cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alcohol, the Upper Airway, and Mucociliary Dysfunction in the Conducting Airways

Innate mucosal defense in the airways of the lung involves mucociliary clearance of inhaled particles, microbes, and toxins. Alcohol consumption results in both rapid and transient stimulation of the frequency of cilia beat as well as a prolonged exposure-mediated desensitization of cilia stimulation leading to diminished clearance. This alcohol-induced ciliary dysfunction (AICD) is the result of the direct exposure of the airways to condensed alcohol from the bronchial circulation during exhalation. In addition, alcohol can alter mucus production, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, barrier function, cell migration during wound repair, and smooth muscle airway hyperresponsiveness in exposed airways. Such alterations impact normative airway functions in response to other inhaled injurious agents such as viruses, cigarette smoke, and organic dusts.
Digital transcriptome analysis indicates adaptive mechanisms in the heart of a hibernating mammal

Survival of near-freezing body temperatures and reduced blood flow during hibernation is likely the result of changes in the expression of specific genes. In this study, we described a comprehensive survey of mRNAs in the heart of the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus) before and during hibernation. The heart was chosen for this study because it is a contractile organ that must continue to work despite body temperatures of 5 degrees C and the lack of food for periods of 5-6 mo. We used a digital gene expression assay involving high-throughput sequencing of directional cDNA libraries from hearts of active and hibernating ground squirrels to determine the identity and frequency of 3,532 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Statistical analysis of the active and hibernating heart expression profile indicated the differential regulation of 48 genes based on a P < or = 0.03 threshold. Several of the differentially expressed genes identified in this screen encode proteins that likely account for uninterrupted cardiac function during hibernation, including those involved in metabolism, contractility, Ca2+ handling, and low-temperature catalysis. A sampling of genes showing higher expression during hibernation includes phosphofructokinase, pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), aldolase A, sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a), titin, and four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2). Genes showing reduced levels of expression during hibernation include cyclin-dependent kinase 2-associated protein 1 (CDK2AP1), troponin C, phospholamban, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), calmodulin, and four subunits of cytochrome c oxidase.
Offending frequency suppression with a reset algorithm to improve feedback cancellation in digital hearing aids

Acoustic feedback limits the gain provided by hearing aids. Digital hearing aids identify acoustic feedback signals and cancel them continuously in a closed loop with an adaptive filter in the digital domain. This scheme facilitates larger hearing aid gain and improves the output sound quality of hearing aids. However, the output sound quality of hearing aids deteriorates as the hearing aid gain is increased. This paper automatically identifies and suppresses residual acoustical feedback components at frequencies that have the potential to drive the system to instability. The suppressed frequency components are monitored and the suppression is removed when such frequencies no longer pose a threat to drive the hearing aid system into instability. Experimental results obtained with real world hearing aid gain profiles using speech and music signals indicate that the method of this paper provides less distortion in the output sound quality than classical feedback cancelers enabling the use of more comfortable style hearing aids for patients with moderate to profound hearing loss.
The Epilepsy Foundation's 4th Biennial Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference

Abstract On June 5 and 6, 2014, the Epilepsy Foundation held its 4th Biennial Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference, an initiative of the Epilepsy Therapy Project, which showcased the most promising epilepsy innovations from health-care companies and academic laboratories dedicated to pioneering and advancing drugs, biologics, technologies, devices, and diagnostics for epilepsy. Speakers and attendees included emerging biotech and medical technology companies, major pharmaceutical and device companies, as well as investigators and innovators at the cutting-edge of epilepsy. The program included panel discussions on collaboration between small and large companies, how to get products in need of funding to the marketplace, who is currently funding epilepsy and CNS innovation, and how the NIH facilitates early-stage drug development. Finally, the conference featured the third annual “Shark Tank” competition. The presentations are summarized in this paper, which is followed by a compilation of the meeting poster abstracts.
Differential Racial/Ethnic Predictive Validity

Recent findings indicate that including White offenders in the sample biases the predictability of risk and needs assessment instruments. As a result, this study examines the predictability of the Los Angeles County Needs Assessment Instrument (LAC) on a sample of African American and Hispanic juvenile probationers. Given that the extant literature focuses on regression analysis, to the curtailment of error analysis, this study also provides a unique examination of predictive error. The results suggest that the instrument under examination predicts better for Hispanics than African Americans. Of the two minority groups, the needs assessment instrument demonstrated the greatest effect size for Hispanic probationers. The LAC performed 16% better than chance predictions when classifying Hispanic juveniles. The area under the curve value was nonsignificant for African American juvenile probationers. The situating of our research findings, their limitations, suggestions for future research, and policy implications are discussed. Language: en
The sensitivity limits of spectroscopic ellipsometry to oxygen content in YBa2Cu3O7–δ thin films

Abstract The limits for the sensitivity of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) to the presence of near-surface gradations of the oxygen content in YBa2Cu3O7–δ (YBCO) thin films have been investigated. Using an ellipsometric data modelling program, SE spectra were generated for films with fixed geometries and varying concentration gradients of oxygen. By comparing these spectra, the sensitivity limits of SE to small changes in the diffused depth and/or the surface concentration of oxygen (cs) were determined. For c-axis oriented films, it was found that the oxygen content can, in principle, be determined to within one unit cell of YBCO, even when the profile is graded. Also, the minimum detectable change in the surface oxygen concentration (cs) was calculated to be 2–3%, depending on the starting cs. Similar calculations for YBCO layers buried under a 4 nm layer of metallic SrRuO3 (i.e. in a superconductor-normal metal junction) showed small changes in these sensitivities. Calculations for a-axis oriented films showed that changes as small as 10 A in the diffused depth were detectable for both buried and surface layers. The minimum detectable change in cs for a-axis films was found to be 2–8%.
Evaluation of a Possible Transfusion Reaction With a Positive Direct Antiglobulin Test in a 29-Year-Old Male

1. Why was an elution performed? 2. Which laboratory test should be performed next? 3. Did the transfusion of the second unit cause the patient’s symptoms? 4. Did a transfusion reaction occur and, if so, what kind of reaction was it? 5. How should the clinician be advised regarding the cause of the patient’s symptoms? 6. What further actions are necessary on the part of the laboratory? 7. Why was this not detected prior to the transfusion of blood products? 8. How common is this occurrence?
Governing the Hollow State

For the past ten years the authors have conducted a concentrated research program on the dimensions and impact of the hollow state. The hollow state is a metaphor for the increasing use of third parties, often nonprofits, to deliver social services and generally act in the name of the state. The types of structures, incentives, and mechanisms used to control third-party providers have been the focus of this research. The empirical thrust of this research is on how effective various types of mechanisms, structures, and incentives are at promoting the effectiveness of contracted services. The normative question this research has raised, but not answered, is, What effect does government contracting with third-party providers have on the perceived legitimacy of the state? This article is a summary of the theoretical development and the empirical findings from the authors' research on the dimensions and impact of the hollow state in the domain of health and human services contracting. Elements of this article have appeared previously in this journal and in many others as well. The article's purpose is to integrate the authors' research on the hollow state. This is a summative article that seeks to bring together in one place what the authors have learned. In addition, new directions are explored for future research on the hollow state.
Medical Genetic Research on the Amish: From Genetic Tourism to Community Health Centers

In the 1960s, Victor McKusick inaugurated the Amish medical genetic tourist research program in order to learn more about the relationship between genes and human disease. However, Amish mistrust of outsiders and frustration at being exploited by tourism, as well as other cultural and historical factors, would ultimately result in the transformation of medical genetic research paradigms from genetic tourism to community health centers. Over time, Amish community health clinics, partially funded by the Amish themselves, were established in Pennsylvania and Ohio. These clinics, which are longterm centers dedicated to primary care and advanced medical genetic research, give the Amish a sense of agency. Doctors from these clinics have achieved numerous medical breakthroughs that were possible only as a result of their long-term care of patients. This transition to Amish community health clinics illustrates the successes science and medicine can achieve when they are sensitive to unique population needs.
Reconciling Elastic and Equilibrium Methods for Static Analysis

We examine two widely used classes of methods for static analysis of masonry buildings: linear elasticity analysis using finite elements and equilibrium methods. It is often claimed in the literature that finite element analysis is less accurate than equilibrium analysis when it comes to masonry analysis; we examine and qualify this claimed inaccuracy, provide a systematic explanation for the discrepancy observed between their results, and present a unified formulation of the two approaches to stability analysis. We prove that both approaches can be viewed as equivalent, dual methods for getting the same answer to the same problem. We validate our observations with simulations and physical tilt experiments of structures.
A framework for philosophical biology

Advances in biology have mostly relied on theories that were subsequently revised, expanded or eventually refuted using experimental and other means. Theoretical biology used to primarily provide a basis to rationally examine the frameworks within which biological experiments were carried out and to shed light on overlooked gaps in understanding. Today, however, theoretical biology has generally become synonymous with computational and mathematical biology. This could in part be explained by a relatively recent tendency in which a "data first", rather than a "theory first", approach is preferred. Moreover, generating hypotheses has at times become procedural rather than theoretical. This situation leaves our understanding enmeshed in data, which should be disentangled from much noise. Given the many unresolved questions in biology and medicine, it seems apt to revive the role of pure theory in the biological sciences. This paper makes the case for a "philosophical biology" (philbiology), distinct from but quite complementary to philosophy of biology (philobiology), which would entail biological investigation through philosophical approaches. Philbiology would thus be a reincarnation of theoretical biology, adopting the true sense of the word "theory" and making use of a rich tradition of serious philosophical approaches in the natural sciences. A philbiological investigation, after clearly defining a given biological problem, would aim to propose a set of empirical questions, along with a class of possible solutions, about that problem. Importantly, whether or not the questions can be tested using current experimental paradigms would be secondary to whether the questions are inherently empirical or not. The final goal of a philbiological investigation would be to develop a theoretical framework that can lead observational and/or interventional experimental studies of the defined problem.
Context-sensitive design and human interaction principles for usable, useful, and adoptable radars

The evolution of exquisitely sensitive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems is positioning this technology for use in time-critical environments, such as search-and-rescue missions and improvised explosive device (IED) detection. SAR systems should be playing a keystone role in the United States’ Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance activities. Yet many in the SAR community see missed opportunities for incorporating SAR into existing remote sensing data collection and analysis challenges. Drawing on several years' of field research with SAR engineering and operational teams, this paper examines the human and organizational factors that mitigate against the adoption and use of SAR for tactical ISR and operational support. We suggest that SAR has a design problem, and that context-sensitive, human and organizational design frameworks are required if the community is to realize SAR's tactical potential.
Late-onset schizophrenia: Studying clinical validity.

The authors compared clinical characteristics of 36 late-onset schizophrenic patients from four centers (hospitals in San Diego, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Montreal). There was a preponderance of the paranoid type with bizarre delusions and auditory hallucinations, chronic course of illness, and response to relatively low doses of neuroleptics. A comparison of late-onset and younger schizophrenic patients revealed both similarities and differences between the two groups. The authors reviewed the relevant literature and discussed the implications for assessing the validity of the concept of late-onset schizophrenia. They believe that, although less common, late-onset schizophrenia is probably as valid an entity (or group of entities) as schizophrenia with onset before age 45.
Gates of Eden

During the years roughly between 1960 and 1970 America experienced a radical insurgency of unprecedented intensity and strange, unconventional forms. It was a political movement that had all the trappings of a spiritual crusade, a blend of rebellion and revival, and though it eventually fell short of achieving anything like power or lasting institutional change it had deep and pervasive effects on the emotional tone of the country — the way people lived and felt about their lives. In our common language, that insurgency is the very definition of the era; it is what we mean when we say “the sixties,” just as the depression, the onslaught of Fascism, and the fellow-traveling of Western intellectuals are what we mean when we invoke “the thirties”. Though bound closely to the vicissitudes of American politics, the movement was by no means a uniquely domestic upheaval, for it drew upon international energies and had global reverberations: the Cuban revolution, the uprising of Parisian students in 1968, Czechoslovakia’s canceled experiment in socialism with a human face, the Chinese cultural revolution, and above all, the Vietnamese struggle for independence, which spanned the decade and was, more than anything else, the galvanic force behind the movement.
Comparison of trophic function between the globally invasive crayfishes Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii

Impacts of invasive species may manifest most strongly if these organisms are highly distinct functionally from the native species they often replace. Yet, should we expect functional differences between native and invasive species of generalist organisms like freshwater crayfish? Some existing evidence has pointed to native and invasive crayfish species as ecologically equivalent. We contribute to this literature by comparing the trophic niches of the globally invasive crayfishes Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii, by applying carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses to replicated allopatric (alone) and sympatric (together) lake populations in western Washington State, USA, where P. clarkii has been recently introduced and P. leniusculus is presumed native. Our study corrected for potential inherent differences in lake food webs as a consequence of lake abiotic or biotic characteristics using random effects in linear mixed effects models. We found that although overall trophic niche size or area of these species was not significantly different, P. leniusculus was significantly higher in trophic position than P. clarkii when also accounting for the effects of body size, sex, and lakes as random effects. This pattern of increased trophic position of P. leniusculus over P. clarkii was conserved over time in one sympatric lake for which we had data over multiple years. Cumulatively, our findings point to trophic differences between the globally cosmopolitan crayfishes P. leniusculus and P. clarkii, particularly when accounting for the ways that ecosystem context can affect food web structure of communities and the trophic resources available to these consumers.
Sodium Diisopropylamide in N,N-Dimethylethylamine: Reactivity, Selectivity, and Synthetic Utility

The reactivities and chemoselectivities of sodium diisopropylamide (NaDA) in N,N-dimethylethylamine (DMEA) are compared with those of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Metalations of arenes, epoxides, ketones, hydrazones, dienes, and alkyl and vinyl halides are represented. The positive attributes of NaDA–DMEA include high solubility, stability, resistance to solvent decomposition, and ease of preparation. The high reactivities and chemoselectivities often complement those of LDA–THF.
Mechanical stratigraphic controls on natural fracture spacing and penetration

Abstract Fine-grained low permeability sedimentary rocks, such as shale and mudrock, have drawn attention as unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs. Fracturing – both natural and induced – is extremely important for increasing permeability in otherwise low-permeability rock. We analyze natural extension fracture networks within a complete measured outcrop section of the Ernst Member of the Boquillas Formation in Big Bend National Park, west Texas. Results of bed-center, dip-parallel scanline surveys demonstrate nearly identical fracture strikes and slight variation in dip between mudrock, chalk, and limestone beds. Fracture spacing tends to increase proportional to bed thickness in limestone and chalk beds; however, dramatic differences in fracture spacing are observed in mudrock. A direct relationship is observed between fracture spacing/thickness ratio and rock competence. Vertical fracture penetrations measured from the middle of chalk and limestone beds generally extend to and often beyond bed boundaries into the vertically adjacent mudrock beds. In contrast, fractures in the mudrock beds rarely penetrate beyond the bed boundaries into the adjacent carbonate beds. Consequently, natural bed-perpendicular fracture connectivity through the mechanically layered sequence generally is poor. Fracture connectivity strongly influences permeability architecture, and fracture prediction should consider thin bed-scale control on fracture heights and the strong lithologic control on fracture spacing.
Promoting Healthy Family Behaviors in the Primary Care Setting.

Introduction Pediatric obesity is an increasingly prevalent problem. Several studies have examined prevention and treatment strategies. The majority of effective studies involved school or community interventions. With health care becoming more collaborative, we hypothesized that a behavioral health specialist may be effective in executing multifaceted interventions with families of at-risk patients. Methods This is a prospective randomized study, evaluating impact of intervention with a behavioral specialist on lifestyle risk factors for pediatric obesity in children. At-risk behaviors were identified with a screening tool from the Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Clinical Decision Tools, based on the 2007 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on pediatric obesity. An intervention group received ongoing care from the behavioral specialist over three months, including motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants were compared with a control group receiving usual care. Results There was no significant difference between the intervention and control group regarding change in number of risk factors. However, both groups had a reduced number of risk factors at follow-up. The control group had a significant change in number of risk factors after the intervention. Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, it is notable that both groups saw significant decreases in total number of risk factors. The only addition to usual care provided to the control group was use of the screening tool. Our results indicate that the use of a screening tool and brief physician intervention may be an effective means for improving healthy behaviors within families.
Economic Implications of e-Business for Organizations

We review the macroeconomic and microeconomic impacts of e-business on organizations. E-business improves the economic efficiency of national economies through greater capital formation and long-run efficiency gains. E-business affects many aspects of the economy, from international trade to monetary and fiscal policies. At the microeconomic level, we use Porter’s Five Forces to organize our discussion of how e-business changes the creation of value and its division among market players. ICT affects industry through many channels and at many levels, from how inputs are purchased to how final goods and services are sold and delivered. The corporate strategist must consider how e-business may change the nature of rivalry among the competitors. Changes in upstream and downstream interactions in the market and expanded opportunities for substitutes and potential entrants also influence strategy. Thus, e-business can alter strategy by changing the nature of entry threats, suppliers’ power, buyers’ power, threats from substitutes, and rivalry among existing firms. We discuss empirical results from the literature wherever possible to illustrate the importance of e-business for a firm’s strategy. We close with a brief look at e-business and non-profit organizations.
Sexual transmission of Zika virus enhances in utero transmission in a mouse model

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that can cause ZIKV congenital syndrome when a pregnant woman is infected. Sexual transmission has also been described for ZIKV, though the relationship between sexual transmission and vertical transmission has not been investigated. Here, viral dissemination to the female reproductive tract and fetuses was assessed in immunodeficient (AG129) female mice that were exposed to ZIKV by subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation, intravaginal (ivag.) inoculation, or sexual transmission from infected male AG129 mice. Pregnant females had significantly increased ZIKV dissemination to the female reproductive tract compared to non-pregnant females when exposed by s.c. or ivag. inoculation. Sexual transmission resulted in significantly greater morbidity and mortality in females and higher ZIKV titers in the female reproductive tract than s.c. or ivag. inoculation. Ovaries from females infected sexually contained ZIKV RNA within the ovarian follicles. Furthermore, ZIKV titers were significantly higher in fetuses from dams exposed sexually compared to fetuses from dams exposed by s.c. or ivag. inoculation. These results demonstrate that sexual transmission enhances dissemination of ZIKV to the female reproductive tract and developing fetuses in a mouse model.
HIV Clustering in Mississippi: Spatial Epidemiological Study to Inform Implementation Science in the Deep South.

Background: In recent years, more than half of new HIV infections in the United States occur among African Americans in the Southeastern United States. Spatial epidemiological analyses can inform public health responses in the Deep South by identifying HIV hotspots and community-level factors associated with clustering. Objective: The goal of this study was to identify and characterize HIV clusters in Mississippi through analysis of state-level HIV surveillance data. Methods: We used a combination of spatial epidemiology and statistical modeling to identify and characterize HIV hotspots in Mississippi census tracts (n=658) from 2008 to 2014. We conducted spatial analyses of all HIV infections, infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), and infections among African Americans. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified community-level sociodemographic factors associated with HIV hotspots considering all cases. Results: There were HIV hotspots for the entire population, MSM, and African American MSM identified in the Mississippi Delta region, Southern Mississippi, and in greater Jackson, including surrounding rural counties (P<.05). In multivariable models for all HIV cases, HIV hotspots were significantly more likely to include urban census tracts (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.01, 95% CI 1.20-3.37) and census tracts that had a higher proportion of African Americans (AOR 3.85, 95% CI 2.23-6.65). The HIV hotspots were less likely to include census tracts with residents who had less than a high school education (AOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98), census tracts with residents belonging to two or more racial/ethnic groups (AOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.30-0.70), and census tracts that had a higher percentage of the population living below the poverty level (AOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.92). Conclusions: We used spatial epidemiology and statistical modeling to identify and characterize HIV hotspots for the general population, MSM, and African Americans. HIV clusters concentrated in Jackson and the Mississippi Delta. African American race and urban location were positively associated with clusters, whereas having less than a high school education and having a higher percentage of the population living below the poverty level were negatively associated with clusters. Spatial epidemiological analyses can inform implementation science and public health response strategies, including improved HIV testing, targeted prevention and risk reduction education, and tailored preexposure prophylaxis to address HIV disparities in the South. [JMIR Public Health Surveill 2018;4(2):e35]
Beyond Stories: A Quantitative Approach to the Archaeology of Households, Neighborhoods, and Cities

Although our topic—the development of research design in urban historical archaeology—would seem to be somewhat academic, it turns out to be a rather personal story. Reading up on the history of ideas in archaeology (e.g., Trigger, 1989), one might get the impression that the process of change has been largely an intellectual matter of dueling articles and influential symposia. And no doubt these things have played their role. This chapter, however, begins with the rest: the idiosyncratic, often random forces, as well as the personal preferences, that came together to create an approach to urban historical archaeology in California.
PRODUCT PROCESS VALIDATION WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-I

HIV-I was used to spike a monoclonal antibody preparation which was subsequently purified by affinity chromatography. Presence of HIV-I was assessed at different stages of the process, by a syncitial assay, a p24 antigen ELISA, and by presence of reverse transcriptase. Keywords:- HIV-I, validation, syncitial assay, p24 core antigen, reverse transcriptase.
Integration and Collaboration Models

The purpose of this introductory chapter is to define several important types of integration and collaboration issues and describe briefly some research efforts to model them.
Isolation and Characterization of Vascular Endothelial Cells from Murine Heart and Lung

The formation of blood vessel networks is a fundamental event in vertebrate embryo development. Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis are the essential processes in vascular formation. Endothelial cells play a key role during angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, and cultured vascular endothelial cells provide an indispensable model for exploring the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. In this chapter, we described a protocol using PECAM-1-coated Dynabeads for the isolation of vascular endothelial cells from mouse heart and lung. This method will provide up to 10(7) endothelial cells with high purity (>85%). The isolated endothelial cells retain their in vivo characteristics, such as the expression of the cell surface markers PECAM-1 and ICAM-2.
Self-referenced continuous-variable quantum key for distribution over longer optical fiber links

We have evaluated the impact of phase noise in self-referenced continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol and confirmed its application over longer optical fiber links.
Apolipoprotein E genotypes among diverse middle-aged and older Latinos: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging results (HCHS/SOL)

The apoE4 isoform is associated with increased cholesterol, cardiovascular risk, and Alzheimer’s Disease risk, however, its distribution is not well-understood among US Latinos. Latinos living in the US are highly Amerindian, European and African admixed, which varies by region and country of origin. However, Latino genetic diversity is understudied and consequently poorly understood, which has significant implications for understanding disease risk in nearly one-fifth of the US population. In this report we describe apoE distributions in a large and representative sample of diverse, genetically determined US Latinos.
Open Education: Learning and Teaching

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 16, pp. 10863–10867, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd, with revisions made by the Editor.
Evaluation of three commercial porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) oral fluid antibody ELISAs using samples of known status

Abstract Oral fluid (n = 564) samples collected longitudinally from twelve 14-week-old pigs vaccinated with a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) modified live vaccine were used to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of three commercial PRRSV oral fluid (OF) ELISAs (ELISAs 1, 2, 3). Serum samples (n = 132) tested by a PRRSV serum ELISA (ELISA ‘S') provided an antibody response baseline for comparison. The initial analysis comparing the rate of positivity between each OF ELISA versus ELISA ‘S' and then pairwise among the three OF ELISAs determined that ELISA 2 (143 false negative results) was significantly different from ELISAs 1 and 3, and from ELISA ‘S' (Cochran's Q test, p ELISA 2.
Frontal Sinus Stenting: Intraoperative and Postoperative Use

Frontal sinus stenting has been utilized to help maintain the patency of the frontal sinus outflow tract after sinus surgery. Originally described in conjunction with open approaches to the frontal sinus, stenting of the frontal recess is an option with endoscopic approaches to the frontal sinus, either at the time of surgery or in the postoperative period. This chapter reviews the history of frontal sinus stents as well as evidence on the use of stents during or after endoscopic sinus surgery.
Poverty Simulations With Health Professional Students: Evidence of Impact:

Poverty is one of the most significant determinants of health inequity in the United States, yet students of the health professions are more likely to come from higher rather than from lower income...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Breathlessness in Older Workers Predict Economic Inactivity. A Prospective Cohort Study

Rationale: There is an aspiration to retain increasing numbers of older workers in employment, and strategies to achieve this need to make provision for the increasing prevalence of chronic disease...
Integrative Exome and Transcriptome Analysis of Conjunctival Melanoma and Its Potential Application for Personalized Therapy

Importance Greater understanding of molecular features of conjunctival melanoma (CM) may improve its clinical management. Objective To evaluate molecular features of CM and application of this information into clinical care. Design, Setting, and Participants In a prospective case series of CM with integrative exome and transcriptome analysis, 8 patients at an academic ocular oncology setting were evaluated. The study was conducted from November 2015 to March 2018. Interventions/Exposures Integrative exome and transcriptome analysis of CMs and clinical management of a patient’s care by using this information. Main Outcomes and Measures Molecular characterization of CM and its potential clinical application. Results In the 8 patients (4 men) included in analysis, 4 subgroups of CM were observed, including theBRAFV600E mutation in 1 tumor,NRASQ61R mutation in 3 tumors,NF1mutations (Q1188X, R440X, or M1215K+ S15fs) in 3 tumors, and triple-wild type (triple-WT) in 1 tumor. The triple-WT case hadCCND1amplification and mutation in theCICgene (Q1508X). Five tumors, including the triple-WT, also harbored mutations inMAPKgenes. In addition to the genes linked to mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphoinositol 3-kinase pathways, those involved in cell cycle and/or survival, ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, and chromatin remodeling/epigenetic regulation (ATRXbeing the most frequently mutated: noted in 5 tumors) may play an important role. Other frequently mutated genes includedPREX2(n = 3),APOB(n = 4), andRYR1/2(n = 4), although their relevance remains to be determined. The mutation burden ranged from 1.1 to 15.6 mutations per megabase (Mut/Mb) and was 3.3 Mut/Mb or less in 3 tumors and more than 10 Mut/Mb in 2 tumors. A patient with a large tumor andBRAFV600E mutation was treated with combined systemic BRAF (dabrafenib) and MEK (trametinib) inhibitors. After 3 months of therapy, her CM responded substantially and the residual tumor was removed by local surgical excision. Conclusions and Relevance TheNRASQ61R andNF1mutations were more common than theBRAFV600E mutation in this series. Although small tumors (where incisional biopsy is not indicated) are treated with surgical excision regardless of mutational profile, in large tumors carrying theBRAFV600E mutation, neoadjuvant therapy with combined systemic BRAF and MEK inhibitors followed by local excision may be used as an alternative to exenteration. Integrative omics analysis of CM may be informative and guide clinical management and treatment in selected cases.
Illicit Drug Exposures in Young Pediatric Patients Reported to the National Poison Data System, 2006-2016.

This retrospective review of poison center calls found that there were 9122 illicit drug exposures reported in children
Degenerate Competing Three-Particle Systems

Author(s): Ichiba, Tomoyuki; Karatzas, Ioannis | Abstract: We study systems of three interacting particles, in which drifts and variances are assigned by rank. These systems are "degenerate": the variances corresponding to one or two ranks can vanish, so the corresponding ranked motions become ballistic rather than diffusive. Depending on which ranks are allowed to "go ballistic" the systems exhibit markedly different behavior which we study in some detail. Also studied are stability properties for the resulting planar process of gaps between successive ranks.
A Secondary Analysis on Effects of Theta Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Reduce Anger in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Introduction Anger is an important clinical feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can hamper recovery. We recently reported that intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) demonstrated preliminary efficacy to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression; here, we performed a secondary analysis testing whether iTBS reduced symptoms of anger over the course of iTBS treatment and compared to sham stimulation. Materials and methods Fifty veterans with chronic PTSD received ten daily sessions of sham-controlled, double-blind iTBS (1800 pulses/session, once per weekday) targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (intent-to-treat = 25 per group). Participants who completed the double-blind phase were offered another ten sessions of unblinded iTBS. Participants completed the Dimensions of Anger Reactions scale at pre-iTBS baseline, treatment midpoints, and endpoints of the blinded and unblinded phases, and at one-month after the last stimulation session. Correlations between anger, PTSD, depression, and sleep were also explored. Results After the first week, during the double-blind phase, participants randomized to active stimulation reported significantly reduced anger compared to sham stimulation (p = 0.04). Participants initially randomized to sham appeared to catch-up to the point they no longer differed from those initially randomized to active iTBS when they received iTBS during the unblinded phase (p = 0.14). Anger reduction was maintained at one-month after iTBS in participants initially randomized to active stimulation (i.e., total of four weeks of iTBS). Conclusions This secondary analysis suggests that iTBS might reduce anger in veterans with PTSD. Future studies focused on more granular level anger outcomes and effects of number of stimulation sessions are needed.
High-Quality Genome-Scale Models From Error-Prone, Long-Read Assemblies

Advances in nanopore-based sequencing techniques have enabled rapid characterization of genomes and transcriptomes. An emerging application of this sequencing technology is point-of-care characterization of pathogenic bacteria. However, genome assessments alone are unable to provide a complete understanding of the pathogenic phenotype. Genome-scale metabolic reconstruction and analysis is a bottom-up Systems Biology technique that has elucidated the phenotypic nuances of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and other human pathogens. Combining these genome-scale models (GEMs) with point-of-care nanopore sequencing is a promising strategy for combating the emerging health challenge of AMR pathogens. However, the sequencing errors inherent to the nanopore technique may negatively affect the quality, and therefore the utility, of GEMs reconstructed from nanopore assemblies. Here we describe and validate a workflow for rapid construction of GEMs from nanopore (MinION) derived assemblies. Benchmarking the pipeline against a high-quality reference GEM of Escherichia coli K-12 resulted in nanopore-derived models that were >99% complete even at sequencing depths of less than 10× coverage. Applying the pipeline to clinical isolates of pathogenic bacteria resulted in strain-specific GEMs that identified canonical AMR genome content and enabled simulations of strain-specific microbial growth. Additionally, we show that treating the sequencing run as a mock metagenome did not degrade the quality of models derived from metagenome assemblies. Taken together, this study demonstrates that combining nanopore sequencing with GEM construction pipelines enables rapid, in situ characterization of microbial metabolism.
Changes in Step Characteristics Over a Known Outdoor Surface Transition: The Effect of Parkinson Disease

The factors that contribute to the difficulties persons with Parkinson Disease (PwPD) have when negotiating transitions in walking surfaces are not completely known. The authors investigated if PwPD adjusted their step characteristics when negotiating a familiar outdoor surface transition between synthetic concrete and synthetic turf. Force plate and motion capture data were collected for 10 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson disease and 5 healthy older control participants ambulating bidirectionally across the transition between synthetic concrete and synthetic turf. Between groups, PwPD had a significantly higher minimum toe clearance (P = .007) for both directions of travel compared with the healthy control group. Within groups, PwPD significantly increased their hip (P < .001) and ankle (P = .016) range of motion walking from concrete to turf, while the healthy control participants significantly increased their minimum toe clearance (P = .013), margin of stability (P = .019), hip (P < .001) and ankle (P = .038) range of motion, and step length (P < .001). Walking from turf to concrete, both the Parkinson disease group (P = .014) and the healthy control group (P < .001) increased their knee range of motion. Both groups adjusted their step characteristics when negotiating known surface transitions, indicating that surface transitions result in step changes regardless of health status. However, PwPD exhibited overcompensations, particularly in their minimum toe clearance.
A POSSIBLE REASON FOR MH ≃126 GeV

It is speculated that a possible reason for the scalar mass MH ≃126 GeV is equality of the lifetimes for vacuum decay and instanton-induced proton decay.
Effects of Perinatal Acidemia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes

Purpose of Study Presence of metabolic acidemia at birth has been associated with abnormal outcomes in full term infants. However, few studies have reviewed this association in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. This study aimed to describe potential association between perinatal acidemia in VLBW infants with short- and long-term outcomes. Methods Cord blood gases and blood gases on admission of all VLBW infants born at LAC+USC Medical Center between 2009-2019 were collected. Acidemia was defined as …
COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation: Modeling Health Outcomes and Equity Implications of Alternative Strategies.

Given the scarcity of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, a chief policy question is how to allocate them among different sociodemographic groups. This paper evaluates COVID-19 vaccine prioritization strategies proposed to date, focusing on their stated goals; the mechanisms through which the selected allocations affect the course and burden of the pandemic; and the main epidemiological, economic, logistical, and political issues that arise when setting the prioritization strategy. The paper uses a simple, age-stratified susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model to quantitatively assess the performance of alternative prioritization strategies with respect to avoided deaths, avoided infections, and life-years gained. We demonstrate that prioritizing essential workers is a viable strategy for reducing the number of cases and years of life lost, while the largest reduction in deaths is achieved by prioritizing older adults in most scenarios, even if the vaccine is effective at blocking viral transmission. Uncertainty regarding this property and potential delays in dose delivery reinforce the call for prioritizing older adults. Additionally, we investigate the strength of the equity motive that would support an allocation strategy attaching absolute priority to essential workers for a vaccine that reduces infection-fatality risk.
Signatures of rare earth element distributions in fly ash derived from the combustion of Central Appalachian, Illinois, and Powder River basin coals

Abstract The distribution of Rare Earth elements (REE) in coal-derived fly ashes can have distinctive patterns when fly ashes are produced from different coals within or between basins, such as the Pennsylvanian Class F fly ashes from the Illinois and Central Appalachian basins. Both the Fire Clay coal and a blend of a number of eastern Kentucky coals show strong Gd peaks and an H-type distribution in the Upper Continental Crust-corrected plots. The Fire Clay coal-derived ash has a higher heavy REE concentration than the blended coal-derived ash. The Illinois Basin-derived fly as has an overall lower REE concentration than the latter ashes. Class C fly ash derived from Powder River Basin coals has, with the exception of an Eu peak, a flatter distribution of REE and an overall L-type or indistinct H- versus L-type distribution. The signatures of the REE in fly ashes may be useful in predicting their behavior in the extraction of the REE; simple extrapolations from the basic concentrations and the predicted extraction percentages for ashes from different basins are not necessarily indicative of the actual distribution of the extracted REE.
A pulse oxidation facility for the study of oxide nucleation behavior.

A pulse oxidation experimental facility was developed to examine the oxide nucleation behavior at different temperatures under a controlled oxygen atmosphere. An electromagnetic induction heater, a sample holder, and a controlled oxygen atmosphere are the key components of this facility. This experimental facility can also be used up to 1200 °C and Po2 levels from 1.3 × 10−5 to 0.1 Pa under isothermal conditions for times as short as 10 s. The efficacy of the method was illustrated by a study of the oxidation behavior of Ni-30 wt. % Cr at 600 °C for 45 s at Po2 of 1.3 × 10−2 Pa where the influence of grain orientation on oxidation behavior was highlighted by studying the nucleation rate on grains of known orientation. By using a single grain-orientation-mapped sample, pairs of grains each of known crystallographic orientation can be selected to be subjected to identical conditions. For example, new oxidation behavior was discovered where on a (111) oriented grain, corundum islands form with a nucleation density of 2.9 × 1011 islands/m2 and exhibited inward growth, whereas rock salt oxide islands formed on (100) grains at a density of 7 × 1012 islands/m2 and exhibited outward growth. The corundum oxide islands are in the range of 50–300 nm, whereas rock salt oxide islands are in the range of 50–600 nm and are well separated. The pulse oxidation facility with accurately controlled temperature and oxidation environment enables a new domain of study for the initial oxidation on bulk samples with a native oxide that represents realistic exposure conditions.
Association Between Neuromuscular Variables and Graft Harvest in Soft Tissue Quadriceps Tendon Versus Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Autografts.

Background:Quadriceps tendon (QT) autografts are increasingly popular for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, no study has compared QT autografts with bone–patellar tendon–bo...
Neutron Diffraction Study of Th2(Co,Fe)17

The R2M17 structures are related to the RM5 structure by the ordered substitution of two transition metal atoms for every third rare earth atom. If the substitution repeats along c, in every second RM5 subcell, the hexagonal P63/mmc structure shown in Figure la results.
Is Collagen Remodeling Associated with Bladder Obstruction

Collagen, proteoglycans and elastin combined with resident smooth muscle cells (SMC) makeup the basic structural unit of the bladder wall. Any pathologic process that alters either the content or organization of collagen within the bladder wall will modulate the ability of the bladder to store urine or efficiently empty itself (1). An obstruction that develops at the outlet of the bladder results from a narrowing of that lumen. There are numerous physiological and anatomical possibilities for producing the constricture of that lumen. In some constrictures it is proposed that connective tissue remodeling is critical in causing the narrowing of the lumenal space in the bladder outlet.