cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate change vulnerability in the food, energy, and water nexus: Concerns for agricultural production in Arizona and its urban export supply

Interdependent systems providing water and energy services are necessary for agriculture. Climate change and increased resource demands are expected to cause frequent and severe strains on these systems. Arizona is especially vulnerable to such strains due to its hot and arid climate. However, its climate enables year-round agricultural production, allowing Arizona to supply most of the country's winter lettuce and vegetables. In addition to Phoenix and Tucson, cities including El Paso, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego rely on Arizona for several types of agricultural products such as animal feed and livestock, meaning that disruptions to Arizona's agriculture also disrupt food supply chains to at least six major cities. Arizona's predominately irrigated agriculture relies on water imported through an energy intensive process from water-stressed regions. Most irrigation in Arizona is electricity powered, so failures in energy or water systems can cascade to the food system, creating a food-energy-water (FEW) nexus of vulnerability. We construct a dynamic simulation model of the FEW nexus in Arizona to assess the potential impacts of increasing temperatures and disruptions to energy and water supplies on crop irrigation requirements, on-farm energy use, and yield. We use this model to identify critical points of intersection between energy, water, and agricultural systems and quantify expected increases in resource use and yield loss. Our model is based on threshold temperatures of crops, USDA and US Geological Survey data, Arizona crop budgets, and region-specific literature. We predict that temperature increase above the baseline could decrease yields by up to 12.2% per 1 °C for major Arizona crops and require increased irrigation of about 2.6% per 1 °C. Response to drought varies widely based on crop and phenophase, so we estimate irrigation interruption effects through scenario analysis. We provide an overview of potential adaptation measures farmers can take, and barriers to implementation.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate and HDL Metabolism

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an important sphingolipid metabolite. As a bioactive signaling molecule, S1P plays a crucial role in a large number of physiological and cellular processes including atherosclerosis, inflammation, immunity, tumorigenesis, and cell proliferation. More and more research has focused on the role of S1P in the metabolism of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) because HDL is the major carrier and acceptor of S1P in the circulation. Indeed, numerous studies have indicated that S1P mediates several of the physiological effects of HDL. In this chapter, we summarize what is known about S1P and HDL metabolism.
Identification of patients with post-induction CNS 2 status and outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

10033 Background: In the past decade there has been increased scrutiny of the prognostic implications of low level blasts (CNS 2) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of pediatric patients with acute l...
Notes on the Fauna of the Chipola Formation- XX a Second Species of Petricola (Petricoxenica) (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

While the writer's recent (Vokes, 1976) description of the new petricolid subgenus Petricola (Petricoxenica) and its Pliocene type species, P.(P.) concoralla, was in press, a collecting trip was made to the type area of the Chipola Formation in Calhoun County, Florida. At that time a large head of a poritid coral was secured that contained numerous boring and nestling bivalve species, one of which proved to be a second species of Petricoxenica. This find prompted a careful examination of the extensive Tulane Chipola collections and four more valves were found, representing three additional localities. This new species, from strata of late lower Miocene (Burdigalian) age, is here described.
An Overview of Forensic Structural Engineering

AbstractForensic structural engineering has, in some countries, become and, in some others, is evolving into a designated field of professional practice of determining the causes of structural failures and identifying the parties responsible. The practice involves engineering investigations, rendering opinions and, if required, giving expert testimony in judicial proceedings. Whether they occur during construction or during their service lives, failures of constructed facilities are almost always followed by engineering investigations and resolution of claims. As the findings inevitably create claims of damage and often result in disputes and legal entanglements, the forensic structural engineer operates in an adversarial environment and therefore needs not only to be able to perform the necessary investigations but also to have an understanding of the ins and outs of the practice of forensic engineering–which this paper intends to enhance. This paper is an overview of the professional practice of forensi...
Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Related Health Information on Pregnancy Resource Center Websites: A Statewide Content Analysis.

Abstract Background Pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) are nonprofit organizations with a primary mission of promoting childbirth among pregnant women. Given a new state grant program to publicly fund PRCs, we analyzed Georgia PRC websites to describe advertised services and related health information. Methods We systematically identified all accessible Georgia PRC websites available from April to June 2016. Entire websites were obtained and coded using defined protocols. Results Of 64 reviewed websites, pregnancy tests and testing (98%) and options counseling (84%) were most frequently advertised. However, 58% of sites did not provide notice that PRCs do not provide or refer for abortion, and 53% included false or misleading statements regarding the need to make a decision about abortion or links between abortion and mental health problems or breast cancer. Advertised contraceptive services were limited to counseling about natural family planning (3%) and emergency contraception (14%). Most sites (89%) did not provide notice that PRCs do not provide or refer for contraceptives. Two sites (3%) advertised unproven “abortion reversal” services. Approximately 63% advertised ultrasound examinations, 22% sexually transmitted infection testing, and 5% sexually transmitted infection treatment. None promoted consistent and correct condom use; 78% with content about condoms included statements that seemed to be designed to undermine confidence in condom effectiveness. Approximately 84% advertised educational programs, and 61% material resources. Conclusions Georgia PRC websites contain high levels of false and misleading health information; the advertised services do not seem to align with prevailing medical guidelines. Public funding for PRCs, an increasing national trend, should be rigorously examined. Increased regulation may be warranted to ensure quality health information and services.
Understanding the decline of catch-and-release fishery with angler knowledge: a key informant approach applied to South Florida bonefish

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) is a valuable way to capture environmental and/or resource changes when there is an absence of biological data, such as in the case of ‘data-limited’ catch- and-release recreational fisheries. A powerful technique in LEK is the use of key informant interviews that selectively focus the most knowledgeable experts, and queries them about experiences, perspectives and beliefs. Here, we used LEK from key informants to obtain an in-depth understanding of angler and guide perspectives on the timing, placement and causes of bonefish decline, and effects on the fishery. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with the most-experienced anglers and fishing guides in South Florida (average 42 years of experience). Most respondents described a decline in the fishery that occurred over the 1990s (40% of respondents) and late 2000s (35%), with climate and water quality listed as top causes. Declines in number were larger than the declines in size, with Islamorada being one of the most impacted areas, and Biscayne Bay least impacted. Informants described declines in clientele targeting bonefish, shifts to other fisheries, and to locations outside South Florida. Responses emphasize the contribution of social science research methods, especially incorporating the cumulative knowledge of key stakeholders, to the understanding of ecological systems and their fisheries.
Evaluating the role of Id-1 in lung cancer.

4400 Id-1 (inhibitor of differentiation/ DNA binding) is a helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is normally expressed during development and embryogenesis while lacking in most adult tissues. Recent studies have associated the over-expression of Id1 with highly aggressive, less-differentiated tumor types and a propensity for tumor metastasis. A striking correlation between elevated levels of Id-1 and tumor progression is observed in several cancers, however, not much is known about Id-1 in lung cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Id-1 in lung cancer, specifically in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our preliminary data demonstrate that many of the patients treated at Johns Hopkins for lung cancer have elevated levels of Id1 in cancerous tissue relative to surrounding normal tissue as shown by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-RT-PCR). Most of these patients have either adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma and are either smokers or exposed to second hand smoke. We have used q-RT-PCR to evaluate the expression level of Id1 in primary lung cancer samples at various stages of malignant progression in order to determine whether Id1 expression is an early, intermediate, or late event. Our data shows that Id1 expression is found at an early stage of the disease in patients that later present with metastasis to the lymph nodes. At present, we are also establishing a correlation between Id1 expression and aggressive forms of the disease by looking at various histopathologic subtypes and grades of lung cancer using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. We have also shown that most NSCLC express elevated levels of Id1 when grown in media containing fetal bovine serum (FBS). This serum responsiveness suggests growth-factor dependent Id1 expression. We are currently evaluating the specific effects of Id1 on tumor cell growth, invasiveness and metastasis by upregulating its expression using a bicistronic lentiviral Id1 construct with GFP marker in lung cells that have low or no Id1 expression. Thus, our studies to date suggests that Id-1 may be involved in the development and progression of lung cancer associated with tobacco smoke exposure. Additional studies aimed at identifying Id1 target genes in pre-malignant lung cells will allow us to better define the molecular pathways altered by Id1 expression in lung cancer. Ultimately, we expect to determine whether Id-1 will be a useful biomarker for lung cancer and whether inactivating Id1 or its downstream effectors will be a useful therapeutic strategy in certain subtypes of lung cancer.
Uncertainty of particle size measurements using dynamic image analysis

Abstract Metal powder particle size distribution (PSD) is a critical factor affecting powder layer density and uniformity in additive manufacturing processes. Among various existing measurement methods, dynamic image analysis (DIA) instruments are very appealing for measuring PSD. However, the ‘black box’ nature and complex measurement process inherent to DIA make quantification of uncertainty challenging. A method to establish DIA-based measurement uncertainty based on calibrated powder samples via a scanning electron microscope is described. Uncertainty analysis was performed taking into account uncertainties associated with the calibration of the sample as well as non-similarities of the calibrated sample and the measured sample.
Socioeconomic and insurance status are independent prognostic indicators of higher disease stage and worse prognosis in bladder cancer.

Abstract Objectives Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among males and poses a significant financial burden, yet there are no large-scale studies focused on the correlation between socioeconomic (SES) and insurance status and bladder cancer outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of SES and insurance type on outcomes in bladder cancer. Materials and methods A population-based search was performed using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database. Patients aged 18 or older and diagnosed with bladder cancer between 2011 and 2015 were identified. Data on patient demographics, SES features, insurance status, tumor characteristics, and survival were collected. A county-level SES measure was created in a method consistent with prior literature. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results A total of 91,308 patients were identified. Factors predictive of having muscle invasive disease included having Medicaid insurance, having no insurance, and being in the lowest SES quartile (all P Conclusions Lower SES status, Medicaid insurance, and having no insurance were all predictive of having higher tumor stage. Independent of tumor stage, being of lower SES, having Medicaid insurance, and having no insurance predicted worse OS and DSS.
SOME EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS WITH SHIP MODEL ACCELERATION WAVES

Abstract : The wave resistance of a ship moving at a constant speed can be calculated using information obtained from its wave pattern. One of the basic assumptions in wave survey methods is the existence of a time-independent model speed. In towing tanks initial acceleration is unavoidable. Wehausen (1964) showed that the effect of initial acceleration on wave resistance has a decaying and oscillating character. To study the validity of the theoretical results some experiments were performed. The variation of the measured spectra and the frequencies within the recorded total resistance pitching moment are of interest. Results indicate that models should travel a distance proportional to the square of the Froude number before wave data collection can be begun, that the predicted encounter frequency exists in the recorded total resistance and pitching moment signals, and that special effort is required to avoid initial acceleration waves due to wall effects.
Why Pinocchio Was Victimized: Factors Contributing to Social Failure in People with Mental Retardation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the factors contributing to social failure in people with mental retardation (MR). It is argued that MR is a disorder of thinking rather than learning. People with MR can learn to deal remarkably well with routine situations, but it is a much different story when the challenge is a novel one, posing unique intellectual and/or affective challenges. Situations can not only be characterized according to how much they inﬂuence an incompetent response, but also according to how much they may minimize the likelihood of such a response. Among the factors that inﬂuence an incompetent response are the use of various threat or scare tactics, the use of peer pressure and other forms of group pressure, and other forms of psychological manipulation and inﬂuence techniques. The crystallized aspect of everyday intelligence is less dependent on general information processing and is more dependent on one's actual experience in the world. Motivational factors undoubtedly play a major role in helping people become less susceptible to being manipulated and motivational methods can be as effective in the acquisition of social effectiveness as they can in the area of academic functioning.
A cell-based screening system for RNA polymerase I inhibitors

RNA polymerase I (RNA Pol I) is a “factory” that orchestrates the transcription of ribosomal RNA for constructing ribosomes as a primary workshop for protein translation to sustain cell growth. The deregulation of RNA Pol I often causes uncontrolled cell proliferation, leading to cancer. Efficient and reliable methods are needed for the identification of selective inhibitors of RNA Pol I. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is eukaryotic and represents a valuable model system to study RNA Pol I, especially with the availability of the X-ray crystal structure of the yeast homologue of RNA Pol I, offering a structural basis to selectively target this transcriptional machinery. Herein, we developed a cell-based screening strategy by establishing a stable yeast cell line with a stably integrated human RNA Pol I promoter and ribosomal DNA. The model system was validated using the well-known RNA Pol I inhibitor CX-5461 by measuring transcribed human rRNA as readout. Virtual screening coupled with compound library screening using this cell line enabled the identification of a new candidate inhibitor of RNA Pol I, namely, cerivastatin sodium. Furthermore, we used growth and transcription activity assays to biologically evaluate the hit compound. Preliminary studies demonstrated antiproliferative effects of cerivastatin sodium against human cancer cells, namely, A2780 and H460 cell lines. These results implicated cerivastatin sodium as a selective RNA Pol I inhibitor worthy of further development together with potential as a targeted anticancer therapeutic.
Transient Receptor Potential Channels

The transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily are integral membrane proteins that function as versatile cation channels. TRP channels are subdivided into seven subfamilies: TRPC (canonical), TRPV (vanilloid), TRPM (melastatin), TRPP (polycystin), TRPML (mucolipin), TRPA (ankyrin), and TRPN (NOMPC-like, found only in invertebrates and fish). Most TRPs are nonselective cation channels, only few are highly Ca 2+ selective, and exhibit a variety of gating mechanisms and polymodal behavior. The channels are involved in diverse physiological processes, such as sensation, cell growth, secretion, and ion channel regulation. Mutations in several TRP genes have been implicated in diverse pathological states, including neurodegenerative disorders, skeletal dysplasia, kidney disorders and pain, and ongoing research may help find new therapies for treatments of related diseases.
Pressure-induced suppression of ferromagnetism in CePd 2 P 2

The correlated electron material ${\mathrm{CePd}}_{2}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}$ crystallizes in the ${\mathrm{ThCr}}_{2}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$ structure and orders ferromagnetically at 29 K. Prior work by Lai et al. [Phys. Rev. B 97, 224406 (2018)] found evidence for a ferromagnetic quantum critical point induced by chemical compression via substitution of Ni for Pd. However, disorder effects due to the chemical substitution interfere with a simple analysis of the possible critical behavior. In the present paper, we examine the temperature---pressure---magnetic-field phase diagram of single crystalline ${\mathrm{CePd}}_{2}{\mathrm{P}}_{2}$ to 25 GPa using a combination of resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and x-ray diffraction measurements. We find that the ferromagnetism appears to be destroyed near 12 GPa, without any change in the crystal structure.
Local First-Order Algorithms for Constrained Nonlinear Dynamic Games

This paper presents algorithms for non-zero sum nonlinear constrained dynamic games with full information. Such problems emerge when multiple players with action constraints and differing objectives interact over time. They model a wide range of applications include economics, defense, and energy systems. We show how to exploit the temporal structure in projected gradient and Douglas-Rachford (DR) splitting methods. The resulting algorithms converge locally to open-loop Nash equilibria (OLNE) at linear rates. Furthermore, we extend a stagewise Newton method to find a local feedback policy around an OLNE. In the special case of linear dynamics and polyhedral constraints, we show that this local feedback controller is an approximate feedback Nash equilibrium.
Anal fissure and lateral internal sphincterotomy

Anal fissure has a very large number of treatment options. The choice is difficult. To assist in this choice, presented herein is a summary of a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published treatments for anal fissure that have been studied in randomized controlled trials up through 2016. The review is divided into those studies that compared two or more surgical procedures and those that had at least one arm that was nonsurgical. Studies were further categorized by the specific interventions and comparisons. The outcome assessed was the inverse of sustained cure of the fissure, i.e., treatment failure. In addition, the harms of treatment assessed were headache and anal incontinence. Risk of bias was assessed for each study and the strength of the evidence of each comparison was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE). A total of 148 eligible trials were found and assessed, 31 in the surgical group (2606 patients) and 117 in the nonsurgical group (9456 patients). There were 14 different operations described in the surgical group and 29 different nonsurgical treatments in the nonsurgical group along with partial lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS). There were 61 different comparisons. Of these, 47 were reported in two or fewer studies, usually with quite small populations. The largest single comparison was glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) versus control with 19 studies. GTN was more effective than control in terms of sustained cure (odds ratio = 0.68; 95% confidence interval = 0.63–0.77) but the quality of evidence was very poor due to severe heterogeneity and risk of bias due to inadequate clinical follow-up. The only comparison to have a high GRADE quality of evidence was a subgroup analysis of LIS versus any medical therapy, with outcome of treatment failure (0.12; 0.07–0.21) and mild incontinence (4.41; 1.97–9.87) assessed after at least 6 months from surgery. There were 12 studies in this analysis, the medical therapy being GTN in 6, Botox in 5, and calcium channel blocker (CCB) in 1. Most of the other analyses were downgraded in GRADE due to imprecision, i.e., too few or too small studies, and significant heterogeneity in almost all other comparisons with more than six studies. LIS is superior to nonsurgical therapies in achieving sustained cure of fissure with an increased risk of mild incontinence, usually meaning flatus. CCBs were more effective than GTN and had less risk of headache, but with only a low quality of evidence. Anal incontinence, once thought to be a frequent risk with LIS, was found in various subgroups in this review to have a risk between 3.4 and 4.4%. Among the surgical studies, manual anal stretch (Lord procedure) performed worse than LIS in the treatment of chronic anal fissure in adults. For those patients requiring surgery for anal fissure, open LIS and closed LIS appear to be equally efficacious, with a moderate GRADE quality of evidence. Most other GRADE evaluations of procedures were low to very low, due mostly to imprecision.
Knockout of the caspase 8 associated protein 2 gene improves recombinant protein expression in HEK293 cells through up‐regulation of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2A gene

Cell lines used in bioproduction are routinely engineered to improve their production efficiency. Numerous strategies, such as random mutagenesis, RNA interference screens, and transcriptome analyses have been employed to identify effective engineering targets. A genome-wide siRNA screen previously identified the CASP8AP2 gene as a potential engineering target for improved expression of recombinant protein in the HEK293 cell line. Here, we validate the CASP8AP2 gene as an engineering target in HEK293 cells by knocking it out using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and assessing the effect of its knockout on recombinant protein expression, cell growth, cell viability, and overall gene expression. HEK293 cells lacking CASP8AP2 showed a 7-fold increase in specific expression of recombinant luciferase and a 2.5-fold increase in specific expression of recombinant SEAP, without significantly affecting cell growth and viability. Transcriptome analysis revealed that de-regulation of the cell cycle, specifically the upregulation of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) gene, contributed to the improvement in recombinant protein expression in CASP8AP2 deficient cells. The results validate the CASP8AP2 gene is a viable engineering target for improved recombinant protein expression in the HEK293 cell line. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Overcoming the liability of poorness: disadvantage, fragility, and the poverty entrepreneur

All entrepreneurs must overcome the liabilities of newness and smallness as they attempt to launch and grow a new venture. However, those in poverty face an even greater challenge due to a concept we introduce, known as the liability of poorness, which centers on literacy gaps, a scarcity mindset, intense non-business pressures, and the lack of a safety net. Each of these components of the liability of poorness contributes to the disadvantage and fragility of the enterprises confronting the poor. Implications of this fragility for venture dynamics as well as how some poverty entrepreneurs overcome this liability are explored. Research priorities are discussed for ongoing work on the liability of poorness.
What Can We Learn about Frank Knight’s Economic Theory from the Prefaces to the Reprints of Risk, Uncertainty and Profit?

In 1933, Lionel Robbins asked Frank Knight if he could republish Knight’s Risk, Uncertainty and Profit (RUP) in order for students at the London School of Economics to continue to have access to the book. He also asked Knight to write a preface to provide an update on Knight’s changing economic views. Between 1933 and 1957, Knight wrote four new prefaces for reprint editions of RUP outlining changes in his views. In the prefaces, he identified four aspects of the theory expounded in RUP that he came to reject: (a) the method of successive approximation; (b) the separation of production from distribution; (c) the tri-partite division of the factors of production; and (d) any notion of a period of production. These rejections placed him squarely in opposition to F. A. Hayek’s theoretical work. He also identified the key features he had sought to develop in a monetary theory that would oppose J. M. Keynes and John Hicks. At the same time, he sought to identify the new theoretical ideas he was developing, including an enterprise-based theory of market exchange, and the adoption of a unitary resource, called capital. He also pointed to the work in social philosophy that he had begun in the 1940s, especially the need for a combined approach to social science using economic theory, ethics and social philosophy. The prefaces came to serve as a bridge between Knight’s original theory and what he would argue at the conclusion of his career.
Transplant social worker and donor financial assistance to increase living donor kidney transplants among African Americans: The TALKS Study, a randomized comparative effectiveness trial.

Lack of donors hinders living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) for African Americans. We studied the effectiveness of a transplant social worker intervention (TALK SWI) alone or paired with living donor financial assistance to activate African Americans' potential living kidney donors. African Americans (N = 300) on the transplant waiting list were randomly assigned to usual care; TALK SWI; or TALK SWI plus Living Donor Financial Assistance. We quantified differences in live kidney donor activation (composite rate of live donor inquiries, completed new live donor evaluations, or live kidney donation) after 12 months. Participants' mean age was 52 years, 56% were male, and 43% had annual household income less than $40,000. Most previously pursued LDKT. Participants were highly satisfied with TALK social workers, but they rarely utilized Financial Assistance. After 12 months, few (n = 39, 13%) participants had a new donor activation event (35 [12%] new donor inquiries; 17 [6%] new donor evaluations; 4 [1%] LDKT). There were no group differences in donor activation events (subdistribution hazard ratio [95% CI]: 1.09 [0.51-2.30] for TALK SWI and 0.92 [0.42-2.02] for TALK SWI plus Financial Assistance compared to Usual Care, p = 91). Alternative interventions to increase LDKT for African Americans on the waiting list may be needed. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02369354).
Angular correlation of the cosmic microwave background in the R h = ct Universe

Context. The emergence of several unexpected large-scale features in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) has pointed to possible new physics driving the origin of density fluctuations in the early Universe and their evolution into the large-scale structure we see today. Aims. In this paper, we focus our attention on the possible absence of angular correlation in the CMB anisotropies at angles larger than ~60°, and consider whether this feature may be the signature of fluctuations expected in the R h = ct Universe. Methods. We calculate the CMB angular correlation function for a fluctuation spectrum expected from growth in a Universe whose dynamics is constrained by the equation-of-state p = −ρ /3, where p and ρ are the total pressure and density, respectively. Results. We find that, though the disparity between the predictions of ΛCDM and the WMAP sky may be due to cosmic variance, it may also be due to an absence of inflation. The classic horizon problem does not exist in the R h = ct Universe, so a period of exponential growth was not necessary in this cosmology in order to account for the general uniformity of the CMB (save for the aforementioned tiny fluctuations of 1 part in 100 000 in the WMAP relic signal). Conclusions. We show that the R h = ct Universe without inflation can account for the apparent absence in CMB angular correlation at angles θ ≳ 60° without invoking cosmic variance, providing additional motivation for pursuing this cosmology as a viable description of nature.
COVID-19 PRESENTING WITH DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS: A CASE SERIES.

Abstract Objective Diabetes mellitus has been recognized as one of the comorbidities that predict the severity of illness in patients infected with COVID-19. The characteristics of patients presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and COVID-19 infection have not been described. Methods We describe 5 patients with DKA and concomitant COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit of an academic medical center. Three patients had type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 2 patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results While DKA with an infectious etiology is a common presentation, we observed that the patients with DKA precipitated by COVID-19 presented with atypical symptoms. COVID-19 infection was revealed during search for an etiology of DKA. Conclusion It is prudent to have a low threshold to screen for COVID-19 infection in patients with DKA.
Real-Time Datasets Really Do Make a Difference: Definitional Change, Data Release, and Forecasting ∗

In this paper, we empirically assess the extent to which early release inefficiency and definitional change affect prediction precision. In particular, we carry out a series of ex-ante prediction experiments in order to examine: the marginal predictive content of the revision process, the trade-offs associated with predicting different releases of a variable, the importance of particular forms of definitional change, which we call “definitional breaks," and the rationality of early releases of economic variables. An important feature of our rationality tests is that they are based solely on the examination of ex-ante predictions, rather than being based on in-sample regression analysis, as are many tests in the extant literature. Our findings point to the importance of making real-time datasets available to forecasters, as the revision process has marginal predictive content, and because predictive accuracy increases when multiple releases of data are used when specifying and estimating prediction models. We also present new evidence that early releases of money are rational, whereas prices and output are irrational. Moreover, we find that regardless of which release of our price variable one specifi es as the “target” variable to be predicted, using only “first release” data in model estimation and prediction construction yields mean square forecast error (MSFE) “best” predictions. On the other hand, models estimated and implemented using “latest available release” data are MSFE-best for predicting all releases of money. We argue that these contradictory findings are due to the relevance of definitional breaks in the data generating processes of the variables that we examine. In an empirical analysis, we examine the real-time predictive content of money for income, and we find that vector autoregressions with money do not perform significantly worse than autoregressions, when predicting output during the last 20 years.
Introducing Weekly Themes to Engage Students in a Microbiology Class.

Providing variety in course assignments and activities is one way to engage students and promote learning for students from diverse backgrounds and with different learning preferences. I add variety and energy to my upper-division microbiology lecture course through the use of “theme weeks.” Assignments and class activities are designed to correlate with the theme of the week. Themes are chosen that align well with the course content and address institutional or program student learning outcomes. Examples of themes I use in my microbiology course include Art, Relevance to Life, and Analogies. Several theme ideas and examples of assignments and activities are provided in this article. Many of these themes are not discipline-specific and can be integrated into a variety of science courses. Since using theme weeks in my microbiology class, I have observed an increase in student participation and interest in the course.
Mother-to-Infant Bonding is Associated with Maternal Insomnia, Snoring, Cognitive Arousal, and Infant Sleep Problems and Colic.

Objective: Emerging evidence links maternal and infant sleep problems to impairments in the mother-to-infant bond, but the independence and directionality of these associations remain unclear. The present study characterized concurrent and prospective effects of maternal sleep disturbances and poor infant sleep on the mother-infant relationship. As common sequalae of problematic sleep, nocturnal cognitive hyperarousal and daytime sleepiness were investigated as facilitating mechanisms.Participants: Sixty-seven pregnant women enrolled in a prospective study on maternal sleep.Methods: Sociodemographic information and clinical symptoms were measured prenatally then weekly across the first two postpartum months. Women reported insomnia symptoms, sleep duration, snoring, daytime sleepiness, nocturnal cognitive arousal (broadly focused and perinatal-specific), perseverative thinking, depression, infant colic, infant sleep quality, and mother-infant relationship quality. Mixed effects models were conducted to test hypotheses.Results: Prenatal snoring and weak maternal-fetal attachment augured poorer postpartum bonding. Poor infant sleep was associated with increased odds for maternal insomnia and short sleep. Impairments in the mother-to-infant bond were linked to maternal insomnia, nocturnal perinatal-focused rumination, daytime sleepiness, depression, and poor infant sleep. Postnatal insomnia predicted future decreases in mother-infant relationship quality, and nocturnal cognitive hyperarousal partially mediated this association.Conclusions: Both maternal and infant sleep problems were associated with poorer mother-to-infant bonding, independent of the effects of maternal depression and infant colic. Perseverative thinking at night, particularly on infant-related concerns, was linked to impaired bonding, rejection and anger, and infant-focused anxiety. Improving maternal and infant sleep, and reducing maternal cognitive arousal, may improve the maternal-to-infant bond.
Daily oscillation of the excitation/inhibition ratio is disrupted in two mouse models of autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder involving sensory processing abnormalities. Alterations to the balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I ratio) are postulated to underlie behavioral phenotypes in ASD patients and mouse models. However, in primary visual cortex (V1) of wild type mice, the E/I ratio is not a fixed value, but rather oscillates across the 24h day. Therefore, we hypothesized that the E/I oscillation, rather than the overall E/I ratio, may be disrupted in ASD mouse models. To this end, we measured the E/I ratio in Fmr1 KO and BTBR mice, models of syndromic and idiopathic ASD, respectively. We found that the E/I ratio is dysregulated in both models, but in different ways: the oscillation is flattened in Fmr1 KO and phase-shifted in BTBR mice. These phenotypes cannot be explained by altered sleep timing, which was largely normal in both lines. Furthermore, we found that E/I dysregulation occurs due to alterations in both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in both models. These findings provide a crucial perspective on the E/I ratio in ASD, suggesting that ASD phenotypes may be produced by a mismatch of E/I to the appropriate behavioral state, rather than alterations to overall E/I levels per se.
Mining dockless bikeshare data for insights into cyclist behavior and preferences: Evidence from the Boston region

Abstract Emerging micromobility services provide not only new transportation options, but also valuable sources of data for researchers and planners seeking to understand traveler behavior and preferences and to improve transportation networks. Dockless systems for shared bicycles and electric scooters have recently begun operating in many American cities, providing data not only on trip start and end, but also on the route followed. In this study, we analyze data from more than 110,000 dockless bikeshare trips in Boston’s suburbs. About 15% of trip ends were within 100 m of a transit station, indicating that bikeshare serves many more functions than access to transit. More than 40% ended in a town or village center, suggesting that bikeshare may support the local economy. From examining GPS traces, it was clear that – contrary to the assumptions of common bike routing algorithms – bike riders often use sidewalks, other footways and soft-surfaced paths, parking lots, and driveways, and 36% ride the wrong way on one-way streets. An examination of the streets with high contraflow volumes indicates two common profiles. One is streets whose travel channel is so narrow that either the bike or vehicle has to pull into a parking lane to let the other pass; those streets typically have low traffic speeds and very low traffic volumes. The other is streets whose travel channel is wide enough for a bike and car to pass without either yielding to the other; they typically have greater vehicular speed and volume, but still only one lane. After classifying streets by level of traffic stress, we find that only 7 percent of trips use exclusively low-stress links, and that about 40 percent of bike-miles are ridden on low-stress links. These low percentages are consistent with an underdeveloped bike network that forces riders to use through streets for all except ultra-local trips; it may also reflect a prevalence of sidewalk riding on major arterials.
A Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning Coordination Framework for Connected and Automated Vehicles at Merging Roadways.

The steady increase in the number of vehicles operating on the highways continues to exacerbate congestion, accidents, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Emerging mobility systems, e.g., connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), have the potential to directly address these issues and improve transportation network efficiency and safety. In this paper, we consider a highway merging scenario and propose a framework for coordinating CAVs such that stop-and-go driving is eliminated. We use a decentralized form of the actor-critic approach to deep reinforcement learning$-$multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient. We demonstrate the coordination of CAVs through numerical simulations and show that a smooth traffic flow is achieved by eliminating stop-and-go driving. Videos and plots of the simulation results can be found at this supplemental $\href{this https URL}{site}$.
5. Transplantation tolerance

Immune tolerance is the Holy Grail of transplantation. Tolerance allows transplantation without need for lifelong immunosuppression, granting the transplant recipient freedom from rejection of the transplant organ, freedom from the complications of immunosuppression – primarily infection and cancer over time – and freedom from the side effects of the immunosuppressive drugs, which can be serious and compromise the life of the transplant organ and recipient. There are rare instances of spontaneous tolerance in kidney transplantation, in recipients who independently stopped their immunosuppressive medications. Usually withdrawal of these drugs results in rejection and organ loss. Tolerance induction in kidney transplantation today requires transplantation of both hematopoietic cells and kidney from donor to recipient. There are three centers in the United States actively pursuing tolerance induction in this manner. They are the Massachusetts General Hospital, Northwestern, and Stanford. The protocols at the three centers differ in the nature and timing of the hematopoietic cell transplant and in the nature of the conditioning regimen necessary to prepare for hematopoietic cell transplantation. The goal of this approach is the achievement of chimerism – transient, mixed or complete depending on the protocol – which can then allow complete immunosuppressive drug withdrawal. All three centers have attempted tolerance induction in HLA-matched and HLA-mismatched living donor transplantation, with success measured as at least 1 year free of immunosuppression with no rejection and normal transplant kidney function. Both the MGH and Northwestern have been successful in approximately 50% of their HLA-mismatched recipients, while Stanford has been successful in approximately 80% of their HLA-matched recipients. Work continues at all three centers to improve efficacy, safety and durability of this approach to tolerance induction. The Stanford protocol differs from the protocols at the other centers in that the conditioning regimen for the hematopoietic cell transplant begins after transplantation of the kidney, potentially allowing the protocol’s use in deceased donor transplantation. In the protocols employed by the other centers, the conditioning regimen begins several days prior to transplantation of the kidney, restricting these protocols to living donor transplantation. Living donor transplantation is scheduled; deceased donor transplantation occurs urgently, usually well within 24 h of organ availability. Enhanced organ viability and organ banking could expand the applicability of protocols employing the early conditioning regimen for the hematopoietic cell transplant and allow easier implementation of the Stanford protocol in deceased donor transplantation. Furthermore, improved organ viability should result in less delayed and impaired function of the transplant organ, improving its longevity particularly when coupled with a state of tolerance. The ultimate goal is one (transplant) kidney for life.
Spread monolayers of protein.

Publisher Summary There are two methods of affecting spreading of proteins on aqueous surfaces. Hughes and Ridea. Hughes, Fosbinder and Lessig found that solid particles, even of water insoluble proteins, spread very rapidly when carefully placed on the surface. The amount of material spread is determined by a modified Nernst balance. The other method that has several advantages over the solid particle method is to drop on the clean aqueous surface a dilute solution of the protein. In each individual case, the spread areas per unit weight of protein must be demonstrated to be independent of the protein concentration, in the concentration range that is employed. Rideal, Neurath and Gorter find that when a spread protein film is irradiated with ultraviolet light, the film collapses. This collapse is presumably due to fragmentation of the protein molecule by the ultraviolet light with the production of soluble, pressure displaceable material. The nature of the folding of the spread protein as well as the sequence of the amino acid residues in the chain, two problems of great importance to protein chemistry, cannot at the present time be studied by spread film technique.
Anticipatory head direction signals in anterior thalamus: evidence for a thalamocortical circuit that integrates angular head motion to compute head direction

Several regions in the rat brain contain neurons known as head- direction cells, which fire only when the rat's head is facing in a specific direction. Head-direction cells are influenced only by the direction of the head with respect to the static environmental surroundings, and not by the position of the head relative to the body. Each head-direction cell has its own preferred direction of firing, so that together, the population of cells provides a continuous signal of momentary directional heading. Here, head-direction cells were recorded from the post-subicular cortex (PSC) and anterodorsal nucleus (ADN) of the thalamus of freely moving rats. Cell activity was analyzed in relation to both momentary head direction, and the angular velocity of head turns. Head-direction cells in PSC maintained the same directional firing preference, regardless of the angular head velocity. By contrast, head-direction cells in ADN systematically shifted their directional firing preference, as a function of angular head velocity. The ADN cells always shifted their directional tuning peak to the left during clockwise head turns, and to the right during counterclockwise head turns. These results suggest that ADN neurons anticipate the future direction of the head, whereas PSC neurons encode the present direction of the head. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that neurons in PSC and ADN are reciprocally connected to form a thalamocortical circuit, which computes the directional position of the rat's head by integrating the angular motion of the head over time.