cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurons Regulate Extracellular Levels of Amyloid β-Protein via Proteolysis by Insulin-Degrading Enzyme

Progressive cerebral accumulation of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is an early and invariant feature of Alzheimer's disease. Little is known about how Abeta, after being secreted, is degraded and cleared from the extracellular space of the brain. Defective Abeta degradation could be a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease in some subjects. We reported previously that microglial cells release substantial amounts of an Abeta-degrading protease that, after purification, is indistinguishable from insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Here we searched for and characterized a role for IDE in Abeta degradation by neurons, the principal cell type that produces Abeta. Whole cultures of differentiated pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and primary rat cortical neurons actively degraded endogenously secreted Abeta via IDE. However, unlike that in microglia, IDE in differentiated neurons was not released but localized to the cell surface, as demonstrated by biotinylation. Undifferentiated PC12 cells released IDE into their medium, whereas after differentiation, IDE was cell associated but still degraded Abeta in the medium. Overexpression of IDE in mammalian cells markedly reduced the steady-state levels of extracellular Abeta(40) and Abeta(42), and the catalytic site mutation (E111Q) abolished this effect. We observed a novel membrane-associated form of IDE that is approximately 5 kDa larger than the known cytosolic form in a variety of cells, including differentiated PC12 cells. Our results support a principal role for membrane-associated and secreted IDE isoforms in the degradation and clearance of naturally secreted Abeta by neurons and microglia.
MODELLING AND MANAGING RISK

This paper looks at the risks faced by financial institutions, and how they can be modelled and managed. I compare the way in which each of the risks affects different types of financial institution and look for similarities (and differences) across industries. Finally, I consider what makes a good risk management system.
A multipoint method for locating radio frequency interference sources in power stations and substations

This paper presents a new method for radio frequency interference measurement and locating a single source of increased level of radio frequency interference within the equipment in power stations and substations. The case study demonstrates the advantages and accuracy of the new method.
New concepts in the early and preclinical detection of Parkinson's disease: therapeutic implications.

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder leading to progressive motor impairment for which there is no cure. Currently, the diagnosis is made by the presence of cardinal motor features and several associated non-motor symptoms. However, at this point, the underlying neuropathological changes are already underway, and efforts in basic and clinical research have converged to suggest that Parkinson’s disease actually begins well before symptom onset. As a result, the identification and development of disease-modifying therapies is difficult. In this review, we begin by summarizing what is known of disease pathogenesis in the context of early symptomatology. We then discuss the Parkinson’s at-risk syndrome and highlight how this conceptual framework can be a useful for studies of early disease biomarkers and putative disease-modifying neurotherapeutics. With this framework, we discuss several clinical assessments, radiological studies and molecular assays that may be useful in early disease...
Double Dissociation Between Memory Systems Underlying Explicit and Implicit Memory in the Human Brain

Amnesic patients have impaired explicit memory that is evident in poor recall and recognition of words, yet can have intact implicit memory for words as measured by repetition priming, the enhanced efficiency for reprocessing those words The dissociation between explicit and implicit memory for words is a fundamental characteristic of normal cognition that could reflect two different functional architectures of the human brain two separate processing systems or two levels of operation of a single system with implicit memory less demanding of that system We present a patient who has a lesion in the right occipital lobe and who showed intact explicit and impaired implicit memory for words The deficit was specific to visual priming The double dissociation between explicit and implicit visual memory for words indicates that separate processing systems mediate these two forms of memory, and that a memory system in right occipital cortex mediates implicit visual memory for words
History of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that arise in many tissues throughout the body. They share common pathologic features but have a broad spectrum of clinical presentations and malignant behavior [1]. The history of NETs, their discovery and classification, the evolution of their treatment, and the scientists who were responsible for these advancements over the past two centuries are the background upon which we now base our modern understanding of these cancers. This chapter will highlight the contributions of scientists in the field of NETs and the gastrointestinal neuroendocrine system from which they derive.
Low-flow Critical heat flux in heated microchannels

Critical heat flux (CHF) associated with the flow of subcooled water in heated microchannels is experimentally investigated. Four different channels, all 16 cm in length, are used: two are circular...
Role of the Membrane for Mechanosensing by Tethered Channels.

A tiny conical deformation in a channel embedded in a lipid membrane can give rise to a significant energy release when the channel opens.
Multidisciplinary care for individuals with disorders of sex development.

Purpose of review Recommendations regarding the care of individuals with disorders of sex development include that care be provided by multidisciplinary teams. This article will discuss team composition and function as well as the role of the gynecologist and barriers to such care. Recent findings Many barriers to multidisciplinary care exist, but recent reports stress the roles of different team members as well as tools for planning and implementation of such a team that may help to overcome such barriers. All current recommendations include the participation of a gynecologist in the disorders of sex development team. Gynecologists are in the unique position to continue to provide care as these individuals mature into adulthood. Summary Multidisciplinary care for patients with disorders of sex development is recommended and gynecologists provide unique expertise.
Agencies Utilized in Disseminating Information on Insect Control: Can We Adopt Uniform Methods for Measuring Results in Entomological Practices?

When asked to discuss the above topic a few weeks ago, the author was prompted to write the extension entomologists for their opinions. The replies contained many helpful suggestions. The opinion most frequently expressed was that we cannot adopt uniform methods for measuring results in entomological practices, but in each case this statement was modified.
Predicting the Size Distribution in Crystallization of TSPP:TMPyP Binary Porphyrin Nanostructures in a Batch Desupersaturation Experiment

Crystallization of a binary porphyrin nanostructure (BPN) of TSPP (meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin) and TMPyP (meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin) was studied. The morphology and crystallinity of the BPN was investigated using transmission electron (TEM) and atomic force microscopies (AFM). The composition of the BPN was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, and UV–visible spectroscopy. These techniques revealed a 1:1 composition of anionic to cationic porphyrins in the structure. Our initial studies on the synthesis of these materials revealed that the average size of these crystals increases monotonically with synthesis temperature and decreasing monotonically with initial concentration (supersaturation) of the mother solution. In this work we have developed a model to simulate the growth of these organic monocrystalline materials for the first time. This model encompasses all the major kinetic and thermodynamic steps of crystallization including homogene...
Progressive Rubella Panencephalitis

Persistent infection with rubella virus can result in slowly progressive degeneration of the central nervous system after an interval of four to twelve years. At least nine cases are known as complications of congenital or acquired rubella. This condition is characterized by progressive dementia, progressive motor dysfunction and seizures. Unusual immune responses characterize this disorder. Endogenous synthesis of oligoclonal rubella-specific IgG antibodies and homogeneous free light chains occur within the central nervous system. Persistence of serum IgM antibodies against rubella virus for at least 12 years has been observed. Circulating immune complexes have been demonstrated using the Clq technique. Persistence of virus has been confirmed by isolation of rubella from brain in one case 12 years after congenital infection and 4 years after onset of symptoms. Inhibition of leukocyte cytotoxicity for rubella infected target cells has been demonstrated for serum but not cerebrospinal fluid in this condition.
Incorporation of an Explicit Critical-Thinking Curriculum to Improve Pharmacy Students’ Critical-Thinking Skills

Objective. The Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) is a validated instrument to assess critical-thinking skills. The objective of this study was to determine if HSRT results improved in second-year student pharmacists after exposure to an explicit curriculum designed to develop critical-thinking skills. Methods. In December 2012, the HSRT was administered to students who were in their first year of pharmacy school. Starting in August 2013, students attended a 16-week laboratory curriculum using simulation, formative feedback, and clinical reasoning to teach critical-thinking skills. Following completion of this course, the HSRT was readministered to the same cohort of students. Results. All students enrolled in the course (83) took the HSRT, and following exclusion criteria, 90% of the scores were included in the statistical analysis. Exclusion criteria included students who did not finish more than 60% of the questions or who took less than 15 minutes to complete the test. Significant changes in the HSRT occurred in overall scores and in the subdomains of deduction, evaluation, and inference after students completed the critical-thinking curriculum. Conclusions. Significant improvement in HSRT scores occurred following student immersion in an explicit critical-thinking curriculum. The HSRT was useful in detecting these changes, showing that critical-thinking skills can be learned and then assessed over a relatively short period using a standardized, validated assessment tool like the HSRT.
Direct determination of Chromiun in soy sauce by GFAAS

Objective:To directly determine the chromium in soy sauce by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.Methods: With Mg(NO3)2 as matrix modifier,the sample was diluted for determination of chromium in soy sauce by GFAAS without digestion.Results: The sensitivity and precision of the method can both meet the test requirement.Chromium showed linearity in the range of 0 μg/L～20.0 μg/L with correlation coefficient over 0.9958.The detection limit of the method was 0.51 μg/L,the RSDs were between 2.3%～5,1%,the recoveries were 94.0%～109.0%.Conclusion: This method is easy,rapid,high sensitive and precisive,thus it is suitable for the determination of chromium in soy sauce.
Evaluation on the Status of Iodine Nutrition Among Different Populations in Chongqing in 2011

Objective To understand the status of iodine nutrition among different populations in Chongqing so as toprovide scientific evidences for putting in practice of salt iodization. Methods Probability sampling method was used toselect 30 counties in Chongqing in 2011. 40 children aged 8 to 10 of 1 school were selected from every investigatedcounty. For children aged 8 to 10, urinary iodine, salt iodine and salt intake per day were detected. For pregnant andlactating women, urinary iodine was tested. The urinary iodine was tested by Ce arsenic acid digestion. Salt iodine wastested by direct drop methods. Salt intake was tested by 3-day weighing method. Results 1 322 salt samples at householdlevel were investigated and the median of iodine was 29.90 mg / kg. Coverage rate of iodized salt , rate of qualified iodizedsalt, and the in taking rate of qualified iodized salt were 99.62% , 96.67% and 97.04% , respectively. Salt intake was8.4 g for person per day. The median levels of urine iodine of children , pregnant and lactating women were 254.1 μg / L,223.9 μg / L and 219.6 μg / L, respectively, while the urine iodine levels lower than 100 μg / L among these groups were 9.68% ,12.86% and 14.07% ,respectively,and urine iodine the levels above 300 μg / L among these groups were 36.38% ,32.59% and 31.82%,respectively. There were significant differences for the median levels of urine iodine among differentpopulations (H=15.78,P0.01). Conclusion The iodine nutrition among different populations in average was sufficientin Chongqing. However, there was shortage and overdose of iodine for part of the population in Chongqing.
Study and Application of k Value Optimization Based on the k-means Clustering Algorithm

k-means Clustering Algorithm is widely used and is sensitive to k.The performance of the k-means Clustering Algorithm primary depends on the optimization of k.In this paper,the progresses on k-means algorithm were summarized.Firstly,some representative k-means algorithms about the optimization of k were outlined.Secondly,several known data sets were selected to test some typical k-means algorithms.The work will be valuable for data clustering and data mining.
Total Colectomy and Proctocolectomy: Laparoscopic Approach

“Fast-track” or “enhanced recovery” programs have become paramount in the treatment and care of patients undergoing colorectal surgery. This strategy is divided in three important elements: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. Of these, the use of laparoscopy has become essential in the reduction of postoperative physiologic stress, morbidity, and reduced hospital length of stay. Surgery remains the only definite treatment in our armamentarium against ulcerative colitis (UC) and laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy with ileoanal pouch anastomosis (RPC-IPAA) its most attractive alternative. Total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis also referred to as subtotal colectomy with primary anastomosis may be performed on patients with the attenuated form of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) and patients with colon cancer associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), synchronous colon cancer, or an obstructing mass causing severe dilation of the proximal colon. Other cases include colonic inertia as well as lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding. This chapter will focus on the aforementioned procedures and will review some of the literature supporting their use.
Modeling and evaluating the capacity credit of PV solar systems using an analytical method

This paper introduces an analytical method to calculate the capacity credit of PV system in a manner that considers both the effect of input uncertainty and system components avaliability. The intermittency of the input source and system components availability were modeled separately and then convolved to construct a single capacity outage table. The discrete convolution method has been used in this work to build a generation model in the form of a capacity outage probability table. The proposed method is applied on the RBTS. The obtained results are compared to the results obtained by Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed method reduces the complexity of calculating the capacity credit of PV system considering the effect of system components availability.
Examining the Use of Curriculum to Support Early Literacy Instruction: A Multiple Case Study of Head Start Teachers

ABSTRACTResearch Findings: This qualitative study examined how Head Start teachers thought about children’s early literacy and how they enacted their thinking in a year-long curriculum reform effort. Data collected included interviews, observations, questionnaires, concept maps, and teachers’ reflections on implementation. The results indicated that as teachers implemented the new curriculum, a number of factors influenced their instructional practice. Four cross-case themes emerged: Volunteering to Change, Teachers’ Perspectives About Early Literacy, The Relationships Within Teaching Teams, and The Head Start Context. Practice or Policy: Findings are discussed as they relate to improving early literacy instruction through the use of curriculum. Implications for practitioners and teacher educators are outlined, including the importance of addressing gaps in teacher knowledge, facilitating skill development, and influencing teachers’ motivation to engage in change. Equally important to consider are factors...
A comparison of an audiometric screening survey with an in-depth research questionnaire for hearing loss and hearing loss risk factors

AbstractObjective: We assessed the reliability of a hearing risk factor screening survey used by hearing conservation programmes for noise-exposed workers. Design: We compared workers’ answers from the screening survey to their answers to a confidential research questionnaire regarding hearing loss risk factors. We calculated kappa statistics to test the correlation between yes/no questions in the research questionnaire compared to answers from 1 and 5 years of screening surveys. Study sample: We compared the screening survey and research questionnaire answers of 274 aluminum plant workers. Results: Most of the questions in the in-company screening survey showed fair to moderate agreement with the research questionnaire (kappa range: −0.02, 0.57). Workers’ answers to the screening survey had better correlation with the research questionnaire when we compared 5 years of screening answers. For nearly all questions, workers were more likely to respond affirmatively on the research questionnaire than the scre...
Thermoelectric energy conversion using nanostructured materials

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM )
Abstract P25: Factors Associated with Patients' Adoption and Adherence to a Heart Failure Telemonitoring System

Background: Despite numerous studies of telemonitoring (TM), the use of technology to monitor patients remotely, information about patients9 adoption and adherence to using such technologies is scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the patient characteristics associated with: 1) initiating use of TM and 2) adherence to using daily TM over 6 months. Methods: We evaluated all 826 patients enrolled in the TM arm of the Tele-HF multicenter RCT. TM consisted of a telephone-based interactive voice response system whereby patients reported symptoms and weight daily for 6 months. The adherence rate was calculated as the # of weeks the patient used the TM system at least 3 days/week over 6-month study period. Multivariable hierarchical regression was used to identify factors independently associated with initiation of and adherence to TM. Results: The mean ± SD age of patients was 61.1 ± 15.3 years (range 19-90), 44% were women, and 50% were of minority race. Overall, 14% (119/ 826) never initiated use of TM. In the multivariable analysis, younger patients (age Conclusion: Age, satisfaction with care and health literacy were associated with utilization of a TM system for the management of HF. Understanding more about how patient nonclinical factors impact use of new technologies such as TM, may improve the design and effectiveness of TM strategies.
Identification of T-cell-inflamed gastric adenocarcinoma in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

16Background: Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEC) is a significant global health problem. KEYNOTE-012 demonstrated a 22% objective response rate in patients with PD-L1 expressing GEC that receive...
Microtubule Stabilizing Agents

The microtubule cytoskeleton continues to be both an effective and a validated target in the therapy of cancer. Beginning with the vinca alkaloids almost 50 years ago and encouraged by the broad activity of first taxol® (paclitaxel) and then taxotere® (docetaxel) numerous investigators have identified structurally diverse compounds that interact with the tubulin/microtubule system displaying antimitotic and anticancer properties. Paclitaxel was the first of a class of agents with a binding site on the microtubule polymer that act principally by stabilizing microtubules. Other members of this class of compounds referred to as the microtubule-stabilizing agents include the epothilones, eleutherobin and discodermolide, natural products that are mechanistically similar but structurally unrelated to paclitaxel. With an emphasis on paclitaxel, the original and best-characterized member of the microtubule-stabilizing class, this chapter will review the compounds that comprise this diverse and interesting class of anti-cancer agents.
Modeling the Combination of Impacts Caused by Waste Heat Discharge from Power Plant Cooling Systems into Offshore Environments

This paper presents the methodology for spatial modeling of thermal discharge into water systems, including calculations of velocity field evolution, pressure and temperature fields for gas and liquid media, dynamics of temperature fields in solid media, and processes of heat-mass exchange at the interfacial area. The SPACEMORPH_THERMO software package was developed based on the described methodology. Test experiments are discussed for nonstationary three-dimensional modeling of human-induced thermal discharge in both flowing and static water systems. This multifunctional code complex is useful for forecasting the dynamics of ecological systems and risk assessment.
A Topology-aware Coding Framework for Distributed Graph Processing

This paper proposes a coded distributed graph processing framework to alleviate the communication bottleneck in large-scale distributed graph processing. In particular, we propose a topology-aware coded computing (TACC) algorithm that has two salient features. First, we propose a topology-aware graph allocation strategy. Second, we propose a coded aggregation scheme that combines the intermediate computations for graph processes while constructing coded messages. The proposed setup builds on a trade-off between computation and communication, in that increasing the computation load at the dismbuted parties can in turn reduce the communication load. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the TACC algorithm by comparing the communication load with existing setups on a Google web graph for PageRank computations. In particular, we show that the proposed coding strategy can lead up to 82% improvement in reducing the communication load when compared to the state-of-the-art.
Exploring Geopolitical Realities through Taxonomies: The Case of Taiwan

In the face of heterogeneous standards and large-scale datasets, it has become increasingly difficult to understand the underlying knowledge structures within complex information systems. These structures may encode latent assumptions that could be susceptible to issues such as ghettoization, bias, erasure, or omission. Inspired by a series of current events in the China-Taiwan conflict on the sovereignty of Taiwan, our research aims to develop methods that can elucidate multiple, often conflicting perspectives and hidden assumptions. We propose the use of a logic-based taxonomy alignment approach to first align and then reconcile distinct but overlapping taxonomies. We specifically examine three relevant taxonomies that list the world entities: (1) ISO 3166 for country codes and subdivisions; (2) the geographic regions of the US Department of Homeland Security; (3) the Center Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book. Our results highlight multiple alternate views (or Possible Worlds) for situating Taiwan relative to other neighboring entities. We hope that this work can be a first step to demonstrate how different geopolitical perspectives can be represented using multiple, interrelated taxonomies.
Estimation of maize yield and effects of variable-rate nitrogen application using UAV-based RGB imagery

Accurate crop yield estimation is important for agronomic and economic decision-making. This study evaluated the performance of imagery data acquired using a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based imaging system for estimating yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and the effects of variable-rate nitrogen (N) application on crops. Images of a 27-ha maize field were captured using a UAV with a consumer-grade RGB camera flying at ~100 m above ground level at three maize growth stages. The collected sequential images were stitched and the Excess Green (ExG) colour feature was extracted to develop prediction models for maize yield and to examine the effect of the variable-rate N application. Various linear regression models between ExG and maize yield were developed for three sample area sizes (21, 106, and 1058 m2). The model performance was evaluated using coefficient of determination (R2), F-test and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between estimated and actual yield. All linear regression models between ExG and yield were significant (p ≤ 0.05). The MAPE ranged from 6.2 to 15.1% at the three sample sizes, although R2 values were all
Soil health variations across an agricultural–urban gradient, Iowa, USA

Although variations in ecosystem processes associated with rural–urban gradients have focused on heavily populated regions, few studies have been conducted in smaller, urban cluster regions. In this study, we collected soil samples from 45 urban and rural locations near Charles City, Iowa (population ~ 7500) for soil organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), C/N ratios, and heavy metal analyses and evaluated patterns across land use and landscape conditions. In the urban soils, Pb and As values were higher, whereas mean Zr and Rb concentrations were higher in agricultural soils. C/N ratios were higher in urban clusters compared to agricultural land use. Differences in soil concentrations were more evident when landscape position was considered, with higher concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals measured in floodplains associated with both agricultural and urban cluster areas, respectively. Overall, we conclude that the degree of urbanization and industrial development within the Charles City urban cluster was sufficiently intense to differentiate the urban soils from the surrounding agricultural landscape. Our results extend the analysis of urbanization on soil health beyond typical mega-cities to include measurable impacts around smaller urban clusters which comprise ~ 10% of the U.S. population.
Bone Marrow at Initial Diagnosis: Clinical Associations and Approach to Diagnosis

Bone marrow examinations are done for a variety of benign and malignant conditions and are often triggered by abnormalities in the complete blood count and peripheral blood smear. In this chapter, a diagnostic approach to evaluating bone marrows in both adults and children will be reviewed. Optimal use of different aspects of the examination will be discussed as well as the use of ancillary testing. Finally, the organization of bone marrow reports and determination of when one can render a definitive versus a descriptive diagnosis will be reviewed.
Projected HIV and Bacterial STI Incidence Following COVID-Related Sexual Distancing and Clinical Service Interruption

ABSTRACT Background The global COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to indirectly impact the transmission dynamics and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Studies have already documented reductions in sexual activity (“sexual distancing”) and interruptions in HIV/STI services, but it is unknown what combined impact these two forces will have on longer-term HIV/STI epidemic trajectories. Methods We adapted a network-based model of co-circulating HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia for a population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Atlanta area. Model scenarios varied the timing, overlap, and relative extent of COVID-related sexual distancing in casual and one-time partnership networks and service interruption within four service categories (HIV screening, HIV PrEP, HIV ART, and STI treatment). Results A 50% relative decrease in sexual partnerships and interruption of all clinical services, both lasting 18 months, would generally offset each other for HIV (total 5-year population impact for Atlanta MSM: −227 cases), but have net protective effect for STIs (−23,800 cases). Greater relative reductions and longer durations of service interruption would increase HIV and STI incidence, while greater relative reductions and longer durations of sexual distancing would decrease incidence of both. If distancing lasted only 3 months but service interruption lasted 18 months, the total 5-year population impact would be an additional 890 HIV cases and 57,500 STI cases. Conclusions The counterbalancing impact of sexual distancing and clinical service interruption depends on the infection and the extent and durability of these COVID-related changes. If sexual behavior rebounds while service interruption persists, we project an excess of hundreds of HIV cases and thousands of STI cases just among Atlanta MSM over the next 5 years. Immediate action to limit the impact of service interruptions is needed to address the indirect effects of the global COVID pandemic on the HIV/STI epidemic.
Validating the Enright Self-Forgiveness Inventory (ESFI)

The need for a new self-forgiveness scale based on the theoretical foundation that forgiveness is a moral virtue has arisen. Thus, the Enright Self-Forgiveness Inventory was developed and validated in a series of four studies. In Study 1, we explored the factor structure of each of the six subscale item pools to determine the best 7 items (5 items plus 2 replacement items). In Study 2 and in Study 3, confirmatory factor analyses were done to identify the best 30 item ESFI and to replicate the factor structure with a new sample. In Studies 1, 2, and 3, construct validity was examined by comparing the ESFI to other psychological and emotional constructs. In Study 4, convergent validity was checked by comparing the ESFI to another psychometrically sound self-forgiveness scale. The ESFI is a reliable and valid scale ready for use in research and mental health practice.
Playing Games with Our Lives: What Critical Pedagogy Can Teach Us About the Ethics of Games in the Writing Classroom

The use of games has been positioned as a radical challenge to theories of learning in general and the teaching of writing in particular, but does using games constitute a radical pedagogy? This essay uses Freire’s model of problem-posing pedagogy to explore the ethical challenges inherent to game-based pedagogy and to see how revisiting the pre-digital roots of critical pedagogy can help define a political and ethical basis for gaming pedagogy as a hedge against commodification and a faux-neutral version of “problem solving.” By combining a Freirean critique of gaming pedagogy with a gaming approach to problem-posing, we can open a space to approach gaming not merely as means to various educational ends, not as a way to “trick” students into learning, but as ends themselves rooted in the fundamental ethical and political questions of what it means to make a better world and to play games with our lives.
A UAV-enabled Dynamic Multi-Target Tracking and Sensing Framework

In this paper an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) - enabled dynamic multi-target tracking and data collection framework is presented. Initially, a holistic reputation model is introduced to evaluate the targets’ potential in offloading useful data to the UAVs. Based on this model, and taking into account UAVs and targets tracking and sensing characteristics, a dynamic intelligent matching between the UAVs and the targets is performed. In such a setting, the incentivization of the targets to perform the data offloading is based on an effort-based pricing that the UAVs offer to the targets. The emerging optimization problem towards determining each target’s optimal amount of offloaded data and the corresponding effort-based price that the UAV offers to the target, is treated as a Stackelberg game between each target and the associated UAV. The properties of existence, uniqueness and convergence to the Stackelberg Equilibrium are proven. Detailed numerical results are presented highlighting the key operational features and the performance benefits of the proposed framework.
Enhancer reprogramming in PRC2-deficient malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors induces a targetable de-differentiated state

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are soft tissue sarcomas that frequently harbor genetic alterations in polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2) components-SUZ12 and EED. Here, we show that PRC2 loss confers a dedifferentiated early neural-crest phenotype which is exclusive to PRC2-mutant MPNSTs and not a feature of neurofibromas. Neural crest phenotype in PRC2 mutant MPNSTs was validated via cross-species comparative analysis using spontaneous and transgenic MPNST models. Systematic chromatin state profiling of the MPNST cells showed extensive epigenomic reprogramming or chromatin states associated with PRC2 loss and identified gains of active enhancer states/super-enhancers on early neural crest regulators in PRC2-mutant conditions around genomic loci that harbored repressed/poised states in PRC2-WT MPNST cells. Consistently, inverse correlation between H3K27me3 loss and H3K27Ac gain was noted in MPNSTs. Epigenetic editing experiments established functional roles for enhancer gains on DLX5-a key regulator of neural crest phenotype. Consistently, blockade of enhancer activity by bromodomain inhibitors specifically suppressed this neural crest phenotype and tumor burden in PRC2-mutant PDXs. Together, these findings reveal accumulation of dedifferentiated neural crest like state in PRC2-mutant MPNSTs that can be targeted by enhancer blockade.
Semi-Supervised and Supervised Nonlinear Equalizers in Fiber-FSO Converged System

We leverage the supervised and semi-supervised Volterra nonlinear equalizers (VNLE) to mitigate the system nonlinearity. Two methods are employed to estimate the coefficients: ordinary least square (OLS) estimator and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso). Due to the additional coupling loss and higher propagation loss in bad weather conditions, FSO-fiber link requires a more stringent power budget. Higher modulation depth and transmitter output power can improve the link budget but need to make nonlinearity correction. Thus, we comprehensively perform a proof-of-concept demonstration in a fiber-FSO converged link with pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). Compared with conventional supervised VNLE using OLS, the coefficients estimated from Lasso require a smaller training symbol overhead. In both the 50-Gbaud PAM4 (at the 1.22 × 10−2 threshold) and 35-Gbaud PAM8 (at the 2 × 10−2 threshold) cases, when the labeled data proportion is 5%, supervised VNLE using Lasso exhibits a received optical power (ROP) improvement up to 3 dB, compared to supervised VNLE using OLS. Moreover, the semi-supervised method can utilize the unlabeled data and further improve the performance without adding signal overhead to the system. In our 50-Gbaud PAM4 experiment, with 60% unlabeled data, the semi-supervised VNLE based on the soft decision (SD) and Lasso demonstrates up to 3-dB sensitivity gain at the BER threshold of 4.5 × 10−3 compared with the supervised VNLE using Lasso. The semi-supervised VNLE using SD and Lasso also demonstrates a line rate improvement >100% at the 4.5 × 10−3 Pre-FEC BER threshold over the conventional supervised VLNE using OLS.
Impact of modified Frailty Index-11 (mFI-11) on postoperative complications in patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors: Analysis of 2006-2014 ACS-NSQIP database.

Abstract Introduction Frailty is a measure of physiologic reserve that is frequently cited as a predictor of postoperative complications. However, the effect of frailty on patients undergoing a relatively common procedure such as transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors (TSRPT) is unknown. Therefore, we sought to explore this relationship using a large, national database. Methods The 2006–2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was retrospectively reviewed to identify all patients who underwent TSRPT. Frailty scores were assigned using the established 11-factor modified Frailty Index (mFI-11). Patients were divided into low-frailty and high-frailty groups, based on mFI comorbidities of ≤ 1 and ≥ 2, respectively. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes and mortality. Results A total of 993 patients were included in the analysis. The low-frailty group consisted of 825 patients; the high-frailty group comprised 168 patients. In univariable analysis, there were no significant differences in medical (low-frailty 4.8%, high-frailty 8.3%; p = 0.069) and surgical (low-frailty 1.1%, high-frailty 1.2%; p = 1.000) complications; however, the high-frailty group had a higher rate of mortality (3%) when compared with the low-frailty group (0.6%; p = 0.016, OR 4.07, p = 0.044) and longer hospitalization (4.5 ± 7.4 vs. 5.8 ± 6.8 days; p = 0.023). In multivariable analysis, frailty was a predictor of mortality but not complications or reoperation. Conclusions Our study shows that frailty, as measured by the mFI-11, does not predict postoperative complications in patients who undergo TSRPT, but greater frailty is correlated with higher mortality and increased hospital length of stay.
A Substitution of Convolutional Layers by FFT Layers - A Low Computational Cost Version

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have lately gained popularity as a tool for accurately diagnosing and detecting liver problems. CNNs produced highly promising findings that were comparable to traditional detection approaches in terms of accuracy. However, one of their disadvantages is that the computing cost increases exponentially as the image size grows. We present a CNN-based technique that replaces the convolution layers with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) layers. Instead of using the kernel to convolution each pixel in a huge ultrasound image, which has a processing overhead of O(n2). The image and kernel's FFTs are computed, then multiplied in the frequency domain with a computational cost of O(nlogn), then the result's inverse Fourier transform is computed. As a result, for forward and backward propagation in the CNN for liver steatosis classification from ultrasound pictures of benign and malignant fatty liver, we replaced convolution with FFT. To categorize 550 ultrasound fatty liver images, CNN layers achieved an accuracy of 89.82%, while our technique achieved a 4% loss in classification accuracy but an 83.3 percent reduction in computational time.
Mapping-by-sequencing of Ligon-lintless-1 (Li 1 ) reveals a cluster of neighboring genes with correlated expression in developing fibers of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Key message Mapping-by-sequencing and SNP marker analysis were used to fine map the Ligon-lintless-1 (Li1) short fiber mutation in tetraploid cotton to a 255-kb region that contains 16 annotated proteins.
Best-classifier feedback in diagnostic classification training

Diagnostic classification training requires viewing many examples along with category membership feedback. "Objective" feedback based on category membership suggests that perfect accuracy is attainable when it may not be (e.g., with confusable categories). Previous work shows that feedback based on an "optimal" responder (that sometimes makes classification errors) leads to higher long-run reward, especially in unequal category payoff conditions. In the current study, participants learned to classify normal or cancerous mammography images, earning more points for correct "cancer" than "normal" responses. Feedback was either objective or based on performance of an empirically determined "best" classifier. This approach is necessary because theoretically optimal responses cannot be determined with complex real-world stimuli with unknown perceptual distributions. Replicating earlier work that used simple artificial stimuli, we found that best-classifier performance led to decision-criterion values (β) closer to the reward-maximizing criterion, along with higher point totals and a slight reduction (as predicted) in overall accuracy.
Educating the Educators

AbstractWhile for Louis Althusser ideology was very much an affair of the unconscious, it fell to his Spanish student, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, to fully articulate the concept of the ‘ideological unconscious’ per se, the latter understood as secreted by the relations of production operative respectively within the various modes of production. Rodri-guez elucidates the workings of this unconscious through the associated notion of an ideological matrix, with particular reference to the transition from ‘substantialism’, the dominant ideology of feudalism, to ‘animism’, the earliest form of bourgeois ideology. Bourgeois ideology is understood as turning crucially upon the opposition between ‘society’ and the free‘individual’, free to exploit and be exploited. The present paper assesses the challenge the Spaniard’s work poses to those intellectual traditions, which include critical realism and some versions of Marxism, that take ‘society’ and the ‘individual’ to be ontological (as distinct from ideological) real...
An application of AI techniques to structuring objects into an optimal conceptual hierarchy

A method of "learning from observation" is presented which structures a collection of objects into hierarchies of subcategories, such that each subcategory la characterised by a conjunctive description involving relations on selected object attributes. The conjunctive descriptions supporting from each node are mutually disjoint and optimal aa a group according to a flexibly defined criterion. Each level of the hierarchy is determined by an iterative procaaa which respectively applies a veralon of the A* search algorithm. Experiments with the program CLUSTER/PAF implementing the method indicate that the obtained hierarchies represent solutions which have a simple conceptual Interpretation and which seem to agree well with the way people structure objects.
Performances of CSRZ-DPSK and RZ-DPSK in 43-Gbit/s/ch DWDM G.652 single-mode-fiber transmission

Numerical simulation showed that a carrier-suppressed return-to-zero DPSK signal has higher spectral efficiency and more tolerance to fiber-nonlinearity-induced impairment compared with an RZ-DPSK signal. A 3-dB enhancement in the maximum allowable fiber-launched power was achieved in G.652 SMF transmission.
Starting Right: Using “Biophilia,” Organism Cards, & Key Themes in Biology to Introduce Student-Centered Active-Learning Strategies at the Beginning of a Course

To create rich learning experiences, it is important to engage students from the very beginning of a course and lay the foundation for constructing a community of active learners. The activities described here using “organism cards” connect students’ previous knowledge to course goals and address key themes in biology while initiating student-centered and active learning. Using these approaches from the very first day of class can contribute to creating a positive learning environment in which students engage with each other and instructors, resulting in significant learning experiences.
A complexity-based timing analysis of fast real transforms

Within the past decade, real-valued trigonometric transforms have gained increased awareness in real-time or computationally-intensive applications characterized by voluminous real data sets. The computational savings of real-valued transforms over their complex-valued counterparts have led to proliferation of fast real transforms wherein each author claims the lowest theoretical complexity (i.e., the number of additions and multiplications) than any other real-valued FFT algorithm. However, the performance of an algorithm not only depends on its additive and multiplicative complexities, but also on the number of machine cycles attributed to data-transfer operations-for example, load and store instructions. In this paper, a performance analysis of four real-valued trigonometric transforms based on a timing study is presented. An improved fast Hartley transform algorithm is developed which is computationally more efficient than the algorithms studied herein when computed on a SPARC-based computing platform. >
Radiofrequency ablation of the porcine liver with complete hepatic vascular occlusion.

Background We studied the effects of radiofrequency ablation, relative to hepatic blood flow, on the volume and shape of the resulting tissue necrosis. The extent of necrosis is directly proportional to the size of the electrode and inversely related to blood flow, which dissipates the heat generated.
Ultra-fast photoluminescence in fused silica surface flaws susceptible to laser damage

Using high-sensitivity confocal time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) techniques, we found an ultrafast PL (40 ps-5 ns) from impurity-free surface flaws on fused silica. This PL is excited by the single-photon absorption of sub-band gap light. Regions which exhibit this PL are strongly absorptive well below the band gap, as evidenced by a propensity to damage with 3.5 eV nanosecond-scale laser pulses. Very high defect densities are needed to explain the damage thresholds observed. For such high defect densities, significant interactions between defects may strongly affect the temporal characteristics of the emission of electronic excitations. We propose that the distribution in lifetimes observed is not simply due to a large variety of defect states, but due to a variety of energy transfer interactions between defect states.
Exploiting stochastic partitions for minefield detection

In many applications one wishes to perform an analysis of the homogeneity of a point process, often as a precursor to more advanced analysis. In general, rejection of the null hypothesis of homogeneity may imply a requirement for further analysis. In remote sensing for minefield detection, for example, homogeneity may correspond to the 'no minefield' case while regions of nonhomogeneity warrant closer inspection. This paper considers a version of the spatial scan process which uses stochastic and disjoint scan regions. The associated test for nonhomogeneity has the potential for improved power over conventional alternative sin applications where the point process is embedded in a general random field. Specifically, when the locations of any subregions of nonhomogeneity in the point process correspond to regions in the underlying field which can be segmented as distinct from their surroundings, the test derived here is recommended. The application to the detection of point clusters in gray-scale imagery, particularly minefields in multispectral imagery, is investigated.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.