cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of mild acute stress during memory consolidation on emotional recognition memory.

Abstract Stress during consolidation improves recognition memory performance. Generally, this memory benefit is greater for emotionally arousing stimuli than neutral stimuli. The strength of the stressor also plays a role in memory performance, with memory performance improving up to a moderate level of stress and thereafter worsening. As our daily stressors are generally minimal in strength, we chose to induce mild acute stress to determine its effect on memory performance. In the current study, we investigated if mild acute stress during consolidation improves memory performance for emotionally arousing images. To investigate this, we had participants encode highly arousing negative, minimally arousing negative, and neutral images. We induced stress using the Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST) in half of the participants and a control task to the other half of the participants directly after encoding (i.e. during consolidation) and tested recognition 48 h later. We found no difference in memory performance between the stress and control group. We found a graded pattern among confidence, with responders in the stress group having the least amount of confidence in their hits and controls having the most. Across groups, we found highly arousing negative images were better remembered than minimally arousing negative or neutral images. Although stress did not affect memory accuracy, responders, as defined by cortisol reactivity, were less confident in their decisions. Our results suggest that the daily stressors humans experience, regardless of their emotional affect, do not have adverse effects on memory.
Off Belay! The Morality of Free-soloing

In this paper, we use qualitative and quantitative research, along with reference to current philosophical literature to consider the question of whether the sport of free-soloing is inherently imm...
Deactivation of the Oxygen Evolving Reaction Complex in Isolated Chloroplasts

Although the unusual characteristics of the oxygen evolving mechanism in photosystem II of the chloroplasts have been known, or suspected for at least two decades, we have begun only recently to learn how they can be dealt with experimentally. The elegant experiments in JOLIOT’s (1969), KOK’s (1970) and ROSENBERG’S (1969) laboratories have suggested that the oxidation of water involves a concerted action of four oxidizing equivalents. We are now quite certain that manganese is indeed directly involved in this process, and we do not doubt any more that certain added compounds can substitute for, or even compete with, water as terminal electron donors t o the oxidants generated in the second photoact. It has become apparent that the mysterious “deactivation” of the oxygen evolving system involves the annihilation of stored oxidizing equivalents in systemll by native or added electron donors. A cyclic flow of electrons from the reduced primary acceptor Q of photosystem 11 to oxidants in the oxygen evolving reaction complex, for example, is thought to be the cause for the decay of the highfluorescent state of DCMU poisoned chloroplasts or algae in the dark (HEBER & FRENCH 1968, BENNOUN 1970, HEATH 1970, HOMANN 1971).
Role of raf-1 protein kinase in IL-3 and GM-CSF-mediated signal transduction.

Raf-1 is a cytosolic serine/threonine-specific protein kinase that is ubiquitously expressed (Storm et al., 1990). The raf-1 gene can be converted into an oncogene by N-terminal fusion, truncation, or by site-specific mutation (Heidecker et al., 1990). When activated forms of the raf-1 gene were expressed in E. coli, the purified protein had kinase activity in vitro and induced DNA synthesis as well as morphological transformation upon microinjection into quiescent NIH 3T3 cells (Smith et al., 1990). Thus, activated raf-1 is an intracellular mitogen.
Changes in cerebral oxygenation based on intraoperative ventilation strategy

Introduction Cerebral oxygenation can be monitored clinically by cerebral oximetry (regional oxygen saturation, rSO2) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Changes in rSO2 have been shown to precede changes in pulse oximetry, providing an early detection of clinical deterioration. Cerebral oximetry values may be affected by various factors, including changes in ventilation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in rSO2 during intraoperative changes in mechanical ventilation. Patients and methods Following the approval of the institutional review board (IRB), tissue and cerebral oxygenation were monitored intraoperatively using NIRS. Prior to anesthetic induction, the NIRS monitor was placed on the forehead and over the deltoid muscle to obtain baseline values. NIRS measurements were recorded each minute over a 5-min period during general anesthesia at four phases of ventilation: 1) normocarbia (35-40 mmHg) with a low fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 0.3; 2) hypocarbia (25-30 mmHg) and low FiO2 of 0.3; 3) hypocarbia and a high FiO2 of 0.6; and 4) normocarbia and a high FiO2. NIRS measurements during each phase were compared with sequential phases using paired t-tests. Results The study cohort included 30 adolescents. Baseline cerebral and tissue oxygenation were 81% ± 9% and 87% ± 5%, respectively. During phase 1, cerebral rSO2 was 83% ± 8%, which decreased to 79% ± 8% in phase 2 (hypocarbia and low FiO2). Cerebral oxygenation partially recovered during phase 3 (81% ± 9%) with the increase in FiO2 and then returned to baseline during phase 4 (83% ± 8%). Each sequential change (e.g., phase 1 to phase 2) in cerebral oxygenation was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Tissue oxygenation remained at 87%-88% throughout the study. Conclusion Cerebral oxygenation declined slightly during general anesthesia with the transition from normocarbia to hypocarbic conditions. The rSO2 decrease related to hypocarbia was easily reversed with a return to baseline values by the administration of supplemental oxygen (60% vs. 30%).
APPENDIX E – Research Studies in Patterns of Scientific Communication: III, Information-Exchange Processes Associated with the Production of Journal Articles*

The two studies described in this article focus on information-exchange associated with material published in journal articles. In the first study we concentrate on the prepublication information-exchange activities of article authors, from the time their work first reached a report stage until it was published. The results of the second study, related directly to the articles studies in the first one, and the results of the first study have been combined so that we could discuss how scientists assimilate and use information contained in these articles when this information is also disseminated via informal media prior to its appearance in journal articles. The findings are discussed in light of questions they raise about the function of current journal articles.
Naturalism: Metaphysics, Mandate, or Myth?

In May of 1947, C. S. Lewis’s book Miracles was published, the third chapter of which was entitled, “The Self-contradiction of Naturalism.” In this chapter, Lewis presented a reductio argument, con...
A functional model for classifying metastatic lesions integrating scans and biomarkers.

Perfusion computed tomography is an emerging functional imaging modality that uses physiological models to quantify characteristics pertaining to the passage of fluid through blood vessels. Perfusi...
Evolution of altruistic cooperation among nascent multicellular organisms

Cooperation is a classic solution to hostile environments that limit individual survival. In extreme cases this may lead to the evolution of new types of biological individuals (e.g., eusocial super-organisms). We examined the potential for interindividual cooperation to evolve via experimental evolution, challenging nascent multicellular "snowflake yeast" with an environment in which solitary multicellular clusters experienced low survival. In response, snowflake yeast evolved to form cooperative groups composed of thousands of multicellular clusters that typically survive selection. Group formation occurred through the creation of protein aggregates, only arising in strains with high (>2%) rates of cell death. Nonetheless, it was adaptive and repeatable, although ultimately evolutionarily unstable. Extracellular protein aggregates act as a common good, as they can be exploited by cheats that do not contribute to aggregate production. These results highlight the importance of group formation as a mechanism for surviving environmental stress, and underscore the remarkable ease with which even simple multicellular entities may evolve-and lose-novel social traits.
Classroom Evaluation of Online Quizzing and Concept Building Exercises Embedded in an Integrated Learning System.

The advent of the integrated learning system (ILS) offers instructors opportunities to provide students with feedback-enabled, interactive learning exercises as online supplements to assigned textb...
Influence of temperature on the pathogenicity of Solenopsis invicta virus 3.

Field evaluations assessing the prevalence of Solenopsis invicta virus 3 (SINV-3) have shown that the virus exhibits a distinct seasonal phenology in the host, Solenopsis invicta, that is negatively correlated with warmer temperatures. Active SINV-3 infections were established in Solenopsis invicta colonies, which were subsequently maintained at 19.1, 22.2, 25.5, 27.7, and 29.3 °C. The quantity of brood declined in all SINV-3-treated colonies regardless of temperature over the initial 30 days. However, the quantity of brood in colonies held at 29.3 °C began increasing (recovering) in the next 40 days until they were statistically equivalent to untreated control colonies. Meanwhile, the quantity of brood continued to decline in colonies held at 19.1, 22.2, 25.5, and 27.7 °C for the duration of the test (81days). By the end of the test, these colonies were in poor health as indicated by decreased brood. Conversely, the amount of brood for colonies held at 29.3 °C increased to above 3, indicating healthy vigorous growth. Worker ants from SINV-3-treated colonies maintained at 19.1, 22.2, and 25.5 °C showed strong production of the VP2 capsid protein by Western blotting; 100% of the colonies sampled (n = 3) showed production of VP2. However, VP2 was detected in only 33% of colonies maintained at 27.7 °C, and the VP2 response was nearly undetectable in all colonies maintained at 29.3 °C. These results indicate that virus assembly does not appear to be occurring efficiently at the higher temperatures. Also, the quantity of SINV-3 detected in queens was significantly lower in those maintained at 29.3 °C compared with the lower temperature treatments. These results indicate that warm summer temperatures combined with fire ant thermoregulatory behavior and perhaps behavioral fevers may explain the low prevalence of SINV-3 in fire ant colonies during the summer.
From Print to Digital: The Medium Is Only Part of the Message

Over the past decade, preschool children have had increasing experience with storybooks in an electronic format. These reading sessions are usually guided by an adult who keeps the child’s attention focused as the story unfolds. Occasionally, children are given a tablet or smartphone to operate on their own when the adult is not available to scaffold (e.g., in a car, at a restaurant). Although traditional paper storybooks still dominate the preschooler’s reading experience, the growing availability of e-books has opened a debate on the relative effectiveness of these two book formats for children’s attention and learning. While it is clear that preschoolers are very attentive to, and engaged in e-books, questions remain about (a) the potential of their interactive features to distract children and diminish learning, (b) the change in the adult-child interaction that occurs during e-book reading compared to traditional book reading, and (c) whether the built-in interactive and multimedia features can replace the traditional role of the adult that occurs in joint reading. The answers to these questions are discussed in relation to three critical variables: the characteristics of the individual child, the content of the e-book material, and the context in which the joint or independent reading occurs.
Hopanoid lipids may facilitate aerobic nitrogen fixation in the ocean

Cyanobacterial diazotrophs are considered to be the most important source of fixed N2 in the open ocean. Biological N2 fixation is catalyzed by the extremely O2-sensitive nitrogenase enzyme. In cyanobacteria without specialized N2-fixing cells (heterocysts), mechanisms such as decoupling photosynthesis from N2 fixation in space or time are involved in protecting nitrogenase from the intracellular O2 evolved by photosynthesis. However, it is not known how cyanobacterial cells limit O2 diffusion across their membranes to protect nitrogenase in ambient O2-saturated surface ocean waters. Here, we explored all known genomes of the major marine cyanobacterial lineages for the presence of hopanoid synthesis genes, since hopanoids are a class of lipids that might act as an O2 diffusion barrier. We found that, whereas all non-heterocyst-forming cyanobacterial diazotrophs had hopanoid synthesis genes, none of the marine Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus (non-N2-fixing), and marine heterocyst-forming (N2-fixing) cyanobacteria did. Finally, we conclude that hopanoid-enriched membranes are a conserved trait in non-heterocyst-forming cyanobacterial diazotrophs that might lower the permeability to extracellular O2 This membrane property coupled with high respiration rates to decrease intracellular O2 concentration may therefore explain how non-heterocyst-forming cyanobacterial diazotrophs can fix N2 in the fully oxic surface ocean.
Differential Posttreatment Outcomes of Methylphenidate for Smoking Cessation for Individuals With ADHD

Background and objectives In a multisite, randomized study (CTN-0029), a 3-month course of Osmotic-Release Oral System Methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) improved smoking cessation in a group of patients with higher baseline severity in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This treatment, however, worsened smoking cessation outcome in the group with lower baseline ADHD severity. We want to examine whether this differential treatment effect persisted after OROS-MPH was discontinued. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the 1-month follow-up data from CTN-0029 after the discontinuation of OROS-MPH (N = 134). Nicotine patch was tapered during this month. We tested whether OROS-MPH had an effect on self-reported 7-day abstinence by week, as well as possible treatment by baseline ADHD severity interactions. Results Abstinence diminished overall in time after the end of the treatment. In the high baseline severity group, patients who received OROS-MPH had an advantage in 7-day abstinence at week 15 (40% for OROS-MPH vs 20% for placebo, odds ratio = 2.63, P = .028). In the lower severity group (n = 121), no difference was detected (29% for OROS-MPH vs 32% for placebo, P = 1.00) between the two treatment groups. There was also a significant treatment by baseline ADHD severity interaction (P = .03). Conclusions and scientific significance OROS-MPH promotes abstinence beyond the course of treatment for patients with more severe ADHD, while the paradoxical effects in the lower baseline severity group is not persistent after medication discontinuation. Targeting ADHD in smoking cessation as a comorbidity therefore can have broader impact with more precise patient selection. (Am J Addict).
A Bench Study Evaluating Gas Temperature and Absolute Humidity During Pediatric Airway Pressure Release Ventilation

Background: Heated humidifiers (HH) optimally operate with continuous or near-continuous flow. Standard HH performance requires gas temperatures (GT) 34°C - 41°C and absolute humidity (AH) 33 - 44 mg H2O/L. APRV incorporates a prolonged inspiratory phase creating no-flow conditions. Adjunct techniques used with APRV including external flow bled-in at 2 L/min or humidification augmentation with maximum humidity compensation may influence GT or AH. We sought to determine if APRV settings would provide acceptable levels of GT and AH using a pediatric ARDS lung model. Our null hypothesis is that during pediatric APRV, there is no difference in GT or AH when comparing PC-CMV with APRV, APRV using external flow (APRV-EF), and APRV with humidity compensation (APRV-HC). Methods: A conventional ventilator (Servo-i, Maquet) was equipped with an adult heated circuit (RT280, Fisher & Paykel) and connected to a HH (MR850, Fishery & Paykel). The ventilator was calibrated to the circuit with a pre-use check. A hygro-thermometer (Humidity Alert II, Extech) calibrated to NIST standards was placed at the circuit Y-piece. The ventilator circuit was connected to a test lung (ASL 5000, IngMar Medical) set to simulate a 10-year-old with ARDS (compliance 13 cm H2O L/s, resistance 30 mL/cm H2O, 6.0 ETT). Targeted lung protective ventilation settings are as follows: PC-CMV (frequency 20 breaths/min, PC 20 cm H2O, PEEP 12 cm H2O) and APRV (Phigh 30 Plow 0 Thigh 4 s Tlow 0.2 s). PC-CMV was initiated with heated humidity for 1 h. After each intervention change (PC-CMV -> APRV -> APRV-EF -> APRV-HC) a 10-min stabilization period preceded temperature and relative humidity measurements (every 5 min for 30 min) and AH was calculated from these measurements. Analysis was performed with a one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey, as appropriate (SPSS, v24, IBM, Armonk, NY). Data was normally distributed for both GT and AH. Alpha (2-tail) set at .05. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in GT (P Conclusions: During APRV with low lung compliance, heating and humidification of inspired gas may not meet recommended standards for invasive mechanical ventilation regardless of adjunct techniques.
Music Classification using an Improved CRNN with Multi-Directional Spatial Dependencies in Both Time and Frequency Dimensions

In music classification tasks, Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (CRNN) has achieved state-of-the-art performance on several data sets. However, the current CRNN technique only uses RNN to extract spatial dependency of music signal in its time dimension but not its frequency dimension. We hypothesize the latter can be additionally exploited to improve classification performance. In this paper, we propose an improved technique called CRNN in Time and Frequency dimensions (CRNN-TF), which captures spatial dependencies of music signal in both time and frequency dimensions in multiple directions. Experimental studies on three real-world music data sets show that CRNN-TF consistently outperforms CRNN and several other state-of-the-art deep learning-based music classifiers. Our results also suggest CRNN-TF is transferable on small music data sets via the fine-tuning technique.
Probable transfusion transmission of West Nile virus from an apheresis platelet that screened non-reactive by individual donor-nucleic acid testing.

BACKGROUND Despite West Nile virus (WNV) blood donation screening using nucleic acid testing (NAT), donors with low viral loads not detected by mini-pool-NAT have led to transfusion transmitted (TT)-WNV infection. We describe a probable case of fatal TT-WNV infection from an individual donor (ID)-NAT non-reactive apheresis platelet donation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS An apheresis platelet donation was WNV ID-NAT reactive and prior donations from the same donor were investigated. A WNV ID-NAT non-reactive apheresis platelet unit collected 26 days earlier was transfused during heart transplantation to a patient who subsequently developed WNV neuroinvasive disease and expired. The source of the recipient's WNV infection was investigated. RESULTS Twenty-six days after collection of the suspect platelet unit, a donation from the same donor was WNV ID-NAT reactive and WNV IgM and IgG positive. In addition to the suspect platelet unit, the heart transplant recipient who developed WNV infection received 17 blood components from 24 donors. Serologic testing performed on 11 of the remaining 24 donors (46%) was WNV IgM negative. Pre-transplant recipient and heart donor samples tested WNV RNA and IgM negative. CONCLUSION A probable case of fatal neuroinvasive TT-WNV was linked to an infectious apheresis platelet unit undetected by WNV ID-NAT. It is hypothesized that the suspect unit was collected early in the viremic period when viral RNA was below the limit-of-detection of the ID-NAT assay. Implementation of ID-NAT screening of blood donors has not entirely eliminated the risk of TT-WNV infections, which may best be addressed by pathogen inactivation technologies.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Long-Term Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adult Emergency Department Patients.

Author(s): Evans, Christopher S.; Self, Wesley; Ginde, Adit A.; Chandrasekhar, Rameela; Ely, E. Wesley; Han, Jin H. | Abstract: Introduction: Approximately 16% of acutely ill older adults develop new, long-term cognitive impairment (LTCI), many of whom initially seek care in the emergency department (ED). Currently, no effective interventions exist to prevent LTCI after an acute illness. Identifying early and modifiable risk factors for LTCI is the first step toward effective therapy. We hypothesized that Vitamin D deficiency at ED presentation was associated with LTCI in older adults.Methods: This was an observational analysis of a prospective cohort study that enrolled ED patients ≥ 65 years old who were admitted to the hospital for an acute illness. All patients were enrolled within four hours of ED presentation. Serum Vitamin D was measured at enrollment and Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum concentrations l20 mg/dL. We measured pre-illness and six-month cognition using the short form Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), which ranges from 1 to 5 (severe cognitive impairment). Multiple linear regression was performed to determine whether Vitamin D deficiency was associated with poorer six-month cognition adjusted for pre-illness IQCODE and other confounders. We incorporated a two-factor interaction into the regression model to determine whether the relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and six-month cognition was modified by pre-illness cognition.Results: We included a total of 134 older ED patients; the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 74 (69, 81) years old, 61 (46%) were female, and 14 (10%) were nonwhite race. The median (IQR) vitamin D level at enrollment was 25 (18, 33) milligrams per deciliter and 41 (31%) of enrolled patients met criteria for vitamin D deficiency. Seventy-seven patients survived and had a six-month IQCODE. In patients with intact pre-illness cognition (IQCODE of 3.13), Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with worsening six-month cognition (β-coefficient: 0.43, 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.78, p = 0.02) after adjusting for pre-illness IQCODE and other confounders. Among patients with pre-illness dementia (IQCODE of 4.31), no association with Vitamin D deficiency was observed (β-coefficient: -0.1;, 95% CI, [-0.50-0.27], p = 0.56).Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was associated with poorer six-month cognition in acutely ill older adult ED patients who were cognitively intact at baseline. Future studies should determine whether early Vitamin D repletion in the ED improves cognitive outcomes in acutely ill older patients.
New features of C++11

C++ is a programming language commonly taught in the undergraduate Computer Science curriculum. Recently the long awaited new standard for C++ known as C++11 was adopted replacing the C++98/C++03 standard. C++11 source code is backward compatible with the first standard source code. Many of the changes were strongly influenced by the TR1 and the Boost library. The new language features include scoped enumerations, the auto and decltype keywords, lambdas, variadic templates, raw strings, a range based for loop, and initializer lists. Many changes involve the Standard C++ Library. Of particular note are templates for tuples, smart pointers (shared_ptr, unique_ptr and weak_ptr), arrays, forward lists, unordered sets and maps, regular expressions, and sophisticated random number generation support.
Rise of the Big Retail Merchants

Retail pioneers in the mid-1800s revolutionized shopping by offering good-quality products with stated prices and without chicanery, instead of the old merchants’ insistence upon charging different prices to individual consumers after protracted haggling. The new-style retailers also created dream worlds of consumption. Despite these benefits, critics found plenty to criticize about these palaces of consumption, including concerns regarding the chastity of women shoppers and clerks. The pioneering retailers often treated their workers better than employers in other industries.
Epistemic Communities and Public Support for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

We study how informing the public about the views of international policy experts shapes public support for international cooperation. Using survey experiments, we test whether variation in levels ...
Food Insecurity, Malnutrition, and the Microbiome

Food insecurity is defined as the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources. Although a relationship between food insecurity and malnutrition would seem intuitive, this relationship remains unclear. This review was aimed at summarizing the emerging evidence of the relationship between food insecurity, malnutrition, and intestinal microbial changes. Evidence suggests that malnutrition is certainly associated with alteration in the intestinal microbiome. Alternative theories have been proposed as to the nature of the alteration, whether that be a result of microbial immaturity, dysbiosis, or contributions from both processes. Although the evidence continues to evolve, targeted nutritional therapies in conjunction with specific microbial therapy of probiotics or prebiotics may hold great promise for the treatment of malnutrition in the clinical and community settings.
Impact of Obesity on Tranexamic Acid Efficacy in Adult Patients With Major Bleeding.

Background:Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic used for prophylaxis and treatment of acute bleeding. Although fixed dosing is often used in practice, weight-based dosing is sometimes used ...
COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients: Observations from the Initial Phase of the Global Pandemic in Rhode Island.

OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristics of children undergoing SARS-CoV-2 testing during the initial wave of infections in Rhode Island. METHODS: This is a descriptive study of 729 children tested for SARS-CoV-2 at four emergency departments April 9 to May 7, 2020 in Rhode Island. Demographic information and symptoms were cataloged for those tested. RESULTS: 81 (11%) children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 94% of positive children were symptomatic. 74% of positive cases had constitutional symptoms and 72% had upper respiratory symptoms. While only 34% of those tested were Hispanic, 68% of the SARS-CoV-2- positive cases occurred in Hispanic children. CONCLUSION: This study details the pediatric population's experience during the first wave of the pandemic in Rhode Island. It could inform testing allocation strategies in healthcare settings. It also highlights vulnerable populations in need of further public health support in our state.
Droplet Size and Distribution of Nebulized 3% Sodium Chloride, Albuterol, and Epoprostenol by Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer.

ABSTRACT Background Aerosolized drug therapy administered to mechanically ventilated patients is a standard part of pulmonary critical care medicine. Aerosol particle size and distribution are important factors in the optimal delivery of aerosolized drugs to ventilated patients. Objective The objective of this study was to characterize aerosol droplet size and distribution with laser diffraction for nebulized 3% sodium chloride, albuterol, and epoprostenol sodium (containing glycine) delivered via Aeroneb Solo Mesh Nebulizers (Aerogen, Mountain View, California). Methods A series of functional flow tests were run on each of 8 Solo mesh nebulizers before the study to verify accuracy of flow rates in milliliters per minute. Aerosolized droplets exiting the nebulizer heads were then measured using a phase Doppler particle analyzer. Data collected during delivery of 3% sodium chloride, albuterol, and epoprostenol sodium included aerosol droplet size distribution, mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), and geometric standard deviation. For each Solo nebulizer, droplet size measurements were taken 2 cm away from the nebulizer head and 2 cm away from the wye of a heated, humidified adult ventilator circuit. For measurements taken at the wye, 4 distinct, continuous flow rates (2, 10, 20, and 40 L/min) were generated by an air pump to simulate inspiratory flows delivered with mechanical ventilation. The expiratory limb was capped, and the nebulizer head was inserted into the breathing circuit upstream of the humidifier. Results Each Solo nebulizer met Aerogen's recommended minimum flow rate of 0.2 mL/min, ranging from 0.23 to 0.31 mL/min. The MMAD of the 3 tested aerosols was several times smaller when measured at the wye outlet of the heated/humidified breathing circuit (0.82–2.73 µm) compared with droplets measured directly at the nebulizer outlet (MMAD, 4.6–7.3 µm). There was also significant variability across Solo heads with some ventilator flow rates. The mean MMAD at the wye for the 3% sodium chloride solution, albuterol, and epoprostenol test solutions was 1.62 µm, 1.09 µm, and 1.18 µm, respectively. The mean MMAD at the nebulizer for the 3% sodium chloride solution, albuterol, and epoprostenol test solutions was 5.37 µm, 5.73 µm, and 6.73 µm, respectively. Conclusions Results from this study suggest that particle size of aerosolized drugs administered via a commonly used setup for delivery of in-line aerosols to mechanically ventilated patients may be several times smaller than expected and may result in less drug being delivered to the patient than previously realized. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2021; 82:XXX–XXX) © 2021 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.
Gender, Youth, and Intimacy as Seen through the Lens of Sexting

This is a book about gender, youth, and the search for sexual intimacy, or what I would call the human curriculum of sexuality. It is concerned with the ways adolescents learn how to become sexual beings in today’s digital world. In particular, I seek to shed light on the ways society shapes adolescent lives and futures through gendered views, expectations, and social practices.
The Sympathetic Skin Response in the EEG

ABSTRACTThe sympathetic skin response (SSR) is a change in the electrical properties of the skin that occurs during sweating or in response to sensory stimulation or emotional stress. When it appears as an artifact or a contaminant in the EEG, it may be mistaken for abnormal cerebral slow-wave activity or be confused with other artifacts, such as those produced by eye movements or tongue movements. In the EEG, the SSR appears as a long-lasting potential of abrupt onset with a characteristic monophasic, biphasic, or triphasic morphology. It is recorded most commonly from the frontal head regions, but it may be more diffuse. The SSR may be elicited by mental activity, hyperventilation, photic stimulation, or the act of filling electrodes. Extracranial recording, usually obtained from electrodes on the palm of the hand, can be used to confirm the presence of an SSR suspected on scalp recording.
Covalent Carbides: Structure and Composition

This chapter focuses on the structural characteristics of covalent carbides—that is, boron carbide and silicon carbide. The two covalent carbides have certain general features such as they fully meet the refractory criteria of high melting point and thermal and chemical stability; they are nonmetallic compounds; their electronic bonding is essentially covalent; they have low density; their elemental constituents have low atomic weight; they have useful semiconductor properties; and they are extremely hard and strong materials, which exhibit typical ceramic characteristics. The atomic and crystalline structures of covalent carbides are less complex and generally better understood and characterized than those of interstitial carbides. Bonding is essentially covalent where the carbon atoms bond to the silicon or boron atoms by sharing a pair of electrons and like all covalent bonds, these atoms forms definite bond angles. The bonding is achieved by the hybridization of the valence electrons of the respective atoms.
On the origin of the minimal coupling rule, and on the possiblity of observing a classical, "Aharonov-Bohm-like" angular momentum

The minimal coupling rule is "derived" starting from Landau's relativistically invariant classical action for a charge in the presence of classical electromagnetic fields. Experiments are then proposed to see the resulting electromagnetic angular momentum of a classical, "lumpy" charged ring enclosing a solenoid. These classical, macroscopic experiments are similar in spirit to those proposed by Aharonov and Bohm at the quantum level.
Presurgical evaluation in patients with tumors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the presurgical evaluation of tumor patients. The general approach in the evaluation of patients with epilepsy and brain tumor is illustrated in this chapter. The tests most commonly utilized during the presurgical assessment of these patients are listed. The concordance of tumor location on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other preoperative data obviates the need for further invasive studies. Resection to clear margins maximizes the chance of oncological and epilepsy control. Neuropsychological evaluation, fMRI, intracranial monitoring/stimulation mapping, and other functional studies provide the data to maximize tumor/seizure focus resection in or adjacent to the functional cortex while minimizing associated morbidity. Multidisciplinary approach involving nurse clinicians, neuropsychologists, neurologists, neuroradiologists, neurophysiologists, and neurosurgeons is needed when investigating the treatment of tumor patients. It is this type of approach that will give epilepsy patients the best chance for a good seizure outcome, a decreased chance of mortality from their tumor, and a preserved neuropsychological state resulting in superior quality of life.
Restoring the Link Between Pay and Performance: Evaluating the Costs of Relative-Performance-Based (Indexed) Options

Conventional stock options, say their critics, do not adequately discriminate between strong and weak managers because their value fluctuates with the performance of the overall market. Such critics propose replacing conventional stock options with options whose payoff depends on firm performance relative to some market or industry benchmark. While these relative-performance-benchmarked options (also referred to as "indexed" options) offer the benefits that accrue from a tighter link between managers' pay and their performance, they also have costs. This paper compares the "deadweight costs" of relative-performance-benchmarked options to those of conventional options. By "deadweight cost," I mean the gap between the firm's cost of granting the option and the value of that option to less-than-fully-diversified managers. This gap arises because managers compelled to hold stock or options to align incentives cannot fully diversify their portfolios, and must therefore bear more risk than would well-diversified investors. The less-than-fully-diversified managers will therefore always value their stock and option-based compensation at less than its market value. I estimate the cost of this lost diversification, and find that, perhaps surprisingly, the gap between the firm's cost (the market value) and the manager's private value of an option is 57% greater for relative-performance-based options than for conventional options. The relative-performance-based options have larger deadweight costs because, by design, they strip away the manager's exposure to all systematic risk, leaving her with a portfolio with an expected return no better than the risk-free rate. One practical implication of this insight is that firms implementing a relative-performance-based compensation system should not boost the number of options awarded over the number that they would have otherwise awarded in a conventional stock option plan, even though indexed options have a lower market value than conventional options. Instead, firms should increase the cash component of managers' pay, which has the effect of decreasing the deadweight losses of the compensation plan while maintaining or even improving its power to align incentives.
The biology and physiology of aging.

Abstract This discussion was selected from the weekly staff conferences in the Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco. Taken from a transcription, it has been edited by Homer A. Boushey, MD, Professor of Medicine, and Nathan M. Bass, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, under the direction of Lloyd H. Smith, Jr, MD, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean in the School of Medicine.
Gain-bandwidth product of a VCSEL amplifier

An analytical expression is presented for the gain-bandwidth product of a VCSEL amplifier, which predicts gain-bandwidth products of up to 80 GHz. Gain measurements have been carried out, and bandwidth measurements will be carried out to test the validity of the theoretical predictions.
Dynamic analysis of concentrated solar supercritical CO2-based power generation closed-loop cycle

Abstract In this study, the dynamic behavior of a concentrated solar power (CSP) supercritical CO 2 cycle is studied under different seasonal conditions. The system analyzed is composed of a central receiver, hot and cold thermal energy storage units, a heat exchanger, a recuperator, and multi-stage compression–expansion subsystems with intercoolers and reheaters between compressors and turbines respectively. Energy models for each component of the system are developed in order to optimize operating and design parameters such as mass flow rate, intermediate pressures and the effective area of the recuperator to lead to maximum efficiency. The results show that the parametric optimization leads the system to a process efficiency of about 21% and a maximum power output around 1.6 MW. The thermal energy storage allows the system to operate for several hours after sunset. This operating time is approximately increased from 220 to 480 minutes after optimization. The hot and cold thermal energy storage also lessen the temperature fluctuations by providing smooth changes of temperatures at the turbine and compressor inlets. The results obtained in this paper indicate that concentrated solar systems using supercritical CO 2 could be a viable alternative to satisfying energy needs in desert areas with scarce water and fossil fuel resources.
Can Lessons Learned from Genome-Wide Research be Applied to Nutrition-Wide and Exposure-Wide Evidence?

Human genomics and human nutrition are two very large domains of epidemiological investigation, but their overlap has remained relatively limited to date. Most studies that address genetic risk factors ignore nutritional and other related exposures, and vice versa. Both domains have not only a history of exciting discoveries, but also a tenuous, if not poor, replication record (Ioannidis, 2005a; Ioannidis et al., 2001). For nutritional and lifestyle epidemiology, randomized trials have failed to confirm a large number of associations proposed by observational data (Ioannidis, 2005b). For genetic epidemiology, a major transformation in the last few years has suggested that most candidate gene associations proposed in the past were likely false-positives (Manolio et al., 2008; McCarthy et al., 2008). The new transformation of genetic epidemiology has led to a new mode of discovery and validation of associations based on shear massive testing (large-scale studies on large-scale massive-testing platforms) (Mc...
More is More: 60 Plus 10 Equals Better Recall

Can the recall of a brand (familiar or unfamiliar) in a 60-second commercial be increased simply by adding a 10-second commercial from the same brand? This study observes the effectiveness of what has become a practice of some advertisers to increase the recall effectiveness of their radio commercials. The results indicate that the addition of a 10-second commercial (last in-pod) for the same brand to a commercial set significantly increases the brand and proven recall of an unfamiliar brand (second in-pod) but not that of a familiar brand. Based on these results, this study suggests that advertisers would be wise to supplement their 60-second commercial schedules with 10-second commercials to improve their recall effectiveness.
High-level Expression of the Chemically Synthesized Gene for Microbial Transglutaminase from Streptoverticillium in Escherichia coli

We developed a novel approach for the high-level production of a microbial transglutaminase (TGase) from Streptoverticillium in E. coli. The direct expression of the TGase gene in E. coli cells did not cause overproduction, probably due to the harmful influence of TGase activity, which introduces covalent crosslinks between proteins. Therefore, we fused the chemically synthesized TGase gene coding for the entire 331 amino acid residues at the amino terminus to a bacteriophage T7 gene 10 leader peptide (260 amino acids) using an inducible expression vector. The TGase gene was expressed as inclusion bodies in the E. coli cytoplasm. Restoring 15 amino acid residues upstream of the amino terminus of the mature TGase by a two-step deletion of the fusion sequence facilitated solubilization and subsequent proteolytic cleavage, thus releasing mature TGase. Although the mature form had less TGase activity than native TGase, because of the poor refolding rate, these results suggest that this system is suitable for the efficient production of TGase.
Real-time single-molecule imaging reveals a direct interaction between UvrC and UvrB on DNA tightropes

Nucleotide excision DNA repair is mechanistically conserved across all kingdoms of life. In prokaryotes, this multi-enzyme process requires six proteins: UvrA–D, DNA polymerase I and DNA ligase. To examine how UvrC locates the UvrB–DNA pre-incision complex at a site of damage, we have labeled UvrB and UvrC with different colored quantum dots and quantitatively observed their interactions with DNA tightropes under a variety of solution conditions using oblique angle fluorescence imaging. Alone, UvrC predominantly interacts statically with DNA at low salt. Surprisingly, however, UvrC and UvrB together in solution bind to form the previously unseen UvrBC complex on duplex DNA. This UvrBC complex is highly motile and engages in unbiased one-dimensional diffusion. To test whether UvrB makes direct contact with the DNA in the UvrBC–DNA complex, we investigated three UvrB mutants: Y96A, a β-hairpin deletion and D338N. These mutants affected the motile properties of the UvrBC complex, indicating that UvrB is in intimate contact with the DNA when bound to UvrC. Given the in vivo excess of UvrB and the abundance of UvrBC in our experiments, this newly identified complex is likely to be the predominant form of UvrC in the cell.
Nuclear deterrence and the logic of deliberative mindreading

Although the computational modeling of ''mindreading'' (e.g., believing that you believe that there's a deadly boa in the box, Smith mindreadingly predicts that you will refrain from removing the top) is well-established, this success has been achieved primarily in connection with scenarios that, relatively speaking, are both simple and common. Herein, we introduce a new computational-logic framework that allows formalization of mindreading of a rather more demanding sort: viz., deliberative multi-agent mindreading, applied to the realm of nuclear strategy. This form of mindreading, in this domain, is both complex and uncommon: it for example can quickly involve at least formulae reflecting fifth-order beliefs, and requires precise deductive reasoning over such iterated beliefs. In addition, the relevant models and simulations involve three, four, five agents, and sometimes many more. In the nuclear-strategy realm, for example, the better kind of modeling, simulation, and prediction (MSP) that our framework is intended to enable, should ultimately be capable of formalizing, at once, the arbitrarily iterated beliefs of at least every civilized nation on Earth. Based on our modeling, we present a set of desiderata that any modeling framework should satisy to be able to capture deliberative multi-agent mindreading in domains such as nuclear deterrence. Using our desiderata, we evaluate game theory, metagame theory, digital games, and tabletop games when used to model nuclear deterrence. Finally, we consider and rebut possible objections to our modeling paradigm and conclude with a map of ongoing and future work.
Sextapolar catheter electrode for temporary sequential atrioventricular pacing.

A sextapolar catheter electrode for temporary sequential atrioventricular pacing on demand was used in 17 patients. Stimulation was performed as desired provided that the catheter tip was properly placed in the right ventricular apex. This catheter will permit wider use of this modality of pacing in those patients who might benefit from it.
Reductive properties of iodide-modified silver nanoparticles

Abstract Reduction of cytochrome c and 2,6-dichloroindophenol was observed on iodide-modified colloidal solver films. Two different processes were identified: reduction at sub- to monolayer coverages by I− on the Ag surface and reduction in the presence of free iodide in solution. In the former, only about 5% of the electron acceptor molecules relative to surface-bound I− underwent reduction, whereas in the latter a 1:1 stoichiometry was observed. Emission around 425 nm indicated the formation of molecular silver iodide. It was concluded that, in the absence of an electron acceptor, binding of iodide to the silver surface forms a complex which is different from molecular AgI. The electron derived from partial charge transfer between I− and the Ag metal resides near the silver-iodide complex and does not contribute to the ‘free’ electron density of the silver nanoparticles.
Scaling of long bone fracture strength with animal mass

Abstract Most long bone fractures are the result of bending and/or torsional loading. To allometrically relate bone torsional and bending strength to animal mass (M), we define the bone strength index S B = J dl where J = midshaft cross section polar moment of inertia, d = diameter, and l = length. In geometrically similar scaling, one would expect S B ∝ M 2 3 . In this study, long bone geometric parameters were measured for 12 species of Artiodactyls. The relationships determined for length and diameter are similar to those reported by previous investigators ( l ∝ d 3 4 , l ∝ M 1 4 ). For the Artiodactyls studied, we found that SB ∝ M0.82. Data previously collected by Biewener on a wide range of mammals (non-Artiodactyls) showed different scaling characteristics (l ∝ d0.89, l ∝ M0.31). However, our analysis of his data suggests roughly similar scaling of the torsional and bending strength index, SB ∝ M0.77. It therefore appears that, in spite of differences in scaling of length and external diameter, the bending and torsional strengths scale similarly across a broad range of animals.