cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Identifying the Loss of the Y Chromosome on Multiphasic MDCT.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to investigate whether multiphasic MDCT enhancement can help identify clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) with the loss of the Y chromosome. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We derived a cohort of 43 clear cell RCCs in men who underwent preoperative four-phase renal mass MDCT from October 2000 to August 2013. Each lesion was segmented in its entirety on axial images. A computer-assisted detection algorithm selected a 0.5-cm-diameter region of maximal attenuation within each lesion in each phase. A 0.5-cm-diameter ROI was manually placed on uninvolved renal cortex in each phase. The relative attenuation of each lesion was calculated as follows: [(maximal lesion attenuation − cortex attenuation) / cortex attenuation] × 100. Absolute attenuation and relative attenuation in each phase were compared using t tests. RESULTS. Both clear cell RCCs with the loss of the Y chromosome and clear cell RCCs without the loss of the Y chromosome exhibited peak enhancement in the corticom...
Smith’s practicality requirement meets dual-process models of moral judgment

AbstractIn The Moral Problem, Michael Smith argues that only motivational internalists can offer an adequate explanation of why changes in moral judgment tend to be accompanied by changes in motivation in morally virtuous people. Smith argues that the failure of motivational externalism to account for this phenomenon amounts to a reductio of the view. In this paper, I draw on dual-process models of moral judgment to develop an externalist response to Smith’s argument. The key to my proposal is that motivationally efficacious states are often the source of our moral judgments, and changes in judgment are typically the result of changes in these states. However, moral judgments can also be formed via an alternative pathway that does not necessarily affect motivation, and so motivation and judgment can come apart. This response not only defuses Smith’s objections to externalism, but challenges Smith to square his internalist proposal with the empirical details of moral judgment.
Shocking of metallic glass to induce microstructure heterogeneity: A molecular dynamics study

Surface severe plastic deformation (SSPD) has been demonstrated to improve the ductility of metallic glass. The physical interpretation, however, remains on the phenomenological level. In this study, a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is carried out to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the improvement in ductility. MD simulation reveals that shock waves resulting from SSPD can induce pre-deformed atoms, which are randomly embedded in the matrix of the metallic glass. The pre-deformed atoms have similar stress distribution and short-order structure as the matrix atoms, but with a larger atomic volume. When subjected to tensile or compressive stress, more shear bands are promoted by the pre-deformed atoms in the shock-treated sample as compared to the untreated one. The randomly distributed shear bands were found to experience more interactions, which delayed the catastrophic fracture, leading to increased ductility.
Plasma membrane-derived extracellular microvesicles mediate non-canonical intercellular NOTCH signaling.

ARMMs (arrestin domain-containing protein 1 (ARRDC1)-mediated microvesicles) are extracellular vesicles that bud directly at the plasma membrane; however, little is known about the molecular composition and physiological function of these vesicles. Here we report that ARMMs contain active NOTCH receptors and mediate a non-canonical intercellular NOTCH signaling. We identify over 100 proteins that are significantly enriched in ARMMs, including ARRDC1, TSG101 and multiple ESCRT complex proteins. About a third of ARMMs-enriched proteins are plasma membrane proteins, including the NOTCH2 receptor. The incorporation of NOTCH2 into ARMMs is facilitated by the ITCH E3 ligase and the metalloprotease ADAM10, both of which are also secreted into ARMMs. NOTCH2 in ARMMs can be delivered into recipient cells, and upon activation by γ-secretase cleavage, induces NOTCH-specific gene expression. Together, our findings reveal a role for ARMMs in a novel NOTCH signaling pathway that acts in distance and is independent of direct cell–cell contact.
Wideband Mixed-Domain Multi-Tap Finite-Impulse Response Filtering of Out-of-Band Noise Floor in Watt-Class Digital Transmitters

A major drawback of digital transmitters (DTX) is the absence of a reconstruction filter after digital-to-analog conversion which causes the baseband quantization noise to get upconverted to radio frequency and amplified at the output of the transmitter. In high power transmitters, this upconverted noise can be so strong as to prevent their use in frequency-division duplexing systems due to receiver desensitization or impose stringent coexistence challenges. In this paper, we describe a DTX that embeds mixed-domain multi-tap finite-impulse response (FIR) filtering with programmable analog sub-sample delays within a highly linear and mismatch-resilient switched-capacitor DTX architecture. It is shown that switched-capacitor power amplifiers (SCPA) in conjunction with transformer-based power combining are ideal candidates for embedding mixed-domain FIR filtering since the near-constant source impedance of the SCPA greatly aids in linear FIR summation thereby preserving the desired noise-shaping profile. Moreover, their excellent mismatch characteristics help in ensuring precise tap weights in the FIR which enhances noise suppression. The availability of multiple taps in this architecture also allows the synthesis of FIR configurations with wide notch bandwidths (BW). Theoretical analyses of this architecture and design trade-offs related to linearity, mismatch, output power, and efficiency are discussed. The implemented 65 nm CMOS prototype exhibits a peak output power of 30.3 dBm and a peak system efficiency of 34%, and achieves a noise floor of −149 dBc/Hz over a BW of 20 MHz at an offset of 135 MHz from a 2.23 GHz carrier while transmitting a 1.4 MHz 64-QAM signal with an average output power of 22 dBm.
Secondhand Smoke and Women's Cognitive Function in China

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is known to be harmful to health. However, the association between household SHS and cognitive function among middle-aged and older women in China is understudied. Lagged dependent variable regression was used to examine the association between household SHS exposure and the cognitive function of married women who had been exposed to SHS, using data from 2 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2013). Controlling for age, educational attainment, geographic residence, household expenditures, and chronic conditions (i.e., hypertension, diabetes, and depressive symptoms), the results indicated that longer SHS exposure was associated with a greater decline in memory over 2 years. After comparing differences across age groups, this pattern was significant for women aged 55-64 years. Furthermore, those who were illiterate, lived in rural areas, and reported depressive symptoms had a greater decline in memory. With evidence linking household SHS exposure with a higher risk of cognitive decline, effective education and public health intervention programs are urgently needed. Stronger tobacco control regulations and education about the dangers of household SHS are viable strategies to reduce the impending dementia epidemic in China.
A REAPPRAISAL OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DILATED AND HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY IN OLMSTED COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Dilated (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM) are leading causes of sudden cardiac death and heart failure, particularly in those under the age of 40 years. The incidence and prevalence of both DCM and HCM were originally estimated in Olmsted County, MN over 1975-1984. Incidence was 6.0 and
Extracranial Vertebral Artery Aneurysm Rupture Complicated by Extrapleural Haematoma

Introduction Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm (EVAA) and extrapleural haematoma (EH) are rare clinical findings most often associated with blunt or penetrating trauma. However, EVAA rupture can be complicated by development of a large EH. Report A 50 year old man underwent an emergency thrombectomy followed by graft reconstruction of an aorto-bi-femoral bypass. The post-operative course was complicated by respiratory failure and severe anaemia. Computed tomography revealed EVAA rupture and EH, so ligation of EVAA was performed with thoracotomy. Discussion In a patient with extensive peripheral vascular disease and rapid development of EH, the rupture of a supra-aortic vessel aneurysm might be considered.
Poly[[tetraaquadi-μ4-glutarato-μ2-terephthalato-dineodymium(III)] heptadecahydrate]

The title compound, [Nd2(C5H6O4)2(C8H4O4)(H2O)4]·17H2O, obtained via hydro­thermal reaction of Nd2O3 with glutaric acid and terephthalic acid, assembles as a three-dimensional open framework with ten-coordinate Nd–O polyhedra. The asymmetric part of the unit cell contains half a glutarate anion, a quarter of a terephthalate dianion, half an NdIII cation, one coordinated water mol­ecule and 4.25 solvent water mol­ecules. Each [NdO10] coordination polyhedron is comprised of six O atoms originating from four glutarate anions, two others from a terephthalate carboxyl­ate group, which coordinates in a bidentate fashion, and two from water mol­ecules. The Nd—O distances range from 2.4184 (18) to 2.7463 (18) A. The coordination polyhedra are inter­connected by the glutarate anions, extending as a two-dimensional layer throughout the bc plane. Individual two-dimensional layers are inter­linked via terephthalate anions along the a axis. This arrangement results in rectangular-shaped cavities with inter­stices of approximately 3.5 × 6 × 6.5 A (approximately 140 A3), which are occupied by water mol­ecules. The NdIII cations, terephthalate anions, glutarate anions and one of the inter­stitial water mol­ecules are located on special crystallographic positions. The Nd–terephthalate–Nd units are located across twofold rotation axes parallel to [100], with the NdIII cations located directly on these axes. In addition, the terephthalate anion is bis­ected by a crystallographic mirror plane perpendicular to that axis, thus creating an inversion centre in the middle of the aromatic ring. The glutarate ligand is bis­ected by a crystallographic mirror plane perpendicular to (001). One of the solvent water mol­ecules lies on a site of 2/m symmetry, and the symmetry-imposed disorder of its H atoms extends to the H atoms of the other four solvent water mol­ecules, which are disordered over two equally occupied and mutually exclusive sets of positions.
Generic Diagnosis of Amyloid: A Summary of Current Recommendations and the Editorial Comments on Chaps. 12–15

This chapter provides a brief summary of recommendations regarding current standards for the generic diagnosis of amyloidosis and outlines practical considerations and advice on the available options. Congo red stain continues to be the generally accepted standard in amyloid detection. It has been recently officially acknowledged that, besides apple-green birefringence, other anomalous colors, yellow or orange, are diagnostic of amyloid. However, successful application of the Congo red stain is dependent on many variables, including: preanalytic steps, technical issues associated with stain performance, and its interpretation, which also requires considerable experience on the part of the observer. All of these factors make the routine use of Congo red stain in general surgical pathology difficult and error-prone. In this chapter, technical issues associated with the Congo red stain and polarization, including the thickness of the sections, are summarized. Advantages and disadvantages of the use of other stains, in particular, Congo red fluorescence and Thioflavin stains, are also discussed. Finally, technical issues associated with the utilization of fat biopsy for amyloid detection and staging are considered. The detection of amyloid in tissue sections, which is considered to be the initial and the most critical step in the management of patients with amyloidosis, is entirely dependent upon the skill of the pathologist. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the level of expertise applied in the diagnosis of amyloidosis among surgical pathologists and a need to concentrate on early detection.
Anesthesia for Ablation

This chapter provides a short primer on anesthesiology for clinicians who are involved in the care of tumor ablation patients, but who have not been trained in one of the surgical subspecialties. Anesthesiologists, in the role of pain treatment specialists, have long been asked to care for patients with metastatic tumors; the role of anesthesiologists in tumor ablation therapy represents a continuation of a recent trend that has seen anesthesiologists perform their conventional services (i.e., to make the patient insensible to pain) in areas outside of the operating room. Anesthesiologists have expanded their roles in the past several years in angiography, endoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided surgical suites, in which they interact with physician and nonphysician personnel who are as unfamiliar with what the anesthesiologist needs to deliver patient care as the anesthesiologist is with the needs of the team members in these non—operating-room settings.
Mars 2020 Rover Laser Power Supply Thermomechanical Analysis

Operation of the Laser Power Supply (LPS) module provides the dual challenge of high power dissipation, and the need for strict dielectric isolation, while needing to survive in an environment on Mars that will see a chilly night-time temperature of -123°C, and to a daytime instrument environment in excess of 50°C. Additionally, power restrictions prevent the use of survival heating during the night. The harsh mechanical vibration environment of launch and landing provides an additional challenge to reliability. A multi-physics simulation was created that took into account temperature property variations, as well as solving the transient analysis that also included rapid variation in power-pulsing during the operation of the laser. The steady state analysis employed a more traditional finite element based analysis, but with provisions for Mars gas convection and thermal radiation.
Optogenetic stimulation of medial prefrontal cortex Drd1 neurons produces rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects

Impaired function in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) contributes to depression, and the therapeutic response produced by novel rapid-acting antidepressants such as ketamine are mediated by mPFC activity. The mPFC contains multiple types of pyramidal cells, but it is unclear whether a particular subtype mediates the rapid antidepressant actions of ketamine. Here we tested two major subtypes, Drd1 and Drd2 dopamine receptor expressing pyramidal neurons and found that activating Drd1 expressing pyramidal cells in the mPFC produces rapid and long-lasting antidepressant and anxiolytic responses. In contrast, photostimulation of Drd2 expressing pyramidal cells was ineffective across anxiety-like and depression-like measures. Disruption of Drd1 activity also blocked the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine. Finally, we demonstrate that stimulation of mPFC Drd1 terminals in the BLA recapitulates the antidepressant effects of somatic stimulation. These findings aid in understanding the cellular target neurons in the mPFC and the downstream circuitry involved in rapid antidepressant responses.
Antimicrobial activity of leaf and bark cinnamon essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium in broth system and on celery

Cinnamon essential oils (CEOs) from leaf and bark were investigated for their antimicrobial potential against Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes. Minimum inhibitory concentration of leaf and bark CEOs against S. typhimurium and L. monocytogenes at low (4‐log CFU/ml) and high (9‐log CFU/ml) initial concentrations was 0.5% (vol/vol). When applied on fresh celery previously inoculated with S. typhimurium or L. monocytogenes, 0.5% leaf and bark CEOs significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the growth of S. typhimurium and L. monocytogenes. Leaf and bark CEOs could give a better log reduction against L. monocytogenes inoculated at low and high initial bacterial concentrations (2.1 logs and 4.0–4.1 logs, respectively) on the celery as compared to S. typhimurium (1.8–2.0 logs and 2.8–3.2 logs in reduction, respectively), after 7 days of storage at 4°C. Hence, leaf and bark CEOs can be potential antimicrobial agents to keep fresh produce safe from Salmonella and Listeria for human consumption. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study showed that essential oils (CEOs) from cinnamon bark and leaf could be applied as natural antimicrobials to prevent contaminations of foodborne bacteria, such as Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in fresh and pre‐cut produce. The minimum inhibitory concentration of these essential oils against these pathogens was 0.5% vol/vol. Bark and leaf CEOs could be a potential antimicrobial agent to keep fresh produce safe from foodborne pathogens.
MIRABOLIC QUANTUM sl 2 $$ {\mathfrak{sl}}_2 $$

The convolution algebra of GL d -invariant functions over the space of pairs of partial n-step flags over a finite field was studied by Beilinson-Lusztig-MacPherson. They used it to give a construction of the quantum Schur algebras and, using a stabilization procedure, of the idempotented version of the quantum enveloping algebra of $$ {\mathfrak{gl}}_n $$ . In this paper we expand the construction to the mirabolic setting of triples of two partial flags and a vector, and examine the resulting convolution algebra. In the case of n = 2, we classify the finite-dimensional irreducible representations of the mirabolic quantum algebra and we prove that the category of such representations is semisimple. Finally, we describe a mirabolic version of the quantum Schur-Weyl duality, which involves the mirabolic Hecke algebra.
270. Engaged patients are more likely to be satisfied at one year following adult spinal deformity surgery

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Engaged patients are those who believe taking an active role in their care is important, possess the knowledge to manage their condition, and have the confidence to make necessary behavioral changes. Following surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD), rehabilitation is an important component of recovery. Successful delivery of rehabilitative care involves a great degree of participation and effort on the part of patients. We hypothesize that patients who are more engaged in their care will experience a better recovery course that will be express through higher levels of patient satisfaction - an important metric of quality patient care. PURPOSE To identify the association between levels of preoperative patient engagement and postoperative satisfaction among ASD patients. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 90 ASD patients (>5 levels fused) at a multiprovider, single academic institution. OUTCOME MEASURES Our primary outcome was satisfaction with the results of surgical treatment, measured by the North American Spine Society (NASS) Patient Satisfaction Index. METHODS Preoperative engagement was measured using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) score (stages 1-4) and postoperative satisfaction was measured using the NASS Patient Satisfaction Index at 1-year following surgery (satisfied vs not satisfied). Using binary logistic regression, we compared the likelihood of being satisfied with surgery across levels of patient activation after controlling for age, gender, race, education, income and marital status. Significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS A total of 90 patients were studied. Mean age was 61 ± 11 years old, 71% female. Patients had a median of 9 levels fused. Prior to surgery, 8 (8.9%) of patients were categorized as being PAM stage 1 (lowest score), 13 (14%) stage 2, 20 (22%) stage 3 and 49 (54%) stage 4 (highest score). 77 (86%) of patients were satisfied at 1-year. At 1-year, patients had significantly greater odds of satisfaction with PAM stage 3 (OR 16.2, 95% CI: 1.02 – 258.8) or 4 (OR 11.7, 95% CI: 1.4 – 97.1); however, there was no significantly greater odds of being satisfied with higher stages of preoperative activation at 3-months and 6-months following surgery (p CONCLUSIONS Patients with higher PAM scores have significantly greater odds of satisfaction at 1-year, while the PAM does not predict satisfaction at 6-months – suggesting that engagement becomes important in longer-term postoperative recovery. Clinicians may consider implementing previously proven techniques to increase patient activation in ASD patients in whom surgery is being considered. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Multi-device digital assistance

Increased availability of cloud services and ownership of multiple digital devices create unique opportunities for digital assistants to provide guidance across a range of tasks and scenarios.
An Efficient 2D Genetic Algorithm for Optimal Shift Planning Considering Daily-Wise Shift Formats: A Case of Airport Ground Staff Scheduling

Owing to the computational efficiency in dealing with combinatorial optimization problems, the genetic algorithms (GAs) have been widely applied to human resource planning and scheduling. Shift planning is of particular importance for personnel scheduling when practical concerns must be taken into account. Daily-wise shift formats are often introduced in practical operations in order to facilitate execution of the planned tasks and accommodate certain managerial convenience. However, the highly repetitive nature of running daily-wise shift formats entails an extreme imbalance of set covering between the tasks and staff availability, which leads to tremendous computational challenges in solving the combinatorial optimization problem that is subject to large redundancy of zero elements. In line with the inherent two-dimensions of shift planning in terms of shift formats and days, this paper proposes a two-dimensional (2D) encoding scheme to implement the GA for efficient shift planning. An application to a real-life airport Ground Staff Scheduling (GSS) problem is presented to illustrate the feasibility and potential of the proposed 2D GA for efficient handling of daily-wise shift formats.
Oropharyngeal carcinoma: A single institution study of 338 primaries with special reference to high-risk human papillomavirus-mediated carcinoma with aggressive behavior.

Abstract In a retrospective review, we identified 332 patients with 338 pathologically diagnosed primary oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPC) between January 2013 and March 2020 with known p16/HPV status from a tumor registry at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The tumors predominantly involved the palatine tonsil (51 %) and the base of the tongue/lingual tonsil (38 %). The most common type of cancer was non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (60 %), and the majority of primaries were p16 positive/HPV-mediated (86 %). A cohort of p16 positive/HPV mediated OPC (27/283, 9.5 %) presented with aggressive clinical behavior, including multiple distant metastases at unusual sites. Tumor size >2 cm and the presence of tumor anaplasia/multinucleation were significantly associated with an increased rate of distant metastases in p16 positive/HPV mediated cases, both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses (all P
Low birth weight and preterm birth: The emerging importance of prevention

This article on LBW and preterm birth was prepared for this issue, “Interdisciplinary Strategies for Prevention”, recognizing its US focus in relation to a European audience. Although the pregnancy and infant health magnitude of the problem is greater in North America, its multifactorial nature and serious impacts are experienced worldwide. Emphasis has been placed on its high costs vis-a-vis neonatal mortality, childhood morbidity, and medical care expenditures for tertiary level management.
Deep Eutectic Solvent Formed by Imidazolium Cyanopyrrolide and Ethylene Glycol for Reactive CO2 Separations

Solvents made from a reactive ionic liquid, with an imidazolium cation and pyrrolide anion, and ethylene glycol at a wide compositional range were studied for separations of CO2 at low partial pres...
Machine learning in combinatorial polymer chemistry

The design of new functional polymers depends on the successful navigation of their structure-function landscapes. Advances in combinatorial polymer chemistry and machine learning provide exciting opportunities for the engineering of fit-for-purpose polymeric materials. The design of new functional polymers depends on the successful navigation of their structure-function landscapes. Advances in combinatorial polymer chemistry and machine learning provide exciting opportunities for the engineering of fit-for-purpose polymeric materials.
Computational workflows for assessing student learning

The use of technology for instruction, and the enormous amount of information available for consumption, places a considerable burden on instructors who must learn to integrate appropriate student practices and learning assessment The Pedagogical Workflows project is developing a novel workflow environment that supports efficient assessment of student learning through interactive generation and execution of various assessment workflows We focus especially on how student discussion use can be combined with more traditional assessment data In this paper, we present our initial assessment workflows, the initial feedback from instructors, and the user portal that is being developed for running the workflows Inherent in the development of the workflows is an examination of what teachers think is important to learn about their students, a question that is central to every intelligent tutoring system We anticipate that assessment workflows will become an important tool for instructors, researchers, and ITS development.
Visual Comfort Analysis of Innovative Interior and Exterior Shading Systems for Commercial Buildings using High Resolution Luminance Images

AbstractThe objective of this study was to explore how calibrated high dynamic range (HDR) images (luminance maps) acquired in real world daylit environments can be used to characterize, evaluate, and compare visual comfort conditions of innovative facade shading and light-redirecting systems. Detailed (1536 × 1536 pixel) luminance maps were time-lapse acquired from two view positions in an unoccupied full scale testbed facility. These maps were analyzed using existing visual comfort metrics to quantify how innovative interior and exterior shading systems compare to conventional systems under real sun and sky conditions over a solstice-to-solstice test interval. The results provide a case study in the challenges and potential of methods of visualizing, evaluating and summarizing daily and seasonal variation of visual comfort conditions computed from large sets of image data.
MPEG-4 status and directions

This paper presents a review of the evolving ISO MPEG-4 standard for coding audio and visual information. MPEG-4 is the next generation audio visual coding standard that promises to provide new ways for communication, access and manipulation of audio-visual information. It is being defined to provide a flexible framework and an open set of coding tools for supporting a number of useful functionalities that are not easily supported by the existing compression standards. In this paper the current status of the standard is reviewed and its future directions and potential applications are explored.
Assessing poverty-alleviation outcomes of an enterprise-led approach to sanitation

Inadequate sanitation negatively affects the lives of billions of people in the base of the pyramid (BoP) in the developing world, and has a particularly substantial impact on the well-being of millions of young children. Given the magnitude of the challenge and the limitations of existing approaches, enterprise-led approaches to providing public goods are generating growing interest. Emphasizing convergent innovation, enterprises targeting the BoP are presented as potentially sustainable and scalable interventions that generate positive poverty-alleviation effects. Yet our understanding of who is affected, and how, remains limited. To begin to address this gap, we apply a multidimensional framework to an urban-based, sanitation-oriented BoP enterprise, focusing on its poverty-alleviation effects on young children. Our analysis indicates that the enterprise's effects include changes in capability, economic, and relationship well-being and that these changes can be positive or negative. We also find that the impact varies depending on the role of the stakeholder in the business model and the age of the child. Our results contribute to a better understanding of how to assess the effectiveness of a sanitation intervention and how to evaluate the poverty-alleviation implications of an enterprise-led approach.
On the center-of-gravity method of yield maximization

The center-of-gravity method of yield maximization has previously been shown numerically to be effective in diverse situations. We show that for jointly Gaussian parameters that are either uncorrelated or linearly independent the exact CG method converges.
Autonomous inter-task transfer in reinforcement learning domains

Reinforcement learning (RL) methods have become popular in recent years because of their ability to solve complex tasks with minimal feedback. While these methods have had experimental successes and have been shown to exhibit some desirable properties in theory, the basic learning algorithms have often been found slow in practice. Therefore, much of the current RL research focuses on speeding up learning by taking advantage of domain knowledge, or by better utilizing agents' experience. The ambitious goal of transfer learning, when applied to RL tasks, is to accelerate learning on some target task after training on a different, but related, source task. This dissertation demonstrates that transfer learning methods can successfully improve learning in RL tasks via experience from previously learned tasks. Transfer learning can increase RL's applicability to difficult tasks by allowing agents to generalize their experience across learning problems. This dissertation presents inter-task mappings, the first transfer mechanism in this area to successfully enable transfer between tasks with different state variables and actions. Inter-task mappings have subsequently been used by a number of transfer researchers. A set of six transfer learning algorithms are then introduced. While these transfer methods differ in terms of what base RL algorithms they are compatible with, what type of knowledge they transfer, and what their strengths are, all utilize the same inter-task mapping mechanism. These transfer methods can all successfully use mappings constructed by a human from domain knowledge, but there may be situations in which domain knowledge is unavailable, or insufficient, to describe how two given tasks are related. We therefore also study how inter-task mappings can be learned autonomously by leveraging existing machine learning algorithms. Our methods use classification and regression techniques to successfully discover similarities between data gathered in pairs of tasks, culminating in what is currently one of the most robust mapping-learning algorithms for RL transfer. Combining transfer methods with these similarity-learning algorithms allows us to empirically demonstrate the plausibility of autonomous transfer. We fully implement these methods in four domains (each with different salient characteristics), show that transfer can significantly improve an agent's ability to learn in each domain, and explore the limits of transfer's applicability.
Practical network support for IP traceback

This paper describes a technique for tracing anonymous packet flooding attacks in the Internet back towards their source. This work is motivated by the increased frequency and sophistication of denial-of-service attacks and by the difficulty in tracing packets with incorrect, or ``spoofed'', source addresses. In this paper we describe a general purpose traceback mechanism based on probabilistic packet marking in the network. Our approach allows a victim to identify the network path(s) traversed by attack traffic without requiring interactive operational support from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Moreover, this traceback can be performed ``post-mortem'' -- after an attack has completed. We present an implementation of this technology that is incrementally deployable, (mostly) backwards compatible and can be efficiently implemented using conventional technology.
Contextual fear conditioning: connecting brain glucose sensing and hippocampal-dependent memories.

Ensembles of spatial-temporal cues determine the context associated with a given episodic memory, and efficient encoding of such cues is critical for producing appropriate behavioral reactions to emotionally charged contexts. Growing evidence suggests that deficiencies in the neural mechanisms regulating contextual memory formation constitute a central component of posttraumatic stress disorder. Because the hippocampus plays a critical role in consolidating contextual spatialtemporal cues, it is plausible to assume that impaired hippocampal function may be causally linked to poor trauma contextual memories and to the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder. Rodent studies have convincingly demonstrated that glucose administration greatly enhances memory performance in numerous challenging tasks (1). In this issue of Biological Psychiatry, an elegant study by Glenn et al. (2) extended this principle to fear learning in humans, where evidence is provided to support the concept that glucose consumption leads to superior retention of hippocampal-dependent contextual learning—as shown by acoustic startle responses and expectancy ratings for an aversive (mild shock) unconditioned stimulus. Contextual fear conditioning thus appears to link neuronal glucose sensing to hippocampaldependent memory formation in humans. Although glucose may improve hippocampus-dependent context encoding, much remains to be learned about the mechanisms by which hippocampal neurons sense local variations in the levels of glucose. But how may neurons sense local changes in glucose availability in the first place? The so-called glucosensing neurons are cells whose membrane potential appears to be under direct control of glucose availability. Such neurons are named “glucose-excited” or “glucose-inhibited” according to whether their firing rate counts increase or decrease, respectively, in response to local changes in glucose provision (3). The mechanisms controlling glucose-excited neuronal firing are believed to be similar to the mechanisms operating in insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas (4). In these cells, intracellular glucose metabolism is controlled by glucokinase (GK), the rate-limiting factor in neuronal glycolysis (4). The action of GK on glucose activates an intracellular cascade of signaling events leading to increases in cytosolic adenosine triphosphate (ATP)/adenosine diphosphate ratios, with consequent closure of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, the net effect of which is membrane depolarization (3). These KATP channels appear to be critical for neurons to respond to local changes in glucose availability. Evidence exists favoring a central role for KATP channels in controlling hippocampal function and specifically in contextual
Abstract 1408: Nicotine decreases the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in vivo

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Background: Continued tobacco use during cancer treatment has been associated with poor outcome. Nicotine replacement is currently used as a standard of care for smoking cessation in cancer patients; however, prior data demonstrates that nicotine can promote tumor growth and decrease the effectiveness of cancer treatment in vitro. Methods: Athymic nude mice with human H460 lung cancer cell xenografts were stratified into three Groups beginning when tumors reached 5 mm in maximal dimension: control (CON), short term nicotine (STN, 60 ug subcutaneously every other day x 6 days), or long term nicotine (LTN, 60 ug SC every other day until tumor endpoint). Within each Group, mice were further stratified into three Treatments consisting of saline (SAL), radiotherapy (RT, 3 Gy daily x 5 days), or chemoradiotherapy (CRT, RT + concurrent cisplatin intraperitoneally 3 mg/kg daily x 5 days). Tumor volumes were measured and compared between Treatments and Groups (n=10 per Treatment within each Group). This protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Kentucky. Results: In CON animals, RT (199 uL at day 30) or CRT (100 uL at day 30) significantly prevented tumor regrowth as compared with control SAL animals (864 uL at day 10 requiring euthanasia as per protocol). As expected, CRT was more effective than RT (p<0.05). Nicotine administration alone (STN or LTN) had no effect on tumor growth rate as compared with CON. In contrast, administration of LTN significantly increased tumor regrowth in RT animals (356 uL at day 30, p<0.05) and CRT treated animals (170 uL ad day 30, p<0.05). To eliminate the effects of nicotine on proliferation following completion of RT or CRT, animals were treated with STN. Administration of STN also significantly increased tumor regrowth in RT animals (328 uL at day 30, p<0.05) and CRT animals (176 uL at day 30, p<0.05) with virtually identical regrowth curves as demonstrated for LTN animals. Conclusions: Results demonstrate that nicotine significantly reduces the efficacy of RT and CRT in vivo. Moreover, data suggest that nicotine use during treatment is the primary determinant of decreased therapeutic response. These results may significantly alter current recommendations for smoking cessation in cancer treatment populations. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1408.
Effects of Batrachotoxin on Nerve Membrane Potential and Conductances

BATRACHOTOXIN (BTX) is an alkaloid (C31H42N2O6, molecular weight 538) obtained from the skin secretion of the frog, Phyllobates aurotaenia. The toxin blocks neuromuscular transmission in the rat and toad1 by a selective increase in sodium permeability of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic membranes2. We have found that the squid axon membrane is effectively depolarized by BTX as a result of an increase in resting membrane permeability to sodium ions.
Option listing and the stock-price response to earnings announcements

Abstract We examine the effect of option listing on the immediate stock-price response to earnings announcements. Contrary to prior studies using earlier data, we find firms initiating option trading after 1986 fail to exhibit a significant decline in earnings response. We then examine 420 firms initiating option trading during 1973–1993. In a series of tests controlling for market-wide effects and changing firm size we find some evidence that option listing may actually increase the stock-price response to earnings, but no evidence listing reduces the response. Both longitudinal and cross-sectional tests produce similar results.
Evaluating Nutrient Availability in Semi-arid Soils with Resin Capsules and Conventional Soil Tests, I: Native Plant Bioavailability under Glasshouse Conditions

Resin capsule technology developed for nutrient analysis in agriculture soils recently has been expanded to semi-arid soils without knowledge of effectiveness. This study determined if resin nutrient adsorption is correlated to plant uptake and yield in semi-arid soils. Two soils were treated with five rates of nitrogen (N) and four rates of phosphorus (P), placed in pots with resin capsules, seeded with squirreltail grass (Elymus elymoides), and grown in a glasshouse for 120 d followed by biomass determination and nutrient analysis of capsules, soils, and tissues. Yield and total nutrient uptake were highly correlated to fertilizer application rates, resin ammonium (NH4)-N, and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)–extracted P; marginally correlated to resin and potassium chloride (KCl)–extracted nitrate (NO3)-N, and unrelated to KCl-extracted NH4-N and resin P. Use of resin capsules to estimate N bioavailability is promising, but P bioavailability is not effectively estimated with resin capsules; instead traditio...
The effects of arsenic overpressure in metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy of GaAs and InAs

Abstract GaAs and InAS grown by metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy (MOMBE) using trimethyl compounds and arsenic are compared. Not only the substrate temperature but also the arsenic overpressure play a very important role in affecting the growth rates. A simple growth kinetics model for MOMBE of InAs can explain quantitatively the growth behavior for various substrate temperatures and arsenic pressure.
Cumulative sum curves and their prediction limits.

W p p 3 m t d a e s d n this issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Dr Brevig and colleagues [1] describe their program to reduce lood transfusions in cardiac surgery. Their analysis of he changes in operative mortality during this process ses the risk-adjusted cumulative sum (CUSUM) of oberved minus expected deaths. We previously discussed his method [2], but the “bullet-shaped” prediction limits hat we used, which give rise to an expanding interval ver time, raised some concern. Recently a statistically ophisticated cardiac surgeon asked, “Why do these ntervals get wider, rather than narrower, as the number
Application of inorganic chemistry for non-cancer therapeutics

)–HMC diacetate, 3 show that zinc is six-coordinate in adistorted octahedral environment bound to four equatorial N atoms from the macrocycle and two axialacetato O atoms. The 14-membered metallo-macrocycle adopts a trans-III (RRSS) conﬁguration with twosix-membered rings in chair forms and two ﬁve-membered rings in gauche forms. In the chloridoZn(
Perturbation theory of the electronic properties in strongly correlated solids.

In an attempt to obtain a better description than the local-density approximation (LDA) for the electronic structure of realistic narrow-band systems, we have studied a perturbation-theory method for the self-energy and have tested it on the electronic properties of the periodic one-dimensional Anderson model. For a number of models we have calculated a wide range of properties such as quasiparticle energies, spectral densities, reduced hybridizations, and various magnetic correlation functions. For two different models we were able to compare with Monte Carlo results and found good agreement. In general, we have obtained a description of narrow-band systems that is more reasonable than the one given by the LDA.
Solution structure of a metal-binding site in the major groove of RNA complexed with cobalt (III) hexammine.

Abstract Background: Solvated metal ions are critical for the proper folding and function of RNA. Despite the importance of these ions, the details of specific metal ion–RNA interactions are poorly understood. The crystal structure of a group I intron ribozyme domain characterized several metal-binding sites in the RNA with osmium (III) hexammine bound in the major groove. A corresponding method for locating and characterizing metal-binding sites of RNA in solution is of obvious interest. NMR should be ideal for localizing metal hexammine ions bound to the RNA because of the large concentration of protons around the metal center. Results: We have solved the solution structure of the P5b stem loop from a group I intron ribozyme bound to a cobalt (III) hexammine ion. The location of the ion is precisely determined by intermolecular nuclear Overhausser effect cross-peaks between the cobalt (III) hexammine protons and both exchangeable and non-exchangeable RNA protons in the major groove. The binding site consists of tandem G–U base pairs in a sequence of four consecutive G residues ending in a GAAA tetraloop, as originally identified in the crystal structure. The edges of the bases in the major groove present an electrostatically negative face and a variety of hydrogen-bond acceptors for the cobalt (III) hexammine ion. The metal ion ligand is bound near the guanosine nucleotides of the adjacent G–U base pairs, where it makes hydrogen bonds with the N7 and carbonyl groups of both guanines. The carbonyl groups of the uracil residues add to the negative surface of the binding pocket, but do not form hydrogen bonds with the hexammine. Additional hydrogen bonds form with other guanine residues of the GGGG sequence. The structure of the binding site does not change significantly on binding the cobalt (III) hexammine. The structure of the complex in solution is very similar to the structure in the crystal. Conclusions: The structure presents a picture of how tandem G–U base pairs bind and position metal ions within the RNA major groove. The binding site is performed in the absence of metal ions, and presents a negative pocket in the major groove with a variety of hydrogen-bond acceptors. Because G–U base pairs are such a common motif in RNA sequences, it is possible that this RNA–metal ion interaction is critical in forming large complex RNA structures such as those found in the ribosome and self-splicing introns. This structure was determined using cobalt (III) hexammine as an analog for hexahydrated magnesium, a technique that may be applicable to other RNA sequences. Metal hexammines may prove to be useful general probes for locating RNA metal ion binding sites in solution.
The greatest impact of war and conflict

OBJECTIVE To review the available literature, explore developmental vulnerability, and highlight long-term outcomes found in children exposed to complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs). DESIGN Literature review. RESULTS Children involved in CHEs are at risk for a number of poor long-term outcomes. Children exposed to malnutrition during the first two trimesters and early in life are at risk for poor cognitive, behavioral and psychological function. The existing literature consistently describes the high incidence of psychological trauma experienced by children involved in CHEs. There is limited research examining the long-term outcomes and/or effectiveness of interventions applied in these children. CONCLUSIONS These insults affect children's subsequent development and diminish their ability to function successfully as adults. Communities suffer from these insults for decades as these children become the adults challenged with rebuilding their societies and avoiding future conflict. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Recognition of children's vulnerability, advocacy on the part of child health professionals and inclusion of appropriately trained child health specialists on emergency response teams are critical to minimizing children's risk of poor long-term outcome. It is important to recognize the great amount of variability in children's resiliency and coping abilities. This variability is determined by a number of factors that are both fixed and modifiable. There are several broad, conceptual approaches that child health professional can employ to modify these factors, empower children and optimize long-term outcome. Future research designed to examine these issues is greatly needed.