cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Flanker Visual Filtering Ability in Older Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Recent research has documented impaired ability to resist interference from visual distractors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and suggests that this phenomenon may be more pronounced in young versus older children (Christ et al., Neuropsychology 25(6):690–701, 2011). The present study extends previous findings by examining visual filtering inhibitory ability within an older adolescent population. A flanker visual filtering task was administered to 36 adolescents with ASD and 44 adolescents without ASD (age: 11–20 years). Analysis revealed no evidence of group differences in visual filtering performance. Taken together with previous research, these results suggest that during early adolescence the previously observed impairment may resolve or compensatory strategies develop, allowing individuals with ASD to perform as well as their neurotypical peers.
Expanding the Original Definition of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

We report two studies examining psychometric properties of an expanded measure of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that combined the original ACEs items with items from the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire. In Study 1, we examined its factorial structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity in undergraduates (N = 1479). In Study 2, we also examined replicability of frequencies of ACEs, test-retest reliability, and convergent and predictive validity. Results suggested a model with four inter-related factors: maltreatment, household dysfunction, community dysfunction, and peer dysfunction/property victimization. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and convergent validity were acceptable, and findings were replicated across samples. We suggest that this expanded measure is assessing early experiences of victimization and helplessness in the face of perceived intentional emotional and physical threats or actual harm by others, and that although they may not all be “traumatic,” their cumulative impact is associated with poor mental health in young adults.
3D Shape-Based Body Composition Inference Model Using a Bayesian Network

Body composition can be assessed in many different ways. High-end medical equipment, such as Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers high-fidelity pixel/voxel-level assessment, but is prohibitive in cost. In the case of DXA and CT, the approach exposes users to ionizing radiation. Whole-body air displacement plethysmography (BOD POD) can accurately estimate body density, but the assessment is limited to the whole-body fat percentage. Optical three-dimensional (3D) scan and reconstruction techniques, such as using depth cameras, have brought new opportunities for improving body composition assessment by intelligently analyzing body shape features. In this paper, we present a novel supervised inference model to predict pixel-level body composition and percentage of body fat using 3D geometry features and body density. First, we use body density to model a fat distribution base prediction. Then, we use a Bayesian network to infer the probability of the base prediction bias with 3D geometry features. Finally, we correct the bias using non-parametric regression. We use DXA assessment as the ground truth in model training and validation. We compare our method, in terms of pixel-level body composition assessment, with the current state-of-the-art prediction models. Our method outperforms those prediction models by 52.69% on average. We also compare our method, in terms of whole-body fat percentage assessment, with the medical-level equipment—BOD POD. Our method outperforms the BOD POD by 23.28%.
A deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer: the key to developing effective immunotherapies

The number of pancreatic cancer related deaths is projected to increase while many other cancers fall (1). Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death and projected to overtake second by 2020 (1). Despite intense research efforts over many years, five-year survival after diagnosis with pancreatic cancer remains grim at around 8% (2).
Spiraling Down Hillslopes: Nutrient Uptake from Water Tracks in a Warming Arctic

Hydrologic flowpaths might propagate biogeochemical signals among connected ecosystems or alter and dampen signals because of reactions or retention occurring during transport. In the Arctic, experimentally warmed terrestrial tundra releases inorganic nitrogen (N), but the fate of this newly released N remains unclear. Nitrogen could be passively transported downslope in flowing water, or retained when flowpaths intercept N-limited ecosystems. We applied nutrient spiraling theory to simultaneously measure reaction and transport of ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO43−), nutrients limiting primary productivity in Arctic ecosystems. Pulse fertilization experiments were focused on flowpaths known as water tracks that hydrologically connect soils to receiving streams and lakes in upland tundra of Alaska. Water tracks typically retained PO43−, but passively transported NH4+, thus potentially propagating NH4+ produced by warming tundra soils to downstream ecosystems. Nutrient uptake was uncorrelated with the relative proportion of downslope transport in transient storage zones, but greater NH4+ uptake occurred as advective hydrologic flux increased relative to dispersion. Phosphate uptake declined as thaw depth increased over the summer season likely because of declining capacity for biotic uptake or sorption in deeper soils. Phosphorus limitation in fluvial ecosystems of the Arctic might result in efficient transport of inorganic N to N-limited lentic and coastal ecosystems, where increasing subsidies furnished by N loss from warming terrestrial tundra could support enhanced primary production.
Vascular surgery resident education and hands-on training in vascular laboratory testing.

Abstract Diagnostic testing performed in the noninvasive vascular laboratory is a cornerstone of care for patients with suspected or known vascular disease. The Society for Vascular Surgery has mandated that vascular surgery resident training include mentored experience in performing vascular laboratory testing and interpreting its results. The trainee should be experienced with vascular laboratory instrumentation and testing protocols, be knowledgeable in ultrasound imaging of vascular anatomy, and be competent to classify disease severity relevant to the study indication. The scope of test interpretation should include peripheral arterial, peripheral venous, cerebrovascular, and visceral abdominal testing using duplex ultrasound supplemented by indirect physiologic testing for peripheral arterial and venous disease. The emergence of endovascular therapy has expanded duplex ultrasound applications in the areas of screening, procedural imaging, and surveillance following intervention. Pre-procedure testing to assess disease location and severity, and vein mapping for dialysis access or extremity bypass grafting provide important patient-specific information that can reduce the need for more invasive vascular imaging. It is recommended that trainees acquire the hand-on skills to perform duplex testing in vascular clinic and inpatient sites, such as the emergency department and operating room. Training programs should have a structured vascular laboratory curriculum that documents annual educational milestones that encompass both test interpretation aptitude and hands-on duplex scanning skills. Before completion of training, the resident should acquire documented experience in test interpretation sufficient to take the Physician Vascular Interpretation examination, which is required for American Board of Surgery certification as a vascular surgeon.
Overview of New ACC/AHA Lipid Guidelines.

These updated guidelines, made without any input from primary care physicians who manage most patients with hyperlipidemia, are more complex than the 2013 guidelines and will likely lead to even more recommendations for statins, ezetimibe (Zetia), and PSK9 inhibitors.
cis-trans Germanium chains in the intermetallic compounds ALi1–xInxGe2 and A2(Li1–xInx)2Ge3 (A=Sr, Ba, Eu)—experimental and theoreticalstudies

Abstract Two types of strontium-, barium- and europium-containing germanides have been synthesized using high temperature reactions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All reported compounds also contain mixed-occupied Li and In atoms, resulting in quaternary phases with narrow homogeneity ranges. The first type comprises EuLi 0.91(1) In 0.09 Ge 2 , SrLi 0.95(1) In 0.05 Ge 2 and BaLi 0.99(1) In 0.01 Ge 2 , which crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (BaLi 0.9 Mg 0.1 Si 2 structure type, Pearson code oP 16). The lattice parameters are a =7.129(4)–7.405(4) A; b =4.426(3)–4.638(2) A; and c =11.462(7)–11.872(6) A. The second type includes Eu 2 Li 1.36(1) In 0.64 Ge 3 and Sr 2 Li 1.45(1) In 0.55 Ge 3 , which adopt the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (Ce 2 Li 2 Ge 3 structure type, Pearson code oC 28) with lattice parameters a =4.534(2)–4.618(2) A; b =19.347(8)–19.685(9) A; and c =7.164(3)–7.260(3) A. The polyanionic sub-structures in both cases feature one-dimensional Ge chains with alternating Ge–Ge bonds in cis - and trans -conformation. Theoretical studies using the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) method provide the rationale for optimizing the overall bonding by diminishing the π – p delocalization along the Ge chains, accounting for the experimentally confirmed substitution of Li forIn.
Resident AUV Workshop 2018: Applications and a Path Forward

Long-term, persistent Resident AUV (RAUV) systems, able to be deployed for months to years without manned support vessels, will have a profound impact on our ability to observe temporally and spatially changing phenomena throughout entire volumes of the ocean. Further, RAUVs may provide a means of remotely interacting with subsea infrastructure, offering tremendous savings on maintenance that would otherwise require manned vessels and ROVs.During a workshop in May, 2018, 100 participants gathered in Seattle, WA to assess opportunities for RAUVs. Applications evaluated range from observing mid-ocean ridge volcanic eruptions, to intermittent methane seep activity, to arctic ice motion, and eventually to the search for life in off-planet oceans. In all cases, long-term RAUV deployments will require a system of components for energy management, communications, navigation, as well as self-diagnostics and advanced autonomy functions. While many of the subsystems necessary for viable residency have been demonstrated individually, it will take time, testing and focused system and reliability engineering before RAUV operations become routine. As evidenced by the spectrum of industry and academic participants in the workshop, industry-academic partnerships may be a plausible means of accelerating RAUV systems and applications.
The School Psychologist-Client Relationship: A Heuristic Model Based on Service Delivery Roles and Organizational Factors

The primary focus of this paper is on the complex nature of the professional-client relationship in school psychology. Two dimensions examined are the determination of client as it relates to (a) t...
Crystal and solution structures of human oncoprotein Musashi-2 N-terminal RNA recognition motif 1.

Musashi-2 (MSI2) belongs to Musashi family of RNA binding proteins (RBP). Like Musashi-1 (MSI1), it is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and is a promising therapeutic target. Both MSI proteins contain two N-terminal RNA recognition motifs and play roles in posttranscriptional regulation of target mRNAs. Previously, we have identified several inhibitors of MSI1, all of which bind to MSI2 as well. In order to design MSI2-specific inhibitors and compare the differences of binding mode of the inhibitors, we set out to solve the structure of MSI2-RRM1, the key motif that is responsible for the binding. Here, we report the crystal structure and the first NMR solution structure of MSI2-RRM1, and compare these to the structures of MSI1-RBD1 and other RBPs. A high degree of structural similarity was observed between the crystal and solution NMR structures. MSI2-RRM1 shows a highly similar overall folding topology to MSI1-RBD1 and other RBPs. The structural information of MSI2-RRM1 will be helpful for understanding MSI2-RNA interaction and for guiding rational drug design of MSI2-specific inhibitors.
Removal of a Large Stone in the Upper Thoracic Esophagus.

Abstract Ingestion of a foreign body is a common occurrence. Flexible endoscopy is most commonly used for treatment, but certain large foreign bodies are more easily retrieved with rigid endoscopy. We present a technically challenging case of intentional ingestion of a large stone that required retrieval from the upper thoracic esophagus using rigid endoscopy. This case highlights the importance of alternative methods to manage large foreign bodies and of collaboration of medical subspecialties.
Leveraging parallel spatio-temporal computing for crime analysis in large datasets: analyzing trends in near-repeat phenomenon of crime in cities

Crime often clusters in space and time. Near-repeat patterns improve understanding of crime communicability and their space–time interactions. Near-repeat analysis requires extensive computing reso...
Dirac oscillator: An alternative basis for nuclear structure calculations

Background: The isotropic harmonic oscillator supplemented by a strong spin-orbit interaction has been the cornerstone of nuclear structure since its inception more than seven decades ago. In this paper we introduce---or rather re-introduce---the ``Dirac oscillator,'' a fully relativistic basis that has all the desired attributes of the ordinary harmonic oscillator while naturally incorporating a strong spin-orbit coupling.Purpose: To assess the power and flexibility of the Dirac oscillator basis in the solution of nuclear structure problems within the framework of covariant density-functional theory.Methods: Self-consistent calculations of binding energies and ground-state densities for a selected set of doubly magic nuclei are performed using the Dirac oscillator basis and are then compared against results obtained with the often-used Runge-Kutta method.Results: Results obtained using the Dirac oscillator basis reproduce with high accuracy those derived using the Runge-Kutta method and suggest a clear path for a generalization to systems with axial symmetry.Conclusions: Although the harmonic oscillator with spin-orbit corrections has been the staple of the nuclear shell model since the beginning, the Dirac oscillator is practically unknown among the nuclear physics community. In this paper we illustrate the power and flexibility of the Dirac oscillator and suggest extensions to the study of systems without spherical symmetry, as required in constrained calculations of nuclear excitations.
Outcomes of robotic surgery in revisional bariatric cases: a propensity score-matched analysis of the MBSAQIP registry

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Revisional Bariatric Surgery (RBS) cases performed to address complications and weight recidivism. The use of the da Vinci robotic platform, considered controversial by many, may offer advantages in RBS. The objective of our study is to compare the outcomes of Robotic RBS (R-RBS) to Laparoscopic RBS (L-RBS). Using the 2015–2017 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database, we selected all RBS and we matched R-RBS to L-RBS using a propensity score matching system to create balanced groups. Our primary outcomes were 30-day Serious Adverse Events (SAE), 30-day Organ Specific Infection (OSI), 30-day reoperation and 30-day interventions. Our secondary outcomes included length of operation and 30-day readmission. We conducted separate Mann–Whitney rank sums tests or chi-square tests and Fisher exact test. R-RBS and L-RBS included 220 patients each. The overall incidence of 30-day SAEs, 30-day OSIs, 30-day reoperations, 30-day interventions were lower for R-RBS (6.4%, 0.9%, 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively) compared L-RBS (7.7%, 1.4%, 3.6% and 3.6%, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that R-RBS had a lower rate of complications for the Gastric Bypass procedure but not for Sleeve gastrectomy cases. However, 30-day readmission was higher for R-RBS compared to L-RBS (9.1% vs 6.4% respectively). None of the analyses reached statistical significance. R-RBS took significantly longer compared to L-RBS (169 min vs 138 min, p < 0.05). Our study shows that R-RBS has lower complication rate albeit non-significant as compared to L-RBS.
The α-gliadin gene family. II. DNA and protein sequence variation, subfamily structure, and origins of pseudogenes

The derived amino-acid sequences of all reported α-gliadin clones are compared and analyzed, and the patterns of sequence change within the α-gliadin family are examined. The most variable sequences are two polyglutamine domains. These two domains are characteristic features of the α-gliadin storage proteins and account for most of the variation in protein size of this otherwise highly conserved protein family. In addition, their encoding DNA sequences form microsatellites. Single-base substitutions in the α-gliadin genes show a preponderance of transitions, including the C to T substitution which contributes to the generation of stop codons, and consequently to the observation that approximately 50% of the α-gliadin genes are pseudogenes. In one unusual gene, a microsatellite has expanded to 321 bp as compared to the normal 36–72 bp, and may result from similar mechanisms that produce polyglutamine-associated genetic diseases in humans. A comparison of the 27 reported sequences show several α-gliadin gene subfamilies, at least some of which are genome specific.
IFNL4 Genotype Does Not Associate with CD4 T-Cell Recovery in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Immune non-responders (INRs) are people with HIV infection who fail to restore their CD4 T-cell counts in spite of prolonged virologic suppression, a condition associated with higher rates of all-c...
Platelets and arterial disease—initiation, progression, and destabilization of atherosclerotic vascular disease

Abstract Atherosclerosis is the principal mechanism explaining the majority of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events, as well as acute limb ischemia and peripheral arterial diseases. Much of the development of atherosclerosis is linked to platelet participation in the inflammatory process underlying it. In this chapter, we explore the basics of initiation, progression, and destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque, in an attempt to highlight the pivotal importance of platelets in these processes and to glean the potential therapeutic implications of these interactions.
Structural and Kinetic Characterization of Hyperthermophilic NADH-Dependent Persulfide Reductase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

NADH-dependent persulfide reductase (Npsr) has been proposed to facilitate dissimilatory sulfur respiration by reducing persulfide or sulfane sulfur-containing substrates to H2S. The presence of this gene in the sulfate and thiosulfate-reducing Archaeoglobus fulgidus DSM 4304 and other hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobales appears anomalous, as A. fulgidus is unable to respire S0 and grow in the presence of elemental sulfur. To assess the role of Npsr in the sulfur metabolism of A. fulgidus DSM 4304, the Npsr from A. fulgidus was characterized. AfNpsr is specific for persulfide and polysulfide as substrates in the oxidative half-reaction, exhibiting on the order of 104 M-1 s-1, which is similar to the kinetic parameters observed for hyperthermophilic CoA persulfide reductases. In contrast to the bacterial Npsr, AfNpsr exhibits low disulfide reductase activity with DTNB; however, similar to the bacterial enzymes, it does not show detectable activity with CoA-disulfide, oxidized glutathione, or cystine. The 3.1 A X-ray structure of AfNpsr reveals access to the tightly bound catalytic CoA, and the active site Cys 42 is restricted by a flexible loop (residues 60-66) that is not seen in the bacterial homologs from Shewanella loihica PV-4 and Bacillus anthracis. Unlike the bacterial enzymes, AfNpsr exhibits NADH oxidase activity and also shows no detectable activity with NADPH. Models suggest steric and electrostatic repulsions of the NADPH 2 - phosphate account for the strong preference for NADH. The presence of Npsr in the nonsulfur-reducing A. fulgidus suggests that the enzyme may offer some protection against S0 or serve in another metabolic role that has yet to be identified.
Clinical characteristics, co-mutations and outcomes of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with KRAS mutations.

e21174Background: Mutations (mt) in the KRAS gene are common oncogenic drivers in advanced NSCLC. The KRAS mt subtypes and certain co-mutations (co-mt) have prognostic and predictive implications. ...
Schur Polynomials and GL(n, ℂ)

Now let s μ (x 1 ... ,x n ) be the symmetric polynomial ch(n) (s µ ); we will use the same notation s µ for the element ch(s µ ) of the inverse limit ring A defined by (36.10). These are the Schur polynomials.
Design, fabrication, installation, testing and initial results of in-vessel control coils for DIII-D

Since 1995, DIII-D has performed correction of magnetic field imperfections using a set of six external picture frame coils located on the vessel mid-plane. In 2000, these coils also demonstrated benefits when used for feedback of the resistive wall mode, an instability that limits the plasma performance at high beta. Modeling has shown that substantial performance improvements could be achieved by installing new coils inside the vessel and expanding the poloidal coverage above and below the mid-plane. Two prototype internal coils were installed in 2001 and were power tested successfully after several bakes to 350/spl deg/C. A full set of twelve internal coils and related magnetic sensors are now operational in the DIII-D tokamak. The design requirements for the new coil system was to maximize the magnetic field at the plasma edge, operate with a frequency range of dc to 1000 Hz, and fit behind the existing graphite wall tiles. The coil design adopted and installed is a water-cooled hollow copper conductor insulated with polyamide and housed inside a stainless steel tube that forms a vacuum boundary. The coil is rigidly mounted to the inside of the vacuum vessel. The primary challenge in the design of these coils was in joining of both the copper conductor and the stainless tube without overheating the polyamide insulator. Elastic-plastic analysis was used to demonstrate acceptable thermal stresses during baking conditions. Analysis determined the optimum water cooling channel diameter. The coils were tested in high toroidal field to the limit of the power supply of 4.5 kA DC with inductance-limited current for frequencies between 300 Hz and 1000 Hz. Recent results are presented.
Analysing differential gene expression in cancer.

Analysis of messenger RNA and proteins is widely used to compare patterns of gene expression between cells or tissues of different kinds and under different conditions; for example, between normal and cancer cells. The goal of the individuals who are developing these methods has been to enable faster, simpler, more sensitive and systematic analyses, and over the past few decades techniques have become increasingly more sophisticated. This timeline article reviews the evolution of these technologies as well as strategies for identifying differentially expressed genes in normal and cancer cells. It also highlights their use for the search for target genes of the tumour suppressor p53.
How Time Flies: Age, Memory, and Temporal Compression

We formulate a comprehensive theory that accounts for variation in the perception of time. According to our theory, lived time is perceived to pass slowly (protracted duration) when conscious infor...
Measuring the Higgs Yukawa Couplings at a Next Linear Collider

We investigate the inclusive production of a Higgs boson with a pair of heavy quarks (t-tbar b-bbar), in e^+e^- collisions at high energies, sqrt(s)=500 GeV and sqrt(s)=1 TeV. We consider both the Standard Model and the supersymmetric case. In both cases O(alpha_s) QCD corrections are included. The associated production of a Higgs boson with a t-tbar pair is extremely sensitive to the top-Higgs Yukawa coupling and may allow the precision measurement of this coupling. In some regions of the supersymmetric parameter space the associated production of a Higgs boson with a b-bbar pair receives large resonant contributions and can have a significant rate.
Plasma Autoantibodies from Human Diabetic Depression Patients Inhibit Neuritogenesis and Induce Depression-Like Behavior in Mice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) substantially increases susceptibility to the affective mood disorder depression. However, the underlying mechanism for this association is unclear. Previous studies d...
A new model order identification algorithm with application to automobile oxygen sensor modeling

A method of determining the model order of MIMO nonlinear dynamic systems was proposed using the concept of the coherence function. It was demonstrated that the proposed scheme is extremely successful even in the presence of noise, clearly outperforms the Lipschitz criterion scheme in determining the model order accurately and unambiguously and identifies the order correctly even in the case when the Lipschitz scheme produces an erroneous result. The effectiveness of the order determination scheme in conjunction with the NARMAX identification technique, for identifying a severely nonlinear system such as an automobile exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor was also studied. It was shown that the proposed scheme is suitable for practical implementation using simulation results.
Transnational Ethnic Kin and Civil War Outcomes

The literature on the transnational dimension of civil wars points to transnational ethnic kin as an important catalyst that initiates and sustains civil wars. Ethnic ties that transcend national boundaries, these studies argue, intensify the conflict by providing sanctuaries as well as human and material resources to the rebels. In this study, I argue that the same transborder ethnic ties make it more difficult for the government to achieve a decisive victory and contribute to outcomes more favorable to rebels. These networks can help create a more balanced relationship between an ethnic group and a previously antagonistic state by increasing the political, economic, and military costs of repression for the government. An analysis of ethnic civil wars starting and ending between 1950 and 2006 demonstrates that civil wars fought by ethnically mobilized rebel groups are more likely to be negotiated and settled in favor of rebels who have ethnic kin in a neighboring country.
The MIT-Bates out-of-plane and polarized internal target programs

Abstract The OOPS and BLAST projects are the main thrusts to the research program at MIT-Bates for the next few years. The OOPS system is a unique facility of multiple magnetic spectrometers specifically designed for accurate extraction of the five response functions accessible through the (e,e′p) reaction with polarized beam. Results from the initial round of experiments are presented as well as a brief out-look into the upcoming measurements. The Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid (BLAST) is a detector designed to study in a comprehensive and precise way the spin dependent electromagnetic response of few-body nuclei. At present BLAST is under construction and a brief status is presented as well as projected results for some of the key experiments.
The DHR96 Nuclear Receptor Controls Triacylglycerol Homeostasis in Drosophila

Triacylglycerol (TAG) homeostasis is an integral part of normal physiology and essential for proper energy metabolism. Here we show that the single Drosophila ortholog of the PXR and CAR nuclear receptors, DHR96, plays an essential role in TAG homeostasis. DHR96 mutants are sensitive to starvation, have reduced levels of TAG in the fat body and midgut, and are resistant to diet-induced obesity, while DHR96 overexpression leads to starvation resistance and increased TAG levels. We show that DHR96 function is required in the midgut for the breakdown of dietary fat and that it exerts this effect through the CG5932 gastric lipase, which is essential for TAG homeostasis. This study provides insights into the regulation of dietary fat metabolism in Drosophila and demonstrates that the regulation of lipid metabolism is an ancestral function of the PXR/CAR/DHR96 nuclear receptor subfamily.
Fanconi's anaemia in the genetics of neoplasia.

By studying relatives of individuals homozygous for Fanconi's anaemia, a method has been developed for determining the effect of heterozygosity for this gene on susceptibility to cancers.
Isotropic-resolution linear-array-based photoacoustic computed tomography through inverse Radon transform

Linear transducer arrays are readily available for ultrasonic detection in photoacoustic computed tomography. They offer low cost, hand-held convenience, and conventional ultrasonic imaging. However, the elevational resolution of linear transducer arrays, which is usually determined by the weak focus of the cylindrical acoustic lens, is about one order of magnitude worse than the in-plane axial and lateral spatial resolutions. Therefore, conventional linear scanning along the elevational direction cannot provide high-quality three-dimensional photoacoustic images due to the anisotropic spatial resolutions. Here we propose an innovative method to achieve isotropic resolutions for three-dimensional photoacoustic images through combined linear and rotational scanning. In each scan step, we first elevationally scan the linear transducer array, and then rotate the linear transducer array along its center in small steps, and scan again until 180 degrees have been covered. To reconstruct isotropic three-dimensional images from the multiple-directional scanning dataset, we use the standard inverse Radon transform originating from X-ray CT. We acquired a three-dimensional microsphere phantom image through the inverse Radon transform method and compared it with a single-elevational-scan three-dimensional image. The comparison shows that our method improves the elevational resolution by up to one order of magnitude, approaching the in-plane lateral-direction resolution. In vivo rat images were also acquired.
Linear Acousto-Optic Heterodyning Processors For Complex-Valued Data Processing.

Practical adaptations of existing acousto-optic processors are advanced which result in systems inherently capable of attaining accurate, high-speed linear analog numerical processing with realistic components and simple drive electronics. The systems presented are heterodyned space-integrating configurations driven by multiple diode laser sources. All signals in the systems are encoded on quadrature temporal carriers, allowing bipolar and complex-valued data to be processed. This also enables the diode lasers, acousto-optic cells, and output detectors to be used in their most inherently linear operating modes, and significantly reduces the effects of temperature and prior input data on the absolute accuracy obtained. Applications of such processors are considered.
Drag on multiple sphere assemblies suspended in non-Newtonian tube flow

The drag forces experienced by single and multiple sphere assemblies suspended in non-Newtonian tube-flow were investigated under different levels of fluid viscosity of aqueous CMC solutions (m = 2.0 to 21.1 Pa-s n and n = 0.73 to 0.82), flow rate (0.02 to 0.86 kg/s) and particle concentrations (1.53 to 11.01 % on a volume basis). It was found that an increase in particle concentration resulted in an increase in drag force experienced by each sphere in an assembly. It was also observed that the presence of identical assemblies upstream and downstream of the single test assembly (multiple assembly case), resulted in drag force increases per sphere from 14% for low concentration to 25% for high concentration. An equation was developed to predict a drag correction factor for Stokes' equation for the multiple assembly configuration based on particle concentration.
PapA3 Is an Acyltransferase Required for Polyacyltrehalose Biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis possesses an unusual cell wall that is replete with virulence-enhancing lipids. One cell wall molecule unique to pathogenic M. tuberculosis is polyacyltrehalose (PAT), a pentaacylated, trehalose-based glycolipid. Little is known about the biosynthesis of PAT, although its biosynthetic gene cluster has been identified and found to resemble that of the better studied M. tuberculosis cell wall component sulfolipid-1. In this study, we sought to elucidate the function of papA3, a gene from the PAT locus encoding a putative acyltransferase. To determine whether PapA3 participates in PAT assembly, we expressed the protein heterologously and evaluated its acyltransferase activity in vitro. The purified enzyme catalyzed the sequential esterification of trehalose with two palmitoyl groups, generating a diacylated product similar to the 2,3-diacyltrehalose glycolipids of M. tuberculosis. Notably, PapA3 was selective for trehalose; no activity was observed with other structurally related disaccharides. Disruption of the papA3 gene from M. tuberculosis resulted in the loss of PAT from bacterial lipid extracts. Complementation of the mutant strain restored PAT production, demonstrating that PapA3 is essential for the biosynthesis of this glycolipid in vivo. Furthermore, we determined that the PAT biosynthetic machinery has no cross-talk with that for sulfolipid-1 despite their related structures.
Ignition and detonation of solid explosives: a micromechanical burn model

This paper describes a new computational framework for modeling splid explosives and proof-of-concept calculations. Our goal is to expand predictive model capability through the inclusion of various micro-mechanical burn processes. We propose a model which is complicated enough to represent underlying physics, but simple enough for engineering scale computations. Key components of the model include energy localization, the growth of hot spots, micro-mechanics in/around hot spots, and a phase-averaged mixture equation of state. The nucleation and growth of locally heated regions is treated by a statistical model based on an exponential size distribution. Proof-of-concept calculations are limited to shock loading, but show the capability of simulating Pop-plots, initial temperature effect, detonation waves in 2D, detonation shock confinement test, and multi-dimensional effects in a unified fashion based on micro-physics.
Redox Pioneer: Professor Gregg L. Semenza

Abstract Dr. Gregg L. Semenza is recognized here as a Redox Pioneer because he has published three articles that have been cited more than 1,000 times, and 74 articles that have each been cited more than 100 times. Dr. Semenza is known for his seminal discovery of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and for identifying molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional responses to hypoxia. The discovery of HIF-1 is regarded as a fundamental breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis of O2 sensing, and led to the identification of related transcriptional activators now known as the HIF family, which are the focus of many investigator's studies around the world. Understanding the molecular basis of cellular responses to hypoxia is of immense physiological significance and has tremendous implications for medicine. Compelling evidence now exists for the involvement of HIF-1 signaling in the progression of cancer, cardiovascular morbidities associated with aging and diabetes, and pulmonary vascular remodel...
Intelligent virtual machine placement for cost efficiency in geo-distributed cloud systems

An important challenge of running large-scale cloud services in a geo-distributed cloud system is to minimize the overall operating cost. The operating cost of such a system includes two major components: electricity cost and wide-area-network (WAN) communication cost. While the WAN communication cost is minimized when all virtual machines (VMs) are placed in one datacenter, the high workload at one location requires extra power for cooling facility and results in worse power usage effectiveness (PUE). In this paper, we develop a model to capture the intrinsic trade-off between electricity and WAN communication costs, and formulate the optimal VM placement problem, which is NP-hard due to its binary and quadratic nature. While exhaustive search is not feasible for large-scale scenarios, heuristics which only minimize one of the two cost terms yield less optimized results. We propose a cost-aware two-phase metaheuristic algorithm, Cut-and-Search, that approximates the best trade-off point between the two cost terms. We evaluate Cut-and-Search by simulating it over multiple cloud service patterns. The results show that the operating cost has great potential of improvement via optimal VM placement. Cut-and-Search achieves a highly optimized trade-off point within reasonable computation time, and outperforms random placement by 50%, and the partial-optimizing heuristics by 10-20%.
Complexation of polyethers and pyridyl ligands with monopositive transition metal ions in the gas phase

Abstract The formation, ligand exchange reactions, and dissociation of various types of mixed ligand/metal complexes are studied in a quadrupole ion trap. The monopositive complexes are generated by ion-molecule association reactions between the polydentate organic ligands and laser-desorbed monopositive metal ions (M+) and incorporate at least one polyether or at least one pyridyl ligand bound to a transition metal ion. Ligand exchange and collisional activated dissociation (CAD) techniques are used to investigate the nature of the binding interactions and the relative binding free energies of the various ligands. There are two dominant influences on the strength of the binding interactions in the complexes. First, the number of coordination sites of each ligand and its flexibility or ability to participate in cooperative binding interactions are reflected in the relative coordination capabilities of the ligands. Second, the ability of a ligand to approach the metal ion and successfully adopt a favorable binding conformation differs greatly when the metal is already bound to one versus two ligands. For example, when the metal is bound to two pyridyl ligands, the ability of a large flexible polyether with multiple oxygen binding sites to displace even one of the pyridyl ligands is greatly reduced relative to the case when the metal is only bound to a single pyridyl ligand. In addition to these two trends, the electronic configuration of the metal ion also plays a subtle role in terms of influencing the stabilities of certain monomer (pyridyl ligand + M+) and heterodimer (pyridyl ligand + M+ + polyether) complexes. However, the nature of the metal ion does not appear to change the trends in relative binding free energies of the various ligands; it simply influences the formation of certain types of complexes based on the optimum coordination number and favored coordination geometry of the metal ion.
A dictionary for approximate string search and longest prefix search

In this paper we propose a dictionary data structure for string search with errors where the query string may didiffer from the expected matching string by a few edits. This data structure can also be used to find the database string with the longest common prefix with few errors. Specifically, with a database of n random strings, each of length of O(m), we show how to perform string search on a query string that differs from its closest match by k edits using a data structure of linear size and query time equal to O(log n2 log nklog a 2m over 2m). This means that if k
Real-Time Signal Processing Devices For Missile Guidance And Control

Given specific system performance requirements and flexible subsystem boundaries, the means of implementing target sensor signal processing functions in today' s device technologies becomes a multi-choice problem. This paper presents the results of recent studies to determine the attributes and draw-backs of mechanizing missile radar signal processing functions in various candidate device technologies. Using a Schottky-bipolar-based design as a point of departure, alternative, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, analog and digital charge-coupled-device designs were configured and evaluated. The dynamic nature of the sensor in its repetitive and cyclic acquisition of new data, together with the interface, computing precision and delay, flexibility, low power and small volume design constraints of missile systems, were significant screening factors in the evaluation process.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Analysis of targeted mutation in DJ-1 on cellular function in primary astrocytes.

DJ-1 mutation induces early-onset Parkinson's disease, and conversely over-expression of DJ-1 is associated with cancer in numerous tissues. A gene-trap screening library conducted in embryonic stem cells was utilized for generation of a DJ-1 mutant mouse. Real-time PCR and immunoblotting were utilized to confirm functional mutation of the DJ-1 gene. Normal DJ-1 protein expression in adult mouse tissue was characterized and demonstrates high expression in brain tissue with wide systemic distribution. Primary astrocytes isolated from DJ-1−/− mice reveal a decreased nuclear localization of DJ-1 protein in response to rotenone or LPS, with a concomitant increase in mitochondrial localization of DJ-1 found only in the rotenone exposure. Resting mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower in DJ-1−/− astrocytes, as compared to controls. Our DJ-1 knockout mouse provides an exciting tool for exploring the molecular and physiological roles of DJ-1 to further explicate its functions in neurodegeneration.
Plasma edge cross-field transport: experiment and theory

In recent years, the basic physics picture of plasma transport in the scrape-off layers of tokamaks and stellarators has changed. This basic picture was based on slow diffusive cross-field transport competing with fast parallel transport. However, the idea of a local diffusive cross-field transport picture is not compatible with some of the experimental findings. Cross-field particle fluxes have an intermittent character. Large transport events can be responsible for a large portion of the total integrated flux. Those measurements also show the existence of long-range correlations in time and space. These correlations break down a possible separation of scales that was the base in deriving the macroscopic transport models. Structures are not limited to density fluctuations; they also appear on edge flows. The interaction between fluctuations and flows becomes one of the most important issues in the plasma edge dynamics.
Unstable Higgs particle and the equivalence theorem

We consider the subtleties involved in the application of the Equivalence Theorem to the decay of an unstable Higgs particle. This is formally justified from consideration of unitarity and resonant elastic scattering of the stable decay products. By explicit perturbative calculation we find that the imaginary parts of the one-loop amplitudes for that decay are in agreement with the Equivlence Theorem only when one includes the imaginary parts generated by evaluatuing the tree-level amplitudes at the complex on-shell value of the four-momentum squared of the unstable particle.
Pulmonary disease with chlorambucil therapy

A 73-year-old female developed pulmonary disease during treatment with chlorambucil for polycythemia vera. Cough and dyspnea were prominent symptoms. A chest roentgenogram revealed interstitial fibrosis. The diffusing capacity was markedly reduced. Pathologic findings included alveolar lining cell dysplasia, interstitial round cell infiltrates and interstitial fibrosis. Resolution of the pulmonary symptoms and partial clearing of the fibrosis on chest roentgenogram followed discontinuation of the chlorambucil and institution of steroid treatment. Chlorambucil may cause pulmonary fibrosis similar to busulfan and cyclophosphamide and this may be a potential complication of all alkylating agents.
The voice of confidence: Paralinguistic cues and audience evaluation.

A standard speaker read linguistically confident and doubtful texts in a confident or doubtful voice. A computer-based acoustic analysis of the four tapes showed that paralinguistic confidence was expressed by increased loudness of voice, rapid rate of speech, and infrequent, short pauses. Under some conditions, higher pitch levels and greater pitch and energy fluctuations in the voice were related to paralinguistic confidence. In a 2 × 2 design, observers perceived and used these cues to attribute confidence and related personality traits to the speaker. Both text and voice cues are related to confidence ratings; in addition, the two types of cue are related to differing personality attributes.
Computer interference analysis

This paper describes a single-server queuing model with Erlang input, which can be used for computer congestion analysis. The model is intended primarily for small computer systems in which the CPU is needed for input/output operations, which aggravates the interference problem. The model provides such information as the queuing time distribution for channel requests and the CPU delay due to channel interference. The model is illustrated by numerical examples, and procedures for the analysis are shown.
Predictors of nocturnal oxygen desaturation in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract Background: Sleep may be associated with significant respiratory compromise in patients with lung disease and can result in hypoxia. In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), nocturnal desaturation may not be reflected in daytime evaluations of oxygenation and can lead to worsening pulmonary hemodynamics. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and significance of nocturnal oxygen desaturation in patients with PAH. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic. Patients were followed up at our institution except for the overnight oximetry study done at home. Data regarding degree of nocturnal desaturation, demographics, hemodynamics, pulmonary function, and functional capacity were collected. Results: Forty-three patients (mean age, 47.9 ± 13.5 years [± SD]; 36 women and 7 men) underwent nocturnal oximetry. The etiology of PAH included idiopathic PAH (88%) and PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (12%). The majority of patients were New York Heart Association functional class II (42%) or III (53%). Thirty patients (69.7%) spent > 10% of sleep time with oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry Conclusions: Nocturnal hypoxemia is common in PAH patients and correlates with advanced pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction. Approximately 60% patients without exertional hypoxia had nocturnal desaturation. Overnight oximetry should be considered in the routine workup of PAH patients who do not demonstrate exertional desaturation.
Asset diversification in Yaari's dual theory

Abstract This paper presents an application of the dual theory of choice under uncertainty to the problem of asset diversification. It is shown that when there are two or more risky assets, conditions which are sufficient for expected-utility maximizers to diversify among n assets, are also sufficient for dual agents to do so. This result is in contrast to the case of one risky and one safe asset in which dual agents invest all their funds in only one of the assets, while expected-utility maximizers usually diversify.