cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fiber-optic localization by geometric space coding with a two-dimensional gray code

With the objective of monitoring motion within a room, we segment the two-dimensional (2D) floor space into discrete cells and encode each cell with a binary code word generated by a fiber. We design a set of k-neighbor-local codes to localize an extended object and, particularly when k = 2, employ a 2D gray code to localize a human by tracking his or her footsteps. Methods for implementing the codes in a fiber web are discussed, and we demonstrate the experimental result with the fiber mat. The observed system performance confirms the theoretical analysis. The space coding technique is a promising low-cost candidate not only for human tracking but also for other applications such as human gait analysis.
Joint estimation of multiple graphical models

Gaussian graphical models explore dependence relationships between random variables, through the estimation of the corresponding inverse covariance matrices. In this paper we develop an estimator for such models appropriate for data from several graphical models that share the same variables and some of the dependence structure. In this setting, estimating a single graphical model would mask the underlying heterogeneity, while estimating separate models for each category does not take advantage of the common structure. We propose a method that jointly estimates the graphical models corresponding to the different categories present in the data, aiming to preserve the common structure, while allowing for differences between the categories. This is achieved through a hierarchical penalty that targets the removal of common zeros in the inverse covariance matrices across categories. We establish the asymptotic consistency and sparsity of the proposed estimator in the high-dimensional case, and illustrate its performance on a number of simulated networks. An application to learning semantic connections between terms from webpages collected from computer science departments is included.
Track width definition of giant magnetoresistive sensors by ion irradiation

We describe the concept of using irradiation with light energetic ions in conjunction with a mask to define the edges of giant magnetoresistive sensors without milling. The irradiated material undergoes substantial interfacial mixing, and consequent loss of magnetoresistance (MR), accompanied by small changes in resistivity, and no significant change in magnetic moment. The ion species and energy may be chosen to minimize lateral scattering as they pass through the sensor film. Modeling of a perfect mask edge above a sensor film of thickness /spl sim/240 /spl Aring/ irradiated with a well-collimated ion beam indicates that sensor edge definition of /spl plusmn/20 /spl Aring/ is achievable-a vast improvement over sensor edges generated using ion milling, which may run to hundreds of Angstroms in width. Experimental data from irradiation of typical NiO, IrMn, NiMn and PtMn-based spin valves using 700 keV N/sup +/ ions indicate that doses between 10/sup 15/ and 10/sup 17/ ions/cm/sup 2/ are sufficient to diminish the MR of the films to below 5% of the as-grown value. Changes in MR caused by the irradiation are stable against annealing at temperatures typical for setting these sensors.
Programmed Affinity Extraction of Molecules on a Microfluidic Platform

Here, we present a "smart" microfluidic system for highly selective extraction of trace amounts of analytes using ribonucleic acid (RNA) aptamers. A micro-chamber consisting of streptavidin coated polystyrene beads was fabricated on a glass substrate using standard MEMS fabrication techniques. The beads were mobilized into the reaction chamber by an auxiliary channel and trapped using two weirs each connecting a sample carrier channel. After a thorough rinsing of the beads and chamber with buffer solution, a 20 muM solution of biotin labeled adenosine triphosphate aptamer (ATP-aptamer) was loaded into the chamber and allowed to bind with the streptavidin modified beads. An affinity matrix was realized. The extraction of an affinity analyte, adenosine monophosphate coupled with thiazole orange (TO-AMP), with acute discrimination, was demonstrated. Detection of the analyte was performed directly on the microfluidic device using an inverted fluorescence microscope. Additionally, we demonstrated "programmed" release and regeneration of the device using both competitive displacement and thermal energy. The effectiveness of both mechanisms is presented.
The Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial.

The Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial tested the efficacy of cholesterol lowering in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease in 3806 asymptomatic, middle-aged men with primary hypercholesterolaemia. The cholestyramine group experienced 8.5 and 12.6% greater reductions in total and low density lipoprotein (LDL), respectively, than those obtained in the placebo group. The cholestyramine group experienced a 19% reduction in risk (p < 0.05) of the primary end-point of definite coronary heart disease death and/or definite non-fatal myocardial infarction. Corresponding and significant reductions were also seen for angina, development of a positive exercise test, and coronary bypass surgery. All-cause mortality was only slightly, and not significantly, reduced in the cholestyramine group, reflecting more violent and accidental deaths in the cholestyramine subjects. When the cholestyramine group was analysed separately, a 19% reduction in coronary heart disease risk was also associated with each decrement of 8% in total cholesterol. Moreover, coronary heart disease incidence in men in sustaining a fall of 25% in total cholesterol, a typical response to the prescribed dosage (24 g/day) of cholestyramine resin, was half that of men who remained at pretreatment level. The Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial findings show that reducing total cholesterol by lowering LDL cholesterol levels, can diminish the incidence of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality in men at high risk for the disease because of raised LDL cholesterol levels. These results have considerable importance for the prevention of coronary heart disease through cholesterol lowering, at both the clinical and public health levels.
A high-performance low-power mesochronous pipeline architecture for computer systems

In a conventional pipeline scheme each pipeline stage operates on only one data set at a time. The clock period in conventional pipeline scheme is proportional to the maximum pipeline stage delay. We propose a mesochronous pipeline scheme, where pipeline stages operate on multiple data sets simultaneously. In this scheme the amount of logic in a stage is more and number of stages is less compared to a conventional pipeline. The clock period in this scheme is proportional to the maximum pipeline stage delay difference, which means higher clock speeds are possible and number of pipeline stages is significantly less. In mesochronous pipeline scheme, clock distribution network is simple and load on it is less. A detailed analysis of the clock period constraints is provided to show the performance gain and Speedup of mesochronous pipelining over other pipelining schemes. In mesochronous pipeline scheme, overall current drawn is less, resulting in significant power savings and also less IR drop on power lines. Also, the variation in supply current (di/dt) drawn by clock network is significantly less in mesochronous scheme, thus power supply noise is less. An 8×8-bit multiplier using carry-save adder technique has been simulated in conventional and mesochronous pipeline approach using TSMC 180nm (drawn length 200nm). The mesochronous pipelined multiplier is able to operate on a clock period of 350ps (2.86GHz). This is a Speedup of 1.7 over conventional pipeline scheme and requires fewer pipeline stages and pipeline registers. The over-all power dissipation in mesochronous pipeline multiplier is less than 50% of the power dissipation in conventional pipeline multiplier. In the conventional implementation, power dissipation in clock network and pipeline registers is close to 80% of total power dissipation, while in the mesochronous implementation logic is dissipating more power. Also, the variation in current drawn by clock network in mesochronous scheme is less, causing less power supply noise.
Characterization of Heat Shock Factor 1 in Response to Proteasome Inhibition Unveils a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Multiple Myeloma Treatment

e244 The percentage of CD3+HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the patients suffering from MM was 3.85 3.64% (median, 2.73%) and it was significantly statistically lower (p1⁄40.01) in comparison to the control group where an average percentage of these cells was 6.01 2.84% (median, 7.01%). The percentage of CD3+CD56+16+ NKT cells in the peripheral blood of the patients with MM was 10.93 11.02% (median, 8.59%) and it was significantly statistically lower (p1⁄40.0005) in comparison to the control group (21.15 9.08%; median, 22.8%). A positive correlation between the percentage of CD3+HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes and the percentage of BDCA2+CD123+ lymphoid DCs in bone marrow was demonstrated. The relation was statistically significant p1⁄40.001. Furthermore, a significant, positive correlation was found between the percentage of CD3+CD56+CD16+ NKT cells and the percentage of BDCA2+CD123+ lymphoid DCs in bone marrow (p1⁄40.04). Obtained results revealed the relations between the percentage of DCs subpopulations and lymphocytes subsets, especially the activated ones, in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The previously described role of DCs in the process of an immunological response, either adaptive or innate, lets us think that the decrease of the number or percentage of these cells may have a negative influence on the process of an activation of effector cells and, consequently, on the effectiveness of a response to foreign as well as neoplastic antigens in patients suffering from MM.
Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

This chapter examines the prevalence and treatment of two of the most prevalent disruptive behavior disorders of childhood: Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) in African American youth and associated health disparities among African American youth. We first discuss the prevalence of ODD and CD among children and adolescents in general. Second, we review the prevalence of ODD and CD in African American youth. Third, we present an overview of the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for ODD and CD. And fourth, we provide a section on treatment of ODD and CD in African American youth. Each section of this chapter includes pertinent empirical information on existing health disparities in the prevalence and treatment of ODD and CD for African American youth.
Robust Conict Detection and Resolution around Top of Descent

x at the edge of the terminal area. This paper explores a pair of enhanced vertical conict detection ranges (buers) for aircraft descending to their meter x that could provide enough coverage to catch potential losses for multiple types of uncertainty while limiting the increase in false alerts. The specic uncertainties examined include the predicted wind speed, cruise speed, descent speed, top-of-descent location, and the combination of all of those uncertainties plus uncertainty in aircraft fuel weight prediction. Performance metrics include false alerts, missed alerts, losses of separation, number of resolutions issued, and the total system delay caused by aircraft ying conict avoidance maneuvers. Results show that these vertical buers reduce the number of losses of separation for arriving aircraft from 207 to 12. However, using the vertical buers increases the number of resolutions issued by 50% and doubles the delay accrued by aircraft ying conict resolution maneuvers. Results also suggest that a smaller buer (80% size) could be used to gain most of the same benet as the full buer with less additional delay, while alternative methods might be best suited to remove the last few loss of separation cases during descent. Further, improving the trajectory prediction accuracy combined with a vertical buer signicantly reduced the number of losses of separation, resolutions issued, and delay accrued.
Probing Multidrug Resistance P-glycoprotein Transporter Activity with SPECT Radiopharmaceuticals

Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by overexpression of MDR1 (ABCB1) P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is one of the best characterized transporter-mediated barriers to successful chemotherapy in cancer patients and is also a rapidly emerging target in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Therefore, molecular imaging probes capable of imaging noninvasively Pgp and closely related transporter activities in tissues as well as tumors would be expected to contribute to personalized medicine. Interrogation of Pgp-mediated transport activity in vivo via noninvasive SPECT imaging could be beneficial for stratification of patient populations likely to benefit from a given therapeutic treatment, assist in the management of chemotherapy and aid the study of neurodegenerative diseases.
Growth of CdTe Thin Films on Polar and Nonpolar Semiconductor Substrates by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) have been used to investigate the origin of multiple orientation-relationships and defect structure of CdTe thin films grown on (100) GaAs and Si substrates by metal- organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). It has been determined that growth at 370°C with pre-exposure of the GaAs surface to Te following oxide desorption treatment at 600°C resulted in non-parallel epitaxy ((111)CdTe // (100)GaAs), while growth at 300°C following oxide desorption at 500°C with no exposure to Te resulted in parallel epitaxy ((100)CdTe // (100)GaAs). Both epitaxial orientation-relationships were observed on the same substrate for growth at 300°C temperature after 600°C oxide desorption treatment, but with no pre-exposure of the GaAs surface to Te. Preliminary results of growth of CdTe on Si are also reported.
TURNER'S SYNDROME. (GONADAL DYSGENESIS).

Possible mechanisms for the absence of one of the sex chromosomes in Turner's syndrome are anaphase lag and nondisjunction during miosis. Mosaic chromosomal patterns may result from accidents in mitosis of the fertilized egg. The sex chromatin pattern is a valuable aid in diagnosis. Individuals with Turner's syndrome are no longer considered genetic males. The clinical picture is reviewed, and recommendations for treatment are given.
Research of Two Type Finite Element Mesh Application in ANSYS

For increasing the calculation accuracy and analysis accuracy of complicacy construction, two different mesh divide methods are puts forward adopted to different analysis types , expatiated the calculation accuracy about different finite element mesh dividing according to the concrete example , point out that the technique problem should be considered when mesh is divided in ANSYS.
Representing and reasoning about time travel narratives: foundational concepts

The paper develops a branching-time ontology that maintains the classical restriction of forward movement through a temporal tree structure, but permits the representation of paths in which one can perform inferences about time-travel scenarios. Central to the ontology is the notion of an agent embodiment whose beliefs are equivalent to those of an agent who has time-traveled from the future.
Does adaptive radiation of a host lineage promote ecological diversity of its bacterial communities? A test using gut microbiota of Anolis lizards

Adaptive radiations provide unique opportunities to test whether and how recent ecological and evolutionary diversification of host species structures the composition of entire bacterial communities. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing of faecal samples to test for differences in the gut microbiota of six species of Puerto Rican Anolis lizards characterized by the evolution of distinct ‘ecomorphs’ related to differences in habitat use. We found substantial variation in the composition of the microbiota within each species and ecomorph (trunk-crown, trunk-ground, grass-bush), but no differences in bacterial alpha diversity among species or ecomorphs. Beta diversity analyses revealed subtle but significant differences in bacterial composition related to host phylogeny and species, but these differences were not consistently associated with Anolis ecomorph. Comparison of a trunk-ground species from this clade (A. cristatellus) with a distantly related member of the same ecomorph class (A. sagrei) where the two species have been introduced and are now sympatric in Florida revealed pronounced differences in the alpha diversity and beta diversity of their microbiota despite their ecological similarity. Comparisons of these populations with allopatric conspecifics also revealed geographic differences in bacterial alpha diversity and beta diversity within each species. Finally, we observed high intraindividual variation over time and strong effects of a simplified laboratory diet on the microbiota of A. sagrei. Collectively, our results indicate that bacterial communities are only weakly shaped by the diversification of their lizard hosts due to the strikingly high levels of bacterial diversity and variation observed within Anolis species.
Abstract 3678: The tumor suppressive small GTPase DiRas3 (ARHI) inhibits proliferation and activation of NF-κB in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive malignancy affecting the central nervous system (CNS) with a median survival of 12 to 15 months even with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Previous research demonstrates that increased activation of NF-κB is critical for GB growth, proliferation and the up regulation of genes involved in cytokine production, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and cell adhesion. Understanding the molecular targets that regulate NF-κB may provide more effective therapeutic targets for GB. DiRas family small GTPases, which are homologous to pro-oncogenic Ras GTPases, are tumor suppressive rather than tumor promoting and include DiRas1, DiRas2 and DiRas3 (ARHI). DiRas1 and DiRas2 have been suggested to be tumor suppressive in CNS malignancies, but the role of DiRas3 in CNS malignancies remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that expression of DiRas3 protein in GB cell lines is absent, although DiRas3 is expressed in non-malignant glial cells. Re-expression of DiRas3 in U-87 cells reduces cell proliferation by 20%. Using a NF-κB transcriptional activity luciferase reporter assay demonstrates that DiRas3 expression reduces NF-κB transcriptional activity by 70% compared to vector control. Further experiments demonstrate that decreased NF- κB activity occurs via reduced phosphorylation of the NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. The reduced phosphorylation of IκBα could be a result of decreased AKT and ERK activity, as increased ERK and AKT activity can stimulate NF-κB pathways. Our lab has previously demonstrated that the most common binding partner for DiRas1 and DiRas2 was the small GTPase binding protein SmgGDS, and DiRas1 and DiRas2 also reduce NF- κB activation. However, DiRas3 does not interact with SmgGDS, suggesting that DiRas3 can reduce NF-κB in a SmgGDS-independent manner. Understanding the role of DiRas3 and its binding partners in mediating NF- κB activation may lead to novel therapeutics for glioblastoma. Citation Format: Amy Rymaszewski, Michael Straza, Anne Frei, Carmen Bergom. The tumor suppressive small GTPase DiRas3 (ARHI) inhibits proliferation and activation of NF-κB in glioblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3678.
Behavior of universal critical parameters in the QCD phase diagram

We determine the dependence of important parameters for critical fluctuations on temperature and baryon chemical potential in the QCD phase diagram. The analysis is based on an identification of the fluctuations of the order parameter obtained from the Ising model equation of state and the Ginzburg-Landau effective potential approach. The impact of the mapping from Ising model variables to QCD thermodynamics is discussed.
The Effectiveness of an Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program in the Treatment of Post-Laminectomy Syndrome in Patients Who Have Failed Spinal Cord Stimulation.

Introduction Post-laminectomy syndrome (PLS) patients who have previously undergone spinal cord stimulation and failed to have significant improvement create a unique challenge for ongoing pain management. We hypothesize that, following successful completion of intensive, interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation (IPR), this patient population can achieve a significant reduction in pain, improvement in mood, functional levels, and self-efficacy. Materials and methods A retrospective chart review was conducted comparing the following for patients prior to enrollment in the IPR program and upon completion: numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores; functional status via the six-minute walk test; mood via the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) Life control scores and MPI Interference, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS); and self-efficacy via the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). Results Forty-three patients met inclusion criteria, with 17 males and 26 females and a mean age of 64 years. Patients demonstrated a statistically significant increase in six-minute walk test distance of 104 m, a decrease in average NRS pain score of 1.4 points, an increase in average MPI life control by 8.3 points, a decrease average MPI interference by 5.3 points, an increase in average Short Form-36 by 6.5 points, an increase in average PCS by 4.4 points, and an increase in average PSEQ score of 18.1. Their average mood via CES-D improved by 4.2 points. Conclusions Intensive, interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation provides an effective therapeutic modality for patients with post-laminectomy syndrome who have failed spinal cord stimulation by decreasing pain levels and by increasing functional status and self-efficacy.
Lacrimal Gland NK Cells Are Developmentally and Functionally Similar to Conventional NK Cells

The murine lacrimal gland (LG), which produces crucial components of the ocular tear film, contains a population of natural killer (NK) cells. LG NK cells appear to belong to the conventional NK cell lineage, based on their cell surface receptor and transcription factor expression, absence in NFIL3-/- mice, and lack of RORγt expression during development. LG NK cells produce IFN-γ during the early stages of systemic murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. This effector response occurs in the absence of noticeable MCMV replication in the LG, indicating that LG NK cells are being activated by soluble factors. However, the magnitude of LG NK cell IFN-γ production during MCMV infection is significantly lower than spleen and liver NK cells. Adoptive transfer experiments in lymphopenic mice revealed that this hyporesponsive phenotype is tissue-specific, which indicates that that LG NK cells can produce a robust effector response.
Experimental Verification of the G-H Measurement Model by Ultrasonic Diffraction in Single Crystals, and New [110] Longitudinal Propagation Results

A calculation of diffraction loss versus normalized (dimensionless) distance is needed to correct ultrasonic attenuation measurements for beam spreading and arrive at the intrinsic material attenuation as a function of frequency.
To Cloud Or Not To? Musings on Clouds, Security and Big Data

In this talk we explored the economics of cloud computing. We identified cost trade-offs and postulated the key principles of cloud outsourcing that define when cloud deployment is appropriate and why. The results may surprise and are especially interesting in understanding cyber- security aspects that impact the appeal of clouds.
Task trading for crowdsourcing in opportunistic mobile social networks

With the explosive proliferation of mobile devices, mobile crowdsourcing has become a new paradigm involving a crowd of mobile users to collectively take large-scale tasks from requesters in mobile social networks (MSNs). In this paper, we study task allocation in crowdsourcing in Opportunistic Mobile Social Networks (OMSNs) which are formed opportunistically when people gather together at social events. Specifically, we aim to minimize the total working hours of the users to finish these tasks. Different from other algorithms, we hope to raise the efficiency of the whole network by task trading inspired by the comparative advantage in macroeconomy. We first prove that our defined problem is NP-hard and then propose a heuristic task trading algorithm TTA by which users can trade when they meet opportunistically. Simulation results comparing our proposed algorithm with the one without considering trading and the brute force algorithm to find the minimum total number of hours show that our proposed algorithm can substantially reduce the total number of hours to finish all the allocated tasks and is very close to the benchmark brute force algorithm.
Frontal Lobe and the Cognitive Foundation of Behavioral Action

Motor representations are hierarchically organized in dorsolateral frontal cortex. The highest, most global plans and schemes of action appear to be represented in prefrontal cortex, intermediate ones in premotor cortex, and the most elementary motor acts in primary motor cortex. The confluence of external and internal inputs on frontal cortex leads to the activation of frontal neuron networks representing different categories of action. The activation of these networks is the physiological substrate for the initiation and execution of behavioral action.
A tutoring system for debugging: status report

Although debugging is integral to the successful pursuit of undergraduate computer science, it is rarely taught explicitly. Students that succeed in pursuing Computer Science must learn this ability on their own or through limited assistance from professors, TAs, or other instructional figures. This paper discusses beginning work related to creating an intelligent tutoring system to teach debugging skills to introductory undergraduate computer science students.
Modelling of through-hole electrodeposition. Part II : Experimental study

Current distribution measurements in through-hole electrodeposition were made on sectioned copper electrodes in a cylindrical flow channel. Two copper plating solutions with the same copper sulfate concentration but with different sulfuric acid concentrations were used. Experiments were conducted potentiostatically and under steady-state conditions. Results were compared with those from the theoretical model.
Linking spherical mean diffusion weighted signal with intra-axonal volume fraction.

Abstract Diffusion MRI has been widely used to assess brain tissue microstructure. However, the conventional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is inadequate for characterizing fiber direction or fiber density in voxels with crossing fibers in brain white matter. The constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD) technique has been proposed to measure the complex fiber orientation distribution (FOD) using a single high b-value (b ≥ 3000 s/mm2) to derive the intra-axonal volume fraction (Vin) from the calculated FOD. Recently, the spherical mean technique (SMT) was developed to fit Vin directly from a multi-compartment model with multi-shell b-values. Although different numbers of b-values are needed in the two techniques, both methods have been suggested to be related to the spherical mean diffusion weighted signal ( S ¯ ). The current study compared the two techniques on the same high-quality Human Connectome Project diffusion data and investigated the relation between S ¯ and Vin systematically. At high b-values (b ≥ 3000 s/mm2), S ¯ is linearly related to Vin, and S ¯ provides similar contrast with Vin in white matter. At low b-values (b ~ 1000 s/mm2), the linear relation between S ¯ and Vin is sensitive to the variations of intrinsic diffusivity. These results demonstrate that S ¯ measured with the typical b-value of 1000 s/mm2 is not an indicator of Vin, and previous DTI studies acquired with b = 1000 s/mm2 cannot be re-analyzed to provide Vin-weighted contrast.
Systemic Bone Loss After Fracture

A history of prior fracture is the most reliable indicator of prospective fracture risk. Increased fracture risk is not confined to the region of the prior fracture, but is operant at all skeletal sites, providing strong evidence of systemic bone loss after fracture. Animal and human studies suggest that systemic bone loss begins shortly after fracture and persists for several years in humans. In fact, bone quantity and bone quality may never fully return to their pre-fracture levels, especially in older subjects, demonstrating a need for improved understanding of the mechanisms leading to systemic bone loss after fracture in order to reduce subsequent fracture risk. Although the process remains incompletely understood, mechanical unloading (disuse), systemic inflammation, and hormones that control calcium homeostasis may all contribute to systemic bone loss. Additionally, individual factors can potentially affect the magnitude and time course of systemic bone loss and recovery. The magnitude of systemic bone loss correlates positively with injury severity and age. Men may also experience greater bone loss or less recovery than women after fracture. This review details the current understanding of systemic bone loss following fracture, including possible underlying mechanisms and individual factors that may affect this injury response.
Postoperative complications in nipple-sparing mastectomy.

1095 Background: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) has been accepted as a risk reducing procedure and for treatment of select breast cancers. The purpose of this study was to detail the types of post...
Laboratory Testing in Thyroid Disorders

For thyroid function evaluation, thyrotropin (TSH) is the usual starting point. TSH shows an exponential response to changing peripheral thyroid hormone levels, thereby providing high clinical detection sensitivity. Thyroxine (T4) or triiodothyronine (T3) is frequently measured alongside, mostly as free hormones (FT4 and FT3), to assess disease severity or treatment response. Some diseases require additional testing to determine the cause of observed abnormalities or to clarify contradictory results of TSH and T4/T3 testing. Thyroid autoantibody testing is important in this context.
Advances in Infection Control for Clostridioides (Formerly Clostridium) difficile Infection

We reviewed seminal papers and recently published articles discussing multiple aspects of infection prevention applied to Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI). We identified hot topics including the importance of understanding the gut microbiome in CDI and its implications from an infection prevention perspective, the increasing role of antibiotic stewardship including testing stewardship in preventing and mitigating CDI, and the increasing role of clinical decision support systems to improve early diagnosis and decrease inappropriate testing. In addition to established infection prevention interventions, CDI control will be achieved by a combination of gut microbiome manipulation, personalized medicine based on host and agent genome analysis, and a combination of antimicrobials and testing stewardship by leveraging progressively sophisticated electronic decision systems. Automated environmental decontamination systems are not routinely recommended at this time.
Retinal and Cortical Determinants of Cortical Magnification in Human Albinism

ABSTRACT The human fovea lies at the center of the retina and supports high-acuity vision. In normal visual system development, foveal acuity is correlated with both a high density of cone photoreceptors at this location and a magnified retinotopic representation of the fovea in the visual cortex. Both cone density and the cortical area dedicated to each degree of visual space—the latter known as the cortical magnification function—steadily decline with increasing eccentricity from the fovea. In albinism, peak cone density at the fovea and visual acuity are reduced but appear to be normal in the periphery, thus providing a model to explore the correlation between retinal structure, cortical structure, and behavior. Here, we used adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy to assess retinal cone density and functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure cortical magnification in primary visual cortex of normal controls and individuals with albinism. We find that retinotopic organization is more varied in albinism than previously appreciated, yet cortical magnification outside the fovea is similar to that in controls. Moreover, cortical magnification in albinism and controls exceeds that which might be predicted based on cone density alone, suggesting that reduced foveal cone density in the albinotic retina may be partially counteracted by central connectivity. Together, these results emphasize that central as well as retinal factors must be included to provide a complete picture of aberrant structure and function in genetic conditions such as albinism.
Ultra-High-Resolution Imaging of Amygdala Subnuclei Structural Connectivity in Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an increasingly common and disabling illness. As the amygdala has been reported to have pathological involvement in mood disorders, we aimed to investigate for the first time potential changes to structural connectivity of individual amygdala subnuclei in MDD using ultra-high-field 7T diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. Methods Twenty-four patients with MDD (11 women) and 24 age-matched healthy control participants (7 women) underwent diffusion-weighted imaging with a 1.05-mm isotropic resolution at 7T. Amygdala nuclei regions of interest were obtained through automated segmentation of 0.69-mm resolution T1-weighted images and 0.35-mm resolution T2-weighted images. Probabilistic tractography was performed on all subjects, with random seeding at each amygdala nucleus. Results The right lateral, basal, central, and centrocortical amygdala nuclei exhibited significantly increased connection density to the rest of the brain, whereas the left medial nucleus demonstrated significantly lower connection density (false discovery rate p Conclusions By exploiting ultra-high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, structural hyperconnectivity was demonstrated involving the amygdaloid nuclei in the right hemisphere in MDD. To a lesser extent, impairment of subnuclei connectivity was shown in the left hemisphere.
Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Distinguishes Malignancy in T1-Hyperintense Small Renal Masses

OBJECTIVE. Small renal masses (< 4 cm) can be difficult to accurately classify as benign or malignant, particularly when they appear T1 hyperintense on MRI. This intrinsic signal, potentially relat...
Gold nanostar-based voltammetric sensor for chromium(VI)

This paper presents an electrochemical sensor for Cr(VI) (chromate ion) in water. A disposable screen-printed electrode was modified with gold nanostars (AuNSs) that were synthesized by Good’s buffer method. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was employed for the detection of Cr(VI) in 0.1 M sulfuric acid solution. The AuNSs are shown to provide higher current response to Cr(VI) than spherically shaped gold nanoparticles. The sensor gives the strongest response at a scan rate of 0.05 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and exhibits minimal interference from other electroactive species. The linear range extends from 10 to 75,000 ppb, and the limit of detection is 3.5 ppb. This is well below the provisional guideline value given by the World Health Organization. Excellent recoveries (ranging between 95 and 97%) were found when analyzing contaminated ground water samples obtained from a site situated in Wellesley, MA.
Effects of a vocational social-skills program on psychosocial functioning among young adults with autism

Date Presented 04/05/19 This study examined the effects of a group-delivered, vocational social skills intervention among young adults with high-functioning autism. Participants made statistically significant improvements in social function, self-efficacy, and psychological wellness. Results support this program as a Level III evidence-based intervention, and highlight the need for additional development, validation, and application of manualized, psychosocial interventions in OT. Primary Author and Speaker: Annemarie Connor Contributing Authors: Connie Sung, Alicia Strain, Songtian Zeng, Sarah Fabrizi
The Impact of Drug and Alcohol Intoxication on Glasgow Coma Scale Assessment in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background The effect of intoxicating substances on assessment of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the trauma setting has not been completely elucidated. Methods A trauma registry was queried for patients with blunt head trauma in 2013–2017. Initial GCS score and toxicology screening from the database were reviewed. Next recorded GCS score from the neurosurgery evaluation and change in GCS score (ΔGCS) were compared. Results We reviewed 468 patients. In 217 (46.4%) patients, no toxic substances were found, whereas >1 toxic substance was found in 104 (22.2%) patients. Alcohol level above the legal limit was found in 109 (23.3%) patients, marijuana was found in 105 (22.4%) patients, benzodiazepines were found in 94 (20.1%) patients, opiates were found in 48 (10.3%) patients, and cocaine was found in 41 (8.8%) patients. Mean change in GCS score was significantly higher in impaired patients compared with patients with a negative screening test (1.74 ± 2.4 vs. 0.75 ± 2.7, P Conclusions Intoxicating substances can confound GCS assessment in trauma patients. This can have effects on patient care as well as performance metrics and predictive analytics. These patients should be screened, and intoxicating substances should be reversed or allowed to wear off before GCS score is recorded for benchmarking or quality reporting.
Multiscale Geometric Data Analysis via Laplacian Eigenvector Cascading

We develop here an algorithmic framework for constructing consistent multiscale Laplacian eigenfunctions (vectors) on data. Consequently, we address the unsupervised machine learning task of finding scalar functions capturing consistent structure across scales in data, in a way that encodes intrinsic geometric and topological features. This is accomplished by two algorithms for eigenvector cascading. We show via examples that cascading accelerates the computation of graph Laplacian eigenvectors, and more importantly, that one obtains consistent bases of the associated eigenspaces across scales. Finally, we present an application to TDA mapper, showing that our multiscale Laplacian eigenvectors identify stable flair-like structures in mapper graphs of varying granularity.
Quantitative Assessment of Weight-Bearing Fracture Biomechanics Using Extremity Cone-Beam CT.

Purpose: We investigate an application of multisource extremity Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) with capability of weight-bearing tomographic imaging to obtain quantitative measurements of load-induced deformation of metal internal fixation hardware (e.g. tibial plate). Such measurements are desirable to improve the detection of delayed fusion or non-union of fractures, potentially facilitating earlier return to weight-bearing activities. Methods: To measure the deformation, we perform a deformable 3D-2D registration of a prior model of the implant to its CBCT projections under load-bearing. This Known-Component Registration (KC-Reg) framework avoids potential errors that emerge when the deformation is estimated directly from 3D reconstructions with metal artifacts. The 3D-2D registration involves a free-form deformable (FFD) point cloud model of the implant and a 3D cubic B-spline representation of the deformation. Gradient correlation is used as the optimization metric for the registration. The proposed approach was tested in experimental studies on the extremity CBCT system. A custom jig was designed to apply controlled axial loads to a fracture model, emulating weight-bearing imaging scenarios. Performance evaluation involved a Sawbone tibia phantom with an ~4 mm fracture gap. The model was fixed with a locking plate and imaged under five loading conditions. To investigate performance in the presence of confounding background gradients, additional experiments were performed with a pre-deformed femoral plate placed in a water bath with Ca bone mineral density inserts. Errors were measured using eight reference BBs for the tibial plate, and surface point distances for the femoral plate, where a prior model of deformed implant was available for comparison. Results: Both in the loaded tibial plate case and for the femoral plate with confounding background gradients, the proposed KC-Reg framework estimated implant deformations with errors of <0.2 mm for the majority of the investigated deformation magnitudes (error range 0.14 - 0.25 mm). The accuracy was comparable between 3D-2D registrations performed from 12 x-ray views and registrations obtained from as few as 3 views. This was likely enabled by the unique three-source x-ray unit on the extremity CBCT scanner, which implements two off-central-plane focal spots that provided oblique views of the field-of-view to aid implant pose estimation. Conclusion: Accurate measurements of fracture hardware deformations under physiological weight-bearing are feasible using an extremity CBCT scanner and FFD 3D-2D registration. The resulting deformed implant models can be incorporated into tomographic reconstructions to reduce metal artifacts and improve quantification of the mineral content of fracture callus in CBCT volumes.
Optimizing the interaction between residents and attending physicians

Abstract We analyze how attending physicians should allocate their time between the residents they supervise and their own responsibilities. Under the assumption that a holding cost is incurred when residents and patients wait for a conference with the attending physician, we show that there are only two policies that could maximize the long-run average reward. Namely, it is optimal for the attending physician to start having consultations with the residents either when the residents can no longer examine new patients or as soon as there is a patient ready for conference. Furthermore, we show that the optimality condition is a simple threshold on the holding cost. We then characterize when each of these policies is profitable and the optimum number of residents (supervised by the attending physician) under each policy. We conclude that if a health care facility operates with the optimal number of residents, the two policies become the same and it is always optimal (and profitable) for the attending physician to start conferences with the residents as soon as there is a patient waiting.
Diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to assess radiation therapy response for head and neck paragangliomas

Background and purpose The prediction of radiotherapy outcome in head and neck paragangliomas is clinically important. We investigated perfusion and diffusion markers for evaluation of response to radiotherapy of head and neck paragangliomas. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 330 consecutive patients from January 2016 to September 2019 with suspected head and neck paragangliomas, and enrolled 11 patients (2 males, 9 females; age: 55.2 ± 10.3 years) who had conventional MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI before and after radiation therapy. Radiation therapy, consisting of external beam radiotherapy or stereotactic radiotherapy, was conducted at the radiation oncology department in a single center. Mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), normalized mean ADC, and parameters of DCE-MRI were compared between pre- and post-treatment status by paired t-test. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used for the relationship between tumor volume ratio (post-treatment status/pre-treatment status) and pre-treatment and post-treatment values. Results Mean and normalized ADC values were statistically higher in post-treatment status than pre-treatment status (p = 0.005, p = 0.005, respectively), and Ktrans (volume transfer constant between extravascular, extracellular space [EES], and blood plasma per minute) and Kep (rate transfer constant between EES and blood plasma per minute) were significantly lower in post-treatment status than pre-treatment status (p = 0.007, p = 0.027, respectively). The correlation coefficient of the relationship between tumor volume ratio and pre-treatment Ktrans (r = 0.70; p = 0.016) and between tumor volume ratio and post-treatment Ktrans and Kep (r = 0.83; p = 0.002, r = 0.8; p = 0.003, respectively) was statistically significant. Conclusions Ktrans has predictive potential to predict the response to radiation therapy of head and neck paragangliomas.
The role and impact of environmental big data in agricultural disaster management

In order to improve the effect of agricultural disaster management, this paper uses environmental big data technology to analyse historical agricultural disaster data and analyse the role and impac...
Non-Lethal Weapons: The Law and Policy of Revolutionary Technologies for the Military and Law Enforcement

Too often, military and law enforcement authorities have found themselves constrained by inadequate weaponry. An emerging category of 'non-lethal weapons' carries promise for resolving this dilemma, proffering new capabilities for disabling opponents without inflicting death or permanent injury. This array of much more sophisticated technologies is being developed, and could emerge for use by soldiers and police in the near future. These augmented capabilities carry both immense promise and grave risks: they expand the power of law enforcement and military units, enabling them to accomplish assigned missions with greater finesse and reduced casualties. But they may also be misused - increasing maligned applications and inspiring leaders to over-rely upon a myth of 'bloodless combat'. This book explores the emerging world of non-lethal weapons by examining a series of case studies - recent real-world scenarios from five confrontations around the world where the availability of a modern arsenal might have made a difference.
Transformations in Real Materials

We have explored many interesting properties of the Field-Theoretic Method and saw how it can help us better understand phase transformations at equilibrium and in dynamics. As the Materials Physics is moving into a new era of quantitative modeling and design of real materials, it is important to assess the challenges of the Method. One of those is obtaining reliable material parameters for it. The Method depends on a number of new parameters, which, although can be classified as material’s properties, cannot be found in a table of physical and chemical constants. For example, the Method uses the Landau–Gibbs free energy of the system expanded in powers of the order parameter (Chap. 2) with the coefficients of expansion (A, B) or (W, D). A partial list of other parameters used by the method is: the gradient energy coefficient κ (Chap. 3) and the rate constant γ (Chap. 4). The problem is that these parameters cannot be easily identified in experiments and obtained through direct measurements because they are not measurable quantities, that is, do not have direct experimental meaning. In this chapter, we discuss the strategies and challenges in obtaining these parameters for realistic materials and the boundaries of applicability of the Method.