cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The receptor for advanced glycation end products impairs collateral formation in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice

Diabetics often have poor perfusion in their limbs as a result of peripheral artery disease and an impaired ability to generate collateral vessels. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is one protein that is thought to play a detrimental role in collateral development in diabetics due to increased levels of advanced glycation end products (AGE), one of its ligands, in diabetes. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of RAGE in both diabetic and non-diabetic settings in a model of collateral formation in mice. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in both wild type and RAGE knockout mice. Increased levels of the AGE, Nɛ-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), were confirmed via an ELISA. A hindlimb ischemia model, in which the femoral artery is ligated, was used to drive collateral growth and reperfusion was assessed using laser Doppler perfusion imaging and histological analysis of vessels in the muscle. Both of these measurements showed impaired collateral growth in diabetic compared with wild-type mice as well as improved collateral growth in both diabetic and non-diabetic RAGE knockout mice when compared their wild-type counterparts. Distance on a freely accessed running wheel, used as a measure of perfusion recovery, showed that wild-type diabetic mice had functionally impaired recovery compared with their wild-type counterparts. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting showed that HMGB-1 (high-mobility group box 1), another RAGE ligand, was increased in the ischemic leg compared with the non-ischemic leg in all mice. This increase in HMGB-1 may explain improvement in animals lacking RAGE and its subsequent signaling. In conclusion, this study shows that RAGE impairs collateral growth in a diabetic setting and also in a non-diabetic setting. This demonstrates the importance of RAGE and alternate RAGE ligands in the setting of collateral vessel growth.
U.S. Factor XI Patients: Is There a Safer Treatment? Yes - Hemoleven.

Abstract Despite donor screening and newer PCR testing, human-derived fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is not without the potential for viral transmission. Factor XI-deficient patients are plentiful in the U.S. (estimate ~1500–2000). Although there is discordance between phenotype and genotype, with substantially fewer “bleeders” than those with deficiency, and spontaneous bleeding is rare, surgical intervention frequently demands replacement therapy. The English F XI concentrate, virally inactivated, had thrombosis as a complication, and heparin was added, but is no longer available in the U.S. An LFB factor XI concentrate (Hemoleven), doubly viral-inactivated, with heparin and ATIII is available internationally, but not in the U.S. A review of 56 cases treated in France, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, and Israel reveal that for minor and major surgery it is both safe and effective. Between 1992 and 2004, data for the use of Hemoleven for either prophylaxis, minor and major surgery was collected. In all, hemostasis was excellent. In three, concentrate was used because of anaphylaxis with FFP. Three had laboratory evidence of DIC and, of these, one had a PE. In addition, these three cases received excessive dosage. Twelve patients had recovery and half-life studies for this concentrate. T1/2 was 45.5 ± 7.9h and recovery was 1.85 ± 0.38%/u/kg. These data are evidence that a safer and effective therapy for F XI patients exist outside of the U.S. We should not have to wait for a new infectious agent transmitted by FFP before we make it available in the U.S.. We should have learned something from HIV, when DDAVP was used everywhere, but not licensed here.
The changing landscape of grading systems in US higher education

ABSTRACTThe following study explores the landscape of grading systems utilised in higher education, focusing on the frequency of different types of assessment scales (including Straight Letter, Plus/Minus, and other alternative policies). Although numerous studies have explored the relationship between university grading system and student behaviour, motivation, and overall perception of education experience, little research has been done to quantitatively analyse the number of colleges and universities that employ a specific grading policy. The present study addresses this gap in scholarship, using a sample of 620 schools from 12 states (and the District of Columbia) in the Northeast region of the USA. Results of the study find significant patterns of difference in the grading procedures across universities.
An efficient parallel simulation of unsteady blood flows in patient-specific pulmonary artery

Simulation of blood flows in the pulmonary artery provides some insight into certain diseases by examining the relationship between some continuum metrics, eg, the wall shear stress acting on the vascular endothelium, which responds to flow-induced mechanical forces by releasing vasodilators/constrictors. V. Kheyfets, in his previous work, studies numerically a patient-specific pulmonary circulation to show that decreasing wall shear stress is correlated with increasing pulmonary vascular impedance. In this paper, we develop a scalable parallel algorithm based on domain decomposition methods to investigate an unsteady model with patient-specific pulsatile waveforms as the inlet boundary condition. The unsteady model offers tremendously more information about the dynamic behavior of the flow field, but computationally speaking, the simulation is a lot more expensive since a problem which is similar to the steady-state problem has to be solved many times, and therefore, the traditional sequential approach is not suitable anymore. We show computationally that simulations using the proposed parallel approach with up to 10 000 processor cores can be obtained with much reduced compute time. This makes the technology potentially usable for the routine study of the dynamic behavior of blood flows in the pulmonary artery, in particular, the changes of the blood flows and the wall shear stress in the spatial and temporal dimensions.
Evaluating the reliability of efficient energy technology portfolios

This paper develops a decision evaluation framework to assess how the treatment of risk affects the reliability of, and investment into, electricity generation infrastructure. First, portfolios of electricity generation technologies that comprise the energy supply systems in the US are evaluated using a mean-variance approach. Second, this research assesses the reliability of the portfolios with the aid of loss of load expectation and loss of energy expectation metrics. The methodology considers the least-cost technology mix coupled with the reduction of market and system risks. The variation in the portfolio cost is based on the prevailing policies in the geographic locations. Overall, the current mix of technologies evaluated along the cost-risk latitudes shows an inefficient electricity technology portfolio system. First, investments in renewable technologies may create a bifurcation. On the one hand, the portfolios with significant proportions of the high-cost intermittent technologies exhibit low market risks. On the other hand, these portfolios have less desirable system reliability measures. Second, policy makers will find it instructive that a more diverse electricity technology mix offers the potential to migrate to the efficient frontier in the near term. However, it is imperative to craft policies in support of the transition with the caveat that technology diversity is not always a panacea for improving system reliability even if the portfolio is on the efficient frontier. This work projects some intriguing insights and offers guidance for policy makers.
Live Coding YouTube

Music listening has changed greatly with the emergence of music streaming services, such as Spotify or YouTube. However, did it inspire us to make new experimental music? Live Coding YouTube is a response to the anticipation of novel performance practices using streaming media. A live coder uses any available video from YouTube, a video streaming service, as source material to perform an improvised audiovisual piece. The challenge is to manipulate the emerging media that are streamed from a networked service given the limited functionality of the API provided. The piece finds parallels in early experimental music that manipulates magnetic tape and vinyl records. On the contrary, the audiovisual space that a musician can explore on the fly is practically infinite. The performance system is built entirely on a web browser and publicly available in the following address: https://livecodingyoutube.github.io/
F. R. Eirich

On arrival at Poly in 1947 from Cambridge, England where Dr. Eirich researched and lectured in the areas of Colloid and Polymer Science, Physical Chemistry, and Rheology, his first contributions were to the physical chemical characterization of polymers in solution, building on the work of Doty and Zimm including the techniques of osmometry, isothermal diffusion, electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, flow birefringence, and viscosimetry. About ten papers, in cooperation of M. Schick, T. McGoury, J. Riseman, S. Newman, B. Rosen, P. Kamath, R. Aelion and A. Loebl emerged from this research on the relation between particle size, charge and shape and the viscosity and sedimentation of polymer molecules in solution, on the molecular weights of synthetic polypeptides, and on the relation between the coefficients in Einstein’s and Huggin’s viscosity equations and the concentration correction factors in sedimentation and diffusion.
Isolation and Characterization of Hamster Alpha2 Macroglobulin

Previous reports from our laboratory have described conditions for culturing hamster lymphocytes with mitogens in the absence of serum (1). This finding allowed us to investigate the possibility that a humoral factor or serum components may affect the in vitro activity of different cell populations. We have reported that a specific inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of MHA spleen and lymph node cells and of dextran sulfate (DxS) stimulation of spleen cells is present in normal isologous serum (1). This component does not affect Con A stimulation or mixed lymphocyte reactivity and, therefore, appears to be specific for a particular subpopulation of lymphoid cells (B lymphocytes). We now report that the high molecular weight inhibitor of serum or plasma is alpha2 macroglobulin (α2M).
Introduction into Etiognostic Clinical Research

Having achieved rule-in diagnosis, an expert clinician’s next challenge may arise from the need to know about the causal origin – etiogenesis – of the patient’s illness, possible iatrogenesis in particular. Different from diagnosis, the doctor’s personal experience is not instructive about etiognostic probabilities; (s)he is totally depended on evidence from relevant research. But understanding the burden of that evidence from etiogenetic/etiognostic research is much more challenging than is its counterpart in respect to diagnostic research. In fact, it is so challenging that fundamental fallacies still characterize epidemiologists’ research on the etiogenesis of illness, even though etiogenesis has been the principal concern in their research for a good half-century already.
Factors Associated with Companies' Choices of XBRL Implementation Strategies: Evidence from the U.S. Market

ABSTRACT This study investigates factors associated with public companies' choices of eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) implementation strategies. These strategies include Disclosure Ma...
Nonlocal inadvertent weather modification associated with wind farms in the central United States

Local effects of inadvertent weather changes within and near wind farms have been well documented by a number of modeling studies and observational campaigns; however, the broader nonlocal atmospheric effects of wind farms are much less clear. The goal of this study is to determine whether wind farm-induced perturbations are able to evolve over periods of days, and over areas of thousands of square kilometers, to modify specific atmospheric features that have large impacts on society and the environment, specifically midlatitude and tropical cyclones. Here, an ensemble modeling approach is utilized with a wind farm parameterization to quantify the sensitivity of meteorological variables to the presence of wind farms. The results show that perturbations to nonlocal midlatitude cyclones caused by a wind farm are statistically significant, with magnitudes of roughly 1 hPa for mean sea-level pressure, 4 m/s for surface wind speed, and 15 mm for maximum 30-minute accumulated precipitation. Cyclone perturbation magnitude is also found to be dependent on wind farm size and location relative to the midlatitude cyclone genesis region and track.
The Influence of Body Mass Index on Achieving Age-Adjusted Alignment Goals in Adult Spinal Deformity Corrective Surgery with Full-Body Analysis at 1 Year.

Background The impact of obesity on global spinopelvic alignment is poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of body mass index on achieving alignment targets and compensation mechanisms after corrective surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Methods Retrospective review of a single-center database. Inclusion: patients ≥18 years with full-body stereographic images (baseline and 1 year) and who met ASD criteria (sagittal vertical axis [SVA] >5 cm, pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis [PI–LL] >10°, coronal curvature >20° or pelvic tilt >20°). Patients were stratified by age ( 30). Postoperative alignment was compared with age-adjusted ideal values. Prevalence of patients who matched ideals and unmatched (undercorrected/overcorrected) was assessed. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores, alignment, and compensatory mechanisms were compared across cohorts using analysis of variance and temporally with paired t tests. Results A total of 116 patients were included (average age, 62 years; 66% female). After corrective surgery, obese and overweight patients had more residual malalignment (worse PI–LL, T1 pelvic angle, pelvic tilt, and SVA) compared with normal patients (P 0.05). Conclusions After surgery, obese patients were undercorrected, showed more residual malalignment, recruited more pelvic shift, and had a greater global sagittal angle and worse HRQL scores. The benefits from age-adjusted alignment targets seem to be less substantial for obese and overweight patients.
Obesity Is Associated with Early Onset of Gastrointestinal Cancers in California.

Background. Although it is well known that obesity is a risk factor for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, it is not well established if obesity can cause earlier GI cancer onset. Methods. A cross-sectional study examining the linked 2004–2008 California Cancer Registry Patient Discharge Database was performed to evaluate the association between obesity and onset age among four gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. Regression models were constructed to adjust for other carcinogenic factors. Results. The diagnosis of obesity (BMI > 30) was associated with a reduction in diagnosis age across all four cancer types: 3.25 ± 0.53 years for gastric cancer, 4.56 ± 0.18 years for colorectal cancer, 4.73 ± 0.73 years for esophageal cancer, and 5.35 ± 0.72 for pancreatic cancer. The diagnosis of morbid obesity (BMI > 40) was associated with a more pronounced reduction in the age of diagnosis: 5.48 ± 0.96 years for gastric cancer, 7.75 ± 0.30 years for colorectal cancer, 7.67 ± 1.26 years for esophageal cancer, and 8.19 ± 1.25 years for pancreatic cancer. Both morbid obesity and obesity remained strongly associated with earlier cancer diagnosis for all four cancer types even after adjusting for other available cancer risk factors. Conclusions. The diagnosis of obesity, especially morbid obesity, was associated with a significantly earlier gastrointestinal cancer onset in California. Further research with prospective cohort data may be required to establish the causal relationship between obesity and cancer onset age.
Rhetoric and Communication Perspectives on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: A. D. Propen and M. L. Schuster, New York, NY: Routledge Press, 2017, 216 pp., including index, US$160.00 (hardback), ISBN: 978-1138714984

Although discussions about sexual assault often elicit moral panic or what Propen and Schuster define as “emotional and extreme, even irrational, responses to a perceived and unsettling threat” (p....
Improving Classroom Management Issues through Your Carefully Chosen Approaches and Prompts.

Different teachers can have widely varying classroom management results with the same set of students. There are some explanations for this occurrence, but one explanation that most people could ag...
Higher order genomic organization and epigenetic control maintain cellular identity and prevent breast cancer

Cells establish and sustain structural and functional integrity of the genome to support cellular identity and prevent malignant transformation. In this review, we present a strategic overview of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms including histone modifications and higher order chromatin organization (HCO) that are perturbed in breast cancer onset and progression. Implications for dysfunctions that occur in hormone regulation, cell cycle control, and mitotic bookmarking in breast cancer are considered, with an emphasis on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell activities. The architectural organization of regulatory machinery is addressed within the contexts of translating cancer-compromised genomic organization to advances in breast cancer risk assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and identification of novel therapeutic targets with high specificity and minimal off target effects.
Parylene Photonic Waveguides with Integrated Vertical Input/Output Ports for Flexible, Biocompatible Photonics

Optical methods are widely used for structural and functional imaging of biological tissue. Recent progress in miniaturization of photonic systems has opened the possibility of integrated biointerfaces in a compact implantable or wearable form factor. However, traditional integrated photonics based on rigid dielectric materials cannot address the need for flexibility and compliance to the soft tissues of the body. Here, we present a flexible and biocompatible photonic platform realized entirely in Parylene C and Polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) with integrated micromirrors for out-of-plane input/output coupling as a new platform for biophotonics.
Mathematical Challenges in Measuring Variability Patterns for Precipitation Analysis

This chapter addresses some of the mathematical challenges associated with current experimental and computational methods to analyze spatiotemporal precipitation patterns. After a brief overview of the various methods to measure precipitation from in situ observations, satellite platforms, and via model simulations, the chapter focuses on the statistical assumptions underlying the most common spatiotemporal and pattern-recognition techniques: stationarity, isotropy, and ergodicity. As the variability of Earth’s climate increases and the volume of observational data keeps growing, these assumptions may no longer be satisfied, and new mathematical methodologies may be required. The chapter discusses spatiotemporal decorrelation measures, a nonstationary intensity-duration-function, and 2-dimension reduction methodologies to address these challenges.
A Partially Orthogonal EnKF approach to atmospheric density estimation using orbital debris

Abstract A key requirement for accurate trajectory prediction and space situational awareness is knowledge of how non-conservative forces affect space object motion. These forces vary temporally and spatially, and are driven by the underlying behavior of space weather particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Existing trajectory prediction algorithms adjust space weather models based on calibration satellite observations. However, lack of sufficient data and mismodeling of non-conservative forces cause inaccuracies in space object motion prediction, especially for uncontrolled debris objects. The uncontrolled nature of debris objects makes them particularly sensitive to the variations in space weather. Our research takes advantage of this behavior by utilizing observations of debris objects to infer the space environment parameters influencing their motion. The hypothesis of this research is that it is possible to utilize debris objects as passive, indirect sensors of the space environment. We focus on estimating atmospheric density and its spatial variability to allow for more precise prediction of LEO object motion. The estimated density is parameterized as a grid of values, distributed by latitude and local sidereal time over a spherical shell encompassing Earth at a fixed altitude of 400 km. The position and velocity of each debris object are also estimated. A Partially Orthogonal Ensemble Kalman Filter (POEnKF) is used for assimilation of space object measurements to estimate density. For performance comparison, the scenario characteristics (number of objects, measurement cadence, etc.) are based on a sensor tasking campaign executed for the High Accuracy Satellite Drag Model project. The POEnKF analysis details spatial comparisons between the true and estimated density fields, and quantifies the improved accuracy in debris object motion predictions due to more accurate drag force models from density estimates. It is shown that there is an advantage to utilizing multiple debris objects instead of just one object. Although the work presented here explores the POEnKF performance when using information from only 16 debris objects, the research vision is to utilize information from all routinely observed debris objects. Overall, the filter demonstrates the ability to estimate density to within a threshold of accuracy dependent on measurement/sensor error. In the case of a geomagnetic storm, the filter is able to track the storm and provide more accurate density estimates than would be achieved using a simple exponential atmospheric density model or MSIS Atmospheric Model (when calm conditions are assumed).
Clinicopathological correlation (CC) and outcome of breast cancer patients (pts) with resected brain metastasis (BM)

656 Background: We aimed at determining the pathologic features of metastatic breast lesions to the brain, and their correlation with the primary tumor, and their effect on postneurosurgical surviv...
Dynamics of Broken SU(3)⊗SU(3)

We present a method of using mass dispersion relations for relating symmetry-breaking parameters in Lagrangians to breaking effects in states and deducing precise relations between physical $S$-matrix elements from operator algebras. We apply the method with the canonical equal-time and light-cone operator structures of the gluon model to deduce some $\mathrm{SU}(3)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}(3)$ symmetry-breaking effects. We find $\frac{{f}_{K}}{{f}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}}\ensuremath{\simeq}1.20$, $\ensuremath{\xi}(0)=\ensuremath{-}0.7$, a 50% correction to the Callan-Treiman relation, and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{8}\ensuremath{\equiv}[\mathrm{SU}(3) \mathrm{breaking}\mathrm{parameter}]$ $\ensuremath{\simeq}0.14$ GeV, and explain why these values are completely consistent with $\frac{{Z}_{K}}{{Z}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}}\ensuremath{\gg}1$.
Women in Thoracic Surgery Scholarship: Impact on Career Path and Interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Background Women remain underrepresented in cardiothoracic surgery (CTS). In 2005, Women in Thoracic Surgery (WTS) began offering scholarships to promote engagement of women in CTS careers. This study explores the effect of WTS scholarships on CTS career milestones. Methods We assessed career development using the number of awardees matching into CTS residency/fellowship, American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) certification, and academic CTS appointment. Scholarship awardee data were obtained from our WTS database. Comparison data were gathered from the National Residency Match Program and ABTS. Details of the current roles of ABTS-certified women were determined from public resources. Qualitative results were gathered from post-scholarship surveys. Results A total of 106 WTS scholarships have been awarded to 38 medical students (36%), 41 general surgery residents (39%), and 27 CTS residents/fellows (25%). Among medical students, 26% of awardees entered integrated CTS residency (vs Conclusions Receipt of a WTS scholarship is associated with successful pursuit of CTS career milestones at significantly higher rates than contemporaries. These scholarships foster a supportive community for women trainees in CTS.
A molecular dynamics analysis of the effect of surface passivation on the adhesion, deformation behavior and structure stability of amorphous carbon ultrathin films

Abstract Basic knowledge of the interfacial interactions, contact deformation, and structure changes in amorphous carbon (a-C) ultrathin films due to irreversible deformation is of critical importance to the protective effectiveness of these films. This paper presents a molecular dynamics (MD) analysis that reveals the role of surface passivation on the contact deformation and adhesion characteristics of ultrathin (
On Self-Security of Grid-Interactive Smart Inverters

The capability to exchange information with utility operators, aggregators, and nearby smart devices can make a grid-interactive inverter an intelligent cyber-physical device. However, the capability of exchanging information can also put the inverters at the risk of insecure operation. In this paper, possible software manipulations into the inverters are studied to understand their vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Moreover, the state-of-the-art system-level and device-level cyber-defense measures are discussed, and advantages and drawbacks of each technique are provided. Studies show that a reference model can be implemented in device-level security to effectively examine incoming setpoints for detecting and preventing malicious or harmful actions. This paper particularly underlines the significance of device-level self-security and its advantages for grid-interactive inverters. Finally, recommendations for future studies are provided.
Clinical characteristics of people with cystic fibrosis and frequent fungal infection.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and fungal airway infection may present with fungal bronchitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) or may appear unaffected despite fungal detection. We sought to characterize people with CF with frequent detection of fungi from airway samples and determine clinical outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective study included individuals with CF with ≥ 4 lower airway cultures over a 2-year baseline period and ≥ 2 years of follow-up. We defined two groups: ≤ 1 positive fungus culture (rare) or ≥ 2 positive cultures during baseline (frequent). Clinical characteristics and outcomes were determined. RESULTS: Between 2004-2016, 294 individuals met inclusion with 62% classified as rare and 38% as frequent fungi during baseline. Median follow-up was 6 years (range 2-9 years). Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common fungal species detected. Individuals with frequent fungi were older (13.7 vs. 11.7 yrs, p = 0.02) and more likely to have Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (35% vs 17%, p < 0.001) at baseline, but did not differ in lung function or ABPA diagnosis. During follow-up, those with frequent fungi were more likely to have chronic P. aeruginosa and S. maltophilia. Individuals with ABPA and frequent fungi had the highest rates of co-infection and co-morbidities, and a trend towards more rapid lung function decline. DISCUSSION: Fungal infection in CF was associated with frequent P. aeruginosa and S. maltophilia co-infection even in those without ABPA. Individuals with frequent fungi and ABPA had worse outcomes, highlighting the potential contribution of fungi to CF pulmonary disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Meningococcal Detoxified Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccines Enhance Gonococcal Clearance in a Murine Infection Model

Background Despite decades of research efforts, development of a gonorrhea vaccine has remained elusive. Epidemiological studies suggest that detoxified outer membrane vesicle (dOMV) vaccines from Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) may protect against infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng). We recently reported that Nm dOMVs lacking the major outer membrane proteins (OMPs) PorA, PorB, and RmpM induced greater antibody cross-reactivity against heterologous Nm strains than wild-type (WT) dOMVs and may represent an improved vaccine against gonorrhea. Methods We prepared dOMV vaccines from meningococcal strains that were sufficient or deleted for PorA, PorB, and RmpM. Vaccines were tested in a murine genital tract infection model and antisera were used to identify vaccine targets. Results Immunization with Nm dOMVs significantly and reproducibly enhanced gonococcal clearance for mice immunized with OMP-deficient dOMVs; significant clearance for WT dOMV-immunized mice was observed in one of two experiments. Clearance was associated with serum and vaginal anti-Nm dOMV IgG antibodies that cross-reacted with Ng. Serum IgG was used to identify putative Ng vaccine targets, including PilQ, MtrE, NlpD, and GuaB. Conclusions Meningococcal dOMVs elicited a protective effect against experimental gonococcal infection. Recognition and identification of Ng vaccine targets by Nm dOMV-induced antibodies supports the development of a cross-protective Neisseria vaccine.
TU‐F‐CAMPUS‐J‐05: Quantitative Evaluation of the Relationship Between Tissue Velocity and Motion‐Artifacts of Free‐Breathing Low‐Dose Fast‐Helical CT Scans

Purpose: The process of characterizing breathing motion has recently advanced by employing repeated fast-helical scans as the free-breathing CT images. While the scans are acquired using state-of-the-art CT scanners operating at nearly their highest couch-speeds, it still requires 0.23 s to scan any specific tissue-region. During quiet respiration, tissue velocities of up to 4 cm per second have been observed; leading to the residual motion-artifacts in the fast helical CT scans. This work evaluates the magnitude and characteristics of the motion-artifacts and correlates against model-calculated tissue velocities. Methods: 10 Patients were scanned 25 successive times using a low-dose fast-helical protocol with scans acquired in alternating directions. A 64-slice CT scanner with a pitch of 1.2 and table speed of 161.7 mm/s was used. The first scan was selected as the reference scan and deformable registrations were performed to register the other 24 scans to the reference scan. Motion-blur was quantified using blurring metrics and doubling-artifacts were further quantified using edge-response width to determine the mean edge-width of each lung diaphragm. The model-predicted velocities were correlated against the quantified artifacts. Results: Motion-artifacts appeared with the increased tissue velocity, from artifact-free to blurring-artifacts and then doubling-artifacts. Increasing amounts of doubling-artifacts were observed with tissue velocities > 18.2±1.3 mm/s. Regional blurring-artifacts occurred with velocities > 3.8±2.3 mm/s. The relationship between tissue velocity and motion-artifact severity was linear. There was no statistically significant difference in artifact magnitude between inhalation and exhalation phases. Conclusion: In spite of employing fast-helical acquisition with table speeds of 161.7 mm/s, motion-artifacts remained. The relationship between motion-artifact amplitude and tissue-velocity was linear with free-breathing fast-helical scans. This relationship will be used to aid in reference image selection, guide 5DCT accuracy assessments, and determine which images are averaged to produce the reference phase image used for treatment planning.
Incremental Learning in a Probabilistic Information Retrieval System

Abstract Current technologies have increased both the quantity of information available and the modes of access to it. General tools to provide access should be adaptable to individual contexts and needs. Our research involves the use of learning and adaptive techniques to improve the quality of an IR System. We outline a fully implemented experimental IRS (Okapi), which uses search term weighting and item ranking, based on a probabilistic model. One of its current deficiencies is that users do not benefit from continual use, since the system does not adapt to particular users or their search topics. Here we describe an incremental learning algorithm which builds contextual linkages from user sessions so as to optimise the order of reference display and enhance the relevance of reference listings.
Evaluations in their social context: Distance regulates consistency and context dependence

When and why do people's likes and dislikes flexibly tune to the current context, and when do they remain consistent? Ideas about flexibility and consistency have permeated the attitude literature throughout its history. Building on the notion that both flexibility and consistency in evaluative responding can be highly functional as well as highly social, this paper considers the role of distance in guiding people's evaluations to incorporate specific and individualized information that helps immerse them in their current social environment, versus broad and general information that helps them reach beyond their current context and relate to things outside of it. Next, the paper reviews research supporting this perspective, focusing on its implications for understanding how people's evaluations help them tune into different aspects of their social environment - those that tend to be specific to a particular context, and those that tend to be consistently encountered across contexts. The described studies suggest that distance regulates susceptibility to specific and general social influences, as well as the extent to which people's evaluations reflect broad and socially shared morals, values, and ideological principles. © 2014 The Authors. Social and Personality Psychology Compass published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Kopp Receives 2012 William Gilbert Award: Response

I have many people to thank for the honor of receiving the William Gilbert Award. Joe Kirschvink must sit at the top of the list, not just for the generosity—I hope at least partially deserved!—of his citation but also for his role as my Ph.D. mentor. During the 5 years I spent working with him at Caltech, Joe was always supportive; was as generous with his time as he has been in his words; and served as a role model for me in the way he fearlessly marched through our planet's history, building bridges between magnetism and our understanding of climate, the biosphere, and the Earth system as a whole.
Nature of opaque components on Mercury: Insights into a Mercurian magma ocean

[1] Analysis of Mariner 10 and MESSENGER data sets reveal the importance of opaque components on Mercury’s surface. A global darkening agent, suggested to be ilmenite or other Fe-, Ti-bearing opaque mineral, has been invoked to explain the lower albedo of Mercury relative to the lunar highlands. Separately, a low-reflectance material (LRM) has been recognized as one of three dominant color terrains. We present laboratory reflectance spectra of ilmenite size separates and other candidate Fe-, Ti-bearing oxide minerals. These oxides cannot sufficiently darken Mercury without violating neutron spectrometer constraints on surface iron content. The spectra of all samples exhibit negative spectral slopes shortward of 500 nm, consistent with the LRM. We review models of crystallization of an FeO-poor Mercurian magma ocean and show that lack of a plagioclase flotation crust could lead to a thin quench crust with near surface layers of incompatible- and Ti-rich late stage cumulates, consistent with Mercury’s albedo and LRM. Citation: Riner, M. A., P. G. Lucey, S. J. Desch, and F. M. McCubbin (2009), Nature of opaque components on Mercury: Insights into a Mercurian magma ocean, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L02201, doi:10.1029/2008GL036128.
The Vestibular Effects of Repeated Low-Level Blasts

Abstract The objective of this study was to use a prospective cohort of United States Marine Corps (USMC) instructors to identify any acute or long-term vestibular dysfunction following repeated blast exposures during explosive breaching training. They were assessed in clinic and on location during training at the USMC Methods of Entry School, Quantico, VA. Subjects received comprehensive baseline vestibular assessments and these were repeated in order to identify longitudinal changes. They also received shorter assessments immediately following blast exposure in order to identify acute findings. The main outcome measures were the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, vestibular Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of subjective vestibular function, videonystagmography (VNG), vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), rotary chair (including the unilateral centrifugation test), computerized dynamic posturography, and computerized dynamic visual acuity. A total of 11 breachers and 4 engineers were followed for up to ...
Nonlinear Schrödinger equation and two-level atoms.

General features of nonlinear quantum mechanics are discussed in the context of applications to two-level atoms.
Effects of D2-dopaminergic receptor stimulation on the lordotic response of female rats.

The effects of LY163502, a highly selective D2 dopaminergic agonist, on the lordotic response of ovariectomized, estrogen-treated rats were evaluated. LY163502, administered subcutaneously or orally, produced a significantly greater lordotic response than vehicle. LY175877 [the opposite (+) enantiomer] was found to be inactive. The effects of subcutaneous administered LY163502 were abolished by prior treatment with dopaminergic receptor antagonists such as haloperidol orcis-flupenthixol. These studies are supportive of the view that LY163502 can initiate and potentiate female sexual behavior by stimulating D2 type dopaminergic receptors.
Autonomic computing architecture for real-time medical application running on virtual private cloud infrastructures

Cloud computing with virtualization technologies has become a huge trend which attracts academia and information technology industries because of its cost-efficiency. It has changed paradigms of development, release, and maintenance of diverse types of software and service. However, this big movement has not been applied to real-time applications yet because deploying real-time applications on the cloud infrastructures arouses many controversies because of numerous uncertainties from sharing physical resources. It is not trivial to apply conventional scheduling techniques for real-time systems to cloud infrastructures without further considerations. All virtual machines (VMs) must be controlled by the Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) which is centralized and has a primary role to share physical resources fairly with all VMs in the same physical machine (PM). For best-effort applications, this fair resource sharing policy works well and end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) is promised by the service level agreement (SLA) with reasonable delay windows. However, for real-time applications with aperiodic hard- and soft-real-time tasks, this mechanism has serious weaknesses. Although VMMs of most cloud infrastructures have auto-scaling and load-balancing mechanisms, these are unpredictably slow to accept urgent aperiodic-real-time tasks because of its fair resource sharing policy. Therefore, it is necessary to propose another approach to satisfy deadline constraints of real-time tasks transferred from remote locations. In this research, we focus on cloud medical applications processing sensitive patient data with deadline constraints. We propose feasible solutions to reserve computing and networking resources with an autonomic computing architecture in the virtual private cloud infrastructures.
Effect of Augmented Sensorimotor Input on Learning Verbal and Nonverbal Tasks Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thirty-four children, with autism spectrum disorders, ages 4-14 years, were matched and randomly assigned to one of two conditions for learning a novel juice-making task and producing two novel words about the event. Seventeen sighted children were manually guided to perform the task and tactually prompted during imitated productions of novel words for the event. Their matched controls heard the novel words and watched the juice-making task being performed. Performances on four verbal and two nonverbal measures right after instruction and at 24-48 h post-instruction, revealed higher scores for the ‘‘hands-on’’, participation than observation group on both verbal and nonverbal tasks. This study offers a paradigm for exploring the instructional advantage of enhanced participatory experience.
THE ORIENTATION OF THE REACTION CENTER CAROTENOID TRIPLET STATE MAGNETIC AXES IN CHROMATOPHORES OF Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides WILD TYPE

— The orientation of the principal magnetic axes of the reaction center carotenoid from Rps. sphaeroides wild type is presented. The parameters needed to simulate the observed carotenoid triplet state spectra indicate that the carotenoid adopts a planar structure within the reaction center. A high degree of geometrical and structural specificity is shown to exist for this carotenoid molecule.
Picosecond Dynamics Of Surface Water As A Function Of Hydrophobicity

Previously we and others have shown terahertz sensitivity to protein-ligand binding, possibly arising from the change in low frequency structural modes [1]. Another possibility is that the water adjacent to the protein, which strongly contributes to the THz response, may be affected by the change in the protein surface with binding. Pollack and coworkers have shown an ordered water film (from nm up to hundreds of um thickness) is formed on a smooth hydrophilic surface [2, 3]. To study how picosecond dynamics of water are affected by hydrophilicity of a surface, we performed a series of terahertz dielectric measurements as a function of water film thickness and hydrophicility of the surface. Measurements were made on solution cells with windows made of polyethylene or quartz. The hydrophilicity of the surfaces was modified by air plasma treatments, and characterized with contact angle measurements. Terahertz time domain spectroscopy measurements were made as a function of thickness and the absorption coefficient and index were extracted. The results were analyzed at selected frequencies to study the absorption trend with respect to the change of thickness. These measurements suggest a smaller THz response for water adjacent to hydrophilic surfaces. This lower response may possibly come from an overall decrease in water density at the surface or a stronger ordering inhibiting rotational motions contributing to the picosecond response.1. Chen, J.-Y., et al., Terahertz Dielectric Assay of Solution Phase Protein Binding. Appl. Phys. Lett., 2007. 90: p. 243901.2. Zheng, J., et al., Surfaces and interfacial water: Evidence that hydrophilic surfaces have long-range impact. Advances In Colloid and Interface science, 2006. 127: p. 19.3. Rand, R.P. and V.A. Parsegian, Hydration forces between phospholipid bilayers. Biochimica et Biophsica Acta, 1989. 988: p. 351.
Streptococcus iniae Infection of Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in a Recirculation Production Facility

—Streptococcus iniae was isolated from moribund pure strain Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in a water recirculation aquaculture facility. The extent of the infection was determined in a number of separate culture systems at the facility. A pilot study was also conducted to gain information on potential stressors that may play a role in spread of the infection within such a water reuse facility. The conditions employed in the pilot stress test did not have any apparent impact on spread of S. iniae infection to fish in additional tanks within the facility.
The detection of and responses to experimental intraspecific brood parasitism in eastern kingbirds

Abstract Abstract. Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus , nests were experimentally parasitized to (1) devise a method for determining the frequency of intraspecific brood parasitism and (2) determine the frequency with which foreign, conspecific eggs are accepted. The data indicate that eggs of different females vary in appearance and that experimental intraspecific brood parasitism significantly increased intra-clutch variation in egg length, width, shape and spot density in the upper third of the egg. Based on a discriminant function analysis of egg traits in control and experimental nests ( N = 10 for both), eight of 10 experimentally parasitized nests and seven of 10 parasitic eggs were correctly identified. Examination of physiognomic variation among eggs can thus provide an approximate (minimum) estimate of the frequency of intraspecific brood parasitism in kingbirds. Kingbird responses to experimental intraspecific brood parasitism varied with the stage of the laying cycle. Egg ejection predominated in nests parasitized prior to clutch initiation whether parasitized by control (red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus ) or foreign kingbird eggs. Once egg laying began kingbirds virtually never rejected a kingbird egg, but did eject most blackbird eggs. Hence, despite significant differences in egg appearance among females, and an ability to eject eggs, females will accept virtually all parasitically laid kingbird eggs once they have begun laying.
Identity as a Source of Moral Motivation

Theory and research regarding moral motivation has focused for decades on the roles of moral reasoning and, to some extent, moral emotion. Recently, however, several models of morality have positioned identity as an additional important source of moral motivation. An individual has a moral identity to the extent that he or she has constructed his or her sense of self around moral concerns (e.g., moral values). This paper reviews theory and research linking moral identity to moral behavior and commitment. Additionally, it suggests several key unanswered questions about moral identity and provides recommendations for future research.
Unusual Alkylphenols and their Transport in the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River, Michigan

Concentrations of 2,4-di-tert-pentylphenol and six other unusual alkylphenols were measured in sediments throughout the Trenton Channel and the mouth of the Detroit River. Octanol-water partition coefficients for these compounds ranged between 3.24 and 5.88, indicating that these compounds are bound to sediment. Thus, these alkylphenols, which come from a known source, can be used to investigate the transport pathways of other sediment-bound pollutants. The alkylphenol concentrations decreased exponentially with distance from the source along the western shore of the Trenton Channel, indicating that transport occurred uniformly along its length. Little cross-channel or upstream mixing was observed. Significant quantities of the alkylphenols are present at the mouth of the Detroit River, indicating that sediment-bound pollutants are carried through the Trenton Channel and enter the western basin of Lake Erie.