cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symbolic implication in test generation

All test generation algorithms make use of symbolic algebra. The symbolic value that most test generators use is 'X', to denote the unknown/do not care logic value. The other end of the spectrum is to shade each X differently to fully exploit the information contained in them. This is impractical due to combinatorial explosion that results from such coloring. In this paper, the authors explore use of limited symbolic evaluation in test generation. This symbolic evaluation greatly improves test generation compared with the usual five-valued simulation. Also, and in contrast with other established techniques in test pattern generation such as static learning and dynamic learning, it requires no preprocessing and almost no additional memory. >
Variable regions A and B in the envelope glycoproteins of feline leukemia virus subgroup B and amphotropic murine leukemia virus interact with discrete receptor domains

The surface (SU) envelope glycoproteins of feline leukemia virus subgroup B (FeLV-B) and amphotropic murine leukemia virus (A-MLV) are highly related, even in the variable regions VRA and VRB that have been shown to be required for receptor recognition. However, FeLV-B and A-MLV use different sodium-dependent phosphate symporters, Pit1 and Pit2, respectively, as receptors for infection. Pit1 and Pit2 are predicted to have 10 membrane-spanning domains and five extracellular loops. The close relationship of the retroviral envelopes enabled us to generate pseudotype virions carrying chimeric FeLV-B/A-MLV envelope glycoproteins. We found that some of the pseudotype viruses could not use Pit1 or Pit2 proteins but could efficiently utilize specific chimeric Pit1/Pit2 proteins as receptors. By studying Mus dunni tail fibroblasts expressing chimeric Pit1/Pit2 proteins and pseudotype virions carrying chimeric FeLV-B/A-MLV envelopes, we show that FeLV-B and A-MLV VRA and VRB interact in a modular manner with specific receptor domains. Our results suggest that FeLV-B VRA interacts with Pit1 extracellular loops 4 and 5 and that residues Phe-60 and Pro-61 of FeLV-B VRA are essential for receptor choice. However, this interaction is insufficient for infection, and an additional interaction between FeLV-B VRB and Pit1 loop 2 is essential. Similarly, A-MLV infection requires interaction of A-MLV VRA with Pit2 loops 4 and 5 and VRB with Pit2 loop 2, with residues Tyr-60 and Val-61 of A-MLV VRA being critical for receptor recognition. Together, our results suggest that FeLV-B and A-MLV infections require two major discrete interactions between the viral SU envelope glycoproteins and their respective receptors. We propose a common two-step mechanism for interaction between retroviral envelope glycoproteins and cell surface receptors.
Varieties of hedonism in Feldman's pleasure and the good life

In these comments on Fred Feldman's Pleasure and the Good Life, I first challenge the dichotomy between sensory and attitudinal hedonisms as perhaps presenting a false dilemma. I suggest that there may be a form of hedonism that employs the concept of a ‘feel’ that is not purely sensory. Next, I raise some problems for several of the versions of hedonism explored in the book.
Gamma and beta neural activity evoked during a sensory gating paradigm: Effects of auditory, somatosensory and cross-modal stimulation

Abstract Objective Stimulus-driven salience is determined involuntarily, and by the physical properties of a stimulus. It has recently been theorized that neural coding of this variable involves oscillatory activity within cortical neuron populations at beta frequencies. This was tested here through experimental manipulation of inter-stimulus interval (ISI). Methods Non-invasive neurophysiological measures of event-related gamma (30–50 Hz) and beta (12–20 Hz) activity were estimated from scalp-recorded evoked potentials. Stimuli were presented in a standard “paired-stimulus” sensory gating paradigm, where the S1 (conditioning) stimulus was conceptualized as long-ISI, or “high salience”, and the S2 (test) stimulus as short-ISI, or “low salience”. Three separate studies were conducted: auditory stimuli only (N = 20 participants), somatosensory stimuli only (N = 20), and a cross-modal study for which auditory and somatosensory stimuli were mixed (N = 40). Results Early (20–150 ms) stimulus-evoked beta activity was more sensitive to ISI than temporally-overlapping gamma-band activity, and this effect was seen in both auditory and somatosensory studies. In the cross-modal study, beta activity was significantly modulated by the similarity (or dissimilarity) of stimuli separated by a short ISI (0.5 s); a significant cross-modal gating effect was nevertheless detected. Conclusions With regard to the early sensory-evoked response recorded from the scalp, the interval between identical stimuli especially modulates beta oscillatory activity. Significance This is consistent with developing theories regarding the different roles of temporally-overlapping oscillatory activity within cortical neuron populations at gamma and beta frequencies, particularly the claim that the latter is related to stimulus-driven salience.
I-Xe dating of silicate and troilite from IAB iron meteorites

Silicate and troilite inclusions from IAB iron meteorites were dated by the I-Xe technique. Silicate samples from inclusions in the Copiapo, Landes, Woodbine, Pitts and Mundrabilla meteorites and troilite samples from Pitts and Mundrabilla were subjected to neutron irradiation and the xenon isotope ratios produced were determined. Well-defined I-Xe ages were obtained for Woodbine, Copiapo, Landes and Mundrabilla and are found to be within 3.7 million years of the Bjurbole meteorite, suggesting a close relationship to the stone chondrites. The analysis of troilite from Pitts suggests an age of 17 million years older than Bjurbole, while Mundrabilla troilite is observed to predate Mundrabilla silicate. The abundances of Ga, Ge and Ni are found to be correlated with I-Xe ages, supporting the validity of the I-Xe dating method. The results are considered to favor a nebular model of meteorite formation.
Design and applications of uniform digital bandpass filter banks

A digital bandpass filter-bank for demodulating a wideband frequency multiplexed signal into a specified number of uniform narrow band channel outputs, and conversely for modulating a set of channel inputs into a composite frequency multiplexed signal, can be realized efficiently by the combination of a suitable transform processor and a weighting network. The design and implementation of these filter-banks for different types of input-ouput configurations such as complex signals at both the wideband and narrow band sides, real signal at the wideband side and complex signals at the narrow band side, and real signals at both ends are discussed. Applications in telecommunications (TDM-FDM translators), speech processing (phase vocoders), signal analysis and detection (spectrum analyzers) and other signal processing systems are also described.
Intracellular signals and volume regulatory response in skate erythrocytes

The volume regulatory response of erythrocytes (RBCs) of the little skate Raja erinacea subjected to 30% dilution of their medium is mimicked by the application of phorbol ester or calcium ionophore, implicating protein kinase C and phosphoinositide metabolism in that response. To investigate the signaling link between dilution of the medium and cell response, we measured levels of inositol phosphates (associated with intracellular calcium release) and of diacylglycerol (the physiological activator of protein kinase C) in control and hyposmotically treated RBCs. Labeled inositol monophosphate (IP1) was significantly higher in osmotically shocked than in control cells. Inositol bis- and trisphosphate levels (IP2 and IP3) were low and did not alter with dilution treatment. Separation of the isomers in the IP1 fraction indicated that the dilution effect was likely to result from the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol directly, without the involvement of the IP3 and related messenger molecules. Hyposmotic treatment also elevated the diacylglycerol content of the skate RBCs, providing evidence for the activation of protein kinase C as part of the volume regulatory response. The results are interpreted as indicating that the response to hypotonic media in skate erythrocytes is mediated primarily by protein kinase C and any involvement of calcium is associated with that pathway rather than with the production and metabolism of IP3.
Time Reversal Invariance in Λ 0 Decay

The decay parameters of ${\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ have been determined to be $\ensuremath{\alpha}=+0.65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$, $\ensuremath{\beta}=\ensuremath{-}0.10\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}=+0.75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$. Under time-reversal invariance, $\frac{\ensuremath{\beta}}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=\ensuremath{-}tan({\ensuremath{\delta}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{p})$, where ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{s}$ and ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{p}$ are appropriate pion-nucleon scattering phase shifts; from this experiment $\frac{\ensuremath{\beta}}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=\ensuremath{-}0.16\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10=\ensuremath{-}tan(9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})$ in good agreement with the known value of $({\ensuremath{\delta}}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{p})=6.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Fat Embolism Syndrome”

We thank Drs van Dam and Broekman for their comment on the challenging issue of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in fat embolism syndrome.1 As they note, the evidence base for ICP monitoring is limited and recommendations are confined largely to expert opinion. Further adding to this difficulty is the diverse range of pathologies for which ICP monitoring is used, including traumatic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, hydrocephalus, and cerebral edema from metabolic and inflammatory …
Algorithms in the diagnosis and management of exotic diseases. XXVI. Cholera.

Cholera is an acute illness caused by an enterotoxin elaborated by Vibrio cholerae that have colonized the small bowel of a susceptible individual. In the most severe form of cholera, there is rapid loss of fluid and electrolytes from the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in hypovolemic shock, metabolic acidosis, and, if untreated, death. Although the mortality rate may be extremely high in untreated cases, excellent therapeutic results can be obtained by prompt replacement of water and electrolytes by either the iv or the oral route [1]. Throughout the first six decades of the 20th century, cholera was largely confined to Asia, with the major endemic focus in the common delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The period 19611977 has witnessed a major pandemic spread of cholera from Indonesia westward through south and central Asia to western Europe and the entire African continent. Serious outbreaks of cholera occurred in Spain in the summer of 1972, in Italy in the summer of 1973, and in Guam in 1975, and isolated cases have been identified in travelers returning from these areas to most of the nations of western Europe. An isolated autochthonous case was identified in Galveston, Texas in 1974, and a single case occurred in a traveler to Canada in 1976.
The real mental illnesses: Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (1959–2013) in memoriam.

Susan Nolen-Hoeksema's life work concerned rumination, gender differences in depression, and the "transdiagnostic" processes in mental illness. The articles in this special section expand on these themes. Her work on transdiagnostic processes leads us to consider that the real mental illnesses are not the congeries of symptoms in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but these processes themselves.
A GENERIC HANDOVER DECISION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR NEXT GENERATION NETWORKS

Next generation networks are defined to be packet based networks that provide telecommunication services to users by utilizing different transport technologies, wired and wireless. In this paper we provide a generic framework for handover decision management in next generation networks. We show that any handover decision algorithm can utilize our framework. We show the feasibility of applying our framework through an implementation example. One of the main features of NGNs is application adaptability; the applications designed for NGN systems have to be adaptable to different networks and different devices. We propose a handover decision algorithm that utilizes our generic framework and selects the network for handover such that the quality of experience of the user is near optimal. Through simulations we show that our algorithm reduces unnecessary handovers and also satisfies the handover requirements.
Magnetic resonance imaging of presumptive neonatal encephalopathy in a foal

Summary A 10-h-old Thoroughbred foal presented with clinical signs consistent with neonatal encephalopathy including absent suckling behaviour, lack of affinity for the mare and seizures. The foal was provided supportive care and treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials and fed via naso-oesophageal tube. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to investigate for structural changes that might be evident with equine neonatal encephalopathy. Notable findings on MRI included hyperintensity of the basal nuclei and superficial layers of the ventral cerebral hemispheres as well as the ventral thalamic nuclei and rostral aspect of the ventral midbrain. These imaging changes were consistent with the counterpart disease in infants and are the first to document MRI changes in a foal with neonatal encephalopathy. This report serves as an initial description of MRI findings associated with the presumed diagnosis of equine neonatal encephalopathy and also serves to solicit future diagnostic imaging studies that may help elucidate the pathophysiology and prognosis of equine neonatal encephalopathy.
To Examine Stability Margin and Its Engineering Measurement of Cascade Circuits

This paper proposed an engineering approach to examine the stability margin of cascade circuits. The system stability of cascade circuits is determined by the impedance ratio on the cas-cade interface. By injecting small -signal external perturbation current Ip into the cascade interface and measuring the magnitude of the load side response current IL, the system stability margin can be figured out. The proposed approach is strictly developed in theory and demonstrated by experiment.
Weird Music: Tension and Reconciliation in Cultural-Economic Knowledge

How do music venues reconcile competing desires for popularity and uniqueness in their bookings? According to 25 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with the staff of licensed and unlicensed music venues, gatekeepers tended to prefer ‘weird’ music in terms of unconventionality and even obscurity rather than focusing on cultural similarity through genre conventions. Respondents described at least three ways to reconcile this internal tension of cultural-economic value. A few licensed venue administrators took popularity within the ‘underground’ as an index of value. Others constructed a narrative of building bands from obscurity to success in terms of both economic and cultural value. However, most respondents described strategies of differentiation between cultural and economic value in their economic relationships. This final way of understanding the cultural economy extends Zelizer’s theory of relational economics to find that economic actors do not only differentiate transactions according to social t...
Evaluation of a direct-fed microbial product effect on the prevalence and load of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feedlot cattle.

Direct-fed microbials (DFM) have been identified as potential preharvest interventions for the reduction of foodborne bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7. This study evaluated the efficacy of a DFM consisting of Bacillus subtilis strain 166 as an antimicrobial intervention strategy for the reduction of prevalence and load of E. coli O157:H7 in feces and on hides of feedlot cattle. Cattle (n = 526) were divided among 16 feedlot pens. Half of the pens received the DFM, and the other half did not. Hide and fecal samples were collected from each animal on days 28, 63, and 84 of the feeding trial. Over the course of the 84-day feeding period, there were no significant differences observed between treatments for either hide or fecal prevalence of E. coli O157:H7, or for the percentage of animals that were shedding E. coli O157:H7 at high levels (≥200 CFU/g) in their feces or harboring E. coli O157:H7 at high levels (≥40 CFU/cm2) on their hides. In addition, there was no significant difference b...
Abstract 600: Melanoma and ovarian cancer cells tested for drug sensitivity using anchorage-independent growth

This study aims to test patient-derived melanoma and ovarian cancer cells for their sensitivity to clinically available drugs and drug combinations. The experiments were performed by using the growth in low attachment (GILA) assay, which is equivalent to the classic soft-agar assay and allows screening of 3D ex vivo cultures, which resemble the tumor and its microenvironment. To assay tumor cells from malignant lesions we isolated ovarian cancer cells from peritoneal fluid (ascites) derived from patients and melanoma cells from metastatic melanoma patients. The fresh samples were enriched for tumor cells and later cultured in an ex vivo manner on either high- or low-attachment surfaces. These cells were subjected to drug treatments and cellular viability was measured at the end of these experiments. Our experiments demonstrate that the GILA assay is a highly sensitive method for pharmacological tests, as compared to the traditional 2D method (growth on high-attachment surfaces). By using GILA assay we found that melanoma cells are sensitive to drugs that inhibit driver oncogenes, such as BRAF or MEK. In addition, we found interesting targets in metastatic melanoma lesions that carry an unknown mutational background. Drug sensitivity assays for ovarian cancer cells using the GILA approach showed that cancer cells from various patients with the same cancer type display differential sensitivity to drugs. Additionally, ovarian cancer cells were found to have a different drug-sensitivity threshold when grown in spheres. Our studies present an approach that utilizes the unique ability of transformed cells to grow in anchorage-independent conditions and enables ex vivo drug sensitivity testing. This phenotypic approach is complementary to a genetic approach that uses DNA sequencing to identify putative oncogenes that confer sensitivity to drugs designed to specifically inhibit the identified oncoprotein. Citation Format: Asaf Rotem, Benjamin Izar, Levi A. Garraway. Melanoma and ovarian cancer cells tested for drug sensitivity using anchorage-independent growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 600.
Evaluating PERMs as Protein Mimics

The post-proteomic era promises a resurgence in protein-based drug design. While genetic engineering may provide improved proteins at a modest bulk cost, at least three chemistry-based approaches will also be competitive. These include a) protein ligation, as exemplified by the work of Kent [1] and Tarn [2]; b) genetic reengineering, which can remarkably modify the ribosomal apparatus to allow the incorporation of unusual amino acids into a desired structure (Schultz et al. [3]); and c) protein mimetics, in which simpler organic molecules may replace proteins as agonists, antagonists, or even as catalases.
The Supply Side and Macroeconomic Performance II: Institutional Evolution

In recent years, renewed interest has been shown in both the importance of institutions for the functioning of capitalism, and the impact of capitalism’s dynamics on the nature of institutions.1 However, the common interests of this literature conceal profound methodological differences, which in turn give rise to substantially different conclusions with regard to the origins, nature and role of institutions in a capitalist economy.
Individual Performance as a Function of Individual and Group Pay Contingencies

An alternating-treatment design was used to compare the productivity of college students engaged in a card-sorting task under an individual monetary incentive system and a 10-member group monetary incentive system. In both pay conditions, subjects received a base pay plus incentives contingent upon the number of cards sorted in 20-minute sessions. In the individual incentive condition, subjects earned $0.005 for each card sorted over 400 cards. In the group incentive condition, incentives were based on the group average, with all subjects earning $0.005 for each card by which the group average exceeded 400. Subjects received feedback on their performance and the performance of other group members in both conditions. The number of cards sorted did not differ significantly under the two pay systems. Subjects reported the systems to be equally enjoyable and demanding, however, when asked which pay system they would prefer to work under in the future, high performers chose the individual incentive system, and low performers chose the group incentive system.
Microkinetic analysis of ring opening and decarboxylation of γ-valerolactone over silica alumina

Abstract This study considers the thermochemistry and kinetics of γ-valerolactone and pentenoic acid interconversion as well as the decarboxylation of both molecules over amorphous silica alumina. Through microkinetic analysis, macroscopically observed production rates and product distributions are reconciled with a mechanistic description of all chemistries. Ring opening of γ-valerolactone, cyclization of pentenoic acids, and decarboxylation of either molecule occur in parallel at surface Bronsted sites through a sequence of proton-mediated elementary steps. Conceptually, this is illustrated as proceeding through gas-phase oxonium and carbenium ions that are stabilized through interactions with deprotonated Bronsted sites and/or the solid oxide lattice. This interpretation provides a rigorous thermochemical foundation for detailed microkinetic analysis, which we employ to regress elementary interaction energies and kinetic parameters—moving the field toward a fundamental description of reactivity in acid-catalyzed upgrading of γ-valerolactone.
Impartial poker nim

The combinatorial game of nim is well-studied, along with many impartial and partizan modifications. We develop a new impartial modification using the idea of bogus nim heaps and preventing loops. We completely characterize the $$\mathcal {P}$$ -positions for the two-heap version, and solve the problem for a larger number of heaps dependent on counting integer partitions of a fixed size.
Rapid processing by intense pulsed light of a CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite thin film for photovoltaics

Perovskite solar cells utilizing a two step deposited CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film were rapidly sintered using an intense pulsed light (IPL) source. The IPL process is a rapid heat treatment that has been used to process a methylammonium lead iodide perovskite thin film creating large crystal sizes approaching 1 micron without sacrificing surface coverage. Solar cells with an average efficiency of 11.5% and a champion device of 12.3% are reported. The methylammonium lead iodide perovskite was subjected to 2000 Joules of energy in a 2 ms pulse of light generated by a xenon lamp, resulting in temperatures significantly exceeding the degradation temperature of 150 °C. The significance of the IPL process is the capability to process large areas (over 60 cm2) almost instantaneously.
The differential ability of asparagine and glutamine in promoting the closed/active enzyme conformation rationalizes the Wolinella succinogenes L-asparaginase substrate specificity

Many side effects of current FDA-approved L-asparaginases have been related to their secondary L-glutaminase activity. The Wolinella succinogenes L-asparaginase (WoA) has been reported to be L-glutaminase free, suggesting it would have fewer side effects. Unexpectedly, the WoA variant with a proline at position 121 (WoA-P121) was found to have L-glutaminase activity in contrast to Uniprot entry P50286 (WoA-S121) that has a serine residue at this position. Towards understanding how this residue impacts the L-glutaminase property, kinetic analysis was coupled with crystal structure determination of these WoA variants. WoA-S121 was confirmed to have much lower L-glutaminase activity than WoA-P121, yet both showed comparable L-asparaginase activity. Structures of the WoA variants in complex with L-aspartic acid versus L-glutamic acid provide insights into their differential substrate selectivity. Structural analysis suggests a mechanism by which residue 121 impacts the conformation of the conserved tyrosine 27, a component of the catalytically-important flexible N-terminal loop. Surprisingly, we could fully model this loop in either its open or closed conformations, revealing the roles of specific residues of an evolutionary conserved motif among this L-asparaginase family. Together, this work showcases critical residues that influence the ability of the flexible N-terminal loop for adopting its active conformation, thereby effecting substrate specificity.
We ask men to win and women not to lose: Closing the gender gap in startup funding.

Male entrepreneurs are known to raise higher levels of funding than their female counterparts, but the underlying mechanism for this funding disparity remains contested. Drawing upon regulatory focus theory, we propose that the gap originates with a gender bias in the questions that investors pose to entrepreneurs. A field study conducted on question-and-answer interactions at TechCrunch Disrupt New York City during 2010 through 2016 reveals that investors tend to ask male entrepreneurs promotion-focused questions and female entrepreneurs prevention-focused questions, and that entrepreneurs tend to respond with matching regulatory focus. This distinction in the regulatory focus of investor questions and entrepreneur responses results in divergent funding outcomes for entrepreneurs whereby those asked promotion-focused questions raise significantly higher amounts of funding than those asked prevention-focused questions. We demonstrate that every additional prevention-focused question significantly hinders ...
Agency Theory in Banking -‘Lessons from the 2007-2010 Financial Crisis’

This paper presents an agency theory explanation for certain operational risks and the subsequent impact as a result of the financial crisis starting in 2007, which has been the worst financial crisis in two generations, erasing $14.5 trillion, or 33 percent, of the value of the world’s companies. During the period from 2007 to 2010 banks suffered severe credit and liquidity stress to the point where the US Government implemented bailout programs such as Troubled Asset Relief Program [TARP], and addressed monetary policy in the hope of stabilizing the banking industry. In light of these programs and changes, the aim of this study is to provide additional theory to help understand the financial and reputational impact on the banking industry due to credit risk and the subsequent impact on liquidity.
Reversers-A programming language construct for reversing out of code

This paper proposes a new programming language construct called a reverser for situations in which a subroutine performs actions that it must reverse if it encounters a failure. The reversal code stacks up as more actions are performed. A failure invokes all the reversals in LIFO order; success invokes none of them. The reverser construct avoids a common situation in the Linux source code that it currently programmed by goto statements.*
Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Early Stage Lung Cancer

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), also known as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) utilizes advanced techniques of immobilization, image guidance, and unique field arrangements to deliver precise, oligofractionated radiotherapy to a variety of tumor types. SABR has been established as a technologically innovative therapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has emerged as the standard treatment option for medically inoperable patients through utilization of prospective, multi-institutional trials. Recent trials continue to evaluate the role of SABR in the medically operable and borderline operable population, and will compare surgical resection and SABR as treatment modalities in these patients. This chapter reviews the techniques utilized in SABR, the evidence for use of SABR in early stage lung cancer, its extension of use to medically operable patients, and the toxicities associated with this emerging technique.
Neuro Slicer: A Tool of Registering 2-D Slice Data to 3-D Surface Atlases

Publisher Summary Today, many clinical applications rely on medical imaging. Disease diagnosis, therapy planning, and surgical operations are often supported by several imaging modalities, providing complementary information. This chapter discusses a novel method called neuroslicer for accurate registration of autoradiographs of rat brain to a standard atlas. Atlas is a general term used to refer to a framework, derived from either a single representative brain or an average anatomic template. The 3-D surface atlas is created based on two-dimensional cryosection images, which are used as reference maps for the rat brain. The surface is resliced into new sections with the resolution high enough to cover a wide range of sectioning angles for experimental brains. Shape matching and transforming from sample data to the atlas is performed by using the thin plate spline model. This chapter reviews intrasubject image matching, intersubject image matching, and the neuroslicer. The problem of intrasubject cross modality registration is more difficult because of the modality-specific inconsistencies between images, such as incomplete coverage, intensity distortions, geometric distortions, and lack of contrast. Quantitative analysis of autoradiographic data helps neuroscientists to determine the functional properties of a particular region.
Feedback Routing via Congestion Pricing

This chapter addresses a control design for performing dynamic congestion pricing as a method to perform traffic assignment to achieve certain objective. The design uses the methodology of optimal control theory. The formulation allows for modeling tolled and non-tolled lanes or routes. A logit model connects the toll price with the driver choice behavior. A feedback optimal tolling control law is designed based on deriving the corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation for the model of the system. Simulations are also presented to illustrate the working of the control design. Some of the content of this chapter has been adapted from the following paper: \(\copyright \) 2016 IEEE. Reprinted, with permission, from: Kachroo P, Gupta S, Agarwal S, Ozbay K., “Optimal Control for Congestion Pricing: Theory, Simulation, and Evaluation,” IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems. 2017 May; 18(5):1234–40.
A Metalanguage for Communication, Confidence, and Commitment: A New Perspective on Influence Diagrams

Recent international conferences of the System Dynamics Society have emphasized the value of diagrams and models to teach strategic thinking. In addition, these diagrams have proved useful in communication, which, as I. A. Richards states, is the process of eliciting meanings. According to Richards, “the goal of communication is to create a similar mental experience in the other, a goal that can be achieved only when the communicators share a certain degree of past experience”(Richards, 1923). The work of the researchers discussed below illustrates how diagrams are used to effect the sharing of experience to facilitate communication and cooperation in groups.
Characterizing Intermediate Conformations in Protein Conformational Space

In this paper we present a novel parallel coordinate based clustering method using Gaussian mixture distribution models to characterize the conformational space of proteins. We detect highly populated regions which may correspond to intermediate states that are difficult to detect experimentally. The data is represented as feature vectors of N dimensions, which are lower-dimension projections of the protein conformations. Parallel coordinates are a visualization technique that lays out coordinate axes in parallel rather than orthogonal to each other, thereby allowing patterns between pairs of axis as well as outliers to be visually identified in multi-dimensional data. We believe that the size of the resulting clusters may provide information about the likelihood of the corresponding conformations to exist as important intermediates. We tested our method on the conformational space for the enzyme Adenylate Kinase (AdK) which undergoes large scale conformational changes and used our method to detect clusters which may correspond to experimentally known intermediates. Finally, we compare our clusters with the ones generated by the K-Means clustering algorithm and discuss the advantages of our method for the problem of characterizing proteins conformational space.
Effects of Prenatal Yoga on Labor Pain.

Participation in a prenatal yoga program may help reduce labor pain, but reported effects vary from modest to moderate.
100 Years of Progress in Gas-Phase Atmospheric Chemistry Research

AbstractRemarkable progress has occurred over the last 100 years in our understanding of atmospheric chemical composition, stratospheric and tropospheric chemistry, urban air pollution, acid rain, ...
What are steering pictures are worth? Using image-based steering features to detect drowsiness on rural roads:

Drowsy driving is a persistent and significant problem on today’s roadways. Mitigation technologies may help resolve the problem, but their success depends on effective detection algorithms. Steeri...
Does the Impact of Joint Arthroplasty Extend Beyond the Patient? The Effect of Total Joint Arthroplasty on Patient's Significant Others.

Abstract Background This prospective cohort study evaluates the impact of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty on patient’s spouses/significant others (SSOs). Methods Patients and SSOs were provided similar outcome metrics (Global Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement) at preoperative and postoperative visits. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate scores. Results Our sample included 99 patients (58 total hip arthroplasties and 41 total knee arthroplasties). We found strong correlation between patient and SSO mental status scores. We found moderate correlation for some physical function domains. Conclusion SSOs closely share total joint arthroplasty patient’s mental and even some of the physical burden of disease and recovery.
TCDuino: Development of an Inexpensive Microcontroller-Based Thermal Conductivity Detector for Quantification of Gas Mixtures.

Thermal conductivity is generally the tool of choice for quantification of fixed gases, particularly lighter-than-air gases. Unfortunately, gas chromatography-thermal conductivity detectors (GC-TCD...
Robust estimation of causal effects via a high-dimensional covariate balancing propensity score

SummaryWe propose a robust method to estimate the average treatment effects in observational studies when the number of potential confounders is possibly much greater than the sample size. Our method consists of three steps. We first use a class of penalized $M$-estimators for the propensity score and outcome models. We then calibrate the initial estimate of the propensity score by balancing a carefully selected subset of covariates that are predictive of the outcome. Finally, the estimated propensity score is used to construct the inverse probability weighting estimator. We prove that the proposed estimator, which we call the high-dimensional covariate balancing propensity score, has the sample boundedness property, is root-$n$ consistent, asymptotically normal, and semiparametrically efficient when the propensity score model is correctly specified and the outcome model is linear in covariates. More importantly, we show that our estimator remains root-$n$ consistent and asymptotically normal so long as either the propensity score model or the outcome model is correctly specified. We provide valid confidence intervals in both cases and further extend these results to the case where the outcome model is a generalized linear model. In simulation studies, we find that the proposed methodology often estimates the average treatment effect more accurately than existing methods. We also present an empirical application, in which we estimate the average causal effect of college attendance on adulthood political participation. An open-source software package is available for implementing the proposed methodology.
Three-photon neuronal imaging in deep mouse brain

Three-photon microscopy has been increasingly adopted for probing neural activities beyond the typical two-photon imaging depth. In this review, we outline the unique properties that differentiate three-photon microscopy from two-photon microscopy for in vivo imaging in biological samples, especially in the mouse brain. We present a systematic summary of the optimization of three-photon imaging parameters for neural imaging, based on their effects on calcium imaging quality and perturbation to brain tissues. Furthermore, we review the existing techniques for volumetric imaging and discuss their prospects in mesoscale three-photon imaging in deep tissue.
How Risky are the U.S. Corporate Assets

We use market data on corporate bonds and equities to measure the value of U.S. corporate assets and their payouts to investors. In contrast to per share equity dividends, total corporate payouts are very volatile, turn negative when corporations raise capital, and are acyclical. This challenges the notion of risk and return since the risk premium on corporate assets is comparable to the standard equity premium. To reconcile this evidence, we show empirically that aggregate net issuances are acyclical and highly volatile, and mask a strong exposure of total payouts' cash components to low-frequency growth risks. We develop an asset-pricing framework to quantitatively assess this economic channel.
Networked Internationalization: Chinese Companies in Ethiopia’s Infrastructure Construction Sector

Chinese companies have emerged as crucial players in Africa’s infrastructure construction sector. Existing literature largely views Chinese companies as state-orchestrated actors that undertake gov...
Pairing long-term population monitoring and wildlife crossing structure interaction data to evaluate road mitigation effectiveness

Abstract Roads negatively affect wildlife populations directly as a source of mortality and indirectly through habitat fragmentation, restricted movement, and altered habitat use. Wildlife crossing structures and roadside fencing are two common road mitigation strategies implemented to reduce wildlife road mortalities and maintain population connectivity. Metrics quantifying use of crossing structures by wildlife are often used to determine their effectiveness, but interpreting these metrics can be challenging when local population processes and individual variation in use are not considered. We used over six years of remote camera data, including two years of post-construction data, from a road improvement project in south Texas to evaluate mitigation efforts in the context of long-term felid abundance. Variation in seasonal felid abundance was tied to precipitation in the preceding 12 months, highlighting the importance of accounting for baseline wildlife abundance when measuring structure efficacy. Crossing structure use by felids was positively correlated with abundance estimates, though frequency and consistency of use varied among individuals. Probability of use was related to roadside fencing, canopy cover, time since crossing construction, and presence of water in the structure. Our results suggest that conventional indices of crossing structure effectiveness, such as crossing rates, are more informative when ongoing population processes are considered. By interpreting structure use in the context of long-term abundance trends and individual variation, managers can compare use across sites to better determine factors that influence crossing structure effectiveness and take steps to site, construct, and maintain structures that enable safe wildlife road crossing and promote connectivity.
Multi-Path Routing in the Jellyfish Network

The Jellyfish network has recently been proposed as an alternative to the fat-tree network for data centers and high-performance computing clusters. Jellyfish uses a random regular graph as its switch-level topology and has shown to be more cost-effective than fat-trees. Effective routing on Jellyfish is challenging. It is known that shortest path routing and equal-cost multi-path routing (ECMP) do not work well on Jellyfish. Existing schemes use variations of k-shortest path routing (KSP). In this work, we study two routing components for Jellyfish: path selection that decides the paths to route traffic, and routing mechanisms that decide which path to be used for each packet. We show that the performance of the existing KSP can be significantly improved by incorporating two heuristics, randomization and edge-disjointness. We evaluate a range of routing mechanisms, including traffic oblivious and traffic adaptive schemes, and identify an adaptive routing scheme with noticeably higher performance than others.
Linear optics and coupling correction with closed orbit modulation

We propose a new method to measure and correct linear optics and coupling for storage rings with beam position monitor (BPM) data. Two correctors in each transverse plane are used to modulate the closed orbit in an appropriate pattern to sample the linear optics. The orbit modulation data are fitted to the lattice model in a similar manner as the usual method of fitting the orbit response matrix. The closed orbit modulation measurements can be done much faster, and the number of sample points is not limited by the number of correctors. The method also has a number of advantages over methods that rely on turn-by-turn BPMs. A simulation is done to demonstrate the working principles of the method.
Abolishing Exclusionary Zoning: A Natural Policy Alliance for Environmentalists and Affordable Housing Advocates

Exclusionary zoning limits residential development over large areas, and even entire cities or towns, to single-family housing on large lots. Exclusionary zoning is unfair to people and families of modest means (many of whom are members of racial or ethnic minorities) because it sharply limits where they can live and thus their access to jobs, education, and a good quality of life. For these reasons, exclusionary zoning was found to violate the New Jersey Constitution in the Alollnt Laurel case. But exclusionary zoning is also an environmental problem because it is a prinlary ingredient of the accelerating pace of urban and suburban sprawl. As a consequence, it is a major contributor to increased air and water pollution and habitat fragmentation. The Oregon planning program demonstrates how the abolition of exclusionary zoning promotes a more equitable range of housing choice in suburbs and simultaneously reduces environmental degradation associated with low-density urbanization. INTRODUCTION: THE ORIGINS AND PRACTICE OF CLASS SEGREGATION BY RESIDENTIAL ZONING The zoning in the suburb of the Township of Mount Laurel, which was challenged by the South Burlington County chapter of the NAACP in May, 1971, was typical of suburban zoning then and now.' Most of the township's land was zoned for single-family homes on half-acre lots; apartments, duplexes, and mobile homes were prohib* Robert Liberty has degrees from the University of Oregon Honors College, Oxford Unh'ersity, and Harvard Law School. During the 2002-03 academic year, when this Article was written, he was a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Design School. 1 "Overall, the zoning pattern of Mount Laurel [was) neither more nor less exclusionary than that of most suburban communities .... " 2 ANDERSON'S AMERICAN LAW OF ZONING § 8.18, at 52 (Kenneth H. Young ed., 4th ed. 1996).
Get Them Involved! Styles of High- and Low-Rated Teachers.

an operational definition of effective ness as reflected in student growth. But most efforts to determine teaching ef fectiveness still rest on the judgments or ratings by other colleagues or by stu dents (Eble 1979, Riggs 1975, Seldin 1976), even though many researchers have questioned the validity and relia bility of these ratings (Bassin 1974, Brown 1976, Dennis 1976, Korth 1979, Rainey 1979, Schultz 1978, Williams and Ware 1977). This study sought to determine if ob served classroom behaviors of college teachers rated high by their students and colleagues were (1) significantly different from those of teachers rated lower and (2) consistent with descrip tions of high-rated teachers in prior studies. A positive answer to both questions would support the growing truism that student involvement is cru cial to good teaching.
Photo-response measurements and temporal analyses of gated p-silicon field emitter array

Successful integration of gated field emitter arrays (FEAs) on p-Si substrates with an improved fabrication procedure that results in dramatically reduced leakage current to the gate is presented. Improved fabrication procedure enables a maximum anode-to-gate current ratio of 3300 and high photocurrent to dark current contrast. The dark current at 150 V is 6 /spl mu/A, about 40 times less than an earlier device. I-V curve shows an abrupt transition from field emission to the supply-limited emission at around 50 V. A linear response of the photocurrent to optical power up to sub-milliamp range is achieved. Analyses show that sub-nanosecond response time is possible. These results show promising applications of gated FEA photocathodes in microwave tubes and electron accelerators.
Geographic Information Systems in Library Reference Services

Summary This paper introduces Geographic Information Systems (GIS) user services in libraries. It presents the concept and functions of GIS and compares the use of GIS with library map collections. GIS project in libraries are reviewed. Different kinds of GIS user services are examined. The article looks into the challenges in adding GIS to user services in libraries. User access to GIS in libraries is discussed. It argues that simplified user interfaces and multiple levels of usage are important to improve user access to GIS.
Methods and Utility of EST and Whole Genome Sequencing

Since the Human Genome Project started in 1990 numerous large-scale genomic sequencing projects have been conducted by different consortia of laboratories. As a result, the complete genetic information of an ever growing number of higher eukaryotes is now available in the public databases, which constitute an invaluable resource for biological research. Although eukaryote genomes are very large, most of their DNA is repetitive and do not code for genes. This is particularly true for plants, where repetitive DNA can account for more than 90 % of the genome, posing a major challenge to pursue full genomic sequencing. Large-scale sequencing of cDNA (EST sequencing) is an efficient way to specifically sequence expressed genes, although no more than half of the genes can be recovered with this strategy. Gene targeted genomic sequencing approaches, like methylation filtration, overcome some of the limitations of EST sequencing and constitute an affordable alternative for plant genomic sequencing. Keywords: shotgun sequencing; genomic sequencing; expressed sequence tags; methylation filtration; physical maps