cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum formalism adapted to radiation in a coherent field

Abstract Quantum-radiation theory in a coherent field has been treated previously (1–4) by conventional methods. The purpose here is to introduce a formalism that simplifies explicit calculations and improves understanding of the topic. The state of the radiation field is described by Wigner's probability density of position and momentum for each harmonic oscillator that represents a mode of the field. For oscillators, Wigner's density varies in time exactly like a classical density; i.e., probability propagates along space-time paths that obey the classical equation of motion. The new formalism exploits this appearance of a classical equation of motion in the quantum-mechanical problem. A method is devised for reducing atomic systems (matter) that interact with the field to impedance and noise, which enter into the equations of motion in the usual classical way. This description of matter reduces quantum-radiation theory to classical-noise theory of linear networks. As simple examples of the method, impedance and noise are derived for two systems: a general dissipative system, and the molecular beam of an idealized gas maser. The radiation theory is approached as the most obvious application of a more general theory of coupled systems. The general theory is presented first, applying Feynman's nonreltivistic space-time approach to the Wigner density. The mechanics of a system is described by the probability (in Wigner's sense) of each path of the coordinates in space-time. The influence of one system on another is described by the probability of a force function.
Directed evolution of the TALE N-terminal domain for recognition of all 5′ bases

Transcription activator-like effector (TALE) proteins can be designed to bind virtually any DNA sequence. General guidelines for design of TALE DNA-binding domains suggest that the 5 0 -most base of the DNA sequence bound by the TALE (the N0 base) should be a thymine. We quantified the N0 requirement by analysis of the activities of TALE transcription factors (TALE-TF), TALE recombinases (TALE-R) and TALE nucleases (TALENs) with each DNA base at this position. In the absence of a 5 0 T, we observed decreases in TALE activity up to >1000fold in TALE-TF activity, up to 100-fold in TALE-R activity and up to 10-fold reduction in TALEN activity compared with target sequences containing a5 0 T. To develop TALE architectures that recognize all possible N0 bases, we used structure-guided library design coupled with TALE-R activity selections to evolve novel TALE N-terminal domains to accommodate any N0 base. A G-selective domain and broadly reactive domains were isolated and characterized. The engineered TALE domains selected in the TALE-R format demonstrated modularity and were active in TALE-TF and TALEN architectures. Evolved N-terminal domains provide effective and unconstrained TALE-based targeting of any DNA sequence as TALE binding proteins and designer enzymes.
Novel Myofilament Ca2+-Sensitizing Property of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors

Antioxidants are known to mitigate the cardiac contractile dysfunction that follows brief periods of ischemia ("myocardial stunning"). Stunning decreases contractility at the level of the contractile proteins; therefore, we asked whether antioxidant treatment preserves myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness after global ischemia and reflow. Right ventricular trabeculae were dissected from rat hearts subjected either to 20 minutes ischemia and reperfusion in the absence of drugs (stunned group) or to the same protocol in the presence of allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase (XO), and mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG), a hydroxyl radical scavenger (antioxidant group). At 20 minutes of reflow, isovolumic developed pressure recovered completely in the antioxidant group, but in the stunned group it recovered by only 57%. [Ca2+]i and contractile force measurements in trabeculae revealed the expected depression of myofilament function in the stunned group, with no change in Ca2+ transients relative to nonischemic controls. In contrast, Ca2+ transients were smaller, but force was greater, in the antioxidant group relative to both the stunned group and to nonischemic controls. Steady-state [Ca2+]i-force relationships revealed a striking increase of maximal force and a modest shift of activation to a lower range of [Ca2+]i. The increase in maximal force was reproduced by allopurinol+MPG or by allopurinol alone under nonischemic conditions and also by oxypurinol (100 micromol/L), a potent inhibitor of XO. We conclude that allopurinol and oxypurinol sensitize the cardiac myofilaments to Ca2+. This Ca2+-sensitizing effect underlies the preservation of contractility observed with an allopurinol+MPG antioxidant cocktail in a model of stunned myocardium. These serendipitous findings identify allopurinol and oxypurinol as the lead compounds of a novel class of inotropic agents.
The Machinations of Luck

Luck is at issue when it is a matter of pure chance that a result of significant positive of negative value ensues for someone. Luck differs from fate, which pivots on an individual's condition, and from fortune, which pivots on an individual's talent and effort. It is by luck that you are rich when you win the lottery, by fortune if your wealth comes from talent and hard work, and by fate if you inherit those millions. On this basis luck lies beyond anyone's rational control. With risk (R) as the probability of failure in a chancy situation and the stake (S) as the difference between a favorable and an unfavorable outcome, luck (L) can be measured as the product of these quantities: L = R × S. The condition of humankind in an uncertain world being as it is, luck cannot be eliminated as a key factor of our existence, be it in cognitive, practical, or ethical regards.
Telemedicine Based on Mobile Devices and Mobile Cloud Computing

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets support kinds of mobile computing and services. They can access to the cloud or offload the computation-intensive part to the cloud computing resources. Mobile cloud computing (MCC) integrates the cloud computing into the mobile environment, which extends mobile devices’ battery lifetime, improves their data storage capacity and processing power, and improves their reliability and information security. In this paper, the applications of smartphones in telemedicine and MCC-based telemedicine were presented. Issues on the information security of smartphones and tablets, challenges of smartphones in telemedicine and challenges of MCC-based telemedicine were also introduced.
How often are interfacility transfers of spine injury patients truly necessary

Abstract Background context Traumatic spine injuries are often transferred to regional tertiary trauma centers from outside hospitals (OSHs) and subsequently discharged from the trauma center's emergency department (ED) suggesting secondary overtriage of such injuries. Purpose The aim of the study was to investigate the definitive treatment and disposition of traumatic spine injuries transferred from OSH, particularly those without other trauma injuries or neurologic symptoms. Study design This was a retrospective study. Patient sample Adult patients presenting to a single Level 1 trauma center with spine injuries were included. Outcome measures The outcome measures considered in the study were appropriateness of transfer, treatment, and cost. Methods Four thousand five-hundred consecutive adult patients presenting to a single Level 1 trauma center with spine injuries (isolated or polytrauma) were reviewed. This consisted of 1,427 patients (32%) transferred from an OSH ED. All OSH, emergency medical services, and receiving institution (RI) patient records and imaging were reviewed. Results Patients who were neurologically intact, nonpolytrauma, and without critical medical issues at the OSH (isolated intact spine transfers) comprised 29% of transfers. Helicopters transported 13% of these patients. The most frequent injuries were compression (26%), burst (17%), and transverse process (10%) fractures. Seventy-eight percent were discharged directly from the RI's ED. Similarly, 15% were not given any formal treatment, 13% had surgery, and 72% given orthosis treatment. The average cost for transportation and ED costs for those discharged from the RI ED were $1,863 and $12,895, respectively. Of the isolated intact spine transfers, 42% were considered to be inappropriate to warrant transfer. This was defined as those sent from an OSH with an orthopedic or neurosurgeon on staff and clearly stable injuries with minimal chance of progressing to instability. Isolated intact spine transfers whose OSH spine imaging was not considered unstable was 25% of transfers with a helicopter used to transport 14% of these patients. Eighty-seven percent were discharged from the ED, whereas only 3% went onto surgery. Conclusions This study is the first to investigate interfacility transfers with spine injuries and found high rate of secondary overtriage of neurologically intact patients with isolated spine injuries. Potential solutions include increasing spine coverage in community EDs, increasing direct communication between the OSH and the spine specialist at the tertiary center, and utilization of teleradiology.
The relationship between rater affect and three sources of 360-degree feedback ratings

We investigated whether rater affect has a similar effect on the leniency of ratings from three of the sources of 360-degree feedback (downward, upward, and peer) and whether there is an interaction between a rater’s affect and the time he or she has spent observing the ratee. The findings indicate that the influence of rater affect on the leniency of ratings was significantly greater in upward and peer feedback than in downward feedback and that the influence increased as raters’ observation time increased.
Distinct Activation Signals Determine whether IL-21 Induces B Cell Costimulation, Growth Arrest, or Bim-Dependent Apoptosis

IL-21 costimulates B cell proliferation and cooperatively with IL-4 promotes T cell-dependent Ab responses. Somewhat paradoxically, IL-21 also induces apoptosis of B cells. The present study was undertaken to more precisely define the expression of the IL-21R, using a novel mAb, and the circumstances by which IL-21 promotes B cell growth vs death. The IL-21R was first detected during T and B cell development, such that this receptor is expressed by all mature lymphocytes. The IL-21R was further up-regulated after B and T activation, with the highest expression by activated B cells. Functional studies demonstrated that IL-21 substantially inhibited proliferation and induced Bim-dependent apoptosis for LPS or CpG DNA-activated B cells. In contrast, IL-21 induced both costimulation and apoptosis for anti-CD40-stimulated B cells, whereas IL-21 primarily costimulated B cells activated by anti-IgM or anti-IgM plus anti-CD40. Upon blocking apoptosis using C57BL/6 Bim-deficient or Bcl-2 transgenic B cells, IL-21 readily costimulated responses to anti-CD40 while proliferation to LPS was still inhibited. Engagement of CD40 or the BCR plus CD40 prevented the inhibitory effect by IL-21 for LPS-activated B cells. Collectively, these data indicate that there are three separable outcomes for IL-21-stimulated B cells: apoptosis, growth arrest, or costimulation. We favor a model in which IL-21 promotes B cell maturation during a productive T cell-dependent B cell response, while favoring growth arrest and apoptosis for nonspecifically or inappropriately activated B cells.
Unassembled CD147 is an endogenous endoplasmic reticulum–associated degradation substrate

Degradation of folding- or assembly-defective proteins by the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) ubiquitin ligase, Hrd1, is facilitated by a process that involves recognition of demannosylated N-glycans by the lectin OS-9/XTP3-B via the adaptor protein SEL1L. Most of our knowledge of the machinery that commits proteins to this fate in metazoans comes from studies of overexpressed mutant proteins in heterologous cells. In this study, we used mass spectrometry to identify core-glycoslyated CD147 (CD147(CG)) as an endogenous substrate of the ERAD system that accumulates in a complex with OS-9 following SEL1L depletion. CD147 is an obligatory assembly factor for monocarboxylate transporters. The majority of newly synthesized endogenous CD147(CG) was degraded by the proteasome in a Hrd1-dependent manner. CD147(CG) turnover was blocked by kifunensine, and interaction of OS-9 and XTP3-B with CD147(CG) was inhibited by mutations to conserved residues in their lectin domains. These data establish unassembled CD147(CG) as an endogenous, constitutive ERAD substrate of the OS-9/SEL1L/Hrd1 pathway.
miR-101 Inhibits Cholangiocarcinoma Angiogenesis through Targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)

Recent evidence has suggested an important role of miRNAs in liver biology and diseases, although the implication of miRNAs in cholangiocarcinoma remains to be defined further. This study was designed to examine the biological function and molecular mechanism of miR-101 in cholangiocarcinogenesis and tumor progression. In situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR were performed to determine the expression of miR-101 in human cholangiocarcinoma tissues and cell lines. Compared with noncancerous biliary epithelial cells, the expression of miR-101 is decreased in 43.5% of human cholangiocarcinoma specimens and in all three cholangiocarcinoma cell lines used in this study. Forced overexpression of miR-101 significantly inhibited cholangiocarcinoma growth in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. miR-101-overexpressed xenograft tumor tissues showed decreased capillary densities and decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The VEGF and COX-2 mRNAs were identified as the bona fide targets of miR-101 in cholangiocarcinoma cells by both computational analysis and experimental assays. miR-101 inhibits cholangiocarcinoma angiogenesis by direct targeting of VEGF mRNA 3′untranslated region and by repression of VEGF gene transcription through inhibition of COX-2. This study established a novel tumor-suppressor role of miR-101 in cholangiocarcinoma and it suggests the possibility of targeting miR-101 and related signaling pathways for future therapy.
Allocation to reproduction in a hawkmoth: a quantitative analysis using stable carbon isotopes.

There is great interest in the importance of nectar nutrients to fecundity in the Lepidoptera, but nutrient allocation has been difficult to measure quantitatively. Here we trace the allocation of nectar nutrients in the hawkmoth Amphion floridensis using naturally occurring variation in plant stable carbon isotopes and thereby derive a descriptive model of carbon flow into eggs. Because 13 C content (expressed as d 13 C, the 13 C: 12 C ratio relative to a standard) depends on photosynthetic mode, moths were fed sucrose solution made with either either C3 or C4 sugar (beet or cane), both of which were distinct from larval host plant. In addition, two of four experimental diets contained an amino acid supplement distinct in d 13 C from either sugar or larval host plant. Females were hand fed daily from experimental diets, and their eggs were collected and analyzed for d 13 C. Egg d 13 C increased rapidly from a value resembling larval d 13 C, and followed an asymptotic pattern of carbon incorporation. The presence of amino acids in the diet had no effect on either fecundity or egg d 13 C. Because egg d 13 C equilibrated at a value lower than d 13 C diet, we invoke an allocation model in which carbon is contributed to eggs by two separate pools. One pool of carbon comes into isotopic equilibrium with adult diet, whereas the other does not, contributing carbon with an exclusively larval signature across a female's lifetime. Carbon fractional turnover rate and the relative contribution of the two pools were estimated by fitting the model to the data with nonlinear regression. The resulting model fitted the data well and indicated that 50-60% of egg carbon is derived from adult nectar sugars after the ''mixing pool'' has come into equilibrium. Thus, this study demonstrates that adult nectar sugars provide an important source of egg carbon and explores how properties of nutrient mixing and turnover can generate patterns of reproductive allocation.
Temporal and Spectral Sensitivity of Complex Auditory Neurons in the Nucleus HVc of Male Zebra Finches

Complex vocalizations, such as human speech and birdsong, are characterized by their elaborate spectral and temporal structure. Because auditory neurons of the zebra finch forebrain nucleus HVc respond extremely selectively to a particular complex sound, the bird's own song (BOS), we analyzed the spectral and temporal requirements of these neurons by measuring their responses to systematically degraded versions of the BOS. These synthetic songs were based exclusively on the set of amplitude envelopes obtained from a decomposition of the original sound into frequency bands and preserved the acoustical structure present in the original song with varying degrees of spectral versus temporal resolution, which depended on the width of the frequency bands. Although both excessive temporal or spectral degradation eliminated responses, HVc neurons responded well to degraded synthetic songs with time-frequency resolutions of approximately 5 msec or 200 Hz. By comparing this neuronal time-frequency tuning with the time-frequency scales that best represented the acoustical structure in zebra finch song, we concluded that HVc neurons are more sensitive to temporal than to spectral cues. Furthermore, neuronal responses to synthetic songs were indistinguishable from those to the original BOS only when the amplitude envelopes of these songs were represented with 98% accuracy. That level of precision was equivalent to preserving the relative time-varying phase across frequency bands with resolutions finer than 2 msec. Spectral and temporal information are well known to be extracted by the peripheral auditory system, but this study demonstrates how precisely these cues must be preserved for the full response of high-level auditory neurons sensitive to learned vocalizations.
Captures of Boll Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Traps Associated with Different Habitats

Programs to eradicate the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in the United States rely heavily on pheromone traps for monitoring weevil populations in both active and posteradication maintenance programs. Modifications to trapping protocols that increase trap effectiveness should contribute to this eradication effort. Between October 1996 and May 1997 and between September 1997 and April 1998, we compared trap effectiveness, indicated by the numbers of captured weevils, in relation to selected habitat types. Each study period was divided into fall, winter, and spring seasons. Traps were closely associated with seven habitat types, including four types with prominent erect vegetation (brush-lined irrigation canal, brush, sugarcane, and resaca or ox-bow lake) and three types with only low-growing or sparse erect vegetation (irrigation drainage canal, unimproved pasture, and fallow fields). Captures of male and female weevils were statistically similar regardless of season or trapping habitat. Although captures differed significantly among habitats, these differences varied among seasons. Trapping habitats with prominent vegetational features generally produced higher weekly captures of weevils than habitats lacking these features. Also, captures in traps associated with prominent vegetation indicated seasonal differences in weevil activity, with highest captures occurring during the fall. Traps associated with habitats lacking prominent vegetation did not statistically demonstrate seasonal differences. Our results indicate that immediate trap surroundings strongly influence the effectiveness of the boll weevil pheromone trap. These results also suggest that effectiveness of current trapping programs may be improved through purposeful association of traps with selected vegetational features.
The binding solution

How do neurons combine distinct information streams and form long-lasting associations? Dendritic plateau potentials may allow the integration and storage of coincident location and contextual information in hippocampal neurons.
Lithography‐Free Large‐Area Metamaterials for Stable Thermophotovoltaic Energy Conversion

A large-area metamaterial thermal emitter is fabricated using facile, lithography-free techniques. The device is composed of conductive oxides, refractory ceramics, and noble metals and shows stable, selective emission after exposure to 1173 K for 22 h in oxidizing and inert atmospheres. Lastly, the results indicate that the metamaterial can be used to achieve high-performance thermophotovoltaic devices for applications such as portable power generation.
Who Donates to Women Candidates? Gender, Partisanship, and Candidate Donor Networks

Examining the donation patterns of male and female contributors to congressional campaigns, we find that the donor networks of male and female candidates are both partisan and gendered. Female candidates receive greater support from female donors than their male counterparts with Democratic women raising the most money from female donors. Similarly, male donors give more money to male candidates, and in the general election, they are also significantly more supportive of Republican candidates. Distinct partisan and gendered donor networks are most apparent among incumbents, where women and men in both parties receive more from female and male donors, respectively, than their co-partisans. Furthermore, while both men and women exhibit gender affinity effects, female donors seem to prioritize surrogate representation over other traditional motivations such as competitiveness and access to powerful incumbents.
Nonlinear aeroelastic analysis of aircraft with high-aspect-ratio wings

The paper describes a formulation for aeroelastic analysis of aircraft with high-aspect-ratio wings. The analysis is a combination of a geometrically-exact mixed formulation for dynamics of moving beams and finite-state unsteady aerodynamics with the ability to model dynamic stall. The analysis also takes into account gravitational forces, propulsive forces and rigidbody dynamics. The code has been validated against the exact flutter speed of the "Goland" wing. Further results have been obtained which give insight into the effects of the structural and aerodynamic nonlinearities on the trim solution and flutter speed.
Media and Public History: Buba, Voices from a Steeltown Riggs, Ethnic Notions

(1988). Media and Public History: Buba, Voices from a Steeltown Riggs, Ethnic Notions. The Oral History Review: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 128-130.
Establishing a Hierarchy of Halogen Bonding by Engineering Crystals without Disorder

It has been shown, using a foundation of new structural data, that the relative strength and capability of iodo- and bromo-based molecules to act as halogen-bond donors in a competitive supramolecular arena accurately reflect a ranking of halogen-bond donors based upon electrostatic molecular potentials. Furthermore, to obtain the critical structural information, a protocol (comprising a lowering of molecular symmetry and the addition of strong and directional hydrogen bonds) for engineering crystals without positional disorder was successfully developed.
The synthesis and characterization of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP)-g-poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-g-collagen polymer for tissue engineering scaffolds

Bone grafts, commonly performed to augment bone regeneration from autologous or alleogeneic sources, carry an enormous cost, estimated at upwards of 21 billion dollars per year. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) bio-ceramic has been widely used in clinic as a bone graft substitute material due to its biocompatibility and the similarity of its structure and composition to bone mineral. However, its applications are limited due to its lack of strength and toughness. Researchers have attempted to overcome these issues by combining HAP bio-ceramics into resorbable polymers to improve their mechanical properties. However, poor bonding between the HAP and the polymer caused separation at the polymer-filler interface. To overcome this, short chains of polymers were grafted directly from the hydroxyl groups on the surface of nanocrystalline HAP. Collagens, being the most abundant proteins in the body, and having suitable properties such as biodegradability, bioabsorbability with low antigenicity, high affinity to water, and the ability to interact with cells through integrin recognition, makes them a very promising candidate for the modification of the polymer surface. In this study, a novel method of synthesizing nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP)-g-poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-g-collagen polymer was introduced. The synthesis process was carried out in several steps. First, poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer was directly grafted onto the hydroxyl group of the surface of n-HAP particles by ring-opening polymerization, and subsequently coupled with succinic anhydride. In order to activate the co-polymer for collagen attachment, the carboxyl end group obtained from succinic anhydride was reacted with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as the cross-linking agent. Finally, the activated co-polymer was attached to calf skin collagen type I, in hydrochloric acid/phosphate buffer solution and the precipitated co-polymer with attached collagen was isolated. The synthesis was monitored by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies and the products after each step were characterized by thermal analysis (TGA and DSC). These composite materials will be tested as potential scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.
Clinical utility of natriuretic peptides and troponins in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is based on clinical, echocardiographic and in some cases genetic findings. However, prognostication remains limited except in the subset of patients with high-risk indicators for sudden cardiac death. Additional methods are needed for risk stratification and to guide clinical management in HCM. We reviewed the available data regarding natriuretic peptides and troponins in HCM. Plasma levels of natriuretic peptides, and to a lesser extent serum levels of troponins, correlate with established disease markers, including left ventricular thickness, symptom status, and left ventricular hemodynamics by Doppler measurements. As a reflection of left ventricular filling pressure, natriuretic peptides may provide an objective measure of the efficacy of a specific therapy. Both natriuretic peptides and troponins predict clinical risk in HCM independently of established risk factors, and their prognostic power is additive. Routine measurement of biomarker levels therefore may be useful in the clinical evaluation and management of patients with HCM.
Maternal and fetal parameters including umbilical artery PI and fibrinogen/CRP ratio as predictive factors of perinatal outcome in women with HELLP syndrome

Introduction: HELLP syndrome appears in approximately 0.2-1% of all pregnancies and is associated with increased maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. It is diagnosed in cases when all three of the following criteria are present: 1) microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with abnormal blood smear, low serum haptoglobin and elevated LDH levels; 2) elevated ASPAT and ALAT (levels of both enzymes more than twice the upper limit of normal values), or bilirubin more than 1.2 mg/dl; 3) platelet count below 150x1009 L-1. The etiopathogenesis of HELLP syndrome is associated with abnormal placentation in the first trimester, production of cellular active substances, and pathological response of the maternal organism. Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish maternal and fetal characteristics and perinatal outcome in HELLP syndrome. The examination protocol included comparison of maternal blood parameters, umbilical artery pulsatility index (UmbA PI) in relation to short-term neonatal outcomes. Material and methods: Retrospective data analysis of patients hospitalized at the Perinatology and Gynecology Department, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute between 2009-2013, due to HELLP syndrome was conducted. Results: None of the investigated maternal or fetal parameters correlated with the neonatal outcome. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that maternal parameters do not influence the perinatal outcome in women with HELLP syndrome. Moreover, UmbA PI and fibrinogen/CRP ratio do not correspond to neonatal parameters, either. Thus, none of the examined features can be used as a prognostic factor of the neonatal outcome. Further studies with large sample size are necessary but the rarity of this complication limits the possibility of research.
Abstract 240: Serum Cholesterol and Angiotensin-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Hypercholesterolemic Mice

BackgroundAlthough hyperlipidemia is known to augment the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in the AngII-induced model of apolipoprotein E-/- mice, its relationship to AAA size is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between total cholesterol concentration (TC) and change (delta) in aortic diameter. MethodsTC was measured in 36 male mice that underwent a 4-week infusion period with saline (n=9) or AngII (1500 ng/kg/min; n=27), along with serial measurements of pulse rate (PR), and pulse (PP), mean arterial (MAP), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressure. A linear mixed effect model was used to assess the relationship between all hemodynamic parameters and delta. Nonparametric and linear regression methods were used to evaluate TC in relation to delta. ResultsTC did not differ between AngII and control mice (Figure, bottom left) (p=0.18). The burden of atherosclerosis was greater among AngII-exposed mice versus control, but did not differ by presence or size of AAA (Figure, bott...
The Bonneville Flood—A veritable débâcle

Abstract The Bonneville Flood was one of the largest floods on Earth. First discovered by G.K. Gilbert in the 1870s during his inspection of the outlet at Red Rock Pass, it was rediscovered in the 1950s by Harold Malde and coworkers, leading to mapping and assessment of spectacular flood features along Marsh Creek, Portneuf River, and Snake River for over 1100 km between the outlet and Lewiston, Idaho. The cataclysmic flood—from the rapid ~ 115 m drop of Lake Bonneville from the Bonneville level to the Provo level—was nearly 200 m deep in places and flowed at a maximum rate of about 1 million m 3 s − 1 ; about 100 times greater than any historical Snake River flood. Along its route the Bonneville Flood carved canyons and cataract complexes and built massive boulder bars. These flood features have been a rich source for understanding megaflood processes. Yet it still offers much more with new and developing techniques for hydrodynamic modeling and landscape analysis.
Abstract WP403: Empowering Certified Nursing Assistants through Stroke-Specific Education

Background and Purpose: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) requires Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to possess exceptional clinical skills and in-depth knowledge and a desire to positively infl...
Public And Private Payments For Physician Office Visits.

We used data for 2014–15 from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate standardized payments for nonelderly adults’ physician office visits by type of insurance. Adults with public insuranc...
Citizen science and roadkills: trends along project lifespan and comparison of tropical and temperate projects

La recoleccion de datos cientificos por personas sin un titulo cientifico es al menos tan antigua como Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, pero ahora gracias a los telefonos inteligentes involucra a un gran numero de voluntarios, lo que lleva a estudios sobre quienes son los llamados "cientificos ciudadanos", como se comportan y como mejorar su trabajo. Sin embargo, no hay estudios mundiales sobre proyectos de ciencia ciudadana que informen sobre la fauna muerta en colisiones viales. Aqui analizamos los datos de los 31 proyectos disponibles en septiembre 2017 en iNaturalist.org, uno de los sitios de ciencia ciudadana mas grande del mundo. Encontramos que Estados Unidos y Europa dominan en numero, pero despues de corregir el tamano de la poblacion, paises como Costa Rica y Canada tienen un numero significativo de proyectos, posiblemente gracias al acceso generalizado a Internet y los altos niveles educativos. Los proyectos tuvieron una media de 431 observaciones, 48 especies, y 32 voluntarios que publicaron 19 observaciones cada uno en promedio. La mayoria de los voluntarios contribuyeron con pocos registros y estuvieron activos brevemente. En los tropicos, la mortalidad estacional parece reflejar el movimiento de los animales en busca de agua para beber o reproducirse, mientras que en los sitios templados las diferencias entre proyectos dependen de la especie. Para estudios futuros, recomendamos analizar como cambian los voluntarios y los proyectos con el tiempo, un tema que rara vez se ha tenido en cuenta en estudios previos.
Theories of back pain and health care utilization.

Because most people in the United States have occasional back pain, demand for the treatment of back pain is widespread. Yet, few treatments have proven to be more effective than placebo therapy. We examine patterns of treatment that have emerged in the absence of definitive treatment. We concentrate on high-cost users of back pain treatment (i.e., chronic pain patients) and high-cost treatments (i.e., surgical and non-surgical hospitalization for low back pain). The small minority of back pain patients whose disability persists into chronicity (90 days or more) accounts for a disproportionate amount of all back pain costs. Interventions have been developed to prevent back pain but, once back pain has already occurred, little is done to prevent it from becoming chronic. Drug therapy may be used to treat the symptom of chronic pain, the cause of which may not be thereby affected. Regarding high-cost treatments, surgical and nonsurgical hospitalizations for low back pain are common practices in the United States. Pain specialists for the past 15 years have advocated a conservative approach to back pain, but the rate of surgery for low back pain increased during this time. Average lengths of stay for surgical and nonsurgical low back pain hospitalizations decreased. We explore why, in the instance of low back pain surgery, change was resisted, whereas, in the instance of average lengths of stay, change was accepted. In view of why change may be resisted or accepted, we discuss interventions designed to change physicians' practice style.
Latest Developments in Solar Cells

As a result of comprehensive studies sponsored by NSF and NASA and by the National Academy of Science, it became evident in 1972 that a substantial reduction in production cost to approach 1$/W* and an increase of efficiencies beyond 10% for thin-film and beyond 20% for single crystal solar cells were feasible [1]. With significant government support mainly in the USA, Japan, and Western Europe, rapid progress was made and essentially all technical goals set in 1972 have been achieved and surpassed (thin-film efficiency 12% for CdS/CuInSe2 and 13% for ∝-si, single crystal AMI efficiency 23% for Si and 23% for AlGaAs/GaAs; recent Sicells in concentrators have achieved 27% conversion efficiency) [2]. The economic goal (updated for competing with the increased electric energy generation cost and inflationary devaluation of the dollar) seems to be within reach and large quantities of solar panels sell currently for ~5 $/W. The life expectancies of better Si-panels (conservatively estimated) are well in excess of 20 years.
Designing web sites and interfaces to optimize successful user interactions: symposium overview

Since the Web became widely available in the mid 1990s, it has come to be used by a range of people for many purposes. Effective user interactions are required for a Web site or product to accomplish its intended goals. Given the user-intensive nature of the Web and the many usability issues associated with performing tasks on the Web and with mobile devices, it is important for designers and researchers to understand issues that relate to how to optimize interfaces for the Web design and other systems involving humancomputer interaction. This symposium is devoted to issues involved in the design of Web sites and interfaces to promote successful user interactions.
The effect of S-adenosylhomocysteine on DNA methylation in isolated rat liver nuclei

Abstract DNA methylation was studied in vitro using whole nuclei from regenerating rat liver. Methyl incorporation from S- adenosyl -[Me- 3 H]methionine in nuclei from regenerating liver was four times higher than that of normal liver. The effect of S- adenosylhomocysteine on DNA methylation was examined, and it was found at equal molar concentrations of S- adenosylhomocysteine to S- adenosylmethionine that DNA methylation was competitively inhibited 50%.
Statistical Unigram Analysis for Source Code Repository

Unigram is a fundamental element of n-gram in natural language processing. However, unigrams collected from a natural language corpus are unsuitable for solving problems in the domain of computer p...
Does European Monetary Union Increase Government Debt/GDP of Countries? Preliminary Statistical Evidence

The goal of this study is to analyze the evolution of government gross debt as a % of the GDP and government deficit as a % of the GDP across European countries. In particular, this study compares the evolution of government gross debt as a % of the GDP of European countries within and outside European Monetary Unification, before and after the introduction of Euro currency in 2002. Statistical evidence shows that the dynamics of government gross debt is significantly different between countries within and outside European Monetary Unification. In particular, results suggest that economic policy of European Union (E.U.), combined with European Monetary Unification, is deteriorating and increasing – in average – sovereign debts and fiscal deficits of countries within European Monetary Unification in comparison to countries outside European Monetary Unification. This different evolution of government gross debt and government deficit as a % of the GDP between European countries can be due to manifold factors. Overall, then, the different patterns of government gross debt as a % of the GDP across European countries may be one of contributing factors that generates, in a context of environmental turbulence, negative socioeconomic effects on E.U. economy as a whole and future economic growth.
A Probabilistic Characterization of Negative Definite Functions.

It is proved that a continuous function f on \(\mathbb {R}^n\) is negative definite if and only if it is polynomially bounded and satisfies the inequality \(\mathbb {E} f(X-Y)\le \mathbb {E} f(X+Y)\) for all i.i.d. random vectors X and Y in \(\mathbb {R}^n\). The proof uses Fourier transforms of tempered distributions. The “only if” part has been proved earlier by Lifshits et al. (A probabilistic inequality related to negative definite functions. Progress in probability, vol. 66 (Springer, Basel, 2013), pp. 73–80).
Wide Variation in Surgical Spending Within Hospital Systems: A Missed Opportunity for Bundled Payment Success.

OBJECTIVE We sought to measure the extent of variation in episode spending around total hip replacement within and across hospital systems. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Bundled payment programs are pressuring hospitals to reduce spending on surgery. Meanwhile, many hospitals are joining larger health systems with the stated goal of improved care at lower cost. METHODS Cross-sectional study of fee-for-service Medicare patients undergoing total hip replacement in 2016 at hospital systems identified in the American Hospital Association Annual Survey. We calculated risk- and reliability-adjusted average 30-day episode payments at the hospital and system level. RESULTS Average episode payments varied nearly as much within hospital systems ($2515 between the lowest- and highest-cost hospitals, 95% confidence interval $2272-$2,758) as they did between the lowest- and highest-cost quintiles of systems ($2712, 95% confidence interval $2545-$2879). Variation was driven by post-acute care utilization. Many systems have concentrated hip replacement volume at relatively high-cost hospitals. CONCLUSIONS Given the wide variation in surgical spending within health systems, we propose tailored strategies for systems to maximize savings in bundled payment programs.
Mössbauer Effect in Tb 159

The linewidth of the M\"ossbauer resonance of the 58-keV radiation from ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{159m}$ has been measured with ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{159}$(as ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$) and ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{159}$(as ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$) sources and ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$, Tb metal, and ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{2}$${(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3})}_{3}$ absorbers, all at 80\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The measured linewidths, extrapolated to zero absorber thickness, are 5.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.4 cm ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for the ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-${\mathrm{Tb}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ system, 7.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.8 cm ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for the ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-${\mathrm{Tb}}_{2}$${(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_{3})}_{3}$ system, and 11.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 cm ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for a 22 mg ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ Tb metallic absorber. A few measurements with a ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-${\mathrm{Tb}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ system gave 10.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 cm ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for a 27 mg ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ absorber. The extrapolated value for the ${\mathrm{Dy}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$-${\mathrm{Tb}}_{4}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ combination gives a calculated lifetime for this state of (${9.6}_{\ensuremath{-}2.1}$${/}^{+3.7}$)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$ sec, in reasonable agreement with the value (1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec determined by delayed-coincidence methods. A discussion of line-broadening mechanisms and a comparison with some other rare-earth M\"ossbauer observations as well as a discussion of the use of this M\"ossbauer resonance in low-temperature phonon experiments is included.
Large Eddy Simulations of Flows with Moving Boundaries

Many important engineering and biological flows involve solid boundaries moving within a fluid at high Reynolds numbers, e.g., pumps, fish swimming, wind/hydrokinetic turbines. Simulating such flows requires dealing with moving boundaries and turbulence, which are two of the main challenges facing numerical methods today in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this chapter, the numerical methods that deal with moving boundaries in turbulent flows are reviewed and the recent advances are summarized. Some of the state-of-the-art simulations, their results, and the insights gained about the flow physics are discussed. Finally, some of the future developments, such as developing wall models over moving boundaries, required to advance large eddy simulations (LES) with moving boundaries are discussed.
Sensitivity of Satellite Ocean Color Data to System Vicarious Calibration of the Long Near Infrared Band

Satellite ocean color missions require accurate system vicarious calibrations (SVC) to retrieve the relatively small remote-sensing reflectance ( $R_{\mathrm {rs}}$ , sr−1) from the at-sensor radiance. However, the current atmospheric correction and SVC procedures do not include calibration of the “long” near infrared band (NIRL—869 nm for MODIS), partially because earlier studies, based primarily on simulations, indicate that accuracy in the retrieved $R_{\mathrm {rs}}$ is insensitive to moderate changes in the NIRL vicarious gain ( $g$ ). However, the sensitivity of ocean color data products to $g$ (NIRL) has not been thoroughly examined. Here, we first derive 10 SVC “gain configurations” (vicarious gains for all visible and NIR bands) for MODIS/Aqua using current operational NASA protocols, each time assuming a different $g$ (869). From these, we derive a suite of ~1.4E6 unique gain configurations with $g$ (869) ranging from 0.85 to 1.2. All MODIS/A data for 25 locations within each of five ocean gyres were then processed using each of these gain configurations. Resultant time series show substantial variability in dominant $R_{\mathrm {rs}}$ (547) patterns in response to changes in $g$ (869) (and associated gain configurations). Overall, mean $R_{\mathrm {rs}}$ (547) values generally decrease with increasing $g$ (869), while the standard deviations around those means show gyre-specific minima for $0.97 (869) $g$ (869) using such time series, finding $g$ (869) = 1.025 most closely comports with expectations. This approach is broadly applicable to other ocean color sensors, and highlights the importance of rigorous cross-sensor calibration of the NIRL bands, with implications on consistency of merged-sensor data sets.
Unified Reinforcement Q-Learning for Mean Field Game and Control Problems.

We present a Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithm to solve infinite horizon asymptotic Mean Field Game (MFG) and Mean Field Control (MFC) problems. Our approach can be described as a unified two-timescale Mean Field Q-learning: The same algorithm can learn either the MFG or the MFC solution by simply tuning a parameter. The algorithm is in discrete time and space where the agent not only provides an action to the environment but also a distribution of the state in order to take into account the mean field feature of the problem. Importantly, we assume that the agent can not observe the population's distribution and needs to estimate it in a model-free manner. The asymptotic MFG and MFC problems are presented in continuous time and space, and compared with classical (non-asymptotic or stationary) MFG and MFC problems. They lead to explicit solutions in the linear-quadratic (LQ) case that are used as benchmarks for the results of our algorithm.
Admittance spectroscopy on single-crystal Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells: Back-contact effects and metastabilities

Admittance spectroscopy has become a commonly used device-level technique to probe the defect structure of kesterite materials. While this technique holds promise, phenomena such as current barriers and metastabilities cause difficulty in the interpretation of results. In this work, devices fabricated on single-crystalline CZTSe absorber layers are used to explore these effects in a more idealized system than thin films. Differences in behavior between admittance signatures of absorbers with Cu/Zn + Sn ratios of 0.86 and 0.77 are observed and mainly attributed to the formation of a low-temperature current barrier at the CZTSe/carbon-based back-contact interface in the more Cu-depleted devices. The effect of this barrier is significantly reduced by the implementation of higher-work function Au or MoO3−x back-contact material. Furthermore, distinct metastable doping densities are observed in each device type with the implementation of 3-h external bias conditioning of white, blue, or red light as well as 1 V applied forward bias. The origin of this behavior is attributed to a VSe–VCu defect complex that is predicted to exist in related chalcogenide materials.