cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Should Body Size Categories Be More Common in Endurance Running Events

Thousands of endurance running events are held each year in the United States, and most of them use age and sex categories to account for documented effects of those factors on running performance. However, most running events do not provide categories of body mass, despite abundant evidence that it, too, dramatically influences endurance running performance. The purposes of this article are to (1) discuss how body mass affects endurance running performance, (2) explain several mechanisms through which body mass influences endurance running performance, and (3) suggest possible ways in which body mass might be categorized in endurance running events.
La comunicación como un derecho humano y su papel en la longevidad (Communication as a human right and its role in longevity)

La prolongacion de la vida y los cambios que se producen en el proceso de envejecimiento nos advierten acerca de la falta de informacion sobre la vejez, las consecuencias del avance de la ciencia y el impacto que ejerce al investigar y desarrollar nuevas tecnologias que involucran el acceso al genoma humano y su aplicacion en tratamientos, y la longevidad. Desde la decada de 1990 la comunicacion muestra y reproduce representaciones de la vejez y, en este siglo, ha contribuido a la inclusion de las personas mayores en la sociedad, especialmente a traves de la construccion de nuevas identidades. El Plan de Accion de Madrid provee el marco para incorporar la discusion acerca del envejecimiento de la poblacion en el debate internacional sobre la implementacion de politicas para responder al reto de construir una sociedad para todas las edades. El Plan vela por un entorno propicio y de apoyo para las personas de edad y favorece el desarrollo de la comunicacion como primer derecho humano. En su calidad de participantes en el entorno social, los medios de comunicacion estan revelando diferentes procesos y formas de envejecer, poniendo en evidencia valores de referencia positivos de esta etapa de la vida y mostrando que las personas mayores reconocen que la situacion actual requiere nuevos conocimientos y vivencias heterogeneas.Prolongation of life and changes that occur in the ageing process calls our attention to the absence of information related to old age itself, the consequences of science advances and impacts in researches, the development of new technologies that involve the access and use of the Human Genome, treatments and longevity. Since the 90s, communication presents and reproduces representations of old age and in this century it has contributed for the inclusion of elderly people in the society, especially through the construction of new age identities. Madrid Action Plan provides the legal framework to incorporate the discussion about the population aging in the international scenario concerning the implementation of policies to address the challenge of building a society for all ages. The Plan patronizes suitable and supportive environment for elderly people, favoring the development of communication as the first Human right. As a part of the social environment, the media have been revealing different processes and forms of aging, clearly spelling out values of positive reference for this stage of life and indicating that the elderly are recognizing that the current scenario demands new knowledge and heterogeneous experiences.
Composition of the Cell Life Cycle

The degree of restraint operating on the proliferation of free-living cells of all types is obviously different from that normally imposed on the proliferation of cells within a multicellular organism. The reproduction of free-living cells is limited only by the general nutritional state of the environment. In the stationary phase of a culture of microorganisms, for example, inhibition of cell reproduction stems from exhaustion of one or more essential nutrients, insufficient oxygen, or similar forms of deterioration or depletion of the medium. Such an effect constitutes inhibition but not control or regulation of cell reproduction by environmental factors.
Stellar Death: Ejecta and Circumstellar Matter

IR 15 milli-arcsecond interferometry in the 5 – 15 µm wavelength region of the circumstellar environments of AGB stars probes the dust condensation zones close to the stellar photospheres. Interferometric measurements which spatially resolve Galactic novae will provide distance determinations, can reveal dense knots in the structure of the ejected shells, will probe nonspherical accretion onto the compact white dwarfs, and in many novae will witness dust grain growth despite grain destruction by photodesorption and sputtering. Interferometric imaging of nearby supernovae (d ≤ 50 kpc) will show the explosion structure frozen-in to the homolo-gously expanding ejecta, the interaction of the ejecta with the surrounding medium, and possibly dust formation in an iron- and nickel-rich ejecta. Interferometric reconnaissance of the chemically anomalous clumpy outflows and ejecta of AGB stars, novae, and supernovae will scrutinize the theories for the microscopic processes of dust nucleation, grain cluster aggregation, grain sputtering, and photodesorption of grains, i.e., critical processes dictating the enrichment of the ISM.
Ernährungstherapie im Erwachsenenalter

Ist das noch Therapie oder schon Trend? Die Frage ist bei vielen, haufig selbst verordneten Ernahrungsumstellungen angebracht. Oftmals fehlt fur die positive Wirkung des Verzichts namlich jede Evidenz — bisweilen schadet er sogar eher als er nutzt. Spatestens dann ist es Zeit fur eine funktionierende Kooperation zwischen Arzt und allergologisch versierter Ernahrungsfachkraft.
Reason Ripped Asunder - A Threat to Ethics

By returning to Aristotle’s definition of ethics, "a reasoned state of capacity to act with regard to the things that are good or bad for a man," this paper reviewed The New York Academy of Sciences’ conclusion that "The fabric of reason is being ripped asunder …" and the effect this has on ethics. Ten epistemologic foundation building propositions, supported by case analyses, are presented to respond to threats of reason and impartiality.
AN EFFICIENT, ONE-POT SYNTHESIS OF 3-ALKYL OR ARYL SYDNONEIMINES

Abstract In a ‘one-pot’ process, a variety of 3-alkyl and 3-aryl sydnoneimine hydrochlorides can be prepared in high yield, under mild conditions, by nitrosation of the corresponding aminoacetonitrile with isoamyl nitrite in diethyl ether followed by cyclization with HC1 gas.
A Sulfonamide Sialoside Analogue for Targeting Siglec-8 and-F on Immune Cells

The Siglec family of cell surface receptors have emerged as attractive targets for cell-directed therapies due to their restricted expression on immune cells, endocytic properties, and ability to m...
Synthesis and crystal structure of a penta-copper(II) 12-metallacrown-4: cis-di-aqua-tetra-kis-(di-methyl-formamide-κO)manganese(II) tetra-kis-(μ3-N,2-dioxido-benzene-1-carboximidate)penta-copper(II) di-methyl-formamide monosolvate.

The title compound, [Mn(C3H7NO)4(H2O)2][Cu5(C7H4NO3)4]·C3H7NO or cis-[Mn(H2O)2(DMF)4]{Cu[12-MCCu(II)N(shi)-4]}·DMF, where MC is metallacrown, shi3− is salicyl­hydroximate, and DMF is N,N-di­methyl­formamide, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n. Two crystallographically independent metallacrown anions are present in the structure, and both anions exhibit minor main mol­ecule disorder by an approximate (non-crystallographic) 180° rotation with occupancy ratios of 0.9010 (9) to 0.0990 (9) for one anion and 0.9497 (8) to 0.0503 (8) for the other. Each penta­copper(II) metallacrown contains four CuII ions in the MC ring and a CuII ion captured in the central cavity. Each CuII ion is four-coordinate with a square-planar geometry. The anionic {Cu[12-MCCu(II)N(shi)-4]}2− is charged-balanced by the presence of a cis-[Mn(H2O)2(DMF)4]2+ cation located in the lattice. In addition, the octa­hedral MnII counter-cation is hydrogen bonded to both MC anions via the coordinated water mol­ecules of the MnII ion. The water mol­ecules form hydrogen bonds with the phenolate and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the shi3− ligands of the MCs.
A Curriculum to Improve Pediatric Residents' Telephone Triage Skills.

Introduction Telephone triage systems are frequently used due to their success in decreasing emergency department utilization, reduction of health care costs, and high levels of satisfaction among ...
Stress and information processing: acute psychosocial stress affects levels of mental abstraction.

One mechanism by which acute psychosocial stress effects health-related cognitions and behaviors is through changes in the level of mental abstraction when processing information. However, it is un...
Variation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Treatment in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

BACKGROUND Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treatment is common among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Given limitations in evidence, controversy exists regarding treatment risks and benefits. In this study, we describe PDA treatment trends and variation in a large, US, multicenter VLBW infant cohort. METHODS Data were collected through Vermont Oxford Network on 291 292 VLBW infants born 2012–2019 at 806 US NICUs. PDA diagnosis and treatment rates, further categorized as pharmacologic, invasive, or combined, were determined. NICUs were classified as capable versus noncapable of invasive PDA treatment. Infant and hospital characteristics were examined by NICU type and treatment quartile. Geographic NICU distribution and treatment rates were described in 9 US census divisions. RESULTS Of all infants, 24.6% were diagnosed with and 20.5% were treated for PDA. Diagnosis and treatment rates decreased over the study period. Treatment was predominantly pharmacologic. Treatment rates varied widely among NICUs (0% to 67%) despite similar infant characteristics. The median treatment rate was higher at NICUs capable of pharmacologic and invasive treatment (20.3%, interquartile range 13.3–28.6) than at NICUs capable of only pharmacologic treatment (8.9%, interquartile range 2.9–14.8). Treatment rates were highest in the northeast and lowest in the west. Invasive treatment was more common in the west. CONCLUSIONS PDA diagnosis and treatment rates are trending downward. Wide variation exists in PDA treatment despite a largely uniform VLBW infant population. This variation correlates with differences in hospital treatment capabilities and geography. Further understanding of the effects of treatment disparity could aid in guiding clinical management.
Pharmacological Inhibition of CBP/p300 Blocks Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα) Function through Suppressing Enhancer H3K27 Acetylation in Luminal Breast Cancer

Estrogen receptor alpha (ER) is the oncogenic driver for ER+ breast cancer (BC). ER antagonists are the standard-of-care treatment for ER+ BC; however, primary and acquired resistance to these agents is common. CBP and p300 are critical ER co-activators and their acetyltransferase (KAT) domain and acetyl-lysine binding bromodomain (BD) represent tractable drug targets, but whether CBP/p300 inhibitors can effectively suppress ER signaling remains unclear. We report that the CBP/p300 KAT inhibitor A-485 and the BD inhibitor GNE-049 downregulate ER, attenuate estrogen-induced c-Myc and Cyclin D1 expression, and inhibit growth of ER+ BC cells through inducing senescence. Microarray and RNA-seq analysis demonstrates that A-485 or EP300 (encoding p300) knockdown globally inhibits expression of estrogen-regulated genes, confirming that ER inhibition is an on-target effect of A-485. Using ChIP-seq, we report that A-485 suppresses H3K27 acetylation in the enhancers of ER target genes (including MYC and CCND1) and this correlates with their decreased expression, providing a mechanism underlying how CBP/p300 inhibition downregulates ER gene network. Together, our results provide a preclinical proof-of-concept that CBP/p300 represent promising therapeutic targets in ER+ BC for inhibiting ER signaling.
Economic Assessment of V2B and V2G for an Office Building

The development of smart grids, bidirectional chargers and the increase of the number of electric vehicles (EV) have made possible the implementation of technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-building (V2B). Under optimized operation, these methods can lead to savings in the energy bill and benefits to the electricity grid. This paper aims to assess the usage of V2G and V2B concepts in a business setting. For this purpose, we simulate an EV parking lot in the Southern California Edison (SCE) territory, connected to an office. A mathematical programming optimization determines when the charging and discharging of the stored energy should take place in order to minimize electricity bill given specific customer electricity rate regimes. The expected cost savings are analyzed according to SCE's real-time pricing tariffs for medium-size businesses.
Making a Hasty Brexit? Turnover and Brexit Negotiations

To what extent has personnel turnover affected the Brexit negotiations between the EU and the UK? And how might Brexit-related turnover affect output legitimacy? This chapter considers these questions by examining personnel dynamics between 2017 and 2019. During this period, the EU had a steady negotiation team and a strong negotiation management process; it experienced little turnover. The UK, on the other hand, experienced high turnover and poor inter-institutional communications. The chapter argues that structural features of “differentiated disintegration” (Schimmelfennig 2018) were not the only reason for the EU’s negotiating advantage; personnel dynamics mattered, as well. The Brexit case suggests that minimizing turnover among negotiating teams can help to boost output legitimacy. Widespread personnel replacements imperil negotiating success and undermine output legitimacy.
A Successful Kindergarten Transition for Children with Disabilities: Collaboration Throughout the Process.

The transition to kindergarten can be a memorable, yet stressful time for children and families. For children with disabilities and their caregivers, the transition to kindergarten can be especially difficult due to changes in environment, supports, and services that occur as part of the transition. The purpose of this article is to highlight specific practices and strategies that can enhance collaboration throughout the transition to kindergarten. Fictional vignettes are used to describe the perspectives of, and also the practices and strategies used by, members of an education team as they support a child with a disability and her caregiver. Readers are provided with examples of practices and planning tools that can be used to support children with disabilities throughout the transition to kindergarten process. High-intensity transition practices and strategies that can be used before, during, and after kindergarten transition are specifically highlighted. Additionally, the need for both preschool and kindergarten collaboration and support is emphasized.
Laser Techniques for Analysis of Ambient Air

Laser techniques based on Raman scattering, absorption, and fluorescence have been used successfully in analyzing ambient air samples, as well as in probing plumes remotely. The sensitivity limits have ranged from 1 ppm to 0.02 ppb for air samples and down to 50 ppb for probing at a distance of 1 km in the lower portion of the atmosphere. When the appropriate lasers are available, long-path infrared (IR) absorption with wavelength modulation is the most sensitive technique, but fluorescence detection is often simpler. Of the newer techniques under investigation, multiphoton photoionization should have the potential for the lowest detection limits-one molecule in the laser beam or 10 3 to 10 4 molecules/cm 3 .
Federal Indian Law Cases in the Supreme Court's 2004-2005 Term Symposium: 2004-2005 Supreme Court Review

In the October 2004 term of the Supreme Court, two federal Indian law cases were decided. In Cherokee Nation v. Leavitt, the Court decided that the federal contracting legislation and regulations required that the federal government honor its contractual obligations when the contractor had performed the services and operated the programs for which the contract was entered into, even when the contractor was a federally recognized Indian tribe. The federal government's position had been that due to the government-to-government relationship between the federal government and the tribe, the federal government was free to violate its contractual obligations to the Cherokee Nation. In the second case, the Court decided that the expectations of the state and other holders of lands which were illegally taken from the Oneida Indian Nation of New York outweighed the expectations of the Oneida Indian Nation that justice would be done to their claim once they were allowed to present it to the federal courts. The Court applied, for the first time, the doctrine of laches to defeat the claim of the Oneida.
The Impact of the State-Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Program on Quality of Life

This study utilizes the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program to examine the impact of state-federal vocational rehabilitation services on the quality of life of consumers. The theory that guides this study is an amalgam of theories of Allardt, Halpern, Campbell, and Cummins which indicate that quality of life is made up of various domains which parallel Maslow‟s Hierarchy of Needs. The study followed the theory that improvement in the individual domains of life would improve its overall quality. The domains of physical functioning, self-esteem, community integration and productivity were assessed prior to and after the receipt of vocational rehabilitation services. Results indicate that consumers who obtain an employment outcome obtain higher scores on measurements of self-esteem, physical functioning and activities of daily living and productivity than do consumers who do not obtain an employment outcome. The linkages that specific VR services have on individual life domains were also explored. Consumers who receive more education and training services show an increase in community integration scores. Suggestions for state-vocational rehabilitation services change are provided based on a socio-ecological model.
Critiquing the Role of the Learner and Context in Aesthetic Learning Experiences

I critique the role of learners and context to more fully explore the latent conceptions and performance of aesthetic learning experiences in instructional design and technology. This critique is intended to allow for a fuller interrogation of how individual learners apprehend designed learning experiences, heightening the role of the instructional designer in envisioning such experiences. Using a 1-year ethnography of a graduate human–computer interaction program to document the felt student experience, I highlight the importance of understanding how learners construct their own experiences during the learning process through the roles they take on and the informal pedagogical experiences they create. I identify additional areas of research that are needed to expand our notions of designing for experience, informing both theory construction and practice.
The Effects of Allocentrism and Idiocentrism on Consumers' Product Attribute Evaluation: An Exploratory Research from Taiwan's Cellular Telephone Users

Abstract Recent deregulations of the telecommunications industry in Taiwan have created a booming market for a variety of telecommunications services and equipment providers. The mobile telephony industry benefits most from such regulatory changes, as it grows from non-existence to 100% penetration in less than 15 years. Previous cross-cultural studies often use country/national culture as the unit of analysis; recent research has indicated that there are within-cultural variations among different consumer segments. On the basis of Hofstede's conceptualization of individualism-collectivism dimension, the present study aims to examine whether consumers' idiocentrism-allocentrism has effects on the evaluation of cellular phone attributes. The study uses a questionnaire survey to collect empirical data. Independent sample t-tests find that idiocentric and allocentric consumers are consistently different from each other in their product attribute evaluation. Compared with allocentric consumers, idiocentric co...
Genetic expression of aflatoxin metabolism: Effects of 3-methylcholanthrene and β-naphthoflavone on hepatic microsomal metabolism and mutagenic activation of aflatoxins☆

The effects of pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) and β-naphthoflavone (sNF) on the hepatic microsome-mediated mutagenesis of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and benzo[a]pyrene, and on the metabolism of aflatoxins B1 and B2, were investigated in inbred mouse strains. The inbred strains of mice studied included Ah nonresponsibe strains (DBA/2Ha, AKR/Sn and RF/J), which were also nonresponsive to the induction of the metabolism of AFB1 to AFM1 (AFB1-4-hydroxylase activity), and Ah responsive strains (C57BL/6Ha, ICR/Ha, CSH/St, A/St, Balb/cCr, C57e/Ha and CBA/Pi), which were also responsive to the induction of AFBi-4-hydroxylase activity. The hepatic microsome-mediated enzyme activities studied included: mutagenic activation of AFB1 and benzo[a]pyrene in the Ames Salmonella typhimurium TA-98 system; metabolism of AFB1 and AFB2 to AFM1 and AFM2, respectively; and benzo[ya]pyrene metabolism measured as the formation of fluorescent phenolic metabolites, i.e. aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity. Time-course and dose-response studies in C57BL/6Ha mice revealed that the metabolism of aflatoxin B1/B2 to aflatoxin M1/M2 (AFB1/B2-4-hydroxylase activity) was induced by both MC and sNF. In the nonresponsive strains studied, pretreatment with MC or sNF produced essentially little alteration of AFBi-4-hydroxylase activity or AHH activity or the mutagenic activation of AFB1 and benzo[a]pyrene. On the other hand, AFB1-4-hydroxylase activity in the responsive strains was induced 4- to 10-fold by MC (60 mg/kg) and 2.5- to 7-fold by sNF (150 mg/kg). Also in the responsive strains, induction of AFB1-4-hydroxylase activity was strongly associated with (a) the depression of the mutagenic activation of AFB1, and (b) with the induction of both AHH and the mutagenic activation of benzo[a]pyrene. In summary, the results described in this report suggest that: (a) induction of AFBi-4-hydroxylase activity by MC (or sNF) is associated with the depression of AFB1 mutagenesis and with the induction of benzo[a]pyrene mutagenesis; and (b) induction by MC (or sNF) of AHH activity, AFB1-4-hydroxylase activity and AFB2-4-hydroxylase activity is controlled by either the same or closely linked genetic factors.
Survival of patients with localized diffuse histiocytic lymphoma

Twenty-eight patients with previously untreated diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (DHL) were identified to be in pathologic stage (PS) I (11), IE (3), II (8), or IIE (6) by exploratory laparotomy and splenectomy. Six patients were treated with total nodal radiotherapy; 14 with an extended mantle; 5 with an inverted Y or whole abdomen; and 3 with an involved field. Twenty-six patients achieved a complete remission (93%) and 2 patients had persistent local disease. The median survival and disease-free survival and for the complete response group are 56 and 51.5 mo, respectively. Ten of the 11 stage I or IE patients had supradiaphragmatic lymph node disease. Patients with stage I or IE disease (n = 14) demonstrated a median survival of 72.5 mo and a median disease-free survival of 69.5 mo; there was 1 disease-related death. Patients with stage II or IIE disease (n = 14) demonstrated a median survival of 33 mo and median disease-free survival of 29.5 mo; there were 10 relapses or deaths. Patients in stages I, IE, II, or IIE with infradiaphragmatic disease (n = 7) had a median survival of 36 mo, while patients with supradiaphragmatic presentation (n = 21) demonstrated median survival of 68 mo (p = 0.37). The data indicate that patients with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma with stage I supradiaphragmatic lymph node disease are curable using radiotherapy alone, achieving a 93% 11-yr actuarial disease-free survival. Patients with stage II or IIE diseases are not readily curable with radiation therapy alone, achieving a 33% 11-yr actuarial disease-free survival; radiotherapy with adjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone should be considered for this group.
Quasicrystals: Making invisible materials

All-dielectric photonic quasicrystals may act as zero-refractive-index homogeneous materials despite their lack of translational symmetry and periodicity, stretching wavelengths to infinity and offering applications in light wavefront sculpting and optical cloaking.
Hybrid RSSD/AOA cooperative localization for 4G wireless networks with uncooperative emitters

This paper considers cooperative localization where the additional information from short-range communication among the mobile stations (MSs) in fourth generation (4G) cellular networks is used in the purpose of improving the localization accuracy. The problem of localization of MS in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environment with uncooperative emitters is investigated. In our framework, a given MS must be localized, whose transmission is received on 2 base stations (BS) through AOA measurements and on a set of neighbor nodes (MS or anchors) with known positions through RSS (Radio Signal Strength) measurements. Uncooperative transmission implies that the MS transmission power is unknown. Our localization approach is then based on relative RSS measurements denoted as RSSD, combined with AOAs. For NLOS effect mitigation, we first use a selective aspect where only the best 4 RSS are considered. Second, a weighting procedure (in both range and angle) corrects at a certain level the effect of NLOS and allows its mitigation by reducing the set of possible locations of the MS. Using numerical results, we demonstrate the impact of (1) the proposed selective hybrid RSSD/AOA weighting strategy with uncooperative emitters on the accuracy of localization in mixed NLOS/LOS (line-of-sight) environment, (2) the cooperation between MS on the localization accuracy.
Many-Valued Non-Monotonic Modal Logics

Among non-monotonic systems of reasoning, non-monotonic modal logics, and autoepistemic logic in particular, have had considerable success. The presence of explicit modal operators allows flexibility in the embedding of other approaches. Also several theoretical results of interest have been established concerning these logics. In this paper we introduce non-monotonic modal logics based on many-valued logics, rather than on classical logic. This extends earlier work of ours on many-valued modal logics. Intended applications are to situations involving several reasoners, not just one as in the standard development.
The Optimality of Regulated Pricing: A General Equilibrium Analysis

Consider a world where consumers, with diminishing marginal rates of substitution, maximize utility subject to their budget constraints and firms, with constant or decreasing returns to scale technologies, maximize profits subject to the prevailing prices. Then every competitive allocation is Pareto optimal and every Pareto optimal allocation can, with lump sum redistribution of endowments and share holdings, be supported as a competitive equilibrium. These two propositions, the first and second welfare theorems, form the foundation of neoclassical welfare economics. Unfortunately, in a world where some firms with increasing returns to scale technologies are price-setting profit maximi-zers, both of these theorems fail to be true. In this case, there is a need for government intervention, which may take the form of regulated pricing of firms with increasing returns to scale technologies.
Twins and triplets: The effect of plurality and growth on neonatal outcome compared with singleton infants

Abstract Objective Information on outcome by gestational age from large numbers of twins and triplets is limited and is important for counseling and decision-making in obstetric practice. We reviewed one of the largest available neonatal databases to describe mortality and morbidity rates and growth in newborn infants from multiple gestations and compared these data with data for singletons. Study design Data from a large prospectively recorded neonatal database that incorporated neonatal records from January 1997 to July 2002 were reviewed. We evaluated birth weight and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates that affected long-term outcome for each week of gestational age from 23 to 35 weeks of gestation for all nonanomolous inborn twins and triplets who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and compared these data to all singletons who met similar criteria during the same time period. Results There were 12,302 twin and 2155 triplet births that met the entry criteria. The data for these newborn infants were compared with 36,931 singletons. Average birth weights at each gestational week were similar for all gestational ages until 29 weeks of gestation for triplets and 32 weeks of gestation for twins. After these gestational ages, the entire difference between twins and singletons was due to the weight of the smaller twin; the larger twins' mean weights were similar to singletons at all weeks that were studied. Birth order at each week also did not affect neonatal mortality rates, even when corrected for route of delivery and antenatal steroids. Neonatal morbidities associated with adverse long-term outcomes (intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis) were also not different between multiple infants and singletons. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was associated with increased mortality rates at all gestational ages, but in the absences of IUGR, discordance was not. Conclusion Data on a large number of twins and triplets provide reassurance that neonatal outcome at all viable premature weeks of gestation are similar to singletons. Intrauterine growth restriction and prematurity are therefore the principal issues that drive neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in multiple gestations. These data are important for obstetric decision-making and patient counseling.
A compact low-inductance spark chamber pulser

Abstract A small low-inductance spark chamber pulser of simple construction is described. It has a capacity of 16 000 pF, a series inductance of 8 nH exclusive of the spark inductance and will drive a 5500-pF load with a rise time of 14 nsec. The complete pulser measures 1.8 × 6 × 18 cm. An avalanche transistor Marx circuit that can be used to drive the pulser is also described. It triggers on 2-V pulses and drives the spark gap trigger electrode with a 1.2-kV pulse having a delay time of 4 nsec and a rise time of 2 nsec.
Post-synthesis sleep transistor insertion for leakage power optimization in clock tree networks

Leakage power has grown significantly and is a major challenge in SoC design. Among SoC's components, clock distribution network power accounts for a large portion of chip power. In this paper, we propose to deploy sleep transistor insertion (STI) in the clock tree in order to reduce leakage power. We characterize the effect of sleep transistor sharing and sizing on clock tree wakeup time, leakage power, and propagation delay. We use these characteristics during leakage power optimization. We present post synthesis sleep transistor insertion (PSSTI), a heuristic clustering algorithm for sleep transistor insertion with the objective of total power minimization in a given clock tree. Sleep transistor sharing and sizing are deployed in order to meet the clock skew and wakeup delay constraints. We explored the potential benefits of STI using a standard industrial VLSI-CAD flow including sleep-transistor insertion and routing after clock synthesis and place-and-route of the benchmark circuits. Our results show that clock tree leakage power is reduced by 19%–32% depending on the topology of the synthesized clock tree.
Impact of dose, frequency of administration, and equol production on efficacy of isoflavones for menopausal hot flashes: a pilot randomized trial

Hot flashes occur in an estimated 50-80% of menopausal women in the United States,1-4 and 20-30% of women seek medical treatment for these symptoms.3-5 Exogenous hormone therapy (HT) is highly effective for symptom relief,6-7 but results from recent randomized clinical trials indicate that HT risks may outweigh benefits for many women.8-11 Consequently, HT use has declined sharply since 2002,12-13 and women are seeking alternatives, such as supplements containing isoflavones.14-17 Several recent reviews and meta analyses of randomized clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of isoflavones for vasomotor symptom (VMS) reduction18-21 indicate a beneficial effect overall. However, results across studies are mixed, likely due in part to differences in factors such as participant eligibility criteria, e.g., minimum number of hot flashes, as well as dose and composition of isoflavone treatments. Estimates of improvement in VMS frequency ranged from approximately 20% to 60%, lower than the 80-90% seen with HT,6 and Guttuso19 found that only three of 14 trials demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction, defined as a decrease of at least two hot flashes per day. The comparatively modest benefit in VMS reduction from isoflavones may reflect the once-daily dosing frequency used in most trials, despite isoflavones’ relatively short half-life of six-to-12 hours.18,22-23 A recent NIH workshop recommended considering frequency of administration when designing soy intervention trials.24 Several trials have used dosing frequencies higher than once per day,25-30 but to our knowledge, only two trials to date25,30 have examined multiple dosing frequencies simultaneously. In addition, equol, a metabolite of the isoflavone daidzein, may be more biologically active than daidzein,31-34 due to greater affinity for estrogen receptors.35-36 Equol also is cleared more slowly from plasma than daidzein and thus may have longer-lasting effects.35 This suggests that isoflavones’ efficacy for VMS reduction may be higher in those able to produce equol.18 Moreover, in contrast to Asian populations, only about 20-30% of Westerners produce equol,35,37 which could explain the modest effects seen in most trials in Western women. To date, effect modification by equol-producer status is not well-studied and represents an important area for research.18,31,38-39 To provide preliminary data on these questions, we conducted a pilot randomized clinical trial to explore: 1) whether the hot flash intensity score (hot flash frequency × severity) differs depending on isoflavone dosing frequency as well as on total daily dose; and 2) whether the impact of total daily dose or dosing frequency on the hot flash intensity score is greater in equol producers than in non-producers.
Blanchot's "Impossible" Kafka

In his article "Blanchot's Impossible Kafka theory of the impossibility and futility writing and life. Polgar questions Blanchot's Kafka's texts and explores traces of correspondence between the life and the texts yet unmentioned in Kafka scholarship. Referring to Blanchot commentary on the writer's facticity and the contingency to Polgar comments on the intense bio often ignores — in Kafka's lived experience. literature, Blanchot's theory that the impossibility of writing defines a philosophy of writing thought lacking in equivalence. > ISSN 1481-4374 Issue 1 (March 2014) Article 3 , "Blanchot's Impossible Kafka" b.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol16/iss1/3>
Controlled growth of alpha-FeOOH nanorods by exploiting-oriented aggregation

Abstract Over the last decade, nanocrystal growth by oriented aggregation has been established as an important mechanism by which nanocrystals grow, unique–often symmetry defying-morphologies are produced, and defects are incorporated into initially defect-free nanocrystals. First, we demonstrate particle size control in the preparation of ferrihydrite nanoparticles by forced hydrolysis from homogeneous solution. Second, we demonstrate particle size control by exploiting oriented aggregation in the formation of goethite (alpha-FeOOH) nanorods from the ferrihydrite nanoparticles. Specifically, we show that the size of the goethite nanocrystals formed depends directly on the size of the precursor ferrihydrite nanoparticles. These results are expected to be broadly applicable to crystals, of any composition, produced by oriented aggregation.
Countergradient variation in growth rate: compensation for length of the growing season among Atlantic silversides from different latitudes.

How do organisms adapt to the differences in temperature and length of the growing season that occur with latitude? Among Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) along the east coast of North America, the length of the first growing season declines by a factor of about 2.5 with increasing latitude. Yet body size at the end of the first growing season does not decline. High-latitude fish must, therefore, grow faster within the growing season than do low-latitude fish. This geographical pattern has a genetic basis. Laboratory experiments on fish from six different locations revealed a latitudinal gradient in the capacity for growth (i.e., maximum growth potential). In two subsequent experiments using fish from Nova Scotia (NS), New York (NY) and South Carolina (SC) that had been separately reared in a common environment for several generations, differences in growth rate among populations were highly significant. The rank order was NS>NY>SC, but the difference among populations depended on temperature. High-latitude fish outperformed those from low latitudes primarily at the high temperatures that low-latitude fish would be expected to experience most often in nature. These results suggest that instead of being adapted for growth at low temperatures, fish from high latitudes are adapted for rapid elevation of growth rate during the brief interval of the year when high temperatures occur. Selection on growth rate results from sizedependent winter mortality: the importance to winter survival of being large increases with latitude but the length of the growing season simultaneously decreases. The end result is countergradient variation in growth rate, a phenomenon that may be much more widespread than currently recognized.
High resolution fiber-optic voltage sensors based on the electrostrictive effect

Abstract We demonstrate high resolution fiber-optic dc and ac voltage sensors based on the electrostrictive effect in PMN based relaxor ferroelectrics. The quadratic relationship between the applied voltage and the induced strain in electrostrictive ceramics allows mixing of a signal at frequency ω with a carrier at a much higher frequency ω, thereby upconverting the information of interest to a frequency region (ω±ω) in which 1/f noise is not significant. Using PMN based electrostrictive elliptical transducers in conjunction with high resolution fiber optic interferometers we have observed a resolution of 129 nV/√Hz at 30 milliHertz and 40 nV/√Hz at 1 Hz. The device functions as an ac voltage sensor in the de-biased mode. We have observed resolution of < 10 nV/√Hz between 500 Hz -50 kHz when the device is used in the dc-biased mode.
Component Analysis of the Foveal Local Electroretinogram Elicited With Sinusoidal Flicker

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyze the sources of the local electroretinogram (LERG) in the primate eye, in response to sinusoidal light input. A review of existing primate data suggests that the late receptor potential (LRP) dominates the low-amplitude response to weak input modulations; this conclusion is compatible with intra- and extracellular recordings from lower species that have shown that the other major ERG potentials arise from nonneural cells that respond poorly to flickering stimuli. Reported here are new experiments designed to test the origins of the LERG, including regional retinal recordings, Fourier waveform analysis, and spectral sensitivity data. The results support our earlier conclusion that the low-amplitude LERG obtained with sinusoidal flicker is dominated by the LRP.
The Micromed Debakey VAD ® : A Bridge to the Future

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) therapy has emerged as a promising new option for the treatment of end-stage heart failure. As a bridge to heart transplantation, pulsatile VAD implantation has been performed over 3,000 times worldwide with a success rate of 50-70%.1,2 In the recent landmark REMATCH (Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure) trial, end-stage heart failure patients, who received VAD but were ineligible for transplantation, were found to have a dramatic survival advantage over patients treated with optimal medical management (OMM).3 On the basis of these results, VAD implantation is now indicated for destination therapy that may impact the care of thousands of patients. Despite the survival advantages associated with mechanical support, these patients are at risk for device-specific complications. The first generation pulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) were large, noisy, prone to failure and infection, and expensive (approximately $70,000 per device).1 Recognizing these limitations, researchers began searching for alternative pump designs and axial flow impeller pumps emerged as the second generation of mechanical VAD. This article describes the development by Dr. George Noon, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, and NASA engineers of the first axial flow pump for tong-term cardiac support.
New treatment strategies in the management of breast cancer

Abstract Growing understanding of the molecular characteristics of breast cancer is raising the possibility of ultimately delivering therapies that are tailored to the tumour biology of the individual patient. Agents that are currently being evaluated in metastatic breast cancer, irrespective of specific markers such as human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) or oestrogen receptor, include the novel microtubule inhibitor eribulin mesylate, and a monoclonal antibody directed against vascular endothelial growth factor-A, bevacizumab. Denosumab, a receptor activator of nuclear factor (B ligand (RANKL) inhibitor, has recently been demonstrated to improve bone-related metastases in patients with breast cancer, irrespective of biological phenotype. Targeted therapies directed against DNA repair mechanisms such as poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) may prove particularly useful in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Turning to the adjuvant setting in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, recent studies have shown that concomitant treatment with taxanes and trastuzumab improves survival, and data with novel anti-HER2 agents are emerging. Current adjuvant and metastatic studies are evaluating novel targeted treatments aimed at HER2 and other targets. Molecular profiling of tumours is providing and will further provide the needed answers related to therapeutic optimisation.
On chaotic conductivity in the magnetotail

The concept of chaotic conductivity and the acceleration of particles due to a constant dawn dusk electric field are studied in a magnetotail-like magnetic field. A test particle simulation is used including the full nonlinear dynamics. It is found that the acceleration process can be understood without invoking chaos and that the cross tail current is determined by the particle dynamics and distributions. It is concluded that in general there is no simple relationship between the electric field and the current.
Ultimate Strength of the Adventitia and Media of Human Atherosclerotic Carotid Arteries in the Axial and Circumferential Directions

The abrupt closure of an artery by an occlusive thrombus is the main cause of myocardial infarcts and other thrombotic sequelae of atherosclerosis. This thrombosis is often associated with rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque [1,2]. Histology has shown that most rupture sites are also sites of increased mechanical stress [2]. It has been widely accepted that atherosclerosis leads to locally increased stresses in the region of lesions. However, validation of this hypothesis has been impeded by a lack of experimental data on the material strength of atherosclerotic tissues. Knowledge of mechanical properties of human atherosclerotic tissues is essential for understanding the rupture mechanism and also for creating more accurate computational models for predicting fatal cardiovascular events [3]. Moreover, an increased understanding of the mechanical properties of atherosclerotic tissue is important for developing greater insight into the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system and as well as for predicting the outcome of interventional treatments such as balloon angioplasty.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Experiments and subject sampling

SUMMARY This paper examines the impact of randomisation and blinding in experiments in which subjects act like investigators by attempting to learn about the effectiveness of the administered treatments. We derive the effects that this type of subject inference has on investigator inference. We show that the conditions under which randomisation and blinding induce unbiased estimation when subjects make treatment inferences are extremely strong and unlikely to hold in most experiments. A test for the presence of such subject sampling in blind experiments is proposed, with empirical results from a set of blind clinical trials indicating the occurrence of subject sampling in about one-third of the trials. In experiments, investigators apply statistical analysis to the outcome data to draw inferences about the effects of treatments. This paper hypothesises that subjects, like investigators, make inferences about treatment efficacy from the outcomes that they experience. For example, in an HIV trial the primary outcome may be the strength of a subject's immune system, as measured by CD4 counts. As the trial progresses, each subject, along with the investigator, learns more about the effectiveness of the assigned treatment each successive period by observing the change in his CD4 count. The likelihood that a subject remains in the trial or complies with the treatment protocol thus increases as the health of the subject improves. We refer to this process of subjects making inferences as subject
Model order reduction for solid-phase diffusion in physics-based lithium ion cell models

Abstract A model order reduction method is developed and applied to the solid-phase diffusion problem used in physics-based lithium ion cell models. The reduced order model is in the form of a state space model. Model identification is performed in the frequency-domain using the vector fitting method. The method allows the user to control the order of the model, the frequency band for model identification, and optionally a weight function to give a certain frequency band more weight. The model can be used for spherical and non-spherical particles. For spherical particles, the results from using the reduced order model are compared with those from analytical solutions, and excellent agreement is achieved using 3rd and 5th order models. When the approach is applied to non-spherical particles, the transfer functions need to be calculated numerically. Two methods, step response and complex exponential, are proposed to calculate the required transfer function. While the step response method is more suitable for low frequencies, the exponential method is more accurate for high frequencies.