cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single cell activity patterns of pedunculopontine tegmentum neurons across the sleep-wake cycle in the freely moving rats

Microinjections of the excitatory amino acid, L-glutamate into the cholinergic cell compartment of the pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) of the rat induces both wakefulness and/or rapid eye movement (REM) sleep depending on the glutamate dosage. However, no studies have systematically recorded the electrical activity of these cells in the freely moving rat across the sleep-wake cycle. In this study, we have recorded the spontaneous activity patterns of single PPT cells (n = 70) in the freely moving rat across the sleep-wake cycle. PPT neurons were classified into three groups based on patterns in their spontaneous activity. The first group of cells (12.86%) was more active during REM sleep than they were during wakefulness or slow-wave sleep (SWS). The second group of cells (60.0%) was more active during REM and wakefulness than during SWS. The firing rate of the third group of cells (27.14%) did not change as a function of behavioral state. This study also demonstrated that the level of activity within the cholinergic cell compartment of the PPT during SWS drops to 7.4% of that observed during wakefulness and that during REM sleep it changes to 65.5% of wakefulness levels. These findings indicate that in the freely moving rat, the discharging of PPT neurons correlates with wakefulness and REM sleep. Additionally, these neurons may be an integral part of the brainstem wakefulness and REM sleep-generating mechanisms in the rat. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Subharmonic resonance of short internal standing waves by progressive surface waves

Experimental evidence and a theoretical formulation describing the interaction between a progressive surface wave and a nearly standing subharmonic internal wave in a two-layer system are presented. Laboratory investigations into the dynamics of an interface between water and a fluidized sediment bed reveal that progressive surface waves can excite short standing waves at this interface. The corresponding theoretical analysis is second order and specifically considers the case where the internal wave, composed of two oppositely travelling harmonics, is much shorter than the surface wave. Furthermore, the analysis is limited to the case where the internal waves are small, so that only the initial growth is described. Approximate solution to the nonlinear boundary value problem is facilitated through a perturbation expansion in surface wave steepness. When certain resonance conditions are imposed, quadratic interactions between any two of the harmonics are in phase with the third, yielding a resonant triad. At the second order, evolution equations are derived for the internal wave amplitudes. Solution of these equations in the inviscid limit reveals that, at this order, the growth rates for the internal waves are purely imaginary. The introduction of viscosity into the analysis has the effect of modifying the evolution equations so that the growth rates are complex. As a result, the amplitudes of the internal waves are found to grow exponentially in time. Physically, the viscosity has the effect of adjusting the phase of the pressure so that there is net work done on the internal waves. The growth rates are, in addition, shown to be functions of the density ratio of the two fluids, the fluid layer depths, and the surface wave conditions.
Effects of oxidation on neurofibrillar argyrophilia.

The effect of oxidation on neurofibrillar argyrophilia was studied by subjecting nervous tissues containing both normal and degenerating fibers to the action of potassium permanganate, periodic acid, chromic acid, lead tetraacetate, and sodium bismuthate prior to silver impregnation. The argyrophilic response of normal fibers to such treatment was studied with the Nonidez silver nitrate block technic, the double impregnation method of Bielschowsky on both blocks and sections, and a silver proteinate procedure. The response of degenerating fibers was studied by the Cajal formula 6 block technic and the modified Bielschowsky procedure of Nauta and Ryan for sections. The experimental data indicated that such oxidation did not produce any differential staining effects between normal or degenerating fibers.
Energy optimal speed control of devices with discrete speed sets

We obtain analytically, the energy optimal speed profile of a generic multi-speed device with a discrete set of speeds, to execute a given task within a given time. Current implementations of energy efficient speed control policies (including DVFS) almost exclusively use the minimum feasible speed pair, which has been shown before to be suboptimal. Unlike previous works, ours does not require an explicit functional relationship between the device's power and speed (e.g. the CMOS power model), but only assumes that the power-speed relationship is a W-convex (a discrete equivalent of a convex) function. This assumption allowed us to show that the optimal speed profile uses at most two speeds, and that all the essential characteristics of the power-speed relationship can be encapsulated within a single speed, /spl omega//sub u/. The latter speed is intrinsic to the device (i.e. task independent) and can be readily computed from its power-speed values (without any curve fit). Further, /spl omega//sub u/ is also the speed at which the device consumes the least energy per unit work done. The problem formulation reduces to a linear program in the number of supported speeds, which in general, is difficult to solve analytically. However, the optimum solution has a very simple form - it is either /spl omega//sub u/, or the minimum feasible speed pair for the given task. We verified that a number of commercial DVFS processors, and other devices like disk drives satisfied our model of the W-convex power-speed relationship.
Feature extraction and quantification for mass spectrometry in biomedical applications using the mean spectrum

Motivation: Mass spectrometry yields complex functional data for which the features of scientific interest are peaks. A common two-step approach to analyzing these data involves first extracting and quantifying the peaks, then analyzing the resulting matrix of peak quantifications. Feature extraction and quantification involves a number of interrelated steps. It is important to perform these steps well, since subsequent analyses condition on these determinations. Also, it is difficult to compare the performance of competing methods for analyzing mass spectrometry data since the true expression levels of the proteins in the population are generally not known. Results: In this paper, we introduce a new method for feature extraction in mass spectrometry data that uses translation-invariant wavelet transforms and performs peak detection using the mean spectrum. We examine the method's performance through examples and simulation, and demonstrate the advantages of using the mean spectrum to detect peaks. We also describe a new physics-based computer model of mass spectrometry and demonstrate how one may design simulation studies based on this tool to systematically compare competing methods. Availability: MATLAB scripts to implement the methods described in this paper and R code for the virtual mass spectrometer are available at http://bioinformatics.mdanderson.org/software.html Contact: jefmorris@mdanderson.org Supplementary information: http://bioinformatics.mdanderson.org/supplements.html
Mulling over Massachusetts: Health Insurance Mandates and Entrepreneurs

The author provides preliminary and provocative results regarding the impact of health insurance mandates on the propensity of entrepreneurs to start new organizations. In keeping with a well–obser...
An explanation of the slowdown in US economic growth

This paper provides a Keynesian account of the slowdown in the United States economic growth as suggested by the growth model of Thirlwall. According to Thirlwall's model, economic growth is determined by the dynamic Harrod foreign trade multiplier. This multiplier relation indicates that the fall in the rate of economic growth has been brought about mainly by an increase in the income elasticity of demand for imports
Intrafibrillar demineralization study of single human dentin collagen fibrils by AFM

In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the kinetics of demineralization of human dentin collagen fibrils. Individual dentin collagen fibrils containing intrafibrillar mineral were isolated, transferred onto a glass slide and exposed to water for a day prior to demineralization studies. The fibrils then were exposed to trypsin for removal of non-collagenous proteins and subsequently demineralized in 10 vol % citric acid. Topographic images showed a gradual increase in gap-overlap depth of the fibril. The gap-overlap depth varied linearly with the square root of time before saturation at 7 nm in approximately sixty minutes, suggesting a diffusion process for demineralization of intrafibrillar mineral. Micro Raman studies of partially demineralized dentin revealed the existence of a phosphate peak at wave number close to 960 cm-1. The peak gradually disappeared in 60 minutes as the samples were exposed to 10% citric acid, supporting the notion that AFM topography may be correlated to the degree of intrafibrillar mineralization.
Ion‐beam‐induced topography and surface diffusion

It is pointed out that the development of surface topography along with enhanced surface and bulk diffusion processes accompanying ion bombardment have generated growing interest among users of ion beams and plasmas for thin film or material processing. Interest in these processes stems both from attempts to generate topographic changes for specific studies or applications and from the need to suppress or control undesirable changes. The present investigation provides a summary of the current status of impurity-induced texturing, with emphasis on recent developments. Particular attention is given to the texturing accompanying deposition of an impurity material onto a solid surface while simultaneously etching the surface with an ion beam. A description of experimental considerations is provided, and a thermal-diffusion model is discussed along with the development of sputter cones, and aspects of impact-enhanced surface diffusion.
Aneurysm of the Aorta in Children

Seven children with aortic aneurysm ranging in age from 4 to 15 years were seen in a period of seven years. The diagnosis was confirmed by angiography and/or surgery in each case. In three patients, the aortic aneurysm was associated with coarctation of the aorta. One had a saccular aneurysm proximal to the coarctation, and another developed a mycotic aneurysm distal to the coarctation in association with staphylococcal endarteritis. The third patient developed a diffuse aneurysm of the aortic arch 15 years following coarctectomy. The remaining four patients had aortic aneurysms of the ascending aorta. One had a mycotic aneurysm following aortic valvulotomy, another had Marfan’s syndrome, a third had a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, and the fourth a traumatic tear of the aorta with pseudoaneurysm formation. If an aortic aneurysm develops in association with aortic valvular disease or coarctation of the aorta, a precipitating factor such as systemic hypertension, trauma, or infection is usually identified. Long-term follow-up is urged in patients with coarctation of the aorta in view of the possibility that an aneurysm of the aorta may occur even after surgical resection of a coarctation.
Outer membrane protein genes and their small non-coding RNA regulator genes in Photorhabdus luminescens

Three major outer membrane protein genes of Escherichia coli, ompF, ompC, and ompA respond to stress factors. Transcripts from these genes are regulated by the small non-coding RNAs micF, micC, and micA, respectively. Here we examine Photorhabdus luminescens, an organism that has a different habitat from E. coli for outer membrane protein genes and their regulatory RNA genes. By bioinformatics analysis of conserved genetic loci, mRNA 5'UTR sequences, RNA secondary structure motifs, upstream promoter regions and protein sequence homologies, an ompF -like porin gene in P. luminescens as well as a duplication of this gene have been predicted. Gene loci for micF RNA, as well as OmpC protein and its associated regulatory micC RNA, were not found. Significantly, a sequence bearing the appropriate signatures of the E. coli micA RNA was located. The ompA homolog was previously annotated in P. luminescens. Presence of an ompF-like porin in P. luminescens is in keeping with the necessity to allow for passage of small molecules into the cell. The apparent lack of ompC, micC and micF suggests that these genes are not essential to P. luminescens and ompC and micF in particular may have been lost when the organism entered its defined life cycle and partially protected habitat. Control of porin gene expression by RNA may be more prevalent in free- living cells where survival is dependent on the ability to make rapid adjustments in response to environmental stress. Regulation of ompA by micA may have been retained due to a necessity for ompA control during one or both stages of the P. luminescens life cycle. This article was reviewed by Tal Dagan (nominated by Dan Graur), Mikhail Gelfand and Anna Gerasimova (nominated by Mikhail Gelfand) and J Peter Gogarten. Reviewed by Tal Dagan (nominated by Dan Graur), Mikhail Gelfand and Anna Gerasimova (nominated by Mikhail Gelfand) and J Peter Gogarten. For the full reviews, please go to the Reviewers' comments section.
Vibrational Tension Measurement of External Tendons in Segmental Posttensioned Bridges

A rapid and economical vibrational tension measurement method is presented to detect distress in external tendons used in segmental posttensioned bridges. This method provides a complementary technique to traditional inspection methods currently employed in the field. The natural frequency and overtones produced by an impact excitation are measured and used to determine the tendon segment’s tension and flexural stiffness using a differential equation describing a stiff string with clamped-clamped boundary conditions. The flexural stiffness is not negligible in tendons of this type causing the vibration modes to be inharmonically related. This method provides consistent (typically within 1%) and reasonably accurate (typically within 10%) estimates of tendon tension. Accuracy can be improved by lessening uncertainty in input constants such as the tendon mass and tendon length. Application examples from several in-service bridges have shown that detection of corrosion damage, improper tensioning, and force d...
Derivación biliopancreática laparoscópica para el tratamiento de la obesidad mórbida. Aspectos técnicos y análisis de los resultados preliminares

Resumen Objetivo En el presente estudio pretendemos demostrar que la derivacion biliopancreatica puede ser llevada a cabo por via laparoscopica, aunque con cierto grado de complejidad. Pacientes y metodo Entre noviembre de 2000 y abril de 2003 hemos realizado una derivacion biliopancreatica laparoscopica a 40 pacientes afectados de obesidad morbida, 33 mujeres y 7 varones, con una edad media de 44,8 anos y un indice medio de masa corporal de 46,6 kg/m2 (rango, 39,9-61 kg/m2). En nuestra serie realizamos gastrectomia cuando existia algun factor de riesgo de enfermedad neoplasica y/o ulcerosa (positividad para Helicobacter pylori, polipo,displasia o metaplasia). En caso contrario manteniamos el estomago distal, de forma similar al bypass gastrico. Mantuvimos el remanente gastrico distal en 29 casos y practicamos gastrectomia en 11. Resultados El tiempo operatorio medio en los primeros 10 casos fue de 242 min (rango, 180-360 min) y 3 de ellos requirieron reconversion. En los ultimos 10 pacientes el tiempo fue de 143 min (rango, 110-190min). Entre los primeros 6 pacientes, 3 tuvieron complicaciones (fuga anastomotica, edema y estenosis de gastroyeyunostomia y un fallecimiento por broncoaspiracion). En el resto de la serie hubo un caso de hemoperitoneo que no preciso intervencion quirurgica y otro de atelectasia. En el momento actual, 11 pacientes han superado los 18 meses tras la intervencion, con un indice de masa corporal medio de 27,7 kg/m2 (rango, 20-31,8 kg/m2) y un porcentaje medio de sobrepeso perdido del 82,5% (rango, 61,3- 125%). Conclusiones La derivacion biliopancreatica es factible por via laparoscopica, pero esta gravada por una dificultosa curva de apredizaje.
PSYCHOPHYSICS OF READING: XVIII. THE EFFECT OF PRINT SIZE ON READING SPEED IN NORMAL PERIPHERAL VISION

Reading in peripheral vision is slow and requires large print, posing substantial difficulty for patients with central scotomata. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of print size on reading speed at different eccentricities in normal peripheral vision. We hypothesized that reading speeds should remain invariant with eccentricity, as long as the print is appropriately scaled in size—the scaling hypothesis. The scaling hypothesis predicts that log–log plots of reading speed versus print size exhibit the same shape at all eccentricities, but shift along the print-size axis. Six normal observers read aloud single sentences (∼11 words in length) presented on a computer monitor, one word at a time, using rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). We measured reading speeds (based on RSVP exposure durations yielding 80% correct) for eight print sizes at each of six retinal eccentricities, from 0 (foveal) to 20 deg in the inferior visual field. Consistent with the scaling hypothesis, plots of reading speed versus print size had the same shape at different eccentricities: reading speed increased with print size, up to a critical print size and was then constant at a maximum reading speed for larger print sizes. Also consistent with the scaling hypothesis, the plots shifted horizontally such that average values of the critical print size increased from 0.16 deg (fovea) to 2.22 deg (20 deg peripheral). Inconsistent with the scaling hypothesis, the plots also exhibited vertical shifts so that average values of the maximum reading speed decreased from 807 w.p.m. (fovea) to 135 w.p.m. (20 deg peripheral). Because the maximum reading speed is not invariant with eccentricity even when the print size was scaled, we reject the scaling hypothesis and conclude that print size is not the only factor limiting maximum reading speed in normal peripheral vision.
Distant conserved sequences flanking endothelial-specific promoters contain tissue-specific DNase-hypersensitive sites and over-represented motifs

The transcriptional regulation of genes is a complex process, particularly for genes exhibiting a tissue-specific pattern of expression. We studied 28 genes that are expressed primarily in endothelial cells, another 28 genes that are expressed highly, but not exclusively, in cultured endothelial cells, and three control sets, consisting of genes not expressed in endothelium, genes expressed in neural tissues and housekeeping genes. For each gene, we identified conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) of lengths 50 to >1000 nucleotides, located within the upstream intergenic region (from 500 to as far as 200 000 nucleotides upstream from the transcription start) or within the first intron. As a functional test, we assayed the CNSs from the set of endothelial cell-specific genes (EC-CNSs) for DNase hypersensitivity. Among 262 distant EC-CNSs, 33% are hypersensitive (HS) in endothelial cells, whereas only 16% are HS in control fibroblasts. A search for short sequence patterns revealed a number of motifs which are over-represented in EC-CNSs relative to CNSs from the control gene sets. In particular, the motif SAGGAAR is strongly and consistently over-represented among EC-CNSs, and is more over-represented in HS CNSs than in non-HS CNSs. CNSs which contain this motif are no closer to the promoter than an average CNS. This motif contains the core element of binding sites from the Ets family of transcription factors. Thus, one or several factors from this family may play a key role in the regulation of endothelial gene expression.
ProperHITEC: A Portable, Parallel, Object-Oriented Approach to Sequential Test Generation

Automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) for sequential circuits remains one of the most compute-intensive tasks in the integrated circuit design process. Although numerous attempts have been made to speed the ATPG process via parallelization, these attempts have often proved disappointing when compared against the best available serial algorithms using metrics of resultant quality and performance. In this paper we introduce ProperHITEC, a parallel extension of the HITEC/PROOFS sequential test generation package. ProperHITEC embodies a new approach to parallel ATPG; it is incrementally derived from one of the best-performing serial algorithms and this incremental derivation is implemented via the mechanisms of object-oriented programming. Results of running ProperHITEC on three parallel architectures, the Sun 4/600MP, the INTEL iPSC/860, and the Encore Multimax are presented. These results show that ProperHITEC achieves results virtually identical in quality to HITEC while achieving significant multiprocessor utilization.
Influence of thalidomide on fertility and on reproductive organs in rats

Abstract Most studies on thalidomide have been devoted to its teratogenic effects. Relatively little attention has been paid to the in fluence of thir agent on fertility. Thi study has shown that thalidomide given orally to female rats in doses of 100 or 150 mg., respectively, for 15 days reduced the fertrlity by 80 and 100 per ant, respectively, and caused hypoplasia of the endometrium and myonutrium of considerable degree. Thalidomide may inhibit ovulation. The precise mechanism of the artcion is not clear.
Bayesian Estimation of the DINA Model With Gibbs Sampling

A Bayesian model formulation of the deterministic inputs, noisy “and” gate (DINA) model is presented. Gibbs sampling is employed to simulate from the joint posterior distribution of item guessing and slipping parameters, subject attribute parameters, and latent class probabilities. The procedure extends concepts in Beguin and Glas, Culpepper, and Sahu for estimating the guessing and slipping parameters in the three- and four-parameter normal-ogive models. The ability of the model to recover parameters is demonstrated in a simulation study. The technique is applied to a mental rotation test. The algorithm and vignettes are freely available to researchers as the “dina” R package.
Privacy and Predictive Analytics in E-Commerce

This Article discusses the implications of predictive analytics for consumer privacy in e-commerce and surveys potential regulatory responses. Part I introduces predictive analytics and illustrates its potential uses in e-commerce. Predictive analytics helps merchants operate efficiently and maximize profits, but also risks denying consumers important commercial benefits. Part II examines how predictive analytics harms consumer privacy. The prevailing theoretical accounts define privacy as the ability to control what others know about you and recognize privacy’s role in promoting personal autonomy and dignity. Predictive analytics harms privacy as control because individuals cannot know what the data they share will ultimately predict. In addition, predictive analytics harms consumer autonomy and dignity because it deprives them of significant commercial benefits based on secret formulas, and risks automating societal discrimination. Finally, Part III examines potential regulatory responses to the harms of predictive surveillance. Any regulatory response must be measured to avoid diminishing real commercial benefits and stifling innovation. In addition, regulation must be tailored to the type and degree of privacy harm posed by the varying uses of predictive analytics.
Morphological Observations of Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Spermiophages Maintained in Tissue Culture

Abstract Spermiophages were isolated from turkey semen using Percoll gradient centrifugation, cultured in Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 medium at room temperature, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. After 1 to 2 h, the cells enlarged and developed numerous motile mitochondria. Over time, the mitochondria appeared to increase in number and were released into the extracellular medium. Few mitochondria were observed in spermiophages from fresh semen. However, there was an apparent increase in the number and size of mitochondria after Percoll isolation, which was more pronounced in cultured spermiophages. Over a period of 3 h in culture, many spermiophages became engorged with mitochondria, which subsequently appeared to be released as blebs pinched off from the surface. The release of mitochondria resulted in spermiophages with large, empty vacuoles, although their remaining cytoplasm was engorged with mitochondria. Many free mitochondria were present in the medium. The results of the current research suggest that isolating and culturing turkey spermiophages elicit mitochondrial biogenesis, which proceeds unabated until the cells are engorged with and release numerous mitochondria. This may be due to conditions under which the spermiophages were cultured or to nonhistocompatibility of these cells in pooled semen.
Reaching high-risk underserved individuals for cancer genetic counseling by video-teleconferencing.

Author(s): Mette, Lindsey A; Saldivar, Anna Maria Pulido; Poullard, Natalie E; Torres, Ivette C; Seth, Sarah G; Pollock, Brad H; Tomlinson, Gail E | Abstract: BackgroundBreast and colorectal cancers are common cancers for which genetic risk assessment and counseling are available. However, these services are often limited to metropolitan areas and are not readily accessible to underserved populations. Moreover, ethnic and racial disparities present additional obstacles to identifying and screening high-risk individuals and have a bearing on treatment outcomes.ObjectiveTo provide cancer genetic risk assessment and counseling through telemedicine to the remote, underserved primarily Hispanic population of the Texas-Mexico border region.MethodsProgram participants were mailed a questionnaire to assess their satisfaction with the program so that we could determine the acceptability of video-teleconferencing for cancer risk assessment.ResultsThe overall level of satisfaction with the program was very high, demonstrating the acceptability of a cancer genetic risk assessment program that relied on telemedicine to reach and underserved minority community.LimitationsDelivery model requires the availability of and access to communication technologies; trained staff are needed at remote sites for sample collection and patient handling.ConclusionVideo-teleconferencing is an acceptable method of providing cancer risk assessment in a remote, underserved population.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: qualifications and performance of housestaff and trained internists.

Eighty-six physicians in the Internal Medicine Department of the Mount Sinai Medical Center were evaluated on attitudes and knowledge of basic and advanced cardiac life support. Information was gathered over a one-week period using a self-administered questionnaire. Eighteen (21%) of the respondents did not know of the availability of basic and advanced cardiac life support courses at this institution. Of the physicians who had never taken either course, 8 (25%) stated it was because it was not offered at a convenient time or place. All housestaff officers were noted to have completed both courses, a percentage much higher than that of the trained internists (p less than .0001). Previous formal training in cardiac life support was found to be associated with a higher level of confidence in the ability to administer cardiac lifesaving techniques (p less than .0001) and a higher overall knowledge score (p = .003). We determined that the housestaff officers in internal medicine were the physicians most qualified to perform resuscitation efforts because of their completion of life support courses, their confidence in administering these techniques, and their greater overall knowledge. Wider publicity on the availability of cardiac life support courses, more convenient scheduling of such courses, and mandatory certification in basic life support for all physicians, with additional certification in advanced cardiac life support for physicians with extensive ward responsibility, are needed.
Attainable gravimetric and volumetric energy density of Li-S and li ion battery cells with solid separator-protected Li metal anodes

As a result of sulfur's high electrochemical capacity (1675 mA h/gs), lithium-sulfur batteries have received significant attention as a potential high-specific-energy alternative to current state-of-the-art rechargeable Li ion batteries. For Li-S batteries to compete with commercially available Li ion batteries, high-capacity anodes, such as those that use Li metal, will need to be enabled to fully exploit sulfur's high capacity. The development of Li metal anodes has focused on eliminating Coulombically inefficient and dendritic Li cycling, and to this end, an interesting direction of research is to protect Li metal by employing mechanically stiff solid-state Li(+) conductors, such as garnet phase Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), NASICON-type Li1+xAlxTi2-x(PO4)3 (LATP), and Li2S-P2S5 glasses (LPS), as electrode separators. Basic calculations are used to quantify useful targets for solid Li metal protective separator thickness and cost to enable Li metal batteries in general and Li-S batteries specifically. Furthermore, maximum electrolyte-to-sulfur ratios that allow Li-S batteries to compete with Li ion batteries are calculated. The results presented here suggest that controlling the complex polysulfide speciation chemistry in Li-S cells with realistic, minimal electrolyte loading presents a meaningful opportunity to develop Li-S batteries that are competitive on a specific energy basis with current state-of-the-art Li ion batteries.
Relation of Obesity to Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Previous studies have shown that obesity is paradoxically associated with improved outcomes in many cardiovascular (CV) disease states; however, whether obesity affects survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has not been well examined. We queried the 2003 to 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all patients aged ≥18 years who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation for IHCA. Obese patients were identified using the co-morbidity variable for obesity, as defined in Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases. Survival to hospital discharge was compared between obese and nonobese patients using multivariate regression models. Of 836,289 patients with IHCA, 67,216 (8.0%) were obese. Obese patients were younger and more likely to be women compared with nonobese patients. Despite being younger, obese patients had significantly higher prevalence of most CV co-morbidities such as dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, previous myocardial infarction, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and chronic renal failure (p
A New Combined Assessment of Mixed Uncertainty in Spatial Models: Conceptualization and Implementation

Uncertainty quantification is not often performed in spatial modeling applications, especially when there is a mixture of probabilistic and non-probabilistic uncertainties. Furthermore, the effect of positional uncertainty is often not assessed, despite its relevance to geographical applications. Although there has been much work in investigating the aforementioned types of uncertainty in isolation, combined approaches have not been much researched. This has resulted in a lack of tools for conducting mixed uncertainty analyses that include positional uncertainty. This research addresses the issue by first presenting a new, flexible, simulation-oriented conceptualization of positional uncertainty in geographic objects called F-Objects. F-Objects accommodates various representations of uncertainty, while remaining conceptually simple. Second, a new Python-based framework is introduced, termed Wiggly and capable of conducting mixed uncertainty propagation using fuzzy Monte Carlo simulation (FMCS). FMCS combines both traditional Monte Carlo with fuzzy analysis in a so-called hybrid approach. F-Objects is implemented within the Wiggly framework, resulting in a tool capable of considering any combination of: (1) probabilistic variables; (2) fuzzy variables; and (3) positional uncertainty of objects (probabilistic/fuzzy). Finally, a realistic GIS-based groundwater contamination problem demonstrates how F-Objects and Wiggly can be used to assess the effect of positional uncertainty.
On the stability of DSP based P-I phase-locked loops containing matched filter delays

Phase locked loops (PLL) are designed to align the frequency and the phase of the PLL phase accumulator with the frequency and phase of a complex sampled data input sinusoid. When the PLL is required to align the phase slope and phase of the local DDS with the phase slope and phase of a suppressed carrier modulated input signal the PLL phase detector must be augmented by a non-linear process that forms the underlying carrier. A common process estimates the instantaneous envelope of the modulated waveform and removes the modulation to expose the underlying carrier. Reliable estimates of the modulation are formed with the aid of a matched filter and an auxiliary timing recovery process. The matched filter process occurs inside the PLL loop and contributes additional loop delay. Delay inside a feedback loop is undesirable since it tends to destabilize the loop. We examine the effect of this excess loop delay and present intuitive design constraints that assure loop stability.
Structural and optical properties of Tin Oxide and Indium doped SnO2 thin films deposited by thermal evaporation technique

Tin Oxide and Indium doped Tin Oxide (SnO 2 :In) thin films were deposited on glass and Silicon substrates by thermal evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction pattern of pure SnO 2 and SnO 2 :In thin films annealed at 650 o C and the results showed that the structure have tetragonal phase with preferred orientation in (110) plane. AFM studies showed an inhibition of grain growth with increase in indium concentration. SEM studies of pure SnO 2 and Indium doped tin oxide (SnO 2 :In) ) thin films showed that the films with regular distribution of particles and they have spherical shape. Optical properties such as Transmission , optical band-gap have been measured and calculated.
Patient Navigation in Medically Underserved Areas study design: A trial with implications for efficacy, effect modification, and full continuum assessment.

Abstract Background The Patient Navigation in Medically Underserved Areas study objectives are to assess if navigation improves: 1) care uptake and time to diagnosis; and 2) outcomes depending on patients' residential medically underserved area (MUA) status. Secondary objectives include the efficacy of navigation across 1) different points of the care continuum among patients diagnosed with breast cancer; and 2) multiple regular screening episodes among patients who did not obtain breast cancer diagnoses. Design/Methods Our randomized controlled trial was implemented in three community hospitals in South Chicago. Eligible participants were: 1) female, 2) 18 + years old, 3) not pregnant, 4) referred from a primary care provider for a screening or diagnostic mammogram based on an abnormal clinical breast exam. Participants were randomized to 1) control care or 2) receive longitudinal navigation, through treatment if diagnosed with cancer or across multiple years if asymptomatic, by a lay health worker. Participants' residential areas were identified as: 1) established MUA (before 1998), 2) new MUA (after 1998), 3) eligible/but not designated as MUA, and 4) affluent/ineligible for MUA. Primary outcomes include days to initially recommended care after randomization and days to diagnosis for women with abnormal results. Secondary outcomes concern days to treatment initiation following a diagnosis and receipt of subsequent screening following normal/benign results. Discussion This intervention aims to assess the efficacy of patient navigation on breast cancer care uptake across the continuum. If effective, the program may improve rates of early cancer detection and breast cancer morbidity.
NF-κB in Human Cancers

Twenty years since their discovery, our knowledge regarding the specific role of NF-κB proteins in particular tumor types, the interaction of these proteins with other transcriptional regulators in the nucleus, and our ability to tract and abrogate NF-κB activity, effectively and specifically, remain the subject of intense research efforts in cancer therapy. While NF-κB activity is the principle subject of this chapter and the target of several early clinical trials conceptually aimed at transcriptional regulation, other transcription factors also are potential targets for therapy. Understanding the relationship between NF-κB activity with other, parallel and interacting signaling pathways, is essential to development of effective and safe targeted therapies in cancer treatment.
On the use of compressive sensing (CS) exploiting block sparsity for neural spike recording

This paper presents a novel compressive sensing (CS) algorithm for neural spike recording that exploits the concept of block sparsity in both dictionary training and signal reconstruction. Initially, the block K-SVD (BK-SVD) algorithm is employed to train a block-sparsifying dictionary for neural spikes, followed by the block sparse Bayesian learning (BSBL) algorithm to reconstruct the compressed data using the trained dictionary. Using various neural spike datasets for validation and across compression ratio, CR, values in the range of 2 to 16, the combined BK-SVD + BSBL algorithm is shown to improve the reconstruction signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) by ∼ 0.5 to 6.5dB over K-SVD + basis pursuit (BP) algorithm that does not exploit block sparsity. Next, the combined BK-SVD + BSBL algorithm is augmented with spike detection for a more practical implementation. The resulting block sparse CS with spike detection (BSCS + SD) algorithm achieves an overall CR of ∼11.6 and SNDR that is up to 8dB higher than that obtained without spike detection.
Direct, object brightness estimation from atmospheric turbulence degraded images using a new high-speed, modified phase diversity method

The well known phase diversity technique has long been used as a premier passive imaging method to mitigate the degrading effects of atmospheric turbulence on incoherent optical imagery. Typically, an iterative, slow method is applied that uses the Zernike basis set and 2-D Fourier transforms in the reconstruction process. In this paper, we demonstrate a direct method for estimating the un-aberrated object brightness from phase or phase difference estimates that 1) does not require the use of the Zernike basis set or the intermediate determination of the generalized pupil function, 2) directly determines the optical transfer function without the requirement for an iterative sequence of 2-D Fourier Transforms, 3) provides a more accurate result than the Zernike-based approaches since there are no Zernike series truncation errors, 4) lends itself to fast and parallel implementation, and 5) can use stochastic search methods to rapidly determine simultaneous phases or phase differences required to determine the correct optical transfer function estimate. As such, this new implementation of phase diversity provides potentially faster, more accurate results than previous approaches yet still retains inherent compatibility with the traditional Zernike-based methods. The theoretical underpinnings of this new method along with demonstrative computer simulation results are presented.
Theoretical and Experimental Comparison of Off-Grid Sparse Bayesian Direction-of-Arrival Estimation Algorithms

Off-grid sparse Bayesian learning algorithms for estimating the directions-of-arrival (DOAs) of multiple signals using an array of sensors are attractive in practice due to three primary reasons. First, these algorithms are fully automatic Bayesian algorithms and hence tuning of regularization parameters (hyperparameters) is not necessary. Second, since these algorithms are based on sparsity, they can produce high accuracy DOA estimates by exploiting the spatial sparsity of acoustic signals even when the signals are coherent. Third, they can also estimate the offset in the DOAs for signals, whose DOAs are not exactly aligned with the steering vectors. Two previously proposed off-grid sparse Bayesian DOA estimation algorithms are considered. The first off-grid model is based on the Taylor series expansion method (OGSBL-T algorithm) and the second is based on the linear interpolation method (OGSBL-I algorithm). The Cramer–Rao lower bound (CRLB) of the off-grid bias parameters for both the algorithms is derived for multiple snapshots. It is shown that the CRLB of the off-grid bias parameters for the OGSBL-T algorithm is significantly less than that for the OGSBL-I algorithm. It is also shown that the CRLBs of the off-grid bias parameters for both the algorithms get worse when we move from the broadside to the endfire directions. A simulation study is also carried out to characterize the performances of both the algorithms in terms of the root-mean-squared error in the DOA estimates. It is shown that the OGSBL-T algorithm performs comparably to the OGSBL-I algorithm when the signals are relatively broadside and better than the OGSBL-I algorithm when the signals are relatively endfire. Finally, the application of the OGSBL-T algorithm for high resolution DOA estimation in an underwater communication system is demonstrated by analyzing passive sonar data from the SWellEx-96 ocean acoustic experiment.
Being green: Patterns of participation in the environmental movement:

This research extends existing scholarship on the environmental movement by examining different groups of participants, building on the distinctions between public and private modes of engagement. ...
GABAA Receptor Subtype Mechanisms and the Abuse-Related Effects of Ethanol: Genetic and Pharmacological Evidence.

Ethanol’s reinforcing and subjective effects, as well as its ability to induce relapse, are powerful factors contributing to its widespread use and abuse. A significant mediator of these behavioral effects is the GABAA receptor system. GABAA receptors are the target for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. Structurally, they are pentameric, transmembrane chloride ion channels comprised of subunits from at least eight different families of distinct proteins. The contribution of different GABAA subunits to ethanol’s diverse abuse-related effects is not clear and remains an area of research focus. This chapter details the clinical and preclinical findings supporting roles for different α, β, γ, and δ subunit-containing GABAA receptors in ethanol’s reinforcing, subjective/discriminative stimulus, and relapse-inducing effects. The reinforcing properties of ethanol have been studied the most systematically, and convergent preclinical evidence suggests a key role for the α5 subunit in those effects. Regarding ethanol’s subjective/discriminative stimulus effects, clinical and genetic findings support a primary role for the α2 subunit, whereas preclinical evidence implicates the α5 subunit. At present, too few studies investigating ethanol relapse exist to make any solid conclusions regarding the role of specific GABAA subunits in this abuse-related effect.
14-3-3 proteins mediate inhibitory effects of cAMP on salt-inducible kinases (SIKs)

The salt-inducible kinase (SIK) family regulates cellular gene expression via the phosphorylation of cAMP-regulated transcriptional coactivators (CRTCs) and class IIA histone deacetylases, which are sequestered in the cytoplasm by phosphorylation-dependent 14-3-3 interactions. SIK activity toward these substrates is inhibited by increases in cAMP signaling, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we show that the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent phosphorylation of SIKs inhibits their catalytic activity by inducing 14-3-3 protein binding. SIK1 and SIK3 contain two functional PKA/14-3-3 sites, while SIK2 has four. In keeping with the dimeric nature of 14-3-3s, the presence of multiple binding sites within target proteins dramatically increases binding affinity. As a result, loss of a single 14-3-3-binding site in SIK1 and SIK3 abolished 14-3-3 association and rendered them insensitive to cAMP. In contrast, mutation of three sites in SIK2 was necessary to fully block cAMP regulation. Superimposed on the effects of PKA phosphorylation and 14-3-3 association, an evolutionary conserved domain in SIK1 and SIK2 (the so called RK-rich region; 595-624 in hSIK2) is also required for the inhibition of SIK2 activity. Collectively, these results point to a dual role for 14-3-3 proteins in repressing a family of Ser/Thr kinases as well as their substrates.
Microstructures and electrical properties of V2O5 and carbon-nanofiber composites fabricated by cold sintering process

The ability to apply a low temperature sintering technique, so called cold sintering process, was employed to fabricate V2O5 ceramic and carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites. The densities, microstructures, as well as electrical and electrochemical properties of (1 − x)V2O5–xCNF composites cold sintered at a temperature of 120 °C for a time of 20 min were investigated. All the samples can be sintered to >85% theoretical densities by cold sintering process. There is a limited grain growth in the cold sintered (1 − x)V2O5–xCNF composites. A small amount of V2O5 amorphous phase can be observed and most of the CNFs are distributed along the grain boundaries of V2O5 ceramic. With increasing the amount of CNFs, the electrical (electrical conductivity) and electrochemical (capacity) properties of (1 − x)V2O5–xCNF composites improve accordingly.
What does it mean for a voice to be ``normal?''

It is rather unclear what is meant by “normal” voice quality, just as it is unclear what is meant by “voice quality” in general. A clearer understanding of what listeners perceive as normal and what strikes them as disordered would benefit both clinical practice, for which a normal sound is presumably the goal of treatment, and the study of voice quality in general. To shed light on this matter, listeners heard 1-sec sustained vowels produced by 200 speakers (100 male and 100 female), half of whom were recorded in the clinic (ranging from mild to fairly severe pathology) and half of whom were UCLA students with no known vocal disorder. Listeners compared 20 voices at a time in a series of sort-and-rate trials, and ordered them in a line according to the severity of perceived vocal pathology. Any voices perceived as normal were placed in a box at one end of the line. Preliminary results indicate that listeners agreed fairly well about which voices were not normal, but not at all about which were normal. Im...
Review of Transitional Care Management and Chronic Care Management Codes for Pulmonologists

Patients with advanced respiratory illness are often hospitalized, requiring close follow-up after discharge and also requiring care coordination outside of traditional face-to-face outpatient visits. Primary care providers and specialists often provide services outside of outpatient visits that have not been captured and reimbursed with traditional billing evaluation and management codes. Within the last 5 years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid added new codes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that reimburse for care coordination services not paid for by traditional evaluation and management codes. Transitional care management includes the 30-day period following hospitalization in which a clinician is responsible for care of the patient postdischarge from the hospital. Chronic care management provides reimbursement for coordination of care for chronic conditions that is performed by any clinician and his or her staff on a monthly basis that is > 20 min in duration.