cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Flight of Two Thousand Marked Male Mediterranean Fruit Flies (Ceratitis Capitata Wied.)

Mally (1, p. 8) Entomologist for the Eastern Province, Cape Colony, South Africa, discusses the migration of the adult Mediterranean fruit fly as follows: “There is no evidence to show how far the adults will travel in their search for food. Some observers think they migrate but very little, citing instances where well-kept premises have been fairly free although in close proximity to neglected and badly infested ones. Under such conditions there is no necessity for migration, ample food-supply being already at hand. There is no clear evidence to show how they get to new orchards on farms where fruit trees have never been grown before. Men who have laid out new orchards say that the ’maggot’ was in evidence the first time the trees came into bearing. \* * *| It is a popular belief that the flies come in from the veld. The most unrelenting search has failed to demonstrate their presence in bush or veld 500 yards from an orchard.”
Risk assessment on intestinal infectious diseases of B category in quake-hit area in Ya'an City,Sichuan

Objective To analyze the risk factors to the incidence and spread of intestinal infectious diseases and find out the epidemic prone diseases after earthquake in Ya'an city,Sichuan province,and provide guidance for taking more effective prevention and control measures of intestinal infectious diseases in quake-hit area.Methods The data of intestinal infectious diseases reported from January 1,2008 to March 31,2013 in quake-hit areas including Tianquan,Lushan and Baoxing county were analyzed.Based on the literature review,the risk factors which might increase intestinal infectious diseases transmission and the list of main epidemic prone diseases were described.Results A total of 293 cases of 5 intestinal infectious diseases were reported during this period with the annual incidence of 15.91 / lakh,accounting for 11.20% of the total cases of intestinal infectious diseases in Ya'an city.The highest rate was 27.50 / lakh in 2008.The rate gradually decreased from 2010,and was 13.94 / lakh in 2012.The incidence of bacillary dysentery was still high during May and September(134 /288,46.53%).Intestinal infectious disease-bacillary dysentery was with a high transmission potential.Conclusions It is necessary to take appropriate measures such as strengthening water and food safety to prevent and control the outbreak of intestinal infectious diseases,especially bacillary dysentery after earthquake.
Emergency medicine pharmacy: Still a new clinical frontier.

The emergency department (ED) is a practice setting with inherent medication safety risks. It is a fast-paced, overcrowded, high-acuity, stressful environment with many distractions—an environment where incomplete patient information is the norm and steps of the medication-use process are often
Race, Social Justice, and the Jackson State University Shootings

In American higher education, race and class matter. The origins, functions, and missions of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) starkly illustrate this point. These institutions were born out of unique struggles for social justice and the American political and funding context of pacification toward those African Americans. HBCUs were created as institutions to uplift and educate Blacks and as a means to support the national policy of apartheid between Black and White learners.
Identification and Characterization of Adverse Drug Events in Primary Care

The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize adverse drug events (ADEs) in a primary care setting using an electronic health record (EHR). This prospective, observational study enrolled patients with any medication change who were seen at an outpatient internal medicine clinic. Patients were evaluated for ADEs by EHR review and telephone interview. ADEs were independently assessed for causality, severity, preventability, and ameliorability by a physician and a pharmacist using a grading instrument. There were 1368 unique medication changes for 701 individuals who completed the study (1.95 changes per person). Of the 226 suspected ADEs, 68 (58%) were deemed to be "definite" or "probable" following causality assessment; 21% were preventable and 40% ameliorable. Only 2 ADEs were serious or life-threatening. Compared with prior reports, ADEs in primary care have decreased in frequency and severity, yet the occurrence of preventable and ameliorable ADEs has increased.
Thermodynamical Arguments Against Evolution

The argument that the second law of thermodynamics contradicts the theory of evolution has recently been revived by anti-evolutionists. In its basic form, the argument asserts that whereas evolution implies that there has been an increase in biological complexity over time, the second law, a fundamental principle of physics, shows this to be impossible. Scientists have responded primarily by noting that the second law does not rule out increases in complexity in open systems, and since the Earth receives energy from the Sun, it is an open system. This reply is correct as far as it goes, and it adequately rebuts the most crude versions of the second law argument. However, it is insufficient against more sophisticated versions, and it leaves many relevant aspects of thermodynamics unexplained. We shall consider the history of the argument, explain the nuances various anti-evolution writers have brought to it, and offer thorough explanations for why the argument is fallacious. We shall emphasize in particular that the second law is best viewed as a mathematical statement. Since anti-evolutionists never make use of the mathematical structure of thermodynamics, invocations of the second law never contribute anything substantive to their discourse.
Elective intubation and positive pressure ventilation for transbronchial lung biopsy.

Abstract Background The safety of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) on positive pressure mechanical ventilation has been controversial due to a presumed risk of pneumothorax. Data are especially limited on TBLB with elective intubation and mechanical ventilation. In this study, we compared complications of TBLB in patients who were electively mechanically ventilated for the procedure to those who were not. Material and methods A retrospective review of nonventilator-dependent patients who underwent TBLB in our institution from January 2010 to May 2016 was performed. The mechanical ventilation (MV) and nonmechanical ventilation (NMV) groups were compared with respect to patient demographics, numbers of lobes biopsied (single or multiple), preprocedure and postprocedure diagnoses, and complications. Complications were defined as pneumothorax of any size, major hemorrhage, prolonged intubation, and reintubation within 72 hours from TBLB. Results A total of 394 patients were identified. The MV group had 351 patients with mean age of 64.6 years, and the NMV group had 43 patients with mean age of 60.0 years. There were no significant differences with regards to age, gender, or number of lobes biopsied. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of pneumothorax (5.4% versus 4.7%, P = 1.00), hemorrhage (1.7% versus 4.7%, P = 0.21), and prolonged intubation or reintubation (3.1% versus 2.3%, P = 1.00) between the two groups. Conclusions When performing TBLB, there was no significant difference observed in the rate of complications between MV and NMV groups. Elective positive pressure mechanical ventilation for TBLB for nonventilator-dependent patients is safe and does not increase the risk of complications.
Prostate Cancer in Transgender Women: Incidence, Etiopathogenesis, and Management Challenges.

Objective To critically analyze the available evidence regarding the incidence, etiopathogenesis, and management of prostate cancer (CaP) in transgender women. In addition, this article aims to present a recent case report of a transgender woman with a unique presentation at the author's institution. Materials and Methods An electronic nonsystematic literature search was performed to identify pertinent studies. PubMed search engine was queried by using the following search terms: “prostate cancer,” “male to female transsexual,” “transgender patient,” “androgen + prostate cancer,” “estrogen therapy + prostate cancer,” and “health care barrier.” In addition, a clinical case managed at our institution was reviewed and critically discussed. Results Including our case, there have been only 10 documented cases of CaP in transgender women. Additionally, an emerging body of literature has questioned the role of androgens in the development of CaP and suggested that estrogen therapy may not be as protective as initially thought. Therefore, the current evidence suggests that the transgender woman should be screened for CaP the same as a nontransgender men. Barriers to care in the transgender female population include accessing resources, medical knowledge deficits, ethics of transition-related medical care, diagnosing vs pathologizing transgender patients, financial restrictions of the patient, and health system determinants. Conclusion Although rare, CaP in transgender women has been documented. Both the mechanism and the impact of receiving a bilateral orchiectomy on disease development are unclear. Future study is needed to examine these factors, and to further shape the treatment and screening regimen for these patients.
Closing on a note of conciliation: on the attempt to reconcile science and religion at the American Museum of Natural History’s Hall of Human Origins

ABSTRACTCommentary on the American Museum of Natural History’s Hall of Human Origins often omits a closing exhibit wherein three scientists speak about the nature of faith and evolutionary science. Two prior reviews of this exhibit criticize an effort to conciliate patrons and avoid controversy, a charge that is, in part, substantiated by an accompanying plaque disclaiming any inherent conflict between “scientific explorations into the material world and a spiritual search for the meaning of human existence.” Written plaques are reinforced by three scientists on continuous loop, two of whom are professed Christians whose views might be faulted for abstracting humans from the animal kingdom, granting to religious metaphysics what has been explained by evolution, and implying a purposeful teleology where none exists. Eschewing these points of criticism, this paper pursues the divide between the exhibit’s conciliation and scientific opinion. Inclusion of two prominent theistic evolutionists implicitly biases...
A new indicator framework for quantifying the intensity of the terrestrial water cycle

Abstract A quantitative framework for characterizing the intensity of the water cycle over land is presented, and illustrated using a spatially distributed water-balance model of the conterminous United States (CONUS). We approach water cycle intensity (WCI) from a landscape perspective; WCI is defined as the sum of precipitation (P) and actual evapotranspiration (AET) over a spatially explicit landscape unit of interest, averaged over a specified time period (step) of interest. The time step may be of any length for which data or simulation results are available (e.g., sub-daily to multi-decadal). We define the storage-adjusted runoff (Q′) as the sum of actual runoff (Q) and the rate of change in soil moisture storage (ΔS/Δt, positive or negative) during the time step of interest. The Q′ indicator is demonstrated to be mathematically complementary to WCI, in a manner that allows graphical interpretation of their relationship. For the purposes of this study, the indicators were demonstrated using long-term, spatially distributed model simulations with an annual time step. WCI was found to increase over most of the CONUS between the 1945 to 1974 and 1985 to 2014 periods, driven primarily by increases in P. In portions of the western and southeastern CONUS, Q′ decreased because of decreases in Q and soil moisture storage. Analysis of WCI and Q′ at temporal scales ranging from sub-daily to multi-decadal could improve understanding of the wide spectrum of hydrologic responses that have been attributed to water cycle intensification, as well as trends in those responses.
The role of network position for peer influences on adolescents' academic engagement

Academic engagement has been found to significantly predict students’ future achievement. Among adolescents, the peer context becomes an increasingly important point of socialization and influence on beliefs and behavior, including academic engagement. Previous research suggests that those peers with whom an adolescent spends much of their time significantly predict change in engagement over time (Kindermann, 2007). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1998) postulates that exosystem effects (those influencing factors that are not directly connected to individuals) play an important role in development, and social network theorists have suggested that the position one occupies within the greater network is a key factor that determines one’s power of influence (Borgatti, 2005). An individual’s own position in a network emerges from his or her own connections, as well as from the structures formed by the connections of his or her affiliates (the exosystem). Utilizing an existing dataset, social networks analysis techniques were used to examine how three different forms of centrality (degree, closeness and eigenvector), which are markers for microand exosystem effects, relate to classroom engagement and its change over time. Results showed that although centrality in a network is positively related to academic characteristics at one point in time, students who have large numbers of immediate connections (degree centrality) tend to decrease in engagement over time. In contrast, eigenvector centrality showed a positive interaction with peer group influence on change in engagement over time. For those students who had highly interconnected peers the positive effect of peer group engagement was increased.
Role of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor on energy metabolism in rabbits

A study of the combined effects of intravenous infusion of the recombinant cytokines beta-interleukin 1 (IL-1) and alpha-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on energy substrate metabolism in awake, conditioned, adult rabbits was performed. After a 2-h basal or control period, 48-h fasted rabbits were administered TNF and IL-1 as a bolus (5 micrograms/kg) followed by a continuous intravenous infusion (25 ng.kg-1.min-1) for 3 h. Significant increases in plasma lactate (P less than 0.01), glucose (P less than 0.01), and triglycerides (P less than 0.05) occurred during the combined infusion of IL-1 and TNF, whereas neither cytokine alone had no effect. There was a 33% increase in the rate of glucose appearance (P less than 0.05), but glucose clearance was not altered compared with the control period. Glucose oxidation increased during the combined cytokine infusion period and glucose recycling increased by 600% (P less than 0.002). Lactic acidosis and decreased oxygen consumption, as a result of the cytokine infusions, indicated development of anaerobic glycolytic metabolism. A reduction in the activity state of hepatic mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (65 vs. 82% in control animals, P less than 0.05) was consistent with the observed increase in anaerobic glycolysis. Thus the combined infusion of IL-1 and TNF in rabbits produces metabolic manifestations seen in severe injury and sepsis in human patients and, as such, may account for the profound alterations of energy metabolism seen in these conditions.
The Choice of Scientific Problems

The student accustomed to classical philosophy is bewildered at the contemporary scene, no less the student of classical art and science. What I think helps reorient oneself when bewildered, is to try and see the shift in concern and try to understand it and its roots in the older situation. To take one very small example, classical astronomy was increasingly concerned with increased precision of observation and calculation of planetary orbits. This concern has not vanished but become fairly marginal, and, of course, its purpose has changed with the monumental change of status that Newtonian mechanics has undergone since Einstein appeared on the scene. Nowadays the concern with ages of stars and distribution of objects, whether in galaxies, clusters, or space, becomes of great import, which fact could scarcely make sense to classical astronomers.
Directed evolution of excited state lifetime and brightness in FusionRed using a microfluidic sorter

Green fluorescent proteins (GFP) and their blue, cyan and red counterparts offer unprecedented advantages as biological markers owing to their genetic encodability and straightforward expression in different organisms. Although significant advancements have been made towards engineering the key photo-physical properties of red fluorescent proteins (RFPs), they continue to perform sub-optimally relative to GFP variants. Advanced engineering strategies are needed for further evolution of RFPs in the pursuit of improving their photo-physics. In this report, a microfluidic sorter that discriminates members of a cell-based library based on their excited state lifetime and fluorescence intensity is used for the directed evolution of the photo-physical properties of FusionRed. In-flow measurements of the fluorescence lifetime are performed in a frequency-domain approach with sub-millisecond sampling times. Promising clones are sorted by optical force trapping with an infrared laser. Using this microfluidic sorter, mutants are generated with longer lifetimes than their precursor, FusionRed. This improvement in the excited state lifetime of the mutants leads to an increase in their fluorescence quantum yield up to 1.8-fold. In the course of evolution, we also identified one key mutation (L177M), which generated a mutant (FusionRed-M) that displayed ∼2-fold higher brightness than its precursor upon expression in mammalian (HeLa) cells. Photo-physical and mutational analyses of clones isolated at the different stages of mutagenesis reveal the photo-physical evolution towards higher in vivo brightness.
Intersection Control Optimization for Automated Vehicles Using Genetic Algorithm

AbstractWith wireless communication and autonomous vehicle control capabilities, automated vehicle technology has the potential to improve the performance of an intersection. The objective of this ...
Mechanical properties of polydopamine (PDA) thin films

Polydopamine (PDA) is a biopolymer, which can form uniform thin films on almost all solid substrates as well as at the liquid/air interface. Carbonized polydopamine possesses graphite-like structure and exhibits high electrical conductivity, which makes it a potential carbon-based thin film conductor. However, studies on mechanical behavior of PDA and its derived materials are very limited. In this study, PDA samples were synthesized through self-assembly of dopamine in aqueous solution. Elastic modulus of thin films was measured using the nanoindentation technique. It is shown that the Young’s modulus of PDA thin film increased with increasing heat treatment temperature (up to 600°C). Doping with Cu ions also increased the Young’s modulus of PDA. Furthermore, all PDA thin films, with and without Cu, exhibited creep behavior.
Deagglomeration of oxidized asphaltenes as a measure of true rejuvenation for severely aged asphalt binder

Abstract To promote sustainable engineering practices in construction, repeated use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has been promoted. This in turn has led to the second and third generation of reclaimed materials containing severely aged asphalt binders. To facilitate recycling and reuse of these resources, there is a need to synthesize sustainable chemicals and modifiers, which can truly rejuvenate severely aged asphalt binder. This paper investigates mechanisms of true rejuvenation and introduces the ability to deagglomerate asphaltene nano-aggregates as a measure of true rejuvenation. Molecular dynamics simulations followed by rheometry and chemical characterization is used to evaluate the effect of a Bio-Rejuvenator (BR) made from bio-mass on asphalt binders aged for 60 h and 100 h in the laboratory as surrogates for highly aged asphalt binders found in the 2nd and 3rd generation of RAPs, respectively. Introduction of BR is found to be effective to disturb the nano-aggregates formed during oxidation due to the increased polarity of oxidized molecules. Some of the BR molecules are found to be more effective than others to interact with the oxidized asphaltene molecules and cause deagglomeration, whereas others play as dispersant agents to promote separation of nano-aggregates. Chemical characterization of the aged asphalt binder doped with BR shows that the colloidal stability of the systems increases and the large molecule size decreases when the BR is introduced to the aged asphalt binder. It is further observed that addition of 10% and 30% Bio-Rejuvenator to the aged asphalt binder reduces its complex modulus by 34% and 76%, respectively, bringing it closer to that of the neat binder. Overall, the study results show that the ability to de-agglomerate oxidized asphaltenes can be used as one of the measures of true rejuvenation. Such findings can help manufacturers develop effective rejuvenators to facilitate recycling and promote sustainability of construction practices.
Dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP) genetic variants predict pulmonary hypertension in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) results from vasoconstriction and/or vascular remodeling, which can be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). MAPKs are deactivated by dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs). We hypothesized that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DUSP genes could be used to predict PH in BPD. Methods Preterm infants diagnosed with BPD (n = 188) were studied. PH was defined by echocardiographic criteria. Genomic DNA isolated from patient blood samples was analyzed for 31 SNPs in DUSP genes. Clinical characteristics and minor allele frequencies were compared between BPD-PH (cases) and BPD-without PH (control) groups. Biomarker models to predict PH in BPD using clinical and SNP data were tested by calculations of area under the ROC curve. Results In our BPD cohort, 32% (n = 61) had PH. Of the DUSP SNPs evaluated, DUSP1 SNP rs322351 was less common, and DUSP5 SNPs rs1042606 and rs3793892 were more common in cases than in controls. The best fit biomarker model combines clinical and DUSP genetic data with an area under the ROC curve of 0.76. Conclusion We identified three DUSP SNPs as potential BPD-PH biomarkers. Combining clinical and DUSP genetic data yields the most robust predictor for PH in BPD.
Russia as a Regional Actor: Goals and Motivations

Under Boris Yeltsin’s presidency in the 1990s, Russia possessed neither the will nor the capability to assume a dominant role in its relations with its neighbours. Vladimir Putin came to office in 2000 with the goal of reversing the decline in Russia’s presence in the post-Soviet space. Putin’s new foreign policy included efforts to project Russian influence in the post-Soviet space through the establishment (or strengthening) of regional structures: Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This chapter argues that Putin’s efforts simultaneously serve as a means of redesigning the role of Russia as the hegemonic leader of a regional bloc—a role that validates Moscow’s claim to be a great power. These efforts, however, are challenged by some factors which include the implications of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Russian leadership’s increasing tendency to conceive of Eurasian integration as a civilizational project.
The Potential of CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing to Correct Male Infertility

Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas technologies have dramatically improved the ease of genome editing and are improving the efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility of editing techniques. Such advances have accelerated the hope that advances in CRISPR/Cas technologies may lead to the clinical usage of gene editing techniques in a broad range of genetic diseases with low risk. Male infertility provides a specific challenge for the use of gene editing, especially given the wide spectrum of genetic variants implicated in male infertility. Despite recent advances in technology, funding, and collaboration, most genetic causes of male infertility remain unknown. Furthermore, evidence points to a broad spectrum of rare variants and possible polygenic causes of the disease. Nevertheless, significant advances are being made in diverse fields, including the identification of novel variants responsible for male infertility, improved understanding of spermatogonial stem cell biology and culture techniques, and advancements in CRISPR/Cas techniques that will open the door to gene and epigenetic therapies with a broadening scope and would improve safety.
Micrometer-Sized Sensors with Free-Space Optical Energy Harvesting in CMOS

This paper presents sensor nodes based on optical energy harvesting implemented in commercial CMOS processes. The chips use a photodiode to harvest the optical energy provided through a visible laser directly into a DC power line. This eliminates the need for an analog circuit chain to regulate the harvested power, thereby significantly decreasing chip area. The harvested power is then fed into a digital circuit and an output amplifier. These two parts are multiplexed in time to ensure the most efficient use of the harvested power. The digital circuit converts an 8-bit parallel code into serial and feeds it into the transmitter. The active areas of the implemented chips are 300x60 μm2 and 150x30 μm2.
The association of cardiovascular disease and other pre-existing comorbidities with COVID-19 mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Exploring the association of coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) mortality with chronic pre-existing conditions may promote the importance of targeting these populations during this pandemic to optimize survival. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the association of pre-existing conditions with COVID-19 mortality. Methods We searched MEDLINE, OVID databases, SCOPUS, and medrxiv.org for the period December 1, 2019, to May 1, 2020. The outcome of interest was the risk of COVID-19 mortality in patients with and without pre-existing conditions. Comorbidities explored were cardiovascular diseases (coronary artery disease, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and stroke. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. All analyses were performed using random-effects models and heterogeneity was quantified. Results Ten chronic conditions from 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis (n = 61,455 patients with COVID-19; mean age, 61 years; 57% male). Overall the between-study study heterogeneity was medium and studies had low publication bias and high quality. Coronary heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and cancer significantly increased the risk of mortality from COVID-19. The risk of mortality from COVID-19 in patients with coronary heart disease was 2.4 times as high as those without coronary heart disease (RR= 2.40, 95%CI=1.71-3.37, n=5) and twice as high in patients with hypertension as high as that compared to those without hypertension (RR=1.89, 95%CI= 1.58-2.27, n=9). Patients with cancer also were at twice the risk of mortality from COVID-19 compared to those without cancer (RR=1.93 95%CI 1.15-3.24, n=4), and those with congestive heart failure were at 2.5 times the risk of mortality compared to those without congestive heart failure (RR=2.66, 95%CI 1.58-4.48, n=3). Conclusions COVID-19 patients with all any cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and cancer have an increased risk of mortality. Tailored infection prevention and treatment strategies targeting this high-risk population are warranted to optimize survival.
What Should Health Departments Do with HIV Sequence Data

Many countries and US states have mandatory statues that require reporting of HIV clinical data including genetic sequencing results to the public health departments. Because genetic sequencing is a part of routine care for HIV infected persons, health departments have extensive sequence collections spanning years and even decades of the HIV epidemic. How should these data be used (or not) in public health practice? This is a complex, multi-faceted question that weighs personal risks against public health benefit. The answer is neither straightforward nor universal. However, to make that judgement—of how genetic sequence data should be used in describing and combating the HIV epidemic—we need a clear image of what a phylogenetically enhanced HIV surveillance system can do and what benefit it might provide. In this paper, we present a positive case for how up-to-date analysis of HIV sequence databases managed by health departments can provide unique and actionable information of how HIV is spreading in local communities. We discuss this question broadly, with examples from the US, as it is globally relevant for all health authorities that collect HIV genetic data.
Factors Influencing Provider and Patient Choice of P2Y12 Inhibitor Therapy.

Background:Clopidogrel is the most commonly prescribed P2Y12 inhibitor for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stent placement, though ticagrelor or prasugrel may be preferred. Medication-related fact...
How Timing of Stay-home Orders and Mobility Reductions Impacted First-Wave COVID-19 Deaths in US Counties

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 transmission continues to evolve in the United States following the large second wave in the Summer. Understanding how location-specific variations in non-pharmaceutical epidemic control policies and behaviors contributed to disease transmission will be key for designing effective strategies to avoid future resurgences. We offer a statistical analysis of the relative effectiveness of the timing of both official stay-at-home orders and population mobility reductions, offering a distinct (but complementary) dimension of evidence gleaned from more traditional mechanistic models of epidemic dynamics. Specifically, we use a Bayesian hierarchical model fit to county-level mortality data from the first wave of the pandemic from Jan 21 2020 through May 10 2020 to establish how timing of stay-at-home orders and population mobility changes impacted county-specific epidemic growth. We find that population mobility reductions generally preceded stay-at-home orders, and among 356 counties with a pronounced early local epidemic between January 21 and May 10 (representing 195 million people and 32,000 observed deaths), a 10 day delay in population mobility reduction would have added 16,149 (95% credible interval [CI] 9,517 24,381) deaths by Apr 20, whereas shifting mobility reductions 10 days earlier would have saved 13,571 (95% CI 8,449 16,930) lives. Analogous estimates attributable to the timing of explicit stay-at-home policies were less pronounced, suggesting that mobility changes were the clearer drivers of epidemic dynamics. Our results also suggest that the timing of mobility reductions and policies most impacted epidemic dynamics in larger, urban counties compared with smaller, rural ones. Overall, our results suggest that community behavioral changes had greater impact on curve flattening during the Spring wave compared with stay at home orders. Thus, community engagement and buy-in with precautionary policies may be more important for predicting transmission risk than explicit policies.
Cross-Lingual Named Entity Recognition Using Parallel Corpus: A New Approach Using XLM-RoBERTa Alignment.

We propose a novel approach for cross-lingual Named Entity Recognition (NER) zero-shot transfer using parallel corpora. We built an entity alignment model on top of XLM-RoBERTa to project the entities detected on the English part of the parallel data to the target language sentences, whose accuracy surpasses all previous unsupervised models. With the alignment model we can get pseudo-labeled NER data set in the target language to train task-specific model. Unlike using translation methods, this approach benefits from natural fluency and nuances in target-language original corpus. We also propose a modified loss function similar to focal loss but assigns weights in the opposite direction to further improve the model training on noisy pseudo-labeled data set. We evaluated this proposed approach over 4 target languages on benchmark data sets and got competitive F1 scores compared to most recent SOTA models. We also gave extra discussions about the impact of parallel corpus size and domain on the final transfer performance.
False negative AUDIT screening results among patients in rural primary care settings.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the incidence of false-negative screening results on a tool measuring alcohol use - the United States Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test Consumption (US-AUDIT-C).Method: A sample of patients (n = 4,023) in Alabama completed the US-AUDIT-C prior to a medical visit as part of a screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (AL-SBIRT) program. We calculated the incidence of false negative US-AUDIT-C screens based on recommendations for safe alcohol consumption.Results: The false negative screening rate on the US-AUDIT-C was 1%. The false negative screening rate for (a) males aged > 65 years in the AL-SBIRT program was 0.64%, (b) males aged 18-65 years was 2.79%, and (c) all females was 2.29%.Discussion & Conclusions: Increasing alcohol-consumption-related health education and reducing the stigma of discussing alcohol consumption habits is an important step toward improving patient health. Clinicians can more accurately screen and provide brief intervention services for alcohol misuse by training on US-AUDIT-C response patterns.
Buprenorphine: Mechanism and applications

Abstract Buprenorphine is a partial μ-opioid receptor agonist that is commonly used to treat chronic pain and opioid addiction as part of opioid maintenance therapy (OMT). Buprenorphine uniquely augments the clinician’s pharmacological arsenal through its partial agonism and long duration of action resulting in an increased safety profile. Unfortunately, clinical application of buprenorphine has been limited by misconceptions about its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics and poses unique challenges for anesthesiologists. For example, due to its reputation for causing analgesic ceiling effects, many anesthesiologists are wary of continuing buprenorphine in the perioperative period; however, buprenorphine has been shown to be safe and effective in the perioperative setting and should be continued in most patients who are receiving OMT. In addition, buprenorphine offers an attractive option for chronic opioid therapy in suitable patients with chronic pain.
Bending and Shear Deformation Effects in Lap Joints

The problem of stress distribution in adhesive joints where two orthotropic plates are bonded through a flexible adhesive layer is analyzed. The effect of bending the adherends on the stresses in the adhesive layer is very significant. However, the transverse shear deformations of the adherends have, in general, very little influence on the adhesive layer stresses; therefore these shear strains of adherends can be neglected in many practical cases. The maximum transverse normal stress in the adhesive is, in general, larger than the maximum longitudinal shear stress.
The Latvian Market Constructed : approaches towards independence, consumerism, symbolic leadership and market planning

Purpose – To identify essential building-blocks in the construction of the Latvian market after the Latvian transition to a market economy.Design/methodology/approach – The research uses a social c ...
Macroeconomic Volatility and Economic Freedom: A Cross-Country Analysis

This paper examines the empirical relationship between business cycle volatility and economic freedom across countries. In a diverse sample of 85 countries, the results suggest a significantly negative relationship between volatility and a broad measure of freedom—even after controlling for other determinants of cross-country volatility and using an instrumental variables procedure to account for the likely endogeneity of economic freedom. Among the underlying areas of the freedom index, all but the size of government component also have a significantly negative relationship with volatility. Size of government is found to have a significantly positive relationship with volatility. Measures of changes in freedom and the volatility of freedom are found to be statistically insignificant, suggesting that freedom is not among the shocks that cause business cycles. Rather, freedom appears to allow economies to better adjust to those shocks that drive business cycles.
Techniques for assessing neuroprotective drugs in vitro

Publisher Summary In vitro models of cerebral ischemia may yield information about the pharmacological properties of new drugs at a resolution not possible in vivo . In vitro models allow determination of drug actions on neuronal biochemistry, physiology, or gene expression. While each of these parameters provides vital information about cellular mechanisms of injury, systems intended to assess potential neuroprotective agents require a different experimental endpoint: the survival or demise of the neuron. Culture systems are especially useful for assessing neuroprotection because they allow a sufficient period of observation to distinguish among cells destined to survive or die. This chapter describes two culture models of ischemic neuronal injury: dissociated cortical neuronal cultures and organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Both models make use of an anaerobic chamber to deprive cells of oxygen and glucose under defined conditions. Cells are maintained in culture before and after neuronal injury. Both models assess potential protective drugs using the specific endpoint of neuronal death or survival. The chapter describes the application of these models and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of in vitro models.
Antigenic relationships among strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The antigenic relationships of 79 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus representing 46 assigned K-types were studied by tube agglutination. Homologous titers of 46 anti-K sera ranged from 80 to 2,560. All but three sera exhibited from one to six heterologous reactions, the majority of which gave titers of ≤20, but 19 sera showed cross-reactions whose titers exceeded 40. Nine reciprocal and 16 unilateral relationships were described. Some of the cross-reactions involved heat-extractable K-antigens, as determined by absorption with nonheated and heated heterologous antigens, whereas others did not involve K-antigens since absorption with the heterologous antigens had no effect on the homologous systems. On the basis of the reactions of selected antisera to the O-antigens of some of the K-strains, the cross-reactions could not be explained solely on the basis of O-specificities.
The pupils are the windows to sexuality: pupil dilation as a visual cue to others’ sexual interest

Abstract In order to ensure successful mating opportunities, it is critical that human perceivers accurately infer others' sexual interests. But how do perceivers achieve these inferences? For over 50years, scientists have documented that the pupils dilate in response to sexual arousal. Despite the potential importance of this cue for mate selection, however, extant data have focused almost exclusively on the perspective of the individual experiencing arousal. Here, we demonstrate that outside observers exploit pupil dilation as a visible cue to others' sexual interests. We used reverse-correlation methods to derive facial images based on perceivers' mental representations of both state-based (sexually aroused, sexually unaroused) and trait-based (sexually promiscuous, sexually non-promiscuous) markers of sexual interest. Next, we explored the phenotypic features that differentiated these faces, specifically the dilation of the pupils contained within each reverse-correlation image. Consistent with the notion that pupil dilation is a reliable cue to sexual arousal, sexually interested faces contained objectively larger and darker pupils than did sexually disinterested faces. Moreover, these differences were perceptually obvious to naive observers. Collectively, our results suggest that perceivers attend to an external cue – pupil dilation – when forming decisions about others' state-based and trait-based sexual interests.
L’entrée du virus Ébola et Marburg : interaction entre la glycoprotéine virale et les facteurs cellulaires

Ebola and Marburg viruses cause outbreaks of highly lethal infection in central Africa. In the last few years, rapid progress has been made in understanding how these viruses are transmitted and spread. These studies show that the glycoprotein GP that protrudes from the virus envelope mediates membrane fusion and infection. Activation of the GP membrane fusion activity is triggered by a multi-step pathway initiated by binding to lectins expressed on the cell surface. After uptake of lectin-bound particles by macropinocytosis, virus-containing vesicles are transported to late endosomes and lysosomes containing the protease cathepsin B and the membrane protein Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1), which are essential for infection. Recent studies indicate that cathepsin B cleaves GP, removing heavily glycosylated sequences and exposing the domain in GP that is a ligand for NPC1. Although more studies are needed, current evidence strongly suggests that binding of protease-cleaved GP to NPC1 is the signal that activates virus membrane fusion and infection. Importantly, small molecules that target NPC1 and interfere with GP binding and ebolavirus infection have been identified. A major goal is to develop these inhibitors into anti-viral drugs.
The enolases of ice plant and Arabidopsis contain a potential disulphide and are redox sensitive

The simulated structures of the enolases of Arabidopsis and the common ice plant contain a pair of Cys residues in the correct orientation to form a disulphide bond. Formation of this disulphide might be expected to affect the positioning of several residues in the active site. The enzyme in crude extracts of these two plants is activated by oxidation. Apparently formation of the disulphide crosslink enhances catalysis. The enolases from tomato leaves, maize roots and castor bean embryos lack one of these Cys residues and are not redox sensitive. It seems possible that enolase is redox-regulated by a cytosolic thioredoxin system in a limited number of plant species including ice plant and Arabidopsis.
From Network Externalities to Broadband Growth Externalities: a Bridge not yet Built

Quantifying the impact of new technologies on economic activity has proven notoriously difficult. Indeed, it has taken decades of research to understand confidently the linkages between the advances in information, communications, and technology (ICT) spawned by the personal computer and aggregate economic activity. Today, the rapid deployment of broadband technology presents economists with this same challenge. In this paper, we explore the foundations of network and growth externalities that are associated with broadband deployment. We find that both theoretical and empirical models that better specify the micro-transmission paths in which broadband are likely to enhance economic output, employment and productivity are needed.
Friends' and Acquaintances' Conversations II: Coded Differences:

This is the second of a pair of studies investigating differences between friends' and acquaintances' conversations. In Study I (Planalp & Benson, 1992), naive judges were asked to indicate whether they thought conversations were between friends or acquaintances and why. In Study Il (reported here), the same conversations were analyzed to determine if the reasons given by judges in Study I did, in fact, discriminate between friends and acquaintances when coded from the conversations and analyzed statistically. Results indicated that the pattern of differences was consistent with Study I, although only a few differences were significant statistically due to low power. Discriminant analyses indicated that two variables alone, mutual knowledge and continuity, predicted friends/acquaintances' differences as well as the entire set of variables and with the same level of accuracy (about 80 percent) as the judges in Study 1.
Synthesis of a higher carbon sugar via directed aldol condensation

Abstract 3-O-Benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylo-hexadialdo-1,4-furanose ( 2 ) upon treatment with LiN(TMS) 2 at -50° furnished the enolate which reacted with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside-6-ulose ( 5 ) to afford two erythro aldols 3 and 4 in 6:1 ratio and 43% yield. 5R;6R Configuration was assigned to the main aldol on the basis of the 1 H-n.m.r. spectra of appropriate derivatives of 3 .
Updated Internal Consistencies and Intercorrelations for the Inventory of Learning Processes

Present data on the internal consistencies and interrelationships of the subscales of the Inventory of Learning Processes nearly 30 years after its development show these to be similar to the original values. Researchers can continue to use the original version of the inventory in studies investigating learning styles.
An econometric analysis of the U.S. postwar G.N.P.

Whilst most developed countries have experienced stable economic conditions during the postwar period, the acceptance of the unit root null hypothesis implies wild fluctuations in the major economic variables over time. This paper investigates the sensitivity of the decisions to accept the unit root hypothesis to the specification of the trends underlying the U.S. postwar GNP and other macro-variables. In particular, the relationship between the nominal GNP and the resident population is found to be a non-linear one. The unit root null hypothesis can be firmly rejected when the conditional mean of the nominal GNP series is represented by a quadratic trend variable and the assumptions that changes in the price level and the resident population lead to equiproportionate changes in the GNP are not enforced on the data. The case of quarterly observations is also investigated for seasonally unadjusted and adjusted data.
Chemokines and the Arrest of Lymphocytes Rolling Under Flow Conditions

Circulating lymphocytes are recruited from the blood to the tissue by rolling along the endothelium until being stopped by a signaling event linked to the Gialpha subunit of a heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein; that event then triggers rapid integrin-dependent adhesion. Four chemokines are now shown to induce such adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and to induce arrest of rolling cells within 1 second under flow conditions similar to those of blood. SDF-1 (also called PBSF), 6-C-kine (also called Exodus-2), and MIP-3beta (also called ELC or Exodus-3) induced adhesion of most circulating lymphocytes, including most CD4+ T cells; and MIP-3alpha (also called LARC or Exodus-1) triggered adhesion of memory, but not naive, CD4+ T cells. Thus, chemokines can regulate the arrest of lymphocyte subsets under flowing conditions, which may allow them to control lymphocyte-endothelial cell recognition and lymphocyte recruitment in vivo.