cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Perceptions of Little Cigar and Cigarillo Smoking Among Adult Current Cigarette Smokers

Introduction Few studies have examined the perceptions of risk of little cigar and cigarillo (LCC) smoking among cigarette smokers, which is important for expanding regulatory policies and developing prevention programs. We examined current cigarette smokers' perceived harm of LCC smoking, and determined whether these perceptions were associated with susceptibility and intention to continue smoking LCCs. Methods Data were from the 2014 Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Survey of a probability sample of 5717 US adults. Data were analyzed for a subsample of 1191 current cigarette smokers who were stratified into three groups: (1) dual current cigarette smokers who had ever used LCCs, (2) current smokers susceptible to LCC smoking, and (3) current smokers who were not susceptible to LCC smoking. Results Overall, 47.2% of participants were dual smokers, 12.7% were susceptible to LCC smoking, and 40.1% were not susceptible. Perceptions of risk of LCCs varied across the groups. Dual smokers were more likely to perceive that daily LCC smoking is "very risky" (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.41) while occasional LCC smoking is only "somewhat risky" (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.87). Of the dual smokers, 20.7% intended to continue smoking LCCs in the future. Perceptions of addiction and risk of daily LCC smoking significantly predicted intention to continue LCC smoking. Addiction perceptions also significantly predicted susceptibility to initiate LCC smoking. Conclusions Perceptions about harms from and addiction to LCCs could predict future LCC smoking. Health communication campaigns need to address the harms of LCCs. Implications Our data suggest that perceptions of risk about the addictiveness of LCCs and frequency of use are important determinants of the LCC smoking susceptibility among some cigarette smokers and intended continued use among cigarette smokers with a history of LCC use. Health communication campaigns should address misperceptions related to LCCs.
Face Threats and Additional Reasons for Perceiving Support as Unwanted: A Study of Recently Diagnosed Cancer Patients.

ABSTRACTThis study investigated instances of support that were deemed unwanted by a recipient in the wake of a cancer diagnosis. The investigation was framed by politeness theory and considered the face threats evident in cancer patients’ descriptions of unwanted support. Additional reasons for viewing support as unwanted, as well as the outcomes of receiving unwanted support, were also explored. Interviews (N = 15) were conducted with cancer patients who had been initially diagnosed within the previous 12 months. Analyses demonstrated that face threats are among the reasons for viewing some support as problematic; however, additional reasons beyond face threats also occurred. The most frequently occurring reasons for regarding support as unwanted were threats to the receiver’s negative face and messages failing to convey empathy. Finally, the influence of receiving unwanted support on cancer patients is discussed in terms of recipients’ ability to manage emotions, respond to the support, potentially view...
Catalytic autothermal reforming of diesel fuel for hydrogen generation in fuel cells: II. Catalyst poisoning and characterization studies

Abstract Hydrogen for use in fuel cells is produced in a fuel processor by the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons. Experimental results from synthetic diesel and JP8 autothermal reforming activity tests performed over a commercial Pt/ceria catalyst was presented in part I of this paper. A reversible–irreversible poisoning phenomenon affected the catalyst's activity. The objective of this paper is to present the results of characterization studies on these catalysts. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) studies suggest that the oxidation–reduction properties of ceria are affected by poisoning. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and XPS analysis confirmed the formation of chemisorbed sulfur entities (irreversible poisoning). Based on these findings, a global deactivation mechanism is proposed. Experiments confirmed that the poisoning is reversible and is enhanced at higher temperatures in presence of a reducing environment.
Technology strategy: internal and external perspectives

While technology management and planning are clearly of great strategic importance in determining corporate competitiveness few firms have given them their appropriate policy position. This is an era of rapid and accelerating growth of such key new 'driver' fields as microelectronics, new materials and biotechnology. Other pressures are coming from increased resource costs, greater regulatory constraints and fiercely increasing worldwide competition. These factors have combined to heighten awareness of the need to enhance corporate technical understanding and improve significantly the strategic management of technology. This involves both the build–up of internal and external (including worldwide) capacities to develop, acquire and implement new technologies. A framework for auditing such corporate capacity is proposed.
The Impact of Federal Regulation on the 50 States

The federal regulation and state enterprise (“FRASE”) index ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to how federal regulations affect each state’s economy. Over the past 80 years, the federal government has increasingly relied on regulations as its primary legal output. Although federal regulation applies in the same way in all states, each state’s economy includes a unique mix of industries. As a result, federal policies that target specific sectors of the economy will affect states in different ways.
Creating a Recovery Filled Weekend: The Moderating Effect of Occupation Type on the Relationship between Non-work Creative Activity and State of Feeling Recovered at Work

The activities workers engage in during their personal time are likely to influence whether workers return to work feeling reenergized, refreshed, and fully rested. Two longitudinal studies were conducted to examine the importance of nonwork creative activity during the weekend on workers’ state of feeling recovered at work on Monday. Job titles were coded using the Occupation Information Network (O*NET) to gain an objective indicator of each worker’s occupational requirements for creativity. As expected, the occupational requirements for creativity moderated the relationship between nonwork creative activity during the weekend and state of feeling recovered at work on Monday. Specifically, workers with low occupational requirements for creativity (e.g., cashier, security guard, nuclear equipment technician) are likely to benefit from nonwork creative activities, whereas workers with high occupational requirements for creativity (e.g., interior designer, architect) are not likely to benefit from nonwork c...
Subgroup detection and sample size calculation with proportional hazards regression for survival data

In this paper, we propose a testing procedure for detecting and estimating the subgroup with an enhanced treatment effect in survival data analysis. Here, we consider a new proportional hazard model that includes a nonparametric component for the covariate effect in the control group and a subgroup-treatment-interaction effect defined by a change plane. We develop a score-type test for detecting the existence of the subgroup, which is doubly robust against misspecification of the baseline effect model or the propensity score but not both under mild assumptions for censoring. When the null hypothesis of no subgroup is rejected, the change-plane parameters that define the subgroup can be estimated on the basis of supremum of the normalized score statistic. The asymptotic distributions of the proposed test statistic under the null and local alternative hypotheses are established. On the basis of established asymptotic distributions, we further propose a sample size calculation formula for detecting a given subgroup effect and derive a numerical algorithm for implementing the sample size calculation in clinical trial designs. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated by simulation studies. An application to an AIDS clinical trial data is also given for illustration.
Evaluation of Signage Alternatives for Express Lane Facilities

Express lanes are usually freeway lanes that are separated from general purpose lanes to provide higher mobility. Guide signs upstream of express lanes are crucial because drivers have to read, comprehend, and then react to them accordingly while traveling at high speeds. As such, the objective of this research is to determine the optimal amount and type of information to display and the manner in which the information should be communicated to drivers. A focus group study involving 49 participants was conducted to assess drivers’ understanding, preferences, and opinions toward the guide signs at the entrance to express lanes. Several new sign designs and alternatives were evaluated. From the focus group study results, it was concluded that additional real-time information on travel time and average speed on express lanes helped drivers decide if they wanted to use the express lanes. However, participants found both travel time and speed information to be ambiguous. It is recommended that drivers be educa...
Single — stage single — phase grid — connected photovoltaic system with current ripple mitigation based on nonlinear control

Due to the high-scale penetration of single-phase photovoltaic (PV) systems in distributed generation, a single-stage single-phase grid-connected PV system, with a nonlinear control strategy is presented in this paper. Using the general structure for synchronous dq0 frame, the controller is developed to obtain maximum power from the PV array regardless of the atmospheric conditions without the requirement of a DC-DC converter and to control the active and reactive power supplied to the grid. The nonlinear controller is combined with adaptive control to estimate the unknown disturbances that physically could appear in the circuit. Moreover, since the double-frequency ripple on the DC bus is the main disadvantage of single-phase grid-connected inverters, a method to mitigate the current ripple is added in the model. A Lyapunov analysis is developed to show the stability and boundedness of signals in the closed-loop system. Simulation results validate the performance and robustness of the controller.
Effect of sulfur compounds on formation of protective scales in naphthenic acid corrosion in non-turbulent flow

Abstract Naphthenic acids corrosion is generally considered to leave no corrosion product on steel surface. However, our prior research demonstrates that a protective oxide scale is formed in corrosion with model acids under stagnant conditions. In present study, the corrosion by model acids and a reactive sulfur compound has been investigated alone and in combination in a flow through system. None of the model acids alone forms an oxide scale. However, mixtures of the acid and sulfur compound form a protective scale consisting of an oxygen-containing layer underneath a sulfide layer. A mechanistic model of corrosion and scale formation is proposed.
Spatial and temporal links between shawinigan accretionary orogenesis and massif anorthosite intrusion, southern grenville province, New York, U.S.A.

Abstract Synthesis of new and existing field, structural, geochemical, isotopic, and geochronologic data in the Adirondack Highlands of the southern Grenville Province indicate a suite of arc plutonic rocks (Piseco Lake granite suite) was intruded into basement rocks from ca. 1205–1180 Ma due to northward subduction beneath the Laurentian margin. Although rocks of similar age and origin are found in the Adirondack Lowlands and elsewhere in the Highlands, they occur in the greatest volume and are most intensely deformed in the Piseco Lake Shear Zone (PLSZ). This structure separates the Adirondack Highlands from ca. 1350-1300 Ma tonalitic gneisses in the southern Adirondacks. Tectonites in the PLSZ record the deformation of a continental arc batholith during collision with an outboard terrane which was accreted to Laurentia during the Shawinigan Orogeny. Internal to the PLSZ, a 10–15 km wide, subvertical zone of subhorizontally lineated L-S and L-tectonites (Piseco Lake gneisses) was derived primarily from megacrystic arc plutonic protoliths and documents sinistral relative motion. Intrusion of the arc granitoids, deformation and anatexis (ca. 1180–1160 Ma) throughout the entire Adirondack region immediately preceded and overlapped the intrusion of the anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite-granite (AMCG) suite at ca. 1165-1145 Ma in the Adirondack Highlands. We hypothesize that delamination or slab detachment, in combination with an irregular Laurentian margin, triggered disruption of the underlying lithosphere, allowed ascent of enriched asthenosphere, and facilitated the intrusion of voluminous AMCG rocks in the Adirondacks north of the PLSZ. Other large anorthosite massif complexes in the southern Grenville Province, including the Morin and Lac St. Jean bodies near the Laurentian margin, have also been linked to Shawinigan convergent structures and were an important part of accretionary processes documented in the Grenville Orogen.
Results of revision total knee arthroplasties using condylar prostheses: a review of fifty knees

Revisions of total knee arthroplasties for aseptic failure have provided varied results. In this review of fifty revisions in which a condylar prosthesis was used in carefully selected knees, the results were rated good or excellent in 76 per cent after an average length of follow-up of 4.8 years. At the follow-up examination, radiolucent lines were seen in 17 per cent of the knees. The complications included loosening of one or both prosthetic components in three knees (of which two were revised again); a hematoma in one knee; and a piece of loose cement, which had to be removed, in one knee. There were no deep infections. On the basis of these results, we concluded that revision total knee arthroplasty using a condylar prosthesis will have infrequent complications and will provide a satisfactory result in properly selected patients.
A Drug That Increases cGMP Blocks Thromboxane Induced Pulmonary Hypertension and Reduces Edema Formation in Oxidant Lung Injury

Oxidants such as t-butyl-hydroperoxide (t-bu-OOH) cause vascular injury via lipid peroxidation and the consequent release of thromboxane and the peptide leukotrienes. It has been shown that agents which increase cAMP ameliorate lung (J. Appl Physiol. 62(1): 47–54, 1987). In this study, we sought to determine if agents which increase cGMP may play a similar role. We investigated the modulation of t-bu-OOH induced injury by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the isolated rabbit lung perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer and ventilated with 5% CO2 in air. The perfusate was pretreated with 1mM SNP or no pharmacological intervention for twenty minutes before serial one minute challenges with t-bu-OOH. The challenges occurred in ten minute intervals with [t-bu-OOH] = 300μM in the first four challenges, 600 μM in the fifth challenge, and 900 μM in the sixth challenge. In the untreated group, infusion of t-bu-OOH produces an acute increase in peak PPa, airway pressure, and lung weight gain. SNP treated lungs exhibited a peak PPa of 10.55 ±.64 vs. 30.86 ± 6.83 mm Hg in untreated lungs ( ± SEM). The mean airway pressure of treated lungs was 9.43 ±.35 vs. 19.97 ± 3.66 mm Hg in controls. Increases in lung weight gain were significantly reduced by treatment with SNP:.2 ±.09 vs. 1.08 ±.56 grams/minute (p <.05). In other experiments, the left atrial pressure of the lung preparation was raised to 5, 10, and 15 mm Hg in an attempt to further characterize the protective effect of SNP. There was no significant difference in lung weight gain at elevated left atrial pressure between the SNP treated lungs and control. These findings suggest that the protective effect of SNP in the perfused rabbit lung may be due to its action on microvascular pressure. (Supported by PHS Grant HL35483.)
Some Thoughts on Hydrogen Fluoride Traps in Fluorine Bomb Calorimetry

Fluorine combustion calorimetry, most commonly used on elemental species or binary metal chalcogenides, has recently been reviewed [1]. Subsequently, one of the current authors discussed [2] the possibility, feasibility, and desirability of fluorine bomb calorimetry as a method for obtaining enthalpies of formation of arbitrary organic and organometallic compounds. Complications presented included the necessities of using a rotating bomb and a solvent, absorbent and diluent of the HF produced. Related complications such as an ancillary species for such products as FeF3 and PF5 were also noted: These fluorides would no doubt arise from the combustion of organometallics and organometalloids such as ferrocene and triphenylphosphine. It was concluded that fluorine bomb calorimetry will not be the panacea for the thermochemically inclined scientist. The current note provides some suggestions for such an ancillary species, presented now to encourage further studies and evolution of the earlier proposal. The ideal additives would be a mixture of a reagent
Chapter 2 Bioeconomics of renewable resource use

Publisher Summary One of the characteristics of natural resource economics that makes it both interesting is its heavy reliance on noneconomic and economic concepts. Over the past two decades the field has expanded both in breadth of coverage and also in depth of conceptual development so that a well-rounded natural resource economist has a considerable knowledge not only about sophisticated techniques in economics but also in several other outside fields. The chapter discusses the economic concepts that appear to be central to analyzing biological situations typically encountered. The concepts have been drawn from capital theory and cover two classes of problems: a continuous investment/disinvestment problem and a point-input point-output problem where timing of a single action is important. The chapter reviews relevant concepts from biology that affect the nature of the corresponding bioeconomic problem. It focuses on the range of population growth mechanisms one sees in natural systems and the individual characteristics that have evolved to produce such population mechanisms. Finally, it concludes by discussing likely directions of future research.
A U.S. population dietary exposure assessment for 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) from foods containing caramel colour and from formation of 4-MEI through the thermal treatment of food.

4-Methylimidazole (4-MEI) is formed in caramel colours produced using ammonium compounds (Class III and Class IV caramel colours). 4-MEI can also form in food through Maillard reactions between reducing sugars and amino acids during cooking, roasting or dry-heating. The USFDA has analysed over 700 food and beverage samples collected from 2013 to 2015 for the presence of 4-MEI. These samples include foods containing added caramel colour and foods that are not labelled as containing added caramel colour, but which may contain 4-MEI resulting from thermal treatment. The 4-MEI levels in all food samples were quantified using LC-MS/MS. These data were used to develop a comprehensive dietary exposure assessment for 4-MEI for the U.S. population aged 2 years or more and several sub-populations, using two non-consecutive days of food consumption data from the combined 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 10-14-day food consumption survey data for 2009-2012 from the NPD Group, Inc. National Eating Trends-Nutrient Intake Database. Dietary exposure estimates were prepared for each category of foods labelled as containing added caramel colour and of foods not labelled as containing added caramel colour, but which may contain 4-MEI from thermal treatment. Exposure to 4-MEI from consumption of foods containing added caramel colour was higher than that from foods that contain 4-MEI from thermal treatment for all population groups. Cola-type carbonated beverages were the highest contributors for most populations from foods containing added caramel colour. Coffee was the highest contributor for most populations from foods in which 4-MEI could be formed from thermal treatment. An overall combined exposure to 4-MEI was also estimated that included all foods identified as containing added caramel colour and foods in which 4-MEI could be formed by thermal treatment.
Differential Vulnerabilities and a Diversity of Tactics: What Toolkits Teach Us about Cybersecurity

We investigate cybersecurity toolkits, collections of public facing materials intended to help users achieve security online. Through a qualitative analysis of 41 online toolkits, we present a set of key design dimensions: agentive scale (who is responsible for security), achievability (can security be achieved), and interventional stage (when are security measures taken). Recognizing toolkits as socially and culturally situated, we surface ways in which toolkits construct security as a value and, in so doing, how they construct people as (in)secure users. We center the notion of differential vulnerabilities, an understanding of security that recognizes safety as socially contingent, adversaries as unstable figures, and risk as differentially applied based on markers of relational position (e.g. class, race, religion, gender, geography, experience). We argue that differential vulnerabilities provides a key design concern in future security resources, and a critical concept for security discourses.
Coexistent bicuspid aortic valve and mitral valve prolapse: epidemiology, phenotypic spectrum, and clinical implications

AIMS Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP) are common but the prevalence and significance of coexistent conditions are unknown. This study investigated the prevalence, phenotypic expression, and clinical significance of coexistent MVP-BAV. METHODS AND RESULTS Retrospective comparison of MVP-BAV and MVP-tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) prevalence including de novo echocardiographic analysis of all MVP-BAV patients between 2005 and 2015 was performed. The community prevalence of MVP-BAV was 2.7% vs. 3.4% for MVP-TAV (P = 0.45). Posterior mitral leaflet (PML)-MVP was the most common phenotype in both BAV and TAV (P = 0.38), but anterior mitral leaflet (AML)-MVP was twice more prevalent in BAV (31% vs. 15%, P < 0.0001). Among 130 subjects with coexistent MVP-BAV (81% men, 51 ± 16 years old), 31 (24%) exhibited AML:PML length ratio ≥3:1, termed large-AML prolapse (LAP-BAV), who had predominant BAV regurgitation when compared with those with non-LAP-BAV (P ≤ 0.001). An extreme phenotype of LAP-BAV with giant-AML prolapse and diminutive PML (GAP-BAV) was identified in 18/130 (14%) subjects. Compared with posterior-MVP-BAV, GAP-BAV patients were younger (42 ± 15 vs. 64 ± 12 years, P < 0.0001), had larger aortic annulus (28 ± 3 vs. 26 ± 2 mm, P = 0.01), and 61% had ≥ moderate BAV regurgitation (vs. 16%, P = 0.0007). Mitral repair occurred in 37/130 (28%) subjects. After median follow-up 5.5 months (4-83), 4/5 (80%) GAP-BAV patients required redo surgery for recurrent mitral regurgitation vs. 2/31 (6%) for non-LAP-BAV (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION The community prevalence of coexistent MVP-BAV is comparable to MVP-TAV and their most common phenotype is posterior-MVP. However, anterior-MVP is twice as prevalent in MVP-BAV. A large-AML phenotype (LAP-BAV) with predominant BAV regurgitation affects 24% of MVP-BAV patients. An extreme phenotype of anterior-MVP (GAP-BAV) affects 14% of BAV patients; characterized by exceptionally large AML, diminutive PML, high mitral and aortic regurgitation prevalence, and high mitral repair failure rate.
Embryonic Immune Cells Remodel the Heart.

How the products of transient hematopoiesis in the yolk sac, dorsal aorta, and developing heart tube function at their sites of production is poorly understood. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Shigeta et al. (2019) elegantly demonstrate that macrophages derived from the heart tube contribute to local tissue remodeling during valve development.
Plant speciation in the age of climate change

Background Species diversity is likely to undergo a sharp decline in the next century. Perhaps as many as 33 % of all plant species may expire as a result of climate change. All parts of the globe will be impacted, and all groups of organisms will be affected. Hundreds of species throughout the world have already experienced local extinction. Perspectives While thousands of species may become extinct in the next century and beyond, species formation will still occur. I consider which modes of plant species formation are likely to prevail in the next 500 years. I argue that speciation primarily will involve mechanisms that produce reproductively isolated lineages within less (often much less) than 100 generations. I will not especially consider the human element in promoting species formation, because it will continue and because the conclusions presented here are unaffected by it. The impact of climate change may be much more severe and widespread. Conclusions The most common modes of speciation likely to be operative in the next 500 years ostensibly will be auto- and allopolyploidy. Polyploid species or the antecedents thereof can arise within two generations. Moreover, polyploids often have broader ecological tolerances, and are likely to be more invasive than are their diploid relatives. Polyploid species may themselves spawn additional higher level polyploids either through crosses with diploid species or between pre-existing polyploids. The percentage of polyploid species is likely to exceed 50 % within the next 500 years vs. 35 % today. The stabilized hybrid derivatives (homoploid hybrid speciation) could emerge within a hundred generations after species contact, as could speciation involving chromosomal rearrangements (and perhaps number), but the number of such events is likely to be low. Speciation involving lineage splitting will be infrequent because the formation of substantive pre- and post-zygotic barriers typically takes many thousands of years.
After Saying I Do For Better Or For Worse: Incoming CEOs’ Encounter With Power

A wealth of studies have discussed the impact of CEO succession on organizational performance. Most of the strategy researchers acknowledge the importance of a smooth transition between CEOs to att...
Production of foetal globin in adult monkeys.

Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, edited via CRISPR to mimic mutations ameliorating sickle-cell disease, engraft when transplanted in macaques and maintain foetal haemoglobin in circulation.
Brachial plexus mucormycosis secondary to perineurial spread: Literature review and case report of a rare mode of infectious spread

Abstract Background Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection with nervous system involvement occurring through contiguous spread and/or angioinvasion after rhino-orbital and paranasal infection. Few cases report perineurial trigeminal mucormycosis spread with no cases reporting peripheral perineurial spread to the brachial plexus. Here, we detail such a case with rapid, progressive spread from a distal-arm cutaneous lesion, along the radial nerve proximally to the brachial plexus. Case A 66-year old female presented to a peripheral hospital with a gangrenous forearm after falling 6-weeks prior resulting in a forearm abrasion. She was treated initially with antibiotics and outpatient wound care management, however re-presented with extensive forearm necrosis requiring an above-elbow amputation. She was transferred to our institution for further infectious disease management and investigation upon mucormycosis diagnosis (Rhizopus oryzae growth). Magnetic resonance imaging was completed showing perineurial invasion into the brachial plexus and spinal nerve roots. The patient underwent shoulder disarticulation and brachial plexus debridement for source control of the infection with pathologically confirmed perineurial fungal invasion. Despite aggressive surgical debridement and antifungal therapy, the patient died due to subsequent pulmonary fungal dissemination. Conclusion Mucormycosis is a rare, but well recognized fungal infection typically spreading by direct tissue invasion or hematogenously after angioinvasion. Few case reports highlight perineurial Mucor spreading and none detail dissemination along peripheral nerves as seen here. In light of the high morbidity and mortality of these infections, the importance of timely diagnosis and thorough imaging investigations including MR neurography is emphasized.
Comparative effectiveness of systemic treatments for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: A parametric survival network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

5532Background: Treatment decision-making for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) is complicated by the unclear comparative effectiveness and widely varying costs of competing s...
Minimizing Data Breach by a Malicious Fog Node within a Fog Federation

Fog computing was emerged as mini-clouds deployed close to the ground to reduce communication overhead and time latency between the cloud and end-users’ devices. Because fog computing is an extension of cloud computing, it inherits the security and privacy issues cloud computing has faced. If a Fog Node (FN) serving end-devices goes rogue or becomes maliciously compromised, this would hinder individuals’ and organizations’ data security (e.g., Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability). This paper presents a novel scheme based on the Ciphertext-Policy-Attribute-Based-Encryption (CP-ABE) and hashing cryptographic primitives to minimize the amount of data in danger of breach by rogue fog nodes with maintaining the fog computing services provided to end-users’ devices. This scheme manages to oust rogue Fog Nodes (FNs) and to prevent them from violating end-users’ data security while guarantying the features provided by the fog computing paradigm. We demonstrate our scheme’s applicability and efficiency by carrying out performance analysis and analyzing its security, and communication overhead.
Missing the Mark: The Misalignment between Policy Responses and the Drivers of Conflict in Somalia

Somalia is a country locked in a complex conflict which has dragged on for almost three decades, displacing millions and leaving hundreds of thousands dead. The causes of the conflict are numerous and interrelated. This makes resolving the conflict that much more complicated. The situation is made worse by policies aimed at addressing the conflict which are often unclear, uncoordinated, or contradictory. This misalignment between drivers and approaches has left the country trapped in a state of perpetual chaos. What follows is an examination of some of the major historical events that led to the modern day conflict in Somalia, analysis of the major policy responses, identification of where these responses have missed the mark, and a series of lessons that should be learned going forward. This case study aims to examine Somalia’s seemingly perpetual conflict with a focus toward both informing policymakers and highlighting a need to more critically evaluate policy goals and objectives in Somalia to ensure policies are actually addressing the problems they are intended to address.
Literature, Print Culture, and Media Technologies, 1880–1900: Many Inventions: Richard Menke, 2019. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press IX + 268 pp., ISBN 978-1-108-49294-2 (Hbk£75)

Interdisciplinary scholarship on media is a tricky thing. If media means ‘middle,’ media scholarship can offer both the meeting ground for and the boundary between its disciplinary participants. Wh...
Transgender and gender-nonconforming youth deserve further study in relation to adverse childhood experiences

To the Editor: Research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at far higher rates than heterosexuals (Elze, ...
Age Differences in Preferences for Fear-Enhancing Versus Fear-Reducing News in a Global Pandemic

Older adults (OA) prefer positive over negative information in a lab setting, compared to young adults (i e , positivity effects;YA) The extent to which OA avoid negative events or information relevant for their health and safety is not clear We first investigated age differences in preferences for fear-enhancing versus fear-reducing news articles during the Ebola Outbreak of 2014 We built upon this pilot study to further investigate this research question during the COVID-19 pandemic In this study, 164 YA (18-30 years) and 171 OA (60-80 years) responded to an online survey about their preferences, feelings, and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic across 13-days during the initial peak of the pandemic in the United States Both YA and OA preferred to read positive over negative news about the coronavirus, but OA were even more likely than YA to prefer the positive news article No age differences in the fear of contraction were found, but OA engaged in more health-protective behaviors compared to YA Additionally, media engagement was related to fear for both age groups, with social media engagement, specifically, emerging as a key moderating factor for protective behavior change Although OA may not fear or seek out negative information related to a health concern;they still engage in more protective health behaviors compared to YA In this study, positivity effects are shown to exist within a health-related event, but OA appeared to still attend to enough negative information about COVID-19 to avoid impairing their health protective behaviors
High throughput cell-based screening methods for cancer drug discovery

Abstract High throughput cell-based screening methods are the intermediatory and standard methods for the drug discovery pipeline. Those methods including spheroids, tumoroids, and organoids have shown remarkable utility in cancer drug discovery because of the recent advancements and have gained widespread popularity in the last decades. Those methods combined sequentially have led to significant improvement in both clinical and preclinical cancer drug responses. Drug discovery is generally time taking and costly, including anticancer drug discovery. With the advancement of high throughput cell-based screening methods such as patient-derived cancer organoids, microfluidic systems, organ-on-a-chip, and using different predictive models, the cost of new drug candidates has been significantly reduced. This chapter describes three major high throughput cell-based screening methods—in cell western (ICW), 3D multicellular spheroids, and microfluidic platform that could be employed for a large number of drug candidates screening for their anticancer properties.
Endoscopic Proximal Hamstring Repair Is Safe and Efficacious with High Patient Satisfaction at a Minimum of Two-Year Follow-Up

Purpose To evaluate the short-term outcomes of endoscopic proximal hamstring repair including clinical outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and complications. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic proximal hamstring repair from 2013–2018 by a senior sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon. Demographic, operative, clinical data, complications, and patient-reported outcomes were collected and analyzed including the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), and the Hip Outcome Score activities of daily living scale (HOS-ADL). Results Thirty patients were included with a minimum 24.0- and average 44.0-month follow-up. The average age was 52.0 years (standard deviation [SD], 14.2), and 80.0% (n = 24) were women. Most patients presented with a history of refractory insertional tendinosis (83.3%, n = 25) and an average of 34.0 months of symptoms prior to surgical intervention. Two-year patient-reported outcomes were clinically acceptable with a postoperative iHOT-12 of 81.9 (SD, 21.1), SANE 78.8% (SD, 20.0), mHHS 89.6 (SD 13.4), and HOS-ADLs 87.2% function (SD, 15.9). Nine patients (30%) had available preoperative iHOT-12 scores. Among these patients, the mean increase in iHOT-12 was 46.3 (P = .0005; n = 9). Eighty percent (n = 24) of patients achieved the iHOT-12 patient acceptability symptomatic state. Complications (3%) included 1 atraumatic rerupture. Four patients participated in an organized sport and 18 in recreational sport with a return to play of 100% and 72.2%, respectively. All patients returned to work. Some 76.7% (n = 23) of patients reported return to their baseline level of physical activity, and 73.3% (n=22) of patients reported complete resolution of pain at last follow-up. There was a 90.0% (n=27) satisfaction rate. Conclusions Short-term follow-up for endoscopic proximal hamstring repair shows high patient satisfaction (90.0%) and clinically significant patient-reported outcomes with minimal residual pain and a low complication rate (3%). Level of Evidence IV, retrospective case series.
Lactate oxidative phosphorylation by annulus fibrosus cells: evidence for lactate-dependent metabolic symbiosis in intervertebral discs

Intervertebral disc degeneration contributes to low back pain. The avascular intervertebral disc consists of a central hypoxic nucleus pulpous (NP) surrounded by the more oxygenated annulus fibrosus (AF). Lactic acid, an abundant end-product of NP glycolysis, has long been viewed as a harmful waste that acidifies disc tissue and decreases cell viability and function. As lactic acid is readily converted into lactate in disc tissue, the objective of this study was to determine whether lactate could be used by AF cells as a carbon source rather than being removed from disc tissue as a waste byproduct. Import and conversion of lactate to tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and amino acids in rabbit AF cells were measured by heavy-isotope (13C-lactate) tracing experiments using mass spectrometry. Levels of protein expression of lactate converting enzymes, lactate importer and exporter in NP and AF tissues were quantified by Western blots. Effects of lactate on proteoglycan (35S-sulfate) and collagen (3H-proline) matrix protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation (Seahorse XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer) in AF cells were assessed. Heavy-isotope tracing experiments revealed that AF cells imported and converted lactate into TCA cycle intermediates and amino acids using in vitro cell culture and in vivo models. Addition of exogenous lactate (4 mM) in culture media induced expression of the lactate importer MCT1 and increased oxygen consumption rate by 50%, mitochondrial ATP-linked respiration by 30%, and collagen synthesis by 50% in AF cell cultures grown under physiologic oxygen (2-5% O2) and glucose concentration (1-5 mM). AF tissue highly expresses MCT1, LDH-H, an enzyme that preferentially converts lactate to pyruvate, and PDH, an enzyme that converts pyruvate to acetyl-coA. In contrast, NP tissue highly expresses MCT4, a lactate exporter, and LDH-M, an enzyme that preferentially converts pyruvate to lactate. These findings support disc lactate-dependent metabolic symbiosis in which lactate produced by the hypoxic, glycolytic NP cells is utilized by the more oxygenated AF cells via oxidative phosphorylation for energy and matrix production, thus shifting the current research paradigm of viewing disc lactate as a waste product to considering it as an important biofuel. These scientifically impactful results suggest novel therapeutic targets in disc metabolism and degeneration.
COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis at an Academic Medical Center in the Midwestern United States.

Pulmonary aspergillosis has been reported at high rates in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We retrospectively assessed all patients admitted to an intensive care unit during the early COVID-19 surge (3/17/20-5/10/20) at our medical center in the midwestern USA for the presence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). Patients were not routinely screened for CAPA; diagnostic work-up for fungal infections was pursued when clinically indicated. Among 256 patients admitted to the ICU with severe COVID-19, 188 (73%) were intubated and 62 (24%) ultimately expired within 30 days of admission to the ICU. Only three patients (1%) were found to have CAPA; diagnosis was made by tracheal aspirate cultures in two cases and by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid Aspergillus galactomannan in one case. None of the patients who developed CAPA had classic risk factors for invasive fungal infection. The occurrence of CAPA was much lower than that reported at other centers, likely reflecting the local epidemiology.
Cover or Pack: New Upper and Lower Bounds for Massively Parallel Joins

This paper considers the worst-case complexity of multi-round join evaluation in the Massively Parallel Computation (MPC) model. Unlike the sequential RAM model, in which there is a unified optimal algorithm based on the AGM bound for all join queries, worst-case optimal algorithms have been achieved on a very restrictive class of joins in the MPC model. The only known lower bound is still derived from the AGM bound, in terms of the optimal fractional edge covering number of the query. In this work, we make efforts towards bridging this gap. We design an instance-dependent algorithm for the class of α-acyclic join queries. In particular, when the maximum size of input relations is bounded, this complexity has a closed form in terms of the optimal fractional edge covering number of the query, which is worst-case optimal. Beyond acyclic joins, we surprisingly find that the optimal fractional edge covering number does not lead to a tight lower bound. More specifically, we prove for a class of cyclic joins a higher lower bound in terms of the optimal fractional edge packing number of the query, which is matched by existing algorithms, thus optimal. This new result displays a significant distinction for join evaluation, not only between acyclic and cyclic joins, but also between the fine-grained RAM and coarse-grained MPC model.
"You Just Forge Ahead": The Continuing Challenges of Disaster Preparedness and Response in Long-Term Care.

Background and Objectives Protecting nursing home and assisted living community residents during disasters continues to be a challenge. The present study explores the experiences of long-term care facilities in Florida that were exposed to Hurricane Irma in 2017. Research Design and Methods We used an abductive approach, combining induction and deduction. Interviews and focus groups beginning in May 2018 were conducted by telephone and in person with 89 administrative staff members representing 100 facilities (30 nursing homes and 70 assisted living communities). Analyses identified themes and subthemes. Findings were further analyzed using the social ecological model to better understand the preparedness and response of nursing homes and assisted living communities to Hurricane Irma. Results 3 main themes were identified including: (1) importance of collaborative relationships in anticipating needs and planning to shelter in place or evacuate; (2) efforts required to maintain safety and stability during an unprecedented event; and (3) effects, repercussions, and recommendations for change following the disaster. Discussion and Implications Preparing for and managing disasters in nursing homes and assisted living communities involves actions within multiple environments beyond the residents and facilities where they live. Among these, community-level relationships are critical.
Single Cell Analysis of Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Syndromes Identify Cell States Enriched for MS Susceptibility (P2.2-068)

Objective: To determine, at high resolution, the diversity of cell states found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute, non-infectious inflammatory syndromes using single cell-RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). We use this population structure to refine our understanding of the mechanism of multiple sclerosis (MS) onset. Background: Single cell RNA sequencing facilitates the discovery of rare cell types and context-specific cell states that have not been appreciated either by using bulk profiles of CSF cells, where individual profiles are averaged, or by using cytometric data, where only a limited set of selected markers are measured. Design/Methods: We successfully generated single-cell RNA-seq data from fresh CSF samples obtained from untreated individuals with optic neuritis, new onset relapsing-remitting MS, and tumefactive MS. Each cell has a transcriptome with an average of ~1200 RNA transcripts, which were used to empirically assemble clusters of cells with similar expression patterns. A reference atlas of immune cell gene expression is then used to annotate each cluster and to identify known cell populations. Results: Clustering analyses identify the expected types of CSF cells, with multiple broad myeloid classes as well as B- and T-cells. T cells predominate as anticipated, and we find substantial heterogeneity among T-cell subtypes, including combinations of genes encoding for surface proteins, transcription factors, and cell-cell signaling factors. We find differential representation of T-cell transcriptomic profiles in different donors, particularly in our case of tumefactive MS. We note the presence of an intriguing novel myeloid cell population with a mixture of monocytic and microglial features. Conclusions: We identified new cell populations such as a mixed monocyte/microglial cell type whose role needs to be better defined, and it identifies key subtypes of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as preferentially targeted by genetic variation that contributes to MS onset, prioritizing their modulation in the development of primary prevention strategies for MS. Disclosure: Dr. Diaconu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Menon has nothing to disclose. Dr. De Jager has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Biogen and Roche. Dr. De Jager has received research support from Biogen and Roche.
Exploring the architecture of a stream register-based snoop filter

Multi-core processors have become mainstream; they provide parallelism with relatively low complexity. As true on-chip symmetric multiprocessors evolve, coherence traffic between cores is becoming problematic, both in terms of performance and power. The negative effects of coherence (snoop) traffic can be significantly mitigated through the use of snoop filtering. The idea is to shield each cache with a device that can eliminate snoop requests for addresses that are known not to be in the cache. This improves performance significantly for caches that cannot perform normal load and snoop lookups simultaneously. In addition, the reduction of snoop lookups yields power savings. This paper describes Stream Register snoop filtering, which captures the spatial locality of multiple memory reference streams in a small number of registers. We propose a snoop filter that combines Stream Registers with "snoop caching", a mechanism that captures the temporal locality of frequently-accessed addresses. Simulations of SPLASH-2 benchmarks on a 4-core multiprocessor illustrate tradeoffs and strengths of these two techniques. We show that their combination is most effective, eliminating 94%-99% of all snoop requests using only a small number of stream registers and snoop cache lines.