cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of Ig-β (CD79b) by chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells that lack immunoglobulin heavy-chain allelic exclusion

Because immunoglobulin (Ig)-β (CD79b) is required for immunoglobulin allelic exclusion, we examined the CD79b expressed by four chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) samples that expressed more than one immunoglobulin heavy-chain allele and five samples that had normal immunoglobulin heavy-chain allelic exclusion. All leukemia cell samples stained poorly with monoclonal antibodies specific for extracellular epitopes of CD79b. However, all samples expressed functional CD79b genes, regardless of whether they did or did not express more than one immunoglobulin heavy-chain allele. We identified variant CD79b genes that had conservative base substitutions restricted to regions encoding the extracellular immunoglobulin-like domain of CD79b. However, these variants were not restricted to samples lacking immunoglobulin heavy-chain allelic exclusion and most likely reflect genetic polymorphism. Collectively, these data indicate that the unusual expression of more than one immunoglobulin heavy allele by CLL B cells is not associated with structural, nonconservative mutations in the signal-transduction domains of CD79b.
Communities and Neighborhoods

The communities and neighborhoods girls reside in have a great impact on their beliefs, values, and actions. Community influence on African American adolescent girls is the focus of this chapter. A large part of any community is neighborhood schools and teachers, and these topics are also touched upon in this chapter. This chapter begins with definitions of neighborhood and community, discusses the role of poverty, then the influence of neighborhoods on academic achievement and expectations, drug use and violence, and sexual behavior. Community types differentially influence behaviors, and both urban and rural communities are discussed. Much research on African American youth living in urban communities has discussed the negative consequences of living in urban communities. Some of this research is discussed, and along with it, we include a discussion of community resources and assets. Rural communities present unique challenges and strengths, and they are also discussed. The chapter concludes with a summary followed by a recommendation and resource section.
In Situ Probing the Surface Restructuring of Antibiofouling Amphiphilic Polybetaines in Water

Antibiofouling materials have a wide range of applications in biomedical devices and marine coatings. Due to the amphiphilic nature of proteins and organisms, amphiphilic materials have been designed to resist their unspecific adsorption. Surface restructuring behavior of amphiphilic materials in water is believed to play a key role in the antibiofouling mechanisms. In this work, the surface structures of several amphiphilic polybetaine coatings in water have been probed in situ using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. These are novel polybetaines constructed from functionalized polynorbornenes. The polybetaines with oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG), octyl (C8), or fluorinated (F13) side chains exhibit different surface restructuring behaviors upon contacting water due to their different surface hydrophobicity. The OEG and C8 chains were present and ordered at the water interface, while the F13 chain withdrew from water. The hydrophilic betaine group extended into the water and formed hy...
VARIABLE SELECTION ON THE TIMING OF GERMINATION IN COLLINSIA VERNA (SCROPHULARIACEAE).

Natural selection on the timing of seed germination was investigated in a natural population of the winter annual Collinsia verna (Scrophulariaceae) for two years. The goal was to quantify 1) the importance of the timing of seed germination to life history evolution in this population and 2) variation in selection in time and space. During fall germination, seedlings were assigned to cohorts on the basis of their dates of germination. Growth, survivorship, and reproduction were censused throughout both years. Selection on the timing of germination was quantified using linear and quadratic regressions during three ecologically important periods in the life cycle, using the techniques of Lande and Arnold (1983) and Arnold and Wade (1984a, 1984b). Comparisons were made between years and on two spatial scales within years. Overall, selection favored early-germinating plants in the first year. The primary determinant of the relationship of the timing of germination to fitness was fecundity selection, rather than viability selection on seedlings. Fecundity selection was respondible for from 54% to 80% of the change in the mean time of germination. Significant disruptive selection characterized the second field season, again mediated mainly through fecundity selection. There was also temporal and spatial heterogeneity in selection on this character. Transects and quadrats differed significantly in the direction and magnitude of natural selection. In addition, the direction of selection changed between episodes for the transects. The results illustrate the importance of the timing of germination to life-history evolution in this annual plant and the complex action of natural selection on this character.
ADVANCES IN BLOOD PRESERVATION.

The changes which occur in human erythrocytes and plasma in long-term preservation of blood for transfusion have long presented a problem. A system has now been developed employing an endocellular cryophylactic agent to protect the cells and arrest their aging during freezing, storage and thawing. Thawed cells are washed by dilution with sugar solution and reversible agglomeration, which removes extraneous substances.Low titers of anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the resuspended frozen blood make it possible to use specially selected group 0 blood for all recipients.The concept of specific donor selection by statistical need may modify or replace the generally accepted practice of random collection for random need.
Factors associated with increased healthcare utilization among adults with asthma

ABSTRACTObjective. To evaluate determinants of increased emergency room (ER) visit and hospitalization among adults with asthma, with emphasis on the role of psychological distress, self-efficacy, and obesity. Methods: For analysis 2009, 2011/2012 California Health Interview Survey was used. Adults who reported lifetime asthma were selected. Association between ER and overnight hospital stay with population characteristics were conducted using chi-square analysis. Multivariable binary logistic regression models, taking into account control variables, were utilized to assess the relationship between ER visit or overnight hospital stay with that of psychological distress, self-efficacy, and obesity. Results: Odds of ER visits were higher among those with mild-to-moderate psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.28, 2.94), and among those with serious psychological distress (aOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.65, 4.16). Mild-to-moderate distress was associated with two-fold increase in hospital...
On the relationship between LFP & spiking data

One of the goals of neuroscience is to identify neural networks that correlate with important behaviors, environments, or genotypes. This work proposes a strategy for identifying neural networks characterized by time- and frequency-dependent connectivity patterns, using convolutional dictionary learning that links spike-train data to local field potentials (LFPs) across multiple areas of the brain. Analytical contributions are: (i) modeling dynamic relationships between LFPs and spikes; (ii) describing the relationships between spikes and LFPs, by analyzing the ability to predict LFP data from one region based on spiking information from across the brain; and (iii) development of a clustering methodology that allows inference of similarities in neurons from multiple regions. Results are based on data sets in which spike and LFP data are recorded simultaneously from up to 16 brain regions in a mouse.
A new actuation system for high-performance torque-controlled manipulators

The work reported in this paper is a part of a larger effort concerned with the design and development of a high-performance force controlled, ten degree-of-freedom manipulator and mini-manipulator system, ARTISAN, currently under construction at Stanford University (Khatib, Roth and Waldron 1991). The paper focuses on the new actuation system developed for this robot. It discusses the design of the actuator-transmission-sensor system, describes the joint torque feedback controller, and presents experimental results obtained with a prototype of the wrist mechanism of ARTISAN.
CHEMISTRY OF FROZEN SODIUM–MAGNESIUM–SULFATE–CHLORIDE BRINES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SURFACE EXPRESSION OF EUROPA’S OCEAN COMPOSITION

The composition of Europa's subsurface ocean is a critical determinant of its habitability. However, our current understanding of the ocean composition is limited to its expression on the surface. This work investigates experimentally the composition of mixed sodium–magnesium–sulfate–chloride solutions when frozen to 100 K, simulating conditions that likely occur as ocean fluids are emplaced onto Europa's surface. Micro-Raman spectroscopy is used to characterize phase composition of the frozen brines at 100 K. Our results show that solutions containing Na+, Cl−, Mg2+, and preferentially crystallize into Na2SO4 and MgCl2 hydrated minerals upon freezing, even at elevated [Mg2+]/[Na+] ratios. The detection of epsomite (MgSO4•7H2O) on Europa's surface, if confirmed, may thus imply a relatively sodium-poor ocean composition or a radiolytic process that converts MgCl2 to MgSO4 as suggested by Brown & Hand. The formation of NaCl on the surface, while dependent upon a number of factors such as freezing rate, may indicate an ocean significantly more concentrated in sodium than in magnesium.
Online Social Support Among Women with Post-Cancer Infertility and Reproductive Difficulty

Women with cancer often experience the risk of infertility and reproductive difficulties due to the cancer treatments. Social support is important for women to understand and to manage the challeng...
Gifted Students’ Perceptions of Gifted Programs: An Inquiry Into Their Academic and Social-Emotional Functioning:

The aim of the present study was to examine elementary and middle school students’ (N = 49) perceptions of their gifted and talented program using eight focus group interviews. Qualitative analyses...
Improving European Water Resources: Prodding Private Enforcement of European Environmental Law with Human Rights

In the European Union (EU), may private citizens or organizations go to court to seek penalties or injunctions against private polluters? Environmental advocates and human rights lawyers have long answered this question in the negative. Unlike in the United States, laws in the EU have not explicitly authorized citizen suits – lawsuits filed by private parties to enforce environmental laws when public officials choose not to do so. The absence of citizen enforcement mechanisms, however, has contributed to poor implementation of Europe’s water regulations. In fact, half of Europe’s water does not qualify for “good ecological status.” The Article develops new analytical approaches for advancing water resource management and environmental advocacy through a human rights approach. Human rights litigation automatically permits private parties to sue both state and non-state actors. Thus, private EU citizens can sue water polluters by asserting violations of their fundamental right to water. In the EU, fundamental rights must enjoy support from three distinct legal sources: community law, constitutional traditions of EU member states, and international law. While the EU Court of Justice has yet to recognize environmental rights, this article demonstrates that all three legal sources fully support recognition of the right to water. Hence, private citizens should be able to file lawsuits against water polluters and improve Europe’s water quality in the process.
Effects of diet and manure storage method on carbon and nitrogen dynamics during storage and plant nitrogen uptake

Altering dairy cattle diets to reduce both enteric methane (CH4) production and nitrogen (N) excretion are valuable tools for mitigating the environmental impact of dairy production. We examined the impact of altering diets on changes in physicochemical properties of manure during storage, short term plant N availability, and overall system N use efficiency. Manure collected from cattle fed diets with differing forage and crude protein (CP) content were stored via three methods (slurry, static pile, turned pile) for 29 weeks and sampled at week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, and 29. Mass losses of total carbon (C) ranged from 28 to 50% and followed the trend static pile > slurry > turned pile (P < 0.01). Total N losses ranged from 20 to 47% with the slurry and static pile treatments having larger (but similar) losses than the turned pile treatment (P < 0.01). The soil 2-week plant available N was similar in the static pile and turned pile treatments and were 67% less than the slurry treatment. The short-term plant N use efficiency was similar for both the static pile and slurry treatments (22-24%), which were greater than that of the turned pile treatment (16%). Overall estimated system N use efficiencies were 5% greater for lower CP diets compared to high CP diets. While rapidly drying manure may conserve C and N, there may be a tradeoff with plant N utilization which could affect overall system efficiencies.
Energy-Renormalization for Achieving Temperature Transferable Coarse-Graining of Polymer Dynamics

The bottom-up prediction of the properties of polymeric materials based on molecular dynamics simulation is a major challenge in soft matter physics. Coarse-grained (CG) models are often employed to access greater spatiotemporal scales required for many applications, but these models normally experience significantly altered thermodynamics and highly accelerated dynamics due to the reduced number of degrees of freedom upon coarse-graining. While CG models can be calibrated to meet certain properties at particular state points, there is unfortunately no temperature transferable and chemically specific coarse-graining method that allows for modeling of polymer dynamics over a wide temperature range. Here, we pragmatically address this problem by “correcting” for deviations in activation free energies that occur upon coarse-graining the dynamics of a model polymeric material (polystyrene). In particular, we propose a new strategy based on concepts drawn from the Adam–Gibbs (AG) theory of glass formation. Nam...
Lifting the Mind: A Case Study of Applied Sport Psychology in Powerlifting

The sport of powerlifting has extensive research within the areas of physical and physiological training and the impact these factors have on competitive performance, yet there is a lack of research examining the impact applied mental training has on meet performance. Over the course of this four-month sport psychology intervention, the case of Matt highlights the positive psychological, emotional, and competitive effects applied mental training can have on an elite powerlifter. Examining topics such as training burnout and staleness, competitive goal setting and self-talk, and in – competition arousal control and energy management, this study’s results suggests the importance the growing field of applied sport and exercise psychology may play in the emerging sport of powerlifting. Though case study in nature, the qualitative reports and significant quantitative results of this case will hopefully reshape the way trainers, coaches, and athletes think about powerlifting meet preparation, on and off the platform.
Characterization of pyrolysis products from slow pyrolysis of live and dead vegetation native to the southern United States

Abstract Prescribed (i.e., controlled) burning is a common practice used in many vegetation types in the world to accomplish a wide range of land management objectives including wildfire risk reduction, wildlife habitat improvement, forest regeneration, and land clearing. To properly apply controlled fire and reduce unwanted fire behavior, an improved understanding of fundamental processes related to combustion of live and dead vegetation is needed. Since the combustion process starts with pyrolysis, there is a need for more data and better models of pyrolysis of live and dead fuels. In this study, slow pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a pyrolyzer apparatus under nitrogen atmosphere in two groups of experiments. In the first group, the effects of temperature (400–800 °C), a slow heating rate (5–30 °C min−1), and carrier gas flow rate (50–350 ml min−1) on yields of tar and light gas obtained from pyrolysis of dead longleaf pine litter were investigated to find the optimum condition which results in the maximum tar yield. The results showed that the highest tar yield was obtained at a temperature of 500 °C, heating rate of 30 °C min−1, and sweep gas flow rate of 100 ml min−1. In the second group of experiments, 14 plant species (live and dead) native to forests in the southern United States, were heated in the pyrolyzer apparatus at the optimum condition. A gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer (GC–MS) and a gas chromatograph equipped with a thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD) were used to study the speciation of tar and light gases, respectively. The results showed that the tar composition is dominated by oxygenated aromatic compounds consisting mainly of phenols. The light gas analysis showed that CO and CO2 were the dominant light gas species for all plant samples on a dry wt% basis, followed by CH4 and H2.
The role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae type 2A phosphatase in the actin cytoskeleton and in entry into mitosis.

We have prepared a temperature-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae type 2A phosphatase (PP2A) mutant, pph21-102. At the restrictive temperature, the pph21-102 cells arrested predominantly with small or aberrant buds, and their actin cytoskeleton and chitin deposition were abnormal. The involvement of PP2A in bud growth may be due to the role of PP2A in actin distribution during the cell cycle. Moreover, after a shift to the non-permissive temperature, the pph21-102 cells were blocked in G2 and had low activity of Clb2-Cdc28 kinase. Expression of Clb2 from the S.cerevisiae ADH promoter in pph21-102 cells was able to partially bypass the G2 arrest in the first cell cycle, but was not able to stimulate passage through a second mitosis. These cells had higher total amounts of Clb2-Cdc28 kinase activity, but the Clb2-normalized specific activity was lower in the pph21-102 cells compared with wild-type cells. Unlike wild-type strains, a PP2A-deficient strain was sensitive to the loss of MIH1, which is a homolog of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe mitotic inducer cdc25+. Furthermore, the cdc28F19 mutation cured the synthetic defects of a PP2A-deficient strain containing a deletion of MIH1. These results suggest that PP2A is required during G2 for the activation of Clb-Cdc28 kinase complexes for progression into mitosis.
On the problem of diffusion in solids

We rationalize diffusion in solids on the basis of a differential equation of balance expressing conservation of momentum for the diffusing species. The balance equation contains a tensor, modelling the stress supported by the diffusing species, and a diffusive force vector, modelling the exchange of momentum between the diffusing species and the species of the solid matrix. These two quantities, which are not identified in classical diffusion interpretations, are the basic ingredients of the theory. The effect of state and constitution of interdiffusing materials is reflected in the form of the constitutive equations for the stress and the diffusive force. Within our framework, the main results of classical theories are rigorously derived in a unified manner. New interesting findings are also deduced and their implications are discussed. The applicability of the theory to a variety of problems, ranging from metallurgy to polymer physics and geophysics, is illustrated.
“Feminist, Gun-Toting Abolitionist with a Bankroll”: the Black Radical Philanthropy of Mary Ellen Pleasant

This article posits that philanthropy, most often identified with wealthy white American businessmen along the lines of Andrew Carnegie, has an alternative history whose central figures were black female liberators like Mary Ellen Pleasant, the “Mother of Civil Rights in California” who donated $30,000 to fund the Raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Pleasant’s story subverts standard masculinist and implicitly white accounts of American philanthropy, envisioning underground financing by black proto-feminists as a radical tool for black emancipation in the Americas.
Cognitive Aspects of Illness and Health

One of the fundamental issues in medicine is that of noncompliance, that is, the decision of the patient to delay, reduce, or terminate treatment. The premise of this paper is that noncompliance is not simply inadequate communication on the part of the physician, i.e., not enough objective information, nor is it solely the result of poor coping mechanisms, e.g., denial on the part of the patient. Rather, noncompliance is primarily the result of cognitive dissonance between models which are held by the patient versus models which are held by the physician.
Surveillance strategies following curative therapy for localized renal cell carcinoma

Advances in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have resulted in improved survival pf patients with locally recurrent and metastatic disease. Assuming that success of clinical intervention at the time of relapse is inversely proportional to the disease burden at the time of salvage treatment, ideal surveillance protocol should allow the earliest identification of potentially treatable recurrences while minimizing unnecessary examinations and patients anxiety. In addition, optimal surveillance regimen would take into account primary tumor characteristics; initial treatment modality; incidence, timing, and pattern of recurrence; and effectiveness of available salvage treatments. Anatomic tumor stage remains the most important prognosticator of outcome in RCC and a cornerstone of several currently. proposed surveillance strategies. Nonetheless, recent identification of novel clinical and pathologic prognostic factors in RCC have resulted in gradual transition from the use of solitary clinical factors, such as tumor, node, metastasis staging system, to the introduction of systems that integrate multiple validated prognostic factors. Finally, development of new and meaningful biomarkers and their incorporation into integrated staging algorithms will likely revolutionize the staging and surveillance of RCC patients.
Incidental findings on cervical spine computed tomography scans: overlooked and unimportant?

Imaging of the cervical spine for trauma or degenerative disease includes multiple areas of the head and neck that may harbor incidental findings. We sought to determine the incidence of common “incidentalomas” on cervical spine CT scans, their importance, and how often these lesions are mentioned in reports. We retrospectively reviewed the cervical spine CTs and reports of all patients scanned between October 2017 and January 2018 for Tornwaldt cysts (TC), thyroglossal duct cysts and remnants (TGDC), laryngoceles (LC), pharyngoceles (PC), carotid artery calcified stenosis (CACS), and aberrant right subclavian arteries (ARSA). Descriptive statistics were performed, and the incidence of cancers (in PC and LCs) and strokes (in high-grade carotid stenosis) was assessed. Among 2116 patients, the incidences of findings were TC 6.6% (138/2100), TGDC 6.3% (122/1770), LC 9.4% (197/2100), PC 6.4% (135/2100), CACS 4.7% (100/2114), and ARSA 0.86% (18/2097). Of the 2116 patients studied, 600/2116 (28.3%) had at least one incidental finding. Only 2.9% (20/701) of incidentalomas were mentioned in the official reports. Cervical incidentalomas vary in rates from ARSA (0.86%) to LC (9.4%). They are rarely mentioned in radiologists’ reports. Whether improved vigilance and reporting of these incidentalomas would benefit patient care should be explored.
The Russian Federation

The Russian Empire’s banking system was overhauled and the State Bank of the Russian Empire was founded in Saint Petersburg by imperial decree in 1860 during the reign of Czar Alexander the Second. The establishment of the central bank was part of spate of economic reforms that were undertaken when capitalism was gaining ground in the Russian Empire while considerable state interference in the economy was still needed. The bank introduced sweeping monetary reforms in the 1880s; these included the introduction of the gold standard in the Russian Empire and the bank acquiring the right to issue currency in 1897. After the October Revolution of 1917, the State Bank of the Russian Empire was converted into a credit institution of the new Soviet government. There was a state monopoly on banking, and the People’s Bank of the RSFSR was the only bank in the country. It was used to provide loans to individuals and industries with ties to the party and to promote compliance with the Soviet Five Year Plans. Eventually, due to President Gorbachev’s policy of perestroika or the restructuring of the political and economic systems of the Soviet Union, a few other banks were established. The Bank of Russia, founded on July 13, 1990, inherited the mantle of the central bank from the Russian Republic Bank of the State Bank of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The young central bank immediately had to deal with a rocky transition to the free market, the Russian financial crisis of 1998, and a subsequent debt default, but has since benefited from energy exports.
New Directions in the Historiography of Psychiatry

Gerald Grob's work in the history of psychiatry over the course of almost fifty years created a model for how historians might successfully situate mental health in its social and political context, and how inseparable it was from this context. Over the last twenty years, the field has grown tremendously. Historians have incorporated categories of analysis like gender and race, methodologies like cultural history and intellectual history, and sought to continue Grob's quest to understand American mental health history as a critical component of American history writ large. In this piece, we suggest several potential areas for future study. Building on Grob's work on the asylum, we focus on the continued need to explore the texture of lived experience for both practitioners and those experiencing mental illness, both within and beyond the institution. In an era when the politics of deinstitutionalization continue to shape the modern mental health enterprise, we suggest that further examination of the consequences of deinstitutionalization is both inherently rich and relevant to contemporary mental health practice. Finally, we discuss opportunities for historians to engage with policymaking and social justice, pointing to incarceration and juvenile justice as two especially relevant areas for further study.
Chemical Composition and Cruzain Inhibitory Activity of Croton draco Bark Essential Oil from Monteverde, Costa Rica:

American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, is a great cause of human morbidity and mortality in the Neotropics. Although there is currently no effective treatment for this parasitic disease, a numbe...
Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia is an iatrogenic disorder caused by dopamine receptor blocking drugs in psychiatric and nonpsychiatric patients. The phenotype of the movements is quite variable with syndromes that include chorea, dystonia, stereotypies, akathisia, and tics. The disorder is, for a majority of patients, permanent. There are now two treatments that are FDA approved, VMAT2 inhibitors valbenazine and deutetrabenazine. For those who require a different treatment, several medications have been examined in randomized trials for classical TD and may be reasonable choices in treatment. They include amantadine, levetiracetam, clonazepam, propranolol, tetrabenazine, and ginkgo biloba. Other options include botulinum toxin and deep brain stimulation surgery. An algorithm is provided.
Practices Involved in the Enteral Delivery of Drugs.

While the delivery of medications through enteral tubes is common in critically ill patients, there are complications and a lack of unified practices between institutions. The purpose of this review is to evaluate current practices and literature evidence regarding this administration route. The effect of this administration on the medication’s efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics was examined, as well as other considerations to ensure that this route of delivery is both safe and effective for patients. Studies have found crushed oral tablets are the most frequent cause of obstructed feeding tubes. Complications such as this are primarily due to inadequate personnel training and failure to properly access medications before enteral administration. There are many factors that should be considered in order to effectively administer drugs via enteral tubes. Formal training and use of a multi-disciplinary approach that includes pharmacists and dieticians has been shown to reduce tube obstructions and administration errors.
Towards Digitally Addressable Delay Synthesis: GHZ Low-Loss Acoustic Delay Elements from 20 NS to 900 NS

We present the first group of GHz S0 mode low-loss acoustic delay lines covering a wide range of delays from 20 ns to 900 ns for digitally addressable delay synthesis. The fabricated miniature acoustic delay lines show a fractional bandwidth of 4%, a minimum insertion loss of 3.2 dB, outperforming the incumbent surface acoustic wave counterparts. Multiple acoustic delay lines with center frequencies from 0.9 to 2 GHz have been demonstrated, underscoring their great frequency scalability. The acoustic delay lines use single-phase unidirectional transducers design to launch and propagate the S0 mode in an X-cut lithium niobate thin film with large electromechanical coupling and low damping. The demonstrated acoustic delay lines can enable wide-range and high-resolution delay synthesis that is highly sought-after for the self-interference cancellation in full-duplex radios.
Kinetically constrained freezing transition in a dipole-conserving system

We study a stochastic lattice gas of particles in one dimension with strictly finite-range interactions that respect the fractonlike conservation laws of total charge and dipole moment. As the charge density is varied, the connectivity of the system's charge configurations under the dynamics changes qualitatively. We find two distinct phases: Near half filling the system thermalizes subdiffusively, with almost all configurations belonging to a single dynamically connected sector. As the charge density is tuned away from half filling there is a phase transition to a frozen phase, where locally active finite bubbles cannot exchange particles and the system fails to thermalize. The two phases exemplify what has recently been referred to as weak and strong Hilbert space fragmentation, respectively. We study the static and dynamic scaling properties of this weak-to-strong fragmentation phase transition in a kinetically constrained classical Markov circuit model, obtaining some conjectured exact critical exponents.
Room temperature magnetoelectric sensor arrays for application of detecting iron profiles in organs

Noninvasive measurement of liver iron concentration (LIC) is clinically important. Yet, at the present time, it can only be achieved with SQUID technology. However, SQUID based BLS suffers high costs and cumbersome cryogenic requirements that prevent SQUID BLS from being adopted by clinical applications. Recently, we demonstrated that a single channel ME sensor with piezo-single crystals could detect LIC from only 3cc of mouse liver tissue without any magnetic field shielding. The results demonstrated not only the sensitivity of ME sensor system for LIC but also the feasibility for mapping LIC profiles spatially. This investigation further developed ME sensor arrays, exploiting the compact size and room temperature operation. A Dual-Channel 1-D ME sensor array along the vertical, Z-direction, was developed and shown to be sensitive to the skin-liver distance change which can be utilized to calibrate and eliminate the inter-subject variability of the LIC measurement due to skin-liver distance. With phantom having spatially dependent iron concentrations, the 1-D ME sensor array was capable of mapping the one-dimensional profile of the iron concentration in the horizontal X- and Y-directions. The results of the prototype sensor devices show the feasibility of an array ME-sensors for imaging iron profile.
Making the Most of Tier 2 Intervention: What Decisions Are Made in Successful Studies?

Implementation of Tier 2 or supplemental reading intervention for students who struggle with reading in elementary schools is a nearly universal practice in the United States. Resources exist for a...
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma Secondary to Vitreous Hemorrhage Diagnosed with the Aid of Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

Abstract Background Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) caused by vitreous hemorrhage is a rare complication of intravitreal injection that often leads to permanent vision loss without prompt treatment. Case Report This is a case of vitreous hemorrhage with secondary AACG in an 80-year-old man who presented to the emergency department (ED) with pain and vision loss in his left eye after undergoing intravitreal injection to treat exudative macular degeneration. The diagnosis was made with the use of point-of-care ultrasound after intraocular pressure (IOP) was found to be significantly elevated in the left eye. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Emergency physicians should have a high level of suspicion for AACG in patients who are diagnosed with a vitreous hemorrhage after intravitreal injection and should immediately measure IOP for elevation upon presentation to the ED.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Hand in a Young Patient

Merkle cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, malignant neuroendocrine skin cancer that typically affects patients in the seventh decade of life. Reports of MCC affecting young patients are limited, and there are few mentions of the management of these lesions when they present on the hand and fingers. Hand surgeons must be educated regarding the diagnosis of MCC and the multidisciplinary management required to achieve optimal results. We present the case of a 22-year-old woman with MCC arising on the dorsum of the second digit. Treatment with wide local excision, coverage of the resulting soft tissue defect with a reverse second dorsal metacarpal artery flap, and subsequent radiotherapy resulted in no evidence of disease recurrence or metastasis at 1 year. This case highlights the commonly encountered delay in the diagnosis of this lesion and the necessity for a high index of suspicion when evaluating a patient with an enlarging, solitary hand nodule.
How does water yield respond to mountain pine beetle infestation in a semiarid forest

Abstract. Mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreaks in the western United States result in widespread tree mortality, transforming forest structure within watersheds. While there is evidence that these changes can alter the timing and quantity of streamflow, there is substantial variation in both the magnitude and direction of hydrologic responses, and the climatic and environmental mechanisms driving this variation are not well understood. Herein, we coupled an eco-hydrologic model (RHESSys) with a beetle effects model and applied it to a semiarid watershed, Trail Creek, in the Bigwood River basin in central Idaho, USA, to examine how varying degrees of beetle-caused tree mortality influence water yield. Simulation results show that water yield during the first 15 years after beetle outbreak is controlled by interactions between interannual climate variability, the extent of vegetation mortality, and long-term aridity. During wet years, water yield after a beetle outbreak increased with greater tree mortality; this was driven by mortality-caused decreases in evapotranspiration. During dry years, water yield decreased at low-to-medium mortality but increased at high mortality. The mortality threshold for the direction of change was location specific. The change in water yield also varied spatially along aridity gradients during dry years. In wetter areas of the Trail Creek basin, post-outbreak water yield decreased at low mortality (driven by an increase in ground evaporation) and increased when vegetation mortality was greater than 40 % (driven by a decrease in canopy evaporation and transpiration). In contrast, in more water-limited areas, water yield typically decreased after beetle outbreaks, regardless of mortality level (although the driving mechanisms varied). Our findings highlight the complexity and variability of hydrologic responses and suggest that long-term (i.e., multi-decadal mean) aridity can be a useful indicator for the direction of water yield changes after a disturbance.
Food Handling Practices in the Era of COVID-19: A Mixed-Method Longitudinal Needs Assessment of Consumers in the United States.

ABSTRACT At present, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not been shown to be transmitted through food. Even so, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed how consumers view food and food safety. This study assessed consumer food safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic using (i) surveys and (ii) online focus group discussions. From April to August 2020, five waves of surveys were distributed to an online U.S. consumer panel and screened to include only primary food preparers and grocery shoppers. The online focus groups were conducted via WebEx from May to July 2020. Focus group participants were recruited from the first wave of survey respondents. Both survey respondents and focus group participants reported higher levels of hand washing in response to the pandemic. However, survey participants' anticipated levels of hand washing after the pandemic decreased; some focus group participants noted that human nature "kicking in" could lead to lower levels of hand hygiene practice. For each of the 5 months, the surveys reported increased produce washing, both with water only and with water plus soap. Most focus group participants mentioned using water to wash their produce, but some reported using soap and even vinegar to "kill" the virus. Since consumers were worried that SARS-CoV-2 could survive on food, they started to mishandle food to address these concerns. However, this study also reported an increase in food thermometer use during the pandemic. Social determinants like gender, income, education, and age may have also influenced changes in levels of practice throughout the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic drove consumers to practice proper and improper food safety practices, which may or may not continue after the pandemic. This study's findings provide timely information to guide future food safety education and communication during health crises and pandemics. HIGHLIGHTS
The effect of race, socioeconomic status, and comorbidity on patients afflicted with COVID 19: A Local Perspective.

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study is to further examine the associations of race, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidity with COVID-19 health outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 309 PCR confirmed COVID-19 positive adults who presented to Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, LA, from March 9 to May 29, 2020. The primary outcomes investigated were need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and in-hospital mortality. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine socioeconomic and medical risk factors for IMV and in-hospital mortality. Results Compared to white patients, Black patients were more likely to present younger, female, obese, unemployed, and underinsured. However, when controlled for common risk factors, Black and white patients had similar risk for IMV and mortality. Increased age (≥65 years), obesity, and increased comorbidity were associated with increased risk for IMV and mortality. Conclusions Race and socioeconomic factors may increase risk for COVID-19 infection but did not affect health outcomes within the hospital setting. Therefore, the higher rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality in vulnerable populations may be better explained by lower socioeconomic status, with subsequent higher comorbidity, in these populations. Community health initiatives should be prioritized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Privacy in Bargaining: The Case of Endogenous Entry

I study the role of privacy in bargaining. A seller makes offers every instant, without commitment, to a privately informed buyer. Potential competing buyers (entrants) can choose to interrupt the negotiation by triggering a bidding war. Entrants either observe the offers (public bargaining) or only observe the bargaining delay but not the offers (private bargaining). When buyers’ values are independent and private, making the negotiation private typically benefits the seller, raises prices, and increases delay. For more general common/correlated value structures, I identify a property of the distribution of buyers values that largely governs the equilibrium effects of privacy.
Children's Readiness for School: Issues in Assessment.

Assessing children’s readiness for school, like defining readiness itself, should be an easy task. In reality, it is more complex than meets the eye. In this commentary, I delineate what is meant by readiness and tease out some of the most trenchant issues associated with it. Specifically, this Commentary considers the purpose, content, and process of assessing children’s readiness for school. In the field of early childhood, assessment is typically undertaken for a variety of purposes: to improve children’s instructional program; to evaluate program effectiveness; to identify children for special services; and to monitor trends in service delivery. Unfortunately, these different purposes of assessment are not always clear. Moreover, the kinds of data each purpose evokes are also confounded. This article delineates the different purposes for collecting data and discusses critical principles that could be used to guide the construction of an assessment system that captures and uses data efficiently and appropriately.
Heat shock-induced axenic growth of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

Abstract The bdellovibrios are obligately predatory bacteria that attack other gram-negative bacteria. They grow only in the periplasmic space of prey unless they mutate to forms that can grow axenically. A culture medium that promoted enhanced growth of prey-independent bdellovibrios was developed. The ability of this medium to support the growth of prey-dependent bdellovibrios was tested under transcription-altering conditions. This approach tested the hypothesis that the inability to grow prey-dependent bdellovibrios in artificial media was rooted in both nutritional and transcriptional signal deficiencies. It was assumed that nutritional deficiencies had been resolved and that empirically applied artificial signals may evoke the expression of genes required for axenic growth of bdellovibrios. Prey-dependent bdellovibrios could be grown in PPYE medium (0.1% proteose peptone 3 and 0.03% Bacto yeast extract adjusted to pH 7.0 and supplemented with 3 mM MgCl2 and 2 mM CaCl2 after autoclaving) after heat shock, and subsequent rounds of growth occurred after additional heat shocks. Heat shock may have generated or simulated signals normally derived from prey.
Can Foreign Exchange Risk Hedge Other Sources of Risk? A Multifactor Analysis

An investor who assumes foreign exchange risk by making an unhedged foreign investment can use it to hedge other sources of risk. Comparisons of the relations between the hedged and unhedged returns for 19 developed country stock indexes and risk factors faced by a U.S. investor show significant differences for the default spread, industrial production, and term spread. This can be the case even when the U.S. dollar is appreciating against the foreign currencies. The joint moments between the foreign exchange fluctuations, underlying stock returns, and the risk factors are also important.
The American Influence on International Arbitration

It is indisputable that the international arbitration world is an identifiable epistemic community that transcends national borders, and whose members are shaped by their own experience. Increasingly, that experience reflects an American influence, be it heritage, training, affiliation, or client base. In these remarks, Professor Alford addresses three issues related to the Americanization of international arbitration. The first is whether international arbitration has, in fact, only recently become Americanized. He posits instead that there is always an ebb and flow to the level of the United States' involvement in international arbitration. During the drafting and signing of the 1958 New York Convention, for example, the United States was largely absent. However, in its earlier history the United States was highly involved in establishing pivotal international arbitration agreements, such as the Jay Treaty of 1794. Further ebb and flow of U.S. involvement is illustrated by the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the League of Nations, as well as important arbitral doctrines as the Calvo Clause, international minimum standard, and the Hull formula. Second, he addresses whether international arbitration has become Americanized to the exclusion of other influences, disputing that theory by pointing out that developments in Asia (especially China), Latin America, and Europe have been highly influential in shaping the practice of international arbitration. Finally, he argues that U.S. influence in international arbitration is at the highest point it has ever reached, due to nine factors: (1) the rise of the Anglo-American law firm, (2) the increase of American legal training for non-U.S. lawyers, (3) the influence of the common-law adversarial model on arbitration style, (4) the increased acceptance of American discovery, (5) recent developments in choice of law issues, (6) the American influence of venue (situs of arbitration and situs for enforcement), (7) the American mechanism of published precedent, (8) the widespread adoption of English as the lingua franca of international arbitration, and (9) the over-representation of Americans are major arbitration institutions.
Liberty and limitation in public health

Public health law: power, duty, restraint Lawrence O. Gostin Berkeley: University of California Press; 2000 496 pp. US $60 (cloth) ISBN 0-520-22646-1 US$ 24.95 (paper) ISBN 0-520-22648-8 Any country faced with spiralling health care costs has attempted to control the problem through some form of