cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Optical Theorem and the Rayleigh-Gans Power Shortage

Several authors have written that the forward scattering power component addressed by the optical theorem is supposed to account for both extinction components (scattering and absorption), yet note that the scattering contribution is missing when the theorem is applied to the Rayleigh-Gans model. Some ad hoc repairs have been proposed. We demonstrate that careful bookkeeping in the derivation of the theorem reveals the source of the "paradox," resolving it without resort to extraneous considerations
Murine Plasmacytoid Pre-Dendritic Cells Generated from Flt3 Ligand-Supplemented Bone Marrow Cultures Are Immature APCs

The putative counterparts of human plasmacytoid pre-dendritic cells (pDCs) have been described in vivo in mouse models and very recently in an in vitro culture system. In this study, we report that large numbers of bone marrow-derived murine CD11c + B220 + pDCs can be generated with Flt3 ligand (FL) as the sole exogenous differentiation/growth factor and that pDC generation is regulated in vivo by FL because FL-deficient mice showed a major reduction in splenic pDC numbers. We extensively analyzed bone marrow-derived CD11c + B220 + pDCs and described their immature APC phenotype based on MHC class II, activation markers, and chemokine receptor level of expression. CD11c + B220 + pDCs showed a nonoverlapping Toll-like receptor pattern of expression distinct from that of classical CD11c + B220 − dendritic cells and were poor T cell stimulators. Stimulation of CD11c + B220 + pDCs with oligodeoxynucleotides containing certain CpG motifs plus CD40 ligand plus GM-CSF led to increased MHC class II, CD80, CD86, and CD8α expression levels, to a switch in chemokine receptor expression that affected their migration, to IFN-α and IL-12 secretion, and to the acquisition of priming capacities for both CD4 + and CD8 + OVA-specific TCR-transgenic naive T cells. Thus, the in vitro generation of murine pDCs may serve as a useful tool to further investigate pDC biology as well as the potential role of these cells in viral immunity and other settings.
CAM Storage of Analog Patterns and Continuous Sequences with 3N2 Weights

A simple architecture and algorithm for analytically guaranteed associative memory storage of analog patterns, continuous sequences, and chaotic attractors in the same network is described. A matrix inversion determines network weights, given prototype patterns to be stored. There are N units of capacity in an N node network with 3N2 weights. It costs one unit per static attractor, two per Fourier component of each sequence, and four per chaotic attractor. There are no spurious attractors, and there is a Liapunov function in a special coordinate system which governs the approach of transient states to stored trajectories. Unsupervised or supervised incremental learning algorithms for pattern classification, such as competitive learning or bootstrap Widrow-Hoff can easily be implemented. The architecture can be "folded" into a recurrent network with higher order weights that can be used as a model of cortex that stores oscillatory and chaotic attractors by a Hebb rule. Hierarchical sensory-motor control networks may be constructed of interconnected "cortical patches" of these network modules. Network performance is being investigated by application to the problem of real time handwritten digit recognition.
Knockout of the murine cysteine dioxygenase gene results in severe impairment in ability to synthesize taurine and an increased catabolism of cysteine to hydrogen sulfide.

Cysteine homeostasis is dependent on the regulation of cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) in response to changes in sulfur amino acid intake. CDO oxidizes cysteine to cysteinesulfinate, which is further me...
From viewstamped replication to byzantine fault tolerance

The paper provides an historical perspective about two replication protocols, each of which was intended for practical deployment. The first is Viewstamped Replication, which was developed in the 1980's and allows a group of replicas to continue to provide service in spite of a certain number of crashes among them. The second is an extension of Viewstamped Replication that allows the group to survive Byzantine (arbitrary) failures. Both protocols allow users to execute general operations (thus they provide state machine replication); both were developed in the Programming Methodology group at MIT.
The Influences of Skill Level, Anxiety, and Psychological Skills Use on Amateur Golfers’ Performances

The present study not only explored the influence of golf expertise on mental skills utilization, but also the influences of the use of mental skills and anxiety on performance at a major national golf competition. Participants, who had played golf for an average of 23 years, ranged in age (M = 52.17, SD = 11.81) and in skill level (M handicap = 15.58, SD = 6.41), included 1151 male and 173 female amateur golfers competing in the Dupont World Amateur Golf Championship in Myrtle Beach, SC. Measures targeted mental skills utilization, golf-specific skills, and competitive trait anxiety. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine the use of psychological skills across age (≤49, 50 and above) and levels of golf skill (Professional Golf Association certified handicaps, ≤11, 12–19, and ≥20), and based upon prospective longitudinal data, hierarchical regression analyses were used to determine those factors that predicted successful golf performance across all three rounds of the tournament. Not surp...
A Pipe Reliability and Cost Model for an Integrated Approach Toward Designing Water Distribution Systems

A municipal water distribution system is a network of underground pipes, usually mirroring the city street network, that connects water supply sources such as reservoirs and water towers with demand points such as residential homes, industrial sites and fire hydrants. These systems are extremely expensive to install, with costs running in the tens of millions of dollars. Several optimization models and algorithms have been developed to generate a least cost construction plan along with optimal flows and energy heads for a given network configuration and demand pattern. However, in reality, such models need to examine replacement and expansion decisions associated with an existing distribution network, rather than generate a new design from scratch. Moreover, several input parameters require to be determined via a pipe reliability and cost analysis, that in turn is dependent on the usage of the system as determined by the output of this model. Accordingly, we propose in this paper a pipe reliability and cost submodel that uses statistical methods to predict pipe breaks and hence to estimate future maintenance costs. This in turn determines annualized costs and optimal economic lives, thereby facilitating replacement decisions for relatively expensive-to-maintain or undercapacitated pipes. This model is then integrated with the pipe network optimization submodel in an overall design approach that uses a feedback loop to reprocess the information that is generated by each model over a number of stages, until a stable design is attained. The proposed approach hence provides a holistic framework for designing reliable water distribution systems. In particular, it identifies a nonconvex optimization subproblem that global optimizers can focus on solving within this framework.
Subway capitalization effect in Beijing: Theory and evidence on the variation of the subway proximity premium

This paper analyses the relationship between community attributes and the subway home-price capitalization effect, asking whether the magnitude of the subway proximity premium is affected by neighbourhood economic status and location. Using longitudinal data from Beijing, the paper estimates that decreasing a community's distance to a subway station by 10 per cent increases the housing price per square metre by 0.2 per cent ~ 0.9 per cent. The paper also shows that, subway capitalization effect is around 0.1 per cent ~ 0.2 per cent lower for communities that have higher quality and charge a 1 Yuan higher property management fee. Moreover, the analysis also reveals that the subway capitalization will decrease by around 0.08 per cent as a community's distance to the central business district (CBD) increases by 1 km.
Administrative, engineering, and personal protective measures for controlling Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDRTB) is defined as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) with resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampin. Prevention and control of MDRTB represent an important growing challenge to public health in industrialized countries and in countries with limited resources. The worldwide upsurge of MDRTB in the 1990’s was associated with multiple factors, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, sub-optimal patient adherence with curative therapy, and transmission of MDRTB in healthcare and other institutional settings. One important component of the overall control of MDRTB is the prevention of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in health care settings, or nosocomial transmission. Although there is no ongoing surveillance system for nosocomial or occupational MTB infections or disease, recent studies suggest annual tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion rates among health care workers (HCWs) range from 0.3 to 5.5% [1–5]. Similarly, studies suggest that the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) is higher among HCWs than the general population in the United States, especially in areas where TB prevalence is high [5–8]. The centerpiece of any effort to prevent nosocomial transmission of MTB is the development of an effective TB control program within the healthcare facility. In this chapter, we will review administrative, engineering, and personal respiratory protective measures that form the core of an effective TB control program. Such measures also reduce the nosocomial transmission of MDRTB. Recommendations for these measures are based on guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which are primarily aimed towards developed countries [9]. In addition, we discuss measures for prevention of MTB transmission that can be undertaken in countries and regions with limited resources.
The Education DesignShop: A Case Study on Education Reform Through Design Thinking

The innovation curve has become saturated; the low-hanging fruit has been exhausted by traditional problem-solving approaches. Any advancement in the education sector from here forward requires a new thinking paradigm: design thinking. This paper documents the process of infusing design thinking into the minds of the education system’s greatest problem-solvers: policymakers, engineers/designers, educators, and students of high school, undergraduate, and graduate schools. Using the formation of the Education DesignShop as a case study, we analyze the benefits and points of contention when using a design thinking approach, typical of tangible product designs, in a large-scale application, the systemic reform of education.
Citizen Soldier: A Life of Harry S. Truman. By Aida D. Donald. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 2012. Pp. xvi, 265. $26.99.)

The author of this book offers a biographical overview of the thirty‐third president of the United States from his birth and family background through the end of his presidency (though a short post...
Variations of Insect Genitalia

The employment of differences in the genitalic structure of male insects for the separation of otherwise similar species has been a very useful expedient in taxonomy for many years. It has been rather limited in some groups, but has become an essential part of classification in such difficult genera as Erynnis (Thatiaos Auct.) of the order Lepidoptera, where the specific distinctness and the asymmetry of male genitalia were noted as early as 1870 by Scudder and Burgess (1).
Monitoring the Changes of Rock Properties In a Micritic Limestone Upon Injection of a CO2-rich Fluid.

Carbonates are particularly prone to physical, chemical, and biological alterations. Injection of fluids which are not in thermodynamical equilibrium with the minerals composing the host rock leads to fluid/rock interactions causing changes in the pore system and, in turn, in the measured geophysical properties. These processes violate the assumptions of classical rock-physics models which are used to predict and invert the geophysical parameters monitored while injecting CO2-rich fluids into reservoirs. In particular, purely mechanical models, such as Gassmann’s fluid substitution, fail because they do not account for the chemical interactions between the fluid and the rock frame. The goal of the experiment described in this paper is to understand how and how much the changes in microstructure due to the dissolution/precipitation processes induced by the injection of CO2-rich water, affect the geophysical properties of carbonates. Results show a decrease both in compressionnal and shear ultrasonic dry velocities upon several injection cycles, resulting from changes in the rock frame. Since these changes cannot be taken into account by Gassmann’s theory, the predicted Pwaves velocities overestimate those measured at ultrasonic frequencies. We also show that the computation of the elastic moduli from measured velocities cannot prescient from a correct estimation of porosity which is affected both by mechanical and chemical processes.
Schemas in Problem Solving: Assessment in SPS and PSE

The two computer-implemented systems described earlier, SPS and PSE, each offer unique assessment opportunities. SPS provides a way to track schema development for each individual over a common set of exercises, allowing comparisons among individuals as well as determination of which knowledge components are weak or strong. PSE adds diagnostic information about the ways in which an individual structures his or her own problem solving, giving explicit details about how the individual constructs and implements a plan. This chapter asks two questions of assessments derived from the PSE and SPS systems: First, how do they compare with traditional assessments, and second, what do they offer beyond traditional ones? To examine the first question, we compare the results of a problem-solving test with those of an aggregation of SPS questions. To answer the second, we look to performances of individual students as well as to single item analyses. Before doing either, however, I shall review the structure of the SPS exercises and the assessment variables associated with them. Schema-based measures and SPS exercises Identification score Students indicate their acquisition of identification knowledge on two exercises. Both exercises require the student to apply identification knowledge in order to judge whether the conditions necessary for a particular situation have been met. For one exercise, the student's response is the selection of the name of the situation from a menu of all five names. For the second exercise, the student's response is the selection of the appropriate icon from a menu of icons.
Status of Foreign Electric Vehicle Development Strategy and Charge-Exchange Service

Based on extensive survey,this article introduces the latest electric vehicle(EV) development strategies of several developed countries and some EV standards.In view of rare papers of introducing foreign corporation's detailed strategy on EV charge-exchange service,this article researches three corporations' characteristic service strategies and analyzes the strategies' advantages and disadvantages,which could be a reference to developing EV charge-exchange service.
The rate of radon remediation in Ireland 2011–2015: Establishing a base line rate for Ireland's National Radon Control Strategy

Radon is the greatest source of radiation exposure to the public. In Ireland, it is estimated that approximately 7% of the national housing stock have radon concentrations above the Reference Level of 200 Bq m-3. A radon test can be carried out to identify homes with radon levels above the Reference Level. However there is no health benefit associated with radon testing unless it leads to remediation. Surveys to establish the rate of remediation in Ireland, that is the proportion of householders who having found levels of radon above the Reference Level proceed to carry out remediation work have been carried out in 2011 and 2013. Reasons for not carrying out remediation work were also investigated. In 2015 the survey was repeated to establish the current rate of remediation and reasons for not remediating. This report presents the results of that survey. It also compiles the data from all three surveys to identify any trends over time. The rate of remediation is an important parameter in estimating the effectiveness of programmes aimed at reducing radon levels. Currently the rate of remediation is 22% and the main reasons householders gave for not remediating were not certain there is a serious risk and concern about the cost of the work. In Ireland, this figure of 22% will be now used as a baseline metric against which the effectiveness of its National Radon Control Strategy will be measured over time.
Design of a cost-effective autonomous underwater vehicle

A team of undergraduate computer science students conducted research to create an economical autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The inspiration originated from the high cost associated with this branch of robotics. These vehicles are used in multiple fields including the exploration of large bodies of water and underwater equipment maintenance. These self-sufficient robots are able to keep individuals out of harsh and extreme environments. Our proposed version of an AUV is unique and it can function fully without being physically attached to the surface. The AUVs currently available in the market cost at least ten thousand dollars. Our AUV, as is, has the structure and capability to function on a small scale for just 400 dollars. Our design can be scaled up for more accuracy and longer battery life. This slightly scaled up version could drive the price of our AUV design to two thousand dollars compared to tens of thousands of dollars. This would make it more feasible for companies to have fleets of these underwater robots for a multitude of uses. Another aspect of this research would be creating an entirely new market for hobbyists who would like to send robots underwater for photography, amateur film making, or a number of things that only a consumer driven market can create. From a technical standpoint, this project required thinking up simple solutions to complex problems to keep the cost of the device down. It required the waterproofing of cheap water resistant sensors. It also required thinking outside of the box on parts and equipment that are waterproof but that are not used in robotics. For example, using modified bilge pumps as motors saved money when comparing them to waterproof servos.
Factors associated with successful revascularization using the aspiration component of ADAPT in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Introduction ADAPT (a direct aspiration first pass technique) has been shown to be fast, cost-effective, and associated with excellent angiographic and clinical outcomes in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Objective To identify any and all preoperative factors that are associated with successful revascularization using aspiration alone. Methods A retrospective review of 76 patients with AIS treated with thrombectomy was carried out. Cohort 1 included cases in which aspiration alone was successful (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b or 3). Cohort 2 included cases in which aspiration was unsuccessful or could not be performed despite an attempt. Results There was no difference between cohorts in gender, race, medications, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, IV tissue plasminogen activator, site or side of the occlusion, dense vessel sign, aortic arch type, severe stenosis, clot length, operator years of experience, and guide/aspiration catheters used. Patients in cohort 1 were on average younger (66.5 vs 74.1 years, p=0.025). There was a trend for more patients in cohort 2 to have atrial fibrillation/arrhythmias (62.5% vs 45.5%, p=0.168) and have a cardiogenic stroke etiology (78.1% vs 56.8%, p=0.086). There was also a trend for more reverse curves (2.3 vs 1.7, p=0.107), larger vessel diameter (3.26 mm vs 2.88 mm, p=0.184), larger vessel-to-catheter ratio (2.09 vs 1.87, p=0.192), and worse clot burden score (5.38 vs 6.68, p=0.104) in cohort 2. Conclusions Aspiration success was associated with younger age. Our findings suggest that ADAPT can be used for the vast majority of patients but it may be beneficial to use a different method first in the elderly.
Patterns of neuropsychological performance among forms of subcortical dementia: A case study approach

The uniformity of the neuropsychological deficits found in different forms of subcortical dementia has received limited attention. This is particularly true of relatively rare disorders such as Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome and Fahr's disease. The current investigation presents case study data related to the neuropsychological functioning of 12 patients with different forms of subcortical demntia
Fragmentation of protoplanetary discs around M-dwarfs

This is a companion data set to the paper Backus and Quinn 2016. The initial conditions and final results of all the simulations presented can be downloaded.
Human beta-globin mRNAs that harbor a nonsense codon are degraded in murine erythroid tissues to intermediates lacking regions of exon I or exons I and II that have a cap-like structure at the 5' termini.

Previous studies have demonstrated that nonsense codons within beta zero-thalassemic or in vitro-mutagenized human beta-globin transgenes result in the production of mRNAs that are degraded abnormally rapidly in the cytoplasm of murine erythroid cells. As a consequence, three RNA degradative intermediates are formed that lack sequences from either exon I or exons I and II. We show here that the intermediates, like the full-length mRNA from which they derive and the endogenous murine beta maj-globin mRNA, bind to the anticap monoclonal antibody H-20 in a way that is competed by the cap analogue m7G and eliminated by prior exposure to tobacco acid pyrophosphatase. Furthermore, the intermediates, like the two full-length mRNAs, are resistant to a 5'----3' exonuclease activity isolated from HeLa cell nuclei that degrades uncapped but not capped ribopolymers. Based on these observations, the intermediates appear to possess a structure that is indistinguishable from the cap at the 5' end of mRNA, i.e. a methylated nucleoside that is linked to the RNA by a 5'-5' phosphodiester bond. Detection of the intermediates during murine development was concomitant with detection of full-length thalassemic mRNA. Intermediate production appears to be influenced by RNA structure as indicated by the products that derive from a beta zero-thalassemic beta-globin transgene harboring a structural alteration (a 4 bp deletion) that was larger than any of those previously studied.
The Transformative Power of Authentic Conversations About Cancer.

ABSTRACTEntertainment-education (E-E) assumes that actors performing content should be ethnically and culturally homogeneous with targeted audiences. The present study challenges this basic E-E assumption. Findings are presented from audience members who viewed When Cancer Calls… This theatrical production was constructed from verbatim transcriptions of naturally occurring telephone conversations between White family members as they communicated about and through their cancer journey. Non-White audience members were significantly more likely than White audience members to (a) regard the performance as authentic, (b) find it would influence “people like me,” and (c) recommend the production to others. These findings suggest that all people must rely on communication when facing health challenges together. Such interactions that are fundamental to family membership are thus primal for the human social condition, regardless of differences in race and ethnicity. These findings also suggest innovative approach...
Screening for and Treating Postpartum Depression and Psychosis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Objectives Postpartum depression impacts 6.5-12.9% of U.S. women. Postpartum depression is associated with impaired bonding and development, marital discord, suicide, and infanticide. However, the current standard of care is to not screen women for postpartum depression. This study modeled the cost-effectiveness of physicians screening for and treating postpartum depression and psychosis in partnership with a psychiatrist. Methods This study follows a hypothetical cohort of 1000 pregnant women experiencing one live birth over a 2-year time horizon. We used a decision tree model to obtain the outcomes of screening for and treating postpartum depression and psychosis using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. We use a Medicaid payer perspective because they cover approximately 50% of births in the U.S. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention is measured in cost per remission achieved and cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. We conducted both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results Screening for and treating postpartum depression and psychosis produced 29 more healthy women at a cost of $943 per woman. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of the intervention branch compared to usual care were $13,857 per QALY gained (below the commonly accepted willingness to pay threshold of $50,000/QALY gained) and $10,182 per remission achieved. These results were robust in both the deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses of input parameters. Conclusions for Practice Screening for and treating postpartum depression is a cost-effective intervention and should be considered as part of usual postnatal care, which aligns with the recently proposed recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
The perceptual processing of fused multi-spectral imagery

Multi-spectral imagery can enhance decision-making by supplying multiple complementary sources of information. However, overloading an observer with information can deter decision-making. Hence, it is critical to assess multi-spectral image displays using human performance. Accuracy and response times (RTs) are fundamental for assessment, although without sophisticated empirical designs, they offer little information about why performance is better or worse. Systems factorial technology (SFT) is a framework for study design and analysis that examines observers’ processing mechanisms, not just overall performance. In the current work, we use SFT to compare a display with two sensor images alongside each another with a display in which there is a single composite image. In our first experiment, the SFT results indicated that both display approaches suffered from limited workload capacity and more so for the composite imagery. In the second experiment, we examined the change in observer performance over the course of multiple days of practice. Participants’ accuracy and RTs improved with training, but their capacity limitations were unaffected. Using SFT, we found that the capacity limitation was not due to an inefficient serial examination of the imagery by the participants. There are two clear implications of these results: Observers are less efficient with multi-spectral images than single images and the side-by-side display of source images is a viable alternative to composite imagery. SFT was necessary for these conclusions because it provided an appropriate mechanism for comparing single-source images to multi-spectral images and because it ruled out serial processing as the source of the capacity limitation.
Colonialism and Imperialism: Indigenous Resistance on the US /Mexico Border

The Rio Grande River became a boundary after the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), dividing families and communities living along its banks. In 2005 the US Congress began enacting legislation for the purposes of building a physical fence along the US -Mexico border. As such, this digital media project foregrounds the story of Dr. Tamez, a tribal elder and retired colonel, and her Lipan Apache Band in their fight for social justice, a fight that went to federal court, and spurred an inquiry and report by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Caspases and their substrates

Protease biology is intimately linked to the functional consequences of substrate cleavage events. Human caspases are a family of 12 fate-determining cysteine proteases that are best known for driving cell death, either apoptosis or pyroptosis. More recently, caspases have been shown to be involved in other cellular remodeling events as well including stem cell fate determination, spermatogenesis, and erythroid differentiation. Recent global proteomics methods enable characterization of the substrates that caspases cleave in live cells and cell extracts. The number of substrate targets identified for individual caspases can vary widely ranging from only a (few) dozen targets for caspases-4, -5, -9, and -14 to hundreds of targets for caspases-1, -2, -3, -6, -7, and -8. Proteomic studies characterizing the rates of target cleavage show that each caspase has a preferred substrate cohort that sometimes overlaps between caspases, but whose rates of cleavage vary over 500-fold within each group. Determining the functional consequences of discrete proteolytic events within the global substrate pool is a major challenge for the field. From the handful of individual targets that have been studied in detail, there are only a few so far that whose single cleavage event is capable of sparking apoptosis alone, such as cleavage of caspase-3/-7 and BIMEL, or for pyroptosis, gasdermin D. For the most part, it appears that cleavage events function cooperatively in the cell death process to generate a proteolytic synthetic lethal outcome. In contrast to apoptosis, far less is known about caspase biology in non-apoptotic cellular processes, such as cellular remodeling, including which caspases are activated, the mechanisms of their activation and deactivation, and the key substrate targets. Here we survey the progress made in global identification of caspase substrates using proteomics and the exciting new avenues these studies have opened for understanding the molecular logic of substrate cleavage in apoptotic and non-apoptotic processes.
Evidence-Based Staffing in High Schools: Using Student Achievement Data in Teacher Hiring, Evaluation, and Assignment

ABSTRACTRecent research has demonstrated that elementary school leaders, under pressure to meet benchmarks set by state and federal governments, have begun “staffing to the test,” moving to tested grades and subjects teachers whose previous students made substantive learning gains. This is particularly true in lower-performing schools or schools that recently experienced a drop in performance, as measured by the grade they received from the state accountability system. What is not known, however, is how widespread this phenomenon has become. Moreover, little is known about whether and how performance data is used by administrators of high schools, where scheduling complexity is amplified by graduation requirements, larger enrollments, and credentialing requirements that mandate teachers to be certified in all the subjects that they teach. By surveying high school principals in Florida and Texas, this article attempts to fill this gap.
Ventricular pseudodiverticula from intraparenchymal cerebrospinal fluid dissection secondary to high-grade obstructive hydrocephalus in children: Magnetic resonance imaging findings

We report on a series of three children who presented with a focal cerebrospinal fluid collection within the periventricular white matter of the temporal and occipital lobes in the setting of high-grade obstructive hydrocephalus. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a focal defect within the ventricular wall associated with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the adjacent white matter. The white matter tracts appeared primarily displaced. This entity should be referred to as ventricular pseudodiverticulum, not lined by ependymal cells, in contrast to a true ventricular diverticulum in which the cerebrospinal fluid is contained by a focal outpouching of the intact ventricular wall lined by a dilated and prolapsed layer of ependymal cells. Correct interpretation and classification of the findings may be helpful in predicting prognosis and outcome.
Light-Driven Catalytic Upgrading of Butanol in a Biohybrid Photoelectrochemical System.

This paper reports the design and preparation of a biohybrid photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) that can drive the tandem enzymatic oxidation and aldol condensation of n-butanol (BuOH) to C8 2-ethylhexenal (2-EH). In this work, BuOH was first oxidized to n-butyraldehyde (BA) by the alcohol oxidase enzyme (AOx), concurrently generating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). To preserve enzyme activity and increase kinetics nearly 2-fold, the H2O2 was removed by oxidation at a bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) photoanode. Organocatalyzed aldol condensation of C4 BA to C8 2-EH improved the overall BuOH conversion to 6.2 ± 0.1% in a biased PEC after 16 h. A purely light-driven, unbiased PEC showed 3.1 ± 0.1% BuOH conversion, or ∼50% of that obtained from the biased system. Replacing AOx with the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which requires the diffusional nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor (NAD+/NADH), resulted in only 0.2% BuOH conversion due to NAD+ dimerization at the photoanode. Lastly, the application of more posit...
Microstructure development of hydrothermally grown TiO2 thin films with vertically aligned nanorods

TiO2 (rutile) thin films were deposited via a hydrothermal process by adjusting the amount of ethanol, deposition time, and temperature. Especially, various amounts of ethanol generated different degrees of supersaturation in precursor solution. It allowed us to systematically change the width, lengths, and crystallinity of a vertically aligned 1-D nanorod structure of TiO2 films. The oriented attachment, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, was shown to be responsible for their lateral growth of TiO2 nanorods bundled by numerous well-oriented nanowires and their vertical growth. TiO2 nanorod thin films were also characterized via X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer to find a correlation between the process conditions and nanostructural evolution. Dye sensitized solar cells were assembled to relate the nanostructures of TiO2 films with the effectiveness of its role as a photoelectrode.
Arthroplasty care redesign related to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model: results at a tertiary academic medical center

Abstract Background Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) remains the highest expenditure in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) budget. One model to control cost is the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model. There has been no published literature to date examining the efficacy of CJR on value-based outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and sustainability of a multidisciplinary care redesign for total joint arthroplasty under the CJR paradigm at an academic tertiary care center. Methods We implemented a system-wide care redesign, affecting all patients who underwent a total hip or total knee arthroplasty at our academic medical center. The main study outcomes were cost (to CMS), discharge destination, complications and readmissions, and length of stay (LOS); these were measured using the 2017 initial CJR reconciliation report, as well as our institutional database. Results The study included 1536 patients (41% Medicare). Per-episode cost to CMS declined by 19.5% to 11% below the CMS-designated national target. Home discharge increased from 62% to 87%. CMS readmissions declined from 15% to 6%; major complications decreased from 2.3% to 1.9%; and LOS declined from 3.6 to 2.1 days. Conclusions A mandatory episode-based bundled-payment program can induce favorable changes to value-based metrics, improving quality and outcomes for health-care consumers. Quality and value were improved in this study, evidenced by lower 90-day episode cost, more home discharges, lower readmissions and complications, and shorter LOS. This approach has implications not just for CMS, but for private payers, corporate health programs, and fixed-budget health-care models.
Minimum spanning trees for gene expression data clustering.

This paper describes a new framework for microarray gene-expression data clustering. The foundation of this framework is a minimum spanning tree (MST) representation of a set of multidimensional gene expression data. A key property of this representation is that each cluster of the expression data corresponds to one subtree of the MST, which rigorously converts a multidimensional clustering problem to a tree partitioning problem. We have demonstrated that though the inter-data relationship is greatly simplified in the MST representation, no essential information is lost for the purpose of clustering. Two key advantages in representing a set of multi-dimensional data as an MST are: (1) the simple structure of a tree facilitates efficient implementations of rigorous clustering algorithms, which otherwise are highly computationally challenging; and (2) as an MSTbased clustering does not depend on detailed geometric shape of a cluster, it can overcome many of the problems faced by classical clustering algorithms. Based on the MST representation, we have developed a number of rigorous and efficient clustering algorithms, including two with guaranteed global optimality. We have implemented these algorithms as a computer software EXCAVATOR. To demonstrate its effectiveness, we have tested it on two data sets, i.e., expression data from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Arabidopsis expression data in response to chitin elicitation.
Using EEG Biometric Feedback Devices to Investigate Interruption Impact on Multi-tasking Task Completion

This work explores ways to unobtrusively capture biometric data, calculate metrics important to the user, and deliver the metrics in ways that empower people to lead more mentally balanced lives. An initial experiment explored how one type of biometric data (EEG) could be unobtrusively collected and analyzed in real time to differentiate user task engagement for single and dual tasks. We found statistically significant differences in mean engagement values across tasks, with a higher engagement mean when participants were asked to monitor a constantly updating news-feed than when they were asked to complete a math test, or the two simultaneously. Similar biometric inputs could be used to explore mental state from cognitive variables like interruption. Future work focuses on how devices worn or carried by the user can provide on-demand information about daily mental activity, balanced by web dashboards that can provide a rich contextual viewport.
Using Immersive Visualization Environments to Engage Students in Hands-On Learning

The increased emphasis on utilization of technology across all levels of education provides opportunities to incorporate computational techniques like visualization software into science classrooms. All levels of education operate under the common goal of knowledge acquisition. The purpose of using visualization in an educational setting is to increase knowledge by making connections between students' current knowledge base, technology, and the knowledge being conferred via visualization. Combined with opportunities for student engagement, visualization can help bridge the gap between current knowledge and the information being conveyed. Our focus is on biomolecular visualization, which can be used to render informative images of DNA and proteins, as well as larger assemblies such as viruses. This content is applicable as students' progress through primary to secondary education and beyond, though it is important to match the level of presentation to the grade level and knowledge based of the students. Tools are available to generate computer-based renderings of biomolecules that can be viewed in two dimensions. In this project, we have explored the application of novel, immersive visualization (virtual reality) as a way to increase student engagement and comprehension of otherwise challenging biological concepts.To enhance the learning process and facilitate the incorporation of concepts of biomolecular structure in the classroom, we have developed resources for teachers at the primary and secondary levels. These resources include files for the visualization of structures as well as guides to facilitate scientific discussion between teachers and students. Overall, this paper will outline the rationale and process behind implementing immersive visualization in education programs for various age groups to increase engagement with science curriculum, improve STEM involvement, and promote future workforce development.
Mechanistic Studies on the Formation of BZIP•DNA Interfaces

Transcription factors that bind DNA as dimers often recognize “half sites” arranged in an inverted repeat such as the sequence ATGACGTCAT. The half sites are the underlined sequences and the CG in the middle is a spacer between the sites. Transcription factor dimers that bind to these sites can recognize not only the sequence of bases within each half site (“base-pair specificity”), but also the spacing between the half sites (“half-site spacing specificity”). Dimeric transcription factor families whose members display half-site spacing specificity include nuclear hormone receptors [1], class-3 zinc-binding domains [2,3], homeodomains [4,5], and basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins [6].
Successful cure of daptomycin-non-susceptible, vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis directed by synergistic in vitro time-kill study

Infectious complications following surgical valve replacements are extremely difficult to treat, often requiring prolonged antimicrobials therapy with or without surgery. Vancomycin-intermediate St...
Channel Strain Dependence of Tinv in Strained Si and Si l-x Ge x FETs: Internal Strain-induced Modification of Chemical Oxidation

Self-limiting chemical oxidation behaviors on SiGe channels with biaxial and uniaxial strain are studied to understand the role of the internal channel strain in the interfacial layer (IL) formation. Biaxial strain accelerates chemical oxidation on Si and SiGe regardless of Ge content in the channel, forming a thicker IL in planar FETs. On the other hand, chemical oxidation is not sensitive to uniaxial strain thanks to the less strain in the out-of-plane direction, forming a thinner IL in FinFETs. The universal relationship of Tinv and channel strain from both planar FETs and FinFETs is discussed.
Grateful people are happier because they have fond memories of their past

Abstract Past studies demonstrated that grateful people report higher well-being. Research has rarely examined the mechanisms that explains this relation. In three studies (N = 787), we proposed that time perspectives may be one reasons why grateful people report higher well-being. Studies 1 and 2 used a cross-sectional design with adults and students that demonstrated a unique association between trait gratitude and well-being, which is largely explained by the past positive time perspective. Study 3 used a brief longitudinal design in a more ethnically diverse student sample and found that trait gratitude predicted life satisfaction one-month later, in part, because the grateful people reported more past positive time perspective. In short, these findings were consistent across diverse samples and remained even after controlling for the Big Five personality traits. The discussion focuses on the implications that these results have for the gratitude and time perspective literature.
Brain mapping at high resolutions: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract Methods for imaging the architecture of the brain at high resolutions, and across large volumes, are rapidly improving. With the convergence of high-resolution datasets and new computational approaches for processing them, fully and semi-automated methods for studying the brain will soon be within reach. However, there are many challenges in developing data-driven strategies for brain mapping with images at cellular and sub-cellular resolutions. This review highlights some key challenges in building models of brain structure from imaging datasets; we describe some existing efforts to tackle these challenges and potential solutions moving forward. Finally, we discuss the need for concerted community efforts to adopt common standards and coordinate systems for brain mapping, which will enable us to achieve robust and scalable solutions that work across different brain models and can accommodate the intrinsic variability both between and within high-resolution neuroimaging datasets.
Histopathological effects of larval digenea on the digestive epithelia of the marine prosbranch Cerithidea californica: Fine structural changes in the intestine

Abstract Light and electron microscopy were employed to study the effects of infection by sporocysts of Renicola buchanani on the posterior intestine of the marine snail Cerithidea californica . Columnar intestinal epithelium in close contact with renicolid sporocysts usually are compressed by growing larval stages resulting in the reduction of epithelial height, the disruption of cell-cell junctions, and the formation of convolutions in the supporting basal lamina. Intestinal cells of infected snails are further characterized by a reduction of rough endoplasmic reticulum, microtubules and microfilaments, and the formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles and electron-dense lysosome-like inclusions. Mitochondria of degenerating intestinal and smooth muscle cells show signs of cristolysis. In addition, the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells often display a fine grainy appearance due to the breakdown of actin and paramyosin filaments.
Feature extraction and representation via orthogonal signal decomposition for parametric speech signal processing

This research focuses on parametric word recognition applications using the orthogonal signal decomposition method. Despite the popularity of the statistical approach in speech recognition, the parametric approach is very common for simple word applications due to its less computational costs. Higher recognition rates can be obtained by incorporating numerous elements in the feature vector, but this requires greater computational costs, which may not be suitable for applications that demand rapid decision making with a system on a budget. In this investigation, the feature vectors were constructed by means of singular values from the orthogonal signal decomposition method and their effectiveness was tested in realtime word recognition applications. When the theoretical foundation was established and confirmed, it was validated in a program using a sound card.
Nasal Gene Expression of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 in Children and Adults.

This study compares angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene expression, which has been associated with SARS-CoV-2 cell entry, in the nasal epithelium of children vs adults.