cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics and Products of the Gas-Phase Reaction of SO3 with Water

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of SO3 with H2O and D2O were studied over the temperature range 250−360 K in N2 with a laminar flow reactor coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer. The SO3 loss is second order in the water concentration, is independent of pressure (20−80 Torr N2, 300 K), and has a strong negative temperature dependence and a significant H/D isotope effect (kH2O ≈ 2kD2O). The yield of sulfuric acid is 1.0 ± 0.5 per SO3 consumed. These observations are consistent with the rapid association of SO3 and H2O to form the adduct H2OSO3 which reacts with water to produce sulfuric acid. The first-order rate coefficients for loss of SO3 by reaction with H2O and D2O are given by kI(s-1) = (2.26 ± 0.85) × 10-43T exp((6544 ± 106)/T)[H2O]2 and (9.45 ± 2.68) × 10-44T exp((6573 ± 82)/T)[D2O]2, where T ≡ K and [H2O, D2O] ≡ molecule cm-3. The errors are the uncertainty at the 95% confidence level for precision only. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the SO3 loss yields an upper li...
Stratified jet flames in a heated (1390K) air cross-flow with autoignition

PLIF imaging is used to identify the internal structure of a partially-premixed lifted turbulent jet flame within a cross-flow of air that is heated to a temperature of 1364 K, which is above the auto- ignition temperature. Large aerodynamic strain rates were imposed since the velocity of the cross-flow air is 480 m/s. A jet flame-in-a-cross-flow is a simple unit physics problem for which scaling relation are known for the non-reacting case. However, the present work addresses the roles of two factors: auto- ignition chemistry and large aerodynamic strain rates. This unit physics problem is important in propulsion devices, including ramjets and in internal combustion engines. Formaldehyde PLIF is used identify the distributed auto-ignition regions, while CH and OH PLIF identifies the (downstream) primary reaction regions. The primary reactions are shown by the CH images to have the structure of broken and thickened flamelets under these high-strain rate conditions. That is, the CH occurs within a 2-3 mm thick wrinkled interface that is not continuous but contains many holes due to local extinction. The formaldehyde PLIF images show that there is a broad 10 mm thick region of formaldehyde upstream of the primary thickened flamelets. This broad formaldehyde region indicates that distributed (non-flamelet) reactions occur early in the chemical reaction process due to auto-ignition. Therefore we classify this combustion to be an "auto-ignition-assisted flame". The measured profiles of heat release rate are presented, which are useful in assessing modeling efforts.
The Crystallization of Contemporary Racial Prejudice across the Lifespan

The conventional wisdom is that racial prejudice remains largely stable through adulthood. However, very little is known about the development of contemporary racial attitudes like symbolic racism. The growing crystallization of symbolic racism through the lifespan is tested using two data sets that measure the stability, consistency, and predictive validity of symbolic racism in samples ranging in age from young adults to the elderly. The results provide evidence that the crystallization of symbolic racism generally takes on a curvilinear trajectory across the lifespan, showing that it is already largely crystallized by voting age, that it continues to crystallize still further through adulthood and that it begins to decline in coherence in late adulthood. The results generally provide evidence confirming early speculations of symbolic racism theorists concerning the crystallization of symbolic racism across the lifespan and are discussed in terms of different theoretical perspectives on the relationship between aging and attitudes more generally.
Alloparental care increases mating success

When individuals defend and care for young that are not their own (alloparental care), it raises the question of what benefits might lead to the evolution and persistence of such care. Here, we examine how male and female preferences affect the direct benefits of alloparental care. In the tessellated darter, alloparental care by some males often follows nest abandonment by others (Stiver KA, Wolff S, Alonzo SH, in preparation). We hypothesize that alloparental care may have evolved due to mating benefits: Alloparental care could be favored if females prefer to breed at nests that contain eggs. We found that, on average, males and females prefer nests with young eggs to those without eggs. Consequently, although young eggs increase the attractiveness of the nest, this positive effect is lost as the age of the eggs on the nest increases. We also found that alloparental care is costly in terms of future potential mating success as the amount of new eggs deposited in a nest decreases as nests become more filled. Therefore, alloparental males may initially increase their attractiveness to females by defending nests with another male’s eggs but still potentially gain fewer eggs relative to those received by males defending empty nests. Our findings shed light on the evolution of alloparental care in the tessellated darter, suggesting that female mating preferences may underlie this well-documented cooperative relationship between males. Key words: cooperation, female choice, mate-choice copying, predation dilution, sexual selection, tessellated darter. [Behav Ecol]
Comparison of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus acquisition among rehabilitation and nursing home residents.

Residence in an extended care facility is increasingly common and has long been identified as an important risk factor for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection.1–3 The prevalence of MRSA colonization among residents in these facilities is high, and published results suggest it may be between 8% and 28%.1,3,4 Older adults, who constitute a large proportion of residents in extended care facilities, are potentially at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from MRSA infections due to decreased immune function and increased prevalence of underlying co-morbid conditions.5,6 Despite this increased risk, relatively few studies have reported on risk factors for MRSA acquisition in extended care facilities.1,7,8 As MRSA colonization is a strong risk factor for MRSA infection, these data are essential to identify appropriate infection control strategies in extended care facilities. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and the Prevention Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology published guidelines for isolation precautions suggested that decisions regarding placing residents on contact precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis and based primarily on the resident’s clinical situation; however, the guideline acknowledges that extended care settings vary greatly and that few data are available on which to make these decisions.9,10 The current guideline recommends a single room, when possible, for those infected or colonized with MRSA. Room placement is also a difficult decision in the extended care setting because single rooms may not be readily available and also because changing rooms is disruptive, particularly in a residential care environment. The goal of this study was to assess risk factors associated with MRSA acquisition in extended care facilities in a prospective cohort study. We focused on level of care (residential vs rehabilitation) and room placement with an MRSA-positive resident as the primary variables of interest because these are controversial questions for those working in infection control in extended care settings. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare MRSA acquisition in different levels of care.
Second Autologous Stem Cell Transplant: An Effective Therapy for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

Abstract Therapeutic options for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) whose disease has relapsed after a prior autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) include an expanding armamentarium of novel agents, often combined with traditional chemotherapy, or a second ASCT, with no clear standard of care. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 75 patients who underwent salvage melphalan-based ASCT for relapsed MM at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1995 and 2012. Conditioning was performed with melphalan 200 mg/m2 (n = 43), 180 mg/m2 (n = 1), 140 mg/m2 (n = 22), and 100 mg/m2 (n = 9). The median age at second ASCT was 59 years (range, 36 to 75), and 58% (n = 35) were men. Of those with available data, 19% had high-risk cytogenetics (including t (4;14), p53 loss, or del 13q by karyotype) at the time of second ASCT. Median interval between first and salvage ASCT was 37.5 months (range, 6.9 to 111.4). Of 72 assessable patients, 57% had chemotherapy-sensitive disease before to salvage ASCT and 43% were chemoresistant. Four patients died within 100 days of ASCT. Response was assessed at 2 to 3 months post-ASCT, and of 71 assessable patients, 82% achieved at least a partial response, 15% had stable disease, and 3% progressed despite salvage ASCT. After salvage ASCT, 38 patients received maintenance therapy and 14 went on to allogeneic ASCT. The median progression-free survival (PFS) after second autograft was 10.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.6 to 13.4) and median overall survival (OS) 22.7 months (95% CI, 19.2 to 41.2). Patients with chemosensitive relapse had a trend toward better PFS (hazard ratio [HR], .60 [95% CI, .36 to 1.02]; P = .058) and significantly longer OS (HR, .49 [95% CI, .27 to .88]; P = .017) than patients with resistant relapse. Those with high-risk cytogenetics at the time of second ASCT had higher risk of death (HR, 2.98 [95% CI, 1.28 to 6.97]; P = .012) compared with patients with standard-risk cytogenetics. Salvage ASCT is an effective strategy for relapsed MM with chemosensitive disease and results in comparable PFS and OS to other salvage strategies.
Fit4Life: a weight loss intervention for children who have survived childhood leukemia.

BACKGROUND Children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at increased risk for overweight and obesity over that of the general population. Whether a generic or tailored approach to weight management is needed for cancer survivors has yet to be tested. PROCEDURE Thirty-eight youth 8-18 years with BMI ≥ 85% who had survived ALL were recruited for a randomized clinical trial evaluating a weight management intervention (WMI) tailored for childhood ALL survivors (Fit4Life). Fit4Life recipients received a 4-month web, phone, and text message-delivered WMI tailored for cancer survivorship. Controls received a general WMI delivered via phone and mail. Assessments were performed at baseline and 4 months. Outcome data were analyzed according to assigned treatment condition over time. RESULTS Most (80%, (70%, 100%) [median (IQR)]) of the assigned curriculum was received by Fit4Life participants as compared to 50% (40%, 65%) among controls. Fit4Life recipients ≥ 14 years demonstrated less weight gain (P = 0.05) and increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (P < 0.01) while all Fit4Life recipients reported reduced negative mood (P < 0.05) over time as compared to control counterparts. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated acceptable feasibility of a WMI tailored for overweight and obese children surviving ALL utilizing a multimodal technology approach. Improved weight, weight-related behavior, and psychological outcomes were demonstrated among Fit4Life intervention as compared to youth receiving a generic WMI. Data from this pilot trial may be used to design a larger trial to determine whether youth of all ages also can derive a benefit from a cancer survivor-tailored WMI and whether short-term outcomes translate into improved long-term outcomes for childhood ALL survivors.
Migratory behaviour and host-parasite co-evolution in natural populations of monarch butterflies infected with a protozoan parasite

The prevalence of the protozoan parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, varies dramatically among natural populations of monarch butterflies. One potential cause of this variation is that host resistance or parasite virulence differs among populations due to underlying variation in host migratory behaviour and parasite transmission. In this study, I examined the geographic variation in host and parasite characteristics using reciprocal cross-infection experiments, where monarchs from three North American populations were exposed to parasites from native and novel sources. I tested hosts and parasites from the following three populations: a continuously breeding population in southern Florida, a population in western North America that migrates relatively short distances and a population in eastern North America that migrates remarkably long distances. Cross-infection experiments using hosts and parasites from the eastern and western migratory populations demonstrated that western parasites caused higher mortality and parasite loads than eastern parasites, and eastern monarchs had higher survival and lower parasite loads than western monarchs. Eastern migratory and Florida resident monarchs performed similarly across all treatments, but parasites isolated from southern Florida caused higher parasite loads than those from the eastern population. Differences in parasite virulence among populations were also supported by sub-lethal effects of parasites on monarch wingspan, mass at emergence and rates of weight loss. Unlike other documented patterns of host–parasite specificity, O. elektroscirrha strains do not appear to be more infectious to their native hosts. Rather, geographic variation may be better explained by selection resulting from differences in host migratory behaviour and parasite transmission among populations. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that seasonal, long-distance host migration is associated with higher host resistance and lower parasite virulence in North American monarch populations.
A total score for the CERAD neuropsychological battery.

Objective: To develop a total or composite score for the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) neuropsychological battery. Method: CERAD total scores were obtained by summing scores from the individual CERAD subtests (excluding the Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]) into a total composite (maximum score = 100). The method of tabulating the total score was constructed using normal controls (NCs; n = 424) and patients with AD (n = 835) from the CERAD registry database. The utility of the total score was further tested in independent samples of mild AD (n = 95), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 60), and NC (n = 95) subjects. Results: The CERAD total score was highly accurate in differentiating NC and AD subjects in the CERAD registry. Age, gender, and education effects were observed, and demographic correction scores were derived through multiple regression analysis. Demographically corrected CERAD total scores showed excellent test-retest reliability across samples ( r = 0.95) and were highly correlated with the MMSE ( r = 0.89) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale ( r = −0.83) in mixed AD and NC samples and with the Blessed Dementia Rating Scale in an AD sample ( r = −0.40). The CERAD total score was highly accurate in differentiating independent samples of NC, MCI, and AD subjects. Conclusion: Results provide support for the validity of a Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) total score that can be used along with the normative data to provide an index of overall level of cognitive functioning from the CERAD neuropsychological battery.
Effects of the Decay of Incorporated Radioactive Phosphorus on the Transfer of the Bacteriophage SP82G Genome

The last genetic markers to be transferred during bacteriophage SP82G infection have a higher sensitivity to the decay of incorporated radioactive phosphorous ((32)P) than those which are located on the proximal end of the genome. If (32)P decay is permitted to take place after DNA transfer is complete (in frozen infective centers) and in the absence of DNA replication, no dependence of marker sensitivity on map position is observed. These results indicate that the decay of incorporated (32)P leads to damages that prevent the efficient transfer of portions of the genome distal to the lesion. At 4 C, failure to transfer some portion of the genome occurs in 49% of all lethal events. Even though damages that prevent transfer of the genome are in themselves lethal, they do not prevent rescue of genetic markers on portions of the genome that are transferred. The portion of the genome that is transferred, is transferred at the same rate as an undamaged genome. We interpret these results to mean that double-strand breaks in the DNA are the lesions that prevent distal transfer and that single-strand breaks have little or no effect on the transfer of the bacteriophage SP82G genome.
A LIMNOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE IN THE AREA OF McMURDO SOUND, ANTARCTICA1

During the Antarctic summer of 1960–61, limnological data were collected from a series of meltwater ponds and permanently ice-covered lakes in the area of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica (77°51′ S, 166°37′ E). All ponds were basic and more saline than typical fresh-water lakes. Primary production, measured in two ponds by the “light and dark bottle” technique, varied from 326 to 1008 mgC/m3/day. High intensity of light inhibited photosynthesis in shallow water. Lake Bonney in Taylor Dry Valley and Lake Vanda in Wright Valley lie in a large ice-free area in South Victoria Land on the west side of McMurdo Sound. Each lake is covered with 3.4–4.2 m of permanent ice and is meromictic. The mixolimnion of Lake Bonney varied from 0.3°–8°C; the monomolimnion was below 0°C. The mixolimnion of Lake Vanda varied from 0.7°–9.6°C; the monomolimnion was warmed to 22°C. The lakes are probably warmed geothermally. No zooplankton was found in any of the lakes, but 7 genera of Ciliata, 4 of Rotifera, and one each of Nematoda, Turbellaria, and Tardigrada were collected from the littoral fauna of the meltwater ponds and around the edges of Lakes Bonney and Vanda.
Sigma delta modulators with modified hybrid integrators

This paper describes a modified second-order sigma-delta (SigmaDelta) modulator using hybrid integrators that is designed for WLAN applications. Hybrid integrators are composed of analog and digital integrators where the overflow of an analog integrator is processed by a digital integrator which results in the improvement of dynamic range. It is shown that the presented modulator achieves 8-dB improvement in dynamic range compared to conventional sigma delta modulator with the same oversampling ratio (OSR) and also it is very robust incase of any mismatch between the analog and the digital blocks. Another significant advantage of this scheme is that the overload level (OL) is increased by about 8.6-dB. The presented modulator architecture is implemented using a sampling frequency of 320 MHz for a 10 MHz signal bandwidth with an oversampling ratio of 16.
Etiology of a Tuber Rot and Foliar Blight of Potato Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae

Although Phytophthora nicotianae is not normally considered to be an important pathogen of potato (Solanum tuberosum), intermittent outbreaks of a foliar blight and tuber rot have been reported in the United States over the past 75 years. Due to the sporadic nature of these reports, little is known about the etiology of the disease in potato. However, foliar disease and tuber rots caused by this pathogen are usually centered near areas of standing water in the field and along pivot tracks. Moreover, soil particles adhering to the foliage of infected potato plants suggest that water splash is involved in P. nicotianae dissemination and infection. Soil infestation and water splash dissemination studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions to examine the role that zoospores of P. nicotianae may play in disease on potato. In the soil infestation study, inoculum of P. nicotianae was added to soil at four rates (0.0, 1.0 × 103, 5.0 × 103, and 4.0 × 104 zoospores/ml) and three timings (at planting and 7 an...
Molecular Clock Mechanisms and Circadian Rhythms Intrinsic to the Heart

Circadian rhythms are the external expression of an internal clock mechanism that measures daily time.1 Periodic environmental cues entrain or set the circadian clocks. The daily light-dark cycle represents the most dominant and potent entraining stimulus in mammals. An entrained clock coordinates physiological events to the 24-hour day. Normally, cardiovascular or hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate and blood pressure, exhibit variations consistent with circadian rhythm. Additionally, several types of acute pathological cardiac events exhibit circadian or at least diurnal rhythm patterns. Specifically, the incidences of acute myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, ventricular tachycardia, postmyocardial infarction, and sudden death in heart failure all vary according to the time of day.2–5 Also, diurnal rhythms can influence degree and form of cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.6,7 For instance, the degree of nocturnal blood pressure elevation in patients with systemic hypertension correlates with the severity and concentricity of left ventricular hypertrophy.8,9 Investigators postulate that these circadian or diurnal variations depend on centrally mediated autonomic or neurohumoral activation. However, peak incidence for some acute events, such as sudden death, does not temporally correspond to the circadian sympathetic activation. Thus, alternative inputs or mechanisms for these rhythm patterns have been postulated. Regardless of the input, the intrinsic clock mechanism must respond and regulate some of the circadian rhythms within the heart itself. The intrinsic response elements for the putative external circadian inputs had not until recently been identified or characterized in the heart.10,11 Circadian rhythms are controlled by a transcriptional feedback system fluctuating as a function of the light-dark cycle. Molecular control of a circadian clock mechanism has been described in detail in the fruit fly.12 Similarities between the core clock mechanisms in fruit flies and mice occur with both exhibiting interlocking positive and negative transcriptional and translational …
Quality Changes and Nonenzymic Browning Intermediates in Grapefruit Juice During Storage

Effects of storage temperature and time on the quality of commercially canned grapefruit juice were investigated. The most noteworthy and reproducible trend observed by HPLC was a significant increase in concentration of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural with increased storage temperature. During storage over 50% of sucrose was hydrolyzed after 6 wk at 30 degrees C, and the reducing sugars increased in accordance with hydrolysis of sucrose. In the juice stored at 50 degrees C, more than 98% of the ascorbic acid, and about 9% of total sugars were lost. Lightness value of juice decreased continuously during storage.
High-Risk Smoking Behaviors and Barriers to Smoking Cessation Among Homeless Individuals

BACKGROUND: Although tobacco practices and the effects of tobacco use among the general American population are well described, minimal data exist regarding tobacco use and barriers to smoking cessation among homeless individuals. METHODS: Anonymous, voluntary surveys based on a previously implemented instrument were completed by 100 smoking individuals residing at a homeless shelter. These surveys assessed high-risk smoking behaviors and respondents9 perceived barriers to long-term smoking cessation. RESULTS: Ninety percent of study participants reported engaging in at least one of the high-risk tobacco practices. Nicotine replacement therapy was perceived by respondents to be the most desired form of smoking cessation aid. Excessive stress with use of tobacco smoking to alleviate stress and anxiety was the most significant self-perceived barrier to smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: High-risk tobacco practices are remarkably common among smoking homeless individuals. Despite literature consistently showing that non-nicotine tobacco cessation pharmacotherapies (varenicline, buproprion) have higher smoking cessation rates, nicotine replacement monotherapy was perceived as more valuable by survey respondents. Although lack of financial resources was expected to be the biggest barrier to successful cessation, social stressors and the use of smoking to cope with homelessness were perceived as a greater obstacle in this cohort. Given the paucity of data on the long-term effects of the high-risk tobacco behaviors reported by these homeless smokers, this study highlights the need for further investigations regarding tobacco use and tobacco cessation in this vulnerable population.
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and its role in obesity.

Purpose of review As we strive to improve our understanding of the factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity, it is certainly logical to speculate that a nutrition-dependent component emanating from the gastrointestinal tract, which has the capacity to regulate insulin expression, could represent an etiologic factor in this serious health issue. One such regulatory peptide that possesses these properties is glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. Release of this peptide is stimulated by the ingestion of glucose and fat from the upper portion of the small intestine, which in turn enhances the release of insulin from the pancreas. Recent findings In addition to its indirect effects in inducing obesity through the stimulation of insulin, a potent efficiency hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, like insulin, also directly modulates a variety of factors that are important in adipocyte homeostasis. Such factors include lipoprotein lipase, Akt, and GLUT-4, all of which promote the storage of fat. Summary In this review, various mechanisms by which glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide may serve as a link that indirectly and directly contributes to the development of obesity will be discussed. Understanding the peptide's role will potentially help provide novel ways to prevent and treat obesity.
Political Liberalization in Jordan: An Analysis of the State's Relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood

Political liberalization is evidenced throughout the Middle East as new experiments in democracy have occurred in a variety of countries including Yemen, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Tunisia. The region also is experiencing a resurgence of Islamic activism fueled by rampant poverty, increasing unemployment and underemployment, as well as disillusionment with secular rule and Western cultural influence. The
Divergent Mechanistic Avenues to an Aliphatic Polyesteracetal or Polyester from a Single Cyclic Esteracetal

The cyclic esteracetal 2-methyl-1,3-dioxane-4-one (MDO) was polymerized in bulk using diethyl zinc as the catalyst and benzyl alcohol as the initiator to yield either the corresponding polyesteracetal (PMDO) or the aliphatic polyester poly(3-hydroxypropionic acid) (PHPA) at low and high catalyst concentrations, respectively. Spectral analysis gave evidence for distinct propagating species in the two catalyst concentration regimes. At low zinc concentrations ring opening by attack of the initiating species at the acetal functionality, yielding a zinc carboxylate, followed by propagation to yield pure PMDO was implicated. At high zinc concentrations we propose that ring opening via attack at the ester functionality produced a labile zinc hemiacetal, which rapidly and irreversibly expelled acetaldehyde to form a propagating zinc alkoxide and ultimately pure PHPA. Initial rate studies indicated that the rate of PHPA formation had a second-order dependence on zinc concentration; in contrast, the rate of PMDO f...
Acroteriobatus omanensis (Batoidea: Rhinobatidae), a new guitarfish from the Gulf of Oman.

The recently resurrected genus Acroteriobatus is represented in the western Indian Ocean by eight species, including a new guitarfish Acroteriobatus omanensis sp. nov. This small species (reaching ~60 cm TL) was discovered off Oman in an investigation of the chondrichthyan fauna of the Arabian in 2002 and 2003. Its distinctiveness from other members of the genus Acroteriobatus is strongly supported by molecular data. Acroteriobatus omanensis sp. nov. differs from all other members of the genus by its very narrowly pointed snout and having a dense pattern of small, symmetrically arranged ocelli each consisting of a white spot surrounded by a darker rim. Acroteriobatus annulatus and A. ocellatus have a more-or-less ocellated dorsal colour pattern but the markings are larger and differ in form (ocelli consisting of a small dark central spot surrounded by a dark-edged pale ring in A. annulatus ; larger, irregularly shaped ocelli with pale centres surrounded by a dark brown rim in A. ocellatus ).
A control engineering approach for optimizing physical activity behavioral interventions

This paper presents the use of control engineering principles to optimize mobile and wireless health (mHealth) adaptive behavioral interventions for physical activity based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). SCT is a conceptual framework that describes human behavior and has been used in many health behavior interventions. An intervention for physical activity is formulated as a control systems problem relying on a dynamical model of SCT that is developed utilizing fluid analogies. To obtain values for model parameters, system identification experiments are designed including two phases: an initial informative stage followed by an optimized stage that incorporates “patient-friendly” conditions. With the estimated model, a closed-loop intervention is formulated relying on Hybrid Model Predictive Control (HMPC). The HMPC algorithm includes a representation of categorical and discrete constraints that are inherent to behavioral interventions, and the recognition of behavioral initiation and maintenance phases. A simulation study is performed illustrating representative scenarios of the system (in both open and closed-loop).
Analytical equilibrium of bicriterion choices with heterogeneous user preferences: application to the morning commute problem

The morning commute problem, introduced in Vickrey [1969. “Congestion Theory and Transport Investment.” American Economic Review 56: 251–260], addresses the equilibrium trip schedule of the users for commuting through a single bottleneck with fixed capacity over the morning peak. In this paper, we adapt the concept of the efficient frontier from Portfolio Theory [Markowitz, H. 1952. “Portfolio Selection.” The Journal of Finance 7 (1): 77–91] to propose an analytical solution to the morning commute problem with a general distribution of the schedule preferences over time and a continuous joint distribution of schedule penalty preferences over the population of the commuters. On this basis, we analytically derive the equilibrium arrivals of the heterogeneous commuters to the bottleneck given the independent probability distributions of earliness and lateness penalty factors. We also propose a method to retrieve independent probability distributions of the schedule penalty factors in the equilibrium ...
Vastus lateralis and rectus femoris echo intensity fail to reflect knee extensor specific tension in middle-school boys.

The potential dissociation between muscle strength and size has led to interest in the ability to assess muscle quality across the lifespan. OBJECTIVES We examined the association between echo intensity and specific tension in middle-school boys. APPROACH Twenty-five boys participated in this study. Sixteen (mean ± SD age = 12 ± 1 years) engaged in a 16-week after-school strength and conditioning program. Nine boys (12 ± 1 years) served as controls. The program involved two 90 min sessions per week of lower-body speed, power, and resistance training. Before and after the intervention, ultrasound imaging was used to quantify vastus lateralis and rectus femoris echo intensity. MAIN RESULTS Specific tension was calculated as voluntary isometric peak torque divided by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived thigh lean mass (Nm kg-1). The pretest echo intensity and specific tension data were not significantly correlated (r = 0.040, p = 0.850). Training resulted in a small mean increase in specific tension (change = 1.93 Nm kg-1; d = 0.42). The echo intensity values were not affected by training or maturation (training change = -1.13 arbitrary units (A.U.); control = 0.00 A.U.). Both variables showed no interaction and no group or time main effects. The echo intensity and specific tension change scores were not correlated for all subjects (r = -0.080, p = 0.705) or groups (training r = -0.095, p = 0.727; control r = -0.004, p = 0.992). SIGNIFICANCE In middle-school boys, a relationship between echo intensity and the ratio of muscle strength relative to lean mass does not exist.
SIRPA-Inhibited, Marrow-Derived Macrophages Engorge, Accumulate, and Differentiate in Antibody-Targeted Regression of Solid Tumors

Summary Marrow-derived macrophages are highly phagocytic, but whether they can also traffic into solid tumors and engulf cancer cells is questionable, given the well-known limitations of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Here, SIRPα on macrophages from mouse and human marrow was inhibited to block recognition of its ligand, the "marker of self" CD47 on all other cells. These macrophages were then systemically injected into mice with fluorescent human tumors that had been antibody targeted. Within days, the tumors regressed, and single-cell fluorescence analyses showed that the more the macrophages engulfed, the more they accumulated within regressing tumors. Human-marrow-derived macrophages engorged on the human tumors, while TAMs were minimally phagocytic, even toward CD47-knockdown tumors. Past studies had opsonized tumors in situ with antibody and/or relied on mouse TAMs but had not injected SIRPα-inhibited cells; also, unlike past injections of anti-CD47, blood parameters remained normal and safe. Consistent with tumor-selective engorge-and-accumulate processes in vivo, phagocytosis in vitro inhibited macrophage migration through micropores that mimic features of dense 3D tissue. Accumulation of SIRPα-inhibited macrophages in tumors favored tumor regression for 1–2 weeks, but donor macrophages quickly differentiated toward non-phagocytic, high-SIRPα TAMs. Analyses of macrophages on soft (like marrow) or stiff (like solid tumors) collagenous gels demonstrated a stiffness-driven, retinoic-acid-modulated upregulation of SIRPα and the mechanosensitive nuclear marker lamin-A. Mechanosensitive differentiation was similarly evident in vivo and likely limited the anti-tumor effects, as confirmed by re-initiation of tumor regression by fresh injections of SIRPα-inhibited macrophages. Macrophage motility, phagocytosis, and differentiation in vivo are thus coupled.
Recent Upgrades of the DIII-D Impurity Granule Injector

An impurity granule injector on the DIII-D tokamak (IGI) injects granules into the plasma to trigger Edge Localized Modes (ELMs). Impurities, such as lithium, carbon, and boron, are used. The IGI d...
Acoustic delay lines to measure piezoelectricity in 4H silicon carbide

This paper reports the first measurement of the electromechanical coupling coefficient (K2) for the Rayleigh wave in 4H polytype of Silicon Carbide (SiC). We fabricate 18 acoustic delay lines on two 4H SiC chips. Transmitted acoustic signals are measured at 423 MHz and 676 MHz for devices with 16 μm and 10 μm wavelength, respectively. We post-process the transmitted signal in time-domain to isolate the surface acoustic wave transmission. From the filtered signals we extract K2 to be (0.93±0.05) x10−4% and (0.66±0.02) x10−4% at 423 MHz and 676 MHz.
Development of a Rural Family Practice Rotation in an Athletic Training Residency Program

Context: Postprofessional residency (PPR) programs continue to gain popularity as athletic training education prepares for a paradigm shift. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Edu...
Experimental and Clinical Experience with a New Solid State Intracranial Pressure Monitor with In Vivo Zero Capability

Evaluation of a recently available intracranial pressure monitor (MMI Gaeltec Model ICT/b) has been undertaken in a series of dogs. Additional research and clinical experience has been gained with subdural and epidural ICP measurements.
Why lead?: Using narrative to explore the motivations of those aspiring to be principals in high needs schools

ABSTRACTThough research suggests identity construction and articulation of personal motivations regarding actions may be as, if not more, important to determine whether an individual may be success...
Risk of malignancy in pancreatic cysts with cytology of high-grade epithelial atypia.

BACKGROUND The risk of malignancy is weighed against the attendant risks of surgery in the clinical management of pancreatic cysts. The latter are a group of histologically diverse and prognostically variable entities, and the risk of malignancy therein is primarily based on imaging characteristics-with or without high-grade atypia. Cytologic criteria for high-grade atypia in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms have recently been defined, and its recognition in all pancreatic cysts may help to guide management. METHODS All patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for a pancreatic cyst at Massachusetts General Hospital from June 2015 to October 2016 were prospectively evaluated. Clinical data, radiographic impressions, biochemical analyses, and cytologic diagnoses of 118 pancreatic cyst fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens from 106 patients were reviewed. Clinical and radiologic data were used as follow-up for 86 patients, and histology was obtained in 20 cases. Cysts were classified by imaging as high-risk, worrisome, or low-risk as defined by the 2012 Fukuoka consensus guidelines. Cytology was categorized as low-grade or high-grade. Malignant histology included mucinous cysts with high-grade dysplasia, invasive adenocarcinomas, and neuroendocrine tumors. The risk of malignancy (ROM) was determined by histological outcome. RESULTS The presence of high-grade cytology (P < .01) was the only statistically significant predictor of malignancy and was 89% sensitive and 98% specific for malignancy. The positive predictive value (ie, ROM) of high-grade atypia on cytology was 80%. CONCLUSIONS High-grade atypia is both sensitive and specific for identifying high-risk pancreatic cysts and is associated with a high risk of malignancy, and thus resection is warranted.
NICU human milk dose and health care use after NICU discharge in very low birth weight infants.

To determine the association between human milk (HM) dose and health care utilization at one and 2 years of life in very low birth weight (birth weight < 1500 g; VLBW) infants. This study included 345 VLBW infants enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study (2008–2012) who completed a neonatal high-risk follow-up clinic visit. Subsequent health care utilization included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, pediatric subspecialists, and specialized therapies. Each 10 mL/kg/day increase in HM in the first 14 days of life was associated with 0.26 fewer hospitalizations (p = 0.04) at 1 year and 0.21 fewer pediatric subspecialist types (p = 0.04) and 0.20 fewer specialized therapy types (p = 0.04) at 2 years. HM dose in early life for VLBW infants was an independent predictor of the number of hospitalizations at 1 year and types of pediatric subspecialists and specialized therapies at 2 years of life.
Designing institutions to improve well-being: Participation, deliberation and institutionalisation

Social accountability institutions are at the forefront of democratic reformers’ efforts to improve well‐being by harnessing the power of citizen participation. This article builds on recent research identifying a positive relationship between participatory budgeting (PB) and well‐being. The article is the first large‐N study to identify relationships between specific rules of PB programme design and well‐being. A unique dataset of 114 Brazilian municipalities with PB programmes from 2009 to 2016 is constructed to evaluate whether internal mechanisms within PB explain variation in local infant mortality rates – an outcome associated with wellbeing. Hypotheses are tested that correspond to citizen participation, the scope of deliberation and embeddedness within local institutions. It is found that PB programmes are associated with lower infant mortality rates when they broaden participation, expand deliberation and embed the new institutions in ongoing policy‐making venues. The results offer a framework for designing PB programmes and other social accountability institutions to maximise impact.
Cold chain and virus-free oral polio booster vaccine made in lettuce chloroplasts confers protection against all three poliovirus serotypes.

To prevent vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis, WHO recommended withdrawal of Oral Polio Vaccine (Serotype-2) and a single dose of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV). IPV however is expensive, requires cold chain, injections and offers limited intestinal mucosal immunity, essential to prevent polio reinfection in countries with open sewer system. To date, there is no virus-free and cold chain-free polio vaccine capable of inducing robust mucosal immunity. We report here a novel low-cost, cold chain/poliovirus-free, booster vaccine using poliovirus capsid protein (VP1, conserved in all serotypes) fused with cholera non-toxic B subunit (CTB) expressed in lettuce chloroplasts. PCR using unique primer sets confirmed site-specific integration of CTB-VP1 transgene cassettes. Absence of the native chloroplast genome in Southern blots confirmed homoplasmy. Codon optimization of the VP1 coding sequence enhanced its expression 9-15-fold in chloroplasts. GM1-ganglioside receptor-binding ELISA confirmed pentamer assembly of CTB-VP1 fusion protein, fulfilling a key requirement for oral antigen delivery through gut epithelium. Transmission Electron Microscope images and hydrodynamic radius analysis confirmed VP1-VLPs of 22.3 nm size. Mice primed with IPV and boosted three times with lyophilized plant cells expressing CTB-VP1co, formulated with plant-derived oral adjuvants, enhanced VP1-specific IgG1, VP1-IgA titres and neutralization (80%-100% seropositivity of Sabin-1, 2, 3). In contrast, IPV single dose resulted in <50% VP1-IgG1 and negligible VP1-IgA titres, poor neutralization and seropositivity (<20%, <40% Sabin 1,2). Mice orally boosted with CTB-VP1co, without IPV priming, failed to produce any protective neutralizing antibody. Because global population is receiving IPV single dose, booster vaccine free of poliovirus or cold chain offers a timely low-cost solution to eradicate polio.
Serial Follow-Up of Two Surgical Strategies for the Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot.

Adverse events following tetralogy of Fallot repair include arrhythmia, reoperation, and death. While limiting the right ventriculotomy mitigates these events over the short and intermediate term, the impact over the long term is unknown. Children requiring tetralogy of Fallot repair were divided into 2 groups: extended right ventriculotomy vs limited right ventriculotomy with transatrial ventricular septal defect closure. Follow-up office ECGs and Holter monitoring, exercise stress tests, and echocardiograms were obtained in the first, second, and third postoperative decades. The primary outcome was cumulative events defined as reoperation, arrhythmia, or death. The extended and limited right ventriculotomy techniques were used in 21 and 17 children, respectively. Cumulative survival was 93.6% at 30 years and was not different between groups. While 10-year (42.9% vs 5.9%, P = 0.02) event rates favored the limited ventriculotomy technique, there were no significant differences at 20 or 25 years. Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that the limited ventriculotomy technique was independently associated with lower events at 10 years (hazard ratio 0.03, 95% confidence interval 0.0016, 0.5697, P = 0.01). The limited ventriculotomy group had greater exercise capacity in the second decade but not the third. Right ventricular end-diastolic diameter Z score was not different at 10 or 20 years, but was significantly smaller in the limited ventriculotomy group at 30 years (5.55 ± 1.69 vs 4.14 ± 0.63, P = 0.03). Limiting the right ventriculotomy during tetralogy of Fallot repair limits 10-year events, improves exercise capacity at 20 years, and attenuates late right ventricular dilation.
Recurrent oral ulceration: Etiology, classification, management, and diagnostic algorithm

Recurrent oral ulcerations are manifestations of a heterogeneous set of both general and more-or-less specific oral diseases due to numerous potential etiologies, including, but not limited to, infections, medications, autoimmune disease, and other systemic disease. This review discusses the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of the common causes of recurrent oral ulceration. The following types/etiologies of recurrent oral ulceration are covered: traumatic ulceration, chemical ulceration, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, medication-related ulceration, infectious ulceration, mucocutaneous disease, and autoimmune/systemic disease. A diagnostic algorithm for recurrent oral ulceration is also presented.
Reflective Capacity: An Antidote to Structural Racism Cultivated Through Mental Health Consultation.

Effecting a paradigm shift from "reproductive health" to "reproductive justice" within the perinatal field requires changes simultaneously at the levels of the individual healthcare provider and the system of care. The Infant-Parent Program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has extended its pioneering infant and early childhood mental health consultation to perinatal service systems applying an infant mental health approach to programs caring for expecting and new parents. In partnership with two nursing programs, UCSF consultants direct their efforts at supporting reflective practice capacities and use-of-self in patient-provider relationships. Both nursing programs serve vulnerable groups of expectant and new parents who grapple with challenges to health and well-being stemming from structural racism. As reflective capacities are supported within the consultation case conferences, providers spontaneously identify the need for tools to effectively address issues of race, class, and culture and to combat structural racism throughout the healthcare system. Policies and procedures that uphold structural racism cease to be tolerable to providers who bring their full selves to the work that they are trained to do. Using these nurse consultation partnerships as organizational case studies, this article describes a range of challenges that arise for providers and delineates steps to effective engagement toward reproductive justice.
“She Thinks of Him as a Machine”: On the Entanglements of Neoliberal Ideology and Misogynist Cybercrime:

The “manosphere” is a constellation of masculinist social media communities loosely unified by an anti-feminist worldview. Although extant journalism and social media scholarship successfully delin...
Effects of Reduced 2,3 Diphosphoglycerate on Oxygen Release from Blood of Alloxan Diabetic Rats: Myocardial Cellular Hypoxia

The extent of tissue oxygenation in patients with diabetes mellitus has been the subject of several recent reports in the literature (Alberti, et al., 1972; Ditzel, 1972; Bellingham, et al., 1970). The criterion of tissue oxygenation used in these studies was the P50, the oxygen tension at 50% hemoglobin saturation. Interpretation of these results is difficult in that both increased and decreased P50’s were reported. The conditions varied from acute ketoacidosis to non-acidotic, ambulatory patients receiving insulin. An increased P50 was associated with the acute ketoacidotic stage of diabetes while a decreased P50 was associated with insulin treatment.