cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Post-Larval Pre-Tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) from Ground Skink, Scincella lateralis (SAURIA: SCINCIDAE), FROM SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA

Abstract Free pre-tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. are described, for the first time, from samples obtained from the coelomic cavity of a ground skink, Scincella lateralis, from Oklahoma. Closer examination of these early-stage tapeworms revealed they were transitional metamorphosis stages between a post-hexacanth procercoid form to the full metacestode of Mesocestoides. A series of transitional stages was found that span the full period of sucker and apical organ development. However, we did not see any fully developed tetrathyridia, i.e., having classic Mesocestoides morphology but with the apical sucker absent following developmental atrophy. This is the first time that metamorphic pre-tetrathyridial stages of a Mesocestoides sp. have been reported in vivo from a natural infection. These observations corroborate earlier reports of such stages of Mesocestoides vogae developed in vitro, though the previously reported isolate of M. vogae is asexually proliferative, and the species from the present study...
Revisiting the Relationship between Justice and Extra-Role Behavior: The Role of State Ownership

State ownership is an important phenomenon in the world economy, especially in transition economies. Previous research has focused on how state ownership influences organizational performance, but few studies have been conducted on how state ownership influences employees. I propose that different ownership structures trigger different relational models among employees who pay attention to organizational justice consistent with their model to guide their extra-role behavior. Specifically, state-owned organizations reinforce employees’ relational concern and direct employees’ attention to procedural justice, whereas privatized organizations highlight employees' instrumental concern and direct their attention to distributive justice. I leverage a sample of organizations in China to explore how different ownership structures activate different relational models among employees and alter the relationship between organizational justice and employees’ extra-role behaviors. I find that state ownership attenuates and even reverses the positive relationship between distributive justice and extra-role behaviors. Conversely, state ownership exaggerates the positive relationship between a critical procedural justice dimension (participation in decision making) and employee extra-role behaviors. Implications for the micro-foundations of corporate governance and institutional change, organizational justice literature, and cross-cultural research are developed. This study also generates new insights for transition economies such as China.
Data-based Computational Approaches to Forecasting Political Violence

The challenge of terrorism dates back centuries if not millennia. Until recently, the basic approaches to analyzing terrorism—historical analogy and monitoring the contemporary words and deeds of potential perpetrators—have changed little: the Roman authorities warily observing the Zealots in first-century Jerusalem could have easily traded places with the Roman authorities combatting the Red Brigades in twentieth century Italy.
Cardiovascular Imaging in Racial/Ethnic Populations: Implications for the Adequate Application of Cardiovascular Imaging Techniques Guided by Racial/Ethnic Risk Factor Variations

Over the last decade, the increased research focus on cardiovascular imaging for the identification of patients at risk for and with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) has augmented clinician awareness and ability to properly risk stratify and categorize patients. Cardiac imaging has now become a technique not only for assessing patients with established CAD but also for the identification of patients with subclinical CAD who are at risk for ischemic heart disease and cardiac events of death and myocardial infarction. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a 10-year longitudinal study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with the goals of identifying and quantifying risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis, and for transition in patients from subclinical disease to clinically apparent events. Cardiac imaging findings from MESA with respect to racial/ethnic differences reveal that the incidence and prevalence of CAD differ among some racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The large number of patients affected by CAD has driven the development of effective, non-invasive methods to identify and risk-stratify patients with and at risk for CAD. When patients are properly identified, the appropriate treatment strategies can be applied to individual patients to prevent future events, such as death or myocardial infarction. Historically, exercise treadmill testing (ETT) with electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring was the initial test applied to patients suspected of having CAD. Today, non-invasive cardiovascular testing with imaging has become the gold standard for the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of patients with suspected or known cardiovascular disease.
Performance analysis of a constrained resource sharing system

We consider a queueing system where the servers are arranged in a circle, and each arriving customer requires a pair of resources that is shared by its server with the respective neighbors on either side. If either resource is being used, the customer is denied service. Customers arrive at each server according to independent Poisson processes, and lengths of service times at each server have an exponential distribution. We derive a closed-form formula for the expected fraction of busy servers at any time in terms of the number of servers and the utilization factor (defined as the arrival rate times the mean service-time duration). This allows us to evaluate system performance when these parameters are varied, and to determine whether denying service to arrivals at alternate servers improves performance. We relate the system to Dijkstra’s dining philosophers problem, which is an abstraction for resource sharing in an operating system.
ASYMPTOTIC DISTRIBUTION OF EIGENVALUES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an asymptotic distribution of Eigen values. In particular, the chapter focuses on the asymptoticdistribution of largepositiveEigenvalues for thisproblem. Problems of this nature arise naturally in investigations of wave phenomena, especially in quantum mechanics. The chapter contain the appropriate connecting solutions by using the theory of irregular singular points at x = ∞. In particular chapter explains the study of the Stokes curves in the whole complex plane and utilizes them to construct such solution. Then subdominant solutions as indicated will exist and appropriate connecting solutions may be constructed under the additional hypothesis.
Metabolic Alkalosis from Chloride-Deficient Infant Formula

The metabolic consequences of chloride deficiency have recently been reviewed by Simopoulos and Bartter (1980). Chloride-depletion syndromes include cystic fibrosis with excessive chloride loss through sweating, gastrointestinal chloride loss resulting from congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, surreptitous vomiting, laxative abuse or congenital chloride diarrhea, and urinary chloride loss secondary to diuretic use or abuse or in Bartter’s syndrome. Salt deprivation in man can result in metabolic alkalosis but the effect of chloride deprivation alone, though studied in rats (Holliday et al, 1961; Levine et al., 1974), has not been reported in man. Hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis with failure to thrive resulting from the feeding of chloride deficient infant formulas (Neo-Mull-Soy and CHO-Free) (Roy and Arant, 1979) is a new syndrome of chloride deficiency which further emphasizes the importance of the chloride ion in acid-base balance and in nutrition.
Eco-labeling in the Fresh Produce Market: Not All Environmentally Friendly Labels Are Equally Valued

Abstract Previous research indicates that consumers have a higher willingness to pay (WTP) for food products grown using sustainable production methods due to the perceived environmental benefits. Fresh produce can be produced using numerous sustainable methods, but it remains unclear which method is valued the most by consumers. In this study, we estimate consumer preferences for fresh strawberries with various sustainable claims: two based on production techniques (reduced pesticides and less fertilizer use) and three based on outcomes associated with ecosystem services (reduced negative impacts on air, soil, or water). While consumers are willing to pay more for fresh strawberries produced with sustainable practices, the premiums differ by the production method. Consumers are willing to pay the highest price premium for fresh strawberries produced with reduced pesticide use, followed by those produced with reduced impacts on water quality. Demographic variables (such as income), purchase habits (such as price normally paid for strawberries), and perception variables (such as importance rating of strawberry attributes) are significant factors affecting consumer preference for strawberries produced using environmentally friendly techniques. Consumers who have a better knowledge of GMO fresh strawberries in the market are willing to pay significantly less for all types of eco-labeled fresh strawberries.
Decision factors for community providers when referring very young children for autism evaluation

Abstract Background Early intervention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improves outcomes, but treatment access depends on early identification. Despite reliability of most autism diagnoses by age 24 months, the majority of children with autism do not receive comprehensive evaluations until after age 36 months. Although many possible reasons exist for delayed evaluations, the referral decision process itself is not clearly defined nor understood. In particular, little is known about how perceptions of early childhood symptoms of ASD interact with decision criteria to ultimately refer a child for comprehensive diagnostic assessment. Method To better understand pre-referral perceptions and decision factors involved, we provided multiple video clips from early comprehensive autism evaluations as prompts, then asked early childhood clinicians and educators (n = 346) to make decisions about autism referral, then to identify factors considered when making decisions. Results Decision factors cited most often were play, social interactions/engagement, and verbal behaviors, but none were cited by a clear majority. Some important early signs were infrequently mentioned: absence of joint attention, social reciprocity and gestures. Accuracy of referral decisions was similar across disciplines, indicating a broad range of professionals capable of identifying early signs of autism. Conclusions Autism training across early childhood professional disciplines should emphasize importance of early signs involving significant absences of behaviors, such as low joint attention, gestures, and social reciprocity in addition to odd social, verbal, and play behaviors. Such targeted training may encourage earlier referrals when autism is suspected in young children.
Microchannel Electrode Stimulation of Deep Peroneal Nerve Fascicles Induced Mean Arterial Depressor Response in Hypertensive Rats

Hypertension (HTN) affects over 1 billion people in the world, and while most are treated effectively with pharmacological regimens, 10–30% of them do not show a beneficial response. Electrical stimulation of the renal sympathetic, vagus and carotid sinus nerves has shown depressor effects and has been proposed as an alternative treatment for resistant hypertension (R-HTN). However, these nerves are heterogeneous in afferent/efferent composition, and their stimulation often results in unwanted side effects. We evaluated the possibility of eliciting a depressor response from stimulation of single fascicle of the somatic deep peroneal nerve (fDPN). A microchannel electrode array (µCEA) was used to stimulate the fDPN at low frequency, which induced a significant (p ≤ 0.03) transient reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) with no significant effects on heart rate. The depressor response was prolonged for several hours by extending the fDPN stimulation to 5 min, which induced significant reduction (17–25%) in MAP for up to 4 h. Immunofluorescence evaluation of the axonal marker, myelin, and active macrophages in the fDPN revealed no indication of nerve damage or overt inflammation in response to the procedure. This study provides evidence supporting the use of µCEA interfacing of small somatic nerve fascicles associated with cardiovascular relevant acupoints to induce significant reductions in MAP and opens the possibility of neuromodulation of small fascicles as an alternative strategy to treat R-HTN with minimal side effects. Further, the µCEA multielectrode array offers an effective tool for neuromodulation of small nerve fascicles, enabling a number of possible future medical bioelectronic applications.
Factors affecting motorcyclists' injury severities: An empirical assessment using random parameters logit model with heterogeneity in means and variances.

Abstract Motorcycles constitute 61% of the total registered vehicles in Pakistan and there has been a 371% growth in motorcycles in the country from year 2005-2015. Motorcycle is an essential and popular mode of transportation in Pakistan, therefore, the present study estimated a random parameters logit model to investigate the factors influencing the motorcycle injury severity using motorcycle crash data of Rawalpindi city collected by the Provincial Emergency Response Service. No injury, minor injury, severe injury and fatal injury are used as four categories of motorcyclist injury severity levels to calibrate the model. Mainly the effects of speed limits, crash-specific factors, rider attributes, roadway characteristics, weather and socio-demographics factors are considered for motorcycle-injury severity analysis. It was revealed that probability of fatal/severe injury increases for crashes: involving middle-aged riders (25–50 years) and riders with no education, occurring on roads with posted speed limit of 70 kms per hour or higher, crashes involving a motorcycle and a heavy vehicle, involving collision of a motorcycle with a fixed object and occurring during dry weather conditions. Also, the probability of minor injury increases for crashes: occurring on divided streets and road segments with a posted speed limit of less than 50 kms per hour, involving Chinese brand motorcycles, involving registered motorcycles, and where at least one motorcycle and auto rickshaw is involved. The research findings suggest that besides measures to control/ reduce the risky motorcyclists behavior there is a need to lower speed limits on roads with a higher motorcycle proportion, separate motorcycles from heavy vehicles and removal of fixed objects from the roadside. Besides data limitations, results are expected to generate more discussion and interest in motorcycle safety in the country and can be used by the enforcement agencies to improve/ enhance the current state of motorcycle safety in the country.
Understanding the Link Between the Approximate Number System and Math Abilities

Abstract Previous correlational studies have suggested that the approximate number system (ANS) may be foundational to the acquisition of formal math abilities. In this chapter, I review evidence from training studies that provide support for a causal link between the ANS and math. However, the extant findings can neither be fully explained by the shared reliance on similar mental operations between the ANS and math nor by the notion that symbolic number representations rely at least to some extent on ANS representations. Thus I propose that individual differences in the ANS may instead lead to differences in an individual's attention to and engagement with math-related information, which in turn affects math ability. Preliminary support for this hypothesis comes from recent studies showing that parents’ ANS acuity correlates with the amount of math talk they engage in while playing with their child and children's math abilities.
Impact of Oncology Drug Shortages on Chemotherapy Treatment

Prescription drug shortages began to increase markedly in the mid-2000s, including sterile injectable products such as chemotherapy drugs. Using Medicare claims linked to Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), we examined outpatient chemotherapy use during shortage periods relative to the months before and after a shortage for newly diagnosed patients with breast, colorectal, leukemia, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer (N = 182,470). For most drugs, we found little impact of shortages on either the fraction of patients receiving that drug or the quantity provided. In some cases, we found declines in utilization: 4% for doxorubicin and fluorouracil; 2.9% for oxaliplatin; and about 1% for cytarabine, dacarbazine, and leuprolide. Although shortages for a few drugs resulted in substantial reductions in use, in most cases, they resulted in little to no reduction. We discuss potential explanations for these counterintuitive findings, including potential limitations of current drug shortage reporting methods.
Interpretable Multiview Early Warning System Adapted to Underrepresented Student Populations

Early warning systems have been progressively implemented in higher education institutions to predict student performance. However, they usually fail at effectively integrating the many information sources available at universities to make more accurate and timely predictions, they often lack decision-making reasoning to motivate the reasons behind the predictions, and they are generally biased toward the general student body, ignoring the idiosyncrasies of underrepresented student populations (determined by socio-demographic factors such as race, gender, residency, or status as a freshmen, transfer, adult, or first-generation students) that traditionally have greater difficulties and performance gaps. This paper presents a multiview early warning system built with comprehensible Genetic Programming classification rules adapted to specifically target underrepresented and underperforming student populations. The system integrates many student information repositories using multiview learning to improve the accuracy and timing of the predictions. Three interfaces have been developed to provide personalized and aggregated comprehensible feedback to students, instructors, and staff to facilitate early intervention and student support. Experimental results, validated with statistical analysis, indicate that this multiview learning approach outperforms traditional classifiers. Learning outcomes will help instructors and policy-makers to deploy strategies to increase retention and improve academics.
Broadening Participation for Remote Communities: Situated Distance Telepresence

Our work is concerned with how embodied communication involving speech and gestures may be mediated through mobile tele-robotics and augmented reality to support hands-on distance mentoring. Following work in the psycholinguistics of embodied communication (e.g., meaning is expressed through gesture, gaze, and speech), a four design-implement-test-deploy-evaluate study was undertaken. We investigated whether and how powerful multimodal language to support explanation and mentoring may be mediated over distance through the designs.
Applying the auxin-inducible degradation system for rapid protein depletion in mammalian cells

The ability to deplete a protein of interest is critical for dissecting cellular processes. Traditional methods of protein depletion are often slow acting, which can be problematic when characterizing a cellular process that occurs within a short period of time, such as mitosis. Furthermore, these methods are usually not reversible. Recent advances to achieve protein depletion function by inducibly trafficking proteins of interest to an endogenous E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to promote ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the proteasome. One of these systems, the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system, has been shown to permit rapid and inducible degradation of AID-tagged target proteins in mammalian cells. The AID system can control the abundance of a diverse set of cellular proteins, including those contained within protein complexes, and is active in all phases of the cell cycle. Here we discuss considerations for the successful implementation of the AID system and describe a protocol using CRISPR/Cas9 to achieve biallelic insertion of an AID in human cells. This method can also be adapted to insert other tags, such as fluorescent proteins, at defined genomic locations.
Comparison of pulmonary lobectomies using robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic approaches: results from 2010-2013 National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND Robotic lobectomies for pulmonary pathologies, such as lung cancer, have seen increased usage over the past 10 years. Previous studies have shown that robotic lung surgery is safe and can lead to improved outcomes for patients. The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative complications associated with robotic lobectomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database in the USA. The use of this large, nationwide database may help clarify differences in outcomes of these two operative approaches. METHODS Patients who underwent VATS and robotic lobectomy from 2010-2013 were identified using the NIS database. A propensity score matched analysis was applied in a 1:1 ratio to minimize imbalance between preoperative comorbidities. RESULTS Final analysis included a total of 2868 patients: 1434 were VATS and 1434 were robotic cases. Postoperatively, the rate of overall morbidity was not statistically different in the VATS versus the robotic group (39.9% vs. 43.0%, P=0.084). Specific complications that were higher in the robotic group included: rates of accidental puncture or laceration (1.8% vs. 0.8%, P=0.016), pneumonia (5.7% vs. 4.1%, P=0.048), and bleeding complications (2.4% vs. 1.1%, P=0.012). Total costs were lower for the VATS group than the robotic group ($77,940.54 vs. $102,057.07, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Overall morbidity between the two groups was not statistically different. Patients that underwent robotic versus VATS lobectomy were significantly more likely to experience accidental puncture or laceration, pneumonia, and bleeding complications. Robotic surgery also incurred more cost.
Effects of Employee-Focused CSR Changes on Acquisition Performance

We respond to calls to investigate causality in the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance by examining how post-acquisition changes in one CSR dimension, e...
Meningeal Lymphatics: A Review and Future Directions From a Clinical Perspective:

The recent discovery of lymphatic vessels in the meningeal layers calls into question the known mechanisms of fluid and macromolecule homeostasis and immunoregulation within the central nervous system. These meningeal lymphatic vessels and their potential role in the pathophysiology of neurological disease have become a rapidly expanding area of research, with the hopes that they may provide a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of many devastating conditions. This article reviews the current state of knowledge surrounding the anatomical structure of the vessels, their functions in fluid and solute transport and immune surveillance, as well as their studied developmental biology, relationship with the novel hypothesized "glymphatic" system, and implications in neurodegenerative disease in animal models. Furthermore, this review summarizes findings from the human studies conducted thus far regarding the presence, anatomy, and drainage patterns of meningeal lymphatic vessels and discusses, from a clinical perspective, advancements in both imaging technologies and interventional methodologies used to access ultrafine peripheral lymphatic vessels.
Some factors in nuclear stimulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in vitro.

Abstract The reported stimulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by added nuclear fractions was investigated with livers of young rats. In the presence of glutamate, but not in the presence of succinate, progressive dilution of mitochondria in the incubation medium is paralleled by a decline in their specific metabolic rate. The stimulating effect of the nuclear fraction functions to oppose the inactivating effect of dilution. Heated nuclear preparations are as effective as those maintained at 0 ° C up to the time of addition to the incubation mixture. The sum of the evidence suggests that the stimulation of mitochondria by nuclear fractions is due to some physical effect of such fractions on the mitochondria and does not represent a consequence of cooperating metabolic systems.
Complex riparian habitats predict reptile and amphibian diversity

Abstract Altering stream flows and groundwater have modified how streams are connected to riparian floodplain vegetation. This disconnection has led to the proliferation of non-native and invasive woody plant species and altered habitat complexity. Squamate vertebrates such as lizards and snakes, and amphibians such as frogs and toads, are important food web links in riparian ecosystems of the Sonoran Desert. We explored the relationship between habitat heterogeneity and species diversity in aridland riparian ecosystems in the United States (US). Specifically, we measured riparian vegetation composition, cover, and habitat structure from the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico, the San Pedro and Gila Rivers in Arizona, and the Virgin River in Nevada. We used pitfall arrays deployed in these riparian forests to document reptile and amphibian communities. We developed a habitat index by weighing variables based on their contributions to variation explained in the dataset and characterized the structural attributes and heterogeneity of the riparian vegetation. We validated the habitat index by relating it to abundance and richness of reptile and amphibian species and found a positive relationship. Native riparian trees and stands mixed with native and non-native trees supported greater diversity and abundance of lizard fauna compared to monotypic stands of non-native trees. We integrated elements of vegetation structure and composition with ectothermic wildlife to show how riparian areas provide complex habitat for species. Our results suggest that riparian woodlands provide higher quality habitat for riparian reptile and amphibians compared to non-native stands.
Precision Medicine Approach to Develop and Internally Validate Optimal Exercise and Weight-Loss Treatments for Overweight and Obese Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From a Single-Center Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE To apply a precision medicine approach to determine the optimal treatment regime for participants in an exercise (E), dietary weight loss (D), and D + E trial for knee osteoarthritis that would maximize their expected outcomes. METHODS Using data from 343 participants of the Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis (IDEA) trial, we applied 24 machine-learning models to develop individualized treatment rules on 7 outcomes: Short Form 36 physical component score, weight loss, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain/function/stiffness scores, compressive force, and interleukin-6 level. The optimal model was selected based on jackknife value function estimates that indicate improvement in the outcomes if future participants follow the estimated decision rule compared to the optimal single, fixed treatment model. RESULTS Multiple outcome random forest was the optimal model for the WOMAC outcomes. For the other outcomes, list-based models were optimal. For example, the estimated optimal decision rule for weight loss indicated assigning the D + E intervention to participants with baseline weight not exceeding 109.35 kg and waist circumference above 90.25 cm, and assigning D to all other participants except those with a history of a heart attack. If applied to future participants, the optimal rule for weight loss is estimated to increase average weight loss to 11.2 kg at 18 months, contrasted with 9.8 kg if all participants received D + E (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION The precision medicine models supported the overall findings from IDEA that the D + E intervention was optimal for most participants, but there was evidence that a subgroup of participants would likely benefit more from diet alone for 2 outcomes.
David Oliver: Preventing more deaths in care homes in a second pandemic surge.

I hope my column last week showed that all of us had a part to play in the high number of deaths from covid-19 in care homes.1 In due course I expect there will be a public inquiry into our handling of the covid-19 pandemic, and endless research and analyses. For now, though, my main concern is what we should do differently if we have a second peak of covid-19 or a pandemic caused by another novel virus. There are some ways in which we would be better prepared. We now have greater testing capacity in care homes, although it’s a shame it took so long, and some care homes are still …
E-015 Beyond the wall: imaging of perivascular structures of the intracranial subarachoid space

Introduction A new method of intravascular imaging is introduced, high-frequency optical coherence tomography (HF-OCT), with resolution unprecedented for in vivo imaging (~10µm). Here we describe the first preclinical observations of cerebrovascular imaging with this new technology. Methods Two dogs were imaged using HF-OCT. A 6F straight guiding catheter was initially positioned into the right vertebral artery up to the origin of the right lateral spinal ramus anastomoticus and the basilar artery was accessed with an SL-10 microcatheter. In the first dog access was achieved through the main lumen of the vertebral artery coursing along the vertebral column around the C1 vertebral body and finally the vertebrobasilar junction and the basilar artery. In the second dog access was achieved through the right lateral spinal ramus and the anterior spinal artery, the diamond shaped confluence of anastomotic channels between vertebral arteries and spinal rami into the basilar artery. In both animals the microcatheter was advanced up to the P1-P2 segment of the left PCA in order to facilitate positioning of the HF-OCT wire which was unsheathed from the microcatheter. Using contrast at a flow rate of 4 ml/sec to wash out the blood in the vessels imaging of the basilar artery from distal to proximal was performed. Results Detailed images of the basilar artery, lower cerebellar arteries, basilar perforators, vertebrobasilar junction, spinal perforators were obtained (figure 1). Due to the high resolution of the method, the layers of the vessel wall were imaged. What was even more interesting was the ability to image beyond the artery into the structural components of the subarachnoid space with the arachnoid membranes and what we believe to be the arachnoid trabeculae. Venous structures and nerve root origins were also recognized. Conclusion HF-OCT imaging can offer detailed visualization not only of the vessel wall, the branching pattern of basilar and spinal perforators but also of structures of the subarachnoid space impossible to study with other imaging modalities due to inadequate resolution. The clinical implication of such an analysis is yet to be discovered. Disclosures V. Anagnostakou: None. Z. Vardar: None. A. Puri: None. G. Ughi: None. M. Gounis: None.
Implementing a Weaning Protocol for Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Neonates Decreases Overuse and Length of Stay.

BACKGROUND: As part of efforts to decrease length of hospital stay, a protocol for weaning noninvasive respiratory support was implemented using quality improvement methodology. The objective of this study was to determine whether protocol implementation decreased the time to wean to no respiratory support by 24 h (30% reduction) over 3 months in preterm infants 30–34 weeks gestational age. METHODS: A quality improvement project was conducted with the following outcome measures: primary outcome measured was hours to wean; secondary outcomes included duration of respiratory support, length of stay, and postmenstrual age at feeding milestones; and balance measures were duration of oxygen exposure and growth velocity. RESULTS: Data from 89 subjects were included. Following implementation, decreases were seen in time to wean (40% reduction, P CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a weaning protocol decreases duration of support and length of stay in infants 30–34 weeks gestational age. Weaning respiratory support more quickly may decrease growth velocity.
A promising plant defense peptide against citrus Huanglongbing disease.

Citrus fruits and orange juice are beloved components of daily diets, owing to their delicious taste, high levels of vitamin C, folate, and flavanones hesperidin and naringin, and many health benefits (1). Just as we are facing the COVID-19 pandemic, citrus is facing a devastating pandemic of its own, known as Huanglongbing (HLB) or greening disease (2, 3). Citrus production in Florida has decreased by 74% since the first report of HLB in Florida in 2005 (4). There is currently no cure for HLB-positive citrus trees, and those that contract the disease die within a few years (2). Although Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), Ca . L. americanus, and Ca . L. africanus have not been cultured in artificial media, modified Koch’s postulates have been fulfilled to corroborate their status as the causative agents of HLB (2). Liberibacter species belong to the family Rhizobiaceae. The endocytosis capacity of Rhizobiaceae species may have played important roles in the phloem colonization and eventual establishment in psyllid hosts of the ancestor of Liberibacters (3). CLas is the most prevalent HLB pathogen worldwide, and it is mainly transmitted by Asian citrus psyllids ( Diaphorina citri ). The inability to culture HLB pathogens has significantly hampered our understanding of the virulence mechanisms of HLB and the development of HLB control approaches (3, 5). In PNAS, Huang et al. (6) characterize a heat-stable antimicrobial peptide MaSAMP from HLB-tolerant Microcitrus that both kills CLas and induces plant immunity (Fig. 1), representing a potential breakthrough for HLB control. Because of its dual role, it can be categorized as a host defense peptide (7). This new finding will likely trigger broad interest in identifying and using host defense peptides in other plants. Fig. 1. Schematic representation of identification of host defense peptides from HLB resistant/tolerant citrus genotypes and application of host defense … [↵][1]1Email: nianwang{at}ufl.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
A New Multi-Stimuli-Based Simulation Method for ESD Design Verification

This paper analyzes TCAD ESD simulation for both HBM zapping using real-world HBM ESD waveforms as stimuli and TLP testing using square wave TLP pulse trains as stimuli. It concludes that TCAD ESD simulation using either HBM waveforms or TLP pulse trains, alone, is insufficient. We introduce a new mixed-mode simulation flow using combined HBM and TLP stimuli to achieve ESD design prediction, which was validated in 28nm bulk CMOS and 45nm SOI CMOS.
Examining Diversity: a Content Analysis of Cancer Depictions on Primetime Scripted Television

Entertainment programming provides a unique opportunity for cancer education, particularly for higher risk racial and ethnic minority groups. Cultural relevancy is key to quality narrative cancer communication, and minorities often prefer media content produced by and featuring members of their own cultural in-group. However, little is known about whether cancer depictions or the television programs they appear in are culturally diverse. Using media content analysis, this study aims to assess the cultural diversity of cancer depictions on primetime scripted television to reveal opportunities to improve cancer education through entertainment. Indicators used to assess cultural diversity at the program level and depiction levels were collected. Out of 111 television programs, 10 (9.01%) programs mentioned cancer, from which 37 cancer depictions were identified. However, the majority of cancer depictions involved White patients and White health providers. Depictions of coping and treatment also dominated with less than 10% of depictions discussing cancer prevention. These patterns reveal a missed opportunity in existing cancer narratives on primetime scripted television and a lack of representation of cultural, social, and environmental factors that affect the health of minority communities, who need to hear these messages the most.
Coding Bias in the Use of Behavior Management Technologies: Uncovering Socio-technical Consequences of Data-driven Surveillance in Classrooms

Digital educational technologies have been employed in classrooms to collect students’ behavioral data in the hope of supporting teachers in identifying and correcting undesirable behaviors, which raises the concern of heightened surveillance in classrooms. We present a qualitative study of 20 K-8 teachers to understand their experiences and practices of using ClassDojo, a data-driven classroom behavior management intervention. Our analysis reveals a series of unintended socio-technical effects resulting from the use of ClassDojo in practice. In particular, the use of ClassDojo runs the risk of measuring, codifying, and simplifying the nuanced psycho-social factors that may drive children’s behavior and performance, thereby serving as a “Band-Aid” for deeper issues. We discuss how this process could perpetuate existing inequality and bias in education. With the goals of spurring future design and mitigating these unintended effects, we take on the reflexive-interventionist approach and propose three considerations for designing and using future educational technologies: 1) provide context, 2) expose bias, and 3) challenge and reimagine what is normal.
Food-Related Advertising Targeting Children: A Proposal to Reduce Obesity in Mexico

While technological advances are credited with decreasing Mexico’s rate of under-nutrition, they have contributed to a rapid increase in childhood obesity nationwide. About one quarter of Mexican youth are overweight or obese, leading to serious medical conditions in adulthood, including Type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this paper is three-fold: (1) identify the dietary habits of Mexican children, (2) assess the role of marketing in Mexico’s childhood obesity epidemic and (3) illustrate a proposal for eliminating irresponsible food marketing to young people in Mexico. Studies reveal that Mexican children are eating excessive quantities of energy-dense snack foods and sodas, while fruit and vegetable intake is low. Higher levels of overall food intake have been linked to greater television screen time, suggesting the influence of marketing on the childhood obesity epidemic. Mexican children are more exposed than adults to food advertisements, particularly for energy-dense foods. Children’s exposure to food marketing has also been found to affect their food preferences and thus their parents’ food purchasing behaviors. This indicates the need for restrictions on food advertising to children in Mexico. Examples from other countries suggest that self-regulatory initiatives within the food industry are insufficient to adequately address the issue. Thus, strict government policies are proposed, outlining nutritional standards on all food items advertised to children in Mexico.
Meeting the Challenge of Transmission Delay: Communication Protocols for Space Operations.

OBJECTIVE Several studies were conducted to assess media-specific communication protocols as a countermeasure to challenges of asynchronous space-ground communication. BACKGROUND Previous research demonstrated that transmission delay can negatively impact space-ground communication, collaboration, and task performance. We created media-specific protocols designed to mitigate identified problems associated with asynchronous communication and examined their effects on team communication and task performance. METHODS The lab study included 24 teams of three who collaborated remotely via voice or text on computer-based tasks simulating failures in a spacecraft's life support system. Training and availability of communication protocols was the between-groups variable. Perceived usability, criticality, and effectiveness of the communication protocols were also assessed in space-analog simulations. RESULTS Lab study data revealed that communication protocols facilitated some aspects of team communication; specifically, they reduced threats to common ground and information splitting but not instances of miscommunication. Analog data indicated that protocol compliance was high, participants evaluated most elements as highly important, and protocols maintained perceived communication effectiveness between space crews and mission control during time delay comparably to no-time-delay conditions. CONCLUSION Converging data attest to the feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of empirically derived communication protocols as a countermeasure to the negative impacts of transmission delay and also point to technological solutions. APPLICATION The communication protocols have been adopted for training in NASA analog simulations involving time-delayed communication. They could also support communication among remote team members in medical operations, command-and-control teams, or disaster response under asynchronous conditions or when time is limited and precise communication is critical.
The Accuracy of Hamilton–Perry Population Projections for Census Tracts in the United States

In a first-ever nation-wide census tract evaluation, we assess the accuracy of the Hamilton–Perry population projection method for 65,221 census tracts. We started with 73,607 census tracts but eliminated those for which zeros appeared in age/sex groups. The test uses 1990 and 2000 census tract data by age and gender to construct cohort change ratios, which are then applied to 2000 census tract data to generate 2010 Hamilton–Perry projections that are evaluated in an ex post facto test against the reported 2010 census tract data by age and gender. The projections include: (1) uncontrolled age and gender projections; and (2) age and gender projections controlled to a projection of the population total by census tract. Mean Absolute Percent Error (MAPE) is used to evaluate precision and Mean Algebraic Percent Error (MALPE) is used to evaluate bias. We find that controlling the Hamilton–Perry projections by age for each tract to the linearly projected total population of each tract reduces both MAPE and MALPE within age groups by gender and for total females and total males. As this result suggests, simple linear extrapolation provides more accurate projections of the total population than does the Hamilton–Perry Method. However, even with controlling we find the Hamilton–Perry projections by age to be biased upward. Finally, we use MAPE-R (MAPE- Revised) to evaluate the effect of extreme outliers and find that high MAPEs in the uncontrolled projections are largely driven by extreme errors (outliers) found in less than 1 percent of the 65,221 census tracts used in the study.
Inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase (HLE). HLE is a strongly basic glycoprotein, which is produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils) and is released from their azurophilic granules. HLE exists as at least four distinct isozymes, which range in molecular weight from 24 to 30 kDa and appear to differ only in carbohydrate content. Furthermore, human sputum elastase (HSE), which is isolated from purulent sputum as at least five distinct isozymes, is both immunologically and catalytically indistinguishable from HLE and is believed to be identical to it. The primary role of intracellular HLE appears to be the degradation of foreign proteins ingested by leukocytes during phagocytosis, whereas the main target for extracellular elastase appears to be elastin. Elastin is the primary elastic component of the lungs, blood vessels and other organs, and is degraded by HLE in a process called elastolysis. There are many high-molecular-weight, polypeptide, elastase inhibitors which have been isolated from animal or plant sources. Most of these, the non-human proteins, would probably induce an immunogenic response and are not suitable for clinical development. A subset of these inhibitors, predominantly human in origin, is being explored as a source for clinically useful elastase inhibitors.
Integrating Multimedia into the Distributed Office Applications Environment

The Distributed Office Applications Model (ROAM) provides the general framework for applications in the office environment. It is based on ISO Open System Interconnection communications model (OSI), especially on using the Association Control Service Element (ACSE), the Reliable Transfer Service Element (RTSE) and Remote Operations Service Element (ROSE). Using OSI, openness in a multi-vendor environment is achieved but at the same time the possibility to offer added-values concerning multimedia (audio, video) integration is blocked. This is mainly due to the restricted functionality of the OSI communications model that does not support communication services required by multimedia applications, e.g. isochronous data traffic. Using DOAM’s Distinguished Object References (DOR) a solution to this problem can he offered: To transmit whole documents OSI communication is used; to transmit documents for immediate presentation or from real-time capturing control data is transmitted using OSI communication and multimedia data via a separate communication stack supporting isochronous communication services. Based on a prototype implementation of the DOAM conforming Document Filing and Retrieval (DFR) standard this solution is presented and the implemented prototype discussed.
Radiation of seismic surface-waves from finite moving sources

A theory is proposed for the propagation of seismic surface-waves from finite moving sources. The method consists of obtaining, in the first place, basic solutions for surface displacements from directional sources. These solutions are integrated to obtain the effect of a moving fault with arbitrary dip angle. Displacements are evaluated for Rayleigh and Love-waves, at long ranges. It is shown that the dimensions of the source and the speed of rupture play an important role in the wave-pattern and cannot be ignored whenever the dimensions of the source are of the order of the radiation's dominant-wave-length. It is demonstrated how this theory may lead to a derivation of the velocity of rupture and the fault-length from seismic records of a single station. Evidence is furnished both from two-dimensional model experiments and the Chilean Earthquake of May 1960.
Dependence of supercavity closure upon flow unsteadiness

Abstract The present work reports some interesting experimental results for ventilated supercavitation in an unsteady flow. Our experiments have shown that incoming flow unsteadiness does not only affect supercavity shape but also leads to a change in supercavity closure, irrespective of the presence of a body inside the supercavity. Synchronized high-speed imaging and pressure measurements have ascertained the dependence of supercavity closure on instantaneous cavitation number under unsteady flow conditions. Further, control-volume analysis at the closure shows the intricate relation among the cavitation number, pressure difference occurring at the supercavity closure and the obtained closure mechanisms.