cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing for differences in distribution tails to test for differences in 'maximum' lifespan

Investigators are actively testing interventions intended to increase lifespan and wish to test whether the interventions increase maximum lifespan. Based on the fact that one cannot be assured of observing population maximum lifespans in finite samples, in previous work, we constructed and validated several tests of difference in the upper parts of lifespan distributions between a treatment group and a control group by testing whether the probabilities that observations are above some threshold defining 'old' or being in the tail of the survival distribution are equal in the two groups. However, a limitation of these tests is that they do not consider how much above the threshold any particular observation is. In this article we propose new methods which improve upon our previous tests by considering not only whether an observation is above some threshold, but also the magnitudes by which observations exceed the threshold. Simulations show that the new methods control type I error rates quite well and that the power of the new methods is usually higher than that of the tests we previously proposed. In illustrative analyses of two real datasets involving rodents, when setting the threshold equal to 110 (100) weeks for the first (second) datasets, the new methods detected differences in 'maximum lifespan' between groups at nominal alpha levels of 0.01 (0.05) for the first (second) datasets and provided more significant results than competitor tests. The new methods not only have good performance in controlling the type I error rates but also improve the power compared with the tests we previously proposed.
Statistical gate delay model considering multiple input switching

There is an increased dominance of intra-die process variations, creating a need for an accurate and fast staristical riming analysis. Most of the recent proposed approaches assume a Single Input Switching model. Our experiments show that SIS underestimates the mean delay of a stage by upto 20% and overestimates the standard deviation upto 26%. We also show fhar Multiple Input Switching has a greater impacr on sratisrical timing, rhan regular static timing analysis. Hence, we propose a modeling technique for gate delay variability, considering MIS. Our model can he efficiently incorporated into most of the statistical riming annlysis frameworks. On average over all rest cases, our approach underesrimares mean delay of a sfage by 0.01 % and overestimates the standard deviation by only 2%. hence increosing the robustness to process variations. Our modeling technique is independent of the deterministic MIS model, and we show that its sensitivity to variations in the MIS model is small.
Behavioural syndromes and their fitness consequences in a socially polymorphic spider, Anelosimus studiosus

The temperate comb-footed spider, Anelosimus studiosus, shows a social behaviour polymorphism: individuals may defend asocial nests against intrusion by conspecifics or cooperate with them in multifemale nests. A suite of behavioural traits, including response to predators and prey, degree of superfluous killing, exploratory behaviour and general level of activity, was examined in laboratory trials to: (1) establish the extent to which these traits are correlated with social phenotype and (2) explore the potential adaptive value of this trait suite to the respective asocial and social phenotypes. Populations from the two latitudes studied, 26° and 36°, showed similar suites of correlated traits or syndromes. The individuals tested generally fell into two groups in the behavioural trials, although the asocial individuals from the mixed-phenotype population at 36° latitude were intermediate with respect to some of the measures. Individuals scored as ‘social’ generally showed less aggressive behaviour towards predatory cues, were less responsive to prey encountering their webs, showed little evidence of superfluous killing of prey and showed lower levels of activity than did most individuals scored as ‘asocial’. These results suggest linkage or pleiotropy between social behaviour and these traits. The behaviour of individuals in staged, mixed-phenotype feeding pairs indicated that social individuals may suffer fitness consequences in polymorphic populations. These results are discussed with respect to the stability and dynamics of the respective phenotypes in polymorphic populations.
Bupivacaine with and without epinephrine for intercostal nerve block

Abstract In a double-blinded study, 15 American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II patients, following lateral thoracotomy with general anesthesia, were randomized into two groups for intercostal nerve block with either bupivacaine, 0.5%, and epinephrine, 1:200,000, or plain bupivacaine, 0.5%. Blood concentrations of bupivacaine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were serially measured. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and electrocardiogram were monitored. Peak blood bupivacaine concentrations were significantly lower in patients receiving bupivacaine with epinephrine. Peak epinephrine concentrations were significantly greater in patients receiving bupivacaine with epinephrine, but still within a safe range. No significant differences were seen in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, or temperature between the two groups, and no dysrhythmias occurred. Peak norepinephrine concentrations were not significantly different between the two groups. The potential risk of toxic bupivacaine blood concentrations associated with intercostal nerve blocks can be reduced by the addition of epinephrine at a concentration of 1: 200,000.
Bloom's Cognitive Domain Theory: A Basis for Developing Higher Levels of Critical Thinking Skills in Reconstructing a Professional Selling Course:

Qualifications of business college graduates are being criticized, and changes are being demanded. As one method of improving the quality of courses, the authors show how to reconstruct a sales cou...
Metabolic engineering of lipid catabolism increases microalgal lipid accumulation without compromising growth

Biologically derived fuels are viable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels, and microalgae are a particularly promising source, but improvements are required throughout the production process to increase productivity and reduce cost. Metabolic engineering to increase yields of biofuel-relevant lipids in these organisms without compromising growth is an important aspect of advancing economic feasibility. We report that the targeted knockdown of a multifunctional lipase/phospholipase/acyltransferase increased lipid yields without affecting growth in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Antisense-expressing knockdown strains 1A6 and 1B1 exhibited wild-type–like growth and increased lipid content under both continuous light and alternating light/dark conditions. Strains 1A6 and 1B1, respectively, contained 2.4- and 3.3-fold higher lipid content than wild-type during exponential growth, and 4.1- and 3.2-fold higher lipid content than wild-type after 40 h of silicon starvation. Analyses of fatty acids, lipid classes, and membrane stability in the transgenic strains suggest a role for this enzyme in membrane lipid turnover and lipid homeostasis. These results demonstrate that targeted metabolic manipulations can be used to increase lipid accumulation in eukaryotic microalgae without compromising growth. metabolism | RNAi | algal biofuel | targeted manipulation | triacylglycerol
Endometrial polyp secondary to tamoxifen therapy.

A 66-year old G-4, P-1, Ab-3, on cyclical hormone therapy (HT), underwent a right breast lumpectomy and node dissection. Pathology of the specimens revealed stage II, grade I ductile carcinoma with 1/18 nodes positive. She was treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and started on tamoxifen at a dose of 20 mg per day. Initial vaginal ultrasound showed a 2-mm endometrial stripe (Fig. 1A). On follow-up 11 months later, vaginal ultrasound revealed a 9-mm endometrial strip with an air–fluid pocket (marked by a “ ”o n Fig. 1B) superior to the fundal portion of the polyp (designated by the arrow). An office endometrial biopsy could not be performed due to severe cervical stenosis. Hysteroscopy demonstrated a 3.2 0.9 cm endometrial polyp (Fig. 2). The polyp was removed in toto, and pathology confirmed that it was benign.
Some simple Haar-type wavelets in higher dimensions

An orthonormal wavelet system in R d , d ∈ N, is a countable collection of functions {ψ � j,k },
Linking health-related quality-of-life indicators to large national data sets.

Objective: This study investigated the feasibility and usefulness of linking algorithms for well known quality-of-life (QOL) indicators to large nationally representative databases.
A Study of Vehicle Structural Layouts in Post-WWII Aircraft

In this paper, results of a study of structural layouts of post-WWII aircraft are presented. This study was undertaken to provide the background information necessary to determine typical layouts, design practices, and industry trends in aircraft structural design. Design decisions are often predicated not on performance-related criteria, but rather on such factors as manufacturability, maintenance access, and of course cost. For this reason, a thorough understanding of current best practices in the industry is required as an input for the design optimization process. To determine these best practices and industry trends, a large number of aircraft structural cutaway illustrations were analyzed for five different aircraft categories (commercial transport jets, business jets, combat jet aircraft, single engine propeller aircraft, and twin-engine propeller aircraft). Several aspects of wing design and fuselage design characteristics are presented here for the commercial transport and combat aircraft categories. A great deal of commonality was observed for transport structure designs over a range of eras and manufacturers. A much higher degree of variability in structural designs was observed for the combat aircraft, though some discernable trends were observed as well.
High-contrast coronagraph performance in the presence of DM actuator defects

Deformable Mirrors (DMs) are critical elements in high contrast coronagraphs, requiring precision and stability measured in picometers to enable detection of Earth-like exoplanets. Occasionally DM actuators or their associated cables or electronics fail, requiring a wavefront control algorithm to compensate for actuators that may be displaced from their neighbors by hundreds of nanometers. We have carried out experiments on our High-Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) to study the impact of failed actuators in partial fulfilment of the Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph optical model validation milestone. We show that the wavefront control algorithm adapts to several broken actuators and maintains dark-hole contrast in broadband light.
Is Four Stage Management the Future of Univentricular Hearts? Destination Therapy in the Young

For the child born with a functionally univentricular heart, multi-stage surgical palliation culminating in the Fontan operation is now well established as the standard of care. Though this is an effective approach, there are several inherent disadvantages to the Fontan circulation: subnormal resting cardiac output, impaired exercise capacity, increased risk of thromboembolism, and increased risk of arrhythmia. Perhaps most importantly, the long-term deleterious effects of substantial systemic venous hypertension, which is necessary to "drive" blood through the pulmonary vascular bed, include progressive dysfunction of other organ systems, particularly renal, lymphatic, gastrointestinal, and hepatic systems. When such dysfunction is advanced, heart transplantation or even heart-liver transplantation may be a reasonable option. However, because the syndrome seems to be increasingly widespread and there is already a significant donor shortage, alternative solutions are required. Because many patients with "failing Fontan" physiology have preserved systemic ventricular function, application of a systemic ventricular assist device is unlikely to be effective. However, for such patients, a right-sided sub-pulmonary ventricular assist device is an intellectually appealing solution. Several such devices have been proposed or are in varying stages of evaluation. The lack of economic incentive for development of right-sided pumps may be partially ameliorated both by recognition of the size of the cohort of Fontan patients now surviving into adulthood as well as by the increasing recognition of important right-sided heart failure in adults with biventricular hearts supported only with durable left-sided ventricular assist devices.
On “Work-related musculoskeletal disorders…” Campo MA, et al. Phys Ther. 2008;88:608–609.

Thank you for your exceptional study1 that brings work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in physical therapists out of the closet. It is particularly relevant to my own situation because, after 20 years of providing physical therapy for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, I suffered career-ending ligamentous wrist injuries. I fit the profile of the therapist who was embarrassed to admit an injury, who continued to work after warning signs appeared, who worried about making situations difficult for my patients and colleagues, …
Crack Growth and Propagation in Metallic Alloys

Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulation on a massively parallel computer, the authors have studied the initiation of cracking in a Monel-like alloy of Cu-Ni. In a low temperature 2D sample, fracture from a notch starts at a little beyond 2.5% critical strain when the propagation direction is perpendicular to a cleavage plane. The authors discuss a method of characterizing crack tip position using a measure of area around the crack tip.
New pathways in general medical education.

MEDICINE is changing rapidly and at an increasing rate. When today's students are in midcareer, medical practice will be far different. Medical educators must find ways to help young doctors prepare for the medicine of the future. This article explores some of the forces, inside and outside the profession, that are causing change, and considers some directions for change with respect to the concepts and organization of general medical education. I also describe efforts under way in the faculty of medicine at Harvard University to develop new pathways in general medical education. The Need for Change The strongest forces for . . .
Evaluation of a BGO-Based PET System for Single-Cell Tracking Performance by Simulation and Phantom Studies.

A recent method based on positron emission was reported for tracking moving point sources using the Inveon PET system. However, the effect of scanner background noise was not further explored. Here...
Novel preservation solution permits 24-hour preservation in rat and baboon cardiac transplant models.

Background. Cardiac preservation for transplantation disrupts normal vascular homeostatic mechanisms. Hypoxia and reoxygenation increase endothelial cell permeability, induce procoagulant activity, and alter endothelial cell/leukocyte interactions, with a parallel reduction in endothelial cAMP and nitric oxide levels. Because hypoxia/reoxygenation simulates a significant component of the global ischemia/ repernsion of cardiac transplantation, we hypothesized that preservation failure may be related to these perturbations. This work focuses on repleting the intercellular/intracellular second messengers nitric oxide/cGMP and cAMP in the donor heart to enhance cardiac preservation for transplantation
Serum digoxin determination by radioimmunoassay. Clinical implications.

Used in conjunction with a thorough clinical and electrocardiographic evaluation, determination of serum digoxin concentration is an effective tool for assessing digitalis intoxication or underdigitalization due to various causes. The radioimmunoassay technic is recommended for its speed, sensitivity, and precise results.
Critical time for neovascularization/angiogenesis to allow free flap survival after delayed postoperative anastomotic compromise without surgical intervention: A review of the literature.

Background The aim of this study is to determine the minimal postoperative time required that may allow free flap survival after occlusion or ligation of the microsurgical anastomosis without surgical intervention. Methods All reports describing free flap survival and failure after delayed postoperative vascular compromise (after postoperative day 3); including thrombosis and ligation, without revision of the microsurgical anastomoses were reviewed. The type of flap, recipient site, vessel of occlusion, postoperative compromise day, and nonsurgical treatment were analyzed. Results 22 reports (32 flaps) detailed 16 arterial, 6 venous, and 10 simultaneously arterial and venous (vascular pedicle) compromise in 16 head and neck, 10 lower extremity, 4 breast, and 2 upper extremity free tissue transfers. 12 flaps survived without any intervention, 6 survived with conservative therapy (anticoagulation or leeches), and 14 survived despite pedicle ligation. The range of critical day of occlusion did not differ significantly among vessel types. 75% of arterial compromise occurred between 6 and 15 days. 75% of vascular pedicle compromise occurred between 8.5 and 18 days. When compared to jejunal flaps, skin flaps survived after earlier postoperative occlusion (10.2 vs. 20.8 days; P = 0.01). Conclusion This analysis suggests that free flaps compromised by vascular thrombosis or pedicle ligation may survive with only conservative therapy when the event occurs after a minimal critical time period. Flap survival is more probable when arterial occlusion or pedicle ligation occurs after postoperative day 12, but this minimal critical period may be as low as 6 days for arterial occlusion. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:604–612, 2016.
Abstract 4046: The role of TFPI2 and FGF2 in asbestos-induced mesothelial to fibroblastic transition

Mechanisms involved in the tumorigenesis of the devastating cancer, malignant mesothelioma (MM) are poorly understood. We have recently shown that interleukin-1β (IL-1β), an inflammatory cytokine is upregulated by asbestos via the activation of the inflammasome (a molecular platform that assembles for the activation of caspase-1) in mesothelial cells. Furthermore we have demonstrated that IL-1β secretion may lead to the activation of downstream signaling cascades involved in malignant transformation of mesothelial cells. Preliminary data from our lab indicate that in addition to IL-1β, asbestos exposure upregulated the secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF2) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 ((TFPI2) a kunitz type protease inhibitor). These factors were also regulated by the inflammasome and have never before been implicated in asbestos-induced mesothelial to fibroblastic transition (MFT). Based on our preliminary data, we hypothesized that upregulation of IL-1β by asbestos-induced inflammasome activation increases FGF2 secretion and signaling. Furthermore, we hypothesize that FGF2 together with increased TFPI2 secretion induces transition of mesothelial cells to a fibroblastic phenotype that facilitates MM carcinogenesis. In the proposed study we will delineate the role of TFPI2 (siRNA) and FGF2 (pan FGFR inhibitor, BGJ398) in the process of asbestos-induced MFT. Data from this study will provide added insight into the mechanisms involved in the initiation of MM and indicate whether TFPI2 and FGF2 can serve as drugable targets for combination therapy against MM. This work is supported by NIH grant, RO1 ES021110. Citation Format: Joyce K. Thompson, Jill Miller, Maximilian B. MacPherson, Arti Shukla. The role of TFPI2 and FGF2 in asbestos-induced mesothelial to fibroblastic transition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4046.
An algorithm for generation of behavioral shape functions

In this paper, we present a new algorithm for analyzing performance/cost tradeoffs in interactive synthesis of DSP algorithms. Our algorithm handles both memories with different access times and pipelined units with different numbers of stages. The output is a shape function illustrating the performance vs. cost tradeoff. We have tested this algorithm on several benchmarks including an FIR filter and a robot kinematics example. Results show that the average difference in cost, as compared to manual designs, is 0.41%, while the average performance difference is 4.90% without memory access times and 0.77% with memory access times. >
Introduction to Brewing Science

When we think about making beer, what comes to mind? Often we rely on those images with which we are familiar, the TV ads showing brewers sitting around sampling their work or the server pulling a tap to dispense a beautiful yellow liquid into a glass. But there is more to the process than we see on the television. And the science behind that process is quite interesting. We will begin our look into the brewing process from the very beginning of civilization and build our understanding of the methods used today. Along our journey, we will uncover the science behind the scenes and gain a much deeper understanding of this very important beverage.
A battery model that enables consideration of realistic anisotropic environment surrounding an active material particle and its application

Abstract This paper proposes a model that enables consideration of the realistic anisotropic environment surrounding an active material particle by incorporating both diffusion and migration of lithium ions and electrons in the particle. This model makes it possible to quantitatively evaluate effects such as fracture on capacity degradation. In contrast, the conventional model assumes isotropic environment and only considers diffusion in the active particle, which cannot capture the effect of fracture since it would predict results contradictory to experimental observations. With the developed model we have investigated the effects of active material electronic conductivity, particle size, and State of Charge (SOC) swing window when fracture exists. The study shows that the low electronic conductivity of active material has a significant impact on the lithium ion pattern. Fracture increases the resistance for electron transport and therefore reduces lithium intercalation/deintercalation. Particle size plays an important role in lithium ion transport. Smaller particle size is preferable for mitigating capacity loss when fracture happens. The study also shows that operating at high SOC reduces the impact of fracture.
Spectral Dependence of the Seawater–Air Radiance Transmission Coefficient

AbstractThe transmission coefficient TL commonly used to propagate the upwelling nadir radiance from just below the ocean surface to above the surface has been assumed to be a constant value of 0.543 in seawater. Because the index of refraction of seawater varies with wavelength, salinity, and temperature, the variation of TL with these parameters should be taken into account, especially if low uncertainty is required for the quantities derived using TL. In particular, the wavelength dependence of this factor is important. For example, at a salinity of 35 g kg−1 and a temperature of 26°C, TL will be 1.3% lower at 380 nm and 1.1% higher at 700 nm than the constant value (0.543) and should be taken into account when calculating the water-leaving radiance and the normalized water-leaving radiance from in-water measurements.
The Landscape of Postsecondary Education in Prison and the Influence of Second Chance Pell: An Analysis of Transferability, Credit-Bearing Status, and Accreditation:

This article documents availability, accreditation, institution type, and geographical distribution of postsecondary education in prison across the United States. Using descriptive analysis, we rep...
Two Theoretical Elasticity Micromechanics Models

This study is concerned with the Composite Spheres (Cylinders) Model and the Generalized Self Consistent Method (GSCM). A detailed examination of the two models proves the two models are the same in the limited cases where they both give solutions. In this process of comparison between the two models, a new solution is found for the shear property of a closed cell foam type idealization.
Web-based querying and temporal visualization of longitudinal clinical data

We report on work in progress on the development of SWEETInfo (Semantic Web-Enabled Exploration of Temporal Information), a tool for querying and visualizing time-oriented clinical data. SWEETInfo is based on an open-source Web-based infrastructure that allows clinical investigators to import data and to perform operations on their temporal dimensions. The architecture combines Semantic Web standards, such as OWL and SWRL, with advanced Web development software, such as the Google Web Toolkit. User interaction with SWEETInfo creates OWL-based specifications of (1) data operations, such as filtering, grouping, and visualization, and (2) data pipelines for data analyses. Both of these can be shared with and adapted by other users via the Web. Our system meets the functional and nonfunctional specifications derived from the use cases. We will demo how SWEETInfoprovides non-technical users the ability to interactively define data pipelines for such complex temporal analyses.
Mode-Selective Raman Imaging of Dopamine-Human Dopamine Transporter Interaction in Live Cells.

Dopamine (DA) is the catecholamine neurotransmitter which interacts with dopamine receptors (DARs) to generate dopaminergic signals in the nervous system. Dopamine transporter (DAT) interacts with DA to maintain DA’s homeostasis in synaptic and perisynaptic space. DAT and DARs have great importance in the central nervous system (CNS) because they are associated with the targeted binding of drugs. Interactions of DA, its analogue with DARs, or DAT have been studied extensively to understand the mechanism of the dopaminergic signaling process and several neurodegenerative diseases, including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s diseases, addiction, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder. However, there is still a lack of a risk-free, label-free, and minimally invasive imaging approach to probe the interaction between DA and DAT or DARs. Here, we probed the DA, human dopamine transporter (hDAT), and DA–hDAT interactions in live cells using combined approach of two-photon excited (2PE) fluoresce...
Teaching Diversity through Cherokee Stickball

Because we live in such a diverse world, it is imperative to teach students to understand and respect other cultures. Teaching multicultural games and activities in physical education provides an o...
Impact of the Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act on Documentation for Students With Disabilities in Transition to College: Implications for Practitioners:

The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 expanded the legal definition of disability to establish broader coverage for individuals with disabilities, including college students, t...
Guanylate cyclase C (GUCY2C) as a preventative and therapeutic target in colorectal cancers (CRCs) arising through divergent genomic pathways.

595Background: CRCs arise through distinct mutations, including in APC pathway leading to tubular adenomas (TAs); in BRAF, with epigenetic silencing of CDX2, leading to serrated adenomas (SAs); and...
Multi-Objective Resource Optimization for Hierarchical Mobile Edge Computing

Mobile edge computing (MEC) enables the computation of complex tasks efficiently on end-devices. It has been shown that MEC can potentially reduce the delay and offer energy-efficient operation. So far, the research has been focused on or limited to multi-server optimization for partial offloading or competing to offload to the best server among different sets of mobile device. In this paper, we propose a hierarchical structure where user devices that have available resources can act as servers without the need to offload to the cloud. Results show that this model improves the system utility. Furthermore, there is a tradeoff between the number of users in the network and the number of peers willing to accept tasks. As the number of users increase, the utility of the hierarchical system keeps increasing whereas the simple MEC system utility saturates.
Impact of Patient-Centered Medical Home Transformation on Providers, Staff, and Quality.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) has become a widely implemented model to transform the delivery of care, but little evidence exists regarding the model's impact on providers, nurses, and s...
Endovascular Treatment of Symptomatic Celiac and Superior Mesenteric Artery Occlusive Disease

A 57-year-old female presented with abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. She had a tender abdomen with low sodium, elevated WBC count, and lactate levels. CTA of the abdomen showed moderate stenosis of the celiac artery and high-grade stenosis of the superior mesenteric artery with infrarenal aortic occlusion (occlusion of inferior mesenteric artery). She underwent celiac artery angioplasty and superior mesenteric artery stenting with significant improvement in her symptoms.
Critical Relevance of Stochastic Effects on Low-Bacterial-Biomass 16S rRNA Gene Analysis.

ABSTRACT The bacterial microbiome of human body sites, previously considered sterile, remains highly controversial because it can be challenging to isolate signal from noise when low-biomass samples are being analyzed. We tested the hypothesis that stochastic sequencing noise, separable from reagent contamination, is generated during sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform when DNA input is below a critical threshold. We first purified DNA from serial dilutions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and from negative controls using three DNA purification kits, quantified input using droplet digital PCR, and then sequenced the 16S rRNA gene in four technical replicates. This process identified reproducible contaminant signal that was separable from an irreproducible stochastic noise, which occurred as bacterial biomass of samples decreased. This approach was then applied to authentic respiratory samples from healthy individuals (n = 22) that ranged from high to ultralow bacterial biomass. Using oral rinse, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) samples and matched controls, we were able to demonstrate (i) that stochastic noise dominates sequencing in real-world low-bacterial-biomass samples that contain fewer than 104 copies of the 16S rRNA gene per sample, (ii) that critical examination of the community composition of technical replicates can be used to separate signal from noise, and (iii) that EBC is an irreproducible sampling modality for sampling the microbiome of the lower airways. We anticipate that these results combined with suggested methods for identifying and dealing with noisy communities will facilitate increased reproducibility while simultaneously permitting characterization of potentially important low-biomass communities. IMPORTANCE DNA contamination from external sources (reagents, environment, operator, etc.) has long been assumed to be the main cause of spurious signals that appear under low-bacterial-biomass conditions. Here, we demonstrate that contamination can be separated from another, random signal generated during low-biomass-sample sequencing. This stochastic noise is not reproduced between technical replicates; however, results for any one replicate taken alone could look like a microbial community different from the controls. Using this information, we investigated respiratory samples from healthy humans and determined the narrow range of bacterial biomass where samples transition from producing reproducible microbial sequences to ones dominated by noise. We present a rigorous approach to studies involving low-bacterial-biomass samples to detect this source of noise and provide a framework for deciding if a sample is likely to be dominated by noise. We anticipate that this work will facilitate increased reproducibility in the characterization of potentially important low-biomass communities.
Cold agglutinin syndrome as a complication of Covid-19 in two cases.

Abstract Background Cold agglutinins are autoantibodies against RBC antigens, leading to hemolysis at less-than-physiological temperatures through complement fixation. Production can be triggered by infections, resulting in secondary cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS). This syndrome has been classically described in the setting of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, as well as with several viral pathogens. Cases Here, we present two cases of cold agglutinins identified in the context of Covid-19 in critically ill patients treated at our institution. Each case was characterized by little in-vivo hemolysis, but these antibodies complicated laboratory assessment and renal replacement therapy. Management included anticoagulation and warming of dialysis circuit. Conclusions Despite minimal in-vivo hemolysis, these antibodies are of clinical significance given their implications for laboratory assessment and renal replacement therapy, particularly with the frequency of multi-organ system dysfunction associated with severe Covid-19.
Determination of fracture apertures via calibration of three-dimensional discrete-fracture-network models: application to Pahute Mesa, Nevada National Security Site, USA

The Pahute Mesa Corrective Action Unit on the Nevada National Security Site (USA) contains several fractured aquifers that can potentially provide high-permeability pathways for migration of radionuclides away from underground nuclear testing locations. Though geometric properties of fractures such as length and orientations, can generally be obtained by geophysical methods and borehole image analyses, their hydraulic properties (primarily influenced by their apertures) are often unknown or have a high degree of uncertainty. This study presents a novel approach to determine fracture apertures at a site by integrating numerical models of flow with data of certain geometrical fracture attributes and hydraulic response of the system because of long-term pumping. Discrete fracture network (DFN) models were used in this study to construct a three-dimensional (3-D) flow model for lava-flow aquifers of Western Pahute Mesa (WPM). Models built using a 3-D DFN code, dfnWorks, were calibrated to hydraulic drawdown observations recorded at the site of a forced-gradient experiment (BULLION FGE). Multiple conceptualizations of boundary conditions, fracture aperture distributions, and realizations of the fracture network were considered to simulate flow and migration of particles between an injection well and a pumping well. Calibrating the DFN flow models to hydraulic drawdown data constrained the ranges of aperture values and helped develop a realistic description of the properties of fractured rocks in WPM. The aperture values resulting from this study are expected to enhance understanding of radionuclide transport in WPM and support the development of large-scale flow and transport models.
State policies limiting premium surcharges for tobacco and their impact on health insurance enrollment.

OBJECTIVE The Affordable Care Act allows insurers to charge up to 50% higher premiums to tobacco users, making tobacco use the only behavioral factor that can be used to rate premiums in the nongroup insurance market. Some states have set more restrictive limits on rating for tobacco use, and several states have outlawed tobacco premium surcharges altogether. We examined the impact of state level tobacco surcharge policy on health insurance enrollment decisions among smokers. STUDY DESIGN We compared insurance enrollment in states that did and did not allow tobacco surcharges, using a difference-in-difference approach to compare the policy effects among smokers and nonsmokers. We also used geographic variation in tobacco surcharges to examine how the size of the surcharge affects insurance coverage, again comparing smokers to nonsmokers. DATA COLLECTION We linked data from two components of the Current Population Survey-the 2015 and 2019 Annual Social and Economic Supplement and the Tobacco Use Supplement, which we combined with data on marketplace plan premiums. We also collected qualitative data from a survey of smokers who did not have insurance through an employer or public program. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Allowing a tobacco surcharge reduced insurance enrollment among smokers by 4.0 percentage points (P = .01). Further, smokers without insurance through an employer or public program were 9.0 percentage points less likely (P < .01) to enroll in a nongroup plan if they were subject to a tobacco surcharge. In states with surcharges, enrollment among smokers was 3.4 percentage points lower (P < .01) for every 10 percentage point increase in the tobacco surcharge. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco use is the largest cause of preventable illness in the United States. State tobacco surcharge policy may have a substantial impact on whether tobacco users choose to remain insured and consequently their ability to receive care critical for preventing and treating tobacco-related disease.
Issues in Deciding Whether to Use Multifidelity Surrogates

Multifidelity surrogates are essential in cases where it is not affordable to have more than a few high-fidelity samples, but it is affordable to have as many low-fidelity samples as needed. In the...
Performance Differences Between Native and Non-Native Speakers on a New Happy-Sad Executive Function Measure.

Objective The happy-sad task adapts the classic day-night task by incorporating two early acquired emotional concepts ("happy" and "sad") and demonstrates elevated inhibitory demands for native speakers. The task holds promise as a new executive function measure for assessing inhibitory control across the lifespan, but no studies have examined the influence of language of test administration on performance. Method Seventy adult native English speakers and 50 non-native speakers completed the computerized day-night and the new happy-sad tasks administered in English. In two conditions, participants were categorized pictorial stimuli either in a congruent manner ("happy" for a happy face) or in a more challenging, incongruent manner ("sad" for a happy face). Lexical decision performance was obtained to estimate levels of English language proficiency. Results Native speakers and non-native speakers performed comparably except for the critical incongruent condition of the happy-sad task, where native speakers responded more slowly. A greater congruency effect for the happy-sad task was found for native than for non-native speakers. Lexical decision performance was associated with performance on the challenging incongruent conditions. Conclusion This study reinforced the usefulness of the happy-sad task as a new measure in evaluating inhibitory control in adult native-speakers. However, the language of test administration needs to be considered in assessment because it may lead to performance differences between native and non-native speakers.
Integrating Crip Theory and Disability Justice into Feminist Anti-Violence Education

In this paper, I critically reflect on my efforts to and experiences of integrating disability justice and crip theory into my intersectional, queer, feminist pedagogy. I begin by grounding my pedagogical practice in my experiences as an anti-violence advocate / activist in order to argue that disability theory and justice have the potential to not only expand anti-violence education, but also to transform it through careful attention to access, care, and interdependence. In this article, access refers to the possibilities of being fully present and supported within a given learning space; care describes the process of creating access through actions that make presence possible; and interdependence recognizes that access and care must co-exist because people need each other. I then identify parallels between anti-violence work and theories and movements against ableism because I have found this intersection to be pedagogically generative. Next, I describe what disability theory and justice, access, and crip politics (McRuer, 2006; Price, 2015) look like within the context of anti-violence education. In the second section of this paper, I write about how disability theory and justice brought to bear on anti-violence education can help to promote radical imagination and hope as well as deeper understandings of foundational concepts like consent. I also critically examine how anti-violence education can expand the possibilities of disability pedagogy through meaningful engagements with intersectional feminist theory and praxis. My purpose in developing these claims is to demonstrate the ongoing importance of bridging disability theory and justice with intersectional feminist practices of education.
Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquids: Nicotine Content, Presence of Child-Resistant Packaging, and in-Shop Compounding.

Abstract Purpose To expand on our 2015 study of the nicotine content accuracy of e-liquids, including salts, and the presence of child-resistant packaging. We also describe compounding in shop (CIS). Design and methods We analyzed samples from 35 shops. CIS processing was observed. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and inference was performed. Results Actual nicotine content was significantly less than the identified content, on average, with a mean percent deviation 34.0% below the identified content. Only 3.8% of the samples' actual nicotine content was within 10% of the identified content; the maximum deviation was 213.2%. Of eight uniquely packaged samples, including designs resembling pop cans, ice cream cones, etc., the mean percent deviation was −39.6%; none were within 10% of the identified content. Eight shops compounded samples. After removing outlier values, significant differences were found in the percent deviations between the CIS and non-CIS free-base samples. A significantly higher percentage of CIS samples had nicotine content > 10% above the identified content, and none were within 10%. One shop visually estimated the nicotine quantities to add, e-liquids were not always relabeled to reflect new nicotine levels, and protective materials were not always worn during compounding. Child-resistant packaging was not present for one third of the samples. Conclusions Labeling of nicotine content in e-liquids remains inaccurate, child-resistant packaging is inconsistent, and CIS is problematic. Effective e-liquid regulation is needed to protect public health. Practice implications Nurses should educate families about the serious health risks of e-liquids and advocate for increased e-liquid regulations.
Weather Effects on the Coastal Ocean

The weather can affect the ocean just as the ocean can affect weather. Weather effects on the ocean occur on a wide array of time scales, with each having a different impact. Tides are periodic variations of the ocean surface level caused by tide-generating force from the Moon and Sun. Tides can modify storm surge through nonlinear interactions. The superposition of tides and storm surge gives the actual ocean surface—the storm tide. Associated with the surface variation is the current velocity due to both tidal oscillations and meteorological influences. All of these phenomena are important for understanding coastal erosion. In general, wind-induced water setup (or storm surge) includes effects of the following: (1) wind stress, (2) waves, (3) barometric pressure, and (4) Coriolis (Earth rotation). The remote wind effect is a result of non-local winds or weather-induced motion propagated into the region. In contrast, the local wind effect is the direct impact of surface wind stress to the hydrodynamics inside an estuary or bay. The Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale only uses wind speed to classify the magnitude of a tropical cyclone, ignoring the forward speed of tropical cyclones, but in reality, forward speed is an important determinant of storm surge.
The Integration of Technology in the Curriculum.

This article describes a 3-year research project to develop an applications model to successfully integrate technology in the instruction of elementary school learners with mild and moderate handic...
The parking permit problem

We consider online problems where purchases have time durations which expire regardless of whether the purchase is used or not. The parking permit problem is the natural analog of the well-studied ski rental problem in this model, and we provide matching upper and lower bounds on the competitive ratio for this problem. By extending the techniques thus developed, we give an online-competitive algorithm for the problem of renting steiner forest edges with time durations.
Adenylate cyclase. A new kinetic analysis of the effects of hormones and fluoride ion.

Abstract A simple model for the kinetics of adenylate cyclase activated by hormones or fluoride ion was developed. It was then tested on data, published by Birnbaumer et al. ((1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 3468–3476) for rat fat cell ghosts and data, reported by Drummond et al. ((1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 4166–4173) for membrane preparations of guinea pig ventricles. The model yields a satisfactory first approximation of the data. It was concluded that hormones as well as fluoride ion decrease the sensitivity of the enzyme toward inhibition by ATP not complexed to magnesium, thereby favoring the formation of the productive Michaelis complex. Parallel to this the maximal velocity is increased. In contrast to earlier interpretations, no evidence was found for a regulatory binding site for magnesium. Adenylate cyclase activated by hormones was found to be described as a system in equilibrium or in a steady state. Thus, it could be regarded as an allosteric enzyme system with hormones as heterotropic activators.
Differential Activation of IFN Regulatory Factor (IRF)-3 and IRF-5 Transcription Factors during Viral Infection

Members of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family regulate gene expression critical to immune response, hemopoiesis, and proliferation. Although related by homology at their N-terminal DNA-binding domain, they display individual functional properties. The distinct properties result from differences in regulated expression, response to activating signals, and interaction with DNA regulatory elements. IRF-3 is expressed ubiquitously and is activated by serine phosphorylation in response to viral infection or TLR signaling. Evidence indicates that the kinases TANK-binding kinase 1 and inhibitor of NF-kappaB kinase-epsilon specifically phosphorylate and thereby activate IRF-3. We evaluated the contribution of another member of the IRF family, IRF-5, during viral infection since prior studies provided varied results. Analysis of phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, dimerization, binding to CREB-binding protein, recognition of DNA, and induction of gene expression were used comparatively with IRF-3 as a measure of IRF-5 activation. IRF-5 was not activated by viral infection; however, expression of TANK-binding kinase 1 or inhibitor of NF-kappaB kinase-epsilon did provide clear activation of IRF-5. IRF-5 is therefore distinct in its activation profile from IRF-3. However, similar to the biological effects of IRF-3 activation, a constitutively active mutation of IRF-5 promoted apoptosis. The apoptosis was inhibited by expression of Bcl-x(L) but not a dominant-negative mutation of the Fas-associated death domain. These studies support the distinct activation profiles of IRF-3 in comparison to IRF-5, but reveal a potential shared biological effect.
Two-proton correlations for O 16 + Au 197 collisions at E / A =200 MeV

Two-proton correlation functions are measured for inclusive collisions of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ + $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ at E/A=200 MeV. Calculations with the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck transport theory overpredict the dependence of the correlation function on the total momentum of the coincident proton pair, but correctly reproduce the energy-integrated correlation function.