cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Fecal Microbial Transplantation on Microbiome and Immunity in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques

ABSTRACT An altered intestinal microbiome during chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with mucosal dysfunction, inflammation, and disease progression. We performed a preclinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a potential therapeutic in HIV-infected individuals. Antiretroviral-treated, chronically simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques received antibiotics followed by FMT. The greatest microbiota shift was observed after antibiotic treatment. The bacterial community composition at 2 weeks post-FMT resembled the pre-FMT community structure, although differences in the abundances of minor bacterial populations remained. Immunologically, we observed significant increases in the number of peripheral Th17 and Th22 cells and reduced CD4 + T cell activation in gastrointestinal tissues post-FMT. Importantly, the transplant was well tolerated with no negative clinical side effects. Although this pilot study did not control for the differential contributions of antibiotic treatment and FMT to the observed results, the data suggest that FMT may have beneficial effects that should be further evaluated in larger studies. IMPORTANCE Due to the immunodeficiency and chronic inflammation that occurs during HIV infection, determination of the safety of FMT is crucial to prevent deleterious consequences if it is to be used as a treatment in the future. Here we used the macaque model of HIV infection and performed FMT on six chronically SIV-infected rhesus macaques on antiretroviral treatment. In addition to providing a preclinical demonstration of the safety of FMT in primates infected with a lentivirus, this study provided a unique opportunity to examine the relationships between alterations to the microbiome and immunological parameters. In this study, we found increased numbers of Th17 and Th22 cells as well as decreased activation of CD4 + T cells post-FMT, and these changes correlated most strongly across all sampling time points with lower-abundance taxonomic groups and other taxonomic groups in the colon. Overall, these data provide evidence that changes in the microbiome, particularly in terms of diversity and changes in minor populations, can enhance immunity and do not have adverse consequences.
Detection of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococci Mediated by mecA Gene Using Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Method

OBJECTIVE To evaluate application of cefoxitin disk diffusion method in detecting meticillin-resistant staphylococci(MRS)mediated by mecA gene.METHODS The cefoxitin disk diffusion method,oxacillin disk(diffusion) method,oxacillin agar dilution test,VITEK automicroscan as well as PCR amplification were performed and compared simultaneously for detection of MRS,and VITEK automicroscan was used in testing MIC.(RESULTS)(Among) 96 strains of Staphylococcus(16 S.aureus and 80 coagulase-negative staphylococci strains),54 strains of MRS(2 S.aureus and 52 coagulase-negative staphylococci strains) were identified by oxacillin disk(diffusion) method,oxacillin agar dilution test and VITEK automicroscan,48 mecA-genes were identified by PCR amplification(2 S.aureus and 46 coagulase-negative staphylococci strains) which was the same as by cefoxitin disk diffusion method.CONCLUSIONS The(cefoxitin) disk diffusion method is highly consistent with mecA gene method,and a reliable one of screening and(identifying) MRS mediated by mecA gene.
Experiments in a Combustion-Driven Shock Tube with an Area Change

Shock tubes are versatile and useful tools for studying high temperature gas dynamics and the production of hypervelocity flows. High shock speeds are desirable for creating higher enthalpy, pressure, and temperature in the test gas which makes the study of thermo-chemical effects on fluid dynamics possible. Independent of construction and operational cost, free-piston drivers, such as the one used in the T5 facility at Caltech, give the best performance [3]. The high operational cost and long turnaround time of such a facility make a more economical option desirable for smaller-scale testing.
Seasonal variation in cold hardiness and peak rates of cold-induced thermogenesis in the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

-I used helium-oxygen (heliox) gas mixtures (approximately 79.5% He: 20.5% 02) to study seasonal variation in cold resistance and peak rates of thermogenesis (Vo2 max = maximum oxygen consumption maintained over a 10-min period) in Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis). Cold tolerance increased markedly in winter-acclimatized juncos. Heliox temperatures required to induce hypothermia within 90 min in more than 50% of the birds tested were 4?C in summer and -9?C in winter. In winter, Vo2 m.. increased significantly on both a per-bird and mass-specific basis. In summer, Vo2mm,, was 5.78 ml 02/min (20.75 ml 02 g-1 h-'), and 7.39 ml 02/min (23.42 ml 02 gh-1) in winter. Vo2m,, exceeded standard metabolic rate by 6.6 times, and by 6.7-7.2 times in winter. Maximal instantaneous oxygen consumption (Vo2 i = maximal 1-min Vo2) under cold stress did not vary seasonally on either a per-bird or mass-specific basis. Mass loss rates during cold stress did not vary seasonally. Winter increases in V02 ma, and cold tolerance characterize metabolic acclimatization in Dark-eyed Juncos. Received 2 May 1989, accepted 29 January 1990. SMALL birds that overwinter in temperate climates show marked seasonal changes in cold tolerance (Hart 1962, Barnett 1970, Pohl and West 1973, Dawson and Carey 1976, Dawson et al. 1983). Seasonal variation in peak rates of cold-induced thermogenesis (Vo2ma., defined here as maximal Vo2 maintained over 10 min) in these birds has received little attention, mostly because of problems associated with generating experimental temperatures low enough to elicit maximum metabolism. High specific heat helium-oxygen gas mixtures (heliox) facilitate heat loss, and induce V02 max at less extreme temperatures (Rosenmann and Morrison 1974). Consequently, heliox gas mixtures have been used to document winter increases in maximal thermogenic capacity in several mammals, including snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus; Feist and Rosenmann 1975), red-backed voles (Clethrionomys rutilus; Rosenmann et al. 1975), and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus; Wickler 1980). In birds, Dawson and Smith (1986) documented an increased Vo2ma in winter-acclimatized American Goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) from Michigan compared with those acclimatized to spring conditions. Higher VO2max in winter may indicate changes in the metabolic machinery involved in thermogenesis that increase thermogenic capacity and enable small birds to prolong cold resistance. However, it remains unclear whether seasonal variation in maximal thermogenic capacity is widespread among small birds wintering in temperate cli-
Stress Corrosion Cracking

This chapter begins with a stress corrosion cracking (SCC) definition and characteristics, testing methods common to SCC and hydrogen-induced cracking, fracture mechanics principles and techniques, and corrosion fatigue testing. SCC metallurgy is explained through case studies on SCC variables such as solid solution composition, grain boundary segregation, alloy phase transformation and associated solute depleted zones, duplex structures, and cold work. Electrochemical effects have been analyzed through case studies published between 2000 and 2013 by more than 200 references. The SCC fundamental principles, nature of the processes, and the protection strategies are explained through solved exercise problems from fracture mechanics and case studies published in the last decade.
Determining whether transgenic and endogenous plant DNA and transgenic protein are detectable in muscle from swine fed Roundup Ready soybean meal.

Questions regarding the digestive fate of DNA and protein from transgenic feed have been raised in regard to human consumption and commercial trade of animal products (e.g., meat, milk, and eggs) from farm animals fed transgenic crops. Using highly sensitive, well-characterized analytical methods, pork loin samples were analyzed for the presence of fragments of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA and transgenic protein from animals fed meal prepared from conventional or glyphosate-tolerant Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans. Pigs were fed diets containing 24, 19, and 14% RR or conventional soybean meal during grower, early-finisher, and late-finisher phases of growth, respectively, and longissimus muscle samples were collected (12 per treatment) after slaughter. Total DNA was extracted from the samples and analyzed by PCR, followed by Southern blot hybridization for the presence of a 272-bp fragment of the cp4 epsps coding region (encoding the synthetic enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase derived from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4) and a 198-bp fragment of the endogenous soybean gene le1 (encoding soy lectin). Using 1 microgram of input DNA per reaction, none of the extracted samples was positive for cp4 epsps or le1 at the limit of detection (LOD) for these PCR/Southern blot assays. The LOD for these assays was shown to be approximately one diploid genome equivalent of RR soybean DNA, even in the presence of 10 micrograms of pork genomic DNA. A 185-bp fragment of the porcine preprolactin (prl) gene, used as a positive control, was amplified from all samples showing that the DNA preparations were amenable to PCR amplification. Using a competitive immunoassay with an LOD of approximately 94 ng of CP4 EPSPS protein/g of pork muscle, neither the CP4 EPSPS protein nor the immunoreactive peptide fragments were detected in loin muscle homogenates from pigs fed RR soybean meal. Taken together, these results show that neither small fragments of transgenic DNA nor immunoreactive fragments of transgenic protein are detectable in loin muscle samples from pigs fed a diet containing RR soybean meal.
Co-exposure to non-persistent organic chemicals among American pre-school aged children: A pilot study.

Abstract Background General population human biomonitoring programs such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States suggest that chemical exposures are common. Exposures during childhood may affect health later in life, but biomonitoring data in NHANES among pre-school aged children are limited. Methods A convenience group of 122 3–5 year old American boys and girls were recruited in 2013 for a pilot study to assess the feasibility of collecting urine from young children and analyzing it for select chemical exposure biomarkers for future NHANES. Children were primarily Hispanic (64.8%); the remainder was divided between non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic white and “other.” We measured 52 urinary biomarkers: 13 phthalates and one non-phthalate plasticizer, five phenols and four parabens, 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 19 pesticides. For each biomarker, we calculated descriptive statistics. We also calculated the number of biomarkers detected within each child, and performed principal components analysis (PCA). Results NHANES staff obtained permission to attempt collection of 60 mL urine from 3 to 5 year olds who participated in the 2013 NHANES health examination; 83% of children successfully provided the target volume. We detected 24 individual biomarkers of pesticides, phenols and parabens, phthalates/non-phthalate plasticizers, and PAHs in 95–100% of children. The median number of biomarkers detected was 37: nine pesticides, five phenols and parabens, 13 phthalates and non-phthalate plasticizers, and 10 PAHs. Biomarkers concentrations appear to be similar to national estimates among 6–11 year old children from previous NHANES. PCA suggested high within-class correlations among biomarkers. Conclusions These young children successfully adhered to the collection protocol and produced enough urine for the quantification of environmental biomarkers currently being measured in NHANES participants 6 years of age and older. Using the same analytical methods employed for the analysis of samples collected from older NHANES participants, in this sample of pre-school aged children we detected multiple chemicals including plasticizers, combustion products, personal-care product chemicals, and pesticides. Starting with NHANES 2015–2016, the NHANES biomonitoring program will include urinary biomarkers for 3–5 year old children to provide exposure data to select chemicals at the national level among this age group.
AB3-loaded and tumor-targeted unimolecular micelles for medullary thyroid cancer treatment

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is often resistant to standard therapies, emphasizing the need for the development of other treatments. A new histone deacetylase inhibitor, AB3, can effectively inhibit MTC cell proliferation in vitro. However, its poor aqueous solubility and stability, fast clearance, and lack of tumor targeting ability limit its in vivo application. Therefore, multifunctional unimolecular micelles were developed for targeted delivery of AB3 for MTC therapy. The unimolecular micelles exhibited a spherical core-shell structure, uniform size distribution, and excellent stability. AB3 was encapsulated into the hydrophobic core of the unimolecular micelles, thus significantly enhancing its aqueous solubility and stability. KE108, a somatostatin analog possessing high affinity to all five subtypes of SSTR, was used as an MTC-targeting ligand. In vitro cellular uptake analyses demonstrated that the KE108 exhibited superior targeting ability in MTC cells compared to octreotide, the first clinically used somatostatin analog. Moreover, the AB3-loaded and KE108-conjugated unimolecular micelles exhibited the best efficacy in suppressing MTC cell growth and tumor marker expression in vitro. Furthermore, AB3-loaded, KE108-conjugated micelles demonstrated the best anticancer efficacy in vivo without any apparent systemic toxicity, thereby offering a promising approach for targeted MTC therapy.
Cerebral Endothelium, Blood-Brain-Barrier and the Astrocyte Membrane

The manner in which protein crosses from blood to the extracellular clefts of the brain, when the barrier to such passage has been disrupted, has not been fully elucidated. The barrier, which maintains a sharp gradient between the high concentration of protein within the blood and the very low amount in the extracellular fluid of the cerebral parenchyma, is endothelial. The occlusion of the extracellular clefts between adjacent endothelial cells by successive belts of tight junctions together with the absence of vesicular transfer ensure that proteins do not cross the cerebral vessel (Reese and Karnovsky, 1967). The degree of occlusion is complete with regard to protein and substances as small as ionic lanthanium (La3+) (Bouldin and Krigman, 1975), which has a diameter of about 0.9 nm.
After the Smoke Clears

Military health care professionals are often deployed in support of combat operations. They may be deployed with a unit or as individuals attached to a unit that needs augmented health care capabilities. Occupational therapy is one such health care profession that can provide a variety of rehabilitative services in support of combat operations. In deployed environments, rehabilitative services provided by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants may include neuromuscular/orthopedic rehabilitation, behavioral health services in conjunction with a behavioral health team, injury prevention, and concussion care. The following chapter is a personal account of one such occupational therapist who shares some of the challenges and opportunities she encountered providing rehabilitative services, while deployed to Regional Command-East, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Complicated grief and caregiving correlates among bereaved adolescent girls in South Africa.

Abstract To our knowledge, this is the first study to document correlates of complicated grief among bereaved adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Participants included 339 female adolescents in South Africa who experienced the loss of a loved one at least six months prior to the survey; their primary caregivers were also surveyed. One-fifth of adolescents were classified as having complicated grief using the Inventory of Complicated Grief Revised for Children in conjunction with grief-induced functional impairment. The loss of a biological parent, the primary caregiver's level of grief, and economic stressors since the loss were associated with increased odds of complicated grief among adolescents. Adolescents' age, residential changes, time since the loss, multiple losses, bereavement due to death by illness, and caregiver depression did not affect the odds. Findings signal the potential of family-centered interventions and economic support services for bereaved adolescents.
Complexities with group therapy facilitation in substance use disorder specialty treatment settings

In spite of increased attention to research-based interventions for substance use disorders (SUDs), a formidable research-practice gap impedes the implementation of evidence-based treatments (EBTs). An underappreciated dimension of this gap is a mismatch in treatment modality: Whereas clinical trial and implementation research has focused primarily on individual therapy, the majority of SUD specialty treatment is in group format, with open-enrolling groups being most common. This study aims to narrow this research-practice gap by exploring clinicians' perspectives on complexities with group therapy facilitation in SUD specialty treatment settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 group clinicians from among three outpatient SUD specialty clinics-diverse in their operational structures, treatment philosophies, clientele, and services-located in the same Midwestern U.S. metropolitan area. Interview questions addressed organizational characteristics, services provided, group therapy curricula, and use of EBTs or other structured treatments. Clinicians emphasized the importance of having flexibility in facilitating groups, through built-in group processes and clinicians' own adaptions and accommodations; this flexibility was especially emphasized for the use of EBTs or manualized interventions. Clinicians also had difficulties with group facilitation generally, as evidenced by their reported difficulty in managing complex group dynamics, their limited group therapy experience and training, and their reliance on educational groups. We discuss specific strategies for improved innovation and implementation of EBTs for SUD group therapy.
Bilateral lesions of pontine Kölliker-Fuse nuclei provoke apnea instead of apneusis in anesthetized adult rats.

The Kolliker-Fuse nucleus (KF) has been traditionally dubbed the “pneumotaxic center”. Here, we report that lesions of KF nuclei of bilateral pons caused apnea (complete cessation of phrenic discharge) instead of apneusis in urethane-anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed and ventilated adult rats. After bilateral lesions of KF nuclei with the neuroexcitotoxin kainic acid, phrenic discharge disappeared and no spontaneous recovery of phrenic discharge was observed for up to 3 hours. During the apnea, hypoxia or hypercapnia provoked transient rhythmic phrenic discharge. The present finding showed that the KF nucleus not only directly participates in inspiratory to expiratory phase switching, but also provides a vital excitatory drive that is requisite for the generation of inspiratory activity.
Angular momentum distribution in Rydberg states excited by a strong laser pulse

We study the excitation to Rydberg states in the interaction of the hydrogen atom with a short, strong laser pulse. Utilizing solutions of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation we find that the parity of the populated angular momentum states agrees with the selection rules for multiphoton resonant absorption at low intensities, if the pulse length is not too short. In contrast, the parity effect cannot be observed for ultrashort pulses as well as for long pulses at high intensities. We further identify signatures of the population in the excited states via the line emissions from the populated $np$ states after the end of the pulse exhibiting the parity effect.
Systemic Morphine Produces Dose-dependent Nociceptor-mediated Biphasic Changes in Nociceptive Threshold and Neuroplasticity.

Abstract We investigated the dose dependence of the role of nociceptors in opioid-induced side-effects, hyperalgesia and pain chronification, in the rat. Systemic morphine produced a dose-dependent biphasic change in mechanical nociceptive threshold. At lower doses (0.003–0.03 mg/kg, s.c.) morphine induced mechanical hyperalgesia, while higher doses (1–10 mg/kg, s.c.) induced analgesia. Intrathecal (i.t.) oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) antisense to mu-opioid receptor (MOR) mRNA, attenuated both hyperalgesia and analgesia. 5 days after systemic morphine (0.03–10 mg/kg s.c.), mechanical hyperalgesia produced by intradermal (i.d.) prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was prolonged, indicating hyperalgesic priming at the peripheral terminal of the nociceptor. The hyperalgesia induced by i.t. PGE2 (400 ng/10 µl), in groups that received 0.03 (that induced hyperalgesia) or 3 mg/kg (that induced analgesia) morphine, was also prolonged, indicating priming at the central terminal of the nociceptor. The prolongation of the hyperalgesia induced by i.d. or i.t. PGE2, in rats previously treated with either a hyperalgesic (0.03 mg/kg, s.c.) or analgesic (3 mg/kg, s.c.) dose, was reversed by i.d. or i.t. injection of the protein translation inhibitor cordycepin (1 µg), indicative of Type I priming at both terminals. Although pretreatment with MOR antisense had no effect on priming induced by 0.03 mg/kg morphine, it completely prevented priming by 3 mg/kg morphine, in both terminals. Thus, the induction of hyperalgesia, but not priming, by low-dose morphine, is MOR-dependent. In contrast, induction of both hyperalgesia and priming by high-dose morphine is MOR-dependent. The receptor at which low-dose morphine acts to produce priming remains to be established.
Laboring lesbians: Queering emotional labor.

Through an ethnographic examination of the everyday lives of lesbians working in gas stations, this article highlights the ways in which sexuality matters within the workplace. One of the unique as...
Joint Offloading and Computation Energy Efficiency Maximization in a Mobile Edge Computing System

This paper proposes a new algorithm to evaluate the performance of the mobile edge computing system. Specifically, a new metric called computation efficiency is defined as the number of calculated data bits divided by the corresponding energy consumption. In order to compute the required data timely, we combine two schemes, local computing and data offloading, into a joint computation algorithm. An optimization problem is formulated with the objective to maximize the sum of computation efficiency among users with weighting factors. With iterative and gradient descent methods, the problem can be solved efficiently. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms traditional approaches. In addition, the tradeoff study between local computing and data offloading reveals that when data size is small, local computing plays a more important role, but when the size grows, data offloading becomes preferable.
Quartic Barriers

Many mathematical propositions are expressed in terms of a natural number n for which they are either true or false. This expository paper surveys a collection of propositions P(n) which are true if and only if n ≤ 4.
No Time to Wait: Optimizing Use of Deceased Donor Kidneys

The critical shortage of organs available for transplantation is now well recognized, with individual transplant centers responsible for managing ever-growing lists of patients awaiting an offer for a kidney that will improve their quality of life and survival. What is less known, particularly to
Internet search query data improve forecasts of daily emergency department volume.

Objective Emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly overcrowded. Forecasting patient visit volume is challenging. Reliable and accurate forecasting strategies may help improve resource allocation and mitigate the effects of overcrowding. Patterns related to weather, day of the week, season, and holidays have been previously used to forecast ED visits. Internet search activity has proven useful for predicting disease trends and offers a new opportunity to improve ED visit forecasting. This study tests whether Google search data and relevant statistical methods can improve the accuracy of ED volume forecasting compared with traditional data sources. Materials and methods Seven years of historical daily ED arrivals were collected from Boston Children's Hospital. We used data from the public school calendar, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Google Trends. Multiple linear models using LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) for variable selection were created. The models were trained on 5 years of data and out-of-sample accuracy was judged using multiple error metrics on the final 2 years. Results All data sources added complementary predictive power. Our baseline day-of-the-week model recorded average percent errors of 10.99%. Autoregressive terms, calendar and weather data reduced errors to 7.71%. Search volume data reduced errors to 7.58% theoretically preventing 4 improperly staffed days. Discussion The predictive power provided by the search volume data may stem from the ability to capture population-level interaction with events, such as winter storms and infectious diseases, that traditional data sources alone miss. Conclusions This study demonstrates that search volume data can meaningfully improve forecasting of ED visit volume and could help improve quality and reduce cost.
One-Way Leaky-Cladding Meta-Waveguides Based on Accidental Dirac Cones

Nonreciprocal waveguides play an important role in microwave and optical systems. Here we present a new concept for a one-way meta-waveguide: a waveguide that supports a guided mode in one direction while waves traveling in the opposite direction leak out into the waveguide cladding. This is achieved by placing a metasurface atop of a ferrite slab, and judiciously phase matching two radiant and one subradiant meta-waveguide modes in order to enhance the magneto-optical response and to create an accidental Dirac cone in the reciprocal space. By applying an in-plane magnetic field, the reciprocal and nonreciprocal contributions to magneto-optical response can interfere constructively/destructively depending on the propagation direction, thereby shifting the apex of the Dirac cone and creating a one-way propagation bandgap. The idea of one-way leaky-cladding waveguide provides an alternative way of designing nonreciprocal devices that do not require a gap in the Dirac cone.
Effects of Housing Types on Cecal Microbiota of Two Different Strains of Laying Hens During the Late Production Phase.

Due to animal welfare issues, European Union has banned the use of conventional cages (CC) and non-EU countries including the US are also under constant public pressure to restrict their use in egg production. Very limited information is available on the composition of the microbial community of hens raised in different housing environments. This study was conducted to determine the effects of CC and enriched colony cages (EC) on cecal microbiota of two commercial laying hen strains, Hy-Line W36 (W36) and Hy-Line Brown (HB) during the late production stage (53, 58, 67, and 72 weeks of age). Cecal microbiota was studied by analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequences with Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) 2 ver. 2018.8. Differentially abundant taxa were identified by Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis (P 2.0). At phylum level, Actinobacteria was significantly enriched in W36 at all time points while Synergistetes (53 weeks), Spirochaetes (58 weeks), and Synergistetes and Spirochaetes (67 weeks) were significantly higher in HB. At genus level, Bifidobacterium (at all time points) and butyric acid producing genera such as Butyricicoccus and Subdoligranulum (58 and 72 weeks) were significantly higher in W36 as compared to HB. Moreover, Proteobacteria (72 weeks) and its associated genus Campylobacter (67 and 72 weeks) were significantly enriched in EC as compared to CC. Alpha diversity was significantly higher in HB (at all time points) and in EC (67 weeks) as compared to W36 and CC, respectively. Similarly, there was a significant difference in community structure (beta diversity) between W36 and HB (all time points) as well as between EC and CC (67 weeks). The effect of housing and strains was not only seen at the bacterial composition and structure but also reflected at their functional level. Notably, KEGG metabolic pathways predicted to be involved in carbohydrates degradation and amino acids biosynthesis by PICRUSt analysis were significantly different between W36 and HB housed at CC and EC. In sum, cecal microbiota composition, diversities, and their functional pathways were affected by housing type which further varied between two commercial laying hen strains, HB and W36. This suggests that both housing and genetic strains of laying hens should be considered for selection of the alternative housing systems such as enriched colony cage.
Food Hardship during the Covid-19 Pandemic and Great Recession.

I compare the extent of food hardships in the United States among adults and seniors before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Food insufficiency increased three-fold compared to 2019, and more than doubled relative to the Great Recession. Food insufficiency among seniors increased 75 percent during the Covid period, but more than doubled when including reduced intake of food varieties. Receipt of charitable foods among disadvantaged adults spiked 50 percent in the Covid period, but the initial response among seniors was a sharp reduction, before rising. These patterns are consistent with strong social distancing measures enacted in response to the Pandemic.
X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy

The development and implementation of advanced technologies requires a thorough understanding of the effects of fabrication and processing on the design and performance of a specific product. Measurements of the surface composition, elemental distributions, segregated impurity species, and interfacial chemical reactions are of fundamental importance in determining and understanding performance and possible failure mechanisms. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has demonstrated its effectiveness in the solution of many of these technological problems.
High Velocity Kernel File Systems with Bento

High development velocity is critical for modern systems. This is especially true for Linux file systems which are seeing increased pressure from new storage devices and new demands on storage systems. However, high velocity Linux kernel development is challenging due to the ease of introducing bugs, the difficulty of testing and debugging, and the lack of support for redeployment without service disruption. Existing approaches to high-velocity development of file systems for Linux have major downsides, such as the high performance penalty for FUSE file systems, slowing the deployment cycle for new file system functionality. We propose Bento, a framework for high velocity development of Linux kernel file systems. It enables file systems written in safe Rust to be installed in the Linux kernel, with errors largely sandboxed to the file system. Bento file systems can be replaced with no disruption to running applications, allowing daily or weekly upgrades in a cloud server setting. Bento also supports userspace debugging. We implement a simple file system using Bento and show that it performs similarly to VFS-native ext4 on a variety of benchmarks and outperforms a FUSE version by 7x on 'git clone'. We also show that we can dynamically add file provenance tracking to a running kernel file system with only 15ms of service interruption.
School Counselor Perceptions of Preparation and Importance of College and Career Readiness Counseling

This study addresses school counselors’ perceptions of the importance of college and career readiness counseling and their preparedness to implement aspects of such counseling with students and fam...
A Critical Appraisal of Soil Stabilization Using Geopolymers: The Past, Present and Future

Soft and highly compressible soils beneath civil engineering structures are often responsible for severe problems such as excessive settlement, cracking, sinking, etc. Over the years, these soft soils have been stabilized with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Unfortunately, a known demerit of OPC as a traditional stabilizer is its energy-intensive nature and emission of large quantities of CO2, which has immediate- and long-term detrimental effects to the environment. This shortcoming has led to the emergence of geopolymers as a viable alternative to OPC with desirable properties such as high strength, stiffness, reduced shrinkage, and low energy consumption. This paper presents a critical appraisal (including a statistical approach) of geopolymer-stabilized soils, from relevant published literature sources covering various soil types and industrial by-products as activators for geopolymers. A review of 50 selected references on geopolymer-stabilized soil revealed that a maximum Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of 82.5 MPa at an elevated temperature of 150 °C and a minimum UCS of 0.38 MPa at room temperature (23 °C) were obtained. The molarity of the alkali precursors (NaOH, KOH, Na2SiO3, Ca(OH)2) used by different researchers ranged from 1.7 to 23.0 M, while the stabilized soil types ranged predominantly from silty to lateritic clays. From the statistical analysis performed on 50 selected references, a statistically significant difference between molarity, curing temperature, and UCS was observed; while, there was a statistical correlation of 0.539 obtained between UCS and curing temperature. Furthermore, a regression equation was developed to predict the UCS of geopolymer-stabilized soil. However, a major limitation affecting the wide utilization of geopolymers in soil stabilization is the absence of design templates compared to the well-established OPC or lime stabilization parameters. Future research should focus more on long-term durability of geopolymer-stabilized soils, especially wet–dry, freeze–thaw durability, and sustainability assessment.
Clinical Profile and Long-Term Outcome in Neonatal Cerebral Sinus Venous Thrombosis.

Abstract Background Neonatal cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) causes high morbidity and mortality. Factors associated with either favorable or unfavorable long-term outcomes have not been clearly established. This study aimed to determine the factors involved in long-term neurological outcomes in patients with neonatal CSVT. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with neonatal CSVT at a single institution. Clinical factors associated with long-term neurological outcomes were examined. Results A total of 67 patients met study inclusion criteria for radiologically confirmed neonatal CSVT. The mean patient follow-up duration was four years (range one week to 16 years, median six years). We observed a favorable neurological outcome defined by a pediatric stroke outcome measures (PSOM) score of 0 to 0.5 in 26 (53%) of osurviving patients at follow-up. An unfavorable neurological outcome as defined by PSOM score >0.5 was observed in 23 survivors (47%). Death was reported in 18 (27%) patients, of which 10 patients died due to direct complications of CSVT. Congential heart disease and genetic disease were associated with significantly increased odds for all-cause death. Cardiorespiratory failure and altered mental status during the initial neurological examination were significantly associated with increased odds of death due to CSVT. Among surviving patients, higher PSOM scores were associated with premature birth (i.e., gestational age Conclusions The major factors influencing outcome of neonates following CSVT included comorbid medical conditions, abnormal neurological examination at presentation, location of venous thrombosis, and type of cerebral injury. These results can help guide further studies in neonatal CSVT aiming to decrease morbidity and mortality with the goal of improving long-term neurological outcomes.
Choosing a model for laser speckle contrast imaging

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a real-time full-field non-invasive technique, which is broadly applied to visualize blood flow in biomedical applications. In its foundation is the link between the speckle contrast and dynamics of light scattering particles–erythrocytes. The mathematical form describing this relationship, which is critical for accurate blood flow estimation, depends on the sample’s light-scattering properties. However, in biological applications, these properties are often unknown, thus requiring assumptions to be made to perform LSCI analysis. Here, we review the most critical assumptions in the LSCI theory and simulate how they affect blood flow estimation accuracy. We show that the most commonly applied model can severely underestimate the flow change, particularly when imaging brain parenchyma or other capillary perfused tissue (e.g. skin) under ischemic conditions. Based on these observations and guided by the recent experimental results, we propose an alternative model that allows measuring blood flow changes with higher accuracy.
Crosstalk between the B7/CD28 and EGFR pathways: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Abstract Somatic activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are one of the most common oncogenic drivers in cancers such as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), metastatic colorectal cancer, glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. Molecular-targeted agents against EGFR signaling pathways have shown robust clinical efficacy, but patients inevitably experience acquired resistance. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have exhibited durable anti-tumor responses in a subset of patients across multiple cancer types, their efficacy is limited in cancers harboring activating gene alterations of EGFR. Increasing studies have demonstrated that upregulation of new B7/CD28 family members such as B7-H3, B7x and HHLA2, is associated with EGFR signaling and may contribute to resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies by creating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the regulatory effect of EGFR signaling on the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and new B7/CD28 family member pathways. Understanding these interactions may inform combination therapeutic strategies and potentially overcome the current challenge of resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies. We also summarize clinical data of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in EGFR-mutated cancers, as well as ongoing clinical trials of combination of EGFR-targeted therapies and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapies.
Left Atrium Size in Elite Athletes

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of the published literature to investigate the relationship of high levels of exercise training to left atrial (LA) size. Background The “athlete’s heart” is a series of cardiac adaptations to systematic exercise training and may include LA enlargement. Methods We conducted a systematic review of English-language studies in MEDLINE and Scopus from inception through April 29, 2014, that reported LA size in elite athletes. Results A total of 54 studies comprising 7,189 elite athletes and 1,375 controls were included. Forty-eight of the 54 studies reported absolute LA diameter in 7,018 athletes and 1,044 controls. Nine of the 54 studies (including 992 athletes and 426 controls) presented LA volume corrected for body surface area. The adjusted weighted mean LA diameter was 4.1 mm greater in athletes overall compared with sedentary controls (p Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the largest compilation of studies documenting that elite athletes have larger LA dimensions compared with controls when evaluated by either LA diameter or LA volume corrected for body surface area. The largest average LA diameters were reported in endurance athletes. Physicians evaluating athletes should be aware that the LA is increased in both strength- and endurance-trained elite athletes.
Predictors of uterine evacuation following early medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol.

Abstract Objectives We sought to determine predictors of uterine evacuation for women undergoing medical abortion using mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol through 63 days' gestation. Study Design We pooled data from two prospective multicenter medical abortion trials. In one study, women received mifepristone 200 mg followed either 6–8 or 23–25 h later by misoprostol 800 mcg vaginally. In the second study, women received mifepristone 200 mg followed either t test and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of uterine evacuation. Results Uterine evacuation was performed for 75 (3.5%) of 2160 women. In multivariable analysis, 5 or more prior deliveries (AR 11.9%, OR 4.6) and gestational age of 8 weeks or more (AR 4.1%, OR 2.1) were significantly associated with uterine evacuation, while age of 20 years or younger (AR 1.4%, OR 0.4) was significantly and inversely associated with uterine evacuation. Prior cesarean delivery, multiple gestations, smoking, weight, body surface area and body mass index were not predictive of uterine evacuation in univariate or multivariable analysis. Conclusion Uterine evacuation is an uncommon outcome in medical abortion with mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol. Five or more deliveries are the only significant predictor that identifies a group with an AR of uterine evacuation of more than 6%. Implications Uterine evacuation is uncommon in medical abortion with mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol. Parity of five or more is the only significant predictor of uterine evacuation exceeding 6%. Until additional research is completed, medical abortion should not be withheld from women with five or more deliveries.
Phenylalanine Requirement of Kittens and the Sparing Effect of Tyrosine

Two experiments were conducted to determine the phenylalanine requirement of the kitten and the ability of tyrosine to substitute for phenylalanine in the diet. In both studies purified L-amino acid diets were presented to six male and six female specific-pathogen--free kittens for six experimental periods of 10 d each, according to a 6 X 6 latin square design. In the first experiment, kittens were given tyrosine-free diets with either 4.0, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5 or 15.0 g phenylalanine/kg diet. Mean daily weight gain and N retention were maximal at 7.5 g phenylalanine/kg diet. In the second experiment, diets contained 10.0 g tyrosine/kg diet, plus 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 or 10.0 g phenylalanine/kg diet. Mean daily weight gain and N retention were maximal at 3.5 g phenylalanine/kg diet. This indicates that the dietary phenylalanine requirement of the kitten is 7.5 g phenylalanine/kg diet, and that about half of this requirement may be replaced by tyrosine.
The Medical Library Association in Retrospect, 1937-1967

Abstract The medical librarian of 1967 lives in a period of changing concepts, dramatic new methods, everwidening scientific horizons. In looking toward the immediate past he may think of the medical librarian of thirty years ago as a complacent follower of accepted procedures, not as a pioneer in a brave new world. Yet the corps of trained medical librarians today and the resources of our collections and their management are dependent upon the efforts of those who were then pioneers in medical librarianship. Training, standards, recruitment, literature control, international relations, all had continuing attention at a time when financial assistance through government funds, support by administrators, concern by scientists was almost nonexistent. In these years the day of the devoted amateur passed; the trained medical librarian came into being and matured. This, the first Janet Doe Lecture, is named for one who illustrates the best in medical librarianship, serving with scholarly distinction. It is a brief survey pointing to some of the Association's significant achievements during the years of Miss Doe's greatest activity when she and her colleagues met their "Challenge of Change".
Selecting an optimal set of transmit antennas for a low rank matrix channel

Previous work has shown that the use of multiple antennas in a fading environment results in a linear increase in capacity. This paper examines the capacity of a multiple antenna element array (MEA) in a quasi-static flat fading environment with a rank deficient channel. We assume that the channel is known at the receiver and the existence of a feedback path to the transmitter. For a particular channel realization, we show that the judicious use of fewer transmit antennas when the channel matrix is ill-conditioned can increase system capacity. We develop a criterion for selecting an optimum set of transmit antennas. This selection is optimal in the sense that the capacity of the resulting MEA system is greater than that for any other configuration with the same number of transmit antennas chosen from the original set. The resulting channel is full rank.
Follow the Leader: Informative Voluntary Disclosure and Exploitation

This paper develops a model of strategic disclosure by large traders with private information. Trading on private information comes with the risk that adverse price moves will force liquidation before the information is realized. Voluntary disclosure of holdings lets a well-reputed trader profit from the immediate price reaction, before any potential forced liquidation. However, he can also exploit his reputation by disclosing uninformative liquidity trades to earn additional profits. We analyze this situation in a model of a repeated interaction between the public and an informed trader with a reputation for receiving private informative signals. We show that the trader will optimally restrict his frequency of exploitation, but will engage in more exploitation as his reputation improves. Consequently, statements by top experienced traders may be less informative than those made by younger traders with a strong incentive to build a reputation for the future. We test these and other empirical implications of the model using data on voluntary disclosures by mutual fund managers.
A formalization of equilibria for multiagent planning

Planning has traditionally focused on single agent systems. Although planning domain languages have been extended to multiagent domains, solution concepts have not. Previous solution concepts either focus on planning for teams of agents with a single goal, or on a single agent in an environment containing other agents with unknown and unpredictable behavior. In reality other agents are usually acting to achieve their own explicit goals, which may not be the same or even related. In game theory the notion of an equilibria provides a framework for thinking about self-interested, utility maximizing agents. We define a formalization of the multiagent nondeterministic planning problem and introduce a notion of equilibria inspired by the game theoretic concept. As far as we know, this is the first solution framework that explicitly accounts for the various goals of all agents. In addition to the formalization we also demonstrate how this framework applies in a number of different domains.
IRS Rules Will Not Stop Unfair Hospital Billing and Collection Practices.

New Internal Revenue Service rules that ostensibly limit harsh hospital billing practices provide inadequate protection for many patients by excluding for-profit hospitals and allowing hospitals to determine eligibility for financial assistance.