cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opioid Agonists Differentially Regulate μ-Opioid Receptors and Trafficking Proteins in Vivo

Chronic opioid agonist treatment produces tolerance and in some cases opioid receptor internalization and down-regulation. Both morphine and etorphine induce tolerance; however, only etorphine produces μ-opioid receptor (μOR) down-regulation. In vitro studies implicate dynamin-2 (DYN-2) and G-protein receptor kinase-2 (GRK-2) in these processes. Therefore, we examined etorphine and morphine effects on regulation of GRK-2 and DYN-2 in mouse spinal cord. Mice were treated for 7 days with etorphine (200 μg/kg/day infusion) or morphine (40 mg/kg/day infusion + one 25-mg implant pellet). Controls were implanted with a placebo pellet. On the 7th day after implantation mice were tested for i.t. [d-Ala2, N -Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) analgesia. In other mice, spinal cord was removed for [3H]DAMGO binding studies or GRK-2 and DYN-2 protein and mRNA abundance were determined. Both etorphine and morphine produced significant tolerance (ED50 shift = 7.6- and 7.3-fold for morphine and etorphine, respectively). Etorphine decreased spinal μOR density by ≈30%, whereas morphine did not change μOR density. Etorphine increased (≈70%) DYN-2 protein abundance and decreased its mRNA (31%), whereas it had no effect on GRK-2 protein and mRNA abundance. Morphine had no effect on either DYN-2 or GRK-2 protein or mRNA abundance. These data raise the possibility that unequal receptor regulation by etorphine and morphine might be due to differential regulation of trafficking proteins. Overall, receptor down-regulation associated with chronic etorphine treatment may accelerate dynamin-related activity. Finally, the decrease in DYN-2 mRNA may be related to stabilization of DYN-2 protein abundance, which might inhibit transcription.
On the homogeneity of fluids forming bedding-parallel veins

A group of 400–500 m long, bedding-parallel calcite veins are exposed in the central La Popa Basin of northeastern Mexico. These veins provide a unique opportunity to determine the kilometer-scale fluid–rock system associated with bedding-parallel vein formation, and to test for sampling bias in studies that often use one or two samples to constrain the characteristics of regional-scale paleohydrogeological systems. We use fluid inclusion microthermometry in conjunction with measurements of δ13C, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr ratios to constrain the vein-forming fluid temperatures, compositions and sources, and compare these values along and between the veins to establish the homogeneity of the vein-forming fluids and fluid–rock system. The δ13C values of the veins are close to those of the host rock, and average – 3.96‰ (PDB). The δ18O values of the veins are typically 1‰ lower than those of the host rocks, and average – 9.54‰ (PDB). Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures average 137°C and inclusion salinities are all <6 wt% NaCl equivalent. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the veins average 0.70731 and are substantially lower than the values expected for the host rock. Calculated fluid δ18O values range from 4 to 10‰ (SMOW). The isotopic and microthermometric data indicate the veins most likely formed at depths of 3–4 km when meteoric water mixed with upward migrating, warm basinal brines. Vein microstructures and field characteristics indicate they formed from multiple slip events that most likely were associated with transport of individual fluid pulses that migrated along bedding planes. The large-scale homogeneity of vein geochemistry is remarkable and demonstrates that only one or two samples would be sufficient to accurately characterize the kilometer-scale paleohydrogeological system for these veins.
North Atlantic surface-ocean control of Pleistocene deep-ocean circulation

Deep basins of the North Atlantic were occupied by a cold 13 C-depleted (nutrient-rich) water mass during glaciations, and a warmer 13C-enriched (nutrient-poor) water mass (modern NADW) during interglaciations. This mode of deep-water variability is related directly to migration of the North Atlantic Polar Front. Down-core stable isotope records from the Atlantic and Antarctic suggest that 13C depletion of the glacial North Atlantic may reflect higher preformed nutrients (due to bottom-water formation under sea and/or shelf ice) and increased residence time of northern-source water, rather than replacement of NADW with AABW.
Asian American Religions: The Making and Remaking of Borders and Boundaries

Asian American Religions: The Making and Remaking of Borders and Boundaries. Tony Carnes and Fenggang Yang, eds. New York: New York University Press, 2004. 399 pp.
Critical feeding periods for last instar nymphal and pharate adults of the whiteflies, Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci

A critical feeding period is the time after which 50% of a given species of insect can be removed from its food source and complete development by undergoing adult eclosion. The critical feeding period was determined for the greenhouse white fly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, and the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Biotype B) (Homptera/Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Fourth (last) instar and pharate adult whiteflies were removed from green bean leaves, staged, placed on filter paper in small Petri dishes containing drops of water, and observed daily for eclosion. For T. vaporariorum reared at 25°C and L:D 16:8, 55 and 80% adult eclosion were observed when whiteflies were removed at stages 4 (0.23–0.26 mm in body depth) and 5 (≥ 0.27 mm in body depth), respectively, so that at least 50% eclosion was only achieved in this species of whitefly when adult eye development had already been initiated (in Stage 4), and 80% eclosion when adult wing development had been initiated (Stage 5). In contrast, 63% of B. tabaci emerged as adults if removed from the leaf at Stage 3 (0.18–0.22 mm in body depth), and 80% emerged if removed at Stage 4/5, stages in which adult formation had not yet been initiated. The mean number of eggs laid by experimental (those removed at Stages 4–5, 6–7 or 8–9) and control (those that remained on the leaf prior to eclosion) whiteflies, and the mean percent hatch of these eggs were not significantly different in experimental and control groups. Stages 7, 8 and 9 are characterized by a light red adult eye, medium red bipartite adult eye and dark red or red-black bipartite adult eye, respectively. Mean adult longevity also was not significantly different between experimental and control groups. However, for all groups of T. vaporariorum, adult female longevity was significantly (at least 2 times) greater than male longevity. Our results identify the critical feeding periods for last instar/pharate adults of two important pest species of whitefly. Since in both species of whitefly the critical feeding period is achieved when weight gain reaches a plateau, it appears that the critical feeding period is more closely correlated with the attainment of a critical weight than with either the time that ecdsyteroid titers first peak or the time when adult development is initiated.
Impact of post-challenge hyperglycemia on clinical outcomes in japanese patients with stable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Post-challenge hyperglycemia (PH) is well-established as one of risk factors for coronary artery disease. However, it remains unclear whether PH affects clinical outcomes in patients with stable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 828 patients with stable angina undergoing PCI were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 452 patients with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) or fasting plasma glucose (PG) ≥126 mg/dl and HbA1c ≥6.5% were defined as known DM. The remaining 376 patients were divided into the two groups according to 2-h PG: PH (2-h PG ≥140 mg/dl, n=236) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT, 2-h PG 100 mg/dl (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.10, P < 0.001), and previous stroke (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.03-2.04, P = 0.034) were predictors of MACE. PH is associated with future cardiovascular events in patients with stable angina undergoing PCI.
A Cline in Frequency of Autosomal Males Is Not Associated with Insecticide Resistance in House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)

Geographic variation in the chromosomal location of the male sex determining factor (M) was studied in four house fly, Musca domestica L., populations from the eastern United States. We found a strong clinal trend (29 degrees 41' latitude in Florida to 44 degrees 2' in Maine) in which the percentage of standard XY(M) males increased with increasing latitude. In Florida, 100% of the males possessed the M factor on the third autosome (III(M)). North Carolina had 20% III(M) males and 2.35% with both Y(M) and III(M). Fewer III(M) males were found in New York (4.35%). Populations from Maine contained 100% XY(M) males. In two of three standard laboratory-susceptible strains, all males carried M on an autosome ("autosomal males" or A(M)): CS (III(M)) and SRS (V(M)). Insecticide bioassays of four field-collected strains led us to conclude that resistance is not correlated with sex determination over a broad range of insecticides. For example, high levels of resistance to permethrin (86-99% survival at a diagnostic concentration) were found in all four field-collected strains. The five other insecticides evaluated showed varying levels of resistance among field strains. We conclude that a cline is present in house fly populations from the eastern United States with 100% III(M) males in the south and entirely Y(M) males in the north and that insecticide resistance is not a key factor influencing the evolution or linkage of M.
Attitudes about skin cancer prevention: A qualitative study

Abstract Background. Skin cancer represents a significant threat to the health and well‐being of Americans. By engaging in both primary and secondary preventive behaviors, individuals can reduce their risks of developing skin cancer. Methods. Focus groups were used as a qualitative technique to explore the similarities and differences between those who practiced skin cancer prevention (a high‐concern group) and those who did not (a low‐concern group). Transcripts from the discussions were analyzed to identify themes regarding participants' attitudes, beliefs, and practices about skin cancer prevention. Results. Seven themes emerged from the data: 1) benefits of sun exposure; 2) salience of skin cancer prevention; 3) perceived seriousness of the sun's harmful effects; 4) personal connection to skin cancer; 5) media attention regarding skin cancer; 6) problems with sunscreens; and 7) preventive health “have‐tos.” Conclusions. To improve skin cancer prevention, health education interventions must attend to i...
The problem may be more difficult to solve than it appears: a reply to zelaznik.

Zelaznik (1978) and I agree that his comment applies only to Experiment 1 of my series of three experiments, and I note that the weight of my argument was based on the other two experiments. Although agreeing with his analysis of the problem in Experiment 1, I note that the recommended solution may introduce a new problem in the course of eliminating the old one. It is fortunate that my conclusion can rest on converging operations and is not tied to the particular paradigm in question.
THE POTENTIAL FOR COEVOLUTION IN A HOST-PARASITOID SYSTEM. I. GENETIC VARIATION WITHIN AN APHID POPULATION IN SUSCEPTIBILITY TO A PARASITIC WASP.

For coevolution to occur, there must be genetic variation in each species for traits relevant to their interaction. Here, statistically significant variation in susceptibility to a parasitic wasp was found among pea-aphid clones collected from a single population. In a subset of clones that was tested further, wasps were found to oviposit in aphids from both resistant and susceptible lines, but eggs failed to develop in resistant hosts. Significant genetic variance in susceptibility provides evidence that this aphid population has the potential to evolve resistance in response to selection by one of its major natural enemies. Predictions of an expected response to selection based on the experimental measures of variation and field parasitism rates suggested that there should be a detectable change in susceptibility over the course of a season. However, an experimental comparison of mean susceptibility of clones collected early and late in the summer, a period of several generations, revealed no response to selection by the wasps. Aphids collected late in the season were as susceptible, on the average, as those collected early in the summer. Possible constraints on the response of the aphids to selection by this natural enemy are considered.
Energetics of CO2 Adsorption on Mg–Al Layered Double Hydroxides and Related Mixed Metal Oxides

Energetics of CO2 uptake by layered double hydroxides (LDH) of Mg and Al and their corresponding mixed metal oxides (MMO) of two different compositions (Mg/Al = 2:1 and 3:1) were investigated by gas adsorption calorimetry. The initial adsorption enthalpies for all the LDH and MMO are similar and in the range −90 to −120 kJ/mol, indicating strong chemisorption of CO2. However, the differential adsorption enthalpy varies substantially with increasing coverage for different samples. LDH prepared by coprecipitation (both Mg/Al = 2 and 3) and their corresponding MMO exhibit similar CO2 uptake, which are in the working sorption capacity range (0.6–1 mmol/g), but the one prepared by urea hydrolysis shows poor sorption capacity (0.02–0.35 mmol/g). An integral enthalpy of adsorption of −54 kJ/mol was observed for [Mg–Al–CO3] LDH prepared by urea hydrolysis and −59 kJ/mol and −57 kJ/mol for the ones prepared by coprecipitation with composition 3:1 and 2:1, respectively. Attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy mea...
Ocular Phototoxicity and Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet Radiation (320–400 nm) Therapy: An Experimental and Clinical Evaluation

The increase in fluorescent chromophores within the human ocular lens is age related, leading to an increasingly yellow core (nucleus) that presumably results from UV radiation exposure. In approximately 10% of our population this process progresses more rapidly, resulting in the formation of the brown (nuclear) cataract. Some lenticular discoloration may be beneficial, since it enables the mature lens to filter UV and short-wavelength visible radiation, thus protecting the retina from potential photodamage. Aphakic primate retinas can be irreversibly damaged by exposure to approximately 5 mW.cm-2 long-wavelength UV (greater than 325 nm) radiation. Photosensitized damage to the lens and retina with psoralen plus UV radiation (320-400 nm) (PUVA) has been demonstrated in experimental animals, and cataracts have recently been reported in patients given PUVA therapy. A new method to screen patients for lens damage is by enhanced fluorescence measurements. This method, UV slit-lamp densitography, permits detection of lenticular photodamage at a molecular level, years before visible opacities become manifest by conventional slit-lamp examination. This procedure has also demonstrated a significantly lower level of lens fluorescence (hence decreased filtering capacity) in patients with retinal degenerative diseases, suggesting UV photodamage as a factor in the progression and perhaps pathogenesis of these conditions.
A New Resist for Area Selective Atomic and Molecular Layer Deposition on Metal−Dielectric Patterns

Both area selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) and area selective molecular layer deposition (MLD) are demonstrated on Cu/SiO2 patterns using octadecylphos- phonic acid (ODPA) self-assembled monolayers as a resist layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy confirm that during a metal oxide ALD process, no growth occurs on ODPA-protected Cu, whereas the metal oxide grows on SiO2 regions of the substrate, for up to 36 nm of metal oxide. The results also show that ODPA blocks the Cu surface from MLD, preventing polyurea deposition for up to 6 nm of film thickness.
Congenital anomalies among infants of diabetic mothers: Etiology, prevention, prenatal diagnosis☆

Congenital anomalies occur two to three times more frequently among infants of women diabetic before pregnancy than among infants of nondiabetic women.‘-’ In addition to being more common among infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs), anomalies are significantly more severe and more often multiple and fatal.’ Concomitant with improved medical, obstetric, and neonatal care of diabetic pregnancies over the past two decades, the frequency of many perinatal complications (respiratory distress, fetal death, birth trauma, etc.) has decreased. While the impact of these complications on perinatal morbidity has diminished, the incidence of malformations has not significantly changed. Consequently, the relative importance of congenital anomalies has increased to the extent that they are the most common cause of perinatal death among IDMs in recent reports.‘. ‘XI If anomalyassociated morbidity among IDMs is to be minimized, it is essential to understand the pathogenesis of these anomalies and formulate a preventative management plan guided by an awareness of the etiologic mechanism(s). Such a preventative program potentially could reduce the incidence of malformations to the rate seen in uncomplicated pregnancies. Should prophylaxis fail, improved diagnostic accuracy of these anomalies will facilitate prenatal management. The purpose of this report is to review the current information related to etiology and management and summarize the approach to prevention and diagnosis of congenital anomalies among IDMs utilized at our institution.*
A critique of alcoholism treatment concepts; with special reference to abstinence.

Follow-up studies of alcoholism treatment have been so heterogeneous that few reliable conclusions can be drawn about either treatment results or methods. Reported improvement rates have ranged wid...
Paleobotany; perspectives in 1980

In the past twenty years, both knowledge of fossil plants and ways of looking at the paleobotanical record have expanded significantly. Studies of Precambrian microfossils have provided insight on early photoautotrophs, while fundamental changes in perceptions of Silurian and Devonian plant remains have clarified our understanding of the colonization of land, as well as the subsequent evolution of complex stems, leaves, and the seed habit. A recurring question concerns the phylogenetic relationships of gymnosperms: is the gymnospermy found in various living and extinct taxa the result of evolutionary convergence or of common descent? Rapidly accumulating data on the reproductive and developmental biology of Paleozoic seed ferns is reopening debate on this issue. The mystery of angiosperm origins remains “abominable”, but the past two decades of research have seen convincing documentation of the initial radiation and rise to taxonomic and ecological dominance of the flowering plants.While phylogenetic and systematic botany remain at the core of paleobotanical research, increased attention is being devoted to studies of ontogeny and reproductive biology, paleoecology, taphonomy, paleophytochemistry, paleoclimatology, and paleobiogeography. Studies of evolutionary rates and diversity are in their infancy, but initial results permit an optimistic appraisal of the contributions that paleobotanists can make to evolutionary paleontology.
Chapter 21 – Sources of Errors in Molecular Testing

Molecular diagnostics is a rapidly growing discipline in laboratory medicine, with new methods and new applications continually becoming available and improvements being made. Molecular techniques are now routinely used in the diagnosis and management of many infectious diseases and are increasingly being applied to other areas such as cancer detection. A wide variety of nucleic acid detection methods are available, including amplified and nonamplified techniques. Many assays are commercially available and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, allowing laboratories to implement them relatively easily. Improvements to molecular assays include simplified formats (extraction, amplification, and detection in a single device) and automated extraction platforms that allow large numbers of samples to be processed at one time. Qualitative as well as quantitative molecular techniques are commercially available, and some laboratories develop their own home-brew assays. Despite the enormous improvements made during the past few years, occasional problems occur in molecular diagnostic laboratories. Several fundamental features of molecular testing require laboratories to be alert for problems with testing that may give rise to erroneous results. Some of the more frequently seen interferences that can occur with molecular testing are discussed in this chapter. As with other sections of the laboratory, a strong program of quality control and quality assurance is necessary for detection of problems, monitoring of errors, and implementing methods to improve quality if systematic errors are occurring in the molecular laboratory. Although analytical errors can occur with molecular testing, good-quality control programs mean that errors are kept to a minimum. This chapter outlines the most common interferences in molecular diagnostics testing and describes methods to prevent and deal with these problems.
New light rail transit and active travel: A longitudinal study

Abstract We use panel data to investigate the before-and-after impact of a new light rail transit line on active travel behavior. Participants were divided into a treatment group and a control group (residing ½ mile from a new light rail transit station, respectively). Self-reported walking ( n = 204) and accelerometer-measured physical activity ( n = 73) were obtained for both groups before and after the new light rail transit opened. This is the first application of an experimental-control group study design around light rail in California, and one of the first in the U.S. Our panel design provides an opportunity for stronger causal inference than is possible in the much more common study designs that use cross-sectional data. It also provides an opportunity to examine how an individual’s previous activity behavior influences the role that new light rail transit access plays in promoting active travel behavior. The results show that, when not controlling for subject’s before-opening walking or physical activity, there was no significant relationship between treatment group status and after-opening walking or physical activity. However, when controlling for an interaction between baseline walking/physical activity and treatment group membership, we found that living within a half-mile of a transit station was associated with an increase in walking and physical activity for participants who previously had low walking and physical activity levels. The results were opposite for participants with previously high walking and physical activity levels. Future policy and research should consider the possibility that sedentary populations may be more responsive to new transit investments, and more targeted “soft” approaches in transit service would be needed to encourage people to make healthy travel choices.
Identification of disease states associated with coagulopathy in trauma.

Trauma is the leading cause of death between the ages of 1 to 44 in the United States. Blood loss is the primary cause of these deaths. The discrimination of states through which patients transition would be helpful in understanding the disease process, and in identification of critical states and appropriate interventions. Even though these states are strongly associated with patients’ blood composition data, there has not been a way to directly identify them. Statistical tools such as hidden Markov models can be used to infer the discrete latent states from the blood composition data. We applied a hidden Markov model to time-series multivariate patient measurements from the UCSF/ San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Ten blood factor related measurements were used to identify the model: factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, antithrombin III, protein C, prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. Missing data in the time-series dataset was considered in the hidden Markov model. The number of states was determined by minimizing the Bayesian information criterion across different numbers of states. After preprocessing, 1090 patients with a total number of 2176 time point measurements were included in the analysis. The hidden Markov model identified 6 disease states and 3 stages. We analyzed their relationships to the blood composition data and the coagulation cascade. The states are very indicative of the disease progression status of patients. Six disease states and 3 stages associated with Coagulopathy in trauma were identified in our study. The hidden Markov model can be useful in identifying latent states by using patients’ time-series multivariate data. The information obtained from the states and stages can be useful in the clinical setting.
Uncertainty Theories by Modal Logic

In a series of papers initiated by Resconi et al. [1], interpretations for various uncertainty theories were proposed, including fuzzy set theory, Dempster-Shafer theory, and possible theory, using models of modal logic [1, 2, 3]. There were two main reasons for pursuing research in this direction. The first reason was to offer the standard semantics of modal logic as a unifying framework within which it would be possible to compare and relate uncertainty theories to each other. Since, from time to time, some of the uncertainty theories are questioned regarding their internal adequateness, the second reason was to support them by developing interpretations for them in a relatively well-established area: in our case, modal logic. This paper is a summary of these efforts. To avoid unnecessary repetition of previous material, we will not repeat all the basic definitions and properties; the reader is referred to relevant literature for fuzzy set theory [5], for possibility theory [3], for Dempster-Shafer theory [4], and for modal logic [8]. A more thorough treatment of the material summarised in this paper is covered in the above-mentioned papers [4,5].
A monomeric water-soluble NIR-absorbing porphyrin derivative as in vivo photoacoustic tomography contrast agent

A PEGylated quinoline-annulated porphyrin derivative was synthesized as in vivo photoacoustic tomography contrast agent. It possesses high solubility and stability in water and phosphate-buffered saline. No toxicity sign was observed in BALB/c mice. The dye demonstrates a 4-fold higher photoacoustic signal generation efficiency compared to fresh rat blood. Injection of the dye results in a significant enhancement of in vivo PAT images of murine tumors. Analysis of the mouse urine after injection revealed an unaltered renal filtration of the contrast agent.
Analysis of Course Content Structure and Critical Thinking in Strategic Management

Previous research has suggested that content structure is important in promoting critical thinking in strategic management. In this paper, I analyzed various ways to structure course content. I contended that identifying main inquiry questions, and developing models, lecture power points, and checklists improved the effectiveness of the course content in promoting critical thinking. Data collected from 39 graduate students taking strategic management courses that applied the approach supported two of the four hypotheses. The effectiveness of the five questions and lecture power points in promoting critical thinking was supported by the data. Overall, the model explained 68% of the variance of course content in promoting critical thinking in strategic management.
Utilizing ground-based LIDAR measurements to aid autonomous airdrop systems:

Uncertainty in atmospheric winds represents one of the primary sources of landing error in airdrop systems. In this work, a ground-based LIDAR system samples the wind field at discrete points above...
Emergence of tool construction in an articulated limb controlled by evolved neural circuits

Tool construction requires sophisticated cognitive function and is only observed in higher mammals and a few avian species. In this paper, we will examine the spontaneous emergence of tool construction during the simulated evolution of a two-degree-of-freedom articulated limb controller in a reaching task environment. The limb controller is a recurrent neural network with a topology evolved using the NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) algorithm. First, we show how broad fitness criteria such as distance to target, number of successful reaches, number of steps to reach the target, and number of instances holding the correct length tool are enough to give rise to tool construction. Second, we analyze how the number of tools and their location in the environment during evolution affect the evolved neural circuits' ability to detect tool affordances and employ the optimal decision strategy. We expect our results to help us understand the implications of tool use capability and the environmental conditions that may facilitate its development.
Circular Waveguide Grating-Via-Grating for Interlayer Coupling

A circular waveguide grating-via-grating (GVG) coupler is designed to achieve vertical interlayer optical coupling. Interlayer coupling efficiency is simulated to be 41% (single layer efficiency is 64%) for Si3N4 circular waveguide gratings for TE polarization at 1.55- $\mu \text{m}$ wavelength, which is comparable with that of rectangular SOI gratings incorporating adjacent-layer reflectors. The grating ridges of circular gratings are relatively wide (e.g. >465 nm) and adjacent-layer reflectors are not required, both of which simplify fabrication. In-plane circular distributed Bragg reflectors are incorporated to enhance the waveguide-grating interaction. The resonance-enhanced circular gratings are relatively compact compared with the conventional Si3N4-based rectangular gratings, e.g., the inner grating is 20 $\mu \text{m}$ in diameter. Furthermore, this GVG coupling structure is less sensitive to misalignment, works well for a wide range of wavelengths (e.g. ±100 nm), and can operate with larger interlayer separations (e.g. $\sim 5~\mu \text{m}$ ) compared with conventional rectangular gratings.
Patterns of opioid initiation at first visits for pain in United States primary care settings.

Purpose The primary objective of this study was to characterize variation in patterns of opioid prescribing within primary care settings at first visits for pain, and to describe variation by condition, geography, and patient characteristics. Methods 2014 healthcare utilization data from Optum's Clinformatics™ DataMart were used to evaluate individuals 18 years or older with an initial presentation to primary care for 1 of 10 common pain conditions. The main outcomes assessed were (1) the proportion of first visits for pain associated with an opioid prescription fill and (2) the proportion of opioid prescriptions with >7 days' supply. Results We identified 205 560 individuals who met inclusion criteria; 9.1% of all visits were associated with an opioid fill, ranging from 4.1% (headache) to 28.2% (dental pain). Approximately half (46%) of all opioid prescriptions supplied more than 7 days, and 10% of prescriptions supplied ≥30 days. We observed a 4-fold variation in rates of opioid initiation by state, with highest rates of prescribing in Alabama (16.6%) and lowest rates in New York (3.7%). Conclusions In 2014, nearly half of all patients filling opioid prescriptions received more than 7 days' of opioids in an initial prescription. Policies limiting initial supplies have the potential to substantially impact opioid prescribing in the primary care setting.
Methods of Controlling Invasive Fungal Infections Using CD8 + T Cells

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) cause high rates of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Pattern-recognition receptors present on the surfaces of innate immune cells recognize fungal pathogens and activate the first line of defense against fungal infection. The second line of defense is the adaptive immune system which involves mainly CD4+ T cells, while CD8+ T cells also play a role. CD8+ T cell-based vaccines designed to prevent IFIs are currently being investigated in clinical trials, their use could play an especially important role in acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients. So far, none of the vaccines used to treat IFI have been approved by the FDA. Here, we review current and future antifungal immunotherapy strategies involving CD8+ T cells. We highlight recent advances in the use of T cells engineered using a Sleeping Beauty vector to treat IFIs. Recent clinical trials using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to treat patients with leukemia have shown very promising results. We hypothesized that CAR T cells could also be used to control IFI. Therefore, we designed a CAR that targets β-glucan, a sugar molecule found in most of the fungal cell walls, using the extracellular domain of Dectin-1, which binds to β-glucan. Mice treated with D-CAR+ T cells displayed reductions in hyphal growth of Aspergillus compared to the untreated group. Patients suffering from IFIs due to primary immunodeficiency, secondary immunodeficiency (e.g., HIV), or hematopoietic transplant patients may benefit from bioengineered CAR T cell therapy.
INTERFERENCE WITH COXIELLA BURNETII INFECTIONS OF GUINEA PIGS BY INFLUENZA A VIRUS

Abstract : Guinea pigs exposed by the respiratory route to sublethal doses of influenza virus, PR8 strain, resisted subsequent challenge with a lethal dose of Coxiella burnetii administered by the same route. This note describes this interference phenomenon.
Dispositive ... - überall (und nirgendwo)? Anmerkungen zur Theorie und methodischen Praxis der Dispositivforschung

Begriffe im Allgemeinen und theoretische Konzepte im Speziellen sind Wahrnehmungs- und Denkwerkzeuge. Sprache als solche eroffnet und vermittelt uns bekanntlich jene – mithin unhintergehbar perspektivische – Wirklichkeit, die wir in unserem Alltag als Welt um uns herum wahrnehmen, erfahren und in die wir uns hineingestellt sehen. Doch wie verhalt sich dazu das ‚sinnhafte Tun‘ des Menschen, welches im Sinne jeglicher menschlichen Praxis selbstredend ebenso immer gesellschaftlich vermittelt, damit sprachlich-sinnhaft vorgeformt ist und in dem die ‚Seinsgebundenheit‘ des Denkens bzw.
Gestaltende Kräfte im Städtebau

Ein Mann, dessen Beruf es ist, Fenstervorhange aufzuhangen, kann sich, ohne sich lacherlich zu machen, Raumgestalter nennen, ohne Scheu steht „Heimgestaltung“ uber einem Schaufenster mit Mobeln und Kunstgewerbe, „Freizeitgestaltung als echtes Anliegen im Gefolge der Funftagewoche“ ist eine Floskel, die wir in der Zeitung lesen konnen, der Herr Geschaftsfuhrer des so und so Verbandes hat die Tagesordnung in bewahrter Weise gestaltet (etwas, was schon eine Ordnung ist, noch zusatzlich oder nachtraglich gestaltet, oder wie ist das?). In einer Zeit, in der der Sinn des Wortes „gestalten“ durch Gebrauch und Misbrauch derart abgeschliffen, ja leer geworden ist, erfordert es schon die Redlichkeit, zu sagen, was man unter „gestalten“ versteht, wenn man daruber sprechen will. Und dies sogar dann, wenn man vor Zuhorern spricht, die selbst mit Gestaltung im eigentlichen Sinn des Wortes zu tun haben; denn wir alle sind Kinder unserer Zeit, und ein abgegriffenes und sinnentleertes Wort frist sich in seiner abgeschwachten Bedeutung allmahlich in den Sprachverstand eines jeden von uns. Betrachten Sie es darum bitte nicht als eine unnotige Pedanterie oder als eine unzulassige Themaausweitung, wenn ich uber Gestalt nicht nur im genauen Bereich des Themas spreche, das mir gestellt ist: „Gestaltende Krafte im Stadtebau“. Dabei will ich aber nun nicht versuchen, Gestalt begrifflich zu definieren; wir brauchen Anschauung und nicht nur begriffliches Verstandnis. Ich will vielmehr in meiner Betrachtung die gestaltenden Krafte im Stadtebau in Beziehung bringen zu jener Art von Gestaltwerdungen, von denen ursprunglich der Begriff „Gestalt“ genommen worden ist und bei denen das Wort „gestalten“ auch fur uns noch seine ursprungliche Bedeutung besitzt.
Why Is Waste a Dirty Word

Trash. Garbage. Junk. Toxin. Pollutant. Emission. These are names we ascribe to metabolites and byproducts of human consumption that no longer have value to us. As a species, we collectively sequester our unwanted outputs into landfills, ooze contaminated effluent into our water supply, and release reactive gas into the atmosphere – on purpose. With the continuing and unprecedented mass migration of people to urban settings, the volume of solid waste concentrated in small areas is on track to overwhelm the environment far more quickly than most people understand.
Multilevel Regression for Small-Area Estimation of Mammography Use in the United States, 2014.

Background: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends biennial screening mammography for average-risk women aged 50–74 years. County-level information on population measures of mammography use can inform targeted intervention to reduce geographic disparities in mammography use. County-level estimates for mammography use nationwide are rarely presented. Methods: We used data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS; n = 130,289 women), linked it to the American Community Survey poverty data, and fitted multilevel logistic regression models with two outcomes: mammography within the past 2 years (up-to-date), and most recent mammography 5 or more years ago or never (rarely/never). We poststratified the data with U.S. Census population counts to run Monte Carlo simulations. We generated county-level estimates nationally and by urban–rural county classifications. County-level prevalence estimates were aggregated into state and national estimates. We validated internal consistency between our model-based state-specific estimates and urban–rural estimates with BRFSS direct estimates using Spearman correlation coefficients and mean absolute differences. Results: Correlation coefficients were 0.94 or larger. Mean absolute differences for the two outcomes ranged from 0.79 to 1.03. Although 78.45% (95% confidence interval, 77.95%–78.92%) of women nationally were up-to-date with mammography, more than half of the states had counties with >15% of women rarely/never using a mammogram, many in rural areas. Conclusions: We provided estimates for all U.S. counties and identified marked variations in mammography use. Many states and counties were far from the 2020 target (81.1%). Impact: Our results suggest a need for planning and resource allocation on a local level to increase mammography uptake.
Benthic habitat contaminant status and sediment toxicity in Bristol Bay, Alaska

Abstract A baseline environmental characterization of the northeastern reaches of Bristol Bay, Alaska was conducted using the National Status and Trends’ sediment quality triad approach. The study area was subdivided into 6 strata based on geophysical and hydrodynamic patterns (the upper and lower reaches of Nushagak and Kvichak Bays, Dillingham Harbor and the mouth of the Naknek River). Within each stratum, a stratified random sampling approach was used to select sampling sites for infauna and sediment chemistry. Ambient toxicity was assessed at a subset of sites using two bioassays (Microtox® and sea urchin fertilization and development). Fish species including, starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) were collected by trawl for body burden analyses for chemical contaminants. Persistent organic pollutant concentrations were low relative to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sediment quality guidelines (SQG). All metal/metalloid concentrations were below NOAA SQGs except for arsenic which was uniformly above the threshold SQG. Benthic communities were relatively sparse at most locations due to harsh physical oceanographic conditions. Significant chemical toxicity was virtually absent except for selected locations with high pore-water ammonia levels associated with fish processing plant waste streams. Contaminant body burdens were very low in the fish tested. The fish were generally healthy and non-contaminated.
Silence as Information: What Does a Standard Unqualified Audit Opinion Mean Under the Going Concern Financial Accounting Standard?

A recent FASB standard requires an entity’s management to assess the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and disclose substantial doubt about such. In contextualized experiments wherein the entity’s auditor does not issue a going concern opinion and the entity subsequently fails, we examine the effects of this new standard on jurors’ judgments of auditor liability, operationalized as auditor blameworthiness for investor losses. We find: (1) when management has not disclosed going concern issues, blame ascribed to auditors for investor losses increases under the new standard; (2) auditor blame increases further when management has disclosed going concern issues; and (3) inclusion of a going concern-related critical audit matter (CAM) in the audit report mitigates these adverse effects of the new standard on auditor liability. These findings provide insights regarding unintended consequences to auditors of the new FASB standard and the efficacy of CAMs to mitigate those consequences.
MEMS-in-the-lens architecture for a miniature high-NA laser scanning microscope

Laser scanning microscopes can be miniaturized for in vivo imaging by substituting optical microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices in place of larger components. The emergence of multifunctional active optical devices can support further miniaturization beyond direct component replacement because those active devices enable diffraction-limited performance using simpler optical system designs. In this paper, we propose a catadioptric microscope objective lens that features an integrated MEMS device for performing biaxial scanning, axial focus adjustment, and control of spherical aberration. The MEMS-in-the-lens architecture incorporates a reflective MEMS scanner between a low-numerical-aperture back lens group and an aplanatic hyperhemisphere front refractive element to support high-numerical-aperture imaging. We implemented this new optical system using a recently developed hybrid polymer/silicon MEMS three-dimensional scan mirror that features an annular aperture that allows it to be coaxially aligned within the objective lens without the need for a beam splitter. The optical performance of the active catadioptric system is simulated and imaging of hard targets and human cheek cells is demonstrated with a confocal microscope that is based on the new objective lens design. Microscopes that generate images by laser scanning could be miniaturized using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to replace the larger components currently required, allowing more-effective imaging of small structures in laboratory animals and humans. Researchers in the USA led by David Dickensheets at Montana State University, developed the new concept using simulation studies and experiments to examine human cheek cells. The process uses a recently developed MEMS mirror to both scan and focus the laser beam. The mirror is part of a catadioptric lens, meaning one that builds its images using both the reflection and the refraction of light. This allows light to be gathered across a wide range of angles—technically described as a high numerical aperture—to generate the images. The system’s advantages are likely to allow improved diagnosis of medical conditions, including cancer.
Electrochemically Modulated Liquid Chromatography in Fused Silica Capillary Columns.

Electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography (EMLC) uses electrical potentials, applied to a conductive chromatographic stationary phase (e.g., porous graphitic carbon [PGC]), to manipulate an...
Analysis of sugars and amino acids in aphid honeydew by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography - Mass spectrometry.

Abstract Past analyses of sugar and amino acid composition of aphid honeydews have been completed using diverse instrumentation. Here we report the use of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detector for the analysis of seven saccharides (xylose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, melezitose and raffinose) and five amino acids (glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid, serine, and asparagine). Limits of quantitation ranged from 0.05 mg/L (melezitose) to 1.0 mg/L (fructose) for sugars and from 0.10 mg/L (glutamic acid) to 3.66 mg/L (asparagine) for amino acids. Sample preparation was fast and simple, requiring only the washing of foils used to collect aphid honeydew with hot (80 °C) water and sonication of samples prior to HILIC/MS/MS analysis for both classes of analytes. No analyte derivatization was required and excellent chromatographic characteristics were observed. For those studying honeydew-mediated interactions in the field, this technique allows for rapid characterization of ecologically important amino acids and sugars. • Composition of seven saccharides in Aphis asclepiadis honeydew including xylose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, melezitose,and raffinose, and five standard amino acids including glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid, serine, and asparagine, were analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. • All polar analytes were analyzed without derivatization using HILIC-MS with chromatographic run times of 7 min (sugars) and 10 min (amino acids).
Housing Policy Ideas from the 2020 Presidential Candidate Platforms

This article reviews housing policies from presidential candidates in the 2020 election cycle. The article first evaluates common themes in the proposed housing policies, and then reviews specific policies in the areas of: fair housing; housing development funding; home buyer and renter assistance; landlord-tenant; zoning reform; addressing the legacy of redlining; housing vouchers; homelessness; fair lending; rural communities housing policies; tribal communities housing policies; climate resilience and housing policy; and existing public housing policy.
An improved method for mean flow boundary conditions for computational aeroacoustics

Abstract An accelerated method of specifying Mean Flow Boundary Conditions for an unsteady flow is developed. Computation domains are inevitably finite in size, which means that its boundaries have to be located within the flow itself. This requires special boundary conditions which do not reflect outgoing waves while still being able to impose any incoming disturbances into the computation domain. As is well known, the Euler equations contain acoustic, vortical, and entropy waves, and all possible flows can be made by combining them. Because these waves are coupled, it is difficult to separate them into individual waves that the solver can modify. Moreover, it is desirable to set not just the waves but the mean of the combination of these waves at the boundaries and this takes a very long time. In this work, a new method for imposing the desired time-averaged mean flow at these computational boundaries is introduced. To reduce the complexity of the problem, but retaining the basic physics and difficulties, one-dimensional acoustic wave transmission is used to model wave propagation through a nearly choked nozzle. Mean and unsteady flow equations solved, simultaneously; and integrated with the existing non reflecting boundary conditions, and is able to quickly and accurately achieve the desired mean flow without spurious reflections of the outgoing disturbances, not only for deterministic, but chaotic flows.
Connections and Curvature in Vector Bundles

A connection on a manifold B is a means of relating different tangent spaces. In particular, a connection on B is a \(\mathbb {R}\)-bilinear map $$\displaystyle \begin{aligned} \nabla\colon {\mathfrak{X}}(B)\times {\mathfrak{X}}(B)\rightarrow {\mathfrak{X}}(B), \end{aligned} $$ (†) such that the following two conditions hold: $$\displaystyle \begin{aligned} \nabla_{fX} Y & = f \nabla_X Y \\ \nabla_X(f Y) & = X[f] Y + f\nabla_X Y, \end{aligned} $$ for all smooth vector fields \(X, Y\in {\mathfrak {X}}(B)\) and all f ∈ C∞(B).