cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imaging the Liver

Imaging of the liver is undertaken for the detection and characterization of suspected primary or secondary neoplasms, prior to planning a surgery or chemotherapy pump placement, for assessing treatment response, for evaluating biliary pathology, and for screening for liver neoplasms in high-risk groups. In this article, we review the advantages and disadvantages of various imaging modalities in the evaluation of the liver and formulate guidelines for the imaging of common clinical indications. A brief review of imaging findings in focal and diffuse liver disease is also presented.
A restored seagrass ( Thalassia ) bed and its animal community

Quarterly sampling of animals in a restored seagrass ( Thalassia ) area in south Biscayne Bay, Florida, was undertaken to determine whether the recolonizing animal community would be similar in structure to a Thalassia community that had never been impacted by thermal effluents or restored. Samplings by 1 m bottom trawl (⅛ inch = 3.2 mm stretch-mesh), 3 replicates at each of 9 stations, and a 15-cm 2 grab (5 replicates at 9 stations) were sorted as to species for most groups and quantified. Strong seasonal differences were found. The results were compared with data from previous work in the area which had been done during thermal emissions from a power-plant. Significant differences were found between the abundance and species of animals in restored areas and a nearby barren area that had never recovered from impact, though differences in species and abundances between the restored Thalassia sites and an unaffected control site were not statistically different. Populations of certain groups such as the commercial Pink Shrimp ( Penaeus duorarum ), caridean shrimps, and juvenile fishes, were numerically far higher in the restored area than in control or naturally reestablishing successional seagrasses, and at least an order of magnitude higher than in barren areas that had never recovered from impact.
Melatonin reduces Fenton reaction-induced lipid peroxidation in porcine thyroid tissue.

Free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in physiological and pathological processes in the thyroid gland. Bivalent iron cation (ferrous, Fe(2+)), which initiates the Fenton reaction (Fe(2+) + H2O2 --> Fe(3+) + *OH + OH(-)) is frequently used to experimentally induce oxidative damage, including that caused by lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is involved in DNA damage, thus indirectly participating in the early steps of carcinogenesis. In turn, melatonin is a well-known antioxidant and free radical scavenger. The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of melatonin on basal and iron-induced lipid peroxidation in homogenates of the porcine thyroid gland. In order to determine the effect of melatonin on the auto-oxidation of lipids, thyroid homogenates were incubated in the presence of that indoleamine in concentrations of 0.0, 0.00001, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 mM. To study melatonin effects on iron-induced lipid peroxidation, the homogenates were incubated in the presence of FeSO(4) (40 microM) plus H2O2 (0.5 mM), and, additionally, in the presence of melatonin in the same concentrations as above. The degree of lipid peroxidation was expressed as the concentration of malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) per mg protein. Melatonin, in a concentration-dependent manner, decreased lipid peroxidation induced by Fenton reaction, without affecting the basal MDA + 4-HDA levels. In conclusion, melatonin protects against iron + H2O2-induced peroxidation of lipids in the porcine thyroid. Thus, the indoleamine would be expected to prevent pathological processes related to oxidative damage in the thyroid, cancer initiation included.
Performance of IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN implemented on software defined radio with hybrid programmable architecture

We have successfully fabricated a prototype software defined radio (SDR) transceiver that supports both Japanese PHS and IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN). In this paper, we design an IEEE 802.11 WLAN around the SDR with its distributed and heterogeneous hybrid programmable architecture. The most difficult problem in implementing the WLAN in this way is how to meet the SIFS requirement in the IEEE 802.11 standard. This paper shows the hardware and software architecture of the prototype and how it can support the protocol processing of the IEEE 802.11 WLAN. The hybrid programmable architecture is a sophisticated combination of a general-purpose microprocessor (CPU), digital signal processors (DSPs), and programmable hardware (FPGAs). The MAC layer functions are executed on the CPU, and the PHY layer functions such as MODEM are processed by the DSP; higher-speed digital signal processes are run on the FPGA. This paper also describes an experimental evaluation of the prototype for IEEE 802.11 WLAN use.
Cooperative hydrogen bonding in amyloid formation

Amyloid diseases, including Alzheimer's and prion diseases, are each associated with unbranched protein fibrils. Each fibril is made of a particular protein, yet they share common properties. One such property is nucleation-dependent fibril growth. Monomers of amyloid-forming proteins can remain in dissolved form for long periods, before rapidly assembly into fibrils. The lag before growth has been attributed to slow kinetics of formation of a nucleus, on which other molecules can deposit to form the fibril. We have explored the energetics of fibril formation, based on the known molecular structure of a fibril-forming peptide from the yeast prion, Sup35, using both classical and quantum (density functional theory) methods. We find that the energetics of fibril formation for the first three layers are cooperative using both methods. This cooperativity is consistent with the observation that formation of amyloid fibrils involves slow nucleation and faster growth.
Does sex moderate the clinical correlates of pediatric bipolar-I disorder? Results from a large controlled family-genetic study

Abstract Background Since little is known as to whether sex differences affect the clinical presentation of pediatric BP-I disorder, it is an area of high clinical, scientific and public health relevance. Methods Subjects are 239 BP-I probands (65 female probands, 174 male probands) and their 726 first-degree relatives, and 136 non-bipolar, non-ADHD control probands (37 female probands, 99 male probands) and their 411 first-degree relatives matched for age and sex. We modeled the psychiatric and cognitive outcomes as a function of BP-I status, sex, and the BP-I status-gender interaction. Results BP-I disorder was equally familial in both sexes. With the exception of duration of mania (shorter in females) and number of depressive episodes (more in females), there were no other meaningful differences between the sexes in clinical correlates of BP-I disorder. With the exception of a significant sex effect for panic disorder and a trend for substance use disorders (p=0.05) with female probands being at a higher risk than male probands, patterns of comorbidity were similar between the sexes. Despite the similarities, boys with BP-I disorder received more intensive and costly academic services than girls with the same disorder. Limitations Since we studied children referred to a family study of bipolar disorder, our findings may not generalize to clinic settings. Conclusions We found more similarities than differences between the sexes in the personal and familial correlates of BP-I disorder. Clinicians should consider bipolar disorder in the differential diagnosis of both boys and girls afflicted with symptoms suggestive of this disorder.
Induction of Ovarian Activity in the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Serial injections (i.m.) of 10 mg follicle stimulating hormone (FSFI-P) to cheetahs for 5 days followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 500 IU) administered on both Days 6 and 7 resulted in ovarian follicle development and/or ovulation in six of seven attempts. One additional female given the same gonadotropin regimen when distinct corpora lutea (CL) were visible on the ovaries failed to respond with new follicular growth. No estrous behavior was observed following hormonal treatment.
Effect of Sympathomimetic Drugs in Acute Experimental Cardiac Tamponade

The effect of Aramine and Wyamine on the depressed circulation in acute cardiac tamponade was studied in six dogs. As a result of tamponade, there was marked depression of the apparent right and left ventricular function curves which were then significantly re-elevated by the administration of these drugs. Evidence of coronary insufficiency was demonstrated in very severe tamponade where there was a low coronary perfusion gradient. The value of these drugs in acute clinical tamponade is suggested as a temporary expedient for maintaining an adequate coronary circulation until more definitive therapy can be initiated.
Influence of weed maturity levels on species classification using machine vision

Abstract The environmental effect of weed control systems has stimulated research into new practices for weed control, such as selective herbicide application methods on weed-infested crop areas. This research used the color co-occurrence method (CCM) texture analysis to determine the effects of plant maturity on the accuracy of weed species classification of digitized images. Two different experimental combinations of weed species and maturity level were examined. The weed species evaluated were ivyleaf morningglory, giant foxtail, large crabgrass, and velvetleaf, with soil image sets added to each experiment. One study examined classification accuracies for two weed species at three maturity levels, and the second study examined four weed species at two maturity levels. For each species-maturity level combination, 40 digital images were collected from a manually seeded outdoor plant bed. Digitized images were transformed from the red–green–blue (RGB) color format into hue–saturation–intensity (HSI) form...
Near UV bands of jet-cooled CaO

Abstract The electronic spectrum of CaO has been recorded for the 29,800–33,150 cm −1 energy range. Jet cooling was used to obtain relatively uncongested spectra. Rotationally resolved bands have been assigned to the C 1 Σ + – X 1 Σ + and F 1 ∏– X transitions. These data extend the range of vibronic levels characterized for the upper states. Three additional vibronic states were observed as a short progression. One of these levels, which are of 0 + symmetry, interacts strongly with the C 1 Σ + , v ′ = 7 level. Possible assignments for the perturbing state are considered.
Differences In Sockeye Salmon Antibody Composition: Testing The Immunological Imprinting Hypothesis

Anadromous fish such as sockeye salmon return to their natal streams to spawn, during which they undergo significant physiological changes including the release of cortisol, a known immunosuppressive hormone. Our lab has proposed the Immunological Imprinting Hypothesis, which suggests that juvenile anadromous fish respond to pathogens specific to their natal site by producing protective long lived plasma cells (LLPCs) that constitutively produce antibodies against those pathogens. These LLPCs are believed to be highly cortisol resistant. Thus, fish returning to their natal streams have immunological protection from pathogens found at that specific location. We are investigating the Immunological Imprinting Hypothesis through analysis of antibody composition and usage. Since 2009 samples of Sockeye Salmon spleen and anterior kidney have been harvested from two separate salmon runs in Alaska. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR) we are examining the relative usage levels of specific VH gene families between fish at different locations. To further investigate the “pathogen fingerprint” of given spawning sites, we are also performing qPCR analysis in order to compare the pathogen loads of multiple pathogens from different sites, including Bacterial Kidney Disease (Renibacterium salmoninarum), Bacterial Coldwater Disease (Flavobacterium psychrophilum), and Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV). As we gather more data, we will test whether specific antibody compositions are associated with specific spawning sites, as well as with pathogen infection patterns. Greater understanding of spawning fish immune functioning could potentially suggest a method of natural immunization against common fish pathogens and thus protect both farmed and wild populations.
Unperturbed Optical Transition Energies from Resonant Raman Scattering of Individual Suspended Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Unperturbed optical transition energies for isolated and individual SWNTs are measured using tunable resonant Raman scattering. The results suggest Coulomb interactions from exciton binding are comparable to bandgap renormalization, and are 1ev ∫ band gap.
Engineering collaborative momentum in networks: Evidence from the non-profit sector

Based on in-depth case studies of three collaborative networks of non-profit organizations initiated and supported by philanthropic foundations, I examine how the foundations’ network engineering a...
OSTEOLATHYRISM IN THE HAMSTER: PATHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES PRODUCED BY BETA-AMINOPROPIONITRILE IN CONNECTIVE TISSUES.

SummaryBAPN, when fed to weanling male hamsters, produced gross skeletal lesions characteristic of mild osteolathyrism. Aortic damage was also present, but, like the gross skeletal lesions, was much less severe than in rats fed corresponding levels of BAPN. No microscopic changes in the cheek pouches of lathyritic animals were observed. BAPN caused an increase in the M saline-soluble collagen fraction or in the citrate-soluble collagen fraction of the cheek pouches. An increase in the M NaCl-soluble fraction was evident after only 1 day on 0.1% BAPN fu-marate. This increase in the M NaCl fraction may be of value in rapid screening of potential lathyrogens. No 0.2 M NaCl-sol-uble collagen fraction could be found in pouches from either normal or lathyritic hamsters. Its absence may be associated with the relative resistance of the hamster to BAPN. No effect of BAPN on elastin-like fractions of the pouches could be demonstrated.We are grateful to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, 111., for generous gifts o...
Incorporation of Thallium in In1−xTixP Grown by Metal Organic Molecular Beam Epitaxy

InxTll−xP has been proposed as a potential narrow bandgap material for the fabrication of IR detectors. 1 It is expected to exist in a zincblende structure with a lattice constant approximately 2% larger than aInP for x=0. In this paper we will discuss attempts to grow this alloy on InP using various combinations of elemental and gaseous sources including In, Tl, trimethylindium (TMI), triethylindium (TEI) and phosphine. The sticking coefficient of Tl was found to decrease rapidly for temperatures above 350°C, mandating the use of low temperatures. Attempts to grow TIP resulted in the formation of Tl droplets which oxidized rapidly upon removal from the vacuum system. Auger analysis of the surface shows the oxide composition to be Tl2O, indicative of a monovalent Tl oxidation state. InTlP grown under similar conditions shows an initial tendency to form structural defects, as observed by cross-sectional TEM, suggesting lattice mismatch due to incorporation of small amounts of Tl. As the Tl concentration at the growth surface is increased, a two-phase material is obtained consisting of Tl-rich droplets and InP. In addition, Auger depth profiling shows clear evidence of Tl segregation.
Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infection is a frequent diagnosis in infants and children who are referred to a urologist. Infections in children are often benign, yet the potential for significant renal damage in this age group makes adequate urinary tract evaluation mandatory. Urinary obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, periurethral bacterial colonization, and voiding dysfunction are important in the pathogenesis of pediatric infections. Adequate therapy requires detection and control of these conditions in order to prevent pyelonephritic renal scarring and its sequelae.
Prevalence and risk of fracture diagnoses in women across the adult life span: a national cross-sectional study.

Summary In a national sample of women veterans, the rate of lower limb fracture diagnosis was the highest across ages 18–74 years; rates of fracture diagnosis of other skeletal sites peaked in women aged 75+. Women with two or more primary care visits or mental healthcare visits had elevated odds of fracture diagnosis.
New correlation bounds for GF(2) polynomials using Gowers uniformity

We study the correlation between low-degree GF(2) polynomials p and explicit functions. Our main results are the following: I We prove that the Modm function on n bits has correlation at most exp i i­ i n/4 d ¢¢ with any GF(2) polynomial of degree d, for any fixed odd integer m. This improves on the previous exp i i­ i n/8 d ¢¢ bound by Bourgain (C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris,
Corticosteroids in Pneumococcal Meningitis

The records of 97 infants and children with pneumococcal meningitis, 41 receiving corticosteroid therapy, were examined at the Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Chronic Progressive Encephalitides

An excellent review of chronic progressive encephalitides of childhood (CPEC), with particular emphasis on the prototypical disease, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), is presented from the Institute for Research in Childhood Neurodegenerative Diseases, and University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL.
From Criticism to Mimesis: Comedy and the New Music

In a recent issue of this journal Bernhard Zimmermann explored Comedy’s criticism of the music developed by composers of the New Dithyramb and citharodic nomos. The centerpiece of his stimulating study is the famous fragment 155 (K.-A.) of Pherecrates’ Chiron. Behind this article, so to speak, is Zimmermann’s 1992 monograph Dithyrambos: Geschichte einer Gattung, that has helped rekindle interest in a field that has for decades been essentially a Pickard-Cambridge monopoly. Despite the uncertainties and difficulties attendant on working with fragmentary material, the dithyramb offers many opportunities for research, particularly from the vantage point of Old and Middle Comedy. In this paper I build on Zimmermann’s work by making a modest twofold contribution: First, I suggest a new approach to the Chiron fragment by way of its sexual thematics. Second, in light of this reading, I locate Chiron at a specific stage in Comedy’s response to the New Dithyramb--an evolving process of reception which I trace from a modality of overt criticism in Old Comedy through subtle mimesis to final incorporation (absorption) in the fourth century.
Linear and Shift Invariance of Magnetic Particle Imaging

MPI is intrinsically a linear and shift-invariant (LSI) system as described in x-space theory [3,4] assuming perfect signal acquisition and that the imaging equation can be written as a convolution in realspace. However, the received MPI signal is corrupted by a direct feedthrough signal from the excitation source at the drive frequency, which is 106 times larger than the nanoparticle signal. Hardware filtering is required to suppress the feedthroughsignalbutalso inevitably removes this frequency component from the particle signal. This signal loss in the received particle signalbreaks the LSI propertiesof x-space MPI. This study will investigate the impact of losing the fundamental frequency component in the image domain and propose an algorithm to recover the lost information. Finally, experimental results demonstrate that LSI propertiescan be restored after applying a simple and robust baseline recovery algorithm.
Automatic polyp detection in colonoscopy videos

Colon cancer is the second cancer killer in the US [1]. Colonoscopy is the primary method for screening and prevention of colon cancer, but during colonoscopy, a significant number (25% [2]) of polyps (precancerous abnormal growths inside of the colon) are missed; therefore, the goal of our research is to reduce the polyp miss-rate of colonoscopy. This paper presents a method to detect polyp automatically in a colonoscopy video. Our system has two stages: Candidate generation and candidate classification. In candidate generation (stage 1), we chose 3,463 frames (including 1,718 with-polyp frames) from real-time colonoscopy video database. We first applied processing procedures, namely intensity adjustment, edge detection and morphology operations, as pre-preparation. We extracted each connected component (edge contour) as one candidate patch from the pre-processed image. With the help of ground truth (GT) images, 2 constraints were implemented on each candidate patch, dividing and saving them into polyp group and non-polyp group. In candidate classification (stage 2), we trained and tested convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with AlexNet architecture [3] to classify each candidate into with-polyp or non-polyp class. Each with-polyp patch was processed by rotation, translation and scaling for invariant to get a much robust CNNs system. We applied leave-2-patients-out cross-validation on this model (4 of 6 cases were chosen as training set and the rest 2 were as testing set). The system accuracy and sensitivity are 91.47% and 91.76%, respectively.
Formal Methods for Control of Traffic Flow: Automated Control Synthesis from Finite-State Transition Models

Today's increasingly populous cities require intelligent transportation systems that make efficient use of existing transportation infrastructure. However, inefficient traffic management is pervasive [1], [2], costing US$160 billion in the United States in 2015, including 6.9 billion h of additional travel time and 3.1 billion gal of wasted fuel [3]. To mitigate these costs, the next generation of transportation systems will include connected vehicles, connected infrastructure, and increased automation. In addition, these advances must coexist with legacy technology into the foreseeable future. This complexity makes the goal of improved mobility and safety even more daunting.
Legal ecotones: A comparative analysis of riparian policy protection in the Oregon Coast Range, USA.

Waterways of the USA are protected under the public trust doctrine, placing responsibility on the state to safeguard public resources for the benefit of current and future generations. This responsibility has led to the development of management standards for lands adjacent to streams. In the state of Oregon, policy protection for riparian areas varies by ownership (e.g., federal, state, or private), land use (e.g., forest, agriculture, rural residential, or urban) and stream attributes, creating varying standards for riparian land-management practices along the stream corridor. Here, we compare state and federal riparian land-management standards in four major policies that apply to private and public lands in the Oregon Coast Range. We use a standard template to categorize elements of policy protection: (1) the regulatory approach, (2) policy goals, (3) stream attributes, and (4) management standards. All four policies have similar goals for achieving water-quality standards, but differ in their regulatory approach. Plans for agricultural lands rely on outcome-based standards to treat pollution, in contrast with the prescriptive policy approaches for federal, state, and private forest lands, which set specific standards with the intent of preventing pollution. Policies also differ regarding the stream attributes considered when specifying management standards. Across all policies, 25 categories of unique standards are identified. Buffer widths vary from 0 to ∼152 m, with no buffer requirements for streams in agricultural areas or small, non-fish-bearing, seasonal streams on private forest land; narrow buffer requirements for small, non-fish-bearing perennial streams on private forest land (3 m); and the widest buffer requirements for fish-bearing streams on federal land (two site-potential tree-heights, up to an estimated 152 m). Results provide insight into how ecosystem concerns are addressed by variable policy approaches in multi-ownership landscapes, an important consideration to recovery-planning efforts for threatened species.
Epidemiologic and laboratory classification systems for paralytic poliomyelitis cases

Classification systems for poliomyelitis cases were first developed in industrialized countries to provide a uniform and standardized method to assign epidemiological categories to individual cases, particularly for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis cases. The classification of paralytic poliomyelitis cases follows individual case investigations that attempt to collect all available clinical, epidemiologic and laboratory information on each suspected poliomyelitis case. Many countries have convened expert review committees to evaluate, confirm and classify suspected poliomyelitis cases. In the United States, classification systems for paralytic poliomyelitis cases have been in use since 1976. The goals of regional elimination of polio myelitis from the Americas by the year 1990, and of global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000, provide an additional impetus to extend classification systems to poliomyelitisendemic areas and to standardize methods for monitoring progress towards these eradication objectives.
Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Cultural Competence: A Simulation Pilot Study

Abstract Background Gaps in educational preparation may prevent nurses from providing culturally competent care to all patients independent of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In particular, the specific needs of patients in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community are inadequately addressed in the traditional nursing curriculum. Method To bridge the gap in LGBT nursing education, a simulation program based on standardized patients, small group instruction, and evaluation was created. This program was used by senior-level undergraduate baccalaureate and accelerated nursing students enrolled in the required Community and Public Health Nursing Course at The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (n = 230). Results This program was implemented in the summer of 2016. Student evaluation revealed increased confidence in assessment and care of LGBT patients. Conclusion When nursing students receive less training about LGBT issues than they need, simulation may be the optimal means for bridging that gap.
Paranoid beliefs and realistic expectations of victimization: Data from the survey of police-public encounters.

Abstract Background The anticipation of threat or victimization is a core feature of paranoia. Cognitive theories of paranoia suggest that paranoid thoughts may arise as a psychological response to trauma exposure, which likewise may lead to greater anticipation of subsequent victimization. Little is known, however, about the relation between paranoid beliefs and anticipated victimization when accounting for past victimization experience. The present study aimed to address whether the experiences of past victimization contribute to the link between paranoid beliefs and the anticipation of threat or victimization, with a particular focus on exposure to police violence. Methods Data were collected through the Survey of Police-Public Encounters ( N = 1615), a cross-sectional, general population survey study conducted in four Eastern U.S. cities. Associations between paranoia and anticipated victimization were assessed using linear regression models, with and without adjustment for past victimization exposure. Results Paranoid beliefs were positively associated with police victimization expectations (β = 0.19, p p = 0.451). To assess for the specificity of past exposures to victimization, adjusting for past exposure to intimate partner violence (as a control condition) did not eliminate the association between paranoia and expected police victimization. Conclusions The overall findings are consistent with cognitive theories of paranoia in which paranoid beliefs may be a severe but normative reaction to past victimization exposures in some cases.
Optimal worst-case pricing for a logit demand model with network effects

Abstract We consider optimal pricing problems for a product that experiences network effects. Given a price, the sales quantity of the product arises as an equilibrium, which may not be unique. In contrast to previous studies that take a best-case view when there are multiple equilibrium sales quantities, we maximize the seller’s revenue assuming that the worst-case equilibrium quantity will arise in response to a chosen price. We compare the best- and worst-case solutions, and provide asymptotic analysis of revenues.
Patient-Reported Survivorship Care Practices and Late Effects After Treatment of Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

PurposeMultimodal treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) yields excellent outcomes; however, survivors are at risk of developing myriad late and long-term effects.MethodsFrom a convenience sample of 964 survivors of HL (37%) and NHL (63%) using a publicly available Internet-based survivorship care plan (SCP) tool between 2011 and 2016, we examined patient-reported cancer care, toxicities, and survivorship care data.ResultsOf all survivors, 67% were female and 84% were white and 88% were free of cancer. Median age of diagnosis was 28 years for survivors of HL and 49 years for NHL. Many survivors reported treatment with chemotherapy (92%), surgery (52%), and/or radiation (41%), with most radiation delivered to chest/mantle fields (81%). Survivors reported a diversity of radiation- and chemotherapy-related sequelae, including thyroid dysfunction, speaking and/or swallowing changes, pulmonary fibrosis/pneumonitis, heart disease, chronic fatigue, neurocognitive decline, neuropathy, s...
Multiple Audiences for Encouraging Research Use: Uncovering a Typology of Educators:

Purpose: We apply diffusion of innovations theory to examine two key research questions designed to inform efforts to improve the research–practice gap in education: (1) Are there distinct types of...
Mean Pulmonary Transit Time in First-Pass Studies

We studied the measurement reproducibility of mean pulmonary transit time in first-pass radionuclide angiography. Two bolus injections of 99mTc HDP were administered into each human subject approximately five minutes apart. Patients did not move between studies. The same regions of interest were used in both studies. Transit time measurement of the 99mTc from the right ventricle to the left ventricle was first approximated by the time difference between the maxima of the time-activity curves and was then computed by fitting the time-activity curves to exponential functions. Both methods have comparable reproducibilities. Better precision was obtained by using the ejection fraction and cardiac cycle to monitor patient condition stability. Measurement of transit time was reproducible to an average of 0.40 ± 0.35 sec.
A Developmental Model for Adaptive and Differentiated Instruction Using Classroom Networking Technology

This paper presents a detailed explanatory model for adaptive and differentiated instruction. The model combines current practices for mathematics instruction with recommended practices for formative assessment. The model can best be implemented using classroom network technologies (such as TI-Nspire Navigator with TI handhelds), but it can also be used with manual data collection means such as personal whiteboards for each student. The model is presented for mathematics, but could be easily extended to science instruction or other subjects. Experience with adaptive and differentiated instruction suggests that teachers grow to full master level proficiency over time, often over a period of years, and that some teachers never reach that level. Accordingly, two transitional models are presented, an immediate (entry-level) model and an expert model for adaptive instruction. Fully differentiated instruction is incorporated in the ‘Master’ model. Growth from immediate, to expert, to master level requires development of skill with the technology, but more important are critical changes we infer in the teacher’s beliefs, as well as growth in their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK).
Abstract IA25: Disparities in survivors of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancers

Outcome disparities in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer are multifaceted. While disparities are commonly described along racial/ethnic lines, the underlying causes of these differences in outcome are often rooted in socioeconomic status, host genetics, disease biology, health literacy lifestyle factors, health behaviors, and comorbidities. Nonetheless, by the middle of this century, racial/ethnic minority populations will collectively constitute 50% of the U.S. population. This temporal shift in the racial/ethnic composition of the U.S. population demands a close examination of the observed disparities in both the quality and quantity of survival in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancer. In this talk we describe the differences in overall and event-free survival by race/ethnicity as well as by age (children vs. adolescent and young adult) across a variety of cancer types. We examine the causes of the difference in these outcomes. We describe the burden of morbidity carried by cancer survivors across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines and present the current evidence for the causes of observed differences in morbidity. We speculate that any racial/ethnic differences in outcome are likely to be multifactorial, and draw on extant literature to illustrate the various contributors (socioeconomic characteristics, health behaviors, disease biology, and comorbidities) that could explain any observed differences in key treatment-related complications. Finally, we outline challenges in conducting race/ethnicity-specific survivorship research, demonstrating that there are limited absolute numbers who are diagnosed and survive histologically distinct cancers in any one racial/ethnic minority population, thereby precluding a rigorous evaluation of adverse events among specific primary cancer diagnoses and treatment exposure groups. Citation Format: Smita Bhatia. Disparities in survivors of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr IA25.
Silicon Crack Root Cause Identification in a Wafer Level Chip Scale Package

A different kind of challenge was encountered during the failure analysis (FA) of several customer-returned power devices. Determination of the failure mechanism (FM), silicon cratering or cracking, was straightforward; however, root cause process ownership identification was challenging. This paper presents the laborious analyses to identify the process that induced the failure.
Abstract TP61: Could Fazekas Score Serve as a Predictor of Functional Outcomes in ELVO Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy?

Objective: To evaluate the association between cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden and degree of disability based on modified Rankin Score at 90 days, in patients presenting with emergent l...
Time-Variation in the Benefits and Asset Allocation of Feasible Internationally Diversifying Strategies

Does the economic value of the international diversifying portfolios shrink over time in a more integrated financial market? How the changes in economic and financial variables in home country affect the benefits of international diversification to local investor? In this paper, I find that the time-varying diversification benefits are persistently positive although the short-sales and excessive investment are restricted. The addition of upper bounds of weighting eludes a portion of diversification benefits but substantially decreases the time-variation in gains and asset allocation of the optimal global portfolios. The constraints also induce expansion of coverage in the diversified portfolio and eventually make the asset allocations more realistic. The time trend characterized by the filter of Hodrick and Prescott (1997) and regression suggest the diversification benefits did not decrease over time even though the world capital market has become increasingly integrated. Empirical results show that the emergence of profitable investments in the domestic market may substitute international diversification benefits, while the volatility in exchange rate is compensated in global diversification.
A semi-parallel framework for greedy information-theoretic feature selection

Abstract Feature selection (FS) is a well-studied area that avoids issues related the curse of dimensionality and overfitting. FS is a preprocessing procedure that identifies the feature subset that is both relevant and non-redundant. Although FS has been driven by the exploration of “big data” and the development of high-performance computing, the implementation of scalable information-theoretic FS remains an under-explored topic. In this contribution, we revisit the greedy optimization procedure of information-theoretic filter FS and propose a semi-parallel optimizing paradigm that can provide an equivalent feature set as the greedy FS algorithms in a fraction of the time. We focus on greedy selection algorithms due to their larger computational complexity associated with a rapidly growing number of features. Our framework is benchmarked against twelve datasets, including one extremely large dataset that has more than a million features, and we show our framework can significantly speed up the process of FS while selecting nearly the same features as the state-of-the-art information-theoretic FS methods.
Three-independent gate FET's super steep subthreshold slope

The device characteristics of TIGFET technology, in particular the steep subthreshold slope (SS), have been studied in detail in this chapter. Notably, we have (1) summarized TIGFET's working principle and fabrication techniques, (2) reviewed experimental demonstrations of SSmin in TIGFETs with respect to voltage and temperature, and (3) performed device-level simulations to display and thoroughly explain the SS capabilities of TIGFETs with respect to channel length and voltage. Our results allow us to develop an in-depth explanation into the origin of steep SS and the potential limitations of SS in TIGFETs due to short-channel effects.
The chemical fingerprint of solubilized organic matter from eroded soils and sediments

Abstract Organic matter (OM) transfers between solid and water phases are critical components of OM cycling in surface waters as they contribute to compositional differences between dissolved OM (DOM) and particulate OM (POM). However, fractionation effects during such phase changes are not well-characterized, especially during the release of soluble OM from sediments and eroded soils. Agricultural practices alter the magnitude and timing of OM export and constitute a major source of sediment through soil erosion. This study assessed the elemental, biomolecular, and optical characteristics of DOM solubilized from sediments and soils in an agricultural watershed of northern California to trace compositional changes during OM flow from mobilized soils in streams. Relative to mineral-bound OM, solubilized DOM was nitrogen-poor (more than doubled C:N ratios) and depleted in amino acids and lignin (three- to six-fold decrease in carbon-normalized yields). Distinct fractionation patterns of individual amino acids and lignin phenols led to a more acidic pool of solubilized DOM that appeared substantially more degraded than its source POM, with decreased degradation index (DI) values and more than doubled molar contributions of non-protein amino acids and processing ratio (PR) values. Lignin composition also greatly differed in solubilized DOM compared to mineral-bound OM, with cinnamyl:vanillyl phenol ratios up to six-fold lower in solubilized lignin than in particulate lignin. Solubilized DOM generally resembled stream DOM more than its source POM and was chemically distinguishable from DOM leached from plants. Absorption coefficients and fluorescence peak intensities were strongly correlated with solubilized DOM concentrations and composition, while optical parameters established to characterize DOM origin and reactivity such as spectral slope, fluorescence index, and carbon-specific fluorescence intensities suggested unique compositional traits for solubilized DOM compared to stream DOM. This study therefore documented strong fractionation patterns during solubilization, linking eroded soil OM and stream DOM and highlighting a pathway that can account for compositional differences between DOM and POM in surface waters. A new amino acid parameter, the Solubilization Index (SI), was defined to capture the effects of solubilization processes on OM composition. SI values in solubilized DOM were up to an order of magnitude higher than in its source POM and were similar to SI values in stream DOM. Because the SI is based on empirical behaviors of individual amino acids, each tied to mechanistic interpretations, the SI is demonstrating a strong potential for mechanistic-driven research on the extent of phase changes in streamwater DOM.
Pre-ESKD Nephrology Care and Employment at the Start of Dialysis.

Introduction Employment is associated with an improved sense of well-being and quality of life in patients with kidney disease. Earlier nephrology referral and longer duration of pre–end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) nephrology care are associated with improved health outcomes in patients with advanced kidney disease who initiate dialysis. It is unknown if pre-ESKD nephrology care helps patients stay employed leading up to dialysis initiation. Methods We used the US ESKD registry to identify adults aged 18–54 years who initiated dialysis between 2007 and 2014. Analyses were restricted to patients who reported being employed 6 months prior to ESKD. We used multivariable regression models with estimated average marginal effects to examine the independent association between ≥6 months of pre-ESKD nephrology care and employment at dialysis initiation. To reduce bias, we conducted an instrumental variable (IV) analysis based on geographic variation in pre-ESKD care. Results Of 75,700 patients included in study cohort, 49% reported receiving pre-ESKD nephrology care for ≥6 months, and 62% were employed at dialysis initiation. Although geographic variation in pre-ESKD nephrology care was strongly associated with the likelihood that working-aged patients in our analytic cohort received pre-ESKD care, the receipt of pre-ESKD nephrology care was not significantly associated with employment at dialysis initiation; estimated probability: 5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) –6% to 14%. Conclusions Pre-ESKD nephrology care 6 months prior to initiation of dialysis is not associated with the likelihood of remaining employed at the initiation of dialysis. Although nephrology care has potential to help patients remain employed, this benefit is not manifested in current practice.
Comparative analysis of digital photogrammetry software for cultural heritage

Abstract The paper seeks to evaluate three digital photogrammetry processing software, comparing Agisoft Metashape (known as Agisoft Metashape prior to version 1.5), Bentley ContextCapture, and RealityCapture to each other. The literature review discusses and evaluates the current academic literature on the most commonly used digital photogrammetry processing programs, including the existing publications on Metashape, ContextCapture, and RealityCapture as well as several open source software. The current body of literature mostly covers the use of digital photogrammetry in terms of large-scale site digitization using drones. The tests which were carried out in Metashape, ContextCapture, and RealityCapture present a small-scale artifact digitization case study in ideal conditions, using the same artifact and data in all three programs.
Scrutinizing "Ligand Bands" via Polarized Single-Crystal X-ray Absorption Spectra of Copper(I) and Copper(II) Bis-2,2'-bipyridine Species.

High-energy resolution fluorescence-detected Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and single-crystal polarized XAS data are presented toward refining the assignments of bands assigned as excitations from Cu 1s to ligand-localized molecular orbitals. These have been previously dubbed "XAS-metal-ligand charge transfer" (XAS-MLCT) bands. Data are presented for a series of [Cu(xbpy)2]n+ complexes (xbpy = 2,2'-bipyridine (1n+), 4,4'-bisamino-2,2'-bipyridine (2n+), and 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine (3n+); n = 1 and 2). Dipolar dependencies of these "XAS-MLCT" bands in both Cu1+ and Cu2+ species lead to reassignment of these features as owing their intensities primarily to Cu 1s → Cu 4p excitations. The transition densities are Cu-localized, highlighting that XAS-MLCT features in Cu XAS spectra are not "charge transfer" transitions but rather quasi-atomic transitions. Although scrutiny of the acceptor orbitals supports assignment as Cu 1s → ligand π* transitions, it ultimately appears that while the ligand orbital energetics govern the positions of these bands the intensity is conferred through a small degree of metal 4p mixing into otherwise ligand-dominated acceptor molecular orbitals.
DetectSignal: A Cloud-Based Traffic Signal Notification System for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The ability to know when to cross the road at an intersection has always been a problem for the Visually Impaired or Blind person (VIB). In this paper, we present DetectSignal, a cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) edge computing solution that provides a highly available, highly scalable, high-speed, and low latency traffic signal notification for the VIB. DetectSignal provides an interconnected traffic signal by reusing existing infrastructure and attaching a low-cost IoT device that connects with a traffic light and the public cloud. Our experimental results involve testing a notification system using a regular compute virtual machine and IoT edge-based serverless compute. The experimental results show that DetectSignal provides a more reliable solution that alleviates the current issues facing the VIB.