cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil moisture mapping using ESTAR under dry conditions from the Southern Great Plains Experiment (SGP99)

The electronically scanned thin array radiometer (ESTAR) was utilized for soil moisture mapping during the Southern Great Plains Experiment (SGP99). A retrieval algorithm was applied to obtain soil moisture from passive microwave measurements at 1.4 GHz. The algorithm was verified using ground data collected during SGP99. The results indicate a good correlation between observed and predicted soil moisture values and are consistent with results obtained from the same instrument in previous experiments. The present results demonstrate the validity of the retrieval algorithm for moderately to extremely dry soils. The ESTAR measurements along with ancillary data were used to create soil moisture maps of the entire region.
Conversion to lamotrigine monotherapy from valproate monotherapy in older adolescent patients with epilepsy

ABSTRACTBackground: Pharmacokinetic interactions can make necessary anti-epileptic medication (AED) changes hazardous for children with epilepsy. We report the utility of a dosing algorithm designed to maintain stable trough lamotrigine (LTG) concentrations during conversion from valproate (VPA) to LTG monotherapy in adolescents aged 16–20 years.Methods: Patients were enrolled into the study if they required a change in their AED regimen due to lack of efficacy or intolerable side effects. Conversion to LTG monotherapy took place in a four part treatment algorithm. Lamotrigine was escalated according to a target dose of 200 mg/day over 8‐weeks. Valproate was withdrawn over a period of 2–6 weeks, depending on the initial dose. Lamotrigine dose was further escalated to 500 mg/day and continued for four weeks as monotherapy. Trough serum concentrations of LTG were measured during each phase of the trial.Results: Twelve of 16 patients completed the study. After the LTG escalation to 200 mg/day, mean trough se...
Decoupling of Host–Symbiont–Phage Coadaptations Following Transfer Between Insect Species

Transferring endosymbiotic bacteria between different host species can perturb the coordinated regulation of the host and bacterial genomes. Here we use the most common maternally transmitted bacteria, Wolbachia pipientis, to test the consequences of host genetic background on infection densities and the processes underlying those changes in the parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia. Introgressing the genome of Nasonia giraulti into the infected cytoplasm of N. vitripennis causes a two-order-of-magnitude increase in bacterial loads in adults and a proliferation of the infection to somatic tissues. The host effect on W. pipientis distribution and densities is associated with a twofold decrease in densities of the temperate phage WO-B. Returning the bacteria from the new host species back to the resident host species restores the bacteria and phage to their native densities. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report a host–microbe genetic interaction that affects the densities of both W. pipientis and bacteriophage WO-B. The consequences of the increased bacterial density include a reduction in fecundity, an increase in levels of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), and unexpectedly, male-to-female transfer of the bacteria to uninfected females and an increased acceptance of densely infected females to interspecific mates. While paternal inheritance of the W. pipientis was not observed, the high incidence of male-to-female transfer in the introgressed background raises the possibility that paternal transmission could be more likely in hybrids where paternal leakage of other cytoplasmic elements is also known to occur. Taken together, these results establish a major change in W. pipientis densities and tissue tropism between closely related species and support a model in which phage WO, Wolbachia, and arthropods form a tripartite symbiotic association in which all three are integral to understanding the biology of this widespread endosymbiosis.
Variance controlled shear stiffness images for MRE data

In the magnetic resonance elastography experiment we consider a harmonically oscillating mechanical force applied to the boundary surface of a phantom and synchronized with the motion encoding gradient. The phantom is symmetric in the direction of the applied mechanical force and the vector component in that direction decouples from the other components and satisfies a Helmholtz equation. We present a local inversion method to determine the shear wave speed that: (1) treats the phase and amplitude of the data differently; (2) computes derivatives of the data by using statistically justified filtering; and (3) varies filters according to SNR. We test our methods on data from Mayo Clinic and recover the position and stiffness of a 3 mm diameter inclusion.
3D high temporal and spatial resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the whole brain.

Sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and partial Fourier techniques have been shown to reduce the acquisition time and provide high diagnostic image quality. However, for time-resolved acquisitions there is a need for both high temporal and spatial resolution. View sharing can be used to provide an increased frame rate but at the cost of acquiring spatial frequencies over a duration longer than a frame time. In this work, we hypothesize that a CArtesian Projection Reconstruction-like (CAPR) technique in combination with 2D SENSE, partial Fourier, and view sharing can provide 1 to 2 mm isotropic resolution with sufficient temporal resolution to distinguish intracranial arterial and venous phases of contrast passage in whole-brain angiography. In doing so, the parameter of "temporal footprint" is introduced as a descriptor for characterizing and comparing time-resolved view-shared pulse sequences. It is further hypothesized that short temporal footprint sequences have higher temporal fidelity than similar sequences with longer temporal footprints. The tradeoff of temporal footprint and temporal acceleration is presented and characterized in numerical simulations. Results from 11 whole-brain CE-MRA studies with the new method with SENSE acceleration factors R = 4 and 5.3 are shown to provide images of comparable or higher diagnostic quality than the unaccelerated reference.
Satellite and in situ observations of the bio-optical signatures of two mesoscale eddies in the Sargasso Sea

Satellite ocean-color imagery and field spectroradiometer observations are used to assess the bio- optical signatures of two mesoscale features, a cyclone C1 and an 181-water anticyclone A4, in the Sargasso Sea. Field determinations of upper layer bio-optical properties, such as the diffuse attenuation coefficient and remote-sensing reflectance spectra, show little statistically significant variations with distance to the eddy center for either eddy. This contrasts field observations showing many-fold higher phytoplankton pigment biomass at depth (and for A4 higher primary production rates at depth) than is typical for this region. The cyclone C1 does show a significant decrease in the depth of the 1% photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) isolume with increasing distance from eddy center while the anticyclone A4 shows no coherent signal vs. distance. Vertical profiles of bio-optical properties show consistent patterns where subsurface maxima are displaced higher inside the core of the cyclone C1 than in the surrounding waters while the highest values of the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 443 nm are observed within the core of anticyclone A4. Satellite observations of near-surface bio-optical properties show signals consistent with eddy physical characteristics, although the magnitude of these variations is very small, barely detectable by typical field measurement protocols. Mean values of bio- optical properties are higher within the cyclone compared with its periphery but not for the anticyclone. For both eddies, significant inverse correlations are observed between time series of bio-optical properties and eddy center sea-level anomaly. Consistent response to wind speed is also noted: following strong wind events, bio-optical parameters are elevated inside the anticyclone and are reduced inside the cyclone. These observations demonstrate that a combination of physical processes, including vertical eddy uplift, eddy horizontal advection, and eddy-scale Ekman pumping, contribute to the bio-optical imprint of mesoscale eddies. The contributions of these forcing mechanisms change over the period of observation, illustrating the limitations of inferring eddy bio-optical dynamics from short- term, field observations. The present analyses provide insights into the potential as well as the drawbacks of bio-optical techniques for probing the biological and biogeochemical impacts of open- ocean eddies.
Target-Specific Properties of Thalamocortical Synapses onto Layer 4 of Mouse Primary Visual Cortex

In primary sensory cortices, thalamocortical (TC) inputs can directly activate excitatory and inhibitory neurons. In vivo experiments in the main input layer (L4) of primary visual cortex (V1) have shown that excitatory and inhibitory neurons have different tuning properties. The different functional properties may arise from distinct intrinsic properties of L4 neurons, but could also depend on cell type-specific properties of the synaptic inputs from the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (LGN) onto L4 neurons. While anatomical studies identified LGN inputs onto both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in V1, their synaptic properties have not been investigated. Here we used an optogenetic approach to selectively activate LGN terminal fields in acute coronal slices containing V1, and recorded monosynaptic currents from excitatory and inhibitory neurons in L4. LGN afferents made monosynaptic connections with pyramidal (Pyr) and fast-spiking (FS) neurons. TC EPSCs on FS neurons were larger and showed steeper short-term depression in response to repetitive stimulation than those on Pyr neurons. LGN inputs onto Pyr and FS neurons also differed in postsynaptic receptor composition and organization of presynaptic release sites. Together, our results demonstrate that LGN input onto L4 neurons in mouse V1 have target-specific presynaptic and postsynaptic properties. Distinct mechanisms of activation of feedforward excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the main input layer of V1 are likely to endow neurons with different response properties to incoming visual stimuli.
An argument in favor of the presumed commit protocol

The authors argue in favor of the presumed commit protocol by proposing two new presumed commit variants that significantly reduce the cost of logging activities associated with the original presumed commit protocol. Furthermore, for read-only transactions, they apply their unsolicited update-vote optimization and show that the cost associated with this type of transactions is the same in both presumed commit and presumed abort protocols, thus, nullifying the basis for the argument that favors the presumed abort protocol. This is especially important for modern distributed environments which are characterized by high reliability and high probability of transactions being committed rather than aborted.
The Role of Videotaped Feedback in the Instruction of Public Speaking: A Quantitative Synthesis of Published Empirical Research

This article summarizes published experimental studies dealing with the use of video taping to provide feedback to students in public speaking courses. Metaanalytic procedures were used to summarize twelve published studies. Results of the analysis indicate that the use of videotaping to provide feedback to students in public speaking courses results in better content of student speeches, greater acquisition ofpublic speaking skills, better performance on objective tests, andmore positive attitudes toward the course in public speaking. In addition to these positive effects, no statistically significant increase in anxiety is experienced by students when video technology is utilized in the classroom to provide feedback to students in public speaking courses. For almost three decades, videotaped feedback has been utilized in basic courses in public speaking as an instructional aid. The camera's ability to preserve the rtonverbal and verbal elements of students' speaking performances for subsequent review and analysis has proven to be a powerful pedagogical tool. The trends toward educational technology and distance learning combined with falling costs have made this technology particularly accessible to basic courses across the country. The use of videotaped feedback in the instruction of public speaking has become a permanent feature of the basic course.
Testosterone binding by a protein isolated from urine of adult male rats.

The serum concentration of a low molecular weight a-globulin is greater in male than in female rats and can be increased in females by testosterone administration. An electrophoretically identical protein prepared from male rat urine weakly binds testosterone and etiocholanolone. If the 2 proteins are chemically identical, the low association constants obtained with the urinary protein indicate that the androgen-dependent serum protein does not play an important role in transport of either steroid. (Endocrinology 86: 419, 1970)
Transnationalism and Hypertension Self-Management Among Haitian Immigrants:

Purpose: Transnationalism—maintenance of transborder activities—has important implications for the health status of contemporary immigrants. Yet little is known about how such interconnectivity interacts with health. Design: In this critical ethnography study, 31 Haitian immigrants discussed the influences of transnationalism on their hypertension management. Transcripts of the semistructured individual interviews were analyzed and coded with the assistance of the Atlas.ti 6 software. Findings: Two major themes emerged: social support and financial obligation, both framed within the obligation to send monetary remittances. A duality emerged where social support facilitated hypertension self-management but consequently represented a financial burden. Discussion and implications: The study evidenced that transnationalism, although positively influencing immigrants’ psychosocial well-being can negatively affect their experience with disease management. Health providers are urged to account for this transnati...
Detection and localization of actin mRNA isoforms in chicken muscle cells by in situ hybridization using biotinated oligonucleotide probes.

In situ hybridization is a technique that demonstrates the morphological disposition of DNA or RNA within cells, tissue sections, or chromosome preparations. Intracellular mRNA is hybridized with the complementary probe, and the hybrids within their morphological context are detected by probe labeled in a variety of ways,
Duodenal loading with glucose induces Fos expression in rat brain: selective blockade by devazepide

The role of CCK in mediating neuronal activity in the brain in response to dietary carbohydrate was measured by detecting Fos immunoreactivity in response to duodenal glucose load in rats after administration of the CCK-A receptor antagonist devazepide. In adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats, infusion for 30 min of 545 mg (2.18 kcal) dextrose through a duodenal cannula induced Fos expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), area postrema (AP), lateral division of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeAL), and the external subnucleus of the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBE). Devazepide treatment (1 mg/kg) attenuated Fos expression in the NTS and AP by 81 and 78%, respectively, but not in the CeAL or LPBE. These results indicate that central neuronal activation is elicited by dietary glucose in the intestinal lumen and that activation of neurons in the NTS and AP is mediated by CCK-A receptors.
Collaborative management to achieve depression treatment guidelines.

Two models that integrate the psychiatrist into treatment of depression in primary care have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials. In the psychiatrist/primary care model, a psychiatrist alternated visits with a primary care physician to assist in the education and pharmacologic treatment of the patient. In the psychiatrist/psychologist team model, the psychiatrist worked with a team of psychologists to improve adherence to and effectiveness of antidepressant treatment, with psychologists also providing brief behavioral treatment in the primary care clinic. Findings with the psychiatry/primary care model are reported. It was found that the collaborative model was associated with improved adherence to treatment, increased patient satisfaction with depression care, and improved depression outcome compared with usual care by primary care physicians alone. Similar results were found in the study of the psychiatrist/psychologist collaborative care model. The success of these models indicates the appropriateness of a novel role for the psychiatrist and psychologist, i.e., that of collaboration with primary care physicians in care of the depressed patient in the primary care setting.
The Thermal Dependence of the Rates of Glycogen and Triglyceride Synthesis in the Mosquito

1. Net synthesis of glycogen and triglycerides produced from 1 mg. of sugar by the female mosquito A. sollicitans was determined at different temperatures. 2. At each temperature 0·2 mg. of glycogen and 0·13-0·14 mg. of triglycerides was synthesized from 1 mg. of sugar. 3. The logarithm of the rate constant (the time required to synthesize 75 % of the maximum) was proportional with the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. 4. For triglyceride synthesis the Q 10 = 3 from 10 to 30° C.; for glycogen synthesis the Q 10 = 5 from 10 to 22·5°C., but from 22·5 to 35° C. the rate of glycogen synthesis was independent of the temperature (Q 10 = 0). 5. Crop emptying and sugar absorption are not rate-limiting factors. 6. Medial neurosecretory cells, which limit the maximum amount of glycogen that can be synthesized from sugar, do not affect the rate of synthesis.
Stimulation of HeLa Cell Growth by a Serum Fraction with Sulfation Factor Activity

SummaryA calf serum fraction with sulfation factor activity was shown to stimulate growth of HeLa cells in Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with “nonessential” amino acids and bovine serum albumin. The results are discussed in light of the influence of pituitary growth hormone on sulfation factor activity in serum and of similarities in effects of the latter and insulin.
Leistungsspektrum nephrologischer Krankenhausabteilungen – Wie ist die aktuelle Situation in Deutschland?

Die zunehmende Anzahl der zertifizierten nephrologischen Klinken hat die Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Nephrologie (DGfN) in die Situation versetzt, eine qualitativ hochwertige, flachendeckende Versorgung chronisch nierenkranker Patienten auch im stationaren Bereich darzustellen. Die Qualitatsrichtlinie Dialyse, die demnachst auch sektorenubergreifend die Daten der stationaren Dialysepatienten erfassen soll, wird vermutlich die Anfrage nach zertifizierten Schwerpunktabteilungen noch verstarken. Die hierzu geforderten Qualitatsparameter und die Daten aus der longitudinalen Erfassung werden in Zukunft in das Leistungsspektrum der nephrologischen Kliniken einfliesen. Daneben ist eine intensive Kooperation mit Disziplinen, die ebenfalls (v. a. auf der Intensivstation) Nierenersatzverfahren einsetzen (Intensivmedizin und Kardiologie) fur das Leistungsspektrum einer grosen nephrologischen Abteilung wichtig.
Wound-Induced Polyploidy Is Required for Tissue Repair

Significance: All organs suffer wounds to some extent during an animal's lifetime and to compensate for cell loss, tissues often rely on cell division. However, many organs are made up of differentiated cells with only a limited capacity to divide. It is not well understood how cells are replaced in the absence of cell division. Recent Advances: Recent studies in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster have proven that wound-induced polyploidy (WIP) is an essential mechanism to replace tissue mass and restore tissue integrity in the absence of cell division. In this repair mechanism, preexisting differentiated cells increase their DNA content and cell size by becoming polyploid. Critical Issues: Cells within mammalian organs such as the liver, heart, and cornea have also been observed to increase their DNA ploidy in response to injury, suggesting that WIP may be an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to compensate for cell loss. Future Directions: The Hippo signal transduction pathway is required for differentiated cells to initiate WIP in Drosophila. Continued studies in Drosophila will help to identify other signaling pathways required for WIP as well as the conserved mechanisms that polyploid cells may play during wound repair in all organisms.
Summarized vs. Type-Specific Analysis of Antibody to Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharides

Type-specific analysis (based on the measurement of concentrations of individual types of pneumococcal antibody in sera from many patients) and summarized analysis (based on the measurement of the geometric mean concentrations of many different pneumococcal antibody types in serum from one patient) were compared to determine which type of analysis provided the better measure of central tendency of the response of a patient group to immunization with tetradecavalent pneumococcal vaccine. With use of data from a group of normal children and patients with idiopathic vaccine. With use of data from a group of normal children and patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and the statistical method of linear discriminant analysis applied to the logarithms of the antibody concentrations, type-specific analysis was shown to be the preferable measure of central tendency.
Molecular Basis of Resistance to Inhibitors of the cyt BC1 Complex in Photosynthetic Bacteria

The ubiquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase (or the cyt bc 1 complex) is a membrane-bound redox-driven proton pump present in mitochondria of eukaryotes and in many prokaryotes, including photosynthetic bacteria. A similar complex, cyt b 6 f, is also present in plant chloroplasts (1,2,3). During respiration and photosynthesis, these evolutionary well-conserved energy-transducing complexes catalyze electron transfer from lipid soluble quinol derivatives, ubiquinol and plastoquinol, to water soluble electron acceptors, cytochrome c and plastocyanin. in general, they always contain two b-type cytochromes, of different spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties (cyt b L and b H ), carried by a single polypeptide of approximately 40 kDa, a c-type cytochrome of about 30 kDa, and a 2Fe2S cluster containing protein of about 20 kDa (1,3). The structural genes of the three redox-active subunits of the cyt bc 1 complexes of various bacteria have been isolated and their nucleotide sequences have been determined (4,5,6,7). In Rhodobacter capsulatus these three genes are clustered and named fbc (4) or pet (5), with their 5′ to 3′ order being petA (fbcF) (Rieske FeS protein), petB (fbcB) (cyt b) and petC (fbcC) (cyt c 1 ).
The economic feasibility of pharmacy patient medication profiles.

The product provided by the pharmacist con? sists of services offered and drugs dispensed. In the past, the physical product was empha? sized because most prescriptions required the pharmacist's unique knowledge of how best to combine drug ingredients. However, the ad? vent of prefabrication in the pharmaceutical industry resulted in a steady decline in de? mand for extemporaneously compounded me dicinals,1 and in a reappraisal of the pharma? cist's role in delivering health care. The main thrust of this reappraisal has been to empha? size the pharmacist's convenience and profes? sional services. This paper studies one of the latter class of services. An important professional service rendered by the pharmacist is drug-use monitoring. To deliver this service successfully, the pharma? cist must maintain a record of information rel? evant to the patient's drug therapy.2 Called a "patient medication profile," this record con? tains the patient's name, address, telephone number, birth date, weight, drug allergies, dis? ease states, and other idiosyncracies that might account for untoward drug reactions. It also contains drug-related information such as prescription number, date dispensed, dispens ing pharmacist, prescribing physician, drug name, drug strength, quantity dispensed, price, and over-the-counter drugs used.2 The major reasons for establishing this ser? vice are: 1) The rise in drug interactions; 2) the prevalence of allergic conditions or dis? ease states that may alter drug actions; 3) the rise in patient self-medication. These fac? tors have been cited as leading to injury or death.3-11 When properly used, patient medica? tion profiles have been claimed to involve many costs and benefits. Among the benefits cited are:12"19
University student voices on healing and recovery following tragedy

OBJECTIVE: Guided by conservation of resources theory, this study provides empirical data on students' psychosocial adjustment following a mass murder tragedy, what changed or did not change from their pretragedy adjustment levels, and their view on what helped most in the immediate aftermath. METHOD: Students (n = 593) who participated in a study of college adjustment the year prior to a mass murder that affected the university community were recontacted following the tragedy, providing prospective, longitudinal data (n = 141 pretragedy Time 1 and posttragedy; n = 73 pretragedy Times 1 and 2 and posttragedy). RESULTS: For both anxiety and depression, repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant Time × Resource Loss interaction. Students with any resource loss had a steeper incline in symptoms than did students reporting no resource loss. From pre- to posttragedy, there was an increase in psychological sense of school membership but no change in general self-efficacy and social support. Students with clinical levels of posttragedy distress reported more childhood trauma and depression symptoms at college entry. Student-initiated and -led memorial activities were rated as most helpful. IMPLICATIONS: Perceived resource loss is important in understanding the impact of the trauma on mental health and could be a part of intake for supportive services. Given that it was the students with greater prior trauma exposure and depression symptoms who were more likely to have clinical distress posttragedy, targeted outreach to current and former university counseling center clients to "check in" may be helpful to reach those who may be in most need. (PsycINFO Database Record(c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
George W. Bush and Africa in the New Millennium

President George W. Bush came into office with little interest in Africa but this changed after the Al Qaeda attack on US soil on September 11, 2001. There were three key trends during the Bush years: neoliberal consolidation, a massive increase in development assistance mostly targeting the health sector, and an increase in Africa’s strategic importance. In relation to Africa, the first trend was embodied in the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as well as continuation of pro-investment policies developed during previous administrations. The increase in funding was largely to combat disease in the form of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as well as the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). By the end of the administration, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), a new unified combatant command focused on Africa, was operative. In the new post-2001 strategic context, Africa took on greater importance as a source of oil and as a potential base for terrorists who opposed US interests. Although it took a little while for the Bush administration to act on this, there was a growing consensus that African development was key to strengthening African states and also that the United States needed to portray itself as interested in humanitarian concerns, not just strategic concerns.
It all Comes Down to Icare

My teaching philosophy encompasses key tenets that influence how I approach teaching. The acronym ICARE represents those beliefs.
Constraint Satisfaction Problems

When proving theorems, we have a luxury that is so fundamental, we often take it for granted: If we need to work with an object, we say “let x be \(\langle\) the object in question\(\rangle\)” and we move on with the proof. Especially in the finite setting it is obvious that, given enough patience, we should be able to find the object: Simply try out all possibilities and, if there is an object as desired, at least one of them will work. As long as we are not interested in the object itself, this approach is very efficient for developing a theory.
Comment on solution of differential-algebraic equations through gradient flow embedding

Abstract The paper “On the solution of differential-algebraic equations through gradient flow embedding,” Computers and Chemical Engineering, 103 (2017), 165–173, presents an algorithm that is designed to integrate some index one DAEs. This letter reviews index one DAEs, and clarifies how the assumptions of the algorithm fit within a more general framework. The types of index one DAEs for which the new algorithm are not appropriate are discussed.
Consumer Attitudes Towards Privacy and Security in Home Assistants

Home assistants such as Amazon's Echo and Google's Home have become a common household item. In this paper we investigate if and what consumers have reported online (in the form of reviews) related to privacy and security after purchasing or using these devices. We use natural language processing to first identify privacy and security related reviews, and then to investigate the topics consumers discuss within the reviews. We were interested in understanding consumers' major concerns. Issues and/or concerns related to security and privacy have have been reported within reviews; however, these topics only account for 2% of the total reviews given for these devices. Three major concerns were highlighted in our findings: data collection and scope, "creepy" device behavior, and violations of personal privacy thresholds.
When payoffs look like probabilities: Separating form and content in risky choice

Paralleling research in perception, behavioral models of risky choice posit "psychophysical" transformations of material outcomes and probabilities. Prospect theory assumes a value function that is concave for gains and convex for losses, and an inverse S-shaped probability weighting function. But in typical experiments, form and content are confounded: Probabilities are represented on a bounded numerical scale, whereas representations of monetary gains (losses) are unbounded above (below). To unconfound form and content, we conducted experiments using a probability-like representation of outcomes and an outcome-like representation of probability. We show that interchanging numerical representations can interchange the resulting psychophysical functions: A proportional (rather than absolute) representation of outcomes leads to an inverse S-shaped value function for gains. This alternative value function generates novel framing effects, a common ratio effect for bounded gains, and a "framing interaction," where gain-loss framing matters less for proportional outcomes. In addition, we show that an absolute (rather than proportional) representation of probability reduces sensitivity to large probabilities. These findings highlight the deeply constructive nature of the psychophysics of risky choice, and suggest that traditional models may reflect subjective reactions to numerical form rather than substantive content. (PsycINFO Database Record
Multinuclear spin relaxation and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance studies of food proteins, agriculturally important materials and related systems.

An overview of the applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques in Agriculture and Food Chemistry, covering high-resolution, solid-state, pulsed gradient and two-dimensional techniques is presented. The systems investigated by such techniques range from purified proteins to mixtures, starch granules and wheat grains.
Influence of Columnar Microstructure on Ultrasonic Backscattering

Most structural materials are polycrystalline, that is, they are composed of numerous discrete grains, each having a regular, crystalline atomic structure. The elastic properties of the grains are anisotropic and their crystallographic axes are differently oriented. When an ultrasonic wave propagates through such a polycrystalline aggregate, it is scattered at the grain boundaries. The fraction of sound energy thus removed from the main beam is responsible for important phenomenons like attenuation and dispersion of the main beam, and background “noise” associated with a given ultrasonic inspection system. The amount of sound energy removed from the main beam depends on the size, shape, and orientation distributions of the grains. If the grains are equiaxed and randomly oriented, propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave has no effect upon the magnitude of the scattered energy. Such is not the case when an acoustic wave travels through materials like centrifugally cast stainless steel and austenitic stainless steel welds, which are used extensively in nuclear power plants. The microstructures of these stainless steels vary from randomly oriented, equiaxed grains to highly oriented, columnar grains.1,2 Since the backscattered signals tend to mask the signals from small and subtle defects, the estimation of probability of detection of such defects requires quantitative description of these signals. Consequently, an effort has been undertaken in this research to quantify the backscattered signals from microstructures with favored grain orientation and grain elongation.
High-Speed 3D Imaging with Digital Fringe Projection Techniques

Fascinated by the marvelous work that Professor Jim Wyant has done in both academy and industry, I decided to pursue a career in the field of 3D optical metrology in my early graduate study. I took advantage of the modern digital technology for 3D optical metrology to address the challenges in high-speed, high-resolution 3D optical metrology and optical information processing. This paper summarizes what I have done to achieve speed breakthroughs in the field of 3D optical metrology using digital fringe projection techniques, to achieve real-time 3D video streaming by compressing enormous 3D video data size, and to solve some practical problems using the techniques we have developed including biomechanics, robotics, forensics, and entertainment.
QDI Constant-Time Counters

Counters are a generally useful circuit that appear in many contexts. Because of this, the design space for clocked counters has been widely explored. However, the same cannot be said for robust clockless counters. To resolve this, we designed an array of constant response time counters using the most robust clockless logic family, quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) circuits. We compare our designs to their closest QDI counterparts from the literature, showing significant improvements in design quality metrics including transistor count, energy per operation, frequency, and latency in a 28-nm process. We also compare our designs against prototypical synchronous counters generated by commercial logic synthesis tools.
Probing the Transformation of Boron Nitride Catalysts under Oxidative Dehydrogenation Conditions

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) were recently reported as highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes to olefins in the gas phase. Previous studies revealed a substantial increase in surface oxygen content after exposure to ODH conditions (heating to ca. 500 °C under a flow of alkane and oxygen); however, the complexity of these materials has thus far precluded an in-depth understanding of the oxygenated surface species. In this contribution, we combine advanced NMR spectroscopy experiments with scanning electron microscopy and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize the molecular structure of the oxygen functionalized phase that arises on h-BN and BNNT following catalytic testing for ODH of propane. The pristine BN materials are readily oxidized and hydrolyzed under ODH reaction conditions to yield a phase consisting of three-coordinate boron sites with variable numbers of hydroxyl and bridging oxide groups which is denoted B(...
Spatiotemporal Analysis and Epidemiology of Kawasaki Disease in Western New York: A 16-Year Review of Cases Presenting to a Single Tertiary Care Center

Background:Kawasaki disease (KD) is one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in children in developed nations. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that KD is related to an infectious agent; however, the cause remains unknown. Yearly incidence in Japan has been steadily increasing, but few lon
Characterization of fatigue behavior of Al-Li alloy 2099

Abstract Experiments and modeling were performed to quantify the microstructure-fatigue properties relationship of wrought aluminum-lithium alloy 2099 (AA2099) plate. Microstructural morphology was examined via optical microscopy, SEM, and TEM techniques. The mechanical properties were determined through monotonic tensile and fully reversed fatigue testing. The rolled AA2099 was shown to have large elongated columnar grains several millimeters long. Metastable secondary phases, T1 and δ′, were observed and provided strength to the material. Fractography determined fatigue cracks initiate from copper-rich constituent particles. These particles ranged from 1 to 25 μm in size, with an average size of 12 μm. The size of these intermetallic Cu-rich particles influenced the fatigue life of AA2099. Lastly, a microstructure-sensitive fatigue model was used to correlate the various effects of intermetallic particle sizes on the fatigue life of AA2099.
Sleep and the impact of caffeine, supplements, and other stimulants

Abstract Caffeinated energy drinks are immensely popular and increasingly consumed by youth and adults internationally to counteract effects of insufficient sleep, and improve performance. However, the research over last decade has observed an increased prevalence of sleep-related complaints in caffeine-users. With increased awareness of the role of sleep disturbances in health and disease in general public, the review of this bidirectional nature of caffeinated products and sleep disturbances is critical. This chapter will review the epidemiology of caffeine, energy drinks, and prescribed stimulants. We will then discuss the mechanism of caffeine on sleep-wake homeostasis and address the genetic and environmental factors related to the individual variation of caffeine effects on sleep. The health consequences due to caffeine-sleep paradigm will be briefly discussed. Finally, we will include few recommendations keeping in mind the limitations in the current literature.
Expression of Mir-196b Is Not Exclusively MLL-Driven but Especially Linked to Activation of HOXA Genes in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Abstract Abstract 580 MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in diverse biological processes including hematopoiesis. As a consequence, aberrant expression of miRNAs may contribute to hematopoietic malignancies. It has been reported that miR-196b is transcriptionally activated by MLL and MLL-fusion genes and is therefore highly expressed in MLL-rearranged leukemia. In order to investigate whether high expression levels of miR-196b are restricted to MLL-rearranged leukemia cases, we measured the expression in samples of 72 selected pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases i.e. MLL-rearranged and non-MLL-rearranged precursor B-ALL and T-ALL patients. MiR-196b was highly expressed in 9/12 MLL-rearranged precursor B-ALL patients, but also in 14/22 T-ALL patients. In particular, 100% of T-ALL cases carrying CALM-AF10 (n=5), MLL-AF6 (n=2), SET-NUP214 (n=3) and an inversion of chromosome 7 (n=1) showed high expression levels of miR-196b comparable to the high levels found in MLL-rearranged ALL. Like MLL-rearrangements, these genetic abnormalities have been functionally linked with upregulation of HOXA cluster genes. MiR-196b expression levels in these patients were strongly correlated with the expression of HOXA family but not with HOXB and HOXC cluster genes (Rs ≥ 0.7, P≤0.003). Since miR-196b is located between HOXA9 and HOXA10 on chromosome 7, our data suggest co-activation of miR-196b and HOXA family genes in pediatric ALL. In parallel to the high expression level of miR-196b we found decreased methylation at CpG islands located 5' of miR-196b in MLL-rearranged cases compared to normal bone marrow cells, which suggests an epigenetic origin for the high expression level of miR-196b in these patients. Despite the fact that MLL-rearranged ALL patients often respond poorly to prednisolone and L-asparaginase, upregulation of miR-196b was not indicative for the resistance to these drugs in pediatric ALL. In conclusion, high-level expression of miR-196b is not only MLL-driven, but can also be found in other types of leukemia that display aberrant activation of HOXA genes. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Dynamic Electromagnetic Exposure Allocation for Rayleigh Fading MIMO Channels

Future wearable and portable devices with multiple transmit antennas operating below 6 GHz are constrained by regulatory limitations on the level of electromagnetic radiation a user can be exposed to, measured using the specific absorption rate (SAR). Signaling designs that are optimized to include SAR constraints can improve the performance of uplink transmission. These signaling schemes could include closed-loop beamforming, closed-loop precoding, and space-time coding, which have all been shown to achieve increased rates when optimized as a function of SAR. Previous research addressed SAR constrained optimization only within a single coherence time block. In this paper, we present transmit policies that dynamically allocate user electromagnetic radiation exposure over time. We propose three exposure allocation methods — optimal, uniform, and asymptotic — in the practical case with causal channel state information (CSI), and an on-off transmission approach for the low SAR-to-noise ratio regime. Our results demonstrate that the performance of SAR-aware transmission can be further improved by exploiting frequency and time diversity.
Influence of limb position on assessment of nerve mechanical properties by using shear wave ultrasound elastography.

Introduction Evaluation of nerve mechanical properties has the potential to improve assessment of nerve impairment. Shear wave velocity, as measured by using shear wave (SW) ultrasound elastography, is a promising indicator of nerve mechanical properties such as stiffness. However, elucidation of external factors that influence SW velocity, particularly nerve tension, is required for accurate interpretations. Methods Median and ulnar nerve SW velocities were measured at proximal and distal locations with limb positions that indirectly altered nerve tension. Results Shear wave velocity was greater at proximal and distal locations for limb positions that induced greater tension in the median (mean increase proximal 89.3%, distal 64%) and ulnar (mean increase proximal 91.1%, distal 37.4%) nerves. Discussion Due to the influence of nerve tension when SW ultrasound elastography is used, careful consideration must be given to limb positioning.
The Anti-Cancer League and public outreach for cancer control in Peru.

Abstract Peru’s first cancer control public outreach scheme started in the 1910s, but ground to a standstill as it attained official governmental recognition in 1926 as the Liga Anti-Cancerosa (LAC). This paper explains the developments leading to that earliest effort to enlist a coalition of State health agencies, physicians, and lay people in a campaign to publicize early signs of this disease, as well as the medical and political reasons for and implications of its decline. Besides highlighting the importance of professional initiatives shaping cancer activism, contextualizing the rise and fall of the LAC calls attention to the effects that hospitalization of cancer treatment had on aspects of cancer care that were not directly treatment-related, such as public outreach.
Structural integrity of liner cement in oil & gas wells: Parametric study, sensitivity analysis, and risk assessment

Abstract Cement is an important barrier element that provides pressure isolation between formation(s) and a well. Failure in the cement sheath can compromise well integrity and potentially lead to severe environmental, health, safety, and business impacts. This work aims to assess fitness-for-service of cement sheath specifically in the context of shallow depth liner-casing overlaps in offshore wells. Primary objective of this paper is to investigate influence of pressure loads, material properties, and sheath dimensions on structural integrity of cement. The ultimate objective is to perform risk assessment and identify likely modes of failure. This work is based on a three-dimensional finite element model of cement sheath validated by analytical calculations. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate and rank the influence of various operating and design parameters on mechanical stresses in a cement sheath. Results indicate that cement material properties (Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, expansion) and wellbore pressure are the major factors influencing cement’s structural integrity. Risk assessment suggests that interfacial bond failure, radial cracking, and cement top failure are likely modes of structural failure for a cement sheath in shallow-depth liner-casing overlap. Flexible and expanding cement are likely to be more robust to structural failure than brittle and non-expanding cement. Although annulus pressure has negligible influence on stress distribution within bulk of a cement sheath, it can potentially cause failure near the top of the cement column. Sensitivity curves generated in this work will help engineers understand performance of cement sheath under different conditions. Regulators and industry will be able to strengthen the guidelines for assessment and qualification of cement as a barrier.
Associations between Fathers’ Prebirth Pregnancy Intentions and Involvement with Their Child 15 Months Later: A Propensity Score Analysis:

Objective: This study examined whether fathers’ prebirth pregnancy intentions were associated with fathers’ involvement with his child 15 months later. Method: Propensity score matching was used to...
Bérénice on Trial: Judging Corneille Against Racine

On 21 November 1670, Parisian spectators could watch Racine's Berenice at the Hotel de Bourgogne and, a week later, attend the premiere of Corneille's Tite et Berenice at the Palais Royal, as the p...