cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A delay analysis for opportunistic transmission in fading broadcast channels

We consider a single-antenna broadcast block fading channel (downlink scheduling) with n users where the transmission is packet-based and all users are backlogged. We define the delay as the minimum number of channel uses that guarantees all n users successfully receive m packets. This is a more stringent notion of delay than average delay and is the worst case delay among the users. A delay optimal scheduling scheme, such as round-robin, achieves the delay of mn. In a heterogeneous network and for the optimal throughput strategy where the transmitter sends the packet to the user with the best channel conditions, we derive the moment generating-function of the delay for any m and n. For large n and in a homogeneous network, the expected delay in receiving one packet by all the receivers scales as n logn, as opposed to n for the round-robin scheduling. We also show that when m grows faster than (logn)/sup r/, for some r>1, then the expected value of delay scales like mn. This roughly determines the time-scale required for the system to behave fairly in a homogeneous network. We then propose a scheme to significantly reduce the delay at the expense of a small throughput hit. We further look into two generalizations of our work: i) the effect of temporal channel correlation and ii) the advantage of multiple transmit antennas on the delay. For a channel with memory of two, we prove that the delay scales again like n logn no matter how severe the correlation is. For a system with M transmit antennas, we prove that the expected delay in receiving one packet by all the users scales like n log n/(M+O(M/sup 2//n)) for large n when M is not growing faster than logn. Thus, when the temporal channel correlation is zero, multiple transmit antenna systems do not reduce the delay significantly. However, when channel correlation is present, they can lead to significant gains by "decorrelating" the effective channel through means such as random beamforming.
Some Small Circuit-Cocircuit Ramsey Numbers for Matroids

Ramsey numbers for matroids, which mimic properties of Ramsey numbers for graphs, have been denned as follows. Let k and l be positive integers. Then n ( k, l ) is the least positive integer n such that every connected matroid with n elements contains either a circuit with at least k elements or a cocircuit with at least l elements. We determine the largest known value of these numbers in the sense of maximizing both k and l . We also find extremal matroids with small circuits and cocircuits. Results on matroid connectivity, geometry, and extremal matroid theory are used here.
Client Motivation and Multicultural Counseling

This reaction article comments on the major contribution titled “Motivation and Autonomy in Counseling, Psychotherapy, and Behavior Change: A Look at Theory and Practice.” It first points out the article’s strengths, the primary of which was to move the construct of motivation to the center of focus in the discussion of counseling. In addition, the exploration of how motivation is conceptualized within each of the major theoretical schools of thought was illuminating. This reaction article also attempts to expand the discussion of motivation into the arena of multicultural counseling. One of the main efforts in multicultural counseling is to increase the utility of counseling services among racial and ethnic minorities and hence understanding the role of motivation is central. This reaction article explores the role of motivation in help-seeking behavior and offers ways in which motivation could be enhanced so that counseling services will be more frequently and better utilized.
A version management method for distributed information

Information networks in which workstations access central data collections primarily to extract information are a growing application segment. When a workstation is likely to use an item more than once it may be economical to retain a copy locally. We describe how to propagate updates for an arbitrary relationship between the source database and cached items when the network connection is intermittent, unreliable, and/or slow.
Prognostic Importance of Intimal Thickness as Measured by Intracoronary Ultrasound After Cardiac Transplantation

Background Although intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) has been validated for the early detection of transplant coronary artery disease (TxCAD), the prognostic importance of findings detected by this new imaging technique is unknown. Methods and Results This study examined the relation of clinical outcome in 145 heart transplant recipients (mean age, 45.1±11.1 years) with the amount of intimal thickness measured by ICUS during routine annual coronary angiography 1 to 10 years (mean, 3.1±2.2 years) after transplantation. From published autopsy data, a mean intimal thickness of >0.3 mm was considered significant. During a mean follow-up time of 48.2±10.2 months, 23 deaths (12 cardiac) occurred, and 6 patients required retransplantation. Angiographic TxCAD developed in 22 of 125 patients (17.6%) in the subgroup with normal angiograms at the time of ICUS and a follow-up annual angiographic study. In the total population and the subgroup, mean intimal thicknesses of >0.3 and ≤0.3 mm, respectively, were associated...
Horizon constraint for unambiguous UAV navigation in planar scenes

When the UAV goes to high altitudes such that the observed surface of the earth becomes planar, the structure and motion recovery of the earth's moving plane becomes ambiguous. This planar degeneracy has been pointed out very often in the literature; therefore, current navigation methods either completely fail or give many confusing solutions in such scenario. Interestingly, the horizon line in planar scenes is straight and distinctive; hence, easily detected. Therefore, we show in this paper that the horizon line provides two degrees of freedom that control the relative orientation between the camera coordinate system and the local surface of earth. The recovered degrees of freedom help linearize and disambiguate the planar flow, and therefore we obtain a unique solution for the UAV motion estimation. Unlike previous work which used the horizon to provide the roll angle and the pitch percentage and only employed them for flight stability, we extract the exact angles and directly use them to estimate the ego motion. Additionally, we propose a novel horizon detector based on the maximum a posteriori estimation of both motion and appearance features which outperforms the other detectors in planar scenarios. We thoroughly experimented on the proposed method against information from GPS and gyroscopes, and obtained promising results.
Sharable Representation of Clinical Guidelines in GLIF

Clinical guidelines are intended to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of patient care. Integration of guidelines into electronic medical records and order-entry systems, in a way that enables delivery of patient-specific advice at the point of care, is likely to encourage guideline acceptance and effectiveness. Among the methodologies for modeling guidelines and medical decision rules, the Arden Syntax for Medical Logic Modules and the GuideLine Interchange Format version 3 (GLIF3) emphasize the importance of sharing encoded logic across different medical institutions and implementation platforms. These two methodologies have similarities and differences; in this paper we clarify their roles. Both methods can be used to support sharing of medical knowledge, but they do so in complementary situations. The Arden Syntax is suitable for representing individual decision rules in self-contained units called Medical Logic Modules (MLMs), which are usually implemented as event-driven alerts or reminders. In contrast, GLIF3 is designed for encoding complex multistep guidelines that unfold over time. As a consequence, GLIF3 has several mechanisms for complexity management and additional constructs that may require overhead unnecessary for expressing simple alerts and reminders. Unlike the Arden Syntax, GLIF3 encourages a top-down process of guideline modeling consisting of three levels that are created in order: Level 1 comprises a human-readable flowchart of clinical decisions and actions. Level 2 comprises a computable specification that can be verified for logical consistency and completeness; and Level 3 comprises an implementable specification that includes information required for local adaptation of guideline logic as well as for mapping guideline variables onto institutional medical records. A major emphasis of the current GLIF3 development process has been to create the computable specification that formally represents medical decision and eligibility criteria. We based GLIF3's formal expression language on the Arden Syntax's logic grammar, making the necessary extensions to the Arden Syntax's data structures and operators to support GLIF3's object-oriented data model. We discuss why the process of generating a set of MLMs from a GLIF-encoded guideline cannot be automated, why it can result in information loss, and why simple medical rules are best represented as individual MLMs. We thus show that the Arden Syntax and GLIF3 play complementary roles in representing medical knowledge for clinical decision support.
Invalidity of speculated injury mechanism in autopsy reports

Postmortem and crash investigation reports were examined for 35 cases of belted automotive crash fatalities. This paper highlights those cases with speculation of the injury mechanism in the post mortem report. In two cases, the medical examiner made specific reference to a 'whiplash' mechanism of brain injury, which refers to an inertial loading of the neck without head contact. Examination of the car interior in one case indicated evidence of head contact with transfer of hair, and the other facial contact with transfer of teeth. Death was more likely due to direct head impact. In another case, the vehicle was struck laterally by another car on the far side of the driver. The medical examiner stated that the driver incurred typical 'steering wheel type' injury, while examination of the car interior indicated no consequential contact between the driver and the steering wheel. Instead, the intruding passenger door probably impacted the driver at a velocity high enough to induce fatal chest injuries. These cases demonstrate the necessity of a thorough examination of contact points in the crashed car to discern the mechanism of injury and to reconstruct the kinematics of injured occupants in a crash. They also demonstrate how 'popular' misunderstanding of mechanisms of fatal injury may be introduced and perpetuated.
Arterial emboli of the upper extremity presenting as ischemic heart disease: case report and review

A case of brachial artery embolism presenting as ischemic coronary artery disease is presented. The patient presented with sudden onset of left arm pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and diaphoresis. Initial relief with sublingual nitroglycerin was seen. With further evaluation, a brachial artery embolus was diagnosed, and an embolectomy was successfully performed. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to substantial morbidity, including gangrene and amputation. Misdiagnosis is common, as it is seen in the same patients at risk for ischemic heart disease, stroke, and other vascular abnormalities. An awareness of this problem is important among those who initially evaluate patients in emergency departments.
Microarchitectural support for program code integrity monitoring in application-specific instruction set processors

Program code in a computer system can be altered either by malicious security attacks or by various faults in microprocessors. At the instruction level, all code modifications are manifested as bit flips. In this work, we present a generalized methodology for monitoring code integrity at run-time in application-specific instruction set processors (ASIPs), where both the instruction set architecture (ISA) and the underlying micro architecture can be customized for a particular application domain. We embed monitoring microoperations in machine instructions, thus the processor is augmented with a hardware monitor automatically. The monitor observes the processor's execution trace of basic blocks at run-time, checks whether the execution trace aligns with the expected program behavior, and signals any mismatches. Since microoperations are at a lower software architecture level than processor instructions, the microarchitectural support for program code integrity monitoring is transparent to upper software levels and no recompilation or modification is needed for the program. Experimental results show that our microarchitectural support can detect program code integrity compromises with small area overhead and little performance degradation
A protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium orthovanadate, causes parthenogenetic activation of pig oocytes via an increase in protein tyrosine kinase activity

This study was conducted to determine whether a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity is involved in the initiation of the events that occur at fertilization in pig oocytes. After maturation for 47 h, a 7-h treatment of oocytes with 1 mM sodium orthovanadate, which is an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatase, caused more than 90% pronuclear formation, cortical granule exocytosis, and a decrease in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Immunoblotting with an antibody specific for phosphotyrosine showed at least three proteins whose phosphotyrosine contents were significantly increased upon treatment of oocytes with 1 mM sodium orthovanadate. Preincubation of pig oocytes with 50 microM tyrphostin 47, a specific PTK inhibitor, completely blocked the ability of sodium orthovanadate to trigger activation events. In addition, when oocytes were pretreated with the calcium-chelating agent BAPTA-AM, sodium orthovanadate-stimulated pronuclear formation was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced (94.0% vs. 43.1%). These results suggest that PTK may be involved in pig oocyte activation in a calcium-dependent manner and that the stimulation of tyrosine kinase is able to signal a series of intracellular changes that lead to the activation events associated with fertilization.
Poverty and the Distribution of Land

Redistributive land reforms have begun to attract the attention of scholars and policy makers once again. In this paper, we review old arguments and bring them up-to-date in the light of recent research. We begin with the case in favour of redistributive reforms focusing on fragmented factor markets and systems of labour control, of which concentration of land ownership is but one aspect. We then examine land reform in practice, focusing on distinct regional features and outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the transition economies of the former Soviet bloc and, as examples of success, East Asia (including China and Vietnam). Next we discuss the macroeconomic context and the two-way direction of causality between a redistribution of productive assets and the overall performance of the economy. We underline the importance of weakening the system of labour control, eliminating landlord bias and correcting urban bias. Finally, we argue that a prominent feature of all successful land reforms has been a high degree of land confiscation; full compensation and various types of ‘market friendly’ land reform are unlikely to be successful.
EMG validation of lumbar muscle activity surfaces

A validation technique is described for force-prediction biomechanical models of the lower back. Surface electromyography (EMG) was utilized to examine the correlation between model predictions and experimental findings. Activity, inactivity, and recruitment of lumbar muscles were examined to overcome problems associated with EMG-force relationships in these muscles. Experimental results were strongly correlated with model predictions. >
Mesostructure-scale testing system: Electrospun scaffolds

The Computational Imaging and Biomechanics Lab(CIBL) at Drexel University has been continuously researching the mechanical properties of soft tissues, specifically tendon and heart valves. Our current effort is on a new testing device scaled down for individual fascicles also known as the mesostructure-scale. This paper presents preliminary results of that system capturing the properties of electrospun scaffolds.
Parallel benchmarks on the Transtech Paramid

This paper presents the results of running the some benchmarks from the Genesis suite on the Transtech Paramid. The benchmarks use the PARMACS parallel processing standard, and are based on applications in the fields of general relativity, molecular dynamics and QCD. The Paramid is a distributed memory parallel computer, using up to 64 Intel i860-XP processors. The results demonstrate good parallel performance, and the ability of the machine to run standard portable software. >
Altered glycosidase levels in drug-resistant mouse leukemias.

Sublines of transplantable mouse leukemias made resistant to actinomycin D, vincristine, and related antitumor agents show reduced levels of 10 glycosidases when compared with parent cell lines. Since glycosidases may be involved in the metabolism of membrane glycoproteins, resistance to these drugs may be related to changes in membrane permeability.
Alkaline phosphatase activity in normal and toxemic pregnancies

Abstract 1. The alkaline phosphatase activity of patients with hypertensive toxemia was found to be significantly elevated above that of nonpregnant and normal pregnant patients in the third trimester. 2. Three cases of intrauterine fetal death revealing wide fluctuations in alkaline phosphatase activities were presented.
Occipitocervical Fusions in Elderly Patients: Mortality and Reoperation Rates From a National Spine Registry.

Background Several studies have shown excellent fusion rates in occipitocervical (OC) fusions, but very little is reported on mortality and reoperation rates in elderly patients. Our article reports these rates in elderly patients from a national spine registry with a >2-year follow-up period. Methods Using data from a spine implant registry developed at a large integrated health care system (Kaiser Permanente), elderly patients (aged ≥65 years) with instrumented OC fusions between January 1, 2009 and September 30, 2013 were identified. Patients' demographics were extracted from the registry. From chart review, the types of hardware and bone graft used, as well as mortality and reoperations rates were noted. Results Forty-seven patients with OC fusions were identified. Six patients had reoperations related to their fusions. Two occurred in the same patient, which resulted in a 14.9% reoperation rate. There were a total of 13 deaths (27.7%), with 7 occurring within 3 months, but only 4 (8.5%) related to the procedure. Bone morphogenetic protein was used in 29 patients (85.3%, 29/34). All cases used occipital plates with rods and screws. There was 1 nonunion. Conclusions Mortality rate was 27.7% and the reoperations rate was 14.9% for patients who underwent OC fusions with age >65 years and were observed for >2 years. These numbers are much higher than in younger patients, but reflect a higher mortality due to their comorbidities and from progression of their disease for cases of metastasis to the spine.
Substrate stiffness modulates lung cancer cell migration but not epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Biomechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment, including matrix/substrate stiffness, play a significant role in tumor evolution and metastasis. Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a fundamental biological process that is associated with increased cancer cell migration and invasion. The goal of this study was to investigate (1) how substrate stiffness modulates the migration behaviors of lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and (2) if stiffness-induced changes in cell migration correlate with biochemical markers of EMT. Collagen-coated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates and an Ibidi migration assay were used to investigate how substrate stiffness alters the migration patterns of A549 cells. RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to investigate how substrate stiffness alters biochemical markers of EMT, that is, E-cadherin and N-cadherin, and the phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins. Increases in substrate stiffness led to slower, more directional migration but did not alter the biochemical markers of EMT. Interestingly, growth factor (i.e., Transforming Growth Factor-β) stimulation resulted in similar levels of EMT regardless of substrate stiffness. We also observed decreased levels of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin on stiffer substrates which correlated with slower cell migration. These results indicate that substrate stiffness modulates lung cancer cell migration via focal adhesion signaling as opposed to EMT signaling.
Alterations in membrane surface properties during cell differentiation as measured by partition in aqueous two-polymer phase systems.

Abstract Membrane surface properties of rat intestinal epithelial cells (crypt base to villus tips) were studied by cell partition in a two-polymer aqueous phase system. A higher partition generally reflects higher cell surface charge (or charge-associated properties) which is not necessarily the same as the charge determined by cell electrophoresis since the latter reflects only the charge at the plane of shear while the former gauges it deeper into the membrane [10]. Cells were prepared by the method of Weiser [22] which sequentially yields cell fractions from villus tips to crypt base. The isolated cells were subjected to countercurrent distribution in a dextran-polyethylene glycol aqueous two-phase system. Countercurrent distribution on the first fractions obtained by Weiser's method have a peak to the left and a smaller peak to the right indicating a surface membrane heterogeneity of upper villus cells; last fractions have a peak only to the right. When all fractions are pooled before countercurrent distribution two well-separated peaks are obtained with the right peak sometimes showing additional heterogeneities. Experiments combining isotope labeling of cells with countercurrent distribution lead us to conclude that the membrane charge (or charge-associated properties) of crypt base cells increases during differentiation and that the charge of the villus cells to which they give rise then diminishes during maturation. The charge of the bulk of the upper villus cells is the lowest of any in the intestinal cell population. The basis for the alteration in charge has not been established but the phenomenon of changing membrane surface charge (or charge-associated properties) as a function of cell differentiation, maturation and aging appears to be a general phenomenon having been found and traced in different cell populations [14, 16, 17, 28].
Shear layer optical distortions due to compressibility vs. passive scalars

Recent advances in time-resolved optical wavefront measurement have allowed routine capture of aberrated-wavefront time series for twoindex, incompressible laboratory turbulent flows. In addition, experimental time series of wavefronts from optical propagation through a compressible shear layer now exist. This paper examines some of the scaling issues between these compressible experiments and the low-speed laboratory experiments. A numerical model of a mixing layer was developed to investigate the aero-optical distortions resulting from different index-of-refraction fields. Four index fields were studied. The first represented the mixing of two index-mismatched, incompressible flows. The second introduced an (incompressible) marking layer at the trailing edge of the splitter plate. Two other cases modeled an index change due to compressibility effects. One "compressible" case, meant to simulate wind tunnel test conditions, produced negligible distortions. The second "compressible" case produced similar distorted wavefronts to those of the first "incompressible" case. This suggests a low-speed, laboratory mixing layer flow created from two flows of varying index may be useful for studying aero-optical distortions produced by compressible flows.
Interpretation of Jurisprudence of the People's Supervisor System——Review and Adjustment of Methodology

System of the people's supervisor is meaningful for ensuring that prosecutorial organizations implement "duty for the public and law enforcement for people" in the course of investigating crimes by taking advantage of duty,improve investigational level and working quality of case handling.But,beacuse of the false idea,logic and value,which causes system of the people's supervisor in a predicament and impedes outside supervision development.So,we should readjust methodology is to rationalize,deepen and naturalize system of the people's supervisor.
Physiologic and psychotropic effects of caffeine on man. A review

Coffee, because of its caffeine content, cannot be disregarded as an innocuous stimulant. Total caffeine consumption by hospital patients should be appraised in view of its pharmacologic effects.
Chimaera simulation of complex states of flowing matter

We discuss a unified mesoscale framework (chimaera) for the simulation of complex states of flowing matter across scales of motion. The chimaera framework can deal with each of the three macro-meso-micro levels through suitable 'mutations' of the basic mesoscale formulation. The idea is illustrated through selected simulations of complex micro- and nanoscale flows.This article is part of the themed issue 'Multiscale modelling at the physics-chemistry-biology interface'.
Clinicopathological associations and prognostic implications of KRAS mutation in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) population over 9 years at a single institute.

573Background: Mutations in Kirstin RAS (KRAS) oncogene play a significant role in the constitutive activation of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in CRC. Our objective was to evaluate the association of KRAS mutation status with the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumor and analyze prognostic implications of KRAS mutation in CRC patients. Methods: A total of 154 CRC patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2016 were included in this study. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from CRC patients who had metastatic disease were analyzed for KRAS mutations by allele-specific PCR. Baseline clinicopathological features and survival times were retrieved from electronic medical records. χ2, Fisher’s exact tests and Pearson’s correlation were used for association and binomial logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio. Kaplan Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare survival outcomes. Results: KRAS mutations were identified in 61(39.6%) patients, 29(47.5%) were Caucasians, 22(36.1%) African Amer...
Uniform Pt/Pd Bimetallic Nanocrystals Demonstrate Platinum Effect on Palladium Methane Combustion Activity and Stability

Bimetallic catalytic materials are in widespread use for numerous reactions, as the properties of a monometallic catalyst are often improved upon addition of a second metal. In studies with bimetallic catalysts, it remains challenging to establish clear structure–property relationships using traditional impregnation techniques, due to the presence of multiple coexisting active phases of different sizes, shapes, and compositions. In this work, a convenient approach to prepare small and uniform Pt/Pd bimetallic nanocrystals with tailorable composition is demonstrated, despite the metals being immiscible in the bulk. By depositing this set of controlled nanocrystals onto a high-surface-area alumina support, we systematically investigate the effect of adding platinum to palladium catalysts for methane combustion. At low temperatures and in the absence of steam, all bimetallic catalysts show activity nearly identical with that of Pt/Al2O3, with much lower rates in comparison to that of the Pd/Al2O3 sample. How...
Oncology Update: Anamorelin

Background: Cancer cachexia is a catabolic syndrome associated with uncontrolled muscle breakdown. There may be associated fat loss. Occurring in high frequency in advanced cancer, it is an indicator of poor prognosis. Besides weight loss, patients experience a cluster of symptoms including anorexia, early satiety, and weakness. The 3 stages of cachexia include stages of precachexia, cachexia, and refractory cachexia. Refractory cachexia is associated with active catabolism or the presence of factors that make active management of weight loss no longer possible. Patients with refractory cachexia often receive glucocorticoids or megasterol acetate. Glucocorticoid effect is short and responses to megasterol are variable. Anamorelin is a new agent for cancer anorexia-cachexia, with trials completed in advanced lung cancer. Acting as an oral mimetic of ghrelin, it improves appetite and muscle mass. This article reviews the pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and effect on cancer cachexia. Methods: A PubMed search was done using the Medical Subject Headings term anamorelin. Articles were selected to provide a pharmacologic characterization of anamorelin. Results: Anamorelin increases muscle mass in patients with advanced cancer in 2-phase 3 trials. Conclusions: Anamorelin improves anorexia-cachexia symptoms in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer.
Transformer monitoring using Kalman filtering

In this paper, we present a systems-theoretic approach to real-time in-situ monitoring of operating transformers. The most significant and novel result is the estimation of partial discharge buildup in transformers. In addition, it is capable of calculating secondary side power factor, and detecting voltage fluctuations, reactive buildup and core saturation. The paper discusses critical design considerations such as sampling time, model excitation, and system order. Concerns regarding power quality, reliability and resilience are increasing in the distribution grid with the injection of power from renewables. The algorithm presented here could help mitigate these by continuously monitoring transformer health and performance during operation.
Theory of Heterojunctions: A Critical Review

The central aspect of an abrupt heterojunction, and the point of departure for all its device properties, is the exact lineup of the bands of the two semiconductors at the interface. Band lineups vary over a wide range. Lineup data from numerous heterosystems have been reported in the literature, but only a few can be considered truly reliable. Of several theories that have been proposed to explain and/or predict band lineups, the Harrison Atomic Orbital (HAO) Theory has been by far the most successful; it agrees with those experimental data that are considered most trustworthy to within ±0.13 eV (standard deviation). Also reviewed are the Frensley-Kroemer Pseudopotential (FKP) theory, the Electron Affinity Rule (EAR), and Self-Consistent Interface Potential (SCIP) calculations of band lineups.
Sports, Disability, and the Reframing of the Post-injury Soldier

In this chapter, I discuss the role that sports plays in framing the ideal physical rehabilitation patient in the United States Armed Forces Amputee Patient Care Program (APCP) at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Program leaders and clinicians emphasize the important role that sports can play in shaping good physical functioning outcomes for patients. A physically active lifestyle has been shown to improve both quality and quantity of life. But beyond this program, leaders and clinicians promote sports as a medium for healing from the consequences of traumatic injury. However, not all patients share in the commitment to achieving the kind of outcome envisioned in the APCP, and for them, it is a struggle to have their more idiosyncratic models of a good outcome accepted as one by program leaders and clinicians.
The Structure and Thermal Stability of 1,2-Dimethoxycarbonyl-3,3-dimethylcyclopropene

The X-ray crystal structure of 1,2-dimethoxycarbonyl-3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (1) is reported and the geometry is contrasted to that of cyclopropene (2) and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (3). Ab initio and density functional theory calculations were carried out in order to examine the conformational preference of the ester groups (i.e., s-cis vs. s-trans) and to probe the thermal stability of 1 via a model compound, 1-methoxycarbonyl-3-methylcyclopropene. Experimental activation parameters for the unimolecular isomerization were measured and compared to an analogous dibenzoylcyclopropene derivative.
Low temperature synthesis of La1.76Sr0.24Cu0.93Ni0.07O4-δ using TMAOH: an alkali-free coprecipitating agent

Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), an alkali-free precipitating agent, has been used to synthesize 214 nickelocuprates La2-xSrxCu1-yNiyO4-δ precursors. Single phase of 214 La1.76Sr0.24Cu0.93Ni0.07O4-δ was obtained at the sintering temperature as low as 800°C by using TMAOH in the coprecipitating process without intermediate grindings. It is noted that the calcination temperatures to obtain single-phase 214 nickelocuprates are respectively 1100°C 1140°C, and 1150°C for the precursors prepared by a grind-and-fire method, nitrates decomposition, and coprecipitation using K2CO3/KOH as a coprecipitating agent. It is found that the sintering temperature has a significant effect on the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of La1.76Sr0.24Cu0.93Ni0.07O4-δ. Moreover, an anomaly of the electrical conductivity around 30 K is observed.
Ethanol production from d-xylose and several other carbohydrates by Pachysolen tannophilus and other yeasts

Yeasts had been considered as unable to produce ethanol from pentoses. Ethanol from such sugars is of interest because of the enhancement which would thereby follow in the economics of the bioconversion of lignocellulosics. In one approach to obtain yeasts which convert d-xylose to ethanol screening was carried out. Several were identified and some of the experimental parameters favoring the conversion were investigated. With one of the better converters, Pachysolen tannophilus, ethanol could be obtained from four of the five major phytomass sugars; d-glucose, d-mannose, d-galactose and d-xylose. Using a mutant of P. tannophilus selected for more rapid growth on d-galactose than the wild type, yields from mixtures containing these sugars could be high, in the 83–90% range. Yeasts were also shown to be able to produce ethanol from glycerol and from mixtures of d-cellobiose plus d-xylose, materials whose conversion to ethanol is of potential economic importance. In another approach to obtain suitable yeasts, a gene encoding for d-xylose isomerase in Escherichia coli was cloned. Appropriate introduction of this gene into a suitable yeast host is expected to allow the transformant to convert d-xylose into ethanol.
Cross-layer efforts for energy-efficient computing: towards peta operations per second perwatt

As Moore’s law based device scaling and accompanying performance scaling trends are slowing down, there is increasing interest in new technologies and computational models for fast and more energy-efficient information processing. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that, with respect to traditional Boolean circuits and von Neumann processors, it will be challenging for beyond-CMOS devices to compete with the CMOS technology. Exploiting unique characteristics of emerging devices, especially in the context of alternative circuit and architectural paradigms, has the potential to offer orders of magnitude improvement in terms of power, performance, and capability. To take full advantage of beyond-CMOS devices, cross-layer efforts spanning from devices to circuits to architectures to algorithms are indispensable. This study examines energy-efficient neural network accelerators for embedded applications in this context. Several deep neural network accelerator designs based on cross-layer efforts spanning from alternative device technologies, circuit styles, to architectures are highlighted. Application-level benchmarking studies are presented. The discussions demonstrate that cross-layer efforts indeed can lead to orders of magnitude gain towards achieving extreme-scale energy-efficient processing.
High pressure thermoelasticity and sound velocities of Fe-Ni-Si alloys

The Earth's iron-dominant core is known to contain nickel from cosmochemical analysis and some amount of light elements from geophysical constraints on density and seismic wave velocities. Although there have been several studies to constrain thermoelastic properties of iron-alloys, there has been no systematic study on the effects of nickel and light elements on properties of iron using the same experimental methods and data analysis approach. We conducted nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray diffraction experiments on body-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Fe_(0.91)Ni_(0.09) and Fe_(0.8)Ni_(0.1)Si_(0.1) up to 104 GPa and 86 GPa, respectively, and compare to similar measurements conducted on hcp-Fe up to 171 GPa. Specifically, we determine the Debye sound velocity from the low-energy transfer region of the (partial) phonon density of states (DOS) using the equation of state determined for each material and a new approach which utilizes information criteria and probability distributions. Nickel decreases the shear velocity of iron, while 10 at% Si has little to no effect on the shear velocity of Fe_(0.91)Ni_(0.09). We observe that the shape of the phonon DOS of these alloys remains similar with increasing pressure. In the measured compression range, we therefore apply a generalized scaling law to describe the volume dependence of the phonon DOS and find that the vibrational Gruneisen parameters of hcp-Fe_(0.91)Ni_(0.09) are nearly indistinguishable from those hcp-Fe and those for Fe_(0.8)Ni_(0.1)Si_(0.1) trend lower. From the vibrational free energy, we constrain the harmonic vibrational component of thermal pressure, which shows a significant positive deviation from theoretical calculations of hcp-Fe at pressures and temperatures of Earth's core. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the effects of nickel should be considered when modeling iron-rich planetary cores.
Abstract 3529: Sample quality control of cell-free DNA

Sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is possible due to the establishment of low input library protocols for next-generation sequencing workflows. Accurate quantification of cfDNA samples is essential to determine suitable input amounts for cfDNA library preparation prior to sequencing. The main component of cfDNA samples is the mononucleosome with a size around 170 bp, sometimes with additional species representing nucleosome multimers. Further, cfDNA samples may contain larger DNA fragments dependent on pre-analytical sample treatment or extraction method. High molecular weight material can negatively influence library preparation and subsequently result in lower sequencing depth. Therefore, reliable quantification of cfDNA requires a method that separates DNA fragments by size, such as electrophoresis. This poster shows the use of an automated electrophoresis platform performing cfDNA quantification with region analysis. Moreover, the results include a score to qualify cfDNA samples according to their contamination level with high molecular weight material. This allows defining a threshold for objective sample qualification prior to library preparation. The analysis features are described with examples of typical sample patterns. Citation Format: Eva Graf. Sample quality control of cell-free DNA [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3529.
The role of inclusive work environment practices in promoting LGBT employee job satisfaction and commitment

One of the most enduring issues facing public administration and public policy is discrimination against and exclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees in the public work...
Length of Stay Predicts Risk of Early Infection for Hospitalized Patients Undergoing Central Venous Port Placement.

Abstract Purpose To compare early totally implantable central venous port catheter–related infection rates after inpatient vs outpatient placement and to determine whether the risk associated with inpatient placement is influenced by length of hospital stay. Materials and Methods In this single-institution retrospective study, 5,301 patients (3,618 women; mean age 57 y) underwent port placement by interventional radiologists between October 2004 and January 2018. The 30-day infection rate was compared between inpatients and outpatients using survival analysis. Among inpatients, the effect of time from admission to port placement and from placement to discharge was analyzed using a survival regression tree. Results The 30-day infection rate was 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9%–6.1%) among 386 inpatients and 1.0% (95% CI = 0.7%–1.3%) among 4,915 outpatients (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.0–6.6, P 3 days, and 0% (95% CI = 0%–2.1%) among 192 inpatients in whom admission to placement was Conclusions Inpatient port placement was associated with a higher risk of early infection. However, a clinical decision tree based on shorter length of stay before and after placement may identify a subset of hospitalized patients not at increased risk for infection.
Commercialization of CIS-Based Thin-Film PV: Annual Technical Report--Phase II, September 1999 - August 2000

This report describes the objective to establish reliable high-throughput, high-yield thin-film deposition processes to make CIS a viable option for the next generation of photovoltaics. Outdoor testing, accelerated environmental testing, and packaging development progressed throughout all phases of this subcontract. Siemens scaled up substrate size and scaled up production capacity of the baseline SSI CIS-based module process while introducing CIS-based products. The primary goals of this subcontract are to scale the substrate size from about 900 cm2 (1 ft2) to about 4000 cm2 by the middle of the Phase II, and to achieve pilot production rates of 500 kW per year by the end of Phase III. Deliverables for the subcontract include CIS-based products and representative modules delivered to the NREL Module Testing Team for outdoor testing and evaluation. SSI will continue mid-term and longer-term thin-film R and D with the goals of: (a) Assuring future product competitiveness; (b) Improving module performance; and (c) Reducing cost per watt assuring product reliability.
The Role Of Contact Force In Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.

During radiofrequency (RF) ablation, low electrode-tissue contact force (CF) is associated with ineffective RF lesion formation, whereas excessive CF may increase the risk of steam pop and perforation. Recently, ablation catheters using two technologies have been developed to measure real-time catheter-tissue CF. One catheter uses three optical fibers to measure microdeformation of a deformable body in the catheter tip. The other catheter uses a small spring connecting the ablation tip electrode to the catheter shaft with a magnetic transmitter and sensors to measure microdeflection of the spring. Pre-clinical experimental studies have shown that 1) at constant RF power and application time, RF lesion size significantly increases with increasing CF; 2) the incidence of steam pop and thrombus also increase with increasing CF; 3) modulating RF power based on CF (i.e, high RF power at low CF and lower RF power at high CF) results in a similar and predictable RF lesion size. In clinical studies in patients undergoing pulmonary vein (PV) isolation, CF during mapping in the left atrium and PVs showed a wide range of CF and transient high CF. The most common high CF site was located at the anterior/rightward left atrial roof, directly beneath the ascending aorta. There was a poor relationship between CF and previously used surrogate parameters for CF (unipolar or bipolar atrial potential amplitude and impedance). Patients who underwent PV isolation with an average CF of 20g had lower AF recurrence. AF recurred within 12 months in 6 of 8 patients (75%) who had a mean Force-Time Integral (FTI, area under the curve for contact force vs. time) 1000 gs. In another study, controlling RF power based on CF prevented steam pop and impedance rise without loss of lesion effectiveness. These studies confirm that CF is a major determinant of RF lesion size and future systems combining CF, RF power and application time may provide real-time assessment of lesion formation.
Dynamic primitive granularity control: an exploration of unique design considerations

Dynamic primitive granularity control (DPGC) is a promising avenue for improving the performance of genetic programming (GP). However, it remains almost entirely unexplored. Further, it may pose many unique challenges in its design and implementation that traditional GP implementations do not. This paper presents an implementation of DPGC in order to determine what aspects of conventional GP design and implementation require special consideration. There are some common techniques used in GP that have been found here to negatively impact DPGC's ability to improve performance. Parsimony pressure appears to disproportionately penalize low-level primitives, and a mixed-granularity population suffers from heavy biases towards particular granularity levels, seemingly to the detriment of evolution. This paper provides hypotheses as to why these conventional techniques harm DPGC implementations, as well as several potential alternatives for use in the future that may remedy these detrimental effects.
Would You Like to Hear the News?: Investigating Voice-Based Suggestions for Conversational News Recommendation

One of the key benefits of voice-based personal assistants is the potential to proactively recommend relevant and interesting information. One of the most valuable sources of such information is the News. However, in order for the user to hear the news that is useful and relevant to them, it must be recommended in an interesting and informative way. However, to the best of our knowledge, \em how to present a news item for a voice-based recommendation remains an open question. In this paper, we empirically compare different ways of recommending news, or specific news items, in a voice-based conversational setting. Specifically, we study the user engagement and satisfaction with five different variants of presenting news recommendations: (1) a generic news briefing; (2) news about a specific entity relevant to the current conversation; (3) news about an entity from a past conversation; (4) news on a trending news topic; and (5) the default - a suggestion to talk about news in general. Our results show that entity-based news recommendations exhibit 29% higher acceptance compared to briefing recommendations, and almost 100% higher acceptance compared to recommending generic or trending news. Our investigation into the presentation of news recommendations and the resulting insights could make voice assistants more informative and engaging.
Natural quasirandomness properties

The theory of quasirandomness has greatly expanded from its inaugural graph theoretical setting to several different combinatorial objects such as hypergraphs, tournaments, permutations, etc. However, these quasirandomness variants have been done in an ad-hoc case-by-case manner. In this paper, we propose three new hierarchies of quasirandomness properties that can be naturally defined for arbitrary combinatorial objects. Our properties are also "natural" in more formal sense: they are preserved by local combinatorial constructions (encoded by open interpretations). We show that our quasirandomness properties have several different but equivalent characterizations that are similar to hypergraph quasirandomness properties. We also prove several implications and separations comparing them to each other and to what has been known for hypergraphs. The main notion explored by our statements and proofs is that of unique coupleability: two limit objects are uniquely coupleable if there is a unique limit object in the combined theory that is an alignment (i.e., a coupling) of these two objects.