cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symbol error-correcting codes for computer memory systems

A method is presented of constructing symbol error correcting codes that have a minimum symbol distance of 4. The method yields some codes that are more efficient than previously known codes. The application is to designing fault-tolerant semiconductor memories. >
On the achievable diversity-multiplexing tradeoff in half-duplex cooperative channels

We propose novel cooperative transmission protocols for delay-limited coherent fading channels consisting of N (half-duplex and single-antenna) partners and one cell site. In our work, we differentiate between the relay, cooperative broadcast (down-link), and cooperative multiple-access (CMA) (up-link) channels. The proposed protocols are evaluated using Zheng-Tse diversity-multiplexing tradeoff. For the relay channel, we investigate two classes of cooperation schemes; namely, amplify and forward (AF) protocols and decode and forward (DF) protocols. For the first class, we establish an upper bound on the achievable diversity-multiplexing tradeoff with a single relay. We then construct a new AF protocol that achieves this upper bound. The proposed algorithm is then extended to the general case with (N-1) relays where it is shown to outperform the space-time coded protocol of Laneman and Wornell without requiring decoding/encoding at the relays. For the class of DF protocols, we develop a dynamic decode and forward (DDF) protocol that achieves the optimal tradeoff for multiplexing gains 0lesrles1/N. Furthermore, with a single relay, the DDF protocol is shown to dominate the class of AF protocols for all multiplexing gains. The superiority of the DDF protocol is shown to be more significant in the cooperative broadcast channel. The situation is reversed in the CMA channel where we propose a new AF protocol that achieves the optimal tradeoff for all multiplexing gains. A distinguishing feature of the proposed protocols in the three scenarios is that they do not rely on orthogonal subspaces, allowing for a more efficient use of resources. In fact, using our results one can argue that the suboptimality of previously proposed protocols stems from their use of orthogonal subspaces rather than the half-duplex constraint.
Probiotics for Clostridium difficile Diarrhea: Putting It into Perspective:

Clostridium difficile diarrhea is an expensive, life-threatening infection associated with serious morbidity and mortality, even among previously healthy individuals. Relapses from the infection are common following standard antibiotic treatments, with 3-5% of patients who contract C. difficile diarrhea unable to discontinue vancomycin due to continual relapses. Such patients may have a focal immunodeficiency in which they fail to mount an immune response against C. difficile. For these individuals, antimicrobial therapies are unable to eradicate the microorganism because no antibiotics are capable of killing C. difficile spores. Although they are considered alternative medicine, probiotics have provided a safe and effective means of restoring gastrointestinal flora and alleviating diarrhea, particularly for individuals experiencing multiple relapses.
Analysis of Brain States from Multi-Region LFP Time-Series

The local field potential (LFP) is a source of information about the broad patterns of brain activity, and the frequencies present in these time-series measurements are often highly correlated between regions. It is believed that these regions may jointly constitute a "brain state," relating to cognition and behavior. An infinite hidden Markov model (iHMM) is proposed to model the evolution of brain states, based on electrophysiological LFP data measured at multiple brain regions. A brain state influences the spectral content of each region in the measured LFP. A new state-dependent tensor factorization is employed across brain regions, and the spectral properties of the LFPs are characterized in terms of Gaussian processes (GPs). The LFPs are modeled as a mixture of GPs, with state- and region-dependent mixture weights, and with the spectral content of the data encoded in GP spectral mixture covariance kernels. The model is able to estimate the number of brain states and the number of mixture components in the mixture of GPs. A new variational Bayesian split-merge algorithm is employed for inference. The model infers state changes as a function of external covariates in two novel electrophysiological datasets, using LFP data recorded simultaneously from multiple brain regions in mice; the results are validated and interpreted by subject-matter experts.
Heteroligomers of type-I and type-III inositol trisphosphate receptors in WB rat liver epithelial cells.

We have previously shown that a 222-kDa polypeptide co-immunoprecipitates together with the type-I myoinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) in WB rat liver epithelial cell extracts, when the immunoprecipitation is carried out with a type-I isoform specific antibody (Joseph, S. K.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 5673-5679). Utilizing isoform-specific antibodies raised to unique sequences within the COOH-terminal region of IP3 receptors, we now report that the co-immunoprecipitating 222-kDa polypeptide is the type-III IP3R isoform and that type-III IP3R antibodies (Abs) can co-immunoprecipitate the type-I IP3R isoform. Co-immunoprecipitation of IP3R isoforms was not due to cross-reactivity of the antibodies for the following reasons: (a) on immunoblots the type-III antibodies did not cross-react with type-I IP3R and vice versa; (b) inclusion of the COOH-terminal type-III peptide had no effect on the ability of type-I IP3R Ab to co-immunoprecipitate the type-III IP3R but blocked the ability of type-III IP3R Ab to co-immunoprecipitate the type-I isoform; and (c) crude hepatocyte lysates contain undetectable amounts of type-III IP3R, and immunoprecipitation with type-III IP3R Ab does not co-immunoprecipitate any other isoforms. However, type-I and type-II IP3R isoforms were co-immunoprecipitated by their respective antibodies in hepatocyte lysates. Sucrose density gradient analysis of WB cell lysates indicated that the co-immunoprecipitating fraction is exclusively located at the density expected for tetrameric receptors, suggesting that co-immunoprecipitation was not a reflection of the nonspecific aggregation of IP3R isoforms. Phosphorylation of either type-I or type-III immunoprecipitates by protein kinase A indicated that only the type-I IP3R could be phosphorylated in vitro. Fractionation of WB cell membranes and immunofluorescence studies showed that the type-I and type-III isoforms have very similar sub-cellular localizations. We conclude that the WB cell contains both type-I and type-III IP3R isoforms and that a proportion of these receptors exist as heterotetramers.
Pharmacological management of essential tremor

Essential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder with clinical features that manifest with both motor (tremor and balance disorders) and non-motor (such as mild cognitive deficits and hearing loss) symptoms. The diagnosis of ET is based on the presence of an action tremor of greater severity than enhanced physiological tremor, without other identifiable causes. Patients with ET experience a decrease in the performance of their motor skills and social activities, and a decline in their quality of life. The pathophysiology of ET is still not clear. Pharmacotherapy for ET is indicated if the disease interferes with the patient's quality of life. Propranolol, a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and primidone, an antiepileptic, remain the standard treatments for ET. However, studies show that several other agents, including topiramate, gabapentin and zonisamide, might also be beneficial. Local injections of botulinum toxins and surgical interventions such as thalamic deep brain stimulation play a role as alternative options when pharmacological treatment is not satisfactory. Several new agents including 1-octanol, pregabalin and sodium oxybate are currently under investigation.
Effective Dynamic Constitutive Relations for 3-D Periodic Elastic Composites

Central to the idea of metamaterials is the concept of dynamic homogenization which seeks to define frequency dependent effective properties for Bloch wave propagation. Recent advances in the theory of dynamic homogenization have established the coupled form of the constitutive relation (Willis constitutive relation). This coupled form of the constitutive relation naturally emerges from ensemble averaging of the dynamic fields and automatically satisfies the dispersion relation in the case of periodic composites. Its importance is also notable due to its invariance under transformational acoustics. Here we discuss the explicit form of the effective dynamic constitutive equations. We elaborate upon the existence and emergence of coupling in the dynamic constitutive relation and further symmetries of the effective tensors.
Reversed shear operation and ignition in high field tokamaks

Summary form only given, as follows. In neutral beam heated tokamaks, toroidal current and q profiles that possess a minimum between the magnetic axis and the plasma edge ("reversed shear") have been seen to trigger a new regime of improved plasma confinement. The favorable confinement introduces a new scenario for deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion ignition at low density and very low fusion power in high field, magnetically confined plasmas. In these devices, reversed shear current profiles should be attainable with modest amounts of auxiliary heating and at parameters that are well below the maximum design values that are needed for full field ohmic, or low-auxiliary-power, ignition. In the reversed shear ignition scenario, the initial phase of the discharge, the current rise or ramp, plays an important part in efficient plasma heating towards ignition, as well as in establishing the radial variation of the current profile. It is shown that reversed shear conditions can be established part way into the initial current ramp phase of a discharge, by control of the current ramp rate, plasma shape, and injected heating power alone, without the need for external current drive. Enhancement of the energy confinement during this part of the ramp provides the optimal heating path to ignition and minimizes the external heating requirement and the fusion power at ignition. Examples of reversed shear scenarios are shown for the Ignitor-Ult.
Does the hippocampus preplay memories

Previous studies have reported 'preplay' of hippocampal neural activity patterns associated with events yet to occur. Silva et al. challenge this finding on the basis of large-scale recordings before and after experiences.
Initiating earnings guidance: Factors related to IPO firms’ first guidance decision

The decision to provide earnings guidance for the first time is an important disclosure decision that has a significant effect on subsequent earnings guidance decisions. We explore how soon managers initiate earnings guidance after an initial public offering (IPO) and the factors associated with the adoption of this new disclosure policy. Our results suggest that managers in the current environment often initiate public guidance soon after their IPOs. Specifically, we find that more than 31 (59) percent of our sample firms provide earnings guidance within 90 (365) days of going public. We explore factors that are likely related to the supply of and demand for early earnings guidance. We find evidence of a positive association between the timing of earnings guidance initiation and the involvement of influential external parties (analysts, venture capital firms, and private equity firms) and the proportion of industry peers that guide and a negative association between the timing of first guidance and IPO information uncertainty. In addition, we find a positive association between abnormal returns and first guidance forecast news, consistent with investors generally relying on first-time guidance. We also find that firms in short-term focused industries tend to provide shorter-horizon initial guidance. Overall, the results indicate that, while the timing of first guidance varies with firm-specific measures of the costs and benefits of disclosure predicted by theory, the horizon of first guidance depends mostly on industry factors.
Correlation of intimal sudanophilia and cholesterol analyses of 3 layers of human aorta.

SummaryA single aorta from a 25-year-old white male was stained grossly with Sudan IV and divided into 189 specimens for cholesterol analysis. The results show that the extent and intensity of Sudan staining is directly proportional to cholesterol concentration in the tissue. Analysis of the data reveals no evidence for a gradient in cholesterol concentration along the length of the aorta. The cholesterol value of the inner media is generally higher than either the intimal or outer media cholesterol concentration in areas where no lipid deposit is contained in the intima. The cholesterol concentration in the outer media is consistently lower than the value for the intima or inner media.
Vesiculation of sickle erythrocytes during thermal stress

Since it is not known why sickle RBCs tend to undergo microvesiculation, we have investigated their susceptibility to thermal stress. While normal RBCs start to vesiculate at 49.0 +/- 0 degrees C (n = 14), sickle RBCs begin to vesiculate at 47.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C, with a range of 46.5 to 48.5 degrees C (n = 14). This abnormality is reproduced by treating normal RBCs with phenazine methosulfate (PMS), which stimulates the excess intracellular generation of superoxide characteristic of sickle RBCs. For PMS-treated RBCs, there is a strong correlation between membrane protein thiol oxidation and vesiculation temperature (r = .977, P less than .001). The abnormal vesiculation temperature of both unmanipulated sickle RBCs and PMS-treated RBCs is significantly improved by treatment of the RBCs with dithiothreitol. The most dense sickle RBCs are most prone to vesiculation during thermal stress, and they are the subpopulation having the greatest amount of thiol oxidation. We conclude that the tendency of sickle RBCs to vesiculate during thermal stress is further evidence for functional abnormality of the RBC cytoskeleton due to thiol oxidation.
Effect of subcellular matrix on glycosaminoglycan synthesis by human lung fibroblasts

The influences modulating glycosaminoglycan production by lung cells are not well understood. We examined the effect of three different subcellular matrices, plastic, type I collagen, and reconstituted basement membrane-like material (RBM), on the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans by cultured IMR-90 human lung fibroblasts. Accumulation of 35SO4-labeled glycosaminoglycans into the cell-matrix layer or medium was measured. Cells on collagen synthesized significantly less total glycosaminoglycans than cells on plastic but had a higher fraction of labeled glycosaminoglycans present in the cell-matrix layer (35 vs. 18%) with the increases being highest for dermatan and chondroitin sulfates. Cells grown on the RBM synthesized significantly more glycosaminoglycans than cells on plastic or collagen and also had 260% more labeled glycosaminoglycans present in the cell-matrix layer than cells on plastic. We conclude that the matrix to which lung fibroblasts are exposed can influence the amount and type of glycosaminoglycans synthesized and the degree of incorporation into the matrix. This may be relevant to fibrotic lungs with increased type I collagen or to severely injured lungs in which intra-alveolar fibroblasts are in contact with denuded basement membranes.
Embracing Mature Female Eroticism

Chapter 4 examines the differences in the ways in which the identities of men and women are constructed in film. As Amy Schumer, Betty White, and others observe, Hollywood beauty standards are such that mature women are considered unsexy and even grotesque. The increasing ageism of Hollywood is very destructive by denying women ownership of their bodies and onscreen fantasies of sexual maturity. A recent French film, Bright Days Ahead by Marion Vernoux, offers an example of disruptive feminism in the role played by Fanny Ardant, a 66-year-old woman who is unapologetically sexy, but there are growing examples of ageism and the denial of mature female sexuality.
A Kinder, Gentler Discipline: Feeling Good About Being Mediocre

This essay offers challenges to currently popular schools of thought in the discipline of communication. The argument is made that research and teaching, whether allied with groups claiming to be anywhere on the political spectrum from critical theory to the communication sciences, has become imbued with a political ideology that wronghead-edly defines communication competence as behaviors that value the collective over the individual. Such definitions also value congeniality above all else. It is further suggested that now accepted definitions of communication competence proscribe what is acceptable or unacceptable scholarship. Such political hegemony has led to the premature abandonment of lines of research that provide insights on how communication can be used as a tool of social policy, allowing ideas and people to be judged on the basis of intellectual merit rather than the political correctness of positions advocated.
Familial GPC3 and GPC4-TFDP3 deletions at Xq26 associated with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome

Abstract We report a familial case of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome type 1 (SGBS1) with prenatal ultrasound findings of bilateral ventriculomegaly and polyhydramnios and postnatal findings of macroglossia, macrosomia and other dysmorphic features. Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis and further polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing identified a 167.071 kb hemizygous deletion including the entire TFDP3 gene and exons 3–9 of the GPC4 (Glypican 4) gene, and a 86.943 kb deletion including exon 3 of the GPC3 (Glypican 3) gene. Joined sequences at the breakpoints indicate that the deletion of TFDP3 and GPC4 is likely caused by microhomology-mediated end joining while the deletion within the GPC3 gene is due to non-homology end joining. Both deletions are considered loss of function due to the loss of large portions of coding sequences. The prenatal ultrasound findings of the affected male fetuses in this family are comparable with two previously reported cases with large deletions of the GPC3 and GPC4 genes. Further investigation of more cases with genetic defects of both GPC3 and GPC4 genes is needed for assessing the genotype-phenotype correlation.
On the number of generators of ideals of dimension zero

This note contains generalizations of two results of Abhyankar [1] which give a bound for the embedding dimension of certain local rings in terms of the multiplicity and the dimension of the ring.
The Puzzle of Extreme Media and Political Tolerance: An Immigration Case Study

Using immigration content as a case study, Taylor explores the way extreme media framing and affect impact political tolerance for groups associated with S.B. 1070. Until now, there is no research looking into extreme media and political tolerance. Taylor finds that all media treatments decrease political tolerance, but—when interacted with affective engagement—liberal extreme media are able to increase political tolerance for pro-immigration groups and actors. The negative results for conservative extreme media and mainstream also dissipate when interacted with affective engagement—but are not significant—which highlights the importance of media activated emotion on political tolerance. These results show political tolerance is affected by extreme media, but significant changes in tolerance occur when the host’s framing and emotional engagement align for ideological congruity.
Low-CCN concentration air masses over the eastern North Atlantic: Seasonality, meteorology, and drivers

A 20 month cloud condensation nucleus concentration (NCCN) dataset from Graciosa Island (39∘, 28∘) in the remote North Atlantic is used to characterize air masses with low CCN concentrations. Low CCN events are defined as 6 hour periods with mean NCCN< 20 cm−3(0.1% supersaturation). A total of 47 low CCN events are identified. Surface, satellite and reanalysis data are used to explore the meteorological and cloud context for low CCN air masses. Low CCN events occur in all seasons, but their frequency was three times higher in Dec-May than during Jun-Nov. Composites show that many of the low CCN events had a common meteorological basis that involves southerly low level flow and rather low wind speeds at Graciosa. Anomalously low pressure is situated to the west of Graciosa during these events, but back-trajectories and lagged SLP composites indicate that low CCN air masses often originate as cold air outbreaks to the north and west of Graciosa. Low CCN events were associated with low cloud droplet concentrations (Nd) at Graciosa, but liquid water path (LWP) during low CCN events was not systematically different from that at other times. Satellite Nd and LWP estimates from MODIS collocated with Lagrangian back-trajectories show systematically lower Nd and higher LWP several days prior to arrival at Graciosa, consistent with the hypothesis that observed low CCN air masses are often formed by coalescence scavenging in thick warm clouds, often in cold air outbreaks.
The design and implementation of a Kinect-based framework for selective human activity tracking

In this paper, we present the design and implementation details of a Kinect-based framework for human activity tracking. The framework is intentionally designed to be open so that it can communicate over the network with other systems and mobile/wearable devices. The possibility of integrating with other devices and systems makes it possible to use Kinect for human activity tracking in a way unforeseen before. For example, the integration of our framework with wearable sensors, such as smart watches and fitness bands, enables us to perform selective tracking of the daily activities of a particular user and provide realtime feedback to the user. Furthermore, multiple frameworks could work together to form a federated system to cover a large area and/or a large number of users.
Making the hard decisions: Ethical care decisions in wartime nursing practice

Abstract Background Codes of ethics set forth standards of ethical conduct for nurses. However, nurses involved in wartime operations, or disasters, may often have their moral compass challenged by the patient care decisions necessary under adverse conditions. Reverse triage, resource allocation, and promotion of patient autonomy present multiple challenges to meeting commonly applied ethical principles. Purpose The purpose of this study was to use the International Council of Nursing code of ethics as a framework to organize the ethical issues emerging from wartime nursing. Methods This article represents a secondary analysis of two studies using thematic analysis to identify ethical issues encountered by military nurses during the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Data were collected from nurses deployed from 2002 to 2015 and from 111 military nurses during focused interviews. Discussion Across both studies, issues such as resource allocation, patient triage, cultural differences, and equitable treatment for all emerged as challenges within the wartime environment. Nurses were at a loss at times as to how best to manage the situations and recommended that more education is needed in ethical decision making before, during, and after deployment as a debriefing strategy. Similar issues have been documented in military and disaster literature indicating that such challenges are not limited to the recent conflicts but cross time and location. Conclusion By better understanding how nurses define, assess, and manage the ethical situations they encounter in wartime nursing practice, military nurses can better prepare for future conflicts, provide mentorship and targeted education to hopefully reducing any feelings of moral distress, and promote ethical decision making that will best promote outcomes in accordance with nursing's ethical codes.
Resistance and Change: Making A Case for the Entrepreneurial Mindset

The purpose of this chapter is to identify the challenges, barriers, and how to make a case for the entrepreneurial mindset.
Nonlinear ultrasound simulations using a time-explicit discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method

Histotripsy with ultrasound is an emerging noninvasive therapeutic modality that uses cavitation to precisely destroy diseased soft tissue. Accurate simulations of histotripsy are needed for treatment planning and device design. These simulations must model transient pressure fields, span hundreds of wavelengths, and must handle strong shocks and discontinuities between materials, such as the brain and the skull. The discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method is an outstanding candidate for such simulations. DG methods possess the following qualities: 1) high order accuracy, 2) geometric flexibility, 3) excellent dissipation properties, and 4) excellent scalability on massively parallel machines. The objective of this work is to introduce our efforts to develop a model nonlinear ultrasound simulations that are ultimately intended for histotripsy simulations in the brain. We have developed a 3D nonlinear wave equation solver using a time-explicit DG method [1]. The governing equations are expressed in first-order flux form, which models the effects of diffraction, attenuation, and nonlinearity. A Rusanov numerical flux is formulated and the eigenvalues of the flux Jacobian are calculated. A third-order, strong stability preserving Runge-Kutta (RK) time-integrator is used for time-discretization. Frequencysquared attenuation is modeled via a second-order diffusion term, which is evaluated using the local DG method. To stabilize the method and guarantee a non-oscillatory solution near shocks, a parameter-free stabilization scheme is implemented [2]. Full-wave 3D simulations are simulated for both linear and nonlinear problems. Numerical results for a planar waveguide and a pulsed rectangular piston are presented and compared to existing analytical solutions and to the FOCUS package [3]-[7]. Our nonlinear DG captures strong shocks and resolves diffraction, absorption, and nonlinear for all problems considered. An approach for coupling DG with FOCUS is proposed. These results suggest DG is a competitive method for transient biomedical acoustics simulations.
Reconfigurable Silicon Photonic Platform for Memory Scalability and Disaggregation

We demonstrate a bi-directional optically-connected memory architecture based on a silicon photonic platform. Optical multicast and sub-microsecond spatial switching is demonstrated to minimize reconfiguration times of 10Gbps data-streams between a CPU and two memory nodes.
Exploitation Based on Migrant Status in the United States: Current Trends and Historical Roots

This chapter examines the contemporary situation of noncitizen immigrant workers in the United States, grounding that examination in an understanding of its historical antecedents. The first section discusses the past and present use of non-citizen, migrant workers in the United States starting with chattel slavery and continuing to the use of visa workers in industries ranging from agriculture to computer programming. The second section examines the formal legal workplace protections for non-citizen workers, as well the ways in which the formal rules fail to adequately protect these workers. It concludes that, while these workers are formally covered by the laws guaranteeing basic workplace standards, in practice they lack effective remedies due to the structure of the law and problems in enforcement They are also deterred from filing claims due to fear of deportation. This latter phenomenon occurs, at least in part, because United States law, while prohibiting discrimination based on national origin and race, does not prohibit discrimination based on migration or citizenship status. The analytical difficulty in maintaining this distinction has recently been challenged by two separate lines of cases discussed in the chapter. Finally, the third part of this chapter steps back to draw broader lessons by connecting the current exploitation facing non-citizen workers in the United States to the historical treatment of non-citizen workers and to the themes of exit, voice and access to domestic labor markets found in scholarly work dealing with migrant workers in other countries.
The Regulation of Enzymes of Sucrose Metabolism in Plant Sinks

The regulation of sucrose breakdown and synthesis and the partitioning of carbon in sink tissues is not well understood. We present here a summary of what has been learned about these processes in both source and sink tissues and describe how our recent results add to our understanding of carbon metabolism in plant tissues.
Validation of acid washes as critical control points in hazard analysis and critical control point systems.

A 2% lactic acid wash used in a large meat-processing facility was validated as an effective critical control point (CCP) in a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plan. We examined the microbial profiles of beef carcasses before the acid wash, beef carcasses immediately after the acid wash, beef carcasses 24 h after the acid wash, beef subprimal cuts from the acid-washed carcasses, and on ground beef made from acid-washed carcasses. Total mesophilic, psychrotrophic, coliforms, generic Escherichia coli, lactic acid bacteria, pseudomonads, and acid-tolerant microorganisms were enumerated on all samples. The presence of Salmonella spp. was also determined. Acid washing significantly reduced all counts except for pseudomonads that were present at very low numbers before acid washing. All other counts continued to stay significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those on pre-acid-washed carcasses throughout all processing steps. Total bacteria, coliforms, and generic E. coli enumerated on ground beef samples were more than 1 log cycle lower than those reported in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Baseline data. This study suggests that acid washes may be effective CCPs in HACCP plans and can significantly reduce the total number of microorganisms present on the carcass and during further processing.
GALNT14 genotype-guided, sorafenib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma: An interim report of a prospective randomized controlled trial.

e15657Background: Sorafenib is the only approved targeted agent for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the mainstay of treatment for...
Vaccine-induced V1V2-specific antibodies control and or protect against infection with HIV, SIV and SHIV.

Purpose of reviewIn humans, only one independent immunologic correlate of reduced risk of HIV infection has been identified: a robust antibody (Ab) response to the V1V2 domain of the gp120 envelope (Env) protein. In recent years, the presence and level of V1V2-specific Abs has also been correlated w
TCP BBR for Ultra-Low Latency Networking: Challenges, Analysis, and Solutions

With the new emerging throughput-intensive ultralow latency applications, there is a need for a transport layer protocol that can achieve high throughput with low latency. One promising candidate is TCP BBR, a protocol developed by Google, with the aim of achieving high throughput and low latency by operating around the Bandwidth Delay Product (BDP) of the bottleneck link. Google reported significant throughput gains and much lower latency relative to TCP Cubic following the deployment of BBR in their high-speed wide area wired network. As most of these emerging applications will be supported by Millimeter Wave (mmWave) wireless networks, BBR should achieve both high throughput and ultra-low latency in these settings. However, in our preliminary experiments with BBR over a mmWave wireless link operating at 60 GHz, we observed a severe degradation in throughput that we were able to attribute to high delay variation on the link. In this paper, we show that “throughput collapse” occurs when BBR’s estimate of minimum RTT is less than half of the average RTT of the uncongested link (as when delay jitter is large). We demonstrate this phenomenon and explain the underlying reasons for it using a series of controlled experiments on the CloudLab testbed. We also present a mathematical analysis of BBR, which matches our experimental results closely. Based on our analysis, we propose and experimentally evaluate potential solutions that can overcome the throughput collapse without adding significant latency.
Impact of a Nurse-Driven Diabetic Ketoacidosis Insulin Infusion Calculator on the Rate of Hypoglycemia.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of an insulin infusion calculator incorporated into electronic health record system in reducing the rate of hypoglycemia in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) management. METHODS Retrospective chart review of patients with primary admission diagnosis of DKA was conducted in a university-affiliated academic medical center. End points including the rate of hypoglycemia, time to DKA resolution, rate of hypokalemia, time on insulin drip, and length of stay were measure before and after implementation of DKA calculator. RESULTS Of 181 adult patients admitted for primary diagnosis of DKA, 103 were managed using the calculator. After implementation of the calculator, incidence of hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemia were significantly reduced by 70% and 87%, respectively (P < 0.01). No difference was observed for time to DKA resolution, time on insulin drip, and length of stay. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of DKA insulin infusion calculator significantly reduced the rate of hypoglycemia. Future improvements should focus on reducing time to DKA resolution and length of stay.
Theory of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering off the Unpolarized Proton

Using the helicity amplitudes formalism, we study deeply virtual exclusive electron photoproduction off an unpolarized nucleon target, $ep \rightarrow e' p' \gamma$, through a range of kinematic settings for the initial electron energy in the laboratory system, 6 GeV, 11 GeV and 24 GeV, which are ideal for studying the 3D quark structure of the nucleon. We use a reformulation of the cross section that brings to the forefront the defining features of the $ep \rightarrow e'p'\gamma$ process as a {\it coincidence scattering} experiment, where the observables are expressed as bilinear products of the independent helicity amplitudes which completely describe the process in terms of the electric, magnetic and axial currents for the nucleon. These different contributions to the cross section are checked against the Fourier harmonics-based formalism which has provided so far the underlying mathematical framework to study Deeply virtual Compton scattering and related experiments. Using two different sets of theoretical evaluations of the twist-two generalized parton distributions, $ H$, $E$, $\widetilde{H}$ and $\widetilde{E}$, we uncover surprisingly large discrepancies with this framework in the intermediate $Q^2$ range which represents a sweet spot for extracting generalized parton distributions from data. Our findings indicate that for a quantitative interpretation of experimental data the full $t$ and $Q^2$ dependence has to be accounted for.
A simulated patient experience to improve pharmacy student empathy for patients on hemodialysis.

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to increase student empathy towards hemodialysis patients through an educational intervention that simulates a hemodialysis patient experience. Methods Second-year pharmacy students (n = 83) in a required therapeutic module were asked to follow key lifestyle modifications of a hemodialysis patient for two weeks. Students' self-perceived empathy level was assessed using the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale (KCES) pre- and post-intervention and post-reflection questions captured students' perceptions of the experience. Data were analyzed using frequencies and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests to assess pre-post changes. Reflection questions were assessed using a grounded analysis to identify themes. Results Significant differences were found on 13 of 15 KCES items and KCES composite scores. Of the 13 significant KCES items, nine were related to the cognitive domain and four were related to the affective domain. When asked how the experience impacted the student personally, 38 responded that it provided them with a better understanding of the challenges associated with managing hemodialysis treatments. In response to how this experience would change their professional interactions with a hemodialysis patient, students explained that they felt more equipped to empathize with patients (n = 22). Conclusions This intervention improved students' cognitive and affective empathy towards hemodialysis patients, which may prepare them to be more compassionate healthcare professionals. Experiencing first-hand some of the quality-of-life challenges hemodialysis patients face significantly influenced student empathy levels towards this population.
Effects of a sit-stand-walk intervention on musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, and perceived physical and mental fatigue, for computer-based work

Abstract The effects of a sit-stand-walk intervention to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort, attenuate perceived physical and mental fatigue, and increase physical activity without adversely affecting productivity was investigated for computer-based work. A between-participants design was used with 80 participants randomly assigned to one of five work conditions (sit-stand, stand-sit, sitting, standing and sit-stand-walk) to perform a 60-min computer-based typing transcription task. Musculoskeletal discomfort, and perceived physical and mental fatigue were reported through surveys; productivity was measured by typing speed and typing errors. For the sit-stand-walk intervention musculoskeletal discomfort was significantly less compared to sitting or standing for the hour; perceived physical fatigue was significantly less compared to standing for the hour. There were no benefits or differences among the work conditions in terms of perceived mental fatigue and productivity. By combining postural variability of sit-stand workstations with intermittent light-intensity physical activity enabled by active breaks, the sit-stand-walk intervention demonstrates a beneficial and viable alternative to sedentary office work.
Applications of the US EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard to support mass spectrometry and breath research

Abstract The identification of volatile compounds detected through breath sampling is generally performed using mass spectrometry (MS). The data, including extracted masses, formulae, and retention indices, coupled with searching against reference databases, are essential for the identification of candidate chemicals detected in the breath. The application of cheminformatics approaches to support this chemical identification process is an increasingly important component of MS analyses. The US EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard is a rich repository of chemistry- and environmental toxicology–related data for ∼875,000 chemical substances and delivers specific functionality to support MS analyses. Flexible search capabilities, the aggregation of chemical lists of interest to defined areas of research, and the ability to use metadata-based candidate ranking make the Dashboard a valuable tool in the armory of biomarker discovery studies. The application of the Dashboard to support breath research using MS is discussed and future developments are outlined.
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the prostate and seminal vesicle.

Abstract Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) a common malignancy with potential to metastasize to visceral organs. However, it uncommonly spreads to the lower genitourinary tract. We present a man with a history of RCC status post radical nephrectomy in April 2012. He presented 8 years later with obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms and an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA). Further imaging showed a large enhancing mass with internal blood vessels posterior to the left prostate and seminal vesicle. A prostate biopsy was performed and consistent with metastatic RCC. He was ultimately treated with immunotherapy and focal stereotactic radioablation.
Model-Based Safe Policy Search from Signal Temporal Logic Specifications Using Recurrent Neural Networks.

We propose a policy search approach to learn controllers from specifications given as Signal Temporal Logic (STL) formulae. The system model is unknown, and it is learned together with the control policy. The model is implemented as a feedforward neural network (FNN). To capture the history dependency of the STL specification, we use a recurrent neural network (RNN) to implement the control policy. In contrast to prevalent model-free methods, the learning approach proposed here takes advantage of the learned model and is more efficient. We use control barrier functions (CBFs) with the learned model to improve the safety of the system. We validate our algorithm via simulations. The results show that our approach can satisfy the given specification within very few system runs, and therefore it has the potential to be used for on-line control.
A Mobile Health Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background Supervised exercise training improves outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The effect of an unsupervised activity intervention has not been tested. Research Question Can a text-based mobile health intervention increase step counts in patients with PAH? Study Design and Methods We performed a randomized, parallel arm, single-blind clinical trial. We randomized patients to usual care or a text message-based intervention for 12 weeks. The intervention arm received three automated text messages per day with real-time step count updates and encouraging messages rooted in behavioral change theory. Individual step targets increased by 20% every 4 weeks. The primary end point was mean week 12 step counts. Secondary end points included the 6-min walk test, quality of life, right ventricular function, and body composition. Results Among 42 randomized participants, the change in raw steps between baseline and week 12 was higher in the intervention group (1,409 steps [interquartile range, –32 to 2,220] vs –149 steps [interquartile range, –1,010 to 735]; P = .02), which persisted after adjustment for age, sex, baseline step counts, and functional class (model estimated difference, 1,250 steps; P = .03). The intervention arm took a higher average number of steps on all days between days 9 and 84 (P Interpretation This study demonstrated the feasibility of an automated text message-based intervention to increase physical activity in patients with PAH. Additional studies are warranted to examine the effect of the intervention on clinical outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov ; No. NCT03069716; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
Growth is Good for the Poor

When average income rises, the average incomes of the poorest fifth of society rise proportionately. This is a consequence of the strong empirical regularity that the share of income accruing to the bottom quintile does not vary systematically with average income. The authors document this empirical regularity in a sample of 92 countries spanning the past four decades and show that it holds across regions, periods, income levels, and growth rates. The authors next ask whether the factors that explain cross-country differences in the growth rates of average incomes have differential effects on the poorest fifth of society. They find that several determinants of growth--such as good rule of law, opennness to international trade, and developed financial markets--have little systematic effect on the share of income that accrues to the bottom quintile. Consequently, these factors benefit the poorest fifth of society as much as everyone else. Thee is some weak evidence that stabilization from high inflation and reductions in the overall size of government not only increase growth but also increase the income share of the poorest fifth in society. Finally, the authors examine several factors commonly thought to disproportionately benefit the poorest in society, but find little evidence of their effects. The absence of robust findings emphasizes that relatively little is known about the broad forces that account for the cross-country and intertemporal variation in the share of income accruing to the poorest fifth of society.
Ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure: the importance of blood pressure during work

Studies of 24-hour blood pressure (BP) patterns in patients with mild untreated hyperten­sion have shown that BP is highest while at work, intermediate while at home, and lowest during sleep. Since the majority of these patients had sedentary jobs, the higher pressures during work are attributed to psychosocial factors rather than to physical activity.
Plato's Erotic World: From Cosmic Origins to Human Death

Plato's entire fictive world is permeated with philosophical concern for Eros, well beyond the so-called erotic dialogues. Several metaphysical, epistemological and cosmological conversations - Timaeus, Cratylus, Parmenides, Theaetetus and Phaedo - demonstrate that Eros lies at the root of the human condition and that properly guided Eros is the essence of a life well lived. This book presents a holistic vision of Eros, beginning with the presence of Eros at the origin of the cosmos and the human soul, surveying four types of human self-cultivation aimed at good guidance of Eros and concluding with human death as a return to our origins. The book challenges conventional wisdom regarding the 'erotic dialogues' and demonstrates that Plato's world is erotic from beginning to end: the human soul is primordially erotic and the well-cultivated erotic soul can best remember and return to its origins, its lifelong erotic desire.
Foreign language ability: a core attribute of hospitality graduates' competency?

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the importance of foreign language ability as a core attribute of graduates from hospitality management programs. Specifically, the perceptions of such importance were examined and compared among hospitality managers, recruiters, and students themselves and in relation to a number of other attributes. A total of 175 completed questionnaires were collected from recruiters, students and managers. The study found that managers attached a different degree of importance to certain attributes than students and recruiters agreed upon. These and other findings suggest that there might be a lack of effective communications between each pair of the three groups. The study results present critical implications for hospitality educational curricula.
Civil Liability for Wartime Environmental Damage: Adapting the United Nations Compensation for the Iraq War

There is little doubt that war has a deleterious effect on the natural environment of battlegrounds. Customary principles of international law, as well as more formal instruments such as treaties, address wartime environmental protection. An analysis of these mechanisms reveals that they are inadequate to ensure protection and restoration of environmental resources damaged during war. Thus, a mechanism is needed for assessing civil liability against nations for any wartime environmental damage. The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), created to compensate victims of the Persian Gulf War, is a mechanism that if modiaed could all this void. This Note focuses on the modiacations that could make the UNCC a successful mechanism for assessing civil liability for wartime environmental damage. Further, this Note applies the adapted UNCC to the Iraq War, and examines whether U.S.-led coalition forces should be held civilly liable for damage to Iraq’s natural environment.