cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Higher-Order PCA for anomaly detection in large-scale networks

Anomaly detection is important to monitor and keep the health of large scale IP networks. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based methods have been proposed with major limitation on the scalability. In this paper, we apply Higher-Order Singular Value Decomposition (HOSVD) and Higher-Order Orthogonal Iteration (HOOI) algorithms on network traffic anomaly detection by rearranging the data in tensor formats. Also a low-complexity implementation of the HOOI algorithm is developed. Simulation results show that the higher-order methods improve the detection performance and also reduce the complexity for large-scale networks.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Spatial Transition to Turbulence Using Fourth-Order Vertical Velocity Second-Order Vertical Vorticity Formulation

A highly accurate algorithm has been developed to study the process of spatial transition to turbulence. The algorithmic details of the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of transition to turbulence in a boundary layer based on a formulation in terms of vertical velocity and vertical vorticity are presented. Issues concerning the boundary conditions are discussed. The linear viscous terms are discretized using an implicit Crank?Nicholson scheme, and a low-storage Runge?Kutta method is used for the nonlinear terms. For the spatial discretization, fourth-order compact finite differences have been used, as these have been found to have better resolution compared to explicit differencing schemes of comparable order. The number of grid points that are needed per wavelength is close to the theoretical optimum for any numerical scheme. The resulting time-discretized fourth-order equations are split up into two second-order equations, resulting in Helmholtz- and Poisson-type equations. The boundary conditions for the Laplacian of the vertical velocity are determined using an influence matrix method. A robust multigrid algorithm has been developed to solve the resulting anisotropic elliptical equations. For the outflow boundary, a buffer domain method, which smoothly reduces the disturbances to zero, in conjunction with parabolization of the Navier?Stokes equations has been used. The validation of the results for the DNS solver is made both for linear and weakly nonlinear cases.
Estimating Sparse Gene Regulatory Networks Using a Bayesian Linear Regression

In this paper, we propose a gene regulatory network (GRN) estimation method, which assumes that such networks are typically sparse, using time-series microarray datasets. We represent the regulatory relationships between the genes using weights, with the “net” regulation influence on a gene's expression being the summation of the independent regulatory inputs. We estimate the weights using a Bayesian linear regression method for sparse parameter vectors. We apply our proposed method to the extraction of differential gene expression software selected genes of a human buffy-coat microarray expression profile dataset of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and compare the estimation result with the GRNs estimated using both a correlation coefficient method and a database-based method ingenuity pathway analysis. A biological analysis of the resulting consensus network that is derived using the GRNs, estimated with both our and the correlation-coefficient methods results in four biologically meaningful subnetworks. Also, our method performs either better than or competitively with the existing well-established GRN estimation methods. Moreover, it performs comparatively with respect to: 1) the ground-truth GRNs for the in silico 50- and 100-gene datasets reported recently in the DREAM3 challenge and 2) the GRN estimated using a mutual information-based method for the top-ranked Bayesian analysis of time series (a Bayesian user-friendly software for analyzing time-series microarray experiments) selected genes of the VAP dataset.
(Z)-9-nonacosene-major component of the contact sex pheromone of the beetle Megacyllene caryae.

Male Megacyllene caryae (Gahan) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) respond to females only after touching them with their antennae, indicating that mate recognition is mediated by a contact sex pheromone. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of whole-body solvent extracts of male and female M. caryae revealed substantial differences in hydrocarbon profiles, with nearly half of the compounds in the extracts from females being absent from those of males. Biological activities of fractions of crude extracts of females, and reconstructed blends of the most abundant straight-chain (nC27, nC28, nC29), methyl-branched (2Me-C26, 9Me-C29, 11, 13, 15Me-C29), and unsaturated (Z9:C29, Z13:C29, Z14:C29, Z13:C31, Z14:C31, Z15:C31) compounds in extracts of females were tested in arena bioassays, assessing four steps in the mating behavior sequence of males (orientation, arrestment, body alignment, mounting and attempting to couple the genitalia). Males showed limited response to dead females treated with fractions of the crude extract or blends of synthetic straight-chain and methyl-branched alkanes, but responded strongly to the blend of synthetic monoenes. Further trials determined that the complete sequence of mating behaviors, up to and including coupling the genitalia, was elicited by Z9:C29 alone. Z9:C29 is a homolog of the contact pheromone (Z9:C25) of the congener M. robiniae (Forster). Previous work with M. robiniae suggested that wipe sampling of cuticular hydrocarbons of females by solid phase microextraction yielded a more representative profile of components actually encountered by a male’s antennae, and so provided a more readily interpretable profile of potential semiochemicals present in the wax layer than does solvent extraction. We tested this hypothesis by comparing hydrocarbon profiles of female M. caryae by the two sampling methods. Z9:C29 was the only compound among the dominant hydrocarbons that was present in higher abundance in SPME than in solvent extracts (∼12% vs. ∼8%, respectively), supporting this hypothesis.
Septic Shock: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

Importance Septic shock is a clinical emergency that occurs in more than 230 000 US patients each year. Observations and Advances In the setting of suspected or documented infection, septic shock is typically defined in a clinical setting by low systolic (≤90 mm Hg) or mean arterial blood pressure (≤65 mm Hg) accompanied by signs of hypoperfusion (eg, oliguria, hyperlactemia, poor peripheral perfusion, or altered mental status). Focused ultrasonography is recommended for the prompt recognition of complicating physiology (eg, hypovolemia or cardiogenic shock), while invasive hemodynamic monitoring is recommended only for select patients. In septic shock, 3 randomized clinical trials demonstrate that protocolized care offers little advantage compared with management without a protocol. Hydroxyethyl starch is no longer recommended, and debate continues about the role of various crystalloid solutions and albumin. Conclusions and Relevance The prompt diagnosis of septic shock begins with obtainment of medical history and performance of a physical examination for signs and symptoms of infection and may require focused ultrasonography to recognize more complex physiologic manifestations of shock. Clinicians should understand the importance of prompt administration of intravenous fluids and vasoactive medications aimed at restoring adequate circulation, and the limitations of protocol-based therapy, as guided by recent evidence.
Interconnect delay testings of designs on programmable logic devices

Very thorough interconnect delay testing technique for designs implemented on programmable logic devices, such as FPGAs, is presented (application-dependent test). The presented technique achieves 1) 100% robust path delay coverage on all the paths in the design, 2) 100% transition fault coverage, and 3) 100% TARO coverage, transition to all reachable primary outputs. The required number of test configurations is two or four depending on the structure of the design. An algorithmic approach to generate the test vectors and configurations is presented.
Modern Objectives and Methods for Laboratory Instruction

In considering the role of the undergraduate laboratory in an engineering curriculum, it is important that the objectives of the laboratory program be well understood and clearly set forth. It is proposed that the objectives of a modern laboratory program should be: 1) to supplement and strengthen the teaching of subject matter by laboratory methods and 2) to teach the theory and practice of experimentation. A complete laboratory program designed to meet the above objectives should include classroom demonstrations, self-demonstrations, a course on the theory and practice of experimentation, a measurements course, and a senior projects laboratory. The unique features of, such a laboratory program are 1) the self-demonstrations which are designed and programmed much like a teaching machine but which are made up of normal laboratory equipment with which the student carries out an actual physical experiment, and 2) the handling of the theory and practice of experimentation as a body of information which can be taught and which exists as a subject in its own right to be included in an engineering curriculum.
Joint analysis of HIV and AIDS surveillance data in back-calculation

AIDS surveillance data are the main source of information to perform back-calculation of HIV incidence. We propose a method to incorporate additional information gained by linkage with an HIV surveillance system, containing data on the time of first positive HIV test. In this paper we generalize an earlier method that was developed to use HIV testing data available only for AIDS cases. The new method also makes use of cases with an HIV positive test who have not yet developed AIDS, typically a substantial proportion of the HIV-infected population. Furthermore, we use a more realistic model for the HIV testing rate, incorporating dependence on both time since infection and calendar time. The method makes use of an EM algorithm with generalized additive model smoothing, and is applied to data from Veneto, a region of northern Italy. Our results show that HIV incidence in Veneto peaked in the late 1980s, and decreased thereafter. Importantly, the HIV incidence estimates based on joint analysis of HIV and AIDS surveillance data are more efficient than estimates based on AIDS surveillance data alone. Our estimates also show a decreasing trend in the HIV testing rate over time, which leads to the conclusion that the interval between HIV infection and first positive test has lengthened over time. Furthermore, it is found that for infected individuals, the probability of seeking on HIV test is highest soon after infection. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron microscopy of cells: a new beginning for a new century.

It is widely acknowledged that EM of macromolecules is entering a new phase of productivity (for review see [Nogales and Grigorieff 2001][1]). It is less well known that comparable innovations are afoot in cellular EM. Studies of biological “ultra-structure” were of key importance in the early
Euripides’ Andromache : Observations on Form and Meaning

It is not certain that the ten annotated plays of Euripides came to be grouped by a process of selection based on some definite critical principle. In any case, it is something of a paradox that the Andromache, which has a long history of negative criticism, finds itself alongside plays, the reception of which has been much more favourable. The remark found in the second, probably Aristophanean, hypothesis: τό δέ δρμα τν δeυτέρων has met with the agreement of several scholars who have found the play unsatisfactory. Verrall believed that on a straightforward reading the drama was worthless and unintelligible; Wilamowitz came to the conclusion that the play is ‘euripideisch in Gutem und Bosem und verdient die Zensur τν δeυτέρων, die Aufnahme in eine Auswahl schwerlich’. According to Schmid-Stahlin Euripides himself was not unaware of the drama’s shortcomings, for, as can be deduced from the scholium on 1. 445, he was too ashamed to produce it in Athens, and he did not, it seems, produce it in his own name.
Impacts of biodiesel blends on PM2.5, particle number and size distribution, and elemental/organic carbon from nonroad diesel generators

Abstract As an important alternative to diesel fuel, biodiesel is considered sustainable and environmentally friendly and has attracted increased interest over the last few decades. For the evaluation of biodiesel’s impact on engine performance and emissions, most studies have focused on diesel vehicles and on-road diesel engines. There is also limited data available to assess the effect of biodiesels on emissions of unregulated pollutants, such as ultrafine particulate (UFP), particle number (PN) and size distributions. For developing successful emission control strategies, an understanding of biodiesel impact on emissions from both on-road and nonroad diesel engines is necessary. In this study, two nonroad diesel generators were tested with diesel and two biodiesel blends with 5% (v/v) (B5) and 20% (v/v) (B20) biodiesel under varied engine load conditions. The effects of engine load and biodiesel blends on emissions (g/min) and emission factor (g/kW h) of PM 2.5 , PN, elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), as well as particle size distribution were investigated. A method for the determination of EC/OC in overloaded filter samples was also developed and evaluated. While emissions (except OC) were found to increase with increasing load, emission factors of PN and OC decreased with increasing load while lowest emission factors for PM 2.5 and EC were recorded under medium load. Although limited, the impacts on PM 2.5 , PN, EC/OC, as well as particle size distribution from biodiesel blends were more noticeable under the lowest and/or the highest engine load conditions and depended strongly on engine type.
Introduction: Mapping the Contours of Progressive Masculinities

This is the introductory chapter from the edited collection entitled Progressive Black Masculinities. The Introduction explains the origins of the project and the organizers attempts to bring a group of scholars and activist together to explore the experiences, practices and lives of black men from a gender perspective. Seeking to fill a gap in feminists theory, among others, the chapter poses questions to scholar/activists from various perspectives about whether racial profiling constitutes sexism and whether there exist a vision of manhood that does not rely on female subordination.
Decomposing Racial Disparities in Obesity Prevalence: Variations in Retail Food Environment.

Introduction Racial disparities in obesity exist at the individual and community levels. Retail food environment has been hypothesized to be associated with racial disparities in obesity prevalence. This study aimed to quantify how much food environment measures explain racial disparities in obesity at the county level. Methods Data from 2009 to 2010 on 3,135 U.S. counties were extracted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Environment Atlas and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and analyzed in 2013. Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition was used to quantify the portion of the gap in adult obesity prevalence observed between counties with a high and low proportion of African-American residents is explained by food environment measures (e.g., proximity to grocery stores, per capita fast-food restaurants). Counties were considered to have a high African-American population if the percentage of African-American residents was >13.1%, which represents the 2010 U.S. Census national estimate of percentage African-American citizens. Results There were 665 counties (21%) classified as a high African-American county. The total gap in mean adult obesity prevalence between high and low African-American counties was found to be 3.35 percentage points (32.98% vs 29.63%). Retail food environment measures explained 13.81% of the gap in mean age-adjusted adult obesity prevalence. Conclusions Retail food environment explains a proportion of the gap in adult obesity prevalence observed between counties with a high proportion of African-American residents and counties with a low proportion of African-American residents.
Identification of Morinda officinalis How,Morinda umbellata L,Damnacanthus officinarum Huang

Aim To find out an accurate and simple method to identify Morinda officinalis How,Morinda umbellata L.and Damnacanthus officinarum Huang.Methods Character identification,fluorescence,TLC and UV spectrophotometry were used for analysis.Results TLC in 3.3 can be used to identify three kinds of drugs,and UV spectroscopy can be used to identify Morinda officinalis How and Morinda umbellata L.Conclusion This experiment can be used as a reference for identifying Morinda officinalis How,Morinda umbellata L.and Damnacanthus officinarum Huang.
Costly Arbitrage and the Closed-End Fund Puzzle: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

We examine how short sale constraints on portfolio holdings affect closed-end fund (CEF) discounts and thereby distinguish behavioral-based explanations from fundamental-based explanations of the discounts. Using Regulation SHO as a natural experiment that relaxes short-sale constraints on pilot stocks, we find that discounts of CEFs holding more pilot stocks decrease relative to CEFs holding fewer pilot stocks. We also find that the effect comes only from CEFs that trade at discounts. The results suggest that a substantial part of CEF discounts is driven by mispricing.
Binding of radiolabeled monensin and lasalocid to ruminal microorganisms and feed.

Gram-negative, ionophore-resistant ruminal bacteria and Gram-positive, ionophore-sensitive species bound similar amounts of [14C]lasalocid, but neither group bound large amounts of [14C]monensin. Membrane vesicles also bound more lasalocid than monensin (P .05). Monensin binding was greatly reduced when the mixed ruminal bacteria were pretreated with Tris+EDTA (P .05). Based on the binding capacity of mixed ruminal bacteria, ruminal protozoa, and feed particles, there would be little free ionophore in ruminal fluid.
Amylase release from streptolysin O permeabilized fetal pancreatic acini

Developmental regulation of Ca(2+)-dependent protein discharge was investigated in fetal and neonatal rat pancreatic acini permeabilized with streptolysin O. When incubated at 37 degrees C in a Ca(...
Design for manufacture; design for the life-cycle; systems life-cycle engineering

A perspective is presented on a conceptual relationship of design for assembly, design for manufacture, and design for the life cycle. Systems life-cycle engineering is defined and needed research initiatives are proposed. Despite the fact that a few leading companies have used variations of this latter approach effectively over a number of years on different technologies and products, there still is not a good, consistent nomenclature, a well-defined process, or a well-documented methodology for general industrial use or general academic educational curriculum. The author attempts to begin to rectify this situation. This work highlights some of the activities in this area, and the general methodology and process. >
Improvement of minority-carrier lifetime in tin monosulfide via substrate engineering

Tin (II) monosulfide (SnS) is a promising Earthabundant, non-toxic thin-film absorber due to its near-ideal optoelectronic properties and manufacturability, but low minority-carrier lifetimes limit SnS device efficiencies to below 5%. We employ electron beam-induced current measurements to deduce the effect of structural defects on bulk recombination in our champion thermally evaporated devices, and then use graphene substrates as a means to reduce detrimental structural defects. We demonstrate an improvement in the effective minority-carrier lifetime of SnS using a graphene substrate, suggesting that the use of substrates with van der Waals surface termination may provide a route toward higher-efficiency SnS-based devices.
In vivo and in vitro measurement of Bmax and Kd of (R)-rolipram in rat

1147 Objectives: Rolipram is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), the enzyme that catabolizes the second messenger cAMP. The enzyme activity of PDE4 is regulated by phosphorylation with greater activity in the phosphorylated than the non-phosphorylated form. Studies using recombinant DNAs showed the phosphorylated form is more sensitive to inhibition by rolipram. Thus, rolipram binding may provide indirect measurement of the activity of PDE4. Methods: In vivo Bmax and Kd were measured by estimating specifically bound (B) and free (F) (R)-[C-11]rolipram under transient equilibrium in PET experiments without blocking (n=5, mass dose: 0.75±0.12 μg/kg), partially (n=5, 0.015–0.0015 mg/kg) and fully blocking (n=2, 0.9–1.0 mg/kg) with non-radiolabeled (R)-rolipram. PET images were acquired with the ATLAS, and metabolite-corrected arterial input function was measured in all scans. B under transient equilibrium was estimated by performing two-compartmental fitting by constraining K1/k2 to the value obtained in full blocking scans. F was estimated from the activity in nondisplaceable compartment and plasma free fraction. Bmax and Kd were calculated by nonlinear fitting using one- and two-binding site models for the saturation curve created from B and F obtained above. At the end of the baseline scans, animals were sacrificed and samples were obtained to measure Bmax and Kd by homogenate binding. Results: Nonlinear fitting provided excellent fitting for the in vivo saturation curves with R2>0.90 for both one and two binding site models. F-test did not show a significant difference in goodness-of-fit between these models not supporting the presence of two binding sites. In vivo and in vitro measurements showed similar Bmax. Kd measured in vivo tended to be smaller than in vitro values. Conclusions: (R)-rolipram has greater affinity in vivo implying greater levels of PDE4 phosphorylation. Research Support (if any): NIMH Z01-MH-002795-04
Aging and Dual-Task Training:

The efficacy of two methods of training dual-task skills was examined in this experiment. Thirty older subjects (Mean age = 67.8 years) were trained using either variable priority or fixed priority...
Improved durability of Pt catalyst supported on N-doped mesoporous graphitized carbon for oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Abstract N-doped mesoporous graphitized carbon (NMGC) was prepared by the pyrolysis of chelating complex adsorbed on carbon. The NMGC shows a higher degree of graphitization than carbon black as evidenced by the change of specific surface area, interlayer spacing, and ID/IG value. The stable quaternary nitrogen type is dominantly observed in the NMGC incorporated with Fe (NMGC-Fe). Pt particles are well-distributed on the NMGC-Fe in the range of 2–3 nm. The Pt/NMGC-Fe catalyst shows remarkably improved durability after 30,000 potential cycles between 0.6 and 1.0 V. The maximum power density and the potential loss of Pt/NMGC-Fe catalyst decrease by 26% and 83 mV at 600 mA cm−2. The commercial Pt/C catalyst shows the very poor durability of 52% loss of maximum power density and zero potential at 600 mA cm−2. The electrochemical surface area of Pt/NMGC-Fe catalyst is more stable than the commercial Pt/C catalyst. The interaction between Pt and NMGC-Fe contributes strongly to the observed high durability under practical operating conditions.
Giving voice: mobile communication, disability, and inequality

Although assistive communication technologies vary in features and platforms, the claims of their developers and the popular press are the same: emerging mobile technologies will “give voice to the...
Differences between Exporters and Non-Exporters: Some Hypotheses concerning Small Manufacturing Businesses*:

Survey data generated by four hundred small, United States manufacturers are analyzed seeking to compare exporters with non-exporters by number of employees, scope of international activities and, attitudes about the future role of exporting among small businesses. The paper concludes with three hypotheses regarding differences between small, U.S. exporters and small, U.S. non-exporters.
Hybrid Flow Switched Network with an Arbitrarily Reconfigurable Optical Switch

We present a hybrid network based on an integrated photonic switch capable of arbitrary linear transformations. We show bandwidth and latency improvements in a multi-switch network under heavy load from one to several flows.
Ethical Implications of Reproductive Cloning

The science of reproductive and therapeutic cloning has stirred heated ethical debates. Some of the fears and apprehensions are based on misconceptions of the science, but others are real and substantial. It may be ethically possible to undertake reproductive cloning once the direct physiological risks of cloning are reduced to the level of current assisted reproductive technologies, but this should be done only in a research context with careful monitoring and follow-up of children and families.
Influence Allocation Methods in Group Decision Support Systems

Influence allocation processes are voting and opinion aggregating methods that allow members to distribute some or all of their decision making influence to others in the group in order to exploit not only the group's knowledge of the alternatives, but its knowledge of itself. Only with the common use of group decision support systems (GDSS) has their use become practical. In this paper we reconsider SPAN, an influence allocation process introduced by MacKinnon (1966a). Experimental comparison shows SPAN to be significantly better at selecting a correct option from a set of options than two common voting methods. An alternative influence allocation process that we call RCON (Rational Consensus), is based on a weighting method proposed by DeGroot (1974) and has been explicated as a normative standard for combining opinion by Lehrer and Wagner (1981). The judgmental inputs to SPAN would appear to be logically related to those for RCON. Submitting the SPAN inputs from the experiment, transformed in this logical way, to the RCON process results in somewhat better performance than with SPAN. However, evidence indicated that the two methods are conceptually and psychologically sufficiently different that an experimental comparison is needed between them.
Developmental patterns of change in the influence of safe and risky peer choices on risky decision-making

Adolescents take more risks when peers monitor their behavior. However, it is largely unknown how different types of peer influence affect adolescent decision-making. In this study, we investigate how information about previous choices of peers differentially influences decision-making in adolescence and young adulthood. Participants (N = 99, age range 12-22) completed an economic choice task in which choice options were systematically varied on levels of risk and ambiguity. On each trial, participants selected between a safer choice (low variability in outcome) and a riskier choice (high variability in outcome). Participants made choices in three conditions: a solo condition in which they made choices with no additional information, a social condition in which they saw choices of supposed peers, and a computer condition in which they saw choices of a computer. Results showed that participants' choices conform to the choices made by the peers, but not a computer. Furthermore, when peers chose the safe option, late adolescents were especially likely to make a safe choice. Conversely, when the peer made a risky choice, late adolescents were least likely to follow choices made by the peer. We did not find evidence for differential influence of social information on decisions depending on their level of risk and ambiguity. These results show that information about previous decisions of peers are a powerful modifier for behavior and that the effect of peers on adolescents' decisions is less ubiquitous and more specific than previously assumed.
Kidney after Liver Transplantation Matched-Pair Analysis: Are Kidneys Allocated to Appropriate Patients to Maximize Their Survival?

BACKGROUND Kidney after liver transplantation (KALT) is the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage renal disease after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). New allocation policies prioritize kidneys to patients in renal failure within the first year following OLT. There is little data on how kidney quality, measured by kidney donor profile index (KDPI), impacts KALT survival outcomes. METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adult KALT recipients from 1988 to 2015 and compared to their paired kidney transplant alone (KTA) recipients. Seven hundred forty-five pairs were stratified into 3 KDPI subgroups and compared patient survival, graft survival, and death-censored graft survival among matched-paired recipients. RESULTS Overall, KTA recipients had superior patient and graft survival compared with the KALT group. KTA patient survival was superior for all 3 KDPI subgroups analysis. KTA graft survival was superior compared with KALT recipients of KDPI 21%-85% kidneys. Inferior graft half-life was observed in KALT versus KTA recipients with KDPI 21%-85% and >85%. CONCLUSIONS From a utilitarian perspective, it is important that kidneys are allocated to recipients that are able to maximize their benefit from the full life of the organ. In KTA recipients, graft quality correlates directly to graft survival. However, in KALT patients receiving the matched-pair kidneys of the KTA recipients, patient mortality, rather than kidney quality, dictates graft survival significantly. As allocation practices continue developing, utilization of expanded criteria kidneys that better match anticipated patient and graft survival should be strongly considered to maximize the benefits of limited resources for the greatest number of patients.
Investments with returns: a systematic literature review of health-focused housing interventions

Housing access and the built environment are both recognized as significant social determinants of health. Numerous studies and articles detail housing-based interventions that result in improved health outcomes. However, less is known about potential financial impacts and which programs and initiatives not only improve health but also generate return on investment (ROI). Through a systematic literature review, the authors identified evidence regarding the economic benefits of housing interventions aimed at improving health, using ROI as a measure of program success. Specifically, housing interventions that are aimed at childhood asthma, HIV, chronic illness among the homeless, and urban blight have demonstrated a positive ROI ranging from 30 to 480%, with most cost savings attributed to meaningful reductions in hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
Preoperative patient activation is predictive of improvements in patient-reported outcomes following minimally invasive lumbar decompression.

To determine whether there is an association between preoperative 10-Item Patient Activation Measure (PAM-10) scores and clinical outcomes following MIS LD. Patients undergoing a primary MIS LD were retrospectively reviewed and stratified according to their preoperative PAM-10 scores: “low PAM,” “moderate PAM,” and “high PAM.” Preoperative PAM score cohorts were tested for improvements in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 12-Item Short-Form Physical Component Score (SF-12 PCS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) back and leg pain using multivariate linear regression. Eighty-nine patients were included: 29 had a low PAM score, 32 had a moderate PAM score, and 28 had a high PAM score. Cohorts experienced similar preoperative VAS back pain, VAS leg pain, ODI, and SF-12 PCS. Patients with low PAM scores experienced a trend of higher pain scores throughout 6 months with VAS back pain being significant at 3 months and VAS leg pain being significant at 6-week and 3-month follow-up. Patients with lower PAM scores experienced a worse improvement in ODI at 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month timepoints. Lastly, patients with lower PAM scores demonstrated less improvement in SF-12 PCS at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Lower preoperative PAM scores were associated with worse improvement in clinical outcomes following MIS LD. Patients with lower PAM scores had diminished improvement in long-term patient-reported outcomes including ODI, SF-12, and VAS back and leg pain. Our investigation suggests that preoperative PAM assessments may be an effective tool to predict postoperative outcomes following MIS LD.
Dual-Class Stock Structure and Firm Innovation

Firms operating in innovative, technology-based environments account for an increasingly significant portion of all recent dual-class IPOs. Shedding new light on the determinants of dual-class structure among such firms, this article contributes to the long-standing debate over the desirability and uses of dual-class stock structure more broadly. In a companion article, that constructed a novel empirical measure of firm founders’ idiosyncratic vision based on media mentions, I demonstrated that expropriation alone cannot adequately explain the tendency of technology-based firms to adopt dual-class structure and that the desire to protect founders’ idiosyncratic vision also drives the choice of stock structure. This article builds on these findings to identify the increased benefits and the reduced costs associated with dual-class structures for firms with significant innovative activity. It argues that placing limitations on dual-class stock structure can prevent such firms from implementing the optimal stock structure needed for the execution of their founders’ vision, leading to suboptimal performance and an increase in firms’ cost of capital. This article analyzes through this lens recent attempts to limit the use of dua-lclass stock structure.
Analyzing OH*, CH*, and C2* chemiluminescence of bifurcating FREI propane-air flames in a micro flow reactor

Abstract An experimental investigation of spontaneous flame chemiluminescence of OH*, CH*, and C2* radicals was conducted for premixed propane-air flames in a micro flow reactor. Equivalence ratios from 0.7 to 1.4 were examined and correlated well to the ratio of OH*/CH* and C2*/CH* (R2 > 0.999 for C2*/CH* power fit). The OH*/CH* ratio better correlated with equivalence ratio for lean flames, while the C2*/CH* ratio better correlated with rich flames. The equivalence ratio model was used to calculate the axial local equivalence ratio for a rich propane-air flame (ϕ of 1.5) exhibiting strong bifurcating FREI behavior, resulting in three visible flame fronts. The measured intensities of OH*, CH*, and C2* chemiluminescence, as well as the calculated local equivalence ratio along the reactor axis support the numerical model explanations of the observed bifurcating FREI flames available in the literature. This work highlights the novel application of this diagnostic technique in the context of micro flow reactors.
Fragile X Syndrome

This chapter offers a synopsis of research studies identifying various sleep patterns in children with Fragile X syndrome. New research has begun to recognize sleep problems across the life span in individuals with Fragile X-associated disorders. Epidemiologic and treatment approaches involve recognizing the interaction of biopsychosocial variables which have been conceptualized using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version. There is a need for well-designed double-blind crossover studies investigating the effectiveness of medications and behavioral interventions in treating sleep problems. The immediate and long-term impact of these treatments on family satisfaction and functioning must also be measured and documented.
CONTINUUM: A single-arm pilot care transition intervention for hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.

33Background: Patients with advanced cancer are frequently hospitalized and experience burdensome transitions of care after discharge. Interventions to address patients’ symptoms, support medicatio...
Surgeon Assessment of the Technical Impact of Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy on Operable Stage III Melanoma.

Introduction The effect of neoadjuvant systemic therapies (NST) on technical aspects of operation for resectable stage III melanoma is unknown. Prospective capture of the estimated and actual degree of difficulty of therapeutic lymphadenectomy at presentation and after NST may inform the relative merits of NST versus surgery followed by adjuvant therapy. Methods We designed surgeon survey tools to capture key impressions at baseline prior to NST and postoperatively. We conducted a sub-study within a multi-institutional clinical trial for high-risk operable stage III melanoma (NeoACTIVATE, NCT03554083) which enrolls clinically node-positive patients to 12 weeks of combinatorial NST determined by BRAF status. Survey data were analyzed. Results Surveys were completed for 24 of 25 patients (96%). Affected nodal basins were cervical (3, 13%) axillary (9, 38%), inguinal ± pelvic (14, 58%); 2 (8%) involved ≥ 2 basins. Baseline estimates included largest affected node size (median/range 4/1.4-11 cm), number of involved nodes (median/range 3/1-10) and tumor fixation (present in 12, 50%). At operation, actual degree of difficulty increased from the baseline estimate in 4 (17%) and decreased in 6 (25%). Surgery was less difficult, average, or more difficult versus usual operation in 4, 9, and 11 cases (17%, 38%, 46%), respectively. Conclusions Although many operations were judged to be more difficult than the usual therapeutic lymphadenectomy, operation following NST was more often perceived as easier than more difficult versus baseline impression. Engaging surgical oncologists to perform similar structured assessments across clinical trials will permit cross-study analysis of the effect of NSTs on the technical conduct of lymphadenectomy.
Amplification and deletion of mouse chromosome 4 in lung cancer

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3855 Although lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is ranked second only to bladder cancer in proportion of cases due to past occupational exposures, the genetic changes associated with progression of the disease are not well understood. We used Spectral Karyotyping (SKY), mapping with fluorescently labeled genomic clones (FISH), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on a BAC array, 5 kB NimbleGen CGH array, expression array, real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to analyze 15 primary adenocarcinoma and 9 pairs of high and low invasive cell cultures to detect molecular changes. The medial portion of chromosome 4 was deleted in 66.0% + 12.0 of the cell lines. FISH mapping and CGH array further narrowed the region of genetic alteration. The minimal region of deletion occurred at 39.6 centimorgans (cM). Duplication of chromosome 4 at 10 to 35 cM occurred in 68.0% + 11.0 of the cell cultures. Expression array analysis demonstrated increased expression of a proposed oncogene, Kruppel-like factor 4, tyrosine kinase receptor EphA2, Cyclin E, and a group of ubiquintination factors. Analysis of genes within the deleted region of chromosome 4 demonstrated decreased expression of the cell cycle inhibitory factor p16 at 39 cM, the NR4A3 receptor involved in apoptosis at 42.7 cM, the differentiation factor Forkhead Box D3 at 45 cM and the apoptotic factor Cathepsin D at 50 cM. Western blot analysis showed that Cathepsin D protein was produced at very low levels and was not processed to the mature form. IGFII receptor, the processing protein for Cathepsin D, was also expressed at very low levels. The homologous linkage groups on human chromosomes 9p21, 1p36 and 9q are altered in human lung adenocarcinoma. Alteration in copy number and expression of the genes on chromosome 4 may play a functional role in lung cancer development and may aid in the identification of mouse and human lung cancer susceptibility genes.
Stromgren Trails of Hot White Dwarfs

High resolution IUE spectra of Feige 24 reveal sharp C IV absorption features at both the stellar velocity and the velocity of the interstellar lines. It was shown that the ionization zone created by Feige 24 itself accounts for the interstellar components of C IV and Si IV, and that the density of hot white dwarfs in the galaxy implies that similar ionized zones around hot white dwarfs make a significant contribution to the C IV column densities observed toward distant O and B stars. Typical white dwarf velocities of around 30 km/s and C IV ionization zone diameters less than 1 pc imply that the crossing time is comparable to the ionization time, so that nonequilibrium ionization models are required. Models of the resulting elongated trails are presented.
Orphans and political instability.

Objective This study investigates the security implications of growing orphan populations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Little has been written about the security implications of this especially vulnerable group of children. Are growing orphan populations associated with increases in political instability as has been suggested? Method Using data from several sources, we employ regression analysis to test whether Sub-Saharan African countries with larger proportions of orphans and those with increasing orphan populations experience higher rates of political instability. Results We find that the increase in the orphan population is related to an increasing incidence of civil conflict, but do not find a similar relationship for the proportion of orphans. In addition, we find that the causes of orphanhood matter. Conclusions We conclude that increases in orphan populations (rather than simple proportions) are destabilizing. We suggest possible avenues for mediating the security risks posed by growing orphan populations.
Adaptive Denoising Autoencoders: A Fine-Tuning Scheme to Learn from Test Mixtures

This work aims at a test-time fine-tune scheme to further improve the performance of an already-trained Denoising AutoEncoder DAE in the context of semi-supervised audio source separation. Although the state-of-the-art deep learning-based DAEs show sensible denoising performance when the nature of artifacts is known in advance, the scalability of an already-trained network to an unseen signal with an unknown characteristic of deformation is not well studied. To handle this problem, we propose an adaptive fine-tuning scheme where we define a test-time target variables so that a DAE can learn from the newly available sources and the mixing environments in the test mixtures. In the proposed network topology, we stack an AutoEncoder AE trained from clean source spectra of interest on top of a DAE trained from a variety of available mixture spectra. Hence, the bottom DAE outputs are used as the input to the top AE, which is to check the purity of the once denoised DAE output. Then, the top AE error is used to fine-tune the bottom DAE during the test phase. Experimental results on audio source separation tasks demonstrate that the proposed fine-tuning technique can further improve the sound quality of a DAE during the test procedure.
On-board processor for direct distribution of change detection data products [radar imaging]

We are developing an on-board imaging radar data processor for repeat-pass change detection and hazard management. This is the enabling technology for NASA ESE to utilize imaging radars. This processor enables the observation and use of surface deformation data over rapidly evolving natural hazards, both as an aid to scientific understanding and to provide timely data to agencies responsible for the management and mitigation of natural disasters. Many hazards occur over periods of hours to days, and need to be sampled quickly. The new technology has the potential to save many lives and millions of dollars by putting critical information in the hands of disaster management agencies in time to be of use. The processor architecture integrates two key technologies by combining a field programmable gate array (FPGA) front-end with a reconfigurable computing back-end. A searchable on-board data archive stores the reference data sets needed for the change detection processing. In this paper, we present an overview of the change detection processing algorithm and the preliminary hardware architecture.
Padé-Type Model Reduction of Second-Order and Higher-Order Linear Dynamical Systems

A standard approach to reduced-order modeling of higher-order linear dynamical systems is to rewrite the system as an equivalent first-order system and then employ Krylov-subspace techniques for reduced-order modeling of first-order systems. While this approach results in reduced-order models that are characterized as Pade-type or even true Pade approximants of the system's transfer function, in general, these models do not preserve the form of the original higher-order system. In this paper, we present a new approach to reduced-order modeling of higher-order systems based on projections onto suitably partitioned Krylov basis matrices that are obtained by applying Krylov-subspace techniques to an equivalent first-order system. We show that the resulting reduced-order models preserve the form of the original higher-order system. While the resulting reduced-order models are no longer optimal in the Pade sense, we show that they still satisfy a Pade-type approximation property. We also introduce the notion of Hermitian higher-order linear dynamical systems, and we establish an enhanced Pade-type approximation property in the Hermitian case.
Characteristics of Tφ3, a Bacteriophage for Bacillus stearothermophilus

A bacteriophage (Tφ3) which infects the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 8005 was isolated and characterized. Infection of the bacterium by the bacteriophage was carried out at 60 C, the optimal growth temperature of the host. At 60 C, the phage had a latent period of 18 min and a burst size of about 200. The phage was comparatively thermostable in broth. The halflife of Tφ3 was 400 min at 60 C, 120 min at 65 C, 40 min at 70 C, and 12 min at 75 C. The activation energy for the heat inactivation of Tφ3 was 56,000 cal. The buoyant density of Tφ3 in a cesium chloride density gradient was 1.526 g/ml. Electron micrographs of Tφ3 indicate that the phage has a head that is 57 mµ long. The dimensions and shape of the head are compatible with those of a regular icosahedron. Each edge of the head is 29 mµ long. The tail of Tφ3 is 125 mµ long and 10 mµ wide. There are about 30 cross-striations that are spaced at 3.9-mµ intervals along the tail. Under the conditions investigated, Tφ3 adsorbed slowly to the host. Only 2.8% of the phage adsorbed in 10 min at 60 C, the normal incubation temperature that was used. Tφ3 was not infective to four other thermophilic strains or to two mesophilic strains of bacteria.