cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of MUSIC Variants for Sparse Arrays

Nested and coprime arrays have high degrees of freedom that can be exploited in direction of arrival estimation using various algorithms. Most algorithms use a combination of product processing, min processing, and MUSIC. We show that direct MUSIC with unbiased autocorrelations estimates is superior to other algorithms.
Chapter 13 – The Second-Best Theory of Taxation in One-Consumer Economies with Linear Production Technology

Chapter 13 develops the deadweight efficiency loss or excess burden of distorting taxes in the simplest setting of linear production technology with constant producer prices. Among the topics covered are the total loss from a number of taxes, the marginal loss from changing a single tax, the optimal pattern of commodity taxes to minimize loss for a given amount of tax revenue, the associated inverse elasticity rule, the deadweight loss from income taxes, Besley and Jewitt's analysis of the necessary and sufficient conditions for proportional taxation, Feldstein's elasticity of taxable income measure of loss, and the loss implications of substituting one tax for another, with emphasis on the Corlett and Hague analysis.
Analysis of volatile compounds causing undesirable odors in a polypropylene - high-density polyethylene recycled plastic resin with solid-phase microextraction.

Abstract Although recycled plastics provide a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative for many applications, their desirability is significantly limited by the presence of unpleasant odors from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this work, a headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was optimized to analyze volatile compounds from an odorous recycled plastic resin which was roughly composed of 85-90% polypropylene (PP) and 15-10% high-density polyethylene (HDPE). A large variety of aliphatic hydrocarbons and 13 additive residues were detected. Statistical tools were employed to screen the VOCs and successfully identified three components, i.e., 2,4-dimethyl-heptane, 4-methyl-octane and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), which were significantly related to the odor intensity of the recycled plastic resin (p-values
A Review of Advances in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization and the Potential Role of Notch2 Blockade

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation can be a potential cure for hematological malignancies and some nonhematologic diseases. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) collected from peripheral blood after mobilization are the primary source to provide HSC transplantation. In most of the cases, mobilization by the cytokine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with chemotherapy, and in some settings, with the CXC chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist plerixafor, can achieve high yield of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). However, adequate mobilization is not always successful in a significant portion of donors. Research is going on to find new agents or strategies to increase HSC mobilization. Here, we briefly review the history of HSC transplantation, current mobilization regimens, some of the novel agents that are under investigation for clinical practice, and our recent findings from animal studies regarding Notch and ligand interaction as potential targets for HSPC mobilization.
A Study of Skin Physiology, Sensation and Friction of Nonwoven Fabrics Used in Absorbent Hygiene Products in Neutral and Warm Environments

Abstract Absorbent hygiene products like diapers, feminine hygiene, and wet wipes are life necessities. These products commonly use nonwoven fabrics as the layer that is in contact with the skin. Their performance in terms of skin health and comfort is receiving increased attention because of the existence of concerns for skin health issues such as skin irritation and dermatitis, and the large influence of skin sensation on individuals' preference. Friction is usually recognized as an important factor for skin comfort and dermatitis issues, but there is a lack of understanding of the relationship between friction and skin physiology, skin sensation, in the use of absorbent hygiene products. This study reports a measurement of friction in vivo with the evaluation of skin physiology and sensation in neutral and warm environments to explore the effects of fabric and friction on skin comfort. Friction tests between the volar forearm and nonwoven fabrics were conducted with the measurement of transepidermal water loss, skin redness, and the evaluation of subjective skin sensation. The interaction between skin and eight nonwoven fabrics with a surface roughness (arithmetic mean height) between 3 μm and 20 μm was evaluated in neutral (22 °C) and warm (35 °C) environments. Skin physiological changes after friction were able to be detected quantitatively by the transepidermal water loss and skin redness measurement. In the warm environment, there was significantly higher friction, less pleasantness, more changes in transepidermal water loss but not in skin redness. The friction can only relate to skin physiology and sensation in the neutral environment while the surface roughness of fabrics related to them in both neutral and warm environments. Both rough and smooth fabrics caused high friction in the warm environment, but the rough fabric caused a higher adverse impact on skin physiology and sensation than smooth fabrics that suggested the adhesion and deformation friction could have different effects on skin comfort. Deformation friction is more likely to have effects on skin physiology and pleasantness sensation than adhesion friction. The pleasantness sensation has a negative relationship with skin physiology. A more unpleasant sensation can indicate more impact on skin physiology. This provides a potential that the unpleasant sensation can be a precaution signal for the adverse effects on skin physiology.
Partially-Coherent Ultrasonic Imaging

An important problem in ultrasonic imaging is target detection under non-ideal imaging conditions. One example of this occurs in nondestructive testing (NDT) where cracks or inclusions must be found in the presence of normal material inhomogeneities (including surface roughness). The material inhomogeneities may create spatial variations in sound speed [1] as well as multi-path pulse distortion and speckle-like “material noise”. Furthermore, the ultrasonic pulse reflected from the target depends on the target shape and composition. Although this work is motivated by problems in NDT, the concept of partially-coherent imaging may also find applications in medical imaging and sonar.
Utility of a Smartphone-Based System (cvrPhone) in Estimating Minute Ventilation from Electrocardiographic Signals.

Background: We investigated the ability of a novel stand-alone, smartphone-based system, the cvrPhone, in estimating the minute ventilation (MV) from body surface electrocardiographic (ECG) signals...
Retrospective Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Symptomatic Patients prior to Widespread Diagnostic Testing in Southern California.

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused one of the worst pandemics in recent history. Few reports have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 was spreading in the United States as early as the end of January. In this study, we aimed to determine if SARS-CoV-2 had been circulating in the Los Angeles (LA) area at a time when access to diagnostic testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was severely limited. Methods We used a pooling strategy to look for SARS-CoV-2 in remnant respiratory samples submitted for regular respiratory pathogen testing from symptomatic patients from November 2019 to early March 2020. We then performed sequencing on the positive samples. Results We detected SARS-CoV-2 in 7 specimens from 6 patients, dating back to mid-January. The earliest positive patient, with a sample collected on January 13, 2020 had no relevant travel history but did have a sibling with similar symptoms. Sequencing of these SARS-CoV-2 genomes revealed that the virus was introduced into the LA area from both domestic and international sources as early as January. Conclusions We present strong evidence of community spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the LA area well before widespread diagnostic testing was being performed in early 2020. These genomic data demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 was being introduced into Los Angeles County from both international and domestic sources in January 2020.
Bariatric surgery is associated with reduced admission for aortic dissection: a nationwide case-control analysis.

Abstract Background Aortic dissection (AD) is an uncommon but life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Hypertension (HTN) and hyperlipidemia (HLD) are common modifiable risk factors. Objectives Since bariatric surgery is associated with remission of obesity-related co-morbidities, we hypothesize that surgical weight loss might be protective against this feared aortic pathology. Setting A cross-sectional analysis was performed using the National Inpatient Sample database from 2010 to 2015. Methods The treatment group included bariatric patients and the control group patients with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35kg/m2) without previous bariatric surgery. Analyzed covariates included demographics, co-morbidities, aortic diseases, and AD. A multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA) was performed to assess the odds of admission for AD in both groups. Results A total of 2,300,845 patients were identified (2,004,804 controls and 296,041 cases). The mean (SEM) age was 54.4 (.05) versus 51.9 (.05) years, for the control and treatment groups, respectively (P Conclusions Bariatric surgery could be a protective factor against aortic dissection and should be considered in patients with obesity and risk factors for this cardiovascular complication.
The Effectiveness of Locomotion Interfaces Depends on Self-Motion Cues, Environmental Cues, and the Individual

The proliferation of locomotion interfaces for virtual reality necessitates a framework for predicting and evaluating navigational success. Spatial updating—the process of mentally updating one’s self-location during locomotion—is a core component of navigation, is easy to measure, and is sensitive to common elements of locomotion interfaces. This paper highlights three factors that influence spatial updating: body-based self-motion cues, environmental cues, and characteristics of the individual. The concordance framework, which characterizes locomotion interfaces based on agreement between body movement and movement through the environment, serves as a useful starting point for understanding the effectiveness of locomotion interfaces for enabling accurate navigation.
Balloons are not just for children

A 28-year-old man was shot at close range on the left side of the face at the level of the mandible. Arterial hemorrhage through the entrance site was observed immediately, and external compression was applied by a bystander until the arrival of emergency medical services. Manual compression over abdominal pads was maintained during transport to the trauma center. The patient was awake and alert with a heart rate of 120 beats per minute and a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg. The left side of the face was edematous and covered with what were assumed to be powder burns. Removal of the saturated laparotomy pads over the entrance site resulted in vigorous arterial bleeding. Your choice for management in this patient at this time would be to: 1. Explore the left anterior neck and ligate the external carotid artery. 2. Maintain compression and call endovascular surgeon. 3. Attempt balloon tamponade through the entrance site of the missile. 4. Explore the left side of the face through a transverse incision. Because of the continuing rapid loss of arterial blood despite external compression on the left side of the patient’s face, the attending surgeon asked for a “large” Foley balloon catheter. A catheter with a 30 mL balloon near the tip was inserted into the entrance site of the missile to a depth of 2 cm. At this point, the balloon was inflated with 25 mL normal saline, and all bleeding stopped (figure 1). A quick review of a textbook of gross anatomy suggested that the vessel being compressed by the inflated balloon was the facial artery. This artery is a major branch of the external carotid artery and does not flow to the brain nor feed the ophthalmic artery. Figure 1 Foley catheter balloon tamponade to control bleeding from the left side of the face. With …
Cardiovascular Embryology

During the first 20 days of development, the human embryo has no cardiovascular structure. Over the next month, the heart and great vessels complete their development and look very much like they will at full gestation. This amazing process transforms isolated angiogenic cell islets into a complex, four-chambered structure. During this transformation, the single heart tube begins to beat at 23 days of development and by 30 days blood circulates through the embryo.
The Pornography of Addiction

ulation.” The final chapter centers on how the women are assessed by clinic personnel. This is a counterpoint to the earlier discussion of the role that physicians’ views play in designating the pregnant Medicaid patient’s body as polluted, for nonmedical personnel view them as “wily cheats and welfare queens.” This ethnography does almost everything that a compelling ethnography should do, yet it would have been useful to consider the neoliberal context in which racialization and surveillance of the pregnant body occurs. Consideration of neoliberalism would have broadened Bridges’s analytic frame to interrogate race and reproduction in this context and to cast a net over yet another way in which citizenship is compromised. Additionally, the issue of choice is provoked in this text, not only by virtue of the fact that the women seem to have little of it but also in terms of the meaning of choice in a neoliberal context. But Reproducing Race does an excellent job of exploring the profound incoherence of a poor pregnant woman’s experience at Alpha Hospital. It reveals the ways in which the uninsured are constructed as unruly and consequently receive a regime of medical care that medicalizes poverty. The institutional entanglements, that is, the circumstance of being controlled through state-sanctioned service provision, result in both monitoring performance and assessing deficits. While Bridges’ ethnography represents a major contribution to Black Critical Theory, this groundbreaking work should be widely read in anthropology, medical training, public health, social work, gender studies, African American studies, and critical medical studies, and by policymakers.
Automated co-evolution of conceptual models, physical databases, and mappings

Schema evolution is an unavoidable consequence of the application development lifecycle. The two primary schemas in an application, the conceptual model and the persistent database model, must co-evolve or risk quality, stability, and maintainability issues. We study application-driven scenarios, where the conceptual model changes and the database and mapping must evolve in kind. We present a technique that, in most cases, allows those evolutions to progress automatically. We treat the mapping as data, and mine that data for patterns. Then, given an incremental change to the conceptual model, we can derive the proper store and mapping changes without user intervention. We characterize the significant subset of mappings for which automatic evolution is possible, and present our techniques for evolution propagation.
The role of C-reactive protein in allergic inflammation: Relationship between the acute phase response and the antibody titer☆

Abstract The correlations between the early appearance of C-reactive protein in the serum and the subsequent production of antistreptolysin O and antistreptokinase antibodies were studied in fifty-seven patients with exudative pharyngitis produced by group A beta hemolytic streptococci, type 14. Only the patients who showed an early response to the streptococcal infection by the production of the abnormal C-RP later developed significant levels of ASO and ASK. A roughly quantitative correlation between the amount of C-RP appearing in the serum in response to streptococcal infection and the subsequent rise in antibody titers seemed apparent. No rise of ASO and ASK titers was evident in young patients who did not produce detectable amounts of C-RP during the acute phase of the streptococcal pharyngitis. The correlations between the ASO and ASK titers and the amount of C-RP present in the serum were also studied in forty-six patients with acute rheumatic fever. Immunologic evidences of antecedent streptococcal infection were found in all the patients studied. The appearance of varying amounts of C-RP in the serum was concomitant to a relative decrease of the antibody titer during the "acute phase response." Furthermore, a relationship was evident between the amounts of C-RP present in the serum at the onset of the acute rheumatic fever and the subsequent rise of ASO and ASK titers.
Game Theory and Hostage-Taking Incidents: A Case Study of the Munich Olympic Games

This study examines closely a hostage-taking incident that marked a turning point in the war against international terrorism. After the attack on the Olympic camp in Munich in 1972, Western European governments began formulating policies and creating anti-terrorist units to combat international terrorism. While most analyses focus on the direct demands and outcomes — the start and end of specific terrorist events — this study examines the evolution of the attack initiated by the Black September Organization (BSO) at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. Although many hostage-taking situations share similar tactical features, each incident is unique with dynamics of its own. The Munich incident was the first experience for the BSO in the international arena. The lessons learned in this case were applied later in Bangkok, Khartoum, and elsewhere. Both terrorists and governments learn from past experience and incorporate their observations into other incidents. Hence, we can see a progressive evolution not only within each event of hostage-taking but also from case to case. Hostage-taking situations are fluid. Each case differs in terms of numbers of actors, their goals and motivations, personalities of the perpetrators, and other variables which distinguish one event from another. Many of the different characteristics are often discovered through bargaining and negotiations. This article has several distinct parts. Initially, an outline of a hostagetaking incident will be drawn, followed by a breakdown into three stages which are common to such events. The second segment will detail the game theoretic framework that will guide the analysis of the Munich Olympic incident. The third part will focus on the particulars of the Munich case and its evolution. Within this context attention will be given to the actors, their roles, positions, and policies. The next section of the Munich case will concentrate on the process of demands and negotiations. It will be followed by a discussion of the risks, costs and benefits for the terrorists and the government. The last section will analyze the German policy in September 1972 and the complex decision-making encountered in this crisis. Finally, the findings will be highlighted.
An Interactive Tool for Supporting Error Analysis for Text Mining

This demo abstract presents an interactive tool for supporting error analysis for text mining, which is situated within the Summarization Integrated Development Environment (SIDE). This freely downloadable tool was designed based on repeated experience teaching text mining over a number of years, and has been successfully tested in that context as a tool for students to use in conjunction with machine learning projects.
Gravity constraints on the subsurface structure of the Marius Hills: The magmatic plumbing of the largest lunar volcanic dome complex

[1] The Marius Hills, the Moon's largest volcanic dome field, has more than 250 basaltic domes and cones in an area 200 × 250 km across. It is a major free-air gravity anomaly, 236 mGal in the north and 150 mGal in the south. In the northern half of the structure, the topography can only explain about half of the gravity anomaly, and in the south, there is virtually no topographic relief associated with the gravity anomaly. High-density material must be present at depth, most likely as mare basalt intruded into the underlying porous feldspathic highland crust. The gravity anomaly is modeled using two spherical caps. The northern cap is 160–180 km in diameter and at least 3.0 km thick. The southern cap is 100–140 km in diameter and at least 6.2 km thick. The intruded basalt may have served as the magma chambers that fed the overlying surface volcanism. Magma crystallization within these chambers provided a source of crystal-rich, high viscosity lava that fed the volcanic domes. The volume of intruded basalt is 1.6 × 104 km3. The total volcanic volume, including both intruded and extruded material, is 2.6 × 104 km3, indicating that the Marius Hills is a major volcanic center. Intrusion of hot magma may cause thermal annealing of the porous feldspathic host rock, significantly reducing the host rock porosity. This would allow a large volume of magma to be intruded into the crust with little change in overall crustal volume.
Application of transformer-less UPFC for interconnecting synchronous AC grids

A transformer-less UPFC based on an innovative configuration of two cascaded multilevel inverters (CMIs) has been proposed recently, which is suitable for power flow control between two interconnected synchronous AC grids. The active power as well as the reactive power can be independently controlled by the new transformer-less UPFC. In addition, the semiconductor device ratings (SDPRs) for different power flow control solutions have been investigated. It can be found that cascade multilevel inverter based transformer-less UPFC has much lower SDPR when compared to MMLC based back-to-back HVDC system, indicating significant cost saving when use transformer-less UPFC for power flow control. Experimental results based on 13.8 kV/ 2MVA transformers-less UPFC prototype are shown to validate the theoretical analysis.
More on the generalized Macaulay theorem

Let k"1 = = |@C(C((l)H))|, where @C((l)H) is the setof vectors in F obtainable by subtracting l from a single component of a vector in (l)H. A method is given for computing [@C(C((l)H)] in this paper. It is analogous to the method for computing |@C(C(l)H))| in the k"1 = ... = k"n = 1 case which has been given independently by Katona [4] and Kruskal [5].
Virtual Temporal Bone Dissection: An Interactive Surgical Simulator

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to integrate current and emerging technology in virtual systems to provide a temporal bone dissection simulator that allows the user interactivity and realism similar to the cadaver laboratory.STUDY DESIGN: Iterative design and validation of a virtual environment for simulating temporal bone dissection.SETTING: University otolaryngology training program with interdisciplinary interaction in a high-performance computer facility.RESULTS: The system provides visual, force feedback (haptic), and aural interfaces. Unlike previous “fly through” virtual systems, this environment provides a richer emulation of surgical experience.CONCLUSION: The system provides a high level of functional utility and, through initial evaluations, demonstrates promise in adding to traditional training methods.SIGNIFICANCE: The system provides an environment to learn temporal bone surgery in a way similar to the experience with cadaver material where the subject is able to interact with the data without const...
Reassessment of pantothenic acid requirement for Single Comb White Leghorn pullets from 0 to 6 weeks of age and its subsequent effect on sexual maturity

Two experiments were conducted using a total of 288 Hy-Line W-36 day-old pullets in each experiment. The pullets were randomly assigned to one of the six dietary treatments that consisted 0, .3, .6, .9, 1.8, or 3.6 mg supplemental pantothenic acid/kg of a corn and soybean meal basal diet (4.8 mg/kg). Six replicates of eight pullets per replicate were used per treatment in each experiment. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum access. The pullets were housed in battery brooder pens with raised wire floors. Body weight, body weight gain, average feed consumption per day, total feed consumption, and feed conversion were determined at 3 and 6 wk of age (WOA). The birds were observed for any signs of pantothenic acid deficiency. At the end of a 6-wk experimental period, the pullets previously receiving the diets containing either 0 or 3.6 mg supplemental pantothenic acid/kg of diet were raised to sexual maturity and their age at sexual maturity, body weight at 24 WOA, and average number of eggs per pullet through 32 WOA were measured in both of the experiments. No differences (P greater than .05) in total body weight, body weight gain, average feed consumption per day, total feed consumption, and feed conversion were observed in any of the supplemental pantothenic acid treatments from 0 to 3 and 3 to 6 WOA. None of birds during the experimental period showed any signs of deficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The role of native and photoinduced defects in the multi-pulse subpicosecond damage behavior of oxide films

A model for wide bandgap materials was developed to study the breakdown behavior under multiple subpicosecond laser pulse illumination. While this model has been applied to the study oxide materials, it is general enough to be used with any wide bandgap material. The model distinguishes two types of midgap trapping states - shallow and deep traps (defects), which can be native or laser induced. Excitation of these midgap states enhances the seed for the avalanche ionization process that causes breakdown, lowering the damage fluence for pulses later in the train. A set of rate equations for the conduction band electron density and population dynamics of the trap states was solved numerically to predict the damage threshold as a function of pulse number F(M). The effect of trap level parameters such as density, absorption cross-section, and the initial population on the shape of F(M) is discussed. Comparison is made to experimental data for oxide thin films.
Benchtop methodology for evaluating the automatic segmentation of ladar images

Numerous approaches to segmentation exist requiring an evaluation technique to determine the most appropriate technique to use for a specific ladar design. A benchtop evaluation methodology that uses multiple measures is used to evaluate ladar-specific image segmentation algorithms. The method uses multiple measures along with an inter-algorithmic approach that was recently introduced for evaluating Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Ladar imagery is considered to be easier to segment than SAR since it generally contains less speckle and has both a range and intensity map to assist in segmentation. A system of multiple measures focuses on area, shape and edge closeness to judge the segmentation. The judgement is made on the benchtop by comparing the segmentation to supervised hand-segmented images. To demonstrate the approach, a ladar image is segmented using several segmentation approaches introduced in literature. The system of multiple measures is then demonstrated on the segmented ladar images. An interpretation of the results is given. This paper demonstrates that the original evaluation approach designed for evaluating SAR imagery can be generalized across differing sensor modalities even though the segmentation and sensor acquisition approaches are different.
Reactions of Odd-Electron Cobaltacycles: Characterization of a Persistent 17-Electron Anionic Intermediate in Electron-Transfer-Catalyzed (ETC) Substitution Reactions

The cobaltafluorene complex Cp(PPh3)CoC12H8 (1) undergoes an electrochemically irreversible one-electron reduction in THF (Ep,c = ca. −2.56 V vs ferrocene) with release of PPh3 to give a persistent 17-electron Co(II) monoanion, 2-, which was characterized by electrochemistry and by ESR spectroscopy. The unpaired spin density in 2- is highly delocalized, with the majority being located in the cyclopentadienyl ring rather than the cobaltacyclic fragment. Reoxidation of 2- in the presence of L (L = phosphines, phosphites) forms Cp(L)CoC12H8 in high yield. Slow electron-transfer-catalyzed (ETC) substitution processes are found when 1 is electrolyzed in the presence of P(OMe)3, with the efficiency of the catalysis being dependent on both the relative and absolute concentrations of 1 and P(OMe)3. The substitution reaction is accounted for by a model in which the anion 2- is in equilibrium with the 19-electron adducts [Cp(L)CoC12H8]-, where L = THF, PPh3, P(OMe)3. Further reduction of 2- is possible in a reversi...
Production of eicosanoids by deendothelialized rabbit aorta: interaction between platelets and vascular wall in the synthesis of prostacyclin.

Abstract Production of eicosanoids by deendothelialized aorta in response to continuous infusions of arachidonic acid and platelet suspensions was determined in a rabbit aorta perfusion model. 6-keto-PGF1α production was stimulated by AA infusion in a dose-related manner. Infusion of AA at 4 μ/ml/min led to an initial production rate of 0.64±0.29 ng/min which gradually increased to 0.93±0. ll ng/min at the 20th min of infusion. When the concentration of AA infusion was increased to 10 μg/ml/min, 6-keto-PGF1α production increased to 1.14±0.86 ng/min initially but declined with time. PGE2 production in response to AA 10 μg/min/ml was steady at around 5 ng/min while PGF2α and TXB2 production were only slightly above the control Perifusion of rabbit washed platelet suspensions at a rate of 3X108 plt/ml/min raised 6KPGF1α production. The production was further increased when platelets were pretreated with 1-benzylimidazole (5 mM), along with a concurrent reduction in TXB2 release. Pre-treatment of platelets with aspirin, on the other hand, abolished the increase in 6KPGF1α production. Our data indicated that the vascular smooth muscle cells can efficiently utilize PGH2 produced by platelets to synthesize PGI2.
Unusual kinematics and jaw morphology associated with piscivory in the poeciliid, Belonesox belizanus

Piscivory in fishes is often associated with the evolution of highly elongate jaws that achieve a large mouth opening, or gape. Belonesox belizanus, the pike killifish, has independently evolved this morphology, which is derived from short-jawed poeciliids within the Cyprinodontiformes. Using kinematic analysis of high-speed video footage, we observed a novel aspect of the elongate jaws of Belonesox; the premaxilla rotates dorsally during mouth opening, while the lower jaw rotates ventrally. Anatomical study revealed that this unusual motion is facilitated by the architecture of the premaxillomandibular ligament, prominent within cyprinodontiforms. In Belonesox, it allows force to be transferred from the lower jaw directly to the premaxilla, thereby causing it to rotate dorsally. This dorsal rotation of the premaxilla appears to be assisted by a mediolateral twisting of the maxilla during jaw opening. Twisting maxillae are found in members of the group such as Fundulus, but are lost in Gambusia. Models revealed that elongate jaws partially account for the enlarged gape, but enhanced rotation at the quadrato-mandibular joint was equally important. The large gape is therefore created by: (i) the convergent evolution of elongate jaws; (ii) enhanced jaw rotation, facilitated by loss of a characteristic cyprinodontiform trait, the lip membrane; and (iii) premaxilla rotation in a novel direction, facilitated by the retention and co-option of additional cyprinodontiform traits, the premaxillomandibular ligament and a twisting maxilla.
Orthopaedic crossfire--can we justify unicondylar arthroplasty as a temporizing procedure? in opposition.

Abstract The indications for unicompartmental arthroplasty are quite specific. Overall, there should be involvement of 1 tibiofemoral compartment, mild malalignment, and ligamentous stability. In a review of 250 osteoarthritic knees, these pathologic findings were present in 19 patients (8%). Technique, despite improvement in instrumentation, still is more demanding than tricompartmental knee arthroplasty, and failure to achieve an optimal arthroplasty occurs more frequently. In the literature, long-term results with unicompartmental arthroplasty have been inferior to tricompartmental arthroplasty. The concept that unicompartmental arthroplasty is a temporizing procedure is not a valid one in that the patient has to undergo another arthroplasty with all the risks of revision arthroplasty surgery. Many of these revision procedures require bone grafting or component augmentation. Tibial osteotomy remains the procedure of choice in younger, active patients with unicompartmental arthritis (in highly selected patients), and tricompartmental arthroplasty is preferred in older, lower demand patients. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
An Isoform-Specific Mutant Reveals a Role of PDP1ε in the Circadian Oscillator

The Drosophila PAR domain protein 1 (Pdp1) gene encodes a transcription factor with multiple functions. One isoform, PDP1epsilon, was proposed to be an essential activator of the core clock gene, Clock (Clk). However, a central clock function for PDP1epsilon was recently disputed, and genetic analysis has been difficult due to developmental lethality of Pdp1-null mutants. Here we report the discovery of a mutation that specifically disrupts the Pdp1epsilon isoform. Homozygous Pdp1epsilon mutants are viable and exhibit arrhythmic circadian behavior in constant darkness and also in the presence of light:dark cycles. Importantly, the mutants show diminished expression of CLK and PERIOD (PER) in the central clock cells. In addition, expression of PDF (pigment-dispersing factor) is reduced in a subset of the central clock cells. Loss of Pdp1epsilon also alters the phosphorylation status of the CLK protein and disrupts cyclic expression of a per-luciferase reporter in peripheral clocks under free-running conditions. Transgenic expression of PDP1epsilon in clock neurons of Pdp1epsilon mutants can restore rhythmic circadian behavior. However, transgenic expression of CLK in these mutants rescues the expression of PER in the central clock, but fails to restore behavioral rhythms, suggesting that PDP1epsilon has effects outside the core molecular clock. Together, these data support a model in which PDP1epsilon functions in the central circadian oscillator as well as in the output pathway.
School failure: assessment, intervention, and prevention in primary pediatric care.

1. Robert S. Byrd, MD, MPH* 1. *Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, Calif After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize the interaction between school failure and health. 2. Describe the causes of school-related difficulties and the assessment of school failure. 3. Describe the role of psychological testing in the assessment of academic failure. 4. Delineate the role of grade retention in addressing academic failure. 5. Understand the roles of pediatric care practitioners in helping children who are failing in school. Failure in school can have lifelong consequences. The causes of school failure are myriad and often multiple within individual students who are struggling academically. Social, behavioral, and emotional problems frequently lead to academic difficulties. Health conditions also can impair academic performance. One in five children who repeat a grade in school has some identifiable disability. Irrespective of its cause, school failure is associated with adverse health outcomes. Children who fail in school are more likely to engage in subsequent health-impairing behaviors as adolescents. Failing students also are more likely to drop out of school. Adults who have no high school education often face limited economic opportunities, but they also are more likely to engage in health-impairing behaviors, to experience poor health, and to die at younger ages. Comprehensive approaches to evaluation and intervention may improve outcomes, and health care practitioners should play a vital role in these assessments. Moreover, clinicians can make a significant difference in outcomes by helping families identify the causes of failure and advocate for the resources to alter a child’s downward academic trajectory, preventing further compromise of a child’s health. Pediatric clinicians also should assess and intervene in risk behaviors of failing students. School readiness promotion and school failure prevention should be incorporated into routine health supervision visits. About 10% to 15% of school-age children repeat or fail a grade in school. Grade failure is more likely among males, minorities, …
The Effect of Repetition on Tempo Preferences of Elementary Children

The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of repeated listenings on children's preferences between selected slow and fast excerpts of art music. The sample consisted of fourth graders fro...
JAK inhibitors for myeloproliferative neoplasms: clarifying facts from myths

On November 16, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration approved ruxolitinib (a JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor) for use in the treatment of high and intermediate risk myelofibrosis. This is welcome news for those patients in whom such therapy is indicated and treatment benefit outweighs attendant risk. The question is who are these patients, what should they expect in terms of both short-term effects and long-term impact, and why would they choose ruxolitinib over other JAK inhibitors that are freely available for use in a research setting. Ruxolitinib and most other JAK inhibitors exert a salutary effect on constitutional symptoms and splenomegaly but have yet to produce histopathologic or cytogenetic remissions, reverse bone marrow fibrosis, or improve survival over best supportive care. Furthermore, the palliative value of JAK inhibitors is diminished by notable side effects, including anemia, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal disturbances, metabolic abnormalities, peripheral neuropathy, and hyperacute relapse of symptoms during treatment discontinuation. Therefore, risk-benefit balance favors use of currently available JAK inhibitors in only a select group of patients with myelofibrosis, and their potential value in polycythemia vera, outside of special circumstances (eg, intractable pruritus), is undermined by the absence of evidence for a disease-modifying effect and presence of arguably superior alternatives.
Estrous cycle phase and gonadal hormones influence conditioned fear extinction

Gonadal hormones modulate fear acquisition, but less is known about the influence of gonadal hormones on fear extinction. We assessed sex differences and the influence of gonadal hormone fluctuations and exogenous manipulations of estrogen and progesterone on acquisition, extinction learning and extinction recall in a 3 day auditory fear conditioning and extinction protocol. Experiments were conducted on males and naturally cycling female rats. Regarding female rats, significant differences in fear extinction were observed between subgroups of females, depending on their phase of the estrous cycle. Extinction that took place during the proestrus (high estrogen/progesterone) phase was more fully consolidated, as evidenced by low freezing during a recall test. This suggests that estrogen and/or progesterone facilitate extinction. In support of this, injection of both estrogen and progesterone prior to extinction learning in female rats during the metestrus phase of the cycle (low estrogen/progesterone) facilitated extinction consolidation, and blockade of estrogen and progesterone receptors during the proestrus phase impaired extinction consolidation. When comparing male to female rats without consideration of the estrous cycle phase, no significant sex differences were observed. When accounting for cycle phase in females, sex differences were observed only during extinction recall. Female rats that underwent extinction during the metestrus phase showed significantly higher freezing during the recall test relative to males. Collectively, these data suggest that gonadal hormones influence extinction behavior possibly by influencing the function of brain regions involved in the consolidation of fear extinction. Moreover, the elevated fear observed in female relative to male rats during extinction recall suggests that gonadal hormones may in part play a role in the higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in women.
Lagrangian surfaces of constant curvature in complex Euclidean plane

In this article we completely classify Lagrangian H -umbilical surfaces of constant curvature in complex Euclidean plane.
Quantitative detection of hemoglobin saturation on piglet brain by near-infrared frequency-domain spectroscopy

An approach of using phase modulation spectroscopy (PMS) system has been proposed which has single frequency, dual- wavelength with phase-only output for oximetry to minimize the influences of room light in the clinical environment. The availability of this method has been verified by laboratory experiments both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a 200 Mhz PMS system has been used for measuring on piglet brain in vivo, to detect blood volume and saturation change during normoxia to hypoxia periods, and to monitor the brain depolarization in the hypoxic stress. Our experimental results show that the brain saturation estimated by PMS is approximately 84% and lies between arterial and venous blood values of 97% and 80% in normoxia, and tends to move close to the venous side in hypoxia. In addition, the excessive hypoxic stress triggers the brain to be bio-energetic deficits and finally introduced the neural depolarization, which can be effectively detected by recording the increment of tissue scattering.
Surgical management of well-differentiated thyroid cancer locally invasive to the respiratory tract.

r s T s t w u i t ell-differentiated thyroid cancers (WDTC) are hisopathologically defined as papillary, follicular, and urthle cell carcinomas. Surgical treatment of these caners is typically associated with good outcomes. Outomes are defined as a low rate of complications, a low ncidence of local recurrence, and a high rate of survival. djuvant radioactive iodine after surgical therapy has elped improve the already favorable results with these ancers. Even locally advanced disease and metastatic isease have been associated with low local recurrence nd high survival rates. Locally advanced disease can pose special challenges t the time of initial operation. The exact frequency with hich WDTC invades the upper respiratory tract is still pen to debate. Recent literature quotes an incidence etween 1% and 13%, but rates up to 41% have been eported at large tertiary care centers. The optimal mangement of respiratory tract invasion by WDTC remains ontroversial. The extent of dissection required for comlete removal is unclear. There are no randomized conrolled trials concerning optimal management of this roblem, most likely because of its rarity and because of he differing skill, training, and expertise of operating urgeons. Neither shave resection nor extensive resection of he involved respiratory tract with reconstruction has roved superior for locally invasive thyroid carcinoma. he excellent prognosis but unpredictable characterisics of thyroid carcinoma make selecting an extensive esection versus a more conservative resection a difficult uandary. The purpose of this systematic review is to xamine the different types of resection for WDTC inading the respiratory tract and evaluate the similarities nd differences among a variety of outcomes parameters.
Images of crustal variations in the intermountain west

[1] We develop a map of crustal thickness variations across the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Rocky Mountain, and Great Plains Provinces of the western United States using common conversion point stacking of teleseismic receiver functions. Below the Rocky Mountains and High Plains in Colorado we find the thickest crust in the region at 45–50 km thick. Beneath the Basin and Range, thinner, between 30 and 40 km, crust is found. Thin, 30 km thick, crust is present in the northern portion of Nevada and Utah despite elevations similar to those farther south. Crustal thickness across the Colorado Plateau can be characterized as a broad transitional region between the thin crust of Basin and Range to the thicker crust of the Rocky Mountains. The impedance contrast across the Mohorovicic discontinuity decreases below the Colorado Plateau, as converted arrivals recorded in this region appear weak compared to surrounding areas. Variations in VP/VS across the region indicate higher values along the western boundary of the Basin and Range, in the Rocky Mountains, and in the western Great Plains. We are not able to characterize VP/VS in the Colorado Plateau. We find that crustal thickness does not closely correlate with surface topography within each region or across the region as a whole. Differences in crustal thickness in each tectonic province indicate the need for a mantle component to support the high elevations across the western United States.
Effects of glutamate and other amino acids on the retina.

The application of unlabelled glutamate to the isolated chicken retina charged with [14C]glutamate caused an increase in the tissue transparency and a release of the label into the superfusion fluid. The processes causing the change in transparency were‘desensitized’by a prolonged application of unlabelled glutamate, whereas the release of the labelled amino acid was relatively unaffected. Mg2+ tended to depress the change in transparency caused by stimulation with unlabelled glutamate but had little effect on the release of labelled glutamate from the retina. The effect of a Ca2+-free superfusion fluid on the transparency and release of glutamate varied from retina to retina. Aspartate (in higher concentrations) elicited a change in transparency and release of the label in a manner similar to that of glutamate. Glutamine caused a change in transparency accompanied by a release of labelled glutamine and in some experiments the release of a small amount of labelled glutamate. Homocysteic acid elicited marked changes in transparency but no release of labelled glutamate. Pyroglutamate depressed both the change in transparency and the release of labelled glutamate caused by the unlabelled amino acid. Gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine had no effect on the transparency of the tissue or on the release of amino acids. We have discussed the possibility that a release of glutamate from the intracellular compartment into the extracellular space is involved in the mechanism of spreading depression.
Neutrality, negativity, or both? A reply to Wattenberg

Although there are indications that the two major parties in the U.S. have come to have new meaning for many citizens in the 1980s, Wattenberg's data do provide convincing support for his general argument on declining party salience. The following article attempts to clarify the meaning of this trend and to show that a lack of confidence in political parties as representative institutions is indeed an obstacle to the restoration of partisan attachments at the mass level. Both CPS survey data and depth interview materials are utilized in an effort to understand more fully the complex relationship between the American public and its party system.