cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complex Fixed-Point ICA Algorithm for Separation of QAM Sources using Gaussian Mixture Model

We introduce a fixed-point algorithm, the complex QAM (C-QAM) algorithm, for separation of quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) sources through independent component analysis. The algorithm matches the input QAM distribution through a mixture of Gaussian kernels and uses fixed-point updates that fully take advantage of complex domain processing. We demonstrate the performance of the C-QAM algorithm through simulations and note that it provides improved performance over a wide range of operating conditions such as low signal-to-noise ratio, small sample sizes, and large number of sources.
Database support for matching: limitations and opportunities

We define a match join of R and S with predicate θ to be a subset of the θ-join of R and S such that each tuple of R and S contributes to at most one result tuple. Match joins and their generalizations belong to a broad class of matching problems that have attracted a great deal of attention in disciplines including operations research and theoretical computer science. Instances of these problems arise in practice in resource allocation scenarios. To the best of our knowledge no one uses an RDBMS as a tool to help solve these problems; our goal in this paper is to explore whether or not this needs to be the case. We show that the simple approach of computing the full θ-join and then applying standard graph-matching algorithms to the result is ineffective for all but the smallest of problem instances. By contrast, a closer study shows that the DBMS primitives of grouping, sorting, and joining can be exploited to yield efficient match join operations. This suggests that RDBMSs can play a role in matching related problems beyond merely serving as expensive file systems exporting data sets to external user programs.
Multiplex detection of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma pathogens in vertebrate and tick hosts by real-time RT-PCR

Tick-borne rickettsial infections are responsible for many emerging diseases in humans and several vertebrates. These include human infections with Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. As single or co-infections can result from a tick bite, the availability of a rapid, multiplex molecular test will be valuable for timely diagnosis and treatment. We recently described a muliplex-molecular test that can detect single or co-infections with up to five Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species. We reported that the test has the sensitivity to identify single infections in the canine host with E. chaffeensis, E. canis, E. ewingii, A. phagocytophilum, and A. platys and co-infection with E. canis and A. platys. In this study, ticks were collected from different parts of the state of Kansas during summer months of the year 2003 and tested for the presence of infection using the molecular test. The analysis revealed a minimum of 3.66% of the ticks to be positive for either E. chaffeensis or E. ewingii in A. americanum and Dermacenter species. This assay will be valuable in monitoring infections in dogs and ticks, and with minor modifications it can be used for diagnosing infections in people and other vertebrates.
Elucidation of the thromboregulatory role of CD39/ectoapyrase in the ischemic brain

Endothelial CD39 metabolizes ADP released from activated platelets. Recombinant soluble human CD39 (solCD39) potently inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation in response to ADP and reduced cerebral infarct volumes in mice following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, even when given 3 hours after stroke. Postischemic platelet and fibrin deposition were decreased and perfusion increased without increasing intracerebral hemorrhage. In contrast, aspirin did not increase postischemic blood flow or reduce infarction volume, but did increase intracerebral hemorrhage. Mice lacking the enzymatically active extracellular portion of the CD39 molecule were generated by replacement of exons 4–6 (apyrase-conserved regions 2–4) with a PGKneo cassette. Although CD39 mRNA 3′ of the neomycin cassette insertion site was detected, brains from these mice lacked both apyrase activity and CD39 immunoreactivity. Although their baseline phenotype, hematological profiles, and bleeding times were normal, cd39–/– mice exhibited increased cerebral infarct volumes and reduced postischemic perfusion. solCD39 reconstituted these mice, restoring postischemic cerebral perfusion and rescuing them from cerebral injury. These data demonstrate that CD39 exerts a protective thromboregulatory function in stroke.
Novel Structural Modulation in Ceramic Sensors Via Redox Processing in Gas Buffers

High selectivity, enhanced sensitivity, short response time, and long shelf-life are some of the key features sought in the solid-state ceramic-based chemical sensors. As the sensing mechanism and catalytic activity are predominantly surface-dominated, benign surface features in terms of small grain size, large surface area, high aspect ratio and, open and connected porosity, are required to realize a successful material. In order to incorporate these morphological features, a technique based on rigorous thermodynamic consideration of the metal/metal oxide coexistence is described. By modulating the oxygen partial pressure across the equilibrium M/MO proximity line, formation and growth of new oxide surface on an atomic/submolecular level under conditions of ‘‘oxygen deprivation,’’ with exotic morphological features, has been achieved in potential sensor materials. This paper describes the methodology and discusses the results obtained in the case of potential semiconducting ceramic oxide-based carbon monoxide and hydrogen sensors with enhanced characteristics.
A capstone mathematics course for prospective secondary mathematics teachers

This article describes an innovative capstone mathematics course that links college mathematics with school mathematics and pedagogy. It describes how college juniors in a secondary mathematics teacher preparation program engage in leadership experiences that enable them to learn mathematics for teaching while developing student-centered pedagogical and assessment strategies. Examples show how students teach the class, complemented by excerpts from student journals containing students’ perceptions of their learning. Preliminary research indicates the effectiveness of this course for preparing future mathematics teachers.
Discussion of Tax Professional Decision Biases: The Effects of Initial Beliefs and Client Preference

Kahle and White (2004) (hereafter Kahle and White) examine the joint effects of two characteristics of evidence—its relation to initial beliefs (i.e., confirming or disconfirming) and its potential consequences for a client (i.e, positive or negative)—on tax professionals’ interpretations of that evidence and subsequent judgments. Prior research suggests that decision makers, including professional accountants, tend to seek out and weight more heavily evidence that confirms existing or preferred beliefs/hypotheses. Prior research examining tax professional judgment also suggests that tax professionals may weight more heavily evidence with positive tax consequences for their clients. These are interesting and important findings as they suggest that tax professionals may be unable to objectively evaluate the risks to both themselves and their clients associated with a given tax reporting position. Kahle and White seek to examine whether these effects may have been confounded in prior research, or whether the results of prior studies purporting to examine one source of bias may alternatively be attributable to the other. Kahle and White label the tendency to confirm one’s initial beliefs as confirmation bias and the tendency to weight more heavily evidence that has positive consequences for the client as positive evidence proneness, implying that the two are conceptually distinct. In fact, it may be more accurate to think of both existing beliefs and client preferences as different potential targets of confirmation. The identification of two potential confirmation targets is interesting and potentially leads to several research questions regarding whether decision makers can/do attend to multiple confirmation targets and, if not, why one target might dominate others. Properly identifying the salient target and the factors that lead to its salience are also important for designing procedures to mitigate the bias. Kahle and White report the results of an experiment designed to jointly test for simple effects of initial beliefs and client preferences, as well as their interaction, on tax professional judgment incorporating a model employed in related auditing research (Bamber et al. 1997) to help isolate and measure the effects of interest. They interpret the results to suggest that both initial beliefs and client preferences impacted subjects’ interpretations of evidence. Subjects weighted evidence with potentially positive tax consequences more heavily than evidence with potentially negative consequences but, inconsistent with findings related to most other decision makers, subjects discounted evidence consistent with their own prior beliefs. In fact, on closer examination, the results may suggest that neither the
Two-Point Boundary Problems and Perpetual American Strangles in Jump-Diffusion Models

This paper studies pricing of perpetual American strangles under jump-diffusions. Explicit solutions for option values as functions of the exercise boundaries and the exercise boundaries as functions of the ratio between the boundaries are obtained. Calculation of the ratio of the exercise boundaries is reduced to solution of a non-linear equation. The method of the paper can be applied for pricing of double-barrier options. The economic applications include expansion-contraction decisions of an active firm.
DETERMINING EVOLUTIONARY HOMOLOGIES OF MOLTS AND PLUMAGES: A COMMENTARY ON HOWELL ET AL. (2003)

Abstract Howell et al. (2003) argue that the Humphrey-Parkes (H-P) system of molt terminology is flawed because it requires using traditional first prebasic molt as the starting point for plumage succession that results in noncorrespondence between nomenclature and presumed homology in first basic plumages. However, the H-P system does not require this. Second, they argue that plumage color can be a misleading criterion for evaluating plumage homologies. I show, however, that the timing and extent of molts, and thus their homologies, can de documented more accurately by using plumage color than by not doing so. Howell et al. (2003) propose a revised H-P system. To follow their system, one must accept their notion that no first-cycle molts are homologous with prebasic molts in subsequent molt cycles. However, this is not so as many species have a molt in their first cycle that is homologous to definitive prebasic molt. In addition, Howell et al.'s (2003) system does not offer any new or better criteria for...
Visual imagery in autobiographical memory: The role of repeated retrieval in shifting perspective

Recent memories are generally recalled from a first-person perspective whereas older memories are often recalled from a third-person perspective. We investigated how repeated retrieval affects the availability of visual information, and whether it could explain the observed shift in perspective with time. In Experiment 1, participants performed mini-events and nominated memories of recent autobiographical events in response to cue words. Next, they described their memory for each event and rated its phenomenological characteristics. Over the following three weeks, they repeatedly retrieved half of the mini-event and cue-word memories. No instructions were given about how to retrieve the memories. In Experiment 2, participants were asked to adopt either a first- or third-person perspective during retrieval. One month later, participants retrieved all of the memories and again provided phenomenology ratings. When first-person visual details from the event were repeatedly retrieved, this information was retained better and the shift in perspective was slowed.
Abstract 3692: Single center phase II study of yttrium-90 radioactive resin microspheres in the treatment of liver predominant metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma after failure of 1st-line combination chemotherapy

Background: Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. Liver metastases develop in half of all the colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and cause death in ∼90% of patients. We are evaluating the treatment of liver metastases through the incorporation of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) using Yttrium-90 radioactive microspheres for subjects with liver progressive disease following failure of first-line FOLFOX (± bevacizumab). We are presenting our preliminary data for the phase II study evaluating the tumor response rates, PFS, and long-term safety and toxicity to SIRT following FOLFOX (± bevacizumab) prior to FOLFIRI. Methods: Subjects with predominantly hepatic metastatic CRC whose disease progressed on first-line FOLFOX (± bevacizumab) based therapy are eligible. Interventional radiology and nuclear medicine assess the liver lesions and the subject receives their SIRT treatment(s) followed by second-line FOLFIRI based therapy 4-6 weeks after the final SIRT treatment. Optimal timing for microsphere treatment relative to chemotherapy is not clearly established. Results: To date, 9 metastatic CRC subjects have been treated and 11 subjects enrolled (goal 30 subjects). One subject was withdrawn due to progressive lung metastases. Four of 8 subjects (50%) achieved PFS at 6 months and average TTP is 6.7 months (0.7-17.3 months). Overall treatment has been well tolerated, but one possible study related SAE of liver failure occurred (Subject 8). The OS endpoint has not been achieved. Conclusions: Historically, second-line FOLFIRI has achieved a 2.5 months median PFS. In 8 subjects with predominant liver metastatic CRC, we have observed 50% PFS at 6 months. These encouraging results demonstrate the utility of an innovative direct approach to metastatic CRC after failure of first-line combination chemotherapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3692. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3692
Effects of dietary soy on ethanol-impaired placentation and fetal growth

s / Placenta 34 (2013) A1–A99 A37 multivitamin supplementation; however, the safety of niacin in pregnancy has not been established. In vitro studies demonstrate the potential for teratogenicity with high doses of niacin. Moreover, excessive niacin levels consumed by the non-pregnant population demonstrated induced apoptosis within hepatocytes. However, no studies to date have analysed the effects of high doses of niacin on placental health and function. Thus, it was hypothesized that increasing doses of niacin past the normal physiological concentrationwill initiate a stress response in an in vitro placental explant culture model. Methodology: Human placental explants were collected following elective Caesarean section from term healthy pregnancies at the Ottawa General Hospital. Placental explants were exposed to increasing concentrations (2-1000 ug/mL) of niacin for a 24-hour incubation period at 5% oxygen (N1⁄44). Placental cell viability and function were assessed through measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, activated caspase-3 immunoreactivity, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production. Results: Across all doses of niacin tested (2-1000 mg/mL) no changes in LDH release, immunoreactivity for activated caspase-3 and hCG production were observed. Conclusion: There is no evidence to suggest that excessive niacin induces aberrant changes in placental cell viability or function. Additional in vitro experiments are needed to confirm that niacin intake past the currently established UL for pregnancy does not harm the feto-placental unit. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2013.06.109 P1.73. EFFECTS OF DIETARY SOY ON ETHANOL-IMPAIRED PLACENTATION AND FETAL GROWTH Fusun Gundogan , Wei Qi , Jeffrey Gilligan , Suzanne de la Monte 2,3 Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University,
Climbing the Most Dangerous Branch: Legisprudence and the New Legal Process

A book review of "Cases and Materials on Legislation: Statutes and the Creation of Public Policy" by William N. Eskridge, Jr. and Philip P. Frickey.
The Equilibrium Swelling Behavior of Porous and Non-Porous Hydrogels

SUMMARY The physicochemical models utilized to analyze the equilibrium swelling behavior of neutral and ionic, porous and non-porous hydrogels are reviewed. Emphasis is given to the determination of the molecular weight between crosslinks and the equilibrium swelling ratio, especially in relation to utilization of such materials in superabsorbent and controlled release technology.
Auto-scoring Discovery and Confirmation Bias in Interpreting Data during Science Inquiry in a Microworld

Many students have difficulty with inquiry and difficulty with interpreting data, in particular. Of interest here is confirmation bias, i.e., when students won’t discard a hypothesis based on disconfirming results, which is in direct contrast to when students make a discovery, having originally made a scientifically inaccurate hypothesis. The goal of the present study is to better understand these two data interpretation patterns and autoscore them. 145 eighth grade students engaged in inquiry with a state change microworld. Production rules were written to produce model-tracing in order to identify when students either made a discovery or engaged in confirmation bias. Interesting to note was an emerging pattern wherein many of the same students made discoveries across the four inquiry tasks. These data are important for performance assessment of inquiry and suggest that students may need adaptive scaffolding support while engaging in data interpretation.
Large spin-orbit coupling and helical spin textures in 2D heterostructure [Pb 2 BiS 3 ][AuTe 2 ]

Two-dimensional heterostructures with strong spin-orbit coupling have direct relevance to topological quantum materials and potential applications in spin-orbitronics. In this work, we report on novel quantum phenomena in [Pb2BiS3][AuTe2], a new 2D strong spin-orbit coupling heterostructure system. Transport measurements reveal the spin-related carrier scattering is at odds with the Abrikosov-Gorkov model due to strong spin-orbit coupling. This is consistent with our band structure calculations which reveal a large spin-orbit coupling gap of eso = 0.21 eV. The band structure is also characterized by helical-like spin textures which are mainly induced by strong spin-orbit coupling and the inversion symmetry breaking in the heterostructure system.
A Public Trust Unrealized: The Unresolved Constraints on US Public Media

The term “a public trust” has long had strong resonance in the characterization of public-service broadcasting. The authors argue that public broadcasting in the USA can and should become a place to which all Americans can turn to meet their critical information needs. However, for it to become a true “public trust,” major federal policy and structural changes must be made. The chapter highlights a series of external constraints in federal communications policy, along with parallel internal issues in the structure and processes of public broadcasting itself. In the end, the chapter will suggest a few changes that might help public media better capitalize on the public’s trust—to help it earn a better base of material support and thereby to find an even larger and more stable place for itself in serving the information needs of the nation.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Complicated Grief are Common in Caregivers of Neuro-ICU Patients

To explore the effect of end of life and other palliative decision making scenarios on the mental health of family members of patients in the neuro-intensive care unit. Decision makers of patients in the neuro-ICU at a large, urban, academic medical center meeting palliative care triggers were identified from November 10, 2014, to August 27, 2015. Interviews were conducted at 1 and 6 months post-enrollment. At 1 month, the Inventory of Complicated Grief-Revised (ICG-R), Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Family Satisfaction-ICU (FS-ICU) were performed along with basic demographic questionnaires. At 6 months, only the ICG-R and IES-R were repeated. At 1 month, 9 (35%) subjects had significant symptoms in at least one of the three domains of traumatic response. Two (7.7%) subjects met full criteria for PTSD (IES-R ≥ 1.5). At 6 months, 5 (22%) subjects met criteria for PTSD and 5 (22%) for Complicated Grief (ICG-R ≥ 36). Fifteen (50%) had at least one domain of PTSD symptoms identified in follow-up. Time spent at bedside and lower household income were associated with PTSD at 1 and 6 months, respectively. In all, clinically significant psychological outcomes were identified in 9 (30%) of subjects. Clinically significant grief and stress reactions were identified in 30% of decision makers for severely ill neuro-ICU patients. Though factors including time at bedside during hospitalization and total household income may have some predictive value for these disorders, further evaluation is required to help identify family members at risk of psychopathology following neuro-ICU admissions.
Prospective Feasibility Analysis of Reduced Intensity Conditioning Regimens (RIC) for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in Elderly Patients with AML and MDS.

Abstract Introduction and Methods: RIC HSCT has become a therapeutic option for elderly patients (pts) with AML and MDS in 1st CR (CR1). However the overall applicability of this procedure in such pts has not been assessed. To do so we wrote a protocol stipulating that all pts age > 50 with AML would be seen by a transplant service consult at first MDACC presentation. A donor search would be initiated and all pts with a matched sibling, or unrelated donor would receive RIC HSCT in 1st CR using a Fludarabine/Melphalan conditioning regimen. Results: 99 of 257 pts undergoing induction therapy from 2001–2003 achieved a CR (39%). BMT consulted on 62 of the 99 (63%), and 25 of the 62 (40%) had a potential donor (20 sibling, 5 unrelated). 14 pts received a HSCT in CR1 (14% of CR1 pts, 5 % of all pts; 13 sibling, 1 unrelated). Survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were each worse in non-consulted pts (group A) than in consulted pts (p =0.009 for S, medians of 28 and 66 weeks; p =0.019 for RFS, with medians of 20 vs. 36 weeks). This may have reflected the worse performance status of Group A pts (ECOG-PS 3,4 in 19% vs. 5%). Consulted pts without a donor (group B) did worse than consulted pts with donor (groups C+D [OS 49 vs. 124 wks (p=0.03); RFS 23 vs. 52 wks (p=0.016)]. Transplanted pts in CR1 (group C) did better than the remainder of consulted pts (groups B+D) and OS (p=0.023) and RFS (p Group A B C D E Overall CR/no Consult CR/consult/no donor CR/consult/donor/HSCT CR/consult/donor/no HSCT No CR N= 37 37 14 11 158 RFS* 28 20 23 nr 24 na OS* 24 28 49 nr 100 13 Follow up* 66 59 66 86 73 60 Median Age 65 68 65 57 60 67 %AHD 49 46 54 43 36 65 AML/MDS 216/41 30/7 28/9 12/2 9/2 137/21 cyto:+8, −5,−7 162 20 26 3 5 108 cyto:# 79 16 10 6 5 42 cyto:11q 16 1 1 5 1 8 *median in wks; #miscellaneous/complex karyotype/insufficient metaphases, nr=not reached To adjust for selection and time to transplant biases, transplanted pts were matched with controls from the consult no-donor group (B) with each control having an RFS time at least as long as the interval from CR date to transplant date in their transplanted pairmate. The improved RFS in the transplant group persisted but was no longer statistically significant (p=0.197). Conclusion: RIC HSCT in selected elderly CR1 pts improved OS and RFS, likely due to the graft-versus-leukemia effect. However, transplant efficacy could also be due to younger age, better cytogenetics, less comorbidity, lead-time bias or unknown selection factors. The performance of RIC HSCT in only 14% of elderly pts in CR1 and only 5% of elderly pts raises questions about the general applicability of this procedure, since most pts die before receiving a HSCT or do not enter CR1.
Primary care visit use after positive fecal immunochemical test for colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND For some patients, positive cancer screening test results can be a stressful experience that can affect future screening compliance and increase the use of health care services unrelated to medically indicated follow-up. METHODS Among 483,216 individuals aged 50 to 75 years who completed a fecal immunochemical test to screen for colorectal cancer at a large integrated health care setting between 2007 and 2011, the authors evaluated whether a positive test was associated with a net change in outpatient primary care visit use within the year after screening. Multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between test result group and net changes in primary care visits after fecal immunochemical testing. RESULTS In the year after the fecal immunochemical test, use increased by 0.60 clinic visits for patients with true-positive results. The absolute change in visits was largest (3.00) among individuals with positive test results who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but significant small increases also were found for patients treated with polypectomy and who had no neoplasia (0.36) and those with a normal examination and no polypectomy performed (0.17). Groups of patients who demonstrated an increase in net visit use compared with the true-negative group included patients with true-positive results (odds ratio [OR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.54-1.66), and positive groups with a colorectal cancer diagnosis (OR, 7.19; 95% CI, 6.12-8.44), polypectomy/no neoplasia (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.27-1.48), and normal examination/no polypectomy (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.18-1.30). CONCLUSIONS Given the large size of outreach programs, these small changes can cumulatively generate thousands of excess visits and have a substantial impact on total health care use. Therefore, these changes should be included in colorectal cancer screening cost models and their causes investigated further. Cancer 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Micropropagation for recovery of Cucumis hystrix

A micropropagation protocol that allows for the efficient cloning of C. hystrix was developed using 1 mm shoot-tip explants prepared from plants grown in the greenhouse. Establishment of Stage I cultures was greatest (83%) when shoot tips were cultured in modified MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium containing (per liter) 30 g sucrose, 0.1 g myo-inositol, and 5 g Agargel plus 1.7 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 0.5 μM kinetin and 0.3 μM gibberillic acid (GA3) (IKG). Benzyladenine (BA, 5 μM) proved best for Stage II shoot proliferation. Over 35 shoots were obtained per vessel (five shoots per vessel) when explants were cultured in medium containing BA. Less than 10 shoots were obtained per vessel when kinetin (0.5–5 μM) and IKG were used. Stage II cultures established from 1 cm shoot tips obtained from Stage I shoots produced more shoots (1.3-fold) than single node explants. Rooting and plantlet acclimatization were best when shoots greater than 1.5 cm were incubated in MS medium containing 0.5 μM naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Higher NAA concentrations stimulated rooting but inhibited shoot elongation and reduced the ability of plantlets to survive acclimatization to ambient conditions. Plantlet height influenced acclimatization. Over 72% of plantlets survived acclimatization if they were at least 4.6 cm when transferred to soilless growing medium.
Influence of processing methods on physico-mechanical properties of Ibuprofen/HPC-SSL formulation.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of processing methods on the physical and mechanical properties of formulations containing Ibuprofen and HPC-SSL. The powder blen...
Computational studies of randomized multidimensional assignment problems

In this chapter, we consider a class of combinatorial optimization problems on hypergraph matchings that represent multidimensional generalizations of the well-known linear assignment problem (LAP). We present two algorithms for solving randomized instances of MAPs with linear and bottleneck objectives that obtain solutions with guaranteed quality.
The Crystal Structures of Some New Forms of Aluminum Fluoride as Determined from their Synchrotron Powder Diffraction Patterns

@[Equation] Ok, but surely the phase diagram and the structural details were worked out years ago? As it turns out, until the recent effort to make Freon® substitutes, most of the purported AlF3 phases were known only from their x-ray powder diffraction signatures, very little had been done in the way of actually determining the structures of these materials or even to demonstrate that they actually were pure and unique phases. As the Freon® substitutes program geared up, all of the phases came under closer scrutiny. In addition, new methods of synthesis were yielding previously unknown phases of AIF3 but only in microcrystalline, “powder” form. It was then clear that detailed characterizations of these materials would require ab initio structure determinations from their powder diffraction patterns, the best of which could only be obtained from synchrotron sources. This chapter discusses some of our experiences with this technique and outlines the structural results which we have obtained on a number of aluminum fluoride compounds.
Biosynthesis of Natural Products in Plants by Fungal Endophytes with an Emphasis on Swainsonine

Plant natural products are frequently used as chemotaxonomic markers which are indicative of select members of a family, genus, and/or species. However, the erratic occurrence of some natural products raises questions about their biosynthetic origin and significance as chemotaxonomic markers. Recent research has shown that fungal endophytes associated with plants are a rich source of natural products. The objective of this review is to highlight natural products found in plants that are reported to be derived from fungal endophytes and, when appropriate, briefly comment on the plant-endophyte interaction. We will summarize current knowledge on alkaloids synthesized by Clavicipitaceae endophytes, then on other diverse secondary metabolites including taxol and camptothecin. Specifically, we will highlight the role that fungal endophytes play in the synthesis of the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine and the interaction between host and endophyte.
B1 Insensitive Adiabatic RF Pulses

Inhomogeneities in the B 1 field pattern of RF transmitters are often the cause of major problems in applications of the NMR phenomenon. This simply follows from the fact that NMR experiments in general rely on rotation of magnetization vectors about the B 1 field through an angle γ ∫ B 1(t)dt, where γ is the gyromagnetic ratio. Consequently, even very simple tasks such as spin-excitation becomes non-uniform over the sample and this deleterious effect gets compounded in more complex and demanding pulse sequences employed in contemporary NMR applications ranging from high resolution studies of molecular structure to imaging and localized spectroscopy in vivo. This problem is particularly pronounced in the human and intact animal investigations in vivo where geometrical constraints frequently require the use of transmitters and detectors, such as surface coils, which generate extremely non-uniform B 1 field patterns.
Is There an Analog of Nesterov Acceleration for MCMC

We formulate gradient-based Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling as optimization on the space of probability measures, with Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence as the objective functional. We show that an underdamped form of the Langevin algorithm performs accelerated gradient descent in this metric. To characterize the convergence of the algorithm, we construct a Lyapunov functional and exploit hypocoercivity of the underdamped Langevin algorithm. As an application, we show that accelerated rates can be obtained for a class of nonconvex functions with the Langevin algorithm.
Unprecedented Five‐Coordinate Iron(IV) Imides Generate Divergent Spin States Based on the Imide R‐Groups

Three five-coordinate iron(IV) imide complexes have been synthesized and characterized. These novel structures have disparate spin states on the iron as a function of the R-group attached to the imide, with alkyl groups leading to low-spin diamagnetic (S=0) complexes and an aryl group leading to an intermediate-spin (S=1) complex. The different spin states lead to significant differences in the bonding about the iron center as well as the spectroscopic properties of these complexes. Mossbauer spectroscopy confirmed that all three imide complexes are in the iron(IV) oxidation state. The combination of diamagnetism and 15 N labeling allowed for the first 15 N NMR resonance recorded on an iron imide. Multi-reference calculations corroborate the experimental structural findings and suggest how the bonding is distinctly different on the imide ligand between the two spin states.
Determining and Minimizing Resistance for Ion Transport at the Polymer/Ceramic Electrolyte Interface

In this work, we report methods to quantify and minimize the interfacial resistance for Li ion transport, Rinterface, between a model polymer electrolyte, poly(ethylene oxide) + LiCF3SO3 (PE), and a model Li+-conducting ceramic electrolyte, LICGC from Ohara Corporation. By constructing a PE–ceramic–PE trilayer cell, we found Rinterface to be very large, 1.2 kΩ·cm2 at 30 °C, accounting for 66% of the total trilayer cell resistance. When dimethyl carbonate, a loose-binding solvent of Li+, was introduced into the trilayer, Rinterface decreased to essentially zero. As a result, a composite electrolyte with carbonate plasticizers wherein 40 vol % ceramic particles were dispersed in the polymer showed extraordinary room-temperature conductivity of approximately 10–4 S/cm, 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the dry composite electrolyte. This discovery can be used as guidance in designing composite electrolytes to achieve synergistic effects.
Measurements of jet fragmentation and jet substructure with ALICE

We discuss the latest results from jet fragmentation and jet substructure measurements performed with the ALICE experiment in proton-proton and heavy-ion collisions in a wide range of jet transverse momentum. The jet production cross sections and cross section ratios for different jet resolution parameters will be shown in a wide range of $p_{\textrm{T}}$. Results will be compared to next-to-leading order pQCD calculations.
A corpus-assisted analysis of recruitment postings in content strategy

With the rapidly evolving landscape in industry, content strategy poses a pressing demand from college graduates. By examining recruitment postings for content strategist positions in December 2018 and identifying significant characteristics in qualifications, responsibilities, and specialized skills, this study found the continuing emphases of web and multimedia platforms of content as well as written communication skills. The results also shed light on technical communication educators and students.
Josephson Integrated Circuits

Nineteen years ago, B. D. Josephson1 predicted a supercurrent at zero voltage between two superconducting metals, separated by a thin insulator. Today, 20–25 laboratories around the world are actively studying the possible exploitation of devices based on the Josephson effect. Although the promise of a very fast device (picosecond) at low power levels (microwatt) has yet to be realized in a computing system, usage of Josephson junctions as a voltage standard and an extremely sensitive magnetic-field detector is widespread. The attractions of Josephson devices are summarized in Table 1. The combination of a fast, low power circuit plus superconducting transmission lines offers the possibility of packing and interconnecting hundreds of thousands of circuits and hundreds of millions of memory bits into a volume very comparable to that occupied by the human brain;2 a feat unachievable with a high-performance semiconductor technology.
Use of Porcine Urinary Bladder Matrix (UBM-ECM) in the Head and Neck Region

The development of newer extracellular matrix (ECM) wound devices has provided topical wound healing options for treating challenging wounds previously relegated to complex operative surgical procedures. The luxurious blood supply of the head and neck region affords more local flap treatment options not possible in other regions of the body. In the head and neck region, while some have used it as a primary treatment modality with good success, we have employed the UBM-ECM wound device more as an adjunct to standard surgical procedures. This chapter summarizes our experience treating 38 patients with the UBM-ECM wound device in the head and neck region with recommendations for optimal use.
Is a Reasonable Woman Different from a Reasonable Person? Gender Differences in Perceived Sexual Harassment

Although the problem of sexual harassment can be approached from a variety of perspectives, the present research focused on the role played by individuals’ perceptions, specifically those that may differ between men and women. We examined whether perceived sexual harassment would vary depending on observers’ gender, on gender of the harasser and of the victim, and on whether and what type of sexual harassment definition was provided to observers. In doing so, we attempted to update and clarify inconsistent results from prior studies. Results from 413 young adult U.S. MTurk participants responding to an online survey revealed fairly large effects for participants’ gender, such that women perceived a wider range of situations as sexual harassment than did men. In addition, the dyad of a man harassing a woman was construed as more definitely involving sexual harassment than other dyads. Surprisingly, these gender differences were smaller for situations judged as comprising sexual harassment to a lesser extent (i.e., those involving derogatory attitudes and nonsexual physical contact). Results are discussed in relation to prior findings and their legal implications, especially as they relate to a psychological assumption of the so-called “reasonable woman” standard used in U.S. courts, that women perceive sexual harassment to a greater degree than men. The results are also relevant for those wishing to curtail harassment within organizations and for those counseling victims of sexual harassment.
Lt. Cmdr. Laura M. Cobb (1892-1981): Chief navy nurse who oversaw medical care in WWII civilian concentration camps.

Lt. Commander Laura M. Cobb was a chief nurse in the U.S. Navy during WWII who was imprisoned by Japan for more than three years in the Occupied Philippines. Under her direction, eleven other navy ...
Post-Operative Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Long Journey for a Patient with Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an inflammatory neutrophilic dermatosis, characterized by painful and erythematous papules, pustules or vesicles that rapidly become ulcerative and necrotic. These ulcers have multiple sub-types and can develop anywhere on the body. There are different postulations as to the mechanisms of development for each sub-type. More than half of patients with PG have an underlying disease, with the highest prevalence being inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), followed by inflammatory arthritis and hematological disorders. Post-operative PG should be considered in any patient undergoing surgery who subsequently develops characteristic necrotic lesions with delayed wound healing, fever and severe localized pain. The clinical manifestations and treatment may differ slightly depending on the type and cause of PG. Herein, we present a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome and arthritis, who underwent surgery for diverticulosis complicated by colovaginal fistula formation, and subsequently developed a very prolonged course of post-operative pyoderma gangrenosum. This report will address the types of PG, their various manifestations and pathogenesis, as well as the management specific to patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. It is our intent to better understand the sub-types in order to predict and prevent post-operative PG.
Translational approaches for radiation risk assessment.

This special issue of the International Journal of Radiation Biology entitled Translational Approaches for Radiation Risk Assessment was inspired by two special technical sessions arranged by the D...
Treatment of central disorders of hypersomnolence: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline.

Introduction: This guideline establishes clinical practice recommendations for the treatment of central disorders of hypersomnolence in adults and children. Methods: The American Academy of Sleep M...
Uptake, Trapping, and Release of Organometallic Cations by Redox-Active Cationic Hosts

The host-guest chemistry of metal-organic nanocages is typically driven by thermodynamically favorable interactions with their guests such that uptake and release of guests can be controlled by switching this affinity on or off. Herein, we achieve this effect by reducing porphyrin-walled cationic nanoprisms 1a12+ and 1b12+ to zwitterionic states that rapidly uptake organometallic cations Cp*2Co+ and Cp2Co+, respectively. Cp*2Co+ binds strongly (Ka = 1.3 × 103 M-1) in the neutral state 1a0 of host 1a12+, which has its three porphyrin walls doubly reduced and its six (bipy)Pt2+ linkers singly reduced (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine). The less-reduced states of the host 1a3+ and 1a9+ also bind Cp*2Co+, though with lower affinities. The smaller Cp2Co+ cation binds strongly (Ka = 1.7 × 103 M-1) in the 3e- reduced state 1b9+ of the (tmeda)Pt2+-linked host 1b12+ (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine). Upon reoxidation of the hosts with Ag+, the guests become trapped to provide unprecedented metastable cation-in-cation complexes Cp*2Co+@1a12+ and Cp2Co+@1b12+ that persist for >1 month. Thus, dramatic kinetic effects reveal a way to confine the guests in thermodynamically unfavorable environments. Experimental and DFT studies indicate that PF6- anions kinetically stabilize Cp*2Co+@1a12+ through electrostatic interactions and by influencing conformational changes of the host that open and close its apertures. However, when Cp*2Co+@1a12+ was prepared using ferrocenium (Fc+) instead of Ag+ to reoxidize the host, dissociation was accelerated >200× even though neither Fc+ nor Fc have any observable affinity for 1a12+. This finding shows that metastable host-guest complexes can respond to subtler stimuli than those required to induce guest release from thermodynamically favorable complexes.
Algebras and Operators

This chapter introduces algebras, as well as their substructures, structure constants, sums and quotients. We define associative algebras, describe several of the more important linear transformations, and introduce one of the most important results in linear algebra. Two non-associative algebras—those of Lie and Poisson—are defined, and we illustrate their application to quantum and classical mechanics. Portions of this chapter may serve as a review of elementary matrix algebra.
Distributed control of swarm motions as continua using homogeneous maps and agent triangulation

In this paper, presented is an approach for the control of swarm motions that treats a swarm as a deformable body or a continuum. By considering a special class of motion maps between a current configuration prescribed at a given time t and a desired configuration prescribed at a subsequent time t+Δt called a homogeneous map two strategies are proposed for the control of a swarm or a multi-agent system (MAS). In the first strategy, MAS motion control is achieved with no communication among agents in the idealized case where the required map from any t to t+Δt may be predetermined. It is the case when a desired swarm task can be scripted ahead of time with some certainty. The second control strategy is based on three leaders prescribing the motion map for a desired swarm task which is then propagated to the followers via a local inter-agent communication protocol. The proposed communication protocol exploits some special features of homogeneous maps. It achieves the desired MAS motion control with three leaders and minimum inter-agent communications. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategies.
Stability Properties of Cerebellar Neural Networks: The Purkinje Cell – Climbing Fiber Dynamic Module

In the last few decades it has been proven, that the cerebellum takes part in learning the bulk of motor control. The mechanisms which provide such properties are still largely unknown, but an involvement of parallel fibers and climbing fibers in this process, as have been proposed decades ago in cerebellar learning theories, is now clear. Among difficulties of the learning theories is an evident necessity for spontaneous activity of the cerebellar climbing fibers [5]. Recently, the group of M. Mauk proposed an elegant explanation of this inconsistency [11, 12]. We present here a stochastic model of a cerebellar module, based on this new approach. Theoretical treatment yields some consequences for experimental verification. Besides an explanation of real cerebellar functions, the analyzed control system presents a new paradigm for neural network memorizing systems.
miRNA proxy approach reveals hidden functions of glycosylation.

Glycosylation, the most abundant posttranslational modification, holds an unprecedented capacity for altering biological function. Our ability to harness glycosylation as a means to control biological systems is hampered by our inability to pinpoint the specific glycans and corresponding biosynthetic enzymes underlying a biological process. Herein we identify glycosylation enzymes acting as regulatory elements within a pathway using microRNA (miRNA) as a proxy. Leveraging the target network of the miRNA-200 family (miR-200f), regulators of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we pinpoint genes encoding multiple promesenchymal glycosylation enzymes (glycogenes). We focus on three enzymes, beta-1,3-glucosyltransferase (B3GLCT), beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 5 (ST3GAL5), and (alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminyl-2,3-beta-galactosyl-1,3)-N-acetylgalactosaminide alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 5 (ST6GALNAC5), encoding glycans that are difficult to analyze by traditional methods. Silencing these glycogenes phenocopied the effect of miR-200f, inducing mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition. In addition, all three are up-regulated in TGF-β–induced EMT, suggesting tight integration within the EMT-signaling network. Our work indicates that miRNA can act as a relatively simple proxy to decrypt which glycogenes, including those encoding difficult-to-analyze structures (e.g., proteoglycans, glycolipids), are functionally important in a biological pathway, setting the stage for the rapid identification of glycosylation enzymes driving disease states.
Sex education in medicine

Remarkable changes have taken place in the sex education of medical students and physicians in the last 18 years. This chapter describes the changes that have occurred since 1960, the present status of sex education for health professionals, and future prospects.