cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors for Hospital Admission Among Older Persons With Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure Findings From the Cardiovascular Health Study

Objectives This study sought to identify risk factors for the occurrence of all-cause hospital admissions among older persons after heart failure diagnosis, and to determine whether geriatric conditions would emerge as independent risk factors for admission when evaluated in the context of other relevant clinical data. Background Efforts to reduce costs in heart failure have focused on hospital utilization, yet few studies have examined how geriatric conditions affect the long-term risk for hospital admission after heart failure diagnosis. With the aging of the population with heart failure, geriatric conditions such as slow gait and muscle weakness are becoming increasingly common. Methods The study population included participants with a new diagnosis of heart failure in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal study of community-living older persons. Data were collected through annual examinations and medical-record reviews. Geriatric conditions assessed were slow gait, muscle weakness (defined as weak grip), cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. Anderson-Gill regression modeling was used to determine the predictors of hospital admission after heart failure diagnosis. Results Of the 758 participants with a new diagnosis of heart failure, the mean rate of hospital admission was 7.9 per 10 person-years (95% CI: 7.4 to 8.4). Independent risk factors for hospital admission included diabetes mellitus (HR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.64), New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.57), chronic kidney disease (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.53), slow gait (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.55), depressed ejection fraction (HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.51), depression (HR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.45), and muscle weakness (HR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.42). Conclusions Geriatric conditions are important, and potentially modifiable, risk factors for hospital admission in heart failure that should be routinely assessed at the time of heart failure diagnosis.
WWW‐Based Water Quality Modeling Systems to Enhance Student Learning

This paper focuses on how student understanding of complex environmental systems can be improved by developing interactive, WWW-accessible water quality modeling systems and supporting multimedia educational materials that provide experiential learning opportunities. Students dynamically utilize online models and obtain immediate graphical responses to questions of interest. Presented herein is a description of WWW-based environmental simulation capabilities and multimedia educational materials that improve student understanding of environmental systems, particularly water quality. The material includes case studies to be applied to science and engineering higher education. Case studies give students experience in modeling real life systems and expose them to environmental issues and water quality protection measures. An evaluation of the educational tool was conducted and showed that the tool is an effective way to provide education concerning complex environmental systems.
Calculation of the T matrix and the scattering matrix for ensembles of spheres

We present a method for determination of the random-orientation polarimetric scattering properties of an arbitrary, nonsymmetric cluster of spheres. The method is based on calculation of the cluster T matrix, from which the orientation-averaged scattering matrix and total cross sections can be analytically obtained. An efficient numerical method is developed for the T-matrix calculation, which is faster and requires less computer memory than the alternative approach based on matrix inversion. The method also allows calculation of the random orientation scattering properties of a cluster in a fraction of the time required for numerical quadrature. Numerical results for the random orientation scattering matrix are presented for sphere ensembles in the form of densely packed clusters and linear chains.
Surgical Risk and Comorbidity in Older Urologic Patients

Almost two-thirds of urology operations are performed in patients 65 years and older. Older adults are at higher risk for complications and mortality compared with their younger counterparts. There are 2 primary methods to quantify surgical risk in these patients, frailty measurement and organ/comorbidity-based surgical risk calculators. A frailty assessment can be used to independently forecast the risk of postoperative complications. A paradigm shift in the preoperative assessment of the geriatric patient has occurred, which emphasizes the evaluation of frailty over more traditional surgical risk assessment, which uses comorbidities and single end-organ dysfunction to define risk.
Tracking the allocation of attention using human pupillary oscillations.

The muscles that control the pupil are richly innervated by the autonomic nervous system. While there are central pathways that drive pupil dilations in relation to arousal, there is no anatomical evidence that cortical centers involved with visual selective attention innervate the pupil. In this study, we show that such connections must exist. Specifically, we demonstrate a novel Pupil Frequency Tagging (PFT) method, where oscillatory changes in stimulus brightness over time are mirrored by pupil constrictions and dilations. We find that the luminance induced pupil oscillations are enhanced when covert attention is directed to the flicker stimulus and when targets are correctly detected in an attentional tracking task. These results suggest that the amplitudes of pupil responses closely follow the allocation of focal visual attention and the encoding of stimuli. PFT provides a new opportunity to study top down visual attention itself as well as identifying the pathways and mechanisms that support this unexpected phenomenon.
In a Fish’s Mind’s Eye: The Visual Pallium of Teleosts

This chapter reviews visual functions of the pallium of teleost fishes. Information derives from studies utilizing three major groups of fishes: the Osteoglossomorpha or bony tongues, which include mormyrid weakly electric fishes (most notably the elephant-nose, Gnathonemus petersii); the Otophysi, which include catfish, minnows, and gymnotid weakly electric fishes; and the Percomorpha, the most derived of the bony fishes. Comparisons between the groups are complicated by differences in the preglomerular and/or thalamic nuclei that function as links between the tectum and pallium. Nevertheless similarities are apparent. Ipsilateral tectal information is projected to the dorsal part of the lateral pallium (dDl) via preglomerular nuclei in representatives of all three groups of fishes. The most differentiated system is a pathway from the tectum to a highly developed preglomerular cell group, the nucleus prethalamicus (PTH), to an enlarged dDl in the squirrelfish. The PTH is probably homologous to part of the anterior preglomerular nucleus of other percomorphs and possibly other tectal recipient preglomerular nuclei in the two other groups of fishes. In some coral reef percomorphs (e.g., squirrelfishes and surgeonfishes) the dDl is highly differentiated, obtaining a “cortical-like” appearance with vertical (radial) columns as well as horizontal lamination. Recent electrophysiological studies in percomorphs confirm the visual input to the area. The major output pathway from the typical cortical-like cells of dDl (at least in certain percomorphs and otophysians) is to an adjacent large-celled dorsal portion of the central palliai nuclear complex (dDc). This area projects to several layers in the ipsilateral tectum. Stimulation of the dDc has a profound effect on tectal activity. The pathway in squirrelfish appears to be topographically organized. These animals also have an additional connection between the regions in the form of unique specialized “bridge cells” that have processes in both dDl and dDc. Thus, at least for advanced percomorphs, the current evidence supports a reciprocal pallial-tectal interconnection or “vision loop.” Visual information is also projected to the dorsomedial pallium (dDm) and probably dDl by thalamic nuclei, most notably the ventromedial nucleus (VMN). The VMN pathways are probably multisensory in nature. Connections between the dDm and the dDl in a number of fishes may also provide substrates for integration of visual and other types of sensory information (e.g., acoustic and electrosensory).
Influence of Pavement Surface Characteristics on Nighttime Visibility of Objects

Vehicle headlights do not light enough of a roadway length for safe nighttime driving at higher driving speeds. Therefore, particularly on highways with high traffic levels, fixed roadway lighting enables safe nighttime driving conditions. Roadway lighting design has evolved over the years from the illumination method, which is based on the amount of light falling on the road surface, to the luminance-and visibility-based methods that are in use today. Visibility of an object on the roadway is directly related to the contrast between the object and its surroundings. In nighttime driving situations, the pavement acts as the background for most objects on the road. Therefore, reflectance characteristics of the pavement are important in visibility-based roadway lighting design processes. Currently, pavement reflectance characteristics are incorporated through four standard reflectance tables (r-tables) developed to represent portland cement concrete, open-graded asphalt concrete, seal coat, and dense frictio...
Sensor positioning in wireless ad-hoc sensor networks using multidimensional scaling

Sensor Positioning is a fundamental and crucial issue for sensor network operation and management. In the paper, we first study some situations where most existing sensor positioning methods tend to fail to perform well, an example being when the topology of a sensor network is anisotropic. Then, we explore the idea of using dimensionality reduction techniques to estimate sensors coordinates in two (or three) dimensional space, and we propose a distributed sensor positioning method based on multidimensional scaling technique to deal with these challenging conditions. Multidimensional scaling and coordinate alignment techniques are applied to recover positions of adjacent sensors. The estimated positions of the anchors are compared with their true physical positions and corrected. The positions of other sensors are corrected accordingly. With iterative adjustment, our method can overcome adverse network and terrain conditions, and generate accurate sensor position. We also propose an on demand sensor positioning method based on the above method.
Penile circumference, skin conductance, and ranking responses of child molesters and “Normals” to sexual and nonsexual visual stimuli

Twenty male child molesters confined in a maximum sercurity psychiatric institution were compared with eleven non-sex offender patients from the same institution and ten persons from the community. Each subject was shown a total of 20 slides which were of persons varying in age and sex as well as neutral or nonperson slides. Penile circumference and skin conductance responses (PCRs and SCRs) to the slide stimuli were recorded. PCRs differentiated between the child molesters and “normals” but the SCRs did not. Subjects' rankings of the sexual attractiveness of the slides were similar in the “normal” and child molester groups. Correlations between the PCR, SCR, and ranking measures were low. PCRs varied with the child molesters' histories of victim choice.
Direct Activity Measurements in Liquid Ag-Au=Ge System and its Solution Model Development by Computational Techniques

Ag activities in the Ag-Au-Ge solution were determined by the mass spectrometric analysis of effusates from a unique valved Knudsen cell at 1416 K. A mathematical model was established for Ag activity coefficient as a function of alloy composition. Activities of Au and Ge were calculated by numerical ternary Gibbs-Duhem integration on a spreadsheet. The data obtained from this investigation show that the activities on all three binary systems occurring in the ternary system are in good agreement with accepted literature values. The behavior of all pseudo binaries was found to be consistent with Darken’s quadratic formalism. Darken surface of Ag is shown.
Concentrations of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls in blood of Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears (Ursus maritimus) during spring: variations with lipids and stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C) values

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) are exposed to heavy metal and lipophilic contaminants that are known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify. Few studies concurrently report both chemical classes in the same individuals and are thus unable to assess drivers of observed tissue concentrations, and the potential adverse biological responses to combined exposures. We examined blood concentrations of mercury (Hg) and the sum of seven polychlorinated biphenyls (Σ7PCB) from free-ranging Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears to assess which factors contributed to variations among cohorts (adult males, adult females, young) during spring. Concentrations of Hg ranged from 10.3 to 228.0 ng/g wet mass, but mean concentrations were similar between males and females independent of age. Concentrations of Σ7PCB (range 2.0–132.8 ng/g wet mass) were greater among females and young than among males. Toxicant concentrations were related to packed cell δ15N, an estimate of trophic position, after the inclusion of packed cell ...
Ranking Faculties, Ph.D. Programs, Individual Scholars, and Influential Articles in Accounting Information Systems Based on Citations to Publications in the Journal of Information Systems

ABSTRACT: This paper ranks systems faculties, accounting doctoral programs, individual accounting systems researchers, and the most influential accounting systems articles based on Google Scholar citations to publications in the Journal of Information Systems (JIS). All articles published in JIS for its first 25 years of existence are included and four citation metrics are used. Information is presented over three time periods (1986–1993, 1994–2001, and 2002–2010) to provide additional insights on changes over time. The study also analyzes the content and research methods of “most cited” articles and describes trends in the types of systems research that have had the greatest impact. Findings suggest that JIS's impact has consistently improved over time. The H-index for JIS also suggests that the journal compares favorably among its peers. A correlation analysis between the four citation metrics and the number of articles published in JIS provides evidence that counting articles published is a reasonable ...
Preparation, characterization, and thermal properties of alt‐copoly[1,9‐decaphenylpentasiloxanylene/1,3‐bis(ethylene)permethyloligosiloxanylene]s

alt-Copoly[1,9-decaphenylpentasiloxanylene/1,3-bis(ethylene)tetramethyldisiloxanylene], alt-copoly[1,9-decaphenylpentasiloxanylene/1,5-bis(ethylene)hexamethyltrisiloxanylene], alt-copoly[1,9-decaphenylpentasiloxanylene/1,7-bis(ethylene)octamethyltetrasiloxanylene], and alt-copoly[1,9-decaphenylpentasiloxanylene/1,9-bis(ethylene)decamethylpentasiloxanylene] were synthesized by Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions of 1,9 divinyldecaphenylpentasiloxanes with a series of oligodimethylsiloxanes. The molecular weights of these copolymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Their glass-transition temperatures (Tg's) were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stabilities of the copolymers were measured by thermogravimetric analysis. The structures of the copolymers were verified by 1H, 13C, and 29Si NMR as well as IR and UV spectroscopy. The copolymers displayed high thermal stabilities and a single Tg, indicating that phase separation between the two short blocks did not occur. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6146–6152, 2005
Characterization of Silver Halide Fiber Optics and Hollow Silica Waveguides for Use in the Construction of a Mid-Infrared Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy Probe

Advances in fiber optic materials have allowed for the construction of fibers and waveguides capable of transmitting infrared radiation. An investigation of the transmission characteristics associated with two commonly used types of infrared-transmitting fibers/waveguides for prospective use in a fiber/waveguide-coupled attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) probe was performed. Characterization of silver halide polycrystalline fiber optics and hollow silica waveguides was done on the basis of the transmission of infrared light using a conventional fiber optic coupling accessory and an infrared microscope. Using the fiber optic coupling accessory, the average percent transmission for three silver halide fibers was 18.1 ± 6.1% relative to a benchtop reflection accessory. The average transmission for two hollow waveguides (HWGs) using the coupling accessory was 8.0 ± 0.3%. (Uncertainties in the relative percent transmission represent the standard deviations.) Reduced transmission observed for the HWGs was attributed to the high numerical aperture of the coupling accessory. Characterization of the fibers/waveguides using a zinc selenide lens objective on an infrared microscope indicated 24.1 ± 7.2% of the initial light input into the silver halide fibers was transmitted. Percent transmission obtained for the HWGs was 98.7 ± 0.1%. Increased transmission using the HWGs resulted from the absence or minimization of insertion and scattering losses due to the hollow air core and a better-matched numerical aperture. The effect of bending on the transmission characteristics of the fibers/waveguides was also investigated. Significant deviations in the transmission of infrared light by the solid-core silver halide fibers were observed for various bending angles. Percent transmission greater than 98% was consistently observed for the HWGs at the bending angles. The combined benefits of high percent transmission, reproducible instrument responses, and increased bending tolerance indicated HWGs should be preferred in the construction of a fiber/waveguide-coupled ATR probe.
The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: James C. Scott Year: 2009 Pages: 464 Publisher: Yale University Press ISBN: 978-0300152289 (hard cover).
Culture, Trance, and the Mind‐Brain

Trance phenomena result from the behavior of intense focusing of attention, which is the key psychological mechanism of trance induction. Adaptive responses, including institutionalized forms of trance, are "tuned" into neural networks in the brain and depend to a large extent on the characteristics of culture. Culture-specific organizations exist in the structure of individual neurons and in the organizational formation of neural networks.
Energy Modeling of Wireless Sensor Nodes Based on Petri Nets

Energy minimization is of great importance in wireless sensor networks in extending the battery lifetime. Accurately understanding the energy consumption characteristics of each sensor node is a critical step for the design of energy saving strategies. This paper develops a detailed probabilistic model based on Petri nets to evaluate the energy consumption of a wireless sensor node. The model factors critical components of a sensor node, including processors with emerging energy-saving features, wireless communication components, and an open or closed workload generator. Experimental results show that this model is more flexible and accurate than Markov models. The model provides a useful simulation platform to study energy-saving strategies in wireless sensor networks.
A measurement of the form factor ratiog1/f1 in lambda beta-decay

We have observed the beta-decay of 405 polarized lambdas in a solenoidal spectrometer. We obtained for the axial vector to vector form factor ratiog1/f1=0.47±0.09 to be compared with the Cabibbo prediction of 0.71.
Book Review - The Netherlands in Court: Essays in Honor of Johan G. Lammers

Until his retirement in 2005, Johan G. Lammers was a Legal Advisor and Head of the International Law Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands ("The Ministry"). An expert in international law, particularly international environmental law, Lammers played a prominent role in representing the Netherlands before various international bodies and tribunals throughout his career. This collection of essays, written entirely by colleagues and former colleagues of his from the Ministry, highlights a few of Lammers' contributions in detail.
Ultraviolet radiation-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha, which is linked to the development of cutaneous SCC, modulates differential epidermal microRNAs expression

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is linked to the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a non-melanoma form of skin cancer that can metastasize. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is linked to UVR-induced development of SCC. To find clues about the mechanisms by which TNFα may promote UVR-induced development of SCC, we investigated changes in the expression profiling of microRNAs (miRNA), a novel class of short noncoding RNAs, which affects translation and stability of mRNAs. In this experiment, TNFα knockout (TNFα KO) mice and their wild type (WT) littermates were exposed to acute UVR (2.0 kJ/m2) and the expression profiling of epidermal miRNA was determined 4hr post UVR exposure. TNFα deletion in untreated WT mice resulted in differential expression (log fold change>1) of seventeen miRNA. UVR exposure in WT mice induced differential expression of 22 miRNA. However, UVR exposure in TNFα KO mice altered only two miRNAs. Four miRNA, were differentially expressed between WT+UVR and TNFα KO+UVR groups. Differentially expressed selected miRNAs were further validated using real time PCR. Few of the differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-31-5p, miR-196a-5p, miR-127-3p, miR-206-3p, miR-411-5p, miR-709, and miR-322-5p) were also observed in UVR-induced SCC. Finally, bio-informatics analysis using DIANA, MIRANDA, Target Scan, and miRDB algorithms revealed a link with major UVR-induced pathways (MAPK, PI3K-Akt, transcriptional mis-regulation, Wnt, and TGF-beta).
The Role of Epidemiology in Cancer Prevention

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. As the population lives to an older age, cancer incidence and mortality are expected to increase because of the strong relationship between cancer and advancing age. Epidemiology plays a key role in cancer prevention and control by describing the distribution of cancer and discovering risk factors for cancer. Epidemiologic study designs include descriptive, ecologic, cross-sectional, and analytic (cohort, case-control, and intervention) studies. In the past 50 years, epidemiologic research has helped to elucidate many risk factors for cancer. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, reproduction (pregnancy, lactation, age at menarche, and menopause), obesity, and inactivity have been suggested as the major contributors to the development of cancer. Epidemiologists have demonstrated that cancer is largely an avoidable disease and estimated that more than two-thirds of cancer might be prevented through lifestyle modification. Epidemiologic research is crucial to public health and cancer prevention. Individuals or communities at increased risk of cancer can be targeted for risk factor modification, as well as for secondary prevention and chemoprevention strategies.
Predictive validity of the Spinal Cord Injury Pressure Ulcer Scale (SCIPUS) in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity of the Spinal Cord Injury Pressure Ulcer Scale (SCIPUS) during acute care and inpatient rehabilitation following spinal cord injury (SCI) by determining critical cutoff points and assessing the ability to predict risk for pressure ulceration (PrU). DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic were determined for the scale’s ability to predict PrU 2-3 and 5-7 days after administrating the SCIPUS during acute care, and 5-7 and 14-21 days after administrating the SCIPUS during inpatient rehabilitation. RESULTS: During acute hospitalization, SCIPUS’s ability to assess risk for PrUs within 2-3 days was determined at cutoff score of 15 with 100% sensitivity and 75% specificity, AUC = 0.85. The scale was unable to assess PrU risk at 5-7 days, AUC < 0.6 at cutoff score of 13. During inpatient rehabilitation, the scale was unable to assess PrU risk at 5-7 and 14-21 days, AUC < 0.6 at cutoff score of 9. CONCLUSIONS: The SCIPUS could predict PrU occurring within 2-3 days following administration during acute, but unable to predict over a longer term within acute or inpatient rehabilitation. Improved PrU risk assessment following SCI may be possible with modification to the SCIPUS.
Heavy metal distribution characteristics in sediment of Caoqiao River,Taihu Basin

Heavy metal distribution characteristics of Caoqiao River,Taihu Basin were studied in this paper.The results showed that mean values of Cu,Pb,Zn,Ni,Cd in sediment were 46.5,40.6,149.9,58.7 and 0.54 mg·kg-1,respectively.Significant correlation was observed among the tested metals(P0.05),which indicated that these heavy metals had the same source.The ratio of bioavailable content of heavy metals was less than 15% except Cd.Strong correlation between the bioavailable portion and the total contents of heavy metals was observed(P0.05).Heavy metals were found to be enriched in sediment of Caoqiao River compared to the baseline level.Evaluation of biological toxicity effects showed Ni was the main element which caused potential negative biological impact,followed by Cu and Zn.Results of an ERMQ assessment indicated that biological toxicity risk was found to exist in some of the sample sites.
Search performance of multi-agent plan recognition in a general model

Multi-Agent Plan Recognition (MAPR) seeks to identify the dynamic team structures and team behaviors from the observations of the activity-sequences of a set of intelligent agents, based on a library of known team-activities (plan library). It has important applications in analyzing data from automated monitoring, surveillance, and intelligence analysis in general. Recently, we have introduced a model for MAPR with a flat library structure, to study the complexity of basic MAPR, and also possibly its extensions in the future. Interestingly, this model makes fewer assumptions than existing models, and hence is more general. Therefore, as no existing algorithm would apply to this model, we have developed an hypothesis generation algorithm for this model, and adapted Knuth's Algorithm X for branch and bound search in the resulting hypothesis space. In this paper, we establish the time complexity of hypothesis generation in this model, propose and evaluate 3 different bounding criteria, and also empirically study the dependence of runtimes (hypothesis generation, and search times separately) on the model parameters.
A phase I/phase II trial of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor as bone marrow support in patients treated with vinorelbine (Navelbine): study design and goals.

Vinorelbine (Navelbine; Burroughs Wellcome Co, Research Triangle Park, NC; Pierre Fabre Medicament, Paris, France) has recently shown great promise in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The dose-limiting toxicity of this agent is myelosuppression; nonhematologic toxicities are typically mild and easily managed. Because of this toxicity profile, support with growth factors such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor may allow dose escalation of vinorelbine. To investigate this issue, a two-part phase I/II clinical trial has been designed. The first portion of this study addresses the need to develop a schedule of vinorelbine administration that can be more easily integrated with growth factor support than the currently used once-weekly schedule. In this part of the study, vinorelbine will be administered on a 21-day cycle once daily for 3 consecutive days at dosage levels beginning at 15 mg/m2/d and increasing at 5 mg/m2/d until dose-limiting toxicity is reached. In the next portion of the study, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor will be given in conjunction with vinorelbine. The schedule of vinorelbine administration will again be once daily for 3 days. Vinorelbine therapy will be initiated at one dose level below the previously determined maximum tolerated dose, and the dose will be escalated at 5 mg/m2/d until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. It is hoped that this phase I/II trial will provide valuable information about both an alternative schedule of vinorelbine administration and the potential of growth factor support allowing for dose escalation of vinorelbine.
Global Illumination of White Matter Fibers from DT-MRI Data

We describe our recent work in applying physically-based global illumination to fiber tractography. The geometry of the fiber tracts is derived from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) datasets acquired from the white matter in the human brain. Most visualization systems display such fiber tracts using local illumination, a rendering technology provided by the video card on a typical desktop computer. There is indirect evidence that the human visual system perceives the shape of a fiber more quickly and more accurately when physically-based illumination is employed.
SU-D-207A-04: Use of Gradient Echo Plural Contrast Imaging (GEPCI) in MR-Guided Radiation Therapy: A Feasibility Study Targeting Brain Treatment

Purpose: To implement the Gradient Echo Plural Contrast Imaging(GEPCI) technique in MRI-simulation for radiation therapy and assess the feasibility of using GEPCI images with advanced inhomogeneity correction in MRI-guided radiotherapy for brain treatment. Methods: An optimized multigradient-echo GRE sequence (TR=50ms;TE1=4ms;delta_TE=4ms;flip angle=300,11 Echoes) was developed to generate both structural (T1w and T2*w) and functional MRIs (field and susceptibility maps) from a single acquisition. One healthy subject (Subject1) and one post-surgical brain cancer patient (Subject2) were scanned on a Philips Ingenia 1.5T MRI used for radiation therapy simulation. Another healthy subject (Subject3) was scanned on a 0.35T MRI-guided radiotherapy (MR-IGRT) system (ViewRay). A voxel spread function (VSF) was used to correct the B0 inhomogeneities caused by surgical cavities and edema for Subject2. GEPCI images and standard radiotherapy planning MRIs for this patient were compared focusing the delineation of radiotherapy target region. Results: GEPCI brain images were successfully derived from all three subjects with scan times of <7 minutes. The images derived for Subjects1&2 demonstrated that GEPCI can be applied and combined into radiotherapy MRI simulation. Despite low field, T1-weighted and R2* images were successfully reconstructed for Subject3 and were satisfactory for contour and target delineation. The R2* distribution of grey matter (center=12,FWHM=4.5) and white matter (center=14.6, FWHM=2) demonstrated the feasibility for tissue segmentation and quantification. The voxel spread function(VSF) corrected surgical site related inhomogeneities for Subject2. R2* and quantitative susceptibility map(QSM) images for Subject2 can be used to quantitatively assess the brain structure response to radiation over the treatment course. Conclusion: We implemented the GEPCI technique in MRI-simulation and in MR-IGRT system for radiation therapy. The images demonstrated that it is feasible to adopt this technique in radiotherapy for structural delineation. The preliminary data also enable the opportunity for quantitative assessment of radiation response of the target region and normal tissue.
Impact of microbial physiology and microbial community structure on pharmaceutical fate driven by dissolved oxygen concentration in nitrifying bioreactors.

Operation at low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations ( 4 mg/L) DO concentrations to understand how DO growth conditions impacted microbial community structure. Short-term batch experiments using the biomass from the parent reactors were performed under low and high DO conditions to understand how DO concentration impacts microbial physiology. Although the low DO parent biomass had a lower specific activity with respect to ammonia oxidation than the high DO parent reactor biomass, it had faster biotransformation rates of ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole, 17α-ethinylestradiol, acetaminophen, and atenolol in high DO batch conditions. This was likely because the low DO reactor had a 2x higher biomass concentration, was enriched for ammonia oxidizers (4x higher concentration), and harbored a more diverse microbial community (3x more unique taxa) as compared to the high DO parent reactor. Overall, the results show that there can be indirect benefits from low DO operation over high DO operation that support pharmaceutical biotransformation during wastewater treatment.
A Modified Technique of Temporary Suspension of the Ovary to the Anterior Abdominal Wall.

Abstract Study Objective To demonstrate a modified technique of temporary suspension of the ovary to the fascia of the anterior abdominal wall after operative laparoscopy for advanced stage-endometriosis to reduce postoperative adhesion formation. Design Video illustrating this modified technique of ovarian suspension (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting A previous study described a technique of temporary suspension of the ovary to the abdominal wall using nylon suture [1] . Here we demonstrate a modification of this technique involving underwent temporary suspension of the right ovary, using dissolvable 3-0 plain catgut suture, after operative laparoscopy for advanced-stage endometriosis (American Society for Reproductive Medicine stage III classification). Interventions This patient underwent right ovariolysis for stage III endometriosis. A CO 2 laser was used to evaporate spots of endometriosis on the surface of the ovary, ovarian fossa, and the wall of a small endometrioma. A 3-0 plain catgut suture was placed in the right ovarian ligament, and the needle was cut and removed from the peritoneal cavity. The ends of the sutures were brought out of the peritoneal cavity through a 3-mm skin incision using an Endo Close device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota). The suture was tied over the fascia while allowing CO 2 gas out of the peritoneal cavity, to ensure that the suture remained under tension and the ovary was well suspended without touching the abdominal wall. The suture was used to elevate the ovary away from the ovarian fossa, to avoid recurrence of adhesions between it and the ovary. Postoperatively the patient did well and was discharged home on oral pain medication on the same day of surgery. No postoperative complications related to the suspension procedure were reported. The patient had an uneventful recovery. Conclusion This modified approach of temporary ovarian suspension to the fascia of the anterior abdominal wall appears to be simple, safe, and easy to learn.
Hematologic Changes with Aging

The age-related hematologic changes of older trauma victims include a baseline anemia and hypercoagulability. These patients have less responsive bone marrow and are slower to repopulate cell lines following injury and hemorrhage. Pre-injury medication profiles for older patients will often include at least one anticoagulant, and understanding of its mechanism and reversal can be lifesaving. The geriatric trauma patient is challenging, and knowledge of both natural and iatrogenic hematologic changes is paramount to their care.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotype Assay (LiPA)

The Versant-LiPA HCV genotype assay is a line probe assay designed to identify hepatitis C virus in human serum and plasma. This test allows the genotyping of the six major types and their most common subtypes.
Metallic Superlattices: The Study of Materials at Length Scales From a Few to Hundreds of Angstroms

We present the possibilities that metallic superlattices offer for the study of materials at length scales ranging from a few to hundreds of angstroms. The materials problems being studied span practically all interesting solid-state phenomena, including superconductivity, magnetism, elastic behavior, development of novel materials, diffusion, ion beam mixing, crystallization, and amorphization. Several applications are also being pursued. We present a few examples of problems that can be studied at different length scales. Emphasis is made that for a proper study of materials properties, extensive structural characterization is imperative.
Hyponatremia and Hypotonic Intravenous Fluids Are Associated With Unfavorable Outcomes of Bronchiolitis Admissions.

OBJECTIVES: Hyponatremia has been associated with unfavorable outcomes when present at admission in children with bronchiolitis. Delayed hyponatremia may be a modifiable risk factor for severe disease that is influenced by intravenous fluid (IVF) tonicity. We hypothesized that both hyponatremia and prescription of severely hypotonic IVF are associated with unfavorable outcomes, and that prescription of severely hypotonic IVF is associated with subsequent hyponatremia. METHODS: Data were retrospectively extracted for 1557 pediatric inpatients with bronchiolitis. Any day on which a subject was prescribed IVF with sodium 2 . Significant results had P RESULTS: Blood sodium levels correlated negatively with hospital length of stay ( r = −0.477, P n = 134 [25.7% of subjects with available sodium data]) versus patients with normonatremia ( n = 387 [74.3%]), and in patients prescribed IVF n = 348 [46.3% of subjects prescribed IVF]) versus patients prescribed IVF ≥70 ( n = 403 [53.7%]). Patients prescribed IVF P CONCLUSIONS: In children hospitalized with bronchiolitis, hyponatremia may be a modifiable risk factor for severe disease that may be mitigated by avoiding use of severely hypotonic IVF.
Teaching Technological Determinism and Social Construction of Technology Using Everyday Objects.

Courses: Communication Technology, Communication Theory, History of Communication, Media and Society.Objectives: Students will develop an understanding of the two principal theories of technology a...
Abstract TP71: Interruption of Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapy Does Not Increase Risk of Recurrent Stroke in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Introduction: Left ventricular-assist devices (LVAD) have increased survival and quality of life of patients with heart failure. Patients with LVAD have increased risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events due to device thrombosis and combined use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents. The safety of transient interruption of combined antithrombotic therapy after stroke is unknown. Hypothesis: Time to resumption of combined antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy after stroke is not associated with the incidence of recurrent cerebrovascular event. Methods: We defined the study cohort of patients who received an LVAD using ICD-9 codes. We obtained data for patients with new cerebrovascular events while on a Heartmate-II or Heartware LVAD, and excluded those deceased from the initial event. We divided patient-events into two cohorts based on the index event: ischemic (TIA, stroke) or hemorrhagic (all intracranial hemorrhages, ICH). We used Fisher’s exact test to assess the association between recurrent ischemic event or ICH and time off combined antithrombotic therapy. We pre-specified variables for adjustment in the logistic regression analysis: age, cardiovascular risk factors, LVAD model, indication and endpoint, NIHSS score, INR and LDH levels, and baseline and change in antithrombotic therapy. Results: The study included 48 patient-events between 2011 and 2016: 23 (48%) were ischemic (9 (40%) TIA and 14 (60%) infarcts) and 25 (52%) hemorrhagic. The ischemic event cohort had 9 (39%) recurrences, including 6 (67%) ischemic and 3 (33%) ICH. Median time to recurrence was 118 (IQR 78-388) days. All patients continued on antiplatelet, and maximum time off anticoagulant was 2 (median 0) days. Time off combined therapy was not associated with ischemic (p=0.43) or hemorrhagic recurrence (p=1.00). The ICH cohort had three (12%) recurrences: 1 (33%) ischemic and 2 (67%) hemorrhagic. Median time to recurrence was 158 (IQR 32-586) days. Median time off combined therapy was 7 (0-15) days, and not associated with ischemic (p=0.43) or hemorrhagic recurrence (p=0.83). Conclusion: In patients with LVAD, transient interruption of combined antithrombotic therapy after stroke is not associated with increased risk of recurrent cerebrovascular events.
The effects of ceftriaxone on cue-primed reinstatement of cocaine-seeking in male and female rats: estrous cycle effects on behavior and protein expression in the nucleus accumbens.

Effective pharmacological treatments to prevent cocaine relapse remain elusive. In male rats, ceftriaxone attenuates the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking while increasing glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and xCT expression in the nucleus accumbens core (NAc). Despite reported sex differences in cocaine relapse, these effects have not yet been confirmed in female rats. We investigated the effects of ceftriaxone on cue-primed reinstatement and cocaine-induced alterations in glutamatergic proteins in the NAc of female rats. Potential interactions between estrous phase and treatment were also assessed. Male and female rats self-administered cocaine in the presence of discrete cues for 12 days, followed by 2–3 weeks of extinction. Ceftriaxone or vehicle was administered daily for a minimum of 6 days immediately preceding a cue-primed reinstatement test. Total cocaine intake was greater in females than in males, but reinstatement behavior was similar. Ceftriaxone attenuated reinstatement in both sexes and was accompanied by increased expression of GLT-1a and xCT in the NAc. However, ceftriaxone attenuated reinstatement only when females were tested during met-, di-, and proestrus phases and not during estrus. A significant increase in AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 surface expression was also observed during estrus, potentially influencing reinstatement. These findings extend the beneficial effects of ceftriaxone on persistent cocaine-seeking from males to females, increasing its potential as a pharmacological treatment for preventing relapse. The effects of estrus on GluA1 expression and reinstatement observed here indicate that females may need additional interventions during some phases of the menstrual cycle.
Principal coordinate clustering

This paper introduces a clustering algorithm, called principal coordinate clustering. It takes in a similarity matrix S W of a data matrix W and computes the singular value decomposition of S W to determine the principal coordinates to convert the clustering problem to a simpler domain. It is a relative of spectral clustering, however, principal coordinate clustering is easier to interpret, and gives a clear understanding of why it performs well. In a fashion, this gives intuition behind why spectral clustering works from a more simple, linear algebra perspective, beyond the typical explanations via graph cuts, or other techniques. Moreover, it was demonstrated through experimentation on real and synthetic data that the proposed method performs equally well on average as spectral clustering, and that the method has the ability to scale quite easily to truly large data.
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of First - and Second-Generation Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Schizophrenia: Facts and Fiction

The introduction of chlorpromazine into clinical practice a half-century ago revolutionized the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia (Nasrallah and Tandon, 2009). Fifty typical or first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) have since become available around the world (Table 1). These agents are extremely effective in reducing the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and paranoia) and allowed deinstitutionalization of persons with schizophrenia. These agents are found to be minimally effective, however, against negative and cognitive symptoms that contribute to much of the disability associated with schizophrenic illness. Additionally, they do not substantially diminish the suicidality and social dysfunction associated with the illness. Furthermore, these medications cause a range of adverse effects including acute extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia. To a considerable extent because of their poor tolerability, patients often do not take these medications as prescribed and this, in turn, leads to psychotic relapses and poor outcome.
Building Virtual Community in a K-6 School: An Action Research Project.

Virtual communities (VCs) potentially increase community interaction, social support, civic engagement, and social capital. Concurrently, education research suggests that one important factor in improving student achievement is community and parent involvement. Would building a VC in a K-6 school to support information exchange facilitate parents’ involvement in school activities? How can a K-6 public school with limited resources build a VC? This paper reports on an action research project conducted in a public school to build a VC including such components as dynamic website and discussion forum. Findings suggest that school and community’s access to technology, teacher training and static websites are not enough to attract parents. Extensive analysis of needs and facilitation by a change agent is necessary to design and implement VC technology, to encourage community information exchange and interaction, and to ultimately realize the benefits of building social capital and increasing parental involvement.
SSRIs versus non-SSRIs in post-traumatic stress disorder: an update with recommendations.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent (7.8% lifetime rate) anxiety disorder with impairment in daily functioning, frequent suicidal behaviour and high rates of co-morbidity. Fortunately, PTSD is responsive to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
Europe Under Siege

The European Union is the world’s second largest economic organization with GDP in 2017 of $17 trillion, but it faces many challenges that ultimately will determine its fate. It is under siege from several directions – its continuing struggle to assist Greece in returning to a status of a normal member; a prolonged economic slump from which it is just emerging that has weakened confidence in the EU’s institution; challenges to the EU’s governing principles of open borders for the transfer of people, capital, goods and services; and the complex problems of breached external borders by refugees. There is also a growing threat to political institutions from the far right and anti-EU factions, and the threat that the UK’s Brexit referendum results may be passed on to other member states. All this as the EUs relations with Russia, on which Europe depends for about a third of its energy requirements, sour and become hostile again. The next ten years will be vitally important in determining whether the EU will survive as a viable, growing economic system, or whether it will begin to unravel into the collection of independent states it was before the EU came into being in the early 1990s. On the surface the threat is political – will the member countries retain the support of their populations – but the need for faster growth in the private sector may be the most important factor affecting the EU’s future.