cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A resolved mantle anomaly as the cause of the Australian‐Antarctic Discordance

[1] We present evidence for the existence of an Australian-Antarctic Mantle Anomaly (AAMA), which trends northwest-southeast (NW-SE) through the Australian-Antarctic Discordance (AAD) on the Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR), is confined to the upper 120 km of the mantle beneath the AAD, and dips shallowly to the west so that it extends to a depth of about 150 km west of the AAD. Average temperatures within the AAMA are depressed about 100°C relative to surrounding lithosphere and suggest very rapid cooling of newly formed lithosphere at the AAD to an effective thermal age between 20 and 30 Ma. A convective down welling beneath the AAD is not consistent with the confinement of the AAMA in the uppermost mantle. In substantial agreement with the model of Gurnis et al. [1998], we argue that the AAMA is the suspended remnant of a slab that subducted at the Gondwanaland-Pacific convergent margin more than 100 Myr ago, foundered in the deeper mantle, and then ascended into the shallow mantle within the past 30 Myr, cutting any ties to deeper roots. The stability of the AAMA and its poor correlation with residual topography and gravity imply that it is approximately neutrally buoyant. The thermally induced density anomaly can be balanced by bulk iron depletion of less than 0.8%, consistent with the warmer conditions of formation for the Pacific than Indian lithosphere. We hypothesize that the low temperatures in the AAMA inhibit crustal formation and the AAD depth anomaly is formed at the intersection of the SEIR and the AAMA. The northward migration of the SEIR overriding the cold NW-SE trending AAMA therefore presents a simple kinematic explanation for both the V-shaped residual depth anomaly in the southeast Indian Ocean and the western migration of the AAD along the SEIR. Neither explanation requires the Pacific asthenospheric mantle to push westward and displace Indian asthenosphere. The AAMA may also act as a barrier to large-scale flows in the shallow asthenosphere and may therefore define a boundary for mantle convection and between the Indian and Pacific isotopic provinces. The westward dip of the AAMA would also favor along-axis flow from the Indian Ocean asthenosphere to the AAD that may contribute to the penetration of Indian Ocean mid-ocean ridge basalts into the AAD.
The Effects of Adult Day Services on Family Caregivers’ Daily Stress, Affect, and Health: Outcomes From the Daily Stress and Health (DaSH) Study

Purpose: We examine the effects of use of adult day service (ADS) by caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWD) on daily stressors, affect, and health symptoms. Participants were interviewed for 8 consecutive days. On some days, the IWD attended an ADS program and on the other days caregivers provide most or all of the care at home. Methods: Participants were 173 family caregivers of IWDs using an ADS program. Daily telephone interviews assessed care-related stressors, noncare stressors, positive events, affect, and health symptoms. Multilevel models with data nested within persons were used to examine effects of ADS use on daily stressor exposure, affect, and health symptoms. Results: Caregivers had lower exposure to care-related stressors on ADS days, more positive experiences, and more noncare stressors. ADS use lowered anger and reduced the impact of noncare stressors on depressive symptoms. Implications: The findings demonstrate that stressors on caregivers are partly lowered, and affect is improved on ADS days, which may provide protection against the effects of chronic stress associated with caregiving.
Characterizing cracks in the frescoes of Sala degli elementi within florence's palazzo vecchio

On the upper floors of the Palazzo Vecchio's southeast corner, Sala degli Elementi is experiencing significant cracking on its interior walls creating extensive fresco damage. The location of Sala degli Elementi is closest to the corner of Via della Ninna and Via dei Leoni. The Palazzo Vecchio is an historical building where many of the walls support culturally important frescos. The cracks in the frescoes need to be assessed and understood such that the mechanisms for their development are known to assist in the preservation. The history of continued construction activity of the Palazzo Vecchio has resulted in extensive building discontinuities and use of different building materials. As a result, the age of construction varies, leaving an uncertain state of its present day condition. Due to the damage of the frescoes and known structural differences and modifications, a field survey is performed to assess the state of cracking.
PHOTOCHEMICAL MODEL SIMULATIONS OF AIR QUALITY FOR HOUSTON–GALVESTON–BRAZORIA AREA AND ANALYSIS OF OZONE-NO X-HYDROCARBON SENSITIVITY

As part of the State Implementation Plan for the Houston–Galveston–Brazoria (HGB) area which has been declared as a non-attainment area, it was required to assess the impacts of pollutant emissions, meteorological conditions, and initial and boundary conditions on air quality. In this study, photochemical model simulations using the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with extensions (CAMx) were conducted for three ozone episodes between May and October of 2006. The CAMx simulations compared fairly well with the hourly average concentrations of ozone measured at the monitoring sites, and the index of agreement (IOA) values for all the three ozone episodes were found greater than 0.65, which proved to be good for CAMx model performance. Both simulated and observed peak ozone concentrations were observed to occur between 12:00 and 15:00 h. The CAMx simulation results showed that there were 68 days where the maximum 8-h mean ozone concentrations exceeded the NAAQS of 75 ppb out of a total of 72 days simulated in the three ozone episodes. For all three episodes, ozone concentrations were highest during the third quarter of the day. The photochemical indicator ratios of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to nitric acid (HNO3) ([H2O2]/[HNO3]) showed the HGB area to be a nitrogen oxide (NO x )-sensitive regime for the episodes studied. This indicated that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are plentiful, and NO x is the limiting precursor for ozone formation in the HGB area. The plentiful VOCs in this region are possibly produced from industries and refineries in the HGB area.
Potential for unreliable interpretation of EEG recorded with microelectrodes

Purpose: Recent studies in epilepsy, cognition, and brain machine interfaces have shown the utility of recording intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) with greater spatial resolution. Many of these studies utilize microelectrodes connected to specialized amplifiers that are optimized for such recordings. We recently measured the impedances of several commercial microelectrodes and demonstrated that they will distort iEEG signals if connected to clinical EEG amplifiers commonly used in most centers. In this study we demonstrate the clinical implications of this effect and identify some of the potential difficulties in using microelectrodes. Methods: Human iEEG data were digitally filtered to simulate the signal recorded by a hybrid grid (two macroelectrodes and eight microelectrodes) connected to a standard EEG amplifier. The filtered iEEG data were read by three trained epileptologists, and high frequency oscillations (HFOs) were detected with a well-known algorithm. The filtering method was verified experimentally by recording an injected EEG signal in a saline bath with the same physical acquisition system used to generate the model. Several electrodes underwent scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Key Findings: Macroelectrode recordings were unaltered compared to the source iEEG signal, but microelectrodes attenuated low frequencies. The attenuated signals were difficult to interpret: all three clinicians changed their clinical scoring of slowing and seizures when presented with the same data recorded on different sized electrodes. The HFO detection algorithm was oversensitive with microelectrodes, classifying many more HFOs than when the same data were recorded with macroelectrodes. In addition, during experimental recordings the microelectrodes produced much greater noise as well as large baseline fluctuations, creating sharply contoured transients, and superimposed “false” HFOs. SEM of these microelectrodes demonstrated marked variability in exposed electrode surface area, lead fractures, and sharp edges. Significance: Microelectrodes should not be used with low impedance (<1 GΩ) amplifiers due to severe signal attenuation and variability that changes clinical interpretations. The current method of preparing microelectrodes can leave sharp edges and nonuniform amounts of exposed wire. Even when recorded with higher impedance amplifiers, microelectrode data are highly prone to artifacts that are difficult to interpret. Great care must be taken when analyzing iEEG from high impedance microelectrodes.
Physical origin of dynamic ion transport features through single conical nanopores at different bias frequencies

Ionic transport through nanometer scale channels or interfaces is the physical origin of the detection signals in stochastic single molecular sensing, DNA sequencing and nano-structured electrodes. Dynamic transport regulated by systematically varying the bias frequency has not been explored. In this report, ion transport through single conical nanopore platforms is studied by applying an alternating electrical field at a wide range of scan rates. Rich frequency-dependent features of the measured transport current are discovered. The complete transition of characteristic transport features from low to high scan rates or bias frequencies is demonstrated experimentally. Key dynamic features include: multiple hysteresis loops separated by one or two non-zero cross points in the I–V curves, shifts in cross point potentials at different scan rates, and growth and diminishment in the hysteresis loops with normal and negative phase shifts. Combined theoretical and experimental studies reveal different processes contributing to and dominating the total current responses on different time scales. The respective contributions of each type of transport process to the overall measured current signals are quantitatively separated based on the fundamental insights gained. Although these exciting experimental observations are successfully simulated using an optimized model by solving PNP equations, the experimental studies at this nanoscale dimension suggest substantial deviations from a continuum regime. Inputs from molecular theory are needed to further validate the proposed physical mechanism.
Two ascidicolous copepods, Haplostomides otagoensis n. sp. and Botryllophilus cf. banyulensis Brément, living in compound ascidians from Otago Harbor, New Zealand

This paper includes a description of Haplostomides otagoensis n. sp. and a new record from New Zealand of Botryllophilus cf. banyulensis Brement. These copepods, belonging to the family Ascidicolidae (according to Illg & Dudley, 1980), live in the ascidians Aplidium thomsoni and A. benhami, respectively. The female of the new species of Haplostomides is easily distinguished from seven congeners by these characters: labrum with a median cleft; mandible hook-shaped, with 3 setae; maxilla forming a rounded protrusion, with 2 setae, from a broad basal portion that has 1 seta; caudal ramus with 2 unequal marginal setae and 2 unequal terminal spines; copulatory pore within an oblong area surrounded by a sclerotized ridge. A single female of B. cf. banyulensis was found during examination of many colonies of its ascidian host.
Cortical computation of stereo disparity

Our ability to see the world in depth is a major accomplishment of the brain. Previous models of how positionally disparate cues to the two eyes are binocularly matched limit possible matches by invoking uniqueness and continuity constraints. These approaches cannot explain data wherein uniqueness fails and changes in contrast alter depth percepts, or where surface discontinuities cause surfaces to be seen in depth, although they are registered by only one eye (da Vinci stereopsis). A new stereopsis model explains these depth percepts by proposing how cortical complex cells binocularly filter their inputs and how monocular and binocular complex cells compete to determine the winning depth signals.
Drawing of nylon 6 fibers (bristles)

By means of electron microscopy of surface replicas and both small-angle and wide-angle x-ray scattering, nylon 6 fibers were investigated in the as-spun state, after drawing at 180°C to a draw ratio up to 4.95, and after subsequent annealing. As spun, the fiber exhibits a small fraction of row-nucleated cylindrites and a great many spherulites (with an average diameter of a few microns) side by side. Drawing deforms the spherulites into spindle-shaped structures (λ = 2) and subsequently produces well-aligned microfibrils. Small-angle x-ray scattering yields a two-point diagram at small λ and a fourpoint diagram at high λ. The long period seems to decrease slightly with draw ratio. Annealing at temperatures above the temperature of drawing increases the long period to a greater extent with samples of lower λ. The crystal lattice orientation is nearly complete at λ = 4.95.
Interdomain Routing as Social Choice

Interdomain routing is essential to both the stability and efficiency of the global Internet. However, most previous studies focus only on stability, and only on a special class of routing protocols, namely BGP-type, path-vector protocols. In this paper, we conduct a systematic analysis of interdomain routing considering optimality and implementation in strategic settings. We adopt the novel perspective that an interdomain routing system is one which defines a social choice rule that aggregates individual preferences of all of the autonomous systems (ASes) in a network to select interdomain routes with a set of desirable properties. An interdomain routing protocol, then, is a mechanism to implement the identified interdomain routing social choice rule, when the ASes can adopt strategic actions. By pointing out the incompatibility among the desirable properties of an interdomain routing system and the requirements for strategic implementation in distributed settings, we reveal fundamental tradeoffs that must be made when extending BGP or designing the next-generation interdomain routing system. We also provide new insights into BGP, by "reverseengineering" its behaviors from the perspective of social choice and implementation theory.
Theory and observation of double discontinuities

Recent research using high-resolution magnetic field data to examine the interior structures of MHD shocks in interplanetary space and in the magnetotail led to a surprising discovery that a slow-mode shock is often followed by an adjoining rotational discontinuity layer on the postshock side. The thickness of each layer is of the order of a few ion inertial lengths. Such a compound structure is known as a double discontinuity. When the magnetic field rotates by several degrees per ion inertial length inside a thin layer, the Hall current term becomes important in the generalized Ohm's law. Steady state solutions based on the Hall-MHD theory have been obtained to show the merging of a rotational layer and a slow shock layer to form a compound structure like the observed double discontinuities.
Systematic control of protein interaction using a modular ER/K α-helix linker

Cellular functions of proteins are strongly influenced by their interactions with other proteins. The frequency of protein interactions is a function of the local concentration of two proteins and their affinity for one another. When two proteins are tethered together, the link between them influences their effective concentrations and therefore the frequency of their interaction. Currently no methods exist to systematically vary the effective concentration within this intramolecular interaction. Here we outline a modular, genetically encoded linker, namely, an ER/K [genetically encoded polypeptide motif based on alternating sequence of approximately four glutamic acid (E) followed by approximately four arginine (R) or lysine (K) residues] single α-helix that can be used to regulate the frequency of interaction between two proteins, or between a protein and a peptide, one at each end. We exploit the wide range of interaction affinities between calmodulin and its binding peptides, combined with FRET to determine the effect of the ER/K α-helix in regulating protein interactions. We find that increasing the length of the ER/K α-helix reduces the on rate of the intramolecular interaction without significantly affecting the off rate, regardless of the affinity of the bimolecular interaction. We outline a genetically encoded approach to determine the dissociation constant for both moderate (micromolar Kd) and strong (nanomolar Kd) protein interactions. Our studies demonstrate the use of the ER/K α-helix to systematically engineer FRET biosensors that detect changes in concentration or affinity of interacting proteins, and modulate enzyme autoinhibition. Our findings are consistent with the ER/K α-helix as a worm-like chain with rare, stochastic breaks in the helix backbone that may account for the behavior of myosin VI stepping along actin.
A Study of Hawaiian Warm Rain Showers Based on Aircraft Observation

Abstract Warm rain off the island of Hawaii was followed by aircraft beneath the cloud base from the beginning of the shower to the end, and newly designed instruments were used to observe time and spatial distributions of rainwater content and raindrop size distribution as a function of cloud-top height. Based on 110 h of observation, rain showers were classified into two main groups: isolated showers and line showers. Isolated showers were subdivided into base showers (showers developing under the cloud base) and side showers (showers developing outside of the cloud area). Line showers were subdivided into showers moving at right angles to the cloud line, showers moving parallel to the cloud line, standing showers and showers which formed successively upwind of the present shower line. These cloud classes are intimately related to the profile of upper wind. Two shower peaks, with weak showers at the cloud center are observed along the flight line when the upper wind is weak, irrespective of cloud type, ...
Influence of skin color in the development of erlotinib-induced rash: A report from the SERIES clinic

9127 Background: A papulopustular reaction occurs in 68–75% of patients undergoing treatment with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib, necessitating dose modification or...
Integrated Evaluation Programs

Different states have established policy boards to identify growth alternatives for their particular regions. States must take the lead in bringing policies for the development and use of land into line with current ecomomic and environmental realities and with the changing public attitudes that reflect those realities. The major issues facing state land-use planning are considered in detail.
A new mutant controlling mitotic chromosome disjunction in Drosophila melanogaster.

A new mutant, mit (mitotic loss inducer), is described. The mutant is recessive and maternal in action, producing gynandromorphs and haplo-4 mosaics among the progeny of homozygous mit females. Mosaic loss of maternal or paternal chromosomes can occur. The probabilities of either maternal or paternal X chromosome loss are equal. mit has been mapped to approximately 57 on the standard X chromosome map.—Using gyandromorphs generated by mit, a morphogenetic fate map, placing the origins of 40 cuticular structures on the blastoderm surface, has been constructed. This fate map is consistent with embryological data and with the two other fate maps generated in different ways.
Comments on: the computation of the convex hull of a simple polygon in linear time

Discussion portant sur un algorithme de calcul de l'enveloppe convexe en deux etapes, propose recemment
The Eisenhower Administration and the Desegregation of Washington, D.C.

Liberal historians have traditionally played down or neglected the achievements of the Eisenhower administration in the area of civil rights. At the same time, they have overstated the contributions of liberal Democrats and understated the role congressional Democrats played in obstructing civil rights in the 1950s. The liberal bias of most historians has led to a distorted picture of the political dynamics affecting the struggle for black equality. The fact is that the Democrats, as a party, were not so liberal in the 1950s as they have often been portrayed, and the Republican party was not so conservative. The positions of the parties in fact were not so clear-cut as they became in the next decade. Neither party forcefully and openly advocated full equality for blacks; both reflected the dominant racism of white society. Granting that, however, the Eisenhower administration was not the obstructionist barrier to civil rights that historians have often portrayed.
Four-Month-Old Infants' Visual Investigation of Cats and Dogs: Relations with Pet Experience and Attentional Strategy.

We assessed the eye-movements of 4-month-old infants (N = 38) as they visually inspected pairs of images of cats or dogs. In general, infants who had previous experience with pets exhibited more sophisticated inspection than did infants without pet experience, both directing more visual attention to the informative head regions of the animals, particularly when comparing stimuli, and maintaining their attention to an individual animal, resisting the pull on their attention by the other visible animal. Individual differences in general attentional strategies as assessed during a pretest had similar but weaker relations to visual scanning patterns. There was some evidence that the 2 factors were interactively associated with visual inspection, supporting the findings of Kovack-Lesh and colleagues (Kovack-Lesh, Horst, & Oakes, 2008; Kovack-Lesh, Oakes, & McMurray, 2012) that infants' learning about and memory for this type of stimuli is jointly determined by pet experience and attentional style.
Equilibrium thermodynamics to form a rhodium formyl complex from reactions of CO and H2: metal σ donor activation of CO

A rhodium(II) dibenzotetramethylaza[14]annulene dimer ([(tmtaa)Rh]2) (1) reacts with CO and H2 in toluene and pyridine to form equilibrium distributions with hydride and formyl complexes ((tmtaa)Rh–H (2); (tmtaa)Rh–C(O)H (3)). The rhodium formyl complex ((tmtaa)Rh–C(O)H) was isolated under a CO/H2 atmosphere, and the molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. Equilibrium constants were evaluated for reactions of (tmtaa)Rh–H with CO to produce formyl complexes in toluene (K2(298 K)(tol) = 10.8 (1.0) × 103) and pyridine (K2(298 K)(py) = 2.2 (0.2) × 103). Reactions of 1 and 2 in toluene and pyridine are discussed in the context of alternative radical and ionic pathways. The five-coordinate 18-electron Rh(I) complex ([(py)(tmtaa)RhI]−) is proposed to function as a nucleophile toward CO to give a two-electron activated bent Rh–CO unit. Results from DFT calculations on the (tmtaa)Rh system correlate well with experimental observations. Reactions of 1 with CO and H2 suggest metal catalyst design fe...
Survey design asymptotics for the model-assisted penalised spline regression estimator

The total of a study variable in a finite population may be estimated using data from a complex survey via Horvitz–Thompson estimation. If additional auxiliary information is available, then effici...
NEAR-IR Resonance Raman Characterization of an Anion Channelrhodopsin from Guillardia Theta

Optogenetics relies heavily on the expression of specific microbial rhodopsins in the neuronal plasma membrane. Most notably, this includes channelrhodopsins (ChRs), which normally function as light-gated cation channels, activating nerves upon illumination due to the flow of positive charge into the neuron and subsequent depolarization. Recently, a new class of ChRs, termed anion channelrhodopsins (ACRs), has been discovered (Govorunova et al. Science, 2015). These proteins function as true light-activated anion channels. They exclude the flow of protons and other cations and cause hyperpolarization of the membrane potential by allowing the inward flow of chloride ions. Compared to ion pumps previously used for neuronal silencing, ACRs have been shown to be effective at <1/1000th of the light intensity.In this study, near-infrared confocal resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) along with hydrogen/deuterium exchange, retinal analog substitution, and site-directed mutagenesis were used to study the retinal structure of the unphotolyzed state of an ACR from Guillardia theta (GtACR1) heterologously expressed and extracted from Pichia pastoris cells (Sineshchekov et al. PNAS, 2015, under review). These measurements reveal that: i) GtACR1 has an all-trans retinal structure similar to the structure of the red-shifted ChR1 from Chlamydomonas augustae (CaChR1); ii) varying the pH of GtACR1 from 3 to 11 or changing anion species did not alter the RRS, indicating that groups in the retinal binding pocket did not undergo changes in the protonation state over this pH range and that an exchangeable anion does not interact with the retinal under the conditions of the RRS measurement; iii) H/D exchange induced a downshift of the GtACR1 protonated Schiff base consistent with a weaker hydrogen bonding strength than other ChRs thus far characterized by RRS.
A light-scattering study of Al2O3 abrasives of various grit sizes

Abstract We report light scattering phase function measurements for irregularly shaped Al2O3 abrasive powders of various grit sizes. Q-space analysis is applied to the angular scattering to reveal a forward scattering regime, Guinier regime, power law regime with quantifiable exponents, and an enhanced backscattering regime. The exponents of the power laws for Al2O3 abrasives decrease with increasing internal coupling parameter ρ ′ , which is in agreement with previous observations for other irregular particles. Unlike other dust particles previously studied showing single power laws under Q-space analysis, the largest three abrasives, for which ρ ′ ≳ 100 , showed a kink in the power law, which is possibly due to the higher degree of symmetry for the abrasives than for all the particles studied previously. Direct comparison of the 1200, 1000, and 800 grit abrasive scattering to scattering by corresponding spheres shows that the scatterings approximately coincide at the spherical particle qR ≃ ρ ′ crossover point. Furthermore, the scattering at the maximum qR = 2 kR by the irregularly shaped abrasives is close to the geometric centers of the glories of the spheres.
Research progress on polysaccharide extracted and antioxidant activity of pumpkin

Pumpkin polysaccharide is not only have good food value and medicinal value,but also has a broad development prospects.This paper start from the extraction efficiency of pumpkin polysaccharide,then compare the effects of different extraction methods of pumpkin polysaccharide.As a natural antioxidant,summarized antioxidant activity of pumpkin polysaccharides,free radical scavenging capacity and the impact of an related molecules against oxidative modification,and provided a theoretical reference to find and develop a type of natural antioxidants.It also provided the theoretical for the applied research of pumpkin polysaccharide in food and medicine.
Analysis of Asthma Screen Questionnaire in 0-14 Years Old Children from Communities in West District of Beijing

Objective To study the prevalence of asthma,history characteristics,state of sex and age,the first time of wheezing,symptom in recent 12 months and other allergic diseases of children with 0-14 years old coming from west district of Beijing,in order to provide epide-miology evidence for asthma management.Methods Based on cluster-sampling survey,discussion group members utilized asthma screen questionnaire to investigate 0-14 years old children come from 2 communities of the west district of Beijing.With the parent consent,the child or the parents answered the questionnaire,then the questionnaire and process statistical were taken back.Results There were 4 707 survey questionnaires issued in 2 communities, and withdraw 4 148 effective questionnaires, the response rate was 88.4%.Three point one percent respondents had previously diagnosed asthma,with a male-to-female ratio of 1.85:1,and it was higher in boys (χ2=12.298,P=0.000).More than 3 times wheezing were the most common case history,secondly was 2 times asthmatic attack with eczema or allergy symptom or parental history of asthma.Fifty-six point two percent children with asthma presented the first wheezing symptom younger than 3 years old,while 67.7% children with asthma keep cough and asthma.The prevalence of asthma in children with rhinitis was higher than that in the children without rhinitis (12.4% vs 1.9%,χ2=139.495,P=0.000),the prevalence of asthma in children with eczema was higher than that in the children without eczema (6.1% vs 2.3%,χ2=29.952,P=0.000) .Conclusions The prevalence of asthma in children in community was higher than that in the year of 2000.More than two-thirds of asthmatic children did not achieve long-term clinical control.There were some characters in community children with asthma,such as sex,case history,the year of first wheezing and other allergic diseases,which could provide clue for community asthma management.
The future of tableting technology.

The availability of a wide array of polymeric excipients, the recent introduction of melt granulation technologies using twin screw extruders, and the interrelationship between excipients and technology will bring major changes in how tablets are formulated and produced in the future. More research is needed to ensure that such innovations are widely applied in the pharmaceutical field.
At Long Last

This case discusses two separate drug–drug interactions. There is a pharmacokinetic interaction between fluoxetine and cyclobenzaprine and a pharmacodynamic interaction with droperidol. The drug interactions are compounded by an electrolyte imbalance, resulting in prolongation of the QTc.
Clustering Large Datasets Using Data Stream Clustering Techniques

Unsupervised identification of groups in large data sets is important for many machine learning and knowledge discovery applications. Conventional clustering approaches (k-means, hierarchical clustering, etc.) typically do not scale well for very large data sets. In recent years, data stream clustering algorithms have been proposed which can deal efficiently with potentially unbounded streams of data. This paper is the first to investigate the use of data stream clustering algorithms as light-weight alternatives to conventional algorithms on large non-streaming data. We will discuss important issue including order dependence and report the results of an initial study using several synthetic and real-world data sets.
Critical Role of Coaptive Strain in Aortic Valve Leaflet Homeostasis: Use of a Novel Flow Culture Bioreactor to Explore Heart Valve Mechanobiology.

Background Aortic valve (AV) disease presents critical situations requiring surgery in over 2% of the US population and is increasingly the reason for cardiac surgery. Throughout the AV cycle, mechanical forces of multiple types and varying intensities are exerted on valve leaflets. The mechanisms whereby forces regulate leaflet homeostasis are incompletely understood. We used a novel flow bioreactor culture to investigate alteration of AV opening or closure on leaflet genes. Methods and Results Culture of rat AV was conducted in a flow bioreactor for 7 days at 37°C under conditions approximating the normal stroke volume. Three force condition groups were compared: Cycling (n=8); always open (Open; n=3); or always closed (Closed; n=5). From each culture, AV leaflets were pooled by force condition and RNA expression evaluated using microarrays. Hierarchical clustering of 16 transcriptome data sets from the 3 groups revealed only 2 patterns of gene expression: Cycling and Closed groups clustered together, whereas Open AV were different ( P 2‐fold; P 2‐fold; P 40 Open group genes with progression toward disease. Conclusions Failure of AV to close initiates an extensive response characterized by expression changes common to progression to calcific aortic valve disease. AV coaptation, whether phasic or chronic, preserved phenotypic gene expression. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that coaptation of valve leaflets is a fundamentally important biomechanical cue driving homeostasis.
Neck forces and moments of human volunteers and post mortem human surrogates in low-speed frontal sled tests

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of active muscles (e.g. conscious bracing, resting tone, and reflex response) and acceleration severity on the neck forces and moments generated during low-speed frontal sled tests with adult male human volunteers and post mortem human surrogates (PMHSs).Methods: A total of 24 frontal sled tests were analyzed including male volunteers of approximately 50th percentile height and weight (n = 5) and PMHSs (n = 2). The tests were performed at two acceleration severities: low (∼2.5 g, Δv ≈ 5 kph) and medium (∼5.0 g, Δv ≈ 10 kph). Each volunteer was exposed to two impulses at each severity, one relaxed and one braced, while each PMHS was exposed to one impulse at each severity. Linear acceleration and angular velocity of the head were measured at a sampling rate of 20kHz, then filtered using SAE Channel Frequency Class 180 and 60, respectively, and transformed to the head center of gravity (CG). The location of the head CG, external audi...
Choice-based Assessment: Can Choices Made in Digital Games Predict 6th-Grade Students' Math Test Scores?

this paper, we mined students' sequential behaviors from an instructional game for color mixing called Lightlet. Students pkaying the game have two broad strategies. They can either test candidate color combinations in an experiment room without risking an incorrect answer. Or they can choose colors from a faux shopping Catalog containing several different mixing charts. While the results shown in the Experiment Room are always correct, only a few of the charts in the Catalog are correct. Thus, if students use the catalog students must apply critical thinking skills to determine what charts to trust. Our primary goal in this work was to identify the crucial choice pattern(s) in students' game play that would contribute to their learning or subsequent performance. Data was collected from 6th graders. The results showed that children who chose to explore the Catalog of different charts during the game performed better in school. More specifically, the types of behavior choices students committed during the game play predicted about 43% of the variation in their subsequent math grades. This project shows that by assessing students' choices during learning, we can discover a great deal about their learning process and can identify and assess choices that are critical for learning but are often missed by most tests.
Clinical Neuropsychology of Older Adults

Clinical neuropsychology is an empirically guided, applied discipline that seeks to identify behavioral correlates of central nervous system dysfunction (Lezak, 1983). It is particularly pertinent to older adults, who are at an increased risk for organic dysfunction and frequently present with cognitive complaints. Additionally, chronic medical illnesses and the extensive medication regimens of elderly individuals can compromise their mental status. The purposes of neuropsychological assessment with the elderly (as with any age group) vary according to the referral question and patients’ medical or psychiatric history. Often, differential diagnosis between the functional and organic nature of a person’s disturbance is necessary, especially because neurological disorders can present with psychological symptoms or completely mimic psychiatric disorders (Lezak, 1983). Questions about legal or financial competency and the ability to function independently are also commonly encountered with the elderly. Finally, normal age-associated cognitive declines must often be distinguished from degenerative neurological disorders. This chapter will present a description of the neuropsychological changes associated with normal aging, common neuropsychological disorders in older adults, and the different neuropsychological approaches developed for distinguishing functional from organic disorders in the elderly.
SAGES University MASTERS Program: a structured curriculum for deliberate, lifelong learning

Postgraduate training has been haphazard to date. Surgeons have relied on attendance to annual meetings and multiple choice study guides to demonstrate maintenance of certification and continuing medical education. SAGES held a retreat to develop the concept and scope of the Masters Program. Surveys were sent to SAGES members to guide curriculum development and selection of anchoring operations. SAGES has developed an educational curriculum across eight domains (Acute Care, Biliary, Bariatric, Colorectal, Hernia, Foregut, Flex Endoscopy, and Robotic Surrey) incorporating SAGES educational materials and guidelines, social media, coaching and mentoring. Deliberate, lifelong learning should be a better way to teach and learn.
A comparison of Δ coefficients and the δ parameterization, part I: Coefficient accuracy

The multinotch was introduced in [1] as a way to parameterize digital filters so as to preserve numerical fidelity of the filter while providing precalculation to reduce computational latency. Still, as the sample rate got large relative to the frequencies being filtered, the biquad coefficients in the multinotch got sensitive. A coefficient adjustment called Δ coefficients introduced in [2] worked extremely well on coefficient sensitivity, but did not address potential signal overflow problems. The δ parameterization [3], [4] is another method of adjusting digital filter coefficients to compensate for relatively high sample rates. The δ operator also has the advantage of generating a differential form of the filter [5], which - for high sample rates - approximates the internal behavior of a cascade of analog biquad filters. This paper will compare the coefficient accuracy of biquad filters that are parameterized via fixed point δ operators with those parameterized via fixed point Δ coefficients. Follow on comparisons of internal signal growth issues will be studied in [6].
Inpatient vs outpatient autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Background High dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is commonly performed for multiple myeloma (MM) patients and may be as safe in the out-patient setting as in the in-patient setting. Methods We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of all MM patients undergoing auto-HCT between January 2008 - December 2012. We categorized patients as out-patient versus in-patient auto-HCT and compared clinical characteristics and outcomes between the groups. Results 1046 patients were included (669 in-patients, 377 out-patients). Patients transplanted as out-patients were significantly younger (58 [34-78] versus 62 [31-82], p<0.001) and more likely to have a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Comorbidity Index (HCTCI) score <2 (p=0.003) and creatinine <2 (p<0.001). There were no differences in treatment-related mortality (TRM) but the inpatient group experienced significantly more grade 2-5 (p=0.003) and grade 3-5 (p=0.003) adverse events (AEs). Two-year PFS was significantly longer in the out-patient group (60% versus 50%, HR =HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9, p=0.005). Two-year OS was also longer in the out-patient group (83% vs. 77%, HR 0.6, 95% CI 04-0.9, p=0.01). Conclusion Out-patient auto-HCT can be safely performed for selected patients with MM. Differences in outcomes are likely related to baseline clinical characteristics rather than choice of treatment setting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Impact of bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination upon the risk of acquisition of other HPV types

The first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved by the FDA in 2006, protecting against 2 carcinogenic types, 16 and 18. There is limited information about whether that vaccination may affect the prevalence of other HPV types in a community over time. Our study aimed to examine this issue. We used published data from The Costa Rica Vaccine Trial. Women were vaccinated with either the Cervarix® HPV vaccine or the hepatitis A vaccine (the control group). Based upon laboratory data, each of these arms can be divided into a naive cohort with no evidence of HPV infection on trial entry and the rest considered a non-naive cohort with baseline infection with HPV.At the end of a 4-year follow-up, women in the combined non-naive cohort had higher rates of HPV (mean number of HPV types detected per woman = 1.22) compared to the combined naive cohort (mean number of HPV types detected per woman = 0.917), consistent with their presumptive higher risk profile upon study entry. However, there was considerable variation by HPV type. Comparing those vaccinated against HPV to the control group, those in the non-naive cohort had an increased prevalence of HPV type 35 (RR=1.37, 95%CI [0.88, 2.11]), and significantly increased prevalence of HPV types 51 and 59 (RR=1.34 [1.03, 1.74] and 1.86 [1.15, 3.00]) respectively). This could be the result of increased HPV infection with these types after HPV 16/18 vaccination or HPV infection before trial entry. Among the naive cohort, there was decreased prevalence in the HPV vaccine arm of HPV type 31 (RR=0.30, 95% CI [.12, .79]) and type 45 (RR=0.18, 95% CI [0.02, 1.46]), suggesting possible cross protection to these HPV types.The protective effects from the bivalent HPV vaccine in the non-naive cohort further support the current public health practice of administering the HPV vaccine to young women, without regard to baseline HPV status.On December 10, 2014, the FDA approved Gardasil 9®, which vaccinates for an additional 5 carcinogenic types of HPV (31, 33, 45, 52 and 58). The addition of these types to the HPV vaccine will be beneficial in decreasing infection with these HPV types, but our analysis looks at the possible implications of how this can affect acquisition types not featured in the vaccine. There was a high prevalence of HPV types 16, 51 and 52 among the total cohort. Types 51 and 52 are not in the prior HPV vaccines and type 51 is not in the new Gardasil 9® vaccine, so type 51 may continue at a high prevalence in some geographic areas and may pose especial risk in the coming years. The prevalences of the various HPV types differ, sometimes substantially, by region. Therefore, further studies examining the prevalence of HPV types over time by geography will be critical for providing guidance to vaccine manufacturers, as well as screening guidelines for clinicians.
Image quality, meteorological optical range, and fog particulate number evaluation using the Sandia National Laboratories fog chamber

The evaluation of optical system performance in fog conditions typically requires field testing. This can be challenging due to the unpredictable nature of fog generation and the temporal and spatial nonuniformity of the phenomenon itself. We describe the Sandia National Laboratories fog chamber, a new test facility that enables the repeatable generation of fog within a 55 m×3 m×3 m (L×W×H) environment, and demonstrate the fog chamber through a series of optical tests. These tests are performed to evaluate system image quality, determine meteorological optical range (MOR), and measure the number of particles in the atmosphere. Relationships between typical optical quality metrics, MOR values, and total number of fog particles are described using the data obtained from the fog chamber and repeated over a series of three tests.
Temperature Effects in Silicon Concentration Solar Cells

Temperature control is an important design consideration for solar cells operating under concentrated sunlight. Experimental results are presented for the variation of temperature coefficients of cell electrical parameters with irradiance. Both n/p and p/n cells of various base resistivities were tested. Results indicate that a low resistivity base is desirable in n/p cells for good temperature performance at high irradiance. High resistivity does not appear to handicap the temperature performance of the p/n cell tested. The complex interaction between series resistance and open-circuit voltage temperature coefficients in determining cell efficiency-temperature coefficients vs. irradiance prevents any general conclusions about the behavior of efficiency-temperature coefficients with irradiance. An analysis of the effect of nonuniform temperature operation on cell electrical parameters indicates that the open-circuit voltage cannot be used to indicate cell temperature if the cell temperature distribution is not uniform.
Flexibility and Its Relation to Complexity and Architecture

We discuss the system property of flexibility and its relation to complexity. This relationship is affected by the generic architectures used in a system. We discuss the generic hierarchies based on tree structures and layers. We also discuss networks as a generic architecture. Since layered systems are less well understood than the other two generic architectures, we give some examples of layered systems and the flexibility inherent in them. In particular, we discuss the organization of the US health care system and the organization of its higher education system. Lateral alignment in hierarchical systems, which is related to layering, is discussed in the context of the US military.
An Optimized RNA Extraction Method from Archival Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue

Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is one of the most valuable resources available for molecular biological analysis on tissue after diagnostic histopathological examination. Gene expression profiles of FFPE can provide insights into molecular mechanisms of disease but are difficult due to the high level of cross-linking of biomolecules by formalin fixation. Despite advances in molecular technologies, the quality of RNA obtained from FFPE tissue remains variable. We have optimized a reliable RNA extraction method for FFPE tissue. This approach is based on deparaffinization at high temperature coupled with a 3-day lysis at 65 degrees C. The average total RNA yield is 4.5-5.5 ng per 1 mm(3) of archival FFPE tissue and 260/280 ratios are between 1.80 and 1.95. The extracted RNA has a modal fragment length between 100 and 200 nucleotides by bioanalyzer analysis. Although modal lengths of RNA fragments were shorter, reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction was able to amplify amplicons in the range of 300 base pairs. This optimized method improves the utility of FFPE tissue for molecular profiling studies.