cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stereopsis and binocular rivalry.

Stereopsis and binocular rivalry appear to be incompatible. Rivalry involves suppression of input from one eye at each location in space and time, whereas Stereopsis requires the combination of information from both eyes to yield a sensation of depth. This article presents a theory of the relationship of these phenomena. Evidence from previous work and from experiments reported here shows that (a) the pathways mediating Stereopsis are separable from those mediating rivalry; (b) Stereopsis and rivalry can coexist at the same point in space and time; (c) rivalry occurs inevitably, whenever visual stimuli are present, even if identical stimuli are presented to both eyes; and (d) Stereopsis can be disrupted without disrupting rivalry and vice versa (termed double dissociation). On the basis of the evidence, it is proposed that rivalry and Stereopsis involve independent and parallel pathways through the early stages of visual processing and that binocular perception is a simple combination (probably a weighted average) of the output of the pathways mediating Stereopsis and rivalry. Stereopsis and binocular rivalry, two of the central phenomena of binocular vision, are seemingly incompatible. In Stereopsis, matched or nearly matched retinal images are combined to form a "cyclopean" image (Helmholtz, 1909/1924; Julesz, 1971). The cyclopean percept is identical to neither monocular image but requires contributions from both. Binocular rivalry is most easily demonstrated when each eye is presented with a different image. At each location in the visual field, one monocular image will be dominant and visible while the other is suppressed and unseen (Breese, 1899). Over time, the pattern of dominance and suppression will change. At any given point in space and time, the stimulus presented to one eye is seen while that presented to the other eye is lost to sight. The suppression of one monocular input would eliminate the basis for Stereopsis. The fusion of the two inputs into a cyclopean image would eliminate the basis for rivalry. How, then, do the two phenomena coexist in human vision? One class of theoretical solution is to deny the existence of one of these two. Verhoeff(1935, 1959), for example, held that binocular vision could be explained without allowing for the fusion of the two monocular images into a unique binocular image. At the present time, it is more common to argue that rivalry and Stereopsis cannot coexist at the same point in space and time and that Stereopsis takes precedence; that is, rivalry occurs when Stereopsis cannot occur (e.g., Julesz, 1971, p. 23; Julesz & Tyler, 1976).
Ligaments of the lumbar neural foramina: A sectional anatomic study

The ligaments of the lumbar neural foramina have not been systematically described. We sectioned the lumbar spines of 15 cadavers in the sagittal plane with a cryomicrotome and identified the ligaments in the neural foramina. Fibrous ligaments were identified in every lumbar neural foramen. The most constant ligament was a band of fibrous tissue behind the anulus fibrosus and distinct from it, originating in one vertebral body and inserting in the next. Ligaments connecting the posterior disc margin and the superior articular process were found in 48% of the neural foramina. A band of fibrous tissue originating from the anulus fibrosus and inserting along the pedicle and superior articular process was found in 44% of the foramina. Three other distinct types of ligament were found less commonly. Ligaments, which some investigators believe may contribute to lateral spinal stenosis, are commonly present in the neural foramina.
Impact of scaling on soft-error rates in commercial microprocessors

The impact of technology scaling and logic design on the /spl alpha/-particle and neutron-induced soft-error rate (SER) of Alpha microprocessors (HP Alpha Development Group, Shrewsbury, MA) has been investigated. Our results indicate that the reduced charge-collection efficiency at the device level as well as circuit- and system-level mitigation techniques have successfully combatted the scaling trend of the critical charge. Process scaling and the introduction of flip-chip packaging have resulted in a nonnegligible contribution of /spl alpha/-particle-induced failure rates to the core-logic SER, whose overall importance has increased considerably since the implementation of error-correction codes.
Three-Dimensional Simulations of Liquid Feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Recent research indicates that performance and design of a liquid feed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is controlled not only by electrochemical kinetics and methanol crossover but also by water transport and by their complex interactions in the design regime for portable electronics applications. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D), two-phase model is presented for DMFCs, in particular considering water transport and treating the catalyst layer explicitly as a component rather than an interface without thickness. Other features of the model are similar to an earlier version published in 2003. The DMFC model is based on the multiphase mixture formulation and encompasses all components in a DMFC using a single computational domain. A flow solver, Fluent, is employed to simultaneously solve flow, species, and charge-transport equations. Numerical simulations in 3D are carried out to explore mass transport phenomena occurring in DMFCs for portable applications as well as to reveal an interplay between the local current density and methanol crossover rate. Numerical results also indicate that the anode flow field design and methanol feeding concentration are two key parameters for optimal cell performance.
Automated Surveillance for Adverse Drug Events at a Community Hospital and an Academic Medical Center

Objectives: To compare the rates and nature of ADEs at an academic medical center and a community hospital using a single computerized ADE surveillance system. Design: Prospective cohort study of patients admitted to two tertiary care hospitals. Outcome Measure: Adverse drug events identified by automated surveillance and voluntary reporting. Methods: We implemented an automated surveillance system across an academic medical center and a community hospital. Potential events identified by the computer were reviewed in detail by medication safety pharmacists and scored for causality and severity. Findings were compared between the two hospitals, and with voluntary reports from nurses and pharmacists. Results: Over the 8 month study period, 25,177 patients were admitted to the university hospital and 8,029 to the community hospital. There were 1,116 ADEs in 900 patients at the university hospital for an overall rate of 4.4 ADEs per 100 admissions. At the community hospital, 399 patients experienced 501 ADEs for a rate of 6.2 events per 100 admissions. Rates of antibiotic-associated colitis, drug-induced hypoglycemia, and anticoagulation-related ADEs were significantly higher at the community hospital compared with the university hospital. Computerized surveillance detected ADEs at a rate 3.6 times that of voluntary reporting at the university hospital and 12.3 times that at the community hospital. Conclusions: Operation of a common automated ADE surveillance system across hospitals permits meaningful comparison of ADE rates in different inpatient settings. Automated surveillance detects ADEs at rates far higher than voluntary reporting, and the difference may be greater in the community hospital setting. Community hospitals may experience higher rates of certain types of ADEs compared with academic medical centers.
Time hopping direct-sequence CDMA for asynchronous transmitter-only sensors

This paper investigates transmission schemes for asynchronous transmitter-only wireless sensor nodes. We propose a time hopping DS-CDMA scheme by utilizing time hopping code design. Each sensor transmits only in pre-assigned active time slots and switches to sleep mode in idle time slots. By utilizing the proposed scheme, each sensor can always have several collision-free time slots. We also propose a new detector that has better BER performance than conventional matched filter (MF) detector by utilizing channel energy capturing and multipath diversity. We compare BER performance, power consumptions, and computational complexities of the proposed transmission scheme with conventional DS-CDMA scheme. The proposed scheme achieves significant energy and complexity savings while keeping similar BER performance with conventional DS-CDMA scheme.
Insights into cadmium diffusion mechanisms in two-stage diffusion profiles in solar-grade Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films

Cadmium diffusion experiments were performed on polished copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(In,Ga)Se2 or CIGS) samples with resulting cadmium diffusion profiles measured by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy. Experiments done in the annealing temperature range between 275 °C and 425 °C reveal two-stage cadmium diffusion profiles which may be indicative of multiple diffusion mechanisms. Each stage can be described by the standard solutions of Fick's second law. The slower cadmium diffusion in the first stage can be described by the Arrhenius equation D1 = 3 × 10−4 exp (− 1.53 eV/kBT) cm2 s−1, possibly representing vacancy-meditated diffusion. The faster second-stage diffusion coefficients determined in these experiments match the previously reported cadmium diffusion Arrhenius equation of D2 = 4.8 × 10−4 exp (−1.04 eV/kBT) cm2 s−1, suggesting an interstitial-based mechanism.
Two alleles of the AtCesA3 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana display intragenic complementation

2 PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Cellulose is the most abundant biomolecule on the planet, yet the mechanism by which it is synthesized by higher plants remains largely unknown. In Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, synthesis of cellulose in the primary cell wall requires three diff erent cellulose synthase genes ( AtCesA1 , AtCesA3 , and AtCesA6- related genes ( AtCesA2 , AtCesA5 , and AtCesA6 )). The multiple response expansion1 ( mre1 ) mutant contains a hypomorphic AtCesA3 allele that results in signifi cantly shorter, expanded roots. Crosses between mre1 and another allele of AtCesA3 ( constitutive expression of VSP1 , cev1 ) yielded an F1 with roots considerably longer and thinner than either parent, suggesting intragenic complementation. The F2 generation resulting from self-crossing these F1 showed three diff erent root phenotypes: roots like mre1 , roots like cev1 , and roots like the F1. METHODS: The segregation patterns of the three root phenotypes in multiple F2 and F3 generations were determined. Multiple characteristics of the roots and shoots were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively at diff erent developmental stages, both on plates and on soil. KEY RESULTS: The trans -heterozygous plants diff ered signifi cantly from the parental mre1 and cev1 lines. CONCLUSIONS: The two alleles display intragenic complementation. A classic genetic interpretation of these results would suggest that cellulose synthesis requires homo-multimerization of cellulose synthase monomers.
CASE STUDY: Alternative fodder crops for livestock feed in western Washington

ABSTRACT Increased costs of livestock feed and the desire to enhance or expand into feed production have created a need for alternative crops in areas where conventional feed crops such as corn and soybeans are not well adapted. Historically, many crops such as fodder beets, rutabagas, turnips, carrots, and kale were used for livestock feed. This project tested 7 different types and varieties of 5 different alternative feed crops (fodder beets, rutabaga, turnip, kale, chicory) at 2 sites in western Washington for yield quantity and quality for use as livestock feeds. Dry matter yield differed between years (P
Neutron Source-Strength Determination by Student Laboratories

The increasing availability of high-strength 252Cf neutron sources for educational use suggests the possibility of a new wave of source-strength measurements in student laboratories. In this paper,...
Basic Cell Culture

This article will describe the basic techniques required for successful cell culture. It will also act to introduce some of the other chapters in this volume. It is not intended, as this volume is not, to describe the establishment of a tissue culture laboratory, nor to provide a historical or theoretical survey of cell culture. There are several books that adequately cover these areas, including the now somewhat dated but still valuable volume by Paul (1), the multi-authored Methods in Enzymology volume edited by Jakoby and Pastan (2), and the new edition of Freshney (3). Instead, this chapter's focus will be on the techniques for establishing primary rodent cell cultures from embryos and adult skin, maintaining and subculturing these fibro-blasts and their transformed derivatives, and the isolation of genetically pure strains. The cells described are all derived from Chinese hamsters since, to date, these cells, have proved to be the most useful for somatic cell genetics (4,5). The techniques, however, are generally applicable to most fibroblastic cell types.
Abstract 209: The Most Accurate Definition of Clinically Relevant Hemorrhagic Transformation after Thrombolytic Therapy for Stroke: Analysis of the NINDS-TPA Trials

Background: Multiple contending definitions have been advanced to distinguish clinically relevant from incidental hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV TPA) for acute ischemic stroke. We examined which definition best identified hemorrhages that altered patient final outcome in the two NINDS-TPA trials. Methods: Ten definitions of clinically relevant hemorrhage were analyzed, based on radiologic (HI, PH, both) and clinical (asymptomatic, any early worsening, early NIHSS worsening by 4 or more) findings. Candidate definitions included any radiologic hemorrhage, any parenchymal hematoma, and definitions of SICH from the NINDS-TPA Study (any HT judged causally related to any worsening), ECASS 3 (any HT and ≥ 4 NIHSS worsening), and modified SITS-MOST (PH and ≥ 4 NIHSS worsening). Using a 15-variable prognostic model derived from the placebo group, we compared the actual 3 month global disability outcomes for patients following TPA and HT with their predicted outcomes had they not received TPA. Results: Among the 312 patients treated with IV tPA, 48 (15.4%) experienced any radiologic ICH. Among the ten candidate definitions, the ECASS 3 definition best distinguished hemorrhages that altered final outcome (figure). ECASS 3 positive hemorrhage patients had worse actual (with TPA) vs predicted (without TPA) outcomes, with mean final mRS 5.6 vs 3.6 and death in 75% vs 26.8%. ECASS 3 hemorrhage patients without ≥ 4 NIHSS worsening had no difference between actual and predicted outcomes, with mean final mRS 4.2 vs 4.1 and death in 35% vs 37%. In the two NINDS-TPA trials, rates of ECASS 3 hemorrhages in the TPA vs placebo group were 5.1% (95CI 3.2–8.2%) vs 1.3% (95CI 0.5–3.2%). Conclusions: The clinically important hemorrhage definition that best identifies hemorrhages that alter final global disability and fatal outcome is any radiologic HT associated with ≥ 4 early NIHSS worsening. Asymptomatic hemorrhages have no adverse impact on final outcomes.
Unattached kinetochores rather than intrakinetochore tension arrest mitosis in taxol-treated cells

Kinetochores attach chromosomes to the spindle microtubules and signal the spindle assembly checkpoint to delay mitotic exit until all chromosomes are attached. Light microscopy approaches aimed to indirectly determine distances between various proteins within the kinetochore (termed Delta) suggest that kinetochores become stretched by spindle forces and compact elastically when the force is suppressed. Low Delta is believed to arrest mitotic progression in taxol-treated cells. However, the structural basis of Delta remains unknown. By integrating same-kinetochore light microscopy and electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the value of Delta is affected by the variability in the shape and size of outer kinetochore domains. The outer kinetochore compacts when spindle forces are maximal during metaphase. When the forces are weakened by taxol treatment, the outer kinetochore expands radially and some kinetochores completely lose microtubule attachment, a condition known to arrest mitotic progression. These observations offer an alternative interpretation of intrakinetochore tension and question whether Delta plays a direct role in the control of mitotic progression.
A superoxide-activated chemotactic factor and its role in the inflammatory process

Superoxide dismutase or derivatives thereof have been shown to be potent anti-inflammatory agents in several models of induced inflammation. In all cases, the anti-inflammatory effects included a marked suppression of the accumulation of inflammatory cells at the site of the potential lesion, suggesting a role for the superoxide radical in the chemotaxis process. The exposure of normal plasma to a source of superoxide in vitro resulted in the formation of a powerful chemotactic factor for human neutrophils. The factor is activated by reacting specifically with superoxide, and was found to consist of a complex of serum albumin and an unidentified lipid. The complex may be resolved and reconstituted. Both components are required for expression of biologic activity. The major mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of superoxide dismutase appears to be the prevention of the formation of this plasma-derived superoxide-dependent chemotactic factor.
Worksite Wellness Programs on the USA-Mexico Border

Worksite wellness programs (WWPs) have the potential to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and improve employee attitudes and job performance with distinct economic benefits. The purpose of this study was to collect data about WWPs in the manufacturing industry in El Paso, Texas and formulate recommendations to increase the use of WWPs to protect, promote and improve the health of this workforce. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate a lack of worksite wellness programs in small to medium-sized manufacturers. Worksite size was a strong indicator of the number of worksite wellness program activities that were offered. Large worksites were more likely to offer more activities than small or medium sized worksites. This difference is perhaps due to a greater availability of resources (such as money, facilities, staff, etc.). Administrators perception of worksite wellness programs is of particular interest. The main benefit reported by respondents with existing WWPs was improved health and decreased health problems (83%) and decreased health care costs (70%). Conversely, the main barrier perceived by administrators at sites lacking WWPs was that implementation was too costly (38%). Cost may be perceived as the major barrier because companies without wellness programs may only consider the start-up costs. Information on the long-term economic benefits of WWPs could alter this perception. Future efforts to initiate worksite wellness programs must be tailored to meet the needs of small and medium sized companies in this border community.
Nonlinear Optical Angle Modulation for Suppression of RF Interference

A new optical technique for suppression of electronic interference is detailed theoretically and experimentally. The method is based on operating an angle-modulated photonic link in its nonlinear regime, where Bessel functions govern the response. This novel signal-processing technique is analyzed for optical intensity and phase modulation. Experimental results demonstrate suppression of continuous-wave, pulsed, and chirped signals at levels ranging from at least 30 dB to upwards of 70 dB relative to small-signal conditions.
Analysis of Dependence of Detector Position on Detected Scatter Distribution in Dedicated Breast SPECT

In SPECT, scattered photons contribute to the detected signal, reducing contrast and quantification accuracy. Several methods exist to correct scatter, including the dual-energy window technique, but have not been fully evaluated on non-traditional SPECT trajectories. Using MCNP5, a Monte Carlo study was performed to analyze how incident scatter is affected by detector position for breast SPECT. An ideal detector was positioned at various azimuthal and polar angles relative to a pendant breast geometry. Detected scatter from the breast, heart, liver, torso, and lesion was linearly fit; the slope was used to characterize the distribution. Typical photopeak and scatter energy window ratios were calculated. Results indicate detected scatter depends upon detector position and its vantage of major uptake organs; however, the effect is minimal for non-direct views, with a ratio of 0.37. A single coefficient for dual-energy window scatter correction should suffice for breast imaging trajectories ignoring direct views of the heart/liver.
Social Studies, Social Competence and Citizenship in Early Childhood Education: Developmental Principles Guide Appropriate Practice

The purpose of this article is to examine the nature of appropriate social studies education in the Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten years. The importance of social competence development as a basic foundation of the social studies in the early years of schooling is examined, with particular attention to the commonalities shared between goals and strategies for social competence and for civic ideals and practices. Knowledge of developmental direction in child development is described and illustrated as a tool for considering the importance of using close-to-home lessons built on children’s own experiences, prior to lessons about more distal concepts. Historical foundations of developmentally appropriate social studies are revisited, and their relevance is discussed, with regard to social studies education in the kindergartens and pre-kindergartens of today.
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse by Targeting Pre-Offenders Before First Offense.

ABSTRACTThe population of potential child abuse offenders has largely been unstudied. In the current study, we examine whether a six-component model used for primary diabetes prevention could be adapted to child sexual abuse pre-offenders, whereby individuals who are prone to sexual abuse but have not yet committed an offense can be prevented from committing a first offense. The six components include: define and track the magnitude of the problem, delineate a well-established risk factor profile so that at-risk persons can be identified, define valid screening tests to correctly rule in those with the disease and rule out those without disease, test effectiveness of interventions—the Dunkelfeld Project is an example, produce and disseminate reliable outcome data so that widespread application can be justified, and establish a system for continuous improvement. By using the diabetes primary prevention model as a model, the number of victims of child sexual abuse might be diminished.
Non-buprenorphine opioid utilization among patients using buprenorphine.

Background and Aims Buprenorphine is commonly used to treat opioid use disorder; however, non-buprenorphine prescription opioid use among these patients is not well defined. We sought to estimate the prevalence of non-buprenorphine opioid use among incident buprenorphine users and quantify levels of opioid use prior to, during and after the first treatment episode. Design We used QuintilesIMS anonymized, individual-level, all-payer pharmacy claims to identify incident users of buprenorphine between January 2010 and July 2012 from a large cohort of approximately 50 million patients filling two or more prescriptions for any opioid during any calendar year between 2006 and 2013 in 11 states of interest. Setting Eleven states within the United States. Participants Of the individuals who met our inclusion criteria (n = 38 096), 55% were female and half were aged between 29 and 54 years. Median length of the first treatment episode was 55 days [interquartile range (IQR) = 28–168 days]. Measurements We calculated four measures of non-buprenorphine opioid use: (1) number of prescriptions, (2) quantity dispensed, (3) days of supply and (4) total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) before, during and after the first treatment episode. Our primary outcome was the MME per opioid day supplied during each time period. Findings Approximately two-fifths (43%) of buprenorphine recipients filled an opioid prescription during the treatment episode and two-thirds (67%) filled an opioid prescription following treatment. The mean total of MME per opioid day supplied 12 months prior to treatment declined from 57 mg/per day [95% confidence interval (CI) = 57, 58] to 54 mg/per day (95% CI = 54, 55) during the treatment episode, then remained constant at 55 mg/per day (95% CI = 54, 56) following the treatment episode. Conclusions The use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder has increased markedly in the United States. However, a substantial proportion of patients fill prescriptions for non-buprenorphine opioids during and following such treatment.
The association of remotely sensed outdoor fine particulate matter with cancer incidence of respiratory system in the USA.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to assess the association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respiratory system cancer incidence in the US population (n = 295,404,580) using a satellite-derived estimate of PM2.5 concentrations. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether PM2.5 was related to the odds of respiratory system cancer (RSC) incidence based on gender and race. Positive linear regressions were found between PM2.5 concentrations and the age-adjusted RSC incidence rates for all groups (Males, Females, Whites, and Blacks) except for Asians and American Indians. The linear relationships between PM2.5 and RSC incidence rate per 1 μg/m3 PM2.5 increase for Males, Females, Whites, Blacks, and all categories combined had slopes of, respectively, 7.02 (R2 = 0.36), 2.14 (R2 = 0.14), 3.92 (R2 = 0.23), 5.02 (R2 = 0.21), and 4.15 (R2 = 0.28). Similarly, the logistic regression odds ratios per 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5 were greater than one for all categories excep...
Effect of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy on postural control in cancer survivors.

128Background: Advances in screening and treatment have significantly improved the survival of cancer patients. However, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting ...
P-034 Reduced efficacy of the pipeline embolization device in the treatment of posterior communicating region aneurysms with fetal posterior cerebral artery configuration

Introduction Aneurysms at the origin of the posterior communicating artery (PcommA) have been demonstrated to be effectively treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED). Much less is known about the efficacy of the PED for aneurysms associated with a fetal posterior cerebral artery (fPCA) variant. Herein, the largest series of patients with ICA aneurysms at the origin of the PcommA or fPCA treated with the PED is presented. Methods A prospectively maintained university database of aneurysm patients treated with the PED was retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, treatment details, and imaging were reviewed for all PcommA and fPCA aneurysms. Results Out of a total of 285 patients treated with PED, 50 patients (mean age 57.5±12.2 years, 42 females) with unruptured PcommA (9 fPCA) aneurysms were identified. Mean follow-up duration was 14.0±11.6 months (48 patients). Roy-Raymond Class I occlusion on follow up Magnetic Resonance or catheter angiography (mean time 11.7±6.8 months) was achieved in 30 patients (62.5%), Class II occlusion in 11 patients (22.9%) and Class III occlusion in 7 patients (14.5%). The PcommA was occluded in 56% of patients without any clinical symptoms. No deaths or permanent neurological complications occurred. In fPCA aneurysms, Class I occlusion was seen in 1 patient, Class II occlusion in 2 patients, and Class III occlusion in 6 patients (figure 1). Multivariate analysis revealed an independent association between incomplete occlusion and fPCA configuration (OR 73.65; 95% CI [5.84–929.13]; p=0.001). The current literature on flow diversion treatment of fPCA aneurysms was reviewed and added to the current series and found to be associated with a low rate of aneurysm occlusion (5/23 or 22%; table 1). Conclusion PEDs are a safe and effective choice in the treatment of PcommA aneurysms. The presence of fetal anatomy, however, should increase consideration of traditional intra-saccular endovascular techniques or surgical clipping. Longer follow-up is needed to determine the ultimate efficacy of PED treatment for these aneurysms. Disclosures A. Roy: None. B. Howard: None. D. Haussen: None. J. Osbun: None. S. Halani: None. S. Skukalek: None. F. Tong: None. R. Nogueira: None. J. Dion: None. C. Cawley: None. J. Grossberg: None.
Are Placebo-Controlled Trials Necessary in the Evaluation of New Therapeutic Agents in Severe Chronic Heart Failure?

Evaluation of the efficacy of cardiovascular drugs is complicated by the fact that patients may show beneficial responses during the course of therapy in the absence of effective treatment (1). Patients with coronary artery disease may experience a reduction in the frequency of anginal attacks while on placebo (2,3); patients with systemic hypertension may show small but sustained decreases in diastolic blood pressure while taking no active drug (4); and patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias may show spontaneous variation in the frequency and complexity of ectopic activity that may mimic a beneficial drug response even if no treatment has been administered (5,6). Such spontaneous therapeutic effects may result from the natural variability of the disease process or from bias introduced by the design of clinical trials. Consequently, in order to distinguish true drug-related effects from those secondary to such spontaneous events, clinical investigators have evaluated the efficacy and safety of new therapeutic agents in the context of placebo-controlled trials. Any improvement noted in the placebo-treated group was termed “the placebo effect”; any effect that could be discerned in the treatment group that was significantly greater than that seen in the placebo-treated cohort could reasonably be attributed to the study drug.
Internal auditory canal exostosis: A technical case report.

Background Exostoses of the internal auditory canal is a rare finding that may present with disabling symptoms of dizziness, hearing loss, and vestibular dysfunction based on the extent of cranial nerve compression. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the presentation and outcomes in a patient who presented with this disorder. Case description A 19-year-old female presented to the neurotologist with left ear discomfort, pain with left lateral gaze, and dizziness. She underwent extensive evaluation including audiometric testing, videonystagmography, and neuroimaging, which confirmed left auditory and vestibular hypofunction and compression of the contents of the internal auditory canal from the exostosis. After extensive counseling, the patient elected to undergo a suboccipital craniectomy to remove the internal auditory canal exostosis. She experienced complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions Exostoses of the internal auditory canal, although rare, can present with severe symptoms of dizziness, hearing loss, and vestibular hypofunction based on the extent of cranial nerve compression. Imaging, particularly with thin-cut computed tomography, is invaluable in making the correct diagnosis. Severe cases can be treated successfully with surgery with minimal or no complications and excellent outcome.
Longitudinal Associations Between Anhedonia and Body Mass Index Trajectory Groups Among Adolescents.

Abstract Purpose Although evidence suggests that anhedonia—a reduced ability to experience pleasure in response to rewarding stimuli—may predict weight gain during adolescence, it remains unclear whether changes in anhedonia during adolescence are associated with changes in body mass index (BMI). This study examines longitudinal associations between changes in anhedonia and developmental trajectories of BMI during adolescence. Methods Self-report measures of anhedonia and BMI were collected at five semiannual assessments among students from 10 high schools in Los Angeles, CA, area (N = 3,396) followed up from the 9th grade to the 11th grade. Four BMI trajectories were identified using growth mixture modeling: (1) stable normative weight ; (2) overweight to normative weight (i.e., decreasing BMI); (3) overweight to chronically obese (increasing BMI); and (4) normative weight to overweight (increasing BMI). Latent growth curve modeling estimated baseline level and changes in anhedonia. A multinomial logistic regression model tested associations of baseline level and slope of anhedonia with the four BMI trajectory groups. Results Compared with the stable normative BMI trajectory group, each 1-unit standard deviation increase in anhedonia slope increased the odds of membership in the overweight to chronically obese group (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 1.29 [1.09–1.49], p normative weight to overweight group (OR [95% CI] = 1.28 [1.04–1.53], p = .006), and decreased the odds of membership in the overweight to normative weight group (OR [95% CI] = .78 [.57–.95], p = .01). Conclusions Across a 2-year period of high school, the rate of change in anhedonia is associated with certain BMI trajectories linked with poorer metabolic health. Increasing anhedonia may be an important risk factor to consider in adolescent obesity prevention.
Collaborative signal processing for distributed classification in sensor networks

Sensor networks provide virtual snapshots of the physical world via distributed wireless nodes that can sense in different modalities, such as acoustic and seismic. Classification of objects moving through the sensor field is an important application that requires collaborative signal processing (CSP) between nodes. Given the limited resources of nodes, a key constraint is to exchange the least amount of information between them to achieve desired performance. Two main forms of CSP are possible. Data fusion - exchange of low dimensional feature vectors - is needed between correlated nodes, in general, for optimal performance. Decision fusion - exchange of likelihood values - is sufficient between independent nodes. Decision fusion is generally preferable due to its lower communication and computational burden. We study CSP of multiple node measurements for classification, each measurement modeled as a Gaussian (target) signal vector corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise. The measurements are partitioned into groups. The signal components within each group are perfectly correlated whereas they vary independently between groups. Three classifiers are compared: the optimal maximum-likelihood classifier, a data-averaging classifier that treats all measurements as correlated, and a decision-fusion classifier that treats them all as independent. Analytical and numerical results based on real data are provided to compare the performance of the three CSP classifiers. Our results indicate that the sub-optimal decision fusion classifier, that is most attractive in the context of sensor networks, is also a robust choice from a decision-theoretic viewpoint.
Cerebellar Modifications of Abnormal Discharges in Cerebral Sensory and Motor Areas

Thirty years have passed since Snider and Stowell’s (1942, 1944) descriptions of the cerebellar sensory areas. The significance of these observations is not yet known; however, they introduced me to a new cerebellar physiology. No longer were functions limited to reflex motor activity. New questions could be asked and new experiments proposed. To cite an early one: What relationships, if any, existed between these areas and the cerebrum?
Expressing Conscience with Candor: Saint Thomas More and First Freedoms in the Legal Profession

This Article explores recent challenges to lawyers’ “first freedoms” under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, especially freedom of speech, with particular attention to the ABA’s 2016 adoption of Rule 8.4(g) of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. It begins with a brief reflection on sixteenth-century England’s Thomas More, patron saint of lawyers, and the meaning that his life and example may offer for lawyers today. Next, it analyzes a profoundly flawed 1996 Tennessee ethics opinion advising a lawyer who was court appointed to represent minors seeking abortions, and its troubling implications for lawyers with traditional religious and moral views relating to their practice of law. It then examines multiple aspects of the ongoing Model Rule 8.4(g) controversy, including the rule’s background and deficiencies, states’ reception (and widespread rejection) of it, socially conservative lawyers’ justified distrust of new speech restrictions, and the impact of the United States Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in National Institute of Family & Life Advocates v. Becerra on “professional speech” under the First Amendment. It concludes with a call for the American legal profession to embrace a vision of diversity that includes, rather than excludes, socially conservative lawyers who dissent from its currently dominant moral views, including on matters of sexual ethics.
Astigmatic correction with implantation of a light adjustable vs monofocal lens: a single site analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Aim To evaluate the light adjustable lens (LAL) vs a standard monofocal lens in achieving target astigmatic refraction and improving postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA). Methods This randomized controlled clinical trial included 40 patients with pre-existing astigmatism and visually significant cataract. Twenty-eight patients received the LAL and 12 control patients received a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) after cataract extraction at a single institution. The patients with the LAL underwent adjustment by ultraviolet (UV) light postoperatively plus subsequent lock-in procedures and all patients returned to clinic for follow up of study parameters at 6, 9, and 12mo. Manifest refraction, distance visual acuity, and adverse events were recorded at each visit. Results The mean cylinder before adjustment in eyes with the LAL was -0.89±0.58 D (-2.00 to 0.00 D) and -0.34±0.34 D (-1.25 to 0.00 D) after lock-in (P=1.68x10-8). The mean cylinder in patients with the monofocal lens was -1.00±0.32 D (-1.50 to -0.50 D) at 17-21d postoperatively, which was statistically different from the LAL cylinder post lock-in (P=1.43x10-6). UDVA in the LAL group was 20/20 or better in 79% of patients post lock-in with good stability over 12mo compared with 33% of the control patients with UDVA of 20/20 or better. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the LAL is more effective in achieving target refractions and improving postoperative UDVA in patients with pre-existing corneal astigmatism than a standard monofocal lens.
Real World Problem Solving with and without Computers

The study that I’ll present today is a pilot study of a National Science Foundation grant on the topic of the psychology of man-computer problem-solving. This study is the initial effort that we’ve made in connection with this National Science Foundation work. I can only just summarize the highlights for you so that they will be available in the proceedings. The full details have been published as a Rand report. Any of you who are interested in all the fine details, how we went about it, what precise data we had, and what statistical tests we used and so on — an empirical study — please write to me at the Rand Corporation or let me know here.
Patisiran Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Exposure-Response Analyses in the Phase 3 APOLLO Trial in Patients With Hereditary Transthyretin-Mediated (hATTR) Amyloidosis

Hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis is an inherited, rapidly progressive, life-threatening disease caused by deposition of abnormal transthyretin protein. Patisiran is an RNA interference therapeutic comprising a novel, small interfering ribonucleic acid (ALN-18328) formulated in a lipid nanoparticle targeted to inhibit hepatic transthyretin protein synthesis. The lipid nanoparticle also contains 2 novel lipid excipients (DLin-MC3-DMA and PEG2000 -C-DMG). Here we report patisiran pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and exposure-response analyses from the phase 3 APOLLO trial, in which patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy were randomized 2:1 to receive patisiran 0.3 mg/kg or placebo intravenously every 3 weeks over 18 months. In patisiran-treated patients, mean maximum reduction in serum transthyretin level from baseline was 87.8%. Patisiran PK exposure was stable following chronic dosing. There were no meaningful differences in PK exposure, serum transthyretin reduction, and efficacy (change from baseline in modified Neuropathy Impairment Score+7) across all subgroups analyzed (age, sex, race, body weight, genotype status of valine-to-methionine mutation at position 30 [V30M] and non-V30M, prior use of tetramer stabilizers, mild/moderate renal impairment, and mild hepatic impairment). transthyretin reduction and efficacy were similar across the interpatient PK exposure range for ALN-18328. There was no trend in the incidence of adverse events or serious adverse events across the interpatient PK exposure range for all 3 analytes. Incidence of antidrug antibodies was low (3.4%) and transient, with no impact on PK, PD, efficacy, or safety. The patisiran dosing regimen of 0.3 mg/kg every 3 weeks is appropriate for all patients with hATTR amyloidosis.
Enabling Reconfigurable All-Liquid Microcircuits via Laplace Barriers to Control Liquid Metal

Liquid metals such as gallium alloys have a unique potential to enable fully reconfigurable RF electronics. One of the major concerns for liquid-metal electronics is their interaction with solid-metal contacts, which results in unwanted changes to electrical performance and delamination of solid-metal contacts due to atomic diffusion of gallium at the liquid/solid interface. In this paper, we present a solution to this problem through way of liquid-metal/liquid-metal RF connections by implementing La-place barriers, which control fluid flow and position via pressure-sensitive thresholds to facilitate physical movement of the fluids within the channels. We demonstrate RF switching within the channel systems by fabricating, testing, and modeling a reconfigurable RF microstrip transmission line with integrated Laplace barriers which operates between 0.5–5 GHz. This approach opens the potential for future all-liquid reconfigurable RF electronic circuits where physical connections between solid and liquid metals are minimized or possibly eliminated altogether.
Control of transitional shock wave boundary layer interaction using structurally constrained surface morphing

Abstract The potential of surface morphing techniques, including passive shock control bumps (SCB) and active surface morphing, is explored to control transitional shock wave boundary layer interactions (SWBLI). In addition to reducing the size of the separation bubble, a key objective is to mitigate the low-frequency unsteadiness that can cause detrimental structural response. To this end, three-dimensional flow simulations are performed using direct numerical simulations (DNS) at Mach 2 and Reynolds number based on inflow boundary layer thickness R e δ i n = 996 . An incident oblique shock of angle σ = 35 deg and strength p 2 / p 1 = 1.4 impinges on a laminar boundary layer that evolves from a Blasius profile. The resulting boundary layer separation leads to transition and a Gortler-like instability is observed; the nominally two-dimensional and steady flow becomes three-dimensional and unsteady. The goal of this work is to develop a surface modification method to mitigate separation and low-frequency unsteadiness, which can trigger structural response and flow distortion. An aero-structural solver framework is developed and employed to examine both passive SCB and active surface morphing. To avoid unrealistic structural deformation in the transient or final states, the structural integrity is concurrently monitored so that the intermediate morphing solutions are restricted to achievable elastic deformations. The results indicate that transitional SWBLI can be controlled in this manner, to essentially inhibit transition and thus eliminate the separation and unsteadiness associated with the Gortler-like vortices. The mechanism modulates sharp increases in surface pressure at separation and shock-impingement locations encountered in uncontrolled SWBLI and results a lower specific entropy rise.
Autonomous In-Orbit Satellite Assembly from a Modular Heterogeneous Swarm

Abstract This paper presents a decentralized, distributed guidance and control scheme to combine a heterogeneous swarm of component satellites into a large satellite structure. The component satellites for the heterogeneous swarm are chosen to promote flexibility in final shape inspired by crystal structures and Islamic tile art. After the ideal fundamental building blocks are selected, basic nanosatellite-class satellite designs are made to assist in simulations involving attitude control. The Swarm Orbital Construction Algorithm (SOCA) is a guidance and control algorithm to allow for the limited type heterogeneity and docking ability required for in-orbit assembly. The algorithm consists of two parts, a distributed auction which uses barrier functions to ensure the proper agent selection for each target, and a trajectory generation portion which leverages model predictive control and sequential convex programming to achieve optimal collision-free trajectories to the desired target point even with nonlinear system dynamics. The optimization constraints use a boundary layer to determine whether the collision avoidance or the docking constraints should be applied. The algorithm was tested in a simulated perturbed 6-DOF spacecraft dynamic environment for planar and out-of-plane final structures and on two robotic platforms, including a swarm of frictionless spacecraft simulation robots.
Horizontal Transposition of the Vertical Rectus Muscles to Correct a Head Tilt in 5 Patients With Idiopathic Nystagmus Syndrome

Purpose Patients with idiopathic nystagmus syndrome often develop an abnormal head position. A horizontal face turn can be treated with the augmented Kestenbaum procedure, while patients with a chin up or chin down position can be treated with surgery on the vertical recti and/or oblique muscles. Although rare, some patients may have a head tilt with no face turn. We report 5 patients who underwent horizontal transposition of the vertical rectus muscles to correct a head tilt. Design Retrospective case series. Methods Five cases from 2 different tertiary referral eye centers and 3 different surgeons were reviewed and analyzed. Surgery for the patients consisted of either a 7-mm or full tendon-width transposition of the vertical rectus muscles of each eye to induce cyclotorsion in the direction of the head tilt. The presenting clinical histories, measurements, and surgical outcomes were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was correction of head tilt. Results Of 5 patients, 2 had previous horizontal face turns that were corrected with an augmented Kestenbaum procedure and later developed a head tilt, while 3 patients presented primarily with a head tilt. Age at surgery ranged from 5 to 8 years. Initial tilts were measured between 20-45°. Surgery was performed bilaterally except in 1 patient with history of morning glory disc anomaly and therefore transposition surgery was only performed on fixating eye for that patient. Postoperatively, 3 of 5 patients had near complete (0-5°) resolution of their tilt. One patient had a persistent 5-degree head tilt and a small chin up that was nullified with vertical prisms in spectacles. Conclusion Transposition of the vertical rectus to induce cyclotorsion in the direction of the head tilt improves abnormal head titling in patients who have idiopathic nystagmus syndrome. This procedure was safely performed in patients with previous augmented Kestenbaum procedures with no incidence of anterior segment ischemia in our cases.