cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How to know what we don’t

Biological systems are interconnected in complex ways. One protein’s abundance can influence many others’ changes in transcription, posttranslational modifications, or other mechanisms. Moreover, cells’ responses to one environment may parallel their responses to others, with subtle differences. This is an assumption on which precision medicine rests: Some shared indicator will reveal sets of patients who will respond favorably to a certain therapy, even if that therapy is ineffective for others with nominally the same disease. Unfortunately, we cannot measure everything about an individual all the time. Even if cost is no object, we cannot biopsy every tissue and cell type in the body every day, every hour, and every minute. At some point, there will be no tissue left to measure, and we are going to have to make guesses. So how do we do this better? Zhou et al. developed a way to estimate the unknown while tackling a common challenge in experimental design. Researchers have collected data in the past, but technology has advanced, and now new platforms measure the same markers and more. The authors processed approximately 100,000 gene expression assays and trained a computer to predict the expression of genes measured only by new platforms from the expression of genes measured on old platforms. Analyzing a dataset derived from pediatric renal cancer biopsies using only the markers detected by old technologies did not perfectly group cancer types. Once the computer guessed the unmeasured genes, the cancer types separated perfectly. This improved clarity is promising: Researchers can now reanalyze data that are not genome-wide—potentially including historical clinical trials or research data—in a genome-wide manner. This work focused on the protein-coding transcriptome, but it is possible that the approach could be similarly effective in other contexts as well—for example, in dealing with noncoding RNA. Perhaps an analogous approach could be used to estimate the abundance of lncRNAs or other classes of RNAs in historical data sets that predated their discovery. Such computational and statistical approaches can stitch together multiple data sets, allowing us to infer what we could not or did not measure before. W. Zhou et al. , Imputing gene expression to maximize platform compatibility. Bioinformatics 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw664 (2016). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://bioinformatics.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/10/20/bioinformatics.btw664.short
Protecting critical buses in power-grid against data attacks: Adaptive protection schemes for smart cities

Accurate estimation of complex voltage phase angles at buses in the power-grid is crucial for determining the operational state of the power system. Existing methods for protection of the state estimate of critical buses against data injection attacks focus on design time assuming a static set of critical buses. We formulate a set of optimal protection schemes to enable operational time protection, where the set of critical buses that needs to be protected changes over time. Protection schemes are optimized against two dimensions: 1) cost of allocating the resources to secure measurements 2) cost of resource relocation. Given the intractable computation time complexity of optimal protection schemes, heuristic algorithms with reduced computation time complexity are presented. Using simulations on transmission network datasets, we show that our heuristic algorithms yield good approximate results with low latency while being able to scale for large power transmission networks.
Model-Based Comparison of the Normal and Fontan Circulatory Systems-Part III.

Background:For patients with the Fontan circulatory arrangement, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, guanylate cyclase activation, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition, and endothelin receptor anta...
Comparative quality assessment of esophageal examination with transnasal and sedated endoscopy

Background Unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) may offer a less expensive, mobile alternative to sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for evaluations of reflux related complications. Comparisons of imaging quality by these methods are lacking. Methods Two reviewers evaluated videos of TNE and EGD procedures, performed during a community randomized study comparing endoscopic techniques. Subjects were randomized to EGD, TNE in endoscopy suite, or TNE in mobile research unit. Endoscopic quality was assessed using a validated scoring tool. Results In total, 115 videos (58 EGD, 28 endoscopy suite TNE, and 29 mobile TNE) were reviewed. Overall quality scores for TNE and EGD were excellent without a statistically significant difference (P = 0.30). There were no differences in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) visualization scores, though EGD scored higher in esophageal passage (P Conclusion Esophageal assessment with TNE or EGD was comparable in overall quality and GEJ visualization. TNE quality was not affected by procedure location. TNE is a feasible option for endoscopic assessment of reflux complications.
E-Cigarette Advice to Patients From Physicians and Dentists in the United States:

Purpose:To report on adults’ recall of discussion by physicians and dentists about e-cigarettes.Design:A nationally representative cross-sectional survey (Internet and random digit dialing) in the United States.Participants:Adults who ever used e-cigarettes.Measures:Participant-reported discussion about the potential benefits and harms of e-cigarettes with their doctor, dentist, or child’s doctor in the past 12 months.Analysis:Fisher exact test for the analysis between benefits and harms for each type of provider and for rates of advice between provider types.Results:Among the 3030 adults who completed the survey, 523 (17.2%) had ever used e-cigarettes. Of those who had seen their doctor, dentist, or child’s doctor in the last year, 7.3%, 1.7%, and 10.1%, respectively, reported discussing potential harms of e-cigarettes. Conversely, 5.8%, 1.7%, and 9.3% of patients who had seen their doctor, dentist, or child’s doctor in the last year reported that the clinician discussed the potential benefits of e-cigar...
The Colony of New Netherland: A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth-Century America by Jaap Jacobs

Coinciding with the four-hundredth anniversary of Henry Hudson's first voyage to North America in 1609, Jaap Jacobs's release The Colony of New Netherland: A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth-Century America provides one of the most comprehensive accounts of the colony published to date. Building upon the previous translations of Charles Gehring's work with the New Netherland Project, Jacobs's own meticulous analysis of practically every primary and secondary source pertaining to the Dutch colony offers an illuminating look into the Dutch presence in early America.
CS-LoFT: Color and scale adaptive tracking using max-pooling with bhattacharyya distance

Robust and accurate visual tracking is needed for many computer vision applications from video summarization to visual surveillance. Visual tracking remains to be a challenging task because of factors such as changing object appearance, illumination variations and shadows, partial and full occlusions, camera motion, distractors, and scale changes. Recently our group proposed a Likelihood of Features Tracking (LoFT) system that fuses multiple sources of information about target and its environment to perform robust single object tracking. LoFT has been shown to successfully track objects under different scenarios from full motion video to wide-area motion imagery. In this paper, we extend the LoFT framework with color information and multi-scale feature sets selection to boost its performance. Our extension of color information is incorporated through Color Name (CN) mapping scheme. Multiscale features computation, and scale selection through frame level max-pooling is also performed to adapt the tracker to scale changes. Experiments on VOT 2015 tracking benchmark, which includes video sequences with significant color and scale variations, show significant performance improvement over baseline LoFT both in accuracy and robustness 11% and 23% respectively.
Automated Segmentation of Swine Skulls for Finite Element Model Creation Using High Resolution μ-CT Images

Finite element (FE) analysis has been widely used to investigate bone responses to mechanical loading. Research in long bones has been straight forward because modeling of these bones requires only...
Study of galvanic corrosion potential of NSM titanium reinforcing bars

Abstract The use of titanium as a near surface mounted (NSM) reinforcing material has been proposed. This study assesses the effects of coupling 6Al-4V titanium and ASTM A615 black steel in NSM applications. In order to place the use of titanium in context, duplicate specimens having stainless steel and CFRP NSM bars are also tested. Sixty-two concrete prisms were tested, each having a single embedded #4 ASTM A615 (Grade 60) black steel bar. A 12.7 mm diameter titanium (Ti), CFRP or 2205 stainless steel (SS) NSM bar is embedded along one side of the concrete prism into NSM ‘slots’. Specimens were conditioned in a cyclic temperature and humidity environment for two years during which half-cell potential (ASTM C876) and macrocouple current (ASTM G102) were monitored. Following conditioning, all steel bars were removed and mass loss due to corrosion determined. The comparison of interest in this study is as follows: does the presence of titanium accelerate or result in greater steel corrosion than other materials coupled with mild reinforcing steel; that is, does a more aggressive galvanic cell develop? For the conditions tested, corrosion was present in all specimens. There was no evidence that the presence of 6Al-4V titanium reinforcing bars in close proximity to (or in electrical contact with) A615 steel reinforcing bars results in any change in the rate or nature of corrosion.
Minimizing Pain and Optimizing Patient Experience During Prostate Biopsy

Pain is not a necessary attribute of prostate biopsy. Respect for the patient’s comfort, modesty, and well-being greatly improves his experience. Periprostatic lidocaine injection should be standard for the reduction of pain and discomfort. Lidocaine injection at the basilar “Mount Everest” notch is advocated because of the ease of administration as well as the short learning curve for the procedure. More-experienced surgeons may find injection at the apex more effective. Local anesthesia of the prostate and anus allows for better probe positioning crucial to obtaining diagnostic needle cores especially of the anterior horn region. New residents should be trained to respect the patient’s concerns and administer periprostatic block to minimize the discomfort of transrectal ultrasound biopsy.
Hsp-Induced Stimulation of Immune Responses

Heat shock proteins have a profound effect on the immune response. Extracellular uptake of antigen-bound HSP can be presented by both MHC class II and class I. Maturation of DC is stimulated by HSP, upregulating the costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80 and CD86, as well as MHC class II, all of which enhance immune responses. The state of maturity of DC may be significant in the balance between immunity and tolerance. Innate immunity is elicited by the production of CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF- α . These extracellular chemokines attract the entire repertoire of immune cells, and the interleukins modulate the cellular responses resulting in effective immunity. Human lymphoid cell activation by microbial Hsp70 appears to be mediated by CD40, expressed mostly by DC and macrophages, and CCR5 in T cells and immature DC. The CD40 molecule is part of the CD40-CD40L costimulatory pathway and the emerging alternative CD40-Hsp70 pathway might prove to be useful in rectifying CD40L deficient states. The CCR5 chemokine receptor is also bound and stimulated by Hsp70 to produce chemokines and cytokines. Thus, Hsp70 may function both as a systemic and mucosal adjuvant in vaccination and as a designer adjuvant in HIV-1 immunization
Building on Schoenfeld’s Studies of Metacognitive Control Towards Social Metacognitive Control

When students work on mathematics problems, they select strategies, adapt them in response to feedback, allot time and make many other decisions to optimize their performance (Schoenfeld, 1985). These metacognitive control decisions involve strategic planning, self-monitoring and intentionally adapting problem solving paths to achieve a specific goal (Schoenfeld, 1985).
Venous thromboembolism in chronic pediatric heart disease is associated with substantial health care burden and expenditures.

Abstract Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a complication in children with chronic pediatric heart disease (CPHD). The influence of acute VTE risk factors and the health care burden associated with VTE in CPHD is unknown.Methods: Children <18 years of age with a CPHD diagnostic code were identified from the 2003-2013 MarketScan Commercial Databases. VTE diagnoses were identified either concomitantly with initial CPHD diagnoses or during a 6-month follow-up. The associations between demographic and clinical characteristics and VTE among children with CPHD, stratified by recent cardiac surgery, were assessed by multivariable logistic regression models. Estimates of health care utilization were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.Results: VTE events occurred in 957 of 120 884 children with CPHD (0.8%). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in children with VTE. Single-ventricle physiology had the highest VTE rate (2.3%). All comorbid conditions were significantly associated with VTE, but the prevalence was highest in children with recent cardiac (11.1%) or noncardiac surgery (7.8%). The magnitude of association between noncardiac comorbidities and acquired acute cardiovascular conditions and VTE were larger for children without a recent cardiac surgery. Children with VTE had significantly higher health care utilization.Conclusions: VTE in CPHD is associated with significantly increased health care resource utilization and in-hospital mortality. All of the comorbid conditions examined were significantly associated with VTE, but a recent surgical procedure, especially cardiac surgery, conferred the highest VTE risk. Although confounding inherently limits observational studies, these findings provide practical information about the health care costs among patients with CPHD and VTE.
Discover and Secure (DaS): An Automated Virtual Machine Security Management Framework

Cloud computing is very appealing for its convenient central management, the elasticity of resource provisioning and its economic benefits. Undoubtedly, the non-transparent nature of the Cloud infrastructure introduces significant security concerns. Naively, Virtual Machine (VM) migration can weaken or even nullify the security protection on a VM. Attackers compromise such vulnerable hosts and can either take control over their resources or use them as a channel for future attacks. To overcome the hidden security risk, this paper proposes Discover and Secure (DaS) framework for automated VM security management. This framework accomplishes two qualities: 1) to discover whether the VM is an inadvertent security victim 2) to secure the VM and the mission-critical applications running inside them. Modules in this framework detect, extract and measures the new identifiers assigned to the VM. Comparing the new identifiers to the reference table containing the old measured identifier values, verifies the identifier/s status. Transformed identifiers are perceived and replaced with new valid ones, hence, restoring the nullified security. This framework is implemented as VM-Internal security, self-supplied by the user and VM-introspection security, host-supplied by the cloud provider. Experimental results show that DaS framework can armor the VM from obscured security problems and seal the hidden door against attackers.
The histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 can increase the levels of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) in human xenografts in mouse model systems.

2337 Replication-selective oncolytic viruses represent a new class of agents that are being examined in the clinic for cancer treatment. Among this group of therapeutics are transcriptionally controlled adenoviruses engineered with tumor-specific transcriptional response elements (TRE) controlling essential genes. These vectors replicate selectively in cancer cells, leading to expression of toxic viral products and oncolysis mediated by viral replication. We have compared different transcriptional control strategies by placing tumor-specific TREs upstream of different viral genes including E1A, E1B and E4. Relocation of the viral packaging signal was also investigated. This resulted in a dual-TRE platform in which the E1A and E1B genes are under the control of different tumor-specific TREs. One such oncolytic virus, CG5757, was generated by replacing the E1A and E1B endogenous promoters with promoters derived from the human E2F-1 and telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) genes. The E2F-1 promoter is activated in Rb-defective tumor types, a pathway mutated in approximately 85% of all cancers. Likewise, telomerase is aberrantly expressed in over 90% of tumors. CG5757 also has a deletion in the coding region of the E1B 19k gene, a Bcl2-like viral antiapoptotic protein, to increase vector cytotoxicity. In vitro, expression of E1A and E1B genes was highly restricted to Rb-defective and hTERT-positive cancer cells including Hep3B (hepatocellular carcinoma), LoVo (colorectal carcinoma), A549 (lung cancer), Panc-1 (pancreatic cancer), 253J B-V (bladder cancer), and Hela (cervical cancer). In normal cells, including a lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38) and several other human primary cell lines (HRE, BSMC, PrEC, HMEC and HMVEC-L), no E1 expression could be detected after CG5757 infection. This transcriptional control of E1 gene expression also correlated with selective viral replication in target cells. CG5757 replicates similarly to wild-type virus in tumor cells, but on average 1,000-times less efficiently in normal cells. In viral cytotoxicity assay, CG5757 destroys tumor cells 100- to 10,000-times more efficiently than normal cells. In vivo, strong antitumor activity was documented using CG5757 in nu/nu mice carrying subcutaneous lung cancer (A549) and bladder transitional cell carcinoma (253J B-V) xenografts. Four weeks after treatment, the average volume of 253J B-V tumors in animals treated with four consecutive daily intratumorally delivered injections of CG5757 (4×108 particles/mm3 of tumor) decreased to 72% of baseline while the control group had an increase to 944% of baseline. Furthermore, 50% of animals in the treatment group had complete regression of the 253J B-V tumor xenografts. These results demonstrate the potential therapeutic efficacy of such dual promoter controlled oncolytic adenoviruses in cancers that are Rb-defective and hTERT-positive.
Student self-reported motivation and teacher-rated engagement as predictors of mathematics achievement by sex and SES in a U.S. sample

Teacher-rated classroom engagement and student self-reported motivation for mathematics were used to predict mathematics scores in 3rd and 5th grade. Students were grouped based on a combination of biological sex and SES quintiles resulting in 10 independent groups. The mathematics achievement patterns were predicted based upon a combined within-group model. Results indicated female mathematics achievement was not significantly related to self-reported mathematics motivation but was related to classroom engagement. In males, mathematics motivation was not significantly related to achievement for lowest SES males; however, there was a significant relationship for highest quintile class males. Conversely, classroom engagement was significant for lower class males and was not significantly related for highest quintile SES males. Implications of the results are discussed.
Monitoring a Poisson process subject to gradual changes in the arrival rates

We look at a Poisson process where the arrival rates change from a known λ1 to a known λ2. Whereas in most of the literature the change-point is abrupt, we model the more realistic assumption that ...
Applications of NMR in Cancer Research

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been widely applied to many facets of cancer research. As the name implies, NMR spectroscopy is a technique that utilizes transitions between different states of a nucleus when placed in a magnetic field. NMR has been used for decades to identify and quantify the reactants and products associated with chemical reactions. More recently, it has been used in the field termed metabolomics to identify and quantify the small molecules of complex mixtures and how that molecular repertoire varies under various perturbations to the system being studied. NMR is also used for de novo three-dimensional structure determination of macromolecules including proteins and protein domains as well as to quantify the motions inherent in structures. A great strength of the technique is to characterize the interactions of small molecules with these macromolecules, which can be used for inhibitor discovery and development. These applications have direct relevance to cancer research and are described in this review.
Deletion of PPARγ in Mesenchymal Lineage Cells Protects Against Aging-Induced Cortical Bone Loss in Mice

Bone loss in aging is linked with chronic low-grade inflammation and the accumulation of marrowfat in animals and humans. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), an adipogenic regulator, plays key roles in these biological processes. However, studies of the roles of PPARγ in age-related bone loss and inflammation are lacking. We hypothesized that deletion of PPARγ in bone marrow mesenchymal lineage cells would reduce bone loss with aging, potentially through a reduction in fat-generated inflammatory responses and an increase in osteoblastic activity. In the present study, we show that mice deficient of PPARγ in Dermo1-expressing mesenchymal lineage cells (Dermo1-Cre:PPARγ fl/fl) have reduced fat mass and increased cortical bone thickness but that deficiency of PPARγ had limited effect on protection of trabecular bone with aging as demonstrated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, µCT, and histomorphometric analyses. Conditional knockout of PPARγ reduced serum concentrations of adipokines, including adiponectin, resistin, and leptin, and reduced marrow stromal cell expression levels of inflammation-related genes. Inflammation genes involved in the interferon signaling pathway were reduced the most. These results demonstrate that disruption of the master adipogenic regulator, PPARγ, has a certain protective effect on aging-induced bone loss, suggesting that regulation of adipose function and modulation of interferon signaling are among the key mechanisms by which PPARγ regulates bone homeostasis during aging process.
Meeting the Vocational Needs of the Older Blind Person

The vocational placement of blind persons who are 65 years of age or older presents the counselor with an unusual challenge. The statistical data on the desirability of hiring older workers is revi...
Modifying the Electrocatalyst–Ionomer Interface via Sulfonated Poly(ionic liquid) Block Copolymers to Enable High-Performance Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) electrodes with a 0.07 mgPt cm–2 Pt/Vulcan electrocatalyst loading, containing only a sulfonated poly(ionic liquid) block copolymer (SPILBCP) ionomer,...
Abstract WMP28: A Novel Machine Learning Model for Rupture Prediction of Saccular Intracranial Aneurysm

Background: Deciding how to deal with unruptured intracranial aneurysms is a complex problem. The research done so far has focused on identifying a contribution of individual risk factor (hypertens...
An Efficient Critical Path Generation Algorithm Considering Extensive Path Constraints

In this paper, we introduce a fast and efficient critical path generation algorithm considering extensive path constraints on a Static Timing Analysis (STA) graph. Critical path generation is a key routine in the inner loop of path-based analysis and timing-driven synthesis flows. Our algorithm can report arbitrary numbers of critical paths on a logic cone constrained by a sequence of from/through/to pins under different min/max modes and rise/fall transitions. Our algorithm is general, efficient, and provably good. Experimental results have showed that our algorithm produces reports that matches a golden reference generated by an industrial signoff timer. Our results also correlate to a commercial timer yet achieving more than an order of magnitude speed-up.
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC MODELING OF SOLAR SYSTEM PROCESSES ON GEODESIC GRIDS

This report describes a new magnetohydrodynamic numerical model based on a hexagonal spherical geodesic grid. The model is designed to simulate astrophysical flows of partially ionized plasmas around a central compact object, such as a star or a planet with a magnetic field. The geodesic grid, produced by a recursive subdivision of a base platonic solid (an icosahedron), is free from control volume singularities inherent in spherical polar grids. Multiple populations of plasma and neutral particles, coupled via chargenexchange interactions, can be simulated simultaneously with this model. Our numerical scheme uses piecewise linear reconstruction on a surface of a sphere in a local two-dimensional qCartesianq frame. The code employs HaartennLaxnvan-Leer-type approximate Riemann solvers and includes facilities to control the divergence of the magnetic field and maintain pressure positivity. Several test solutions are discussed, including a problem of an interaction between the solar wind and the local interstellar medium, and a simulation of Earth&#39;s magnetosphere.
The spread of COVID-19 shows the importance of policy coordination.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced communities to confront what sacrifices they are willing to make to quickly address threats to public health. The pandemic shock is unusual in its rapid appearance, but the question of trade-offs is nothing new. Environmental regulations, safety mandates, and the battles against other infectious diseases all impose both pecuniary and nonpecuniary costs on society in exchange for improved population health. Yet, even if we were to set aside, for a moment, the nonquantitative value of human life, the economic value attributed to the absence of activity limitations designed to protect public health can impose great costs on society through increased disease burdens. Such burdens can accumulate by retarding human capital accumulation and diminishing productivity (1), serving as a long-term drag on economic growth. Whether the full suite of benefits outweigh the costs in any particular case depends on a host of context-specific factors, including the nature of the health threat and the costs and effectiveness of the measures designed to curtail it. A recent article by Taylor et al. (2) reveals one such example: the significant costs incurred from continued operation of meatpacking facilities deemed “essential businesses” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their evidence suggests maintaining operations amid the pandemic can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 both within the workforce and across local communities. A simple aggregation of costs and benefits from any policy also misses important distributional concerns. These are generally not shared equally across members of society, and burdens tend to be more lopsided in the presence of externalities. An externality exists when an individual's actions carry costs or benefits that extend beyond themselves. The root exo, from the Greek for “outer,” hints at the problem: Some consequences of the decision are outside the view of the decision maker. With COVID-19, as … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: jgraffzivin{at}ucsd.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Beans: a global history: by Natalie Rachel Morris, London UK, Reaktion Books Ltd, 2020, 128 pp., ISBN 978-1-78914-204-4

The bean is one of the world’s most ancient forms of nourishment, and has affected cultures, literature and the arts, health, science, agriculture and nutrition. Natalie Rachel Morris presents a to...
Enhanced Doubly Robust Procedure for Causal Inference

In the last two decades, doubly robust estimators (DREs) have been developed for causal inference on various target parameters derived from different study designs. The approach combines propensity score and outcome models of the confounding variables. It yields unbiased estimator of the target parameter if at least one of the two models is correctly specified, a desirable property and an improvement on the inverse propensity score weighted estimate. However, in practice it is difficult to know what the correct model could be and both propensity score and outcome models may be incorrectly specified. Furthermore, it is known that DRE may fail and give estimates with large bias and variance, even when the propensity and/or outcome models are mildly misspecified. To reduce such risk and increase robustness in inference, we propose an enhanced DRE method utilizing semiparametric models with nonparametric monotone link functions for both the propensity score and the outcome models. The models are estimated using an iterative procedure incorporating the pool adjacent violators algorithm. We then study the asymptotic properties of the enhanced DREs. Simulation studies, performed to evaluate their finite sample performance, demonstrated clear superiority to several commonly used doubly robust procedures with reduced bias and increased efficiency even with both models are misspecified, thus enhancing the robustness of DRE. The method is then applied to analyzing a clinical trial from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group and the National Epidemiology Follow-up Study.
Heated Tobacco Product Awareness, Use, and Perceptions in a Sample of Young Adults in the United States.

INTRODUCTION The emergence of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in the US marks a critical time for identifying those most likely to use, particularly among young adults. AIMS AND METHODS We analyzed Fall 2019 data from a longitudinal study of young adults (ages 18-34; n = 2375, Mage=24.66±4.68) in 6 US cities, 24.1% of whom used cigarettes and 32.7% e-cigarettes. We assessed HTP awareness, use, and sources, as well as perceived risk, social acceptability, and the likelihood of future use. RESULTS In this sample, 9.7% (n = 230) heard of HTPs, 3.5% (n = 84) ever used them, and 2.4% (n = 56) reported past-year purchases (tobacco shops, 66.1%; traditional retailers, 60.7%; online, 39.3%; IQOS specialty stores, 35.7%). In multivariable analyses, having heard of HTPs correlated with being an older, male, and current cigarette and e-cigarette users; among those ever hearing of them, using HTPs correlated with being non-Hispanic and current cigarette and e-cigarette users. Greater likelihood of future use correlated with being older, male, sexual minority, non-Hispanic, and current cigarette and e-cigarette users. Among past-month users (n = 78), the average number of days used was 5.48 (SD = 5.54). Past-month cigarette and e-cigarette users, respectively, who tried HTPs were more likely to report consistent or more frequent use of their respective products than a year ago (p < .001). HTPs were perceived as less addictive than cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes, and less harmful and more socially acceptable than other tobacco products except for e-cigarettes and hookah. CONCLUSIONS The relatively positive perceptions of HTPs and access via various channels underscores the potential penetration of HTPs among US young adults. IMPLICATIONS In Fall 2019, as IQOS was launching in the US, there were relatively low rates of awareness, use, and use intentions in this sample of young adults with high proportions of other tobacco use. However, this sample reported relatively positive perceptions of HTPs with regard to potential addiction and harm, as well as social acceptability. They also reported accessing HTPs via various channels, underscoring how pervasive the availability to HTPs already has become and may increasingly become. Moreover, certain subgroups (ie, other tobacco users, men) are particularly likely to use HTPs.
Loneliness, social isolation, and all-cause mortality in the United States

Abstract Social isolation and loneliness are both established risk factors for mortality, but it remains unclear how these two conditions interact with each other. We used data from 3975 adults aged 25–74 years who completed self-administered questionnaires (SAQs) for the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) National Study Wave 2 (2004–2006). Loneliness was measured by asking participants how often they felt lonely. A shortened version of the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index that captured partnerships, friends/family, religious participation, and other forms of social connection was used to assess social isolation. Follow-up for all-cause mortality was censored at the end of 2016. We used progressively adjusted Cox proportional hazard models to examine the mortality risks of loneliness, social isolation, the components of social isolation, and combinations of loneliness and isolation. We adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics in our first models and then added health behaviors and physical and mental health conditions in subsequent models. In the minimally adjusted model, loneliness was associated with higher mortality risk (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.22–1.47), but the association was not significant in the fully adjusted model. Social isolation was significantly associated with mortality in the minimally adjusted model (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.15–1.34) and the fully adjusted model (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.23). Having infrequent contact with family or friends was the component of isolation that had the strongest association with mortality. Contrary to prior literature, which has found either no interaction or a synergistic interaction between isolation and loneliness, we identified a significant, negative interaction between the two measures, indicating that loneliness and social isolation may partially substitute for one another as risk factors for mortality. Both are associated with a similar increased risk of mortality relative to those who express neither; we find no evidence that the combined effect is worse than experiencing either by itself.
Ultraschalldiagnostik der Nieren

Bei Verwendung eines zweidimensionalen Ultraschallsystems (B-scan) wird die normale Niere im Langsschnitt als langsovale, gegen das umgebende Gewebe scharf abgegrenzte Formation abgebildet. Dem Nierenparenchym entspricht der reflexarme, also dunkle „Mantel“. Die hellen Reflexe im Zentrum entstehen an den Strukturen des Nierenbeckens sowie den in diesem Bereich verlaufenden groseren Gefasen. Auch im Querschnittbild sind Parenchym und Pyelon gut voneinander abzugrenzen. Dieses sonographische Nierenbild ist so charakteristisch, das auch eine dystope Niere erkannt werden kann. Die Grose der Niere kann in allen Durchmessern gemessen werden. Wichtig ist aber vor allem, das die Dicke des Parenchyms exakt gemessen und im Verhaltnis zum Durchmesser des Pyelons beurteilt werden kann. Somit eignet sich die Ultraschallmethode zur Erkennung und Verlaufsbeobachtung aller chronischen Nierenerkrankungen, die mit einer Rarefizierung des Parenchyms einhergehen. Bei fortgeschrittenen Erkrankungen erweist sich als Vorteil gegenuber den rontgenologischen Verfahren, das bei der Ultraschallschnittbildmethode kein Kontrastmittel benotigt wird, die Methode also nicht an eine noch erhaltene Funktion des zu untersuchenden Organs gebunden ist.
WE-G-304-01: Introduction

In the past few years, several high-profile medical physicists found their positions terminated. It is a fact that no medical physics job is a sinecure, and that individuals can be terminated through no fault of their own. Medical physicists need to be prepared for such an occurrence. Termination provisions in an employment contract, whether individually negotiated or as part of an employee manual, are important, and also generally overlooked when one is going into a new job. Coupled with the fact that most states are “at-will,” that makes for a tough position for any physicist who finds his/her position terminated. In this course, a medical physicist who is also a practicing attorney will start the discussion with a description of the various types of employment situations and employment agreements. This will be followed by two high-profile medical physicists who had their positions terminated in recent years, who will describe their experiences, including answering such questions as How much time were you given before termination was effective? Did you have any foreshadowing of what was coming? How did you deal with the termination? Given hindsight, what would you have done differently to mitigate the effects of your termination? During job interviews, are there ways to open closets to find the skeletons? What advice would you give medical physicists if faced with a similar situation? What can you negotiate in a termination agreement? What kinds of termination agreements could be presented? The symposium will conclude with a panel discussion. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the various types of employment contracts with an emphasis on termination provisions. 2. Recognize the implications of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. 3. Recognize the possibility of termination of employment. 4. Identify ways to recognize possibly poor employment situations 5. Identify steps that one could take to mitigate the effects of termination.
Effects of Local Loadings on Pressurized Circular Cylindrical Shells

An analysis is carried out to determine the deflexions and stresses in the region of a highly localized loaded area of a circular cylindrical shell initially subjected to internal pressure. Four types of loading are considered: uniformly distributed radial loading, linearly distributed longitudinal bending moment, linearly distributed circumferential bending moment, and uniformly distributed tangential loading. There are five basic parameters defining the structure and loading. Results are presented in the form of diagrams for the first three cases and a table for the last.
Clay-silt sediment modeling using multiple grain classes: Part I: Settling and deposition

Settling and deposition process descriptors are developed for a multiple grain class numerical sediment transport model. Grain class settling rates are calculated to span floc settling rate distributions. Depositional fluxes are coupled from the coarsest to the finest grain class in proportion to class concentrations, consistent with the analytic model of Kranck and Milligan (1992) and other previously observed grain distributions. Numerical deposition experiments display characteristic features of observed grain spectra, as well as trends in overall distribution moments, and stress-dependent steady state concentrations. Floc settling experiments were performed to examine the combined effects of suspension concentration and fluid-shear. A new settling function is proposed and compared to experimental results.
Perihepatitis (Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome): A review and case presentation

Perihepatitis, or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHC), is a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Although in the past Neisseria gonorrhoeae was thought to be the only etiological agent, recent data indicate that chlamydia trachomatis can produce the syndrome. Because cervical cultures frequently fail to demonstrate the presence of C. trachomatis , the serologic microimmunofluorescence antibody test is essential to diagnosis; the antibody titer in FHC syndrome is markedly higher than in PID without FHC syndrome. The classic presenting symptom of perihepatitis is severe right upper quadrant abdominal pain. If unnecessary diagnostic and surgical procedures are to be avoided, the FHC syndrome in the sexually active young woman must be included in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain irrespective of its location. To illustrate the diagnosis and management of the FHC syndrome caused by C. trachomatis , a case of a 16-year-old adolescent female is presented.
Stable isotopes and mass isotopomer study of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. A review of the MIDA approach

Cholesterol and fatty acids are two major components of the lipid bilayer conferring physical and functional properties to the plasma membrane. A highly regulated de novo cholesterogenesis pathway is required for membranogenesis of the normal growth and maintenance of animal cells (1,2). Thus, rapidly growing tissues such as the brain of newborn rat pups have enhanced de novo cholesterogenesis in comparison to the adult brain (3). Conversely, slow turnover tissues such as the kidney have reduced cholesterogenesis (4). Numerous studies have shown that this regulation of lipogenesis is abnormal or absent when cells undergo malignant transformation (5, 6), and increased de novo lipogenesis has been found to strongly associate with the incidence of a number of cancers. In addition, dietary or hormonal factors which affect the regulation of lipogenesis may potentially alter the risk of development of certain cancers as suggested by the association between dietary fat intake and breast cancer risk in many epidemiological studies. The mechanism by which dietary and hormonal factors increase the risk of development of certain cancers is not known. Whether modification of dietary fat intake has any effect on the turnover of cholesterol and fatty acids or influence on the risk of developing cancer remains to be studied with the appropriate techniques.
Universal Biochip Readout of Directed Hamiltonian Path Problems

Auni versal design for a biochip that reads out DNAe ncoded graphs is enhanced by a readout technique that may resolve multiple solutions of Hamiltonian path problems. Asin gle laboratory step is used. DNAen coded graphs are labeled with many quantum dot barcodes and then hybridized to the universal biochip. Optical readouts, one for each barcode, yield multiple partial readouts that may isolate individual paths. Computer heuristics then seek additional individual paths.
The evolution of the blue gene/l supercomputer

The Blue Gene project started in the final months of 1999. Five years later, during the final months of 2004, the first Blue Gene/L machines were being installed at customers. By then, Blue Gene/L had already established itself as the fastest computer in the planet, topping the TOP500 list with the breathtaking speed of over 70 Teraflops. Since the beginning of 2005, many other systems have been installed at customers, the flagship machine at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has greatly increased in size, and Blue Gene/L has established itself as a machine capable of breakthrough science. We here examine how Blue Gene/L came to be. We describe how some key technical decisions were made that shaped the overall hardware and software architecture of this machine. We also describe the nature of the interactions between the teams inside and outside IBM that led to Blue Gene/L being such a successful venture. Finally, we explain why this is just the beginning, and why there is more excitement ahead of us than behind us in the Blue Gene project.
Abstract 318: Determinants of Red Blood Cell Omega-3-Fatty Acid Content in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Objectives: Despite available medical therapies, patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remain at high risk for cardiovascular events. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), derived from marine sources, have been shown to improve cardiovascular mortality. The omega-3 index (O3I), a proportion of the n-3 PUFAs eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid in the red blood cell membrane, correlates with cardiovascular risk. We sought to determine the clinical factors associated with the O3I in patients with PAD. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 111 patients, who had an ankle-brachial index of < 0.9 associated with claudication symptoms. We used linear regression to determine the association between demographic and lifestyle factors and the O3I. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 69 ± 8 years, 37% had diabetes mellitus (Hemoglobin A1c: 7 ± 1%), and 94% had smoked. The mean O3I was 5 ± 2%. Table 1 shows the variables associated with O3I in regression analyses. In a multivariate mode...
CONDITIONALLY EXPRESSED MISSENSE MUTATIONS: THE BASIS FOR THE UNUSUAL PHENOTYPE OF AN APPARENT trpD NONSENSE MUTANT OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM

Tryptophan auxotroph trpo-28 is anomalous since preliminary mapping and suppression studies indicate the presence of a single amber nonsense mutation either late in trpE or early in trpD, but enzymological tests indicate the complete inactivation of both genes in this strain. Since the trpE and trpD genes are contiguous and encode the two subunits of a multifunctional enzyme complex, it was of interest to learn the mechanism of action of this apparent pleiotropic nonsense mutation. Our study has revealed that the phenotype of this strain derives not from a single mutation, but from the presenc and interaction of multiple mutations. Besides the recognized amber mutation (designated trpD28), this strain carries two additional, conditionally expressed missense mutations (designated trpE1651 and trpD1652). The trpD28 amber codon maps in the promoter-proximal region 1 of trpD and eliminates the glutamine amidotransferase activity of the bifunctional trpD polypeptide. The trpD1652 mutation maps in the promoter-distal region 2 of trpD and severely reduces (but does not eliminate) the phosphoribosyl transferase activity of the trpD polypeptide. The trpE1651 mutation maps in the anterior part of trpE and causes a rapid loss of activity of the trpE polypeptide, but only when it exists as an umcomplexed subunit. The existence of the two missense mutations escaped prior notice in standard recombinational tests since the nature of ech mutation is such that neither is detectable by the nutritional screens normally used in such tests unless an unsuppressed chain-terminating mutation, such as trpD28, is also present.
Exact and Approximate Solutions to a Class of Multiobjective Controller Synthesis Problems

In this paper, we consider a multiple objective control problem. If the exogenous input matrices in a state-space model of the plant under control satisfy a generic rank condition, we show that all the individual state-feedback controllers which achieve desirable performance and robustness levels (as measured by suitable closed loop transfer matrices) can be combined to generate a single state-feedback controller that simultaneously achieves the same performance and robustness levels. In the output feed-back case we show how to recover (to any degree of accuracy) all the state-feedback closed loop properties with a single observer based controller when the subsystem from the exogenous input to the measured output satisfies a minimum phase assumption.