cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation of high speed, linear wavelength sweeps using sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector lasers

Wavelength-tunable sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) lasers are used for telecommunications applications in which the laser is set to a communication channel and changed infrequently. SG-DBR lasers can be tuned to any wavelength over a 50 nm tuning range with fast transition times using a set of three control currents. This paper demonstrates generation of fast linear wavelength ramps covering the entire tuning range of the laser. Continuous and linear wavelength sweeps are achieved by applying three time synchronized waveforms to the front mirror, back mirror, and phase sections of the laser. Continuous wavelength coverage is achieved by appending 50 separate mode-hop-free tuning segments. The wavelength stitching transitions require a maximum of 60 ns for amplitude, wavelength, and thermal settling time to allow the laser and drive electronics to equilibrate. Full band wavelength ramps with 100 kHz repetition rates have been demonstrated. An example FMCW LIDAR application of this fast wavelength ramp is given.
In vitro uptake of methyl tert-butyl ether in male rat kidney: use of a two-compartment model to describe protein interactions.

Abstract Methyltert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a gasoline additive that causes renal tumors in male rats. In the process of measuring chemical specific parameters necessary to develop a quantitative dosimetry model of MTBE in rats, the uptake of MTBE was found to be 5.5 times greater in male than in female F-344 rat kidney homogenate. The objectives of this study were to characterize the factor(s) that influences the high uptake of MTBE into male rat kidneyin vitroand to develop a system to evaluate the interaction of MTBE with the male rat-specific protein, α2u-globulin (α2u). The uptake of MTBE in male, but not female, rat kidney homogenate was found to be dependent on protein and chemical concentrations. When [14C]MTBE was incubated with male rat kidney homogenate, radioactivity coeluted with the total protein fraction on a gel filtration column. An interaction between [14C]MTBE and male rat kidney proteins was not found under conditions of dialysis or anion exchange chromatography. A two-compartment vial equilibration model was used to assess the interaction between MTBE and α2u. Using this system, the dissociation constant for MTBE and α2u was estimated to be 2.15 × 10−4 m , which is in the range of other chemicals known to bind to α2u and cause α2u-mediated nephropathy.d-Limonene oxide was used to validate this two-compartment vial equilibration system. These findings illustrate a technique useful in estimating the dissociation constant for a volatile chemical and a protein, as well as explain the process that contributes to the uptake of MTBE into male rat kidney homogenatein vitro.A description of the weak interaction between MTBE and α2u will be used to refine a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to describe the target tissue (kidney) concentrations of MTBE.
Expression of self-antigen in the thymus: a little goes a long way.

For many years, it has been hypothesized that a major factor in organ-specific autoimmunity is a lack of central tolerance to self-antigens that are sequestered behind anatomical barriers in organs such as the eye, testis, and brain. However, numerous studies published in the last few years argue
Imposed-Etic and Emic Measures of Intelligence as Predictors of Early School Performance of Rural Philippine Children:

Emic and imposed-etic strategies were applied to the assessment of intelligence in rural Philippine children. Emic (culture-specific) measures assessed children's "intelligence" as conceptualized by rural adults. We concluded that Western-type (imposed-etic) tests measure a concept of intelligence that only partially overlaps emic conceptions. The imposed-etic measures were better than the emic measures as predictors of school performance, which could be viewed as an imposed-etic criterion. Most indigenous (emic) competencies showed no relationship to school performance. Thus what is "intelligent" in everyday barrio functioning ("everyday intelligence') is distinct from "academic intelligence."
A novel acoustic lens in superfluid /sup 3/He

The authors propose a novel scheme to achieve focusing of sound waves in superfluid /sup 3/He. This scheme exploits the magnetic field dependence of the superfluid phase diagram and the difference in the sound propagation characteristics of the A- and B-phases. Central to the scheme is the dispersion caused by the sound wave's strong interaction with order-parameter collective modes that exist in the B-phase. Details of a magnet that will be used to achieve such a lens are presented. >
A specification environment for configuring a discrete-part manufacturing system simulation infrastructure

A well-designed graphical environment that supports model specification has the potential of enabling the modeler to make better use of the modeling constructs and architecture. We describe on-going research in creating a graphical environment that supports model specification in OOSIM (Object-Oriented Simulation in Manufacturing), a high fidelity manufacturing system simulator. >
Aldosterone and Vascular Inflammation

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with activation of the renin-angiotensin (Ang)-aldosterone system (RAAS). Studies in cultured cells in vitro and in rodent models in vivo demonstrate that aldosterone and/or mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation cause oxidative stress and vascular inflammation. Translational studies in humans suggest that endogenous aldosterone increases inflammatory biomarkers through an MR-dependent pathway. Clinical studies indicate that the prevalence of hyperaldosteronism may be increased in resistant hypertension,1 that aldosterone concentrations “escape” to pretreatment levels during chronic treatment of congestive heart failure or hypertension with an Ang-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or Ang receptor blocker,2–4 and that MR antagonism decreases mortality in congestive heart failure.5,6 This article reviews the current literature regarding mechanism(s) of aldosterone-induced vascular inflammation and its implications for the prevention of vascular injury in humans. Oxidative stress and inflammation play central roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.7,8 Reactive oxygen species, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, modify vascular low-density lipoproteins to form oxidized low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins stimulate endothelial cells to express leukocyte adhesion molecules, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule, leading to the recruitment of monocytes and T lymphocytes, which invade the intima. Monocyte-derived macrophages, rich in nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, amplify the generation of reactant oxygen species. Macrophages take up oxidized low-density lipoproteins via scavenger receptors to become foam cells. T cells and macrophages within atherosclerotic lesions produce chemokines and cytokines resulting in the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within the intima. VSMCs, in turn, promote extracellular matrix formation and secrete matrix metalloproteinases, contributing to the pathogenesis of plaque rupture. Inflammation also triggers a cascade that leads to fibrosis and vascular remodeling.9 During inflammation, the recruitment of monocytes and macrophages promotes a proliferation of fibroblasts in the perivascular space. Cytokines like …
Prevalence and determinants of histological abnormalities of the gastric cardia in volunteers

Objective. The findings of studies examining the prevalence and major risk factors of histological abnormalities of the gastric cardia have been inconsistent. Selection bias was possible in these studies depending on whether patients were referred for ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There have been no studies on non-patient populations. The aim of this study was to mitigate the potential effects of selection bias. Material and methods. In a study comprising health-care workers, we distributed symptom questionnaires and invitations to undergo upper endoscopy. A single endoscopist performed standard endoscopy and biopsy examinations (2 antral, 2 corporal, and 2 cardiac biopsies). Staining was done using triple stain. Two pathologists, who were blinded to the results of the questionnaires and endoscopy, interpreted and recorded the histological findings. Results. A total of 226 participants underwent endoscopy. Gastric cardia, as defined by the presence of mucous glands, was identified in 19...
A Machine Learning Approach for Identifying Expert Stakeholders

Requirements gathering, analysis, and specification are humanintensive activities that rely upon finding and engaging a relevant set of informed stakeholders. In many projects initial requirements are captured through the use of wikis or forums, or through ini tial facetoface brainstorming meetings. In this paper we introduce a technique for analyzing stakeholders' contributions, extracting domain topics, and construct ing profiles which depict stakeholders' interests in each of the topics. Content and collaborative filtering techniques are then used to identify a diverse set of stakeholders for a given topic. The approach, which can be used to support requirements related activities throughout the software development lifecycle, is illus trated through an example of an Amazonlike student webportal.
Multiple time scales and subexponentiality in MPEG video streams

We develop a practical, multiple time scale model for MPEG video traffic whose accuracy and relatively low computational complexity make it well suited for real-time traffic generation experiments on broadband networks. The major feature of our approach is the decomposition of the frame size sequence into simple slow and fast time scale components. This accurately captures aspects of queueing behavior that are difficult to model otherwise. The model also exploits the existence of deterministic patterns that are due to the MPEG coding scheme. We also present a novel modeling approach based on spatial renewal processes (SRP). This model gives exact matches to any desired marginal distribution and any convex non-increasing autocorrelation function. In particulax, it can match subexponentially decaying autocorrelations (i.e., can capture long range dependence), something no other model of comparable complexity can do. A SRP is suited for on-line model construction, since it involves no search in parameter spaces, and matches aggregated streams as easily as single streams. The SRP approach yields an analytically tractable queueing behavior, and thus provides a basis for admission control policies that take the dependence structure of video streams into account. The models are validated by queueing simulations.
Two-step hybrid virtual array ray (VAR) technique for focusing through the rib cage

A new methodology for focusing ultrasonic beams noninvasively in the presence of the rib cage is investigated. This investigation is motivated by the need to employ high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) using phased array applicators for the treatment of liver tumors partially shadowed by the rib obstacles. This approach enables us to efficiently perform the ultrasound computational analysis and pattern synthesis in the interior region of the rib cage. The proposed technique consists of two main steps. First, a virtual array is introduced along the intercostal spacings between the solid ribs to generate the prespecified intensity levels at a set of control points within the target region. The second step involves the design of the actual feed array that induces the virtual sources between the intercostal spacings. This design optimization is carried out via the pseudo-inverse technique (minimum norm least squares solution) and by enforcing a constrained preconditioned pseudo-inverse method. The proposed procedure calculates the required primary sources (feed array) while maintaining minimal power deposition over the solid obstacles.
Abstract 144: Bone-Marrow Chimeras Demonstrate that the Epigenetic Signature in the Bone Marrow Myeloid Cells Influences the Peripheral Wound M1-Dominant Macrophage Phenotype

Introduction: Diabetic wounds are characterized by a chronic inflammatory state that is maintained by overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines generated by macrophages. In normal wound healing, macrophages mobilized from the circulation initially exhibit an M1 phenotype and secrete pro-inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-12) followed by a prolonged M2 anti-inflammatory phase. In type 2 diabetes (T2D), this M1 to M2 switch appears to be markedly attenuated. We have previously demonstrated that post-translational histone methylation changes in BM cells are maintained in peripheral macrophages and promote an M1 dominant phenotype in T2D wounds that result in impaired wound healing. We hypothesize that chimeric mice reconstituted with bone marrow from our T2D murine model will demonstrate delayed wound healing and expression of this epigenetic signature in peripheral wound macrophages. Methods: BM chimeras were created using GFP+ mice on a C57BL/6 background. GFP+ mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat)...
Telephone Smoking-Cessation Counseling for Smokers in Mental Health Clinics: A Patient-Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction People with a mental health diagnosis have high rates of tobacco use and encounter limited availability of tobacco treatment targeted to their needs. This study compared the effectiveness of a specialized telephone smoking-cessation intervention developed for mental health patients with standard state quit-line counseling. Design RCT. Setting/participants The study was conducted at six Veterans Health Administration facilities in the Northeast U.S. Participants were 577 mental health clinic patients referred by their providers for smoking-cessation treatment. Intervention From 2010 to 2012, the study implemented a telephone program that included patient referral from a mental health provider, mailed cessation medications, and telephone counseling. Participants were randomized to receive a specialized multisession telephone counseling protocol ( n =270) or transfer to their state's quit-line for counseling ( n =307). Main outcome measures Participants completed telephone surveys at baseline, 2 months, and 6 months. The study's primary outcome was self-reported 30-day abstinence at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were self-reported 30-day abstinence, counseling satisfaction and counseling content at 2 months, and self-reported use of cessation treatment and quit attempts at 6 months. Logistic regression was used to compare treatment groups on outcomes, controlling for baseline cigarettes per day and site. Inverse probability weighting and multiple imputation were used to handle missing abstinence outcomes. Data were analyzed in 2014−2015. Results At 6 months, participants in the specialized counseling arm were more likely to report 30-day abstinence (26% vs 18%, OR=1.62, 95% CI=1.24, 2.11). There was no significant group difference in abstinence at 2 months (18% vs 14%, OR=1.31, 95% CI=0.49, 3.49). Participants in the specialized arm were more likely to be assisted with developing a quit plan; receive follow-up calls after quitting; and receive counseling on several domains, including motivation, confidence, smoking triggers, coping with urges, and mental health symptoms (all p p Conclusions The specialized counseling intervention was more effective at helping patients quit than transfer to a state quit-line. Patients were more satisfied with the specialized counseling program. Trial registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00724308.
The selective action of gentian violet in relation to chemotherapy

It is clear from the facts stated in the four previous communications that selective bacteriostasis is a complex process. The method of divided plates presents a perfect machinery for studying the workings of this process; and in the selective property of gentian violet we have a means of observing the various elements of the process under perfect control on a single plate. On such a plate we will find that(a) Thick suspension of the Gram positive B. subtilis will not grow in the presence of the dye.(b) By repeated re-inoculations of this organism a moderate growth can be procured on the gentian violet agar.(c) Thick suspension of the Gram negative B. coli grow equally well on the two halves of the plate.(d) If very weak dilutions of suspension of the Gram negative B. coli be stroked across a divided plate a few colonies appear on the plain agar, none at all on the gentian violet agar.(e) From a suspension of the Gram negative B. coli, a gentian negative and a gentian positive strain can be cultivated.(f)...
Optofluidic Ring Resonator Lasers

Various optofluidic ring resonator lasers will be overviewed and their performance will be compared with other optofluidic lasers. Direct and indirect excitation schemes will be discussed, followed by possible applications and future research directions.
Effect of Agitation Upon Bacterial Growth

The course of population growth in a bacterial culture is known to depend upon many environmental factors, such as temperature, food supply, reactions, etc. We wish to suggest another factor which, from our studies, seems to be of importance—shaking.The apparatus used in the shaking consists of a motor-driven shaft to which clamps can be attached. The motion of the shaft is reciprocal. The clamps are used for securing culture flasks to the machine. We have generally used about 275 shakes per minute. The extreme agitation is attained in flasks having an up and down excursion of 2.5 inches. For the minimum shaking, the center of mass of the medium was placed at the center of motion of the shaft, thus obtaining little more than a rippling of the surface of the medium.Flasks inoculated with similar amounts of E. coli culture have been studied. Plates were prepared at intervals; smears at the time plates were made. Control flasks unshaken were also studied.The results indicated in the accompanying figure: (a) ...
Analysis of partial sequences of Hepatitis E virus isolated from human and swine in a certain area of Jiangsu province

Objective:To explore the correlation between swine and human hepatitis E virus(HEV) in Jiangsu province.Methods:Specimens collected from HEV-IgM positive people of the general population,patients with acute hepatitis E and cholecyst from swine in the same area,were detected for HEV RNA by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).HEV-positive samples were further analyzed by direct nucleotide sequencing.Results:Among the HEV IgM carriers,8 positive cases were identified,and the subtype of HEV were type 1 and type 4.The majority cases of clinical sporadic HEV were type 4(95.24%).The HEV-positive rate of swine bile samples was 12.11%,and the virus genotype was type 4.The type 4 HEV of human and swine showed a high degree of homology(81%～97%).Conclusion:Both HEV-1 and HEV-4 were found in human in this area with the dominant type of HEV-4.All the swine HEV-positive samples showed HEV-4 genotype.The HEV-4 of human and swine in the Dongtai area showed a high degree of homology.These findings suggest that swine may be one of the main hosts of HEV in this region.
Challenges and Resources for New Critical Care Transport Crewmembers: A Descriptive Exploratory Study.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges new crewmembers experience in the critical care transport (CCT) environment and to determine the most valuable resources when acclimating to the transport environment. To date, no study has focused on the unique challenges nor the resources most effective in CCT training. Methods This descriptive exploratory study was conducted with a convenience survey sent to the 3 largest professional CCT organizations: the Association of Air Medical Services, the Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association, and the Association of Critical Care Transport. Results The study survey responses revealed that more education and training are needed. Novice crewmembers identified areas in safety, communication, environment, and crew resource management as particularly challenging. Responses also validate the need for more simulation training, especially for CCT of low-volume/high-risk patient populations. Conclusion Results of this survey provide valuable insight for improving training effectiveness of health care professionals transitioning to the CCT environment. More information regarding best practice on the frequency and timing of CCT simulation training should be collected, particularly for simulations completed in the transport environment.
Relational Contract Theory and Democratic Citizenship

In this article I engage Relational Contract Theory ("RCT"), with a focus on the theory of Ian Macneil. I argue that while RCT is a valuable approach to contract and contract law, it has an impoverished approach to the role of the democratic state in contract law. I then contend that by mining some political theories which parallel RCT, particularly the work of Michael Walzer and David Miller, we can construct a relational approach to contract law that credits the democratic state with a significant role in contract law. Such an approach, I argue, provides a more compelling theoretical justification for integrating democratic and dignity-based rights and protections, such as protections against gender and racial discrimination, into contract law. Moreover, a Walzerian approach allows us to view contract law and contract generally as one aspect, or "sphere", of an integrated democratic pluralism and so enables challenges to the colonization of all activities by contract and contract ideology. Ultimately it is the hope of this article to reinvigorate discussions of the role of contract and contract law in democratic society. Along the way I also explore, among other things, the strong links between contract and democracy during the American Reconstruction period, modern issues such as consumer form contracting and unconscionability, and the problem of anormativity in relational contract and other "norms"-oriented theories.
A STUDY OF THE BONE MARROW FROM THIRTY-SIX PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC HEMORRHAGIC (THROMBOPENIC) PURPURA

1. Observations made on the bone marrow smears of 36 patients with idiopathic hemorrhagic purpura and the correlation of the findings with the clinical picture are presented. The control series consisted of 50 patients with nonhemorrhagic conditions without blood dyscrasias. 2. The bone marrow in idiopathic hemorrhagic purpura is hyperplastic. There is a slight myeloid and erythroid immaturity and in some cases a slight eosinophilia and lymphocytosis. 3. The megakaryocyte counts ranged from 3 to 59 per 10,000 nucleated cells, with an average of 17. In the control series the megakaryocytes ranged from 1 to 54 per 10,000 nucleated cells, with an average of 16. 4. There appears to be no correlation between the number of megakaryocytes found in the marrow smears during the acute phase of the disease and the prognosis with or without splenectomy. There is also no apparent correlation between the number of megakaryocytes and the platelet response following splenectomy. 5. The megakaryocytes were classified as megakaryoblasts, immature, intermediate, or mature megakaryocytes, or as naked nuclei. The principal criteria for the differentiation of megakaryocytes are the granules and the presence or absence of granular platelets. 6. The differential megakaryocyte counts were made by examining 25 or more megakaryocytes. In the control series the mature megakaryocytes which are actively producing platelets are the predominant cells, whereas in idiopathic hemorrhagic purpura the intermediate cell without platelet production is predominant. 7. Marrow studies on 2 of our patients before and after splenectomy revealed a decrease in the relative number of megakaryocytes and an increase in the number of platelet-producing cells following operation. 8. No correlation was found between the eosinophil counts and the deaths, recurrences, or cures with or without splenectomy. 9. The principal value of the bone marrow examination in cases of suspected idiopathic hemorrhagic purpura is to exclude leukemia and aplastic anemia.
On the kinetic energy profile of Hölder continuous Euler flows

In [8], the first author proposed a strengthening of Onsager's conjecture on the failure of energy conservation for incompressible Euler flows with Holder regularity not exceeding 1/3. This stronger form of the conjecture implies that anomalous dissipation will fail for a generic Euler flow with regularity below the Onsager critical space L_t^∞(B_(3,∞)^(1/3) due to low regularity of the energy profile. The present paper is the second in a series of two papers whose results may be viewed as first steps towards establishing the conjectured failure of energy regularity for generic solutions with Holder exponent less than 1/5. The main result of this paper shows that any non-negative function with compact support and Holder regularity 1/2 can be prescribed as the energy profile of an Euler flow in the class C_(t,x)^(1/5 − ϵ). The exponent 1/2 is sharp in view of a regularity result of Isett [8]. The proof employs an improved greedy algorithm scheme that builds upon that in Buckmaster–De Lellis–Szekelyhidi [1].
Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in the Non–HIV-Infected Population

Objective: Summarize data on the pathophysiology, treatment, and prevention options for non–AIDS immunocompromised patients who have Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP); review the epidemiology of patients presenting with PJP; and discuss the first and second-line pharmacological options for treatment and prophylaxis of PJP in this population. Data Sources: MEDLINE (1989-February 2016) searched. Terms searched included combinations of Pneumocystis jirovecii, Pneumocystis carinii, non-HIV, infected, patients, prevention, prophylaxis, Bactrim, treatment, AIDS, opportunistic, immunocompromised, cancer, and pathophysiology. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles included had the most relevant information on PJP pathophysiology, and first-/second-line treatment and prophylactic options. Inclusion criteria were met and evaluated with 43 sources. Data Synthesis:P jirovecii has a complicated life-cycle; it seeks to find compromised immune systems in order to replicate, causing life-threatening complicat...
Our Lady of Darkness: Decadent Arts & the Magnetic Sleep of Magdeleine G.

Between 1904 and 1907, a dancer known professionally as “Magdeleine G.” caused a stir in opera houses, theaters, private homes, medical clinics, and artists’ studios across Central and Western Europe. Bourgeois spectators, journalists, eminent medical professionals, and avant-garde visual artists and musicians eagerly turned out to see the recitals, and some requested (and paid for) private performances: the Austrian ambassador hosted one such evening at his home in Munich, while in Paris, sculptor Auguste Rodin hired her to dance in his studios, supposedly saying afterward that her gestures were so “extremely beautiful” that “it is beyond what the spirit can conceive.”2 On stage, Magdeleine G.’s accompanists were frequently among the most prominent musicians of the day, such as German pianist and composer Bernhard Stavenhagen, who later went on to teach piano master classes at the Geneva Conservatory and conduct premiers by Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schonberg, and Claude Debussy. Gustave Doret, the conductor who had debuted Debussy’s Impressionist tone poem Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faun (1894), played music for her London opening and wrote admiringly of her “most extraordinary and faithful translations of rhythm and musical thought.”3 Poets composed verses to her style and creativity while photographers and painters captured her portrait.
Tibial Plateau Coverage in UKA: A Comparison of Patient Specific and Standard Implants

Introduction: Tibial component fit, specifically significant overhang of tibial plateau or underhang of cortical bone, can lead to pain, loosening and subsidence. The purpose was to utilize morphometric data to compare size, match, and fit between patient specific and incrementally sized standard unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) implants. Methods: CT images of 20 medial UKA knees and 10 lateral UKA knees were retrospectively reviewed. Standard and patient-specific implants were modeled in CAD, utilizing sizing templates and patient-specific CAD Designs. Virtual surgery maximized coverage of tibial plateau while minimizing implant overhang. Tibial plateau implant coverage was evaluated for fit and incidence of overhang/undercoverage. RESULTS: Patient specific implants provided significantly greater cortical rim coverage versus incrementally sized standard implants, 77% v. 43% (range 41–46%) respectively medially (p Conclusions: Tibial plateau anatomy variability produces difficulty optimizing coverage and preventing significant implant overhang/undercoverage with standard unicompartmental implants. Using virtual implantation, standard implants were undersized to avoid overhang. However, we encountered significantly more overhang in standard implants versus patient specific cohort. This study removed variability matching tibial tray and femoral standard group implant placement. Patient-specific implants provide superior cortical bone coverage and fit while minimizing issues of overhang and undercoverage seen in standard implants.
Comparison and optimization of machine learning methods for automated classification of circulating tumor cells.

Advances in rare cell capture technology have made possible the interrogation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) captured from whole patient blood. However, locating captured cells in the device by manual counting bottlenecks data processing by being tedious (hours per sample) and compromises the results by being inconsistent and prone to user bias. Some recent work has been done to automate the cell location and classification process to address these problems, employing image processing and machine learning (ML) algorithms to locate and classify cells in fluorescent microscope images. However, the type of machine learning method used is a part of the design space that has not been thoroughly explored. Thus, we have trained four ML algorithms on three different datasets. The trained ML algorithms locate and classify thousands of possible cells in a few minutes rather than a few hours, representing an order of magnitude increase in processing speed. Furthermore, some algorithms have a significantly (P < 0.05) higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than do other algorithms. Additionally, significant (P < 0.05) losses to performance occur when training on cell lines and testing on CTCs (and vice versa), indicating the need to train on a system that is representative of future unlabeled data. Optimal algorithm selection depends on the peculiarities of the individual dataset, indicating the need of a careful comparison and optimization of algorithms for individual image classification tasks. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
Geographic variation in access among adults with kidney disease: evidence from medical expenditure panel survey, 2002–2011

To understand geographic variation in access to care over time in patients with kidney disease. We analyzed 4404 (weighted sample of 4,251,129) adults with kidney disease from the United States using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey over 10 years. Three dependent variables were created to investigate variation in access: usual source of care, overall medical access to care, which took into account usual source of care, ability to get care, and delay in care, and prescription access, which took into account ability to get prescriptions and delay in getting prescriptions. Multiple logistic regression was used with geographic region as the main independent variable, adjusting for relevant covariates. Compared to the Northeast region, adults living in the Midwest (OR = 0.56; 95 % CI 0.35–0.89), South (OR = 0.48; 95 % CI 0.32–0.72) and West (OR = 0.53; 95 % CI 0.34–0.84) had significantly lower odds of reporting usual source of care. For the combined access measure, compared to Northeast, adults in Midwest (OR = 0.60; 95 % CI 0.40–0.88), South (OR = 0.62; 95 % CI 0.44–0.88) and West (OR = 0.50; 95 % CI 0.34–0.72) had significantly lower odds of medical access to care. Region was not significantly associated with the odds of having prescription access, though a significant increase in prescription access was observed over time. Geographic variation in access to care among adults with kidney disease exists independent of income, education, insurance and comorbid conditions, with those in the South least likely to have a usual source of care and those in the West least likely to have overall access to care when compared to the Northeast United States.
Targeting the Molecular Subtypes of Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Understanding the Diversity to Progress the Field

Abstract Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) represent 10%-20% of primary breast cancers, and despite having greater initial sensitivity to cytotoxic chemotherapy, patients with TNBCs have higher rates of distant metastasis and a poorer prognosis compared with patients with hormone receptor positive and/or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive disease. TNBC has historically been treated as a single disease entity in targeted therapy trials, but advances in gene expression profiling and other molecular diagnostic techniques over the last decade have revealed considerable biologic heterogeneity within TNBCs, including subgroups with distinct, targetable aberrations. Such molecular heterogeneity explains, in part, the disappointing performance of targeted therapeutics in unselected TNBC. Here we discuss the history of gene expression profiling in breast cancer and its application in partitioning TNBCs into subtypes that may lead to more consistent therapeutic successes in this heterogeneous disease. The Oncologist 2017;22:1-8 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) have historically been regarded as a single entity in clinical trial design. Over the last decade, molecular characterization has revealed much heterogeneity in TNBCs, explaining in part the lackluster performance of targeted therapeutics in TNBCs as a group. In this article, we review the history of the molecular classification of breast cancer based on gene expression profiling and discuss its role in TNBCs.
Hydrologic and water quality impacts of biofuel feedstock production in the Ohio River Basin

This study addresses the uncertainties related to potential changes in landuse and management and associated impacts on hydrology and water quality resulting from increased production of biofuel from the conventional and cellulosic feedstock. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to assess the impacts on regional and field scale evapotranspiration, soil moisture content, stream flow, sediment and nutrient loadings in the Ohio River Basin. The model incorporates spatially and temporally detailed hydrologic, climate and agricultural practice data that are pertinent to simulate biofuel feedstock production, watershed hydrology and water quality. Three future biofuel production scenarios in the region were considered, including a feedstock projection from the DOE Billion-Ton Study, a change in corn rotations to continuous corn, and harvest of 50% corn stover. The impacts were evaluated on the basis of relative changes in hydrology and water quality from historical baseline and future business-as-usual conditions of the basin. The overall impact on water quality is an order of magnitude higher than the impact on hydrology. For all the three future scenarios, the subbasin results indicated an overall increase in annual evapotranspiration of up to 6%, a decrease in runoff up to 10% and minimal change in soil moisture. The sediment and phosphorous loading at both regional and field levels increased considerably (up to 40% - 90%) for all the biofuel feedstock scenario considered, while the nitrogen loading increased up to 45% in some regions under the Billion-Ton Study scenario, decreased up to 10% when corn are grown continuously instead of in rotations, and changed minimally when 50% of the stover are harvested. Field level analyses revealed significant variability in hydrology and water quality impacts that can further be used to identify suitable locations for the feedstock productions without causing major impacts on water quantity and quality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Spatial relationship of sites for atrial fibrillation drivers and atrial tachycardia in patients with both arrhythmias.

Abstract Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) often converts to and from atrial tachycardia (AT), but it is undefined if these rhythms are mechanistically related in such patients. We tested the hypothesis that critical sites for AT may be related to regional AF sources in patients with both rhythms, by mapping their locations and response to ablation on transitions to and from AF. Methods From 219 patients undergoing spatial mapping of AF prior to ablation at 3 centers, we enrolled 26 patients in whom AF converted to AT by ablation (n=19) or spontaneously (n=7; left atrial size 42±6cm, 38% persistent AF). Both atria were mapped in both rhythms by 64-electrode baskets, traditional activation maps and entrainment. Results Each patient had a single mapped AT (17 reentrant, 9 focal) and 3.7±1.7 AF sources. The mapped AT spatially overlapped one AF source in 88% (23/26) of patients, in left (15/23) or right (8/23) atria. AF transitioned to AT by 3 mechanisms: (a) ablation anchoring AF rotor to AT (n=13); (b) residual, unablated AF source producing AT (n=6); (c) spontaneous slowing of AF rotor leaving reentrant AT at this site without any ablation (n=7). Electrogram analysis revealed a lower peak-to-peak voltage at overlapping sites (0.36±0.2mV vs 0.49±0.2mV p=0.03). Conclusions Mechanisms responsible for AT and AF may arise in overlapping atrial regions. This mechanistic inter-relationship may reflect structural and/or functional properties in either atrium. Future work should delineate how acceleration of an organized AT may produce AF, and whether such regions can be targeted a priori to prevent AT recurrence post AF ablation.
Postnatal Evaluation of Cervical Ribs in Control Rats.

Background Cervical ribs in rat fetuses have been widely reported to occur in controls as well as in response to various maternal chemical exposures. However, few evaluations of cervical ribs have been reported in rats postnatally. The available literature has indicated that the postnatal incidences of cervical ribs in control rats are no higher than in perinatal fetuses. Methods In a developmental toxicity study in rats conducted by the inhalation route, a control group of 44 time-mated female rats was exposed to filtered air only from gestation day (GD) 6 to 20, and divided into two cohorts. For one cohort, fetuses were removed from dams by laparohysterectomy for skeletal evaluation on GD 21. The other cohort of dams was permitted to deliver, and adult offspring were euthanized on postnatal day 65 for a subsequent postnatal skeletal evaluation of cervical ribs. Results The incidence of cervical ribs (mean percentage of affected fetuses or adults per litter) was observed to increase during postnatal development, from 1.0% on GD 21 to 12.7% on postnatal day 65. Further evaluation is ongoing to determine whether these observations were attributable to the inhalation exposure conditions used in this study. Conclusion These results, while limited to the evaluation of one skeletal alteration in control rats, support the need for additional research into the area of postnatal development of skeletal abnormalities observed in developmental toxicity studies and the relevance of these skeletal observations to human risk assessment. Birth Defects Research, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Devices and Data and Agents, Oh My: How Smart Home Abstractions Prime End-User Mental Models

With the advent of DIY smart homes and the Internet of Things comes the emergence of user interfaces for domestic human-building interaction. However, the design trade-offs between the different representations of a smart home’s capabilities are still not well-understood. In this work, we examine how four different smart home abstractions affect end users’ mental models of a hypothetical system. We develop four questionnaires, each of which describes the same hypothetical smart home using a different abstraction, and then we collect responses depicting desired smart home applications from over 1,500 Mechanical Turk workers. We find that the choice of abstraction strongly primes end users’ responses. In particular, the purely device-oriented abstraction results in the most limited scenarios, suggesting that if we want users to associate smart home technologies with valuable high-level applications we should shift the UI paradigm for the Internet of Things from device-oriented control to other abstractions that inspire a greater diversity of interactions.
Women of Honor: Madonnas, Godmothers and Informers in the Italian Mafia: Kahn, Milka, and Anne Véron Trans. James Ferguson London: C. Hurst & Co. 213 pp., £12.99, ISBN 9781849048064 Publication Date: April 2017

A multitude of books in fields ranging from microeconomics to psychoanalysis have examined the Italian mafias, yet few have focused on women in the crime organizations, and fewer still are availabl...
Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in Relation to the Economic Community of West African States

This chapter explores how Nigeria conducts its foreign policy toward west Africa, drawing on the case of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It interrogates Nigeria’s foreign policy toward ECOWAS, particularly how this has been shaped by domestic factors, and the increased presence of non-state actors, emerging and established external Powers in the sub-region. It analyzes the changes and continuities in Nigeria’s foreign policy, focusing on the extent to which Nigeria has impacted west Africa’s regional organization, and sums up the possibilities and prospects for Nigeria–ECOWAS relations.
Pricing the Economic Landscape: Global Financial Markets and the Communities and Institutions of Risk Management

For much of the 20th century, economic geography was preoccupied with the spatial structure of market transactions and the resulting flows of commodities across time and space. This remains a vital reference point in any understanding of the global economy, providing important insights into the changing significance of cities and regions in national and international settings. An alternative way of looking at the dynamic economic landscape is via the scope and scale of financial decision-making focused on the locales and organization of risk management, which is the approach we pursue in this paper. We begin with observations about the fluctuating geographical scale of economic relationships, specifically noting the increasing significance of integration and the decreasing hold of local relationships on market transactions. This is followed by a brief overview of recent research on the geography of finance and emphasizes the importance of risk management within and between institutions over time and space. The regulation of risk is the theme of the latter sections of the paper, linking issues such as trust and accountability with community networks and organizational integrity. We conclude by drawing implications for both the changing role of urban centers and the place of communities within the emerging global financial system. Economic geography is about the global configuration of economic activity, as well as the prospects for inner-city residents of the developed and less developed worlds (Clark et al. 2000). Over the last 20 years or so, economic geography has focused upon the growth and decline of regions, the restructuring of economic systems, and the spatial clustering of innovation. Economic geography has grappled with the scaling-up of economic activity from the local to the global, notwithstanding the shortage of comprehensive theoretical treatments of this phenomenon elsewhere in the social sciences (Swyngedouw 2000). And yet, despite the significance of globalization, it is apparent that there remains a real premium for nation-states in sustaining centers of innovation and agglomerations of talent (Florida 2002; Florida and Tinagli 2004). The globalization of economic activity has implications for the expanding scope and scale of geographical networks for local economic development, employment
Comparative effectiveness of radical prostatectomy with adjuvant radiotherapy versus radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy for men with advanced prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Men with locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPCa) or regionally advanced prostate cancer (RAPCa) are at high risk for death from their disease. Clinical guidelines support multimodal approaches, which include radical prostatectomy (RP) followed by radiotherapy (XRT) and XRT plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, there are limited data comparing these substantially different treatment approaches. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data, this study compared survival outcomes and adverse effects associated with RP plus XRT versus XRT plus ADT in these men. METHODS SEER-Medicare data were queried for men with cT3-T4N0M0 (LAPCa) or cT3-T4N1M0 (RAPCa) prostate cancer. Propensity score methods were used to balance cohort characteristics between the treatment arms. Survival analyses were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS From 1992 to 2009, 13,856 men (≥65 years old) were diagnosed with LAPCa or RAPCa: 6.1% received RP plus XRT, and 23.6% received XRT plus ADT. At a median follow-up of 14.6 years, there were 2189 deaths in the cohort, of which 702 were secondary to prostate cancer. Regardless of the tumor stage or the Gleason score, the adjusted 10-year prostate cancer-specific survival and 10-year overall survival favored men who underwent RP plus XRT over men who underwent XRT plus ADT. However, RP plus XRT versus XRT plus ADT was associated with higher rates of erectile dysfunction (28% vs 20%; P = .0212) and urinary incontinence (49% vs 19%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Men with LAPCa or RAPCa treated initially with RP plus XRT had a lower risk of prostate cancer-specific death and improved overall survival in comparison with those men treated with XRT plus ADT, but they experienced higher rates of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
An Overview of Various Surgical Approaches

Degenerative cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy are a leading cause of disability in the aging population. The two conditions are distinct but related and can often be seen in tandem. Myelopathy refers to damage to the spinal cord and central nervous system itself. This differs from radiculopathy which is damage or irritation of a nerve root that is part of the peripheral nervous system. In treating degenerative disease of the cervical spine, surgeons often can observe myeloradiculopathy which has characteristics of both central and peripheral nervous system dysfunctions.