cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning geometric hashing functions for model-based object recognition

A major problem associated with geometric hashing and methods which have emerged from it is the non-uniform distribution of invariants over the hash space. This problem can affect the performance of the method significantly. Finding a "good" geometric hash function which redistributes the invariants uniformly over the hash space is not easy. In this paper, a new approach is proposed for alleviating the above problem. It is based on the use of an "elastic hash table" which is implemented as a self-organizing feature map neural network (SOFM-NN). In contrast to existing approaches which try to redistribute the invariants over the hash bins, we proceed oppositely, spreading the hash bins over the invariants. During training, the SOFM-NN resembles an elastic net which deforms over the hash space. The objective of the deformation process is to spread more hash bins in hash space areas which are heavily occupied and less hash bins in lower density areas. The advantage of the proposed approach is that it is a process that adapts to the invariants through learning. Hence, it makes absolutely no assumptions about the statistical characteristics of the invariants and the geometric hash function is actually computed through learning. Furthermore, the well known "topology preserving" property of the SOFM-NN guarantees that the computed geometric hash function should be well behaved. Finally, the proposed approach is inherently parallelizable. >
Learning processes in physician education: integrating psyche and soma.

There was a wide range of difference in the way fifty-five third-year medical students wrote about a hypothetical medical patient with abdominal complaints and mild schizophrenic traits. The written exercise served as a projective test. Twenty-five wrote from a singularly psychological orientation; eighteen mentioned possible somatic disease in terms of dichotomy, psychic vs. somatic; twelve wrote in terms that allowed for the possible coexistence of psychic and somatic diseases. In each of these groups there were a few who demonstrated a relatively extreme attitude. The latter tend to represent a type of learning problem involving compartmentalized thinking. The three such students who dichotomized also demonstrated a tendency for strong ambivalence, vigorous likes and dislikes.One of the students who made a strong dichotomy between psyche and soma is the subject of a more intensive study of his learning processes. Hypotheses are suggested to explain how the physician learns to regard the “whole man” in ...
Abnormal Baroreflex Responses in Patients With Idiopathic Orthostatic Intolerance

Background—Patients diagnosed with idiopathic orthostatic intolerance report symptoms of lightheadedness, fatigue, and nausea accompanied by an exaggerated tachycardia when assuming the upright posture. Often, these symptoms are present in the absence of any decrease in arterial pressure. We hypothesized that patients with idiopathic orthostatic intolerance would have impaired cardiac vagal and integrated baroreflex function, lower blood volume, and increased venous compliance. Methods and Results—Sixteen patients and 14 healthy control subjects underwent the modified Oxford technique to assess cardiac vagal baroreflex sensitivity. Progressive lower-body negative pressure (to –50 mm Hg; LBNP) was used to examine the integrated baroreflex response to progressive hypovolemic stimuli. Blood volume and venous compliance were also assessed. Patients with idiopathic orthostatic intolerance had lower cardiac vagal baroreflex sensitivity (12±1 versus 25±4 ms/mm Hg; P≤0.01). The integrated baroreflex response to l...
A mode-averaging diversity combiner

A diversity-combining technique is described which reduces frequency distortion caused by multipath propagation in high-frequency single- or double-sideband voice radio transmission. By repetitively sweeping a null through the vertical polar pattern of the receiving antenna, the relative amplitude of signal components arriving by the various propagation modes is varied at a rate which is high compared with the highest audio modulating frequency. A running average of the time-varying resultant of the various mode voltages is diode-rectified to extract the audio intelligence. Transmission nulls caused by mode interference at particular frequencies in the radio spectrum are filled in by this averaging process. The technique requires no more equipment than conventional combining and would appear to offer superior performance. A test of a three-channel version of a combiner using this principle has now been made. To demonstrate the most distinctive feature of the combiner, its ability to fill in mode-interference nulls or minima in a radio channel, special frequency-modulated transmissions were used. It was found that substantial null filling occurred and that, as expected, the filling in is more effective when a pair of antennas is spaced along the line to the distant station than when the same pair is spaced transversely with respect to that line. It is concluded that the theory of this combining operation, as described in this paper, is correct to a first order of accuracy.
Components of the Solution-Based Casework Child Welfare Practice Model That Predict Positive Child Outcomes

While a number of studies have shown the efficacy of the solution-based casework (SBC) practice model for child welfare (e.g., Antle, Christensen, van Zyl, & Barbee, 2012), the current analysis examines the top ranked behaviors in cases reaching outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being in both high adherence and low adherence cases. Sixteen top behaviors seem to have the greatest impact on outcomes, all of which are key to the three major theoretical orientations utilized in SBC. Thus, these results not only narrow in on the key behaviors that drive success in the practice model, but also shows the utility of the theoretical underpinnings of the practice model.
Current Control of Induction Machines in the Field-Weakened Region

This paper presents a novel current regulation algorithm for induction machines that enables smooth operation and maximum torque-per-ampere capability over the entire field-weakened region. The algorithm enables robust current regulation with maximum torque capability despite significant variation in voltage source and machine parameters. The algorithm identifies when the current regulator begins to saturate and determines the optimum d-axis current command for the machine. The q-axis current command is determined as a function of the torque command and the d-axis current feedback. In the field-weakened region, the q-axis current is monitored not to exceed the maximum q-axis current. The maximum q-axis current is calculated based on the maximum slip frequency, which is a function of rotor frequency, q-axis current ges maximum q-axis current (in motoring mode) indicates that the machine entered field-weakened region II, and the q-axis current is limited to its maximum value. Experimental results from a machine prototype show that the algorithm provides good overall dynamic response and smooth transitions into the field-weakened region with maximum torque-per-ampere capability in all four quadrants of operation
Enhanced WiFi ToF indoor positioning system with MEMS-based INS and pedometric information

The most common technology for outdoor positioning is GNSS. It is commonly used together with inertial sensors to compensate for poor reception and to help determine outlier measurements. In dense areas and indoors, GPS performance degrades or is not available at all. In indoor environments WiFi is one of the most popular radios; it is not surprising therefore that WiFi is often used for positioning. Specifically, time-based range measurements are emerging as the leading WiFi indoor positioning technology. Because this technique is quite new, its coverage might be limited in the near future. In this paper we present a highly accurate indoor positioning system which is based on a new WiFi technology (protocol) [1] and on MEMS inertial sensors. This system fuses together WiFi time-of-flight (ToF) range measurements, INS-based position velocity and attitude measurements, and pedometric information. It harnesses the advantages of each of these components while compensating for their individual disadvantages. WiFi ToF typically exhibits good performance but suffers from outliers, coverage and dependency of Access Points (AP) deployment geometry (DoP). The INS solution is highly accurate but diverges quickly with time. Pedometric information (PDR) suffers from overall poor performance, inability to determine direction of movement (heading) and exhausting per-user calibration. Our solution uses WiFi ToF measurements and pedometric information to restrict the INS solution. We describe the INS model, the fusion model, and show exciting results from a real world environment.
A Generative Model for OCT Retinal Layer Segmentation by Integrating Graph-Based Multi-surface Searching and Image Registration

We proposed a generative probabilistic modeling framework for automated segmentation of retinal layers from Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) data. The objective is to learn a segmentation protocol from a collection of training images that have been manually labeled. Our model results in a novel OCT retinal layer segmentation approach which integrates algorithms of simultaneous searching of multiple interacting layer interfaces, image registration and machine learning. Different from previous work, our approach combines the benefits of constraining spatial layout of retinal layers, using a set of more robust local image descriptors, employing a mechanism for learning from manual labels and incorporating the inter-subject anatomical similarities of retina. With a set of OCT volumetric images from mutant canine retinas, we experimentally validated that our approach outperforms two state-of-the-art techniques.
5 Proposals to Ponder in the New Year

As we head into 2016, clearly there are some significant issues and changes pending and under review regarding the conduct of clinical research following the tenets of good clinical practice. As we begin another year and not too many questions have been coming in to answer in the usual Q&A format
Sex-specific regulation of Lgr3 in Drosophila neurons.

The development of sexually dimorphic morphology and the potential for sexually dimorphic behavior in Drosophila are regulated by the Fruitless (Fru) and Doublesex (Dsx) transcription factors. Several direct targets of Dsx have been identified, but direct Fru targets have not been definitively identified. We show that Drosophila leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 3 (Lgr3) is regulated by Fru and Dsx in separate populations of neurons. Lgr3 is a member of the relaxin-receptor family and a receptor for Dilp8, necessary for control of organ growth. Lgr3 expression in the anterior central brain of males is inhibited by the B isoform of Fru, whose DNA binding domain interacts with a short region of an Lgr3 intron. Fru A and C isoform mutants had no observed effect on Lgr3 expression. The female form of Dsx (DsxF) separately up- and down-regulates Lgr3 expression in distinct neurons in the abdominal ganglion through female- and male-specific Lgr3 enhancers. Excitation of neural activity in the DsxF–up-regulated abdominal ganglion neurons inhibits female receptivity, indicating the importance of these neurons for sexual behavior. Coordinated regulation of Lgr3 by Fru and Dsx marks a point of convergence of the two branches of the sex-determination hierarchy.
Managing the Clues in Cancer Care

After building a strong relationship with her medical oncologist and giving informed consent for intensive chemotherapy, a middle-aged woman with newly diagnosed large cell lymphoma was ushered through an unmarked door into a large, poorly lighted, windowless room. She saw12 closely spaced infusion chairs, separated only by thin, dingy curtains. Nurses with their backs to the patients sat in front of computer monitors scattered throughout the room. She found little room to navigate through patients, family members, and staff on her way to the only available chair. Although she hadmanaged her fears with poise during the preceding weeks, she now experienced severe anxiety and a sudden loss of confidence in her oncologist. Cancer care is a high-emotion service. The need for the service alone elicits intense emotions. Patients’ experiences, good and bad, accumulate as a result of clues embedded in these experiences. Clues are the signals patients perceive in using a service. When interacting with a system of care, patients filter clues, organizing them into a set of impressions. Patients may perceive clues rationally or emotionally, and clues may be defined by their presence or absence. Optimizing cancer patients’ service experiences requires sensitive management of the clues that comprise the overall service. Well-managed clues can evoke positive feelings, such as trust and hope. Poorly managed clues can exacerbate negative emotions, such as anxiety, stress, helplessness, anger, and fear. Themore important, variable, complex, and personal the service, the more cluesensitive customers are likely to be. Few services are more important, variable, complex, and personal than cancer care. Cancer patients are likely to be acutely aware of experiential clues during health care. What may seem to clinicians and staff to be a minor detail can constitute a powerful stimulus to patients. As one cancer patient said in an interview: “Patients are ultra-sensitive to the doctor’s words as clues to whether they will live or die.”
Factors affecting implementation of an evidence-based practice in the Veterans Health Administration: Illness management and recovery.

Objective Illness management and recovery (IMR) is an evidence-based practice that assists consumers in managing their illnesses and pursuing personal recovery goals. Although research has examined factors affecting IMR implementation facilitated by multifaceted, active roll-outs, the current study attempted to elucidate factors affecting IMR implementation outside the context of a research-driven implementation. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 20 local recovery coordinators and 18 local IMR experts were conducted at 23 VA medical centers. Interviews examined perceived and experienced barriers and facilitators to IMR implementation. Data were analyzed via thematic inductive/deductive analysis in the form of crystallization/immersion. Results Six factors differed between sites implementing IMR from those not providing IMR: awareness of IMR, importer-champions, autonomy-supporting leadership, veteran-centered care, presence of a sensitive period, and presence of a psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery center. Four factors were common in both groups: recovery orientation, evidence-based practices orientation, perceived IMR fit within program structure, and availability of staff time. Conclusions and implications for practice IMR can be adopted in lieu of active implementation support; however, knowledge dissemination appears to be key. Future research should examine factors affecting the quality of implementation.
Diseases and mechanisms of persistent DNA virus infection: latency and cellular transformation.

Dr. Jackson, Dr. Horstmann, Dr. Sanford: it is a special pleasure to address fellow members of this Society and their guests. We harbor a remarkable array of herpesviruses: herpes simplex viruses (HSV, both type 1 and type 2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegaloviruses (CMV, types yet to be distinguished with certainty), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). After we are infected--any time from in utero to the third or fourth decade of life-with these six morphologically similar yet different viruses, the agent or the genome of each persists for life. Each genome has a molecular weight of about 100 million daltons. These impedimenta for the most part we carry lightly, but at times our burden is suddenly manifest. And what diverse manifestations! The first in-
It was a Dark and Stagnant Night (‘til the Jadids Brought the Light): Clichés, Biases, and False Dichotomies in the Intellectual History of Central Asia

This essay presents a broad critique of prevailing approaches to and assumptions about Jadidism, arguing that much earlier scholarship on the Jadids has misconstrued key aspects of their ‘program’ and has exaggerated their originality, impact, and importance. Following introductory discussions of the recurrent motifs and claims found in ‘Jadidocentric’ scholarship, the essay considers five issues in particular: (1) the academic bias through which scholars have taken the Jadids’ critique as reliably descriptive rather than polemical; (2) the neglect of earlier Central Asian manifestations of critiques similar to the Jadids’; (3) the analytical drawbacks of the notion of ‘modernity’ as used to characterize the Jadids; (4) neglect or denial of the religious character of the Jadids’ program; and (5) inattention to the wider intellectual history of Central Asia before and during the era of the Jadids.
Parallel operation scheme of active power filter

To ensure the power supply reliability,sometimes two buses may be connected by a closed circuit breaker to feed nonlinear loads.When the passive filter is applied in harmonic suppression,the harmonic current may flow through the circuit breaker and filter branches.A harmonic suppression scheme with APFs (Active Power Filters) in parallel operation is developed.The causes of harmonic walking-through and the principle of its restraint by APFs are analyzed.The filtering effect is compared between the distributed passive filters and parallel APFs based on PSCAD / EMTDC for two operating conditions:the load disturbance and the on-off of passive filters.Simulative results show that,the harmonic suppression scheme with APFs in parallel operation has no problems existing in the harmonic suppression scheme with distributed passive filters,such as low harmonic current absorption ratio,harmonic current walking-through,filtering branch overload,poor power quality and so on.
The effect of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) on 3'-azido-3'-deoxythimidine (AZT)-mediated biochemical and cytotoxic effects on normal human myeloid progenitor cells

Administration of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) causes significant anemia and neutropenia. The bone marrow cytotoxicity of AZT has been attributed to deoxyribonucleotide pool perturbations that might result in impaired DNA synthesis in normal bone marrow elements. We examined the effect of human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) on AZT-mediated biochemical perturbations and in vitro growth inhibition of normal bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells. Exposure of nonadherent, bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) to 100 ng/ml of rGM-CSF for 6 h resulted in approximately twofold increments in the mean intracellular deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) and thymidine triphosphate (dTTP) levels. Administration of 10 microM AZT alone to BMMC for 6 h markedly reduced dCTP and dTTP levels and generated significant levels of AZT triphosphate (AZT-TP). Coadministration of rGM-CSF (100 ng/ml) along with AZT (10 microM) partly restored dCTP and dTTP levels and significantly reduced AZT-TP levels. Furthermore, simultaneous exposure of BMMC for 4 h to 100 ng/ml of rGM-CSF reduced the mean DNA incorporation of [3H]AZT (10 microM) from 27.2 to 19.1 pmol/micrograms of DNA. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of AZT (10 microM) on granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) colony growth were significantly reduced in the presence of 100 ng/ml of rGM-CSF. These in vitro studies suggest that rGM-CSF partly corrects AZT-mediated biochemical perturbations as well as reduces the cytotoxicity of AZT in normal human bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells.
Instrumentation and Techniques for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

This article describes and compares the predominant systems for performing therapeutic drug monitoring. Advantages and disadvantages, costs, and future trends are noted. Useful information for the initiation or expansion of this clinical service is provided.
An update discussion on the current assessment of the safety of veterinary antimicrobial drug residues in food with regard to their impact on the human intestinal microbiome

The human gastrointestinal tract ecosystem consists of complex and diverse microbial communities that have now been collectively termed the intestinal microbiome. Recent scientific breakthroughs and research endeavours have increased our understanding of the important role the intestinal microbiome plays in human health and disease. The use of antimicrobial new animal drugs in food-producing animals may result in the presence of low levels of drug residues in edible foodstuffs. There is concern that antimicrobial new animal drugs in or on animal-derived food products at residue-level concentrations could disrupt the colonization barrier and/or modify the antimicrobial resistance profile of human intestinal bacteria. Therapeutic doses of antimicrobial drugs have been shown to promote shifts in the intestinal microbiome, and these disruptions promote the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. To assess the effects of antimicrobial new animal drug residues in food on human intestinal bacteria, many national regulatory agencies and international committees follow a harmonized process, VICH GL36(R), which was issued by a trilateral organization of the European Union, the USA, and Japan called the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH). The guidance describes a general approach currently used by national regulatory agencies and international committees to assess the effects of antimicrobial new animal drug residues in animal-derived food on human intestinal bacteria. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of this current approach as part of the antimicrobial new animal drug approval process in participating countries, give insights on the microbiological endpoints used in this safety evaluation, and discuss the availability of new information. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Old English Manuscripts: The Scribal Deconstruction of “Early” Northumbrian

(1990). Old English Manuscripts: The Scribal Deconstruction of “Early” Northumbrian. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 48-55.
Antithrombotic Effects of a FXI Antisense Oligonucleotide in Mice

FXI, a component of the intrinsic pathway of coagulation, contributes to the generation of thrombin and is also activated by thrombin on the surface of platelets, resulting in further amplification of the coagulation process. Reports have shown that FXI deficiency in mice or in humans is generally not associated with major bleeding yet is associated with reduced risk for thromboembolic disease. To determine whether targeting FXI with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can produce antithrombotic activity without increasing risk of bleeding, a series of 2nd Generation 2′- O -methoxyethyl modified ASOs were identified that specifically reduce levels of FXI in mice and were evaluated for antithrombotic activity and bleeding potential. Mice were dosed with FXI ASO (ISIS 404071) subcutaneously for three weeks. FXI ASO treatment resulted in a dosedependent and specific reduction in FXI mRNA levels in liver and FXI protein levels in plasma with an ED50 of 3.2 mg/kg. These reductions in FXI levels correlated well with a prolongation of aPTT with no effects on PT prolongation. The anticoagulant effect of FXI ASO treatment also correlated well with antithrombotic activity in a 10% FeCl3 induced IVC thrombosis mouse model across a wide dose range. Furthermore, FXI ASO treatment was generally well tolerated and no prolongation of tail bleeding time was observed at any dose tested, indicating a broad safety margin for FXI ASO targeting. Additional studies using intravital microscopy to study the effects of FXI ASO treatment on thrombosis formation in the mesenteric vein following 10% FeCl3 injury demonstrated that FXI ASO treatment significantly impeded platelet aggregation at the site of vessel injury, thrombus growth and vessel occlusion. Studies to further evaluate the safety of FXI targeting were conducted using a mouse model of intracerebral hemorrhage induced by intracranial injection of collagenase. In this model, FXI ASO treatment had no effect on hemorrhagic size, neurologic deficit score, or mortality at doses well above that needed to produce maximal antithrombotic activity. These results strongly suggest that FXI is an effective and safe target for antithrombotic therapy and that antisense drug technology could be an attractive approach to specifically target FXI for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.
Using a computer simulation for teaching communication skills: A blinded multisite mixed methods randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objectives To assess advanced communication skills among second-year medical students exposed either to a computer simulation (MPathic-VR) featuring virtual humans, or to a multimedia computer-based learning module, and to understand each group’s experiences and learning preferences. Methods A single-blinded, mixed methods, randomized, multisite trial compared MPathic-VR (N = 210) to computer-based learning (N = 211). Primary outcomes: communication scores during repeat interactions with MPathic-VR’s intercultural and interprofessional communication scenarios and scores on a subsequent advanced communication skills objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare outcomes. Secondary outcomes: student attitude surveys and qualitative assessments of their experiences with MPathic-VR or computer-based learning. Results MPathic-VR-trained students improved their intercultural and interprofessional communication performance between their first and second interactions with each scenario. They also achieved significantly higher composite scores on the OSCE than computer-based learning-trained students. Attitudes and experiences were more positive among students trained with MPathic-VR, who valued its providing immediate feedback, teaching nonverbal communication skills, and preparing them for emotion-charged patient encounters. Conclusions MPathic-VR was effective in training advanced communication skills and in enabling knowledge transfer into a more realistic clinical situation. Practice implications MPathic-VR’s virtual human simulation offers an effective and engaging means of advanced communication training.
Gendered Narratives of Mobility: Spatial Discourse and Social Change in Nepal

In the last 30 years women have been making significant inroads into Nepal9s public sphere, troubling long-held normative assumptions about women9s place in modern Nepal. In this article I examine the discursive strategies that working-class Nepali women employ to justify and legitimate their presence in Nepal9s urban public spaces and simultaneously claim an identity as a modern Nepali woman. Drawing on an ethnographic case study of one group of publicly visible women, female trekking guides, I provide a close analysis of how spatial language is leveraged by both state actors and informants to articulate multiple, sometimes conflicting, messages about Nepali women9s “place” in contemporary society. In particular, I focus on the use of spatial metaphors, showing how informants use terms such as inside , outside , forward , and backward to locate themselves within narratives of modernity, development, and national progress. I conclude by showing that unlike women in other examples from the global South, who have framed their emergent presence in the public sphere as an extension of a traditionally feminine and domestic role, informants in the present case study appropriate a masculine language of overt publicness and mobility to justify their visibility. In so doing, informants author themselves as agents of modernity rather than objects of the state9s development efforts.
The ACGME Fellowship in Congenital Cardiac Surgery: The Graduates’ Perspective

The creation of structured fellowship programs in congenital heart surgery (CHS) in the United States appears to have improved the training of congenital heart surgeons. However, the transition process between fellowship and clinical practice and the lack of senior mentorship continue to be major problems. We report the results of a survey of all graduates of accredited programs in CHS. A total of 35/51 (69%) graduates responded to the survey. Of 34 that are in practice, 31 (91%) did not feel ready to engage in solo CHS after completion of training. Even though 33 (97%) considered mentorship in the first few years of practice very important, almost 40% indicated inadequate mentorship. Several graduates continue to mainly assist and do not seem to be independent several years after graduating from their fellowship. On an open-ended question for additional comments, 15 respondents volunteered that a 1-year fellowship duration was not enough and seven stressed the importance of mentorship and the need for an adequate transition from fellowship to practice. Based on the results of the survey and our own experience, we propose the creation of a 1- or 2-year transitional junior faculty period to follow the 1-year formal training in CHS. We believe innovative approaches to improve the transition to clinical practice are required to maximize the likelihood of success among congenital heart surgery graduates.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Stress, Psychoneurologic Symptoms, and Coping Strategies in Adolescents and Young Adults

Psychoneurologic symptoms commonly reported by adolescents and young adults (AYAs) following hematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) include anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) appeals to AYAs as a means of coping with these symptoms. One example of CAM is a publicly available illness blog authored by a young adult woman undergoing HSCT. .
Acculturative stress in Korean Americans.

Abstract Background Acculturative stress is known to contribute to chronic diseases among many immigrants and yet this association in Korean Americans remains unclear. Aim The study purpose was to examine the level of acculturative stress in Korean Americans and to determine if correlations existed with personal and physiological factors. Methods An exploratory, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in a sample of 107 Korean American adults. Data on acculturative stress and personal factors were collected using a survey questionnaire in addition to a direct measure of physiological factors (i.e., body mass index and blood pressure). Results All 107 participants were first-generation Koreans. Most participants were women (66.4%), with a mean age of 53.9 ± 10.7, married (88.8%), and with a college education (84.2%). Acculturative stress was associated with a number of personal factors (i.e., arrival age, years of U.S education, years of U.S. residency, English proficiency), and the personal factors of gender, age, employment status, and years of U.S. residency were associated with the physiological factors. No statistically significant associations were found between acculturative stress and physiological factors. Conclusions The mean acculturative stress score in this study was higher than findings from prior studies of Korean immigrants in the United States or Canada, with the rates of obesity and hypertension higher than prior reports of Korean Americans or Koreans residing in Korea. Future study is necessary with a larger sample from a variety of different geographic areas of the United States to examine further the impact of acculturative stress on physiological factors during the process of acculturation.
Exploring the Diabetic Gastroparesis Patient Experience: Patient Exit Interviews.

To improve understanding of the diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) patient experience and inform the patient-reported outcome measurement strategy for future trials in DGP, qualitative interviews were conducted with participants in a phase 2 clinical trial of a novel DGP treatment. Trial participants were invited to participate in interviews at both the pretreatment visit (PTV) and the end-of-treatment visit (EOTV). The interviews were conducted by experienced qualitative researchers and followed a semistructured interview guide. The PTV interviews focused on patients’ DGP symptoms and the impact of DGP on their lives, and the EOTV interviews focused on any symptom changes patients experienced during the trial. Of 90 enrolled trial participants, 78 (86.7%) opted to participate in the interview study. Bloating, stomach fullness, upper abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and heartburn or reflux were each reported spontaneously by a majority of the 73 PTV interview participants with evaluable data. These patients commonly reported bloating (n = 20), upper abdominal pain (n = 12), and nausea (n = 11) as their most bothersome DGP symptom. Of 51 EOTV interview participants, 44 (86.3%) reported improvement in at least one DGP symptom either spontaneously or when asked about specific symptoms reported during their PTV interview. Bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, stomach fullness, vomiting, and heartburn were frequently reported by patients as the most bothersome and important-to-treat symptoms. These results support the assessment of these symptoms in future DGP clinical trials, whether for symptom improvement or worsening. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02289846.
Multivalent Presentation of Peptide Targeting Groups Alters Polymer Biodistribution to Target Tissues

Drug delivery to bone is challenging, whereby drug distribution is commonly <1% of injected dose, despite development of several bone-targeted drug delivery systems specific to hydroxyapatite. These bone-targeted drug delivery systems still suffer from poor target cell localization within bone, as at any given time overall bone volume is far greater than acutely remodeling bone volume, which harbors relevant cell targets (osteoclasts or osteoblasts). Thus, there exists a need to target bone-acting drugs specifically to sites of bone remodeling. To address this need, this study synthesized oligo(ethylene glycol) copolymers based on a peptide with high affinity to tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), an enzyme deposited by osteoclasts during the bone resorption phase of bone remodeling, which provides greater specificity relevant for bone cell drugging. Gradient and random peptide orientations, as well as polymer molecular weights, were investigated. TRAP-targeted, high molecular weight (Mn) random c...
The influence of alliance experience on acquisition premiums and post-acquisition performance

Abstract This paper examines the influence of acquirers' alliance experience on acquisition outcomes. Specifically, we investigate whether or not acquirers with alliance experience pay higher acquisition premiums and achieve improved post-acquisition performance. We also investigate how the impact of acquirers' alliance experience is contingent on the alliance portfolios of target firms. We find that acquirers with alliance experience pay higher premiums to target firms; however, these acquirers do not exhibit any better or worse post-acquisition performance. In addition, we find that the impact of acquirer's alliance experience on acquisition premiums is negatively moderated by target firm's alliance portfolio size or diversity. Finally, we find that the impact of acquirer's alliance experience on post-acquisition performance is positively moderated by target firm's alliance portfolio size. Overall, this study suggests that alliance experience can help acquirers develop organizational knowledge and capabilities, and thus influence acquisition outcomes.
An Empirical Test of the Olympic Tourism Legacy

International tourism legacies are a key justification for hosting the Olympics. Although strong theoretical arguments have been made to support the tourism legacy, empirically measuring the effect...
Swine Manure, Nematicides, and Long-Term Tillage Change Soil Ecology in Corn and Soybean Production

Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are important crops and a major part of the US landscape. Soybean and corn production practices influence soil ecology, and good soil quality is essential for crop productivity. Fertilizer application, tillage, and pesticide application are foundational practices in these crops, and the nematode community is a useful indicator of changes in soil ecology. Therefore, the nematode community was assessed in a series of 2-yr experiments in corn and soybean production. Long-term conventional tillage and minimum tillage treatments were in place at the study site for 14 yr at the start of the study. Additional treatments were combinations of conventional fertilizers (N-P-K and N-P-K-S), liquid swine manure, and granular nematicide (aldicarb or terbufos). Manure application consistently and substantially increased bacterivore abundances compared with conventional fertilizers or untreated control, with effects continuing over a year after application. Bacterivores are resource opportunists, so this indicates that manure application enriched the soil food web in ways that conventional fertilizers did not. Tillage also enriched the soil food web, based on increased bacterivore and fungivore abundances, albeit inconsistently between rotations. Aldicarb nematicide was generally effective against plant-parasitic nematodes but also decreased abundances of nontarget free-living nematodes, albeit inconsistently. Omnivores and predators had relatively small abundances throughout the study, and neither tillage nor fertilizer application affected these nematodes. In summary, agricultural practices influenced soil ecology, and manure application had the strongest influence among the practices tested, shifting the food web to an enriched condition.
CDK1 Interacts with Sox2 and Promotes Tumor Initiation in Human Melanoma

: Cancers are composed of heterogeneous subpopulations with various tumor-initiating capacities, yet key stem cell genes associated with enhanced tumor-initiating capacities and their regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we analyzed patient-derived xenografts from melanoma, colon, and pancreatic cancer tissues and identified enrichment of tumor-initiating cells in MHC class I-hi cells, where CDK1, a master regulator of the cell cycle, was upregulated. Overexpression of CDK1, but not its kinase-dead variant, in melanoma cells increased their spheroid forming ability, tumorigenic potential, and tumor-initiating capacity; inhibition of CDK1 with pharmacologic agents reduced these characteristics, which was unexplained by the role of CDK1 in regulating the cell cycle. Proteomic analysis revealed an interaction between CDK1 and the pluripotent stem cell transcription factor Sox2. Blockade or knockdown of CDK1 resulted in reduced phosphorylation, nuclear localization, and transcriptional activity of Sox2. Knockout of Sox2 in CDK1-overexpressing cells reduced CDK1-driven tumor-initiating capacity substantially. Furthermore, GSEA analysis of CDK1hi tumor cells identified a pathway signature common in all three cancer types, including E2F, G2M, MYC, and spermatogenesis, confirming a stem-like nature of CDK1hi tumor cells. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for CDK1 in regulating tumor-initiating capacity in melanoma and suggest a novel treatment strategy in cancer via interruption of CDK1 function and its protein-protein interactions. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings uncover CDK1 as a new regulator of Sox2 during tumor initiation and implicate the CDK1-Sox2 interaction as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.
Intraocular robotic interventional surgical system (IRISS): Semi-automated OCT-guided cataract removal.

Author(s): Chen, Cheng-Wei; Chen, Cheng-Wei; Lee, Yu-Hsiu; Gerber, Matthew J; Cheng, Harrison; Yang, Yan-Chao; Govetto, Andrea; Francone, Anibal Andres; Soatto, Stefano; Grundfest, Warren S; Hubschman, Jean-Pierre; Tsao, Tsu-Chin | Abstract: BackgroundWith the development of laser-assisted platforms, the outcomes of cataract surgery have been improved by automating several procedures. The cataract-extraction step continues to be manually performed, but due to deficiencies in sensing capabilities, surgical complications such as posterior capsule rupture and incomplete cataract removal remain.MethodsAn optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is integrated into our intraocular robotic interventional surgical system (IRISS) robot. The OCT images are used for preoperative planning and intraoperative intervention in a series of automated procedures. Real-time intervention allows surgeons to evaluate the progress and override the operation.ResultsThe developed system was validated by performing lens extraction on 30 postmortem pig eyes. Complete lens extraction was achieved on 25 eyes, and "almost complete" extraction was achieved on the remainder due to an inability to image small lens particles behind the iris. No capsule rupture was found.ConclusionThe IRISS successfully demonstrated semiautomated OCT-guided lens removal with real-time supervision and intervention.
Propagation of microwave photons along a synthetic dimension

The evenly spaced modes of an electromagnetic resonator are coupled to each other by appropriate time modulation, leading to dynamics analogous to those of particles hopping between different sites of a lattice. This substitution of a real spatial dimension of a lattice with a ``synthetic'' dimension in frequency space greatly reduces the hardware complexity of an analog quantum simulator. Complex control and readout of a highly multimoded structure can thus be accomplished with very few physical control lines. We demonstrate this concept with microwave photons in a superconducting transmission line resonator by modulating the system parameters at frequencies near the resonator's free spectral range and observing propagation of photon wave packets in time domain. The linear propagation dynamics are equivalent to a tight-binding model, which we probe by measuring scattering parameters between frequency sites. We extract an approximate tight-binding dispersion relation for the synthetic lattice and initialize photon wave packets with well-defined quasimomenta and group velocities. As an example application of this platform in simulating a physical system, we demonstrate Bloch oscillations associated with a particle in a periodic potential and subject to a constant external field. The simulated field strongly affects the photon dynamics despite photons having zero charge. Our observation of photon dynamics along a synthetic frequency dimension generalizes immediately to topological photonics and single-photon power levels, and expands the range of physical systems addressable by quantum simulation.
Engineering Faculty’s Mindset: An Analysis of Instructional Practice, Learning Environment, and Teacher Authenticity

The purpose of this work in progress research paper is to document the development of a survey instrument to critically investigate how faculty mindset influences instructional practice, learning environment, and teacher authenticity. Researchers in the field of engineering education have considered how an inclusive education model can help engineering programs increase the number of students from marginalized groups. Inclusive education environments support marginalized groups as well as majority students by enhancing student engagement in undergraduate engineering programs. Additionally, research studies have demonstrated that a growth mindset, effective instructional practice, and inclusive learning environments can support student success in engineering programs. Multiple research studies show that effective instructional practice and learning environments can facilitate authentic learning experiences in which students are actively engaged, seek deeper meaning and can apply course material. More importantly, these results of enhanced engagement are linked to higher student test scores, retention, and graduation rates (1-3). Therefore, it is important to study the relationship between faculty mindset and instructional practices that can directly impact student performance, particularly students who are underrepresented in engineering.In this paper, we report initial insight for developing the survey for engineering faculty to characterize their mindset as fixed or growth and then relate their mindset to their subsequent pedagogical choices. This is the first phase of a larger mixed methods study that will include a follow-up qualitative content analysis. This research will establish groundwork for a future research of how engineering student mindset are adopted from faculty mindset and are potentially related to student choices to continue in engineering and habits of mind to promote success.
Motives in the Sharing Economy: Evidence from Field Experiments on a New Online Task Platform

Online, task-based platforms have exploded in popularity in the sharing economy. A key reason for their growth is that prospective users are motivated to use them, but what are these motives? Build...
The Absence of Positive Psychosocial Characteristics in the Lives of Mass School Shooters

This article summarizes psychological and social characteristics of mass or rampage school shooters. The sample of mostly teen-age males, N=20, wasrestricted to Americans whose shooting was at a secondary school, not college. Many negative characteristics of these or similar shooters already in theliterature were identified in our sample, e.g. obsession with violence, depression, family problems. Also, attention was paid to the possible presence ofpositive characteristics, such as having an active, important goal in sports, the media, professions, or an active participation in pro-social groups at school orin pro-social groups in the community. Not one example of such positive characteristics was found in the biographical material for any shooter in thesample. It was concluded that the absence of positive meaning is an important factor in the lives of school shooters; vaious possible positive responses tothis issue are briefly noted.
Parakeratosis and pagetoid melanocytosis in the evaluation of dysplastic nevi and melanoma

It is our experience that parakeratosis with pagetosis is common in early melanoma when there is no history of trauma in the anatomical site. In lesions where the differential diagnosis includes dysplastic nevus (DN) and melanoma, we hypothesize that parakeratosis may be a marker for cases in which immunohistochemistry (IHC) may identify occult pagetosis. We performed a retrospective case–control study on cases with a histologic differential diagnosis of DN versus melanoma, including 423 cases with parakeratosis and 125 cases without parakeratosis. IHC staining (Mart-1 and/or Sox-10) was performed in all cases. The frequency of pagetosis and diagnostic upgrades in the cases versus the controls was calculated. The presence of parakeratosis was significantly associated with pagetosis (p < 0.0001). Diagnostic upgrades were more frequent in the cases with parakeratosis versus controls without parakeratosis (p = 0.0029). In the favored moderate DN group, 56% of cases were upgraded compared to 30% of the controls (p = 0.0017). In the favored mild DN and severe DN groups, there were more case upgrades compared to the controls (p = 0.1386, p = 0.2738). Parakeratosis may be a useful marker to identify lesions with occult pagetosis for which IHC would be appropriate and may result in a diagnostic upgrade.
Examining Factors Impacting the Effectiveness of Anti-Phishing Trainings

Approximately 65% of the organizations in the United States have fallen victim to a successful phishing attack. Many organizations offer anti-phishing training to their employees to defend against ...