cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human immunodeficiency virus, mycobacterium tuberculosis, and pregnancy: a deadly combination.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is estimated to infect 30% of the world population with 95% of tuberculosis (TB) cases and 98% of TB deaths occurring in resource-limited countries. Superimposed on this burden of TB is HIV infection which has reached pandemic proportions in areas where TB is endemic. TB and HIV are inextricably linked. The development of TB disease has been linked to increased HIV replication and reduced CD4 cell counts potentially contributing to the progression of HIV infection. In the Womens Interagency HIV Study which has followed a cohort of HIV-infected women in the United States for a median of 6 years the development of TB disease was associated with a 4-fold increase in AIDS-related mortality. Moreover immunodeficiency induced by HIV fuels TB resurgence and increases TB incidence and mortality in areas where TB is highly prevalent; HIV infection is associated with a >/= 20-fold increased risk of reactivation of latent TB and is thought to account for much of the increase in the global burden of TB observed over the past 2 decades. (excerpt)
Timing and duration of dihydrotestosterone treatment affect the development of motoneuron number and morphology in a sexually dimorphic rat spinal nucleus.

The spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) is a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus in the rat lumbar spinal cord. SNB motoneurons and their perineal target muscles are present in adult males, but reduced or absent in adult females. This dimorphism is due to the presence of androgens during development. Perinatal treatment of females with testosterone (T), or a combination of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estrogen (E + D females) from embryonic (E) day 16 through postnatal (P) day 5, results in a masculine number of SNB motoneurons and the retention of the target muscles. Perinatal treatment with estrogen alone does not masculinize the SNB; prenatal treatment with DHT alone from E17–E22 results in a feminine number of SNB motoneurons and a significantly altered motoneuron morphology and connectivity. To determine if masculinization of the SNB involves the interaction of estrogen and DHT or results from a longer exposure to DHT alone, the number, morphology, and connectivity of SNB motoneurons in females treated with DHT both pre- and post-natally (from E16–P5) were examined. At E22, DHTP (E16–P5) females have SNB motoneuron numbers identical to E+D and normal females, but far fewer than normal males, thus indicating that T is essential for prenatal masculinization. After E22, SNB motoneuron number declines precipitously in normal females but remains stable in DHTP (E16–P5) females and E+D females, which do not differ from normal males at P10. These results demonstrate that DHT can completely masculinize SNB motoneuron number without any synergistic actions with estrogen, and suggest that the development of SNB motoneuron number is strictly an androgen-mediated event. In adulthood, horseradish peroxidase histochemistry reveals that the connectivity, dendritic length, and soma size of SNB motoneurons in DHTP (E17–P5) females are identical to those of normal males but differ significantly from those of DHTP (E17–E22) females. These data suggest that the altered connectivity in DHTP (E17–E22) females is not simply a hormone-specific effect, but the result of a truncated hormone exposure. Thus, DHT can fully masculinize SNB morphology and connectivity if given during the appropriate period of development. It is suggested that while T may be required to masculinize the SNB prenatally, DHT may be involved in masculinizing postnatal aspects of SNB development. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Computational algorithms for optimal feed rates for a class of fed‐batch fermentation: Numerical results for penicillin and cell mass production

Based upon the general characteristics of the optimal feed rate profiles presented in an earlier article, efficient computational algorithms have been developed for fed-batch fermentation processes described by four or less mass balance equations. These algorithms make computations of optimal substrate feed rate profiles straight forward and simple for various fed-batch cultures for such products as antibiotics, amino acids, enzymes, alcohols, and cell mass. Numerical examples of penicillin fermentation and bacterial cell mass production are given in detail, illustrating the use of these algorithms.
Thalidomide in multiple myeloma--from the clinic to the laboratory.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant clonal proliferation of plasma cells characterized by the excessive production of a single immunoglobulin protein isotype. In the year 2000, approximately 13,800 new cases of MM were diagnosed in the United States. This accounts for approximately 1% of all malignancies and 10% of hematologic malignancies. Over the past decades, the incidence of MM has been steadily increasing. It is twice as common in African-Americans as in the white population and it usually occurs in older individuals with a median age of 69 years. Although a number of potential risk factors have been suggested for myeloma, including radiation exposure, genetic predisposition, chronic antigenic stimulation such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain bacterial and viral infections, as well as certain occupational exposures, the etiology of this disease remains unknown.
Response of an antenna to arbitrary incident fields

In a variety of situations it is necessary to determine the response of an antenna to incident fields other than pure plane waves. Usually this is accomplished by the application of the principle of superposition to the antenna reciprocity relation for plane wave incidence. An alternative approach is to represent the incident field as a superposition of an infinite set of spherical free space modes and find the response with the aid of the corresponding antenna scattering matrix representation. Although the two formulations must necessarily be equivalent an explicit connection between them does not appear to have been previously established. This is done in this paper.
Modelling the influence of seasonal inter-habitat movements by an ecotone rodent

Abstract I assessed the long-term effects of seasonal inter-habitat movements for a common rodent, Microtus californicus , using matrix models tailored to demographic data obtained on populations living at the marsh–grassland ecotone. Three stochastic models were used to simulate the seasonal and spatial dynamics of this system, with the purpose of determining: (1) the growth rates of populations living in single versus a two-habitat landscape; and (2) if the amount, direction, and seasonality of rodent movements between the two habitats may impact these growth rates. The results indicated that grassland populations could be self-sustaining, but that isolated marsh populations would rapidly decline. Importantly, 98% of the two-habitat simulations yielded growth rates greater than those seen in the grassland model, with populations benefiting the most by movements from marsh into grassland at the end of the dry season. This study demonstrated that movements between marsh ‘sink’ and grassland ‘source’ habitats can potentially increase long-term population growth due to seasonal, inter-habitat differences in resource availability.
Primary afferent dendrite degeneration as a cause of tinnitus

Chronic tinnitus affects millions of people, but the mechanisms responsible for the development of this abnormal sensory state remain poorly understood. This study examined the type and extent of cochlear damage that occurs after acoustic trauma sufficient to induce chronic tinnitus in rats. Tinnitus was evaluated by using a conditioned suppression method of behavioral testing. Cochlear damage was assessed 6 months after acoustic trauma. There was minimal loss of inner and outer hair cells in the exposed cochleas of subjects demonstrating evidence of tinnitus. However, a significant loss of large-diameter fibers in the osseous spiral lamina of exposed cochleas of trauma subjects was observed. The significance of this finding in the context of a model of tinnitus is discussed.
Congestive heart failure: treat the disease, not the symptom: return to normalcy/Part II--the experimental approach.

Editorial Manager(tm) for The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Manuscript Draft Manuscript Number: Title: Congestive heart failure: treat the disease not the symptom - return to normalcy / Part II -- the experimental approach Article Type: Editorial, invited Section/Category: ACD: Acquired Cardiovascular Disease Corresponding Author: Dr. Gerald D. Buckberg, M.D. Corresponding Author's Institution: UCLA Medical Center First Author: Gerald D. Buckberg, M.D. Order of Authors: Gerald D. Buckberg, M.D.
Modelling aperture antennas in the near- and far-field regions using subarrays of equivalent uniformly illuminated apertures

This paper develops and presents an application of Huygen's principle herein referred to as the equivalent uniformly illuminated aperture method (EUAM). This method is used to predict the E-field patterns of aperture antennas in both the near- and far-field regions. In applying this method the radiating aperture is mathematically replaced by an array of smaller, uniformly illuminated aperture sources. Thus the true aperture field is approximated in a step-wise manner by the individual sub-apertures that are uniformly illuminated by the field at the point on the aperture where the sub-aperture is located. This method is suitable for analysing any antenna if its aperture fields are known. Comparisons are made between this method, an equivalent dipole method, and experimental measurements. These calculations and measurements show that the EUAM is more accurate (especially in the near-field region), is much simpler to implement, and requires less execution time than the equivalent dipole method.
Barriers to early detection and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in African American men.

Background. African Amercians afflicted with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a strikingly worse survival than do whites. One apparent cause is an advanced stage of presentation in African Americans. This study was designed to identify barriers to early treatment
Ultrasound-guided vs ultrasound-assisted central venous catheterization

Ultrasound (US) significantly facilitates central venous catheterization, reducing the percentage of failure, the percentage of accidental arterial puncture, and the percentage of complications (haematoma, haemothorax, pneumothorax). Nonetheless, it is not clear whether US guidance (USG) (so-called 'dynamic' or 'real-time' US techniques: that is, venipuncture under direct US control) may be better than US assistance (USA) (so-called 'static' or 'indirect' US techniques: that is, US imaging of the vein, with or without skin marking, and then blind venipuncture).
Motion-Induced Noise in Electrode-Pair Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Receiving Antennas

The pressure fluctuations in the turbulent boundary layer surrounding the towed antenna cable cause it to vibrate in the geomagnetic field and thereby generate noise. This noise mechanism is the dominant one in current long antennas. Its effect can be reduced only by increasing antenna diameter and length. Tension, stiffness, and damping have no effect. Noise voltage spectra derived from pressure fluctuation data show striking agreement with those measured.
A Field Study of the Presumptively Biased: Is There Empirical Support for Excluding Convicted Felons from Jury Service?

In the United States, a vast majority of jurisdictions statutorily exclude convicted felons from jury service. Justifying these exclusions, lawmakers and courts often cite the inherent bias rationale, which holds that convicted felons harbor a prodefense/antiprosecution pretrial bias that would jeopardize the impartiality of the jury process. The inherent bias rationale has never been the subject of empirical analysis. Instead, authorities seemingly accept the logic of the rationale unconditionally. This study (1) explores the prevalence, strength, and direction of convicted felons' pretrial biases; (2) compares the group-level pretrial biases of convicted felons, nonfelon eligible jurors, and nonfelon law students; and (3) examines if and how a felony conviction shapes pretrial biases. The results of this study indicate that a majority of convicted felons harbor a prodefense/antiprosecution bias and, in this way, differ from eligible jurors generally. Yet, the results of this study also show that many convicted felons are neutral or harbor a proprosecution pretrial bias, and that the strength and direction of convicted felons' group-level pretrial biases are similar to those of other groups of nonfelon jurors. In sum, this study suggests that while felon jury exclusion does not offend applicable constitutional standards, it is an imprecise and perhaps unnecessary practice that may come at substantial costs.
Feeding as a Reward Mechanism

Rates of obesity are increasing worldwide and pose a significant threat to individual health and to health-care systems. The natural drive to eat, combined with a surplus of readily available food, is together partly responsible for this modern epidemic. Recent research has better defined the molecular and neural mechanisms by which the brain regulates food intake. While much of this research focused on the hypothalamus, it has long been recognized that reward pathways have an important role in food intake. Here, an overview of the role of dopamine reward systems in regulating food intake is presented, with emphasis on regulation by peripheral metabolic signals. Moreover, there are emerging results that better connect regulation of sleep and reward circuits. The orexin (hypocretin) neuropeptide is an example of this and work on its role in addiction is also highlighted in this chapter.
Ambient CO2 capture and storage in bioelectrochemically mediated wastewater treatment

This study reports that wastewater can be used to capture and store CO2 directly from ambient air and produce energy. The proof-of-concept system consisted of an ion exchange resin column that captures and concentrates ambient CO2 using a moisture-driven cycle. The concentrated CO2 was then transferred into a microbial electrochemical carbon capture (MECC) reactor for carbon sequestration and hydrogen production. Data from an average batch cycle showed that approximately 8mmol/L CO2 was captured in the MECC cathode when 0.14g/LCOD was removed in the anode. With 90% hydrogen conversion efficiency, the energy intensity and CO2 absorption from the process could be 11.3kJ/gCOD and 0.49gCO2/gCOD respectively. If the proposed process is applied, over 68milliontons of atmospheric CO2 can be captured yearly during wastewater treatment in the US, which equates to significant economic values if CO2 taxes were to be implemented more widely.
Structure of Colored Compound Formed in the Sullivan Reaction for Guanidine

Sullivan1 found that when guanidine is heated with 1.2 naphtho-quinone-4-sodium sulphonate and alkali a brown colored solution is formed which on acidification with concentrated HCl and concentrated HNO3 gives a striking red complex while all other compounds tested, amino acids, amines, etc., go to yellow. Even amino guanidine and methyl guanidine are yellow. The formation of the red compound in the presence of HCl and HNO3 was utilized as a test with a high degree of specificity for free guanidine.In order to determine the structure of the colored compound formed, one gram of guanidine hydrochloride was dissolved in 10 cc. of water and to this was added 4 gm. of the naphthoquinone in 25 cc. of water, with a little of the quinone still in suspension. The well stirred mixture was made definitely alkaline with 10 cc. of 5N NaOH and the solution was brought to boiling on a water bath, then quickly cooled to 10-15°C. and acidified with 15 cc. of concentrated HCl followed by 15 cc. of concentrated HNO3. The he...
Prehospital GCS as a Predictor of Outcome after Acute Ischemic Stroke (P06.238)

Design/Methods: Adult patients presenting to the emergency department who had an ultimate discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke were included in this cohort. The prehospital GCS was obtained from ambulance records in real time, performed by EMS crew. The outcomes of interest were stroke severity as measured by NIHSS, occurrence of endovascular intervention, functional outcome measured by modified Rankin score, and death within 90 days. Logistic regression analyses using JMP 8.0 for the mac performed to assess for correlation. Results: There were upto 4 pre-hospital GCS collected in the cohort (n=145), depending on transportation times. For this study, the first pre-hospital GCS, obtained at the time of first patient contact, was used. GCS Distribution followed a non parametric pattern; the median GCS was 15, range 3-15, IQR 12.5-15. The median and IQRs were: pulse 78 (70-90), sBP 151 (133-176), dBP 83 (72-97), MAP 106 (95-121). Table 1 depicts the number of patients with each GCS, and their median time of arrival to the ED after symptom onset. On univariate analysis, prehospital GCS was significantly correlated with each of the outcome measures of interest. Patients with lower GCS were significantly more likely to have more severe strokes (P Conclusions: The prehospital GCS appears to be a good predictor of stroke severity, and thus correlates for higher likelihood of endovascular intervention. Similarly, the prehospital GCS also correlates well with functional outcome at hospital discharge and death within 90 days. Disclosure: Dr. Weaver has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nappi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bodhit has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ju has nothing to disclose. Dr. Applewhite has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hedna has nothing to disclose. Dr. Waters has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stead has nothing to disclose.
Epstein-Barr Virus and Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome

A new case of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) secondary to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is reported in an adult, and five previously documented cases (3 children, 2 adults) are reviewed from the University of Miami, FL.
Bank Ties, Wealth Gain and Operating Gain of Japanese M&A Acquirers

This paper documents the wealth gain and operating gain of 133 Japanese M&A acquirers in the period 1990-2004, and their links with acquirer's bank ties. Stock returns and change in Tobin's Q over a 4-year period starting in Year 1 and ending in Year 2 relative to the merger announcement are examined for evidence of wealth gain, and change in cash flow return over the 4-year period is measured as evidence of operating gain. Acquirer's bank ties are captured in terms of bank directorship, group influence, bank borrowings, and bank ownership in acquirers. The paper finds a negative association between bank ties and wealth gain and operating gain. The findings are consistent with ineffective bank governance in forming acquisition decisions for Japanese corporations and in monitoring them during the post-acquisition period.
Learning game design and software engineering through a game prototyping experience: a case study

This report describes a case study of small-scale effort in employing game playtesting as a starting point for learning about mainstream issues and challenges found in modern software engineering projects and practices. The goal is to be descriptive and informing through a qualitative rendering, rather than prescriptive and quantitative analysis. This study draws attention to the case of where a student with no prior experience in software development or programming must take on the task of learning how to make a game, and along the way learn about many common challenges in modern SE practice through personal discovery and experience. The game itself also imposes challenges in that we have chosen a new, unfamiliar game genre and domain that emphasizes science learning as its purpose for play. Along the way, we discuss issues in requirements, design, prototyping, testing, user experience assessment, and evolutionary software extension, all prior to a formal education in coding or introductory level Computer Science or SE. Though our efforts may seem unusual or anomalous, we believe our methods are open for adoption and reuse by those interested in lowering the barriers to entry into game software development in specific, and into SE more generally.
Chance-constrained genetic algorithms

The applicability of classical mathematical optimization approaches is often limited by the necessity for strict mathematical formulations. As a result, powerful tools, such as chance-constrained optimization, have seen limited use. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are much more flexible than traditional mathematical programming, allowing many problems that were previously deemed intractable to be revisited. In this paper, we explore an approach called a chance-constrained GA (CCGA) that uses a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation in the GA fitness function. Previous applications of CCGA in the literature have required several orders of magnitude of increased computational demands over conventional GAs. To reduce these demands, we test and compare alternative MC sampling approaches and identify an approach that works efficiently with little loss in solution quality. This approach, which uses Latin Hypercube Sampling to generate a new set of only 10 to 50 realizations each generation, is demonstrated for solving an air quality management problem.
The answer is skin deep: A case of intravascular large B cell lymphoma presenting as progressive paresis and bilateral abducens nerve palsy

The authors report a case of a 79-year-old, previously healthy, gentleman who presented with progressive proximal muscle weakness, petechial rash, weight loss, fatigue and diplopia. Neurologic exam demonstrated bilateral esotropia in the primary position and proximal muscle weakness in both upper and lower extremities bilaterally. Subsequent serum laboratory studies, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neuroimaging failed to identify a unifying diagnosis. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) via skin biopsy and subsequently underwent a single cycle of chemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) before dying from respiratory failure. This case highlights the importance of entertaining a broad differential diagnosis for non-anatomical distribution of central nervous system (CNS) findings, especially when prior investigations into a structural cause have been unrevealing.
Recommendations of Common Data Elements to Advance the Science of Self‐Management of Chronic Conditions

Purpose Common data elements (CDEs) are increasingly being used by researchers to promote data sharing across studies. The purposes of this article are to (a) describe the theoretical, conceptual, and definition issues in the development of a set of CDEs for research addressing self-management of chronic conditions; (b) propose an initial set of CDEs and their measures to advance the science of self-management; and (c) recommend implications for future research and dissemination. Design and Methods Between July 2014 and December 2015 the directors of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)-funded P20 and P30 centers of excellence and NINR staff met in a series of telephone calls and a face-to-face NINR-sponsored meeting to select a set of recommended CDEs to be used in self-management research. A list of potential CDEs was developed from examination of common constructs in current self-management frameworks, as well as identification of variables frequently used in studies conducted in the centers of excellence. Findings The recommended CDEs include measures of three self-management processes: activation, self-regulation, and self-efficacy for managing chronic conditions, and one measure of a self-management outcome, global health. Conclusions The self-management of chronic conditions, which encompasses a considerable number of processes, behaviors, and outcomes across a broad range of chronic conditions, presents several challenges in the identification of a parsimonious set of CDEs. This initial list of recommended CDEs for use in self-management research is provisional in that it is expected that over time it will be refined. Comment and recommended revisions are sought from the research and practice communities. Clinical Relevance The use of CDEs can facilitate generalizability of research findings across diverse population and interventions.
Effect of Protein Kinase C β Specific Inhibition On Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cell Lines.

Abstract Abstract 4817 Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common leukemia in children and accounts for 20% of acute leukemia in adults. The intensive induction–consolidation–maintenance therapeutic regimens used currently have improved the 5-year disease free survival to around 80% in children and to 25%-40% in adults. The poorer response in adults is basically due to the inability to tolerate the intensive chemotherapy, and to the biology of adult disease which is associated with poor-risk prognostic factors. In the present era of target-specific therapy, PKCβ targeting arose as a new, promising, and well tolerated treatment strategy in a variety of neoplasms, especially in B-cell malignancies. It showed encouraging results in preclinical and clinical studies involving chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. PKCβ plays a major role in B-cell receptor signaling, but studies describing the role of PKCβ in B-cell ALL are lacking. In the present study, we measured the sensitivity of a variety of B-cell ALL cell lines to PKCβ specific inhibition. Three cell lines were studied: RS4;11 (characterized by the t(4;11) chromosomal abnormality), TOM-1 (characterized by the t(9;22) chromosomal abnormality), and REH (characterized by the t(12;21) chromosomal abnormality). Cells were tested for PKCβ1 and PKCβ2 expression by immunoblot. Cell viability was measured when PKCβ-specific inhibitor at concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 30 μM was added for 48 hours in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). MTS assay was performed to quantify cell viability. Results showed that all three cell lines express PKCβ1 and PKCβ2. Treatment with PKCβ-specific inhibitor resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation; Sensitivity was evident at 1 μM for RS4;11 cell line, and at 2.5 μM for TOM-1 and REH cell lines, with 10% cell growth inhibition; Growth inhibition increased to 90% for all cell lines at an inhibitor concentration of 30 μM. These results indicate that PKCβ plays an important role in the malignant process in B-cell ALL, and suggest that PKCβ targeting should be considered as a potential treatment, whether in combination with the current regimens used or as a single agent monotherapy. Ongoing studies in our lab will detail the mechanism of PKCβ and adverse cytogenetics like t(4;11) and t(9;22). Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Hydroxylated N-doped carbon nanotube-sulfur composites as cathodes for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Despite the higher energy density than the conventional Li-ion cells at a lower cost, commercialization of LiS batteries is hindered by the insulating nature of sulfur and the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides (Li2SX, 4 < X ≤ 8) into the electrolyte. We demonstrate here hydroxylated N-doped carbon nanotubes (H-NCNT) as sulfur containers in lithium-sulfur batteries to reduce polysulfide shuttling through an interaction between polysulfides and nitrogen and hydroxyl groups in the H-NCNT. This sulfur-carbon composite electrode with 2.2 mg cm−2 sulfur displays excellent performance with high rate capability (initial capacity of 1341 mAh g−1 at C/5 rate and 849 mAh g−1 at 5C rate), rate stability until 500 cycles (a decay of 0.06% per cycle). Furthermore, a stable reversible capacity of as high as ∼1081 mAh g−1 is realized with a higher sulfur loading of 5.1 mg cm−2.
Magnesium Sulfate Does Not Increase Ventricular Cerebrospinal Fluid Ionized Magnesium Concentration in Patients with Intracranial Hypertension

P197 Background: Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has attracted interest as a neuroprotective agent during cerebral ischemia. Passage of Mg ion into the CNS has been poorly examined. The present study assessed the passage of ionized (physiologically-active)Mg into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with intracranial hypertension after MgSO4 infusion. Design: After IRB approval, patients requiring CSF drainage received IV MgSO 4 (5g)in 125 cc NS over 30 min. Plasma and CSF samples were taken hourly for 4 hrs. Intraventricular catheter placement was confirmed by CT. Data analysis involved ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s post hoc test for a significant F statistic (p Results: Nine patients (5/4, male/female; mean age=52) with closed head injury (n=3), subarachnoid hemorrhage (n=2), intracerebral hemorrhage (n=2), hydrocephalus (n=1), and subdural hematoma (n=1) were studied. Mean (±SD)Mg values are presented (table). Baseline Mg was higher in CSF. Although plasma Mg increased, CSF Mg was unchanged. Conclusions: Although the CSF to plasma Mg gradient is maintained in patients with intracranial hypertension, intravenous infusion of 5g MgSO4 does not further increase CSF Mg. This suggests systemic infusion of MgSO4 may not be an effective route of administration for neuroprotection.
REAPR: Reconfigurable engine for automata processing

Finite automata have proven their usefulness in high-profile domains ranging from network security to machine learning. While prior work focused on their applicability for purely regular expression workloads such as antivirus and network security rulesets, recent research has shown that automata can optimize the performance for algorithms in other areas such as machine learning and even particle physics. Unfortunately, their emulation on traditional CPU architectures is fundamentally slow and further bottlenecked by memory. In this paper, we present REAPR: Reconfigurable Engine for Automata PRocessing, a flexible framework that synthesizes RTL for automata processing applications as well as I/O to handle data transfer to and from the kernel. We show that even with memory and control flow overheads, FPGAs still enable extremely high-throughput computation of automata workloads compared to other architectures.
Prevalence of Epilepsy and the Demographics, Clinical and Paraclinical Features in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (P3.360)

Objective: To study prevalence of epilepsy and to examine the demographics, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of MS patients with diagnosis of epilepsy in a well defined cohort of MS patients. Background: Prevalence of epilepsy is 0.5–1% in general population. Emerging studies suggest prevalence and incidence of epilepsy is higher in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), however the exact mechanism and underlying pathophysiology are still unknown. Design/Methods: Patients were identified in Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at Brigham and Women’s Hospital database (CLIMB) by applying Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) query, using key words; multiple sclerosis and Levetiracetam. We collected information on MS disease at seizure onset (age, MS type, duration, MS treatment and EDSS), seizure type and MRI and electroencephalography (EEG) features. Results: 47 MS patients with diagnosis of epilepsy were identified in our database (47/2288, 2%). 37/47 had epileptic seizure secondary to MS, 5/47 with primary brain tumor and 5/47 due to brain contusion/bleed. With regard to patients demographics; mean age and disease duration at seizure onset were 44.4y (range: 22–73) and 12y (range: 0–42) respectively. 64% (24/37) of patients had relapsing remitting MS at seizure onset and mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 3.2 (range: 0–7.5). New MS lesions serving as possible seizure focus was identified in less than half of the patients (18/37, 48.6%). Majority of cases had either generalized seizure (19/37) or partial seizure with secondary generalization (7/37). Sharp waves/PLEDs (12/25) and focal slowing (10/25) were the most common EEG findings at seizure onset. Conclusions: Prevalence of epileptic seizure is increased in our MS database similar to other reports. About half of our patients had first onset seizure when in progressive disease stage and without an identifiable new MS plaques which suggest possible network failure or subclinical grey matter lesions as mechanisms of epileptic activity. Disclosure: Dr. Baharnoori has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stankiewicz has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Genentech, and Bayer as a consultant. Dr. Chitnis received personal compensation for activities with Roche-Genentech and Sanofi-Genzyme. Dr. Chitnis received research support from EMD Serono, Biogen, Novartis and Verily.
Use of Remote Sensors in Air Quality Monitoring and Prediction

Air quality is a highly interdisciplinary problem dependent on both chemical and meteorological processes. The investigation of atmospheric pollution requires information about the types of emitted chemical compounds, their concentrations, their mutual interaction under different ambient conditions, and finally about their transport and diffusion into the atmosphere. This chapter introduces the effects of meteorology on air quality and the use of meteorological data from remote sensors in air quality monitoring and prediction. The change in air quality over the course of a diurnal cycle is described, explaining the role of atmospheric boundary layer and turbulence motion. Because of the need to measure the strength of the vertical mixing and the depth through which it occurs, as well as the vertical profile of wind speed and direction throughout the lowest several kilometers of the atmosphere, remote sensors, such as lidars and wind profiling radars, are demonstrated to be extremely valuable for assessing and predicting air quality. Few examples of air quality experiments are presented to demonstrate how remote sensors can lead to new insights on the local meteorology control on air pollutant concentrations and the benefit of meteorological data assimilation in air quality prediction.
Managing the Nuclear Threat: The United States and the Partial Test Ban Treaty

This study of the US government approach to a nuclear test-ban agreement in the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations argues for incorporating beliefs about relative advantage and assumptions about adversary objectives into explanations for state behavior. It concedes that material (capability) distributions contribute greatly to relevant beliefs that are held by key policymakers. Yet, it also recognizes that these beliefs form and stand apart from these capabilities, acquire prominence over others through the domestic politics of consensus building, and lead states to cooperate despite the resulting risks and the benefits of continuing to compete. In consequence, states might cooperate when their relative capabilities propel them toward conflict. This study validates these arguments by examining the unsuccessful test-ban negotiations in the Eisenhower administration and, then, the successful negotiation and ratification of the Partial Test Ban Treaty in the Kennedy administration. It concludes that success in the Kennedy administration owed to its assumptions about relative gains with a test ban and questions, in consequence, whether such a treaty could actually have been negotiated (and ratified) in the Eisenhower administration (if the Soviets were inclined, at the time, to accept the terms of the eventual treaty). It also finds that the failure to negotiate a comprehensive test-ban treaty in both administrations had much to do with US relative capabilities and a lack of consensus that US advantages outweighed disadvantages under the treaty.
MANY RETURNS IN MATHEMATICS

Due to professor Gane Policarp’s kindness, I have several issues of “Caietul de informare matematica” (“The notebook of mathematical information”), which has been put together with attention to detail and skill, and which attracted and persuaded me, from the very beginning, to collaborate with small materials.
Mechanisms of Muscle Insulin Resistance in Obese Individuals

We previously reported that insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of obese individuals was associated with decreases in insulin signal transduction and tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor. Herein is reviewed the recently published data supporting the hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylates the insulin receptor on serine/threonine residues to decrease tyrosine kinase activity and cause insulin resistance. Treatment of insulin receptors from obese subjects with alkaline phosphatase restored tyrosine kinase activity, suggesting that the reduced activity was a result of hyperphosphorylation of the receptor. Incubating human muscle fiber strips with PKC inhibitors restored insulin action in muscle of obese patients, while activating PKC with a phorbol ester caused insulin resistance in muscle from lean control patients. The beta isoform of PKC was elevated in muscle of obese, insulin-resistant patients. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that elevated PKC activity may caus...
Development of silicon nitride photonic microring resonator arrays as a biosensing platform for multiplex detection of biologically relevant protein targets (Conference Presentation)

There is considerable interest in the development of photonic-based biosensing technologies to enable low-cost point-of-care detection and diagnostics. Ring resonator arrays have emerged as a promising format to realize multiplexed assays for biologically relevant protein targets. Much of the published work on ring resonator-based biosensors utilize traditional telecommunications laser sources between the O and L bands, where silicon and silicon dioxide are transparent, but absorption by an aqueous cladding is relatively high. We hypothesized that ring resonator-based biosensors designed to operate near a “notch” in the absorption spectrum of water would yield superior performance characteristics. To that end, we have designed ring resonators in silicon nitride to operate with an 840 nm wavelength laser source. These designs were fabricated at the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) foundry. Here we report our progress designing, characterizing, and demonstrating these devices in the application of multiplex assays for biologically relevant protein targets.
Mechanochemical synthesis of two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks

Powder X-ray diffraction was used to monitor the solvent-free synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) via mechanochemical methods. For four isophthalic acid-based, alkoxide-functionalized organic ligands, optimal milling times were found to vary from 12 to 48 min. This work confirms that mechanochemical synthesis routes can be utilized to afford highly-crystalline, 2D MOFs.
Tissue engineering: Tubular tissues

A wide range of tissues within the body share a common tubular geometry. This chapter will focus on the approaches and challenges to engineer tubular tissues which contain a central lumen. These tissues (e.g., intestine, trachea) share the basic function of allowing flow, or convective transport of some material through the tissue. A variety of materials are transported through the central lumen of these tissues, including solids, liquids, and gases. A number of forces drive transport, including pressure gradients and smooth muscle contraction. The tissue may be relatively rigid (e.g., trachea), or capable of large strain (e.g., intestine). In all cases, these tissues are comprised of multiple cell types with a defined organization that is critical to the tissue’s function. This chapter will not review engineered tubular tissues which do not contain a central lumen (e.g., nerves, ligaments, bone), or attempts to use tubular devices to transplant cells that do not normally exist in a tubular geometry (e.g., hollow fiber encapsulation of hepatocytes).
6.10 Biomaterials Selection for Dental Pulp Regeneration

Biomaterials are likely critical, if not indispensible, for dental pulp regeneration. This chapter presents up-to-date and critical information of biomaterials selection for dental pulp regeneration and is written for students, fellows, scientists, clinicians and government officials seeking better understanding of the scientific basis and therapeutic potential of dental pulp regeneration. Key challenges of dental pulp regeneration are discussed as well as biomaterial selection and strategies. Progress has been made to regenerate dental pulp-like tissues with both cell delivery and cell homing approaches. In tissue engineering and regeneration, the scale of the tissues to be regenerated is among some of the most critical factors for success. Due to its small scale, dental pulp regeneration represents one of the lower hanging fruits in the regeneration of all tissues and organs.
Relaxation spectra using nonlinear Tikhonov regularization with a Bayesian criterion

Nonlinear Tikhonov regularization within a Bayesian framework is incorporated into a computer program called pyReSpect, which infers the continuous and discrete relaxation spectra from oscillatory shear experiments. It uses Bayesian inference to provide uncertainty estimates for the continuous spectrum h(τ) by propagating the uncertainty in the regularization parameter λ. The new algorithm is about 6–9 times faster than an older version of the program (ReSpect) in which the optimal λ was determined by the L-curve method. About half of the speedup arises from the Bayesian formulation by restricting the window of λ explored. The other half arises from the nonlinear formulation for which the spectrum is a weak function of λ, allowing us to use a coarse mesh for λ. The program is tested and validated on three examples: a synthetic spectrum, a H-polymer, and an elastomer with a nonzero terminal plateau.
Cell cultures as in vitro models for breath research

Abstract Over the last decade, breath research has begun to move beyond purely descriptive biomarker identification in human and animal studies by exploring their potential cellular origins. Although it is challenging to attribute breath biomarkers to specific sources, investigations on cell culture models can provide insight into this unsolved issue in this field of research. It is clear that mammalian cells themselves generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while under culture, and those VOCs change over time and with proliferation/differentiation/tumorigenesis. It is also clear that single-cell microorganisms themselves can be a source of VOCs, both in pure cultures and as they live within the body. It is also known that if the microorganisms are pathogenic, the emitted VOC signature in exhaled breath may be a combination of the compounds from the microbes themselves, and the immune host response to the infection. Thus, in vitro models of cell cultures offer insights that help to build a “bottom-up” framework of the potential origins of VOCs in exhaled breath.
Utilizing Theories and Evaluation in Digital Gaming Interventions to Increase Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Young Males: Qualitative Study.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV attributes to most cancers including anal, oral, cervical, and penile. Despite infection rates in the United States, recommendations and communication campaigns have traditionally focused on females. Because of this, males lack knowledge about reasons for vaccination, the benefits of being vaccinated, and their HPV risk, overall. Gaming as a health education strategy can be beneficial as mechanism that can promote behavior change for this key demographic because of the popularity of gaming. Objective: We sought to explore the relationship between gamification and HPV vaccine uptake. Methods: Interviews were conducted with experts (n=22) in the fields of cancer prevention, sexual and reproductive health, public health, game design, technology, and health communication on how a game should be developed to increase HPV vaccination rates among males. Results: Overwhelmingly, theoretical models such as the health belief model were identified with key constructs such as self-efficacy and risk perception. Experts also suggested using intervention mapping and logic models as planning tools for health promotion interventions utilizing a digital game as a medium. In game and out of game measures were discussed as assessments for quality and impact by our expert panel. Conclusions: This study shows that interventions should focus on whether greater utilization of serious games, and the incorporation of theory and standardized methods, can encourage young men to get vaccinated and to complete the series of HPV vaccinations.
Cost Effective Mobile Robots Navigation and Mapping System for Education

The study of mobile robot(s) based applications recently gained much popularity in academic settings. Different types of locomotion techniques exist for mobile robots, among them, wheeled robots are popular for educational purposes. Mobile robot applications may consist of single or multiple robot units. Some of the key issues to be addressed in mobile robot navigation are related to the condition of the underlying terrains, obstacles, localizations, mapping, and communication, among others. In many robotics related academic course works, students are often required to apply mobile robot localization and mapping capabilities in order to meet robot task objectives. This paper addresses an obstacle free scenario with a planar platform and presents cost-effective techniques for mobile robot localization and mapping. The paper includes a review of general fixed wheeled robot dynamics, addresses simple navigation techniques based on a given reference location for standard wheeled robots, and discusses strategies for building mapping configurations. In addition, constraints and troubleshoot approaches across different types of sensors used for mapping are presented.