cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
New W-prime signals at the LHC
Creators: name: Vignaroli, Natascia
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We study the $W^{'}$ phenomenology in composite Higgs/ warped extra dimensional models focusing on the effect of fermionic resonances at $\sim$1 TeV. After deriving the existing bounds from the current LHC-8 analyses, we highlight the most promising signatures for $W^{'}$ discovery at the 14 TeV LHC. We find in particular very promising the study of $W^{'}$ decay modes into vector-like top partners, specifically the decay into a doublet of custodian heavy fermions, $T_{5/3} T_{2/3}$, and the decay into a heavy fermion plus a Standard Model quark. We perform a detailed parton level analysis of the channel $W^{'}\to T_{5/3} T_{2/3}$ in the same-sign dilepton final state, finding that it is a very promising signature to test the region at high $W^{'}$ mass, $m_{W^{'}}\gtrsim 2$ TeV, and of the $W^{'}\to Tb$ mode, that is one of the best channels to test the intermediate $W^{'}$ mass region and that, already with the LHC-8 data, could extend the present exclusion bounds.
description: 25 pp. v2: minor changes, references added, version to appear in Phys. Rev. D
title: Estrogen receptor beta selectively restricts proliferation and favors surveillance in mammary epithelial cells
Creators: name: Dunphy, Karen A.
name: Roman-Perez, Erick
name: Hooshyar, Rehaneh
name: Hagen, Mary J.
name: Roberts, Amy L.
name: Guerrero-Zayas, Mara Isel
name: Jerry, D. Joseph
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Estrogen (17β-estradiol) has paradoxical effects in both promoting and preventing breast cancer as estrogen activates proliferation, but also promotes p53-mediated surveillance pathways. Estrogen mediates its effects in target tissues through the activation of estrogen receptor subtypes: ERα and ERβ. To examine the capability of these receptors in mediating surveillance as opposed to proliferation, selective estrogen receptor agonists were compared with 17β-estradiol for induction of proliferation and radiation induced apoptosis in vivo. Transcriptional regulation of estrogen-responsive genes was also compared in mouse mammary epithelium in vivo and in the human mammary MCF7 cell line transduced with a repressible ERβ. Selective activation of ERβ with the agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN) in vivo enhances p53-mediated apoptosis in the mouse mammary epithelium without stimulating proliferation. In addition, radiation-induced apoptosis is significantly reduced in mice lacking ERβ (βERKO). As expected, 17β-estradiol or selective activation of ERα with pyrazole triol (PPT) induced the expression of estrogen-response genes including progesterone receptor, amphiregulin and trefoil factor 1. DPN and ERβ failed to induce the expression of these genes. Interestingly, the ERβ agonist DPN selectively induced the expression of genes that repress proliferation including TGFβ2 while inhibiting proliferative canonical wnt signaling via beta-catenin by inducing WNT5a and AXIN2. DPN was also more potent in stimulating the expression of EGR1, a modulator of p53 activity. These results suggest that ERα and ERβ have distinct roles in gene regulation. In addition, the ability of DPN and ERβ to potentiate surveillance pathways while limiting proliferation suggests that ERβ agonists may have therapeutic and chemopreventive value in breast cancer.
Combining static analysis and dynamic symbolic execution in a toolchain to detect fault injection vulnerabilities
Creators: name: Lacombe, Guilhem
name: Feliot, David
name: Boespflug, Etienne
name: Potet, Marie-Laure
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Software Engineering (cs.SE)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Certification through auditing allows to ensure that critical embedded systems are secure. This entails reviewing their critical components and checking for dangerous execution paths. This latter task requires the use of specialized tools which allow to explore and replay executions but are also difficult to use effectively within the context of the audit, where time and knowledge of the code are limited. Fault analysis is especially tricky as the attacker may actively influence execution, rendering some common methods unusable and increasing the number of possible execution paths exponentially. In this work, we present a new method which mitigates these issues by reducing the number of fault injection points considered to only the most relevant ones relatively to some security properties. We use fast and robust static analysis to detect injection points and assert their impactfulness. A more precise dynamic/symbolic method is then employed to validate attack paths. This way the insight required to find attacks is reduced and dynamic methods can better scale to realistically sized programs. Our method is implemented into a toolchain based on Frama-C and KLEE and validated on WooKey, a case-study proposed by the National Cybersecurity Agency of France.
description: Journal of Cryptographic Engineering, 2023
title: Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit T Cell Response to Peptide
Creators: name: DeNicola, Megan
name: Briddell, Robert
name: Falcon-Girard, Kate
name: Fodor, William
name: Kraus, Morey
name: Kent, Sally C.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been shown to possess immunomodulatory properties that highlight their potential as a cellular therapy for autoimmune disease. We propose to examine the in vitro potential of stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue to suppress the effector functions of human auto-reactive T cells. While the mechanism(s) of suppression of T cell function are not fully understood, it has been hypothesized that MSC-derived immunosuppressive soluble factors and cell-to-cell contact are important. We developed an in vitro culture assay to assess the effects of umbilical cord derived MSC (TC-MSC) on T cell function. Various doses of low-passage TC-MSCs were adhered to collagen-coated 96 well plates or in the lower chamber wells of transwell plates. HLA-matched EBV transformed B cells were pulsed +/- with appropriate autoantigenic peptide and cultured with adherent MSC or in the upper transwell chambers with the appropriate T cell clone. After 48 hours, cells were stained for CD4 and stained intracellularly for IFN-γ and analyzed by flow cytometry. We observed decreased T cell effector function with MSC co-culture and this was partially restored by separation of MSC and T cell+B cell+peptide in the transwell. We examined if prostaglandin E2 derived from the MSC also contributed to decreased T cell effector function. The inclusion of a COX-2 inhibitor in the culture system led to partially restored T cell effector function. We conclude that TC-MSC-derived soluble factor(s) and TC-MSC:T cell contact both contribute to the TC-MSC’s immunosuppressive effects. Primary TC-MSC isolates (with no prior cell culture) will also be tested in this system to determine if they possess similar immunosuppressive effects as adherent, cultured TC-MSC. These studies will pinpoint the functional mechanisms of the TC-MSC immunomodulatory properties on T cell effector function and may suggest avenues of enhancing MSC function in the treatment of autoimmune disease.
Cross Section Measurements with Monoenergetic Muon Neutrinos
Creators: name: Spitz, J.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det)
subject: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)
subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The monoenergetic 236 MeV muon neutrino from charged kaon decay-at-rest ($K^+ \rightarrow μ^+ ν_μ$) can be used to produce a novel set of cross section measurements. Applicable for short- and long-baseline accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments, among others, such measurements would provide a "standard candle" for the energy reconstruction and interaction kinematics relevant for charged current neutrino events near this energy. This neutrino can also be exercised as a unique known-energy, purely weak interacting probe of the nucleus. A number of experiments are set to come online in the next few years that will be able to collect and characterize thousands of these events.
description: 8 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D.; typos fixed and references updated
Determination of Trace Elements in Water Utilizaing Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Measurement
Creators: name: Christian, Gary D.
name: Miles, J. Preston, III
name: Sensmeier, Ronald
name: Sensmeier, Melvin
name: Craig, Loraine
name: Phibrick, Lynn
name: Lal, Sudarshan
Publisher: name: Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University of Kentucky
Year: 1972

description: Abstract:
A variety of flameless atomic absorption methods have been investigated for the possible determination of trace elements in water. The general applicability of each technique was determined and where applicable, procedures have been developed for the determination of trace elements in natural waters.
Metals were preconcentrated by electrodeposition on a wire. The metals were then atomized for atomic absorption measurement by resistive heating of the wire. As little as 0.01 part per million (ppm) of mercury could be determined in this way.
A mercury cold vapor cell was constructed in which the sample is treated with a reducing agent to reduce mercury to the elemental state and then argon gas is bubbled through the sample to carry mercury vapor into a quartz-ended tube where its atomic absorption is measured. Water vapor condensation and consequent light scattering in the absorption tube was minimized by heating the tube. As little as 5 x 10-8g or 0.5 part per billion (ppb) of mercury was determined in natural waters.
A heated tube atomizer was designed for the determination of relatively volatile elements such as arsenic. The sample is placed in a vertical tube that is connected to a horizontal absorption tube. The system is evacuated and heated to 660°C with nichrome wire. Arsenic sublimes at 613°C and results in a significant absorbance at 1937Å, probably as As4. Ten micrograms of arsenic could be detected.
A simple and inexpensive tantalum ribbon flameless atomizer cell was constructed in which a few microliters of sample were dried and atomized on a tantalum ribbon heated resistively. This is applicable to a large of elements, giving detection limits down to 10-13 number gram in favorable cases. Interference effects were studied. This system has been applied to the determination of traces of silver, zinc, cadmium, manganese, and lead in natural waters with no sample preparation required. A standard additions calibration is most satisfactory.
Funding information: The work on which this report is based was supported in part by funds provided by the Office of Water Resources Research, United States Department of the Interior, as authorized by the Water Resources Research Act of 1964.
Cosmological fluids in the equivalence between Rastall and Einstein gravity
Creators: name: Chagoya, Javier
name: López-Domínguez
name: Ortiz, C.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Rastall gravity is a modified gravity proposal that incorporates a non-conserved energy momentum tensor (EMT). We study the equivalence between Rastall gravity and general relativity, analyzing its consequences for an EMT of dark matter and dark energy. We find that the translation between the Rastall and Einstein interpretations modifies the equation of state for each component. For instance, cold dark matter can translate into warm dark matter. If the EMT components are allowed to interact, the translation also changes the type of interaction between the components.
description: 18 pages, 4 figures
title: Short Measures Of Tobacco Dependence Optimized For Biological Research
Creators: name: DiFranza, Joseph R.
name: Ursprung, W. W. Sanouri A.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Biological research requires valid and reliable measures of the biologically-based aspects of dependence. Traditional dependence measures focus on behaviors (e.g., patterns of use), that can be constrained by sociocultural factors such as cost and restrictions on smoking.When dependence measures reflect non-biological factors, they are less suitable for biological research.We will present new data concerning several tobacco dependence measures that assess only biologically-based symptoms. The Levels of Physical Dependence (PD) is a 3-item instrument that assesses how subjects experience the urge to smoke that is triggered by withdrawal. It provides a quantitative measure of a person’s progression along 4 levels of PD. As all tobacco users progress through the 4 levels of PD in the same sequence, biological events associated with level 2 must precede events associated with level 3. This measure provides a unique and valuable time perspective to the interpretation of data. The Hooked on Nicotine Checklist assesses 10 symptoms of dependence. It’s excellent sensitivity and reliability allowed it to demonstrate a nearly perfect correlation (r=-.96) with changes in neural density that accompany the progression of PD. The Latency to Withdrawal (LTW) is a single item subjective measure of the length of time a person can forgo the use of tobacco before experiencing a withdrawal-triggered urge to smoke. Valid values for the LTW vary from minutes to weeks. The LTW is an important biological factor to consider in studying withdrawal and cue-induced craving. By focusing on the subjective symptoms of dependence rather than the behaviors prompted by those symptoms, the measures discussed here are all universal measures, that is, they are valid for all forms of tobacco use and with tobacco users of all ages.
An alternative proof of the linearity of the size-Ramsey number of paths
Creators: name: Dudek, Andrzej
name: Pralat, Pawel
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Combinatorics (math.CO)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: The size Ramsey number $\hat{r}(F)$ of a graph $F$ is the smallest integer $m$ such that there exists a graph $G$ on $m$ edges with the property that any colouring of the edges of $G$ with two colours yields a monochromatic copy of $F$. In 1983, Beck provided a beautiful argument that shows that $\hat{r}(P_n)$ is linear, solving a problem of Erdős. In this short note, we provide an alternative but elementary proof of this fact that actually gives a better bound, namely, $\hat{r}(P_n) < 137n$ for $n$ sufficiently large.
description: to be published by Combinatorics, Probability and Computing
title: A New Look at the Volume and Outcome Relationship in Surgery for Colorectal Cancer
Creators: name: Damle, Rashelle N.
name: Macomber, Christopher W.
name: Flahive, Julie M.
name: Maykel, Justin A.
name: Sturrock, Paul R.
name: Sweeney, W. Brian
name: Santry, Heena P.
name: Alavi, Karim
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Purpose: Surgeon and hospital factors have a significant impact on treatment outcomes for colorectal cancer (CRC). Limited research has been done to assess cost and quality of treatment by surgeon-volume. We aim to identify the surgeon factors impacting cost and quality of surgical care for CRC.

Methods: The University HealthSystem Consortium database was queried for patients who underwent colon resection for cancer from 2008 to 2012. Patients were grouped by surgeon-volume. Outcomes of interest were postoperative complications, ICU admission, readmission rate, inpatient hospital length of stay (LOS) and direct hospital cost. Average surgeon-volume per year was categorized as high (>6) or low (16) based on the distribution of surgeon-volume.

Results: 29,972 patients over age 18 were identified for inclusion. 25,426 underwent resection by high-volume surgeons (HVS) and 4,547 by low-volume surgeons (LVS). LVS were more likely to admit patients to the ICU than HVS (21% v 33%, p<0.01). Average LOS was shorter for HVS compared to LVS (8.9 v 11.2, p<0.01). Patients operated on by HVS had a lower 30day readmission rate than LVS (5.8% v. 8.3%, p<0.01). HVS had a lower complication rate than LVS (8.3% v 12.2% p<0.01). HVS were more likely then LVS to perform the procedure laparoscopically (p<0.01). Hospital direct cost for both open and laparoscopic colectomies were lower when performed by HVS compared to LVS (p<0.01).

Conclusions: Surgeons who perform greater than 6 colectomies per year for colon cancer are more likely to use laparoscopy, less likely to admit patients to the ICU, have lower complication and readmission rates, and shorter LOS. Hospital cost is significantly lower in patients operated on by high volume surgeons. As health care costs continue to escalate and health care reform efforts gain momentum, factors leading to high-quality, cost-effective care need to be identified.
Generalized effective-medium theory for metamaterials
Creators: name: Slovick, Brian A.
name: Yu, Zhi Gang
name: Krishnamurthy, Srini
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present an effective-medium model for calculating the frequency-dependent effective permittivity $ε(ω)$ and permeability $μ(ω)$ of metamaterial composites containing spherical particles with arbitrary permittivity and permeability. The model is derived from the zero-scattering condition within the dipole approximation, but does not invoke any additional long-wavelength approximations. As a result, it captures the effects of spatial dispersion and predicts a finite effective refractive index and antiresonances in $ε(ω)$ and $μ(ω)$, in agreement with numerical finite-element calculations.
description: 5 pages, 5 figures
title: Aerodynamic Analysis of Slender Vertical Structure and Response Control with Tuned Mass Damper
Creators: name: Damanik, Batta Septo Van Bahtiar
Publisher: name: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften

description: Analysis of vortex induced vibration has gained more interest in practical held of civil engineering. The phenomenon often occurs in long and slender vertical structure like high rise building, tower, chimney or bridge pylon, which resulting in unfavorable responses and might lead to the collapse of the structures. The phenomenon appears when frequency of vortex shedding produced in the wake area of body meet the natural frequency of the structure. Even though this phenomenon does not necessarily generate a divergent amplitude response, the structure still may fail due to fatigue damage. To reduce the effect of vortex induced vibration, engineers widely use passive vibration response control system. In this case, the thesis studies the effect of tuned mass damper. The objective of this thesis is to simulate the effect of tuned mass damper in reducing unfavorable responses due to vortex induced vibration and initiated by numerical model validation with respect to wind tunnel test report. The reference structure that being used inside the thesis is Stonecutter Bridge, Hongkong. A numerical solver for computational uid dynamics named VX ow which developed by Morgenthal [6] is utilized for wind and structure simulation. The comparison between numerical model and wind tunnel result shows 10% maximum tip displacement diference in the model of full erection freestanding tower. The tuned mass damper (TMD) model itself built separately in finite element software SOFiSTiK, and the efective damping obtained from this model then applied inside input modal data of VX ow simulation. A single TMD with mass ratio of TMD 0.5% to the mass of first bending frequency, the maximum tip displacement is measured to be average 67% reduced. Considering construction limitation and robustness of TMD, the effects of multiple TMD inside a structure are also studied. An uncoupled procedure of applying aeroelastic loads obtained from VX ow inside finite element software SOFiSTiK is also done to observe the optimum distribution and optimum mass ratio of multiple tuned mass damper. The rest of the properties of TMD are calculated with Den Hartog's formula. The results are as follows: peak displacement in the case of multiple TMD that distributed with polynomial spacing achieve 7.8% more reduction performance than the one that distributed with equal spacing. Optimum mass of tuned mass damper achieved with ratio 1.25% mass of first bending frequency corresponds to across wind direction.
title: Efficacy of Intraoperative Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Monitoring: A Single-Institutions’ Experience
Creators: name: Damle, Rashelle N.
name: Dinh, Kate
name: Larkin, Anne C.
name: Quinlan, Robert M.
name: Whalen, Giles F.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) during thyroidectomy in preventing recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic institution.

Patients: Consecutive sample of subjects undergoing thyroidectomy by experienced endocrine surgeons between 2006 and 2008 at a single institution.

Intervention: Intraoperative RLN monitoring.

Main outcome measure: RLN injury.

Results: Between 2006 and 2008, 296 subjects underwent thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy by the authors. One patient was excluded because of preoperative documentation of RLN injury. IONM was used in 253 (88%) cases, with a total of 403 nerves at risk of injury. Loss of RLN signal following surgical dissection occurred in 13 cases, prompting a change in surgical plan in one case. Post-operative laryngoscopy was performed in eight patients with hoarseness, documenting vocal cord paralysis in one patient who had clear intraoperative anatomic evidence of RLN injury. In no case did loss of RLN signal after dissection lead to nerve injury in the absence of anatomical evidence of injury as detected by the surgeon.

Conclusions: IONM added cost and resulted in surgeon angst in cases of malfunction without a clear benefit in RLN identification and protection. Anatomic identification of the RLN should remain the gold standard in preventing RLN injury during thyroidectomy.
title: Pass This Message Along: Self-edited Email Messages Promoting Colon Cancer Screening among Friends and Family
Creators: name: Cutrona, Sarah L.
name: Wagner, Joann L.
name: Roblin, Douglas W.
name: Gaglio, Bridget
name: Williams, Andrew E.
name: Torres Stone, Rosalie A.
name: Mazor, Kathleen M.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Encouraging communication within a social network may promote uptake of desired medical services or health behaviors. Little is known about the use of this approach to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. We conducted in-person interviews with 438 insured adults ages 42-73 in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Georgia.

Participants were shown a sample message in which the sender shares that he has completed a colonoscopy and urges the recipient to discuss CRC screening with a doctor. We asked participants to edit the message to create one they would be willing to send to friends and family via email or postcard. Changes to the message were recorded. Edited text was analyzed for content and concordance with original message.

The majority of participants (61.6%) modified the message; 14.2% added to or reframed the existing personalizing words (e.g. adding ‘because I love you’), 10.3% added urgency to the message (e.g. “please don’t delay”) and 8% added reassurance (e.g. “It’s really not that bad.”) Almost one in five (18.3%) deleted a negatively framed sentence on colon cancer risks. In 5.7% of cases, the meaning of at least one sentence was changed but only 2.7% created messages with factual inaccuracies.

Modifiable messages transmitted within a social network offer a way for screened individuals to promote CRC screening. Further study is needed to identify the optimal combination of user-generated content and pre-written text, allowing for creation of messages that are acceptable to senders, persuasive and factually accurate.
Teaching Digital Manufacturing Experimenting Blended-Learning Models By Combining MOOC And On-site Workshops In FabLabs
Creators: name: Hamonic, Ella
name: Hopma, Anja
name: Gaultier, Baptiste
name: Moalic, Denis
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Computers and Society (cs.CY)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Teaching digital manufacturing at scale using MOOCs has opened opportunities for IMT, a network of French graduate engineering schools, to work closely with a community of learners and educators in physical spaces called Fab Labs. By setting up a cohort of lifelong learning trainees taking the MOOC online and attending hands-on in-person workshops, IMT to experiment blended learning models and hybrid skills certification for project-based STEM courses.
Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) - First Detection of OH+ in Planetary Nebulae
Creators: name: Aleman, I.
name: Ueta, T.
name: Ladjal, D.
name: Exter, K. M.
name: Kastner, J. H.
name: Montez, R.
name: Tielens, A. G. G. M.
name: Chu, Y. H.
name: Izumiura, H.
name: McDonald, I.
name: Sahai, R.
name: Siodmiak, N.
name: Szczerba, R.
name: van Hoof, P. A. M.
name: Villaver, E.
name: Vlemmings, W.
name: Wittkowski, M.
name: Zijlstra, A. A.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We report the first detections of OH$^+$ emission in planetary nebulae (PNe). As part of an imaging and spectroscopy survey of 11 PNe in the far-IR using the PACS and SPIRE instruments aboard the Herschel Space Observatory, we performed a line survey in these PNe over the entire spectral range between 51 and 672$μ$m to look for new detections. OH$^+$ rotational emission lines at 152.99, 290.20, 308.48, and 329.77$μ$m were detected in the spectra of three planetary nebulae: NGC 6445, NGC 6720, and NGC 6781. Excitation temperatures and column densities derived from these lines are in the range of 27 to 47 K and 2$\times$10$^{10}$ to 4 $\times$10$^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$, respectively. In PNe, the OH+ rotational line emission appears to be produced in the photodissociation region (PDR) in these objects. The emission of OH+ is observed only in PNe with hot central stars (T$_{eff}$ > 100000 K), suggesting that high-energy photons may play a role in the OH+ formation and its line excitation in these objects, as it seems to be the case for ultraluminous galaxies.
description: 9 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in A&A
title: Trends in the Frequency, Patient Characteristics, Management, and in-Hospital Outcomes of Diabetic Patients Presenting with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Creators: name: Tisminetzky, Mayra
name: Kassas, Ibrahim
name: Joffe, Samuel W.
name: Lessard, Darleen M.
name: Goldberg, Robert J.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Background: Diabetic patients have more complications and higher hospital mortality rates after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than patients without diabetes (DM). Increased morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients suffering an AMI is especially concerning given the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the U.S. and worldwide. The objectives of this study were to describe recent trends in the frequency, patient characteristics, treatment practices, and in-hospital outcomes associated with STEMI and NSTEMI in diabetic compared with non-diabetic patients hospitalized with AMI.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 6,903 persons, known to be either diabetic (n =2,329) or non-diabetic (n=4,574 ) who were hospitalized for STEMI or NSTEMI between 1997 and 2009 at all 11 greater Worcester medical centers.

Results: Diabetic patients presenting with both STEMI and NSTEMI were more likely to be older, female, and obese, and to have a higher prevalence of comorbidities compared with non-diabetics. Diabetic patients were more likely to develop important in-hospital complications including heart failure (39% vs.27%),and atrial fibrillation (18% vs.16%), and had a longer hospital stay (6.3 days vs.5.4 days) compared to non-diabetics. Diabetic patients were significantly more likely to be treated with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker and a diuretic. The proportion of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization during their index hospitalization for AMI approximately doubled during the period under study, while the proportion treated with PCI increased by 3 to 4-fold. The proportion of diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing cardiac catheterization was similar, though diabetics were less likely to be treated with PCI and more likely to receive CABG than non-diabetics. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among diabetics than non-diabetics for both STEMI (13% vs. 10%) and NSTEMI (11% vs. 9%)

Conclusions: During the period 1997 to 2009, the use of effective therapies for all patients presenting with AMI has improved, with a concomitant decrease in in-hospital complications and mortality . Nonetheless, diabetic patients experienced , more complications, and worse in-hospital outcomes compared to non-diabetics.
Systematic Modeling Approach for Environmental Perception Limitations in Automated Driving
Creators: name: Adee, Ahmad
name: Gansch, Roman
name: Liggesmeyer, Peter
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Systems and Control (eess.SY)
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: Highly automated driving (HAD) vehicles are complex systems operating in an open context. Complexity of these systems as well as limitations and insufficiencies in sensing and understanding the open context may result in unsafe and uncertain behavior. The safety critical nature of the HAD vehicles demands to model limitations, insufficiencies and triggering conditions to argue safe behavior. Standardization activities such as ISO/PAS 21448 provide guidelines on the safety of the intended functionality (SOTIF) and focus on the performance limitations and triggering conditions. Although, SOTIF provides a non-exhaustive list of scenario factors that may serve as a starting point to identify and analyze performance limitations and triggering conditions, yet no concrete methodology is provided to model these factors. We propose a novel methodology to model triggering conditions and performance limitations in a scene to assess SOTIF. We utilize Bayesian network (BN) in this regard. The experts provide the BN structure and conditional belief tables are learned using the maximum likelihood estimator. We provide performance limitation maps (PLMs) and conditional performance limitation maps (CPLMs), given a scene. As a case study, we provide PLMs and CPLMs of LIDAR in a defined scene using real world data.
title: Health Information Seeking on Behalf of Others: Characteristics of ‘Surrogate Seekers’
Creators: name: Cutrona, Sarah L.
name: Mazor, Kathleen M.
name: Naveed, Sana
name: Luger, Tama M.
name: Volkman, Julie E.
name: Rutten, Lila J.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Understanding the health information seeking behaviors of surrogate seekers (those who seek health information for others) may guide efforts to reach disadvantaged populations. We used 2011-2012 data from the Health Information National Trends Survey to describe the behaviors of online surrogate seekers. Respondents were asked about their use of the Internet for surrogate seeking over the prior 12 months. Data were weighted to calculate population estimates. Compared to those who sought health information online for only themselves, surrogate seekers were more likely to live in households with others (weighted percent 89.4% vs. 82.5% of self-seekers; p < 0.05); no significant differences in gender, race, income or education were observed. Surrogate seekers were more likely to report: visits to social networking sites to read and share about medical topics; participation in online health support groups and downloading of health information to electronic devices. On multivariate analysis, those who had looked online for a healthcare provider were more likely to be surrogate seekers (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08-2.59). Our results offer insight for leveraging health communication efforts to reach populations who rely upon surrogate seekers for health information.
Consequences of an inducible defense
Creators: name: Lorusso, Nicholas
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2018

description: This dissertation attempts, through four connected experiments, to demonstrate the range of ecological and evolutionary responses to induced anti-predator defenses. The presented works all incorporate the formation of anti-predator colonies by the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in response to the filter feeding rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and ciliated protist Euplotes eurystomus. Chapter one demonstrates that while it is an effective defense against micrograzing filter feeders, colony formation allows for opportunistic exploitation of colonies by macrograzers. Chapter two provides evidence that as part of other indirect effects in a simple community, the formation of inducible colony defenses can lead to C. reinhardtii being a superior apparent competitor. Chapter three describes the results of a differential gene expression study comparing C. reinhardtii phenotypes and homologous genes within the multicellular Volvocales. Chapter four considers the evolutionary consequences of colony defense by experimentally manipulating the phenotype to compensate for two distinct modes of predation. Taken together, these results demonstrate the capacity for inducible defenses to have dramatic consequences outside of the predator-prey interaction that induces the defense.
title: Hyperspectral Perfusion Monitoring of Irradiated Breast Patients
Creators: name: Connor, Nikole M.
name: Chin, Michael S.
name: Saleeby, Jonathan H.
name: Lo, Yuan-Chyuan
name: Lalikos, Janice F.
name: Fitzgerald, Thomas J.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Studies examining acute perfusion changes (<1 >month) in irradiated fields are limited. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a novel method of scanning spectroscopy that provides direct measurement of cutaneous tissue perfusion that is non-invasive. In this clinical study, we examine the ability of HSI to assess cutaneous changes in skin perfusion during the acute period following irradiation in patients. Patients undergoing external beam breast conserving radiotherapy (n=15) or post-mastectomy radiation (n=3) were enrolled. Total treatment doses ranged between 42 Gy and 50 Gy. Baseline images were obtained before irradiation for bilateral breasts in each patient and then subsequently at each dose fraction. Skin reaction assessment was also performed on the patients. In the irradiated breast, total perfusion was found to increase prior to skin reaction formation and continued to steadily increase over the first 30 days in all patients. Skin reactions included erythema and dry desquamation starting at day 11. These findings suggest that HSI can identify early changes of tissue oxygenation and perfusion in acute radiation injury and may be able to predict the severity of such injuries. Future work will look at mitigating acute injury with topical applications and studying the perfusion changes in chronically irradiated skin.
Measuring the speed of cosmological gravitational waves
Creators: name: Raveri, Marco
name: Baccigalupi, Carlo
name: Silvestri, Alessandra
name: Zhou, Shuang-Yong
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: In general relativity gravitational waves propagate at the speed of light, however in alternative theories of gravity that might not be the case. We study the effects of a modified speed of gravity, $c_T^2$, on the B-modes of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy in polarisation. We find that a departure from the light speed value would leave a characteristic imprint on the BB spectrum part induced by tensors, manifesting as a shift in the angular scale of its peaks. We derive constraints by using the available {\it Planck} and BICEP2 datasets showing how $c_T^2$ can be measured, albeit obtaining weak constraints due to the overall poor accuracy of the current BB power spectrum measurements. The present constraint corresponds to $c_T^2 = 1.30 \pm 0.79$ and $c_T^2< 2.85$ at $95%$ C.L. by assuming a power law primordial tensor power spectrum and $c_T^2<2.33$ at $95%$ C.L. if the running of the spectral index is allowed. We derive forecasts for the next generation CMB satellites, which we find capable of tightly constraining $c_T^2$ at percent level, comparable with bounds from binary pulsar measurements, largely due to the absence of degeneracy with other cosmological parameters.
description: 5 pages, 3 figure. Minor edits to match the version submitted to the journal
Time Dependent Couplings as Observables in de Sitter Space
Creators: name: Kitamoto, Hiroyuki
name: Kitazawa, Yoshihisa
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We summarize and expand our investigations concerning the soft graviton effects on microscopic matter dynamics in de Sitter space. The physical couplings receive IR logarithmic corrections which are sensitive to the IR cut-off at the one-loop level. The scale invariant spectrum in the gravitational propagator at the super-horizon scale is the source of the de Sitter symmetry breaking. The quartic scalar, Yukawa and gauge couplings become time dependent and diminish with time. In contrast, the Newton's constant increases with time. We clarify the physical mechanism behind these effects in terms of the conformal mode dynamics in analogy with 2d quantum gravity. We show that they are the inevitable consequence of the general covariance and lead to gauge invariant predictions. We construct a simple model in which the cosmological constant is self-tuned to vanish due to UV-IR mixing effect. We also discuss phenomenological implications such as decaying Dark Energy and SUSY breaking at the Inflation era. The quantum effect alters the classical slow roll picture in general if the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ is as small as $0.01$.
description: 27 pages, 2 figures
Discovery of Perception Performance Limiting Triggering Conditions in Automated Driving
Creators: name: Adee, Ahmad
name: Gansch, Roman
name: Liggesmeyer, Peter
name: Glaeser, Claudius
name: Drews, Florian
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Systems and Control (eess.SY)
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: Highly automated driving (HAD) vehicles are complex systems operating in an open context. Performance limitations originating from sensing and understanding the open context under triggering conditions may result in unsafe behavior, thus, need to be identified and modeled. This aspect of safety is also discussed in standardization activities such as ISO 21448, safety of the intended functionality (SOTIF). Although SOTIF provides a non-exhaustive list of scenario factors to identify and analyze performance limitations under triggering conditions, no concrete methodology is yet provided to identify novel triggering conditions. We propose a methodology to identify and model novel triggering conditions in a scene in order to assess SOTIF using Bayesian network (BN) and p-value hypothesis testing. The experts provide the initial BN structure while the conditional belief tables (CBTs) are learned using dataset. P-value hypothesis testing is used to identify the relevant subset of scenes. These scenes are then analyzed by experts who provide potential triggering conditions present in the scenes. The novel triggering conditions are modeled in the BN and retested. As a case study, we provide p-value hypothesis testing of BN of LIDAR using real world data.
title: Impact of Pre-Injury Warfarin Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Head Trauma
Creators: name: Collins, Courtney E.
name: Witkowski, Elan R.
name: Flahive, Julie M.
name: Emhoff, Timothy A.
name: Anderson Jr., Frederick A.
name: Santry, Heena P.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Introduction: The effect of warfarin on outcomes of head injured patients remains controversial. Yet more than 2 million Americans, many of them elderly, are started on warfarin annually. Meanwhile, with the aging US population, elderly Americans are becoming an increasingly large proportion of head injured patients. We studied a national cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with head injuries to determine the effects of pre-injury warfarin on outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review of a 5% random sample of Medicare claims data (2009-2010) was performed for enrollees with at least 1 year of Medicare eligibility. Head injury cases were identified using ICD-9 codes for intracranial hemorrhage with or without accompanying skull fractures. Using Part D prescription drug claims, warfarin exposure was defined as >2 warfarin prescriptions filled within 60 days prior to injury. Characteristics and outcomes (mortality, length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS) between warfarin users and patients not on warfarin (non-users) were compared using univariate tests of association. Multivariable models adjusting for patient characteristics, concomitant torso injuries/long-bone fractures, and need for ICU care were conducted to measure the independent effect of warfarin on in-hospital mortality.

Results: We identified 3,420 head injured patients,6.6% of whom were treated with warfarin. Warfarin users were more likely to be female (74.2%vs.65.6%, p<0.01), and older (median age 83, IQR 78-88vs 82, IQR 75-87,p=0.04) than non-users. Warfarin users had higher in-hospital mortality compared to non-users (16.9 vs.10.2%, p <0.01) Warfarin users had 1.9 times the odds (95% CI 1.3-2.7) of dying in the hospital compared to non-users when adjusting for confounders. Warfarin use did not predict ICU admission, ICU LOS, or overall LOS among survivors (n=3055,89%).

Conclusion: Anticoagulation with warfarin increases risk of mortality after head injury nearly two fold in Medicare beneficiaries even after adjusting for other risk factors. As new, more difficult to reverse, agents are introduced for chronic anticoagulation this problem may be exacerbated. Physicians should exercise caution when initiating chronic anticoagulation in patients over the age of 65.
title: Sentenza 238/2014 of the Italian Constitutional Court and the International Rule of Law
Creators: name: Krieger, Heike
name: Zimmermann, Andreas
Publisher: name: Universität Potsdam
Year: 2019

description: The German-Italian dispute over the scope of sovereign immunities and claims of reparations for war crimes committed by German armed forces during World War II in Italy is in many ways specific and historically contingent. At the same time, it touches upon a number of fundamental challenges which the international community has to address in the interest of furthering the international rule of law. In this working paper both authors address the question whether the current law of sovereign immunities should be changed or interpreted in a manner as to allow for exceptions from State immunities in cases of grave violations of human rights. While the first part of the paper focusses on the perspective of general international law the second part addresses the question through the lense of European law. Both authors agree that unilateral efforts to push for what many consider a progressive development of international law actually may entail adverse effects for the international rule of law and thus may even contribute to a broader crisis of the international legal order.
description: KFG Working Paper Series, 15
title: The Role of Glutamate and GABA in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Pilot Results from a Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
Creators: name: Cochran, David E.
name: Sikoglu, Elif M.
name: Fallon, Daniel
name: Kennedy, David N.
name: Hodge, Steven M.
name: Foley, Ann
name: Yakutis, Lauren J.
name: Moore, Constance M.
name: Frazier, Jean A.
Publisher: name: eScholarship@UMMS
Year: 2013

description: Objectives: To measure the levels of glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter; glutamine, a metabolite of glutamate; and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter; in a pilot study of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) findings in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Methods: The subjects were assessed with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RMET) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). 1H-MRS measures of the anterior cingulate cortex were conducted using a Philips 3.0 T scanner.

Results: To date, we have completed the data analysis on 18 subjects, 8 with ASD and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects. There was no significant difference between the combined glutamate + glutamine concentrations as measured by 1H-MRS (ASD = 12.0 ± 0.9 IU, HC = 11.6 ± 0.8 IU, p = 0.37). However, there was a higher than average glutamine level in the ASD group compared to healthy controls (ASD = 2.4 ± 0.2 IU, HC = 1.9 ± 0.3 IU, p = 0.01). This was accompanied by a trend toward lower GABA/Cr levels in the ASD group (ASD = 0.073 ± 0.010, HC = 0.082 ± 0.010, p = 0.06). Glutamine levels in the ACC were correlated positively with deficits of social cognition across groups (higher SRS, lower RMET scores). Those with higher glutamine levels made more errors when identifying emotions in the RMET task (r(10) = -0.77, p = 0.009), and also had more clinically significant scores on the SRS (r(10) = 0.87, p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Our results present evidence that glutamine levels measured within the ACC region are higher for adolescent males with ASD than age-matched HC males, and signal that GABA levels may also be decreased in this region. These changes are correlated with deficits in social cognition.
System Theoretic View on Uncertainties
Creators: name: Gansch, Roman
name: Adee, Ahmad
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
subject: Systems and Control (eess.SY)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering

description: The complexity of the operating environment and required technologies for highly automated driving is unprecedented. A different type of threat to safe operation besides the fault-error-failure model by Laprie et al. arises in the form of performance limitations. We propose a system theoretic approach to handle these and derive a taxonomy based on uncertainty, i.e. lack of knowledge, as a root cause. Uncertainty is a threat to the dependability of a system, as it limits our ability to assess its dependability properties. We distinguish uncertainties by aleatory (inherent to probabilistic models), epistemic (lack of model parameter knowledge) and ontological (incompleteness of models) in order to determine strategies and methods to cope with them. Analogous to the taxonomy of Laprie et al. we cluster methods into uncertainty prevention (use of elements with well-known behavior, avoiding architectures prone to emergent behavior, restriction of operational design domain, etc.), uncertainty removal (during design time by design of experiment, etc. and after release by field observation, continuous updates, etc.), uncertainty tolerance (use of redundant architectures with diverse uncertainties, uncertainty aware deep learning, etc.) and uncertainty forecasting (estimation of residual uncertainty, etc.).