cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Merging multiple FSM controllers for DFT/BIST hardware

Multiple test controllers are often required to control test plans corresponding to various testable design methodologies embedded in a circuit. Implementing these controllers as independent entities adds to the test logic area and may introduce delays on critical control paths of a chip. In this paper we present a technique for combining the test controllers into a minimal area merged controller. This technique consists of sequentially mapping the individual controllers onto the largest one using an A/sup */ algorithm that minimizes the number of implicants in a multiple-valued cover of the merged finite state machine (FSM). We compare this technique with an approach based on controller concatenation and state minimization and show that our technique produces merged machines that, after state and input encoding using the minimum number of bits, have on average 33% and 24% less product terms and area, respectively. For other encoding schemes, our approach results in an average savings of 25% in product terms and area.
Issues in Estimating the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Assessing the Impact of Abuse Status on Participation Bias

This study examines the potential implications of household interviews on participation bias for estimates of intimate partner violence (IPV). Using a variety of scales, IPV prevalence for the 135 women interviewed in a street-intercept survey was compared with the IPV prevalence of a subsample of these women who reported willingness to participate in a household survey with their partner in another room or when their partner also would be interviewed. A potential self-selection bias showed an 8% to 13% deflated prevalence of moderate to highly abused women and a 8% to 11% inflated prevalence of nonabused women among this subsample who would willingly participate in a household survey. Understanding who is included in household surveys, and who is not, is essential to compute and interpret national prevalence estimates for IPV.
The effect of channelization on floodplain sediment deposition and subsidence along the Pocomoke River, Maryland

The nontidal Pocomoke River was intensively ditched and channelized by the mid-1900s. In response to channelization; channel incision, head-cut erosion, and spoil bank perforation have occurred in this previously nonalluvial system. Six sites were selected for study of floodplain sediment dynamics in relation to channel condition. Short- and long-term sediment deposition ⁄subsidence rates and composition were determined. Short-term rates (four years) ranged from 0.6 to 3.6 mm ⁄year. Long-term rates (15-100+ years) ranged from )11.9 to 1.7 mm ⁄year. 137 Cs rates (43 years) indicate rates of 0.24 to 7.4 mm ⁄year depending on channel condi- tion. Channelization has limited contact between streamflow and the floodplain, resulting in little or no sedi- ment retention in channelized reaches. Along unchannelized reaches, extended contact and depth of river water on the floodplain resulted in high deposition rates. Drainage of floodplains exposed organic sediments to oxygen resulting in subsidence and releasing stored carbon. Channelization increased sediment deposition in down- stream reaches relative to the presettlement system. The sediment storage function of this river has been dra- matically altered by channelization. Results indicate that perforation of spoil banks along channelized reaches may help to alleviate some of these issues. (KEY TERMS: channelization; subsidence; sedimentation; floodplain isolation; radioisotopes; dendrogeomorphol- ogy; fluvial processes; geomorphology.)
The DIP may take its final bows: The dual-in-line package, the reigning IC package for several generations, is losing position to newcomers for packaging advanced chips

As the number of leads, or pins, on the dual-in-line package (DIP) increases, its size increases rapidly. DIPs are becoming up to 50 times bigger than the chips themselves, thus defeating the gains of miniaturization resulting from IC advances. A pin-grid array package with leads protruding from the bottom, can handle 256 leads in an area of about 3 square inches. New packages that are becoming available for integrated circuits are described, and the way in which these packages are attached to printed circuit boards is considered. Small-outline integrated circuits, plastic leaded chip carriers, ceramic leaded chip carriers, leadless ceramic chip carriers, and pin-grid arrays are covered. It is pointed out that if metal leads could be eliminated entirely, electrical signal delay and nonuniformity could be greatly reduced. A technique for doing this is tape-automated bonding in which chips may be applied directly to printed-circuit boards.
Breast health education for working women in Appalachia: insights from focus group research.

BackgroundThis study seeks to understand rural working women, their knowledge of health systems, and how breast health issues fit into their lives. A key aim of this study was to identify regionall...
Inhibition of Bacterial Growth In Vitro Following Stimulation with High Voltage, Monophasic, Pulsed Current

Low-intensity direct current has been reported to be effective in promoting healing of infected wounds, and these results have been assumed to apply to stimulation of wound tissue with monophasic high voltage pulsed current (HVPC). The purpose of this study was to determine whether HVPC has an inhibitory effect on growth in vitro of three bacterial species--Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa--commonly isolated from open wounds. Following exposure to HVPC, the measured zone of inhibition of bacterial growth was not significantly different between bacterial species. Inhibition at the anode (positive pole) occurred secondary to build-up of toxic end products, and inhibition at the cathode (negative pole) resulted from exposure to HVPC. Duration of exposure and voltage showed a highly significant linear relationship. Exposure to more than 250 V of HVPC for at least two hours resulted in some degree of inhibition of growth in all three bacterial species.
Effect of Achilles tendon lengthening on ankle muscle performance in people with diabetes mellitus and a neuropathic plantar ulcer.

Background and Purpose. The effect of a tendo-Achilles lengthening (TAL) procedure on ankle muscle performance has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of TAL and total-contact casting (TCC) with TCC alone on ankle muscle performance in subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) and a neuropathic plantar ulcer. Subjects. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a TAL group (3 female and 12 male subjects) or a TCC group (4 female and 10 male subjects). Methods. Muscle performance measurements were obtained using an isokinetic dynamometer. Results. Concentric plantar-flexor peak torque decreased 31% after TAL but returned to the baseline level after 8 months. Dorsiflexor peak torque did not change in either group. Plantar-flexor passive torque at 0 degrees of dorsiflexion decreased after TAL but increased to 60% of the baseline level after 8 months. Maximal dorsiflexion angle increased 11 degrees after TAL and remained increased at 8 months. Discussion and Conclusion. The TAL resulted in an increase in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and a temporary reduction in concentric plantar-flexor peak torque and passive torque at 0 degrees of dorsiflexion. If TAL is being considered for people with DM and a neuropathic forefoot ulcer, the initial compromise in plantar-flexor muscle performance should be addressed.
Light Guiding in Low Index Materials using High-Index-Contrast Waveguides

We propose a novel high-index-contrast waveguide structure capable of light strong confinement and guiding in low-refractive-index materials. The principle of operation of this structure relies on the electric field (E-field) discontinuity at the interface between high-index-contrast materials. We show that by using such a structure the E-field can be strongly confined in a 50-nm-wide low-index region with normalized average intensity of 20 μm−2. This intensity is approximately 20 times higher than that can be achieved in SiO2 with conventional rectangular or photonic crystal waveguides.
High Energy-Density QCD Matter

The first decade of RHIC operations as well as the first two heavy-ion runs at the LHC have yielded a vast amount of interesting and sometimes surprising data. There exists compelling evidence that RHIC and LHC have created a hot and dense state of deconfined quark-gluon matter with properties similar to that of an ideal fluid — this state of matter has been termed the strongly interacting QuarkGluon-Plasma (sQGP). A first summary on our understanding of the RHIC data has been attempted in a series of publications which appeared in two special volumes of Nuclear Physics A: the first one outlining the current theoretical views and case for the sQGP1) and the second one detailing the experimental results of the first three years of RHIC operations.2) Over the past couple of years, and with the advent of additional high-precision data, the emphasis of the RHIC and LHC programs is now shifting from the initial discovery phase to an exploration phase with the goal of precisely characterizing the properties of the Quark-Gluon-Plasma.
Abstract 331: Elevated Pre-discharge B-type Natriuretic Peptide Predicts 30-day Heart Failure-specific Rehospitalization

Background: Studies support the use of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) to guide both the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. However the variation in clinical use of BNP, and its impact on outcomes outside the clinical trial setting, has not been well characterized. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical use of BNP across the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, and to identify factors associated with 30-day rehospitalization. Methods: We determined both the frequency and timing of BNP and amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). We examined all hospital discharges with the diagnosis of heart failure in the VA Health Care System from 2006 - 2009 (n=109,875). The relationship between pre-discharge BNP and 30 day rehospitalization was evaluated using generalized estimating equations that adjusted for covariates and clustering of patients within facilities. Results: There were 59,720 out of 109,875 patients (54%) with a BNP (50%) or NT-ProBNP (4%) obtained during admission. Use of a BNP or NT-ProBNP test increased from 41% in 2006 to 60% in 2009. Patients evaluated with a BNP test had an older mean age (71 vs, 68 years, p<0.001). Black patients were less likely to have a BNP (50%) compared to non-black patients (58%, p<0.001). There were 125 VA hospitals with at least 80 heart failure discharges in the time period studied. Among these hospitals, the use of BNP (or NT-proBNP) during admission ranged from 0% to 83% of heart failure hospitalizations (median 57%, interquartile range 42% to 72%). BNP within 2 days of discharge (pre-discharge) was measured in 25,988 (24%) heart failure admissions. Higher pre-discharge BNP was associated with a greater risk for rehospitalization with heart failure as the principal diagnosis (Table; p<0.001 for trend). Risk for heart failure readmission tripled from a pre-discharge BNP of 200 to 1000 pg/ml. Pre-discharge BNP was not a significant predictor of other causes of readmission. There were too few NT-proBNP values for comparison. Similar findings were seen after adjustment for patient characteristics. Conclusions: There is significant variability in BNP usage across the VA Health Care System, although use of the test is growing. Pre-discharge BNP is a strong predictor of heart failure readmission but not of other causes of rehospitalization. These data may help clinicians identify high-risk patients prior to hospital discharge, and perhaps indicate a need for more aggressive heart failure-specific therapy and outpatient monitoring. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
The comparison of quantitative genetic parameters between populations

A statistical method for comparing matrices of genetic variation and covariation between groups (e.g., species, populations, a single population grown in distinct environments) is proposed. This maximum-likelihood method provides a test of the overall null hypothesis that two covariance component matrices are identical. Moreover, when the overall null hypothesis is rejected, the method provides a framework for isolating the particular components that differ significantly between the groups. Simulation studies reveal that discouragingly large experiments are necessary to obtain acceptable power for comparing genetic covariance component matrices. For example, even in cases of a single trait measured on 900 individuals in a nested design of 100 sires and three dams per sire in each population, the power was only about 0.5 when additive genetic variance differed by a factor of 2.5. Nevertheless, this flexible method makes valid comparison of covariance component matrices possible.
Studies on respiratory enzymes of the adrenal gland. II. The cortex.

On the basis of his observations with the hand spectroscope, Huszak (1) stated that the adrenal cortex contained cytochromes c, b, and a + a3, as well as an unknown cytochrome absorbing between cytochromes b and c. The present study has attempted to define both the cytochromes present in the beef adrenal cortex, as well as their distribution among the cell fractions. It confirms the presence of cytochromes c, b, and a + a3, and indicates the likelihood that cytochrome cl is the unknown cytochrome mentioned by Huszak. All of these cytochromes are present in the cortical mitochondria, and it has not been possible to demonstrate the presence of a microsomal cytochrome in the cortex such as is present in the microsomes of liver (2) or of the adrenal medulla (3). A survey has also been made of several of the respiratory enzymes of the cortex. Similar to what has already been reported for the adrenal medulla (3), it showed that the enzymes responsible for the transfer of electrons to O2 from reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide are of much lower activity than those responsible for the production of this reduced coenzyme. Such a relationship is fitting in view of the synthetic requirements for reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide in the various hydroxylation steps of steroid biosynthesis (4, 5).
Content and Composition of the Vita Barbatiani

This chapter explores the content and composition of the Vita Barbatiani, from the various earlier sources which were adapted into the text to various original material employed to highlight the sanctity of Barbatianus and his close connection to the city of Ravenna. Specific to its content, the chapter addresses the healing miracles attributed to Barbatianus taken from a seventh-century collection belonging to the Egyptian saints Cyrus and John and originally written in Greek. It further examines in detail Barbatianus’s best-known miracle, when he assisted Empress Galla Placidia in obtaining a relic of a sandal from John the Evangelist, and its possible origins.
Prognosis of Neonatal Asphyxia

Of 86 asphyxiated full-term neonates with CNS complications admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Nagoya City University Hospital, Japan, during a 10 year period (1972-81), 63 (73%) survived the neonatal period.
Before Boas: The Genesis of Ethnography and Ethnology in the German Enlightenment (Vermeulen)

This work is a book review considering the title Before Boas: The Genesis of Ethnography and Ethnology in the German Enlightenment by Han F. Vermeulen.
Developing Melodic Dictation Pedagogy: A Survey of College Theory Instructors:

The purpose of this study was to identify pedagogical approaches to melodic dictation used by college music theory instructors at National Association of Schools of Music accredited institutions. I...
“Opportunities in Disguise”: The Continuing Evolution of an Authentic Information Literacy Assessment

This article outlines the continuing evolution of the authentic assessment process for information literacy instruction at the John Spoor Broome Library at California State University, Channel Islands (CI), with particular focus on the library’s 2013 assessment project. The goal of these continually evolving processes is to assess the library’s value in ways that allow librarians to easily translate assessment findings to the campus community and to have actionable results that improve the library’s service to students. Librarians at CI continue to adjust and improve their authentic assessment process with the following goals in mind: to utilize information gleaned from assessment efforts to create opportunities that positively impact and support learning through targeted, assignment-specific library instruction; to clearly define the role of the library and librarians in the student learning process; to translate and articulate assessment findings in meaningful ways to the campus community; and to have actionable results that improve the library’s service to students.
Discussion: Agricultural Adjustment Reconsidered

and livestock farming, perhaps more labor would be required per unit of product. Perhaps some persons are being held in farming by ignorance and poverty and need help; on the other hand, a good many million have left farms since 1932, at the same time that several million were moving from the cities onto farms. The statistics suggest that farm-urban mobility is very great. A final word about the two papers before I yield the floor. Both advocate subsidies of one sort or another to farmers; neither explains why this subsidy should be paid. Both speak of a farm problem; neither says what it is. Perhaps the only farm problem today is the one of our own making and will disappear when, as Clawson foresees, farm policy comes increasingly to be written and approved by nonfarmers.
Posterior Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is the surgical standard for the removal of most adrenal tumors. Benign adrenal neoplasms, whether functioning or nonfunctioning, are amenable to removal by laparoscopic techniques with very minimal morbidity and excellent outcomes. The laparoendoscopic posterior approach for adrenalectomy has rapidly grown in popularity in the United States in the past decade, following the initial reports of the simplicity of this approach, as well as excellent outcomes in Europe [1]. More recently, modifications to established procedures have resulted in novel surgical techniques for adrenalectomy, including the application of robotic systems to this approach. Future advances in technology should result in the continued evolution of techniques and refinement of surgical capabilities, with the ultimate goals of enhanced surgeon proficiency and possibly improved patient outcomes.
Critical Appraisal Tools and Reporting Guidelines for Evidence‐Based Practice

Background Nurses engaged in evidence-based practice (EBP) have two important sets of tools: Critical appraisal tools and reporting guidelines. Critical appraisal tools facilitate the appraisal process and guide a consumer of evidence through an objective, analytical, evaluation process. Reporting guidelines, checklists of items that should be included in a publication or report, ensure that the project or guidelines are reported on with clarity, completeness, and transparency. Purpose The primary purpose of this paper is to help nurses understand the difference between critical appraisal tools and reporting guidelines. A secondary purpose is to help nurses locate the appropriate tool for the appraisal or reporting of evidence. Methods A systematic search was conducted to find commonly used critical appraisal tools and reporting guidelines for EBP in nursing. Rationale This article serves as a resource to help nurse navigate the often-overwhelming terrain of critical appraisal tools and reporting guidelines, and will help both novice and experienced consumers of evidence more easily select the appropriate tool(s) to use for critical appraisal and reporting of evidence. Having the skills to select the appropriate tool or guideline is an essential part of meeting EBP competencies for both practicing registered nurses and advanced practice nurses (Melnyk & Gallagher-Ford, 2015; Melnyk, Gallagher-Ford, & Fineout-Overholt, 2017). Results Nine commonly used critical appraisal tools and eight reporting guidelines were found and are described in this manuscript. Specific steps for selecting an appropriate tool as well as examples of each tool's use in a publication are provided. Linking Evidence to Action Practicing registered nurses and advance practice nurses must be able to critically appraise and disseminate evidence in order to meet EBP competencies. This article is a resource for understanding the difference between critical appraisal tools and reporting guidelines, and identifying and accessing appropriate tools or guidelines.
Outcomes from a self-generated utility value intervention on fifth and sixth-grade students’ value and interest in science

Abstract The purpose of this field experiment was to understand whether fifth and sixth-grade students were able to write about the usefulness and relevance of what they were learning in their science class through self-generated reflections and to examine the impacts of this activity on students’ value, utility value, and interest for science. Analysis of students’ essays revealed in the self-generated reflection condition students connected what they were learning to their lives significantly more than the control condition. Linguistically, student essays did not differ between the two conditions, except for cognitive processing. Self-reflecting increased students’ utility value but not value nor interest. Self-efficacy did not moderate these relations. Implications for extending self-generated utility value and broader social-psychological interventions for early adolescent students are discussed.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease: Progress and Challenges

Administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to diseased hearts improves cardiac function and reduces scar size. These effects occur via the stimulation of endogenous repair mechanisms, including regulation of immune responses, tissue perfusion, inhibition of fibrosis, and proliferation of resident cardiac cells, although rare events of transdifferentiation into cardiomyocytes and vascular components are also described in animal models. While these improvements demonstrate the potential of stem cell therapy, the goal of full cardiac recovery has yet to be realized in either preclinical or clinical studies. To reach this goal, novel cell-based therapeutic approaches are needed. Ongoing studies include cell combinations, incorporation of MSCs into biomaterials, or pre-conditioning or genetic manipulation of MSCs to boost their release of paracrine factors, such as exosomes, growth factors, microRNAs, etc. All of these approaches can augment therapeutic efficacy. Further study of the optimal route of administration, the correct dose, the best cell population(s), and timing for treatment are parameters that still need to be addressed in order to achieve the goal of complete cardiac regeneration. Despite significant progress, many challenges remain.
Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. (Fraser Fir)

The genus Abies Mill. (firs) is one of the largest in the Pinaceae (Krussman 1985). Liu (1971) provided a taxonomic monograph of the genus Abies, and reported that it included two subgenera with 15 sections composed of 39 species, 27 varieties, and 9 hybrids. The genus was characterized morphologically by: (1) a peculiar resin commonly termed balsam, (2) buds on lateral branches often arranged hastately, (3) branchlets marked with circular disk-like leaf scars, (4) solitary male flowers (the genus is monecious) having short horizontal knob-like projections at the posterior portion of stamens and their anthers opening by a transverse slit, (5) erect and often variously colored cones with thin cone scales and bract scales separating from the cone axis upon seed maturity, and (6) seeds having resin vescicles infolded by the lower part of their thin wings. The wood consists only of tracheids and rays without normal resin canals. The tracheids have bordered, taxodioid pits.
Spin assignments for the ground states of 155Lu and 157Lu.

The [alpha]-decay properties of [sup 155]Lu and [sup 157]Lu show that their ground states are not [pi][ital h][sub 11/2] (as they are in [sup 153,155]Tm, and [sup 151,153]Ho) but either [pi][ital d][sub 3/2] or [pi][sub 1/2]. From single-particle level systematics the [pi][ital d][sub 3/2] assignment is favored. Calculations using the shell correction method predict the one-quasiparticle proton states based on the [ital h][sub 11/2], [ital d][sub 3/2], and [ital s][sub 1/2] subshells to appear very close in energy in Lu, Ta, and Re nuclei with [ital N][similar to]84, independently of equilibrium deformation.
Chapter 28 – Methods You Might Meet, But Not Every Day

Abstract This chapter comments briefly on a wide variety of methods that are sometimes, but not often, encountered in the medical literature. Addressed are some extensions of methods already in the book, including analysis of variance, regression, nonparametric tests, survival analysis, Bonferroni methods, and testing for normality. Other methods are multivariate methods, missing data correction, treating outliers, curve fitting, and data mining. A method that was treated in the third edition of this book has been reassessed as appropriate to this chapter: Markov chain Monte Carlo.
ERP Vendor Satisfaction: From Communication and IT Capability Perspectives

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems play a critical role in supporting a firm’s operations. Due to this reliance, a firm interacts with both the ERP solution provider and the ERP vendor as b...
Operating Theater Setup and Two-Team Coordination

Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) can be performed by a single-team or a two-team approach. Potential advantages of two-team taTME include faster operative time and fewer conversions to open surgery. Key components of two-team taTME are operating room setup of multiple surgical platforms to allow simultaneous surgery without interference with one another. In two-team taTME, the abdominal team performs the abdominal colon mobilization and upper part of the TME dissection, whereas the transanal team performs the distal rectal transection and mobilization. Coordination of the key steps in taTME surgery is critical to allow for smooth operative flow. One of the critical points during two-team taTME is at the “rendezvous” between the abdominal and transanal dissection where the two dissection planes meet. Here, the abdominal team can retract and expose the rectum to allow the transanal team to carry the dissection forward and vice versa until the rectum is fully dismounted. The rectum may often be removed transanally and anastomosis performed by the transanal team, while the abdominal team performs an ileostomy. In this chapter, the details of operating room setup and coordination between teams for successful taTME surgery in cancer and benign disease are discussed.
Human macrophage response to microbial supernatants from diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major clinical problem exacerbated by prolonged bacterial infection. Macrophages, the primary innate immune cells, are multifunctional cells that regulate diverse processes throughout multiple phases of wound healing. To better understand the influence of microbial species on macrophage behavior, we cultured primary human monocyte-derived macrophages from four donors for 24 hours in media conditioned by bacteria and fungi (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Corynebacterium amycolatum, Corynebacterium striatum, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans, and Candida albicans) isolated from the DFUs of six patients. The effects of these microbe-derived signals on macrophage behavior were assessed by measuring the gene expression of a panel of 25 genes related to macrophage phenotype, angiogenesis, bacterial recognition, and cell survival, as well as secretion of two inflammatory cytokines using NanoString multiplex analysis. Principal component analysis showed that macrophage gene expression and protein secretion were affected by both microbial species as well as human donor. S. simulans and C. albicans caused up-regulation of genes associated with a proinflammatory (M1) phenotype, and P. aeruginosa caused an increase in the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine and M1 marker tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). Together, these results suggest that macrophages respond to secreted factors from microbes by up-regulating inflammatory markers, and that the effects are strongly dependent on the monocyte donor. Ultimately, increased understanding of macrophage-microbe interactions will lead to the development of more targeted therapies for DFU healing.
Phase Separation in He 3 -He 4 Mixtures near Absolute Zero

Phase separation in liquid mixtures of ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ at temperatures close to 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K is discussed on the basis of the isotopic impurity models of Pomeranchuk and Zharkov and Silin. It is predicted that for ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$-rich mixtures the phase separation line is asymptotic to the temperature axis as $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$, so that phase separation should occur in extremely dilute solutions of ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ in ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ at relatively high temperatures. For example, 0.003% of ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ in liquid ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ should begin to separate at about 0.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The phase separation curve for ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$-rich mixtures near 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K is difficult to predict with the data available at present. One possibility is that dilute solutions of ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ in ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ may be stable at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.
HIV Infection Is Associated with Loss of Anti-Inflammatory Alveolar Macrophages

HIV type 1 is associated with pulmonary dysfunction that is exacerbated by cigarette smoke. Alveolar macrophages (AM) are the most prominent immune cell in the alveolar space. These cells play an important role in clearing inhaled pathogens and regulating the inflammatory environment; however, how HIV infection impacts AM phenotype and function is not well understood, in part because of their autofluorescence and the absence of well-defined surface markers. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on human AM and to compare the effect of smoking on their phenotype and function. Time-of-flight mass cytometry and RNA sequencing were used to characterize macrophages from human bronchoalveolar lavage of HIV-infected and -uninfected smokers and nonsmokers. We found that the frequency of CD163+ anti-inflammatory AM was decreased, whereas CD163-CCR7+ proinflammatory AM were increased in HIV infection. HIV-mediated proinflammatory polarization was associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage activation. Conversely, smoking heightened the inflammatory response evident by change in the expression of CXCR4 and TLR4. Altogether, these findings suggest that HIV infection, along with cigarette smoke, favors a proinflammatory macrophage phenotype associated with enhanced expression of inflammatory molecules. Further, this study highlights time-of-flight mass cytometry as a reliable method for immunophenotyping the highly autofluorescent cells present in the bronchoalveolar lavage of cigarette smokers.
Entanglement and many-body effects in collective neutrino oscillations

Collective neutrino oscillations play a crucial role in transporting lepton flavor in astrophysical settings, such as supernovae, where the neutrino density is large. In this regime, neutrino-neutrino interactions are important and simulations in the mean-field approximation show evidence for collective oscillations occurring at timescales much shorter than those associated with vacuum oscillations. In this work, we study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a corresponding spin model using matrix product states and show how collective bipolar oscillations can be triggered by many-body correlations if appropriate initial conditions are present. We find entanglement entropies scaling at most logarithmically in the system size suggesting that classical tensor network methods could be efficient in describing collective neutrino dynamics more generally. These observation provide a clear path forward, not only to increase the accuracy of current simulations, but also to elucidate the mechanism behind collective flavor oscillations without resorting to the mean-field approximation.
Machine Learning for Real-Time Heart Disease Prediction

Heart-related anomalies are among the most common causes of death worldwide. Patients are often asymptomatic until a fatal event happens, and even when they are under observation, trained personnel is needed in order to identify a heart anomaly. In the last decades, there has been increasing evidence of how Machine Learning can be leveraged to detect such anomalies, thanks to the availability of Electrocardiograms (ECG) in digital format. New developments in technology have allowed to exploit such data to build models able to analyze the patterns in the occurrence of heart beats, and spot anomalies from them. In this work, we propose a novel methodology to extract ECG-related features and predict the type of ECG recorded in real time (less than 30 milliseconds). Our models leverage a collection of almost 40 thousand ECGs labeled by expert cardiologists across different hospitals and countries, and are able to detect 7 types of signals: Normal, AF, Tachycardia, Bradycardia, Arrhythmia, Other or Noisy. We exploit the XGBoost algorithm, a leading machine learning method, to train models achieving out of sample F1 Scores in the range 0.93 – 0.99. To our knowledge, this is the first work reporting high performance across hospitals, countries and recording standards.
Repair of congenital H-type tracheoesophageal fistula by electrocautery

Abstract Background Congenital H-type tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare type of congenital tracheoesophageal malformation. In this malformation, the esophagus remains unobstructed, complicating and delaying the diagnosis. We present our experience with three infants with congenital H-type tracheoesophageal fistula who were initially treated by a minimally invasive approach via endoscopy with electrocautery. Results Two of the three patients ultimately required a surgical procedure after failure to close the fistula via electrocautery despite multiple attempts over several months. One of the three patients was successfully treated via electrocautery after the second procedure. Conclusions In our center, three infants with congenital H-type tracheoesophageal fistula were initially treated endoscopically with electrocautery. Two out of the three ultimately required a surgical procedure. If considering endoscopy with electrocautery, providers and families should recognize that the procedure may need to be performed several times before the fistula is successfully closed. Additionally, failed attempts may put patients at risk for complications such as respiratory decompensation, pneumonia and poor growth and may prolong hospitalization.
Differential Electrically Insulated Magnetoelectric Spin-Orbit Logic Circuits

Beyond complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) devices have functionalities different from CMOS transistors, and therefore, the development of novel circuits that leverage their properties is necessary for their practical application to computing. The magnetoelectric spin-orbit (MESO) device has been proposed as one of the promising energy-efficient beyond CMOS device candidates, and several basic circuit blocks have been demonstrated with MESO. In this work, we propose a new differential MESO device that enables differential logic circuit design with better interstage isolation. This improves the output voltage of MESO circuits, provides signal common-mode noise rejection, and eliminates any sneak current path. We demonstrate the functionality of multiple essential logic circuit blocks implemented with MESO devices.
Quantitative Analysis of Multiple Charged Large Molecules in Human or Rat Plasma Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLY CHARGED LARGE MOLECULES IN HUMAN OR RAT PLASMA USING LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY By Matthew Sean Halquist, B.S. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Major Director: H. Thomas Karnes, Ph.D. Professor Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy Immunoassays have traditionally been employed for the determination of plasma concentration-time profiles for pharmacokinetic studies of therapeutic proteins and peptides. These ligand binding assays have high sensitivity but require significant time for antibody generation (1 to 2 years) for assay development. Despite high sensitivity, these assays suffer from cross-reactivity that can lead to inaccurate results. As an alternative to immunoassays, this dissertation was focused on the development and validation of assays that can be used for quantitative analysis of peptides or proteins in plasma using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Sub-Saharan Growth Surprises: Geography, Institutions and History in an All African Data Panel

We use two sets of cross-country growth regression models to investigate the determinants of the growth rates in African countries between 1960 and 2000. Both sets of models contradict conclusions based on global samples: within Africa, we find greater coastal population and distance from the equator unhelpful and greater ethnic heterogeneity helpful to growth. Our results confirm the negative effects of corruption and civil wars and the positive effects of trade openness, political rights and political openness, and suggest that these institutional and policy variables are endogenous to geographic and historical factors including the colonizing power and the religious and ethnic make-up of the country.
The effect of power-control dynamics on the reverse-link capacity of a mobile CDMA cellular network

The lack of a high-data-rate wireline backbone in a tactical CDMA cellular network limits the ability of the network to hand off mobile terminals rapidly between neighboring base stations. In previous work, it is shown that the limitation on handoff capability can have a severe impact on the reverse-link capacity of the network. The previous results employ an analysis of network capacity in which the multiple-access interference in each link is modeled as a stationary, Gaussian random process. In this paper, we employ a substantial refinement of the model in which we account for the dependence of the power-control dynamics of the multiple reverse links in the network. An evaluation is presented for the capacity of the network. The results are used to examine the effect of limited handoff capability on the network capacity.
Pitch processing of dynamic lexical tones in the auditory cortex is influenced by sensory and extrasensory processes.

The aim is to evaluate how language experience (Chinese, English) shapes processing of pitch contours as reflected in the amplitude of cortical pitch response components. Responses were elicited from three dynamic, curvilinear, nonspeech stimuli varying in pitch direction and location of peak acceleration: Mandarin lexical Tone2 (rising) and Tone4 (falling); and a flipped variant of Tone2, Tone2′ (nonnative). At temporal sites (T7/T8), Chinese Na-Pb response amplitude to Tones 2 & 4 was greater than English in the right hemisphere only; a rightward asymmetry for Tones 2 & 4 was restricted to the Chinese group. In common to both Fz-to-linked T7/T8 and T7/T8 electrode sites, the stimulus pattern (Tones 2 & 4 > Tone2′) was found in the Chinese group only. As reflected by Pb-Nb at Fz, Chinese amplitude was larger than English in response to Tones 2 & 4; and Tones 2 & 4 were larger than Tone2′; whereas for English, Tone2 was larger than Tone2′ and Tone4. At frontal electrode sites (F3/F4), regardless of component or hemisphere, Chinese responses were larger in amplitude than English across stimuli. For either group, responses to Tones 2 & 4 were larger than Tone2′. No hemispheric asymmetry was observed at the frontal electrode sites. These findings highlight that cortical pitch response components are differentially modulated by experience-dependent, temporally distinct but functionally overlapping weighting of sensory and extrasensory effects on pitch processing of lexical tones in the right temporal lobe and, more broadly, are consistent with a distributed hierarchical predictive coding process.
Charge Transfer Molecular Solids

The purposes of these lectures is to discuss a class of organic solids in which arise questions of fundamental solid state physics interest as well as having potential technological applications. Although our focus will be on the solid state physics aspects of the electronic properties of the systems under consideration, the general field of study involves a strong overlap between physics and chemistry.
Cell Differentiation: An Evolutionary Perspective

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the relation between evolution and development at cellular and molecular levels. It also describes the mechanisms that allow groups of more evolutionarily conserved genes to be expressed earlier in development. The earlier differentiation of more evolutionarily conserved types of cells implies an earlier period of expression for more conserved genes. This is supported by the results of hybridization experiments of frog embryonuclear RNA with frog and fish DNA. Such experiments reveal that heterogeneous nuclear RNA transcribed at the late gastrula–early neurula stage is more conserved than at the tailbud stage. Hybridization experiments have shown that all the repetitive and single-copy sequences of frog larval mRNA are present in the nuclei of late frog gastrulae. A mixture of late gastrula–neurula nuclear and larval messenger RNA hybridizes The more conserved genes are transcribed more frequently, thereby allowing an earlier accumulation of more conserved mRNAs.
The effects of x-ray beam hardening on detective quantum efficiency and radiation dose

The goal of this preliminary study was to investigate the effects of x-ray beam hardening on the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) and the radiation dose of an inline x-ray imaging system. The ability to decrease the risk of harmful radiation to the patient without compromising the detection capability would more effectively balance the tradeoff between image quality and radiation dose, and therefore benefit the fields of diagnostic x-ray imaging, especially mammography. The DQE and the average glandular dose were both calculated under the same experimental conditions for a range of beam hardening levels, corresponding to no added beam hardening and two thicknesses each of Rhodium (Rh) and Molybdenum (Mo) filters. The dose calculation results demonstrate a reduction of 15% to 24% for the range of beam hardening levels. The comparison of all quantities comprising the DQE exhibit very close correlation between the results obtained without added beam hardening to the results corresponding to the range of beam hardening levels. For the specific experimental conditions utilized in this preliminary study, the results are an indication that the use of beam hardening holds the potential to reduce the radiation dose without decreasing the performance of the system. Future studies will seek to apply this method in a clinical environment and perform a comprehensive image quality evaluation, in an effort to further evaluate the potential of beam hardening to balance the tradeoff between dose and image quality.
Epidemiologic evidence regarding vitamin C and cancer

Approximately 90 epidemiologic studies have examined the role of vitamin C or vitamin-C-rich foods in cancer prevention, and the vast majority have found statistically significant protective effects. Evidence is strong for cancers of the esophagus, oral cavity, stomach, and pancreas. There is also substantial evidence of a protective effect in cancers of the cervix, rectum, and breast. Even in lung cancer, for which carotenoids show a consistent protective effect, there is recent evidence of a role for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and free radical scavenger in plasma and acts to regenerate active vitamin E in lipid membranes. Although several different factors in fruits and vegetables probably act jointly, the epidemiologic and biochemical evidence indicate an important role for vitamin C.
How much of physics isjustcomputation

Abstract We explore an emergent interpretation of the action integral and the lagrangian in physics, and discuss its connection with the concept of ‘amount of computation’. We give an abstract definition of action, and argue (1) that it provides a general, model-independent characterization of ‘amount of computation’; and that (2) the action of physics is a special case of this general action. Much as entropy quantifies the lack of information one has about thestateof a system, action quantifies the lack of information about the system'slaw—or, equivalently, itsbehavior. In this approach, action is to dynamics what entropy is to statics.
The Discrete Fourier Transform, Part 3: The PSD

This paper is part 3 in a series of papers about the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and the Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT). The focus of this paper is on computing the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) and the IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform). The implementation is based on a well-known algorithm, called the decimation in time Radix 2 FFT, and requires that its’ input data be an integral power of two in length. This paper demonstrates the computation of the PSD and applications of the DFT and IDFT. The applications include filtering, windowing, pitch shifting and the spectral analysis of re-sampling.
Position effect suppression of ribosomal RNA genes in Drosophila melanogaster: non-autonomous in gynandromorphs?

Baker (1971) presented genetic evidence that the inviability of In(1)scL8/O and scS1/O males in Drosophila melanogaster is due to position effect suppression of ribosomal RNA cistrons. Although scL8/O and scS1/O males are inviable, scL8/scL8 and scS1/scS1 females are viable. We therefore asked the following question: Is scL8/O or scS1/O viable when part of a gynandromorph? In other words, is position effect suppression of rRNA genes autonomous or non-autonomous in gynandromorphs? In this paper preliminary evidence is presented which suggests that position effect suppression of rRNA cistrons is non-autonomous. The evidence is that scLS/ or scS1/O (male) parts of gynandromorphs are not only viable but normal in appearance.