cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitation of ellipsoid tumor areas using a circumferential measuring device.

A controlled trial of a new circumferential area measuring device, the Tumorimeter™, was performed on a set of 30 radiographs of chest nodules ranging in size from 1.5 to 5.0 cm diameter. The Tumorimeter is a hand-held device with a sliding radiolucent loop used to circumferentially measure ellipsoid tumors. It is calibrated in cm2 of surface area. In a crossover comparison with standard Vernier-type calipers, the Tumorimeter was significantly more accurate than bidimensional caliper determinations (≤ 5% surface area error vs a 21–28% overestimate error for calipers). It was also more rapid (an average of 10.5 sec for the Tumorimeter vs 22.3 sec for calipers for each measurement). Both results were statistically significant,P < 0.0001 by analysis of variance. This trial demonstrates that enhanced speed and accuracy in tumor measurement are possible by using ellipsoid assessments of radiographs. A prospective clinical trial is planned to compare rectangular areas obtained using bidimensional tumor widths, with ellipsoid areas obtained by circumferential tumor measurements using the Tumorimeter.
The Significance of Parenting and Parent–Child Relationships for Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents

Adolescents in 21st century America are experiencing the emergence of their sexual and gender identities in a heteronormative society that is steadily adopting more progressive views and policies related to sexual orientation and gender. However, despite these sociocultural changes, parent-child relationships remain as one of the strongest predictors of LGBT adolescent adjustment. This article reviews the extant literature on this topic from family systems and attachment perspectives while highlighting the significance of family experiences within a minority stress framework. The presentation is oriented around the coming out process, including factors influencing this experience and how postdisclosure parenting affects the health and well-being of LGBT adolescents. We end by discussing future directions and the challenges inherent to this research.
An Analytical Method to Determine Minimum Per-Layer Precision of Deep Neural Networks

There has been growing interest in the deployment of deep learning systems onto resource-constrained platforms for fast and efficient inference. However, typical models are overwhelmingly complex, making such integration very challenging and requiring compression mechanisms such as reduced precision. We present a layer-wise granular precision analysis which allows us to efficiently quantize pre-trained deep neural networks at minimal cost in terms of accuracy degradation. Our results are consistent with recent findings that perturbations in earlier layers are most destructive and hence needing more precision than in later layers. Our approach allows for significant complexity reduction demonstrated by numerical results on the MNIST and CIFAR-10 datasets. Indeed, for an equivalent level of accuracy, our fine-grained approach reduces the minimum precision in the network up to 8 bits over a naive uniform assignment. Furthermore, we match the accuracy level of a state-of-the-art binary network while requiring up to ~ 3.5 × lower complexity. Similarly, when compared to a state-of-the-art fixed-point network, the complexity savings are even higher (up to ~ 14×) with no loss in accuracy.
Blaze-Tasks: A Framework for Computing Parallel Reductions over Tasks

Compared to threads, tasks are a more fine-grained alternative. The task parallel programming model offers benefits in terms of better performance portability and better load-balancing for problems that exhibit nonuniform workloads. A common scenario of task parallel programming is that a task is recursively decomposed into smaller sub-tasks. Depending on the problem domain, the number of created sub-tasks may be nonuniform, thereby creating potential for significant load imbalances in the system. Dynamic load-balancing mechanisms will distribute the tasks across available threads. The final result of a computation may be modeled as a reduction over the results of all sub-tasks. This article describes a simple, yet effective prototype framework, Blaze-Tasks, for task scheduling and task reductions on shared memory architectures. The framework has been designed with lock-free techniques and generic programming principles in mind. Blaze-Tasks is implemented entirely in C++17 and is thus portable. To load-balance the computation, Blaze-Tasks uses task stealing. To manage contention on a task pool, the number of lock-free attempts to steal a task depends on the distance between thief and pool owner and the estimated number of tasks in a victim’s pool. This article evaluates the Blaze framework on Intel and IBM dual-socket systems using nine benchmarks and compares its performance with other task parallel frameworks. While Cilk outperforms Blaze on Intel on most benchmarks, the evaluation shows that Blaze is competitive with OpenMP and other library-based implementations. On IBM, the experiments show that Blaze outperforms other approaches on most benchmarks.
Enantioselective PCCP Brønsted acid-catalyzed aza-Piancatelli rearrangement.

An enantioselective aza-Piancatelli rearrangement has been developed using a chiral Bronsted acid based on pentacarboxycyclopentadiene (PCCP). This reaction provides rapid access to valuable chiral 4-amino-2-cyclopentenone building blocks from readily available starting material and is operationally simple.
Cryptocurrency accepting venues, investor attention, and volatility

Abstract Using a novel dataset of cryptocurrency accepting business venues that accept cryptocurrencies as form of payments, we examine the relationship between new crypto accepting venues and crypto volatility. We argue that the number of new venues is a proxy for investor attention. We find that the number of new venues is a significant driver of crypto volatility. Moreover, venues that do not disclose their type of business as well as venues in Europe, North America and Oceania increase crypto volatility. Granger-causality, VAR estimation and a quasi-natural experiment validate our findings.
Photoactivated silicon-oxygen and silicon-nitrogen heterodehydrocoupling with a commercially available iron compound.

Silicon–oxygen and silicon–nitrogen heterodehydrocoupling catalyzed by the commercially available cyclopentadienyl dicarbonyl iron dimer [CpFe(CO)2]2 (1) under photochemical conditions is reported. Reactions between alcohols and PhSiH3 with catalytic 1 under visible-light irradiation produced silyl ethers quantitively. Reactions between either secondary or tertiary silanes and alcohols also produced silyl ethers, however, these reactions were marked by their longer reaction times and lower conversions. Reactions of either primary or secondary amines and silanes with catalytic 1 demonstrated mixed efficiency, featuring conversions of 20–100%. Mechanistic study indicates that an iron silyl compound is unimportant in the bond-formation step and argues for either a nucleophilic alkoxide or amide intermediate. Most important, mechanistic study reveals that the most immediate hurdle in the catalysis is the poor activation of 1, demonstrating the necessity to fully activate the catalyst to realize the potential of iron in this reactivity.
Acalabrutinib and Its Therapeutic Potential in the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Short Review on Emerging Data.

Recently, the treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has changed dramatically due to the development of drugs targeting proteins in the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) pathway. Acalabrutinib, a second-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, was recently FDA approved for treatment of treatment naive and relapsed refractory CLL. Acalabrutinib was designed as a more selective BTK inhibitor as compared to ibrutinib in an attempt to mitigate some of the treatment limiting toxicities seen with ibrutinib such as atrial fibrillation and bleeding. In preclinical studies, acalabrutinib was demonstrated to have efficacy in CLL in both patient blood samples and murine models. A multinational phase 1/2 study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of acalabrutinib monotherapy in treatment naive, relapsed refractory and ibrutinib-intolerant CLL patients. Subsequent phase 3 studies, ASCEND and ELEVATE-TN, compared acalabrutinib monotherapy or combination acalabrutinib and obinutuzumab to standard of care treatments and demonstrated acalabrutinib's improved efficacy and tolerability. Currently, a phase 3 study is ongoing to compare acalabrutinib to ibrutinib monotherapy (NCT02477696). In the setting of recent FDA approval, real-world evidence will help to elucidate the optimal use of acalabrutinib in the treatment of CLL.
Influence factors of the neonatal behavioral neurological assessment in premature infant

Objective To explore the application of neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) in premature infant and the influence factors.Methods One handred and twenty-three premature neonates hospitalized in our neonatal department from January 2006 to June 2007 were enrolled in the study.The NBNA was carried out at corrected conceptus age 40w.The influence of conceptus age,birth weight,mechanical ventilation and the ventilation time,high risk factors of brain damage in perinatal period,different delivery methods,and the Apgar score on the outcome of NBNA were analyzed.Results There were significant differences of the NBNA results among the premature infants with different conceptus age (<30w,～32w,and ～34w) and birth weight (<1250g,～1500g,and ～2000g) (P<0.01).The NBNA score was lower as the neonate was younger with conceptus age and lower with birth weight.The NBNA scores in the neonates with ventilation and ventilation time more than 7d were obviously lower than that without ventilation (P<0.01)and ventilation time less than 7d (P<0.05).Furthermore the NBNA scores were markedly lower when the neonates complicated with hemorrhagic and ischemic brain damage,conjugated bilirubin ≥256.5μmol/L,hypoglycemia (<2.6μmol/L) and infection(P<0.01).And the NBNA in neonates with breech position,obstetrical forceps and vaccum extraction delivery was obviously lower than that in the cesarean delivery and spontaneous delivery (P<0.01).The neonate with Apgar score between 0 and 3 has lower NBNA in compared with those with Apgar score 4-7 and ≥8 (P<0.01).Conclusion There are many factors affecting on the NBNA outcome,such as conceptus age,birth weigh,ventilation and ventilation time,abnormal delivery methods,and severe asphyxia.In order to find intracalvarium pathological changes and give early intervention,decrease additional damage and sequelae,the skull ultrasound should be carried out at 3 to 7d after birth for the premature neonate,especially those whose conceptus age less than 32w and birth weight no more than 1500g or with high risk factors of brain damage. Key words: Infant,premature; Neonatal behavioral neurological assessment; Brain damage
Weekend Text Messages Increase Protective Behavioral Strategies and Reduce Harm Among College Drinkers

The current study examined whether a brief text messaging intervention compared to an assessment only/no treatment control would differentially increase protective behavioral strategies (PBS) that were associated with reducing negative alcohol-related negative consequences during football game weekends. Eligible participants (n = 161) were college students who had at least one drinking occasion in the past 30 days. Participants completed a baseline assessment prior to the experimental weekend before being randomly assigned to receive either a text-message condition that instructed students to use PBS or an assessment only/no treatment condition. Participants in the text messaging condition received a message on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of a game weekend. Follow-up assessments were completed within 3 days following the experimental weekend. After controlling for amount of use, results suggest that for game day, those in the text-messaging condition reported significantly higher utilization of PBS and significantly lower negative alcohol-related consequences as compared with the assessment only/no treatment condition. Overall, the results highlight the importance of text messaging as an alternative intervention method that minimizes harm associated with drinking during football game weekends.
Assessment of pain, anxiety and depression, and quality of life after minimally invasive aortic surgery.

Background Minimally invasive cardiac surgery may reduce surgical trauma, diminish postoperative pain and improve quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study is to assess pain, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and QOL in patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic surgery. Methods This is a prospective, single-center cohort study of 24 consecutive patients undergoing upper ministernotomy aortic valve, aortic root, and concomitant aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and HADS and Short-Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires were evaluated at preoperative baseline, during hospitalization, and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Results At discharge, the average VAS pain score was significantly lower than postoperative Day 1 (2.7 ± 0.4 vs. 6.5 ± 0.4; p ≤ .001). By 1 month, the pain scores were not significantly different from baseline (1.7 ± 0.4 vs. 1.0 ± 0.4; p = 1.000), and by 3 months, pain scores returned to baseline (1.0 ± 0.4; p = 1.000). HADS scores show that compared with preoperative baseline, average anxiety scores decreased by 1 month (3.1 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 0.6; p = 1.000) and decreased significantly by 3 months (1.8 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 0.6; p = .012). Additionally, depression scores were unchanged at 1 month (3.0 ± 0.4 vs. 3.1. ± 0.4; p = 1.000) and decreased by 3 months (1.3 ± 0.5 vs. 3.0 ± 0.4; p = .060). SF-36 scores revealed no changes in scores in 7 of 8 domains at 1 month and a significant increase in "physical functioning," "energy," and "general health" domains compared to preoperative baseline at 3 months. Conclusions Following minimally invasive aortic surgery, VAS pain scores, HADS and scores in 7 of 8 SF-36 domains returned to preoperative baseline or improved compared to preoperative baseline at 1 month. At 3 months, scores in 3 of 8 SF-36 domains significantly improved compared to preoperative baseline. Larger studies are necessary for further investigation.
K. Anders Ericsson (1947-2020).

Presents the obituary of K. Anders Ericsson (1947-2020). Anders received his PhD from University of Stockholm in 1976. His postdoctoral fellowship (1977-1980) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) with Nobel Laureate, Herbert A. Simon, helped set his research agenda. With Simon, he defined rigorous procedures for using think aloud verbal protocols, making that technique a potent tool for exploring cognitive processes, leading to their classic Psychological Review article on the topic of verbal reports as data, followed by a highly cited book, Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports as Data (14,000+ citations) , revised a decade later. Anders moved to University of Colorado at Boulder from 1980-1986; teaming up with Walter Kintsch to develop an influential theory about long-term working memory. He took a leave from 1987-1989, becoming a research associate professor at the prestigious Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Education. There he cemented his reputation as one of the foremost "experts on expertise," with a study of the role of deliberate practice in expert music performance with Krampe and Tesch-Romer that became his second-most cited publication (11,000þ). He joined Florida State University (FSU) in 1992 as a Conradi Eminent Scholar. Once at FSU, he put FSU's psychology department on the map for cognitive psychology, specifically for the study of expert performance. He remained there until his death, supervising 11 doctoral students. Anders was appointed Fellow of Division 3, the Society for Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Science of the American Psychological Association (1997), and the Association for Psychological Science (2006). He was invited to spend a sabbatical as a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University in 2002, and was proud to have been made a member of Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2009. He was big brother to Lasse Ericsson and Kerstin Loden. He is survived by his wife, Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, daughter Lina and son Jens from his first marriage to Anna-Lena Malm, and grandson, Jakob Pahler. Despite his aggressive pursuit of truth in the practice of science, he will be remembered fondly by a multitude of people whose lives he changed for the better, as a kind and loving family member, loyal colleague, superb mentor, and faithful friend. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
A comparison of generalized opers and (G, P)-opers

The goal of this paper is to describe the relationship between generalized B-opers, generalized $$\mathrm {SO}(2n,{\mathbb {C}})$$ -opers and (G, P)-opers. In particular, we show that to each generalized B-oper there is a naturally associated (G, P)-oper, but there are some (G, P)-opers that do not arise as generalized B-opers or $$\mathrm {SO}(2n,{\mathbb {C}})$$ -opers.
A comparative assessment of CO2 emission between gasoline, electric, and hybrid vehicles: A Well-To-Wheel perspective using agent-based modeling

Abstract Road transports in the United States (U.S.) are heavily dependent on the production and consumption of fossil fuel. This high dependency on fossil fuels contributes significantly to carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, one of the leading Green House Gases (GHGs) responsible for global warming. Electrification of passenger vehicles could be an effective strategy to curb GHG emissions. Though Electric Vehicles (EVs) have zero tailpipe emissions, the power required to charge EV batteries may not necessarily come from carbon-free power plants. In this study, for a comprehensive comparison among EV, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and Gasoline Vehicle (GV), we developed an agent-based simulation modeling framework for the entire energy pathway (Well-To-Wheel). As a case study, we estimated and compared CO2 emissions for different driving cycles for Texas utilizing 2018 electricity production mix data. Our simulation results revealed that for city driving cycles, EV performed environmentally better than GV and PHEV, but for highway driving cycles, EV underperformed compared to PHEV in all traffic conditions. For a combined driving cycle, PHEV performed better compared to EV and GV in moderate and low traffic conditions. Overall, according to the year 2018 energy mix data, PHEV is a better choice in Texas from an environmental perspective. Our sensitivity analysis showed that the environmental performance of an EV greatly depends on the percentage of renewable or clean energy in the overall grid electricity production mix. Our study will pave the way to conduct similar analyses for other states of the U.S, especially for the regions dependent highly on non-renewable energy sources. The research findings will help decision-makers design effective policies for EV and PHEV adoption to achieve maximum environmental benefits.
Students' Perceptions of a Tobacco Education Intervention

Persons living with a mental illness represent an especially vulnerable and disadvantaged subgroup of smokers. Compared to those in the general population, they smoke more, die younger, and suffer disproportionately from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer, all diseases and conditions directly associated with, and exacerbated by, smoking. Despite strong evidence that tobacco cessation counseling by a health professional can approximately double patients' odds of quitting, clinicians across disciplines are reluctant to offer these individuals effective means by which to quit smoking. This disinclination is due, at least in part, to inadequate tobacco cessation training during degree education. The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of a tobacco education intervention. Findings support the integration of tobacco education into undergraduate nursing curricula.
Cognitions and 'placebos' in behavioral research on ambient noise

The study investigated effects of noise on visual and psychomotor tasks, with particular concern for influences of certain cognitive variables. A first experiment, using visual and card-sorting tasks, found no effects of 100 dB ambient noise per se, although cognitive variables in the testing situation affected both performance and ratings of disturbance. In two subsequent experiments some of the subjects were told that a noise was extraneous to their task of reproducing tachistoscopic patterns, and others were told that effects of the noise were being studied. It appears that in the absence of an adequate 'placebo' to control for cognitive factors, deceptive instructions may always be necessary in studies of ambient noise.
The Egyptian Ethnicity Controversy and the Sociology of Knowledge

This article results from the author's attempts to understand the how and why of the many distortions and the gross sophistry connected with Western research on African history and culture. Upon becoming aware of the pervasiveness of the distortions, one begins to wonder whether or not Westerners are collectively insane. Minds that are the epitome of lucidity on nonracial matters become nebulous, muddled, blurred, and illogical when it comes to racial matters. It also became evident that editors of books and scholarly journals tolerate loose and illogical reasoning in studies dealing with African culture and history to an extent that would be unthinkable in areas not touching on race and ethnicity. However, as the research and thinking for this article progressed, it became clear that one need not resort to charges of insanity in order to understand Western scholarship dealing with Africa and Africans-in fact to the contrary, because the distortions serve to help keep Western sanity intact. The title of this article was not decided upon until the study itself was essentially finished. Before then, no appropriate title suggested itself. However, by the time the article was about finished, it became quite clear that the question being dealt with fell into the realm of the sociology of knowledge;
Effects of TP53 mutational status on gene expression patterns across 10 human cancer types

Mutations in the TP53 tumour suppressor gene occur in half of all human cancers, indicating its critical importance in inhibiting cancer development. Despite extensive studies, the mechanisms by which mutant p53 enhances tumour progression remain only partially understood. Here, using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), genomic and transcriptomic analyses were performed on 2256 tumours from 10 human cancer types. We show that tumours with TP53 mutations have altered gene expression profiles compared to tumours retaining two wild-type TP53 alleles. Among 113 known p53-up-regulated target genes identified from cell culture assays, 10 were consistently up-regulated in at least eight of 10 cancer types that retain both copies of wild-type TP53. RPS27L, CDKN1A (p21(CIP1)) and ZMAT3 were significantly up-regulated in all 10 cancer types retaining wild-type TP53. Using this p53-based expression analysis as a discovery tool, we used cell-based assays to identify five novel p53 target genes from genes consistently up-regulated in wild-type p53 cancers. Global gene expression analyses revealed that cell cycle regulatory genes and transcription factors E2F1, MYBL2 and FOXM1 were disproportionately up-regulated in many TP53 mutant cancer types. Finally, > 93% of tumours with a TP53 mutation exhibited greatly reduced wild-type p53 messenger expression, due to loss of heterozygosity or copy neutral loss of heterozygosity, supporting the concept of p53 as a recessive tumour suppressor. The data indicate that tumours with wild-type TP53 retain some aspects of p53-mediated growth inhibitory signalling through activation of p53 target genes and suppression of cell cycle regulatory genes.
Tying the Dictator's Hands: Leadership Survival in Authoritarian Regimes

In this paper, I examine one of the most important elements of authoritarian politics: leadership survival. I argue that a key actor in understanding leadership survival in dictatorships is the elite coalition - the group of individuals a dictator relies on for support. Whether elites are bound together by a dominant institution, such as a party or military, affects their ability to overthrow the dictator. I look at elite coalitions in personalist, single-party and military dictatorships. Due to institutional differences in the nature of the elite coalition, elites in military dictatorships should have the greatest ability to oust the dictator, followed by elites in single-party dictatorships, and lastly elites in personalist dictatorships. I test this expectation using a survival model and find substantial support for my argument. Military dictators face the highest risk of removal from office and personalist dictators face the lowest.
A Dominant Negative Allele of the Escherichia coli uvrD Gene Encoding DNA Helicase II: A Biochemical and Genetic Characterization

A site-specific lysine to methionine mutation has been engineered at the invariant Lys35 residue in the ATPase A binding site of the Escherichia coli uvrD gene encoding DNA helicase II. The mutant protein (UvrDK35M) has been purified to apparent homogeneity and characterized. The kcat for DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis was less than 0.5% that of the wild-type enzyme with no change in the apparent Km for ATP. No unwinding of partial duplex DNA substrates could be detected using the mutant protein. Moreover, the mutant protein inhibited the unwinding reaction catalyzed by the wild-type protein at ratios of mutant enzyme to wild-type enzyme < 1. We conclude that the K35M mutation renders helicase II catalytically inactive as a DNA helicase with little or no effect on the ability of the enzyme to bind ATP, DNA, or other proteins. In vivo complementation assays indicate that the mutant protein cannot substitute for the wild-type protein in methyl-directed mismatch repair, suggesting that the ATPase and/or helicase activity of helicase II is required in this repair pathway. Additional genetic characterization of the uvrDK35M allele, supplied on a plasmid, suggests that expression of the mutant protein, at levels equivalent to that of the wild-type protein, results in a dominant negative phenotype. Expression of lower levels of the mutant protein, both in the presence and absence of wild-type helicase II, results in a constitutive induction of the cellular SOS response and extensive filamentation of cells. This induction of the SOS response is not due to a defect in methyl-directed mismatch repair. Taken together, these data are consistent with the notion that E. coli helicase II may have a role in DNA replication.
Light availability influences the ratio of two forms of D1 in cyanobacterial thylakoids.

The psbA multigene family in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 encodes two forms of the D1 protein; Form I, the product of psbAI, differs from Form II, the product of psbAII and psbAIII, at 25 of 360 amino acid positions. D1 is essential for photosynthesis as a protein component of the photosystem II reaction center. Antisera were raised against purified hybrid proteins encoded by psbAI-lacZ and psbAIII-lacZ translational gene fusions that contain the unique amino termini of Form I and Form II, respectively. Form specificity of each antiserum was verified by Western analysis using thylakoid membranes from mutant strains containing only Form I or Form II. Western analysis of thylakoid membranes from wild-type cells cultured at different light intensities detected both forms of D1 in the membrane and showed changes in the ratio of the two forms. The D1 composition of the membrane matched predicted ratios of the forms based on differential gene expression: psbAI is expressed highest at low light, and both psbAII and psbAIII are expressed highest at high light. Along a gradient of light intensity from 5 µE· m−2·s−1 to 482 µE·m−2·s−1, the relative amount of Form I in thylakoid membranes decreased 58%, while the relative amount of Form II increased 60%. Maximum detection of Form I coupled with minimum detection of Form II in membranes from cells harvested at light intensities below 390 µE·m−2·s−1 suggests a central role for Form I in photosystem II. Increased incorporation of Form II into the thylakoid membrane occurred at light intensities reported by others to be photoinhibitory, suggesting that Form II serves a role in adaptation to high light.
Anticoagulant treatment of thromboembolism with intravenous heparin therapy in the early postoperative period following total joint arthroplasty.

Background: Treatment of thromboembolism with intravenous heparin therapy in the early postoperative period after total joint arthroplasty has been associated with a high rate of complications. The purpose of the present study was to compare the rate of bleeding complications in a group of patients who required intravenous heparin therapy for the treatment of thromboembolism after total hip or knee arthroplasty with the rate in a control group of patients who received only prophylactic anticoagulation. Methods: The postoperative courses of forty-four consecutive patients who were managed with intravenous administration of heparin and oral administration of warfarin for the treatment of a thromboembolic event following unilateral total hip or knee arthroplasty were compared with those of a control group of 376 consecutive patients who had these same procedures but did not have a thromboembolic complication. The patients in the control group were managed with prophylactic anticoagulation with use of enoxaparin. Sixty-eight percent (thirty) of the forty-four patients in the heparin group received the initial dose of heparin on or before the fourth postoperative day, and 82 percent (thirty-six) received an initial bolus of 5000 units of heparin at the initiation of therapy. Results: The rate of bleeding complications was 9 percent (four of forty-four) in the heparin group, compared with 6 percent (twenty-three of 376) in the control group (p = 0.44). The mean transfusion requirement in the heparin group (1.8 units of packed red blood cells) was significantly greater than that in the control group (0.8 unit) (p < 0.0001). Three of the four patients who had a bleeding complication while receiving heparin and warfarin had coagulation parameters that were substantially higher than recommended levels. The mean duration of hospitalization in the heparin group (fifteen days) was significantly longer than that in the control group (seven days) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the use of intravenous heparin therapy for the treatment of thromboembolism in the early postoperative period after total joint arthroplasty is associated with a rate of bleeding complications that is similar to that associated with the use of prophylactic anticoagulation with use of enoxaparin alone. One should expect an increased transfusion requirement and a longer duration of hospitalization for patients who require intravenous heparin therapy for the treatment of a thromboembolic event.
Variations of coronary hemodynamic responses to intravenous adenosine infusion: Implications for fractional flow reserve measurements

Background Continuous intravenous adenosine infusion reportedly produces stable and maximal hyperemia to allow for fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement; however, several observers have noted variation of the coronary/aortic (Pd/Pa) pressure ratio during the course of an adenosine infusion. Methods Pd/Pa pressure recordings during continuous peripheral intravenous adenosine infusion were examined in 51 patients (68 measurements) with data collected for at least 150 sec and for at least 30 sec after the lowest Pd/Pa reading. The lowest recorded Pd/Pa ratio was used as the true FFR value at maximal hyperemia. The highest subsequent Pd/Pa during the remaining period of adenosine infusion was recorded. A separate cohort of 12 patients had Pd/Pa values measured with both peripheral and central infusion. Results The average FFR value was 0.82 ± 0.10 and was recorded 99 ± 33 sec into the infusion. The Pd/Pa value showed a subsequent average increase of 0.08 ± 0.07 at 135 ± 32 sec. From the lowest measurement, Pd/Pa changed from a ratio ≤0.80 to >0.80 in 28% of recordings. In the cohort with matched recordings, central infusion reduced the severity (mean change of 0.08 vs. 0.11, P = 0.09) but not the incidence of Pd/Pa variability compared with peripheral infusion. Conclusion Instability of Pd/Pa measurements is common over the course of a continuous intravenous adenosine infusion. FFR remains valid as the lowest value of Pd/Pa observed, however, Pd/Pa variability may subsequently occur and complicate pullback measurements for serial or multiple lesions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
EXPLICIT DERIVATION OF RETURN MAPS FOR PLANAR VECTOR FIELDS WITH NILPOTENT LINEAR PART WITH A CENTER OR A FOCUS

For planar vector fields with nilpotent linear part with a center or a focus it is shown that, remarkably, there exist substitutions after which the equations become regular perturbations of Hamiltonian systems. The return map is then obtained as a convergent series by iterating a contractive map, yielding formulas suitable for numerical calculations and estimates for the errors.
A CASE OF BENIGN IMPERIAL NEGLECT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Edomites were already well established in the Judean Negev before the Babylonian conquest, and archaeological evidence suggests that they profited by the disturbances of those years (597-582 bce) to infiltrate much of the province south of Jerusalem. After the collapse of the Neo-Babylonian empire, the interest of the Persians in the region was restricted to protecting the trade routes along the Mediterranean coast and the Transjordanian plateau and the approaches to Egypt. They also had no interest in sponsoring the return of deported Judaeans to the region. Once it became clear that there would be no intervention from distant Susa, the pace of Edomite colonisation quickened, a semi-deserted Jerusalem was occupied, and a sanctuary to the supreme Edomite deity Qos (Qaus) arose on the site of the destroyed Yahweh temple. This ruled out the possibility of repatriation, and Judaism developed as a scattering of ritually segregated enclaves in different countries in line with other religions in late antiquity.
Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Glutamate Analogues

Utilizing our lateral metalation coupled with Jacobsen's catalytic asymmetric amino nitrile synthesis, we have demonstrated the ability to synthesize isoxazole-containing amino acid glutamate analogues in high yield and high enantiomeric excesses. Chiral centers α or β at the C-5 position do not detract from diastereoselectivity of the Jacobsen−Strecker reaction.
Modeling damage in polymeric composites

Abstract We postulate that dominant damage modes in a fiber-reinforced laminated composite are fiber breakage, matrix cracking, fiber/matrix debonding, and delamination/sliding. The first three damage modes are represented by internal variables with their development governed by constitutive relations. The delamination/sliding failure mode is presumed to initiate at a point on an interface between two adjoining layers when the transverse shear and the transverse normal stresses there are on a failure surface defined in the stress space. Equations expressing the balance of mass, the balance of linear momentum, the balance of moment of momentum, material response, and those giving the development of damage are simultaneously solved numerically under prescribed initial and boundary conditions to find an approximate solution of a transient 3-dimensional initial-boundary-value (IBV) problem. Values of material parameters for the AS4/PEEK composite are determined from experimental data available in the literature. The developed mathematical model has been validated by comparing computed results, for several IBV problems different from the ones used to find values of material parameters, with the corresponding experimental results available in the literature.
Three-dimensional phase diagram of disordered HgTe/CdTe quantum spin-Hall wells

We compute the phase diagram of HgTe/CdTe quantum wells in the three-dimensional parameter space of Dirac mass, Fermi level, and disorder strength. The phase diagram reveals the quantum spin-Hall, the metallic, and the normal insulating phases. The phase boundary of the quantum spin-Hall state is shown to be strongly deformed by the disorder. Taking specific cuts into this three-dimensional phase diagram, we recover the so-called topological Anderson insulator (TAI) phase, but now we can demonstrate explicitly that the TAI is not a distinct phase; instead, it is part of the quantum spin-Hall phase. Calculations are performed with ${S}_{z}$-conserving and ${S}_{z}$-nonconserving Hamiltonians.
Variable population size and evolution acceleration: a case study with a parallel evolutionary algorithm

With current developments of parallel and distributed computing, evolutionary algorithms have benefited considerably from parallelization techniques. Besides improved computation efficiency, parallelization may bring about innovation to many aspects of evolutionary algorithms. In this article, we focus on the effect of variable population size on accelerating evolution in the context of a parallel evolutionary algorithm. In nature it is observed that dramatic variations of population size have considerable impact on evolution. Interestingly, the property of variable population size here arises implicitly and naturally from the algorithm rather than through intentional design. To investigate the effect of variable population size in such a parallel algorithm, evolution dynamics, including fitness progression and population diversity variation, are analyzed. Further, this parallel algorithm is compared to a conventional fixed-population-size genetic algorithm. We observe that the dramatic changes in population size allow evolution to accelerate.
The Empirical Foundations of Calibration

Interest in simulating recently developed dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models of the economy stimulated a demand for parameters. This has given rise to calibration as advocated by Finn E. Kydland and Edward C. Prescott (1982). This paper explores the implicit assumptions underlying their calibration method. The authors question that there is a ready supply of micro estimates available to calibrate macroeconomic models. Measures of parameter uncertainty and specification sensitivity should be routinely reported. They propose a more symbiotic role for calibration as providing signals to microeconomists about important gaps in knowledge, which when filled will solidify the empirical underpinning, improving the credibility of the quantitative output.
Expressing generic concepts with and without a language model.

Utterances expressing generic kinds (“birds fly”) highlight qualities of a category that are stable and enduring, and thus provide insight into conceptual organization. To explore the role that linguistic input plays in children’s production of generic nouns, we observed American and Chinese deaf children whose hearing losses prevented them from learning speech and whose hearing parents had not exposed them to sign. These children develop gesture systems that have language-like structure at many different levels. The specific question we addressed in this study was whether the gesture systems, developed without input from a conventional language model, would contain generics. We found that the deaf children used generics in the gestures they invented, and did so at about the same rate as hearing children growing up in the same cultures and learning English or Mandarin. Moreover, the deaf children produced more generics for animals than for artifacts, a bias found previously in adult English- and Mandarin-speakers and also found in both groups of hearing children in our current study. This bias has been hypothesized to reflect the different conceptual organizations underlying animal and artifact categories. Our results suggest that not only is a language model not necessary for young children to produce generic utterances, but the bias to produce more generics for animals than artifacts also does not require linguistic input to develop. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Unique solution to periodic boundary value problems

Existence of unique solution to periodic boundary value problems of differential equations with continuous or discontinuous right-hand side is considered by utilizing the method of lower and upper solutions and the monotone properties of the operator. This is subject to discussion in the present paper.
Chronotropic response to acetylcholine injected into the sinus node artery of the isolated atrium of the dog

Injection of a single bolus of acetylcholine into the sinus node artery of the isolated atrium of the dog produces a triphasic response similar to that previously observed after a single stimulus to the vagus nerves. There is an initial, brief but pronounced, cardiac deceleration followed by a brief, slight acceleration, which is then followed by a more prolonged deceleration which is of lesser magnitude than the initial deceleration. The most likely cause of the intermediate phase of cardiac acceleration is a direct effect of acetylcholine on the pacemaker cells, as it is also with the primary and tertiary phases of cardiac deceleration.
An application of network scheduling optimization in a pharmaceutical firm

Abstract This paper describes an application of production scheduling optimization methods in a major pharmaceutical firm located in Mexico City, Mexico. A PC-based decision support system was developed based on the idea of network schedule representation and specific scheduling optimization algorithms were incorporated into the system. The system contains a graphical input interface, in which the user draws the network describing the scheduling problem in a manner that resembles project planning software. Our implementation of solution algorithms for minimizing total manufacturing time, average flowtime, and lateness is discussed. An example illustrates the methodology of solution for different types of situations typical of pharmaceutical companies.
A case study in converting disposable process scouting devices into disposable bioreactors as a future bioprocessing tool

In this study, we perform mass transfer characterization (k(L) a) on a novel mechanically driven/stirred Process Scouting Device, PSD, (SuperSpinner D 1000®, SSD) and demonstrate that this novel device can be viewed as disposable bioreactor. Using patch-based optical sensors, we were able to monitor critical cell culture environmental conditions such as dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH in SSD for comparison to a 1 L standard spinner (SS) flask. We also coupled these mass transfer studies with mixing time studies where we observed relative high mixing times (5.2 min) that are typically observed in production scale bioreactors. Decreasing the mixing time 3.5-fold resulted in 30% increase in k(L) a (from 2.3 to 3.0 h(-1) ) and minimum DO level increased from 0% to 20% for our model hybridoma cell line. Finally, maximum viable cell density and protein titer stayed within ±20% of historical data, from our standard 5 L stirred bioreactor (Biostat®) operated under active DO control.
Nitrification, denitrification and nitrous oxide cycling in the eastern tropical South Pacific ocean

Abstract A nitrification—denitrification couple that may be summarized by the pathway, NH4+ → N2O → N2 has not been included in past studies of marine denitrification. Neglect of this pathway could lead to underestimates of the amounts of free nitrogen produced by denitrification. Because of this and because our analysis suggests that loss of nitrite from oxygen-deficient waters found in the eastern tropical South Pacific does not introduce major errors, we suggest a total denitrification rate of ∼ 60 Tg N y−1 for the marine water column. Recent studies of the sedimentary denitrification rate also suggest a value of ∼ 60 Tg N y−1, while estimates for the combined nitrogen inputs into the sea via the atmosphere and marine nitrogen fixation have decreased. These findings suggest an unbalanced marine combined-nitrogen budget in which the removal rate significantly exceeds the input. Consideration of the characteristics of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria and of the distribution of variables in the eastern tropical South Pacific suggest high N2O turnover rates in eastern boundary regions. Since N2O may be produced at extremely high rates at the boundary of oxygen-deficient (O2
MODAL DECOMPOSITION OF VELOCITY SIGNALS IN A PLANE, TURBULENT WAKE

The Orr-Sommerfeld equation admits two solution modes for the two-dimensional plane wake. These are the sinuous mode with antisymmetric streamwise fluctuations and the varicose mode with symmetric streamwise fluctuations. The varicose mode is often ignored because its amplification rates are considerably less than those of the sinuous mode. An experimental investigation of the varicose mode in a two-dimensional turbulent wake was undertaken to determine if this mode of instability agrees as well with linear stability theory, as did the sinuous mode in previous experiments (Wygnanski, Champagne & Marasli 1986). The experiments demonstrated that, although it is possible to generate a nearly pure symmetric disturbance wave, it is very difficult to do as the flow is very sensitive to the slightest asymmetries which might be present in the experiments. These asymmetries are preferentially amplified, resulting in the eventual distortion of an initially prominent symmetric wave. It was therefore necessary to decompose phase-averaged measurements of the streamwise component of the velocity fluctuations into their symmetric and antisymmetric parts, and the results were compared with the appropriate theoretical eigenfunctions from linear stability theory. The lateral distribution of the amplitude and the phase of each mode agree reasonably well with their theoretical counterparts from the Orr-Sommerfeld equation. Slowly diverging linear theory predicts the streamwise variation of the sinuous mode quite well, but fails to do so for the varicose mode. An eddy-viscosity model, coupled with the slowly diverging linear equations, predicts the streamwise variation of both modes reasonably well and describes the transverse distributions of the perturbation amplitudes for both modes, but it fails to predict the distribution of phase for the varicose mode.
Effects of air/fuel combustion ratio on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of carbonaceous soots from selected fuels

Abstract Patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content were observed from GC/MS analysis of the extracts of soots at various air/fuel combustion ratios of three commonly used fuels: n-hexane, JP-8 (Jet fuel), and diesel. With increasing air/fuel ratio, from a simple diffusion flame up to an air/fuel ratio of 3.94, there is a significant loss of high molecular weight PAHs and an increasing abundance of oxidized lower molecular weight aromatics. The formation of high molecular weight PAHs is favored for JP-8 and diesel fuels at higher air/fuel combustion ratios than is the case with n-hexane, probably due to the aromatic content in JP-8 and diesel fuels acting as centers for large aromatic and soot nucleation. The efficiency and reproducibility of two techniques, Soxhlet and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), used for extraction of PAHs from soot were compared. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements were performed on the soot both before and after supercritical fluid and Soxhlet extraction, and a substantial decrease in the spin density of soot following extraction indicates that extractable molecules are associated with 40–50% of the unpaired electrons in soot. This analysis generally supports trends observed in our earlier work for surface oxidation, surface area, unpaired electron spin density, hydration, and ozone oxidation.