cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brand personality of Airbnb: application of user involvement and gender differences

ABSTRACTIn this study we utilized the concept of brand personality to determine how travelers perceived Airbnb as a lodging brand and investigated the effect of involvement level (low versus high) on view of brand personality. As a viable segmentation variable, this study also utilized the interaction effect to examine how gender affects consumers’ involvement level. Significant differences were observed between travelers with high and low involvement in terms of the dimensions of sincerity, excitement, competence, and ruggedness. In addition, we found the interaction effect to be significant, indicating that level of involvement is higher in female travelers than in male travelers. This research will provide meaningful marketing insights for target marketing and positioning based on consumer involvement and gender within the context of Airbnb.
Intensifying Treatment Beyond Monotherapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Where Do Newer Therapies Fit?

Guidelines for a standard second diabetes medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have yet to be established. The rapid increase in the number of newer therapies available makes the choice more difficult. Thus, we reviewed clinical trial evidence evaluating newer therapies available for treatment intensification beyond monotherapy. Head-to-head studies comparing newer therapies versus traditional (i.e., sulfonylurea) approaches consistently find lower incidence of hypoglycemia and weight gain with newer therapies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors demonstrate high glycemic efficacy, while merits of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors include their tolerability. Secondary effects (weight loss, cardiovascular outcomes, renal function) are of growing interest with newer therapies. Choices for treatment intensification in T2DM diabetes are numerous. Understanding the comparative evidence of newer treatment choices, as provided in this review, may help guide clinical decision making.
Characterizing bevacizumab use in endometrial cancer in a community medical setting

Objectives: Given that 85% of cancer patients are treated in community settings and the role of bevacizumab in the treatment of endometrial cancer is undefined, we sought to characterize the practice patterns of bevacizumab use in recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer in a community based integrated health care system. Methods: Following IRB approval, patients with endometrial cancer and prior treatment with bevacizumab were identified within the cancer registry database from our regional medical institution. Patients were excluded if they had a concurrent or prior cancer. A chart reviewof the eligible patients was performed to extract traditional clinical variables. Bevacizumab side effects were also recorded to assess tolerability. Results: Twenty-two patients were identified with recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer treated with bevacizumab. The average age was 64 years (range 38–79). Twenty-seven percent were Stage 1, 50% were Stage 3, and 23% were Stage 4. Histology types included 36% papillary serous, 32% endometriod, 9% clear cell, 5% adenosquamous, 5% carcinosarcoma, and 13% with mixed histologic components. The average time period for bevacizumab treatment was 134 days (range 22–374). The average number of chemotherapy treatments prior to bevacizumab use was 2 treatments (range 0–5). Fifty percent of patients received bevacizumab as part of a multidrug treatment regimen, 27% received it as monotherapy, and 22% received additional therapeutic agents during part of their treatment regimen with bevacizumab. Chemotherapy treatments were overseen by 13 medical oncologist and 3 gyn oncologists. Progressive diseasewas seen in 64% of patients using bevacizumab, while 27% had stable disease and 9% has partial or complete regression. Five patients (23%) had Grade 3/4 bevacizumab side effects, including three patients with hypertension, one subarachnoid hemorrhage, and one fistula. No deaths were attributed to bevacizumab. Conclusion: Bevacizumab is well tolerated in this heavily pretreated population, and utilized in varied combinations with clinical benefit. Further studies are needed to elucidate a standard treatment regimen which may optimize patient outcomes in this population with poor prognosis. Learning objective: Learners will be able to describe the role of bevacizumab in recurrent endometrial cancer in patientswho are treated in a community setting.
Genotyping horse epithelial cells from fecal matter by isolation of polymerase chain reaction products.

AIM To show that application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method modified for amplification of a low-copy number DNA samples, ie, the isolation of PCR products (IPCRp), would represent improvement in obtaining genotypes from a fecal DNA compared with previously used genotyping methods. METHODS The DNA from the horse fecal matter was extracted by modified Qiagen DNA Stool Mini Kit protocol. Following the extraction, the DNA genotypes from fecal samples were obtained by the most powerful PCR amplification method, the IPCRp. The IPCRp-based multiplex kit amplified biotin-labeled strands were captured on streptavidin-coated plates, where everything but the dye-labeled target sequence was washed, eliminating all the background noise, released, and run on a genotyping instrument in a single-strand configuration. RESULTS The IPCRp-based multiplex kit (6 loci) revealed equine DNA full genotype profiles, ie, appearance of all six loci, when sampled from fresh feces in 87% of the samples and partial genotype profile (appearance of one to five loci) in 13% of the samples, for a total of 100% genotyping success rate. CONCLUSION These results indicate that the IPCRp amplification method, coupled with the Qiagen DNA Stool Mini Kit extraction can maximize the likelihood of obtaining horse DNA genotypes from fecal samples.
Control of Chemical Reactors Using Multiple-Model Adaptive Control (MMAC)

Abstract Multiple-Model Adaptive Control (MMAC) is shown to be an effective strategy for controlling nonlinear chemical processes. In this paper, MMAC is applied to two difficult control problems that may be encountered in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). In the first example, product concentration is controlled in an isothermal CSTR exhibiting input multiplicities and nonminimum phase behavior (Van de Vusse reaction). The MMAC configuration provides disturbance rejection where a fixed-parameter PID controller fails. The second example involves temperature control of a CSTR which has output multiplicities. While a single PID controller can stabilize the plant over a large operating range, its performance can be quite poor since the plant dynamics vary widely. MMAC is shown to give significantly better performance when moving from the open-loop stable regions to the open-loop unstable operating region.
VMM - An ASIC for Micropattern Detectors

The VMM is a custom Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that can be used in a variety of charge interpolating tracking detectors. It is designed to be used with the resistive strip micromegas and sTGC detectors in the New Small Wheel upgrade of the ATLAS Muon spectrometer. The ASIC is designed at Brookhaven National Laboratory and fabricated in the 130 nm Global Foundries 8RF-DM process. It is packaged in a Ball Grid Array with outline dimensions of 21×21 mm2 . It integrates 64 channels, each providing charge amplification, discrimination, neighbour logic, amplitude and timing measurements, analog-to-digital conversions, and either direct output for trigger or multiplexed readout. The front-end amplifier can operate with a wide range of input capacitances, has adjustable polarity, gain and peaking time. The VMM1 and VMM2 are the first two versions of the VMM ASIC family fabricated in 2012 and 2014 respectively. The design, tests and qualification of the VMM1, VMM2 and roadmap to VMM3 are described.
Ubiquitous Computing Capabilities and User-System Interaction Readiness: An Activity Perspective

Based on mobile computing technologies, ubiquitous systems enable people to access information anywhere and anytime. In addition to the capability of interactivity concerning inquiry processing based on user input through interfaces, ubiquitous systems may offer contextualization and personalization dealing with information filtering based on task contexts and user preferences, which help relieve user effort on the move. This study investigates how different combinations of these major ubiquitous computing capabilities affect user behavior. Using the unifying framework of Activity Theory, it conceptualizes user-system interaction as a tool-mediated activity, the different aspects of which are facilitated by interactivity, contextualization, and personalization. It is hypothesized that such capabilities shape user experiences including sense of control, motive fulfillment, and perceived understanding, which lead to how ready people are to interact with ubiquitous systems. The results from an experiment support the hypothesized relationships, and suggest that different capabilities are interdependent in their effects. The findings yield insights on how to take a systematic and balanced approach of ubiquitous system design to enhance user experiences.
The effect of plasma surface interactions on plt plasma parameters

This paper gives a brief description of the geometry and parameters of the PLT tokamak, reviews some of the last four years' results that are particularly relevant to plasma-boundary interactions, and then concentrates on two specific problems.
The human melanocyte system as a model for studies on tumor progression.

Melanocytes are distinctive cells in the basal layer of the epidermis, the choroid of the eye, certain mucous membranes, and the leptomeninges. Melanocytes arise during embryonal development from pluripotent cells migrating out of the neural crest. Functional maturation, i.e., the process by which cells express specific properties characteristic of the cell type, may progress in melanocytes through several, as yet undefined, stages (Fig. 1). Precursor cells for melanocytes (premelanocytes or melanoblasts) have been identified in human skin1, but these cells have been only preliminarily characterized. The phenotypic and functional characteristics of melanocytes are: a) melanin synthesis through the action of the tyrosinase enzyme; b) dendritic morphology; c) pigment donation to surrounding keratinocytes and d) no detectable proliferation in situ. Despite the undetectable proliferation, a stable 5–6:1 ratio between basal keratinocytes and melanocytes is maintained throughout the life of an individual suggesting a constant renewal of melanocytes.
COMPOSITE STUDY OF FOUR SIMILAR VAWT FIELD TRIALS - OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND SITE CONDITIONS

ABSTRACT Field trials are an acknowledgement of the necessity to test equipment and material over an extended period of time to prove its operational worthiness. As well, the purpose of these field trials is to promote technology transfer to end users, develop “hands-on” experience by user organizations, identify utility operators' reservations in applying this technology on-line with existing systems and equipment, and promote applications of this technology to remote/autonomous systems as well as provincial grid. The National Research Council of Canada, in cooperation with Utility and R&D partner organizations from four different geographic locations in Canada, set up field trials to obtain comparative experience with one configuration, type and size of Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) to be subjected to typical Canadian weather conditions. The WECS retained for these field trials is the 50 kW Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) manufactured by DAF Indal Ltd. Design changes within a short interval after the initial installation of the first two units, and following tests at factory site, suggested major modifications to three of the four VAWT modules, i.e., Holyrood, Churchill and Christopher Point. Additional data and information on these sites can be found in the report by M.S. Chappell, “Some Current Activities in the Canadian Wind Energy Program”, TM-WE-019, Division of Energy, National Research Council of Canada, October 1983.
Developing Executive Nurse Leaders: Exemplar for Using Information Technology to Bolster Professional Role Development of BSN-DNP Students.

Background Universities are offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track to meet the demands of complex health systems by preparing nurses to lead change. Curriculums developed for the adult learner may benefit from adding supplemental resources to prepare nurses with limited leadership experience for their future roles. Objective Support the development of executive leadership skills of BSN-DNP students. Methods Faculty at a Western Pennsylvania university used the existing learning management system (LMS) to create a nursing leadership site. Practice competencies described by professional organizations were used as the framework for identifying best practice resources. Results A supplemental site serving as a repository of information for students was successfully developed. Students were encouraged to access the site to augment their learning on professional competencies. Conclusions Developing an online support site via the university LMS was a creative solution for providing supplemental professional development content to best prepare future nurse executive leaders. Implications for nursing Faculty teaching in streamlined academic programs can provide additional content based on professional standards to students using innovative and interactive methods. Promoting further development of executive leadership skills may bolster program strength and influence future nurse leaders.
Multimodal radiological imaging of collagenous fibroma arising from the subacromial region in a patient with osteosarcoma: A case report

Collagenous fibroma arising from the subacromial region is extremely rare. It is important to distinguish collagenous fibroma from other fibrous tumors including desmoid tumors, to differentiate between the prognoses and management strategies, including surgical treatment. The present case report describes the case of a 42-year-old man with a collagenous fibroma of the subacromial region. He received a follow-up examination following treatment for osteosarcoma. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans used to assess for metastatic lesions indicated uptake in his left shoulder. The maximum standardized uptake value was 2.4. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated iso-intensity to muscle on T1-weighted images and iso-intensity with slightly high intensity on T2-weighted images. Post-contrast fat-suppressed magnetic resonance images indicated slightly heterogeneous enhancement of the lesion. There were no notable results from X-rays, bone scintigraphy and thallium-201 scintigraphy. Histological examination revealed collagenous fibroma. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is only the second incidence of collagenous fibroma arising from the subacromial region, and the first description of thallium-201 scintigraphy and PET scans in collagenous fibroma. The multimodal radiological data of this case may be useful for assisting in the differentiation of fibrous tumor types, including collagenous fibroma.
Spatially variant microstructured adhesive with one-way friction

Surface microstructures in nature enable diverse and intriguing properties, from the iridescence of butterfly wings to the hydrophobicity of lotus leaves to the controllable adhesion of gecko toes. Many artificial analogues exist; however, there is a key characteristic of the natural materials that is largely absent from the synthetic versions-spatial variation. Here we show that exploiting spatial variation in the design of one class of synthetic microstructure, gecko-inspired adhesives, enables one-way friction, an intriguing property of natural gecko adhesive. When loaded along a surface in the preferred direction, our adhesive material supports forces 100 times larger than when loaded in the reverse direction, representing an asymmetry significantly larger than demonstrated in spatially uniform adhesives. Our study suggests that spatial variation has the potential to advance artificial microstructures, helping to close the gap between synthetic and natural materials.
3-D SAR imaging for multistatic GPR

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a remote geophysical sensing method that has been applied in the localization of underground utilities, bridge deck survey, localization of landmines, mapping of terrain for aid in driverless cars, etc. Multistatic GPR can deliver a faster survey, wider spatial coverage, and multiple viewpoints of the subsurface. However, because of the transmit and receive antennas spatial offset, formation of 3D GPR image by simple stacking of the acquired A-scans is inaccurate. Also, averaging of different receivers data may lead to destructive interference of back-scattered waves due to different time delays implied by the spatial offset, so averaging does not lead to higher SNR in general. Furthermore, the energy back-scattered by scatter points are spread in hyperbolas in the GPR raw data. Migration or imaging algorithms are employed to increase SNR by focusing the hyperbolas. This focusing process also leads to better accuracy in target localization. In this paper, a computationally efficient synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging algorithm that properly integrates multistatic GPR data in both ground and air-coupled cases is presented. The algorithm is successfully applied on two synthetic datasets.
Landscape Revolutions for Cultural Evolution: Integrating Advanced Fitness Landscapes into the Study of Cultural Change

The use of fitness landscapes as models and metaphors is increasingly common in the study of cultural evolution. Fitness landscapes used in this context are often based on imagery developed by Sewall Wright and depict a rugged topography of high-fitness peaks and low-fitness valleys. These landscape metaphors and models are used to explain both microscale changes in individual cultural forms and macroscale cultural transitions and diversifications. Recent research on the structure and dynamics of fitness landscapes, however, suggests that in many cases these rugged fitness landscapes may be misleading as they give rise to explanations that highlight the role of selection in directing cultural change and necessitate engagement with the problem of “peak shifting” in macroevolution. Advanced landscape theory suggests that realistic fitness landscapes may be highly multidimensional in nature, giving rise to a topography that includes neutral plateaus, ridges, and networks between peaks. This indicates that major cultural transitions as well as much microevolution may occur solely through neutral or nearly neutral changes, driven by drift rather than selection. We suggest that these advances in fitness landscape research may provide scholars of cultural change with powerful new imagery for theorizing patterns and processes in cultural evolution.
Effect of Race on Echocardiographic Measures of Cardiac Structure and Function.

ABSTRACT The relations between race and cardiac structure and function are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that race-specific differences in echocardiography measurements exist. We compared the relation between echocardiography measurements and race among 12,429 non-obese adults without known cardiovascular disease undergoing echocardiography. We compared measurements between whites (n=10,508), blacks (n=792), Asians (n=628), Hispanics (n=315), Native Americans (n=34), and multiracial/other (n=152) cohorts. Multivariate analysis compared measurements indexed to body surface area (BSA) between races and adjusted for variables including age, gender, and mean blood pressure. Mean age was 46.9±17.4 years and 60.5% were female. After multivariable adjustment and using whites as a baseline, there were significant differences (p 2 ), Asians (0.4 mm/m 2 ), Hispanics (0.2 mm/m 2 ), and multiracial/others (0.1 mm/m 2 ); septal wall thickness/BSA for blacks (0.4 mm/m 2 ) and Asians (0.1 mm/m 2 ); posterior wall thickness/BSA for blacks (0.4 mm/m 2 ), Asians (0.1 mm/m 2 ), Hispanics (0.04 mm/m 2 ), and multiracial/others (0.03 mm/m 2 ); left atrial diameter/BSA for Asians (0.2 mm/m 2 ), Hispanics (0.3 mm/m 2 ), and multiracial/others (0.1 mm/m 2 ); septal and lateral e’ for blacks (-0.7 cm/s; -0.9 cm/s); and peak tricuspid regurgitation gradient for blacks (4.3 mmHg) and Asians (-0.9 mmHg). Race is associated with significant differences in LV size, left atrial size, mitral annular velocity, and tricuspid regurgitation gradient. Normal reference ranges for echocardiography measurements should utilize racially diverse cohorts to prevent misclassification of echocardiography findings based on race.
Electronic phase shift measurement for the determination of acoustic wave DOA using single MEMS biomimetic sensor

MEMS acoustic sensors have been developed to mimic the highly-accurate sound-locating system of the Ormia ochracea fly, which detects sound wavelengths much larger than its hearing organ. A typical ormia-based MEMS directional sound sensor possesses two coupled wings that vibrate in response to sound according to a superposition of its two main resonant modes, rocking and bending. Vibrations are transduced into electronic signals by interdigitated comb finger capacitors at each wing’s end along with a capacitance measuring circuitry. A sensor designed to exhibit resonant modes closely placed in frequency, enhancing their coupling, was operated with a closed cavity behind the wings. Simultaneous and independent measurements of electronic signals generated at each of the single sensor wings were used to determine incident sound direction of arrival (DOA). DOA was found proportional to the phase shift between them and to the difference over the sum of their amplitudes as well. Single sensor phase shift DOA measurement presented a resolution better than 3° for sound pressure levels of 25 mPa or greater. These results indicate that a single sensor operating in closed-cavity configuration can provide hemispherical unambiguous direction of arrival of sound waves which wavelength is much larger than the sensor size.
Multi-scale assessment of a grassland productivity model

Abstract. Grasslands provide many important ecosystem services globally, and projecting grassland productivity in the coming decades will provide valuable information to land managers. Productivity models can be well calibrated at local scales but generally have some maximum spatial scale in which they perform well. Here we evaluate a grassland productivity model to find the optimal spatial scale for parameterization and thus for subsequently applying it in future productivity projections for North America. We also evaluated the model on new vegetation types to ascertain its potential generality. We find the model most suitable when incorporating only grasslands, as opposed to also including agriculture and shrublands, and only in the Great Plains and eastern temperate forest ecoregions of North America. The model was not well suited to grasslands in North American deserts or northwest forest ecoregions. It also performed poorly in agriculture vegetation, likely due to management activities, and shrubland vegetation, likely because the model lacks representation of deep water pools. This work allows us to perform long-term projections in areas where model performance has been verified, with gaps filled in by future modeling efforts.
Green synthesis of Zr-based metal–organic framework hydrogel composites and their enhanced adsorptive properties

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for a wide range of applications due to their high surface area and customizable structures, however, the minimal external hydrophilicity of MOFs has limited their biomedical implementations. Structuring of MOFs within polymer frameworks is an approach used to create hybrid materials that retain many of the MOF characteristics (e.g. high adsorption capacity) but expand the range of mechanical and surface properties as well as form factors accessible. Using this approach, hybridizing MOFs with hydrophilic hydrogels can give rise to materials with improved hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. Here, we describe the synthesis of the first Zr-based MOF-hydrogel hybrid material (composite 3) using a green chemistry approach, in which only water was used as the solvent and relatively low temperature (50 °C) was applied. Using methylene blue (MB) as a probe molecule, composite 3 exhibited greater adsorption capacity than the MOF or the hydrogel alone in aqueous solution at most tested pH values (all except pH 13). At an initial MB concentration of 0.0096 mg/mL (30.014uM) and neutral pH conditions, this new hybrid presented the highest loading of MB among similar materials (MB adsorbed = 4.361 ± 0.092 mg MB/g Zr, partition coefficient = 0.172 ± 0.004 mg/g/uM) and largely retained its adsorption capacity under varied conditions (pH 1-13 and 0.2-1.0M NaCl), rendering possible applications in drug delivery and the removal of tumor contrast agent/dye with minimal leakage due to its broad chemical stability.
Piezoelectric Heterogeneity in Collagen Type I Fibrils Quantitatively Characterized by Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

Piezoelectricity of Type I collagen can provide the stress-generated potential that is considered to be one of the candidate mechanisms to explain bone's adaptation to loading. However, it is still challenging to quantify piezoelectricity because of its heterogeneity and small magnitude. In this study, resonance-enhanced piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was utilized to amplify a weak piezoresponse of a single collagen fibril with a carefully calibrated cantilever. The quantitative PFM, combined with a dual-frequency resonance-tracking method, successfully identified the anisotropic and heterogenous nature of the piezoelectric properties in the collagen fibril. The profile of shear piezoelectric coefficient (d15) was obtained to be periodic along the collagen fibril, with a larger value in the gap zone (0.51 pm/V) compared to the value in the overlap zone (0.29 pm/V). Interestingly, this piezoelectric profile corresponds to the periodic profile of mechanical stiffness in a mineralized collagen fibril having a higher stiffness in the gap zone. Considering that apatite crystals are nucleated at the gap zone and subsequently grown along the collagen fibril, the heterogeneous and anisotropic nature of piezoelectric properties highlights the physiological importance of the collagen piezoelectricity in bone mineralization.
PSP/WISPR observations of dust density depletion near the Sun - I. Remote observations to 8 R⊙ from an observer between 0.13 and 0.35 AU

Context. In 1929, Russell predicted that dust particles cannot survive in a region close to any star, hence giving justification for a dust free zone to exist inside a certain distance from the star. This theoretical prediction has not been confirmed, even with our Sun.Aims. We use the unique vantage points and new perspectives of the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission to study the dust environment close to the Sun with imaging observations from the Wide Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) as PSP orbits, progressively closer to the Sun (PSP will ultimately reach a perihelion distance of 9.86 R ⊙ ).Methods. We analyze the radial brightness profile of the axis of symmetry of the F-corona in the WISPR images obtained from heliocentric distances between about 0.350 AU (75 R ⊙ ) and 0.129 AU (28 R ⊙ ) to detect any change from earlier observations. Historically, at observer locations between 1 and 0.3 AU, the brightness of the axis of symmetry has been shown to fall off as a power law of solar distance, r −n , with an exponent of n = 2.3.Results. We show that as PSP approaches its perihelion distance of 28 R ⊙ (orbits 4 and 5), the radial gradient of the brightness profile of the axis of symmetry of the F-corona gradually becomes less steep, starting at about 19 R ⊙ down to the shortest elongations reached with current WISPR observations at about 7.65 R ⊙ . This observational signature is modeled with an ad hoc homogeneous dust density model (i.e., it is not based on any physical model) along the symmetry axis of the zodiacal dust cloud, which (1) varies as the historical density profile, r −1.3 , down to 19 R ⊙ , then (2) stays approximately constant down to 10 R ⊙ , and finally (3) decreases exponentially to become zero at 3 R ⊙ . The density profile below 19 R ⊙ is accomplished by using a multiplier on the historical density profile that decreases linearly down to 3 R ⊙ . The distance dependence and range of the multiplier were chosen to best match the brightness observations below 30 R ⊙ .Conclusions. The observed brightness decrease in the axis of symmetry is interpreted as the signature of the existence of a dust density depletion zone between about 19 R ⊙ and 3 R ⊙ , which at the inner limit of WISPR’s field of view of 7.65 R ⊙ has a dust density that is ~5% lower than the density at 19 R ⊙ , instead of the expected density which is three times if no depletion zone exists. No noticeable variations in the brightness of the F-corona axis of symmetry were observed from 2018 to 2020.
Meta-Analysis of Validity and Review of Alternate Form Reliability and Slope for Curriculum-Based Measurement in Science and Social Studies:

Meta-analysis was used to examine curriculum-based measurement in the content areas of social studies and science. Nineteen studies between the years of 1998 and 2020 were reviewed to determine ove...
Characterization of anisotropic tissues using micro air-pulse spatial deformation spreading

In this study, we propose to measure the spatial deformation spreading (SDS) produced by an air-pulse on the surface of tissues during the near-field regime of propagation as a metric to characterize degree of anisotropy. Experiments in isotropic tissue-mimicking phantoms and anisotropic chicken tibialis muscle were conducted using an optical coherence tomography system synchronized with a confocal air-pulse stimulation. SDS ratio measured along versus across the direction of fibers in chicken muscle agreed with the wave speed ratio taken at the same directions, demonstrating the capabilities of the air-pulse SDS technique in measuring the elastic anisotropy of transverse isotropic tissues.
Association between Local (Udder) Clinical Signs and Important Outcomes of Clinical Mastitis Episodes in Dairy Cattle

Clinical mastitis (CM) is the most common infectious disease of dairy cattle and is responsible for significant economic losses. There are many local clinical signs associated with inflammatory changes of the mammary gland during bacterial infection. Treatment and prognosis of CM is often decided based on one or more of these clinical signs, however, there have been no studies evaluating the association of important outcomes associated with CM and the presence of these signs in cows with mild systemic disease.
Sibling rivalry: Voters for radical left parties and their competitors in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands:

This article analyzes voters for Radical Left Parties (RLPs) in three countries—Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Belonging to the democratic socialist subtype of RLPs, parties in these countri...
Pandemics in Indian Country: The Making of the Tribal State

This Essay is inspired by the fascinating narrative told by John Fabian Witt theorizing how epidemics make states and how states can also make epidemics. The two stories centered in Peshawbestown, Michigan of the 1881 smallpox outbreak and the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic seems to play into that story. The state (acting through the local and federal government) made the 1881 outbreak fatal, while the epidemic (acting through the tribal and federal government) made the state (in this case, the tribe) in 2020-2021. The story here seems to be one of sovereignty. In the smallpox era, the tribes exercised almost no sovereignty. Now they are practically self-governing; the incredible success of the Grand Traverse Band is a ringing endorsement. The tribe is acting like a capable and responsive government. But I argue there is more going on here. Sovereignty – whether liberal or authoritarian, in Witt’s words – is the first step in the analysis, but not the last. Culture is the second step. This Essay intends to gently disrupt Professor Witt’s theory by superimposing Anishinaabe political theory on American Contagions. The very notion of sovereignty is foreign to Anishinaabe. Western political theory insists on the power of a sovereign entity to enforce a social contract or else society will collapse. Anishinaabe political theory does not. The difference matters.
Further Studies on Testosterone 5α-Reductase of Human Skin: STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF STEROID INHIBITORS

Abstract Inhibition of the microsomal testosterone 5α-reductase of human skin was studied with various steroids bearing structural resemblance to testosterone. Since three of the most potent inhibitors found, i.e. progesterone, deoxycorticosterone acetate, and 4-androsten-3-one-17β-carboxylic acid, were shown by kinetic studies to be competitive inhibitors of testosterone 5α-reduction, the degree of inhibition caused by the various steroids tested in this study has been related to structural features of the steroid-binding site of the enzyme. A strict requirement for a 3-keto-Δ4 structure was found for effective inhibitory activity of a steroid, suggesting a hydrophilic nature of the enzyme at the binding site in the vicinity of Ring A of the steroid molecule. A 17β (but not α) side chain containing one or more oxygen functional groups is another required feature of the inhibitory steroid molecule, suggesting another hydrophilic region on the enzyme at the point of attachment of the side chain. This region in contrast to the region around Ring A is likely to be open or flexible, in view of the larger allowable variations in size of the side chain without detriment to the inhibitory activity.
AN APPROACH TO TRICYCLO(8.4.0.04.7)TETRADECAHEPTA-1,3,5,7,9,11,13-ENE (BENZO(1,2-A)CYCLOBUTA(1,2-E)CYCLOOCTATETRAENE). UNUSUAL THERMAL REARRANGEMENTS IN THE C14H10 MANIFOLD

Abstract In an attempt to prepare the title compound 2 we have discovered that the isometric 1,2-bis(but-1-en-3-ynyl)-benzenes and some of their silylated and deuterated derivatives 6a–d are converted to 2-(but-1-en-3-ynyl)naphthalenes 9a–d . Deuterium and silyl labeling experiments point to the operation of at least two mechanisms in these rearrangements. Heats of formation estimates make it feasible that 2 is an intermediate in one of them.
Eukaryotic Recombination: Initiation by Double‐strand Breaks

A double-strand break in one deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double helix, possibly caused by DNA damaging agents such as ionizing radiation or normal metabolic processes, stimulates repair by a pathway of recombination that uses a second unbroken DNA double helix containing homologous sequences as a donor of genetic information to restore the intact DNA structure. Keywords: DNA repair; double-strand break; genome stability; recombination
A comparative study of breeding seasonality and litter size in eleven taxa of captive lemurs (Lemur and Varecia)

Breeding records of 11 taxa of captive lemurs housed at the Duke University Primate Center (DUPC), North Carolina, were analyzed for differences in the timing of births, for the relationship between breeding season and photoperiod, and for differences in litter size. At DUPC there are significant differences in the timing of births among certain taxa, including differences among some subspecies of Lemur fulvus.However, changes in latitude result in changes in the timing of the breeding season. Lemurs moved to higher latitudes mate at lower light-dark ratios than on Madagascar. The data presented here are consistent with the following model: a photoperiodic cue initiating reproductive activity, presumably a light-dark threshold, precedes the actual mating season by approximately 2 months, with an intervening period of physiological and social preparation. On Madagascar, selection may have favored births that coincide with the end of dry seasons and the beginning of wet seasons, which results in lactation and weaning during times of resource abundance. Taxa from the north and east have the highest mean litter sizes; those from the west have the lowest.
Coherent birefringent optical pulse compression

This paper demonstrates the existence of compressible states of the radiation field based on an extension of the Jones calculus. These states are compressible in the sense that the temporal width of the energy distribution can be reduced by passing the field through a sequence of birefringent elements. In the ideal case treated here the process of compression is lossless.
Effects of H1 histones and a monoclonal autoantibody to H1 histones on clot formation In vitro: Possible implications in the antiphospholipid syndrome

Histones are known to bind anionic phospholipids (PLs). Binding of procoagulant PLs by histones released during cell injury/death may interfere with coagulation and may serve a local regulatory anticoagulant function. Histone H1 prolonged the PT and APTT of normal pooled plasma (NPP). These increased clotting times disappeared when anti-H1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was added to the incubation. Dilute Russell Viper Venom Time was also prolonged with the addition of histone H1. When H1 was added to plasma from a patient with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APL plasma), there was a further prolongation of the abnormal APL clotting time which was partially corrected by anti-H1 mAb. Platelet neutralization times were increased with added H1 and were further increased using APL plasma. When disrupted endothelial cells were incubated with plasma with and without anti-H1 antibodies, the addition of anti-H1 antibodies decreased clotting times. These data support the theory that histones released during cell injury may have a regulatory anticoagulant role in clot formation and the anti-H1 effect of some APL plasmas may inhibit this, thereby contributing to thrombosis seen in APL patients.
The role of continuous glucose sensors in diabetes care.

Continuous glucose monitoring enables convenient and automatic monitoring of glucose levels with minimal fingersticks, leading to improved glycemic control. Numerous studies concluded that the Medtronic MiniMed Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, which consists of a subcutaneous sensor and an external monitor, reduced wide glucose excursions, improved diabetes control, and lowered hemoglobin A1C values. The GlucoWatch2 Biographer is the first frequent monitoring device to report real-time glucose values to patients. The noninvasive, watch-like device provides painless glucose measurement that also enables better glycemic control. There are many other technologies that are under various stages of development. However three of these technologies not yet approved in the United States include a long-term implanted sensor with external pager-sized receiver, a short-term (3-day) implantable sensor, and a noninvasive device that uses near-infrared spectroscopy.
Production of Auxotrophs in a Duckweed, Spirodela Polyrhiza.

Although auxotrophic mutant strains of microorganisms have been used extensively for growth factor and metabolism studies, similar use of biochemically deficient mutants of multicellular plants has been limited. Phinney (17) has employed genetically dwarfed mutants of maize for detecting gibberellic acid. Artificially induced mutants of higher plants, in which the genetic lesions are expressed as nutritional deficiencies, have been studied to an even lesser extent. Langridge (10), by irradiation of seeds of a crucifer, Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, obtained several Xv generation lethals, some of which appeared to be auxotrophic mutants since they responded to chemical supplements. Langridge suggests the use of such biochemical mutants for chemical and genetic investigations. References to the biochemical effects of ionizing radiation on plants are included in a recently published bibliography (18). The objective of this investigation was to develop new information on plant metabolism through study of nutritionally dependent strains of the duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (L.). Methods for producing auxotrophic forms of Spirodela polyrhiza by X irradiation and for selecting these from a mixed culture are described. Since Spirodela polvrhiza is a diploid organism which reproduces vegetatively, detection of recessive mutations is not likely. However, the less common dominant mutations and certain chromosomal aberrations such as translocations, inversions and interstitial deletions would be recognizable and should persist through vegetative reproduction. Landolt (9) has shown that abnormalities can be produced in duckweed cultures which persist through several vegetative generations. In this work, we have agreed to call any nutritionally dependent strain which persists more than 50 vegetative generations an auxotroph. Before artificially induced auxotrophs could be detected, it was necessary to determine conditions for optimum growth of the prototroph. In addition, the growth requirements of one of the auxotrophs isolated during this work were determined and are discussed. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Conservation laws for linear viscoelasticity

In the brief note entitled “On Conservation Laws for Dissipative Systems” [4], a new method for constructing conservation laws was proposed. This method was termed the “Neutral Action (NA)” method in [5]. For any system governed by a set of differential equations, the NA method offers a systematic approach for determination of conservation laws applicable to the system. It is the purpose of the present paper to establish conservation laws for one- and two-dimensional viscoelasticy (Voigt model) via the NA method. The conservation laws derived should prove useful in studies of fracture and defects in a viscoelastic material.
The change of sign of E2 and M1 matrix elements, and of δ-values of166Er at high spins

Calculations of the Dynamic Deformation Model for the E2/M1 mixing ratios for ψ-band to ground-band transitions in166Er have been extended to higher spins (up to I=20). Previous comparisons with the experimental values and with the IBA-1 predictions, available at present up to spins 8 only, are also included for the sake of completeness. Additional comparison with the Frankfurt Model is also given. While all three models give reasonable magnitudes of the mixing ratios, only the DDM gives the sign changes at the correct spin values. Predictions are presented for additional sign changes of the mixing ratios, as well as those of the E2 and the M1 transition moments.
Sampling oscilloscope as a coherent wide-band detector

This communication reports how a sampling oscilloscope can easily be used as a coherent detector in order to recover, in the presence of noise, non-sinusoidal signals having a wide bandwidth.
Closed head injury and the treatment of sequelae after a motor vehicle accident

Approximately 2 million closed head injuries (CHIs) occur yearly in the United States. Twenty-five percent of these injuries require hospitalization, and 70,000 to 90,000 of those hospitalized suffer long-term disability. This case conference details one such case of CHI in which the patient ultimately died. Close attention is given to the pathophysiology and treatment of this process. Commonly accepted, as well as investigational, modalities of therapy are discussed.
An improved method for conjugating monoclonal antibodies with N-hydroxysulfosuccinimidyl DOTA.

A simple, water-soluble procedure for conjugation of monoclonal antibodies to 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N‘,N‘‘,N‘‘‘-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) has been improved by optimizing pH, buffer, and temperature conditions for the preparation of N-hydroxysulfosuccinimidyl DOTA and its conjugation to the human/murine chimeric anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody cT84.66. This improved method results in a 6-fold increase in conjugation efficiency, a 3−7-fold decrease in antibody cross-linking, a more homogeneous population of conjugate species, and a 5-fold decrease in the quantities of reagents needed for conjugation. The cT84.66−DOTA conjugate was labeled to high specific activity with 111In, 90Y, 88Y, 64Cu, and 67Cu, affording near-quantitative incorporation of the majority of these radiometals. This improved conjugation procedure facilitates large-scale production and radiometal labeling of cT84.66−DOTA for clinical radioimmunotherapy trials.
Resonant Laser Ablation of Lanthanides: Eu and Lu Resonances in the 450−470 nm Region

Resonant laser ablation (RLA) of solids with a pulsed dye laser achieves wavelength-specific enhancements in yields of particular metal ions (M+) by resonant photoionization or photoexcitation of atoms in the ablation plume. In the present study, RLA was performed for λ = 450−470 nm on solids comprising selected lanthanide elements. Enhancements in yields of Eu+ and Lu+ occurred at wavelengths corresponding to one-photon resonant absorptions for the neutral atoms: Ln + hν → Ln*. The excited Ln* were subsequently preferentially ionized by the quasi-thermal collisional processes normally operative in the ablation plume: Ln* + kT → Ln+ + e-. The excessive atomic absorption line widths of up to 40 cm-1 (fwhm) were attributed primarily to collisional and Stark broadening in the dense plume. The strongest Eu+ resonances correspond to transitions from ground Eu (4f76s2 8S7/20) to 4f76s6p 8PJ levels at 21 445 (J = 5/2), 21 605 (J = 7/2), and 21 761 cm-1 (J = 9/2). Primary Lu+ resonances were for excitation from...
An efficient computational method for simulations of reaction-diffusion processes

Coupled systems of reaction-diffusion equations are usually solved using a unified time step determined by the most restrictive time scale in the system. We demonstrate in this paper that this time step could be excessively small in many situations, and discuss a more efficient time integration method that does not require linearization procedure and uses different time steps for different equations in a coupled system, depending on their respective time scales. The basic idea is to decouple the system of equations and then apply different time steps to different equations with various time scales. This will also eliminate the need for linearization. Numerical results from a test problem will be discussed to demonstrate significant improvement in computational efficiency.
Fetal blood sampling in baboons (Papio spp.): Important procedural aspects and literature review

The primate model continues to be an essential component of clinical research. The baboons (Papio cynocephalus) have been of particular interest due to their similarities with human placentation and fetal development.1 Fetal blood sampling allows the investigator to assess fetal condition at a specific point in gestation as well as transplacental transfer of medications or markers of interest. A method for fetal sampling in the pregnant macaque using fetoscopy was described by Davidson et al.2 in 1978 and by Morris et al.3 in 1980 for baboons. Hankins et al.4 described arterial blood sampling at 170 days gestation in pregnant baboons. Since fetal instrumentation in this species is associated with high rate of pregnancy loss2, it is essential for pregnancy related studies conducted in the baboon model to be able to develop the techniques of multiple sampling from fetal circulation. In humans, the procedure of cordocentesis was established in 19835 and allows for fetal blood sampling as early as 17 weeks gestation. It is often performed during the 18th–20th weeks of gestation with a complication rate of less than 1% with experienced surgeons. The objectives of this paper are to describe the detailed technique of ultrasound guided cordocentesis (UGC) in baboons at different gestational ages, report the maternal and newborn outcomes post-procedure, and review the existing publications and discuss advantages and disadvantages of each of them.