cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of cocaine on the growth of lupinus alba A contribution to “phytopharmacology.”

The effects of cocaine and its decomposition products were studied on the growth of seedlings of the plant Lupinus alba. The seeds were soaked in water and allowed to sprout in a suitable medium, following which the length of the straight roots grown by this plant was measured and the effects of cocaine and other chemicals on the growth of the roots were investigated. The plants were placed in solutions of nutrient salts (Shive solution) and the various drugs were added to such solutions. Controls were made on seedlings suspended in Shive solution diluted one half with distilled water. It was found that the effect of cocaine and its decomposition products on the growth of lupinus was very different from the effect of the same substances on animal tissues. Whereas cocaine is very toxic for animal tissues such as smooth and skeletal muscle, nerves, etc., it required strong solutions of this alkaloid, namely 2 per cent. of cocaine hydrochloride to inhibit the growth of the seedlings. Ecgonin hydrochloride in...
Supercritical Adiabatic Reactor for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) allows for the synthesis of fuels and chemicals from syngas. The reaction is highly exothermic, with the removal of the generated heat being a central consideration in the reactor design. Traditionally, low temperature Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (LTFT) has been carried out under gas-phase conditions (GP-FTS) in a fixed bed reactor or a slurry phase reactor (SP-FTS). Supercritical Fischer–Tropsch (SC-FTS) offers an interesting alternative to traditional Fischer–Tropsch operation. In addition to the many performance benefits of SC-FTS that have been previously documented, the presence of the supercritical solvent provides a diluent effect that greatly reduces the adiabatic temperature rise of the process, making adiabatic operation possible under supercritical fluid conditions. In this work, the technical viability of adiabatic operation for supercritical Fischer–Tropsch is examined. Additionally, preliminary designs of supercritical adiabatic reactor (SCAR) systems, a series ...
Role of cyclic GMP in the mechanism of action of nitrovasodilators, endothelium-dependent agents and atrial natriuretic peptide

The synthesis of cyclic GMP from GTP is catalysed by three isoenzyme forms of guanylate cyclase which include the soluble or cytosolic form, the particulate or membraneassociated form and a form associated with the cytoskeletal components (see reviews [ l , 21). These isoenzymes have different physiochemical, antigenic and kinetic properties and will undoubtedly have different primary structures. Each of these isoenzymes has different mechanisms for their regulation, which in our detailed studies described elsewhere, have proved to be rather complex (see reviews [ 1,2]). When we were characterizing and purifying these isoenzymes some years ago, we found that azide, hydroxylamine and nitrite activated the enzyme [3]. Since these were the first agents to activate the enzyme in cell-free preparations, we conducted a series of detailed studies to determine the mechanisms involved (see reviews [ 1, 21). Fortunately at the time we were also examining cyclic GMP metabolism in tracheal smooth muscle preparations [4, 51. We found that these and other agents such as nitroglycerin and nitroprusside activated guanylate cyclase, increased cyclic GMP synthesis and resulted in smooth muscle relaxation [4, 51. We
Interim MELCOR Simulation of the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 Accident Reactor Core Isolation Cooling Operation

Data, a brief description of key boundary conditions, and results of Sandia National Laboratories’ ongoing MELCOR analysis of the Fukushima Unit 2 accident are given for the reactor core isolation cooling (RCIC) system. Important assumptions and related boundary conditions in the current analysis additional to or different than what was assumed/imposed in the work of SAND2012-6173 are identified. This work is for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy University Programs fiscal year 2014 Reactor Safety Technologies Research and Development Program RC-7: RCIC Performance under Severe Accident Conditions.
Zodiac-Based Rising Time Schemes

The most commonly attested form of rising time scheme is one in which culminating points at or behind Ziqpu Stars are given either for the beginning and end of a sign of the zodiac or for the end of each twelfth of a sign of the zodiac (known as a microzodiac sign). This chapter studies the texts containing zodiac-based rising time schemes showing that they all attest to the same basic scheme. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that this scheme is identical to the calendar-based scheme, and that the calendar-based scheme was probably the earlier of the two schemes.
Literature, immigration, and diaspora in Fin-de-Siècle England: a cultural history of the 1905 Alien’s Act

David Glover’s cultural history of the 1905 Aliens Act delivers on its promise: to examine in detail the various historical, social and political contexts that converged to make the logic of the 19...
Improved initial guess with semi-subpixel level accuracy in digital image correlation by feature-based method

Abstract The quality initial guess of deformation parameters in digital image correlation (DIC) has a serious impact on convergence, robustness, and efficiency of the following subpixel level searching stage. In this work, an improved feature-based initial guess (FB-IG) scheme is presented to provide initial guess for points of interest (POIs) inside a large region. Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) features are semi-uniformly extracted from the region of interest (ROI) and matched to provide initial deformation information. False matched pairs are eliminated by the novel feature guided Gaussian mixture model (FG-GMM) point set registration algorithm, and nonuniform deformation parameters of the versatile reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) function are calculated simultaneously. Validations on simulated images and real-world mini tensile test verify that this scheme can robustly and accurately compute initial guesses with semi-subpixel level accuracy in cases with small or large translation, deformation, or rotation.
Restrained Proton Indicator in Combined Quantum-Mechanics/Molecular-Mechanics Dynamics Simulations of Proton Transfer through a Carbon Nanotube

Recently, a collective variable “proton indicator” was purposed for tracking an excess proton solvated in bulk water in molecular dynamics simulations. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing the position of this proton indicator as a reaction coordinate to model an excess proton migrating through a hydrophobic carbon nanotube in combined quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics simulations. Our results indicate that applying a harmonic restraint to the proton indicator in the bulk solvent near the nanotube pore entrance leads to the recruitment of water molecules into the pore. This is consistent with an earlier study that employed a multistate empirical valence bond potential and a different representation (center of excess charge) of the proton. We attribute this water recruitment to the delocalized nature of the solvated proton, which prefers to be in high-dielectric bulk solvent. While water recruitment into the pore is considered an artifact in the present simulations (because of the ...
Analytical Dynamics of Variable-Mass Systems

The equations of motion for variable-mass systems are commonly assembled in part by adding reactive forces (that is, those terms that are a direct consequence of the mass variation) to other extern...
Music Therapy as Procedural Support for Young Children Undergoing Immunizations: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background Children undergoing routine immunizations frequently experience severe distress, which may be improved through music therapy as procedural support. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine effects of live, cognitive-behavioral music therapy during immunizations on (a) the behaviors of children, their parents, and their nurses; and (b) parental perceptions. Methods Participants were children between the ages of 4 and 6 years (N = 58) who underwent immunizations, their parents (N = 62), and the nurses who administered the procedure (N = 19). Parent/child dyads were randomly assigned to receive music therapy (n = 29) or standard care (n = 29) during their immunization. Afterward, each parent rated their child's level of pain and the distress their child experienced compared to previous medical experiences. All procedures were videotaped and later viewed by trained observers, who classified child, parent, and nurse behaviors using the categories of the Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised (CAMPIS-R). Results Significant differences between the music therapy and control groups were found in rates of child coping and distress behaviors and parent distress-promoting behaviors. Parents of children who received music therapy reported that their child's level of distress was less than during previous medical experiences, whereas parents of children in the control group reported that their child's level of distress was greater. No significant differences between groups were found in parents' ratings of children's pain or in rates of nurse behavior. Conclusions Live, cognitive-behavioral music therapy has potential benefits for young children and their parents during immunizations.
Investigating CM Voltage and Its Measurement for AC/DC Power Adapters to Meet Touchscreen Immunity Requirement

The common-mode (CM) noise at the output of ac/dc power adapters can interfere with touchscreen's normal operation in consumer electronic products. Existing power adapter's output CM voltage measurement used in power electronics industry does not align with the touchscreen's sensitivity test used by touchscreen manufacturers. This paper first reviews existing measurement setups and identifies the technical issues in the tests. The CM noise source impedance of ac/dc power adapters and the characteristics of touchscreens are investigated. A new measurement setup is proposed based on both the characteristics of CM noise source of power adapters and touchscreens. A CM voltage limit is also proposed with industry companies. A measurement device is developed for the proposed measurement setup and procedure. The experimental results validate the proposed techniques.
Perioperative medical management for patients with RA, SPA, and SLE undergoing total hip and total knee replacement: a narrative review

Total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are widely used, successful procedures for symptomatic end stage arthritis of the hips or knees, but patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and spondyloarthritis (SPA) including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PSA) are at higher risk for adverse events after surgery. Utilization rates of THA and TKA remain high for patients with RA, and rates of arthroplasty have increased for patients with SLE and SPA. However, complications such as infection are increased for patients with SLE, RA, and SPA, most of whom are receiving potent immunosuppressant medications and glucocorticoids at the time of surgery. Patients with SLE and AS are also at increased risk for perioperative cardiac and venous thromboembolism (VTE), while RA patients do not have an increase in perioperative cardiac or VTE risk, despite an overall increase in VTE and cardiac disease. This narrative review will discuss the areas of heightened risk for patients with RA, SLE, and SPA, and the perioperative management strategies currently used to minimize the risks.
Fashion Philanthropy and Customer Collaboration for Millennial Consumers: The Case of TOMS

TOMS Shoes (TOMS) was founded based on the company’s philanthropic mission that delivers a pair of shoes to a person in need with each purchase. The TOMS’s business model is distinct from previous models of corporate social responsibility in that TOMS takes philanthropy as the nucleus of their business, and involves its customers as core execution partners of philanthropic giving.
A High-Throughput Organoid Microinjection Platform to Study Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Luminal Physiology.

Background & Aims The human gut microbiota is becoming increasingly recognized as a key factor in homeostasis and disease. The lack of physiologically relevant in vitro models to investigate host–microbe interactions is considered a substantial bottleneck for microbiota research. Organoids represent an attractive model system because they are derived from primary tissues and embody key properties of the native gut lumen; however, access to the organoid lumen for experimental perturbation is challenging. Here, we report the development and validation of a high-throughput organoid microinjection system for cargo delivery to the organoid lumen and high-content sampling. Methods A microinjection platform was engineered using off-the-shelf and 3-dimensional printed components. Microinjection needles were modified for vertical trajectories and reproducible injection volumes. Computer vision (CVis) and microfabricated CellRaft Arrays (Cell Microsystems, Research Triangle Park, NC) were used to increase throughput and enable high-content sampling of mock bacterial communities. Modeling preformed using the COMSOL Multiphysics platform predicted a hypoxic luminal environment that was functionally validated by transplantation of fecal-derived microbial communities and monocultures of a nonsporulating anaerobe. Results CVis identified and logged locations of organoids suitable for injection. Reproducible loads of 0.2 nL could be microinjected into the organoid lumen at approximately 90 organoids/h. CVis analyzed and confirmed retention of injected cargos in approximately 500 organoids over 18 hours and showed the requirement to normalize for organoid growth for accurate assessment of barrier function. CVis analyzed growth dynamics of a mock community of green fluorescent protein– or Discosoma sp. red fluorescent protein-expressing bacteria, which grew within the organoid lumen even in the presence of antibiotics to control media contamination. Complex microbiota communities from fecal samples survived and grew in the colonoid lumen without appreciable changes in complexity. Conclusions High-throughput microinjection into organoids represents a next-generation in vitro approach to investigate gastrointestinal luminal physiology and the gastrointestinal microbiota.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome during Treatment with Lenvatinib (P4.018)

Objective: NA Background: NA Design/Methods: NA Results: We present the case of a 61 year old man with a history of stage IVB anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with lung metastases who was admitted to the hospital after an episode of loss of consciousness in November 2016. He had been taking Lenvatinib (24 mg) daily since December 2015. MRI of the brain with contrast showed bilateral vasogenic edema with multiple foci of hemorrhage involving the right temporal lobe, right parietal lobe, right and left frontal lobes and left occipital lobe consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). He had no other etiology of PRES and Lenvatinib was discontinued. Clinical improvement was noted and the MRI was repeated in January 2017 showing marked interval decrease in the extent of abnormal T2 signal and Lenvatinib was restarted at that time at a lower dose of 14 mg daily and then increased to 18 mg and 24 mg daily progressively. Subsequent MRI scans in April and July 2017 showed continued resolution of cortical microhemorrhages and T2 hyperintensity in deep cerebral white matter. Lenvatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and RET. Lenvatinib was approved by the FDA for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer that is locally recurrent or metastatic or progressive or refractory to standard treatment. The most common side effects of VEGF-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors include hypertension, renal toxicity, arthralgia, myalgia ad headache. PRES has been described with other VEGF inhibitors. This is the first case report describing PRES with Lenvatinib, without recurrence and with persistent improvement and resolution of edema after restarting the medication at a lower dose with gradual increase to target dose. Conclusions: NA Disclosure: Dr. Khoury has nothing to disclose. Dr. Funchain has nothing to disclose.
"I was ill and you cared for me." matthew 25:30.

The editor discusses the role of the Catholic religion as it relates to health care and the medical profession. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Precipitation of phosphate from solution using aluminum salt

Abstract In the absence of any interfering component, the optimum pH range and the effectiveness of aluminum phosphate precipitation were found to vary with the initial ratio of phosphate to aluminum in sample preparation. Phosphate was almost completely removed from solution when aluminum was in large excess. At maximum, 1 mole of phosphate was precipitated by 1 mole of aluminum, but this occurred only when phosphate was in large excess. The results are interpreted by assuming that AlOHAl and AlPO 4 Al linkages are integrated in the reaction products. The precipitation of phosphate and aluminum is governed by the integrated particles rather than by AlPO 4 and Al(OH) 3 individually. The addition of sulfate extended the optimum pH range to lower levels and the addition of calcium, to higher levels.
Equations for Model Building: The Surface Law and Body Composition

If our health depends on the balance between energy intake and expenditure, and moderate consumption of foods and appropriate medicines, then there are at least three kinds of model that could be useful to our attempt to understand how to maintain health and prevent disease.
Biological Treatment Kinetics of Landfill Leachate

Biological treatment study with sanitary landfill leachate was conducted using a laboratory scale, continuous flow, activated sludge unit. The treatment kinetic coefficients have been developed and are in this paper. Simulated landfills were constructed and operated to produce leachate for treatment study. The leachate was diluted and was used as substrate in the continuous flow biological reactor. The bench-scale reactor was designed to simulate a continuous flow, complete mix, activated sludge model with sludge recycle and was operated at different concentrations of mixed liquor suspended solids. Growth kinetic coefficients Y, k d , and substrate removal kinetic coefficients k, K s were determined from the test data and were compared with those for domestic sewage. The overall performance of the experimental unit and the results indicate that the landfill leachate can be effectively treated in a conventional activated sludge plant.
Nailfold Capillary Abnormalities in Patients with Connective Tissue Diseases

Pathological changes in the microvasculature are found in many patients with connective tissue diseases and can often be observed in vivo by capillary microscopy. The nailfold capillary bed has been the main site for such observations, although this technique can also be applied to other areas.
Optimizing Infrastructure Development: Difficult but Necessary

The economic health of a country is strictly connected to many factors, all of which influence the development and maintenance of that country’s infrastructure (Kidd 2007). In fact, it must be recognized that no matter how hard they may try, countries cannot make much economic progress without necessary infrastructure (Urban Land Institute and Ernest & Young 2008). In order to develop and maintain a successful economic development pattern, a functional infrastructure is critical. During its ascendancy to a global superpower status, the USA invested massive amounts in its infrastructure, expanding its ports, building extensive road systems, leading in airport designs, erecting dams, laying down power grids, and constructing water treatment facilities. Japan challenged the USA in world markets by building its own infrastructure. It put special emphasis on bullet trains, super highways, and exemplary airports and ports. Today, China appears to be the most appreciative nation of infrastructure development and is investing 9% of its gross national product on infrastructure development (Urban Land Institute and Ernest & Young 2008). The first major task in infrastructure development is to explore the relationship between the country’s economic well-being and its infrastructure. But this is not enough, it is also necessary to determine the components of the infrastructure that is most suitable for the country’s economy so that the development and maintenance of that infrastructure will be carefully tied with the country’s economic health. This chapter explores the role of infrastructure development in an economy and how that infrastructure can be optimized.
Predicting 3D visual discomfort using natural scene statistics and a binocular model

When humans observe stereoscopic images, visual discomfort may be experienced in the form of physiological symptoms such as eyestrain, a feeling of pressure in the eyes, headaches, neck pain, and more. These sensations can arise in cortical mechanisms related to early visual processing. For example, vergence eye movements and lens accommodation can provide conflicting information to the brain if the stereo images are distorted or presented on a flat display. Over the past decade, significant effort has been applied to understanding and characterizing how discomfort arises, towards being able to design safer and more comfortable 3D displays and to provide better guidelines on how to design, align, and capture 3D images and videos. Part of solving this problem consists of objectively predicting the visual discomfort that may arise from viewing a given pair of stereo images that are distorted. Researchers have built several models based primarily on cortical mechanisms that yield good predictions of visual discomfort. Here we study the role of natural scene statistics (NSS) of the disparity maps of stereoscopic images and their relationship to 3D visual discomfort. In particular, we focus on bivariate NSS models. We also build a new prediction model that combines information from binocular vision and the NSS models of disparity maps to accurately predict 3D visual discomfort, and we demonstrate that an algorithm that realizes the prediction outperforms other existing predictors.
Optimization of the order and spacing of sequences in an MRI exam to reduce the maximum temperature and thermal dose.

Purpose Evaluate the possibility to reduce specific energy absorption rate (SAR)-induced maximum temperature and thermal dose by rearranging the order and spacing of sequences without increasing duration of the MRI examination. Methods Using numerical simulations based on an actual SAR-intensive MRI examination, optimizations to reduce either maximum temperature or thermal dose were performed. For each permutation of groups of sequences having the same patient table position, temperature and thermal dose were computed very rapidly using recently published methods. Disposition of sequences was further adjusted by optimizing the spacing between each sequence without exceeding the original exam duration. Results The maximum simulated temperature in the original exam was 42.38°C, and the maximum thermal dose was 3.23 cumulative effective minutes at 43°C (CEM43). After optimization to reduce maximum temperature, it was 41.77°C, and after optimization to minimize the thermal dose, it was 1.42 CEM43. Conclusion It is possible to reduce maximum temperature and thermal dose in the exam by changing the arrangement and spacing of the sequences without increasing the duration of the exam (by increasing TR or adding delays) or compromising image quality (by reducing flip angles).
Unorthodox Approach to Classify EEG Signals for Upper Limb Prosthesis Application

Brain computer interface (BCI) is targeted for decoding the EEG (Electroencephalogram) signals that the human brain generates which are beneficial for the paraplegic patients. These EEG signals are slow cortical potentials that are directly recorded from scalp thus cortical neuronal activity is explored via non-invasive electrodes. These EEG signals are then further utilized for performing various operations which the paraplegic patients are unable to perform. This research article presents a novel architecture of classification of four finger movements (thumb movement, index finger movement, middle and index finger combined movement and fist movement) of the right hand on the basis of EEG (Electroencephalogram) data of the movements. The presented architecture utilizes Guided filter for reduction of noise (artefacts) from EEG signals alpha and beta band (8-30 Hz). As this band contains the maximum information of movement in terms of motor imagery. Rank Transform is employed as feature extraction approach for further enhancement of processed EEG signals. Two stage Logistic Regression classifier is finally employed for classification of movements using processed EEG signals. The experimental results demonstrate the accuracy, robustness and computational complexity of the proposed approach and have significant improvement as compared with recent architectures for EEG classification.
Mobile Phones May Not Bridge the Digital Divide: A Look at Mobile Phone Literacy in an Underserved Patient Population

Purpose: Mobile health (mHealth) has promise to improve patient access to disease prevention and health promotion services; however, historically underserved populations may have poor access to mobile phones or may not be aware of or comfortable using phone features. Our objectives were to assess mobile phone ownership and mobile phone literacy among low-income, predominately racial and ethnic minority patients. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of primary care patients in a publicly-funded clinic in Houston, TX. Results: Of 285 participants, 240 owned a mobile phone and 129 owned a smartphone. The most common uses of phones were talk (89%) and text messaging (65%). Only 28% of smartphone owners had health apps. Younger age was significantly associated with smartphone ownership and use of smartphones for Internet browsing, social media, and apps. Conclusion: Our findings from a safety-net patient population represent trends in mobile phone ownership and literacy. Despite the single-site location of our study, the findings could be helpful to health promotion practitioners working with similar underserved populations. mHealth interventions should employ phone features that are accessible and familiar to the target audience to avoid denying intervention benefits to those with low mobile phone literacy and therefore widen health disparities.
Keys to staying sharp: A randomized clinical trial of piano training among older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment.

Abstract Background The prevalence of dementia, the most expensive medical condition (Kirschstein, 2000 and Hurd et al., 2013 [1,2]), and its precursor, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are increasing [3]. Finding effective intervention strategies to prevent or delay dementia is imperative to public health. Prior research provides compelling evidence that central auditory processing (CAP) deficits are a risk factor for dementia [4–6]. Grounded in the information degradation theory [7, 8], we hypothesize that improving brain function at early perceptual levels (i.e., CAP) may be optimal to attenuate cognitive and functional decline and potentially curb dementia prevalence. Piano training is one avenue to enhance cognition [9–13] by facilitating CAP at initial perceptual stages [14–18]. Objectives The Keys To Staying Sharp study is a two arm, randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of piano training relative to music listening instruction to improve CAP, cognition, and everyday function among older adults. In addition, the moderating effects of MCI status on piano training efficacy will be examined and potential mediators of intervention effects will be explored. Hypotheses We hypothesize that piano training will improve CAP and cognitive performance, leading to functional improvements. We expect that enhanced CAP will mediate cognitive gains. We further hypothesize that cognitive gains will mediate functional improvements. Method We plan to enroll 360 adults aged 60 years and older who will be randomized to piano training or an active control condition of music listening instruction and complete pre- and immediate post- assessments of CAP, cognition, and everyday function.
Short Paper: Towards An Edge-Located Time-Series Database

Smart infrastructure demands resilient data storage, and emerging applications execute queries on this data over time. Typically, time-series databases serve these queries; however, cloud-based time-series storage can be prohibitively expensive. As smart devices proliferate, the amount of computing power and memory available in our connected infrastructure provides the opportunity to move resilient time-series data storage and analytics to the edge. This paper proposes time-series storage in a Distributed Hash Table (DHT), and a novel key-generation technique that provides time-indexed reads and writes for key-value pairs. Experimental results show this technique meets demands for smart infrastructure situations.
Exploring the underwater silken architectures of caddisworms: comparative silkomics across two caddisfly suborders

Caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae assemble a variety of underwater structures using bioadhesive silk. The order is divided into two primary sub-orders distinguished by how the larvae deploy their silk. Foraging Integripalpia larvae construct portable tube cases. Annulipalpia larvae construct stationary retreats, some with suspended nets to capture food. To identify silk molecular adaptations that may have contributed to caddisfly diversification, we report initial characterization of silk from a net-spinner genus, Parapsyche, for comparison with the silk of a tube case-maker genus, Hesperophylax. Overall, general features of silk structure and processing are conserved across the sub-orders despite approximately 200 Ma of divergence: the H-fibroin proteins comprise repeating phosphoserine-rich motifs, naturally spun silk fibres contain approximately 1 : 1 molar ratios of divalent metal ions to phosphate, silk fibre precursors are stored as complex fluids of at least two types of complexes, and silk gland proteins contain only traces of divalent metal ions, suggesting metal ions that solidify the fibres are absorbed from the aqueous environment after silk extrusion. However, the number and arrangement of the repeating phosphoserine blocks differ between genera, suggesting molecular adaptation of H-fibroin through duplication and shuffling of conserved structural modules may correspond with the radiation of caddisflies into diverse environments. This article is part of the theme issue 'Transdisciplinary approaches to the study of adhesion and adhesives in biological systems'.
When and how should retailers rationalize the size and duration of price discounts

Abstract Context Price discounts are common retail promotional tools that are defined by their size and duration. Consumers possess a general schema in which they believe that retailers are motivated to associate larger price discounts with shorter durations and smaller price discounts with longer durations. However, factors influencing promotion management frequently lead retailers to present discount size/duration combinations that are incongruent with this schema. What are the consequences for retailers of presenting consumers with such discounts, and what can retailers do to overcome detrimental effects of incongruent discount terms? Objective This research examines how incongruent pairings of discount size and duration affect consumer evaluations of the offer (i.e., perceptions of retailer credibility, product quality, retailer opportunism, and purchase intentions). Further, can retailers impact consumer evaluations by presenting rationales for incongruent discounts? If so, how should these rationales be constructed? Method A preliminary study (n = 480) validates the critical assumption that, across a variety of products, consumers expect discount size and duration to be inversely related. Two experiments (n = 190, n = 226) assess the effects of discount size, discount duration, and rationales on consumer offer evaluations. Results The experiments reveal that schema-incongruent (versus schema-congruent) price discounts diminish consumers' purchase intentions even when the incongruence reflects an ostensibly superior offer. Consistent with a theory-of-mind account of how consumers interpret retailers' behaviors, perceptions of retailer credibility and product quality mediate these effects. Addressing questions of whether and how retailers should provide rationales for incongruent discounts, analyses show that the same rationale can attenuate or exacerbate consumers' negative responses depending on how the rationale influences perceptions of discount congruency. Conclusion Failing to consider the interactive effects of discount size and duration may lead retailers to design ineffective promotions. Further, while rationales can help overcome detrimental effects of incongruent discount size/duration pairings, improperly constructed rationales exacerbate these negative effects.
Drinking, Social Abstaining, and Refusing Invitations: Demographic Differences Persist Across College.

Background Alcohol use and misuse are prevalent on many college campuses. The current study examined participation in college environments where alcohol is present and being consumed. We documented students' alcohol consumption, social abstaining (i.e., attending an alcohol-present event, but not drinking), and refusing invitations to drinking events. We tested for differences by parental education, immigrant status, race-ethnicity, and gender. We charted longitudinal change across college. Methods First-year students attending a large public US university (n = 681, 18% first-generation college student, 16% first-generation immigrant, 73% racial-ethnic minority group member, 51% women) were recruited and followed longitudinally for 7 semesters. Each semester, students completed up to 14 daily surveys; responses were aggregated to the semester level (n = 4,267). Results Multilevel logistic regression models demonstrated that first-generation college students were less likely to drink and refuse invitations to drinking events than students with a college-educated parent (Adjusted Odds Ratios [AORs]: 0.66, 0.72, respectively). Similarly, first-generation immigrants were less likely to drink, socially abstain, and refuse invitations (AORs: 0.58 to 0.73). Compared with White students, Black and Asian American students were less likely to drink (AORs: 0.55, 0.53) and refuse invitations to drinking events (AORs: 0.68, 0.66). The proportion of days spent drinking increased across college, and refusing invitations was the most common at the start and end of college. Conclusions First-generation college students, first-generation immigrant students, and Black and Asian students participated less in prodrinking environments during college. These findings indicate that on drinking and nondrinking days, students' participation in alcohol-present situations differed by background. Furthermore, our results indicate that the students who are most likely to refuse invitations to drinking events are the same students who drink most frequently.
The Roles of YouTube and WhatsApp in Dementia Education for the Older Chinese American Population: Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: Dementia remains a stigmatized topic in the Chinese community. Objective: This study aims to analyze and compare the usage of dementia educational YouTube videos and the modalities of video sharing over a 6-year period. Methods: Dementia educational videos were uploaded to YouTube. Data was collected over a 6-year period. Results from the first 3 years were compared to those from the second 3 years using descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis. Results: Over 6 years, the dementia educational videos generated a total watch time of 269,388 minutes, 37,690 views, and an average view duration of 7.1 minutes. Comparing the first and second 3-year periods of video performance data, there was a longer watch time (59,262 vs 210,126 minutes), more total views (9387 vs 28,303 views), and a longer average view duration (6.3 vs 7.4 minutes). Furthermore, WhatsApp has become a leading external traffic source and top sharing service, accounting for 43.5% (929/2137) and 67.0% (677/1011), respectively. Conclusions: Over 6 years, YouTube has become an increasingly popular tool to deliver culturally sensitive dementia education to Chinese Americans. WhatsApp continues to be the preferred method of sharing dementia education and has become a top external traffic source to dementia educational videos. Taken together, these social media platforms are promising means of reducing the disparity in dementia knowledge in linguistically and culturally isolated populations.
Senior General Surgery Resident Confidence in Performing Abdominal Wall Hernia Repairs.

Abstract Background It is expected that graduating general surgery residents be confident in performing common abdominal wall hernia repairs. The objective of our study was to assess the confidence of senior surgical residents in these procedures and to identify factors that correlate with confidence. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey of PGY-4 and PGY-5 general surgery residents at ACGME-accredited programs in the United States in the spring of 2019. Respondents rated their confidence level in 12 hernia procedures on a Likert scale from 1 (not confident) to 5 (extremely confident). Respondents were classified as “Not Confident” (Not Confident, Minimally Confident, Neutral responses) or “Confident” (Confident, Extremely Confident responses). Resident characteristics, program characteristics, and operative experience were collected, and we calculated the area under the curve to screen which factors discriminated between those confident versus not. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to identify which factors were most predictive. Results A total of 93 surveys were completed. Respondents reported low confidence rates (25%-60%) in the following hernia repairs: minimally invasive (MIS) inguinal, femoral, tissue (nonmesh) inguinal, pediatric inguinal, and abdominal wall reconstruction. High confidence rates (>80%) were reported for open umbilical, open ventral, and MIS ventral hernia repairs. For MIS inguinal hernia repair, PGY-5 level was associated with a twofold increase in confidence (PR = 2.01; 95% CI = 1.34-3.30), and dedicated research years were associated with low confidence (PR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.43-1.04). In general, higher operative volumes of a specific repair were associated with increased confidence in that procedure. Conclusions Senior surgical residents reported low confidence in performing a variety of essential hernia repairs (particularly MIS inguinal, femoral, and tissue inguinal). Addressing factors associated with low confidence may help increase resident confidence.
Design of multi-output switched-capacitor voltage regulator via machine learning

Efficiency of power management system (PMS) is one of the key performance metrics for highly integrated system on chips (SoCs). Towards the goal of improving power efficiency of SoCs, we make two key technical contributions in this paper. First, we develop a multi-output switched-capacitor voltage regulator (SCVR) with a new flying capacitor crossing technique (FCCT) and cloud-capacitor method. Second, to optimize the design parameters of SCVR, we introduce a novel machine¬learning (ML)-inspired optimization framework to reduce the number of expensive design simulations. Simulation shows that power loss of the multi-output SCVR with FCCT is reduced by more than 40% compared to conventional multiple single-output SCVRs. Our ML-based design optimization framework is able to achieve more than 90% reduction in the number of simulations needed to uncover optimized circuit parameters of the proposed SCVR.
When getting more makes groups seem worth less: Negotiating a "better" deal in prisoner swaps can ironically signal low self-regard and engender disrespect

Abstract Prisoner exchanges between groups in conflict are often a first step towards peace. As with bargaining more generally, groups presumably try to get the best deal possible. But when exchanging human lives, can getting "more" make your group seem worth less? Building on research on signals of self-regard at the interpersonal level, we consider whether certain behaviors—even strategically beneficial ones—can diminish perceptions of the esteem in which a group holds itself, with consequences for the respect and treatment it is afforded. Across seven preregistered experiments (total N = 5060), we find that groups that negotiate a "better deal" (e.g., getting multiple prisoners back in return for releasing only one outgroup prisoner; negotiating down the "price" for retrieving a single prisoner) are ironically seen as placing less value on themselves, and, as a consequence, are respected less and prescribed worse treatment. We observe these results in real-world and in artificial contexts, and whether perceivers belong to the outgroup in conflict or are neutral third-party observers. A seventh study, focused on the decision to pursue or eschew a risky rescue mission (with negative expected value of lives saved) expands beyond the prisoner swap context, highlighting that our results are one manifestation of a general tendency for perceivers to intuit a group's self-regard from its actions. Our work suggests that, when deciding between various courses of action, it would behoove groups to consider the ways in which their actions subtly communicate how highly they value themselves.
Development and validation of a mobile bluff-body to understand extreme wind loading

Abstract The collection of valuable wind loading data from winds generated by convective events presents a significant challenge to the wind engineering field. The spatial and temporal characteristics of these events make data acquisition challenging. A mobile bluff-body capable of recording wind-induced pressure data during extreme wind events was developed to solve this issue. The bluff-body is called mSWERF3 for mobile Smart Wind Engineering Research Facility. This paper introduces mSWERF3, discussing its design, the scaling techniques, and validation using full-scale data from the Silsoe cube and the Wind Engineering Research Field Laboratory (WERFL) building, and wind tunnel data from the Tokyo Polytechnic University (TPU) Aerodynamic Database. The validation includes a comparison of mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum pressure coefficients using the Silsoe and the TPU data, and a comparison of power spectra density of surface pressures on similar flow regimes using the WERFL and the TPU data. The results of these comparisons show that the aerodynamics of mSWERF3 is similar to those in larger full-scale buildings and wind tunnel models. Therefore, it is shown that mSWERF3 can provide valuable data to improve our understanding of extreme wind loading.
Behavioral parasomnias

Sleep is not a static state. During the sleep period, physiologic changes occur throughout the body and brain. This complex, dynamic process can, at times, result in episodes of unusual or undesirable behaviors. These phenomena are called parasomnias. The accurate diagnosis of this group of treatable disorders is important, because they can have a negative impact on sleep, health, and social function. In addition, some of the parasomnias may provide clues to the presence of other underlying pathologic conditions. The parasomnias may be categorized in more than one way, but any attempt to classify such a diverse collection of entities is likely to be somewhat arbitrary. This article discusses the parasomnias according to the classification of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, with emphasis on those characterized by observable behavior. As the understanding of these disorders (and sleep, in general) continues to deepen, new entities and schemes of classification may emerge.
Detection and estimation in non-stationary environments

In this paper we describe a matrix based method for estimating both a signal subspace dimension as well as signal parameters when one has an array of sensors, multiple exponential signals, and significant signal changes after a small number of snapshots. This method combines the technique of creating Hankel or Toeplitz matrices from single-channel data with methods for sensor-array processing using multiple array snapshots.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Gene Therapy

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a monogenic disease characterized by high levels of plasma cholesterol and premature cardiovascular disease. In its homozygous form, conventional pharmacological therapy is not effective and gene therapy could become a viable treatment. Keywords: familial hypercholesterolemia; gene therapy; LDL receptor; VLDL receptor; adenoviral vector; adeno-associated vector; cardiovascular disorders; LDL cholesterol
Characterization and manipulation of a DGAT2 from the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana: Improved TAG accumulation without detriment to growth, and implications for chloroplast TAG accumulation

Abstract Improving the ability of microalgae cells to accumulate triacylglycerol (TAG) without a negative effect on growth or biomass accumulation is desirable for economically-viable biofuels production. Metabolic engineering is one method to increase TAG yields, provided that appropriate gene target(s) are identified. Microalgal lipid and TAG synthesis is incompletely characterized, but it is clear that it differs in fundamental ways from plants and other eukaryotes. We characterize a DGAT2 homolog from the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, and show that it shifts intracellular location from the chloroplast during exponential growth, to the endoplasmic reticulum in stationary phase when large cytoplasmic lipid droplets accumulate. This is the first direct localization of a chloroplast DGAT2, which confirms the ability of these organelles to accumulate TAG in evolutionarily-diverse classes of microalgae. The enzyme is also not directly localized to cytoplasmic lipid droplets, suggesting that TAG synthesis and lipid droplet formation are separate processes. Overexpression of the enzyme resulted in significantly increased TAG accumulation without a negative effect on growth or biomass accumulation. Overexpression lines had a distinct shift in fatty acid composition relative to wild-type. The results shed light on fundamental processes of algal lipid metabolism and a practical benefit of improved productivity in transgenic lines.
Large scale traveling salesman problem via neural network divide and conquer

Among the early motivations for research in neural networks were works suggesting that they would show promise for combinatorial optimization problems such as the Traveling Salesman Problem. These hopes appeared to be disappointed by over a decade of disappointing results, due to scaling problems. However, these problems can be overcome, by application of divide-and-conquer strategies. Our results demonstrate that neural networks are capable of solving problems in the quarter-million city range, with reasonable computational costs. Tour quality for this size problem remains poor, but the use of standard crossover removal algorithms should bring quality into an acceptable range for many applications.