cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the resource utilization and traffic distribution of multipath transmission control

There is growing interest in the development and deployment of multipath rate and route control mechanisms for the Internet, due to their ability to exploit bandwidth resources, alleviate network congestion, and provide robustness against failures. However, two performance issues have been uncovered: low link utilization when the number of flows is small, and route flappiness, namely the traffic of a flow tends to concentrate on one path and then another. In this paper we study these issues with respect to several variations of multipath rate and route control algorithms. We demonstrate the qualitatively different impacts that the couplings of the increase and decrease phases have on link utilization. We also demonstrate how the coupling strength affects both the long-term and short-term traffic distributions among different paths. In particular, we show that the flappy behavior is prominent only when there is strong coupling in both the increase and decrease phases, and when the number of good paths is small.
Editorial: The Kingslake Medal and Prize

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: The Kingslake Medal and Prize” for OE Vol. 34 Issue 08
Fast Robust Nanopositioning—A Linear-Matrix-Inequalities-Based Optimal Control Approach

This paper proposes a 2-DOF robust optimal control design method for achieving multiple objectives of resolution, bandwidth, and robustness to modeling uncertainties in nanopositioning systems. The main theoretical contribution of this paper is the formulation of a multiobjective 2-DOF optimal control problem in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which are then solved using standard convex optimization tools. The main distinguishing feature of this approach is the flexibility this method provides in formulating and solving the optimization problems that results in achieving a larger set of performance specifications. It facilitates solving of a certain class of mixed-norm optimization and pole-placement problems that arise naturally in nanopositioning systems. This methodology is demonstrated through experiments on a nanopositioning system that archives performance specifications, which are impossible with 1-DOF designs. Experimental results also demonstrate over 200% improvement in bandwidth of the resulting nanopositioning system over the optimal 1-DOF control designed for the same resolution and robustness specifications.
Effects of microstructural variability on thermo-mechanical properties of a woven ceramic matrix composite

The objectives of this paper include identifying important architectural parameters that describe the SiC/SiC five-harness satin weave composite and characterizing the statistical distributions and correlations of those parameters from photomicrographs of various cross sections. In addition, realistic artificial cross sections of a 2D representative volume element (RVE) are generated reflecting the variability found in the photomicrographs, which are used to determine the effects of architectural variability on the thermo-mechanical properties. Lastly, preliminary information is obtained on the sensitivity of thermo-mechanical properties to architectural variations. Finite element analysis is used in combination with a response surface and it is shown that the present method is effective in determining the effects of architectural variability on thermo-mechanical properties.
Absence of cue-evoked firing in rat dorsolateral striatum neurons

The rat dorsolateral striatum (DLS) has been implicated in habit formation. Previous studies in our laboratory found that as animals acquired a motor habit or remained goal-directed, tested by reward devaluation, the vast majority of DLS neurons decreased firing rates during the same responses over training days. However, mixed results have been reported in the literature regarding whether DLS neurons exhibit cue reactivity. In the present study, we reanalyzed a sample of DLS neurons in a task in which habitual behavior was acquired (dataset of Tang et al., 2007 [45]) and found that somatic sensorimotor as well as nonsomatomotor neurons of the DLS exhibited no cue-evoked firing. A second sample of DLS neurons related to licking in a task in which goal-directed behavior occurred (dataset of Tang et al., 2009 [46]) was also reanalyzed for cue-evoked correlates. Although behavior was cue guided, lick neurons did not exhibit cue-evoked firing. Given the complete absence of cue-related firing during habitual or goal-directed behavior, adaptations in DLS firing patterns may be regulated by movement-related learning rather than nonsomatosensory cues, consistent with convergent S1 and M1 afferents to the region. Striatal cue reactivity in the rat is likely mediated within the dorsomedial and ventromedial striatum, in line with associative and limbic afferents to these regions, respectively.
Stimulation by propylthiouracil of the hexose monophosphate shunt in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes during phagocytosis.

Summary. The effect of propylthiouracil on glucose metabolism in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes was studied. At a therapeutically achievable concentration (0.1 mm), propylthiouracil stimulated hexose monophosphate shunt activity in normal leucocytes during phagocytosis but not in resting cells. However, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide it stimulated hexose monophosphate shunt activity in resting cells, and in the soluble fraction when reduced glutathione and reduced nictotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) were also present. Propylthiouracil had no effect on glucose-1-C oxidation in either phagocytosing or resting leucocytes obtained from two male patients with chronic granulomatous disease. Stimulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt activity in normal leucocytes during phagocytosis also was demonstrated with methimazole, thiouracil and thiourea, but not with adenine, uracil or urea. There was an apparent minimal common structure requirement in thiourea. Propylthiouracil had no effect on phagocytosis, formate oxidation, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase or catalase activities. Thus, the stimulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt activity by propylthiouracil is dependent on hydrogen peroxide and is best explained by its stimulation or participation in the glutathione cycle.
An XML model that enables the development of complex order sets by clinical experts

Medication errors are significant and well-known problems in health care. Despite the evidence supporting the use of computerized physician order entering (CPOE) to help reduce medication errors, only a small number of hospitals in the U.S. have successfully implemented a CPOE system. Different authors have indicated that the utilization of order sets derived from best-practice standards can reduce medication errors and improve physicians' acceptance of CPOE systems. However, a variety of issues related to the development and continuous maintenance of best-practice order sets still need to be understood. This paper presents a model that supports an order set development process driven by clinical experts. Model requirements and details are presented and discussed.
Facilitating guided participation through mobile technologies: designing creative learning environments for self and others

We appropriate Rogoff’s (Apprenticeship in thinking: Cognitive development in social context, 1991; in: Wertsch et al. (eds.) Sociocultural studies of mind, 1993) notion of guided participation to demonstrate, through abbreviated case studies, our strategy for integrating mobile technology-based learning experiences in higher education. Guided participation implies facilitating access to shared community-valued practices by supporting new members in legitimate participation. We illustrate how mobile technologies and social software can be used to (a) facilitate guided participation among undergraduate engineering students within classes and (b) teach graduate students in instructional technology to design for guided participation. Thus, students are not only transitioned into respective learning communities but also gain experience in designing for others. Given the recent advances in computing and trends in the adoption, diffusion, and use of mobile technologies, we argue that mobile technologies provide a substantive, fertile, and invigorating area for teaching and research in higher education for the foreseeable future.
Critical Theory and Communication Dysfunction The Case of Sexually Ambiguous Behavior

The incidence and frequency of sexual harassment in work organizations is often framed in terms of how such actions violate the victim's basic human rights via manipulation by the powerful of the powerless. However, sexual harassment also can be viewed as a "test case" for how people in organizations rationalize social relations through their endorsement of certain modes of speech, thought, and action to the exclusion of others. Building on Habermas's critical theory perspective and Forester `s typology of communication distortion, sexual harassment is viewed as symptomatic of communication dysfunction in macrocosm. The article concludes by recommending several approaches to change, including structurational analysis of communication.
Local Interpolation-based Polar Format SAR: Algorithm, Hardware Implementation and Design Automation

In this paper we present a local interpolation-based variant of the well-known polar format algorithm used for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image formation. We develop the algorithm to match the capabilities of the application-specific logic-in-memory processing paradigm, which off-loads lightweight computation directly into the SRAM and DRAM. Our proposed algorithm performs filtering, an image perspective transformation, and a local 2D interpolation, and supports partial and low-resolution reconstruction. We implement our customized SAR grid interpolation logic-in-memory hardware in advanced 14 nm silicon technology. Our high-level design tools allow to instantiate various optimized design choices to fit image processing and hardware needs of application designers. Our simulation results show that the logic-in-memory approach has the potential to enable substantial improvements in energy efficiency without sacrificing image quality.
Low-fat diets, lipoprotein subclasses, and heart disease risk.

Current dietary guidelines emphasize reductions in dietary fat, particularly saturated fat, for the hygienic control of plasma lipoproteins. This recommendation is based on abundant scientific evidence showing that low-fat diets reduce plasma cholesterol, particularly LDL. The low rate of heart disease in cultures that traditionally eat low-fat diets is manifest. However, low-fat diets also reduce plasma concentrations of HDL cholesterol (1). This leads to the obvious question of whether reductions in both atherogenic LDL cholesterol and antiatherogenic HDL cholesterol translate into reduced heart disease risk in normolipidemic men and women. In this issue, Berglund et al (2) examine the effects of feeding low-fat diets on HDL subclasses in a multiracial, multigenerational sample of normolipidemic men and women. Their study, carefully designed and successfully implemented, assessed the effect of the diets on HDL2- and HDL3-cholesterol concentrations and on their percentage distribution within 5 HDL subclasses. Switching from an average American diet to the American Heart Association Step I diet reduced both HDL2- and HDL3-cholesterol concentrations. The HDL-subclass distribution shifted toward smaller particles, with reductions in the percentage area for HDL 2b and increases in the percentage area for HDL3a, HDL3b, and HDL3c. These changes in the distribution of HDL subclasses suggest a less antiatherogenic HDL profile with consumption of a low-fat diet. These results from the Dietary Effects on Lipoproteins and Thrombogenic Activities (DELTA) Study are consistent with those of an earlier study involving 105 men (3). When the men switched from a 6-wk high-fat to a low-fat diet in a crossover study, HDL2a, HDL2b, and HDL3a concentrations decreased significantly. In contrast with measurements of HDL subclasses in the DELTA Study, this earlier study did not measure the relative area of the HDL subclasses, but rather the absolute area (assumed to be proportional to plasma concentrations). Expression of the areas as percentages necessarily causes an inverse correlation between the larger and smaller subclasses, which may have obscured reductions within the HDL2a and HDL3a regions in the DELTA Study. As recognized by the authors, the apparent inconsistency between HDL 3 responses (which decreased with the low-fat diet) and HDL 3a, HDL3b, and HDL3c responses (which increased with the low-fat diet) may have been due to technical differences in the subclass measurements. In cross-sectional samples, variations in plasma HDL 3cholesterol concentrations tend to be correlated with electrophoretic measurements of HDL2a, HDL2b, and HDL3a ,b ut not with HDL3b (4). Although Berglund et al suggest that reductions in LDL particle number may offset any potential negative effect of a reduction in overall HDL, HDL2-cholesterol, or HDL2b concentrations, this benefit may not apply to all individuals. Although the
Mixed-effects height–diameter models for ten conifers in the inland Northwest, USA

To demonstrate the utility of mixed-effects height–diameter models when conducting forest inventories, mixed-effects height–diameter models are presented for several commercially and ecologically important conifers in the inland Northwest of the USA. After obtaining height–diameter measurements from a plot/stand of interest, these mixed-effects models can be calibrated to produce localised individual tree height estimates. An example of model calibration is provided. Based on model calibration results using independent data, the use of three to five trees for a particular species from a plot to calibrate the model will likely provide a reasonable compromise between predictive ability and field sampling times. If calibrated at the stand level, three trees could be used but larger sample sizes of 10 or 15 for an individual species may be reasonable. Similar mixed-effects height–diameter models could also be developed for species in the Southern Hemisphere.
A human interactive proof algorithm using handwriting recognition

The recognition of unconstrained handwriting continues to be a difficult task for computers despite active research for several decades. This is because handwritten text offers great challenges such as: character and word segmentation, character recognition, variation between handwriting styles, different character size and orientation, no font constraints, the type of printing surface, as well as the background clarity. In this paper, we explore the gap in the ability in reading handwritten text between humans and computers to propose solutions for security problems in Web services. We present a new HIP algorithm that uses handwriting recognition task to distinguish between humans and computers. We propose methods to deform handwritten text images to make them indecipherable by computers and explore the cognitive factors that assist humans in reading and understanding. Experimental results on both humans and computers are presented and compared.
Finite element modeling of human ear with external ear canal and middle ear cavity

Two technologies, 3-D reconstruction of human temporal bones and finite element analysis of ear biomechanics, were combined to construct a computational model for describing function of the ear for sound transmission. A set of histological sections of a human temporal bone was prepared, scanned, and digitized for imaging analysis. The aligned and treated images of the middle ear components, external ear canal and middle ear cavity were constructed with attached ligaments, muscles, and tendons. A 3-D CAD model was first created which provided accurate geometric data. Based on the solid model, the finite element (FE) model of the human ear was generated with whole middle ear and ear canal. The dynamic behavior of the FE model was very close to the actual mechanical performance of human temporal bone with 90 dB SPL at the eardrum across auditory frequencies. The model will be further used for acoustic analysis of the ear. (Supported by Whitaker Foundation and OCAST).
Model of Piezoresistivity in Carbon Fiber Cement

Piezoresistivity in carbon fiber cement allows strain sensing. It was first reported in 1993, but this paper provides the first theoretical model for this phenomenon. The model is based on the concept that the piezoresistivity is due to the slight pull-out of crack-bridging fibers during crack opening and the consequent increase in the contact electrical resistivity of the fiber–matrix interface. Good agreement is found between theory and experimental results obtained under tension/compression.
Noise-tolerant high fan-in dynamic CMOS circuit design

Scaling CMOS technology to next generation improves performance, increases transistor density, and reduces power consumption per device. However, scaling also increases the subthreshold leakage current which greatly degrades the circuit's noise immunity. In this paper we propose a new circuit technique that makes domino dynamic CMOS more robust and more noise-tolerant with minimal performance degradation and energy overhead. Simulations for high fan-in gates show a noise immunity improvement of 2.13X using Berkeley Predictive Technology Models (BPTM) of 70nm with minimal performance and power degradations over standard domino circuits.
Worker allocation in lean U-shaped production lines

U-shaped lines are widely used in lean systems. In U-shaped production lines, each worker handles one or more machines on the line: the worker allocation problem is to establish which machines are ...
Enjeux, stratégies de traitement et évolution des pneumonies nosocomiales à SARM, notamment les pneumonies acquises sous ventilation mécanique

L'importance du traitement initial De nombreuses etudes ont montre une surmortalite lors de pneumonies acquises sous ventilation mecanique si le traitement antibiotique initial est inapproprie, meme apres l'adaptation secondaire de celui-ci. Efficacite du traitement D'un point de vue clinique, la regression des differents signes se faisant dans des delais tres variables, il est difficile de juger, dans les 3 premiers jours, de l'efficacite de l'antibiotherapie. D'un point de vue microbiologique, les concentrations des bacteries observees au moment du diagnostic diminuent des les 2 premiers jours de traitement en cas de reponse favorable au traitement. Les problemes concernant la vancomycine Traitement de reference des infections par germes a Gram+, la vancomycine est actuellement en echec dans environ 40 % des pneumonies a SARM acquises sous ventilation mecanique. La raison probable de ces echecs est une concentration locale insuffisante, ne depassant pas les concentrations minimales inhibitrices (CMI) du germe. Entre efficacite et tolerance L'augmentation des CMI de la vancomycine dans le serum et les poumons lors de pneumonies aigues a SARM acquises sous ventilation mecanique fait craindre des problemes de tolerance, notamment renale.
Adapting Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Alcohol and Drugs to Culturally Diverse Clinical Populations.

OBJECTIVES: To review the literature on the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) approach to alcohol and drug use with racial and ethnic subgroups in the United States and to develop recommendations for culturally competent SBIRT practice. METHODS: Articles reporting on the use of SBIRT components (screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment) for alcohol and drug use were identified through a comprehensive literature search of PubMed from 1995 to 2015. RESULTS: A synthesis of the published literature on racial and ethnic considerations regarding SBIRT components (including motivational interviewing techniques) was created using evidence-based findings. Recommendations on culturally competent use of SBIRT with specific ethnic groups are also described. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the literature reviewed, SBIRT offers a useful set of tools to help reduce risky or problematic substance use. Special attention to validated screeners, appropriate use of language/literacy, trust building, and incorporation of patient and community health care preferences may enhance SBIRT acceptability and effectiveness. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers should consider the implications of previous research when adapting SBIRT for diverse populations, and use validated screening and brief intervention methods. The accompanying case illustration provides additional information relevant to clinical practice. Language: en
Topics in Neonatal Informatics: Clinical Informatics Sub-Specialty Board Certification

Increased funding for health information technology and the advance of electronic health records in hospitals and practices have created the need for a new specialist: the clinical informatician. Clinical informatics was recognized in 2011 as the latest subspecialty in medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties. This article reviews the need for this new specialty as well as the steps necessary for its creation. The content and training requirements for clinical informatics are discussed as well as eligibility criteria for taking the board examination. Training programs as well as board preparation are addressed along with the expected impact that this new field will have on the practice of medicine.
Frequent pseudogenization and loss of the plastid-encoded sulfate-transport gene cysA throughout the evolution of liverworts.

Premise of the study: The presence or absence of a functional copy of a plastid gene may reflect relaxed selection, and may be phylogenetically significant, reflecting shared ancestry. In some liverworts, the plastid gene cysA is a pseudogene (inferred to be nonfunctional). We surveyed 63 liverworts from all major clades to determine whether the loss of cysA is phylogenetically significant, whether intact copies of cysA are under selective constraints, and whether rates of nucleotide substitution differ in other plastid genes from taxa with and without a functional copy of cysA. METHODS: Primers annealing to flanking and internal regions were used to amplify and sequence cysA from 61 liverworts. Two additional cysA sequences were downloaded from NCBI. The ancestral states of cysA were reconstructed on a phylogenetic hypothesis inferred from seven markers. Rates of nucleotide substitution were estimated for three plastid loci to reflect the intrinsic mutation rate in the plastid genome. The ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions was estimated for intact copies of cysA to infer selective constraints. Key results: Throughout liverworts, cysA has been lost up to 29 times, yet intact copies of cysA are evolving under selective constraints. Gene loss is more frequent in groups with an increased substitution rate in the plastid genome. CONCLUSIONS: The number of inferred losses of cysA in liverworts exceeds any other reported plastid gene. Despite frequent losses, cysA is evolving under purifying selection in liverworts that retain the gene. It appears that cysA is lost more frequently in lineages characterized by a higher rate of nucleotide substitutions in the plastid.
Total Hip Arthroplasty Dislocations Are More Complex Than They Appear: A Case Report of Intraprosthetic Dislocation of an Anatomic Dual-Mobility Implant After Closed Reduction.

Background: Total hip arthroplasty is a successful operation for the treatment of hip pain. One of the common complications of hip arthroplasty is dislocation. While reduction of standard prosthetic dislocations is highly successful, new prostheses add the potential for new complications. Case Report: We present the case of a patient who experienced intraprosthetic dislocation of an anatomic dual-mobility total hip prosthesis after a closed hip reduction and include the prereduction and postreduction radiographic findings. Conclusion: Emergency department physicians should be aware of intraprosthetic dislocation. This complication can be easily missed because the metal/ceramic femoral head appears to be reduced in the acetabulum.
Reflection on Approval and Evaluation of Healthy Foods Containing Bee Products

Bee products are widely used in healthy foods,such as propolis,honey and royal jelly.In this article,the approval situation and common problems especially in the aspects of approved quantity,formulation,process and quality control of healthy foods containing bee products are reviewed.The problems related to the evaluation of healthy foods are also specifically analyzed.Moreover,some suggestions for the application of healthy foods containing bee products are proposed too,with the aim of providing theoretical supports for future research and development of healthy foods.
The role of adjunctive drug therapy for intermittent catheterization and self-catheterization in children with vesical dysfunction.

AbstractThirty-nine children with vesical dysfunction were managed with clean intermittent catheterization. Most children achieved effective urinary continence, the majority with the help of adjunctive drug therapy to relax the detrusor, contract the bladder neck or both. Intermittent catheterization had a generally favorable effect on infection, reflux and hydronephrosis. Intermittent catheterization in childhood is a preferred alternative to urinary diversion in cases of neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
Flibanserin (Addyi) for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Premenopausal Women

Although flibanserin results in a modest improvement in the number of satisfying sexual events (approximately one more per month vs. placebo), it does not improve other measures, is considerably expensive, and has significant adverse effects.
The role of proximal versus distal stomach resection in the weight loss seen after vertical sleeve gastrectomy

The mechanisms involved in the weight loss seen after vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) are not clear. The rat stomach has two morphologically and functionally distinct proximal and distal parts. The rat model for VSG involves complete removal of the proximal part and 80% removal of the distal part along the greater curvature. The purpose of this study was to understand the potential independent contributions of removal of these distinct gastric sections to VSG outcomes. We prepared four surgical groups of male Long-Evans rats: VSG, sham surgery (control), selective proximal section removal (PR), and selective distal section removal (DR). Gastric emptying rate (GER) was highest after VSG compared with all other groups. However, PR, in turn, had significantly greater GER compared with both DR and sham groups. The surgery-induced weight loss followed the same pattern with VSG causing the greatest weight loss and PR having greater weight loss compared with DR and sham groups. The results were robust for rats fed regular chow or a high-fat diet. Body mass analysis revealed that the weight loss was due to the loss of fat mass, and there was no change in lean mass after the surgeries. In conclusion, removal of the proximal stomach contributes to most, but not all, of the physiological impact of VSG.
Readability, complexity, and suitability of online resources for mastectomy and lumpectomy

Abstract Background Nearly half of American adults have low or marginal health literacy. This negatively affects patients' participation, decision-making, satisfaction, and overall outcomes especially when there is a mismatch between information provided and the skills of the intended audience. Recommendations that patient information be written below the sixth grade level have been made for over three decades. This study compares online resources for mastectomy versus lumpectomy using expanded metrics including readability level, complexity, and density of data and overall suitability for public consumption. Methods The 10 highest ranked Web sites for mastectomy and lumpectomy were identified using the largest Internet engine (Google). Each Web site was assessed for readability (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook), complexity (PMOSE/iKIRSCH), and suitability (Suitability Assessment of Materials). Scores were analyzed by each Web site and overall. Results Readability analysis showed a significant reading grade level difference between mastectomy and lumpectomy online information (15.4 and 13.9, P = 0.04, respectively). Complexity analysis via PMOSE/iKIRSCH revealed a mean score of 6.5 for mastectomy materials corresponding to “low” complexity and eighth to 12 th grade education. Lumpectomy literature had a lower PMOSE/iKIRSCH score of 5.8 corresponding to a “very low” complexity and fourth to eighth grade education ( P = 0.05). Suitability assessment showed mean values of 41% and 46% ( P = 0.83) labeled as the lowest level of “adequacy” for mastectomy and lumpectomy materials, respectively. Inter-rater reliability was high for both complexity and suitability analysis. Conclusions Online resources for the surgical treatment of breast cancer are above the recommended reading grade level. The suitability level is barely adequate indicating a need for revision. Online resources for mastectomy have a higher reading grade level than do materials for lumpectomy and tend to be more complex.
Illness Trajectory, the Diagnostic Discovery of Hepatitis C Disease, and “The Accidental Tourist”:

This article presents a set of observations on some of the ways in which individuals come to learn that they are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In doing so, we draw on field data collec...
Salmonella Tol-Pal Reduces Outer Membrane Glycerophospholipid Levels for Envelope Homeostasis and Survival during Bacteremia

Salmonellae regulate membrane lipids during infection, but the exact proteins and mechanisms that promote their survival during bacteremia remain largely unknown. Mutations in genes encoding the conserved Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S Typhimurium) Tol-Pal apparatus caused the outer membrane (OM) sensor lipoprotein, RcsF, to become activated. The capsule activation phenotype for the mutants suggested that Tol-Pal might influence envelope lipid homeostasis. The mechanism involves reducing OM glycerophospholipid (GPL) levels, since the mutant salmonellae similarly accumulated phosphatidylglycerols (PGl) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) within the OM in comparison to the wild type. The data support the Escherichia coli model, whereby Tol-Pal directs retrograde GPL translocation across the periplasm. The S Typhimurium mechanism involves contributions from YbgC, a cytoplasmic acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) thioesterase, and CpoB, a periplasmic TolA-binding protein. The functional relationship between Tol-Pal and YbgC and CpoB was previously unresolved. The S Typhimurium Tol-Pal proteins contribute similarly toward promoting OM-GPL homeostasis and Rcs signaling inactivity but differently toward promoting bacterial morphology, rifampin resistance, survival in macrophages, and survival in mice. For example, tolQ, tolR, tolA, and cpoB mutants were significantly more attenuated than ybgC, tolB, and pal mutants in a systemic mouse model of disease. Therefore, key roles exist for TolQ, TolR, TolA, and CpoB during murine bacteremia, which are independent of maintaining GPL homeostasis. The ability of TolQR to channel protons across the inner membrane (IM) is necessary for S Typhimurium TolQRA function, since mutating conserved channel-facing residues rendered TolQ ineffective at rescuing deletion mutant phenotypes. Therefore, Tol-Pal promotes S Typhimurium survival during bacteremia, in part, by reducing OM GPL concentrations, while TolQRA and CpoB enhance systemic virulence by additional mechanisms.
Superconductivity in DC Voltage Metrology

In recent years, the use of the ac Josephson effect to determine 2e/h has assumed an important role in increasing our knowledge of the fundamental physical constants. In particular, when combined with values of certain other physical constants, a determination of 2e/h yields an accurate value of the fine structure constant which can be used to test quantum electrodynamics.1 The ac Josephson effect via 2e/h can also be used to maintain a unit of voltage, or more precisely electrochemical potential. It is this latter technological application which we consider in detail here. The future role of the cryogenic potentiometer (voltage divider) and superconducting voltmeter (galvanometer) in a Josephson-effect voltage standard is also explored, and a possible secondary voltage standard based on Giaver tunneling is described.
Automatic program annotation

Techniques were developed by which an Algol-like program, given together with its specifications, may be documented automatically. This documentation expresses invariant relationships that hold between program variables at intermediate points in the program, and explains the actual workings of the program regardless of whether the program is correct. These techniques, formulated as deduction rules for both guaranteed invariants and candidate invariants, represent a unification of existing approaches, and sometimes improve upon them.
Spherical Functions—The General Theory

Historically the theory of spherical functions dates to the classical papers of E. Cartan and H. Weyl; they showed that spherical harmonics arise in a natural way from a study of functions on G/K where G is the orthogonal group in n-space and where K consists of those transformations in G which leave a given vector invariant — this study is carried out by the methods of group representations. However in order to get a theory applying to larger classes of ‘special functions’ it is necessary to drop the assumption that G is compact and also to consider functions not just on G/K but also on G. In 1947 Bargmann studied the pair (G, K) where G = SL(2, R) and K = SO(2); there functions O on G were considered which, for a given character X of K, verify the relation $$\Phi ({k_1}x{k_2}) = \chi ({k_1})\Phi (x)\chi ({k_2})({k_1},{k_2} \in K;x \in G)$$ such functions arise upon considering finite or infinite dimensional irreducible representations of G; these representations have coefficients satisfying the above relation and, when G is suitably ‘parameterized’, it turns out that these functions can be identified with hypergeometric functions; in particular when χ is the trivial character of K one is led to Legendre functions of arbitrary index and to group theoretical explanations of three important properties of these functions, namely their differential equation, their representation by integral formulas and their functional equation.
Cardiac Radiation Dose, Cardiac Disease, and Mortality in Patients With Lung Cancer

Abstract Background Radiotherapy-associated cardiac toxicity studies in patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been limited by small sample size and nonvalidated cardiac endpoints. Objectives The purpose of this analysis was to ascertain whether cardiac radiation dose is a predictor of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality (ACM). Methods This retrospective analysis included 748 consecutive locally advanced NSCLC patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy. Fine and Gray and Cox regressions were used to identify predictors for MACE and ACM, adjusting for lung cancer and cardiovascular prognostic factors, including pre-existing coronary heart disease (CHD). Results After a median follow-up of 20.4 months, 77 patients developed ≥1 MACE (2-year cumulative incidence, 5.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.3% to 7.7%), and 533 died. Mean radiation dose delivered to the heart (mean heart dose) was associated with a significantly increased risk of MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.05/Gy; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.08/Gy; p Conclusions Despite the competing risk of cancer-specific death in locally advanced NSCLC patients, cardiac radiation dose exposure is a modifiable cardiac risk factor for MACE and ACM, supporting the need for early recognition and treatment of cardiovascular events and more stringent avoidance of high cardiac radiotherapy dose.
Effect of machine stiffness on interpreting contact force–indentation depth curves in adhesive elastic contact experiments

Abstract Dry adhesion plays a critical role in many fields, including the locomotion of some insects and failure of microelectromechanical systems. The Dupre’s work of adhesion of a contact interface is an important metric of dry adhesion. It is often measured by applying the Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) theory [1] to contact force–indentation depth curves that are measured using an atomic force microscope (AFM), or an instrument modeled after it. The JKR theory has been exceptionally successful in interpreting contact force–indentation depth measurements and explaining adhesive, elastic contact phenomena, such as the pull-in and pull-off instabilities. However, in many cases the JKR theory predicts a lower magnitude for the pull-off force than what is experimentally measured, and it does not capture the finite changes in the indentation depth that occur during the pull-in and pull-off instabilities. In those cases, applying the JKR theory to calculate the work of adhesion from only the measured pull-off force is likely to give highly inaccurate results. We believe that these discrepancies occur because the classical JKR theory ignores the machine stiffness—which, in the case of AFM-type instruments, is the stiffness of the mechanical structure that connects the tip to the translation stage, which moves the tip towards and away from the substrate. In this paper, we present a model that is related to, but more general than, the JKR theory that accounts for the machine stiffness. This model explains the experimental data better than the JKR theory in the cases where the JKR theory displays the aforementioned discrepancies. We consider both the first order necessary and the higher order sufficiency conditions while deriving the solutions in our model.
Functional assessments of foot strength: a comparative and repeatability study.

Evaluating the strength of the small muscles of the foot may be useful in a variety of clinical applications but is challenging from a methodology standpoint. Previous efforts have focused primarily on the functional movement of toe flexion, but clear methodology guidelines are lacking. A novel foot doming test has also been proposed, but not fully evaluated. The purposes of the present study were to assess the repeatability and comparability of several functional foot strength assessment techniques. Forty healthy volunteers were evaluated across two testing days, with a two-week doming motion practice period between them. Seven different measurements were taken using a custom toe flexion dynamometer (seated), custom doming dynamometer (standing), and a pressure mat (standing). Measurements from the doming dynamometer were evaluated for reliability (ICCs) and a learning effect (paired t-tests), while measurements from the toe flexion dynamometer and pressure mat were evaluated for reliability and comparability (correlations). Electromyography was also used to descriptively assess the extent of muscle isolation in all measurements. Doming showed excellent within-session reliability (ICCs > 0.944), but a clear learning effect was present, with strength (p 0.945). Seated toe flexion tests using the dynamometer were moderately correlated to standing toe flexion tests on a pressure mat (r > 0.54); however, there were some differences in muscle activity. The former may better isolate the toe flexors, while the latter appeared to be more functional for many pathologies. On the pressure mat, reciprocal motion appeared to display slightly greater forces and reliability than isolated toe flexion. This study further refines potential methodology for foot strength testing. These devices and protocols can be duplicated in the clinic to evaluate and monitor rehabilitation progress in clinical populations associated with foot muscle weakness.
A Practical Data Repository for Causal Learning with Big Data

The recent success in machine learning (ML) has led to a massive emergence of AI applications and the increases in expectations for AI systems to achieve human-level intelligence. Nevertheless, these expectations have met with multi-faceted obstacles. One major obstacle is ML aims to predict future observations given real-world data dependencies while human-level intelligence AI is often beyond prediction and seeks the underlying causal mechanism. Another major obstacle is that the availability of large-scale datasets has significantly influenced causal study in various disciplines. It is crucial to leverage effective ML techniques to advance causal learning with big data. Existing benchmark datasets for causal inference have limited use as they are too “ideal”, i.e., small, clean, homogeneous, low-dimensional, to describe real-world scenarios where data is often large, noisy, heterogeneous and high-dimensional. It, therefore, severely hinders the successful marriage of causal inference and ML. In this paper, we formally address this issue by systematically investigating existing datasets for two fundamental tasks in causal inference: causal discovery and causal effect estimation. We also review the datasets for two ML tasks naturally connected to causal inference. We then provide hindsight regarding the advantages, disadvantages and the limitations of these datasets. Please refer to our github repository (https://github.com/rguo12/awesome-causality-data) for all the discussed datasets in this work.
Progression of basal ganglia pathology in heterozygous Q175 knock-in Huntington's disease mice.

We used behavioral testing and morphological methods to detail the progression of basal ganglia neuron type-specific pathology and the deficits stemming from them in male heterozygous Q175 mice, compared to age-matched WT males. A rotarod deficit was not present in Q175 mice until 18 months, but increased open field turn rate (reflecting hyperkinesia) and open field anxiety were evident at 6 months. No loss of striatal neurons was seen out to 18 months, but ENK+ and DARPP32+ striatal perikarya were fewer by 6 months, due to diminished expression, with further decline by 18 months. No reduction in SP+ striatal perikarya or striatal interneurons was seen in Q175 mice at 18-months, but cholinergic interneurons showed dendrite attenuation by 6 months. Despite reduced ENK expression in indirect pathway striatal perikarya, ENK-immunostained terminals in globus pallidus externus (GPe) were more abundant at 6 months, and remained so out to 18 months. Similarly, SP-immunostained terminals from striatal direct pathway neurons were more abundant in globus pallidus internus and substantia nigra at 6 months, and remained so at 18 months. FoxP2+ arkypallidal GPe neurons and subthalamic nucleus neurons were lost by 18 months but not prototypical PARV+ GPe neurons or dopaminergic nigral neurons. Our results show that striatal projection neuron abnormalities and behavioral abnormalities reflecting them develop between 2 and 6 months of age in Q175 male heterozygotes, indicating early effects of the HD mutation. The striatal pathologies resemble those in human HD, but are less severe at 18 months than even in premanifest HD.
MS Spasticity: Take Control (STC) for ambulatory adults: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Spasticity affects 60–80% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), impacting activity, participation and quality of life. We developed the group delivered spasticity self-management program, “MS Spasticity: Take Control” (STC), with DVDs for education and lower extremity stretching. STC is based on an international guideline and recommendations from systematic reviews and emphasizes the importance of stretching with specific stretching exercises. Our pilot trial (n = 38) compared STC followed by one month of home stretching practice to unguided use of the National MS Society (NMSS) brochure titled “Stretching for People with MS: An Illustrated Manual,” also followed by one month of home stretching practice. In this pilot trial, STC showed promising effects on the impact of spasticity (MS Spasticity Scale-88) and other self-report and physical performance measures. We will now carry out a fully-powered trial to evaluate the effect of STC compared to a comparably delivered control program on the impact and severity of spasticity in people with MS and self-reported lower extremity spasticity. Two hundred-twenty ambulatory adults with MS self-reported spasticity interfering with daily activities will be randomized 1:1 to STC or control, using the same NMSS brochure used in the pilot study, with both programs delivered in groups with trained facilitators. Outcomes are the impact of spasticity with the MS Spasticity Scale-88, the severity of spasticity with the Numeric Rating Scale for Spasticity, other self-report questionnaires, and physical performance walking measures at baseline and one and 6 months after the interventions. Stretching is the cornerstone of spasticity management. Stretching takes time and energy every day. Unfortunately, beyond the logical expectation that regular stretching should help prevent muscle shortening and contractures in the presence of spasticity, there is very little data on the effects of stretching on spasticity in people with MS or any other condition. Our pilot trial of STC suggested that education and stretching help reduce the impact of spasticity. To definitively determine if this education and instructional program with daily stretching practice is effective, a fully powered trial with a comparable control intervention and facilitators who did not create STC is needed. Here we report the protocol for this trial. NCT03166930 May 25, 2017.
Parity in Athletes Unlimited Softball

Athletes Unlimited developed an alternative scoring system for the sport of softball, designed to produce greater team parity and to highlight individual parity. By creating a scoring system that rewards individual contributions as well as team accomplishments, it is believed that players’ skill and athleticism is more fairly measured. Simulations also suggest that the rotating drafting order will result in greater team parity. Milestones are calculated for how many non-team points an individual must earn for any given week in order to overcome any deficits from unfortunate team placement.
Detection of Tachyarrhythmias in a Large Cohort of Infants Using Direct-to-Consumer Heart Rate Monitoring.

Objective Current estimates of the incidence of tachyarrhythmias in infants rely on clinical documentation and may not reflect the true rate in the general population. Our aim was to describe the epidemiology of tachyarrhythmia detected in a large cohort of infants using direct-to-consumer heart rate (HR) monitoring. Study design Data were collected from Owlet Smart Sock devices used in infants in the US with birthdates between February 2017 and February 2019. We queried the HR data for episodes of tachyarrhythmia (HR of ≥240 bpm for >60 seconds). Results The study included 100 949 infants (50.8% male) monitored for more than 200 million total hours. We identified 5070 episodes of tachyarrhythmia in 2508 infants. The cumulative incidence of tachyarrhythmia in our cohort was 2.5% over the first year of life. The median age at the time of the first episode of tachyarrhythmia was 36 days (range, 1-358 days). Tachyarrhythmia was more common in infants with congenital heart disease (4.0% vs 2.4%; P = .015) and in females (2.7% vs 2.0%; P Conclusions We found the cumulative incidence of tachyarrhythmia among infants using direct-to-consumer HR monitors to be higher than previously reported in studies relying on clinical diagnosis. This finding may represent previously undetected subclinical disease in young infants, the significance of which remains uncertain. Clinicians should be prepared to discuss these events with parents.