cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed Feedback Fiber Laser Strain Sensors

The distributed feedback (DFB) fiber laser strain sensor has demonstrated strain resolution comparable to that obtained from high-performance fiber-optic interferometry. This manuscript describes the characteristics and performance of this fiber laser strain sensor and discusses the technological developments necessary to obtain comparable performance from a multiplexed array of laser sensors. The design of the Bragg grating and doped fiber are discussed, where possible providing simplified equations to quantify the relevant design parameters. Techniques based on fiber-optic interferometry to decode the wavelength shifts of the laser are presented and potential noise sources are described. Measurements conducted on a test laser demonstrate the capability of the DFB fiber laser to resolve effective length changes to less than 0.76 fm/Hz1/2 at 2 kHz. The accuracy of the strain measurement, calculated by subtracting the output of two lasers subjected to the same strain, is found to be less than 1%. Issues relating to multiplexing lasers, such as pump power depletion and optical feedback, are described along with methods to maximize the number of lasers serially multiplexed on a single fiber. Finally, the strain transduction mechanism and methods to mount the laser sensor are described. It is shown that for certain applications, the DFB fiber laser sensor provides significant performance benefits when compared with remotely interrogated fiber-optic interferometric sensing techniques.
Penetrative turbulent convection into a rotating two-layer fluid

Turbulent convection into stratified two-layer fluid systems in the presence of rotation has been investigated in a cylindrical laboratory tank. For a wide range of conditions the vertical stability of the flow depends only on the Richardson number Ri = g'h 0 /(B 0 R) 2/3 (here, g' = gδρ i /ρ 0 is the jump in the reduced gravity across the density interface, δρ i is the jump in density itself, h 0 is the depth of the top layer, B 0 is the surface buoyancy flux and R is the radius of the source). We have found that for values of Ri greater than a critical value of Ri c ≃ 11, the convective flow did not penetrate through the density interface, regardless of the values of the convective Rossby number R0 * = (B 0 /f 3 h 0 2 ) 1/2 of the flow (here f is the Coriolis parameter). In this case after the convective layer interacted with the density interface the mixed fluid, of intermediate density, propagated radially along the interface in the form of an intrusion. Later, if R0 * was less than approximately 5, mesoscale vortices with mean diameter D≃ 8(R0 R ) 2/3 and maximum swirl velocity υ≃ (B 0 R) 1/3 were generated at the edge of this propagating front (here R0 R = (B 0 /f 3 R 2 ) 1/2 is the Rossby number based on R). When Ri was less than 11, the convective flow eventually penetrated through the density interface and into the bottom layer. This occurred through the formation of discrete 'convective holes' beneath the source. At large values of R0 * , and at early times, one turbulent plume penetrated into the bottom layer from each hole. Later the initial holes coalesced to create one large lesion beneath the source.
The Use of Molecular Techniques to Study Microbial Determinants of Pathogenicity

A variety of new methods in DNA biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics have become available for the analysis of microbial determinants of pathogenicity. It has never been easier to focus upon specific genetic determinants and to manipulate them directly to meet experimental goals. Although the principles of genetic manipulation have been used with considerable success in enteric bacteria, it is not always a straightforward matter with other microorganisms. We were unable to clone Bordetella pertussis determinants of pathogenicity directly in Escherichia coli K12 by selecting for their protein products. It was possible, however, to develop a genetic transfer system and methods for the identification of specific Bordetella virulence genes. These studies not only provided the basis for the eventual successful genetic cloning of Bordetella pertussis genes but also provided an example showing that the molecular cloning of virulence genes is not always an easy task, nor even necessarily the best initial approach to take.
Fatigue Crack Formation and Repair Strategies for Steel Cantilever Bracket Tie Plates

AbstractA regular inspection of a bridge carrying U.S. Route 422 over the Schuylkill River in Berks County, Pennsylvania, revealed cracks in the floor beam–to–cantilever bracket tie plates. Similar fatigue damage of this type has been observed over two decades ago in other bridges. During this period, much advancement has taken place in structural evaluation through finite-element analysis. This paper presents a comprehensive procedure for the examination and retrofitting of tie plates using analysis and field measurement. A field and forensic investigation was conducted to examine the cause of the crack formation and the behavior of the bridge. The results of the field study and a fractographic examination confirmed that the cracks had occurred because of cyclic horizontal bending of the tie plates, which was generated by secondary out-of-plane bending of the top of the floor beam and cantilever bracket. Field measurements and evaluation indicated that some of the as-built tie plate details had exceeded ...
Variability of visual field measurements is correlated with the gradient of visual sensitivity

Conventional static automated perimetry provides important clinical information, but its utility is limited by considerable test-retest variability. Fixational eye movements during testing could contribute to variability. To assess this possibility, it is important to know how much sensitivity change would be caused by a given eye movement. To investigate this, we have evaluated the gradient, the rate at which sensitivity changes with location. We tested one eye each, twice within 3 weeks, of 29 patients with glaucoma, 17 young normal subjects and 13 older normal subjects. The 10-2 test pattern with the SITA Standard algorithm was used to assess sensitivity at locations with 2° spacing. Variability and gradient were calculated at individual test locations. Matrix correlations were determined between variability and gradient, and were substantial for the patients with glaucoma. The results were consistent with a substantial contribution to test-retest variability from small fixational eye movements interacting with visual field gradient. Successful characterization of the gradient of sensitivity appears to require sampling at relatively close spacing, as in the 10-2 test pattern.
Programming by contract

"Why can't software be more like hardware?" has been the software engineer's lament for nearly as long as there have been large software systems. In particular, why isn't there a software components industry to rival the existing hardware components industry? Hardware components come with the following attributes: an interface that hides detail that would only confuse or at least distract me; an unambiguous interface specification written in a language I can understand (in the case of the integrated circuit, this may be a fairly complex language, but it's one I expect to learn if I'm going to work with that hardware); a guarantee-the component has been tested and/or validated against its specification. All three items-especially the last one-are notably lacking for software components. Indeed, software tends to come with an antiguarantee, otherwise known as a disclaimer. All of the above points rely on a rigorous specification of the hardware component's interface. In a nutshell, programming by contract is about providing just such specifications for software components (that is, classes), and it provides the best hope of a basis for a true software component industry. The discussion focuses on object oriented software.
Factors Influencing the Electrical and Optical Properties of Aigan Layers on Sapphire

Epitaxial layers of A1 x Ga 1-x N were grown by MOCVD on sapphire substrates and characterized by temperature dependent Hall effect, optical absorption, SIMS and photoluminescence. The concentration of native donors was found to decrease with increase of growth temperature. Deep levels found in A1GaN layers were interpreted as A 1 double donor state and T 2 donor state of nitrogen vacancy.
Guaiacol Hydrodeoxygenation Mechanism on Pt(111): Insights from Density Functional Theory and Linear Free Energy Relations

Density functional theory is used to study the adsorption of guaiacol and its initial hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reactions on Pt(111). Previous Bronsted-Evans-Polanyi (BEP) correlations for small open-chain molecules are inadequate in estimating the reaction barriers of phenolic compounds except for the side group (methoxy) carbon-dehydrogenation. New BEP relations are established using a select group of phenolic compounds. These relations are applied to construct a potential-energy surface of guaiacol-HDO to catechol. Analysis shows that catechol is mainly produced via dehydrogenation of the methoxy functional group followed by the CHx (x<3) removal of the functional group and hydrogenation of the ring carbon, in contrast to a hypothesis of a direct demethylation path. Dehydroxylation and demethoxylation are slow, implying that phenol is likely produced from catechol but not through its direct dehydroxylation followed by aromatic carbon-ring hydrogenation.
Photon Interactions at a Rough Metal Surface

We have analyzed the processes of diffuse scattering of photons and surface-plasmon creation by photons at a rough metal surface. We have approximated the metal by an electron gas of uniform density which is bounded by a nearly plane surface at which the density falls abruptly to zero. Quantum perturbation theory is used to evaluate the probability of occurrence of the various processes at the assumed "weakly" rough surface.
Behavioral fault modeling in a VHDL synthesis environment

This paper proposes new fault models for VHDL behavioral descriptions of combinational logic circuits. The models are developed via abstraction of industry standard single-stuck-line (SSL) faults into the behavioral domain. A functional analysis technique is used to evaluate the effects of SSL faults on gate level implementations. Generalized functional faults are then abstracted into the behavioral domain by examining their relationship with the higher level language construct. Test vectors derived from the new behavioral fault models are applied to synthesized gate level realizations of an example arithmetic logic unit. Resulting gate level fault coverage is determined and used as a measure of effectiveness for the new fault models. Because the behavioral faults are derived from a functional analysis of low level faults, they provide improved fault coverage over previous fault models.
The Promise and Perils of Wnt Signaling Through β-Catenin

Wnt pathways are involved in the control of gene expression, cell behavior, cell adhesion, and cell polarity. In addition, they often operate in combination with other signaling pathways. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is the best studied of the Wnt pathways and is highly conserved through evolution. In this pathway, Wnt signaling inhibits the degradation of beta-catenin, which can regulate transcription of a number of genes. Some of the genes regulated are those associated with cancer and other diseases (for example, colorectal cancer and melanomas). As a result, components of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway are promising targets in the search for therapeutic agents. Information about Wnt pathways is available both in canonical terms and at the species level. In addition to the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, information is now available for Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Xenopus. The STKE Connections Maps for these pathways provide an important tool in accessing this large body of complex information.
The lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide in rats is increased during endotoxemia

Rats, when injected with endotoxin, begin to exhale nitric oxide (NO) within 1 h. This study measured the diffusing capacity for NO in the lungs of rats (Dl NO) under both control and endotoxemic c...
Pharmacology of Acetylcholine Activated Ion Channels: Contemporary Approaches

It has long been known that certain guanidine compounds exert complex effects on synaptic and neuromuscular transmission. Guanidine itself increases transmitter release at the neuromuscular and synaptic junctions (Kusano, 1970; Otsuka and Endo, 1960; Teravainen and Larsen, 1975). More recently, the n-alkyl derivatives of guanidine have been found to block ion channels associated with the acetylcholine receptors in the end-plate (Watanabe and Narahashi, 1979).
Carlos Bulosan's Final Defiant Acts: Achievements During the McCarthy Era

Although Carlos Bulosan has numerous biographies, the last decade of his life has not received much attention. We specify, for the first time, exactly why Bulosan became the subject of an FBI investigation in 1950. We also reveal that by 1955 the FBI had to admit that: Bulosan's seemingly suspicious activities were accounted for in terms of research for a book; and, there was no evidence that he was ever a member of the Communist Party-a charge that, if verified, could have gotten the famous Filipino author/ activist deported. We argue that the evidence nevertheless indicates Bulosan remained productive, militant, and defiant, until the very end.
Parts-based multi-task sparse learning for visual tracking

We present a novel parts-based multi-task sparse learning method for particle-filter-based tracking. In our method, candidate regions are divided into structured local parts which are then sparsely represented by a linear combination of atoms from dictionary templates. We consider parts in each particle as individual tasks and jointly incorporate intrinsic relationship between tasks across different parts and across different particles under a unified multi-task framework. Unlike most sparse-coding-based trackers that use holistic representation, we generate sparse coefficients from local parts, thereby allowing more flexibility. Furthermore, by introducing group sparse l 1,2 norm into the linear representation problem, our tracker is able to capture outlier tasks and identify partially occluded regions. The performance of the proposed tracker is empirically compared with state-of-the-art trackers on several challenging video sequences. Both quantitative and qualitative comparisons show that our tracker is superior and more robust.
The First Instar Larvae of Orthopodomyia Alba Baker and Orthopodomyia Singifera (Coquillett) with Comparative Notes (Diptera: Culicidae)

These larvae are described and compared with first-stage larvae of several other genera. In nature these species are most often associated with tree-hole-breeding Aedes, from which they are easily distinguished at this stage by the size and position of the egg burster. They differ from other culicines that have been studied by having terminal antennal hair 3 inserted on the outer dorsal surface of the antenna. Prominent branched head hairs in O. alba and the presence of a “wake” behind the egg burster in O. signifera distinguish these two species from one another.
Copper Deficiency in the p-Type Semiconductor Cu1–xNb3O8

The p-type semiconductor CuNb3O8 has been synthesized by solid-state and flux reactions and investigated for the effects of copper extrusion from its structure at 250–750 °C in air. High purity CuNb3O8 could be prepared by solid-state reactions at 750 °C at reaction times of 15 min and 48 h, and within a CuCl flux (10:1 molar ratio) at 750 °C at reaction times of 15 min and 12 h. The CuNb3O8 phase grows rapidly into well-faceted micrometer-sized crystals under these conditions, even with the use of Cu2O and Nb2O5 nanoparticle reactants. Heating CuNb3O8 in air to 450 °C for 3 h yields Cu-deficient Cu0.79(2)Nb3O8 that was characterized by powder X-ray Rietveld refinements (Sp. Grp. P21/a, Z = 4, a = 15.322(2) A, b = 5.0476(6) A, c = 7.4930(6) A, β = 107.07(1)o, and V = 554.0(1) A3). The parent structure of CuNb3O8 is maintained with ∼21% copper vacancies but with notably shorter Cu–O distances (by 0.16–0.27 A) within the Cu–O–Nb1 zigzag chains down its b-axis. Copper is extruded at high temperatures in air ...
DEMONSTRATION OF A 1,000-POUND CAPACITY PARACHUTE RETRACTION SOFT LANDING SYSTEM

Over the past several years, the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command's Natick Soldier Center (NSC) has been examining the concept of parachute retraction to reduce the impact shock sustained by airdropped payloads upon ground impact In this concept, a device placed between the payload and parachute confluence point, called a parachute retractor, when activated, accelerates the parachute and payload toward each other, reducing the payload ground impact velocity. The goal is to eliminate the time-consuming, labor-intensive process of rigging payloads on stacks of paper honeycomb cushioning material, and afford airdropped vehicles a roU-on/roll-off capability. More recently, further experimentation on a larger prototype Parachute Retraction Soft Landing System (PRSLS) using a cluster of parachutes has been conducted. The purpose was to determine the scaling laws governing the retraction process. This work made considerable use of first-generat ion computational tools previously developed to guide system design and performance testing, resulting in a minimization of overall program costs. This led to the development of a model-test-model approach that represents an important step in the development of a virtual prototyping capability. The effort culminated in the successful demonstration of a 1,000-pound capacity PRSLS in May of 1998. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and testing of a 250-pound, quarter-scale, and a 1,000-pound, full-scale system using the modeltest-model approach previously mentioned. The paper also discusses development of a second-generation computational model that will help to further advance understanding of PRSLS behavior. NOMENCLATURE CD parachute drag coefficient CDAMP damping coefficient
Absorption and Magnetic-Circular-Dichroism Spectra of Octahedral Ce 3 + in Cs 2 NaY Cl 6

The $4{f}^{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{d}^{1}$ transitions of ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$, ${E}_{u}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}(^{2}F_{\frac{5}{2}})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{U}_{g}^{\ensuremath{'}}(^{2}T_{2g})$ and ${E}_{u}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}(^{2}F_{\frac{5}{2}})\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{E}_{g}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}(^{2}T_{2g})$ have been studied at precisely octahedral sites using absorption and magnetic-circular-dichroism (MCD) techniques at liquid-helium temperature. The no-phonon lines of the two transitions are located at 28 196 and 29435 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, respectively. Considerable vibronic structure is resolved in both bands characterized by long progressions in ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{1}({a}_{1g})$ of the Ce${\mathrm{Cl}}_{6}^{3\ensuremath{-}}$ moiety with low-energy lattice progressions superimposed. The ${U}_{g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and ${E}_{g}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ excited states show a spin-orbit splitting of \ensuremath{\sim} 1240 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ versus a predicted free-ion value of $\frac{3{\ensuremath{\zeta}}_{d}}{2}\ensuremath{\approx}1500$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The MCD spectrum strongly supports the proposed assignments. There are no indications of a significant Jahn-Teller effect in the ${U}_{g}^{\ensuremath{'}}(^{2}T_{2g})$ excited state. Since no further ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ absorption is detected out to 50 000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, $\ensuremath{\Delta}(\ensuremath{\equiv}10Dq)\ensuremath{\ge}20000$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ in the excited state.
Irradiation-induced structural modifications in multifunctional nanocarbons

Severe environmental tolerability is the prime factor in the development of novel space materials exhibiting excellent physical properties accompanied by lightweight, reusability, and multifunctional capabilities. Diamond is known for its reputation being radiation hard besides a range of outstanding properties (electronic, optical, mechanical, and chemical) and hence it is preferable in harsh environments. Carbon nanotubes are also of great interest because of several unsurpassable physical properties and it needs to be shown that they are physically stable and structurally unaltered when subjected to irradiation. Therefore, a family of novel nanocarbons (nanodiamond and nanotubes) films deposited by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (MWCVD) technique was subjected to gamma radiation (1, 5, and 20 Mrads) and to medium energy electron-beam irradiation to study their effects on the microscopic structure and corresponding physical properties to establish property-structure correlation. Microstructural and physical properties characterizations prior to and post-irradiation include scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission (FE), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Dramatic improvement in the field emission properties for microcrystalline diamond and relatively small but systematic behavior for nanocrystalline diamond with increasing radiation dose is discussed in terms of the critical role of defects which tends to form clusters. The results also indicate that nanocrystalline carbon tends to reach a state of damage saturation they are discussed in terms of sp 3 , sp 2+δ ←→ sp 2 C inter-conversion. The effects of electron beam irradiation on the carbon nanotube show that multiiVwalled nanotubes tend to be relatively more robust than those of single–walled. This is because increased exposure on an individual bundle of single-walled nanotubes promoted graphitization, pinching, and cross-linking similar to polymers forming intra-molecular junction (IMJ) within the area of electron beam focus, possibly through aggregates of amorphous carbon. Formation of novel nanostructures (nano– ring and helix– V like) due to irradiation is also observed. These studies gleam on the dynamics of nano-manufacturing and a regime of possible relevance to these materials for a) short-term space missions; b) radiation hard programmable logic circuits; and c) radiation pressure sensors.
Graphene: Powder, Flakes, Ribbons, and Sheets

Graphene’s unique physical and electrical properties (high tensile strength, Young’s modulus, electron mobility, and thermal conductivity) have led to its nickname of “super carbon.” Graphene research involves the study of several different physical forms of the material: powders, flakes, ribbons, and sheets and others not yet named or imagined. Within those forms, graphene can include a single layer, two layers, or ≤10 sheets of sp2 carbon atoms. The chemistry and applications available with graphene depend on both the physical form of the graphene and the number of layers in the material. Therefore the available permutations of graphene are numerous, and we will discuss a subset of this work, covering some of our research on the synthesis and use of many of the different physical and layered forms of graphene.Initially, we worked with commercially available graphite, with which we extended diazonium chemistry developed to functionalize single-walled carbon nanotubes to produce graphitic materials. These...
Classification of TP53 Mutations and HPV Predict Survival in Advanced Larynx Cancer

Objectives/Hypothesis Assess tumor suppressor p53 (TP53) functional mutations in the context of other biomarkers in advanced larynx cancer. Study Design Prospective analysis of pretreatment tumor TP53, human papillomavirus (HPV), Bcl-xL, and cyclin D1 status in stage III and IV larynx cancer patients in a clinical trial. Methods TP53 exons 4 through 9 from 58 tumors were sequenced. Mutations were grouped using three classifications based on their expected function. Each functional group was analyzed for response to induction chemotherapy, time to surgery, survival, HPV status, p16INK4a, Bcl-xl, and cyclin D1 expression. Results TP53 mutations were found in 22 of 58 (37.9%) patients with advanced larynx cancer, including missense mutations in 13 of 58 (22.4%) patients, nonsense mutations in four of 58 (6.9%), and deletions in five of 58 (8.6%). High-risk HPV was found in 20 of 52 (38.5%) tumors. A classification based on Evolutionary Action score of p53 (EAp53) distinguished missense mutations with high risk for decreased survival from low-risk mutations (P = 0.0315). A model including this TP53 classification, HPV status, cyclin D1, and Bcl-xL staining significantly predicts survival (P = 0.0017). Conclusion EAp53 functional classification of TP53 mutants and biomarkers predict survival in advanced larynx cancer. Level of Evidence NA. Laryngoscope, 2016
SU‐F‐T‐330: Characterization of the Clinically Released ScandiDos Discover Diode Array for In‐Vivo Dose Monitoring

Purpose: The ScandiDos Discover has obtained FDA clearance and is now clinically released. We studied the essential attenuation and beam hardening components as well as tested the diode array's ability to detect changes in absolute dose and MLC leaf positions. Methods: The ScandiDos Discover was mounted on the heads of an Elekta VersaHD and a Varian 23EX. Beam attenuation measurements were made at 10 cm depth for 6 MV and 18 MV beam energies. The PDD(10) was measured as a metric for the effect on beam quality. Next, a plan consisting of two orthogonal 10 × 10 cm2 fields was used to adjust the dose per fraction by scaling monitor units to test the absolute dose detection sensitivity of the Discover. A second plan (conformal arc) was then delivered several times independently on the Elekta VersaHD. Artificially introduced MLC position errors in the four central leaves were then added. The errors were incrementally increased from 1 mm to 4 mm and back across seven control points. Results: The absolute dose measured at 10 cm depth decreased by 1.2% and 0.7% for 6 MV and 18 MV beam with the Discover, respectively. Attenuation depended slightly on the field size but only changed the attenuation by 0.1% across 5 × 5 cm2 and 20 − 20 cm2 fields. The change in PDD(10) for a 10 − 10 cm2 field was +0.1% and +0.6% for 6 MV and 18 MV, respectively. Changes in monitor units from −5.0% to 5.0% were faithfully detected. Detected leaf errors were within 1.0 mm of intended errors. Conclusion: A novel in-vivo dosimeter monitoring the radiation beam during treatment was examined through its attenuation and beam hardening characteristics. The device tracked with changes in absolute dose as well as introduced leaf position deviations.
Single-cell analysis: Advances and future perspectives

The last several years have seen rapid development of technologies and methods that permit a detailed analysis of the genome and transcriptome of a single cell. Recent evidence from studies of single cells reveals that each cell type has a distinct lineage and function. The lineage and stage of development of each cell determine how they respond to each other and the environment. Experimental approaches that utilize single-cell analysis are effective means to understand how cell networks work in concert to coordinate a response at the population level; recent progress in single-cell analysis is offering a glimpse at the future.
Maternal Mortality and Morbidity

This article is an updated version of the previous edition article by Lale Say, R.C. Pattinson, volume 4, pp. 222–236, © 2008, Elsevier Inc.
Low-dose quantitative cone-beam CT imaging in radiation therapy

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) applications in radiation therapy are limited by excessive imaging dose from repeated scans and poor image quality mainly due to scatter contamination. Recently, we develop a Compressed Sensing (CS) reconstruction algorithm referred to as Accelerated Barrier Optimization for CS (ABOCS) with the features of fast convergence and consistent parameter tuning. ABOCS has shown promises in recovering faithful signals from low-dose projection data, but does not serve well the needs of quantitative CBCT imaging if effective shading correction is not in place. In the meanwhile, our quantitative CBCT imaging scheme uses the planning CT (pCT) as the prior and successfully suppresses the shading artifacts, but requires a large number of projections for an accurate FBP reconstruction. In this work, we propose a low-dose quantitative CBCT imaging strategy by combining the merits of ABOCS reconstruction and the pCT-based shading correction. We lower the CBCT dose by reducing the number of projections. The shading artifacts have been effectively removed using the pCT-based quantitative CBCT imaging scheme. The streaking artifacts due to view aliasing and high noise level are greatly suppressed using the ABOCS reconstruction which is based on the TV optimization framework with data fidelity errors as the constraints. As demonstrated on a pelvis patient study, the number of projections is reduced to only 25%. The mean CT number error is reduced to be less than 15 HU in the selected regions of interest. Using 25% data, ABOCS still successfully achieves a comparable image quality (e.g., spatial non-uniformity and soft-tissue contrast) to that using FBP reconstruction on the full data set after an effective pCT-based shading correction. We propose a low-dose quantitative CBCT imaging scheme using 25% normal dose to achieve a less than 15 HU CT-number error. This method combines the benefits of CS reconstruction and shading correction, which is promising for clinical applications.
Stem cell treatment after ischemic stroke alters the expression of dna damage signaling molecules

Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative DNA damage plays a critical role in cell death associated with ischemic stroke. Endogenous oxidative DNA damage can be detected in the ischemic brain during the stages that precedes the manifestation of cell death and is believed to trigger cell death via various intracellular signaling pathways. Inhibiting the signaling associated with DNA damage induction or facilitating the signaling associated with the DNA repair process can be neuroprotective against brain injury after ischemic stroke. Recent reports demonstrated that human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCB-MSCs) prevented the upregulation of apoptotic signaling pathway molecules and thereby attenuated the extent of apoptosis after focal cerebral ischemia as well as improved the neurological recovery. Therefore, we hypothesized that HUCB-MSCs treatment after focal cerebral ischemia prevents the overexpression of molecules associated with DNA damage induction as well as augments the expression of molecules associated with DNA repair process. In order to test our hypothesis, we administered HUCB-MSCs (0.25x106cells/animal) intravenously via tail vein to male Sprague-Dawley rats that were subjected to a two-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by one-day reperfusion. Ischemic brain tissues obtained from various groups seven days’ post reperfusion were subjected to DNA damage signaling pathway PCR microarray. Our results demonstrated the induction of both DNA damage inducing and repair genes after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. HUCB-MSCs treatment downregulated the DNA damage inducing genes and upregulated the DNA repair genes without disturbing the endogenous defense mechanisms.
Synthesizing thin dielectric lenses for conical scanning beams: A hybrid numerical algorithm

A numerical recipe is presented to synthesize off-axis fed lenses to produce conical beams. The algorithm is based on the concepts of Geometrical Optics Ray Tracing and Particle Swarm Optimization of a 10-term Quadratic-Tapered Legendre Series Expansion of the lens surface topology parameterized as a Body-of-Revolution to obtain azimuthal symmetry required to produce the conical beam. Full-Wave analysis is used to validate the technique. An example of an on-axis fed shaped lens optimized for uniform phase is presented.
Truth Be Told: Evaluation of a Narrative and Skills Intervention in Two Women's Prisons.

This article describes the evaluation of a narrative and skills intervention to enable women to come to terms with their offenses, tell the truth, and then work to deal with the emotions and issues...
6 – A Role for Nitric Oxide in Liver Inflammation and Infection

This chapter focuses on a role for nitric oxide in liver inflammation and infection. Rodent KC and HC, as well as human HC, express an inducible ·NO synthase under septic or inflammatory conditions. In vivo in endotoxemia, this expression is transient. The in vivo data indicate that this induced ·NO serves a protective role in the liver and reduces hepatic injury in endotoxemia. This protective action may be mediated by the capacity of ·NO to neutralize oxygen radicals and prevent platelet adherence and aggregation. The in vitro studies show that HC-derived ·NO can activate soluble guanylate cyclase. Other in vitro effects include the nonspecific suppression of protein synthesis and a small reduction in mitochondrial aconitase activity. The chapter discusses the effect of nitric oxide on liver in sepsis and inflammation. It also describes studies on in vitro actions of nitric oxide in liver cells. An overview of the biochemistry of hepatocyte nitric oxide synthesis is also presented in this chapter. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the studies on in vivo actions of nitric oxide in the liver.
Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Receiving Extended Pharmacologic Prophylaxis After Robotic Surgery for Endometrial Cancer.

Objective This study aims to determine the rate of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in endometrial cancer patients undergoing robotic hysterectomy with or without extended pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. Methods/Materials A retrospective chart review of women undergoing robotic hysterectomy with or without other procedures for endometrial cancer from January 2010 to February 2015 was conducted at 2 institutions. Charts were manually abstracted, and rates of VTE within 30 and 60 days after surgery were determined. Patients were then stratified by those who did and did not receive extended VTE prophylaxis. Results A total of 403 patients were included, of which 367 patients (91%) received extended pharmacologic prophylaxis and 36 patients (9%) did not. Low molecular weight heparin prescriptions ranged from 7 to 30 days. Patients receiving extended prophylaxis (EP) were older (63 ± 11 vs 57 ± 12; P = 0.004), more frequently underwent lymphadenectomy (67% vs 34%; P Conclusions In this study, 30-day and 60-day VTE rates after minimally invasive surgery for endometrial cancer were low. Rates were also similar to those of previous reports in this setting in which the majority of patients did not receive extended VTE prophylaxis. Given the consistent finding that postoperative VTE in this population is rare regardless of prophylaxis use and the variability in practice patterns for VTE prophylaxis, the development of best practice guidelines for EP use specific to this setting is warranted.
Caring for Patients With Chronic Physical and Mental Health Conditions: Lessons From TEAMcare and COMPASS

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It often coexists with other chronic conditions, contributing to poor self-management and subsequent poor health outcomes, increased service utilization and cost of care, and poor quality of life. Most patients with depression seek care in primary care settings. Patients given collaborative care for depression alone or for depression with commonly co-occurring general medical conditions have demonstrated improved outcomes. This article reviews findings from the TEAMcare (an integrated multicondition collaborative care program for chronic illnesses) and COMPASS (Care of Mental, Physical and Substance-Use Syndromes) programs to highlight the evidence supporting the effectiveness of the collaborative care model and its implementation in diverse settings.
Validation of a Clothing Heat Transfer Model in Nonisothermal Test Conditions

Heat transfer through clothing systems can mean the difference between life and death for first responders, such as firefighters, who perform intense physical activity in extreme environmental conditions. Total heat loss (THL) is a fabric level test method required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to assess the thermal burden imposed by materials in the construction of turnout clothing. This methodology, however, does not account for garment fit, construction, or air layers that develop within the clothing. Instead, thermal manikins may be used to measure the THL of entire clothing systems according to ASTM test methods. Environmental test conditions between the two standard methods (fabric versus manikin) differ, creating the need for an adapted heat transfer model for manikin THL comparisons in similar environmental conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to validate the assumptions of a heat transfer model originally developed and published by Ross, Barker, and Deaton (2012) for its accuracy in predicting manikin THL in nonisothermal test conditions. Three protective clothing systems with varying levels of clothing insulation were tested for THL in both isothermal and nonisothermal conditions as well as on the sweating guarded hot plate. Predictive calculations using Ross’s heat transfer model, adapted from the original THL hot plate calculation in ASTM F1868, Standard Test Method for Thermal and Evaporative Resistance of Clothing Materials Using a Sweating Hot Plate, were correlated to the actual manikin measurements taken in isothermal conditions to determine if there is any bias present in the current model.
Platelet response to direct thrombin inhibitor or fondaparinux treatment in patients with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Making a definitive diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) can be problematic. A prompt platelet rise following treatment has been proposed as a “post-test” criterion for diagnosis. However, the platelet response following discontinuation of heparin and initiation of a recommended alternative anticoagulant remains largely undefined and unstudied. This study aimed to characterize platelet response to initial treatment in patients with a low, intermediate, or high likelihood of having HIT. This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients were over 18 years in age, underwent serologic testing for HIT, and received alternative anticoagulation treatment for HIT. Classification of each patient’s likelihood of having HIT was based on an empiric, pre-hoc combination of the 4T score and serology results. The primary outcome for this study was a platelet count response after initiation of direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) or fondaparinux therapy within 48 h. 124 patients were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of having an immediate platelet rise of at least 10,000/µL by day 2 after starting treatment among high-likelihood for HIT patients were 0.71 (95% CI 0.55–0.84) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.5–0.76), respectively. The negative predictive value of no platelet rise was 75.5% (95% CI 0.61–0.86). A prompt platelet count rise may be appropriate to consider along with other known criteria for the clinical diagnosis of HIT. The rise should be immediate following discontinuation of heparin and initiation of recommended treatment, with an upward rise within 48 h.
Phase transitions in emulsified HNO3/H2O and HNO3/H2SO4/H2O solutions

The liquid-solid phase transitions of emulsified binary HNO{sub 3}/H{sub 2}O and ternary HNO{sub 3}/H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}/H{sub 2}O acid solutions have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry in order to elucidate the mechanism of ice formation from stratospheric aerosols. The results indicate that binary solution droplets with less than 33 wt % HNO{sub 3} freeze to form ice at temperatures 37--65 K below the equilibrium ice melting temperatures. Droplets with higher concentrations (up to 65 wt %) do not freeze; instead, they form glasses at temperatures below 160 K. The results also show that the presence of H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} in amounts corresponding to less than 5 wt % depresses the freezing points of the 0--33 wt % HNO{sub 3} droplets by 5 to >30 K, in agreement with earlier observations. The implications of the new data for an understanding of the formation of polar stratospheric clouds have been investigated using a thermodynamic model. The results indicate that an ice saturation ratio of greater than 1.65 is required for ice particles to form from ternary aerosols at stratospheric temperatures, corresponding to a cooling of about 3 K below the ice frost point.
An ILP based management protocol for wireless networks

In this paper, we propose a power management algorithm that schedules the time off for nodes in wireless networks. Wireless nodes are energy constrained, thus it is very important to extend their battery lifetime. The proposed management algorithm extends the battery life of the nodes by periodically turning off pre-selected nodes to save their energy while keeping the network connected at all times.
The evolution of composition and structure at metal-metal interfaces: Measurements and simulations

In this chapter the growth of transition metal (TM) films, Fe, Co, Pd, Ni, and Ti, on surfaces of Al(110), Al(001), and A1(111) is discussed. Attention is drawn to similarities and differences arising from the substrate orientation. The tendency for Ti to grow as an overlayer while the other metals form interface alloys is discussed. Monte Carlo computer simulations using EAM potentials are presented for Ni on the three orientations of A1. Results of model calculations based on the BFS method are shown to nicely categorize the growth behavior of the five metals on Al in terms of the contribution of each atom to the overall formation energy. The technique of MeV ion backscattering and channeling has been used to study the interface structure and stoichiometry for the films on the Al surfaces. In some cases x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, low-energy (keV) He+ ion scattering, and low-energy electron diffraction are used to obtain additional information about the structure of the TM-Al interfaces.
Acoustically-driven microfluidic systems

We have demonstrated a non-contact method of concentrating and mixing particles in a plastic microfluidic chamber employing acoustic radiation pressure. A flaw cell package has also been designed that integrates liquid sample interconnects, electrical contacts and a removable sample chamber. Experiments were performed on 1, 3, 6, and 10 {micro}m polystyrene beads. Increased antibody binding to a solid-phase substrate was observed in the presence of acoustic mixing due to improve mass transport.
Abstract 5127: Eradication of the gut microbiota reduces cancer burden in multiple models by modulating the immune system

Introduction: Bacteria residing in the human body outnumber ‘human9 cells and most of these bacteria exist in the gut. This gut microbiome forms a unique and dynamic metagenome which changes with nutrition and even disease state. A growing body of evidence has implicated the role of the gut microbiome in modulating our immune system. We aimed to investigate this association in murine models of cancer. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were either orally given saline or a gut sterilizing cocktail of poorly absorbable broad-spectrum antibiotics. These mice were used to model multiple cancers, viz. subcutaneous injection of melanoma cells derived from Tyr::CreER; Braf V600E/+;Ptenlox5/lox5 mice, subcutaneous injection of pancreatic cancer cells derived from KPC (Kras LSL.G12D/+; p53 R172H/+ ;Pdx::Cre) mice, intrasplenic injection of KPC pancreatic cancer cells and intrasplenic injection of B16-F10 melanoma cells. The tumors were immunophenotyped through flow cytometry and immunostained for multiple antigens. Mice plasma was used for chemokine analysis. To confirm the role of immunity, subcutaneous experiments were repeated in mice carrying a Rag1tm1Mom mutation (RAG1 knockout), thereby having an immature adaptive immune system. Results: Gut microbiome depletion reduced tumor burden across all four subcutaneous and hepatic metastases models. This effect disappeared when experiments were repeated in immunosuppressed RAG1 knockout mice. Antibiotic-treated tumors had increased TNF-secreting macrophages and NKT cells as well a higher number of iNOS staining cells in the microenvironment. Plasma from antibiotic-treated tumor-bearing mice had decreased levels of CXCL12, a chemokine known to cause tumor immunosuppression. Conclusion: Eradication of the gut microbiota decreases tumor burden by activating the anti-cancer immune system Citation Format: Vrishketan Sethi, Saba Kurtom, Mohd Tarique, Bhuwan Giri, Bharti Garg, Shweta Lavania, Anthony Ferrantella, Zoe Malchiodi, Leonor Hellmund, Harrys Charles Jacob, Rajinder Dawra, Sulagna Banerjee, Sabita Roy, Sundaram Ramakrishnan, Ashok Saluja, Vikas Dudeja. Eradication of the gut microbiota reduces cancer burden in multiple models by modulating the immune system [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5127.
Electronic health record access by patients as an indicator of information seeking and sharing for cardiovascular health promotion in social networks: Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract We investigated electronic health record (EHR) access as an indicator of cardiovascular health promotion by patients in their social networks, by identifying individuals who viewed their coronary heart disease (CHD) risk information in the EHR and shared this information in their social networks among various spheres of influence. In a secondary analysis of the Myocardial Infarction Genes trial, Olmsted County MN residents (2013–2015; n = 203; whites, ages 45–65 years) at intermediate CHD risk were randomized to receive their conventional risk score (CRS; based on traditional risk factors) alone or also their genetic risk score (GRS; based on 28 genomic variants). We assessed self-reported and objectively quantified EHR access via a patient portal at three and six months after risk disclosure, and determined whether this differed by GRS disclosure. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, family history, and baseline CRS/GRS. Self-reported EHR access to view CHD risk information was associated with a high frequency of objectively quantified EHR access (71(10) versus 37(5) logins; P = 0.0025) and a high likelihood of encouraging others to be screened for their CHD risk (OR 2.936, CI 1.443–5.973, P = 0.0030), compared to the absence of self-reported EHR access to view CHD risk information. We thereby used EHR access trends to identify individuals who may function as disseminators of CHD risk information in social networks, compared to individuals on the periphery of their social networks who did not exhibit this behavior. Partnering with such individuals could amplify CHD health promotion. Clinical Trial Registration: Myocardial Infarction Genes (MI-GENES) Study, NCT01936675 , https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01936675 .