cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of atmospheric mis-estimation on hyperspectral-based adaptive matched filter target detection as measured by the Bhattacharyya coefficient

Accurate target detection and classification of hyperspectral imagery require that the measurement by the imager matches as closely as possible the known “true” target as collected under controlled conditions and stored in a classification database. Therefore, the effect of the radiation source and the atmosphere must be factored out of the result before detection is attempted. Our objective is to investigate the uncertainty in the detections due to the uncertainty in the estimation of atmospherics. We apply a range of atmospheric profiles, correlated with relative humidity, to a MODTRAN-based prediction of the radiative transfer effect on simulated imagery using the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation Model. These profiles are taken from known distribution percentiles as obtained from historic meteorological measurements at the simulated site. We demonstrate the detection error, as measured by the Bhattacharyya coefficient, given the range of atmospheric conditions in the historic profile, and show that changes in the atmospheric assumptions change the values of the output for the adaptive matched filter.
Trisomy 22 Mosaicism with Normal Blood Chromosomes Case Report with Literature Review

A female infant with growth failure, microcephaly, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, preauricular pit, congenital heart defect, hypotonia, and delayed development is reported. Trisomy 22 mosaicism (46,XX/47,XX,+22) was found in cultured skin fibroblasts but not in blood lymphocytes. Trisomy restricted to skin fibroblasts is uncommon.Cytogenetic evaluation of a second tissue (preferably skin) is suggested in patients with physical and mental abnormalities who have normal blood chromosome studies.
Theory and practice: a conversation with Marilyn E. Parker. Interview by Jacqueline Fawcett.

This edited transcript of an electronic mail dialogue with Marilyn E. Parker presents Dr. Parker’s ideas about nursing theory, nursing practice, and the relation between theory and practice.
Goal-dependent modulation of declarative memory: Neural correlates of temporal recency decisions and novelty detection

Declarative memory allows an organism to discriminate between previously encountered and novel items, and to place past encounters in time. Numerous imaging studies have investigated the neural processes supporting item recognition, whereas few have examined retrieval of temporal information. In the present study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted while subjects engaged in temporal recency and item novelty decisions. Subjects encountered three-alternative forced-choice retrieval trials, each consisting of two words from a preceding study phase and one novel word, and were instructed to either identify the novel item (Novelty trials) or the more recently presented study item (Recency trials). Relative to correct Novelty decisions, correct Recency decisions elicited greater activation in a network of left-lateralized regions, including frontopolar and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and intraparietal sulcus. A conjunction analysis revealed that these left-lateralized regions overlapped with those previously observed to be engaged during source recollection versus novelty detection, suggesting that during Recency trials subjects attempted to recollect event details. Consistent with this interpretation, correct Recency decisions activated posterior hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex, whereas incorrect Recency decisions elicited greater anterior cingulate activation. The magnitude of this latter effect positively correlated with activation in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Finally, correct Novelty decisions activated the anterior medial temporal lobe to a greater extent than did correct Recency decisions, suggesting that medial temporal novelty responses are not obligatory but rather can be modulated by the goal-directed allocation of attention. Collectively, these findings advance understanding of how subjects strategically engage frontal and parietal mechanisms in the service of attempting to remember the temporal order of events, and how retrieval goals impact novelty processing within the medial temporal lobe.
Volunteering, Civic Agency, and Citizenship in Africa

The resurgence of faith in volunteerism as a vehicle for civic renewal rests on a set of assumptions about the nature of volunteerism, and its relation to civil society, citizenship, and social integration. This chapter takes issue with these assumptions. Among other things, it highlights the danger of framing ‘public’ ‘service’ provision and delivery as a problem of inadequate volunteering, thus more or less absolving the state of any responsibility. Furthermore, and because volunteerism is more often than not a function of a volunteer’s sense of ‘belonging’ within a particular civic community, the paper urges an approach to volunteerism that takes it as an act of social citizenship, one that is best ‘performed’ after the state has discharged its duties toward society.
Effect of Chromatin Structure on the Extent and Distribution of DNA Double Strand Breaks Produced by Ionizing Radiation; Comparative Study of hESC and Differentiated Cells Lines

Chromatin structure affects the extent of DNA damage and repair. Thus, it has been shown that heterochromatin is more protective against DNA double strand breaks (DSB) formation by ionizing radiation (IR); and that DNA DSB repair may proceed differently in hetero- and euchromatin regions. Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have a more open chromatin structure than differentiated cells. Here, we study the effect of chromatin structure in hESC on initial DSB formation and subsequent DSB repair. DSB were scored by comet assay; and DSB repair was assessed by repair foci formation via 53BP1 antibody staining. We found that in hESC, heterochromatin is confined to distinct regions, while in differentiated cells it is distributed more evenly within the nuclei. The same dose of ionizing radiation produced considerably more DSB in hESC than in differentiated derivatives, normal human fibroblasts; and one cancer cell line. At the same time, the number of DNA repair foci were not statistically different among these cells. We showed that in hESC, DNA repair foci localized almost exclusively outside the heterochromatin regions. We also noticed that exposure to ionizing radiation resulted in an increase in heterochromatin marker H3K9me3 in cancer HT1080 cells, and to a lesser extent in IMR90 normal fibroblasts, but not in hESCs. These results demonstrate the importance of chromatin conformation for DNA protection and DNA damage repair; and indicate the difference of these processes in hESC.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type-2 (PAI-2)/SerpinB2: A Unique Multifunctional Serpin

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) or SerpinB2 is a clade B serine protease inhibitor (serpin) with unique properties that was originally identified as an inhibitor of the secreted serine protease, urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA). The plasminogen activating cascade is well recognized to play an important fibrinolytic role in maintaining vascular patency and for remodeling of the extracellular matrix. On the other hand, PAI-2 is present predominantly as a nucleocytoplasmic protein, and it has been shown to have a number of pleiotropic activities associated with its intracellular localization. Upregulation of PAI-2 is a major stress response in multiple cell types and recent data have started to illuminate PAI-2 functions in the cell, having immunomodulatory, cytoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities.
Abstract 1510: Heterogeneity of Cell to Cell Communication in the Human Atrio-Ventricular Junction

The atrio-ventricular (AV) junction serves as the only electrical connection between the atria and the ventricles, playing a critical role in slowing the rate of propagation of electrical signals from the sino-atrial (SA) node to the ventricles. The AV junction has a profoundly heterogeneous structure and pattern of protein expression. The expression patterns of connexins in the AV junction are unique and contribute to dual pathway electrophysiology in animal models. However, little is known about connexin distribution in the human AV junction and its relation to AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods: We used Masson trichrome histology to reconstruct the 3D structure of the human AV junction (n=2), including the inferior nodal extension (INE), compact AV node (AVN), and the lower nodal and His bundles (HB). Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the density of Connexin 43 (Cx43), myocytes, and fibroblasts. Results: We found that connexins are distributed in a heterogeneous pattern in the human AV junction. The His bundle has a uniformly high density of Cx43. The AVN has an 8.3 ± 3.3 times higher Cx43 expression in the lower nodal bundle as compared to the compact AVN. The inferior nodal extension has two branches. The rightward branch expresses Cx43 at a level similar to the atrium. The leftward branch extends farther than the rightward branch and has a density of Cx43 4.9 ± 2.4 times less than the rightward branch. Conclusions: The heterogeneous expression of Cx43 in the AV junction may contribute to the dual pathway electrophysiology and AVNRT by providing a molecular and structural basis for the slow and fast pathways.
Theophylline Clearance in Obese Patients in Relation to Smoking and Congestive Heart Failure

The effect of obesity on the total body clearance (Cltot) of theophylline was evaluated in nonsmokers and smokers with and without congestive heart failure (CHF). The obese patients were compared with similar nonobese subjects with regard to age, sex, and disease state. The total patient population numbered 150 adults. Cltot of theophylline, based on total body weight (TBW), averaged 0.60 +/- 0.20 ml/min/kg in obese nonsmokers and did not differ from the nonobese, nonsmoking group. In obese nonsmoking patients with CHF, Cltot based on TBW was 0.40 +/- 0.14 ml/min/kg, which was similar to Cltot values in nonsmoking CHF patients who were not obese. A trend toward a reduction in Cltot, based on TBW, as TBW increased, in nonsmoking patients with and without CHF, was observed. In contrast to the Cltot in nonsmokers, the Cltot of theophylline in obese smokers with and without CHF was similar to the Cltot values in nonobese populations only when based on ideal body weight. However, when compared with nonsmoking, nonobese patients, no differences were observed when Cltot was corrected for TBW. These findings suggest that theophylline maintenance dose can be based on TBW in obese patients who are smokers and nonsmokers (with and without CHF), using the average Cltot obtained for the nonsmoking patients with and without CHF.
Characteristics of the HIV/AIDS in the Elderly in Yuxi, Yunnan, 1995-2011

Objective We analysed the characteristics of the AIDS among the Elderly who were all above 50 years old in Yuxi, Yunnan, 1995-2011, and got the reference for sex health education and behavior intervention among the elderly. Methods We got the information of HIV/AIDS epidemic from the surveillance system of AIDS of Yuxi, Yunnan, and analysed the basal information and characteristics of the AIDS among the elderly. Results From 1995 to 2011, there had 196 HIV/AIDS among the elderly, and accounts for 6.1% among the all new reports HIV/AIDS. The average year was 60.4±8.3 years, and The male to female was 2.6∶1, the elementary school and low of education is accounts for 60.70%, the farmer was 53.10%. The heterosexual of HIV/AIDS is accounts for 91.80%. From 2002 and 2003 to 2010 and 2011, the proportion of elderly among heterosexual of HIV/AIDS the accounts for 13.04% and 0 to 15.73% and 17.93%. The most of elderly cases of HIV/AIDS were from medical institution and VCT, and the more cases in economically developed and severe epidemic of AIDS counties. Conclusion The AIDS epidemics of elder is severeness in Yuxi in recent years, and we should more pay attention to this problem and do somethings, such as sex health education among the elderly.
Geometric convex cone volume analysis

Convexity is a major concept used to design and develop endmember finding algorithms (EFAs). For abundance unconstrained techniques, Pixel Purity Index (PPI) and Automatic Target Generation Process (ATGP) which use Orthogonal Projection (OP) as a criterion, are commonly used method. For abundance partially constrained techniques, Convex Cone Analysis is generally preferred which makes use of convex cones to impose Abundance Non-negativity Constraint (ANC). For abundance fully constrained N-FINDR and Simplex Growing Algorithm (SGA) are most popular methods which use simplex volume as a criterion to impose ANC and Abundance Sum-to-one Constraint (ASC). This paper analyze an issue encountered in volume calculation with a hyperplane introduced to illustrate an idea of bounded convex cone. Geometric Convex Cone Volume Analysis (GCCVA) projects the boundary vectors of a convex cone orthogonally on a hyperplane to reduce the effect of background signatures and a geometric volume approach is applied to address the issue arose from calculating volume and further improve the performance of convex cone-based EFAs.
Relational Aesthetics in Art Museum Education: Engendering Visitors’ Narratives through Participatory Acts for Interpretive Experience

This article explores how to ensure visitor engagement with art objects at exhibition spaces in art museums through relational aesthetics, which focuses on the intersubjective relationship that art objects arouse in visitors. In the 1990s, Bourriaud coined the term relational aesthetics in reference to interactive installation art, but the concept has yet to be actively examined in terms of visitor engagement. In this context, this study examines the theoretical framework of relational aesthetics in terms of its implications for art museum education. As a result, this article explains how constructing relational aesthetics depends on intervening in visitors’ experiences with art objects through participatory acts to build individual visitors’ creative agency as well as intersubjectivity between visitors and objects in the in-between space.
Reducing the Impact of Attacks against Healthcare by Curbing the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Developments at the Global Level

Attacks against healthcare in situations of armed conflict have emerged as an issue of increasing concern with explosive weapons - such as aircraft bombs, mortars and improvised explosive devices - accounting for more deaths, injuries and damage than any other type of weapon in attacks on healthcare facilities. While this is perhaps unsurprising, it offers some insight into a possible course of action for dealing with the problem of attacks against healthcare - by curbing the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. There has been growing recognition in recent years of the humanitarian problems caused by the use of such weapons in populated areas. Steps are now being taken at the global level to curb this use which could, in time, make an important contribution to reducing the incidence and devastating impact of attacks against healthcare.
Maternal Sleep Quality and Diurnal Cortisol Regulation Over Pregnancy

Poor sleep in pregnancy is related to adverse neonatal health. Elevated maternal cortisol has been proposed as a pathway, yet the association in pregnancy is not well understood. The goals of the current study were to examine associations between (a) sleep and cortisol, (b) sleep, cortisol, and neonatal outcomes, and (c) variables that could explain these associations. Two hundred pregnant women completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, & Kupfer, 1989) and provided diurnal salivary cortisol samples at two times over pregnancy. Poor sleep quality was associated with greater evening cortisol concentrations at 36 weeks' gestation. This association was mediated by anxiety symptoms. Higher evening cortisol at 36 weeks' gestation was associated with shorter gestation.
Unmanned aerial systems integration to National Airspace System

Over the past decade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proven their values and capabilities via various applications around the globe. Initiated by the military, today, UAVs are on high demand since they provide endurances and flight environments that are beyond the limits of manned systems. Civil government, scientific research institutes and commercial markets have already seized the low-cost, flexible, simple operation opportunities associated with UAV applications. However, barriers like lack of airspace regulations, airworthiness, safety, and standards applying to manned systems still remain the chief issue to address. Various initiatives are brought to life to support the creation and expansion of a civil/commercial UAV market, aiming integrated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to National Airspace System (NAS). The goal of this paper is to present an object-oriented based software approach to demonstrate the feasibility of accurately addressing the complexity of such an integration plan, while introducing the "business process" concept.
A collaborative wearable system with remote sensing

This paper presents a collaborative wearable system based on the notion of remote sensing. Remote sensing lets users of wearable or stationary computers perceive a remote environment through the sensors of a remote wearable computer. We describe a concrete system with remote sensing capability that is designed to enhance the communication and cooperation of highly mobile computer technicians.
Detection of Functional Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche Using Real-Time Imaging

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niches play an essential role in regulating adult stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. HSC niches have only recently been identified based on genetic models that showed a parallel increase in the numbers of both HSCs and osteoblasts, or by static immunolabeling of putative HSCs and the adjacent locations. However, osteoblasts and vasculature were viewed as separate niches with distinctive roles, their interrelationships and interactions with HSCs in vivo remain largely undefined. To study the dynamic interaction between the HSC and its niche, we developed a method of ex vivo imaging stem cells (EVISC) using two-photon microscopy. This method combined the technology of real-time imaging and the functional feature that Flk2−LSK HSCs can be prospectively isolated with high purity and can home to their niche upon transplantation into irradiated recipient mice. Using EVISC in combination with immunoassaying, we found that transplanted HSCs tended to home to the endosteal region predominantly in the trabecular bone area (TBA) compared to compact bone area (CBA) under irradiated conditions, but were randomly distributed and unstable under non-irradiated conditions. Mechanistically, we found that the ratio of expression level of SDF-1 between TBA and CBA was significantly increased in response to irradiation. By monitoring individual HSC behavior using EVISC ranging from minutes to 16-hours, we found that a small portion of the homed HSCs underwent active division in the irradiated mice, coinciding with their initial expansion as measured by flow assay and immunoassay. Our findings suggest that the endosteal region in the trabecular bone area formed a special zone, which normally maintains HSCs but promotes their expansion in response to irradiation. This zone includes both osteoblastic and vascular components and signals, which both underwent dynamic changes from homeostatic to stressed conditions.
Perceptions of weight management counseling among gynecologic cancer survivors: opportunities for enhancing survivorship care.

Oncology practice guidelines recommend incorporating weight management efforts throughout survivorship care; however, some oncologists raise concerns about implementing weight management counseling without damaging patient-provider relationships. This study explores cancer survivors’ receptivity to weight management counseling and examines whether views of counseling effectiveness are associated with individual characteristics including health-related perceptions or psychological distress. Patients presenting to a NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center gynecologic oncology ambulatory clinic were asked to complete a survey assessing health and weight history, health perceptions, psychological distress, provider preferences, and weight management counseling perceptions. Two hundred forty-four gynecologic cancer patients (38% endometrial, 37% ovarian, 16% cervical, 8% other) completed surveys. Mean participant BMI was 31.6 (SD = 9.6); 69% were overweight/obese. Most survivors (≥85%) agreed that oncologists should discuss healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss; only 14% reported receiving weight management counseling from their oncologist. 79% reported being more likely to attempt weight loss if counseled by a physician; 59% reported counseling would not be offensive. Regression results indicated that viewing weight management counseling as effective was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and greater enjoyment of physical activity, while viewing counseling unfavorably was associated with a history of attempting multiple weight loss strategies and an overall view of healthy behaviors as less beneficial (ps < .05). Most gynecologic cancer survivors want weight management counseling from oncologists and believe counseling is effective rather than deleterious, yet obesity remains inadequately addressed. Results from this study highlight important topics to be incorporated into weight management counseling.
Examining the effect of geomorphic characteristics on pool temperatures for native fish habitat management in mountainous stream networks

Stream temperature is a critical habitat parameter for cold-water fish, many species of which now exist in geographically fragmented populations within the western United States. To assist managers in identifying thermally suitable fish habitat, we used data from 31 pools on streams of the White River National Forest in Colorado, USA to create multiple regression models to predict summer pool temperature metrics related to lethal and sublethal thermal tolerances of fish. We modeled the 7-day mean of daily maximum pool temperature for the warmest 7 days and the mean temperature of the warmest month, using air temperature and several geomorphic parameters. The strongest predictor variables of these temperature metrics were drainage area, discharge, and residual pool volume. Most previous studies found air temperature to be the strongest predictor variable for pool temperature, but for the mountain streams in this study, variables related to stream flow volume and stream morphology had better predictive power. The models, created from and tested against field data, were able to explain 66% and 51% of the variability in monthly mean and 7-day mean pool temperatures, respectively, and had prediction errors of less than 2°C. The reach-scale approach developed here, which includes geomorphically relevant predictors of pool temperature, should be applicable to other mountainous river networks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The EMSY threonine 207 phospho-site is required for EMSYdriven suppression of DNA damage repair.

// Petar Jelinic 1 , Laura A. Eccles 2 , Jill Tseng 3 , Paulina Cybulska 3 , Monicka Wielgos 1 , Simon N. Powell 2 , Douglas A. Levine 1 1 Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of OB/GYN, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA 2 Departments of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA 3 Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA Correspondence to: Douglas A. Levine, email: douglas.levine@nyumc.org Keywords: EMSY, BRCAness, PKA, BRCA2, DNA repair Received: September 02, 2016 Accepted: January 04, 2017 Published: January 13, 2017 ABSTRACT BRCA1 and BRCA2 are essential for the repair of double-strand DNA breaks, and alterations in these genes are a hallmark of breast and ovarian carcinomas. Other functionally related genes may also play important roles in carcinogenesis. Amplification of EMSY , a putative BRCAness gene, has been suggested to impair DNA damage repair by suppressing BRCA2 function. We employed direct repeat GFP (DR-GFP) and RAD51 foci formation assays to show that EMSY overexpression impairs the repair of damaged DNA, suggesting that EMSY belongs to the family of BRCAness proteins. We also identified a novel phospho-site at threonine 207 (T207) and demonstrated its role in EMSY-driven suppression of DNA damage repair. In vitro kinase assays established that protein kinase A (PKA) directly phosphorylates the T207 phospho-site. Immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that EMSY-driven suppression of DNA damage repair is a BRCA2-independent process. The data also suggest that EMSY amplification is a BRCAness feature, and may help to expand the population of patients who could benefit from targeted therapies that are also effective in BRCA1/2 -mutant cancers.
Diversity coded 5G fronthaul wireless networks

In this paper we study the application of Diversity Coding to enable near-instantaneous recovery from link failures in 5G wireless Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) networks. We focus on networks where remote radio heads in a C-RAN are connected to the baseband unit in two hierarchical tiers with optical and wireless fronthaul links. In order to avoid retransmissions and re-routing delays due to link failures in wireless links, we investigate the use Diversity Coding where a feed-forward network design uses forward error control across spatially diverse paths to enable reliable networking with minimal delay.
Characterization of Climate Risks for Rice Crop in Casamance, Senegal

This chapter contributes to a global reflection on climate change and its implications for agricultural production. We present a case study aiming to quantify trends of climate risks for rice crop in Casamance (Senegal). We evaluate the recurrence of drought and extreme rainfall conditions in the most sensitive phases of plant life and identify trends in the rainy season distribution. To overcome the low quality of climate records from gauge stations in the Region we use the rainfall estimation Climate Hazards group with InfraRed Precipitation Stations (CHIRPS), a daily gridded dataset with 0.05′ resolution over the period 1981–2013. The analysis is centered on the critical aspects that determine rice final yield such as: availability of water in the (i) plant germination and (ii) flowering phases, and (iii) the dynamics of the rainy season. We use the return period method to identify extreme events probability in rice crop’s sensitive phases. Lastly, we identify the dynamics of the three parameters of the growing season: start, end and length by highlighting significant changes recorded in the study period (1981–2010). These outputs aim to support strategic agronomic choices in the Region.
Pan-Africanism is Africa’s Third Way: The Cultural Relevance of African Political Economy

Third Way politics has often been associated with British politics of the early second millennium whereby British politician Tony Blair articulated a “Third Way” through “New Labour.” Ecuador and Bolivia’s millennium development models have also been touted as “Third Ways” for undercutting neoliberalism for Latin America’s “Left Turn.” And for Asia, China unapologetically, albeit paradoxically, promotes a “Third Way” characterization of its development politics—“Market Socialism.” Yet for narratives that attempt to explain African international political economy, mainstream discourses maintain old paradigmatic dualisms, “anti-globalization” versus “Emerging Africa or Africa Rising” both of which represent opposite sides of the neoliberal agenda on the continent. The chapter provides a route to a Third Way for Africa. To this end, arguing in support of the relevance of pan-Africanism as it is reenvisioned by national-level business sectors in Nigeria and South Africa and their economic philosophies—Africapitalism and Ubuntu business—the chapter explores these new manifestations of pan-Africanism and evaluates their value to Africa’s contemporary engagement with the international political economy.
“Su hija Inés”: católicas laicas, el obispo Luis María Martínez, y el conflicto religioso michoacano, 1927-1929

This article analyzes one aspect of the history of the Cristero rebellion (1926-1929) in Michoacan and the history of lay Catholicism in Mexico, detailing how the religious persecution unleashed by the Calles administration created serious problems for the Catholic church by decapitating its ecclesiastic structure. As a result, the church had to redefine itself, ceding sacred spaces and ecclesiastic powers to lay followers, as it was impossible for priests to continue their public ministry. Persecution, therefore, forced the church to reevaluate the role of lay Catholics within its institutions, giving them a greater role. This article first studies the part played in this process by Luis Maria Martinez, the auxiliary bishop of Morelia, whose contemporary writings developed and theologized the concept of the “mystical priesthood of believers.” It then examines the correspondence between several Catholic women from Michoacan, all of them part of Martinez’s flock, who attempted to practice this model of lay priesthood. It shows how the participation of lay Catholics was a key part of the religious history of the Cristero rebellion, and how the rebellion allowed many Catholics to fulfill themselves as such.
Continuum directed random polymers on disordered hierarchical diamond lattices

Abstract I discuss models for a continuum directed random polymer in a disordered environment in which the polymer lives on a fractal called the diamond hierarchical lattice, a self-similar metric space forming a network of interweaving pathways. This fractal depends on a branching parameter b ∈ N and a segmenting number s ∈ N . For s > b my focus is on random measures on the set of directed paths that can be formulated as a subcritical Gaussian multiplicative chaos. This path measure is analogous to the continuum directed random polymer introduced by Alberts et al. (2014).
Computed Tomography-Measured Psoas Density Predicts Outcomes After Enterocutaneous Fistula Repair.

BACKGROUND Low muscle mass and quality are associated with poor surgical outcomes. We evaluated computed tomography (CT)-measured psoas muscle density as a marker of muscle quality and physiologic reserve and hypothesized that it predicts poor outcomes after enterocutaneous fistula repair (ECF). METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients 18-90 years old with ECF who failed nonoperative management, requiring elective operative repair at The Ohio State University (2005-2016), and who received preoperative abdomen/pelvis CT scan with intravenous contrast within 3 months of the operation. Psoas Hounsfield unit average calculations were measured at the L3 level. One-year leak rate, mortality (90 days, 1 years, and 3 years), complication risk, length of stay, dependent discharge, and 30-day readmission were compared with Hounsfield unit average calculation (HUAC). RESULTS One hundred patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were stratified into interquartile ranges based on HUAC. The lowest HUAC interquartile was our low muscle quality (LMQ) cutoff, which was associated with 1-year leak (relative risk [RR] = 2.10, P < .005), 1-year mortality (RR = 2.22, P < .04) and 3-year mortality (RR = 2.13, P < .007), complication risk (RR = 1.54, P < .001), and dependent discharge (RR = 2.50, P < .004) compared to patients without LMQ. CONCLUSIONS Psoas muscle density is a significant predictor of poor outcomes in ECF repair. This readily available measure of physiologic reserve can identify patients with ECF who have increased risk and may benefit from additional interventions and recovery time before operative repair.
Leadership Development Through Design and Experimentation: Learning in a Research–Practice Partnership:

A core function of district leadership is providing instructional vision and support for school leaders and teachers. In this article, a Research–Practice Partnership focused on the improvement of elementary mathematics teaching and learning provides the context to study leadership development. We examine the process of one design team within the Research–Practice Partnership consisting of district leaders and university researchers using organizational learning. We found that as the team iteratively negotiated the design and implementation of a practical measure aimed at assessing and improving elementary mathematics instruction system-wide, the team’s learning transformed the tools and routines of its work.
Quasi-Linear Pfaffian Differential Systems

Let (Σ, ω) be a Pfaffian differential system with s equations and p independent variables. We thus have a filtration $$ {V^S} \subset {W^{S + P}} \subset {T^*}M$$ (1) where the forms defining Σ are local sections of V → M, and these forms together with the forms giving the independence condition are local sections of W → M. In §1 we show that when (Σ, ω) is quasi-linear, the fibers of 𝒱(Σ, ω) → M are affine spaces, hence irreducible. Consequently, none of the complications of the multiple component case occurs; moreover, the question of involutivity reduces in large measure to linear algebra. The symbol relations of a quasi—linear system are given at the end of §1.
Heartwood stain in red oak

The paper describes the appearance, properties, and ultrastructure of red oak heartwood containing dark discolorations. The possible cause and origin of discoloration are discussed, although the etiology of the stain is not explicit. It was found that the heartwood stain moves from ray parenchyma to adjoining vessels, fibers, and tracheids by the pit membranes and plasmodesmata. It appears that there may be extended openings in the pit membrane which may facilitate the movement of materials through such a specialized filamentous structure. Internal checking or honeycomb as an indirect result of the discoloring material is mentioned.
Structural Properties of Some σ-Phase Related Phases

A survey is given of tetrahedrally close-packed structures which are dense packings of atoms of slightly different sizes with only tetrahedral interstices. The coordination numbers present are 12, 14, 15 and l6. The radii of the atoms depend on the chemical composition of the phase and increase with the coordination number. In the higher coordinations (14, 15, l6) the atoms are definitely non-spherical, each having in effect two different radii.
Insurance coverage of special foods needed in the treatment of phenylketonuria.

Abstract Optimal medical management of phenylketonuria (PKU) requires the use of special low-phenylalanine foods for many years. For women with PKU, elevated maternal blood levels of phenylalanine even at conception can lead to fetal damage. Despite this need, private health insurance, Medicaid, and other public health programs often exclude the cost of these foods from their benefits. The New York State Department of Health conducted a survey of metabolic disorders treatment centers to elucidate the problems PKU patients have obtaining and paying for the special foods essential to their care. Payment for special foods was denied to nearly half of those with private health insurance policies and was covered for only 10 percent of Medicaid-eligibles. A public program for children with special health care needs covered these food costs in upstate New York but not in New York City. There is no program of assistance for adults who are not eligible for Medicaid and who do not have private insurance coverage of special foods. At present, many private health insurance policies and public programs do not cover the costs of low-phenylalanine foods other than infant formula. Payment for this essential part of the management of PKU should be mandated for all public programs for persons with chronic illnesses, public medical assistance (Medicaid) programs, and private health insurance. There is a need for a public program to assist adults with PKU who are not eligible for Medicaid and who do not have health insurance that covers these costs.
JOB HOPPING, KNOWLEDGE SPILLOVERS, AND REGIONAL RETURNS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS

We show that substantial regional differences in returns to information technology (IT) investments by US firms are attributable in part to knowledge spillovers generated by the movements of IT workers among firms. We use a newly developed source of employee micro-data with employer identifiers and location information to model IT workers’ mobility patterns. Access to an external IT pool one standard deviation larger than the mean is associated with a 20% increase in the output elasticity of own IT investment. We discuss implications for managers and
Estimating manufacturing electricity costs by simulating dependence between production parameters

Abstract The electricity costs associated with manufacturing generally consist of an energy charge and a demand charge, which are calculated by total kWh × $/kWh and peak kW × $/kW, respectively. While these two charges have been extensively studied with production scheduling, dependence between production parameters has not been thoroughly investigated for production energy costs when the production parameters are assumed to be independent. Such dependence, however, can significantly affect the peak kW and resulting energy costs. Therefore, industrial practitioners need a tool to simulate the production power demand and cost to evaluate energy costs for each production plan and for any dependence in the parameters. In this paper, we propose a method for simulating the power demand at the machine and facility levels, focusing on the dependence in milling machine parameters. Using probabilistic techniques with copulas, we quantify the degree of dependence between two milling parameters (processing times and processing amounts) and build a power demand simulator combining discrete event simulation and numerical simulation models. From 35 illustrative examples, we show that a production strategy to adjust dependence can reduce the peak kW and energy costs by more than 15% and 4%, respectively. In addition to dependence, less variability in processing times results in less peak kW and energy costs. Other factors such as a marginal probability distribution and copula types having the same degree of variability have been found to have limited effects on reducing energy costs.
Survival outcome of patient with primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A single center experience.

e19527 Background: Primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) accounts for 3% of gastric malignancies and 10% of lymphoma. PGL is mainly of two histological subtypes, Primary gastric diffuse large B cell lymph...
The Thermic Effect of Food: A Review

Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight. There is an urgent need for effective methods for weight management. A potentially modifiable component of energy expenditure is the thermic effect of food (TEF), the increase in the metabolic rate that occurs after a meal. Evidence suggests that TEF is increased by larger meal sizes (as opposed to frequent small meals), intake of carbohydrate and protein (as opposed to dietary fat), and low-fat plant-based diets. Age and physical activity may also play roles in TEF. The effects of habitual diet, meal timing, and other factors remain to be clarified. Further research into the factors that affect TEF may lead to better treatment methods for improved weight management. Key teaching points Measurement of the thermic effect of food. Physiological determinants of the thermic effect of food. The effects of meal variations on postprandial thermogenesis. Effect of age and physical activity on the thermic effect of food.
Design and Evaluation of DNU-Tolerant Registers for Resilient Architectural State Storage

In this work, we aim to maintain the correct execution of instructions in the pipeline stages. To achieve that, the integrity for the data computed in registers during execution should be maintained via protecting the susceptible registers. Thus, we present a Double Node Upset Resilient Flip-Flop (DNUR-FF) circuit that can tolerate double errors while incurring low area and power overheads. We deploy the proposed soft-error resilient register at higher level to replace the most vulnerable registers in large-scale pipeline processors. The experimental results validate the robustness of our design by delivering superior fault coverage masking (100%) for both SEU and DNU errors. In addition, the proposed design utilizes partial spatial redundancy, and therefore, incurs reduced area overhead (31%) and realizes 58% of PDP improvement compared to Triple Module Redundancy (TMR) approach while delivering high-performance with low complexity and power consumption.
Patch-Clamp Recording of K+ Current from Lacrimal Gland Duct Cells

Abstract Electrophysiologic studies have characterized ion channels in lacrimal gland acinar cells, but due to relative paucity and inaccessibility, such studies on lacrimal gland duct cells are challenging. The duct cells are believed to secrete the high level of K+ that is present in tears. The goal of this project was to develop a method for isolation of viable, single duct cells, demonstrate their utility for patch-clamp recording and characterize the K+ channels expressed by duct cells. Exorbital lacrimal gland slices from Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated with collagenase. Under a microscope, the ducts were microdissected from the glands and then incubated with elastase and collagenase. Dispersed duct cells were plated on a cover slip coated with BD Cell-Tak. Duct cells were distinguished from acinar cells by their smaller size and lack of granularity. Whole-cell K+ currents were recorded from duct cells using the perforated-patch technique and pipettes with resistances of less than 10 MΩ. EGTA and CaCl2 in the pipette solution were adjusted to give 1 uM free Ca++. When held at −80 mV, duct cells showed K+ currents that activated at command voltages near 0 mV and reached amplitudes near 1 nA at +100 mV. Currents reached peak amplitude less than 20 ms after depolarization and did not inactivate. These currents were inactivated by holding the cells at 0 mV. Currents were blocked reversibly by TEA in the presence of Ca2+, but were not blocked by TEA in the absence of Ca2+. Currents were not affected by clotrimazole (10 uM) or Ba2+ (5 mM). A method has been established for isolation and dissociation lacrimal gland duct cells for electrophysiologic studies. These cells express a voltage-activated K+ channel that is dependent on the presence of intracellular Ca2+ and may correspond to the IKCa1 channel expressed on the apical membranes of lacrimal gland ducts.
Menopause and Possible Effect on Association Between Age and Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies in Women At Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Berens, et al 1 reporting that increasing age was associated with positivity for anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) 3.1 and anti-CCP–IgA in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), that is, first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with RA. We found similar results in a Swiss cohort of FDR: anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) positivity, particularly anti-CCP3.1, was associated with older age2. However, in contrast to Berens, et al 1, we found a peak in prevalence in the age group of 45 to 55 … Address correspondence to Dr. D. Alpizar-Rodriguez, Geneva University Hospital, 26 Ave. Beau-Sejour, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. E-mail: deshire_alpizar{at}hotmail.com, Axel.Finckh{at}hcuge.ch
Blood in the Water

In a previous paper at this workshop (and in a forthcoming full paper), we observed that software systems enjoy a security “honeymoon period” in the early stages of their life-cycles. Attackers take considerably longer to make their first discoveries of exploitable flaws in software systems than they do to discover flaws as systems mature. This is true even though the first flaws, presumably, actually represent the easiest bugs to find and even though the more mature systems tend to be more intrinsically robust.
Reinforcement Learning in a Cournot Oligopoly Model

This paper analyzes the learning behavior of firms in a repeated Cournot oligopoly game. Literature shows the degree of information and cognitive capacity of learning firms is a key factor that determines long run outcome of an oligopoly market. In particular, when firms possess the knowledge of market demand and are capable of computing the optimal production quantity given the output of other firms, the resulting market outcome is the Nash equilibrium. On the other hand, imitation that assumes low behavioral sophistication of firms generally favors higher output and converges to the Walrasian equilibrium. In this paper, a reinforcement learning algorithm with low cognitive requirement is adopted to model firms’ learning behavior. Reinforcement learning firms observe past production choices and fine tune them to improve profits. Analytical result shows that the Nash equilibrium is the only fixed point of the reinforcement learning process. Convergence to the Nash equilibrium is observed in computational simulations. When firms are allowed to imitate the most profitable competitor, all states between the Nash equilibrium and the Walrasian equilibrium can be reached. Furthermore, the long run outcome shifts towards the Nash equilibrium as the length of firms’ memory increases.
Counterpoint:The Constitution is More Important than a Few Tax Dollars Squandered by Congress: Gitlitz Was Correctly Decided

Gitlitz was decided two decades ago, and its practical import was rapidly nullified when Congress amended the statute to remove the glitch in the statute Congress originally enacted. That being so, is Gitlitz worth our time and thought today? Yes, it is. In Gitlitz, the Supreme Court reminded us that the constitutional separation of powers principle is for the long term and should not be eroded by yielding to temptations of the moment.
Patterns of care and outcomes of radiotherapy or hormone therapy in patients with medically inoperable endometrial adenocarcinoma

Abstract Objective The optimal treatment for medically inoperable endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma is unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate the patterns of care and efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) or hormone therapy (HT) in the treatment of these patients. Methods We performed a query of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of patients with medically inoperable endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 and treated with either RT or HT. A multivariate Cox regression model and propensity weighted analyses were used to evaluate overall survival after controlling for confounding variables. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess predictors of RT or HT use. Results A total of 1036 patients were included in this cohort, and 73% (n = 759) were treated with RT alone. Patients who received definitive HT compared to RT were more likely to be older, diagnosed in the earlier years of this analysis, treated at lower-case volume centers, diagnosed with high-grade disease, or located outside of metropolitan areas. On multivariate analysis, treatment with HT alone versus RT alone was associated with significantly worse overall survival in the multivariate Cox model but not on propensity score weighted analysis. Interaction effect testing revealed that older patients and those treated at lower-volume centers had improved survival with RT compared to HT. Conclusions We identified factors associated with the receipt of RT or HT in medically inoperable endometrial cancer patients. Treatment with RT correlated with improved survival compared to HT in older patients and those treated at lower-volume centers.