cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA-Mediated Morphological Control of Pd–Au Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Recent reports have shown that different DNA sequences can mediate the control of shapes and surface properties of nanoparticles. However, all previous studies have involved only monometallic particles, most of which were gold nanoparticles. Controlling the shape of bimetallic nanoparticles is more challenging, and there is little research into the use of DNA-based ligands for their morphological control. We report the DNA-templated synthesis of Pd–Au bimetallic nanoparticles starting from palladium nanocube seeds. The presence of different homo-oligomer DNA sequences containing 10 deoxy-ribonucleotides of thymine, adenine, cytosine, or guanine results in the growth of four distinct morphologies. Through detailed kinetic studies by absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we have determined the role of DNA in controlling Pd–Au nanoparticle growth morphologies. One major function of DNA is affecting various properties of the incoming ...
Simultaneous measurements of total hemoglobin concentration and blood oxygenation with laser diode-based optoacoustic system

Noninvasive, accurate, continuous monitoring of multiple variables, including blood oxygenation, i.e. oxyhemoglobin saturation (SO2) and total hemoglobin concentration (THb) in both high acuity and low acuity environments would greatly facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment of physiologic derangements. However, most of the existing techniques for patient monitoring are invasive, while noninvasive techniques often fail to provide accurate measurements. We built a compact, multi-wavelength, nanosecond, fiber-coupled laser diode-based optoacoustic system for noninvasive, accurate monitoring of blood SO2 and THb in veins and arteries. We tested the system by probing the radial artery of healthy volunteers. Using blood samples obtained by venipuncture, we also measured a reference THb for each volunteer. Moreover, the optoacoustic data were compared with that obtained from a commercially available noninvasive monitor for measurements of these variables. The optoacoustic system provided rapid, simultaneous, and continuous measurement of THb and SO2 with high precision. The obtained results are promising and we plan to further test the system in clinical studies and at conditions simulating circulatory shock.
Abstract 1611: Intravesical BCG induces CD4 T Cell expansion in an immune competent model of bladder cancer

Intravesical BCG Immunotherapy is the standard of care in treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), yet its mechanism of action remains elusive. Both innate and adaptive immune responses have been implicated in BCG activity. While prior research has indirectly demonstrated the importance of T cells and shown a rise in CD4+ T cells in bladder tissue after BCG, T cell subpopulations have not been fully characterized. We investigated the relationship between effector and regulatory T cells in an immune competent, clinically relevant rodent model of bladder cancer. Fischer 344 rats aged 7 weeks received 1.5mg/kg N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) every other week for 6 weeks (4 doses). Bladder dysplasia began by week 8 and by week 16 the majority of rats had a NMIBC phenotype. Beginning week 8 following the first MNU dose, rats were intravesically administered 0.3ml of BCG (Tice), cisplatin (1mg/ml), Mitomycin C (2mg/ml), MMC+ BCG, or saline (n=10 for all groups) weekly for 6 total doses. Animals were sacrificed at week 16, and bladders were processed for histopathology and digested into single cell suspensions for flow cytometry. Whole transcriptome expression profiling was then performed on sorted CD4 and CD8 cells of post-BCG tumors vs untreated tumors to assess T cell differentiation after BCG. Our data demonstrate that cancer progression in the MNU rat model of bladder cancer is characterized by a decline in the CD8/FoxP3 ratio, consistent with decreased adaptive immunity. By contrast, treatment with intravesical BCG leads to a large, transient rise in the CD4+ T cell population in the urothelium, and is both more effective and immunogenic compared to intravesical chemotherapy. Interestingly, whole transcriptome expression profiling of post-treatment intravesical CD4+ and CD8+ T cells revealed minimal differences in gene expression after BCG treatment. Together, our results suggest that while BCG induces T cell recruitment to the bladder, the T cell phenotype does not markedly change, implying that combining T cell activating agents with BCG might improve clinical activity. Citation Format: Max Kates, Thomas Nirschl, Nikolai Sopko, Noah Hahn, David McConkey, Alex Baras, Charles Drake, Trintiy Bivalacqua. Intravesical BCG induces CD4 T Cell expansion in an immune competent model of bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1611. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1611
Signal processing techniques for IoT-based structural health monitoring

With the advancement of modern technology, structures like buildings, bridges, etc. are getting structurally complicated, and safety has become an issue. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with Internet of Things (IoT) can help improving security and safety. However, efficient signal processing for IoT is a challenge. In this paper, a signal processing based SHM is proposed where a simple Butterworth filter was used to remove noises. Cross-Correlation was used for damage detection. If there was any damage found, using a mathematical model, damage size and location were determined. After analyzing the experimental data, error found in damage localization is 2.9% and error in determining damage size is 3.344%. Since the whole algorithm does not associate with complex mathematical calculations, this system can be used for low-cost distributed system for SHM.
Spinal tophaceous gout presenting in a young adult without pain

A 26-year-old man with a medical history of gout and morbid obesity presented with a 7-day history of decreased sensation to light touch and temperature from the feet to the level of the nipples. He also noted incomplete voiding. Laboratory investigations showed an elevated serum uric acid level (10.4 mg/dL, reference range: 3.8–8.7 mg/dL) as well as negative rapid plasma reagin and rheumatoid factor. MRI showed inflammatory changes on multiple spinal levels. Laminectomy was performed, with follow-up biopsy revealing multiple multinucleated giant cells and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. He was ultimately diagnosed with spinal gout. Patient’s symptoms did not resolve immediately after surgery. Yet with the administration of intravenous glucocorticoids and a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, he slowly regained sensation, leaving the hospital with complete resolution of symptoms.
Gipfelpunkt der Mechanik

Der Automat ist das Ziel der technischen Entwicklung. Der Mensch soll nicht nur korperlich und geistig entlastet werden, er soll sich um die Dienste der Technik uberhaupt nicht kummern mussen — sie sollen von selbst ablaufen. In diesem Sinn war die Technik vor dem Computer-Zeitalter nur Vorbereitung. Was an Automaten auch hervorgebracht wurde, blieb Einzelfall und Sonderdienst. Es bedurfte der Information als technischer Dimension und der Elektronik als Technologie, um die gleiche Integration zu erzielen, die das Gehirn im menschlichen Korper gewahrleistet. Der Computer wird in dieser Sicht zur Kronung der Automatenbaukunst, und zwar nicht nur, weil er die Moglichkeiten der Elektronik bis zur Neige ausschopft, sondern vor allem, weil er durch das Zusammenspiel aller seiner Teile zur menschlichsten aller Schopfungen der Technik geworden ist. Seine Ablaufe kommen bis an die Lichtgeschwindigkeit heran, und seine kurzesten Schritte sind schon heute in der Gegend von Milliardstelsekunden — sie werden noch kurzer werden. Die Speicherkapazitat des Computers ist dabei, uber die Kapazitat aller anderen Speicher hinauszuwachsen — die Grosbibliothek nicht ausgenommen.
A Collaborative Process for Multidisciplinary Group Modeling Projects

Many ecosystem management issues can be illuminated using small, expedient simulation models that may be developed by one or two people. However, modeling more complex or dynamic systems may require larger development teams that include experts from multiple technical disciplines. Such collaborations can produce highly explanatory models with broad possibilities for application, but the process of staffing a development team and coordinating its efforts must be carefully managed and documented. This chapter describes a three-stage development process that encompasses model preparation, construction, and integration. Key concepts include clear identification and communication of modeling objectives; team recruitment, scheduling, and dynamics; conceptualizing the full model and submodels; development of submodels within a functional “dummy” model; and integration, debugging, and compiling of the model. Essential factors for success are clear communication among all project workgroups and careful documentation of development. By adhering to this time-tested process, multidisciplinary teams can use a simple development platform such as NetLogo (http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/) to create rich, dynamic simulations.
Improving Product Development Processes to Manage Development Risk

To create new products, firms employ a product development process (PDP) to generate new product concepts, to translate the best of these concepts into quality products, and to manage the risks inherent in bringing such new products to the market. A well-designed PDP is necessary to reduce development time, create better products, increase market share, and generate profit. This paper investigates the relationship between product development risk and PDP management and seeks to help companies improve their processes. We begin by discussing product development risks and describing a spectrum of different PDPs. We compare the traditional, rigid, staged PDP with the alternative, flexible, spiral PDP and other variants. We then propose several iteration- and review-based metrics by which PDPs can be effectively identified and compared. Data from ten company case studies exemplify a wide variety of actual PDPs, demonstrate the utility of iteration and review metrics in distinguishing PDPs, and illustrate how different processes manage different risks. Case study findings indicate that software companies face rapidly changing markets, generally perform quick iterations and tests, and are likely to employ flexible PDPs. In contrast, manufacturing companies that face greater integration difficulties and technical risks are likely to employ more rigid PDPs. We find that a company's risk profile is instrumental in determining the applicability of different PDPs. We employ the case study lessons to propose a method for improved PDP design based on risk management. To demonstrate the method, it is applied to redesign one company's PDP. We conclude that PDPs vary more than previously documented; that the proposed metrics are useful in distinguishing PDPs; and that companies facing different risk scenarios can effectively tailor their PDP designs to suit their own unique circumstances.
Colon and Rectum Carcinoma

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a component of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimated that there were 1,023,152 new cases of colorectal cancers worldwide in 2002 [1]. The IARC also estimated that there were 528,978 deaths due to this cause in 2002 [1].
Should Children Have the Right to Vote

No citizen should be denied the right to vote due solely to her age. We can see this by showing that all objections to it fail. It might be objected that it is not unjust to so deprive children because children as a group are unintelligent or irrational, have their interests already represented by the parents, or are justly deprived of many other rights (e.g. the right to serve on a jury), among other reasons. But all these objections fail because (1) there is no evidence to support it, (2) even if true, this would not justify disenfranchisement, or, most prominently argued here, (3) they deprive individuals of political rights based upon their membership in a group. The voting age should be abolished.
Secure Computation Using Leaky Correlations (Asymptotically Optimal Constructions)

Most secure computation protocols can be effortlessly adapted to offload a significant fraction of their computationally and cryptographically expensive components to an offline phase so that the parties can run a fast online phase and perform their intended computation securely. During this offline phase, parties generate private shares of a sample generated from a particular joint distribution, referred to as the correlation. These shares, however, are susceptible to leakage attacks by adversarial parties, which can compromise the security of the secure computation protocol. The objective, therefore, is to preserve the security of the honest party despite the leakage performed by the adversary on her share.
Does French have verbal-nexus Noun+Noun compounds?

Abstract Though components of subordinate NN compounds may in principle display a wide variety of semantic relationships, data from Romance suggest that in languages where the NN pattern is still new and peripheral, the different subtypes of NN compounds do not necessarily emerge at the same rhythm. The aim of this article is to verify the assumption that French, unlike Italian, does not have an available word-formation pattern of verbal-nexus NN compounds (i.e. compounds in which the verb-argument relationship is featured). With reference to extensive corpus data, it will be demonstrated that in both languages many different subtypes of verbal-nexus NN compounds are attested, but Italian has already developed a consistent and regular word-formation paradigm based on one particular subtype of verbal-nexus NN compounds, while French data do not display such regularity, and the verbal-nexus pattern is much more peripheral in this language.
Y90 Clinical Data Update: Cholangiocarcinoma, Neuroendocrine Tumor, Melanoma, and Breast Cancer Metastatic Disease

While the most compelling levels of evidence for the use of Yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization are in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer, a growing body of literature supports its use in other primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. This includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, as well as hepatic metastases from neuroendocrine cancer, ocular melanoma, and breast cancer. While is it not feasible to conduct prospective, randomized trials for radioembolization in the setting of these malignancies due to the low overall prevalence of liver-only disease, numerous single-arm studies in the last several years make a compelling argument for its use in select situations. This clinical update summarizes those findings.
Microglia are not required for prion-induced retinal photoreceptor degeneration

Degeneration of photoreceptors in the retina is a major cause of blindness in humans. Often retinal degeneration is due to inheritance of mutations in genes important in photoreceptor (PR) function, but can also be induced by other events including retinal trauma, microvascular disease, virus infection or prion infection. The onset of apoptosis and degeneration of PR neurons correlates with invasion of the PR cellular areas by microglia or monocytes, suggesting a causal role for these cells in pathogenesis of PR degenerative disease. To study the role of microglia in prion-induced retinal disease, we fed prion-infected mice a CSF-1 receptor blocking drug, PLX5622, to eliminate microglia in vivo, and the effects on retinal degeneration were analyzed over time. In mice not receiving drug, the main inflammatory cells invading the degenerating PR areas were microglia, not monocytes. Administration of PLX5622 was highly effective at ablating microglia in retina. However, lack of microglia during prion infection did not prevent degeneration of PR cells. Therefore, microglia were not required for the PR damage process during prion infection. Indeed, mice lacking microglia had slightly faster onset of PR damage. Similar results were seen in C57BL/10 mice and transgenic mice expressing GFP or RFP on microglia and monocytes, respectively. These results were supported by experiments using prion-infected Cx3cr1 knockout mice without PLX5622 treatment, where microglial expansion in retina was delayed, but PR degeneration was not. Contrary to predictions, microglia were not a causative factor in retinal damage by prion infection. Instead, newly generated PrPSc accumulated around the inner segment region of the PR cells and appeared to correlate with initiation of the pathogenic process in the absence of microglia.
Risk-Based Reliability and Cost Analysis of Utility Poles Subjected to Tornado Hazard

AbstractTornadoes are hazards with low probability of occurrence and high consequences that cost the United States billions of dollars each year. Electric power distribution systems are susceptible...
On two cryptogenic maldanids (Annelida) from coral rubble habitats in Hawaii

ABSTRACTDissolution of coral rubble collected in the vicinities of a tropical ocean outfall yielded two maldanid species, one of them not previously recorded to Hawaii. The putative species Boguea cf. enigmatica was originally described from North Carolina in coral sand. The Hawaiian material fits very well the original and subsequent descriptions but it is the first record in the Pacific Ocean and molecular data would be necessary to confirm this wide distributional range. This species broods its young and it would also limit its areal distribution unless it has been introduced. Axiothella quadrimaculata is also described from coral rubbles of Hawaii being previously recorded from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Facing the Vexing Problem of Recurrent FSGS after Kidney Transplantation.

FSGS is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in the United States and a frequent cause of advancing kidney failure ([1][1]). It causes tremendous morbidity for patients, and is highly challenging to successfully treat. A significant part of the challenge is distinguishing patients with
Wearable artificial kidney: problems, progress and prospects

The most common treatment option worldwide for persons with kidney failure is in-centre haemodialysis; however, this treatment has remained largely unchanged over decades owing to a lack of true patient-centred technological innovation. The development of safe and effective wearable forms of dialysis has the potential to transform the lives of these patients.
African Americans Struggle With the Current COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Our study aims to explore the differential impact of this pandemic on clinical presentations and outcomes in African Americans (AAs) compared to white patients. BACKGROUND: AAs have worse outcomes compared to whites while facing heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. However, there is no current study to show the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the AA communities. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from 2 tertiary centers in New Orleans, LA. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were identified. Of these, 134 (77%) were AAs, whereas 23.4% of patients were Whites. Interestingly, AA were younger, with a mean age of 63 ± 13.4 compared to 75.7 ± 23 years in Whites (P < 0.001). Thirty-seven patients presented with no insurance, and 34 of them were AA. SOFA Score was significantly higher in AA (2.57 ± 2.1) compared to White patients (1.69 ± 1.7), P = 0.041. Elevated SOFA score was associated with higher odds for intubation (odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.32-1.93, P < 0.001). AA had more prolonged length of hospital stays (11.1 ± 13.4 days vs 7.7 ± 23 days) than in Whites, P = 0.01. CONCLUSION: AAs present with more advanced disease and eventually have worse outcomes from COVID-19 infection. Future studies are warranted for further investigations that should impact the need for providing additional resources to the AA communities.
Tumoural activation of TLR3–SLIT2 axis in endothelium drives metastasis

Blood vessels support tumours by providing nutrients and oxygen, while also acting as conduits for the dissemination of cancer1. Here we use mouse models of breast and lung cancer to investigate whether endothelial cells also have active 'instructive' roles in the dissemination of cancer. We purified genetically tagged endothelial ribosomes and their associated transcripts from highly and poorly metastatic tumours. Deep sequencing revealed that metastatic tumours induced expression of the axon-guidance gene Slit2 in endothelium, establishing differential expression between the endothelial (high Slit2 expression) and tumoural (low Slit2 expression) compartments. Endothelial-derived SLIT2 protein and its receptor ROBO1 promoted the migration of cancer cells towards endothelial cells and intravasation. Deleting endothelial Slit2 suppressed metastatic dissemination in mouse models of breast and lung cancer. Conversely, deletion of tumoural Slit2 enhanced metastatic progression. We identified double-stranded RNA derived from tumour cells as an upstream signal that induces expression of endothelial SLIT2 by acting on the RNA-sensing receptor TLR3. Accordingly, a set of endogenous retroviral element RNAs were upregulated in metastatic cells and detected extracellularly. Thus, cancer cells co-opt innate RNA sensing to induce a chemotactic signalling pathway in endothelium that drives intravasation and metastasis. These findings reveal that endothelial cells have a direct instructive role in driving metastatic dissemination, and demonstrate that a single gene (Slit2) can promote or suppress cancer progression depending on its cellular source.
Normal vector approach to Fourier modal scattering from planar periodic photonic structures

Abstract Fourier modal expansion techniques are very well suited for electromagnetic (EM) scattering in planar periodic stratified media. These techniques expand the transverse EM fields in Bloch modes in each strata unit-cell, but do not rigorously enforce EM boundary conditions at interior material interfaces which gives rise to slow convergence of the polarized S-matrix values with increasing Fourier series truncation order. We present a normal vector (NV) Fourier modal scattering approach that uses the gradient of the real permittivity in the unit-cell to generate a local NV resulting in anisotropic eigenmodes of Maxwell's equations that satisfy interior boundary conditions. The convergence of this expansion method is examine numerically for our analytic NV derived from planar primitive geometry elements for various example structures. The Fourier modal NV method is then derived for the planar cavity boundary value problem and the cavity eigenmodes and density of states is determined from the analytic continuation of the secular determinant. A complete scattering method for highly dispersive materials and sub-wavelength structures has been presented that is adaptable to planar EM cavity problems using fluctuation electrodynamics formalism.
CD4 and CD8 T Cell Memory Interactions Alter Innate Immunity and Organ Injury in the CLP Sepsis Model.

The role of T cell memory in sepsis is poorly understood. Recent work has demonstrated that mice exposed to frequent antigenic stimulation, in contrast to laboratory mice, better recapitulate the human T cell repertoire. This difference may profoundly alter responses to inflammatory insults. We induced isolated T cell memory by inoculating C57Bl/6 mice with an anti-CD3ϵ activating antibody, a process we term "immune education." These mice were subjected to the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis and responses were compared to those of isotype-treated controls. CLP-induced increases in 1) CD4 T cell production and serum levels of IFNγ, 2) CD8 T cell granzyme B levels, and 3) innate cell function were all more pronounced in educated mice than in control mice. Immune education increased CLP-induced liver injury and decreased survival. The differences in responses to CLP were not recapitulated in mice with either isolated CD4 or isolated CD8 T cell memory. Relative to controls, CLP in educated CD8-/- mice (isolated CD4 memory) increased monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Combined CD4 and CD8 memory did not increase monocyte-derived dendritic cells; this combination recapitulated increases in neutrophil and inflammatory monocyte numbers in educated wild-type mice. Induction of T cell memory prior to CLP alters immune responses, organ function, and survival. Both CD4 and CD8 memory T cells play important and independent roles in this response. These findings have profound implications for the development of murine models of human inflammatory disorders such as infection and sepsis.
Effect of different pillow designs on promoting sleep comfort, quality, & spinal alignment: A systematic review

Abstract Introduction: Sleep is beneficial and necessary for nearly every tissue in and function of the human body. A lack of sleep can lead to many health hazards including depression, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Utilizing an appropriate pillow can promote optimal spinal alignment, thus improving sleep quality and duration. The purpose of this study was to analyze available literature and determine the level of evidence of different pillow parameters (material, height, shape, and thermal properties) to promote and enhance sleep quality, spinal alignment, and to decrease waking symptoms. Methods: Following detailed and systematic search in major ergonomics-related data bases (PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, & Google Scholar) by independent searchers applying systematized search processes, eleven articles qualified for inclusion in this review (309 participants). The methodological qualities of included articles were assessed by two independent raters utilizing the PEDro scale and the Modified PEDro Scale for Ergonomics Research (MPSER). Similarly, the authors utilized the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to evaluate the quality of evidence that these articles established. Results: There is moderate evidence that some of the following pillow parameters could improve sleep quality/spinal alignment, and decrease sleep-related neck pain. The parameters are; a latex pillow material, a contoured pillow design (higher sides to accommodate side sleepers and a lower, flattened middle to accommodate back sleepers), a seven to eleven centimeters height of the unloaded central part of the pillow, and a cooling surface. Conclusion: Patients/clients are encouraged to consider as many of the above mentioned parameters as possible when choosing a new pillow that fits their individual needs of promoting sleep comfort.
Engaging primary care providers in managing pediatric eating disorders: a mixed methods study.

The primary care setting offers an attractive opportunity for, not only the identification of pediatric eating disorders, but also the delivery of evidence-based treatment. However, constraints of this setting pose barriers for implementing treatment. For interventions to be successful, they need to take into consideration the perspectives of stakeholders. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine in-depth primary care providers’ perspective of challenges to identifying and managing eating disorders in the primary care setting. This mixed methods study surveyed 60 Pediatric and Family Medicine providers across 6 primary care practices. Sixteen of these providers were further interviewed using a qualitative, semi-structured interview. Providers (n = 60, response rate of 45%) acknowledged the potential of primary care as a point of contact for early identification and treatment of pediatric eating disorders. They also expressed that this was an area of need in their practices. They identified numerous barriers to successful implementation of evidence-based treatment in this setting including scarcity of time, knowledge, and resources. Investigations seeking to build capacities in primary care settings to address eating disorders must address these barriers.
Attitudes and behaviors associated with young drivers’ texting and app use

Abstract Introduction Distracted driving is a major risk factor for motor vehicle crashes, especially for young drivers. This study examines factors that contribute to the exposure of young drivers to distracted driving behaviors. Methods Data from the 2015 National Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors was used to determine the influence that perceived safety, likelihood to do or say something, social norms, and demographic variables have on self-reported cell phone distracted driving. Our population included 16–24-year old drivers. Dependent variables were texting (reading and sending a text/email) and smartphone app use while driving. Rao-Scott chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression models were applied. Sampling weights were applied to create nationally representative estimates and all statistical tests accounted for complex survey design. Results Among young drivers who report cell phone use while driving, 42% reported reading a text, 33% reported sending a text, and 23% reported smartphone app use. Multivariate regression results showed that perceived safety had the strongest association with reporting texting and smartphone app use while driving. In addition, social norms and age-education were significantly associated with reporting sending a text/email and reading a text/email while driving, respectively. Conclusions The current study found significant relationships between attitudes and behaviors about cell phone use while driving and self-reported engagement in distracted driving. Practical applications Interventions with an emphasis on changing perceived safety and social norms for young drivers could be beneficial for reducing engagement in cell phone use while driving.
Human-Infrastructure Interactional Dynamics: Simulating COVID-19 Pandemic Regime Shifts

When subject to disruptive events, the dynamics of human-infrastructure interactions can absorb, adapt, or, in a more abrupt manner, undergo substantial change. These changes are commonly studied when a disruptive event perturbs the physical infrastructure. Infrastructure breakdown is, thus, an indicator of the tipping point, and possible regime shift, in the human-infrastructure interactions. However, determining the likelihood of a regime shift during a global pandemic, where no infrastructure breakdown occurs, is unclear. In this study, we explore the dynamics of human-infrastructure interactions during the global COVID-19 pandemic for the entire United States and determine the likelihood of regime shifts in human interactions with six different categories of infrastructure. Our results highlight the impact of state-level characteristics, executive decisions, as well as the extent of impact by the pandemic as predictors of either undergoing or surviving regime shifts in human-infrastructure interactions.
Why Was the FCC's Privacy Order Dead on Arrival? A New Approach to Evaluating Privacy Regulation

The Federal Communications Commission issued a Privacy Order restricting the use of personal data by Internet Service Providers. Many consumer advocates hailed it as a bold step to protect personal privacy. Many Internet-based companies strongly disagreed. Shortly after the Trump Administration took office, the Privacy Order was repealed. This paper explains the controversies that led to the ultimate demise of the Order, assesses the debate using tools drawn from economic theory of the laws, introduces a new metaphor for privacy that could point to effective privacy rules, and finally uses the metaphor to suggest new directions for exploring privacy regulation.
Diffusion Tensor MRI Structural Connectivity and PET Amyloid Burden in Preclinical Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer Disease: The DIAN Cohort

Background Pathologic evidence of Alzheimer disease (AD) is detectable years before onset of clinical symptoms. Imaging-based identification of structural changes of the brain in people at genetic risk for early-onset AD may provide insights into how genes influence the pathologic cascade that leads to dementia. Purpose To assess structural connectivity differences in cortical networks between cognitively normal autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) mutation carriers versus noncarriers and to determine the cross-sectional relationship of structural connectivity and cortical amyloid burden with estimated years to symptom onset (EYO) of dementia in carriers. Materials and Methods In this exploratory analysis of a prospective trial, all participants enrolled in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network between January 2009 and July 2014 who had normal cognition at baseline, T1-weighted MRI scans, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were analyzed. Amyloid PET imaging using Pittsburgh compound B was also analyzed for mutation carriers. Areas of the cerebral cortex were parcellated into three cortical networks: the default mode network, frontoparietal control network, and ventral attention network. The structural connectivity of the three networks was calculated from DTI. General linear models were used to examine differences in structural connectivity between mutation carriers and noncarriers and the relationship between structural connectivity, amyloid burden, and EYO in mutation carriers. Correlation network analysis was performed to identify clusters of related clinical and imaging markers. Results There were 30 mutation carriers (mean age ± standard deviation, 34 years ± 10; 17 women) and 38 noncarriers (mean age, 37 years ± 10; 20 women). There was lower structural connectivity in the frontoparietal control network in mutation carriers compared with noncarriers (estimated effect of mutation-positive status, -0.0266; P = .04). Among mutation carriers, there was a correlation between EYO and white matter structural connectivity in the frontoparietal control network (estimated effect of EYO, -0.0015, P = .01). There was no significant relationship between cortical global amyloid burden and EYO among mutation carriers (P > .05). Conclusion White matter structural connectivity was lower in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease mutation carriers compared with noncarriers and correlated with estimated years to symptom onset. Clinical trial registration no. NCT00869817 © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by McEvoy in this issue.
Increasing returns to scale and trade-related industry enlargement

Abstract This paper provides a general condition for gains from trade with increasing returns to scale present, whether internal or external to the firm, without using restrictive or unrealistic side requirements, and identifies and corrects a mistake in the literature.
Design of an obstacle detection system for marine autonomous vehicles

The need for the transfer of robotic technology from the research laboratories to civilian applications is now a major issue for the robotic community. In the field of marine robotics is particularly important to endow the robot with a safe and highly reliable Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) system which enables the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) to safely navigate even in presence of human activities such as commercial and recreational traffic, swimmers, rowers, etc. A key aspect to achieve a safe autonomous navigation is the ability of the robot to recognize well in advance the presence of an unexpected, potentially moving, obstacle. This function represents the base brick for the development of a collision avoidance systems smart enough to reactively detect unexpected obstacles and perform the necessary avoidance maneuvers to safely prevent collisions. The present paper describes the design of an a innovative obstacle detection sensor, combining both passive and active optical devices and based on a new concept of optronic system. It is specifically conceived for collision avoidance tasks in marine environments, designed to be easily mounted on small-medium sized USVs. Its innovation consists in the interaction between the different integrated sensors, that are in fact totally decoupled. The paper presents the functional architecture of the object detection sensor together with the preliminary mechanical design. Moreover some experimental data collected by the sensor are reported, and some simulations, highlighting the ability of the system to detect and correctly avoid both still obstacles and mobile traversing obstacles, are shown.
Wallflowers Doing Good: Field and Lab Evidence of Heterogeneity in Reputation Concerns

An extensive literature on reputation signaling has focused on the desire for positive reputation. In our paper we provide field and lab evidence that some individuals are averse to any form of reputation; this aversion correlates with gender in a prosocial setting. We formalize our hypotheses of these “wallflower” types in a theoretical model. Our experimental results are consistent with the model’s prediction that wallflowers will deflect unwanted attention by signaling that they are an “average altruism type” relative to their audience. Our findings suggest caution in using public observation to incentivize intrinsically motivated behavior among females.
Scaling roads and wildlife: the Cinderella principle

It is clear that a reduction in both direct and indirect effects of roads and road networks must be the goal of management agencies. However, increased permeability of roaded landscapes can only be achieved by up-front planning and subsequent mitigative actions. The key is to understand that roads must be made permeable to the movement of animals. More profoundly, ecosystem services, i.e., clean water, clean air, uncontaminated soil, natural landscapes, recreation opportunities, abundant wildlife, and life sustaining ecological processes must not be seriously impacted. In other words, quality of life as measured by ecosystem services should be a major component of the planning process when roads are constructed or improved. Mitigative structures exist to increase permeability of roads. Wildlife overpasses and underpasses, often referred to as ecoducts or green bridges, with associated structures to enable larger animals to exit the road right of way, e.g., earthen escape ramps (Bissonette andHammer, 2001), various culvert designs for smaller animals including badger pipes and amphibian and reptile runnels, and fish ladders are but a small sampling of the structures already in place around the world. What is needed is attention to the big picture. Landscapes need to be reconnected and made more permeable. Responsible agencies and organizations need to be aggressive about promoting mitigations and a conservation ethic into road planning. Only with a broad based effort between a concerned public, a database to work from, and a willingness of responsible agencies, will the now very large virtual footprint of roads and road networks be reduced to more closely approximate the physical footprint. By embracing the Cinderella Principle of making the virtual shoe fit more closely the actual physical footprint of roads, we will be able to achieve a closer connection with ecological harmony with its resultant effect of abundant wildlife.
Abstract T P245: Time to Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Placement and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Correlations in Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS)

Purpose: American Heart Association 2013 guidelines for AIS management emphasize the use of PEG feeding for patients who cannot take solids/liquids orally and a 2-3 week preference for NG after stroke onset. Recent studies suggest 14-28 days before a PEG is placed. Concerns about shortened time-intervals between AIS and PEG placement have arisen, possibly averting rehabilitation of a patient capacity to swallow. High NIHSS scores may be predictive of a patient need for PEG placement. The pilot study was to investigate PEG placement timing and correlation of the NIHSS in patients admitted with AIS in a 5-campus hospital system. Methods: Adult patients (18-99yrs) with AIS ICD-9 primary discharge codes, correlated with PEG placement procedural codes, and NIHSS scores Sept 2012 to Jun 2013. All patients were determined unable to safely swallow, requiring enteral feeding prior to discharge. Patients with chronic dysphagia, previous PEG, traumatic brain injury, intracranial/subarachnoid hemorrhage were excluded...
Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors: evidence and place in therapy

Type 2 diabetes effects millions of people yet remains difficult to treat with oral pharmacotherapy. Metformin is the first line recommended therapy, and current guidelines suggest individualized therapy for second line selection. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are the newest class of agents in treating type 2 diabetes via an insulin independent mechanism to lower blood glucose. Currently marketed agents, including canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and luseogliflozin, reduce hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ~0.8–1%, reduce fasting and post prandial glucose, and have little hypoglycemia associated with them when added to therapies including metformin, a sulfonylurea, pioglitazone, or insulin. Patients receiving SGLT-2 inhibitors have reduced weight and blood pressure, but are more susceptible to urinary tract infections and genital mycotic infections. This review summarizes current literature regarding the SGLT-2 inhibitors.
The Availability of Iron in Seawater: A Perspective

AbstractThere is evidence that iron availability may regulate primary production in some oceanic systems, yet we are still unable to determine what proportion of total iron in seawater is available for uptake by phytoplankton. Definitions of available iron that are based on size fractionations (i.e., dissolved vs. particulate) are inadequate; new conceptual approaches are needed for defining what constitutes biologically available iron in seawater. It is argued here that iron availability can be characterized by measurements of chemically labile, or reactive iron. Field data show that the labile proportion of total iron can vary considerably over short time scales, indicating that the chemical nature of iron, and hence its availability to phytoplankton, is a dynamic feature in natural systems. Further, a significant proportion of particulate iron in seawater is chemically labile, suggesting that it may be a ready source of available iron. The vertical and cross-shelf transport of suspended sediments may t...
T cell receptor rearrangements in various S49 lymphoma sublines.

Abstract The S49 cell lines are a unique series of tumor sublines isolated from a single BALB/c thymoma. Several different sublines were previously isolated from non-mutagenized cells using pharmacologie agents that would select for different stages of thymic development. In this report we show that all seven of the sublines studied express TL class I Ag confirming their derivation from immature thymocytes. This uniform TL expression is in contrast to the previously characterized locus-specific shut off of K d ,D d , and/or L d Ag by various S49 sublines. Furthermore, S49 sublines were found to display disparate CD4/CD8 expression. Whereas the unselected subline is a CD4 + /CD8 + double positive, each of the selected sublines is singly positive for either CD4 or CD8. All seven sublines were found to be CD3 + and express αβ TCR heterodimers. To establish whether the S49 sublines have a monoclonal or polyclonal origin, their TCR rearrangements were compared. Based on the detection of identical but unusual TCR γ rearrangements and similarity of the a and β rearrangements, we propose that the S49 sublines probably had a monoclonal origin. However, significant differences between the TCR a and β gene rearrangement were observed, suggesting that these sublines have undergone further differentiation at TCR loci in addition to CD4/CD8 and MHC loci. Evidence is presented that much of this phenotypic diversity preceded their in vitro selection.
ATOMIC MASSES FROM TITANIUM THROUGH ZINC

The double focusing mass spectrometer previously described has been used to measure 27 atomic masses in the region from titanium to zinc. When supplemented by our earlier values and nuclear reaction energies the data give the masses of 81 nuclides between mass numbers 31 and 70. A fit of the semi-empirical mass formula of Wigner indicates the existence of magic numbers at 20 and 28 protons and neutrons associated with discontinuities in the binding energy surface. The discontinuities are primarily changes in slope of the surface.
Incipient speciation within a subgenus of rockfish ( Sebastosomus ) provides evidence of recent radiations within an ancient species flock

The high frequency of speciation events associated with species flocks (i.e., radiations of closely related species) provides invaluable insight into the speciation process. Investigations of the speciation process in the marine environment are rare, and therefore, the genetic analysis of the rockfish genus Sebastes, considered an ancient marine species flock, provides an opportunity to investigate this process in the sea. Using both mitochondrial and nuclear markers, we analyzed five closely related species within the rockfish subgenus Sebastosomus. Our goal was to understand the evolutionary history and genetic relationships among species within this group and to provide evidence of recent speciation events within the subgenus. In the genetic analysis of the subgenus, we found different stages of the speciation process, with greater genetic divergences among three of the five species, evidence of recent divergence between two of the five species, Sebastes entomelas and S. mystinus, and significant genetic divergence between two lineages within S. mystinus revealing a signature of incipient speciation. We also found frequency differences of the two S. mystinus lineages among sample locations and found no evidence of introgression between the lineages at the location where both coexist. Although Sebastes is an example of an ancient species flock, this study provides evidence of ongoing speciation within the genus and reveals stages of this process from incipient to distinct species.