cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parallel modified signed-digit arithmetic using an optoelectronic shared content-addressable-memory processor

Addition is the most primitive arithmetic operation in digital computation. Other arithmetic operations such as subtraction, multiplication, and division can all be performed by addition together with some logic operations. With the binary number system, addition speed is inevitably limited by the carry-propagation schemes. On the other hand, carry-free addition is possible when the modified signed-digit (MSD) number representation is used. We propose a novel optoelectronic scheme to handle the parallel MSD addition and subtraction operations. An optoelectronic shared content-addressable memroy is introduced. The shared content-addressable memory uses free-space optical processing to handle the large amount of parallel memory access operations and uses electronics to postprocess and derive logic decisions. We analyze the accuracy that the required optical hardware can deliver by using a statistical cross-talk-rate model that we propose. We also evaluate other important device and system performance parameters, such as the memory capacity or the maximum number of parallel bits the adder can handle in terms of a given cross-talk rate at a certain repetition rate, the corresponding diffraction-limited memory density, and the system’s power efficiency. To confirm the underlining operational principles of the proposed optoelectronic shared content-addressable-memory MSD adder, we design and perform initial experiments for handling 8-bit MSD number addition and subtraction and present the results.
Confirmation of the Old World species Phricanthes flexilineana (Walker, 1863) in the New World tropics (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Phricanthini).

The Old World species Phricanthes flexilinena (Walker) is reported from Costa Rica and Panama for the first time, confirming a nearly century-old report that the species occurs in the New World (i.e., Guyana). Paired trapping efforts at Estacion Biologica La Selva, Costa Rica, suggest that the species is more common in the canopy (20 m high) than at ground level. Two new larval host plants are reported for the species in Costa Rica: Tetracera volubilis L. and Davilla nitia (Valh) Kubitzki (both Dilleniaceae). Circumstantial evidence suggests that the species arrived via plant material for propagation as ornamentals, and that upon arrival in the Neotropics, potential hosts of the same family were available for colonization. A similar phenomenon may be occurring in continental Africa.
Oxygen sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle. I. In vitro studies.

Abstract The mechanical responses of isolated arterial smooth muscle strips to alterations in bathing solution oxygen tension (PO2) were investigated to determine the extent to which diffusion of oxygen limits in vitro contractile performance of vascular smooth muscle. Isometric tension was measured for 17 isolated hog carotid artery strips suspended in a physiological salt solution aerated with gas mixtures of varying PO2. Strip thickness varied between 0.017 and 0.053 cm. Strips were stimulated with 10−6M norepinephrine (bath concentration), and PO2 was alternately varied between control and lower levels while the steady-state mechanical tensions were recorded at each PO2 level. For each strip studied, there was a PO2 below which the mechanical tension declined from the control level. This PO2 varied with strip thickness, ranging from 15 mm Hg for a strip 0.017 cm thick to 240 mm Hg for one 0.053 cm thick. The data were consistent with the assumption that diffusion limited the oxygen supply to the smooth muscle cells. Extrapolation of these data to the thickness of arteriolar walls (10 μm) indicates that the smooth muscle cells would not be affected by the changes in oxygen tension at levels above 2 ± 6 mm. Hg. Since the PO2's found at this level of the microcirculation are probably greater than 20 mm Hg, it follows that oxygen per se cannot exert a direct influence on blood flow regulation by altering vascular tone unless the arteriolar smooth muscle possesses a special sensitivity to oxygen or the flow is intermittent.
Solarization for the control of Pueraria montana (kudzu)

Summary The effects of translucent polyethylene sheeting as a thermal covering to eradicate Pueraria montana (kudzu) were investigated at Clemson, South Carolina on a clay loam. In 2005, the highest reduction of live root crowns was observed where P. montana was covered for the entire growing season (May–October) with a reduction of 42% of live root crowns compared with the control plots. Where P. montana was covered for alternate weeks throughout the growing season live root crowns were reduced by 35%. Covering P. montana for one week and then uncovering for four weeks repeatedly through the season killed 24% of root crowns. In 2006, the second year of treatment to the same plots, the three solarization treatments had similar efficacy of about 97%. The use of polyethylene sheeting appears not to be cost-effective for general control of large P. montana infestations, but may be useful for small patches.
Role of LIN28A in Mouse and Human Trophoblast Cell Differentiation

Proper regulation of trophoblast proliferation, differentiation, and function are critical for placenta development and function. The RNA-binding protein, LIN28A, has been well characterized as a potent regulator of differentiation in embryonic stem cells; however, little is known about the function of LIN28A in the placenta. We assessed LIN28A in vitro using mouse trophoblast stem (mTS) cells and human trophoblast cells (ACH-3P). We observed that LIN28A decreased and let-7 miRNA increased when mTS cells were induced to differentiate into mouse trophoblast giant cells (mTGCs) upon the removal of FGF4, heparin and conditioned medium. Similarly, we observed that LIN28A decreased in ACH-3P cells induced to syncytialize with forskolin treatment. To assess LIN28A in vivo we examined Embryonic Day 11.5 mouse placenta and observed abundant LIN28A in the chorioallantoic interface and labyrinth layer, with little LIN28A staining in spongiotrophoblast or differentiated mTGCs. Additionally, shRNA-mediated LIN28A knockdown in ACH-3P cells resulted in increased spontaneous syncytialization, and increased levels of syncytiotrophoblast markers hCG, LGALS13, and ERVW-1 mRNA. Additionally, targeted degradation of LIN28A mRNA increased responsiveness to forskolin-induced differentiation. In contrast, targeted degradation of Lin28a mRNA in mTS cells did not alter cell phenotype when maintained under proliferative culture conditions. Together, these data establish that LIN28A has a functional role in regulating trophoblast differentiation and function, and that loss of LIN28A in human trophoblast is sufficient to induce differentiation, but does not induce differentiation in the mouse.
Classes of complex networks defined by role-to-role connectivity profiles

In physical, biological, technological and social systems, interactions between units give rise to intricate networks. These-typically non-trivial-structures, in turn, critically affect the dynamics and properties of the system. The focus of most current research on complex networks is, still, on global network properties. A caveat of this approach is that the relevance of global properties hinges on the premise that networks are homogeneous, whereas most real-world networks have a markedly modular structure. Here, we report that networks with different functions, including the Internet, metabolic, air transportation and protein interaction networks, have distinct patterns of connections among nodes with different roles, and that, as a consequence, complex networks can be classified into two distinct functional classes on the basis of their link type frequency. Importantly, we demonstrate that these structural features cannot be captured by means of often studied global properties.
Single crystal wurtzite GaN on (111) GaAs with AlN buffer layers grown by reactive magnetron sputter deposition

We report the growth conditions necessary for highly oriented wurtzite GaN films on (111) GaAs, and single crystal GaN films on (111) GaAs using AlN buffer layers. The GaN films and AlN buffers are grown using rf reactive magnetron sputter deposition. Oriented basal plane wurtzite GaN is obtained on (111) GaAs at temperatures between 550 and 620 °C. However, using a high temperature 200 A AlN buffer layer epitaxial GaN is produced. Crystal structure and quality are measured using x-ray diffraction (XRD), reflection electron diffraction (RED), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This is the first report of single crystal wurtzite GaN on (111) GaAs using AlN buffer layers by any growth technique. Simple AlN/GaN heterostructures grown by rf reactive sputter deposition on (111) GaAs are also demonstrated.
Differences in the Microstructural Properties of the Anteromedial and Posterolateral Bundles of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Background:Tissue properties of the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) have not been previously characterized with real-time dynamic testing. The current study used a novel polarized light technique to measure the material and microstructural properties of the ACL.Hypothesis:The AM and PL bundles of the ACL have similar material and microstructural properties.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:The AM and PL bundles were isolated from 16 human cadaveric ACLs (11 male, 5 female; average age, 41 years [range, 24-53 years]). Three samples from each bundle were loaded in uniaxial tension, and a custom-built polarized light imaging camera was used to quantify collagen fiber alignment in real time. A bilinear curve fit was applied to the stress-strain data of a quasistatic ramp-to-failure to quantify the moduli in the toe and linear regions. Fiber alignment was quantified at zero strain, the transition point of the bilinear fit, and in the line...
Strongly nonlinear, simple internal waves in continuously-stratified, shallow fluids

Strongly nonlinear internal waves in a layer with arbitrary stratification are considered in the hydrostatic approximation. It is shown that "simple waves" having a variable vertical structure can emerge from a wide class of initial conditions. The equations describing such waves have been obtained using the isopycnal coordinate as a variable. Emergence of simple waves from an initial Gaussian impulse is numerically investigated for different density profiles, from two- and three-layer structure to the continuous one. Besides the first mode, examples of second- and third-mode simple waves are given.
The Effects of Homework on Learning: A Quantitative Synthesis

This paper synthesizes empirical studies of homework and of various homework strategies on the academic achievement and attitude of elementary and secondary students. A computer search yielded 15 p...
Length of Stay and Costs for Hospitalized Hemodialysis Patients Nephrologists versus Internists

The high cost of hospitalization for hemodialysis patients has become a major health care issue. To address this issue, length of hospital stay and costs for these patients were compared with services covered by nephrologists and services covered by internists. Hemodialysis patients (n = 161) were prospectively admitted 219 times on alternate days to services covered by nephrologists or by internists from July 1995 to March 1996. Admissions to nonmedical services and admissions for overnight observation were excluded. Length of stay, costs, and risk-adjusted predicted length of stay and costs, as well as the number of consultations were compared between services, using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Readmissions and deaths were compared using chi(2) tests. Mean length of stay for admissions to the nephrology service (n = 114) was 6.3 days compared with 8.1 days for admissions to internal medicine services (n = 105) (P = 0.017). The predicted length of stay was similar. Mean overall cost for admissions under the care of nephrologists was $7,925 versus $10,773 under the care of internists (P = 0.101). The internal medicine service averaged 1.5 consultations versus 0.5 consultations for the nephrology service (P = 0.001). The risk of readmission was 24% for nephrologists and 30% for internists (P = 0.328). Death within 90 days of discharge was 12% for the nephrology group and 22% for the internal medicine group (P = 0.07). The length of stay was significantly shorter for hemodialysis patients under the care of nephrologists compared with internists. The average total costs and risk of readmissions tended to be lower for nephrologists. If these results are corroborated, the care of hemodialysis patients by the nephrologist could diminish the overall expense of the ESRD program.
Speaker Model Clustering for Efficient Speaker Identification in Large Population Applications

In large population speaker identification (SI) systems, likelihood computations between an unknown speaker's feature vectors and the registered speaker models can be very time-consuming and impose a bottleneck. For applications requiring fast SI, this is a recognized problem and improvements in efficiency would be beneficial. In this paper, we propose a method whereby GMM-based speaker models are clustered using a simple k-means algorithm. Then, during the test stage, only a small proportion of speaker models in selected clusters are used in the likelihood computations resulting in a significant speed-up with little to no loss in accuracy. In general, as the number of selected clusters is reduced, the identification accuracy decreases; however, this loss can be controlled through proper tradeoff. The proposed method may also be combined with other test stage speed-up techniques resulting in even greater speed-up gains without additional sacrifices in accuracy.
Safe Routing of Multiple Aircraft Flows in the Presence of Time-Varying Weather Data

The expected growth of air traffic over the course of the twenty-first century strongly suggests a need for new approaches to air traffic management that are more flexible in the face of both traffic volume and weather. One approach to increasing the capacity of the national airspace is to improve the ability of existing routes to be adjusted in the presence of hazardous weather. In this paper, we describe the algorithms that make up a system we have implemented, the Flow-Based Route Planner (FBRP), to compute multiple flows of aircraft to be routed across a specified region of airspace, e.g., a sector or the transitional airspace in the vicinity of an airport. The FBRP allows for a variety of constraints on the computed routes that permit a user to approximate the desired behavior of real aircraft, including avoidance of changing hazardous weather patterns, turn and curvature constraints, and the horizontal separation standard. The algorithm searches for optimal routes satisfying the constraints using a search within a discrete network that models the geometry of the airspace. The novelty of the system is its ability to handle a variety of constraints and to efficiently route multiple flows of aircraft in dynamic weather scenarios. We describe here some of the algorithmic details of the FBRP system and report on initial experimentation with the system. In a companion paper [KPPM], the FBRP is used to conduct a suite of experiments and a comparison of methods for synthesizing weather-avoidance routes in the transition airspace.
Noninvasive reconstruction of three-dimensional ventricular activation sequence from the inverse solution of distributed equivalent current density

We propose a new electrocardiographic (ECG) inverse approach for imaging the three-dimensional (3-D) ventricular activation sequence based on the modeling and estimation of the equivalent current density throughout the entire volume of the ventricular myocardium. The spatio-temporal coherence of the ventricular excitation process has been utilized to derive the activation time from the estimated time course of the equivalent current density. In the present study, we explored four different linear inverse algorithms (the minimum norm and weighted minimum norm estimates in combination with two regularization schemes: the instant-by-instant regularization and the isotropy method) to estimate the current density at each time instant during the ventricular depolarization. The activation time at any given location within the ventricular myocardium was determined as the time point with the occurrence of the maximum local current density estimate. Computer simulations were performed to evaluate this approach using single- and dual-site pacing protocols in a physiologically realistic cellular automaton heart model. The performance and stability of the proposed approach was evaluated with respect to the various levels of measurement noise (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 muV), the various numbers of ECG electrodes and the modeling errors on the torso geometry and heart position. The simulation results demonstrate that: 1) the single-site paced 3-D activation sequence can be well reconstructed from 200-channel body surface potential maps with additive Gaussian white noise of 20 muV (correlation coefficient = 0.90, relative error = 0.19, and localization error = 5.49 mm); 2) a higher imaging accuracy can be obtained when the activation is initiated from the left/right ventricle (LV/RV) compared to from the septum; 3) the isotropy method gives rise to a better performance than the conventional instant-by-instant regularization; 4) a decreased imaging accuracy results from a larger noise level, a fewer number of electrodes, or the volume conductor modeling errors; however, a reasonable imaging accuracy can still be obtained with a 60 muV noise level, 64 electrodes, or mild errors on both the torso geometry and heart position, respectively; 5) the dual-site paced 3-D activation sequence can be imaged when the two sites are paced either simultaneously or with a time delay of 20 ms; 6) two pacing sites can be resolved and localized in the imaged 3-D activation sequence when they are located at the contralateral sides of ventricles or at the ventricular lateral wall and the apex, respectively
Big Data and Adverse Drug Reaction Detection

Big Data holds the promise of fundamentally transforming the manner in which adverse drug reactions can be identified and evaluated. This commentary discusses new data sources that are envisioned to form a Big Data-enabled pharmacovigilance system and the role of these data in powering the future of adverse drug reactions detection.
Role of activating transcription factor 3 in the synthesis of latency-associated transcript and maintenance of herpes simplex virus 1 in latent state in ganglia

A key property of herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) is their ability to establish latent infection in sensory or autonomic ganglia and to reactivate on physical, hormonal, or emotional stress. In latently infected ganglia, HSVs express a long noncoding RNA, a latency-associated transcript (LAT), which plays a key role in maintaining latently infected neurons, but not viral proteins. To investigate the events leading to reactivation, we examined the use of ganglionic organ cultures that enable rapid reactivation in medium containing antibody to nerve growth factor (NGF) or delayed reactivation in medium containing NGF and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Here we report the discovery that activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a stress response protein, profoundly affects the interaction of HSV with its host. Specifically, (i) ATF3 is induced by stress, such as inhibition of protein synthesis or infection; (ii) in infected cells, ATF3 enhances the accumulation of LAT by acting on the response elements in the promoter of the LAT precursor RNA; (iii) ATF3 is induced nearly 100-fold in ganglionic organ cultures; and (iv) ATF3 plays a key role in the maintenance of the latent state, inasmuch as expression of ATF3 bereft of the C-terminal activation domain acts as a dominant negative factor, inducing HSV gene expression in ganglionic organ cultures harboring latent virus and incubated in medium containing NGF and EGF. Thus, ATF3 is a component of a cluster of cellular proteins that together with LAT maintain the integrity of the neurons harboring latent virus.
Leading Others Toward Excellence

This essay puts forth the proposition that academic program excellence does not arise by accident. Effective leadership is required. To support this proposition, the essay discusses the characteristics common to effective leaders. It then proceeds to use the example of a successful academic oral-maxillofacial surgery department and characteristics of its leader to provide evidence that excellence derives from effective leadership.
Turbulent particle transport as a function of toroidal rotation in DIII-D H-mode plasmas

In this paper we show how changes in toroidal rotation, by controlling the injected torque, affect particle transport and confinement. The toroidal rotation is altered using the co- and counter neutral beam injection (NBI) in low collisionality H-mode plasmas on DIII-D (Luxon 2002 Nucl. Fusion 42 614) with dominant electron cyclotron heating (ECH). We find that there is no correlation between the toroidal rotation shear and the inverse density gradient, which is observed on AUG when is varied using ECH (Angioni et al 2011 Phys. Rev. Lett. 107 215003). In DIII-D, we find that in a discharge with balanced torque injection, the shear is smaller than the linear gyrokinetic growth rate for small for –0.85. This results in lower particle confinement. In the co- and counter- injected discharges the shear is larger or close to the linear growth rate at the plasma edge and both configurations have higher particle confinement. In order to measure particle transport, we use a small periodic perturbative gas puff. This gas puff perturbs the density profiles and allows us to extract the perturbed diffusion and inward pinch coefficients. We observe a strong increase in the inward particle pinch in the counter-torque injected plasma. Finally, the calculated quasi-linear particle flux, nor the linear growth rates using TGLF (Staebler et al 2005 Phys. Plasmas 12 102508) agree with experimental observations.
Syntheses of N-Vinylamide Derivatives.

N-Vinyl-N'-substituted phthalamides were synthesized VIA the reaction between N-vinylphthalimide and each one of n-butyl-, isobutyl-, sec-butyl-, tent-butyl-, n-amyl-, isoamyl-, 2-ethylhexyl-, and stearyl-amines . Similarly, upon treatment with N-vinylsuecinimide, n-butyl-, isobutyl, - sec-butyl-, tort-butyl-, n-amyl-, isoamyl-, n-hexyl-, and 2-ethylhexyl-amines gave the corresponding N-vinyl-N'- substituted succinamides. The results indicate that the size of the alkyl group of the amines does not affect the reactivity, tort-butyl amine being least reactive .
Adverse events in carotid endarterectomy from a medicolegal perspective.

Objectives:Characterize factors raised in carotid endarterectomy litigation.Methods:Outcomes, alleged causes of malpractice, and other factors were evaluated.Results:Of the 37 verdicts and settlements, defendants were not liable in 25 (67.5%) cases. Frequently reported complications included stroke (51.3%) and hypoglossal nerve injury (27.0%), with other complications including airway compromise, vocal cord injury, and death. No cases reported myocardial infarction. Cerebral monitoring was mentioned in 2 cases, while inadequate informed consent, delayed diagnosis, and requirement of additional surgery were alleged in numerous instances. Settlements and jury awards averaged US$895 833 and US$1.53 million, respectively.Conclusions:Stroke and hypoglossal nerve injury are the most frequently litigated complications, and mean damages awarded were considerable. Knowledge of issues raised in our analysis may be included in a comprehensive consent process, potentially minimizing liability and improving patient sa...
Effects of Malnutrition on Brain Development

During the past 15 years, it has become increasingly clear that severe malnutrition imposed during certain critical periods of development will affect brain growth and function. Because infantile malnutrition still constitutes one of the greatest health problems in the world, since even by conservative estimates 300 million people may have been afflicted by malnutrition in infancy, it would seem important to examine, critically, the evidence upon which this statement is based. The purpose of this chapter is to review normal brain growth, to examine the data leading up to the “critical periods” hypothesis, and to document the effects of undernutrition during these critical periods.
Collagen and α-Tubulin of Mouse Tympanic Membrane Fibroblasts Treated with Quinolones and Aminoglycosides.

ObjectiveTo assess collagen and α-tubulin levels of mouse tympanic membrane fibroblasts treated with quinolone and aminoglycoside antibiotics at concentrations found in eardrops.Study DesignProspective controlled cell culture study.SettingAcademic tertiary medical center.SubjectsMouse tympanic membrane fibroblasts.MethodsIn experiment 1, fibroblasts were treated with the following for 24 or 48 hours: phosphate-buffered saline (negative control), dilute hydrochloric acid (positive control), 0.5% gatifloxacin, or commercially available 0.3% ciprofloxacin, 0.3% ciprofloxacin + 0.1% dexamethasone, 0.3% ofloxacin, 0.5% moxifloxacin, 0.3% gentamicin, or 3.5 mg/mL of neomycin + polymyxin B sulfate + hydrocortisone. In experiment 2, cells were treated with the pure form of gatifloxacin, gentamicin, ofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin. Cells were observed with phase-contrast microscope until harvested. Proteins were extracted for Western blotting with antibodies against collagen α1 type I (collagen 1A1) and α-tubulin, and...
Benefit finding and diurnal cortisol after prostate cancer: The mediating role of affect

Objective While benefit finding (BF) has been well studied in women with breast cancer, few studies focus on men with prostate cancer. This study investigated whether BF is associated with HPA activity, (i.e., diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol). Positive affect (PA) has been proposed to be a critical pathway explains effects of BF on body’s stress response systems. The second aim of this study was to examine PA as a potential mediator of BF and cortisol slope. Methods A sample of 66 men treated for localized prostate cancer within the prior two years completed questionnaires and collected salivary cortisol three times per day over three consecutive days. Hierarchical linear modeling was used for estimating the effects of BF and PA on cortisol slope. Results BF was significantly associated with diurnal cortisol slope ( b equals to −0.12, p equals to 0.03), controlling for body mass index and age. As hypothesized, PA mediated the effect of BF on cortisol slope ( b equals to 0.20 and −0.18, p equals to 0.03 and 0.01, for paths from BF to PA and from PA to cortisol slope, respectively). Conclusions Through its ability to enhance PA, the effect of BF on physiological processes underscores the health relevant value of BF in prostate cancer survivors.
CRISPR Correction of a Homozygous Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Mutation in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a hereditary disease primarily due to mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) that lead to elevated cholesterol and premature development of cardiovascular disease. Homozygous FH patients (HoFH) with two dysfunctional LDLR alleles are not as successfully treated with standard hypercholesterol therapies, and more aggressive therapeutic approaches to control cholesterol levels must be considered. Liver transplant can resolve HoFH, and hepatocyte transplantation has shown promising results in animals and humans. However, demand for donated livers and high-quality hepatocytes overwhelm the supply. Human pluripotent stem cells can differentiate to hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) with the potential for experimental and clinical use. To be of future clinical use as autologous cells, LDLR genetic mutations in derived FH-HLCs need to be corrected. Genome editing technology clustered-regularly-interspaced-short-palindromic-repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) can repair pathologic genetic mutations in human induced pluripotent stem cells. Conclusion: We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to permanently correct a 3-base pair homozygous deletion in LDLR exon 4 of patient-derived HoFH induced pluripotent stem cells. The genetic correction restored LDLR-mediated endocytosis in FH-HLCs and demonstrates the proof-of-principle that CRISPR-mediated genetic modification can be successfully used to normalize HoFH cholesterol metabolism deficiency at the cellular level. (Hepatology Communications 2017;1:886–898)
Short-Term Impact of Concussion in the NHL: An Analysis of Player Longevity, Performance, and Financial Loss.

Abstract Many studies have focused on the long-term impact of concussions in professional sports, but few have investigated short-term effects. This study examines concussion effects on individual ...
Revisiting the Information Technology Skills Gap in Masters of Public Administration Programs

This study investigates how employees in government entities develop information technology (IT) competence and the extent to which training in Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs contri...
Effect of CO2–brine–rock interaction on fracture mechanical properties of CO2 reservoirs and seals

Abstract The effect of CO2–water–rock interactions on fracture mechanical properties of reservoir and seal rocks due to injection of CO2 in the subsurface may impact long-term (102–104 yr) storage security. At the Crystal Geyser and Salt Wash field sites near Green River, Utah, sandstone of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation and Mancos Shale have undergone chemical alteration associated with flow of CO2-bearing water under natural conditions over geologic time scales of 103–105 yrs. To quantify the effects of these diagenetic changes on rock fracture mechanical properties we conducted opening-mode fracture mechanics tests using the double torsion method on a suite of CO2-altered and unaltered siliciclastic samples. We show that dissolution of hematite and carbonate cement in Entrada Sandstone by CO2-rich brine lowers fracture toughness by nearly 40% relative to adjacent, unaltered samples from the same unit. In contrast, precipitation of calcite pore cement in a sandstone of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation, attributed to CO2 degassing during upward fluid flow along the Little Grand Wash Fault, results in a 100–700% increase in fracture toughness. Similarly, precipitation of carbonate mineral cements and replacement of matrix measurably strengthens Mancos Shale, considered a regional top seal. Subcritical fracture growth index (SCI) which quantifies reaction-assisted subcritical fracture propagation is also affected by CO2-related alteration. Based on previous numerical simulations of fracture network growth with varying fracture mechanical parameters, we find that the measured variations in fracture mechanical properties qualitatively match observed differences in opening-mode fracture distributions along the fault, with short, non-connected fractures in CO2-bleached rock, long, throughgoing fractures in calcite-cemented shale, and short, closely spaced, interconnected fracture networks in highly altered rock directly adjacent to fault conduits. Our fracture mechanics tests demonstrate that fracture mechanical properties of reservoir and seal rock can change as a result of chemical CO2–brine–rock interaction. These chemical interactions may favor or inhibit subcritical fracture growth processes and thus reservoir and seal flow properties. In regions of CO2-related mineral dissolution, subcritical fracture growth may reduce seal integrity over time scales beyond those of active injection and reservoir monitoring, thus negatively affecting seal integrity over the expected design lifetime of a CO2 reservoir.
Assessing Structural Reliability at the Component Test Stage Using Real-Time Hybrid Substructuring

The propagation of uncertainties through complex systems is a challenging endeavor. While numerical simulations can be used to accurately predict the dynamic performance of structural systems, there are some instances where the dynamics and uncertainties of specific components may be less understood or difficult to accurately model. This paper will implement a structural reliability assessment employing the cyber-physical real-time hybrid substructuring (RTHS) method to combine a numerical model of a larger structural system, incorporating uncertainty in specific parameters, with a physical test specimen of a component of the system while fully incorporating the system-level dynamic interactions and uncertainty propagation. This RTHS approach will allow for uncertainty and reliability to be addressed in the early stage of the design process as components become available and the remainder of the system remains numerically modeled. A small-scale RTHS experiment will be used to demonstrate the probability of failure of a spring-mass-damper system with a relatively small number of component tests by employing the previously proposed Adaptive Kriging-Hybrid Simulation (AK-HS) reliability method.
Strategies for Integrating Technology as a Team Member

Interdisciplinary health care teams have numerous opportunities to investigate more efficient health care delivery mechanisms using technology that bridges information science and human-centered care. At the onset of team formation, technology can be strategically integrated to enhance health care delivery for patients and providers using multiple strategies.
TAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY COULD LEAD TO TRULY A “BROKEN HEART”

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction and mimics acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Despite good prognosis, severe mechanical complications such as ventricular septal defect (VSD) and wall rupture have been described, but are rare. A 78-year-
Gender differences in responses to thin, athletic, and hyper-muscular idealized bodies.

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that the ideal female body has shifted from an ultra-thin image toward one that is both thin and toned, or muscular. Furthermore, the ideal male body may be more athletic, characterized by moderate muscularity combined with leanness, than bodybuilder-muscular. Thus, we experimentally examined women’s (n = 92) and men’s (n = 106) cognitive processing style in response to idealized body types, i.e., thin images, athletic images (thin and muscular), or hyper-muscular images (moderately thin and extremely muscular). Results revealed that women in the athletic condition were the most likely to generate negative social comparisons. Women in the thin condition were more likely to generate counter-arguments compared to women in the other two conditions. Men in the hyper-muscular condition were more likely to generate counter-arguments than men in the other two conditions. Further, among women in the thin condition, negative social comparisons were inversely related to body appreciation but positively related to internalization of appearance ideals. Findings confirm that the athletic ideal likely poses problems for women’s body image. Both women and men seemed to be able to “talk back” when exposed to their gendered body ideal.
Mentorship and formal robotic proficiency skills curriculum improve subsequent generations' learning curve for the robotic distal pancreatectomy

Abstract Background Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is the accepted standard of care. The robotic distal (RDP) learning curve is 20–40 surgeries with operating time (ORT) as the most significant factor. This study evaluates how formal mentorship and a robotic skills curriculum impact the learning curve for subsequent generation surgeons. Methods Consecutive RDP from 2008 to 2017 were evaluated. First Generation was two surgeons who started program without training or mentorship. Second Generation was the two surgeons who joined the program with mentorship. Third Generation was fellows who benefited from both formal training and mentorship. Multivariable models (MVA) were performed for ORT, clinically relevant pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), and major complications (Clavien≥3). Results A total of 296 RDP were performed of which 187 did not include other procedures: First Generation (n = 71), Second Generation (n = 50), and Third Generation (n = 66). ORT decreased by generation (p Conclusion Formal mentorship and a skills curriculum decreased the learning curve and complications were largely dependent on patient factors.
Differential neural responding to affective stimuli in 6- to 8-year old children at high familial risk for depression: Associations with behavioral reward seeking.

Abstract Objective Children of depressed parents are at increased risk for psychopathology. One putative mechanism of risk appears to be altered processing of emotion-related stimuli. Although prior work has evaluated how adolescent offspring of depressed parents may show blunted reward processing compared to low-risk youth, there has been less attention to how young children with this familial history may differ from their peers during middle childhood, a period of critical socio-affective development Method The current study evaluated 56 emotionally healthy 6-to 8-year children who were deemed at high-risk (n = 25) or low-risk (n = 31) for depression based on maternal history of depression. Children completed a behavioral reward seeking task in the laboratory and an fMRI paradigm assessing neural response to happy faces, a social reward. Results Findings demonstrated that high-risk children showed blunted responding to happy faces in the dorsal striatum compared to low-risk children. Further, lower responding in the dorsal striatum and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was related to lower behavioral reward seeking, but only in high-risk children. Conclusion Function within neural reward regions may be altered in high-risk offspring as young as 6- to 8-years of age. Further, neural reward responding may be linked to lower behavioral response to obtain reward in these high-risk offspring.
Perception and reality in US-Lebanon relations

This article provides an analysis of US-Lebanese relations and it concentrates on the US intervention in Lebanon in the late 1950s and again in the early 1980s. It makes the following arguments: (a...
The overall impact of amyloid PET on diagnosis and management of dementia

1117 Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, formerly postmortem histopathological examination indicated major limitations in accuracy of diagnosis, in patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-AD dementia, 39% were found to have AD pathologies on postmortem examination whereas up to 25% of patients with probable AD had insignificant amyloid pathology on postmortem examination. Currently in vivo status of amyloid deposition can be evaluated by the use of amyloid positron emission tomography (Amyloid-PET). PET amyloid radiotracers in clinical use include: 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) and different 18F-labelled ligands, such as 18F-florbetapir (Amyvid, Eli Lilly), 18F-flutametamol (Vizamyl, GE Healthcare) and 18F-florbetaben (NeuraCeq, Piramal). While there is no known effective disease modifying therapy for AD, in this exhibit we’ll review multiple recent studies to assess the overall impact of amyloid-PET on the diagnosis and management of AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in clinical settings as well as the level of confidence in their etiologic diagnosis in order to: 1- Investigate whether the amyloid-PET can have a significant role in accurate diagnosis of dementia subtypes and lead to early necessary treatments, preventing any unnecessary treatments or avoiding unnecessary or inappropriate examinations. 2- Assess amyloid-PET’s applicability in complicated clinical situations like atypical clinical courses, rapid cognitive decline, or inconclusive examination results.
Biomaterials for Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract Cardiovascular tissue engineering offers potential solutions in a variety of clinical conditions such as heart failure, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, valve disease, congenital heart defects, and vascular access. While this represents a wide variety of applications, there are significant commonalities across the tissue types in the cardiovascular system that impact approaches to the development of engineered tissues. For example, endothelial cells that line the entire cardiovascular system change function under different shear stress conditions, while vascular smooth muscle cells respond to cyclic strain. This chapter discusses the tissues and cells that comprise the cardiovascular system as well as optimization of biomaterials for these tissue-engineering applications.
The utility of intracystic glucose levels in differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous pancreatic cysts

Abstract Background Differentiating benign non-mucinous from potentially malignant mucinous pancreatic cysts is still a challenge. This study aims to improve this distinction with cyst fluid analysis. Methods A cohort study of pancreatic cyst undergoing EUS/FNA was performed from a prospectively maintained database between 2014 and 2018 was performed. Results 113 patients were analyzed (40 non-mucinous and 73 mucinous). For differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous cyst: intracyst glucose ≤41 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 92%; positive predictive value (PPV) of 96 and negative predictive value (NPV) of 86. Glucose ≤21 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 97%, PPV of 98 and NPV of 81. CEA ≥192 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 92%; PPV of 92 and NPV of 50. Glucose ≤21 mg/dl or CEA ≥192 ng/mL combined had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 92%, PPV of 96 and NPV of 87 (Fig. 1, Table 1). Conclusion Intra-cyst glucose levels (≤41 mg/dl) outperforms classic CEA testing for differentiation of mucinous from non-mucinous pancreatic cysts. It was found to be an excellent diagnostic test with an AUC of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.97).
Abstract #1875: Ras-induced autophagic self-destruction of immortalized human cells: The second innate defense line against cancer

Mammalian cells possess two major intrinsic mechanisms, apoptosis and senescence, to protect against uncontrolled proliferation when oncogenic mutations occur. Here we show the role of destructive autophagy as a novel barrier for Ras-dependent malignant conversion of human epithelial cells. Gain-of-function mutations in ras genes (H-, K-, and N-ras) are common in many, but not all human epithelial cell malignancies. For example, nearly 40% of human lung cancers express oncogenic Ras, whereas ras mutations in breast cancer are rare ( Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1875.
Intact Fasting Insulin Identifies Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients Without Diabetes.

CONTEXT Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are characterized by insulin resistance and hyperinsulinism. However, insulin resistance measurements have not been shown to be good diagnostic tools to predict NAFLD in prior studies. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess a newly validated method to measure intact molecules of insulin by mass spectrometry to predict NAFLD. METHODS Patients underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a liver magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and a percutaneous liver biopsy if they had a diagnosis of NAFLD. Mass spectrometry was used to measure intact molecules of insulin and C-peptide. RESULTS A total of 180 patients were recruited (67% male; 52 ± 11 years of age; body mass index [BMI] 33.2 ± 5.7 kg/m2; 46% with diabetes and 65% with NAFLD). Intact fasting insulin was higher in patients with NAFLD, irrespective of diabetes status. Patients with NAFLD without diabetes showed ~4-fold increase in insulin secretion during the OGTT compared with all other subgroups (P = 0.008). Fasting intact insulin measurements predicted NAFLD in patients without diabetes (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] of 0.90 [0.84-0.96]). This was significantly better than measuring insulin by radioimmunoassay (AUC 0.80 [0.71-0.89]; P = 0.007). Intact fasting insulin was better than other clinical variables (eg, aspartate transaminase, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, glucose, HbA1c, and BMI) to predict NAFLD. When combined with alanine transaminase (ALT) (intact insulin × ALT), it detected NAFLD with AUC 0.94 (0.89-0.99) and positive and negative predictive values of 93% and 88%, respectively. This newly described approach was significantly better than previously validated noninvasive scores such as NAFLD-LFS (P = 0.009), HSI (P < 0.001), and TyG index (P = 0.039). CONCLUSION In patients without diabetes, accurate measurement of fasting intact insulin levels by mass spectrometry constitutes an easy and noninvasive strategy to predict presence of NAFLD.
Deep Adaptive Electrocardiographic Imaging with Generative Forward Model for Error Reduction

Accuracy of estimating the heart’s electrical activity with Electrocardiographic Imaging (ECGI) is challenging due to using an error-prone physics-based model (forward model). While getting better results than the traditional numerical methods following the underlying physics, modern deep learning approaches ignore the physics behind the electrical propagation in the body and do not allow the use of patient-specific geometry. We introduce a deep-learning-based ECGI framework capable of understanding the underlying physics, aware of geometry, and adjustable to patient-specific data. Using a variational autoencoder (VAE), we uncover the forward model’s parameter space, and when solving the inverse problem, these parameters will be optimized to reduce the errors in the forward model. In both simulation and real data experiments, we demonstrated the ability of the presented framework to provide accurate reconstruction of the heart’s electrical potentials and localization of the earliest activation sites.
The Technical and Scientific Contributions of Professor Walter J. Karplus

I would like to summarize the scientific and technical accomplishments of our friend and college worker Karplus. This is not an easy task, since he was a versatile researcher and prolific writer. Let me also apologize in advance to those of you who are neither engineers nor scientists for using some technical jargon; it is unavoidable in describing Walter’s work, but I will try to provide some minimal explanations where possible.
Schleiermacher’s Perspective on Redemption: A Fulfillment of the coincidentia oppositorum between the Finite and the Infinite in Participation with Christ

This article analyzes the philosophical background of Schleiermacher’s doctrine of redemption. The two philosophical strands of dialectic Neoplatonism and Romanticism form the basis of Schleiermacher’s soteriology, in which Christ’s redemption is seen not just as an act to liberate from sin, but the fulfillment of the coincidentia oppositorum (the coincidence of opposites) between the finite (individual) and the Infinite (the whole) within the dynamic dialectical interrelationship between them. By participating in Christ’s perfect God-consciousness through receptivity to “absolute dependence,” the individual experiences redemption. In its philosophical context, Schleiermacher’s soteriology may be labeled as Christ-Centered Dialectic-Neoplatonic-Romantic-Soteriology.