cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical and Clinical Performance of the CDC Real Time RT-PCR Assay for Detection and Typing of Dengue Virus

Dengue is an acute illness caused by the positive-strand RNA dengue virus (DENV). There are four genetically distinct DENVs (DENV-1–4) that cause disease in tropical and subtropical countries. Most patients are viremic when they present with symptoms; therefore, RT-PCR has been increasingly used in dengue diagnosis. The CDC DENV-1–4 RT-PCR Assay has been developed as an in-vitro diagnostic platform and was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for detection of dengue in patients with signs or symptoms of mild or severe dengue. The primers and probes of this test have been designed to detect currently circulating strains of DENV-1–4 from around the world at comparable sensitivity. In a retrospective study with 102 dengue cases confirmed by IgM anti-DENV seroconversion in the convalescent sample, the RT-PCR Assay detected DENV RNA in 98.04% of the paired acute samples. Using sequencing as a positive indicator, the RT-PCR Assay had a 97.92% positive agreement in 86 suspected dengue patients with a single acute serum sample. After extensive validations, the RT-PCR Assay performance was highly reproducible when evaluated across three independent testing sites, did not produce false positive results for etiologic agents of other febrile illnesses, and was not affected by pathological levels of potentially interfering biomolecules. These results indicate that the CDC DENV-1–4 RT-PCR Assay provides a reliable diagnostic platform capable for confirming dengue in suspected cases.
A Graph Theory Based Impact and Completion Analysis Framework and Applications for Modeling SOA Solution Components

Evolved from our engineering experience, this paper presents a mathematical framework to define and analyze an SOA (service-oriented architecture) model. SOA model, composed by design elements, is represented as directed graph based on graph theory. For each design element, two directed graphs are created to reflect the panoramic view and relationships of this design element with other design elements of same model, and used for impact and completion analysis of this design element. A numerical value called the relative importance indicator is computed to quantify the relationship between any two design elements. This indicator forms a matrix that is used as a base for more advanced analysis, such as model partition, model coupling, and variation-oriented design. Some future research directions such as model reduction are discussed at the end of this paper.
Information-Constrained Resource Allocation in Multicamera Wireless Surveillance Networks

Real-time multiuser multimedia applications, such as surveillance or monitoring using multiple cameras, have recently started to be deployed over flexible and low-cost multihop wireless networks. In such multimedia systems, the various sources (cameras) share the limited network resources and collaboratively forward the captured video streams to a remote central monitor. However, existing resource allocation schemes often ignore the dynamic application-layer video and network characteristics by focusing on the steady-state or worst-case operating conditions. This may result in inefficient allocation of the network resources. In this paper, we focus on determining whether the resource allocation for wireless video surveillance systems should be performed based on steady-state or worst-case operating conditions, or whether perpetual adaptation to the dynamically changing source and network conditions is desirable. We analyze three different types of solutions that have different information requirements: a centralized optimization approach, a decentralized game-theoretic approach (which guarantees a stable allocation), and a distributed greedy approach (which perpetually adapts allocation based on the local information exchanged among the neighboring nodes). We compare these three approaches using the following four metrics: 1) the total video quality; 2) the computational complexity; 3) the required control information overhead; and 4) the timely adaptation to the network and source variation. We show that in a static network, the game theoretic resource allocation is only better than the distributed greedy approach when the network transmission rates are high. In a dynamic network, the distributed greedy approach can outperform the other two approaches significantly in terms of video quality (peak signal-to-noise ratio). This shows that resource allocation solutions for multicamera wireless surveillance networks need to explicitly consider both the dynamic source characteristics and network conditions, rather than always relying on stable, but predetermined, allocations.
Reaction routes in catalytic reforming of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) into renewable hydrocarbon oil

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) or PHB is an energy storage material of microbial organisms and can be reformed into hydrocarbon oils rich with aromatic compounds. This work investigated the main reaction routes from PHB to the key intermediates and final hydrocarbons. The main sequential reactions under catalysis of phosphoric acid at moderate temperatures (200–230 °C) consist of: (1) decomposition of PHB into crotonic acid, a major monomeric intermediate, (2) deoxygenation of crotonic acid, and (3) combination of the deoxygenated molecules. The oxygen in PHB is removed as CO2 and H2O in stage (2), involving decarboxylation and ketonization of crotonic acid. The main aromatic compounds are formed in stage (3) from propylene and 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one as two key intermediates, the former from decarboxylation and the latter from ketonization of crotonic acid. The reaction routes reveal that the formation of aromatics is affected to a great extent by the concentrations of phosphoric acid and water in the reaction, which can be used to control the composition of hydrocarbon oil.
A novel Xanthomonas sp. causes bacterial spot of rose (Rosa spp.).

A bacterial spot of rose (Rosa spp.) caused by a xanthomonad was observed in Florida and Texas. Ten representative strains collected from the two states between 2004 and 2010 were used to determine the taxonomic position of this rose pathogen. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis was performed and a nearly 2-kb 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer along with flanking portions of the 16S and 23S rRNA genes were sequenced for selected strains, showing that they were members of the genus Xanthomonas. Multilocus sequence typing and analysis (MLST/MLSA) and pathogenicity tests were conducted to further characterize the Xanthomonas strains. The MLSA, based on six gene fragments-fusA, gapA, gltA, gyrB, lacF, and lepA-showed that the rose strains fell into Xanthomonas axonopodis subgroup 9.2 and shared the highest similarity values (98.8 to 99.7%) with X. alfalfae subsp. citrumelonis of the subgroup. However, principal coordinate analysis grouped the rose strains into a unique cluster distinct from other members of the subgroup according to virulence phenotypes on 11 plant species belonging to five plant families (Araceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, and Solanaceae). Moreover, the rose strains were aggressive on rose and Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepsis indica). On the basis of the MLSA and virulence phenotypes, the pathovar epithet rosa is proposed.
Neonaticide: an appropriate application for therapeutic jurisprudence?

Might therapeutic jurisprudence, a perspective that attempts to study interaction between the legal and mental health disciplines, be brought to bear effectively with respect to neonaticide, the murder of a newborn infant in the first 24 hours of its life? This is a crime that leads to sentencing that is now rarely therapeutic, rehabilitative, or corrective. An examination of the crime, its motives, and its perpetrators precedes a discussion of ways in which the mental health viewpoint in this matter might be brought to the active attention of the courts in order to promote sentencing that is appropriate to both the crime and the transgressor. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An improved in vivo method for atrioventricular node ablation via thoracotomy

The atrioventricular (AV) node is permanently damaged in approximately 3% of congenital heart surgery operations, requiring implantation of a permanent pacemaker. Improvements in pacemaker design and in alternative treatment modalities require an effective in vivo model of complete heart block (CHB) before testing can be performed in humans. Such a model should enable accurate, reliable, and detectable induction of the surgical pathology. Through our laboratory’s efforts in developing a tissue engineering therapy for CHB, we describe here an improved in vivo model for inducing chronic AV block. The method employs a right thoracotomy in the adult rabbit, from which the right atrial appendage may be retracted to expose an access channel for the AV node. A novel injection device was designed, which both physically restricts needle depth and provides electrical information via electrocardiogram interface. This combination of features provides real-time guidance to the researcher for confirming contact with the AV node, and documents its ablation upon formalin injection. While all animals tested could be induced to acute AV block, those with ECG guidance were more likely to maintain chronic heart block >12 h. Our model enables the researcher to reproduce both CHB and the associated peripheral fibrosis that would be present in an open congenital heart surgery, and which would inevitably impact the design and utility of a tissue engineered AV node replacement.
Contract theory for the evolution of cooperation: The right incentives attract the right partners

Partner choice is a critical stage of many biological interactions, from mating to cooperation. When the quality of the potential partners is unknown, one way to choose is to rely on signaling: costly signals can reveal the quality of the sender and allow the receiver to choose. In some cases, however, signaling (or an active choice based on signals) is not possible, for example in the initiation of the symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. How is partner choice possible in this and other similar cases? I show that in a game with asymmetric information without signaling, imposing a deliberate cost for establishing the interaction allows the non-informed individual to attract the right partner if the cost induces only high quality individuals to accept the interaction. Furthermore, imposing different costs and rewards may induce the informed individuals to screen themselves according to their types, and therefore allow the non-informed individual to establish an association with the correct partners in the absence of signaling.
Commercial and Internet trends and the NASA spaceflight ground network

NASA is a critical information source in this Age of Information. With the advent and maturity of the Internet, the demand for NASA information has grown beyond science data archives to near real time and even real time data, particularly on the Earth and near Earth ecosystems. NASA also has prospered a policy of sharing mission responsibility with non-NASA entities, which still require tracking support from the NASA network. This paper discusses the issues in conflict when trying to solve the paradox of securing a critical national resource and participating as a good citizen of the Information Age. By illustrating several ground network architecture examples, these issues are highlighted. Recommendations for using the NASA tracking networks are given.
Transnational Boundaries: Humanitarian Aid, Development and Refugees in Ngara District, Tanzania, 1959-1965

My paper will engage the history of international humanitarian aid to Rwandan refugees in Tanzania during the late 1950s until the end of the 1960s. Specifically, I examine the interaction between the site of aid conception in Geneva and Dar es Salaam, and the area of aid implementation in Ngara District,. This work will examine the nature of the agreement between the UNHCR, the Tanganyikan Christian Refugee Service (TCRS), and the Tanzanian Government. Central to this is an examination of the Government's utilization of refugee aid within local development projects. Equally central to this discussion are the effects of the refugee presence, as well as international aid, on life in Ngara district. Specifically, I will illuminate how governmental and international efforts to control migration of refugees and Ngarans in this border region failed. I also explore the nature of refugee aid at this pivotal juncture in world history, when UNHCR began to take a more interested part in aiding refugees in sub-Saharan Africa at the same moment as the transition from colonial territories (in this case trusteeship) to independence. My work is based on multi-sited archival research in the UNHCR, TCRS and Tanzanian National Archives, in addition to oral histories.
The Successful Commercialization of Smart Pixel Arrays

Examples of successfully commercialized smart pixel arrays in virtual and projection displays, and intelligent sensors for performing image processing and motion detection are described.
Respiratory resetting induced by spinal cord stimulation in the cat

Electrical stimulation (50-150 microA, 0.5-ms duration, 3-300 Hz) was performed within three different regions (lateral, ventrolateral, and ventral) of the C2-C3 spinal cord of decerebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated cats. Spinal cord stimulation sites were located by inserting monopolar or bipolar stimulating electrodes either at the dorsolateral sulcus or at least 1 mm medial or lateral to the sulcus. With stimulation at each site, alterations in respiratory rhythm, orthodromic phrenic nerve responses, and antidromic activation of medullary respiratory-modulated neurons were examined. Phrenic nerve responses to cervical spinal cord stimulation consisted of an early excitation (2-4 ms) and/or a late excitation (4-8 ms). Stimulation of the lateral region evoked the greatest amplitude early response and stimulation of the ventrolateral region produced the greatest late excitation. All three stimulus sites elicited antidromic activation of some respiratory-modulated neurons in the dorsal (DRG) and ventral respiratory groups (VRG). The lateral region was the least effective resetting site, and it had the highest incidence of antidromic activation of both DRG and VRG neurons. The ventrolateral region of the cervical spinal cord was the most effective resetting site, but it had the lowest incidence of antidromic activation of DRG respiratory-modulated neurons. In addition, resetting responses were observed with spinal cord stimulation at similar sites in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord regions thought to be devoid of inspiratory bulbospinal axons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transfusion-acquired babesiosis in a nonendemic area

Babesiosis is a tick-borne illness endemic to the coastal areas of southern New England. Despite the enormous safety measures that transfusion and blood bank services perform for each product, transfusion of blood products is not without risk. The majority of transfusion-related reactions and complications are recognized soon after transfusion. We report a case of transfusion-acquired babesiosis in Washington State that presented 4 weeks after transfusion of a blood product from a donor living in a babesiosis-endemic area.
High Time for Action

Stage A 58-year-old man receiving hemodialysis after failed renal transplantation was admitted with unstable angina. He had a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and transplant-related immunosuppression of several years' duration. Less than four weeks earlier, he had undergone repair of an intraabdominal aortic aneurysm and removal of the renal graft. Stage Cardiac catheterization was deferred because the prothrombin time and activated partial-thromboplastin time were prolonged, at 88.0 seconds (international normalized ratio [INR], 7.2) and 77 seconds (normal range, 28 to 40), respectively. He reported malaise, fevers, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting but no increase in bleeding since . . .
Automated Canopy and Payload Motion Estimation Using Vision Based Methods

This this paper advocates the use of automated computer vision and image processing techniques for characterization of parachute cargo systems. It considers two applications in which test video can be used to extract useful information about the behavior of these systems. The first application deals with identifying the relative motion of the decelerator canopy compared to that of the payload using a simple upward facing camera mounted on the top of the payload. The second application employs similar algorithms, but uses multiple ground-based cameras to reveal a six degree of freedom trajectory histories of parachute and parafoil-payload systems.
La fusion par confinement au moyen de miroirs magnétiques

L'auteur expose les principes du miroir tandem, qui, depuis le milieu des annees 1970, a revolutionne les perspectives de la fusion magnetique par miroirs. Apres avoir rapporte les premiers resultats obtenus par ces types d'installations, il decrit la realisation actuellement en cours a Livermore (Etats-Unis) d'un centre d'essais de fusion qui sera fonde sur un dispositif a miroirs tandem (MFTF-B). Il evoque enfin le concept « prometteur » du miroir magnetique a champ inverse, autre variante des configurations a miroirs.
Status and trends of breast cancer mortality in Chinese females

Objective To describe the current status of mortality breast cancer in Chinese females between 2004 and 2005,as well as its developing trend from 1973 to 2005. Methods The data of female breast cancer deaths and number of female under exposure were collected through the Third National Mortality Retrospective Sampling Survey,which covered a total of 69 690 241 person years of females.The data was descriptively analyzed,and compared with the data of time-trend of breast cancer mortality in the previous two surveys in 1973-1975 and 1990-1992 respectively. Results The crude mortality of female breast cancer in China in 2004-2005 was 5.90 per 100 000 (4112/69 690 241),ranking the sixth most common cancer death in Chinese females,and accounted for 5.90% (4112/69 667) of all female deaths from cancer.The crude mortality of female breast cancer was 6.86/100 000 (1777/25 900 856) in the eastern China,5.91/100 000 (1431/24 225 738) in the central China and 4.62/100 000 (904/19 563 647) in the western China.The age-standardized mortality among Chinese standard population of female breast cancer in urban area (4.91/100 000,1899 death cases) was 1.44 times higher than that in rural area (3.42/100 000,2213 death cases).The crude mortality increased 99.99% from 1973-1975 (2.95/100 000) to 2004-2005 (5.90/100 000),the absolute figure increased by 2.95/100 000.The agestandardized mortality among Chinese standard population increased 37.85% from 1973-2005 (2.88/100 000) to 2004-2005 (3.97/100 000),the absolute figure increased 1.09/100 000. Conclusion The mortality of female breast cancer in urban area was higher than that in rural area,and it decreased from the eastern China,to the central China and to the western China in turn.The mortality of female breast cancer has constantly increased in China since 1973. Key words: Breast cancer; Mortality; Demography
Distribution of Income

In this chapter we combine briefly the statements of Chapters V and VI on salary structure under competition with the simple model of organizational structure in Chapter II in order to draw some conclusions about the income distribution in an hierarchical organization and the income distributions of all organization members in the economy.
Renormalizing the Schwinger-Dyson equations in the auxiliary field formulation of λ ϕ 4 field theory

In this paper we study the renormalization of the Schwinger-Dyson equations that arise in the auxiliary field formulation of the O($N$) ${\ensuremath{\phi}}^{4}$ field theory. The auxiliary field formulation allows a simple interpretation of the large-$N$ expansion as a loop expansion of the generating functional in the auxiliary field $\ensuremath{\chi}$, once the effective action is obtained by integrating over the $\ensuremath{\phi}$ fields. Our all orders result is then used to obtain finite renormalized Schwinger-Dyson (SD) equations based on truncation expansions which utilize the two-particle irreducible (2-PI) generating function formalism. We first do an all orders renormalization of the two- and three-point function equations in the vacuum sector. This result is then used to obtain explicitly finite and renormalization constant independent self-consistent SD equations valid to order $1/N$, in both $2+1$ and $3+1$ dimensions. We compare the results for the real and imaginary parts of the renormalized Green's functions with the related sunset approximation to the 2-PI equations discussed by Van Hees and Knoll, and comment on the importance of the Landau pole effect.
A near atomic structure of the active human apoptosome

An adult human loses around 50–70 billion cells every day via a process termed apoptosis. The term arises from the Greek word that describes leaves “falling off” a tree, and the process entails damaged or unwanted cells essentially committing suicide in a controlled manner. As such, apoptosis keeps the number of cells in tissues and organs in check. It also allows components of old cells to be recycled to make new ones. In cells that are targeted to die, a protein called cytochrome c interacts with another protein, named Apaf-1, together with a nucleotide triphosphate molecule. These steps work in concert to trigger the assembly of the apoptosome: a large wheel-like complex that contains seven copies each of Apaf-1 and cytochrome c. The central hub of the wheel then recruits a specific protein-cutting enzyme, which once activated sets in motion a cascade of events that dismantle the cell from the inside out. Cheng et al. now use an electron microscope to reveal the three-dimensional structure of the active human apoptosome, in enough detail to determine the positions of many of the amino acids that make up the complex. The three dimensional model provides new insights into how Apaf-1 changes shape as the complex assembles in the presence of cytochrome c and nucleotide triphosphate. Cheng et al. went on to reveal a disk-like structure made from the parts of four Apaf-1 proteins that interact with the protein-cutting enzymes. This disk forms a spiral that sits atop the central hub of the wheel-like apoptosome. Finally, the findings suggest that, although the wheel like complex has seven spokes, at any one time the active apoptosome may only need two (or at most four) copies of the protein-cutting enzyme to trigger the cascade of events that lead to cell death In the future, emerging technologies may provide high enough resolution to visualize fine details of the interactions between cytochrome c and Apaf-1, and reveal more about the disk-like spiral as well. This in turn will give a better understanding of how the apoptosome assembles and how the protein-cutting enzyme becomes activated.
Fencing out the Jones’s: The Development of Response Strategies for Spillover Crises

This study bridges literature on reputational interdependence and crisis communication to identify a distinct exigency—a spillover crisis—which occurs when events in an external organization create concern, uncertainty, or perceptions of harm for another organization. Specifically, we examine the crisis response strategies used by the top three peanut butter brands during the 2009 Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) Salmonella contamination and resulting peanut product recall. While commercially sold peanut butter was not part of the recall, even the top brands in the industry experienced negative spillover effects from PCA’s crisis. This study demonstrates that the outcomes of a spillover crisis can be actively managed through a series of crisis response strategies and provides evidence that documented crisis recovery efforts can serve as an a priori solution and protect organizations from future reputation threats, including spillover crises.
Low-Temperature Drop-on-Demand Reactive Silver Inks for Solar Cell Front-Grid Metallization

Formation of high-conductivity metal contacts at low temperatures expands optoelectronic device opportunities to include thermally sensitive layers, while reducing expended thermal budget for fabrication. This includes high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells with intrinsic amorphous silicon layers. Efficiencies of these cells are limited by series resistance; the primary cause of this is the relatively high resistivity of the low-temperature silver paste used to form front-grid metallization. In this paper, we report the formation of highly conductive features by drop-on-demand printing of reactive silver ink (RSI) at a low temperature of 78 °C, resulting in media resistivities of 3–5 μΩ·cm. When used as a front grid on a silicon heterojunction solar cell, RSI fingers give cell series resistance of 1.8 Ω·cm2 (without optimization of the process), which is impressively close to 1.1 Ω·cm2 for our commercially available screen-printed low-temperature silver paste metallization. We present here the promising first results of RSI as metallic finger for photovoltaics, which upon optimization of design parameters has the potential to outperform the screen-printed low-temperature silver paste counterpart.
Brusatol overcomes chemoresistance through inhibition of protein translation

The NRF2 pathway activates a cell survival response when cells are exposed to xenobiotics or are under oxidative stress. Therapeutic activation of NRF2 can also be used prior to insult as a means of disease prevention. However, prolonged expression of NRF2 has been shown to protect cancer cells by inducing the metabolism and efflux of chemotherapeutics, leading to both intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance to cancer drugs. This effect has been termed the "dark side" of NRF2. In an effort to combat this chemoresistance, our group discovered the first NRF2 inhibitor, the natural product brusatol, however the mechanism of inhibition was previously unknown. In this report, we show that brusatol's mode of action is not through direct inhibition of the NRF2 pathway, but through the inhibition of both cap-dependent and cap-independent protein translation, which has an impact on many short-lived proteins, including NRF2. Therefore, there is still a need to develop a new generation of specific NRF2 inhibitors with limited toxicity and off-target effects that could be used as adjuvant therapies to sensitize cancers with high expression of NRF2.
Scheduling Staff in Developmental Centers: A Pert Based Approach

This paper presents a brief description of a technique which can aid administrators of developmental centers and other programs in the process of staff scheduling. The technique which is presented ...
Enhancing Construction Project Management Education by Simulation

AbstractSimulations are one of the new pedagogical tools that are presented as supplementary materials in higher education. Many fields, such as aviation, medical science, and business, are incorpo...
Cryo-EM Structure of the Open Human Ether-a-go-go-Related K(+) Channel hERG.

Summary The human ether-a-go-go -related potassium channel (hERG, Kv11.1) is a voltage-dependent channel known for its role in repolarizing the cardiac action potential. hERG alteration by mutation or pharmacological inhibition produces Long QT syndrome and the lethal cardiac arrhythmia torsade de pointes. We have determined the molecular structure of hERG to 3.8 A using cryo-electron microscopy. In this structure, the voltage sensors adopt a depolarized conformation, and the pore is open. The central cavity has an atypically small central volume surrounded by four deep hydrophobic pockets, which may explain hERG's unusual sensitivity to many drugs. A subtle structural feature of the hERG selectivity filter might correlate with its fast inactivation rate, which is key to hERG's role in cardiac action potential repolarization.
Initial clinical experience with a dedicated breast PET system

2650 Objectives To assess clinical feasibility of performing dedicated breast PET imaging by investigating its use in female patients undergoing whole body PET/CT. Methods Female patients (n=22, mean age 58 y, range 25-83 y) undergoing PET/CT for staging or monitoring of cancer were invited to undergo additional dedicated breast PET imaging. Breast cancer was the primary indication for PET/CT in 68% (15/22) of patients. Indications for the remaining patients included melanoma (3/22), lymphoma (1/22), lung adenocarcinoma (1/22), neuroendocrine cancer (1/22), and ovarian carcinoma (1/22). For PET/CT examination, patients received 555 MBq (15mCi) F-18 FDG intravenously, and imaging commenced 1 hour post-injection. Dedicated breast PET imaging commenced 3-4 hours post-injection to allow for decay of activity to about 120-180 MBq, due to the system’s increased detector sensitivity. In patients with a history of breast cancer, the affected breast was imaged unless the patient had undergone mastectomy, in which case the remaining breast was imaged. For the remaining 7 patients, the right breast was imaged unless the patient volunteered for bilateral imaging (2/7). Dedicated breast PET patients were positioned prone on an imaging table with the breast pendulant through an opening in the table. The detector ring was positioned beneath the imaging table and surrounded the pendulant breast acquiring 1 or 2 five-minute frames, dependent upon breast size. Images were reconstructed using the 3D MLEM algorithm optimized for clinical use. Results 18% (4/22) of patients had one or more breast lesions visualized on both whole-body PET/CT and breast PET. All 4 patients had a history of breast cancer. In an additional 14% (3/22) of patients, breast lesions were detected with breast PET imaging that were not detected on PET/CT. In one patient breast lesions were retrospectively detected on PET/CT following review of the positive breast-PET images. In another patient, PET/CT-occult lesions were visualized on follow-up PET/CT imaging performed 3 months later. In the 3rd case, the PET/CT scan was negative and the breast PET findings were confirmed by other breast imaging modalities and biopsy. Two of the three additional breast lesions were confirmed as invasive ductal carcinoma on surgical pathology while malignancy was not confirmed in one patient who was already scheduled for chemotherapy and radiation. Conclusions Dedicated breast PET may be a beneficial adjunct test following whole-body PET/CT in evaluating patients with breast cancer. Whole-body PET/CT offers advantages over dedicated breast PET, such as evaluation of systemic disease, lymph node involvement, and chest wall invasion. However, breast PET’s increased spatial resolution [reported as 1.6mm isotropic (1)] may aide in early detection of small lesions not visible on whole-body PET/CT, rendering these tools complimentary to each other for management of breast disease.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), stress, and sex hormones

Stressor exposure is associated with the onset and severity of many psychopathologies that are more common in women than men. Moreover, the maladaptive expression and function of stress-related hormones have been implicated in these disorders. Evidence suggests that PACAP has a critical role in the stress circuits mediating stress-responding, and PACAP may interact with sex hormones to contribute to sex differences in stress-related disease. In this review, we describe the role of the PACAP/PAC1 system in stress biology, focusing on the role of stress-induced alterations in PACAP expression and signaling in the development of stress-induced behavioral change. Additionally, we present more recent data suggesting potential interactions between stress, PACAP, and circulating estradiol in pathological states, including PTSD. These studies suggest that the level of stress and circulating gonadal hormones may differentially regulate the PACAPergic system in males and females to influence anxiety-like behavior and may be one mechanism underlying the discrepancies in human psychiatric disorders.
Medical Considerations in Adaptive Sports

The medical considerations specific to the most common and serious medical conditions for adaptive athletes in each of the six categories are reviewed in this chapter. Although there are some similarities, each of the six categories (spinal cord injury, amputees/limb-deficient athletes, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, intellectual impairment, and les autres) of adaptive athletes exhibits unique predisposing factors to common and life-threatening medical problems[1] The presenting symptoms and signs are explained in addition to treatment and recommendations for participation.
Modeling of mmW and THz Imaging Systems Using Conjugate Field Coupling

We propose a novel technique for efficient and robust modeling of multistatic, multidimensional, large-format millimeter-wave/terahertz imaging systems. The proposed method significantly reduces the necessary computational resources for the design of electrically large systems of multiple sensors that acquire multifrequency images, such as imaging radars used in three-dimensional mapping. To alleviate the problem, the radiated and scattered fields are individually computed for the sensor and the target, respectively, using full-wave numerical solvers. Afterward, the fields are properly combined using conjugate field coupling, thus minimizing the necessary computational resources, without compromising solution accuracy. In this letter, the theoretical background of the technique is presented, along with numerical results for beam steering and raster scanning imaging systems.
The Systematics of the Spiranthes cernua Species Complex (Orchidaceae): Untangling the Gordian Knot

Two major obstacles to quantifying biodiversity are reticulate evolution and the evolution of genetically distinct but morphologically overlapping cryptic species. The Spiranthes cernua species complex (Orchidaceae) has defied satisfactory species delineation, often described as intractable, due to morphological variability within species, overall morphological similarity between species, possible cryptic speciation, and suspected hybridization. Weutilized low copy nuclear, nuclear ribosomal, and chloroplast molecular phylogenetic datasets, in addition to expansive field and herbarium research, to clarify long-standing questions regarding species boundaries within the S. cernua species complex. Our results justify: 1) narrowing the concept of S. cernua; 2) the description of a new cryptic species, Spiranthes arcisepala; 3) the description of a new geographically restricted species of cryptic and ancient hybrid origin, Spiranthes niklasii (S. cernua × S. ovalis); 4) a new combination for a biogeographically specific cryptic species of ancient hybrid origin, Spiranthes incurva (S. cernua×S. magnicamporum); and 5) the description of a new localized hybrid, Spiranthes ×kapnosperia (S. cernua × S. ochroleuca). We also propose formal synonymization of federally endangered Spiranthes parksii under S. cernua s. s. Our research clarifies species boundaries within this challenging group, and is the first to use molecular phylogenetic data to support hybridization as an evolutionary force within the S. cernua species complex.
Analyzing spaceflight residual risk acceptance decisions before launch

Abstract This paper will examine the typical decision process that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) project management team members utilize to rank and then accept residual risks before the launch of a spacecraft. Interviews of two flight project management teams at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) were conducted to understand the structuring of these decisions. Decision attribute preferences were elicited using a lottery technique and a multi-attribute preference model (MAPM) was constructed. MAPM model ranking was consistent with the actual project management team residual risk ranking as well as the ranking determined by the project's risk scoring scheme. While we found differing risk acceptance behaviors among project team members, the MAPM model generally agreed with the team's actual ranking decisions. However, the MAPM model showed incongruences between the risk scoring scheme ranking and model outputs in the moderate risk region as compared to the GSFC risk scorecard, which may point to a potential area of disagreement between project management team members when moderate risks must be accepted before flight.
How Does the New Protoconsciousness Hypothesis Fit with Your Own Concept of the Cognitive Unconscious

Philosophers who try to define consciousness often contrast it to a state of dreamless sleep. So I think that Allan Hobson is right to think that understanding sleep, and dreams, may be a key to that Holy Grail of psychological research – understanding consciousness itself, including its biological substrates. Hobson argues that dreaming is not an unconscious process but rather an altered state of consciousness which is poorly remembered – if it is remembered at all – in normal waking life. I agree, but it is one thing for dreaming to result from an unconscious process and another thing for dreaming to be an unconscious mental state (Kihlstrom 2010).
Obesity and Asian Americans: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Future Research Directions

Obesity has been declared a global epidemic by the World Health Organization, and rates have also been rising among Asian Americans. In this chapter, we will discuss how obesity is defined and measured and if current definitions of obesity apply to Asian Americans; how prevalent obesity is among Asian Americans; why obesity is such a major public health concern today; what factors increase risk for obesity especially in the Asian American population; and ideas for future research.
Cellular Space Models: New Formalism for Simulation and Science

Arthur Burks, when explicating what is meant by a “Law of Nature” states that it has three main features: uniqueness, modality, and uniformity. (Burks, 1977) (p. 425) Very briefly, “uniqueness” means that the law makes unequivocal assertions, “modality”, that it holds not only for actual, but also possible, situations, and “uniformity”, that it applies uniformly to all points in space and time. Proceeding to formalize these concepts, Burks presents cellular automata as model systems in which such laws of this nature are readily comprehended. (Burks, 1977, p. 562). A cellular automaton1 is characterized by specifying three parameters: a set of states S, a neighborhood N, and a transition function T. The interpretation of the triple is as follows: One imagines a checkerboard stretching out towards infinity in both north-south and east-west axes. At each square is located a cell with state set S. The neighbors of a cell located at square (i,j) (where as will be apparent “neighbors” is intended in an informational sense) are simply determined from the neighborhood N: in fact, N is a finite ordered set of integer pairs and the neighbors of this cell are located at the squares obtained by adding (i,j) to each pair of N (vector addition). Now imagine a global state of this system pertaining at some time instant t, i.e., assign to each cell a state from the set S. Then the system will move to a succeeding global state at time instant t+1 which is determined as follows: Simultaneously, for each cell apply the transition functionn T to the states of its neighbors and let the result be the state of the cell at t+1.
Robots, Ethics, and Intimacy: The Need for Scientific Research

Intimate relationships between robots and human beings may begin to form in the near future. Market forces, customer demand, and other factors may drive the creation of various forms of robots to which humans may form strong emotional attachments. Yet prior to the technology becoming fully actualized, numerous ethical, legal, and social issues must be addressed. This could be accomplished in part by establishing a rigorous scientific research agenda in the realm of intimate robotics, the aim of which would be to explore what effects the technology may have on users and on society more generally. Our goal is not to resolve whether the development of intimate robots is ethically appropriate. Rather, we contend that if such robots are going to be designed, then an obligation emerges to prevent harm that the technology could cause.
Calculating heading from a video camera: a computational model of motion perception

Motion detection is an important component of machine vision systems. As an observer moves, images projected onto his retina moves simultaneously, creating a velocity field referred to as optic flow. By processing optic flow, the brain is able to compute where the observer is heading in the world. Understanding how the brain performs this calculation can help to build computer vision systems.
Providing Lean Beef for the Next Project: Beef as a Component of a Healthy Dietary Pattern in Cancer Survivors

ObjectivesAn analytical characterization study was conducted at The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences in support of a dietary intervention research trial conducted by researchers in the James Comprehensive Cancer Center to incorporate lean beef as a component of a healthy dietary pattern in cancer survivors. For this study, half of the participants were expected to consume 12 to 18 oz of lean beef each week for 24 wk. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), lean beef is defined in part as beef containing less than 10% lipid by weight. Because lipids constitute the most variable of all nutritional components in meat, quantification of extractable lipid content of beef provided by The Ohio State University Meat Science Laboratory was necessary to ensure the criteria of lean beef was met for the nutritional trial. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify extractable lipid content in in all beef samples prior to incorporation into the diet of the study participants. Materials and MethodsBeef semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, and rectus femoris muscles were obtained from the round primal of beef carcasses classified as A maturity. Muscles were trimmed until no more than 8 mm of subcutaneous fat was present. To provide variety for the participants, muscles were fabricated into 9 retail cuts including fine ground beef, coarse ground beef, top round steaks, bottom round steaks, eye of round steaks, thinly sliced beef (cut from the biceps femoris), fajita meat (cut from the semimembranosus), stew meat (cut from the rectus femoris), and cubed steaks (cut from the semimembranosus). Representative samples were collected from each batch of retail cuts and powdered in liquid nitrogen in duplicate. After weighing powdered samples into packets and lyophilizing, extractable lipid content was quantified using a Soxhlet extraction with an 87:13 mixture of chloroform:methanol. Extractable lipid content (%) was determined using the following equation: extractable lipid (%) = (mass after lyophilization- mass after soxhlet extraction) / (original mass of sample) × 100. Any cut that did not classify as USDA lean beef could have been rejected from the study and not provided to the participants. However, no beef was excluded from the study. ResultsA table of descriptive statistics of the extractable lipid content of the 9 different retail cuts is provided (Table 1). A total of 124 samples were analyzed and the beef provided for the study contained an average overall extractable lipid content (%) of 3.6% ± 2.0% (mean ± SD). ConclusionLean beef was provided for this human nutrition study. Further results and conclusions from the dietary intervention research trial are forthcoming.
Protein Supplementation and Resistance Training in Childhood Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE Muscle weakness, low lean body mass, and poor physical performance are prevalent among adult survivors of childhood cancer (survivors). We evaluated the feasibility and effects of resistance training with and without protein supplementation on lean body mass and muscle strength among survivors. METHODS This double-blind placebo-controlled trial enrolled survivors ≥18 to <45 yr old. Participants were randomized to resistance training with protein supplement (21 g whey protein per day, 90 kcal) (RT + S) or resistance training with placebo (sucrose, 90 kcal) (RT + P). Participants received educational materials, access to a local fitness center, and a tailored resistance training program with tapered supervision. Participant retention and adherence were used to evaluate feasibility. Lean body mass and muscle strength were assessed at baseline and 24 wk, using dual x-ray absorptiometry, and dynamometer testing or one-repetition maximum testing, respectively. Mean changes were compared with two-way ANOVA. RESULTS Of 70 participants randomized, 57 completed the 24-wk intervention (24 in RT + S, 33 in RT + P). The RT + S group completed 74.8% and the RT + P group completed 67.0% of exercise sessions. Mean ± SD age for those who completed was 33.1 ± 7.0 yr, 67% were White and 47% female. There were no differences in change in lean mass (RT + S, 1.05 ± 2.34 kg; RT + P, 0.13 ± 2.19 kg; P = 0.10) or strength (grip RT + S, 1.65 ± 4.17 kg; RT + P, 1.63 ± 4.47 kg; P = 0.98; mean leg press RT + S, 58.4 ± 78.8 kg; RT + P, 51.0 ± 65.1 kg; P = 0.68) between groups. Both lean mass (P = 0.03) and strength (grip P = 0.003, leg press P < 0.001) increased over time. CONCLUSIONS Supervised resistance training among survivors with protein supplementation is feasible but not more effective at increasing total lean body mass than resistance training alone.
Resonant Searches for Macroscopic Spin-Dependent Interactions

The Indiana short-range gravity experiment uses a resonant technique to investigate forces in the sub-millimeter range with femtonewton sensitivity. It has most recently been used in a search for Lorentz violation and is currently being modified to be sensitive to electron spin-dependent forces. The ARIADNE experiment, under construction at Indiana, uses an NMR technique to probe nuclear spin-dependent forces on a sample of polarized helium-3 and will have sensitivity relevant to the hypothetical axion.
Chapter 17 – Carboranes in Other Applications

This chapter summarizes recent advances in several areas of practical application beyond those described in earlier chapters. These include the metallacarborane-based extraction of radionuclides from radioactive waste; the development of carborane-containing materials such as ionic liquids, liquid crystals, nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, gas separation and storage materials, electroactive systems, carborane-based networks and supramolecular assemblies, films and monolayers, biomaterials, and ceramics; molecular-scale cars and other nanomachines; carboranes as noncatalytic agents in synthesis; and the application of carboranes in gas chromatography and other analytical techniques.
The Relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Location of Restaurant

This research focuses on using data analysis tools to find out how to choose a better location for a restaurant. This research chooses Panda Express, Chipotle, and Taco Bell, three large foreign chain restaurants in the US as the target to find out why similar restaurants have different customer satisfaction in different places. Using different attributes such as demographic attributes, business patterns, competition level and cannibalization level as variables to describe their locations and rating of each restaurant from Yelp data as a standard for customer satisfaction, this research finds that location's attributes such as demographic and competition level have a significant relationship with the restaurant's customer satisfaction.