cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A predictive model for identifying mini-regulatory modules in the mouse genome

Motivation: Rapidly advancing genome technology has allowed access to a large number of diverse genomes and annotation data. We have defined a systems model that integrates assembly data, comparative genomics, gene predictions, mRNA and EST alignments and physiological tissue expression. Using these as predictive parameters, we engineered a machine learning approach to decipher putative active regions in the genome. Results: Analysis of genomic sequences showed nucleosome-free region (NFR) modules containing a higher percentage of conserved regions, RNA-encoding sequences, CpG islands, splice sites and GC-rich areas. In contrast, random in silico fragments revealed higher percentages of DNA repeats and a lower conservation. The larger conserved sequences from the Vista enhancer browser (VEB) showed a greater percentage of short DNA sequence matches and RNA coding regions in multiple species. Our model can predict small regulatory regions in the genome with >95% prediction accuracy using NFR modules and >85% prediction accuracy with VEB elements. Ultimately, this systems model can be applied to any organism to identify candidate transcriptional modules on a genome scale. Contact: myar@seas.upenn.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Comparison of adrenergic mechanisms in an elastic and a muscular artery of the rabbit.

Elastic and muscular arteries are known to differ in function and in the magnitude of their response to vasoconstrictor influences. With the isolated thoracic aorta and ear artery of the rabbit as representative arteries, the morphological, physiological, and pharmacological correlates of these differences have been sought among their presynaptic adrenergic mechanisms. The adrenergic nerve plexus in the ear artery is wider and the nodes are denser than they are in the aorta. There is some evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the thicker the plexus, the greater the reuptake of released transmitter, the smaller the transmitter overflow, and the lower the efficiency of uptake of exogenous norepinephrine. Measurements of fractional release of tritiated norepinephrine suggest that qualitative differences in the adrenergic transmitter storage and release mechanisms may exist between the two vessels. Thus the considerable functional difference between the two vessels is in part, at any rate, a consequence of adrenergic mechanisms which differ both quantitatively and qualitatively from each other.
ARQ for network coding

A new coding and queue management algorithm is proposed for communication networks that employ linear network coding. The algorithm has the feature that the encoding process is truly online, as opposed to a block-by-block approach. The setup assumes a packet erasure broadcast channel with stochastic arrivals and full feedback, but the proposed scheme is potentially applicable to more general lossy networks with link-by-link feedback. The algorithm guarantees that the physical queue size at the sender tracks the backlog in degrees of freedom (also called the virtual queue size). The new notion of a node ldquoseeingrdquo a packet is introduced. In terms of this idea, our algorithm may be viewed as a natural extension of ARQ schemes to coded networks. Our approach, known as the drop-when-seen algorithm, is compared with a baseline queuing approach called drop-when-decoded. It is shown that the expected queue size for our approach is O[(1)/(1-rho)] as opposed to Omega[(1)/(1-rho)2] for the baseline approach, where rho is the load factor.
Protonation of Organic Bases in Clay—Water Systems

The extent of protonation of organic bases in clay—water systems depends upon the adsorptive properties of the organo-clay species involved, and upon the structure and degree of hydration of the clay system. Organic molecules that can disperse cationic charge over two or more condensed aromatic rings give rise to greater surface-induced protonation than do single-ring organic molecules with similar solution pKa. Protonation in clay suspensions is frequently far in excess of that predicted on the basis of electrolytic suspension pH and solution pKa of the organic base. For a given organic base, protonation in a clay film exceeds that in the suspended clay system. Protonation in an organo-clay film increases as the film moisture content decreases. The extent of protonation in organo—clay systems varies with cationic species, cationic saturation, and clay type.
aadA Confers Streptomycin Resistance in Borrelia burgdorferi

To enhance genetic manipulation of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, we assayed the aadA gene for the ability to confer resistance to the antibiotics spectinomycin and streptomycin. Using the previously described pBSV2 as a backbone, a shuttle vector, termed pKFSS1, which carries the aadA open reading frame fused to the B. burgdorferi flgB promoter was constructed. The hybrid flgB promoter-aadA cassette confers resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin in both B. burgdorferi and Escherichia coli. pKFSS1 has a replication origin derived from the 9-kb circular plasmid and can be comaintained in B. burgdorferi with extant shuttle vector pCE320, which has a replication origin derived from a 32-kb circular plasmid, or pBSV2, despite the fact that pKFSS1 and pBSV2 have the same replication origin. Our results demonstrate the availability of a new selectable marker and shuttle vector for genetically dissecting B. burgdorferi at the molecular level.
Moral Judgment The Influence of Ethical Ideology

In order to determine when ethical ideology influences judgments of morality, individuals who endorsed an absolutist, exceptionist, subjectivist, or situationist ideology morally evaluated an actor linked, at varying levels of responsibility, to positive or negative outcomes. As predicted, absolutists judged the actor more harshly than exceptionists, but only when the described actor has foreseen or intended to produce a highly negative consequence.
Aggregating Subjective Forecasts: Some Empirical Results

The impact on forecast accuracy of aggregating the subjective forecasts of up to 13 individuals was examined for five forecast weighting methods-equal weighting, two ex post methods that took advantage of prior information about the individuals' relative accuracy, and two ex ante methods based on objective and subjective assessments of relative accuracy. The individuals were executives, managers and sales personnel employed by Time. Inc., and the variable forecasted was the number of advertising pages sold annually by Time magazine over a 14-year period. The results show that both the average forecast error and the variance of the error decrease as additional individuals' forecasts are included in the aggregate. Only two to five individuals' forecasts must be included to achieve much of the total improvement available from combining all 13 forecasts. Three of the differential weighting methods produced more accurate forecasts than equal weighting, but the magnitude of the improvement was small. Implications for realistic forecasting situations are discussed, as are conditions under which the use of aggregates seems attractive.
Image Analysis of Mispicks in Woven Fabric

Images of a woven fabric with missing picks are digitized, and three different image analysis techniques are compared: the Sobel edge operator, the fast Fourier transform, and the discrete wavelet transform. The wavelet transform, used as a multi-resolution spectral filter, is able to give both spectral and frequency information about a fabric. For the samples tested, the wavelet transform can characterize defects due to missing picks and ends faster and more accurately than the other methods.
The freshwater crabs of Madagascar (Crustacea, Decapoda, Potamoidea)

The taxonomy of the freshwater crabs of Madagascar is revised and the num­ ber of genera raised from five to six. Two new genera are erected and one genus is synonymised. Hydrothelphusa is revised with four species: H. agilis A. Milne-Edwards , 1872, H. madagascarien sis (A. Milne-Edwards, 1872), H. bombetokensis (Rathbun, 1904) and H. goudoti (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) n. comb. Malagasya n. gen. is established to accommodate two species, M. antongilensis (Rathbun, 1905) and M. goodmani (Cumberlidge, Boyko & Harvey, 2002); Marojejy Cumberlidge, Boyko & Harvey, 2002 and Madagapotamon Bott, 1965 are recognised as monotypic genera, Skelosophusa remains unchanged, and Boreas n. gen. is established for one species B. uglowi n. sp. The genus Gecarcinautes Bott, I960 is here synonymised with Potamonautes Macleay, 1838 and its former taxa are referred to other genera. All six genera of freshwater crabs found in Madagascar are endemic and all are here referred to the Potamonautidae. A new diagnosis for each of the 12 species is provided, many are redescribed, and most are figured from the type. Keys to the genera and species of the Madagascan freshwater crabs are provided, together with species distribution maps and a gazetteer.
The Southeast Florida Coastal Zone (SFCZ): A Cascade of Natural, Biological, and Human-Induced Hazards

The Southeast Florida Coastal Zone (SFCZ), the southern part of the South Atlantic Coastal Zone (SACZ), is an exemplar of a developed, low-lying coastal zone that is prone to a wide range of coastal hazards. Threats to environmental integrity, infrastructure, and human wellbeing include both the frequent occurrence of natural meteohydrological disturbances, hazardous marine life interactions, and human-induced events. Natural hazards are mainly centered on storms and impacts from wind damage, shore erosion, flooding, and rip currents. Anthropogenic hazards, aside from dramatic or obvious events such as ship groundings, are caused by human endeavors that are regarded as normal day-to-day activities but which invisibly lead to land degradation in agricultural areas and urban settings, as well as the pollution of coastal marine environments through nutrient loading and sewage outfall dumping. Additionally, managerial positionalities that defeat sustainable development contribute to human-induced coastal hazards. Furthermore, increased human interaction with the coastal marine environment now leads to hazardous contact with biological fauna along coastal environments on both land and in the water. Release of non-native, invasive species in this subtropical coastal zone also poses a whole new range of potential hazards ranging from the loss of native species to a coastal population threatened by dangerous animals. These examples from the SFCZ also apply to many sensitive coastal marine environments around the world where increasing population densities multiply risks that eventually cascade into definable potential disaster zones.
Topiramate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a patient with mental retardation: A case report and review of the literature

Hyperammonemia is an uncommon side effect of topiramate (TPM) that has only been reported when it is used as an adjunct to valproate. We report a patient with mental retardation who developed reversible encephalopathy from TPM. Ammonia level was monitored during the course of TPM treatment. This patient had recurring, reversible elevations in serum ammonia levels that coincided with the administration of TPM. To our knowledge, symptomatic hyperammonemia has not been reported to occur with TPM monotherapy.
Transcrystalline Interphase in Advanced Polymer Composites

Surface induced transcrystallization in fibers has been reported in some advanced polymer composites. It is believed that the transcrystalline interphase may affect stress transfer efficiency between the reinforcing fiber and the matrix in addition to exhibiting different mechanical properties from the neat matrix. In this work, attempts were made to examine the effects of transcrystallinity on composite performance, particularly on fiber/matrix interfacial bond strength, and to investigate possible attributes of transcrystallization. Three polymer resins were investigated: polyetherketoneketone (PEEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyphenylene-sulfide (PPS); four types of fiber were used: PAN-based AU-4 carbon, pitch-based carbon, PPDT aramid and E-glass. It is found that PPDT aramid and pitch-based carbon fibers induce a transcrystalline interphase in all three polymers, due to an epitaxial effect. Under certain conditions, transcrystallization has also been observed in the PAN-based carbon and E-glass fibers, which may be partially attributed to the thermal conductivity mismatch between the fiber and the matrix. Plasma treatment on the fiber surface showed a negligible effect on inducing transcrystallization, whereas solution coating of PPDT aramid creating an epitaxially-favored environment on the fiber surface showed a positive effect. Mechanical test results, including microdebonding, flexural mechanical and short beam shear tests, of the PEKK composites showed increases of 5–25% in the composite properties with the transcrystallinity. However, the effect of transcrystallinity on the interfacial bond strength decreases as the fiber content increases in the composites.
Forebody Aerodynamic Loads Due to Rotary Motion

An experimental investigation of the aerodynamic loads on an isolated forebody during rotary motion was conducted in a small-scale wind tunnel. Force balance data is presented over a range of angle of attack for a round and chined configuration of a generic tangent ogive shape. The side force behavior due to the rotary motion of the two distinctly different forebody configurations is examined. An analysis of off-surface flow visualization of the forebody vortices is incorporated to aid in the understanding of the rotary force balance data. For the chined forebody, regardless of flow speed, the side force behavior due to the rotary motion is a function of AOA, while for the round forebody it may be functionally dependent upon AOA, flow speed (ReD), and the direction and magnitude of rotation.
A Revision of the Genus Hydnocystis (Tuberales) and of the Hypogeous Species of Geopora (Pezizales)

Hydnocystis Tul. & Tul. is shown to be a monotypic genus containing only H. piligera Tul. & Tul. in the family Geneaceae of the Tuberales. Sepultaria (Cooke) Boud. (Pezizales) is shown to be congen...
Laser Range Finder in Water Level Measurements

The principles of the hanging-type laser range finder for measuring water level are introduced.Its scientific characters are analyzed from the four aspects of float design,installation of laser range finder,signal control converter,and maintainability of laser ranger finder.Its application in Water Information Automatic Prediction System of Qingjiang River in Hubei Province is given.The technical advantages and application prospects of the laser range finder are put forward.
Overview of the pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin.

The pharmacokinetic properties of fleroxacin in relation to other quinolones are presented. Fleroxacin, like all quinolones, is well absorbed, reaching peak concentrations within 2 hours. Interactions with Ca2+ and Al3+ are minimal and possibly of little clinical importance. The drug is eliminated via filtration in the kidney. It is therefore sensitive to changes in renal function. Accumulation of drug in the body is minimal, and change from intravenous to oral dosing results in nearly identical serum concentrations. Aside from the modest effect of metals on its absorption, fleroxacin does not interact/compete with substances oxidized in the liver, such as theophylline, and drug interactions are minimal. Its long serum half-life (8–12 hours) allows once-a-day dosing. This feature, along with its modest drug interactions, makes fleroxacin an attractive quinolone, at least with respect to its pharmacokinetics.
Clusters of Galaxies with Very Large Redshifts

There are a number of ways by which the deceleration parameter qo can be estimated. By assuming objects are bound and by studying gravitational motions one can measure the total mass, both seen and unseen, in galaxies, groups of galaxies, clusters of galaxies or perhaps even in superclusters. Each of these methods at best measures the mass within the particular system and this may not give a true picture of the total mass in the universe. The only way to measure the total mass in a substantial volume of the universe is to use the Hubble relation to determine qo.
Successful renal transplantation in a patient with a neurogenic bladder managed by clean intermittent catheterization.

AbstractSuccessful renal transplantation was accomplished in a patient with spina bifida and a neurogenic bladder, who previously had been continent after bladder neck reconstruction and institution of chronic intermittent bladder catheterization. Satisfactory bladder emptying and renal functional preservation have been maintained during a 4-year followup.
Thermochemistry of molecular complexes. 4. Molecular complexes of I2 with chloromethylbenzenes

The enthalpy of formation for twelve molecular complexes of I2 with chloromethylbenzene molecules in CCl4 have been determined. The wavelength of maximum absorption for each complex is also reported. The formation enthalpy for the complexes appears to depend strongly on the number and type of substituent groups attached to the benzene ring, but only weakly on the location of the substituent group on the ring. This suggests that it should be possible to predict formation enthalpies for a wide variety of complexes of this type based on a limited number of experimental measurements.
Complete vector focal field characterization via nanoprobe induced nonlinear far field signals

An algorithm fully characterizing vector focal plane third order polarization densities and fundamental fields for tightly focused beams through analysis of far field third harmonic intensities is presented.
Seasonal expression of arginine vasotocin mRNA and its correlations to gonadal steroidogenic enzymes and sexually dimorphic coloration during sex reversal in the gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata )

Arginine vasotocin is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus of teleost fish that has been shown to regulate gonad development and sexual behavior. To study the role of arginine vasotocin in the gonadal cycle of the hermaphrodite gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, we cloned the seabream arginine vasotocin (avt) complementary DNA (cDNA). We investigated the expression of brain avt throughout the gonad cycle using real-time quantitative PCR and compared its expression levels to the expression levels of two key gonadal steroidogenic enzymes, cyp19a1a and cyp11b2. In July, when the process of sex reversal is thought to begin, avt expression was elevated over the previous 2 months. Avt in the brain remained at or above the level of July until November then peaked again in December. There was no difference between males and females in the expression levels of brain avt throughout the year. However, only in ambisexual fish was the expression of the cyp19a1a gonadal aromatase correlated to the expression of avt in the brain. Cyp11b2 did not show any correlation to brain avt expression. We also found that females had more intense body coloration than males and that this intensity peaked prior to spawning. Avt expression and female coloration were positively correlated. The fact that brain avt expression was lowest during gonad quiescence, together with the observation of a correlation between brain avt with gonadal cyp19a1a and body coloration during that time suggests that avt may play a role during the process of sex reversal and spawning of the gilthead seabream.
Modeling Unicorns and Dead Cats: Applying Bressan’s ML ν to the Necessary Properties of Non-existent Objects

Should objects count as necessarily having certain properties, despite their not having those properties when they do not exist? For example, should a cat that passes out of existence, and so no longer is a cat, nonetheless count as necessarily being a cat? In this essay I examine different ways of adapting Aldo Bressan’s ML ν so that it can accommodate an affirmative answer to these questions. Anil Gupta, in The Logic of Common Nouns, creates a number of languages that have a kinship with Bressan’s ML ν , three of which are also tailored to affirmatively answering these questions. After comparing their languages, I argue that metaphysicians and philosophers of language should prefer ML ν to Gupta’s languages in most applications because it can accommodate essential properties, like being a cat, while being more uniform and less cumbersome.
Textile based dual band MIMO quad-mode substrate integrated waveguide antenna for WiFi application

In this paper, a novel textile based wearable, dual band MIMO quad-mode substrate integrated waveguide (QMSIW) antenna has been proposed. The proposed antenna provides coverage for the Bluetooth, WiFi 2.4, 5.2 and 5.8 GHz bands with dimensions of 115 × 122 × 4.1 mm3. The antenna consists of two dual band QMSIW with a simple decoupling network which results in envelop correlation coefficient (ECC) 9.8 dBi in the required bands. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of the antenna is well within the acceptable limits specified by FCC.
Matrices over finite fields and their Kirchhoff graphs

Abstract Given a stoichiometric matrix A with integer entries, we seek to visualize the information by a reaction network N, whose edges are labeled by the columns of A, such that all column dependencies are realized as cycles in N. Moreover, the vector edges of N are assigned integer multiplicities so that every vertex of N corresponds to a vector in the row space of A. A finite such N is called a Kirchhoff graph. We establish the existence of nontrivial Kirchhoff graphs over finite fields, but the general problem over the integers is still open.
Combined Oocyte Retrieval and Robot-assisted Hysterectomy in a Super Morbidly Obese Patient with Endometrial Carcinoma.

Aim To report on the unique, innovative management of a super morbidly obese patient presenting for fertility preservation in the setting of Grade 2 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma. Case report A back-to-back oocyte retrieval and robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy (RA-TLH) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) was performed in a 37-year-old nulligravid woman with super morbid obesity (BMI 63 kg/m2) with endometrial cancer. Main outcome measure the successful retrieval of oocytes for fertility preservation and oncologic intervention via RA-TLH with BSO in the same operative and anesthetic episode. Results This combined procedure strategy was successful in our case and is a feasible option for similar high-risk patients in the future. Conclusion Identifying safe and effective approaches for oocyte retrieval in morbidly obese patients represents a pressing need as obesity rates rise among reproductive-aged women. Back-to-back oocyte retrieval and RA-TLH with BSO are not only feasible, but could also decrease significant anesthetic risks for morbidly obese patients.
Incorporating Healthcare Transition Readiness Assessment

Transition readiness assessment is defined as the measurement of indicators that an adolescent or young adult with special health-care needs (AYASHCN) can successfully initiate, continue, and finish the process of transferring from pediatric-centered to adult-centered medical care. Despite national research and clinical initiatives focused on the promotion of transition readiness, there is evidence that routine transition readiness assessment is not in place for many AYASHCN and their families, ultimately posing risks for inadequate health-care utilization, morbidity, and mortality. Challenges to transition readiness assessment include the lack of well-validated measures, inadequate resources and training, and difficulties with care coordination across providers. In this chapter, we define transition readiness using an evidenced-based, social-ecological framework—the Social-ecological Model of AYA Readiness to Transition (SMART)—and provide an updated review of the available transition readiness assessment measures. We describe ways in which emerging transition readiness assessment research may be incorporated into routine clinical practice through quality improvement science. Finally, we discuss limitations of the current literature and provide opportunities for future research, including the need for rigorous validation studies with attention to multiple transition stakeholders, to develop psychometrically robust measures with strong clinical utility.
Real-time data processing scheme using big data analytics in internet of things based smart transportation environment

In recent times, a massive amount of smart devices or objects are connected that enhances the scale of the digital world. These smart objects are referred as “things” or physical devices that have the potential to sense the real-world physical objects, collect the data, and network with others. The objects are connected through the internet, which crafts the terminology of Internet of Things (IoT). IoT has been developed and become the center of consideration due to the novelty of embedded device and a rapid enhancement in its number. This increase is resulting in the creative applications of smart environments. Smart transportation is a central stake for the quality of life of citizens in smart environment. Smart transportation involves the use of devices and sensors in the control system of vehicle; for example navigation system of cars, traffic signal management system, number recognition system and speed monitoring system. In this research article, we propose architecture for smart transportation system using Big Data analytics, in order to achieve real time processing and facilitate a friendly communication in the environment of IoT based smart transportation. The proposed architecture is a 3-phase scheme which is responsible for the organization and management of Big Data, real-time processing of Big Data and service management. The proposed architecture is a generic solution for the smart transportation planning using real time Big Data processing. The proposed scheme is realized using Spark over single node Hadoop setup with various input libraries. A huge amount of data from different authentic and reliable sources is measured to validate the proposed architecture. In addition, the effectiveness of proposed scheme also highlighted with regard to throughput.
On Interdependent Metabolic Structures: The Case of Cyborg Garden

This paper revisits the concept of metabolic architecture by introducing the pair of plants and ambient computing, constructing a stage between automation and interaction. By acknowledging a technophilic present, the paper proposes ambient computing to control the metabolic architecture, but together with a vulnerable component, that of plants. This way it develops an interdependent system among technology, people, space, and plants. Assuming that in the future, the role of plants (and potentially people) will depend on computers, the automatic process requires to be thought together with vulnerability and unpredictability, so it is more humane. In this system, there is no redundancy, plants and ambient computing are predominant aspects of the design. The plants paired with ambient computing constitute a mediator for future technoecologies operating both through automation/control and people’s care/interaction. The paper explores this position through a project, which is a provocative statement on ecology, Photodotes V: Cyborg Garden (2015).
INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER COMPLICATING PREGNANCY : How to Manage the Dilemma

Invasive cervical cancer is relatively uncommon during pregnancy. Depending on the patient population studied, the estimated incidence ranges from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. However, cervical cancer remains the most common malignancy diagnosed during pregnancy. Among patients with this disease, approximately 1% to 3% are pregnant at the time of diagnosis. 7 Thus, for the oncologist, pregnancy associated with cervical carcinoma is more common. Hacker and co-workers 12 estimated that approximately 1 in every 34 cases of invasive cervical cancer is complicated by pregnancy. The diagnosis of cancer evokes a multitude of feelings ranging from denial and disbelief to anxiety and anger. Such feelings are only compounded when cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy. Cervical cancer diagnosed during pregnancy presents a dilemma—how to provide effective treatment for cervical cancer without compromising the pregnancy. The management of such patients can present difficult ethical, emotional, and social considerations for the patient, the fetus, and the health care team. The average age of pregnant women with cervical cancer is 31 years. 14 Thus, these women not only face the potential loss of the current pregnancy but also the loss of fertility and possible effects on future sexual function as a result of treatment. It is imperative that the health care provider be cognizant of these concerns among others. Although cervical cancer is among the most frequently encountered malignancies in pregnancy, its occurrence is not common enough to allow definitive conclusions based on the treatment of large numbers of patients. This article reviews the diagnosis and evaluation of cervical cancer associated with pregnancy, the safety of planned delay in treatment, and surgical and radiotherapeutic management.
National incidence rates for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and ARDS cause-specific factors in the United States (2006-2014).

Abstract Purpose To estimate the incidence of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and ARDS-related mortality rates. Methods We identified patients with a risk factor for ARDS in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2006–2014). Using survey-weighted descriptive statistics we estimated annual and overall proportions of ARDS cases. Results From over 69 million discharges, 1,151,969 ARDS discharges and 969,567 ARDS discharges with a risk factor were identified. Sepsis (46.8%), pneumonia (44.9%) and shock (44.4%) were the most common ARDS risk factor. Pancreatitis (3.4%), pulmonary contusion (1.4%) and drowning (0.2%) were the least frequently reported. Incidence rates increased from 180.7 (2006) to 220.8 (2011) and again from 182.8 (2012) to 193.4 (2014). Incidence for pneumonia, shock and sepsis-associated ARDS increased steadily, while transfusion and trauma-associated ARDS declined. Trends for gastric aspiration and pancreatitis-related ARDS remained unchanged. Shock, sepsis and transfusion-associated ARDS had higher mortality rates compared to other factors. Except for transfusion and trauma-associated ARDS, mortality rates for other factors declined. Conclusion Although increasing incidence for ARDS was observed, mortality rates declined for most risk factors. Mortality for transfusion and trauma-associated ARDS increased in the later study period, research is needed to examine reasons for the increasing in-hospital deaths associated with these risk factors.
Mixed Messages and Signals: The Mobilization and De-Mobilization of Latino Identities in Reaction to Explicit and Implicit Cues in Immigrant Political Rhetoric

There is considerable debate as to whether ethnic group identity influences Latino political behavior. While research illustrates that ethnic cues in campaigns prime ethnic identity, there are still a number of unanswered questions as to which cues mobilize or de-mobilize identities in participation. I argue that elite discourse about immigration and/or immigrants in political media influences the type of cleavages formed among diverse groups of Latinos. Differences in group attachments, socioeconomic status, acculturation, and generational status across Latino national origin groups may create divisions or coalitions in how Latinos come to understand their collective interests within immigration and/or immigrant related debates. Using a laboratory experiment, I manipulate exposure to cues and tests how these cues prime national origin, panethnic, or American group identity among Latinos. I hypothesize that political context matters in fostering or minimizing collective mobilization among Latinos of different nationalities across generations.
Relying on the Census in Urban Social Science

Census data have long been a key tool for urban research, and the approaching 2020 Census offers a natural moment to reflect on how we use it. The highly partisan plan to include a citizenship ques...
Risk score model for predicting complications in patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia ablation: insights from the National Inpatient Sample database.

Aims Outcome data on ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation has been limited to few experienced centres. We sought to identify complication rates, predictors, and create a risk score model for predicting complications in patients from real-world data. Methods and results A total of 25 451 patients undergoing VT ablation from year 2006 to 2013 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The whole cohort was randomly divided into derivation cohort to derive the model and validation cohort to validate the model. Multivariate predictors of any complication were identified using regression model. Each predictor was assigned a risk score and each patient was assigned to one of the four groups (risk score in parenthesis) based on total combined risk score: Group 0 (0), Group 1 (1-5), Group 2 (6-10), and Group 3 (>11). The rate of 'any complication' and 'in-hospital mortality' in whole cohort was 14.7% and 2.8%, respectively. The predictors of any complication include chronic kidney disease, coagulopathy, chronic liver disease, stroke (cerebrovascular accident), emergency procedure, age ≥ 65 years, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and female gender. There was a significant increase in complication rate in a linear fashion as the risk score increased. The incidence of any complications increased from 2.7% in Group 0 to 31% in Group 3. The risk score model performed well in predicting complications associated with VT ablation. Conclusion Patients with higher risk scores have significant increase in any complication and in-hospital mortality from VT ablation. The simple risk score model can help to risk stratify patients prior to VT ablation.
Integrating Systems Approaches into Education Using Active Case Studies

The focus of this workshop is integrating systems approach principles and content into engineering courses of all disciplines using a case study pedagogy. Participants should leave with a clearer understanding of what a systems approach is, how to run active case studies, and how it can be integrated into existing engineering courses. To achieve these goals, our approach is to work through a systems case live with the participants… starting with the participants doing the case as students and then having them switch roles to be instructors working through creating, running, and assessing the case.
Rapid Single-Cell Microbiological Analysis: Toward Precision Management of Infections and Dysbiosis.

Bacterial infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality (from infants to the elderly) and accounts for more than $20 billion in healthcare costs in the United States each year. The pathog...
Equality of streams is a Π02-complete problem

This paper gives a precise characterization for the complexity of the problem of proving equal two streams defined with a finite number of equations: Π 0 2 . Since the Π 0 2 class includes properly both the recursively enumerable and the co-recursively enumerable classes, this result implies that neither the set of pairs of equal streams nor the set of pairs of unequal streams is recursively enumerable. Consequently, one can find no algorithm for determining equality of streams, as well as no algorithm for determining inequality of streams. In particular, there is no complete proof system for equality of streams and no complete system for inequality of streams.
Blockchain Analysis and Design

Blockchain technology represents an interesting architectural invention that will primarily addresses the challenges of cyber security in the internet. As I previous discussed, the existing central database architectures cannot provide the security necessary to launch IoT systems. Blockchain is defined as a “ledger-based” system, in that it is designed to track all transactions and update all members of the chain. In actuality, the block chain design evolved from what started as a linked list data structure. Essentially, a linked-list originally was designed as a data structure that linked to another data element by storing information about where a value was stored was stored in memory.
Bioethics in Secular, Pluralistic Society

The existence of a plurality of ethical perspectives based on the presence of diverse religions and worldviews in contemporary society can make it hard to reach consensus on ethical issues in healthcare. Not only do religion and worldview influence attitudes, practices, and policies in healthcare. Racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious stereotypes and biases based on the assumption that people of a different social group are hard or even impossible to comprehend may obstruct dialogue and lead to inequalities and disparities in healthcare. In this context, moral relativism, which claims that, all moral viewpoints being equal, they can only be assessed from their own particular perspective, does not offer solutions and only reconfirms the impossibility of moral dialogue. The idea of common morality offers a way out of this deadlock by providing a common language on the basis of which normative ethical discussion in healthcare becomes possible. Differences may remain at the level of particular moralities. The common morality creates an atmosphere in which empathetic understanding of other ethical perspectives is enabled. In the case of ethical conflict, this offers an opportunity to search for creative solutions that are acceptable to all parties involved.
Cardiac motion vector field estimation from improved 4D cardiac-gated PET images with cardiac motion compensation

14 Objectives: We have previously developed respiratory and cardiac motion compensation methods that significantly improve both the resolution and noise of 4D cardiac-gated (CG) myocardial perfusion (MP) PET images. The aim of this work is to investigate the estimation of cardiac motion vector field (CMVF) information from the improved 4D CG MP PET images. We acquired the 4D CG MP PET data in listmode. The previously developed respiratory motion (RM) estimation and compensation were applied based on an equal count-based data-driven gating Methods: The RM compensated data were reconstructed into CG PET images with a given number of equal time intervals, e.g., 8, 16 and 24, over each cardiac cycle. A reference frame PET image at the center of the heart cycle was generated from the smoothed CG images using the Group-wise B-spline non-rigid image-based registration method. The reference frame was transformed back to the individual CG images with the corresponding set of CMVF estimates. Parameters of the Group-wise registration method was selected based on a simulation study using the 4D XCAT phantom for minimum motion artifact. The final CM compensated images showed significantly improved image resolution and noise compared to the original CG images. The processed 4D CG MP PET images were used to estimate the final CMVF between selected cardiac frames. The entire heart including both the left and right myocardium is used in CM estimation. In an IRB approved patient study, we have processed the acquired listmode data of 4D CG MP PET studies from five patients that are considered normal as the time of submission. We compared the CMVF estimates between the selected cardiac frames using the clinical images, and the RM and CM compensated datasets with 8, 16 and 24 CG frames. The results show consistent CMVF patterns from the RM and CM compensated datasets with 8, 16 and 24 CG frames, indicating normal beating heart motion. They showed marked differences when compared to the CMVF derived from the clinical images without RM and CM compensation. Further study is underway to determine the accuracy of the derived CMVF using realistic simulated CG MP PET data from the 4D XCAT phantom with known CMVF between the CG frames. We conclude the application of RM and CM compensation results in much improved 4D CG MP PET images in terms of both image resolution and noise. The processed data can potentially provide improved visualization and more accurate quantitative analysis of the beating heart. The additional quantitative cardiomics information of the beating heart may result in early detection and diagnosis of cardiac motion abnormalities for improved patient care.
Teacher Education in Germany

Teacher education in Germany reflects the tiered structure of the country’s secondary school system. In addition to the common distinction between elementary and secondary education, German teacher education programs differ by secondary school type. Teacher training for the academic-track Gymnasium, which students leave with the general university entrance certificate (Abitur), goes through a rather rigorous training program focused on content knowledge. Teacher training for less-prestigious school types goes through a similar but less content-intensive training program. Regardless of track type, the teacher training program is strictly divided into a first academic phase at university (3–5 years) followed by an in-service training phase (1.5–2 years) run by the respective state’s education authority. Relative to many other countries, the income and job security of teachers in Germany is high. Assessment of teachers or teaching quality is all but unknown.
199 A mixed-methods study of school day activities, triggers for violent assault, and location-specific opportunities to confer student safety

Purpose School violence, frequently resulting in serious injury, is a major public health concern, and can make students afraid to go school. Few studies investigate the myriad factors that contribute to school violence. We are conducting a mixed-methods study of school assaults, including violence that happen on the way to or from school. Approach In an urban environment, this NIJ-funded study of 12-18 year-olds involves using a map-based interview of the path of their activities up to the time of assault, with case-crossover analyses to identify situation-specific risk factors. Recruitment sites include a Level I trauma center, health clinics, and community centers. Results With a goal of 200, 45 participants have been enrolledto date: 85% African American, 4% Hispanic. Injuries sustained were blunt trauma (42%), concussion (23%), and fracture (4%). 50% of the incidents were described as random violence, 35% as non-gang fight, and 8% as gang fight. 38% occurred inside school, 27% on school grounds, and 4% off site. None had been carrying a weapon at the time of the injury. Only 18% reported they knew how to acquire a gun, and 43% reported they would tell a teacher if a student had a gun at school whereas 57% reported they would not do so. Importantly, 65% of incidents were reported to police and of those, 80% of participants felt the police were helpful. However 50% of respondents felt the conflict was not resolved. 60% had a teacher highly invested in them and 65% reported a teacher expects them to attend college. Thematic results thus far suggest students were vulnerable at moments when guardianship was absent, which varied from location to location during the school day. Conclusions and Significance Understanding the context of the timing and nature of school-based assaults can inform opportunities for place-based interventions.
Hybrid Imitation Learning for Real-Time Service Restoration in Resilient Distribution Systems

Self-healing capability is a critical factor for a resilient distribution system, which requires intelligent agents to automatically perform service restoration online, including network reconfiguration and reactive power dispatch. The paper proposes the imitation learning framework for training such an agent, where the agent will interact with an expert built based on the mixed-integer program to learn its optimal policy, and therefore significantly improve the training efficiency compared with exploration-dominant reinforcement learning methods. This significantly improved training efficiency makes the training problem under $N-k$ scenarios tractable. A hybrid policy network is proposed to handle tie-line operations and reactive power dispatch simultaneously to further improve the restoration performance. The 33-bus and 119-bus systems with N-k disturbances are employed to conduct the training. The results indicate that the proposed method outperforms traditional reinforcement learning algorithms such as the deep-Q network.
Maximizing Revisiting and Purchasing: A Clickstream-Based Approach to Enhance Individual-Level Customer Conversion

Online retailers are increasingly mindful of maintaining a long-term relationship with customers, rather than simply focusing on one-time purchases. It is thus critical to ensure that customers continue revisiting a retailer’s website to explore its products and subsequently make purchases. The objective of our paper is, therefore, to help retailers maximize the likelihoods of customers’ revisiting and purchasing, which we achieve at the individual customer level using clickstream data. First, we build a hurdle model that better predicts repeat customer visits when compared to existing methods. This model incorporates heterogeneity in individual customer search behavior, distilling her search history into four theory-driven sets of antecedents: (a) choice, (b) information, (c) pricing, and the (d) search environment. Second, we use a stochastic model to predict customer revisits by incorporating customer heterogeneity in search effort exerted during prior visit sessions. Third, and most importantly, using computationally efficient simulation-based prescriptive analytics, we adapt our modeling approach to propose intervention strategies that maximize the individual-level joint likelihoods of revisiting and purchasing. We find that, for some customers, the antecedents of search operate in opposing directions in their role in revisiting and purchasing, thus necessitating a balancing act between these two key objectives. The intervention strategies render retailers’ insights on personalizing the customer experience based on each individual customer’s own search history and offering each customer relevant personalized content to maximize her revisiting and purchasing.
Effects of Self-Identification as a Caregiver on Expectations of Public Stigma of Alzheimer’s Disease

Background As a result of caring for a person with dementia, caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be uniquely aware of public stigma for persons with AD. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare self-identified caregivers and non-caregivers' expectations of public stigma experienced by persons living with dementia. Methods Analysis of data from a survey of 910 adults (median age = 49 years) who read a vignette about a man with mild stage dementia. Multivariable ordered logistic regression was used to examine how AD caregiver status associated with responses on a modified Family Stigma in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FS-ADS). Results 9%(n = 82) of respondents self-identified as a current or former primary caregiver of a person with AD, about the same as the national estimate of informal caregivers (8.8%). Compared to non-caregivers, AD caregivers were more likely to report stronger reactions on all seven domains of the FS-ADS (all p < 0.05). As compared to AD caregivers with less factual knowledge about caregiving, AD caregivers with more knowledge expected the person with dementia to experience less social distance (p < 0.05). In addition, female AD caregivers reported fewer negative aesthetic attributions than male AD caregivers (p < 0.05). Conclusion Compared to non-caregivers, respondents who self-identified as an AD caregiver gave responses that suggest they perceived more stigma of dementia among members of the public. Their reactions were attenuated by AD knowledge and being female. The findings have key implications for interventions to reduce AD stigma.