cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron Energy Distribution Function in a Hall Discharge Plasma

The role of inelastic collisions in Hall thruster operation is studied through simulation of the electronenergy distribution function (EEDF) inside the thruster channel. The electron Boltzmann equation is solvedusing the Lorentz approximation (two-term expansion) and the "local-field" approximation. The resultantzero-dimensional Boltzmann equation takes into account inelastic losses due to ionizing collisions andwall-collisions. Secondary electrons from ionization and wall-collisions are also included in the model.Electron continuity is used to calculate the sheath potential at the insulator walls. Results show an EEDFcut off at high energy due to electron loss to the walls. Secondary and scattered electrons from ionizationprovide a large population of low-energy electrons. The calculated EEDFs agree well with experimentalelectron temperature data when an experimentally-determined effective collision frequency is used forelectron momentum transport. Predicted values for the wall-sheath potential agree with results from acharge-balance model, except where said model predicts sheath collapse.I. INTRODUCTIONHall discharges (Hall thrusters) are presently underdevelopment for use in space propulsion applications. TheHall thruster is essentially a shaped-field accelerator, usingapplied potentials and magnetic fields to produce a highspecific impulse, low-density plasma flow. The shape of theelectric field, the Ohmic losses, and the locations of theionization zone and acceleration zone inside the thruster arecoupled to the applied fields through the plasmaconductivity. The electrons in Hall discharges exhibitcharacteristic cross-field transport, which is believed to beenhanced by fluctuations in the electric field and plasmadensity [1]. Collisions with the thruster channel walls alsoplay an important role in discharge operation.Several researchers have had success modeling theplasma inside the Hall discharge (and similar discharges)with hybrid fluid-particle codes [2-5] and full particle codes[6]. With the hybrid fluid-particle in cell (PIC) codes, someinvestigators have used an anomalous Bohm conductivity inorder to accurately reproduce discharge operation [5], whileothers have relied on a model for electron-wall scattering[3,4]. Many of these efforts have had difficulty reproducingthe location of the ionization zone inside the thrusterchannel. We believe that this may be due to a non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution function (EEDF) inthe discharge plasma. Electrostatic probe measurements ofthe EEDF have shown significant departures fromMaxwellian behavior [7-10.]. We [11] and others [10] havealso observed behavior that may be attributable to a non-Maxwellian EEDF in optical emission experiments.
Results on the factorization of multidimensional matrices for paraunitary filterbanks over the complex field

This paper undertakes the study of multidimensional finite impulse response (FIR) filterbanks. One way to design a filterbank is to factorize its polyphase matrices in terms of elementary building blocks that are fully parameterized. Factorization of one-dimensional (1-D) paraunitary (PU) filterbanks has been successfully accomplished, but its generalization to the multidimensional case has been an open problem. In this paper, a complete factorization for multichannel, two-dimensional (2-D), FIR PU filterbanks is presented. This factorization is based on considering a two-variable FIR PU matrix as a polynomial in one variable whose coefficients are matrices with entries from the ring of polynomials in the other variable. This representation allows the polyphase matrix to be treated as a one-variable matrix polynomial. To perform the factorization, the definition of paraunitariness is generalized to the ring of polynomials. In addition, a new degree-one building block in the ring setting is defined. This results in a building block that generates all two-variable FIR PU matrices. A similar approach is taken for PU matrices with higher dimensions. However, only a first-level factorization is always possible in such cases. Further factorization depends on the structure of the factors obtained in the first level.
Treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia without cytarabine

PURPOSETo determine the effect of omission of cytarabine (ara-C) from treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which allows administration of more anthracycline.PATIENTS AND METHODSInduction consisted of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) 45 mg/m2 daily until complete remission (CR) and idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 4 days beginning on day 5 of ATRA. Patients in CR received two courses of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 3 days and then, until 2 years post-CR date, alternated three cycles of mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone (POMP) with one cycle of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 daily for 2 days. Results in the 43 patients treated (41 with t(15;17) on standard or Southern analysis) were compared with those in 57 historic newly diagnosed APL patients given ara-C with either doxorubicin, amsacrine (AMSA), or daunorubicin without ATRA, using logistic and Cox regression to assess effects of non-treatment-related covariates on patient outcomes.RESULTSThe CR rate in the current gr...
Historical biogeography and ecological opportunity in the adaptive radiation of native Hawaiian leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Nesophrosyne)

Aim Our aims were to infer the roles of ecology and geology in the adaptive radiation, historical biogeography, and diversification dynamics of the native Hawaiian leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Nesophrosyne). Location The Hawaiian Archipelago. Methods A six gene molecular data set for 191 Nesophrosyne species was used to reconstruct relationships in absolute time with relaxed Bayesian methods. Dated phylogenetic hypotheses were used to reconstruct historical biogeography and host plant associations. Phylogenetic clustering methods were implemented to examine the structuring of Nesophrosyne species according to island. Lineage diversification dynamics were inferred using the γ-statistic and birth–death likelihood methods. Results Nesophrosyne split from a common ancestor with its sister genus 4.5 million years ago (Ma), with a basal divergence in Hawaii 3.2 Ma. Historical biogeographical reconstructions reveal a Kauai origin for the genus and complex island colonization patterns. Ancestral host plant associations reconstruct Urticaceae and Rubiaceae at the root, with host transitions resulting in host-specific clades. Only species endemic to Kauai are significantly clustered with respect to the whole phylogeny; however, species show significant terminal level clustering for the four main high islands. Diversification rates in Nesophrosyne show an initial burst in net speciation rate with a subsequent decline. Main conclusions Nesophrosyne colonized the Hawaiian Islands after the formation of Kauai. Host plant arrival times and insect–insect competition may have been important in shaping diversification patterns. The plant families Urticaceae and Rubiaceae played critical roles in the early diversification of Nesophrosyne. Island geography imposed significant barriers to gene flow, leading to extensive allopatric speciation and intra-island diversification. A high initial net speciation rate was associated with host plant transitions, and the formation and establishment of Nesophrosyne on multi-volcano islands (e.g. Oahu and Maui Nui). Net diversification rates exhibit a diversity-dependent decline, corresponding to the end phase of island formation.
Information-Seeking Strategies, Uncertainty, and Computer-Mediated Communication toward a Conceptual Model

This article argues that existing theory and research on computer-mediated communication (CMC) provide a limited view of information-seeking behavior and proposes a conceptual model for its examination via CMC and new media. Although most CMC environments eliminate or severely reduce nonverbal and contextual information available to address uncertainty, form impressions, and develop relationships, such environments offer alternative mechanisms for acquiring social information about others. The article discusses strategies for seeking social information and identifies factors influencing their selection from alternatives, incorporating them into a conceptual model. Finally, 2 promising approaches for examining the effects and effectiveness of social information seeking in CMC are described, with an emphasis on how the proposed conceptual model can aid in the development of each.
Patterns of diversity, depth range and body size among pelagic fishes along a gradient of depth

Studies of geographical patterns of diversity have focused largely on compiling and analysing data to evaluate alternative hypotheses for the near-universal decrease in species richness from the equator to the poles. Valuable insights into the mechanisms that promote diversity can come from studies of other patterns, such as variation in species distributions with elevation in terrestrial systems or with depth in marine systems. To obtain such insights, we analysed and interpreted data on species diversity, depth of occurrence and body size of pelagic fishes along an oceanic depth gradient. We used a database on pelagic marine fishes native to the north-east Pacific Ocean between 40°N and 50°N. We used data from the Pacific Rim Fisheries Program that were obtained from commercial, management and scientific surveys between 1999 and 2000. Depth of occurrence and maximum body length were used to assess the distributions of 409 species of pelagic fishes along a depth gradient from 0 to 8000 m. A presence‐absence matrix was used to classify the depth range of each species into 100-m intervals. Atmar & Patterson’s (1995) software was used to quantify the degree of nestedness of species distributions. Pelagic fish species diversity decreased steeply with increasing depth; diversity peaked at less than 200 m and more than half of the species had mean depths of occurrence between 0 and 300 m. The distribution of species showed a very strong nested subset pattern along the depth gradient. Whereas species with narrow ranges were generally restricted to shallow waters, wide-ranging species occurred from near the surface to great depths. The relationship between maximum body size and mean depth range differed between teleost and elasmobranch fishes: being positive for teleosts, but negative for elasmobranches. Results support hypotheses that some combination of high productivity and warm temperature promote high species diversity, and reject those that would attribute the pattern of species richness to the mid-domain effect, habitat area, or environmental constancy. The data provided a clear example of Rapoport’s rule, a negative correlation between average depth range and species diversity.
Time-dependent 2-stream particle transport

We consider time-dependent transport in the 2-stream or “rod” model via an attractive matrix formalism. After reviewing some classical problems in homogeneous media we discuss transport in materials whose density may vary. There we achieve a significant contraction of the underlying Telegrapher’s equation. We conclude with a discussion of stochastics, treated by the “first-order smoothing approximation.”
TRITRICHOMONAS FOETUS AND NOT PENTATRICHOMONAS HOMINIS IS THE ETIOLOGIC AGENT OF FELINE TRICHOMONAL DIARRHEA

Recently, several investigators have reported large-bowel diarrhea in cats associated with intestinal trichomonad parasites. These reports have presumptively identified the flagellates as Pentatrichomonas hominis, an organism putatively capable of infecting the intestinal tracts of a number of mammalian hosts, including cats, dogs, and man. The purpose of the present study was to determine the identity of this recently recognized flagellate by means of rRNA gene sequence analysis; restriction enzyme digest mapping; and light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Renal Angiomyolipoma.

Purpose: Advances in minimally invasive therapies and novel targeted chemotherapeutics have provided a breadth of options for the management of renal masses. Management of renal angiomyolipoma has ...
The Proverbial Permanent Record

The debate about student privacy is highly emotional and divisive. One prominent fear is that current and proposed information practices have created a proverbial "permanent record" that will tether students to their pasts and limit opportunities later in life. In popular imagination, a stern principal warns a student that his misdeeds will be recorded in his permanent record unless he behaves better. The idea of a dossier that captures bad behavior and follows students later in life cuts against the cultural norm that children should have the opportunity to experiment and move beyond youthful mistakes.Stakeholders express concerns that the development of state longitudinal data systems (SLDSs) that link student information over time have created a modern day version of the "permanent record." This discussion points to important places where current information practices conflict with traditional expectations about information flow in public education. However, it also reflects a considerable amount of conflation and misinformation.Public education institutions and agencies have not created a "permanent record" where individuals can access students’ education histories at a keystroke. Critiques based on this myth suggest — inaccurately — that states collect sensitive student information in a consolidated database freely shared with entities like college admission boards, employers, and corporate profiteers.This paper examines the concerns captured in the concept of the proverbial "permanent record," how closely these fears match and diverge from information flow surrounding SLDSs, and the mechanisms in place to address these fears.Worrying aspects of the mythical permanent record are only partly about "permanence" or "recording." They also incorporate the sensitivity of information collected about students, the scope of actors who can access it, and the propriety of using information generated in educational environments to drive decontextualized decisionmaking.Current legal, technological, and administrative measures address these concerns in part by de-identifying student information, segregating data systems, and limiting the disclosure of personally identifiable information to authorized recipients for specific purposes. This framework gives educational institutions and agencies the responsibility to establish appropriate data governance and make substantive decisions regarding student information. This paper also notes where the permanent record myth points to issues that have yet to be addressed by policymakers, and recommends mechanisms to clarify the debate and better address stakeholder fears. These include the creation of comprehensive data inventories, increased transparency about information practices, implementation of a baseline privacy infrastructure, and ensuring the accountability of both public and private actors.
Laparoscopic sterilization with electrocautery, spring-loaded clips, and Silastic bands: technical problems and early complications.

Among 2283 patients, rates of technical failure, technical difficulty, and operative and early postoperative complications were evaluated for different methods of tubal occlusion at laparoscopy: electrocoagulation (980 cases), spring-loaded clip application (991 cases), and Silastic band application (312 cases). Rates of technical failure and technical difficulty at surgery were significantly higher (P It is concluded that all three study techniques appear to be practical, and large, long-term, randomized, comparative studies to determine rates of failure and subsequent gynecologic problems are necessary to determine the best method of sterilization.
Resting Behavior of the German Cockroach, Blattella germanica

Masonite plaques, 4 in. square and ¼ in. thick, separated by balsawood spacers, were used to construct resting spaces ranging in height from 1/16 to Â½ inch in ½-in. increments. Sets of these 8 spacings were placed horizontally in 8 glass containers, each of which contained 20 male and 20 female (without egg capsules) adult B. germanica (L.). Other sets of spacings were placed vertically in screen cages, which likewise were populated with cockroaches, but with only 10 of each sex. Approximately 85% of the populations congregated in the spaces 3/10 in. high. When stacks of 8 spaces, all 3/10 in. high, were placed in battery jars similarly populated with cockroaches, the insects tended to congregate in the lowest spaces. This behavioral pattern was found not to be attributed to the factor of either light or gravity. Chi-square tests of the findings indicated that all the observed distributions were significant at the 5% probability level.
DIVERSIFICATION POSTURE AND TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM CHARACTERISTICS

This study's argument is that a firm's diversification posture determines the degree of integration it needs across business units, which in turn influences the ideal composition of its corporate t...
Cardiolipin Fatty Acid Remodeling Regulates Mitochondrial Function by Modifying the Electron Entry Point in the Respiratory Chain

Modifications of cardiolipin (CL) levels or compositions are associated with changes in mitochondrial function in a wide range of pathologies. We have made the discovery that acetaminophen remodels CL fatty acids composition from tetralinoleoyl to linoleoyltrioleoyl-CL, a remodeling that is associated with decreased mitochondrial respiration. Our data show that CL remodeling causes a shift in electron entry from complex II to the β-oxidation electron transfer flavoprotein quinone oxidoreductase (ETF/QOR) pathway. These data demonstrate that electron entry in the respiratory chain is regulated by CL fatty acid composition and provide proof-of-concept that pharmacological intervention can be used to modify CL composition.
Long‐term outcomes of elders discharged on antipsychotics

BACKGROUND Despite limited evidence of efficacy, antipsychotics (APs) are commonly used to treat delirium. There has been little research on the long-term outcomes of patients who are started on APs in the hospital. METHODS Using a previously described retrospective cohort of 300 elders (≥65 years old) who were newly prescribed APs while hospitalized between October 1, 2012 and September 31, 2013, we examined the 1-year outcomes of patients alive at the time of discharge. We examined number of readmissions, reasons for readmission, duration of AP therapy, use of other sedating medications, and incidence of readmission. We used the National Death Index to describe 1-year mortality and then created a multivariable model to identify predictors of 1-year mortality. RESULTS The 260 patients discharged alive from their index admissions had a 1-year mortality rate of 29% (75/260). Of the 146/260 patients discharged on APs, 60 (41%) patients experienced at least 1 readmission. At the time of first readmission, 65% of patients were still taking the same APs on which they had been discharged. Eighteen patients received new APs during the readmission hospitalizations. Predictors of death at 1 year included discharge to postacute facilities after index admission (odds ratio [OR]: 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-4.73, P = 0.03) and QT interval prolongation >500 ms during index admission (OR: 3.41; 95% CI: 1.34-8.67, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Initiating an AP in the hospital is likely to result in long-term use of these medications. Patients who received an AP during a hospitalization were at high risk of death in the following year. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
54 PERMEATION IS A MUCH LARGER DETERMINANT OF BLOCK OF HERG BY QUINIDINE AND CISAPRIDE THAN INACTIVATION.

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) encodes a voltage-gated potassium channel involved in terminating the ventricular action potential. Block of HERG can result in the lethal arrhythmia torsade de pointes, characterized by severely compromised cardiac output. A large number of pharmaceutical compounds still in use have been shown to block HERG. However, the mechanisms by which drugs block HERG are still poorly understood. Previously published data have shown that HERG block by quinidine and cisapride is reduced with elevated extracellular potassium. This reduction in block could be explained by two general mechanisms: a “knockoff” effect of the permeant ion or an indirect effect in which extracellular potassium slows HERG inactivation and the drugs preferentially block the inactivated state. To pursue these two mechanisms, block of HERG by quinidine and cisapride was tested using two electrode voltage clamping of Xenopus oocytes in extracellular solutions of rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and tetraethylammonium (TEA). The permeability of HERG follows the sequence PK = PRb > PCs >>> PTEA. Extracellular K, Rb, Cs, and TEA all slow HERG inactivation. Changing the extracellular solution from 0 to 20 mM potassium reduced HERG block of cisapride 8-fold and HERG block of quinidine 10-fold. A similar reduction was also seen when changing the extracellular solution from 0 mM potassium to 0 mM potassium with 20 mM rubidium. Changing the extracellular solution from 0 mM potassium to 0 mM potassium with 20 mM cesium only reduced HERG block by cisapride 2-fold and HERG block by quinidine 2.5-fold. Changing the extracellular solution from 0 mM potassium to 0 mM potassium with 40 mM TEA did not alter HERG block by cisapride or quinidine. Since 20 mM potassium, 20 mM rubidium, 20 mM cesium, and 40 mM TEA slow HERG inactivation by approximately equal amounts and the rank order of HERG permeability is PK = PRb > PCs >>> PTEA, these results suggest that cisapride and quinidine do not preferentially block inactivated HERG channels but that permeation through HERG channels is the major determinant of HERG block by quinidine and cisapride.
Survey on T.trchuria Infection Status of Children in Kaiping City

Objective To study the infection status of T.trichuria of children in Kaiping city and put forward the control measures. Method Samples were collected at 8:00 am～10:00 am every day and view under microscope. Results 5866 children was tested. The total infection rate of T.trichuria was 20.9%, among which the infection rate of T.trichuria of children in Longsheng Town, Cangcheng Town, Sanbu Town and city were 36.4%, 31.3%, 22.2% and 6.3%, respectively. There was a significance difference among the infection rates of T.trichuria of children in different town and city(χ2=7.2980,25.4970,477.4448,P0.05). There was no significance difference in the infection rate of T.trichuria of children between male and female(χ2=0.0272,P0.05). 7-year old children had the highest infection rate of 29.2%. Conclusions Children of kindergarten have a very high infection rate of T.trichuria in Kaiping city. The measures, which strengthening health education, environment sterilization, prevention and treatment, could effectively control the infection of T.trichuria.
Evaluation of meniscal extrusion with posterior root disruption and repair using ultrasound

Abstract Background Ultrasound techniques have been utilized for detection of discrete meniscus tears and extrusion. Meniscal extrusion is associated with increased contact pressure and decreased contact area contributing to the advancement of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this biomechanical study was to detect meniscal extrusion using a clinically available, portable ultrasound device. And further, to show that extent of injury and a weight-bearing state correlate with amount of extrusion. Methods A portable, hand-held ultrasound was utilized to image the lateral meniscus in association with (1) an intact posterior root attachment, (2) a 50% cut, (3) a 100% cut, and (4) repaired posterior root attachment. Images were obtained in an unloaded condition, and again under a static, physiologic (70 kg) axial load for above injury levels, and again following repair. Results Significant differences in extrusion were noted between the intact and both the 50% cut (p = 0.028) and 100% cut groups (p Conclusion Sectioning of the lateral meniscus posterior root will produce significantly increased lateral extrusion of the meniscus under physiologic loads. Unlike MRI evaluation, weight-bearing ultrasound images allow a functional assessment of meniscus extrusion. Trans-tibial posterior root repair can restore the lateral meniscus position and integrity. Clinical relevance This weight-bearing ultrasound technique can be an important assessment tool for complete evaluation of meniscus injuries.
Young Children Detect and Avoid Logically Inconsistent Sources: The Importance of Communicative Context and Executive Function.

The reported research tested the hypothesis that young children detect logical inconsistency in communicative contexts that support the evaluation of speakers' epistemic reliability. In two experiments (N = 194), 3- to 5-year-olds were presented with two speakers who expressed logically consistent or inconsistent claims. Three-year-olds failed to detect inconsistencies (Experiment 1), 4-year-olds detected inconsistencies when expressed by human speakers but not when read from books, and 5-year-olds detected inconsistencies in both contexts (Experiment 2). In both experiments, children demonstrated skepticism toward testimony from previously inconsistent sources. Executive function and working memory each predicted inconsistency detection. These findings indicate logical inconsistency understanding emerges in early childhood, is supported by social and domain general cognitive skills, and plays a role in adaptive learning from testimony.
H-LEACH: Hybrid-low energy adaptive clustering hierarchy for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks are one of the fast growing technologies in communication field, because of their compact size and ability to work in rugged conditions where human reach is not possible. This paper discusses about H-LEACH, which is used to solve problems of energy considerations while electing a channel head. H-LEACH considers residual and maximum energy of nodes for every round while electing a channel head using threshold condition. H-LEACH is compared with LEACH and HEED protocol, and proved that it is efficient than both methods. Simulations for LEACH, HEED and H-LEACH are done using MATLAB.
General Cofactors: TFIID, Mediator and USA

Three classes of general cofactors are typically involved in gene activation to facilitate the communication between gene-specific transcription factors and components of the general transcription machinery. These general cofactors include TBP-associated factors (TAFs) found in TFIID, Mediator associated with the RNA polymerase II carboxyterminal domain, and upstream stimulatory activity (USA)-derived positive cofactors (PC1, PC2, PC3, and PC4) and negative cofactor 1 (NC1). Among these general cofactors, only TFIID has core promoter-binding activity. While TBP and some TAF components of TFIID are able to recognize distinct core promoter elements, the largest subunit of TFIID, TAF1, also possesses enzymatic activities, which can posttranslationally modify transcriptional components and histone proteins. The enzymatic activities of TAFs constitute a unique feature of TFIID in core promoter recognition and in activator-dependent transcription, distinct from that of TBP. TFIID also interacts directly with a variety of activators and facilitates the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the promoter region. Similar to TAFs, Mediator and USA-derived components are all capable of repressing basal transcription when activators are absent, and stimulating transcription in the presence of activators. In this chapter, we will discuss mainly in the human system how TAFs, Mediator, USA-derived cofactors, and a unique TBP-interacting negative cofactor 2 (NC2) regulate the initiation step of transcription, following the action of histone acetyltransferases and chromatin remodeling factors to expose the promoter region.
From Suicide and Strain to Mass Murder

Mass media explanations and criminological profiles of mass shootings focus on the perpetrator’s individual psychological traits in their search for motive and meaning behind such horrific events. We consider the broader social context to better understand mass shootings. We focus on three recent high profile mass shootings in the United States – Aurora, CO, Newtown, CT, and Santa Barbara, CA as examples of people responding to various experienced strains with violence, and conclude with some ideas to help prevent such occurrences from happening again.
The role of Ta on twinnability in nanocrystalline Cu–Ta alloys

ABSTRACTNanostructured Cu–Ta alloys show promise as high-strength materials in part due to their limited grain growth. In the present study, we elucidate the role of Ta on the transition from deformation twinning to dislocation-mediated slip mechanisms in nanocrystalline Cu through atomistic simulations and transmission electron microscopy characterization. In particular, computed generalized stacking fault energy curves show that as Ta content increases there is a shift from twinning to slip-dominated deformation mechanisms. Furthermore, heterogeneous twinnability from microstructural defects decreases with an increase in Ta. The computed effect of Ta on plasticity is consistent with the HRTEM observations.
Combined curvelets and hidden Markov models for human fall detection

Fall events detection is one of the most crucial issues in the health care of elderly people. This paper proposes an innovative approach for reliably detecting fall incidents based on human silhouette shape variation in vision monitoring. This mission is achieved by: (i) introducing the curvelet transform and area ratios for identifying human postures in images; (ii) reducing the feature vector dimension using differential evolution technique; (iii) identifying postures by a support vector machine, and (iv) adapting a hidden Markov model for classifying video sequences into non-fall and fall events. Experimental results are obtained on several "Fall Detection" datasets. For evaluation, several assessment measures are computed. These evaluation measures demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology when compared to some state-of-the-art approaches.
S2F: Slow-to-Fast Interpolator Flow

We introduce a method to compute optical flow at multiple scales of motion, without resorting to multi-resolution or combinatorial methods. It addresses the key problem of small objects moving fast, and resolves the artificial binding between how large an object is and how fast it can move before being diffused away by classical scale-space. Even with no learning, it achieves top performance on the most challenging optical flow benchmark. Moreover, the results are interpretable, and indeed we list the assumptions underlying our method explicitly. The key to our approach is the matching progression from slow to fast, as well as the choice of in-terpolation method, or equivalently the prior, to fill in regions where the data allows it. We use several off-the-shelf components, with relatively low sensitivity to parameter tuning. Computational cost is comparable to the state-of-the-art.
Italian folk plant-based remedies to heal headache (XIX-XX century).

Abstract Background Headache has been recognized since antiquity. From the late nineteenth to the early to mid-twentieth century, Italian folk remedies to treat headache were documented in a vast corpus of literature sources. Aim The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the plant-based treatments utilized by Italian folk medicine to heal headache in an attempt to discuss these remedies from a modern pharmacological point of view. Moreover, we compare the medical applications described by Hippocrates, Pliny the Elder, Dioscorides, Galen and Serenus Sammonicus with those utilized by Italian folk medicine to check if they result from a sort of continuity of use by over two thousand years. Results A detailed search of the scientific data banks such as Medline and Scopus was undertaken to uncover recent results concerning the anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities of the plants. Fifty-eight (78.4%) plant-based remedies have shown in vivo, in vitro or in human trials a large spectrum of anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities. Moreover, thirty-one of remedies (41.9%) were already included in the pharmacopoeia between the 5th century BC and the 2nd century AD. Conclusion Italian folk medicine could be a promising source of knowledge and could provide evidences for active principles that have not as of yet been fully used for their potential.
Apolipoprotein A-IV exerts its anorectic action through a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the hypothalamus.

Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) is a satiation factor that acts in the hypothalamus, however, the intracellular mechanisms responsible for this action are still largely unknown. Here we report that apoA-IV treatment elicited a rapid activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in cultured primary hypothalamic neurons, and this effect was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with LY294002, an inhibitor of the PI3K pathway. To determine if the activation of PI3K is required for apoA-IV's inhibitory effect on food intake, apoA-IV was administered intracerebroventricularly. We found that apoA-IV significantly reduced food intake and activated PI3K signaling in the hypothalamus, and these effects were abolished by icv pre-treatment with LY294002. To identify the distinct brain sites where apoA-IV exerts its anorectic action, apoA-IV was administered into the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) through implanted bilateral cannula. At a low dose (0.5 μg), apoA-IV significantly inhibited food intake and activated PI3K signaling pathway in the VMH of lean rats, but not in high-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. These results collectively demonstrate a critical role of the PI3K/Akt pathway in apoA-IV's anorectic action in lean rats and suggest a defective PI3K pathway in the VMH is responsible for the impaired apoA-IV's anorectic action in the DIO animals.
THE REGULATION OF MORTGAGE SERVICING: LESSONS FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

Pivotal litigation against the largest subprime mortgage servicer in the United States provides lessons about the appropriate regulation of mortgage servicing and adds to research about the causes of the financial crisis. Mortgage servicing is essential to the functioning of the financial system so servicers must be held to a high standard. The litigation revealed egregious practices but was settled quickly for a nominal amount and provided the servicer a very broad release of liability, allowing it to expand without correcting serious problems, and created significant wealth gains for the parent firm. Regulatory authority should not be split between agencies. (JEL G28, G21, K40)
Geographical Health Priority Areas For Older Americans

There are wide disparities in health across the US population. The identification of geographic health priority areas for Medicare could inform efforts to eliminate health disparities and improve health care. In a sample of 3,282 counties with more than 73 million unique Medicare beneficiaries in the period 1999–2014, we identified geographical areas—“hot spots”—with persistently higher adjusted mortality rates for older adults compared with the rest of the country. During the study period, the risk-standardized mortality rates decreased from 5.52 percent to 4.61 percent (a 0.91-percentage-point change) for the priority areas and from 5.16 percent to 4.11 percent (a 1.05-percentage-point change) for other areas. Faced with decisions surrounding allocation of scarce resources and marked geographic disparities, the identification and prioritization of hot spots may be one way to eliminate disparities and improve health care.
Estimation of Future Cancer Burden Among Rescue and Recovery Workers Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster.

Importance Elevated rates of cancer have been reported in individuals exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster, including Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) rescue and recovery workers. Objective To project the future burden of cancer in WTC-exposed FDNY rescue and recovery workers by estimating the 20-year cancer incidence. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 14 474 WTC-exposed FDNY employees who were cancer-free on January 1, 2012; subgroup analyses were conducted of the cohort’s white male population (n = 12 374). In this closed-cohort study, we projected cancer incidence for the January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2031, period. Simulations were run using demographic-specific New York City (NYC) cancer and national mortality rates for each individual, summed for the whole cohort, and performed 1000 times to produce mean estimates. Additional analyses in the subgroup of white men compared case counts produced by using 2007-2011 FDNY WTC Health Program (FDNY-WTCHP) cancer rates vs NYC rates. Average and 20-year aggregate costs of first-year cancer care were estimated using claims data. Exposures World Trade Center disaster exposure defined as rescue and recovery work at the WTC site at any time from September 11, 2001, to July 25, 2002. Main Outcomes and Measures (1) Projected number of incident cancers in the full cohort, based on NYC cancer rates; (2) cancer incidence estimates in the subgroup projected using FDNY-WTCHP vs NYC rates; and (3) estimated first-year treatment costs of incident cancers. Results On January 1, 2012, the cohort was 96.8% male, 87.1% white, and had a mean (SD) age of 50.2 (9.2) years. The projected number of incident cancer cases was 2960 (95% CI, 2883-3037). In our subgroup analyses using FDNY-WTCHP vs NYC cancer rates, the projected number of new cases in white men was elevated (2714 [95% CI, 2638-2786] vs 2596 [95% CI, 2524-2668]). Accordingly, we expect more prostate (1437 [95% CI, 1383-1495] vs 863 [95% CI, 816-910]), thyroid (73 [95% CI, 60-86] vs 57 [95% CI, 44-69]), and melanoma cases (201 [95% CI, 179-223] vs 131 [95% CI, 112-150), but fewer lung (237 [95% CI, 212-262] vs 373 [95% CI, 343-405]), colorectal (172 [95% CI, 152-191] vs 267 [95% CI, 241-292]), and kidney cancers (66 [95% CI, 54-80] vs 132 [95% CI, 114-152]) ( P Conclusions and Relevance We project that the FDNY-WTCHP cohort will experience a greater cancer burden than would be expected from a demographically similar population. This underscores the importance of cancer prevention efforts and routine screening in WTC-exposed rescue and recovery workers.
I'm Not for Sale: Teaching About Human Trafficking

Even though slavery is illegal in all countries, it is still practiced in the form of human trafficking. In fact, there are about twenty-five million men, women, and children who are victims of hum...
The Evaluation and Comparison of Experimental Designs for Fitting Regression Relationships

The purpose of this paper is to show some of the many things one can learn about the adequacy of a proposed experimental plan before any data are collected. These permit one to evaluate whether a suggested design is appropriate and to compare alternativ..
Global Stability for a Single Link and a Single Flow

In the previous two chapters, we obtained stability conditions for various congestion control and congestion indication algorithms by linearizing around the equilibrium point. However, such an analysis does not guarantee convergence to equilibrium, starting from an arbitrary initial condition. In this chapter, we consider the global stability problem. However, little is known about the global stability of such controllers in general. Therefore, we confine ourselves to the special case of proportionally-fair controllers for a single link accessing a single link and derive conditions for global stability. While the global stability question is open for general topology networks, the analysis in this chapter and extensive simulations of various controllers in many papers in the congestion-control literature suggest that the conditions obtained from a linear analysis may indeed be sufficient conditions for stability even if the initial conditions lie in a large region of attraction around the equilibrium point.
Ramifications of the Limbic System

We want to express our pleasure at the chance of contributing to this volume honoring Seymour Kety. Some of our fellow-participants in this conference can boast of having been his students. Neither of us is so fortunate, but we want to emphasize that the privilege of an association with him extends well beyond the circle of those he trained. We salute Seymour Kety for his vast accomplishments as a scientist, as a teacher, and as a promotor of our common purpose to learn more about the brain and its disorders. And last, not least, we honor him for his sterling qualities as a colleague and friend.
ESTEROLYTIC ACTION OF WATER-SOLUBLE IMIDAZOLE CONTAINING POLYMERS

This review article summarizes our more recent investigations of the esterolytic action of water soluble imidazole containing polymers. In our previous work we have explained increased reactivity of polymeric reactants in terms of electrostatic and cooperative effects. Recently, we have directed our efforts in emphasizing the apolar interaction as it has reflected dramatic rate enhancements and proven a predominant factor in determining the maximum catalytic efficiency. Polymeric catalysts which are included in this review are poly[1-alkyl-4(5)-vinyl-imidazoles] and their copolymers, hydrophobic terpolymers of 4(5)-vinylimidazole, copoly[vinylamine/4(5)vinylimidazole], and poly(ethylenimine-g-L-histidine). All of these catalysts share the common property of water solubility and the capability of attaining high catalytic efficiencies which is attributed to apolar interactions.
Vaccinations in Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the West

Background Patients with moderate-severe inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are commonly treated with long-term immunosuppressive therapies involving immunomodulators such as thiopurines, biologics (anti-TNF and anti-adhesion molecules), or novel small molecules such as Janus kinase inhibitors. Summary Some infections seen with immunosuppressive therapy in IBD are preventable with vaccines. IBD-specific immunosuppressive therapy is generally initiated by gastroenterologists. Therefore, gastroenterologists should comprehend the appropriate application of vaccines such as hepatitis B, pneumonia, and herpes zoster vaccinations. This review summarizes the current guidance for vaccinations of IBD patients in the United States. Key message Gastroenterologists treating IBD patients must be aware of necessary vaccination schedules in the setting of immunosuppressive therapies.
Phosphatidylinositol 3,5-Bisphosphate Regulates Yeast Vacuole Fusion at the Transition between trans-SNARE Complex Formation and Hemifusion

ABSTRACT Phosphoinositides (PIs) regulate myriad cellular functions including membrane fusion, as exemplified by the yeast vacuole, which uses various PIs at different stages of fusion. In light of this, the effect of phos-phatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P2] on vacuole fusion remains unknown. PI(3,5)P2 is made by the PI3P 5-kinase Fab1/PIKfyve and has been characterized as a regulator of vacuole fission during hyperosmotic shock where it interacts with the TRP family Ca2+ channel Yvc1. Here we demonstrate that exogenously added dioctanoyl (C8) PI(3,5)P2 abolishes homotypic vacuole fusion. This effect was not linked to interactions with Yvc1, as fusion was equally affected using yvc1Δ vacuoles. Thus, the effects of C8-PI(3,5)P2 on fusion versus fission operate through distinct mechanisms. Further testing showed that C8-PI(3,5)P2 inhibited vacuole fusion after the formation of trans-SNARE pairs. Although SNARE complex formation was unaffected we found that C8-PI(3,5)P2 strongly inhibited hemifusion. Overproduction of endogenous PI(3,5)P2 by the fab1T2250A hyperactive kinase mutant also inhibited at the hemifusion stage, bolstering the model in which PI(3,5)P2 inhibits fusion when present elevated levels. Taken together, this work identifies a novel function for PI(3,5)P2 as a negative regulator of vacuolar fusion. Moreover, it suggests that this lipid acts as a molecular switch between fission and fusion.
Aerobic Catalytic Features in Photoredox- and Copper-Catalyzed Iodolactonization Reactions

Mechanistic evaluations and comparison of two important aerobic catalytic oxidation processes, aerobic copper catalysis and photoredox catalysis, are performed. Interesting and distinct catalytic behaviors were observed for a common reaction of iodolactonization of alkenoic acids. Namely, the aerobic copper catalysis requires the formation of a copper carboxylate, whereas the aerobic photoredox catalysis requires the addition of proton sources to proceed to completion. Furthermore, the iodolactone products obtained from these catalytic processes are extensively derivatized to a number of functionalized lactones, including aryl lactones generated from the nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling with aryl halides.
Potent Antiprotozoal Activity of a Novel Semi‐Synthetic Berberine Derivative.

The semi-synthetic berberine analogue (I) reveals nanomolar level potency against in vitro models of leishmaniasis, malaria, and trypanosomiasis, and shows activity in an in vivo visceral leishmaniasis model.
Gynecologic cancer in HIV-positive women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background While there is a significant body of literature on cervical cancer in HIV-positive women, little is known about other gynecologic cancers in this population. Objective The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to describe the incidence, presentation, treatment, and outcomes for HIV-positive women with non–acquired immunodeficiency syndrome–defining gynecologic cancers. Study Design We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov , and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for English-language studies published from 2000 to May 1, 2017. Studies containing 1 or more HIV-positive women with endometrial, ovarian, or vulvovaginal cancer and reporting incidence, treatment regimen, or survival were included. Two authors independently reviewed abstracts and full-text articles for inclusion and assessed study quality (details of the review protocol were registered as PROSPERO-CRD42017064525). Pooled estimates of incidence were calculated using random-effects models. Pooled estimates of cancer presentation and outcomes were averaged from case studies. Results Of 5744 abstracts screened, we identified 70 articles on 58 studies on 292,202 women with HIV and 528 women with HIV and gynecologic cancer for inclusion. Most articles (53%) focused on incidence, and only 3, 4, and 20 articles focused on treatment and outcomes of endometrial, ovarian, and vulvovaginal cancers, respectively. The standardized incidence ratios for endometrial, ovarian, and vulvovaginal cancers were 4.38 (95% confidence interval 0.26–8.49) for endometrial cancer, 3.21 (95% confidence interval 2.29–4.13) for ovarian cancer, and 21.93 (95% confidence interval 13.50–30.35) for vulvovaginal cancer. Fifty-seven percent of women were diagnosed at an early stage, and all received cancer treatment. Conclusion In women with HIV, the incidence of ovarian and vulvovaginal cancer were higher than the general population, while incidence of endometrial cancer was similar. However, there was a paucity of data on treatment and outcomes for non–acquired immunodeficiency syndrome–defining gynecologic cancers. Given the increased incidence of gynecologic cancer, specific research on this population is essential to improve treatment and outcomes for HIV-positive women.