cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural networks for advanced process control

The fabrication of integrated circuits involves many non-linear processes, each with several inputs and outputs. These complexities suggest that benefits could be derived from the development and implementation of advanced process control tools and strategies. Empirical process models are one of these tools. In this research, sequential neural network models were developed to characterize critical steps in a fabrication process. The data used were collected from an industrial process, a distinguishing feature of this research. Typically the data used to train neural network models comes from designed (factorial) experiments [1]. Here, the data came from experiments related to the processes under investigation, but not specifically designed to generate data for modeling. The models performed well demonstrating the flexibility of the sequential neural network modeling process. Additionally, the models were used in a sensitivity analysis to study the output response to the various inputs. Future work will include using the models as part of a model-based supervisory control system.
A meta-analysis of elevated CO2 effects on woody plant mass, form, and physiology

Quantitative integration of the literature on the effect of elevated CO2 on woody plants is important to aid our understanding of forest health in coming decades and to better predict terrestrial feedbacks on the global carbon cycle. We used meta-analytic methods to summarize and interpret more than 500 reports of effects of elevated CO2 on woody plant biomass accumulation and partitioning, gas exchange, and leaf nitrogen and starch content. The CO2 effect size metric we used was the log-transformed ratio of elevated compared to am- bient response means weighted by the inverse of the variance of the log ratio. Variation in effect size among studies was partitioned according to the presence of in- teracting stress factors, length of CO2 exposure, func- tional group status, pot size, and type of CO2 exposure facility. Both total biomass (WT) and net CO2 assimi- lation (A) increased significantly at about twice ambient CO2, regardless of growth conditions. Low soil nutrient availability reduced the CO2 stimulation of WT by half, from + 31% under optimal conditions to + 16%, while low light increased the response to + 52%. We found no significant shifts in biomass allocation under high CO2. Interacting stress factors had no effect on the magnitude of responses of A to C02, although plants grown in growth chambers had significantly lower responses (+19%) than those grown in greenhouses or in open-top chambers (+ 54%). We found no consistent evidence for photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 enrichment except in trees grown in pots <0.5 1 (-36%) and no significant CO2 effect on stomatal conductance. Both leaf dark respiration and leaf nitrogen were significantly reduced under elevated CO2 (-18% and -16% respectively, data expressed on a leaf mass basis), while leaf starch content increased significantly except in low nutrient grown gymnosperms. Our results provide robust, statistically defensible estimates of elevated CO2 effect sizes against which new results may be compared or for use in forest and climate model parameterization.
A developmental biologist’s journey to rediscover the Zen of plant physiology

Physiology, which is often viewed as a field of study distinct from development, is technically defined as the branch of biology that explores the normal function of living organisms and their parts. Because plants normally develop continuously throughout their life, plant physiology actually encompasses all developmental processes. Viewing plant biology from a physiologist’s perspective is an attempt to understand the interconnectedness of development, form, and function in the context of multidimensional complexity in the environment. To meet the needs of an expanding human population and a degrading environment, we must understand the adaptive mechanisms that plants use to acclimate to environmental change, and this will require a more holistic approach than is used by current molecular studies. Grand challenges for studies on plant physiology require a more sophisticated understanding of the environment that plants grow in, which is likely to be at least as complex as the plant itself. Moving the lab to the field and using the field for inspiration in the lab need to be expressly promoted by the community as we work to apply the basic concepts learned through reductionist approaches toward a more integrated and realistic understanding of the plant.
Utility and Validation of Day and Night Snorkel Counts for Estimating Bull Trout Abundance in First‐ to Third‐Order Streams

Abstract Despite the widespread use of underwater observation to census stream-dwelling fishes, the accuracy of snorkeling methods has rarely been validated. We evaluated the efficiency of day and night snorkel counts for estimating the abundance of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus in 215 sites within first- to third-order streams. We used a dual-gear approach that applied multiple-pass electrofishing catch data adjusted for capture efficiency to estimate true or baseline fish abundance. Our multiple-pass electrofishing capture efficiency models were based on a prior study and used recapture data for known numbers of individually marked fish. Snorkeling efficiency was estimated by comparing day and night snorkel counts with the baseline. We also evaluated the influence of fish size and stream habitat features on snorkeling efficiency. Bull trout snorkeling efficiency was higher at night (mean = 33.2%) than during the day (mean = 12.5%). Beta-binomial regression indicated that bull trout day and night sno...
A complex optimal signal-processing algorithm for frequency-stepped CW data

We derive a complex nonlinear optimal signal-processing algorithm for estimating target ranges from a set of frequency-stepped continuous wave (FSCW) measurements. It is a generalization of a prior optimization algorithm in that the reflection amplitudes are modeled as phasors rather than real-valued scalars. The algorithm solves this nonlinear problem by separating it into its linear and nonlinear parts. The amplitudes of the reflections are first optimized by solving a set of linear equations in the least-squares sense. A performance measure is then calculated and scanned to find its global minimum to yield a set of reflection amplitudes and time-delay estimates. We derive analytical expressions for the performance measure and for the effects of noise in the measurement data. Finally, we present experimental results to demonstrate the performance of our algorithm.
A Novel Parameter Identification Approach via Hybrid Learning for Aggregate Load Modeling

Parameter identification is the key technology in measurement-based load modeling. A hybrid learning algorithm is proposed to identify parameters for the aggregate load model (ZIP augmented with induction motor). The hybrid learning algorithm combines the genetic algorithm (GA) and the nonlinear Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) algorithm. It takes advantages of the global search ability of GA and the local search ability of L-M algorithm, which is a more powerful search technique. The proposed algorithm is tested for load parameter identifications using both simulation data and field measurement data. Numerical results illustrate that the hybrid learning algorithm can improve the accuracy and reduce the computation time for load model parameter identifications.
Design Methodology of Regular Logic Bricks for Robust Integrated Circuits

Regularity in IC design has been recognized as an effective means to combat variability in nanoscale technologies. One way to enforce design regularity is to implement ICs using a small library of regular logic bricks. In this paper we propose a methodology for the design and synthesis of such logic bricks. Since logic bricks are comprised of a limited set of logic primitives for manufacturability reasons, we propose a primitive-based direct mapping approach for generating optimized bricks that, in contrast to classical synthesis approaches, can provide direct control of implementation structures at abstract functional level based on the detection of natural decompositions that exist in the function. We demonstrate considerable improvement in the performance of logic bricks that are generated by the proposed method as compared with those produced by a commercial synthesis tool.
Political responses to interdependence: what's “left” for the left?

Heightened economic interdependence in recent years is commonly argued to have generated great pressures for convergence in economic policies across the advanced industrial democracies. Interdependence has clearly had a great impact on the types of economic policies that governments can pursue: they have been unable to pursue independent fiscal and monetary policies since the mid-1970s. Furthermore, all governments have been forced to attempt to promote the competitiveness of national goods and services in world markets and to increase the speed and efficiency with which national producers adjust to changes in global markets. There are, however, different policies consistent with these goals. Statistical analyses of economic policies since the mid-1970s show that governments of the left and the right continue to be able to enact distinctive supply-side policies that promote competitiveness and flexible adjustment and simultaneously further their partisan objectives.
Umbilical-cord-blood banking: lessons learned from gamete donation

Cord blood stored at birth may be used to treat disorders in later life. Commercial companies advertise this message to prospective parents; cord blood can be collected and processed for about $1500 and $95 annually for storage. 3,4 This practice stirs controversy and raises ethical questions. First, will the stored blood be used for the exclusive use of the individual donor? A parent’s decision to use stored cord blood for the treatment of anyone other than the baby (such as a sibling or themselves) raises questions of conflict of interest. If autologous storing becomes standard, will parents or the government be mandated to retain cord blood for every baby and bear the expense? If so, should parents be permitted to donate their infant’s cord blood to another person without ensuring the future availability to the child. 2 How will private cord
Carboxylic acid characterization in nanoparticles by thermal desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract Recent improvements in the operation of the thermal desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometer allow for the characterization of organic species in 8–40 nm diameter particles. Here we describe the application of this technique to monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids, focusing on the response of the instrument to picogram amounts of pure and multicomponent mixtures. Monocarboxylic acids underwent minimal decomposition during analysis, and were identified by the deprotonated parent ion with a sensitivity of 3–8 Hz of integrated ion signal per picogram of sample. Measurements of a binary mixture of monocarboxylic acids showed that desorption and subsequent ionization of these compounds occur independently and have mass-normalized responses identical to pure samples. Dicarboxylic acids appear as the deprotonated parent ion as well as an important decomposition product corresponding to the loss of formic acid from the deprotonated parent. Sensitivities towards these compounds were up to 100 times higher than for the monocarboxylic acids. Experiments using 10–30 nm diameter butanedioic acid particles showed a linear response to collected particulate mass with sufficient sensitivity to support the application of this technique to the characterization of carboxylic acids in ambient atmospheric nanoparticles.
Molecular Therapies for Tuberous Sclerosis and Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are autosomal-dominant genetic disorders that result from dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. NF1 is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene on chromosome 17q11.2. Its protein product, neurofibromin, functions as a tumor suppressor and ultimately produces constitutive upregulation of mTOR. TSC is caused by mutations in either the TSC1 (chromosome 9q34) or TSC2 (chromosome 16p.13.3) genes. Their protein products, hamartin and tuberin, respectively, form a dimer that acts via the GAP protein Rheb (Ras homolog enhanced in brain) to directly inhibit mTOR, again resulting in upregulation. Specific inhibitors of mTOR are in clinical use, including sirolimus, everolimus, temsirolimus, and deforolimus. Everolimus has been shown to reduce the volume and appearance of subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGA), facial angiofibromas, and renal angiomyolipomas associated with TSC, with a recent FDA approval for SEGA not suitable for surgical resection. This article reviews the use of mTOR inhibitors in these diseases, which have the potential to be a disease-modifying therapy in these and other conditions.
Search by shape examples: modeling nonrigid deformation

We describe our work on shape-based image database search using the technique of modal matching. Modal matching employs a deformable shape decomposition that allows users to select example objects and have the computer efficiently sort the set of objects based on the similarity of their shape. Shapes are compared in terms of the types of nonrigid deformations (differences) that relate them. The modal decomposition provides deformation "control knobs" for flexible matching and thus allows for selecting weighted subsets of shape parameters that are deemed significant for a particular category or context. We demonstrate the utility of this approach for shape comparison in 2-D image databases; however the general formulation is applicable to signals of any dimensionality. >
Progesterone receptor, but not estradiol receptor, messenger ribonucleic acid is expressed in luteinizing granulosa cells and the corpus luteum in rhesus monkeys

Estrogens (i.e. estradiol) and progestins (i.e. progesterone) may act as local regulators of ovarian function in various species. This study tested the hypothesis that if progesterone and estradiol act via receptor-mediated pathways in the primate ovary, then receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) should be detectable in ovarian cells. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect progesterone and estradiol receptor (PR and ER, respectively) mRNAs in the rhesus monkey ovary. Total RNA was isolated from macaque uterine myometrium (positive control), spleen (negative control), whole ovary, germinal (surface) epithelium-enriched cortical and medullary compartments of the ovary, granulosa cells in preovulatory follicles before and after an ovulatory stimulus, and corpora lutea from early (days 3-5), mid (days 7 and 8)-, and late (days 14 and 15) luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Using primers to the hormone-binding region encoded by the receptor mRNAs, RT-PCR products of the ...
Investigating Parent and Professional Perspectives Concerning Special Education Services for Preschool Latino Children.

Population changes in the US have created new challenges for service providers responsible for screening, determining eligibility, and providing appropriate educational services to young English Language Learners (ELLs). Six focus groups (two each) with administrators, teachers, and parents were conducted in two different locations to investigate the referral, diagnostic evaluation, and placement of prekindergarten Latino children who are ELLs and their families. The purpose of this study was to: (a) identify effective practices that differentiate between cultural/linguistic differences and learning differences; (b) identify the gaps in the current special education services; and (c) make recommendations to reduce the disproportionate representation of young ELL children based on these data. The results revealed a number of factors contributing to the disproportionality of young ELL children in special services such as: inconsistent screening and evaluation methods; insufficient numbers of bilingual professionals and trained interpreters; communication barriers and contradictory procedures that undermine meaningful partnerships with parents of ELLs; the need for professional development on the purposes and administration procedures of screening and evaluation tools; and a need for policy and regulation changes pertaining to ELL children such as the timing of screenings and evaluations.
On the Peripheries of Planetary Urbanization: Globalizing Manaus and its Expanding Impact

In this paper I argue that global urbanism produces peripherality in ways that cannot be adequately problematized without taking into account its actual extent and geographically uneven development. Therefore, planetary urbanization needs to engage scholarly traditions attuned to regional urbanization if the discourse is to move past limitations in the urban globalization canon and its narrow focus on cities. To that end, I examine research on extensive urbanization in the Amazon region. Illustrative case studies show how attempts to globalize Manaus precipitated territorial restructuring and sociospatial change far beyond the city's boundaries. Manaus is now a more unequal city. Selective metropolitan expansion to the Rio Negro's south bank has led to the simultaneous upgrading and peripheralization of Iranduba. Yet, the building of a city-centric regional network of roadways also shaped Roraima State's transformation from isolated borderland to bypassed periphery. Moreover, financial and symbolic appropriations of standing rainforests by metropolitan conservationism marginalize remote communities even in the absence of exploitative deforestation and resource extraction. Final remarks emphasize the need for further research on the hybrid (urban—rural) conditions and functional articulations of distant-yet-impacted peripheries. Such efforts may broaden the political horizons of planetary urbanization by informing extensive contestations of entrepreneurial urbanism.
Entropy and optimality in abstract art: an empirical test of visual aesthetics

How can aesthetic responses to artworks be computed? Previous authors have proposed governing properties, including symmetry and complexity, along with equations for quantifying these properties and combining them into an overall measure of aesthetics. But existing mathematical models have not been well motivated by psychological theories or well validated by empirical testing. An alternative model is derived here, using a novel measure of visual entropy to quantify graphic complexity and compute aesthetic optimality. This model is tested against human judgments of complexity and aesthetics using abstract designs composed of horizontal and vertical grid lines. The empirical results support the mathematical model of entropy and optimality, but also highlight difficulties associated with computing aesthetics for other abstract and figurative artworks. Implications of the data and model are discussed with regard to current and future efforts in the field of computational aesthetics, aimed at automating the e...
Topology of Chaos in a Chemical Reaction

The authors and coworkers (TURNER et al. [1]; ROUX et al. [2]) have investigated the dynamics of the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction in a stirred flow reactor. These experiments, which were motivated by the numerical modeling studies of TURNER [1,3] described elsewhere in this volume, have revealed a sequence of periodic and chaotic regimes that alternate as a function of the flow rate. The periodic regimes are characterized by power spectra (of the bromide ion potential) that consist of a single fundamental frequency component and its harmonics, as Fig. la illustrates, while the chaotic regimes are characterized by broadband power spectra, as Fig. lb illustrates. The observed periodic-chaotic sequence will be compared with the numerical modeling predictions and with other experiments in this section. The remainder of the paper will be devoted to an analysis of the phase space portraits and Poincare maps for the data obtained in the first chaotic regime in the sequence.
Signal Processing With Mathematica: Active Learning In The Engineering Classroom

In many of the foundational courses in the electrical engineering discipline, a student's lack of adequate mathematical skills is one of the primary barriers to effective learning, and ultimately, successful completion of degree requirements. To compound the problem, the courses are frequently taught using the traditional lecture format. In a number of electrical engineering courses, we have embarked on an experiment to improve learning and deepen understanding of the subject matter by: (i) facilitating active learning, (ii) breaking with the traditional lecture format and (iii) making mathematics more accessible to the students. Classes are held in a computer equipped classroom with on-line access to Mathematica. In these sessions, the traditional lecture is frequently replaced by an instructor supervised independent exploration of the subject matter by the student. Electronic courseware based on Mathematica notebooks is under development and a package that extends Mathematical functionality in the area of digital image processing has been written.
Flipping the Managerial Accounting Principles Course: Effects on Student Performance, Evaluation, and Attendance

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of “flipping the classroom” on student performance, evaluation, and attendance in managerial accounting principles. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a crossed within-participants research design (each student experiencing both traditional instruction and simplified flipped instruction) allowing for control of individual differences between students; repeated-measures regression analysis for overall effects; quantile regression for performance-segregated effects. Findings Flipping the classroom resulted in significant performance improvement, particularly for lower performing students. Course evaluations indicate a few instructor-related ratings were lower for the flipped approach. Attendance was lower under the flipped approach for initial class meetings where the instructional manipulation occurred. Research limitations/implications The study design included a weak form of flipping. A stronger form of flipping with greater incentives for class preparation as well as lecture videos could have stronger results. Practical implications Flipping the classroom could be effective for application-oriented accounting courses, particularly for lower performing students. Originality/value This is one of very few studies on flipping providing evidence of effectiveness using a crossed within-participants research design.
Iterative and Event-Based Frameworks for University and School District Technology Professional Development Partnerships.

Forming technology partnerships between universities and public schools in an era of competition and economic difficulty is a challenge. However, when these partnerships are formed and sustained, the benefits for both are extremely valuable. For a university instructional technology graduate program and school partnership to be successful, the partnership must be based on mutual needs and value. This article examines how the needs of university instructional technology graduate programs and local public schools may be jointly addressed by two different partnership models—one based on a curricular event framework, and the other through an iterative service-learning model.
Tonic sympathoinhibition in the baroreceptor denervated cat.

SummaryLesions of those portions of the paramedian reticular, raphe obscurus and raphe pallidus nuclei which extend 0-2 mm rostral to the obex increased renal SND without affecting the baroreceptor reflexes in cats with intact carotid sinus, aortic depressor, and vagus nerves. Lesions of these medial medullary structures in baroreceptor dener-vated cats produced an equivalent increase in SND. The effect of medial medullary lesions on SND, however, was prevented by prior decerebration. These results indicate that tonic sympathoinhibition involving the medial medulla is of nonbaroreceptor origin and is dependent upon the integrity of forebrain-medullary connections. The increase in SND produced by medial medullary lesions was not significantly different from that produced by section of the baroreceptor nerves or by ablation of the medullary nucleus of baroreceptor fiber termination (i.e., NTS). Thus, the nonbaroreceptor sympathoinhibitory system of the medial medulla is potentially as important as the baror...
Color Duplex Sonography in the Detection of Internal Carotid Artery Restenosis After Carotid Endarterectomy Comparison With Computed Tomographic Angiography

OBJECTIVES Internal carotid artery restenosis after carotid endarterectomy is a major postoperative event, but the clinically best suited means for diagnosis of restenosis are still debated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of color duplex sonography for detection of substantial internal carotid artery restenosis, verified by computed tomographic (CT) angiography. METHODS The study group consisted of 210 consecutive patients with internal carotid artery restenosis, defined as restenosis of 50% or greater, verified by color duplex sonography. The degree of restenosis was calculated according to the European Carotid Surgery Trial guidelines. All patients underwent CT angiography. The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of color duplex sonography were calculated. RESULTS In 85 patients, internal carotid artery restenosis on color duplex sonography was 50% to 69%, whereas in 125 patients it was 70% or greater. When color duplex sonography was compared with CT angiography, only 2 patients in the group with restenosis of 50% to 69% were misclassified by color duplex sonography, in whom CT angiography showed stenosis of 70% or greater. No patient with stenosis of 70% or greater on color duplex sonography was shown to have a lesser degree of restenosis on CT angiography. When compared with CT angiography, color duplex sonography had specificity of 97.7%, sensitivity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 98.4%, and a negative predictive value of 100% for the detection of internal carotid artery restenosis. CONCLUSIONS Color duplex sonography can be effectively used as a primary diagnostic tool for evaluation of patients with suspected internal carotid artery restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.
Analysis on Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils from Different Varieties of Atractylodes macrocephala by GC-MS

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the chemical components of essential oil from different varieties of Atractylodes macrocephala by GC-MS. METHODS: The essential oil was extracted from A. macrocephala by steam distillation. The chemical components of the essential oil from different varieties of A. macrocephala were detected by GC-MS. The relative contents of the chemical components were computed using area normalization method. RESULTS: 27 kinds of chemical constituents were identified in the essential oil from main species of A. macrocephala, accounting for 84.24% of the total compounds; 37 kinds and 35 kinds of chemical constituents compounds were identified in the essential oil from two varieties of A. macrocephala, accounting for 91.92% and 94.72% of their total compounds, respectively. Main compound in the essential oil from of A. macrocephala was atractylone; the essential oils from two varieties of A. macrocephala mainly contained hinseol, β-eudesmol and atractylone. CONCLUSION: The experimental results can provide scientific evidence for quality evaluation and quality control of A. macrocephala.
Visual category learning results in rapid changes in brain activation reflecting sensitivity to the category relation between perceived objects and to decision correctness

Little is known about the time scales in which sensitivity to novel category identity may become evident in visual and executive cortices in visual category learning VCL tasks and the nature of such changes in brain activation. We used fMRI to investigate the processing of category information and trial-by-trial feedback information. In each VCL task, stimuli differed in three feature dimensions. In each trial, either two same-category stimuli or two different-categories stimuli were presented. The participant had to learn which feature dimension was relevant for categorization based on the feedback that followed each categorization decision. We contrasted between same-category stimuli trials and different-category trials and between correct and incorrect categorization decision trials. In each trial, brain activation in the visual stimuli processing phase was modeled separately from activation during the later feedback processing phase. We found activation in the lateral occipital complex, indicating sensitivity to the category relation between stimuli, to be evident in VCL within only few learning trials. Specifically, greater lateral occipital complex activation was evident when same-category stimuli were presented than when different-category stimuli were presented. In the feedback processing phase, greater activation in both executive and visual cortices was evident primarily after "misdetections" of same-category stimuli. Implications regarding the contribution of different learning trials to VCL, and the respective role of key brain regions, at the onset of VCL, are discussed.
Establishing the Link Between Usability and Student Satisfaction in Adaptive Online Learning

Online courses present a new element to learners in college courses. Interfaces (web pages) take the place of an instructor as the primary information delivery system. In other words, a student’s l...
"We Are Seven" and the First British Census

illiamWordsworth’s “We Are Seven,” first published inWordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 volume, Lyrical Ballads, features a rustic setting, an innocent child, and a poetic speaker whose question, “how many may you be?” provokes the poem’s title. As scholars have long noted, the prominence of counting in this poem, published the same year as Thomas Malthus’s “Essay on the Principle of Population,” is essential to the child’s request to register formally the presence of her dead sister and brother. The question “how many,” however, may be structured less by Wordsworth’s interest in poetic “experiments,” as he describes his work in the Advertisement to Lyrical Ballads, than by contemporary policy debates about enumerating the rural population, culminating in the first British census of 1801.1
Is ‘Phenomenology’ a Family Resemblance Term?

In this chapter, Tom Sparrow argues that when phenomenology is regarded as a family resemblance term—an increasingly accepted practice these days—we are encouraged to see it less as a method and more as a style of philosophy. The result is that phenomenology loses its coherence, its meaning, and arguably its usefulness. This is because identification of the various members of the phenomenological family is made ad hoc, rather than on the basis of a guiding principle that would ground their identification. Such ad hoc definition begs the question of phenomenology’s meaning and leaves its essence hidden. It fails to indicate the purpose of phenomenology, what it can accomplish, or why anyone would want to adopt it as an approach to research.
Evaluation of Single-Dose Palifermin To Reduce Oral Mucositis (OM) in Fractionated Total Body Irradiation (fTBI) and High Dose (HD) Chemotherapy with Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell (PBPC) Transplantation.

For some patients (pts) with hematologic malignancies (HM) undergoing PBPC transplantation, the approved regimen of 3 daily doses of palifermin 60 μg/kg prior to myeloablative conditioning therapy may be inconvenient. This study was initially developed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of various collapsed pre-conditioning dosing regimens (180 μg/kg) in reducing the incidence of severe OM (WHO grade 3 or 4) induced by fTBI and HD chemotherapy in pts with HM undergoing PBPC transplantation. The study was stopped early because of slower than expected accrual. Methods: Pts were 18 to 74 years old with HM, a Karnofsky performance score ≥70%, and eligible for fTBI (12 Gy) followed by optional VP-16 (60 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg), and autologous PBPC support. Pts were randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive palifermin 60 μg/kg administered once daily for 3 days prior to the start of fTBI (Arm A) versus palifermin 180 μg/kg administered once only on day -1 (Arm B); day -2 (Arm C); or day -3 (Arm D) prior to the start of fTBI and stratified by VP-16 use and by the number of days of TBI fractions. All pts received palifermin 60 μg/kg for 3 days post transplant (days 0, 1, 2). Results are summarized as point estimates. Efficacy was analyzed for all evaluable patients as randomized; sensitivity analyses were done for all evaluable patients as treated. Results: Of the 47 pts randomized, 1 pt was excluded from analyses due to delayed informed consent. The primary efficacy endpoint, incidence of severe OM, is summarized in Table 1. The overall incidence of severe OM for all pts was 61% (28/46), with a mean duration (SD) of 4.3 days (4.4). Severe OM incidences were 82% (9/11) in Arm A and 54% (19/35) in the combined collapsed dose groups (Arms B+C+D). Severe OM rates were 60% (6/10), 31% (4/13), and 75% (9/12) in Arms B, C and D, respectively. A similar distribution of the incidence of severe OM was seen in the sensitivity analysis (Table 1). All arms had a similar incidence of adverse events. Conclusion: The overall incidence and duration of severe OM observed in this trial was consistent with the efficacy data of palifermin demonstrated in the pivotal randomized phase 3 trial (Spielberger et al, NEJM 351:10–17, 2004). The collapsed dosing regimen (180 μg/kg) was well tolerated, and the efficacy of palifermin in the collapsed dose arms is similar to Arm A, possibly allowing for increased patient and caregiver convenience. The small sample sizes limit the ability to compare the individual collapsed dose arms; however, the timing of palifermin collapsed dose administration may have an impact on the efficacy of OM reduction.
Alcoholism Prevention in the Workplace

Few readers will question the cost benefits of prevention of alcoholism as compared to its treatment costs. Many, however, might ask why prevention should take place in the workplace. After all, abusive drinking is not a common accompaniment of work (though some employees do drink on the job) and employers are understandably chary of intruding on employees’ rights to privacy. In addition, prevention costs money and businesspeople do not part readily with funds that do not contribute directly to production, distribution, or sale of products. Why prevention in the workplace, then?
Early Complications Following Osteosynthesis of Distal Radius Fractures: A Comparison of Geriatric and Nongeriatric Cohorts.

Background:Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are common geriatric fractures with the overall incidence expected to increase as the population continues to age. The purpose of this investigation was to...
Recursive non-local means filter for video denoising

In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient algorithm for video denoising that exploits temporal and spatial redundancy. The proposed method is based on non-local means (NLM). NLM methods have been applied successfully in various image denoising applications. In the single-frame NLM method, each output pixel is formed as a weighted sum of the center pixels of neighboring patches, within a given search window. The weights are based on the patch intensity vector distances. The process requires computing vector distances for all of the patches in the search window. Direct extension of this method from 2D to 3D, for video processing, can be computationally demanding. Note that the size of a 3D search window is the size of the 2D search window multiplied by the number of frames being used to form the output. Exploiting a large number of frames in this manner can be prohibitive for real-time video processing. Here, we propose a novel recursive NLM (RNLM) algorithm for video processing. Our RNLM method takes advantage of recursion for computational savings, compared with the direct 3D NLM. However, like the 3D NLM, our method is still able to exploit both spatial and temporal redundancy for improved performance, compared with 2D NLM. In our approach, the first frame is processed with single-frame NLM. Subsequent frames are estimated using a weighted sum of pixels from the current frame and a pixel from the previous frame estimate. Only the single best matching patch from the previous estimate is incorporated into the current estimate. Several experimental results are presented here to demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed method in terms of quantitative and subjective image quality.
Relative value unit transformation: Our new reality of worth

The mission of any academic healthcare institution is to strive in all three fronts of clinical care, research, and education. Despite the importance of teaching, research, and other related activities that contribute to the academic advancement of physicians and institutions, there currently is no standardized metric to quantitatively measure each physician's productivity and value in these areas. As the landscape for hospital reimbursements continue to change to include and expect quality domains and outcomes, so must the algorithm for determining the missing pieces of value in the traditional resource-based relative value scale. The authors review the traditional measurement of clinical productivity, namely, the work relative value unit (wRVU) and propose the development and implementation of additions to this existing wRVU to include quality RVU as well as academic RVU. The acceptance and implementation of this transformation will provide physicians with a more comprehensive portfolio for promotional opportunities and institutions with comparative data on the overall effectiveness of their tripartite academic mission. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Systems-based Practice.
No borders: the politics of immigration control and resistance

Natasha King's No Borders asks a relevant and novel question: How do individuals go about practices of refusing borders in a world in which borders are everywhere? It takes as its starting point th...
FLUORESCENCE-BASED AUTOMATED DNA SEQUENCE ANALYSIS

DNA sequence analysis is one of the most important techniques of modern molecular biology. It permits the rapid and complete determination of the precise chemical structure of the genetic material. This information is the foundation for the subsequent study of genes and their gene products. Such work includes the analysis of gene expression, protein structure and function, and the evolution, polymorphism, and diversity of the genome.
Cardiac MR elastography using reduced-FOV, single-shot, spin-echo EPI.

PURPOSE To implement a reduced field of view (rFOV) technique for cardiac MR elastography (MRE) and to demonstrate the improvement in image quality of both magnitude images and post-processed MRE stiffness maps compared to the conventional full field of view (full-FOV) acquisition. METHODS With Institutional Review Board approval, 17 healthy volunteers underwent both full-FOV and rFOV cardiac MRE scans using 140-Hz vibrations. Two cardiac radiologists blindly compared the magnitude images and stiffness maps and graded the images based on several image quality attributes using a 5-point ordinal scale. Fisher's combined probability test was performed to assess the overall evaluation. The octahedral shear strain-based signal-to-noise ratio (OSS-SNR) and median stiffness over the left ventricular myocardium were also compared. RESULTS One volunteer was excluded because of an inconsistent imaging resolution during the exam. In the remaining 16 volunteers (9 males, 7 females), the rFOV scans outperformed the full-FOV scans in terms of subjective image quality and ghosting artifacts in the magnitude images and stiffness maps, as well as the overall preference. The quantitative measurements showed that rFOV had significantly higher OSS-SNR (median: 1.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-1.5] vs. 2.1 [95% CI: 1.8-2.4]), P < 0.05) compared to full-FOV. Although no significant change was found in the median myocardial stiffness between the 2 scans, we observed a decrease in the stiffness variation within the myocardium from 2.1 kPa (95% CI: [1.9, 2.3]) to 1.9 kPa (95% CI: [1.7, 2.0]) for full-FOV and rFOV, respectively (P < 0.05) in a subgroup of 7 subjects with ghosting present in the myocardium. CONCLUSION This pilot volunteer study demonstrated that rFOV cardiac MRE has the capability to reduce ghosting and to improve image quality in both MRE magnitude images and stiffness maps. Magn Reson Med 80:231-238, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Immune system: The "seventh sense"

The brain is our computing machine that integrates stimuli from the environment and orchestrates responses to these stimuli. Here, I propose that the defining role of the immune system is to sense microorganisms and to inform the brain about them.
Multidimensional Inverse Quantum Scattering Problem and Wiener-Hopf Factorization

We consider the direct and inverse scattering for the n-dimensional Schrodinger equation, n ≥ 2, with a potential having no spherical symmetry. Sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a Wiener-Hopf factorization of the corresponding scattering operator. This factorization leads to the solution of a related Riemann-Hilbert problem, which plays a key role in inverse scattering.
Assessing HIV-associated dementia: modified HIV dementia scale versus the Grooved Pegboard.

The HIV dementia scale (HDS) previously has been shown to be sensitive in identifying persons with HIV-associated dementia (HAD). We aimed to develop a simpler version of the HDS--the Modified HDS (M-HDS)--which would be appropriate for use by nonneurologists. We sought to determine whether the M-HDS and the widely used Grooved Pegboard (GP) were comparable in identifying and staging the severity of dementia in HIV-seropositive persons. Data from 455 HIV-seropositive persons were analyzed, and patients were separated into 2 groups: demented (n = 144) and nondemented (n = 311), where the diagnosis was established by a single neurologist. Of the 144 with HAD, 13 had severe dementia, 55 had moderate dementia, 51 had mild dementia, and 25 had minor cognitive/motor disorder. We assessed the relationship between dementia severity and score on the M-HDS and GP (nondominant hand). Results showed both the M-HDS (z = -4.32; P < .05) and the GP nondominant (z = -4.08; P < .05) differentiated demented from nondemented persons. Furthermore, the M-HDS (z = -2.95; P < .05) and GP nondominant (z = -2.68; P < .05) discriminated equally well the stages of dementia severity. A cutoff score of 7.5 on the M-HDS maximized its sensitivity (70%) and specificity (71%). The M-HDS and the GP (nondominant) were found to be equally sensitive and specific in categorizing and staging HAD. However, the M-HDS requires no equipment and is simpler to administer; so it may be more useful for screening by nonneurologists.
Review of D-T results from TFTR

Experiments with plasmas having nearly equal concentrations of deuterium and tritium have been carried out on TFTR. To date, the maximum fusion power has been 10.7 MW, using 39.5 MW of neutral-beam heating, in a supershot discharge and 6.7 MW in a high-{beta}{sub p} discharge following a current ramp-down. The fusion power density in the core of the plasma has reached 2.8 MWm{sup {minus}3}, exceeding that expected in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITTER). The energy confinement time, {tau}{sub E}, is observed to increase in D-T, relative to D plasmas, by 20% and the n{sub i}(O){center_dot}{tau}{sub E} product by 55%. The improvement in thermal confinement is caused primarily by a decrease in ion heat conductivity in both supershot and limiter-H-mode discharges. Extensive lithium pellet injection increased the confinement time to 0.27 s and enabled higher current operation in both supershot and high-{beta}{sub p} discharges. First measurements of the confined alpha particles have been performed and found to be in good agreement with TRANSP simulations assuming classical confinement. Measurements of the alpha ash profile have been compared with simulations using particle transport coefficients from helium gas puffing experiments. The loss of energetic alpha particles to a detector at the bottom ofmore » the vessel is well described by the first-orbit loss mechanism. No loss due to alpha-particle-driven instabilities has yet been observed. ICRF heating of a D-T plasma, using the second harmonic of tritium, has been demonstrated. D-T experiments on TFTR will continue both to explore the physics underlying the ITER design and to examine some of the physics issues associated with an advanced tokamak reactor.« less
Leakage-Aware Droop Measurement Built-in Self-Test Circuit for Digital Low-Dropout Regulators

Transient performance is one of the most crucial design properties in digital low-dropout regulator (DLDO) design. In this paper, an improved droop measurement built-in self-test (BIST) circuit for DLDOs is presented, expanding on the previous work (Dirican et al. 2018) by the same authors. The proposed BIST system can detect and store the transient droop information using droop detector and generates a digital output with a reuse based 10-bit successive-approximation (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with better accuracy. The improvements are achieved by employing a multi-step ramp circuit and a leakage cancellation circuit. The system is made more suitable for process scaling by replacing the analog buffer with a multi-step ramp circuit. Employing a leakage cancellation circuit solves potential leakage problems during ADC operation due to the reused decoupling capacitor of the DLDO and nearly 75% reduction in maximum measurement error is observed using this feature. Additionally, the droop detector is capable of storing transient droop information with less than 0.6% error for droop voltages ranging from 45 mV to 406 mV for a nominal DLDO output voltage of 1.6 V where the supply voltage is 1.8 V. The proposed BIST circuit is designed using a 0.18 μm CMOS process in Cadence Virtuoso and verified with corner simulations.
Unusual case of a small bowel leiomyoma presenting as an adnexal mass

This case report will discuss an interesting case of a premenopausal woman who presented with an adnexal mass consistent with a leiomyoma on imaging. However, intraoperatively, the mass was thought to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumour but histological diagnosis subsequently confirmed a leiomyoma arising from the small bowel.