cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium-Sensitive Particulate Guanylyl Cyclase as a Modulator of cAMP in Olfactory Receptor Neurons

The second messengers cAMP and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate have been implicated in olfaction in various species. The odorant-induced cGMP response was investigated using cilia preparations and olfactory primary cultures. Odorants cause a delayed and sustained elevation of cGMP. A component of this cGMP response is attributable to the activation of one of two kinetically distinct cilial receptor guanylyl cyclases by calcium and a guanylyl cyclase-activating protein (GCAP). cGMP thus formed serves to augment the cAMP signal in a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) manner by direct activation of adenylate cyclase. cAMP, in turn, activates cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) to negatively regulate guanylyl cyclase, limiting the cGMP signal. These data demonstrate the existence of a regulatory loop in which cGMP can augment a cAMP signal, and in turn cAMP negatively regulates cGMP production via PKA. Thus, a small, localized, odorant-induced cAMP response may be amplified to modulate downstream transduction enzymes or transcriptional events.
The prevalence of infections and patient risk factors in home health care: A systematic review

Background Home health care (HHC) has been the fastest growing health care sector for the past 3 decades. The uncontrolled home environment, increased use of indwelling devices, and the complexity of illnesses among HHC patients lead to increased risk for infections. Methods A systematic review of studies evaluating infection prevalence and risk factors among adult patients who received HHC services was conducted and guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Literature was searched using Medline, PubMed, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health as well as hand searching. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality using validated quality assessment checklists. Results Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The infection rates and identified risk factors for infections varied dramatically between studies. In general, patients receiving home parental nutrition treatments had higher infection rates than patients receiving home infusion therapy. The identified risk factors were limited by small sample sizes and other methodologic flaws. Conclusions Establishing a surveillance system for HHC infections, identifying patients at high risk for infections, tailoring HHC and patient education based on patient living conditions, and facilitating communication between different health care facilities will enhance infection control in HHC settings. Future studies should use a nationally representative sample and multivariate analysis for the identification of risk factors for infections.
Eight Nails into Katz’s Coffin

The U.S. courts keep drawing on Katz v. United States in their rulings about whether or not privacy has been violated, which, from a social science viewpoint, is difficult to comprehend. The case is clearly based on untenable sociological and psychological assumptions. Moreover, many fine legal scholars have laid out additional strong reasons that establish beyond a reasonable doubt that it is unreasonable to draw on “the reasonable expectation of privacy” as a legal concept. Continuing to draw on this concept, especially in the cyber age, undermines the legitimacy of the courts and hence of the law. This chapter reviews these arguments in order to further nail down the lid on Katz’s coffin so that this case—and the privacy doctrine that draws on it—can be allowed to rest in peace.
Application of dynamic threshold in sea and lake ice mapping and monitoring

Ice detection and monitoring algorithms using visible and infrared images are generally founded on thresholds-based approaches. Classification of features over ice covered sea requires a series of reliable thresholds. The change in surface conditions throughout the season affects these thresholds and makes their adjustment necessary. This study proposes an operational method based on a set of dynamic thresholds for ice and water identification using data from a geostationary satellite. The Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite data has been used. The proposed approach has been tested and validated over the Caspian Sea. Visible, near infrared and thermal infrared channels are being used to automatically create a cloud mask for a single image. The dynamic threshold is being developed to clarify the misclassification of ice and water pixels. The constant and dynamic thresholds have been used in comparison and applied to classification model. Dynamic threshold is used with reflectance channels R01 (0.6µ) and R02 (0.8 µ) and the near infrared channel R03 (1.6µ).
Health smart cards: merging technology and medical information.

Abstract Smart cards are credit card-sized plastic cards, with an embedded dime-sized Integrated Circuit microprocessor chip. Smart cards can be used for keyless entry, electronic medical records, etc. Health smart cards have been in limited use since 1982 in Europe and the United States, and several barriers including lack of infrastructure, low consumer confidence, competing standards, and cost continue to be addressed.
Genotyping study of 208 Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from Guangxi with Spoligotyping

To study the genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tuberculosis) strains isolated from Guangxi,China with spacer oligonucleotide typing(Spoligotyping) and evaluate the relationship between Beijing family and drug resistance.M.tuberculosis clinical strains isolated from the patients with tuberculosis(TB) in Guangxi,and tested the susceptibility of the isolates to 4 anti-TB drugs(INH,SRM,RFP,EMB) with the proportion method and did genotyping wiht Spoligotyping.The data were analyzed to clustering with BioNumerics software and statistics ananlysis with Chi-Square Tests.Clinical of 208 isolates of M.tuberculosis were collected in Guangxi.By means of Spoligotyping,these strains were typed into two groups which belong to Beijing family and Non-Beijing family,55.3%(115/208)and 44.7%(93/208)respectively;47 genotypes,in which there were 36 single types and the other 172 strains were including 11 clusters.In Beijing family strains 90.4%(104/115) is Typical Beijing family.There were more polymorphisms in Non-Beijing family strains in which 93 strains could be subdivided into 39 genotypes including 31 single genotypes.Comparison with the results of drug susceptibility of 205 strains in Beijing family strains there were 76.25%(76/113) sensitive strains,and 23.75%(37/113) drug resistant strains,whereas in Non-Beijing family strains,there were 75% sensitive strains while 25% drug resistant.There was no significant difference in statistics analyzed with Chi-Square Tests(χ2=2.9721,P0.05).There is high allelic diversity in Guangxi M.tuberculosis.And there might be no relationship between Beijing genotype and drug-resistance.
Sexual Minority Identity, Viewing Motivations, and Viewing Frequency of LGB-Inclusive Television Among LGB Viewers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between dimensions of sexual minority identity, viewing motivations, and viewing frequency of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB)-inclusive television (TV) among LGB viewers. Two hundred two LGB adults completed measures regarding sexual minority identity, TV viewing motivations, and frequency of viewing LGB-inclusive TV programs. Analyses revealed that dimensions of sexual minority identity (i.e., internalized homonegativity, acceptance concerns, and identity affirmation) were positively associated with a learning motivation for viewing LGB-inclusive TV. Moreover, a learning motivation mediated the relationship between dimensions of sexual minority identity and frequency of viewing LGB-inclusive TV. These findings have important implications for clinicians, and suggest that engaging with LGB-inclusive TV may represent an important coping strategy for LGB individuals dealing with identity concerns.
On the Margin: Power and Women's HIV Risk Reduction Strategies

HIV risk and prevention research has failed to investigate adequately the effects of gender-related factors such as relationship power, sexual communication, abuse, and gender roles on women's abilities to engage in protective actions. We propose that women's HIV risk from heterosexual transmission is embedded in the context of gender, race/ethnicity, and class oppression. This context has central implications for interpersonal relationship factors relevant to women's HIV risk. We suggest a framework for understanding women's HIV risk within the context of oppression and the role of power in intimate sexual relationships. Three common dynamics of oppression are considered: (1) Silencing, (2) Violence and Fear of Violence, and (3) Internalized Oppression. These dynamics are based on characteristics of oppression discussed in the work of Jean Baker Miller on gender, Hussain Bulhan on race, and Paulo Freire on class. These dynamics are discussed in the context of findings reported in this journal issue and those of other authors. Finally, the discussion identifies common patterns across studies, as well as areas of disagreement and directions for future research and public health prevention efforts.
A modelling framework for improving supply chain delivery performance

The evaluation of delivery performance is a crucial component in the overall management and control of a supply chain. The main objective of this research is to develop a framework that can be used to improve the delivery performance of a supplier to the end customer in a supply chain. The framework provides a bound on the financial investment required to make improvement to the delivery process. A variance reduction modelling approach is used that directly incorporates the uncertainty in the delivery time distribution into a financial delivery performance metric. The framework is demonstrated using numerical illustrations.
3D Visualization of the Temporal and Spatial Spread of Tau Pathology Reveals Extensive Sites of Tau Accumulation Associated with Neuronal Loss and Recognition Memory Deficit in Aged Tau Transgenic Mice

3D volume imaging using iDISCO+ was applied to observe the spatial and temporal progression of tau pathology in deep structures of the brain of a mouse model that recapitulates the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tau pathology was compared at four timepoints, up to 34 months as it spread through the hippocampal formation and out into the neocortex along an anatomically connected route. Tau pathology was associated with significant gliosis. No evidence for uptake and accumulation of tau by glia was observed. Neuronal cells did appear to have internalized tau, including in extrahippocampal areas as a small proportion of cells that had accumulated human tau protein did not express detectible levels of human tau mRNA. At the oldest timepoint, mature tau pathology in the entorhinal cortex (EC) was associated with significant cell loss. As in human AD, mature tau pathology in the EC and the presence of tau pathology in the neocortex correlated with cognitive impairment. 3D volume imaging is an ideal technique to easily monitor the spread of pathology over time in models of disease progression.
A study of the coverage of large-scale sensor networks

We study the coverage properties of large-scale sensor networks. Three coverage measures are defined to characterize the fraction of the area covered by sensors (area coverage), the fraction of sensors that can be removed without reducing the covered area (node coverage), and the capability of the sensor network to detect objects moving in the network (detectability), respectively. We approach the coverage problem from a theoretical perspective and explore the fundamental limits of the coverage of a large-scale sensor network. We characterize the asymptotic behavior of the coverage measures for a variety of sensor network scenarios. We find that the coverage of a sensor network exhibits different behaviors for different network configuration and parameters. Based on the analytical characterizations of the network coverage, we further discuss the implications to network planning and protocol performance of sensor networks.
Quantitative Research Methods

This chapter distinguishes between quantitative and other types of research, while providing specific free resources for accessing pre-collected data. It identifies philosophical assumptions related to quantitative research in parental involvement. It also examines issues and limitations in measuring parental involvement using quantitative research, and provides examples of important quantitative research into parental involvement. Lastly, this chapter identifies questions about the impact of quantitative research in parental involvement and the importance of quantitative research.
Registration Guided Simulation of Prostate Movement for Radiation Therapy

Developing an accurate dosage plan for radiation therapy is crucial to the success of the treatment, yet many obstacles still exist in spite of the application of the modern technology. One such challenge is revealed in registering CT scans and MRI images, that capture the location and geometry of the prostate. Due to bodily functions and breathing of the patients, the prostate moves with respect to different images. Relying solely on computer vision techniques such as the demons algorithm, can at best give a quantitative measurement of the differences between images. How the differences are created remains unknown. We develop a pipeline in which we first employ simulations of the movement and deformation of the rectum to depict its influence on the position variation of the prostate, then calculate the displacement fields using demons image registration algorithm, and lastly use the displacement field to correct the simulations to match with the target image. Potentially, physicians can better devise dosage planning knowing how the prostate moves during the treatment.
Climate change and land use impacts on hydrologic processes of watershed systems

Land use, land cover and climate change (CC) can significantly influence the hydrologic balance and biogeochemical processes of watershed systems. These changes can alter interception, evapotranspiration (ET), infiltration, soil moisture, water balance, and biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements. The need to evaluate the combined effect of land use change and CC of watershed systems is a focus of this study. We simulated watershed processes in the SuAsCo River watershed in MA, USA, using a calibrated and validated Hydrological Simulation Program Fortran model. Climatic scenarios included downscaled regional projections from Global Climate Model models. The Land Transformation Model was used to project land use. Combined change in land cover and climate reduce ET with loss of vegetation. Changes in climate and land cover increase surface runoff significantly by 2100 as well as stream discharge. Combined change in land cover and climate cause 10% increase in peak volume with 7% increase in precipitation and 75% increase in effective impervious area. Climate and land use changes can intensify the water cycle and introduce seasonal changes in watershed systems. Understanding dynamic changes in watershed systems is critical for mitigation and adaptation options. We propose restoration strategies that can increase the resilience of watershed systems.
Changes in the Systematic Errors of Global Reforecasts due to an Evolving Data Assimilation System

AbstractA global reforecast dataset was recently created for the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS). This reforecast dataset consists of retrospective and real-time ensemble forecasts produced for the GEFS from 1985 to present day. An 11-member ensemble was produced once daily to +15-day lead time from 0000 UTC initial conditions. While the forecast model was stable during the production of this dataset, in 2011 and several times thereafter, there were significant changes to the forecast model that was used in the data assimilation system itself, as well as changes to the assimilation system and the observations that were assimilated. These changes resulted in substantial changes in the statistical characteristics of the reforecast dataset. Such changes make it challenging to uncritically use reforecasts for statistical postprocessing, which commonly assume that forecast error and bias are approximately consistent from one year to the next. Ensuring the ...
Show Me the Money: A Systematic Exploration of Manipulations, Moderators, and Mechanisms of Priming Effects.

A major challenge for accumulating knowledge in psychology is the variation in methods and participant populations across studies in a single domain. We offer a systematic approach to addressing th...
Education of residents in palliative and hospice care.

118Background: Patients with chronic advanced illness have a heavy burden of physical and emotional symptoms. In addition to these symptoms, social and spiritual supports are fundamental tenets of ...
Interprofessional Teamwork Innovation Model (ITIM) to promote communication and patient-centred, coordinated care

Background Despite recommendations and the need to accelerate redesign of delivery models to be team-based and patient-centred, professional silos and cultural and structural barriers that inhibit working together and communicating effectively still predominate in the hospital setting. Aiming to improve team-based rounding, we developed, implemented and evaluated the Interprofessional Teamwork Innovation Model (ITIM). Methods This quality improvement (QI) study was conducted at an academic medical centre. We followed the system’s QI framework, FOCUS-PDSA, with Lean as guiding principles. Primary outcomes included 30-day all-cause same-hospital readmissions and 30-day emergency department (ED) visits. The intervention group consisted of patients receiving care on two hospitalist ITIM teams, and patients receiving care from other hospitalist teams were matched with a control group. Outcomes were assessed using difference-in-difference analysis. Results Team members reported enhanced communication and overall time savings. In multivariate modelling, patients discharged from hospitalist teams using the ITIM approach were associated with reduced 30-day same-hospital readmissions with an estimated point OR of 0.56 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.92), but there was no impact on 30-day same-hospital ED visits. Difference-in-difference analysis showed that ITIM was not associated with changes in average total direct costs nor average cost per patient day, after adjusting for all other covariates in the models, despite the addition of staff resources in the ITIM model. Conclusion The ITIM approach facilitates a collaborative environment in which patients and their family caregivers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, case managers and others work and share in the process of care.
A Reverse Operation Self-Consistent Evaluation Approach for Singular Integrals in the SIE Analysis of PEC Targets

Discussed herein is a novel approach entitled reverse operation self-consistent evaluation (ROSE). Specifically, we applied ROSE for the treatment of weak-singular and hypersingular kernels in surface integral equations (SIEs) for the computation of electromagnetic (EM) scattering from perfect electrical conductors (PECs). Different from the existing forward methods, ROSE is based on reverse operations. The singular entries are not evaluated directly by analytical or numerical evaluation; instead, they are introduced as unknowns and are solved algebraically. For EM scattering from PEC, SIEs can be set up by using the Stratton–Chu representation formula. An auxiliary problem with the same meshed boundary is then formulated, of which any plane waves are the self-consistent solutions. It is shown that by applying a consistent discretization, the matrix of the auxiliary problem can be made identical with the original one. As a consequence, these self-consistent solutions can be utilized to solve the singular entries of the original system. Explicitly, a set of plane waves are interpolated using the appropriate basis functions. Subsequently, the corresponding coefficient vectors are utilized to construct small linear systems to solve the troublesome singular entries in the underlying matrix. The proposed ROSE approach is applicable to different singular kernels as well as different discretization schemes. In this paper, we restrict our discussion to the weak-singular and hypersingular kernels using, respectively, div-conformal Rao–Wilton–Glisson basis functions and nonconformal piecewise constant vector basis functions. Accelerated by the multilevel fast multipole algorithm, the proposed method is applicable for real-life applications.
An analytic current-voltage model for quasi-ballistic III-nitride high electron mobility transistors

We present an analytic model to describe the DC current-voltage (I-V) relationship in scaled III-nitride high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) in which transport within the channel is quasi-ballistic in nature. Following Landauer's transport theory and charge calculation based on two-dimensional electrostatics that incorporates negative momenta states from the drain terminal, an analytic expression for current as a function of terminal voltages is developed. The model interprets the non-linearity of access regions in non-self-aligned HEMTs. Effects of Joule heating with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity are incorporated in the model in a self-consistent manner. With a total of 26 input parameters, the analytic model offers reduced empiricism compared to existing GaN HEMT models. To verify the model, experimental I-V data of InAlN/GaN with InGaN back-barrier HEMTs with channel lengths of 42 and 105 nm are considered. Additionally, the model is validated against numerical I-V data obtained from DC hydrodynamic simulations of an unintentionally doped AlGaN-on-GaN HEMT with 50-nm gate length. The model is also verified against pulsed I-V measurements of a 150-nm T-gate GaN HEMT. Excellent agreement between the model and experimental and numerical results for output current, transconductance, and output conductance is demonstrated over a broad range of bias and temperature conditions.
Use of Dietary Management in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results of a Survey of Over 1500 United States Gastroenterologists

Background/aims Dietary therapy is increasingly used to manage gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aim to gauge United States gastroenterologists' perceptions of dietary therapies for IBS. Methods We distributed a 22-question survey to members of the American College of Gastroenterology. The survey was developed by gastroenterologists and survey methodologists. We collected information pertaining to demographics, providers' interpretation of their patients' views on dietary therapy, and gastroenterologists' perceptions on dietary therapy, and nutritional counseling in IBS. Results One thousand five hundred and sixty-two (14%) surveys were collected. Nearly 60% of participants reported that patients commonly associate food with GI symptoms. IBS patients most commonly use a trial and error approach followed by a lactose-free and gluten-free diet, and rarely use a low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet on their own. Over half of providers recommend diet therapy to ＞ 75% of IBS patients and most commonly recommend a low FODMAP diet. Only 21% of gastroenterologists commonly refer IBS patients to registered dietitians, and only 30% use GI dietitians. Female providers were more likely than males to recommend dietary changes as the primary mode of therapy (OR, 1.43 [1.09-1.88]; P = 0.009). Conclusions Our national survey identified enthusiasm for diet treatment of IBS. While patients infrequently tried a low FODMAP diet on their own, GI providers commonly recommended this diet. Only a minority of GI providers refer their IBS patients to a registered dietitian for nutrition counseling and few refer patients to dietitians with specialized GI training. Female providers were more enthusiastic about diet therapies than males.
Influences on International Student Choice of Study Destination: Evidence from the United States.

Competition to attract international students continues to grow and understanding the factors that influence study destination choice is critical to the marketing efforts of nations, states, and institutions. This surveybased study of international students at Michigan State University demonstrates that they appear to choose the country in which to study, and/or the specific school, with less regard for school location. The most critical influences on their choices were expected quality of education, reputation/ranking of the university and individual departments/programs, safety/security, and cost/affordability. Differences in relative importance by nationality, gender, and level of education sought were also identified. Implications of these findings, for the marketing, promotion, and recruitment efforts of universities and national/regional economic development agencies, are discussed.
HOW QUANTUM CHEMISTRY CAN DELINEATE THE DIFFERING MOLECULAR REQUISITES FOR INTERACTION WITH μ, δ, κ, σ AND OTHER OPIATE RECEPTORS

The differing requisites for interaction of opiates (endogenous and exogenous) selectively with the μ, δ, κ, σ and other opiate receptors should be capable of delineation by a combination of theoretical quantum chemical techniques: reliable ab-initio calculations of the wave functions of the molecules and hence the charges on each atom followed by generation of electrostatic molecular potential contour maps in three dimensional space around the prototype opiates. The theoretical techniques are described and applications to opiates are discussed.
Psychosocial influences in diabetes mellitus.

Physicians tend to focus only on control of diabetes without taking into account the patient's attitudes, emotional characteristics, and environmental realities. Problems of control at all stages of the disease are related to the attitudes, actions, and inactions of both patients and physicians.
CyberKnife radiosurgery for acoustic neuromas: Tumor control and clinical outcomes.

Fractionated CyberKnife radiosurgery (CKRS) treatment for acoustic neuromas may reduce the risk of long-term radiation toxicity to nearby critical structures compared to that of single-fraction radiosurgery. However, tumor control rates and clinical outcomes after CKRS for acoustic neuromas are not well described. We retrospectively reviewed all acoustic neuroma patients treated with CKRS (2004-2011) in a prospectively maintained clinical and radiographic database. Treatment failure, the need for additional surgical intervention, was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. For 119 treated patients, median values were 49 months (range, 6-133 months) of follow-up, 1.6 cm3 (range, 0.02-17 cm3) tumor volume, and 18 Gy (range, 13-25 Gy) prescribed dose delivered in 3 fractions (range, 1-5 fractions). Thirty-five of 59 patients (59%) with pre-radiosurgery serviceable hearing (American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery class A or B) maintained serviceable hearing at the last audio follow-up (median, 21 months). Two of 111 patients (2%) with facial nerve function House-Brackmann (HB) grade ≤3 progressed to HB grade >3 after radiosurgery. Koos grade IV was predictive of radiographic tumor growth after radiosurgery compared to grades I to III (p = 0.02). Treatment failure occurred in 9 of 119 patients (8%); median time to failure was 29 months (range, 4-70 months). The actuarial rates of tumor control at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 96%, 94%, 88%, and 88%, respectively. CKRS affords effective tumor control for acoustic neuromas with an acceptable rate of hearing preservation. Further studies are needed to compare CKRS to single-fraction radiosurgery for acoustic neuromas.
Small Change, Big Impact: Assessment and Creative Re-purposing of Underutilized Space at the BU Theology Library

Library assessment at the BU School of Theology Library identified one glaring weakness of our institution: the lack of useable collaborative/group study space. Staff identified one particular spot: a beautiful, but rarely used conference room for group study space, down a forbidding administrative hallway, as a short-term bandage for this weakness. Despite its deficiencies, this short-term solution it has become a popular spot in the library. Patron visits to the library increased over 10% during the first couple of months of the Fall 2018 semester. In an era of tightening library budgets for small, academic, and Theological libraries, aggressive data-collection and creative re-imagining of space can pay big dividends.
The Missional Singing of the Psalms in Islamic Contexts

For fourteen centuries scriptural engagement between Islam and Christianity has focused on the Torah and the Injil (the NT). Common to both traditions, however, is the Zabur, or Psalms. This common...
Abstract 5310: Novel, single-tube, multiplex rhPCR technology for detection of low-frequency variants inBRCA1andBRCA2

Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies serve as critical tools for cancer diagnostics. For example, individuals with pathological BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations have a dramatically increased risk for certain cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer. Those mutations are either germline or somatically acquired, and play an important role in cancer risk assessment, prevention of malignancy, and management of disease. A variety of methodologies are currently available to screen for BRCA1/2 mutations. Amplicon-based sequencing technologies are prevalent due to their easy workflow but have specific challenges due to inherent limitations of PCR, such as difficulties with amplification of overlapping amplicons for contiguous coverage in a single-tube or with detection of somatic low-frequency variants due to high polymerase error rates. We developed a robust, highly multiplex rhPCR workflow to screen for BRCA1/2 mutations across their entire coding regions in a single-tube. This method allows for detection of low-frequency variants through use of unique molecular identifiers (UMIs), which correct for PCR and sequencing errors and dramatically increase specificity. This method supports a wide DNA input range (1 to 50 ng) from cell-free, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), or small biopsy samples. Our rhAmpSeq™ chemistry uses a two-enzyme system coupled with uniquely designed RNA-DNA hybrid primers, which enable the amplification of overlapping, multiplexed amplicons. Thus, we eliminate the need to split precious DNA samples into multiple tubes and prevent UMI hopping. Here, we demonstrate the performance of our novel, highly specific amplicon-based technology for detection of low-frequency variants of BRCA1/2 and compare our technology to current industry standards. Citation Format: Nicole Sponer, Yu Wang, Junzhou Wang, Shengyao Chen, Kevin Lai, Scott Rose, Patrick Lau. Novel, single-tube, multiplex rhPCR technology for detection of low-frequency variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5310.
Do We Protect What We Own?: A Proposed Neurophysiological Exploration of Workplace Information Protection Motivation

Part-time and temporary employees and contractors become a major cybersecurity threat for organizations due to the ephemeral nature of their engagement. Compared with full-time employees, they may be less commited to the welfare of the organization and, therefore, less willing to engage in security recommendations to protect it. Perceived psychological ownership is an important factor that shapes employees’ security behaviors. The endowment effect also explains employees’ tendencies to overvalue information that belongs to them, and conversely, extend fewer protections to information that they view as belonging to others. Thus, employees may be more motivated to safeguard their own information than organizational information. From a principle-agent perspective, this study investigates how three types of employees perceive organizational and personal information, and how different employees make decisions about protecting their own versus organizational information.
A model for particle removal from surfaces with large-scale roughness in turbulent flows

The resuspension rate of particles from surfaces is significantly dependent on surface roughness. Existing models only consider the case of surface asperities much smaller than particle diameter, b...
Identifying Source Regions and the Distribution of Cross-Tropopause Convective Outflow Over North America During the Warm Season

We analyzed the interaction between the North American monsoon anticyclone (NAMA) and summertime cross-tropopause convective outflow by applying a trajectory analysis to a climatology of convective overshooting tops (OTs) identified in GOES satellite images, which covers the domain from 29°S to 68°N and from 205 to 1.25°W for the time period of May through September 2013. With this analysis we identified seasonally, geographically, and altitude-dependent variability in NAMA strength and in cross-tropopause convection that control their interaction. We find that the NAMA has the strongest impact on the circulation of convectively influenced air masses in August. Over the entire time period examined the intertropical convergence zone contributes the majority of OTs with a larger fraction of total OTs at 370 K (on average 70%) than at 400 K (on average 52%). During August at 370 K, the convectively influenced air masses within the NAMA circulation, as determined by the trajectory analysis, are primarily sourced from the intertropical convergence zone (monthly average of 66.1%), while at 400 K the Sierra Madres and the Central United States combined constitute the dominant source region (monthly average of 44.1%, compared to 36.6% of the combined Intertropical Convergence Zone regions). When evaluating the impact of cross-tropopause convection on the composition and chemistry of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, the effects of the NAMA on both the distribution of convective outflow and the residence time of convectively influenced air masses within the NAMA region must be considered.
High-Speed Nonpolar InGaN/GaN Superluminescent Diode With 2.5 GHz Modulation Bandwidth

We demonstrate a superluminescent diode fabricated on a nonpolar ${m}$ -plane GaN substrate by employing a linearly tapered waveguide design. A high electrical −3dB modulation bandwidth ( $f_{\mathbf {3dB}}$ ) of 2.5 GHz at a current density of 30 kA/cm2 is achieved. The high modulation bandwidth is attributed to the shorter carrier recombination lifetime, the linear gain curve in the nonpolar ${m}$ -plane quantum wells, and the ability to operate at high current densities while effectively suppressing lasing. We derive a general expression for the −3dB bandwidth as a function of current density for SLDs using a similar approach to that for laser diodes. The −3dB bandwidth of a nonpolar superluminescent diode increases exponentially with current density. The experimental results are consistent with the derived expression for $f_{\mathbf {3dB}}$ vs . current density.
Enhanced production of d (−)-lactic acid by mutants of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ATCC 9649

Chemical mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) was used to develop strains ofLactobacillus delbrueckii (ATCC 9649) that tolerated increased lactic acid concentrations while continuously producing the acid. Three mutants (DP2, DP3 and DP4) were compared with wild-typeL. delbrueckii by standing fermentations with different glucose concentrations. All three mutants produced higher levels of lactic acid than the wild-type. In pH-controlled (pH 6.0) stirred-tank-batch fermentations, mutant DP3 in 12% glucose, 1% yeast extract/mineral salt/oleic acid medium produced lactic acid at a rate that was more than 2-times faster than the wild-type. Mutant DP3 also produced 77 g/l lactic acid compared with 58 g/l for the wild-type. Overall, compated with wild-type, the mutants DP2 and DP3 exhibited faster specific growth rates, shorter lag phases, greater lactic acid yields, tolerated higher lactic acid concentrations, and produced as much as 12% lactic acid in 12% glucose, 3% yeast extract/mineral salt/oleic acid medium which required an additional 9% glucose when the residual glucose concentration decreased to ≤3%. Mutant DP3 was stable for over 1.5 years (stored freeze dried). The strain development procedure was very successful; mutants with enhanced lactic acid-producing capacity were obtained each time the procedure was employed.
Dermal tunnels influence time to clinical response and family history influences time to loss of clinical response in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa treated with adalimumab.

BACKGROUND Clinical response in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is most commonly assessed using the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) measure. Dermal tunnels, increased body mass index, smoking and antibiotic use significantly decrease the odds of achieving HiSCR. However, there are few data exploring if clinical features are also associated with length of time to achieve clinical response and/or time to lose clinical response. AIM To explore whether variables associated with achievement of HiSCR are associated with time to achieve HiSCR and time to loss of HiSCR in patients with HS treated with adalimumab 40 mg weekly in the PIONEER open-label extension study. METHODS Time-to-event analyses were performed to estimate time to achieve HiSCR and time to loss of HiSCR. The log rank test was used to compare cumulative incidence curves for a priori patient- and disease-associated factors. Cox regression analysis was performed to compare time-to-event outcomes in the presence of a priori variables. All statistical analyses were completed with R software (V3.5.3). RESULTS Presence of dermal tunnels significantly increased the time to achieve HiSCR (median 32.6 vs. 14.3 weeks, P = 0.02) and the hazard ratio (HR) was significant after controlling for patient and disease factors (HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.51-0.96, P = 0.03). A positive family history of HS significantly decreased the time to loss of HiSCR (median 11.4 vs. 18 weeks, P < 0.001) and remained significant in Cox regression analysis (HR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.40-2.88, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The presence of dermal tunnels significantly influences the odds of achieving HiSCR and the time to achieve HiSCR, while family history influences time to loss of HiSCR.
A new no-report paradigm reveals that face cells encode both consciously perceived and suppressed stimuli

A powerful paradigm to identify neural correlates of consciousness is binocular rivalry, wherein a constant visual stimulus evokes a varying conscious percept. It has recently been suggested that activity modulations observed during rivalry may represent the act of report rather than the conscious percept itself. Here, we performed single-unit recordings from face patches in macaque inferotemporal (IT) cortex using a no-report paradigm in which the animal's conscious percept was inferred from eye movements. We found that large proportions of IT neurons represented the conscious percept even without active report. Furthermore, on single trials we could decode both the conscious percept and the suppressed stimulus. Together, these findings indicate that (1) IT cortex possesses a true neural correlate of consciousness and (2) this correlate consists of a population code wherein single cells multiplex representation of the conscious percept and veridical physical stimulus, rather than a subset of cells perfectly reflecting consciousness.
AP-2γ Is Required for Maintenance of Multipotent Mammary Stem Cells

Mammary gland ductal morphogenesis depends on the differentiation of mammary stem cells (MaSCs) into basal and luminal lineages. The AP-2γ transcription factor, encoded by Tfap2c, has a central role in mammary gland development but its effect in mammary lineages and specifically MaSCs is largely unknown. Here, we utilized an inducible, conditional knockout of Tfap2c to elucidate the role of AP-2γ in maintenance and differentiation of MaSCs. Loss of AP-2γ in the basal epithelium profoundly altered the transcriptomes and decreased the number of cells within several clusters of mammary epithelial cells, including adult MaSCs and luminal progenitors. AP-2γ regulated the expression of genes known to be required for mammary development, including Cebpb, Nfkbia, and Rspo1. As a result, AP-2γ-deficient mice exhibited repressed mammary gland ductal outgrowth and inhibition of regenerative capacity. The findings demonstrate that AP-2γ can regulate development of mammary gland structures potentially regulating maintenance and differentiation of multipotent MaSCs.
Virtual Interviews: Challenges and Opportunities for Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Programs

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic brought profound change to the medical education system, and residency and fellowship recruitment was not spared. Many of the activities required for rec...
What can dogs bring to atopic dermatitis research

Besides humans, dogs are the only animals that naturally develop skin lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD). In the last two decades, numerous studies have helped establish the close similarity between human and canine AD at the pathogenesis, clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic levels. The study of dogs with AD could potentially be very useful to human AD research because of the species' historical inbred selection that would permit breed-specific genetic, epidemiological or mechanistic studies. Clinical trials enrolling privately owned dogs are helpful for testing the validity of novel preventive or therapeutic interventions before these are used in human patients. Finally, skin lesions of AD can be provoked via environmental, systemic or epicutaneous allergen challenges in dogs that are spontaneously or experimentally sensitized to common dietary or environmental allergens. These experimental canine AD models have proven their utility to test the efficacy of novel treatment modalities in a preclinical setting. In conclusion, natural or experimental canine AD can provide researchers with a unique model to investigate genetic, epidemiological, mechanistic or treatment facets of the human disease. Due to the unique similarity of the disease in both species, the obtained information would very likely be translatable to human patients.
Elimination Methods for Spatial Synthesis

Many spatial, dimensional, position-synthesis problems lead to finite sets of solutions. In this paper, four such problems are presented. Two of these problems are solved using multihomogeneous resultant theory. The other two problems are solved using elimination strategy to obtain a solution based on rank reduction of a rectangular matrix of the form (A — λB). In the latter case, the appearance of linearly dependent equations during the elimination process is fully analyzed.
Preparation of Nanocrystalline Indium Antimonide Through β-Hydride Elimination from New Indium-Antimony Single-Source Precursors

The 1:1 mole ratio reaction of t-Bu3In with Sb(SiMe3)3 results in the formation of the Lewis acid-base adduct t-Bu3In • Sb(SiMe3)3 (1), while the dimeric compound [t-Bu2InSb(SiMe3)2]2 (2) is isolated from the 1:1 reaction of t-Bu2InCl with Sb(SiMe3)3. Both the 2:1 reactions of t-Bu2InCl with Sb(SiMe3)3 and t-Bu2InCl with 2 result in the formation of the mixed-bridge compound \(t{\text{ - Bu}}_{\text{2}} \) (3), however, 1H NMR studies suggest that this compound is unstable in solution. Thermolysis of 1, 2, and t-Bu3Ga • Sb(SiMe3)3 (4) results in the formation of nanocrystalline InSb or GaSb through a β-hydride elimination pathway.
Social Spending and Economic Growth

Prevailing opinion holds that big government and high taxes reduce growth. Social programs are claimed to be a matter of social justice, even if they impede economic growth. But Peter Lindert in a new book argues that these claims are fiction. States that spend a lot on social programs grow no more slowly than those that spend little. He discusses his views and the evidence below.
Accelerated Plaque Formation by Fowlpox Virus in the Presence of Chymotrypsin

Chymotrypsin enhanced fowlpox virus plaque formation in chick embryo cell cultures. A simplified plaque assay for fowlpox virus is described. Plaques were produced in 3 days when chymotrypsin was included in a serum-free fluid overlay. Plaques were also produced in 5 to 6 days under an agar overlay when a medium containing fetal calf serum was employed. Kinetics of plaque formation were also studied, and it was shown that fowlpox virus plaque diameters grow at a linear rate.
The Milky Way as a Galaxy

The physical conditions in the interstellar medium of the Milky Way are briefly reviewed. It is noted that the local interstellar medium shows relatively uniform abundances and dust/gas ratios; in fact recent measurements of the 12C/13C ratio indicate that the gas is homogeneous to better than 15%. Since we appear to live in an orderly system, observations of external galaxies similar to the Milky Way can provide useful insight into the nature of the interstellar medium of the Galaxy.
s12 doublets in hypernuclear and nuclear physics

Abstract This paper develops some remarks of de-Shalit on the spectroscopy of heavy hypernuclei. In particular, the ground-state s 1 2 doublets of ΛAZ hypernuclei with an odd number of core nucleons are examined in detail. Using the present knowledge of the Λ-N force, it is shown that the lower member of the doublet can be expected to satisfy the rule Λ = (−1)J and predictions are made for the doublet splittings throughout the periodic table. The magnetic moments of the doublet states are predicted as well as the M-1 transition rate between them. A similar analysis is carried out for the known s 1 2 doublets in odd-odd nuclei, and a comparison with experiment in this case yields some insight into the validity of the various predictions for hypernuclei.
An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Podcasting As A Supplemental Instructional Tool: A Pilot Study

Podcasting is the creation of audio or video files for use on iPods and other MP3 players. It allows the user to view or listen to downloadable files wherever or whenever desired. In higher education, podcasting is experiencing extraordinary growth. While a significant volume of literature exists both lauding and lamenting the incorporation of podcasts into university curricula, the authors were unable to find any empirical studies in either the academic or popular press evaluating any benefits or detriments attributable to educational applications of podcasting. This paper presents the pilot for an empirical study of the effectiveness of podcasting as a course supplement.
An Affordable Approach for Robust Design of Thick Laminated Composite Structure

A systematic and affordable approach is proposed for the robust design of thick laminated composite structures. Our approach integrates the principles of the Robust Concept Exploration Method (RCEM) for designing complex engineering systems and the hierarchical multi-level optimization procedure for managing the complexity of composite structure optimization. Foundational to the proposed approach is the use of Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques and the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for improving computational efficiency in using high fidelity design simulations; and the use of the robust design method for improving the quality of a product that is insensitive to potential variations of design parameters. Our approach is illustrated through the design of a laminated composite femoral component for hip joint arthroplasty. The solution yields the robust design of a composite hip implant, which is applicable for a range of bone stiffness, thereby eliminating the need to design specifically for an individual.