cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“BEM VIVER”: ENTRE O “DESENVOLVIMENTO” E A “DES/COLONIALIDADE” DO PODER

O que aqui proponho e abrir uma questao importante de nosso crucial periodo historico: o Bem Viver, para ser uma realizacao historica efetiva, nao pode ser um complexo de praticas sociais orientadas a producao e a reproducao democratica de uma sociedade democratica, outro modo de existencia social, com seu proprio e especifico horizonte historico de sentido radicalmente alternativos a “Colonialidade” Global do Poder e a “Colonialidade”/Modernidade/Eurocentrada . Este padrao de poder e ainda hoje mundialmente hegemonico, mas tambem em seu momento de mais profunda e enraizada crise, desde sua constituicao, ha pouco mais de quinhentos anos. Nestas condicoes, Bem Viver, hoje, so pode ter sentido como uma existencia social alternativa, como uma “Des/Colonidade” do Poder.
Planning the Millennium City: The politics of place-making in Gurgaon, India:

Since India’s economic liberalization, rising costs in urban centers have pushed growth to the peripheries of cities. The territory on which new towns emerge often bears a long history of village l...
[PI267] Worker Protection Standard: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 2016

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a Federal regula tion designed to protect agricultural workers (people involved in the production of agricultural plants) and pesticide handlers (people mixing, loading, or applying pesticides or doing other tasks involving direct contact with pesticides). It has been in full implementation since 1995. A complete reference for the WPS is provided by How to Comply with the Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides: What Employers Need to Know. http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ epa-735-b-05-002.pdf.
Dielectric loss at low temperatures in high density, low density, and spun-bonded polyethylene

There is currently an active effort in the United States and abroad to develop materials, both conductors and insulators, that can be used to construct an underground, superconducting, ac power line.1–4 While most of the attention has been directed toward decreasing the ac loss in Nb and Nb 3 Sn superconductors, it is equally important to find a low-loss dielectric. Simple calculations indicate that the loss tangent of the dielectric must be ≲ 2 × 10−5 in order that 60 Hz dielectric loss not dominate the superconducting cable loss.
Brownian dynamics simulations of local polymer dynamics

This article describes stochastic computer simulations of the local segmental dynamics of synthetic polymers. Particular attention is given to local dynamics in solution. Related work involving experimental methods, analytical theory, and molecular dynamics simulations will also be discussed. An introduction to the concepts involved in stochastic simulations will be presented. Methods of characterizing local segmental dynamics will also be described. The main portion of the article describes various features of the simulated dynamics. The approximations inherent in stochastic approaches and their influence on the observed dynamics will be discussed. Issues of cooperativity in conformational transitions will be highlighted.
Insights on pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy: a seven-patient case series

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a disease process wherein tumor cells are thought to embolize to the pulmonary circulation causing pulmonary hypertension (PH) and death from right heart failure. Presented herein are clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and histologic features across seven cases of PTTM. Highlighted in this publication are also involvement of pulmonary venules and clinical features distinguishing PTTM from clinical mimics. We conducted a retrospective chart review of seven cases of PTTM from hospitals in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Patients in this series exhibited: symptoms of cough and progressive dyspnea; PH and/or heart failure on physical exam; laboratory abnormalities of anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated LDH, and elevated D-dimer; chest computed tomography (CT) showing diffuse septal thickening, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and nodules; elevated pulmonary artery pressures on transthoracic echocardiogram and/or right heart catheterization; and presence of malignancy. Tumor emboli and fibrocellular intimal proliferation were seen in pulmonary arterioles, while two patients had pulmonary venopathy. PTTM is a devastating disease occurring in patients with metastatic carcinoma. An early diagnosis is challenging. Understanding the clinical presentation of PTTM and distinguishing PTTM from clinical mimics may help achieve an early diagnosis and allow time for initiation of treatment.
Recent and Long-Term Soccer Heading Exposure Is Differentially Associated With Neuropsychological Function in Amateur Players.

Objectives: The present study examined the relative contribution of recent or long-term heading to neuropsychological function in amateur adult soccer players. Participants and Methods: Soccer players completed a baseline questionnaire (HeadCount-12m) to ascertain heading during the prior 12 months (long-term heading, LTH) and an online questionnaire (HeadCount-2w) every 3 months to ascertain heading during the prior 2 weeks (recent heading, RH). Cogstate, a battery of six neuropsychological tests, was administered to assess neuropsychological function. Generalized estimating equations were used to test if LTH or RH was associated with neuropsychological function while accounting for the role of recognized concussion. Results: A total of 311 soccer players completed 630 HeadCount-2w. Participants had an average age of 26 years. Participants headed the ball a median of 611 times/year (mean=1,384.03) and 9.50 times/2 weeks (mean=34.17). High levels of RH were significantly associated with reduced performance on a task of psychomotor speed (p=.02), while high levels of LTH were significantly associated with poorer performance on tasks of verbal learning (p=.03) and verbal memory (p=.04). Significantly better attention (p=.02) was detectable at moderately high levels of RH, but not at the highest level of RH. One hundred and seven (34.4%) participants reported a lifetime history of concussion, but this was not related to neuropsychological function and did not modify the association of RH or LTH with neuropsychological function. Conclusion: High levels of both RH and LTH were associated with poorer neuropsychological function, but on different domains. The clinical manifestations following repetitive exposure to heading could change with chronicity of exposure. (JINS, 2018, 24, 147–155)
P171 Description of a novel HLA-DPB1 allele with polymorphic sites in exon 1

We describe a new HLA-DPB1 allele, which was first identified in an ASHI PT sample (HT-202) from an African American donor, and recently identified again in a 22-year-old African-American woman undergoing HLA typing as a potential bone marrow donor for her father. High-resolution HLA genotyping was performed using sequence based typing and analyzed using SBTengine software (GenDX, Netherlands). Typing of the PT sample showed allele pair ambiguity of DPB1∗03:01, 105:01 vs DPB1∗124:01, 463:01. Consensus results for the PT sample were DPB1∗03:01, 105:01, however, exon 1 sequence revealed heterozygous peaks at positions 24 (R) and 47 (Y). Given that DPB1∗03:01 and 105:01 are identical in exon 1 and that DPB1∗124:01 does not have a known exon 1 sequence, our lab typed the sample as DPB1∗124:01, 463:01. However it is possible the sample is HLA-DPB1∗03:01 and the new allele which is identical to DPB1∗105:01 except for exon 1. Long range sequencing encompassing exon 2 and 3 would be needed to rule out these two possible allele pairs. At this time, this would only be possible using the PacBio system or a method that allows for chromosome separation and sequencing of DPB1 alleles separately. We encountered the same exon 1 sequence producing heterozygous peaks at positions 24 and 47 while performing HLA typing for a potential bone marrow donor. Exclusion of exon 1 yielded DPB1∗01:01, 105:01, but HLA-DPB1 typing did not match any known allele in the IMGT/HLA database when exon 1 was included in analysis. Family analysis confirms that one of the donor’s alleles is DPB1∗01:01, since this is also present in the donor’s father. Her second allele has identical sequence to DPB1∗105:01 in exons 2, 3, and 4. The new allele contains single nucleotide substitutions at positions 24 and 47 of exon 1. Position 24 contains a G > A substitution; both codons code for alanine, making this a silent mutation. Position 47 contains a C > T substitution, resulting in an amino acid substitution of methionine for threonine. These findings represent a new HLA-DPB1 allele. This polymorphic site has previously been described in HLA-DPB1∗107:01.
Clinical Outcomes in Adult Patients with Aplastic Anemia- a single institution experience

Newer treatment modalities are being investigated to improve upon historical outcomes with standard immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in aplastic anemia (AA). We analyzed outcomes of adult patients with AA treated with various combinatorial anti-thymoglobulin-based IST regimens in frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings. Pretreatment and on-treatment clinical characteristics were analyzed for relationships to response and outcome. Among 126 patients reviewed, 95 were treatment-naive (TN) and 63, R/R (including 32 from the TN cohort); median ages were 49 and 50 years, respectively. Overall survival (OS) was superior in IST responders (P < .001). Partial response to IST was associated with shorter relapse-free survival (RFS), as compared with complete response (P = .03). By multivariate analysis, baseline platelet and lymphocyte count predicted for IST response at 3 and 6 months, respectively. While additional growth factor interventions led to faster count recovery, there were no statistically significant differences in RFS or OS across the various frontline IST regimens (i.e., with/without G-CSF or eltrombopag). While marrow cellularity did not correlate with peripheral-blood counts at 3 months, cytomorphological assessment revealed dyspoietic changes in all nonresponders with hypercellular-marrow indices. Covert dysplasia, identified through early bone marrow assessment, has implications on future therapy choices after IST failure. Salvage IST response depended upon prior response to ATG: prior responders (46%) vs. primary refractory (0%) (P < .01). In the R/R setting, there was no survival difference between IST and allogeneic stem cell transplant groups, with a trend toward superior OS in the former. Transplant benefits in the R/R setting may be underrealized due to transplant-related mortality.
Assessment of Diastolic Function Using Ultrasound Elastography.

Shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) is a novel ultrasound elastography technique for assessing tissue stiffness. In this study, we investigate the potential of SWEI for providing diastolic functional assessment. In 11 isolated rabbit hearts, pressure-volume (PV) measurements were recorded simultaneously with SWEI recordings from the left ventricle free wall before and after induction of global ischemia. PV-based end diastolic stiffness increased by 100% after ischemia (p <0.05), and SWEI stiffness showed an increase of 103% (p <0.05). The relaxation time constant (τ) before and after ischemia derived from pressure and SWEI curves showed increases of 79% and 76%, respectively (p <0.05). A linear regression between pressure-derived and SWEI-based (τ) showed a slope of 1.164 with R2 = 0.80, indicating the near equivalence of the two assessments. SWEI can be used to derive (τ) values and myocardial end diastolic stiffness. In global conditions, these measurements are consistent with PV measurements of diastolic function.
A Simple Endoscopic Technique for Measuring the Cross-Sectional Area of the Upper Airway in a Rabbit Model.

OBJECTIVE Validate an accurate and reproducible method of measuring the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the upper airway. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This is a prospective animal study done at a tertiary care medical treatment facility. Control images were obtained using endotracheal tubes of varying sizes. In vivo images were obtained from various timepoints of a concurrent study on subglottic stenosis. Using a 0° rod telescope, an instrument was placed at the level of interest, and a photo was obtained. Three independent and blinded raters then measured the CSA of the narrowest portion of the airway using open source image analysis software. RESULTS Each blinded rater measured the CSA of 79 photos. The t testing to assess for accuracy showed no difference between measured and known CSAs of the control images ( P = .86), with an average error of 1.5% (SD = 5.5%). All intraclass correlation (ICC) values for intrarater agreement showed excellent agreement (ICC > .75). Interrater reliability among all raters in control (ICC = .975; 95% CI, .817-.995) and in vivo (ICC = .846;, 95% CI, .780-.896) images showed excellent agreement. CONCLUSIONS We validate a simple, accurate, and reproducible method of measuring the CSA of the airway that can be used in a clinical or research setting.
Comparative physiological and metabolomics analysis of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) following post-anthesis heat stress

Genetic improvement for stress tolerance requires a solid understanding of biochemical processes involved with different physiological mechanisms and their relationships with different traits. The objective of this study was to demonstrate genetic variability in altered metabolic levels in a panel of six wheat genotypes in contrasting temperature regimes, and to quantify the correlation between those metabolites with different traits. In a controlled environment experiment, heat stress (35:28 ± 0.08°C) was initiated 10 days after anthesis. Flag leaves were collected 10 days after heat treatment to employ an untargeted metabolomics profiling using LC-HRMS based technique called IROA. High temperature stress produced significant genetic variations for cell and thylakoid membrane damage, and yield related traits. 64 known metabolites accumulated 1.5 fold of higher or lower due to high temperature stress. In general, metabolites that increased the most under heat stress (L-tryptophan, pipecolate) showed negative correlation with different traits. Contrary, the metabolites that decreased the most under heat stress (drummondol, anthranilate) showed positive correlation with the traits. Aminoacyl-tRNA biosysnthesis and plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways were most impacted by high temperature stress. The robustness of metabolic change and their relationship with phenotypes renders those metabolites as potential bio-markers for genetic improvement.
Amniotic fluid: the first feeding of mucosal immune factors.

Amniotic fluid (AmF) provides a protective environment for the unborn fetus. A number of immunologic factors typically found in mucosal secretions, including milk, are present in AmF. These include several innate anti-microbial substances such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, transferrin, peroxidase, and interferon-α1–5. The concentration of most of these factors increases in the AmF as the fetus matures, despite an overall decline in amniotic fluid protein concentration2. Specific immunologic factors in the AmF include maternally derived IgG and low levels of IgA and IgM6. The IgA2 in AmF has been shown to be of fetal origin based on the allotypic marker A2m7. Low levels of IgA, IgM and secretory component (SC)-positive antibodies specific for Escherichia coli and poliovirus are detectable in AmF from early (14–20 wks) and late (30–40 wks) gestational samples8. However, the frequency of detecting these antibodies in these samples did not seem to increase with gestational age.
Ion-exchange thin-layer chromatography. XVII. Resolution of oligonucleotides from a pancreatic ribonuclease digest oof RNA on PEI-cellulose.

Abstract The present paper gives detailed descriptions of oligonucleotide separations on thin layers of PEI-cellulose. The factors which influence the chromatographic behavior of these compounds are analyzed. A mapping procedure is presented which separates all common mono-, di- and trinucleotides in a pancreatic ribonuclease digest of RNA.
One-Step Fluorescent Probe Product-Enhanced Reverse Transcriptase Assay

Recently developed PCR-based reverse transcriptase (RT) assays are useful in the detection of retroviruses since they are approximately a millionfold more sensitive than conventional RT assays. However, these assays are both labor- and time-intensive. The previously described product-enhanced reverse transcriptase (PERT) assay involves a two-step RT-PCR followed by detection and quantitation of PCR products by either Southern blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We have modified the PERT assay to be a one-step, fluorescent probe, PCR-based RT assay that can be completed from sample dilution to final quantitative assay results in approximately 5 h without loss of assay sensitivity or specificity. The assay has a dynamic range of 6 logs, and therefore, extensive sample dilution is not necessary for quantitation. This newly enhanced fluorescent PERT assay can play an important role in the high-throughput detection of retroviral infection and characterization of RT activity.
Abstract 13: PRMT1 as a therapeutic target in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) harbor recurrent abnormalities in epigenetic regulators, such as loss-of-function mutations in EP300 and CREBBP. These include gain-of-function mutations in EZH2, largely restricted to the germinal center B-Cell (GCB) subtype. An EZH2 inhibitor EPZ-6438 showed efficacy as a single agent in phase I clinical trials in relapsed/refractory GCB-DLBCL. We examined the effect of EZH2 inhibition in GCB-DLBCL cell lines, and found an increase in histone arginine methylation in surviving cells, which was attributable to increased Type I PRMT activity. Specifically, we discovered that EZH2 inhibitors activated PRMT1, which mediated protective effects through transcriptional changes at survival genes such as BCL2, and through modulation of B-cell receptor signaling. This exciting observation suggested an opportunity for combination therapy with PRMT1 inhibitors. Since PRMT1 is poorly studied in DLBCL, we performed single-agent studies in lymphoma cell lines and discovered that inhibition of PRMT1 elicited remarkable suppression of lymphoma cell growth and viability. Analysis of gene expression data from patients indicates that PRMT1 is overexpressed in untreated DLBCL tumor samples, compared to normal B-lymphocytes. Additionally, survival analysis revealed that patients with high PRMT1 expression showed poor overall survival. These observations support the potential for combinatorial treatment with EZH2 and PRMT1 inhibitors in patients. To summarize, our studies uncover a novel epigenetic target in DLBCL, and offer avenues for improving the antitumor efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors. Citation Format: Aarthi Goverdhan, Heng-Huan Lee, Ondrej Havranek, Richard Eric Davis, Mien-Chie Hung. PRMT1 as a therapeutic target in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR Conference on Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies; May 6-9, 2017; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(24_Suppl):Abstract nr 13.
Compensating chirp of attosecond X-ray pulses by a neutral hydrogen gas

It is demonstrated by numerical simulations that the attosecond chirp of high order harmonic pulses in the 530 to 1000 eV range can be partially compensated by the negative group delay dispersion of unionized molecular hydrogen gas. The transmission of X-rays through gas with the required pressure-length product for optimum chirp compensation is higher than 10% in the photon energy range that covers the K-edge of oxygen and L-edges of iron, cobalt, and nickel.
Design of a Satellite‐to‐Satellite Communications Experiment To Explore HF/VHF Guided Propagation in the Lower Ionosphere

The design of an experiment to provide conclusive proof of the existence of HF/VHF whispering gallery propagation in the ionosphere below F2Hmax (and to explore its characteristics) has recently been completed and the necessary instrumentation developed and built. The design has been performed on the basis of the results of the simulation of the phenomenon in a digital computer which has integrated in a self-consistent model the fragmentary, incomplete knowledge of the phenomenon available to date. A satellite-to-satellite configuration has be~n chosen, as suitable both to prove unambiguously the existence of whispering-gallery propagation in the lower ionosphere, and for gathering information basic to the evaluation of the practical usefulnes~ of the guided paths for communications, and to their channel characterization.
Comparison of nutrient loss pathways: Run‐off and seepage flow in Vertisols

Recent studies have highlighted the agronomic and environmental importance of phosphorus (P) movement through the soil profile. Thus, faced with challenges such as high‐profile cases of P enrichment of surface water, better understanding of nutrient movement through soil is needed to better manage agricultural fertilizers and manures and their contribution to water quality degradation. In particular, field‐scale research is especially needed in soils with preferential flow transport pathways. Thus, we collected nitrogen (N) and P transport data in run‐off and seepage (lateral subsurface return flow) from 13 field‐ and farm‐scale watersheds on Vertisols in Central Texas for a 14‐year period. For 2004–2017, seepage accounted for ~20% of the total surface flow, and nutrient concentrations were generally similar in run‐off and seepage. As surface run‐off contributed ~80% of the flow, it follows that median annual N and P loads in run‐off were significantly greater than in seepage for every watershed. N loads in both run‐off and seepage flow from cultivated land were an order of magnitude greater than in native prairie and improved pasture, and the highest run‐off and seepage P loads both occurred on cultivated land with organic fertilizer sources. Increasing watershed scale (size) did not to produce consistent patterns in N or P loss in run‐off or seepage. Land use and watershed scale produced significant differences in seepage volume but did not affect run‐off volumes or total surface flow/rainfall. Although less significant in terms of total offsite flux, nutrient movement in vadose zones has important agronomic and environmental implications as considerable N and P are transported through and within the root zone and eventually offsite. And in terms of P, this contradicts the traditionally held scientific viewpoint that P movement through the vadose zone is unimportant agronomically and environmentally.
Speech Processing, The Cortical Organization of

The cortical organization of speech encompasses two aspects: The decoding of the speech signal that, as for other complex sounds, begins in Heschl's gyrus and continues as a hierarchical process into anterior-lateral regions of superior temporal cortex. These nonprimary auditory areas form a ventral processing stream via the uncinate fascicle into inferior frontal cortex (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex). Neurophysiological studies in the macaque have demonstrated single-cell responses to subphonetic features like frequency sweeps and bandpassed noise bursts with specific bandwidths. Neuroimaging and direct recordings from auditory cortex confirm the existence of similar neural representations in humans. A second auditory processing stream projects from Heschl's gyrus posteriorly and dorsally through inferior parietal regions into premotor and dorsolateral prefrontal areas. This posterodorsal stream is important for the matching of articulatory features of speech with acoustic-phonetic features processed in the ventral stream.
Multi-bidder First Price Auction with Beliefs:

AbstractThis paper characterizes the set of equilibria in the first price auction with multiple bidders—specifically three bidders, each of whose type space is multi-dimensional, incorporating a bi...
A comparative cost-utility analysis of postoperative calcium supplementation strategies used in the current management of hypocalcemia

Abstract Background Symptomatic hypocalcemia is a common complication of total thyroidectomy. Management strategies include responsive treatment initiation for symptoms or prevention by routine or parathyroid hormone-directed calcium supplementation. The comparative cost-effectiveness of even the most often utilized strategies is unclear. Methods A Markov cohort model was created to compare routine supplementation with calcium alone (RS), postoperative parathyroid hormone-based selective supplementation with calcium and calcitriol (SS), and no supplementation (NS) in asymptomatic patients. Patients could remain asymptomatic or develop symptomatic hypocalcemia, managed with outpatient oral supplementation or intravenous calcium infusion and administered either inpatient or outpatient. Effectiveness was measured in quality-adjusted life years. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test model parameter assumptions. Results RS was the preferred strategy, costing $329/patient and resulting in 0.497 quality-adjusted life years, which was only marginally better compared to SS ($373 for 0.495 quality-adjusted life years). NS was most costly at $4,955 for 0.491 quality-adjusted life years. Preference for RS over SS was sensitive to the probability of developing symptoms and the probability of symptom treatment with intravenous supplementation. On probabilistic sensitivity analysis, RS was preferred in 75.4% of scenarios. Conclusion After total thyroidectomy, a preventative calcium supplementation strategy should be strongly considered. In this data-driven theoretical model, RS was the least costly option and resulted in an incremental gain in quality-adjusted life years.
Mosquitoes Bite: A Zika Story of Vector Management and Gene Drives

The Zika virus led to some experments and speculation regarding creative efforts to crash the population of mosquitoes responsible for spreading the disease. This chapter suggests that developments occurring in mosquito vector control using synthetic biology will introduce new genetic bugaboos into the debate over releasing genetically altered species, both accidentally and purposefully.
On increasing stability in an inverse source problem with local boundary data at many wave numbers

To derive the increasing stability of the source term in the Helmholtz equation from local boundary data, we utilize sharp bounds of the analytic continuation for higher wave numbers, the Huygens' ...
Comparison of Vibrating Mesh, Jet, and Breath-Enhanced Nebulizers During Mechanical Ventilation.

BACKGROUND: This study compared 3 nebulizer technologies for inter- and intradevice reproducibility, humidification, and fill volume sensitivity during mechanical ventilation: a breath-enhanced jet nebulizer, a vibrating mesh nebulizer, and a jet nebulizer. The breath-enhanced jet nebulizer featured a new design located on the wet side of the humidifier to reduce aerosol loss and potential humidifier contamination. The vibrating mesh nebulizer and the jet nebulizer were placed on the dry side. METHODS: Aerosol delivery was measured using multiple ventilator settings (inspiratory time = 0.45–1.01 s). Using radiolabeled saline and a gamma camera, bench studies were performed using a ventilator to test 4 breathing patterns. Four scenarios were assessed during testing: 3 mL and 6 mL fill volumes with and without heated wire humidification. Measurements included inhaled mass (as a percentage of the nebulizer charge), nebulizer residual, mass balance, and aerosol particle size distribution. Statistics were determined using Mann-Whitney and linear regression. RESULTS: The inhaled mass for the breath-enhanced jet nebulizer was 10.5–29.2% and was affected by fill volume (P = .004) but not by humidity. The inhaled mass for the vibrating mesh nebulizer was 0.9–33% and was unaffected by fill volume and humidity. The inhaled mass for the jet nebulizer was 2.5–25.9% and was affected by both fill volume (P = .009) and humidity (3 mL, P = .002). The inhaled mass for the vibrating mesh nebulizer was more variable due to random failures to achieve complete nebulization, and inhaled mass correlated closely with residual mass: IM% = –0.233(Residual%) + 24.3, r2 = 0.67, P CONCLUSIONS: Nebulization with the breath-enhanced jet nebulizer was less sensitive to humidification than the jet nebulizer. Delivery via the vibrating mesh nebulizer was not predictable, with random failure to empty (55% experimental runs). All devices delivered similar particle distributions. Wet-side aerosol delivery avoids humidifier contamination, and breath-enhanced technology can ensure better control of drug delivery.
Detailed Analyses of Zika Virus Tropism in Culex quinquefasciatus Reveal Systemic Refractoriness

ABSTRACT The role of Culex quinquefasciatus in Zika virus transmission has been debated since the epidemic of Zika occurred in the Americas in 2015 to 2016. The majority of studies have found no evidence that C. quinquefasciatus or other Culex species are competent vectors of Zika virus, and the few studies that have proposed Zika vector status for C. quinquefasciatus have relied predominantly on quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for viral detection. We assessed the infectious range of pre- and post-epidemic Zika virus isolates in order to classify mosquito samples based on titer infectiousness and demonstrated that two strains of C. quinquefasciatus, including one previously found to be competent, are highly resistant to infection with these Zika isolates compared to Aedes aegypti and are not competent for virus transmission. Further dissection of the dynamics of Zika exposure in both A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus revealed that while virus transmission by C. quinquefasciatus is blocked at the levels of the midgut and salivary glands, viral RNA persists in these tissues for prolonged periods post-exposure. We assessed Zika entry dynamics in both Aedes and Culex cells, and our results suggest that Zika virus infection in Culex cells may be blocked downstream of cell entry. These findings strongly suggest that C. quinquefasciatus is not a vector of Zika virus and additionally inform the use of qRT-PCR in vector competence assays as well as our understanding of barriers to arbovirus infection in non-susceptible mosquito species. IMPORTANCE Understanding which mosquito species transmit an emerging arbovirus is critical to effective vector control. During the Zika virus epidemic in 2015 to 2016, Aedes mosquitoes were confirmed as vectors. However, studies addressing the vector status of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes presented conflicting evidence and remain an outstanding source of confusion in the field. Here, we established a robust cell-based assay to identify infectious titers of Zika virus and assessed the virus titers in C. quinquefasciatus by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that while low levels of virus were detected in C. quinquefasciatus, these titers did not correspond to infectious virus, and these mosquitoes did not transmit virus in the saliva. We also present evidence that the virus may enter Culex cells before infection is disrupted. Our findings are important for future studies incriminating vector species using qRT-PCR for virus detection and offer new information on how virus transmission is blocked by mosquitoes.
On dynamics of the juncture vortex

Detailed characteristics of the horseshoe vortex system formed at the juncture of a wing and flat plate have been studied using flow visualization and image analysis techniques. With increasing Reynolds number the flowfield exhibited three distinct modes consisting of 1) steady vortex system, 2) oscillatory vortex motion, and 3) vortex shedding. Vortex splitting and subsequent reconnection phenomena were also observed. Different trends in the variation of characteristic frequency were observed when the flow switched from second mode to the third mode.
An Improved Animal Model of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy that represents an accumulation of terminally differentiated monoclonal plasma cells (PCs) in the bone marrow (BM), accompanied by increased osteoclasts and decreased osteoblasts in areas adjacent to myeloma cells, leading to MM associated bone disease (MMBD). Osteolytic bone disease is one of the defining features of MM. During the disease, over 90% of patients are developing MMBD. Many of MM animal models have been developed and enable us to interrogate the mechanisms of MM tumorigenesis. Most MMBD models were derived by intratibial injection of myeloma cells. In these models, osteolysis occurs locally at the site where myeloma cells were injected. Mouse myeloma cells, 5TGM1 transplanting C57BL/KaLwRij mouse via the tail vein develops and shows MMBD features close to human MMBD. Even in this model, the MMBD levels on each mouse are widely varied. Lack of appropriate in vivo MMBD model hampers our understanding of the disease and developing therapy. We try to establish a murine model for MMBD to study its pathophysiology and test a novel treatment. 1x106 luciferase-expressing 5TGM1 (5TGM1-Luc) cells were injected into 8-12 week old NOD SCID gamma mouse (NSG) and C57BL/KaLwRij mouse via the tail vein. Myeloma progression was weekly assessed by in vivo bioluminescence (BL) imaging using IVIS-200 (Perkin Elmer). Mice were sacrificed when they showed endpoint signals such as significant weight loss, hindlimb paralysis, etc.. At postmortem, the micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) was performed for bone histo-morphometric analyses using micro CT400, Scano medical, Inc. The median survival was 56 days in NSG, while 42 days in C57BL/KaLwRij. In vivo BL image analysis showed that myeloma slowly develops in NSG mouse in comparison to C57BL/KaLwRij mouse. Histomorphic analyses found that severe osteolytic lesions occur at the lumbar spine in NSG mouse compared to C57BL/KaLwRij mouse, but no significant difference at the femur of both strains. At the lumbar spine, trabecular thickness (p In conclusion, we found that the systemic 5TGM1 injected NSG mouse slowly progresses myeloma and develops more severe MMBD than C57BL/KaLwRij model. This model will serve a better MMBD model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of MMBD targeted drugs. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Direct coupling of oligomerization and oligomerization-driven endocytosis of the dopamine transporter to its conformational mechanics and activity.

Dopamine transporter (DAT) mediates the reuptake of synaptically released dopamine, and thus controls the duration and intensity of dopamine neurotransmission. Mammalian DAT has been observed to form oligomers, although the mechanisms of oligomerization and its role in DAT activity and trafficking remain largely unknown. We discovered a series of small molecule compounds that stabilize trimers and induce high-order oligomers of DAT and concomitantly promote its clathrin-independent endocytosis. Using a combination of chemical cross-linking, fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy, antibody-uptake endocytosis assay, live-cell lattice light sheet microscopy, ligand binding and substrate transport kinetics analyses, and molecular modeling and simulations, we investigated molecular basis of DAT oligomerization and endocytosis induced by these compounds. Our study showed that small molecule–induced DAT oligomerization and endocytosis are favored by the inward-facing DAT conformation and involve interactions of four hydrophobic residues at the interface between transmembrane (TM) helices TM4 and TM9. Surprisingly, a corresponding quadruple DAT mutant displays altered dopamine transport kinetics and increased cocaine-analog binding. The latter is shown to originate from an increased preference for outward-facing conformation and inward-to-outward transition. Taken together, our results demonstrate a direct coupling between conformational dynamics of DAT, functional activity of the transporter, and its oligomerization leading to endocytosis. The high specificity of such coupling for DAT makes the TM4-9 hub a new target for pharmacological modulation of DAT activity and subcellular localization.
Methodology for triage of urologic surgical cases in the setting of a pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 forced our healthcare system in the Bronx, New York to cancel nearly all scheduled surgeries. We developed a framework for prioritizing postponed urologic surgeries that was utilized once cases were permitted to be rescheduled. As many parts of our country experience first and second waves of this pandemic, our framework may serve as a resource for other centers experiencing restrictions on the scheduling of elective urologic surgeries. METHODS: As the COVID-19 pandemic started and peaked in New York, almost all of our scheduled urologic surgeries were cancelled. Each Urologist was asked to rank his/her cancelled surgeries by priority (Level 1-least urgent; Level 2-moderately urgent; Level 3-most urgent). A committee of Urologists assigned a subclass to Level 3 and 2 cases (3a-least urgent; 3b-moderately urgent; 3c-most urgent; 2a-lower priority; 2b-higher priority). The committee then reviewed cases by urgency to derive a final priority ranking. RESULTS: A total of 478 total urologic surgeries were canceled and categorized: 250 Level 1, 130 Level 2, 98 Level 3 (73 adult, 25 pediatric). Level 3c involved renal cell carcinoma ≥ T2b, high-grade bladder urothelial carcinoma, adrenal mass/cancer > 6 cm, testicular cancer requiring radical orchiectomy, and penile cancer. Level 3b involved T2a renal masses requiring nephrectomy, while high-risk prostate cancer and symptomatic nephrolithiasis were classified as 3a. Level 2 included testicular cancer requiring retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and complicated benign prostatic hyperplasia. Surgeries for urologic reconstruction, non-complicated nephrolithiasis, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence were considered Level 1. CONCLUSIONS: Our disease-specific approach to surgical rescheduling offers appropriate guidance for triaging urologic surgeries. Our system can provide guidance to other institutions as COVID-19 cases surge in different regions and with the growing second wave.
Entrepreneurship as a Response to Labor Market Discrimination for Formerly Incarcerated People

This paper examines entrepreneurship as a way to overcome labor market discrimination. Specifically, we examine entrepreneurship as a career choice for formerly incarcerated individuals, a group of individuals who face substantial discrimination in the labor market. Using the United States National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 data, we find that formerly incarcerated people are more likely to become entrepreneurs compared to individuals without a criminal record. We take advantage of an exogenous state and county level policy shock “Ban-the-Box” in the United States to further disentangle the underlying mechanism of how labor market discrimination affects formerly incarcerated individuals in their entrepreneurial choices. The findings suggest that entrepreneurship is a viable alternative career choice for formerly incarcerated people, yielding both higher income and lower recidivism rates. In addition to reporting robustness checks and addressing alternative explanations, we discuss theoretical, empirical, and policy implications.
Optimizing large-scale plasma simulations on persistent memory-based heterogeneous memory with effective data placement across memory hierarchy

Particle simulations of plasma are important for understanding plasma dynamics in space weather and fusion devices. However, production simulations that use billions and even trillions of computational particles require high memory capacity. In this work, we explore the latest persistent memory (PM) hardware to enable large-scale plasma simulations at unprecedented scales on a single machine. We use WarpX, an advanced plasma simulation code which is mission-critical and targets future exascale systems. We analyze the performance of WarpX on PM-based heterogeneous memory systems and propose to make the best use of memory hierarchy to avoid the impact of inferior performance of PM. We introduce a combination of static and dynamic data placement, and processor-cache prefetch mechanism for performance optimization. We develop a performance model to enable efficient data migration between PM and DRAM in the background, without reducing available bandwidth and parallelism to the application threads. We also build an analytical model to decide when to prefetch for the best use of caches. Our design achieves 66.4% performance improvement over the PM-only baseline and outperforms DRAM-cached, NUMA first-touch, and a state-of-the-art software solution by 38.8%, 45.1% and 83.3%, respectively.
Equitable Access to Higher Education in Chile: Challenging Experiences for Special-Access Students

This study analyzes the experiences of a sample of special-access students who entered through three special-access programs in one public university in Chile. I used semi-structured interviews with six participants to conduct a thematic analysis (Guest, MacQueen, & Namey, 2014). Results show that, as expected, challenging experiences by far exceeded positive ones, and within challenges, those relating to (a) academic issues (b) navigating school resources, and (c) mental health, were among the most prevalent ones.
Potential adverse health consequences of climate change related to rheumatic diseases

Abstract There is a growing body of literature regarding the health implications of climate change for the general population, but a scarcity of data specific to patients with rheumatic diseases. Human health will be affected by extreme weather events, heat waves, increased wildfires and a spread in the distribution of vector-borne diseases. Patients with underlying pulmonary, cardiac and renal disease are at high risk for adverse health outcomes related to these events. Many patients with rheumatic diseases share these comorbidities, which would presumably also put them at high risk for poor outcomes. There is research on ambient air pollution that indicates disease flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are linked to elevated particulate matter. These patients are probably also at risk from increased particulate matter emanating from major wildfires. More research is needed on the specific adverse health impacts of climate change on patients with rheumatic diseases in order to guide policy decisions to mitigate the adverse impacts.
ETHANOL FUMIGATION OF A TURBOCHARGED DIESEL ENGINE

Ethanol has been injected through an atomizing nozzle into the intake manifold of a four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. It was found that to avoid liquid droplet impingement on the compressor blades the injector needed to be located downstream of the compressor, in the high pressure section of the inlet manifold. 160 proof and 200 proof alcohols were investigated with a series of percentage substitutions at different speeds and loads. Emission measurements are discussed. The problem of obtaining uniform cylinder to cylinder distribution of alcohol was encountered.
On a class of coherent regular rings

The paper investigates a special class of quasi-local rings. It is shown that these rings are coherent and regular in the sense that every finitely generated submodule of a free module has a finite free resolution.
Small worlds and rapid mixing with a little more randomness on random geometric graphs

We theoretically and experimentally analyze the process of adding sparse random links to a random wireless networks modeled as a random geometric graph. While this process has been previously proposed, we are the first to (i) theoretically consider sparse new-wiring (with asymptotically less than constant fraction of nodes allowed very small constant new wired edges), (ii) prove bounds for any new-wiring process upon random geometric graphs, and (iii) consider the effect of such sparse new-wiring upon the spectral gap of the resultant normalized Laplacian. In particular, we consider the following models of adding new wired edges: Divide the normalized space into bins of length k r/2√2×kr/2√2, given that the radius is on the order required to guarantee asymptotic connectivity. For each bin, choose a bin-leader. Let the G1 new wiring be such that we form a random cubic graph amongst the bin-leaders and superimpose this upon the random geometric graph. Let the G2 new wiring be such that we form a random 1-out graph amongst the bin-leaders and superimpose this upon the random geometric graph. We prove that the diameter for G1 is O(k + log(n)) with high probability, and the diameter for G2 is O(klog(n)) with high probability, both of which exponentially improve the Θ(√n/log n) diameter of the random geometric graph, thus also inducing small-world characteristics as the high clustering remains unchanged. Further, we theoretically motivate and experimentally demonstrate that the spectral gap for both G1 and G2 are significantly greater than that of the original random geometric graph. These results further motivate future hybrid networks and advances in the use of directional antennas.
Further studies in the elution of copper and neodymium from a cation-exchange resin with ammonia-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solutions

Results of an investigation concerned with the use of a buffering band interposed between a cation exchange retaining bed composed of sulfonated- divinylbenzene copolymer and a rare earth band are examined. The mass transports of the atomic species across band boundaries are also studied. It was shown that flat-type elution curves for Cu and Nd could be obtained while the retaining bed was varied with respect to a given eluant such as EDTA. (J.R.D.)
En los albores de la celestinesca: Sobre el "Romance nuevamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea" en el pliego suelto de 1513

The Romance nueuamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea, a pliego suelto printed in 1513 (at Jacobo Cromberger, Seville), a "romance-cuento" (according to Menendez Pidal) of 680 octosyllabic verses, attests a prompt transformation of genre, from Celestina 's dramatic prose into a narrative poem with an extradiegetic narrator. The concise plot includes the typical narrative motifs of Spanish balladry (e.g., the protagonist as a hunter), and it emphasizes the theme of sin and punishment (taken from Celestina 's paratexts), present also in the first pliegos sueltos sung by blind performers. Evidence shows that the base text has been the Comedia, and not the Tragicomedia. This early text should be considered a milestone in the history of the celestinesca.