cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decoherent Histories Quantum Mechanics with One 'Real' Fine-Grained History

Decoherent histories quantum theory is reformulated with the assumption that there is one ``real'' fine-grained history, specified in a preferred complete set of sum-over-histories variables. This real history is described by embedding it in an ensemble of comparable imagined fine-grained histories, not unlike the familiar ensemble of statistical mechanics. These histories are assigned extended probabilities, which can sometimes be negative or greater than one. As we will show, this construction implies that the real history is not completely accessible to experimental or other observational discovery. However, sufficiently and appropriately coarse-grained sets of alternative histories have standard probabilities providing information about the real fine-grained history that can be compared with observation. We recover the probabilities of decoherent histories quantum mechanics for sets of histories that are recorded and therefore decohere. Quantum mechanics can be viewed as a classical stochastic theory of histories with extended probabilities and a well-defined notion of reality common to all decoherent sets of alternative coarse-grained histories.
Guidelines for corporate campus workplace solutions

For the corporate real estate (CRE) executive who has the opportunity to plan a campus, this paper presents guidelines to ensure that campus workplace solutions are aligned not only with corporate objectives but with the corporate culture as well. The paper draws on a variety of corporate campus solutions and emphasises the importance of understanding the role of CRE in supporting the company’s unique culture and in enabling change to that culture.
Alteration at a Single Amino Acid Residue in the T Cell Receptor α Chain Complementarity Determining Region 2 Changes the Differentiation of Naive Cd4 T Cells in Response to Antigen from T Helper Cell Type 1 (Th1) to Th2

To study whether changes in the structure of a T cell receptor (TCR) at a single peptide-contacting residue could affect T cell priming with antigenic peptide, we made transgenic mice with a point mutation in the TCR α chain of the D10.G4.1 (D10) TCR and bred them to D10 β chain transgenic mice. The mutation consisted of a leucine to serine substitution at position 51 (L51S), which we had already established contacted the second amino acid of the peptide such that the response to the reference peptide was reduced by ∼100-fold. A mutation in the reference peptide CA134–146 (CA-WT) from the arginine at peptide position 2 to glycine (R2G) restored full response to this altered TCR. When we examined in vitro priming of naive CD4 T cells, we observed that the response to doses of CA-WT that induced T helper cell type 1 (Th1) responses in naive CD4 T cells from mice transgenic for the D10 TCR gave only Th2 responses in naive CD4 T cells derived from the L51S. However, when we primed the same T cells with the R2G peptide, we observed Th1 priming in both D10 and L51S naive CD4 T cells. We conclude from these data that a mutation in the TCR at a key position that contacts major histocompatibility complex–bound peptide is associated with a shift in T cell differentiation from Th1 to Th2.
Nucleus raphé pallidus participates in midbrain-medullary cardiovascular sympathoinhibition during electroacupuncture

We have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) inhibits sympathoexcitatory rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) neurons and reflex responses following activation of a long-loop pathway in the arcuate nucleus and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Additionally, EA at P 5–6 acupoints (overlying the median nerve) activates serotonin-containing neurons in the nucleus raphe pallidus (NRP), which, in turn, inhibit rVLM neurons. Although direct projections from the vlPAG to the rVLM exist, it is uncertain whether an indirect pathway through the NRP serves an important role in vlPAG-rVLM cardiovascular modulation. Therefore, the splanchnic nerve (SN) was stimulated to induce cardiovascular sympathoexcitatory reflexes, and EA was applied at P 5–6 acupoints in α-chloralose-anesthetized cats. A single-barreled recording electrode was inserted into the NRP or rVLM. Microinjection of dl-homocysteic acid (DLH) into the vlPAG increased the NRP neuronal response to SN stimulation (5 ± 1 to 12 ± 2 spikes/30 stim). Likewise, EA at P 5–6 for 30 min increased the NRP response to SN stimulation (3 ± 1 to 10 ± 2 spikes/30 stim), an effect that could be blocked by microinjection of kynurenic acid (KYN) into the caudal vlPAG. Furthermore, the reflex increase in blood pressure induced by application of bradykinin to the gallbladder and the rVLM cardiovascular presympathetic neuronal response to SN stimulation was inhibited by injection of DLH into the vlPAG, a response that was reversed by injection of KYN into the NRP. These results indicate that EA activates the vlPAG, which excites the NRP to, in turn, inhibit rVLM presympathetic neurons and reflex cardiovascular sympathoexcitatory responses.
Stellar activity cycles

The variety of stellar chromospheric and coronal activity provides a framework for understanding solar and stellar magnetic activity. It is pointed out that the recognition of an 11-yr periodicity within the record of sunspot numbers is a relatively recent discovery of just over a century ago. The solar activity cycle is examined, taking into account the sunspot cycle, and solar dynamo models. Time-averaged stellar chromospheric activity levels are considered along with long-term activity fluctuations of cool stars. Attention is given to the direct measurement of stellar magnetic fields, solar luminosity variations, the RS Canum Venaticorum and BY Draconis variables, continuum variations in lower main sequence stars, chromospheric variations in lower main sequence stars, and chromospheric variations in evolved stars.
Host‐Pathogen Interactions: The Attributes of Virulence

Virulence is one of a number of possible outcomes of host-microbe interaction. As such, microbial virulence is dependent on host factors, as exemplified by the pathogenicity of avirulent microbes in immunocompromised hosts and the lack of pathogenicity of virulent pathogens in immune hosts. Pathogen-centered views of virulence assert that pathogens are distinguished from nonpathogens by their expression of virulence factors. Although this concept appears to apply to certain microbes that cause disease in normal hosts, it does not apply to most microbes that cause disease primarily in immunocompromised hosts. The study of virulence is fraught with the paradox that virulence, despite being a microbial characteristic, can only be expressed in a susceptible host. Thus, the question "What is a pathogen?" begs the question, "What is the outcome of the host-microbe interaction?" We propose that host damage provides a common denominator that translates into the different outcomes of host-microbe interaction.
Sleep in Healthy Black and White Adolescents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inadequate sleep among adolescents has negative consequences for self-regulation, emotional well-being, and risk behaviors. Using multiple assessment methods, we evaluated the adequacy of sleep among healthy adolescents from a lower socioeconomic community and expected differences by race. METHODS: A total of 250 healthy high school students enrolled in public school (mean age: 15.7 years; 57% black, 54% female) from families of low to middle class according to the Hollingshead scale participated in weeklong assessments of sleep duration and fragmentation, assessed by using actigraphy; sleep duration and perceived quality, assessed by using daily diaries; and daytime sleepiness and sleep delay, assessed by using a questionnaire. RESULTS: Students slept during the school week a mean ± SD of 6.0 ± 0.9 hours per night according to actigraphy and 6.8 ± 1.1 hours according to daily diary, and during the weekend, a mean of 7.4 ± 1.2 and 8.7 ± 1.4 hours, respectively. Black participants and male participants slept less and had more fragmented sleep; female participants reported poorer quality of sleep in their daily diaries and more daytime sleepiness. The results remained significant after adjustments for age, physical activity, smoking status, and percentile BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Most students slept less than the 8 to 9 hours suggested by the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black male participants had the least amount of sleep, which may play a role in the substantial risks experienced by this demographic group. Our findings are consistent with recommendations that pediatricians should routinely screen their adolescent patients about their sleep, especially those from at-risk subgroups.
Integrating occupancy models and structural equation models to understand species occurrence

Understanding the drivers of species occrrece s a fundamenal goal in basic and applied ecology. Occupancy models have emerged as a popular approach for inferring species occurrence because they account for problems associated with imperfect detection in field surveys. Current models, however, are limited because they assume covariates are independent (i.e., indirect effects do not occur). Here, we combined structural equation and occupancy models to investigate complex influences on species occurrence while accounting for imperfect detection. These two methods are inherently compatible because they both provide means to make inference on latent or unobserved quantities based on observed data. Our models evaluated the direct and indirect roles of cattle grazing, water chemistry, vegetation, nonnative fishes, and pond permanence on the occurrence of six pond-breeding amphibians, two of which are threatened: the California tiger salamander (Ambysloma californiense) and the California red-legged frog (Rana draytonil). While cattle had strong effects on pond vegetation and water chemistry, their overall effects on amphibian occurrence were small compared to the consistently negative effects of nonnative fish. Fish strongly reduced occurrence probabilities for four of five native amphibians, including both species of conservation concern. These results could help to identify drivers of amphibian declines and to prioritize strategies for amphibian conservation. More generally, this approach facilitates a more mechanistic representation of ideas about the causes of species distributions in space and time. As shown here, occupancy modeling and structural equation modeling are readily combined, and bring rich sets of techniques that may provide unique theoretical and applied insights into basic ecological questions.
Gait and balance assessments as early indicators of frailty in patients with known peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral artery disease is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and frailty syndrome may mediate the risk of these adverse health outcomes to predict intervention results. The aim of this study was to determine the association between motor performance impairments based on in-clinic gait and balance measurements with frailty at intermediate stages (pre-frailty) in peripheral artery disease patients. METHODS: Seventeen participants with peripheral artery disease (≥55years) were recruited and frailty assessed using Fried criteria. Gait and balance were quantified using wearable sensor technologies in the clinical setting. Between-group differences in frailty were assessed using analysis of variance, and independent associations between gait and balance parameters with frailty were determined using logistic regression models. FINDINGS: Based on Fried index nine (53%), participants were pre-frail and eight (47%) were non-frail. Although no between-group differences in demographics or clinical parameters was observed, gait parameters were worse among pre-frail compared to non-frail participants. The highest effect sizes for between-group differences were observed in double support during habitual normal walking (effect size=1.86, p0.07). The regression model using gait parameters demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity in predicting pre-frailty. INTERPRETATION: A short 25-step sensor-based in-clinic overground gait test objectively identified pre-frailty independent of age. Double support was the most sensitive parameter in identifying pre-frail aging adults. Language: en
Arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy common pathogenetic pathways

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of heart failure and cardiac transplantation, and is among the most common diagnoses requiring hospitalization in North America. Approximately 4.7 million people in the United States have heart failure, and approximately 550,000 new cases are
Dynamics modeling of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMA) actuators

FSMAs like Ni 2 MnGa have attracted significant attention over the last few years. As actuators, these materials offer high energy density, large stroke, and high bandwidth. These properties make FSMAs potential candidates for developing Solid-Fluid Hybrid Actuations (SFHA), where the FSMA actuator provides the mechanical energy by the linear reversible displacements. In order to develop effective hydraulic pumps with the FSMA actuators, it is important to study the dynamic behavior in these materials. In this paper, a dynamic model is presented for an Ni 2 MnGa actuator. The Ni 2 MnGa actuator model consists of the dynamics of the actuator, kinematics of the actuator, constitutive model of the material, and reorientation kinetics. A constitutive model is proposed to take into account the elastic deformation as well as the reorientation. Simulations results are presented to demonstrate the dynamic behavior of the actuator.
Changes in whole-tree water relations during ontogeny of Pinus flexilis and Pinus ponderosa in a high-elevation meadow.

We measured sap flux in Pinus ponderosa Laws. and Pinus flexilis James trees in a high-elevation meadow in northern Arizona that has been invaded by conifers over the last 150 years. Sap flux and environmental data were collected from July 1 to September 1, 2000, and used to estimate leaf specific transpiration rate (E l ), canopy conductance (G c ) and whole-plant hydraulic conductance (K h ). Leaf area to sapwood area ratio (LA/SA) increased with increasing tree size in P. flexilis, but decreased with increasing tree size in P. ponderosa. Both G c and K h decreased with increasing tree size in P. flexilis, and showed no clear trends with tree size in P. ponderosa. For both species, G c was lower in the summer dry season than in the summer rainy season, but E l did not change between wet and dry summer seasons. Midday water potential (Ψ mid ) did not change across seasons for either species, whereas predawn water potential (Ψ pre ) tracked variation in soil water content across seasons. Pinus flexilis showed greater stomatal response to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and maintained higher Ψ mid than P. ponderosa. Both species showed greater sensitivity to VPD at high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; > 2500 μmol m −2 s −1 ) than at low PAR (< 2500 μmol m −2 s −1 ). We conclude that the direction of change in G c and K h with increasing tree size differed between co-occurring Pinus species, and was influenced by changes in LA/SA. Whole-tree water use and E l were similar between wet and dry summer seasons, possibly because of tight stomatal control over water loss.
EARTH’S MATERIALS: MINERALS AND ROCKS.By Gautam Sen, Prentice-Hall, Inc. New Jersey, 2001, 542 p. Available from Textbook Source at $69.27.

This is an important book because it is one of the first serious attempts I have seen to produce a combined mineralogy and petrology book. Although it is not appropriate for any course taught at our University, instructors who teach “earth materials” classes instead of separate mineralogy and petrology classes may wish to look at this book to see if it will work for them. A major strength of this book is that is does not attempt to do everything. As Sen acknowledges, it is impossible for one book (or course) to cover all of mineralogy and petrology and do it well. Nor, I think, is it desirable. Bombarding students with information is not a good way to educate them. Instead, instructors must focus on a few things, and must emphasize fundamental learning and thinking skills. Because different instructors come to an introductory class with different backgrounds, they are unlikely to agree exactly on what they should include. So, authors (and teachers) decide which topics they wish to cover, and how much emphasis to put on each. The topics covered in Sen’s book, and space devoted to each, reflect Sen’s particular interests in igneous petrology, chemical geology, and …
Fire Forces Emergency Logistics Cost Analysis and Control

Fire forces emergency logistics has a characteristics of weak economy,it still needs to control the cost to improve the rescue efficiency.The article discussed on the higher cost of emergency storage construction,the lack of overall cost control planning of material reserve,the increasing cost in optimization procurement and distribution.Give some suggestions from some aspects: degree of mechanization and handling cost,reasonable layout,storage from scientific prediction for modular reserves,optimization of procurement and distribution and informatization construction of logistics cost control process.
Analysis and control measures of multi-resistant bacteria of Pediatric intensive care unit patients

Objective Analyze the situation of children with multi-resistant bacteria in the intensive care unit , and summarize effective and clinical control measures. Methods Selected 578 children in our hospital admitted to the intensive care unit and carried out multi-resistant bacteria detection and analysis and concluded the effective clinical control measures. Results In the 578 patients, 51 patients were detected the occurrence of multi-drug resistant infections ,accounting for 8.82% of the total number of children; in the detected multi-drug resistant bacteria ,Klebsiella pneumonia was in the majority, accounting for 35.29% (18/51), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii 27.45% (14/51), methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci 25.49% (13/51), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus11.76% (6/51). Conclusion The multi-drug-resistant bacteria infections of pediatric patients in the intensive care unit occurred mainly in Klebsiella pneumoniae, the main factor causing the occurrence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria infections in pediatric patients was the unreasonable application of antibiotics. Clinically, it should strengthen the monitoring and give reasonable and timely antibiotic treatment for children, which can effectively reduce the incidence of multi-drug-resistant infections.
Standard versus hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin in preventing or treating neonatal bacterial infections.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and not M (IgM) is acquired transplacen- tally by newborns. Much IgG is transferred in the latter part of gestation, and therefore, preterm infants have decreased levels of serum IgG. Transplacentally acquired antibodies are also limited to the mother's previous exposure to specific pathogens. As a result, newborns (especially preterms) may have both a qualitative and a quantitative immunoglobulin deficiency.
Efficient Analysis Methods in Synthetic Biology

This chapter describes new analysis and verification techniques for synthetic genetic circuits. In particular, it applies stochastic model checking techniques to models of genetic circuits in order to ensure that they behave correctly and are as robust as possible for a variety of different inputs and parameter settings. In addition to stochastic model checking, this chapter proposes new variants to the incremental stochastic simulation algorithm (iSSA) that are capable of presenting a researcher with a simulation trace of the typical behavior of the system. Before the development of this algorithm, discerning this information was extremely error-prone as it involved performing many simulations and attempting to wade through the massive amounts of data. This algorithm greatly aids researchers in designing genetic circuits as it efficiently shows the researcher the most likely behavior of the circuit. Both the iSSA and stochastic model checking can be used in concert to give a researcher the likelihood that the system exhibits its most typical behavior, as well as, non-typical behaviors. This methodology is applied to several genetic circuits leading to new understanding of the effects of various parameters on the behavior of these circuits.
Comparison of Laboratory Cracking Test Results with Field Performance of Moderate and High RAP Content Surface Mixtures on the NCAT Test Track

In 2006, a group of experimental test sections was built on the National Center for Asphalt Technology Test Track to evaluate surface-layer mixtures containing 20 and 45 % Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) with variations in the Superpave performance grade of the virgin binder. This paper discusses several laboratory tests that have been proposed as indicators of cracking susceptibility and how the results of these tests conducted on the mixtures used in the test sections compare with the observed cracking performance on the Test Track after five years. The cracking tests performed on the mixtures were the bending beam fatigue test, the Energy Ratio method developed at the University of Florida, the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage method developed at the North Carolina State University, and the Overlay Tester developed at the Texas Transportation Institute. On the track, the test sections performed very well, but exhibited a range of low-severity cracking, mostly near the edges of the wheelpaths. Cores were extracted to confirm that the cracks were limited to the surface layer. The field cracking performance indicates that the performance grade of virgin binder affects cracking resistance. The creep strain rate, measured as part of the Energy Ratio method, and the Overlay Tester results best matched the field performance of the test sections.
Regression models with incidental parameters

It is known that iterative weighted least squares (IWLS) does not merely yield a convenient way of fitting the general class of regression models considered by Green but is also a useful means of unifying techniques of model checking. However, an extension of these results to models containing nuisance or incidental parameters has made little progress beyond some special cases. Unfortunately, regression models with nuisance parameters that are not dispersion parameters arise very commonly in applications. The present paper presents a unified treatment of regression models containing incidental parameters that are permitted to contain covariates as well as being functionally dependent on the predictor or regression parameters. For the general regression model considered it is shown that Fisher's scoring algorithm can also be implemented as IWLS. Unlike the commonly suggested fitting strategy which updates the regression parameters with the nuisance parameters assumed known and set at the current values, the present approach yields the correct asymptotic covariance matrix for the regression parameter estimates. By considering simultaneous inference, residuals and influence measures which accommodate the effect of estimating the incidental parameters are outlined
Endoscopic Gluteus Medius Repair Augmented With Bioinductive Implant

Patients with gluteus minimus and medius tears that fail nonoperative management may be indicated for surgical repair; however, structural failure after gluteal tendon repair remains unacceptably high. This is likely related to the limited healing potential of tendinous tissue, which is poorly vascular and heals by formation of fibrocartilaginous scar tissue rather than histologically normal tendon. An emerging option to augment tendon healing is the use of a bioinductive implant that is designed to amplify the host healing response and induce the formation of healthy tendon tissue. Though it is rapidly being adopted for partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears, this implant has not yet been used in the hip. A detailed technical description and a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the technique are provided.
Operation of Droplet-Microfluidic Devices with a Lab Centrifuge

Microfluidic devices are valuable for a variety of biotechnology applications, such as synthesizing biochemical libraries, screening enzymes, and analyzing single cells. However, normally, the devices are controlled using specialized pumps, which require expert knowledge to operate. Here, we demonstrate operation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) devices without pumps. We build a scaffold that holds the device and reagents to be infused in a format that can be inserted into a 50 mL falcon tube and spun in a common lab centrifuge. By controlling the device design and centrifuge spin speed, we infuse the reagents at controlled flow rates. We demonstrate the encapsulation and culture of clonal colonies of red and green Escherichia coli in droplets seeded from single cells.
Methods to Study Antimicrobial Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading bacterial cause of foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide and is increasingly resistant to clinically important antibiotics. Detection of antibiotic resistance in C. jejuni can be performed with both phenotypic and genotypic methods. In this chapter, we describe the most commonly used molecular biology methods for detection of resistance to clinically important antibiotics. These methods can be employed in both clinical and research settings to facilitate clinical therapy and to monitor the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant C. jejuni.
Technical Note: A method to evaluate dosimetric effects on organs-at-risk for treatment delivery systematic uncertainties.

Purpose The aim of this study is to provide a practical method to quantify the dosimetric effects on organs-at-risk (OARs) due to systematic uncertainties in linear accelerator treatment delivery in order to aid external beam treatment planning and raise warnings about additional risks to critical OARs. Methods A dose approximation method, based on geometrical transformations, was developed to automatically estimate perturbations to dose volumes arising from five important potential uncertainties at the time of treatment delivery, including (a) systematic isocenter misalignment between image guidance and beam delivery systems, and systematic errors in, (b) collimator, (c) gantry, (d) couch table, and (e) multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaf bank positions. The agreement between the estimated dose volume using the dose approximation method and the re-calculated dose volume obtained from the treatment planning system (TPS) was verified using a dose difference test (2% threshold and 0 mm distance-to-agreement). For each type of uncertainty, the worst-case maximal dose values to the most critical OARs (brainstem, chiasm, optic nerves, and spinal cord) were quantitatively evaluated, and compared with the maximal dose values to the corresponding OARs from clinical plans. Results Six brain and six T-spine IMRT plans were used for evaluation. The average passing rates of 2% dose difference test were calculated to be 98.9% ± 1.3% for the uncertainties considered in this paper. The average time per patient to automatically analyze the dosimetric effects of all systematic uncertainties is 5.8 s. The worst-case scenarios for each plan, i.e., the largest changes in maximal doses to the OARs, were identified and confirmed to be in agreement with those calculated using the TPS. Conclusion For a given external beam plan, the proposed dose approximation method allows efficient evaluation of the dosimetric effects of potential patient positioning uncertainties and systematic machine delivery errors on maximal dose to critical OARs. While the same uncertainties can be manually analyzed using the TPS, the proposed method is automatic and computationally inexpensive, and therefore significantly more practical. The proposed method could be useful to provide insights about otherwise unquantified risks and plan robustness during the stage of treatment planning.
Overcoming Peak Overlaps in Titanium- and Vanadium-Bearing Materials with Multiple Linear Least Squares Fitting

The evolution of the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) from the lithium-drifted silicon detector [Si(Li)] to the silicon drift detector (SDD) has created new opportunities in the field of electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The SDD permits operation at significantly higher count rates than the Si(Li) and also provides a more stable energy scale. X-ray spectra captured by EDS can now be analyzed qualitatively or quantitatively under the same beam conditions as used for wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS). Standards-based quantitative EDS (SB-Quant-EDS) can thus provide analyses that are accurate and precise for an ever growing number of materials measurement problems. In this study, we analyze NIST research glasses with "known" nominal concentrations of titanium (Ti) and vanadium (V) to evaluate the external reproducibility of the SB-Quant-EDS technique in the presence of severe peak overlaps. We additionally analyze several naturally occurring oxide minerals by WDS and EDS simultaneously and evaluate the outputs of these two methods when quantifying the same analytical volume within the sample.
On the Structure of Selmer Groups

Our objective in this paper is to prove a rather broad generalization of some classical theorems in Iwasawa theory.
Automated spatio-temporal analysis of dendritic spines and related protein dynamics

Cofilin and other Actin-regulating proteins are essential in regulating the shape of dendritic spines, which are sites of neuronal communications in the brain, and their malfunctions are implicated in neurodegeneration related to aging. The analysis of cofilin motility in dendritic spines using fluorescence video-microscopy may allow for the discovery of its effects on synaptic functions. To date, the flow of cofilin has not been analyzed by automatic means. This paper presents Dendrite Protein Analysis (DendritePA), a novel automated pattern recognition software to analyze protein trafficking in neurons. Using spatiotemporal information present in multichannel fluorescence videos, the DendritePA generates a temporal maximum intensity projection that enhances the signal-to-noise ratio of important biological structures, segments and tracks dendritic spines, estimates the density of proteins in spines, and analyzes the flux of proteins through the dendrite/spine boundary. The motion of a dendritic spine is used to generate spine energy images, which are used to automatically classify the shape of common dendritic spines such as stubby, mushroom, or thin. By tracking dendritic spines over time and using their intensity profiles, the system can analyze the flux patterns of cofilin and other fluorescently stained proteins. The cofilin flux patterns are found to correlate with the dynamic changes in dendritic spine shapes. Our results also have shown that the activation of cofilin using genetic manipulations leads to immature spines while its inhibition results in an increase in mature spines.
Applications of Wellsite Chemostratigraphy

Chemostratigraphy was first used at wellsite in the early 2000s but it is rather unfortunate that very little material has been published on the subject, with most articles taking the form of very short papers or conference abstracts. In spite of this, wellsite chemostratigraphy is becoming increasingly popular, as it can be used to provide lithology/bulk mineralogy predictions, stratigraphic control whilst drilling and to aid the placement of casing points, coring points and total depth (TD). Arguably, the most commonly used application, however, is to assist the geosteering/well trajectory monitoring of horizontal-subhorizontal wells drilled in structurally complex plays. Major advances in XRF technology over the last 15 years, particularly with respect to benchtop ED-XRF instruments, has resulted in the ability to generate high quality inorganic geochemical data in ‘near real time’.
Diffusion-weighted MRI as a screening tool for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic livers: correlation with explant data-a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of diffusion-weighted liver MRI alone with complete, multiphasic gadoteridol-enhanced MRI for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients before liver transplant. This single institution retrospective study was performed after IRB approval and was HIPAA compliant. MRI scans of 37 patients who underwent liver transplant were evaluated and findings correlated with liver explant (36) or biopsy (1). All MRI scans were obtained within six months of explant. MRI from 17 patients with liver lesions by report at imaging subsequently proven to be HCC at pathology and 20 controls without liver lesions by imaging and pathology were reviewed in random order on the radiology PACS by three independent readers blinded to the MRI reports and pathology reports in two separate sittings. First, only the diffusion-weighted images (DWI) were interpreted. Second, the complete multiphasic MRI exam with DWI was reviewed. A consensus read was obtained by two separate radiologists who had access to the patients’ explant data in order to map lesions. Reader-specific and pooled classification was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for both DWI and complete MRI examination readings compared to pathology. McNemar’s test and Kappa coefficient were used to assess differences (agreement) in DWI and complete examination readings. A total of 37 patients have been studied (25M 12F age range 21–70). Averaged results of the three independent readers demonstrated a sensitivity of 78% (95% CI 65–89%) and specificity of 88% (95% CI 77–95%) for DWI alone for detection of liver lesions, with a positive predictive value of 85% (95% CI 72–94%) and a negative predictive value of 83% (95% CI 71–91%). Review of the complete MRI exam showed a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 76–97%) and a specificity of 82% (95% CI 66–92%) with a positive predictive value of 83% (95% CI 69–93%) and a negative predictive value of 89% (95% CI 74–97%). McNemar’s agreement test revealed no significant difference between the DWI and complete multiphasic interpretations (p = 0.3458), with simple Kappa coefficient of 0.6716 (95% CI 0.5332–0.8110). Lesions identified on DWI ranged in size from 1.5 to 5 cm. Detection of lesions was decreased in the presence of artifact from motion, large ascites, and technical issues. Diffusion-weighted MRI has NPV and PPV comparable to complete multiphasic MRI examination for liver lesion detection in cirrhotic patients and may have a role in screening.
Balancing Adherence and Expense: The Cost-Effectiveness of Two-Sample vs One-Sample Fecal Immunochemical Test.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) causes more than 50,000 deaths each year in the United States but early detection through screening yields survival gains; those diagnosed with early stage disease ...
Active Immunization of Humans with Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells specialized to initiate T-cell immunity. The development of methods to generate large numbers of DCs has facilitated their application for immunotherapy. Recent studies have demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity of DCs in humans and have begun to outline the durability, kinetics, and nature of the elicited T-cell responses. However, DC-based immunotherapy remains a challenge and several parameters need to be examined to optimize immune responses, in order to maximize clinical efficacy against cancer and infectious diseases.
Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

This entity represents the most common type of recurrent, regular, narrow QRS tachycardia in the absence of preexcitation syndrome. Electrophysiologic basis for the arrhythmia is reentry within the AV node resulting from dissociation between intranodal pathways. A better understanding of these intranodal pathways helps in the selection of a rational approach to management of these cases.
Patient Selection for Successful Outcome with the CardioWest Total Artificial Heart as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation

The Cardio West Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is the only device in its class currently used worldwide as a bridge to heart transplantation. It is a pneumatic device that totally replaces the failing ventricles. Patient selection criteria include: patient must be a transplant candidate; cardiac index (CI) 1.7m2; maximal inotropic support including the use of the intra-aortic balloon pump; and evidence of biventricular failure. A total of 79 patients have received the TAH in 10 centers around the world, with the intention to bridge to heart transplantation. The patient demographics include: 73 males, 6 females; average age 45 years (range 16–63 years); average BSA 1.94m2 (n = 59); average preoperative cardiac index (CI) 1.841 · min-1 · m-2 (n = 43); and average length of implantation 34 days (1–186 days). Fifty-five patients underwent heart transplantation, and 50 patients were eventually discharged home, 21 patients died on the device, and 3 patients remain on the TAH waiting to be transplanted. The overall survival of patients on the TAH is 66%, and 91% if the patient reaches transplantation. The most common cause of death while the patient is on the TAH is multiple organ failure. The survival rate with the Cardio West TAH is comparable with the survival rates of other mechanical assist devices currently available. This is the result of careful patient selection.
Acute Phase Protein Response to Collagen Induced Arthritis in Mice

Arthritis susceptible B10.RIII mice develop chronic inflammatory arthritis in response to a single immunization with native type II collagen. We have measured plasma levels (by ELISA) of two acute phase proteins in the mouse, amyloid P component (AP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA), prior to immunization with native bovine type II collagen (100 ug) emulsified in complete Freund’s adjuvant and during the development of collagen induced arthritis (CIA). Plasma AP levels were elevated after 1 day, reached a maximum after 2 days and remained elevated at 3, 8, 42 and 63 days after immunization. In contrast SAA levels were elevated at 1 and 2 days, but returned to control levels after 3 and 8 days and increased again at 42 and 63 days. Neither the plasma AP nor SAA levels were related to CIA severity or the presence of arthritis. These differences in responses of AP and SAA suggest that these proteins respond to different control signals and that neither of them are accurate predictors of arthritis severity.
Main Clause Word Order in Old French

In this chapter I offer an account of the word order of main clauses in Old French (OFr), focussing largely, though not exclusively, on verb-second effects. I hope to shed light on some longstanding issues in the analysis of OFr syntax, some of which have implications for later stages of the language as well. The chapter is divided into two main parts. Part I (sections 3.2., 3.3., and 3.4.) is devoted to issues of V2 in general, while Part II introduces an independent property of OFr, the A’ nature of Spec, AgrP, and its interaction with the V2 grammar (sections 3.5 and 3.6.). In sections 3.2. and 3.3. I propose (as in Vance (1988a) but contra Adams (1987a,b), Vance (1993), and Roberts (1993)) that while non-subject initial V2 clauses are CP’s, SVX clauses are IP’s. Arguments are given from both syntax and discourse. In section 3.4. I document evidence that in this otherwise strictly V2 language, the beginnings of a competition between CVS and CSV word order — i.e. the decline of V2 — can be seen in the variable behavior of fronted adverbial clauses. From a diachronic perspective, these first two points taken together make it possible to see in OFr the kind of solidly verb-second but potentially unstable system that has characteristically been attributed to Middle French (cf. Adams (1987a,b), Lemieux and Dupuis (1990, (1995)); however, the full development of a diachronic analysis is reserved for Chapters 6 and 7.
Prospective study of dual use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products among school-going youth in rural Appalachian Tennessee

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarettes have emerged as the most commonly used tobacco or nicotine products among youth in the United States (US), and usage with other products (dual use) is not well understood. This study assessed dual use and identified associated factors of usage in school-going youth in the high tobacco burdened region of rural Appalachian Tennessee. METHODS: Two waves of data for the same cohort of students were collected in 2014 (Wave 1) and 2016 (Wave 2). Dual use of e-cigarettes with any other tobacco product was the dependent variable. The independent variables consisted of exposure to tobacco use at home, home smoking rules, smoking inside the vehicle, attitudes toward smoking, exposure to tobacco industry marketing/promotion, and peer/family pressure. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the prevalence of dual use and delineate factors associated with usage. RESULTS: Dual use increased from 13.3% in Wave 1 to 18.6% in Wave 2. Results of logistic regression show that exposure to tobacco industry marketing/promotion was significantly associated with dual use in the two waves, odds ratio (OR) = 4.18 (confidence interval [CI] = 1.69–10.38) and OR = 4.43 (CI = 2.03–9.67), respectively. While allowing smoking inside the vehicles, sometimes, significantly increased dual use in Wave 1 (OR = 3.18 [CI = 1.19–8.48]), exposure to tobacco use at home (OR = 2.94 [1.24–6.97]), and peer/family pressure (OR = 2.92 [1.87–7.19]) increased usage in Wave 2. CONCLUSION: The increasing trend in dual use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products among youth in Appalachia Tennessee suggests a critical need for comprehensive tobacco control programs to avert exacerbating disparities in tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases in the US.
Motivating residents to change communication: the role of a brief motivational interviewing didactic.

INTRODUCTION Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered approach that encourages patients to change behaviors. MI training programs have increased residents' knowledge and use of MI skills; however, many residency programs may not have the time to dedicate to lengthy MI programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a brief MI didactic for residents in an academic internal medicine patient-centered medical home. METHODS Thirty-two residents completed a 1-h MI training between October 2016 and June 2017 and completed measures on their knowledge of, confidence using, and utilization of MI skills prior to the training, immediately after the training, and at a 1-month follow-up. RESULTS The residents' knowledge of and confidence using MI skills increased from pre-test to post-test and also increased from pre-test to the 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSION The utilization of MI skills increased from pre-test to the 1-month follow-up. A 1-h didactic offers benefits to residents.
HIF2-Induced Long Noncoding RNA RAB11B-AS1 Promotes Hypoxia-Mediated Angiogenesis and Breast Cancer Metastasis

Hypoxia induces a vast array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) in breast cancer cells, but their biological functions remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a hitherto uncharacterized hypoxia-induced lncRNA RAB11B-AS1 in breast cancer cells. RAB11B-AS1 is a natural lncRNA upregulated in human breast cancer and its expression is induced by hypoxia-inducible factor 2 (HIF2), but not HIF1, in response to hypoxia. RAB11B-AS1 enhanced the expression of angiogenic factors including VEGFA and ANGPTL4 in hypoxic breast cancer cells by increasing recruitment of RNA polymerase II. In line with increased angiogenic factors, conditioned media from RAB11B-AS1-overexpressing breast cancer cells promoted tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that RAB11B-AS1 increased breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and promoted tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer distant metastasis without affecting primary tumor growth in mice. Taken together, these findings uncover a fundamental mechanism of hypoxia-induced tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study reveals the molecular mechanism by which the lncRNA RAB11B-AS1 regulates hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and breast cancer metastasis, and provides new insights into the functional interaction between a lncRNA and tumor microenvironment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/5/964/F1.large.jpg.
Autoencoding Variational Autoencoder

Does a Variational AutoEncoder (VAE) consistently encode typical samples generated from its decoder? This paper shows that the perhaps surprising answer to this question is `No'; a (nominally trained) VAE does not necessarily amortize inference for typical samples that it is capable of generating. We study the implications of this behaviour on the learned representations and also the consequences of fixing it by introducing a notion of self consistency. Our approach hinges on an alternative construction of the variational approximation distribution to the true posterior of an extended VAE model with a Markov chain alternating between the encoder and the decoder. The method can be used to train a VAE model from scratch or given an already trained VAE, it can be run as a post processing step in an entirely self supervised way without access to the original training data. Our experimental analysis reveals that encoders trained with our self-consistency approach lead to representations that are robust (insensitive) to perturbations in the input introduced by adversarial attacks. We provide experimental results on the ColorMnist and CelebA benchmark datasets that quantify the properties of the learned representations and compare the approach with a baseline that is specifically trained for the desired property.
Brief of International Law Scholars as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents, Nestle USA, Inc. & Cargill, Inc. v. Doe I

This amicus brief was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of international law scholars in Nestle USA, Inc. v. Doe I and Cargill, Inc. v. Doe I, suits alleging that U.S. corporations participated in child slavery in Ivory Coast. The brief explains that customary international law permits corporate liability for human rights violations. Customary international law establishes human rights norms that prohibit certain conduct but does not provide the means of enforcing those norms. Enforcement is instead left to states, which may act collectively through treaties or separately by providing liability under domestic law. International criminal tribunals generally have been given jurisdiction only over natural persons because some nations do not hold corporations criminally liable. In concluding suppression conventions, like the Genocide Convention and the Torture Convention, nations have similarly limited their obligations to prosecute or extradite to natural persons. But limitations on particular enforcement mechanisms are not limitations on the underlying norms themselves. This is confirmed by the wide-spread practice of states providing both criminal and civil liability for human rights violations, including corporate violations, in their domestic laws. Customary international law therefore permits the United States to recognize a cause of action against domestic corporations under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) for violations of human rights norms as long as the norm at issue applies to corporations and the United States has jurisdiction to prescribe. There is no doubt that customary international law prohibits slavery and that this norm applies to juridical persons. The United States has jurisdiction to prescribe based on the U.S. nationality of the defendants and on the character of slavery as a universal jurisdiction offense.