cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infrared Spectroscopic Studies of Conduction Band and Trapped Electrons in UV-Photoexcited, H-Atom n-Doped, and Thermally Reduced TiO2

Transmission FTIR spectroscopy is used to explore the electronic structure of excited TiO2 nanoparticles. Broad infrared spectral features in UV-photoexcited, n-doped, and thermally reduced titania are found to be well-described by two theoretical models, which independently account for the creation of free conduction band electrons and trapped localized electrons that occupy states within the band gap. The infrared spectra indicate that the trapped electrons reside at shallow donor levels that exist 0.12–0.3 eV below the conduction band minimum. IR excitation of the trapped electrons is evidenced by a broad feature in the spectra, which exhibits a maximum that corresponds to the energy of the donor level. These features are well described by a hydrogenic-effective mass model. In addition, free conduction band electrons have a dramatic effect on the infrared spectra by exhibiting a broad featureless absorbance that increases exponentially across the entire mid-IR range. This absorbance is the result of in...
The antenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects.

Over the past decade, the ability to diagnose neural tube defects has changed from being limited to radio-graphic detection of anencephaly during later pregnancy to highly reliable diagnosis of the majority of neural tube defects during the early second trimester. Aspects of prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects relevant to the perinatologist are discussed.
Passive transfer of alloantibodies restores acute cardiac rejection in IgKO mice.

BACKGROUND Alloantibody is an intrinsic component of the immune response to organ transplants. Although alloantibodies have been correlated with decreased graft survival, the mechanisms of alloantibody-mediated injury remain largely undefined in vivo. In the present study, we have established a model of alloantibody-mediated graft injury using B10.A (H-2a) hearts transplanted to wild type (WT) or immunoglobulin knock out (IgKO) C57BL-Igh-6 (H-2b) mice. METHODS Alloantibodies were measured in the circulation and graft by flow cytometry and in immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Intragraft cytokine mRNA expression was evaluated using a competitive template reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. P-selectin and von Willebrand factor expression were localized by immunoperoxidase staining. The capacity of alloantibodies to restore acute cardiac allograft rejection was tested by passive transfer of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens to IgKO recipients. RESULTS B10.A cardiac allografts are rejected acutely by WT C57BL/6 recipients, but over 50% of the cardiac allografts survived more than 50 days after transplantation in IgKO mice. Competitive template RT-PCR on the cardiac transplants demonstrated similar levels of IL-1-alpha, IL-12 (p40), TNF-alpha, IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA in WT and IgKO recipients 8-10 days after transplantation, indicating that macrophage- and T-cell-dependent immune responses were intact in IgKO recipients. The rejection of B10.A hearts in WT recipients was characterized by interstitial and perivascular cellular infiltration; IgG, IgM, and complement (C3) deposition; vascular cell injury and intravascular platelet aggregation; and release of von Willebrand factor and P-selectin. In IgKO recipients the lower degree of vascular injury in the absence of alloantibody responses was reflected by the lack of release of von Willebrand factor and P-selectin, which remained confined to cytoplasmic storage granules of endothelial cells and platelets. Acute rejection of cardiac allografts was restored to IgKO recipients by passive transfer of proinflammatory IgG2b mAbs against donor MHC; recipients injected with isotype-matched control mAbs did not reject. In contrast, passive transfer of IgG1 mAbs against donor MHC failed to restore acute rejection of cardiac allografts to IgKO recipients. Passive transfer of IgG2b, but not IgG1 mAbs was associated with endothelial cell activation and plate. let aggregation together with the release of preformed von Willebrand factor and P-selectin from storage granules. CONCLUSIONS Acute rejection of cardiac allografts can be reconstituted in IgKO recipients by passive transfer of IgG2b, but not IgG1 antibody. This model allows the mechanism of alloantibody-mediate graft injury to be dissected in vivo.
Treatment Approaches for Dry AMD

The overall goal of treating dry AMD is to target the underlying cause of the disease and prevent, or at least slow, the loss of vision, which requires the preservation of the choroid, RPE, and photoreceptors.
Complicated Realities : Mental Health and Moral Incongruence in Disaster/Humanitarian Response

In the course of disaster/humanitarian response, providers are exposed to chaotic environments riddled with morally complex situations. This article disseminates research findings that highlight the impact of moral incongruence on responder mental health within the disaster/humanitarian setting by focusing on the theme "Everything was gray." The information is extracted from a larger, mixed methods study examining numerous variables considered within relevant literature to be influential in the occurrence of psychological distress among disaster/humanitarian responders.
School Characteristics and Teacher Policy Influence: Evidence From New York City:

Proponents of the charter school movement often claim that the decentralized, autonomous nature of charter schools from district and state authority allows teachers greater influence over school po...
Cell–Cell and Cell–Matrix Interactions in Bone

Publisher Summary This chapter covers the structure of bone, diseases associated with bones, functions of the bone cells, and hormones responsible for bone development, growth, and maintenance. Bone cells are in constant communication with cells of other systems and also with the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is composed of osteoid, non-mineralized bone tissue and the mineralized bone matrix. One of the bone diseases, osteoporosis is defined as the condition of generalized skeletal fragility in which bone strength is sufficiently weak that fractures occur with minimal trauma, often no more than is applied by routine daily activity. Treatment for osteoporosis includes hormone therapy and the use of bone resorption inhibitors such as the bisphosphonates, and, in addition, stimulators of bone formation such as modified forms of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Another serious genetic bone disease is osteogenesis imperfecta, a heritable disease of bone characterized by recurring bone fractures. It is caused by mutations affecting the structure of the collagen type I molecule, and is the most common single gene defect causing bone disease. One of the bone cells, osteoclast is described histologically as a multinucleated, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cell. The sole function of the osteoclast is to resorb bone. Osteoclast precursors are derived from the same stem cell hematopoietic precursors that can become granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages. Cell lines such as RAW 267.4 and MOPC-5 are available that represent osteoclast precursors, as these cells can form TRAP-positive multinucleated cells that resorb bone. Osteocytes are terminally differentiated osteoblasts, making up the majority of all bone cells. During osteocyte ontogeny, the matrix producing osteoblast becomes either a lining cell or a pre-osteocyte embedded in the newly formed osteoid.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: A Focus Group Assessment of Law Enforcement Officers

ABSTRACTThis study describes how prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are used and identifies the strengths and weakness found in the four PDMPs studied. Focus groups were conducted with law enforcement officers in four states. The results indicate that making it easier to obtain information from the systems in other states or establishing a regional (or national) system would improve and speed investigations. The study also found that officers felt that PDMP systems should be made more proactive to “red flag” offenders and provide evidence of “doctor shopping” by those who may fall outside the normal range of prescription patterns.
The great war against venereal disease: How the government used PR to wage an anti-vice campaign

Abstract Much of PR historiography focuses on the “Great Man,” corporate uses of the function. This study fills a gap in the literature by exploring how a non-governmental organization called the American Social Hygiene Association (ASHA) worked with the U.S. federal government during World War I to equate sexual health with wartime patriotism to lower venereal disease (VD) rates. Partnering with ASHA on an anti-venereal campaign provided the government with a way to enhance military efficiency (i.e., fewer soldiers out of action with VD meant more men available to fight). In return, ASHA gained a national audience and the backing of the government for its vision of sexual health and social morality. This study shows that The Committee on Public Information (CPI) was not alone in using PR-type techniques as a weapon of mass instruction during the Great War. Similar to the CPI, the social hygiene campaign organizers used a diverse range of communications activities ranging from pamphlets to lectures to films – all for the purpose of instilling a new social health agenda.
Where did interpretivism go in the theory of entrepreneurship

Abstract I argue that an interpretivist philosophic approach has been neglected in modern entrepreneurship research, but that such an approach may be most appropriate to the individualist nature of entrepreneurship. Realist meta-theories suffer from issues of paradigm incommensurability that may be at the heart of the present difficulties in defining and delineating the field of entrepreneurship. Interpretivism offers a potentially groundbreaking philosophical alternative that highlights the source of entrepreneurship in individuals rather than in abstract markets, emphasizing emergence rather than presuming opportunity existence. In this paper I defend interpretivism against its critics and revisit the nature of entrepreneurship through this lens. I show that process theories of entrepreneurship are aligned with interpretivist meta-theory, and that their explicit adoption of an interpretivist foundation may better facilitate theoretical progress.
Identifying Head Start Children for Higher Tiers of Language and Literacy Instruction

The application of Response to Intervention (RtI) to early childhood settings presents many opportunities and challenges; however, it remains unclear how best to implement this framework in setting...
Optimistic posterior sampling for reinforcement learning: worst-case regret bounds

We present an algorithm based on posterior sampling (aka Thompson sampling) that achieves near-optimal worst-case regret bounds when the underlying Markov Decision Process (MDP) is communicating with a finite, though unknown, diameter. Our main result is a high probability regret upper bound of $\tilde{O}(D\sqrt{SAT})$ for any communicating MDP with $S$ states, $A$ actions and diameter $D$, when $T\ge S^5A$. Here, regret compares the total reward achieved by the algorithm to the total expected reward of an optimal infinite-horizon undiscounted average reward policy, in time horizon $T$. This result improves over the best previously known upper bound of $\tilde{O}(DS\sqrt{AT})$ achieved by any algorithm in this setting, and matches the dependence on $S$ in the established lower bound of $\Omega(\sqrt{DSAT})$ for this problem. Our techniques involve proving some novel results about the anti-concentration of Dirichlet distribution, which may be of independent interest.
ROBUST STABILITY OF LINEAR SYSTEMS: ENGINEERING MOTIVATION*

This paper provides a brief description of robust stability analysis issues in automatic control system design. The notion of robust stability is defined and its importance is motivated in terms of in accuracies invariably associated with engineering models Common tests for robust stability are described which are applicable in multivariable as well as single-input single-output system design. The paper concludes with a short description of available synthesis methods for robust stability and highlights current unresolved issues in the state-of-the-art.
Clinical Features of Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma patients typically present with lymphadenopathy that involves lymph node sites in a contiguous fashion, while extranodal sites of disease are less common. Systemic symptoms including fevers, drenching night sweats, weight loss, and pruritus may be present at diagnosis. A comprehensive clinical evaluation is important prior to therapy to confirm the stage of disease, identify adverse prognostic factors and anticipate complications due to comorbid conditions. Information gleaned from the careful assessment of the patient, and from radiological and laboratory testing, will allow for an appropriate selection of therapy. Imaging studies, particularly the use of PET scans, are an important part of this initial clinical evaluation but are also critical during and after therapy to evaluate response for prognostic purposes. Because the outcome of Hodgkin lymphoma patients is usually good and many patients may be cured, long-term follow-up of patients is necessary to detect and manage potential complications of therapy.
Evaluation of the Adnexal Mass

Patients found to have a pelvic adnexal mass in the ambulatory setting are most often asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. Rather than the need for urgent surgical management which is common in patients with acute pelvic symptomatology, patients with an adnexal mass in the ambulatory setting more often require quantification of the risk of malignancy or a structured plan for surveillance (Table 8.1). Refinements in ultrasound diagnostics (adnexal mass morphology, color flow Doppler), serum tumor markers, multivariate index assays, and genetic testing, when appropriate, have all become strategic in the assessment of an adnexal mass.
Overexpression of a glutathione S-transferase (Mdgst) and a galactosyltransferase-like gene (Mdgt1) is responsible for imidacloprid resistance in house flies.

Background Neonicotinoids are the largest class of insecticides and are used for control of house fly populations at animal production facilities throughout the world. There have been several reports of neonicotinoid resistance in house fly populations, but identification of the factors involved in resistance has proven challenging. The KS8S3 population of house flies is highly resistant to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid due to two factors: one on chromosome 3 and one on chromosome 4. Results A comparative transcriptomic approach was used, followed by validation using transgenic Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the genes responsible for resistance in the KS8S3 strain. Overexpression of a microsomal glutathione S-transferase (Mdgst) was identified as the factor likely responsible for resistance on chromosome 3. Resistance on chromosome 4 appears to be due to an unidentified trans-regulatory gene which causes overexpression of a galactosyltransferase-like gene (Mdgt1). No single nucleotide polymorphisms were found that could be associated with imidacloprid resistance. Conclusion Identification of the underlying processes that cause imidacloprid resistance is an important first step towards the development of novel and sensitive resistance monitoring techniques. It will be valuable to investigate if overexpression of Mdgst and Mdgt1 are found in other imidacloprid resistant populations. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Experiments and Demonstration

The preceding chapters described the details of Darwin2K2018s principle components: robot representations, system architecture, the synthesis algorithm, and simulation and analysis methods for evaluating robot configurations. This chapter puts those pieces together to demonstrate Darwin2K’s capabilities, describe its usage, support claims about the synthesizer, and provide insight into key issues and limitations. Results are presented for six synthesis tasks; some demonstrate the breadth and depth of Darwin2K’s scope, while others characterize the synthesizer’s performance. The first experiment is synthesis of a free-flying, dual-armed robot for satellite servicing, and should give the reader an understanding of how tasks are specified in Darwin2K while demonstrating synthesis of a complex robot. The second experiment synthesizes fixed-base manipulators for a trajectory-following task, and includes results for five different sets of initial conditions which vary the modules and starting configurations used by the synthesizer. The third experiment uses a simplified version of the second task, and characterizes the performance of the Commonality-Preserving Crossover operator and subgraph preservation through over eighty runs of the synthesizer. The third experiment also compares performance of the selection algorithms described in Chapter 3 through another series of synthesizer trials.
Combined Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography/Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Imaging of Vitreous and the Vitreo-Retinal Interface

Vitreous is not a space but an important ocular structure that maintains transparency, provides shock absorption, and plays a role in ocular physiology. The vitreo-retinal interface is the site of much pathology that leads to blindness. The outermost layer of vitreous is known as the posterior vitreous cortex. Hyalocytes are mononuclear phagocytes, which reside in a single layer embedded within the posterior vitreous cortex. As members of the reticulo-endothelial system, hyalocytes function as sentinel cells. During aging, there is dissociation of collagen from hyaluronan (HA) resulting in fibers and liquefied vitreous, a process known as synchisis. Concurrent weakening of vitreous adhesion to retina allows for collapse (syneresis) of the liquefied vitreous away from the retina, a phenomenon known as posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). Anomalous PVD occurs when there is synchisis (gel liquefaction) without sufficient dehiscence at the vitreo-retinal interface to allow for innocuous syneresis and PVD. The consequences of anomalous PVD vary depending on where the posterior vitreous cortex most firmly adheres to the retina and posterior pole, and where the vitreous is most liquefied. In the periphery, anomalous PVD causes retinal tears and detachments. At the macula, anomalous PVD causes vitreo-macular traction syndrome, if the attached posterior vitreous cortex is intact and has full thickness. Vitreoschisis occurs when during anomalous PVD there is a split in the posterior vitreous cortex, leaving the outermost layer of vitreous attached to the macula. The split can either occur anterior or posterior to the level of hyalocytes. Anomalous PVD with vitreoschisis anterior to the hyalocytes leaves these cells attached to the macula. These cells mediate inward (centripetal) tangential traction and macular pucker (MP). There are very few cases of vitreo-papillary adhesion (VPA) in MP. Anomalous PVD with vitreoschisis posterior to the level of hyalocytes and persistent adhesion of vitreous to the optic disc results in outward (centrifugal) tangential traction and macular holes (MHs). Pharmacologic vitreolysis is a new modality to treat disorders of the vitreo-retinal interface using agents that liquefy vitreous, known as “liquefactants,” and agents that weaken vitreo-retinal adhesion, known as “interfactants.” The former agents induce synchisis, while the latter agents allow innocuous syneresis. There are agents that have both properties.
Humanistic Fuzzy Systems

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to contact with Professor Zadeh and fuzziness in the early 1970’s. The frequent contacts, encouragements as well as the directions personally from Professor Zadeh became a continuous inspiration to my work. It is difficult to summarize and to re-call all the contacts, developments and meetings on fuzziness through the years but, at this remarkable point of time, I would like to congratulate the successful developments and applications on fuzziness during these past nearly 50 years and celebrate on Professor Zadeh’s 90th anniversary.
On the Stability of Taylor-Couette Flow Subjected to External Rotation

Circular Couette flow1 is the flow between two concentric cylinders with one or both of them rotating about their geometric axis. We consider here a modified Couette flow, which occurs when only the inner cylinder rotates about this axis, and both cylinders rotate about a second external axis which is orthogonal to the first. In this paper we present theoretical results for the linear stability of this modified flow. This system is of particular interest because the external rotation breaks the cylindrical symmetry of Couette flow and leads to instabilities and spatio-temporal patterns which do not occur without it. Experimental studies of this system2–5 have revealed a surprising richness of bifurcation phenomena. The first theoretical results for this problem were obtained by Ning et al.6 and Wiener et a1.,7 who calculated the modified base flow and determined its stability for small values of the external rotation rate Ω. Using Ω as an expansion parameter, these authors carried out the analysis to O(Ω2). The calculated values of the critical Reynolds number, the critical wavenumber, and the tilt angle of the vortices were in quantitative agreement with experiments.6
Some Major Factors Influencing Motivation: Implications for Educational Setting Events:

The purpose of this study was to examine specific factors which can positively influence the educational desire of a student. Basic to this was the inherent consideration that behavioral outcomes w...
Communication between pharmacists and primary care physicians in the midst of a U.S. opioid crisis.

Abstract Background Effective communication between prescribers of opioids and community pharmacists can contribute to maximizing appropriate pain management and reducing opioid misuse and diversion. While much of the education and training available on reducing opioid misuse and diversion stresses the importance of interprofessional communication between prescribers and pharmacists, few studies have been explored those communication patterns directly. Objective The objectives of this manuscript are to present and explore key emergent themes from a qualitative study around the nature, frequency, and content of communication between primary care physicians (PCPs) and pharmacists focusing on opioids. Methods Interviews were conducted with 48 PCPs and 60 community pharmacists across four states in the U.S.: Washington, Idaho, Kentucky and Arkansas. Results Convergent results from both samples indicated that the content of communication usually centers on questions of dosing, timing of the prescription, and/or evidence of potential misuse/diversion. When communication was focused on relaying information about a patient and/or clarifying questions around the prescription, it appeared positive for both parties. Results also indicated that close physical proximity between PCPs and dispensing pharmacists contributed to more positive and useful communication, especially when the clinics and pharmacies were part of the same healthcare system. Many pharmacists reported hesitancy in “questioning” a physician's judgement, which appeared related to commonly held beliefs of both pharmacists and physicians about the respective roles of each in providing patient care. Pharmacists reported difficulty in reaching PCPs for discussion, while PCPs reported it was easy to reach pharmacists. Conclusions Physician and pharmacist communication around opioids can be mutually beneficial. When prescribers and pharmacists are co-located, higher levels of trust and teamwork are reported, which in turn seems to be related to more open and positive communication. Additional research is needed to identify interventions to increase mutually-valued communication that improves the quality of decision-making around opioids.
Development, implementation and perceived benefits of student pharmacist learning experiences in transitions of care

Abstract Background Experiential education designed around transitions of care (TOC) offers student pharmacists a variety of educational activities to build their skills and confidence related to direct patient care, communication, and practice management. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, implementation, and student perceptions of introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) that emphasize TOC. Educational activity Sixty students (22 IPPE and 38 APPE) completed the learning experience with the oversight of two faculty members in two, separate, large community hospitals providing pharmacy led TOC services. Each educational activity was mapped to the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process, which includes guided electronic medical record review, patient case discussions, and direct patient care (i.e. medication history collection, patient education). Other aspects of the learning experience include the use of layered learning, intention/reflection dialogues, and topic discussions. Evaluation of the learning experience occurred through review of student performance data and feedback. Critical analysis of the educational activity Student performance data demonstrated an increase in the mean score between midpoint and final evaluation of all TOC specific competencies. Students expressed a positive learning experience as demonstrated by an approximately 3.8 overall rating of the learning experience on a 4-point scale for both IPPEs and APPEs. Analysis of open comments from students demonstrated the most beneficial aspects of the learning experience as interprofessional communication, patient communication, and a variety of patient care opportunities.
Multimodal Cue Combinations: A Possible Approach to Designing In-Vehicle Takeover Requests for Semi-autonomous Driving:

The rapid growth of autonomous vehicles is expected to improve roadway safety. However, certain levels of vehicle automation will still require drivers to ‘takeover’ during abnormal situations, whi...
Presión de las barras sobre el Congreso en la Nueva Granada en el siglo XIX: ¿una esfera pública plebeya o simplemente “política contenciosa” y expresión de un “repertorio de confrontación”?

This paper revisits the understanding of the “public sphere” of civil society, including Harbermas’s original formulation and those of various other historians, even Latinamericanists. It argues that it is necessary to supplement some of these views, adding a historical component related to this important concept. It consists of popular political pressure in the form of bodily presence and active participation through shouts, physical gestures toward, and threats directed to state agents. Many of those political expressions regularly targeted deliberating state officials and representatives, in particular legislatures, during critical moments in their functioning. They intended to force members of congress to decide in favor of popular preferences. This would mean that, apart from literary and journalistic production and polemics, intellectual debates and the like, aimed at influencing public policies, a perhaps less glamorous, but quite important and effective expression of popular politics, not precisely a plebeian public sphere, took place in a more informal way. This significant modality, probably better explained through Chares Tilly’s notions of contentious politics and repertories of contention rather than Habermas’s “public sphere”, may have accomplished, in a blunt manner, substantial changes in public policy or in the decisions made by legislators and presumably other state officials. The case of nineteenth-century New Granada congressional politics will serve to illustrate this meaningful historical process.
What Personal Information Can a Consumer Facial Image Reveal? Implications for Marketing ROI and Consumer Privacy

Massive availability of individuals’ facial images through online uploads and CCTV surveillance, combined with lacking regulation, presents potential for companies to obtain richer consumer data -- at the risk of privacy violations through exposure of personal information in such images. Building on rich survey data and supermarket video and receipt information, we provide systematic evaluation of relative predictability of different types of personal information -- through deep learning on facial images. We find facial images provide versatile statistical signals on individual's behaviors, preferences, character, personality, and beliefs. A large part of such predictive power is attributable to basic demographics extracted from the face. However, image artifacts, observable facial features, and deep image features extracted by a neural net all contribute to prediction accuracy beyond demographics. Using empirical evidence, a decision theory proof, and a simulation study, we argue such incremental information can meaningfully increase return on investment (ROI) when used for targeting. The limited accuracy of predictions from facial images attenuates the privacy risks to some degree, however, the variety of signals from a facial image is surprising. Prejudice caused by human decision makers' exposure to such statistical information is a substantial concern. We hope our results and the novel data we release with this work inspire research in the emerging area of facial analysis.
Computational Methods in Heterogeneous Catalysis

The unprecedented ability of computations to probe atomic-level details of catalytic systems holds immense promise for the fundamentals-based bottom-up design of novel heterogeneous catalysts, which are at the heart of the chemical and energy sectors of industry. Here, we critically analyze recent advances in computational heterogeneous catalysis. First, we will survey the progress in electronic structure methods and atomistic catalyst models employed, which have enabled the catalysis community to build increasingly intricate, realistic, and accurate models of the active sites of supported transition-metal catalysts. We then review developments in microkinetic modeling, specifically mean-field microkinetic models and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, which bridge the gap between nanoscale computational insights and macroscale experimental kinetics data with increasing fidelity. We finally review the advancements in theoretical methods for accelerating catalyst design and discovery. Throughout the review, we provide ample examples of applications, discuss remaining challenges, and provide our outlook for the near future.
Recurrent symptomatic pleural effusion from a syringopleural shunt

A patient with a syringopleural shunt with dyspnea and cough was found to have a recurrent large pleural effusion. Computed tomography of the thorax revealed the syringopleural shunt catheter abutt...
Comments on Richard Markovits’s Claim That the Requirement of Possession of Pre or Post Market Power Is Unnecessary in Monopolization and Attempt to Monopolize Cases and a Proposed Second-Best Reconciliation of the Per Se and Conventional Approaches to Dangerous Probability

Richard Markovits’s view that “neither the pre-conduct nor the post-conduct possession of monopoly power should as a matter of law be required for a Section 2 conviction” could not be more inconsistent with how Section 2 of the Sherman Act has been interpreted. This article examines his view and concludes that, as an economic matter, he is correct. Specifically, in attempt to monopolize cases, market power is used to determine whether there is a “dangerous probability” that a firm will achieve monopoly status. Market power may measure how close a firm is to monopoly status but is not a measure of its capacity to attain that status. It simply confuses the analysis. Nevertheless some readers may believe the “dangerous probability” element of attempt cases is crucial. The article explores possible substitutes for market power as a measure of “dangerousness.”
The Influence of Alice

The Supreme Court’s decision in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank has had a decimating influence on patents and patent applications. Its long shadow looms over every stage of a patent’s life cycle — from prosecution to litigation and the administrative post-grant process at the patent office. In their article, Professor Jay Kesan and Dr. Runhua Wang offer a penetrating look at Alice’s influence on software, business methods and bioinformatics, all key technologies powering our modern economy. This Response sets out the relevant law on patent eligibility, contextualizes the Authors’ key findings on bioinformatics applications against that legal framework, and considers whether Congress, the courts, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can be agents of change to alleviate Alice’s baleful influence on patent law.
Radiotherapy Delivered before CDK4/6 Inhibitors Mediates Superior Therapeutic Effects in ER+ Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Recent preclinical data suggest that cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibition may be harnessed to sensitize estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer to radiotherapy. However, these findings were obtained in human ER+ breast cancer cell lines exposed to subclinical doses of CDK4/6 inhibitors with limited attention to treatment schedule. We investigated the activity of radiotherapy combined with the prototypic CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib placing emphasis on therapeutic schedule. Experimental Design: We combined radiotherapy and palbociclib in various doses and therapeutic schedules in human and mouse models of ER+ and ER-negative (ER−) breast cancer, including an immunocompetent mouse model that recapitulates key features of human luminal B breast cancer in women. We assessed proliferation, cell death, cell-cycle control, and clonogenic survival in vitro, as well as tumor growth, overall survival, and metastatic dissemination in vivo. Results: Radiotherapy and palbociclib employed as standalone agents had partial cytostatic effects in vitro, correlating with suboptimal tumor control in vivo. However, while palbociclib delivered before focal radiotherapy provided minimal benefits as compared with either treatment alone, delivering focal radiotherapy before palbociclib mediated superior therapeutic effects, even in the absence of p53. Such superiority manifested in vitro with enhanced cytostasis and loss of clonogenic potential, as well as in vivo with improved local and systemic tumor control. Conclusions: Our preclinical findings demonstrate that radiotherapy delivered before CDK4/6 inhibitors mediates superior antineoplastic effects compared with alternative treatment schedules, calling into question the design of clinical trials administering CDK4/6 inhibitors before radiotherapy in women with ER+ breast cancer.
Theoretical Models for the Rate of NO Decomposition over Copper-Exchanged Zeolites

A unified description of the catalytic effect of Cu-exchanged zeolites is proposed for the decomposition of NO. A general expression for the rate constant of NO decomposition is obtained by assuming that the rate-determining step consists of the transferring of a single atom associated with breaking of the N−O bond. The analysis is performed on the basis of the generalized Langevin equation and takes into account both the potential interactions in the system and the memory effects due to the zeolite vibrations. Two different mechanisms corresponding to monomolecular and bimolecular NO decomposition are discussed. The catalytic effect in the monomolecular mechanism is related to both the Cu+ ions and zeolite O-vacancies, while in the case of the bimolecular mechanism the zeolite contributes through dissipation only. The comparison of the theoretically calculated rate constants with experimental results reveals additional information about the geometric and energetic characteristics of the active centers an...
How We Would Treat Our Own Pulmonary Hypertension if We Needed to Undergo Cardiac Surgery

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease that has many etiologies and is particularly prevalent in patients presenting for cardiac surgery, with which it is linked to poor outcomes. This manuscript is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the impact of PH on the perioperative management of patients who are undergoing cardiac surgery. The diagnosis of PH often involves a combination of noninvasive and invasive testing, whereas preoperative optimization frequently necessitates the use of specific medications that affect anesthetic management of these patients. The authors postulate that a thoughtful, multidisciplinary approach is required to deliver excellent perioperative care. Furthermore, they use an index case to illustrate the implications of managing a patient with pulmonary hypertension who presents for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Does Material Well-Being Affect Non-Material Well-Being?

Twelve measures of material well-being inthe U.S. States were subjected to factoranalysis. Four factors emerged: Security,Mastery, Harmony and Autonomy. Fiveself-reported measures of stress, mental healthand general health are regressed upon the fourquality of life measures. Only Harmony provedto be significantly associated with thestress-health factors. The elements of Harmonyare shown to have a reasonable causativelinkage to the stress-health factors. Foranother demonstration, money income of arepresentative sample of the U.S. populationis shown to be associated with self-reportedhappiness, but with variation, enabling aclassification of the population as to itsWell-Being, Dissonance, Adaptation orDeprivation in the income-happinessrelationship. Material well-being, thus, isshown to be linked to non-material,self-reported stress and health conditions.
Instantiation Theory: On the Foundations of Automated Deduction

Background.- General approaches to instantiation.- Classification properties.- Homomorphisms.- Construct bases.- Unification - an algorithm and its soundness.- Term-implementation and completeness.- Implementation and computational complexity.- Related issues not addressed.
Diabetes and hypertensive vascular disease

Population studies indicate that hypertension occurs with greater frequency in diabetic than in nondiabetic subjects. The hypertension associated with diabetes may be of three types: (1) essential hypertension usually complicating diabetes of late onset, (2) systolic hypertension secondary to atherosclerosis, and (3) "diabetic hypertension" which is a form of renal hypertension accompanying the clinical syndrome of diabetic nephropathy most commonly observed in patients with diabetes of juvenile onset. Surgically curable forms of hypertension including renal vascular hypertension are probably no more frequent in patients with diabetes than in the general population. Evidence is presented suggesting that there is suppression of the renin-angiotensin system accompanied by hypertension in uncontrolled diabetes in the rat treated with alloxan. Additionally, suppression of this system has been observed in patients with long-term diabetes and evidence of diabetic renal disease and hypertension, a finding that may explain the rarity of malignant hypertension in long-term diabetes. Possible mechanisms involved in both the suppression of the renin-angiotensin system and in the "diabetic hypertension" are discussed. Since "diabetic hypertension" may be a form of hyporeninemic hypertension, elucidation of the mechanism involved may yield valuable information concerning the large group of patients with essential hypertension with suppression of the renin-angiotensin system. The agents used for antihypertensive therapy in the diabetic patient are similar to those used in other hypertensive patients, but certain considerations must be given to their use, especially in the diabetic patient with complications.
Blistering eruption on the chest of a 30-year-old pregnant woman.

HistoryA previously healthy 30-year-old G2P1 African-Americanwoman, at 11 weeks’ gestation, presented with a three-week history of painful and pruritic blisters on her trunkand upper extremities. She had no drug allergies and wastaking only prenatal vitamins.Physical examination revealed multiple intact ﬂaccidbullae and large erosions. On closer inspection, therewere smaller vesicles arranged in an annular conﬁgurationand violaceous patches with overlying crust (Fig. 1). Mul-tiple erosions were present on the oral mucosa.Laboratory data revealed a normal blood count andmetabolic panel. Her antinuclear antibody titer wasslightly elevated at 1 : 160. However, her anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were normal.Two punch biopsy specimens were submitted to derma-topathology (Figs. 2 and 3).
Pectin Delays Gastric Emptying and Increases Satiety in Obese Subjects

As pectin delays gastric emptying in normal subjects and satiety may be linked to the rate of gastric emptying, we designed this study to evaluate, in a group of obese subjects, the effect of adding pectin to a meal on gastric emptying, sensation of satiety, and postprandial plasma cholecystokinin and pancreatic polypeptide levels. We studied gastric emptying of solids in 9 adult obese subjects on 2 separate days in a randomized fashion. On day 1, 15 g of pectin was added to the meal, and on day 2 15 g of methylcellulose was added and served as control. Satiety was evaluated by an analogue rating scale. Pectin significantly delayed gastric emptying time [t1/2 = 116 +/- 23 min vs. 71 +/- 17 min observed with methylcellulose (p less than 0.001)]. Pectin also significantly increased subjects' sensation of satiety [98 +/- 7 vs. 74 +/- 17 (p less than 0.001)]. Postprandial release of cholecystokinin and pancreatic polypeptide was not modified by pectin. As pectin induces satiety and delays gastric emptying in obese patients, it may be a useful adjuvant in the treatment of disorders of overeating.
Approximate Solutions to the Restricted Problem of Three Bodies for Small Mass Parameter

The restricted problem of three bodies is a simplification of the general problem. It is assumed that the mass of one body (m3) is negligible compared to the masses of the other two bodies (m1) and m2) and that m3 has no effect on the motions of the larger bodies. The primaries describe circular orbits about their mass center, while the motion of m3 becomes the unknown quantity. As it has been established that, aside from the Jacobian, no additional algebraic integrals exist for the restricted problem, the equations of motion for m3 must be considered “not integrated”. Numerical integration must be used to obtain specific orbits.
Coherent excitonic gain under resonant excitation in semiconductor quantum wells

Summary form only given. Strong resonant excitation of atoms can lead to Mollow spectra in saturation spectroscopy, with gain near the Rabi sidebands or with a coherent dip at the atomic resonance. In this paper we report experimental studies on the manifestation of Mollow spectra and especially gain in an excitonic system. We observe a spectrally sharp coherent excitonic gain in a semiconductor quantum well under strong resonant excitation. Theoretical analysis based on modified optical Bloch equations (MOBE) indicates that this coherent gain differs qualitatively from its counterpart in atomic systems and is a direct result of exciton-exciton interactions. Understanding the manifestation of Mollow spectra and gain in an excitonic system provides important insight into coherent optical interactions in semiconductors and is of importance in understanding recently observed parametric gain associated with exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities.
TOTAL PARENTKRAL NUTRITION (TPN) IN INFANCY AFFECTS AMYLASE AND LIPASE BUT NOT TRYPSIN SECRETION

During prolonged fasting, the absence of enteric stimulation might lead to pancreatic hypofunction or atrophy. The ahility of the pancreas to respond to exogenous secretagogues following fasting in conjunction with TPN in infancy is not known. In addition, while severe degrees of malnutrition (M) are known to adversely affect pancreatic structure and function (PF), it is unknown whether infants presenting with chronic diarrhea and first degree M could have alterations in PF. The results of panereozymin-secretin tests were analyzed in the following patient groups: 7 infants receiving TPN for >6 weeks for severe diarrhea in association with short bowel syndrome or intractable diarrhea; 17 infants exhibiting first degree M and chronic diarrhea and 12 controls (age matched well nourished infants with chronic diarrhea). No significant difference was found among the 3 groups in the volume of fluid collected following either cholecystokinin or secretin. The content and concentration of amylase and lipase were lower in those receiving TPN following secretin (p<0.05) .Peak specific activity and total trypsin and protein content were similar in all groups The findings indicate that fasted infants receiving TPN retain their ability to respond to pancreatic secretagogues. However, the enzyme output is affected differently. Amylase and lipase exhibit an attenuated response whereas that of trypsin is maintained. No impairment in exocrine pancreatic secretion was found in infants suffering mild M.
Parents’ views on human papillomavirus vaccination for sexually transmissible infection prevention: a qualitative study

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmissible infection (STI) in the United States (US) and an important cause of several cancers. Vaccines that prevent HPV infections are now recommended for routine use in adolescents but coverage remains suboptimal in the US. Because they are often promoted as cancer prevention vaccines, little is known about parents’ views on vaccination for prevention of an STI. Methods: In this qualitative study, parents and caregivers of children ages 10–18 years completed an in-depth interview. Participants (n = 38) were recruited from an urban hospital-based primary care centre serving a low-income population in the north-eastern US during May 2013–February 2014. Interviews were transcribed and coded using a thematic content approach. Results: Five major themes emerged with relevance to the topic of HPV vaccination for STI prevention: (1) low awareness of HPV as an STI; (2) favourable opinions about STI prevention messages for vaccination, including at young ages; (3) salience of sexual mode of transmission, given the unpredictability of adolescent sexual behaviour and high rates of other STIs and teen pregnancy; (4) recognition that sexual health is a topic of conversation between adolescents and health care providers; and(5) relevance of personal experience. Conclusions: Discussing STI prevention in the context of HPV vaccination appears to be well accepted by urban, low-income minority families. In addition to providing information on cancer prevention, these messages may help to raise awareness, acceptability and uptake of HPV vaccines.