cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balanced SSFP Dixon imaging with banding-artifact reduction at 3 Tesla

Purpose To develop a three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) two-point Dixon method with banding-artifact suppression to offer robust high-resolution 3D bright-fluid imaging. Methods A complex sum reconstruction that combines phase-cycled bSSFP images acquired at specific echo times for robust fat/water separation without banding was investigated and compared with a magnitude-based method. Bloch simulations using both single-peak and multiple-peak fat models were performed to predict the performance of these methods for a wide range of echo times and repetition times. The quality and degree of fat/water separation was evaluated in both simulations and using in vivo imaging. Results Simulations predicted that both effective banding-artifact suppression and substantial improvements in fat/water separation are possible at echo times that are different from conventional echo times, enabling improved spatial resolution. Comparisons between various echo times and repetition times in vivo validated the improved fat/water separation and effective banding-artifact removal predicted by the simulations. Conclusion The proposed complex sum Dixon 3D bSSFP method is able to effectively separate fat and water at different sets of echo times, while removing banding-artifacts, providing a fast, high-resolution, T2-like sequence without blurring. Magn Reson Med 74:706–715, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Petrology and petrogenesis of the Bokan Granite Complex, southeastern Alaska

The Bokan Granite Complex is a peralka-line ring-dike complex emplaced into marine shales, volcanic flows and tuffs, and plutonic rocks. Mineralogically and chemically, the Complex is composed of I-type granites. Aegirine- and riebeckite-bearing granite aplites, porphyries, and pegmatites comprise twelve distinct intrusive episodes. The aegirine-bearing rocks occur in an outer annular zone formed during early crystallization. Subsequent rocks are riebeckite-bearing, due to devolatilization of the magma chamber during a collapse-ring-dike emplacement event. Early crystallization of alkali feldspar occurred during magma ascension from a lower crustal-upper mantle source. At shallow depths, subsolvus crystallization allowed microcline and albite to dominate. Local bodies of aegirine syenite were formed during the early collapse-ring-dike emplacement, in response to the magma devolatilization. The riebeckite granites reflect lower Po2 and possibly declining peralkalinity. The granitic rocks at Bokan all exhibit Na2O contents greater than K2O. Lithophile elements are concentrated in all the rocks, especially in zones where hydrothermal albite and chlorite formed. Rb/Sr ratios increase in progressively younger rocks in the Complex. Agpaitic ratios vary from 0.92 to 2.08 for the granitic rocks.
Employee selection under anti-discrimination law: implications for multi-criteria group decision support

In a legal environment that prohibits discrimination in hiring, employee selection decisions should generally not be discriminatory in either the process or the final choice. Multi-criteria group decision support offers methodology to committees involved in hiring decisions that can improve the chances for non-discriminatory selection processes. The legal requirements for non-discriminatory hiring decisions raise new challenges for both multi-criteria decision aid methodology and the way it is applied in a group setting. We investigate these issues in the context of an actual faculty selection decision at a major university in the USA. Our observations can be generalized to committee-based employee selection decisions where laws apply that forbid discrimination in hiring. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing Risk Preferences in E&P Operational Settings

Risk preferences influence decision making across the entire oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) enterprise. Previous studies have examined risk preferences within this sector mainly in economic settings, where the decision maker compares dollar payoffs between two or more choices. Understanding risk preferences in the context of operational settings, where the payoffs manifest as injuries, fatalities, or environmental incidents is equally important. This research investigates risk preferences in the operational setting by examining the decision to evacuate offshore drilling rigs under the threat of hurricanes. This research develops econometric models for the evacuation decision, and explicitly incorporates risk preferences through specification of a utility function. The results provide support for the conclusion that location attributes, specifically water depth, increase the propensity to evacuate. There is also support for the conclusion that oil company experience increases the propensity t...
Membrane permeability changes in amphibian eggs at ovulation

Electropotential differences between the cytoplasm and external medium have been compared in the mature R. pipiens occyte and the ovulated unfertilized egg as a function of [Na]o, [K]o, [Ca]o and [Cl]o. In solutions containing 1.0 mM Ca++ the oocyte behaved as though it were predominantly permeable to K+ and Cl−, i.e., like a KCl electrode. However, the steady potential decreased with decreasing [Ca]o and in 5 × 10−4 mM [Ca]o the oocyte membrane behaved like a NaCl electrode. Studies on the steady potential as a function of [Na]o, [K]o and [Cl]o in 1.0 mM Ca++ or Ca-free solutions suggest that Ca++ controls the passive permeability of the oocyte membrane to Na+ and Cl−. In the ovulated unfertilized egg the K+ selectivity of the cell membrane disappeared and the system behaved like a NaCl electrode. No effect of external Ca++ or K+ concentration changes on the steady potential was observed. These results indicate that the ion permeability properties of the ovulated egg are similar to that of the ovarian oocyte in Ca-deficient medium, and suggests that the mechanism of ovulation may involve the removal of Ca++ regulation of ion permeability of the egg cell membrane.
Face Recognition using Discriminatively Trained Orthogonal Rank One Tensor Projections

We propose a method for face recognition based on a discriminative linear projection. In this formulation images are treated as tensors, rather than the more conventional vector of pixels. Projections are pursued sequentially and take the form of a rank one tensor, i.e., a tensor which is the outer product of a set of vectors. A novel and effective technique is proposed to ensure that the rank one tensor projections are orthogonal to one another. These constraints on the tensor projections provide a strong inductive bias and result in better generalization on small training sets. Our work is related to spectrum methods, which achieve orthogonal rank one projections by pursuing consecutive projections in the complement space of previous projections. Although this may be meaningful for applications such as reconstruction, it is less meaningful for pursuing discriminant projections. Our new scheme iteratively solves an eigenvalue problem with orthogonality constraints on one dimension, and solves unconstrained eigenvalue problems on the other dimensions. Experiments demonstrate that on small and medium sized face recognition datasets, this approach outperforms previous embedding methods. On large face datasets this approach achieves results comparable with the best, often using fewer discriminant projections.
A metamaterial-based spatial filter for phased-array applications

Based on the simulation results presented above, the FSS-superstrate 1) enhances the performance of the array antenna in terms of bandwidth and 2) behaves as a high-order filter added to the array antenna structure with a minor effect on the gain, scan performance, and the polarization response of the antenna.
Regional glycerol and free fatty acid metabolism before and after meal ingestion.

We measured splanchnic and leg glycerol [and free fatty acid (FFA)] uptake and release in 11 healthy volunteers before and after meal ingestion to assess whether regional FFA-to-glycerol release ra...
The clear corneal tongue: a mechanism for wound incompetence after phacoemulsification.

Purpose To describe a mechanism for wound incompetence after phacoemulsification with corneal incisions resulting in early postoperative wound leakage. Design Observational case series. Methods Three patients who had uneventful phacoemulsification through a clear corneal incision were identified because of a postoperative wound leak. A corneal tongue, consisting of an everted triangular flap of posterior corneal stroma, the Descemet membrane, and endothelium, was observed in the wounds of all cases. Results One wound leak resolved after pressure patching. The other two necessitated wound revisions. None of the patients developed endophthalmitis. Conclusions In phacoemulsification with corneal incisions, an everted flap of posterior corneal tissue, a corneal tongue, may prevent normal anatomical apposition of the surgical wound edges leading to potential wound incompetence. This event may increase the risk of endophthalmitis after clear corneal phacoemulsification.
West Indian Slavery and British Abolition, 1783–1807

West Indian Slavery and British Abolition, 1783–1807, by David Ryden, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2009, xvii, 332 pp., £45.00, ISBN 978-0-521-48659-0 David Ryden has two major aims. The f...
Experimental Studies and Verification of the Vertical Array-Differential Target Antenna Coupling (DTAC) Method for Rapid Sensing and Imaging of Subsurface Targets

ABSTRACT We have developed a new electromagnetic geophysical system that has significantly improved target sensing and imaging capabilities compared to conventional measurements. In a previous series of papers, we described a new measurement technology called the Differential Target Antenna Coupling (DTAC) method, which used a magnetic-field transmitter (TX) and a magnetic-field receiver (RX), oriented in a horizontal array, with separation distances of the order of tens of meters, and up to tens of kilometers. In the present paper, we use the DTAC method in a vertical-array configuration, with the TX coil directly above two null-coupled RX coils. This vertical array provides a number of important advantages over the large-offset horizontal array for some applications. For example, the vertical array-DTAC method can be adapted to rapidly moving measurements, such as from a helicopter. In addition, the vertical array-DTAC method also suppresses surface clutter, such as fences, steel buildings, and parked v...
Trans- to gauche-transitions in the far infrared spectrum of methanol-D 2 (CHD 2 OH) in the torsional ground state

Abstract In this work detailed transition assignments and wavenumbers for interstate transitions from the lowest lying trans-state to higher lying gauche-states ( o 1 and e 1 ) for doubly deuterated asymmetric methanol (CHD 2 OH) in the high resolution Fourier transform far infrared (FIR) spectrum are presented. The assignment methods and the structure of the spectra are described. The observations are in agreement with previous predictions of the term values and the transition matrix elements. The matrix elements of the transition dipole moment suggest that the pure symmetry properties of the internal rotational states are broken. In other words, the asymmetry induced in the threefold internal rotational potential barrier mixes the symmetry species heavily so that the transitions between levels within a symmetry species could be as strong as interspecies transitions. Therefore the symmetry is not a good quantum number. The identified transitions are analyzed in terms of the Q -branch origins and state dependent parameters. The use of “Loomis Wood” type spectral arrangements made the assignment easier with the help of a priori knowledge of the term values. In all, a catalogue of some 700 new such transitions have been prepared. A refinement of the rotational parameters were possible but confident improvement of the torsional parameters need assignments connecting excited torsional vibrational states, which is in progress. The present work should be useful for interstellar detection in the star forming regions in “Radio Astronomy” and discovery of new spontaneously amplified light sources in the far infrared and sub-millimeter wave (SMMW) regions. Lastly the accurately measured transition lines in the atlas could be used as a secondary standard in the far infrared regions.
Parenthood as a Moral Imperative? Moral Outrage and the Stigmatization of Voluntarily Childfree Women and Men

Nationally representative data indicate that adults in the United States are increasingly delaying the decision to have children or are forgoing parenthood entirely. Although some empirical research has examined the social consequences of adults’ decision to be childfree, few studies have identified explanatory mechanisms for the stigma this population experiences. Based on the logic of backlash theory and research on retributive justice, the present research examined moral outrage as a mechanism through which voluntarily childfree targets are perceived less favorably than are targets with children for violating the prescribed social role of parenthood. In a between-subjects experiment, 197 undergraduates (147 women, 49 men, 1 participant with missing gender data) from a large U.S. Midwestern urban university were randomly assigned to evaluate a male or female married target who had chosen to have zero or two children. Participants completed measures of the target’s perceived psychological fulfillment and their affective reactions to the target. Consistent with earlier studies, voluntarily childfree targets were perceived as significantly less psychologically fulfilled than targets with two children. Extending past research, voluntarily childfree targets elicited significantly greater moral outrage than did targets with two children. My findings were not qualified by targets’ gender. Moral outrage mediated the effect of target parenthood status on perceived fulfillment. Collectively, these findings offer the first known empirical evidence of perceptions of parenthood as a moral imperative.
On ripple dynamics

Abstract The effects of soluble or insoluble surface films on the propagation of capillary waves at fluid air interfaces have been previously considered by several researchers. Their studies reveal mechanisms by which surface films affect wave propagation. Theoretical models have hitherto lacked a rigorous quantitative comparison with observation of ripples (waves in the critical transition region between capillary and gravity waves). My observations in this region establish the validity of an existing model and indicate directions for its further development. These observations were obtained with a compact and precise apparatus to elicit information from ripples, using a nondisruptive optical technique to determine ripple slope, and a Commodore 64 personal computer to sample and analyze data. The apparatus is efficient and readily duplicated.
System and Cycle:A Language Pyramid

Language is a complex system of symbols with a lot of cycles,and it includes the subsystems of phonetics,grammar,vocabulary and meaning,each having its own subsystems,thus language is a perfect "pyramid",whose upper system controls the lower ones which support and realize the upper ones,and the systems at the same level enjoy equality in status and difference in function as well,therefore,language has the features of integrity,relevancy,stability,sequence,cycle,best-selection and self-perfection.
Why do juvenile justice teachers enter the profession

Providing students who are involved in the juvenile justice system with an appropriate education has the potential to improve their academic, behavior, and post-school outcomes. Giving these studen...
Inelastic Collisions of Electrons with Small Metal Clusters

We have carried out an investigation of inelastic collisions between electrons (E=0.1−30 eV) and free neutral size-selected sodium clusters. We determined absolute inelastic scattering cross sections as a function of both electron energy and cluster size. Cross sections increase at impact energies below ≅0.5 eV, and are essentially constant at higher energies. The dominant depletion processes are electron attachment and collision-induced fragmentation. The inelastic interaction range is found to considerably exceed the cluster radius. This reflects the influence of the attractive long-range polarization interaction, and establishes a connection with studies of electromagnetic response properties of metal clusters.
An optimal contracting strategy in a digital library

Agents can benefit from contracting some of their tasks that cannot be performed by themselves or that can be performed more efficiently by other agents. Developing an agent's contracting strategy in the University of Michigan Digital Library (UMDL), however, is not easy for the following reasons. The UMDL consists of self-interested agents who will perform a task of another agent's only when doing it is their own interests. In addition, multiple contracts take place concurrently such that other contracts currently in the system may have an impact on the success of one's own contract. Therefore, an agent who has a task (contractor) needs to model what the other self-interested agents think and will do, and it also needs to consider the influence of other contracts on its contract. In this paper, we define the contractor's and the contractee's decision problems in the UMDL contracting situations, and present a contracting strategy by which a contractor can determine an optimal payment to offer. The contractor's problem is to find a payment that maximizes its expected utility, and it finds such a payment by modeling the contracting process stochastically using a Markov process. The Markov-process model is built based on the information the contractor has about the potential contractees and about the other contracts in the system. Our early results show that the contractor receives a higher utility when thinking about the potential contractees and the other contracts.
Token Distribution Analysis

This chapter explains how to use the positions of words in a vector to create distribution plots showing where words occur across a narrative. Several important R functions are introduced including seq_along, rep, grep, rbind, apply, and do.call. if conditionals and for loops are also presented.
Urologic Sequelae Following Phalloplasty in Transgendered Patients

In recent years, the issues of the transgender population have become more visible in the media worldwide. Transgender patients at various stages of their transformation will present to urologic clinics requiring general or specialized urologic care. Knowledge of specifics of reconstructed anatomy and potential unique complications of the reconstruction will become important in providing urologic care to these patients. In this article, we have concentrated on describing diagnosis and treatment of the more common urologic complications after female-to-male reconstructions: urethrocutaneous fistulae, neourethral strictures, and symptomatic persistent vaginal cavities.
Student reflections on standards-based graded assignments

Standards-based grading (SBG) provides students with feedback on their achievement of specific course learning objectives. What training students need to make meaning of and plan to act on this feedback is not known. This work in progress took place in a required first-year engineering course in which a SBG system is used. Following two problem, students were asked to respond to reflection prompts concerning their beliefs about their learning, how representative their learning objective based feedback was of their learning, and the actions they planned to take as a result of their feedback. Initial findings suggest that students do not engage in deep thinking on the feedback, though students' ability to reflect or the nature of the reflective prompts and their timing may also have had an impact on the depth of students' reflections. Pairing instruction on reflection and interpretation of SBG feedback is presented as a strategy to overcome the lack of deep thinking on SBG feedback and improve the quality of the reflection data.
Subnormal Vitamin D Levels Are Associated with Adverse Outcome In Newly-Diagnosed Similarly-Treated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients.

Abstract Abstract 1041 Several studies suggest that subnormal vitamin D levels may be prognostic in a number of malignancies, including non Hodgkin lymphoma, prostate, breast, colon and lung cancer. However, no studies have evaluated the impact of subnormal vitamin D levels on treatment outcome in AML. Vitamin D levels were evaluated in 97 consecutive newly diagnosed similarly treated patients with AML (excluding AML M3). There were 50 (52%) males and 47 (48%) females with a median age of 60 years (range 19–91). The median white blood cell (WBC) count at diagnosis was 18×109/L (range 0.57–555.23). Karyotype was favorable in 11%, intermediate in 50%, adverse in 23%, of unknown significance in 11% and not available in 5%. A total of 74 patients (76%) had de novo AML. Albumin levels were subnormal ( Consolidation therapy consisted of either high-dose cytarabine (47%), ADE (5+2+2) (15%), allogeneic (8%) transplantation, or other/no further treatment (30%). The median follow-up was 8.1(range, Download : Download high-res image (146KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A density functional theory based elementary reaction mechanism for early steps of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over cobalt catalyst. 1. Reaction kinetics

Abstract Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS), an efficient process for production of valuable fuel products from synthesized gas (syngas), has been the subject of many theoretical and experimental studies for decades. This work involves detailed molecular and microkinetic modeling of this catalytic process. By adopting an existing elementary reaction mechanism in the literature, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been applied to model the kinetics and thermodynamics of FTS elementary steps on a flat Co(0001) catalyst surface. In this regard, using the DFT generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and canonical transition state theory, the rate constants and the activation energies of individual elementary reactions have been calculated. In addition, the necessity for modification of the existing proposed elementary steps and considerations of alternative mechanisms have been probed. Finally, it was determined that the favorable path for CO dissociation, as one of the key steps in the FTS, occurs through a hydrogen-assisted mechanism and the estimated rate parameters have been compared with those of other theoretical studies.
Initial Reactions of Sexually Abused Children

Twenty children younger than thirteen years old who were reported as sexual-abuse victims were studied to determine the relationship between the child's perception and cultural definition of the ab...
Injektionstechniken für das ISG

Injektionen sind indiziert bei: Schmerzen im distalen LWS-Bereich, Schmerzen im Analbereich, Inguinal- und Oberschenkelschmerzen.
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2 and MMPI-A) and Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Review of the Literature

Personality measures of adults and adolescents who were sexually abused as children can provide valuable information of the negative effects of the abuse experience. This paper reports on the findi...
Summative Usability Assessments of STAR-Vote: A Cryptographically Secure e2e Voting System That Has Been Empirically Proven to Be Easy to Use.

Background:From the project’s inception, STAR-Vote was intended to be one of the first usable, end-to-end (e2e) voting systems with sophisticated security. To realize STAR-Vote, computer security e...
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions on State Transformations That Preserve the Causal Structure of LTI Dynamical Networks

Linear time-invariant (LTI) dynamic networks are described by their dynamical structure function, and generally they have many possible state space realizations. This work characterizes the necessary and sufficient conditions on a state transformation that preserves the dynamical structure function, thereby generating the entire set of realizations of a given order for a specific dynamic network.
Mukilteo Salmon Survey 2013 -- Japanese and Big Gulches

At the request of the City of Mukilteo, students and staff from the Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field (LEAF) School at Edmonds and Everett Community Colleges surveyed Japanese Gulch and Big Gulch for spawning salmon from November 1 through December 15, 2013. The survey demonstrated that adult coho have returned to Japanese Gulch for the second year in a row after the completion of a significant stream restoration project removing four major barriers to salmon migration. The survey also confirmed reports of chum returning to spawn in Big Gulch. Both streams provide valuable salmon spawning habitat in an urban setting. The efforts of the City of Mukilteo to protect and restore Japanese and Big Gulch are important endeavors reaping tangible benefits for people, fish, and wildlife. The investment of Paine Field Airport and the City of Mukilteo in the removal of barriers to salmon access in Japanese Gulch is showing early evidence of success. Small runs of spawning salmon in the heart of urban Mukilteo need continuing vigilance and care to ensure that future generations of people and salmon can continue to share these vital ecosystems at the edge of the Salish Sea.
Structural characterization of life-extending Caenorhabditis elegans Lipid Binding Protein 8

The lysosome plays a crucial role in the regulation of longevity. Lysosomal degradation is tightly coupled with autophagy that is induced by many longevity paradigms and required for lifespan extension. The lysosome also serves as a hub for signal transduction and regulates longevity via affecting nuclear transcription. One lysosome-to-nucleus retrograde signaling pathway is mediated by a lysosome-associated fatty acid binding protein LBP-8 in Caenorhabditis elegans. LBP-8 shuttles lysosomal lipids into the nucleus to activate lipid regulated nuclear receptors NHR-49 and NHR-80 and consequently promote longevity. However, the structural basis of LBP-8 action remains unclear. Here, we determined the first 1.3 A high-resolution structure of this life-extending protein LBP-8, which allowed us to identify a structurally conserved nuclear localization signal and amino acids involved in lipid binding. Additionally, we described the range of fatty acids LBP-8 is capable of binding and show that it binds to life-extending ligands in worms such as oleic acid and oleoylethanolamide with high affinity.
Single-use, single-pass tangential flow filtration using low-cost hollow fiber modules

Abstract Increasing pressures on biomanufacturing costs have led to renewed interest in the development of single-use technologies that can be readily adapted to continuous processing. The objective of this study was to use commercially available hollow fiber membranes, originally designed for high-flux hemodialysis, for single pass tangential flow filtration with high conversions. Experiments were performed with solutions of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) using polysulfone hollow fiber membrane cartridges with a surface area of 1.9 m2. The hollow fiber modules were able to provide more than 10-fold concentration of IgG in a single-pass with exit concentrations greater than 200 g/L. Stable operation was achieved during a continuous run for over a 120-h period with feed side pressure drops less than 1 kPa and transmembrane pressure drops less than 60 kPa. A single dialyzer was able to process 1.4 kg of IgG per day with a total cost of less than $0.004 per g of IgG. Flux-pressure profiles were in good qualitative agreement with a simple model accounting for concentration polarization effects and the variation of flux and pressure with axial position in the module. These results clearly demonstrate the potential of using these low-cost single-use hollow fiber modules for single-pass tangential flow filtration in continuous biomanufacturing.
What does “Global” in “Global Indian” mean?: cultural production and new urban subjectivities in world-class Mumbai

Through an examination of the stand-up comedy scene in Mumbai, India, this paper analyzes what “global” means in the context of new articulations of Indian-ness. I argue that emergent urban art for...
Development and Evaluation of the Nebraska Assessment of Computing Knowledge

One way to increase the quality of computing education research is to increase the quality of the measurement tools that are available to researchers, especially measures of students’ knowledge and skills. This paper represents a step toward increasing the number of available thoroughly-evaluated tests that can be used in computing education research by evaluating the psychometric properties of a multiple-choice test designed to differentiate undergraduate students in terms of their mastery of foundational computing concepts. Classical test theory and item response theory analyses are reported and indicate that the test is a reliable, psychometrically-sound instrument suitable for research with undergraduate students. Limitations and the importance of using standardized measures of learning in education research are discussed.
ELeaRNT: Evolutionary Learning of Rich Neural Network Topologies

Abstract : In this paper we present ELeaRNT an evolutionary strategy which evolves rich neural network topologies in order to find an optimal domain specific non linear function approximator with a good generalization performance. The neural networks evolved by the algorithm have a feed forward topology with shortcut connections and arbitrary activation functions at each layer. This kind of topologies has not been thoroughly investigated in literature, but is particularly well suited for non linear regression tasks. The experimental results prove that, in such tasks, our algorithm can build, in a completely automated way, neural network topologies able to outperform classic neural network models designed by hand. Also when applied to classification problems, the performance of the obtained neural networks is fully comparable to that of classic neural networks and in some cases noticeably better.
Differential impact of threat type on defensive motivation and attention during the NPU-threat task

The (un)predictability of threat influences anticipatory emotional and motivational states. However, few investigations have examined the impact of threat type on defensive motivation. Two within-subject studies (total N = 134) examined defense motivation (startle reflex) and attentional engagement (probe N100, P300) in anticipation of shock and an aversive noise (scream) during a no, predictable, and unpredictable threat (NPU-threat) task. In Study 1, startle was potentiated for unpredictable shock and scream, but potentiation was greater for shock. Startle was potentiated for predictable shock but attenuated for predictable scream. In Study 2, the scream was paired with a scared female face. Startle was potentiated for both predictable and unpredictable shock and scream. The probe N100 was enhanced during unpredictable threat and the probe P300 was suppressed during both predictable and unpredictable threat. The present study suggests that threat type impacts unpredictable (but not predictable) defensive motivation but not attentional engagement. Moreover, predictable auditory aversive stimuli need a paired visual stimulus to enhance defensive motivation.
Aortic Remodeling and Clinical Outcomes Following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury

Abstract Background There is currently limited data assessing the long-term consequences of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in otherwise healthy aortic segments remote from the site of endograft coverage. The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate aortic remodeling and long-term outcomes of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) patients treated with TEVAR. Our hypothesis is that significant changes to the aorta proximal to the graft-covered segment are suspected following TEVAR. Methods An institutional review board–approved retrospective review of patients who underwent TEVAR for BTAI at a level I trauma center from 2004 to 2018 was performed. Forty-six patients were identified and of these, 32 patients with high-resolution computed tomographic angiography imaging follow-up were included in the study. Computed tomographic angiography measurements of aortic dimensions and branch vessels proximal, distal, and adjacent to the stent grafted segment were recorded preprocedure and postprocedure and analyzed. Primary device-related outcomes such as birdbeaking, mural thrombus, stent migration, and persistent endoleak were assessed. Patient outcomes including mortality, graft-related morbidity, and need for secondary interventions were also analyzed. Results Mean follow-up of the selected patients in the study was 1.52 y (range, 0.06-8.0 y). Following TEVAR, the ascending aortic length increased significantly (mean 5.7 ± 4.6 mm, P Conclusions TEVAR for BTAI causes significant geometric changes in the aorta proximal to the stented grafted segment of the aorta. Direct consequences of the graft at the stented segment includes mural thrombus development within the endograft which was associated with the need for secondary intervention. Although clinical significance is yet to be determined, post-TEVAR changes in aortic architecture warrant continued aortic surveillance following BTAI.
Mean Field Evolutionary Dynamics in Dense-User Multi-Access Edge Computing Systems

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) can use the distributed computing resources to serve the large numbers of mobile users in the next generation of communication systems. In this new architecture, a limited number of mobile edge servers will serve a relatively large number of mobile users. Heterogeneous servers can provide either single resource or multiple different resources to the massive number of selfish mobile users. To achieve high quality of service (QoS) and low latency under these two cases, we construct two system models and formulate our problems as two non-cooperative population games. Then we apply our proposed mean field evolutionary approach with two different strategy graphs to solve the load balancing problems under those two cases. Finally, to evaluate the performance of our algorithms, we employ the following performance indicators: overall response time (average response time of the whole system), individual response time (response time of each server), and fairness index (equality of users’ response time).
Stress Granule Assembly Can Facilitate but Is Not Required for TDP-43 Cytoplasmic Aggregation.

Stress granules (SGs) are hypothesized to facilitate TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation, which may underly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology. However, much data for this hypothesis is indirect. Additionally, whether P-bodies (PBs; related mRNA-protein granules) affect TDP-43 phenotypes is unclear. Here, we determine that induction of TDP-43 expression in yeast results in the accumulation of SG-like foci that in >90% of cases become the sites where TDP-43 cytoplasmic foci first appear. Later, TDP-43 foci associate less with SGs and more with PBs, though independent TDP-43 foci also accumulate. However, depleting or over-expressing yeast SG and PB proteins reveals no consistent trend between SG or PB assembly and TDP-43 foci formation, toxicity or protein abundance. In human cells, immunostaining endogenous TDP-43 with different TDP-43 antibodies reveals distinct localization and aggregation behaviors. Following acute arsenite stress, all phospho-TDP-43 foci colocalize with SGs. Interestingly, in SG assembly mutant cells (G3BP1/2ΔΔ), TDP-43 is enriched in nucleoli. Finally, formation of TDP-43 cytoplasmic foci following low-dose chronic arsenite stress is impaired, but not completely blocked, in G3BP1/2ΔΔ cells. Collectively, our data suggest that SG and PB assembly may facilitate TDP-43 cytoplasmic localization and aggregation but are likely not essential for these events.
Optimization of Hidden Target Screening for Solanum sisymbriifolium Glycoalkaloids

Solanum sisymbriifolium also known as litchi tomato or sticky nightshade is one of the promising feedstocks for the production of nematicides as it was demonstrated to be efficient for the control of a wide range of pests including major potato pests, Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida. While pesticidal effects are often attributed to a biologically active group of compounds called glycoalkaloids, the specific chemistry of the plant is still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to optimize the high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis and extraction procedure for glycoalkaloid chemical group to get a better insight into glycoalkaloid composition. The results showed that 19 compounds can be identified as glycoalkaloids with five major glycoalkaloids representing 95% of total composition and with solamargine being the most abundant compound. Structure elucidation based on acid hydrolysis and mass spectrometry spectral analysis suggested that all five major glycoalkaloids belong to solasodine type of glycoalkaloids with different methylation functionalities. Extraction of these compounds from plant material was achieved with aqueous methanol solution.
Antibiotic use during repair of obstetrical anal sphincter injury: a quality improvement initiative

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a quality improvement initiative regarding the administration of antibiotics at the time of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) repair. METHODS At University of Michigan-a tertiary care center in Ann Arbor, MI, USA, we implemented a quality improvement intervention aimed at administering a single dose of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the time of OASIS repair. Best practice recommendations and reminders were presented to the department. Cefazolin plus metronidazole or clindamycin plus gentamycin were the recommended antibiotics. The effects of this intervention were assessed based on a chart review of deliveries between January 4, 2014 and February 13, 2019, which included patient data both pre-initiative and post-initiative to compare the prevalence of antibiotic use at the time of OASIS repair. RESULTS Recommended antibiotic use increased from 0.3% (1/372) pre-initiative to 75.7% (106/140) post-initiative (P < 0.001), and any antibiotic use increased from 6.5% (24/372) to 82.9% (116/140, P < 0.001). The proportion of cases complicated by wound infection/breakdown decreased by 55% after the quality improvement intervention (3.2% pre-intervention vs 1.4% post-intervention, P = 0.22). CONCLUSION Following a departmental quality improvement intervention aimed at increasing antibiotic administration at the time of OASIS repair, antibiotic use increased 13-fold. Although underpowered to detect a significant difference in wound complications, our study showed a clinically meaningful decrease in wound infection/breakdown with antibiotic administration.
A 93 TOPS/Watt Near-Memory Reconfigurable SAD Accelerator for HEVC/AV1/JEM Encoding

Motion Estimation (ME) is a major bottleneck of a Video encoding pipeline. This paper presents a low power near memory Sum of Absolute Difference (SAD) accelerator for ME. The accelerator is composed of 64 modular SAD Processing Elements (PEs) on a Reconfigurable fabric, offering maximal parallelism to support traditional and futuristic Rate-Distortion-Optimization (RDO) schemes consistent with HEVC/AV1/JEM. The accelerator offers up-to 55% speedup over State-of-art accelerators and a 7x speedup when compared to a 12 core Intel Xeon E5 processor. Our solution achieves 93 TOPS/Watt running at 500MHz frequency, capable of processing real-time 4K 30fps video. Synthesized in 22nm process, the accelerator occupies 0.08mm2 and consumes 5.46mW dynamic power.
Prior Exposure to Coxsackievirus A21 Does Not Mitigate Oncolytic Therapeutic Efficacy.

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are being developed as a type of immunotherapy and have demonstrated durable tumor responses and clinical efficacy. One such OV, Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21), exhibited therapeutic efficacy in early phase clinical trials, demonstrating the ability to infect and kill cancer cells and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. However, one of the major concerns in using this common cold virus as a therapeutic is the potential for innate and adaptive immune responses to mitigate the benefits of viral infection, particularly in individuals that have been exposed to coxsackievirus prior to treatment. In this study, we assess melanoma responses to CVA21 in the absence or presence of prior exposure to the virus. Melanomas were transplanted into naive or CVA21-immunized C57BL6 mice and the mice were treated with intratumoral (IT) CVA21. We find that prior exposure to CVA21 does not dramatically affect tumor responses, nor does it alter overall survival. Our results suggest that prior exposure to coxsackievirus is not a critical determinant of patient selection for IT CVA21 interventions.
Building a simple website using open source software (GNU/Linux, Apache, MySQL, and Python)

Building a simple website using open source software is almost too easy. Using modest Intel hardware and the GNU/Linux operating system is basically all that is needed. Most GNU/Linux installations include the Apache web server, the MySQL database, and scripting languages like Perl, PHP, or Python. This workshop will demonstrate the necessary initial setup of the software to start a simple website. Interested participants will be given a opportunity to install the necessary software on their own machine from provided CD-ROMs prior to the start of the workshop.
Extracellular fibrils and contact-mediated cell interactions in Myxococcus xanthus.

Contact-mediated cell-cell interactions play an important role in the social life-style of Myxococcus xanthus. Previous investigations have demonstrated that fimbriae (also referred to as pili) and extracellular fibrils are involved in these social interactions (L. J. Shimkets, Microbiol. Rev. 54:473-501, 1990). We have used the relatively new technique of low-voltage scanning electron microscopy (an ultra-high-resolution scanning technique that allows for the nanometer resolution of biological materials) to observe the topological details of cell-cell interactions in M. xanthus. Our observations indicated that the fibrils (which measure approximately 30 nm in diameter) are produced most extensively by cells that are in close contact with each other and are aberrantly produced by the cohesion-deficient dsp mutants. Immunogold analysis identified an antigen which is located exclusively on the extracellular fibrils. Western blots (immunoblots) of this antigen (designated FA-1 for fibrillar antigen 1) indicated that it is composed of several immunoreactive bands (molecular size range, 90 to 14 kDa), all of which are sensitive to protease digestion. A technique for fibril isolation was developed by using FA-1 as a fibril-specific marker. Low-voltage scanning electron microscope observations of swarming cells demonstrated that the expression of fibrils is differentially regulated between adventurous (individual) and socially (group) motile cells. The differential expression of fibrils suggests the existence of a mechanism for the regulation of fibril biosynthesis that functions within the overall system governing social interactions in M. xanthus. Images
Coherent anti-stokes raman spectroscopic measurements of temperature and acetylene spectra in a sooting diffusion flame

We report coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) measurements of nitrogen and acetylene Q-branch spectra in a sooting laminar ethylene/air diffusion flame, previously characterized by thermocouple and laser scattering/extinction measurements. Good agreement between CARS and thermocouple temperature measurements was obtained throughout the flame. Effects of the presence of heavy soot-loading on the CARS measurements were minimized by reducing the acceptance angle and spectral bandwidth of the CARS detection system. We also present the first known CARS measurements of flame-generated acetylene. The acetylene spectra are in good agreement with preliminary calculated spectra.
EXPLORING Social Support and Job Satisfaction Among Associate Degree Program Directors in California

Abstract A troubling trend noted in California has been an increase in the number of open positions for program directors of associate degree registered nursing (ADRN) programs. Positions remain open for extended periods of time, and the number of qualified applicants for such positions is insufficient. The loss of and ensuing slow replacement of ADRN program directors can put these programs in jeopardy of student admission suspension, or, worse yet, closure by the state nursing board. In this exploratory study, variables of social support and job satisfaction were studied. Variables were found to be limited opportunities for peer interaction, expressed discontent, and retention concerns. A significant positive relationship between job satisfaction and social support was noted. Recommendations for future research are offered.
Functional Consequences of Deletions of the N Terminus of the [epsilon] Subunit of the Chloroplast ATP Synthase

The [epsilon] subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase functions in part to prevent wasteful ATP hydrolysis by the enzyme. In addition, [epsilon] together with the remainder of the catalytic portion of the synthase (CF1) is required to block the nonproductive leak of protons through the membrane-embedded component of the synthase (CFO). Mutant [epsilon] subunits of the spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplast ATP synthase that lack 5, 11, or 20 amino acids from their N termini ([epsilon]-[delta]5N, [epsilon]-[delta]11N, and [epsilon]-[delta]20N, respectively), were overexpressed as inclusion bodies. Using a procedure that resulted in the folding of full-length, recombinant [epsilon] in a biologically active form, none of these truncated forms resulted in [epsilon] that inhibited the ATPase activity of CF1 deficient in [epsilon], CF1(-[epsilon]). Yet, the [epsilon]-[delta]5N and [epsilon]-[delta]11N peptides significantly inhibited the ATPase activity of CF1(-[epsilon]) bound to CFO in NaBr-treated thylakoids. Although full-length [epsilon] rapidly inhibited the ATPase activity of CF1(-[epsilon]) in solution or bound to CFO, an extended period was required for the truncated forms to inhibit membrane-bound CF1(-[epsilon]). Despite the fact that [epsilon]-[delta]5N significantly inhibited the ATPase activity of CF1(-[epsilon]) bound to CFO, it did not block the proton conductance through CFO in NaBr-treated thylakoids reconstituted with CF1(-[epsilon]). Based on selective proteolysis and the binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid, each of the truncated peptides gained significant secondary structure after folding. These results strongly suggest (a) that the N terminus of [epsilon] is important in its binding to CF1, (b) that CF0 stabilizes [epsilon] binding to the entire ATP synthase, and (c) that the N terminus may play some role in the regulation of proton flux through CFO.