cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 572: Inhibition of MicroRNA-199a-5p Enhances Perfusion Recovery and Arteriogenesis Following Femoral Arterial Ligation

We have recently reported that a subset of collateral artery segments in the mouse hindlimb are exposed to both a 2-fold increase in shear stress magnitude and reversed flow direction (“reversed” flow) following femoral arterial ligation (FAL). These segments experiencing a reversed flow subsequently undergo a disproportionate amplification of collateral growth (i.e. arteriogenesis) after FAL. Interestingly, a subset of microRNAs, including miR-199a-5p, are significantly down-regulated in endothelial cells exposed to a shear stress waveform biomimetic of this pro-arteriogenic “reversed flow” condition in-vitro. Here, we hypothesized that the inhibition of miR-199a-5p would lead to enhanced arteriogenesis and/or perfusion recovery following arterial occlusion. To test this hypothesis, Balb/c mice were treated with either anti-miR-199a-5p or non-targeting control locked-nucleic acid (LNA) immediately following FAL. Treatment efficacy was determined via RT-PCR for expression of miR-199a-5p and its downstream targets’ expression. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging and both whole mount and cross-sectional analysis of vascular casted gracilis muscles were used to assess vascular remodeling. We found that anti-miR-199a-5p LNA markedly reduced miR-199a-5p expression in the gracilis muscle by over 80%, 7 days post-FAL (n=4). By day 21 post-FAL, perfusion recovery was significantly improved in anti-miR-199a-5p treated mice (101.5±1.8% vs. 87.8±1.8%, p≤0.05, n=6). Moreover, both lumenal diameter (106.5±7.2μm vs. 78.4±2.9 μm, p≤0.0001, n=6) and wall area (1770±147μm 2 vs. 1163±41μm 2 , p≤0.0001, n=6) were significantly enhanced in anti-miR-199a-5p treated mice compared to controls. We therefore conclude that the inhibition of miR-199a-5p leads to enhanced perfusion recovery and arteriogenesis following arterial occlusion and could represent a novel strategy for therapeutic arteriogenesis.
Site A-Mediated Partial Unfolding of Cytochrome c on Cardiolipin Vesicles Is Species-Dependent and Does Not Require Lys72

Measurements at pH 8 allow evaluation of binding of 100% cardiolipin vesicles to site A of cytochrome c without interference from other known binding sites. Site A encompasses Lys72, Lys73, Lys86, and Lys87, located in or adjacent to Ω-loop D (residues 70–85), which positions Met80 for binding to the heme. Binding of cytochrome c to cardiolipin disrupts Met80 heme binding, permitting peroxidase activity. Binding of cardiolipin to yeast iso-1-cytochrome c versus human cytochrome c is compared to assess how binding of cardiolipin to site A has evolved for cytochrome c from species that do not have a complete intrinsic apoptotic pathway to species that do. Using a nondestructive method of quantifying cardiolipin concentration, highly reproducible binding curves are obtained. The results indicate two sequential structural rearrangements on the surface of 100% cardiolipin vesicles. The first, more modest, structural rearrangement occurs at an exposed (outer leaflet) lipid:protein ratio of 8–10 for both cytochr...
Development of a Radiation Oncology Resident Continuity Clinic to Improve Clinical Competency and Patient Compliance.

Purpose To assess the impact of a radiation oncology resident continuity clinic (RCC) on patient compliance and residency education. Methods and Materials This is a retrospective review of all follow-up visits at a public safety net hospital in the 2016 calendar year. Previously, follow-up care was assigned to teams based on the disease sites treated by a single attending with the resident on a 1:1 rotation in the traditional apprenticeship model (TAM). On July 1, 2016, the department was restructured to a RCC model where patients were scheduled to be seen by the resident physician who performed the planning simulation of their radiation treatment. The number of no-show visits was compared before and after the restructuring. All residents completed a survey regarding their satisfaction on 20 aspects of faculty supervision, clinical environment, resident perception, and educational experience. Results A total of 1,896 follow-up visits were included in the analysis. The TAM had 907 follow-up visits, while the RCC model had 991 visits. The TAM had a no-show rate of 25.6% compared to the RCC model’s 16.4%. To estimate the impact of RCC on compliance, we employed a segmented linear regression with robust standard errors, which showed that the RCC improved clinic adherence by an absolute amount of 9.4% (p<0.02). Survey participants reported statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) in 8 areas, which include relationship with patients, confidence as a physician, and learning management of toxicities and treatment outcomes. Conclusion The RCC model is a feasible approach for follow-up care in a radiation oncology department in a safety net hospital setting. This model may improve patient compliance with appointments, strengthen the education of toxicity management, and promote the emotional well-being of trainees.
Third-Wave HCI Perspectives on the Internet of Things

This chapter draws out three threads from contemporary HCI, design research, and design practice to consider the Internet of Things from a third wave HCI perspective. These stances towards the IoT emphasize an agentic thing in itself as component of a broader system; the network that a system resides inside of as members of a broader social or cultural context; and the role of a system to articulate and maintain sites of contestation around public issues. These perspectives both build on and react to a set of categories that describe how the existing Internet of Things has been approached from a second-wave HCI orientation, as primarily providing opportunities for command and control, making technologies more efficient, and consuming products and services. This third-wave perspective hopes to broaden the conversation around the potentials for networked technologies that operate inside of rich cultural and social context.
Molecular Comparisons of the D-Type Retroviruses

The D-type retroviruses represent the most recently discovered genus within the sub-family oncovirinae of the family Retroviridae. The assignment of viruses into this group has been primarily on the basis of similarities in virus structure and morphogenesis. Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV), the prototype D-type retrovirus, was isolated from a breast carcinoma of a female rhesus monkey by Jensen et al. (12) in 1970. The virus has properties in common with both the mammalian B-type viruses (e.g. mouse mammary tumor virus, MMTV) and C-type viruses (e.g. baboon endogenous virus, BaEV) but is distinct from both (2, 3). Like MMTV, M-PMV preassembles a virus core structure or A-type particle within the cell, and thus virus particles bud from the plasma membrane with a complete nucleoid (Fig 1, panels a and b). However, the morphology of the mature D-type virion more closely resembles that of C-type viruses, in that in general the condensed, cylindrical nucleoid is centrally located (Fig.l, panel c) in contrast to the eccentric location of the B-type nucleoid. Furthermore, the virion lacks the dense fringe of glycoprotein seen on MMTV, possessing instead a halo of knobs or knobbed spikes (Fig. 1, panels d,e and f). A second feature in common with MMTV is the presence of a reverse transcriptase with a preference for magnesium over manganese (4). The latter divalent cation is preferred by most mammalian C-type retrovirus enzymes (5).
Constructive Representation Theoretic Methods and Non-Abelian Difference Sets

The historical development of a mathematical subject has often begun with the commutative case and then built on this case to unravel the non-commutative. Although the role of non-abelian groups in algebraic combinatorics and finite geometry goes back at least to Dickson (1901), genuinely non-abelian difference sets have only appeared in the last few years, see Liebler and Smith (1993), Smith (1995).
Long-Period Ground Motions from Digital Acceleration Recordings: A New Era in Engineering Seismology

Digital strong-motion instruments allow routine recovery of ground motions at periods much longer than possible with older analog instruments, and under favorable conditions it may be possible to recover the residual displacements near earthquakes, particularly if both the rotational and translational components of motion are recorded (currently only the translational components are recorded). In practice, however, digital recordings are commonly plagued by drifts in the velocity and displacement traces obtained by integrating the recorded acceleration traces. Various baseline-correction schemes can be designed that give the appearance of removing these drifts. Although comparisons with independent measures of residual displacements, such as from GPS or InSAR measurements, show that such schemes can work, in general the sources of the drifts are such as to prevent routine corrections for the baseline problems; removal of low-frequencies by filtering is then required for many recordings. That is the bad news. The good news is that the filter corners can be so low that little of engineering interest is lost. Recent data from several earthquakes (e.g., 1999 Hector Mine and 2002 Denali) shows that for displacement response spectra, the transition from increasing to constant spectral levels occurs at significantly longer periods than in Eurocode 8; the transition period is in good agreement, however, with the recent 2003 NEHRP code.
Direct selling ethics at the top: An industry audit and status report

Unethical conduct by salespeople contributes to loss to the bottom line directly through misuse of expense reports and indirectly through lost customers who are disenchanted with questionable business practices. Self-regulation by industry has become an important strategy in improving the ethical environment of the industry as well as to establish standards that meet or exceed existing statutory or regulatory requirements. Audits of industry regulatory programs provide a mechanism to uncover weaknesses, heighten awareness of the importance of ethics and allow for improvements to be made and risks reduced. This study audits the Direct Selling Industry's code of ethics as it complies with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (FSG) and establishes a benchmark against which subsequent ethics research in the Direct Selling Industry can be compared.
Pyridium® (Parke-Davis)

Pyridium has an analgesic action on the urinary tract and relieves symptoms of dysuria, frequency, burning, and urgency.
Glaciation on Mercury: Accumulation and flow of ice in permanently shadowed circum-polar crater interiors

Abstract Radar-bright deposits that coincide with regions in permanent shadow typically found within impact craters at and near the poles of Mercury have been interpreted as being composed of water ice. We investigate the dynamic properties of these solid water-ice deposits (glaciers) with the goal of constraining their movement, flow rates, possible deformation, and related structures and deposits. As an end-member, we treat the extreme case of maximum ice accumulation where these deposits fill the crater to the shadow line, an event we would only expect following maximum accumulation conditions such as a large cometary impact or a comet shower. We find that, given the extremely cold conditions and the limited thickness of glaciers, even under the most favorable accumulation conditions, glaciation is cold-based, ice flow velocities are very low (4 × 10−8 m/yr) and, with the exception of a sublimation lag deposit, glaciation is unlikely to leave any significant impact on the terrain. An important accelerator of ice flow is found to be the contribution of lateral heat conduction from the surrounding extremely hot surface terrain (∼225 K average with up to 450 K maximums), which for 55 km craters yields velocities of 10−3 m/yr while for smaller 10 km craters velocities may exceed 1 m/yr, enough to leave a detectable ice deformation imprint such as drop moraines. However given that the observed deposits are substantially below their maximum fill capacities these estimates are unlikely to be attained.
Evolutionary Deep Learning-Based Energy Consumption Prediction for Buildings

Today’s energy resources are closer to consumers due to sustainable energy and advanced technology. To that end, ensuring a precise prediction of energy consumption at the buildings’ level is vital and significant to manage the consumed energy efficiently using a robust predictive model. Growing concern about reducing the energy consumption of buildings makes it necessary to predict the future energy consumption precisely using an optimizable predictive model. Most of the previously proposed methods for energy consumption prediction are conventional prediction methods that are normally designed based on the developer’s knowledge about the hyper-parameters. However, the time lag inputs and the network’s hyper-parameters of learning methods need to be adjusted to have a more accurate prediction. This paper proposes a novel hybrid prediction approach based on the evolutionary deep learning (DL) method that is combining genetic algorithm with long short-term memory and optimizing its objective function with time window lags and the network’s hidden neurons. The performance of the presented optimization predictive model is investigated using public building datasets of residential and commercial buildings for very short-term prediction, and the results indicate that the evolutionary DL models have better performance than conventional and regular prediction models.
Cumulative Fatigue Damage of Angle-Plied Fiber-Reinforced Elastomer Composites and Its Dependence on Minimum Stress

The effects of minimum stress on cumulative damage and fatigue lifetime were assessed for an angle-plied nylon-cord-reinforced elastomer composite that represents the bias aircraft tire carcass. The S-N curves were established under constant minimum stress rather than constant R-ratio. The trends of longer fatigue life at a given stress range and higher fatigue endurance limit of the composite were clearly observed with a higher level of minimum stress. These trends stem from the fact that the stress and strain are not linearly related to each other. The stress-strain curve of the elastomer matrix composite exhibits strain stiffening. As a result, in a stress-controlled fatigue test, a shorter strain range or a smaller amount of strain energy is experienced for the same stress range when the level of minimum stress is raised. However, it should be noted that the levels of minimum stress used in the study happened to be safely below a critical level for the initiation of fiber-matrix debonding under static tension. As in other structural materials, the increase of applied stress level in elastomers can be regarded as an increase of the damage potential. Therefore, when the minimum stress exceeds a critical level, the damage potential effect may become dominant and a shorter fatigue life at a given stress range could be observed with a higher level of minimum stress in S-N curves. In the stress-controlled fatigue tests, the role of damage potential could be assessed more clearly when the fatigue life data were plotted directly against the damage parameters, such as strain range, dynamic creep rate, dissipated strain energy, and stored strain energy. The fatigue life curves based on the damage parameters at midlife showed a clear trend of a shorter fatigue life with a higher level of minimum stress. This trend could be established at a given strain range, dynamic creep rate, or dissipated strain energy. The results are in striking contrast to the trend of the S-N curves. The trend of a shorter fatigue life with a higher level of minimum stress was less obvious at a given stored strain energy. The values of dynamic creep rate, dissipated strain energy, and stored strain energy at midlife were found to have a power law relationship with the fatigue life of aircraft tire carcass composite.
Cultural entrepreneurship and legitimate distinctiveness in international prosocial crowdfunding

Abstract Prosocial crowdfunding is a recent international business phenomenon which allows entrepreneurs from emerging nations to post microloan requests online for fundraising. While the crowdfunding topic has attracted much academic interest in recent years, little is known about the effect of cultural differences on crowdfunding dynamics. This study draws on the cultural entrepreneurship literature to assess whether a borrower’s cultural alignment with his or her own country increases or decreases funding speed. We investigate whether prosocial lenders reward borrower profiles that cue cultural distinctiveness through a Computer-Aided-Text-Analysis (CATA) of 127,597 profile loan descriptions and observations nested within 37 countries. It is found that cultural alignment on two dimensions—temporal awareness and commonality—is positively related to funding time, thus suggesting that a cultural misalignment is preferred by lenders. Our discussion highlights why nonconformity to local culture may be interpreted as legitimate distinctiveness in the prosocial crowdfunding context.
L’esprit Critique in the Era of Fake News and Alternative Facts

In this short piece, the author provides some background on critical thinking and reading in the unprecedented times of the Donald J. Trump administration where truth is gleaned only through carefu...
Remote sensing techniques for estimating evaporation

Abstract Evaporation of water from the Earth’s surface into the atmosphere is central to the terrestrial energy, water, and carbon cycle. Remote sensing approaches to measure evaporation (ET) combine observable inputs to the energy and water balance within statistical or process-based methodologies. These ET products draw on satellite observations from across the electromagnetic spectrum. The ET retrievals are grouped in two main categories. One category includes approaches that combine meteorological descriptions of potential evaporation with a range of strategies to estimate evaporative stress. A second category includes surface energy balance approaches that retrieve latent heat from the thermal signatures. For each category a practical implementation example is described, including an outlook on progress towards multimodel assessment of global evaporation.
Autoimmune Vestibulocerebellar Syndromes

Autoimmune disorders affecting the vestibular end organs, vestibular pathways, vestibular nuclei, and vestibulocerebellum are often underrecognized as a cause of chronic dizziness and ataxia. Autoantibodies specific for cell-surface, synaptic, and intracellular neural antigens serve as biomarkers of these disorders. This article describes the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic considerations, imaging findings, treatment, and prognosis of autoimmune disorders, in which the vestibulocerebellar syndrome is the main or presenting clinical presentation. Antibodies specific for intracellular antigenic targets described in the article are PCA-1 (Purkinje cell cytoplasmic antibody type 1, also known as anti-Yo), ANNA-1 (antinuclear neuronal antibody type 1, also known as anti-Hu), ANNA-2 (antinuclear neuronal antibody type 2, also known as anti-Ri), Ma1/2 (anti-Kelch-like 11/12 antibody), Kelch-like 11, amphiphysin, CV2 (collapsin response 2, also known as collapsin response mediator protein-5 [CRMP5]), VGCC (voltage-gated calcium channel), GAD65 (glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-kDa isoform), AP3B2 (adaptor protein 3B2, also known as anti-Nb), MAP1B (microtubule-associated protein 1B antibody, also known as anti-PCA-2), and neurochondrin antibodies. Antibodies targeting cell-surface or synaptic antigenic targets described in the article include DNER (delta/notchlike epidermal growth factor related receptor; antigen to anti-Tr), CASPR2 (contactin-associated proteinlike 2), septin-5, Homer-3, and mGluR1 (metabotropic glutamate receptor 1). The vestibulocerebellar presentation is largely indistinguishable among these conditions and is characterized by subacute onset of cerebellar symptoms over weeks to months. The diagnosis of autoimmune vestibulocerebellar syndromes is based on a combination of clinical and serological features, with a limited role for neuroimaging. Subtle eye movement abnormalities can be an early feature in many of these disorders, and therefore a meticulous vestibulo-ocular examination is essential for early and correct identification. Cancer occurrence and its type are variable and depend on the autoantibody detected and other cancer risk factors. Treatment comprises immunotherapy and cancer-directed therapy. Acute immunotherapies such as intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, and steroids are used in the initial phase, and the use of long-term immunosuppression such as rituximab may be necessary in relapsing cases. Outcomes are better if immunotherapy is started early. The neurologic prognosis depends on multiple factors.
A Location Analysis of Taiwanese Manufacturing Branch-Plants in Mainland China

The location decisions of Taiwanese direct investment (TDI) in China are analyzed using a conditional logit model at provincial level. We assess the factors that determine the establishment of Taiwanese new manufacturingbranch-plants in China for three sub-periods (1987-90, 1991-94, and 1995-98). The results indicate that Taiwanese firms prefer the provinces with superior infrastructure and basic industrial activities, along with abundant skilled labor and growing market size. Cultural proximity and favorable FDI incentives are also attractive to TDI. While labor cost has been recognized as one of major motives for TDI in China, cross-province differentials in manufacturing wages seem not affect the site-selection of Taiwanese firms.
Generalized special functions are Majorana-like photons

Majorana-like photons are introduced from a special function class of vector vortex beams known as cylindrically vector vortex (CVV) beams among them are the Laguerre-Gaussian and Airy beams. These Majorana-like photons and their anti-photons are the same being neutral, massless, and following the state function of a Majorana self-transposed (ψ = ψ∗). A Majorana photon has the characteristic of both in its spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM). They have an inhomogeneous polarization structure and a non-separable state. These Majorana-like photons have various types of applications such as in transmission in bio-media, classical and quantum communication, microscopy among others.
Persistent Sampling of Vertically Migrating Biological Layers by an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Within the Beam of a Seabed-Mounted Echosounder

Many pelagic animals, such as krill, lanternfish, and cephalopods, migrate to deep water at dawn to avoid visual predators during daylight hours and move up toward the sea surface at dusk to search for food. This behavior is termed “diel vertical migration.” Migrating animals graze on phytoplankton or zooplankton and in turn serve as food for higher trophic levels, hence providing a key mechanism for carbon export via this migration. These animals are often observed as sound-scattering layers by echosounders, but the animals causing the acoustic scattering are difficult to identify using acoustics alone. In a spring 2019 experiment in Monterey Bay, we deployed autonomous underwater and surface vehicles over a seabed-mounted upward-looking echosounder to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) with the goal of identifying the vertically migrating animals. The echosounder was installed at 890-m depth on the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) seabed cabled ocean observatory, providing real-time data of acoustic backscatter from the full water column. One long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (LRAUV) carrying a Third-Generation Environmental Sample Processor (3G-ESP) acquired water samples from a sequence of layers from near surface down to $\sim$ 290 m as directed by the distribution of animals observed by the echosounder. During the sampling of each layer, the LRAUV ran on a tight circular yo-yo trajectory directly above the echosounder, remaining in its beam by acoustically tracking a station-keeping Wave Glider on the sea surface marking the echosounder's latitude and longitude. The persistent and simultaneous acoustic observation and eDNA acquisition enables identification of animals at precise locations to better understand their vertical migration behaviors. We present the methods and the system performance in the experiment.
Racial demographics and COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths: a correlational analysis of 2886 US counties.

BACKGROUND: Recent news reports state that racial minority groups, such as African-Americans, are experiencing a greater COVID-19 burden, as measured by confirmed cases and deaths. Limited racial data is available on a national level. METHODS: We conducted the first nationwide analysis to examine COVID-19 and race on a county level. We obtained datasets on COVID-19 cases and deaths, and racial population totals, by US county. We examined if correlations exist between the racial percentages and percentages of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths by county. RESULTS: A positive correlation existed between percentages of African-Americans living in a county and who have COVID-19 (r = 0.254, P < 0.0001), who have died from COVID-19 (r = 0.268, P < 0.0001), and case mortality (r = 0.055, P = 0.003). Positive correlations also existed between percentages of Asian-Americans living in counties and these factors. Negative correlations existed between percentages of Whites living in counties and these factors. CONCLUSIONS: A weak, albeit very significant, positive relationship exists between the percentage of African-Americans living in a county and the percentage of COVID-19 confirmed cases, confirmed deaths and case mortality in the county. This is in support of many city and statewide analyses, and we urge for targeted resources towards work that further examine these racial associations.
Serum cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and their native acid derivatives after transdermal application of a low-THC Cannabis sativa extract in beagles.

Cannabinoids hold promise for treating health problems related to inflammation and chronic pain in dogs, in particular cannabidiol (CBD), and its native acid derivative cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). Information regarding systemic delivery of cannabinoids through transdermal routes is sparse. The purpose of this study was to determine pharmacokinetics of transdermal administration of a low-THC Cannabis sativa extract in healthy dogs. Six purpose-bred research beagles were treated with a transdermal CBD-CBDA-rich extract, and serum concentrations of CBD, CBDA, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and its acid derivative tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) were examined prior to and at the end of weeks 1 and 2. A 4 mg/kg dose of total cannabinoids twice daily resulted in appx 10 ng/ml of CBD, 21-32 ng/ml of CBDA, trace amounts of THCA, and unquantifiable amounts of THC in serum at the end of weeks 1 and 2 of treatment. Results showed that CBDA and THCA were absorbed better systemically than CBD or THC.
Real-Time Forecasts of State and Local Government Budgets with an Application to COVID-19

Using a sample of the 48 contiguous United States, we consider the problem of forecasting state and local governments' revenues and expenditures in real time us
Mechanisms Underlying Neuroplasticity in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii Following Hindlimb Unloading in Rats.

Abstract Hindlimb unloading (HU) in rats induces cardiovascular deconditioning (CVD) analogous to that observed in individuals exposed to microgravity or bed rest. Among other physiological changes, HU rats exhibit autonomic imbalance and altered baroreflex function. Lack of change in visceral afferent activity that projects to the brainstem in HU rats suggests that neuronal plasticity within central nuclei processing cardiovascular afferents may be responsible for these changes in CVD and HU. The nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS) is a critical brainstem region for autonomic control and integration of cardiovascular reflexes. In this study, we used patch electrophysiology, live-cell calcium imaging and molecular methods to investigate the effects of HU on glutamatergic synaptic transmission and intrinsic properties of nTS neurons. HU increased the amplitude of monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic currents and presynaptic calcium entry evoked by afferent tractus solitarii stimulus (TS-EPSC); spontaneous (s) EPSCs were unaffected. The addition of a NMDA receptor antagonist (AP5) reduced TS-EPSC amplitude and sEPSC frequency in HU but not control. Despite the increase in glutamatergic inputs, HU neurons were more hyperpolarized and exhibited intrinsic decreased excitability compared to controls. After block of ionotropic glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission (NBQX, AP5, Gabazine), HU neuronal membrane potential depolarized and neuronal excitability was comparable to controls. These data demonstrate that HU increases presynaptic release and TS-EPSC amplitude, which includes a NMDA receptor component. Furthermore, the decreased excitability and hyperpolarized membrane after HU are associated with enhanced GABAergic modulation. This functional neuroplasticity in the nTS may underly the CVD induced by HU.
Electrophysiological correlates of phosphene perception induced by stimulation of human occipital and parietal cortex

Magnetic stimulation (TMS) of human occipital and posterior parietal cortex can give rise to visual sensations called phosphenes, but neural correlates preceding and succeeding stimulation of both areas are unknown. Using near-threshold TMS with concurrent electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, we uncover oscillatory brain dynamics that covary, on single trials, with the perception of phosphenes following occipital and parietal TMS. Prestimulus power and phase predominantly in the alpha-band (8-13 Hz) predicted occipital TMS phosphenes, whereas higher frequency beta-band (13-20 Hz) power (but not phase) predicted parietal TMS phosphenes. TMS evoked responses related to phosphene perception were similar across stimulation sites and were characterized by an early (200 ms) posterior negativity and a later (>300 ms) parietal positivity in the time domain and an increase in low-frequency (~5-7 Hz) power followed by a broadband decrease in alpha/beta power in the time-frequency domain. These correlates of phosphene perception closely resemble know electrophysiological correlates of conscious perception using near-threshold visual stimuli and speak to the possible early onset of visual consciousness. The differential pattern of prestimulus predictors of phosphene perception suggest that distinct frequencies reflect cortical excitability within different cortical regions, and that the alpha-band rhythm, long thought of as a general index of cortical inhibition, may not reflect excitability of the posterior parietal cortex.
Artificial intelligence-based radiotherapy planning with reinforcement learning

Treatment planning is an essential step in radiation therapy (RT). It requires solving a complex inverse optimization problem through time-consuming adjustment of a set of parameters to meet clinical objectives in a trial and error fashion. Fast and robust treatment plan optimization is important to achieve effective RT of cancer patients. We propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-based RT planning strategy that uses a deep-Q reinforcement learning (RL) to automatically optimize machine parameters by finding an optimal machine control policy. The network uses RT planning CT and contours as input, and dual deep-Q networks that are trained to control the dose rate and multi-leaf collimator positions based on the current dose distribution and machine parameter state. The Q-value is computed as the discounted cumulative cost based on dose objectives, and minimized by experience-replay RL to determine the policy. The proposed approach was applied to prostate cancer RT planning, and validated on 10 prostate cancer cases. Dose distributions generated by RL were compared to conformal arcs and clinical intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans. RL was able to generate RT plan with comparable target and normal tissue dose to clinical plans with mean±SD doses of 83.1±1.7 Gy, 39.9±10.0 Gy, and 39.6±13.9 Gy for planning target volume (PTV), rectum, and bladder, respectively (vs 84.4±1.0 Gy, 41.8±15.0 Gy, and 50.6±11.4 Gy for clinical IMRT). This preliminary study demonstrates the potential of an RL approach to enable rapid AI-based RT plan optimization, significantly reducing time and burden required for RT planning.
Generalized Multi-Level Model for Counts Outcome

In Chap. 8, we reviewed two types of GLMs: logistic regression and Poisson regression. Having discussed generalized linear mixed-effects models for dichotomous outcomes in Chap. 9, we now proceed to the generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) to analyze counts data with multi-level data structures in this chapter.
A Teaching Kitchen Medical Groups Visit with an eHealth Platform for Hypertension and Cardiac Risk Factors: A Qualitative Feasibility Study

Introduction: Our Whole Lives-Hypertension (OWL-H) is an eHealth toolkit for hypertension and cardiac risks factors. It is a hybrid online self-management platform that teaches blood pressure (BP) ...
Electret: A Remedy for Partial Discharge and Surface Flashover in Shipboard Power Applications

Future Naval shipboard power and energy management systems must coordinate the operation of all major components with the use of power electronic converters (PECs). However, the high electric field, repetitive pulses, and fast dv/dt in the PEC-based power systems causes partial discharge (PD) and surface flashover that result in accelerated material aging and system failure. In this study, an electret-based dielectric approach is proposed to address these issues by reducing the PD magnitude and improving critical flashover voltage (CFO). The charge trapped on the electret films neutralizes the locally enhanced electric field around the triple points, sharp edges, and cavities. We experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of the electret films in solving the dielectric issues by conducting PD measurements and surface flashover experiments under square voltage waveforms that represents PEC switching voltages.
DaDRA: A Python Library for Data-Driven Reachability Analysis.

Reachability analysis is used to determine all possible states that a system acting under uncertainty may reach. It is a critical component to obtain guarantees of various safety-critical systems both for safety verification and controller synthesis. Though traditional approaches to reachability analysis provide formal guarantees of the reachable set, they involve complex algorithms that require full system information, which is impractical for use in real world settings. We present DaDRA, a Python library that allows for data-driven reachability analysis with arbitrarily robust probabilistic guarantees. We demonstrate the practical functionality of DaDRA on various systems including: an analytically intractable chaotic system, benchmarks for systems with nonlinear dynamics, and a realistic system acting under complex disturbance signals and controlled with an intricate controller across multiple dimensions.
What Have We Learned from the US Experience on the Prophylactic Use of ICDs Following MADIT

Referred to as the “single most important arrhythmia study of the 90’s”, the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT) has had a profound effect on the worldwide practice of cardiac electrophysiology [1]. While the conclusions of the study recommend a dramatic change in therapy application for selected high-risk asymptomatic patients, the actual implementation of these recommendations has not been previously reported. We will review the MADIT experience in the United States (U.S.), placing it in historical perspective, in the first year since conclusion of the study.
Expert Testimony and Cross‐Examination

Expert mental health testimony is the last stage of a multiphase process in the investigation of a mental health issue that the trier of fact cannot assess without assistance. The expert, though typically retained by a side, serves as an educator of the trier of fact, not a member of the advocacy team. Expert witnesses commence examinations without bias and proceed with objectivity, independence, and scientific accuracy. Testimony that is admissible as evidence should have a foundation guided by the requirements articulated in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, and General Electric Co. v. Joiner and meet the standard of reasonable scientific certainty. Thoughtful, thorough preparation for testimony under oath is ultimately the best intrapsychic and intellectual ballast that an expert can bring to the stand to counter the external forces of an adversarialized legal environment. Keywords: ethics; evidence; expert witness; forensic admissibility; forensic ethics; testimony; testimony: cross examination; testimony: direct examination
A multilayer organic package with four integrated 60GHz antennas enabling broadside and end-fire radiation for portable communication devices

This paper describes the demonstration of a millimeter-wave package for a fully-integrated switched-beam 60-GHz CMOS transceiver IC. The package supports differential transmit and single-ended receive paths in both broadside and end-fire directions with four integrated antennas. The multi-antenna configuration provides flexible link coverage with a small form factor suitable for portable communication devices. The 11mm × 11mm × 0.5mm package has 38 BGA pins and is built with low-cost printed circuit board technology using 4 metal layers and organic dielectric materials. Full-wave electromagnetic simulations were performed to verify antenna performance in the context of a full-package environment, including power/ground planes and signal wiring of the package and of the second-level PCB. System-level characterization results with a fully assembled transceiver module are presented, including measured antenna radiation patterns.
Reformulation of Temporal Constraint Networks

The focus of our research is the design and evaluation of new reformulation techniques for temporal constraint networks. The general temporal constraint satisfaction problem (TCSP) is NP-hard [2]. Although a simplified version of it, the simple temporal problem (STP), is tractable [2], techniques are being sought to further reduce the computational effort needed in practice in order to handle time critical conditions. One example is planning of the activities of an autonomous remote agent where some desirable properties such as dispatchability can be guaranteed.
Genes encoding zeatin O-glycosyltransferases.

Zeatin is a highly active and ubiquitous cytokinin. O-Glycosylation of zeatin occurs widely in plant tissues and is likely to be important in regulating the level of active cytokinins. Enzymes mediating the conversion of zeatin to O-glucosylzeatin and O-xylosylzeatin have been isolated from Phaseolus seeds. The corresponding genes have been cloned recently. The current status of molecular and biochemical studies of these genes and enzymes is summarised in this paper.
Put-Call Parity for European Exotic Options

I propose a simple generalization of put-call parity that holds for a large class of exotic European options. The result rests on a reasonable generalization of the concepts of put and call. The proof is based on the fundamental theorem of arbitrage pricing and elementary properties of real numbers. I also propose a generalization of the notion of intrinsic value and volatility smile. Here I leverage on the relationship between put-call parity and the smile/smirk in the vanilla case.
A possible relationship between waveguide properties and bandwidth utilization in humpback whales

Humpback whales may use different sounds based on the propagation characteristics of the environment within which they are vocalizing. The authors used computational techniques to assess how well different frequencies propagate in environments frequented by humpback whales. The results of these simulations suggest that humpbacks should use different frequencies in northern feeding grounds from those they use in southern breeding areas in order to achieve maximal propagation ranges in both regions. Preliminary data from previous reports suggest that humpback whales do use different frequencies in these different environments, consistent with the predictions of their simulations.
Whither microbiology? Phylogenetic trees

The direct cloning and sequencing of genes from uncultured microorganisms in a hot spring suggests that the diversity of life on Earth may be far in excess of that estimated from culturable species.
Improved calculation techniques for interfacial tensiometers

Abstract Improved techniques for calculating the interfacial tension of liquids using the capillary rise and maximum bubble pressure methods have been developed. The methodology may be extended to other methods including the differential bubble pressure, drop weight, Du Nouy ring, pendant drop, and sessile drop methods. The technique includes a different scaling of the pressure balance equation than originally used by Bashforth and Adams. When integrated, the scaled pressure equation describes interface geometry as a function of Eotvos number (Eo), a measure of the relative magnitudes of gravitational and surface tension forces. For the range of Eo in which most capillary rise and maximum bubble pressure experiments are performed, the dependence on Eo can be represented with a maximum error of 0.008% by a third order expansion in Eo. This new relation eliminates the need for tables and iterative solutions for determining interfacial tension from measured quantities when using either the capillary rise or maximum bubble pressure method.
Pulsed radiofrequency treatment: what is the evidence of its effectiveness and should it be used in clinical practice?

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a relatively new intervention derived from a well-established and proven intervention, thermal radiofrequency neurotomy (TRFN). Unlike TRFN, PRF does not destroy targeted nerves and surrounding tissue. Thus, if proven effective, PRF promises a safer, nondestructive approach than TRNF to various chronic pain conditions. This article addresses two questions. The first question is “What is the evidence that PRF is effective?” The short answer to this question is that the evidence is accumulating that suggests efficacy, and one new study, in review, appears to demonstrate efficacy. In the hands of European and American medical scholars, PRF has demonstrated a positive clinical effect in studies of algorithmically selected, consecutive samples of patients with sacroiliac joint pain, discogenic pain, lateral facet syndrome, and radiculopathy. These studies are described in articles accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, Pain Medicine , that are appended to this article [1–4]. They suggest efficacy and the need for randomized controlled clinical trials of PRF to establish efficacy. A review of the extant literature in PRF by Cahana et al. is also appended [5]. A clinical trial of PRF with positive results was presented by Dr. van Kleef from his group in Maastrich, Germany, at the IASP in Sidney in August 2005, and is presently undergoing peer review for publication. The second question is “Should PRF be used in clinical practice?” This question is more difficult to answer. The short answer is yes, but cautiously and in prescribed ways based upon algorithms established by science and driven by outcomes, not opinion or profit. Because of the potential importance …
A theory of sport and politics.

The study of international relations purports to explain how nation-states and individuals interact around the globe. Yet one major area of such interaction – international sport – remains exceedingly understudied. This in spite of the fact that countries have gone to war over sport, fought for sovereign recognition through sport, and that citizens around the world have it as a daily part of their lives. Indeed it is astounding that a phenomenon that matters so much has been so little studied by a field that purports to explain relations between states and humans around the world. These deficiencies became more apparent in 2008 when we witnessed the world's biggest country hosting the world's biggest sporting event. The Beijing Olympics, though entertaining and exciting, showed how little we have thought about the link between sport and international politics. This article introduces a framework for understanding the link between sport and politics. Its point of entry is to argue that many of the question...
Real-time rendering of melting objects in video games

We present a method for simulating the melting and flowing of material in burning objects fast enough to be of use in video games where most of the graphical and computational resources are needed elsewhere. The standard practice of using particle engines or fluid dynamics for melting are far too costly for use in this environment. We demonstrate that our method, which is based on systematic polygonal expanding and folding, uses only a fraction of the computational power available by implementing the computation on a modest GPU using CUDA.
Characterization of the mouse gene encoding the neuronal intermediate filament protein alpha-internexin.

Abstract We have determined the complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of the coding region of the mouse gene encoding the neuronal intermediate filament protein, a-internexin (αINX). The mouse αINX gene ( mαINX ) contains three exons and two introns, and may be classified as a member of the type-IV intermediate filament multigene family. The nt sequence of the transcribed region of mαINX shows high homology to that of the rat gene. Comparison of the deduced amino-acid sequences between the mouse and rat gene products reveals that the head and rod domains are highly conserved. However, the tail domains show significant differences which may make it possible to raise specific antibodies that can distinguish the αINX of mouse from that of rat.
Some Effects of Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium on Microbial Growth

Evidence supplied by growth responses on gradient plates indicates that yttrium and the rare earth elements are generally toxic to microbial growth. Bacteria are more sensitive to these elements th...
An investigation into the community of inquiry of blended classrooms by a Faculty Learning Community

Abstract A Faculty Learning Community (FLC) comprised of six professors representing different disciplines came together to study, develop, and teach blended learning courses. As an FLC, the researchers sought to evaluate student perceptions of the blended learning courses, measured using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) survey, and how these differed across the courses taught. In addition to this objective, a secondary objective of how the experience of learning to design blended learning courses in an FLC differed across the faculty was also explored. This exploratory case study found evidence to suggest that student perceptions of a blended course, as measured by the CoI framework, can be used to determine differences in students' blended learning experiences. The results of the study also suggest that perceived differences in blended learning experiences varied by discipline, highlighting an important area for future research experiments. An additional research outcome was that an FLC may be a useful form of faculty development when correctly implemented. For example, participating faculty benefited from participation in an FLC when they received helpful advice on promising practices and encouragement when experiencing instructional or technical challenges.