cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring competition in health care markets.

Objective Measuring competition is increasingly important for analysis of health care markets and policies. Measurement of competition in health care is made complex by the breadth of potential issues under study, by the lack of necessary data, and by rapid changes in health care financing and delivery. This study reviews key issues in the measurement of competition and is designed to familiarize researchers and policymakers interested in competition measurement, but not steeped in its practice, with key concepts, data sources, and ways of adapting measures to fit ongoing changes in health care markets. Principal findings Attention to several key issues will strengthen measurement. Important components of successful measurement are: careful identification of the products and market areas for study; selection of Herfindahl-Hirschman or other indices to fit the issues being considered; consideration of econometric problems, like endogeneity, with common measures; and attention to the ways that current marketplace changes, like growth in managed care, affect the performance of classic measures. Data needed for constructing measures are also frequently scarce, insufficient, or both. Measurement could be improved with access to better data.
Pyridoxine for prevention and treatment of PARP inhibitor induced nausea and vomiting

Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are a promising new treatment option for patients with ovarian cancer and are moderately emetogenic. Tolerance of therapy is paramount, and uncontrolled nausea and vomiting may limit use. Although most patients will experience improvement in nausea and vomiting after one to two months, approximately one in twenty patients will discontinue therapy due to unrelieved symptom burden. Three cases of olaparib-related nausea and vomiting mitigated by primary pyridoxine use are reported. Case 1 demonstrates successful use of pyridoxine in breakthrough nausea. Case 2 details the use of pyridoxine following refractory nausea and vomiting requiring hospitalization. Case 3 describes a prophylactic approach for a patient with significant anticipatory nausea. All three patients tolerated olaparib after starting and continuing pyridoxine. Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, was successful as both a therapeutic and prophylactic option for significant treatment-related nausea and vomiting with PARPi use.
Neck and Facial Contouring

Liposuction of the neck area is a relatively common surgical procedure. The majority of the fat extraction is performed in the submental area. VASER-assisted liposuction (VAL) is a useful technique for neck contouring since it is associated with less skin trauma and blood loss which translates into less postoperative bruising and swelling. High amounts of wetting solution at room temperature are recommended and small five-ring, VASER probes at 60% energy level in pulse mode are used for the fat fragmentation. Aspiration is performed with 3.0 mm VentX cannulas. Cervicodorsal lipodystrophy can occur in up to 60% of patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) for the treatment of HIV disease. Ultrasonic liposuction has shown usefulness fragmenting this highly dense, fibrous, fatty tissue. A very aggressive one-ring, VASER probe at 90% energy level in continuous mode is employed for approximately 1 minute for every 100 ml of expected aspirate. Aspiration is performed with 4.6 mm and 3.7 mm VentX cannulas. Facial and neck contouring by means of VASER-assisted liposuction (VAL) is a relatively common procedure. It is most frequently performed as a stand-alone procedure; however in the author’s experience, about one third of the cases are performed in combination with other liposuction procedures. Also the techniques for submental and neck contouring can be performed by themselves or as an adjunct to open procedures such as facelifts (DiGiuseppe. Int J Cosm Surg Aesthet Dermatol 2:125–31, 2000). The great majority of the fat extraction involves the neck and submental area.
"Twitter is Really Therapeutic at Times": Examination of Black Men's Twitter Conversations Following Hip-Hop Artist Kid Cudi's Depression Disclosure.

Mental illness affects a considerable number of African Americans, and Black men bare a heavy burden. Over the past few years, more and more Black male celebrities have publicly discussed their str...
Krill diel vertical migration: A diagnostic for variability of wind forcing over the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

Abstract Measurements of echo intensities were acquired in shelf waters of the western Beaufort Sea near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska by upward-looking 307 kHz acoustic Doppler current profilers during a 2008–2015 series of late-summer mooring deployments. These echo signals were analyzed for characteristic patterns of krill diel vertical migration (DVM) from which daily and seasonally-averaged DVM indices (DVMI) were derived. Time varying relationships among DVMIs (inferred krill biomasses) and local and regional wind regimes were diagnosed statistically. The threshold wind speed at which easterly winds promote upwelling of krill onto the western Beaufort shelf occurs at about 6 m s−1. Inferred krill biomass increases on the shelf as upwelling winds relax. Years (2009, 2012) in which inferred krill biomasses were higher on the western Beaufort shelf occurred when average mid-summer winds over the Chukchi Sea were from the south and average late-summer winds over the Beaufort shelf were weak and variable. In contrast, years (2008, 2010–11, 2013–15) in which inferred krill biomasses were lower occurred when average mid-summer winds over the Chukchi Sea were weak and variable and average late-summer winds over the Beaufort shelf were generally easterly and strong.
Local and standardized strategies: A content analysis of newspaper food and beverage advertising in Jamaica

Globalization has led to changes in diets and advertising linked to audience preferences. This study examines local and global brand food and beverage advertising in Jamaican newspapers. Content an...
Higher body mass index is associated with reinterventions and lower maturation rates after upper extremity arteriovenous access creation

Abstract Objective A patient's body mass index (BMI) can affect both perioperative and postoperative outcomes across all surgical specialties. Given that obesity and end-stage renal disease are growing in prevalence, we aimed to evaluate the association between BMI and outcomes of upper extremity arteriovenous (AV) access creation. Methods A retrospective single-institution review was conducted for AV access creations from 2014 to 2018. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and AV access details were recorded. BMI groups were defined as normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), obese (30-39.9 kg/m2), and morbidly obese (>40 kg/m2). Perioperative complications and long-term outcomes including access maturation (defined as access being used for hemodialysis or the surgeon's judgment that access was ready for use in patients not yet on hemodialysis), occlusion, and reintervention were evaluated. Results A total of 611 upper extremity AV access creations were performed on patients who were normal weight (29.6%), overweight (31.3%), obese (29.6%), and morbidly obese (9.5%). Access type included brachiocephalic (43.2%), brachiobasilic (25.5%), and radiocephalic (14.2%) fistulas and AV grafts (14.2%). Median age was 60.9 years, and 59.6% were male. Univariable analysis showed no difference between BMI groups for perioperative steal, hematoma, home discharge, or 30-day primary patency. Freedom from reintervention at 2 years on Kaplan-Meier analysis differed by BMI (44.5% ± 4.6% normal weight, 29% ± 3.8% overweight, 39.8% ± 4.3% obese, 34.7% ± 8% morbidly obese; P = .041). There was no difference in 2-year freedom from new access creation or survival. AV access maturity within 180 days differed between BMI groups (74.3% normal weight, 66% overweight, 65.7% obese, 46.6% morbidly obese; P Conclusions Obesity is associated with higher rates of AV access failure to mature and reintervention. Surgeons performing access creation on obese patients must consider this for planning and setting expectations. Weight loss assistance may need to be incorporated into treatment algorithms.
Cannabinoids in Gastrointestinal Disorders

Investigation of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Burden In the United States, the recreational use of cannabis is legal in 11 states, and the medical use of cannabis is legal in 33 states. Colorado was the first state to experiment with legalized recreational marijuana in 2014. Within just a few years, there was a proliferation of marijuana shops, beginning in urban areas and spreading to bordering towns and rural areas thus making this drug easily accessible to the general public. There are now a wide variety of concentrates, tinctures, and edibles sold in many dispensaries, in addition to the dried plant itself and associated paraphernalia. The legalization of marijuana has reshaped healthcare in a way that worries many physicians. The number of adults who use marijuana has been increasing since legalization. Since recreational sales began in 2014, there is also a rise in people visiting emergency departments for marijuana-related conditions including severe vomiting, dehydration, and abdominal pain. This collection of gastrointestinal symptoms is known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). This chapter looks at the pathophysiology and current treatment regimens for CHS, as well as the financial and physical impacts of this unfortunate condition due to long-term cannabis use.
Unified Analog PUF and TRNG Based on Current-Steering DAC and VCO

This work presents a unified weak physical unclonable function (PUF) and a true random number generator (TRNG) based on the current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and ring voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). Entropy source for the weak PUF is the mismatch between NMOS and PMOS transistors in a cascode current DAC as well as the mismatch between VCO quantizers, while entropy source for the TRNG is thermal noise in the DAC and VCO and clock jitter. Instead of using spatial entropy sources for the PUF, i.e., multiple unit PUF elements, the proposed architecture utilizes temporal entropy source by capturing the output of unit PUF element over multiple cycles, which reduces area significantly. A unified PUF/TRNG prototype is fabricated in 65-nm CMOS and consumes 0.36 pJ/bit at a throughput of 100 Mb/s. The PUF has a measured intra-HD of 0.0906 and inter-HD of 0.4859, while the raw TRNG bitstream has an entropy of 0.9991 and passes all the NIST statistical randomness tests.
Modality Matters: Imagination as Consciousness of Possibilities and Husserl’s Transcendental-Historical Eidetics

The paper contends that transcendental phenomenology is a form of radical immanent critique able to explicate the necessary structures of meaning-constitution as well as evaluate our present situation through the historically traditionalized layers of concrete, lived experience. In order to make this case, the paper examines the critical dimension of phenomenology through the lens of one of its core conditions for possibility: the imagination. Building on—yet also departing from—Husserl’s own analyses, the paper contends that the imagination is both self- and lifeworld-constituting. The imagination is anchored in our everyday senses of self and world as well as able to distance itself from being naively moored in normalized and deeply sedimented commitments. It is precisely this ‘anchored distance,’ rather than a sweeping doxic and ontic neutrality and negative freedom, that reveals the critical dimension of the imagination.
Phased Array Acoustic Imaging Systems

What is an ultrasound image? An image is a reproduction or imitation of the form of something. A major thrust of modern technology in the past century has been to enhance or complement the capability of the human sensory system with new imaging modalities. Examples that come to mind include the optical telescope, radar, sonar, infrared, and X-ray imaging systems.
Formative work to design a digital learning self-assessment and feedback tool to prevent weight gain among college students.

ObjectiveWhile colleges have implemented brief, tailored interventions for health-risk areas such as alcohol prevention, theoretically-guided digital learning offerings for weight gain prevention h...
An ULP Self-Supplied Brain Interface Circuit

An Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) brain interface (BI) circuit, including signal processing front-end (SPFE) and wireless data transmitter (TX), supplied from the incident sensor power, is presented. While a rectifier/voltage multiplier (RVM) provides the required power for the wireless TX circuitry, some of the SPFE circuits are directly supplied from the sensor. This approach helps to reduce the overall required power and simplifies the design of the power management system. The proposed BI circuit is designed in $\boldsymbol{0.18}\ \mu\mathrm{m}$ CMOS technology. Isolated Schottky diodes that are available in the process are used to design an RVM for the transmitter block. The SPFE circuitry samples the input, filters the noise and launches the transmitter in case of detecting a sufficient number of target events. The SPFE unit consumes 500 pA from a 400 mV supply, which is provided by the RVM circuit. Data transmission circuitry, which utilizes the same supply, consumes 205 pA leakage power, and $\boldsymbol{2.125}\ \mu\mathbf{A}$ average active current during data transmission mode.
Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Associated With Infective Endocarditis in Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but serious infection that complicates pregnancy. Little is known about IE management and outcomes in this population. METHODS The National Readmissions Database was used to obtain data between October 2015 and October 2018. Billing codes identified admissions for IE in female patients of reproductive age. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between patients with maternity-associated and nonmaternity-associated IE and obstetric patients who delivered with and without IE. Weighted regressions were used to examine outcomes in adjusted models. RESULTS We identified 12 602 reproductive-aged female patients with a diagnosis of IE, of which 382 (weighted national estimate, 748) were maternity-associated. Of these cases, 117 (weighted national estimate, 217) occurred during a delivery admission. Compared with patients with nonmaternity-associated IE, maternity-associated infection was associated with younger age (mean, 29.0 vs 36.6 years; P < .001), Medicaid coverage (72.5% vs 47.2%; P < .001), and drug use (76.2% vs 59.8%; P < .001). Mortality was comparable (8.1% vs 10.6%; adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .71-1.48). Compared with patients who delivered without IE, IE complicating delivery was associated with worse maternal and fetal outcomes, including maternal mortality (17.2% vs <0.01%; aRR, 323.32; 95% CI: 127.74-818.37) and preterm birth (55.7% vs 10.1%; aRR, 3.61; 95% CI, 2.58-5.08). CONCLUSIONS Maternity-associated IE does not appear to confer additional risk for adverse outcome over nonmaternity-associated infection. Patients who deliver with IE have worse maternal and fetal outcomes than those whose deliveries are not complicated by IE.
Revisioning Fairness as Social Justice in Early Childhood Education

Young children’s ideas of fairness have been studied in a range of laboratory settings with findings that children see fairness as equal distribution of resources. However, many studies occurred in decontextualized environments (i.e., laboratory settings), which hardly provide opportunities for children to exhibit nuanced ways to enact fairness. By observing children in more authentic contexts, their classrooms, this article complicates the concept of fairness as equality and attends to the ways that children respond to issues of fairness by acting as contributors to their classroom communities on a daily basis. Drawing on a larger video-cued ethnographic research project, we specifically focus on full-day films taken across three early childhood classrooms to contextualize young children’s capabilities when they encounter issues of fairness. The findings indicate that young children have the ability to respond to fairness with social justice-oriented solutions by giving up resources, prioritizing other’s needs, and advocating for others. When children confront issues of fairness in real-life contexts, they are capable of finding solutions that endorse equity.
Influenza A virus undergoes compartmentalized replication in vivo dominated by stochastic bottlenecks

Abstract Transmission of influenza A viruses (IAV) between hosts is subject to numerous physical and biological barriers that impose genetic bottlenecks, constraining viral diversity and adaptation. The presence of bottlenecks within individual hosts and their potential impacts on evolutionary pathways taken during infection and subsequent transmission are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we created highly diverse IAV libraries bearing molecular barcodes on two independent gene segments, enabling high-resolution tracking and quantification of unique virus lineages within hosts. Here we show that IAV infection in lungs is characterized by multiple within-host bottlenecks that result in “islands” of infection in lung lobes, each with genetically distinct populations. We performed site-specific inoculation of barcoded IAV in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets and tracked viral diversity as infection spread to the trachea and lungs. We observed compartmentalized replication of discrete barcoded populations within the lobes of the lung. Bottlenecks stochastically sampled individual viruses from the upper respiratory tract or the trachea that became the dominant genotype in a particular lobe. These populations are shaped strongly by founder effects, with no evidence for positive selection. The segregated sites of replication highlight the jackpot-style events that contribute to within-host influenza virus evolution and may account for low rates of intrahost adaptation.
Characteristics and outcomes of adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination.

Objectives BNT-162b2, mRNA-1273, and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines data regarding adverse events (AEs) are scarce. In this report, we aimed to describe fatal and non-fatal possible AEs after COVID-19 vaccine administration. Methods An observational multicenter study investigating the causes of emergency department visits and hospital admissions within 10 days of COVID-19 vaccination. Patients who received first or second doses of COVID-19 vaccines and presented to the emergency department (ED), as well as those admitted to the hospitals or intensive care units (ICUs) were included. Causes of ED, hospital, and ICU admissions and discharges were collected based on the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coding system. Results Between December 2020 and March 2021, 1842 patients visited the ED within 10 days of COVID-19 vaccine administration. The mean age was 70.3 years. Overall, 1221 patients presented after the first dose of the vaccine and 653 after the second dose. Trauma (14.9%), hypertensive emergency/urgency (7.8%), generalized pain and arthralgia (5.7%), and chest pain (4.4%) were the most common causes of presentation to the ED. Of all ED presentations, mortality rate was at 2.2% (41 patients) with a median follow-up time of 68.0 days, versus 2.6% in unvaccinated ED patients. Postvaccination acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (46.3%), septic shock (24.4%), and cardiogenic shock (12.2%) were the most common causes of death. Conclusion Although reported AEs are not necessarily caused by the vaccination, this study provides further information about possible AEs after COVID-19 immunization, especially those requiring hospital admission. This study also supports prior data that serious AEs post vaccination are much lower than primary COVID-19 infections. Further studies are needed to investigate causalities between vaccines and reported AEs across all age groups.
Self mode-locked pico-second pulse of ytterbium (Yb) doped fiber in all fiber normal dispersion configuration

A self mode-locked ring cavity laser system with Yb-doped fiber without any external modulation was demonstrated. This mode locked laser operated by pulse-pump and laser wavelength is 1064nm with pulse duration 226ps, 6MHz repetition rate.
An Analysis of an adiabatic adsorption column: Part III: Adiabatic adsorption of two solutes

Abstract A theoretical analysis of the adiabatic adsorption of two solutes subject to the Langmuir isotherm is presented. The analysis is based on the theory developed in Part I. Basic equations are given in terms of actual quantities. The simultaneous adsorption of benzene and cyclohexane on charcoal is considered to illustrate the problems of elution and saturation of fixed beds. The effects of the feed temperature and the initial contamination are investigated. The final discussion goes to the continuous countercurrent operations with illustrative examples.
mRNA Localization: An Orchestration of Assembly, Traffic and Synthesis

Asymmetrical mRNA localization and subsequent local translation provide efficient mechanisms for protein sorting in polarized cells. Defects in mRNA localization have been linked to developmental abnormalities and neurological diseases. Thus, it is critical to understand the machineries mediating and mechanisms underlying the asymmetrical distribution of mRNA and its regulation. The goal of this review is to summarize recent advances in the understanding of mRNA transport and localization, including the assembly and sorting of transport messenger ribonucleic protein (mRNP) granules, molecular mechanisms of active mRNP transport, cytoskeletal interactions and regulation of these events by extracellular signals.
Comparative Design of Orthogonally Stiffened Plates for Production and Structural Integrity—Part 2: Shape Optimization

To improve the optimal stiffened plates obtained by size optimization in part 1 of this work (see previous abstract), shape optimisation is performed. Plate thickness, standardized beam cross sections, and beam spacing are used as discrete design variables. Three different optimality criteria are used for each stiffened plate configuration to produce one weight optimum, one work content optimum, and one total cost optimum structure. Structural, geometric, and producibility constraints are imposed by symmetry, the requirement for equally spaced stiffeners, and to maintain the basic characteristics of each stiffened panel. Producibility constraints are dictated by standardization in shipyard practice. Configuration 3 is excluded from the shape optimization analysis because its unequal longitudinal stiffener spacing makes its geometry unique. The overall optimum structure for each optimality criterion is identified. Finally, the effect of structural volume on the lifetime cost of the structure due to loss of cargo capacity is assessed.
PedVed: Pseudo Euclidian Distances for Video Events Detection

This paper provides a new method that generates automatically pseudo Euclidian distances (PED) from the trigonometrically treatments of motion history blobs (MHB) obtained from motion history images (MHI) to extract efficient image features, which are pertinent to video events detection (VED). Given a point with its direction of motion where the point coincides the center of a circle. How far the point can virtually travel inside the circle with that direction? That virtual distance is called pseudo Euclidian distance . PED, would be potentially used in wide variety of computer vision applications, remains the main contribution of this paper. To show the interest of the usage of PED, we have proposed a PED based methodology for VED and the detection results of some events at TRECVID'08 in real videos have been demonstrated.
Microsatellite variation reveals high levels of genetic variability and population structure in the gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae across the Bahamas.

The primary mechanism of gene flow in marine sessile invertebrates is larval dispersal. In Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae , a commercially important Caribbean gorgonian coral, a proportion of the larvae drop to the substratum within close proximity to the maternal colony, and most matings occur between individuals in close proximity to each other. Such limited dispersal of reproductive propagules suggests that gene flow is limited in this gorgonian. In this study, we characterized the population genetic structure of P. elisabethae across the Bahamas using six microsatellite loci. P. elisabethae was collected from 18 sites across the Bahamas. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium due to deficits of heterozygotes within populations were detected for all 18 populations in at least one of the six screened loci. Levels of genetic structure among populations of P. elisabethae were high and significant. A distance analysis placed populations within three groups, one formed by populations located within Exuma Sound, a semi-isolated basin, another consisting of populations located outside the basin and a third group comprising two populations from San Salvador Island. The patterns of genetic variation found in this study are concordant with the life-history traits of the species and in part with the geography of the Bahamas. Conservation and management plans developed for P. elisabethae should considered the high degree of genetic structure observed among populations of the species, as well as the high genetic diversity found in the San Salvador and the Exuma Sound populations.
Commitment Rooted in Loss: Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans

Nostalgia may seem fruitless, yet Ishiguro's novel When We Were Orphans reveals its potential force as a touchstone in a world marred by violence. And though melancholia may seem static or destructive, this text uncovers its active and productive potential. In fact, in a life wrenched by loss, these modes can drive a way of living that involves deep ethical commitment and attachment to justice.
Role of carcinogen-modified deoxynucleotide precursors in mutagenesis

Abstract Agents which damage or modify cellular DNA will generally also modify the nucleotide precursor pools, sometimes preferentially (Topal and Baker, 1982). There are at least two different ways that incorporation of modified (possibly promutagenic) nucleotides could, theoretically, make a significant contribution to the mutations induced by these agents. Modified bases may exhibit ambiguous base pairing and produce mutations during normal replication or they may induce secondary mutations as a result of processing subsequent to incorporation. There are important precedents for such possibilities. Classical studies on mutagenesis with prototype mutagens like 2-aminopurine (2-AP) and 5-bromouracil clearly show that mutations can occur by incorporation of deoxynucleotides of tautomeric or ionized (Sowers et al., 1987) bases into newly synthesized DNA (Ronen, 1979; Lasken and Goodman, 1984, Coulondre and Miller, 1977). 5-Hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxyuridine (HMdU), a product of oxidative DNA damage, can also be (re)incorporated into cellular DNA with both toxic and mutagenic consequences (Kaufman, 1987; Shirname-More et al., 1987). Furthermore, modified nucleotides may alter the pool sizes of the normal nucleotides and indirectly produce toxic and mutagenic effects. However, these effects are generally see at high, nonphysiological, concentrations of the modified precursors and may not be relevant under physiological conditions. The relative importance of modified deoxynucleotide precursors in the production of mutations by alkylating and oxidative DNA-damaging agents is discussed.
Design and synthesis of a potent phorboxazole C(11-15) acetal analogue.

We disclose here the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of simplified Z- and E-C(2−3) alkynyl phorboxazole C(11−15) acetals (+)-7Z and (+)-7E, wherein the Z-isomer proved to be a potent n...
Synthesis and Processing of Monodisperse Oligo(fluorene‐co‐bithiophene)s into Oriented Films by Thermal and Solvent Annealing

A series of oligo(fluorene-co-bithiophene)s, OF2Ts, have been synthesized and characterized to investigate the effects of oligomer length and pendant aliphatic structure on glassy-nematic mesomorphism. The OF2Ts comprising more than one repeat unit and their polymer analogue, PF2T, carrying 52 number-average repeat units, possess the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level at −5.3 ± 0.2 eV, but the anisotropic field-effect mobilities increase with the oligomer length. Spin coating from high-boiling chlorobenzene with and without subsequent exposure to saturated chlorobenzene vapor constitute solvent-vapor annealing and quasi-solvent annealing, respectively. Solvent-vapor annealing yields monodomain glassy-nematic films in which OF2Ts are aligned as well as with thermal annealing across a 2 cm diameter. Quasi-solvent annealing, however, amounts to kinetically trapping a lower orientational order than solvent-vapor or thermal annealing. While amenable to thermal annealing at elevated temperatures, PF2T shows no alignment at all following either strategy of solvent annealing.
Surface tension and universality in the three-dimensional Ising model

The amplitudeτ0 of the interfacial free energy per unit area (or surface tension) of the body-centered-cubic Ising model is found using a direct monte carlo simulation technique. The combinationτξ2/kBTc, whereξ is the correlation length, is shown to agree within the precision of the simulations with a previously reported estimate for the simple cubic lattice. Evidence is also presented for the universality of the finite-size scaling amplitude for the surface tension.
X-ray fluorescence holography: going beyond the diffraction limit

X-ray fluorescence holography (XFH) is a method for obtaining diffraction-limited images of the local atomic structure around a given type of emitter. The reconstructed wave field represents a distorted image of the scatterer electron-density distribution, i.e., it is a convolution of the charge-density distribution with a point spread function characteristic of the measurement. We here consider several methods for the iterative deconvolution of such XFH holograms, and via theoretical simulations evaluate them from the point of view of going beyond the diffraction limit so as to image the electron charge density. Promising results for future applications are found for certain methods, and other possible image-enhancement techniques are also discussed.
The effect of chain length on the thermal stability of 2-alkylimidazoles on copper and 2-alkylimidazolato copper(II) complexes

Abstract The molecular structure and thermal stability of imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 2-ethylimidazole, 2-propylimidazole, 2-undecylimidazole, and 2-heptadecylimidazole on copper are studied using FT-IR reflection—absorption spectroscopy. As model compounds of these complexes formed on copper, corresponding imidazole copper(II) complexes are synthesized in solution. The complexes appear to be the semicrystalline or crystalline structure. The series of imidazoles employed on copper indicates the same oxidation and degradation process at high temperatures even though imidazole, 2-methylimidazole and 2-ethylimidazole possess better thermal stability below 150°C. The synthesized complexes indicate poor thermal stability as the chain length of the alkyl substituent increases and the enhanced oxidation by the addition of copper powder. The difference in oxidation between imidazoles on copper and synthesized imidazole complexes are due to the presence of copper ion migrating from the copper substrate to catalyze oxidation and different morphological structure. The difference in oxidation among the imidazole derivatives depend on the melting points and the fraction of the imidazole ring which occupies the molecule.
In pursuit of fluency

Abstract It is suggested that fluent speech is a behavior that is relatively easy for the clinician to obtain from the majority of stuttering clients. Specific moments of stuttering, on the other hand, are often much more difficult to elicit. The rationale for this opinion and some therapeutic implications are discussed. Two areas of future research are advocated: (1) investigation of the conditions that appear to aid the clinician in eliciting moments of stuttering and (2) exploration into a phenomena that appears to be a basic component of the moment of stuttering-“loss of control.”
Fermi surface of α-phase, copper-aluminum alloys comparison of optical and positron annihilation results☆

Abstract Optical experiments indicate that the radius of the neck of the Fermi surface of disordered CuAl alloys increases monotonically with Al concentration, in agreement with recent positron-annihilation results and in disagreement with earlier ones which indicated a more complex behavior.
Phylogeny of Bicyclus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Inferred from COI, COII, and EF-1α Gene Sequences

Despite the fact that Bicyclus anynana has become an important model species for wing-pattern developmental biology and studies of phenotypic plasticity, little is known of the evolutionary history of the genus Bicyclus and the position of B. anynana. Understanding the evolution of development as well as the evolution of plasticity can be attempted in this species-rich genus that displays a large range of wing patterns with variable degrees of phenotypic responses to the environment. A context to guide extrapolations from population genetic studies within B. anynana to those between closely related species has been long overdue. A phylogeny of 54 of the 80 known Bicyclus species is presented based on the combined 3000-bp sequences of two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase I and II, and the nuclear gene, elongation factor 1alpha. A series of tree topologies, constructed either from the individual genes or from the combined data, using heuristic searches under a variety of weighting schemes were compared under the best maximum-likelihood models fitted for each gene separately. The most likely tree topology to have generated the three data sets was found to be a tree resulting from a combined MP analysis with equal weights. Most phylogenetic signal for the analysis comes from silent substitutions at the third position, and despite the faster rate of evolution and higher levels of homoplasy of the mitochondrial genes relative to the nuclear gene, the latter does not show substantially stronger support for basal clades. Finally, moving branches from the chosen tree topology to other positions on the tree so as to comply better with a previous morphological study did not significantly affect tree length.
Immunohistochemical staining of Langerhans cells and macrophages in oral lichen planus

Twenty patients with clinically and microscopically confirmed lichen planus were studied immunohistochemically. Monoclonal antibody to HLA-DR antigens and polyclonal antisera to S-100 protein and muramidase were applied to paraffin-embedded sections for the purpose of elaborating on the pathogenesis of this disease. Trypsin incubation of sections was also done in order to determine its effect on immunostaining. Langerhans cells were identified with anti-S-100 and anti-HLA-DR, and macrophages were identified with antimuramidase and anti-HLA-DR. Keratinocytes also expressed HLA-DR membrane activity in lichen planus tissue. Trypsinization significantly improved the expression of S-100 protein and muramidase antigens. It was concluded that Langerhans cells, macrophages, and keratinocytes play important roles in antigen processing and/or phagocytosis during the natural history of this disease.
Influences of immunocontraception on time budgets, social behavior, and body condition in feral horses.

Managers concerned with shrinking habitats and limited resources for wildlife seek effective tools for limiting population growth in some species. Fertility control is one such tool, yet little is known about its impacts on the behavioral ecology of wild, free-roaming animals. We investigated influences of the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida (PZP) on individual and social behavior in bands of feral horses (Equus caballus) in three discrete populations and used 14 hierarchical mixed effect models to gain insight into the influences of PZP treatment on feral horse behavior. A model of body condition was the strongest predictor of feeding, resting, maintenance, and social behaviors, with treated females allocating their time similarly to control females. Time spent feeding declined 11.4% from low condition to high condition females (F1,154 = 26.427, P < 0.001) and was partially reciprocated by a 6.0% increase in resting (F1,154 = 7.629, P = 0.006), 0.9% increase in maintenance (F1,154 = 7.028, P = 0.009), and 1.8% increase in social behavior (F1,154 = 15.064, P < 0.001). There was no difference detected in body condition of treated versus control females (F1,154 = 0.033, P = 0.856), but females with a dependent foal had lower body condition than those without a foal (F1,154 = 4.512, P = 0.038). Herding behavior was best explained by a model of treatment and the interaction of band fidelity and foal presence (AICc weight = 0.660) which estimated no difference in rate of herding behavior directed toward control versus treated females (F1,102 = 0.196, P = 0.659), but resident females without a dependent foal were herded 50.9% more than resident females with a foal (F3,102 = 8.269, P < 0.001). Treated females received 54.5% more reproductive behaviors from stallions than control mares (F1,105 = 5.155, P = 0.025), with the model containing only treatment being the most-supported (AICc weight = 0.530). Treated and control females received harem-tending behaviors from stallions equally (F1,105 = 0.001, P = 0.969) and agonistic behaviors from stallions equally (F1,105 < 0.001, P = 0.986). Direct effects of PZP treatment on the behavior of feral horses appear to be limited primarily to reproductive behaviors and most other differences detected were attributed to the effects of body condition, band fidelity, or foal presence. PZP is a promising alternative to traditional hormone-based contraceptives and appears to contribute few short-term behavioral modifications in feral horses.
Oscillatory correlation for scene segmentation of hyperspectral imagery for geospatial analysis

A neurodynamical approach to scene segmentation of hyperspectral imagery is investigated based on oscillatory correlation theory. A network of relaxation oscillators, which is based on the Locally Excitatory Globally Inhibitory Oscillator Network (LEGION), is extended to process multiband data and it is implemented to perform unsupervised scene segmentation using both spatial and spectral information. The nonlinear dynamical network is capable of achieving segmentation of objects in a scene by the synchronization of oscillators that receive local excitatory inputs from a collection of local neighbors and desynchronization between oscillators corresponding to different objects. The original LEGION model was designed for single-band imagery. The proposed multiband version of LEGION is implemented such that the connections in the oscillator network receive the spectral pixel vectors in the hyperspectral data as excitatory inputs. Euclidean distances between spectra in local neighborhoods are used as the measure of closeness in the network. The ability of the proposed approach to perform natural and urban scene segmentation for geospatial analysis is assessed. Our approach is tested on two hyperspectral datasets with notably different sensor properties and scene content.
Caretakers, child care practices, and growth failure in highland Ecuador.

Problems for child health have been attributed to child and sibling caretaking. Nevertheless, our data from highland Ecuador suggest an ambiguous relationship between growth failure and the practice of peer care. In a region where levels of chronic undernutrition as measured by stunting exceed 75 percent and fully one-quarter of children under five are underweight, analysis of structured observations of a sample of 28 children reveals no statistical association between growth indices and the practice of older children caring for younger children. Qualitative data, however, indicate that the practice can be a complication in specific cases where children already suffer compromised health. While the advantages or disadvantages associated with particular caretakers appear secondary to the risks attending inadequate diets or the broader environment of rural poverty, the potential for difficulties to emerge from peer care suggests that community day care provides a valuable alternative in this context, [child care, child growth, nutrition policy, health, Ecuador]
Control of Cell Proliferation in Mammalian Cells: Role of Nuclear Acidic Proteins

When G 0 cells are stimulated to proliferate, a sequence of biochemical events occurs that eventually leads to the onset of DNA synthesis and cell division. This sequence of biochemical events has been investigated in several systems in vitro and in vivo , including the human diploid fibroblasts stimulated to proliferate by a change of medium and the isoproterenol-stimulated salivary gland of mice. Among the common features occurring in the pre-replicative phase of models of stimulated DNA synthesis is gene activation, followed by several rounds of RNA and protein synthesis in a ping-pong mechanism that eventually results in the replication of DNA. Recent studies have indicated that the activation of the segment of the genome that controls DNA synthesis and cell division is, in turn, controlled by non-histone chromosomal proteins (nuclear acidic proteins). The present investigations confirm the role of nuclear acidic proteins in cell proliferation and suggest that certain classes of these proteins are specifically involved in the control of the various steps eventually leading to DNA synthesis and cell division.
Lapatinib in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress HER2

SUMMARY Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is the leading cause of cancer death for women worldwide. Amplification of the HER2 gene has been observed in approximately 20–25% of human breast cancers, and is associated with aggressive disease and a poor prognosis, and reduced progression-free survival and overall survival. Inhibition of HER2 activity has been an effective strategy against HER2-positive breast cancers. In the first-line metastatic setting, the combination of trastuzumab with paclitaxel is well-tolerated, offering significant clinical benefit to patients with HER2-positive MBC. It has also been shown that lapatinib combined with paclitaxel offers a significant survival benefit over paclitaxel alone in first-line treatment of HER2-positive MBC, especially when trastuzumab is not available.
Exaggerated renal thromboxane and prostaglandin release by angiotensin II in suprarenal aortic coarctation hypertension.

Abstract The ability of angiotensin II and arachidonic acid to release immunoreactive prostaglandins into venous and ureteral effluents of rabbit isolated perfused kidneys was examined 7 days after suprarenal aortic coarctation (SRAC) or sham operation (SHAM). Renal vascular responses to angiotensin II were significantly enhanced in SRAC and accompanied by an enhanced venous efflux of bioassayable prostaglandins. Angiotension II-induced release of immunoreactive PGE2, PGF2α, 6-keto PGF1α and TxB2 into the venous effluent was exaggerated in SRAC. As angiotensin II did not stimulate TxB2 efflux in the SHAM group the induction of TxB2 release by SRAC is particularly noteworthy. These changes in eicosanoid release in response to angiotensin II were not mimicked by arachidonic acid administration. These results suggest that in renovascular hypertension angiotensin II-induced prostaglandin release is primarily augmented in the vascular compartment and is consistent with the sensitivity of renal function to cyclooxygenase inhibitors in renovascular hypertension.
Three-dimensional imaging using spectral encoding heterodyne interferometry.

We present a novel heterodyne approach for performing fast, three-dimensional spectrally encoded imaging. Volumetric data of a volunteer’s finger and of coin surfaces were acquired at a rate of 5 volume sets per second with a depth resolution of 145??m.
Augmented breath phase volume and timing relationships in the anesthetized rat

Augmented breaths (ABs), or sighs, are airway protective reflexes and part of the normal repertoire of respiratory behaviors. ABs consist of two phases, where phase I volume and timing resembles preceding eupnic breaths, and phase II is an augmenting motor pattern and occurs at the end of phase I. Recent evidence suggest multiple respiratory motor patterns can occur following dynamic functional reconfiguration of one respiratory neural network. It follows that the response of the respiratory network to modulatory inputs also may undergo dynamic reconfiguration. We hypothesized that lung-volume related feedback during ABs would alter AB timing differentially during phase I and II. We measured phase I and II volumes and durations in urethane anesthetized rats with decreased lung volume secondary to three models of varying phrenic motor impairment (spinal injury alone, unilateral phrenicotomy, and combined injuries). AB phase I and II inspired volume were decreased after phrenic motor impairment (p < 0.05). In contrast, only phase I duration following injury was altered compared to controls. Phase II duration remaining unchanged despite the greatest effect of injury on volume occurring during phase II. Thus, sigh volume–timing relationships differ between phases of an augmented breath suggesting that the response of the respiratory network to modulatory inputs has changed. These data support the hypothesis that multiple respiratory behaviors occur following dynamic reconfiguration of the respiratory neural network.
Petrologic evidence for collisional heating of chondritic asteroids

The identification of the mechanism(s) responsible for heating asteroids is among the major problems in planetary science. Because of difficulties with models of electromagnetic induction and the decay of short-lived radionuclides, it is worthwhile to evaluate the evidence for collisional heating. New evidence for localized impact heating comes from the high proportion of relict type-6 material among impact-melt-bearing ordinary chondrites (OC). This relict material was probably metamorphosed by residual heat within large craters. Olivine aggregates composed of faceted crystals with 120 deg triple junctions occur within the melted regions of the Chico and Rose City OC melt rocks; the olivine aggregates formed from shocked, mosaicized olivine grains that underwent contact metamorphism. Large-scale collisional heating is supoorted by the correlation in OC between petrologic type and shock stage; no other heating mechanism can readily account for this correlation. The occurrence of impact-melt-rock clasts in OC that have been metamorphosed along with their whole rocks indicates that some impact events preceded or accompanied thermal metamorphism. Such impacts events, occurring during or shortly after accretion, are probably responsible for substantially melting approximately 0.5% of OC. These events must have heated a larger percentage of OC to subsolidus temperatures sufficient to have caused significant metamorphism. If collisional heating is viable, then OC parent asteroids must have been large; large OC asteroids in the main belt may include those of the S(IV) spectral subtype. Collisional heating is inconsistent with layered ('onion-shell') structures in OC asteroids (wherein the degree of metamorphism increases with depth), but the evidence for such structures is weak. It seems likely that collisional heating played an important role in metamorphosing chondritic asteroids.