cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reactivity with a specific epitope of outer surface protein A predicts protection from infection with the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi

The response to recombinant vaccines for Lyme disease was studied to determine serum antibody levels effective in protecting against tick-transmitted infection. Data presented here demonstrate a significant correlation between antibody to an epitope on outer surface protein A (OspA) and protection against infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in canines and mice. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to measure antibody to a site on OspA, defined by monoclonal antibody LA-2. Comparison of LA-2 titers against infection of canines and mice following vaccination and challenge established a predicted value for LA-2 titers. The statistical relationship between serum antibody levels and protection was calculated by logistic regression analysis. The statistical model predicted that an LA-2 titer of 0.32 microg equivalents (eq) per ml correlated to an 80% predicted probability of protection for both mice and dogs. This value was used to classify mice and dogs as to their protected status at the time of tick exposure. The LA-2 cutoff titer (0.32 microg eq/ml) correctly classified all dogs (n = 13) and mice (n = 44) that failed to become infected. By contrast, 20 of 22 dogs and 28 of 31 mice with titers of less than 0.32 microg eq/ml became infected. On the basis of these results, we conclude that an LA-2 titer is a reliable indicator of immune status for estimating immune protection following use of OspA-based vaccines for B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.
New insights into the complex regulation of the glycolytic pathway in Lactococcus lactis. I. Construction and diagnosis of a comprehensive dynamic model

This article and the companion paper use computational systems modeling to decipher the complex coordination of regulatory signals controlling the glycolytic pathway in the dairy bacterium Lactococcus lactis. In this first article, the development of a comprehensive kinetic dynamic model is described. The model is based on in vivo NMR data that consist of concentration trends in key glycolytic metabolites and cofactors. The model structure and parameter values are identified with a customized optimization strategy that uses as its core the method of dynamic flux estimation. For the first time, a dynamic model with a single parameter set fits all available glycolytic time course data under anaerobic operation. The model captures observations that had not been addressed so far and suggests the existence of regulatory effects that had been observed in other species, but not in L. lactis. The companion paper uses this model to analyze details of the dynamic control of glycolysis under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
Towards a Category Theory of Everything (cTOE)

In 1943, Schrodinger attempted to answer the question “What Is Life?” in his historic book with the same title which contained about 90 pages. Six decades later, in this book, I needed more than 700 pages to try to answer the same question. The eightfold increase in the number of pages in this book relative to that of Schrodinger probably does not do justice to the enormous increase in our experimental knowledge about living systems that has occurred since 1943 (e.g., see Table 11.1). In his book, Schrodinger proposed three main ideas:
Change in energy expenditure and physical activity in response to aerobic and resistance exercise programs

Exercise is considered an important component of a healthy lifestyle but there remains controversy on effects of exercise on non-exercise physical activity (PA). The present study examined the prospective association of aerobic and resistance exercise with total daily energy expenditure and PA in previously sedentary, young men. Nine men (27.0 ± 3.3 years) completed two 16-week exercise programs (3 exercise sessions per week) of aerobic and resistance exercise separated by a minimum of 6 weeks in random order. Energy expenditure and PA were measured with the SenseWear Mini Armband prior to each intervention as well as during week 1, week 8 and week 16 of the aerobic and resistance exercise program. Body composition was measured via dual x-ray absorptiometry. Body composition did not change in response to either exercise intervention. Total daily energy expenditure on exercise days increased by 443 ± 126 kcal/d and 239 ± 152 kcal/d for aerobic and resistance exercise, respectively (p < 0.01). Non-exercise moderate-to-vigorous PA, however, decreased on aerobic exercise days (−148 ± 161 kcal/d; p = 0.03). There was no change in total daily energy expenditure and PA on non-exercise days with aerobic exercise while resistance exercise was associated with an increase in moderate-to-vigorous PA during non-exercise days (216 ± 178 kcal/d, p = 0.01). Results of the present study suggest a compensatory reduction in PA in response to aerobic exercise. Resistance exercise, on the other hand, appears to facilitate non-exercise PA, particularly on non-exercise days, which may lead to more sustainable adaptations in response to an exercise program.
On A Strictly Convex IBM Model 1

IBM Model 1 is a classical alignment model. Of the first generation word-based SMT models, it was the only such model with a concave objective function. For concave optimization problems like IBM Model 1, we have guarantees on the convergence of optimization algorithms such as Expectation Maximization (EM). However, as was pointed out recently, the objective of IBM Model 1 is not strictly concave and there is quite a bit of alignment quality variance within the optimal solution set. In this work we detail a strictly concave version of IBM Model 1 whose EM algorithm is a simple modification of the original EM algorithm of Model 1 and does not require the tuning of a learning rate or the insertion of an l2 penalty. Moreover, by addressing Model 1’s shortcomings, we achieve AER and F-Measure improvements over the classical Model 1 by over 30%.
An Optimization Framework for Anisotropic Simplex Mesh Adaptation: Application to Aerodynamic Flows

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (Fellowship in Computational Engineering)
National Survey Regarding the Importance of Leadership in PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency Training.

BackgroundLeadership is considered a professional obligation for all pharmacists. It is important to integrate leadership training in residency programs to meet the leadership needs and requirements of the profession.ObjectiveTo evaluate the importance of leadership development during postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy practice residency training as perceived by new practitioners.MethodsA 15-question online survey was distributed to residency-trained new practitioners to assess (1) amount of time dedicated to leadership training during residency training, (2) different leadership tools utilized, (3) residents’ participation in various committees or councils, (4) perceived benefit of increased leadership training, (5) importance of having a mentor, (6) understanding of the residency organization's strategic objectives, (7) discussion of Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) during residency training, and (8) adequacy of leadership training in preparation to become a pharmacy practice leader.ResultsAlt...
Shock Pressure on Coastal Structures

Shock pressures caused by impact between a solid and a liquid, such as the case of waves breaking against coastal structures, could better be described as an elastic wave wherein the elasticity of the solid and the compressibility of the liquid are taken into consideration. Tests were conducted to study the probability of occurrence of shock pressures as high as the theoretical pressure predicted by the elastic wave approach, for the case of waves breaking against coastal structures. The tests consisted of dropping a plate whose edge was hinged at the water surface, into a water basin, and measuring the resulting pressure on the plate by piezoelectric type cells. The probability distributions of the ratio between the magnitude of the recorded and the theoretical pressure, and of the duration of pressure were found to fit Poissons distribution well at the 5% level of significance. These distributions could serve as a guide for predicting the magnitude and possibly the duration of shock pressure to which coastal structures might be subjected.
Magnetostriction of Field-Structured Composites

Field-structured magnetic particle composites are an important new class of materials that have great potential as both sensors and actuators. These materials are synthesized by suspending magnetic particles in a polymeric resin and subjecting these to magnetic fields while the resin polymerizes. If a simple uniaxial magnetic field is used, the particles will form chains, yielding composites whose magnetic susceptibility is enhanced along a single direction. A biaxial magnetic field, comprised of two orthogonal ac fields, forms particle sheets, yielding composites whose magnetic susceptibility is enhanced along two principal directions. A balanced triaxial magnetic field can be used to enhance the susceptibility in all directions, and biased heterodyned triaxial magnetic fields are especially effective for producing composites with a greatly enhanced susceptibility along a single axis. Magnetostriction is quadratic in the susceptibility, so increasing the composite susceptibility is important to developing actuators that function well at modest fields. To investigate magnetostriction in these field-structured composites we have constructed a sensitive, constant-stress apparatus capable of 1 ppm strain resolution. The sample geometry is designed to minimize demagnetizing field effects. We have demonstrated field-structured composites with nearly 10,000 ppm strain, and have shown that at large magnetic fields a structural phase transition occurs within the composite. These experimental results are compared to microscopic, self-consistent field simulations of magnetostriction in these complex, disordered materials.
STATUS OF THE ADVANCED REUSABLE TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES PROJECT

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has established the Advanced Space Transportation Program (ASTP) to focus efforts on technologies that have the potential to greatly reduce costs of payload to orbit. The Advanced Reusable Transportation Technologies (ARTT) project at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has been established to investigate technologies associated with combined cycle air breathing propulsion through ground testing of critical components and the development of preliminary concepts for a full-size operational rocketbased combined cycle (RBCC) launch vehicle. Five contractors have been selected and are now well into their respective test and analysis efforts. Initial concept study efforts have been completed on a full scale operational RBCC-powered vehicle. Results from these studies indicate that a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) RBCC powered vehicle can be developed that will allow 25,000 pounds of payload to be delivered in a Space Station supply mission scenario. These studies indicate that the contractors preference for this vehicle is either a horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing or a vertical takeoff/horizontal landing machine that has a gross takeoff weight of approximately 1.2 million pounds and a dry weight slightly above 210,000 pounds. The vehicle is approximately 200 feet long. The average structural mass fraction of these vehicles with the engines installed is slightly below 0.8. The studies also indicated that the point at which the engine inlets will be closed and the rockets reignited for orbital insertion is favored to be in the range of Mach 8 to Mach 10.
Pulmonary embolization of immature Fascioloides magna causing fatal hemothorax confirmed by molecular technique in a heifer in the United States.

The current report describes the use of a molecular technique to identify immature Fascioloides magna. An 18-month-old Brangus heifer was found dead in the field without any prior clinical signs. The cause of death was exsanguination into the thoracic cavity associated with pulmonary embolization and infection by immature Fascioloides magna resulting in 2 large foci of pulmonary necrosis and focal arteriolar and lung rupture. The liver had a few random migratory tracts with typical iron and porphyrin fluke exhaust, but no identified fluke larvae. A single immature fluke was found in the lungs, and species level identification as F. magna was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 region, 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS2) and of partial 28S rRNA gene sequence. This is one of only a few pulmonary fascioloidiasis cases associated with hemothorax in the veterinary literature.
Graphene oxide as a radical initiator: Free radical and controlled radical polymerization of sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate with graphene oxide

The free radical and controlled radical polymerization of sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate using graphene oxide as a radical initiator was studied. This work demonstrates that graphene oxide can initiate radical polymerization in an aqueous solution without any additional initiator. Poly(sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate) obtained via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization had a controlled molecular weight with a very narrow polydispersity ranging between 1.01 and 1.03. The reduction process of graphene oxide as well as the resulting composite material properties were analyzed in detail.
Reason, Revelation, and Devotion: Inference and Argument in Religion

Reason, Revelation, and Devotion argues that immersion in religious reading traditions and their associated spiritual practices significantly shapes our emotions, desires, intuitions, and volitional commitments; these in turn affect our construction and assessments of arguments for religious conclusions. But far from distorting the reasoning process, these emotions and volitional and cognitive dispositions can be essential for sound reasoning on religious and other value-laden subject matters. And so western philosophy must rethink its traditional antagonism toward rhetoric. The book concludes with discussions of the implications of the earlier chapters for the relation between reason and revelation, and for the role that the concept of mystery should play in philosophy in general, and in the philosophy of religion and philosophical theology in particular.
High-Dose Monthly Vitamin D for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection in Older Long-Term Care Residents: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives To determine the efficacy and safety of high-dose vitamin D supplementation for prevention of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in older long-term care residents. Design Randomized controlled trial investigating high-dose vs standard-dose vitamin D from 2010 to 2014. Setting Colorado long-term care facilities. Participants Long-term care residents aged 60 and older (n = 107). Intervention The high-dose group received monthly supplement of vitamin D3 100,000 IU, the standard-dose group received a monthly placebo (for participants taking 400–1,000 IU/d as part of usual care) or a monthly supplement of 12,000 IU of vitamin D3 (for participants taking <400 IU/d as part of usual care). Measurements The primary outcome was incidence of ARI during the 12-month intervention. Secondary outcomes were falls and fractures, 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, hypercalcemia, and kidney stones. Results Participants (55 high dose, 52 standard dose) were randomized and included in the final analysis. The high-dose group had 0.67 ARIs per person-year and the standard-dose group had 1.11 (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38–0.94, P = .02). Falls were more common in the high-dose group (1.47 per person-year vs 0.63 in standard-dose group; IRR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.49–3.63, P < .001). Fractures were uncommon and similar in both groups (high dose 0.10 vs standard dose 0.19 per person-year; P = .31). Mean trough 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels during the trial were 32. ng/mL in the high-dose group and 25.1 ng/mL in the standard-dose group. There was no hypercalcemia or kidney stones in either group. Conclusion Monthly high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation reduced the incidence of ARI in older long-term care residents but was associated with a higher rate of falls without an increase in fractures.
Preliminary experiments with a unified controller for a powered knee-ankle prosthetic leg across walking speeds

This paper presents the experimental validation of a novel control strategy that unifies the entire gait cycle of a powered knee-ankle prosthetic leg without the need to switch between controllers for different periods of gait. Current control methods divide the gait cycle into several sequential periods each with independent controllers, resulting in many patient-specific control parameters and switching rules that must be tuned for a specific walking speed. The single controller presented is speed-invariant with a minimal number of control parameters to be tuned. A single, periodic virtual constraint is derived that exactly characterizes the desired actuated joint motion as a function of a mechanical phase variable across walking cycles. A single sensor was used to compute a phase variable related to the residual thigh angle's phase plane, which was recently shown to robustly represent the phase of non-steady human gait. This phase variable allows the prosthesis to synchronize naturally with the human user for intuitive, biomimetic behavior. A custom powered knee-ankle prosthesis was designed and built to implement the control strategy and validate its performance. A human subject experiment was conducted across multiple walking speeds (1 to 3 miles/hour) in a continuous sequence with the single phase-based controller, demonstrating its adaptability to the user's intended speed.
Preclude: Conflict detection in textual health advice

With the rapid digitalization of the health sector, people often turn to mobile apps and online health websites for health advice. Health advice generated from different sources can be conflicting as they address different aspects of health (e.g., weight loss, diet, disease) or as they are unaware of the context of a user (e.g., age, gender, physiological condition). Conflicts can occur due to lexical features, (such as, negation, antonyms, or numerical mismatch) or can be conditioned upon time and/or physiological status. We formulate the problem of finding conflicting health advice and develop a comprehensive taxonomy of conflicts. While a similar research area in the natural language processing domain explores the problem of textual contradiction identification, finding conflicts in health advice poses its own unique lexical and semantic challenges. These include large structural variation between text and hypothesis pairs, finding conceptual overlap between pairs of advice, and inference of the semantics of an advice (i.e., what to do, why and how). Hence, we develop Preclude, a novel semantic rule-based solution to detect conflicting health advice derived from heterogeneous sources utilizing linguistic rules and external knowledge bases. As our solution is interpretable and comprehensive, it can guide users towards conflict resolution too. We evaluate Preclude using 1156 real advice statements covering 8 important health topics that are collected from smart phone health apps and popular health websites. Preclude results in 90% accuracy and outperforms the accuracy and F1 score of the baseline approach by about 1.5 times and 3 times, respectively.
“The Most Beautiful Pearls”: Speculative Thoughts on a Phenomenology of Attention (with Husserl and Goethe)

In this chapter, I present some systematic thoughts on a phenomenology of attention. There are two angles from which I will approach this topic. For one, the phenomenon in question is quite important for Husserl, but his thoughts on the topic have not been known to the public until recently through a new volume of the Husserliana (Hua XXXVIII) that presents the only analyses in Husserl’s entire oeuvre dealing with this phenomenon. As it turns out, attention, as located between passive perception and active, synthetic consciousness, plays a key role in genetic phenomenology and its attempt to work out the levels of consciousness from passivity to activity. Hence, one part of this paper has the intention of presenting some of Husserl’s thoughts on attention and the systematic role it plays in his phenomenology of constituting consciousness. Secondly, in order to further the systematic point of the phenomenon, I turn to Goethe’s reflections on the primal phenomenon (Urphanomen) that can, I believe, be brought to bear on attention. Indeed, the primal phenomenon as a phenomenon that immediately and forcefully seizes our attention Goethe once compares to “the most beautiful pearls” in a chain of related phenomena. Among the phenomena appearing to us, some “simply” have a special quality in that they beckon us to investigate them, very much in the way in which Husserl describes the manner in which some phenomena lure us to focus our attention on them. Finally, if it is the world which “chooses,” as it were, certain phenomena for us to be drawn into their meaningful contexts, this observation has serious consequences for phenomenology as transcendental idealism. I want to put it as a question: What does it mean for a theory of world-constitution through consciousness that the world is “designed” such that certain phenomena are privileged from within the world to leap out at us, enticing us to explore it? Does attention bring us before the limits of phenomenology as transcendental idealism?
Test structure configurations for analysis of field effect influenced self-heating and thermal coupling in High Voltage SiGe HBTs

this paper presents several test structure configurations that facilitate a comprehensive assessment of self-heating and thermal coupling effects in High Voltage SiGe HBTs in a DTI on SOI process. Several layout test structures are investigated including variations in device separations, multi-device arrays and the influence of the substrate contact in the regions outside the trench isolation, and indeed the potential for trench field effects themselves, the latter two both due to the high voltages involved. The findings are reported with a view to focus on a Compact Modelling solution implementable in a commercial CAD tool.
Closed-Suction Drains After Subcutaneous Mastectomy for Gynecomastia: Do They Reduce Complications?

In cases of refractory gynecomastia, surgical excision of excess glandular breast tissue is often warranted. Closed-suction drain placement is commonplace; however, the effect of drains on preventing complications after male breast surgery has not been fully elucidated in the literature. To investigate the effect of drains on reducing seroma and hematoma after subcutaneous mastectomy for gynecomastia. Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing subcutaneous mastectomy for gynecomastia over a 10-year period. Charts were reviewed for demographics, BMI, comorbidities, type of local anesthesia, specimen weight, use of liposuction, and placement of drains. Outcomes were determined by seroma or hematoma in the 30-day postoperative period. A total of 163 breasts were studied (group I = no-drain, n = 46; group II = drain, n = 117). Group I had a higher rate of clinically significant seromas requiring needle aspiration than group II (6.5 vs 0%, p = 0.0214). There was no difference in rates of hematoma (group I vs II, 2.2 vs 6.0%, p = 0.443) and total fluid collections (group I vs II, 19.6 vs 16.2%, p = 0.647). BMI, use of local anesthesia, specimen weight, and use of liposuction were not significantly associated with postoperative complications. Closed-suction drains may reduce rates of clinically significant seromas requiring needle aspiration. Though drains carry their own pertinent adverse effects (e.g., patient discomfort and anxiety, cost, and additional clinic visits), there remains no universal standard of care and surgeon practices vary widely. Given the potential to reduce seroma rates, we recommend that surgeons consider placing drains and discuss with patients the benefits and risks of drains after surgical treatment of gynecomastia. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
SIZE-SELECTIVE SAMPLING FOR INHALATION HAZARD EVALUATIONS

The basis for the increasing application of size-selective aerosol samplers is reviewed in terms of the factors affecting and parameters describing particle deposition and retention in the human respiratory tract. The available experimental data describing total and regional particle deposition in man are discussed, as are the sampler acceptance criteria adopted by BMRC, AEC, and ACGIH, and the ICRP Task Group deposition model. Techniques and equipment used for size-selective aerosol sampling are evaluated in terms of the design principles applied, the correspondence between design and performance of specific samplers, their applicability to field conditions, and their ability to satisfy sampler acceptance criteria.
"It's Pretty Hard to Tell Your Mom and Dad That You're on a Method": Exploring How an App Could Promote Adolescents' Communication with Partners and Parent(s) to Increase Self-Efficacy in Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Use.

Abstract Study Objective Youth-friendly information and support are integral components to promote adolescents' successful use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), and smartphone apps offer a promising medium. To inform content development for an app guided by the Health Belief Model, we conducted interviews with adolescent LARC users to assess self-efficacy and experiences with LARC, their communication with partners and parent(s) about LARC, and how apps could support this communication. Design, Setting, and Participants We conducted semistructured, in-depth interviews with 30 female adolescent LARC users enrolled in urban school-based health centers. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures Descriptive analyses were used to assess demographic characteristics, experience and comfort communicating with current and future partners and parent(s) about LARC, self-efficacy around LARC, and how app elements could support LARC use. Results Participants (mean age, 16 years; range, 14-19 years) were predominately Hispanic (77%; n = 23) and black (20%; n = 6). Almost all (97%; n = 29) had told their current partner about their LARC, but of these, only 15 (50%) would feel comfortable talking with a new sexual partner. Most participants (73%; n = 22) had not told their parent(s) about getting a LARC, but many reported they were likely to share app information with their parent(s). Of the few participants who did tell their parent(s), 38% (n = 3) reported that it was difficult to do so. Adolescents described ways in which app use could help initiate conversations with new partners and parent(s). Conclusion These findings suggest the potential of a theory-based smartphone app to meet adolescent LARC users' information and support needs. The app should include information on strategies for communicating with future partners and parent(s).
Magneto-Nanosensor Diagnostic Chips

We have developed an automated assay for disease biomarker detection that can be run on a handheld sensing platform. By coupling magnetic nanotechnology with an array of magnetically responsive nanosensors, we demonstrate a rapid, multiplex immunoassay that eliminates the need for trained technicians to run molecular diagnostic tests. A major limitation for other detection modalities is signal distortion that occurs due to background heterogeneity in ionic strength, pH, temperature, and autofluorescence. Here, we present a magnetic nanosensor technology that is insensitive to background yet still capable of rapid, multiplex protein detection with resolution down to attomolar concentrations and extensive linear dynamic range. The insensitivity of our detector to various media enables our technology to be directly applied to a variety of settings such as molecular biology and clinical diagnostics.
Individualizing instruction through pacing procedures

The ideal outcome of individualized instruction is both effective and efficient instruction. Confining ourselves to a consideration of fixed-paced instruction which is offered because the medium requiredhappens to be fixed-paced in character, how can such instruction be both effective and efficient? When slow, it tends to be effective but inefficient. Unless it can be demonstrated that slow students can be sped up, inefficiency may be the price that must be paid to make effectiveness possible for them. The trade-off is no different than that which is currently necessary in selfpaced instruction.
Cardiac Surgery Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background Surgical outcomes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) undergoing cardiac surgery are limited. Our objectives were to investigate hospital morbidity and mortality after open cardiac surgery in CLL versus non-CLL patients. Methods From May 1995 to May 2015, 157 patients with CLL and 55,917 without and older than 47 years underwent elective cardiac surgery at Cleveland Clinic. By Rai criteria, 79 CLL patients (56%) were low risk (class 0), 13 (9.1%) intermediate risk (classes I and II), and 38 (27%) high risk (classes III and IV); 12 (8.5%) were in remission. Mean age of CLL patients was 72 ± 9.0 years, and 18% were women. CLL patients were propensity-score matched to 3 non-CLL patients to compare surgical outcomes. Results High-risk CLL patients received more blood products than matched non-CLL patients (33/38 [87%] versus 74/114 [65%], p = 0.01), but were less likely to receive cryoprecipitate (0% versus 15/114 [13%], p = .02). Intermediate-risk CLL patients received more platelet units, mean 12 versus 4.6 ( p = 0.008). Occurrence of deep sternal wound infection (0% versus 5/471 [1.1%]), septicemia (5/157 [3.2%] versus 14/471 [3.0%]), and hospital mortality (4/157 [2.5%] versus 14/471 [3.0%]) were similar ( p > 0.3), independent of prior chemotherapy treatment for CLL. Conclusions Although CLL patients did not have higher hospital mortality than non-CLL patients, high-risk CLL patients were more likely to receive blood products. Risks associated with transfusion should be considered when evaluating CLL patients for elective cardiac surgery. Appropriate preoperative management, such as blood product transfusions, and alternative treatment options that decrease blood loss, should be considered for high-risk patients.
A bond-order potential for the Al–Cu–H ternary system

Al-Based Al–Cu alloys have a very high strength to density ratio, and are therefore important materials for transportation systems including vehicles and aircrafts. These alloys also appear to have a high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, and as a result, are being explored for hydrogen related applications. To enable fundamental studies of mechanical behavior of Al–Cu alloys under hydrogen environments, we have developed an Al–Cu–H bond-order potential according to the formalism implemented in the molecular dynamics code LAMMPS. Our potential not only fits well to properties of a variety of elemental and compound configurations (with coordination varying from 1 to 12) including small clusters, bulk lattices, defects, and surfaces, but also passes stringent molecular dynamics simulation tests that sample chaotic configurations. Careful studies verified that this Al–Cu–H potential predicts structural property trends close to experimental results and quantum-mechanical calculations; in addition, it properly captures Al–Cu, Al–H, and Cu–H phase diagrams and enables simulations of H2 dissociation, chemisorption, and absorption on Al–Cu surfaces.
Development of new film thickness models for hot mix asphalt

The current standard model for calculating film thickness is not sufficiently detailed to adequately reflect differences in hot mix asphalt mixtures; and therefore, has limited value as a tool to evaluate research or mix designs. Modifications to the model (or replacement of the model) would give practitioners a better tool to assess the durability potential of a hot mix asphalt mixture. Durability is an important characteristics of hot mix asphalt that must get adequate attention to insure long-term performance of hot mix asphalt. Film thickness is one mixture parameter used to characterize a mixture's potential durability. The standard film thickness model is only a nominal approximation that applies 1940's technology. This study develops two film thickness models that more accurately reflect the relationship of the asphalt binder coating to other mixture parameters. The INDEX Model uses basic weight and volume relationships on each aggregate source in the mixture to improve the surface area value used in the standard model. The VIRTUAL Model uses three-dimensional concepts to redefine film thickness as the spatial relationship between aggregate particles and air voids. The VIRTUAL Model allows the practitioner to compute the film thickness at any level of field compacted density. The study examines the historical development and application of the standard film thickness model. The proposed film thickness models account for the individual aggregate source gradations, specific gravities, and particle shape that comprise the hot mix asphalt blend. The study provides a practical approach to the significant contribution of the mineral filler as both an aggregate and asphalt binder extender. These parameters were not adequately accounted for prior to this study. These new film thickness models provide the asphalt community with improved approaches to calculating film thickness that better reflect the unique properties of each hot mix asphalt mixture. Based on the analysis in this study, future studies of hot mix asphalt durability will have a more accurate perception of film thickness to compare differences in hot mix asphalt durability.
The effects of tobacco taxes on health : an analysis of the effects by income quintile and gender in Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine

The main objectives of this paper are to estimate the burden of tobacco-caused mortality as a whole and by main tobacco-related diseases in Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, and to assess the distributional health impact of an increase in tobacco taxation in these three countries. According to the results obtained, in 2012 smoking caused around 310,000 deaths in Russia, about 70,000 in Ukraine, and 14,300 in Kazakhstan, representing a key factor of mortality among the working-age population. Using data from various sources, the paper estimates the distributional consequences of a hypothetical tax rise in the three countries that leads to an approximately 30 percent increase of the average retail price of cigarettes. The analysis includes an estimation of changes in smoking prevalence, mortality, life expectancy, and public health expenditures by income quintile and gender. Considered excise growth can lead to about 3.5 to 4.0 percent fall in smoking prevalence, which in turn can avert about 600,000 tobacco-related deaths in Russia, 140,000 in Ukraine, and 30,000 in Kazakhstan over a 50 years period. Reduced tobacco-related morbidity will also result in substantial decrease in health expenditures for the treatment of tobacco-related diseases. Positive health effects are expected to be pro-poor, as almost 60 percent of the reduction in mortality is concentrated in the two lower-income quintiles of the population of the three countries.
Application of Scattering Theory to Plastic Strain Estimation

Light scattering theory and plastic deformation induced surface roughening were studied in an effort to provide some theoretical background to a nondestructive, non-contact plastic strain evaluation method. Experimental investigation shows that plastic strain on the surface of a metallic specimen is linearly proportional to surface root-mean-square roughness and inversely proportional to surface profile correlation length. Utilizing these relations along with Beckmann’s light scattering theory, we obtained an expression which describes the scattered light intensity distribution in terms of plastic strain. This expression was applied to plastic strain evaluation and favorably verified by some experiments on aluminum alloy and brass materials.
Stereospecific N-Methylation of Nicotine by Intact Guinea Pig Pulmonary Alveolar Macrophages

Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) are primary phagocytes of the lung which interact with nicotine that is inhaled during the process of smoking. The present investigation was conducted to examine the metabolism of nicotine by PAMs. Free lung cells, obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of male Hartley guinea pigs, were cultured in plastic petri dishes to establish macrophage monolayers. Reaction mixtures containing radiolabeled racemic nicotine or its (R-(+)-or S-(-)-isomer were placed on the monolayers and incubated at 37 C in humidified 5% Co2/air atmosphere for 1 hr. The supernatants and cell lysates were collected separately for the analysis of nicotine metabolites by high performance cation-exchange liquid radiochromatography as described elsewhere (Cundy, K.C. and Crooks, P.A., 1984, J. Chromatog. 306:291). A single methylated metabolite, N-methylnicotinium ion, was consistently detected in cell lysates, but not in the supernatants. Oxygenated metabolites of nicotine could not be detected either in lysates or supernatants. These observations suggested that PAMs methyl ate nicotine intracellularly but do not carry out oxidative metabolism of nicotine under these conditions. Maintenance of PAMs in culture from 1 hr to 40 hr increased their ability to methyl ate [14C-NCH3]-(±)-nicotine. The conversion of nicotine by PAMs was stereospecific for the R-(+)-isomer which was converted by approximately 20% to its N-methylated metabolite. In comparison, the S-(-)-isomer of nicotine was not methylated. The macrophages also did not methyl ate [3H]histamine under similar conditions, thus further indicating the specificity of a PAM-methyltransferase system for R-(+)-nicotine. The presence of histamine (50 µM) in the reaction mixture, however, inhibited N-methylation of R-(+)-nicotine by about 30%. The ability of PAMs from guinea pigs exposed to sidestream or mainstream cigarette smoke to methylate [14C-NCH3]-(±)-nicotine was found to be similar to that of PAMs from room and sham control animals, indicating no effect of smoke exposure. The results presented above suggest a role of PAMs in the biotransformation of R-(+)-nicotine in the respiratory tract. (Supported by KTRB grant No. 5A533 and 4C018).
The Implementation and Proof of a Boolean Simplification System

We have implemented and proved a Boolean simplification system. Our algorithm is based on the weak division algorithm used in MIS; our implementation is in the programming language ML. We began with a proof of the algorithm presented previously and extended it to a level of detail sufficient for proving the implementation of the system. In the process of developing the proof we clarified many definitions presented in previous accounts of the algorithm, and discovered several errors in our implementation. The result is that the designs generated by our implementation can be claimed to be correct by construction, since we have proved the correctness of our system.
A Comparison of Hobbies and Organized Activities among Low Income Urban Adolescents

Youths’ participation in organized activities has been repeatedly associated with better psychosocial adjustment. However, youth living in more disadvantaged contexts (e.g., lower-income, dangerous neighborhoods) have less access to organized activities. The current study aimed to compare hobbies and organized activities, in terms of their accessibility and associations with social functioning with peers, using a social ecological framework. We also examined the conditional effects of family and neighborhood disadvantage for the associations between activity engagement and peer functioning. Participants were 91 predominantly African American, urban-dwelling middle school girls (Mage = 12.43) and their primary caregivers. Dyads completed separate interviews and questionnaires on activity engagement, family and neighborhood disadvantage, and social functioning with peers. Results suggest that hobbies are a distinct facet of activity engagement that might be more widely accessible than organized activities. Greater involvement in hobbies and organized activities showed unique associations with indices of better peer functioning. Moreover, some of these associations were stronger for youth living in more disadvantaged contexts. This study advances the understanding of an important yet neglected topic within the adolescent development literature on activity research, namely differential access to opportunities among ethnic minority youth. Results suggest that hobby engagement is an important aspect of activity engagement with social benefits, especially for youth living in more disadvantaged contexts. Further investigation is warranted to understand the range of potential benefits of youths’ hobby involvement.
Long-lived predator-prey dynamics in the pedestal of near-zero torque high performance DIII-D plasmas

Quiescent high performance plasmas (often termed QH-mode) are attractive due to the replacement of potentially damaging energy and particle releases known as edge localized modes by relatively benign edge harmonic oscillations (EHOs). These EHOs are believed to be driven unstable by edge current and/or edge toroidal rotational shear and contribute to edge particle transport. Decreasing the applied neutral beam torque in standard QH-mode discharge leads to an improved quiescent phase of higher and wider pedestal, also known as the wide-pedestal QH-mode [Burrell et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 056103 (2016)]. This work expands upon the observed limit cycle oscillation (LCO) dynamics [Barada et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 135002 (2018)] in this wide pedestal QH-mode. The onset of these LCOs after wide-pedestal transition is found to be correlated with the disappearance of coherent EHOs which happens either when the edge maximum bootstrap current decreases after the transition or when the toroidal rotation is decreased consistent with simulation predictions. Sustainment of this quasistationary oscillating regime is found to be possible due to a predator-prey type competition between E × B velocity shear and turbulence density fluctuations facilitated by an inward propagation of nonzonal flow like toroidally and poloidally symmetric E × B velocity perturbations from these LCOs. These LCO dynamics are further controlled by adding electron cyclotron heating (ECH) to a neutral beam heated wide-pedestal QH-mode discharge which led to a surprising increase in energy confinement correlated with a concomitant decrease in edge turbulence in contrast to normally observed confinement degradation in H-mode with ECH.
Unintentional child injury in child welfare placements.

Abstract Background Child welfare professionals are charged with protecting children from non-accidental caregiving behaviors resulting in intentional injuries as well as environmental risks and parenting behaviors resulting in unintentional injuries. Yet little is known about unintentional injury prevalence and risk factors by child welfare placement type. Objective To examine factors related to unintentional child injury requiring medical attention, including child welfare placement type, child behavioral problems, caregiver characteristics, and neighborhood factors. Methods Data from the second and third wave of the 2010 National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II) were used. Stable child welfare placements between waves 2 and 3 included investigated biological, reunified, adopted, licensed and unlicensed kin, and nonkin foster homes. Logistic regression analysis modeled injury as a function of placement type while controlling for other covariates. Interaction effects between placement and child behavioral scores were also modeled. Results Children with more behavioral problems were at greater odds of an injury (OR = 1.05, p Conclusion The absence of a behavioral problem was associated with higher risk of injury for children placed in foster care. More research is needed to better understand injury type, prevalence and specific risk factors.
Accurate measurement of fast endocytic recycling kinetics in real time.

The fast turnover of membrane components through endocytosis and recycling allows precise control of the composition of the plasma membrane. Endocytic recycling can be rapid with some molecules returning to the plasma membrane with a t1/2
Effects of Social Media on Adolescents’ Willingness and Intention to Use E-Cigarettes: An Experimental Investigation

Introduction This study examined the effects of experimentally manipulated social media exposure on adolescents' willingness and intention to use e-cigarettes. Aims and methods Participants were 135 adolescents of age 13-18 (52.6% female, mean age = 15.3) in California. Participants viewed six social media posts online in a 2 (post source: peer or advertisement) × 2 (e-cigarette content exposure: heavy or light) between-subjects design. Analyses were weighted to population benchmarks. We examined adolescents' beliefs, willingness, and intention to use e-cigarettes in association with social media use intensity in daily life and with experimentally manipulated exposure to social media posts that varied by source (peer or advertisement) and content (e-cigarette heavy or light). Results Greater social media use in daily life was associated with greater willingness and intention to use e-cigarettes and more positive attitudes, greater perceived norms, and lower perceived danger of e-cigarette use (all p-values .529). Conclusions Greater social media use and heavier exposure to advertisements and e-cigarette content in social media posts are associated with a greater risk for e-cigarette use among adolescents. Regulatory action is needed to prohibit sponsored e-cigarette content on social media platforms used by youth. Implications Adolescents who use social media intensely may be at higher risk for e-cigarette use. Even brief exposure to e-cigarette content on social media was associated with greater intention to use and more positive attitudes toward e-cigarettes. Regulatory action should be taken to prohibit sponsored e-cigarette content on social media used by young people, including posts by influencers who appeal to young people.