cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weight-based stigmatization in children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine sex differences in children's weight-based stigmatization. DESIGN: School-based sample of children evaluating qualities of children of varying weights. SUBJECTS: Thirty-four children (age, 7–9 y; body mass index (BMI) 12.1–31.2 kg/m2). MEASURES: Drawings of children that varied by sex (boy, girl) and weight (thin, average, chubby) were presented to children. Parents provided written consent and demographic data. RESULTS: Children evaluated drawings of thin children most favorably and drawings of chubby children least favorably. Thin girls were rated more favorably than average or chubby girls, for whom ratings did not differ significantly. Conversely, chubby boys were rated less favorably than average or thin boys for whom ratings did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: These patterns may further explain gender differences in motivation to lose weight.
What should nutrition educators model

How we abhorred that image! We vowed never to model such ridiculously out-of-touch behavior. But we were young and earnest, and we wanted to be effective nutrition educators. This zeal was not unlike what we see in our students today, who vow that they want to help people, sometimes whether the people want it or not. Not only do we and our students want to help people, but also we want to do it right now. Weare impatient to get results with maximum efficiency. We long for a few simple answers, iron clad rules that work all the time for everyone.
Inverse-power-law behavior of cellular motility reveals stromal–epithelial cell interactions in 3D co-culture by OCT fluctuation spectroscopy

The progression of breast cancer is known to be affected by stromal cells within the local microenvironment. Here we study the effect of stromal fibroblasts on the in-place motions (motility) of mammary epithelial cells within organoids in 3D co-culture, inferred from the speckle fluctuation spectrum using optical coherence tomography (OCT). In contrast to Brownian motion, mammary cell motions exhibit an inverse power-law fluctuation spectrum. We introduce two complementary metrics for quantifying fluctuation spectra: the power-law exponent and a novel definition of the motility amplitude, both of which are signal- and position-independent. We find that the power-law exponent and motility amplitude are positively (p<0.001) and negatively (p<0.01) correlated with the density of stromal cells in 3D co-culture, respectively. We also show how the hyperspectral data can be visualized using these metrics to observe heterogeneity within organoids. This constitutes a simple and powerful tool for detecting and imaging cellular functional changes with OCT.
Limits to the Characteristic Roots of a Matrix

(1939). Limits to the Characteristic Roots of a Matrix. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 252-265.
UAV Adaptive Control Laws Using Non-Linear Dynamic Inversion Augmented with an Immunity-based Mechanism

In this paper, a novel adaptive flight control system is presented, designed to handle failures and malfunctions of aircraft sub-systems as well as general environmental upset conditions. The proposed control laws use a non-linear dynamic inversion approach augmented with an artificial immune system mechanism that relies on a direct compensation inspired primarily by the biological immune system response. This work is an extension of a recently developed artificial immune system-based architecture which implements negative and positive selection algorithms for aircraft fault detection, identification, and evaluation within a hierarchical multi-self scheme. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated through simulation examples within the West Virginia University unmanned aerial vehicle simulation environment. The performance of the control laws is evaluated in terms of trajectory tracking errors and control activity during autonomous flight in the presence of atmospheric disturbances and actuator failures. The results show that the proposed fault tolerant adaptive control laws significantly improve the tracking performance of the vehicle at nominal conditions and under a variety of abnormal flight conditions.
Carcinoma metastatic to the vermiform appendix: report of three cases.

Three patients with metastatic carcinoma to the appendix are reported. One patient had appendiceal perforation with diffuse peritonitis. All three patients died. The primary neoplasms were located in the lung in two patients and the stomach in one patient. Two of the primary tumors were adenocarcinomas and the third was a poorly differentiated carcinoma. The finding of metastasis to the appendix carries a grave prognosis. It is likely that all carcinomas metastatic to the appendix would gradually produce acute appendicitis as a result of luminal obstruction if enough time were allowed to elapse.
Pressure–temperature–structural distance relationships within Greater Himalayan rocks in eastern Bhutan: implications for emplacement models

In the Himalayan orogen, Greater Himalayan (GH) rocks were buried to mid- to lower-crustal levels and are now exposed across the strike of the orogen. Within the eastern Himalaya, in the Kingdom of Bhutan, the GH is divided into structurally lower (lower-GH) and upper (upper-GH) levels by the Kakhtang thrust (KT). Pressure–temperature estimates from lower- and upper-GH rocks collected on two transects across the KT yield similar P–T–structural distance trends across each transect. In the eastern transect, temperatures are similar (from 730 to 650 °C) over a structural thickness of ~11 km, but peak pressures decrease from ~10 to 6 kbar with increasing structural level. In comparison, peak temperatures in the central Bhutan transect are similar (from 730 to 600 °C), but pressures decrease from 10 to 6.5 kbar with increasing structural level over a structural thickness of ~6 km. The structurally highest sample reveals slightly higher pressures of 8.0 kbar in comparison to pressures of ~6.5 kbar for samples collected from within the KT zone, ~4 km below. Within each transect, there are increases in pressure ± temperature within the overall upright P–T gradient that may demarcate intra-GH shear zone(s). These P–T results combined with evidence that the timing of initial melt crystallization becomes older with increasing structural level suggest that the intra-GH shear zones emplaced deeper GH rocks via progressive ductile underplating. These shear zones, including the KT, likely aided in the initial emplacement and construction of the GH as a composite tectonic unit during the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene, from c. 27 to 16 Ma.
Nitric Oxide Mediates Penile Erection in Cats

AbstractThe present study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo effects of nitric oxide (NO) mediating agents injected intracavernosally on penile erection in cats. All NO donors increased the cavernosal pressure and penile length in a dose-dependent manner. The maximal effects on cavernosal pressure and penile length induced by s-nitrosocysteine (NO-CYS) and s-nitroso-n-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), respectively, were 8-fold and 5-fold increases in pressure, and 45% and 34% increases in length when compared with baseline values. These changes were comparable to that caused by the control drug combination (papaverine, phentolamine and prostaglandin E1). The effects of acetylcholine (ACh) and substance P on cavernosal pressure and penile length were less than those obtained with the control drug combination, NO-CYS (p <0.01), or SNAP (p <0.05). Nω-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, significantly decreased the effects of NO-CYS, ACh and substance P on penile e...
Demise of the Flies: Why Drosophila Models Still Matter

Over the past decade, Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a widely used model for human disease via targeted misexpression of human disease-associated proteins. The chief advantage of creating such models is that once a suitable phenotype has been obtained, the genetic toolkit of fly genetics can be used to dissect underlying disease pathways. Although some critics of this approach have argued that it has not generated many novel insights, we would argue that fly models of human neurodegenerative disorders have provided valuable information when viewed within the context of other models and systems of analysis. Here, we will provide a brief overview of some Drosophila models of neurodegenerative disorders with a special focus on our own work.
Nucleotide diversity estimates of tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) accessions including nine new inbred lines

To help support utilization of germplasm resources for tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica) crop improvement, we characterized genetic diversity in the National Plant Germplasm System collection. Genotyping by sequencing, a method of high-throughput DNA sequencing of reduced representation genomic libraries, was performed on 190 plant samples. This yielded 77,340 high-quality filtered single nucleotide polymorphisms from 179 plants sampled from 125 accessions. Geographical information systems data on geospatial references were verified using web- and PC-based software tools. We found that multiple plants sampled per accession were closely related to each other, but there was no apparent pattern related to original sampling location with respect to state in Mexico. There was no evidence for isolation by distance in a 15-accession, 53 plant geodiversity panel. Average proportion of heterozygous sites was halved in samples from nine inbred lines relative to samples from open-pollinated accessions (0.04 vs. 0.08). The genetic characterization of these accessions can help end users choose germplasm to support increased production of fresh and processed tomatillo products for expanding niche markets.
Application of separation technologies to proteomics research.

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on the application of separation technologies to proteomics research. Many instrumental strategies have been developed that are based on efficient separation followed by mass spectrometry (MS) identification and quantitation. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) is the method of choice for the separation of complex mixtures of proteins. In 2D-PAGE, proteins are separated in two sequential steps based on their charge and mass. 2D-PAGE has several limitations, including its ability to visualize only the highest abundant proteins within a proteomic mixture. Therefore, other sample preparation, concentration, separation, and detection methods need to be developed that would allow higher resolution than 2D-PAGE to separate a larger number of proteins, and the methods also need to be sensitive enough to detect the low-abundance proteins. Many separation methods have been reported in the scientific literature employing a single high-resolution procedure, as well as a multidimensional approach of high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC/HPLC) or HPLC/ capillary electrophoresis (CE) online or offline with MS for protein identification. The separation method selected depends primarily on the nature and complexity of the sample to be characterized. In addition, the focus of the proteome analysis also dictates the nature of the separation selected, as many separation techniques have been developed to extract specific classes of proteins. Regardless of the project focus, the continuing development of effective fractionation methods, both gel based and solution based, will be crucial to the continuing success of proteomics. The advantages and limitations of 2D-PAGE in comparison to other separation methods are also discussed.
Misdiagnosed neurosyphilis associated with prolonged psychosis.

Objective After the prevalence of syphilis had reached historic lows, the Center for Disease Control devised a plan to eradicate syphilis in the United States. Since that decree there has been a dramatic rise in new cases. Psychosis is an ominous symptom of neurosyphilis. Methods We report a case of neurosyphilis that was misdiagnosed and staged incorrectly. Results Failure to diagnose neurosyphilis was associated with prolonged psychosis that has been refractory to antipsychotic treatment. Conclusion Psychiatrists should renew their vigilance for neurosyphilis in the setting of a positive screening test and psychosis.
When Patents Claim Preexisting Knowledge

Novelty is a basic requirement of patent law. An inventor cannot obtain a patent if the invention exists in the “prior art,” a term that generally refers to knowledge and technology already in the public domain. Interestingly, an earlier-filed patent document qualifies as prior art as of its filing date — even though the document does not become accessible to the public until much later. The rationale is that the first inventor did all that could be done to promptly disclose the invention to the public; administrative delay of public accessibility due to Patent Office procedures should not count against the inventor. That the first inventor placed the patent document in the pipeline toward disclosure justifies backdating it for prior art purposes. But an earlier-filed patent application is not the only type of “pipeline” disclosure. A manuscript submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed technical journal is also on a trajectory toward public disclosure. This Essay argues that patent law should not only treat such manuscripts the same as earlier-filed patent documents for prior art purposes, but that backdating is more justifiable for peer-reviewed publications. This Essay raises interesting theoretical and policy questions about novelty and the meaning of prior art.
Iterative creation and sensing of twisted light

The iterative interaction of a photon with a sample can lead to increased sensitivity in measuring the properties of the samples, such as its refractive index or birefringence. Here we show that this principle can also be used to generate and sense states of light. In particular, we demonstrate a technique to generate states with high orbital angular momentum using a single-vortex phase plate (VPP). This is accomplished by placing the phase plate in a self-imaging cavity such that light interacts with it multiple times; for an ideal phase plate, this is equivalent to iterative applications of the angular momentum operator. Using a discrete VPP, we show that our setup realizes a high-dimensional generalization of the Pauli matrix σx, and that the created states show sub-diffraction limited features that might find applications in structured illumination microscopy.
Design Methodologies for Low-Power 3-D ICs With Advanced Tier Partitioning

Low power is considered as the driving force for 3-D ICs, yet there have been few thorough design studies on how to reduce power in 3-D ICs. In this paper, we discuss computer-aided design techniques and design methodologies to reduce power consumption in 3-D IC designs using a commercial grade CPU core (OpenSPARC T2 core). To demonstrate power benefits in 3-D ICs, four design techniques are explored: 1) 3-D floorplanning; 2) metal layer usage control for intrablock-level routing; 3) dual-Vth design; and 4) functional unit block (FUB) folding. The benefits and challenges of multiple FUB folding are also discussed. Finally, the through-silicon via technology scaling impact on FUB folding and 3-D power benefit is examined. With the aforementioned methods combined, our 2-tier 3-D designs provide up to 52.3% reduced footprint, 27.9% shorter wirelength, 35.4% decreased buffer cell count, and 27.8% power reduction over the 2-D counterpart under the same performance.
AuthoRing: Wearable User-presence Authentication

A common log-in process at computers involves the entry of username and password; log out depends on the user to remember to log out, or a timeout to expire the user session. Once logged in, user sessions may be vulnerable to imposter attacks in which an impostor steps up to the user's unattended computer and inherits the user's access privilege. We propose a ring-based authentication system called "AuthoRing", which restricts the imposter attackers from generating new inputs at the computer's mouse and keyboard. During the log-in process, an eligible AuthoRing user wears a digital ring with accelerometers and wireless communication capability. When input is detected at the mouse or keyboard, the computer's AuthoRing system correlates hand-motion data received from the ring with the input data from the computer's window manager, and detects imposter attacks when these data are insufficiently correlated. We implemented the AuthoRing system and evaluated its security, efficiency, and usability; we found that imposter attacks can be effectively detected and the required operations happen quickly with negligible delays experienced by the user.
The Making of Home: The 500-Year Story of How Our Houses Became Our Homes

Review of: "The Making of Home: The 500-Year Story of How Our Houses Became Our Homes," by Judith Flanders.
Schopenhauer and Education

Schopenhauer’s Parerga and Paralipomena reveals a distinct simi­larity with the content of Lichtenberg’s first and second volumes of the Vermischte Schriften, the various editions of which Schopen­hauer referred to in his discussion of Lichtenberg.2 It is the function of this transitional chapter to point out some of the ideas concerning education that Schopenhauer shared — if only in part — with Lichten­berg.
Cancer Incidence in C3H Mice Protected from Lethal Total-Body Radiation after Amifostine

Amifostine is a potent antioxidant that protects against ionizing radiation effects. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Amifostine administered before total-body irradiation (TBI), at a drug dose that protects against TBI lethality, for potential protection against radiation-induced late effects such as a shortened lifespan and cancer. Three groups of mice were studied: 0 Gy control; 10.8 Gy TBI with Amifostine pretreatment; and 5.4 Gy TBI alone. Animals were monitored for their entire lifespan. The median survival times for mice receiving 0, 5.4 or 10.8 Gy TBI were 706, 460 and 491 days, respectively. Median survival of both irradiated groups was significantly shorter compared to nonirradiated mice (P < 0.0001). Cancer incidence (hematopoietic and solid tumors) was similar between the irradiated groups and was significantly greater than for the 0 Gy controls. The ratio of hematopoietic-to-solid tumors differed among the groups, with the 5.4 Gy group having a higher incidence of hematopoietic neopl...
Primary and subspecialty care trends for adults with a history of childhood cancer.

33Background: With growing numbers of childhood cancer survivors (CCS), having systems for survivorship care coordination is imperative. While studies have compared the comfort and knowledge betwee...
Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals by Impregnation of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient onto a Mesoporous Carrier: Impact of Solvent and Loading

In this study, an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) was impregnated onto a mesoporous carrier (excipient) in a fluidized bed. Impregnating APIs in porous carriers has the potential to simplify the drug substance development process and leads to the elimination of the blending and granulation unit operations. Impregnation and drying occur simultaneously in fluidized-bed impregnation, and this method precludes several challenges encountered in other impregnation methods. Furthermore, the process ensures a uniform distribution of APIs within the porous carriers. This method also allows for a variety of solvents to be used in the impregnation. Using a batch fluidized-bed dryer, impregnation of acetaminophen (APAP) onto a magnesium/aluminum metasilicate (Neusilin R) was studied. Water and methanol were used as transport solvents to impregnate different loadings (w/w) of APAP, namely, ranging from 24 to 0.1%. Uniformity tests indicated that APAP loadings of all impregnated products are close to their target loadings across carrier size classes. Tests before and after impregnation showed that there were no changes observed in the physical properties of the carrier, such as particle size, compressibility, and flow properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis performed on the samples indicated that the low loadings APAP was present in the carrier pores in its amorphous state. At high loadings, we observed that APAP was mainly present in its amorphous state, however, some degree of crystallinity was observed. Lastly, dissolution tests on the impregnated product showed enhanced dissolution rates in acidic media, and comparable dissolution rate in de-ionized (DI) water, compared to the pure drug crystals. Our results show that the method of fluidized-bed impregnation yields a product with high uniformity and overcomes several challenges presented by traditional physical blends.
The Roots of US Anthropology’s Race Problem: Whiteness, Ethnicity, and Ethnography

ABSTRACTThis article offers a three-part explanation as to why US anthropology has largely avoided engagement with critical race studies. First, almost 85% of US anthropologists are white and thus ...
Using NMR Chemical Shifts and Cryo-EM Density Restraints in Iterative Rosetta-MD Protein Structure Refinement

Cryo-EM has become one of the prime methods for protein structure elucidation, frequently yielding density maps with near-atomic or medium resolution. If protein structures cannot be deduced unambiguously from the density maps, computational structure refinement tools are needed to generate protein structural models. We have previously developed an iterative Rosetta-MDFF protocol that used cryo-EM densities to refine protein structures. Here we show that, in addition to cryo-EM densities, incorporation of other experimental restraints into the Rosetta-MDFF protocol further improved refined structures. We used NMR chemical shift (CS) data integrated with cryo-EM densities in our hybrid protocol in both the Rosetta step and the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations step. In 15 out of 18 cases for all MD rounds, the refinement results obtained when density maps and NMR chemical shift data were used in combination outperformed those of density map-only refinement. Notably, the improvement in refinement was highest when medium and low-resolution density maps were used. With our hybrid method, the RMSDs of final models obtained were always better than the RMSDs obtained by our previous protocol with just density refinement for both medium (6.9 A) and low (9 A) resolution maps. For all the six test proteins with medium resolution density maps (6.9 A), the final refined structure RMSDs were lower for the hybrid method than for the cryo-EM only refinement. The final refined RMSDs were less than 1.5 A when our hybrid protocol was used with 4 A density maps. For four out of the six proteins the final RMSDs were even less than 1 A. This study demonstrates that by using a combination of cryo-EM and NMR restraints, it is possible to refine structures to atomic resolution, outperforming single restraint refinement. This hybrid protocol will be a valuable tool when only low-resolution cryo-EM density data and NMR chemical shift data are available to refine structures.
Empowering the public with earthquake science

Risk communication in the aftermath of an earthquake can provide actionable information to help vulnerable societies prevent further damage. It is most effective when scientists convey what they know about earthquakes and earthquake risk, instead of focusing on the unknowns.
CRT-100.45 One-Year Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Ulnar Vs. Radial Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Ultrasound guidance allows visualization for precise vessel access. No study has evaluated the 1-year outcomes of ultrasound-guided ulnar versus radial cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Evaluate the outcomes of ultrasound-
Relative Contribution of Individual, Community, and Health System Factors on Glycemic Control Among Inner-City African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes

Health disparities disproportionately impact inner-city African Americans; however, limited information exists on the contribution of individual, community, and health system barriers on diabetes outcomes in this population. A cross-sectional study collected primary data from 241 inner-city African Americans with type 2 diabetes. A conceptual framework was used to specify measurements across the individual level, such as age and comorbidities; community level, such as neighborhood factors and support; and health system level such as access, trust, and provider communication. Based on current best practices, four regression approaches were used: sequential, stepwise with forward selection, stepwise with backward selection, and all possible subsets. Variables were entered in blocks based on the theoretical framework in the order of individual, community, and health system factors and regressed against HbA1c. In the final adjusted model across all four approaches, individual-level factors like age (β = − 0.05; p < 0.001); having 1–3 comorbidities (β = − 2.03; p < 0.05), and having 4–9 comorbidities (β = − 2.49; p = 0.001) were associated with poorer glycemic control. Similarly, male sex (β = 0.58; p < 0.05), being married (β = 1.16; p = 0.001), and being overweight/obese (β = 1.25; p < 0.01) were associated with better glycemic control. Community and health system-level factors were not significantly associated with glycemic control. Individual-level factors are key drivers of glycemic control among inner-city African Americans. These factors should be the key targets for interventions to improve glycemic control in this population. However, community and health system factors may have indirect pathways to glycemic control that should be examined in future studies.
Structural batteries take a load off

Multifunctional Zn-air batteries provide energy storage and a body-integrated protective cover for robots.
Comparison of 4 Acute Pulmonary Embolism Mortality Risk Scores in Patients Evaluated by Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams.

Importance The risk of death from acute pulmonary embolism can range as high as 15%, depending on patient factors at initial presentation. Acute treatment decisions are largely based on an estimate of this mortality risk. Objective To assess the performance of risk assessment scores in a modern, US cohort of patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter cohort study was conducted between October 2016 and October 2017 at 8 hospitals participating in the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Consortium registry. Included patients were adults who presented with acute pulmonary embolism and had sufficient information in the medical record to calculate risk scores. Data analysis was performed from March to May 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures All-cause mortality (7- and 30-day) and associated discrimination were assessed by the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC). Results Among 416 patients with acute pulmonary embolism (mean [SD] age, 61.3 [17.6] years; 207 men [49.8%]), 7-day mortality in the low-risk groups ranged from 1.3% (1 patient) to 3.1% (4 patients), whereas 30-day mortality ranged from 2.6% (1 patient) to 10.2% (13 patients). Among patients in the highest-risk groups, the 7-day mortality ranged from 7.0% (18 patients) to 16.3% (7 patients), whereas 30-day mortality ranged from 14.4% (37 patients) to 26.3% (26 patients). Each of the risk stratification tools had modest discrimination for 7-day mortality (AUC range, 0.616-0.666) with slightly lower discrimination for 30-day mortality (AUC range, 0.550-0.694). Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that commonly used risk tools for acute pulmonary embolism have modest estimating ability. Future studies to develop and validate better risk assessment tools are needed.
Fabrication of a Carbon Chain Based Nanosensor for Maximizing Spatial Resolution in DNA Sequencing

Using a carbon chain as the sensing element can significantly improve the spatial resolution in nanodevice based single molecule DNA sequencing. In this report, we demonstrate a top-down approach to reduce a single monolayer graphene attached to a silicon microelectrode chip to a sub-nanometer wide carbon chain suitable for DNA sequencing. This approach consists three major processing steps to first transfer the graphene to the chip, dice the attached graphene into graphene nanoribbons using Focused Ion Beam (FIB), and finally reduce the ribbon width by knocking off carbon atoms on the ribbon edge using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). A final carbon chain of 0.8 nm wide and 5 nm long is accomplished. The measured electrical properties of the reduced graphene agree well with previous studies.
Surface functional group investigation of oxidized, nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions

Abstract Soluble, oxidized, nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions (ON-CNOs) were synthesized by treatment of nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions (N-CNOs) with a mixture of fuming sulfuric acid (20 % SO3 in H2SO4, oleum) and conc. nitric acid. ON-CNOs dissolve in polar organic solvents and water due to the presence of acidic functional groups on both the nano-onion surface and adsorbed polycyclic aromatic adsorbents, also called carboxylated carbonaceous fragments (CCFs). The CCFs were removed by either base treatment or thermal desorption and characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The structure and distribution of functional groups on ON-CNOs before and after CCF removal were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, pH-titrimetry, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).
How are Patients with Advanced Heart Failure Informed about Living with an LVAD

Purpose Decision aids have become a powerful tool in left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy for patients with advanced heart failure. Despite the vast availability of decision aids, a paucity of research exists regarding the nature of the information that patients receive about living with the LVAD. This study describes the extent of the knowledge that patients should possess before making decisions to receive an implantable LVAD. Methods We employed a qualitative description method using the data generated by two open-ended questions on shared decision-making and lifestyle from an online survey (n=125). Of the 125 LVAD patients, 116 provided with at least one response for the two-item question appended in the parent study. Content analysis included the assessment of word repetitions, metaphors, and other thematic phenomena. Most participants were male (66.4%), caucasian (75%), married (70.7%), bridge-to-transplant (70.7%), and HeartMate II (86.2%) patients. Results Four overarching themes emerged from the analyses: ‘choosing life or death,’ ‘forfeiting a normal lifestyle,’ ‘feeling insignificant,’ and ‘knowing what to expect.’ Notable sub-themes that emerged included the following: ‘powerlessness,’ ‘gratitude for life,’ ‘unknown complications,’ ‘physical restraints,’ ‘caregiver dependence,’ ‘manipulation,’ ‘false expectations,’ ‘self-guided care,’ ‘decision aids,’ ‘well-informed,’ ‘support system.' Conclusion We report a qualitative study featuring the largest sample size of its kind to date. Overall, patients were grateful for the life-saving nature of the LVAD, yet complications, along with poor support from the LVAD team, led some to feel unprepared for what was to come. Our study reinforces the need for decision aids and open communication regarding the lifestyle changes associated with LVAD therapy prior to implantation. The assistance of the care team is critical to ensuring patients make informed decisions and feel well-supported on these devices.
92180 Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile strains found in Texas soil

ABSTRACT IMPACT: This work investigates C. difficile strains in soil as a potential exposure for gut colonization and community-acquired infection of C. difficile. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Identifying environmental sources of C. difficile can inform how non-hospital reservoirs can potentially contribute to C. difficile exposure and subsequent gastrointestinal colonization. The objective of the study was to identify C. difficile and toxin genes across various soil sources. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This was a cross-sectional study utilizing soil samples obtained throughout Texas, USA. All samples were collected between August and November of 2019 and 2020. Samples were taken from human and animal high contact areas, such as recreational parks. Samples were stored at -80oC until processing. DNA extractions were performed using the DNeasy Powersoil Pro Kit (Qiagen) per manufacturer’s instructions. Real-time PCR was also performed on extracted DNA using the Microbial DNA qPCR Multi-Assay Kit for Clostridium difficile Pathogenicity (Qiagen) for the identification of C. difficile, toxin A (TcdA), and toxin B (TcdB) genes. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of 137 soil samples including dry dirt, sand, and wet soil near water sources were collected and processed for the presence of C. difficile. These included samples from parks and trails (42.3%), water sources (36.5%), and other public spaces (21.2%). C. difficile was identified in 59 (43.1%) soil samples: 6 (4.4%) with Toxin A and 2 (1.5%) with toxin B production. C. difficile was most prevalent among samples taken from parks and trails (50.0%), followed by other public spaces (48.3%), and water sources (32.0%). The median (IQR) Cq value for the C. difficile gene was 39.24 (33.45-40.47) among samples that tested positive. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: We identified a high prevalence of Clostridioides difficile in soil samples, though toxin gene detection prevalence was low. Future studies will analyze other sources, including water and varying surface samples to obtain a comprehensive view of C. difficile in the environment.
Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor ACE2 in Human Retina and Diabetes-Implications for Retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor for SARS-CoV-2 in human retina. Methods: Human post-mortem eyes from 13 non-diabetic control cases and 11 diabetic retinopathy cases were analyzed for the expression of ACE2. To compare the vascular ACE2 expression between different organs that involve in diabetes, the expression of ACE2 was investigated in renal specimens from nondiabetic and diabetic nephropathy patients. Expression of TMPRSS2, a cell-surface protease that facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry, was also investigated in human nondiabetic retinas. Primary human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) and primary human retinal pericytes (HRPCs) were further used to confirm the vascular ACE2 expression in human retina. Results: We found that ACE2 was expressed in multiple nonvascular neuroretinal cells, including the retinal ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, and photoreceptor outer segments in both nondiabetic and diabetic retinopathy specimens. Strikingly, we observed significantly more ACE2 positive vessels in the diabetic retinopathy specimens. By contrast, in another end-stage organ affected by diabetes, the kidney, ACE2 in nondiabetic and diabetic nephropathy showed apical expression of ACE2 tubular epithelial cells, but no endothelial expression in glomerular or peritubular capillaries. Western blot analysis of protein lysates from HRECs and HRPCs confirmed expression of ACE2. TMPRSS2 expression was present in multiple retinal neuronal cells, vascular and perivascular cells, and Muller glia. Conclusions: Together, these results indicate that retina expresses ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Moreover, there are increased vascular ACE2 expression in diabetic retinopathy retinas.
Software for Quantifier Elimination in Propositional Logic

We consider the following problem of Quantifier Elimination (QE). Given a Boolean CNF formula F where some variables are existentially quantified, find a logically equivalent CNF formula that is free of quantifiers. Solving this problem comes down to finding a set of clauses depending only on free variables that has the following property: adding the clauses of this set to F makes all the clauses of F with quantified variables redundant. To solve the QE problem we developed a tool meant for handling a more general problem called partial QE. This tool builds a set of clauses adding which to F renders a specified subset of clauses with quantified variables redundant. In particular, if the specified subset contains all the clauses with quantified variables, our tool performs QE.
Subseasonal variations in salinity and barrier‐layer thickness in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean

The barrier layer, the layer between the bottom of the density-defined mixed layer and the isothermal layer in the upper ocean, may play a role in air-sea dynamics. In the present study, data from Argo profiling floats in the tropical Indian Ocean and a mooring at 90°E, 0°N are used to examine subseasonal variations in upper ocean salinity and barrier-layer thickness (BLT) during boreal winter. In the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, subseasonal variations in BLT are energetic. However, composites used to isolate the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) component of the subseasonal signal reveal that, on average, the MJO anomaly in BLT is negligible despite large swings in both the mixed-layer depth and the isothermal-layer depth. This discrepancy is likely due to (a) noise from other subseasonal processes; and (b) the diversity of individual MJO events: the thickness of the mixed layer and the isothermal layer are sensitive to wind and rain forcing, so even subtle differences in the phasing and strength of MJO-related atmospheric anomalies can produce a very different effect on upper ocean stratification and hence on the thickness of the barrier layer. The effect of the barrier layer on the upper ocean response to MJO forcing is also evaluated. When the barrier layer is thick, entrainment cooling during the MJO is reduced, so the MJO drives a weaker sea surface temperature anomaly. This suggests that modulation of BLT can have significant consequences for the response of the upper ocean to the MJO, and hence, potentially, for feedbacks of the ocean onto the atmosphere on MJO time scales.
CELP coding for land mobile radio applications

The performance of the Proposed Federal Standard 1024 8000-b/s system for digital land mobile radio on a 12.5- or 6.25-kHz channel is described. The system contains the Proposed Federal Standard 1016 4800-b/s code excited linear predictive (CELP) voice coder developed by the US DOD and AT&T Bell Laboratories. The system is error protected with 2400 b/s and has 800 b/s for overhead signaling. The system is intended to replace the 12 kHz continuous variable slope deltamod (CVSD) voice coder which is used in Federal Standard 1025. The error protection technique used is Golay coding with hard or soft decoding. The performance of this error protection over simulated fading radio channels is described. >
Low frequency astrophysics with a space array

There is a strong astrophysical need for surveying the entire sky and imaging individual sources at frequencies between ~1 and ~30 MHz, a frequency range over which the Earth's ionosphere transmits poorly or not at all. High resolution, high sensitivity observations would open a new window in the electromagnetic spectrum for astronomical investigations and bring astronomy to the fundamental physical limit below which the Milky Way becomes optically thick over relatively short path lengths due to diffuse free-free absorption. We discuss here the scientific questions and initial instrumental concepts for a space mission to carry out such work by combining low cost and low complexity with high productivity of new scientific results.
A Distinct Function of Regulatory T Cells in Tissue Protection

Regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress immune responses to a broad range of non-microbial and microbial antigens and indirectly limit immune inflammation-inflicted tissue damage by employing multiple mechanisms of suppression. Here, we demonstrate that selective Treg cell deficiency in amphiregulin leads to severe acute lung damage and decreased blood oxygen concentration during influenza virus infection without any measureable alterations in Treg cell suppressor function, antiviral immune responses, or viral load. This tissue repair modality is mobilized in Treg cells in response to inflammatory mediator IL-18 or alarmin IL-33, but not by TCR signaling that is required for suppressor function. These results suggest that, during infectious lung injury, Treg cells have a major direct and non-redundant role in tissue repair and maintenance-distinct from their role in suppression of immune responses and inflammation-and that these two essential Treg cell functions are invoked by separable cues.
Modulation of intestinal chloride secretion at basolateral transport sites: opposing effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and phorbol ester.

Background. Although intestinal Cl secretion is largely regulated by apical Cl channels, we have shown that net secretory capacity can be controlled at a basolateral site, the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was found to inhibit both cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated Cl secretion and basolateral NKCC function in parallel but not apical Cl channels. Because inhibition of NKCC function could occur by reducing the number of membrane NKCC units, we examined the effect of PMA on cAMP-regulated NKCC function and number. Methods. NKCC function and number were assessed in the human intestinal line HT29cl. 19A by bumetanide-sensitive uptake of rubidium 86 and by specific binding of 3 H-bumetanide. Results. The cAMP agonist forskolin enhanced bumetanide-sensitive 86 Rb uptake and doubled the number of NKCCs. PMA decreased both basal and cAMP-stimulated uptake in time- and dose-dependent fashion. In addition, PMA down-regulated basal NKCC number and abolished cAMP-induced NKCC recruitment. Conclusions. PMA opposes the action of cAMP on NKCC function by reducing both basal numbers of NKCCs and cAMP-induced recruitment of NKCCs and not by reducing ion translocation per NKCC. These data further emphasize the potential for modulation of intestinal Cl secretion at basolateral sites.
Reactions of phosphine-substituted alkylidyne carbonyltungsten complexes with dithiocarbamate ligands: Phosphine substitution and alkylidyne- carbonyl coupling

Abstract Reaction of the alkylidyne tungsten complexes cis - and trans - [W(CPh)Cl(CO) 2 (PMe 3 ) 2 ] with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate affords the ketenyl complex [W(OCCPh)(S 2 CNEt 2 )(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 ]. Reaction of [W(CPh)Cl(CO)(PMe 3 ) 3 ] with diethyldithiocarbamate gives the dithiocarbamate-substituted alkylidyne tungsten complex [W(CPh)(S 2 CNEt 2 )(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 ]. Reaction of cis -[W(CPh)Cl(CO) 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 ] with sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate leads to substitution of PPh 3 and formation of [W(CPh)(S 2 CNMe 2 )(CO) 2 (PPh 3 )]. The solid state structure of [W(CPh)(S 2 CNEt2)(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 ] was determined by X-ray crystallography. Reaction of [W(CPh) (S 2 CNEt 2 )(CO)(Me 3 ) 2 ] with carbon monoxide in solution as well as in the solid state affords [W(OCCPh)( 2 CNEt2)(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 ]. Pyrolysis of [W(OCCPh)(S 2 CNEt 2 )(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 ] at 100°C in toluene solution gives [W(CPh)(S 2 CNEt 2 )(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 ].
Is lysine 79 a ligand for iron hexacyanides bound to cytochrome c

Summary Levels of iron hexacyanides sufficient to saturate 90 percent of the available binding sites are found to exert no significant change on the ferricytochrome c heme linked ionization with a pK of approximately 9. If lysine 79, postulated to be involved in a ligand interchange with that pK, were crucial for one hexacyanide binding site, a change of greater than 1 pK unit would have been expected.
Eosinophils are derived from the neoplastic clone in patients with systemic mastocytosis and eosinophilia

Twenty to thirty-three percent of systemic mast cell disease (SMCD) patients have some degree of peripheral blood and/or bone marrow eosinophilia. While the clonality of SMCD was established by identification of the pathogenic c-kit Asp816 to Val (D816V) mutation in sorted cells of different hematopoietic lineages, this mutation has not previously been demonstrated in eosinophils from SMCD patients. In the current study, we demonstrate the D816V mutation in purified eosinophils from two patients with aggressive, eosinophilia-associated SMCD, thus proving that the eosinophils are clonal and not reactive in nature. The clinical implications of this finding are discussed.
Near-infrared photoacoustic spectra of model homo-polypeptides

The Fourier transform near infrared photoacoustic (FT-NIR-PA) spectra of a number of homo-polypeptides are measured. The observed NIR overtone and combination bands are assigned and the structural significance of the bands are discussed. The applicability of such spectra in the analysis of biological/biomedical samples is considered.
Liver abnormalities in patients with lichen planus: A retrospective case-control study

A retrospective case-control study of 136 patients with lichen planus and 272 paired controls demonstrated a significantly higher occurrence of liver abnormalities in this dermatosis. There is currently no good explanation for the high occurrence rate of such abnormalities in lichen planus. Factors that alter epidermal cell antigenicity may induce reactions that can damage keratinocytes as well as hepatocytes.
Observation of diamagnetic shift in CO 2 infrared Zeeman spectra utilizing copropagating-wave Doppler-free resonances

The diamagnetic shift in the infrared Zeeman spectra of CO2 is measured by utilizing copropagating-wave-crossing resonances observed in fluorescence. This technique permits determination of the magnetic parameters for individual vibrational states. The diamagnetic susceptibility anisotropy and molecular gJ factor for the (001) state are obtained from the spectrum for the R(0) transition of the 10.6-μm band. The molecular quadrupole moment Qzz (001) is estimated.
Repeat associated small RNAs vary among parents and following hybridization in maize

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are hypothesized to contribute to hybrid vigor because they maintain genome integrity, contribute to genetic diversity, and control gene expression. We used Illumina sequencing to assess how sRNA populations vary between two maize inbred lines (B73 and Mo17) and their hybrid. We sampled sRNAs from the seedling shoot apex and the developing ear, two rapidly growing tissues that program the greater growth of maize hybrids. We found that parental differences in siRNAs primarily originate from repeat regions. Although the maize genome contains greater number and complexity of repeats compared with Arabidopsis or rice, we confirmed that, like these simpler plant genomes, 24-nt siRNAs whose abundance differs between maize parents also show a trend of down-regulation following hybridization. Surprisingly, hybrid vigor is fully maintained when 24-nt siRNAs are globally reduced by mutation of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 encoded by modifier of paramutation1 (mop1). We also discovered that 21–22-nt siRNAs derived from a number of distinct retrotransposon families differentially accumulate between B73 and Mo17 as well as their hybrid. Thus, maize possesses a unique source of genetic variation for regulating transposons and genes at a genomic scale, which may contribute to its high degree of observed heterosis.