cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Wireless IC for Wide-Range Neurochemical Monitoring Using Amperometry and Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry

An integrated circuit for real-time wireless monitoring of neurochemical activity in the nervous system is described. The chip is capable of conducting measurements in both fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) and amperometry modes for a wide input current range. The chip architecture employs a second-order DeltaSigma modulator (DeltaSigmaM) and a frequency-shift-keyed transmitter operating near 433 MHz. It is fabricated using the AMI 0.5-mum double-poly triple-metal n-well CMOS process, and requires only one off-chip component for operation. A measured current resolution of 12 pA at a sampling rate of 100 Hz and 132 pA at a sampling rate of 10 kHz is achieved in amperometry and 300-V/s FSCV modes, respectively, for any input current in the range of plusmn430 nA. The modulator core and the transmitter draw 22 and 400 muA from a 2.6-V power supply, respectively. The chip has been externally interfaced with a carbon-fiber microelectrode implanted acutely in the caudate-putamen of an anesthetized rat, and, for the first time, extracellular levels of dopamine elicited by electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle have been successfully recorded wirelessly using 300-V/s FSCV.
Pathological integrin signaling enhances proliferation of primary lung fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentlessly progressive lung disease in which fibroblasts accumulate in the alveolar wall within a type I collagen–rich matrix. Although lung fibroblasts derived from patients with IPF display durable pathological alterations in proliferative function, the molecular mechanisms differentiating IPF fibroblasts from their normal counterparts remain unknown. Polymerized type I collagen normally inhibits fibroblast proliferation, providing a physiological mechanism to limit fibroproliferation after tissue injury. We demonstrate that β1 integrin interaction with polymerized collagen inhibits normal fibroblast proliferation by suppression of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)–Akt–S6K1 signal pathway due to maintenance of high phosphatase activity of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN). In contrast, IPF fibroblasts eluded this restraint, displaying a pathological pattern of β1 integrin signaling in response to polymerized collagen that leads to aberrant activation of the PI3K–Akt–S6K1 signal pathway caused by inappropriately low PTEN activity. Mice deficient in PTEN showed a prolonged fibroproliferative response after tissue injury, and immunohistochemical analysis of IPF lung tissue demonstrates activation of Akt in cells within fibrotic foci. These results provide direct evidence for defective negative regulation of the proliferative pathway in IPF fibroblasts and support the theory that the pathogenesis of IPF involves an intrinsic fibroblast defect.
Fuzzy information systems

The authors discuss the issue of uncertainty management in conceptual, logical, and navigational data models. Two different approaches to conceptual modeling are examined, the extended IFO model and the extended entity relationship model. These models can represent complex objects with uncertainty in the attribute values chiefly with their powerful abstraction mechanisms. The logical models, specifically the first normal form (1NF) model and the non-1NF data model, are also discussed in detail. The question of representing and manipulating impression in navigational models, i.e. network and object-oriented data models, is considered. >
Community wildfire protection planning: is the Healthy Forests Restoration Act's vagueness genius?

The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA) encourages communities to develop community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) to reduce their wildland fire risk and promote healthier forested ecosystems. Communities who have developed CWPPs have done so using many different processes, resulting in plans with varied form and content. We analysed data from 13 case-study communities to illustrate how the characteristics of HFRA have encouraged communities to develop CWPPs that reflect their local social and ecological contexts. A framework for analysing policy implementation suggests that some elements of HFRA could have made CWPP development and implementation problematic, but these potential shortcomings in the statute have provided communities the freedom to develop CWPPs that are relevant to their conditions and allowed for the development of capacities that communities are using to move forward in several areas.
A climatological assessment of Greenland blocking conditions associated with the track of Hurricane Sandy and historical North Atlantic hurricanes

In late October 2012, an extreme area of high pressure centred near Greenland, known as a ‘Greenland block’, forced Hurricane Sandy to turn westward into the Northeast coast of the United States. In light of this unusual and catastrophic event, the Greenland blocking conditions associated with Sandy and previous North Atlantic hurricane tracks are examined from a climatological perspective. Two primary questions raised by Sandy are investigated: (1) How anomalous were the Greenland blocking conditions observed prior to Sandy's landfall? (2) Were North Atlantic hurricane tracks in the historical record affected by Greenland blocking conditions in a manner similar to Sandy? The measure of blocking strength used to answer these questions is the Greenland Blocking Index (GBI), which is calculated as the spatial average of 500 hPa heights over the Greenland region. The GBI prior to Sandy's landfall was found to be more typical of late June conditions, exceeding the 90th percentile of late October climatology during the entire preceding week and peaking at near-record values (99.8th percentile) on 25 October. Analysis of the GBI in relation to past North Atlantic hurricane tracks shows that above-normal GBI values were associated with a southward displacement of hurricane tracks and an increased concentration of tracks near the Northeast US coast. Additionally, composites of atmospheric conditions for ‘anomalous’ hurricane tracks (defined as tracks with an initial bearing angle between 90° and 360°) revealed an atypical area of high pressure centred over the Canadian Maritimes during these events, whereas near-climatological conditions of atmospheric pressure over the North Atlantic prevailed for ‘normal’ hurricane tracks. However, variations in Greenland blocking conditions were not associated with significant changes in the frequency of anomalous North Atlantic hurricane tracks.
Efficient generation of ultrashort, wavelength-tunable infrared pulses

A theory for a cw synchronously pumped, singly resonant optical parametric oscillator with Gaussian beams is presented. It accounts for most of the spatial and temporal effects of the interacting beams in the nonlinear crystal. The optimum design criteria for the focus tightness of the signal and the pump beams and the length of the crystal are given. We consider various nonlinear crystals with two differently mode-locked Nd:YLF sources used as pumps to generate wavelengths from 1 to 13 μm. Results from numerical simulations indicate that with the proper design of the optical parametric oscillator it is possible to obtain energy conversion efficiencies from the pump to the signal and the idler of ~70% while maintaining signal-pulse durations shorter than the pump-pulse duration.
Chartering New Waters: The Indianapolis Mayoral Transition and the Charter School Community

As the first mayor in the United States to possess independent charter school authorizing authority, Mayor Bart Peterson oversaw the establishment and expansion of Indianapolis's ambitious charter school initiative. In 2007, Democratic Mayor Peterson's oversight of the initiative came to an end when he was unexpectedly defeated by Republican Gregory Ballard in the mayoral election. Despite this significant change in leadership, the transition between mayors and political parties was accomplished with minimal disruption to the operation of the charter school office, as well as to the schools themselves. Through the use of in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, this study investigates how the transition between administrations was undertaken to ensure continuity for Indianapolis mayor-sponsored charter schools and offers best practices for mayoral transitions. In addition, this study reveals that to provide continuity for charter schools, policies that insulate schools from political change must be developed and charter schools must be viewed apolitically.
Interleukin 1-beta upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin 3 and neuropilin 2 gene expression and NGF production in annulus cells

The relationship between disc cells, nerves and pain production in the intervertebral disc is poorly understood. Neurotrophins, signaling molecules involved in the survival, differentiation and migration of neurons, and neurite outgrowth, are expressed in non-neuronal tissues including the disc. We hypothesized that three-dimensional exposure of human disc cells to the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1s in vitro would elevate neurotrophin gene expression levels and production of nerve growth factor (NGF). Cells isolated from Thompson grade III and IV discs were cultured for 14 days under control conditions or with addition of 102 pM IL-1s; mRNA was isolated and conditioned media assayed for NGF content. IL-1s exposure in three-dimensional culture significantly increased expression of neurotrophin 3, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neuropilin 2 compared to controls. IL-1s-exposed cells showed significantly increased NGF production compared to controls. Findings support our hypothesis, expand previous da...
AN EXPLORATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN URBANIZATION AND PER CAPITA INCOME: UNITED STATES AND COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

The relationship between urbanization and level of income has been the subject of considerable theoretical debate and empirical study for many years. However, little recent work has been done to determine whether or not previous findings still hold, and there has been even less multi-country analysis to explore the degree of generality. Analysis of data for metropolitan areas in the United States from 1970 to 1990 indicates per capita income increases directly with population size. For states of the United States and 113 countries for 1960 and 1980 a strong positive relationship exists and holds temporally between level of per capita Gross Domestic Product and percent of the population that is urban.
"Burnout" and substance user treatment: the phenomenon and the administrator-clinician's experience.

"Burnout" began to be identified in the mid-1970s in the substance user treatment field with the meaning being that one's "fuel" to continue such work was essentially exhausted. "Burnout" is mostly manifest by emotional exhaustion and sometimes by various physical and psychiatric symptoms. In substance user treatment staff there is more "burnout" with more work pressure, unclear work policies, and decreased coping ability, with some "burnout" protection from peer and supervisor support. "Burnout" adversely effects substance user treatment and other human service interventions, with increased absenteeism and job turnover, and it appears to be helped with a variety of methods, including diversity of supports and interests. A case study of the author's substance user treatment and administrative work from the perspective of "burnout" considerations is included.
Cigarette smoking and malignant melanoma: a case-control study.

Background Several previous studies have reported inverse associations between cigarette smoking and melanoma. Often these studies have not adjusted for ultraviolet (UV) exposure history, skin type, or number of blistering sunburns, which could confound the observed associations between cigarette smoking and melanoma. Objective We sought to assess whether this reported inverse association persists after adjusting for UV exposure, skin type, and number of blistering sunburns. Methods We conducted a population-based case-control study (82 patients with melanoma, 164 control subjects). Two control subjects were matched to each patient by age, sex, race, and skin type. Conditional logistic regression models were fit to assess the association between cigarette smoking history and melanoma, with additional adjustments for UV exposure and sunburns. Results Compared with never smoking, both former (odds ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.18-1.04) and current (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.19-2.24) smoking were inversely associated with melanoma, but the associations were not statistically significant. Limitations The number of cutaneous nevi was not assessed in this study. In addition, the relatively small number of patients limits the statistical precision of the observed associations. Conclusions After matching for age, sex, race, and skin type, and further adjusting for UV exposure and number of sunburns, cigarette smoking was not statistically significantly associated with melanoma risk, but the results were consistent with previous observations of an inverse association.
Intermittency of cholesterol crystals in duodenal bile from gallstone patients

Abstract The detection of cholesterol crystals in duodenal bile is of clinical value in the diagnosis of cholesterol gallstone disease; however, not all patients with cholesterol gallstones have crystals detected in their duodenal bile, thus limiting the value of examination of duodenal bile. The aims of this study were to (i) determine whether the lack of crystals in some patients with cholesterol gallstones was due to (a) the intermittent presence of crystals, (b) spontaneous crystal dissolution, or (c) changes in dietary cholesterol intake; (ii) determine whether incubation of duodenal bile for 24 h would result in crystal formation. Sixteen patients with radiolucent gallstones each underwent three duodenal biliary drainages. Thirty-one percent of patients had crystals in all three bile specimens, 12% in two specimens, 25% in one specimen, and 32% in no specimen. One of 31 specimens with small numbers of crystals initially had no crystals at 24 h, and five specimens initially devoid of crystals developed crystals by 24 h. Despite a significant increase in biliary cholesterol saturation index with increasing cholesterol intake, the prevalence of crystals in bile did not increase in gallstone patients. No crystals were identified in 18 specimens from normal subjects examined initially or in the 15 specimens that were examined after 24 h. We conclude that the intermittent presence of cholesterol crystals in duodenal bile is probably not due to dissolution of crystals or varying dietary cholesterol intake and that the frequency with which crystals are found increases with incubation. Determination of the diagnostic value of multiple duodenal biliary drainages or incubation of bile in patients with normal oral cholecystograms or gallbladder ultrasonograms, however, will require examinations of large numbers of patients.
Partisan Cycles in Offshore Outsourcing: Evidence from U.S. Imports

The wage and employment effects of offshoring roil politics in the United States and around the world. Firms that offshore either outsource their activities to unaffiliated businesses, or internalize production by establishing subsidiaries from which they import intrafirm. We argue that the political environment in trade partner countries influences U.S. offshoring patterns in ways that have been ignored in the extant literature. Drawing on the political business cycle literature, we expect higher production costs and lower profits for firms in capital (labor) intensive sectors when the Left (Right) is in power. These partisan cycles, in turn, shape the sectoral composition of exports from the partner to the United States, and the degree to which trade is conducted intrafirm. Under a Left‐ (Right‐) leaning government in a partner country, U.S. intrafirm imports of capital‐ (labor‐) goods increase relative to total imports in these industries. Examining highly disaggregated U.S. import data, we find strong support for our argument. Our results indicate that the effect of partisan governments on offshore outsourcing depends on factor intensities of production, which vary across industries. The degree of internalization in global sourcing is shaped in part by the distributional objectives of partisan governments, and not by economic factors alone.
Effect of simulated microgravity on vascular contractility

Microgravity was simulated in Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar (W) rats by using a tail harness to elevate the hindquarters, producing hindlimb unweighting (HU). After 20 days of HU treatment, blood ...
Health Disparities in End-of-Life Care

High-quality end-of-life care should be available to all individuals faced with a terminal illness. Essential components of quality end-of-life care include excellent communication, creation of a supportive environment for dying patients and their family members, and concerted efforts to address pain and suffering at the end of life. Each of these elements of care must be grounded in the individual patient’s values, goals, preferences, and needs. Importantly, these values, goals, preferences, and needs may vary based on patient characteristics such as gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality, or underlying illness. It is important that we identify and respect differences in informed patients’ values and preferences. However, we should strive to eradicate differences based on inequities in the way end-of-life care is discussed or delivered. In this chapter, we examine differences in end-of-life care across these important patient characteristics and identify areas in which differences may represent healthcare disparities.
Extreme binge drinking among adolescent athletes: A cause for concern?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Examine the association between adolescent sport participation and extreme binge drinking (10 + drinks) among boys and girls. METHODS: Secondary analysis of the nationally representative 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 13,583). RESULTS: Boys who participated on sport teams had the greatest odds of engaging in extreme binge drinking. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Despite the modest associations found among athletes, boys who participated on multiple sport teams had the greatest odds of engaging in extreme binge drinking. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Greater prevention efforts should target multi-sport athletes because they are at greater risk for negative consequences of heavy drinking. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:1-4). Language: en
Fourier Transform Infrared Vibrational Circular Dichroism in the Carbonyl Stretching Region of Polypeptides and Urethane Amino Acid Derivatives

Fourier transform vibrational circular dichroism (FT-IR VCD) and ordinary FT-IR absorption spectra are presented for the polypeptide, poly(e-CBZ-L-lysine), and the urethane amino acid derivative, N-t-Boc-L-alanine, in the carbonyl stretching region. The assignment of the spectra are discussed and two basic mechanisms for VCD intensity are described and applied to the VCD spectra presented. The stereosensitivity of VCD spectra to molecular structure in these and other molecules is illustrated and the need for the establishment of quantitative structural relationships is stressed.
Military Socialization: A Motivating Factor for Seeking Treatment in a Veterans’ Treatment Court

The veterans’ treatment court movement is just beyond the nascent period, and given the rapid proliferation of these courts in recent years it is imperative that the scientific community understand their operational procedures and assess whether they are meeting a unique need beyond those addressed by other problem-solving courts. This paper provides an in-depth examination of veteran culture and how it helps to distinguish veterans’ treatment courts from other courts that focus on similar populations (e.g., drug, DWI, and mental health courts). Using in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus group data collected from veteran participants, veteran mentors, and court team members in Pennsylvania, we employ content analysis to explore the veteran culture as a motivator for participants to enroll in a veterans’ treatment court and engage with others throughout participation in treatment. The results of this exploratory study suggest that a shared culture serves to motivate justice-involved veterans to seek out the veterans’ treatment court over other treatment options and remain engaged in this problem-solving court, while inspiring a sense of obligation to do well in treatment for them and their fellow veterans. The shared experiences of military service and across-the-board support for fellow service members suggest that the veterans’ treatment court creates a unique environment for pursuing treatment.
Temperature Thresholds for Spring Emergence and Flight of the Boll Weevil

A strong relationship was found between temperature and emergence of boll weevils from overwintering sites. The threshold temperature above which overwintering weevils accumulated heat units was 10.85°±1.3°C. Early fall cohorts required a higher number of accumulated heat units than did late fall cohorts. First-emerging weevils of early cohorts had a lower tendency to subsequently initiate flight activity than did first-emerging weevils of later cohorts. The temperature threshold for flight of 95–98% of newly emerging weevils was 20°C.
EFFECTS OF POLLEN QUANTITY ON PROGENY VIGOR: EVIDENCE FROM THE DESERT MUSTARD LESQUERELLA FENDLERI.

Intense competition among pollen grains for access to ovules often increases progeny vigor (Mulcahy 1971, 1979; Mulcahy and Mulcahy 1975; Mulcahy et al. 1975; McKenna 1986; Winsor et al. 1987; Bertin 1990; Schlichting et al. 1990; Richardson and Stephenson 1992; Janse and Verhaegh 1993; Quesada et al. 1993, 1996a,b; Palmer and Zimmerman 1994; but see Smith et al. 1990; Snow 1990, 1991). The most common explanation for this is that selection on gametophytes is an efficient means for removing deleterious alleles at loci important for both gametophytic and sporophytic life stages (Charlesworth and Charlesworth 1992; Hormaza and Herrero 1992; Stephenson et al. 1992). Gametophytic selection therefore has been proposed as an important factor in the success of angiosperms (Mulcahy 1979). Studies of pollen competition and progeny vigor usually involve variation in the number of pollen grains applied to stigmas or of the distance pollen tubes must travel to reach ovules (utilizing natural or artificial variation style length). Studies of the latter type invariably show significant effects on progeny vigor (Mulcahy and Mulcahy 1975; Ter-Avanesian 1978; McKenna and Mulcahy 1983; Lee and Hartgerink 1986; McKenna 1986). However, effects of pollen load size are less consistent (e.g., Winsor et al. 1987; Bertin 1990; Smith et al. 1990; Snow 1990, 1991; Palmer and Zimmerman 1994). Furthermore, most studies to date involve cultivated plant species (but see Snow 1990, 1991; Richardson and Stephenson 1992), which may respond differently than wild plants because of their history of close inbreeding and hybridization. To better understand the effects of pollen competition on progeny vigor, and why results vary among different studies, more empirical data are needed. Here I report results from a study of the effects of pollen load size on progeny vigor for a native, desert mustard (Lesquerellafendleri; Brassicaceae). I then review published studies of the effects of pollen load size on progeny vigor, considering why results may vary among methods and species.
Effect of the intravenous administration of human serum albumin on renal function.

Summary1. The rapid intravenous infusion of 75 g of human serum albumin produced a consistent increase in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. These changes were accompanied by both an increased clearance and a decreased tubular extraction of sodium para-aminohippurate. 2. In 2 patients with the nephrotic syndrome of chronic glomerulonephritis the administration of albumin increased the filtration rate from low to normal levels, and in one of these patients produced a marked diuresis. 3. A possible mechanism for the decreased tubular extraction of PAH accompanying an increased renal blood flow is presented.
Long-Term Attention Problems After Brain Trauma

Parent ratings of attention problems were obtained at long-term follow-up (average 4 years) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and compared with ratings of premorbid attention problems shortly after injury, in a study of 132 children (ages 6-12 years) at the Ohio State University and Columbus Children's Research Institute and other centers.
Wearing Two Hats at the Agency: Disability Determination During Ongoing Psychotherapy

ABSTRACTMost of the published literature on disability determination focuses on prevalence, applying for benefits, or sociodemographics. There is a paucity of literature that addresses the impact on treatment when a clinician is asked to contribute to a disability determination in the midst of an ongoing psychotherapy. In addition, the clinical literature is primarily written by and for psychiatrists. Yet a disability determination during psychotherapy is at the heart of clinical social work practice when it attends to the patient’s environment by offering help with material needs, while simultaneously providing relationally based treatment.
The Case for PAP-HPV Co-testing: A Conservative Approach is Warranted and More

The Pap test has been the most successful screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer with a seventy per cent decrease in its death rate since 1950. This is in the face of the sexual revolution of the 1960’s occasioned in part by the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960. The subsequent change in sexual mores and increased promiscuity should have resulted in an increased incidence and death rate from cervical cancer. In fact the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) increased dramatically and its subdequent treatment resulted in successful cancer prevention.
Online Teaching Resources about Medicinal Plants and Ethnobotany.

Classroom exploration of plant-based medicines and ethnobotany is a timely and valuable way to engage students in science. This Feature highlights Internet-based resources to help teachers in prima...
The development of manufacturing: Unintended consequence

Abstract Structural change has taken divergent paths in India and Bangladesh. Using a dual economy perspective it is hypothesized that structural change is related to the intersectoral terms of trade. That is, the share of manufacturing in the economy falls as the price of agricultural goods rises relative to that for manufacturing and vice versa. This hypothesis is tested using data from the two countries and is found to be valid. Further, the differing movement in the intersectoral terms of trade in the two countries is found to be related to the type of policy followed (especially with respect to agriculture).
Sounds of leadership? A mismatch between Asian Americans’ communication style and U.S. norms

Asian Americans in the United States are overrepresented in professional occupations, yet underrepresented in top management. We examine how an Eastern cultural background and a minority status wit...
When Firms Fail to Learn The Perpetuation of Discrimination in the Workplace

Scholarly and anecdotal evidence suggests that despite an increasing tolerance for diversity among many Americans, workplace discrimination is on the rise. This article addresses the role that learning, or more specifically barriers to learning, plays in the perpetuation of discrimination. The authors use several organizationally based learning theories to illustrate ways in which firms may fail to learn how to manage diversity challenges effectively, such as a discrimination lawsuit. They conclude the article with two relatively successful learning situations involving the Georgia Power Corporation and the Denny’s restaurant chain, both of which have faced discrimination lawsuits in recent years. They use this discussion to highlight reactive versus reflective learning strategies and how each may lead to successful discrimination lawsuit resolution.
Modeling the coupled electro-mechanical response of a torsional-flutter-based wind harvester with a focus on energy efficiency examination

Abstract Wind energy is a rapidly evolving field of research because of the need for clean energy resources. Large horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) are often employed to increase output power and energy production. On the other hand, “specialized” wind-based energy systems have been proposed to capture the wind energy resource in the low wind speed range and for intermediate-scale applications, e.g., one or few residential housing units. Wind harvesters, triggered by various aeroelastic instability regimes, have been studied in recent years [e.g., Matsumoto et al. (2006)]. Along this line of research, the writer has examined a torsional-flutter-based apparatus for extracting energy from the wind flow. This paper presents some recent advancements, a new fully-coupled electro-mechanical model and the numerical results of an ongoing investigation.
Parent Knowledge and Perceptions of Concussion Related to Youth Football.

Introduction There is increased concern about concussion in youth athletes, yet there is little research on parent knowledge of concussion. Purpose The purpose of the current study was to investigate attitudes to and knowledge of concussion among parents of youth football players. Methods We surveyed 180 parents/guardians of youth football players, ages 5-12, regarding their knowledge and beliefs concerning concussion. Results We found that the vast majority of respondents (86%) had confidence in their ability to recognize concussions. Yet, a significant number also held misconceptions about concussions, such as 'too much sleep' (48%) or 'eating certain foods' (26%) make concussion symptoms worse. Most (82%) had not heard of the Zurich guidelines, and less than half (44%) were aware that sustained mental activity could worsen symptoms. Parents were concerned about their child sustaining a concussion, but a substantial minority also reported 'serious concern' about their children losing playing time or their position. Discussion Results are somewhat positive in terms of parents' general knowledge of concussions; yet, response variability and misconceptions point to a continued need for concussion education for parents. Medical professionals can play an important role in informing families about concussion symptoms, management, and recovery.
Trust and Conformity when Interacting with a Group of Robots

My research studies the relation between trust and conformity with a group of robots and what specific aspects of robots causes people to trust in them. An experimental setup was devised which allows us to measure if a group of robots can cause conformity in participants. In our setup, participants play a game in which they give a preliminary and a final answer. We measure how often participants change their answer to match the answer of the group of robots. Results in preliminary studies show that robots are capable of causing conformity and that trust in the robots plays a role in deciding to conform. Future research will study different factors (for example the type of robots or the size of group) that play a role in deciding whether to trust and therefore conform to a group of robots.
Vibratory Haptic feedback assistive device for visually-impaired drivers

Visual impairment causes significant loss of mobility for millions of individuals, particularly with respect to loss of ability to drive. Recently, much research has been invested towards the development of assistive devices to allow the visually-impaired to drive. This research is locked in a race against the self-driving car, which would allow both the visually-impaired and the sighted equal use of personal motor vehicles. Here, we present a review of assistive devices for the driving of visually-impaired individuals, and introduce a new concept for a low-cost, high-resolution assistive device.
Diagnosis and Management of Penetrating Cardiac Injury

Although relatively rare, you will likely be exposed to penetrating cardiac injuries much more frequently in the combat environment than in the civilian trauma environment. The clinical presentation of patients with penetrating cardiac injury varies widely and can be divided into five categories: lifeless, critically unstable, cardiac tamponade, thoraco-abdominal injury and benign presentation. Regardless of the patient’s condition at presentation, penetrating cardiac injury is life-threatening. You must diagnose and treat these injuries before clinical deterioration and death ensues.
How to regularize a symplectic-energy-momentum integrator

We identify ghost trajectories of symplectic-energy-momentum (SEM) integration and show that the ghost trajectories are not time reversible. We explain how SEM integration can be regularized, in a SEM preserving manner, so that it is time reversible. We describe an algorithm for implementing the regularized SEM integrator. Simulation results for the pendulum are given. Coordinate invariance of the regularized SEM integrator is briefly discussed.
In vivo quantification of regional circumferential Green strain in the thoracic and abdominal aorta by 2D spiral cine DENSE MRI.

Introduction Regional tissue mechanics play a fundamental role in patient-specific cardiovascular function. Nevertheless, regional assessments of aortic kinematics remain lacking due to the challenge of imaging the thin aortic wall. Herein, we present a novel application of DENSE (Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes) MRI to quantify the circumferential Green strain of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. Methods 2D spiral cine DENSE and steady-state free procession (SSFP) cine images were acquired at 3T at the infrarenal aorta (IAA), descending thoracic aorta (DTA), or distal aortic arch (DAA) in a pilot study of 6 healthy volunteers. DENSE data was processed with multiple custom noise-reduction techniques to calculate circumferential Green strain across 16 equispaced sectors around the aorta. Each volunteer was scanned twice to evaluate interstudy repeatability. Results Circumferential strain was heterogeneously distributed in all volunteers and locations. Spatial heterogeneity index by location was 0.37 (IAA), 0.28 (DTA), and 0.59 (DAA). Mean peak strain by DENSE for each cross-section was consistent with the homogenized linearized strain estimated from SSFP cine. The mean difference in peak strain across all sectors following repeat imaging was -0.1±2.2%, with a mean absolute difference of 1.7%. Conclusions Aortic cine DENSE MRI is a viable non-invasive technique for quantifying heterogeneous regional aortic wall strain and has significant potential to improve patient-specific clinical assessments of numerous aortopathies, as well as to provide the lacking spatiotemporal data required to refine computational models of aortic growth and remodeling.
Comparative Analysis of Inductive and Capacitive Feeding of Magnetic Resonance Wireless Power Transfer

One of the most challenging issues in a magnetic resonance wireless power transfer (WPT) system is to maintain high efficiency at various distances between the transmitter and the receiver. One way to achieve the desired efficiency is to use matching network between the source and the resonating coils. In this paper, we present a comparison between capacitive and inductive impedance matching techniques, which are widely exploited to overcome the efficiency drop. This study includes circuit analysis and verification of these via simulation. During this research, key concepts within WPT such critical coupling and trade-off between efficiency and distance are discussed as well. We show through Simulation that it is possible to achieve a maximum power transfer efficiency (PTE) with both methods at 60 cm distance between the coils (coupling coefficient 0.01) in an ideal case.
Sistrunk centennial: Evolution of a classic operation.

Objectives/hypothesis To trace the evolution of the Sistrunk procedure. Study design Historical review. Methods We reviewed historical materials in the English, French, and German literature including journal articles, book chapters, genealogical sources, and obituaries to identify the emerging concepts leading to the Sistrunk operation. These included references to the embryology of the thyroid and of the branchial apparatus as well as incremental advances in the surgical management of midline congenital cervical cysts and fistulae. PubMed, the Google Internet search engine, Archive.org, and Google Translate were primary investigational tools. Results Understanding of human embryology evolved rapidly in the mid and late 1800s. Discovery of the thyroglossal duct and its role in thyroid development led to improvements in existing surgery for thyroglossal duct remnants. Sistrunk was aware of the anatomy and histopathology of these remnants and used this knowledge to refine existing surgical approaches. Conclusions The elements of thyroglossal duct remnant surgery existed for decades before Sistrunk popularized his modified approach to dissection of the suprahyoid portion of the tract. His innovation and his clear description of the operation made it accessible to surgeons around the world. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 130:E45-E47, 2020.
The Perils and Promise of Transnational Activism on Racial Discrimination: The World Conference Against Racism, the Durban Review and the Durban Plus Ten Conferences

Three global conferences on anti-racism convened and partly supported by the United Nations have taken place in 2001, 2009, and 2011. The World Conference Against Racism took place in Durban, South Africa, which generated the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA) which defined all forms of racism and committed its signatories to work to end such discrimination in their respective countries. In 2009, a follow-up to the Durban conference took place in Geneva, Switzerland, which again brought together world leaders as well as representatives from 2000 non-governmental organizations to assess the progress made since 2001. In 2011, government leaders and ngo's met at the UN in New York City, NY, to reaffirm the DDPA. There has been much resistance to the DDPA in the past decade and its reaffirmation in 2011 was the result of hard work on the part of activists, segments of the UN and progressive governments.This paper analyzes the politics surrounding the transnational movements to combat racial discrimination on a global scale. It will discuss the major actors: world governments, the UN, foundations and ngo's; the major documents to emerge from summits such as the WCAR and its DDPA; analyze the DDPA for its political philosophy and note an evolution in the thinking and defining of racism; the tactics used by actors in transnational activism (boycotts, media campaigns, pressure tactics on governments and blogging); the position of the US government under the Bush and Obama administrations; and the genesis of the resistance to this transnational activism and to the global conferences held to discuss the elimination of racism on a global scale. The paper will provide an overview of the camps that have emerged around this politics giving special attention to the resistance to the DDPA and an analysis of the philosophies that undergird this resistance. Finally, the paper will analyze the activism that the DDPA has created in the USA. Both the difficulties and the advantages of the DDPA for organizing resistance politics will be explored in the conclusion. The paper will utilize primary and secondary documents from the three world conferences and information gained from participant observation and interviews.
Orthoester condensation/CO insertion reaction sequence for the preparation of tetrahydrofurans

Abstract This paper describes a general procedure for the efficient preparation of highly substituted tetrahydrofurans. The condensation of α-diazo-β-ketoester-derived enolates with orthoesters yields diazoacetals1a-1d. These compounds undergo formal C O insertion reactions in the presence of Rh2(OAc)4 to afford tetrahydrofurylacetals2a-2c. Similar insertion reactions of diazoacetals5a-5d yield bicyclic acetals6a-6d, which possess cores similar to those of the zaragozic acids.
Abstention at the Border

The lower federal courts have been invoking “international comity abstention” to solve a range of problems in cross-border cases, using a wide array of tests that vary not just across the circuits, but within them as well. That confusion will only grow, as both scholars and the Supreme Court have yet to clarify what exactly “international comity abstention” entails. Meanwhile, the breadth of “international comity abstention” stands in tension with the Supreme Court’s recent reemphasis on the federal judiciary’s obligation to exercise congressionally granted jurisdiction. Indeed, loose applications of “international comity abstention” risk undermining not only the expressed preferences of Congress, but the interests of the states as well. This Article argues against “international comity abstention” both as a label and as a generic doctrine. As a label, it leads courts to conflate abstention with other comity doctrines that are not about abstention at all. And as a generic doctrine, it encourages judges to decline their jurisdiction too readily, in contrast to the presumption of jurisdictional obligation. In lieu of a single broad doctrine of “international comity abstention,” then, this Article urges federal judges to specify more narrow grounds for abstention in transnational cases—grounds that can be separately justified, candidly addressed, and analyzed through judicially manageable frameworks. For example, a primary basis for “international comity abstention” has been deference to parallel proceedings in foreign courts, a common problem that deserves its own dedicated analytical framework. A separate doctrine for deferring to integrated foreign remedial schemes may also be appropriate. Perhaps other limited bases for transnational abstention could be identified as well. The goal should not be a strict formalism that insists that judges’ hands are tied, but rather a channeling of judicial discretion so as to promote—rather than displace—inter-branch dialogue about the proper role of comity in the courts.
Radiofrequency identification tag localization is comparable to wire localization for non-palpable breast lesions

Radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag localization (TL) is a technique of localizing non-palpable breast lesions that can be performed prior to surgery. We sought to evaluate whether TL is comparable to wire localization (WL) in regard to specimen size, operative time, and re-excision rate. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on TL and WL excisional biopsies and lumpectomies performed by 5 surgeons at 2 institutions. Cases were stratified by surgery type and surgical indication. Associations between localization technique and specimen volume, operative time, and re-excision rate were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 503 procedures were included, 147 TL (29.2%) and 356 WL (70.8%). Nineteen (12.9%) RFID tags were placed before surgery, ranging 1–22 days. All intended targets were removed. TL and WL excisional biopsy and lumpectomy specimen volumes were similar (p = 0.560 and 0.494). TL and WL excisional biopsy and lumpectomy + SLNB operative times were similar (p = 0.152 and 0.158), but TL lumpectomies without SLNB took longer than WL (57 min vs 49 min; p = 0.027). Re-excision rates were similar by surgical procedure (p = 0.615), surgical indication (DCIS p = 0.145; invasive carcinoma p = 0.759), and confirmed by multivariable analysis (OR 0.754, 95% CI 0.392–1.450; p = 0.397). TL has similar surgical outcomes to WL with added benefit that TL can occur prior to the day of surgery. TL is an acceptable alternative to WL and should be considered for non-palpable breast lesions.
Health and High Water

Health and High Water Under the strange gravity of the Anthropocene era, clinical medicine has begun to feel a bit weightless. What does it mean to engage with individual distress inside a hospital...
Quantifying and Modelling Transfer Learning in Mice Between Consecutive Training Stages of a Change Detection Task

Animals are known to be able to rapidly transfer knowledge between tasks with similar structure. We trained a set of mice on a visual change detection task with multiple stages, starting with direct transitions between gratings, adding an intervening gray screen, and subsequently moving to multiple sets of natural images. We observe that, when progressing to new stages, the performance increases very fast. However, when transitioning to a task of higher complexity, the peak performance decreases. This setup facilitates for the first time an experimental platform to study the transfer learning phenomena in mice using visual stimuli. Based on these results and additional neuroscience insight, we propose a cognitive model to explain the quick adaptation observed in mice. It extends a deep Q learning agent with a multi-tiered architecture and the possibility of performing a representation remapping at every level of the hierarchy to prevent the downstream propagation of representation anomalies. This architecture provides the substrate of an adaptation algorithm based on ideas of optimal transport of probability distributions. It matches well key behavioral aspects observed in mice and the experimental constraint that the mice are initially trained using a single task variant before it transitions to the new training phase. The modelling process helped us to gain biological insights: first, the optimal transport mechanism of the representation remapping indicated that a possible reason for the reduced performance when mice move to a new more complex task could be due to limited representation resources which were optimized for the previous task. Second, the multi-tiered architecture was first an engineering constraint and later a biologic insight confirmed by the literature. A final insight came from the computations required to perform the representation remapping. These computations are interesting because they could help to confirm this transfer learning theory by looking for similar neural correlates during the adaptation process.
Occurrence of Stimulant Drugs of Abuse in a San Diego, CA, Stream and their Consumption Rates in the Neighboring Community

Levels of amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine (BE), the metabolite of cocaine, were quantitated by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) in Forester Creek in San Diego County, CA, and in raw wastewater from the region’s sewage treatment plant. Drug residues in these surface waters were detected with 100% frequency. Mean concentrations were 0.022 ± 0.016, 0.450 ± 0.398, 0.024 ± 0.014, and 0.019 ± 0.012 μg/L for amphetamine, methamphetamine, BE, and cocaine respectively. Nonparametric testing by Spearman rank correlation showed significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations between the illicit drugs and traditional chemical markers (caffeine and sucralose) of sewage, with the exception of cocaine and sucralose. Because BE is a metabolite unique to human excretion, its presence in both wet and dry weather stream flows suggests a chronic and continuous condition of human sewage contamination in this urban southern California stream. Wastewater-based analysis also provided a direct way of measuring drug use within the population. Back-calculations of per-capita community drug consumption rates yielded values for amphetamine, methamphetamine and cocaine at 591, 5397, and 751 mg/d/1000 people, respectively. Notably, methamphetamine per-capita consumption rates determined in the present study for this southern California community were among the highest rates ever reported for the U.S. or Europe, and serve to confirm that methamphetamine use is surging in this area of southern California close to the USA-Mexico border.