cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Somesthetic discrimination learning after partial nonsensorimotor lesions in monkeys.

Summary Cortical isolation of the sensorimotor region of one hemisphere in the monkey (achieved by combining a unilateral removal of the prefrontal, temporal, and occipital lobes with transection of the corpus callosum) was previously found to produce a severe retardation in learning tactual discriminations with the opposite hand. To determine which part of the three-lobe ablation was critical for this “disconnection syndrome,” callosal transection was combined in the present study with one-or two-lobe removals. The tasks used were the two simple discriminations employed previously and the reversal of the second of these. It was found that either the prefrontal or the temporal lesion produced an impairment, that the effects of these two lesions were roughly equal both for discri-mination and for reversal, and that combined prefrontal and temporal lesion resulted in an impairment comparable in severity to that following the original three-lobe ablation. The occipital lesion appeared to have no effect either alone or in any combination. The attempt to relate these findings to the deficit reported earlier after (orbital) prefrontal or (medial) temporal lesions, both in somesthesis and in other modalities, suggested that the impairment found in the present study was supramodal in nature, although it differed in certain respects from earlier descriptions. It was concluded that the supramodal contribution to somesthetic function from the prefrontal and temporal lobes is mediated by cortico-cortical con-nections with the sensorimotor region governing the hand used.
Model to analyze radiographic factors in mammography

A regression model and analysis is presented to determine the effect of various radiographic factors on mammographic breast exposures. The analysis is based on data collected jointly by the six Regional Centers for Radiological Physics (CRPs) at some sixty installations throughout the United States. A "stepwise regression analysis" of this data projects that the choice between xerox and screen-film receptors is the most critical factor affecting breast exposure followed by choice of HVL and target material. The analysis also shows that, although, for a given receptor categroy, the breast surface exposure varied over a wide range for the diverse techniques acceptable to radiologists, the receptor exposures varied over a rather narrow range of +/- 12%.
The effect of silver on the activity coefficient of zinc in dilute liquid ZnSn alloys at 803 K

The effect of silver on the activity coefficient of zinc in molten tin at 803 K has been studied using the torsion-effusion method. The interaction between zinc and silver in dilute liquid ZnAgSn alloys has been treated using the Wagner interaction parameter and examined in terms of theoretical solution models.
Neuroscience: A cellular basis for the munchies

How does marijuana cause the irresistible hunger pangs known as the munchies? Paradoxically, the answer seems to involve an unusual mode of activation of a brain circuit best known for suppressing appetite. See Article p.45
The “Popular” Response Factor in the Rorschach Scoring

(1938). The “Popular” Response Factor in the Rorschach Scoring. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 3-31.
Volkmann's Ischemic Contracture of the Foot and Ankle: Evaluation and Treatment of Established Deformity:

Fibrotic contracture of skeletal muscle can follow weeks or months after the severe ischemic insult of compartment syndrome. Commonly known as Volkmann's ischemic contracture, the affected limb often becomes dysfunctional and painful, and may lose sensibility. The pathogenesis of the muscle contracture includes prolonged ischemia, myonecrosis, fibroblastic proliferation, contraction of the cicatrix, and myotendinous adhesion formation. Resultant shortening or overpull of involved muscles leads to stiffness and deformity. Simultaneously, nerve injury from initial ischemia or subsequent soft tissue fibrotic compression leads to muscle paresis or paralysis of the involved compartment and of those muscles more distally innervated. The resultant deformity is thus a combination of varying degrees of contracture and weakness depending on which muscles and nerves are affected. Deformity and functional impairment in the foot and ankle secondary to ischemia are determined by many factors, including: (1) which leg compartment, if any, has been affected and to what degree extrinsic flexor or extensor overpull is exhibited, (2) degree of nerve injury sustained causing weakness or paralysis of extrinsic or intrinsic foot and ankle muscles (3) which foot compartment, if any, has been affected and to what degree intrinsic overpull is exhibited, and (4) degree of sensory nerve injury leading to anesthesia, hypoesthesia, or hyperesthesia of the foot. Therefore, a variety of clinical presentations can be encountered following compartment syndrome of the leg and foot. Treatment is based on an appreciation of the pathoanatomy of the deformity. Nonoperative therapy is aimed at obtaining or preserving joint mobility, increasing strength, and providing corrective bracing and accommodative footwear. Operative management is usually reserved for treatment of residual nerve compression or severe and problematic deformities. Established surgical protocols are performed in a stepwise fashion, to include: (1) release of residual or secondary nerve compression, (2) release of fixed contractures, using infarct excision, myotendinous lengthening, muscle recession, or tenotomy, (3) tendon transfers or arthrodesis to increase function, and (4) ostectomy or amputation for severe, refractory deformities.
Parallel agent-based simulation with Repast for High Performance Computing:

In the last decade, agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) has been applied to a variety of domains, demonstrating the potential of this technique to advance science, engineering, and policy an...
Comparison of mAbs Targeting Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule for the Detection of Prostate Cancer Lymph Node Metastases with Multimodal Contrast Agents: Quantitative Small-Animal PET/CT and NIRF

The proliferation of most carcinomas is associated with an overexpression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), a 40-kDa type I transmembrane protein found on epithelial cells yet absent from other cell types. The absence of EpCAM in normal lymphatics makes it an attractive marker for studying lymph node (LN) metastases of carcinomas to improve LN staging accuracy. Herein, we developed and quantitatively compared dual-labeled monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) of varying affinities against EpCAM for both noninvasive and intraoperative detection of metastatic LNs in prostate cancer. Methods: A panel of hybridoma-derived anti-EpCAM mAbs was generated and screened. Two high-affinity candidate mAbs with specificity for nonoverlapping epitopes on the EpCAM extracellular domain were chosen for further evaluation. After conjugation with DOTA for 64Cu radiolabeling and IRDye 800CW as a fluorophore, dual-labeled specific or isotype control mAb was administered intravenously to male nu/nu mice at 10–12 wk after orthotopic implantation of DsRed-expressing PC3 cells. Within 18–24 h, noninvasive small-animal PET/CT and in vivo, in situ, and ex vivo DsRed reporter gene and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging were performed to detect primary tumors and metastatic LNs. Using DsRed fluorescence as the true indicator of cancer-positive tissue, we performed receiver operating characteristic curve analyses of percentage injected dose per gram measured from quantitative small-animal PET/CT and fluorescence intensity measured from semiquantitative NIRF imaging for each LN examined to compare mAb sensitivity and specificity. Results: mAbs 7 and 153 generated in-house were found to have higher affinity than commercial mAb 9601. Accuracy, as a function of sensitivity and specificity, for the detection of cancer-positive LNs during in vivo small-animal PET/CT was highest for mAbs 7 (87.0%) and 153 (78.0%) and significantly greater (P
Four level Hadamard transform

A four-level Hadamard transform that is more general than the binary Hadamard transform is presented. The transform maintains the same row orthogonality as the binary Hadamard transform but requires the use of complex numbers. A four-level Walsh transform is also obtained from the four-level Hadamard transform. These four-level transforms are applicable to image and speech processing. >
Outcome analysis of long-term survivors following pancreaticoduodenectomy☆☆☆

The long-term sequelae of pancreaticoduodenectomy are not completely understood. In the present study nutritional status, pancreatic function, and subjective quality-of-life parameters were evaluated in 45 patients who had previously undergone either pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) or standard pancreaticoduodenectomy (SPD). Quality-of-life parameters, as measured by the Short Form-36 health survey, demonstrated no significant differences between the subgroups and normal control subjects in six of the eight domains for physical and mental health. Patients who had undergone SPD were noted to have significantly lower scores for general health and vitality than either age-matched control subjects or those who had undergone PPPD. No differences in nutritional parameters or indicators of pancreatic exocrine function between the two groups were identified. An elevated hemoglobin Alc value was seen in only one patient who was not diabetic preoperatively. Our data indicate that long-term survivors of pancreaticoduodenectomy generally feel as good as their normal counterparts, although SPD may result in some health satisfaction deficits. Nutritional status and pancreatic exocrine function are not improved in patients undergoing a pylorus-preserving procedure, and postoperative pancreatic endocrine dysfunction is unusual in both groups.
Filtrations of Modules, the Chow Group, and the Grothendieck Group

Abstract The aim of this paper is to show that a finitely generated module over a Noetherian ring defines a unique cycle class in the components with codimension zero and one of the Chow group of the ring. The main theorem generalizes a classical result over integrally closed domains and implies the isomorphism between the Chow group and the Grothendieck group under certain conditions. We also discuss the difference between the map constructed in this paper and the Riemann–Roch map.
Ending the Silence on Gun Violence

Tragedy struck this past December in Newtown, Connecticut, when a 20-year-old man killed his mother and subsequently invaded a school, fatally shot 20 children and 6 school personnel, and then killed himself. In addition to the unspeakable loss of these young children and their devoted teachers, this incident leaves psychological scars on those who witnessed the event and on the families, friends, and communities of the victims. For their sake, we must not be silent. Instead, it is imperative that we harness our clinical and research capabilities to learn from this dark episode and inform actions that will decrease the toll of violent death among our citizenry. In this editorial, we wish to place this episode in national and international perspectives, and consider three approaches that have been recommended in the national media, namely restriction of access to firearms, clinical screening about firearm availability and storage in the home, and improved access to mental health care and better screening for violence potential.
RLS-Laguerre lattice adaptive filtering: error-feedback, normalized, and array-based algorithms

This paper develops several lattice structures for RLS-Laguerre adaptive filtering including a posteriori and a priori based lattice filters with error-feedback, array-based lattice filters, and normalized lattice filters. All structures are efficient in that their computational cost is proportional to the number of taps, albeit some structures require more multiplications or divisions than others. The performance of all filters, however, can differ under practical considerations, such as finite-precision effects and regularization. Simulations are included to illustrate these facts.
Carapace repair in the green crab, Carcinus maenas (L.)

Formation of a circular hole 8-10 mm in diameter in the calcified layers of the carapace from crabs in stage C4 of the molt cycle stimulates the tissue under and adjacent to the injury to deposit a unique calcified cuticular material below the intact membranous layer. Deposition was followed for 69 days using light microscopic histology, histochemistry, and scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative analyses of CaCO3 were conducted using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Gran titration. Spatial distribution of CaCO3 was determined with X-radiography. A scab is formed by day two under the injury. At four days the epithelium changes from squamous to columnar and deposits a PAS-positive layer with an irregular lamellar fine structure, followed by highly organized lamellae structurally similar to normal exocuticle. Histochemically, however, these lamellae resemble normal endocuticle. CaCO3 is evident external to the outermost lamellae by day eleven as a fused mass of aragonite granules. The lamellar region calcifies proximally from the outer surface and is amorphous CaCO3 . Repair cuticle is approximately 20%CaCO3 by weight.
A Spatial Decision Support System Approach to Evaluate the Efficiency of a Meals-on-Wheels Program∗

Due to limited resources, publicly funded service programs need to operate efficiently. This paper demonstrates how a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) can be used to evaluate and enhance the performance of an existing service delivery program. Elements critical to the efficiency of service programs are enumerated. A meals-on-wheels (MOW) program in Connecticut is used as a case study to demonstrate the utility of the SDSS approach. Practical issues related to data sources and system adoption are discussed.
Compensation by tumor suppressor genes during retinal development in mice and humans

The RB1 gene was the first tumor suppressor gene cloned from humans by studying genetic lesions in families with retinoblastoma. Children who inherit one defective copy of the RB1 gene have an increased susceptibility to retinoblastoma. Several years after the identification of the human RB1 gene, a targeted deletion of Rb was generated in mice. Mice with one defective copy of the Rb gene do not develop retinoblastoma. In this manuscript, we explore the different roles of the Rb family in human and mouse retinal development in order to better understand the species-specific difference in retinoblastoma susceptibility. We found that the Rb family of proteins (Rb, p107 and p130) are expressed in a dynamic manner during mouse retinal development. The primary Rb family member expressed in proliferating embryonic retinal progenitor cells in mice is p107, which is required for appropriate cell cycle exit during retinogenesis. The primary Rb family member expressed in proliferating postnatal retinal progenitor cells is Rb. p130 protein is expressed redundantly with Rb in postmitotic cells of the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer of the mouse retina. When Rb is inactivated in an acute or chronic manner during mouse retinal development, p107 is upregulated in a compensatory manner. Similarly, when p107 is inactivated in the mouse retina, Rb is upregulated. No changes in p130 expression were seen when p107, Rb or both were inactivated in the developing mouse retina. In the human retina, RB1 was the primary family member expressed throughout development. There was very little if any p107 expressed in the developing human retina. In contrast to the developing mouse retina, when RB1 was acutely inactivated in the developing human fetal retina, p107 was not upregulated in a compensatory manner. We propose that intrinsic genetic compensation between Rb and p107 prevents retinoblastoma in Rb- or p107-deficient mice, but this compensation does not occur in humans. Together, these data suggest a model that explains why humans are susceptible to retinoblastoma following RB1 loss, but mice require both Rb and p107 gene inactivation.
Estimating the power bus impedance of printed circuit boards with embedded capacitance

Embedded capacitance is an alternative to discrete decoupling capacitors and is achieved by enhancing the natural capacitance between closely spaced power and return planes. This paper employs a simple cavity model to investigate the features affecting the power bus impedance of printed circuit boards with embedded capacitance.
Middle fossa transpetrosal approach for petroclival and brainstem tumors

Objective: The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the utility of the middle fossa transpetrosal approach with anterior petrosectomy for difficult-to-access petroclival and pontine lesions. Study Design: Retrospective case review in academic tertiary referral center. Methods: Patients for inclusion had pontine and prepontine lesions of the petroclival region. Middle fossa transpetrosal approach with anterior petrosectomy with excision or biopsy of the lesion was performed. The main outcome measure was postoperative neurologic status including motor and cranial nerve function. Results: No patient experienced neuromuscular compromise or cranial nerve deficits as a direct result of the surgical procedure. Complications consisted of a subdural temporal lobe hemorrhage and one case of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Conclusions: The middle fossa transpetrosal approach with anterior petrosectomy was utilized for five patients with petroclival or pontine tumors. In this small series, it served well to spare cranial nerves and allowed avoidance of serious vascular injury. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of this procedure for pontine venous angiomas.
Review of measurements of the RF spectrum of radiation from lightning

Measurements reported in the literature of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation from lightning in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 GHz are reviewed. Measurements have been made either by monitoring the power received at individual frequencies using a narrow bandwidth recording device tuned to the frequencies under investigation or by recording the transient (time dependent) radiation with a wide bandwidth device and then Fourier transforming the waveform to obtain a spectrum. Measurements of the first type were made extensively in the 1950's and 1960's and several composite spectra have been deduced by normalizing the data of different investigators to common units of bandwidth and distance. The composite spectra tend to peak near 5 kHz and then decrease roughly as (frequency) to the -1, up to nearly 100 MHz where scatter in the data make the behavior uncertain. Measurements of the second type have been reported for return strokes, the stepped leader and for some intracloud processes. The spectrum of first return strokes obtained in this manner is very similar to the composite spectra obtained from the narrow-band measurements.
Expanded Access Programs: Ethical and Practical Considerations for Biopharmaceutical Sponsors

Expanded access is a regulatory mechanism by which an investigational drug can be made available outside of a clinical trial to treat patients with serious or life-threatening conditions for which there are no satisfactory treatment options. An expanded access program (EAP) is the formal plan under which preapproval access to an investigational drug can be provided to a group of patients. Although an EAP is a regulated program, the decision to authorize an EAP is the responsibility of the biopharmaceutical sponsor. Because of the significant impact an EAP can have on current patients, drug development, and future patients, we propose that a sponsor’s decision must be based not only on regulatory criteria but also on ethical and practical considerations regarding implementation of an EAP. Such an approach will help ensure that decisions and plans uphold ethical precepts such as fairness, promoting good, and minimizing risk of harm.
Design and analysis of In0.53Ga0.47As/InP symmetric gain optoelectronic mixers

Abstract A symmetric gain optoelectronic mixer based on an indium gallium arsenide (In0.53Ga0.47As)/indium phosphide (InP) symmetric heterojunction phototransistor structure is being investigated for chirped-AM laser detection and ranging (LADAR) systems operating in the “eye-safe” 1.55 μm wavelength range. Signal processing of a chirped-AM LADAR system is simplified if the photodetector in the receiver is used as an optoelectronic mixer (OEM). Adding gain to the OEM allows the following transimpedance amplifier’s gain to be reduced, increasing bandwidth and improving the system’s noise performance. A symmetric gain optoelectronic mixer based on a symmetric phototransistor structure using an indium gallium arsenide narrow bandgap base and indium phosphide emitter/collector layers is proposed. The devices are simulated with the Synopsis TCAD Sentaurus tools. The effects of base–emitter interface layers, base thickness and the doping densities of the base and emitters on the device performance are investigated. AC and DC simulation results are compared with a device model. Improved responsivity and lower dark current are predicted for the optimized InGaAs/InP device over previously reported devices with indium aluminum arsenide emitter/collector layers.
Progress and challenges in achieving an evidence-based education policy in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper reviews the progress economists have made towards achieving an evidence-based educational policy, and highlights challenges that remain. The five main findings are: (1) over the past two decades, much effort has gone into identifying the causal effects of school inputs; this work has produced results and should be expanded. (2) That said, particularly when it originates in small-scale experiments, such work is unlikely to produce a full road map for an evidence-based education policy. (3) There has been less work on the effects of educational inputs at the pre-school stage, and this may be a greater constraint to sound policy than at first appears. (4) There has also been progress on understanding the effects of incentives within education. (5) There is relatively less work surrounding the effects of inputs provided by parents and students, both in terms of resources and effort.
Models for source term, flow, transport and dose assessment in NRC's Iterative Performance Assessment, Phase 2

The core consequence modules for the recently completed Phase 2 Iterative Performance Assessment (IPA) of the Yucca Mountain repository for high-level nuclear waste depend on models for releases from the engineered barrier system (source term), flow of liquid and gas, transport of radionuclides in the geosphere and assessment of dose to target populations. The source term model includes temperature and moisture phenomena in the near-field environment, general, pitting and crevice corrosion, contact of the waste form by water, dissolution and oxidation of the waste form, and transport of dissolved and gaseous radionuclides from the waste package by advection and diffusion. The liquid flow and transport models describe water flow through fractures and matrix in both the unsaturated and saturated zones. Models for flow of gas and transport of {sup 14}CO{sub 2} released from the engineered barrier system to the atmosphere take into account repository heat and the geothermal gradient. The dose assessment model calculates doses to a regional population and a farm family for an assumed reference biosphere in the vicinity of the repository. The Phase 2 IPA led to a number of suggestions for model improvement: (1) improve the ability of the models to include spatial and temporal variabilitymore » in the parameters; (2) improve the coupling among processes, especially the effects of changing environments in the waste packages; (3) develop more mechanistic models, but abstracted for use in total system performance assessment; and (4) use more site specific parameters, especially for the dose assessments.« less
Gene Therapy for Pyruvate Dehydrogenase E1α Deficiency Using Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus 2 (rAAV2) Vectors

To determine the feasibility of gene transfer to correct defects in the E1α subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex (PDC), we constructed rAAV vectors that expressed PDH E1α, either alone or with a green fluorescent protein tag, from a hybrid cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer/chicken β-actin (CB) promoter. These vectors were functional in vitro, as judged by increased expression of mRNA in vector-transduced deficient cell lines and correction of the biochemical defect in PDH activity in these cells. Approximately 30% of wild-type levels of PDH activity were restored under conditions with which only about 15% of cells were transduced. These same vectors were then used in vivo to transduce neurons within the rat striatum. Gene transfer, expression, and translocation into mitochondria were observed, without any obvious untoward effects. In vivo vector-mediated PDH expression persisted for at least 1 year after injection, indicating the stability of gene transfer. These studies provide the basis for future efforts to develop a recombinant AAV (rAAV)-based gene therapy approach for the correction of PDC deficiency.
Calcium Regulating Hormones in Essential Hypertension Importance of Gender

Alterations of calcium metabolism have been described in human essential hypertension and experimental hypertension. We investigated the interrelationship of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) in patients with untreated essential hypertension as compared to normotensive controls. The hypertensive subjects (n = 75; 43 men, 32 women) had a mean blood pressure of 138 +/- 8/95 +/- 5 mm Hg as compared with 120 +/- 11/80 +/- 8 in the normotensive group (n = 40; 22 men, 18 women). Serum PTH was measured with an intact molecule immunochemiluminometric assay and 1,25(OH)2D was measured with radioimmunoassay after HPLC separation. Hypertensive men had PTH levels that were 36% higher than normotensive men (5.3 +/- 2.9 v 3.9 +/- 0.8 pmol/L, P = .005). When blood pressure was analyzed as a continuous variable, there was a direct correlation between it and serum PTH in men (r = .31, P = .004). In women, by contrast, there was no difference in serum PTH between hypertensive and normotensive subjects and no relationship between blood pressure and the serum PTH concentration. Blood pressure was inversely correlated with serum phosphorus levels in both sexes (r = -0.20, P = .04). In men, the elevated serum PTH levels and depressed serum phosphorus levels would have predicted that serum 1,25(OH)2D would be higher in the hypertensive subjects. However, that was not observed, as serum 1,25(OH)2D was slightly lower in hypertensive (38.3 +/- 15.2 pg/mL) than normotensive men (42.7 +/- 11.3, P = .21).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Living Polymerization of Ethylene and Copolymerization of Ethylene/Methyl Acrylate Using “Sandwich” Diimine Palladium Catalysts

Cationic Pd(II) catalysts incorporating bulky 8-p-tolylnaphthyl substituted diimine ligands have been synthesized and investigated for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymerization. Homopolymerization of ethylene at room temperature resulted in branched polyethylene with narrow Mw/Mn values (ca. 1.1), indicative of a living polymerization. A mechanistic study revealed that the catalyst resting state was an alkyl olefin complex and that the turnover-limiting step was migratory insertion, thus the turnover frequency is independent of ethylene concentration. Copolymerization of ethylene and methyl acrylate (MA) was also achieved. MA incorporation was found to increase linearly with MA concentration, and copolymers with up to 14 mol % MA were prepared. Mechanistic studies revealed that acrylate insertion into a Pd–CH3 bond occurs at −70 °C to yield a four-membered chelate, which isomerizes first to a five-membered chelate and then to a six-membered chelate. Barriers to migratory insert...
Spacecraft obsolescence: Modeling, value analysis, and implications for design and acquisition

Obsolescence is a distinctive state of both (physical) products and information, and it is commonly defined as the condition of being outdated or no longer useful. For the U.S Department of Defense (DoD), obsolescence is a serious matter that affects a host of military systems, by making it challenging to procure specific parts needed to build or repair them. For commercial engineering systems, obsolescence is an important determinant of the loss of competitive edge or advantage. System obsolescence is in part due to the tension between the increasingly longer design lifetimes of systems on the one hand, and the shorter life cycles of the underlying technologies embedded in the systems on the other hand. Faster changes in market needs and expectations are also important drivers of system obsolescence. As such, obsolescence and technology innovation are dual concepts that mirror each other in an inverse or negative relationship. In this work, we investigate two related issues: the notion of system obsolescence in general, and its particular manifestation in the case of spacecraft. Our objective is to contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon and its consequences in general, and of spacecraft obsolescence in particular. This understanding is a necessary first step for better managing and mitigating the risk of obsolescence. To this effect, we first provide a multidisciplinary literature review of obsolescence, from economics to operations research. We then examine obsolescence as it pertains to engineering items and its relationship to product lifecycle. Since we are concerned in this work with system obsolescence instead of component obsolescence, we do not examine “cohort effects” such as sales volume of a given item, as is traditionally done in the literature on the subject. Instead, we focus on the value generated by a single system, and we connect obsolescence with the loss of remaining system value. We argue that obsolescence decreases the value delivery profile of a system over time, and we develop the analytics to support and illustrate this proposition. We adapt our obsolescence model to spacecraft and examine various consequences of the onset and intensity of obsolescence on the spacecraft value. We provide several recommendations based on our findings. We introduce an obsolescence map as a visualization tool to help rank different payloads for which obsolescence mitigation ought to be prioritized. We make the case that the time to peak of the net value of a system, given its exposure to obsolescence, ought to be an important consideration when selecting an “optimal” design lifetime for the system. We also suggest that the value implications of system obsolescence can serve as a valuation standard for obsolescence mitigation strategies and provide an upper bound on the willingness-to-pay for their implementations (e.g., flexible payloads).
Prediction of the outcome in cardiac arrest patients undergoing hypothermia using EEG wavelet entropy

Cardiac arrest (CA) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Induction of hypothermia has been found to improve the functional recovery of CA patients after resuscitation. However, there is no clear guideline for the clinicians yet to determine the prognosis of the CA when patients are treated with hypothermia. The present work aimed at the development of a prognostic marker for the CA patients undergoing hypothermia. A quantitative measure of the complexity of Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, called wavelet sub-band entropy, was employed to predict the patients' outcomes. We hypothesized that the EEG signals of the patients who survived would demonstrate more complexity and consequently higher values of wavelet sub-band entropies. A dataset of 16-channel EEG signals collected from CA patients undergoing hypothermia at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center was used to test the hypothesis. Following preprocessing of the signals and implementation of the wavelet transform, the wavelet sub-band entropies were calculated for different frequency bands and EEG channels. Then the values of wavelet sub-band entropies were compared among two groups of patients: survived vs. non-survived. Our results revealed that the brain high frequency oscillations (between 64100 Hz) captured from the inferior frontal lobes are significantly more complex in the CA patients who survived (p-value < 0.02). Given that the non-invasive measurement of EEG is part of the standard clinical assessment for CA patients, the results of this study can enhance the management of the CA patients treated with hypothermia.
Next-Generation Assessment of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (ERBB2) Amplification Status: Clinical Validation in the Context of a Hybrid Capture-Based, Comprehensive Solid Tumor Genomic Profiling Assay

Establishing ERBB2 [human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)] amplification status in breast and gastric carcinomas is essential to treatment selection. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) constitute the current standard for assessment. With further advancements in genomic medicine, new clinically relevant biomarkers are rapidly emerging and options for targeted therapy are increasing in patients with advanced disease, driving the need for comprehensive molecular profiling. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is an attractive approach for up-front comprehensive assessment, including ERBB2 status, but the concordance with traditional methods of HER2 assessment is not well established. The Memorial Sloan Kettering–Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT) assay, a hybrid capture-based NGS assay interrogating the coding regions of 410 cancer-related genes, was performed on manually macrodissected unstained sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast (n = 213) and gastroesophageal (n = 39) tumors submitted for clinical mutation profiling. ERBB2 status was assessed using a custom bioinformatics pipeline, and NGS results were compared to IHC and FISH. NGS ERBB2 amplification calls had an overall concordance of 98.4% (248/252) with the combined IHC/FISH results in this validation set. Discrepancies occurred in the context of low tumor content and HER2 heterogeneity. ERBB2 amplification status can be reliably determined by hybridization capture-based NGS methods, allowing efficient concurrent testing for other potentially actionable genomic alterations, particularly in limited material.
Evaluating the effect of integrated microfinance and health interventions: an updated review of the evidence.

Background Solutions delivered within firm sectoral boundaries are inadequate in achieving income security and better health for poor populations. Integrated microfinance and health interventions leverage networks of women to promote financial inclusion, build livelihoods, and safeguard against high cost illnesses. Our understanding of the effect of integrated interventions has been limited by variability in intervention, outcome, design, and methodological rigour. This systematic review synthesises the literature through 2015 to understand the effect of integrated microfinance and health programs. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, EconLit, and Global Health databases and sourced bibliographies, identifying 964 articles exclusive of duplicates. Title, abstract, and full text review yielded 35 articles. Articles evaluated the effect of intentionally integrated microfinance and health programs on client outcomes. We rated the quality of evidence for each article. Results Most interventions combined microfinance with health education, which demonstrated positive effects on health knowledge and behaviours, though not health status. Among programs that integrated microfinance with other health components ( i.e. health micro-insurance, linkages to health providers, and access to health products), results were generally positive but mixed due to the smaller number and quality of studies. Interventions combining multiple health components in a given study demonstrated positive effects, though it was unclear which component was driving the effect. Most articles (57%) were moderate in quality. Discussion Integrated microfinance and health education programs were effective, though longer intervention periods are necessary to measure more complex pathways to health status. The effect of microfinance combined with other health components was less clear. Stronger randomized research designs with multiple study arms are required to improve evidence and disentangle the effects of multiple component microfinance and health interventions. Few studies attempted to understand changes in economic outcomes, limiting our understanding of the relationship between health and income effects.
Beyond Health Insurance: Remaining Disparities in US Health Care in the Post‐ACA Era

Policy Points: In a national survey of approximately 8,000 adults in 2015, we found large income- and race-based disparities in perceived health care quality, affordability, and use of emergency departments. Lack of health insurance is one factor that contributes to worse health care experiences among lower-income Americans and racial/ethnic minorities, but it only explains a small to moderate portion of these disparities. While the Affordable Care Act has led to significant improvements in health care access and affordability, large gaps remain. Repeal of the law would undo much of this progress, but even if the law remains in effect, policymakers need to address other social determinants that contribute to ongoing income- and race-based disparities in health care. Context The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has reduced the US uninsured rate to a historic low. But coverage is only one of many factors contributing to race- and income-based disparities in health care access, affordability, and quality. Methods Using a novel 2015 national survey of more than 8,000 Americans, we examined disparities between low-income and high-income adults and between racial/ethnic minorities and whites. We conducted a series of regression analyses, starting with models that only took into account income or race, and then sequentially adjusted for health insurance, state of residence, demographics, and health status. We examined self-reported quality of care, cost-related delays in care, and emergency department (ED) use due to lack of available appointments. Then we used multivariate regression to assess respondents’ views of whether quality and affordability had improved over the past 2 years and whether the ACA was helping them. Findings Quality of care ratings were significantly worse among lower-income adults than higher-income adults. Only 10%-25% of this gap was explained by health insurance coverage. Cost-related delays in care and ED use due to lack of available appointments were nearly twice as common in the lowest-income group, and less than 40% of these disparities was explained by insurance. There were significant racial/ethnic gaps: reported quality of care was worse among blacks and Latinos than whites, with 16%-70% explained by insurance. In contrast to these disparities, lower-income and minority groups were generally more likely than whites or higher-income adults to say that the ACA was helping them and that the quality and/or affordability of care had improved in recent years. Conclusions Our post–health reform survey shows ongoing stark income and racial disparities in the health care experiences of Americans. While the ACA has narrowed these gaps, insurance expansion alone will not be enough to achieve health care equity.
Tollip Deficiency Alters Atherosclerosis and Steatosis by Disrupting Lipophagy.

BackgroundCompromised lipophagy with unknown mechanisms may be critically involved in the intracellular accumulation of lipids, contributing to elevated atherosclerosis and liver steatosis. We hypo...
Robot tendrils: Long, thin continuum robots for inspection in space operations

Traditional robots are constructed from rigid links which facilitate both stiffness and accuracy. However, these systems operate best in open spaces, and environments traversable by this technology are inherently restricted to scales and geometries which match the size and shape of the links. In this paper, we introduce a novel long, thin, continuously bending continuum robot tendril. Aimed toward NASA applications such as remote inspection and sensor mobility for improved sample acquisition, research with tendril agents could also have potential terrestrial applications and could be highly useful in areas of defense and security, search and rescue in hazardous environmental conditions, and as an innovative option for sensor placement in environmental monitoring. Using a prototype developed at Clemson University through NASA-funded research, we demonstrate the tendril's unique capabilities for adaptive sensor placement and remote inspection within an environment seeded with numerous disparate and slowly (over a matter of hours) time-varying sources, and discuss the potential for use of such robot tendrils in space applications.
Serologic evidence of various arboviruses detected in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the United States

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are an abundant mammal with a wide geographic distribution in the United States, which make them good sentinels for monitoring arboviral activity across the country. Exposure to various arboviruses has been detected in white-tailed deer, typically in conjunction with another diagnostic finding. To better assess the exposure of white-tailed deer to seven arboviruses, we tested 1,508 sera collected from 2010 to 2016 for antibodies to eastern equine encephalitis (2.5%), Powassan (4.2%), St. Louis encephalitis, (3.7%), West Nile (6.0%), Maguari (19.4%), La Crosse (30.3%), and bluetongue (7.8%) viruses. At least one arbovirus was detected in 51.3%, and exposure to more than one arbovirus was identified in 17.6% of the white-tailed deer sampled.
QoS-Oriented Adaptation Management in Networked Multi-vehicle Cruise Control Systems

Networked embedded software systems incorporate varying degrees of adaptation behavior to sustain their operations with acceptable quality of service (QoS), in the face of hostile external events &#x2014; such as resource outages in a cloud service, road slipperiness in a car driving, etc. For instance, a highly agile cruise control system of a car may dynamically adjust its controller parameters to generate a higher-than-normal increase in torque when encountering a higher road elevation (relative to a normal controller). With the high complexity of such dynamic adaptive systems, their QoS capability depends on how well they respond to hostile external events. The paper formulates model-based assessment techniques to reason about how capable is a networked system S in meeting its QoS specs. We benchmark the QoS capability of S by a stress-testing of S with artificially injected failures. As a case study, we describe the QoS assessment of a multi-vehicle adaptive cruise control system.
Exploration of genetic selection in rice leaf length and width

Leaf length and width are two of the most important components of rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant architecture and directly contribute to yield. The genetic effects of leaf length and width are controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). In this study, a double haploid (DH) population derived from a cross of O. sativa ssp. japonica cultivar Maybelle and ssp. indica cultivar Baiyeqiu (BYQ) was used to dissect genetic effects on leaf length and width. Analysis of phenotypic effects indicated that all of the detected traits exhibited continuous, transgressive distributions in the DH population. Correlation analysis revealed a strong association between the two adjacent leaves for the same trait. A total of 25 QTLs within 17 genetic intervals distributed on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12 were detected for rice leaf length and width, with LOD values that ranged from 2.75 to 10.62. Among these loci, two major QTLs, which were located in the intervals RM3262–RM3452 and RM16432–RM7472, played very importa...
Development of spiral auxetic structures

Abstract An auxetic tow or fiber bundle that will expand in diameter when extended axially would be very useful. It could be woven into a shape-changing cloth, perhaps used for ballistic protection , or as an easily cleaned filter. To explore this concept, spiral fiber bundle structures under tension were explored. Theory describing the geometry of spiral structures was developed. Several types of finite element models for these spiral structures using laminated plate elements, beam elements and solid elements with contact were then developed and compared at a range of angles. The beam and solid element models provide the best approximation and indicate that a 30°/45° fiber structure is a good angle combination to not only provide significant radial expansion but also show a relatively low stress. Several polymeric specimens were 3D-printed and tested under tension. Testing confirmed that the spiral fiber systems exhibited auxetic behavior. The polymeric specimens exhibited more radial expansion than the finite element predictions. Thus, spiral fiber bundles show promise and will be explored further.
Reflections on Crime and Culpability: Problems and Puzzles

In 2009, Larry Alexander and Kimberly Ferzan published Crime and Culpability: A Theory of Criminal Law. The book set out a theory that those who deserve punishment should receive punishment commensurate with, but no greater than, that which they deserve. Reflections on Crime and Culpability: Problems and Puzzles expands on their innovative ideas on the application of punishment in criminal law. Theorists working in criminal law theory presuppose or ignore puzzles that lurk beneath the surface. Now those who wish to examine these topics will have one monograph that combines the disparate puzzles in criminal law through a unified approach to culpability. Along with some suggestions as to how they might resolve the puzzles, Alexander and Ferzan lay out the arguments and analysis so future scholars can engage with questions about our understanding of culpability that very few have addressed.
Establishing Naming in Typically Developing Two-Year-Old Children as a Function of Multiple Exemplar Speaker and Listener Experiences

Naming is a verbal developmental capability and cusp that allows children to acquire listener and speaker functions without direct instruction (e.g., incidental learning of words for objects). We screened 19 typically developing 2- and 3-year-old children for the presence of Naming for 3-dimensional objects. All 9 3-year-olds had Naming, and 8 of 10 2-year-olds lacked Naming. For the 2-year-old children who lacked Naming, we used multiple-probe designs (2 groups of 4 children) to test the effect of multiple exemplar instruction (MEI) across speaker and listener responses on the emergence of Naming. Prior to the MEI, the children could not emit untaught listener or speaker responses following match-to-sample instruction with novel stimuli, during which they had heard the experimenter tact the stimuli. After MEI with a different set of novel stimuli, the children emitted listener and speaker responses when probed with the original stimuli, in the absence of any further instruction with those stimuli. Seven of 8 children acquired the speaker and listener responses of Naming at 83% to 100% accuracy. We discuss the basic and applied science implications.