cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving robotic stroke rehabilitation by incorporating neural intent detection: Preliminary results from a clinical trial

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a multi-year clinical study evaluating the effectiveness of adding a brain-machine interface (BMI) to the MAHI-Exo II, a robotic upper limb exoskeleton, for elbow flexion/extension rehabilitation in chronic stroke survivors. The BMI was used to trigger robot motion when movement intention was detected from subjects' neural signals, thus requiring that subjects be mentally engaged during robotic therapy. The first six subjects to complete the program have shown improvements in both Fugl-Meyer Upper-Extremity scores as well as in kinematic movement quality measures that relate to movement planning, coordination, and control. These results are encouraging and suggest that increasing subject engagement during therapy through the addition of an intent-detecting BMI enhances the effectiveness of standard robotic rehabilitation.
Direct photolithographic patterning of cuprous oxide thin films via photoelectrodeposition

External fields can be used to regulate the morphological and chemical properties of electrochemically synthesized materials. One example is phototropism, where the coaction of light absorption and carrier generation can induce controllable variations in the material as it grows under illumination. Here we describe the photoelectrodeposition of photocathodic cuprous oxide (Cu2O). Illuminating the growing film with photon energies in excess of the band gap of Cu2O results in nanoscale morphological changes in the structure of thin films and intrinsically dopes the material during growth. The result is a ‘black’ Cu2O film that is chemically distinct but crystallographically identical to an ordinary film grown in the dark. The flat band potential of the film is controlled by the growth illumination intensity and the photodoping is reversible under thermal oxidation. We explore the nature of the intrinsic dopant, the emergence of nanocrystalline Cu metal inclusions in the Cu2O matrix, and the potential of for this effect to be used in the fabrication of new semiconductor heterostructures. This chemical distinction between the native and black Cu2O can be exploited to pattern films with a photomask as an example of direct photolithography.
Phase II study of gemcitabine (G), trastuzumab (H), and pertuzumab (P) for HER2-Positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) after prior HP- or TDM/P-based therapy.

611Background: The combination of taxanes with HP for first line treatment of HER2-positive MBC is associated with improved progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Previous data demonstra...
Why Do We Produce Anti-Gal: Evolutionary Appearance of Anti-Gal in Old World Primates

The natural anti-Gal antibody is one of the multiple natural anti-carbohydrate antibodies produced in humans against a wide range of carbohydrate antigens on GI bacteria. The antibody is unique to humans, apes, and Old World monkeys, and it binds specifically to a mammalian carbohydrate antigen called the α-gal epitope that is synthesized in nonprimate mammals, lemurs (prosimians) and New World monkeys by the glycosylation enzyme α1,3GT. The α1,3GT gene (GGTA1) appeared in mammals >100 million years ago, prior to the split between marsupial and placental mammals. This gene has been conserved in its active form, in all mammals, except for Old World monkeys, apes, and humans. Inactivation of the α1,3GT gene in ancestral Old World primates occurred 20–30 million years ago and could have been associated with epidemics of enveloped viruses in the Eurasia-Africa continent. It is suggested that prior to such epidemics, few ancestral Old World primates acquired deletion point mutations that inactivated the α1,3GT gene and eliminated α-gal epitopes. This resulted in loss of immune tolerance to the α-gal epitope and thus, in production of the anti-Gal antibody against antigens on bacteria colonizing the GI tract. This accidental inactivation of the α1,3GT gene in very small populations is analogous to the highly rare blood type “Bombay” individuals who do not synthesize blood group H (O antigen) because of inactivation of the α1,2-fucosyltransferase gene. The loss of immune tolerance to blood group H antigen has resulted in production of natural anti-blood group H antibodies in the blood group Bombay individuals. It is suggested that anti-Gal protected against infections by enveloped viruses presenting α-gal epitopes, which were lethal to the parental primate populations that conserved active α1,3GT and thus, synthesized α-gal epitopes. Alternative causes for the elimination of Old World primates synthesizing α-gal epitopes could be bacteria or protozoa parasites presenting α-gal or α-gal-like epitopes, and bacterial toxins, or detrimental viruses that used α-gal epitopes in these primates as “docking receptors.” Ultimately, any of these proposed selective processes could result in extinction of Old World primates synthesizing α-gal epitopes on their cells. These ancestral primates were replaced by offspring populations lacking α-gal epitopes and producing the anti-Gal antibody, which continues to be produced by Old World monkeys, apes, and humans. New World monkeys and lemurs were protected from pathogens of the Old World by oceanic barriers, thus they continue to synthesize α-gal epitopes and lack the ability to produce the anti-Gal antibody. This scenario of few individuals in a large population having a mutation(s) that inactivates a glycosyltransferase gene thus, resulting in production of evolutionary advantageous natural antibodies against the eliminated carbohydrate antigen, may reflect one of the mechanisms inducing changes in the carbohydrate profile of various mammalian populations.
Corticotropin-Releasing Factor*

IN 1948 Geoffrey Harris (1) hypothesized that stress-induced activation of the central nervous system is transduced from a neural into a humoral signal in the hypothalamus. Resultant chemical transmitter substances elaborated are transported to the adenohypophysis via the hypophyseal portal circulation to stimulate the secretion of ACTH from the corticotrophs. Despite intensive studies by many investigators throughout the world in the intervening years, identification of this putative neurotransmitter has been extremely difficult. Slusher and Roberts (2) were the first to describe ACTH-releasing activity in a hypothalamic extract. Unfortunately, the assay using intact, untreated rats employed in their experiments was inadequately refined (2, 3) since such animals will secrete ACTH in response to a variety of nonspecific stresses. In 1955 more specific experimental evidence for the existence of a brain extract that stimulated ACTH secretion was independently presented by Saffran and Serially (4) and Guille...
Medical concept intersection between outside medical records and consultant notes: A case study in transferred cardiovascular patients

One of the promises of “meaningful use” of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is to facilitate digital information exchange between healthcare providers through continuity of care documents. Despite such promise, outside medical records (OMRs) of referral patients including clinical notes, lab test results or diagnostic test reports are frequently provided through fax or print out. Moreover, it is not clear how much information in those OMRs is utilized when providing care at the early stage. In this study, we collected clinical concepts automatically from OMRs through optical character recognition (OCR) technology and then performed a quantitative analysis of concepts presented in OMRs and concepts captured in clinical notes at Mayo Clinic. We also investigated information from OMRs not captured in initial consultant notes but presented over subsequent consultant notes. We identified 12.93% of concepts from OMRs were identified in clinical documents within three months. Among those overlapping concepts, 26.74% of them were not captured in initial consultant notes. Our study presents that clinical information from OMRs is important for patient care. Also, the delayed presence of information in clinical notes may indicate important information from OMRs is not fully utilized earlier in the care.
On aggregating thermostatically controlled loads based on energy losses

In this paper we revisit the problem of modeling a large population of residential thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) as a single reserve, from the perspective of an Aggregator. Our model tracks and controls individual TCLs based on the heat stored in their thermal capacity and their corresponding thermal resistive losses, using the heat pump to compensate for lost energy in order to maintain TCLs around desired reference temperatures. We show that, under reasonable approximations, the energy loss dynamics can be easily tied to a common outside temperature, whose random fluctuations are in one to one correspondence with the available reserve capacity. This approach greatly simplifies any stochastic optimization of the TCLs as an aggregate resource compared to the state of the art.
GROWTH OF MEAT ANIMALS | Endocrinology

The endocrinology of growth in meat animals is characterized by the sophisticated coordination of hormones and growth factors associated with placental development after conception, which influences embryonic and fetal growth, and the evolution and progression of hormone and growth factor influences that occur after birth. Growth factors, metabolic hormones, and sex hormones (androgens and estrogens), control pubertal growth. Hormones and growth factors influence metabolic pathways affecting the cellular processes that lead to cell growth and maturation (protein synthesis and degradation in skeletal muscle and lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipose tissue) are active during postweaning growth, pubertal growth, and beyond.
Intravitreal toxicology in rabbits of two preparations of 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphonoformate, a sustained-delivery anti-CMV drug.

PURPOSE. To determine intraocular toxicity and efficacy of the lipid prodrug of foscarnet, 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphonotormat (ODG-PFA), as a long-acting, nontoxic intravitreous injectable drug delivery system for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. METHODS. ODG-PFA was synthesized by coupling the phosphonate residue of PFA to the 3 hydroxyl of 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycerol and formulated as micelles and liposomes at concentrations so that, after injection into the rabbit vitreous, the resultant intravitreal concentrations were 0.2 mM, 0.63 mM, and 2 mM in micellar formulation and 0.02 mM, 0.063 mM, 0.2 mM, and 0.63 mM for liposomal formulation. The compounds were injected, and toxicology evaluations were performed. RESULTS. Intravitreal injections of micellar ODG-PFA resulted in aggregation of the material in vitreous and variable local retinal damage. Intravitreal injections of the liposomal ODG-PFA revealed even dispersion of the compounds and a clear vitreous, using final concentration in the vitreous of 0.2 mM. No intraocular toxicity was found with the 0.632 mM final concentration. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) for CMV of ODG-PFA was 0.43 ± 0.27 μM, and the therapeutic index of ODG-PFA after intravitreal injection was estimated to be 1470:1. CONCLUSIONS. Lipid-derivatized foscarnet liposome formulations may be a useful long-acting delivery system for the therapy of CMV retinitis.
Abstract 204: Temporal Assessment of Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes to Assess the Maturity for Cardiac Repair Applications

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI), which leads to death in acute condition. In the recent year, stem cell therapy has shown a great pot...
Construction of Neuroanatomical Volumetric Models Using 3-Dimensional Scanning Techniques: Technical Note and Applications.

Background Visuospatial features of neuroanatomy are likely the most difficult concepts to learn in anatomy. Three-dimensional (3D) modalities have gradually begun to supplement traditional 2-dimensionanl representations of dissections and illustrations. We have introduced and described the workflow of 2 innovative methods—photogrammetry (PGM) and structured light scanning (SLS)—which have typically been used for reverse-engineering applications. In the present study, we have described a novel application of SLS and PGM that could enhance medical education and operative planning in neurosurgery. Methods We have described the workflow of SLS and PGM for creating volumetric models (VMs) of neuroanatomical dissections, including the requisite equipment and software. We have also provided step-by-step procedures on how users can postprocess and refine these images according to their specifications. Finally, we applied both methods to 3 dissected hemispheres to demonstrate the quality of the VMs and their applications. Results Both methods yielded VMs with suitable clarity and structural integrity for anatomical education, surgical illustration, and procedural simulation. Conclusions The application of 3D computer graphics to neurosurgical applications has shown great promise. SLS and PGM can facilitate the construction of VMs with high accuracy and quality that can be used and shared in a variety of 3D platforms. Similarly, the technical demands are not high; thus, it is plausible that neurosurgeons could become quickly proficient and enlist their use in education and surgical planning. Although SLS is preferable in settings in which high accuracy is required, PGM is a viable alternative with a short learning curve.
Analyzing the Rabbit NM Conditioned Reflex Arc

The nictitating membrane (NM) conditioned reflex arc in rabbit is being analyzed with neurophysiological recording and anatomical tracing techniques. Current studies focus on the tone conditioned stimulus (CS) afferent pathway and the NM extension conditioned response (CR) output motoneurons. Studies are underway to locate and characterize CS-CR linkage regions at the brainstem level.
Diagnosis and Management of Gastro-pleural Fistula in Metastatic Malignancy

Gastro-pleural fistula is a rare condition, and the diagnosis can be challenging, as demonstrated in our case. The management is even more complex, with wide gamut of management strategies from more conservative management such as endoscopic closures and minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to open surgical repair. We present the case of a 55-year-old female with metastatic renal cell cancer with prior radiation therapy and cabozantinib treatment who was diagnosed with gastro-pleural fistula after extensive workup. She underwent endoscopic closure and subsequent jejunostomy tube feeding, venting gastrostomy tube, and draining chest tube. Antibiotics and chest tube drainage were primary modalities for treatment of her empyema. Subsequently, she required laparoscopic surgery for fistula repair.
Predatory behavior changes with satiety or increased insulin levels in the praying mantis ( Tenodera sinensis)

ABSTRACT At any given moment, behavior is controlled by a combination of external stimuli and an animal9s internal state. As physiological conditions change, vastly different behaviors might result from the same stimuli. For example, the motivation to hunt and hunting strategy are influenced by satiety. Here, we describe how sensory responsiveness and motor activity of a praying mantis ( Tenodera sinensis ) change as the insect feeds, leading to an altered hunting strategy. We further show that these changes can be induced by injection of insulin, which likely functions as a metabotropic indicator. Praying mantises directed their attention toward real and simulated prey less often as they fed and became sated. The range of distance and azimuth at which prey was detected decreased as did pursuit of prey, while opportunistic close-range attacks persisted. Together, these sensorimotor changes are indicative of a behavioral paradigm shift from ‘pursuit’ to ‘ambush’. A similar effect was induced in starved praying mantises injected with 0.05 ml of 200 μg ml −1 bovine insulin. These experiments showed that insulin injection into the circulating hemolymph is sufficient to decrease prey orientation as well as in prey-directed locomotor behaviors (tracking and pursuit). The effects of prey consumption and insulin injection were similarly dose dependent. These results suggest that insulin is a signal of internal, physiological conditions that can modify responses to external stimuli. A change in hunting strategy thus results from coordinated effects of a neurohormone on a set of independent sensorimotor processes and the overall activity level of the animal.
Occult hepatitis B and occult hepatitis C viremia in patients with hematologic malignancies.

e17016 Background: Occult Hepatitis B (OHB)and Hepatitis C (OHC) in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are understudied, mainly because biopsies to identify these viruses in the liver ar...
The Veterans’ Lawyer as Counselor: Using Therapeutic Jurisprudence to Enhance Client Counseling for Combat Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This article provides practical suggestions to assist attorneys in their representation of combat veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who encounter the forensic stress of litigation. The article considers permissible methods to respond to a client's stress responses that remain within the attorney's responsibilities under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct without transforming the attorney into a social worker. The article also discusses the hallmarks of competent collaboration with mental health professionals when representing clients with PTSD. In addition to applied examples of PTSD trigger awareness plans and other practical tools, the article identifies state psychology licensing boards that permit attorneys to engage in work of a psychological nature without psychology licenses and the standards under which such exceptions apply.
Antiplatelet agents affecting the interaction of Tissue Factor-Factor VIIa complex with Factor X in a continuous-flow reactor

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of antithrombotic agents in the activation of Factor X in the presence of the Tissue Factor-Factor VIIa (TF-VIIa) complex in a continuous-flow reactor. Tissue Factor immobilized in a phospholipid bilayer on the inner surface of a capillary tube (internal diameter = 0.27 mm) was exposed to a perfusate containing Factors VIIa and X flowing at a flow rate of 12.7 microliters/min, corresponding to a wall shear rate of 100 s-1. Factor Xa (the activated form of Factor X) in the effluent was determined by a chromogenic assay. The effectiveness of two platelet aggregation inhibitors, alpha,alpha'-bis-[3-(N,N-diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino-p-xylene dihydrobromide (A-1) and alpha,alpha'-bis-[3-N-benzyl-N-methylcarbamoyl)piperidino]-p-xylen e dihydrobromide (A-4) in inhibiting Factor X activation is reported here. The results suggest that the Tissue Factor pathway, mediated through TF-VIIa complex, produces significantly lower levels of Factor Xa in the presence of compounds A-1 and A-4. On the basis of these findings, it appears that the anticoagulation action of these compounds reinforces their platelet aggregation-inhibitory properties. These carbamoylpiperidines (nipecotamides) therefore appear to be useful antithrombotic agents.
The Princes of the Mughal Empire, 1504–1719

For more than 200 years, the Mughal emperors ruled supreme in northern India. How was it possible that a Muslim, ethnically Turkish, Persian-speaking dynasty established itself in the Indian subcontinent to become one of the largest and most dynamic empires on earth? In this rigorous new interpretation of the period, Munis D. Faruqui explores Mughal state formation through the pivotal role of the Mughal princes. In a challenge to previous scholarship, the book suggests that far from undermining the foundations of empire, the court intrigues and political backbiting that were features of Mughal political life - and that frequently resulted in rebellions and wars of succession - actually helped spread, deepen and mobilise Mughal power through an empire-wide network of friends and allies. This engaging book, which uses a vast archive of European and Persian sources, takes the reader from the founding of the empire under Babur to its decline in the 1700s.
General Contractor Knowledge of Infection Control Requirements on Hospital Renovation Construction Projects

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are common afflictions for hospital patients. Construction-related renovation projects are abundant at hospitals in the United States, the results of which have the potential to cause HAI. Hospital-accrediting firms such as the Joint Commission have a strict focus on ensuring that infection control risk management assessments are completed by hospital owners prior to the start of renovation projects. Fifty-six hospital renovation subject matter experts from general contracting firms in the southeastern United States completed a survey to discern their knowledge of and experience with infection control on hospital renovation projects. The survey results showed that (1) general contracting firms place a focus on training their personnel in infection control, as general contractors are most often responsible for ensuring that infection control measures are adhered to, (2) there are an adequate amount of products on the market for infection control, which are utilized on almost every renovation project, and (3) field operatives (i.e., the individuals that actually complete the work) should receive more training on infection control. Future research should seek to expand this study into geographic regions outside of the southeastern United States and to discern how more training of field operatives can be implemented.
Shifting Patterns of Summer Lake Color Phenology in Over 26,000 US Lakes

Lakes are often defined by seasonal cycles. The seasonal timing, or phenology, of many lake processes are changing in response to human activities. However, long-term records exist for few lakes, and extrapolating patterns observed in these lakes to entire landscapes is exceedingly difficult using the limited number of available in situ observations. Limited landscape-level observations mean we do not know how common shifts in lake phenology are at macroscales. Here, we use a new remote sensing data set, LimnoSat-US, to analyze U.S. summer lake color phenology between 1984 and 2020 across more than 26,000 lakes. Our results show that summer lake color seasonality can be generalized into five distinct phenology groups that follow well-known patterns of phytoplankton succession. The frequency with which lakes transition from one phenology group to another is tied to lake and landscape level characteristics. Lakes with high inflows and low variation in their seasonal surface area are generally more stable, while lakes in areas with high interannual variations in climate and catchment population density show less stability. Our results reveal previously unexamined spatiotemporal patterns in lake seasonality and demonstrate the utility of LimnoSat-US, which, with over 22 million remote sensing observations of lakes, creates novel opportunities to examine changing lake ecosystems at a national scale.
Crystal-Storing Histiocytosis as a Cause of Symptomatic Cardiac Mass: Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopic Findings

• Crystal-storing histiocytosis is a rare disorder that is typically associated with low-grade B-cell lymphomas and monoclonal gammopathy. We present a 64-year-old man with a prior history of weakness and weight loss and hematologic evaluation that had revealed immunoglobulin G κ monoclonal light chains in the serum and negative bone marrow biopsy. He presented with supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and a right atrial mass seen on echocardiogram and excised surgically. Histologically, the tumor was composed of sheets of macrophages infiltrating the atrial myocardium. The histiocytes were filled with multiple needle-shaped, periodic acid-Schiff―negative crystals. These cells and associated plasma cells failed to show clonal light chain restriction by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry, and there was no area of lymphoma in the tumor. Ultrastructural examination showed numerous stick-like, trapezoidal, or polygonal dense crystals in the cytoplasm of histiocytes corroborating the diagnosis of crystal-storing histiocytosis. Although rare, crystal-storing histiocytosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of heart masses in patients with hematologic conditions associated with monoclonal gammopathy.
Mobile Energy Storage Operation in Micro-Grid Integrated Distribution Systems Considering Network Reconfiguration

Integration of mobile energy storages in a microgrid integrated power distribution system helps to improve the distribution system’s operational performance. This research identifies the optimum locations of mobile energy storage units as well as sectionalizing switches in a multi-microgrid power distribution system. Moreover, the benefits of mobile energy storages along with the system’s reconfiguration has been investigated in terms of power system operational costs, energy losses, environmental emissions, and total system operational costs which includes system operational costs, emissions costs, and system losses costs together. Three different case studies are presented: 1) PV supported microgrids (MGs), 2) wind turbine supported MGs, and 3) both PV and wind turbine supported MGs in the power distribution system. The well-known PG&E 69 bus distribution system has been chosen for the simulation and case studies, and a heuristic based Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has been used for solving the optimization problem. Because of the uncertain natures of PVs and wind turbines in terms of their output powers in different times of the day, a probabilistic approach is applied during simulations and case studies to ensure the most realistic results. The simulation results show that optimal operation of mobile energy storages along with the corresponding optimal switch positions largely helps to improve the distribution system operational performances.
Documenting Skeletal Scatters in Obstructed Wooded Environments Using Close-Range Photogrammetry

Forensic scenes involving human skeletal remains in obstructed wooded environments are challenging to document. One potential solution is to document the scene in 3D utilizing close-range photogrammetry (CRP). This method enables the generation of realistic 3D models and accurate plan-view maps of the scene. The purpose of this research was to explore the use of CRP to preserve contextual information of simulated scenes involving scattered human remains in obstructed wooded environments. The main goal was to improve CRP methodology as well as demonstrate how to incorporate this method into the forensic archaeology documentation protocol. Two large skeletal scatters were documented to test the capabilities of CRP in an obstructed environment. Photographs were collected freehand and 3D models were processed using Agisoft Metashape Professional. Accuracy was assessed through visual analysis, root-mean square (RMS) reprojection errors, and total scale bar errors. While visual errors were present when zoomed in, the RMS reprojection and scale bar errors still indicated highly accurate models. However, the wooded environment presented numerous challenges that made utilizing CRP more difficult. Therefore, guidelines were outlined for documenting skeletal scatters in wooded environments using CRP, with a focus on addressing variables that can affect image quality. Overall, CRP is a viable method for documenting complex scenes in wooded environments which should be incorporated into forensic archaeological protocols.
A note on the smoothness of densities

Abstract Empirical distributions in a range of fields are often substantially non-Gaussian but smooth enough to suggest that the underlying population distribution has at least several derivatives. Linear combinations of many random variables often have smooth densities even if the random variables are not independent. The main result here generalizes the elementary result that a convolution of densities has as many derivatives as the sum of the number of derivatives of each component to certain nonlinear functions of random vectors whose components may not be independent. Linearity is replaced by an assumption that the nonlinear function has positive first partial derivatives bounded away from 0 along at least some coordinates and independence is replaced by an assumption that the joint density has certain mixed partial derivatives. This approach to justifying the smoothness of empirical distributions is contrasted with other possible approaches, including solutions of stochastic partial differential equations and ergodic distributions for chaotic dynamical systems.
Explaining Public Attitudes toward Facial Recognition Technology

This study examines what factors explain Americans’ attitudes toward the development of facial recognition technology (FRT) as well as uses of it by law enforcement to identify criminal suspects, identify potential terrorists, and monitor public protests. The theoretical framework posits that members of the public draw on their value predispositions along with media messages to form attitudes toward the technology. The analyses drew on original data from two nationally representative surveys of the U.S. public conducted in 2020, amid a series of controversies about racial equity in policing. The results demonstrate that political ideology, trust in government, trust in scientists, deference to scientific authority, and beliefs about police predicted attitudes toward FRT. In addition, the analyses yielded evidence that overall television viewing and crime television viewing cultivate attitudes toward FRT. The findings carry implications for understanding the future trajectory of public opinion toward the technology.
Distributed Deep Reinforcement Learning for Adaptive Medium Access and Modulation in Shared Spectrum.

Spectrum scarcity has led to growth in the use of unlicensed spectrum for cellular systems. This motivates intelligent adaptive approaches to spectrum access for both WiFi and 5G that improve upon traditional carrier sensing and listen-before-talk methods. We study decentralized contention-based medium access for base stations (BSs) of a single Radio Access Technology (RAT) operating on unlicensed shared spectrum. We devise a learning-based algorithm for both contention and adaptive modulation that attempts to maximize a network-wide downlink throughput objective. We formulate and develop novel distributed implementations of two deep reinforcement learning approaches - Deep Q Networks and Proximal Policy Optimization - modelled on a two stage Markov decision process. Empirically, we find the (proportional fairness) reward accumulated by the policy gradient approach to be significantly higher than even a genie-aided adaptive energy detection threshold. Our approaches are further validated by improved sum and peak throughput. The scalability of our approach to large networks is demonstrated via an improved cumulative reward earned on both indoor and outdoor layouts with a large number of BSs.
Temporal Study of the Microbial Diversity of the North Arm of Great Salt Lake, Utah, U.S.

We employed a temporal sampling approach to understand how the microbial diversity may shift in the north arm of Great Salt Lake, Utah, U.S. To determine how variations in seasonal environmental factors affect microbial communities, length heterogeneity PCR fingerprinting was performed using consensus primers for the domain Bacteria, and the haloarchaea. The archaeal fingerprints showed similarities during 2003 and 2004, but this diversity changed during the remaining two years of the study, 2005 and 2006. We also performed molecular phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes of the whole microbial community to characterize the taxa in the samples. Our results indicated that in the domain, Bacteria, the Salinibacter group dominated the populations in all samplings. However, in the case of Archaea, as noted by LIBSHUFF for phylogenetic relatedness analysis, many of the temporal communities were distinct from each other, and changes in community composition did not track with environmental parameters. Around 20–23 different phylotypes, as revealed by rarefaction, predominated at different periods of the year. Some phylotypes, such as Haloquadradum, were present year-round although they changed in their abundance in different samplings, which may indicate that these species are affected by biotic factors, such as nutrients or viruses, that are independent of seasonal temperature dynamics.
Beyond the ABCs of CKC and SCC. Do centromeres orchestrate sister chromatid cohesion or vice versa

The centromere-kinetochore complex is a highly specialized chromatin domain that both mediates and monitors chromosome-spindle interactions responsible for accurate partitioning of sister chromatids to daughter cells. Centromeres are distinguished from adjacent chromatin by specific patterns of histone modification and the presence of a centromere-specific histone H3 variant (e.g. CENP-A). Centromere-proximal regions usually correspond to sites of avid and persistent sister chromatid cohesion mediated by the conserved cohesin complex. In budding yeast, there is a substantial body of evidence indicating centromeres direct formation and/or stabilization of centromere-proximal cohesion. In other organisms, the dependency of cohesion on centromere function is not as clear. Indeed, it appears that pericentromeric heterochromatin recruits cohesion proteins independent of centromere function. Nonetheless, aspects of centromere function are impaired in the absence of sister chromatid cohesion, suggesting the two are interdependent. Here we review the nature of centromeric chromatin, the dynamics and regulation of sister chromatid cohesion, and the relationship between the two.
ANNUAL COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR THE HEATING OF BUILDINGS

Results are presented of the first year's operation of a new system for year-round collection and storage of solar heated water for heating of buildings at the University of Virginia. The system is composed of an energy storage sub-system, which stores hot water in an underground pool, and of a solar collector sub-system which acts not only to collect solar energy throughout the year but also to limit the evaporative and convective heat losses from the storage system. System temperatures and rates of energy gain and loss are presented for the system operated in an energy collection mode. Thermal performance results are presented illustrating the efficiency of the solar collector under summer conditions (without a reflector) and winter conditions (with assistance from a vertical reflector). Analog and digital models were used to determine the influence of various design modifications for improved collection and storage system performance.
Investigation of Angle-Ply Delamination Specimen For Interlaminar Strength Test

The use of fiber composite laminates in many structural applications requires that the designer be provided with accurate information about interlaminar strength. In particular, a knowledge of inte...
Bounds modelling and compiler optimizations for superscalar performance tuning

Abstract We consider the floating point microarchitecture support in RISC superscalar processors. We briefly review the fundamental performance trade-offs in the design of such microarchitecutres. We propose a simple, yet effective bounds model to deduce the “best-case” loop performance limits for these processors. We compare these bounds to simulated and real performance measurements. From this study, we identify several loop tuning opportunities. In particular, we illustrate the use of this analysis in suggesting loop unrolling and scheduling heuristics. We report our experimental results in the context of a set of application-based loop test cases. These are designed to stress various resource limits in the core (infinite cache) microarchitecture.
Averaging and Bifurcations in AN Oscillator with a History Dependent Restoring Force

A possible description of the effects of non linear history dependence is given by the material with memory model. The adequacy of this model in describing true viscoelastic behavior strongly depends on the relaxation function used. In this paper, the simple exponentially decaying relaxation function with a single relaxtiion time was adopted
An Uncommon Presentation of an Uncommon Disease: Leprosy in a Heart Transplant Recipient

The effect of solid-organ transplantation on the acquisition, presentation and course of leprosy is unknown. We present a case of leprosy in a heart transplant recipient with multiple unique features possibly attributed to altered immune function.
Incorporation of Phenomenological Models in a Hybrid Neural Network for Quality Control of Injection Molding

Abstract Injection molding is characterized by complex dynamics, which makes quality difficult to control. This is because the exact relations among the machine inputs, material properties, and molded part quality are not known precisely. Hence, the existing models for quality prediction have a limited accuracy and difficulty in application to general molding applications. This article investigates the integration of analytical process knowledge and artificial neural networks as a solution for quality prediction of molded parts, with accuracy increased toward quality control targets of three defects per million (60). This article describes the hybrid system based on the neural network and process knowledge, then compares its performances with conventional neural models for the prediction of the injection pressure.
Aircrew acceptance of fixed-focus eyepieces for night vision goggles by NVG-wearing aircrew

The wide field of view night vision goggles (WNVG) are the next generation of night vision goggles (NVGs). They have a significantly increased horizontal field of view and a weight similar to the current AN/AVS-9, which only has a 40 degree circular field-of-view (FOV). Due to complicated optics and weight issues, the WNVG will have a fixed-focus eyepiece; this is different from the AN/AVS-9 (Figure 1), which has a continuously adjustable +2.0 to -6.0 diopter (D) range for each eyepiece. Site visits were made to several Special Operations Squadrons to survey aircrew members about the WNVG with a fixed-focus eyepiece and optional clip-on lenses. This paper addresses aircrew acceptance of the use of snap-on/helper lenses in place of continuously adjustable eyepieces.
Characterization of ocular motor deficits in congenital facial weakness: Moebius and related syndromes

Congenital facial weakness is present in a heterogeneous group of conditions. Among them is Moebius syndrome, which has been defined as a disorder with congenital, non-progressive facial weakness and limited abduction of one or both eyes. It is typically attributed to agenesis of the abducens and facial cranial nerves. This paper details ocular motor findings of 40 subjects (23 months to 64 years; 24 females, 16 males) with congenital facial weakness: 38 presented at a Moebius Syndrome Conference and two were clinic patients. A new classification scheme of patterns based on ocular motor phenotype is presented. Of 40 subjects, 37 had bilateral and three had unilateral facial weakness. The most common ocular motor pattern (Pattern 1, n = 17, 43%) was bilateral horizontal gaze palsy with intact vertical range. Pattern 2 (n = 10, 26%) was bilateral horizontal gaze palsy with variable vertical limitations. Pattern 3, which was rare, was isolated abduction deficits (n = 2, 5%). Others had full motility range and did not meet minimal criteria for the diagnosis of Moebius syndrome (Pattern 4, n = 10, 26%). One subject was too severely affected to characterize. Abnormal vertical smooth pursuit was present in 17 (57%) of 30 subjects: nine with Pattern 1, five with Pattern 2, and three with Pattern 4. Abnormal vertical saccades were present in 10 (34%) of 29 subjects. Vertical saccades appeared slow in nine: six with Pattern 1 and three with Pattern 2. Vertical saccades were absent in one subject with Pattern 2. Abnormal vertical optokinetic nystagmus was present in 19 (68%) of 28 subjects: 10 with Pattern 1, six with Pattern 2, one with Pattern 3, and two with Pattern 4. Reduced convergence was present in 19 (66%) of 29 subjects: nine with Pattern 1, six with Pattern 2, one with Pattern 3, and three with Pattern 4. The most common pattern of ocular motor deficit in Moebius syndrome is bilateral horizontal gaze palsy from pontine abducens nuclear defects, rather than abducens nerve involvement. Defects in the range or dynamic properties of vertical movements in subjects with congenital facial weakness may suggest involvement of ocular motor structures in the midbrain, including oculomotor nerves or nuclei, vertical supranuclear saccadic centres, and convergence neurons. Such deficits were found even in subjects with full vertical motility range. Classification of patterns of ocular motor deficits in congenital facial weakness may assist with further delineation of anatomic localization and identification of genetic deficits underlying these disorders.
Patient response to temporomandibular joint arthroscopy: Preliminary findings in 24 patients

A group of 24 patients who underwent TMJ arthroscopy with lysis of adhesions and lavage of 28 joints were evaluated for changes in symptoms and mandibular opening. The mean follow-up period was 7.5 months. The results revealed a general improvement in pain, joint noise, and hypomobility following TMJ arthroscopy. Measurement of mandibular opening revealed a mean increase of 5.9 mm. These results suggest that TMJ arthroscopy appears to be an excellent modality for the palliation of symptoms of TMJ pain, joint noise, and hypomobility.
Relationships between plasma leptin concentrations and human brain structure : A voxel-based morphometric study

We have previously demonstrated that obese people have reduced grey matter (GM) in several brain areas, including regions implicated in the regulation of taste (i.e., inferior frontal operculum and postcentral gyrus), reward (i.e., putamen), and behavioral processing (i.e., middle frontal gyrus), compared with their lean counterparts. It is well established that the brain may serve as a direct target for adiposity signals, one of the most important being leptin. We investigated the relationships between fasting plasma leptin concentrations and brain tissue composition in a group of 32 young adult Caucasians (12M/20F, age 32±1 y, body fat 29±1%, mean ± SE) with normal glucose tolerance by using voxel-based morphometry of magnetic resonance imaging scans. Fasting plasma leptin concentrations were positively correlated with grey matter (GM) volumes of the left cerebellum and left inferior temporal gyrus and negatively associated with GM volumes of the left inferior frontal operculum, left postcentral gyrus, and right putamen (P<0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons) after adjustment for sex, percent body fat, age, fasting plasma insulin concentrations (i.e., the major determinants of plasma leptin), and global GM volume (thus allowing for an assessment of regional effects only). This study showed an independent, negative correlation between fasting plasma leptin concentrations, which are increased in obesity, and the volumes of GM in brain areas where obese people have reduced GM compared to their lean counterparts. These relationships may explain some of the abnormalities in brain morphology recently found to be associated with excess body fatness.
Preselection Thymocytes Are More Sensitive to T Cell Receptor Stimulation Than Mature T Cells

During T cell development, thymocytes which are tolerant to self-peptides but reactive to foreign peptides are selected. The current model for thymocyte selection proposes that self-peptide–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) complexes that bind the T cell receptor with low affinity will promote positive selection while those with high affinity will result in negative selection. Upon thymocyte maturation, such low affinity self-peptide–MHC ligands no longer provoke a response, but foreign peptides can incidentally be high affinity ligands and can therefore stimulate T cells. For this model to work, thymocytes must be more sensitive to ligand than mature T cells. Contrary to this expectation, several groups have shown that thymocytes are less responsive than mature T cells to anti-T cell receptor for antigen (TCR)/CD3 mAb stimulation. Additionally, the lower TCR levels on thymocytes, compared with T cells, would potentially correlate with decreased thymocyte sensitivity. Here we compared preselection thymocytes and mature T cells for early activation events in response to peptide–MHC ligands. Remarkably, the preselection thymocytes were more responsive than mature T cells when stimulated with low affinity peptide variants, while both populations responded equally well to the antigenic peptide. This directly demonstrates the increased sensitivity of thymocytes compared with T cells for TCR engagement by peptide–MHC complexes.
Bilateral effects of long-term monocular timolol therapy

We studied the bilateral intraocular pressure lowering effect of long-term unilateral timolol maleate 0.5% in 30 patients in whom early primary open-angle glaucoma had recently been diagnosed. A significant intraocular pressure reduction was found in the untreated fellow eyes (21.9 mm Hg from 26.4 mm Hg at baseline) (P .8).
Psychopharmacological Strategies in the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): What Have We Learned?

There have been significant advancements in the pharmacologic management of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the past two decades. Multisite randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have noted the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNR Is) for PTSD treatment. Unfortunately, there have been no new medications approved to treat PTSD in the past 10 years. Although there have been exciting new findings in our knowledge of the neurobiology of PTSD, clinical trials testing new medications have lagged. This review summarizes recent research that builds on the unique pathophysiology of PTSD and suggests ways to move the field forward.
Computational intelligence techniques for identifying the pectoral muscle region in mammograms

Segmentation of the pectoral muscle is an imperative task in mammographic image analysis. The pectoral edge is specifically examined by radiologists for abnormal axillary lymph nodes, serves as one of the axes in 3-dimensional reconstructions, and is one of the fundamental landmarks in mammogram registration and comparison. However, this region interferes with intensity-based image processing methods and may bias cancer detection algorithms. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate computational intelligence techniques for identifying the pectoral muscle region in medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view mammograms. After removal of the background region, the mammograms were segmented using a K-clustered self-organizing map (SOM). Morphological operations were then applied to obtain an initial estimate of the pectoral muscle region. Shape-based analysis determined which of the K estimates to use in the final segmentation. The algorithm has been applied to 250 MLO-view Lumisys mammograms from the Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM). Upon examination, it was discovered that three of the original mammograms did not contain the pectoral muscle and one contained a clear defect. Of the 246 remaining, 95.94% were considered to have successfully identified the pectoral muscle region. The results provide a compelling argument for the effectiveness of computational intelligence techniques for identifying the pectoral muscle region in MLO-view mammograms.