies was validated with 19 persons who had neuropathy confirmed by neurologists' examinations and electrodiagnostic studies, and with 37 persons without known neuropathy. The results from cases and neurology clinic controls suggested a two-stage screening definition for cases of peripheral neuropathy: the classification as cases of all persons who required help getting out of a chair one or more days/week and, among those not requiring help, who had a symptom score of zero or more based on the formula Si = -2.6 + 0.8 (frequency of cramps in arms or legs) + 0.5 (frequency of paresthesias in arms, hands, legs, or feet). This case definition resulted in a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 93.3% when applied to the original data from which it was developed. The statistical technique of cross-validation suggested an upward bias in these estimates of sensitivity and specificity of 12% and 20%, respectively. The model had a specificity of 100% when tested independently with medical office controls. The authors discuss the use of the questionnaire in cross-sectional epidemiologic studies.
Histologic specificity of the effect of age at birth of first child on breast cancer risk.

Slides of 531 breast cancers from Glamorgan, Wales, were classified according to the presence or absence of each of three histologic characteristics: stromal infiltration by linear strands of tumor cells, areas of intraductal carcinoma, and areas of lobular carcinoma in situ. The proportion of tumors with each of these characteristics was positively associated with age at first child-birth. Increasing age at first birth had a strong positive effect on the incidence risk of tumors with any of these features, but only a small effect on risk of tumors with none. For porous women, the rate of breast cancer with or without linear strands, with or without areas of intraductal cancer, and without areas of lobular carcinoma in situ was lower than for nulliparous women. Parity appeared not to reduce the risk of tumors with areas of lobular carcinoma in situ. Specificite Histologique De L'Effet De L'Age A La Premiere Naissance Sur Le Risque De Cancer Du Sein Des lames portant des echantillons de 531 cancers du sein observes chez des malades de Glamorgan (Pays de Galles) ont ete classees en fonction de la presence ou de l'absence des trois caracteristiques histologiques suivantes: infiltration stromale par des cellules tumorales “en file indienne”, zones d'epithelioma intracanaliculaire et zones d'epithelioma lobulaire in situ. Une relation a ete etablie entre la proportion de tumeurs presentant ces caracteristiques et l'ǎge de ces malades a la premiere naissance. Il est apparu que l'elevation de l'ǎge a la premiere naissance a un effet considerable sur le risque de tumeurs presentant l'une de ces caracteristiques, mais qu'elle n'en a guere sur le risque de tumeurs ne presentant aucune d'entre elles. Par rapport aux femmes nullipares, le taux des cancers du sein avec ou sans cellules “en file indienne”, avec ou sans zones d'epithelioma intracanaliculaire et sans zones d'epithelioma lobulaire in situ, etait faible parmi les pares. Apparemment, laparite ne reduit pas le risque de tumeurs comportant des zones d'epithelioma lobulaire in situ.
Risk Assessment of Prostatic Pathology in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystoprostatectomy

Abstract Objectives To determine the incidence and location of prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) and prostatic urothelial carcinoma (PUC) for patients undergoing radical cystoprostatectomy (RCP) for bladder cancer and to ascertain what preoperative information may be useful in predicting PUC or PCa in patients who may be candidates for prostate-sparing cystectomy. Methods Between 2001 and 2004, 235 consecutive patients underwent RCP and had whole-mount sections of the prostate. We reviewed our prospective radical cystectomy database for preoperative clinicopathological information associated with each patient. The bladder and whole-mount prostate sections were re-reviewed to determine the location and depth of the bladder tumor as well as the presence of any associated PCa and PUC. Results We identified 113 of 235 (48%) and 77 of 235 (33%) men with PCa and PUC, respectively. Among patients with PCa, 33 (29%) had Gleason score of ≥ 7, 25 (22%) had PCa tumor volume > 0.5 cc, and 15 (13%) had extracapsular extension. On multivariable analysis, only increasing age was significantly associated with PCa (odds ratio=1.3, p =0.046). Of the 77 with PUC, 28 (36%) had in situ disease only, while 49 (64%) had prostatic stromal invasion. Bladder tumor location in the trigone/bladder neck ( p p Conclusions PCa and/or PUC is present in a majority of RCP specimens. Current preoperative staging and tumor characteristics are not adequate for determining who can safely be selected for prostate-sparing cystectomy.
Implications of small reference vessel diameter in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine whether small reference diameter of the culprit coronary artery influences the outcome of an attempted percutaneous revascularization procedure in the current era of interventional cardiology. BACKGROUND Although the interventional strategy is largely determined by the size of the culprit coronary artery, earlier quantitative studies have not shown a worse acute outcome for small reference vessel diameter (≤2.5 mm). METHODS A total of 2,306 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization was divided in groups with reference diameters ≤2.5 mm (n = 813) or >2.5 mm (n = 1,493). Success and in-hospital major adverse cardiac event (death, Q-wave myocardial infarction and emergency coronary artery bypass graft) rates between both groups were compared. RESULTS Patients with lesions in small vessels were older and presented more frequently with female gender, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, peripheral vascular, multivessel coronary disease and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) lesion type C (p ≤ 0.01, each). Further, utilization of interventional devices differed markedly. In contrast to stents (18.5% vs. 41.9%) and directional atherectomy (3.7% vs. 13.5%), conventional balloon angioplasty (73% vs. 50%) and rotational atherectomy (16.1% vs. 8.3%) were used more often in smaller vessels (p ≤ 0.0001, each). Success rate was lower in the small vessel group (92% vs. 95%; p = 0.006). Major adverse cardiac events occurred more frequently in small than large vessels (univariate 3.4% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.03; multivariate odds ratio 2.1, p = 0.02), particularly when proximal coronary segments were compared. CONCLUSIONS Lesions in vessels with small reference diameter represent a distinct group with respect to clinical and morphologic characteristics as well as device utilization. These lesions have lower chances of successful percutaneous intervention and carry relatively higher risks, specifically when located in proximal coronary segments.
Frequent loss of heterozygosity for Rb, TP53, and chromosome arm 3p, but not NME1 in squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx.

Background. The inactivation of some tumor suppressor genes classically manifests itself through the loss of heterozygosity at nearby genetic mapping markers. Inactivation of these genes appears to have diagnostic/ prognostic significance in some types of tumors, Molecular genetic tools based on suppressor inactivation might, therefore, have great utility in treatment planning. Methods. The polymerase chain reaction and highly informative microsatellite markers were used to compare DNA derived from matched sets of tumor and normal tissue samples from 37 supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Tumor samples were microdissected free of contaminating normal tissue to maximize the detection of allelic loss. Polymerase chain reaction products were fractionated by denaturing gel electrophoresis and were visualized by autoradiography. Results. Allelic losses were frequent at TP53 (56% of the tumors), the retinoblastoma gene (Rb, 59%), and the p13-14 region of chromosome 3 (64%). In contrast, the putative metastasis suppressor, NMEl (also known as NM23), was lost infrequently (7%). NMEl allelic loss did not correlate with the presence of lymph node metastases in these patients. Conclusions. The high frequencies of allelic loss at TP53, Rb, and 31313-14 suggest that these suppressors play a major role in laryngeal carcinogenesis. In sharp con