cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are Airflow Obstruction and Radiographic Evidence of Emphysema Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?: A Nested Case-Control Study Using Quantitative Emphysema Analysis

Objectives Several studies have identified airflow obstruction as a risk factor for lung cancer independent of smoking history, but the risk associated with the presence of radiographic evidence of emphysema has not been extensively studied. We proposed to assess this risk using a quantitative volumetric CT scan analysis. Methods Sixty-four cases of lung cancer were identified from a prospective cohort of 1,520 participants enrolled in a spiral CT scan lung cancer screening trial. Each case was matched to six control subjects for age, sex, and smoking history. Quantitative CT scan analysis of emphysema was performed. Spirometric measures were also conducted. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression making use of the 1:6 set groups of 64 cases and 377 matched control subjects. Results Decreased FEV 1 and FEV 1 /FVC were significantly associated with a diagnosis of lung cancer with ORs of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.00-1.32; P = .046) and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.02-1.62; P = .031), respectively. The quantity of radiographic evidence of emphysema was not found to be a significant risk for lung cancer with OR of 1.042 (95% CI, 0.816-1.329; P = .743). Additionally, there was no significant association between severe emphysema and lung cancer with OR of 1.57 (95% CI, 0.73-3.37). Conclusions We confirm previous observations that airflow obstruction is an independent risk factor for lung cancer. The absence of a clear relationship between radiographic evidence of emphysema and lung cancer using an automated quantitative volumetric analysis may result from different population characteristics than those of prior studies, radiographic evidence of emphysema quantitation methodology, or absence of any relationship between emphysema and lung cancer risk.
Cytomegalovirus Immune Reconstitution Occurs in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplants Irrespective of Detectable Cytomegalovirus Infection

Abstract The question of when immune reconstitution of cytomegalovirus (CMV)–specific CD8 T cells occurs after hematopoietic cell transplantation and, more specifically, to which CMV targets this immunity is likely to be directed remains poorly understood. The dependence of immune reconstitution on CMV reactivation is even less clear. To better understand these events, 44 CMV-seropositive HLA-A*0201 subjects were followed up at approximately days 40, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 360 after hematopoietic cell transplantation for CMV immunity as measured by 2 types of assays: (1) an HLA-A*0201 tetramer-binding assay for both CMV pp65 (pp65) and immediate-early 1 (IE-1) or (2) intracellular cytokine interferon γ responses induced by pp65 or IE-1–derived peptides. To verify the reliability of IE-1–specific assays relative to the pp65-based assays, a pilot study first compared the development of IE-1–specific immunity in a subgroup by using multiple HLA-A*0201–restricted peptides, and then these recipients were followed up for 1 year for immunologic function and for CMV infection. The IE-1–specific response occurred to each of the 3 HLA-A*0201–restricted peptides studied (IE-1-256, -297, and -316), and there was no predominant IE peptide response. However, the immunodominant HLA-A*0201–restricted pp65 peptide was recognized significantly more frequently than these IE-1 peptides. When this was compared with the occurrence of CMV infection, the overall immune reactivity, as measured by the mean or median number of CD8 + T cells reactive to either pp65 or IE-1 peptides by intracellular cytokine or tetramer binding assay, was not significantly different in those with and without CMV infection. For patients who demonstrated reconstituted immunity to CMV at 1 year, all were reconstituted by 6 months, and the timing of the first observed immune reactivity to either of the pp65 or the IE peptides was not different in those with and without detectable CMV infection.
Humans and Ferrets with Prior H1N1 Influenza Virus Infections Do Not Exhibit Evidence of Original Antigenic Sin after Infection or Vaccination with the 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus

The hypothesis of original antigenic sin (OAS) states that the imprint established by an individual's first influenza virus infection governs the antibody response thereafter. Subsequent influenza virus infection results in an antibody response against the original infecting virus and an impaired immune response against the newer influenza virus. The purpose of our study was to seek evidence of OAS after infection or vaccination with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (2009 pH1N1) virus in ferrets and humans previously infected with H1N1 viruses with various antigenic distances from the 2009 pH1N1 virus, including viruses from 1935 through 1999. In ferrets, seasonal H1N1 priming did not diminish the antibody response to infection or vaccination with the 2009 pH1N1 virus, nor did it diminish the T-cell response, indicating the absence of OAS in seasonal H1N1 virus-primed ferrets. Analysis of paired samples of human serum taken before and after vaccination with a monovalent inactivated 2009 pH1N1 vaccine showed a significantly greater-fold rise in the titer of antibody against the 2009 pH1N1 virus than against H1N1 viruses that circulated during the childhood of each subject. Thus, prior experience with H1N1 viruses did not result in an impairment of the antibody response against the 2009 pH1N1 vaccine. Our data from ferrets and humans suggest that prior exposure to H1N1 viruses did not impair the immune response against the 2009 pH1N1 virus.
Current directions in social cognitive neuroscience

Social cognitive neuroscience is an emerging discipline that seeks to explain the psychological and neural bases of socioemotional experience and behavior. Although research in some areas is already well developed (e.g. perception of nonverbal social cues) investigation in other areas has only just begun (e.g. social interaction). Current studies are elucidating; the role of the amygdala in a variety of evaluative and social judgment processes, the role of medial prefrontal cortex in mental state attribution, how frontally mediated controlled processes can regulate perception and experience, and the way in which these and other systems are recruited during social interaction. Future progress will depend upon the development of programmatic lines of research that integrate contemporary social cognitive research with cognitive neuroscience theory and methodology.
Nonlinear optics near the single photon level with quantum dots

We describe our work on engineering nonlinear optical devices using quantum dots coupled to optical resonators. These systems enable large optical Stark shifts and all optical switching with only a few photons.
Spiro[5.7]trideca‐1,4‐dien‐3‐one

Spiro[5.7]trideca-1,4-dien-3-one intermediate: 1-(cyclooctylidenemethyl)piperidine reactant: methyl vinyl ketone (6.44 g, 0.092 mol) intermediate: spiro[5.7]tridec-1-en-3-one product: spiro[5.7]trideca-1,4-dien-3-one Keywords: addition, to CO; annulation, carbocyclic-[6]; cyclization, condensation; elimination, dehydrogenation; enamine or imine formation; dioxane; methyl vinyl ketone; piperidine
Insects — Spiracle Control

Insects are among the most successful of land-dwelling organisms; virtually no terrestrial community is without insects. This very extensive radiation throughout the spectrum of terrestrial environments indicates that insects have coped effectively with the most significant problem posed by this lifestyle, viz. dessication. Many, if not most, terrestrial environments are characterized by low relative humidities and, as a consequence, the activity of atmospheric water vapor is significantly less than the activity of tissue water. Thus, unless mechanisms for conservation of water are in place, significant water loss will cocur. Their small size and high surface to volume ratio exaggerate the problem of water loss in insects. In addition to behavioral adaptations, insects employ three structural adaptations to reduce dessication (Fig. 1). The outer surface of the insect cuticle is covered by a waxy layer which is largely impervious to water, the respiratory surfaces are internalized and, in all insects except those restricted to extremely humid environments, the openings of the respiratory system to the surrounding atmosphere can be kept closed except when gas exchange is actually taking place. The effectiveness of sealing off the openings of the respiratory system, i.e. the spiracles, and of the waxy cuticular coating in conserving water has been known for some years and has been demonstrated in a number of insect species (see e.g., Buck, 1962).
Why Hardcore Goes Soft: Adorno, Japanese Noise, and the Extirpation of Dissonance

I argue that Japanese noise could only become meaningful and articulate at a time when thought and language have become somehow inarticulate. I very briefly recount T.W. Adorno's controversial claims that we live in a wholly abstract and instrumental world, where each object we encounter holds meaning only as 1) a representative of the class to which it belongs and 2) a tool for our use. As is now the convention in Adorno scholarship and cultural studies generally, I name ordering principles of such life identity thinking and the object of its inarticulacy the non-identical. Rather than devoting this paper to debating the veracity of these principles, once I unpack modern art's predicament within the confines of identity thinking I make a case for the utter sensibility of the prima facie senselessness of Japanese noise. But this ultimate sensibility of Japanese noise, I argue, exemplifies the crisis of all modern art: despite its efforts to frustrate sense and stall the prevailing cultural logic, it becomes sensible as a commodified cultural product. Japanese noise therefore provides a case study of the process by which a critique of a consumer culture becomes a commercial product of that culture, thereby neutralizing the critical power of the work. Within such structures the critical capacity of art in general is under threat.
Instrumentation amplifier and current injection circuit design for input impedance boosting in biopotential and bioimpedance measurements

This paper describes an instrumentation amplifier (IA) architecture with a mechanism that generates negative capacitances at its input. Two 8-bit programmable capacitors between the input stage and the current feedback loop of the IA allow adaptive cancellation of the input capacitances from the electrode cables and printed circuit board. The proposed negative capacitance generation technique can improve the input impedance from a few megaohms to above 500 MΩ without significant impact on performance parameters such as the common-mode rejection ratio, power supply rejection ratio, total harmonic distortion, and noise. Furthermore, a current injection circuit is introduced for on-chip input impedance estimation. An operational transconductance amplifier and associated key design concepts are presented in this paper that achieve a transconductance of 25 pS and an output impedance above 4 GΩ. The IA and the test current generator were designed and simulated using 0.13 µm CMOS technology.
Women and National Party Organization

For the first time in American history, the majority of the voters in the presidential election of 1944 will be women. That party managers have realized this fact has been evidenced by their special appeals to the feminine vote in campaign literature, public statements, and management techniques. Furthermore, in a growing number of cases, women have been entrusted with responsible functions in party organization which up to now have been reserved for men. To cite but one example in national party structure, there is the appointment for the first time of a woman to serve as secretary of the Democratic national committee.The unusual political responsibilities and opportunities which war conditions have made available to women bring up the question of the progress they have been able to achieve in national party organization during the years since the adoption of the suffrage amendment in 1920. In 1933, an analysis of the formal status of women in the national party organizations was made by Miss Sophonisba Breckinridge, and included in her volume, Women in the Twentieth Century, published as one of a series of monographs on “Recent Social Trends in the United States,” under the direction of President Hoover's Research Committee on Social Trends. As a formal measure of women's status in national party organization, Miss Breckinridge examined their participation in the national conventions and their position on the national committees of both parties from 1892, when they were first represented in a convention, through 1932.The present study carries Miss Breckinridge's investigation through the 1936, 1940, and 1944 nominating conventions. The data used in both studies were obtained from the official convention records and from replies of national committeewomen to questionnaires.
The Impact of Predators on Populations of Green Peach Aphids on Field-grown Sugarbeets

The impact of aphidophagous predators on populations of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on field-grown sugarbeets was investigated by periodically removing the predators present in control plots and adding selected predators (elytra glued to reduce dispersion) to the predator complex present in other plots. At the time when aphids were most numerous in the control plots, the plots treated with releases of geocorids + nabids or chrysopids only had significantly fewer (1/3) aphids. However, the fewest aphids were found in plots in which flightless coccinellids only had been released. In addition, these plots had substantially more coccinellid eggs and larvae, though the control plots had 4 times as many aphids per plant. The introduction of flightless coccinellids to promote a rapid increase in the population therefore appears practical. Also, coccinellids might be used as a biotic control agent on vegetable crops if a practical means of inhibiting flight could be developed.
Protostelids from tropical forests of Costa Rica

Samples for isolation of protostelids were collected from two microhabitats, forest floor litter and aerial litter (dead but still attached plant parts), in tropical forests at four different localities in Costa Rica. Seventeen species of protostelids were recov- ered from these samples. In general, numbers of spe- cies recorded for samples of forest floor litter were rather comparable to those recorded for samples of aerial litter. Schizoplasmodiopsis pseudoendospora, Ne- matostelium gracile, and N. ovatum appear to be the most widely distributed and abundant species asso- ciated with the litter microhabitat in the forests sam- pled.
Modeling Amorphization of Tetrahedral Structures Using Local Approaches

Many crystalline ceramics can be topologically disordered (amorphized) by disordering radiation events involving high-energy collision cascades or (in some cases) successive single-atom displacements. We are interested in both the potential for disorder and the possible aperiodic structures adopted following the disordering event. The potential for disordering is related to connectivity, and among those structures of interest are tetrahedral networks (such as SiO 2 , SiC and Si 3 N 4 ) comprising corner-shared tetrahedral units whose connectivities are easily evaluated. In order to study the response of these networks to radiation, we have chosen to model their assembly according to the (simple) local rules that each corner obeys in connecting to another tetrahedron; in this way we easily erect large computer models of any crystalline polymorphic form. Amorphous structures can be similarly grown by application of altered rules. We have adopted a simple model of irradiation in which all bonds in the neighborhood of a designated tetrahedron are destroyed, and we reform the bonds in this region according to a set of (possibly different) local rules appropriate to the environmental conditions. When a tetrahedron approaches the boundary of this neighborhood, it undergoes an optimization step in which a spring is inserted between two corners of compatible tetrahedra when they are within a certain distance of one another; component forces are then applied that act to minimize the distance between these corners and minimize the deviation from the rules. The resulting structure is then analyzed for the complete adjacency matrix, irreducible ring statistics, and bond angle distributions.
Populations of Codling Moths on Washington Island, Wisconsin, in 1970

The ecology of the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.), particularly its seasonal distribution and abundance, was studied on Washington Island, Wisconsin, in 1970. Male moths were caught from June 14 to Sept. 7 when virgin female moths were used as lures. The pattern of catches indicated the development of 2 generations per year. Sampling of the 4500 apple trees on the island gave an estimated production of 0.8 million codling moth larvae in 1970.
Structural organization of membrane-inserted hexamers formed by Helicobacter pylori VacA toxin

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the human stomach and is a potential cause of peptic ulceration or gastric adenocarcinoma. H. pylori secretes a pore-forming toxin known as vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA). The 88 kDa secreted VacA protein, composed of an N-terminal p33 domain and a C-terminal p55 domain, assembles into water-soluble oligomers. The structural organization of membrane-bound VacA has not been characterized in any detail and the role(s) of specific VacA domains in membrane binding and insertion are unclear. We show that membrane-bound VacA organizes into hexameric oligomers. Comparison of the two-dimensional averages of membrane-bound and soluble VacA hexamers generated using single particle electron microscopy reveals a structural difference in the central region of the oligomers (corresponding to the p33 domain), suggesting that membrane association triggers a structural change in the p33 domain. Analyses of the isolated p55 domain and VacA variants demonstrate that while the p55 domain can bind membranes, the p33 domain is required for membrane insertion. Surprisingly, neither VacA oligomerization nor the presence of putative transmembrane GXXXG repeats in the p33 domain is required for membrane insertion. These findings provide new insights into the process by which VacA binds and inserts into the lipid bilayer to form membrane channels.
GIS-based risk assessment for electric power consumers under severe weather conditions

This study incorporates the real-time weather changes into the models for evaluation of customer interruption cost (CIC) and implements the risk assessment of the impact on customers from the possible weather-caused power outage. The methods uses historical weather and weather forecast data to evaluate the risk for customers in case of different weather conditions that are predicted to affect a given area in near future.
SU-F-T-437: 3 Field VMAT Technique for Irradiation of Large Pelvic Tumors

Purpose: VMAT treatment planning for large pelvic volume irradiation could be suboptimal due to inability of Varian linac to split MLC carriage during VMAT delivery for fields larger than 14.5cm in X direction (direction of leaf motion). We compare the dosimetry between 3 VMAT planning techniques, two 2-arc field techniques and a 3-arc field technique: a) two small in X direction (less than 14.5cm) arc fields, complementing each other to cover the whole lateral extent of target during gantry rotation, b) two large arc fields, each covering the targets completely during the rotation, c) a 3 field technique with 2 small in X direction arcs and 1 large field covering whole target. Methods: 5 GYN cancer patients were selected to evaluate the 3 VMAT planning techniques. Treatment plans were generated using Varian Eclipse (ver. 11) TPS. Dose painting technique was used to deliver 5300 cGy to primary target and 4500 cGy to pelvic/abdominal node target. All the plans were normalized so that the prescription dose of 5300 cGy covered 95% of primary target volume. PTV and critical structures DVH curves were compared to evaluate all 3 planning techniques. Results: The dosimetric differences between the two 2-arc techniques were minor. The small field 2-arc technique showed a colder hot spot (0.4% averaged), while variations in maximum doses to critical structures were statistically nonsignificant (under 1.3%). In comparison, the 3-field technique demonstrated a colder hot spot (1.1% less, 105.8% averaged), and better sparing of critical structures. The maximum doses to larger bowel, small bowel and gluteal fold were 3% less, cord/cauda sparing was 4.2% better, and bladder maximum dose was 4.6% less. The differences in maximum doses to stomach and rectum were statistically nonsignificant. Conclusion: 3-arc VMAT technique for large field irradiation of pelvis demonstrates dosimetric advantages compared to 2-arc VMAT techniques.
Temperature dependence of phonon-defect interactions: phonon scattering vs. phonon trapping

The interactions between thermal phonons and defects are conventionally described as scattering processes, an idea proposed almost a century ago. In this contribution, ab-initio molecular-dynamics simulations provide atomic-level insight into the nature of these interactions. The defect is the Si|X interface in a nanowire containing a δ-layer (X is C or Ge). The phonon-defect interactions are temperature dependent and involve the trapping of phonons for meaningful lengths of time in defect-related, localized, vibrational modes. No phonon scattering occurs and the momentum of the phonons released by the defect is unrelated to the momentum of the phonons that generated the excitation. The results are extended to the interactions involving only bulk phonons and to phonon-defect interactions at high temperatures. These do resemble scattering since phonon trapping occurs for a length of time short enough for the momentum of the incoming phonon to be conserved.
Measurement of kernel swelling and buffer densification in irradiated UCO-TRISO particles

Abstract Radiation-induced volume changes in the fuel kernels and buffer layers of UCO-TRISO particles irradiated to an average burnup of 16.1% FIMA have been determined. Measurements of particle dimensions were made on polished cross-sections of 56 irradiated particles at several different polish planes. The data were then analyzed to compute the equivalent spherical diameters of the kernels and the various coating layers, and these were compared to the average as-fabricated values to determine changes due to irradiation. The kernel volume was found to have increased by an average of 26 ± 6%. Buffer volume decreased by an average of 39 ± 2% due to densification.
A Single-Chain Photoswitchable CRISPR-Cas9 Architecture for Light-Inducible Gene Editing and Transcription

Optical control of CRISPR-Cas9-derived proteins would be useful for restricting gene editing or transcriptional regulation to desired times and places. Optical control of Cas9 functions has been achieved with photouncageable unnatural amino acids or by using light-induced protein interactions to reconstitute Cas9-mediated functions from two polypeptides. However, these methods have only been applied to one Cas9 species and have not been used for optical control of different perturbations at two genes. Here, we use photodissociable dimeric fluorescent protein domains to engineer single-chain photoswitchable Cas9 (ps-Cas9) proteins in which the DNA-binding cleft is occluded at baseline and opened upon illumination. This design successfully controlled different species and functional variants of Cas9, mediated transcriptional activation more robustly than previous optogenetic methods, and enabled light-induced transcription of one gene and editing of another in the same cells. Thus, a single-chain photoswitc...
Online detection and control of malware infected assets

Malware infection activities need to be detected as early as possible to minimize the adverse impact of malware delivery, infection, exploitation, and spreading. Given that cybersecurity observations over a network are usually incomplete, noisy, uncertain, and need to be extracted from a big data size, it is a challenge to extract quality information for identifying vulnerable, infected, or exploited assets and then taking appropriate actions to mitigate the impact of malware infection and spread. This paper presents an integrated model of logistic regression and Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) along with online data analytics on temporal causality and dependency relationships of observations. New regression and malware infection features are developed by capturing and formulating the cross relationships of observations. Logistic regression of these new features is used to estimate the initial probability values that sensor measurements are indicative of vulnerability exploitations, which help infer the infection status of those assets associated with the vulnerabilities to be likely exploited. The results of the logistic regression on the infection status of assets are considered as the initial belief state of POMDP. The integrated model of logistic regression and POMDP is designed to iteratively collaborate in identifying and controlling malware infection and spread. Experimental results show the efficiency of having such collaboration in identifying and controlling malware-infected assets.
Abstract P201: Inverse Association between Sleep Efficiency and Cholesterol Fractions in African Americans; the Cardiovascular Health Epidemiology Study

Background: Previous studies have shown that African Americans (AA) have lower sleep efficiency than Caucasians. Less is known in AA regarding the effect of sleep efficiency on metabolic markers of cardiovascular disease such as serum levels of cholesterol fractions. Thus, we conducted a cross-sectional investigation among AA examining the relationship between sleep duration and efficiency with cholesterol levels. Our hypothesis was that there is an inverse association between the duration and efficiency of sleep and cholesterol fractions. Methods: Our study population (n = 35; 60% women) was recruited throughout metro Atlanta via convenience sampling with radio announcements, flyers and health fairs. Included were AA aged 30-65 with a blood pressure lower than 140/90 mm Hg. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and their ratio was measured as continuous variables. Sleep efficiency was measured with an Actiwatch device as the proportion of actual sleep time to the total amount of bedtime sleep. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the effects of sleep efficiency and duration on TC, HDL-cholesterol and their ratio with adjustments for age and body mass index (BMI). Statistical significance was set at a p-value of Results: Among study participants, the mean (SD) was 52.3 (9.0) years for age, 31.6 (6.6) kg/m2 for BMI, 79.0 (7.5)% for sleep efficiency and 7.03 (1.3) hours for sleep duration. The mean (SD) was 195.5 (31.2) mg/dL for TC, 98.7 (31.2) mg/dL for triglycerides, 62.2 (17.9) mg/dL for HDL-cholesterol and 3.33 (0.83) for the ratio TC / HDL. Sleep efficiency correlated significantly with sleep duration (r = 0.36) and TC / HDL-cholesterol ratio (r = -0.32), but not with BMI or triglycerides. In the multivariable regression analysis, there was a statistically significant inverse association between sleep efficiency and the ratio of TC / HDL cholesterol (β = - 0.05, 95% confidence Interval = - 0.09, - 0.01; p = 0.008). No association was detected between sleep duration and cholesterol fractions (p = 0.90). Conclusion: Among African Americans, there is an inverse association between sleep efficiency and the ratio of TC to HDL-cholesterol. Reduced sleep efficiency might influence the cardiovascular risk through dyslipidemia.
Parental Warmth Moderates the Association Between BMI Trajectories and Academic Achievement

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten cohort (ECLS-K), this study aimed to identify body mass index (BMI) trajectories from kindergarten to eighth grade using group-ba...
Tick microbial communities within enriched extracts of Amblyomma maculatum.

Abstract Our objective of this study was to explore the bacterial microbiome in fresh or fresh-frozen adult Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast ticks) using extracts enriched for microbial DNA. We collected 100 questing adult A. maculatum, surface disinfected them, and extracted DNA from individual ticks collected the same day or after storage at −80 °C. Because only extracts with microbial DNA concentrations above 2 ng/μL were considered suitable for individual analysis, we expected fewer samples to meet these requirements. Of individual ticks extracted, 48 extracts met this minimum concentration. We pooled 20 additional extracts that had lower concentrations to obtain seven additional pools that met the minimum DNA concentration. Libraries created from these 55 samples were sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform, and data sets were analyzed using QIIME to identify relative abundance of microorganisms by phylum down to genus levels. Proteobacteria were in greatest abundance, followed by Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, at levels between 1.9% and 6.4% average relative abundance. Consistent with the Francisella-like endosymbiont known to be present in A. maculatum, the genus Francisella was detected at highest relative abundance (72.9%; SE 0.02%) for all samples. Among the top ten genera identified (relative abundance ≥ 0.5%) were potential extraction kit contaminants, Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium, the soil bacterium Actinomycetospora, and the known A. maculatum-associated genus, Rickettsia. Four samples had Rickettsia at greater than 1% relative abundance, while nine additional samples had Rickettsia at low (0.01–0.04%) relative abundance. In this study, we used the entire microbe-enriched DNA extract for whole ticks for microbiome analysis. A direct comparison of the microbiome in microbe-enriched DNA and total genomic DNA extracts from halves of the same tick would be useful to determine the utility of this extraction method in this system. We anticipate that future tick microbiome studies will be valuable to explore the influence of microbial diversity on pathogen maintenance and transmission, and to evaluate niche-specific microbiomes within individual tick tissues.
Flows of Literacy across Corporate and User-Produced Virtual Worlds.

Background/ContextSociocultural research on young people's literate practices with digital media has generally focused on literacy events and practices that are grounded in distinct online location...
What are the factors that affect band 5 nurses' career development and progression?

Background Continuing professional development (CPD) and career progression opportunities have been linked with job satisfaction and intent to remain in nursing. Aim To provide an insight into band 5 registered nurses' perceptions of development opportunities and their ability to change posts. Method A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used, collecting data through semi structured interviews with six RNs. Results Seven themes emerged, including the thirst for knowledge and the importance of structured learning and career advice. Barriers to career development were perceived as the working environment and the trust not enabling and facilitating development through funding and release time. Conclusion Ward and team culture can inhibit career development and progression by failing to nurture staff and promote self confidence. In addition, organisational changes can facilitate career mobility.
Increase in Lactate Without Change in Nutritive Blood Flow or Glucose at Active Trigger Points Following Massage: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract Objective To investigate changes in nutritive blood flow as well as interstitial glucose and lactate within an active myofascial trigger point (MTrP) following massage. Design Randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Setting Subjects were recruited from the general population; procedures were conducted at a research center affiliated with a university hospital. Participants Adults (N=25) (18-49y old) with episodic or chronic tension-type headache and an active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle. Interventions Subjects were randomized to receive a single trigger point (TrP) release massage or sham ultrasound (US) treatment at an active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle. Microdialysis was used to continuously sample interstitial fluid from the MTrP before, during, and for 60 minutes following intervention. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure was nutritive blood flow within the MTrP as measured by microdialysis ethanol clearance; secondary measures included dialysate glucose, dialysate lactate, and subject discomfort with the procedures. Pressure-pain threshold (PPT) was determined to assess treatment effectiveness. Results There was no treatment effect of TrP release massage on nutritive blood flow (P=.663) or dialysate glucose (P=.766). The interaction for lactate was significant indicating that dialysate lactate increased for TrP release massage vs sham US (P=.04); maximum lactate increase over baseline was observed at 60 minutes after TrP release massage (P=.007, 0.128 μM, 95% confidence interval 0.045-0.212). Pain evoked by probe placement into an active MTrP was low. An interaction effect on PPT was significant (P=.005). Conclusion TrP release massage of an active MTrP affected anaerobic metabolism as represented by an increase in dialysate lactate without change in nutritive blood flow or dialysate glucose. The lack of a treatment effect on blood flow is discussed.
Tuning the Potential of Electron Extraction from Microbes with Ferrocene-Containing Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes

Synthetic systems that facilitate electron transport across cellular membranes are of interest in bio-electrochemical technologies such as bio-electrosynthesis, waste water remediation, and microbial fuel cells. The design of second generation redox-active conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) bearing terminal cationic groups and a π-delocalized core capped by two ferrocene units is reported. The two COEs, DVFBO and F4 -DVFBO, have similar membrane affinity, but fluorination of the core results in a higher oxidation potential (422 ± 5 mV compared to 365 ± 4 mV vs Ag/AgCl for the neutral precursors in chloroform). Concentration-dependent aggregation is suggested by zeta potential measurements and confirmed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. When the working electrode potential (ECA ) is poised below the oxidation potential of the COEs (ECA = 200 mV) in three-electrode electrochemical cells containing Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, addition of DVFBO and F4 -DVFBO produces negligible biocurrent enhancement over controls. At ECA = 365 mV, DVFBO increases steady-state biocurrent by 67 ± 12% relative to controls, while the increase with F4 -DVFBO is 30 ± 5%. Cyclic voltammetry supports that DVFBO increases catalytic biocurrent and that F4 -DVFBO has less impact, consistent with their oxidation potentials. Overall, electron transfer from microbial species is modulated via tailoring of the COE redox properties.
Evolving approaches to organ allocation for the whole pancreas vs islet transplantation

Abstract Currently, two strategies exist for β-replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus: whole pancreas (PTx) and pancreas islet transplantation (ITx). PTx is by far the most common approach given the historic challenges of ITx at achieving insulin independence, the nuances of islet isolation techniques, and the attrition of functioning islets after transplant. One of the fundamental differences between PTx and ITx recipients lies in the indications for β-replacement. While end-stage renal disease from diabetic nephropathy is the primary indication for PTx, hypoglycemic unawareness remains the primary indication for ITx. Although the Edmonton protocol has made tremendous strides in the ITx field, enthusiasm has been tempered by long-term outcome data and its use of multiple deceased donors for a single recipient. Furthermore, of the donor risk characteristics that impact outcomes for PTx and ITx, donor age and obesity are the risk factors that have been most intensely studied and have shaped allocation policy. Currently, US allocation guidelines recommend that organs from older (> 50 years old) or obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) donors should preferentially be allocated to ITx whereas younger and leaner donors are preferentially allocated to PTx. This has created discontent in the ITx community, viewing these allocation guidelines as unfair and unequal. To understand the evolution of deceased donor pancreas allocation, it is important to understand how specific donor risk factors, specifically age and obesity, have influenced the decision-making algorithm for choosing a specific modality over the other. Finally, it is critical to contextualize the historic allocation guidelines in the United States and the United Kingdom with considerations into how donor risk and payer reimbursement within each system have shaped this dynamic process.
Workflows for Performance Predictable and Reproducible HPC Applications

This poster presents an HPC application workflow system whose goal is to provide verifiably-reproducible HPC application performance. This system combines existing container, experiment, and data management techniques with HPC performance models, allowing it to both maximize performance reproducibility and inform users when application performance deviates from what should be expected even when running at scales or for lengths of time at which the application had never run.
Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To provide information on the effect of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people with epilepsy and provide consensus recommendations on how to provide the best possible care for people with epilepsy while avoiding visits to urgent care facilities and hospitalizations during the novel coronavirus pandemic. METHODS: The authors developed consensus statements in 2 sections. The first was "How should we/clinicians modify our clinical care pathway for people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic?" The second was "What general advice should we give to people with epilepsy during this crisis? The authors individually scored statements on a scale of -10 (strongly disagree) to +10 (strongly agree). Five of 11 recommendations for physicians and 3/5 recommendations for individuals/families were rated by all the authors as 7 or above (strongly agree) on the first round of rating. Subsequently, a teleconference was held where statements for which there was a lack of strong consensus were revised. RESULTS: After revision, all consensus recommendations received a score of 7 or above. The recommendations focus on administration of as much care as possible at home to keep people with epilepsy out of health care facilities, where they are likely to encounter COVID-19 (including strategies for rescue therapy), as well as minimization of risk of seizure exacerbation through adherence, and through ensuring a regular supply of medication. We also provide helpful links to additional helpful information for people with epilepsy and health providers. CONCLUSION: These recommendations may help health care professionals provide optimal care to people with epilepsy during the coronavirus pandemic.
Taxonomic Richness and Diversity of Larval Fish Assemblages in the Oceanic Gulf of Mexico: Links to Oceanographic Conditions

Biodiversity enhances the productivity and stability of marine ecosystems and provides important ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to characterize larval fish assemblages in pelagic waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) and identify oceanographic conditions associated with areas of increased taxonomic richness (TF) and Shannon diversity (H’). Summer ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted in the NGoM in 2015 and 2016 using neuston net (surface layer; upper 1 m) and oblique bongo net (mixed layer; 0-100 m) tows. Over 17,000 fish larvae were collected over the two-year study, and 99 families of fish larvae were present. Catch composition in the surface layer was relatively similar to the mixed-layer catch, with carangids (jacks), scombrids (mackerels, tunas) and exocoetids (flyingfishes) being numerically dominant; however, deep-pelagic species, including myctophids (lanternfishes), gonostomatids (bristlemouths), and sternoptychids (marine hatchetfishes), were present almost exclusively in the mixed layer samples. Generalized additive models were used to evaluate the effect of oceanographic conditions on ichthyoplankton abundance and biodiversity. Salinity and sea surface height (SSH) were the most influential oceanographic conditions, with higher occurrence, higher TF, and higher H’ all present in areas of lower salinity and lower SSH. This study highlights the ecological importance of cyclonic mesoscale features and areas of upwelling as areas of increased biodiversity for larval fishes, and also indicates that the mixed layer in the NGoM is essential habitat for deep-pelagic fishes during the early life interval.
Anacker, Carswell, Kirby, & Tremblay (Eds.): Introduction to Housing (2nd ed.)

Housing is a central concern for planners. It can be understood as shelter, home, community, commodity, asset, infrastructure, or right. Without housing, there are no cities, yet the actual provisi...
Postselection-Free Entanglement Dynamics via Spacetime Duality

A protocol based on space-time duality is used to find the purity of a quantum state for simulations of a class of nonunitary circuits, without any postselection.
Correlated electron state in CeCu 2 Si 2 controlled through Si to P substitution

${\mathrm{CeCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$ is an exemplary correlated electron metal that features two domes of unconventional superconductivity in its temperature-pressure phase diagram. The first dome surrounds an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point, whereas the more exotic second dome may span the termination point of a line of $f\text{-electron}$ valence transitions. This behavior has received intense interest, but what has been missing are ways to access the high pressure behavior under milder conditions. Here we study Si $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ P chemical substitution, which compresses the unit cell volume but simultaneously weakens the hybridization between the $f$- and conduction electron states and encourages complex magnetism. At concentrations that show magnetism, applied pressure suppresses the magnetic ordering temperature and superconductivity is recovered for samples with low disorder. These results reveal that the electronic behavior in this system is controlled by a nontrivial combination of effects from unit cell volume and electronic shell filling. Guided by this topography, we discuss prospects for uncovering a valence fluctuation quantum phase transition in the broader family of Ce-based ${\mathrm{ThCr}}_{2}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$-type materials through chemical substitution.
What I Wish I Told the ABA About Lawrence VanDyke

This article describes the author's friendship with and interaction with the American Bar Association regarding Lawrence VanDyke, a nominee to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Species Thinking Without Agency: The Afterlife of Slavery, Clones, and Blurring Subject and Object in the Anthropocene

The overwhelming scale of climate change demands new ways of bridging national, cultural, and taxonomic differences. However, ecocritical frameworks that emphasise non-human agency in an attempt to make human individuals empathise with other people, other species, and the earth are haunted by the tenacious spectre of nineteenth-century classical liberalism’s characterization of personhood through specious, fragile dichotomies that can largely fall under the general rubric of agency versus determinism. The putatively opposed terms of these binaries are malleable, and control of their designation is a key element of control societies. Contemporary scholarship has identified several ways subjects bleed into objects, but, even though the ‘individual’ should theoretically collapse under its own ontological pressure in our current biopolitical age, neoliberalism largely holds onto classical liberalism’s central dogma of a person as an agential individual. I analyse the novel Never Let Me Go (2005) by Kazuo Ishiguro and its critical analyses to show how the plight to recognise agency is a prison of analysis that upholds an ideal of the individual as the bastion of personhood. As seen through the afterlife of slavery post-emancipation, those in power can discursively recognise the humanity in people formerly designated 'things' while still perpetuating systematic exploitation and dehumanisation. The metric of ‘agency’ as a unit of hope is an epistemic barrier to effective political rhetoric regarding climate change and species thinking.
Experimental Methods for Eddy Current Probe Design and Testing

The purpose of this paper is to briefly review the influence of EC probe parameters on the performance of the complete NDE system and to describe experimental methods for measuring these parameters. Combined theory and experiment is required to quantify probe response to design optimum probes for specific applications, to verify the reproducibility of probe performance during manufacture, and to verify the stability and precision of probe calibration. For these purposes it is necessary to consider, at least, the following probe parameters (1) input impedance, for design of adjacent circuitry; (2) self-resonant frequency, for upper frequency limits of operation; (3) the ratio of probe field intensity to input current, for sensitivity; and (4) the distribution (or shape) of the flaw interrogating field generated by the probe — for control of flaw response, liftoff response and spatial resolution (i.e., separation of closely spaced flaws and discrimination against edges and corners).
Stock Option Analysis for the 2003 Treasury Regulations on Cost Sharing

The US Treasury has issued revised regulations, under section 1.482-7, that require taxpayers to include costs associated with stock-based compensation in cost pools for fiscal years starting after August 26, 2003. The new regulations' impact on cost pools due to inclusion of employee stock option costs, how taxpayers may consider responding to the choice of method for valuing options required by the new regulations, and the difference between Black-Scholes and exercise date option valuation, are the foci of this paper. The size of the increase to a given cost pool will depend on factors outside the taxpayer's control - such as the stock price in the future - as well as on choices made by the taxpayer - such as whether to utilize the elective measurement method offered in the new regulations. In this paper I have formalized the taxpayer's decision on elective measurement. I have shown, very generally, that choosing the elective grant date measurement method will not be optimal for taxpayers. This is because most taxpayers that qualify for the elective method currently use some version of Black-Scholes method to disclose the estimated fair values of options. Under general circumstances, the Black-Scholes method will result in expected cost pool additions 36% to 59% greater than using the default method of valuing options upon exercise.