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Summary: We discuss Morrie's law cos 20 ° cos 40 ° cos 80 ° = 1 8 , a second law cos 20 ° = cos 40 ° + cos 80 ° , and their generalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Zagros records the ongoing collision between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates and the closure of NeoTethys. A Paleogene NW‐SE trending foreland basin was inherited from a Late Cretaceous precursor. Widespread progradation into the foredeep was a feature of both margins which, allied to ongoing tectonism, had by the late Eocene led to the narrowing and subsequent division of the foredeep into the Lurestan – Khuzestan and Lengeh Troughs, separated by the northward continuation of the rejuvenated Qatar‐Fars Arch. This sub‐division strongly influenced subsequent deposition and the petroleum geology of the area. In addition, the diachronous nature of the Arabian – Eurasian collision led to strong diachroneity in lithostratigraphic units along the length of the Zagros. Hence its petroleum geology is best understood within a regional sequence stratigraphic framework. This study identifies three tectono‐megasequences (TMS 10, TMS 11a, TMS 11b) and multiple depositional sequences. The Cenozoic contains a world class hydrocarbon province with prolific oil reservoirs in the Oligo‐Miocene Asmari Formation sealed by the evaporite‐dominated Gachsaran Formation, mostly contained within giant NW‐SE trending "whaleback" anticlines concentrated in the Dezful Embayment. Reservoirs in the SW are dominantly siliciclastic or comprise mixed siliciclastics and carbonates, whereas those to the east and NE are dominated by fractured carbonates. There remains untested potential in stratigraphic traps, especially in deeperwater sandstone reservoirs deposited along the SW margin of the foredeep. Late Miocene to Pliocene charge to the Asmari reservoirs was mostly from Aptian – Albian Kazhdumi Formation source rocks. In some fields, an additional component was from organic‐rich late Eocene to earliest Oligocene Pabdeh Formation source rocks confined to the narrowing Lurestan – Khuzestan Trough. Where mature, the latter source rock is also a potential unconventional reservoir target, although the prospective area is limited due to recent uplift and erosion. Deeper Jurassic source rocks contributed to the Cheshmeh Khush field in Dezful North. Silurian source rocks charged gas‐bearing structures in the Bandar Abbas region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of refractory bipolar disorder (BD) is extremely challenging. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds promise as an effective treatment intervention. However, we still understand very little about the mechanisms of DBS and its application on BD. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the behavioural and neurochemical effects of ventral tegmental area (VTA) DBS in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine (m‐amph). Methods: Wistar rats were given 14 days of m‐amph injections, and on the last day, animals were submitted to 20 min of VTA DBS in two different patterns: intermittent low‐frequency stimulation (LFS) or continuous high‐frequency stimulation (HFS). Immediately after DBS, manic‐like behaviour and nucleus accumbens (NAc) phasic dopamine (DA) release were evaluated in different groups of animals through open‐field tests and fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry. Levels of NAc dopaminergic markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: M‐amph induced hyperlocomotion in the animals and both DBS parameters reversed this alteration. M‐amph increased DA reuptake time post‐sham compared to baseline levels, and both LFS and HFS were able to block this alteration. LFS was also able to reduce phasic DA release when compared to baseline. LFS was able to increase dopamine transporter (DAT) expression in the NAc. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that both VTA LFS and HFS DBS exert anti‐manic effects and modulation of DA dynamics in the NAc. More specifically the increase in DA reuptake driven by increased DAT expression may serve as a potential mechanism by which VTA DBS exerts its anti‐manic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to evaluate fetal biometrics as predictors of shoulder dystocia (SD) in a low-risk obstetrical population. Study Design Participants were enrolled as part of a U.S.-based prospective cohort study of fetal growth in low-risk singleton gestations (n = 2,802). Eligible women had liveborn singletons ≥2,500 g delivered vaginally. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and pregnancy outcome data were abstracted by research staff. The diagnosis of SD was based on the recorded clinical impression of the delivering physician. Simple logistic regression models were used to examine associations between fetal biometrics and SD. Fetal biometric cut points, selected by Youden's J and clinical determination, were identified to optimize predictive capability. A final model for SD prediction was constructed using backward selection. Our dataset was randomly divided into training (60%) and test (40%) datasets for model building and internal validation. Results A total of 1,691 women (98.7%) had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, while 23 (1.3%) experienced SD. There were no differences in sociodemographic or maternal anthropometrics between groups. Epidural anesthesia use was significantly more common (100 vs. 82.4%; p = 0.03) among women who experienced SD compared with those who did not. Amniotic fluid maximal vertical pocket was also significantly greater among SD cases (5.8 ± 1.7 vs. 5.1 ± 1.5 cm; odds ratio = 1.32 [95% confidence interval: 1.03,1.69]). Several fetal biometric measures were significantly associated with SD when dichotomized based on clinically selected cut-off points. A final prediction model was internally valid with an area under the curve of 0.90 (95% confidence interval: 0.81, 0.99). At a model probability of 1%, sensitivity (71.4%), specificity (77.5%), positive (3.5%), and negative predictive values (99.6%) did not indicate the ability of the model to predict SD in a clinically meaningful way. Conclusion Other than epidural anesthesia use, neither sociodemographic nor maternal anthropometrics were significantly associated with SD in this low-risk population. Both individually and in combination, fetal biometrics had limited ability to predict SD and lack clinical usefulness. Key Points SD unpredictable in low-risk women. Fetal biometry does not reliably predict SD. Epidural use associated with increased SD risk. SD prediction models clinically inefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss some identities and applications of the Jacobsthal numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple gestations experience a slowing of fetal growth in the third trimester and have been described as having a higher risk of growth restriction. Whether this increased diagnosis of fetal growth restriction is physiological or pathologic is controversial. In an attempt to better identify those fetuses most at risk, twin-specific growth charts have been developed and tested. In addition, there are data to suggest that multiple gestations experience an increased risk of unexpected third-trimester stillbirth in apparently uncomplicated pregnancies. This chapter reviews the current data and recommendations for fetal growth assessment, antenatal surveillance, and delivery timing in uncomplicated multiple gestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We show that the sum of the series ∑ n = 1 ∞ ( n 2 / 2 n) is the perfect number 6, using simpler series with sums 1, 2, 3, which are the proper divisors of 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of the autoxidation reaction of tartaric acid in an air-saturated solution in the presence of Fe(II) show autocatalytic behavior with distinct initiation, propagation, and termination phases. The initiation phase, which involves activation of dissolved oxygen, decreases with increasing pH, over the test range of pH of 2.5–4.5, indicating that activation of oxygen is catalyzed by an Fe(II)–tartrate complex. The autocatalytic nature of this reaction indicates the presence of a catalytic intermediate that is produced during the initiation phase and regenerated during the propagation phase. The addition of catalase, as well as direct measurements, provided evidence of the presence and kinetic action of hydrogen peroxide as one of the intermediates. Direct addition of hydrogen peroxide resulted in shortening of the initiation stage and the propagation phase with similar rates as in the autoxidation reaction at low pH. The propagation is approximately a zero order reaction with respect to oxygen and iron. The kinetic analysis suggests that an intermediate catalytic complex(s) involving a ferryl ion (FeO2+) controls the rate of the propagation reaction. The Fe(III) formation shows autocatalytic behavior that mirrors the dissolved oxygen consumption patterns under all pH conditions studied. At pH values of 2.5 and 3.0, Fe(III) accumulated to a maximum, before it was partially consumed. This maximum coincided with the depletion of dissolved oxygen. The consumption of Fe(III), or the reduction of Fe(III) back to Fe(II), reflects the catalytic nature of Fe(II) and the essential role of tartaric acid in the initiation phase of Fenton's original reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistic and probit models are the most popular regression models for binary outcomes. A simple robust alternative is the robit model, which replaces the underlying normal distribution in the probit model with a Student's t distribution. The heavier tails of the t distribution (compared with the normal distribution) mean that model outliers are less influential. Robit regression models can be fit as generalized linear models with the link function defined as the inverse cumulative t distribution function with a specified number of degrees of freedom; they have been advocated as being particularly suitable for estimating inverse-probability weights and propensity scoring more generally. Here we describe a new command, robit, that implements robit regression in Stata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactive computer-based music systems form a rich area for the exploration of collaborative systems where sensors play an active role and are important to the design process. The Soundcool system is a collaborative and educational system for sound and music creation as well as multimedia scenographic projects, allowing students to produce and modify sounds and images with sensors, smartphones and tablets in real time. As a real-time collaborative performance system, each performance is a unique creation. In a comprehensive educational project, Soundcool is used to extend the sounds of traditional orchestral instruments and opera singers with electronics. A multidisciplinary international team participates, resulting in different performances of the collaborative multimedia opera The Mother of Fishes in countries such as Spain, Romania, Mexico and the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prominent hypothesis in the diversification of placental mammals after the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K/Pg) boundary suggests that the extinction of non‐avian dinosaurs resulted in the ecological release of mammals, which were previously constrained to small body sizes and limited species richness. This 'dinosaur incumbency hypothesis' may therefore explain increases in mammalian diversity via expansion into larger body size niches, that were previously occupied by dinosaurs, but does not directly predict increases in other body size classes. To evaluate this, we estimate sampling‐standardized diversity patterns of terrestrial North American fossil mammals within body size classes, during the Cretaceous and Palaeogene. We find strong evidence for post‐extinction diversity increases in all size classes. Increases in the diversity of small‐bodied species (less than 100 g, the common body size class of Cretaceous mammals, and much smaller than the smallest non‐avialan dinosaurs (c. 400 g)) were similar to those of larger species. We propose that small‐bodied mammals had access to greater energetic resources or were able to partition resources more finely after the K/Pg mass extinction. This is likely to be the result of a combination of widespread niche clearing due to the K/Pg mass extinctions, alongside a suite of biotic and abiotic changes that occurred during the Late Cretaceous and across the K/Pg boundary, such as shifting floral composition, and novel key innovations among eutherian mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pliosaurid plesiosaurians are iconic marine reptiles that regulated marine trophic chains from the Middle Jurassic to the early Late Cretaceous. However, their evolution during the Cretaceous remains poorly documented. Recent discoveries from the Hauterivian–Aptian interval suggest that the radiation of brachaucheniine pliosaurids produced a wide disparity of forms following the Pliosaurus -dominated assemblages of the Late Jurassic. Among the most bizarre of these early brachaucheniines is Luskhan itilensis , from the Hauterivian of Russia. We describe the osteology of this tusked, longirostrine pliosaurid and discuss its possible behaviour by drawing comparisons with other marine amniotes possessing forward-pointing teeth. We take this opportunity to make extensive anatomical comparisons among Cretaceous pliosaurids, including previously overlooked cranial features. Bayesian inference of phylogenetic relationships of plesiosaurians reveals that the internal branches in Late Jurassic–Late Cretaceous pliosaurids have generally low rates of morphological evolution, indicating that the recently described Early Cretaceous pliosaurids have effectively bisected the long branch leading to the 'classical' brachaucheniines of the middle Cretaceous (Brachauchenius , Kronosaurus and Megacephalosaurus). Pliosaurids exhibit low evolutionary rates and a dwindling disparity before their extinction, mirroring the events seen, roughly at the same time, for ichthyosaurians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existential doubt is perhaps part of the DNA of every good enough priest and analyst, but in addition I seem to have been bestowed a gnawing doubt from the moment of my own baptism as a baby forward. Perhaps if the man, in the bowler hat, were to attempt to project onto Connie any disturbing and uncomfortable aspects of working at this firm then Connie's response shows she'd be able to avoid introjecting these and able to return them to the interviewer. Connie's niece tells this story in her funeral tribute to example Connie's character. My title for this paper is taken from the poem with the same title by Linda Ellis (Ellis, [3]). [Extracted from the article]

Skeletal pneumaticity is a key feature of extant avian structure and biology, which first evolved among the non-flying archosaurian ancestors of birds. The widespread presence of air-filled bones across the postcranial skeleton is unique to birds among living vertebrates, but the true extent of skeletal pneumaticity has never been quantitatively investigated—hindering fundamental insights into the evolution of this key avian feature. Here, we use microCT scans of fresh, frozen birds to directly quantify the fraction of humerus volume occupied by air across a phylogenetically diverse taxon sample to test longstanding hypotheses regarding the evolution and function of avian skeletal pneumatization. Among other insights, we document weak positive allometry of internal air volume with humeral size among pneumatized humeri and provide strong support that humeral size, body mass, aquatic diving, and the presence or absence of pneumaticity all have independent effects on cortical bone thickness. Our quantitative evaluation of humeral pneumaticity across extant avian phylogeny sheds new light on the evolution and ontogenetic progression of an important aspect of avian skeletal architecture, and suggests that the last common ancestor of crown birds possessed a highly pneumatized humerus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this US cohort of 438 patients with r/m HNSCC receiving pembrolizumab plus platinum, 27% received taxane rather than 5FU. • Taxane use increased over time and was higher in academic centers. Survival and toxicity were comparable between the approaches. • Platinum/taxane/pembrolizumab was associated with similar outcomes as 5FU, and is a reasonable alternative for R/M disease. Pembrolizumab +/− chemotherapy is standard therapy for r/m HNSCC. Despite regulatory approval of platinum/5FU/pembrolizumab, a taxane is often substituted for 5FU for convenience and tolerability. We aimed to characterize nationwide use patterns and compare outcomes between platinum/taxane/pembrolizumab vs platinum/5FU/pembrolizumab. Patients in a US nationwide database with r/m HNSCC treated from 2017 to 2022 with pembrolizumab plus platinum chemotherapy were included. Demographic and cancer-specific characteristics were summarized. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology, and compared between groups using log-rank test and multivariable Cox regression. Time on treatment, number of cycles, receipt of second-line therapy, and toxicities were compared between groups. Of 438 patients, 320 (73 %) received 5FU and 118 (27 %) received a taxane. Taxane use became more frequent over time and was higher in academic vs community practices (51 % vs 23 %, p < 0.001). OS did not differ between taxane and 5FU groups (mOS 12.2 vs 13.4 months, p = 0.662). On multivariable Cox regression, HR for death associated with taxane vs 5FU was 0.99 (95 %CI 0.71–1.38). Receipt of 2L therapy was numerically higher for 5FU patients (46 %) compared to taxane patients (35 %, p = 0.071). Grade ≥ 3 anemia was more common in taxane patients (33 % vs 20 %, p = 0.003), whereas grade ≥ 3 lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were numerically higher in 5FU patients. In patients with r/m HNSCC undergoing chemoimmunotherapy, taxane vs 5FU use varies by practice setting and geographical region. Platinum/taxane/pembrolizumab was associated with similar survival as platinum/5FU/pembrolizumab; these results suggest that chemoimmunotherapy with taxane is a reasonable alternative to 5FU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of the Nordmøre grid in shrimp trawls has reduced the bycatch of non-target species. In the Norwegian Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) fishery, the mandatory selective gear consists of a Nordmøre grid with 19 mm bar spacing combined with a 35 mm mesh size diamond mesh codend. However, fish bycatch in shrimp trawls remains a challenge and further modifications of the gear that can improve selectivity are still sought. Therefore, this study estimated and compared the size selectivity of Nordmøre grids with bar spacings of 17 and 21 mm. Further, the effect of applying these two grids on trawl size selectivity was predicted and compared to the legislated gear configuration. Experimental fishing trials were conducted in the Barents Sea where the bottom trawl fleet targets Northern shrimp. Results were obtained for the target species and two by-catch species: cod (Gadus morhua) and American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides). This study demonstrated that reducing bar spacing can significantly reduce fish bycatch while only marginally affecting catch efficiency of Northern shrimp. This is a potentially important finding from a management perspective that could be applicable to other shrimp fisheries where flexibility in the use of different grid bar spacings may be beneficial to maximize the reduction of unwanted bycatch while minimizing the loss of target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal space (PS) is the space around the body that people prefer to maintain between themselves and unfamiliar others. Intrusion into personal space evokes discomfort and an urge to move away. Physiologic studies in nonhuman primates suggest that defensive responses to intruding stimuli involve the parietal cortex. We hypothesized that the spatial encoding of interpersonal distance is initially transformed from purely sensory to more egocentric mapping within human parietal cortex. This hypothesis was tested using 7 Tesla (7T) fMRI at high spatial resolution (1.1 mm isotropic), in seven subjects (four females, three males). In response to visual stimuli presented at a range of virtual distances, we found two categories of distance encoding in two corresponding radially-extending columns of activity within parietal cortex. One set of columns (P columns) responded selectively to moving and stationary face images presented at virtual distances that were nearer (but not farther) than each subject's behaviorally-defined personal space boundary. In most P columns, BOLD response amplitudes increased monotonically and nonlinearly with increasing virtual face proximity. In the remaining P columns, BOLD responses decreased with increasing proximity. A second set of parietal columns (D columns) responded selectively to disparity-based distance cues (near or far) in random dot stimuli, similar to disparity-selective columns described previously in occipital cortex. Critically, in parietal cortex, P columns were topographically interdigitated (nonoverlapping) with D columns. These results suggest that visual spatial information is transformed from visual to body-centered (or person-centered) dimensions in multiple local sites within human parietal cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turtles have a highly modified body plan, including a rigid shell that constrains postcranial anatomy. Skull morphology and neck mobility may therefore be key to ecological specialization in turtles. However, the ecological signal of turtle skull morphologies has not been rigorously evaluated, leaving uncertainties about the roles of ecological adaptation and convergence. We evaluate turtle cranial ecomorphology using three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods. Skull shape correlates with allometry, neck retraction capability, and different aquatic feeding ecologies. We find that ecological variables influence skull shape only, whereas a key functional variable (the capacity for neck retraction) influences both shape and size. Ecology and functional predictions from three‐dimensional shape are validated by high success rates for extant species, outperforming previous two‐dimensional approaches. We use this to infer ecological and functional traits of extinct species. Neck retraction evolved among crownward stem‐turtles by the Late Jurassic, signaling functional decoupling of the skull and neck from the shell, possibly linked to a major episode of ecomorphological diversification. We also find strong evidence for convergent ecological adaptations among marine groups. This includes parallel loss of neck retraction, evidence for active hunting, possible grazing, and suction feeding in extinct marine groups. Our large‐scale assessment of dietary and functional adaptation throughout turtle evolution reveals the timing and origin of their distinct ecomorphologies, and highlights the potential for ecology and function to have distinct effects on skull form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-building goes wrong when local politics is ignored. State-building begins not from anarchy, but from decentralized social order. In democratic state-building, transfers of power to a new national government require popular consent. A democratic state-building mission needs a stabilization-assistance team that can engage with national and local leaders as they negotiate a balanced distribution of power. When the goal is to promote political development, international assistance should be directed by local stabilization officers who can encourage trusted leaders to cooperate in a broad coalition for local governance. An instructive example is USAID's Office of Rural Affairs in Vietnam in 1962–64. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over twenty years have passed since JLME published "The Girl Who Cried Pain: A Bias Against Women in the Treatment of Pain." This article revisits the conclusions drawn in that piece and explores what we have learned in the last two decades regarding the experience of men and women who have chronic pain and whether women continue to be treated less aggressively for their pain than men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salamanders are an important group of living amphibians and model organisms for understanding locomotion, development, regeneration, feeding, and toxicity in tetrapods. However, their origin and early radiation remain poorly understood, with early fossil stem-salamanders so far represented by larval or incompletely known taxa. This poor record also limits understanding of the origin of Lissamphibia (i.e., frogs, salamanders, and caecilians). We report fossils from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland representing almost the entire skeleton of the enigmatic stem-salamander Marmorerpeton. We use computed tomography to visualize high-resolution three-dimensional anatomy, describing morphologies that were poorly characterized in early salamanders, including the braincase, scapulocoracoid, and lower jaw. We use these data in the context of a phylogenetic analysis intended to resolve the relationships of early and stem-salamanders, including representation of important outgroups alongside data from high-resolution imaging of extant species. Marmorerpeton is united with Karaurus, Kokartus, and others from the Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous of Asia, providing evidence for an early radiation of robustly built neotenous stem-salamanders. These taxa display morphological specializations similar to the extant cryptobranchid “giant” salamanders. Our analysis also demonstrates stem-group affinities for a larger sample of Jurassic species than previously recognized, highlighting an unappreciated diversity of stem-salamanders and cautioning against the use of single species (e.g., Karaurus) as exemplars for stem-salamander anatomy. These phylogenetic findings, combined with knowledge of the near-complete skeletal anatomy of Mamorerpeton, advance our understanding of evolutionary changes on the salamander stem-lineage and provide important data on early salamanders and the origins of Batrachia and Lissamphibia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interchange reconnection is thought to play an important role in determining the dynamics and material composition of the slow solar wind that originates from near coronal-hole boundaries. To explore the implications of this process we simulate the dynamic evolution of a solar wind stream along a newly-opened magnetic flux tube. The initial condition is composed of a piecewise continuous dynamic equilibrium in which the regions above and below the reconnection site are extracted from steady-state solutions along open and closed field lines. The initial discontinuity at the reconnection site is highly unstable and evolves as a Riemann problem, decomposing into an outward-propagating shock and inward-propagating rarefaction that eventually develop into a classic N-wave configuration. This configuration ultimately propagates into the heliosphere as a coherent structure and the entire system eventually settles to a quasi-steady wind solution. In addition to simulating the fluid evolution we also calculate the time-dependent non-equilibrium ionization of oxygen in real time in order to construct in situ diagnostics of the conditions near the reconnection site. This idealized description of the plasma dynamics along a newly-opened magnetic field line provides a baseline for predicting and interpreting the implications of interchange reconnection for the slow solar wind. Notably, the density and velocity within the expanding N-wave are generally enhanced over the ambient wind, as is the O7+/O6+ ionization ratio, which exhibits a discontinuity across the reconnection site that is transported by the flow and arrives later than the propagating N-wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solving the chemical master equation directly is difficult due to the curse of dimensionality. We tackle that challenge by a numerical scheme based on the quantized tensor train (QTT) format, which enables us to represent the solution in a compressed form that scales linearly with the dimension. We recast the finite state projection in this QTT framework and allow it to expand adaptively based on proven error criteria. The end result is a QTT-formatted matrix exponential that we evaluate through a combination of the inexact uniformization technique and the alternating minimal energy algorithm. Our method can detect when the equilibrium distribution is reached with an inexpensive test that exploits the structure of the tensor format. We successfully perform numerical tests on high-dimensional problems that had been out of reach for classical approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a protracted struggle, in 1949 the Chinese Communists defeated Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist armies and took control of the mainland. After the possibility of recognition of the new regime was dashed by Communist mistreatment of American diplomats and other U.S. citizens, the U.S. government adopted a strong anticommunist position. Disgusted with Chiang and his Chinese Nationalist Party, it also turned its back on its wartime ally. Thus opposed to both Communists and Nationalists even before the final Communist victory, it launched a search for viable “third forces” (neither Communist nor Nationalist) it could support instead. Far from an “abstraction,” this quest constituted a powerful theme in the approaches of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and State Department to China during the early 1950s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After fitting a Poisson regression model to evaluate the effect of an intervention in a cohort study, one might be interested in estimating the number of events prevented by the intervention (assuming the observed associations are causal). Its use, however, is not straightforward for our specific problem because margins computes predictions for each observation (like predict) and then takes the average of these predicted values. [Extracted from the article]

This essay analyzes Pope Francis' social teaching on relationality within his 2020 encyclical letter Fratelli tutti [Brothers all]. The relationship between the Church and modern nation-states is an important macro-level social dynamic, and Francis explains it by placing Church–State relations into a broader spiritual context of human communication and interaction. He articulates norms of fraternal contact growing from the bottom-up, that is, from interpersonal encounters through groups and movements on to countries and the United Nations. After a focused research question and discussion of critical method, this article offers a rhetorical critique of Fratelli tutti. To provide context, it explains the genres of Judeo-Christian and papal communication, Francis' biography, and the immediate global context of his encyclical. Working within the text, this study details the Biblical foundations of his argument for "fraternity and social friendship" and shows how they are applied to global social media dystopia and accelerating migration/border crises. Conclusions include the utility of Francis' contact terms in analyzing complex religio-political dynamics and their value in advancing peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the anatomy of a new longirostrine pliosaurid, Eardasaurus powelli gen. et sp. nov., based on a substantially complete skeleton from the Middle Jurassic Oxford Clay Formation of Oxfordshire, UK. The specimen brings the number of pliosaurid genera known from the Oxford Clay Formation up to a minimum of six, contributing to our understanding of the most taxonomically rich pliosaurid assemblage. The teeth of Eardasaurus powelli gen. et sp. nov. have "carina-like" apicobasal enamel ridges, previously only identified in Liopleurodon ferox among Middle Jurassic pliosaurids, and which may be more widespread among early pliosaurids than has been recognised. Our phylogenetic analysis shows that Eardasaurus powelli gen. et sp. nov. is nested within Middle Jurassic thalassophonean pliosaurids, slightly more derived than Peloneustes philarchus, as sister to a group comprising "Pliosaurus" andrewsi, Simolestes vorax, Liopleurodon ferox, Pliosaurus spp. and brachauchenines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the anatomy of a new longirostrine pliosaurid, Eardasaurus powelli gen. et sp. nov., based on a substantially complete skeleton from the Middle Jurassic Oxford Clay Formation of Oxfordshire, UK. The specimen brings the number of pliosaurid genera known from the Oxford Clay Formation up to a minimum of six, contributing to our understanding of the most taxonomically rich pliosaurid assemblage. The teeth of Eardasaurus powelli gen. et sp. nov. have "carina-like" apicobasal enamel ridges, previously only identified in Liopleurodon ferox among Middle Jurassic pliosaurids, and which may be more widespread among early pliosaurids than has been recognised. Our phylogenetic analysis shows that Eardasaurus powelli gen. et sp. nov. is nested within Middle Jurassic thalassophonean pliosaurids, slightly more derived than Peloneustes philarchus, as sister to a group comprising "Pliosaurus" andrewsi, Simolestes vorax, Liopleurodon ferox, Pliosaurus spp. and brachauchenines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schroeder et al. (Reports, 26 February 2021, p. 941) reported a size gap among predatory dinosaur species. We argue that the supporting dataset is skewed toward Late Cretaceous North America and that the gap was likely absent during other intervals in most geographic regions. We urge broader consideration of this hypothesis, with quantitative evaluation of preservational and dataset biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine whether environmental house calls that improved indoor air quality (IAQ) is effective in reducing symptoms of chemical intolerance (CI). Background: Prevalence of CI is increasing worldwide. Those affected typically report symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, 'brain fog', and gastrointestinal problems – common primary care complaints. Substantial evidence suggests that improving IAQ may be helpful in reducing symptoms associated with CI. Methods: Primary care clinic patients were invited to participate in a series of structured environmental house calls (EHCs). To qualify, participants were assessed for CI with the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory. Those with CI volunteered to allow the EHC team to visit their homes to collect air samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Initial and post-intervention IAQ sampling was analyzed by an independent lab to determine VOC levels (ng/L). The team discussed indoor air exposures, their health effects, and provided guidance for reducing exposures. Findings: Homes where recommendations were followed showed the greatest improvements in IAQ. The improvements were based upon decreased airborne VOCs associated with reduced use of cleaning chemicals, personal care products, and fragrances, and reduction in the index patients' symptoms. Symptom improvement generally was not reported among those whose homes showed no VOC improvement. Conclusion: Improvements in both IAQ and patients' symptoms occur when families implement an action plan developed and shared with them by a trained EHC team. Indoor air problems simply are not part of most doctors' differential diagnoses, despite relatively high prevalence rates of CI in primary care clinics. Our three-question screening questionnaire – the BREESI – can help physicians identify which patients should complete the QEESI. After identifying patients with CI, the practitioner can help by counseling them regarding their home exposures to VOCs. The future of clinical medicine could include environmental house calls as standard of practice for susceptible patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early diversification of tetrapods into terrestrial environments involved adaptations of their locomotor apparatus that allowed for weight support and propulsion on heterogeneous surfaces. Many lineages subsequently returned to the water, while others conquered the aerial environment, further diversifying under the physical constraints of locomoting through continuous fluid media. While many studies have explored the relationship between locomotion in continuous fluids and body mass, none have focused on how continuous fluid media have impacted the macroevolutionary patterns of limb shape diversity.We investigated whether mammals that left terrestrial environments to use air and water as their main locomotor environment experienced constraints on the morphological evolution of their forelimb, assessing their degree of morphological disparity and convergence. We gathered a comprehensive sample of more than 800 species that cover the extant family‐level diversity of mammals, using linear measurements of the forelimb skeleton to determine its shape and size.Among mammals, fully aquatic groups have the most disparate forelimb shapes, possibly due to the many different functional roles performed by flippers or the relaxation of constraints on within‐flipper bone proportions. Air‐based locomotion, in contrast, is linked to restricted forelimb shape diversity. Bats and gliding mammals exhibit similar morphological patterns that have resulted in partial phenotypic convergence, mostly involving the elongation of the proximal forelimb segments.Thus, whereas aquatic locomotion drives forelimb shape diversification, aerial locomotion constrains forelimb diversity. These results demonstrate that locomotion in continuous fluid media can either facilitate or limit morphological diversity and more broadly that locomotor environments have fostered the morphological and functional evolution of mammalian forelimbs. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention is drawn to the idea that, in the context of the Hückel--London--Pople--McWeeny (HLPM) approach to π-electron ringcurrents, the basic Aufbau process can be mimicked by means of a graph-theoretical algorithm and that the outcome is determined solely by the order of the eigenvalues of the arbitrary molecular-graph representing an extant or hypothetical conjugated system. The Aufbau process usually results in a closed-shell ground-state, but sometimes a unique triplet ground-state arises, sometimes doublets, as well as unique groundstates of higher multiplicity, are encountered, and, on occasions, no uniquely defined π-electronic ground-state is established at all. Previously, the only examples of the latter ('pathological') case -- which, as with triplet ground-states and other ground-states that are not singlets, precludes the possibility of any HLPM calculation -- were graphs that are unlikely candidates for being extant or viable conjugated systems. In this note, however, an example is documented of what is, ostensibly, a plausible unsaturated structure -- namely, (Coronene)6--. In the conclusion, attention is drawn to a procedure that averages electron occupation amongst the several orbitals of a degenerate shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To understand the market dynamics of companion animal veterinary services through the simulation of willingness to pay and willingness to wait as consumer behavior attributes. SAMPLE Numerical distributions for the willingness to pay and willingness to wait of simulated potential clients of companion animal clinics. PROCEDURES Simulations were run by use of numerical distributions to create demand curves and analyze market dynamics across 2 market segments (price sensitive and price insensitive) and different price dispersion between clinics. RESULTS The simulations suggested that the profit-maximizing price of a full-service clinic created a natural segmentation of the companion animal veterinary market, with a majority of clients coming from the price-insensitive segment. The simulation of 2 clinics (full-service and low-cost) with 2 market segments showed an increase in the overall market for veterinary services when a low-cost clinic was present. In addition, the lower the price charged at the low-cost clinic, the greater the profits for the full-service clinic. CONCLUSIONS ANDCLINICAL RELEVANCE The presence of multiple prices for the same services, or price dispersion, in a market increases the overall market value and services more clients. Discouraging low-cost companion animal practices from entering the market decreases efficiency by leaving a population of pet owners unserved and ultimately reduces the overall market for veterinary services and the economic viability of veterinary practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Message passing between processes and across networks offers a powerful method to integrate and coordinate various music programs, facilitating software reuse, modularity, and parallel processing. Networking can integrate components that use different languages and hardware. In this article we describe O2, a flexible protocol for communication ranging from the thread level up to the level of global networks. Messages in O2 are similar to those of Open Sound Control, but O2 offers many additional features, including discovery, clock synchronization, a reliable message delivery option, and routing based on services rather than specific network addresses. A bridge mechanism extends the reach of O2 to web browsers, shared memory threads, and small microcontrollers. The design, implementation, and applications of O2 are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal space has been defined as "the area individuals maintain around themselves into which others cannot intrude without arousing discomfort". However, the precise relationship between discomfort (or arousal) responses as a function of distance from an observer remains incompletely understood. Also the mechanisms involved in recognizing conspecifics and distinguishing them from other objects within personal space have not been identified. Accordingly, here we measured personal space preferences in response to real humans and human-like avatars (in virtual reality), using well-validated "stop distance" procedures. Based on threshold measurements of personal space, we examined within-subject variations in discomfort-related responses across multiple distances (spanning inside and outside each individual's personal space boundary), as reflected by psychological (ratings) and physiological (skin conductance) responses to both humans and avatars. We found that the discomfort-by-distance functions for both humans and avatars were closely fit by a power law. These results suggest that the brain computation of visually-defined personal space begins with a 'rough sketch' stage, which generates responses to a broad range of human-like stimuli, in addition to humans. Analogous processing mechanisms may underlie other brain functions which respond similarly to both real and simulated human body parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on how to preparing veterinary students for excellence in general practice are building confidence and competence by focusing on spectrum of care. Topics include the views of general practice Mike Dyer, on the many challenges new veterinary graduates face, Dyer, whose Appalachia-based practices require veterinarians who have the grit to try things, and the need for a revised educational model that better prepares veterinary graduates for the realities of private practice.

Background: The origin of powered avian flight was a locomotor innovation that expanded the ecological potential of maniraptoran dinosaurs, leading to remarkable variation in modern birds (Neornithes). The avian sternum is the anchor for the major flight muscles and, despite varying widely in morphology, has not been extensively studied from evolutionary or functional perspectives. We quantify sternal variation across a broad phylogenetic scope of birds using 3D geometric morphometrics methods. Using this comprehensive dataset, we apply phylogenetically informed regression approaches to test hypotheses of sternum size allometry and the correlation of sternal shape with both size and locomotory capabilities, including flightlessness and the highly varying flight and swimming styles of Neornithes. Results: We find evidence for isometry of sternal size relative to body mass and document significant allometry of sternal shape alongside important correlations with locomotory capability, reflecting the effects of both body shape and musculoskeletal variation. Among these, we show that a large sternum with a deep or cranially projected sternal keel is necessary for powered flight in modern birds, that deeper sternal keels are correlated with slower but stronger flight, robust caudal sternal borders are associated with faster flapping styles, and that narrower sterna are associated with running abilities. Correlations between shape and locomotion are significant but show weak explanatory power, indicating that although sternal shape is broadly associated with locomotory ecology, other unexplored factors are also important. Conclusions: These results display the ecological importance of the avian sternum for flight and locomotion by providing a novel understanding of sternum form and function in Neornithes. Our study lays the groundwork for estimating the locomotory abilities of paravian dinosaurs, the ancestors to Neornithes, by highlighting the importance of this critical element for avian flight, and will be useful for future work on the origin of flight along the dinosaur-bird lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss Milne's inequality and apply it to the sides of a convex quadrilateral to derive an approximation to the area of the quadrilateral via arithmetic and harmonic means of pairs of opposite sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Docodonta are one of the earliest diverging groups of mammaliaforms, and their morphology provides key information on the transition between non-mammalian cynodonts and Mammalia. We describe the partial skulls of two docodontans Borealestes serendipitus and Borealestes cuillinensis sp. nov. from the Kilmaluag Formation (Middle Jurassic: Bathonian), Isle of Skye, Scotland. We visualize their cranial anatomy using laboratory and synchrotron X-ray micro-CT. The skulls belong to two partial skeletons, currently comprising the most complete Mesozoic mammal fossils reported from the British Isles. The associated upper and lower dentitions show that the lower dentition of Borealestes is not diagnostic to species level. We establish, B. cuillinensis , based on upper molar characters, and re-identify upper molars previously assigned to ' Borealestes ' mussettae as belonging to B. cuillinensis. ' Borealestes ' mussettae, based on distinctive lower molars, is found to be morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from Borealestes , necessitating assignment to a new genus, Dobunnodon gen. nov. The skulls of Borealestes retain many plesiomorphic features seen in Morganucodon but absent in more crownward mammaliaforms. Our study highlights that generic and species taxonomy of docodontans are more reliable when based on both upper and lower teeth, while lower molar morphology may underrepresent the true diversity of Mesozoic mammaliaforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streamers and pseudostreamers structure the corona at the largest scales, as seen in both eclipse and coronagraph white-light images. Their inverted-goblet appearance encloses broad coronal loops at the Sun and tapers to a narrow radial stalk away from the star. The streamer associated with the global solar dipole magnetic field is long-lived, predominantly contains a single arcade of nested loops within it, and separates opposite-polarity interplanetary magnetic fields with the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) anchored at its apex. Pseudostreamers, on the other hand, are transient, enclose double arcades of nested loops, and separate like-polarity fields with a dense plasma sheet. We use numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations to calculate, for the first time, the formation of pseudostreamers in response to photospheric magnetic-field evolution. Convective transport of a minority-polarity flux concentration, initially positioned under one side of a streamer, through the streamer boundary into the adjacent preexisting coronal hole forms the pseudostreamer. Interchange magnetic reconnection at the overlying coronal null point(s) governs the development of the pseudostreamer above—and of a new satellite coronal hole behind—the moving minority polarity. The reconnection dynamics liberate coronal-loop plasma that can escape into the heliosphere along so-called separatrix-web ("S-Web") arcs, which reach far from the HCS and the solar equatorial plane, and can explain the origin of high-latitude slow solar wind. We describe the implications of our results for in situ and remote-sensing observations of the corona and heliosphere as obtained, most recently, by Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth's largest biotic crisis occurred during the Permo-Triassic Transition (PTT). On land, this event witnessed a turnover from synapsid- to archosauromorph-dominated assemblages and a restructuring of terrestrial ecosystems. However, understanding extinction patterns has been limited by a lack of high-precision fossil occurrence data to resolve events on submillion-year timescales. We analyzed a unique database of 588 fossil tetrapod specimens from South Africa's Karoo Basin, spanning ~4 My, and 13 stratigraphic bin intervals averaging 300,000 y each. Using samplestandardized methods, we characterized faunal assemblage dynamics during the PTT. High regional extinction rates occurred through a protracted interval of ~1 Ma, initially co-occurring with low origination rates. This resulted in declining diversity up to the acme of extinction near the Daptocephalus-Lystrosaurus declivis Assemblage Zone boundary. Regional origination rates increased abruptly above this boundary, co-occurring with high extinction rates to drive rapid turnover and an assemblage of short-lived species symptomatic of ecosystem instability. The "disaster taxon" Lystrosaurus shows a long-term trend of increasing abundance initiated in the latest Permian. Lystrosaurus comprised 54% of all specimens by the onset of mass extinction and 70% in the extinction aftermath. This early Lystrosaurus abundance suggests its expansion was facilitated by environmental changes rather than by ecological opportunity following the extinctions of other species as commonly assumed for disaster taxa. Our findings conservatively place the Karoo extinction interval closer in time, but not coeval with, the more rapid marine event and reveal key differences between the PTT extinctions on land and in the oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated citizens' perceptions of the service experienced when visiting Community Service Centres (CSC) of the South African Police Service (previously known as 'police stations' or 'charge offices'). The study focuses on factors leading up to the visit and to the service experience as perceived by the visitors, and whether these perceptions differed according to various demographic factors. A survey of 400 respondents at three CSCs measured how and why the CSC was visited, overall satisfaction and respondents' perceptions of the visit experience (measured via the service quality dimensions). The results indicate that overall satisfaction does not differ significantly according to demographics, but that there are some differences in the lead-up factors and the experience according to education and income. Actions needed to improve the visit experience for citizens include customer service training, regular assessment and monitoring of clients' experiences, as well as CSC employees' behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]