cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Pafah1b Complex Interacts With the Reelin Receptor VLDLR

Reelin is an extracellular protein that directs the organization of cortical structures of the brain through the activation of two receptors, the very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) and the apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2), and the phosphorylation of Disabled-1 (Dab1). Lis1, the product of the Pafah1b1 gene, is a component of the brain platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b (Pafah1b) complex, and binds to phosphorylated Dab1 in response to Reelin. Here we investigated the involvement of the whole Pafah1b complex in Reelin signaling and cortical layer formation and found that catalytic subunits of the Pafah1b complex, Pafah1b2 and Pafah1b3, specifically bind to the NPxYL sequence of VLDLR, but not to ApoER2. Compound Pafah1b1+/−;Apoer2−/− mutant mice exhibit a reeler-like phenotype in the forebrain consisting of the inversion of cortical layers and hippocampal disorganization, whereas double Pafah1b1+/−;Vldlr−/− mutants do not. These results suggest that a cross-talk between the Pafah1b complex and Reelin occurs downstream of the VLDLR receptor.
EFFECT OF SEVERAL POLYMERS ON THE PHASE BEHAVIOR OF MICELLAR FLUIDS.

The authors made static measurements of the phase volumes of mixtures of surfactant, polymer, alcohol, water, oil, sodium chloride, and in some cases polymer additives. They also made a limited number of viscosity, phase concentration, and interfacial tension (IFT) measurements. The purpose was to determine systematically the effect of various polymers on the phase behavior of various surfactant formulations. The authors made measurements with and without oil (n-octane and n-octane/benzene mixtures) across a range of salinity appropriate to the particular surfactant at temperatures between 24 and 75/sup 0/C.
Impact of Bangasternus orientalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Achene Production of Centaurea solstitialis (Asterales: Asteraceae) at a Low and High Elevation Site in California

The efficacy of Bangasternus orientalis Capiomont against its host Centaurea solstitialis L. was determined at two different sites (low and high elevation) in California over a 2-yr period. Host plant and weevil phenology were delayed at the high elevation site. Consequently, the initiation of secondary flower buds (high elevation site) was extended well into November, long after the ovipositing adult weevil population had expired. More than 50% of the egg-bearing test heads did not become infested with mature pupae because of larval mortality. After seed reduction by the weevil, 70% of the seeds remained in the test heads. Our data suggest that B. orientalis appears to be ineffective by itself as a biological control agent of yellow starthistle in California.
A Generalization of a Result of Barrucand and Cohn on Class Numbers

Abstract In this paper we use Redei′s work on the class groups of quadratic number fields to generalize a result of Barrucand and Cohn on the structure of the class group of Q [formula] where P is the product of primes congruent to 1 mod 4.
Irbesartan and lipoic acid improve endothelial function and reduce markers of inflammation in the metabolic syndrome: results of the Irbesartan and Lipoic Acid in Endothelial Dysfunction (ISLAND) study.

Background— The metabolic syndrome is associated with increased angiotensin II activity, induction of a proinflammatory and oxidative state, and endothelial dysfunction. We evaluated the ability of irbesartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, and lipoic acid, an antioxidant, to affect endothelial function and inflammation in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Methods and Results— We randomized 58 subjects with the metabolic syndrome in a double-blinded manner to irbesartan 150 mg/d (n=14), lipoic acid 300 mg/d (n=15), both irbesartan and lipoic acid (n=15), or matching placebo (n=14) for 4 weeks. Endothelium-dependent and -independent flow-mediated vasodilation was determined under standard conditions. Plasma levels of interleukin-6, plasminogen activator-1, and 8-isoprostane were measured. After 4 weeks of therapy, endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery was increased by 67%, 44%, and 75% in the irbesartan, lipoic acid, and irbesartan plus lipoic acid groups, respective...
A comparison of two methods for analyzing longitudinal data: Tuckerized growth curves and an application of K means analysis

Abstract Two longitudinal statistical methods are illustrated and compared. The first method, Tuckerized growth curve analysis (TGCA), is an extension of factor analysis, while the second method is an extension of K means analysis (KMA), a clustering technique. Both techniques make few assumptions of data and are useful for examining growth or change in longitudinal data. The two statistical methods are described and illustrated with group counseling data. The relative strengths and weaknesses of each technique are discussed.
Integrating an internet-mediated walking program into family medicine clinical practice: a pilot feasibility study

Regular participation in physical activity can prevent many chronic health conditions. Computerized self-management programs are effective clinical tools to support patient participation in physical activity. This pilot study sought to develop and evaluate an online interface for primary care providers to refer patients to an Internet-mediated walking program called Stepping Up to Health (SUH) and to monitor participant progress in the program. In Phase I of the study, we recruited six pairs of physicians and medical assistants from two family practice clinics to assist with the design of a clinical interface. During Phase II, providers used the developed interface to refer patients to a six-week pilot intervention. Provider perspectives were assessed regarding the feasibility of integrating the program into routine care. Assessment tools included quantitative and qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews, surveys, and online usage logs. In Phase I, 13 providers used SUH and participated in two interviews. Providers emphasized the need for alerts flagging patients who were not doing well and the ability to review participant progress. Additionally, providers asked for summary views of data across all enrolled clinic patients as well as advertising materials for intervention recruitment. In response to this input, an interface was developed containing three pages: 1) a recruitment page, 2) a summary page, and 3) a detailed patient page. In Phase II, providers used the interface to refer 139 patients to SUH and 37 (27%) enrolled in the intervention. Providers rarely used the interface to monitor enrolled patients. Barriers to regular use of the intervention included lack of integration with the medical record system, competing priorities, patient disinterest, and physician unease with exercise referrals. Intention-to-treat analyses showed that patients increased walking by an average of 1493 steps/day from pre- to post-intervention (t = (36) = 4.13, p < 0.01). Providers successfully referred patients using the SUH provider interface, but were less willing to monitor patient compliance in the program. Patients who completed the program significantly increased their step counts. Future research is needed to test the effectiveness of integrating SUH with clinical information systems over a longer evaluation period.
Memantine in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Memantine is a moderate-affinity glutamate antagonist that primarily takes action at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor site. It has US FDA and European Medicines Agency approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine replaces Mg2+ at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, blocking pathological glutamate activity but allowing normal glutamate action at this site. Consequently, calcium homeostasis is better maintained, reducing slow after hyperpolarization and preventing neuronal excitotoxicity and cell death. Clinical trials have shown that memantine is generally safe and well tolerated, and have provided evidence for its efficacy as assessed by cognitive, behavioral, functional and global measures. It has also been shown to be well tolerated and effective in the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease when patients received previous and ongoing treatment with donepezil. The tolerability and efficacy of memantine is under continued investigation in milder Alzheimer’s...
Image Intensification Fluoroscopy With Automatic Brightness Control

I appreciate the opportunity to chair this panel discussion and to introduce members of the panel. The topic for discussion is one of growing importance as automatic brightness control circuits are incorporated into an increasing number of image intensification fluoroscopic units. As most of you know, these circuits work by monitoring the brightness of the output phosphor of the intensifier or the current flowing from photocathode to anode in the intensifier, and using the resulting signal to adjust the tube voltage (kVp), tube current (mA), or tube voltage pulse width to maintain the output phosphor image at constant brightness. Automatic brightness control circuits are useful for routine fluoroscopy and essential if uniform densities are to be obtained from one frame to the next in cinefluorography. With the advent of 105 mm photospot filming as a replacement for conventional spot films, automatic brightness control circuits are being used in place of phototimers to obtain images of desired density.© (1975) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mining association rules in text databases using multipass with inverted hashing and pruning

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm named multipass with inverted hashing and pruning (MIHP) for mining association rules between words in text databases. The characteristics of text databases are quite different from those of retail transaction databases, and existing mining algorithms cannot handle text databases efficiently because of the large number of itemsets (i.e., words) that need to be counted. Two well-known mining algorithms, the apriori algorithm and the direct hashing and pruning (DHP) algorithm, are evaluated in the context of mining text databases, and are compared with the proposed MIHP algorithm. It has been shown that the MIHP algorithm performs better for large text databases.
Dietary taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy in the fox

Taurine deficiency has been implicated as a potential cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the relationship between taurine and myocardial function is presently unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dilated cardiomyopathy in the fox is associated with dietary taurine deficiency. A total of 68 foxes from farms with a history of death caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and 14 foxes from a farm with no history of dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. Dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed by echocardiography in 48% of the foxes from one farm with a positive history and in none of the foxes from the control farm. Foxes less than 9 months of age were more commonly affected than older foxes (p = 0.03). Plasma taurine concentrations were significantly less (p less than 0.01) in foxes that had dilated cardiomyopathy (26.8 +/- 16.4 nmol/ml) than in the control foxes (99.3 +/- 60.2 nmol/ml). A significantly higher (p less than 0.01) incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy was present in foxes with a history of a sibling or offspring that died of dilated cardiomyopathy than in foxes without a family history of cardiac death. In one fox with dilated cardiomyopathy that was tested, the myocardial taurine concentration was lower (1.7 mumol/gm wet weight) than that of control foxes (7.3 +/- 1.6 mumol/gm wet weight). Hepatic cysteinesulfinic acid decarboxylase activity was significantly less (p less than 0.001) in foxes with dilated cardiomyopathy (0.97 +/- 0.2 nmol/mm.mg protein) than in control foxes (2.11 +/- 0.07 nmol CO2/mm.mg protein).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Information sharing and privacy protection of terrorist or criminal social networks

Terrorist or criminal social network analysis is helpful for intelligence and law enforcement force in investigation. However, individual agency usually has part of the complete terrorist or criminal social network and therefore some crucial knowledge is not able to be extracted. Sharing information between different agencies will make such social network analysis more effective; unfortunately, it may violate the privacy of some sensitive information. There is always a tradeoff between the degree of privacy and the degree of utility in information sharing. Several approaches have been proposed to resolve such dilemma in sharing data from different relational tables. There is not any work on sharing social networks from different sources and yet try to minimize the reduction on the degree of privacy. In this paper, we propose a subgraph generalization approach for information sharing and privacy protection of terrorist or criminal social networks. Our experiment shows that such approach is promising.
Technology, Training, and Transformation

As advances in technology transform society, so must it transform how people interact with that technology. However, technology advances much faster than do society and people. Most people don't care how the technology works-they care only that it does work. Current models are unsatisfactory because people must understand more of the underlying technology than is needed to perform their jobs. The view of this evolution explored here proposes that the training and maintenance will rest in the hands of the vendors and service personnel and not the average user. Perhaps this is heretical, given the proposals for improved "security awareness" and similar educational programs.
Segmentation of trabeculated structures using an anisotropic Markov random field: application to the study of the optic nerve head in glaucoma

The study of the architecture of the optic nerve head (ONH) may provide valuable information about the development and progression of glaucoma. To this end, we have generated three-dimensional datasets from monkey eyes under controlled intraocular pressure (IOP). Segmentation of the connective tissues in this area is crucial to obtain an accurate measurement of geometrical parameters and to build mechanical models. However, this segmentation is made difficult by the complicated geometry and the artifacts introduced in the dataset building process. We present a novel segmentation algorithm, based on expectation-maximization, which incorporates an anisotropic Markov random field (MRF) to introduce prior knowledge about the geometry of the structure. The structure tensor is used to characterize the predominant structure direction and the spatial coherence at each point. The algorithm, which has been validated on an artificial validation dataset that mimics our ONH datasets, shows significant improvement over an isotropic MRF. Results on the real datasets demonstrate the ability of the new algorithm to obtain accurate, spatially consistent segmentations of this structure.
Laminar organization and age-related loss of cholinergic receptors in temporal neocortex of rhesus monkey

Using in vitro receptor autoradiography, the distributions of cholinergic muscarinic [3H-N-methyl scopolamine (NMS), 3H-pirenzepine (PZ), and 3H-oxotremorine-M (OXO-M)] and nicotinic [3H-acetylcholine (ACh)] receptors were mapped in the temporal cortices of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) ranging from 2-22 years of age. Although high-affinity 3H-PZ, low-affinity 3H-NMS binding (M1 sites) and high-affinity 3H-OXO- M, high-affinity 3H-NMS binding (M2 sites) occurred across all layers of the temporal neocortex, the laminar distribution of M1 and M2 receptor binding sites was different. M1 muscarinic receptor binding was concentrated in layers II and III, whereas M2 muscarinic receptor binding was greatest in layers IV and V. The concentration of both muscarinic (M1 and M2) and nicotinic receptor binding sites declined with increasing age, and decrements were uniform across all cortical layers. This investigation provides evidence for a decrease in cholinergic receptor binding with age in temporal cortices of rhesus monkeys. Moreover, these changes appear to precede previously reported age-associated memory deficits and neuropathological changes that occur in this species.
Entropic Graph Regularization in Non-Parametric Semi-Supervised Classification

We prove certain theoretical properties of a graph-regularized transductive learning objective that is based on minimizing a Kullback-Leibler divergence based loss. These include showing that the iterative alternating minimization procedure used to minimize the objective converges to the correct solution and deriving a test for convergence. We also propose a graph node ordering algorithm that is cache cognizant and leads to a linear speedup in parallel computations. This ensures that the algorithm scales to large data sets. By making use of empirical evaluation on the TIMIT and Switchboard I corpora, we show this approach is able to outperform other state-of-the-art SSL approaches. In one instance, we solve a problem on a 120 million node graph.
Pharmacodynamic effect of clinical vancomycin exposures on cell wall thickness in heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

Methods: In an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model, we simulated 125–2000 mg of vancomycin every 12 h ( f AUC/MIC 24 –225) over a 72 h period against three clinical hVISA and two standard control S. aureus strains. Pharmacodynamic activity, susceptibility and resistance populations were assessed, and CWT was determined at the end of the exposure. Results: Bactericidal activity occurred in hVISA only with vancomycin f AUC/MIC ≥164 exposures, but regrowth occurred after 24 h, regardless of initial activity. Following vancomycin exposure, CWT correlated with MIC increases (r ¼ 0.66; P,0.0001). A significant increase in CWT occurred in hVISA with any vancomycin simulation, including the high-dose f AUC/MIC 225 regimen (24.4% increase in hVISA versus 3.3% with control; P,0.001). Any vancomycin exposure in two of the three hVISA strains resulted in isolates with MICs ≥3 mg/L and as high as 8 mg/L, which corresponded with a more resistant VISA population profile. Conclusions: High-dose vancomycin exposures in hVISA cannot prevent cell wall thickening, but prudent therapeutic strategies including treatment doses ≥1500 mg every 12 h (AUC/MIC ≥364) in conjunction with avoidance of long-term vancomycin exposure may avert further reduced susceptibility.
Analytical analysis of transient and steady-state properties of the proportionate NLMS algorithm

Using reasonable approximations we do analytical analysis of properties of the proportionate normalized least mean square algorithm (PNLMS) in the case of white and stationary input signal. This work extends ideas applied to the simplified-PNLMS algorithm to the PNLMS algorithm. In particular, the analysis incorporates the max function employed by the PNLMS algorithm which is not present in the simplified-PNLMS algorithm. The properties of the PNLMS are predicted for both the transient and steady state. An expression for the mean weight deviation in steady state is also presented. Theoretical expectations are compared with results obtained by numerical simulations.
Get with the guidelines

This editorial refers to ‘Inappropriate use of antiarrhythmic drugs in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation in a large contemporary international survey: insights from RealiseAF’ by C.-E. Chiang et al ., on page 1733. That clinicians fail to follow practice guidelines and consensus statements as provided by established clinical societies of note is not new, and not really a surprise. For treatment of atrial fibrillation patients, that not only means failing to follow the guidelines on the use of antiarrhythmic drug therapy, the subject of the paper by Chiang et al .,1 but also on the use of anticoagulant therapy and catheter/surgical ablation therapy, as well.1 Nevertheless, for patients with atrial fibrillation, the RealiseAF (REAl LIfe global Survey Evaluating patients with Atrial Fibrillation) data are important and informative, and provide an opportunity to offer some clinical perspective. At the outset, we must always remember that the guidelines are just guides, not laws. Although guidelines from professional medical societies are almost always well and carefully thought out, and should serve as an excellent guide to therapy, we must accept the fact that there will be instances when either the guidelines do not apply, or patient's circumstances understandably create reasons to deviate from the guidelines. However, to the point of this commentary, the RealiseAF data provide an opportunity to put some context into the application of guidelines regarding the use of antiarrhythmic drug therapy in pursuit of a rhythm control strategy. Specific to the atrial …
Isotone Galois connections and concept lattices with hedges

We study isotone fuzzy Galois connections and concept lattices parameterized by truth-stressing hedges. Isotone fuzzy Galois connections and concept lattices provide an alternative to antitone fuzzy Galois connections and concept lattices which are the foundational structures for formal concept analysis of data with fuzzy attributes. We demonstrate that hedges enable us to control the number of fixed points of Galois connections, i.e. collections of objects and attributes which represent interesting clusters in data. In addition, we present properties of isotone connections with hedges, including their axiomatization, and describe the structure of the associated concept lattices.
Design and Verification of Loosely Coupled Inter-Organizational Workflows with Multi-Level Security

Inter-Organizational Workflows (IOWF) become important as they provide solution for data sharing, heterogeneity in resources and work coordination at global level. However, a secured computing infrastructure like Multilevel Security (MLS) is needed to support today’s vast businesses. In this paper Message Sequence Charts (MSC) are used to specify the positive and negative interactions between cooperating organizations. Petri nets are used to model the workflows in each organization. IOWF is obtained by combining Message Sequence Charts (MSC) and workflows of local organizations. We present an algorithm to incorporate MLS features into IOWFs using Bell-LaPadula security model. In this model security labels of subject and object are verified before the subject can access the object. The algorithm reduces the workflows of participating organizations using the reduction rules while preserving the communication patterns between organizations. We also present an algorithm to identify implicit places in the IOWF with MLS features. Our method and algorithms are illustrated by a running example.
Addressing Scientific Challenges for Air Quality Forecasting: International Workshop on Air Quality Forecasting Research; Boulder, Colorado, 2–3 December 2009

The past decade has seen explosive growth of emissions- based air quality (AQ) forecasting from a fledgling enterprise practiced by a few dedicated groups to a global network of daily AQ forecasts provided on local to global scales. These forecasts are used by health, environmental, and meteorological agencies in a host of AQ-related services. The provision of daily operational AQ forecasts, however, comes with challenges different from those faced by the weather forecasting or regulatory AQ modeling communities. A loosely knit group of practitioners has worked to address these scientific challenges, resulting in improvements to AQ forecast skill and reliability over time.
Magneto-dielectric and magnetic anisotropy maxima in γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposite

The temperature dependence of the magneto-dielectric (MD) response in polycrystalline γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticulates embedded in an epoxy resin has been experimentally investigated. A maximum in the MD coefficient (~9%) occurs at ~200 K, which is well below its Curie point (Tc ~ 948 K) and blocking temperature (TB = 310 K). The law of approach to saturation technique was used to measure the effective magnetic anisotropy KE over a broad temperature range. A maximum in the effective magnetic anisotropy appears at ~200 K. The correlation between the maxima in K E and MD suggests that magnetic anisotropy may play a role in designing improved magneto-dielectric coupling in single-phase magnetic materials at the nanoscale.
Estimation and mutual information

An additive Gaussian channel is considered where there are a stochastic signal and a fractional Gaussian noise. The fractional Gaussian noise is the formal derivative of a fractional Brownian motion with the Hurst parameter in the interval (1/2, 1). These processes have a long range dependence and seem to be meaningful models for many physical phenomena. For this communication channel, it is shown that the mutual information between the signal and the channel output can be explicitly expressed as an estimation error. This result generalizes naturally the corresponding result when the noise is white Gaussian.
Postfire Succession in Big Sagebrush Steppe With Livestock Grazing

Prescribed fire in rangeland ecosystems is applied for a variety of management objectives, including enhancing productivity of forage species for domestic livestock. In the big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) steppe of the western United States, fire has been a natural and prescribed disturbance, temporarily shifting vegetation from shrub–grass codominance to grass dominance. There is limited information on the impacts of grazing to community dynamics following fire in big sagebrush steppe. This study evaluated cattle grazing impacts over four growing seasons after prescribed fire on Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. Wyomingensis [Beetle & Young] Welsh) steppe in eastern Oregon. Treatments included no grazing on burned and unburned sagebrush steppe, two summer-grazing applications after fire, and two spring-grazing applications after fire. Treatment plots were burned in fall 2002. Grazing trials were applied from 2003 to 2005. Vegetation dynamics in the treatments were evaluated by quantifying herbaceous canopy cover, density, annual yield, and perennial grass seed yield. Seed production was greater in the ungrazed burn treatments than in all burn–grazed treatments; however, these differences did not affect community recovery after fire. Other herbaceous response variables (cover, density, composition, and annual yield), bare ground, and soil surface litter did not differ among grazed and ungrazed burn treatments. All burn treatments (grazed and ungrazed) had greater herbaceous cover, herbaceous standing crop, herbaceous annual yield, and grass seed production than the unburned treatment by the second or third year after fire. The results demonstrated that properly applied livestock grazing after low-severity, prescribed fire will not hinder the recovery of herbaceous plant communities in Wyoming big sagebrush steppe.
Roles of quantum nuclei and inhomogeneous screening in the x-ray absorption spectra of water and ice

We calculate the x-ray absorption spectra of liquid water under ambient conditions and of hexagonal ice close to melting, using a static GW approach that includes approximately inhomogeneous screening effects. Quantum dynamics of the nuclei is taken into account by averaging the absorption cross section over molecular configurations generated by path integral simulations. We find that the inclusion of quantum disorder is essential to bring the calculated spectra in close agreement with experiment. In particular, the intensity of the pre-edge feature, a spectral signature of broken and distorted hydrogen bonds, is accurately reproduced, in water and ice, only when quantum nuclei are considered. The effect of the inhomogeneous screening is less important but non-negligible, particularly in ice.
Anticogging: Torque ripple suppression, modeling, and parameter selection

Smooth motion is critical to some robotic applications such as haptics or those requiring high precision force control. These systems are often direct-drive, so any torque ripple in the motor output must be minimal. Unfortunately, low-torque ripple motors are expensive. Low cost brushless direct current motors are becoming more prevalent, especially from the hobby remote control community. These motors often have the required high-torque density; however, they also have significant torque ripple. This paper presents a low cost method for anticogging, the compensation of cogging torque. While other methods exist to compensate for current-based torque ripple (mutual or reluctance torque), none have addressed cogging torque, except by adding expensive force sensors. This paper presents two methods that use a position sensor (already present for servo motors) to map cogging torque to rotor position. The map is played back according to position reported from the sensor to cancel the cogging torque. The design ...
Thermal performance of recycled aggregate mortar

When investigating the applicability of different materials for construction it is prudent to ensure that the materials used in replacement exhibit comparable performance to the natural material being replaced. This study uses a thermal conductivity analyser to determine the thermal conductivity and effusivity of standard normal weight masonry sand mortar specimens and several recycled and lightweight aggregates mortar specimens. R-values for each of the test mortars and the control mortar made with masonry sand was calculated with the control having the lowest R-value of the mortars tested. The results showed that replacing masonry sand mortar with any of the other mortars tested reduced the effect of thermal bridging through the mortar joint.
The selective placement of cardiacs in industry; an analysis of experience at a large refinery.

(1958). The Selective Placement of Cardiacs in Industry. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 372-378.
Phase-Conversion Nanoparticle Contrast Agents: Do Good Things Come in Small Packages?

Ultrasound contrast agents composed of encapsulated microbubbles are now widely used in many parts of the world for an array of clinical applications. During diagnostic echocardiography, contrast agents are used to better delineate endocardial borders and intracavitary masses. Echocardiographic laboratories that have specialized skill and knowledge can also apply commercially produced microbubble contrast agents in an off-label fashion for myocardial perfusion imaging to detect rest or stress-induced ischemia in coronary artery disease, microvascular reflow, tissue viability, and tumor perfusion. See Article by Porter et al The ultrasound contrast agents that have been used in humans vary in terms of their composition, including the content of their gas core (perfluorocarbons, SF6) although all are high-molecular weight gases with relatively low solubility and diffusivity to improve stability in vivo.1 There are also differences in encapsulation strategy (albumin, lipid), although a common thread has been that the viscoelastic properties must be appropriate to allow nonlinear oscillation even during low mechanical index (MI) imaging.1 Commercially produced agents also vary in terms of size and size dispersion. It is important that the vast majority of microbubbles be smaller than the dimensions of the microvessels through which they travel, and yet, very small (sub-micron) bubbles are less stable because of surface tension and contribute relatively little to signal enhancement. In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Porter et al2 report results from a collaborative study where signal enhancement during myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was examined with a novel phase-shifting nanodroplet. This class of agents differ from microbubbles in that they are almost an order of magnitude smaller in diameter, have a predominately liquid-phase core, and require activation whereby diameter increases upon conversion of the core to gas phase (vaporization) during the pressure oscillations of the acoustic field.3 By virtue of …
Late orbital implant migration

A 29-year-old woman underwent two orbital explorations in 12 years after orbital floor fracture repair with placement of a silicone implant. Recurrent diplopia, proptosis, and pain developed, suggesting an insidious orbital process. Computed tomography findings were instrumental in the patient's diagnostic evaluation.
Generation of synthetic UHF RFI in urban North American environments

Conventional models for representing power spectral densities in the UHF band, and their corresponding co-variance matrices, fall short in characterizing the statistical properties and other features for both the noise and signal bands. This leaves algorithm designers limited resources to perform realistic Monte Carlo analysis. In this paper, we develop a practical technique to generate unique instantiations of UHF radio frequency interference in urban North American environments. Our approach involves use of a two-state Markov chain to represent the allocation of signal and noise bands, which we further modify with statistically representative amplitude properties. Two models are developed and compared against multiple measurement sets that show improvement upon conventional models in the Kullback-Leilber divergence.
Distinctive Bone Disks from Utah Valley: Evidence of Basketmaker Connections in North Central Utah

ABSTRACTThe discovery of distinctive bone disks in central Utah similar to and contemporary with specimens from the Four Corners area argues for cultural connections between these regions during the Basketmaker period. Archaeologists have long debated the cultural processes that might explain the onset of farming north of the Virgin-Colorado Rivers in Utah. Although there is no dispute that maize farming derived from the Southwest, the question of whether indigenous peoples adopted ideas and seeds or Southwestemers moved north remains unresolved. While these enigmatic artifacts do not provide proof of migration, they are evidence that cultural connections resulted in the movement of social and ideological elements as well as farming techniques and products.
The Protestant Ethic and Modern Western Pornographic Fiction

There are, Susan Sontag (1967, 35) once asserted, at least three pornographies — pornography as an item in social history, pornography as a psychological phenomenon, and pornography as a “modality or convention” within the arts — and “no one should undertake a discussion of any pornography before acknowledging all three and pledging to take them on one at a time.” I acknowledge the first two and, with caveats, the third, and I do take them on one at a time, though not quite in that order. I begin with the first, then take on the third, and finally engage the second. Like Sontag, I narrow my focus to literary pornography, but not in the way she does. She addresses only pornography that in her view qualifies as literary art. This category, I shall argue, is empty,1 although I would not deny that a given literary work may contain both some art and some pornography or that pornography may be artfully done. But artfulness does not make a work literary art. The pornography I shall be addressing is the pornographic narrative fiction of the modern West (hereafter, unless otherwise indicated, often modern pornographic fiction or simply pornographic fiction).
Teaching computing for everyone

In 1961, Alan Perlis argued that computer science should be considered part of a liberal education, and everyone on campus should learn to program. His argument centered on the value of computing as a new kind of scholarship, in the way that computational scientists create and test models using computing. Today, the ubiquity of computing in modern lives, and the need for technology concepts and skills to be globally competitive, make even stronger arguments for teaching everyone about computing. But let's consider this seriously: Could we as CS educators teach everyone about computing? Our track record isn't good -- we have declining enrollments in our majors and declining retention for those students who do take our classes. At Georgia Tech, we have a computing requirement for everyone on campus. Today, we retain almost everyone who takes our introductory classes, but we've had to learn to change what and how we teach in order to make computing into something relevant for everyone. This talk will review what we learned at Georgia Tech and how similar approaches are being adopted and adapted at other universities.
Exploring determinants of meeting planners’ commitment to the business relationships with destination management companies

Although there is a demand for research on a business-to-business relationship between meeting planners and destination management companies, the current hospitality and tourism literature is insuf...
Jurisprudence of the New Anti-Semitism

What is wrong with the new anti-Semitism which is now resurgent across the globe, including on American college campuses? The question is deceptively simple, but it carries considerable resonance. Numerous governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, scholars, and civil rights practitioners have documented the dangers inherent in anti-Semitism's recent manifestations, both globally and on United States college campuses. Yet many critics still deny its existence, severity, newness, anti-Semitism, or difference from mere criticism of Israeli policies. Moreover, some argue that it is a stratagem devised to silence opposition to these policies. For this reason, it is necessary to demonstrate that persons subjected to the new anti-Semitism are harmed in a manner which should be cognizable to the law. Specifically, it must be shown how some incidents of the new anti-Semitism, which may appear to target Israel rather than individual Jews as such, nevertheless constitute prohibited forms of discrimination against Jewish Americans. Under the conventional rubrics, the question amounts to whether the new anti-Semitism abrogates anti-differentiation or anti-subordination principles. Ultimately, the answer will turn on the extent to which this new phenomenon demeans Jews, encourages anti-Jewish prejudice, and derogates Jews as morally inferior. This Article argues that the new Anti-Semitism achieves these results in part through reracialization processes which stigmatize Jews as morally blameworthy and which mark them for reprisal.
Image-guided smart laser system for precision implantation of cells in cartilage

State-of-the-art treatment for joint diseases like osteoarthritis focus on articular cartilage repair/regeneration by stem cell implantation therapy. However, the technique is limited by a lack of precision in the physician’s imaging and cell deposition toolkit. We describe a novel combination of high-resolution, rapid scan-rate optical coherence tomography (OCT) alongside a short-pulsed nanosecond thulium (Tm) laser for precise cell seeding in cartilage. The superior beam quality of thulium lasers and wavelength of operation 1940 nm offers high volumetric tissue removal rates and minimizes the residual thermal footprint. OCT imaging enables targeted micro-well placement, precise cell deposition, and feature contrast. A bench-top system is constructed using a 15 W, 1940 nm, nanosecond-pulsed Tm fiber laser (500 μJ pulse energy, 100 ns pulse duration, 30kHz repetition rate) for removing tissue, and a swept source laser (1310 ± 70 nm, 100 kHz sweep rate) for OCT imaging, forming a combined Tm/OCT system – a “smart laser knife”. OCT assists the smart laser knife user in characterizing cartilage to inform micro-well placement. The Tm laser creates micro-wells (2.35 mm diameter length, 1.5 mm width, 300 μm deep) and micro-incisions (1 mm wide, 200 μm deep) while OCT image-guidance assists and demonstrates this precision cutting and cell deposition with real-time feedback. To test micro-well creation and cell deposition protocol, gelatin phantoms are constructed mimicking cartilage optical properties and physiological structure. Cell viability is then assessed to illustrate the efficacy of the hydrogel deposition. Automated OCT feedback is demonstrated for cutting procedures to avoid important surface/subsurface structures. This bench-top smart laser knife system described here offers a new image-guided approach to precise stem cell seeding that can enhance the efficacy of articular cartilage repair.
Endovascular rewarming in the emergency department for moderate to severe accidental hypothermia

Abstract Background Endovascular temperature control catheters can be utilized for emergent rewarming in accidental hypothermia. The purpose of this study was to compare patients with moderate to severe hypothermia rewarmed with an endovascular temperature control catheter versus usual care at our institution. Methods We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of patients with moderate to severe accidental hypothermia (core body temperature less than 32°C) in the Emergency Department of an urban, tertiary care medical center. We identified the rewarming techniques utilized for each patient, including those who had an endovascular temperature control catheter placed (Quattro© or Icy© catheter, CoolGuard© 3000 regulation system, Zoll Medical). Rewarming rates and outcomes were compared for patients with and without the endovascular temperature control catheter. We systematically screened for procedural complications. Results There were 106 patients identified with an initial core temperature less than or equal to 32°C; 52 (49%) patients rewarmed with an endovascular temperature control catheter. Other methods of rewarming included external forced-air rewarming (85, 80%), bladder lavage (17, 16%), gastric lavage (10, 9%), closed pleural lavage (6, 6%), and peritoneal lavage (3, 3%). Rate of rewarming did not differ between the groups with and without catheter-based rewarming (1.3°C/h versus 1.0°C/h, difference 0.3°C, 95% confidence interval [CI] of the difference 0–0.6°C) and neither did survival (70% versus 71%, difference 1%, 95% CI -17 to 20%). We did not identify any significant vascular injuries resulting from endovascular catheter use. Conclusion The endovascular temperature control system was not associated with an increased rate of rewarming in this cohort with moderate to severe hypothermia; however, this technique appears to be safe and feasible.
Targeted Nuclear Imaging Probes for Cardiac Amyloidosis.

The aim of the present manuscript is to review the latest advancements of radionuclide molecular imaging in the diagnosis and prognosis of individuals with cardiac amyloidosis. 99mTechnetium labeled bone tracer scintigraphy had been known to image cardiac amyloidosis, since the 1980s; over the past decade, bone scintigraphy has been revived specifically to diagnose transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. 18F labeled and 11C labeled amyloid binding radiotracers developed for imaging Alzheimer’s disease, have been repurposed since 2013, to image light chain and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis. 99mTechnetium bone scintigraphy for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, and amyloid binding targeted PET imaging for light chain and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, are emerging as highly accurate methods. Targeted radionuclide imaging may soon replace endomyocardial biopsy in the evaluation of patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis. Further research is warranted on the role of targeted imaging to quantify cardiac amyloidosis and to guide therapy.
Solving Disparities Through Payment And Delivery System Reform: A Program To Achieve Health Equity

Payment systems generally do not directly encourage or support the reduction of health disparities. In 2013 the Finding Answers: Solving Disparities through Payment and Delivery System Reform progr...
Heat transfer in an assembly of ellipsoidal particles at low to moderate Reynolds numbers

Abstract Fixed and dynamic assemblies of non-spherical particles participate in many heat and mass transfer industrial processes. However, most convective heat transfer coefficients are adapted from correlations available for spherical particles by using the concept of equal volume spheres or in some cases the sphericity, which is a measure of deviation from a spherical shape. In this study, Particle-Resolved Simulations (PRS) are performed to investigate the heat transfer in flow through a fixed random assembly of spherical and ellipsoidal particles of aspect ratio 2.5:1. The assembly of particles is simulated for solid fractions between 0.1 to 0.35 using 191 to 669 particles, respectively, at low to moderate Reynolds numbers ( 10 ⩽ Re ⩽ 200 ). The random particle assembly is generated using a physics simulation engine SDK-PhysX. The particle-fluid boundaries are resolved using the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) with a constant heat flux boundary condition. Simulation results in the ellipsoidal assembly show that the local velocity and temperature field are significantly affected by the particle orientation. Mean Nusselt numbers for the ellipsoidal assembly are consistently larger than spherical particles when Reynolds number is more than 10, and the difference increases as the Reynolds number increases. A Nusselt number correlation is proposed based on the simulation data. The proposed correlation is valid in the range 10 ⩽ Re ⩽ 50 for solid fraction of 0 ϕ ⩽ 0.35 , and 50 Re ⩽ 200 for solid fraction of 0.1 ⩽ ϕ ⩽ 0.35 .