cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of neuronal morphologies from electron microscopy images using graph cuts

Understanding neural connectivity and structures in the brain requires detailed 3D anatomical models, and such an understanding is essential to the study of the nervous system. However, the reconstruction of 3D geometry from a large set of dense nanoscale medical images is very challenging, because of the imperfections in staining and noise in the imaging process. In this abstract, we present an automated tracking and segmentation framework to extract 2D contours and to trace them through the z direction. The image segmentation problem is posed as Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) estimation of a Markov Random Field (MRF). The MAP-MRF formulation is equivalent to minimizing the corresponding Gibbs energy function and graph cuts [1] are used to obtain the optimal solution to the energy function. The energy function carries both the information from the current slice and from the previous slice. Furthermore, to improve segmentation accuracy, interactive segmentation editing tools that allow users to refine an incorrect segmentation are developed. Segmentation evaluation metrics using χ2 distance and image intensities are applied to compute confidence values of segmentations. Confidence values are helpful to point users to segmentations with low confidence values, thus reducing the time of manual inspection. Experiments were conducted on three synthetic datasets (Dataset 3 is generated by using NeuGen [3]) and on nanoscale image sequences from the Serial Block Face Scanning Electron Microscope (SBF-SEM) [2]. Table ​Table11 shows the quantitative Dice similarity measure on the three synthetic datasets. The average DS over all experiments is 0.9113, which shows that the proposed tracking and segmentation algorithm is robust under noisy conditions. Figure ​Figure11 presents the reconstructed 3D structures of tracked and segmented 2D contours, where part of a neuron can be seen in figure 1(c) and figure 1(d). The results indicate that our method can successfully track and segment densely packed cells in EM image stacks. We expect these reconstructed geometries to allow high-fidelity computational simulation of various kinds of neurons. Table 1 Quantitative Dice similarity measure of the three synthetic datasets with different levels of Gaussian noise. Figure 1 Reconstruction results of synthetic datasets and of an SBF-SEM image stack.
Power and thermal effects of SRAM vs. Latch-Mux design styles and clock gating choices

This paper studies the impact on energy efficiency and thermal behavior of design style and clock-gating style in queue and array structures. These structures are major sources of power dissipation, and both design styles and various clock gating schemes can be found in modern, high-performance processors. Although some work in the circuits domain has explored these issues from a power perspective, thermal treatments are less common, and we are not aware of any work in the architecture domain. We study both SRAM and latch and multiplexer ("latch-mux") designs and their associated clock-gating options. Using circuit-level simulations of both design styles, we derive power-dissipation ratios which are then used in cycle-level power/performance/thermal simulations. We find that even though the "unconstrained" power of SRAM designs is always better than latch-mux designs, latch-mux designs dissipate less power in practice when a structure's average occupancy is low but access rate is high, especially when "stall gating" is used to minimize switching power. We also find that latch-mux designs with stall gating are especially promising from a thermal perspective, because they exhibit lower power density than SRAM designs. Overall, when combined with implementation and verification challenges for SRAMs, latch-mux designs with stall gating appear especially promising for designs with thermal constraints. This paper also shows the importance of considering the interaction between architectural and circuit design choices when performing early-stage design exploration.
Role for Fks1 in the Intrinsic Echinocandin Resistance of Fusarium solani as Evidenced by Hybrid Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The opportunistic mold Fusarium solani is intrinsically resistant to cell wall synthesis-inhibiting echinocandins (ECs), including caspofungin and micafungin. Mutations that confer acquired EC resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other normally susceptible yeast species have been mapped to the Fks1 gene; among these is the mutation of residue 639 from Phe to Tyr (F639Y) within a region designated hot spot 1. Fks1 sequence analysis identified the equivalent of Y639 in F. solani as well as in Scedosporium prolificans, another intrinsically EC-resistant mold. To test its role in intrinsic EC resistance, we constructed Fks1 hybrids in S. cerevisiae that incorporate F. solani hot spot 1 and flanking residues. Hybrid construction was accomplished by a PCR-based method that was validated by studies with Fks1 sequences from EC-susceptible Aspergillus fumigatus and paired EC-susceptible and -resistant Candida glabrata isolates. In support of our hypothesis, hybrid Fks1 incorporating F. solani hot spot 1 conferred significantly reduced EC susceptibility, 4- to 8-fold less than that of wild-type S. cerevisiae and 8- to 32-fold less than that of the same hybrid with an F639 mutation. We propose that Fks1 sequences represent determinants of intrinsic EC resistance in Fusarium and Scedosporium species and, potentially, other fungi.
A MIXED INTEGER PROGRAMMING MODEL FOR MULTIPLE-CLASS DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS

A mixed integer programming model is proposed for multiple-class discriminant and classification analysis. When multiple discriminant functions, one for each class, are constructed with the mixed integer programming model, the number of misclassified observations in the sample is minimized. This model is an extension of the linear programming models for multiple-class discriminant analysis but may be considered as a generalization of mixed integer programming formulations for two-class classification analysis. Properties of the model are studied. The model is immune from any difficulties of many mathematical programming formulations for two-class classification analysis, such as nonexistence of optimal solutions, improper solutions, and instability under linear data transformation. In addition, meaningful discriminant functions can be generated under conditions where other techniques fail. Examples are provided. Results on publically accessible datasets show that this model is very effective in generating powerful discriminant functions.
CELLULAR MECHANISMS OF ANTIBACTERIAL DEFENSE IN LYMPH NODES : II. THE ORIGIN AND FILTRATION EFFECT OF GRANULOCYTES IN THE NODAL SINUSES DURING ACUTE BACTERIAL LYMPHADENITIS

The origin of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes found in the intermediary and subcapsular sinuses of the popliteal lymph node during acute bacterial lymphadenitis, and the effect of this leucocyte infiltration on the passage of bacteria through the lymph node have been investigated. It has been demonstrated that: 1. The polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the nodal sinuses originate both from blood vessels of the lymph node and from the primary inflammatory focus in the tissues. 2. Granulocytes invading the intermediary sinuses of the infected lymph node arise primarily from capillaries lining these sinuses. 3. Most of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the subcapsular sinus, on the other hand, originate from the inflammatory focus in the tissues and appear to traverse the node by way of this peripheral sinus. 4. The bacteremia following direct intralymphatic injection of pneumococci is suppressed by the presence of preformed inflammatory exudate in the nodal sinuses indicating that the filtering capacity of the node is thereby greatly increased.
A multi-agent testbed for diverse seamless personal information networking applications

The paper describes the design and ongoing implementation of a unique cooperative agent testbed in an environment that addresses diverse applications in seamless personal information networking (SPIN). The real world SPIN testbed is aimed at two difficult problems, namely seamless messaging and intelligent network management. Both applications are agent driven and share agent behaviours.
GPS Meteorology: Sliding-Window Analysis*

The sliding-window technique uses a moving time window to select GPS data for processing. This makes it possible to routinely incorporate the most recently collected data and generate estimates for atmospheric delay or precipitable water in (near) real time. As a consequence of the technique several estimates may be generated for each time epoch, and these multiple estimates can be used to explore and analyze the characteristics of the atmospheric estimates and the effect of the processing model and parameters. Examples of some of the analyses that can be undertaken are presented. Insights into the phenomenology of the atmospheric estimates provided by sliding-window analysis permit the fine-tuning of the GPS processing as well as the possibility of both improving the accuracy of the near-real-time estimates themselves and constraining the errors associated with them. The overlapping data windows and the multiple estimates that characterize the sliding-window method can lead to ambiguity in the meaning of many terms and expressions commonly used in GPS meteorology. In order to prevent confusion in discussions of sliding-window processing, a nomenclature is proposed that formalizes the meaning of the primary terms and defines the geometric and physical relationships between them.
Certain Basis Functions for Biharmonic and Laplace’s Equations and Applications

Special sets of linearly independent basis functions for biharmonic and Laplace’s equations are obtained in closed forms. These basis functions are suitable for the solutions of the problems in multiply connected circular and semicircular regions. They automatically satisfy the outer boundary condition(s), and contain singularities at the centers of the circular cutouts of the region. The basis functions are generated from the integrations of the Green’s functions representing the solutions for concentrated sources and satisfying the aforementioned outer boundary condition(s). Examples of plates, bending of prismatic bars, and two dimensional heat transfer are presented.
The Effect of Urban Empowerment Zones on Fertility and Health: A Case Study of Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia 1

I estimate the health impacts of the Empowerment Zone (EZ) program—a federal program that gave sizeable grants and tax breaks to certain high-poverty census tracts in selected cities. Using differences-in-differences and synthetic control methods I find that the urban empowerment zone program (EZ) decreased fertility rates by 10 percent, decreased the prevalence of low birth weight by 8 percent, and increased overall birth weight by 0.8 percent. This increase in infant health was not driven by changes in the composition of births but reflects increased health among mothers. The urban empowerment zone program provided $100 million in block grants for infrastructure improvements and business tax credits. I compare the Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia EZs to a control group of areas which applied for, but were not granted the EZ program in the first round. Synthetic control methods and estimates using an alternative control group support these findings. Recent research on the later-life impacts of low birth weight suggest that the health impacts of this program, despite not being the focus of the program, may have substantial long-term benefits.
Fractures: Diagnosis and Treatment.

H. David Moehring and Adam Greenspan, editors. Philadelphia: Current Medicine; 2000. 248 pages. $199.00. This concise summary of the clinical and radiographic diagnosis as well as the treatment of a comprehensive spectrum of fractures was edited by an orthopaedic traumatologist (Moehring) and a radiologist (Greenspan). The editors state that “the goal is to provide graphic sound bites in succinct and compact chapters that can be rapidly referenced and used to complement standard orthopaedic texts.” They accomplish this goal in an easily readable, attractively presented format. The list of contributing authors reads like a “Who’s …
Outpatient management of traumatic hyphemas in children.

OBJECTIVE There are no outcome reports in the literature for outpatient management of traumatic hyphemas in children. Therefore we studied such cases at our institutions. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS 25 children less than 16 years of age with grade I traumatic hyphemas. INTERVENTION Inactivity at home with frequent office visits to monitor progress and complications. Treatment otherwise varied but virtually all patients received protective eye shields and topical steroids. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Rate of rebleeding and final visual acuity. RESULTS Three patients (12%) suffered a rebleed; one required surgery for clot evacuation. One of the three did not receive topical steroids and if he is excluded, rebleed rate is 2/24 or 8.3%. The hyphema resolved without sequelae in the other 22 patients. All patients had a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better except three patients (12%) who had concurrent vision-limiting ocular injuries and/or disease. Final visual acuity was 20/30 or better in all three patients with rebleeds. CONCLUSIONS Our rebleed rate was within the broad range of rebleed rates reported in the literature. However, improved efforts to identify children at highest risk for rebleeding, to maximize compliance with treatments, and to consider systemic agents in selected cases, could further reduce the rebleed rate and increase acceptance and safety of outpatient management in pediatric traumatic hyphemas.
Draft Genome Sequence of Cobetia sp. UCD-24C, Isolated from Roots and Leaves of the Seagrass Zostera marina

Here, we present the 4,230,758-bp draft genome for Cobetia sp. UCD-24C. This strain was isolated from Zostera marina roots collected in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA.
Launching New Products with Cannibalization Potential: An Optimal Timing Framework

A normative framework is proposed for the optimal introduction timing of a new product which has the potential for cannibalizing an existing product. The application of the proposed framework is illustrated using a numerical example. The paper also illustrates the sensitivity of the optimal timing to model parameters. The framework shows that as cannibalization increases, the launch timing needs to repostponed and the total profits decline; as the new product’s market potential or profitability increases, the optimal launch timing occurs later. Managerial implications for various scenarios are discussed.
Sensitivity of the probability of failure to probability of detection curve regions

Abstract Non-destructive inspection (NDI) techniques have been shown to play a vital role in fracture control plans, structural health monitoring, and ensuring availability and reliability of piping, pressure vessels, mechanical and aerospace equipment. Probabilistic fatigue simulations are often used in order to determine the efficacy of an inspection procedure with the NDI method modeled as a probability of detection (POD) curve. These simulations can be used to determine the most advantageous NDI method for a given application. As an aid to this process, a first order sensitivity method of the probability-of-failure (POF) with respect to regions of the POD curve (lower tail, middle region, right tail) is developed and presented here. The sensitivity method computes the partial derivative of the POF with respect to a change in each region of a POD or multiple POD curves. The sensitivities are computed at no cost by reusing the samples from an existing Monte Carlo (MC) analysis. A numerical example is presented considering single and multiple inspections.
Khru Liam's Khwam Mai Phayabat (1915) and the Problematics of Thai Modernity

Luang Wilat Pariwat's Khwam maiphayabat [The Non-Ven detta] published in 1915 under the pseudonym 'Khru Liam' has been acknowledged as the first full-length novel written by a Thai author in the Thai language. However, literary scholars have been ambiva lent about its place in the Thai literary canon because it appears to have been written as a parody of Marie Corelli's Vendetta (1886), which was translated into the Thai language in 1901 with the title Khwam phayabat. Apparently, Khru Liam's Khwam mai phayabat was not a market success because it disappeared from the public eye until 1997 when a copy was found and reprinted in 2001. This article con tends that Khwam mai phayabat is more than a parody or an imitation of a Western novel, that it is authentically Thai and is significant on several registers. First, the novel is part of a larger survival strategy to prevent Siam's colonization. Second, it warns against the negative influences of modernity and urbanization, especially on Thai women. Third, the novel celebrates Buddhist values, especially the teaching that forgiveness is the only way to stop the cycle of revenge. Khwam mai phayabat was written before its time. It criti cized a Bangkok society that was rapidly modernizing with imported material goods and values from the West. Apparently, this was not attractive to the Thai readership, which preferred instead to read about adventures in Europe and in Africa. Khwam mai phayabat was followed by another novel, Nang Neramid [Divine Nymphs] by the same author, which was about the adventures of some Englishmen in Africa. Nang Neramid appeared in 1916, allowing the author to make up for his earlier financial losses.
Accuracy and predictive values in clinical decision-making

In clinical practice, the accuracy and predictive values of a diagnostic test may differ substantially from values cited in published reports, owing to a lower prevalence of most diseases in clinical populations than in study populations. To correct this problem, published assessments of diagnostic tests should standardize accuracy and predictive values to account for disease prevalence.
Screening for Causative Genes Involved in Children with Minimal Change Nephritic Syndrome

Objective To screen for the causative genes involved in the occurrence and development of minimal changes nephritic syndrome(MCNS) and to furtherly assist the genetic diagnosis and treatment of MCNS.Methods Human genome U133 Array Set from Affymetrix Inc was used to evaluate gene expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) isolated from 7 children with primary MCNS and 7 age-matched health volunteers.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and real-time PCR were performed to identify the findings of gene chip.Results Of 33 000 genes detected,969 genes showed significant difference between children with(MCNS) and healthy volunteers;552 genes were up-regulated,while 417 genes down-regulated significantly.Findings from RT-PCR and real-time PCR were consistent with those of gene chip.Conclusions Gene chip of expression patterns is a powerful method to detect expression difference of genes correlated with MCNS.Occurrence and development of MCNS can be a complicated process that many correlative genes may participate in.
What is the Role of Conceptual Analysis in Cognitive Science

Cognitive scientists sometimes find themselves embroiled in debates over the precise definitions of high-level concepts in their fields – COGNITION, EMOTION, SENSE, and so on. The idea behind these debates seems to be that achieving a precise definition of these concepts will be a boon to scientific inquiry. We argue that these efforts of conceptual analysis would benefit from greater appreciation of the importance of such high-level concepts in supporting association or semantic priming, as opposed to deduction. In this associative role, they provide the basis for making connections between related concepts, connections that can then be explored by empirical methods, which in turn yield more precise, but often quite novel, concepts. In combination with well-established work in cognitive psychology on the non-classical structure of natural concepts, this perspective suggests that researchers should be cautious about investing substantial time and energy in attempts to precisely define concepts like COGNITION.
A task for Paleobiology at the threshold of majority

When asked how he might sum up his long life, an aged Benjamin Franklin replied that he had, at least, been useful to his fellows. Paleobiology is still young, as our journal has just completed 20 years and now begins this season of its majority, while the vibrancy of our subject certainly proclaims a vigorous incipiency. But academic generations are short, a mere 5 years or so, and Paleobiology has therefore enjoyed adequate time to demand judgment by accomplished results, not simple promise. When, fifteen years ago (6, 1, 80), I wrote a similar piece to celebrate the completion of this journal's first five volumes, I spoke in my title about “the promise of paleobiology”; now I must refer to “the task of paleobiology” and delineate what has been accomplished, and how much we have yet to do.
Comparison of four methods of calf confinement. I. Physiology.

Holstein bull calves were blocked by birth order and randomly assigned to one of three treatments in trial I: stall (N = 7), pen (N = 7) and hutch (N = 7), and to one of four treatments in trial II: stall (N = 6), pen (N = 5), hutch (N = 6) and yard (N = 8). Stalls were elevated, .56 X 1.2 m, with wooden slatted floors. Stalled calves were tethered from the front with a collar and .5-m chain. Pens were elevated, 1.2 X 1.5 m, with wooden slatted floors and were located in the same open-front building as the stalls. Hutches were 1.2 X 1.2 X 2.4 m long and open on one end. Hutch calves were restrained with a dog collar and 2.4-m chain. Yard calves were housed as a group in a 3.6 X 7.9 m, outdoor enclosure, of which one-half was a covered, three-sided structure. Calves were placed on treatment between 12 to 24 h of age, bottle-fed 1.9 liters colostrum twice daily for 2 d and then bucket-fed 1.9 liters milk replacer twice daily, with continuous access to hay and grain. Jugular blood samples taken at 6 wk were analyzed for blood cell counts, blood chemistry profile (13 items), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), basal cortisol and adrenal response (cortisol) to exogenous adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Average daily gain from 0 to 42 d was highly variable and was not significantly different for different treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Can We Be Heroes, Too

This article begins with the controversy over a proposed monument based on a widely disseminated photograph of three firefighters raising the American flag over the ruins of the World Trade Center. The three firefighters were White. The proposed monument would have had one White firefighter, one Black, and one Hispanic. This article argues that the controversy over the proposed monument serves as a microcosm for the larger and more important struggle over racial and gender diversity within fire departments, generally.
Data Predictive Control for building energy management

Decisions on how to best optimize energy systems operations are becoming ever so complex and conflicting, that model-based predictive control (MPC) algorithms must play an important role. However, a key factor prohibiting the widespread adoption of MPC in buildings, is the cost, time, and effort associated with learning first-principles based dynamical models of the underlying physical system. This paper introduces an alternative approach for implementing finite-time receding horizon control using control-oriented data-driven models. We call this approach Data Predictive Control (DPC). Specifically, by utilizing separation of variables, two novel algorithms for implementing DPC using a single regression tree and with regression trees ensembles (random forest) are presented. The data predictive controller enables the building operator to trade off energy consumption against thermal comfort without having to learn white/grey box models of the systems dynamics. We present a comprehensive numerical study which compares the performance of DPC with an MPC based energy management strategy, using a single zone building model. Our results demonstrate that performance of DPC is comparable to an MPC controller, with only 3.8% additional cost in terms of optimal objective function and within 95% in terms of R2 score, thereby making it an alluring alternative to MPC, whenever the associated cost of learning the model is high.
Detection of an L-selectin ligand on a hematopoietic progenitor cell line.

L-selectin, the peripheral lymph node “homing receptor,” is an adhesion protein that mediates lymphocyte binding to lymph node high endothelial venules. Ligands for this protein have been identified only on endothelial cells, and recent murine studies indicate that CD34 on endothelial cells is an L-selectin ligand. To investigate whether CD34 expressed on hematopoietic cells functions as an L-selectin ligand, we used an in vitro binding assay to examine lymphocyte adherence to KG1a, a CD34+ human hematopoietic progenitor cell line. We observed specific L-selectin-mediated adherence of lymphocytes to KG1a: the binding was calcium-dependent, was strictly inhibited by anti-L-selectin antibodies and by carbohydrate ligands of L-selectin, and was abrogated by induction of L-selectin shedding from the lymphocyte membrane by treatment with phorbol esters. However, blocking studies using anti- CD34 antibodies, and experiments using KG1a cells sorted for CD34 expression and COS-7 cells transfected with full-length CD34 cDNA indicate that the ligand on KG1a is not CD34; moreover, RPMI 8402, a CD34+ cell line, does not support lymphocyte adherence in the binding assay. Treatment of KG1a with the enzymes neuraminidase, chymotrypsin, and bromelain abrogated lymphocyte binding to the cells, indicating that the ligand is a glycoprotein. These experiments show that CD34 on hematopoietic cells is not an L-selectin ligand and provide the first evidence of a ligand for L-selectin present on a non-endothelial cell.
Diel Patterns of Pheromone Production in the Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Detailed knowledge of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, chemical ecology on cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., is needed to improve pheromone trapping methods. Recent studies using headspace collections have indicated that most pheromone is not in the feces as previously assumed. We used headspace collections to examine the diel patterns of boll weevil pheromone production and to determine whether the timing of food replacement influenced those patterns. Pheromone production of individual 9- and 11-d-old weevils was estimated during 4 daily periods (0730–1130, 1130–1530, 1530–1930, and 1930–0730 h) under temperatures of 27 ± 2°C and with a 13:11 (L:D) h photoperiod that began at 0700 h. Weevils fed daily at 0730 h produced more pheromone (2.83 ± 0.25 μg h−1) than weevils fed at 1530 h (1.95 ± 0.25 μg h−1), and 11-d-old weevils produced more pheromone (2.62 ± 0.22 μg h−1) than 9-d-old weevils (2.16 ± 0.23 μg h−1). Furthermore, weevils fed at 0730 h exhibited a clear diel pattern of pheromone production ...
Case Study B: Network Formation and Flow Control Protocols Applied to Physical Distribution Networks

Flow delivery problems in distribution networks have received significant attention from researchers, as these challenges are ubiquitous in modern physical supply networks. Initially, research focused mostly on vehicle routing problems (VRPs), a sub-set of flow delivery problems concerned with the selection of intermediaries and delivery paths to minimize the total cost of delivery. As QoS gained importance, approaches to the solution of VRPs began to incorporate pre-negotiated delivery lead times as constraints to ensure fulfillment of SLAs. However, in practice, dynamic network conditions oftentimes hinder static solutions if these do not incorporate enough slack to allow for unexpected delays in the delivery plan. Small parcel distribution networks have grown significantly over the last years, mainly fueled by the exponential growth of e-commerce driven by Amazon and store pickup and home delivery options offered by large retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, among others. Over time, increasing pressure from these systems’ customers to obtain best-in-class QoS with shorter leadtimes and lower cost eroded the margin of static solutions, obtained through traditional VRP approaches, to cope with congestion and/or disruption in flow links and/or at intermediaries. Furthermore, some SN agents became increasingly unwilling to accept tardiness, even in the event of unforeseen events, often including penalties in SLAs for late deliveries. In this new scenario, resilience-enabling distribution protocols based on teaming (DNF/RP and DFCP), capable of adapting dynamically to changing distribution network conditions, outperform traditional approaches based on cost and/or leadtime minimization (Reyes Levalle 2015a, b).
Dual-Phase Transmit Focusing for Multiangle Compound Shear-Wave Elasticity Imaging

Shear-wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) enables the quantitative assessment of the mechanical properties of tissue. In SWEI, the effective generation of acoustic radiation force is of paramount importance. Consequently, several research groups have investigated various transmit beamforming and pulse-sequencing methods. To further improve the efficiency of the shear-wave generation, and therefore, to increase the quality of SWEI, we introduce a technique referred to as “multiangle compound SWEI” (MAC-SWEI), which uses simultaneous multiangular push beams created by dual-phase transmit focusing. By applying a constant phase offset on every other element of an array transducer, dual-phase transmit focusing creates both main and grating lobes (i.e., multiangular push beams for pushing) to simultaneously generate shear waves with several wavefront angles. The shear waves propagating at different angles are separated by multidirectional filtering in the frequency domain, leading to the reconstruction of multiple spatially co-registered shear-wave velocity maps. To form a single-elasticity image, these maps are combined, while regions associated with known artifacts created by the push beams are omitted. Overall, we developed and tested the MAC-SWEI method using Field II quantitative simulations and the experiments performed using a programmable ultrasound imaging system. Our results suggest that MAC-SWEI with dual-phase transmit focusing may improve the quality of elasticity maps.
Asymmetric market failure and prisoner's dilemma in intellectual property

Translated into Spanish and published in the LATIN AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY JOURNAL as Fallas Asimeitricas del Mercado y el Dilema del Prisionero en Propiedad Intelectual, RLAPI 2 (2011).
Beyond Object Lessons: Object-Based Learning in the Academic Library

Object-based learning (OBL) is an emerging pedagogy in higher education. Drawing on practices established by museum educators, faculty are integrating OBL into their courses because it engages students in authentic learning. For librarians, OBL presents exciting opportunities to partner with faculty, teach information literacy concepts, and advocate for digital presentation formats over the traditional research paper. This chapter offers historical and theoretical rationales for OBL. It highlights examples of OBL in academic libraries, arguing that OBL motivates students to conduct original research and gives them the experience of working in a professional manner.
Real-time air conditioner zone temperature control by cascaded intelligent PI

In this paper, we control an air conditioner system thought the application of a newly developed Intelligent Proportional Integral (i-PI) Controller that regulate a zone temperature to desired setpoint temperature. This method approximates the unknown nonlinear system function and is applied to the problem of controlling compressor for a vapor compression cycle system where evaporating pressure target is automatically determined by the i-PI so that zone temperature is met to desired setpoint.
Uranium/Uranium Oxide

Uranium, a silvery white metal, was isolated in 1841 by French chemist Eugene-Melchior Peligot (1811–1890) and named after the planet Uranus. Later, in 1896 French physicist Antoine Henri Becquerel (1852–1908) , showed that uranium salts and uranium were radioactive and, hence, discovered radioactivity for which he received the Nobel prize in 1903 sharing it with the French husband and wife team Marie Sklodowska-Curie (1867–1934) and Pierre Curie (1859–1906) who also made huge contributions to the study of radioactivity., There are three naturally occurring isotopes of uranium (uranium has eight isotopes in all): uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-234, which have half-lives of 4.6 billion years, 700 million years and 25 million years, respectively. The long half-life of uranium-238, which is close to the age of the Earth, means that it is by far the most abundant isotope (99.27% of any natural uranium).
Multi-level, multi-discipline, and temporally-diverse handoffs in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects approximately 1.7 million Americans annually, and over 5.3 million people in the US are living with a TBI-related disability. Recently the TBI rehabilitation co...
Tracking the Total CD8 T Cell Response Following Whole Plasmodium Vaccination

CD8 T cells are critical mediators of protection against Plasmodium liver-stage infection. Most studies of the CD8 T cell response to whole parasite Plasmodium vaccines address a single T cell epitope in BALB/c mice, and thus provide limited information. Here, we describe a surrogate activation marker approach that uses the coordinate downregulation of the CD8α chain and upregulation of the integrin CD11a to track the total CD8 T cell response to Plasmodium vaccination via flow cytometry. With this approach, quantitative (magnitude, kinetics) and qualitative (distribution, phenotype, and function) features of the total CD8 T cell response to vaccination with attenuated Plasmodium or other pathogens can be studied.
Effects of an acute bout of moderate-intensity exercise on postprandial lipemia and airway inflammation

A high-fat meal (HFM) induces an increase in blood lipids (postprandial lipemia; PPL), systemic inflammation, and acute airway inflammation. While acute exercise has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects, it is unknown whether exercise prior to an HFM will translate to reduced airway inflammation post-HFM. Our purpose was to determine the effects of an acute bout of exercise on airway inflammation post-HFM and to identify whether any protective effect of exercise on airway inflammation was associated with a reduction in PPL or systemic inflammation. In a randomized cross-over study, 12 healthy, 18- to 29-year-old men (age, 23.0 ± 3.2 years; height, 178.9 ± 5.5 cm; weight, 78.5 ± 11.7 kg) consumed an HFM (1 g fat/1 kg body weight) 12 h following exercise (EX; 60 min at 60% maximal oxygen uptake) or without exercise (CON). Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO; measure of airway inflammation), triglycerides (TG), and inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor-necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6) were measured while fasted at 2 h and 4 h post-HFM. FENO increased over time (2 h: CON, p = 0.001; EX, p = 0.002, but not by condition (p = 0.991). TG significantly increased 2 and 4 h post-HFM (p 0.05). There were no relationships between FENO and TG or systemic inflammatory markers for any time point or condition (p > 0.05). In summary, an acute bout of moderate-intensity exercise performed 12 h prior to an HFM did not change postprandial airway inflammation or lipemia in healthy, 18- to 29-year-old men.
Economic inequality drives female sexualization.

Sexual selection plays a crucial role in understanding the diversity of both physiological and behavioral traits of animals and in recent years has made significant contributions to explaining the patterning of inter- and intrasexual competition in humans (1). With increasing interest in the active role of females as competitors (2), evolutionary social scientists are examining more closely variation in women’s reproductive strategies (e.g., ref. 3). Blake et al. (4) take this exercise into new empirical territory: the posting of sexy selfies (defined as sexualized self-portrait photographs). Given the conventional view among social and psychological scientists that female sexualization is a direct product of male dominance and gender inequality, the preeminence of sexy selfies in parts of the world where women are least oppressed poses a puzzle that the authors seek to solve. Their alternative proposal is that rising economic inequality promotes status competition among women, manifest through the posting of sexy selfies. The authors reason that, insofar as income inequality breeds status competition and anxiety (5), it strengthens incentives for women to compete in the sexual marketplace—more specifically, to display their physical traits to both enhance their mate value among potential partners and compete with other women. The findings bear out the authors’ expectations. Looking at the patterning of the entire population of sexy selfies published (and geolocated) from Twitter and Instagram during a 1-mo period in 2016 (and controlled for many factors that predict postings more generally), they find that the prevalence of sexy selfies is greatest in environments characterized by highly unequal incomes. This replicates across city- and county-level analyses within the United States and across 113 nations. Furthermore, focusing on what is perhaps a more subtle form of female competition—expenditures in women’s beauty salons and clothing stores—the authors find similar patterning within US cities and counties. By … [↵][1]1Email: mborgerhoffmulder{at}ucdavis.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Soft circuits that self-heal under water

Electronic skins that are able to restore their function when damaged in aquatic conditions could be used to create durable underwater soft robots.
Dedicated Backup Units to Alleviate Overload on SDN Controllers

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a rapidly evolving architecture for computer networking that transforms computer networks into software-driven organizations. The traditional SDN architecture relies on a centralized single controller to manage the entire network operations, which may lead to insufficient capacity to carry a substantial amount of information and processing on various time scales. In this paper, we propose a new approach, called a Dedicated Backup Unit (DBU), for improving the processing capabilities of SDNs. DBUs impact the controller by separating the load of intensive operations into different dedicated units to reduce the processing overload from the SDN controller. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed model, we implement a simulation model to demonstrate the feasibility of the DBUs, and the results confirm that the enhancement of the DBUs shows a 30% decrease in the overall controller load.
Development and psychometric assessment of a novel survey to measure care coordination from the specialist's perspective.

OBJECTIVE To develop an online survey of care coordination with primary care providers as experienced by medical specialists, evaluate its psychometric properties, and test its construct validity. DATA SOURCES Physicians (N = 633) from 13 medical specialties across the Veterans Health Administration. STUDY DESIGN We developed the survey based on prior work (literature review, specialist interviews) and by adapting existing measures and developing new items. Multitrait scaling analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess scale structure. We used multiple linear regression to examine the relationship of the final coordination scales to specialists' overall experience of care coordination. DATA COLLECTION November 2016-December 2016. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Results suggest a 13-item, four-factor survey [Relationships (k = 4), Roles and Responsibilities (k = 4), Communication (k = 3), and Data Transfer (k = 2)] that measures the medical specialist experience of coordination with good internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and goodness of fit. Together, the four scales explained nearly 50 percent of the variance in specialists' overall experience of care coordination. CONCLUSIONS The 13-item Coordination of Specialty Care-Specialist Survey (CSC-Specialist) is the first of its kind. It can be used alone or embedded in other surveys to measure four domains of care coordination as experienced by medical specialists.
Early Experience and Results Using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Scores in Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Our study determined if preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores could predict achieving minimum clinically important differences (MCIDs) in postoperative PROMIS scores after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty. Methods Ninety-three patients were administered the PROMIS Depression, Pain Interference, and Physical Function domains at their preoperative appointment and 6-week follow-up visit. MCIDs were drawn from existing literature for the PROMIS domains. Results The MCID was achieved in 74% of patients for Pain Interference, 34% for Physical Function, and 24% for Depression. Our model could predict with 90% specificity which patients would meet MCID if their preop PROMIS Pain score was above 38, Physical Function score less than 19, or Depression score above 22. Conclusion Preoperative PROMIS Pain Interference, Physical Function, and Depression scores can predict achieving MCID in postoperative PROMIS scores.
Advanced Power Conversion System for Small Modular Reactors

The major growth in the electricity production industry in the last 30 years has centered on the expansion of natural gas power plants based on gas turbine cycles. The most popular extension of the simple Brayton gas turbine has been the combined cycle power plant with the open Air-Brayton cycle serving as the topping cycle and the steam Rankine cycle serving as the bottoming cycle for new generation of nuclear power plants that are known as GEN-IV. The Air-Brayton cycle is an open-air cycle and the Steam-Rankine cycle is a closed cycle. The Air-Brayton cycle for a natural gas-driven power plant must be an open cycle, where the air is drawn in from the environment and exhausted with the products of combustion to the environment. This technique is suggested as an innovative approach to GEN-IV nuclear power plants in the form and type of small modular reactors (SMRs). The hot exhaust from the Air-Brayton cycle passes through a heat recovery steam generator (HSRG) prior to exhausting to the environment in a combined cycle. The HRSG serves the same purpose as a boiler for the conventional Steam Rankine cycles.
Let - 7 as biomarker, prognostic indicator, and therapy for precision medicine in cancer

Abnormal regulation and expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been documented in various diseases including cancer. The miRNA let-7 (MIRLET7) family controls developmental timing and differentiation. Let-7 loss contributes to carcinogenesis via an increase in its target oncogenes and stemness factors. Let-7 targets include genes regulating the cell cycle, cell signaling, and maintenance of differentiation. It is categorized as a tumor suppressor because it reduces cancer aggressiveness, chemoresistance, and radioresistance. However, in rare situations let-7 acts as an oncogene, increasing cancer migration, invasion, chemoresistance, and expression of genes associated with progression and metastasis. Here, we review let-7 function as tumor suppressor and oncogene, considering let-7 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker, and a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. We explain the complex regulation and function of different let-7 family members, pointing to abnormal processes involved in carcinogenesis. Let-7 is a promising option to complement conventional cancer therapy, but requires a tumor specific delivery method to avoid toxicity. While let-7 therapy is not yet established, we make the case that assessing its tumor presence is crucial when choosing therapy. Clinical data demonstrate that let-7 can be used as a biomarker for rational precision medicine decisions, resulting in improved patient survival.
Advertising Restrictions and Market Concentration in the Cigarette Industry: A Cross-Country Analysis.

There has been a large increase in the adoption of tobacco advertising restrictions worldwide over the last two decades. Much of the literature studies their direct effect on cigarette demand. This paper investigates the indirect effect of advertising restrictions by evaluating the effect of the policies on the degree of concentration in the tobacco market. By using the variation between countries in timing of adoption of advertising restrictions, I estimate difference-in-difference models to examine the effect of an advertising ban on market-concentration, as measured by HHI. I find that advertising bans lead to an increase in market-concentration: HHI increased by 0.06 points for countries that adopted a ban between 2001 and 2017 conditional on trade and socio-economic characteristics, representing a 13% increase with respect to the mean (0.44). The effect is higher in developing countries (0.08 points increase). Further, I find that ‘comprehensive’ restrictions have a stronger impact on concentration, and ‘limited’ restrictions have little or no impact. These findings point to an important trade-off for policymakers: on one hand, advertising restrictions are likely to reduce consumption of cigarettes; on the other hand, due to an increase in market-concentration, they may be giving more power to tobacco companies.
Interactions of high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) with nucleic acids: Implications in DNA repair and immune responses

High mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) is a highly versatile, abundant, and ubiquitously expressed, non-histone chromosomal protein, which belongs to the HMGB family of proteins. These proteins form an integral part of the architectural protein repertoire to support chromatin structure in the nucleus. In the nucleus, the role of HMGB1 is attributed to its ability to bind to undamaged DNA, damaged DNA, and alternative (i.e. non-B) DNA structures with high affinity and subsequently induce bending of the DNA substrates. Due to its binding to DNA, HMGB1 has been implicated in critical biological processes, such as DNA transcription, replication, repair, and recombination. In addition to its intracellular functions, HMGB1 can also be released in the extracellular space where it elicits immunological responses. HMGB1 associates with many different molecules, including DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipopolysaccharides to modulate a variety of processes in both DNA metabolism and in innate immunity. In this review, we will focus on the implications of the interactions of HMGB1 with nucleic acids in DNA repair and immune responses. We report on the roles of HMGB1 in nucleotide excision repair (NER), base excision repair (BER), mismatch repair (MMR) and DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR). We also report on its roles in immune responses via its potential effects on antigen receptor diversity generation [V(D)J recombination] and interactions with foreign and self-nucleic acids. HMGB1 expression is altered in a variety of cancers and immunological disorders. However, due to the diversity and complexity of the biological processes influenced by HMGB1 (and its family members), a detailed understanding of the intracellular and extracellular roles of HMGB1 in DNA damage repair and immune responses is warranted to ensure the development of effective HMGB1-related therapies.