cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ex Vivo Porcine Arterial and Chorioallantoic Membrane Acoustic Angiography Using Dual-Frequency Intravascular Ultrasound Probes

The presence of blood vessels within a developing atherosclerotic plaque has been found to be correlated with increased plaque vulnerability and ensuing cardiac events, however, detection of coronary intraplaque neovascularization poses a significant challenge in the clinic. We describe here a new in vivo intravascular ultrasound imaging method using a dual-frequency transducer to visualize contrast flow in microvessels with high specificity. This method uses a specialized transducer capable of exciting contrast agents at a low frequency (5.5 MHz) while detecting their nonlinear superhamonics at a much higher frequency (37 MHz). In vitro evaluation of the approach was performed in a microvascular phantom to produce 3-D renderings of simulated vessel patterns and to determine image quality metrics as a function of depth. Furthermore, we describe the ability of the system to detect microvessels both ex vivo using porcine arteries and in vivo using the chorioallantoic membrane of a developing chicken embryo with optical confirmation. Dual-frequency contrast-specific imaging was able to resolve vessels similar in size to those found in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques at clinically relevant depths. The results of this study add to the support for further evaluation and translation of contrast-specific imaging in intravascular ultrasound for the detection of vulnerable plaques in atherosclerosis.
High-Valent Manganese–Oxo Valence Tautomers and the Influence of Lewis/Brönsted Acids on C–H Bond Cleavage

The addition of Lewis or Bronsted acids (LA = Zn(OTf)2, B(C6F5)3, HBArF, TFA) to the high-valent manganese–oxo complex MnV(O)(TBP8Cz) results in the stabilization of a valence tautomer MnIV(O-LA)(TBP8Cz•+). The ZnII and B(C6F5)3 complexes were characterized by manganese K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The position of the edge energies and the intensities of the pre-edge (1s to 3d) peaks confirm that the Mn ion is in the +4 oxidation state. Fitting of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) region reveals 4 N/O ligands at Mn–Nave = 1.89 A and a fifth N/O ligand at 1.61 A, corresponding to the terminal oxo ligand. This Mn–O bond length is elongated compared to the MnV(O) starting material (Mn–O = 1.55 A). The reactivity of MnIV(O-LA)(TBP8Cz•+) toward C–H substrates was examined, and it was found that H• abstraction from C–H bonds occurs in a 1:1 stoichiometry, giving a MnIV complex and the dehydrogenated organic product. The rates of C–H cleavage are accelerated for the MnIV(O-LA)(T...
Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Meat Microflora: Observations on Agar Media, in Suspensions and on Beef Carcasses.

Electrical stimulation of beef carcasses did not cause a significant reduction in surface microbial population at three different sampling positions immediately following slaughter. However, significant microbial reduction (P<0.05) was found at position 2 (muscle above aitch bone) but not at position 1 (inside of neck) or position 3 (fat on outside of round) after 72 h of chilling storage. Nine bacterial species from eight different genera commonly associated with meat were inoculated on three different agar media which varied in electrical conductivity. Electrical stimulation of these media caused a reduction in numbers of microorganisms under various voltage and time treatments. Spore-forming bacteria were the most resistant to the electrical treatments. Among the non-spore formers, gram-negative bacteria were more resistant to electrical treatment than gram-positive bacteria. Also, microorganisms inoculated on the lowest resistance medium A revealed greater reduction in numbers than that of the other media with higher resistance. A five log cycle reduction in Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas putrefaciens and Pseudomonas fragi was found in 0.85% saline solution and phosphate buffered saline solution after a 30-V, 5-min treatment, but little change in count was detected in 0 . 1% aqueous peptone or 2.5 M sucrose solution.
Antioxidant Depletion and Service Life Prediction for HDPE Geomembranes Exposed to Low-Level Radioactive Waste Leachate

AbstractAntioxidant depletion was evaluated in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (GM) coupons immersed in radioactive synthetic leachate (RSL) representative of leachate in low-level rad...
Response of Pial Precapillary Vessels to Changes in Arterial Carbon Dioxide Tension

A quantitative study of responses of pial precapillary vessels to changes in arterial blood carbon dioxide tension was made in anesthetized cats. All vessels examined ranging in diameter from 13 to 90 responded to hypercapnia with increases in diameter and to hypocapnia with decreases in diameter. The onset of the response to hypercapnia was earlier, its speed was faster, and its magnitude greater with higher concentrations of CO2. In response to the same increase in arterial blood PCO2, smaller vessels (13 to 40) increased in diameter by 47.7 10.8 of the control value while the increase in diameter of larger vessels (41 to 90) was significantly lower and equal to 29.5 6.3 of the control value. In the steady state the relation between pial vessel diameter expressed as percent of the control value (Y) and arterial blood PCO2 (X) was given by the equation Y 53.07 1.587 X 0.00715 X2. The relatively large magnitude of the response of pial arteries and arterioles to CO2 and the fact that it was dependent on ve...
Drift volume in viscous flows

Drift volume quantifies fluid volume entrained by a translating body and is important in heat and mass transfer. In a detailed analysis, drift volume is computed as the time-integrated flux through a streamtube. Leading-order expressions are derived as a function of Reynolds number, upon which drift volume is shown to be critically dependent.
Activity Forecasting: An Invitation to Predictive Perception

We make a case for a decision-theoretic approach to human activity forecasting, which provides a principled framework for modeling the consequences of taking certain actions and the impact it can have on the future. We give an introductory exposition of the concept of Maximum Entropy Inverse Optimal Control in the context of visual future prediction. Presented examples show that such methods are able to generate more informed predictions over future actions of human activity.
Isolation and identification of five cold-inducible promoters from Oryza sativa

Five promoters of the cold-inducible rice genes were isolated. The quantitative and qualitative expression analyses in the high generation transgenic rice suggest that the genes are stably induced by low temperature. Cold-inducible promoters are highly desirable for stress-inducible gene expression in crop genetic engineering. In this study, five rice genes, including OsABA8ox1, OsMYB1R35, OsERF104, OsCYP19-4, and OsABCB5, were found to be transcriptionally induced by cold stress. The promoters of these five genes were isolated, and their activities were identified in various tissues of transgenic rice plants at different growth stages both before and after cold stress. Histochemical staining, quantitative fluorescence assays, and GUSplus gene expression assays in corresponding promoter-GUSplus transgenic rice plants confirmed that the five promoters were cold-inducible with different expression patterns and strengths. The OsABA8ox1 and OsERF104 promoters had very low background expression; in contrast, the OsMYB1R35 promoter had higher basal activity in the roots, and OsCYP19-4 promoter activity was preferentially high in leaves and flowers of untreated transgenic lines. The OsABCB5 promoter had the highest basal activity among the five promoters. After cold induction, the activities of the OsABA8ox1, OsMYB1R35, and OsABCB5 promoters were high in both roots and leaves, slightly lower than that of the constitutively expressed OsActin1 promoter but comparable to that of the AtRD29A promoter. During the cold treatment time course, the activities of OsABA8ox1 and OsABCB5 promoters were quickly up-regulated in the early period and peaked at 24 h, after which the induction level gradually decreased until 48 h. The activities of the OsMYB1R35 and OsCYP19-4 promoters increased under stress in a time-dependent manner, while OsERF104 promoter activity began to increase at 4 h and then decreased strongly. Furthermore, activities’ analysis in T3, T4, and T5 homozygous progeny of single-copy plants revealed that five promoters maintained their activities at comparable levels with no evidence of silencing under cold stress. Overall, the five cold-inducible rice promoters described herein could potentially be used in crop biotechnology.
Synthesis and processing effects on magnetic properties in the Fe5SiB2 system

Abstract The effects of Ge substitution and synthesis via rapid solidification on the structure and magnetic character of the intermetallic Fe 5 SiB 2 (5-1-2) system were determined, with the objective to investigate the potential of Fe 5 (Si 0 . 75 Ge 0.25 )B 2 as a new permanent magnet material. Samples were made by arc-melting/annealing as well as by melt-spinning/annealing and were evaluated by probing the structure, composition, and magnetic response. Results indicate that the tetragonal Cr 5 B 3 crystal structure, large saturation magnetization (Ms = 153.8 emu/g) and Curie temperature (Tc = 784 K) of the parent Fe 5 SiB 2 phase may be preserved by substituting up to 25 at % of Si in the lattice with Ge. The room-temperature magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of a Ge-substituted alloy of nominal composition Fe 5 (Si 0 . 75 Ge 0.25 )B 2 was evaluated as K 1 = 5 × 10 6 ergs/cc using the law of approach to saturation and is the largest reported to date within the 5-1-2 materials system. As a result of compositional modification, the spin reorientation observed in Fe 5 SiB 2 is greatly suppressed from 172 K to 60 K. A comparison of the 5-1-2 phase evolution when synthesized by standard casting and by rapid solidification indicates that melt spinning is a simpler and more expeditious synthesis method relative to previously reported solid-state reaction methods.
Discordant correlation of breast adenoid cystic carcinoma on imaging and pathology: A case report and literature review on surgical management.

Abstract Introduction Adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) of the breast are extremely rare tumours, accounting for Presentation of case A 71 years old lady presented with a painless right breast lump of a few months duration. Clinical examination revealed a 1.5 cm right breast upper outer quadrant mass. Axillary and systemic examinations were unremarkable. Mammogram showed an asymmetric density in the right upper outer quadrant which corresponded to a suspicious nodule measuring about 2 cm on the ultrasound. Ultrasound of the axilla showed an indeterminate right lymph node. Core needle biopsy of the right breast nodule showed ACC while the lymph node biopsy was non- metastatic. Staging scans did not reveal any definite distant metastasis. Her naso-endoscopy and MRI of the neck were normal. She underwent a right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Final histology returned as a grade II 55 mm ACC. Lympho-vascular invasion was absent. The tumour was triple negative for Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR) and Human epidermal receptor 2 (HER 2). Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative for metastasis. She recovered well but declined adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She is currently well 6 months post operation. Discussion ACC is an extremely rare subtype, therefore there are limited reports in literature on its imaging and pathological characteristics. Of this sparse data, there was no mention that there might be a big size discrepancy between the 2 modalities. This appreciable discrepancy has implications for pre-operative planning and the choice of breast surgery. It will be useful if the pathological extent of ACC could be determined more accurately radiologically. However, there are no distinctive imaging characteristics for ACC. ACC can appear as a smooth round mass similar to that of a benign mass or as an irregular mass on mammogram. On ultrasound, ACC often manifested as a hypo- echoic heterogeneous mass with minimal vascularity on Doppler imaging and may have an indistinct margin. MRI has a higher sensitivity than mammogram and ultrasound in determining the true extent of the tumour, but there remains little data on its usefulness in ACC. Conclusion ACC can be extensively infiltrative and present much larger than its radiological size, as reported in our case. Use of better imaging modalities judiciously, in these cases, are needed to more accurately predict the true pathological size of ACC to prevent inadequate surgery.
Quantitative Analysis and Classification of the Nasal Base Using a Parametric Model.

ImportanceThe nasal base view is often overlooked in rhinoplasty analysis and, unlike lateral and frontal views, lacks detailed quantitative analysis and descriptors. While shape-category analysis ...
Molecular Targeted Therapies of Prostate Cancer

Recent advances in androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) have improved patient outcomes. In addition, metastatic biopsies enable a better molecular characterization of the evolving phenotype and underlying gene alterations. A novel landscape of druggable targets has been unraveled within several aberrant pathways, including androgen receptor (AR) signaling, proliferation, cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, immune evasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stress response, DNA repair, and epigenetic regulation. The disease upon progression typically remains androgen-driven, but identification of true molecular drivers with direct or indirect association with AR signaling or totally androgen-independent as well as development and validation of surrogate markers of response are areas of active research. A plethora of established and promising new therapeutic strategies have emerged, and identifying the most effective combinations and sequencing is the key to further progress.
A passivity-based decentralized control strategy for current-controlled inverters in AC microgrids

As a conventional stability analysis method of AC microgrid, the impedance based method needs a comprehensive impedance model of all the subsystems. It may fall short when the AC microgrid is interfaced by large number of converters with different parameters, or the microgrid has a time-varying structure, both of which would make the system modeling extremely complicated. This paper proposed a passivity margin criterion for AC microgrid, which decentralizes the stability target to each individual converter. The system will be stable with satisfactory margin as long as each converter is designed in accordance with the criterion, regardless of the system variations. A passivity realization approach for current-controlled LCL-type inverter is derived. The conclusions are verified on an OPAL-RT based Hardware-in-the-Loop platform.
A NEW TRANSDUCER FOR MEASURING LIGAMENT TENSION

ABSTRACT A transducer for direct measurment of ligament tension was designed and constructed. The transducer consists of a one piece “C” shaped element constructed of thin stainless steel. When installed on a ligament, the transducer element is flexed, and a strain is produced that is proportional to ligament tension. Bonded foil resistance strain gages mounted on the transducer provide output in terms of micro strain. The transducer was tested on isolated knee ligaments and its performance compared with that a buckle transducer. Fresh human ligaments were excised from amputations and an Instron servohydraulic materials testing system was employed to apply loads of 0 to 100 N at rates 2.5, .25 and .025 cm/min. Multiple runs were made using each transducer at each cross-head speed. Results showed that while both transducers performed linearly, hysteresis was evident in both transducers. In the case of the prototype, it decreased with loading rate. Further, the prototype caused the ligament to shorten 2 mm as compared to 5 mm for the buckle transducer.
The RBC as a Physiological Object

Human red blood cells (RBCs) account for nearly half of all the cells in the body. Human RBCs are responsible for the delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide. In addition to gas exchange, RBC can increase or decrease oxygen delivery to tissues through effects on vasodilation, blood viscosity, and hemostasis. RBCs have a unique cellular design due to its biconcave shape and absence of cell organelles, which maximizes gas exchange, hemoglobin concentration, and oxygen content of blood. The cell membrane and the cytoskeleton interact to allow significant deformability and strength, which permits RBC to traverse narrow capillaries while withstanding high shear forces in the arterial circulation. The normal RBC circulates approximately 120 days and then undergoes a series of irreversible changes leading to clearance from the circulation.
Physical Interpretations of Dispersive Pulse Dynamics

The causally interrelated effects of phase dispersion and absorption on the evolution of an electromagnetic pulse as it propagates through a homogeneous linear dielectric, particularly when the pulse is ultrawideband, developed originally by Sommerfeld [1] and Brillouin [2, 3, 4] in 1914 in support of Einstein’s 1905 special theory of relativity [5], Brillouin’s signal velocity description partially corrected by Baerwald [6] in 1930, and the theory finally completed in the 1970–1980’s by Oughstun [7] and Sherman [8, 9, 10, 11, 12] in a series of papers that forms the basis of the modern asymptotic theory have been described in detail in Chaps. 12–15 of this volume. The results show that after the pulse has propagated sufficiently far in the medium, its spatiotemporal dynamics settle into a relatively simple regime, known as the mature dispersion regime, for the remainder of the propagation. In this regime, the wavefield becomes locally quasimonochromatic with fixed local frequency and wavenumber in small regions of space–time which move with their own characteristic constant velocity. The theory provides accurate but approximate analytic expressions for the local wave properties at any given space–time point in the mature dispersion regime. The expressions are complicated, however, as is their derivation from a well-defined asymptotic theory (presented in Chap. 10), and neither do the results nor their derivations provide complete insight into the physical reasons for the wavefield having the particular local space–time properties it does have in the various subregions of space moving with specific velocities.
Saccharopine, an intermediate of the aminoadipic acid pathway of lysine biosynthesis. IV. Saccharopine dehydrogenase.

Abstract The ϵ-amino group of lysine arises in yeast and Neurospora from glutamate in a unique transamination between α-aminoadipic δ-semialdehyde and glutamate involving the stable intermediate saccharopine. See PDF for Structure The enzyme catalyzing the terminal reaction, saccharopine dehydrogenase (ϵ-N-(L-glutaryl-2)-L-lysine:NAD oxidoreductase (L-lysine forming)) has been purified and shown to be a sulfhydryl enzyme having an approximate molecular weight of 49,000. Two distinct pH optima (approximately 10 and 7) exist for the forward and reverse directions of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The enzyme is stabilized in the presence of relatively high salt concentrations and has been shown to display a high degree of specificity with respect to the coenzyme and substrates. The Michaelis constants for lysine, oxoglutarate, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide have been found to be 1.2 x 10-2 M, 4.4 x 10-4 M, and 4.6 x 10-5 M, respectively.
A Composite Measure of Caregiver Burden in Dementia: The Dementia Burden Scale-Caregiver.

Author(s): Peipert, John D; Jennings, Lee A; Hays, Ron D; Wenger, Neil S; Keeler, Emmett; Reuben, David B | Abstract: ObjectivesTo better capture the scope of caregiver burden by creating a composite of 3 existing measures that assess different health domains.DesignProspective follow-up study.SettingUniversity-based dementia care management program.ParticipantsCaregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) (N=1,091).MeasurementsThe composite measure (the Dementia Burden Scale-Caregiver (DBS-CG)) was based on the Modified Caregiver Strain Index, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire Distress Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Alternative factor structures were evaluated using 2 confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models: a bifactor model and a 3 correlated factors model. Good model fit was defined as a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of less than 0.06 and comparative fit index (CFI) value greater than 0.95. Coefficient omega was used to estimate scale reliability. Minimally important differences (MIDs) were estimated by anchoring the magnitude of DBS-CG change to change in caregiver self-efficacy and functional ability of PWD.ResultsThe bifactor CFA model fit best (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.95). Based on this model, a DBS-CG scale was created wherein all items were transformed to a possible range of 0 to 100 and then averaged. Higher scores indicate higher burden. Mean DBS-CG score was 27.3. The reliability was excellent (coefficient omega=0.93). MID estimates ranged from 4 to 5 points (effect sizes: 0.20-0.49).ConclusionThis study provides support for the reliability and validity of the DBS-CG. It can be used as an outcome measure to assess the effect of interventions to reduce dementia caregiver burden.
Neural and behavioral effects of regulating emotional responses to errors during an implicit racial bias task

Affect regulation plays a key role in several theories of racial bias reduction. Here, we tested whether engaging in emotion regulation strategies while performing an implicit racial bias task (Weapons Identification Task; WIT) would alter neural and behavioral manifestations of bias. Participants either suppressed or reappraised in a positive light the distress associated with making errors during the WIT, while an electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. We hypothesized that engaging in emotion regulation strategies would reduce the distress associated with making errors indicative of bias, resulting in smaller error-related negativity (ERN) amplitude during errors and increased expression of racial bias. Results of within-subjects comparisons (Experiment 1) generally supported these predictions. However, when emotion regulation strategies were manipulated between subjects (Experiment 2) there was no effect of suppression or reappraisal on bias expression. Across both experiments, engaging in emotion regulation led to larger ERNs for errors occurring on Black- relative to White-primed trials. In addition, a number of significant order effects were observed, indicating important differences in the effects of engaging in emotion regulation strategies when those strategies are attempted in participants' first versus second block of trials. No such order effects were evident when a second trial block was completed with no emotion regulation instructions. Findings are discussed in terms of the need for greater specificity in experimental tests of emotion regulation on error processing and cognitive performance.
The Politics and Policies of Food

This chapter is a new addition that focuses on a highly salient and engaging topic: the politics of food. In the last ten years, an emphasis on food, from how it is grown and transported to how it arrives on the plates of Americans has gained particular emphasis. Former first lady Michelle Obama ignited controversy as she endeavored to shift conversations about school food programs and their nutritional value. In many ways, food politics is a manifestation of core American values (individual liberty in particular) and commands a gigantic regulatory apparatus that is a fascinating product of its history. This chapter provides a history of the regulatory structure and overview current topics from school lunch programs to genetically modified organisms and organic labels at grocery stores.
Response to the Integration of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process into a Comprehensive Disease Management Course Series

To the Editor: Mr. Bowar and Dr. McCarthy have raised several important aspects of our study as it relates to the wider educational system and we thank them for their perspective and interest in our article. As was noted in the original study and their letter to the editor, our program chose to
Did pathogens facilitate the rise of endothermy

The evolutionary success of endothermy in mammals and birds represents an enduring enigma. Relative to an ectotherm of equivalent body size, endotherms expend many times the energy to maintain high, stable body temperatures. What source or sources of selection could have favored such an energetically costly strategy? Several hypotheses have been proposed for agents of selection that may have facilitated the rise of endothermy, with mixed support for each. Here, I discuss the possibility that an additional agent of selection, pathogens, may have played an important role in the evolution and maintenance of obligate endothermy in mammals and birds. I draw on recent work demonstrating that the immune system is highly thermally sensitive and individuals that maintain warm body temperatures have enhanced ability to reduce pathogen burdens. To further increase immune function when encountering a pathogen, ectotherms often employ the environmentally constrained and costly strategy of behavioral fever, whereas endotherms maintain body temperatures close to the optimum for immune performance at most times, essentially ‘priming’ their immune systems for a rapid response to infection. An evolutionary arms race in an ancient ectotherm, in which better behavioral thermoregulators were favored by increasingly virulent pathogens (and vice versa) could have contributed to the evolution of obligate endothermy in mammals and birds.
Heart transplantation in survivors of childhood cancer

There are approximately 450,000 survivors of childhood cancer due, in large part, to successes of therapeutic regimens. With this success comes an increase in the number of patients developing cardiotoxicity as a result of cancer therapies. In certain cases, this includes heart failure recalcitrant to medical therapy, and consideration for heart transplantation may be necessary. However, this group of patients has unique comorbidities that may affect outcomes. Despite this, available data show that complications and overall survival are similar for patients transplanted for anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy compared to those with other cardiomyopathies, demonstrating that this is a viable treatment option for this population. As other cancer therapies become more common, new cardiovascular toxicities are recognized. Whether heart transplantation will be appropriate for all patients with cancer-therapy related cardiotoxicity (CTRC) will require demonstration of similarly good outcomes to ensure proper allocation of organs.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage rebleeding in the first 24 h is associated with external ventricular drain placement and higher grade on presentation: Cohort study.

Abstract Background Rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) confers a poor prognosis; however, risk factors and differential outcomes associated with early rebleeding in the first 24 h after symptom presentation are incompletely understood. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all aSAH presenting to our institution between 2001 and 2016 was performed. Early rebleeding events were defined as clinical neurologic decline with radiographically confirmed acute intracranial hemorrhage within 24 h after symptom presentation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess clinical associations, with a specific focus on baseline Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), and modified Fisher scores. Results Of 471 aSAH cases, 33 (7%) experienced early rebleeding. Multivariate regression identified extraventricular drain (EVD) placement (OR = 2.16, P = 0.04) and WFNS 3–5 (OR = 2.69, P = 0.02) as significant predictors of early rebleeding. Good functional outcomes were observed in 8 patients with early rebleeding (24%), all of whom underwent aneurysm treatment. Higher SAH grade prior to rebleeding (WFNS 3–5) was significantly associated with increased odds of an unfavorable functional outcome (OR = 8.09, P Conclusions Early rebleeding in aSAH is associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. EVD placement and higher SAH grade on presentation appear to be significantly and independently associated with increased risk of rebleeding within first 24 h, as well as unfavorable long-term functional outcome; however, the clinical benefit of hyper-acute aneurysm treatment requires further investigation.
A Simpler, Modified Frailty Index Weighted by Complication Occurrence Correlates to Pain and Disability for Adult Spinal Deformity Patients.

ABSTRACT Background: The Miller et al adult spinal deformity frailty index (ASD-FI) correlates with complication risk; however, its development was not rooted in clinical outcomes, and the 40 factors needed for its calculation limit the index9s clinical utility. The present study aimed to develop a simplified, weighted frailty index for ASD patients Methods: This study is a retrospective review of a single-center database. Component ASD-FI parameters contributing to overall ASD-FI score were assessed via Pearson correlation. Top significant, clinically relevant factors were regressed against ASD-FI score to generate the modified ASD-FI (mASD-FI). Component mASD-FI factors were regressed against incidence of medical complications, and factor weights were calculated from regression of these coefficients. Total mASD-FI score ranged from 0 to 21, and was calculated by summing weights of expressed parameters. Linear regression and published ASD-FI cutoffs generated corresponding mASD-FI frailty cutoffs: not frail (NF, 12). Analysis of variance assessed the relationship between frailty category and validated baseline measures of pain and disability at baseline. Results: The study included 50 ASD patients. Eight factors were included in the mASD-FI. Overall mean mASD-FI score was 5.7 ± 5.2. Combined, factors comprising the mASD-FI showed a trend of predicting the incidence of medical complications (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.558; Cox & Snell R2 = 0.399; P = .065). Breakdown by frailty category is NF (70%), frail (12%), and SF (18%). Increasing frailty category was associated with significant impairments in measures of pain and disability: Oswestry Disability Index (NF: 23.4; frail: 45.0; SF: 49.3; P Conclusions: This study modifies an existing ASD frailty index and proposes a weighted, shorter mASD-FI. The mASD-FI relies less on patient-reported variables, and it weights component factors by their contribution to adverse outcomes. Because increasing mASD-FI score is associated with inferior clinical measures of pain and disability, the mASD-FI may serve as a valuable tool for preoperative risk assessment.
DistIR: An Intermediate Representation for Optimizing Distributed Neural Networks

The rapidly growing size of deep neural network (DNN) models and datasets has given rise to a variety of distribution strategies such as data, horizontal, and pipeline parallelism. However, selecting the best set of strategies for a given model and hardware configuration is challenging because debugging and testing on clusters is expensive. In this work we propose DistIR, an IR for explicitly representing distributed DNN computation that can capture many popular distribution strategies. We build an analysis framework for DistIR programs, including a simulator and reference executor that can be used to automatically search for an optimal distribution strategy. Our unified global representation also eases development of new distribution strategies, as one can reuse the lowering to per-rank backend programs. Preliminary results using a grid search over a hybrid data/horizontal/pipeline-parallel space suggest DistIR and its simulator can aid automatic DNN distribution.
TPE: A Hardware-Based TLB Profiling Expert for Workload Reconstruction

We propose TPE, a hardware-based framework to perform workload execution forensics in microprocessors. Specifically, TPE leverages custom hardware instrumentation to capture the operational profile of the Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB), as well as process these information off-line through multiple machine learning and/or deep learning approaches, in order to identify the executed processes and reconstruct the workload. Unlike software-based forensics methods implemented at the operating system (OS) or hypervisor level, whose data logging and monitoring mechanisms may be compromised through software attacks, TPE is implemented directly in hardware and, therefore, provides innate immunity to software tampering. A prototype of TPE is demonstrated in Linux on two representative architectures, i.e., 32-bit $\times 86$ and 64-bit RISC-V, implemented in the Simics and Spike simulation environment respectively. Experimental results using the Mibench workload benchmark suite reveal favorable process identification accuracy at low logging rate, which corroborates the effectiveness and the generalizability of TPE.
The Political Roots of Health Insurance Benefit Mandates

As of 2011, the average US state had 37 health insurance benefit mandates, laws requiring health insurance plans to cover a specific treatment, condition, provider, or person. This number is a massive increase from less than one mandate per state in 1965, and the topic takes on a new significance now, when the federal government is considering many new mandates as part of the "essential health benefits" required by the Affordable Care Act. A large body of literature has attempted to evaluate the effect of mandates on health, health insurance, and the labor market. However, previous papers did not consider the political processes behind the passage of mandates. In fact, when they estimate the laws' effect, almost all papers on the subject assume that mandates are passed at random. We use fixed effects estimation to determine why some states pass more mandates than others. We find that the political strength of health care providers is the strongest determinant of mandates. Our paper opens the way to estimating the causal effect of mandates on health insurance and the labor market using an instrumental variables strategy that incorporates political information about why mandates get passed.
Single-Port Mini-Pfannenstiel Robotic Pyeloplasty: Establishing a Non-Narcotic Pathway Along with A Same-Day Discharge Protocol.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the feasibility of a same day discharge protocol following SP robotic pyeloplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS From a single institution series, 23 patients (12 multi-port (MP), 11 single-port (SP)) who underwent primary robotic dismembered pyeloplasty between February 2018 and March 2021 were analyzed. The association between baseline and perioperative characteristics with functional outcome was analyzed using, chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann Whitney U and t-tests. RESULTS All SP cases were completed using the mini Pfannenstiel incision without the need for conversion or additional ports. Baseline characteristics were comparable. No intraoperative complications were seen. Only one patient in the SP group had a Clavien II complication. All patients in the MP group had a drain placed, whereas drain was not placed in the SP group. Length of stay was shorter in the SP group (11.4 vs. 42.6 hours, p<0.001). Although visual analog pain score was comparable at discharge (p=0.633), the SP group had lower opioid usage (morphine milligram equivalent) in the hospital (p<0.001) and a lower rate of opioid prescription during discharge (18.2% vs. 91.7% p<0.001). At a median follow-up of 8 months, no patients had flank pain and all patients had good kidney drainage on follow-up images. CONCLUSIONS Single-port robotic dismembered pyeloplasty through a mini-Pfannenstiel access allows a same-day discharge protocol with minimal opiate use.
Participatory design of a web-based hiv oral self-testing infographic experiment (Hotie) for emerging adult sexual minority men of color: A mixed methods randomized control trial

Health communication is a key health promotion approach for translating research findings into actionable information. The purpose of this study was to use participatory design to create and then test the usability and comprehension of an HIV self-testing infographic in a sample of 322 emerging adult, sexual minority men of color. Our study objectives addressed three challenges to HIV self-testing: (1) correct usage of the test stick, (2) understanding the number of minutes to wait before reading the result, and (3) how to correctly interpret a negative or a positive HIV result. This study was a two-phase, sequential, mixed methods, pilot, online, randomized controlled trial. Results suggested a significant mean difference between the control and intervention groups on HIV self-testing knowledge, with the control group outperforming the intervention group. However, two-thirds or better of the participants in the intervention group were able to comprehend the three critical steps to HIV self-testing. This was a promising finding that has resulted in the authors’ development of additional recommendations for using participatory design for visual aid development in HIV prevention research. Participatory design of an HIV self-testing infographic is a rigorous approach, as a health communication strategy, to address public health priorities.
Design of simulated stock forecasting trading system based on time series

The stock market is a highly complex nonlinear dynamic system. The stock price involves many uncertain factors. The influencing factors of the stock market are very complex and changeable. Reasonable and effective prediction of stock price has always been an important and difficult problem in the whole financial field. Time series analysis is one of the important tools in the field of economic forecasting. In the stock market, the time series forecasting method is often used to forecast the stock price trend, providing decision-making basis for investors and stock market managers. Therefore, the design of Trading System for simulating stock forecasting based on time series is proposed. Through the analysis and design of the simulated stock forecasting Trading System, the virtual Trading System is finally realized, which provides an important tool for investors to learn stock trading knowledge and increase stock operation experience, and contributes to the sound development of the stock trading market.
Force Generation Simplified

Raising the temperature of a maximally Ca2+-activated muscle fiber causes a sigmoidal increase in tension. The kinetics that govern this process can be explored by step-heating the fiber a few degrees with a laser temperature-jump. A biexponential increase in tension results; a third exponential phase that opposes this biphasic rise in tension is only observed when phosphate, a reaction product normally at low concentration, is added to the fiber. This chapter explains how the temperature dependencies of isometric tension and the temperature jump kinetics interrelate, and how these insights have modified and simplified our understanding of current mechanisms of force generation. The fast kinetic phase of the tension rise appears associated with single-step force generation or a power stroke, a process largely isolated from adjacent steps in the crossbridge cycle. The amplitude of the slow phase of the tension rise exhibits a remarkable ∼1:1 ratio to the amplitude of the fast, tension generating phase above 10°C. The similarity of these two amplitudes, that combine to give the complete rise in isometric tension with temperature, appear to fit a model in which one of a pair of myosin heads generates force while the second head is poised to function after the power stroke of the first has occurred. The phase with the negative amplitude seen with added phosphate points to a mechanism in which phosphate release is indirectly linked to the tension generation by forward flow through the cross-bridge cycle to tension generation.
Chapter 2 Device Applications of Strained-Layer Epitaxy

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the device applications of strained-layer epitaxy. The most significant improvements in device performance are expected in all the applications where the strained layer is electrically and/or optically active. In these applications, the constraints on the epitaxial growth techniques and layer design are the most demanding, which are discussed in the chapter. The chapter discusses the improvements that can be achieved by using strained layers to modify heterojunction-band offsets. It discusses the molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) growth, transistor design, and the performance of the AlGaAs/GaInAs strained-layer modulation-doped field effect transistor (MODFET), because this device structure most clearly demonstrates the advantages and potential for the use of strained layers in charge-confinement electronic semiconductor device structures. Other device structures such as heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) and resonant tunneling device structures are also briefly discussed in the chapter. The improvements that can be achieved by using strained layers to modify the bandgap are discussed in detail in the chapter. Tthe chapter briefly discusses the application of strained-layer epitaxy for the development of optimized-lattice-constant epitaxy (OLE) for optimized substrate material and associated device structures.
Myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation enhances cardiac β-myosin in vitro motility under load

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and myofibrillar disarray, and often results in sudden cardiac death. Two HCM mutations, N47K and R58Q, are located in the myosin regulatory light chain (RLC). The RLC mechanically stabilizes the myosin lever arm, which is crucial to myosin’s ability to transmit contractile force. The N47K and R58Q mutations have previously been shown to reduce actin filament velocity under load, stemming from a more compliant lever arm (Greenberg, 2010). In contrast, RLC phosphorylation was shown to impart stiffness to the myosin lever arm (Greenberg, 2009). We hypothesized that phosphorylation of the mutant HCM-RLC may mitigate distinct mutation-induced structural and functional abnormalities. In vitro motility assays were utilized to investigate the effects of RLC phosphorylation on the HCM-RLC mutant phenotype in the presence of an α-actinin frictional load. Porcine cardiac β-myosin was depleted of its native RLC and reconstituted with mutant or wild-type human RLC in phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated form. Consistent with previous findings, in the presence of load, myosin bearing the HCM mutations reduced actin sliding velocity compared to WT resulting in 31–41% reductions in force production. Myosin containing phosphorylated RLC (WT or mutant) increased sliding velocity and also restored mutant myosin force production to near WT unphosphorylated values. These results point to RLC phosphorylation as a general mechanism to increase force production of the individual myosin motor and as a potential target to ameliorate the HCM-induced phenotype at the molecular level.
Healthcare costs and utilization of vulnerable elderly people reported to adult protective services for self-neglect

OBJECTIVES: To assess differences between diagnoses, healthcare utilization, and healthcare costs of vulnerable elderly people reported to Adult Protective Services for self-neglect and those of matched controls. DESIGN: A case-control study of 131 self-neglect cases and 131 matched controls. SETTING: All participants were patients in a public hospital geriatrics program. PARTICIPANTS: Adult Protection Services referred the self-neglect cases to an interdisciplinary geriatric medicine team. The controls were patients who used the same source of geriatric medical services and were matched on race or ethnicity, sex, and age. MEASUREMENTS: Diagnoses, healthcare utilization, and Medicare reimbursable costs were compared in cases and controls for 1 year before and 1 year after the case medical referral. RESULTS: Mental disorders were diagnosed more frequently in the self-neglect group than in the control group. Self-neglecters had lower healthcare utilization and medical costs than controls in the year before the medical referral, but utilization and costs were similar in the two groups in the year after the referral. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that, once self-neglecters are brought into the healthcare system, they are no more expensive than other similar patients. This result has important public policy implications and fills an important gap, because there is no published literature describing the financial effect of self-neglect on the healthcare system.
A flexible, parallel model of natural language generation

This thesis describes a structured connectionist system for natural language generation. 'FIG', short for 'Flexible Incremental Generator', is based on a single network which encodes lexical knowledge, syntactic knowledge, and world knowledge. In the initial state, some nodes representing concepts are sources of activation; this represents the input. Activation flows from these nodes to nodes representing words via the various knowledge structures of the network. When the network settles, the most highly activated word is selected and emitted, activation levels are updated to represent the new current state. This process of settle, emit, and update repeats until all of the input has been conveyed. An utterance is simply the result of successive word choices. Syntactic knowledge is encoded with network structures representing constructions and their constituents. Constituents are linked to words, syntactic categories, relations, and other constructions. Activation flow via these links, and eventually to words, provides for constituency and subcategorization. The links to constituents are gated by 'cursors,' which are updated over time, based on feedback from the words output. This mechanism ensures that words and concepts which are syntactically appropriate become highly activated at the right time, thus causing words to appear in the right order. FIG suggests that the complexity present in most treatments of syntax is unnecessary. For example, it does not assemble or manipulate syntactic structures; constructions affect the utterance only by the activation they transmit, directly or indirectly, to words. Unlike previous generators, FIG handles arbitrarily large inputs, since the number of nodes activated in the initial state makes no difference to its operation; it handles trade-offs among competing goals without additional mechanism, since all computation is in terms of commensurate levels of activation; and it handles interaction among choices easily, since it tends to settle into a state representing a compatible set of choices, due to links among nodes representing such choices. Abstracting from the implementation leads to several design principles for generation, including explicit representation of the current state and pervasive use of parallelism. The design is a weak cognitive model and also points the way to more natural machine translation.