cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural network-expert system models of relative-depth perception

Degree of binocular, horizontal disparity was used by two hybrid neural network/expert system computer models to make relative-depth judgments for pairs of stimulus points. These judgments were then correlated with the actual depth relationships of the points. Results from Simulation 1 showed that horizontal disparity could be computed by the shift in activated cortical hypercolumns evoked by a particular stimulus, and that, in general, multiple disparities could be compared to make accurate judgments about relative depth. However, these results also indicated that stimuli toward the periphery of the visual field were inaccurately perceived as being more distant. Simulation 2 corrected for this inaccuracy by appropriately weighting a stimulus point’s disparity value as a function of its horizontal position in the visual field.
Market for Colorectal Cancer Screening by Endoscopy in the United States

In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third among all cancer sites in incidence, and second in cancer-related mortality. Although screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality, current screening rates among the average-risk population are low. The traditional way of promoting CRC screening has been to educate healthcare providers and the public on its benefits, available screening procedures, and current guidelines. In this paper, we focus on economics and provide an overview of some key factors that affect the demand for and the supply of CRC screening by endoscopy. Factors affecting the demand for endoscopic CRC screening include the number of people for whom screening is recommended, consumers' income and health insurance status, time and travel costs, prices of non-endoscopic CRC screening tests, and personal preferences and perceived quality of care. Factors influencing the supply of endoscopic screening include the availability of endoscopic providers, increased efficiency, procedure costs, current reimbursement rates for endoscopic procedures, and technical progress. The volume of screening tests in the market is determined jointly by the collective demand and supply decisions of consumers and providers. The discussion includes policy implications for the current effort to promote widespread use of CRC screening in the United States.
Photon-stimulated production of electron-positron pairs in an electric field

The rate of ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ pair creation by external electric field in the presence of an incident photon beam is calculated for the photon energy far below the threshold, $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\ll}m$, and the field strength small as compared to the critical one, $eE\ensuremath{\ll}{m}^{2}$. We find the pair production rate using a recently developed method based on calculation of the process in a thermal bath with subsequent identification of the contribution of single-photon states. We demonstrate that a nontrivial dependence on the ratio of the small parameters, $\ensuremath{\omega}m/(eE)$, emerges in this approach from an essentially (semi)classical calculation.
Decline of artesian head in west‐central South Dakota

During the summer of 1935 the United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the South Dakota Geological Survey, made a field-study and report of the artesian conditions in the west-central part of South Dakota. This study covered the semiarid plains-region between the Black Hills uplift and the Missouri River, in which the Pierre shale is at or very near the surface. One of the important facts brought out by this study was the large decline in artesian head since development of the artesian basin began in the early 1890's.
House Dust Mite Allergens and the Induction of Monocyte Interleukin 1β Production That Triggers an IκBζ-Dependent Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Release from Human Lung Epithelial Cells

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation centered upon bronchial epithelium. House dust mite is one of the most common respiratory allergens that trigger exacerbations of asthma. IκBζ (gene NFKBIZ) is a recently recognized member of the NF-κB family that can be induced in mononuclear phagocytes and lung epithelial cells and has been shown to play a prominent role in epithelial cell function. We therefore analyzed the role of IκBζ in regulating lung epithelial cell cytokine responses to house dust mite mix (HDM). We found that human bronchial epithelial cells express IκBζ and release IL-6 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) when cocultured with human monocytes and HDM. This response is blocked in the presence of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), indicating that it is IL-1 mediated. Neither HDM-stimulated macrophages nor dendritic cells release IL-1β and subsequently induce cytokine release from the bronchial epithelial cells. Rhodobacter sphaeroides LPS (RS-L...
Alternating current potential drop and eddy current methods for nondestructive evaluation of case depth

Case hardening treatments offer a means of enhancing the strength and wear properties of parts made from steels. Generally applied to near-finished components, the processes impart a high-hardness wear-resistant surface which, with sufficient depth, can also improve fatigue strength. Applications range from simple mild steel pressings to heavy-duty alloy-steel trans­ mission components. The characteristics of case hardening are the surface hardness, effective case depth, and depth profile of the residual stress. The specified case depth varies for different applications. It is useful to be able to measure the case depth nondestructively to ensure the specification is met. In the work outlined in this dissertation, the aim is to evaluate the properties of case hard­ ened parts nondestructively. The case hardening process produces a change in the electromag­ netic properties of the steel components in the near surface region. Consequently, the electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability have different values near the surface compared with those of the substrate. It is assumed that the conductivity and permeability variation with depth is indicative of the hardness profile allowing the case depth to be estimated from electro­ magnetic measurements. A two-layer model is adopted to approximate the case hardened steel parts as a homogeneous substrate layer surrounded by a homogeneous surface layer with uni­ form thickness. Alternating current potential drop (ACPD) theoretical calculations have been performed and compared with experimental measurements for both case hardened cylindrical rods and homogeneous metal plates. Driver and pick-up coils have been used for eddy current induction measurements on the cylindrical rod specimens. The multi-frequency measurement data are used to estimate the case depth by model-based inversion. The measured case depth is in reasonable agreement with the effective case depth from the measured hardness profile.
Deposition of pathogenic Mycoplasma gallisepticum onto bird feeders: host pathology is more important than temperature-driven increases in food intake

Although ambient temperature has diverse effects on disease dynamics, few studies have examined how temperature alters pathogen transmission by changing host physiology or behaviour. Here, we test whether reducing ambient temperature alters host foraging, pathology and the potential for fomite transmission of the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), which causes seasonal outbreaks of severe conjunctivitis in house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ). We housed finches at temperatures within or below the thermoneutral zone to manipulate food intake by altering energetic requirements of thermoregulation. We predicted that pathogen deposition on bird feeders would increase with temperature-driven increases in food intake and with conjunctival pathology. As expected, housing birds below the thermoneutral zone increased food consumption. Despite this difference, pathogen deposition on feeders did not vary across temperature treatments. However, pathogen deposition increased with conjunctival pathology, independently of temperature and pathogen load, suggesting that MG could enhance its transmission by increasing virulence. Our results suggest that in this system, host physiological responses are more important for transmission potential than temperature-dependent alterations in feeding. Understanding such behavioural and physiological contributions to disease transmission is critical to linking individual responses to climate with population-level disease dynamics.
Stability analysis of two photorefractive ring resonator circuits: the flip-flop and the feature extractor

We analyze the stability of two recently demonstrated photorefractive resonator circuits. The analysis is based on single-mode models of the multimode circuits. The flip-flop, which consists of two competitively coupled rings, is considered in the two limits where the rings share or have separate gain volumes. Both configurations are found to be stable for typical experimental conditions. The feature extractor consists of two rings with a shared gain volume. It is found to be unconditionally stable. The results are discussed in the context of the experimental demonstrations.
The Rio file cache: surviving operating system crashes

One of the fundamental limits to high-performance, high-reliability file systems is memory's vulnerability to system crashes. Because memory is viewed as unsafe, systems periodically write data back to disk. The extra disk traffic lowers performance, and the delay period before data is safe lowers reliability. The goal of the Rio (RAM I/O) file cache is to make ordinary main memory safe for persistent storage by enabling memory to survive operating system crashes. Reliable memory enables a system to achieve the best of both worlds: reliability equivalent to a write-through file cache, where every write is instantly safe, and performance equivalent to a pure write-back cache, with no reliability-induced writes to disk. To achieve reliability, we protect memory during a crash and restore it during a reboot (a "warm" reboot). Extensive crash tests show that even without protection, warm reboot enables memory to achieve reliability close to that of a write-through file system. Adding protection makes memory even safer than a write-through file system while adding essentially no overhead. By eliminating reliability-induced disk writes, Rio performs 4-22 times as fast as a write-through file system, 2-14 times as fast as a standard Unix file system, and 1-3 times as fast as an optimized system that risks losing 30 seconds of data and metadata.
Robust decoding for non-Gaussian CDMA and non-exponential timing channels

The capacity region of the two-user Gaussian CDMA channel is shown to be achievable when the (stationary, ergodic) noise is not Gaussian, using a decoder matched to the Gaussian distribution. Similarly, the capacity of the exponential server timing channel is shown to be achievable when the service distribution is not exponential, using a decoder matched to the exponential distribution. The code-book in either case will depend on the true channel.
Elimination of scattering centers from Cr:LiCaAlF6

Abstract We describe the morphology of micron-sized defects present in all samples of the laser crystal Cr3+ : LiCaAlF6 (LiCAF). We further describe the results of a set of annealing experiments which demonstrate that annealing within 50°C of the melting point eliminates these defects and reduces passive scattering losses in the crystal by an order of magnitude. We present evidence which shows that during annealing, these defects dissolve into the matrix and then diffuse out of the crystal. We estimate that the diffusion constant for the atomically dispersed defect species is on the order of 10−7 cm2/s. Finally, we hypothesize a mechanism for the growth and elimination of defects in LiCAF.
Consumer demand for alcoholic beverages in Switzerland: a two-stage quadratic almost ideal demand system for low, moderate, and heavy drinking households

In this study, we estimate final demand for beverages with a particular focus on alcoholic beverages and calculate elasticities using microdata from the Swiss household expenditure survey from 2000 to 2009, which containsdata from more than 34,000 households. We estimate price and income responses for three household segments — light, moderate, and heavy drinking households — to assess whether higher alcohol consumption could be described by different price and income elasticities in comparison to lower alcohol consumption. We obtain unconditional estimates by applying a two-stage budgeting quadratic almost ideal demand system. To generate missing price data, we used the recently proposed quality adjusted price approach. Due to a high share of zero consumption for some beveragescategories,we correct the model with a two-step estimation procedure. Estimation results show that heavy drinking households are much less price elastic with respect to wine and beer in comparison to moderate or light drinking households, while the price response for spirits is almost constant over the three segments. Before implementing a new tax for alcoholic beverages in Switzerland, the social, health, and economic effects of a rather small decrease in alcohol consumption among heavy drinking households must be weighed against possible negativeconsequences of a sharp decline in light or moderate drinking households.
Detection of Neural Activities in FMRI Using Jensen-Shannon Divergence

In this paper, we present a statistical technique based on Jensen-Shanon divergence for detecting the regions of activity in fMRI images. The method is model free and we exploit the metric property of the square root of Jensen-Shannon divergence to accumulate the variations between successive time frames of fMRI images. Experimentally we show the effectiveness of our algorithm.
Fundamental limits on longitudinal bone growth: growth plate senescence and epiphyseal fusion

Longitudinal bone growth occurs rapidly in early life but then slows and, eventually, ceases. The decline in growth rate is caused primarily by a decrease in the rate of chondrocyte proliferation and is accompanied by structural changes in growth plate cartilage. This programmed senescence does not appear to be caused by hormonal or other systemic mechanisms but is intrinsic to the growth plate itself. In particular, recent evidence indicates that senescence might occur because stem-like cells in the resting zone have a finite proliferative capacity, which is exhausted gradually. In some mammals, including humans, proliferative exhaustion is followed by epiphyseal fusion, an abrupt event in which the growth plate cartilage is replaced completely by bone.
Tyrosine confounds oxidative electrochemical detection of nitric oxide

We report evidence that a porphyrinic microsensor for detection of nitric oxide (NO) also detects biologically relevant concentrations of tyrosine (Tyr) in dog brain. Tyr is oxidized by this sensor at the same potential as NO, and the sensitivity for NO and Tyr are of the same order of magnitude. The interference from Tyr is of importance because 1) Tyr is abundant and 2) there is a concentration gradient of Tyr across the blood-brain barrier that can lead to unpredictable results if disturbed by ischemia or hypoxia. The knowledge of this interference is important for the interpretation of results obtained with this sensor and for the design of future studies.
Molecular Approaches to Studying the Soil Biota

Nucleic acid-based molecular methods are being used with increasing frequency to describe the diversity, measure the abundance, and monitor the functions of the soil biota. Both DNA and RNA are now routinely extracted from soil and are either characterized directly or specific sequences are amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting amplified fragments are characterized using a wide range of techniques. Rapid technological advances in high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing, mass spectroscopy, microscopy, and microfluidics have enabled large-scale analysis of genes (metagenome), gene transcripts (metatranscriptome), and proteins (metaproteome) extracted from soil communities. These approaches and their applications to soil ecology studies are described and discussed in this chapter. They are swiftly changing our access to and understanding of the diversity, activity, and functions of soil biotic communities.These methods alone, although very powerful, cannot be used to assign function unambiguously to different taxa in complex soil communities. Molecular methods should be used together with other approaches (termed a polyphasic or multiphasic approach) to achieve a more holistic understanding of the structure and function of soil biotic communities.
Intracellular responses from granule cell layer in slices of rat hippocampus: perforant path synapse

Intracellular responses were recorded in vitro from the denate granule cell layer of hippocampal slices prepared from adult rats. Spontaneous activity of granule cells in vitro consisted of action potentials and small, graded depolarizations, presumably of synaptic origin. Granule cells could be activated by injection of depolarizing current or release of hyperpolarizing current. Individual granule cells spatially summed input from the perforant path and fired multiple action potentials in vitro following strong presynaptic volleys. Depolarization decreased and hyperpolarization increased the EPSP amplitude, which is consistent with a conductance-increase mechanism. Although we could demonstrate postexcitatory inhibition in some cells, granule cells in vitro appeared to receive less inhibitory feedback than in vivo, EPSP amplitude and spike output of granule cells showed frequency potentiation and posttetanic potentiation to perforant path stimulation. These intracellular responses in vitro complement some of the findings from field-potential analyses of the dentate gyrus in intact animals.
Estimating the State of an Intruder with a UAV and Unattended Ground Sensors

An Bayesian histogram filter to estimate the location of an intruder on a road network is described. The road network is lined with unmanned ground sensors (UGS) that detect the presence or non-presence of an intruder. UAVs decide which UGS to visit in order to gather observations of the intruder from the UGS; these observations are used by the UAV to determine the location of the intruder. Future plans include integrating the histogram filter and the UAV’s controller so that decisions on which UGS to visit are based on the most likely location of the intruder. Further testing is planned to determine how visualization of the estimator can help a human operator in planning for the UAVs when automation is not available.
Laboratory evaluations of oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) oviposition and larval survival on five species of stone fruits

Oriental fruit moth (OFM), Crapholita molesta (Busck), oviposition on fruit and first-instar survival on vegetative shoots were studied in laboratory tests with nectarine, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var nucipetsica; peach, P. persica (L.); plum, P. saliciana Lind.; apricot, P. atmeniaca L.; and cherry, P. avium L., cultivars. OFM oviposition on fruit at four different maturity stages was significantly lower on mature, packed nectarines and significantly higher on mature, packed peaches. Significantly more eggs were laid on the stem end of nectarine, peach, and plum fruits than other fruit parts. In tests among earlythrough late-season cultivars within each stone fruit species, oviposition was significantly higher on ‘Red Diamond’ nectarines, ‘Redtop’ peaches, and ’Laroda’ plums, and significantly lower on ‘Fantasia’ nectarines and ‘Roysum’ plums. In tests with mixed stone fruit species, significantly fewer eggs were laid on ‘Elberta,’ ‘Elegant Lady,’ and ‘O’Henry’ peaches, and significantly more eggs were laid on ‘Laroda’ plums. Low oviposition on peaches may be related to pubescence. Vegetative shoots injured by larval feeding generally produced gum, but uninjured shoots and shoots that supported first instars to later larval or pupal stages rarely produced gum. Larvae successfully completed normal development to adults on larval diet combined with aqueous extracts of peach tree gum. Stone fruit gum appears to be an induced host response which creates a mechanical barrier to larval attack.
Hepatic and serum lipid patterns during development of phenobarbital induced fatty livers in rats

SummaryLipids were measured in the livers and sera of rats that had received phenobarbital injections for 3 days and 5 days. The same lipid patterns including free cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phospholipids, triglyceride and fatty acids were determined in the livers and sera of rats 3 days and 5 days following withdrawal of the drug. Liver lipids increased with time while the rats were injected with phenobarbital and decreased toward normal levels once the drug was withdrawn. During phenobarbital administration as well as during withdrawal the serum lipid levels did not change. These results suggest that decreased lipid transport and enhanced lipid mobilization may not play major roles in the induction of the phenobarbital fatty liver.
MATRIX REPRESENTATIONS OF FINITE GROUPS

Among the many and varied literary and artistic studies upon which the natural talent of man is nourished, I think that those above all should be embraced and pursued with the greatest zeal which have to do with things that are very beautiful and very worthy of knowledge.
Student perspectives on application of game-based learning within a graduate-level engineering course

In recent years, game-based learning has been increasing in popularity as a tool for providing students with experiential learning opportunities. Although there have been a few implementations at the graduate level, there is still the need for a greater number of studies documenting the effectiveness of game-based practices in graduate-level environments. In our study, we developed and implemented a digital game with technical content in a graduate-level, distance-enabled nuclear engineering course. As part of assessing this implementation, we gathered the perspectives of the students using a learning environment survey, a focus group, and individual interviews. The results of these methods demonstrated positive student viewpoints towards the learning environment and the use of the game in this course. Based on a double-coded content analysis of the focus group and interview data, the students found the game engaging and noted the possibility of points and “winning” associated with playing the game. They further indicated that the use of the game was a good approach with potential that “changed things up.” Although we received positive feedback, the students also provided constructive feedback on this initial implementation and how it could be improved, including increased gaming elements and challenge level as well as providing more performance feedback to students as they participate in the game.
Fiber laser assisted machining of silicon nitride

Laser Assisted Machining (LAM) of ceramics is an important area of manufacturing to improve the material removal rate and provide more geometric features that can be economically added to fully dense blanks over conventional course, intermediate, and fine diamond grinding. The challenges associated with the machinability of these advanced ceramic materials, specifically silicon nitride (Si3N4), has lead to laboratory demonstrations with LAM with traditional lasers such as CO2 and ND:YAG. The advent of high power fiber diode lasers, offers a robust system that is suitable for industrial manufacturing environments. Bulk machining of Si3N4 requires the quantification of machining and laser settings that include but are not limited to the management of three dimensional temperature distributions due to surface energy absorption. With this understanding of thermal management, optimal conditions can then be tailored to specific ceramic systems. This work focuses on softening the glassy grain boundary phase of Si3N4 to produce a machineable surface without excessive tool wear or damage to the ceramic. This paper discusses improvements to the surface roughness and improved cutting techniques implemented in an industrial setting with the goal of economically machining other advance ceramics for the Energy and Transportation sectors among others.Laser Assisted Machining (LAM) of ceramics is an important area of manufacturing to improve the material removal rate and provide more geometric features that can be economically added to fully dense blanks over conventional course, intermediate, and fine diamond grinding. The challenges associated with the machinability of these advanced ceramic materials, specifically silicon nitride (Si3N4), has lead to laboratory demonstrations with LAM with traditional lasers such as CO2 and ND:YAG. The advent of high power fiber diode lasers, offers a robust system that is suitable for industrial manufacturing environments. Bulk machining of Si3N4 requires the quantification of machining and laser settings that include but are not limited to the management of three dimensional temperature distributions due to surface energy absorption. With this understanding of thermal management, optimal conditions can then be tailored to specific ceramic systems. This work focuses on softening the glassy grain boundary phase of S...
Medical Student Perceptions of the Learning Environment in Medical School Change as Students Transition to Clinical Training in Undergraduate Medical School.

ABSTRACTPhenomenon: The learning environment is the physical, social, and psychological context in which a student learns. A supportive learning environment contributes to student well-being and enhances student empathy, professionalism, and academic success, whereas an unsupportive learning environment may lead to burnout, exhaustion, and cynicism. Student perceptions of the medical school learning environment may change over time and be associated with students' year of training and may differ significantly depending on the student's gender or race/ethnicity. Understanding the changes in perceptions of the learning environment related to student characteristics and year of training could inform interventions that facilitate positive experiences in undergraduate medical education. Approach: The Medical School Learning Environment Survey (MSLES) was administered to 4,262 students who matriculated at one of 23 U.S. and Canadian medical schools in 2010 and 2011. Students completed the survey at the end of e...
A true positive blood culture in hospitalized patients can be differentiated from a contaminant by type of organism, presence of multiple positive cultures, and clinical risk score

Source Citation Bates DW, Lee TH. Rapid classification of positive blood cultures. Prospective validation of a multivariate algorithm. JAMA. 1992 Apr 8;267:1962-6.
Hot or not? How self-view threat influences avoidance of attractiveness feedback

AbstractIn two studies, we examined whether people’s decision to receive evaluations of their own attractiveness depended on whether the evaluations came from sources that might threaten their self-views. Participants believed that evaluators rated their attractiveness based on a photograph taken earlier and ostensibly uploaded to a website. Participants then received the opportunity to view the attractiveness ratings from the evaluators. In both studies, and in a meta-analysis including two pilot studies that are reported in Supplemental Materials online, participants – particularly women – rated feedback as more threatening and avoided receiving feedback more when the ratings came from high-threat evaluators (university peers) than from low-threat evaluators (students at another university, older adults, or children). The robustness of this overall effect was confirmed in the meta-analysis. These results suggest that self-view threat can prompt information avoidance.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure: Revisiting Factors Influencing Optic Nerve Head Biomechanics.

Purpose To model the sensitivity of the optic nerve head (ONH) biomechanical environment to acute variations in IOP, cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP), and central retinal artery blood pressure (BP). Methods We extended a previously published numerical model of the ONH to include 24 factors representing tissue anatomy and mechanical properties, all three pressures, and constraints on the optic nerve (CON). A total of 8340 models were studied to predict factor influences on 98 responses in a two-step process: a fractional factorial screening analysis to identify the 16 most influential factors, followed by a response surface methodology to predict factor effects in detail. Results The six most influential factors were, in order: IOP, CON, moduli of the sclera, lamina cribrosa (LC) and dura, and CSFP. IOP and CSFP affected different aspects of ONH biomechanics. The strongest influence of CSFP, more than twice that of IOP, was on the rotation of the peripapillary sclera. CSFP had similar influence on LC stretch and compression to moduli of sclera and LC. On some ONHs, CSFP caused large retrolamina deformations and subarachnoid expansion. CON had a strong influence on LC displacement. BP overall influence was 633 times smaller than that of IOP. Conclusions Models predict that IOP and CSFP are the top and sixth most influential factors on ONH biomechanics. Different IOP and CSFP effects suggest that translaminar pressure difference may not be a good parameter to predict biomechanics-related glaucomatous neuropathy. CON may drastically affect the responses relating to gross ONH geometry and should be determined experimentally.
Art, African Identities, and Colonialism

This chapter reviews the impact of colonialism on African art and identities, especially in the emergent modernity of African artists such as Gerard Sekoto (1913–1993), Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994), Gazbia Sirry (1925–), Afewerk Tekle (1932–2012), Irma Stern (South Africa 1894–1966), and Iba Ndiaye (1928–2008). The unfolding of colonial rule differed in various regions of Africa and impacted the development of new visual languages for modern African art in these contexts. The artists selected represent these regional differences in their approach to artistic practice and questions of modernist identity. I use their careers to investigate discourses of modern art in the colonial era, and to search out points of convergence in how these discourses unfolded in their national spaces and transnational engagements.
Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake and Animal Rescue

This chapter “Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake and Animal Rescue” reviews the policy of the Niigata prefectural government toward animals in the wake of the Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake that struck the coastal region of the Sea of Japan in October 2004. The local government deployed the Niigata Prefecture Disaster Relief Air Service not only for people but also for animals, and rescued companion animals as well as bulls and Japanese carp (nishiki-goi) by helicopter. Niigata prefecture also became the first government in Japan to establish a new regulation that allowed companion animals to live in evacuation shelters with their owners.
Revising our approach to conducting therapeutic clinical research in COPD

Efficacy and effectiveness trials are needed to enable more effective treatment in COPD http://ow.ly/da2o30hPPNW
Efficient Subsampling for Training Complex Language Models

We propose an efficient way to train maximum entropy language models (MELM) and neural network language models (NNLM). The advantage of the proposed method comes from a more robust and efficient subsampling technique. The original multi-class language modeling problem is transformed into a set of binary problems where each binary classifier predicts whether or not a particular word will occur. We show that the binarized model is as powerful as the standard model and allows us to aggressively subsample negative training examples without sacrificing predictive performance. Empirical results show that we can train MELM and NNLM at 1% ~ 5% of the standard complexity with no loss in performance.
Sweet Preference and Mood: Implications for the Risk of Alcoholism

This chapter is dedicated to the review of available literature regarding a role of sweet taste in psychiatric research. Hedonic (pleasurable) response to sweet taste is a stable inherent trait that to a large extent depends on the activity of the brain opiate system and may be considered a marker for activity of this system, with the reduction of this activity shifting preference towards stronger sweet taste (a phenomenon that is often referred to as sweet liking). Sweet-liking individuals with dysfunction of the brain opiate system have a diminished ability to experience pleasure and an elevated sensitivity to the mood-altering effects of alcohol and sweet-tasting foods. In clinical populations, sweet liking and craving for sweet-tasting foods is often associated with negative affective states (e.g., anxiety and depression). Consumption of sweets (both natural and noncaloric artificial sweeteners) causes stimulation of the brain opiate system and produces effects similar to those of opiate agonists (i.e., morphine), albeit of lesser magnitude. These effects include feeling of well-being, sedation, reduction of negative mood states, and analgesia. As a result, sweet-tasting foods may be used to self-medicate negative mood states, which in some cases may lead to the development of eating disorders. The higher prevalence of eating disorders noted in women can be attributed to their higher sensitivity to the mood-altering effect associated with eating sweet-tasting foods. On the other hand, sweet-liking men have been shown to be sensitive to the rewarding effect of alcohol, which puts them at higher risk for having alcohol-use disorders, especially if sweet liking is combined with novelty seeking – a personality trait that facilitates excessive drinking. The reviewed literature indicates that evaluation of hedonic response to sweet taste may be an important instrument for assessment of various psychiatric conditions, including affective disorders, alcohol-use disorders, and eating disorders.
Generosity and Duration of Medicaid Expansion Waivers and Access to Care.

Introduction Prior to expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, some states obtained Section 1115 waivers from the federal government that allowed them to expand eligibility for Medicaid to adult populations that were not covered previously. Expansion waivers in these states differed in their generosity and year of implementation, creating variation in coverage availability and program longevity across states. This study examined the association between generosity and duration of Medicaid expansion waivers and access to preventive services. Methods The 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data were used to estimate adjusted logistic models in 2016, comparing outcomes among low-income non-elderly adults living in generous (Medicaid eligibility threshold ≥138% federal poverty level) and moderate (Medicaid eligibility threshold Results Moderate and generous waivers were associated with statistically significant (p Conclusions Not only is Medicaid waiver generosity associated with improving access to healthcare services, but the combination of generosity and longer duration of a waiver also intensifies the association. As states gain flexibility in designing their Medicaid programs, the healthcare benefits associated with both generosity and duration of waivers are important considerations for policy makers.
Phyto-Hormetins in a Clinical Setting

Abstract Apart from hormetic effects of exercise or calorie restriction, phyto-hormetins from bulk and/or nanosized forms of antioxidant plant foods and herbs can help prevent and/or reverse disease in a clinical setting. Diseases benefiting from this approach include infections, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, various cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease, most of which reflect degenerative processes during aging. Plant-derived hormetins include resveratrol (grapes), curcumin (turmeric), rosmarinic acid (rosemary), and quercetin (apples, onions), as well as various herbal remedies. Low dose natural agents modulate functioning of the cell stress response network (CSRN) including redox pathways and heat shock proteins that protect the body from damage by higher levels of toxins and other cross-reactive stressors. The CSRN is a key homeodynamic component of the body as a complex adaptive system. Overall phyto-hormetins offer an emerging therapeutic strategy for supporting disease prevention and treatment while promoting healthier longevity.
Spectroscopic evaluation of charge-transfer doping and strain in graphene/ MoS 2 heterostructures

It is important to study the van der Waals interface in emerging vertical heterostructures based on layered two-dimensional (2D) materials. Being atomically thin, 2D materials are susceptible to significant strains as well as charge-transfer doping across the interfaces. Here we use Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy to study the interface between monolayer graphene/${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$ heterostructures prepared by mechanical exfoliation and layer-by-layer transfer. By using correlation analysis between the Raman modes of graphene and ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$, we show that both layers are subjected to compressive strain and charge-transfer doping following mechanical exfoliation and thermal annealing. Furthermore, we show that both strain and carrier concentration can be modulated in the heterostructures with additional thermal annealing. Our study highlights the importance of considering both mechanical and electronic coupling when characterizing the interface in van der Waals heterostructures, and it demonstrates a method to tune their electromechanical properties.
Role of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis

In children with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) refractory to medical therapy, both adenoidectomy and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are considered to be surgical options. This review presents the current literature regarding the role of ESS in management of CRS in the pediatric population. Adenoidectomy has a success rate of 40–69% with a complication rate of 3.2%. Similarly, ESS has a reported success rate of 71–100% with a complication rate of 0.6–3%. ESS does not appear to have long-term adverse effects on facial growth based on recent longitudinal human studies. Age appears to be a factor in the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients older than 6 years have been shown to have better success rates for both ESS and adenoidectomy than those under six. In addition, ESS may be more effective than adenoidectomy in children older than 6 years. However, in children younger than 6 years, the difference in success rates has not been found to be statistically significant between the two procedures. ESS is an effective surgical treatment for pediatric patients with CRS and is best performed when medical therapy, adenoidectomy, or both have failed.
Convergence of Numerical Algorithms for theApproximations to Riccati Equations Arising in SmartMaterial Acoustic Structure Interactions

An optimal control problem governed by a coupled hyperbolic-parabolic “like” dynamics arising in structural acoustic problems is considered. The control operator is assumed to be unbounded on the space of finite energy (for the so-called boundary or point control problems). A numerical algorithm (based on FEM methods) for computations of discrete solutions to Algebraic Riccati Equations (ARE) is formulated. It is shown that the proposed algorithm provides strongly convergent solutions of the ARE. As the result, the convergence of optimal solutions as well as the associated performance index is established.
Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Improves Patient and Caregiver Ventricular Assist Device Self-Care Skills: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

Background: No recognized standards exist for teaching patients and their caregivers ventricular assist device (VAD) self-care skills. We compared the effectiveness of a VAD simulation-based master...
Mechanical Thrombectomy in Stroke from Infective Endocarditis: Case Report and Review.

Abstract Objective To characterize outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from infective endocarditis. Methods Case report and review of published cases. Results We report the case of a 59-year-old woman with fungal endocarditis who developed AIS from a proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) embolus. She underwent MT, with good outcome. An additional 25 similar cases were identified from 14 publications. Among the 26 cases analyzed (mean [SD] age, 55 [18.7] years, 42% women), the MCA was the most common site of arterial occlusion. Four patients received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment before MT. The median admission NIH Stroke Scale score (NIHSSS) was 15.5 [interquartile range 9.75-19.25] and the median post-procedure NIHSSS was 2 [interquartile range .75-6]. No patient developed symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Conclusions MT appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic option in infective endocarditis-related AIS with proximal-artery occlusion.
Phenotypic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) are expanded after Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide (PTCy), but are not necessary for Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prevention by PTCy

The use of PTCy substantially lowers the rates of severe acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but the mechanisms of its action are incompletely understood. Recently, we showed in a T-cell–replete, MHC-haploidentical, murine HCT model (B6C3F1→B6D2F1) that PTCy prevents GVHD not by eliminating alloreactive T cells but instead by inducing alloreactive T-cell dysfunction and suppression. Depletion of CD4+regulatory T cells (Tregs) early post-transplant did not result in substantially worsening GVHD for ∼4 weeks. Surprisingly, we found that alloreactive T cells could be infused in extremely high numbers early after PTCy but not cause GVHD. Here, we used this same MHC-haploidentical murine HCT model to test the role of Tregs in preventing GVHD induced by infusion of new splenocytes after PTCy; depleting Tregs in the initial graft but not the reinfused splenocytes did not result in worsening GVHD in these mice. However, when Tregs were depleted both in the initial graft and in the reinfused splenocytes, universally fatal GVHD ensued. These results suggested that Tregs were necessary to prevent GVHD but a direct effect of PTCy on Tregs was not required. Thus, we hypothesized that other suppressive cell populations may be playing a critical role early after PTCy. We examined the frequency of MDSCs after PTCy in our model and found that both granulocytic and monocytic MDSCs were increased at post-transplant days +7 and +21 compared with vehicle-treated mice. Next we examined the role of MDSCs in GVHD prevention after PTCy by using a Gr-1-depleting antibody. Gr-1 depletion immediately post-transplant led to decreased percentages of Tregs and inferior survival, clinical scores, and weights in PTCy-treated mice. Conversely, Gr-1 depletion at days +28 or +150 had a transient effect only on weights but no impact on clinical scores or survival. Yet, histopathologic evaluation revealed that mice depleted of MDSCs early post-transplant did not have worse GVHD; instead the worse survival in those mice appeared related to infection presumably as a result of neutrophil depletion by the anti-Gr-1 antibody in mice with mucosal disruption by radiation and GVHD. We also tested the suppressive functionality of MDSCs on alloreactive T cells in in vitro mixed lymphocyte cultures. We found neither population of MDSCs from either vehicle-treated or PTCy-treated mice suppressed the proliferation of vehicle-treated T cells nor was inflammatory cytokine secretion reduced. Overall, these findings confirm that Tregs are required for GVHD prevention by PTCy but a direct effect of PTCy on Tregs is not required; although phenotypic MDSCs are expanded after PTCy and may contribute to Treg expansion, these MDSCs do not appear functionally capable of suppressing alloreactive T-cell response to alloantigen in vitro or decreasing GVHD in vivo.
Enhancing Web App Execution with Automated Reengineering

The execution of modern web applications is affected by distribution, mobility, and heterogeneity. The design-time assumptions of web applications rarely correspond to their runtime conditions. As a result, the efficiency, performance, and reliability of web app execution can suffer. This dissertation research addresses this problem by introducing novel automated reengineering techniques. In particular, we put forward a series of novel domain-specific refactorings, semantics-preserving program transformations, that behind-the-scenes improve the efficiency, performance, and reliability of extant web applications. To that end, we apply state-of-the-art program analysis and transformation techniques, extending and adapting them for the domain of web applications. Our ultimate objective is to enhance the execution of real-world web apps to meet the requirements of modern users, so the web can remain the most versatile computing application deployment and delivery infrastructure. The intermediate results of this dissertation research have been accepted for publication as a full research paper in the proceedings of the Web Conference 2020 [3].
Second Order Accurate Hierarchical Approximate Factorization of Sparse SPD Matrices.

We describe a second-order accurate approach to sparsifying the off-diagonal blocks in the hierarchical approximate factorizations of sparse symmetric positive definite matrices. The norm of the error made by the new approach depends quadratically, not linearly, on the error in the low-rank approximation of the given block. The analysis of the resulting two-level preconditioner shows that the preconditioner is second-order accurate as well. We incorporate the new approach into the recent Sparsified Nested Dissection algorithm [SIAM J. Matrix Anal. Appl., 41 (2020), pp. 715-746], and test it on a wide range of problems. The new approach halves the number of Conjugate Gradient iterations needed for convergence, with almost the same factorization complexity, improving the total runtimes of the algorithm. Our approach can be incorporated into other rank-structured methods for solving sparse linear systems.
Altered metabolic inter-relationships in the cortico-limbic circuitry in military service members with persistent PTSD symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury

Introduction: Comorbid mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in military service members. The aim of this study is to investigate brain metabolic i...