cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of morphology and mycotoxin production with vegetative compatibility groups in Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. tamarii

Vegetative compatibility groups within populations of Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, and A. tamarii from soil and peanut seeds in a peanut field were examined for differences in morphology (colony color and sclerotium characters) and myco- toxin production (aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid, and kojic acid). Aspergillus tamarii was divided into types A and B based on morphological differences and the lack of vegetative compatibility between the two types. Using digital color image processing, the four taxa were easily distinguished by colony color through analyses of peak color intensities for red, green, and blue. Color comparisons of A. flavus veg- etative compatibility groups were not possible be- cause of poor sporulation by many of the isolates. Vegetative compatibility group 1 of A. parasiticus dif- fered significantly from groups 2-9 in colony color, and groups 1-3 of A. tamarii type A and groups 1-3 of A. tamarii type B were also significantly different within each type. Color image processing of filtered conidia indicated that the color difference of A. par- asiticus group 1 was due primarily to the flocculose texture of the colony whereas group differences in A. tamarii types A and B were the result of conidium pigmentation. Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus showed significant differences among groups in num- ber of sclerotia, sclerotium volume, and sclerotium shape (length/width ratio). Isolates of A. tamarii type B often produced irregularly shaped sclerotia; type A isolates were nonsclerotial. Among the 11 groups of A. flavus, significant differences were detected in to- tal aflatoxin (aflatoxins B, + B2), cyclopiazonic acid, and kojic acid. Aspergillus parasiticus groups also
Understanding Curvatures in Gravity Gradiometry and their Application to Source Estimation

The concept of curvature has been discussed throughout the development of gravity gradiometry. Although the fundamentals of curvatures are well established, their connection to modern gravity gradiometry and the associated applications in exploration geophysics remain to be areas of active research. This paper aims to present theoretical and practical aspects related to the reference frames and rotations of the gravity gradient tensor, both of which are the pre-requisites for the correct calculation of various curvatures. We illustrate the concepts using synthetic examples here and will demonstrate the application to field data in the presentation.
Highly Ordered Pseudo-Discotic Chromophore Systems for Electro-Optic Materials and Devices

In order to achieve the near-ferroelectric order desired in organic electro-optic (EO) chromophore systems, a pseudo-discotic chromophore is under investigation. Calculations suggest head-to-tail inter-chromophore dipole-dipole interactions should drive chromophores with an appropriate aspect ratio into ferroelectric columns similar to those seen in discotic liquid crystals (DLCs). Therefore, the liquid crystalline properties of these chromophores are being examined by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the effect of this discotic behavior on the order and EO properties of the system are being examined both dynamically by second harmonic generation (SHG) and statically by attenuated total reflection (ATR). Additionally, these chromophores are being incorporated into waveguide-based photonic devices.
Epidemiological analysis of hand-foot-mouth disease in Yuyao City from 2008 to 2010

[Objective] To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of 4 975 patients with hand-foot-mouth diseases in Yuyao City during May 2008-April 2010,so as to provide the scientific basis for the prevention and control of HFMD.[Methods] The collection of data on HFMD was done for statistical analysis and epidemiological description.[Results] A total of 4 975 cases of HFMD were reported in Yuyao during May 2008-April 2010,the incidence peak being April to July.The 95.98 percentage of total patients were children under 5 years of age,of whom the incidence of children under 3 years accounted for 79.06%.The ratio of male and female was 1.57∶ 1.Most of the HFMD patients were diaspora children,who accounted for 61.11% and lived in city areas.Those by laboratory tests EV71 accounted for 46.38%,and by CoxA16 35.75%.[Conclusion] The incidence peak was observed during April and July.Most reported cases were children under 5 years age.The majority of reported cases were caused by EV71 or CoxA16.The incidence peak of HFMD and the risk populations should be considered in the development of prevention and control measures.
Cross-correlation analysis of cuneothalamic interactions in the rat somatosensory system: influence of receptive field topography and comparisons with thalamocortical interactions

1. We simultaneously recorded neuronal responses to cutaneous stimulation from matched somatotopic representations in the nucleus cuneatus and ventrobasal complex of intact, halothane-anesthetized ...
Distributed Analysis: Transmission Lines, Z 0 , Reflections, and Termination

This chapter introduces distributed analysis, the art of analyzing circuits and structures that are so physically large that the voltage on wires is not necessarily the same at each point. The fact that the structure is so large means that parts of the circuit are “unaware” what other parts are doing, and the results are, to say the least, counterintuitive. Wires turn into resistors and excesses in current cause voltage waves to crash back and forth.
Tactical Reasoning Through Context-Based Reasoning

This chapter describes and discusses Context-Based Reasoning (CxBR), a human behavior representation paradigm based on context and designed for use in modeling tactical reasoning. This chapter describes CxBR both formally and informally, and discusses experiences in developing and applying this concept, its advantages and its opportunities for improvement.
Section 2: Vibrations of Strings

A string can vibrate as a whole or divided into any number of equal segments, separated from one another by nodes of the vibrations. The only difference between these vibrations is that the unity which serves as a measure changes, because, when the string is divided into aliquot parts, each half, each third, etc. makes its motions as if it were a string by itself. The gravest sound is that made when the entire string vibrates and alternately forms the loops represented in Fig. 1 by ACB and ADB. When it is divided into two parts, one half is on one side of the rest position, while the other is on the opposite side, and the loops are as in Fig. 2, ADCEB and AFCGB; the sound is more acute by one octave than the fundamental. If the string is separated into three segments, the loops are alternatively placed, as marked in Fig. 5, in two different ways; the sound is more acute by a fifth than that of the second harmonic. If the string is divided into four segments (Fig. 4), the pitch of the sound is increased by a fourth. In general, all of the possible sounds are as the numbers of segments (or as the reciprocals of their lengths); the series will therefore be as the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. When the gravest is do, the series of possible sounds will be:
A single alcohol drinking session is sufficient to enable subsequent aversion-resistant consumption in mice

Abstract Addiction is mediated in large part by pathological motivation for rewarding, addictive substances, and alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) continue to extract a very high physical and economic toll on society. Compulsive alcohol drinking, where intake continues despite negative consequences, is considered a particular obstacle during treatment of AUDs. Aversion-resistant drives for alcohol have been modeled in rodents, where animals continue to consume even when alcohol is adulterated with the bitter tastant quinine, or is paired with another aversive consequence. Here, we describe a two-bottle choice paradigm where C57BL/6 mice first had 24-h access to 15% alcohol or water. Afterward, they drank quinine-free alcohol (alcohol-only) or alcohol with quinine (100 μM), in a limited daily access (LDA) two-bottle-choice paradigm (2 h/day, 5 days/week, starting 3 h into the dark cycle), and achieved nearly binge-level blood alcohol concentrations. Interestingly, a single, initial 24-h experience with alcohol-only enhanced subsequent quinine-resistant drinking. In contrast, mice that drank alcohol–quinine in the 24-h session showed significantly reduced alcohol–quinine intake and preference during the subsequent LDA sessions, relative to mice that drank alcohol-only in the initial 24-h session and alcohol–quinine in LDA sessions. Thus, mice could find the concentration of quinine we used aversive, but were able to disregard the quinine after a single alcohol-only drinking session. Finally, mice had low intake and preference for quinine in water, both before and after weeks of alcohol-drinking sessions, suggesting that quinine resistance was not a consequence of increased quinine preference after weeks of drinking of alcohol–quinine. Together, we demonstrate that a single alcohol-only session was sufficient to enable subsequent aversion-resistant consumption in C57BL/6 mice, which did not reflect changes in quinine taste palatability. Given the rapid development of quinine-resistant alcohol drinking patterns, this model provides a simple, quick, and robust method for uncovering the mechanisms that promote aversion-resistant consumption.
A Cost-Effective Phaseless Pattern Measurement Method for a CP Antenna in a Submillimeter-Wave Band

In this letter, we present a reflection-based phaseless method for circularly polarized (CP) gain characterization of antennas in the submillimeter-wave and terahertz bands. The broadside gain measurement using this method was demonstrated in the paper “Novel phaseless gain characterization for CP antennas at mm-wave and THz frequencies” ( IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag. , vol. 63, no. 10, pp. 4263–4270, Oct. 2015). Here, we extend the method to measure the main lobe of the antenna, which can be used for calculation of parameters such as beamwidth and Gaussicity. The method does not require phase consistency between orthogonal measurements and is, therefore, robust to misalignment errors. We present broadside gain and main-lobe pattern measurements in the WR-8 band to demonstrate the usefulness of the method.
Factor Analysis Reveals Student Thinking using the Mechanics Reasoning Inventory

The Mechanics Reasoning Inventory (MRI) is an assessment instrument specifically designed to assess strategic reasoning skills involving core concepts in introductory Newtonian mechanics. Being an assessment of higher order thinking (as opposed to declarative or rule-based procedural thinking), it is necessary to check whether or not the mental constructs underlying actual student responses correlate with the authors' domain classification, which is the subject of this paper. The instrument consists of three types of problems: whether momentum or energy is conserved in a given situation and why, (partly inspired by the paired what/why questions in Lawson's Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning), application of Newton's 2nd and 3rd law, and decomposing problems into parts (inspired by Van Domelen's Problem Decomposition Diagnostic). It has been administered 183 times in two MIT courses since 2009. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed that each Lawson pair of questions should be considered as one item, after which it identified four factors among the 21 questions that correspond reasonably well with the intended physics topics, and a fifth factor correlated with the concept of circular motion, a difficult topic for students (even though not viewed as a core principle by the designers). We discuss why 6 of the items classified under factors that differed from the expert assignments. There was no strong indication that the students answered each of different problem types similarly, which is a hallmark of students using novice heuristics rather than reasoning based on physical principles to answer the questions.
A randomized feasibility study on the effects of music therapy in the form of patient-preferred live music on mood and pain in patients on a cardiovascular unit

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) leads to over four million hospitalizations in the USA annually. Clinicians have used music listening and music therapy in hospital settings to improve pati...
The effects of drivers’ behavior on driver-injury severities in Iran: An application of the mixed-logit model

It has long been established that adverse driver behavior, including behavior relating to distracted driving, propensities for risk taking, and disregarding traffic rules, have been critical determinants with regard to the likelihood of a vehicle crash and its resulting injury severity. Socio-economic/educational/cultural factors (e.g. social willingness to comply with the law) have significant positive effects on traffic related fatalities. Using crash data from Iran over a six-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011, this paper estimates a mixed logit model (with possible outcomes of severe injury, minor injury, and no injury) to investigate the unsafe driving behavior effects on driver-injury severity in a vehicle collision on interprovincial routes. The methodological approach allows the parameters to vary across observations as opposed to a fixed parameter model. The results showed random effects of female drivers, separated bi-directional route and clear weather condition for no injury severity function, following too closely for minor injury function, and average annual daily traffic for severe injury function. Several factors were found to significantly increase the likelihood of severe injury crashes including disregarding traffic rules, exceeding the speed limit, improper overtaking/passing, and driving in an erratic and negligent manner. The results of this paper will further help decision makers to better understand the contributing factors on crash injury severity and implement treatments to reduce the crash severity and improve transportation safety.
Leaving late: Understanding the extent and predictors of college late departure

Research on college dropout has largely addressed early exit from school, even though a large share of students who do not earn degrees leave after their second year. In this paper, we offer new evidence on the scope of college late departure. Using administrative data from Florida and Ohio, we conduct an event history analysis of the dropout process as a function of credit attainment. Our results indicate that late departure is widespread, particularly at two- and open-admission four-year institutions. We estimate that 14 percent of all entrants to college and one-third of all dropouts completed at least three-quarters of the credits that are typically required to graduate before leaving without a degree. Our results also indicate that the probability of departure spikes as students near the finish line. Amidst considerable policy attention towards improving student outcomes in college, our findings point to promising new avenues for intervention to increase postsecondary attainment.
Nurse-Led Medical Emergency Teams: A Recipe for Success in Community Hospitals

Nurses can lead MET responses. Special tools may be necessary to make them most effective, including communication pathways, treatment protocols, specialized training in crisis response skills, physician chain of command documentation, and post-event debriefing of involved staff to improve patient care. The outcomes of nurse-led MET programs and physician-led MET programs are similar, and no hospital should refuse to implement METs simply because no physician is available to respond. Indeed, nursing brings a unique perspective to the leadership role in a MET process. Experience, instinct, determination, and a spirit of collaboration with the nurse at the bedside are attributes that can sustain a MET process and over time can change the environment of the facility.
Relationship-Specific Investment, Contracting Environment and Financial Performance

Firms that engage in long-term bilateral relationships with their buyers or suppliers are usually required to make relationship-specific investments. We examine how the values of these long-term specific investments are affected by the quality of governmental contract enforcement. We find that firms in relationship-specific industries have higher valuations, measured by Tobin’s Q, when their countries of origin are able to strongly enforce contractual agreements. Our finding is robust to a variety of empirical specifications and regression methods. We also show that as legal quality improves, these relationship-specific firms exhibit lower operating performance presumably due to risk or in order to motivate further investments from their stakeholders. Further analysis of the cross-section of stock returns supports a risk-based explanation.
Forms and Meanings of Respect: Aging Mothers and Adult Daughters With Mental Illness

This qualitative study explores the perspectives of aging mothers to understand the ways in which respect is experienced in relationships involving aging mothers and adult daughters with mental illness. Data came from audiotaped personal interviews with a purposive sample of 21 mothers (ages 52–90) of adult daughters with a serious mental illness. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to analyze transcripts and identify the forms of respect described by aging mothers. Aging mothers and their daughters with mental illness experience multiple forms of respect; however, the meanings of respect vary by generation. These findings have practice, educational, and research implications for social workers serving aging families dealing with mental illness.
Copper and Disease

Wilson’s disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) was first characterized by S. A. Kinnear Wilson in 1912 (Wilson, 1912). It is an inherited, progressive, and, if untreated, ultimately fatal disease of copper accumulation in the human body, particularly in the liver, brain, and kidney (see Table 9-1). Indeed, the demonstration of excess copper in the liver is a requisite for the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease. The disease is usually seen as hepatic dysfunction in early adolescence, although it has been found in patients as young as four years. Symptoms are nonspecific, commonly with degenerative changes in the brain and cirrhosis of the liver. The incidence of the disease is high among Arabs, Japanese, Chinese, Indians, and Jews (Beam, 1960). The gene for Wilson’s disease appears to be located on chromosome 13 (Frydman et al., 1985).
Adaptive D2D resources allocation underlaying (2-tier) heterogeneous cellular networks

The paradigm of Device-to-Device (D2) communication has recently emerged as a potential LTE-Advanced cellular network technology to cope with the spectrum crunch issue in future ultra-dense heterogeneous networks. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for D2D resource channel allocation that minimizes interference among D2D, cellular and small cells while maximizing overall network capacity. Resource allocation is a mixed integer non-linear program (i.e., an NP-hard problem). The authors developed a Sequential Max Search (SMS) algorithm that is less computationally demanding approach for D2D resource allocation. Results demonstrate that SMS achieved a significant space search reduction than that of brute-force algorithm, but SMS had sub-optimal solution.
Non-degenerate 2 × k × (k + 1) hypermatrices

ABSTRACTWe show that if F is a topological field, then there is a transitive, free and continuous action of a natural quotient of GLk(F)×GLk+1(F) on the set Mk(F) of 2×k×(k+1) hypermatrices over F with non-zero hyperdeterminant. We use this action to study the homotopy type of Mk(C) and Mk(R) and count elements of Mk(Fq) (generalizing an unpublished result of Lewis and Sam).
Health-Related Quality of Life after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an integral part of the frontline therapy in eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The impact of ASCT on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in myeloma has not been well described. We performed a systematic literature search to identify studies evaluating the impact of ASCT on HRQoL. Our search retrieved 12 relevant studies: 10 manuscripts and 2 conference abstracts. There was a widespread heterogeneity across studies in instruments used to measure HRQoL, time points of measurement, and statistical analysis. Only 1 study was a randomized controlled trial with HRQoL as a prespecified secondary endpoint. The common theme that emerged from most studies is that ASCT leads to an immediate deterioration in HRQoL and increase in symptom burden. However, baseline HRQoL and symptom scores are regained as early as 1 to 2 months post-transplantation. Furthermore, an improvement in HRQoL and pain on long-term follow-up was noted in some studies. We describe opportunities for further research in this area, including routine incorporation of HRQoL as an endpoint in transplant-related clinical trials and need for trials investigating interventions that may improve short and long-term HRQoL in myeloma ASCT recipients.
Partial difference equation extensions to automata regulator theory

An algebraic solution to the regulator problem for the finite automata based on the partial difference equation model is proposed. It gives closed form solutions by matrix manipulations. Case study applications for this model have been developed.
Computational optimality theory

In Optimality Theory, a linguistic input is assigned a grammatical structural description by selecting, from an infinite set of candidate structural descriptions, the description which best satisfies a ranked set of the same universal constraints. Cross-linguistic variation is explained as different rankings of the same universal constraints. Two questions are of primary interest concerning the computational tractibility of Optimality Theory. The first concerns the ability to compute optimal structural descriptions. The second concerns the learnability of the constraint rankings. Parsing algorithms are presented for the computation of optimal forms, using dynamic programming. These algorithms work for grammars in Optimality Theory employing universal constraints which may be evaluated on the basis of information local within the structural description. This approach exploits optimal substructure to construct the optimal description, rather than searching for the solution by moving from one entire description to another. A class of learning algorithms, the Constraint Demotion algorithms, are presented, which solve the problem of learning constraint rankings based upon hypothesized structural descriptions (an important subproblem of the general problem of language learning). Constraint Demotion exploits the implicit negative evidence available in the form of the competing (suboptimal) structural descriptions of the input. The data complexity of this algorithm is quadratic in the number of constraints.
An introduction to copper and zinc pollution in macroalgae: for use in remediation and nutritional applications

Macroalgae are an economically significant and fast-growing global commodity. However, pollution significantly affects the production and quality of macroalgae. Various studies have shown copper and zinc concentrations above 20 ppb (Cu) and 30 ppb (Zn) generally inhibit macroalgae growth. However, accumulation of metals in macroalgae is affected by several different factors, substances, and processes. Currently, not all of these factors, such as salinity, are well-understood and require further research. This review provides some background information on the biology and uses of macroalgae, as well as the kinetics of metal accumulation, the role of copper and zinc as toxic substances in macroalgae, and defensive mechanisms that macroalgae use to protect against metal toxicity from those metals. Finally, it describes various ways in which copper and zinc accumulation in macroalgae could be used in multiple beneficial applications.
Power Handling Capability of Self-Resonant Structures for Wireless Power Transfer

The range and efficiency of resonant inductive wireless power transfer depends on the quality factor of the resonant coils. A multilayer self-resonant structure (MSRS), made of many alternating layers of thin foil conductors and dielectric, has been shown to have a quality factor many times higher than conventional resonant coils of similar size. To date, the MSRS has only been modeled and tested for small-signal excitations and the impact of large-signal excitations on the MSRS performance has not been considered. This paper explores large-signal effects such as Steinmetz core loss, temperature dependence of winding and core losses, and the thermal effect of loss in order to determine the power handling capability of the MSRS. The analysis shows that a 6.6 cm-diameter prototype MSRS is capable of transferring as much as 10.7 kW over a 0.5 cm gap and 760 W over 2.2 cm, for maximum 40 °C temperature rise in a 25 °C environment.
Capturing coastal water clarity variability with Landsat 8.

Coastal water clarity varies at high temporal and spatial scales due to weather, climate, and human activity along coastlines. Systematic observations are crucial to assessing the impact of water clarity change on aquatic habitats. In this study, Secchi disk depths (ZSD) from Boston Harbor, Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay, and Narragansett Bay water quality monitoring organizations were compiled to validate ZSD derived from Landsat 8 (L8) imagery, and to generate high spatial resolution ZSD maps. From 58 L8 images, acceptable agreement was found between in situ and L8 ZSD in Buzzards Bay (N = 42, RMSE = 0.96 m, MAPD = 28%), Cape Cod Bay (N = 11, RMSE = 0.62 m, MAPD = 10%), and Narragansett Bay (N = 8, RMSE = 0.59 m, MAPD = 26%). This work demonstrates the value of merging in situ ZSD with high spatial resolution remote sensing estimates for improved coastal water quality monitoring.
Primary meningococcal arthritis

Clinical manifestations, diagnostic studies and management of primary meningococcal arthritis were reviewed in six children from Dallas and in 19 pediatric and adult patients from the literature. This entity is a rare form of meningococcal infection which presents as acute septic arthritis without meningitis or the classical clinical syndrome of meningococcemia. Primary meningococcal arthritis follows the well known age-specific attack rate of meningococcal disease. Polyarthritic involvement, mainly of large joints, in about one-third of the patients represents a distinct difference from acute arthritis due to other bacteria with the exception ofNeisseria gonorrhoeae. Neisseria meningitidis is cultured from the purulent synovial fluid in 80% to 90%, from the blood in approximately 40%, and from the throat in approximately 30%. The response to adequate antimicrobial therapy is somewhat slow and evacuation of pus should probably be performed. The prognosis of primary suppurative meningococcal arthritis is excellent. Meningococcal complications involving other organs and joint residua are rarely seen.
Glycemic impact of a diet and lifestyle intervention on diabetics and prediabetics during treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Introduction: Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) have increased risk of recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Glucose control through lifestyle interv...
Nonlinear Optics Exploiting the Spatial Dimension

Nonlinear optics involves the study of coherent interactions between multiple optical waves. In its most general manifestation, a nonlinear process must satisfy momentum conservation, or equivalently, phase or wavevector matching, which translates into a dispersion engineering problem in optical fibers. Hence, advances in tailoring the dispersion of single-mode fibers over the decades, especially with the advent of photonic crystal structures, has led to revolutionary advances in nonlinear optics.
Transmissibility versus Pathogenicity of Self-Propagating Protein Aggregates

The prion-like spreading and accumulation of specific protein aggregates appear to be central to the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Accumulating evidence indicates that inoculation of tissue extracts from diseased individuals into suitable experimental animals can in many cases induce the aggregation of the disease-associated protein, as well as related pathological lesions. These findings, together with the history of the prion field, have raised the questions about whether such disease-associated protein aggregates are transmissible between humans by casual or iatrogenic routes, and, if so, do they propagate enough in the new host to cause disease? These practical considerations are important because real, and perhaps even only imagined, risks of human-to-human transmission of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s may force costly changes in clinical practice that, in turn, are likely to have unintended consequences. The prion field has taught us that a single protein, PrP, can aggregate into forms that can propagate exponentially in vitro, but range from being innocuous to deadly when injected into experimental animals in ways that depend strongly on factors such as conformational subtleties, routes of inoculation, and host responses. In assessing the hazards posed by various disease-associated, self-propagating protein aggregates, it is imperative to consider both their actual transmissibilities and the pathological consequences of their propagation, if any, in recipient hosts.
Proton radiation-induced enhancement of the dark conductivity of composite amorphous/nanocrystalline silicon thin films

While most semiconductor materials are susceptible to radiation damage, we report here an observation of enhancements in the conductivity of undoped composite amorphous/nanocrystalline silicon thin films after irradiation with high-energy protons. When a series of films for which the nanocrystal concentration is varied were irradiated with 16-MeV protons with fluences from $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}$ to ${10}^{15}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{protons}/\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$, the dark conductivity following irradiation is increased by up to a factor of 10. Unlike the persistent photoconductivity effect observed in amorphous semiconductors, this enhancement is permanent and is not removed by annealing. Various mechanisms are tested to explain this effect, but none are able to fully account for our observations.
Texas Blackland Prairie restoration on old-field vegetation using seeding, mowing, and burning

This study compares degraded old-field grass-dominated pasture response to over-seeding with native tallgrass prairie species with the management practices of burning, mowing and a no-treatment con...
Response to: 'Incidence of severe COVID-19 in a Spanish cohort of 1037 patients with rheumatic diseases treated with biologics and JAK-inhibitors' by Jovani et al .

We appreciate the comments by Jovani et al 1 in response to our manuscript evaluating the outcomes among a cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases and COVID-19.2 We commend the authors for sharing the experience of their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to reply to some of the queries they posed to us. First, Jovani et al wondered why we included age in our multivariable models if we matched on age. This was done because continuous age was matched over a range (±5 years). To further address any potential differences in ages between the study groups (which was minimal), we included age in our multivariable models. Notably, adjusting for age did not change our findings when comparing adjusted to unadjusted models. Second, the authors questioned why lymphopaenia and troponin levels were not included in the multivariable models. These laboratory changes may be a result of infection that occurred after the exposure of interest (COVID-19 infection). As such, they should not be adjusted for in models because they may be on the causal pathway between the exposure and outcome (eg, mechanical ventilation …
Variation in COVID-19 outbreaks at the US state and county levels.

Abstract Objective The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to the health and economic prosperity of the world's population. Yet, because not all regions are affected equally, this research aims to understand whether the relative growth rate of the initial outbreak in early 2020 varied significantly between the US states and counties. Study design Based on publicly available case data from across the USA, the initial outbreak is statistically modeled as an exponential curve. Methods Regional differences are visually compared using geo maps and spaghetti lines. In addition, they are statistically analyzed as an unconditional model (one-way random effects analysis of variance estimated with HLM 7.03); the bias between state- and county-level models is evidenced with distribution tests and Bland–Altman plots (using SPSS 26). Results At the state level, the outbreak rate follows a normal distribution with an average relative growth rate of 0.197 (doubling time 3.518 days). But there is a low degree of reliability between state-wide and county-specific data reported (Intraclass correlation coefficient ICC = 0.169, P Conclusions The results emphasize the need for policy makers to look at the pandemic from the smallest population subdivision possible, so that countermeasures can be implemented, and critical resources provided effectively. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for these regional differences.
Are You Threatening Me? Asian-American Panethnicity in the Trump Era

Objective This study explores the effect of Donald Trump's candidacy, and first year in office, on Asian-American linked fate. We argue that the use of anti-Asian and anti-immigrant messaging during the 2016 election, and the enactment of discriminatory policies once elected, increased feelings of panethnic linked fate among Asian Americans. Method To test our hypotheses, we assess Asian Americans' levels of linked fate before the 2016 election, immediately after the 2016 election, and one year after the 2016 election with several time-series surveys. Results We find that Asian-American linked fate is higher after the election and remains high one year later. Qualitative data collected through open-ended survey responses suggest that the increase in panethnic linked fate can be at least partially attributed to Trump's discriminatory rhetoric. Conclusion The results have implications for Asian-American political behavior, particularly mobilization, by invoking collective action through panethnic linked fate.
Use of dual-energy CT for renal mass assessment

Although dual-energy CT (DECT) may prove useful in a variety of abdominal imaging tasks, renal mass evaluation represents the area where this technology can be most impactful in abdominal imaging compared to routinely performed contrast-enhanced-only single-energy CT exams. DECT post-processing techniques, such as creation of virtual unenhanced and iodine density images, can help in the characterization of incidentally discovered renal masses that would otherwise remain indeterminate based on post-contrast imaging only. The purpose of this article is to review the use of DECT for renal mass assessment, including its benefits and existing limitations. KEY POINTS: • If DECT is selected as the scanning mode for most common abdominal protocols, many incidentally found renal masses can be fully triaged within the same exam. • Virtual unenhanced and iodine density DECT images can provide additional information when renal masses are discovered in the post-contrast-only setting. • For renal mass evaluation, virtual unenhanced and iodine density DECT images should be interpreted side-by-side to troubleshoot pitfalls that can potentially lead to erroneous interpretation.
Voice of the Victims: Accounts of Secondary Victimization With the Court System Among Homicide Co-victims.

The treatment homicide co-victims receive from the criminal justice system often leaves them aggrieved and feeling alienated. A neglected but important area of investigation is the courtroom workgr...
A Review of the Community Health Club Literature Describing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Outcomes.

The Community Health Club (CHC) model is a community-based health promotion program that utilizes water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education as the first stage of a longitudinal development process. Although the CHC model has been implemented in fourteen countries over 20 years, this is the first review of the literature describing the model’s outcomes and impact. We conducted a review of the literature that provided quantitative or qualitative evidence of CHC interventions focused on WASH in low- and middle-income countries. We identified 25 articles that met our inclusion criteria. We found six major outcomes: WASH behaviors and knowledge, social capital, collective action, health, and cost or cost-effectiveness. The most consistent evidence was associated with WASH behaviors and knowledge, with significant effects on defecation practices, hand washing behaviors, and WASH knowledge. We also found qualitative evidence of impact on social capital and collective action. CHCs catalyze favorable changes in WASH behaviors and knowledge, yielding outcomes commensurate with other WASH promotion strategies. This review provides insights into the model’s theory of change, helping identify areas for further investigation. The CHC model’s holistic focus and emphasis on individual and collective change offer promising potential to address multiple health and development determinants.
Practicalities of Setting Up a Phase I Clinical Trial Unit Within an Academic Center

Over 1100 cancer drugs are in development representing an increase in effort and progress in cancer drug discovery. The starting point of clinical development is Phase 1 clinical trials and the need for dedicated Phase I units have emerged as forefront necessity even in academic centers. Early phase oncology clinical trial units within an academic center allow for the conduct of clinical research at the highest standards combined with unique opportunities for intellectual development and research collaborations. We outline here some of the practical elements of a robust early drug development unit.
In vitro T lymphopoiesis: iPSCs for T cell generation, foundations, innovations, and future directions

Abstract T cells are a fundamental component of the human adaptive immune system possessing critical functions ranging from recognition of foreign antigens to the generation and maintenance of immunologic memory for immune surveillance. These properties can be harnessed and further manipulated ex vivo to derive autologous cellular agents for the treatment of cancer. Recent expansion in the understanding of how the earliest pluripotent stem cells differentiate naturally into T cells coupled with advances in genetic engineering has opened doors for their therapeutic potential. Moreover, human pluripotent stem cells can be selectively directed toward hematopoiesis and both these in vitro–derived early hematopoietic progenitors and isolated hematopoietic stem progenitors can then be subjected to T specification conditions as a means of deriving T cells. This involves the utilization of various coculture systems, which employ Notch ligand expressed by stromal cells tantamount to normal T-cell development within the thymus. In this chapter, we will discuss the history of in vitro T-cell lymphopoiesis as well as the current methods being used to streamline T lineage commitment and T-cell generation from multiple stem cell sources. We will also review how gene editing techniques have revolutionized T-cell–based therapies and explore how the combination of in vitro T-cell generation and genetic enhancement of these cells has the potential to transform the efficacy and availability of cancer-directed T-cell immunotherapy.
Student Perception of Case-based Teaching by Near-Peers and Faculty during the Internal Medicine Clerkship: A Noninferiority Study.

Introduction:Third-year medical students traditionally receive their didactic or small group teaching sessions from clinical faculty during clerkship rotations. Near-peer teaching is increasingly r...
Cement and Clay Grouting of Foundations: Experience of TVA with Clay-Cement and Related Grouts

The work of the Committee on Grouting of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division is divided among four task committees, concerned with (1) bituminous, (2) chemical, (3) cement and (4) clay grou...
ISOLATION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE BACTERIOPHAGES ASSOCIATED WITH A LYSOGENIC STRAIN OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Abstract Feary, Thomas W. (Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, La.), Earl Fisher, Jr., and Thelma N. Fisher. Isolation and preliminary characteristics of three bacteriophages associated with a lysogenic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 87:196–208. 1964.—Three bacteriophages designated 7v, 7m, and 7s were isolated from a lysogenic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa designated Ps-7. The three viruses were found to be completely unrelated on the basis of plaque morphology, host range, serology, ultraviolet induction, sensitivity to heat, and particle morphology as revealed by electron microscopy. In addition, it was shown that the three phages were incapable of plaque formation on bacteria other than various strains of P. aeruginosa. Of the three phages, only phage 7v was capable of plaque formation on strain Ps-7. The growth of phage 7v on strain Ps-7 exhibited properties which suggest that this virus arises as the result of mutation in a temperate phage for which strain Ps-7 is lysogenic. Phages 7m and 7s are incapable of plaque formation on strain Ps-7, but are adsorbed at characteristic rates to cell suspensions of strain Ps-7. The relationship between phage 7m and strain Ps-7 was shown to meet the classical criteria for lysogeny. Because phage 7s contains ribonucleic acid as its nucleic acid component, it was concluded that its production by strain Ps-7 and the demonstration of immunity of strain Ps-7 to infection by phage 7s were not sufficient evidence to define the nature of the relationship between phage 7s and P. aeruginosa strain Ps-7. It was observed that under certain conditions the infectious titer of phage 7s preparations are markedly reduced in the presence of ribonuclease.
Price Dispersion in Spatial Perspective: Theory and Evidence

We develop a simple Hotelling spatial-trade model of price dispersion to examine how distance-related costs affect price dispersion, and we offer some insights on how such costs may best be inferred from price-dispersion measures. Our theoretical model suggests that measures of price dispersion that are not spatially-informed can mislead researchers into concluding that distance-related costs are small even when such costs are the major determinant of price dispersion. In estimates based on price dispersion across U.S. cities of eleven goods, we find that distance-related costs are large and are indeed under-estimated when inferred from standard, non-spatial, price dispersion measures.
Mega Roles for Microorganisms

Intimate Strangers Unseen Life on Earth. Baker & Simon Associates in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting. On PBS, Tuesday evenings, 9 to 30 November 1999. This four-part series on PBS, developed in association with the American Society for Microbiology, combines interesting and informative stories of scientists and their research, clever animation, and metaphors drawn from everyday life to demonstrate the evolutionary and ecological successes of Earth9s most numerous inhabitants.
Electrophysiological studies of gustation in lepidopterous larvae

The electrophysiological responses of the maxillary gustatory sensilla of ten species of lepidopterous larvae to sugars, polyhydric alcohols, amino acids, organic acids, glycosides, and sterols were tested. Of the caterpillars examined three were monophagous (Calpodes ethlius, Ceratomia catalpae, Danaus plexippus), three were oligophagous (Pieris rapae, Papilio polyxenes, Malacosoma americana), and four were polyphagous (Helioihis zea, Estigmene acrea, Isia isabella, Porthetria dispar). The sensilla of all species are structurally similar to the extent of having four chemosensory bipolar neurons in each peg.
Meaning-Text-Theory and Lexical Frames

We discuss the relationship between FrameNet and Meaning-Text Theory. We propose that the notion of frame can be used in MTT in order to give the conversive lexical function both a broader and a more precise definition. We include a discussion of some issues related to importing the FrameNet lexicon to MTT.
Pattern recognition expert system for mine classification and detection sonar

The authors present a pattern-recognition expert system for use with mine classification and detection sonar. The expert system detects and classifies mine-like targets based on the properties of the principal elastic response on the return sonar signal. Information extracted from the time delay and frequency of the principle elastic response signal is used to discriminate between mine-like objects and actual mines. The expert system extracts properties from a sliding window power spectral density on the return signal. From these extracted properties decisions are made on the characteristics of the signal within each particular time window. For each time window the expert system decides on the presence of: (i) narrowband noise, (ii) broadband noise, (iii) elastic return, and (iv) the main spectral return. The system was tested on both simulated and real scale-model data. Results on simulated data showed the successful detection of the elastic signal in both reverberation-dominant and narrowband-noise-dominant ewnvironments. >
Development and characterization of hybrid polyethylene-fibre-reinforced cement composites

Abstract The research reported here is concerned with optimizing the combined use of two different fibre types in cementitious matrices. The two fibre types were a high-modulus polyethylene fibre and a fibrillated polyethylene pulp. The effects of different volume fractions of the two fibres and their interaction on the impact resistance, flexural strength and toughness, compressive strength, bulk specific gravity, volume of permeable pores and water absorption capacity of cementitious materials manufactured with a high-performance mixer were investigated through a factorial experimental design. In the case of impact resistance, the positive effect of each fibre was pronounced in the presence of the other fibre type. For flexural strength and toughness, the combined use of polyethylene fibre and pulp produced desirable results as long as the amounts incorporated were below certain limits. The negative effects of fibres on compressive strength were less pronounced when the two fibre types were used in combination. The interactions between polyethylene fibre and pulp in deciding the specific gravity, volume of permeable pores and water absorption capacity of cementitious materials were either negligible or only moderately significant.