cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regularization of Singularities in the Weighted Summation of Dirac-Delta Functions for the Spectral Solution of Hyperbolic Conservation Laws

Singular source terms expressed as weighted summations of Dirac-delta functions are regularized through approximation theory with convolution operators. We consider the numerical solution of scalar and one-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws with the singular source by spectral Chebyshev collocation methods. The regularization is obtained by convolution with a high-order compactly supported Dirac-delta approximation whose overall accuracy is controlled by the number of vanishing moments, degree of smoothness and length of the support (scaling parameter). An optimal scaling parameter that leads to a high-order accurate representation of the singular source at smooth parts and full convergence order away from the singularities in the spectral solution is derived. The accuracy of the regularization and the spectral solution is assessed by solving an advection and Burgers equation with smooth initial data. Numerical results illustrate the enhanced accuracy of the spectral method through the proposed regularization.
Network activity influences the subthreshold and spiking visual responses of pyramidal neurons in the three-layer turtle cortex

Most studies of cortical activity focus on spikes. Subthreshold membrane potential recordings can provide complementary insight, but stable recordings are difficult to obtain in vivo. Here, we reco...
Development of a field-portable imaging system for scene classification using multispectral data fusion algorithms

Battelle scientists have assembled a reconfigurable multispectral imaging and classification system which can be taken into the field to support automated real-time target/background discrimination. The system may be used for a variety of applications including environmental remote sensing, industrial inspection and medical imaging. This paper discusses hard tactical target and runway detection applications performed with the multispectral system. The Battelle-developed system consists of a passive, multispectral imaging electro-optical (EO) sensor suite and a real-time digital data collection and data fusion image processor. The EO sensor suite, able to collect imagery in 12 distinct wavebands from the ultraviolet (UV) through the long wave infrared (LWIR), consists of five charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras and two thermal IR imagers integrated on a common portable platform. The data collection and processing system consists of video switchers, recorders and a real-time sensor fusion/classification hardware system which combines any three input wavebands to perform real-lime data fusion by applying "look-up tables", derived from tailored neural network algorithms, to classify the imaged scene pixel by pixel. The result is then visualized in a video format on a full color, 9-inch, active matrix Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). A variety of classification algorithms including artificial neural networks and data clustering techniques were successfully optimized to perform pixel-level classification of imagery in complex scenes comprised of tactical targets, buildings, roads, aircraft runways, and vegetation. Algorithms implemented included unsupervised maximum likelihood, Linde Buzo Gray, and "fuzzy" clustering algorithms along with Multilayer Perceptron and Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) neural networks. Supervised clustering of the data was also evaluated. To assess classification robustness, algorithms were tested on imagery recorded over broad periods of time throughout the day. Results were excellent, indicating that scene classification is achievable despite. Temporal signature variations. Waveband saliency analyses were performed to determine which spectral bands contained the bulk of the discriminating information for discerning objects in the scenes. Optimized classification algorithms are then used to populate the look-up tables in the sensor fusion board for real-time use in the field. >
Actomyosin Pulsing in Tissue Integrity Maintenance during Morphogenesis

The actomyosin cytoskeleton is responsible for many changes in cell and tissue shape. For a long time, the actomyosin cytoskeleton has been known to exhibit dynamic contractile behavior. Recently, discrete actomyosin assembly/disassembly cycles have also been observed in cells. These so-called actomyosin pulses have been observed in a variety of contexts, including cell polarization and division, and in epithelia, where they occur during tissue contraction, folding, and extension. In epithelia, evidence suggests that actomyosin pulsing, and more generally, actomyosin turnover, is required to maintain tissue integrity during contractile processes. This review explores possible functions for pulsing in the many instances during which pulsing has been observed, and also highlights proposed molecular mechanisms that drive pulsing.
LOWER POST-OPERATIVE D-DIMER LEVEL IN NAVIGATION-ASSISTED TKA THAN IN CONVENTIONAL TKA: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED CONTROL STUDY

D-dimer is one of the useful laboratory tests to evaluate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after the total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The most recent guideline for the prophylaxis of VTE points out the surgical procedure itself is a major risk factor for developing VTE. Only a few literatures discuss the relationship of surgical procedures and the risk of venous thromboembolism. We therefore prospectively compare the difference of the perioperative plasma D-dimer levels between the patients undergoing navigation and convention TKA. Two hundred consecutive total knee arthroplasties were performed between September 2011 and March 2013. The patients were randomised according to their registration to the orthopaedic clinic. Ninety-six patients (100 knees) underwent a navigation-assisted TKA and ninety-four patients (100 knees) had a conventional TKA. No intramedullary violation was done in the navigation-assisted TKA, while the intramedullary femoral guiding was adapted in the conventional group. Pre-operative and post-operation day 1 plasma D-dimer levels were recorded and evaluated using Mann-Whitney U test. There was no difference in the demographic data and pre-operative D-dimer between the two groups (p=0.443). Significantly lower D-dimer levels on the post-operative day 1 were noted in the navigation group, when compared with the conventional group. (6.0 ± 4.4 mg/L vs 11.3 ± 9.6 mg/L, p = 0.000). We demonstrated that lower D-dimer level is developed after the navigation-assisted TKA than the conventional one. Less incidence of VTE is expected and the finding may help to explain the fact that less systemic emboli in the navigation assisted TKA.
Causal Discovery as a Game

This paper presents a game theoretic approach to causal discovery. The problem of causal discovery is framed as a game of the Scientist against Nature, in which Nature attempts to hide its secrets for as long as possible, and the Scientist makes her best effort at discovery while minimizing cost. This approach provides a very general framework for the assessment of different search procedures and a principled way of modeling the effect of choices between different experiments.
Governing singularities of symmetric orbit closures

We develop interval pattern avoidance and Mars-Springer ideals to study singularities of symmetric orbit closures in a flag variety. This paper focuses on the case of the Levi subgroup GL_p x GL_q acting on the classical flag variety. We prove that all reasonable singularity properties can be classified in terms of interval patterns of clans.
Every Reader Her Book: Creation of a Therapeutic Library at a Women’s Residential Treatment Facility

In July 2015, an interdisciplinary team of librarians, information professionals, and education specialists began development of a therapeutic library for the women residents of the Drug Abuse Comp...
Low-Temperature Behavior of the Multicomponent Widom–Rowlison Model on Finite Square Lattices

We consider the multicomponent Widom–Rowlison with Metropolis dynamics, which describes the evolution of a particle system where M different types of particles interact subject to certain hard-core constraints. Focusing on the scenario where the spatial structure is modeled by finite square lattices, we study the asymptotic behavior of this interacting particle system in the low-temperature regime, analyzing the tunneling times between its M maximum-occupancy configurations, and the mixing time of the corresponding Markov chain. In particular, we develop a novel combinatorial method that, exploiting geometrical properties of the Widom–Rowlinson configurations on finite square lattices, leads to the identification of the timescale at which transitions between maximum-occupancy configurations occur and shows how this depends on the chosen boundary conditions and the square lattice dimensions.
Conversion to aflibercept after prior anti-VEGF therapy for persistent diabetic macular edema

Purpose To evaluate the short-term functional and anatomic outcomes of patients with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME) who were converted from bevacizumab and/or ranibizumab to aflibercept. Design Retrospective, interventional, noncomparative, consecutive case series. Methods Only eyes treated with at least 4 consecutive injections of ranibizumab/bevacizumab spaced 4–6 weeks apart prior to conversion and with at least 2 aflibercept injections afterward were considered for inclusion. Pertinent patient demographic, examination, and treatment data were extracted from clinical charts and tabulated for analysis. Results Fifty eyes of 37 patients were included. Eyes received a mean of 13.7 bevacizumab/ranibizumab injections prior to conversion, followed by 4.1 aflibercept injections over 4.6 months of subsequent follow-up. The mean logMAR visual acuity at the pre-switch visit was 0.60 ± 0.43 (Snellen equivalent, 20/80). This improved to 0.55 ± 0.48 (Snellen equivalent, 20/70) by the second visit after conversion, corresponding to a mean logMAR change of −0.05 ± 0.22 ( P = .12). The average central macular thickness from the pre-switch spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scan was 459.2 ± 139.2 μm. This significantly improved to 348.7 ± 107.8 μm by the second visit following conversion, reflecting a mean decrease of 112 ± 141 μm ( P P = .63). Conclusions Conversion to aflibercept for persistent DME resulted in significant anatomic improvements. While trends towards improved visual acuity and reduction in IOP were observed, these were not statistically significant.
The Spiritual Senses in Western Spirituality and the Analytic Philosophy of Religion

The doctrine of the spiritual senses has played a significant role in the history of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox spirituality. What has been largely unremarked is that the doctrine also played a significant role in classical Protestant thought, and that analogous concepts can be found in Indian theism. In spite of the doctrine’s significance, however, the only analytic philosopher to consider it has been Nelson Pike. I will argue that his treatment is inadequate, show how the development of the doctrine in Puritan thought and spirituality fills a serious lacuna in Pike’s treatment, and conclude with some suggestions as to where the discussion should go next.
A Selfie is Worth a Thousand Words: Mining Personal Patterns behind User Selfie-posting Behaviours

Selfies have become increasingly fashionable in the social media era. People are willing to share their selfies in various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Flicker. The popularity of selfie have caught researchers' attention, especially psychologists. In computer vision and machine learning areas, little attention has been paid to this phenomenon as a valuable data source. In this paper, we focus on exploring the deeper personal patterns behind people's different kinds of selfie-posting behaviours. We develop this work based on a dataset of WeChat, one of the most extensively used instant messaging platform in China. In particular, we first propose an unsupervised approach to classify the images posted by users. Based on the classification result, we construct three types of user-level features that reflect user preference, activity and posting habit. Based on these features, for a series of selfie related tasks, we build classifiers that can accurately predict two sets of users with opposite selfie-posting behaviours. We have found that people's interest, activity and posting habit have a great influence on their selfie-posting behaviours. Taking selfie frequency as an example, the classification accuracy between selfie-posting addict and nonaddict can reach 89.36%. We also prove that using user's image information to predict these behaviours achieve better performance than using text information. More importantly, for each set of users with a specific selfie-posting behaviour, we extract and visualize significant personal patterns about them. In addition, to concisely construct the relation between personal pattern and selfie-posting behaviour, we cluster users and extract their high-level attributes, revealing the correlation between these attributes and users' selfie-posting behaviours. In the end, we demonstrate that users' selfie-posting behaviour, as a good predictor, could predict their different preferences toward these high-level attributes accurately.
2D electronic stark spectroscopy

We describe a novel nonlinear spectroscopy method that combines the high sensitivity of background-free heterodyne-detected 2D electronic spectroscopy with Stark spectroscopy for observation of ultrafast charge-transfer kinetics. We demonstrate the method on the photosystem II reaction center.
A Networked Sensor System for the Analysis of Plot-Scale Hydrology

This study presents the latest updates to the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania (ASWP) testbed, a $50,000 USD, 104-node outdoor multi-hop wireless sensor network (WSN). The network collects environmental data from over 240 sensors, including the EC-5, MPS-1 and MPS-2 soil moisture and soil water potential sensors and self-made sap flow sensors, across a heterogeneous deployment comprised of MICAz, IRIS and TelosB wireless motes. A low-cost sensor board and software driver was developed for communicating with the analog and digital sensors. Innovative techniques (e.g., balanced energy efficient routing and heterogeneous over-the-air mote reprogramming) maintained high success rates (>96%) and enabled effective software updating, throughout the large-scale heterogeneous WSN. The edaphic properties monitored by the network showed strong agreement with data logger measurements and were fitted to pedotransfer functions for estimating local soil hydraulic properties. Furthermore, sap flow measurements, scaled to tree stand transpiration, were found to be at or below potential evapotranspiration estimates. While outdoor WSNs still present numerous challenges, the ASWP testbed proves to be an effective and (relatively) low-cost environmental monitoring solution and represents a step towards developing a platform for monitoring and quantifying statistically relevant environmental parameters from large-scale network deployments.
PATIENT-REPORTED METAL ALLERGY: A RISK FACTOR FOR POOR OUTCOMES FOLLOWING TOTAL JOINT ARTHROPLASTY?

Background: Metal sensitivity following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has been of increased concern, but the impact of a patient-reported metal allergy on clinical outcomes has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to report the incidence and impact of patient-reported metal allergy following total knee (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: This was a retrospective, IRB-approved investigation of patients undergoing a primary, elective TJA between 2009 and 2011. All patients completed a pre-operative questionnaire asking about drug and environmental allergies. In January of 2010, a specific question was added regarding the presence of a metal allergy. UCLA Activity, SF-12, Modified Harris Hip (MHHS), and Knee Society (KSS) scores were collected pre-operatively and at most recent follow-up. Overall cohorts of metal allergy and non-metal allergy patients were compared and a 1:2 matching analysis was also performed. Results: 906 primary THAs and 589 primary TKAs were included. The incidence of patient-reported metal allergy was 1.7% before January 2010 and 4.0% after (overall 2.3% of THAs and 4.1% of TKAs). 97.8% of metal allergy patients were female. Following TKA, post-operative KSS function, symptoms, satisfaction, and expectation scores were all decreased in the metal allergy cohort (p<0.001 to 0.002). Following THA, metal allergy patients had a decreased post-operative SF-12 MCS score and less incremental improvement in their SF-12 MCS score versus the non-metal allergy cohort (p<0.0001 and p<0.001). Conclusion: Patient-reported metal allergy is associated with decreased functional outcomes following TKA and decreased mental health scores following THA.
The Origin of Sequential Chromospheric Brightenings

Sequential chromospheric brightenings (SCBs) are often observed in the immediate vicinity of erupting flares and are associated with coronal mass ejections. Since their initial discovery in 2005, there have been several subsequent investigations of SCBs. These studies have used differing detection and analysis techniques, making it difficult to compare results between studies. This work employs the automated detection algorithm of Kirk et al. (Solar Phys. 283, 97, 2013) to extract the physical characteristics of SCBs in 11 flares of varying size and intensity. We demonstrate that the magnetic substructure within the SCB appears to have a significantly smaller area than the corresponding $\mbox{H}\upalpha$ emission. We conclude that SCBs originate in the lower corona around $0.1~R_{\odot}$ above the photosphere, propagate away from the flare center at speeds of $35\,\mbox{--}\,85~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$ , and have peak photosphere magnetic intensities of $148\pm2.9~\mbox{G}$ . In light of these measurements, we infer SCBs to be distinctive chromospheric signatures of erupting coronal mass ejections.
Hierarchical Surface Prediction for 3D Object Reconstruction

Recently, Convolutional Neural Networks have shown promising results for 3D geometry prediction. They can make predictions from very little input data such as a single color image. A major limitation of such approaches is that they only predict a coarse resolution voxel grid, which does not capture the surface of the objects well. We propose a general framework, called hierarchical surface prediction (HSP), which facilitates prediction of high resolution voxel grids. The main insight is that it is sufficient to predict high resolution voxels around the predicted surfaces. The exterior and interior of the objects can be represented with coarse resolution voxels. Our approach is not dependent on a specific input type. We show results for geometry prediction from color images, depth images and shape completion from partial voxel grids. Our analysis shows that our high resolution predictions are more accurate than low resolution predictions.
Guidelines to Incorporate a Clinician User Experience (UX) into the Design of Patient-Operated mHealth

This interactivity demonstration paper highlights how a patient-operated mHealth solution can be designed to improve clinician understanding of a patient's health status during a first face-to-face encounter. Patients can use smartphones to retrieve difficult-to-recall-from memory personal health information. This provides an opportunity to improve patient-clinician collaboration. To explore this idea, a mixed method study with 12 clinicians in a simulated encounter was conducted. A smartphone personal health record was prototyped and used for an experimental study. Communication, efficiency, and effectiveness was improved for clinicians who experienced the prototype. Study outcomes included a validated set of design guidelines for mHealth tools to support better patient-clinician communication.
VANETs Meet Autonomous Vehicles: A Multimodal 3D Environment Learning Approach

In this paper, we design a multimodal framework for object detection, recognition and mapping based on the fusion of stereo camera frames, point cloud Velodyne LIDAR scans, and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Basic Safety Messages (BSMs) that are exchanged using Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC). We merge the key features of rich texture descriptions of objects from 2D images using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). In addition, depth and distance between objects are provided by the 3D LIDAR point cloud and the awareness of hidden vehicles is achieved from BSMs' beacons. We present a joint pixel to point cloud and pixel to V2V correspondence of objects in frames of driving sequences in the KITTI Vision Benchmark Suite. We achieve this by using a semi-supervised manifold alignment approach to achieve camera-LIDAR and camera-V2V mapping of their recognized persons and cars that have the same underlying manifold.
Semiparametric regression on cumulative incidence function with interval-censored competing risks data.

Many biomedical and clinical studies with time-to-event outcomes involve competing risks data. These data are frequently subject to interval censoring. This means that the failure time is not precisely observed but is only known to lie between two observation times such as clinical visits in a cohort study. Not taking into account the interval censoring may result in biased estimation of the cause-specific cumulative incidence function, an important quantity in the competing risks framework, used for evaluating interventions in populations, for studying the prognosis of various diseases, and for prediction and implementation science purposes. In this work, we consider the class of semiparametric generalized odds rate transformation models in the context of sieve maximum likelihood estimation based on B-splines. This large class of models includes both the proportional odds and the proportional subdistribution hazard models (i.e., the Fine–Gray model) as special cases. The estimator for the regression parameter is shown to be consistent, asymptotically normal and semiparametrically efficient. Simulation studies suggest that the method performs well even with small sample sizes. As an illustration, we use the proposed method to analyze data from HIV-infected individuals obtained from a large cohort study in sub-Saharan Africa. We also provide the R function ciregic that implements the proposed method and present an illustrative example. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Malthusian Locks

Applications running in modern multithreaded environments are sometimes overthreaded. The excess threads do not improve performance, and in fact may act to degrade performance via scalability collapse, which can manifest even when there are fewer ready threads than available cores. Often, such software also has highly contended locks. We leverage the existence of such locks by modifying the lock admission policy so as to intentionally limit the number of distinct threads circulating over the lock in a given period. Specifically, if there are more threads circulating than are necessary to keep the lock saturated (continuously held), our approach will selectively cull and passivate some of those excess threads. We borrow the concept of swapping from the field of memory management and impose concurrency restriction (CR) if a lock suffers from contention. The resultant admission order is unfair over the short term but we explicitly provide long-term fairness by periodically shifting threads between the set of passivated threads and those actively circulating. Our approach is palliative, but is often effective at avoiding or reducing scalability collapse, and in the worst case does no harm. Specifically, throughput is either unaffected or improved, and unfairness is bounded, relative to common test-and-set locks which allow unbounded bypass and starvation1. By reducing competition for shared resources, such as pipelines, processors and caches, concurrency restriction may also reduce overall resource consumption and improve the overall load carrying capacity of a system.
Photoacoustic Tomography: Ultrasonically Breaking through the Optical Diffusion Limit

Photoacoustic tomography proves to be the only modality that can image at length scales ranging from organelles, cells, tissues, to organs in vivo. The contrast is based on optical absorption consistently.
The DIII–D computing environment: characteristics and recent changes

Abstract The DIII–D tokamak national fusion research facility along with its predecessor Doublet III has been operating for over 21 years. The DIII–D computing environment consists of: real-time systems controlling the tokamak, heating systems, and diagnostics, and systems acquiring experimental data from instrumentation; major data analysis server nodes performing short term and long term data access and data analysis; and systems providing mechanisms for remote collaboration and the dissemination of information over the world wide web. Computer systems for the facility have undergone incredible changes over the course of time as the computer industry has changed dramatically. Yet there are certain valuable characteristics of the DIII–D computing environment that have been developed over time and have been maintained to this day. Some of these characteristics include: continuous computer infrastructure improvements, distributed data and data access, computing platform integration, and remote collaborations. These characteristics are being carried forward as well as new characteristics resulting from recent changes which have included: a dedicated storage system and a hierarchical storage management system for raw shot data, various further infrastructure improvements including deployment of Fast Ethernet, the introduction of MDSplus, Load Sharing Facility (LSF) and common IDL based graphics tools, and improvements to remote collaboration capabilities. This paper will describe this computing environment, important characteristics that over the years have contributed to the success of DIII–D computing systems, and recent changes to computer systems.
Outline of a New Approach to Computer Aided Design of Control Systems

Abstract This paper presents an outline of an ongoing effort to develop a new approach to computer aided design of control systems. The new approach integrates three computer aided techniques for problem solving: artificial intelligence (expert systems), decision analysis, and standard routines for control systems analysis and design. The new approach will offer guidance to inexperienced users on how to approach a design problem. A special subproblem; the design of a position control system for for a printwheel mechanism is used as an initial design problem that the prototype expert decision aid should solve.
RECURSIVE IDENTIFICATION ALGORITHMS AS NONLINEAR SYSTEMS: PARAMETER IDENTIFIABILITY AND CONTROLLABILITY

Abstract In this paper we examine parameter identifiability of a system modeled by a linear regression (ARX model). We regard recursive identification algorithms, designed to estimate the parameters of the given linear model, as discrete time nonlinear systems. The output of a nonlinear system representing a recursive parameter estimation algorithm will be the vector of parameter estimates, and its input will be the observed data taken from the system being identified. First, we examine the nonlinear system and obtain a characterization of its controllability. We next link parameter identifiability of the ARX model with a probabilistic version of controllability of this nonlinear stochastic system. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for parameter identifiability of the model in a probabilistic context. This condition is given in terms of properties of the chosen algorithm.
Effects of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Renal Function in the Elderly

The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on estimated creatinine clearance (ECC) was studied in a large ambulatory elderly population. ECC of participants using eight different NSAIDs and that of a control group using no drugs were compared. With one exception, ECCs of subjects using NSAIDs were lower than those of subjects using no medications. Results of this study suggest that long-term treatment with NSAIDs results in a decrease in renal function, and the effect on renal function may not be the same with all agents.
Clinical Aspects of the Rhabdoid Tumor of the Kidney: A Report of the National Wilms’ Tumor Study Group

Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK), originally described as a monophasic sarcomatous variant of Wilms' tumor, is now recognized as a highly malignant, non-Wilms' tumor possibly of neuroectodermal origin. Twenty-one National Wilms' Tumor Study patients with this tumor were treated in the years 1969 through 1978. Mean patient age was 18 months with 16 of the 21 younger than 2 years at diagnosis. Two patients were Stage 1, 10 Stage II, 5 Stage III, and 4 Stage IV. One patient only is continuously disease free and another is surviving disease free following excision of bilateral pulmonary metastases. One patient died of sepsis early during therapy. Thus 18 of the 19 patients who relapsed died, 15 within 1 year of diagnosis, all with progressive tumor growth. The rapid appearance of metastases (mean 4 months), often to multiple sites, and short subsequent survival signal a very malignant tumor resistant to current treatment stratagems.
The Effect of Malignant Epithelial Tumors, Surgical Therapy, and Bacterial Sepsis Upon Various Parameters of Interferon System

The influence of tumor load, surgical trauma, and bacterial sepsis upon the ability of patient's peripheral leukocytes to produce interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), the detectable serum IFN levels and circulating serum IFN inactivators were studied. Peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with solid tumors had significantly reduced ability to produce IFN-alpha. Complete resectional surgery resulted in restoration of their ability to produce normal IFN-alpha levels. Circulating IFN levels were detectable in 70% of patients with localized disease while only in 20% of patients with metastatic disease. Interferon-alpha activators were detected in 45% of all patients. Both circulating interferon and IFN-alpha inactivators became undetectable upon tumor resection. Surgical trauma is accompanied by a transient but definite decrease in IFN-alpha production capability. Bacterial sepsis during postoperative days, in patients who successfully recovered, was definitely accompanied by increase in IFN-alpha production capability. Our findings suggest that advanced malignant epithelial tumors have an adverse effect upon the patient's ability to produce interferon and are often accompanied by the presence of circulating serum interferon inactivators. These effects can be reversed by surgical resection of the malignant neoplasm.
Routine Subcultures Shown to be Unnecessary in Radiometric Detection of Bacteremia Using Three Media

A study to determine the necessity of routine blind subcultures when using the radiometric BACTEC-460 instrument for detection of bacteremia was conducted. In the first phase, blind subcultures were performed on day 10 of incubation; in the second phase, blind subcultures were performed on day 4; in the final phase the subculture was performed on day one. During the study, 6,208 blood cultures from 2,455 patients were inoculated into three different culture media. There were 454 microbial isolates recovered, including 269 presumed pathogenic isolates. The single significant discrepancy between blind subculture and radiometric detection was a case of Staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia in which the organism was detected 48 hours earlier by blind subculture. There were no cultures in which significant bacterial isolates were detected by blind subcultures but not radiometrically. Thus, under the conditions of this study, routine blind subcultures are not necessary when using the BACTEC radiometric system for detection of bacteremia.
Serum Insulin, Glucose, Indices of Insulin Resistance, and Risk of Lung Cancer

Background: Although insulin may increase the risk of some cancers, few studies have examined fasting serum insulin and lung cancer risk.Methods: We examined serum insulin, glucose, and indices of insulin resistance [insulin:glucose molar ratio and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)] and lung cancer risk using a case-cohort study within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study of Finnish men. A total of 196 cases and 395 subcohort members were included. Insulin and glucose were measured in fasting serum collected 5 to 12 years before diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to estimate the relative risk of lung cancer.Results: The average time between blood collection and lung cancer was 9.6 years. Fasting serum insulin levels were 8.7% higher in subcohort members than cases. After multivariable adjustment, men in the fourth quartile of insulin had a significantly higher risk of lung cancer than those in the first quartile [HR = 2.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-3.94]. A similar relationship was seen with HOMA-IR (HR = 1.83; 95% CI, 0.99-3.38). Risk was not strongly associated with glucose or the insulin:glucose molar ratio (Ptrend = 0.55 and Ptrend = 0.27, respectively).Conclusions: Higher fasting serum insulin concentrations, as well as the presence of insulin resistance, appear to be associated with an elevated risk of lung cancer development.Impact: Although insulin is hypothesized to increase risk of some cancers, insulin and lung cancer remain understudied. Higher insulin levels and insulin resistance were associated with increased lung cancer risk. Although smoking cessation is the best method of lung cancer prevention, other lifestyle changes that affect insulin concentrations and sensitivity may reduce lung cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(10); 1519-24. ©2017 AACR.
Evaluation of eight plasma proteins as candidate blood-based biomarkers for malignant gliomas.

e13011 Background: Peripheral blood biomarkers are a critical component of detection and care for many cancer types. No blood biomarker of clinical use is available to glioma patients despite the u...
Show me the money : retained earnings and the real effects of monetary shocks

La littrature empirique sur les chocs de politique montaire nous informe que des chocs restrictifs sont suivis d'une hausse persistante des taux d'intrt et d'une diminution persistante de la production. Les modles montaires standards de cycle peuvent expliquer les effets directs des chocs montaires, mais ont des difficults reproduire la persistance de ceux-ci. Dans cet article, j'examine si les frictions qui affectent les dcisions des mnages d'allocation des ressources peuvent mener des effets persistants. Dans le modle, les mnages dtiennent deux actifs. L'un est utilis des fins de transaction (le compte vue) et l'autre des fins d'investissement (le carnet d'pargne). Il existe un faible cot de transaction pour transfrer des fonds entre les actifs. Le fait que les entreprises accumulent des bnfices non distribus et reversent les profits aux consommateurs avec un certain dlai constitue galement un facteur cl du modle. Je montre que dans cet environnement, des chocs montaires peuvent avoir des effets persistants mme si le cot d'ajustement est trs faible.
Frequency-dependent responses in third generation gravitational-wave detectors

Interferometric gravitational-wave detectors are dynamic instruments. Changing gravitational-wave strains influence the trajectories of null geodesics and therefore modify the interferometric response. These effects will be important when the associated frequencies are comparable to the round-trip light travel time down the detector arms. The arms of advanced detectors currently in operation are short enough that the strain can be approximated as static, but planned 3rd generation detectors, with arms an order of magnitude longer, will need to account for these effects. We investigate the impact of neglecting the frequency-dependent detector response for compact binary coalescences and show that it can introduce large systematic biases in localization, larger than the statistical uncertainty for $1.4\text{\ensuremath{-}}1.4\text{ }\text{ }{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ neutron star coalescences at $z\ensuremath{\lesssim}1.7$. Analysis of 3rd generation detectors therefore must account for these effects.
Exploiting algebraic structure in global optimization and the Belgian chocolate problem

The Belgian chocolate problem involves maximizing a parameter $$\delta $$ over a non-convex region of polynomials. In this paper we detail a global optimization method for this problem that outperforms previous such methods by exploiting underlying algebraic structure. Previous work has focused on iterative methods that, due to the complicated non-convex feasible region, may require many iterations or result in non-optimal $$\delta $$ . By contrast, our method locates the largest known value of $$\delta $$ in a non-iterative manner. We do this by using the algebraic structure to go directly to large limiting values, reducing the problem to a simpler combinatorial optimization problem. While these limiting values are not necessarily feasible, we give an explicit algorithm for arbitrarily approximating them by feasible $$\delta $$ . Using this approach, we find the largest known value of $$\delta $$ to date, $$\delta = 0.9808348$$ . We also demonstrate that in low degree settings, our method recovers previously known upper bounds on $$\delta $$ and that prior methods converge towards the $$\delta $$ we find.
Determination of the Molecular Structures of Ferric Enterobactin and Ferric Enantioenterobactin Using Racemic Crystallography

Enterobactin is a secondary metabolite produced by Enterobacteriaceae for acquiring iron, an essential metal nutrient. The biosynthesis and utilization of enterobactin permits many Gram-negative bacteria to thrive in environments where low soluble iron concentrations would otherwise preclude survival. Despite extensive work carried out on this celebrated molecule since its discovery over 40 years ago, the ferric enterobactin complex has eluded crystallographic structural characterization. We report the successful growth of single crystals containing ferric enterobactin using racemic crystallization, a method that involves cocrystallization of a chiral molecule with its mirror image. The structures of ferric enterobactin and ferric enantioenterobactin obtained in this work provide a definitive assignment of the stereochemistry at the metal center and reveal secondary coordination sphere interactions. The structures were employed in computational investigations of the interactions of these complexes with tw...
Clcn7F318L/+ as a new mouse model of Albers-Schönberg disease

Dominant negative mutations in CLCN7, which encodes a homodimeric chloride channel needed for matrix acidification by osteoclasts, cause Albers-Schonberg disease (also known as autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type 2). More than 25 different CLCN7 mutations have been identified in patients affected with Albers-Schonberg disease, but only one mutation (Clcn7G213R) has been introduced in mice to create an animal model of this disease. Here we describe a mouse with a different osteopetrosis-causing mutation (Clcn7F318L). Compared to Clcn7+/+ mice, 12-week-old Clcn7F318L/+ mice have significantly increased trabecular bone volume, consistent with Clcn7F318L acting as a dominant negative mutation. Clcn7F318L/F318L and Clcn7F318L/G213R mice die by 1month of age and resemble Clcn7 knockout mice, which indicate that p.F318L mutant protein is non-functional and p.F318L and p.G213R mutant proteins do not complement one another. Since it has been reported that treatment with interferon gamma (IFN-G) improves bone properties in Clcn7G213R/+ mice, we treated Clcn7F318L/+ mice with IFN-G and observed a decrease in osteoclast number and mineral apposition rate, but no overall improvement in bone properties. Our results suggest that the benefits of IFN-G therapy in patients with Albers-Schonberg disease may be mutation-specific.
Citizen satisfaction under changing political leadership: The role of partisan motivated reasoning

There exists a gap in our understanding of what citizen satisfaction evaluations actually represent. While recent years have witnessed a move away from performance-based models to cognitive-implicit models of citizen satisfaction, the inherent political nature of government, its institutions, and services has been largely ignored. Drawing on the functional responsibility chain between political principals and governmental, public-service-delivering institutions, we outline a theory of citizen satisfaction that accounts for the political nature of these institutions. In the context of two consecutive general elections, we find a partisan bias in citizen satisfaction with government and the legislative branch, but not for institutions that are more clearly separated from national government. These mixed findings are suggestive of a dispersion effect of the partisan bias in citizen satisfaction, namely, that citizens are less likely to use their partisan lenses in cases where the responsibility of political principals is dispersed across multiple actors.
Integrating Phylogenetic and Network Approaches to Study Gene Family Evolution: The Case of the AGAMOUS Family of Floral Genes

The study of gene family evolution has benefited from the use of phylogenetic tools, which can greatly inform studies of both relationships within gene families and functional divergence. Here, we propose the use of a network-based approach that in combination with phylogenetic methods can provide additional support for models of gene family evolution. We dissect the contributions of each method to the improved understanding of relationships and functions within the well-characterized family of AGAMOUS floral development genes. The results obtained with the two methods largely agreed with one another. In particular, we show how network approaches can provide improved interpretations of branches with low support in a conventional gene tree. The network approach used here may also better reflect known and suspected patterns of functional divergence relative to phylogenetic methods. Overall, we believe that the combined use of phylogenetic and network tools provide a more robust assessment of gene family evo...
HIP FUSION TAKEDOWN: WHY AND HOW

The main challenges in hip arthrodesis takedown include the decision to perform fusion takedown and the technical difficulties of doing so. In addition to the functional disadvantages of hip fusion, the long-term effects of hip arthrodesis include low back pain and in some cases ipsilateral knee pain. Indications for fusion conversion to THA include arthrodesis malposition, pseudoarthrosis, and ipsilateral knee, low back, contralateral hip problems, and functional disadvantages of ipsilateral hip fusion. When deciding whether or not to take down a fusion, consider the severity of the current problem, risks of takedown and likely benefits of takedown. Best results of fusion takedown occur if abductor function is likely to be present. If the abductors are not likely to function well, dearthrodesis may still help, but the patient will have a profound Trendelenburg or Duchenne gait and risk of hip instability will be higher. Abductor assessment can be performed by determining if the abductors contract on physical exam and determining if the previous form of fusion spared the abductors and greater trochanter. EMG and MRI also can be performed to assess the abductors, but value in this setting is unproven. Before dearthrodesis establish realistic expectations: most patients will gain hip motion—but not normal motion, most will see improvement in back/knee pain, but many will become cane-dependent for life. The main technical issues to overcome involve exposure, femoral neck osteotomy, acetabular preparation, and femoral fixation. Exposure can be conventional posterior, anterolateral or direct anterior with an in situ femoral neck cut. In complex cases, a transtrochanteric approach is often helpful. The in situ neck cut is facilitated by fluoroscopy or intra-operative radiograph to make sure the cut is at the correct level and at the correct angle. Be careful not to angle into the pelvis with the cut. Acetabular preparation is more complex because anatomic landmarks often are absent or distorted. Try to find landmarks including ischium, ilium, teardrop, and fovea. Confirm location with fluoroscopy as reaming commences and during reaming. Depth of reaming can be improved by using the fovea (if present) and teardrop on fluoroscopy. Cup fixation is usually an uncemented cup, fixed with multiple screws because bone quality typically is compromised. Femoral fixation is at the surgeon9s discretion, recognizing the proximal bone may be distorted in some cases. Post-operative management includes protected weight bearing as needed and heterotopic bone prophylaxis in selected patients.
Prosodic identity in copy epenthesis

This paper focuses on languages that exhibit processes of copy epenthesis, specifically those where the similarity between a copy vowel and its host extends to prosodic or suprasegmental resemblance. We argue that copy vowels and their hosts strive for identity in all prosodic properties, and show that this drive for prosodic identity can cause misapplication in the assignment of properties such as stress and length. To explain these effects, we argue that any successful analysis of copy epenthesis must involve a correspondence relation (following Kitto and de Lacy 1999). Our proposal successfully predicts the extant typology of prosodic identity effects in copy epenthesis; alternative analyses of copy epenthesis relying solely on featural spreading (e.g. Kawahara 2007) or gestural realignment (e.g. Hall 2003, 2006) do not naturally capture the effects discussed here.
Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation

Cardiac arrest occurs in more than 2 million individuals annually worldwide. Because of their limited capacity for repair, the heart and the brain are the organs receiving the most deleterious effects from cardiac arrest. Rapid efforts to achieve return of spontaneous circulation using better quality chest compressions and early defibrillation in order to limit ischemia are critical but are only a first step in ensuring optimal neurological outcomes. Over the past decade, the use of hypothermia as a postarrest therapy has dramatically enhanced the chances for victims of cardiac arrest to achieve good neurological outcomes. However, its proper use must be simultaneously coupled with intensive goal-directed hemodynamic therapy to prevent rearrest. Despite these improvements, significant work still remains to improve outcomes.