cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validity of using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills to estimate overall home safety in persons with psychiatric conditions.

Objective Occupational therapists often base estimates of home safety on their behavioral observations of a client performing functional activities during a hospitalization. To examine this practice, this study investigated the predictive validity of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) to the overall home safety of persons with psychiatric conditions associated with cognitive impairments. Method Ability in activities of daily living (ADL) of 20 participants was evaluated with the AMPS before discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit. Within approximately 2 weeks of their discharge, the participants' home safety was evaluated within their home settings using the Safety Assessment of Function and the Environment for Rehabilitation. To form a basis for comparison, a second administration of the AMPS was administered concurrently with the home safety evaluation. Results Moderate positive relationships were found between ADL motor and ADL process ability and home safety in both the clinic and the home; however, analyses of the sensitivity, specificity, and overall predictive values revealed that home ADL process ability was the best predictor of home safety for participants who were categorized as less safe in the study. Conclusion Findings suggest that clinic ADL evaluations using the AMPS give a reasonable estimate of home safety for participants categorized as having more home safety risk. For participants categorized as having less home safety risk, clinic ADL evaluation using the AMPS produced significantly less accurate estimates than ADL evaluations conducted in the home. These results indicate that home safety estimates may be most accurate if they are based on home rather than clinic ADL process ability measures.
Use of statistical analysis in the AJR and Radiology: frequency, methods, and subspecialty differences.

The statistical procedures appearing in Radiology and the AJR were analyzed to determine the types of statistical tests used in major articles, their relative frequencies, and whether these methods differed according to radiologic subspecialty.Six hundred sixty-nine major articles published in Radiology or the AJR during 1993 were reviewed for statistical content. These articles were first classified by radiologic subspecialty or principal focus according to the named journal section where each appeared (e.g., breast imaging, musculoskeletal radiology, neuroradiology). The statistical methods used in each article were then assigned to one of 18 categories (e.g., descriptive, basic t- and z-tests, correlation/regression techniques, and nonparametric statistics).Of the 669 major articles analyzed, 294 (44%) used no statistical methods or descriptive statistics only, 179 (27%) used only one type of statistical method, 102 (15%) used two methods, and 94 (14%) used three or more methods. Statistical techniques...
New Strategies for Connection Protection in Mixed-Line-Rate Optical WDM Networks

Today's optical wavelength division multiplexing backbone networks need to support traffic demands with very diverse capacity requirements. Recent studies have shown how to design an optical transport network that supports mixed line rates (MLR), where the wavelength channels of the optical paths (i.e., lightpaths) can have a variety of capacities (10/40/100 Gbps). Some preliminary work on the design of MLR optical networks has already appeared, but survivability, which is a key concern in optical network design, is a nascent topic in MLR networks. This study investigates the problem of protection in MLR optical networks: in particular, we study how to design a cost-effective transparent MLR network that provides dedicated protection at the lightpath level. We propose three mechanisms: MLR-at-p-lightpath protection (MLR-p), MLR-at-lightpath protection (MLR-l), and MLR-with-backup-flow-grooming protection (MLR-g). The design problem is solved by two different approaches: (1) a two-step approach that formulates part of the problem as an integer linear program and (2) a heuristic approach. Our results show that, by appropriate assignment of rates to lightpaths, MLR networks can provide protection for diverse traffic demands with much lower transponder cost compared to single-line-rate networks.
Pentostatin for treatment of refractory autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), a disorder of programmed cell death, could be due to a congenital defect in the Fas signaling pathway or other pathways for apoptosis. Most cases present with lymphoproliferation and certain autoimmune features such as thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia are due to excessive production of antibodies by B lymphocytes. Majority of cases present within the first few years of life. We report a case of ALPS presenting at birth which was refractory to splenectomy and immunosuppressive therapy, but responded to pentostatin followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 336–337. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dietary intake and gallbladder disease: a review

Objective: Dietary intake has long been looked upon as a potentially modifiable risk factor for gallbladder disease (GBD), here defined as either having gallstones or having had surgery for gallstones. This paper reviews the epidemiological evidence for an association between dietary intake and GBD, focusing on six dietary factors that have received the most attention in studies in this area: energy intake, fatty acids, cholesterol, carbohydrates and fibre, calcium and alcohol. The objectives of this review are to evaluate the potential usefulness of altering the diet to prevent GBD and to consider future research in this area. Design: We reviewed all English-language epidemiological studies on diet and cholelithiasis that were cross-sectional, cohort or case‐control in design and that were indexed in the Medline database from 1966 to October 1997. Results: A positive association was suggested with simple sugars and inverse associations with dietary fibre and alcohol. No convincing evidence was found for a role for energy intake or intake of fat or cholesterol. Variable means of ascertaining cases and inaccurate measurement of dietary intake may contribute to variation in results across studies. Conclusions: Some specific components of the diet that may affect GBD include simple sugars, fibre and alcohol, but whether risk for GBD can be reduced by altering intake of a specific dietary factor has not been established. Although no specific dietary recommendations can be made to reduce risk of GBD per se, a ‘healthy’ diet aimed at reducing risk of other diseases might be expected to reduce risk for GBD as well.
Transmembrane Residues Together with the Amino Terminus Limit the Response of the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) 2 Receptor to PTH-related Peptide

Abstract The mechanisms of ligand binding and receptor activation for G-protein-coupled receptors in the secretin/parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor subfamily are not understood. The PTH1 receptor (PTH1R) signals in response to both PTH and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), whereas the PTH2 receptor (PTH2R) responds only to PTH, not to PTHrP. To locate PTHrP discriminatory domains in the PTH2R, we generated PTH1R/PTH2R chimeras in which the extracellular amino-terminal domains were exchanged. Production of cAMP in response to 1 μm PTHrP or PTH was identical in cells expressing the PTH1R with the PTH2R amino terminus and in cells expressing the PTH2R with the PTH1R amino terminus. The ability of the chimeric receptor with the PTH2R amino terminus to respond fully to PTHrP showed that the body of the PTH2R must contain sites that limit the response to PTHrP. Mutations to PTH1R sequence were therefore made in each of the seven transmembrane domains of the PTH2R. Mutations in transmembrane domains 3 and 7 resulted in receptors able to respond to PTHrP. Thus, residues in more than one domain form a barrier or filter, allowing the receptor to discriminate between different ligands.
Bacillary Angiomatosis in a Patient with AIDS

OBJECTIVE:To report the clinical presentation and response to antimicrobial therapy of presumed bacillary angiomatosis in an AIDS patient.DESIGN:Single case report.SETTING:A 1058-bed, university teaching hospital.PATIENT:28-year-old HIV-positive man (T4 lymphocyte count <3/mm3), who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984.RESULTS:The skin lesions responded promptly to treatment with doxycycline and erythromycin.CONCLUSIONS:Bacillary angiomatosis is an infection that occurs with endstage AIDS. Skin lesions have recognizable characteristics and respond promptly to appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Rotationally Commensurate Growth of MoS2 on Epitaxial Graphene

Atomically thin MoS2/graphene heterostructures are promising candidates for nanoelectronic and optoelectronic technologies. Among different graphene substrates, epitaxial graphene (EG) on SiC provides several potential advantages for such heterostructures, including high electronic quality, tunable substrate coupling, wafer-scale processability, and crystalline ordering that can template commensurate growth. Exploiting these attributes, we demonstrate here the thickness-controlled van der Waals epitaxial growth of MoS2 on EG via chemical vapor deposition, giving rise to transfer-free synthesis of a two-dimensional heterostructure with registry between its constituent materials. The rotational commensurability observed between the MoS2 and EG is driven by the energetically favorable alignment of their respective lattices and results in nearly strain-free MoS2, as evidenced by synchrotron X-ray scattering and atomic-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The electronic nature of the MoS2/EG heteros...
Validity and Representative Data of the MRCI With Legally Involved Juveniles

Recognized for nearly four decades, most juvenile suspects waive their Miranda rights and almost immediately provide self-incriminating evidence. Miranda-specific measures were eventually developed to understand their capacities and limitations. With extensive revisions, the Miranda Rights Comprehension Instruments (MRCI) were normed and validated. Beyond reliability, the current study addresses the convergent and discriminant validity of the MRCI. In response to Frumkin and Sellbom's criticism of the MRCI's norms, the current research provides representative data on 245 legally involved juveniles with percentiles to facilitate the interpretation of MRCI data. The current investigation is also the first MRCI study to link directly Miranda comprehension (i.e., the knowing prong) to Miranda reasoning (i.e., the intelligent prong) of waiver decisions.
Fatal venous air embolism during shoulder arthroscopy: A case report

Venous air embolism is a potential surgical complication when a negative pressure gradient exists between the surgical site and the right atrium of the heart. It occurs more commonly when the operative site is over the heart, the pressure of gas in the body cavity exceeds that of the venous sinusoids (15 to 30 mm Hg), air rather than carbon dioxide is injected, or the venous sinusoids of bone marrow are exposed1,2. Shoulder arthroscopy satisfies many of these criteria: the beach-chair and lateral decubitus positions place the surgical site over the right atrium, the standard settings for arthroscopic pumps are at pressures of >30 mm Hg, air bubbles are often observed entering the joint, and venous sinusoids are exposed anytime that osseous work (i.e., distal clavicular excision, acromioplasty, or fracture repair) is performed. Two case reports of fatal venous air embolism following knee arthroscopy3,4 with intentional air insufflation have appeared in the literature, but we are not aware of any reported case following liquid-only arthroscopy. We present the case of a patient undergoing revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and distal clavicular excision who experienced acute intraoperative cardiopulmonary collapse and was resuscitated, but died on postoperative day 14. The patient was undergoing liquid-only arthroscopy, and we postulated that air entered the joint through an unrecognized air reservoir: commercially available 3-L arthroscopic fluid bags. A forty-seven-year-old woman presented with a six-month history of severe pain in the right shoulder. The history, physical examination, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small, full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon. After the failure of six months of conservative treatment, she elected to undergo arthroscopic supraspinatus repair and subacromial …
Three-Dimensional Inversion of Magnetotelluric Data for the Sediment–Basement Interface

Determining the sediment–basement interface is the major step in evaluating the mineral resource potential of a region. The magnetotelluric (MT) method can be effectively used for solving this problem because there exists a strong contrast in resistivity between a conductive sedimentary basin and a resistive basement. Conventional inversions of MT data are aimed at determining the volumetric distribution of the conductivity within the inversion domain. The recovered distribution of the subsurface conductivity is typically diffusive, which makes it difficult to select the sediment–basement interface. This letter develops a novel approach to 3-D MT inversion for the depth-to-basement estimate. The key to this approach is selection of the model parameterization, with the depth to basement being the major unknown parameter. In order to estimate the depth to the basement, the inversion algorithm recovers both the thickness and the conductivities of the sedimentary basin. The forward modeling is based on the integral equation approach. The inverse problem is solved using a regularized conjugate gradient method. The Frechet derivative matrix is calculated based on quasi-Born approximation. The developed method and the algorithm for MT inversion for the depth-to-basement estimate are illustrated on several realistic geoelectrical models.
The Open Bankart Repair for Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability in Teenage Athletes

Background Traumatic anterior shoulder instability from recurrent dislocations or subluxations is a debilitating problem for the teenage athlete. The risk of recurrent instability is high in this adolescent population. We performed a retrospective case series analysis of adolescent athletes with recurrent instability treated with open Bankart repair and evaluated functional outcomes as well as redislocation rates. Methods The retrospective study included 21 teenage patients with Bankart lesions and recurrent anterior shoulder instability. There were 19 males (90%) and 2 females (10%) with an average age of 16 years (range, 14 to 18 y). Patients were evaluated based on Rowe and UCLA shoulder scores, return to previous level of sport, external rotation, and recurrence. Results The average number of anchors used to repair the Bankart lesion was 3 (range, 2 to 5). One patient was lost to follow-up at 6 months after surgery. The remaining 20 patients all had at least 2-year follow-up. The recurrent instability rate was zero. In total, 100% of patients had an excellent result based on an average Rowe score of 96.5 points of 100 points (a score of 90 to 100 is an excellent result). In total, 100% of patients had good/excellent result based on an average UCLA shoulder score of 34 of 35 (a score >27 is a good/excellent result). At final follow-up, 7 patients (34%) had lost an average of 11 degrees of external rotation (range, 5 to 20 degrees) on the injured shoulder with the arm at the side compared with the noninjured shoulder. Conclusions Contact teenage athletes with recurrent anterior shoulder instability can be treated with open Bankart repair with a low recurrence, excellent functional shoulder outcomes, and return to sport. A small amount of external rotation may be lost with this technique. Care must be taken when considering this method with throwing athletes (ie, quarterback or pitcher). The open Bankart should remain a viable alternative for the adolescent population with recurrent anterior instability. Level of evidence Level IV.
Abstract 19022: Endothelial Cell Specific CD36 Deletion Reduces Uptake of Fatty Acids by the Heart

Circulating fatty acids must cross the endothelial cell (EC) barrier to supply cardiomyocytes (CM). How this occurs is unknown. Cluster of differentiation (CD) 36 is a membrane associated protein whose total body deletion leads to reduced uptake of non-esterified fatty acids by heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. To determine the contribution of EC versus CM CD36 in heart lipid uptake, we floxed CD36 and created EC- and CM-specific knockout (KO) mice. CD36 mRNA was reduced >50% in the heart, lung and skeletal muscle of EC-CD36 KO mice; CM-CD36 KO mice also had an ~50% reduction of CD36 mRNA levels in the heart. Both CM- and EC-specific CD36 ablation altered heart mRNA levels of glucose transport and oxidation genes (e.g. Glut1 ~2-fold increased, PDK4 ~0.5-fold decreased); these changes were similar to those found in mice with total body CD36 deletion. Loss of EC-CD36 led to increased plasma free fatty acid levels and prevented heart lipid droplet accumulation after an overnight fast (assessed by EM and oil red O staining). Lipid droplet accumulation was less affected in CM-CD36 KO hearts. To quantify the role of CD36 in the uptake of short chain vs. long chain fatty acids we simultaneously injected mice with radiolabeled [14C]hexanoic acid and [3H]oleic acid. Compared to both floxed-CD36 and CM-CD36 KO mice, plasma clearance of oleic acid was significantly delayed, and heart and quadriceps muscle uptake of oleic acid was reduced >50% in EC-CD36 KO and total-CD36 KO mice. Hexanoic acid uptake was not decreased by either deletion. Therefore, CD36 in EC is needed for the accumulation of long chain fatty acids in the heart and appears to be required for movement of fatty acids across the EC barrier.
Safe Zone for Placement of Talar Screws When Fusing the Ankle With an Anterior Plating System

Background:Ankle fusions fixed with anterior plates use fluoroscopic guidance to direct screws toward the subtalar joint. Special imaging views that visualize the subtalar joint are difficult to use and can be unreliable. This study evaluated whether a single lateral ankle view would provide adequate information to judge whether a screw penetrated the subtalar joint and identified strategies that would improve this technique.Methods:In 5 cadaveric ankles fixed with anterior plates, talar screws were placed up to the subtalar joint without penetration using lateral fluoroscopy to guide screw length. After dissection, the true distance from the screw tip to subchondral surface was measured. In addition, 4 readers measured the perceived distance from screw tip to subchondral surface using direct lateral, 10 degrees cephalad tilt lateral, and 10 degrees caudal tilt lateral fluoroscopic images on 2 separate occasions.Results:Nineteen (63%) of 30 screws penetrated the subchondral bone, and screw length determin...
Reducing Children’s Susceptibility to Alcohol Use: Effects of a Home-Based Parenting Program

This 4-year efficacy trial tested whether a home-based, self-administered parenting program could have a long-term effect on children's cognitive susceptibility to alcohol use, and it tested hypothesized moderators and mediators of any such program effect. Using a two-group randomized controlled design, 1076 children (540 treatment; 536 control; mean age of 9.2 years at baseline) completed telephone interviews prior to randomization and follow-up interviews 12, 24, 36, and 48 months post-baseline. Mothers of children randomized to treatment received a 5-month-long parenting program during year 1, followed by two 1-month-long boosters in years 2 and 3. Exposure to the program was significantly inversely associated with susceptibility to alcohol use 48 months post-baseline (b = -0.03, p = .04), with no variation in program effects by parental alcohol use or mother's race/ethnicity or education, suggesting broad public health relevance of the parenting program. Path analyses of simple indirect effects through each hypothesized mediator showed that program exposure positively influenced parental communication to counter pro-drinking influences in the family and media domains and parental rule setting 36 months post-baseline; these variables, in turn, predicted reduced susceptibility to alcohol use 48 months post-baseline. Parallel (multiple) mediation analysis showed that the program had a significant indirect effect on susceptibility through parental rule setting. Together, the findings indicate that internalization of protective alcohol-related expectancies and intentions is possible among children whose mothers provide early exposure to alcohol-specific socialization. Additional research is needed to link alcohol-specific socialization during childhood with adolescent drinking outcomes.
Interruption of the inferior vena cava for the prevention of recurrent pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism in high-risk patients may be minimized by inferior vena caval interruption by ligation, plication, intraluminal filters, or intraluminal balloons. Vena caval filter implantation is the least traumatic of all surgical methods of preventing pulmonary embolism. These nonocclusive methods are preferred to minimize the possible sequelae of venous insufficiency. The prevention of septic emboli requires complete ligation of the inferior vena cava. The transvenous approach to caval interruption by intraluminal filters is particularly useful in severely ill patients. When major surgical procedures are performed for the purpose of caval interruption, the intra-abdominal approach has greater associated mortality and morbidity than does the retroperitoneal approach. The Mobin-Uddin and Kim-Ray Greenfield filters are at present the most frequently used modalities for prevention of fatal pulmonary embolism when intervention is required. In large series of patients where intraluminal caval filters have been utilized, there has been an operative mortality of under 1 per cent, with an incidence of recurrent emboli of under 2 per cent, and an incidence of venous stasis sequelae of approximately 20 per cent. Some clinicians prefer the Greenfield filter over the Mobin-Uddin umbrella because of greater ease and flexibility of placement. In general, however, both transvenous intraluminal filters have been used effectively with acceptable mortality and morbidity, and the device used might properly be determined by the experience of the surgeon.
Analysis of Ovarian Structure and Radioimmunoassay Analyses of Estradiol and Progesterone: Control Versus Tetrapeptide (TPAL)-Treated Hamsters *

The contraceptive tetrapeptide produced by Calbiochem, San Diego, Calif. (TPAL-CBC) was used to demonstrate that its primary effect is to prevent maturation of ovarian follicles. Other parameters (the presence of corpora lutea, ova in the oviducts, or embryos postcoitum, and levels of plasma estradiol and progesterone) are dependent on the initial observation of nonmaturation of ovarian follicles.
Cost-effectiveness of primary debulking surgery when compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of stage IIIC and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objectives To examine the cost-effectiveness of primary debulking surgery (PDS) when compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data linked to Medicare claims (SEER-Medicare).
A comparison of feature extraction methods for EEG signals

Feature extraction for automatic interpretation of EEGs has been extensively studied. A number of commercial approaches use exotic feature sets such as wavelets or nonlinear statistical measures such as fractal dimension. These choices of features were the results of evaluations and optimizations conducted on small research databases often collected under very controlled conditions. These approaches have not been extensively evaluated on big data or clinical applications using state of the art machine learning technology. Therefore, in this study, we compare performance of a number of standard feature extraction techniques on the publicly available TUH EEG Corpus using a state of the art classification system.
Fyn Upregulation Is a Novel ROS-Dependent Mechanism Controlling CML Growth, Progression and Imatinib Resistance.

Abstract The BCR/ABL kinase alters the oxidative environment in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells, but the consequences of the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels on signaling pathways remain unknown. Increased intracellular peroxides in BCR/ABL expressing cells have been linked to DNA damage, which may promote blast crisis in CML. We report that Fyn is a BCR/ABL target that is upregulated in an oxidant- sensitive manner. Cells overexpressing BCR/ABL display a four-fold upregulation of Fyn protein, which is blocked by chemical antioxidants. This increase in Fyn directs proliferative and survival signals since knockdown of Fyn using shRNA slows leukemia cell growth by 50% both in vitro and in vivo, inhibits clonogenic growth by 45% and leads to increased sensitivity to imatinib. Jak2 inhibition prevents Fyn protein upregulation, suggesting that Jak2 is upstream of Fyn, and we indeed find that Jak2 levels are increased in BCR/ABL expressing cells. In a cohort of CML patients Fyn expression was significantly increased in blastic phase CML samples as compared to chronic phase, confirming the clinical relevance of Fyn upregulation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that oxidant-dependent, Jak2-dependent upregulation of Fyn is a novel alteration in CML that is critical for cell growth and imatinib resistance.
Development of REBCO-Based Magnets for Plasma Physics Research

The accessible performance range for most magnetic confinement plasma physics devices expands markedly with increasing magnetic flux density. The MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center is investigating the use of high-temperature superconductors as a low cost means to significantly enhance the performance characteristics of small to moderate scale devices. Our initial investigation emphasized the no-insulation winding technique as a means to produce highly stable dc magnets for devices operating at moderate to high magnetic flux density. We present design, manufacture, and test results for a double pancake coil wound from a 500 m length of 12 mm wide REBCO tape. The coil provides on-axis magnetic flux density within an 8 cm clear bore in excess of 0.5 T when operated in liquid nitrogen and in excess of 6 T when operated in liquid helium. The ultimate aim of the program is to develop conduction-cooled HTS coil modules that can be used for both linear and toroidal plasma devices.
Efficacy of an Escherichia coli O157:H7 SRP Vaccine in Orally Challenged Goats and Strain Persistence Over Time

Abstract Small ruminants have been implicated in outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 at livestock exhibitions throughout the United States. Additionally, goat meat or milk may serve as a reservoir for foodborne transmission of the organism. These associations highlight the public health importance of an effective strategy to reduce E. coli O157:H7 shedding in goats. We examined the efficacy of the SRP® vaccine in goats orally challenged with E. coli O157:H7. Mixed-breed goats (n = 14) were randomly allocated into vaccinated and unvaccinated treatments (n = 7 per treatment). Goats were housed with a vaccinated and unvaccinated animal in each pen. Feces were collected for 3 weeks, then at necropsy, gastrointestinal contents were collected to determine the concentration of E. coli O157:H7. Three isolates per positive sample were saved and evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to assess strain persistence over time. The mean concentration of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces of goats was numerical...
Developing a Feed Forward Neural Network

In this chapter we discuss how a single artificial neuron processes signals, and how to simulate it. We then develop a single artificial neuron and test its functionality. Having discussed and developed a single neuron, we decide on the NN architecture we will implement, and then develop a genotype constructor, and a mapper from genotype to phenotype. Finally, we then ensure that that our simple NN system works by using a simple sensor and actuator attached to the NN to test its sense-think-act ability.
Association of Frontal and Lateral Facial Attractiveness

ImportanceDespite the large number of studies focused on defining frontal or lateral facial attractiveness, no reports have examined whether a significant association between frontal and lateral fa...
Commercial and novel solutions for fresh produce safety

Abstract: Fresh produce has come under intense scrutiny as a result of several recent high profile outbreaks of foodborne illness involving both bacterial and viral agents. Pathogenic microorganisms on fresh produce are a particular concern because of minimal processing or absence of thermal treatments to the produce prior to human consumption. This chapter aims to address the development of sanitizers to minimize cross-contamination and their potential to inactivate pathogens in wash water. Similar applications of processing techniques or processing aids that may dislodge pathogens from the surfaces of produce or improve the efficacy of the sanitizer will be examined.
Zoll Phenomena in (2 + 1) Dimensions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the results that are biproducts of a largely unsuccessful effort to extend the twistor program of Penrose to non-symmetric models of space-time. The chapter presents a brief review of twistor theory. The chapter defines a Zoll-Einstein manifold to be a compact Lorentzian manifold, all of whose null-geodesies are periodic. This definition is conformally invariant—if g is a Zoll-Einstein metric, all conformal multiples of it are Zoll-Einstein. The Zoll-Einstein metrics and their deformations are reviewed. It is discussed as to why Zoll-Einstein manifolds are relatively deformable in dimension three and not so in higher dimensions. The chapter reviews a few elementary facts about deformations of metrics and conformal classes of metrics. Various theorems are discussed in the chapter. The Floquet theory is also reviewed in the chapter.
Examining RE and Emotional Distress in Population With Existing Cardiovascular Disease and/or Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Those Without:

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (Hoyert & Xu, 2012), and low-income and ethnic minorities are disproportionally affected. Relationship education (RE) ...
Micelle formation as a factor influencing the mode(s) of metal ion partitioning into N-alkylpyridinium-based ionic liquids (ILs): implications for the design of IL-based extraction systems

Prior studies of metal ion partitioning between an acidic aqueous phase and an ionic liquid in the presence of a macrocyclic polyether have demonstrated that the overall partitioning is a composite of three distinct pathways: neutral complex/ion-pair extraction, exchange of a cationic metal-crown ether (CE) complex for the cationic constituent of the IL, and exchange of the metal ion for a hydronium ion in a CE-H3O+ complex formed during acid preconditioning of the IL. The obvious undesirability of the ion-exchange pathways, which can lead to substantial loss of the IL cation to the aqueous phase, has led to efforts to identify means by which these processes can be suppressed or eliminated. Prior work with N,N′-dialkylimidazolium and quaternary ammonium bis [(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imides has shown that increasing the hydrophobicity of the IL cation can be an effective means of diminishing the contribution of ion-exchange. Work with the corresponding N-alkylpyridinium ILs, however, indicates that in certain instances, an increase in the hydrophobicity of the IL cation is accompanied by a marked increase in its propensity to self-associate, leading to the formation of micelles in the aqueous phase. The net effect is to diminish or even negate the expected beneficial effect of IL cation hydrophobicity in reducing the contribution of ion exchange to the overall metal ion partitioning process, adversely impacting the “greenness” of extraction processes employing these ILs.
Trials and Terminations: Learning from Competitors' R&D Failures

I analyze project continuation decisions where firms may resolve uncertainty through news about competitors’ research and development (R&D) failures, as well as through their own results. I examine...
Coordination of balanced leader-follower swarms with time-varying social potential functions

In this paper we investigate the control of leader-follower swarms with time-varying objective functions and under balanced communication topologies. Motivated by shared control strategies for centralized systems, we formulate a control framework for distributed systems in which a leader agent and follower agents are interconnected via virtual cohesive forces in a balanced directed network, and the influence of the leader on the follower agents is regulated through time-varying inter-agent coupling dynamics. For such multi-agent systems, we investigate the stability under the proposed control framework and establish a connection between the bounds on the time-varying coupling and the ultimate swarm size. These results are obtained by studying the algebraic connectivity properties of the underlying weighted communication graph of the multi-agent system. Next, the application of our results to systems with switching communication topologies are discussed, with examples presented in swarm cohesion maintenance and collision avoidance problems. The theoretical results developed in this work are verified through numerical simulations.
Multimessenger signatures of massive black holes in dwarf galaxies

Recent discoveries of massive black holes (MBHs) in dwarf galaxies suggest that they may have a more common presence than once thought. Systematic searches are revealing more candidates, but this process could be accelerated by predictions from simulations. We perform a study of several high-resolution, cosmological, zoom-in simulations focusing on dwarf galaxies that host massive black holes at z = 0, with the aim of determining when the black holes are most observable. Larger dwarf galaxies are more likely to host MBHs than those of lower mass. About 50% of the MBHs in dwarfs are not centrally located, but rather are wandering within a few kpc of the galaxy center. The accretion luminosities of MBHs in dwarfs are low throughout cosmic time, rendering them extremely difficult to detect. However, the merger history of these MBHs is optimal for gravitational wave detection by LISA.
Depressive symptoms and risk factors for HIV acquisition among black women attending urban health centers in Baltimore.

Blacks comprise 55% of all AIDS cases among women, and have 9 times the risk of white women of mortality from AIDS. Thus, prevention of HIV infection is critical among black women. Programs to prevent HIV infection have focused upon the adoption of behavioral strategies such as limiting the number of sexual partners, avoiding intercourse with i.v. drug users, and using condoms. However, such programs are dependent upon the ability of the woman to assume responsibility for her health and successfully adopt behavior changes. Generally overlooked in the development of health education interventions are those factors, such as depressive symptoms, which may make it very difficult for an individual to adopt healthy behaviors. In the present study, an analysis was conducted of the association between depressive symptoms and risk factors for the acquisition of HIV infection among black women using two urban health centers. Those women with higher levels of depressive symptoms were significantly more likely than other women to report more risk factors for HIV acquisition. The implications of these findings for the development of preventive interventions are discussed.
Cell Cycle Analysis and Synchronization of Pluripotent Hematopoietic Progenitor Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem cells purified from mouse bone marrow are quiescent with less than 2% of Lin− Hoechstlow/Rhodaminelow (Lin− Holow/Rholow) and 10% to 15% of Lin−/Sca+ cells in S phase. These cells enter proliferative cycle and progress through G1 and into S phase in the presence of cytokines and 5% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (HI-FCS). Cytokine-stimulated Lin− Holow/Rholow cells took 36 to 40 hours to complete first division and only 12 hours to complete each of 5 subsequent divisions. These cells require 16 to 18 hours to transit through G /G1 period and 28 to 30 hours to enter into mid-S phase during the first cycle. Up to 56% of Lin− Rholow/Holow cells are high-proliferative potential (7 factor-responsive) colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC). At isolation, HPP-CFC are quiescent, but after 28 to 30 hours of culture, greater than 60% are in S phase. Isoleucine-deprivation of Lin−Holow/Rholow cells in S phase of first cycle reversibly blocked them from entering into second cycle. After the release from isoleucine-block, these cells exhibited a G1 period of less than 2 hours and entered into mid-S phase by 12 hours. Thus, the duration of G1 phase of the cells in second cycle is 4 to 5 times shorter than that observed in their first cycle. Similar cell cycle kinetics are observed with Lin−/Sca+ population of bone marrow cells. Stem cell factor (SCF ) alone, in the presence of HI-FCS, is as effective as a cocktail of 2 to 7 cytokines in inducing quiescent Lin−/Sca+ cells to enter into proliferative cycle. Aphidicolin treatment reversibly blocked cytokine-stimulated Lin−/Sca+ cells at G1 /S boundary, allowing their tight synchrony as they progress through first S phase and enter into second G1 . For these cells also, SCF alone is sufficient for their progression through S phase. These studies indicate a very short G1 phase for stem cells induced to proliferate and offer experimental approaches to synchronize murine hematopoietic stem cells.
An Historical Primer on the Business of Credit Rating

In capital market history, credit rating agencies were relatively late to appear, being less than a century old. John Moody founded the first rating agency in 1909, in the United States, which in comparison with other countries had a large private bond market and an investing class clamoring for better information. Extensive research by W.B. Hickman and others established that credit rating agencies were able to provide investors with good information on bond quality and the probability of default, but that the agencies’ record was not appreciably different from implicit ratings of public regulatory authorities and the bond market’s own ratings indicated by interest rate spreads. The paper concludes with a discussion of various rationales that have been given for the success of credit rating agencies as businesses in the United States and, increasingly, the world.
Epistemic Consequentialism: Haters Gonna Hate

Epistemic consequentialism has been charged with ignoring the epistemic separateness of propositions and with (thereby) allowing trade-offs between propositions. Here, I do two things. First, I investigate the metaphor of the epistemic separateness of propositions. I argue that either (i) the metaphor is meaningfully unpacked in a way that is modelled on the moral separateness of persons, in which case it doesn’t support a ban on trade-offs or (ii) it isn’t meaningfully unpacked, in which case it really doesn’t support a ban on trade-offs. Second, I consider the strategy of arguing against the trade-off permitting conception of epistemic rationality that is central to epistemic consequentialism on the basis of our intuitive verdicts about the permissibility of trade-offs in cases. I argue the execution of this strategy suffers a methodological mistake that, once corrected, vitiates the probative value of those intuitive verdicts. Hence the conclusion: the separateness of propositions provides no support for a ban on trade-offs, and an influential independent argument for such a ban is flawed.
Neuropharmacology, Addiction and Autonomy: A Proposal for Public Policy on Adderall and Ritalin as Pharmacological Enhancements

The use of medical drugs such as Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) and Ritalin (methylphenidate) by healthy adults for enhancement of cognitive function is a social trend that has gained in momentum (see, e.g., DeSantis et al. in J Am Coll Health 57(3):315–324, 2008; Maher in Nature 452(7188):674–675, 2008; Ragan et al. in Neuropharmacology 64:588–595, 2012), and accordingly has generated a lot of attention in academia (for an overview see Racine in Pragmatic neuroethics: improving treatment and understanding of the mind-brain. MIT Press, Cambridge, 2010, Chap. 6).
Trial of magnetic resonance-guided putaminal gene therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the safety and tolerability of convection-enhanced delivery of an adeno-associated virus, serotype-2 vector carrying glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor into the bilateral putamina of PD patients. METHODS Thirteen adult patients with advanced PD underwent adeno-associated virus, serotype-2 vector carrying glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and gadoteridol (surrogate MRI tracer) coinfusion (450 μL/hemisphere) at escalating doses: 9 × 1010 vg (n = 6); 3 × 1011 vg (n = 6); and 9 × 1011 vg (n = 1). Intraoperative MRI monitored infusion distribution. Patients underwent UPDRS assessment and [18 F]FDOPA-PET scanning preoperatively and 6 and 18 months postoperatively. RESULTS Adeno-associated virus, serotype-2 vector carrying glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor was tolerated without clinical or radiographic toxicity. Average putaminal coverage was 26%. UPDRS scores remained stable. Ten of thirteen and 12 of 13 patients had increased [18 F]FDOPA Kis at 6 and 18 months postinfusion (increase range: 5-274% and 8-130%; median, 36% and 54%), respectively. Ki differences between baseline and 6- and 18-month follow-up were statistically significant (P < 0.0002). CONCLUSION Adeno-associated virus, serotype-2 vector carrying glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor infusion was safe and well tolerated. Increased [18 F]FDOPA uptake suggests a neurotrophic effect on dopaminergic neurons. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Video Analytics - Killer App for Edge Computing

The world is witnessing an unprecedented increase in camera deployment. The USA and UK, for instance, have one camera for every 8 people. Video analytics from these cameras are becoming more and more pervasive, exerting important functions on a wide range of verticals including manufacturing, transportation, and retails. While vision techniques have seen considerable advancement, they have come at the expense of compute and network cost.
Interplay between paternal germline and maternal effects in shaping development: The overlooked importance of behavioural ecology

Environmental conditions can have a lasting epigenetic impact on development, and there is increasing evidence that these effects can be transmitted across generations. Evidence for parental transmission of epigenetic variation to offspring has been primarily focused on paternal epigenetic influences induced by a male's experience of nutritional, social and toxicological exposures. There is an assumption in the literature that paternal influence on offspring in non‐biparental species is mediated exclusively through epigenetic transmission via the germline. However, integration of concepts from behavioural ecology into the study of parental transmission of environmental effects reveals the importance of mating tactics and maternal–paternal interplay in shaping resource allocation towards offspring in considering the mechanism(s) of epigenetic transmission. This paper describes the current state of knowledge regarding paternal epigenetic germline effects, the interplay between maternal and paternal influences and the importance of considering the complex nature of reproduction when predicting the transmission of phenotype across generations. Further, this paper highlights how incorporating concepts from behavioural ecology into the study of epigenetic transmission can refine predictions of phenotypes that emerge and create a more integrated notion of development and inheritance. It is proposed that theoretical and methodological approaches that consider the impact of reproductive context, which include mating dynamics, fertility, variation in parental life history and assessment of maternal effects, could improve the predictions made within studies of paternal epigenetic effects on offspring development. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Thyroid carcinoma metastasizing to the submandibular gland: Sonographic findings

Metastases to the submandibular gland are extremely rare; a literature search retuned only three previously reported cases from a thyroid gland primary site. Herein, we report two cases of metastatic thyroid carcinoma to the submandibular gland in a 64-year-old woman with PTC and a 70-year-old-woman with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The metastases were identified on CT and PET/CT in one case and on CT in the other case, but both were diagnosed with ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Our cases highlight that while rare, both PTC and MTC can metastasize to the submandibular gland.
Detection of the differentiation state of salivary gland organoids for tissue engineering by Raman spectroscopy

Repair or reconstruction of organs is the goal of regenerative medicine. Bioengineered organoids that can differentiate when implanted in-vivo to partially restore organ function are being developed. Potentially, such organoids can be used to treat many medical conditions. A non-invasive method for quality monitoring of tissue engineered constructs is needed in order to ensure that they are ready for implantation. Raman micro-spectroscopy offers a way to quantitatively analyze cells and tissues without sample preparation or labelling dyes, which are not allowed in constructs used for the human implantation. Epithelial progenitor cells are parts of the complex organoids derived from the embryonic salivary gland cells. We have collected Raman spectra of the epithelial (acinar and ductal) cells treated with Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) and grown in organoids ex vivo over a period of (1 - 7 days). Evolution of the organoids over time was detected with Raman. These modifications, corresponding to the C-C stretch and C-H bend in proteins, as well as alterations in the Amide I and III envelopes, likely may correlate with changes in the cell environment or their differentiation state. Our goal is to develop Raman metrics that can be applied to the non-invasive monitoring of organoids.