cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contributions of four pain domains to the prediction of patient functioning and pain interference

Pain is a multidimensional experience that can vary in intensity, quality and spatial and temporal characteristics. Although there is a great deal of research supporting the importance of pain intensity as a correlate of patient functioning, there is a lack of research examining the importance of the other components of pain, especially the temporal domain. The purpose of this study was to advance the understanding of the role of four pain domains in predicting both pain interference and psychological functioning in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis. The findings confirmed the significant association between pain intensity and measures of pain interference and psychological functioning, providing additional support for the importance of assessing pain intensity as a key component of chronic pain assessment. None of the other domains showed statistically significant associations with either of the criterion variables. However, we did find non-significant trends for pain temporal patterns to be associated with depressive symptoms. Specifically, there was a trend for patients reporting constant pain to report more depression than those reporting intermittent and variable pain. This suggests the possibility that the temporal pattern of pain may play a role in the impact of pain on depression; however, more research is needed to confirm this finding.
Three-dimensional distributions of elements in biological samples by energy-filtered electron tomography.

By combining electron tomography with energy-filtered electron microscopy, we have shown the feasibility of determining the three-dimensional distributions of phosphorus in biological specimens. Thin sections of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans were prepared by high-pressure freezing, freeze-substitution and plastic embedding. Images were recorded at energy losses above and below the phosphorus L2,3 edge using a post-column imaging filter operating at a beam energy of 120 keV. The unstained specimens exhibited minimal contrast in bright-field images. After it was determined that the specimen was sufficiently thin to allow two-window ratio imaging of phosphorus, pairs of pre-edge and post-edge images were acquired in series over a tilt range of ±55° at 5° increments for two orthogonal tilt axes. The projected phosphorus distributions were aligned using the pre-edge images that contained inelastic contrast from colloidal gold particles deposited on the specimen surface. A reconstruction and surface rendering of the phosphorus distribution clearly revealed features 15–20 nm in diameter, which were identified as ribosomes distributed along the stacked membranes of endoplasmic reticulum and in the cytoplasm. The sensitivity of the technique was estimated at <35 phosphorus atoms per voxel based on the known total ribosomal phosphorus content of approximately 7000 atoms. Although a high electron dose of approximately 107 e/nm2 was required to record two-axis tilt series, specimens were sufficiently stable to allow image alignment and tomographic reconstruction.
Dispersal of mimetic seeds of three species of Ormosia (Leguminosae)

Seeds with 'imitation arils' appear wholly or partially covered by pulp or aril but actually carry no fleshy material. The mimetic seed hypothesis to explain this phenomenon proposes a parasitic relationship in which birds are deceived into dispersing seeds that resemble bird-dispersed fruits, without receiv- ing a nutrient reward. The hard-seed for grit hypothesis proposes a mutualistic relationship in which large, terrestrial birds swallow the exceptionally hard rnimetic seeds as grit for grinding the softer seeds on which they feed. They defec- ate, dispersing the seeds, and abrade the seed surface, enhancing germination. Any fruit mimicry is incidental. Fruiting trees of Ormosia spp. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae) were observed to ascertain mechanisms of seed dispersal and the role of seemingly mimetic characteristics of the seeds in that dispersal. Seed pre- dation and seed germination were also examined. Ormosia isthamensis and 0. macro- calyx (but not 0. bopiensis) deceived arboreally-foraging frugivorous birds into taking their mimetic seeds, although rates of seed dispersal were low. These results are consistent with the mimetic seed hypothesis. On the other hand, the rates of disappearance of seeds from the ground under the Ormosia trees, hardness of the seeds, and enhancement of germination with the abrasion of the seed coat are all consistent with the hard-seed for grit hypothesis.
Model of Transverse Fuel Injection in Supersonic Combustors

A two-dimensiona l, nonreacting flow model of the aerodynamic interaction of a transverse hydrogen jet within a supersonic mainstream has been developed. The model assumes profile shapes of mass flux, pressure, flow angle, and hydrogen concentration and produces downstream profiles of the other flow parameters under the constraints of the integrated conservation equations. These profiles are used as starting conditions for an existing finite difference parabolic flow computer code for the turbulent supersonic combustion of hydrogen. Integrated mixing and flow, profile results obtained from the computer code compare favorably with existing data for the supersonic combustion of hydrogen.
High-Level Globin Gene Expression Mediated by a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Genome That Contains the 3′ γ Globin Gene Regulatory Element and Integrates as Tandem Copies in Erythroid Cells

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are being evaluated for gene therapy applications. Using purified rAAV containing a mutationally marked globin gene (A(gamma)*) and sites 2, 3, and 4 from the locus control region (rHS432A(gamma)*), but lacking a drug-resistance gene, we investigated the relationship between multiplicity of infection (MOI), gene expression, and unselected genome integration in erythroid cells. Most primary erythroid progenitors were transduced as reflected by A(gamma)* mRNA in mature colonies but only at an MOI of greater than 5 x 10(7). Using immortalized erythroleukemia cells as a model, we found that fewer than one half of the colonies that contained the A(gamma)* transcript had an integrated, intact rHS432A(gamma)* genome. rHS432A(gamma)* integrated as a single copy with expression at approximately 50% the level of an endogenous gamma globin gene. A second vector, rHS32A(gamma)*3'RE, containing the regulatory element (RE) from 3' to the chromosomal A(gamma) globin gene, integrated as an intact, tandem head to tail concatamer with a median copy number of 6 with variable expression per copy ranging from approximately onefold to threefold that of an endogenous y globin gene. These results establish that purified rAAV can be used to achieve integration and functional expression of a globin gene in erythroid cells, but only when high MOIs are used.
Expression of HLA-DQ Molecules on Human Monocytes: Identification of Two Phenotypically Different Monocyte Populations with Distinct Accessory Cell Function

Class II major histocompatibility antigens (MHC) play a fundamental role for both antigen presentation to T cells and stimulation in mixed lymphocyte reactions. Recent progress in the understanding of human class II MHC antigens has provided evidence for at least three types of Ia molecules:HLA-DR,DQ, and DP.
Exploration of CMOS-Memristive Neuromorphic Circuits

As conventional CMOS technology approaches fundamental scaling limits novel nanotechnologies offer great promise for VLSI integration at nanometer scales. The memristor, or memory resistor, is a novel nanoelectronic device that holds great promise for continued scaling for emerging applications. Memristor behavior is very similar to that of the synapses necessary for realizing a neural network. In this research, we have considered circuits that leverage memristance in the realization of an artificial synapse that can be used to implement neuromorphic computing hardware. A charge sharing based neural network is described which consists of a hybrid of conventional CMOS technology and novel memristors. Results demonstrate that the circuit can be implemented with energy consumption on the order of tens of femto-joules. Furthermore, a training circuit is presented for implementing supervised learning in hardware with low area overhead.
Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Ni3Al-Al2O3 Composites

The objective of this study is to develop a metal-matrix composite based on the intermetallic alloy Ni3Al reinforced with Al2O3 fibers, with improved high-temperature strength and lower density compared to the matrix material. This paper summarizes results of initial fabrication and mechanical tests on specimens produced using IC-15 [Ni-24% Al-0.24% B (at.%)] and IC-218 [Ni-16.5% Al-8% Cr-0.4% Zr-0.1% B (at.%)], with 20 vol. % Al2O3 fibers. Fabrication methods include both hot-pressing and hot-extrusion. Mechanical tests include four-point bending and tensile tests. The integrity of the fiber-matrix interface was studied and correlated with mechanical properties. Tensile ductilities of approximately 10% at room temperature were achieved for Ni3Al/Al2O3 composites with controlled material processing and interfacial structure. Fabrication of composites by hot-extrusion produced better tensile properties at room temperature, but superplastic behavior (i.e., low strengths, high ductilities) at 1000°C.
Marketing, Strategic Planning and the Theory of the Firm

The strategic planning process is inextricably linked with the issue of corporate goal formulation. It is argued that greater progress will be made in understanding marketing's participation in str...
One-Dimensional Spatial Encoding: Split/Mix Synthetic Parallelism with Tag-Free Identification and Assays at the Speed of Light

We have recently developed a method for combinatorial chemistry that allows fully parallel synthesis, while retaining information on the identity of each library member. In this context, we use the term “fully parallel” in a very restrictive sense, i.e., to specify not only that a given synthetic step is carried out simultaneously for the entire library, but also that each reagent used in a given step need be handled only once. The key to spatially encoded synthesis with such parallelism is to use a linear organization of the library, and a solid support of linear morphology [1].
The Development and Prospect of Internet of Things

In this paper related concepts and development of things in ternet are analysed.And the development prospects are explored.
Physical activity and sedentary behaviors among 35-74 years old rural residents in Ningyang,Shangdong province,2010

Objective To analyze the distribution of physical activity and sedentary behaviors in rural residents of Shandong province, and explore the relationship of which between high blood pressure, diabetes, central obesity,dyslipidemia, overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome. Methods Using the data of Ningyang county of Shandong province Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance(2010). Results In the 3271 cases of respondents, the proportion of physical activity increased with the increase of age. For the weekly exercise time, the longest is 630 minutes, and the shortest is 10 minutes, the average time is 235.1(±141.7) minutes; the 65-74 age group have longest time, and the of 35-44 age group have the shortest; male's less than women. The daily average sedentary time was 3.2(±1.9) hours.Hypertension patients' Active exercise time is lower than the normal group, and the sedentary time has no significant difference; The sedentary time of the patients for central obesity or metabolic syndrome or overweight/obese is significantly more than the general people, and exercise time has no significant difference; There has no significant differences between diabetes or dyslipidemia with the general people for neither exercise tine nor sedentary time. Conclusion The results of physical activity are consistent with national average level., but results of sedentary behaviors are higher. The residents' understanding about sports being good for chronic disease prevention has not yet to reach the ideal state, and should strengthen exercise interventions for chronic disease patients. Encouraging male and young people to take physical exercise should be the key work.
A comparative life cycle assessment of commercially available household silver-enabled polyester textiles

Silver-enabled textiles use the inherent antimicrobial properties of silver to produce a product with odor reduction capabilities. A touted benefit of these products is the ability to reduce their lifetime environmental impact through reductions in laundering. A comprehensive life cycle assessment is needed to fully understand the potential benefit of reduced laundering, environmental payback period, and potential to shift consumer-laundering behavior. Three commercially available silver-enabled polyester fabrics are compared to a conventional fabric using life cycle assessment methodology. Sima Pro software along with the Tool for Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI) impact categories are used to model the environmental impact of the four textiles (three with added silver, and one conventional textile) throughout their lifetimes. Environmental payback is used to determine the number of reductions of launderings necessary for environmental benefit to be realized from the inclusion of silver. Current literature on laundering motivations and habits is reviewed to yield insight on whether there is the potential for consumers to launder their textiles less frequently. The lifetime environmental impact of the three textiles considered varies as a function of the silver content and environmental impact category. In some impact categories, such as global warming potential, the laundering phase has the greatest environmental impact and thus has the potential for the greatest reduction. In other categories, such as ecotoxicity, the most significant impact is due to the percentage of silver that is released into surface water from the textile. In this case, environmental parity (the point at which the environmental impacts are the same) is not always possible to achieve. A review of the literature suggests that the motivation to launder textiles along with the frequency varies significantly across populations and times in history. Silver-enabled textiles have the potential to reduce the odors produced by unwashed textiles through bacterial inhibition. In some cases, there is the potential to achieve adequate reductions in laundering to compensate for the increased energy and raw materials needed to produce silver-enabled textile. However, frequency of laundering is largely a cultural norm based on perceived cleanliness and is unlikely to be shifted as a function of textile adoption.
Simulation and control of sediment transport due to dam removal

This paper presents two case studies of post-dam removal sedimentation in the United States. Two similar 1D channel evolution simulation models were used: CCHE1D and CONCEPTS. The first case is the model validation and application of CCHE1D to assess morphological response to the Marmot Dam removal in the Sandy River, Oregon. Simulation results showed a persistent erosion of sediments from the reservoir over the 10-year period. To minimize morphological changes downstream of the dam site, the CCHE1D-based optimization model is applied to find the optimal sediment diversion from the dam site. The optimization results show that the optimal diversion rate can significantly reduce the bed elevation changes downstream, which can be used as a guideline for planning best dam decommissioning management. The second case is a CONCEPTS study of the sediment dynamics over a 37-year period after removal of the Plainwell and Otsego City Dams along the Kalamazoo River, Michigan. Removing the dams would increase sediment...
Electrode Materials in Microfluidic Systems for the Processing and Separation of DNA: A Mini Review

Since the advent of genetic analysis, electrode materials have played an irreplaceable role due to the easily-exploitable negatively-charged backbone of the DNA structure. Initially, the employment of electrophoretic movement lay only in the separation of DNA fragments of differing length; however, the widening utility of electrokinetic phenomena at the microscale in areas such as fluid transportation and multistep integration led researchers to capitalize further when translating processes to microfluidic or “lab-on-chip” devices. Over the following three decades, the field witnessed a plethora of ways in which the necessary voltages could be transmitted to the sample and reagents with many successes; however, additional demands were then placed on those hoping to bring their microdevices to the market place. A greater emphasis on the cost of all constituent parts along with the increased importance that fluidics be contained hermetically at all times meant groups would become more imaginative when incorporating electrode materials. This review will aim to exactly describe the evolution of how those materials have been employed in DNA-based microfluidic devices. It will focus on how developers began to explore other emerging uses and also discuss how their tactics reflected the progressive demands of their chosen industry.
An improved radiosynthesis of O‐(2‐[18F]fluoroethyl)‐O‐(p‐nitrophenyl)methylphosphonate: A first‐in‐class cholinesterase PET tracer

O-(2-Fluoroethyl)-O-(p-nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate 1 is an organophosphate cholinesterase inhibitor that creates a phosphonyl-serine covalent adduct at the enzyme active site blocking cholinesterase activity in vivo. The corresponding radiolabeled O-(2-[18 F]fluoroethyl)-O-(p-nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate, [18 F]1, has been previously prepared and found to be an excellent positron emission tomography imaging tracer for assessment of cholinesterases in live brain, peripheral tissues, and blood. However, the previously reported [18 F]1 tracer synthesis was slow even with microwave acceleration, required high-performance liquid chromatography separation of the tracer from impurities, and gave less optimal radiochemical yields. In this paper, we report a new synthetic approach to circumvent these shortcomings that is reliant on the facile reactivity of bis-(O,O-p-nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate, 2, with 2-fluoroethanol in the presence of DBU. The cold synthesis was successfully translated to provide a more robust radiosynthesis. Using this new strategy, the desired tracer, [18 F]1, was obtained in a non-decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 8 ± 2% (n = 7) in >99% radiochemical and >95% chemical purity with a specific activity of 3174 ± 345 Ci/mmol (EOS). This new facile radiosynthesis routinely affords highly pure quantities of [18 F]1, which will further enable tracer development of OP cholinesterase inhibitors and their evaluation in vivo.
Terrorism, Sociology and a Resilience Approach

The following chapter considers the relation among the concepts of security, resilience and Muslim terrorism with a special focus on the terrorism organization named IS or Islamic State.
Dislocation assisted diffusion: A mechanism for growth of intermetallic compounds in copper ball bonds

Abstract A combination of Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation and analytical formulation is employed to predict the thickness of Intermetallic Compounds (IMCs) right after ball bonding of copper wire to an aluminum pad. The IMCs growth is related to the enhanced diffusion through the dislocations that are generated in the aluminum pad during the bonding process. Dislocation density and diffusional constants are estimated from the results of the FEA and MD simulation and used to calculate the thickness of IMCs that can form through dislocation-assisted diffusion. It is shown that dislocations have a strong effect on controlling diffusional processes that lead to IMC growth. Results are compared with independently acquired experimental data in the literature. The good agreement between the computed and experimental results supports the validity of the proposed mechanism.
Synthesis and Morphology Study of SEBS Triblock Copolymers Functionalized with Sulfonate and Phosphonate Groups for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Aromatic rings of poly(styrene-b-(ethylene-r-butylene)-b-styrene) triblock copolymer (SEBS) were functionalized with various acid functional groups for proton exchange membrane (PEM) applications. Three different acid functional groups (fluoroalkylsulfonic acid, arylsulfonic acid, and arylphosphonic acid) were introduced into SEBS via borylation of aromatic C–H bonds and Suzuki coupling reactions. The incorporation of acid side groups selectively into the polystyrene block of SEBS created nanometer-scale phase separated morphology composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains in which the morphology structures and interdomanin distances are dependent on the chemical structure of acid side chains. Despite high ion exchange capacity value, the aryl phosphonated polymer (SEBS-P) showed the lowest water uptake and significantly lower proton conductivity compared to sulfonated SEBS PEMs because of the low acidity of phosphonic acid. Compared to aryl sulfonated SEBS-S2, fluoroalkyl sulfonated SEBS-S1 showed b...
IMPACT OF PULMONARY VEIN ISOLATION ON HOSPITALIZATIONS IN HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and may portend negative prognostic value. The effect of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) on heart failure outcomes such as hospitalizations in such patients is unknown. Patients with HFpEF (
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy and Nephroureterectomy

Significant advances have been made in the field of minimally invasive urologic surgery since the use of laparoscopy was initially described. Minimally invasive surgery was originally considered the realm of laparoscopic surgeons, often with additional subspecialty training. The development of robotic surgery broadened the field of urologic surgeons capable of using minimally invasive techniques for radical prostatectomy.
Molecular Basis of Cardiac Development and Congenital Heart Disease

Cardiovascular malformations are the most common type of birth defect and result in significant mortality worldwide. The etiology for the majority of these anomalies remains unknown. The heart is the first organ to form, and the process of cardiac development has been well described in multiple species. More recently, advances in the characterization of the molecular pathways critical for normal cardiac development has led to the identification of numerous genes necessary for this complex morphogenetic process. This work has aided the discovery of an increasing number of genetic contributors being implicated as the cause of human cardiovascular malformations. This chapter summarizes normal cardiac development and outlines the discoveries of the genetic causes of congenital heart disease. We begin by summarizing the stages of cardiac development from early cardiomyocyte specification to the later stages of chamber and septa formation, valvulogenesis, and development of the outflow tracts. Next, we discuss the roles of the multiple cellular contributors that are necessary for normal heart formation. We finish this chapter by highlighting the intricacies of the molecular pathways regulating cardiac embryogenesis that are now beginning to be elucidated and how they have impacted human disease.
Delayed vascular complications after orthopaedic surgery: A report of two cases and review of the literature:

Vascular complications from orthopaedic surgery can be devastating. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and pseudoaneurysm formation are possible from orthopaedic injuries as well as orthopaedic surgery. L...
Does Mate Scarcity Affect Marital Choice and Family Formation? The Evidence for New and Classic Formulations of Sex Ratio Theory

Guttentag and Secord pioneered research on the social consequences of imbalances in the numbers of men and women—the sex ratio. Since then, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, and even bi...
Individual and collective identification in contemporary forensics

It has long been understood that individual and collective identification are inexorably intertwined. This convergence is not limited to genetics. This paper discusses the convergence of individual and collective identification in a comparative analysis of three other forensic areas: fingerprint analysis, microscopic hair comparison, and microbiome forensics. In all three case studies, we see purportedly individualizing technologies reverting, in a sense, to collective identification. Presumably, this has much to do with the perceived utility of collective identification. When knowing precisely who is the donor of a trace is not possible, or not useful, then knowing that the donor is ‘white,’ or ‘black,’ or ‘Middle Eastern’ begins to seem somehow useful. In each case, we also see that these collective identifications are ultimately founded on crude and broad, seemingly ‘commonsensical’ or ‘social,’ racial categories. These categories, meanwhile, are based on a less-than-fully-transparent combination of self-identification or official ascription. These suspect data are then transformed into seemingly persuasive scientific claims about the genetic attributes of this or that ‘race,’ ‘ethnicity,’ or ‘ancestry.’ Through this comparison the paper will explore how the individual and the collective are ‘done’ differently and similarly in different forensic disciplines.
Assessing callous-unemotional traits: development of a brief, reliable measure in a large and diverse sample of preadolescent youth.

Background Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are critical to developmental, diagnostic, and clinical models of antisocial behaviors (AB). However, assessments of CU traits within large-scale longitudinal and neurobiologically focused investigations remain remarkably sparse. We sought to develop a brief measure of CU traits using items from widely administered instruments that could be linked to neuroimaging, genetic, and environmental data within already existing datasets and future studies. Methods Data came from a large and diverse sample (n = 4525) of youth (ages~9-11) taking part in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Moderated nonlinear factor analysis was used to assess measurement invariance across sex, race, and age. We explored whether CU traits were distinct from other indicators of AB, investigated unique links with theoretically-relevant outcomes, and replicated findings in an independent sample. Results The brief CU traits measure demonstrated strong psychometric properties and evidence of measurement invariance across sex, race, and age. On average, boys endorsed higher levels of CU traits than girls and CU traits were related to, yet distinguishable from other indicators of AB. The CU traits construct also exhibited expected associations with theoretically important outcomes. Study findings were also replicated across an independent sample of youth. Conclusions In a large, multi-site study, a brief measure of CU traits can be measured distinctly from other dimensions of AB. This measure provides the scientific community with a method to assess CU traits in the ABCD sample, as well as in other studies that may benefit from a brief assessment of CU.
Bound states in the continuum of higher-order topological insulators

We show that lattices with higher-order topology can support corner-localized bound states in the continuum (BICs). We propose a method for the direct identification of BICs in condensed matter settings and use it to demonstrate the existence of BICs in a concrete lattice model. Although the onset for these states is given by corner-induced filling anomalies in certain topological crystalline phases, additional symmetries are required to protect the BICs from hybridizing with their degenerate bulk states. We demonstrate the protection mechanism for BICs in this model and show how breaking this mechanism transforms the BICs into higher-order topological resonances. Our work shows that topological states arising from the bulk-boundary correspondence in topological phases are more robust than previously expected, expanding the search space for crystalline topological phases to include those with boundary-localized BICs or resonances.
Light as Experience and Imagination from Paleolithic to Roman Times: by David S. Herrstrom, Madison, WI, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2017, vii + 181 pp., $85.00/£100 (cloth)

A lyrical journey on a sunbeam, David S. Herrstrom’s volume is short but ambitious. He takes us through the ages—from the Paleolithic to that of the Roman Classicists—attempting to delineate the hu...
Control of 2dof Planar Parallel Manipulator Using Backstepping Approach

In this paper, dynamic equations of motion for a 2DoF parallel robot manipulator including structured and unstructured uncertainties are considered. The application ofBackstepping technique for trajectory tracking in presence of parameter uncertainties in massvariation is studied. The advantage of this control technique is that it imposes the desiredproperties of stability by xing initially the candidate Lyapunov functions, then by calculatingthe other functions in a recursive way. Simulation results are presented in order to evaluate thetracking performance and the global stability of the closed loop system. Obtained results showthe eectiveness of the proposed controller for 2DoF parallel robot.
Role of Diet in the Development and Management of Crohn’s Disease

This article provides an updated review on the role of diet in the risk of developing Crohn’s disease (CD) and CD management, areas of ongoing study. Higher intake of dietary fiber (fruit fiber) has been associated with a reduced risk for CD. The exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) diet remains the most validated nutritional recommendation for inducing remission in CD. The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) has demonstrated reductions in CD severity scores in conjunction with medical therapies, and larger trials on its efficacy are ongoing. Several new exclusion diets modeled after EEN and SCD have shown potential efficacy in smaller studies that warrant replication. There is a paucity of clear dietary recommendations for the reduction in risk of CD clinical relapse. There are various components of diet that likely impact risk for CD development and contribute to its disease course; however, studies are often limited in their size or ability to demonstrate mechanistic causation. Further studies including diets that aim to expand on the restrictive nature of EEN may lead to stronger evidence for a diet-based approach to CD management.
Undocumented U.S. Immigrants and Covid-19.

Undocumented U.S. Immigrants and Covid-19 Years of anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric will be difficult to reverse, but it’s essential that the Trump administration address the needs of undocumen...
Buildings as material banks using RFID and building information modeling in a circular economy

Abstract Currently, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction community operates in an environmentally problematic linear economy by consuming non-renewable virgin materials, producing landfill waste, and increasing the overall environmental impact. A solution to mitigate these problems is the implementation of a circular economy, an economic model that decouples economic growth and depletion of resources by minimizing waste. Technology opportunities explored to foster these relationships include building as material banks (BAMB), building information modeling (BIM) software, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, and blockchain. This paper presents a conceptual diagram and framework for implementing a circular economy utilizing the promising technologies and concept.
Building Damage Evaluation from Satellite Imagery using Deep Learning

In recent decades, millions of people are killed by natural disasters such as wildfire, landslide, tsunami, and volcanic eruption. The efficiency of post-disaster emergency responses and humanitarian assistance has become crucial in minimizing the expected casualties. This paper focuses on the task of building damage level evaluation, which is a key step for maximizing the deployment efficiency of post-event rescue activities. In this paper, we implement a Mask R-CNN based building damage evaluation model with a practical two-stage training strategy. The motivation of Stage-l is to train a ResNet 101 backbone in Mask R-CNN as a Building Feature Extractor. In Stage-2, we further build on top the model trained in Stage-l a deep learning architecture that performs more sophisticated tasks and is able to classify buildings with different damage levels from satellite images. In particular, in order to take advantage of pre-disaster satellite images, we extract the ResNet 101 backbone from the Mask R-CNN trained on pre-disaster images in Stage-l and utilize it to build a Siamese based semantic segmentation model for classifying the building damage level at the pixel level. The pre- and post-disaster satellite images are simultaneously fed into the proposed Siamese based model during the training and inference process. The output of these two models own the same size as input satellite images. Buildings with different damage levels, i.e., ‘no damage’, ‘minor damage’, ‘major damage’, and ‘destroyed’, are represented as segments of different damage classes in the output. Comparative experiments are conducted on the xBD satellite imagery dataset and compared with multiple state-of-the-art methods. The experimental results indicate that the proposed Siamese based method is capable to improve the damage evaluation accuracy by 16 times and 80%, compared with a baseline model implemented by xBD team and the Mask-RCNN framework, respectively.
Endotracheal intubation in patients with COVID-19 using an ultrathin flexible gastrointestinal endoscope

Pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 occasionally becomes severe and requires endotracheal intubation. Endotracheal intubation is usually performed using a laryngoscope; however, the operator needs to be in close proximity to the patient's face during the procedure, which increases the risk of droplet exposure. Therefore, we simulated fiberoptic endotracheal intubation on a mannequin representing the patient, using an ultrathin flexible gastrointestinal endoscope as an alternative to the bronchoscope, in order to maintain distance from the patient during the procedure. We performed this procedure 10 times and measured the time required; the median procedure time was 6.4 s (interquartile range, 5.7-8.1 s). The advantage of this method is the short procedure time and distance maintained from the patients. The flexible tip-steerable control and length of the gastrointestinal endoscope contributed to shortening the procedure time and maintaining distance from the patients. In addition, this method can handle difficult airways without risk of misplacement of the endotracheal tube. However, it is necessary to consider the risk of aerosol generation associated with this procedure. In the pandemic setting of coronavirus disease 2019, this approach may be useful when a gastrointestinal endoscopist is in charge of endotracheal intubation of patients with coronavirus disease 2019.
Cloning of the first cDNA encoding a putative CCRFamide precursor: identification of the brain, eyestalk ganglia, and cardiac ganglion as sites of CCRFamide expression in the American lobster, Homarus americanus

Over the past decade, many new peptide families have been identified via in silico analyses of genomic and transcriptomic datasets. While various molecular and biochemical methods have confirmed the existence of some of these new groups, others remain in silico discoveries of computationally assembled sequences only. An example of the latter are the CCRFamides, named for the predicted presence of two pairs of disulfide bonded cysteine residues and an amidated arginine-phenylalanine carboxyl-terminus in family members, which have been identified from annelid, molluscan, and arthropod genomes/transcriptomes, but for which no precursor protein-encoding cDNAs have been cloned. Using routine transcriptome mining methods, we identified four Homarus americanus (American lobster) CCRFamide transcripts that share high sequence identity across the predicted open reading frames but more limited conservation in their 5' terminal ends, suggesting the Homarus gene undergoes alternative splicing. RT-PCR profiling using primers designed to amplify an internal fragment common to all of the transcripts revealed expression in the supraoesophageal ganglion (brain), eyestalk ganglia, and cardiac ganglion. Variant specific profiling revealed a similar profile for variant 1, eyestalk ganglia specific expression of variant 2, and an absence of variant 3 expression in the cDNAs examined. The broad distribution of CCRFamide transcript expression in the H. americanus nervous system suggests a potential role as a locally released and/or circulating neuropeptide. This is the first report of the cloning of a CCRFamide-encoding cDNA from any species, and as such, provides the first non-in silico support for the existence of this invertebrate peptide family.
Preserving Genomic Privacy via Selective Sharing

Although genomic data has significant impact and widespread usage in medical research, it puts individuals' privacy in danger, even if they anonymously or partially share their genomic data. To address this problem, we present a framework that is inspired from differential privacy for sharing individuals' genomic data while preserving their privacy. We assume an individual with some sensitive portion on her genome (e.g., mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms - SNPs that reveal sensitive information about the individual) that she does not want to share. The goals of the individual are to (i) preserve the privacy of her sensitive data (considering the correlations between the sensitive and non-sensitive part), (ii) preserve the privacy of interdependent data (data that belongs to other individuals that is correlated with her data), and (iii) share as much non-sensitive data as possible to maximize utility of data sharing. As opposed to traditional differential privacy-based data sharing schemes, the proposed scheme does not intentionally add noise to data; it is based on selective sharing of data points. We observe that traditional differential privacy concept does not capture sharing data in such a setting, and hence we first introduce a privacy notation, e-indirect privacy, that addresses data sharing in such settings. We show that the proposed framework does not provide sensitive information to the attacker while it provides a high data sharing utility. We also compare the proposed technique with the previous ones and show our advantage both in terms of privacy and data sharing utility.
NeuroREACH™ Platform for Expanded Access Program (EAP) Trials as the Foundation for Clinical Research of the Future (5463)

Objective: Develop a platform for rapid deployment of neurological EAP clinical trials to test investigational therapies and aggregate safety data in a compliant regulatory setting Background: Expanded Access Programs provide investigational therapies to patients who are not eligible or able to participate in clinical trials but have serious or life-threatening diseases, for which their physician has determined there are no appropriate treatment options. Many pharma/biotech offer investigational products and many investigators agreeing or insisting upon running multiple EAP trials for the benefit of their patient population who fail eligibility criteria of “regular” clinical trials. Introduction of a regulatory-compliant platform to execute EAPs became a necessity. The Center for Innovation and Bioinformatics (CIB) introduced the NeuroREACH™ platform to facilitate: - Rapid deployment of EAP trials - Capture of clinical and safety data from patients - Data Management - Real-time secure and controlled access to data visualization and reports Design/Methods: Any investigator with an IRB-approved EAP protocol and open enrollment of patients may capture and store phenotypical, safety, and biomarker data utilizing the NeuroREACH EDC platform. The CIB acts as the Data Coordination Center and its program management team will oversee the addition of new studies, data curation, visualization, and reporting. Results: The NeuroREACH platform has been deployed at CIB and available to investigators and sponsors around the world. Currently FOUR EAP trials utilize NeuroREACH. As patients may participate in multiple EAPs, NeuroGUIDs/NeuroSTAmPs are used to uniquely identify EAP participants across studies. Study sponsors and drug manufacturers have access to reports and dashboards to track enrollment data in real time. Conclusions: As EAPs become more and more prevalent method to test investigational products for safety and even efficacy, the investigators and study sponsors may use NeuroREACH to rapidly deploy trials. The captured EAP information utilized by pharma/biotech for new indications, safety analyses, and in negotiations with the FDA and insurance companies Disclosure: Yes - My institution received research funding on my behalf from Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Origent Data Sciences, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma AmericaDr. Podesta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Walker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yu has nothing to disclose. Dr. D’Agostino has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tarasenko has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sinani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Luppino has nothing to disclose. Dr. Scalia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Paganoni has received research support from Amylyx.Dr. Cudkowicz has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with takeda, biogen, cytokinetics, sunovian, immunitypharm, avexis.
Incidence, mortality, and national costs of hospital admissions for potentially preventable infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have high infection rates. Streptococcus pneumoniae, herpes zoster (HZV), and influenza are common and potentially preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. Vaccinations have been shown to reduce the rates of these infections. In this study, we aim to determine incidence, mortality, and national costs of hospital admissions for Streptococcus pneumoniae, HZV, and influenza infections in patients with RA. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the adult RA hospitalizations in 2016 from the National Inpatient Sample database. We limited the RA cases to hospitalizations with a principal discharge diagnosis of S. pneumoniae, HZV, and influenza infections. The total number of discharges, age, length of stay, mortality, and hospital charges were recorded. In 2016, 552,230 adult hospitalizations had either a primary or secondary diagnosis of RA. Among this group, there were 1120 hospitalizations for influenza, 590 hospitalizations for herpes zoster, and 785 hospitalizations for S. pneumoniae. These infections constituted 0.5% of RA hospitalizations and were a more common cause of hospitalizations when compared to non-RA hospitalizations. Aggregate annual national hospital charges reached $124 million and an aggregate annual LOS of 13,750 days. Infections, such as influenza, HZV, and S. pneumoniae, remain a common cause of inpatient morbidity and mortality among RA patients. Additionally, the economic burden of these infections is significant. Universal vaccination programs in RA patients, as well as other interventions aiming to improve quality of care of this susceptible population, should be further studied to reduce hospitalizations, cost, morbidity, and mortality.
A subcellular biochemical model for T6SS dynamics reveals winning competitive strategies

Abstract The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a broadly distributed interbacterial weapon that can be used to eliminate competing bacterial populations. Although unarmed target populations are typically used to study T6SS function, bacteria most likely encounter other T6SS-armed competitors in nature. The outcome of such battles is not well understood, neither is the connection between the outcomes with the subcellular details of the T6SS. Here, we incorporated new biological data derived from natural competitors of Vibrio fischeri light organ symbionts to build a biochemical model for T6SS function at the single cell level. The model accounts for activation of structure formation, structure assembly, and deployment. By developing an integrated agent-based model (IABM) that incorporates strain-specific T6SS parameters, we replicated outcomes of biological competitions, validating our approach. We used the IABM to isolate and manipulate strain-specific physiological differences between competitors, in a way that is not possible using biological samples, to identify winning strategies for T6SS-armed populations. We found that a tipping point exists where the cost of building more T6SS weapons outweighs their protective ability. Furthermore, we found that competitions between a T6SS-armed population and a unarmed target had different outcomes dependent on the geometry of the battlefield: target cells survived at the edges of a range expansion scenario where unlimited territory could be claimed, while competitions within a confined space, much like the light organ crypts where natural V. fischeri compete, resulted in the rapid elimination of the unarmed competitor.
Thrombogenicity of biomaterials depends on hemodynamic shear rate.

BACKGROUND While it is well recognized that different biomaterials induce thrombosis at low shear rates, the effect of high shear rates may be quite different. We hypothesize that the amount of thrombus formation on a given material can be greatly influenced by the local shear rate. METHODS We tested this hypothesis with two different whole blood perfusion loop assays to quantify biomaterial thrombogenicity as a function of shear stress. One assay uses obstructive posts (pins) of material positioned centrally in a tube perfused at high shear rate of >5000/s for 24 h. A second assay uses a parallel plate chamber to perfuse low (<150/s), medium (~500/s), and high shear rates over 96 h. We evaluated the thrombogenicity of seven different biomaterials including stainless steel, acrylic, ceramic, Dacron, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), silicone, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). RESULTS For the pin assay, thrombus mass was significantly greater for stainless steel than either zirconia ceramic or acrylic (p < 0.001). Similarly, the parallel plate chamber at high shear showed that steel and PTFE (p < 0.02) occluded the chamber faster than acrylic. In contrast, a low shear parallel plate chamber revealed that stainless steel and PTFE were least thrombogenic, while silicone, Dacron, and other plastics such as acrylic were most thrombogenic. Histology revealed that high shear thrombi had a large proportion of platelets not seen in the low shear fibrin-rich thrombi. CONCLUSION This differential thrombogenicity based on shear rate conditions may be important in the selection of biomaterials for blood-contacting devices.