cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron affinities from gas chromatography electron capture detector and negative ion mass spectrometry responses and complementary methods.

The use of the electron-capture detector, ECD, to measure molecular electron affinities and kinetic parameters for reactions of thermal electrons with molecules at atmospheric pressure separated by chromatography and the sensitive and selective quantitative analysis of certain classes molecules are reviewed. The evaluated ground state electron affinities of the main group elements and diatomic molecules from slightly positive, 0+, to 3.6 eV are summarized. The electron affinities of twenty-seven superoxide states determined from pulsed discharge ECD and other methods are used to calculate one dimensional potential energy curves in agreement with theory. Advances in literature searches have uncovered ECD data in dissertations and theses and in the Russian and Japanese literature. These data, unpublished radioactive and pulsed discharge ECD thermal data from the University of Houston laboratories are used to report and evaluate electron affinities. The accuracy and precision of ECD electron affinities of organic molecules are identified and tabulated so that they can be added to compilations. A procedure for calculating the temperature dependence of electron molecule reactions is presented using kinetic and thermodynamic data. These are used toselect the most appropriate equipment and conditions for ECD analyses and physical determinations.
Pembrolizumab-based therapy in previously treated high grade extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas.

TPS4147Background: The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) has not been established in extrapulmonary high grade neuroendocrine carcinomas (EP-HGNECs), a disease for which additional tre...
Tolerability and Functionality of a Wireless 24-Hour Ocular Telemetry Sensor in African American Glaucoma Patients.

Purpose:The purpose of the study was to evaluate the tolerability and functionality of a wireless ocular telemetry sensor in African American patients with glaucoma.Materials and Methods:In this prospective, observational cohort study, 20 African American patients with primary open angle glaucoma (P
Theologische Hermeneutik der Lebensdeutung: ein Angebot

Die rasante Erweiterung des biomedizinischen Wissens und technischen Konnens eroffnet wesentliche Handlungsspielraume zur Gesundheitsvorsorge in Freiheit, Einsicht und Verantwortung. Aus ihnen resultieren jedoch vor dem Hintergrund einer vorangetriebenen Umdeutung der Krankheitsgefahr in das -risiko Entscheidungszwange. Der Einzelne kann sich einer personlichen Stellungnahme nicht entziehen. Unter den Bedingungen einer zunehmenden Auflosung bzw. Pluralisierung kategorialer Begriffsbestimmungen liegt eine besondere ethische Herausforderung in der Gewinnung von emotional und kognitiv bejahenswerten Handlungsorientierungen.
3-Photon Calcium Imaging of Deep Cortical Layers for Functional Connectomics

2-photon image quality degrades in volume-labeled tissue due to high background fluorescence. We apply 3-photon imaging to measuring functional responses in deep layers of primary visual cortex in pan-excitatory transgenic mice expressing GCaMP6s.
The visual perception of emotion from masks

Fifty-one adults evaluated visually-perceived emotions from 32 masks. These masks (held in the collection of the Kentucky Museum, located on the campus of Western Kentucky University) were created by artists from a wide variety of cultures spanning multiple continents. Each participant evaluated every mask along six dimensions: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. No previous scientific study has ever studied the general effectiveness of masks (other than Japanese Noh masks) in producing perceptions of human emotion. The results showed that the masks were effective in producing substantial variations in perceived happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. The ability of the masks to produce effective perceptions of emotion was due to the artists' inclusion of facial features that reliably signal emotions in everyday life.
Evolving Strategies to Potentially Further Optimize Surgical Interventions in Brain Cancer.

Provide an overview, the indications for use, and a synopsis of current literature regarding two evolving neurosurgical interventions—GammaTile therapy (GTT) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT). GTT delivers immediate, uniform, high-dose radiation with avoidance of direct brain-to-seed contact. Innate properties of the novel carrier system and cesium-131 source may explain lower observed rate of radiation-induced necrosis (RIN) and support use in larger and previously irradiated lesions. LITT delivers focal laser energy to cause heat-generated necrosis. Case series suggest use in difficult-to-access lesions and treatment of RIN. Collaboration among subspecialties and remaining up-to-date on evolving technology is critical in developing individualized treatment plans for patients with brain cancer. While patients should be thoroughly counseled that these interventions are not standard of care, in optimal clinical scenarios, GTT and LITT could extend quantity and quality of life for patients with few remaining options. Prospective studies are needed to establish specific treatment parameters.
The Role of the Household in Prescription Opioid Safety

Invited commentary: Although the US has seen a decrease in opioid misuse rates among adolescents and young adults since 2015, opioid use disorder and overdose remain major public health problems in this high-risk population. Data from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimate that in 2018, 5.6% of young adults aged 18 to 25 years and 2.8% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years misused prescription opioids in the past year.1 The reasons for high substance use rates in this age group are complex but include many factors rooted in neurodevelopment, socioeconomic characteristics, peer groups, and family life.........
Atypical Infiltrates on Endomyocardial Biopsy are Associated with Adverse Outcomes in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Purpose The significance of atypical infiltrates, defined as eosinophils or plasma cells on endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) after pediatric heart transplant (HTx) is not known. We hypothesize that atypical infiltrates are associated with worse post-HTx outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 96 consecutive patients status-post primary HTx (age Results Atypical infiltrates were seen in 24/96 (25%) patients. Of these patients, 14/24 (58%) had 1 EMB and 10/24 (42%) had >2 EMB with atypical infiltrates. Atypical cells were abundant in 6/24 (25%), while they were a rare cell type in 18/24 (75%). The presence of atypical infiltrates on EMB was associated with higher likelihood of reaching the composite outcome compared to no atypical infiltrates (HR 6.9 [2.9-16.3], Fig 1A). Two or more EMBs with atypical infiltrates were associated with greater risk of composite outcome compared to no atypical infiltrates (HR 11.1 [4.2-29.1], Fig 1B). All patients with abundant atypical infiltrates met the composite outcome within the study period (HR 21.6 [7.7-60.2], Fig 1C, compared to no atypical infiltrates). Conclusion Atypical infiltrates on EMB are associated with increased risk of CAV, graft failure, or death after HTx. The risk is higher with increasing frequency and greater extent of atypical infiltrates on EMB. Patients with atypical infiltrates are an at-risk population that require close follow up.
Studio-Based Learning as a Natural Fit to Teaching Human-Computer Interaction

The creative element of HCI tends to be neglected due to the rapid advancement of hardware platforms as well as software development. HCI books cannot keep up with this rapid growth, nor can they provide students with the necessary tools to succeed. Considering these facts, HCI instructors need to implement techniques that not just complement but also enhance learning while preparing students for the real world. Studio-based learning, being a constructivist pedagogy that includes critiques and reflection can greatly enhance HCI Education.
TNFR2 blockade alone or in combination with PD-1 blockade shows therapeutic efficacy in murine cancer models.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are profoundly transforming cancer therapy, but response rates vary widely. The efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-programmed death receptor-1 (anti-PD-1), might be increased by combination therapies. TNFR2 has emerged as a new target due to its massive expression on highly immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the microenvironment and on certain tumor cells. In murine colon cancer models CT26 and MC38, we evaluated the efficacy of a new anti-TNFR2 antibody alone or in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with placebo, anti-PD-1 alone, anti-TNFR2 alone, or combination anti-PD-1 and anti-TNFR2. We found that combination therapy had the greatest efficacy by complete tumor regression and elimination (cure) in 65-70% of animals. The next most effective therapy was anti-TNFR2 alone (20-50% cured), whereas the least effective was anti-PD-1 alone (10-25% cured). The mode of action, according to in vivo and in vitro methods including FACS analysis, was by killing immunosuppressive Tregs in the tumor microenvironment and increasing the ratio of CD8+ T effectors (Teffs) to Tregs. We also found that sequence of antibody delivery altered outcome. The two most effective sequences were simultaneous delivery (70% cured) followed by anti-TNFR2 preceding anti-PD-1 (40% cured), and the least effective was by anti-PD-1 preceding anti-TNFR2 (10% cured). We conclude that anti-PD-1 is best enhanced by simultaneous administration with anti-TNFR2, and anti-TNFR2 alone may be potentially useful strategy for those do not respond to, or cannot tolerate, anti-PD-1 or other checkpoint inhibitors.
Supporting Middle School Students with Academic and Behavioral Concerns: A Methodological Illustration for Conducting Secondary Interventions within Three-Tiered Models of Support:

This article provides a methodological illustration of how to conduct scientifically rigorous secondary interventions within the context of three-tiered models of support. Specifically, the authors...
The impact of enteric fistulas on US hospital systems.

Abstract Background There is limited characterization of patients with enteric fistula. Our objective is to determine the incidence of the disease, and characterize demographics, healthcare costs, co-diagnoses, and procedures in this population. Methods The National Inpatient Sample database 2004–2014 was queried to identify patients with enteric fistula using ICD-9 code 569.81. Results There were 317,000 admissions with a diagnosis of enteric fistula from 2004 to 2014, accounting for 230,000 hospital days annually. Costs totaled $500 million with charges of $1.5 billion annually. Inpatient mortality is 4.1%. Patients had significant comorbidities and 3 procedures or surgical interventions per admission. Conclusions This descriptive study elucidates the impact of enteric fistula on patients and hospitals by characterizing incidence, clinical associations, and admission characteristics. There is significant financial impact with 28,000 admissions and $500 million dollars in annual costs. This study lays the groundwork for future research by characterizing the impact of enteric fistula.
“Let's Get the Consent Together”: Rethinking How Surgeons Become Competent to Discuss Informed Consent

Objective Eliciting informed consent is a clinical skill that many residents are tasked to conduct without sufficient training and before they are competent to do so. Even senior residents and often attending physicians fall short of following best practices when conducting consent conversations. Design This is a perspective on strategies to improve how residents learn to collect informed consent based on current literature. Conclusions We advocate that surgical educators approach teaching informed consent with a similar framework as is used for other surgical skills. Informed consent should be defined as a core clinical skill for which attendings themselves should be sufficiently competent and residents should be assessed through direct observation prior to entrustment.
Synchrotron Imaging of Pore Formation in Li Metal Solid-State Batteries Aided by Machine Learning

High-rate capable, reversible lithium metal anodes are necessary for next generation energy storage systems. In situ tomography of Li|LLZO|Li cells is carried out to track morphological transformat...
At 50, Janzen-Connell has come of age

Fifty years ago, Janzen (1970) and Connell (1971) independently published a revolutionary idea to explain the hyperdiverse tree communities of the tropics. The essential observations were that seedfall is concentrated in the vicinity of fruiting trees, whereas saplings recruit at a distance from reproductive conspecifics. These observations were encapsulated in a simple focal-tree model constructed of intersecting curves for seedfall and escape from host-specific enemies postulated to attack propagules (seeds and seedlings) in the vicinity of reproductive conspecifics. In conflict with the thinking of the times, the mechanism operates from the top down rather than from the bottom up. A deterrent to broad acceptance has been the giant intuitive leap required to generalize the focal tree model to an entire forest community. Recent theoretical and empirical results have succeeded in bridging the gap between the focal tree model and its community-level implications. With these new findings, Janzen-Connell has come of age.
Assessing the Female and Underrepresented Minority Medical Student Experience in the Urology Match: Where Do We Fall Short?

Abstract Objective To better understand the experiences of female and underrepresented minority (URM) medical students pursuing urology and determine if discrimination was perceived at any point during the application process. Methods After the rank list submission deadline (January 2, 2020), we emailed an anonymous survey to all 353 applicants to our institution for the 2020 AUA Residency Match (80.0% of applicants nationally). The survey inquired about their experiences pursuing urology and the residency match process. Ordinal regression models were used to identify any significant predictors of survey responses. Results One hundred ninety applicants (136 male [72%], 54 female [28%]) completed the survey. A significantly higher percentage of females vs males noted discrimination (odds ratio: 2.53; confidence interval: 1.37-4.74, Fig. 1). URM students also reported higher frequencies of discrimination than non-URM students (odds ratio: 2.27; confidence interval: 1.07-4.83). Thirty-two percent of respondents tested positive on the Maslach Burnout Inventory; we did not identify any predictors of burnout. Higher proportions of female residents, faculty and leadership at a particular program had a more favorable impact on the rank lists of female applicants compared with males. Higher proportions of URM residents, faculty and leadership at a particular program had a more favorable impact on the rank lists of URM applicants compared with non-URM. Conclusion Our collective findings suggest that URM and female medical students have less favorable experiences interacting with urology trainees and faculty than do their nonminority and male counterparts. Higher percentages of female and URM urology residents and faculty promote effective recruitment of female and URM applicants.
Equivalent plate properties of composite corrugated structures using mechanics of structure genome

Abstract Equivalent plate properties are obtained for composite corrugated structures using mechanics of structure genome. The method developed in this paper interprets the unit cell associated with the corrugated structure as an assembly of plates, and the overall strain energy density of the unit cell as a summation of the plate strain energies of these individual plates. Mechanics of structure genome is then applied to drop all higher-order terms and the remaining energy is minimized with respect to the unknown fluctuating functions. This has been done by discretizing the two-dimensional unit cell into one-dimensional frame elements in a finite element description. This allows the handling of structures with different levels of complexities and internal geometry within a general framework. Comparisons have been made with existing work to show the advantage the proposed model offers over existing ones.
Suggestions for development of solar photovoltaic power generation projects in Guangdong Province

In this paper, the solar energy resources in Guangdong Province are divided into three categories according to the development and utilization value, and the development and evaluation of distributed photovoltaic projects and grid-connected photovoltaic projects are carried out for each region. According to the calculation results and sensitivity analysis, the development and evaluation suggestions for photovoltaic power generation projects in Guangdong Province are obtain.
Ddx41 inhibition of DNA damage signaling permits erythroid progenitor expansion in zebrafish.

DEAD-box Helicase 41 (DDX41) is a recently identified factor mutated in hematologic malignancies whose function in hematopoiesis is unknown. Using an in vivo model of Ddx41 deficiency, we unveiled a critical role for this helicase in regulating erythropoiesis. We demonstrated that loss of ddx41 leads to anemia caused by diminished proliferation and defective differentiation of erythroid progenitors. Misexpression and alternative splicing of cell cycle genes is rampant in ddx41 mutant erythroid progenitors. We delineated that the DNA damage response is activated in mutant cells resulting in an Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and Ataxiatelangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR)-triggered cell cycle arrest. Inhibition of these kinases partially suppressed ddx41 mutant anemia. These findings establish a critical function for Ddx41 in promoting healthy erythropoiesis via protection from genomic stress and delineate a mechanistic framework to explore a role for ATM and ATR signaling in DDX41-mutant hematopoietic pathologies.
Testimonies: The rewards and challenges of letting their voices be heard

Abstract The paper will examine two cases studies regarding collection development within Florida Gulf Coast University's Archives and Special Collections to highlight the department's efforts to curate collections that challenge gender and cultural bias. Librarians can influence the common historical perspective by collecting primary resources, such as oral histories, that challenge established norms. In recent decades, librarians have sought more diverse and inclusive collections to augment the resources available to scholars and storytellers. Oral histories are a powerful resource capable of providing valuable and differing perspectives of history and the human experience. This paper will discuss the rewards and challenges of collecting, cataloguing, and providing access to two oral history collections: a collection of ethnographies regarding sexual assault (S(he) Will Fade) and a collection of testimonies from people who dealt with the reality of abortion pre- and post-Roe v. Wade (Histories of Choice). The case studies address the importance of academic institutions' engagement with such collections, faculty and students' role in the collection of the oral histories, potential legal issues, and the impact of letting their voices be heard.
Does maths self-concept mediate the relation between instructional approaches and students’ maths achievement? Evidence from the U.S. TIMSS 2015 data

There is no consensus about whether a teacher-centred or student-centred instructional approach is more effective for students’ maths achievement. Prior studies have highlighted the role of student...
Acidity of the Thylakoid Lumen in Plastids Makes Sense from an Evolutionary Perspective

An acid pH in the lumen of chloroplast thylakoids is necessary in order to derive the required amount of CO2 to account for the observed rates of carbon fixation. We point out that the endosymbiotic derivation of the chloroplast from a cyanobacterium would have resulted in the lumen of the thylakoid having an acid pH. The thylakoids of cyanobacteria are continuous with the plasma membrane, resulting in the lumen of the thylakoid being open to the outside of the cell. Endosymbiosis resulted in the cyanobacterium being taken up into a food vacuole of a protozoan. The vacuole would have had an acid pH, probably around pH 5, so the endosymbiotic bacterium would have been surrounded by an environment with an acidic pH. The lumen of the thylakoids would have been at an acid pH since they were open to the exterior of the cell, and to the contents of the vacuole.
P31.08: When it looks like a mole but it's not a mole: placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) and subsequent pregnancy outcomes

gestation. Neonatal evaluation revealed left knee over extension and reactive TPHA with titer 1:10240. Radiographic evaluation disclosed dislocation of left knee joint. After benzathine penicillin administration and close reduction of left knee with cast fixation. The neonate was discharged smoothly. Congenital dislocation of knee is a rare condition which estimated about 0.017 in 1,000 births. The etiology remains unclear but supposes contracture of the quadriceps femoris muscle with variable deformity of anterior cruciate ligament. Congenital syphilis may present demineralization and osseous destruction of long bone. Joint dislocation was never reported in congenital syphilis in literature. Fetus with maternal syphilis should examine the joint of four extremities with prenatal ultrasound carefully.
Bursting Mechanisms for Hydrodynamical Systems

Different mechanisms believed to be responsible for the generation of bursts in hydrodynamical systems are reviewed and a new mechanism capable of generating regular or irregular bursts of large dynamic range near threshold is described. The new mechanism is present in the interaction between oscillatory modes of odd and even parity in systems of large but finite aspect ratio, and provides an explanation for the bursting behavior observed in binary fluid convection by Sullivan and Ahlers.
Ethics Through an Entrepreneurial Lens: Theory and Observation

Recent work in the fields of ethics and entrepreneurship has raised the possibility that entrepreneurs may differ from other individuals in the moral issues they face, in their moral judgements and behaviors concerning those issues, and even in their level of cognitive moral development. While this work has been exploratory and its conclusions tentative, the findings raise two interesting questions: do entrepreneurs actually differ from non-entrepreneurs in their ethical orientations and, if so, why? We propose a model of ethical decision making for small business entrepreneurs. We suggest some ways in which the ethical framework of entrepreneurs may differ systematically from that of other business people and propose some areas for future research.
Specific immunosuppression by passive antibody: V. Participation of macrophages in reversal of suppression by peritoneal exudate cells from immune animals

Abstract Thioglycollate-stimulated peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), harvested from mice immunized against sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) and transferred to normal syngeneic recipients, reverse the immunosuppression caused by passively administered anti-SRBC antibody. Macrophages purified from PEC on BSA gradients did not reverse immunosuppression; neither did suspensions of cells from mesenteric lymph nodes of immune mice. Mixtures of the purified macrophages and lymph node cells were fully capable of reversing immunosuppression. Thus, two types of cell, one a macrophage and one a lymphocyte, are required. Both must be compatible with the recipient mice at the H-2 complex. However, only the macrophages must necessarily be obtained from an immune donor. When “immune” macrophages were preincubated in vitro with “normal” lymph node cells before transfer to antibody-treated syngeneic recipients, a significant reversal of the immunosuppressive effect occurred. The ability of whole PEC or spleen cells to reverse the immunosuppressive effect of passive antibody is acquired rapidly after injection of a single low dose of antigen. Development of this ability precedes the appearance, in the circulation, of immunosuppressive antibody.
Eligibility for Learning Disabilities Rehabilitation Services

Discrepancy models currently utilized by practitioners in determining eligibility for learning disabili­ ties services vary as to the measures given the greatest focus. Critiques offwe different methods that can be employed to quantify a service performance discrepancy are discussed in relation to the identification of the adult population currently served by rehabilitation. The findings presented in this paper support the conclusion that more empirical research is needed to develop an eligibility model with clearly stated criterion for the coherent diagnosis and evaluation of individuals with learning disabilities.
The surface envelope protein gene region of equine infectious anemia virus is not an important determinant of tropism in vitro.

Virulent, wild-type equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is restricted in one or more early steps in replication in equine skin fibroblast cells compared with cell culture-adapted virus, which is fully competent for replication in this cell type. We compared the sequences of wild-type EIAV and a full-length infectious proviral clone of the cell culture-adapted EIAV and found that the genomes were relatively well conserved with the exception of the envelope gene region, which showed extensive sequence differences. We therefore constructed several wild-type and cell culture-adapted virus chimeras to examine the role of the envelope gene in replication in different cell types in vitro. Unlike wild-type virus, which is restricted by an early event(s) for replication in equine dermis cells, the wild-type outer envelope gene chimeras are replication competent in this cell type. We conclude that even though there are extensive sequence differences between wild-type and cell culture-adapted viruses in the surface envelope gene region, this domain is not a determinant of the differing in vitro cell tropisms. Images
Echocardiographic evaluation of common atrioventricular canal defects: A study of 206 consecutive patients

An accurate echocardiographic evaluation of common atrioventricular canal (CAVC) requires in-depth knowledge of the wide spectrum of morphological and physiological variations in this group of anomalies. In order to evaluate the incidence and morphological distribution of AV canal defects in a large series of patients and to define a systematic approach to the echocardiographic examination, we reviewed the echocardiograms of 206 consecutive patients with CAVC studied at Texas Children's Hospital over a 32-month period. The complete form of CAVC was most common (68.4%) and presented at an earlier age (mean +/- SD: 1.6 +/- 2.4 months). A partial AV canal (ostium primum atrial septal defect [ASD]) was found in 42 patients (20.4%) and their age at presentation was higher (9.2 +/- 10 months). Twenty-three patients (11.2%) had a transitional AV canal. Down syndrome was diagnosed in 34% of patients, the majority of whom (79%) had a complete CAVC. Associated malformations were found in 46% of patients: anomalies of the conotruncus were most frequent (18%), followed by secundum ASD (14.1%), anomalous pulmonary venous connection (11.2%), and heterotaxy syndrome (11.2%). Subaortic obstruction and mitral stenosis were less common. The AV canal was unbalanced in 14.1% of patients, with the right ventricular dominant form being more common than the left ventricular dominant form (10.7% and 3.4%, respectively). Based on our experience, we developed a systematic, segment-by-segment approach to the echocardiographic examination in infants with CAVC. Together with detailed anatomical information, Doppler evaluation provides crucial hemodynamic information that allows planning of surgical repair. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, July 1996)
What are the Policy Implications of Our Knowledge on Serious, Violent, and Chronic Offenders?

What are the Policy Implications of our Knowledge on Serious, Violent, and Chronic Offenders?
Exit, Voice, and Reputation: The Evolution of SPACS

This Article tells the story of a new type of business — the special purpose acquisition corporation (SPAC). The promoters of a SPAC begin by forming a shell corporation with no assets. They then take the company public on little more than a promise that they will strive to complete the acquisition of a target in the near future. We present the first empirical study of the SPAC contract design, and use a hand-collected dataset to trace its evolution over the past nine years.While SPACs are a new form, their contract design borrows heavily from private equity's playbook. Private equity managers famously (and sometimes controversially) receive 20% of their funds' profits, and funds typically last only ten years. From the traditional 20% incentive compensation to a short investment shelf life, SPAC entrepreneurs tried to transfer many hallmarks of the private equity contract to the public market. Reputational constraints got lost in translation. The private equity fund model is built on repeat business, and reputation is a crucial contractual gap filler. In contrast, SPACs are one-shot deals. Without managerial reputation to rely on, investors demanded increasing amounts of "skin in the game" from SPAC managers, and placed more conditions on managerial claims to 20% of the profits. On the other hand, without the force of reputation constraining investors, a supermajority vote created a powerful holdout right, which shareholders used to exploit SPACs until the form evolved to eliminate it. Our study of SPACs — by demonstrating the ways in which parties contract for credibility in the absence of long-term relationships between investors and managers—thus underscores the importance of reputation to the relational dynamics in traditional private equity.Aside from making private equity publicly tradable (with its concomitant loss of reputation as gap filler), SPACs' chief innovations were in the classic governance mechanisms of voice and exit. SPACs evolved from granting investors a supermajority vote to eliminating the vote altogether. At the same time, they granted investors an even stronger walk-away right. Thus, the SPAC story, new as it is, casts light on an old governance question: the relative value of voice and exit.
Quantal molecular description and universal aspects of the spectra of bosons and fermions in the lowest Landau level

Through the introduction of a class of trial wave functions portraying combined rotations and vibrations of molecules formed through particle localization in concentric polygonal rings, a correlated basis is constructed that spans the translationally invariant part of the lowest-Landau-level (LLL) spectra. These trial functions, referred to as rovibrational molecular (RVM) functions, generalize our previous work that focused exclusively on electronic cusp states, describing them as pure vibrationless rotations. From a computational viewpoint, the RVM correlated basis enables controlled and systematic improvements of the original strongly correlated variational wave function. Conceptually, it provides the basis for the development of a quantal molecular description for the full LLL spectra. This quantal molecular description is universal, being valid for both bosons and fermions, for both the yrast and excited states of the LLL spectra, and for both low and high angular momenta. Furthermore, it follows that all other translationally invariant trial functions (e.g., the Jastrow-Laughlin, compact composite-fermion, or Moore-Read functions) are reducible to a description in terms of an excited rotating and vibrating quantal molecule.
Surgical treatment of acquired flatfoot deformity: what is the state of practice among academic foot and ankle surgeons in 2002?

Purpose:This study was performed to review the present approach to the surgical treatment of acquired flatfoot deformity among a cross section of academic foot and ankle surgeons in the United States.Methods:A typical case of stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction was developed. The hypothetical patient was a healthy 62-year-old male with a symptomatic acquired flatfoot deformity with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Nonoperative management had failed. A series of academic foot ankle surgeons were surveyed to identify their proposed operative treatment. Each surgeon surveyed was affiliated with an orthopaedic residency program and was directly responsible for teaching orthopaedic residents. Each surgeon had foot and ankle patients as the major component of their practice. The overall response rate was 81% (104/128).Results:Ninety-seven percent (101/104) of respondents reported that they would employ some type of bony procedure in their surgical treatment. Eighty-eight percent (89/104) described ...
Regional brain activity correlates of nicotine dependence.

Fifteen smokers participated in a study investigating brain correlates of nicotine dependence. Dependence was reduced by having subjects switch to denicotinized cigarettes for 2 weeks while wearing nicotine skin patches. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans assessed regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMRglc) after overnight nicotine abstinence on three occasions: (1) at baseline; (2) after 2 weeks of exposure to denicotinized cigarettes+nicotine patches; and (3) 2 weeks after returning to smoking the usual brands of cigarettes. Craving for cigarettes and scores on the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) questionnaire decreased at the second session relative to the first and last sessions. Regional brain metabolic activity (normalized to whole brain values) at session 2 also showed a significant decrease in the right hemisphere anterior cingulate cortex. Exploratory post hoc analyses showed that the change in craving across sessions was negatively correlated with the change in rCMRglc in several structures within the brain reward system, including the ventral striatum, orbitofrontal cortex and pons. The between-session difference in thalamus activity (right hemisphere) was positively correlated with the difference in FTND scores. Correlational analyses also revealed that reported smoking for calming effects was associated with a decrease (at session 2) in thalamus activity (bilaterally) and with an increase in amygdala activity (left hemisphere). Reported smoking to enhance pleasurable relaxation was associated with an increase in metabolic activity of the dorsal striatum (caudate, putamen) at session 2. These findings suggest that reversible changes in regional brain metabolic activity occur in conjunction with alterations in nicotine dependence. The results also highlight the likely role of thalamic gating processes as well as striatal reward and corticolimbic regulatory pathways in the maintenance of cigarette addiction.
Computers, managers, and control at work

In recent years microelectronic technologies have penetrated into virtually every branch of'the economy, giving rise to widespread concern and debate over the fate of workers' skills and trends in the level of managerial control. Some social scientists have argued that new technologies elevate skill requirements and afford workers greater autonomy, in effect freeing them from the yoke of mechanization (see Bell, 1960:222-265; Woodward, 1958; Blauner, 1964; Shepard, 1971; Hull et al., 1982; Hirschhorn, 1984). In sharp contrast, other social scientists have contended that technological development poses a major threat to workers' skills and imposes newer, more despotic forms of managerial control at work (see especially Braverman, 1974; Feldberg and Glenn, 1979; Noble, 1978, 1984; Zimbalist, 1979; Wilkinson, 1983). After more than a decade of repeated confrontation between advocates of these two
Rationale and Strategies for Early Detection and Management of Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) occurs in 20% to 40% of patients with diabetes mellitus and is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in the United States. Despite the American Diabetes Association and the National Kidney Foundation advocating annual screening of diabetic patients, DKD remains underdiagnosed in the diabetic population. Early recognition of diabetic nephropathy by health care professionals is vital for proper management. The presence of microalbuminuria is particularly important as even low levels of dipstick-negative albuminuria indicate early disease long before a diminished glomerular filtration rate and are associated with an elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Like all forms of chronic kidney disease, DKD causes a progressive decline in renal function that, despite current treatment strategies, is largely irreversible. Many patients with DKD might be expected to develop end-stage renal disease, but many more patients will likely die of a cardiovascular event before renal replacement therapy is needed. Therefore, a renewed focus on cardiovascular risk factor reduction and a timely nephrology consultation with an emphasis on patient education is essential to proper DKD management.
Perinatal toxicity of endrin in rodents. I. Fetotoxic effects of prenatal exposure in hamsters

The potential of the insecticide endrin to induce fetal toxicity was determined in hamsters exposed to the compound on either day 8 or days 5--14 of gestation. Endrin was administered by oral gavage as a solution in corn oil. Doses used included 0.5--10.0 mg/kg on day 8 and 0.75 to 3.5 mg/kg/day on days 5--14. Exposure to a single dose of endrin resulted in significant incidences of fused ribs and meningoencephaloceles at levels of 5 mg/kg or greater. No significant effects were noted in either maternal mortality and weight gain or in fetal mortality or weight gain. The administration of multiple doses of endrin resulted in few fetal defects, although a significant dose-related increase in fetal mortality and decrease in fetal weight was seen. Significant maternal lethality and weight reductions were noted at doses of 1.5 mg/kg/day or greater. At sacrifice, maternal liver and fetal tissues were collected and subsequently analyzed for endrin and a major metabolite, 12-ketoendrin. Endrin was found to cross the placenta and 20 ppb were found in fetuses from litters exposed to 2.5 mg/kg/day. Maternal livers from this dose group contained an average of 2500 pbb of endrin.
Computing the Modular Degree of an Elliptic Curve

We review previous methods of computing the modular degree of an elliptic curve, and present a new method (conditional in some cases), which is based upon the computation of a special value of the symmetric square L-function of the elliptic curve. Our method is sufficiently fast to allow large-scale experiments to be done. The data thus obtained on the arithmetic character of the modular degree show two interesting phenomena. First, in analogy with the class number in the number field case, there seems to be a Cohen-Lenstra heuristic for the probability that an odd prime divides the modular degree. Secondly, the experiments indicate that 2r should always divide the modular degree, where r is the Mordell–Weil rank of the elliptic curve. We also discuss the size distribution of the modular degree, or more exactly of the special L-value which we compute, again relating it to the number field case.
Multimedia Analysis of PAHs and Nitro‐PAH Daughter Products in the Los Angeles Basin

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are released into the atmosphere may have health consequences that can be compounded by their nitro-PAH atmospheric transformation products. The available literature suggests that some of the atmospheric nitro-PAH daughter products may increase the overall environmental health risk associated with PAHs. Therefore, an important issue is whether there is merit in considering atmospheric transformation products of air toxins when conducting environmental health-risk analyses. To illustrate the above issue, a comparative analysis of the potential risk that may be imposed by PAHs and their daughter products was carried out for the Los Angeles Basin. The analysis consisted of first assessing the multimedia environmental concentration of selected PAHs and nitro-PAHs using a spatial-compartmental modeling approach coupled with available monitoring data. Multimedia concentrations were then used to estimate chemical media-specific mutagenic densities as well as average daily intake from multiple pathways, followed by cancer risk for the known carcinogens among the study chemicals. The analysis revealed that mutagenic densities of the nitro-PAH daughter products can significantly exceed those of the parent PAHs. The results of this study suggest that there is merit in further investigation of the potential contribution of nitro-PAHs to the overall environmental health risk associated with airborne PAHs.
Pressure transmission ratio reproducibility in stress continent and stress incontinent women

Our objective was to determine the effect of cough strength on pressure transmission ratios and establish quantitative and qualitative intra-observer test-retest reproducibility of pressure transmission ratios calculated from dynamic urethral pressure profilometry. The study included 242 consecutive urodynamic evaluations on women without pelvic organ prolapse. Dynamic urethral pressure profiles were performed in duplicate with coughs of different intensities. The analysis included pressure transmission ratios from the proximal 3 urethral quartiles (Q1 through Q3) and the mean pressure transmission ratio calculated from these quartiles. The final diagnoses were stratified into genuine stress incontinence, 135 (56%), and stress continence, 107 (44%). Correlations were strong for pressure transmission ratios from the first versus the second dynamic urethral pressure profile (K = 0.712 for mean). While the variation in cough intensity between hard and soft coughs averaged 30 cm H2O (P < 0.001), correlation's were equally strong between hard and soft cough pressure transmission ratios (K = 0.712 for mean). When mean pressure transmission ratios were stratified into below 90% and at least 90% categories, 83.5% of subjects had test-retest concordance (K = 0.671). Concordance rates were less for stress continent subjects (80.0%; K = 0.527) than for genuine stress incontinence subjects (86.4%; K = 0.679). Pressure transmission ratios appear to have reasonable quantitative and qualitative reproducibility which is unaffected by cough strength. The degree of individual variability limits the utility of pressure transmission ratios to diagnose genuine stress incontinence independent of other, equally variable clinical and urodynamic parameters, but this measure is sufficiently reproducible to be useful in characterizing stress sphincteric function in population studies.
Learning places and ‘little volunteers’: an assessment of place- and community-based education in China

In 2003, China’s Ministry of Education mandated environmental education in all subjects at all levels in Chinese public schools and explicitly encouraged teachers to engage their students in hands-on learning in their local communities. However, a number of obstacles – including an intense preoccupation with test scores and student safety – make this difficult to achieve. This article presents an unusual exception, an initiative in the Chinese city of Kunming with an approach that closely resembles North American place- and community-based education. This initiative trained and placed primary school students in a local museum as volunteer docents, where they interpreted exhibits on environmental themes and local history and culture for museum visitors. The article begins with a brief description of environmental education’s circumstances in urban China and the origins of this ‘Little Volunteer’ initiative. The article then presents an assessment of the initiative’s outcomes and analyzes its implications f...
The allure of unknown outcomes: Exploring the role of uncertainty in the preference for potential

article i nfo Influence practitioners often highlight a target's achievements (e.g., "she is the city's top-rated chef"), but recent research reveals that highlighting a target's potential (e.g., "she could become the city's top-rated chef" )c an be more effective. We examine whether the uncertainty inherent in potential is crucial to its appeal by exploring whetherthepreferenceforpotential dependsonindividualandsituationaldifferencesintolerance foruncertain- ty. In two studies intwo different categories (comedians and restaurants),we measure andmanipulatetolerance for uncertainty to show that the preference for potential emerges when tolerance for uncertainty is high, but not low. We further show that the uncertainty surrounding potential fosters greater interest and deeper processing when tolerance for uncertainty is high, which in turn promotes more favorable reactions. Thus, the current re- search reveals when and why emphasizing potentialis more effective than emphasizing achievement,illuminat- ing the key role of uncertainty in driving this effect.
Nanocrystalline SnO2 and In-doped SnO2 as anode materials for lithium batteries

Abstract SnO2 is one of the promising candidates for the use as anode materials in lithium batteries. This work describes the X-ray absorption near-edge spectra (XANES) and the electrochemical properties of nanocrystalline SnO2 and In-doped SnO2 via a soft chemistry route. Both undoped and In-doped systems showed excellent reversibility for Li ions. XANES and HRTEM studies of the samples prepared at various temperatures revealed the effect of low-temperature synthesis on size quantization compared with the samples prepared at higher temperature. The particle size of the synthesized materials were between 6 and 50 nm for the Sn0.9In0.1O2 and SnO2, respectively. The cycling performances for the In-doped systems were better than that of the undoped SnO2. In all the cases, there is a large first cycle irreversible capacity, as reported. The variation of electrochemical properties with respect to the In content was studied and discussed.