cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Method of Multiple Scales and the ∈-Power Series

The perturbation strategy known as the “method of multiple scales” lies at the heart of solitary wave theory. First, it is the vehicle by which three-dimensional reality is approximated by one-dimensional models such as the Korteweg-deVries equation. One might call this “reduction of dimension”. Second, it can be applied within the microworld of one-dimensional wave equations to generate further approximations, such as FKdV ∈-series in which the lowest order is the KdV solitary wave.
Studies on epidemiology of scarlet fever in a school outbreak

Between January 24 and March 26, 1922, there occurred among the 840 students of the School of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, a scarlet fever epidemic of rather unusual form and one which offered in some ways an exceptional opportunity for study. The majority of the students were slightly above high school age; 105 were girls and 735 boys. Of this group, 385 lived in 5 dormitories on the campus and ate at a common dining hall. The remaining 455 lived in private rooms near the campus and took meals at home or at public boarding places. Sixty-six and five tenths per cent, of the students came from farms or towns of less than 5,000 population. The entrance histories showed a surprisingly low incidence of the usual childhood diseases, and the entrance physical examinations showed a rather high percentage of minor defects, such as enlarged tonsils, nasal obstructions, refractive errors, etc.
Abstract LB-308: Hypoxia affects gene expression and proteome of prostate cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Tumor-associated hypoxia facilitates malignant progression, metastasis and poor prognosis in prostate cancer (CaP); however, effects of oxygen tension ( p O2) in CaP are just beginning to be investigated. To establish mechanisms whereby hypoxia enhances malignant properties and survival of CaP and to identify p O2-regulated tumor-associated macromolecules, we propagated CaP cell lines LnCaP, VCaP and DU145 in hypoxia ( p O2=2 kPa) and compared them with normoxically grown cells ( p O2=20 kPa); hypoxic cells proliferated faster and secreted more vascular endothelial growth factor ( p <0.05). Transcriptome studies revealed different gene expression in cells grown in hypoxia relative to those in normoxia. Interestingly, in hypoxic cells transcripts associated with cancer and urologic disease were overexpressed in comparison to normoxic cells ( p <0.001) suggesting an association of low p O2 and aggressive features of CaP. Further, we analyzed the transcriptome in primary CaP cells isolated by laser-capture microdissection (LCM) and whole CaP tissue. We compared the data to those from CaP cells cultured at p O2=20 kPa or p O2=2 kPa. Notably, hypoxia increased transcript levels for pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isozyme 1, nuclear prelamin A recognition factor, glucose phosphate isomerase, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in all three cell lines ( p <0.05) to levels comparable to those found in primary bulk tissue and LCM isolated cells ( p <0.005). This finding suggests that gene expression in hypoxically cultured cells is more akin to that in tumor cells in situ than are cells grown normoxically. By 2D-gel electrophoresis, we found that change in p O2 affected the proteome mostly quantitatively ( i.e. , by change in spot intensity). Our results suggest that hypoxia affects transcriptome and proteome in CaP cells. In addition, we screened 20 patient sera and 20 healthy control sera for spontaneous antibodies cross-reactive with VCaP cells and found that the sera reacted with numerous proteins, some previously reported to elicit an immune response in CaP patients ( e.g. , nucleoporin 62 and transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase). By this method we detected numerous novel autoantigens (under validation). Currently we are clarifying the p O2 effects on the relationship of transcriptome, proteome and tumor-associated antigens in CaP cells. Support: DOD PC094680 (CRG), Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, Mayo Clinic Prostate SPORE 5P50CA091956 (FK); Mrs. Adelyn L. Luther, Singer Island, Florida and Mayo Clinic Cancer Center (SV-P). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-308. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-308
Chiari Malformations: A Patient’s Guide

The Chiari malformations are becoming more frequently diagnosed due to technological advancements. Many patients will be diagnosed with this type of brain herniation but will be asymptomatic. Others, however, will have medical problems related to the brain tissue that is displaced into the upper neck. These latter patients may undergo surgery to treat their Chiari malformation. In experienced hands, this procedure has a low complication rate and often effectively treats the Chiari malformation symptoms/signs.
Teacher's and Students' Understanding: The Role of Tools and Inscriptions in Supporting Effective Communication.

The 2 episodes featured in this issue provide a rich setting in which to investigate not only the influence but also the confluence of students' and teacher's understandings on the quality of whole class discussions. In particular, I focus on the communication between the students and myself as the teacher in the classroom. This unique perspective allows me to offer insights into the teacher's decision-making process and how those decisions influenced the opportunities for learning. As part of the analysis I consider the role of tools in both supporting and constraining communication in the classroom. The analysis therefore makes explicit the tensions in teaching by highlighting the importance of the teacher's understanding of the students' offered explanations and justifications and the mathematics that is to be taught.
Generalized Gauss–Radau and Gauss–Lobatto formulas with Jacobi weight functions

We compute semi-explicitly or recursively the weights of the generalized Gauss–Radau and Gauss–Lobatto quadratures with Jacobi weight functions.
Enabling Marangoni flow at air-liquid interfaces through deposition of aerosolized lipid dispersions

It has long been known that deposited drops of surfactant solution induce Marangoni flows at air-liquid interfaces. These surfactant drops create a surface tension gradient, which causes an outward flow at the fluid interface. We show that aqueous phospholipid dispersions may be used for this same purpose. In aqueous dispersions, phospholipids aggregate into vesicles that are not surface-active; therefore, drops of these dispersions do not initiate Marangoni flow. However, aerosolization of these dispersions disrupts the vesicles, allowing access to the surface-active monomers within. These lipid monomers do have the ability to induce Marangoni flow. We hypothesize that monomers released from broken vesicles adsorb on the surfaces of individual aerosol droplets and then create localized surface tension reduction upon droplet deposition. Deposition of lipid monomers via aerosolization produces surface tensions as low as 1mN/m on water. In addition, aerosolized lipid deposition also drives Marangoni flow on entangled polymer solution subphases with low initial surface tensions (∼34mN/m). The fact that aerosolization of phospholipids naturally found within pulmonary surfactant can drive Marangoni flows on low surface tension liquids suggests that aerosolized lipids may be used to promote uniform pulmonary drug delivery without the need for exogenous spreading agents.
81. Development of a Second Generation Stable Lentiviral Packaging Cell Line in Support of Clinical Gene Transfer Protocols

Production of lentiviral vectors for clinical gene transfer trials is challenging due to the cost of acquiring GMP-grade plasmids and the labor intensive nature of making vectors via transient transfection. To facilitate clinical grade lentiviral vector production, we developed a packaging cell line, GPRG, which was used to make a fully stable producer, GPRG-EF1α-hgcOPT. This stable producer is presently supporting two clinical trials for the treatment of X-SCID. While initial results in one of these trials have been positive, the output and potency of this line mandates repeated production runs to supply enough vector for larger subjects, producing only enough for 2-3 cases per 6 day run. A second generation packaging cell line, GPRTG, has been developed and tested as a future platform for lentiviral gene transfer trials. This new cell line expresses codon-optimized HIV-1 gagpol, rev and tat. Expression of Rev, Tat and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G proteins (VSV-G) are regulated by a Tet-Off/On system. We have improved the performance of the GPRTG cell line relative to GPRG by including the expression of HIV-1 Tat while decreasing the expression of Rev and by the independent re-insertion of the Rev, Tat and VSV-G packaging components. We generated a second fully stable producer, GPRTG-EF1α-hgcOPT, expressing the identical insulated SIN vector as in the first generation line. Both cell lines produce high titer vector preparations (>107 tu/ml) and are stable for at least 3 months of continuous passage. Although the vector titers are similar, GPRTG-EF1α-hgcOPT generated vector shows increased transduction efficiency of hCD34+ cells. PCR analysis of bulk CFU-GMs indicates a 2-fold increase in vector positive colonies and 3-5 fold increase in vector copy number with vector from GPRTG-EF1α-hgcOPT as compared to vector generated from GPRG-EF1α-hgcOPT when used at similar MOIs. We hypothesize that the basis for enhanced transduction efficiency of GPRTG derived vector is due to the expression of Tat and reduced expression of Rev each of which may affect vector transduction potency. In support of this hypothesis, our data show that transiently prepared vectors made with Rev only or in the presence of highly abundant Rev transduce hCD34+ cells less efficiently. We are currently employing the second generation cell line, GPRTG, to support future and on-going clinical protocols to treat other rare hematologic disorders including Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome and Chronic Granulomatous Disease.
Health Services Utilization in Older Adults with Dementia Receiving Care Coordination: The MIND at Home Trial.

Objective To investigate effects of a novel dementia care coordination program on health services utilization. Data Sources/Study Setting A total of 303 community-dwelling adults aged ≥70 with a cognitive disorder in Baltimore, Maryland (2008–2011). Study Design Single-blind RCT evaluating efficacy of an 18-month care coordination intervention delivered through community-based nonclinical care coordinators, supported by an interdisciplinary clinical team. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Study partners reported acute care/inpatient, outpatient, and home- and community-based service utilization at baseline, 9, and 18 months. Principal Findings From baseline to 18 months, there were no significant group differences in acute care/inpatient or total outpatient services use, although intervention participants had significantly increased outpatient dementia/mental health visits from 9 to 18 months (p = .04) relative to controls. Home and community-based support service use significantly increased from baseline to 18 months in the intervention compared to control (p = .005). Conclusions While this dementia care coordination program did not impact acute care/inpatient services utilization, it increased use of dementia-related outpatient medical care and nonmedical supportive community services, a combination that may have helped participants remain at home longer. Future care model modifications that emphasize delirium, falls prevention, and behavior management may be needed to influence inpatient service use.
Getting to Know English Language Learners in MOOCs: Their Motivations, Behaviors, and Outcomes

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) promise to engage a global audience and emphasize the democratic achievement of free, university-level education. While such open access enables participation, it is unclear how learners who are not fluent in English (ELLs) engage with MOOC content. After all, the language of MOOCs is English. In order to improve accessibility for ELLs in digital learning environments, we must first have a clear understanding of the educational landscape: who are the non-native English speakers enrolled in MOOCs? Where are they located geographically? What are their current online learning behaviors, motivations and outcomes? In this paper we start answering some of these questions by analyzing data from 100 HarvardX courses, using self-report and log data. Preliminary analysis show evidence that ELLs are motivated by more utilitarian goals compared to non-ELLs.
No difference in extinction behavior in planaria following various types and amounts of training

One hundred-twenty planaria were randomly divided into 12 equal groups. The experimental groups were given 0, 150, 300, and 450 trials of paired light and shock. The light control groups were given 0, 150, 300, and 450 trials of light. The pseudoconditioning groups were given 0, 150, 300, and 450 trials of unpaired light and shock. After their respective training procedures, all groups were given 25 extinction trials on 4 successive days. Analysis revealed that there was no significant difference among the groups.
The art of public space: curating and re-imagining the ephemeral city

Academic discussions about public space often form Edenic narratives, tracing the decline of both material and conceptual common spaces to their present lamentable state from some absolute or relat...
A Talent for Tinkering: Developing Talents in Children from Low-Income Households through Engineering Curriculum.

Guided by the theoretical framework of curriculum as a platform for talent development, this quasi-experimental field study investigated an intervention focused on engineering curriculum and curric...
Evaluating a Protocol Budget

Participating in clinical research is a very rewarding opportunity for the investigator and the patient, but it can be costly. Preparing an internal budget to determine your site costs can be daunting. Comparing your internal budget with that of the sponsoring organization can help remove any doubt about the ability of your site to participate successfully without loss of revenue for your company. But where do you start? This chapter is designed to guide you through the process of figuring your coordinator hourly rate, preparing your “per patient” budget, and estimating the fees to charge for “start-up” and on-going administrative activities required during your participation of any clinical trial.
Structural Features and Domain Movements Controlling Substrate Binding and Cofactor Specificity in Class II HMG-CoA Reductase.

The key mevalonate pathway enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR) uses the cofactor NAD(P)H to reduce HMG-CoA to mevalonate in the production of countless metabolites and natural products. Although inhibition of HMGR by statin drugs is well-understood, several mechanistic details of HMGR catalysis remain unresolved, and the structural basis for the wide range of cofactor specificity for either NADH or NADPH among HMGRs from different organisms is also unknown. Here, we present crystal structures of HMGR from Streptococcus pneumoniae (SpHMGR) alongside kinetic data of the enzyme’s cofactor preferences. Our structure of SpHMGR bound with its kinetically preferred NADPH cofactor suggests how NADPH-specific binding and recognition are achieved. In addition, our structure of HMG-CoA-bound SpHMGR reveals large, previously unknown conformational domain movements that may control HMGR substrate binding and enable cofactor exchange without intermediate release during the catalytic ...
Draft Genome Sequence of a Red-Pigmented Janthinobacterium sp. Native to the Hudson Valley Watershed

ABSTRACT Water samples from the Hudson Valley watershed indicate that the area is host to many violacein-producing bacterial isolates. Here, we report the draft whole-genome sequence of Janthinobacterium sp. strain BJB412, an isolate lacking violacein production yet containing genes responsible for prodigiosin, biofilm production, and quorum sensing, like its purple-pigmented counterparts.
Control of quasi-monoenergetic electron beams from laser-plasma accelerators with adjustable shock density profile

The injection physics in a shock-induced density down-ramp injector was characterized, demonstrating precise control of a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA). Using a jet-blade assembly, experiments systematically varied the shock injector profile, including shock angle, shock position, up-ramp width, and acceleration length. Our work demonstrates that beam energy, energy spread, and pointing can be controlled by adjusting these parameters. As a result, an electron beam that was highly tunable from 25 to 300 MeV with 8% energy spread (ΔEFWHM/E), 1.5 mrad divergence, and 0.35 mrad pointing fluctuation was produced. Particle-in-cell simulation characterized how variation in the shock angle and up-ramp width impacted the injection process. This highly controllable LPA represents a suitable, compact electron beam source for LPA applications such as Thomson sources and free-electron lasers.
Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities in Public Special Education: Alleviating Decades of Unequal Enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in New York City

After a long history of neglecting children with special needs, Congress enacted the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to grant every child with a qualifying disability the right to a free and appropriate public education. To ensure local compliance, the IDEA created a private right of action through which parents may sue their school district for failing to offer an adequate education for their child. If successful, these parents, may then send their child to a private school at the expense of their local government. Private enforcement of the IDEA has helped equalize educational opportunities for wealthy children whose parents can afford to commit to the financial, emotional, and physical costs of suing the government, but children of less affluent families who cannot afford to make similar commitments are often left behind when a school district fails to adhere to the IDEA’s mandate. As a result, large special educational disparities exist in segregated school districts between wealthy, predominantly white families and less affluent, predominantly non-white families. State and local governments have mostly limited their efforts to fully achieve the IDEA’s goal by implementing voucher programs, which allow only a handful of low-income children to enjoy the educational opportunities afforded to their wealthier peers. Under Mayor Bill De Blasio, New York City took a different approach and began settling most IDEA claims to effectively lower the procedural barrier for parents. Much like vouchers, however, De Blasio’s policy fails to address the underlying issue: The IDEA’s reliance on private enforcement will continue to fail those who historically have been deliberately excluded from the full social and economic benefits of white citizenship. State and local governments must go beyond tinkering with the accessibility of the private enforcement mechanism and instead invest financial resources to equalize educational opportunity through public enforcement of the IDEA. This Note assesses potential state and local policy reforms to secure expanded special education opportunity and discusses how New York City can begin to effectively lead in IDEA public enforcement.
Teaching NeuroImages: Evolving trans-synaptic degeneration of retinal ganglion cells after occipital lobe stroke.

A 59-year-old woman presented with acute left-sided visual field loss. A left homonymous hemianopia without a relative afferent pupillary defect and corresponding right occipital stroke on MRI were noted (figure). Optical coherence tomography of the macular retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) showed GCC loss corresponding to the area of visual field loss in the left eye first, 100 days later (figure). The left eye was affected earlier and to a greater degree, which is consistent with previous animal studies,1 and may be due to the larger temporal visual field and larger number of crossing fibers.2
Abstract 142: Use of Stroke Prevention Medications in Self-Reported Stroke/TIA: The REGARDS Study

Introduction: Guidelines recommend specific classes of medications for secondary stroke prevention. In this analysis we are interested in whether the use of antiplatelet, anticoagulant, anti-hypertensive, and lipid lowering medications differs by race and region among participants who self-reported stroke or TIA in a national, general population sample. Methods: Data were derived from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study, a national cohort study of 30,239 black and white participants aged 45+ enrolled between 2003 and 2007 from the 48 contiguous states, with over-sampling in the southeast region known as the stroke belt and buckle.A centralized phone interview was used for medical history and in-home evaluation for medication inventory. All medications used in the previous two weeks were recorded and subsequently coded into drug classes. The dataset was restricted to those with self-reported stroke (1930) or TIA (1114) at baseline. Chi-square tests were used to determine racial and regional (non-belt, belt, buckle) differences in the use of each medication classification, though indication or contraindication for treatment is unknown. Separate univariate logistic regression models were fit to assess the association between each medication class and race and region. Incremental models (demographics, SES factors, health behaviors, and co-morbidities) were then fitted to determine the impact of adding groups of covariates on the associations. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between each of race and region, and each medication class, were computed. Results: The results from the univariate and fully-adjusted models are presented in Table1. After multivariable adjustment, blacks were less likely than whites to report using antiplatelet and lipid-lowering medications, while the belt and buckle residents were more likely than non-belt residents to report antiplatelets. Table 1: Association between Medications and Race and Region, univariate and adjustment. (95% CI) Adjusted model includes demographics, SES, health behavior, and co-morbidities. Whites and non-belt region serve as reference for logistic regression models of race and region, respectively. Conclusions: These data indicate differential use of antiplatelet therapy by race and region, and lipid lowering therapy by race, in those self-reporting stroke/TIA, with differences in use of anticoagulant and antihypertensive medications accounted for by covariant adjustment. This suggests targeted interventions are needed following stroke/TIA.
Introduction to Curve and Edge Parametrization by Moments

Curve parametrization is the task of determining the parameters of a general curve equation describing a structure in an image (or a surface in a higher-dimensional dataset). A common example is the widespread use of the Hough transform to determine parameters of straight lines in an image. Moment-based methods offer an attractive alternative to Hough-type methods for this task, especially as the number of parameters or the dimension of the space increases. Moment-based methods require no large accumulator array, are computationally efficient, and robust with respect to pixelization and high-frequency noise. This paper presents an overview of the state of the art for moment-based curve parametrization techniques. We discuss both abstract mathematical results guaranteeing the existence of a unique curve corresponding to a given set of moment values and allowing determination of parameter values for specialized quadrature-domain boundary curves, along with broad practical reconstructive results for a wide class of curves and hypersurfaces with arbitrarily many parameters and in arbitrarily many dimensions. Examples show the methods applied to analytically-defined image functions, generated images, and real-world images.
Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying the Link Between Anxiety, Health Behaviors, and Illness Outcomes: Commentary on a Special Issue

This commentary synthesizes research examining cognitive mechanisms underlying the links between anxiety, health behaviors, and illness outcomes. We provide a brief summary of contributions to this special issue and review common themes and methodological limitations. Notably, a number of related constructs emerged as amplification factors, increasing vulnerability to psychopathology and maladaptive health behaviors. These include anxiety sensitivity, distress and discomfort intolerance, emotion regulation, health literacy, and repetitive negative thinking. Finally, we discuss clinical implications, and conclude with suggestions for further research in this area.
Underwater Dynamic Collapse of Sandwich Composite Structures

An experimental investigation is conducted to study the mechanics of underwater implosion of cylindrical bonded sandwich composite shells. Sandwich structures comprised of concentric carbon-fiber/epoxy shells with PVC foam cores of different densities are imploded in a large-diameter pressure vessel. High-speed photography in conjunction with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) measurements are employed to obtain full-field displacements of the dynamic collapse process. Local dynamic pressure histories are also simultaneously recorded to investigate fluid structure interaction during implosion. Observations of collapse mode, radial displacement and velocity of collapse, interaction between the concentric shells and the foam core and post-buckling failure sequence are made. Increasing foam core shear modulus linearly increases the experimental buckling pressures. Weaker growth of incipient modal deformations are understood to play a pivotal role in obtaining higher critical buckling pressures from bonded sandwich shells than previously studied unbonded sandwich constructions. Three dynamic collapse behaviors as determined by the relative orientation of collapse between the inner and outer shell are observed. Core foam density and imperfections also strongly influence the impulse, energy and pressure pulses released from the implosions.
An Introduction to Electronic Art Through the Teaching of Jacques Lacan : Strangest Thing

Electronic art offers endless opportunities for reflection and interpretation. Works can be interactive or entirely autonomous and the viewer's perception and reaction to them may be challenged by constantly transforming images. Whether the transformations are a product of the appearances or actions of a viewer in an installation space, or a product of a self-contained computer program, is a source of constant fascination. Some viewers may feel strange or unnerved by a work, while others may feel welcoming, humorous, and playful emotions. The art may also provoke a critical response to social, aesthetic, and political aspects of early twenty-first-century life. This book approaches electronic art through the teachings of Jacques Lacan, whose return to Freud has exerted a powerful and wide-ranging influence on psychoanalysis and critical theory in the twentieth century. David Bard-Schwarz draws on his experience with Lacanian psychoanalysis, music, and interactive and traditional arts in order to address aspects of the works the viewer may find difficult to understand. Dividing his approach over four thematic chapters—Bodies, Voices, Eyes, and Signifiers—Bard-Schwarz explores the links between works of new media and psychoanalysis (how we process what we see, hear, touch, imagine, and remember). This is a fascinating book for new media artists and critics, museum curators, psychologists, students in the fine arts, and those who are interested in digital technology and contemporary culture.
Consumer adaptation mediates top–down regulation across a productivity gradient

Humans have artificially enhanced the productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on a global scale by increasing nutrient loading. While the consequences of eutrophication are well known (e.g., harmful algal blooms and toxic cyanobacteria), most studies tend to examine short-term responses relative to the time scales of heritable adaptive change. Thus, the potential role of adaptation by organisms in stabilizing the response of ecological systems to such perturbations is largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that adaptation by a generalist consumer (Daphnia pulicaria) to toxic prey (cyanobacteria) mediates the response of plankton communities to nutrient enrichment. Overall, the strength of Daphnia’s top–down effect on primary producer biomass increased with productivity. However, these effects were contingent on prey traits (e.g., rare vs. common toxic cyanobacteria) and consumer genotype (i.e., tolerant vs sensitive to toxic cyanobacteria). Tolerant Daphnia strongly suppressed toxic cyanobacteria in nutrient-rich ponds, but sensitive Daphnia did not. In contrast, both tolerant and sensitive Daphnia genotypes had comparable effects on producer biomass when toxic cyanobacteria were absent. Our results demonstrate that organismal adaptation is critical for understanding and predicting ecosystem-level consequences of anthropogenic environmental perturbations.
Context-Enriched Identification of Particles with a Convolutional Network for Neutrino Events

Particle detectors record the interactions of subatomic particles and their passage through matter. The identification of these particles is necessary for in-depth physics analysis. While particles can be identified by their individual behavior as they travel through matter, the full context of the interaction in which they are produced can aid the classification task substantially. We have developed the first convolutional neural network for particle identification which uses context information. This is also the first implementation of a four-tower siamese-type architecture both for separation of independent inputs and inclusion of context information. The network classifies clusters of energy deposits from the $\mathrm{NOv}\mathrm{A}$ neutrino detectors as electrons, muons, photons, pions, and protons with an overall efficiency and purity of 83.3% and 83.5%, respectively. We show that providing the network with context information improves performance by comparing our results with a network trained without context information.
Reducing FDG dose for wholebody PET/CT: A simulation enhanced clinical validation trial

449 Objectives: To evaluate the clinical feasibility to reduce FDG dose in wholebody PET/CT considering that most standard of care (SOC) FDG doses in the US are above 10 mCi, while the FDA approval allows dosing as low as 5 mCi. To validate the ability to use dose reduction simulation of acquired higher doses using listmode data clipped reconstruction. Methods: Our institutional SOC FDG dose is 13 mCi for oncologic wholebody PET/CT and in this study was compared to a reduced 5 mCi FDG dose. Prior phantom and preclinical experiments established the feasibility and validated for those experiments that listmode data clipping can be used to simulate FDG dose reduction. Listmode data sets of 65 patients who were enrolled in investigational PET/CT trials and received SOC PET/CT were used for the simulation based assessment. 35 patients enrolled in investigational PET/CT trials received FDG doses of 5 mCi and had their investigational wholebody PET/CT scan performed using the same SOC timing and acquisition parameter. All PET imaging as performed on current technology and software level, time of flight PET/CT systems. To adjust for the 60% reduced count density, the low dose image reconstructions were performed using previously validated settings that were BMI adjusted. Extensive blinded multi-reader assessments were performed and the following criteria consistently assessed: Diagnostic level image quality, reader diagnostic confidence, noisiness of the data set, artefacts, acceptable as diagnostic PET exam, reader agreement (kappa statistics) and quantitatively by tissue ROI. For the simulation based assessment also a matched pair evaluation was also obtained. In order to confirm intra-reader consistency, a 20% blinded repeat read rate was included in the datasets. Results: All 35 low dose FDG wholebody PET/CT were rated diagnostic. Increased, but not diagnostic impacting noise was noted in 18 out of the 100 evaluable examinations correlating with higher patient BMI. The group comparison between the true low dose and simulated low dose showed statistical equivalence. While the noise level increased in the low dose images, it did not lead to substantial deterioration of the diagnostic readability. Lesion detectability or SUVmax quantified uptake intensity were not impacted. The simulation based dose reduced image data sets were able to correctly predict the true dose reduced PET scan and should be the preferable approach to predict dose reductions. Conclusions: A reduction to 5mCi FDG as the standard dose for oncologic whole body imaging using current technology time of flight PET/CT systems was shown to be feasible leading to a considerable patient and environmental dose reduction. A BMI based adjustment either with increased acquisition time or proportionally increased dose ensures consistent diagnostic visual and quantitative quality. Simulation based evaluations of dose reductions was shown to be fully predictive and will be an important tool for the optimization of PET pharmaceuticals.
On-Road and In-Vehicle Delivery of Service Signs: Effects of Information Source and Age:

In-vehicle technologies for communicating information to drivers have realized increasing use in recent years. While most attention has been paid to in-vehicle displays for presenting safety-relate...
Respiratory Distress and Abdominal Distension in an 8-Month-Old

Abstract An 8-month-old presented to a community hospital with respiratory distress, progressive abdominal distension, and emesis in the setting of fever and significant irritability. His illness course eventually progressed to requiring intubation and bedside exploratory laparotomy. He was subsequently diagnosed with abdominal compartment syndrome secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. The differential for abdominal distension in this age group is extensive, and the eventual diagnosis offers valuable teaching points in the management of the sick infant with abdominal distension.
Evidence-based treatment of cavernous sinus meningioma.

Background Cavernous sinus meningioma (CSM) causes gradual ophthalmoplegia and may eventually cause compression of the chiasma. The tumor is often histologically benign, slow growing, and seldom life threatening. Besides visual limitation, ophthalmoplegia causes emotional stress and disability. The tumor is commonly treated by operation, radiation, or both. While effective in varied degrees, the treatments, especially radical operation, are associated with unacceptable mortality and morbidity. The question remains as to what treatment approach is most conducive to longest survival with minimum disability. Methods In five patients, operation, radiotherapy, or both were based on presenting symptoms or delayed based on a doctor-patient decision, seeking the most desirable and suitable option that potentially offers longer life with less disability. Results Five patients were followed from over 2 to almost 5 decades: two patients are still alive, 25 and 28 years after craniotomy and radiation. One was treated conservatively for 15 years before requiring craniotomy and radiation. One was followed for 45 years without needing craniotomy or radiation, despite enlargement of the tumor. One was followed for 36 years after craniotomy. Patient did not have radiation. Craniotomy consisted of removing enough tumor to diminish symptoms without causing complications. There were no mortalities or complications. Conclusion The patient number is not large enough to make a broad conclusion. However, the individualized treatments and long follow-ups, together with detailed literature review, suggest that CSM requires individualized staged treatments based on each patient's condition. A period of "wait and see" before starting with either surgery or radiation treatment can benefit the patient.
A COMPARISON OF INTRAVENOUS IRON ADMINISTRATION IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS WITH OR WITHOUT MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT

Intravenous (IV) iron repletion has shown improvements in quality of life and functional class in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HfrEF) and iron deficiency. As a result, patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) routinely receive IV iron repletion. However,
Comparative study of oxygen-limited and methane-limited growth phenotypes of Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1

Abstract Methylomicrobium buryatense 5 GB1 has been identified as a promising biocatalyst for industrial methane conversion to produce value-added products. However, despite recent advancements in understanding the metabolism of 5 GB1, existing knowledge on the differences between oxygen-limited and methane-limited phenotypes is still limited. In this work, both batch and continuous experiments were carried out to systematically examine the strain’s oxygen-limited and methane-limited phenotypes. Total carbon balances were performed to ensure the obtained measurements of CH4 and O2 consumption rates and CO2 production rate were accurate. Our results showed that the feed gas composition alone does not dictate the strain’s growth phenotype. In order to achieve a desired phenotype, both feed gas composition and cell growth rate have to be controlled. In addition, contrary to the common belief that oxygen-limited conditions lead to increased production of organic compounds, our results suggest that it is the methane-limited condition that has higher yield for organic compounds. Knowledge of these differences could provide key understanding into how M. buryatense 5 GB1 regulate its carbon flow among different pathways under different growth conditions, which will provide the key insights for both mutant design and process design (e.g., culture conditions) for desired outcomes such as increased production of organic acids. Finally, using data collected in this work and those published in literature, we further validated a published genome-scale model under optimal growth condition. In addition, our results suggest that the current model lacks key metabolic routes to explain the surprisingly robust growth exhibited by the strain under wide substrate availability conditions.
REMARKS ON THE DECAYS χ'bJ→ωϒ

The recently observed by CLEO cascade decays ϒ(3S)→γχ'bJ→γωϒ are discussed. It is shown that within the nonrelativistic description of bottomonium in the heavy b quark limit, the ratio of the rates of the transitions χ'bJ→ωϒ with J = 1 and J = 2 should be given by the ratio of the corresponding S wave phase space factors. As a result, the rate of the observed cascade transitions through the χ'b2 resonance should be close to that through the χ'b1. It is suggested that the ratio of the discussed cascade rates can also be tested by measuring a simple angular correlation.
Rethinking Technique: Considering Visual, Oral, and Movement Literacy to Promote Technical Skill and Artistic Growth

Teaching dance technique in academic environments can be problematic in that many Western practices are rooted in traditions that contradict contemporary educational theory. This can create a disco...
Impact of Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status over Time on the Long-term Survival of Adolescent and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors.

Background: Although there are growing numbers of adolescent and young adult (AYA) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors, long-term overall survival (OS) patterns and disparities in this population are underreported. The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), rurality, diagnosis age, sex, and HL stage over time on long-term survival in AYA HL survivors. Methods: The authors used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry to identify survivors of HL diagnosed as AYAs (ages 15–39 years) between the years 1980 and 2009 and who were alive 5 years after diagnosis. An accelerated failure time model was used to estimate survival over time and compare survival between groups. Results: There were 15,899 5-year survivors of AYA HL identified, with a median follow-up of 14.4 years and range up to 33.9 years from diagnosis. Non-Hispanic black survivors had inferior survival compared with non-Hispanic white survivors [survival time ratio (STR): 0.71, P = 0.002]. Male survivors, older age at diagnosis, those diagnosed at higher stages, and those living in areas of higher SES deprivation had unfavorable long-term survival. There was no evidence of racial or sex-based survival disparities changing over time. Conclusions: Racial, SES, and sex-based disparities persist well into survivorship among AYA HL survivors. Impact: Disparities in long-term survival among AYA HL survivors show no evidence of improving over time. Studies investigating specific factors associated with survival disparities are needed to identify opportunities for intervention.
Conceptual Modeling of Concurrent Information Systems with General Morphisms of Petri Nets

Development of complex concurrent information systems is very often performed in top-down or bottom-up approach depending on design circumstances. Petri net morphisms have been proven to be useful in this process as long as certain desired structural and behavioral properties of such systems are preserved. In particular, for general morphisms of Petri nets, we study their structural and behavioral properties and we use Petri net model of Peterson’s mutual exclusion algorithm to illustrate a step-wise process of bottom-up abstraction.
Small-Signal and Low-Power Amplifiers

Amplifiers play a central role in electronics, in general, and are certainly of great interest to most guitarists. Amplifiers can serve several purposes. Usually the main function of an amplifier is to increase the amplitude of a signal. Other functions of an amplifier might be to buffer or isolate one device or section of a circuit from another, or perhaps to provide phase inversion. In this chapter we will examine some common small-signal amplifier circuits using bipolar and field effect transistors (FETs), as well as basic operational amplifier configurations.
Comparative Studies of Adaptive Responses of Fatty Acid Synthetase Activities in Rat Liver and Adipose Tissue

The specific activities of the fatty acid synthetases in the cytosolic fraction of livers and epididymal fat pads from fed, fasted or refed rats were determined. Refed rats received diets which provided, as the primary energy sources, sucrose or starch (75%) or both (59%) with beef tallow or safflower oil (16%) or the monosaccharide components (75%). From these determinations of fatty acid synthetase activity, the relative contribution of each tissue to the rat's overall lipogenic capacity was estimated. In rats fed a cereal-based stock diet ad libitum the adipose tissue accounted for 58% of total activity. During a 2-day fast the hepatic activity decreased from 14 units/100 g body weight to 2.7 units whereas the adipose tissue activity fell from 19 to 13.4 units/100 g body weight. At this time, 82.8% of the activity was in the latter tissue. After refeeding the sucrose diet for 2 days, the hepatic activity had increased 45-fold to 122.3 units/100 g body weight while the adipose tissue activity increased only 2.2-fold to 29.1 units, 19% of the total activity. We estimate that these adaptive responses deteriorate slowly (12.3 days, adipose tissue: 15.4 days, liver) with continued refeeding to the levels present in rats fed the cereal-based stock diet. Activation of residual or constituative enzyme was the major factor in the adipose tissue response whereas activation and induction played roles in the hepatic response. Responses to the refeeding of the other diets were of lesser magnitude. Generally our estimates based on fatty acids synthetase activities are consistent with other estimates based on radiolabel incorporation, NADPH generation and rate-limiting enzyme activities.
Clinical teleconferencing: bringing the patient to the classroom.

Problem The confidence to act on clinical judgment, ask for help, and juggle multiple competing priorities is best developed within a clinical setting. Traditional classroom learning, which is often static, does not support learning these skills or help new students learn how to "be" a nurse. Student nurses need frequent and repeated exposure to expert nurses and clinical environments. Traditional teaching methods may not be sufficient to meet these needs. Method This project employs a strategy that supplies situated, context-driven learning with the aim of improving clinical reasoning by bringing real-world, real-time clinical scenarios into the classroom via audio conferencing. This classroom teaching strategy is based on the principles of learner-centered teaching, and the aim is to incorporate real-world clinical information into the classroom. Students are introduced to "real-time report" from special care areas as the basis for class activities and discussion. Findings Feedback on this model was sought through course evaluation data, focus groups with students, and participating nurses. NCLEX pass rate remained unchanged as a result of this teaching strategy. Conclusion In this model, the classroom changes from being a physical place where knowledge is acquired to a place where knowledge is translated from and applied to practice.
Eosinophils in Asthma: Remodeling a Tangled Tale

The prevalence of allergic asthma in the developed world has spurred efforts to understand the pathogenesis of this debilitating disease, but there is much confusion and controversy. One of the biggest debates is the involvement of eosinophils, which are found at sites of airway inflammation. In their Perspective, Wills-Karp and Karp discuss the work of two groups, that have independently generated mice that lack eosinophils ( Humbles et al.; Lee et al.). Although many of their findings seem to conflict, the two studies do agree that eosinophils contribute to clinical asthma.
Letter by Nairooz et al Regarding Article, "Improved Quality of Life After 1 Year With an Invasive Versus a Noninvasive Treatment Strategy in Claudicants: One-Year Results of the Invasive Revascularization or Not in Intermittent Claudication (IRONIC) Trial".

We read with great interest the article by Nordanstig et al.1 This randomized trial compared percutaneous and surgical revascularization with structured unsupervised exercise for claudication pain and peripheral artery disease. We commend the authors on their work. However, we believe the following issues should be clarified: 1. Comparison of percutaneous and surgical revascularization with unsupervised structured exercise program is of concern. The 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline update states that the usefulness of unsupervised exercise programs is not well established as an effective initial treatment modality for intermittent claudication (class IIb), whereas supervised exercise training has a class I recommendation.2 …