cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zasady stosowania metody korygowania amplitudy obniżenia odcinka ST względem częstości akcji serca podczas wysiłkowej próby elektrokardiograficznej

W porownaniu ze standardowymi kryteriami oceny wysilkowego testu elektrokardiograficznego zastosowanie metody korekcji amplitudy obnizenia odcinka ST wzgledem czestości akcji serca (HR) podczas proby wysilkowej pozwala na lepszą identyfikacje oraz ocene nasilenia choroby wiencowej. Poniewaz wzrastająca wartośc HR podczas proby wysilkowej w powiązaniu z faktem istnienia choroby wiencowej istotnie ograniczającej rezerwe przeplywu wiencowego powoduje narastające obnizenie amplitudy odcinka ST, zastosowanie wskaźnika ST/HR pozwala na lepszą kontrole wzrastającego obciązenia metabolicznego niedokrwienia towarzyszącego wysilkowi fizycznemu. Poprawa czulości wyniku elektrokardiograficznej proby wysilkowej przy zastosowaniu wskaźnika ST/HR skutkuje reklasyfikacją „niejednoznacznych” czy nawet „ujemnych” wynikow proby wysilkowej, zwiekszając tym samym wykrywalnośc jednoi dwunaczyniowej choroby wiencowej u kobiet i mezczyzn. Dodatkowo w badanej populacji pacjentow o niskim i umiarkowanym ryzyku zastosowanie wskaźnika ST/HR pozwala na zwiekszenie wartości prognostycznej wysilkowego testu elektrokardiograficznego w przewidywaniu ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego oraz śmiertelności.
Small Cerebral Aneurysms: Can We Identify Patients at Risk for Rupture?

Malhotra and colleagues' review examined the risk for growth and rupture of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The editorialist discusses the importance of the clinical question the review at...
The Impact of Changes in Neuroscience and Research Ethics on the Intellectual History of Addiction Research

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the impact of changes in neuroscience and research ethics on the intellectual history of addiction research. Groundwork for the neurosciences of addiction was laid at Lexington, Kentucky, where the Addiction Research Center (ARC) played a formative role in constituting addiction research as a specialized neuroscientific enterprise. It was the only place where experienced drug users regularly came into contact with clinicians and researchers. Possessing little prior knowledge of addiction, Martin immersed himself in the laboratory’s early findings, including Himmelsbach’s early work on the role of homeostasis. Martin noticed that nalorphine was competitive with morphine but worked through a different mode of action. To make sense of this observation, he introduced the concept of receptor dualism. He gained his first clues to the existence of multiple opioids and multiple opiate receptor subtypes from experiments using the chronic spinal dog model, later confirmed in a series of pharmacological observations in humans. One of the main contributions of the laboratory at Lexington was technological innovation and the application of innovation specifically to addiction.
Analysis of PFAAs in American alligators part 1: Concentrations in alligators harvested for consumption during South Carolina public hunts.

Abstract Environmental contamination resulting from the production or release of harmful chemicals can lead to negative consequences for wildlife and human health. Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) were historically produced as protective coatings for many household items and currently persist in the environment, wildlife, and humans. PFAAs have been linked to immune suppression, endocrine disruption, and developmental toxicity in wildlife and laboratory studies. This study examines the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, as an important indicator of ecosystem contamination and a potential pathway for PFAA exposure in humans. Alligator meat harvested in the 2015 South Carolina (SC) public hunt season and prepared for human consumption was collected and analyzed for PFAAs to determine meat concentrations and relationships with animal body size (total length), sex, and location of harvest. Of the 15 PFAAs analyzed, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was found in all alligator meat samples and at the highest concentrations (median 6.73 ng/g). No relationship was found between PFAA concentrations and total length or sex. Concentrations of one or all compounds varied significantly across sampling locations, with alligators harvested in the Middle Coastal hunt unit having the highest PFOS concentrations (median 16.0 ng/g; p = 0.0001). Alligators harvested specifically from Berkley County, SC (located in the Middle Coastal hunt unit) had the highest PFOS concentrations and the greatest number of PFAAs detected (p
Síndroma de Down, sexualidade e conflitos éticos: um relato de caso

OIntroduction: Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. Although sexual desire is present, irrespective of the degree of impairment, many families play an overprotective role, treating affected individuals as children and as asexual persons. This may create gaps in their sexual education, increasing their vulnerability to assault and to risk behaviours. This report stresses the importance of sexual education for individuals with intellectual disability and draws attention to ethical matters, which may emerge in this context. Case description: A 22 year-old woman with the Down syndrome and no other significant past medical history came alone to a family planning appointment after starting a new relationship. She had already had sexual intercourse, although not with her current boyfriend. She was not aware of contraceptive methods, stating that, when it was used in her sexual contacts, it was on the initiative of her partners. She had consented to all sexual contacts but stated that she had felt mistreated once. After the presentation of several contraceptive options, she showed interest in subcutaneous implants. She was informed about the importance of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and about the correct use of condoms. A cervical cytology smear was performed. Since it was difficult to assess the capacity of this young woman to give informed consent, her mother was contacted. She stated that consent should be given by the patient, but was willing to help in informing her daughter about her options. Nothing was revealed to the mother about her daughter’s sexual life. Following a negative pregnancy test, a subcutaneous device was implanted. The need for correct use of condoms was repeated. Three months later, she returned for a follow-up family planning appointment, including a repeat evaluation of her status and further counselling on sexual and reproductive health. Comment: The health care team faced two challenging ethical questions in this case. Does intellectual disability render this woman incapable of giving informed consent? Could confidentiality be waived to allow her mother to increase her awareness of the need for contraception and to give informed consent? Health care professionals can empower parents to promote sexual health in individuals with intellectual disability including Down syndrome. The family doctor has a role to play in this effort.
How Do Investors Respond to Restatements? Repairing Trust Through Managerial Reputation and the Announcement of Corrective Actions

Following SOX, financial restatements increased dramatically. Prior research suggests that how investors respond to restatements, particularly those involving fraud, may mitigate or exacerbate damage suffered. We extend both accounting and management research by examining the joint effects of pre-restatement managerial reputation and the announcement of managerial corrective actions in response to a restatement on nonprofessional investors’ judgments. We find that pre-restatement managerial reputation and the announcement of managerial corrective actions jointly influence investors’ managerial fraud prevention assessments, which mediate their trust in management. These trust perceptions in turn affect investors’ investment and CEO retention judgments. Our results have implications for firms that are concerned with lessening the negative consequences associated with issuing a restatement.
Does Cross-Sector Collaboration Lead to Higher Nonprofit Capacity?

Cross-sector social partnership (CSSP) case-based theory and research have long argued that nonprofits that engage in more integrative and enduring cross-sector partnerships should increase their organizational capacity. By increasing their capacity, nonprofits increase their ability to contribute to systemic change. The current research investigates this claim in a large-scale empirical research study. In particular, this study examines whether nonprofits that have a greater number of integrated cross-sector partnerships have greater capacities for financial management, strategic planning, external communication, board leadership, mission orientation, and staff management than nonprofits that have other types of interorganizational relationships. Moreover, it examines whether the length of these partnerships is associated with better capacity. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis drawn from surveys of 452 nonprofit organizations suggests that cross-sector collaboration is not systematically related to increased capacity. However, the results suggest that more enduring relationships between government and nonprofit organizations that extend beyond funder–recipient relationships are related to greater strategic planning capacity. Implications for CSSP research are drawn from the results, especially those concerned with the outcomes of CSSPs.
Individualizing Local-Regional Therapy of Breast Cancer in the Elderly

The treatment of breast cancer in the elderly population requires a tailored approach. We summarize the current best evidence for personalized local-regional therapy in breast cancer patients older than 70. Breast cancer treatment in older adults incorporates the use of geriatric assessment tools to best evaluate functional status and treatment tolerability while accounting for the biologic profile of the disease. Surgical resection of the primary tumor with lymph node evaluation remains the cornerstone of local-regional control. Recent clinical trials demonstrate that surgery and radiation therapy may, however, be safely omitted in selected patients who are eligible for primary endocrine therapy. In patients with high-risk node-positive disease, DFS can be improved by systemic chemotherapy, but potential toxicity should be carefully considered in this population. Patient-specific evaluation of the risks of both under- and over-treatment of breast cancer in the older adult is essential for delivering optimal care in this population.
Study on the use of Q-R codes as landmarks for indoor positioning: Preliminary results

Indoor positioning, as often needed by mobile robots operating indoor and in other indoor navigation applications, usually has to be obtained without access to GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) signals. Many indoor localization techniques, such as RF-beacon-based ones and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) techniques, are either susceptible to tampering, environmental noise, or are costly. Alternatively, indoor landmarks, either permanent ones such as doors, windows and light fixtures or human-introduced ones such as pictures and QR codes, can be identified through image processing techniques and used to determine a user's location based on known landmark locations. This paper explored how to use the high-definition RGB camera and the depth sensor of the Kinect to detect the QR-code-based landmarks and measure the distance to the QR codes, so that it can assist a robot or other user to navigate in indoor environment. The RGB camera of the Kinect sensor was used to capture the images of the QR codes attached on the wall in different locations in the room. Each one of this QR codes has unique identifier and was coded to contain the indoor reference location information. Then the ZBar open-source barcode reading algorithm was applied to decode the QR codes and extract the reference coordinate information within the QR codes. After that, the depth sensor of the Kinect was initiated to measure the distance from the Kinect sensor to these QR codes. These raw data collected from the RGB camera and the depth sensor were calibrated and then used to locate the position of the Kinect within the indoor coordinate frame. In this paper, the preliminary results from testing the algorithm to locate the stationary position of the Kinect sensor using QR codes were presented.
Juridical Rhetoric in the Antebellum Debate over Slavery

This article addresses a central but overlooked contradiction in antebellum American culture: at a time when blacks were prohibited from testifying against whites in many American courtrooms, former slaves consistently presented themselves in print as, in the words of Frederick Douglass, "eye-witness[es] to the cruelty of slavery" and offered their personal narratives as, according to Harriet Jacobs, "testimony" to "what Slavery really is." Fashioning themselves and their anti-slavery writing in these terms, the article contends, formerly enslaved African-Americans like Douglass and Jacobs participated in a widespread antebellum tendency to figure the debate over slavery in legal language. Imagining the national slavery controversy as an ongoing criminal trial occurring in a vast courtroom, those who contributed to that debate depicted slavery as a crime, slaveholders as perpetrators and defendants, slaves as victims and eye-witnesses, white abolitionists as advocates for the slave, and the American reading public as a court of public opinion. Viewing each of these roles in light of changes in early American jurisprudence, as well as from the vantage point of specific legal crises over slavery, the article explores how figurative appropriations of legal rhetoric structured race relations in the print debate over slavery between 1830-1860.
Out of the stacks and into the studios: A creative approach to information literacy

At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students are often not aware of the library and its resources. As a way to address this gap, Flaxman Librarians have organized studio visits, in which librarians visit students’ studios to hear about their work and offer library resources to support it. Using the ACRL Framework and SAIC's core values as a guide, we are able to assess and address students' current methods/modes of research, as well as their artistic practice. In addition, we are able to forge new relationships with these students throughout their program and increase outreach to a program not targeted for traditional information literacy.
Dietary Phytochemicals, Honey Bee Longevity and Pathogen Tolerance.

Continued loss of natural habitats with native prairies and wildflower patches is eliminating diverse sources of pollen, nectar and phytochemicals therein for foraging bees. The longstanding plant-pollinator mutualism reiterates the role of phytochemicals in sustaining plant-pollinator relationship and promoting honey bee health. We studied the effects of four phytochemicals—caffeine, gallic acid, kaempferol and p-coumaric acid, on survival and pathogen tolerance in the European honey bee, Apis mellifera (L.). We recorded longevity of worker bees that were provided ad libitum access to sugar solution supplemented with different concentrations of phytochemicals. We artificially infected worker bees with the protozoan parasite, Nosema ceranae. Infected bees were provided access to the same concentrations of the phytochemicals in the sugar solution, and their longevity and spore load at mortality were determined. Bees supplemented with dietary phytochemicals survived longer and lower concentrations were generally more beneficial. Dietary phytochemicals enabled bees to combat infection as seen by reduced spore-load at mortality. Many of the phytochemicals are plant defense compounds that pollinators have evolved to tolerate and derive benefits from. Our findings support the chemical bases of co-evolutionary interactions and reiterate the importance of diversity in floral nutrition sources to sustain healthy honey bee populations by strengthening the natural mutualistic relationships.
Recurrence quantification analysis: Nonlinear wave dynamics in the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation, Response of the Tri-pendulum and FlanSea WEC and Extreme Events

Nonlinear transitions and associated dynamics are an important aspect of many natural, physical and engineering systems and are most certainly relevant to ocean engineering. In this paper, the method of recurrence plots (RP) and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) is shown to be a suitable method for the identification of nonlinear evolution in dynamical systems, by first analysing the Kuramoto-Sivashinky (KS) wave equation. The KS equation is chosen as a candidate for analysis, among many nonlinear partial differential equations, since it describes rich nonlinear evolution and shows the propagation of wave structures that possess qualitative and quantitative similarities to ocean waves and response of wave-energy-conversion devices and wave tank experiments. It captures facets of complexity such as dissipation, dispersion and nonlinearity and their interplay.After establishing the utility of the RQA for nonlinear transitions in wave dynamics via the KS equation, the heave motion of a moored buoy, treated as a 1-D second order system in a “Brownian ocean the response of a tri-pendulum wave energy conversion device and that of the point-absorber type FlanSea WEC are studied using RQA. An RQA based control strategy is postulated. Finally, NDBC buoy 42040’s significant wave height data in the year of hurricane Katrina and the next year have their RP/RQA signature created, as an introductory measure to pursue this analysis to create predictive tools in the future.
Data-driven material models for atomistic simulation

The central approximation made in classical molecular dynamics simulation of materials is the interatomic potential used to calculate the forces on the atoms. Great effort and ingenuity is required to construct viable functional forms and find accurate parametrizations for potentials using traditional approaches. Machine learning has emerged as an effective alternative approach to develop accurate and robust interatomic potentials. Starting with a very general model form, the potential is learned directly from a database of electronic structure calculations and therefore can be viewed as a multiscale link between quantum and classical atomistic simulations. Risk of inaccurate extrapolation exists outside the narrow range of time and length scales where the two methods can be directly compared. In this work, we use the spectral neighbor analysis potential (SNAP) and show how a fit can be produced with minimal interpolation errors which is also robust in extrapolating beyond training. To demonstrate the method, we have developed a tungsten-beryllium potential suitable for the full range of binary compositions. Subsequently, large-scale molecular dynamics simulations were performed of high energy Be atom implantation onto the (001) surface of solid tungsten. The machine learned W-Be potential generates a population of implantation structures consistent with quantum calculations of defect formation energies. A very shallow ($l2\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$) average Be implantation depth is predicted which may explain ITER diverter degradation in the presence of beryllium.
Temperature, health and Climate change: Ethical concepts

Climate change and global warming is a growing concern in public health. However, there is still limited understanding of the true nature and impact of temperature on morbidity and mortality. Tempe...
Tetrapyrrole Precursor Biosynthesis In Euglena and Cyanidium

Two biosynthetic routes to the heme, chlorophyll (Chl), and phycobilin precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) are known: conversion of the intact five-carbon skeleton of glutamate (Glu), and ALA synthase-catalyzed condensation of glycine (Gly) plus succinyl-CoA. Among oxygenic organisms only Euglena gracilis has yielded in vitro ALA synthase in addition to five-carbon pathway activity. The existence and physiological roles of the two pathways were assessed by determining the relative abilities of [2-14 C]Gly and [1-14 C]Glu to label protoheme, heme a, and tetrapyrrole-derived portions of Chl. In E. gracilis Chl was made predominantly from Glu, and heme a from Gly. Protoheme was made from both precursors in cells that were forming Chl, but only from Gly in dark-grown or aplastidic cells. It thus appears that E. gracilis uses ALA synthase to form mitochondrial heme precursors and the five-carbon pathway for plastid heme and Chl precursors. ALA synthase activity has not been reported in extracts of Cyanidium caldarium. Glu was incorporated to a much greater extent than Gly into both protoheme and heme a, even in cells that were unable to form Chl and phycobilins. The small incorporation of Gly could be accounted for by transfer of label to intracellular Glu pools, as determined from amino acid analysis. It thus appears that C. caldarium makes all tetrapyrroles, including mitochondrial heroes, solely from Glu.
Alcohol Use Among U.S. Adults by Weight Status and Weight Loss Attempt: NHANES, 2011-2016.

Introduction Past research examining the relationship between alcohol use and weight status has not differentiated among classes of obesity. There is limited research investigating whether adults trying to lose weight consume less alcohol. Methods In 2018–2019, the authors analyzed 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data for nonpregnant adults aged ≥20 years with BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2. Multinomial and binomial logistic regression and linear regression were used to test associations between (1) past-year alcohol use and current weight status, differentiating among Class 1, 2, and 3 obesity, and (2) past-year weight loss attempt and alcohol use, controlling for potential confounders. Analyses were stratified by sex. Results Male current drinkers versus nondrinkers had lower odds of Class 3 obesity versus healthy weight (AOR=0.62, 95% CI=0.42, 0.92); female current drinkers versus nondrinkers had lower odds of Class 1 (AOR=0.67, 95% CI=0.50, 0.90), Class 2 (AOR=0.62, 95% CI=0.46, 0.83), and Class 3 (AOR=0.66, 95% CI=0.49, 0.89) obesity versus healthy weight. Among current drinkers, less frequent alcohol use was associated with higher odds of Class 1–3 obesity versus healthy weight in both sexes (p Conclusions Lower frequency of alcohol use (both sexes) and higher continued volume (female adults only) are associated with higher odds of higher weight status. Female adults trying to lose weight drink more, despite guidelines suggesting reducing caloric intake for weight control.
Blood-based biomarkers for Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review

Down syndrome (DS) occurs due to triplication of chromosome 21. Individuals with DS face an elevated risk for development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to increased amyloid beta (Aβ) resulting from the over-expression of the amyloid precursor protein found on chromosome 21. Diagnosis of AD among individuals with DS poses particular challenges resulting in an increased focus on alternative diagnostic methods such as blood-based biomarkers. The aim of this review was to evaluate the current state of the literature of blood-based biomarkers found in individuals with DS and particularly among those also diagnosed with AD or in prodromal stages (mild cognitive impairment [MCI]). A systematic review was conducted utilizing a comprehensive search strategy. Twenty-four references were identified, of those, 22 fulfilled inclusion criteria were selected for further analysis with restriction to only plasma-based biomarkers. Studies found Aβ to be consistently higher among individuals with DS; however, the link between Aβ peptides (Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40) and AD among DS was inconsistent. Inflammatory-based proteins were more reliably found to be elevated leading to preliminary work focused on an algorithmic approach with predominantly inflammatory-based proteins to detect AD and MCI as well as predict risk of incidence among DS. Separate work has also shown remarkable diagnostic accuracy with the use of a single protein (NfL) as compared to combined proteomic profiles. This review serves to outline the current state of the literature and highlights the potential plasma-based biomarkers for use in detecting AD and MCI among this at-risk population.
Characterizing Service Level Objectives for Cloud Services: Realities and Myths

Service level objectives (SLOs) stipulate performance goals for cloud applications, microservices, and infrastructure. SLOs are widely used, in part, because system managers can tailor goals to their products, companies, and workloads. Systems research intended to support strong SLOs should target realistic performance goals used by system managers in the field. Evaluations conducted with uncommon SLO goals may not translate to real systems. Some textbooks discuss the structure of SLOs but (1) they only sketch SLO goals and (2) they use outdated examples. We mined real SLOs published on the web, extracted their goals and characterized them. Many web documents discuss SLOs loosely but few provide details and reflect real settings. Systematic literature review (SLR) prunes results and reduces bias by (1) modeling expected SLO structure and (2) detecting and removing outliers. We collected 75 SLOs where response time, query percentile and reporting period were specified. We used these SLOs to confirm and refute common perceptions. For example, we found few SLOs with response time guarantees below 10 ms for 90% or more queries. This reality bolsters perceptions that single digit SLOs face fundamental research challenges.
Web Based Instruction in Education

This study examined undergraduate students’ attitudes (n=79) toward the Web Technology. Attention was given to the relationship between attitudes (anxiety, confidence, satisfaction, and usefulness) and age, gender, and college level. Age was not found to be significantly related to attitude toward Web Technology on any of the four scales. The findings revealed that female students had more positive attitudes toward the Web than male students. The results showed that there was small difference between students’ attitudes and their collegiate classification. Senior students expressed more confidence toward the Web Technology than freshman, sophomore, and junior students. Students with wider experience with Web Technology significantly expressed more Positive attitudes toward the use of Web than those who were not receiving any type of experience from their peers.
A possible distance bias for type Ia supernovae with different ejecta velocities

After correcting for their light-curve shape and color, Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are precise cosmological distance indicators. However, there remains a non-zero intrinsic scatter in the differences between measured distance and that inferred from a cosmological model (i.e., Hubble residuals or HRs), indicating that SN Ia distances can potentially be further improved. We use the open-source relational database kaepora to generate composite spectra with desired average properties of phase, light-curve shape, and HR. At many phases, the composite spectra from two subsamples with positive and negative average HRs are significantly different. In particular, in all spectra from 9 days before to 15 days after peak brightness, we find that SNe with negative HRs have, on average, higher ejecta velocities (as seen in nearly every optical spectral feature) than SNe with positive HRs. At +4 days relative to B-band maximum, using a sample of 62 SNe Ia, we measure a 0.091 +/- 0.035 mag HR step between SNe with Si II 6355 line velocities higher/lower than -11,000 km/s (the median velocity). After light-curve shape and color correction, SNe with higher velocities tend to have underestimated distance moduli relative to a cosmological model. The intrinsic scatter in our sample reduces from 0.094 mag to 0.082 mag after making this correction. Using the Si II 6355 velocity evolution of 115 SNe Ia, we estimate that a velocity difference > 500 km/s exists at each epoch between the positive-HR and negative-HR samples with 99.4% confidence. Finally at epochs later than +37 days, we observe that negative-HR composite spectra tend to have weaker spectral features in comparison to positive-HR composite spectra.
Factors associated with the risk for falls in PACE participants.

Abstract Objective The purpose was to determine the relationship between frailty, fear of falling, and depression with falls risk in vulnerable community-dwelling older adults. Methods A cross-sectional correlational design and chart review were completed. Nursing home eligible older adults ≥55 who live in the community were surveyed on frailty, fear of falling, depression, and the risk for falls. Pearson's correlation, multiple regression and hierarchical regression were used to analyze the data. Results Increased frailty, fear of falling, and depression were significantly associated with an increased risk for falls. Frailty and fear of falling were significant predictors of the risk for falls while depression did not contribute to the regression model. When controlling for sociodemographics, frailty, fear of falling, and incontinence were significant predictors for the risk for falls. Discussion The results of this study will assist in assessment and interventions to decrease the risk for falls in high risk older adults.
Angle of Attack and Core Size Effects on Transitional Vortical-Gust–Airfoil Interactions

This paper presents high-fidelity implicit large-eddy simulations of counterclockwise-oriented parallel vortical gust interactions with a NACA0012 airfoil operating at a transitional chord-based Re...
Optimizing Components of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool for Acute Concussion Assessment.

BACKGROUND The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) could be improved by identifying critical subsets that maximize diagnostic accuracy and eliminate low information elements. OBJECTIVE To identify optimal SCAT subsets for acute concussion assessment. METHODS Using Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium data, we compared student-athletes' and cadets' preinjury baselines (n = 2178) with postinjury assessments within 6 h (n = 1456) and 24 to 48 h (n = 2394) by considering demographics, symptoms, Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC), and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) scores. We divided data into training/testing (60%/40%) sets. Using training data, we integrated logistic regression with an engineering methodology-mixed integer programming-to optimize models with ≤4, 8, 12, and 16 variables (Opt-k). We also created models including only raw scores (Opt-RS-k) and symptom, SAC, and BESS composite scores (summary scores). We evaluated models using testing data. RESULTS At <6 h and 24 to 48 h, most Opt-k and Opt-RS-k models included the following symptoms: do not feel right, headache, dizziness, sensitivity to noise, and whether physical or mental activity worsens symptoms. Opt-k models included SAC concentration and delayed recall change scores. Opt-k models had lower Brier scores (BS) and greater area under the curve (AUC) (<6 h: BS = 0.072-0.089, AUC = 0.95-0.96; 24-48 h: BS = 0.085-0.093, AUC = 0.94-0.95) than Opt-RS-k (<6 h: BS = 0.082-0.087, AUC = 0.93-0.95; 24-48 h: BS = 0.095-0.099, AUC = 0.92-0.93) and summary score models (<6 h: BS = 0.14, AUC = 0.89; 24-48 h: BS = 0.15, AUC = 0.87). CONCLUSION We identified SCAT subsets that accurately assess acute concussion and improve administration time over the complete battery, highlighting the importance of eliminating "noisy" elements. These findings can direct clinicians to the SCAT components that are most sensitive to acute concussion.
Bovine TB and badger control.

IN addition to addressing the pertinent questions on livestock production and wildlife management raised by Neil Howie ( VR , July 12, 2014, vol 175, p 52), perhaps Abraham and others ( VR , June 28, 2014, vol 174, pp 664-666) would like to reconcile their rejection of badger culling as a strategy for controlling bovine TB with the fact that the five badger culling trials in England and Ireland, before the Randomised Badger Culling Trials in 1998-2005, all produced a dramatic and sustained reduction of the disease in cattle. Even the seriously flawed …
Statistical Analysis of Porosity and Process Parameter Relationships in Metal Additive Manufacturing

Abstract Metal additive manufacturing is susceptible to formation of porosities in the build. Numerous process and material parameters have been reported to impact formation and evolution of different types of porosities in metallic additively manufactured parts. Conducting extensive experiments is a typical approach to investigate the effects of process and material parameters to formation of porosities. In this work, a computational framework is proposed to use two-point correlations to capture statistical distribution of porosities in metallic additively manufactured parts. The proposed scheme is robustly built based on mathematics of correlation functions, by combining the overall effects of all the parameters impacting porosity formation, into a coefficient term in a Fourier-type expansion of two-point correlation statistics. The functionality of the coefficients with respect to scanning speed (i.e. a process parameter) in selective laser melting of 304L stainless steel is derived numerically and consistency of the trend in change of the coefficient values compared to porosity volume fraction is confirmed. The formalism outlined and tested in this work provides a robust framework for prediction of porosity volume fraction as a function of process parameters for metal additive manufacturing.
Stay the Course: Introducing the Second Issue of JFGSS

Our approach as an editorial team is to center, edify, and interrogate first-generation student success scholarship. This entails discussion, collaboration, and debate as we hone in on research art...
Deep learning-enabled EPID-based 3D dosimetry for dose verification of step-and-shoot radiotherapy

Purpose The study aims at a novel dosimetry methodology to reconstruct a 3D dose distribution as imparted to a virtual cylindrical phantom using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Methods A deep learning-based signal processing strategy, referred to as 3DosiNet, is utilized to learn a mapping from an EPID image to planar dose distributions at given depths. The network was trained with the volumetric dose exported from the clinical treatment planning system (TPS). Given the latent inconsistency between measurements and corresponding TPS calculations, unsupervised learning is formulated in 3DosiNet to capture abstractive image features that are less sensitive to the potential variations. Results Validation experiments were performed using five regular fields and three clinical intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) cases. The measured dose profiles and percentage depth dose (PDD) curves were compared with those measured using standard tools in terms of the 1D gamma index. The mean gamma pass rates (2%/2 mm) over the regular fields are 100% and 97.3% for the dose profile and PDD measurements, respectively. The measured volumetric dose was compared to the corresponding TPS calculation in terms of the 3D gamma index. The mean 2%/2 mm gamma pass rates are 97.9% for square fields and 94.9% for the IMRT fields. Conclusions The system promises to be a practical 3D dosimetric tool for pre-treatment patient-specific quality assurance and further developed for in-treatment patient dose monitoring.
What I’ve Learned about Writing a Second Book

Much has been written to inform academics about revising a dissertation and completing a book, but most of this advice focuses on first-time authors. By contrast, there is little advice directed to...
Dark Data: Managing Cybersecurity Challenges and Generating Benefits

Data science delivers an important role in cybersecurity by utilizing the power of data, high-performance computing, and data mining to protect users against cybercrimes and threats. Due to the rapid expansion of data, there are hidden dark data in organizations that are unidentified and unmanageable. It is significant to understand the various prospects that will arise through the utilization of dark data by various organizations. They will find these data valuable to their business intelligence. In this chapter, we are introducing the methodology which will identify dark data and forecast future cybersecurity threats.
Ultrashort-pulse, terawatt, long-wave infrared lasers based on high-pressure CO2 amplifiers

We discuss the state of the art, the ongoing research and development, and the potential for achieving a supra-terawatt peak power in few-cycle pulses at a long-wave infrared wavelength with a laser system based on high-pressure, mixed-isotope CO2 amplifiers.
An 18 ns 56-bit multiply-adder circuit

A multiply-adder that achieves a 56-b X*X+Z function with cycle time of 18 ns in a 1- mu m CMOS technology is discussed. The organization requires only two pipeline stages, ensuring quick recovery from branch instructions. The design is for the fraction part of a 64-b multiply-adder and is itself 56 b wide at input and output. To achieve high performance and reasonable density, it uses Booth encoding and a Wallace tree array. Data are captured at the input latches and routed immediately to the Booth encoders, which, in addition to encoding the X input, also provide driven Y and Y-bar signals for the array. The Z input is also captured and routed to the Z shifter. Encoded X, Y-bar, and Z and shifted Z signals are all routed to the partial product array. Booth encoding for 56 b produces 29 partial products; the Z input raises the number of terms to be added to 30. The partial product array reduces this to three, at which point a second latch captures the reduced result. After the latch, the three terms are reduced to two in a full adder, and the resulting two terms added and renormalized. >
Cellular Immunity: A Role for Cytokines

Publisher Summary Certain cytokines released in response to viral infection are key in driving the progression to chronic, autoimmune heart disease in mice. This chapter studies the influence of the immune response to the virus on the subsequent development of myocarditis using mice deficient in immune cells or cytokines due to antibody treatment or genetic manipulation. This chapter focuses on the role of these cells and cytokines in the pathogenesis of myocarditis in mice. Myocardial inflammation is a major diagnostic characteristic of myocarditis. According to the current histologic definition based on the Dallas criteria, myocarditis is a process characterized by an inflammatory infiltrate of the myocardium with necrosis and/or degeneration of adjacent myocytes not typical of the ischemic damage associated with coronary artery disease. Although inflammation can also occur as a result of ischemic injury, in myocarditis, the inflammatory infiltrate plays a primary role in causing the myocardial damage.
Decay analysis of the low-mass Kππ enhancement into K890∗ and π−π systems

Abstract The low-mass K ππ enhancement is studied in K + p→K + π + π − p and K + p→ →K 0 π + π 0 p interactions at 9 GeV/ c . This enhancement consists of two peaks of mass and width M =1260±10 MeV, Γ =40±10 MeV and M =1380±20 MeV, Γ = 120±20 MeV. The main decay modes are K 890 ∗ π and ϱK, which interfere strongly. A consistent description of the data requires either an additional decay mode into K + plus an I =0 s-wave π − π system 〈 ϵ 720 0 〉 or a large interference effect between two components of the Q , or both.
In vivo effects of blood products on the endothelial glycocalyx, microvascular permeability and coagulation in severe hemorrhagic shock (676.15)

Transfusion with blood and blood products are used to treat hemorrhage and improve tissue oxygen delivery. However, since the effects of products such as packed red blood cells (PRBC) on the EG are unknown, we compared the effects of resuscitation with blood products to fresh whole blood (FWB) on cremaster muscle venules. Anesthetized rats subjected to 1h of HS were resuscitated with 1:1 PRBC:LR (Lactated Ringer's), 1:1 wPRBC (washed PRBC):LR or FWB. EG thickness, blood flow and permeability were studied using intravital microscopy. Hemodynamics and coagulation tests (ROTEM) were performed. EG thickness and permeability were restored in the PRBC:LR compared to FWB and SHAM groups, but not in wPRBC:LR (p 30% in wPRBC: LR. Resuscitation with FWB was superior in reverting coagulopathy, restoring EG, permeability and blood flow. PRBC:LR improved EG and permeability (due to t...
Ferredoxin-reducing substance (FRS) from spinach: II. Separation and assay

Abstract Ferredoxin-reducing substance (FRS), a new electron-transfer component of the photosynthetic electron-transport chain, appears to function on the reducing side of photosystem I. It protects against the inhibition of photosystem I reactions by antibodies specifically inhibiting anthraquinone and NADP reduction. An antigenic substance prepared from ether-extracted chloroplasts, with some properties similar to those of FRS, protects only against the antibody specifically blocking anthraquinone reduction. When chloroplast fragments depleted of FRS catalyze a Mehler-type reaction, maximal rates of oxygen uptake occur only when both FRS and methyl viologen are present; either alone is insufficient. These findings support the view that FRS accepts electrons from the system I photoact and in a subsequent dark reaction transfers them to low-potential redox carriers such as ferredoxin or methyl viologen. It is one of a number of preparations from chloroplasts which catalyze reactions associated with photosynthetic electron transport. Based on their properties, it is suggested that they may have a limited common identity.
Integrating Technology into Preservice Literacy Instruction: A Survey of Elementary Education Students' Attitudes toward Computers.

AbstractMany teacher education programs are integrating technology experiences into professional education courses. This study examined the attitudes toward the use of computers by preservice teachers before and after a semester-long literacy course that required the use of technology to complete assignments and activities. Sixty-three undergraduate education students participated in this study by completing pre- and postcourse surveys consisting of three attitude-toward-computer instruments. Two of the three instruments revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean scores from pre- to postcourse surveys, suggesting that both the Computer Attitude Questionaire (CAQ, Knezek and Miyashita, 1994) and the modified Computer Attitude Scale for Secondary Students (CASS, Jones and Clarke, 1994) adequately ascertain shifts in attitudes toward computers when adding a technology component to existing literacy courses. The results of this study suggest that increases in positive attitudes toward compute...
Effect of fluid velocity on model-estimated rates of radial solute diffusion in a cylindrical macropore column

[1] Solute transfer between regions of high and low permeability will limit rates of aquifer remediation in the field and can also affect solute transport through laboratory columns. Transport in systems with such rate limitations is often modeled by assuming that advective transport occurs only in the high-permeability region (mobile domain) and that solute movement within the lower-permeability region (immobile domain) is via diffusion only. The validity of such models was explored by experimentally observing the influence of pore water velocity on the apparent rates of transfer within a geometrically well defined, two-domain system. Tritiated water tracer (3H2O) experiments were conducted in a 7-cm soil column with a central cylindrical zone of highly permeable material surrounded by an annulus of relatively impermeable finer-grained sediment. Experimental pore water velocities spanned over two orders of magnitude and included “long” and “short” solute input pulse lengths. The breakthrough data were interpreted using a first-order mass transfer model (FOM) and a Fickian pore-diffusion model (PDM). As expected, the rate parameters fitted to the PDM were less sensitive to pore water velocity than those estimated using the FOM. Nonetheless, parameters for the PDM exhibited a negative correlation with pore water velocity. Reestimated parameters from experiments of Young and Ball (1998) showed similar scaling. The velocity dependency indicates deficiencies in inherent model assumptions of both the FOM and the PDM. For the PDM, reasons for the velocity dependency may include mass transfer limitations in the mobile domain and/or heterogeneity of diffusion rates within the immobile domain.
The contribution of the extracellular matrix to gravisensing in characean cells

The cell-extracellular matrix junction, which includes the cell wall and the outer surface of the plasma membrane, may be an essential region for the perception of gravity by the internodal cells of Chara corallina. Typically, when an internodal cell is oriented vertically, the downwardly directed cytoplasmic stream travels at a velocity that is 10% faster than that of the upwardly directed stream. However when the cells are treated with impermeant hydrolytic enzymes that partially digest cellulose or hemicellulose, the cells lose their ability to respond to gravity even though streaming continues. By contrast, enzymes that digest pectins have no effect on the gravity-induced polarity of cytoplasmic streaming. Furthermore, gravisensing is sensitive to protease treatment; Proteinase K, thermolysin and collagenase but not trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin or carboxypeptidase B, inhibit gravisensing. These findings indicate that proteins in the cell-extracellular matrix junction may be required for gravisensing. Moreover, the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) inhibits gravisensing in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that the gravireceptor may be an integrin-like protein. The macromolecules necessary for gravisensing have been localized to the cell ends. As a consequence of the exoplasmic site of action of the enzymes and the tetrapeptides, we interpret the results to mean that they are acting on the gravireceptor, although we cannot eliminate the possibility that they are acting on the signal transduction chain. On the whole, our observations indicate that the cell-extracellular matrix junction is a sine qua non for graviperception in statolith-free Chara internodal cells and we suggest that the gravireceptor is located in this region.
Deterministic pion and muon transport in Earth’s atmosphere

Abstract An accurate understanding of the physical interactions and transport of space radiation is important for safe and efficient space operations. Secondary particles produced by primary particle interactions with intervening materials are an important contribution to radiation risk. Pions are copiously produced in the nuclear interactions typical of space radiations and can therefore be an important contribution to radiation exposure. Charged pions decay almost exclusively to muons. As a consequence, muons must also be considered in space radiation exposure studies. In this work, the NASA space radiation transport code HZETRN has been extended to include the transport of charged pions and muons. The relevant transport equation, solution method, and implemented cross sections are reviewed. Muon production in the Earth’s upper atmosphere is then investigated, and comparisons with recent balloon flight measurements of differential muon flux are presented. Muon production from the updated version of HZETRN is found to match the experimental data well.