cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soft error rates in solder bumped packaging

Many of the heavier elements used in chip packaging undergo radioactive decay and emit energetic alpha particles. Although the rate of emission is extremely low in terms of health concerns, over the operational life of a circuit the probability of a radiation-induced soft error can be substantial. In this paper I review the physical basis of alpha particle emission and present measurements of the alpha particle emission from materials used in MCNC's solder bumping process, including PbSn solder and BCB.
HIV Transmission Closing All the Doors

In the absence of an effective vaccine, educational or interventional strategies that decrease sexual transmission of HIV hold the greatest promise for slowing infection rates. Although a safe and effective microbicide could greatly help in this regard, progress in this area has been disappointing with microbicide development often failing to take into account advances in our understanding of how HIV is transmitted and infects cells. In this issue, Hu et al. demonstrate that HIV infection of human cervical tissue ex vivo can be prevented not only by using antibodies that target the virus but by a cocktail of compounds that target the cell surface receptors to which the virus binds, thus providing a basis for the design of microbicides that prevent virus infection in a highly specific manner (1).
Wear Debris Formation and Agglomeration

The hypothesis that one of the primary roles of an effective lubricant is to prevent wear particle agglomeration, thus reduce the plowing of the interfaces by the particles, and lower the frictional force, has been tested through a series of experiments and modeling. The friction coefficient, and the interfacial separation of the sliding surfaces due to entrapped wear particles, were measured on a number of sliding pairs in both dry and lubricated sliding. The results showed that the particle size, even during a single sliding test, did not remain constant but increased as sliding progressed. This increase in the wear particle size was found to be due not to the formation of larger wear particles but to the agglomeration of the small wear particles produced during sliding. The formation of large wear particle agglomerates caused an increase in the amount of plowing and often a concurrent increase in the friction coefficient. When one of the sliding surfaces was textured with undulations, no wear particle agglomeration was observed. The newly formed wear particles simply got entrapped in surface microgrooves and were immediately removed from the sliding interface before their subsequent growth by agglomeration. It was further shown that “good” lubricants prevented agglomeration, thus the friction coefficient remained more or less at the initial low value. Both the dry and lubricated sliding test results are presented and discussed in light of the analytical models based on the plastic deformation of the individual wear particles and the slip-line field analysis of the wear particle agglomerate.
Invited Commentary: The Search for Preventable Causes of Cardiovascular Disease—Whither Work?

The incidence and mortality of the major cardiovascular disorders vary sharply by occupation, but this is usually attributed to broad socioeconomic factors; the contributions of physical and psychosocial stressors at work remain obscure or controversial. Review of the ongoing studies of cardiovascular disease in the United States in this issue of the Journal demonstrates that few have either collected sufficient occupational data or used these data in published analyses to address this issue. There are compelling reasons to study this issue, starting with the sheer magnitude of the occupational gradient and disease prevalence. If only 5%-15% prove causally linked to preventable factors, an enormous disease-control opportunity would present itself. Moreover, the most suspect work factors-job stress, fine particulate dust, heat, noise, and shiftwork-are highly prevalent in the US workforce. Thankfully, there is evidence that many of the large ongoing studies are moving toward enhancing their occupational data and using what they have already collected. However, because of the complexity of studying these relations, the better solution is not retrofitting but designing studies in the future that combine de novo the conceptual frameworks and technical skills of occupational and social epidemiologists with those of more biologically focused investigators.
Dynamic Vacuum in Microbalance Chambers

The design of a microbalance vacuum system for obtaining a particular ultimate pressure in the sample region is examined in quantitative detail. The system considered includes the sample container, the hangdown tubes, balance housing, tubulation, and valves that lead to the pump. Since the ultimate pressure is simply the steady state between the gas influx into the system and the pumping speed, the basic equations for calculating the pressure and the effective pumping speed are considered. Then, the sources of total gas influx, such as outgassing of the chamber walls, permeation of gases through the walls, sample outgassing, desorption or outgassing, leaks, and any related temperature effects are considered for baked and unbaked Pyrex glass, quartz, and stainless steel systems. The equations for calculating the effective pumping speed at any point in a vacuum system with different sizes of tubulation and valves are considered. A working system is described to illustrate how the design considerations can be used to obtain the desired performance in a microbalance vacuum system. Finally, the ultimate pressure calculated for various gas loads is compared with the actual performance of the working system.
ROC Curve for Extremely Subtle Lung Nodules on Chest Radiographs Confirmed by CT Scan

Rationale and Objectives The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that when a radiologist does not perceive an abnormality in images that contain either extremely subtle abnormalities or no abnormalities, the radiologist cannot distinguish these two types of images and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve reflects that performance. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was conducted with approval of our institutional review board. Four general radiologists participated in an observer performance study of 100 chest images, each of which had a 5 × 5 cm region of interest (ROI) drawn (50 containing a lung nodule, and 50 did not, based on computed tomography [CT] confirmation). About half of the lung nodules were extremely subtle. The readers reported their confidence that a nodule was present within the ROI, from which empirical and maximum-likelihood “proper” binormal and conventional binormal ROC curves were estimated. The readers also reported whether they saw an abnormality that could be a nodule within the ROI. Results Empirical ROC curves deviated from typical ROC-curve shapes, and a portion of the curve leading to the northeast corner of the ROC space had relatively steep and constant slopes. The readers reported not seeing anything suggestive of a lung nodule in this portion of the ROC curve, which also corresponded to cases that either contained extremely subtle nodules or normal cases. The average area under the ROC curves (mean ± standard deviation) was 0.66 ± 0.02 for proper binormal, 0.62 ± 0.02 for conventional binormal, and 0.60 ± 0.03 for trapezoidal ROC curves. Conclusions When a radiologist does not perceive an abnormality in images that contain either extremely subtle abnormalities or no abnormalities, the ROC curve (or a portion thereof) is characterized by a straight line, which is not consistent with conventional ROC theories.
Diagrams and Languages for Model-Based Software Engineering of Embedded Systems: UML and AADL

Abstract : Even after years of research and practice in computer science and, in particular, in software engineering, software projects are still largely risky and unpredictable. There is significant evidence to support this observation. Consider, for instance, a NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) study in 2002 that found software errors cost the U.S. economy $59.5 billion annually, about 0.6 percent of the national gross domestic product [NIST 2002]. Based on that total, software users and developers pay more because of error-ridden software than gamblers do at the slot-machines and tables in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and all other commercial venues that provide gaming. Gamblers accept the risk associated with the roll of a dice; software users should not have to. It is not that developers do not apply resources to discovering and fixing errors. They do. The same NIST study reported that nearly 80% of the money spent in development goes to correcting defects. Yet, software, unlike almost any other product, is provided to customers with a high-level of errors.
E-058 High Resolution MRI and Pathological Evaluation of a Subacute Basilar Occlusion

Introduction/Purpose Basilar occlusion is typically a devastating condition. The interventional treatment of only a handful of cases of sub-acute basilar thrombosis has been described in the literature. This report describes a case of basilar occlusion treated with delayed endovascular revascularisation studied with both high resolution MRI and surgical pathology evaluation. Materials and Methods Case report and literature review. Historical, angiographic, high resolution MRI, and surgical pathological data will be presented. Results A 73 year old male with rheumatic heart disease presented with blood pressure dependent dizziness, dysarthria, and right sided weakness. Workup revealed basilar occlusion above the left AICA with minimal leptomeningeal flow to the superior basilar segment, posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries. The patient improved with, and thus was maintained on, IV vasopressor medications but could not be weaned from these medications after 8 days. High resolution MRI of the basilar segment was obtained. Endovascular revascularisation with mechanical thrombectomy (stent retriever) followed by stenting of the basilar artery was performed. The patient was neurologically stable after recanalisation despite return of blood pressure to baseline. Pathological evaluation of the removed thrombus was obtained. Conclusion Endovascular recanalisation of a subacute basilar occlusion may be safely performed in a selected population. High resolution MRI may be a beneficial part of the pre-procedural evaluation of these case and other cases of subacute occlusion in patients with a low NIH stroke scale. Disclosures R. Burgess: None. E. Cheng Ching: None. M. Hussain: None. G. Toth: None. M. Bain: None.
Multiplicity of Albumins from Wheat Inhibitory to Amylase from the Rice Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

A saline extract of hard winter wheat containing a-amylase inhibitors was fractionated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and BioGel P-100 Two amylase isozymes (Amy-1 and Amy-2) from the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), differed in their sensitivity toward two fractions, P-100-1 and P-100-2, that eluted from the BioGel column. Inhibitor zymograms showed that P-I00-1 and P-I00-2 were heterogeneous and contained at least four and seven proteins, respectively, with inhibitory activity against Amy-2. P-100-1 and P-I00-2 were further fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography on an Aquapore AX-300 column and analyzed by electrophoresis under dissociating and nondissociating conditions. Based on elution profiles from BioGel P-100 and results of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis, components of P-100-2 are apparently dimers. M, estimates of subunit size varied depending on denaturing conditions (14 kDa [kilodalton] by SDS-PAGE and 12 kDa with an SDS-PAGE system containing 8 M urea). Higher molecular weight inhibitors in P-100-1 dissociated into two components with M, values of 14 and 15 kDa by SDS-PAGE. A mechanism of action of these potential cereal resistance factors is postulated.
Collembola Populations and Prescribed Burning

Collembola were collected over a period of 10 months on plots which were not burned (control), burned periodically (every 5 to 8 years), and burned annually. Significantly more Collembola were collected on the controls than on the annually burned plots. Although fewer specimens were collected on the periodically burned plots than on the controls, the difference was not significant. Species diversity of Collembola subjected to periodic burning was increased.
Rapid and Efficient Procedure for the Synthesis of Group 3 Metal Tris[bis(dimethylsilyl)amide] THF Complexes

An expedient method for the synthesis of group 3 metal tris[bis(dimethylsilyl)amide] THF complexes from the corresponding tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide]s is described. Advantages of this technique ...
Stratigraphy and geochronology of the late miocene adu-asa formation at gona, ethiopia

The Gona area includes many rich fossil localities that are of great consequence to the study of human evolution. The Adu-Asa Formation, containing the oldest of these fossils, consists of nearly 200 m of fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks in thin (≤30 m), laterally variable sections interlayered with abundant basaltic lava flows. These volcanic and sedimentary rocks dip gently to the east and are repeated by north-northwest–trending, mostly west-dipping normal faults that accommodate extension in the Afar Rift. The volcanic rocks in the Adu-Asa Formation are strongly bimodal. Basaltic lavas and tuffs are abundant, but we have also identified a rhyolite center and seven different silicic, or dominantly silicic, tuffs. Of these tuff units, we were able to identify four major tuffs across the Adu-Asa Formation at Gona by combining geochemical comparisons with detailed stratigraphic sections through fossil-bearing deposits: the Sifi, the Kobo'o, the Belewa, and the Ogoti Tuffs. New ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar dates of these and other tuffs, as well as basalt flows, indicate that the formation spans the period from 5.2 Ma to 6.4 Ma, although the oldest deposits within the Gona Paleoanthropological Research Project (GPRP) area have yet to be thoroughly surveyed. Known fossil localities within the Adu-Asa Formation at Gona are grouped into three temporal clusters, ranging in age from ca. 6.4 Ma to ca. 5.5 Ma.
Factors Associated With Managerial Innovation in Public Human Service Organizations

Contextual changes affecting human service organizations have challenged human service managers to adapt through innovation. Yet no research has examined innovation along the spectrum of lower- to upper-level managers in public human service organizations. This study analyzed survey data of 466 public human service managers to examine the relationship between individual characteristics and managerial innovation. Results showed that 38% of managers took an innovative approach to their work, and characteristics of perceived responsiveness to change and evidence-informed practice network involvement were significantly associated with managerial innovation. Managerial innovation could be promoted through the development of evidence-based networks and communities of learning.
Effects of transfection of hGM-CSF gene into HepG2 cells mediated by hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on the growth of HepG2 cells

Objective:To observe the impact of transfection of human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor(hGM-CSF) mediated by hydroxyapatite(HA) nanoparticles on the growth of HepG2 cells in order to lay the foundation for further studying gene-modified tumor vaccines of hepatoma in clinic.Methods:The proliferation of HepG2 cells was measured by MTT assay.The plasmids containing hGM-CSF gene were transfected into HepG2 cells mediated by HA nanoparticles.Subsequently,resistant cells were selected by G418 screening.The monoclonal cells were selected by limiting dilution method.RT-PCR was used to identify the integration of hGM-CSF into HepG2 cells and transcription of hGM-CSF.ELISA was performed to detect the level of secreted hGM-CSF in cultured medium and the lasting time.The effect of hGM-CSF on cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry(FCM) analysis.Results:MTT assay demonstrated!that Nano-HA suspension liquid had no significant effects on the growth of HepG2 cells at the concentration below 80 μg/mL.RT-PCR demonstrated the hGM-CSF gene was successfully integrated and steadily expressed in the transfected HepG2 cells.ELISA indicated stable secretion of hGM-CSF from the stable transfected HepG2 cells [mean(216.22± 45.78) ng/106 cells per 24 h].FCM analysis showed that hGM-CSF had no significant effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis of HepG2 cells.Conclusion:hGM-CSF gene could be safely transfected and stably expressed in HepG2 cells mediated by HA nanoparticles.Transfection of hGM-CSF gene mediated by HA nanoparticles has no effects on the growth of HepG2 cells.This study may lay a foundation for the further study of gene-modified hepatoma vaccines.
Stakeholder Experiences in a Stepped Collaborative Care Study Within U.S. Army Clinics

Objective This article examines stakeholder experiences with integrating treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression within primary care clinics in the U.S. Army, the use-of-care facilitation to improve treatment, and the specific therapeutic tools used within the Stepped Treatment Enhanced PTSD Services Using Primary Care study. Methods We conducted a series of qualitative interviews with health care providers, care facilitators, and patients within the context of a large randomized controlled trial being conducted across 18 Army primary care clinics at 6 military installations. Results Most of stakeholders' concerns clustered around the need to improve collaborative care tools and care facilitators and providers' comfort and abilities to treat behavioral health issues in the primary care setting. Conclusions Although stakeholders generally recognize the value of collaborative care in overcoming barriers to care, their perspectives about the utility of different tools varied. The extent to which collaborative care mechanisms are well understood, navigated, and implemented by providers, care facilitators, and patients is critical to the success of the model. Improving the design of the web-based therapy tools, increasing the frequency of team meetings and case presentations, and expanding training for primary care providers on screening and treatment for PTSD and depression and the collaborative care model's structure, processes, and offerings may improve stakeholder perceptions and usage of collaborative care.
An investigation of the variable cross-section extrusion process

In this work, a flexible extrusion process which involves extruding the materials via one fixed and one movable die was studied. The novel extrusion process is termed as variable cross-section extrusion which can produce near net shape bars or tubes with variable cross sections along the length. During the extrusion process, the key is accurately and dynamically adjusting the geometry and size of die hole. Based on the “equivalent volume theory,” a novel motion control model was proposed for the movable dies. Besides, a numerical calculation method and a program for the model were also presented. By using the program, the motion parameters of movable dies were calculated for extruding a typical variable cross section. Finite element method (FEM) simulation and experimental work were carried out to analyze the precision and accuracy of the control model. According to the simulation results, the shapes of extrusion parts agree well with the designed shape. However, the measured dimensions of the FEM extrusion part are always smaller than the designed curves with absolute deviation of 0.81 mm. According to the experimental results, the dimensional tolerances are 0.35 and −0.22 mm when the movable die is moving upward and downward, respectively. These-dimensional tolerances are associated with the instant transformation of moving direction of the movable die, which were driven and controlled by an electrohydraulic servo system. All results have shown the motion control model has enough precision and accuracy and can be used in the processes of design and parameter calculation.
The impact of small motion on the visualization of coronary vessels and lesions in cardiac CT: A simulation study

Author(s): Contijoch, Francisco; Stayman, J Webster; McVeigh, Elliot R | Abstract: PurposeCoronary x-ray computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is used to non-invasively assess coronary artery geometry and has, combined with computational modeling, demonstrated the potential to identify physiologically significant lesions. These measurements require robust and accurate coronary imaging and delineation of vessels despite the presence of small motion. This simulation study characterizes the impact of small, uncorrected vessel drifts during data acquisition on the assessment of vessel intensity, diameter, and shape.MethodsWe developed a digital phantom and simulated projection data for a clinical scanner geometry for a range of vessel drifts that can occur during relative vessel stasis (0 to 2 mm per 360° gantry rotation) for vessels between 0.2 and 3.0 mm in diameter (covering 0% through 93% stenosis of a 3 mm vessel). In addition to the impact of vessel drift, we evaluated the performance of half-scan acquisitions (relative to full-scans) over a range of gantry positions. The performance of FDK reconstructions was compared to an iterative technique and potential improvement in sampling from focal spot deflection and quarter detector offset was compared.ResultsAt rest, vessel intensity and diameter were accurately obtained in vessels greater than 1.5 mm with all vessels appearing circular in shape (major-to-minor axis ratio ~1). Vessels between 1.5 and 0.2 mm in diameter demonstrated a rapid decrease in signal intensity with full width half maximum (FWHM) vessel diameters remaining above 0.75 mm as true vessel diameter decreased. Uncorrected vessel motion resulted in decreased vessel intensity, increased vessel diameter, and distortion of vessel shape. The extent of these changes depended on both the position of the gantry as well as the reconstruction approach (half- vs. full-scan). FDK reconstruction results depended on choice of filter with Ram-Lak results yielding comparable performance to an unconstrained iterative reconstruction. Focal spot deflection and quarter detector offset did not result in large changes in performance, likely due to the high sampling density near the isocenter.ConclusionsDespite improvement in gantry speed and acquisition of coronary images during cardiac phases that have relatively stationary vessels, small coronary drifts (0-2 mm per 360° rotation) have been reported and if uncorrected, can present challenges to visual grading and computational modeling of stenoses because vessels will appear dimmer, larger, and more ellipsoidal in shape. The impact of a particular motion depends on the gantry position, the use of half vs. full-scan acquisitions, and the reconstruction technique.
Pathways from assaultive violence to post-traumatic stress, depression, and generalized anxiety symptoms through stressful life events: longitudinal mediation models.

BACKGROUND Assaultive violence events are associated with increased risk for adverse psychiatric outcomes, including post-traumatic stress (PTS), depression, and generalized anxiety. Prior research has indicated that economic, legal, and social stressors that could follow assaultive events may explain the increased risk for adverse psychiatric outcomes, yet longitudinal studies have not adequately examined this pathway. In the current study, we aimed to address this limitation. METHODS Participants (N = 1360) were part of a longitudinal population-based study of adults living in Detroit. At three waves, participants indicated their exposure to assaultive violence and economic, legal, and social stressors, and completed inventories of PTS, depression, and generalized anxiety. Longitudinal mediation models were used to test the hypothesized pathway from assaultive violence to each psychiatric outcome. RESULTS The hypothesized models evidenced good fit with the data and, in each, the paths from Wave 1 (W1) assaultive violence to W2 stressors, and from W2 stressors to W3 symptoms were significant (range of Standardized Estimates: 0.09-0.15, all p < 0.01). Additionally, the indirect paths from W1 assaultive violence to W3 symptoms were significant (range of Standardized Estimates: 0.01-0.02, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings illustrate that the economic, legal, and social stressors that could follow assaultive violence increase risk for a range of psychiatric symptoms. Although future research is needed, the results suggest that investment in interventions that prevent and mitigate assaultive violence survivors' exposure to such stressors may be an effective way to prevent mental illness in the aftermath of violent assaults.
Erratum to: Correlations for the Dielectric Constants of $$\mathbf{H }_\mathbf{2 }\mathbf{S }$$ H 2 S , $$\mathbf{SO }_\mathbf{2 }$$ SO 2 , and $$\mathbf{SF }_\mathbf{6 }$$ SF 6

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error. The conversion from Debye units for the dipole moment to SI units was printed incorrectly on page 4 and in the footnote to Table 3.
Acral melanoma foot lesions. Part 1: epidemiology, aetiology, and molecular pathology

Acral melanoma (AM) is a rare subtype of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) found on acral skin, primarily on the soles of the feet. Although rare, it is the most common subtype of MM found in patients of African or East Asian ethnicity and has a poor prognosis, often because of the more advanced stage of presentation at diagnosis. The pathogenesis of AM is unclear, but genetic alterations, including mutations in BRAF, NRAS, and KIT have been implicated. Early diagnosis of AM is important for a better prognosis, but its identification is often challenging, leading to easy misdiagnosis. In the first of this two-part review, we review the history, epidemiology, aetiology and molecular pathology of AM; in part 2 we will review diagnosis and management.
Exceeding Statements: How Students and Faculty Experience Institutional Missions.

AbstractWhile the importance of institutional mission is acknowledged within the higher education community, there is a lack of empirical evidence investigating how missions are experienced. Using survey data from students and faculty, this study investigates perceptions of mission engagement at religiously affiliated and independent institutions. Implications for practice are discussed.
Patient-provider geographic map: An interactive visualization tool of patients' selection of health care providers

Advanced data visualization tools have the potential to transform raw healthcare data into actionable insights that improve patient care. This paper introduces a visualization framework to aid healthcare policy-makers and hospital administrators to visualize, identify, and optimize the geographic variations of access to care. The Patient-Provider Geographic Map provides multiple concurrent interactive choropleth maps with the capabilities of also filtering and displaying aggregated patient and provider layers. It allows users to collaborate and explore health care providers' catchment area, and the accessibility for local residents. Ideally, users interact with several interactive visualizations concurrently in a large-scale immersive environment. This unique approach enables non-technically oriented stakeholders a data immersion experience that greatly increases their comfort levels with data-driven decision making.
Transcriptional Mediators of Cellular Hormesis

Hormesis is the beneficial adaptive response of cells and organisms to acute subtoxic doses of certain types of environmental stressors (e.g., heat, oxidation, environmental toxins). Repetitive hormesis through routine exercise, calorie restriction, or ingestion of low levels of phytotoxins with the diet can stimulate cellular catabolic turnover of damaged molecules and increase protective mechanisms. The net result is an improved ability of the organism to better cope with noxious insults (i.e., preconditioning). Key to the benefits of hormesis are (1) the intensity of the stress/toxin, which needs to be enough to stimulate an effective response without causing permanent damage (i.e., subtoxic) and (2) the duration of the exposure, which needs to be limited (acute) to allow repair and recovery. Fundamental to the hormetic adaptive response is gene expression regulation. Although different stressors elicit unique signature responses, the comparison of prototypical hormetic inducers has highlighted the role played by a few transcription factor families. The periodic pulsatile activation of Nrf2, NF-κB, HSF, and FOXO has been found to be essential to obtaining the beneficial effects of various hormetic stimuli in different biological models. This chapter discusses molecular mechanisms and gene targets for these transcription factor families in the hormetic adaptive context.
Prediction of cardiovascular outcomes with left atrial size: is volume superior to area or diameter?

Objectives We sought to compare left atrial (LA) volume to LA area and diameter for the prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Background The incremental value of LA volume compared with LA area or diameter as a cardiovascular risk marker has not been evaluated prospectively for patients with sinus rhythm or atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods Left atrial size was assessed with biplane LA volume, four-chamber LA area, and M-mode dimension for 423 patients (mean age 71 ± 8 years, 56% men) who were prospectively followed for development of first AF, congestive heart failure, stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular death. Results Of the 317 subjects in sinus rhythm at baseline, 62 had 90 new events during a mean follow-up of 3.5 ± 2.3 years. All three LA size parameters were independently predictive of combined outcomes (all p Conclusions Left atrial volume is a more robust marker of cardiovascular events than LA area or diameter in subjects with sinus rhythm. The predictive utility of LA size for cardiovascular events in AF was poor, irrespective of the method of LA size quantitation.
Technology Problems and Student Achievement Gaps: A Validation and Extension of the Technology Maintenance Construct:

How do physical digital inequalities persist as technology becomes commonplace? We consider this question using surveys and focus groups with U.S. college students, a group that has better than ave...
MORAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOCIAL NORMS

This essay argues that moral accountability depends upon having a shared system of social norms. In particular, it argues that the Strawsonian reactive attitude of resentment is only fitting when people can reasonably expect a mutual recognition of the justified demands to which they are being held. Though such recognition should not typically be expected of moral demands that are thought to be independent of any social practice, social norms can ground such mutual recognition. On this account, a significant part of a society’s social norms are also properly seen as moral norms. The essay defends this overlap of social and moral norms in contrast to views on which moral norms and social norms are sharply distinguished. Lastly, the essay concludes by addressing challenges for accountability in circumstances of norm change.
Challenges in assessing the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids for severe wheezing episodes in preschool children

Summary This letter addresses the controversial issue of the use of oral corticosteroids during wheezing exacerbations in preschool-aged children by demonstrating findings of a prematurely terminated multi-center clinical trial, discussing lessons learned, and suggesting future directions.
Exclusion of Ring-Billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) from recreational beaches using canid harassment

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) populations have dramatically increased throughout their geographic range with the largest concentrations in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. Large populations of gulls cause conflict with humans at recreational beaches, where their effects on human health and safety include bacteria contamination from gull feces. We used border collies to harass and exclude gulls from beaches in summer 2012 and 2013, then measured gull numbers and Escherichia coli. Dogs were effective at reducing gull numbers by 56–76% during continuous and noncontinuous dog treatment periods. Levels of E. coli were lower on dog-treated beaches, but only during the first half of the summer. Mixed modeling analysis showed presence of dogs was a strong predictor of gull numbers and E. coli levels, with variation among dogs, possibly related to age. Noncontinuous use of dogs, applied within an integrated beach management framework, can provide a nonlethal method for reducing gull use and E. coli levels at recreational beaches.
Genomic Comparison Reveals Natural Occurrence of Clinically Relevant Multidrug-Resistant Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Strains

The effectiveness of antibiotics has been challenged by the increasing frequency of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which has emerged as a major threat to global health. Despite its negative impact on the development of AMR, there are few effective strategies for reducing AMR in food-producing animals. Using whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics of 36 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli strains isolated from beef cattle with no previous exposure to antibiotics, we obtained results suggesting that the occurrence of MDR E. coli also arises in animals with no antibiotic selective pressure. Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing E. coli strains with enhanced virulence capacities for toxin production and adherence have evolved, which implies important ramifications for animal and human health. Gene exchanges by conjugative plasmids and insertion elements have driven widespread antibiotic resistance in clinically relevant pathogens. Phylogenetic relatedness of E. coli strains from various geographic locations and hosts, such as animals, environmental sources, and humans, suggests that transmission of MDR E. coli strains occurs intercontinentally without host barriers.IMPORTANCE Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolates pose global threats to public health due to the decreasing availability of treatment options. To better understand the characteristics of MDR E. coli isolated from food-producing animals with no antibiotic exposure, we employed genomic comparison, high-resolution phylogenetics, and functional characterization. Our findings highlight the potential capacity of MDR E. coli to cause severe disease and suggest that these strains are widespread intercontinentally. This study underlines the occurrence of MDR E. coli in food-producing animals raised without antibiotic use, which has alarming, critical ramifications within animal and human medical practice.
Comparison of patient-reported outcomes based on implant brand in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study.

Aims The outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) depend on many factors. The impact of implant design on patient-reported outcomes is unknown. Our goal was to evaluate the patient-reported outcom...
Freezing Patterns in Tissue by NMR Technology

In 1932, Chambers and Hale reported their observations of ice crystal formation in skeletal muscle (1). This work is one of the earliest reported studies of ice forms within living protoplasm. It was found that the crystals form as spicules which grow longitudinally with little lateral growth and no branching. These original observations of Chambers and Hale were confirmed and extended by Miller and Ling (2) in 1970 and their findings are presented in figure 1.
Variation in Proportion of Blood Cultures Obtained for Children With Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

OBJECTIVES: To identify variation in the proportion of blood cultures obtained for pediatric skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) among children’s hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System database, which we queried for emergency department (ED)–only and hospital encounters between 2012 and 2017 for children aged 2 months to 18 years with diagnosis codes for SSTI. The primary outcome was proportion of SSTI encounters during which blood cultures were obtained. Encounters with and without blood cultures were compared for length of stay, costs, and 30-day ED revisit and readmission rates, adjusted for patient factors and hospital clustering. We also identified encounters with bacteremia using billing codes for septicemia and bacteremia. RESULTS: We identified 239 954 ED-only and 49 291 hospital SSTI encounters among 38 hospitals. Median proportions of ED-only and hospital encounters with blood cultures were 3.2% (range: 1%– 11%) and 51.6% (range: 25%–81%), respectively. Adjusted ED-only encounters with versus without blood culture had higher costs ($1266 vs $460, P CONCLUSIONS: Despite multiple studies in which low clinical value was demonstrated and current Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines arguing against the practice, blood cultures were obtained frequently for children hospitalized with SSTIs, with substantial variation across institutions. Few bacteremic encounters were identified.
Strategic Compensation and Talent Management: Lessons for Managers

Written for current and aspiring managers, this textbook guides readers through the core components of compensation and puts them in the manager's chair, challenging them to apply their understanding to solve business problems such as attracting, managing, and retaining company talent. The book's central theme, supported by extensive treatment of compensating differentials, is that compensation is heavily driven by market competition. The coverage also includes analytics, negotiation and bargaining, wage theft, and non-profits and small businesses, as well as a detailed treatment of stock options. Case studies are included to demonstrate the principles in practice, and 'lessons for managers' in each chapter provide practical advice and takeaways. A rich package of online teaching and learning materials, including teaching slides, sample syllabi, additional case studies, and a test bank is also provided to support teachers and students.
Genome editing in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda: Multiple sgRNA/Cas9 method for identification of knockouts in one generation.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is an efficient genome editing method that can be used in functional genomics research. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious agricultural pest that has spread over most of the world. However, very little information is available on functional genomics for this insect. We performed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated site-specific mutagenesis of three target genes: two marker genes [Biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 subunit 2 (BLOS2) and tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase (TO)], and a developmental gene, E93 (a key ecdysone-induced transcription factor that promotes adult development). The knockouts (KO) of BLOS2, TO and E93 induced translucent mosaic integument, olive eye color, and larval-pupal intermediate phenotypes, respectively. Sequencing RNA isolated from wild-type and E93 KO insects showed that E93 promotes adult development by influencing the expression of the genes coding for transcription factor, Kruppel homolog 1, the pupal specifier, Broad-Complex, serine proteases, and heat shock proteins. Often, gene-edited insects display mosaicism in which only a fraction of the cells are edited as intended, and establishing a homozygous line is both costly and time-consuming. To overcome these limitations, a method to completely KO the target gene in S. frugiperda by injecting the Cas9 protein and multiple sgRNAs targeting one exon of the E93 gene into embryos was developed. Ten percent of the G0 larvae exhibited larval-pupal intermediates. The mutations were confirmed by T7E1 assay, and the mutation frequency was determined as >80%. Complete KO of the E93 gene was achieved in one generation using the multiple sgRNA method, demonstrating a powerful approach to improve genome editing in lepidopteran and other non-model insects.
Abstract IA10: Epigenetic remodeling of host metabolic pathways by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immortalization

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reprograms host metabolism and gene expression during B-cell immortalization through a highly orchestrated process. The regulatory mechanisms coordinating this reprogramming are not fully elucidated but reflect important events in viral oncogenesis. One clue to this coordinate regulation is provided by the viral-encoded tegument protein BNRF1 that functions in viral chromatin assembly during primary infection and shares extensive structural similarity to a purine biosynthetic enzyme FGARAT (also called PFAS). FGARAT shows strong evolutionary conservation from bacteria to human. Orthologues of BRNF1 are found in all gamma herpesviruses, including KSHV ORF75, and share the common function of disarming components of the PML-nuclear body (PML-NB) and its antiviral functions. We have previously shown that the BNRF1 interacts with the histone H3.3 chaperone DAXX and displaces its interaction with ATRX. ATRX is thought to target Daxx-H3.3 to GC-rich repetitive DNA to repress viral and host telomeric transcription. We found that the BNRF1-DAXX complex changes these functions to facilitate viral gene expression during primary infection, enabling the establishment of EBV latency. However, it is not yet known how the viral FGARAT homology is linked to cellular metabolism and purine biosynthesis. Using metabolomics mass spectrometry, we provide new data indicating that the metabolic pathways are among the most significantly perturbed by EBV during B-cell immortalization. Integrating gene expression (RNA-Seq), chromatin accessibility (ATAC-Seq), and EBV transcription factor binding (ChIP-Seq) we identified several cellular metabolic genes, including adenine deaminase (ADA) and arginosuccinate synthase (ASS1), as a direct target of EBV transcriptional regulation during EBV immortalization. We find that EBV nuclear antigen EBNA1 binds directly to the ADA transcriptional regulatory regions and induces epigenetic changes at this locus. Failure to activate ADA compromises B-cell immortalization. The relationship between BNRF1, EBNA1, and nucleotide metabolism during EBV immortalization will be discussed. These findings suggest that EBV captured a highly conserved purine biosynthetic enzyme to coordinate epigenetic reprogramming with nucleotide metabolism during EBV induced B-cell immortalization. Citation Format: Jason Lamontagne, Andreas Wiedmer, Paul M. Lieberman. Epigenetic remodeling of host metabolic pathways by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immortalization [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Microbiome, Viruses, and Cancer; 2020 Feb 21-24; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(8 Suppl):Abstract nr IA10.
Surfactant protein C gene mutations associated with children interstitial lung disease

Surfactant protein C(SP-C)is found to be expressed only in the alveolar type Ⅱ cells(AECⅡ), surfactant protein C gene mutations are found to be associated with Children interstitial lung disease.This review discusses the mechanism, diagnosis and therapy of the interstitial lung disease induced by the surfactant protein C gene mutations. Key words: Children; Interstitial lung disease; Surfactant protein C; Gene mutation
Predictors of prognosis of synchronous brain metastases in small-cell lung cancer patients.

Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are more likely to have synchronous brain metastasis (SBM) at the time of diagnosis than patients with any other extracranial primary malignancy. We sought to identify which factors predicted an increased risk of SBM in SCLC as well as which factors affected the prognosis of these patients. 38,956 Patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database with microscopically confirmed SCLC from 2010 to 2016 were identified. 6264 (16.1%) Patients with SCLC had SBM at the time of diagnosis. In the multivariable logistic regression, disease specific factors that were predictive of SBM were primary tumor size > 7 cm (adjusted OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.02, 1.28], p = 0.02), synchronous lung metastases, and synchronous bone metastases. Demographic specific factors predictive of increased SBM risk in this model were younger age, male sex, and race (American Indian/Alaska Native and black patients). Patients insured through Medicaid were less likely to present with SBM. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, lack of insurance was the strongest predictor of mortality (adjusted HR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.26, 1.73], p 7 cm. In contrast, Asian patients had a lower risk of mortality. This study identifies risk factors for SBM among patients with SCLC, as well as indicators of prognosis among this patient population.
RecTen: A Recursive Hierarchical Low Rank Tensor Factorization Method to Discover Hierarchical Patterns in Multi-modal Data

How can we expand the tensor decomposition to reveal a hierarchical structure of the multi-modal data in a self-adaptive way? Current tensor decomposition provides only a single layer of clusters. We argue that with the abundance of multimodal data and time-evolving networks nowadays, the ability to identify emerging hierarchies is important. To this effect, we propose RecTen, a recursive hierarchical soft clustering approach based on tensor decomposition. Our approach enables us to: (a) recursively decompose clusters identified in the previous step, and (b) identify the right conditions for terminating this process. In the absence of proper ground truth, we evaluate our approach with synthetic data and test its sensitivity to different parameters. We also apply RecTen on five real datasets which involve the activities of users in online discussion platforms, such as security forums. This analysis helps us reveal clusters of users with interesting behaviors, including but not limited to early detection of some real events like ransomware outbreaks, the emergence of a blackmarket of decryption tools, and romance scamming. To maximize the usefulness of our approach, we develop a tool which can help the data analysts and overall research community by identifying hierarchical structures. RecTen is an unsupervised approach which can be used to take the pulse of the large multi-modal data and let the data discover its own hidden structures by itself.
Should You Buy Local

Buying local is a prominent form of ethical consumption. We commonly assume that products that are local are in some respect ethically superior to ones that are not. This article contributes to research on local food by scrutinizing this assumption in light of some central values of the locavore movement. It identifies four central ethical causes from prior literature on locavorism: protecting the environment, promoting community, promoting small business, and contributing to the prosperity of one’s local economy. It then analyzes whether the contribution of buying local to these causes can justify the general perception that buying local is a good way to be an ethical consumer. Its main finding is that these justifications fail to provide a strong positive ethical reason for consumers in general to adopt the practice of buying local.