cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RADIOLOGY OF SKULL BASE NEOPLASMS

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are used routinely to stage skull base neoplasms preoperatively, define the extent of the tumor, identify perineural spread, plan surgery and radiation therapy, and evaluate the postoperative patient. Arteriography and interventional radiology also play a role in the identification and treatment of certain skull base neoplasms, particularly juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas and paragangliomas. The skull base can be divided into three parts: anterior, central, and posterior. Pathology differs in each region, and CT and MR imaging often demonstrate characteristic imaging features suggestive of diagnosis.
High Performance MPI over iWARP: Early Experiences

Modern interconnects and corresponding high performance MPIs have been feeding the surge in the popularity of compute clusters and computing applications. Recently with the introduction of the iWARP (Internet wide area RDMA protocol) standard, RDMA and zero-copy data transfer capabilities have been introduced and standardized for Ethernet networks. While traditional Ethernet networks had largely been limited to the traditional kernel based TCP/IP stacks and hence their limitations, iWARP capabilities of the newer GigE and 10 GigE adapters have broken this barrier and thereby exposing the available potential performance. In order to enable applications to harness the performance benefits of iWARP and to study the quantitative extent of such improvements, we present MPI- iWARP, a high performance MPI implementation over the open fabrics verbs. Our preliminary results with Chelsio T3B adapters show an improvement of up to 37% in bandwidth, 75% in latency and 80% in MPI all reduce as compared to MPICH2 over TCP/IP. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first design, implementation and evaluation of a high performance MPI over the iWARP standard.
Seedling Mortality by Litterfall in Amazonian Forest Fragments1

Abstract Physical damage caused by litterfall is a source of seedling mortality that can be influenced by environmental disturbances, such as the isolation of forest fragments due to habitat destruction. The impact of physical damage in seedling mortality was evaluated in forest fragments and continuous forests in central Amazonia using artificial seedlings. A total of 11 reserves distributed among three sites were studied: three 1-ha, three 10-ha, two 100-ha, and three continuous forest reserves. In each reserve, ten transects each comprised of ten artificial seedlings were monitored for one year at four-week intervals. Survival curves were compared using failure time analysis, and the effect of reserve size on artificial seedling mortality after one year was analyzed with a categorical model. In the analysis of survival curves, artificial seedling survival was significantly greater in the continuous forest than in the 10-ha reserve at one site only, a result that may have occurred by chance. After one y...
FROM THE CELL CYCLE TO POPULATION CYCLES IN PHYTOPLANKTON-NUTRIENT INTERACTIONS

The internal demographic structure of a population influences its dynamics and its response to the environment. Most models for phytoplankton ignore internal structure and group all cells in a single variable such as total biomass or density. However, a cell does have a life history, the cell division cycle. We investigate the significance of the cell cycle to phytoplankton population dynamics in a variable nutrient environment, using chemostat models. Following the transition point hypothesis, nutrient uptake affects cell development only within a limited segment of the cell cycle. Simulation results demonstrate oscillations in cell numbers and population structure generated by this interaction. When nutrient input is varied periodically, the population displays an aperiodic response with frequencies different from that of the forcing. These results also hold for a model that includes nutrient storage by the cells. These dynamics differ from those of traditional chemostat models and from cell cycle models driven by light cycles. Resource control of cell cycle progression may explain the time delays previously postulated to explain oscil- latory transients in chemostat experiments.
Therapeutic Potential of TIMPs in Heart Failure

The accumulation of oxidized extracellular matrix (ECM) between the endothelium and cardiac muscle‚ and endocardial endothelial dysfunction‚ are hallmarks of congestive heart failure. The induction of oxidative stress‚ decrease in endothelial cell density‚ activation of matrix and disintegrin metalloproteinases‚ collagenolysis‚ and repression of cardiac inhibitor of metalloproteinase (CIMP) are associated with deposition of oxidized matrix. As elaborated in the chapter below‚ studies that employ CIMP (also known as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4) as genetic material or a proteomic therapeutic based agent may improve the heart’s response to oxidative stresses.
Myosin heavy chain composition in young and old rat skeletal muscle: effects of endurance exercise

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of age and exercise on the myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of skeletal muscle. Young (3 mo) and old (22 mo) female specific pathogen-free barrier-reared Fischer 344 rats were randomly assigned to young untrained or young trained and old untrained or old trained groups, respectively. Young trained and old trained animals performed endurance exercise training on a motorized treadmill for 8 wk. Succinate dehydrogenase activity and MHC isoforms were measured in the plantaris (Plan), lateral and medial gastrocnemius (Gast), and soleus (Sol) muscles. In sedentary animals, aging resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in type IIb MHC and an increase (P < 0.05) in type IIa MHC in both the Gast and Plan muscles. Also, aging resulted in a small but significant increase (approximately 4%; P < 0.05) in type I MHC in the Sol. Exercise training resulted in significant (P < 0.05) increases in Gast, Plan, and Sol succinate dehydrogenase activity in both young and old animals. Furthermore, exercise training resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in the percentage of type IIb MHC and an increase (P < 0.05) in the percentage of type IIa MHC in the Plan in both young and old animals. These data suggest that there is an age-related shift in locomotor muscle MHC isoforms from a faster to a slower isoform.
Feeding habits of the river otter in a reservoir in central Massachusetts.

From 1955 to 1957, 517 scats of otter ( Lutra canadensis ) were collected throughout the seasons from a reservoir in central Massachusetts, where availability of different fish species was known from netting and poisoning. Observations of otters fishing and analysis of scats indicated these mammals preyed chiefly on warmwater fishes inhabiting coves. In order of frequency of occurrence, various centrarchids were found in 54% of the scats, followed by yellow perch, white suckers and golden shiner. In spite of high populations of salmonids (lake trout, brown trout and rainbow trout) there was no evidence of predation on these species. Frequency of occurrence in scats varied significantly with seasons. Otters were found to feed frequently on blueberries in late summer, and among invertebrate prey species crayfish were consumed at all seasons and occurred in 56% of the scats.
Surface enhanced Raman correlation spectroscopy of particles in solution.

Surface enhanced Raman correlation spectroscopy (SERCS) is shown as a label-free, chemically specific method for monitoring individual polymer beads and lipid vesicles interacting with a 2-D planar surface enhanced Raman (SERS) substrate in solution. The enhancement afforded by the SERS substrate allows for spectral data to be acquired in series at rates between 31 and 83 Hz. Auto- and cross-correlation of spectral data facilitates the measurement of diffusion constants for particles ranging in radius from 50 to 500 nm while discriminating signal associated with the target analyte from extraneous fluctuations. The measured diffusion coefficients are on the order of 10–10–10–11 cm2/s, a factor of 40 times slower than predicted from the Stokes–Einstein equation, suggesting that particles are experiencing hindered diffusion at the surface. The enhanced signals appear to originate from particles less than 5 nm of the SERS substrate, consistent with adsorption to the surface. This work provides a means to meas...
Celiac disease and chemotherapy

19561 Background: Diarrhea is a common side effect of chemotherapy (CT). At times, often unpredictably, patients develop profound diarrhea during CT. Though the clinical diagnosis of celiac disease...
SY10THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION IN ALCOHOL TOXICITYSY10-1CONSEQUENCES OF IMPAIRED ASGP-R FUNCTION ON LIVER INFLAMMATION

Alcohol-induced alterations in cell function, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis are prominent features of liver disease in general and of alcoholic liver injury in particular. The link between these processes, however, remains unclear. A virtually universal characteristic of liver injury and subsequent inflammation is the induction of hepatocellular damage, and we …
Review of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk

As someone in the line of work where trauma is an everyday occurrence, I found van der Kolk’s book on the imprint effects of trauma on the mind and body to be a welcome addition to the literature. ...
Gestational age assessment. II. Prediction from combined clinical observations.

Abstract Accurate assessment of the estimated date of confinement is a cornerstone of obstetric care. In an earlier report, we examined the time of occurrence of various historical and clinical estimators of gestational age in relation to the date of delivery. We now examine the possibility of combining multiple clinical estimators to improve the prediction of delivery date. Formulas for predicting delivery date from multiple clinical estimators were developed in a group of 418 patients who were delivered of infants weighing ≧3,000 gm, after spontaneous onset of labor. These formulas were tested in a separate group of 107 patients who fulfilled similar criteria. In patients with a known last menstrual period, additional clinical information did not improve the prediction of delivery date; however, if the last menstrual period was uncertain or unknown, averaging the predicted delivery dates by several clinical examinations provided a prediction of delivery date as precise as if the last menstrual period were known.
The Leading Man: Hollywood and the Presidential Image. By Burton W.Peretti. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2012. 335 pp.

The Leading Man: Hollywood and the Presidential Image. By Burton W. Peretti. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2012. 335 pp. The heading Man: Hollywood and the Presidential Image explores the institutional and cultural interplay of cinema and the presidency in the United States. It treats the Washington-Hollywood nexus as a point of convergence that gave rise to a "cinematic presidential image" (p. 5)--a powerful formulation that occupied a central place in U.S. political culture. Relying on useful primary research, Peretti shows how the chief executives of the past century--from Herbert Hoover to Barack Obama--engaged the cinematic medium to boost their power on the national stage. In return, Hollywood solidified its status as a dominant cultural enterprise. According to Peretti, the making of the presidential image originated from the Founding Fathers. Intent on navigating the young republic through its various challenges, the early heads of state, often working in tandem with the First Ladies, honed their performative skills to reassure the public as an "embodiment of the nation" (p. 14). The rise of cinema brought this effort to a new level. While enjoying the movies for pleasure, these leading men--both Democrats and Republicans--carefully studied Hollywood's image-making techniques to build their popularity and charisma in the public arena. They not only made use of the screens--big and small--to promote their policy agendas, but also convinced a constellation of Tinseltown celebrities to rally for their campaigns. Even though some leaders kept their distance from Hollywood (e.g., Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush), most others eagerly partook in constructing the cinematic presidential image. Their gains were substantial. In telling detail, Peretti shows how the dramatics of cinema, for instance, aided FDR's efforts to mask his physical disability. It also enabled Kennedy to flaunt his glamour and charm. Nixon obsessively pursued a "conservative cinematic presidential image" (p. 164), together with Reagan, who boldly "acted" his two terms in office. Clinton elevated the cinematic presidential image to its "definitive form" (p. 243), which even helped him survive through the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Peretti also shows that the alliance benefited U.S. studios. Through a careful use of key works in the field of film history, the author demonstrates how Hollywood became a cultural mainstay in America by courting Washington's support. …
FPGA Realization of Low Register Systolic All-One-Polynomial Multipliers Over $GF(2^{m})$ and Their Applications in Trinomial Multipliers

Systolic all-one-polynomial (AOP) multipliers usually suffer from the problem of high register complexity, especially in field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms where the register resources are not that abundant. In this paper, we have shown that the AOP-based systolic multipliers can easily achieve low register-complexity implementations and the proposed architectures can be employed as computation cores to derive efficient implementations of systolic Montgomery multipliers based on trinomials. First, we propose a novel data broadcasting scheme in which the register complexity involved within existing AOP-based systolic multipliers is significantly reduced. We have found out that the modified AOP-based structure can be packed as a standard computation core. Next, we propose a novel Montgomery multiplication algorithm that can fully employ the proposed AOP-based computation core. The proposed Montgomery algorithm employs a novel precomputed-modular operation, and the systolic structures based on this algorithm fully inherit the advantages brought from the AOP-based core (low register complexity, low critical-path delay, and low latency) except some marginal hardware overhead brought by a precomputation unit. The proposed architectures are then implemented by Xilinx ISE 14.1 and it is shown that compared with the existing designs, the proposed designs achieve at least 61.8% and 47.6% less area-delay product and power-delay product than the best of competing designs, respectively.
Case Studies in Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Case studies in pediatric infectious diseases , Case studies in pediatric infectious diseases , کتابخانه دیجیتالی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی و خدمات درمانی شهید بهشتی
The Body's Photographic Afterlives

This essay examines the photography of Bernd and Hilla Becher as a novel form of bodily figuration. This could seem like an unusual angle from which to approach the Bechers' work considering the seemingly total absence of human figures in their photographic grids of industrial modernity. Their “typologies,” as the call them, would seem to testify to nothing if not the effacement of the human body from the site of work. And beyond being totally bereft of bodies, the Bechers' photographs strike us for their ineluctable stillness, flatness, and pastness. And yet upon closer reading the flatness of the photographs gives way to a dimensionality, stillness gives way to motion, and the edges of the photographs begin to expand in ways that lend to these typologies a dynamic, almost corporeal quality. I argue that this occurs primarily via the interstitial space that separates the photos from one another. The in-between space of these grids thus serves as a space of movement, across which the spectator imagines bodies to be moving and looking. I understand the Bechers’ practice of figuration as a way of dealing with the profound consequences of the Second World War not only on bodies, but on the terms of their representation.
Environmental agents, oxidative stress and autoimmunity

Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune diseases (ADs) and many environmental agents participate in this process. Environmental agents, including trichloroethylene (TCE), silica, pristane, mercury, and smoke, are known to induce an autoimmune response, potentially through OS-mediated mechanisms. Here, we focus on unraveling the targets and signaling pathways that have been mechanistically linked with OS, as a result of exposure to these and numerous other environmental agents, and their impact on the immune system in triggering ADs. Antioxidants and molecular targets impeding autoimmunity by targeting specific signaling pathways are also reviewed. The review not only provides an overview of the current knowledge and evidence showing strong associations between environmental exposures, OS, and ADs, but also plausible mechanisms by which OS causes autoimmunity/ADs. We also discuss areas that require additional approaches, such as unraveling specific events/mechanisms leading to such devastating diseases and measures to prevent or attenuate such diseases.
Familiarity and Distraction Affect Drivers’ Responses to In-Vehicle Warnings for a Hazard that is Not Yet Visible

On-road experiments measured drivers’ initial responses to in-vehicle emergency electronic brake light (EEBL) warnings indicating hard braking by some vehicle in the lane ahead. Participants drove within a platoon of four research vehicles on an Interstate highway with other traffic present. Speed and time gap between the participant’s vehicle and the vehicle immediately ahead were measured before and after a warning was triggered. This paper examines the effects of prior training about EEBL warnings and driver distraction on responses to the warning when the hazard (braking vehicle in lane ahead) was blocked from view by an intervening vehicle. An EEBL warning, if effective, should encourage drivers to immediately reduce their speed and increase the time gap between their vehicle and the vehicle ahead. We hypothesized that the warning would be more effective for drivers who had received training about the meaning of EEBL warnings as compared to naive drivers; and more effective for visually distracted drivers as compared to drivers who were looking ahead but saw no hazard when the warning was triggered. Results suggest that speed reductions following onset of the warning were increased by training and decreased by distraction. The EEBL warning elicited the most robust response from drivers who were not distracted and from those had been trained about the warning system. There was no evidence for an interaction between these two factors. These results suggest that training drivers about vehicle safety systems may increase proper behavioral responses, thereby increasing the effectiveness of in-vehicle warnings.
Chapter Twenty-Five - Case History: Xeljanz™ (Tofacitinib Citrate), a First-in-Class Janus Kinase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate) represents the first in a new class of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It operates by modulating the JAK pathways, which play a role in the signaling of numerous cytokines that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including RA. In this case history, we describe the tofacitinib medicinal chemistry journey, starting with lead identification through high-throughput screening, followed by lead development, taking advantage of high-speed analoging and the use of natural products as synthetic building blocks. Finally, optimization of physical properties and pharmacokinetics within a piperidine chemical series led to the selection of CP-690,550 (tofacitinib) as a drug candidate. The selectivity and pharmacology of tofacitinib are described, along with summaries of the preclinical and clinical properties of this drug.
The Psychoanalyst in the Academic Community

The relationship between psychoanalysis and medical academia, while generally amicable and cordial, has always had what one might call an edge. Controversy and competition are routine parts of both science and the academy and are to be expected. Nonetheless, there is also affection; it is merely a matter of seeing and feeling it. We analysts know about the binding quality of aggression within relationships, and we should recognize it in the sometimes testy nature of our ongoing interactions with adjacent disciplines, organizations, and colleagues.
Common Misconceptions about Light

All biological responses to light are the result of chemical and/or physical changes induced in biological systems when they absorb light energy. The absorption of light energy by biological molecules, and the subsequent dissipation of this energy (via heat, light emission or chemistry) are well understood, and obey the laws of physics and chemistry (1). Unfortunately, not all of those who use light experimentally in the laboratory or therapeutically in the clinic are trained in the physics and chemistry of light. Thus, even among scientists and physicians there exist numerous misconceptions about the properties of light (1). The following are some of the more common misconceptions that I have observed.
Respiratory Disease from Occupational Exposure to Non-Fibrous Phyllosilicates

Many phyllosilicate minerals are non-fibrous in habit; some are usually fibrous (eg. sepiolites) and some are often found in association with fibrous forms (eg. serpentine with chrysotile). This review will consider only those which are characteristically non-fibrous:- kaolin, talc, vermiculite and mica.
Analysis of Investment in Technology Development and Systems with Variable Structure

Constantly increasing demands for natural resources such as energy, materials, water, etc. lead more and more decision makers to consider the natural resources as constraints for economic growth [Verkhovsky and Volin 1965, Brookes 1973, Rausser 1974, Roman 1974, Magdoff 1976]. There are many interrelated management problems associated with investment in research and development of technology and/or conservation programs. However, most of these problems deal directly with the evaluation of capital investment in technology development and conservation in terms of criteria related to economic growth. In our study we consider two stages simultaneously: first, investments which change resource consumption by subdivisions, and second, improvements in efficiency which are related to economic criteria. This method enables the decision maker to systemically evaluate capital investments in technology developments in the case where a number of subsystems are competing for the same resources. The model can also be used to determine the optimal allocation of capital into resource development. Since the objective of this paper is the development of a methodology, no specific technologies are being discussed.
Open Classroom: Learning and Teaching

Learning and teaching in the open classroom is not a completed theory or system of education but, instead, a related set of ideas and methods. The four main operating principles that shape the open classroom (flexible use of space, multiple learning resources, students engage in a variety of activities, teacher working with individual children or small groups) are explicated. The teacher's role as a facilitator of learning, which is not to judge but to reflect back to the student the consequences of the students behavior by guiding the student through questions about activities and discoveries relative to the learning experience, is detailed. The effectiveness of the teacher in the diagnosis of learning events, which is to understand the student's thinking process by listening to and questioning the student so that the student can follow their own thinking, is presented. Five learning techniques commonly utilized in the open classroom are identified. An eight-dimensional taxonomy of the teacher's role, which is widely accepted, is introduced. The current negative status of the open classroom is noted.
A vascular access and midlines program can decrease hospital-acquired central line-associated bloodstream infections and cost to a community-based hospital.

Background We propose that substituting central lines with midlines can help reduce the total number of central line catheter-days as well as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), thereby reducing the associated costs and the resulting increased length of stay. A midline or vascular access program in a community hospital can bring about these positive changes. Objectives Our objective is to evaluate whether the institution of a midline program for vascular access at a community hospital can reduce the number of central line catheter-days and the associated CLABSI rate, incidence, and cost. Materials and methods We collected data on the number of central line catheter-days per year starting from 2012. We also collected data on the total number of patient-days during this period and the number of CLABSIs. We started Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-based recommendations to help decrease CLABSIs in June 2014; this included the use of the central venous catheters (CVC) insertion bundles and CVC maintenance bundle. Chlorhexidine baths were also given to all patients with central lines. In June 2015, we started a midline program and tracked data till June 2017. We then compared the infection rates during these periods. Results We conclude that instituting CDC recommendations to decrease CLABSIs did bring down the CLABSI rate; this decrease was not statistically significant. However, the addition of the midline program to replace central lines whenever possible, combined with universal CDC recommendations, did result in a significant decrease in both the number of central line days per patient-day and the CLABSI rate. Conclusion We recommend hospitals to develop a midline program to help reduce the use of central line catheters when possible to reduce the total number of catheter-days and the CLABSI rate associated with them.
Peacetime military innovation through inter-service cooperation: The unique case of the U.S. Air Force and Battlefield Air Interdiction

Military doctrine assures a nation’s survival. Yet even when faced with a security threat that requires change, militaries rarely innovate but instead adhere to old doctrines that enhance autonomy,...
Sacrificing corporate investment for stock repurchases: Are family firms different?

Abstract Recent changes to the US tax code have increased stock repurchases by US firms. Critics state and existing research provides evidence that firms forego valuable investment to repurchase stock for short-term stock price increases, benefiting managers whose compensation is closely tied to the firm's stock price. Firms for which the founding family is involved have been shown to have longer horizons regarding investment decisions. This study examines the repurchase and investing behavior of 827 firms for the period 2006 through 2015. The results provide evidence that firms decrease investment in employment and research & development concurrently with stock repurchases. Family firms, however, are less likely to repurchase shares during the period and, when they do, have a lower propensity to decrease investment in capital expenditures, employment, and research & development compared to firms that do not have a founding family presence.
“Running Up That Hill”On Love, Sex, and Work in Pose

“All the good ones died”: in more than one conversation with elder queer people about queer of color nightlife in 1980s New York City, I heard this expression when our conversation turned to the drag queens, transsexual women, and femmes lost in the early years of the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy by Vestibular Approach-Initial Experience and Comparative Analysis in the First Reported Mexican Cohort.

Abstract Introduction: Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy by vestibular approach (TOETVA) is a relatively new technique for the surgical treatment of thyroid diseases. We present the initial experi...
OUTCOMES OF PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) is common in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with adverse outcomes. These patients are excluded from revascularization studies. The impact of ACKD in patients undergoing PCI remains unknown. We analyzed the
Idiopathic root resorption: Report of a case

A ccording to Shafer, Hine, and Levy,l root resorption of permanent teeth can be attributed to a wide variety of causes, such as periapical inflammation, reimplantation of teeth, tumors and cysts, excessive mechanical or occlusal stresses, impaction of teeth, and idiopathic resorption. Stafne and Slocumb2 have presented data indicating that the maxillary and mandibular central incisors are most frequently involved by idiopathic root resorption. According to the data of Massler and Perreault,3 the teeth most commonly involved by root resorption were the maxillary premolars, whereas the mandibular incisors and molars exhibited the least resorption. Of the 179 cases reported by Stafne and Slocumb,* only nineteen showed the involvement of more than one tooth by idio’pathic root resorption. In seventeen cases two teeth were involved, and in two cases three teeth were involved ; furthermore, the maxillary molars were not found to be affected by idiopathic root resorption. Sachs4 has reported a case in which a right maxillary molar and bilateral mandibular molars were involved. Because cases of idiopathic root resorption have rarely been reported, it is the purpose of this article to add au additional case to the literature.
Chronic Periodontitis is Associated With Cerebral Atherosclerosis -A Nationwide Study.

Introduction Chronic periodontitis and atherosclerosis share common risk factors and produce the same inflammatory markers. Many studies found a high prevalence of chronic periodontitis in patients with atherosclerosis but there is no strong evidence to support a specific association of chronic periodontitis with cerebral atherosclerosis. We aimed to study the concurrent prevalence and association of chronic periodontitis with cerebral atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular diseases among the US population. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a Nationwide Inpatient Sample with adult hospitalizations to identify the primary diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases [acute ischemic stroke (AIS), hemorrhagic stroke (HS), and transient ischemic attack (TIA)] with concurrent cerebral atherosclerosis and chronic periodontitis. Multivariate survey logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the linkage of chronic periodontitis with cerebral atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular diseases. Results Of total 56,499,788 hospitalizations, 0.01% had chronic periodontitis. Prevalence of chronic periodontitis was higher in 50-64 years (36.18% vs. 23.91%), males (59.19% vs. 41.06% in females), Afro-Americans (25.93% vs. 15.21%), and 0-25th percentile median-household-income-category (38.31% vs. 30.15%) compared to non-chronic periodontitis. There was significantly higher prevalence of cerebral atherosclerosis (0.71% vs. 0.41%; p<0.0001) with weak evidence of high prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases (AIS:2.21% vs. 1.97%; p=0.1563; HS:0.57% vs. 0.46%; p=0.1560) among chronic periodontitis compared to non-chronic periodontitis. In regression analysis, odds of having cerebral atherosclerosis were 2.48-folds higher in patients with chronic periodontitis compared to that without-chronic periodontitis, and cerebral atherosclerosis patients were associated with higher odds of TIA (aOR:2.40; p<0.0001), AIS (aOR:3.35; p<0.0001), and HS (aOR:1.51; p<0.0001) compared to without-cerebral atherosclerosis. No significant relationship between chronic periodontitis and cerebrovascular diseases was observed. Conclusion Although chronic periodontitis may not directly increase the risk of cerebrovascular diseases, it increases the burden of cerebrovascular diseases by evidently increasing the risk of cerebral atherosclerosis. Early identification of chronic periodontitis and atherosclerotic risk factors may help to mitigate the risk of cerebrovascular diseases.
Solving Markov Decision Processes via Simulation

This chapter presents an overview of simulation-based techniques useful for solving Markov decision processes (MDPs). MDPs model problems of sequential decision-making under uncertainty, in which decisions made in each state collectively affect the trajectory of the states visited by the system over a time horizon of interest. Traditionally, MDPs have been solved via dynamic programming (DP), which requires the transition probability model that is difficult to derive in many realistic settings. The use of simulation for solving MDPs allows us to bypass the transition probability model and solve large-scale MDPs considered intractable to solve by traditional DP. The simulation-based methodology for solving MDPs, which like DP is also rooted in the Bellman equations, goes by names such as reinforcement learning, neuro-DP, and approximate or adaptive DP. We begin with a description of algorithms for infinite-horizon discounted reward MDPs, followed by the same for infinite-horizon average reward MDPs. Then we present a discussion on finite-horizon MDPs. For each problem considered, we present a step-by-step description of a selected group of algorithms. In making this selection, we have attempted to blend the old and the classical with more recent developments. Finally, after touching upon extensions and convergence theory, we conclude with a brief summary of some applications and directions for future research.
COVID-19 and Housing Prices: Evidence from U.S. County-Level Data

This paper investigates the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on housing prices at the U.S. county level. The formal investigation is achieved by using a difference-in-difference design, where county-specific and time-specific factors are controlled for. The estimation results suggest that 1,000 additional COVID-19 cases (deaths) result in about $20 ($501) of a reduction in housing prices. When counties are split into those which can versus which cannot afford housing and transportation costs, the negative effects of COVID-19 cases or deaths on housing prices are significant only in counties which cannot. Similarly, when counties are split into those which can versus which cannot access to a variety of jobs, the negative effects of COVID-19 cases or deaths on housing prices are significantly higher in counties which cannot. Important policy implications regarding affordability, accessibility and equity across U.S. counties follow.
Borrelia burgdorferi infection modifies protein content in saliva of Ixodes scapularis nymphs.

Lyme disease (LD) caused by Borrelia burgdorferi is the most prevalent tick-borne disease. There is evidence that vaccines based on tick proteins that promote tick transmission of B. burgdorferi could prevent LD. As Ixodes scapularis nymph tick bites are responsible for most LD cases, this study sought to identify nymph tick saliva proteins associated with B. burgdorferi transmission using LC-MS/MS. Tick saliva was collected using a non-invasive method of stimulating ticks (uninfected and infected: unfed, and every 12 h during feeding through 72 h, and fully-fed) to salivate into 2% pilocarpine-PBS for protein identification using LC-MS/MS. We identified a combined 747 tick saliva proteins of uninfected and B. burgdorferi infected ticks that were classified into 25 functional categories: housekeeping-like (48%), unknown function (18%), protease inhibitors (9%), immune-related (6%), proteases (8%), extracellular matrix (7%), and small categories that account for <5% each. Notably, B. burgdorferi infected ticks secreted high number of saliva proteins (n=645) than uninfected ticks (n=376). Counter-intuitively, antimicrobial peptides, which function to block bacterial infection at tick feeding site were suppressed 23-85 folds in B. burgdorferi infected ticks. Similar to glycolysis enzymes being enhanced in mammalian cells exposed to B. burgdorferi : eight of the 10-glycolysis pathway enzymes were secreted at high abundance by B. burgdorferi infected ticks. Of significance, rabbits exposed to B. burgdorferi infected ticks acquired potent immunity that caused 40-60% mortality of B. burgdorferi infected ticks during the second infestation compared to 15-28% for the uninfected. This might be explained by ELISA data that show that high expression levels of immunogenic proteins in B. burgdorferi infected ticks. Data here suggest that B. burgdorferi infection modified protein content in tick saliva to promote its survival at the tick feeding site. For instance, enzymes; copper/zinc superoxide dismutase that led to production of H2O2 that is toxic to B. burgdorferi were suppressed, while, catalase and thioredoxin that neutralize H2O2, and pyruvate kinase which yields pyruvate that protects Bb from H2O2 killing were enhanced. We conclude data here is an important resource for discovery of effective antigens for a vaccine to prevent LD.
ANOVA-SRC-BPSO: a hybrid filter and swarm optimization-based method for gene selection and cancer classification using gene expression profiles

Gene expression profiling reveals the activity of thousands of genes that can help to identify cancer biomarkers. However, the presence of such a large number of genes in the profiles inflicts a high computational burden on classifiers. To deal with the high-dimensional feature space, in this paper, we introduce a 3-phase feature selection framework, ANOVA-SRC-BPSO. ANOVA-SRC-BPSO first distinguishes the highly class-correlated genes utilizing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and F-test. In the second phase, we employ Spearman rank-order correlation (SRC) to eliminate redundant genes. Finally, we leverage the binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) with the support vector machine (SVM) classifier to select an optimized feature subset. We report the accuracy of ANOVA-SRC-BPSO utilizing the SVM classifier in seven gene expression datasets. The comparisons with fourteen state-of-the-art methods show that ANOVA-SRC-BPSO yields the highest accuracy in five datasets. Moreover, we disclose that the performances of various feature selection approaches are inconsistent across gene expression datasets.
Comparison of management approaches in deep-seated intracranial arteriovenous malformations: Does treatment improve outcome?

Abstract Deep-seated intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) represent a subset of AVMs characterized by variably reported outcomes regarding the risk of hemorrhage, microsurgical complications, and response to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We aimed to compare outcomes of microsurgery, SRS, endovascular therapy, and conservative follow-up in deep-seated AVMs. A prospectively maintained database of AVM patients (1990–2017) was queried to identify patients with ruptured and unruptured deep-seated AVMs (extension into thalamus, basal ganglia, or brainstem). Comparisons of hemorrhage-free survival and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] > 2) were performed between conservative management, microsurgery (±pre-procedural embolization), SRS (±pre-procedural embolization), and embolization utilizing multivariable Cox and logistic regression analyses controlling for univariable factors with p
Quantifying the Typology of Well-Being: BOOST, a Functional, IRT-Backed Instrument for Assessing Subjective Well-Being

Well-being significantly impacts the success of university students and early-stage professionals. The Berkeley Optimal Open Sociometric Test (BOOST) is an instrument offering a simple yet effective way of measuring an individual's well-being on an aggregate scale of key attributes (empathy, interpersonal engagement, self-motivation, self-awareness, time management, and stress management and resilience), enabling individuals to identify areas of self-improvement for a heightened sense of well-being. This study describes the development and validation of BOOST, and explores the impact of demographic factors on an individual's subjective well-being. Data for this study was collected through outreach in university and professional settings in various countries around the world, predominantly within the United States and India. The sample included 333 individuals, composed of university students, as well as early and late-stage professionals. After performing survey design and pilot testing, item response theory (IRT) analysis was conducted on the data to validate the survey. The IRT analysis resulted in a reliability score of 0.891. The relationship between well-being and the six attributes was modeled using a linear regression, and an adjusted R-squared of 52.5% was obtained. There was no sufficient evidence to conclude that ethnic background, age, and level of education impacts perceived well-being. However, subjective well-being significantly differed based on an individual's country of residence and field of study. In conclusion, BOOST can be implemented within the workplace as a useful instrument to help leaders assess and better manage the well-being of their teams.
How diagram interaction supports learning: evidence from think alouds during intelligent tutoring

The goal of this research was to explore the impact of diagram interaction on students' cognitive processes during learning. Using a thinkaloud protocol, students' processes were studied as they practiced problem solving with an intelligent tutoring system containing diagrams that were either static or interactive. Diagram interaction resulted in better transfer performance, prompted deeper cognitive processing, and reduced students' reliance on shallow problem-solving processes.
Organometalloidal derivatives of the transition metals: XVI. Thermal decarbonylation of (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3)COR (R = CH3, CH2SiMe3, and CH2SiMe2Ph)☆

Abstract Thermal decarbonylation of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO)(PPh 3 COR proceeds via the initial formation of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 R and PPh 3 as the kinetically favoured process. A kinetic investigation of this initial step for the title complexes exhibits a relative rate of phosphine loss Me 3 SiCH 2 > Me 2 PhSiCH 2 > CH 3 reflecting the steric bulk of the groups involved.
Driving with HID Headlamps: A Review of Research Findings

High-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps have several advantages over tungsten-halogen headlamps which includes greater light efficiency (limens per watt) and a longer service life. However, a safety point of view, the main attraction of HID headlamps is that since they produce more light they have the potential to provide more useful illumination for the driver. But, at the same time, there are safety concerns with the effects of HID illumination on perception of the colors of important objects and glare to oncoming traffic. This paper will review research evidence that has been accumulated over the past 14 years concerning the potential benefits and drawbacks associated with the use of HID headlamps. The paper will conclude that the evidence strongly supports the use of well-designed HID headlamps.
Interoceptive conditioning through repeated suppression of morphine-abstinence

Experimental evaluation of Wikler’s interoceptive conditioning hypothesis of relapse to opioid use in ex-addicts requires a preliminary study of the degree of physical dependence produced by two methods of drug administration. Wistar rats were made physically dependent on morphine by single daily intravenous injections or by a continuous i.v. infusion. Rats received the same total daily dose regardless of administration schedule. The initial daily morphine dose was 20 mg/kg, and was increased every fourth day by 20 mg/kg, until a dose of 200 mg/kg per day was reached. The rats were maintained at the highest dose level for 18 days, at which time morphine was discontinued. Body weight and water intake were the primary variables measured during addiction, maintenance, and abstinence phases of the study. Equivalent and parallel changes in mean weight and water intake in injection and infusion rats indicate equivalent degrees of physical dependence were developed. This finding allows separation of the contribution of conditioning factors and of protracted abstinence in facilitating opioid self-administration in formerly-dependent organisms.
Formal modeling and analysis of an avionics triplex sensor voter

Digital flight control systems utilize redundant hardware to meet high reliability requirements. In this study we use the SMV model checker to assess the design correctness of a sensor voter algorithm used to manage three redundant sensors. The sensor voter design is captured as a Simulink diagram. The requirements verified include normal operation, transient conditions, and fault handling. The sensor voter algorithm is a realistic example of flight critical embedded software used to manage redundant air data or inertial reference sensors. We are using it to evaluate different design methods, languages, and tools currently available for formal verification. Key issues are 1) integration of formal verification into existing development processes and tools, and 2) synthesis of the correct environment (world abstraction) needed for analysis of normal and off-normal operating conditions.
High Susceptibility of Strain A Mice to Endotoxin and Endotoxin-Red Blood Cell Mixtures

Heppner, Gloria (University of California, Berkeley), and David W. Weiss. High susceptibility of strain A mice to endotoxin and endotoxin-red blood cell mixtures. J. Bacteriol. 90:696-703. 1965.-Strain A mice were shown to be considerably more susceptible to lethal effects of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) than mice of several other strains. Complexes of sublethal quantities of LPS and sheep red blood cells were synergistically toxic for strain A mice. Separate administration of sheep red blood cells and heat-killed salmonellae, in either order and as long as 24 hr apart, also proved to be synergistically lethal for strain A mice, but not for R(III) animals studied comparatively. Sheep red blood cell lysates possessed the ability of the intact cells in forming lethal combinations for strain A mice with killed salmonellae. Strain A red blood cell-killed salmonellae complexes were also lethal for strain A mice, but less so then complexes made with sheep red blood cells. A x R(III) F(1) hybrid animals showed the same resistance characteristics as the resistant R(III) parental strain. Possible explanations for these findings are suggested, and their relevance to an immunological mode of action of endotoxin lethality is discussed.
Quickest detection of a change process across a sensor array

Recent attention in quickest change detection in a multi-sensor scenario has been on the case where the densities of the observations at all the sensors change instantaneously at the time of disruption. In this work, we consider a scenario where change propagates across the sensors and its propagation can be modeled as a Markov process. A centralized, Bayesian version of this problem, with a common fusion center that has perfect information about the observations and a priori knowledge of the statistics of the change process, is considered. We formulate the problem of minimizing the expected detection delay subject to false alarm constraints in a dynamic programming framework. Insights into the structure of the optimal stopping rule are presented. When the change process has a jointly geometric prior, the optimal test is seen to be the smallest time of cross-over in the space of sufficient statistics of a linear functional with a non-linear concave function. In the special case where disruption is uniformly likely across the time horizon, we show that the optimal test reduces to a simple threshold test.
A Review of “Dao of Communication”

In this clever and useful textbook, the sixth-century BCE Chinese philosophical text attributed to Laozi has found a new and decidedly modern use. At first, this pairing of Daoism and modern commun...