cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of β2-adrenergic receptor polymorphism on response to longacting β2 agonist in asthma (LARGE trial): a genotype-stratified, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

Summary Background Some studies suggest that patients with asthma who are homozygous for arginine at the 16th aminoacid position of the β 2 -adrenergic receptor (B16 Arg/Arg) benefit less from treatment with longacting β 2 agonists and inhaled corticosteroids than do those homozygous for glycine (B16 Gly/Gly). We investigated whether there is a genotype-specific response to treatment with a longacting β 2 agonist in combination with inhaled corticosteroid. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adult patients with moderate asthma were enrolled in pairs matched for forced expiratory volume in 1 s and ethnic origin, according to whether they had the B16 Arg/Arg (n=42) or B16 Gly/Gly (n=45) genotype. Individuals in a matched pair were randomly assigned by computer-generated randomisation sequence to receive inhaled longacting β 2 agonist (salmeterol 50 μg twice a day) or placebo given in a double-blind, crossover design for two 18-week periods. Open-label inhaled corticosteroid (hydrofluoroalkane beclometasone 240 μg twice a day) was given to all participants during the treatment periods. The primary endpoint was morning peak expiratory flow (PEF). Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00200967. Findings After 18 weeks of treatment, mean morning PEF in Arg/Arg participants was 21·4 L/min (95% CI 11·8–31·1) higher when participants were assigned to receive salmeterol than when assigned to receive placebo (p 20 (20% reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s; a prespecified secondary outcome) was 2·4 times higher when participants were assigned to salmeterol than when assigned to placebo (p Interpretation In asthma patients with B16 Arg/Arg and B16 Gly/Gly genotypes, combination treatment with salmeterol and inhaled corticosteroid improved airway function when compared with inhaled corticosteroid therapy alone. These findings suggest that patients should continue to be treated with longacting β 2 agonists plus moderate-dose inhaled corticosteroids irrespective of B16 genotype. Further investigation is needed to establish the importance of the genotype-specific difference in responsiveness to methacholine. Funding National Institutes of Health.
Controversy and Statistical Issues in the Use of Nutrient Densities in Assessing Diet Quality

The use of nutrient densities, such as percentage of daily energy from added sugars (%E(AS)), creates serious statistical analysis and interpretation problems. This article examines the statistical analyses used in the September 2002 National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) draft report on Dietary Reference Intakes for macronutrients. The most critical issues involve the use of a ratio, %E(AS), as the key analytic variable and the use of a model that does not properly control for total energy in the diet. Upon analyzing the same data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, an alternative statistical approach using multiple regression to partition total energy into "energy from added sugars" and "energy from other sources" produced very different results than the IOM analysis. Whereas the IOM reported decreasing intakes of calcium, vitamin A, iron, and zinc with increasing %E(AS), we found that the association of energy from added sugars with micronutrient intake was inconsistent and small. Energy from other sources had a much stronger and consistent association with micronutrient intake. We conclude that consumption of added sugars has little or no association with diet quality.
Determining the phases α and γ from time-dependent CP violation in B0 decays to ρ(ω) + pseudoscalar

Abstract A method is proposed for the determination of the unitarity angle α through tree penguin interference. The modes needed would be of the form B 0 / B 0 →ρ 0 M and B 0 / B 0 →ω M where M is spin-0 u u /d d meson, for instance M =π 0 , η, η′, a0 or f0. An analogous method can also determine γ using M =K S or KL. The validity of the theoretical approximations used may be tested by over determining α with several modes. If two or more modes are used, the determination has a four-fold ambiguity but additional information from pure penguin decays or theoretical estimates may be used to reduce the ambiguity to α, α+π. The method as applied to determining γ is probably less promising.
A slicing approach for parallel component adaptation

Software reuse has received considerable attention as a technique for aiding software designers. One mechanism for increasing the efficiency of reuse is component adaptation, particularly when designing large and intricate systems. Component adaptation composes reusable components in an architecture to produce a new system. Specification slicing is a method for decomposing complicated systems into manageable sub-components, where each subcomponent captures an independent behavior of the system. This paper outlines specification slicing and its application for reuse using the parallel adaptation architecture.
Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus Transformation in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Epithelial Cell Three-Dimensional Culture

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is the causative agent of a contagious lung cancer in sheep that shares similarities with human bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC). JSRV is unique because the envelope gene (env) is the oncogene, as it can transform cells in culture and induce tumors in animals. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mTOR and H/N-Ras-MEK-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways have been shown to be critical for Env transformation. However, the question still remains of how disruption of these pathways relates to tumor formation. To address this, JSRV Env transformation was studied in the context of epithelial structure, using the polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell three-dimensional (3-D) culture system. The results indicated that JSRV Env-transformed MDCK cells were larger and had full or multiple lumens, in contrast to the single lumens observed in controls. The altered phenotype was largely mediated by an increase in proliferation, in addition to overcoming the proliferative suppression signal. JSRV Env was not found to disrupt polarity or tight junctions or to inhibit lumen apoptosis. The PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway was important for Env transformation in MDCK cells, although the mechanisms of action differed in 3-D and monolayer cultures. PI3K-dependent signaling to mTOR occurred in monolayers, while PI3K-independent signaling to mTOR occurred in 3-D culture. In contrast, the H/N-Ras-MEK-MAPK pathway was found to be inhibitory to transformation in both normal and transformed MDCK cells in 3-D culture. However, in monolayer culture, inhibition of MEK reverted the transformed phenotype, suggesting a different mechanism(s) of action in monolayer versus 3-D culture.
New species in the Neotropical genus Docalidia with a key to known species, notes on distribution, taxonomy and a synoptic catalogue of the genus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae: Teruliini)

Thirty-five new species of Docalidia in the tribe Teruliini are elucidated with descriptions, illustrations and photographs of the dorsal habitus. These include the following: Docalidia accurationis, sp. nov., D. acuminata, sp. nov., and D. rondoniensis, sp. nov. from Brazil; D. acutula, sp. nov., D. barbata, sp. nov., D. biarcua, sp. nov., D. caudata, sp. nov., D. cirra, sp. nov., D. cornicula, sp. nov., D. cornipes, sp. nov., D. curvatura, sp. nov., D. dennisi, sp. nov., D. deitzi, sp. nov., D. dietrichi, sp. nov., D. dmitrievi, sp. nov., D. fastigata, sp. nov., D. gigantea, sp. nov., D. goncalvesae, sp. nov., D. jonesi, sp. nov., D. mejdalanii, sp. nov., D. parvitatis, sp. nov., D. takiyae, sp. nov., D. timothyi, sp. nov., D. turgida, sp. nov., D. ventroelongata, sp. nov. and D. zhangi, sp. nov. from Colombia; D. bolivari, sp. nov., D. exilitis, sp. nov., D. torquerta, sp. nov. and D. ventrospinata, sp. nov. from Bolivia; D. longiuscula, sp. nov., D. mckameyi, sp. nov., D. tantula, sp. nov. and D. zahniseri, sp. nov. from Ecuador and D. longula, sp. nov. from Peru. Docalidia aculeata Nielson is fixed as the correct spelling for this species name, erroneously spelled as Docalida acus in the abstract and figure legend of the original publication. Docalidia acus is declared a nomen nudum. An updated, synoptic catalogue of all names applicable to Docalidia is given in alphabetical order with new annotations with distribution. A revised key to 174 of 178 known species is also provided.
Changes in the Foraging Behavior, Within-Plant Vertical Distribution, and Microhabitat Selection of a Generalist Insect Predator: an Age Analysis

The foraging behavior, within-plant vertical distribution, and microhabitat selection of 2nd instars and adults of Zelus renardii Kolenati were studied in an organic cotton field. In total, 47 individuals (21 nymphs and 26 adults) were observed foraging freely in the field for a total of 94 h. Both developmental stages of Z. renardii consumed a wide variety of arthropods including herbivores and predators, but predatory insects comprised a greater fraction of the prey of adults compared with nymphs. Adult Z. renardii also fed on larger prey compared with nymphs. Z. renardii recognized most prey from a distance, and the majority of the prey were moving when they were attacked, suggesting that this predator reacts strongly to visual stimuli. Nymphs and adults also were observed feeding on extrafloral nectaries located on the bottom of leaves and at the base of fruiting structures, Activity budgets of nymphs and adults were similar, implying no gross changes in their foraging strategies; however, nymphs spent most of their time in the lower plant strata; the adults, in contrast, foraged primarily in the upper canopy. Nymphs also spent more time on the undersurface of leaves and less time on the petioles and stems compared with the adults. These changes in within-plant vertical distribution and microhabitat selection may influence the prey encounter rates and therefore the diet composition of nymphal and adult Z. renardii .
Does descriptive representation lead to social desirability bias? Over-reporting of voting among blacks and Latinos in the United States

This study explores whether black and/or Latino respondents are more likely to over-report voting in districts with US House candidates of the same race/ethnicity and whether the overstating of political participation is contingent on shared partisanship between the candidate and the respondent. We test these relationships using vote-validated data from the 2006 and 2010 Cooperative Congressional Election Study. We find that blacks and Latinos are not more likely to over-report voting in districts with descriptive candidates regardless of whether the candidate and respondent share the same party identification or not. The results of this study provide support for previous and future studies linking descriptive representation to higher levels of black and Latino turnout using non-voter validated data.
Microcrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride/Amorphous Hydrogenated Boron Nitride Mixed Phase Thin Films

Transparent and insulating thin films have been grown by the plasma decomposition of B2H6, NH3, and H2, at a substrate temperature of 250°C. From chemical composition, transmission electron microscopy, infrared absorption, and optical absorption measurements, the thin films are determined to be a mixed phase of crystalline cubic boron nitride and amorphous hydrogenated boron nitride. Also, the films have significantly more boron than nitrogen, a large concentration of hydrogen, a very large bandgap, strong infrared aborption due to both hexagonal boron nitride and boron icosahedra, and good adhesion to various substrates.
The mayo high performance teamwork scale: reliability and validity for evaluating key crew resource management skills

Purpose:To develop and evaluate a participant rating scale for assessing high performance teamwork skills in simulation medicine settings.Methods:In all, 107 participants in crisis resource management (CRM) training in a multidisciplinary medical simulation center generated 273 ratings of key CRM sk
Thermolability of the bacterium-phage complex.

SummaryStaphylococcal phage and the susceptible strain of Staphylococcus aureus are not destroyed during a 40 minute period of exposure to 47.5°C. However, when the phage is attached to bacterial cells the plaque count drops to approximately 20 percent of the initial value under like conditions.
Fault Diagnosis Approach for a Diesel Engine Based on Dempster-Shafer's Evidence Theory

The conception incorporated with multisensor data fusion and the Dempster-Shafer' s evidence theory is discussed in brief. The features are extracted from vibration signals of the surfance of diesel engines and the pressure waveform of the fuel supply pipes. A fusion algorithm is stressed that uses the Dempster-Shafer's model to fuse the information from different sensors at the decision level. The theory and the fusion algorithm are used to recognize and classify the faults of the fuel injection system of a diesel engine. Successful results have been obtained in practice. The final results indicate that the multisensor data fusion has the stability and the ability of fault tolerance,and can improve the accuracy and relibility of fault diagnosis of diesel engines efficiently.
Effect of polyethylene glycol on chalcopyrite bioleaching with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Polyethylene glycol(PEG) was used to improve the bioleaching rate of chalcopyrite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans(At.f) strain XZ11. The effect of PEG on the Fe2+ oxidizing activities of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidan and bioleaching of chalcopyrite were investigated. The surface morphologies and phase composition of chalcopyrite after bioleaching were characterized by SEM and EDS. The results show that PEG with relative molecular mass greater than 200 can promote the Fe2+ oxidizing activities of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidan After bioleaching for 20 d, the copper extraction yield of chalcopyrite with 30 mg/L PEG 2000 is 451.70 mg/L, which increases by about 1.11 times compared with the bioleaching without PEG. Native-like structure, holes and Fe(III)—O—OH form on the erosion surface of chalcopyrite. PEG can increase the cell density of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidan and Fe3+ concentration in the leaching solution, consequently, accelerates the chalcopyrite oxidation dissolution.
Active transport of L-ascorbic acid in the human ileum.

l -Ascorbic acid was shown to be absorbed by an independent Na+-dependent active transport mechanism in the ileum of the human intestine. Tissue uptake studies demonstrated absorption against a gradient and inhibition of absorption by 2,4-dinitrophenol, ouabain, and Na+ ion substitution by K+ and Tris+ ions. Equimolar concentrations of glucose enhanced absorption, presumably by acting as an energy metabolite. Inhibition was also observed in the presence of phlorizin. This is attributed to phloretin release by phlorizin hydrolase, and thus provides an additional indication of the energy requirement of this transport system. l -Ascorbic acid absorption in man appears to be similar to that observed in the guinea pig.
Competition between biological control fungi and fungal symbionts of ambrosia beetles Xylosandrus crassiusculus and X. germanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Mycelial interactions and impact on beetle brood production

Abstract Ambrosia beetles Xylosandrus crassiusculus and X. germanus are among the most important exotic pests of orchards and nurseries in the US and are difficult to control using conventional insecticides because of their cryptic habits. The use of biological control agents may prove effective by targeting both beetles and fungal symbionts inside tree galleries: entomopathogenic fungi could be used to target beetle foundresses and their brood, or mycoparasitic fungi, e.g., Trichoderma harzianum, could be used to target their associated fungal symbionts. We used a combination of in vitro assays and beetle bioassays to examine competition between symbionts and biological control fungi and the impact of biological control fungi on beetle brood production. The in vitro assays showed T. harzianum outcompeted different strains of Ambrosiella roeperi and A. grosmanniae associated with X. crassiusculus and X. germanus, respectively, whether in primary or secondary resource capture assays. In contrast, entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum blocked the spread of symbionts only in primary competition assays. Complementary beetle bioassays showed that beetle galleries in T. harzianum-treated beech stems had sparse symbiont growth, many with no or only a small number of eggs present. Brood numbers produced by foundresses in T. harzianum-treated stems were comparable to those in stems treated with either entomopathogen at the higher dosages, in which brood reduction was likely due to foundress mortality prior to laying eggs or after laying only a small number of eggs. These results show the potential of using biological control fungi in targeting ambrosia beetle populations either directly by killing foundresses and reducing brood production or indirectly by suppressing symbiont growth in their galleries.
Putting information foraging theory to work: Community-based design patterns for programming tools

The design of programming tools is slow and costly. To ease this process, we developed a design pattern catalog aimed at providing guidance for tool designers. This catalog is grounded in Information Foraging Theory (IFT), which empirical studies have shown to be useful for understanding how developers look for information during development tasks. New design patterns, authored by members of the research community for the catalog, concretely explain how to apply IFT in tool design. In our evaluation, qualitative analyses revealed the community-written design patterns compared well in quality to patterns that we had ourselves published in a smaller, peer-reviewed catalog.
Endpoint of a Preservation Process1

In this report a case is made for food microbiologists to define or locate the endpoint of a preservation process using a numerical specification rather than descriptive terms. Examples of numerical specifications are presented. It is recommended that the specification be on the basis of one unit where the endpoint specification is the probability of a nonsterile unit (PNSU). Procedures for experimentally establishing or verifying the preservation process necessary to produce the endpoint specification are described.
Why Can’t I just Use Bits and Pieces of an Evidence-Based Program?

The battle cry for evidence-based programs is predominant throughout school-based settings. Funding sources, state and federal, encourage evidence-based programming. Schools and many community organizations demand it. While evidence-based programs are certainly preferable, mandated use of evidence-based programs does not assure program quality. How a program is used is what determines whether the program is effective or not. Many teachers and group workers are puzzled why you cannot change evidence-based programs. If you change any portion of an evidence-based program or if the program is poorly implemented (the way in which you use the program), you destroy the research-based benefits of the program. Camp Sharigan is a portable, group-centered prevention program that incorporates learning and counseling in the same program. Vowel clustering and intrinsic motivation are essential for the success that the Camp Sharigan program has achieved. If you take the creative art therapy projects out of Camp Sharigan, you will lose the advantages of hands-on learning. Ready-to-use program packets allow you to use the program as it was intended and thereby enable you to reap the benefits of an evidence-based program.
DCLM Framework: Understanding Collaboration in Open-Ended Tabletop Learning Environments.

There is a growing understanding of the unique ways that tabletops support effective collaboration; however, this research mostly focuses on environments in which learners work towards a single shared goal. Underpinning this perspective, either implicitly or explicitly, is the theory that collaborative learning is a process of attaining convergent conceptual change. However, this model of collaboration may not apply to all scenarios where learners are working together. In particular, informal, open-ended exploratory environments support (and often promote) shared activities where the goal may not be for all participants to emerge with a single, shared understanding. There is increased interest in understanding the efficacy of designs that support (and encourage) learners to collaborate while seeking divergent goals, ideas, and conceptions. This paper advances a framework (Divergent Collaboration Learning Mechanisms - DCLM) for recognizing and coding collaboration and divergent learning in such environments. We apply the DCLM framework to an informal tabletop environment (Oztoc) as a means of highlighting how DCLM may reveal new productive interactions environments that support divergent forms of collaboration, mentorship, and learning. Analysis of participants’ interactions within Oztoc revealed that participants who have non-aligned goals can still productively collaborate, and in many cases can provide insight and feedback that would not be possible in shared-goal activities. We conclude with an examination of how open-ended exploratory environments can support communities of practice and legitimate peripheral participation, and the importance of divergent inquiry and divergent conceptual change across a range of learning environments.
Modulation of Asymmetric Flux in Heterotypic Gap Junctions by Pore Shape, Particle Size and Charge.

Gap junction channels play a vital role in intercellular communication between cells by connecting cytoplasm of adjoined cells through arrays of channel-pores formed at the common membrane junction. Their structure and properties vary depending on the connexin isoform(s) involved in forming the full gap junction channel. Lack of information on the molecular structure of gap junction channels has limited the development through computational tools for single channel studies. Currently, we rely on cumbersome experimental techniques that have limited capabilities. We have earlier reported a simplified Brownian dynamics gap junction pore model and demonstrated that variations in pore shape at the single channel level can explain some of the differences in permeability of heterotypic channels observed in in vitro experiments. Based on this computational model, we designed simulations to study the influence of pore shape, particle size and charge in homotypic and heterotypic pores. We simulated dye diffusion under whole cell voltage clamping. Our simulation studies with pore shape variations revealed a pore shape with maximal flux asymmetry in a heterotypic pore. We identified pore shape profiles that match the in silico flux asymmetry results to the in vitro results of homotypic and heterotypic gap junction formed out of Cx43 and Cx45. Our simulation results indicate that the channel’s pore-shape established flux asymmetry and that flux asymmetry is primarily regulated by the sizes of the conical and/or cylindrical mouths at each end of the pore. Within the set range of particle size and charge, flux asymmetry was found to be independent of particle size and directly proportional to charge magnitude. While particle charge was vital to creating flux asymmetry, charge magnitude only scaled the observed flux asymmetry. Our studies identified the key factors in our results that help predict asymmetry. Finally, we suggest the role of such flux asymmetry in creating concentration imbalances of messenger molecules in cardiomyocytes. We also assess the potency of fibroblasts in aggravating such imbalances through Cx43-Cx45 heterotypic channels in fibrotic heart tissue.
Integrating Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Approaches to Repairing the Brain After Stroke

A stroke implies a sudden and spontaneous onset of neurological symptoms due to a vascular insult. Despite the brain’s inherent capacity for plasticity and spontaneous improvement, strokes still leave many patients with devastating deficits that can permanently affect independence and quality of life. This chapter focuses on ways to help restore the functionality of the central nervous system (CNS) after this type of injury. Understanding how neurons interact on both individual (i.e. cellular and molecular) and population (i.e. synapses and circuits) levels is crucial to developing successful restorative strategies, as is appreciating how these interactions change over the injury-recovery timeline. The CNS has several characteristics that make its restitution exceptionally difficult; beyond even its incredible intricacy, its parenchymal cells, or neurons, do not regenerate well after injury, and this damaged neuronal substrate embodies a consciousness system that must be engaged in its own recovery. In fact, there is now data suggesting that conscious intention, often invoked through goal-oriented rehabilitation, plays a crucial role in facilitating functional plasticity and long-range axonal sprouting. To capitalize on this principle, neural interfaces and electrical stimulation strategies are being integrated into rehabilitation paradigms to provide critically-timed feedback that can reinvigorate injured circuits. Combining these approaches with interventions at the cellular and molecular level (e.g. immunological or genetic modulations aimed at promoting neuronal outgrowth, or stem cells that can replace damaged parenchyma) has the chance to improve neurological recovery to back toward baseline levels. Ultimately, because cells of the CNS do not regrow on their own, and because regrowth and synapse formation does not necessarily ensure restoration of function, harmonious application of synergistic approaches at both the micro- and macroscopic levels will be needed to establish long-lasting functional plasticity and meaningful recovery.
Determinants of Self-Concept in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Significant areas affecting development of deaf and hard of hearing children's self-concept are examined. Specifically covered are the effects of early language development, socialization, and types of educational placement. Several comparisons between hearing and deaf and hard of hearing children's self-concept are described. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals with deaf parents appear to have better self-concepts than deaf and hard of hearing individuals with hearing parents. Some evidence is presented to suggest that deaf and hard of hearing subjects in residential schools have higher self-concepts than their peers in regular public school classes. Self-concept measures and the problems associated with their use with deaf and hard of hearing children are discussed. These problems include inappropriate language structures, vocabulary requirements, and low test-retest reliabilities. Future areas of study include the effect of new early educational interventions on these children's self-concept and continued improvements in measurement techniques.
International Finance: A World of Many Moneys

In ancient times people were sometimes buried with goods that might be useful in the next world: a hunting knife, a wine flask, small sculptures of deities. In addition, the grave of someone of wealth might contain a pouch of coins. Suppose you were living back then with a mind that sometimes wandered to economic topics. One question that might occur to you is, what kind of money is used in the afterlife—assuming money is used at all. (The next world might be a utopia in which everyone has everything he or she needs and there is no thought of paying for it.) If the world toward which the dead are headed has its own currency, how will the dead exchange their own coins for it? And how much will those coins be worth?
Seeding stimulated Brillouin scattering with a pump laser

We have found that stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) can be seeded by the pump laser; that is, SBS can be brought from below to above threshold by introducing backward-going XeCl laser light with a bandwidth exceeding the Brillouin frequency shift. While we have only demonstrated amplitude control as yet, the seeding process should also affect the phase of the scattered beam and the fidelity of the phase conjugation. We have taken some initial steps toward addressing the latter issue.
Boundary Layer Receptivity Due to Three-Dimensional Convected Gusts

Boundary layer receptivity refers to the process by which external disturbances generate instability waves in the boundary layer. The inherently three- dimensional nature of both the transition process and the free-stream turbulence, as well as the dominance of three-dimensional instability waves in compressible boundary layers suggest that three-dimensional receptivity problems must be investigated. It has been shown [4] that receptivity to a convected vorticity disturbance occurs through the short scale pressure fluctuations generated by the inviscid interaction of the gust with short scale mean flow gradients. Weak free-stream turbulence can be considered as a spectrum of time harmonic vortical gusts. In this paper, rapid distortion theory has been utilized in conjunction with triple-deck concepts to analyze compressible, fully three-dimensional interactions involving convected free-stream disturbances. The results obtained are applicable in a variety of situations, such as receptivity due to shallow 3-D roughness elements or three-dimensional wall suction distributions. It is found that a three-dimensional instability wave can also be generated by the interaction of a very oblique gust with a two-dimensional mean flow disturbance.
Cybersecurity Competitive Labs-as-a-Service: Automated Score and Message Board Design

here has been extensive research and analysis of the effectiveness of game-based education tools, however there is limited literature on the designs of such tools. The Automation of collecting scoring metrics within virtualized cyber-attack and defense games can be a complicated task. It required robust, accurate, and fast technology. A means of keeping the integrity of the score must also be in place. In this presentation we presented a novel design of an Automated Scoring and Message Board (ASMB) system, which was a five-step methodology that was used in a Competitive Labs-as-a-Service (CLaaS) platform.
Pediatric Anaerobic Blood Culture Practices in Industrialized Countries

Background: Routine anaerobic blood culture collection in febrile children is controversial, as clinicians try to account for the severe but relative infrequency of anaerobic bacteremia. Furthermore, clinical and laboratory practice variation among institutions may lead to potentially inaccurate epidemiological data. Our goal was to assess blood culture practices in pediatric patients throughout an international network of hospitals in industrialized countries. Methods: We conducted a survey of current clinical and laboratory practice patterns in a convenience sample of international institutions participating in 6 pediatric emergency research networks in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. A lead clinician at each institution queried institutional practices from the emergency department, pediatric intensive care unit, and oncology medical directors. The microbiology director at each institution completed the laboratory survey. Results: Sixty-five of 160 (41%) invited institutions participated in the survey. Routine anaerobic blood cultures are collected in 30% of emergency departments, 30% of intensive care units, and 48% of oncology wards. Reasons for restricting anaerobic culture collection included concerns regarding blood volume (51%), low pretest probability (22%), and cost-effectiveness (16%). The most common reasons institutions allow for selectively obtaining anaerobic cultures are clinical suspicion (64%) and patients who are immunosuppressed (50%). The microbiology survey showed variation in systems, although most use the BACTEC™ culture system and MALDI-TOF for organism identification. Conclusions: There is broad variation in anaerobic blood culture practices among a network of pediatric hospitals in industrialized countries.
A dose-ranging, parallel group, split-face, single-blind phase II study of light emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) for skin scarring prevention: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Skin fibrosis is a significant global health problem that affects over 100 million people annually and has a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. Characterized by excessive fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, skin fibrosis underlies a wide spectrum of dermatologic conditions ranging from pathologic scars secondary to injury (e.g., burns, surgery, trauma) to immune-mediated diseases. Effective anti-scarring therapeutics remain an unmet need, underscoring the importance of developing novel approaches to treat and prevent skin fibrosis. Our in vitro data show that light emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) can modulate key cellular and molecular processes involved in skin fibrosis. In two phase I clinical trials (STARS 1 and STARS 2), we demonstrated the safety and tolerability of LED-RL at fluences of 160 J/cm2 up to 480 J/cm2 on normal human skin. CURES (Cutaneous Understanding of Red-light Efficacy on Scarring) is a dose-ranging, randomized, parallel group, split-face, single-blind, mock-controlled phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of LED-RL to limit post-surgical skin fibrosis in subjects undergoing elective mini-facelift surgery. Thirty subjects will be randomly allocated to three treatment groups to receive LED-RL phototherapy or temperature-matched mock irradiation (control) to either periauricular incision site at fluences of 160 J/cm2, 320 J/cm2, or 480 J/cm2. Starting one week post-surgery (postoperative days 4–8), treatments will be administered three times weekly for three consecutive weeks, followed by efficacy assessments at 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary endpoint is the difference in scar pliability between LED-RL-treated and control sites as determined by skin elasticity and induration measurements. Secondary outcomes include clinical and photographic evaluations of scars, 3D skin imaging analysis, histological and molecular analyses, and adverse events. LED-RL is a therapeutic modality of increasing importance in dermatology, and has the potential to limit skin fibrosis clinically by decreasing dermal fibroblast activity and collagen production. The administration of LED-RL phototherapy in the early postoperative period may optimize wound healing and prevent excessive scarring. The results from this study may change the current treatment paradigm for fibrotic skin diseases and help to pioneer LED-RL as a safe, non-invasive, cost-effective, portable, at-home therapy for scars. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03795116 . Registered on 20 December 2018.
Computational and experimental development of 2D anisotropic photonic crystal metamaterials

The future of optical devices involves manipulation of nanoscale structure. Thus, novel samples that incorporate both photonic crystal (PC) structure and metamaterial properties, known as PC metamaterials, are proposed. First, metamaterials with no PC structure are fabricated as nanorod or nanohelical structures and characterized to extract their optical constants. Then, a computational model for the metamaterial within a PC structure was developed to calculate the photonic bandgap (PBG). These results show that a large PBG with the desired directionality can be achieved with these PC metamaterials.
Effectiveness of Nitrogen Dioxide Fumigation for Microbial Control on Stored Almonds.

ABSTRACT Quality of stored almonds is compromised by insect infestations and microbial contamination. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent fumigant for postharvest pest control on fresh and stored products. NO fumigation must be conducted under ultralow oxygen conditions, and it always produces nitrogen dioxide (NO2), depending on the O2 level in the fumigation chamber. NO and NO2 have proven antimicrobial effects but have not been tested for efficacy against microbes in almonds. We evaluated, in this study, fumigation of unpasteurized almonds with NO2 at different levels for inhibition of bacteria and fungi. Almonds were fumigated with 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0% NO under ambient O2 to generate 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0% NO2 conditions; the fumigation treatments lasted 1 or 3 days at 25°C. GreenLight rapid enumeration tests on diluted wash-off almond samples from NO2 fumigation treatments showed either greatly reduced microbial loads or complete control of microorganisms, depending on NO2 concentration and treatment duration. NO2 fumigation was more effective against fungi than against bacteria. These results suggest that postharvest NO fumigation with proper levels of NO and NO2 can be used for insect and microorganism control on stored almonds. HIGHLIGHTS
Psychology: Seeing is believing

Or do we see something, because we believe it? Evidence suggests that personal experience is more likely to influence Americans with no strong beliefs about climate change than those with firm beliefs.
A Correlation Sorting-LSTM Method for High Accuracy Short-term Load Forecasting based on Smart Meter Data

The popularization of smart electricity meters leads to the arrival of smart grid's big data era, which provides the possibility for the delicacy management of energy. Short-term load forecasting (STLF) is an important step in demand response. High-precision load forecasting can save a lot of energy and protect the environment. Most of the existing work mainly focuses on the load forecasting over a large area and mainly focuses on the internal relationship between environmental factors and load. An deep learning method combining correlation analysis between sub and master tables of smart meters, Correlation Sorting-LSTM, is used to solve the problem of STLF. Compared with traditional machine learning prediction methods, the proposed method has significant advantages in various performance indicators and is validated on a open data set
The technical aspects of ex vivo hepatectomy with autotransplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ex vivo hepatectomy is the incorporation of liver transplant techniques in the non-transplant setting, providing opportunity for locally advanced tumors found conventionally unresectable. Because the procedure is rare and reports in the literature are limited, we sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating technical variations of ex vivo hepatectomies. In the literature, there is a split in those performing the procedure between venovenous bypass (VVB) and temporary portacaval shunts (PCS). Of the 253 articles identified on the topic of ex vivo resection, 37 had sufficient data to be included in our review. The majority of these procedures were performed for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (69%) followed by primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. In 18 series, VVB was used, and in 18, a temporary PCS was performed. Comparing these two groups, intraoperative variables and morbidity were not statistically different, with a cumulative trend in favor of PCS. Ninety-day mortality was significantly lower in the PCS group compared to the VVB group (p=0.03). In order to better elucidate these differences between technical approaches, a registry and consensus statement are needed.
Your receipt is in the bag: Service and temporal effects as factors of customer engagement formation during acquisition

Abstract The current study examines how customer engagement initially develops during customer acquisition. The study utilizes a factorial design with videos to represent positive/negative experiences over the course of a potential acquisition. Findings suggest a positive acquisition experience leads to positive customer engagement. Findings also reflect a strong recency effect in that the last interaction of the service encounter provides the strongest impact on customer engagement. As a result, analysis leads to the recommendation that managers focus more on specific events and less on a cumulative impact in order to develop positive customer engagement during acquisition.
Evaluation of a clinical-grade, cryopreserved, ex vivo-expanded stem cell product from cryopreserved primary umbilical cord blood demonstrates multilineage hematopoietic engraftment in mouse xenografts

Abstract Background aims Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative therapy for a wide range of malignant and genetic disorders of the hematopoietic and immune systems. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a readily available source of stem cells for allo-HSCT, but the small fixed number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) found in a single unit limits its widespread use in adult recipients. The authors have previously reported that culturing UCB-CD34+ cells in serum-free media supplemented with a combination of cytokines and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) led to expansion of the numbers of functional HSPCs. Such fresh expanded product has been advanced to the clinic and is currently evaluated in an ongoing clinical trial in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing allo-HSCT. Here the authors report on the cryopreservation of this cellular product under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). Methods cGMP VPA-mediated expansion was initiated with CD34+ cells isolated from cryopreserved primary UCB collections, and the functionality after a second cryopreservation step of the expanded product evaluted in vitro and in mouse xenografts. Results The authors found that the cryopreserved VPA-expanded grafts were characterized by a high degree of viability, retention of HSPC phenotypic subtypes and maintenance of long-term multilineage repopulation capacity in immunocompromised mice. All cellular and functional parameters tested were comparable between the fresh and cryopreserved VPA-expanded cellular products. Conclusions The authors’ results demonstrate and support the practicality of cryopreservation of VPA-expanded stem cell grafts derived from UCB-CD34+ cells for clinical utilization.
Viable Putative Vibrio vulnificus and parahaemolyticus in the Pensacola and Perdido Bays: Water Column, Sediments, and Invertebrate Biofilms

Vibriosis is the general term for human illnesses caused by infection of pathogenic Vibrio species. Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) and parahaemolyticus (Vp) are two problematic waterborne pathogens that have yet to be enumerated in northwest Florida coastal Gulf of Mexico estuaries. In this regionally novel study, we surveyed 43 locations in two subtropical estuarine systems, Perdido Bay and Pensacola Bay, over seven dates in winter 2020. Sampling included three substrate types: surface waters, sediments, and invertebrate biofilms. We determined baseline abundances of presumptive viable Vv and Vp appearing as colonies on CHROMagar (Vv, blue; Vp, purple). Vv was detected in 37 out of 43 water samples, with maximum levels of 3,556 CFU/mL. Vp was only detected in 15 water samples, with a maximum concentration of 8,919 CFU/mL. Sediments contained Vv in all but one sample, with concentrations ranging from 121 to 607,222 CFU/mL. In contrast, Vp were only detected in 33 sediment samples, where concentrations ranged from 28 to 77,333 CFU/mL. Opportunistically-sampled surface swabs (biofilms), collected from shells (either oyster or barnacle) and polychaete worms found in sediment samples, contained on average 7,735 and 1,490 CFU/mL of Vv and Vp, respectively. Surface water Vv abundances covaried with bottom water pH, maximum prior cumulative wind speeds, and tidal coefficient on the day of sampling. Vp surface water abundances negatively correlated with surface water salinity, surface water pH, and bottom water pH and positively correlated with total surface dissolved inorganic and total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations, and wind. Spatially, there was large variation in Vibrio densities in surface waters; abundances of both species were strongly correlated with wind, suggesting resuspension was important. Sedimentary abundances of both putative Vv and Vp shared a correlation with one parameter: salinity stratification. Due to the length of this study, temperature was not considered a major factor. This short-term (one month) study was designed not to enumerate pathogenic Vv or Vp, but rather to establish the first winter baseline of Vibrio abundances for this region. Determination of these baseline winter cultivable putative Vibrio abundances will be valuable in predicting relative risk factors in each waterbody of interest.
Design of a Switched-Capacitor Dc Balancer for Aerospace Applications

In this paper, a 40 kW interleaved switched-capacitor dc balancer (ISCDCB) is presented. Using FEA (AN-SYS Q3D) and stray impedance reduction techniques, a low impedance bus bar was designed. Simulation and a low power prototype were used to validate the proposed ISCDCB. The balancing response under various loading scenarios from 40 W to 4 kW are shown. Design considerations and improvements for higher power and higher frequency operation are discussed.
CRISPR inactivation by integration

Bacteriophages fight back with the double whammy of an anti-CRISPR protein and integration into the CRISPR array to protect themselves from the CRISPR–Cas9 immune system of Streptococcus pyogenes.
Effects of skilled training on sleep slow wave activity and cortical gene expression in the rat.

Study objective: The best characterized marker of sleep homeostasis is the amount of slow wave activity (SWA, 0.5-4 Hz) during NREM sleep. SWA increases as a function of previous waking time and declines during sleep, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We have suggested that SWA homeostasis is linked to synaptic potentiation associated with learning during wakefulness. Indeed, studies in rodents and humans found that SWA increases after manipulations that presumably enhance synaptic strength, but the evidence remains indirect. Here we trained rats in skilled reaching, a task known to elicit long-term potentiation in the trained motor cortex, and immediately after learning measured SWA and cortical protein levels of c-fos and Arc, 2 activity-dependent genes involved in motor learning. Design: Intracortical local field potential recordings and training on reaching task. Setting: Basic sleep research laboratory. Patients or Participants: Long Evans adult male rats. Interventions: N/A Measurements and Results: SWA increased post-training in the trained cortex (the frontal cortex contralateral to the limb used to learn the task), with smaller or no increase in other cortical areas. This increase was reversible within 1 hour, specific to NREM sleep, and positively correlated with changes in performance during the prior training session, suggesting that it reflects plasticity and not just motor activity. Fos and Arc levels were higher in the trained relative to untrained motor cortex immediately after training, but this asymmetry was no longer present after 1 hour of sleep. Conclusion: Learning to reach specifically affects gene expression in the trained motor cortex and, in the same area, increases sleep need as measured by a local change in SWA.