cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The OP 100 Digipan: Evaluation of the image layer, magnification factors, and dosimetry

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to describe the Orthopantomograph OP 100 Digipan modification and to determine the image-layer and dosimetric characteristics of this system. Research design. Image-layer contours for the Digipan were determined at resolution limits of 4.0, 3.0, and 1.5 line pairs (lp) mm−1 using a resolution grid positioned at intervals along the beam projection paths. A hexagonal test device was placed above the grid to determine the magnification factors at the selected resolution limits. For dosimetry, a 30 mm2 ionization chamber was placed at the beam entry points while imaging the molar, premolar, and anterior teeth using both the Digipan and conventional film receptors. Results. The maximum resolution exceeded 4.0 lp mm−1 in the center of the image layer. Using a 1.5 lp mm−1 resolution limit, the focal trough width was 14 mm at 0-degree horizontal angulation, 20 mm at 37 degrees, and 36 mm at 83 degrees. At 1.5 lp mm−1, the horizontal magnification was −21% facial and +42% lingual to the center of the image layer in the incisor region; −25% facial and +19% lingual to the center of the image layer at a horizontal angulation of 83 degrees. At 4.0 lp mm−1, horizontal magnifications in the incisor region were −2.0% facially and +0.5% lingually; at 83 degrees they were −3.9% facially and +1.1% lingually. The neck entrance dose for imaging the anterior and premolar regions averaged 89.5 (±5.6) μGy. The cheek entrance doses for imaging the molar region averaged 220.6 (±8.0) μGy with the Digipan. With film the average entrance doses were 297.9 (±8.6) μGy (anterior and premolar regions) and 682.1 (±16.9) μGy (molar region). Conclusions. The Digipan image layer is similar, but slightly narrower than that previously reported for the Orthopantomograph OP 100 using standard film-screen combinations. The resolution at the center of the image layer exceeded 4.0 lp mm−1. The Digipan produced images with an entry dose savings of approximately 70% when compared with photo-timed exposures using conventional film with the Orthopantomograph OP 100.
The need for "compassionate provider profiling": refining risk assessment for percutaneous coronary intervention.

In today's “transparent” society, the public is increasingly demanding more information on the quality and outcomes of medical care ([1,2][1]). Most would agree that patients need more data regarding their health care providers' results, yet the devil is always in the details. For outcome
Visualizing Homicide: A Research Note

This paper provides some examples of the utility of graphical methods in analyzing data. While such methods are not expected to supplant standard statistical techniques, they can help the researcher in understanding characteristics of the process in ways that cannot be replicated using the standard methods.
Alkaline phosphatase in the mouse thyroid following testosterone propionate, thiouracil and thyroglobulin.

SummaryTestosterone propionate definitely increased the cytoplasmic alkaline phosphatase in the follicular cells of the mouse thyroid when dosages of 0.5 mg or more were used. Thiouracil (0.25%) induced marked hyperplasia in 17 days and virtually eliminated the alkaline phosphatase in the follicular epithelium whereas thyroglobulin caused a follicular cell atrophy without loss of the enzyme. Testosterone propionate did not influence the thyroid alkaline phosphatase in the presence of thiouracil or thyroglobulin.
G339(P) Seizure and Developmental Outcome of Infantile (epileptic) Spasms Starting as FE in Early Infancy

Objective This study sought to compare the clinical course, seizure and developmental outcome of infantile spasms (IS) that start off as focal epilepsy (FE) with those who present with IS from the outset. Method Ours was a retrospective observational study. The records review collected data regarding a wide range of parameters such as initial seizure types, initial EEGs, treatment of initial seizures, age at onset of infantile spasms, treatment of infantile spasms, MRI results, developmental outcome prior to onset of infantile spasms & after treatment of infantile spasms, period of follow up, seizure types at last follow up and aetiology of infantile spasms. Results 26 (37.1%) out of 70 patients with IS presented with FE before evolving into IS and 6 (8.5%) with multifocal epilepsy. Majority from FE group had concordant electroencephalographic (EEG) changes. 20 (77%) out of 26 patients in FE group had an abnormal MRI compared to 22 out of 38 (58%) in IS group. Median age of diagnosis of IS was 24 weeks in FE group compared to 20 weeks of IS group. In 38 patients with IS as initial presentation, 37 showed hypsarrythmia and 1 showed modified hypsarrythmia. Patients with structural-metabolic abnormalities were more common in FE group than IS group. Infants with FE were more resistant to treatment for IS and had worse developmental outcome at the last follow-up. Conclusion Our study looks at potential predictors in infants who initially present with FE before evolving into IS. This, in turn, could influence their early treatment to prevent epileptic encephalopathy. We have identified that patients with structural-metabolic aetiology presenting with FE in infancy are at an increased risk of developing IS, are more resistant to usual treatments and have worse developmental outcomes. This begs the question of treating this group of patients earlier with steroids before the emergence of IS to avoid the bad outcome (s) associated with epileptic encephalopathy.
The Indentation and Puncture Properties of Rubber Vulcanizates

Abstract A detailed study has been made of the indentation and puncture properties of a number of rubber vulcanizates by a puncture method. It is shown that the characteristic relation between the force and depth of penetration, i.e., the two regions of linearity observed in a former study on a log-log plot, can be represented by two equations. The first region, in which the indenter penetrates into the rubber to a depth approximately equal to twice its diameter, can be generally described by Timoshenko's classical relation, FI=2.67 Erd In the second region, an empirically derived equation FII=1.34 Er0.5d1.5 holds. For a given rubber compound, Young's modulus calculated from the second equation is in satisfactory agreement with the modulus obtained from the first. The puncture strength and the puncture depth are both shown to be dependent upon the compounding variations and they provide useful information about the vulcanizates such as stiffness and cure. Valuable information relating to rubber abrasion a...
Peau d'orange and angioid streaks: manifestations of Bruch membrane pathology.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to characterize peau d'orange and angioid streaks, characteristic findings in eyes of patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, by examining fundus photography and optical coherence tomography imaging. METHODS Color photographs were evaluated directly as were the component red and green channels. Optical coherence tomography images were evaluated for reflectivity pattern of the band corresponding to the retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch membrane complex. RESULTS Eighteen eyes of 9 patients with a mean age of 48.7 years (range, 31-61 years) were examined; 7 of them were women. Color photographs showed areas of yellowish opacification that obscured visualization of the underlying choroid. At the outer edges of this confluent area, opacification were nonconfluent changes with similar appearance and these regions were typical peau d'orange. Angioid streaks occurred within and extended up to the outer border of the confluent opacification. Underlying choroidal details could be seen through the regions of peau d'orange and through the gaps in angioid streaks. The red channel image showed increased reflectivity from the confluent deposit and improved visualization of the choroidal vasculature, except where the confluent opacification was located. Optical coherence tomography imaging showed increased reflectivity from the outer border of the retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch membrane complex. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that the confluent region is the relevant lesion, not the subconfluent zone known as peau d'orange. Imaging characteristics of the confluent area of opacity are consistent with diffuse infiltration with calcium, a chief histologic abnormality of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. The name coquille d'oeuf was suggested for the confluent area of opacity as a consequence.
Advances Toward Forming Synthetic Mimetic Tendon

Collagen is the most abundant protein present in the human body and found in connective tissues, bone, and tendon. It is also known as a natural resource for healing damaged skin tissues [1]. In this study, under specific microenvironment conditions, mimetic collagen gels were successfully formed synthetically from reconstituted Bovine type I collagen monomers. This was achieved by controlling ionic strength, temperature and pH, allowing fibrils with native mimetic D periodic banding structure to assemble spontaneously within the gels. In addition, by providing appropriate aging temperatures and times, mature collagen fibril growth is also realized in the gels in vitro . Mimetic gels were subsequently formed into fibers through a wet-spinning process. These spun fibers were found to preserve the native mimetic D periodic banding and fibrillar structure formed in the initial gels. As a result, the synthetic fibers resemble native tendon. Here structural development within the gel samples and fibers as a function of processing was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results in this study also show a potentially new route for the fabrication of synthetic collagen fibers mimicking tendon, which may find applications as engineered tissues or scaffolding materials.
The comparative investigation of cardiac function with congenital heart diseases by BNP in serum and measurement with thoracic impedance methods after cardiac operation

Objective:To analyze cardiac function of infants with congenital heart disease(CHD) by BNP in serum and thoracic impedance methods after cardiac operation.Methods:45 infants of CHD were graded to experiment group randomly.Experiment group was graded to N1,N2,N3 group by grade of NYHA.Control group included 20 infants with pe diatric surgery disease.Serum level of BNP was measured by ELISA after 1,6,24,48 h of cardial operation.Tei-index was examined by Doppler echocardiographic at the same time.LVET and CI were measure with thoracic impedance meth ods at the same time.Results:The serum BNP and Tei-index of left ventricular increased after 1 h of cardiac operation.The serum BNP and Tei-index of left ventricular decreased after 6,24,48 h of cardial operation.The LVET decreased and CI increased after operation.Serum BNP,LVET and Tei-index were positively correlated with heart function,and had a negative correlation with CI.Conclusion:Serum BNP and thoracic impedance methods can associate quickly and accurately cardiac function of infants with CHD after operation.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and pregnancy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may improve, exacerbate or be unchanged during pregnancy. The activity of SLE at the time of conception has a major influence on pregnancy outcome: SLE patients with quiescent disease do well, while those with active, uncontrollable disease have a high abortion rate. There are specific autoantibodies that confer a high risk of abortion (e.g., IgG antiphospholipid antibodies). There are others, such as anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB, which confer a risk for neonatal lupus that includes lupus dermatitis, congenital complete heart block, thrombocytopenia and cholestatic jaundice, in order of their relative frequencies.
Sterol balance in hyperlipidemic patients after dietary exchange of carbohydrate for fat.

Dextrose was exchanged isocalorically for polyunsaturated fat in the liquid formula diets of 10 hyperlipidemic patients maintained under metabolic steady state conditions. Carbohydrate caused an increase of plasma triglycerides in all 10; plasma cholesterol rose in 7, and 6 of these 7 failed to show any increase in total fecal excretion of cholesterol. In contrast, fecal steroid excretion increased significantly in the three patients who maintained an unchanged or lower plasma cholesterol on the high-carbohydrate diet. Squalene, an obligatory precursor in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, rose in the plasma during carbohydrate feeding in 6 out of 6 patients studied. After a single intravenous infusion of radioactive cholesterol, plasma and feces were analyzed for specific activity over at least a four-month period. Plasma and fecal neutral sterol specific activity were essentially equivalent at all times in all patients, regardless of feeding regimen. On institution of carbohydrate feeding, the slope of cholesterol specific activity flattened for those seven patients who had a rise in plasma cholesterol concentration. There was no change in slope for the two patients with fixed plasma cholesterol levels nor for the one patient with a decreased plasma cholesterol on the high-carbohydrate diet. These experiments demonstrate a divergent response between plasma cholesterol concentration and cholesterol excretion. To establish causal relationship between the two (i.e., plasma cholesterol increases because excretion does not increase) will require further research. The flattening of specific activity die-away curves with rising cholesterol concentrations is best explained by mobilization of slowly turning-over tissue cholesterol into plasma. A subsequent decrease in cholesterol synthesis would also add to the slower decline of plasma cholesterol specific activity.
Lead Time, Like Trains and Tides, Stops for No One

In this month’s issue of European Urology, Kelly et al examined time trends in the incidence of ultimately fatal prostate cancer (PCa), using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data from 1975 to 2002 to evaluate the impact of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening utilization and treatment advances [1]. Unlike overall incidence, fatal PCa incidence is not as strongly linked to diagnostic intensity and represents clinically significant disease. Furthermore, this end point ismore amenable to identifying corresponding changes in clinical practice than studies focused on mortality. Defining fatal cancer brings about its own challenges because the window from diagnosis to death is heavily influenced by the lead time introduced by screening. Borrowing from an analogy used by Dr. Barnett Kramer, director of the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute, lead time can be conceptualized using an image of a man tied to the train tracks [2]. The man will become aware of his fate as soon as he can see the 5 o’clock train in the distance. Now imagine we give this man binoculars. He can spot the train sooner, but the 5 o’clock train will still make impact at the same time. Perhaps the binoculars would allow time for the man to free himself from tracks, but even without earlier detection of the train providing an escape advantage, comparison of the time between knowledge of the train and impactwouldmake the binoculars seem like they extended the man’s survival. In their primary analysis, Kelly et al. [1] found that incidence of ultimately fatal PCa steadily increased until 1992, declined rapidly from 1992 to 1995, and then continued to decline more gradually through 2002. Moreover, the temporal trends varied according to age at diagnosis, with no prominent decreases in fatal cancer
Patient-Level Adverse Event Patterns in a Single-Institution Study of the Multi-Kinase Inhibitor Sorafenib

Novel characterization of patterns of adverse events (AEs) of kinase inhibitors (KIs) could reveal new insights on human molecular physiology and methods to improve the therapeutic index of KIs. Incidence and severity of AEs for each of 157 patients enrolled in sorafenib clinical trials were determined for three clinically relevant treatment intervals: weeks 0-3, weeks 3-7, and after 7 weeks. The most common within patient co-occurrences were mucositis with dermatologic events: hand-foot syndrome (HFS; odds ratio [OR] = 4.36; p = 0.0017) and rash (OR = 5.32; p < 0.001). Prevalence of severe: alopecia (p = 0.02), diarrhea (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p = 0.005) increased over the course of therapy. Incidence of HFS (60%) and diarrhea (25%) increased up to a minimum steady-state concentration (approximately 5 mcg mL-1 ) and plateaued thereafter. Common AEs of sorafenib occur in distinct temporal and tissue distribution patterns and this analysis identified unrecognized relationships among mechanism-dependent and independent effects of a KI.
Immunologic Effects of the Renin-Angiotensin System

Inappropriate activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) exacerbates renal and vascular injury. Accordingly, treatment with global RAS antagonists attenuates cardiovascular risk and slows the progression of proteinuric kidney disease. By reducing BP, RAS inhibitors limit secondary immune activation responding to hemodynamic injury in the target organ. However, RAS activation in hematopoietic cells has immunologic effects that diverge from those of RAS stimulation in the kidney and vasculature. In preclinical studies, activating type 1 angiotensin (AT 1 ) receptors in T lymphocytes and myeloid cells blunts the polarization of these cells toward proinflammatory phenotypes, protecting the kidney from hypertensive injury and fibrosis. These endogenous functions of immune AT 1 receptors temper the pathogenic actions of renal and vascular AT 1 receptors during hypertension. By counteracting the effects of AT 1 receptor stimulation in the target organ, exogenous administration of AT 2 receptor agonists or angiotensin 1–7 analogs may similarly limit inflammatory injury to the heart and kidney. Moreover, although angiotensin II is the classic effector molecule of the RAS, several RAS enzymes affect immune homeostasis independently of canonic angiotensin II generation. Thus, as reviewed here, multiple components of the RAS signaling cascade influence inflammatory cell phenotype and function with unpredictable and context-specific effects on innate and adaptive immunity.
Science Museums as Critical Partners

Informal science learning institutions provide an invaluable resource to supplement science knowledge and excite people about STEM fields. However, not everyone has access to these resources. The reduced access and opportunities in low-income communities has life-long implications on educational and professional accomplishments. This chapter describes insights gained through a nearly three-decade journey of initiatives geared at addressing disparities of who visits museums and who participates in out-of-school-time programming. We begin the chapter with an investigation of the income disparities related to out-of-school-time learning opportunities. We further expand on this by detailing the components of building a strong science identity and acceptance within the field. Most of the chapter is a case study of one out-of-school-time program and the techniques we used to guide low-income youth and youth of color toward developing strong science identities and excitement about science. We close with suggestions related to making the informal learning center welcoming to underrepresented individuals in STEM fields. Ultimately we make the case that informal science learning institutions remain a relatively under-utilized community resource available to help close the STEM participation gap between low-income students of color, and their higher socio-economic peers. Additionally, these institutions may be a key resource to help close gaps created by income level in the STEM fields and the higher education community.
P041 Angiotensin receptor type 1, MICA and vimentin antibodies in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Aim FSGS is a leading cause of ESRD and recurrent FSGS (rFSGS) post-transplant is common. No definitive tests exist to predict rFSGS. Studies on the role of mismatched HLA in rFSGS and association of a particular HLA type with FSGS and rFSGS have been inconclusive. The role of non-HLA antigens/antibodies in FSGS and rFSGS remains underexplored. Our aim was to assess the profile of HLA, and non HLA antibodies in biopsy-proven FSGS and rFSGS. Methods HLA typing were done by molecular methods. Antibody against Vimentin and fragments of Vimentin were assessed by Western Blot. Angiotensin Receptor Type 1 (AT1R) antibody and MICA antibody were assessed by ELISA and Luminex bead assays respectively using commercial reagents. Twelve pools of pre-transplant and 5 of post-transplant sera from 29 FSGS patients were tested for Vimentin and MICA antibodies. Results Of the 9 FSGS patients tested for AT1R antibodies, 6 (75%) had strong reactivity (>17 U/ML) in pre, post or both serum samples and two had intermediate levels (11–17 U/ML) while one had no reactivity ( Conclusions A recent study has suggested Pre-existing AT1R antibody to be predictive of r-FSGS. The mechanisms of AT1R antibody induction and its potential role in allograft injuries need further study. Previous reports have shown the role of Vimentin antibody in chronic allograft rejection and AT1R antibodies in AMR. Pre-existing Vimentin antibody has been reported to be indicative of IFTA. Vimentin can exist as isoforms and the significance of serum reactivity of FSGS patients to Vimentin fragments needs further research. Download high-res image (198KB) Download full-size image
Diffusive Transport of Several Hundred keV Electrons in the Earth's Slot Region

We investigate the gradual diffusion of energetic electrons from the inner edge of the outer radiation belt into the slot region. The Van Allen Probes observed slow inward diffusion and decay of ~200–600 keV electrons following the intense geomagnetic storm that occurred on 17 March 2013. During the 10 day nondisturbed period following the storm, the peak of electron fluxes gradually moved from L ~ 2.7 to L ~ 2.4, and the flux levels decreased by a factor of ~2–4 depending on the electron energy. We simulated the radial intrusion and decay of electrons using a three-dimensional diffusion code, which reproduced the energy-dependent transport of electrons from ~100 keV to 1 MeV in the slot region. At energies of 100–200 keV, the electrons experience fast transport across the slot region due to the dominance of radial diffusion; at energies of 200–600 keV, the electrons gradually diffuse and decay in the slot region due to the comparable rate of radial diffusion and pitch angle scattering by plasmaspheric hiss; at energies of E > 700 keV, the electrons stopped diffusing near the inner edge of outer radiation belt due to the dominant pitch angle scattering loss. In addition to plasmaspheric hiss, magnetosonic waves and VLF transmitters can cause the loss of high pitch angle electrons, relaxing the sharp “top-hat” shaped pitch angle distributions created by plasmaspheric hiss. Our simulation indicates the importance of balance between radial diffusion and loss through pitch angle scattering in forming the diffusive intrusion of energetic electrons across the slot region.
Review: The Architecture and Cities of Northern Mexico from Independence to the Present, by Edward R. Burian

Edward R. Burian The Architecture and Cities of Northern Mexico from Independence to the Present Austin: University of Texas Press, 2015, 350 pp., 34 maps, 30 color and 488 b/w illus. $65 (cloth), ISBN 9780292771901 Edward R. Burian's newest book not only draws our attention to a startling lacuna in the history of the architecture and urbanism of Northern Mexico but also expertly addresses this scholarly omission. Most architectural histories of Mexico focus on pre-Columbian, colonial, and twentieth-century modern architecture, especially the architecture produced in and around Mexico City. As Burian notes, even canonical books on colonial architecture in Mexico “almost completely ignored colonial architecture north of Zacatecas” (1). Aside from an unevenly implemented 1914 inventory of historic sites in Northern Mexico, undertaken in response to a Mexican federal order, and a skeletal inventory of cultural resources compiled in 1988 by the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia in the states of Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, and Nuevo Leon, Burian's book represents the first attempt to document the architecture and urbanism of this region systematically. Burian argues that the industrial character of the region—shaped by historic and economic ties between Mexico and the United States and Europe—has contributed to this elision, since Mexico has often been imagined as “a folkloric antidote to the industrial technology of the United States” (2). The destruction of much of the nineteenth-century fabric of Mexico's northern cities and a lack of comprehensive archives in the region made Burian's task difficult. His archival and field-based research, conducted over ten years in dozens of Mexican cities—sometimes with the expert guidance of local historians—documents for the first time architects in the region such as Carlos Gomez Palacio of Torreon; works in the region by famous architects from the United States and Europe, like Walter Gropius and Myron Hunt; and the intertwined architectural economies of the United States and Northern Mexico, as seen through the work of Alfred Giles and others. With this survey-style architectural guide—the type of publication historian Stephen Fox has termed a “gazetteer”—Burian …
Comparative Risks of Ischemic Stroke in Atrial Flutter versus Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction The aim of this study was to compare the risk of ischemic stroke in patients who have atrial fibrillation and patients who have atrial flutter. Methods Using inpatient and outpatient Medicare claims data from 2008 to 2014 for a 5% sample of all beneficiaries 66 years of age or older, we identified patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and those diagnosed with atrial flutter. The primary outcome was ischemic stroke. In the primary analysis, patients with atrial flutter were censored upon converting to fibrillation; in a secondary analysis, they were not. Survival statistics were used to compare incidence of stroke in patients with flutter and patients with fibrillation. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to compare the associations of flutter and fibrillation with ischemic stroke after adjustment for demographics and risk factors. Results We identified 14,953 patients with flutter and 318,138 with fibrillation. During a mean follow-up period of 2.8 (±2.3) years, we identified 18,900 ischemic strokes. The annual incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with flutter was 1.38% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22%-1.57%) compared with 2.02% (95% CI 1.99%-2.05%) in patients with fibrillation. After adjustment for demographics and stroke risk factors, flutter was associated with a lower risk of stroke compared with fibrillation (hazard ratio .69; 95% CI .60-.79, P Conclusions Patients with atrial flutter faced a lower risk of ischemic stroke than patients with atrial fibrillation.
A randomised trial of early palliative care for maternal stress in infants prenatally diagnosed with single-ventricle heart disease

Children with single-ventricle disease experience high mortality and complex care. In other life-limiting childhood illnesses, paediatric palliative care may mitigate maternal stress. We hypothesised that early palliative care in the single-ventricle population may have the same benefit for mothers. In this pilot randomised trial of early palliative care, mothers of infants with prenatal single-ventricle diagnoses completed surveys measuring depression, anxiety, coping, and quality of life at a prenatal visit and neonatal discharge. Infants were randomised to receive early palliative care - structured evaluation, psychosocial/spiritual, and communication support before surgery - or standard care. Among 56 eligible mothers, 40 enrolled and completed baseline surveys; 38 neonates were randomised, 18 early palliative care and 20 standard care; and 34 postnatal surveys were completed. Baseline Beck Depression Inventory-II and State-Trait Anxiety Index scores exceeded normal pregnant sample scores (mean 13.76±8.46 versus 7.0±5.0 and 46.34±12.59 versus 29.8±6.35, respectively; p=0.0001); there were no significant differences between study groups. The early palliative care group had a decrease in prenatal to postnatal State-Trait Anxiety Index scores (-7.6 versus 0.3 in standard care, p=0.02), higher postnatal Brief Cope Inventory positive reframing scores (p=0.03), and a positive change in PedsQL Family Impact Module communication and family relationships scores (effect size 0.46 and 0.41, respectively). In conclusion, these data show that mothers of infants with single-ventricle disease experience significant depression and anxiety prenatally. Early palliative care resulted in decreased maternal anxiety, improved maternal positive reframing, and improved communication and family relationships.
SiGe epitaxial memory for neuromorphic computing with reproducible high performance based on engineered dislocations

Although several types of architecture combining memory cells and transistors have been used to demonstrate artificial synaptic arrays, they usually present limited scalability and high power consumption. Transistor-free analog switching devices may overcome these limitations, yet the typical switching process they rely on—formation of filaments in an amorphous medium—is not easily controlled and hence hampers the spatial and temporal reproducibility of the performance. Here, we demonstrate analog resistive switching devices that possess desired characteristics for neuromorphic computing networks with minimal performance variations using a single-crystalline SiGe layer epitaxially grown on Si as a switching medium. Such epitaxial random access memories utilize threading dislocations in SiGe to confine metal filaments in a defined, one-dimensional channel. This confinement results in drastically enhanced switching uniformity and long retention/high endurance with a high analog on/off ratio. Simulations using the MNIST handwritten recognition data set prove that epitaxial random access memories can operate with an online learning accuracy of 95.1%. Controlled widening of threading dislocations in SiGe layers epitaxially grown on Si allows the realization of resistive switching devices with enhanced uniformity, high on/off ratio and long retention times.
Use of a chlorhexidine-impregnated patch does not decrease the incidence of bacterial colonization of femoral nerve catheters: a randomized trial.

Purpose Femoral nerve catheter (FNC) insertion is commonly performed for postoperative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A wide range of rates has been reported relating to the bacterial colonization of catheters complicating FNC insertion. The BIOPATCH® is a chlorhexidine (CHG) impregnated patch designed to inhibit bacterial growth for days. The BIOPATCH has proven to be effective at decreasing bacterial colonization in epidural and vascular catheters. We hypothesized that the BIOPATCH would be effective at decreasing the rates of FNC bacterial colonization.
Echocardiographic measures associated with the presence of left ventricular thrombus in patients with chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have not evaluated the prevalence and specific risk factors for the development of left ventricular (LV) thrombus in patients with severely reduced left ventricular dysfunction due to chemotherapy-related cardiomyopathy. We sought to evaluate the prevalence and potential markers of LV thrombus in this patient population. METHODS From January 2009 to December 2013, patients with chemotherapy-related severe LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤ 30%) identified from MD Anderson Cancer Center database were reviewed. Patient characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were analyzed to determine potential risk factors for LV thrombus. RESULTS A total of 121 patients met inclusion criteria (age 54.8 ± 15.2 years; female 63.6%; LVEF 26.3 ± 4%). LV thrombus was present in 9 patients (7.4%). Patients with LV thrombus have significantly lower LVEF compared to those without (18.7 ± 3.8% vs 26.9 ± 3.4%, P < .0001). Prevalence of LV thrombus increased as LVEF decreased and was the highest in patients with LVEF < 20%. By univariate analysis, decreased LVEF, particularly LVEF < 20% (OR 36.30, 95% CI 7.35-179.25, P < .0001) and restrictive LV filling pattern (OR 18.13, 95% CI 4.17-78.89, P = .0001) were associated with presence of LV thrombus. CONCLUSION In patients with severely reduced LV systolic function due to chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy, LV thrombus was found in 7.4% of subjects. Severely decreased LVEF (<20%) and restrictive LV filling pattern were associated with the presence of LV thrombus.
Residual Disease after Neoadjuvant Therapy — Developing Drugs for High-Risk Early Breast Cancer

Residual Disease after Neoadjuvant Therapy Despite ongoing questions about whether pathological complete response rates can identify beneficial agents in early breast cancer, trials are under way. ...
The Use of Restrictive Housing on Gang and Non-Gang Affiliated Inmates in U.S. Prisons: Findings from a National Survey of Correctional Agencies

Gangs present serious challenges to the management and order of prisons. Restrictive housing is viewed by correctional officials as one of the few effective responses to gangs, yet public officials...
Impact of strategic and operational risk management practices on firm performance: An empirical investigation

Abstract Increasingly, creating and delivering value through complex supply chain networks involves substantial risks. However, strategy development under business risk conditions is not well-understood. This cross-country research examines how, under conditions of supply chain network risk, firms develop effective risk management practices. Using a literature review and survey research of managers from global firms; we present a research model, and empirically test the hypothesized relationships. The results show that under conditions of uncertainty, management decision-making is more likely to be cautious until visible forms of risks emerge, and prudent response mechanisms are put in place. This study identifies the crucial role of supply chain exploration and exploitation practices, and their influence in development of network risk management practices, leading to competitive financial outcomes.
Outlier: Iran and its Use of the Death Penalty

For several years now, the right to life has been under heavy assault in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The country has followed a familiar but troubling pattern regarding the use of the death penalty. It has consistently ranked second in the world in the number of executions carried out (behind China), and first in executions per capita. In 2015, alone, human rights organisations tracking the number of executions in Iran documented at least 966 executions, with over 65 percent of these executions related to non-violent drug crimes. In April 2016, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on Iranian authorities to institute a moratorium on the use of the death penalty altogether. Commissioner Zeid’s request, like many before him, centered on two particularly egregious aspects of the death penalty in Iran: 1) the execution of juvenile offenders, or individuals under 18 years of age when they committed an offense; and 2) use of the death penalty for crimes not considered “most serious.” Both types of executions are strictly prohibited under international law. Iran’s continuing and blatant disregard for the right to life of juvenile and non-violent drug offenders, combined with the sharp rise in the number of executions in recent years, makes it, in many ways, an international outlier when it comes to use of the death penalty. Behind the harrowing numbers are the countless faces and stories of the “other” victims, only a portion of which have been documented by human rights groups. The number of executions in Iran began to rise noticeably around 2010-11 during the second term of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This rise coincided with significant changes to the country’s Anti-Narcotics Law which expanded the list of drug-related crimes that carried the death penalty to include non-violent offenses, and severely limited the right of appeal for certain death sentences. The numbers have been equally troubling for juvenile offenders on death row, with at least 12 reportedly hanged in 2014-15—the highest such number at any time during the past five years. Today, Iran is the number one executor of juvenile offenders despite recent amendments made to its penal code to address this issue, and remains one of only a handful of countries that still carries out such executions.
Tracking student assistants' work at Dahlgren Memorial Library: The tools you'll need

Monitoring student assistants' tasks effectively is a significant part of management. The BACC Squad at Dahlgren Memorial Library are student assistants who help maintain the printers, copiers and ...
Evidence for normal novel object recognition abilities in developmental prosopagnosia

The issue of the face specificity of recognition deficits in developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is fundamental to the organization of high-level visual memory and has been increasingly debated in recent years. Previous DP investigations have found some evidence of object recognition impairments, but have almost exclusively used familiar objects (e.g. cars), where performance may depend on acquired object-specific experience and related visual expertise. An object recognition test not influenced by experience could provide a better, less contaminated measure of DPs' object recognition abilities. To investigate this, in the current study we tested 30 DPs and 30 matched controls on a novel object memory test (NOMT Ziggerins) and the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT). DPs with severe impairment on the CFMT showed no differences in accuracy or reaction times compared with controls on the NOMT. We found similar results when comparing DPs with a larger sample of 274 web-based controls. Additional individual analyses demonstrated that the rate of object recognition impairment in DPs did not differ from the rate of impairment in either control group. Together, these results demonstrate unimpaired object recognition in DPs for a class of novel objects that serves as a powerful index for broader novel object recognition capacity.
Zero Sequence Voltage Control Enabling Transformerless Electric Vehicle Chargers

The transformer is one of the most bulky, expensive and lowest efficiency components in a typical electric vehicle charging system. Its removal is conducive to enabling greater proliferation of charging infrastructure and the adoption of electrified vehicles. However, simply removing it can lead to common mode voltage and leakage current issues that present a safety hazard. To address this and to be compliant with international standards, a transformerless electric vehicle charging system enabled by control is proposed without need for additional components. This is achieved by connecting the three-phase filter capacitor neutral point to the DC negative, which allows the zero sequence voltage to be controlled, thereby mitigating leakage currents. Simulations show that the leakage current of the proposed transformerless charger can be made standard compliant with the topology while experiments provide validation through zero sequence voltage and active and reactive power steps. The results demonstrate that the transformer can be removed from electric vehicle chargers.
Canvas GAN: Bootstrapped Image-Conditional Models

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) learn generating functions that map a random noise distribution $Z$ to a target data distribution. Usually, little attention is paid to the form of $Z$ , resulting in nearly all models assuming $Z$ follows a convenient parametric form (almost always $Z\ \sim \ Normal (0,1)$ or $Z\ \sim\ Uniform(-1,1))$ . However, we observe that image-conditional generators, such as those used in the CycleGAN, produce better quality generation than comparable single domain GANs can currently achieve. This is true even when the images being conditioned upon are substantially different from the target images. We hypothesize these models benefit from input which already has the general structure of images, even if their semantic content is different. As a result, we propose the Canvas GAN: using just a small handful of real images (“canvases”), we create random input for an image-conditional generator by randomly cropping, flipping along either or both axis, coloring, and resizing the canvas. These diverse samples allow the generator to edit an input that already exhibits natural image structure, as opposed to having to generate it from scratch from independent white noise.
iALS++: Speeding up Matrix Factorization with Subspace Optimization

iALS is a popular algorithm for learning matrix factorization models from implicit feedback with alternating least squares. This algorithm was invented over a decade ago but still shows competitive quality compared to recent approaches like VAE, EASE, SLIM, or NCF. Due to a computational trick that avoids negative sampling, iALS is very efficient especially for large item catalogues. However, iALS does not scale well with large embedding dimensions, d, due to its cubic runtime dependency on d. Coordinate descent variations, iCD, have been proposed to lower the complexity to quadratic in d. In this work, we show that iCD approaches are not well suited for modern processors and can be an order of magnitude slower than a careful iALS implementation for small to mid scale embedding sizes (d ~ 100) and only perform better than iALS on large embeddings d ~ 1000. We propose a new solver iALS++ that combines the advantages of iALS in terms of vector processing with a low computational complexity as in iCD. iALS++ is an order of magnitude faster than iCD both for small and large embedding dimensions. It can solve benchmark problems like Movielens 20M or Million Song Dataset even for 1000 dimensional embedding vectors in a few minutes.
IP SECURITY ARCHITECTURE,APPLICATION, ASSOCIATED DATABASE,AND MODE

The security problem arose around twenty-five years ago. The internet was small and relatively user for private purposes. Today, the use of the internet is indeed public. As the use of cyberspace has grown, the need for security has grown with it. All the hardware control by people who were well known and would generally have had security permission. In such a network, we do not need to build security into the protocol. It is easier to use locks and guards to ensure safety at the time of encryption. Several methods have evolved over the years to address the need for security. Most of these are focused on higher-level internet protocols due to a lack of security. These solutions escalate for certain situations, but they cannot generalize as it depends on the application. For example, the use of SSL on www, FTP. Many applications require this type of security, and Internet protocol security is one of them. This paper provides the depth of knowledge on the introduction of internet security protocol, its architecture, the security policy for using an internet protocol, and its relevant database, internet security mode, involving its functions and methods.
Demographic and health profile of people living with traumatic spinal cord injury in the United States during 2015-2019: Findings from the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database

ABSTRACT Objective To estimate the population profile of people living with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) to help evaluate health care needs of this aging population Design Cross-sectional study Setting SCI Model Systems (SCIMS) centers throughout the United States Participants 20,437 people who: 1) incurred a TSCI between 1972 and 2019, 2) were initially treated at one of the SCIMS centers, and 3) were alive during 2015-2019 Interventions Not applicable Main Outcome Measures Demographics, injury characteristics, health conditions, and social participation, as compared with previous estimates in 2008 and general population statistics in 2017. Results People living with TSCI during 2015-2019 (mean years since injury: 18y, 79.4% male, and 62.5% White) were older (51.6y vs 45.0y) and had a higher percentage of C1-C4 (21.9% vs 17.0%) and AIS D injuries (31.5% vs 26.0%), as compared with 2008 TSCI population profile. Although the proportion of people with Bachelor's degree or higher was similar between the TSCI and general US populations (30.7% vs 32.0%), the employment rate was lower in the TSCI population (24.0% vs 59.5%). People are affected by various medical problems over time post TSCI. The prevalence of pain and urinary tract infection remained high over post-injury years, 86.1% and 52.6%, respectively. Rehospitalization and depression were most common during the first year (34.9% and 22.3%, respectively), while pressure injury was more common among those ≥20 years post-injury (>30.0%). Health conditions declined with advanced age, including self-perceived health, diabetes, and institutional residence. People who survived TSCI for years, however, had relatively good degrees of independence and social participation. Conclusion Study findings highlight the need for greater involvement of primary care providers and geriatricians in the continuity of care for SCI to promote healthy aging. Improvement in employment should also be the target in promoting social participation and quality of life.
Outer membrane proteins of thebacteroides fragilis group

The Triton-insoluble outer membrane proteins of members of the obligately anaerobicBacteroides fragilis group were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The application of previously published methods for the preparation of outer membranes from these anaerobes led to relatively low recoveries of outer membrane material. Additionally, the outer membrane recovered was not qualitatively or quantitatively representative of the total outer membrane. A method previously devised for the isolation of the outer membrane proteins fromEscherichia coli was used. By this method, the members of theB. fragilis group were found to possess a striking capacity to alter their cell-surface proteins in response to cultivation in different media.
Optimizing oncolytic vaccinia virus and anti-CTLA4 combination therapy to treat cancer (VAC8P.997)

Monoclonal antibody therapies, such as anti-CD25 or anti-CTLA4, have proven effective in reducing immunosuppressive cells and allowing T-cell responses in tumors. In addition, clinical trials with Oncolytic Vaccinia vectors are showing promising results thanks to the their ability to directly destroy tumors and elicit a potent immune response against cancer cells. Here we examined the possibility for combining both therapies in the treatment of tumor models. Firstly, we compared anti-CD25 and anti-CTLA4 therapies for synergistic effects in combination with Oncolytic Vaccinia. While both combinations were able to reduce tumor growth, anti-CTLA4 combination therapy produced the greatest antitumor response. Interestingly, when anti-CTLA4 antibody and Oncolytic Vaccinia where administered at the same time, immune stimulation driven by the monoclonal antibody facilitated the recognition of the virus, depleting viral replication and reducing antitumor activity. Instead, a two step approach resulted in enhanced anti-tumor effects: firstly, Oncolytic Vaccinia virus is injected and selective-replication occurs in the tumor site; once the virus reached maximum distribution throughout the tumor, anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody was added, resulting in enhanced recognition of tumor cells by the immune system. This combination resulted in potent antitumor activity in several orthotopic mouse models, demonstrating the requirement for both immune stimulation and viral replication.