cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Phylogenetically Distinct Histoplasma Strains Reveals Evolutionarily Divergent Virulence Strategies

Infection with the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum results from the inhalation of contaminated soil. Disease outcome is variable and depends on the immune status of the host, number of organisms inhaled, and the H. capsulatum strain. H. capsulatum is divided into seven distinct clades based on phylogenetic analyses, and strains from two separate clades have been identified in North America (denoted as NAm strains). We characterized an H. capsulatum isolate (WU24) from the NAm 1 lineage in relation to two other well-characterized Histoplasma isolates, the Panamanian strain G186A and the NAm 2 strain G217B. We determined that WU24 is a chemotype II strain and requires cell wall α-(1,3)-glucan for successful in vitro infection of macrophages. In a mouse model of histoplasmosis, WU24 exhibited a disease profile that was very similar to that of strain G186A at a high sublethal dose; however, at this dose G217B had markedly different kinetics. Surprisingly, infection with a lower dose mitigated many of the differences during the course of infection. The observed differences in fungal burden, disease kinetics, symptomology, and cytokine responses all indicate that there is a sophisticated relationship between host and fungus that drives the development and progression of histoplasmosis. Importance: Histoplasmosis has a wide range of clinical manifestations, presenting as mild respiratory distress, acute respiratory infection, or a life-threatening disseminated disease most often seen in immunocompromised patients. Additionally, the outcome appears to be dependent on the amount and strain of fungus inhaled. In this study, we characterized a recent clinical H. capsulatum isolate that was collected from an HIV(+) individual in North America. In contrast to other isolates from the same lineage, this strain, WU24, infected both macrophages and wild-type mice. We determined that in contrast to many other North American strains, WU24 infection of macrophages is dependent on the presence of cell wall α-(1,3)-glucan. Surprisingly, comparison of WU24 with two previously characterized isolates revealed that many conclusions regarding relative strain virulence and certain hallmarks of histoplasmosis are dependent on the inoculum size.
Vertical Bloch Line Storage Technology

Vertical Bloch Line storage is an emerging technology which has the potential for offering a number of desired data storage attributes in a single chip.
Granular decision fusion systems for effective protein methylation pPrediction

Protein methylation is one important type of post-translational modifications of proteins. Experimentally identifying methylation positions in protein sequences is time-consuming and costly. In order to provide insightful advice and reduce cost for further experiments, we propose a novel granular decision fusion framework based on granular computing, computational intelligence, and statistical learning. Algorithms are designed under this framework to predict methylation sites. Since methylation sites rarely appeared, the known data are imbalanced. Sampling and clustering is used to create different sub-sets and represent them with cluster centers. Support vector machine (SVM) classifiers are built for these sub datasets. Finally, granular decisions are fused to determine possible methylation sites. Simulation results show that the new granular decision fusion system has high prediction accuracy.
Reduced Viscosity of the Free Surface in Entangled Polymer Melt Films

By embedding ‘‘dilute’’ gold nanoparticles in single polystyrene thin films as ‘‘markers’’, we probe the local viscosity of the free surface at temperatures far above the glass transition temperature (Tg). The technique used was x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy with resonance-enhanced x-ray scattering. The results clearly showed the surface viscosity is about 30% lower than the rest of the film. We found that this reduction is strongly associated with chain entanglements at the free surface rather than the reduction in Tg.
Particular solutions for the radiative transfer equation

Particular solutions for both the (formally exact) method of elementary solutions and the Pu method are derived for the case of monochromatic radiative transfer in a homogeneous plane-parallel medium which contains a source that varies with position and direction.
Control of a linear permanent magnet brushless DC motor via exact linearization methods

The author develops a position controller for permanent magnet brushless DC motors (PMBDCMs) which systematically determines control laws for operation in both the transient and steady-state with consideration of reluctance force. The controller design is based on a differential geometric approach which assists the motor in overcoming its inherent deficiencies, such as effects of torque ripples and reluctance torque. This is achieved by transforming the nonlinear state equations into an exact linear model. Computer simulations of the resulting closed-loop system were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws. Simulation results of the control variables were injected into the actual nonlinear system in an experimental open-loop setup to validate the design procedure. >
The human mirror neuron system: A link between action observation and social skills

The discovery of the mirror neuron system (MNS) has led researchers to speculate that this system evolved from an embodied visual recognition apparatus in monkey to a system critical for social skills in humans. It is accepted that the MNS is specialized for processing animate stimuli, although the degree to which social interaction modulates the firing of mirror neurons has not been investigated. In the current study, EEG mu wave suppression was used as an index of MNS activity. Data were collected while subjects viewed four videos: (1) Visual White Noise: baseline, (2) Non-interacting: three individuals tossed a ball up in the air to themselves, (3) Social Action, Spectator: three individuals tossed a ball to each other and (4) Social Action, Interactive: similar to video 3 except occasionally the ball would be thrown off the screen toward the viewer. The mu wave was modulated by the degree of social interaction, with the Non-interacting condition showing the least suppression, followed by the Social Action, Spectator condition and the Social Action, Interactive condition showing the most suppression. These data suggest that the human MNS is specialized not only for processing animate stimuli, but specifically stimuli with social relevance.
HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ATTRIBUTES IN DALLAS NEIGHBORHOODS, 1981–1985*

A geographic perspective is utilized to test the hypothesis that the legal labels homicide and assault represent essentially similar behaviors. The data base describes some 1200 homicide and 32 000 serious assault victimizations in Dallas, TX, for 1981–85. Detailed comparisons across urban neighborhoods (differentiated by socioeconomic status) examine the demographic, temporal, locational, and weapons characteristics of both types of serious violence. The analysis indicates strong congruence between the offenses with respect to most attributes, implying that violence data should be classified differently for behavioral analyses.
Voices of success: Descriptive portraits of two successful African American male middle school mathematics students

This paper is about the stories of two African American male middle school students who have experienced success in mathematics. Working within a phenomenological methodological framework, the author investigated the limitations these students encounter and the compensating factors these students experience. Critical race theory of education is the theoretical framework for this study, because it recognizes the role racism has played in the shaping of schools and schooling practices. The stories are told in the context of descriptive portraits. The descriptive portraits revealed the following five broad themes: (a) early experiences, (b) aggregated individual discrimination, (c) support systems, (d) drawing upon school/community resources, and (e) self-empowerment.
A 28nm high-k metal-gate SRAM with Asynchronous Cross-Couple Read Assist (AC 2 RA) circuitry achieving 3x reduction on speed variation for single ended arrays

Asynchronous Cross-Couple Read Assist (AC2RA) circuitry scheme was invented for single-ended sensing to minimize speed variation in 28nm HKMG process. It improves SRAM array speed variation by 63.3% which is adequate to cover 6σ variation. Access time is also boosted by faster sensing.
Real-time speech-driven face animation with expressions using neural networks

A real-time speech-driven synthetic talking face provides an effective multimodal communication interface in distributed collaboration environments. Nonverbal gestures such as facial expressions are important to human communication and should be considered by speech-driven face animation systems. In this paper, we present a framework that systematically addresses facial deformation modeling, automatic facial motion analysis, and real-time speech-driven face animation with expression using neural networks. Based on this framework, we learn a quantitative visual representation of the facial deformations, called the motion units (MUs). A facial deformation can be approximated by a linear combination of the MUs weighted by MU parameters (MUPs). We develop an MU-based facial motion tracking algorithm which is used to collect an audio-visual training database. Then, we construct a real-time audio-to-MUP mapping by training a set of neural networks using the collected audio-visual training database. The quantitative evaluation of the mapping shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Using the proposed method, we develop the functionality of real-time speech-driven face animation with expressions for the iFACE system. Experimental results show that the synthetic expressive talking face of the iFACE system is comparable with a real face in terms of the effectiveness of their influences on bimodal human emotion perception.
Fluid‐structure interaction effects for offshore structures

Etude de la reponse de modeles simples d'ouvrages en mer a partir des variantes standard et etendue de l'equation de Morison pour les forces hydrodynamiques; aussi calcul par linearisation equivalente et technique de decouplage de Penzien. Comparaison des methodes et presentation graphique d'une solution adimensionnelle pour les deplacements absolus maximaux. Amelioration de la technique de decouplage, et solution approximee utile en phase preliminaire pour les coefficients modaux d'amortissement des systemes a plusieurs degres de liberte
Laser Diagnostics for Investigation of Particle Formation Processes

Formation, growth and deposition of particles represent a critical part of several important industrial processes, such as production of carbon black, optical fibers, micro-electronic components, and metal and ceramic powders. Laser diagnostic techniques are utilized to develop a fundamental understanding of these processes. Formation of carbonaceous soot particles has been studied in laminar, coannular, hydrocarbon diffusion flames. Laser extinction/scattering, laser scattering dissymmetry, and velocimetry measurements have been used to determine particle volume fraction, size, number density and velocity. From this set of data, particle formation and growth rates have been determined for different fuels and at different temperatures. Similar techniques have been used to study silica particle formation in an opposed jet diffusion flame, where silicon is introduced in the form of silane (SiH4) into the fuel stream (H2/Ar); the oxidant is an O2/Ar mixture. The advantage of this geometry is that, along the stagnation point streamline, the flow may be considered one-dimensional. This should allow the extension of the results of this study to practical CVD or MCVD processes for optical fibers. Laser diagnostic techniques are also being used to investigate metal powder atomization processes, and the effect of operating conditions on particle size distribution.
Air-coupled ultrasonic NDE of automotive tires

Evaluating the elastic properties of rubber is important for improving tire performance. Here, new ultrasonic techniques and results are reported for both soft rubber and real tire materials. First, on soft rubber, immersion C-Scan images revealed high attenuation and non-uniform grain size distribution. Through the application of new broadband, high power, high resolution transducers, air-coupled ultrasound succeeded in traveling through the soft rubber showing the efficiency of the new air coupled technique for imaging and evaluation of rubber materials. Secondly, sections of three tires were tested: (1) new, (2) 3 year-20,000 miles, (3) a 5 year-40,000 miles. Each tire section consists of three layers made of different rubber materials, separated by wire mesh. Because of the complexity of the tire’s structure and its high attenuation, evaluation of all three layers, but especially the middle layer, is difficult. High power tone-bursts at 1 MHz were applied to a high impedance immersion transducer. Layer reflections could be separated such that the middle layer and the wire belts at the interfaces could be interrogated. This report will detail our new techniques and provide examples for the results obtained.
Ultrasound Findings of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in a Hunter Syndrome Patient

Introduction: Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis II) is a rare genetic disorder. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common finding in these patients. Methods: We report the ultrasound findings in a 40-year-old Hunter syndrome patient with severe CTS. Results: Marked abnormalities of the median nerve were present proximal to the carpal tunnel with an unusual area of increased echogenicity between enlarged fascicles separating the area of maximal enlargement and the normal median nerve proximally. Conclusions: This case demonstrated unique ultrasound findings in a Hunter syndrome with CTS. Ultrasound also localized the median nerve lesion in the setting of end-stage median neuropathy and nonlocalizing electrophysiology. Muscle Nerve 53: 147–150, 2016
4: The Knowledge Survey: A Tool for All Reasons

Knowledge surveys provide a means to assess changes in specific content learning and intellectual development. More importantly, they promote student learning by improving course organization and planning. For instructors, the tool establishes a high degree of instructional alignment, and, if properly used, can insure employment of all seven “best practices” during the enactment of the course. Beyond increasing success of individual courses, knowledge surveys inform curriculum development to better achieve, improve and document program success.
Late Neoproterozoic arc-related magmatism in the Horse Cove Complex, eastern Avalon Zone, Newfoundland

The Horse Cove Complex (HCC) is a recently recognized late Ediacaran swarm of mafic-to-felsic dykes that occurs in the Newfoundland Avalon Zone. It is focused along the extrapolated trace of the To...
Why the high-frequency inverse scattering by topological sensitivity may work

This study deciphers the topological sensitivity (TS) as a tool for the reconstruction and characterization of impenetrable anomalies in the high-frequency regime. It is assumed that the anomaly is simply connected and convex, and that the measurements of the scattered field are of the far-field type. In this setting, the formula for TS-which quantifies the perturbation of a cost functional due to a point-like impenetrable scatterer-is expressed as a pair of nested surface integrals: one taken over the boundary of a hidden obstacle, and the other over the measurement surface. Using multipole expansion, the latter integral is reduced to a set of antilinear forms featuring Green's function and its gradient. The remaining expression is distilled by evaluating the scattered field on the surface of an obstacle via Kirchhoff approximation, and pursuing an asymptotic expansion of the resulting Fourier integral. In this way, the TS is found to survive upon three asymptotic lynchpins, namely (i) the near-boundary approximation for sampling points close to the 'exposed' surface of an obstacle; (ii) uniform expansions synthesizing the diffraction catastrophes for sampling points near caustic surfaces, lines and points; and (iii) stationary phase approximation. Within the framework of catastrophe theory, it is shown that, in the case of the full source aperture, the TS is asymptotically dominated by the (explicit) near-boundary term-which explains the previously reported reconstruction capabilities of this class of indicator functionals. The analysis further shows that, when the (Dirichlet or Neumann) character of an anomaly is unknown beforehand, the latter can be effectively exposed by assuming point-like Dirichlet perturbation and considering the sign of the leading term inside the reconstruction.
Numerical Simulation of Ultra-Short Laser Pulses

This chapter contains the numerical models used to describe ultra-short pulse propagation while taking a brief look on their derivation from the Maxwell equations. The main models described here are the unidirectional pulse propagation equation (UPPE) and the modified Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation (MKP), while a brief look is taken at the main envelope counterpart, the nonlinear envelope equation (NEE) model. The chapter concludes with the presentation of various applications of the UPPE and the MKP in the study of carrier wave shocks in various realistically model media, and a special case of the propagation properties of the two-dimensional XY Airy beam and its radial symmetric version, the ring-Airy beam, in the linear and nonlinear regimes.
“Sorry You Had to Go Through That”: A Taxonomy of Individual Responses to Stories of Race-Based Social Suffering

Social suffering is distress engendered by cultural, social, and political forces. Responses to stories of such suffering serve as rejoinders in an identity negotiation process and can foster either healing or compounded distress—for both individuals and communities alike. Because there is no published study (to our knowledge) that focuses on the language individuals use in responding to stories of social suffering, the present study aimed to develop a theoretically grounded and empirically derived taxonomy of these responses. In order to develop and validate such a taxonomy, we collected a total of 172 audio-recorded responses to two true stories of race-based social suffering from two samples of undergraduate students at a large university in the greater Los Angeles area. The resulting coding scheme is presented here along with evidence of its reliability and validity.
Treatment independent pregnancy with operative laparoscopy for endometriosis in an in vitro fertilization program

Thirty-nine patients with Stage I to IV endometriosis and at least 5 years of primary infertility were enrolled in the Johns Hopkins In Vitro Fertilization Program. At the time of laparoscopic oocyte retrieval, operative endoscopy with lysis of adhesions, fulguration or resection of pelvic endometriosis, or enucleation of ovarian endometriomas was performed. Although the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycle did not result in pregnancy, 12 patients (28%) conceived within 10 months of the operative laparoscopic procedure. Nine of the pregnancies occurred in patients with Stage I to II endometriosis.
Nonspectific cytotoxic cells in fish (Ictaluruspunctatus) VI. Flow cytometric analysis

Nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were enriched using flow cytometry (EPICS V, 753). Parameters of forward angle and 90 degrees light scatter were utilized to sort cytolytically functional populations of NCC. Fullbright (GR. II) 9.75 microns diameter fluorescent polystyrene microspheres were used for optical alignment. Cells obtained from the anterior kidney, spleen and peripheral blood were analyzed by one and/or two parameters of forward angle light scatter (FALS) and log integral 90 degrees light scatter (L90 degrees LS). Populations identified from FALS or L90 degrees LS histograms were sorted and cells were tested for cytotoxicity against NC-37 target cells. Anterior kidney contained at least four different sized populations of NCC. Spleen cells were sorted by FALS and four different populations of NCC detected. Peripheral blood contained little NCC activity. Enrichment of NCC activity from anterior kidney tissue was compared using Percoll density gradient separation and flow cytometry. Three to four fold higher cytotoxic activity was obtained from sorted cells compared to the population obtained from 45.5% Percoll. Additional experiments to determine the enrichment of sorted NCC were conducted by analyzing the number of enriched NCC required to kill an individual NC-37 target cell. Approximately 1.5-2.0 NCC could lyse a chromium-51 labelled target cell. These studies demonstrated that NCC could be enriched by size and granularity discrimination using flow cytometry. Effector:target cell ratios of 10:1 and lower produced significant lysis when sorted cells were analyzed.
Having Fun on Facebook?: Mothers' Enjoyment as a Moderator of Mental Health and Facebook Use.

ABSTRACTThis study reports results of a study that examined the extent to which contextual factors (i.e., income level and number of children) might predict a mother’s mental health quality, which, in turn, may predict level of engagement with Facebook. Results supported this model, finding that mothers with more children and lower income possess lower mental health quality, and lower mental health quality predicted more frequent Facebook use. However, this pattern was qualified by a mother’s level of enjoyment of Facebook, such that mental health quality did not significantly predict Facebook intensity when enjoyment of Facebook was low. This research extends practitioners’ knowledge of mothers’ mental health quality by identifying a behavior that may indicate lower mental health quality and enhance abilities to recognize mothers who may need support or treatment. Future directions for this research are included.
Nesting success of five ciconiiform species in relation to water conditions in the Florida Everglades

Etude de la reproduction chez cinq especes, Casmerodius albus, Egretta tricolor, E. caerulea, E. Ahula et Endocimus albus dans les Everglades. Le succes de nidation et le nombre de couples sont analyses en relation avec les variations des precipitations et des conditions de la surface de l'eau
Some Rules of My Thumb

Talk helps, but try not to talk instead of asking students to write. Write at every appropriate moment in any available way. Do the work in class. That way you can answer the questions they need answered as they arise, rather than sending them home to do it the same way they always have.
Public health impacts of the severe haze in Equatorial Asia in September–October 2015: demonstration of a new framework for informing fire management strategies to reduce downwind smoke exposure

In September–October 2015, El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions set the stage for massive fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), leading to persistently hazardous levels of smoke pollution across much of Equatorial Asia. Here we quantify the emission sources and health impacts of this haze episode and compare the sources and impacts to an event of similar magnitude occurring under similar meteorological conditions in September–October 2006. Using the adjoint of the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model, we first calculate the influence of potential fire emissions across the domain on smoke concentrations in three receptor areas downwind—Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore—during the 2006 event. This step maps the sensitivity of each receptor to fire emissions in each grid cell upwind. We then combine these sensitivities with 2006 and 2015 fire emission inventories from the Global Fire Assimilation System (GFAS) to estimate the resulting population-weighted smoke exposure. This method, which assumes similar smoke transport pathways in 2006 and 2015, allows near real-time assessment of smoke pollution exposure, and therefore the consequent morbidity and premature mortality, due to severe haze. Our approach also provides rapid assessment of the relative contribution of fire emissions generated in a specific province to smoke-related health impacts in the receptor areas. We estimate that haze in 2015 resulted in 100 300 excess deaths across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, more than double those of the 2006 event, with much of the increase due to fires in Indonesia's South Sumatra Province. The model framework we introduce in this study can rapidly identify those areas where land use management to reduce and/or avoid fires would yield the greatest benefit to human health, both nationally and regionally.
Anaerobic antibiotic usage for pneumonia in the medical intensive care unit.

Background and objective Pneumonia is a common admitting diagnosis in the intensive care unit (ICU). When aspiration is suspected, antibiotics to cover anaerobes are frequently used, but in the absence of clear risk factors, current guidelines have questioned their role. It is unknown how frequently these guidelines are followed. Methods We conducted a single-centre observational study on practice patterns of anaerobic antibiotic use in consecutive patients admitted to the ICU with aspiration pneumonia (Asp), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP). Results A total of 192 patients were studied (Asp: 20, HCAP: 107, CAP: 65). Overall, 59 patients received anaerobic antibiotics (Asp: 90%, HCAP: 28%, CAP 17%) but a significant proportion of these patients did not meet criteria to receive them. Inappropriate anaerobic antibiotic use was 12/20 for Asp, 27/107 for HCAP and 9/65 for CAP. Mortality probability model III at zero hours (MPM0) score and a diagnosis of Asp were predictors of receiving inappropriate anaerobic antibiotics. Receiving inappropriate anaerobic antibiotics was associated with a longer ICU length of stay (LOS; 7 days (interquartile range (IQR): 7–21) vs 4 days (IQR:2–9), P = 0.017). Conclusion For patients in the ICU admitted with pneumonia, there is a high occurrence of inappropriately prescribed anaerobic antibiotics, the use of which was associated with a longer ICU LOS.
The Logic and Location of Strong Reciprocity: Anthropological and Philosophical Considerations

In this chapter, we provide a philosophical and anthropological analysis of strong reciprocity. We begin our analysis by outlining the logical argument for strong reciprocity in detail, drawing attention to its most questionable premises. We then address the most critical issue facing strong reciprocity: the lack of ethnographic evidence for strongly reciprocal behavior in the real world, outside of economic games. We conclude that (1) despite some weak premises, the foundational argument for strong reciprocity is logically sound, and (2) while it is very unlikely that strong reciprocity is an artifact entirely limited to experimental settings, it is difficult to detect the behavior in nonexperimental contexts. Lastly, we suggest that while the impulses of strong reciprocity can motivate justice and fairness, one of the reasons that strong reciprocity is difficult to detect in real-world contexts is that cultural forces influence and often limit the manifestation of strong reciprocity impulses.
Features of Host Cells: Cellular and Molecular Biology Review

As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses are completely dependent upon a host cell for their replication. They use energy generated by the host cell, and they exploit the host's machinery to manufacture viral proteins. Many of the cell's organelles, as well as the plasma membrane, are involved in viral replication processes. The organelles involved in protein synthesis, processing, and transport—namely the ribosome, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex—are utilized in the manufacture of viral proteins, as well, and viruses use ATP generated by the host cell's mitochondria. The plasma membrane, made of a phospholipid bilayer, is the cell's primary zone of contact with the extracellular world. As such, it is the first obstacle that a virus must overcome for entry into a cell. The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology states that DNA is replicated to create more DNA, DNA is transcribed into mRNA, and mRNA is translated by ribosomes to create proteins. All viruses are dependent upon the host's translation machinery, and many viruses will use other portions of the cell's replication and transcription mechanisms. DNA polymerase is the major enzyme involved in DNA replication, while RNA polymerase creates messenger RNA. Host ribosomes translate the messenger RNA into proteins, composed of amino acids. Viruses also have many unique strategies to ensure the translation of their proteins over host proteins.
Manufacturing Supply Chain and Product Lifecycle Security in the Era of Industry 4.0

The next generation of smart manufacturing systems will incorporate various recent enabling technologies. These technologies will aid in ushering the era of the fourth industrial revolution. They will make the supply chain and the product lifecycle of the manufacturing system efficient, decentralized, and well-connected. However, these technologies have various security issues and, when integrated in the supply chain and the product lifecycle of manufacturing systems, can pose various challenges for maintaining the security requirements such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability. In this paper, we will present the various trends and advances in the security of the supply chain and product lifecycle of the manufacturing system while highlighting the roles played by the major enabling components of Industry 4.0.
Adding a speed-accuracy trade-off to discrete-state models: A comment on Heck and Erdfelder (2016).

Heck and Erdfelder (2016) developed a model that extends discrete-state multinomial processing tree models to response time (RT) data. Their model is an important advance, but it does not have a mechanism to produce the speed–accuracy trade-off, the bedrock empirical observation that rushed decisions are less accurate. I present a similar model, the “discrete-race” model, with a simple mechanism for the speed–accuracy trade-off. In the model, information that supports detection of the stimulus type is available for some proportion of items and unavailable for others. Both the amount of time needed for detection to succeed and the amount of time that the decision maker waits before guessing are variable from trial to trial. Responses are based on detection when it is available and has a finishing time before the guess time for that trial. In other words, the decision maker sometimes loses opportunities to respond correctly on the basis of detection by first making a guess. These lost opportunities are more common when the guess-time distribution tends to have low wait times, which decreases accuracy. I report simulations showing that the model can accurately recover parameter values and is strongly constrained by the speed–accuracy trade-offs across conditions with different levels of response caution.
OpenICE-lite: Towards a Connectivity Platform for the Internet of Medical Things

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is poised to revolutionize medicine. However, medical device communication, coordination, and interoperability present challenges for IoMT applications due to safety, security, and privacy concerns. These challenges can be addressed by developing an open platform for IoMT that can provide guarantees on safety, security and privacy. As a first step, we introduce OpenICE-lite, a middleware for medical device interoperability that also provides security guarantees and allows other IoMT applications to view/analyze the data in real time. We describe two applications that currently utilize OpenICE-lite, namely (i) a critical pulmonary shunt predictor for infants during surgery; (ii) a remote pulmonary monitoring systems (RePulmo). Implementations of both systems are utilized by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as quality improvements to patient care.
Type of repeat visitors most sensitive to micro-trader harassment

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to ascertain the types of repeat visitors most sensitive to micro-trader harassment at tourist destinations. To accomplish this, data for 143 respondents from 17 ...
Genome-wide association study of lung function and clinical implication in heavy smokers

The aim of this study is to identify genetic loci associated with post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC and FEV1, and develop a multi-gene predictive model for lung function in COPD. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC and FEV1 was performed in 1645 non-Hispanic White European descent smokers. A functional rare variant in SERPINA1 (rs28929474: Glu342Lys) was significantly associated with post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC (p = 1.2 × 10− 8) and FEV1 (p = 2.1 × 10− 9). In addition, this variant was associated with COPD (OR = 2.3; p = 7.8 × 10− 4) and severity (OR = 4.1; p = 0.0036). Heterozygous subjects (CT genotype) had significantly lower lung function and higher percentage of COPD and more severe COPD than subjects with the CC genotype. 8.6% of the variance of post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC can be explained by SNPs in 10 genes with age, sex, and pack-years of cigarette smoking (P < 2.2 × 10− 16). This study is the first to show genome-wide significant association of rs28929474 in SERPINA1 with lung function. Of clinical importance, heterozygotes of rs28929474 (4.7% of subjects) have significantly reduced pulmonary function, demonstrating a major impact in smokers. The multi-gene model is significantly associated with CT-based emphysema and clinical outcome measures of severity. Combining genetic information with demographic and environmental factors will further increase the predictive power for assessing reduced lung function and COPD severity.
Slippery When Wet: Airway Surface Liquid Homeostasis and Mucus Hydration.

Abstract The ability to regulate cell volume is crucial for normal physiology; equally the regulation of extracellular fluid homeostasis is of great importance. Alteration of normal extracellular fluid homeostasis contributes to the development of several diseases including cystic fibrosis. With regard to the airway surface liquid (ASL), which lies apically on top of airway epithelia, ion content, pH, mucin and protein abundance must be tightly regulated. Furthermore, airway epithelia must be able to switch from an absorptive to a secretory state as required. A heterogeneous population of airway epithelial cells regulate ASL solute and solvent composition, and directly secrete large mucin molecules, antimicrobials, proteases and soluble mediators into the airway lumen. This review focuses on how epithelial ion transport influences ASL hydration and ASL pH, with a specific focus on the roles of anion and cation channels and exchangers. The role of ions and pH in mucin expansion is also addressed. With regard to fluid volume regulation, we discuss the roles of nucleotides, adenosine and the short palate lung and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) as soluble ASL mediators. Together, these mechanisms directly influence ciliary beating and in turn mucociliary clearance to maintain sterility and to detoxify the airways. Whilst all of these components are regulated in normal airways, defective ion transport and/or mucin secretion proves detrimental to lung homeostasis as such we address how defective ion and fluid transport, and a loss of homeostatic mechanisms, contributes to the development of pathophysiologies associated with cystic fibrosis.
Treatment of multi-drug-resistant hepatoblastoma cells using unique sequence of high-intensity focused ultrasound and low-dose generic chemotherapeutic.

e22008Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive, radiation-free, and precisely targeted form of cancer therapy. In this study, I evaluate a new strategy in which the uni...
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ropinirole in patients with prolactinomas.

Aims Treatment of prolactinomas with ergoline dopamine agonists can be complicated by intolerance and resistance. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the nonergot dopamine agonist ropinirole, to assess its therapeutic potential as a novel therapy for prolactinomas. Methods Five female subjects with prolactinomas participated in this dose-response study. Subjects received up to three doses of ropinirole (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg), each on separate occasions. Frequent blood samples for prolactin and ropinirole were collected for 24 h following drug administration. Data were analysed using noncompartmental and compartmental pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) techniques. Results Seven 24-h curves revealed increased systemic drug exposure with increasing ropinirole doses. Ropinirole concentrations peaked at 4.4 ± 2.7 h and exhibited a half-life of 5.8 ± 1.7 h. A dose-dependent prolactin nadir occurred 4.4 ± 1.2 h after drug intake and prolactin concentrations transiently normalized in two of five subjects. PKPD modelling revealed that single-dose PK of ropinirole is dose-independent and can be described with a one-compartment model with linear absorption and elimination. An indirect response model successfully captures the inhibitory effect of ropinirole on prolactin secretion and incorporates time-dependent receptor desensitization for three of five subjects whose prolactin concentrations nadired before ropinirole reached Cmax . Conclusions This data-rich study has informed our understanding of the clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ropinirole, which are successfully captured by the proposed semi-mechanistic PKPD model. This model can be used to further investigate the PKPD of ropinirole and may facilitate the identification of optimal dose regimens for the treatment of prolactinomas and the establishment of a new therapeutic option for patients impacted by this rare disease.
When Should a Robot Apologize? Understanding How Timing Affects Human-Robot Trust Repair

If robots are to occupy a space in the human social sphere, then the importance of trust naturally extends to human-robot interactions. Past research has examined human-robot interaction from a number of perspectives, ranging from overtrust in human robot interactions to trust repair. Studies by [15] have suggested a relationship between the success of a trust repair method and the time at which it is employed. Additionally, studies have shown a potentially dangerous tendency in humans to trust robotic systems beyond their operational capacity. It therefore becomes essential to explore the factors that affect trust in greater depth. The study presented in this paper is aimed at building upon previous work to gain insight into the reasons behind the success of trust repair methods and their relation to timing. Our results show that the delayed trust repair is more effective than the early case, which is consistent with the previous results. In the absence of an emergency, the participant’s decision were similar to those of a random selection. Additionally, there seem to be a strong influence of attention on the participants’ decision to follow the robot.
Self‐regulation foci and mood affect healthy and unhealthy eating behaviours differently in successful weight‐loss treatment participants

An increased understanding of how self-regulation and mood affects both healthy and unhealthy eating behaviours is required to improve weight-loss intervention architectures. Women with obesity (N = 54, MBMI = 34.80 kg/m2 ), who obtained ≥5% weight loss over 12 months (M = -9.01 kg) within a community-based behavioural weight-loss treatment, were assessed. Improvements in exercise- and eating-focused self-regulation (over 3 and 6 months), and the consumption of fruits/vegetables and sweets (over 6 and 12 months), were each significant. Multiple regression analyses indicated that changes in (a) aggregated (exercise-focused + eating-focused) self-regulation, (b) eating-focused self-regulation alone and (c) eating self-regulation that carried over from exercise-focused self-regulation, each significantly predicted fruit/vegetable consumption changes (R2 = .15-.28). Entry of overall mood did not significantly increase those models' predictive strength. Conversely, mood was the most salient predictor of change in sweets intake. There were significant inverse relationships between changes in fruits/vegetables and sweets consumption. Implications for self-regulation theory and treatment improvements were suggested.
A vaccine to prevent transmission of human malaria: A long way to travel on a dusty and often bumpy road

The goal for an effective malaria transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) is to induce immunity against the stages of the parasite that infect mosquitoes so that malaria transmission can be reduced or halted. Malaria transmission is generally spatially confined to an infectious source, thus a TBV used in a community can effectively suppress malaria transmission to others. Antibodies induced by TBVs target antigens on the surface of sexual and mosquito midgut stages of the malaria parasite and antibodies interfere with the development of the parasites in the midgut of the mosquito. Proteins synthesized in the gametocytes (pre-fertilization antigens, in Plasmodium falciparum: Pfs230 and Pfs48/45) and in the zygotes-ookinetes (post-fertilization antigens, in P. falciparum: Pfs25 and Pfs28) represent some of the key target antigens for the development of TBVs. All the four proteins contain multiple cysteine-rich sequences and the epitopes recognized by transmission-blocking antibodies are reduction-sensitive conformational in nature. The inability to express properly folded proteins has frustrated a protein-based TBV development approach and DNA-based vaccine constructs were envisaged to overcome the conformational problem in recombinant proteins. Indeed studies in mice and monkeys have firmly established the value of DNA-based TBV approach. Although immunogenic in larger animals, delivery of DNA-based TBVs needs to be further optimized to elicit a strong and long lasting functional immune response. This DNA vaccine platform can also facilitate evaluation of a cocktail of pre-and post-fertilization antigens in pre-clinical setting prior to the development of an ideal and effective TBV for clinical trials in human volunteers.
Observations and Future Work

While the research projects presented here combine to demonstrate Algorithmic and Register-Transfer Level Synthesis, they are far from the final solution. Rather they each have served to demonstrate basic concepts and approaches to the steps in synthesis, and together have shown two methods of integrating the steps into a synthesis system. In this Chapter, we make observations based on the results of the synthesis programs presented in the previous chapters and suggest future work in the area.
If They Build It, Will They Understand It? Exploring the Relationship between Student Code and Performance

The computer science community has struggled to assess student learning via Scratch programming at the primary school level (ages 7-12). Prior work has relied most heavily on artifact (student code/projects) analysis, with some attempts at one-on-one interviews and written assessments. In this paper, we explore the relationship between artifact analysis and written assessments. Through this study of a large-scale introductory computing implementation, we found that for students who had code in their projects, student performance on specific questions on the written assessments is only very weakly correlated to specific attributes of final projects typically used in artifact analysis as well as attributes we use to define candidate code (r
Modal parameter estimation using free response measured by a continuously scanning laser Doppler vibrometer system with application to structural damage identification

Abstract Spatially dense vibration measurement can be obtained by use of a continuously scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (CSLDV) system that sweeps its laser spot along a scan path. For a linear, time-invariant, viscously damped structure undergoing free vibration, a type of vibration shapes called free response shapes was defined and obtained by the authors using a CSLDV system with the demodulation method. To date, application of free response shapes is limited to structural damage identification, and they cannot be directly used for model validation while mode shapes can be. This paper extends the concept of free response shapes by proposing a new modal parameter estimation (MPE) method using a CSLDV system to estimate modal parameters of the structure undergoing free vibration, including natural frequencies, modal damping ratios, and mode shapes; the MPE method is applicable to linear structures without repeated and closely spaced modes. Advantages of the proposed method are: (1) modal damping ratios and mode shapes can be accurately estimated from obtained free response shapes in the least-square sense, (2) the scanning frequency of the CSLDV system can be relatively low, and (3) estimated mode shapes can be used for structural damage identification as if they were measured by stepped scanning of a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. A baseline-free method is applied to identify structural damage using mode shapes estimated by the proposed MPE method. The method does not require any baseline information of an undamaged structure, such as its complete geometry, material properties, boundary conditions, modal parameters, and operating deflection shapes. In the proposed MPE method, natural frequencies of the structure are identified from free response of certain fixed points on the structure; its modal damping ratios and mode shapes are simultaneously estimated using free response shapes measured by a CSLDV system. Both numerical and experimental investigations are conducted to study the MPE method and its application to baseline-free damage identification with mode shapes estimated by the MPE method.
Mercury poisoning from a high seafood diet: a case report

Abstract Fish and seafood are a recommended dietary source of nutrition with high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, these food sources can also represent a major source of methylmercury intake. Methylmercury is highly toxic and can cause severe damage to the nervous system both during development and in adults. Chronic low-level methylmercury exposure is common, and the manifestations of methylmercury poisoning are variable and nonspecific. This makes the diagnosis of methylmercury poisoning difficult, but physicians are urged to monitor patients who indulge in high consumption of seafood. The most effective treatment is to lower the exposure by modification of the diet. We report here the case of mercury toxicity in a patient with high consumption of seafood as part of his healthy food regimen.