cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant–Pollinator Interactions: What Are They Telling Us about Community Assembly, Conservation, and Ecosystem Management?

Waser, Nickolas M., and Jeff Ollerton. 2006. Plant–pollinator interactions: from specialization to generalization. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. xii + 445 p. $45.00, ISBN: 0-226-87400-1 (alk. paper).
On smoothing potentially non-stationary climate time series

[1] A simple approach to the smoothing of a potentially non-stationary time series is presented which provides an optimal choice among three alternative, readily motivated and easily implemented boundary constraints. This method is applied to the smoothing of the instrumental Northern Hemisphere (NH) annual mean and cold-season North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) time series, yielding an objective estimate of the smoothed decadal-scale variations in these series including long-term trends.
A real-time laser-based detection system for measurement of delineations of moving vehicles

In current practice, quantitative traffic data are most commonly acquired from inductive loops. In addition, video-image processing or time-of-flight laser systems can be used. These methods all have problems associated with them. We have developed a nonintrusive laser-based detection system for measurement of vehicle travel time. The basic detector unit consists of a fan angle laser and a photodetector array positioned above the plane of detection. This detection system is able to determine the length and width of moving objects in real time with high resolution, with the highest resolution measurements being associated with object lengths. This information is used to differentiate similar objects and can be used later for re-identification of individual objects or object groups, providing a real measure of travel time between detection sites.
NMRstudy of relaxation and equilibrium of lithium ions in contact with alumina

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times (T1's) of lithium nuclei were measured for lithium chloride water solutions in contact with alumina. The T1 's for 7Li ions in these systems all showed two-phase behavior, and the data were analyzed in terms of chemical exchange between the ions in the bulk phase and on the surface of the alumina. Values for the surface and bulk populations and for the surface and bulk relaxation times were determined for the lithium ions. The values for the equilibrium constant and rate constants for the lithium ion exchange between the bulk and surface were determined as well as the site density for adsorption of these ions on the alumina surface. The relaxation times of the surface ions are discussed in terms of possible relaxation mechanisms.
On the Ontology of Life: The Recent Contributions of Tymieniecka, Gibson, and Shotter to the Development of an Ecological Approach to Philosophy

I first began to think clearly about an ecological approach to philosophy at the time of the 18th World Congress of Philosophy which met in Bristol, England in 1988. Since 1995 I have as a participant become vividly aware of the contributions of the meetings of the World Institute for Advanced Phenomenological Research and Learning to this novel approach.
Gene Functions and Genetics of Phage S13

S13 and oX174 are in the same family of small icosahedral (Hall, Maclean, and I. Tessman, 1959) bacterial viruses, each containing single-stranded DNA (I. Tessman, 1958, 1959) with about 5000 nucleotides (Sinsheimer, 1959). The two viruses are nearly identical: they recombine genetically (E. S. Tessman and Shleser, 1963) and they show complementation of their gene functions (Hayashi and E. S. Tessman, unpublished), as well as being very similar in many other aspects (Zahler, 1958).
Cultivating a valuable hybrid: the orthopaedic clinician-scientist.

To The Editor: I was pleased to read “The Orthopaedic Clinician-Scientist” (83-A: 131-5, Jan. 2001), by Jackson, in The Orthopaedic Forum. The loss of this hybrid is one of the major problems in medicine, and it is particularly acute in the surgical disciplines. The quotation by Francis Moore from 1976, about the unresolved conflict “between the operating room and the laboratory,” struck home because when I was a fourth-year medical student in 1951, my discussions with Francis Moore were pivotal to my becoming a full-time academic orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Moore explained the difference between the practicing surgeon and the academic surgeon in their training and education. While few chose the academic pathway at that time, there …
The Impact of Asynchronous Multimedia Communications on Understanding and Recall

This research focused on the design of software environments to support rich asynchronous communication and to understand the impact of such communications on understanding and recall in a military context. The goal was to explore how the design of a multimedia asynchronous communication tool influenced the understanding and recall of information. 46 ROTC cadets each received a company Operations Order, and based on that were required to write a platoon OPORD followed by two recall questions. Half of the cadets received the company OPORD in a conventional text format that included a static map overlay. The other half received the OPORD with 4 subsections presented with a multimedia presentation tool that included synchronized animation and voice narration. Overall, our findings show that the group that viewed the multimedia presentation recalled mission critical information 26-47% more often.
Optimization of Sampling Effort for Within-tree Populations of Southern Pine Beetle and Its Natural Enemies ,

As a pre-requisite to full-scale collection of southern pine beetle population data, determination of optimum sample unit size and numbers have been made. Optimum sample unit size was developed as a function of the variables to be measured (i.e., attack density, egg gallery length, total brood, parasite complex and predator complex). A series of permanent 2,000 cm2 X-ray maps, depicting southern pine beetle life stages plus natural enemies occurring at varying heights in trees of different sizes, were made. These map data were stored, as addressable grid cell values in the computer. Programs were written for randomly selecting a series of defined experimental sample unit sizes. From these observations, the relationship of sample number to sample unit size was determined, and a procedure was outlined for estimating density of the bark beetle and its natural enemy populations throughout an infested area.
Respiratory Behavior of the Propionic Acid Bacteria

Redox potential data obtained with resting cells of propionic acid bacteria, using succinic, fumaric, or malic acids as hydrogen donators, with various hydrogen acceptors show the following results. Succinic acid acts as a donator to methylene blue, NaNO3, and o-chlorophenol-indophenol. Fumaric acid may donate hydrogen to a less degree to methylene blue and o-chlorophenol-indophenol, while malic acid shows only a slight donation to these acceptors. Respiration experiments using the Barcroft-Warburg technique show marked O2-uptake with buffered suspensions of propionic acid bacteria when succinic, lactic, and pyruvic acids are used as substrates; much less with malic and fumaric acids. In an atmosphere of nitrogen, CO2 is evolved in relatively large quantities from succinic, lactic, and pyruvic acids, and in smaller amounts from fumaric and malic acids. From these results it is concluded that the conversion of succinic acid to propionic acid proposed by Wood, Stone and Werkman1 probably takes place by dire...
Partial discharge combination detection with HF and UHF method for power cables

In order to carry out an on-line partial discharge detection for the after-laying power cables and suppress interference occurring in the on-site measurement,the combination method with HF(High Frequency) and UHF(Ultra Frequency) measurement is proposed,and the on-line partial discharge detection system for power cables is established.The system consists of HF and UHF sensor,signal conditioning units,date-acquisition units and PC software,and the impulse interference was removed through mutual identification between the HF and UHF signal.Meanwhile the interference suppression algorithm of multi-cycle superimposition based on complex wavelet was put forward.The test results for defect cable show that the system can effectively detect the HF and UHF signals of partial discharge with the sensitivity lower than 10 pc,and the processing results for measured data show that the proposed method can suppress the interference well.
Ego vicissitudes in response to replacement or loss of body parts. Certain analogies to events during psychoanalytic treatment.

A comparison is made between the analytic experience and two distinct kinds of surgery, i.e., organ transplant operations and more traditional surgical procedures. Basically, the first add new parts, while the latter remove old parts. This fundamental difference influences patients' response to the surgical intervention. Similarly, in analysis one can identify phases when the patient is troubled over the possibility of acquiring new parts of the self, and other phases, usually later in treatment, when he mourns the loss of old and familiar parts. These generalizations bear on the problem of resistance to change during analysis and patients' fears about permitting themselves to be influenced by analytic treatment.
Self-regulation principles underlying risk perception and decision making within the context of genomic testing

Advances in theory and research on self-regulation and decision-making processes have yielded important insights into how cognitive, emotional, and social processes shape risk perceptions and risk-related decisions. We examine how self-regulation theory can be applied to inform our understanding of decision-making processes within the context of genomic testing, a clinical arena in which individuals face complex risk information and potentially life-altering decisions. After presenting key principles of self-regulation, we present a genomic testing case example to illustrate how principles related to risk representations, approach and avoidance motivations, emotion regulation, defensive responses, temporal construals, and capacities such as numeric abilities can shape decisions and psychological responses during the genomic testing process. We conclude with implications for using self-regulation theory to advance science within genomic testing and opportunities for how this research can inform further developments in self-regulation theory.
Single-Site, Heterogeneous Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 in Water as the Solvent

Creating stable surface-bound molecular catalysts for CO2 reduction in aqueous solutions for either electrochemical or photoelectrochemical reduction is a continuing challenge. We report here the preparation and characterization of thin oxide/carbon nanotube electrodes on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes. The electrodes were prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ∼15 nm of TiO2 followed by a layer of carbon nanotubes and a thin (2 nm) overlayer of TiO2 for surface stabilization and binding. The phosphonate-derivatized version of the known aqueous solution catalyst for H2/CO reduction, [RuII(tpy-Ph–CH2–PO3H2)(Mebim-py)(H2O)](PF6)2 (tpy-Ph–CH2–PO3H2 = (4-([2, 2′:6′,2″-terpyridin]-4′-yl)benzyl)phosphonic acid; Mebim-py = 3-methyl-1-pyridyl-benzimidazol-2-ylidene), was added to the surface and stabilized by addition of a thin overlayer of TiO2 by ALD. In the derivatized electrodes, the catalyst maintains its reactivity toward CO2 reduction in the short-term, giving mixtures of H2/CO that vary f...
Abstract WP370: Differential Alternative Splicing of Leukocyte mRNAs After Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Ischemic Stroke of Different Etiologies

Transcriptome studies have used 3’-biased microarrays to study regulated genes and pathways in the blood of ischemic stroke (IS) patients, missing a majority of transcript isoforms due to alternati...
Vascular function in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors: a pilot study.

Aromatase inhibitors (AI) have been shown to reduce breast cancer-related mortality in women with estrogen positive (ER+) breast cancer. The use of AIs, however, has been associated with higher rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular (CV) events. A cross-sectional study of 25 healthy postmenopausal women and 36 women with curative intent breast cancer on an AI was performed to assess endothelial dysfunction, an indicator of risk for CV events. Consented subjects underwent vascular testing using the HDI/Pulse Wave CR-2000 Cardiovascular Profiling System and the EndoPAT2000 system. Mean age was 61.7 and 59.6 years (cases, controls). Most subjects were Caucasian and overweight. Controls had a lower mean systolic blood pressure (128.6 mmHg vs. 116.2 mmHg, p = 0.004). Median estradiol levels were reduced in cases (2 vs. 15 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). EndoPAT ratio (0.8 vs. 2.7, p < 0.0001) was significantly reduced in cases as compared to controls. Median large artery elasticity (12.9 vs. 14.6 ml/mmHg × 10, p = 0.12) and small artery elasticity (5.2 vs. 7.0 ml/mmHg × 100, p = 0.07) were also reduced though not statistically significant. There was no correlation between use of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, type of AI, or duration of AI use and endothelial function. When adjusting for differences in blood pressure, results remained significant. Breast cancer cases on AIs have reductions in endothelial function, a predictor of adverse CV disease. Impact: Vascular function changes in breast cancer cases on AIs compared to postmenopausal women. Further work is needed to evaluate vascular changes over time.
HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis and Condomless Sex: Disentangling Personal Values From Public Health Priorities.

Daily HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective form of HIV protection that remains unknown and inaccessible for many people in the United States despite receiving federal approval over five years ago.PrEP is supported by the public health community, but forgoing condoms while taking PrEP has proven controversial; this controversy may be contributing to the lag in PrEP uptake. We argue that limiting PrEP access based on anticipated or actual sexual behavior contradicts the goals of public health research and practice and is not scientifically justified.As evidence for the effectiveness of novel forms of biomedical HIV protection emerges, public health professionals need to accept new definitions of “protected sex” and ensure that their personal values do not override empirical evidence when determining public health priorities.
Enhanced phosphorus fertilizers (Carbond P® and Avail®) supplied to maize in hydroponics

ABSTRACTPhosphorus (P) is poorly soluble in soil and has poor plant uptake efficiency. AVAIL® and Carbond P (CBP) are fertilizers that increase P-use efficiency (PUE) and yields on P limiting soils. The objectives of this study were to determine if mode of action for these products is related to physiological response, and to evaluate possible toxicity. AVAIL and CBP were compared to ammonium polyphosphate (APP) at pH 6 or 8 for hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.). Not surprisingly, biomass and P concentration increased with increasing P concentration of the solution. However, neither AVAIL nor CBP had any positive or adverse effects. These results, coupled with previous soil-based studies, show that the observed increase in PUE is not a physiological growth stimulant response, but rather the result of impacts on soil P solubility. Furthermore, these materials are not toxic when in direct contact with plant roots—even at relatively high concentrations.
Political institutions and the evolution of character traits

Abstract This paper argues that political institutions play an important role in influencing the evolution of character traits. We consider a population with two groups each with different character traits. A political institution provides the platform and a set of rules for the two groups to battle over the relative representativeness of their traits for the high positions in the social hierarchy. This political process affects the economic outcomes of the two groups and, subsequently their character traits evolve. We study how conducive different political institutions are to spreading character traits that induce better economic outcomes. Under “exclusive” political institutions, any trait can be prevalent. Therefore, a society can be trapped in a state in which traits associated with unfavorable economic outcomes persist. Under “inclusive” political institutions, evolution has stronger selection power. Only traits that result in the largest comparative advantage in terms of holding a high position can be prevalent.
Decadent Anarchists and Anarchist Decadents in 1880s Paris

In 1886, when the Decadent movement formed around Anatole Baju’s Le Decadent, some on the radical left in France saw its potential to become the locus of an avant-garde that fused politics and lite...
Self-administration of methamphetamine aerosol by male and female baboons.

Abstract The reinforcing efficacy of vaporized methamphetamine HCl (0.3 mg/kg) was determined in baboons with minimal previous drug exposure. A group of 8 adult male baboons was tested prior to a group of 7 adult female baboons. Baboons were initially trained to suck on a brass stem activating a pressure-sensitive relay (i.e., puff), to receive one MM a single candy was given after an additional 5 puffs to ensure that baboons continued puffing after the aerosol entered their mouths. Puffing was recorded but not reinforced by candy or drug for 2 min after each aerosol delivery for males and 1 min for females. Males could earn 10 and females could earn 20 aerosol deliveries. Males made between 225 and 650 puffs each session. Females made between 200 and 400 puffs each session. When only candy and placebo aerosol were delivered the number of puffs decreased in all 6 females but increased in all 5 males. When candy was delivered without aerosol, puffing decreased in 4 of 5 males, but this manipulation was not tested in females. Methamphetamine aerosol delivery maintained lower rates of puffing behavior in females than males, but procedural differences weaken interpretation of this sex comparison. Although training non-human primates to inhale drug vapors is time consuming, if successful, their long lifespan could provide years of valuable data justifying further work with non-human primates using models of vaporized drug self-administration.
Ankle brachial index and cognitive function among Hispanics/Latinos: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract Background and aims The Ankle-Brachial index (ABI) is a well-accepted measure of peripheral artery disease (arterial stenosis and stiffness) and has been shown to be associated with cognitive function and disorders; however, these associations have not been examined in Hispanics/Latinos. Therefore, we sought to examine relationships between ABI and cognitive function among diverse middle-age and older Hispanics/Latinos. Methods We used cross-sectional data on n = 7991 participants aged 45–74 years, without stroke or coronary heart disease, from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Our primary outcome, global cognition (GC), was a continuous composite score of four cognitive domains (verbal learning and memory, verbal fluency, executive function, and mental status). Secondary outcomes were the individual tests representing these domains. The ABI was analyzed continuously and categorically with standard clinical cut-points. We tested associations using generalized survey regression models incrementally adjusting for confounding factors. Age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia moderations were examined through interactions with the primary exposure. Results In age, sex, and education adjusted models, continuous ABI had an inverse u-shape association with worse GC. We found similar associations with measures of verbal learning and memory, verbal fluency, executive function, but not with low mental status. The associations were attenuated, but not completely explained, by accounting for the confounders and not modified by age, sex, education, and vascular disease risks. Conclusions In addition to being a robust indicator of arterial compromise, our study suggests that abnormal ABI readings may also be useful for early signaling of subtle cognitive deficits.
Impact of a 12-week wellness coaching on self-care behaviors among primary care adult patients with prediabetes.

Abstract This single arm prospective study assessed the impact of individualized wellness coaching intervention for primary care patients with prediabetes on self-reported changes in physical activity level and food choices. Five hundred sixty adult patients 18 years and older with prediabetes, seen in primary care clinic, were invited to participate in 12 weeks wellness coaching sessions delivered by certified coaches. Responses from questionnaires at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks were analyzed. Of 168 consented patients, 99 completed at least one coaching session; majority was elderly, female, overweight or obese. At baseline, 50% had
Control of inference: role of some aspects of discourse structure-centering

The purpose of this communication is to examine one particular aspect of discourse structure, namely, a discourse construct called center of a sentence (utterance) in discourse and its relation to the larger issue of control of inference. We have described very briefly the notion of center(s) of a sentence in discourse and discussed how the centering phenomenon might be incorporated in a formal model of inference and its relation to the intrinsic complexity of certain inferences.
Machine learning-based coreference resolution of concepts in clinical documents.

Objective Coreference resolution of concepts, although a very active area in the natural language processing community, has not yet been widely applied to clinical documents. Accordingly, the 2011 i2b2 competition focusing on this area is a timely and useful challenge. The objective of this research was to collate coreferent chains of concepts from a corpus of clinical documents. These concepts are in the categories of person, problems, treatments, and tests. Design A machine learning approach based on graphical models was employed to cluster coreferent concepts. Features selected were divided into domain independent and domain specific sets. Training was done with the i2b2 provided training set of 489 documents with 6949 chains. Testing was done on 322 documents. Results The learning engine, using the un-weighted average of three different measurement schemes, resulted in an F measure of 0.8423 where no domain specific features were included and 0.8483 where the feature set included both domain independent and domain specific features. Conclusion Our machine learning approach is a promising solution for recognizing coreferent concepts, which in turn is useful for practical applications such as the assembly of problem and medication lists from clinical documents.
Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance Studies on π-conjugated semiconductor systems

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) techniques were used to investigate the dynamics of excitons and charge carriers in π-conjugated organic semiconductors. Degradation behavior of the negative spin-1/2 electroluminescence-detected magnetic resonance (ELDMR) was observed in Alq3 devices. The increase in the resonance amplitude implies an increasing bipolaron formation during degradation, which might be the result of growth of charge traps in the device. The same behavior of the negative spin-1/2 ELDMR was observed in 2wt% Rubrene doped Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminium (Alq3) devices. However, with increasing injection current, a positive spin-1/2 ELDMR, together with positive spin 1 triplet powder patterns at {delta}m{sub S}={+-}1 and {delta}m{sub S}={+-}2, emerges. Due to the similarities in the frequency dependences of single and double modulated ELDMR and the photoluminescence-detected magnetic resonance (PLDMR) results in poly[2-methoxy-5-(2 -ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenyl ene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) films, the mechanism for this positive spin-1/2 ELDMR was assigned to enhanced triplet-polaron quenching under resonance conditions. The ELDMR in rubrene doped Alq3 devices provides a path to investigate charge distribution in the device under operational conditions. Combining the results of several devices with different carrier blocking properties and the results from transient EL, it was concluded trions not only exist near buffer layer but also exist in the electronmore » transport layer. This TPQ model can also be used to explain the positive spin-1/2 PLDMR in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films at low temperature and in MEH-PPV films at various temperatures up to room temperature. Through quantitative analysis, TE-polaron quenching (TPQ) model is shown having the ability to explain most behaviors of the positive spin-1/2 resonance. Photocurrent detected magnetic resonance (PCDMR) studies on MEH-PPV devices revealed a novel transient resonance signal. The signal may originate from the higher concentration of deep traps near cathode. A quantitative analysis based on this assumption was carried out and found to be consistent with the experimental results.« less
Differences in antipodal specificity in the binding of steroids to serum proteins.

Differences in the binding of d- and l-steroids to serum proteins were determined by a method which did not require a pure sample of each antipode. A known mixture of tritium-labeled racemic steroid and d-14C-labeled steroid was added to the protein and differences in the binding of d and l forms deduced from changes in 3H:14C ratio after separation of bound and unbound steroid fractions by gel filtration or equilibrium dialysis. The d- but not the l-enantiomers of progesterone and aldosterone were bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin. Similarly, only d-aldosterone was bound to an antiserum prepared against d-aldosterone hapten. In contrast, bovine and human serum albumin exhibited no antipodal preference, but bound equally both enantiomers of progesterone and aldosterone.
Mechanistic Study of the Direct Hydrodeoxygenation of m-Cresol over WOx-Decorated Pt/C Catalysts

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of m-cresol to produce toluene over carbon-supported Pt and Pt-WOx catalysts was studied. In stark contrast to Pt/C that exhibits only modest selectivity and low stability ...
Use of other combustible tobacco products among priority populations of smokers: Implications for U.S. tobacco regulatory policy.

Abstract Certain sub-populations (e.g., those living in poverty, racial/ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, and people with mental health conditions) experience profound tobacco-related health disparities. Ongoing surveillance of use of various combustible tobacco products by priority populations of cigarette smokers is needed, particularly in the changing U.S. tobacco regulatory landscape. In 2018 the FDA announced their consideration of a tobacco product standard that would limit the level of nicotine in combustible cigarettes, and such regulations should consider potential effects on tobacco-related disparities. If certain subgroups of cigarette smokers are also using other combustible products, they may be particularly likely to continue dual use or switch to exclusive use of those products if a nicotine reduction standard only applies to cigarettes. Accordingly, this study provided recent U.S. nationally representative data on use of other combustible tobacco products among current cigarette smokers by sociodemographic characteristics. Data were drawn from current cigarette smokers (n = 2559) in 2016 and 2017 U.S. nationally representative surveys. Associations between sociodemographic variables (poverty status, education, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and mental health status) with use of little cigars and cigarillos (LCCs), traditional cigars, and hookah were examined. Among current cigarette smokers, those living in poverty, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with mental health conditions were particularly likely to use LCCs. Racial/ethnic minority smokers were more likely to smoke traditional cigars. Non-heterosexual smokers, Hispanic smokers, and smokers with mental health conditions were particularly likely to use hookah. These findings have important implications for tobacco regulatory policy and other efforts to combat tobacco-related disparities.
Review of factors that influence fretting wear

An assessment is made of presently obtained as well as published results in order to characterize the effects of contact conditions, environmental conditions, and material properties and behavior on fretting wear. The importance of material properties is discussed on the basis of interaction with other factors during fretting. While the isolated effect of contact load, fretting amplitude, temperature and atmosphere have been well explored, especially for the case mild steel, a deficiency is noted in studies of the effects of contact geometry and relative humidity, as well as the interaction of various fretting parameters.
Exploring Racial Disparities in Physical Activity and Quality of Life Through an Expectancy-Value Perspective

Alleviating racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity (PA) and health outcomes during childhood becomes an important public health priority as the nation’s populace continues to diversify. Guided by expectancy-value model, the purposes of this study were (a) to examine the potential differences in expectancy-value beliefs, PA and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between African-American (AA) children and their American-Caucasian (AC) peers, and (b) to determine how the relationships among these variables might differ between the two racial groups. Participants were 321 (152 boys; 189 AC) children from three schools who completed a previously validated questionnaire assessing their expectancy-value beliefs in physical education, leisure-time PA (PAQ-C), and HRQOL. Students’ PA was positively associated with HRQOL among AC and AA children (p < .01). AA children had significant higher expectancy-value beliefs but lower HRQOL than AC children. The regression results revealed that both racial groups had a nearly identical effect of expectancy beliefs on their self-reported PA (β = .34 in AA group, β = .33 in AC group, respectively). The regression analysis also suggests that expectancy-value belief was a significant predictor of HRQOL while controlling for all other variables (β = .36; p < .001) for the AC group, but not the AA group. The growing health disparities across racial/ethnic subgroups are of great public health concern. Thus, this study provided valuable insights regarding how to promote AA children’s PA and HRQOL through an expectancy-value approach.
Macro-parasite transmission in dynamic seasonal environment: Basic Reproductive Number, endemicity, and control

Abstract Seasonality of transmission environment, which includes snail populations and habitats, or human-snail contact patterns, can affect the dynamics of schistosomiasis infection, and control outcomes. Conventional modeling approaches often ignore or oversimplify it by applying ‘seasonal mean’ formulation. Mathematically, such ‘averaging’ is justified when model outputs/quantities of interest depend linearly on input variables. That is not generally the case for macroparasite transmission models, where model outputs are nonlinear functions of seasonality fashion. Another commonly used approach for Schistosomiasis modeling is a reduction of coupled human-snail system to a single ‘human equation’, via quasi-stationary snail (intermediate host) dynamics. The basic questions arising from these approaches are whether such ‘seasonal averaging’ and ‘intermediate host reduction’ are suitable for highly variable/seasonal environments, and what implications these methods have on models’ predictive potential of control interventions. Here we address these questions by using a combination of mathematical analysis and numerical simulation of two commonly used models for macroparasite transmission, MacDonald (MWB), and stratified worm burden (SWB) snail-human systems. We showed that predictions from ‘seasonal averaging’ models can depart significantly from those of quasi-stationary models. Typically, seasonality would lower endemicity and sustained infection, vs. stationary system with comparable transmission inputs. Furthermore, discrepancies between the two models (‘seasonal’ and its ‘stationary mean’) increase with amplitude (or variance) of seasonality. So sufficiently high variability can render infection unsustainable. Similar discrepancies were observed between coupled and reduced ‘single host’ models, with reduced model overpredicting sustained endemicity. Seasonal variability of transmission raises the question of optimal control timing. Using dynamic simulation, we show that optimal timing of repeated MDA is about half season past the snail peak, where snail population attains its minimal value. Compared to sub-optimal timing, such strategy can reduce human worm burden by factor 2 after 5-6 rounds of MDA. We also extended our models for dynamic snail populations, which allowed us to study the effect of repeated molluscicide, or combined strategy (MDA + molluscicide). The optimal time for molluscicide alone is the end or the start of season, and combined strategy can give additional reduction, and in some cases lead to elimination. Overall, reduced sustainability in seasonal environment makes it more amenable to control interventions, compared to stationary environment.
Elevated Lipase in an Infant with Altered Mental Status

The pancreatic enzymes lipase and amylase serve important functions in digestion/absorption of fats and polysaccharides. Measurement of these enzymes is often used in the emergency department to rule out acute pancreatitis in patients with nonspecific abdominal pain. In acute pancreatitis, serial measurements of plasma lipase and amylase typically follow a predictable temporal pattern of rise-and-fall kinetics: lipase levels rise within 4 to 8 hours, crest at 2× to 50× the upper reference limit at 24 hours, and decline to normal concentrations in 7 to 14 days. In situations in which the duration and magnitude of pancreatic enzyme elevation are more transient, clinicians should consider alternative causes for enzyme elevation. In this case report, incidental discovery of elevated lipase in an African American baby girl who ingested oxycodone resulted in additional laboratory and radiological work-up. Stronger awareness of exogenous influences on gastrointestinal motility may have prevented the need for further testing in this patient.
Assessing Science Identity Exploration in Immersive Virtual Environments: A Mixed Methods Approach

Despite increasing calls for science education that utilizes immersive technologies and authentically model scientific inquiry, little is known about how well curricula leveraging these technologie...
Advance Directives for Subjects of Research WhoHave Fluctuating Cognitive Impairments Due to PsychoticDisorders (Such as Schizophrenia)

Current and coincident biomedical advances makethis an opportune time to encourage research withsubjects who have fluctuating cognitive impairments dueto disorders like schizophrenia. Effecting research with a heterogeneous population who may haveimpaired decision-making capacity that diminishes theirautonomy, while honoring their liberty and safeguardingtheir wellbeing, entails a rigorous moral charge. Federal regulations and guidelines in regard toresearch involving this population are insufficient andmake for additional obstacles. Use of research advancedirectives that allow for the appointment of surrogatedecision-makers and delonate safeguards for the researchsubjects may afford protection both for subjects andresearchers.
High Temperature Thermal Property Measurement to 5000 F

ABSTRACT The thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity of several refractory materials were determined from room temperature to 5000 F or to the destruction point of the material. High temperature furnaces with helical graphite heaters were used for heating the specimens. Thermal expansion measurements were made with graphite dilatometers, thermal conductivity measurements with a miniaturized radial heat flow apparatus, and heat capacity measurements with a drop-type ice calorimeter. Specimen temperatures were measured by means of optical pyrometers and high temperature thermocouples. The thermal properties were determined for graphite, tungsten, several metallic alloys, and several carbides, nitrides, borides, and oxides. These materials were fabricated by use of techniques which are representative of the current state of the art for the manufacture of cylinders, nozzles, and other configurations used in the advanced aircraft and space vehicles. Quite often, the materials failed at temperatures below the expected melting point. The thermal property values varied considerably with temperature on most materials, and contained inflections that often could be explained by changes in structure; however, inflections that could not be anticipated were rather common.
Transcriptional re-wiring by mutation of the yeast Hsf1 oligomerization domain

Abstract Response to heat stress is mediated by heat shock transcription factors (HSFs), which possess conserved DNA-binding and oligomerization domains. The oligomerization domain is required for HSF1 to transition under heat stress from a monomer to a homotrimer, which alters DNA-binding specificity and affinity. Sequence variation in the oligomerization domain affects HSF1 activity, although this link is poorly understood. We performed a deep mutational scan of >400,000 variants of the oligomerization domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hsf1 and measured fitness under stress and non-stress conditions. We identify mutations that confer temperature-specific phenotypes; some exceptional Hsf1variants lead to enhanced growth under heat stress and changes to in vivo DNA-binding and transcriptional programs. The link between Hsf1 oligomerization and DNA-binding domain is evolutionarily conserved, with co-evolving residues between these domains found among fungi. Mutation of transcription factor oligomerization domains may represent a path toward re-wiring transcriptional programs without mutation of DNA-binding domains.
Adolescent Adversity, School Attendance and Academic Achievement: School Connection and the Potential for Mitigating Risk

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be particularly impactful for the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between ACEs and 3 education-related outcomes, no plan to graduate, past month unexcused absences, and low academic achievement, outcomes linked to poor prospects for future social status attainment and by extension, health. Methods Data are from 9th and 11th grade participants in the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 81,885). Logistic regression was used to determine if individual and cumulative measures for 10 types of ACEs were significantly associated with education-related outcomes in analytic models adjusting for demographic and individual factors. Final analytic models tested for moderation of relationships between ACEs and adverse education outcomes by student school connection. Analyses were stratified by sex. Results Multiple types of ACEs were significantly associated with each adverse education outcome. Relationships between some types of ACEs and education outcomes were marginally attenuated by school connection. Conclusions Among high school students, experiences of adversity were significantly associated with scholastic outcomes that portend limited prospects for health and status attainment in adulthood. Strategies for strengthening student school connection may be relevant for supporting youth resilience, and the potential for better stability in adulthood.
Negotiations of Women’s Black and Activist Identity Through Dress on the College Campus, 2013–2019:

Black people, especially Black women, have used dress to reject racism and discrimination and as a means for negotiating their Black and activist identities. Building on past work, we examine how B...
Intraosseus route for thrombolysing acute stroke is safe and successful.

Use of intraosseous route in thrombolysis of acute stroke patients remains a rare entity. Here, we describe the first such case within UK of a 55-year-old female patient of acute stroke who was thrombolysed with Alteplase administered through intraosseous (IO) route. She initially presented to A&E with severe dysarthria dysphasia and left sided weakness with an NIHSS-8. Failing acquisition of an intravenous access an IO vascular access was secured and thrombolysis was administered She improved remarkably and had no complications. The challenge faced in this case, of acquiring an effective access within the time frame and safely administering the Alteplase without any local or systemic complications was well met with a favourable outcome. IO is an established method of obtaining vascular access in children and adults in acute emergency situations. It can be used for effective thrombolysis in acute stroke patients.
COVID-19: a comparison to the 1918 influenza and how we can defeat it.

This paper is dedicated to Andrew Price Smith for his extensive analysis of the impact of the 1918 influenza and for being the first to investigate the Austrian Spanish Influenza Archives to demonstrate that the virus struck the Axis troops prior to the Alliance, which forced Kaiser to opt for peace. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the lives of people around the world, with significant death toll in addition to global social, political and economic impact. Many people have wondered how it compares to the seasonal influenza and prior pandemics. In order to better understand and manage the current pandemic, it is useful to compare it to historical pandemics, such as the Spanish influenza of 1918.1 The 1918 Spanish influenza is caused by an H1N1 influenza A virus postulated to be of avian origin.2 The 1918 Spanish influenza lasted from 1918 to 1920 and consisted of four waves. The first wave lasted approximately from 15 February 1918 to 1 June 1918; the second lasted approximately from 1 August 1918 to 2 December 1918; the third lasted approximately from 3 December 1918 to 30 April 1919; and the fourth wave lasted approximately from 1 December 1919 to 30 April 1920.3 It infected about 500 million people, roughly one-third of the world’s population at that time, and resulted in the deaths of 50 million, including 675 000 Americans.2 The first public news of the epidemic appeared in Madrid on 22 May 1918 in Madrid’s ABC newspaper; hence, it became known as the Spanish influenza.4 However, there is no definite evidence of origination, and most epidemiologists and virologists believe that the virus originated in either the USA or France.4 A week later on 28 May 1918, King Alfonso XIII, the Prime Minister and some cabinet members became …
A comprehensive study on interface perpendicular MTJ variability

Spin transfer torque MRAM (STT-MRAM) is one of the promising candidates as a scalable nonvolatile memory with high density, and CMOS compatibility [1], [2]. Interface perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (PMTJ) shown in Fig. 1 has been demonstrated with the goal of reducing the switching current while maintaining sufficient nonvolatility [3]. However, previous studies report that PMTJ suffers from process-dependent dimensional variations, thus it remains one of the major constrains in achieving high performance STT-MRAM [4, 5]. As shown in the equations of Fig. 1, the anisotropy field (H K ) and free layer volume (V) are functions of PMTJ dimensions, hence their variations result in variation of STT switching characteristics such as thermal stability factor (Δ) and switching current (I C ). The H K of PMTJ has a strong dependency on relative ratio between the free layer thickness (t F ) and the critical thickness (t C ) [3]. The equations of Fig. 1 suggest that the t F variation differently affects the PMTJ dimension-dependent parameters (gray circles), resulting in either increasing or decreasing Δ and/or I C . This paper presents a comprehensive study on process-dependent dimensional variability of PMTJ, especially focusing on estimating the impact of t F variation on Δ and I C variability. For a practical analysis, our physics-based macrospin SPICE model [7] captures the key physics of STT switching in PMTJ by incorporating all of the above mentioned PMTJ dimension-dependent parameters into the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation.
Cutting edge: C3d functions as a molecular adjuvant in the absence of CD21/35 expression.

Complement component C3 covalently attaches to Ags following activation, where the C3d cleavage fragment can function as a molecular adjuvant to augment humoral immune responses. C3d is proposed to exert its adjuvant-like activities by targeting Ags to the C3d receptor (CD21/35) expressed by B cells and follicular dendritic cells. To directly assess the importance of CD21/35 in mediating the immunostimulatory effects of C3d, CD21/35-deficient (CD21/35−/−) mice were immunized with streptavidin (SA), SA-C3dg tetramers, recombinant HIV gp120 (gp120), or gp120 fused with linear multimers of C3d. Remarkably, SA- and gp120-specific Ab responses were significantly augmented in CD21/35−/− mice when these Ags were complexed with C3d in comparison to Ag alone. In fact, primary and secondary Ab responses and Ab-forming cell responses of CD21/35−/− mice approached those of wild-type mice immunized with SA-C3dg and gp120-C3d. Thus, C3d can function as a molecular adjuvant in the absence of CD21/35 expression.
Structural Zinc Sites

Structural zinc binding sites in proteins have a combination of four nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur ligands provided by the side chains of amino acids of the protein. In marked contrast to catalytic zinc sites, no metal-coordinated water molecule is present. There are over seven dozen representatives of structural zinc sites. While the sulfur of a cysteine is by far the preferred ligand for such sites, it is also found in combination with an imidazole nitrogen of a histidine, and/or a carboxylate oxygen from aspartate or glutamate. Of the 22 possible permutations of these 4 ligands, 8 have been observed. The ligands to these metal sites are provided by protein sequences as small as 10 amino acids and as large as 210 amino acids but the majority fall within the range of 25 to 50 amino acids. The ligands are frequently supplied from within or just before or after a β-sheet secondary structure. The role of a structural zinc site is probably twofold. It maintains the structure of the protein in the immediate vicinity of the metal site. In this manner, it may influence enzymatic activity by providing active site residues involved in catalysis and/or affecting the chemical environment of catalytic groups through interaction with amino acids originating from within its metal-binding spacers. However, in many cases these metal sites also affect the overall stability of the protein as judged by temperature and pH criteria. Keywords: zinc/metabolism; amino acid motifs; molecular sequence data; sequence alignment; crystallography, X-ray; NMR; ligands; protein structure; amino acid sequence