cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Keratoconus: The ABCD Grading System.

Purpose: To propose a new keratoconus classification/staging system that utilises current tomographic data and better reflects the anatomical and functional changes seen in keratoconus. Method: A previously published normative database was reanalysed to generate both anterior and posterior average radii of curvature (ARC and PRC) taken from a 3.0 mm optical zone centred on the thinnest point of the cornea. Mean and standard deviations were recorded and anterior data were compared to the existing Amsler-Krumeich (AK) Classification. ARC, PRC, thinnest pachymetry and distance visual acuity were then used to construct a keratoconus classification. Results: 672 eyes of 336 patients were analysed. Anterior and posterior values were 7.65 ± 0.236 mm and 6.26 ± 0.214 mm, respectively, and thinnest pachymetry values were 534.2 ± 30.36 µm. The ARC values were 2.63, 5.47 and 6.44 standard deviations from the mean values of stages 1–3 in the AK classification, respectively. PRC staging uses the same standard deviation gates. The pachymetric values differed by 4.42 and 7.72 standard deviations for stages 2 and 3, respectively. Conclusion: A new keratoconus staging incorporates anterior and posterior curvature, thinnest pachymetric values, and distance visual acuity and consists of stages 0–4 (5 stages). The proposed system closely matches the existing AK classification stages 1–4 on anterior curvature. As it incorporates posterior curvature and thickness measurements based on the thinnest point, rather than apical measurements, the new staging system better reflects the anatomical changes seen in keratoconus.
1,2,4‐Benzothiadiazine 1,1‐dioxides by acetylene dicarboxylate additions

Acetylendicarbonsauredimethylester (II) reagiert mit o-Aminobenzolsulfonamiden (I) zu den Addukten (III), die direkt weiter in die Cyclen (IV) ubergehen.
Vibronic coupling in J-aggregates and beyond: a direct means of determining the exciton coherence length from the photoluminescence spectrum.

Exciton coherence in a J-aggregate with exciton−phonon coupling involving a single intramolecular vibration is studied. For linear aggregates with no disorder and periodic boundary conditions, the 0−0 to 0−1 line strength ratio, SR, corresponding to the low-temperature photoluminescence spectrum is rigorously equal to N/λ2, where N is the number of chromophores comprising the aggregate and λ2 is the Huang−Rhys factor of the coupled vibrational mode. The result is independent of exciton bandwidth and therefore remains exact from the weak to strong exciton−phonon coupling regimes. The simple relation between SR and N also holds for more complex morphologies, as long as the transition from the lowest exciton state to the vibrationless ground state is symmetry-allowed. For example, in herringbone aggregates with monoclinic unit cells, the line strength ratio, defined as SR ≡ Ib0−0/Ib0−1 (where Ib0−0 and Ib0−1 correspond to the b-polarized 0−0 and 0−1 line strengths, respectively) is rigorously equal to N/λ2....
MULTIGRID FOR ADAPTIVE HARMONIC BALANCE CFD

The adaptive split-domain harmonic balance approach is an ecien t method for computing stationary periodic o ws. The advantages of the method, which converts an unsteady problem to a steady-state problem, are limited when convergence acceleration techniques such as full approximation storage multigrid are not eectiv e or cannot be applied because a large number of frequencies are included in the harmonic balance solution. In the current work, an approach for combining adaptive harmonic balance with multigrid convergence acceleration is presented and successfully applied to an unsteady 1-D supersonic o w and an unsteady quasi-1-D diverging nozzle o w. The potential of the adaptive multigrid approach is clearly demonstrated, reducing compute-time by a factor 3 and 19 for the supersonic and nozzle cases respectively.
Maternal warmth and early adolescents’ internalizing symptoms and externalizing behavior: Mediation via emotional insecurity

This study examines the relation between maternal warmth and the internalizing and externalizing problems of early adolescents, and the potential mediation of this relation by emotional insecurity. The hypotheses for the study derive from Cummings and Davies (1995) theory of emotional security. The current study extends the theory to security processes within the parent–adolescent relationship, testing the potential mediating role of emotional insecurity in the prediction of adolescent internalizing and externalizing. A total of 203 early adolescents drawn from school samples in Spain participated in the study along with their mothers and their classroom teachers. The results supported the hypotheses. Emotional insecurity mediated the relationship between maternal warmth and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Higher maternal warmth was linked to greater emotional security, which in turn was linked to fewer internalizing and externalizing problems. The findings extend the tenets of emotional security theory and imply strategies for prevention and intervention.
Reflections on the Health Service Psychology Education Collaborative Blueprint.

The Blueprint for Education and Training developed by the Health Service Psychology Education Collaborative (2013) articulates a series of critical recommendations made by an interorganizational group that was convened to address both the changing nature of professional psychology and the current concerns in professional education and training. The Collaborative examined the preparation of health service psychologists in the context of scientific foundations, societal needs, and the 21st century health care system. This article provides a brief overview of that effort as a preface to further commentary in subsequent papers in this series.
Financial Intelligence for HR Professionals (Book Summary)

Financial Intelligence for HR Professionals (2008)by Karen Berman and Joe Knight, with John CasePublisher: Harvard Business School PressPaperback: 256 pp.ISBN-13: 978-1422119136
Evidence for Implementation Strategies to Provide Palliative Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background:Palliative care is a holistic framework that is designed to improve quality of life by identifying and treating distressing symptoms of life-threatening or complex conditions. Neonatal palliative care (NPC) has potential benefits for parents, staff, and patients, yet evidence suggests tha
Identification of Alternaria Species Causing Heart Rot of Pomegranates in California

Alternaria heart rot of pomegranate fruit is generally considered a minor disease. However, the current listing of the causal pathogen in California as “Alternaria sp.” or as “A. alternata and other Alternaria spp.” restricts trade of the crop to some major export markets where quarantines are in place in an effort to prevent the spread of unknown or undescribed pathogens. Thus, species identification of the pathogen is critical in determining whether infected fruit should be regulated by quarantines. In this study, 86 isolates of Alternaria were collected from pomegranate fruit with Alternaria heart rot symptoms from major production areas in California. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means analysis based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms revealed two main clusters, each with a high degree of variability. One of the clusters contained 24 isolates from pomegranate and one reference isolate of Alternaria arborescens. Reference isolates of A. alternata and A. tenuissima were found ...
Evidence for strong enhancement of the magnetic ordering temperature of trivalent Nd metal under extreme pressure

Four-point electrical resistivity measurements were carried out on Nd metal and dilute magnetic alloys containing up to 1 at.% Nd in superconducting Y for temperatures 1.5--295 K under pressures to 210 GPa. The magnetic ordering temperature ${T}_{\text{o}}$ of Nd appears to rise steeply under pressure, increasing ninefold to 180 K at 70 GPa before falling rapidly. Y(Nd) alloys display both a resistivity minimum and superconducting pair breaking $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{T}_{\text{c}}$ as large as 38 K/at.% Nd. The present results give evidence that for pressures above 30--40 GPa, the exchange coupling $J$ between Nd ions and conduction electrons becomes negative, thus activating Kondo physics in this highly correlated electron system. The rise and fall of ${T}_{\text{o}}$ and $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{T}_{\text{c}}$ with pressure can be accounted for in terms of an increase in the Kondo temperature.
Vulnerability of Dynamic Systems

Abstract Directed graphs are used in an essential way to describe various structural properties of dynamic systems such as input reachability, output reachability and connective stability. A system is considered vulnerable if any of its desired properties is lost due to a chancre in its structure. Conditions are provided in terms of graphs and system characteristics under which a given dynamic system is invulnerable to structural perturbations.
Current challenges in the management of follicular lymphoma

Although typically indolent in nature, follicular lymphoma remains an ongoing challenge for practicing oncologists. While response rates >90% can be achieved with rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy in advanced stage patients, the complete remission rates are substantially lower and patients inevitably relapse. The inability to achieve a complete remission and an early progression of disease have recently been determined to be indicative of poorer long-term outcomes. A greater understanding of the pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma has enabled the development of targeted therapies, which may improve standard treatment approaches. Examples include lenalidomide and obinutuzumab, which are currently in front-line Phase III investigation. Other therapies of interest include small molecule inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells.
Studies on Selectin-Carbohydrate Interactions

Recruitment of neutrophils to sites of inflammation is now believed to occur through an initial rolling interaction at the luminal surface of activated endothelium and is mediated by a class of mammalian lectins referred to as the selectins. Selectins recognize carbohydrate determinants on co-receptors. It is generally believed that many selectin molecules must bind to many carbohydrate receptor molecules i.e. multivalent binding, to enable sufficient binding strength to elicit the rolling response between the neutrophil and the endothelial cell. One of the approaches to the generation of more potent molecular antagonists of the selectin-mediated cell-cell interaction is to mimic the multivalent interaction in a single compound. Recent experiments utilising conjugated forms of sialyl Lewisx-BSA have explored this feasibility (Welply et al., 1994). In that study, monovalent sLex (sialic acidα2-3Galβ1-4(Fucαl-3)GlcNAc), the minimum binding determinant for E-selectin, as well as monovalent sialyllactosamine (sialic acidα2-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc), a non-binding structure, and the corresponding multivalent BSA-conjugated forms were tested for their ability to inhibit binding of HL-60 cells to immobilised E-selectin. As expected, only sLex and sLex-BSA were found to do so. sLex 16-BSA (16 mol tetrasaccharide/mol BSA) showed a dose-dependent inhibition of HL-60 binding with a measured IC50 of 1μM; demonstrating close to a three-order of magnitude enhancement of inhibitory activity compared to free sLex. This result indicated that multivalent forms of sLex are capable of binding to E-selectin with higher affinity than do monovalent glycans. In another study, fluorescent forms of monovalent sLex were synthesized and used to measure a true thermodynamic dissociation constant for the monovalent sLex:E-selectin interaction of 120±31 μM. (Jacob et.al., 1995).
FKBP5 DNA methylation does not mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and depression symptom severity in the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study.

Abstract Exposure to childhood maltreatment increases the risk of developing mental illness later in life. Childhood maltreatment and depression have both been associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—a key regulator of the body's stress response. Additionally, HPA axis dysregulation has been implicated in the etiology of a range of mental illnesses. A substantial body of work has shown history of childhood maltreatment alters DNA methylation levels within key HPA axis genes. We therefore investigated whether one of these key genes, FKBP5 mediates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression, and assessed FKBP5 DNA methylation and gene expression within 112 adults from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study (DNHS). DNA methylation was assessed in 4 regions, including the upstream promoter, downstream promoter, and two glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) via pyrosequencing using whole blood derived DNA; Taqman assays measured relative RNA expression from leukocytes. Mediation analyses were conducted using sequential linear regression. Childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with depression symptom severity (FDR FKBP5 showed elevated expression levels in participants with vs. without a history of depression (p 0.05). Our results suggest DNA methylation does not mediate the childhood maltreatment-depression association in the DNHS.
Percutaneous aspiration biopsy of nodular lung lesions.

Over a 24 month period, 39 patients with nodular lung lesions suspected of being malignant on chest x-ray study underwent transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy. An accuracy rate of nearly 100 per cent was obtained in 34 of the lesions subsequently proved to be malignant. Achieving these results requires very close cooperation between the departments of radiology, cardiology, and cytopathology.
Spatio-temporal responses of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) to silvicultural treatments in the Northern Rockies, U.S.

Abstract Forest managers are often tasked with balancing opposing objectives, such as altering forest structure and conserving forest-dwelling animals. Consequently, to develop holistic strategies managers require information on how forest manipulations influence species of conservation concern, particularly those that are federally threatened or endangered. Here, we characterized how differing silvicultural treatments (n = 1,293 – forest thinnings; removal of small trees, selection cuts; trees harvested in small patches, and regeneration cuts; clearcuts of nearly all trees) influenced the resource use of a threatened forest carnivore, Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), over a temporal gradient of 1–67 years after treatment. To do this, we used an extensive GPS dataset on 66 Canada lynx (i.e., 164,593 locations) collected during 2004–2015 within the Northern Rocky Mountains, U.S. We used univariate analyses and hurdle regression models to evaluate the spatio-temporal factors influencing lynx use of treatments. Our analyses indicated that Canada lynx used treatments, but there was a consistent cost in that lynx use was low up to ∼10 years after all silvicultural actions. However, cumulative use (in both winter and summer) by lynx reached 50% at ∼20 years after a thinning treatment, whereas it took ∼34–40 years after a selection or regeneration cut. This indicated that Canada lynx used thinnings at a faster rate post-treatment than selection or regeneration cuts, and that lynx used selection and regeneration cuts in a similar fashion over time. Further, we discovered that lynx occupancy and intensity of treatment use was influenced by the composition of forest structure in the surrounding neighborhood. In some instances, the existing forest structure surrounding the treatment and the time since treatment interactively influenced lynx use; a pattern characterizing a spatio-temporal functional response in habitat use. This demonstrated that both the recovery time as well as the spatial context of a particular area are important considerations when implementing different silvicultural treatments for Canada lynx at the landscape scale. For example, if a selection cut was implemented with abundant mature, multi-storied forest (i.e., a preferred habitat by lynx) in the surrounding landscape, lynx would use these treatments less over time than if the neighborhood contained less mature forest. Forest managers can apply our spatio-temporal understandings of how lynx respond to forest silviculture to refine expectations and develop strategies aimed at both forest management and the conservation of Canada lynx.
Modeling Strategies in Developmental Psychopathology Research: Prediction of Individual Change

Developmental psychopathologists often seek to explain change over time in psychiatric syndromes and behavioral constructs. Because the rate and form of change may be unique to particular children, complex interactions among person-level characteristics, environmental characteristics, genetic/biological characteristics, and time are often hypothesized and investigated (e.g., Petersen et al., 2012). However, before we can assess change over time in such constructs and before we can investigate how change differs across children, we must consider how to conceptualize the psychiatric constructs themselves, and we must consider what assumptions are required for quantifying change. In order to address these issues, we first briefly discuss preliminary statistical and conceptual issues involving the categorical versus continuous representation of psychopathological constructs at a given time point. Second we discuss some preconditions for quantifying change in such constructs across development. The third and fourth section of this chapter focus on methods for describing and predicting longitudinal change in psychopathological constructs; these methods allow recovery of interactions between person characteristics and time. We conclude with extension topics relevant to the longitudinal modeling of psychopathology and some design and data considerations for such studies.
Beyond greed and bribes: Economic rational of corruption in Pakistan

Abstract. The paper explains how Pakistani economy has maintained equilibrium despite prevalence of rampant corruption in the society. However it is not to say that this is a Pareto optimal equilibrium considering higher standards of the state of the economy and social empowerment witnessed in regions like European Union or the North America. Keywords. Rent Seeking, Behavioral Economics. JEL. A10.
Delayed diagnosis of DOK7 congenital myasthenic syndrome: Case report and literature review

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMSs) are genetic disorders characterized by a faulty neuromuscular junction causing muscle weakness with or without respiratory and oculomotor involvement. Congenital myopathies (CMs) can present similarly to CMS but are secondary to muscle protein defects. CMSs cause muscular weakness, hypotonia, and ptosis and can respond to treatment1,2; CMs have no proven therapies. We present a patient with DOK7 CMS, previously diagnosed as CM for 25 years.
Toward an artificial intelligence physicist for unsupervised learning

We investigate opportunities and challenges for improving unsupervised machine learning using four common strategies with a long history in physics: divide and conquer, Occam's razor, unification, and lifelong learning. Instead of using one model to learn everything, we propose a paradigm centered around the learning and manipulation of theories, which parsimoniously predict both aspects of the future (from past observations) and the domain in which these predictions are accurate. Specifically, we propose a generalized mean loss to encourage each theory to specialize in its comparatively advantageous domain, and a differentiable description length objective to downweight bad data and "snap" learned theories into simple symbolic formulas. Theories are stored in a "theory hub," which continuously unifies learned theories and can propose theories when encountering new environments. We test our implementation, the toy "artificial intelligence physicist" learning agent, on a suite of increasingly complex physics environments. From unsupervised observation of trajectories through worlds involving random combinations of gravity, electromagnetism, harmonic motion, and elastic bounces, our agent typically learns faster and produces mean-squared prediction errors about a billion times smaller than a standard feedforward neural net of comparable complexity, typically recovering integer and rational theory parameters exactly. Our agent successfully identifies domains with different laws of motion also for a nonlinear chaotic double pendulum in a piecewise constant force field.
An Enhanced Analytical Calculation of the Phase Inductance of Switched Reluctance Machines

Accurate prediction of the phase inductance of switched reluctance machines (SRMs) is of crucial importance at the design stage because it is a key parameter to estimate the performance indices, such as the torque and loss. Instead of using the popular but time-consuming finite-element analysis (FEA) or the methods that require prior knowledge of magnetic fields from an FEA, such as function approximation and flux path methods, this paper proposes a novel fast and accurate analytical approach to determine the phase inductance of an SRM by solving the partial differential equations of magnetic potentials based on Maxwell's equations. In particular, an enhancement of the accuracy of the analytical model is accomplished by applying conformal mappings that deal with the non-radial/non-peripheral geometric structures when calculating the air-region permeance parameters. Moreover, a magnetic circuit network is applied to account for the steel saturation effects. The close agreement between the results of the proposed analytical method, FEAs and experimental measurements validate the analysis.
Outcomes of Practice Transfer in the Multinational Enterprise

We argue that outcomes of strategic organizational practice transfer in multinational firms include not only adoption and adaptation, but also reconstruction. Due to the contradictions that exist a...
Anchimeric assistance in reactions of platinum(II) complexes

Abstract Unlike the usual behaviour of dichlorodiamineplatinum (II) complexes, the 2-hydroxyalkylamine complexes, trans-[Pt(Etm)2Cl2]∗ and cis-[Pt(Hen)Cl2]∗ exhibit a second order reaction with hydroxide ion to yield a chelate ring by coordination of the ethoxide ion to the metal. For example, the complex trans-[Pt(Etm)(Etm-H)Cl]∗ was prepared from trans-[Pt(Etm)2Cl2]. These reactions are interpreted as an example of a HO-5 anchimeric assistance type of reaction.
Experimental Colon Carcinogenesis

Probably the most significant contribution in recent years toward the understanding of colon carcinogenesis has been the introduction of several compounds having marked propensity for induction of colon tumors in laboratory animals. Single or relatively few doses of MAM,* DMH, AOM, MNNG, or MNU result in the induction of large numbers of colon tumors in most, if not all, of the treated animals within a relatively short time. The intestinal distribution and the histological characteristics of the tumors are remarkably similar to what is found in humans. Animal model systems have been developed with the use of these agents and are invaluable for studying the mechanism(s) of initiation of tumor development as well as, in the case of those agents effective after a single treatment, the sequential changes from the moment of initiation until the formation of a tumor. In addition, epidemiological studies of various populations of the world have led to the suggestion that dietary fat, intestinal flora, and bile acids may influence the induction of colon tumors. The modifying effects of these factors in the formation of colon tumors can now also be evaluated in reliable animal model systems. The basic aims of this chapter are to present data of studies directed at understanding why colonic epithelium is especially sensitive to induction of tumors by these compounds and to present and consider the evidence obtained thus far of the role of dietary factors, intestinal flora, and bile acids in the induction of colon cancer. Other experimental systems that may prove useful in understanding colon carcinogenesis are also discussed.
Characterization of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome using High Frequency Ultrasound Imaging: a Comparison of Ultrasonic Features in the Median Nerve

Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is based on the medical history, clinical provocation test, and electrodiagnostic studies. However, electrodiagnostic studies can be uncomfortable for some patients, due to the invasiveness. Ultrasonography has been suggested to characterize the median nerve (MN) in patients with CTS as an aid in the initial assessment. The study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of ultrasonic features from the MN in normal volunteers and patients with CTS using high frequency ultrasound. All participants were examined in the sitting position with a palm facing up using an Aplio i800 system (Cannon Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan). The cross-sectional area (CSA; in mm2) and blood flow of MN were evaluated at the wrist using an i24LX8 probe (9-24 MHz). Blood flow was interrogated using Color Doppler Imaging, Power Doppler Imaging, Monochrome Superb Microvascular Imaging (mSMI), and Color Superb Microvascular Imaging with the same imaging settings for all participants. The maximum vascular area from each technique was quantified offline using Matlab (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). Shear wave elastography (SWE) images were acquired using the i18LX5 probe (4-18 MHz) at the wrist. The stiffness (in kPa) of the MN was quantified using a built-in software tool. To date, analysis included 20 hands in 10 normal volunteers and 14 hands in 9 patients with CTS. The CSA, vascular area, and stiffness of MN in patients with CTS were significantly different from those in normal volunteers (p < 0.04). The CSA, vascularity from mSMI, and stiffness showed high diagnostic performance independently, albeit based on a small sample size. Additionally, the combination of CSA, mSMI, and stiffness of SWE showed a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93% with an overall accuracy of 95%.
Towards an Analysis of the Architecture, Security, and Privacy Issues in Vehicular Fog Computing

The vehicular fog is a relatively new computing paradigm where fog computing works with the vehicular network. It provides computation, storage, and location-aware services with low latency to the vehicles in close proximity. A vehicular fog network can be formed on-the-fly by adding underutilized or unused resources of nearby parked or moving vehicles. Interested vehicles can outsource their resources or data by being added to the vehicular fog network while maintaining proper security and privacy. Client vehicles can use these resources or services for performing computation-intensive tasks, storing data, or getting crowd-source reports through the proper secure and privacy-preserving communication channel. As most vehicular network applications are latency and location sensitive, fog is more suitable than the cloud because of the capability of performing calculations with low latency, location awareness, and the support of mobility. Architecture, security, and privacy models of vehicular fog are not well defined and widely accepted yet as it is in its early stage. In this paper, we have analyzed existing studies on vehicular fog to determine the requirements and issues related to the architecture, security, and privacy of vehicular fog computing. We have also identified and highlighted the open research problems in this promising area.
Establishing clinical pharmacist telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose After community transmission of the novel virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was detected in the State of Washington in February 2020, innovative measures, such as telehealth appointments, were needed to safely continue to provide optimal pharmaceutical care for patients with chronic conditions and cancer. Summary Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal regulations limited the scope of telehealth pharmacist services. However, enactment of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, followed by guidance by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, allowed currently credentialed providers (including pharmacists) to continue to provide patient care services via telehealth with fewer restrictions. Our health system has numerous credentialed pharmacists across multiple ambulatory care clinics. In this article, we highlight our process of expediting the implementation of telehealth services. This process included obtaining authorization for the credentialed pharmacists to provide telehealth services, completion of training modules, implementation of new technology platforms, development of new workflows, and utilization of resources for providers and patients to facilitate successful completion of telehealth visits. We also highlight the consent and documentation components crucially important to the telehealth visit and share some of our successes, as well as identified limitations, in providing pharmacist services via telehealth. Conclusion In the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, our institution was able to swiftly implement clinical pharmacist telehealth services for many patients, offering a safe and effective way to continue providing a high level of care. This article discusses our experience with and potential limitations of telehealth to assist other pharmacists seeking to implement and/or expand their telehealth services.
Properly Speaking, the United States Does Have an International Obligation to Authorize and Supervise Commercial Space Activity

This article is a rejoinder to testimony Laura Montgomery provided to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Subcommittee on Space, provided in March 2017 on the topic of U.S. international obligations in light of near-future commercial outer space activities. Montgomery, the former general counsel for the FAA, recommended that Congress not regulate new commercial space activities on the basis of any perceived legal obligation under Article VI of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. Were Congress to misunderstand any of these positions, she warned, it may feel compelled to regulate space activities unnecessarily, thereby creating needless drag on burgeoning commercial space industries. In fact, the U.S. does have an international obligation under Article VI to authorize and continually supervise commercial outer space activities. As this article demonstrates, none of Montgomery’s arguments withstands scrutiny, and Congress is not well-served by her advice.
Excision and Circumferential Buccal Graft for Severe Meatus and Fossa Navicularis Strictures.

Objective To demonstrate our technique for glans sparing transurethral excision and circumferential buccal graft for severe strictures of the meatus and fossa navicularis. Materials and methods Key steps of the procedure are use of a fixed retractor and stay sutures to retract the glans skin laterally, preplacing urethral sutures to improve visualization, and dividing the buccal graft in half so that dorsal and ventral portions of the anastomosis can be performed separately. Results As demonstrated in the video, this approach allows for the effective treatment of challenging meatus and fossa navicularis strictures while avoiding postoperative glans dehiscence and minimizing disruption of glans vasculature and sensation. Conclusion Glans sparing transurethral excision and circumferential buccal graft is an effective technique for severe strictures of the meatus and fossa navicularis.
Correspondence on 'EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2019 update'.

We read with interest the recently published European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with pharmacological therapies1 and the associated systematic literature research (SLR)2; we welcome the clarity that they offer for patient care. We would like to bring three points to your readers’ attention to correct and clarify the narrative supporting Recommendation 7 (Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors). Recommendation 7 states: “ … Our SLR indicated tofacitinib may have similar efficacy as the TNFi adalimumab for joint involvement, but numerically lower efficacy in skin psoriasis.1,15,72 … Safety signals exist for some infections, especially herpes zoster, as well as a recent signal for deep vein thrombosis especially with a high dose of tofacitinib which is not approved for PsA, but also the usual 5 mg twice daily dose particularly in those with cardiovascular risk factors and older patients.15,72,73” Regarding the statement: “ … as well as a recent signal for deep vein thrombosis especially with a high dose of tofacitinib which is not approved for PsA …”: We would like to respectfully correct this statement, as this signal was seen for pulmonary embolism (PE) rather than deep vein thrombosis (DVT); this was observed in the 10 mg twice daily dose of tofacitinib, …
Thermodynamics of high entropy oxides

Abstract With the hype of “high entropy” alloys and more recently, “high entropy” ceramics and “high entropy” oxides (HEOs), there has been a great push to investigate and characterize systems with 5 or more components. This push has been extremely beneficial for the materials community as it has led to the development of many new systems with targeted applications. However, with our desire to find “new” and “exotic” materials, we have not spent enough time to step back and think deeply about the fundamental thermodynamic constraints that will guide design of future HEOs. Here, we present data-driven discussions with examples that have been collected from the fields of geology and materials science over the past 50 years to highlight critical thermodynamic parameters and principles that can be used for the design of HEOs. The goal of HEOs is to push the limit of the number of components in a single-phase solid solution to achieve unique and tunable properties. True single-phase HEOs are stabilized if the positive entropy of formation more than compensates an unfavorable enthalpy of formation above some critical temperature, making the overall Δ G f negative i.e. the HEO phase is “entropy stabilized”. Under ideal mixing, the number of components in a solid solution does not affect the solubility of an additional component. In real systems, the types of additional components, their structural transformations, and their associated non-ideal interactions influence the solubility limit. Non-ideal interactions can lead to short- or long-range ordering that decreases the overall configurational entropy. Due to the ionic-covalent nature of oxides, this ordering is the norm, not the exception. In the limited cases where mixing is ideal, charge coupled substitutions can work to influence overall configurational entropy contributions due to unique crystallographic sites. Long-range ordering can be minimized by mixing oxide components that have similar charge or are isostructural. Most excitingly, is the realization that surface energies will drastically affect the stability of oxide polymorphs and solubility limits. Thus, nano-materials are an interesting and novel approach that will vastly extend the HEO engineering space. As one can see, there are many avenues for the design and development of “HEOs” that thermodynamics will allow, even though they all may not be driven explicitly by entropy.
New directions for marketing ethics and social responsibility research

Marketing ethics and social responsibility research has reached a pivot point requiring a new direction. This commentary provides opportunities to access existing challenges and potential problems ...
Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments

Abstract Forest soils are among the world’s largest repositories for long-term accumulation of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg), and understanding the potential for remobilization through gaseous emissions, aqueous dissolution and runoff, or erosive particulate transport to down-gradient aquatic ecosystems is critically important for projecting ecosystem recovery. Forestry operations, especially clear-cut logging where most of the vegetaiton is removed, can influence Hg mobility/fluxes, foodweb dynamics, and bioaccumulation processes. This paper measured surface-air Hg fluxes from catchments in the Pacific Northwest, USA, to determine if there is a difference between forested and logged catchments. These measurements were conducted as part of a larger project on the impact of forestry operations on Hg cycling which include measurements of water fluxes as well as impacts on biota. Surface-air Hg fluxes were measured using a commonly applied dynamic flux chamber (DFC) method that incorporated diel and seasonal variability in elemental Hg (Hg0) fluxes at multiple forested and harvested catchments. The results showed that the forested ecosystem had depositional Hg0 fluxes throughout most of the year (annual mean: −0.26 ng/m2/h). In contrast, the harvested catchments showed mostly emission of Hg0 (annual mean: 0.63 ng/m2/h). Differences in solar radiation reaching the soil was the primary driver resulting in a shift from net deposition to emission in harvested catchments. The surface-air Hg fluxes were larger than the fluxes to water as runoff and accounted for 97% of the differences in Hg sequestered in forested versus harvested catchments.
Developmentally regulated pathways for motor skill learning in songbirds.

Vocal learning in songbirds is mediated by cortico-basal ganglia circuits that govern diverse functions during different stages of development. We investigated developmental changes in axonal projections to and from motor cortical regions that underlie learned vocal behavior in juvenile zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Neurons in LMAN-core project to RA, a motor cortical region that drives vocal output; these RA-projecting neurons send a transient collateral projection to AId, a region adjacent to RA, during early vocal development. Both RA and AId project to a region of dorsal thalamus (DLM), which forms a feedback pathway to cortico-basal ganglia circuitry. These projections provide pathways conveying efference copy and a means by which information about vocal motor output could be reintegrated into cortico-basal ganglia circuitry, potentially aiding in the refinement of juvenile vocalizations during learning. We used tract-tracing techniques to label the projections of LMAN-core to AId and of RA to DLM in juvenile songbirds. The volume and density of terminal label in the LMAN-core→AId projection declined substantially during early stages of sensorimotor learning. In contrast, the RA→DLM projection showed no developmental change. The retraction of LMAN-core→AId axon collaterals indicates a loss of efference copy to AId and suggests that projections that are present only during early stages of sensorimotor learning mediate unique, temporally restricted processes of goal-directed learning. Conversely, the persistence of the RA→DLM projection may serve to convey motor information forward to the thalamus to facilitate song production during both learning and maintenance of vocalizations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Not out of the blue: Historical roots of mathematics education in Italy

In this note I outline some elements of the history of mathematics education in Italy. Initially the chief characters were mathematicians who played a role in designing curricula and in editing textbooks. The development of the Italian community of mathematics educators towards the present day trend in research was fostered by participation in international activities after the Second World War. I also identify some elements of continuity with the past to stress the influence of some mathematicians in the development of present research.
The Structure of Star-Forming Regions-The Ages of Subgroups and the Progression of Star Formation

The structure of star-forming regions is examined on scales ranging from the few hundred parsecs typical of OB-association/molecular-cloud complexes to the few hundredths of a parsec structure observed in dense cloud cores. Explanations of both the temporal and spatial progress of star formation are reviewed, and factors which may dominate the process on all scales are considered.
The Internal Replicative Force of Strategies: Evolutionary Insights into the Widespread Use of Anti-Takeover Defenses

This paper develops a theory about the prevalence of anti-takeover defenses (ATDs) as a corporate strategy, while focusing on the non-payoff related aspects of this strategy, that both promote its dissemination, and strengthen its robustness in the face of other strategies. The simple evolutionary game that is presented in the paper shows how in an enabling regime, where all companies initially decline to adopt ATDs, once a company does adopt them, the company's "survival" chances are greater. Therefore the newly introduced strategy is more likely to survive and spread. Moreover, once all companies have adopted ATDs, companies without ATDs, which are more vulnerable to takeover, have lower "survival" chances, and therefore the strategy itself (of not adopting ATDs) is less likely to survive. I introduce concepts and tools that originate in evolutionary theory, evolutionary game theory, and neo-institutionalism theory, which serve as an analytical foundation for my analysis and help to explain why adopting ATDs can be regarded as an Evolutionary Stable Strategy. By shifting the focus from the effects of a strategy upon those who adopt it to the effects a strategy may have upon its own survival and prevalence, this paper present a new angle that has been overlooked in previous treatment of strategy prevalence. Thus, I pose a more general question regarding the inferences that can be drawn as to the efficacy of mechanisms that are prevalent in legal and business practice.
Tardive Dyskinesia: A Concern for the Pediatrician

Antipsychotic drugs, such as the phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, thioridazine), butyrophenones (haloperiodol), and diphenylbutylpiperidines (pimozide) are used in children and adolescents to treat a variety of clinical entities including psychoses, tics, behavior disorders, and movement problems. Because virtually all of these drugs have a potential to affect body movements and posture, they have also been termed neuroleptics.1 Most physicians are aware of the more common acute extrapyramidal side effects of these drugs, such as oculogyria, pseudoparkinsonism, dystonia, and restlessness (akathisia). Despite the widespread use of neuroleptics, however, little is known about the long-term neurologic consequences of such treatment. Of particular concern, based originally on data in adults, is the risk of severe and persistent tardive dyskinesia developing in persons receiving neuroleptic therapy.
Simultaneous measurement of both lipid and lactate in isolated rat hearts by 1H NMR spectroscopy

Myocardial lipid and lactate levels are sensitive indicators of biochemical status: lipid levels have been shown to increase in response to high fat diets, disease or metabolic stress and elevated lactate levels are indicative of reduced oxygen supply. Selective measurement of lactate or lipid levels by 1H NMR is not straightforward since both the lactate methyl group and lipid methylene groups resonate at 1.3 ppm. We have overcome this difficulty by employing spectral editing techniques to observe both lipid methylene and lactate methyl resonances, and have measured lipid and lactate levels in perfused rat hearts during control perfusion and in response to metabolic stress. Lactate increased during ischemia and decreased during reperfusion, and the ischemia-induced increase is inhibited by iodoacetate, as expected. In contrast, lipid levels increased during ischemia and remained elevated during reperfusion. Hearts from rats fed high fat diet show elevated lipid levels during control perfusion. Data obtained by 1H NMR are consistent with biochemical data, validating the technique.
Thromboxane-prostanoid receptor expression and antagonism in dextran-sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Objective In the current study of murine colitis, the potential roles of thromboxane and the thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptor were investigated, in as much as thromboxane signaling has been implicated in human inflammatory bowel disease.
Modeling CTLA4-linked autoimmunity with RNA interference in mice

The CTLA4 gene is important for T lymphocyte-mediated immunoregulation and has been associated with several autoimmune diseases, in particular, type 1 diabetes. To model the impact of natural genetic variants of CTLA4, we constructed RNA interference (RNAi) “knockdown” mice through lentiviral transgenesis. Variegation of expression was observed in founders but proved surmountable because it reflected parental imprinting, with derepression by transmission from male lentigenics. Unlike the indiscriminate multiorgan autoimmune phenotype of the corresponding knockout mice, Ctla4 knockdown animals had a disease primarily focused on the pancreas, with rapid progression to diabetes. As with the human disease, the knockdown phenotype was tempered by genetic-modifier loci. RNAi should be more pertinent than gene ablation in modeling disease pathogenesis linked to a gene-dosage variation.
The association of intrauterine growth abnormalities in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus complicated by vasculopathy.

Objective The purpose of this study was to test whether vasculopathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with fetal growth abnormalities. Study Design Women with type 1 DM (n = 340) were enrolled in a prospective study of diabetes in pregnancy and classified according to vascular status: NV (no vasculopathy, n = 181), HBR (hypertension or background retinopathy, n = 79), PR (proliferative retinopathy only, n = 16), NEP (nephropathy only, n = 40), and PRN (proliferative retinopathy and nephropathy, n = 24). Association of vascular status with low birthweight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) infants was analyzed. Results The odds ratios for delivery of a LBW infant compared to women without vasculopathy after controlling for maternal age, gestational age and race were: HBR 1.0, PR 2.2, NEP 3.7, and PRN 5.5. The odds ratios for delivery of a SGA infant were: HBR 0.7, PR 10.4, NEP 1.9, and PRN 9.9. Conclusion Diabetic vasculopathy is associated with increased odds for delivery of low-birthweight or SGA infants.