cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasticity in the Cricket Central Nervous System

The auditory system of the cricket shows a remarkable level of anatomical plasticity in response to injury. Removal of the auditory organ deafferents several types of auditory neurons of the central nervous system. These neurons respond to the loss of input by sending dendrites across the midline, a boundary they typically respect, and forming synapses with the auditory afferents of the contralateral ear. This compensatory growth and synapse formation reinstates neuron-specific frequency tuning curves. Growth and branching after deafferentation are sexually dimorphic, with male growth rates being linear and female growth rates being nonlinear. Female dendrites stop growing and branching after only a few days, while male dendrites continue to grow steadily, becoming twice as long as females by 20 days after deafferentation. Exploration of the molecular basis of this compensatory plasticity has revealed a number of possible candidates, including semaphorins and a VAMP family member, neuronal synaptobrevin.
Survey response rates in the forest products literature from 2000 to 2015

A literature analysis was conducted to synthesize typical response rates from forest-productsindustry- based survey studies published from 2000 to mid-2015. One hundred and ninety-five surveys published in several forest products and forestry journals and proceedings (mostly North American based) were analyzed. Overall, the typical response rate was found to be about 26.0% (median) to 31.6% (mean). The median survey size in terms of number surveyed was 543.0, and the median for responses received was 131.5. Several factors were found to influence response rates and numbers surveyed. The results indicated that response rates were highest for surveys conducted at the regional or international level, that were interview based, and that were geared toward consumers. The majority of the surveys conducted were mail based (79.0%) and were directed at manufacturers (51.8%) followed by loggers (15.4%) and engineers (14.4%). There was no indication that the year of publication had an effect on observed response rates. Most studies reported testing for nonresponse bias (64.4%), with early vs late respondent comparisons being the most common method used. These results can be used as a benchmark for what have been typical response rates for survey-based research in the forest products industry.
Successful primary repair of late diagnosed spontaneous esophageal rupture: A case report

Abstract Introduction Spontaneous esophageal rupture is rare, roughly 300 cases reported annually. Diagnosis is often delayed or missed. Overall mortality is about 20%. This feared high mortality rate has led to the misconception that primary esophageal repair should be avoided in late diagnosed patients. We report a successful primary repair of spontaneous esophageal rupture which was delayed for more than two weeks. Methods A 53 year-old male presented to our medical service after falsely having been treated for pneumonia at an outside hospital. He was subsequently diagnosed with spontaneous esophageal rupture and treated with over the scope clips followed by stenting. Persistent leak into mediastinum made surgical exploration necessary. At exploration a primary repair could be performed successfully. Results Unsuccessful endoscopic management of esophageal perforation that was delayed for two weeks underwent primary surgical repair without complications. Conclusion Primary closure of late diagnosed spontaneous esophageal rupture can be successful, even when it is complicated by a prolonged delay in treatment and failed endoscopic procedures. We conclude that primary surgical repair should be attempted in patients with spontaneous esophageal rupture if tissues are viable.
Big R, easy M: If you do effective modeling and analysis

As companies are striving to achieve profitable growth; they are recognizing the importance of system design requirements, where Reliability, Maintainability, Testability and Supportability (RMS i.e., the physical environment where the system will be deployed / operated and the culture (military / commercial / industrial / residential) of the operating agency, and this is where the development, modeling and analysis environment becomes crucial. The objective is to design, develop and support quality products that satisfy the user needs with measurable improvements to mission capability, operational availability and life cycle cost. This all requires RM&S practitioners who are involved in a program early enough to influence the design and who are supported in efforts to develop and manage design-to allocations of goals that are identified and correlated with customer operational needs. Analysis focused on early design trades, lessons learned, and operational mission environment testing, with “Test, Analyze and Fix” (TAAF) philosophy is at the heart of any innovative RM&S Program.
Office Diagnostic Hysteroscopy

Diagnostic hysteroscopy should be a basic surgical office technique for all gynecologists. The ability to directly visualize the uterine cavity and identify significant pathology represents development of an accurate and timely intervention to diagnose and in many cases, treat endometrial pathology in the office setting. Hysteroscopy in the office surgery setting has many indications and few contraindications and requires a basic set of equipment. It has been shown to be well accepted by patients and is relatively pain free. Few complications are recognized with this basic office procedure and tips on how to avoid them as well as timely recognition of them is discussed.
The Face of a Molecule

Recent technological advances in mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy have enabled new approaches for the rapid and insightful profiling of natural product mixtures. MALDI-MS with the provision of biosynthetic heavy-isotope-labeled precursors can be a powerful method by which to interrogate a natural product metabolome and to gain insight into its unique constituents; this is illustrated herein by the detection, isolation, and characterization of cryptomaldamide. MS/MS-based Molecular Networks, facilitated by the Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) platform, is rapidly changing the way in which we dereplicate known natural products in mixtures, find new analogues in desired structure classes, and identify fundamentally new chemical entities. This method can be linked to genomic information to assist in genome-driven natural products discovery and is illustrated here with the characterization of the columbamides. Similarly, algorithmic interpretation of NMR data is facilitating the automatic identifica...
Beyond regulatory capture: Coproducing expertise for critical infrastructure protection

Complex industries such as petroleum production, civil aviation, and nuclear power produce “public risks” that are widely distributed and temporally remote, and thus tend to be ignored by the risk producers. Regulation is perhaps the most common policy tool for governing such risks, but requires expert knowledge that often resides solely within the industries. Hence, many scholars and policymakers raise concerns about “regulatory capture,” wherein regulation serves private interests rather than the public good. This paper argues that regulatory capture framing has tended to limit understanding of expertise and its role in governing public risks. Most studies of regulatory capture treat expertise as a source of knowledge and skills that are created exogenously to political processes, and which can therefore be politically neutral. By contrast, we draw on work in science and technology studies that highlight the value-laden and relational nature of knowledge and expertise, showing how its formation is endogenous to political processes. Thus, we argue for both broadening analyses of regulatory capture to consider the historically contingent and uncertain process of creating expert knowledge, and going beyond the capture framing by considering the challenge of negotiating different epistemologies and ways of life. We illustrate this analytic strategy by examining the history of and current debate about critical infrastructure protection standards to protect the United States electric power grid from cyberattack. We conclude by considering the broader implications of these findings for governing public risks.
Constituent Power as Extraordinary Adaptation

Both radical proponents and legalist critics of popular constitution-making share Carl Schmitt’s definition of the people as outside of, unconstrained by, and superior to all law. “Legalists” cite Venezuela and Bolivia as evidence that unleashing the people facilitates authoritarianism. I turn away from Carl Schmitt and towards Hannah Arendt to retell these countries’ stories and recover an alternative vision of the people’s relationship to law called “extraordinary adaptation.” Even as many of the specific rules of the old institutions are bent, reinterpreted or broken, those institutions are still “extraordinarily adapted” to regulate and give shape to the creation of the new constitution. The process is illegal, but not lawless. The illegality must be principled in three ways: 1. The violator must exhaust all other legal channels; 2. openly acknowledge the violation in search of popular vindication, and 3. concede enough to the opposition so that it may begrudgingly acquiesce to the new constitution. This liminal legal space constructs a plural people that may realize their freedom to break with the past but still stave off the establishment of semi-authoritarian constitutions. I illustrate my theory by comparing the creations of the 1999 Venezuelan and the 2008 Bolivian constitutions. In Venezuela, then president Hugo Chavez plunged the country into a legal abyss to exclude the opposition from the constitutional assembly and create a highly centralized constitution. In Bolivia, by contrast, the extraordinary adaptation of the old constitution led to compromises that garnered the opposition’s begrudging acquiescence to a new constitution that checks presidential power.
Brownfields in Purple States: An Analysis of the Equity of Redevelopment Outcomes Under the Brownfield Program and Voluntary Cleanup Programs in Colorado and Ohio:

The proliferation of underutilized, derelict, and contaminated properties following a nationwide decline of industrial production has created a unique policy problem. Powerful liability schemes und...
Low lying oscillations of deformed nuclei

Low-lying oscillations of the intrinsic deformed shape of a nucleus remain an open challenge in nuclear structure. The question or challenge revolves around the viability of single or multiple quanta of vibrational excitations superimposed on the equilibrium, deformed shape of a nucleus. The K=2 or “γ” vibrations are fairly widespread and nominally conform to expectations whereas the existence of the K=0 or “β” vibrational excitation is yet to be distinguished from other possible origins including the coexistence of other potential minima.
Effects of roll and flail conditioning systems on mowing and baling of Miscanthus × giganteus feedstock

Miscanthus and switchgrass have been identified as major energy crops with high potential use for bioenergy. For example, a projection from the US Department of Energy showed that miscanthus would contribute the highest percentage of biomass feedstock as a single plant species by 2030. However, the current commercial production of miscanthus is largely undeveloped. The effect of two common conditioning systems (use of a steel roll or flail) on the harvesting and baling of miscanthus feedstock was compared through field studies. These studies were carried out in Easton, Illinois, USA and data collected included time and motion, fuel use and bale densities. The flail conditioning system performed better while mowing miscanthus crops using higher travel speed, field capacity, and field efficiency. The roll conditioning system, on the other hand, performed better when baling roll-conditioned crop windrows. Flail conditioned bales had 5% higher density than roll-conditioned ones. The information obtained from this study can be useful in predicting machine and work force requirements for miscanthus harvest, which in turn could help reduce overall monetary and energy requirements for feedstock development.
Intercellular communication and bladder function.

Urinary incontinence resulting from abnormal bladder function is an extremely common problem affecting millions of men and women around the globe. Many diseases, such as stroke, diabetes mellitus, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as well as the ravages of advancing age, contribute to altered bladder function. While urinary incontinence is clearly a multifactorial disease, one prevalent manifestation, known as urge incontinence, is related to uncontrolled and involuntary bladder contractions (i.e., bladder overactivity). This overactivity is the result of increased detrusor smooth muscle contractions. The precise physiological mechanisms contributing to the overactive bladder are not clearly understood. However, two different hypotheses, myogenic4 and neurogenic,21 have been advanced. The extant clinical and laboratory data support both hypotheses, but this report will focus exclusively on myogenic considerations. However, it should be emphasized that regardless of the precise etiologic cause of bladder hyperactivity, the physiological impact is the same; detrusor myocytes contract spontaneously, causing urinary incontinence.
Genetic Analysis of the Role of Toxin Production by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in Plant Pathogenesis

Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae strain B301D produces the lipodepsipeptide Phytotoxins, syringomycin and syringopeptin. Analysis of the syringomycin (syr) gene cluster of strain B301D indicated that the toxin is synthesized on multienzymes by a thiotemplate mechanism of peptide synthesis. The syr genes encoding syringomycin synthetases were found to be clustered in an approximately 32-kb region of the chromosome. Specific plant metabolites, as exemplified by certain flavonoid glycosides from cherry leaves, serve as environmental signals sensed by P. s. pv. syringae to activate genes dedicated to syringomycin synthesis. Evidence also is presented that syringomycin and syringopeptin form pores in host membranes and that plant cells are killed as a result of a rapid and sustained flux of cations. The fipopeptide toxins are concluded to be major determinants of bacterial virulence.
Bidirectional Energy Management for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles via Vehicle-to-Grid

As a paradigm of the incoming smart grid, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) has been proposed as a solution to increase the adoption rate of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In this paper, we investigate the bidirectional energy management for PHEVs via V2G system. We formulate the energy management problem through dynamic programming, aiming at flattening the grid peak load and minimizing the daily energy cost. However, the “well-known” complexity in solving dynamic programming poses a computational challenge even for a small N. Therefore, we prove that a ( s, S, s′, S′) feedback policy is optimal for PHEV battery charging/discharging based on inventory storage theory. Simulation results verified the validity of the proposed algorithm. The theoretical analysis and proofs are instrumental to the future large-scale PHEV adoption in smart grid.
Fixation by Free-Living Micro-Organisms: Enzymology

N2 fixation is accomplished by the combined action of two proteins, and this complicates the problem of nomenclature. The problem is particularly acute because it is not clear whether the proteins act independently or as a complex, nor is it clear what specific action each protein effects. Nitrogenase or the N2-fixing complex refers to the two proteins acting together. The individual proteins of nitrogenase will be termed the Mo-Fe protein and the Fe protein; some workers refer to these as ‘protein 1’ or ‘fraction 1’ and ‘protein 2’ or ‘fraction 2’ respectively. Although these designations are not completely definitive, because other Fe proteins do exist in the N2-fixing cells, they seem preferable currently to azoferredoxin and molybdoferredoxin. Mortenson, Morris and Jeng (1967) introduced the term azoferredoxin to designate the N2-binding protein of the nitrogenase complex, but later work (Bui and Mortenson, 1968) suggested that it is the Mo-Fe protein which binds N2. When the chemical nature of the Mo-Fe and Fe proteins and their functions are better established a more rational nomenclature can be assigned.
Remote Sensing to Analyze Wealth, Poverty, and Crime

understanding of economic, social, and cultural characteristics of a society is critical to effective government policy and successful commercial undertakings. Obtaining this information, however, often requires direct interactions with the local populace through surveys or other costly methods. We address this challenge by combining automated processing of satellite imagery with advanced modeling techniques. We have developed methods for inferring measures of wellbeing and perceptions of crime from commercial satellite imagery. Through analysis of commercial satellite imagery and coincident survey data, previous research has demonstrated models for rural afghanistan and selected countries in sub-saharan africa. The findings show the potential for predicting peoples' attitudes about the a variety of social, economic, and political issues, based only on the imagery-derived information. This paper extends the previous research, focusing on wealth, poverty, and crime. We present models to predict indicators and quantify model performance through cross-validation. The paper concludes with recommendations for future exploration.
Information-Theoretic Waveform Design for Gaussian Mixture Radar Target Profiling

An information-theoretic waveform design is proposed for Gaussian mixture radar target profiling by maximizing the mutual information between the measurements and the target signal. During gradient optimization, a bandwidth constraint is enforced by introducing a frequency-domain masking operator. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed waveform design on target profiling.
ASTM F48 Formation and Standards for Industrial Exoskeletons and Exosuits

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThis paper provides an overview of a new consensus standards committee for exoskeletons, ASTM International F48, and describes the organization and current activities of th...
A data-driven approach for estimating the change-points and impact of major events on disease risk.

Abstract Considering the impact of events on disease risk is important. Here, a Bayesian spatio-temporal accelerated failure time model furnished an ideal situation for modeling events that could impact survival experience via spatial and temporal frailty estimates. Through a hierarchical structure, this model allowed the data to detect the change-point(s) in addition to generating the event-related estimates. Both a real data case study and a simulation study were employed for testing these methods. The results suggested that meaningful and accurate change-points could be detected. Further, accurate event-related estimates for individuals in relation to those change-points could be obtained. By allowing the data to drive the change-point choices, the models were better fitting and the inference was more accurate.
Infant Feeding Practices, Workplace Breastfeeding/Lactation Practices, and Perception of Unit/Service Support Among Primiparous Active Duty Servicewomen

Introduction Successful breastfeeding provides multiple health benefits to Servicewomen and their infants and has positive indirect benefits to the military. Workplace lactation support influences breastfeeding continuation after a Servicewoman's return to work. Materials and methods This study evaluated the breastfeeding practices and workplace breastfeeding support among primiparous women serving in the U.S. Army. The study was a subanalysis of a non-blinded randomized controlled trial designed to determine the effect of postpartum appointment timing (either 2-3 or 6-8 weeks after delivery) on breastfeeding rates 6 months post-delivery. Subanalysis results were obtained through a telephonic follow-up survey 5-6 months after delivery; Servicewomen were queried to assess their breastfeeding/lactation practices and perception of unit and service support. Results Eighty of the 97 (82.5%) enrolled Servicewomen participated in the survey. Among respondents, 43.8% were still breastfeeding and 93.6% of those indicated an intent to breastfeed for a duration of 6 months or longer. Among respondents who provided feedback on their workplace, unit, and Army support for breastfeeding/lactation, only 13% reported they had access to a private room, sink, and refrigerator; 53% of respondents felt "mostly" or "very" supported by their assigned unit and 50% felt "mostly" or "very" supported by the Army. Conclusion While almost half of the respondents were still breastfeeding and planned to continue 5-6 months postpartum and the majority of respondents felt "mostly" or "very" supported in their breastfeeding by their unit and the Army, comprehensive physical support for lactation in the workplace was inconsistent. This study provides feedback to inform ongoing implementation of the existing Army breastfeeding support directive.
Recovering a sense of self in schizophrenia.

Objective Diverse theoretical orientations on psychopathology, including the most recent phenomenological and neuroscientific approaches, consistently have viewed a core component of schizophrenia to be the loss, or distortion, of a person's sense of self as an effective agent in a shared, social world. How such a sense of self becomes lost or distorted and the questions of whether or not, and if so, how it can be recovered have received considerably less attention. These questions are taken up in the present paper. Method A review of a substantial body of longitudinal research, enhanced by a growing trove of recovery narratives, provides ample evidence that many people recover a sense of self over time. Based on a review of this qualitative literature, this contribution describes the components and processes involved in the gradual reconstruction of an effective sense of social agency. Results Processes of reconstructing a sense of self begin with acceptance and an instillation of hope, which together provide a foundation for rediscovering one's efficacy in seemingly small but concrete ways that then are incorporated into a sense of social identity as a worthwhile member of one's community. Conclusions Implications of such an understanding for recovery-oriented practice are considered.
Favorable Functional Recovery in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors beyond Six Months.

Abstract Favorable long-term functional outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be underestimated. We analyzed 24-month functional outcomes from a consecutive series of severe TBI su...
Psychological Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth: An Exploratory Analysis:

Background: Epidemiological studies indicate that a majority of the U.S. population has been exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lives. In addition, resilience has become a variable of...
P23 Examining Characteristics Associated with Cooking Frequency Among College Students

Background Cooking has been shown to be associated with improved dietary intake, yet little research exists on cooking frequency among college students. Objective To determine cooking frequency and identify student characteristics associated with cooking frequency among UNC Chapel Hill students. Study Design, Settings, Participants This cross-sectional analysis used data from 4,845 UNC Chapel Hill students who completed an online survey in October and November of 2016. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Cooking frequency was assessed using the question “How often do you cook for yourself or for others?” with the response options being “often,” “sometimes,” or “never.” Self-reported data on a variety of student characteristics was also collected. Descriptive statistics were calculated and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between cooking frequency and student characteristics. Statistical significance was considered P Results Among students in our sample, 46% often, 40% sometimes, and 14% never cooked. African American students were significantly less likely to often cook compared with non-Hispanic white students. Compared to students with a perceived health rating of excellent, students with a perceived health rating of fair were less likely to often cook and students with a perceived health rating of poor were less likely to often or sometimes cook. Having higher perceived cooking skills, a lower food security status, and a car were associated with an increased adjusted odds of sometimes or often cooking. Students receiving financial aid were significantly more likely to often cook. Students living on-campus and Freshman were significantly less likely to often or sometimes cook. Having a meal plan and experiencing overweight were associated with a significantly lower adjusted odds of cooking often. Conclusion A variety of characteristics were associated with cooking frequency among UNC Chapel Hill students, including perceived cooking skills. Understanding characteristics associated with cooking frequency can help to inform the development of cooking interventions for college students. Funding None.
At Death’s Door

One of the more interesting jobs within the annals of history, at least from a sensory perspective, has to be the taste tester. This is the person who is hired, coerced, or bought into a job whose sole purpose is to sample the food planned for another person. Often this other person is someone who is important, such as a monarch or dictator. The taster samples the various food that has been prepared, and if they survive, the food is deemed safe to eat. Any poisons, poorly cooked meals, or bad food will be detected by the health of the taster before it reaches the king or queen. As a side note, if the taster is sampling beverages, their official title is cupbearer. Taste testers are still being used today as even modern presidents of both the United States and Russia use their skills.
Learning to localize sounds in a highly reverberant environment: Machine-learning tracking of dolphin whistle-like sounds in a pool.

Tracking the origin of propagating wave signals in an environment with complex reflective surfaces is, in its full generality, a nearly intractable problem which has engendered multiple domain-specific literatures. We posit that, if the environment and sensor geometries are fixed, machine learning algorithms can “learn” the acoustical geometry of the environment and accurately track signal origin. In this paper, we propose the first machine-learning-based approach to identifying the source locations of semi-stationary, tonal, dolphin-whistle-like sounds in a highly reverberant space, specifically a half-cylindrical dolphin pool. Our algorithm works by supplying a learning network with an overabundance of location “clues”, which are then selected under supervised training for their ability to discriminate source location in this particular environment. More specifically, we deliver estimated time-difference-of-arrivals (TDOA’s) and normalized cross-correlation values computed from pairs of hydrophone signals to a random forest model for high-feature-volume classification and feature selection, and subsequently deliver the selected features into linear discriminant analysis, linear and quadratic Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Gaussian process models. Based on data from 14 sound source locations and 16 hydrophones, our classification models yielded perfect accuracy at predicting novel sound source locations. Our regression models yielded better accuracy than the established Steered-Response Power (SRP) method when all training data were used, and comparable accuracy along the pool surface when deprived of training data at testing sites; our methods additionally boast improved computation time and the potential for superior localization accuracy in all dimensions with more training data. Because of the generality of our method we argue it may be useful in a much wider variety of contexts.
An update on international practice variation in peanut introduction: conundrums, controversies, and a new direction.

Purpose of review Introduction of peanut during the first year of life is associated with an 81% relative risk reduction of developing peanut allergy in infants with severe eczema, egg allergy, or both. However, significant international variation exists in risk stratification prior to peanut introduction. Recent findings A policy-level screening approach, such as the one in the United States, is not practical and is associated with higher costs and more cases of peanut allergy over time, in contrast to international models that recommend universal early introduction without prescreening. In Australia, population-level efforts to introduce peanut early without screening have demonstrated high rates of peanut introduction before 12 months of age and low rates of severe allergic reactions. In contrast, screening prior to peanut introduction in the United States is associated with 'screening creep' - the tendency of clinicians to test populations where screening is not recommended. Summary Early peanut introduction can reduce the risk of developing food allergy and is more effective without a risk-based screening approach. In some circumstances, shared clinical decision-making can facilitate food allergy prevention in a manner consistent with family values and preferences.
Évaluation de l’efficacité et de la morbidité de la thermocoagulation par radiofréquence dans le traitement de la maladie hémorroïdaire

Resume Introduction La maladie hemorroidaire de grade III peut necessiter un traitement chirurgical. Differentes techniques mini-invasives peuvent etre proposees au patient dans cette indication notamment la ligature des arteres hemorroidaires associee a une mucopexie ou encore l’hemorroidopexie agrafee. Une technique de thermocoagulation hemorroidaire par radiofrequence a recemment ete introduite. Le but de notre etude a ete d’evaluer l’efficacite et la morbidite precoce de cette procedure. Methode Les donnees des patients successifs operes entre decembre 2017 et decembre 2019 d’une thermocoagulation hemorroidaire par radiofrequence pour maladie hemorroidaire de grade II a IV ont ete colligees de maniere retrospective. Resultats Soixante-quatorze patients, âges en moyenne de 53 ans, ont ete operes sur la periode de l’etude. L’indication majeure etait une maladie hemorroidaire de grade III chez 95 % des patients. Plus de 80 % des patients ont ete operes en ambulatoire. Dix-huit (24,3 %) patients ont presente une complication postoperatoire dans les 30 jours, dont 2 (2,7 %) ayant necessite une reprise chirurgicale pour rectorragie et douleur anale intense. Sept (9,5 %) patients ont ete readmis a l’hopital et 18 (24,3 %) ont reconsulte de maniere anticipee dans les 30 jours postoperatoires. A trois mois postoperatoire le resultat anatomique et fonctionnel etait satisfaisant chez plus de 93 % des patients. Conclusion La thermocoagulation hemorroidaire par radiofrequence est une technique efficace dans le traitement de la maladie hemorroidaire de grade III. Malgre un taux non negligeable de complications postoperatoires mineures justifiant une consultation anticipee ou une rehospitalisation, les complications severes concernent moins de 3 % des patients operes.
Field-deployable, rapid diagnostic testing of saliva for SARS-CoV-2

To safely re-open economies and prevent future outbreaks, rapid, frequent, point-of-need, SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing is necessary. However, existing field-deployable COVID-19 testing methods require the use of uncomfortable swabs and trained providers in PPE, while saliva-based methods must be transported to high complexity laboratories for testing. Here, we report the development and clinical validation of High-Performance Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification (HP-LAMP), a rapid, saliva-based, SARS-CoV-2 test with a limit of detection of 1.4 copies of virus per µl of saliva and a sensitivity and specificity with clinical samples of > 96%, on par with traditional RT-PCR based methods using swabs, but can deliver results using only a single fluid transfer step and simple heat block. Testing of 120 patient samples in 40 pools comprised of 5 patient samples each with either all negative or a single positive patient sample was 100% accurate. Thus, HP-LAMP may enable rapid and accurate results in the field using saliva, without need of a high-complexity laboratory.
Pulse Separation Using Time-Frequency Mask and Machine Learning

This paper intends to demonstrate the use of machine learning to deinterleave pulse trains in radar by implementing the cocktail party problem. The cocktail party problem is a phenomenon when a person is selectively listening to a specific conversation from a mix of conversations at a cocktail party. In our case, instead of a mix of conversations, it's a mix of pulse trains that a radar is trying to separate. The radar could use machine learning to separate the intercepted pulse train using a deep learning neural network. The pulse trains are converted to a time-frequency representation to create an ideal time-frequency mask and isolate the desired pulse trains. The mixed pulse train and the time-frequency mask is used to train the neural network to estimate the desire pulse trains from mixed pulse train. This is a process of using a time-frequency mask with a neural network to deinterleave pulse trains in radar.
Firmer Roots of Ethnicity and Nationalism? New Historical Research and Its Implications for Political Science

Among social scientists, constructivism has long reigned supreme in the study of ethnicity, nationality, and nationalism. Accordingly, scholars have highlighted the role of cultural framing and political choice in the definition of ethnic categories, their fluidity, and their flexible boundaries. Conversely, they have deemphasized the historical roots of ethnicity and depicted nations as the contested products of nationalist movements and political leaders and as (merely) “imagined communities” (Anderson 1991). Although constructivism encompasses a broad gamut of theories that differ in the malleability ascribed to ethnicity (Chandra 2012, 19–22, 139–49), recent authors have emphasized its susceptibility to change by highlighting manipulation by political-electoral entrepreneurs (Wilkinson 2012) and focusing on “identity in formation” (Laitin 1998), “ethnicity without groups” (Brubaker 2004), and “imagined noncommunities” characterized by “national indifference” (Zahra 2010).
Um “Pós-Colonial” perdido nos limites do colonialismo: Henrique Galvão e Os Bichos do Mato

Este artigo tem como intencao analisar como o romance Kurika (1944) de Henrique Galvao podera ser entendido como uma das primeiras obras de literatura colonial sobre Angola precursoras de um pensamento pos-colonial, materializado posteriormente no campo dos Estudos Animais (EA). Enfatizo o termo literatura colonial, pois na literatura portuguesa outros antes de Galvao ja tinham incursado na proposta de “novas maneiras de pensar as complexas e controversas relacoes entre homens e animais nao humanos” (Silva 187), como e o caso de Vitorino Nemesio em O Bicho Harmonioso e em Cavalo Encantado . Na literatura lusofona, em geral, outros nomes podem ser mencionados como produtores dos seus bestiarios literarios, tais como Miguel Torga, Herberto Helder, Clarice Lispector, Guimaraes Rosa, Aquilino Ribeiro e Mia Couto. O Kurika revela-se, no entanto, como obra literaria relativamente negligenciada pela critica, embora tivesse sido leitura obrigatoria no ensino preparatorio portugues depois da queda do regime ditatorial. E, deste modo, aqui intuito resgatar este “romance dos bichos do mato” dada a relevância que ele proporciona a compreensao de um campo de investigacao quando este ainda nao se tinha sequer formado, o dos EA, e para o entendimento de uma vertente da literatura colonial portuguesa ainda nao explorada e da complexa relacao que esta pode ter com os estudos pos-coloniais e a sua vertente dos Estudos Animais.
Software Labels

There is a real need to (metaphorically) label software, but in what way—like a food, drug, hazardous material, or something else? The reasons for labeling software and how to do this are discussed.
Abstract 356: Serum Amyloid A Augments Aortic Aneurysm Formation Induced by Mineralocorticoid Receptor Agonists in the Presence of High Salt

Objectives: The annual mortality in the United States from ruptured aortic aneurysms is ~15000. Therapeutic interventions that prevent AAA progression and rupture remain to be identified. In humans, plasma concentrations of the acute phase reactant serum amyloid A (SAA) correlates with aortic dimensions before aneurysm formation. We have shown that endogenous SAA augments AAA in the well-established angiotensin II (AngII) infusion mouse model (unpublished data). Here we investigated whether endogenous SAA impacts aneurysm formation induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA), a mineralocorticoid receptor agonist, in the presence of high salt. Approach and results: DOCA pellets (50mg, 21 day release) were implanted subcutaneously in the lateral dorsal region of 8-month old male C57BL/6 (SAAWT) mice and C57BL/6 mice lacking both acute phase SAA isoforms, SAA1.1 and SAA2.1 (SAAKO). The mice were also provided drinking water containing 0.9% NaCl and 0.2% KCl for 21 days (n = 7-8). As expected, DOCA + salt resulted in significantly increased systolic blood pressure, which was not affected by the absence of SAA. Unexpectedly SAAKO mice displayed a reduced urine output, accompanied by a reduced water intake. Plasma sodium and potassium concentrations in SAAWT and SAAKO mice were similar after treatment. The maximal luminal diameter of the abdominal aorta, as determined by ultrasound, was significantly lower in SAAKO mice compared to SAAWT mice after a 3-week DOCA + salt regime. Aneurysm incidence, determined by ultrasound and ex vivo analyses, was 67% for SAAWT mice and 25 % for SAAKO mice. Notably, plasma SAA was markedly increased in the SAAWT mice that formed aneurysms compared to those that did not. In SAAWT mice, immunohistochemical staining and in situ zymography identified SAA in aneurysmal aortic tissue, but not control aortas, that co-localized to regions of enhanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, suggesting a role for SAA in MMP activation. Conclusions: We conclude that endogenous SAA augments aortic aneurysm formation induced by mineralocorticoid receptor agonists in the presence of high salt. Thus, SAA contributes to pathological processes leading to aortic aneurysm in two robust and mechanistically distinct animal models.
The efficacy of type and screen to reduce unnecessary cross matches for obstetric patients

Abstract A type-and-screen procedure was established whereby obstetric patients with no complications would be tested for ABO, Rh, and unexpected antibody. If the antibody screen was negative, cross matches would not be performed. Type and screen could be converted in 20 minutes to cross match, or type-specific blood would be immediately available. Our initial results with type and screen demonstrated 65.6% utilization but 399 cross matches were done for 17 transfusions (cross match/transfusion ratio of 17.6/1). The protocol was changed so that all nonbleeding patients would be typed and screened. A total of 503 of the next 563 patients (89.3%) were typed and screened; cross matches provided 33 transfusions (cross match/transfusion ratio of 4.9/1). An estimated 964 cross matches were eliminated with cost savings of $14,460 in 3 months. We concluded that the type-and-screen procedure is an effective tool in reducing the cross match/transfusion ratio and in lowering costs in obstetric patients with no compromise in patient care, even in high-risk patients.
S4-alpha mRNA translation repression complex. I. Thermodynamics of formation.

Abstract Expression of the four ribosomal proteins from the Escherichia coli α operon (S4, S11, S13, and L17) is regulated at the level of translation by the binding of S4 to the α mRNA. Using a filter binding assay and α mRNA sequences prepared by in-vitro transcription, previous work located the S4 target site within the ~ 100-base leader sequence. We have extended this work to include fragments of the α leader with six different 5′ end points and four different 3′ end points. A core region between bases 23 and 69 (numbering from the first nucleotide of the E. coli transcript) binds S4 with an affinity of ~ 2 μ m −1. Regions of weak interactions are located in the 22 nucleotides 5′ and the 70 nucleotides 3′ to this core; they increase the S4 affinity to ~ 13μ m −1. Studies of S4-α mRNA binding under different conditions have revealed the following. (1) Specific and non-specific binding show the same dependence on K+ concentration, with ∂ log K ∂ log [K + ] ≈ 4 in most potassium salts. With KC1 and KBr, much weaker salt dependence of specific complex formation is observed suggesting that the protein responds to the correct RNA substrate by binding halide anions. (2) Increasing the MgCl2 concentration between 1 and 4 m m enhances binding by a factor of 4, with no further effects up to 20 m m . About five Mg2+ are taken up by the complex with an average binding constant of ~ 600 m −1 each. Renaturation of the RNA in the presence of MgCl2 is also required to obtain full binding. These effects are seen only with α mRNA extending beyond the initiation codon; S4 binding to the α leader sequence itself is insensitive to Mg2+. (3) The association kinetics are fast and probably diffusion controlled. (4) Formation of the complex is entirely entropy driven.
Crashing, Chaos, Culture and Connection

This essay considers the experience of a seasoned disaster responder who encountered a personal disaster while traveling in Thailand. The resulting injury and helplessness led to new insights about mortality, vulnerability, culture and the significance of social trust—echoing lessons gained from professional experiences, but giving them new meaning and resonance.
Regulation of expression of the rodent cytosolic sulfotransferases.

Understanding the molecular regulation of the sulfotransferases is important because these enzymes are essential to a number of critical biological processes. Sulfotransferase expression clearly pl...
Large-Scale Dynamics of Circulations with Open-Ocean Convection

AbstractFormation of the densest water masses in the North Atlantic and its marginal seas involves open-ocean convection. The main goal of this study is to contribute to the general understanding of how such convective regions connect to the large-scale ocean circulation. Specifically, analytic and numerical versions of a variable density layer model are used to explore the processes underlying the circulation in an idealized ocean basin. The models are forced by a surface buoyancy flux, which generates a density maximum in the ocean interior. In response to the forcing, a region forms that is characterized by the closed Rossby wave characteristics and where the eddy–mean transport converges toward the convective site. Outside of that region, characteristics extend from the eastern boundary and a distorted β-plume circulation develops, linking the convection site with the western boundary. The overturning strength in the model can be related to several environment variables and forcings and is constrained...
Streamlining customer vendor synergy through distributed test and automated issue reporting by utilizing modern test equipment connectivity and Internet infrastructure

The Internet is enabling a new approach to testing strategies by redistributing traditional test functions between component vendors and equipment integrators. Modern connectivity, design software and graphical programming environments have made it practical to create automated test programs that share information via the Internet. Many tests need no longer be preformed by the system integrator, but can be disturbed to the vendors resulting in powerful economic savings. System integrator, test engineers develop the test programs for their component vendors. This gives their system designers confidence in test. Results are uploaded directly to their database from vendors. Component vendors no longer have to fully re-interpret the meaning or revision of specifications, saving time, and are able to ship product with confidence of acceptance by using the integrators program. Addition benefits are gained through timely automated issue notification via email through the appropriate escalation chain. Latency elimination and file compatibility in test data can be very beneficial when it flows across company boundaries seamlessly. System designers can simulate performance even before the components arrive at their location. This paper reviews the concepts, economics and techniques for redistributing test to shorten the design cycle, increase supply chain efficiency, and reduce capital equipment budgets.
Evaluation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as an interference on commercial breath-alcohol analyzers.

Abstract Anecdotal reports suggest that high environmental or occupational exposures to the fuel oxygenate methyl tert -butyl ether (MTBE) may result in breath concentrations that are sufficiently elevated to cause a false positive on commercial breath-alcohol analyzers. We evaluated this possibility in vitro by establishing a response curve for simulated breath containing MTBE in ethanol. Two types of breath-alcohol analyzers were evaluated. One analyzer’s principle of operation involves in situ wet chemistry (oxidation of ethanol in a potassium dichromate solution) and absorption of visible light. The second instrument uses a combination of infrared absorption and an electrochemical sensor. Both types of instruments are currently used, although the former method represents older technology while the latter method represents newer technology. The percent blood alcohol response curve was evaluated over a breath concentration range thought to be relevant to high-level environmental or occupational exposure (0–361 μg/l). Results indicate that MTBE positively biases the response of the older technology Breathalyzer™ when evaluated as a single constituent or in combination with ethanol. We conclude that a false positive is possible on this instrument if the MTBE exposure is very high, recent with respect to testing, and occurs in combination with ethanol consumption. The interference can be identified on the older technology instrument by a time dependent post-reading increase in the instrument response that does not occur for ethanol alone. In contrast, the newer technology instrument using infrared and electrochemical detectors did not respond to MTBE at lower levels (0–36 μg/l), and at higher levels (>72 μg/l) the instrument indicated an “interference” or “error”. For this instrument, a false positive does not occur even at high MTBE levels in the presence of ethanol.
Intercellular (Mis)communication in Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegenerative diseases have been intensively studied, but a comprehensive understanding of their pathogenesis remains elusive. An increasing body of evidence suggests that non-cell-autonomous processes play critical roles during the initiation and spatiotemporal progression or propagation of the dominant pathology. Here, we review findings highlighting the importance of pathological cell-cell communication in neurodegenerative disease. We focus primarily on the accumulating evidence suggesting dysfunctional crosstalk between neurons and astroglia, neurons and innate immune system cells, as well as cellular processes leading to transmission of pathogenic proteins between cells. Insights into the complex intercellular perturbations underlying neurodegeneration will enhance our efforts to develop effective therapeutic approaches for preventing or reversing symptomatic progression in this devastating class of human diseases.