cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation and finite element simulation of streaming in blood in cylindrical models

Conventional ultrasound imaging sometimes experiences difficulties of distinguishing between stagnant blood from tissue, and clotted from unclotted blood. This distinction may have high value in managing trauma patients with internal hemorrhage. Acoustic streaming is a physical phenomenon resulting from the momentum transfer from an ultrasound beam to the fluid medium due to attenuation. The presence of streaming in a sonographically indeterminate region can help detect a pool of unclotted blood from clots or other soft tissue. We report here a quantitative study of streaming in blood in a tubular model and a large open space. The streaming was detected with real-time color Doppler imaging. The experimental results were compared with the analytical solution and finite element simulation. This study suggests that streaming velocity will approach an asymptotic value in large hematomas.
Temporal and spatial response of hyporheic zone geochemistry to a storm event

Although there has been recent focus on understanding spatial variability in hyporheic zone geochemistry across different morphological units under baseflow conditions, less attention has been paid to temporal responses of hyporheic zone geochemistry to non-steady-state conditions. We documented spatial and temporal variability of hyporheic zone geochemistry in response to a large-scale storm event, Tropical Storm Irene (August 2011), across a pool–riffle–pool sequence along Chittenango Creek in Chittenango, NY, USA. We sampled stream water as well as pore water at 15 cm depth in the streambed at 14 locations across a 30 m reach. Sampling occurred seven times at daily intervals: once during baseflow conditions, once during the rising limb of the storm hydrograph, and five times during the receding limb. Principal component analysis was used to interpret temporal and spatial changes and dominant drivers in stream and pore water geochemistry (n = 111). Results show the majority of spatial variance in hyporheic geochemistry (62%) is driven by differential mixing of stream and ground water in the hyporheic zone. The second largest driver (17%) of hyporheic geochemistry was temporal dilution and enrichment of infiltrating stream water during the storm. Hyporheic sites minimally influenced by discharging groundwater (‘connected’ sites) showed temporal changes in water chemistry in response to the storm event. Connected sites within and upstream of the riffle reflected stream geochemistry throughout the storm, whereas downstream sites showed temporally lagged responses in some conservative and biogeochemically reactive solutes. This suggests temporal changes in hyporheic geochemistry at these locations reflect a combination of changes in infiltrating stream chemistry and hyporheic flowpath length and residence time. The portion of the study area strongly influenced by groundwater discharge increased in size throughout the storm, producing elevated Ca2+ and concentrations in the streambed, suggesting zones of localized groundwater inputs expand in response to storms. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A contemporary taxometric analysis of the latent structure of self-monitoring.

One of the most provocative findings in the personality psychology literature is evidence that the latent structure of self-monitoring is categorical. That is, individuals can be classified as either high or low self-monitors (Gangestad & Snyder, 1985). Surprisingly, in the three decades since its original publication, this study has never been replicated. Using the sample from the original study (N = 1,918) and a replication sample (N = 2,951), the latent structure of self-monitoring was retested using contemporary taxometric procedures. Preliminary analyses indicated that the eight-item indicator set used in the original study lacked sufficient indicator validities for unambiguously detecting latent categorical structure. In addition, the Other-Directedness subscale, one of the three factor analytically derived subscale indicators used in the original investigation, was likewise found to be unsuitable, because of a combination of low validity and relative orthogonality vis-a-vis its fellow subscales. The 2 remaining subscales, Acting and Extraversion, had excellent properties as indicators, and were subsequently subjected to multiple taxometric procedures and consistency tests. Results failed to support the original taxonic claim; to the contrary, multiple comparison curves and a grand mean comparison curve fit index (CCFI) of .214 provided strong, convergent evidence that the latent structure of self-monitoring is dimensional rather than categorical. Dimensional findings indicate that the conventional model of self-monitoring may merit reexamination, and that theoretical models, measurement practices, and data analytic procedures that assume taxonicity should be replaced by dimensional conceptualizations and corresponding statistical procedures. Findings underscore the importance of replication in psychological science.
Constructing Accountability: Party Position Taking and Economic Voting

A positive relationship between economic performance and support for incumbents is routinely taken as evidence that elections work for accountability. Recent investigations into this relationship h...
Self-organization of sensors for swarm intelligence

The realization of sensing swarms composed of value-specific sensing elements requires distributed cooperation among the members of the swarm. The number of value-specific sensing elements must change under changing external conditions. The recalculations of the optimal distribution of sensing elements can be carried out from the knowledge of the (changed) average value of the sensed feature. Mathematically this can be done by using the maximum-entropy principle. However, distribution operation requires solving two additional problems: the new average value must be known to each sensing element, and a new configuration must be achieved autonomously (i.e. under distributed control). For the solution to these problems the authors introduce a circulating swarm model in which the elements of the swarm circulate in a ring while performing the sensing operations and the self-organization. They show which elementary operations can be used in an algorithm for self-organization of the swarm in a new configuration optimized for sensing. >
SpxB Is a Suicide Gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Confers a Selective Advantage in an In Vivo Competitive Colonization Model

The human bacterial pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae dies spontaneously upon reaching stationary phase. The extent of S. pneumoniae death at stationary phase is unusual in bacteria and has been conventionally attributed to autolysis by the LytA amidase. In this study, we show that spontaneous pneumococcal death is due to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), not LytA, and that the gene responsible for H2O2 production (spxB) also confers a survival advantage in colonization. Survival of S. pneumoniae in stationary phase was significantly prolonged by eliminating H2O2 in any of three ways: chemically by supplementing the media with catalase, metabolically by growing the bacteria under anaerobic conditions, or genetically by constructing ΔspxB mutants that do not produce H2O2. Likewise, addition of H2O2 to exponentially growing S. pneumoniae resulted in a death rate similar to that of cells in stationary phase. While ΔlytA mutants did not lyse at stationary phase, they died at a rate similar to that of the wild-type strain. Furthermore, we show that the death process induced by H2O2 has features of apoptosis, as evidenced by increased annexin V staining, decreased DNA content, and appearance as assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Finally, in an in vivo rat model of competitive colonization, the presence of spxB conferred a selective advantage over the ΔspxB mutant, suggesting an explanation for the persistence of this gene. We conclude that a suicide gene of pneumococcus is spxB, which induces an apoptosis-like death in pneumococci and confers a selective advantage in nasopharyngeal cocolonization.
Historical gaseous and primary aerosol emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2010

Abstract. An accurate description of emissions is crucial for model simulations to reproduce and interpret observed phenomena over extended time periods. In this study, we used an approach based on activity data to develop a consistent series of spatially resolved emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2010. The state-level anthropogenic emissions of SO 2 , NO x , CO, NMVOC (non-methane volatile organic compounds), NH 3 , PM 10 and PM 2.5 for a total of 49 sectors were estimated based on several long-term databases containing information about activities and emission controls. Activity data for energy-related stationary sources were derived from the State Energy Data System. Corresponding emission factors reflecting implemented emission controls were calculated back from the National Emissions Inventory (NEI) for seven years (i.e., 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2005), and constrained by the AP-42 (US EPA's Compilation of Air Pollutant Emissions Factors) dataset. Activity data for mobile sources including different types of highway vehicles and non-highway equipment were obtained from highway statistics reported by the Federal Highway Administration. The trends in emission factors for highway mobile source were informed by the 2011 National Transportation Statistics. Emissions for all non-energy-related sources were either scaled by the growth ratio of activity indicators or adjusted based on the NEI trends report. Because of the strengthened control efforts, particularly for the power sector and mobile sources, emissions of all pollutants except NH 3 were reduced by half over the last two decades. The emission trends developed in this study are comparable with the NEI trend report and EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) data, but better constrained by trends in activity data. Reductions in SO 2 , NO x , CO and EC (speciation of PM 2.5 by SMOKE, Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions) emissions agree well with the observed changes in ambient SO 2 , NO 2 , CO and EC concentrations, suggesting that the various controls on emissions implemented over the last two decades are well represented in the emission inventories developed in this study. These inventories were processed by SMOKE and are now ready to be used for regional chemistry transport model simulations over the 1990–2010 period.
Full-field viscoelastic inflation response of bovine cornea.

Most previous experimental studies and mechanical cornea models have ignored time-dependence of the cornea’s modulus, with only a few notable exceptions [1–3]. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the time-dependent properties of cornea tissue independent of scleral contributions in a condition that is as physiologically-relevant as possible without resorting to costly and difficult in vivo characterization. A non-contact 3-dimensional displacement mapping tool was employed to image the entire deformation field across the entire cornea in real-time during pressurization. Unlike prior inflation-based studies, the present study’s unique approach permits dynamic real-time full-field mapping of deformation during inflation for the examination of viscoelasticity, isotropy, and homogeneity.
The Multistate Life Table

In the decrement-only models examined up to now, all members of the model population have been in the same “active” state, be that the state “alive” in a basic life table or the state “unmarried” in a nuptiality-mortality table. Multistate models, also known as increment-decrement or “combined” models, recognize more than one active state and allow members of the model population to move from one to another. That greater flexibility has made multistate models valuable in the analysis of many subjects, including marital status patterns, labor force behavior, and interregional migration.
Regulation of gene expression during aging.

The phenomenon of aging is generally believed to be genetically determined and environmentally modulated. Although genetics plays a major role in the determination of life span, the mechanisms by which genetic elements determine life span are poorly understood. Models range from specific highly deterministic genetically based programs to genetically defined constitutions (Finch 1990). One of the major foci in modern molecular gerontology is the mechanistic role that the genome plays in the aging process and life span.
Influence of hypoxia and carotid sinus nerve stimulation on abdominal muscle activities in the cat

Experiments were designed to test two hypotheses regarding the influence of isocapnic hypoxia on the expiratory activity of the abdominal muscles: 1) brain hypoxia attenuates the increased drive to the abdominal muscles that is elicited by hypoxic stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptor afferents, and 2) activation of the abdominal muscles in hypoxia requires vagal afferent feedback. The measurements included inspired ventilation (VI) and the electromyogram (EMG) of the external and internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles in 12 supine cats that were anesthetized with chloralose (50 mg/kg) and breathed spontaneously. Changes in respiratory drive were evoked with isocapnic hypoxia or electrical stimulation of a carotid sinus nerve. Although both stimuli increased abdominal motor output, carotid sinus nerve stimulation evoked a significantly greater increase in the external and internal oblique EMG than hypoxia when comparisons were made at an equivalent level of VI. Neither stimulus changed the abdominal EMG significantly after bilateral cervical vagotomy. Separate experiments revealed that, at a given level of VI, hypercapnia evoked a significantly greater increase in abdominal activity than isocapnic hypoxia. The results suggest that the increased drive to the abdominal muscles elicited by stimulation of the peripheral and central chemoreceptors can be antagonized by an inhibitory input that is triggered by brain hypoxia. Moreover the decrease in expiratory motor activity often observed during hypoxia in vagotomized animals is due to the removal of an excitatory mechanism that is mediated by vagal afferent feedback.
Finite-Time Stabilization and Optimal Feedback Control

Finite-time stability involves dynamical systems whose trajectories converge to an equilibrium state in finite time. Since finite-time convergence implies nonuniqueness of system solutions in reverse time, such systems possess non-Lipschitzian dynamics. Sufficient conditions for finite-time stability have been developed in the literature using continuous Lyapunov functions. In this technical note, we develop a framework for addressing the problem of optimal nonlinear analysis and feedback control for finite-time stability and finite-time stabilization. Finite-time stability of the closed-loop nonlinear system is guaranteed by means of a Lyapunov function that satisfies a differential inequality involving fractional powers. This Lyapunov function can clearly be seen to be the solution to a partial differential equation that corresponds to a steady-state form of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation, and hence, guaranteeing both finite-time stability and optimality.
Impact of fellowship training on one-year outcomes of robotic-assisted prostatectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We examined 1-year functional and oncologic outcomes for robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) from a single surgeon entering practice directly from fellowship training. METHODS We prospectively analyzed the first 100 RALPs performed by one fellowship-trained robotic surgeon. Data included resident involvement during the procedure, perioperative data, and surgical complications (scored using the Clavien grading system). Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) data were captured using the EPIC questionnaire at baseline (prior to surgery) and at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS Eighty-two patients (82%) had hospital stays of 2 days or less without any postoperative complications, urethral catheter removal was within 14 days of surgery, and none required readmission to the hospital. The overall positive margin rate was 21% (19% for patients with T2 disease). Clavien grades 1 through 4 complication rates, respectively, were 4%, 10%, 1%, and 1%. There were no deaths, reoperations, or bladder neck contractures. One patient (1%) required a blood transfusion within the 90-day perioperative period. At 1-year follow-up, 78% of patients reported wearing no pads; 41.3% of patients with baseline and 1-year follow-up data reported having intercourse. CONCLUSIONS We provide baseline data pertaining to the morbidity, oncologic efficacy, continence results, and potency outcomes of new surgeons performing RALP.
WLAN based user position tracking for contextual information access in indoor construction environments

This paper presents research that is investigating the requirements of an automated location-based methodology to rapidly identify and retrieve contextual project information on indoor and outdoor construction sites for supporting decision-making tasks of site personnel. The proposed approach to this retrieval task is the design and implementation of a dynamic user-viewpoint tracking scheme that can allow identification of construction entities visible in a user's field of view at any given time and location. For outdoor applications, a geo-referencing based algorithm has been developed using Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and magnetic orientation tracking devices to successfully track user's dynamic viewpoint. For indoor applications, this research is studying the applicability of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) for dynamic user position tracking. The objectives of this paper are to describe the overall methodology being designed as well as to describe the proof of concept experiments performed outdoors and indoors. The obtained results highlighted the potential of using location-aware technologies for rapidly detecting contextual objects in construction environments.
Observations on Resistance Of Staphylococcus aureus to Action of Tyrothricin.

ConclusionsVarious strains of Staphylococcus aureus differ in their susceptibility to the action of tyrothricin. It is possible to increase the resistance of staphylococci to tyrothricin by growing the organism in increasing concentrations of the bactericidal substance. In one patient treated with tyrothricin there was a marked increased resistance of the infecting organism after several weeks of therapy.
Studies of human iliac crest cartilage

Proteinpolysaccharides (PP) have been extracted by disruptive and dissociative methods from iliac crest cartilage of nine achondroplastic children, eight girls and one boy, from eight to thirteen years of age. Both high speed homogenization of the tissue in water or incubation with guanidinium chloride released from the cartilage of younger children normal amounts of PP of high molecular weight. Cartilage samples obtained from older children released instead little or no PP material by water extraction. The water-insoluble PP were found soluble in 4 M guanidinium chloride, unbuffered MgCl2 solution and 0.067 M phosphate buffer. While the guanidine extract contained, after dilution of guanidinium chloride to 0.4 M, a high molecular weight component, MgCl2 and phosphate buffer extracts contained only degraded PP material of low molecular weight.
A Giant Surfactant of Polystyrene−(Carboxylic Acid-Functionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane) Amphiphile with Highly Stretched Polystyrene Tails in Micellar Assemblies

A novel giant surfactant possessing a well-defined hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic polymeric tail, polystyrene-(carboxylic acid-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) conjugate (PS-APOSS), has been designed and synthesized via living anionic polymerization, hydrosilylation, and thiol-ene "click" chemistry. PS-APOSS forms micelles in selective solvents, and the micellar morphology can be tuned from vesicles to wormlike cylinders and further to spheres by increasing the degree of ionization of the carboxylic acid. The effect of APOSS-APOSS interactions was proven to be essential in the morphological transformation of the micelles. The PS tails in these micellar cores were found to be highly stretched in comparison with those in traditional amphiphilic block copolymers, and this can be explained in terms of minimization of free energy. This novel class of giant surfactants expands the scope of macromolecular amphiphiles and provides a platform for the study of the basic physical principles of their self-assembly behavior.
Solid-state structures and properties of scandium hydride; hydrogen storage and switchable mirrors application

First-principles calculation has been performed on the rare earth hydride ScH 2 for hydrogen storage and switchable mirror applications, using the pseudo-potentials and plane waves based on the density-functional theory (DFT). The electronic and structural properties are studied within both local-density and generalized gradient approximations for exchange energy. The formation energy and the optical properties have been investigated and discussed. Our calculated results are generally in good agreement with theoretical and experimental data.
Diversifying High Schools in Racially Changing Suburban Districts: Expanding Opportunity, Creating Barriers?

Although demographic change is happening more rapidly at the elementary school level, the intersection of these demographic trends with the changing mission of high schools may offer the opportunity to reduce some of the persistent racial gaps in educational attainment. At the same time, when schools became diverse as desegregation took place, stratification within schools occurred, leading to inequality within diverse schools. Thus, this article seeks to examine whether high schools can help to expand opportunity for low-income students and students of color as suburban racial change occurs. To answer this question, this article draws on school-level interviews in six public high schools in racially changing suburban districts in some of the nation's largest metropolitan areas. High schools in this study focused on ways to provide access to diverse students through structural reforms and information dissemination, yet they also saw academic programs as a way to compete for certain students to shape their...
The location and mechanism of electromotility in guinea pig outer hair cells

1. The microchamber method was used to examine the motile responses of isolated guinea pig outer hair cells to electrical stimulation. In the microchamber method, an isolated cell is drawn partway into a suction pipette and stimulated transcellularly. The relative position of the cell in the microchamber is referred to as the exclusion fraction. 2. The length changes of the included and excluded segments were compared for constant sinusoidal stimulus amplitude as functions of the exclusion fraction. Both included and excluded segments showed maximal responses when the cell was excluded approximately halfway. Both segments showed smaller or absent responses when the cell was almost fully excluded or almost fully included. 3. When the cell was near to, but not at, the maximum exclusion, the included segment response amplitude was zero, whereas the excluded segment response amplitude was nonzero. In contrast, when the cell was nearly fully included, the excluded segment response amplitude was zero, but the included segment response amplitude was still detectable. A simple model of outer hair cell motility based on these results suggests that the cell has finite-resistance terminations and that the motors are restricted to a region above the nucleus and below its ciliated apex (cuticular plate). 4. The function describing length change as a function of command voltage was measured for each segment as the exclusion fraction was varied. The functions were similar at midrange exclusions (i.e., when the segments were about equal length), showing nonlinearity and saturability. The functions were strikingly different when the segment lengths were different. The effects of exclusion on the voltage to length-change functions suggested that the nonlinearity and saturability are local properties of the motility mechanism. 5. The diameter changes of both segments were examined. The segment diameter changes were always antiphasic to the length changes. This finding implies that the motility mechanism has an active antiphasic diameter component. The diameter change amplitude was a monotonically increasing function of exclusion for the included segment, and a decreasing function for the excluded segment. 6. The voltage to length-change and voltage to diameter-change functions were measured for the same cell and exclusion fraction. The voltage to diameter-change function was smaller in amplitude than the voltage to length-change function. The functions were of opposite polarity to each other, but were otherwise similar in character. Thus it is likely that the same motor mechanism is responsible for both axial and diameter deformations.
Measurement of uterine blood flow and uterine metabolism. VI. Effects of oxytocic, vasopressor, and vasodepressor drugs on the blood flow to the postpartum uterus in unanesthetized sheep.

Abstract In a previous report 1 we presented data on the effects of spontaneous and oxytocin-induced labor as well as the effects of postpartum uterine involution on uterine blood flow as measured with the electromagnetic flowmeter in unanesthetized pregnant dogs and sheep. It was shown that uterine contraction, regardless of whether it resulted from spontaneous labor or from labor induced with oxytocin, was accompanied by a significant decrease in blood flow which was roughly proportional to the magnitude of the contraction. During uterine relaxation a reactive hyperemia-like phenomenon was observed during which the blood flow returned to, or was slightly higher than, control levels. Immediately after delivery of the fetus and placenta an initial and precipitous fall in uterine blood flow occurred. This was followed by a slower and more progressive decrease which roughly paralleled the involution of the uterus. Since oxytocic drugs are commonly used as hemostatic agents in obstetrics in the postpartum period, the present study was intended to investigate their effects on uterine blood flow after delivery of the fetus and placenta. The studies also include data on the effects of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and hydralazine (Apresoline) on postpartum uterine blood flow.
State Pension Plans for Public Employees: A Rough Road Ahead

Many public pension funds face serious funding shortfalls. In fact, more than half of the states currently have public pension funds with funded ratios that are less than 80 percent, a level many prefer. In this paper we examine factors important in explaining the funded ratios of state and local pension funds for public employees. We extend the study of Munnell et al. (2011) by (1) considering additional factors that may affect the funded ratio, (2) using panel data from 2001 to 2013, and (3) using different statistical methods. We demonstrate the importance of using the lagged funded ratio in our regressions to explain the current level of the funded ratio and its impact on the statistical significance of other coefficients.
Media and Consumer Economic Wellbeing

This chapter discusses potential effects of mass media on consumer economic wellbeing. Two categories of media, news media and advertisement, are examined. News media companies in the USA are privately owned and their major motivations are profit seeking. Some behavioral patterns described in the business chapter can also be found in news media companies. Among news media professionals, a group of people, labeled consumer journalists, serve as consumer advocates. In many circumstances, they promote consumer economic wellbeing even at the expenses of business interests sometimes. Advertisements are criticized by social science researchers as harmful to consumers in several aspects. However, in the advertisement industry, a concept of Advertisement Social Responsibility is proposed that have potential to improve consumer wellbeing and societal wellbeing. Advertisements can be categorized in many ways in different dimensions. This chapter reviews some of these types of ads and their effects on consumer behavior and wellbeing.
Real-Time Epileptic Seizure Detection from EEG Signals via Random Subspace Ensemble Learning

Real-time detection of seizure activities in epileptic patients is crucial and can help improve patients' quality of life. Accurate evaluation, pre-surgery assessments, seizure prevention, and emergency alerts for medical aid all depend on the rapid detection of the onset of seizures. A new method of feature selection and classification for rapid and precise epileptic seizure detection is discussed. In this solution, informative components of Electroencephalogram~(EEG) data are extracted and an automatic method is presented using Infinite Independent Component Analysis~(I-ICA) to select efficiently independent features. The feature space is divided into subspaces via random selection, and multi-channel Support Vector Machines~(SVMs) are used to classify the subspaces, then, the result of each classifier is combined by majority voting to find the final output. To evaluate the solution, a benchmark clinical intracranial EEG~(iEEG) of eight patients with temporal and extratemporal lobe epilepsy has been considered in a multi-tier cloud-computing architecture. Via the leave-one-out cross-validation, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and false positive and false negative ratios of the proposed method are 0.95, 0.96, 0.94, 0.06, and 0.04, respectively, which confirm the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
Synthetic versus Biologic Mesh in Single-Stage Repair of Complex Abdominal Wall Defects in a Contaminated Field

Abstract Background: Synthetic meshes have been used with varying rates of success in a contaminated setting, although their use is not widely accepted because of concerns for infection. A biologic mesh (BM) is assumed to be more resistant to infection than a synthetic mesh; however, sparse clinical data support this theory. The hypothesis for this study: Uncoated polypropylene synthetic mesh (USM) can be used to obtain a durable repair in the setting of a contaminated abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) in a single-stage procedure with comparable infectious outcomes to a biologic mesh repair. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on contaminated AWR, comparing 34 BM with 24 USM with infection as the primary outcome of interest. Secondary outcomes were re-admission and re-operation. We also investigated the microbial isolates that were cultured. Results: Mesh groups were similar in their demographics, duration of surgery, previous mesh, surgical site class, and source of contamin...
Plasma based integrated on-chip antenna

The advantages and current challenges associated with constructing an integrated on-chip antenna based on plasma waves in a two-dimensional electron gas are presented. We briefly review the advantageous properties of plasma waves, chief of which is its subwavelength nature, the mode configuration and explore the possibility of achieving reduced sized antennas for wireless microwave devices.
Qualifiers of atypia in the cytologic diagnosis of thyroid nodules are associated with different Afirma gene expression classifier results and clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND Thyroid nodules with atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) have a low risk of malignancy that appears to vary based on specific features described in the AUS diagnosis. The Afirma gene expression classifier (GEC) is a molecular test designed to improve preoperative risk stratification of thyroid nodules, but its performance for different patterns of AUS has not been defined. The objective of this study was to assess GEC results and clinical outcomes in AUS nodules with architectural atypia (AUS-A), cytologic atypia (AUS-C) or both (AUS-C/A). METHODS This was a retrospective review of all thyroid nodules with AUS cytopathology that underwent GEC testing at the authors' institution over a period of >4 years. RESULTS In 227 nodules that had AUS cytology results and Afirma GEC testing, the rate of benign GEC results was higher in AUS-A nodules (70 of 107; 65%) than in AUS-C/A nodules (25 of 65; 38%; P = .0008), and AUS-C nodules exhibited an intermediate rate of benign results (27 of 55 nodules; 59%). The risk of cancer among patients who had GEC-suspicious nodules, 86% of whom underwent resection, was 19% (6 of 25) for AUS-A nodules compared with 57% (21 of 37) for AUS-C/A nodules (P = .003) and 45% (10 of 22) for AUS-C nodules (P = .07). In nodules that had an indeterminate repeat cytology result, no difference was observed in the rate of benign GEC results or in the malignancy rate compared with nodules that had a single cytology result. CONCLUSIONS The performance characteristics of Afirma GEC testing vary, depending on qualifiers of cytologic atypia. Recognition of these differences may enable clinicians to provide improved counseling and treatment recommendations to patients. Cancer Cytopathol 2016. © 2017 The Authors. Cancer Cytopathology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society.
Optimal III-nitride HEMTs: from materials and device design to compact model of the 2DEG charge density

In this paper, we develop a physically motivated compact model of the charge-voltage (Q-V) characteristics in various III-nitride high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) operating under highly non-equilibrium transport conditions, i.e. high drain-source current. By solving the coupled Schrodinger-Poisson equation and incorporating the two-dimensional electrostatics in the channel, we obtain the charge at the top-of-the-barrier for various applied terminal voltages. The Q-V model accounts for cutting off of the negative momenta states from the drain terminal under high drain-source bias and when the transmission in the channel is quasi-ballistic. We specifically focus on AlGaN and AlInN as barrier materials and InGaN and GaN as the channel material in the heterostructure. The Q-V model is verified and calibrated against numerical results using the commercial TCAD simulator Sentaurus from Synopsys for a 20-nm channel length III-nitride HEMT. With 10 fitting parameters, most of which have a physical origin and can easily be obtained from numerical or experimental calibration, the compact Q-V model allows us to study the limits and opportunities of III-nitride technology. We also identify optimal material and geometrical parameters of the device that maximize the carrier concentration in the HEMT channel in order to achieve superior RF performance. Additionally, the compact charge model can be easily integrated in a hierarchical circuit simulator, such as Keysight ADS and CADENCE, to facilitate circuit design and optimization of various technology parameters.
Evaluating Transportation User Costs Based on Simulated Regional Network Models

Bridges are important infrastructure and essential components of a transportation network. Temporary, long-term, and partial closures of bridges can result in enormous cost implications. However, bridge closures are inevitable not only because of the likelihood of hazard-induced damages but also because routine maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation activities may also warrant closures. It is current practice that vehicles are rerouted to the shortest alternative route during bridge closures (the detour approach). In this study, a scenario-based network approach for evaluating the impact of bridge closures on transportation user cost was undertaken and is proposed in this paper. Both the detour-based and network-based approaches were applied to the Tampa Bay, Florida, regional network model, and five bridge closure scenarios were considered. User costs were computed in terms of delay and vehicle operating costs. For closures to the I-275, Gandy, Highway 580, and West Courtney Campbell Causeway bridges, t...
Identification of novel biomarker and therapeutic target candidates for diagnosis and treatment of follicular carcinoma.

Abstract Distinguishing follicular carcinoma from follicular adenoma, based on cytomorphological features, has always been challenging to cytopathologists. Identification of biomarkers for improving diagnostic accuracy is important for clinical management. Meanwhile, it is critical to identify therapeutic target candidates for treatment of follicular carcinoma. Currently, no reliable diagnostic protein biomarkers and therapeutic targets are available. To explore novel protein biomarker and therapeutic target candidates, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach was applied to analyze control, follicular adenoma, and follicular carcinoma using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. The proteomics analysis revealed 80 protein biomarker candidates for diagnosis of thyroid follicular carcinoma. The candidates were prioritized into three categories and ranked within each category. Using the proteomics data and bioinformatics results, the top seven biomarker candidates were coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain-containing protein 2, mitochondrial (CHCHD2), succinyl-CoA ligase [GDP-forming] subunit beta, mitochondrial (SUCLG2), stomatin-like protein 2, mitochondrial (STOML2), ES1 protein homolog, mitochondrial (C21orf33), fumarate hydratase, mitochondrial (FH), 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase type-2 (HSD17B10), and electron transfer flavoprotein subunit beta (ETFB); and the top seven therapeutic target candidates were insulin receptor (INSR), Myc proto-oncogene protein (MYC), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A), gastrin (GAST), N-myc proto-oncogene protein (MYCN), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFB1), and interleukin-4 (IL4). Immunohistochemical staining of SUCLG2 and ETFB is highly consistent with the discovery of proteomics, revealing that SUCLG2 has a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 80% to distinguish follicular carcinoma from follicular adenoma based on a specific cut-off score calculated from the IHC staining percentage and intensity. Biological significance Distinguishing follicular carcinoma from follicular adenoma, based on cytomorphological features, has always been challenging to cytopathologists. Fourteen biomarker candidates were identified. Two of them were validated with Immunohistochemical staining. The Identification of biomarkers for improving diagnostic accuracy is important for clinical management.
Old Main: Small Colleges in Twenty-First Century America

(2006). Old Main: Small Colleges in Twenty-First Century America. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 740-742.
A Modular Approach to Teaching and Learning of Virtual Collaboration

Virtual collaboration has become an essential part of how work gets done in organizations today and knowing how to collaborate virtually is an important skill for success. Courses with team projects may include a virtual component, but rarely is there any explicit education on how best to engage in virtual collaboration. The topic is a complex one that takes into account a wide variety of issues, including behavioral, social, and technological dimensions. Our research addresses this need by developing modules for teaching and learning of virtual collaboration. The modules are based on underlying theory in this field and have practical application in education and training. We describe an initial application of the modular approach to teaching and learning of virtual collaboration that took place during the Fall Semester 2008.
Abstract 122 Evaluation Of Plaque Inflammation In A Rabbit Animal Model Of Atherosclerosis By Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI And 18f-fluorodeoxyglucose (18f-FDG) PET

Introduction Inflammation is a hallmark of high risk atherosclerotic plaques. Two important histological markers of plaque inflammation are the presence of neovessels and activated macrophages in the plaque. Two non-invasive imaging techniques, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MRI, have been shown to correlate with these markers. In this study we evaluate the correlation between these techniques and the presence of neovessels in a rabbit animal model of atherosclerosis. Methods Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the aorta of 4 New Zealand White rabbits by repeated endothelial denudation and 4 months hypercholesterolemic diet, after which imaging was performed. PET/CT was performed 3 hours after injection of 1mCi/Kg of 18F-FDG. Standard uptake value (SUV) was calculated for each acquired axial slice of the abdominal aorta. DCE-MRI was performed on a 1.5 T clinical system with a Bright Blood GE sequence. After the 5th image, 0.2 mmol/Kg of Gd-DTPA were injected intravenously. Plaque transfer constant, Ktrans, and fractional plasma volume, vp were calculated using pharmakokinetic modeling. After imaging, animals were euthanized and neovessels were detected in the atherosclerotic plaques by immuno-histology (anti-CD-31 antibody). Parameters correlation with neovessels were studied using Pearson’s test. Results Statistical analyses showed positive correlation between neovessels count, DCE-MRI parameter vp and FDG SUV. Negative correlation was found between Ktrans, neovessels count and FDG SUV(Table 1). Conclusions This study suggests that DCE-MRI and 18F-FDG PET could be complementary used to evaluate plaque inflammation. These two techniques could thus eventually be used in the future in a clinical setting to evaluated the risk associated with the atherosclerotic lesion and to monitor lesion progression and response to therapy.
Development of a comprehensive flame transfer function and its application to predict combustion instabilities in a dump combustor

In combustion instability analysis, a flame transfer function (FTF) is used to describe the response of a premixed flame to incident acoustic oscillations. A comprehensive FTF is developed that rel...
Evaluation and Treatment of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood disorder, characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and varying degrees of organ ischemia from microvascular occlusion. This is an aggressive form of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), resulting from severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 13) activity. The deficiency is either congenital (cTTP) in 5% of cases from biallelic (homozygous or compound heterozygous) mutations involving ADAMTS13 or acquired (immune-mediated TTP) in 95% of subjects due to autoantibodies against ADAMTS13. Though it is a rare disease, mortality during acute presentation remains very high. Therefore, TTP requires prompt diagnosis and immediate institution of lifesaving treatment modalities. This complex multisystem disorder is reviewed here with a focus on the diagnosis and clinical management of immune-mediated TTP, including emerging disease-modifying therapies.
Programming for the humanities: using targeted games

This paper addresses an issue in a larger research context which seeks to establish that individuals with minimal mathematical training can acquire fundamental programming skills through a more gradual and evolutionary teaching approach. A variety of teaching techniques will be discussed, but the focus here is on a current impediment to success that many students exhibit, namely a reluctance to modify a model program. The students are encouraged to experiment with sample program by trial-and-error substitutions of values, variables and calculations in order to achieve a desired outcome. The primary discussion will revolve around a visual metaphor provided to the students in the form of a game, and its influence on helping students overcome their inhibition to experimenting with programs.
Historical Southeastern Chiefs

Historical narratives have often been used in various ways in the discussion of Missis-sippian economic and political structures. Recently, those especially concerned with “power” and its relationships use these sources to suggest the complexity of prehistoric systems (e.g., Barker and Pauketat 1992). This chapter will introduce the issue of the use of historical sources in a general way Following that, I shall reexamine the character of chiefly authority in selected historical Eastern societies.
Placing 'Queer' within the Department: Researching Non-Normativity in the Washington, DC Police Department

This paper is a reflexive exercise of what I perceive to be informants' readings of my subject position at the ethnographic site. Not only is such reflexivity essential to one's own research project but also a broader discussion of the relationship of anthropology (and anthropologists) to those they study.This paper was presented at the American University, Washington, DC College of Arts and Sciences Ann Robyn Mathias Student Research Conference and received the "Outstanding Presentation by a Graduate Student" award.
Behavior of Rhodopsin and Metarhodopsin in Isolated Rhabdoms of Crabs and Lobster

The photoreceptor organelles — the rhabdoms — of decapod Crustacea are elongate structures consisting of interleaved layers of microvilli from seven or eight retinular cells (1,2,3). When the eyes are broken open in an appropriate saline, the rhabdoms detach from the surrounding retinular cells, and individual rhabdoms can be identified under the microscope and studied spectrophotometrically with laterally-incident microbeams. All of the spectrophotometric measurements of rhabdoms described in this communication were performed on an instrument similar to that of Liebman and Entine (4). We have examined freshly-isolated rhabdoms as well as organelles fixed in 5% glutaraldehyde. The original reason for introducing glutaraldehyde fixation was to stabilize the structure of the isolated rhabdoms for periods commensurate with the measurements of pigment we wish to make (5). Although glutaraldehyde does not alter the absorption spectrum of either rhodopsin or metarhodopsin, it can hasten the destruction of both pigments, and therefore it is a useful tool in analyzing the pigment composition of rhabdoms by means of difference spectra.
Right Heart Thrombi: Patient Outcomes by Treatment Modality and Predictors of Mortality: A Pooled Analysis

Rationale:Right heart thrombi (RiHT) is characterized by the presence of thrombus within the right atrium or right ventricle (RV). Current literature suggests pulmonary embolism (PE) with RiHT carr...