cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What approaches should be taken to the diagnostics of hematolymphoid malignancies

Diagnoses of hematolymphoid malignancies result from multidisciplinary participation and comprehensive analyses; this includes clinical data, imaging studies, pathology and various esoteric tests. For the last twenty years, because of advances in tumor biology, various novel modalities of anti-cancer treatments especially with targeted anti-cancer drugs, and new technology, classification of hematolymphoid malignancies has become more and more complex; at the same time, the diagnoses and treatment modalities have been trending towards greater sophistication and precision. In addition to the initial diagnosis, nowadays, a modern pathology and laboratory service center must have abilities to provide multiple tests of increasing sensitivity and complexity for the purposes of, for example, prognosis and risk stratification, targeted therapy, treatment effect monitoring, disease monitoring after remission, target gene mutation monitoring, prognosis reassessment after chemotherapy, and treatment re-adjustment. Therefore, pathology and laboratory service have become an imperative component of modern medicine. Morphology alone or using any single test simply cannot meet the hematology-oncology needs. In fact, multi-test modalities, comprehensive analyses and integrated reporting, are standard practice along with their training programs throughout the health systems in the North America. At the turn of the century, technologies including immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and later, molecular diagnostics have been adopted for the diagnoses of hematolymphoid malignancies in China. This article further discusses comprehensive approaches to the diagnoses of hematolymphoid malignancies, their organizational structures, and multidiscipline-oriented subspecialty training programs for hematopathologists. The approaches are characterized by emphasizing that hematopathologists must have comprehensive subspecialty-required multidiscipline analytical skill, must have abilities to provide integrated diagnoses based on the disease classification or comprehensive clinical-relevant interpretation of multi-test results, rather than provide technical results only, and must deliver integrated hematopathology reports. Key words: Hematopathology; Lymphoma; Comprehensive diagnostic modalities; Pathology; Laboratory medicine
SIMULTANEOUS 3D X-RAY PTYCHO-TOMOGRAPHY WITH GRADIENT DESCENT

The acquisition model of a 3Dx-ray imaging system can be understood as the combination of two known techniques: tomography and ptychography. First, x-rays go through a 3D object producing a set of 2D tomographic projections at different angles. Then, a detector captures the magnitude of a diffraction pattern produced by the interaction of these projections with a finite-sized coherent beam spot (also called probe). In 2D ptychography, in order to solve this phase retrieval problem, the observations have to be captured with a large overlap between them. However, this constraint can be relaxed in 3Dx-ray imaging, due to the fact that most of the required redundant information is acquired thanks to the combination of tomography and ptychography. In this work, we address the so-called ptycho-tomography problem and introduce a 3D reconstruction method that uses the gradient descent algorithm. In the experimental section, the proposed method is evaluated and compared against state-of-art-methods.
Eye Care Provider Availability for the Medicare Population in U.S. States That Have Expanded Optometrist Scope of Practice.

Significance Estimating a broader set of measures of local eye care provider availability than used in prior research offers information that is useful for policy decisions related to access to eye care. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine whether policy-relevant information was gained when measures of local eye care provider availability in addition to the estimated travel time (ETT) to the closest provider were estimated for the population 65 years or older in Kentucky, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. These states have expanded surgical scope of practice for optometrists. Methods This study used block group-level population data from the 2010 U.S. Decennial Census and eye care provider office address information from the 2016 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data. Geographic information system analysis was used to calculate ETTs between individuals and eye care providers. Expanded measures of availability included the difference in ETT to an individual's second closest and closest ophthalmologist, the difference in ETT to an individual's closest ophthalmologist and closest optometrist, and whether only one ophthalmologist at the closest office accepted Medicare. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each state and by urbanicity. Results Of the population 65 years or older in each state, between 10.8 (Kentucky) and 16.6% (Oklahoma) had a one-way ETT to the second closest ophthalmologist >15 minutes longer than to the closest ophthalmologist, between 21.1 (Kentucky) and 27.6% (Oklahoma) had a one-way ETT to the closest ophthalmologist >15 minutes longer than to the closest optometrist, and between 56.4 (Kentucky) and 70.0% (Oklahoma) had only one ophthalmologist at the closest office who accepted Medicare. Findings differed substantially by urbanicity. Conclusions Using a portfolio of travel time-based measures enhances the understanding of local eye care provider availability.
Measuring Manufacturing's Significance in the USA

Economic value added is a primary metric for measuring manufacturing activity;however, this metric and others exclude approximately half of the economic activity necessary for producing manufactured goods With the recent disruption in the supply of goods and services by the coronavirus disease pandemic, the criticality of these supply chains to production has become more apparent Measuring and understanding these additional activities is foundational to reducing the effect of supply chain disruption Additionally, manufacturing supply chains are fundamental to any response to the virus, including the production of masks, tests, and eventually a vaccine When looked at closely, manufacturing stands out as a key driver of our economy New manufacturing technologies can be leveraged to differentiate products in multiple ways, resulting in a greater variety of products made more efficiently, with less environmental impact and higher quality In addition, the digitization of manufacturing supports supply chains that are more connected, anticipatory, and agile Metrics are needed that better reflect the role manufacturing plays in society, better identify the social gains that manufacturing produces, and better establish the total economic activity that drives production In this paper, we propose a macroeconomic metric to better measure the influence of manufacturing on our economy as an example of one such measure We argue that there is a need for solidifying similar radical changes to our current ways of measuring manufacturing's relevance and emphasizing the impact of new technologies that support the manufacturing economic sector © 2020 American Institute of Physics Inc All rights reserved
Cytoreductive surgery in the management of newly diagnosed glioblastoma in adults: a systematic review and evidence-based clinical practice guideline update

These recommendations apply to adults with newly diagnosed or suspected glioblastoma. What is the effect of extent of surgical resection on patient outcome in the initial management of adult patients with suspected newly diagnosed glioblastoma? Level II: Maximal cytoreductive surgery is recommended in adult patients with suspected newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma with gross total resection defined as removal of contrast enhancing tumor. Level III: Biopsy, subtotal resection, or gross total resection is suggested depending on medical comorbidities, functional status, and location of tumor if maximal resection may cause significant neurologic deficit. What is the role of cytoreductive surgery in adults with newly diagnosed bi-frontal “butterfly” glioblastoma? Level III: Resection of newly diagnosed bi-frontal “butterfly” glioblastoma is suggested to improve overall survival over biopsy alone. What is the goal of cytoreductive surgery in elderly adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma? Level III: Elderly patients (> 65 years) show survival benefit with gross total resection and it is suggested they undergo cytoreductive surgery. What is the role of advanced intraoperative guidance techniques in cytoreductive surgery in adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma? Level III: The use of intraoperative guidance adjuncts such as intraoperative MRI (iMRI) or 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) are suggested to maximize extent of resection in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. There is insufficient evidence to make a suggestion on the use of fluorescein, indocyanine green, or intraoperative ultrasound.
99 Improving the amber RNA force field.

We describe a new method for improving the parameters of the Amber force field for RNA by fitting to energies and forces from quantum chemistry calculations. Parameters for the Amber force field cu...
Simulated ring current response during periods of dawn‐dusk oriented interplanetary magnetic field (By)

[1] Ring current formation is mainly attributed to enhanced global magnetospheric convection and particle injection. One of the indicators of enhanced global magnetospheric convection is the transpolar potential. The transpolar potential has been shown to respond to dawn-dusk oriented interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), enhancing as the IMF magnitude grows. This suggests that the ring current should respond to dawn-dusk oriented IMF. This work examines the ring current response during periods of dawn-dusk oriented IMF using the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry and Comprehensive Ring Current Model simulations. Exploring three hypotheses, this work shows through simulation results that the ring current does respond during periods of dawn-dusk oriented IMF, that the inner magnetospheric response is different for periods of dawn-dusk oriented IMF than for periods of southward IMF, and that these differences are attributed to both lower magnetospheric convection on closed field lines and the location of the reconnection region on the nightside. Specifically, the simulation results show that as the magnitude of the dawn-dusk oriented IMF increases, producing a corresponding increase in the transpolar potential, the ring current response increases. The response is always much less than a comparable southward IMF would produce. This lower response is due to both magnetospheric convection on closed field lines, which builds the ring current but at a slower rate, and flank reconnection, which allows energy to flow through the inner magnetosphere without building the ring current plasma population (as a conduit).
Brokering meteorological and oceanographic information in support of military operations using GIS technology

In order to provide timely meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) support to military operations, it is advantageous to provide geospatially enabled information that can be integrated seamlessly into the infrastructure of decision-making tools used by the warfighter. This requires a new technology that can incorporate and transform many types of data into a uniform package of useful georeferenced information. The use of a geographic information system (GIS) is being recognized as the solution of choice to satisfy this requirement. Over the past few years the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) has led the way in the development of this cutting-edge technology. GIS methodology is particularly well suited for collecting, organizing, storing, analyzing, and distributing geological, oceanographic, meteorological, and even space data. As users at NAVOCEANO have come to recognize how GIS tools could vastly improve operations, certain capabilities for processing and distributing relevant METOC information have evolved. This paper describes certain applications of GIS technology that provide geospatial information to the customer, leading up to the use of ArcIMS, an Internet map server developed by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). The overall goal at NAVOCEANO is to provide the warfighter with time-critical information of the environment relevant to the warfare area and pertinent to the mission. To this end, the ArcIMS, coupled with ArcSDE, the spatial data engine, provides an architecture that allows NAVOCEANO to broker between the vast and disparate resources of METOC data and the highly specific military mission requirements. Portrayed in the paper is the history of operational support that lays the ground work for GIS technology today at NAVOCEANO. Finally, described here is one of the latest functional prototypes of the ArcIMS setup at NAVOCEANO that provides a variety of METOC information layers tailored to certain requirements, initiated by a demonstration proposal for Fleet Battle Experiment - Juliet.
Calcium maelstrom: recalcitrant hypocalcaemia following rapid correction of thyrotoxicosis, exacerbated by pregnancy

A 29-year-old pregnant woman with Graves’ disease presented with severe persistent hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy. Six months prior to presentation she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and remained uncontrolled with methimazole. She was confirmed pregnant prior to radioactive iodine ablation (RAI), and underwent total thyroidectomy during her second trimester. After surgery, continuous intravenous calcium infusion was required until delivery of the fetus allowed discontinuation at postoperative day 18, despite oral calcium and calcitriol administration. A total of 38 g of oral and 7.5 g of intravenous elemental calcium was administered. We report an unusual case of recalcitrant hypocalcaemia thought to be due to a combination of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, combined with thyrotoxic osteodystrophy and pregnancy, after surgical correction of Graves’ disease. Increased vigilance and early calcium supplementation should be a priority in the management of these patients.
Calculations of cross‐polar discrimination spread for 20 GHz fixed satellite systems using rain microstructure information

[1] Individual drop images in natural rain from a two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) have been processed to obtain their shapes, sizes, and orientation angles, which, in turn, have been used to derive their complex forward scattering amplitudes at 19.701 GHz. Using these calculations, the specific attenuation for horizontal and vertical polarizations and the specific differential attenuation and the specific differential phase of all drops over 1 min are determined. A point-to-path scaling is used to derive the total rain attenuation for both polarizations as well as the total differential attenuation and the total differential phase. A 19.701 GHz experimental Earth-space link is simulated to determine the variation of cross-polar discrimination versus copolar attenuation (XPD-CPA) and the calculations are compared with 2 years of joint probability XPD-CPA beacon measurements. The comparisons indicate clearly that the variations in drop shape and drop orientation can give rise to significant spread in XPD.
Fault tolerance in a multisensor environment

Replicating sensors is desirable not only to tolerate sensor failures but also to increase the expected accuracy of the ensemble of replicated sensors beyond that obtainable with a single one. Such replication is used in a multisensor environment or in a distributed sensor network. We model a continuous valued sensor as an interval of real numbers containing the physical value of interest. Given n sensors of which at most f of them can suffer arbitrary failures, we present an efficient O(n log n) fault tolerant algorithm whose output is reliable when f >
Small bowel adenocarcinoma at a strictureplasty site in a patient with Crohn's disease: report of a case.

The patient is a 49-year-old male diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 1979. He had Crohn’s colitis at that time, and subsequently underwent a total colectomy with end ileostomy for fulminant disease. In 1982 he underwent completion proctectomy, but he had no further surgery related to his Crohn’s disease for the next 18 years. In January 2000, the patient began to have intermittent, crampy abdominal pain, bloating, and decreased ileostomy output, generally related to dietary indiscretion. These episodes of apparent small-bowel obstruction usually resolved within a 24-hour period. A small bowel follow-through study revealed several discrete strictures of the small intestine (Fig. 1). These findings were similar to those seen on a previous study in 1998. There also was involvement of the terminal ileum with fistulization to the skin near his ileostomy. As plans were being made for elective surgery, the patient presented with severe abdominal pain and decreased ostomy output. He was brought to the operating room for abdominal exploration because of this high-grade acute obstruction.
Spiro-oxazine photochromic fiber optical switch

A photochromic all-optical switch in telecommunication-grade fiber is fabricated by filling a fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot resonator with a spiro-oxazine solution. The narrow linewidth of the resonator allows for a high sensitivity of the resonance wavelengths to the index change. The switch is controlled by low intensity UV light exposure, and operation at infrared telecommunication wavelengths is demonstrated. The switching speed on the order of minutes has been achieved.
In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles with different coatings and different sizes in A3 human T lymphocytes

The ever expanding use of engineered nanoscaled materials has brought about a commensurate growth in concern about their potential risks to human and environmental health. Toxicity of nanoparticles could vary with their physicochemical parameters. The dependence of cytotoxicity on particle size and surface coating of iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated in this in vitro study using the A3 human T lymphocyte as a model. Two different sizes (10 nm and 50 nm) and two different surface coatings (amine and carboxyl groups) of iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles were tested with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assay and WST-1 assay. In the 1-h FDA assay with PBS, IO nanoparticles did not show size-dependent toxicity to A3 cells in terms of mass concentration; however, in terms of the number of particles per well and the total surface area, they did exhibit size-dependent toxicity. Fifty nanometer IO nanoparticles are more toxic than the 10 nm counterparts. The results of both the 24-h FDA and WST-1 assays in a complete growth medium indicate size- and surface coating-dependent toxicity to A3 cells in terms of mass concentration. IO nanoparticles of the smaller size are more toxic than those of the larger size. IO nanoparticles with the carboxyl group have a higher toxicity than those with the amine group. However, in the 24-h FDA assay, in terms of the number of particles per well and the resultant total surface area per well, the 50 nm IO nanoparticles are more toxic than those of size 10 nm. In terms of mass concentration, the number of particles per well and the total surface area, both of the 24-h assays showed the consistent results that IO nanoparticles with the carboxyl group have a higher toxicity than those with the amine group.
Enzyme-dependent ascorbate recycling in human erythrocytes: role of thioredoxin reductase

Human erythrocytes efficiently reduce dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) to ascorbate, which helps to maintain the ascorbate content of blood. Whereas erythrocyte DHA reduction is thought to occur primarily through a direct chemical reaction with GSH, this work addresses the role of enzyme-mediated DHA reduction by these cells. The ability of intact erythrocytes to recycle DHA to ascorbate, estimated as DHA-dependent ferricyanide reduction, was decreased in parallel with GSH depletion by glutathione-S-transferase substrates. In contrast, the sulfhydryl reagent phenylarsine oxide inhibited DHA reduction to a much greater extent than it decreased GSH in intact cells. DHA reduction in excess of that due to a direct chemical reaction with GSH was also observed in freshly prepared hemolysates. Hemolysates likewise showed NADPH-dependent reduction of DHA that appeared due to thioredoxin reductase, because this activity was inhibited 68% by 10 microM aurothioglucose, doubled by 5 microM E. coli thioredoxin, and had an apparent Km for DHA (1.5 mM) similar to that of purified thioredoxin reductase. Additionally, aurothioglucose-sensitive, NADPH-dependent DHA reductase activity was decreased 80% in hemolysates prepared from phenylarsine oxide-treated cells. GSH-dependent DHA reduction in hemolysates was more than 10-fold that of NADPH-dependent reduction. Nonetheless, the ability of phenylarsine oxide to decrease DHA reduction in intact cells with little effect on GSH suggests that enzymes, such as thioredoxin reductase, may contribute more to this activity than previously considered.
Phase separation technique for liquid dispersions

Nouvelle technique d'obtention des liquides constituants d'une dispersion liquide-liquide provenant d'un contacteur continu agite. La separation des phases requises pour evaluer le transfert de matiere du solute est obtenue par filtration in situ de la dispersion; l'utilisation d'une membrane extremement mince rend la separation presque instantanee et elimine la possibilite d'un transfert de matiere additionnel au cours de la separation
An Approach to the Design of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals with Large Second Order Electronic Nonlinear Optical Susceptibility

Abstract Ferroelectric liquid crystal thin films in the Clark-Lagerwall surface-stabilized geometry exhibit well known spontaneous polar orientation of functional groups. The symmetry of the system thus allows the existence of bulk electronic second order nonlinear hyperpolarizability x(2) within thc context of the simple dipolar model. For all FLC materials examined to date, however, the magnitude of x(2) is small, presumably since the particular functional group arrays oriented along the polar axis possess small molecular hyperpolarizdbility β. Using the Boulder Model for the molecular origins of the polar order occurring in FLC films, it is possible to design materials with functionalized aromatic rings oriented along the polar axis of the film. Since such functional arrays may show respectable values of β, it should be possible to obtain FIX films (both low molecular weight and polymeric) with useful magnitude of x(2) using this approach. Results of initial experiments aimed at design of FLC materials...
Disruption of reference in aging.

Abstract A homogeneous sample of normal adults living in a religious order participated in a study of age effects on reference as a cohesive device in discourse production and comprehension. Narrative and procedural discourse were examined across various levels of complexity and stimulus/response requirements. Results indicate that significant ambiguity of reference emerges in the younger elderly group (age 64–76) in comparison to the middle-aged group (age 27 to 55), and increases markedly in the older elderly group (age 77–92). Related impairments of comprehension and cognition were also observed. These findings are interpreted to be general features of linguistic variation with advancing age. Communicative consequences of ambiguous reference are discussed.
Evaluation of Geriatric Home Healthcare Depression Assessment and Care Management: Are OASIS-C Depression Requirements Enough?

Objective Research is scarce on how depression is identified and treated among Medicare home healthcare (HHC) patients age 65+ with disability. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently incorporated depression screening into the OASIS-C HHC assessment. Our study objectives were to evaluate and characterize depression care management (DCM) in an HHC agency after CMS increased its depression requirements and to determine if there was an association of DCM with disability (activities of daily living [ADLs]) outcomes. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of 100 new Medicare HHC admissions patients age 65+ (mean age: 81.7) who screened positive for depression and had disability and multimorbidity. Clinical and administrative records were examined and descriptive analyses used. Multivariate regression analyses investigated the association of six DCM components with ADLs improvement. Results Depression was recognized in care plans of 60% of patients. Documentation of only one nurse care management activity, antidepressant use, indicated the use of evidence-based standards of depression assessment and DCM. Depression measures were not administered at discharge, recertification, or transfer. Forty percent of patients had a formal depression diagnosis by the referring physician in the chart, and 65% were receiving an antidepressant. Having a depression care plan and depression medication were significantly associated with a large ADLs improvement. Conclusion Despite the association of depression care plans with patient disability improvement, inadequate compliance to evidence-based DCM was found. Medicare and HHC agencies must ensure compliance to DCM, including follow-up depression assessment for patients with positive screens.
Intracortical generators of the flash VEP in monkeys

Flash visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in unanesthetized monkeys were recorded from the cortical surface and from closely spaced intracortical sites together with associated multiple unit activity (MUA). The VEP depth profiles were subjected to current source density (CSD) analysis to delineate the laminar pattern of transmembrane current flows manifested by extracellular source and sinks. The initial surface recorded components (P15 and P18) were generated subcortically within the thalamocortical radiations. The distribution of current sources and sinks associated with two subsequent surface negative components. N24 and N40. demonstrates their generation within laminae IVA and IVCb respectively, both parvocellular thalamorecipient layers. Oscillatory potentials resembling those seen in human VEPs are observed riding on N40; analysis of MUA in conjunction with sources and sinks coincident with these wavelets provides evidence that they derive from both thalamocortical and cortical activity. MUA in the 20-60 msec range shows phasic increases throughout lamina IV, which are maximum in amplitude within lamina IVA. This increased firing is concurrent with the sinks observed within the parvocellular thalamorecipient sublaminae IVCb and IVA. A subsequent component, P65, coincident with a decrease in MUA to below the spontaneous level co-located with a lamina IVCb current source, probably arises from intracortically generated inhibitory activity within IVCb. The next VEP component, a surface negative potential at 95 msec, is coincident with current sources and sinks in lamina III, and is consistent with stellate cell input to supragranular elements. VEP components after N95 are not associated with either MUA or CSD activity and are probably generated in extrastriate cortex. Human counterparts of the simian VEP are proposed.
Thermal stability of electroless-nickel/solder interface : Part B. Interfacial fatigue resistance

The relationship between fatigue resistance and interfacial microstructure was studied along the interface between the Sn-Pb eutectic alloy and an electroless Ni-P coating. The fatigue resistance of the solder interface was measured from the flexural peel fracture mechanics specimens in the asreflowed, mild-aged, and overaged conditions. While the mild aging had only a marginal effect on the fatigue resistance of the interface, overaging was found to significantly degrade the interfacial resistance to fatigue-crack growth, resulting in a lower fatigue threshold and a much earlier onset of the fast fracture. The effects of the overaging were shown to result from the transformation of the interfacial microstructure, which weakened the crack-sliding resistance in the near-threshold regime and embrittled the interface in the high crack-growth rate regime.
Thermodynamic properties of aqueous PEO-PPO-PEO micelles with added methylparaben determined by differential scanning calorimetry.

Abstract DSC experiments were performed on aqueous solutions of PEO–PPO–PEO (P105) amphiphiles in the low concentration regime (0–1%) to resolve the critical micelle concentration (cmc) both neat and co-formulated with methylparaben (MP). Further work was done at 10% amphiphilic copolymer concentrations and co-formulated with MP to resolve the variations in enthalpy. The compensation temperature, Tcompensation, was determined from the analyses for neat P105 as 293.9 K; adding MP raises this to 328.43 K.
Rational praying: The economics of prayer

Abstract Prayer, both public and private, is prescribed by most religious traditions. Patterns of prayer are shown to conform to an economic theory of spiritual health. With regard to the frequency of prayer, wages are predicted to correlate negatively, education is predicted to correlate positively, environmental factors that are supportive of prayer are predicted to correlative positively, and the expected “price” for participation in religious activity (the tithe in Judaism and Christianity and the Zakat in Islam) is predicted to correlate negatively. Empirical tests find the predictions of the model are supported for females, but only partially supported for males.
Developing a Culture of Assessment: Insights from Theory and Experience

At first glance, academic assessment is simply another request for more paper. But it goes well beyond the design of a plan or blueprint. Instead, assessment involves the much more difficult task of creating a new culture. Borrowing from both the experience of the Department of Political Science at Northeastern Illinois University and from the political science literatures on cooperation and policy implementation, I describe the beginning of an assessment culture. I describe the steps taken to build trust and make the task more tractable, the way commitment grew within the department, and the plan that was devised. I also review some current problems in the implementation of this plan, showing the vulnerability of an assessment culture in its early stages.
Progressive image transmission over differentially space‐time coded OFDM systems

In this paper, we consider progressive image transmission over differentially space-time coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems and treat the problem as one of optimal joint source-channel coding (JSCC) in the form of unequal error protection (UEP), as necessitated by embedded source coding (e.g., SPIHT and JPEG 2000). We adopt a product channel code structure that is proven to provide powerful error protection and employ low-complexity decision-feedback decoding for differentially space-time coded OFDM without assuming channel state information. For a given SNR, the BER performance of the differentially space-time coded OFDM system is treated as the channel condition in the JSCC/UEP design via a fast product code optimization algorithm so that the end-to-end quality of reconstructed images is optimized in the average minimum MSE sense. Extensive image transmission experiments show that SNR/BER improvements can be translated into quality gains in reconstructed images. Moreover, compared to another non-coherent detection algorithm, i.e., the iterative receiver based on expectation-maximization algorithm for the space-time coded OFDM systems, differentially space-time coded OFDM systems suffer some quality loss in reconstructed images. With the efficiency and simplicity of decision-feedback differential decoding, differentially space-time coded OFDM is thus a feasible modulation scheme for applications such as wireless image over mobile devices (e.g., cell phones). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fat destabilization and melt-down of ice creams with increased protein content

Abstract Effects of individual protein sources or blends on microstructure and melt-down rates of ice cream were investigated. Ice creams were formulated with non-fat dry milk (NFDM), milk protein concentrate, whey protein isolate (WPI), or procream to total protein concentrations of 4–10%. Ice creams were also made with protein blends containing 4% protein from NFDM with additional WPI or procream to total protein concentrations of 6–10%. Mean ice crystal and air cell sizes and overrun were not significantly impacted by protein source, blend, or concentration. Partially-coalesced fat decreased with increasing protein content, except in ice creams made with only NFDM. Melt rate tended to increase with protein content, with the exception of ice creams made with procream, which gave rapid melt rates at all protein concentrations. Protein type, blend and concentration were hypothesized to affect the properties of the emulsion interface, leading to differences in partial coalescence and melt-down rates.
Parametric Study of Heat Sink Performance at High Altitudes With Air Impingement Cooling

Heat sinks are one of the primary mechanisms today for thermal management of electronics. In the high altitudes reached by modern military aircraft, the capacity for air cooling is reduced due to the rarefied atmosphere. With an increase in altitude there is a subsequent decrease in the density of air. A review of the literature shows a lack of research done on pin-fin heat sinks with impingement flows at low Reynolds number conditions. Experimental testing will determine the thermal resistance of a pin-fin heat sink with impingement flow at low absolute pressures. A test apparatus will be constructed, and experiments will be conducted within a hypobaric chamber. In a hypobaric chamber, it is possible to simulate altitudes up to 30 000 meters by reducing the absolute pressure using a vacuum pump. Temperature is regulated and air is circulated within the chamber. The test apparatus, which is to be completely enclosed within the hypobaric chamber, consists of a centrifugal blower forcing air through a duct. Air is impinged upon a pin-fin heat sink heated with uniform flux on the base. Incident air flow is along the axis of each circular pin-fin, and exhaust from the heat sink will be transverse to the pins. Feedthroughs are available in the chamber wall for supplying electrical power to the blower, for taking temperature measurements with embedded thermocouples, and for measuring blower shaft speed. Temperature measurements are made in the base of the heat sink, in the air, and at other points to characterize other heat losses from the apparatus. Blower speed is monitored with an optical tachometer, and by similarity laws for turbomachinery it will be possible to determine the air flow impinging upon the heat sink. Pressure in the chamber will be varied in several steps up to the equivalent of a 30 000-meter altitude, and at each step a correlation will be made between heat sink thermal resistance and Reynolds number of the impinging air.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Right Parasternal Imaging: An Underutilized Echocardiographic Technique

If the echocardiographer uses only standard imaging planes, he or she may fail to obtain vital information about the aorta, atrial septum, superior and inferior vena cavae, and the coronary arteries. The evaluation of caval-to-systemic venous atrial connections (Senning or Mustard) in transposition of the great arteries or systemic vena caval or right atrial-to-pulmonary anastomosis (Fontan) in tricuspid atresia and single ventricle may not be adequately seen when only the standard left parasternal, apical, subcostal, and suprasternal imaging planes are used. Therefore, the use of the right parasternal imaging plane may help to provide crucial information regarding these areas when the standard views are unable to delineate them adequately. The right parasternal window is an additional echocardiographic window that should become part of a complete echocardiographic examination.
Citizenship, mental illness, and the criminal justice system

The concept of citizenship in regard to persons with mental illness has gained increasing attention in recent years, but little empirical research has been conducted on this topic. In addition, little research or conceptual writing has been done on the topic of criminal justice in regard to citizenship for people with mental illness, in spite of the high incidence of criminal charges and incarceration among this group. We review our work on an applied theoretical framework of citizenship, including its origins in mental health outreach work to people who are homeless and in a jail diversion program. We then suggest the contribution the framework can make to the intersecting issues of mental illness, its criminalization in the U.S., and the goal of community integration for people with mental illness.
Analysis of free flap complications and utilization of intensive care unit monitoring

We aimed to determine the optimal time for intensive care unit (ICU) monitoring after free flap reconstruction based on the timing of surgical complications. We reviewed retrospectively 179 free flaps in 170 subjects during an 8-year period at University Hospital. Thirty-seven flaps were reoperated due to vascular (n = 16, 8.9%) and nonvascular complications (n = 21, 11.7%). Vascular complications presented earlier relative to nonvascular complications (10.8 versus 99.3 hours). The flap survival rate was 93.2% with a mean ICU length of stay of 6.2 days. The lack of standardized monitoring protocols can lead to overutilization of ICU. Sometimes, flap monitoring is not the limiting factor, as patients with other comorbidities necessitate longer ICU stays. However, our study suggests that close monitoring of flaps seems most critical during the first 24 to 48 hours, when most thrombotic complications occur and prompt identification and re-exploration is critical. Some thrombosis and most hematomas present within 72 hours, and thus close monitoring is still warranted. We suggest close monitoring of free flaps in the ICU or dedicated flap monitoring unit where nursing can check the flap on an every-1-to-2-hour basis for the first 72 hours postoperatively to assure optimal surveillance of any potential problems.
New answers raise new questions in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Research and treatment of pulmonary vascular diseases pose distinct challenges. Despite these hurdles (or perhaps because of them), a cadre of basic scientists, geneticists, physiologists, clinical researchers and clinicians have dedicated themselves to the study and care of patients with pulmonary vascular disease. The European Respiratory Journal ( ERJ ) series “Advances in Pathobiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension” 1–10 comprehensively categorises the achievements of these individuals and concludes this month with a fitting finale. Peacock et al. 11 (this issue of the ERJ ) and Hoeper et al. 12 have written statements from recent conferences focused on the methodology of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); until recently, a seemingly quixotic discussion. As with all important research, these documents potentially raise more questions than they answer. The availability of bosentan (an endothelin‐1 receptor antagonist) and other safe, effective therapies for PAH led the working groups to re­evaluate the ethical and scientific merit of using untreated placebo­control arms in RCTs 2, 13–15. This is a very controversial area faced by researchers in other conditions with pre­existing effective therapies, such as congestive heart failure (CHF) 16–19. In general, it is considered to be ethical to perform such trials if: 1) the patient is fully informed about the alternatives; and 2) there is minimal risk of irreversible or severe morbidity, or mortality, posed by withholding effective therapy. While the former concern is relatively straightforward, the working groups recognised the difficulty in defining the boundaries of the latter. As the success of future placebo­controlled trials in this rare disease will depend on patients' and physicians' willingness to enrol in such trials, future study designs will have to be acceptable to both groups. Such acceptability may be important to investigate before initiating …
Issues for deeper understanding of visual learning processes and representations

For many years much more attention has been focused on learning from verbal material than on learning from visuals such as graphics, pictures, or video. However, the seven papers in this issue begin to explore some of the interesting, and at times perplexing, phenomena associated with visual learning. In his introduction to this special issue Schnotz does an excellent job of summarizing the issues addressed by each of the papers in the collection as well as their basic findings. Furthermore, despite the excellent contributions made by the papers, Schnotz suggests that we need a deeper understanding of the interplay between external representations and internal ones as well as the cognitive processes involved in generating them. His emphasis is well placed and in this discussion I consider four issues that cut across the individual papers.
Assessing the Capability of Doppler Global Velocimetry To Measure Vortical Flow Fields

A new nonintrusive flow diagnostics instrumentation system, Doppler global velocimetry, is presented. The system is capable of making simultaneous, three-component velocity measurements within a selected measurement plane at video camera rates. These velocity images can provide the researcher with spatial and temporal information about the flow field in a global sense. The investigation of a vortical flow above a 75-degree delta wing comparing standard three-component, fringe-type laser velocimetry measurements with Doppler global velocimetry measurements is presented.
Hypothalamic CRF Immunoreactivity in Genetically Hypothyroid (hyt/hyt) Mice:

The induction of hypothyroidism in young rats by feeding thiouracil to their mothers during pregnancy has been shown to depress hypothalamic content of bioactive and immunoactive corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The present study was done to determine whether genetically hypothyroid young mice (hyt/hyt) born to euthyroid mothers (+/hyt) exhibited a similar depression in hypothalamic CRF immunoreactivity. Young euthyroid and hypothyroid littermate mice were examined by radioimmunoassay for hypothalamic CRF content at 15, 20, 25, or 30 days of age. Mean CRF content was depressed insignificantly (to about 80% of normal) by hypothyroidism, at 15-25 days of age. However, after weaning by the mother, 30-day-old hypothyroid pups demonstrated significantly depressed hypothalamic CRF levels (71%). It is suggested that maternal factors may be assisting in the maintenance of hypothalamic CRF until after weaning. Furthermore, genetic hypothyroidism does not appear to have nearly as marked an influence as thiouracil feeding on hypothalamic CRF levels.
Neuron-type-specific signals for reward and punishment in the ventral tegmental area

Dopamine has a central role in motivation and reward. Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) signal the discrepancy between expected and actual rewards (that is, reward prediction error), but how they compute such signals is unknown. We recorded the activity of VTA neurons while mice associated different odour cues with appetitive and aversive outcomes. We found three types of neuron based on responses to odours and outcomes: approximately half of the neurons (type I, 52%) showed phasic excitation after reward-predicting odours and rewards in a manner consistent with reward prediction error coding; the other half of neurons showed persistent activity during the delay between odour and outcome that was modulated positively (type II, 31%) or negatively (type III, 18%) by the value of outcomes. Whereas the activity of type I neurons was sensitive to actual outcomes (that is, when the reward was delivered as expected compared to when it was unexpectedly omitted), the activity of type II and type III neurons was determined predominantly by reward-predicting odours. We 'tagged' dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons with the light-sensitive protein channelrhodopsin-2 and identified them based on their responses to optical stimulation while recording. All identified dopaminergic neurons were of type I and all GABAergic neurons were of type II. These results show that VTA GABAergic neurons signal expected reward, a key variable for dopaminergic neurons to calculate reward prediction error.
Fast Facts and Concepts #10: Tube Feed or Not Tube Feed?

Tube feeding should always be considered relative to patient goals. Physicians should be prepared to discuss tube feeding as an option bearing in mind what evidence (or lack thereof) exists that tube feeding will help reach such goals.
Functional Proteomic Analysis Predicts Beef Tenderness and the Tenderness Differential

Inconsistent tenderness is one of the most detrimental factors of meat quality. Functional proteomics was used to associate electrophoretic bands from the myofibrillar muscle fraction to meat tenderness in an effort to gain understanding of the mechanisms controlling tenderness. The myofibrillar muscle fraction of the Longissimus dorsi from 22 Angus cross steers was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and linearly regressed to Warner-Bratzler shear values. Six significant electrophoretic bands were characterized by electrophoretic and statistical analysis and sequenced by nano-LC-MS/MS. The protein(s)/peptide(s) identified in these bands encompass a wide array of cellular pathways related to structural, metabolic, chaperone, and developmental functions. This study begins to assemble information that has been reported separately into a more complete picture that will lead to the establishment of a coherent mechanism accounting for meat tenderness.
β‐Amyloid activates presynaptic α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors reconstituted into a model nerve cell system: involvement of lipid rafts

Beta amyloid (Abeta) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Abeta is the major constituent of senile plaques, but there is a significant presence of Abeta in the brain in soluble forms. The results of functional studies indicate that soluble Abeta interacts with the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) complex with apparent high affinity. However, conflicting data exist as to the nature of the Abeta-alpha7 nAChR interaction, and whether it is the result of specific binding. Moreover, both agonist-like and antagonist-like effects have been reported. In particular, agonist-like effects have been observed for presynaptic nAChRs. Here, we demonstrate Abeta(1-42)-evoked stimulatory changes in presynaptic Ca(2+) level via exogenous alpha7 nAChRs expressed in the axonal varicosities of differentiated hybrid neuroblastoma NG108-15 cells as a model, presynaptic system. The Abeta(1-42)-evoked responses were concentration-dependent and were sensitive to the highly selective alpha7 nAChR antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin. Voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels and internal Ca(2+) stores were both involved in Abeta(1-42)-evoked increases in presynaptic Ca(2+) following activation of alpha7 nAChRs. In addition, disruption of lipid rafts by cholesterol depletion led to substantially attenuated responses to Abeta(1-42), whereas responses to nicotine were largely intact. These results directly implicate the nicotinic receptor complex as a target for the agonist-like action of pico- to nanomolar concentrations of soluble Abeta(1-42) on the presynaptic nerve terminal, including the possible involvement of receptor-associated lipid rafts. This interaction probably plays an important neuromodulatory role in synaptic dynamics.