cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impulsivity in Parkinson's disease is associated with altered subthalamic but not globus pallidus internus activity.

Background A significant subset of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) suffer from impulse control disorders (ICDs). A hallmark feature of many ICDs is the pursuit of rewarding behaviours despite negative consequences. Recent evidence implicates the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) in reward and punishment processing, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) of these structures has been associated with changes in ICD symptoms. Methods We tested the hypothesis that in patients with PD diagnosed with ICD, neurons in the STN and GPi would be more responsive to reward-related stimuli and less responsive to loss-related stimuli. We studied a cohort of 43 patients with PD (12 with an ICD and 31 without) undergoing DBS electrode placement surgery. Patients performed a behavioural task in which their action choices were motivated by the potential for either a monetary reward or a monetary loss. During task performance, the activity of individual neurons was recorded in either the STN (n=100) or the GPi (n=100). Results The presence of an ICD was associated with significantly greater proportions of reward responsive neurons (p Conclusions These findings provide further evidence of STN involvement in impulsive behaviour in the PD population.
Fields of Mutual Alignment: A Dual-Order Approach to the Study of Cultural Holes:

In this article, I discuss how network-analytic exploitations of the duality of agents and social object enable the study of fields from two analytical vantage points. Such an approach entails: (1)...
Milk Volume at 2 Weeks Predicts Mother's Own Milk Feeding at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge for Very Low Birthweight Infants.

Abstract Objective: This study sought to determine the maternal prepregnancy, pregnancy, and delivery risk factors that predicted coming to volume (CTV; achieving pumped mother's own milk [MOM] volume ≥500 mLs/day) and the continuation of MOM provision through to discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in mothers and their very low birthweight (VLBW; <1,500 g at birth) infants. Study Design: Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from 402 mothers of VLBW infants admitted to an urban NICU, including detailed MOM pumping records for a subset (51%) of the cohort. Analyses included inverse probability weighting, multivariate regression, and chi-square statistics. Results: In this high-risk cohort (51.2% black, 27.1% Hispanic, 21.6% white/Asian; 72.6% low income; 61.4% overweight/obese prepregnancy), CTV by day 14 was the strongest predictor of MOM feeding at NICU discharge (odds ratio [OR] 9.70 confidence interval [95% CI] 3.86–24.38, p < 0.01.). Only 39.5% of mothers achieved CTV b...
A state of the art current-septum dipole magnet

Abstract The acceleration process of charged particle beams often requires the use of few acceleration stages to provide the beam with the desired energy. The extraction of the beam from one acceleration stage and the injection to the next, both require a special type of magnet which comes under the name septum magnet. Such a magnet generates a strong field in one region and a very low field in another region with the two regions separated by a very thin material (septum). The septum thickness of such a magnet should be as thin as possible to reduce the strength of other devices, like kickers, which are involved in the extraction or injection processes. A thin septum is also advantageous during the slow beam extraction process to reduce the beam losses at the septum. One of the methods which in theory can generate very large differences in field strength in adjacent field regions separated by a thin septum, is the use of two thin parallel current sheets of infinite dimensions. In practice we use other devices that can approximate such an abrupt change of the magnetic field within the septum thickness. In this paper we describe such a device, the DC current septum, we present results from the study of its electromagnetic properties, and we discuss a method to minimize the magnetic field in the region which requires a very small magnetic field. We also provide some results from the experimental measurements of the magnetic field generated by the “D6” current septum magnet which is installed in the experimental beam line of the NASA’s Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) facility (Tsoupas et al., 2007; Brown et al., 2010) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). This septum magnet is part of the beam’s extraction system from the AGS-Booster into the NSRL beam line for material and biological studies.
What is the future

The major problem when treating nail psoriasis is either the difficulty of the topical medications to present their therapeutic efficacy or the side effects of the systematically administrated drugs.
The Effects of Ambiguity Tolerance and User Discretion on Spatial Task Performance and Display Choices

Recent improvements in information technologies have led to the creation and advancement of numerous interfaces or visual displays. However, not all innovations in visual representations optimize their users’ decisional performance. This research examines whether granting users discretion improves their decisional accuracy and expedites their decision making, as well as reduces their stress and mental workload. In addition, the current study utilizes an extensive, relatively stable construct in cognitive psychology – ambiguity tolerance – to represent individuals’ openness to complexities and investigates the impacts on those decisional outcomes. The mixed results yield implications for future studies.
Vitamin D, Gene Expression, and Cancer

Classically, vitamin D was discovered because in its absence the disease rickets, osteomalacia, and hypocalcemic tetany resulted (1, 2). Clearly, vitamin D functions in the regulation of plasma calcium and plasma phosphorus, which in turn results in normal mineralization of the skeleton and the normal functioning of the neuromuscular junction. Vitamin D carries out these functions following its metabolism, as described below, to its active or hormonal form, i.e. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). This hormone directly stimulates intestinal calcium transport and independently intestinal phosphate transport by mechanisms not yet fully understood (1, 2). In addition, 1,25-(OH)2D3 acts on the osteoblasts together with parathyroid hormone (PTH) to facilitate the mobilization of calcium from bone into the plasma compartment when required. More recently it has been demonstrated that 1,25-(OH)2D3 facilitates the reabsorption of calcium in the distal renal tubule in a mechanism also dependent upon the presence of the PTH (1-3). These actions result in an elevation of plasma calcium and phosphorus, resulting in normal mineralization of the skeleton and neuromuscular function (Figure 1).
Comparison of standard EKG criteria and EKG-derived Sylvester Score for quantification of infarct size with SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)

1809 Objectives EKG’s are routinely used in clinical practice to assess presence of old (chronic) myocardial infarction (MI). Our aim was to compare the ability of standard EKG criteria to predict chronic MI and also compare the EKG derived Sylvester Score, used to quantify MI size, to MI size measured by SPECT MPI. Methods We retrospectively reviewed SPECT MPI and EKG’s of 38 patients with a history of at least one year or old MI. EKG’s with LVH, RBBB, LBBB, pacemaker, intra-ventricular conduction delay, left and right fascicular block and pre-excitation were excluded to enable calculation of Sylvester Score. Standard Q and R wave criteria per joint ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF task force were used to determine presence or absence of old MI. Additionally EKG-derived Sylvester Score was calculated to quantify MI size. The MI size was measured by rest MPI using automated polar maps and expressed as percentage of LV myocardium. Results There are 34 men and 4 women aged 66 ± 8 years. The MPI infarct size was 26 ± 17% (range 5 to 70%). The LVEF was 54 ± 10% (range 26 to 70%). Of the 38 patients with evidence of MI on SPECT MPI, only 14 (37%) met the standard EKG criteria of chronic MI (inferior/lateral or anterior/septal/lateral). The Sylvester score ranged between 0 and 11(median score 5 out of a possible maximum score of 32). There was no statistically significant correlation between the Sylvester Score and MPI in assessment of infarct size (p value 0.16). Conclusions Standard EKG criteria as per joint ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF task force are poor predictors of presence of old MI as determined by rest MPI. Further, the EKG-derived Sylvester Score is not useful in quantifying the MI size
Effect of diltiazem and low-dose aspirin on platelet aggregation and ATP release induced by paired agonists

The authors studied the effects of diltiazem, administered alone and together with low-dose aspirin, on the platelet response to paired agonists. After a baseline period, 25 healthy volunteers were given oral diltiazem for 1 week (120, 240, or 360 mg/day), and then crossed over randomly between 1 week on diltiazem plus aspirin (81 mg/day), and 1 week on aspirin (81 mg/day) alone. Platelet function was tested on 2 consecutive days in each period. Synergistic platelet aggregation and ATP release were obtained at baseline using a subthreshold concentration of arachidonic acid combined with platelet activating factor, ADP, or epinephrine. Diltiazem resulted in significant decrease from baseline in platelet aggregation and ATP release using the arachidonic acid-epinephrine combination (35% and 40% decrease, respectively, p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in aggregation using the arachidonic acid-ADP combination (22% decrease, p < 0.01). The effects were neither dose-related, nor accompanied by any significant change in serum thromboxane B2 levels or bleeding times. There was no significant difference between the effects of aspirin alone and aspirin plus diltiazem on the synergistic platelet aggregation and ATP release induced by the paired agonists, or on thromboxane B2 levels or bleeding times. Diltiazem administered in vivo partially inhibits the synergistic platelet aggregation and ATP release induced by paired agonists; however, in contrast to a previous in vitro study it does not potentiate the platelet-inhibitory effect of aspirin.
The Impact of Carboxylesterases in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics

Background: Carboxylesterases (CES) play a critical role in catalyzing hydrolysis of esters, amides, carbamates and thioesters, as well as bioconverting prodrugs and soft drugs. The unique tissue distribution of CES enzymes provides great opportunities to design prodrugs or soft drugs for tissue targeting. Marked species differences in CES tissue distribution and catalytic activity are particularly challenging in human translation. Methods: Review and summarization of CES fundamentals and applications in drug discovery and development. Results: Human CES1 is one of the most highly expressed drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver, while human intestine only expresses CES2. CES enzymes have moderate to high inter-individual variability and exhibit low to no expression in the fetus, but increase substantially during the first few months of life. The CES genes are highly polymorphic and some CES ge-netic variants show significant influence on metabolism and clinical outcome of certain drugs. Monkeys appear to be more predictive of human pharmacokinetics for CES substrates than other species. Low risk of clinical drug-drug interaction is anticipated for CES, although they should not be overlooked, particularly interaction with alcohols. CES enzymes are moderately inducible through a number of transcription factors and can be repressed by inflammatory cy-tokines. Conclusion: Although significant advances have been made in our understanding of CESs, in vitro - in vivo extrapolation of clearance is still in its infancy and further exploration is needed. In vitro and in vivo tools are continuously being developed to characterize CES substrates and inhibitors
Flip the Switch: The Impact of the Rural Electrification Administration 1935-1940

To isolate the impact of access to electricity on local economies, we examine the impact of the Rural Electrification Administration low-interest loans in the 1930s. The REA provided loans to cooperatives to lay distribution lines to farms and aid in wiring homes. Consequently, the number of rural farm homes electrified doubled in the United States within five years. We develop a panel data set for the 1930s and use changes within counties over time to identify the effect of the REA loans on a wide range of socio-economic measures. The REA loans contributed significantly to increases in crop output and crop productivity and helped stave off declines in overall farm output, productivity, and land values, but they had much smaller effects on nonagricultural parts of the economy. The ex-ante subsidy from the low-interest loans was large, but after the program was completed, nearly all of the loans were fully repaid, and the ultimate cost to the taxpayer was relatively low.
Design and initial results of an RF-penetrable TOF PET insert dedicated for brain PET/MRI

Combined PET/MRI allows physicians to acquire multiparametric (anatomical, functional and molecular) information about a patient's diseases in one imaging session. A PET insert dedicated to brain PET/MRI offers several advantages compared to the commercial integrated whole-body PET/MRI systems, including 2–3 times higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution, and significantly lower price. We are developing an RF-penetrable TOF PET insert dedicated for brain PET/MRI. The trans-axial field-of-view (FoV) of the scanner is 28 cm, and the axial FoV is 16 cm. The PET ring consists of 16 detector modules. Within each detector module, 6 sub-modules are arranged in the axial direction of the scanner. Each sub-module consists of an array of $8 \times 16$ LYSO crystals, each 3.2 mm $\times 3.2$ mm $\times 20$ mm, coupled one-to-one to an array of $8 \times 16$ SiPMs. Four PETA6 ASICs are placed on the sub-module to read out the signals from the SiPMs. Energy resolution at 511 keV and coincidence timing resolution (CRT) achieved in preliminary coincidence measurements acquired with two $4 \times 4$ LYSO crystal arrays are $12.3 \pm 0.3$% and $285\pm 14.0$ ps FWHM, respectively. The sub-modules, with minimized trace length between the SiPMs and the PETA6 ASICs and active liquid cooling, are currently under production aiming for a system CRT goal of 250 ps FWHM. The 250 ps FWHM CRT goal will provide an image SNR gain of 2 from TOF, which will help to further enhance visualization and quantification of brain images. In this presentation, we will present the design and initial results of this new RF-penetrable TOF PET insert.
Feature selection and prediction of treatment failure in tuberculosis

Background Tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Drug resistance, which is predicted to rise in many countries worldwide, threatens tuberculosis treatment and control. Objective To identify features associated with treatment failure and to predict which patients are at highest risk of treatment failure. Methods On a multi-country dataset managed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases we applied various machine learning techniques to identify factors statistically associated with treatment failure and to predict treatment failure based on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics alone. Results The complete-case analysis database consisted of 587 patients (68% males) with a median (p25-p75) age of 40 (30–51) years. Treatment failure occurred in approximately one fourth of the patients. The features most associated with treatment failure were patterns of drug sensitivity, imaging findings, findings in the microscopy Ziehl-Nielsen stain, education status, and employment status. The most predictive model was forward stepwise selection (AUC: 0.74), although most models performed at or above AUC 0.7. A sensitivity analysis using the 643 original patients filling the missing values with multiple imputation showed similar predictive features and generally increased predictive performance. Conclusion Machine learning can help to identify patients at higher risk of treatment failure. Closer monitoring of these patients may decrease treatment failure rates and prevent emergence of antibiotic resistance. The use of inexpensive basic demographic and clinical features makes this approach attractive in low and middle-income countries.
FFT-Accelerated Near-Field Scattering Evaluation

An FFT-based algorithm is presented for rapidly post-processing the integral-equation based solution of scattering problems to evaluate the fields at an arbitrary number of nearby points. The proposed algorithm uses a similar approach to the adaptive integral method (AIM) but contends with the fact that the fields are not Galerkin tested with basis functions but instead point tested. It reduces the computational costs compared to the brute-force method, especially when the number of observer points is large.
Why the efficiency gains from PBR may turn on Hope

Abstract There is renewed interest in PBR in the electric power industry because in theory it constitutes a superior alternative to rate-of-return regulation in emulating competitive market outcomes. The superior incentives of PBR derive from breaking the link between allowed revenues and costs. The interplay between the Hope standard and competitive-entry policies enables the regulator to reestablish the linkage between the regulated firm’s revenues and costs. Consequently, the expected efficiency gains from PBR may prove illusory.
CyberPLAYce—A tangible, interactive learning tool fostering children’s computational thinking through storytelling

Abstract The learning environment plays a critical role in a child’s life, affecting both cognitive development and effectiveness in work or play. As the boundary between physical and digital worlds blurs, there is a need for new digital tools and physical environments to support the everyday, cyber–physicalinteractions of children. This paper presents a Research-through-Design example of CyberPLAYce, a tangible, interactive, learning construction kit for children supporting storytelling and computational thinking (CT). The construction kit facilitates and enhances child-to-child, child-to-machine, and child-to-environment interactions through semi-structured play. It offers young students the opportunity to materialize their ideas through the construction of cyber–physical story algorithms allowing them to physically alter story segments while constructing and enhancing the storyline. The CyberPLAYce research places an emphasis on the importance of employing tangible learning tools in order to enhance children’s active engagement. We focus on the motivations for CyberPLAYce, its participatory design, and results of an empirical study concerning CT with 8-12 year-old storytellers in a classroom setting. Results from the study suggest that cyber–physical activities afforded by CyberPLAYce cultivate engaged storytelling and CT practices in children. This multidisciplinary design-research contributes to construction tools for children, cyber–physical storytelling and story-construction activities, and tangible computing and programming activities that support CT.
Bringing Design to the Privacy Table: Broadening “Design” in “Privacy by Design” Through the Lens of HCI

In calls for privacy by design (PBD), regulators and privacy scholars have investigated the richness of the concept of "privacy." In contrast, "design" in HCI is comprised of rich and complex concepts and practices, but has received much less attention in the PBD context. Conducting a literature review of HCI publications discussing privacy and design, this paper articulates a set of dimensions along which design relates to privacy, including: the purpose of design, which actors do design work in these settings, and the envisioned beneficiaries of design work. We suggest new roles for HCI and design in PBD research and practice: utilizing values- and critically-oriented design approaches to foreground social values and help define privacy problem spaces. We argue such approaches, in addition to current "design to solve privacy problems" efforts, are essential to the full realization of PBD, while noting the politics involved when choosing design to address privacy.
The Influence of National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Sorority Membership on Graduation and Time-to-Degree: A Multi-Institution Study

This study considered the influence of National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority membership on graduation rate and time-to-degree. Data from women at 18 four-year postsecondary institutions co...
The Dark Side of Job Crafting: Exploring the Implications of Job Crafting in the Hidden Realm

This paper seeks to expand the upon the growing literature of job crafting to understand the dark side of job crafting. With a focus on the “hidden realm,” where neither managers nor co-workers are...
The Reformers as fathers of the church: Luther and Calvin in the thought of Karl Barth

Karl Barth's understanding of Luther and Calvin is not best illumined by an examination of his direct citation of their work, but by a consideration of his description of their vocation as church fathers as outlined in Church Dogmatics, I/2, a position held with remarkable consistency over the course of his career. Barth's discussion of Luther and Calvin there not only sets forth his understanding of the Reformers in a historical genealogy of revelation and its witnesses, but places them in an ordering of church authorities. Moreover, his description of their unique vocation sheds important light upon his understanding of the modern discipline of church history itself. His treatment of the Reformers thus both exemplifies and follows from his conviction that church history is not an independent theological discipline but can only accompany the central disciplines of exegetical, dogmatic and practical theology.
ρ Production in Deep-Inelastic Electron Scattering

The reaction $e+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}e+p+{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}$ is measured by observing electron-proton coincidences for $\ensuremath{\nu}$ beyond the resonance region and for $\ensuremath{-}t=0.07 \mathrm{to} 0.5$ Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{2}$. We note that the yield of $p+{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}$ relative to other hadron final states is less than in photoproduction.
GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AT SANGIHE ISLAND REGENCY

Tourism is a leading sector and source of income for many local governments, including the government of Sangihe Islands Regency. Sustainable tourism development has been considered as a major factor in maintaining the environmental integrity, as well as social and economic equality of a region’s tourist attractions. This study uses qualitative research, where the data collection was carried out by observation, documentation and interviews with the stakeholders of tourism in the regency, in particular the local Cultural and Tourism Office. Moreover, in this research, the potentials of the Sangihe Islands Regency were identified and categorized into three, namely Cultural, Natural and Maritime, and Nature Reserve tourism potentials. The local government’s policies to improve and develop its sustainable tourism are then divided into four main aspects, which are the development of tourist destinations, tourism marketing, tourism industry, and tourism institutions. Lastly, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are identified in order to develop strategies that would support and improve the development of sustainable tourism in Sangihe Islands Regency.
A Closed Form Radar Cross Section Prediction Modeling For OverHead Wires At Millimeter Waves

A closed form modeling of a Radar Cross-Section (RCS) prediction of OverHead Wires (OHWs) at mmWaves is presented. Using exact equations of a bundle of twisted strands (BTSs), accurately modeling the outermost layer of an OHW, first, cylindrical expansions of the Z-component of the incident plane wave are derived both for Transverse Magnetic (TM) and Transverse Electric (TE) modes. Using Maxwell equations in cylindrical coordinates, scattered fields are inferred and then closed forms of RCS are deduced in both modes. The proposed RCS modeling is simulated on OHWs Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) type at 3-mm, 2-mm, and 1-mm waves. The resulting RCSs vs incident angles well highlight Bragg peaks that characterize OHW signatures at mm-waves and are contrasted with previous published ones.
FIB Dimpling: A Method for Preparing Plan-View TEM Specimens

Failure analysis in the microelectronic industry via TEM has long dealt with the specimen preparation spatial resolution problem—the ability to prepare useful TEM specimens at very small pre-selected locations. This problem is made more difficult with time because, while device structures become smaller and more dense, the failure rate of individual devices is extremely low and dropping. TEM analysts, therefore, must prepare specimens that optimally present a single faulty component within an ocean of a billion or more similar components. Sophisticated electrical testers can find the faulty component and transfer its coordinates to a FIB tool where the failure can be marked. Cross section TEM specimens are appropriate when it is suspected that the failure is caused by a defect in the stack of metal and insulators constructed on the top of the device substrate (usually silicon). Plan view TEM specimens are appropriate when the electrical signature of the failure indicates that the fault lies in the Si itself-dislocations or some other crystal defect.
Sustainable Compassion Training: Integrating Meditation Theory With Psychological Science.

Meditation programs continue to proliferate in the modern world, with increasing participation from stakeholders throughout science and those who seek to improve physical, mental, relational, and social flourishing. In developing such programs, the meditation practices and contextual factors surrounding them have been adapted to meet the needs of modern cultures. However, in so doing, important contextual factors of traditional cultures are often dropped or forgotten. This article presents a system of compassion and mindfulness training, Sustainable Compassion Training (SCT), which is designed to help people cultivate increasingly unconditional, inclusive, and sustainable care for others. SCT aims to recover important contextual factors of meditation that flexibly meet the diverse needs of modern secular, and religious participants. SCT draws on Tibetan Buddhism in dialogue with caregivers, other contemplative traditions and relevant scientific theories to inform meditative transformation for secular contexts. We provide an overview of SCT meditations that includes both contemplative and scientific theories that draw out important features of them. Each meditation includes novel hypotheses that are generated from this dialogical process. We also provide links to audio-guided meditations.
Energy-aware primary/backup scheduling of periodic real-time tasks on heterogeneous multicore systems

Abstract For real-time embedded systems, energy management and fault tolerance are both critical. However these two objectives are often at odds, because extra resources needed to tolerate faults significantly increase the energy consumption. In this paper, we consider energy-aware and fault-tolerant scheduling of periodic real-time tasks. Our target platform is a heterogeneous multicore system. We reduce the energy consumption by both applying DVFS to scale the primary tasks, and maximizing the opportunities to cancel the back-up tasks in fault-free execution scenarios. To tolerate both transient and permanent faults, primary and backup copies of tasks are scheduled on different cores. Our framework consists of offline and online phases to manage energy and fault-tolerant scheduling of periodic tasks in tandem. The latter objective is achieved through an explicit task priority assignment phase, coupled with a dual queue based back-up delaying algorithm. In particular, we propose a scheme called Reverse Preference-Oriented Priority Assignment (RPPA) which is experimentally shown to be very effective to reduce the energy consumption. RPPA, when coupled with the dual-queue based delaying algorithm, outperforms other schemes and approaches the energy performance of a theoretical lower bound. All the proposed schemes satisfy the stringent timing and fault tolerance requirements of periodic real-time tasks while managing the energy consumption dynamically.
Vectorized Capsid Rendering in the Browser with Capsid.js

Abstract Motivation Few online services exist for rendering high-quality viral capsid figures compatible with common productivity software to develop effective infographics in the field of virology. Results The capsid.js library renders class I viral capsids within an online application that parameterizes style options, perspectives, and lattice patterns with SVG export. Availability This project is actively developed on GitHub (https://github.com/dnanto/capsid), distributed under the MIT License, hosted on GitHub Pages, and runs on modern browsers (https://dnanto.github.io/capsid/capsid.html). Supplementary information Supplementary data are available on GitHub.
Shuffled Model of Federated Learning: Privacy, Accuracy and Communication Trade-Offs

We consider a distributed empirical risk minimization (ERM) optimization problem with communication efficiency and privacy requirements, motivated by the federated learning (FL) framework (Kairouz et al ., 2019). Unique challenges to the traditional ERM problem in the context of FL include $\textsf{(i)}$ need to provide privacy guarantees on clients’ data, $\textsf{(ii)}$ compress the communication between clients and the server, since clients might have low-bandwidth links, $\textsf{(iii)}$ work with a dynamic client population at each round of communication between the server and the clients, as a small fraction of clients are sampled at each round. To address these challenges we develop (optimal) communication-efficient schemes for private mean estimation for several $\ell _{p}$ spaces, enabling efficient gradient aggregation for each iteration of the optimization solution of the ERM. We also provide lower and upper bounds for mean estimation with privacy and communication constraints for arbitrary $\ell _{p}$ spaces. To get the overall communication, privacy, and optimization performance operation point, we combine this with privacy amplification opportunities inherent to this setup. Our solution takes advantage of the inherent privacy amplification provided by client sampling and data sampling at each client (through Stochastic Gradient Descent) as well as the recently developed privacy framework using anonymization, which effectively presents to the server responses that are randomly shuffled with respect to the clients. Putting these together, we demonstrate that one can get the same privacy, optimization-performance operating point developed in recent methods that use full-precision communication, but at a much lower communication cost, i.e., effectively getting communication efficiency for “free”.
Prediction of Radio Frequency Spectrum Occupancy

As more users access the radio frequency (RF) spectrum for wireless communications, spectrum availability is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. Hence, the ability to detect or predict when a spectrum channel is available for use is of great importance. To support autonomous access to the spectrum band, we research two feature extraction techniques: (i) based on the standard energy calculation and (ii) based on cumulant calculations. We compare the performance of a baseline reactive predictor which projects the current time-step values to the next time-step, against linear support vector regression (SVR) based approaches using the aforementioned feature extraction techniques. We evaluate the occupancy state prediction in a spectrum band for different values of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectrum RF activity, using simulated RF signal data. Our experiments indicate that using first order cumulant based approach with SVR improves prediction accuracy.
Seismic response of a deep circular tunnel subjected to axial shear and axial bending

Abstract Significant attention has been devoted to investigate the seismic performance of tunnels when shear waves intersect in a direction perpendicular to the tunnel axis with motion perpendicular to the tunnel axis, thereby causing the tunnel to respond transversely. In contrast, the effects of shear waves that cause the tunnel to respond longitudinally have received less attention. This paper provides two analytical solutions to capture the longitudinal response of a deep circular tunnel and its surrounding ground when a shear wave intersects the tunnel: (i) in a direction perpendicular to the tunnel axis with motion parallel to the tunnel axis (axial shear); and (ii) in a direction parallel to the tunnel axis with motion perpendicular to the tunnel axis (axial bending). The assumptions used to develop the solutions are that: (i) a static analysis may be sufficient; (ii) the tunnel is deep and very long and has a circular cross section; (iii) the ground and the support are homogeneous, isotropic, and elastic; (iv) the ground-liner interface is tied; and (v) the wavelength of the ground motion is much larger than the radius of the tunnel. The solutions are applicable to both drained and undrained loading. 3D numerical simulations are carried out to verify the analytical solutions. The results show a good agreement between the analytical and numerical solutions.
Combating DDoS Attacks with Fair Rate Throttling

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are among the most harmful cyberattack types in the Internet. The main goal of a DDoS defense mechanism is to reduce the attack’s effect as close as possible to their sources to prevent malicious traffic in the Internet. In this work, we examine the DDoS attacks as a rate management and congestion control problem and propose a collaborative fair rate throttling mechanism to combat DDoS attacks. Additionally, we propose anomaly detection mechanisms to detect attacks at the victim site, early attack detection mechanisms by intermediate Autonomous Systems (ASes), and feedback mechanisms between ASes to achieve distributed defense against DDoS attacks. To reduce additional vulnerabilities for the feedback mechanism, we use a secure, private, and authenticated communication channel between AS monitors to control the process. Our mathematical model presents proactive resource management, where the victim site sends rate adjustment requests to upstream routers. We conducted several experiments using a real-world dataset to demonstrate the efficiency of our approach under DDoS attacks. Our results show that the proposed method can significantly reduce the impact of DDoS attacks with minimal overhead to routers. Moreover, the proposed anomaly detection techniques can help ASes to detect possible attacks and early attack detection by intermediate ASes.
Business Technology Trends + Lists + Awareness = Executive Optimization

Executives in the C-Suite hear about the same technologies every year from the major pundits and consultancies, such as the Gartner Group, Forrester Research, McKinsey, Accenture, Deloitte, IBM, and Cap Gemini—among others (lots of others). These lists are all essentially the same. In the past few years pundits and consultancies have featured artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, the Internet-of-Things, edge computing, and how to manage multicloud computing environments. But do these technologies represent the full list that C-Suite executives need to understand and track? No—and it may not matter.
Preparation of Neonatal Rat Papillary Muscles for Contractile Studies

Isolated cardiac tissue allows investigators to study mechanisms underlying normal and pathological conditions, which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to perform in vivo. In contrast to ventricular muscle strip preparations, papillary muscles can be prepared without severely damaging the muscle tissue. In this preparation, the isolated papillary muscle is fixed in an environmentally controlled organ bath chamber and electrically stimulated. The evoked twitch force is recorded using a pressure transducer, and parameters such as twitch force amplitude and twitch kinetics are analyzed. A variety of experimental protocols can be performed to investigate the calcium- and frequency-dependent contractility as well as dose-response curves of contractile agents, as well as simulation of pathologic conditions such as acute cardiac ischemia. Mouse papillary muscle preparations have long been the mainstay for studying interactions between intracellular calcium regulation and contractile responses under a number of simulated pathophysiological conditions. These studies are often used to complement in vitro studies performed using isolated neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. In this procedure, we describe how neonatal rat papillary muscles can also be prepared for use in contractile studies.
Towards a Lower Sample Complexity for Robust One-bit Compressed Sensing

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm based on nonconvex sparsity-inducing penalty for onebit compressed sensing. We prove that our algorithm has a sample complexity of O(s/e2) for strong signals, and O(s log d/e2) for weak signals, where s is the number of nonzero entries in the signal vector, d is the signal dimension and e is the recovery error. For general signals, the sample complexity of our algorithm lies between O(s/e2) and O(s log d/e2). This is a remarkable improvement over the existing best sample complexity O(s log d/e2). Furthermore, we show that our algorithm achieves exact support recovery with high probability for strong signals. Our theory is verified by extensive numerical experiments, which clearly illustrate the superiority of our algorithm for both approximate signal and support recovery in the noisy setting.
ApoE: the role of conserved residues in defining function.

The amino acid sequences of apolipoprotein E (apoE) from 63 different mammalian species have been downloaded from the protein database. The sequences were compared to human apoE4 to determine conserved and non-conserved sequences of amino acids. ApoE4 is the major risk factor for the development of late onset Alzheimer's disease while apoE3, which differs from apoE4 by a single amino acid change at position 112, poses little or no risk for the development of this disease. Thus, the two proteins appear to be structurally and functionally different. Seven highly conserved regions, representing approximately 47 amino acids (of 299) have been found. These regions are distributed throughout the protein and reflect ligand binding sites as well as regions proposed to be involved in the propagation of the cysteine–arginine change at position 112 to distant regions of the protein in the N- and C-terminal domains. Highly non-conserved regions are at the N- and C-terminal ends of the apoE protein.
Avoiding Seeking Help in the Classroom: Who and Why?

Why do some students avoid seeking help in the classroom when they need it? When students do not seek the help they need, they put themselves at a disadvantage for learning. We discuss how students' personal motivational characteristics relate to their avoidance of help seeking. In particular, we discuss our work regarding perceived academic and social competence and achievement- and social-goal orientations. We also discuss how various dimensions of the classroom context relate to help avoidance. Specifically, we discuss rules and norms of classrooms as well as our work examining the achievement goal structure and social climate of classrooms. We conclude by discussing how new developments in achievement goal theory distinguishing between approach- and avoidance-goal orientations might add to psychologists' understanding of help avoidance. We also consider how students' strivings for autonomy and different aspects of the social climate might be incorporated into theories of students' help avoidance behavior.
Ligand-Activation of the Adenosine A2a Receptors Inhibits IL-12 Production by Human Monocytes

Adenosine (ADO) exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. In this paper we address the possibility that these effects are partly mediated by inhibition of the secretion of IL-12, a proinflammatory cytokine and a major inducer of Th1 responses. We demonstrate that 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), a nonspecific ADO analogue, and 2-p-(2-carbonyl-ethyl)phenylethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenos ine (CGS-21680), a specific A2a receptor agonist, dose-dependently inhibited, in whole blood ex vivo and monocyte cultures, the production of human IL-12 induced by LPS and Stapholococcus aureus Cowan strain 1. However, the A1 receptor agonist 2-Chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine and the A3 receptor agonists N6-Benzyl-NECA and 1-deoxy-1-[6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-N-methyl-be ta-d -ribofuranuronamide expressed only weak inhibitory effects. On the other hand, NECA and CGS-21680 dose-dependently potentiated the production of IL-10. The differential effect of these drugs on monocyte IL-12 and IL-10 production implies that these effects are mediated by A2a receptor signaling rather than by intracellular toxicity of ADO analogue's metabolites. Moreover, CGS-21680 inhibited IL-12 production independently of endogenous IL-10 induction, because anti-IL-10 Abs failed to prevent its effect. The selective A2a antagonist 8-(3-Chlorostyryl) caffeine prevented the inhibitory effect of CGS-21680 on IL-12 production. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor Ro 20-1724 dose-dependently potentiated the inhibitory effect of CGS-21680 and, furthermore, Rp-cAMPS, a protein kinase A inhibitor, reversed the inhibitory effect of CGS-21680, implicating a cAMP/protein kinase A pathway in its action. Thus, ligand activation of A2a receptors simultaneously inhibits IL-12 and stimulates IL-10 production by human monocytes. Through this mechanism, ADO released in excess during inflammatory and ischemic conditions, or tissue injury, may contribute to selective suppression of Th1 responses and cellular immunity.
Gefitinib enhances TRAIL sensitivity in bladder cancer cells through an Akt-dependent mechanism

739 The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in bladder cancer progression. Most bladder cancers, like most epithelial cancers, overexpress members of the erbB family and transgene-driven overexpression of the EGFR within the bladder enhanced tumor progression in mice. EGFR signaling has long been an attractive therapeutic target and EGFR blockade is effective in preclinical mouse models. Gefitinib (Iressa™/ZD1839) is an orally active quinazoline derivative that selectively inhibits the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and is under use in clinical trials. Although gefitinib displayed promising activity in preclinical models it performed less well in patients with NSCLC and other cancers in Phase I and II clinical trials. Results from Phase III trials indicated that combining gefitinib and conventional chemotherapy in NSCLC patients provided no increased benefit compared to chemotherapy alone. However, combination therapy employing novel cytotoxic agents and gefitinib may increase anti-tumor efficacy and improve patient responses. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of gefitinib-mediated EGFR inhibition on cell death induced by some of the more attractive agents being considered for gefitinib-based combination therapy trials. Our data confirm that human bladder cancer cells display marked heterogeneity in gefitinib responsiveness in vitro. The results also show that although gefitinib had no positive effect on apoptosis induced by conventional chemotherapeutic agents (gemcitabine and paclitaxel) it interacted synergistically with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the gefitinib-sensitive cells to induce high levels of apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that inhibition of Akt, a downstream mediator of EGFR signaling, resulted in increased sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in all cell lines tested and this was due to a marked increase in procaspase-8 processing. Taken together our results indicate that gefitinib-mediated TRAIL sensitization may be due to inhibition of Akt signaling and the resultant increase in procaspase-8 processing. Furthermore, therapies targeting the Akt pathway may provide more clinical benefit than therapies targeting the EGFR as they are more global mediators of apoptotic sensitivity.
A bounded error estimation approach to image reconstruction

A bounded error (BE) approach to image reconstruction is investigated. In this approach a bound on the measured projections errors is specified and the set of images which is consistent with both the data and the error bound is constructed. The error bound can account for both statistical noise uncertainty, e.g., due to randoms correction or other Poisson-destructive preprocessing, and model uncertainty, e.g., due to a mismodeled or uncalibrated system matrix. The consistent set of images is a set estimate of the image from which point estimates, i.e., image reconstructions can be selected. >
Patterns of CTCF and ZFHX3 Mutation and Associated Outcomes in Endometrial Cancer

BACKGROUND The genetic events responsible for tumor aggressiveness in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) remain poorly understood. The chromosome 16q22 tumor suppressor genes CTCF and ZFHX3 are both frequently mutated in EEC, but their respective roles in outcome have not been determined. METHODS Targeted deep sequencing of CTCF and ZFHX3 was performed for 542 EEC samples. Copy number loss (CNL) was determined using microsatellite typing of paired tumor and normal DNA and a novel Bayesian method based on variant allele frequencies of germline polymorphisms. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Mutation rates for CTCF and ZFHX3 were 25.3% and 20.4%, respectively, and there was a statistically significant excess of tumors with mutation in both genes (P = .003). CNL rates were 17.4% for CTCF and 17.2% for ZFHX3, and the majority of CNLs included both CTCF and ZFHX3. Mutations were more frequent in tumors with microsatellite instability, and CNLs were more common in microsatellite-stable tumors (P < .001). Patients with ZFHX3 mutation and/or CNL had higher-grade tumors (P = .001), were older (P < .001), and tended to have more frequent lymphovascular space invasion (P = .07). These patients had reduced recurrence-free and overall survival (RFS: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38 to 3.99, P = .007; OS: HR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.11 to 2.07, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate there is strong selection for inactivation of both CTCF and ZFHX3 in EEC. Mutation occurs at high frequency in microsatellite-unstable tumors, whereas CNLs are common in microsatellite-stable cancers. Loss of these two tumor suppressors is a frequent event in endometrial tumorigenesis, and ZFHX3 defects are associated with poor outcome.