cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Wireless Mesh Networks with Dynamic Spectrum Access

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are envisaged to extend Internet access and other networking services in personal, local, campus, and metropolitan areas. Mesh routers (MR) form the connectivity backbone while performing the dual tasks of packet forwarding as well as providing network access to the mesh clients. However, the performance of such networks is limited by traffic congestion, as only limited bandwidth is available for supporting the large number of nodes in close proximity. This problem can be alleviated by the cognitive radio paradigm that aims at devising spectrum sensing and management techniques, thereby allowing radios to intelligently locate and use frequencies other than those in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. These promising technologies are integrated in our proposed Cognitive Mesh NETwork (COMNET) algorithmic framework, thus realizing an intelligent frequency-shifting self-managed mesh network. The contribution of this paper is threefold: (1) A new approach for spectrum sensing is devised without any change to the working of existing de facto mesh protocols. (2) An analytical model is proposed that allows MRs to estimate the power in a given channel and location due to neighboring wireless LAN traffic, thus creating a virtual map in space and frequency domains. (3) These models are used to formulate the task of channel assignment within the mesh network as an optimization problem, which is solved in a decentralized manner. Our analytical models are validated through simulation study, and results reveal the benefits of load sharing by adopting unused frequencies for WMN traffic.
Management of open fractures: part 1

Open fractures have been considered one of the true orthopaedic emergencies by some, however optimal treatment has not been definitively described. Significant debate has focused on the most appropriate method by which to manage open fractures, but general principles of treatment are well established. Principles include fracture classification, antibiosis, irrigation, debridement, wound management and fracture stabilisation. In this first of a two-part series on open fracture management, the initial management of the patient, which should be performed within the first few hours after presentation, is discussed. This includes assessment and stabilisation of the patient, classification of the fracture, antibiotic use and irrigation of the wound. Open fracture classification systems, such as the Gustilo-Anderson scheme, are used to describe the relationship and degree of soft tissue damage, and are designed to correlate with treatment guidelines and prognosis. Systemic antibiotics are a required component of...
Can set influence retrieval

An attempt was made to show that set could influence retrieval apart from original learning. The results suggested that if learning was not too distinctive, a set change to a list which S thought he could forget was disruptive to recall.
Piezoelectric transformers: New perspective

Piezoelectric transformers have been commercialised for the backlight inverters of laptop computers nowdays. For further high power applications, we developed new PZT based piezoelectric ceramics w...
C–CN Bond Activation of Acetonitrile using Cobalt(I)

A cobalt(I) methyl species, (PMe3)4CoCH3, was found to promote C–CN bond oxidative addition of acetonitrile at ambient temperature. The isolated product of acetonitrile activation, cis,mer-(PMe3)3Co(CH3)2CN, was characterized by NMR, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and presents a higher valent metal in comparison to those previously observed for base-metal-mediated nitrile activations. A short-lived reaction intermediate was detected during nitrile cleavage and identified as fac-(PMe3)3Co(CH3)2CN, the kinetic product of C–CN oxidative addition. Conversion of the kinetic product to cis,mer-(PMe3)3Co(CH3)2CN proceeds with a rate constant of [1.0(1)] × 10–3 s–1 at 27 °C.
Three Dimensional Modeling of Jet-Induced Geysers in Low Gravity

*† Control of cryogenic propellant tank pressure during tank refueling and expulsion in low gravity is an important technical challenge to overcome for future long duration missions in space. One method proposed to control tank pressurization involves the use of jet-induced geysers. Two-dimensional computational models have been developed and used with limited success in previous efforts to predict geyser heights in microgravity. A three-dimensional flow simulation is used to model jet-induced geysers in reduced gravity. Geyser flows are commonly characterized by the presence of turbulent jets, transient flow, deforming free surfaces, and surface tension effects. As is the case for many turbulent flow applications, accuracy in simulating complex turbulent flows is critically dependent on the selection of a suitable turbulence model. The sensitivity of the simulation geyser predictions to a suite of popular turbulence models is assessed. Simulation results are compared to available experiment result. By expanding upon the work already completed, the model is used to simulate a broad range of cases within the experiment test matrix. Simulation results suggest the k-e turbulence model provides the most accurate results for jet-induced geysers in reduced gravity when compared to available experiment data.
Antiferromagnetic Resonance in RbMn F 3 Under Axial Stress

Magnetoelastic constants of antiferromagnetic RbMn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ were determined at 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K from the stress and field dependence of AFMR frequency: ${b}_{1}=1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ and ${b}_{2}=0.17\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$ erg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$; linewidths are accounted for by inhomogeneous strain broadening. Spin-lattice strain coefficients for ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{++}$ in a regular ${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ octahedron were derived as ${G}_{11}=0.32$ and ${G}_{44}=\ensuremath{-}0.073$ (${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$/ion) after correcting the $b'\mathrm{s}$ for magnetic dipolar contributions.
Technological Characteristics and Application Effects Analysis of Distribution Automation Pilot Projects

Against the backdrop of smart grid development,an overview of the distribution automation pilot projects undertaken in recent years is given and a detailed analysis and description of the technologies involved in these projects is provided.The overview includes the overall goal of distribution automation,technology path and construction principles.The analysis focuses primarily on various technologies concerning the basic requirements of the distribution grid and equipment,distribution automation system architecture,configurations and features of master station/terminal units,information exchange as well as means of communication.The paper also offers a comprehensive examination,comparison and summary on various application effects of these projects delivered including economic benefits,managerial benefits,social benefits and technology advancement.The significance of distribution automation to the scientific management of distribution grid and smart grid development is explained and emphasized.Furthermore,various issues exhibited in the distribution automation are highlighted and solutions to these issues are offered.
The Relationship Between Managerial Characteristics and Exporting Behavior

The study examines the relationship between objective, managerial characteristics and various measures of export behavior. It was found that exporting manager are younger, have more international work experience and are more educated. It was also found that years of international experience is negatively related to export sales volume and anticipated growth, and that the number of languages spoken is positively related to growth.
From old suburb to post-suburb: The politics of retrofit in the inner suburb of Upper Arlington, Ohio

ABSTRACTMany scholars discuss post‐suburbia in terms of the urbanization of edge cities, an evolving built‐up periphery, or as a broader trend of decline among older suburbs alongside new outer‐ring suburban growth. This article explores the post‐suburban thesis in the context of the older, inner suburb of Upper Arlington, Ohio, located in the Columbus metropolitan area. This suburb is shifting from a traditional residential community to a more complex mix of domiciliary and economic functions, a process of redevelopment we characterize as a shift from an old suburb to a post‐suburb. Based on qualitative interviews and analysis, we find that the politics of redevelopment in the older, landlocked suburb of Upper Arlington is contentious, and driven in large part by this suburb's need to overcome fiscal stress and maintain its competitive edge in the new metropolitan economy. We suggest that New Urbanist suburbanization for older, inner suburbs is influenced by their desire to remain competitive in a highly...
Breaking boundaries: active information acquisition across learning and diagnosis

To date, the processes employed for active information acquisition during periods of learning and diagnosis have been considered as separate and have been applied in distinct phases of analysis. While active learning centers on the collection of information about training cases in order to build better predictive models, diagnosis uses fixed predictive models for guiding the collection of observations about a specific test case at hand. We introduce a model and inferential methods that bridge these phases of analysis into a holistic approach to information acquisition that considers simultaneously the extension of the predictive model and the probing of a case at hand. The bridging of active learning and real-time diagnostic feature acquisition leads to a new class of policies for learning and diagnosis.
Increased monocyte-derived reactive oxygen species in type 2 diabetes: role of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Recent evidence suggests that exposure of human monocytes to glucolipotoxic media to mimic the composition of plasma of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) results in the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The extent to which these findings translate to patients with T2D remains unclear. Thus, we first measured ROS (dihydroethidium fluorescence) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from whole blood of T2D patients (n = 8) and compared to age matched healthy controls (n = 8). T2D patients exhibited greater basal intracellular ROS (mean±SD, +3.4 ± 1.4 fold; P < 0.05) compared to controls. Next, increased ROS in PBMCs isolated from T2D patients was partially recapitulated in cultured human monocytes (THP-1 cells) exposed to plasma from T2D patients for 36 h (+1.3 ± 0.08 fold vs. plasma from controls; P < 0.05). In addition, we found that increased ROS formation in THP-1 cells treated with T2D plasma was NADPH oxidase-derived and led to increased endothelial cell adhesion (+1.8 ± 0.5 fold; P < 0.05) and lipid uptake (+1.3 ± 0.3 fold; P < 0.05). Notably, we found that T2D plasma-induced monocyte ROS and downstream functional effects were abolished by treating cells with tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a chemical chaperone known to inhibit ER stress. Collectively, these data indicate that monocyte ROS production with T2D can be, in part, attributed to signals from the circulating environment. Furthermore, an interplay between ER stress and NADPH oxidase activity contributes to ROS production and may be a mechanism mediating endothelial cell adhesion and foam cell formation in T2D. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
LOWER SERUM 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D IS ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY BUT NOT COMMON CHRONIC CONDITIONS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN MALE VETERANS

ABSTRACT Objective: The study examined whether vitamin D insufficiency is a predictor of prevalent and/or incident common chronic conditions in African American men (AAM) and Caucasian American men (CAM). Methods: A total of 1,017 men were recruited at an urban VA medical center and followed prospectively for a mean of 5.4 years. Prevalent and incident chronic conditions evaluated were: obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, depression, dementia, and cardiovascular disease (CVD, including coronary artery disease lCAD], cerebrovascular accident lCVA], and congestive heart failure lCHF]). Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to examine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25lOH]D) and these chronic illnesses. Results: This analysis was limited to 955 men (65.5% AAM, 27.2% CAM, 6.4% Hispanic) who had at least 1 year of follow-up (range, 1.0 to 7.1 years). Univariate analysis of the entire group showed that 25(OH)D correlated negatively with body mass index (BMI). There was no correlation between 25(OH)D and prevalent CVD (including separate analyses for CAD, CVA, and CHF), cancer, depression, dementia, all-cause mortality, or incident cancer, CAD, or CVA. Independent predictors of prevalent common conditions included increasing age, BMI, smoking, alcohol and polysubstance use, but not 25(OH)D levels. Conclusion: The study does not support previously suggested associations of low vitamin D levels with prevalent common chronic conditions or increased risk for cancer, CAD, and CVA in a population of men with high burden of chronic disease. The finding that smoking and alcohol and polysubstance use are predictors of chronic conditions is an important reminder for addressing these risks during patient encounters. Abbreviations: AAM = African American men BMI = body mass index CAD = coronary artery disease CAM = Caucasian American men CHF = congestive heart failure CI = confidence interval CVA = cerebrovascular accident CVD = cardiovascular disease HTN = hypertension OR = odds ratio T2DM = type 2 diabetes mellitus VAMC = Veteran Administration Medical Center 25(OH)D = 25-hydroxyvitamin D
Abstract A02: Disparities in the Treatment of High-Grade Endometrial Cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Database

OBJECTIVE: To examine patterns of care and survival for Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Non-Hispanic African American (NHAA) and Hispanic women with high-grade endometrial cancer. METHODS: We utilized the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to identify women diagnosed with uterine grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, carcinosarcoma, clear cell carcinoma and papillary serous carcinoma between 2003-2011. The variables of interest were race and ethnicity. For this, race and ethnicity were used to construct single mutually exclusive race-ethnicity variables (non-Hispanic white, black, white-Hispanic, or other and unknown). The primary outcome of interest was overall survival, defined as months from cancer diagnosis to death or date of the last contact. Secondary outcomes were the receipt of initial treatment after diagnosis of high-grade endometrial cancer. Continuous variables were evaluated by ANOVA and categorical variables were evaluated by chi square test. Pair-wise comparisons among continuous and categorical variables utilized the Holm-Bonferroni method to adjust for multiple comparisons. Logistic regression models were performed to describe predictors of treatment, after adjusting for prognostic factors expected to be associated including age, race, stage, histology, year of treatment, facility type, location, insurance type, and comorbidity score. The effect of treatment modality on survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors predictive of outcome were compared using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: 44,080 women were eligible for inclusion. NHAA and Hispanic women had higher rates of stage III and IV disease compared to NHW women (21.3% vs. 19.4% vs. 15.5%, p CONCLUSION: Among women with high-grade endometrial cancer, NHAA women were less likely to receive surgical treatment when compared to NHW women. NHAA women have lower all-cause survival compared to Non-Hispanic white women while Hispanic women have higher all-cause survival compared to Non-Hispanic white women after controlling for treatment, sociodemographics, comorbidities, and histopathologic variables. Citation Format: Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain, Amy J. Bregar, Joel T. Clemmer, Marcela G. del Carmen. Disparities in the Treatment of High-Grade Endometrial Cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Database. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A02.
A novel Staphylococcus podophage encodes a unique lysin with unusual modular design

ABSTRACT Drug-resistant staphylococci, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, are leading causes of hospital-acquired infections. Bacteriophages and their peptidoglycan hydrolytic enzymes (lysins) are currently being explored as alternatives to conventional antibiotics; however, only a limited diversity of staphylococcal phages and their lysins has yet been characterized. Here, we describe a novel staphylococcal phage and its lysins. Bacteriophage Andhra is the first reported S. epidermidis phage belonging to the family Podoviridae . Andhra possesses an 18,546-nucleotide genome with 20 open reading frames. BLASTp searches revealed that gene product 10 (gp10) and gp14 harbor putative catalytic domains with predicted peptidase and amidase activities, characteristic functions of phage lysins. We purified these proteins and show that both Andhra_gp10 and Andhra_gp14 inhibit growth and degrade cell walls of diverse staphylococci, with Andhra_gp10 exhibiting more robust activity against the panel of cell wall substrates tested. Site-directed mutagenesis of its predicted catalytic residues abrogated the activity of Andhra_gp10, consistent with the presence of a catalytic CHAP domain on its C terminus. The active site location combined with the absence of an SH3b cell wall binding domain distinguishes Andhra_gp10 from the majority of staphylococcal lysins characterized to date. Importantly, close homologs of Andhra_gp10 are present in related staphylococcal podophages, and we propose that these constitute a new class of phage-encoded lysins. Altogether, our results reveal insights into the biology of a rare family of staphylococcal phages while adding to the arsenal of antimicrobials with potential for therapeutic use. IMPORTANCE The spread of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens is inciting a global public health crisis. Drug-resistant Staphylococcus species, especially S. aureus and S. epidermidis, have emerged in both hospital and community settings, underscoring the urgent need for new strategies to combat staphylococcal infections. Bacterial viruses (phages) and the enzymes that they use to degrade bacterial cell walls (lysins) show promise as alternative antimicrobials; however, only a limited variety of staphylococcal phages and their lysins have yet been identified. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of a novel staphylococcal phage, Andhra. We show that Andhra encodes two lysins (Andhra_gp10 and Andhra_gp14) that inhibit growth and degrade the cell walls of diverse staphylococci, including S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains. Andhra and its unique lysins add to the arsenal of antimicrobials with potential for therapeutic use.
Chapter 4: Technique of Percutaneous and Laminectomy/Open Approach for Permanent Spinal Cord Implantation (Cervical/Thoracic)

Abstract Spinal cord stimulator implantation may be performed percutaneously or via an open approach. Level-dependent considerations are made depending on optimal lead placement location, in particular with regards to the cervical spine. Following a successful temporary lead trial, a power source is implanted in addition to the permanent electrodes.
Short-term sleep deprivation leads to decreased systemic redox metabolites and altered epigenetic status

Sleep is critical for repair as well as the rejuvenation processes in the body and many of these functions are regulated via underlying cellular metabolic homeostasis. Changes in sleep pattern are reported to alter such metabolic function resulting in altered disease susceptibility or behavior. Here, we measured the extent to which overnight total sleep deprivation (SD) in young adult humans can influence systemic (plasma-derived) redox-metabolism including the major antioxidant, glutathione as well as DNA methylation levels. Nineteen participants (n = 19, μ age = 21, SD = 3.09) underwent morning testing before and after overnight total SD. Biochemical measures before and after SD revealed that glutathione, ATP, cysteine, and homocysteine levels were significantly reduced following one night of sleep deprivation (all p's < 0.01). Parallel to the well-recognized fact that sleep deprivation (maintaining wakefulness) uses up metabolic reserves, we observed that morning cortisol levels were blunted after sleep deprivation. There were no significant correlations between self-reported or actigraphy-measured sleep and the biochemical measurements, strongly indicating that prior sleep behavior did not have any direct influence on the biochemical measures taken at baseline or after sleep deprivation. Results from the current investigation supports the previous literature implicating the induction of oxidative stress and ATP depletion with sleep deprivation. Furthermore, such altered antioxidant status can also induce downstream epigenetic changes. Although we did not measure the specific genes that were altered under the influence of such sleep deprivation, such epigenetic changes could potentially contribute towards disease predisposition.
Botany and Cytogenetics of Soybean

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], an economically important dicot legume, is a member of the family Fabaceae and belongs to the genus Glycine Willd. Based on classical and molecular taxonomy, the genus Glycine has been divided into two subgenera; the subgenus Soja (Moench) F.J. Hermann includes soybean and its wild annual progenitor G. soja Sieb. & Zucc. Both species contain 2n = 40 chromosomes, are cross-compatible, produce fertile F1 plants, and belong to the primary gene pool. The subgenus Glycine consists of 26 wild perennial species. Vegetative and reproductive morphology of soybean has been examined extensively. The cytogenetic knowledge of soybean lags far behind that of other model economically important crops (viz. rice, maize, wheat, tomato), because its somatic chromosomes are symmetrical and only one pair of satellite chromosomes can be identified. Molecular linkage maps have been associated with specific chromosomes, and soybean genome has been sequenced. The soybean breeders, worldwide, are confined to crossing within the primary gene pool; thus, genetic base of soybean is very narrow. Wild perennial Glycine species of the tertiary gene pool have been recently exploited to broaden the genetic base of modern soybean cultivars.
Reimagining Community Resilience with Health in All Policies

Community resilience refers to the sustained capacity of a community to absorb, adapt to, and rebound from sudden shocks and chronic stressors. Population health is an important determinant and consequence of community resilience. Preexisting states of and inequities in population health are directly correlated with the magnitude of health crises that follow adversities. Given this connection, it would be reasonable to expect a nexus between health promotion and community resilience-building efforts, yet even the most comprehensive resilience efforts often neglect or inadequately address health. Health in All Policies (HiAP), an organizing framework for policy action on the social and structural determinants of health, can infuse considerations of health equity into community resilience planning and policymaking. Achievements in Canterbury, New Zealand and California, United States illustrate a strong foundation for action on sudden shocks and chronic stressors through HiAP, particularly given radical accountability for health currently missing from resilience-building efforts, agile structural and procedural mechanisms, and intersectoral action. HiAP warrants more explicit attention as a powerful community resilience solution.
Blocking p62-dependent SMN degradation ameliorates spinal muscular atrophy disease phenotypes

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a degenerative motor neuron (MN) disease, caused by loss of functional survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein due to SMN1 gene mutations, is a leading cause of infant mortality. Increasing SMN levels ameliorates the disease phenotype and is unanimously accepted as a therapeutic approach for patients with SMA. The ubiquitin/proteasome system is known to regulate SMN protein levels; however, whether autophagy controls SMN levels remains poorly explored. Here, we show that SMN protein is degraded by autophagy. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of autophagy increases SMN levels, while induction of autophagy decreases these levels. SMN degradation occurs via its interaction with the autophagy adapter p62 (also known as SQSTM1). We also show that SMA neurons display reduced autophagosome clearance, increased p62 and ubiquitinated proteins levels, and hyperactivated mTORC1 signaling. Importantly, reducing p62 levels markedly increases SMN and its binding partner gemin2, promotes MN survival, and extends lifespan in fly and mouse SMA models, revealing p62 as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of SMA.
Over-the-counter analgesic powder use in patients presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage: A case series

Introduction Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics including aspirin-containing powder formulations (BC Powder, Goody's Powder) (ACPFs) are commonly utilized in the United States. While the ACPFs have been associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, we describe a case series of patients presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within 24 hours of ingestion. Methods We reviewed all ICH patients presenting to a comprehensive stroke center from September 1, 2014 through June 30, 2016 to identify patients who reported taking BC Powder or Goody's Powder within 7 days of their stroke. Baseline characteristics, medication use, stroke risk factors, clinical imaging, and laboratory testing were reviewed retrospectively. Results Of 334 patients admitted with ICH during the study period, 6 (2%) reported use of OTC analgesic powders within 1 week of their index stroke. All had consumed at least 1 packet within 24 hours of their ICH. All patients were African American and all except 1 patient were females. Three patients had no identified traditional stroke risk factors and 3 other patients had evidence of mild hypertension history. Conclusions Over-the-counter analgesic powders containing high doses of aspirin including BC Powder and Goody's Powder may contribute to ICH in patients with no or minimal risk factors. Providers should inquire about the use of these powders in ICH patients particularly among African Americans.
Stereotype-based stressors facilitate emotional memory neural network connectivity and encoding of negative information to degrade math self-perceptions among women.

Stress engendered by stereotype threatening situations may facilitate encoding of negative, stereotype confirming feedback received during a performance among women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It is unclear, however, whether this process is comprised of the same neurophysiological mechanisms evident in any emotional memory encoding context, or if this encoding bias directly undermines positive self-perceptions in the stigmatized domain. A total of 160 men and women completed a math test that provided veridical positive and negative feedback, a memory test for feedback, and math self-enhancing and valuing measures in a stereotype threatening or neutral context while continuous electroencephalography activity and startle probe responses to positive and negative feedback was recorded. Indexing amygdala activity to feedback via startle responses and emotional memory network connectivity elicited during accurate recognition of positive and negative feedback via graph analyses, only stereotype threatened women encoded negative feedback better when they exhibited increased amygdala activity and emotional memory network connectivity in response to said feedback. Emotional memory biases, in turn, predicted decreases in women’s self-enhancing, math valuing and performance. Findings provide an emotional memory encoding-based mechanism for well-established findings indicating that women have more negative math self-perceptions compared with men regardless of actual performance.
Expressive planning and explicit knowledge

We are concerned with the implications and interactions of three common expressive extensions to classical planning: conditional plans, context-dependent actions, and nondeterministic action outcomes. All of these extensions have appeared in recent work, sometimes in conjunction, but the semantics of the combination has not been fully explored. As we have argued in previous work, providing a coherent semantics for conditional planning with context-dependent actions requires that the planner's information state be modelled separately from the world state. In this paper, we present a new planning language, WCPL, encompassing these extensions. The semantics of WCPL includes an explicit treatment of the planner's information state as knowledge, as opposed to some form of context labelling. In addition to clarifying and unifying a disparate set of results from earlier work, we extend that work: WCPL handles both conditional and fail-safe plans for an action representation including both context-dependent and nondeterministic actions.
Maintaining predictions over time without a model

A common approach to the control problem in partially observable environments is to perform a direct search in policy space, as defined over some set of features of history. In this paper we consider predictive features, whose values are conditional probabilities of future events, given history. Since predictive features provide direct information about the agent's future, they have a number of advantages for control. However, unlike more typical features defined directly over past observations, it is not clear how to maintain the values of predictive features over time. A model could be used, since a model can make any prediction about the future, but in many cases learning a model is infeasible. In this paper we demonstrate that in some cases it is possible to learn to maintain the values of a set of predictive features even when a learning a model is infeasible, and that natural predictive features can be useful for policy-search methods.
A 128-element Dual-Polarized Software-Defined Phased Array Radio for mm-wave 5G Experimentation

Multi-antenna millimeter wave communications is on the verge of mainstream commercial deployment. In a not-too-distant 5G-powered future, we expect a dynamic, congested and interference-limited millimeter wave channel that will require us to exploit the large range of spatial diversity afforded by millimeter wave antenna arrays. In prior cellular generations, the development of communications and networking algorithms was significantly aided by software defined radio based experimentation. Similarly, we believe that the challenges of this new era will require the development of algorithms based on experimentation using software defined millimeter wave multi-antenna systems. In this talk, we will present a portable, user-friendly and yet, extremely capable and highly reconfigurable software-defined phased array transceiver platform for experimentation and algorithms development in the 5G era. The platform features 128 independent phase and gain control elements feeding 64 dual-polarized antennas, and supports dual-polarized transmit and receive at 28 GHz. Phase and gain of each element can be controlled, with support for up to 8 simultaneous beams. Key circuit and antenna technology innovations enable calibration-free operation. Moreover, all communications and phased array beam configuration functions are controlled from a single python-based API thereby allowing full beamforming control alongside other software defined radio communications parameters from a simple software interface. Initial 5G related experiments using the software defined phased array is presented.
2018 Update on Medical Overuse.

Importance Overuse of medical care is a well-recognized problem in health care, associated with patient harm and costs. We sought to identify and highlight original research articles published in 2017 that are most relevant to understanding medical overuse. Observations A structured review of English-language articles published in 2017 was performed, coupled with examination of tables of contents of high-impact journals to identify articles related to medical overuse in adult care. Manuscripts were appraised for their quality, clinical relevance, and impact. A total of 1446 articles were identified, 910 of which addressed medical overuse. Of these, 111 articles were deemed to be the most relevant based on originality, methodologic quality, and scope. The 10 most influential articles were selected by author consensus. Findings included that unnecessary electrocardiograms are common (performed in 22% of patients at low risk) and can lead to a cascade of services, lipid monitoring rarely affects care, patients who were overdiagnosed with cancer experienced anxiety and criticism about not seeking treatment, calcium and vitamin D supplementation does not reduce hip fracture (relative risk, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.85-1.39), and pregabalin does not improve symptoms of sciatica but frequently has adverse effects (40% of patients experienced dizziness). Antipsychotic medications increased the severity of delirium in patients receiving hospice care and were associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.7;P = .003), and robotic-assisted radical nephrectomy was without benefits by being slower and more costly than laparoscopic surgery. High-sensitivity troponin testing often yielded false-positive results, as 16% of patients with positive troponin results in a US hospital had a myocardial infarction. One-third of patients who received a diagnosis of asthma had no evidence of asthma. Restructuring the electronic health record was able to reduce unnecessary testing (from 31.3 to 13.9 low-value tests performed per 100 patient visits). Conclusions and Relevance Many current practices were found to represent overuse, with no benefit and potential harms. Other services were used inappropriately. Reviewing these findings and extrapolating to their patients will enable health care professionals to improve the care they provide.
Toward a Continuous Field: Folded Subjectivities and Control in the Affective Networks of Upstream Colour

Shane Carruth's 2013 film Upstream Colour provides a model for considering identity and subject formation in what Steven Shaviro calls the “network society.” Shaviro argues that our contemporary mo...
Locoregional flaps in pediatric anterior skull base surgery

Management of skull base defects involves the separation of the cranial cavity from the nasal cavity in order to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leak, pneumocephalus, and intracranial infection. The size and location of the defect as well as donor tissue available will determine the type of reconstruction. Reconstruction options include free tissue grafts, locoregional flaps, and microvascular free flaps. In children, the size of potential flaps must be considered as well as the length of the pedicle, as often these differ in children. This article will discuss numerous reconstructive options, focusing on locoregional flaps in skull base reconstruction. In addition to outlining the surgical technique for each type, we will review considerations in pediatric patients for each reconstructive option.
Generation of Endothelial Cells From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Endothelial cells (ECs) are critical for several aspects of cardiovascular disease therapy, including vascular regeneration, personalized drug development, and tissue engineering. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) afford us with an unprecedented opportunity to produce virtually unlimited quantities of human ECs. In this review, we highlight key developments and outstanding challenges in our ability to derive ECs de novo from hPSCs. Furthermore, we consider strategies for recapitulating the vessel- and tissue-specific functional heterogeneity of ECs in vitro. Finally, we discuss ongoing attempts to utilize hPSC-derived ECs and their progenitors for various therapeutic applications. Continued progress in generating hPSC-derived ECs will profoundly enhance our ability to discover novel drug targets, revascularize ischemic tissues, and engineer clinically relevant tissue constructs. Visual Overview- An online visual overview is available for this article.
Renal Cell Carcinoma: Oncologist Point of View

Kidney cancer is among the ten most frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States, with more than an estimated 65,000 new cases and 14,900 deaths in 2018 (Siegel et al., CA Cancer J Clin 68(4):284–296, 2018). Per the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database of the National Institutes of Health, the median age at diagnosis of kidney cancer is 64 years. It is more common in men than in women and among African Americans and American Indian and Alaska Native populations (SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/kidrp.html). Kidney cancer’s incidence has increased on average 0.7% each year over the last 10 years, while death rates declined on average 0.9% each year over 2005–2014 (SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/kidrp.html). Screening for the disease is not standard. Current 5-year survival rates are 76% overall, including 66.7% among patients with regional disease and 11.7% among patients with metastatic disease (SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/kidrp.html). Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form of kidney cancer arising from the nephron and the subject of this chapter, occurs in approximately 90% of cases, and 70–80% of these are clear cell tumors. Other less common cell types with different histologic, molecular, and genetic alterations include papillary, chromophobe, translocation, Bellini duct (collecting duct), and medullary tumors.
Molecular basis of chronic neurodegeneration

Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases believe to share a common pathogenetic mechanism involving aggregation and deposition of misfolded proteins, leading to inevitable progressive deterioration of central nervous system. It is thought-provoking to note that while the type of aggregated protein and the regional and cellular distribution of deposition may vary from one neurodegenerative disease to another; these disorders may all be linked by similar pathways of protein aggregation with fibril formation and amyloid deposition. It is vital that the neurodegenerative disorder being detected at an early stage as it can provide a chance for treatment that may be helpful to prevent further progression of the fatal disease. Thus research has focused on developing effective noninvasive diagnostic methods for early detection of these disorders. Molecular diagnostics can provide a powerful method to detect and diagnose various neurological disorders. Extensive researches have demonstrated that the application of innovative approaches in the molecular analysis such as massive high-throughput sequencing (DNA and RNA) and proteomics is promising, which paves the path for the involvement of multiple cellular pathways in a given pathogenic process.
A Study of Key Factors Influencing U.S. Consumers’ Intent to Purchase Slow Fashion Products

To combat the rising environmental problems, researchers are seeking ways to understand U.S. consumer behavior towards purchasing slow fashion products instead of fast fashion goods. To address the gap in the literature, this study aimed to identify the factors significantly influencing the U.S. consumers’ intention to purchase slow fashion products. 263 eligible responses were gathered for data analysis and hypothesis testing. Multiple regression method was applied for determining the proposed statistical relationships (hypotheses). The U.S. consumer intention to purchase slow fashion products are significantly positively affected by consumers’ attitude towards slow fashion products, perceived behavioral control (PBC), willingness to pay price premium (WTP), and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE). Among demographic variables, only income level shows a significantly positive impact. The proposed model shows a good explanatory power, accounting for 55.6% of the variance of U.S. consumers’ intention to purchase slow fashion products.
A Heart Failure Collaborative to Accelerate Improved Patient Outcomes in 3 Metro Markets

Background Nearly 6.5 million Americans are living with heart failure (HF), the leading cause of hospitalization among adults aged 65 and older. Despite advancements in medical therapy, HF patient outcomes remain of concern. HF readmission rates remain high and only half of patients diagnosed with heart failure are expected to live beyond 5 years of diagnosis. Increasing prevalence and poor outcomes provide significant opportunities for improvement. Hospital participation in a quality initiative designed to improve care by promoting adherence to the scientific guidelines, such as Get With the Guidelines®-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF), assists hospitals in effectively delivering high quality care to improve patient outcomes. The objective of this project is to form multidisciplinary collaboratives that will rapidly implement evidence-based guidelines to develop best practices that can be shared to improve heart failure patient outcomes. Methods The AHA will lead a quality improvement initiative for transforming heart failure care in three major cities including Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis. • A retrospective review was conducted using GWTG-HF on measures with low adherence from participating hospitals in the metro markets. • Baseline data of specific HF measures from Quarter 1, 2018 were analyzed and to determine areas of improvement needed. • Using regional and 1:1 hospital meetings, AHA will lead a quality improvement initiative to transform HF patient care. • The HF project will focus on professional education, enhancing systems of care and facilitating the sharing of best practices. • The patient population will include patients from GWTG-HF with a principal/primary diagnosis of heart failure. Results The project goal within the 2-year timeframe of this initiative is to achieve 20% improvement from baseline data OR achieve AHA's 85% adherence threshold in each measure. AHA Quality staff will observe and monitor market-level data within GWTG-HF to uncover and recommend improvements, provide consultation to clinicians, deliver targeted training and resources such as webinars, conferences, toolkits, care pathways, educational materials and to foster best-practice sharing to address common barriers. Limitations Participating hospitals vary in size, discharge volume, GWTG participation tenure, FTE support and resources • *There is incomplete baseline date for the three thirty day follow up measures • Initiative implementation may vary slightly in 3 metro markets Conclusions The two-year multi-city quality initiative will bring together multiple hospitals to share best practices, develop resources and analyze Get With The Guidelines data for performance improvement to accelerate heart failure patient outcomes. Further investigation is merited evaluating the effectiveness of quality collaboratives to enhance care.
Using molecular dynamics to determine mechanical grain boundary energies and capture their dependence on residual Burgers vector, segregation and grain size

Abstract The present article focuses on interpreting mechanical interface energies/parameters which have been introduced within gradient plasticity and can capture the ability of grain boundaries to deform plastically. Molecular dynamics simulation compression tests were performed on body-centered cubic Fe bicrystals with tilt and twist grain boundaries of different misorientations. The simulations allowed for the formation of dislocation pile-ups, which give rise to gradients in the plastic strain, and therefore it was possible to employ interfacial gradient plasticity to interpret the stress-strain curves and obtain values for the mechanical interface parameter. The simulations showed that the atomic structure at the grain boundary changed during dislocation absorption, illustrating that the initial grain boundary static energy cannot characterize boundaries after the onset of plastic deformation. It was found that the value of the mechanical interface parameter (i) depended on the GB type and GB-dislocation interactions that led to slip transmission across the GB, and (ii) was positively related to the magnitude of residual Burgers vector, indicating that as the mechanical interface parameter increased the GB strength increased. Repeating the simulations by adding hydrogen atoms at the grain boundaries, showed that segregation increased the mechanical interface energy. Changing the sample size indicated that such mechanical energy terms are size-dependent, however their ratio with the internal length was size independent and depended only on the GB type. A detailed understanding of these mechanical grain boundary energies may pave a new way to engineering materials in the sub-micron scales.
Epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes in locally advanced spindle cell lung cancer.

e21048Background: Spindle cell lung cancer (SpCC) is a rare type of NSCLC which portends a poor prognosis. Due to the rarity of diagnosis, there is a dearth of information about the epidemiology an...
Structural basis for chemokine receptor CCR6 activation by the endogenous protein ligand CCL20

Chemokines are important protein-signaling molecules that regulate various immune responses by activating chemokine receptors which belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Despite the substantial progression of our structural understanding of GPCR activation by small molecule and peptide agonists, the molecular mechanism of GPCR activation by protein agonists remains unclear. Here, we present a 3.3-A cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human chemokine receptor CCR6 bound to its endogenous ligand CCL20 and an engineered Go. CCL20 binds in a shallow extracellular pocket, making limited contact with the core 7-transmembrane (TM) bundle. The structure suggests that this mode of binding induces allosterically a rearrangement of a noncanonical toggle switch and the opening of the intracellular crevice for G protein coupling. Our results demonstrate that GPCR activation by a protein agonist does not always require substantial interactions between ligand and the 7TM core region.
Argumentation and the Unconscious.

This paper's thesis is that the unconscious mind plays a central role in argumentation. After briefly discussing the nature of the unconscious, the essay turns to an analysis of invention, which is...