cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved frequency resolution for characterization of complex fractionated atrial electrograms

The dominant frequency of the Fourier power spectrum is useful to analyze complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE), but spectral resolution is limited and uniform from DC to the Nyquist frequency. Herein the spectral resolution of a recently described and relatively new spectral estimation technique is compared to the Fourier radix-2 implementation. In 10 paroxysmal and 10 persistent atrial fibrillation patients, 216 CFAE were acquired from the pulmonary vein ostia and left atrial free wall (977 Hz sampling rate, 8192 sample points, 8.4 s duration). With these parameter values, in the physiologic range of 3–10 Hz, two frequency components can theoretically be resolved at 0.24 Hz using Fourier analysis and at 0.10 Hz on average using the new technique. For testing, two closely-spaced periodic components were synthesized from two different CFAE recordings, and combined with two other CFAE recordings magnified 2×, that served as interference signals. The ability to resolve synthesized frequency components in the range 3–4 Hz, 4–5 Hz, …, 9–10 Hz was determined for 15 trials each (105 total). With the added interference, frequency resolution averaged 0.29 ± 0.22 Hz for Fourier versus 0.16 ± 0.10 Hz for the new method (p < 0.001). The misalignment error of spectral peaks versus actual values was ±0.023 Hz for Fourier and ±0.009 Hz for the new method (p < 0.001). One or both synthesized peaks were lost in the noise floor 13/105 times using Fourier versus 4/105 times using the new method. Within the physiologically relevant frequency range for characterization of CFAE, the new method has approximately twice the spectral resolution of Fourier analysis, there is less error in estimating frequencies, and peaks appear more readily above the noise floor. Theoretically, when interference is not present, to resolve frequency components separated by 0.10 Hz using Fourier analysis would require an 18.2 s sequence duration, versus 8.4 s with the new method.
Hydrogen peroxide dynamics in an agricultural headwater stream: Evidence for significant nonphotochemical production

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays key roles in aquatic systems, including metal redox cycling and degradation of organic matter into bioavailable forms. Abiotic photoproduction, via photo-oxidation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter, has generally been assumed to be the most important source of H2O2 to freshwater systems in the daytime. However, the significance of other H2O2 sources has not been previously examined in situ. In this study, isotopically labeled H2O2 (H2 18 O2) was added to in-stream mesocosms exposed to light and dark periods. By measuring total H2O2 and H2 18 O2 in tandem, we inferred absolute rates of H2O2 production and decay, which occurred simultaneously. Abiotic photoproduction rates were measured independently by exposing filtered samples to sunlight. Even in these shallow systems, total production rates greatly exceeded rates of abiotic photoproduction, and other sources of H2O2, most likely biological production, were the dominant control on the H2O2 budget. Thus, H2O2 and its precursor superoxide (O { ) may play a greater role in biogeochemical processes, especially in the absence of light, than previously thought. Because of its reactive nature and ability to act as a reductant and an oxidant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 )i s an important component of natural waters. Both H2O2 and its
Requirements Modeling and Automated Requirements-Based Test Generation

For many mission critical systems, demonstrating that all requirements have been met via a set of requirements-based tests is often mandated by internal processes or external standards. Traditional coverage approaches, however, do not address this mandate because they measure only the coverage of the design by determining which paths in the design have been executed. Determining whether a given set of test vectors covers the design requirements (as opposed to merely covering the design) is a challenge. Creating a set of test vectors to cover the requirements can be difficult and time consuming. Using techniques first identified in the 1970s and modern Model-Based Design tools, we present a novel approach, based on work presented in [2], to automatically generate a set of requirements-based test vectors. In this paper, we discuss how requirements captured in a natural language can be modeled using Cause-Effect graphs, introduced in [1]. We then translate the Cause-Effect graph into Simulink® and Stateflow® to identify conflicting requirements and automatically generate a set of test vectors that can be assessed for completeness using coverage objectives such as Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MCDC). We apply the same test vectors to the design model, which can be developed independently from the original requirements. This approach enables engineers to determine if their design is sufficiently covered by the set of requirementsbased test vectors. Any parts of the design not covered must be investigated further to determine if the design elements should exist or if there is a problem with the requirements.
Examining the Dynamic Structure of Daily Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior at Multiple Levels of Analysis

Psychiatric diagnostic covariation suggests that the underlying structure of psychopathology is not one of circumscribed disorders. Quantitative modeling of individual differences in diagnostic patterns has uncovered several broad domains of mental disorder liability, of which the Internalizing and Externalizing spectra have garnered the greatest support. These dimensions have generally been estimated from lifetime or past-year comorbidity patters, which are distal from the covariation of symptoms and maladaptive behavior that ebb and flow in daily life. In this study, structural models are applied to daily diary data (Median = 94 days) of maladaptive behaviors collected from a sample (N = 101) of individuals diagnosed with personality disorders. Using multilevel and unified structural equation modeling, between-person, within-person, and person-specific structures were estimated from 16 behaviors that are encompassed by the Internalizing and Externalizing spectra. At the between-person level (i.e., individual differences in average endorsement across days) we found support for a two-factor Internalizing-Externalizing model, which exhibits significant associations with corresponding diagnostic spectra. At the within-person level (i.e., dynamic covariation among daily behavior pooled across individuals) we found support for a more differentiated, four-factor, Negative Affect-Detachment-Hostility-Impulsivity structure. Finally, we demonstrate that the person-specific structures of associations between these four domains are highly idiosyncratic.
Small molecule screen for inhibitors of expression from canonical CREB response element-containing promoters

// Bryan Mitton 1 , Katie Hsu 1 , Ritika Dutta 1 , Bruce C. Tiu 1 , Nick Cox 2 , Kevin G. McLure 1 , Hee-Don Chae 1 , Mark Smith 2 , Elizabeth A. Eklund 3 , David E. Solow-Cordero 4, * , Kathleen M. Sakamoto 1, * 1 Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA 2 Medicinal Chemistry Knowledge Center, Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford, CA, USA 3 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA 4 High-Throughput Bioscience Center, Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA * These authors have contributed equally and share senior authorship Correspondence to: Kathleen M. Sakamoto, e-mail: kmsakamo@stanford.edu Keywords: small molecule screen, novel therapeutics, CREB Received: September 25, 2015 Accepted: January 13, 2016 Published: January 30, 2016 ABSTRACT The transcription factor CREB (cAMP Response Element Binding Protein) is an important determinant in the growth of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cells. CREB overexpression increases AML cell growth by driving the expression of key regulators of apoptosis and the cell cycle. Conversely, CREB knockdown inhibits proliferation and survival of AML cells but not normal hematopoietic cells. Thus, CREB represents a promising drug target for the treatment of AML, which carries a poor prognosis. In this study, we performed a high-throughput small molecule screen to identify compounds that disrupt CREB function in AML cells. We screened ~114,000 candidate compounds from Stanford University’s small molecule library, and identified 5 molecules that inhibit CREB function at micromolar concentrations, but are non-toxic to normal hematopoietic cells. This study suggests that targeting CREB function using small molecules could provide alternative approaches to treat AML.
THE INFLUENCE OF GRAZING FLOW ON THE RAYLEIGH CONDUCTIVIITY OF AN APERTURE OF ARBITRARY SHAPE t

This research investigates the effect of geometry on the unsteady motion induced in a wall aperture by a pressure perturbation in the presence of grazing flow. For certain combinations of perturbation frequency, aperture size and flow speed, the aperture shear layer motion will augment the perturbation energy. Combining the three parameters into a Strouhal number, we see that for certain ranges of Strouhal number the coupling of the aperture dynamics and the mean flow leads to the production of sound and vibration. We examine this coupling for both one-sided and two-sided grazing flow past the aperture and consider several symmetric aperture geometries which include the circle, square, cross, triangle, rectangle, and one denoted as the crown. In this study we use the Rayleigh conductivity to analyze the Strouhal number dependence of the different aperture and flow configurations for a given time harmonic applied pressure disturbance. The model is valid in the low Mach number limit, and uses linearized theory. Using this model, we show that aperture geometry does not affect the Strouhal number range in which the aperture dynamics add energy to the flow perturbation. Similarly, the Strouhal number which approximately corresponds to self-oscillat ions of the shear layer remains relatively unchanged when the geometry of the aperture changes. Finally, we verify the reci
Intergenerational Attachments in Stepfamilies Facilitating the Role of the Step-Grandparents

This descriptive article addressed attention to current issues and innovative methods by focusing on legitimizing the importance of the step-grandparent relationships in stepfamilies and the offeri...
Three-Dimensional Nanocomposites: Fluidics Driven Assembly of Metal Nanoparticles on Protein Nanostructures and Their Cell-Line-Dependent Intracellular Trafficking Pattern

Three-dimensional nanocomposites prepared using two different families of nanomaterials holds significant relevance pertaining to biological applications. However, integration of the two distinct nanomaterials with precision to control the overall compositional homogeneity of the resulting 3D nanocomposite is a synthetic challenge. Conventional reactions result in nanocomposites with heterogeneous composition and render useless. To address this challenge, we have developed a fluidics-mediated process for controlling the interaction of nanoparticles to yield a compositional uniform multidimensional nanoparticle; as an example, we demonstrated the integration of gold nanoparticles on gelatin nanoparticles. The composition of the nanocomposite is controlled by reacting predetermined number of gold nanoparticles to a known number of thiolated gelatin nanoparticles at any given time within a defined cross-sectional area. Using the fluidics process, we developed nanocomposites of different composition: [gelatin...
Operation and Maintenance Cost Optimization in the Grid Connected Mode of Microgrid

A microgrid integrated with Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), Energy Storage, and Controllable Loads along with critical and non-critical loads is considered. The operation and maintenance cost (O&M) optimization is performed by the Economic Dispatch using the Reduced Gradient Method in the grid connected mode of microgrid. The minimized cost function of the system must be obtained for the optimization of the O&M cost of microgrid while meeting the load demand. The O&M cost includes the operation and maintenance cost of generated energy by each source and also the energy purchased from the utility. For obtaining the minimum cost of the system, the reduced gradient algorithm is implemented. To improve the reliability and to enhance the economic dispatch operation, a diesel generator and a battery energy storage are included in the microgrid. Different scenarios of the energy sources are compared along with the change in wind and battery profiles of microgrid to obtain the minimum O&M cost of the system. Various profiles of battery and wind energy are considered and minimal O&M cost of each profile is obtained and compared. As a result, the optimal cost of the system is obtained by considering the change in wind and battery profiles and hence provides the optimal solution while meeting the critical and non-critical loads demand.
Deep Patient: An Unsupervised Representation to Predict the Future of Patients from the Electronic Health Records

Secondary use of electronic health records (EHRs) promises to advance clinical research and better inform clinical decision making. Challenges in summarizing and representing patient data prevent widespread practice of predictive modeling using EHRs. Here we present a novel unsupervised deep feature learning method to derive a general-purpose patient representation from EHR data that facilitates clinical predictive modeling. In particular, a three-layer stack of denoising autoencoders was used to capture hierarchical regularities and dependencies in the aggregated EHRs of about 700,000 patients from the Mount Sinai data warehouse. The result is a representation we name “deep patient”. We evaluated this representation as broadly predictive of health states by assessing the probability of patients to develop various diseases. We performed evaluation using 76,214 test patients comprising 78 diseases from diverse clinical domains and temporal windows. Our results significantly outperformed those achieved using representations based on raw EHR data and alternative feature learning strategies. Prediction performance for severe diabetes, schizophrenia, and various cancers were among the top performing. These findings indicate that deep learning applied to EHRs can derive patient representations that offer improved clinical predictions, and could provide a machine learning framework for augmenting clinical decision systems.
Wave Motions in a Laminated Medium

Wave propagation is a classical subject which has been discussed in great generality in several treatises. A detailed discussion of the propagation of mechanical disturbances, in particularly in elastic solids, can be found in a recent book by Achenbach [1.11].
The hereditary spastic paraplegias

Abstract The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a large group of disorders that share the primary clinical feature of lower extremity spastic weakness. Lower extremity weakness and spasticity (occurring in varying proportions and to variable degree) may be isolated (“uncomplicated” HSP); or associated with additional neurologic abnormalities (“complicated” HSP) such as cognitive impairment, peripheral neuropathy, amyotrophy, or ataxia. In addition to variable clinical signs and symptoms, the course of disorders classified as HSP is highly variable. In general, HSP symptoms that begin in infancy may be nonprogressive. For example, subjects with early childhood-onset, uncomplicated HSP may resemble spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. In contrast, later onset symptoms typically worsen insidiously over many years. Nonetheless, even the course of progressive HSP may be variable. After a number of years, many (but not all) subjects with progressive worsening exhibit significant slowing of further functional decline. Postmortem studies in uncomplicated HSP have shown axon degeneration particularly involving the distal ends of corticospinal tract and dorsal column fibers. There are more than 90 genetic types of HSP. Genetic testing (either large panels of HSP genes or whole-exome sequencing) can confirm the diagnosis of HSP for approximately 50%–60% of subjects. The differential diagnosis of HSP includes treatable disorders [e.g., B12 deficiency, cervical spondylosis, dopa-responsive dystonia, and multiple sclerosis (MS)] as well as disorders, the prognosis of which is quite different than HSP (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and MS). Treatment for HSP is symptomatic although research into disease-altering therapy (including gene therapy) is ongoing. In general, patient-specific, professionally developed, proactive physical therapy regimens and rehabilitation strategies to maintain and increase range of motion, reduce spasticity, improve balance, gait, and strength, and cardiovascular fitness are recommended.
Abstract 3849: Analysis of the mutation rate in T lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines

To account for the high number of somatic mutations in cancer, it has been hypothesized that genomic instability is necessary for malignant transformation. We previously demonstrated that PIG-A is a useful reporter gene for quantitating somatic mutations. PIG-A encodes an enzyme that is essential for the biosynthesis of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, by which a set of membrane proteins are covalently linked to the cell surface. PIG-A is X-linked, and a broad spectrum of mutations occurring in only one allele can produce the GPI (-) phenotype. We have demonstrated occult populations of spontaneously arising blood cells with PIG-A mutations in normal individuals, and shown that among ex vivo blasts from patients with ALL, the frequency (f) of GPI(-) cells appeared trimodal, with some samples overlapping the normal range, whereas others were orders of magnitude higher. f values in T cell leukemias generally fell in the middle group. Here, we have studied a panel of cell lines derived from patients with T cell ALL and measured the mutation rate per cell division (μ) as an assessment of genomic instability. First, cells were stained with anti-CD59-FITC and sorted by collecting the upper 50 th percentile, to eliminate pre-existing mutants. This purified GPI(+) population was counted and expanded in culture for 18 days, and then recounted to estimate cell divisions (d) in vitro. To estimate the frequency of new mutants arising in culture, the cells were first incubated with the FLAER reagent conjugated to Alexa 488, then a mixture of anti-CD55 and anti-CD59 antibodies, then a rabbit anti-mouse FITC secondary conjugate, followed by PE conjugated antibodies specific for transmembrane proteins(CD45 or HLA). Cells were gated based on light scatter, exclusion of propidium iodide, and expression of the transmembrane proteins; GPI(-) negative cells were defined as having −7 per cell division, whereas for the cell lines CEM, CUTTL, LOUCY, and HPBALL, μ ranged from 50 to 60 × 10 −7 . For comparison, we sorted, expanded, and analyzed cultures of T cells derived from 4 normal donors, stimulated with PHA, cytokines, and bead-immobilized antibodies, and here μ was generally lower, ranging from 1.5 × 10 −7 to 18 × 10 −7 (p −7 (4 samples) or > 200 × 10 −7 (3 samples, p = 0.01, Fisher9s exact test). We conclude that T cell ALL samples may demonstrate a more mild form of genomic instability than in Burkitt9s lymphoma, and that genomic instability, as determined by this assay, is not absolutely required for leukemogenesis. Citation Format: David J. Araten, Erik Sherman, Aaron Etra. Analysis of the mutation rate in T lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3849. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3849
InvestTech and Crowdsourcing Best Ideas: Investment Strategies for a Low-Yield Environment

Asset owners have to deal with the challenge of a potentially low-yielding investment environment for the foreseeable future. The traditional approach to raise the expected return typically leads to increasing allocations to illiquid assets such as private equity, real estate, or infrastructure. However, that method is not suitable to all asset owners. This paper provides a different and complementary approach: leveraging an asset owner’s unique position as a gateway to best ideas and non-traditional, diverse data sets. It demonstrates how assets owners, especially one located close to Silicon Valley, can utilize two key innovations to improve governance, risk management, and potentially expected returns: Crowdsourcing and Investment Technologies (InvestTech). Specifically, the paper shows how asset owners can leverage the best ideas and data sets of their partners (asset managers, banks, custodians, and research firms), and then convert these best ideas into implementable investment decisions. In this specific application, we examine how a limited form of “crowdsourcing” and InvestTech allowed the Office of the Chief Investment Officer of the Regents of the University of California (UC Investments) to develop its own internal investment model to manage asset allocations. In doing so, the portfolio and risks are better managed by the investment team. This approach is easily replicable by other asset owners, and each fund can develop its own bespoke approach based on relationships with vendors and key risks and objectives.
Waters Rising: Letters from Florence — Peter Waters and Book Conservation at the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Di Firenze After the 1966 Flood

It's a shame that Waters Rising: Letters from Florence -- Peter Waters and Book Conservation at the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze after the 1966 Flood may not find a general audience, fo...
Veterinary Verification and Consultation: implementation of OLAW guidance on significant changes.

Veterinary Verification and Consultation: implementation of OLAW guidance on significant changes
Relationship of NADPH Oxidase-1 expression to beta cell dysfunction induced by inflammatory cytokines

Redox stress related loss of beta cell function is a feature of diabetes. Exposure of beta cells and islets to inflammatory mediators elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and beta cell dysfunction. Direct molecular manipulation of NADPH oxidase-1 (NOX-1) has identified a key role for NOX-1 in cytokine-induced beta cell dysfunction. Plasmid driven elevation of NOX-1 resulted in elevated ROS, loss of glucose-stimulated-insulin-secretion and increased apoptosis. These outcomes on beta cell function are analogous to cytokine treatment. In contrast, reduction of NOX-1 expression, by shRNA, conferred protection to beta cells and islets from the damaging effects of inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these data support the therapeutic potential for NOX-1 inhibition in diabetes.
AURA 3: the last word on chemotherapy as a control arm in EGFR mutant NSCLC?

Although first and second generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have led to significant improvements in both objective response rate (ORR) and progression free survival (PFS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion (exon 19 del) or p.Leu858Arg (L858R) point mutations, acquired resistance against EGFR TKIs develops after 9 to 13 months in most patients (1-4).
Beer Annuities: Hold the Interest and Principal

One of the newest ideas in finance is “crowdfunding.” This is an appeal through social media or other Internet platform to source funding via small investments from a large number of investors. In this article, the authors describe a partially crowdfunded capital project by a Belgian brewery that involved issuing a novel security. The funding helped finance a pipeline to transport beer from the company’s brewery to its bottling plant. Three classes of securities were issued, with the unusual feature that they pay off not in money but in beer. Each investor would receive a specified amount of beer per year for the rest of his or her life. The article develops a valuation model, which takes into account the terms of the contract, the current and expected future price of beer, and the life expectancy of the investor.
A review of vilazodone exposures with focus on serotonin syndrome effects.

AbstractBackground: Vilazodone is an antidepressant with selective serotonin reuptake inhibition and partial 5HT1A agonism. Serotonin syndrome is believed to be due to excessive stimulation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors, resulting in the clinical triad of altered mentation, autonomic instability and neuromuscular abnormalities. The goal of this study is to define serotonergic effects after vilazodone exposure.Methods: A retrospective review of two databases: the American Association of Poison Controls Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS) and the American College of Medical Toxicology’s Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC Registry). A case series of four patients from one medical toxicology service is also presented.Results: During the 52-month study period, a total of 3192 vilazodone human exposures were reported to NPDS. Of these, 1734 (54%) were isolated vilazodone cases. The clinical effects of vilazodone toxicity included drowsiness (20%), vomiting (14%), tachycardia (11%) and agitation...
Turandot: The Chinese Box by Puccini, Zeffirelli, Zhang, and Chen

In this chapter on Turandot as a “Chinese Box” investigates the yellowface opera, a Chinese box of beauty and bestiality, a controversial Pandora’s box. This Chinese box is thus made in Italy, set in “Peking,” and distributed worldwide. This argument moves from Puccini’s Orientalism to the 1987 Franco Zeffirelli production at the Metropolitan Opera. It concludes with two fifth-generation auteurs, Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, both having handled with extreme aesthetic care their Italian inheritance, if also with extreme conceptual carelessness.
The Role of Platelets in the Tumor Microenvironment

Platelets are small, anuclear cells found in the circulation that have an important and well-defined role in hemostasis and wound healing. Known as the “band-aids of the blood,” these cells rapidly activate, aggregate, and release a potent milieu of growth factors, cytokines, and other biological mediators at the site of vascular damage, forming a clot. Compelling evidence has revealed that tumors can co-opt the normal functions of platelets in order to advance tumor progression and metastasis. Indeed, we now know that platelets are a key component of the tumor microenvironment and that they promote cancer progression in a myriad of ways; platelets drive tumor cell invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, they promote angiogenesis, they facilitate intravasation and extravasation of tumor cells, they protect disseminated tumor cells from shear forces and immune surveillance within the circulation, and they function as long-distance cargo carriers that transmit signals between primary tumors, metastases, and the bone marrow. In this chapter, we will examine the current body of evidence on the role of platelets in cancer along with the underlying mechanisms and explore platelet-targeted therapies as a novel and promising approach to cancer treatment.
Deep Understanding of a Document's Structure

Current language understanding approaches focus on small documents, such as newswire articles, blog posts, product reviews and discussion forum discussions. Understanding and extracting information from large documents like legal briefs, proposals, technical manuals and research articles is still a challenging task. We describe a framework that can analyze a large document and help people to locate desired information in it. We aim to automatically identify and classify different sections of documents and understand their purpose within the document. A key contribution of our research is modeling and extracting the logical structure of electronic documents using machine learning techniques, including deep learning. We also make available a dataset of information about a collection of scholarly articles from the arXiv eprints collection that includes a wide range of metadata for each article, including a table of contents, section labels, section summarizations and more. We hope that this dataset will be a useful resource for the machine learning and language understanding communities for information retrieval, content-based question answering and language modeling tasks.
Approaching the Quantum Limit of Photodetection in Solid-State Photodetectors

Many aspects of life involve sensitive photodetection, which is now widely implemented in solid-state devices made from semiconductor materials due to their relatively low cost, high scalability, and better compatibility with the existing CMOS technology. State-of-the-art Geiger-mode avalanche detectors and the challenges they faced in single-photon detection efficiency and timing resolution are covered. Emerging classes of solid-state detectors are then reviewed, including bandgap engineering and the use of a heavily doped emitter. A novel class of detector is introduced exhibiting monolithic incorporation of impact ionization and bipolar gain in a single device structure by using bandgap engineering. Finally, we discuss a recent detector concept which involves using disorder in solid-state material to substantially increase the probability of carrier excitation and reduce noise. The recent breakthroughs in solid-state photodetection can significantly impact areas of quantum information processing, optic communications, and imaging.
Intravenous Angiography Using Computerized Fluoroscopy Apparatus

Following several years of development and testing using animals, a digital image processor designed to perform generalized subtraction imaging tasks has been interfaced to an image-intensified television fluoroscopy apparatus in the University of Wisconsin Clinical Sciences Center. So far, 175 patients have been examined using three time-subtraction modes. In Mask-Mode-Radiography, images of opacified arteries are subtracted from a mask image obtained just prior to the arrival of iodine injected into an antecubital vein. Fully processed subtraction images are obtained at a rate of about one per second and stored on a video disc in real time. This mode is used for all arteries outside of the heart and may be ECG-gated for cardiac imaging. Left ventricular motion is well visualized in Mask Mode Fluoroscopy. In this mode the mask is taken prior to the injection of contrast. Then 60 subtraction images per second are stored on video tape. For wall motion studies this can be done at conventional fluoroscopic exposure levels. We have had limited success in seeing coronary bypass grafts and coronary arteries, but further improvements are needed. In Time Interval Difference Mode short term changes in iodine concentration are displayed. This mode is obtained from Mask Mode Fluoroscopy by reprocessing.
Oxygen transfer across composite oxygen transport membranes

The transfer of oxygen across an oxygen transport membrane (OTM) is limited by a number of processes, such as mass transfer across a boundary layer on the airside, surface exchange, ambipolar diffusion through the mixed-conducting gas separation layer, and viscous flow of oxygen through the porous support. Each of these processes was incorporated into a comprehensive oxygen transfer model. This model describes oxygen flux as a function of temperature, pressure, and oxygen recovery across composite OTMs. The model predicts an optimum thickness for porous mixed-conducting layers to improve oxygen surface exchange. Layer thickness depends on a number of parameters, such as pore size distribution, porosity, and tortuosity in each layer, and basic material parameters, such as surface exchange rate and ambipolar conductivity. The transfer model shows the importance of optimizing these parameters and a reactor design that enables a high mass transfer coefficient on the airside of the OTM element for optimum performance.
Zooarchaeological Approaches to the Identification of Bone Fat Production in the Archaeological Record

Mammal fat is an important industrial product and ingredient in culinary dishes and medicines the world over, yet evidence for its use is not often identified in the archaeological record. I first give a brief overview of the importance of bone fats to subsistence and industrial economies. I follow this with criteria for identifying these activities archaeologically. This review concludes with why the identification of such activities is important to our understanding of ancient foodways
Dub-seq: dual-barcoded shotgun expression library sequencing for high-throughput characterization of functional traits

Author(s): Mutalik, Vivek; Novichkov, Pavel; Price, Morgan; Owens, Trenton; Callaghan, Mark; Carim, Sean; Deutschbauer, Adam; Arkin, Adam | Abstract: A major challenge in genomics is the knowledge gap between sequence and its encoded function. Gain-of-function methods based on gene overexpression are attractive avenues for phenotype-based functional screens, but are not easily applied in high-throughput across many experimental conditions. Here, we present Du al B arcoded S hotgun E xpression Library Se q uencing (Dub-seq), a method that greatly increases the throughput of genome-wide overexpression assays. In Dub-seq, a shotgun expression library is cloned between dual random DNA barcodes and the precise breakpoints of DNA fragments are associated to the barcode sequences prior to performing assays. To assess the fitness of individual strains carrying these plasmids, we use DNA barcode sequencing (BarSeq), which is amenable to large-scale sample multiplexing. As a demonstration of this approach, we constructed a Dub-seq library with total Escherichia coli genomic DNA, performed 155 genome-wide fitness assays in 52 experimental conditions, and identified 813 genes with high-confidence overexpression phenotypes across 4,151 genes assayed. We show that Dub-seq data is reproducible, accurately recapitulates known biology, and identifies hundreds of novel gain-of-function phenotypes for E. coli genes, a subset of which we verified with assays of individual strains. Dub-seq provides complementary information to loss-of-function approaches such as transposon site sequencing or CRISPRi and will facilitate rapid and systematic functional characterization of microbial genomes. Importance Measuring the phenotypic consequences of overexpressing genes is a classic genetic approach for understanding protein function; for identifying drug targets, antibiotic and metal resistance mechanisms; and for optimizing strains for metabolic engineering. In microorganisms, these gain-of-function assays are typically done using laborious protocols with individually archived strains or in low-throughput following qualitative selection for a phenotype of interest, such as antibiotic resistance. However, many microbial genes are poorly characterized and the importance of a given gene may only be apparent under certain conditions. Therefore, more scalable approaches for gain-of-function assays are needed. Here, we present Du al B arcoded S hotgun E xpression Library Se q uencing (Dub-seq), a strategy that couples systematic gene overexpression with DNA barcode sequencing for large-scale interrogation of gene fitness under many experimental conditions at low cost. Dub-seq can be applied to many microorganisms and is a valuable new tool for large-scale gene function characterization.
Bayesian Modeling of Plant Drought Resistance Pathway

Plants are sessile organisms and are unable to relocate to favorable locations under extreme environmental conditions, and hence they have no choice but to acclimate and eventually adapt to the severe conditions to ensure their survival. With climate change affecting the environment adversely, it is of utmost importance to make plants and crops robust enough to withstand harsh conditions and safeguard global food production. As traditional methods of bolstering plant defense against stressful conditions come to their biological limit, we require newer methods that can allow us to strengthen the plant's internal defense mechanism. This motivated us to look into the genetic networks of plants. In this paper, we lay out a method to analyze genetic networks in plants that are activated under abiotic stress, specifically drought conditions. This method is based on the analysis of Bayesian networks and should ultimately help in finding genes in the genetic networks of the plant that play a key role in its defense response against drought. The WRKY transcription factor is well known for its role in plant defence against biotic stresses, but recent studies have shed light on its activity against abiotic stresses such as drought. Therefore, it is logical to study the various components of the WRKY gene network in order to maximize a plant's defence mechanism. The data used to learn the parameters of the Bayesian network consisted of both real world and synthetic data. The synthetic data was generated using the dependencies in the Bayesian network model. The network parameters were learned using a Bayesian approach and the frequentist approach. The estimated parameters are then used to build a Bayesian decision network, where nodes are selected one at a time for intervention and the utility (score) for the upregulation of a downstream abiotic stress response gene is computed. The node that maximizes this utility is recommended for biological intervention.
Overview of Hybrid Solver in HFSS

This paper presents an overview of the hybrid solver in ANSYS HFSS for electrically large radiation and scattering problems. In HFSS v12, a domain decomposition solver was adopted to serve as an effective and parallelizable finite element preconditioner. Since then the framework has been extensively and systematically extended to incorporate multiple numerical solvers into a powerful hybrid solver. These technologies are illustrated via numerical simulations of some real-life problems.
Hailing the Subject: Visual Progression and Queer Reading in Nananan’s Blue

Kiriko Nananan’s Blue (1997) invites an Althusserian reading in which the (hailed) subject of the (capitalist) State is incorporated into ideological institutions. Blue’s women characters are continuously hailed by their teachers or each other. The girls’ black-haired heads—round dense patches of ink—visually depict Blue’s subjects heeding their hail (turning to acknowledge a calling) while they also attempt resistance to incorporation diegetically—the girls aspire to more than marriage and domesticity. Eventually, the protagonists accept that they cannot refuse State interpolation. Nananan’s accompanying diegetic drag—the visual encumbrance of numerous inked heads—is an imagistic resignation to this subjectification. Pitting the visual representation of the girls’ acquiescence to the hail against the consistently interrupted narrative creates a productive tension between image and narrative pacing.
Constrictive Pericarditis after Lung Transplant: Zebra or Horse?

Purpose Constrictive pericarditis has become an increasingly recognized long-term post-operative complication of lung transplantation. Heightened clinical suspicion, improved diagnostic imaging and effective surgical treatment of the disease have led to progressive awareness of the pathology. We present our institutional experience with constrictive pericarditis in an effort to investigate the etiology and natural history of the disease. Methods From October 2005 to October 2018, 1,234 patients underwent orthotopic lung transplantation at Duke University Hospital. A prospectively maintained institutional database was queried to identify incident patients and determine baseline clinical data. At a median of 13.8 months (IQR 4.6-124 months), 10 patients (0.8%) developed constrictive pericarditis. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe cohort characteristics and identify variables associated with constrictive pericarditis after lung transplantation. Results The indication for transplantation at index operation was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 9 of 10 patients (1.2% of the 760 restrictive lung disease patients transplanted in the same time period). All ten patients presented with worsening dyspnea and pleural effusions. Right heart catheterization confirmed constrictive physiology in all cases. Nine patients underwent pericardiectomy with improvement in cardiovascular hemodynamics and resolution of symptoms with no 30-day perioperative mortality. Conclusion Diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis should be considered in patients with new onset heart failure symptoms and/or recurrent pleural effusions within 2 years of lung transplantation. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may be associated with increased risk for constrictive pericarditis. Pericardiectomy is a safe and effective treatment for post-transplant constrictive pericarditis.
Earliest Fermented Beverages

Fermented beverages may be made from a variety of sugar-containing materials: cider from apples, sake from rice, mead from honey, beer from grains, and of course, wine from grapes [1].
Delayed adjuvant hormonal therapy and its impact on mortality in women with breast cancer.

Adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT) is important for the management of hormone-sensitive breast cancer. However, the timeliness for adjuvant HT and the consequences of delayed initiation of treatment have not been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to characterize delays to HT and assess the impact on clinical outcomes. The study cohort consisted of female patients with invasive ductal and/or lobular, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2015. Initiation of HT >6 months (180 days) after surgery was defined as delayed. Patients receiving chemotherapy were excluded from the study cohort. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed to establish associations between delayed HT and demographic, facility, and clinical factors. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate overall survival. Of 179 590 women assessed in the National Cancer Database, 3.2% had a delay in the initiation of adjuvant HT. Positive demographic-related risk factors were younger age, ethnic minority groups, and multiple comorbidities. Clinical factors significantly associated with delayed initiation of adjuvant HT were high-grade tumor, larger tumor size, greater lymph node involvement, having an unplanned readmission within 30 days of surgery, and positive final surgical margins. Adjusted survival analysis showed a survival disadvantage of delayed initiation of HT. Risk factors for delayed initiation of HT specific to demographic and clinical characteristics were identified. Delayed initiation of HT was associated with a survival detriment.
ANALYSIS OF RANGE OF MOTION IN FEMALE RECREATIONAL TENNIS PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT LATERAL ELBOW TENDINOPATHY.

Background Intrinsic factors including altered joint motion in the upper extremity may lead to altered biomechanics in tennis players and could result in symptoms of lateral elbow tendinopathy. Purpose To compare upper extremity passive motion and elbow carrying angle between three groups of women: recreational tennis players with LET, non-symptomatic recreational tennis players, and a control group of non-tennis players. Study Design Cross-sectional. Methods A convenience sample of 63 women was recruited and placed into one of the three groups: non-symptomatic tennis players (NSTP), symptomatic tennis players (STP), and a control group. Elbow carrying angle, passive range of motion of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist were measured during a single session. Results A significant difference was found between the groups for wrist flexion (p < 0.00), forearm pronation (p = 0.002), elbow flexion (p = 0.020) and extension (p = 0.460), as well as shoulder internal rotation (p < 0.00). No significant differences were found in other motions or carrying angle between the three groups (p =0.059). Post-hoc comparisons indicated that shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion was less in both STP and NSTP groups compared with the control group. Elbow flexion and forearm pronation were greater in STP than the other two groups. Conclusion Impairments including loss of shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion and greater motion at the elbow and forearm were found in the UE of symptomatic tennis players. Evaluation of passive motion and muscle length should be performed prior to establishing a rehabilitation plan for symptomatic tennis players. Levels of Evidence 3.
Bridging “Big Data” and Mechanistic Insight To Enable Precision Medicine

Realizing the promise of precision medicine will require breaking down communication barriers between genomic, screening and literature "big data." We discuss the opportunities and challenges of reconciling data science approaches with the scientific method and the critical role of chemical biologists as a bridge between data and mechanism. Finally we propose next steps on the road to precision medicine and give examples of new tools designed to catalyze these steps.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Mineral Surface Wettability by Water Versus CO2: Thin Films, Contact Angles, and Capillary Pressure in a Silica Nanopore

The wettability of mineral surfaces is an important property influencing multiphase flow in soils and sedimentary rocks. In particular, for CO2 abatement technologies that rely on trapping supercri...
Jogando “Ping Pong” com as palavras

Em recente entrevista concedida a Marcia Arbex (UFMG) e Miriam Vieira (UFSJ) para o dossie intitulado “Imagens legiveis, textos visiveis”, organizado para a Revista Vis [1] , Claus Cluver, Professor Emerito de Literatura Comparada pela Universidade de Indiana, Estados Unidos, reconhece a relevância das muitas referencias a Poesia Concreta Brasileira em sua vasta investigacao acerca de configuracoes de midias hibridas. De modo a suplementar os apontamentos feitos em virtude de sua intensa preocupacao com esse genero peculiar da literatura, o professor generosamente compartilhou com as entrevistadoras o relato ensaistico intitulado “Playing ‘Ping Pong’ with Words”. Apesar de dirigido a um publico nao academico sem conhecimento previo do genero, o tom intimista do relato de seu encontro com os poetas concretistas brasileiros e seus poemas merecem visibilidade junto ao publico interessado nos estudos da intermidialidade.
Ureteral injury after posterior spinal fusion

Entry into the retroperitoneal space during Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MI-TLIF) presents a rare possibility of iatrogenic ureteral injury. Rare complications of ureteral injury after previous open posterior spinal surgery have been reported however there is a paucity of reports after a minimally invasive technique. We now describe a case of ureteral injury after MI-TLIF.