cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Propagation of nitrogen gas in a liquid helium cooled vacuum tube following sudden vacuum loss – Part I: Experimental investigations and analytical modeling

Abstract This paper describes propagation of near atmospheric nitrogen gas that rushes into a liquid helium (LHe) cooled vacuum tube after the tube suddenly loses vacuum. The loss-of-vacuum scenario resembles accidental venting of atmospheric air to the beam-line of a superconducting particle accelerator and is investigated to understand how the in-flowing air will propagate in such geometry. In controlled experiments, we simulated loss of vacuum by rapidly venting a large reservoir of nitrogen gas (a substitute for air) to a vacuum tube immersed in a LHe bath at 4.2 K. The resulting rise in the tube pressure and temperature were measured by pressure probes and thermometers arranged along the tube length. The data show that the propagation of nitrogen gas in the LHe cooled vacuum tube is orders of magnitude slower than in the same tube at room temperature. Interestingly, the gas front speed in the LHe cooled tube also decreases along the tube. A gas propagation model developed by employing conservation of mass identifies mass transfer (gas condensation in the tube) as the principal cause of the slow propagation as well as of the front deceleration. Some limitations of this analytical model are discussed in the context of quantifying the propagation speed. The speed obtained from direct measurements is seen to decrease exponentially along the tube. This exponential decay form of the propagation speed well represents the data from experiments that have different mass flow rates of nitrogen gas flowing into the vacuum tube after venting.
Synthetic Manipulation and Analyses of Transport and Cytoskeletal Regulatory Systems

Intracellular transport occurs within a dynamic mechanical environment and is affected by a broad range of transport and cytoskeletal regulatory proteins. While abilities to characterize the mechanochemical properties of the motors that drive these processes and even the functions of their co-factors have advanced appreciably, resolving transport regulatory mechanisms within dynamic endogenous cytoskeletal networks and roles multi-faceted transport and cytoskeletal regulatory networks play in these mechanisms remains quite challenging. Here, we present a new approach for multiplexed live-cell analyses of intracellular transport and cytoskeletal regulatory processes. This approach centers on the use of novel synthetic biology techniques to facilitate robust regulation and visualization of multiple transport and cytoskeletal protein markers simultaneously within individual cells. The utility of this approach for a range of cytomechanical studies will be discussed.
Hemoglobin solution as a plasma expander: effects on blood viscosity.

SummaryHemoglobin solution is a promising plasma substitute from a rheological viewpoint. Its addition to blood at a constant hematocrit causes minimum elevation in viscosity but a significant increase in oxygen-carrying capacity. Therefore the administration of hemoglobin may maintain the oxygen-carrying capacity while diluting the red cell concentration, thus facilitating blood flow in the microcirculation and improve tissue metabolism.
ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF PIGMENT POLYMORPHISMS IN COLIAS BUTTERFLIES. I. VARIATION OF MELANIN PIGMENT IN RELATION TO THERMOREGULATION.

The identification of the selective forces acting on natural variation in a population of organisms may be a formidable task. Only a few such identifications have been made, as in the studies of Cain and Sheppard (1954 et seq., summarized by Ford, 1964) and others on polymorphism in Cepaea snails, or the studies of Kettlewell (summary: Kettlewell, 1961) on industrial melanism in moths. The wing pigmentation of pierid butterflies presents many opportunities for this sort of analysis. Much natural variation in this system has been noted in the genera Pieris and Colias (Bowden, 1961, 1963; Gerould, 1923; Remington, 1954). These insects deposite two kinds of pigment in their wing scales: melanin, which is black, and pteridines, which may be white, yellow, orange, or red. The wings of different Colias species may possess any of the latter shades as
Zwitteration As an Alternative to PEGylation

A direct, head-to-head comparison of the efficacy of a zwitterionic versus a poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, coating in preventing protein adsorption to silica and aggregation of silica nanoparticles is presented. The same siloxane coupling chemistry was employed to yield surfaces with similar coverages of both types of ligand. Nanoparticle and planar surfaces were challenged with salt, serum, lysozyme, and serum albumin at 25 and 37 °C. While both types of surface modification are highly effective in preventing protein adsorption and nanoparticle aggregation, the zwitterion provided monolayer-type coverage with minimal thickness, whereas the PEG appeared to yield a more three-dimensional coating. The mechanism for adsorption resistance is thought to be based on preventing ion pairing between protein and surface charges, which releases counterions and water molecules, an entropic driving force enough to overcome a disfavored enthalpy of adsorption.
Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 on the Umnak Plateau, Bering Sea (IODP Site U1339): diatom taxonomy, grain size and isotopic composition of marine sediments as proxies for primary productivity and sea ice extent

The current rapid reduction of sea ice in the arctic has motivated numerous studies to observe how sea ice declines during times of climate warming and its impact on marine ecosystems. Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5, the last interglacial prior to the Holocene, is characterized as having higher summer air temperatures and sea level compared to today; however, there is a scarcity of data for how sea ice extent and ecosystems changed during MIS 5. The Umnak Plateau is not currently covered by sea ice due to the influence of the warm Alaskan Coastal Current entering through the eastern Aleutian Island passes; however, low-resolution studies from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) demonstrate that sea ice extended to the Umnak Plateau when sea level dropped and restricted flow of the Alaskan Coastal Current over the Umnak Plateau. This study uses a multi-proxy approach consisting of grain size, diatom assemblages, and isotopic analyses to determine how environmental conditions changed at the Umnak Plateau (IODP Site U1339) during MIS 5 as well as the end of MIS 6 and the beginning of MIS 4 (146ka – 65ka), both of which are glacial periods. The research presented in this thesis reveals that the glacials MIS 6 and MIS 4 are both characterized as having decreased primary productivity combined with increased nitrate utilization and increased terrestrial organic matter deposition, suggesting there may have been an extensive sea ice cover at the Umnak Plateau and a limited influence of the Alaskan Coastal Current. In contrast, MIS 5 is characterized as having higher primary productivity combined with decreased nitrate utilization and decreased sea ice extent. MIS 5e, the warm substage of MIS 5 that has been correlated with the Eemian Interglacial from terrestrial records, shows that decreased productivity at the Umnak Plateau may be related to an
Clinical characteristics of the blast phase of chronic granulocytic leukemia.

The newer biologic and cytogenetic features of the blastic phase of chronic granulocytic leukemia are presented. The complexity and heterogeneity of Ph1 positive blastic leukemia is emphasized.
Co-localization of fluorescent labeled lipid nanoparticles with specifically tagged subcellular compartments by single particle tracking at low nanoparticle to cell ratios

We utilized quantitative high-resolution single particle tracking to study the internalization and endosomal sorting of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) by HeLa cells in vitro to gain a better understanding of how cells process LNPs that are used for siRNA delivery. We compared the trafficking of three formulations that have been demonstrated to deliver siRNA into cells. They were composed of either a tritratable anionic lipid, formulation of cholesterol hemisuccinate (CHEMS), or a titratatable cationic lipid formulation of 1,2-dilinoleyloxy-3-dimethylaminopropane (DLinDMA) or a non-titratable cationic formulation lipid formulation of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP). They also contained either a substantial percentage of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) or cholesterol and 5 mole percent 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000 (PEG-DMG). We optically measured the endosomal pH experienced by individual LNPs, observed the internalization pathways used and tracked the particles as they co-localized with fluorescent protein tags on compartment-specific proteins, during endosomal sorting to the lysosome. The data revealed significant differences in the accumulation in subcellular compartments among the three formulations, which help to explain the observed effects LNP composition exerts on in vitro delivery efficiency.
Calculation and Analysis on Crest Thickness of Edge Tooth of Height-Modified TA Worm

As is well known, the tapering edge tooth may greatly degrade the working performance of a toroidal worm pair so checking its occurrence is always necessary in the process of the design. For this, a mathematical model is established to compute the top thickness of the edge tooth for a height-modified TA worm. Due to the geometric particularities of the height-modified TA worm, the crest thickness of its edge tooth can be obtained semi-analytically and semi-numerically. By means of the above mathematical model, the influence of the quantity of the height modification on the crest thickness of the edge tooth is investigated systematically. The results show that the tapering of the edge tooth will occur more easily when the number of worm thread is more and the transmission ratio is less. Moreover, if the cutter frame moves down, the top width of the edge tooth will decrease. From the viewpoint of avoiding the edge tooth pointing, the selection principle of the height modification amount is also recommended.
Matrix friendly formulation for layered doubly periodic structure and its computation

Layered medium doubly periodic structures (LMDPS) have various applications like frequency selective surfaces (FSS), photonic crystal slabs, metamaterials, and reflectarray antennas. They have drawn huge interests among researchers in computational electromagnetics (CEM), but are still posing great challenges due to the complexity of the structure. The method of moments (MoM) as an integral equation solver for CEM is known for its high accuracy and capability to address large and multi-scale problems. For solving LMDPS with MoM, one can employ the equivalence principle algorithm and connection scheme, which avoids the use of layered medium Green's function, but more unknowns are introduced; alternatively, one can also formulate the integral equation using the layered medium doubly periodic Green's function (LMDPGF), which provides more physical insight and involves fewer unknowns. Although Michalski-Zheng's mixed potential integral equation (MPIE) for layered medium is very popular, the recent matrix friendly formulation (MFF) by Chew is an elegant alternative. And it is the subject of this work to extend the matrix-friendly formulation to LMDPS. In detail, the LMDPGF will be derived and its singularity in both spatial and spectral domains will be examined. It will be shown how the original MFF can be modified to address the singularity of the periodic Green's function when the transverse wavenumber equal to zero. Since the LMDPGF is in the form of a double infinite series, which can be very slowly convergent, especially when the source and observation points are close and in the same horizontal plane, we also present an accurate and efficient approach to evaluate it.
An Exploratory Study of Attendee Willingness to Pay for Environmentally Friendly Meetings

ABSTRACTThe study examined meeting attendees’ willingness to pay (WTP) more for green meetings. The survey data were used to measure the impact of demographic characteristics on WTP a price premium for green meetings. The ordered-probit model was used to estimate the impact of the explanatory factors on the probabilities of meeting attendees’ WTP. Analysis of marginal effects suggested that meeting attendees who were willing to sacrifice convenience associated a green meeting were more likely to pay more for green meetings. The study also found that the green meeting attendee profile was female, married, younger age, and with a high level of education, but men and respondents with higher incomes were less willing to pay more for green meetings when respondents paid their own registration fees.
Field Transformation Approach to Designing Lenses

This chapter presents a technique--referred to herein as the Field Transformation method--for designing flat lenses, as well as flat-base Luneburg lens antennas for wide-angle scanning using waveguide array feeds. The performance characteristics of these lenses are compared with those based on Transformation Optics (TO) paradigm, which has been recently developed as a tool for designing lenses of the same type. It is shown, via several examples, that the Field Transformation approach leads to designs which use conventional materials that are conveniently realizable, as opposed to metamaterials or those with anisotropic properties, that are often called for and are difficult to realize in TO-based designs. Furthermore, the Field Transformation approach enables one to control both the phase and amplitude distributions in the aperture of an antenna, which is difficult to do when employing the geometry transformation approach prescribed in the TO paradigm.
Exome Sequencing Reveals Mutations in AIRE as a Cause of Isolated Hypoparathyroidism.

Context Most cases of autosomal recessive hypoparathyroidism (HYPO) are caused by loss-of-function mutations in GCM2 or PTH. Objective The objective of this study was to identify the underlying genetic basis for isolated HYPO in a kindred in which 3 of 10 siblings were affected. Subjects We studied the parents and the three adult affected subjects, each of whom was diagnosed with HYPO in the first decade of life. Methods We collected clinical and biochemical data and performed whole exome sequencing analysis on DNA from the three affected subjects after negative genetic testing for known causes of HYPO. Results Whole exome sequencing followed by Sanger sequencing revealed that all three affected subjects were compound heterozygous for two previously reported mutations, c.967_979delCTGTCCCCTCCGC:p.(L323SfsX51) and c.995+(3_5)delGAGinsTAT, in AIRE, which encodes the autoimmune regulator protein that is defective in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1). Each parent carries one mutation, and all of the children of the patients are either heterozygous for one mutation or wild type. The affected sister developed premature ovarian failure, but the two affected brothers have no other features of APS-1 despite elevated serum levels of anti-interferon-α antibodies. Conclusions Our findings indicate that biallelic mutations in AIRE can cause isolated HYPO as well as syndromic APS-1. The presence of antibodies to interferon-α provides a highly sensitive indicator for loss of AIRE function and represents a useful marker for isolated HYPO due to AIRE mutations.
The Division of Labor in Service Settings: Evidence from Residential Real Estate Brokerages

In this paper, I argue that demand characteristics such as market size and the variance of consumers’ valuations impact the costs and benefits of division of labor in service industries. I posit th...
Improved outcomes with proximal radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas compared with brachial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas.

Abstract Background Brachial-cephalic arteriovenous fistulas (BCFs) are associated with high-flow volumes, leading to potential risks such as arm swelling, steal syndrome, pseudoaneurysm (due to a pressurized access), and cephalic arch stenosis. We hypothesized that a proximal radial-cephalic fistula (prRCF) configuration mitigates these risks because a lower flow state is created. Furthermore, we also hypothesized that despite these lower flows, patencies (primary, primary assisted, secondary) are sustained. Methods Leveraging a prospectively collected database supplemented with detailed medical record data, analyses of patients undergoing BCF and prRCF were completed (November 2008 through March 2016). Preoperative clinical and imaging characteristics, operative variables, and postoperative complications were reviewed. The primary end point was a composite of arm swelling, steal, and pseudoaneurysm at 2 years. Fistulograms and interventions (surgical revision, thrombectomy, endovascular treatment of cephalic arch stenosis) censored at 2 years were compared between configurations. Patencies were plotted using Kaplan-Meier techniques and compared using Cox proportional hazards. Results During the study period, 345 arteriovenous fistulas and 72 prosthetic grafts were primarily placed; 56 patients underwent BCF and 50 patients underwent prRCF with a mean follow-up of 1.8 ± 1.7 (standard deviation) years. Except for prRCF patients being older, there was no difference between the groups with regard to preoperative characteristics. The artery diameter used for anastomosis was significantly larger in the BCF group (4.0 ± 1.1 mm vs 2.6 ± 0.8 mm; P P P = .02). There was a trend, albeit statistically insignificant, for the BCF group to require more cephalic arch stenosis interventions. Of those patients needing dialysis within 1 year, both BCF and prRCF were successfully used in the majority of patients (n = 27 [66%] vs n = 25 [63%]; P = 1.0). Unadjusted and adjusted primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates were similar between the groups. Conclusions prRCFs have fewer complications yet similar midterm durability compared with BCFs. When it is anatomically feasible, prRCFs should be constructed over BCFs because of their superior physiology and clinical outcomes.
Acquired Renal Cysts and Tumors Superimposed on Chronic Primary Kidney Diseases: An Autopsy Study of 24 Patients

Acquired cystic disease of the kidneys was found at autopsy in 24 of 80 patients with chronic renal insufficiency maintained on intermittent hemodialysis for periods ranging up to 7 years. The architecture of the kidney was significantly distorted by the cysts, some of which were multiloculated. These cysts may be regarded as exaggerated "retention" type that have progressed and become widespread as a result of prolongation of life by hemodialysis. Their pathogenesis may be related to obstructive, ischemic and/or toxic factors. Renal tumors, usually multiple, were found in 8 patients. Another patient had metastatic renal adenocarcinoma. No patient died of causes directly attributable to the renal cysts.
Digital Technology, Social Media, and Casting for the Musical Theatre Stage

Almost every aspect of casting and being cast in musical theatre has changed tremendously over the past decade. Actors’ Equity Association is now handling audition sign-ups online and many casting directors have created software to manage the entire process of non-equity open calls in an online format. Digital technology has also transformed the way actors interact with casting directors. Web-savvy actors must curate an online brand, successfully leverage social media, and exploit micro-celebrity opportunities to find success in musical theatre on Broadway and beyond. Through interviews with New York casting directors and actors who are using the Internet and social media in creative, unique ways, this chapter explores the changes in casting and being cast in the digital age.
Relationship between the prognostic value of ventilatory efficiency and age in patients with heart failure

BackgroundVentilatory efficiency decreases with age. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance and cut-off value of the minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2) slope according to age in patients with heart failure.Methods and resultsWe analysed 1501 patients with heart failure from our observational cohort who performed maximal symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing and separated them into three age groups (≤55 years, 56–70 years and ≥71 years) in total and according to the three ejection fraction categories defined by European Society of Cardiology guidelines. The endpoint was set as heart failure events, hospitalisation for heart failure or death from heart failure. The VE/VCO2 slope increased with age. During the median follow-up period of 4 years, 141 heart failure (9%) events occurred. In total, univariate Cox analyses showed that the VE/VCO2 slope (cont.) was significantly related to heart failure events, while on multivariate analysis, the prognostic signi...
Locales of Trust: How Two Forms of Community Trust are Associated with Mothers’ Self-Rated Health in Indonesia

Objectives Social trust and access to social capital serve as important mechanisms to offset gender disparities in health in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Indonesia. Indonesian women may have fewer opportunities to create strong social ties outside her social sphere and thus may benefit particularly from individual-level thin trust because generalized trust lowers barriers to gaining social support. We examined the role of thin trust and thick trust, two unique forms of social trust, to better understand the links between individual- and community-level trust and maternal health. Thin trust represents generalized trust in community members while thick trust represents strong and longstanding trusting relationships. Methods We employed nationally representative data from Wave 5 of the Indonesian Family Life Survey collected in 2014–2015 (n = 7276) to identify relationships between social trust and the self-rated health (SRH) of women in Indonesia, net of both individual- and community-level controls. Results We found evidence that both thick and thin trust benefit women’s health but operate at different levels. While thick trust decreased likelihoods of poor SRH at the community level, thin trust was associated with lower likelihoods of poor SRH at the individual level. Conclusions for Practice We argue that for women in LMICs, trust provides an important mechanism through which women potentially access both tangible and immaterial resources that positively influence health outcomes.
Cardiac function recovery using ejection fraction in the presence of a continuous flow left Ventricular Assist Device

The continuous flow Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is increasingly used as a bridge to recovery for treating patients with mild congestive heart failure. An important challenge facing the use of this device is the ability to monitor the heart elastance during recovery without the reliance on extensive invasive procedures. One possible approach is to use the concept of ejection fraction (EF) which, in a healthy unassisted heart, is defined as the ratio of the blood ejected into the circulatory system to the blood that is available in the left ventricle after filling in every cardiac cycle. In the case of a patient with a continuous flow LVAD this definition of EF needs to be modified to take into account the contribution of the LVAD to the blood flow in the circulatory system. For a successful bridge to recovery treatment, the left ventricular elastance should exhibit gradual improvement following the implantation of the LVAD. Such an improvement should be accompanied with an improvement in EF. In this paper we investigate the use of a modified definition of EF that takes into account the presence of an LVAD to determine if ventricular elastance is improving following the use of the LVAD. We use a validated mathematical model of the left ventricle supported by a LVAD. Our results, based on computer simulations using this model, show that an increase in the modified EF does indeed result in an increase in ventricular elastance for a wide range of patient's activity.
Screening and surveillance of Barrett esophagus with confocal endomicroscopy and volumetric laser endoscopy

Abstract Barrett esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition that progresses to esophageal adenocarcinoma through an intermediate stage known as dysplasia. Current guidelines recommend that individuals with BE undergo periodic endoscopic surveillance with white light endoscopy and random, 4-quadrant biopsies to identify and treat dysplasia. However, this surveillance strategy is limited by random sampling error and low sensitivity. Surveillance with random biopsies can miss up to 43%-57% of early neoplasia. This review will discuss the current role of 2 advanced imaging techniques, ie, confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) and volumetric laser endoscopy (VLE) in screening and surveillance for BE. CLE has the highest accuracy of any endoscopic technique and increases the diagnostic yield and sensitivity for dysplasia and intramucosal neoplasia and reduces the need for unnecessary biopsies. However, CLE is capable of imaging only a small field of mucosa and needs to be incorporated with other advanced imaging techniques to identify suspicious areas that need endomicroscopic evaluation. CLE can be used for the endoscopic evaluation of BE and for the accurate estimation of lesions’ extent and lateral margins to guide endoscopic treatment. CLE is not helpful in assessing the depth of invasion of early neoplastic lesions or in endoscopic surveillance after ablative or resective therapy. VLE is a new imaging modality with limited studies. However, early experience suggests that VLE appears to be a valuable imaging modality in its ability to identify subsquamous BE and buried Barrett glands after mucosal ablation. Overall, CLE and VLE have not been adopted widely due to limited availability, high cost, and need for specific operator training. The major limitation of all studies assessing the role of CLE and VLE in screening and surveillance for BE is that they were all performed by expert endoscopists in tertiary referral centers with a population enriched regarding the proportion of patients with dysplasia. Despite developments in advanced imaging techniques, these techniques are not included in standard surveillance guidelines, and white light endoscopy with random biopsies remains the gold standard for BE surveillance.
The lowest eigenvalue for congruence groups

Let L 2 (Γ\ℍ) be the space of square-integrable automorphic functions with respect to a group Γ ⊂ SL 2 (ℝ) acting discontinuously on the hyperbolic plane ℍ such that the quotient space Γ\ℍ has finite volume. The Laplace-Beltrami operator on L 2 (Γ\ℍ) has a discrete spectrum λ0 = 0 < λ1 ≤ λ2 ≤ … and a continuous spectrum [1/4, ∞). The eigenpacket of con¬tinuous spectrum consists of Eisenstein series E a (z, s) on the line Re s = 1/2 and the eigenfunctions of the discrete spectrum are Maass cusp forms together with a finite number of residues of E a (z, s) at poles in the segment of 1/2 < s ≤ 1. If Γ is a congruence group the only pole of Eisenstein series is at s = 1 which yields a constant eigenfunction for eigenvalue λ0 = 0, the remaining subspace of discrete spectrum is cuspidal and infinite dimensional.
Autofocusing With Out-of-Band Phase Conjugation

Electromagnetic phase conjugation provides an appealing path toward communication and target localization in dynamic media such as the earth's atmosphere. However, realizing phase conjugation-based devices has proven difficult because of the inherent complexity of systems that employ receivers and transmitters working on the same band. In this letter, we propose the concept of out-of-band phase conjugation in which the frequency of the phase conjugated wave is an integer multiple of the incident wave frequency. Remarkably, the out-of-band phase conjugated wave maintains the autofocusing property that makes phase conjugation so powerful and opens the door to imaging technology effective in random and dynamic media.
Dynamics of Residential Water-Soluble Organic Gases: Insights into Sources and Sinks

Water-soluble organic gas (WSOG) concentrations are elevated in homes. However, WSOG sources, sinks, and concentration dynamics are poorly understood. We observed substantial variations in 23 residential indoor WSOG concentrations measured in real time in a North Carolina, U.S., home over several days with a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer equipped with iodide reagent ion chemistry (I-HR-ToF-CIMS). Concentrations of acetic, formic, and lactic acids ranged from 30−130, 15−53, and 2.5−360 μg m–3, respectively. Concentrations of several WSOGs, including acetic and formic acids, decreased considerably (∼30–50%) when the air conditioner (AC) cycled on, suggesting that the AC system is an important sink for indoor WSOGs. In contrast to nonpolar organic gases, indoor WSOG loss rate coefficients were substantial for compounds with high oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) ratios (e.g., 1.6–2.2 h–1 for compounds with O/C > 0.75 when the AC system was off). Loss rate coefficients in the AC sy...
Strain-selective efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan on carotid fibrosis in response to injury in two inbred mouse strains

Background and purpose Sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/val) is more effective than valsartan in lowering BP and mortality in patients with heart failure. Here, we proposed that Sac/val treatment would be more effective in preventing pathological vascular remodelling in 129X1/SvJ (129X1), than in C57BL/6J (B6) inbred mice. Experimental approach Sac/val (60 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 ) and valsartan (27 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 ) were given as prophylactic or therapeutic treatments, to 129X1 or B6 mice with carotid artery ligation for 14 days. Blood flow was measured by ultrasound. Ex vivo, carotid tissue was analysed with histological and morphometric techniques, together with RNA sequencing and gene ontology. Key results Sac/val was more effective than valsartan in lowering BP in 129X1 compared with B6 mice. Liver expression of CYP2C9 and plasma cGMP levels were similar across treatments. A reduction in carotid thickening after prophylactic treatment with valsartan or Sac/val also resulted in significant arterial shrinkage in B6 mice. In 129X1 mice, Sac/val and prophylactic treatment with valsartan had no effect on carotid thickening but preserved carotid size. BP lowering significantly correlated with a decline in carotid stiffness (R2 = .37, P = .0096) in 129X1 but not in B6 mice. The gene expression signature associated with hyalurononglucosaminidase activity was down-regulated in injured arteries after both regimens of Sac/val only in 129X1 mice. Administration of Sac/val but not valsartan significantly reduced deposition of hyaluronic acid and carotid fibrosis in 129X1 mice. Conclusion and implications These results underscore the importance of the genetic background in the efficacy of the Sac/val on vascular fibrosis.
Usefulness of CT texture analysis in differentiating benign and malignant renal tumours.

AIM To elucidate visually imperceptible differences between benign and malignant renal tumours using computed tomography texture analysis (CTTA) using filtration histogram based parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was performed by texture analysis of pretreatment contrast-enhanced CT examinations in 354 histopathologically confirmed renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and 147 benign renal tumours. A region-of-interest was drawn encompassing the largest cross-section of the tumour on venous phase axial CT. CTTA features of entropy, kurtosis, mean positive pixel density, and skewness at different spatial filters were calculated and compared in an attempt to differentiate benign lesions from malignancy. RESULTS Entropy with fine spatial filter was significantly higher in RCC than benign renal tumours (p=0.022). Entropy with fine and medium filters was higher in RCC than lipid-poor angiomyolipoma (p=0.050 and 0.052, respectively). Entropy >5.62 had high specificity of 85.7%, but low sensitivity of 31.3%, respectively, for predicting RCC. CONCLUSIONS Differences in entropy were helpful in differentiating RCC from lipid-poor angiomyolipoma, and chromophobe RCC from oncocytoma. This technique may be useful to differentiate lesions that appear equivocal on visual assessment or alter management in poor surgical candidates.
Moral encroachment and reasons of the wrong kind

According to the view that there is moral encroachment in epistemology, whether a person has knowledge of p sometimes depends on moral considerations, including moral considerations that do not bear on the truth or likelihood of p. Defenders of moral encroachment face a central challenge: they must explain why the moral considerations they cite, unlike moral bribes for belief, are reasons of the right kind for belief (or withheld belief). This paper distinguishes between a moderate and a radical version of moral encroachment. It shows that, while defenders of moderate moral encroachment are well-placed to meet the central challenge, defenders of radical moral encroachment are not. The problem for radical moral encroachment is that it cannot, without taking on unacceptable costs, forge the right sort of connection between the moral badness of a belief and that belief’s chance of being false.
Magnetic Vestibular Stimulation

Strong static magnetic fields such as those in MRI machines can induce vertigo and nystagmus. The mechanism is a Lorentz force, generated in the inner ear fluids of the labyrinth by the interaction between normal ionic currents entering into labyrinthine hair cells and the strong static magnetic field of the MRI machine. The Lorentz force is constant and displaces the cupulae of the semicircular canals to a deviated position, simulating a response to a constant acceleration of the head with its consequent sustained nystagmus. The Lorentz effect scales with the strength of the magnetic field, but is not harmful, except for inducing transient dizziness and nausea. Magnetic vestibular stimulation (MVS) has implications for studies of vestibular physiology and adaptation, the interpretation of functional MRI studies, and human safety when undergoing diagnostic imaging studies.
Efficacy of a Mobile Behavioral Intervention for Workers With Insomnia.

OBJECTIVE Insomnia is often unrecognized in the workplace despite a 10% prevalence. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) is efficacious but often not available. This study assessed the efficacy of the self-guided CBTi Coach mobile app. METHODS Using a pre/post design, the CBTi Coach was evaluated prospectively in hospital nurses with insomnia. The primary outcome measured was the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) at 0, 3, and 6 weeks. RESULTS Thirteen of 17 (76%) female nurses who worked day shifts completed the study. Baseline ISI was 18.1 (range 15 to 22). After 3 and 6 weeks, ISI significantly decreased to 12 and 11, respectively. No difference in ISI score was noted between weeks 3 and 6. CONCLUSION Use of CBTI Coach app demonstrated significant improvement in sleep quality in nurses with insomnia without coaching or healthcare provider visits.
Second Law Analysis for the Experimental Performances of a Cold Heat Exchanger of a Stirling Refrigeration Machine.

The second law of thermodynamics is applied to evaluate the influence of entropy generation on the performances of a cold heat exchanger of an experimental Stirling refrigeration machine by means of three factors: the entropy generation rate N S , the irreversibility distribution ratio ϕ and the Bejan number B e | N S based on a dimensionless entropy ratio that we introduced. These factors are investigated as functions of characteristic dimensions of the heat exchanger (hydraulic diameter and length), coolant mass flow and cold gas temperature. We have demonstrated the role of these factors on the thermal and fluid friction irreversibilities. The conclusions are derived from the behavior of the entropy generation factors concerning the heat transfer and fluid friction characteristics of a double-pipe type heat exchanger crossed by a coolant liquid (55/45 by mass ethylene glycol/water mixture) in the temperature range 240 K < TC < 300 K. The mathematical model of entropy generation includes experimental measurements of pressures, temperatures and coolant mass flow, and the characteristic dimensions of the heat exchanger. A large characteristic length and small hydraulic diameter generate large entropy production, especially at a low mean temperature, because the high value of the coolant liquid viscosity increases the fluid frictions. The model and experiments showed the dominance of heat transfer over viscous friction in the cold heat exchanger and B e | N S → 1 and ϕ → 0 for mass flow rates m ˙ → 0.1 kg.s−1.
Bond percolation between k separated points on a square lattice.

We consider a percolation process in which $k$ points separated by a distance proportional the system size $L$ simultaneously connect together ($kg1$), or a single point at the center of a system connects to the boundary ($k=1$), through adjacent connected points of a single cluster. These processes yield new thresholds ${\overline{p}}_{ck}$ defined as the average value of $p$ at which the desired connections first occur. These thresholds not sharp, as the distribution of values of ${p}_{ck}$ for individual samples remains broad in the limit of $L\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. We study ${\overline{p}}_{ck}$ for bond percolation on the square lattice and find that ${\overline{p}}_{ck}$ are above the normal percolation threshold ${p}_{c}=1/2$ and represent specific supercritical states. The ${\overline{p}}_{ck}$ can be related to integrals over powers of the function ${P}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}(p)$ equal to the probability a point is connected to the infinite cluster; we find numerically from both direct simulations and from measurements of ${P}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}(p)$ on $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ systems that for $L\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}, {\overline{p}}_{c1}=0.517\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}55(5), {\overline{p}}_{c2}=0.532\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}19(5), {\overline{p}}_{c3}=0.544\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}56(5)$, and ${\overline{p}}_{c4}=0.555\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}27(5)$. The percolation thresholds ${\overline{p}}_{ck}$ remain the same, even when the $k$ points are randomly selected within the lattice. We show that the finite-size corrections scale as ${L}^{\ensuremath{-}1/{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{k}}$ where ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{k}=\ensuremath{\nu}/(k\ensuremath{\beta}+1)$, with $\ensuremath{\beta}=5/36$ and $\ensuremath{\nu}=4/3$ being the ordinary percolation critical exponents, so that ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{1}=48/41, {\ensuremath{\nu}}_{2}=24/23, {\ensuremath{\nu}}_{3}=16/17, {\ensuremath{\nu}}_{4}=6/7$, etc. We also study three-point correlations in the system and show how for $pg{p}_{c}$, the correlation ratio goes to 1 (no net correlation) as $L\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$, while at ${p}_{c}$ it reaches the known value of $1.022$.
Underlying Changes in Repeated Reading: An Eye Movement Study.

Past research supports the use of repeated reading but does not provide conclusive evidence as to the mechanisms through which RR takes effect. Eye movement studies allow for precise examination of...
Feasibility study of a wellness intervention for caregivers of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: The Ready to CARE Intervention:

IntroductionCaregivers of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation need encouragement to maintain their own wellbeing. This feasibility study explored a six-session wellness inte...
GWAS in Africans identifies novel lipids loci and demonstrates heterogenous association within Africa

Abstract Background Serum lipids are biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk, and understanding the genomic factors contributing to their distribution has been of considerable interest. Large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 150 lipids loci; however, GWAS of Africans (AF) are rare. Given the genomic diversity among those of African ancestry, it is expected that a GWAS in Africans could identify novel lipids loci. While GWAS have been conducted in African Americans (AA), such studies are not proxies for studies in continental Africans due to the drastically different environmental context. Therefore, we conducted a GWAS of 4,317 Africans enrolled in the Africa America Diabetes Mellitus study. Methods and Results We used linear mixed models of the inverse normal transformations of covariate-djusted residuals of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), total cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), and TG/HDLC, with adjustment for three principal components and the random effect of relatedness. Replication of loci associated at p In our main analysis, we identified 23 novel associations in Africans. Of the 14 of these that were able to be tested in AA, two associations replicated (GPNMB-TG and ENPP1-TG). Two additional novel loci were discovered upon meta-analysis with AA (rs138282551-TG and TLL2-CHOL). Analyses considering only those with predominantly West African ancestry (Nigeria, Ghana, and AA) yielded new insights: ORC5-LDLC and chr20:60973327-CHOL. Conclusions While functional work will be useful to confirm and understand the biological mechanisms underlying these associations, this study demonstrates the utility of conducting large-scale genomic analyses in Africans for discovering novel loci. The functional significance of some of these loci in relation to lipids remains to be elucidated, yet some have known connections to lipids pathways. For instance, rs147706369 (intronic, TLL2) alters a regulatory motif for sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), which are a family of transcription factors that control the expression of a range of enzymes involved in cholesterol, fatty acid, and triglyceride synthesis.
Reconstructing Public Utility Networks: A Program for Action

As COVID-19 has spread, the power and reach of tech and networking companies have expanded and their transgressions against the commonweal have multiplied, provoking calls to make them more accountable. How might this be accomplished? I argue that a renewal of public utility regulation will be essential, regardless of whether it is accompanied by government antitrust action. I offer a historical sketch of how 19th- and early 20th-century reformers developed conceptions of networks as public utilities to establish democratic norms and practices in telegraph and telephone service provision. Big business and the state mobilized during World War I and defeated the movement to nationalize U.S. telecommunications via a takeover of networks by the U.S. Postal Service but, meanwhile, a different road to public utility status had opened: regulation by state and federal administrative commissions. After reviewing this conflicted history, I enumerate necessary features of a regenerated public utility framework, from popular education about network issues and policies of nondiscrimination to public control over social networks and search engines and decommodification of profit-driven network industries.
GeneMark-EP and -EP+: eukaryotic gene prediction with self-training in the space of genes and proteins

We have made several steps towards creating a fast and accurate algorithm for gene prediction in eukaryotic genomes. First, we introduced an automated method for efficient ab initio gene finding, GeneMark-ES, with parameters trained in iterative unsupervised mode. Next, in GeneMark-ET we proposed a method of integration of unsupervised training with information on intron positions revealed by mapping short RNA reads. Now we describe GeneMark-EP, a tool that utilizes another source of external information, a protein database, readily available prior to a start of a sequencing project. A new specialized pipeline, ProtHint, initiates massive protein mapping to genome and extracts hints to splice sites and translation start and stop sites of potential genes. GeneMark-EP uses the hints to improve estimation of model parameters as well as to adjust co-ordinates of predicted genes if they disagree with the most reliable hints (the -EP+ mode). Tests of GeneMark-EP and -EP+ demonstrated improvements in gene prediction accuracy in comparison with GeneMark-ES, while the GeneMark-EP+ showed higher accuracy than GeneMark-ET. We have observed that the most pronounced improvements in gene prediction accuracy happened in large eukaryotic genomes.
Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Genital and Extragenital Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Among Transgender Women in HIV Care in the United States, 2005 to 2016.

BACKGROUND Data on testing rates and prevalence of and factors associated with genital and extragenital chlamydia and gonorrhea among transgender women with HIV in the United States are limited. METHODS This retrospective cohort analysis included transgender women living with HIV enrolled in the US Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort between January 2005 and December 2016 with chlamydia or gonorrhea testing performed in HIV clinic. The primary outcome was a positive test result for chlamydia or gonorrhea at urogenital or extragenital (rectal/pharyngeal) sites. Factors associated with infection were examined using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations to account for multiple tests per woman. RESULTS Among 312 transgender women in HIV care, 252 (81%) were tested for chlamydia or gonorrhea at least once. Annual testing rates were low: 23% to 53% at genital sites and 24% to 47% at extragenital sites. A total of 88 infections were detected, and 22% of women (55/252) had at least one positive test result. Most infections occurred at extragenital sites (80% of chlamydia and 82% of gonorrhea positive test results). Factors associated with infection in an adjusted model were as follows: age 18 to 29 years compared with ≥50 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-31.2), CD4 count >350 compared with CD4 <200 (aOR, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.2-25.1), and higher engagement in HIV care (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-4.5). CONCLUSIONS Among transgender women living with HIV, testing rates for chlamydia and gonorrhea are inadequate, particularly at extragenital sites where most infections occur.
Investigating the Impact of an AI-driven Discussion Platform on Educator Perceptions and Feedback

Asynchronous discussions are a popular element in online education, often used to replace the student-student and educator-student interactions that occur in physical classrooms. Most Learning Management Systems (LMSs), such as Canvas and Moodle, include native discussion tools that offer students and instructors the ability to interact and communicate at their own time and pace. Some specialized products offer a wider variety of discussion features that standard LMS tools may not have. In this study, we discuss the impact of an online discussion platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and gamified features. We conducted a qualitative study examining how AI elements affect the workflow, grading, and feedback experience of educators. Preliminary findings offer insights into the impact of the AI elements on graders’ perceptions, in particular on their perception of giving feedback and the perceived ambiguity of the way the AI assesses students’ post quality.