cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The cost of epilepsy in the United States: an estimate from population-based clinical and survey data.

Summary: Purpose: To provide 1995 estimates of the lifetime and annual cost of epilepsy in the United States using data from patients with epilepsy, and adjusting for the effects of comorbidities and socioeconomic conditions. Methods: Direct treatment-related costs of epilepsy from onset through 6 years were derived from billing and medical chart data for 608 population-based incident cases at two sites in different regions of the country. Indirect productivity-related costs were derived from a survey of 1,168 adult patients visiting regional treatment centers. Direct costs separate the effects of epilepsy and comorbidity conditions. Indirect costs account for the effects of other disabilities and socioeconomic conditions on foregone earnings and household activity. The estimates were applied to 1995 population figures to derive national projections of the lifetime and annual costs of the disorder. Results: The lifetime cost of epilepsy for an estimated 181,000 people with onset in 1995 is projected at $11.1 billion, and the annual cost for the estimated 2.3 million prevalent cases is estimated at $12.5 billion. Indirect costs account for 85% of the total and, with direct costs, are concentrated in people with intractable epilepsy. Conclusions: Direct costs attributable to epilepsy are below previous estimates. Indirect costs adjusted for the socioeconomic conditions of patients are above previous estimates. Findings indicate that epilepsy is unique in the large proportion of costs that are productivity-related, justifying further investment in the development of effective interventions.
A model of lexical variation and the grammar with application to Tagalog nasal substitution

This paper presents a case of patterned exceptionality. The case is Tagalog nasal substitution, a phenomenon in which a prefix-final nasal fuses with a stem-initial obstruent. The rule is variable on a word-by-word basis, but its distribution is phonologically patterned, as shown through dictionary and corpus data. Speakers appear to have implicit knowledge of the patterning, as shown through experimental data and loan adaptation. A grammar is proposed that reconciles the primacy of lexical information with regularities in the distribution of the rule. Morphologically complex words are allowed to have their own lexical entries, whose use is preferred to on-the-fly morphological concatenation. The grammar contains lower-ranked markedness constraints that govern the behavior of novel words. Faithfulness for lexicalized full words is ranked high, so that an established word will have a stable pronunciation. But when a word is newly coined through affixation, the outcome varies according the lexical trends. A crucial aspect of the proposal is that the ranking of the “subterranean” markedness constraints can be learned despite training data in which all words are pronounced faithfully, using Boersma’s (1997, 1998) Gradual learning algorithm. The paper also shows, by summarizing the rule’s behavior in related languages, that the same constraints, in different rankings, seem to be at work even in languages reported to lack variation.
Heterosexual university students' perceptions of homosexual behavior

Male and female respondents (N=252) were asked by questionnaire to react to homosexual and heterosexual behavior as if they were viewing films dealing with content showing intimate kissing and explicit sexuality. Factors examined were: curiosity about homosexuality, perceived similarity of homosexuality to heterosexuality, approval of homosexuality involving consenting adults, comparative attractiveness of gays and lesbians to heterosexuals, sexual inhibition, and responses to being labeled as gay. Findings indicate varied sex differences following traditional roles with homosexual threat for males and fear of being labeled homosexual by both genders as significant concerns.
Case Studies of Effects of Artificial Food Colors On Hyperactivity

The double-blind, double-crossover study tested Feingold's hypothesis that synthetic food colors cause hyperactivity in some children. Each of 6 hyperactive boys constituted a single-subject experiment. All subjects were on the Feingold diet eliminating artificial colors and flavors. All mothers claimed the diet had been effective. Subjects were challenged twice, for 3-day periods, with synthetic colors introduced in cookies eaten on challenge days. Identically appearing and tasting cookies containing no synthetics were eaten on control days. Data analyses suggested that 1 of the 6 subjects responded with hyperactive behavior to the challenge cookies. This result, however, was not duplicated in a replication study. Results from other diet challenges were reviewed. The authors conclude that evidence for Feingold's hypothesis is weak.
Data-quality Guided Load Shedding for Expensive In-Network Data Processing

In situ wireless sensor networks, not only have to route sensed data from sources to destinations, but also have to filter and fuse observations to eliminate potentially irrelevant data. If data arrive faster to such fusion nodes than the speed with which they can consume the inputs, this will result in an overflow of input buffers. In this paper, we develop load shedding mechanisms which take into consideration both data quality and expensive nature of fusion operators. In particular, we present quality assessment models for objects and fusion operators and we highlight that such quality assessments may impose partial orders on objects.
Real-time applications of neural nets

The formidable real-time control problem posed by producing, accelerating, and colliding very-high-power, low-emittance beams for long periods of time is addressed. It is shown how neural nets suggest ways to circumvent the limitations encountered by such large, complex systems. It is argued that they are logically equivalent to multiloop feedback/forward control of faulty systems and mesh nicely with characteristics desired for real-time systems. Examples are given, and the potential of the approach is discussed. >
The missing IUD

This article provides three cases of women with missing IUDs - one patient desired a pregnancy one patient who was nine weeks pregnant and the other patient had a partial protrusion through the uterine fundus. It describes mislocated IUDs and the removal once they have been found. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Inactivation of Cryptosporidium Oocysts in a Pilot-Scale Ozone Bubble-Diffuser Contactor. II: Model Validation and Application

The axial dispersion reactor ~ADR! model developed in Part I of this study was successfully validated with experimental data obtained for the inactivation of C. parvum and C. muris oocysts with a pilot-scale ozone-bubble diffuser contactor operated with treated Ohio River water. Kinetic parameters, required to model the effect of temperature on the decomposition of ozone in treated Ohio River water and oocyst inactivation, were determined from batch and semibatch ozonation experiments. The ADR model was used to simulate the effects of operating conditions ~feed-gas ozone concentration, liquid flow rate, and gas flow rate !, and water quality related parameters ~fast ozone demand, first and second order ozone decomposition rate constants, and temperature! on the performance of the pilot-scale contactor. The model simulation provided valuable insight into understanding the performance of ozone disinfection systems and recom- mendations for ozone contactor design and optimization. For example, the simulation revealed that meeting inactivation requirements for C. parvum oocysts would be more challenging at relatively lower temperatures.
DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICS FOR SIS MODEL ON RANDOM NETWORKS

We study the evolution of degree distributions of susceptible-infected-susceptible (SIS) model on random networks, where susceptible nodes are capable of being infected, and infected nodes can spread the disease further. The network of contacts is modeled as a configuration model featuring heterogeneous degree distribution. We derive systematically the (excess) degree distributions among susceptible and infected individuals by using the probability generating function formalism.
Relationships between career motivation, empowerment and support for career development

This paper examines relationships between empowerment, supervisor's support for career development and components of career motivation: career resilience, career insight and career identity. In Study 1, self-ratings of career insight and identity from 183 employees were positively related to supervisor ratings of the degree to which the subordinate is empowered and receives support for career development. Self-ratings of empowerment and support for career development were related to supervisor ratings on all three career motivation variables. Study 2 collected supervisor and self-ratings of the same variables for another sample of 59 employees at two points in time with a 3½-month interval to examine the test–retest reliability of the measures and further study their interrelationships. The results supported the test–retest reliability of the measures, indicated that career identity may be composed of two independent dimensions, work identity and organization identity, and suggested that individuals who are higher on organizational identity are those who are rated lower on empowerment by their supervisors. The discussion considers directions for research on variables that affect perceptions of empowerment, support for career development and career motivation.
Magnetization Effects in bulk YFeO3 and their dependency on electric field strength and temperature as a basis for thin film investigation of Multiferroic Technology

Multiferroics, the study of materials which possess ferromagnetic and ferroelectric ordering in a single phase, has become an area of prominent research. Moreover, this behavior has been extensively studied in materials which possess a perovskite crystal structure such as BiFeO3 and YMnO3. Due to their weak saturation magnetic moment, many rare-earth orthoferrites are currently of extreme interest. Utilizing a solid-state reaction between Y2O3 and Fe2O3 we have developed the rare-earth orthoferrite YFeO3 and conducted a bulk material study to determine this material’s availability for thin film multiferroic research. The absence of Y2O3 and Fe2O3 impurities was confirmed using Copper-Kα XRD. Examination of the dependence of the magnetization M on the temperature T was conducted to determine the reliability of multiferroic behavior across varying temperatures in conjunction with the investigation of the dependence of M on the electric field strength H. Results clearly display ferromagnetic behavior in our bulk material, providing ample evidence that our bulk material is an excellent candidate for thin film studies. Future studies on multiferroic YFeO3 thin films grown via pulsed laser deposition on Lanthanum Aluminate substrates will be conducted. Detailed data will be provided via XRD and SQUID to confirm magnetic properties while impurities are non-existent in our thin films.
Investigation of Interface Agent for Investment Casting With Ice Patterns

Investment casting with ice patterns is similar to that with wax patterns but with significant process differences. A major difference in our developed method is that an interface agent needs to be coated around the ice pattern to protect it from damage during the process. We have studied the criteria for choosing the interface agent and discovered that the most important factor is the cohesion parameter The thickness of the interface agent affects the dimensional accuracy of the generated metal casting. To compensate for this, mathematical models have been constructed to predict the thickness of the interface agent for a large cylindrical part and for a small part. The interface layer thickness and the temperature distribution within the ice part and the solidifying interface agent have been investigated. For solid ice cylinders, both the immersion time and the cylinder diameter affect the interface layer thickness. For small parts, the interface thickness is mainly dependent upon the ratio between the volume and surface area of the ice part and to a lesser extent upon the physical properties of the materials. Superheat has little influence on the interface layer thickness. Based on the analysis, the dimensional accuracy of the metal castings for small parts can be much improved by compensating the interface layer thickness. The analytical results agree well with experimental observations.
Environmental Influences on Human Migration in Rural Ecuador

The question of whether environmental conditions influence human migration has recently gained considerable attention, driven by claims that global environmental change will displace large populations. Despite this high level of interest, few quantitative studies have investigated the potential effects of environmental factors on migration, particularly in the developing world and for gradual but pervasive forms of environmental change. To address this, a retrospective migration survey was conducted in rural Ecuador and linked to data on topography, climate, and weather shocks. These data were used to estimate multivariate event history models of alternative forms of mobility (local mobility, internal migration, and international migration), controlling for a large number of covariates. This approach is generalizable to other study areas and responds to calls for the development of more rigorous methods in this field. The results indicate that adverse environmental conditions do not consistently increase rural out-migration and, in some cases, reduce migration. Instead, households respond to environmental factors in diverse ways, resulting in complex migratory responses. Overall, the results support an alternative narrative of environmentally induced migration that recognizes the adaptability of rural households in responding to environmental change.
Simultaneous object estimation and image reconstruction in a Bayesian setting

Suppose that it is desired to estimate certain parameters associated with a model of an object that is contained within a larger scene and that only indirect measurements of the scene are available. The optimal solution is provided by a Bayesian approach, which is founded on the posterior probability density distribution. The complete Bayesian procedure requires an integration of the posterior probability over all possible values of the image exterior to the local region being analyzed. In the presented work, the full treatment is approximated by simultaneously estimating the reconstruction outside the local region and the parameters of the model within the local region that maximize the posterior probability. A Monte Carlo procedure is employed to evaluate the usefulness of the technique in a signal-known-exactly detection task in a noisy four-view tomographic reconstruction situation.
Operational Evaluation of Freeway Ramp Design

Ramp facilities provide all freeway entrance and exit opportunities. Thus, excellent freeway ramp design criteria are critical to freeway operations and safety. Current freeway entry ramp design speed criteria were evaluated by observing six (nonloop) ramps in three Texas cities. Ramp and freeway traffic speed-distance relationships were observed in the field using videotaping methods. Traffic operations were described in terms of ramp and freeway speeds and accelerations, as well as merging locations, accepted time gap sizes, and freeway time headways. Performance characteristics for numerous ramp features and volume combinations were compared. Combined design feature and traffic volume effects on freeway operations and both positive and negative impacts that may be attributed to ramp design features were evaluated. Several notable conclusions were reached. First, for virtually all observations, ramp driver speeds were found to be greater than 50 percent of the freeway design speed; therefore, a 50th per...
Anatomy of the ADO.NET entity framework

Traditional client-server applications relegate query and persistence operations on their data to database systems. The database system operates on data in the form of rows and tables, while the application operates on data in terms of higher-level programming language constructs (classes, structures etc.). The impedance mismatch in the data manipulation services between the application and the database tier was problematic even in traditional systems. With the advent of service-oriented architectures (SOA), application servers and multi-tier applications, the need for data access and manipulation services that are well-integrated with programming environments and can operate in any tier has increased tremendously. Microsoft's ADO.NET Entity Framework is a platform for programming against data that raises the level of abstraction from the relational level to the conceptual (entity) level, and thereby significantly reduces the impedance mismatch for applications and data-centric services. This paper describes the key aspects of the Entity Framework, the overall system architecture, and the underlying technologies.
Partial Core Encryption for Performance-Efficient Test of SOCs

The isolation of a core through full I/O scan helps ease SOC test challenges; yet the performance of high-speed SOCs is significantly hampered. We propose a partial core encryption methodology wherein the core vendor unveils only a small part of the core logic, successfully satisfying core IP protection requirements. Once the partially encrypted cores are merged into an SOC, the system integrator performs test generation on the visible SOC logic only, greatly reducing the test generation effort expended. By utilizing the test data provided by the core vendor as well, the SOC integrator can test the SOC with no performance degradation. We present an efficient fault analysis based core encryption algorithm which is guided by judiciously computed testability measures. The experimental results confirm the significantly high encryption levels attained by the proposed encryption algorithm.
Method to Diagnose Window Failures and Measure U-Factors on Site

Windows are an essential part of buildings due to the requirement for natural light, views, and fresh air. However, windows are thermally the weakest bridge in a building due to their high thermal conductivity. Therefore, window U-factor (thermal transmittance) information is indispensable in calculating the overall energy load of a building. U-factors of windows, however, are difficult to obtain on-site because the label mounted on a window exhibiting its U-factor is typically removed after its installation. Further, it is almost impossible to detect any of a variety of window failures, such as the loss of insulating gases, leaky or cracked windows, and localized air leakage, simply by visual inspection. In this study, a novel technique to measure window U-factor in the field by measuring four temperatures (interior and exterior air temperatures, and interior and exterior window surface temperatures) is presented. Experimental and field tests on various types of full-scale windows have been performed to ...
Determination of External Loop Topology in the Serotonin Transporter by Site-directed Chemical Labeling

The transmembrane topology of the serotonin transporter (SERT) has been examined by measuring the reactivity of selected lysine and cysteine residues with extracellular reagents. An impermeant biotinylating reagent, sulfosuccinimidyl 2-(biotinamido)ethyl-1,3-dithiopropionate (NHS-SS-biotin), was shown to label SERT transiently expressed in cultured cells. Replacement of four lysine residues that were predicted to lie in external hydrophilic loops (eK-less) largely prevented the biotinylation reaction. Likewise, the cysteine-specific biotinylation reagentN-biotinylaminoethylmethanethiosulfonate (MTSEA-biotin) labeled wild type SERT but not a mutant in which Cys-109, predicted to lie in the first external loop, was replaced with alanine. These two mutant transporters reacted with the biotinylating reagents in digitonin-permeabilized cells, demonstrating that the abundant lysine and cysteine residues predicted to lie in intracellular hydrophilic domains were reactive but not accessible in intact cells. Mutants containing a single external lysine at positions 111, 194, 243, 319, 399, 490, and 571 reacted more readily with NHS-SS-biotin than did the eK-less mutant. Similarly, mutants with a single cysteine at positions 109, 310, 406, 489, and 564 reacted more readily with MTSEA-biotin than did the C109A mutant. All of these mutants were active and therefore likely to be folded correctly. These results support the original transmembrane topology and argue against an alternative topology proposed recently for the related glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid transporters.
Cancer-specific mutations in PIK3CA are oncogenic in vivo.

The PIK3CA gene, coding for the catalytic subunit p110α of class IA phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks), is frequently mutated in human cancer. Mutated p110α proteins show a gain of enzymatic function in vitro and are oncogenic in cell culture. Here, we show that three prevalent mutants of p110α, E542K, E545K, and H1047R, are oncogenic in vivo. They induce tumors in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken embryo and cause hemangiosarcomas in the animal. These tumors are marked by increased angiogenesis and an activation of the Akt pathway. The target of rapamycin inhibitor RAD001 blocks tumor growth induced by the H1047R p110α mutant. The in vivo oncogenicity of PIK3CA mutants in an avian species strongly suggests a critical role for these mutated proteins in human malignancies.
Remote Sensing and Geospatial Science at Purdue University: 1960s into the 21st Century [Education]

Purdue's research and education in the field of remote sensing was built upon a strong foundation of expertise in engineering, science, and agriculture. The Laboratory for Agricultural Remote Sensing (LARS) was formed in 1966 with the objective of using an interdisciplinary, teamwork approach to creating and using space-based technology for observing and managing agricultural resources. Since the 1980s, LARS has focused primarily on research and education in development of algorithms for analysis of remotely sensed data and agricultural applications. In the past decade, research has also expanded to include processing and application of LIDAR data, atmospheric remote sensing, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and signals of opportunity (SoOP). Examples of today's research, education, and outreach at Purdue are presented in this paper.
Uptake of influenza vaccine in pregnant women during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic

The goals of this study were to define the uptake of H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy among women delivering during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and explore barriers to vaccination. All postpartum women at the Massachusetts General Hospital from January 2010 through March 2010 were invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire about demographics, vaccination status, and attitudes about vaccination during pregnancy. Among 370 participants (53% response rate), 81% accepted both the H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines during pregnancy. Patients who declined one or both vaccines cited concerns over safety as a major deterrent. Of the 36% of participants who reported having flu-like symptoms during this pregnancy only 8.6% took oseltamivir. While a high vaccination rate was identified in this study, further education is needed to reassure patients regarding vaccine safety. Education for providers and patients emphasizing the benefits of early treatment of pregnant women with flu-like symptoms should be a priority.
Evolution Of A Consumer Segment: Patient 2.0 Using Web 2.0 Tools In Healthcare

As Internet gets more interactive in its applications, the Internet users have been adapting to this change. While initial users of the Internet have been content with a passive approach of simply surfing the static websites, the current users are more interested in interacting with the website providers in such ways that those websites end up by being completely dynamic. As we move from a general population of Internet users to a smaller group of patients who are online health information seekers, we see a similar transition. Patients who had been using the Internet to access medical information in the past were mostly concerned with being able to find creditable websites to use to learn about their symptoms, cures, medications, etc. Patients who are currently online are concerned with finding websites not only credible to use to learn about their conditions but also interactive enough for them to share their stories with others. By interacting with others, they get more involved, learn, help others to learn, and eventually become a crucial part of the entire process. This paper reviews the term “Patient 2.0” that points to the type of patient who is more empowered, active, IT literate, and informed.
Gamma decay of high-spin states in /sup 47/Ti

The compound nucleus reaction /sup 45/Sc(..cap alpha..,np..gamma..)/sup 47/Ti was used to confirm the high spins of states, observed previously in the (..cap alpha..,d) reaction, by studying their ..gamma.. decay. Measurements of ..gamma..-..gamma.. coincidences, ..gamma..-ray excitation functions, and ..gamma..-ray angular distributions for several target thicknesses have been performed. These measurements allowed us to determine the energies and the spins for some of the observed levels, as well as the branching ratios and the multipolarities for the emitted ..gamma.. rays. Lifetimes for a few states were deduced from the Doppler shifts which were exhibited in the angular distributions. Shell-model calculations were made assuming an inert /sup 40/Ca core and all active nucleons in the 1f/sub 7///sub 2/ shell. Agreement between the measured and calculated branching ratios and multipolarities is excellent for all the yrast levels, and even the lifetimes of these states are predicted rather well by the theory. For two other levels, at 2.684- and 3.289-MeV energy, disagreement between the measured and calculated ..gamma.. decay is observed. The lifetime of the lower of these two states was found to be unusually slow for an M1 transition. This result suggests that perhaps the earlier spin assignments for both states are wrong. Formore » the 2.684-MeV state a spin of either 7/2/sup +/ or 11/2/sup +/ is in agreement with all the available experimental data. (AIP)« less
Evaluating predictors of competing risk outcomes when censoring depends on time-dependent covariates, with application to safety and efficacy of HIV treatment

We propose a prediction model for the cumulative incidence functions of competing risks, based on a logit link. Because of a concern about censoring potentially depending on time-varying covariates in our motivating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) application, we describe an approach for estimating the parameters in the prediction models using inverse probability of censoring weighting under a missingness at random assumption. We then illustrate the application of this methodology to identify predictors of the competing outcomes of virologic failure, an efficacy outcome, and treatment limiting adverse event, a safety outcome, among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients first starting antiretroviral treatment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional Characterization of SCN5A, the Cardiac Sodium Channel Gene Associated with Cardiac Arrhythmias and Sudden Death

The cardiac sodium channel α subunit Nav1.5 (encoded by the SCN5A gene) plays an important role in the generation and propagation of electrical signals in the heart, and can cause cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and sudden death when mutated or dysregulated. However, the precise composition of the multi-protein complex for the sodium channel has not been completely defined. The molecular mechanisms by which Nav1.5 mutations cause cardiac arrhythmias have not yet been well-studied in vivo. It remains to be explored whether Nav1.5 is expressed in other tissues and plays novel roles in other tissues or organs. This dissertation addresses these aspects of Nav1.5 regulation. I found that MOG1, a small protein that is highly conserved from yeast to humans, is a central component of the channel complex and distinctly modulates the physiological function of Nav1.5. A yeast two-hybrid screen identified MOG1 as a new protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic loop II (between transmembrane domain DII and III) of Nav1.5. The interaction was further demonstrated by both in vitro GST pull-down and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation assays. Co-expression of MOG1 with Nav1.5 in HEK293 cells increased sodium current densities, whereas two siRNAs that knocked down
Kinship Guardianship, Adoption, and Foster Care: Outcomes from a U.S. National Sample

Using data from a national longitudinal survey of children referred to child protective services (NSCAW II), this article compares behavioral, child/caregiver relationship, and school performance outcomes for children residing in kinship and nonkinship settings. Up to three waves of data were gathered for each child. The analysis sample comprises 4,202 children and 10,881 observations. Two sets of regressions were completed. One represents family living settings using child-mean centered predictors while the other does so with dummy-coded variables. An advantage of the child-mean centered predictors is that omitted variables that vary between children but that are constant within each child do not introduce bias. The regressions using dummy-coded variables evidenced, on balance, somewhat better outcomes for kinship settings than for nonkinship ones. Good outcomes in these regressions were found for kinship adoption. Results with the child-mean centered regressions were more equivocal, though perhaps still...
Impact of Corporate Governance Variables on Firm Performance: A Comparison between Pakistan and Some Other Countries

The present study is conducted to make a comparison between Pakistan and some other countries of the world regarding the impact of corporate governance mechanisms such as Board Size, CEO Duality, Board Composition, Audit Committee etc on the performance of firms. Another purpose of the study is to identify the relative importance of difference governance mechanisms and to locate which one is most significant for better performance of the firms. In order fulfill the objectives of study, researches from different prominent scholars throughout the world have been consulted and on the basis of their findings, we have tried to establish a logical comparison between Pakistan and other countries regarding impact of corporate governance mechanisms on firm performance. The countries studied include China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Ghana, U.S.A., U.K., New Zealand, Egypt, Switzerland, Spain, Italy etc. The findings of our research show that impact of corporate governance mechanism in Pakistan is almost similar to the other emerging as well as developed countries. It is also found in the research that most of the corporate governance variables have a strong positive impact on firm performance while a few like CEO Duality etc. have a negative impact on performance.
Genomic characterization of recurrent high-grade astroblastoma.

Astroblastomas are rare primary brain tumors, diagnosed based on histologic features. Not currently assigned a WHO grade, they typically display indolent behavior, with occasional variants taking a more aggressive course. We characterized the immunohistochemical characteristics, copy number (high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization, OncoCopy) and mutational profile (targeted next-generation exome sequencing, OncoPanel) of a cohort of seven biopsies from four patients to identify recurrent genomic events that may help distinguish astroblastomas from other more common high-grade gliomas. We found that tumor histology was variable across patients and between primary and recurrent tumor samples. No common molecular features were identified among the four tumors. Mutations commonly observed in astrocytic tumors ( IDH1/2 , TP53 , ATRX , and PTEN ) or ependymoma were not identified. However one case with rapid clinical progression displayed mutations more commonly associated with GBM ( NF1 N1054H/K63 *, PIK3CA R38H and ERG A403T ). Conversely, another case, originally classified as glioblastoma with nine-year survival before recurrence, lacked a GBM mutational profile. Other mutations frequently seen in lower grade gliomas ( BCOR, BCORL1, ERBB3, MYB, ATM ) were also present in several tumors. Copy number changes were variable across tumors. Our findings indicate that astroblastomas have variable growth patterns and morphologic features, posing significant challenges to accurate classification in the absence of diagnostically specific copy number alterations and molecular features. Their histopathologic overlap with glioblastoma will likely confound the observation of long-term GBM "survivors". Further genomic profiling is needed to determine whether these tumors represent a distinct entity and to guide management strategies.
Does the Draft Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance Wrongly Elevate Proof and Overvalue Legal Uncertainty? Yes, Given the Foreseeable Risk Insurers May More Often Decline the Duty to Defend as a Result

Tentative Draft No. 1 of the American Law Institute’s forthcoming Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance is admirable in many important respects. However, proposed section 13 can be falsified in too many instances to serve as a meaningful statement of black letter law governing an insurer’s duty to defend. This Commentary will consider how proposed section 13 and associated provisions of the proposed Restatement might influence the decision by insurers to defend their insureds, particularly in instances of so-called “legal uncertainty.”
Detection and Estimation in Stochastic Systems with Time-Varying Parameters

We give a brief survey of recent developments in change-point detection and diagnosis and in estimation of parameters that may undergo occasional changes. There is a large variety of detection and estimation procedures widely scattered in the engineering, economics, statistics and biomedical literature. These procedures can be broadly classified as sequential (or on-line) and fixed sample (or off-line). We focus on detection and estimation procedures that strike a suitable balance between computational complexity and statistical efficiency, and present some of their asymptotically optimal properties.
A 3D-DCT video encoder using advanced coding techniques for low power mobile device

Abstract The three-dimensional discrete cosine transform (3D-DCT) has been researched as an alternative to existing dominant video standards based on motion estimation and compensation. Since it does not need to search macro block for inter/intra prediction, 3D-DCT has great advantages for complexity. However, it has not been developed well because of poor video quality while video standards such as H.263(+) and HEVC have been blooming. In this paper, we propose a new 3D-DCT video coding as a new video solution for low power mobile technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Drone. We focus on overcoming drawbacks reported in previous research. We build a complete 3D-DCT video coding system by adopting existing advanced techniques and devising new coding algorithms to improve overall performance of 3D-DCT. Experimental results show proposed 3D-DCT outperforms H.264 low power profiles while offering less complexity. From GBD-PSNR, proposed 3D-DCT provides better performance by average 4.6 dB.
New bounds in reduction theory of indefinite ternary integral quadratic forms

Abstract Using dynamics on homogeneous spaces we obtain some new and improved estimates for reduction of indefinite ternary integral quadratic forms.
An informal justification for selected degree‐of‐freedom formulae

Summary This article offers some less-than-rigorous explanations for the notion of degrees of freedom, and for the particular formulae to be used when computing those values.
Will There Be a Clinically Significant Role for Protons in Patients With Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Gastrointestinal malignancies inherently arise amidst visceral organs that are very radiation sensitive. While radiation therapy is an integral part of cancer treatment, its use has historically been limited by normal tissue toxicity. Proton therapy is a form of external-beam radiation associated with several dosimetric advantages as compared to photon therapy. Proton radiation may allow for the delivery of tumoricidal doses while minimizing side effects by decreasing the dose to adjacent organs at risk. We discuss the rationale for and challenges of using protons in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. We describe the available data and ongoing trials using proton radiation to treat these tumors. Finally, we discuss the unique challenges of using protons to treat gastrointestinal malignancies.
Special Cases and Selected Applications

In this section we briefly mention the results of Wallace (1986a,b) concerning a recourse problem, where the second stage problem is a minimum cost network flow problem.
Short-period observations of speed, strain and seismicity on Ice Stream B, Antarctica

The speed of Ice Stream B, Antarctica, was measured twice a day-over a 1 month study period, and found to be steady at about the ±3½% level, the sensitivity of the measurements. The vertical strain was measured at three sites over a 1 year period at 1 h intervals with sensitivities of 2 or 0.2 ppm. The strain rate varied on all time-scales. Events of high strain rate were observed, but never at more than one site at a time. They can probably be understood in terms of local modification of the strain field associated with crevassing. Diurnal variation in strain rate was observed at one and possibly two sites during two summers. The seismicity was measured at all three sites, and diurnal and seasonal variations were prominent at all, the seismicity being much more intense in winter. Several possible causes of the diurnal variations in strain and seismicity are considered: thermal and atmospheric effects, and the effects of tides in the Ross Sea.
Brain Volume Regulation During Development: The Role of Blood-Brain Barrier Potassium Transport

In adult mammals, acute plasma hyperosmolality causes brain shrinkage but because of the uptake of solute into brain from either blood, across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), or CSF, (4, 5, 16) or the generation of idiogenic osmoles, there is some degree of brain volume regulation. In addition, brain cells are themselves capable of volume regulation. This again involves the uptake and loss of solute, in particular Na+, K+, Cl-, and amino acids (13,15).
Polarization control with dielectric helix metasurfaces and arrays.

Using band structure analysis and reflectance spectrum simulations, we show that dielectric helices exhibit strong circular dichroism and have polarization stop gaps for light propagating perpendicular to the helices, despite the lack of helical symmetry along this direction. We apply perturbation theory to quantitatively explain these effects. We also demonstrate that even for a single layer of dielectric helices similar phenomena exist. As a result, the helix array can operate as a dielectric chiral mirror. This dielectric chiral mirror can completely reflect normally incident light with one circular polarization (right- or left-handed as determined by the handedness of the helices) without changing the polarization’s handedness while allowing light with the opposite circular polarization to be entirely transmitted.
Advances in Genomics of Human Fungal Pathogens

Fungi are responsible for 1.5 million deaths every year, and one-third of the human population has experienced a fungal infection. The increasing numbers of immunocompromised people are associated with the increased incidence of human mycosis, either from medical interventions such as cancer therapy or transplantation or due to other underlying diseases such as HIV/AIDS or diabetes. Additionally, climate change has been implicated in widening distributions of endemic fungi, potentially expanding beyond previously restricted ranges. In this chapter, we will address two main classes of fungal pathogens: first, the globally distributed fungi such as Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus, followed by a discussion of endemic fungal pathogens and their relatives Paracoccidioides, Histoplasma, Coccidioides, and Emmonsia. In the past, virulence and pathogenesis studies were limited to few infection models and biomarkers, but these studies have progressed significantly with the advances of DNA sequencing and genetic tools. Newly sequenced structural (DNA) and functional (RNA and protein) genomes provide a scaffold to understand gene gain and loss that might be associated with mammalian infection and disease progression. During infection, these pathogens express a wide range of genes that are associated with either establishment of infection or escaping recognition by host immune cells. Moreover, population genomic studies reveal that pathogen complexes exhibit different strategies to generate genetic diversity either via sexual or parasexual recombination, and this phenomenon may be implicated in altered virulence, disease presentation, and antifungal resistance. The literature of genomic studies of the abovementioned pathogenic fungal genera are summarized, and molecular taxonomy and population structure are explored, as well as a survey of the main genomic characteristics, chromosomal variation, gene content, and expression. Comparative genomics between pathogenic and nonpathogenic close-related species provides evidence of both convergent and unique adaptation of those fungal lineages to mammalian hosts. A better understanding of patterns of gene flow among species (hybridization), adaptation and evolutionary potential, fully closed reference genomes, and general improvement of gene annotation and function is needed.
Rapid change in host specificity in a field population of the biological control organism Pasteuria penetrans.

In biological control, populations of both the biological control agent and the pest have the potential to evolve and even to coevolve. This feature marks the most powerful and unpredictable aspect of biological control strategies. In particular, evolutionary change in host specificity of the biological control agent could increase or decrease its efficacy. Here, we tested for change in host specificity in a field population of the biological control organism Pasteuria penetrans. Pasteuria penetrans is an obligate parasite of the plant parasitic nematodes Meloidogyne spp., which are major agricultural pests. From 2013 through 2016, we collected yearly samples of P. penetrans from eight plots in a field infested with M. arenaria. Plots were planted either with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) or with a rotation of peanut and soybean (Glycine max). To detect temporal change in host specificity, we tested P. penetrans samples annually for their ability to attach to (and thereby infect) four clonal lines of M. arenaria. After controlling for temporal variation in parasite abundance, we found that P. penetrans from each of the eight plots showed temporal variation in their attachment specificity to the clonal host lines. The trajectories of change in host specificity were largely unique to each plot. This result suggests that local forces, at the level of individual plots, drive change in specificity. We hypothesize that coevolution with local M. arenaria hosts may be one such force. Lastly, we observed an overall reduction in attachment rate with samples from rotation plots relative to samples from peanut plots. This result may reflect lower abundance of P. penetrans under crop rotation, potentially due to suppressed density of host nematodes. As a whole, the results show local change in specificity on a yearly basis, consistent with evolution of a biological control organism in its ability to infect and suppress its target pest.
Analyzing the Effectiveness of Different Forms of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Abstract Background In order to simulate a heartbeat in a cardiac arrest patient, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requires that chest compressions be delivered with a force of at least 560 N at a rate >100 compressions/min. Many new learners initially use CPR forms that may not meet these parameters sufficiently. We examined three forms of CPR: the form recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) and two forms that are common among new learners but that are considered incorrect, using a CPR manikin placed on a force plate. Four trained CPR users tested the different methods. Discussion AHA-recommended CPR is the most effective, delivering a force of 737.2 ± 5.3 N at a rate of 103.2 ± 1.2 compressions/min. Compressions using a bent arms method delivered compressions with a force of 511.8 ± 4.1 N at a rate of 112.8 ± 3.0 compressions/min. Compressions using a different hand position from that recommended by the AHA delivered compressions with a force of 433.3 ± 3.2 N at a rate of 115.2 ± 1.2 compressions/min. Conclusions AHA-recommended CPR more effectively compresses a patient's heart than the bent-arms method or the alternate hand–position method, and, of the three methods, only the AHA-recommended form can reliably simulate a patient's heartbeat.
Routine Transthoracic Echocardiogram Alone is Unreliable in Assessing Aortic Valve Calcification

Objective: To evaluate whether assessment of calcification of aortic valves in standard transthoracic echocardiograms(TTE) correlates with actual calcium burden represented by aortic valve Agatston...
Poster: In-situ Water-Quality Monitoring System through Ultraviolet Sensing Using Off-the-Shelf Cameras

Contaminants can leach into drinking water in transport from water-treatment facilities or treated water storage to consumer taps. In this work, we design a low-cost mobile system that can use off-the-shelf web-cameras as an ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer. We posit to analyze and categorize impurities present in water by using fundamental image processing and computer vision techniques. In this poster paper, we qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the ultraviolet absorption and scattering through images captured of an UV light source (at 385nm wavelength) transmitted through de-ionized water containing varying contaminants and at different concentrations. We particularly explore the tests for lead, arsenic, table salt, charcoal, and coconut oil, and run a pilot-study on ground-truth analysis of tap water from five counties around Atlanta, Georgia, USA.