cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Volume-preserving nonrigid registration of MR breast images using free-form deformation with an incompressibility constraint

In this paper, we extend a previously reported intensity-based nonrigid registration algorithm by using a novel regularization term to constrain the deformation. Global motion is modeled by a rigid transformation while local motion is described by a free-form deformation based on B-splines. An information theoretic measure, normalized mutual information, is used as an intensity-based image similarity measure. Registration is performed by searching for the deformation that minimizes a cost function consisting of a weighted combination of the image similarity measure and a regularization term. The novel regularization term is a local volume-preservation (incompressibility) constraint, which is motivated by the assumption that soft tissue is incompressible for small deformations and short time periods. The incompressibility constraint is implemented by penalizing deviations of the Jacobian determinant of the deformation from unity. We apply the nonrigid registration algorithm with and without the incompressibility constraint to precontrast and postcontrast magnetic resonance (MR) breast images from 17 patients. Without using a constraint, the volume of contrast-enhancing lesions decreases by 1%-78% (mean 26%). Image improvement (motion artifact reduction) obtained using the new constraint is compared with that obtained using a smoothness constraint based on the bending energy of the coordinate grid by blinded visual assessment of maximum intensity projections of subtraction images. For both constraints, volume preservation improves, and motion artifact correction worsens, as the weight of the constraint penalty term increases. For a given volume change of the contrast-enhancing lesions (2% of the original volume), the incompressibility constraint reduces motion artifacts better than or equal to the smoothness constraint in 13 out of 17 cases (better in 9, equal in 4, worse in 4). The preliminary results suggest that incorporation of the incompressibility regularization term improves intensity-based free-form nonrigid registration of contrast-enhanced MR breast images by greatly reducing the problem of shrinkage of contrast-enhancing structures while simultaneously allowing motion artifacts to be substantially reduced.
Evaluation of the Content and Process of Informed Consent Discussions for Neonatal Research

Studies of informed consent for neonatal research suggest that there are gaps in parental understanding of key aspects of research. Few studies have examined parental understanding and investigator disclosure simultaneously. This pilot study evaluated the content and processes of 21 audio-recorded consent discussions with parents of eligible newborns, as well as parents' self-reported comprehension of research elements following these discussions. Gaps in both investigator disclosure and parental understanding were found. Nevertheless, parents reported comprehension of a greater number of research elements than were actually disclosed by investigators. Our preliminary results indicate the feasibility and potential utility of jointly examining parental understanding and investigator behavior to characterize consent for neonatal research. Directions for future research are suggested.
Ocean Temperature Structure Array Electronics

Two related systems have been developed for measuring horizontal and vertical temperature structure in the ocean. One system must be suspended from a ship, with power supplied through the coaxial support cable. The other system is powered by internal batteries and records data in situ with an incremental tape recorder. This system is suspended from a tuned spar buoy, which removes most of the wave-generated vertical motion from the sensors.
A meta-analysis of responses of canopy photosynthetic conversion efficiency to environmental factors reveals major causes of yield gap

Improving plant energy conversion efficiency (ec) is crucial for increasing food and bioenergy crop production and yields. Using a meta-analysis, the effects of greenhouse gases, weather-related stresses projected to intensify due to climate change, and management practices including inputs, shading, and intercropping on ec were statistically quantified from 140 published studies to identify where improvements would have the largest impact on closing yield gaps. Variation in the response of ec to treatment type and dosage, plant characteristics, and growth conditions were also examined. Significant mean increases in ec were caused by elevated [CO2] (20%), shade (18%), and intercropping (15%). ec increased curvilinearly up to 55% with nitrogen additions whereas phosphorus application was most beneficial at low levels. Significant decreases in ec of –8.4% due to elevated [O3], –16.8% due to water stress, and –6.5% due to foliar damage were found. A non-significant decrease in ec of –17.3% was caused by temperature stress. These results identify the need to engineer greater stress tolerance and enhanced responses to positive factors such as [CO2] and nitrogen to improve average yields and yield potential. Optimizing management strategies will also enhance the benefits possible with intercropping, shade, and pest resilience. To determine optimal practices for ec improvement, further studies should be conducted in the field since several responses were exaggerated by non-field experimental conditions.
The Vibrio pathogenicity island-encoded Mop protein modulates the pathogenesis and reactogenicity of epidemic Vibrio cholerae

Epidemic Vibrio cholerae possess the VPI (Vibrio pathogenicity island) essential virulence gene cluster. The VPI is 41.2 kb in size and encodes 29 potential proteins, several of which have no known function. We show that the VPI-encoded Orf4 is a predicted 34-kDa periplasmic protein containing a zinc metalloprotease motif. V. cholerae seventh-pandemic (El Tor) strain N16961 carrying an orf4 mutation showed no obvious difference relative to its parent in the production of cholera toxin and the toxin-coregulated pilus, motility, azocasein digestion, and colonization of infant mice. However, analysis of rabbit ileal loops revealed that the N16961 orf4 mutant is hypervirulent, causing increased serosal hemorrhage and reactogenicity compared to its parent. Histology revealed a widening of submucosa, with an increase in inflammatory cells, diffuse lymphatic vessel dilatation, edema, endothelial cell hypertrophy of blood vessels, blunting of villi, and lacteal dilatation with lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The mutant could be complemented in vivo with an orf4 gene on a plasmid but not with an orf4 gene containing a site-directed mutation in the putative zinc metalloprotease motif. Although its mechanism of its action is being studied further, our results suggest that the Orf4 protein is a zinc metalloprotease that modulates the pathogenesis and reactogenicity of epidemic V. cholerae. Based on our findings, we name this VPI-encoded protein Mop (for modulation of pathogenesis).
Defining the therapeutic window for pharmacologic pre- and post-conditioning with the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide

RESULTS: Histologic analysis showed greater preservation of cellular architecture at 4h, 3.3h, and 0.3h. Quantitatively, AI of non-HS-treated ischemic tissue was 17.2/5.0%. A significant reduction in AI was seen at 4h (4.7/1.4%, p0.001), 3.3h (2.6/1.0%, p0.015) and 0.3h (1.8/0.7%, p0.022). No protection was seen at 5h (14.2/1.2%), 3h (10.6/ 3.1%), 1h (11.4/1.9%), 0h (15.0/2.8%), or 1h (11.2/1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: These data establish the boundaries of the bimodal protection afforded by pharmacologic pre- and postconditioning with HS, and reveal that the pre-ischemic window is slightly wider than the post-ischemic window. Defining the “protective intervals” of HS delivery is a crucial step towards clinical use of HS for the purpose of protection from IRI.
Design of an underwater data acquisition system for measuring submarine performance

The paper details the design of a data acquisition system for evaluating blade and shaft designs of a propulsion system for a human powered submarine. The objectives of the design were to sample and store data representing several analog signals and the time of measurement, and to display velocity and shaft rpm for the submarine operator in real-time. The sampled parameters are then used to calculate the submarine's performance in terms of velocity, thrust shaft torque and rpm. Several parameters are displayed in real-time to aid the submarine operator with training. System design restrictions including size, power requirements, heat dissipation, data integrity, and others had to be considered. Since the data acquisition system is a completely portable system, if is possible to incorporate the system into other applications. >
Listen to Me! an Exploration of the Students Voices Regarding Homework

Most of the research conducted about homework is based on adults' perspectives. This case study explored the perspectives of 5th and 6th grade students in comparison with 10 teachers' perceptions about homework. The author administered questionnaires and conducted in depth interviews using a stratified purposive sample and extreme case sampling; which educed the participants' perceptions and practices about homework. The students' represented 4 distinct groups: English Language Learners, general education, gifted and talented and special education. The teachers' instruct 5th and 6th grade. The results of the study indicate that students do not complete their homework because they find it too hard, boring, or they do not understand it. Interestingly, students think that worksheets are hard and boring. However, they are not against homework! This book should benefit teachers, parents, school administrators and staff developers. It would also help develop homework practices that would increase homework completion and student learning. This book brings out the voices of the students to the forefront. After all, they are the ones doing the homework. Listen to them!
Bilateral Breast Volume Asymmetry in Screening Mammograms as a Potential Marker of Breast Cancer: Preliminary Experience

The biological concept of bilateral symmetry as a marker of developmental stability and good health is well established. Although most individuals deviate slightly from perfect symmetry, humans are essentially considered bilaterally symmetrical. Studies have shown that if an individual is exposed to genetic mutations or environmental stresses, the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain symmetry of paired structures (such as breasts) tend to break down. Consequently, increased fluctuating asymmetry of paired structures could be an indicator of poor health. This preliminary study tested if bilateral morphological breast asymmetry in screening mammograms correlates with the presence of breast cancer. Following the biological definition of breast asymmetry in terms of volume, we applied automated computer algorithms for screening mammograms that segment the breast region and then measure each segmented breast's volume. These parameters were measured separately for each breast in each mammographic view (CC and MLO). Then, the normalized absolute differences of these parameters were investigated as measurements of fluctuating asymmetry (FA). Based on 268 cancer cases and 82 normal cases from the DDSM database, we observed that cancer patients demonstrate statistically significantly higher fluctuating asymmetry in their screening mammograms than patients with normal screening studies. Using an artificial neural network to combine FA measurements from both views along with the patient's age and breast parenchymal density resulted in an ROC area of 0.80plusmn0.03. These results suggest that bilateral breast volume asymmetry estimated in screening mammograms should be studied as a risk factor for breast cancer.
Improvement of ensemble reliability with a new dressing kernel

A new method of combining dynamical and statistical ensembles for the purpose of improving ensemble reliability for underdispersive ensembles is introduced. The method involves adding independent sets of N random four-dimensional ‘dressing’ perturbations to each of the K members of a dynamical ensemble forecast to obtain an N×K dressed ensemble. The new method mathematically constrains the stochastic process used to generate the statistical dressing perturbations so that it removes seasonally averaged errors in the second moment measures for originally underdispersive ensembles. A random-number generator experiment and an experiment with the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) ensemble generation scheme show that the previously proposed ‘best-member’ dressing method fails to reliably predict the second moment of the distribution of forecast errors, whereas the new dressing method reliably predicts this second moment. After being dressed with the second moment constraint method, the ETKF ensemble is more skilful than the undressed ensemble. The ETKF ensemble postprocessed with the new dressing method is applied for probabilistic forecasts of cooling degree-days (CDD) for Boston. It is shown that the new kernel's ability to account for temporally correlated forecast errors results in ensemble forecasts of CDDs with reliable spread, whereas the best-member method leads to an underdispersive ensemble of CDD forecasts. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
Th1-like antifilarial immune responses predominate in antigen-negative persons.

Tocharacterizeimmuneresponsesassociatedwiththeputativelyimmunestateinbancroftianfilariasis(that is, both microfilaria and antigen free), humoral and cellular responses were compared among antigen- and microfilaria-negative, antigen-positive and microfilaria-negative, and microfilaria-positive individuals. Antifilarialisotypelevelsweremeasuredbyenzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassay.Peripheralbloodmononuclearcell responses were measured by proliferation, by bioassay for interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-10, and by reverse transcription-PCR for IL-4, IL-5, and gamma interferon. The absence of circulating filarial antigen was associated with Th1-like responses, including significantly higher proliferative (P < 0.001) and IL-2 (P 5 0.008) responses and a higher prevalence of gamma interferon (0.02 < P < 0.1) responses. Significantly elevated antifilarial immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels (P 50.0035) were associated with antigenemia, whereas microfilaremia was associated with significantly decreased antifilarial IgG2 levels (P 5 0.0014). IL-4 mRNA levels were not significantly different among the three groups; however, there was a subpopulation of microfilaremicindividualswhodidnotmakedetectablelevelsofIL-4mRNAandwhoproducedlowantifilarialIgG4 levelscomparedwiththoseofindividualswhohaddetectablelevelsofIL-4mRNA.IL-5mRNAlevelsalsowere not significantly different among groups; however, more microfilaremic individuals produced IL-5 mRNA in response to adult filarial antigens, and total parasite-specific IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA levels were significantly correlated (P 50.05). Although longitudinal data are not currently available, the elevated Th1-like responses in antigen- and microfilaria-negative individuals are consistent with the hypothesis that these responses contribute to protection in putatively immune individuals.
A case study argument for nursing involvement in medical homes

Patient-centered medical homes are currently being evaluated in the United States (U.S.) as a way of improving quality ofcare, enhancing patient involvement, increasing access, coordinating care of multiple providers, and controlling costs inprimary care settings. A case study of a 47 year old Hispanic woman with a herniated lumbar disk is presented to illustratethe need for integrated, timely care in the context of a medical home. This case demonstrates how challenging it can be toaccess care, how necessary it is to consider patient preferences, and how important it is to develop positivepatient-provider relationships in primary care settings. This case study is the first illustration of why nursing leadershipand case management within a medical home setting would improve access and care coordination. The need for patientadvocacy, education, and health promotion within medical homes illustrates why nurses need to play a central role as thisnew method of care delivery is implemented. Nurses should not only be included on interdisciplinary teams providingprimary care but also be team leaders within medical homes. Nurses should also play a key role in researching theeffectiveness of patient-centered care offered by medical homes and evaluating associated risks. This model of care isconsistent with the patient-centered approach that is a central tenet of nursing practice.
Detecting the moment of snap in real-world football videos

In recent years, there has been a great increase in the use of web services for the storage, annotation, and sharing of sports video by athletic teams. Most of these web services, however, do not provide enhanced functionalities to their users that would enable, e.g., faster access to certain video moments, or reduce manual labor in video annotation. One such web service specializes in American football videos, supporting over 13,000 high school and college teams. Its users often need to fast-forward the video to certain moments of snap when the corresponding plays of the football game start. To our knowledge, this paper describes the first effort toward automating this enhanced functionality. Under a very tight running-time budget, our approach reliably detects the start of a play in an arbitrary football video with minimal assumptions about the scene, viewpoint, video resolution and shot quality. We face many challenges that are rarely addressed by a typical computer vision system, such as, e.g., a wide range of camera viewing angles and distances, and poor resolution and lighting conditions. Extensive empirical evaluation shows that our approach is very close to being usable in a real-world setting.
Inspection of Rocket Engine Components Using Laser-Based Ultrasound

High-performance rocket engines, which require active cooling of the thrust surfaces, are being developed for the next generation of reusable launch vehicles. These engines require an effective and rapid method for inspecting the critical braze bond between the liner assembly and the stainless steel outer jacket of the thrust chamber, to determine its integrity and prevent catastrophic failure during hot fire testing. Currently, a series of conventional ultrasonic techniques are used to inspect the thrust cell chamber. However, the complexly contoured surfaces prevent 100% inspection. Laser-based ultrasound (LBU) techniques have previously been shown to be an effective method for rapid inspection of contoured polymer-matrix composite structures1–3. The transition to inspection of metallic components requires increased spatial resolution to resolve defects on the order of 1 mm diameter, in addition to modification for limited access inspection from inside the thrust cell chamber. This paper reports progress on inspection of a heat exchanger NDE standard which demonstrates the resolution capability of the LBU system. In addition, C-scan results for LBU inspection of a three-quarter section aluminum rocket nozzle proof part and a quarter-section throat bond demonstrator are presented.
Brownian Motion in Small Time, Strassen’s Iterated Logarithm

We are now going to repeat the computation carried out in the preceding, only this time we will be dealing with Wiener measures on path space instead of Gauss measure on the line. We need some preliminaries.
Measurements of the gJ factors of the 6s 2 S 1/2 and 6p 2 P 1/2 states in 198 Hg +

Measurements of 198Hg+gJ factors by two methods are reported. The first method was based on optical wavelength measurements of the Zeeman components of the 6s2S1/2 (ground state) to 6p2P1/2 transition at 194 nm. The lines were observed by the absorption of tunable 194-nm radiation by Hg+ ions created in a rf discharge. The results were gJ(6s2S1/2) = 2.0036(20) and gJ(6p2P1/2) = 0.6652(20). The second method was based on microwave-optical double resonance of ions confined in a Penning trap. They were optically pumped by the 194-nm source, which was tuned to a particular Zeeman component. An increase in the resonance-fluorescence intensity was observed when the microwave frequency was tuned to the ground-state Zeeman resonance. The result is gJ(6s2S1/2) = 2.003 174 5(74).
Geometry of Surfaces

There are two main differences between the theory of regular curves andregular surfaces in three-dimensional Euclidean spaces. On one hand, smooth curves are mappings (i.e.
3D Slicer

To be applied to practical clinical research problems, medical image computing software requires infrastructure including routines to read and write various file formats, manipulate 2D and 3D coordinate systems, and present a consistent user interface paradigm and visualization metaphor. At the same time, research software needs to be flexible to facilitate implementation of new ideas. 3D Slicer is a project that aims to provide a platform for a variety of applications through a community-development model. The resulting system has been used for research in both basic biomedical and clinically applied settings. 3D Slicer is built on a set of powerful and widely used software components (Tcl/Tk, VTK, ITK) to which is added an application layer that makes the system usable by non-programmer end-users. Using this approach, advanced applications including image guided surgery, robotics, brain mapping, and virtual colonoscopy have been implemented as 3D Slicer modules. In this paper we discuss some of the goals of the 3D Slicer project and how the architecture helps support those goals. We also point out some of the practical issues which arise from this approach.
Notes on Maternal Care in Myotis lucifugus

On June 18, 1954, thirty female little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus , were taken from a maternity colony located in the White Memorial Sanctuary, Bentam, Litchfield Co., Conn. These females were kept in a large outdoor cage and observations were made on parturition and maternal care. One newborn bat had been taken with its mother when the group was collected; the rest of the females dropped their young within a three-day period beginning June 20. No twinning was observed in this sample group, each female giving birth to only one young. The young emerged head first and were received into the interfemoral membrane. The females at this time secured themselves by their thumb hooks rather than assuming the usual inverted position. After a short adjustment period, the young migrated to the breast where they were thoroughly washed and then sheltered in …
Considerations to maximize fat mass gain in a mouse model of diet-induced weight gain

Mouse experimental models of diet-induced weight gain are commonly used as analogs to human obesity; however, a wide variety of feeding methods have been used and the most effective way to maximize weight gain is not known. Maximizing weight gain may allow for a reduction in the number of animals required for a given experiment. The purpose of this study was how to cause the greatest amount of weight gain in CD-1 mice by modifying the composition and source of their diet. To accomplish this goal, we completed two experiments: (1) Effect of dietary macronutrient fat intake (60% (HF60), 45% (HF45), 30% (HF30), or 13.5% (CON) fat diet for 18 weeks); and (2) Effect of 1:1 mixed HF60 and CON diets. Outcome measures included food intake, body mass, and body composition, which were measured bi-weekly and statistically analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). In Experiment 1, the greatest increase in body and fat mass was observed in HF60 (36%) and HF45 (29%) compared with HF30 and CON (P 45% calories from fat), mixed with a stock diet, results in substantially more weight gain over a similar period, of time, which would allow an investigator to use ~40% fewer animals in their experimental model.
The Modern Pharmaceutical Industry: History, Current Position and Challenges

The development of modern medicine experienced a major leap forward in the nineteenth century because of advances in science and, since then, the evolution of scientific knowledge has pushed forward the growth of the modern pharmaceutical industry (Gribbin and Hook, 2004). The progress in human understanding of bacteriology and related subjects had replaced traditional knowledge of epidemiology and chemistry (Wikipedia, 2007a, “History of medicine”). The hygiene theory advocated by Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–1865) in 1847 paved the way for the germ theory of disease. The germ theory was put into practice later when, in 1865, British surgeon Joseph Lister discovered the principles of antisepsis (ibid.). The discoveries made by Louis Pasteur that pinpointed microorganisms as a major cause of diseases gave birth to a major conceptual breakthrough in the making of therapeutics. Against this background, Pasteur’s invention of a vaccine against rabies in 1880 led to the success of other vaccine development (see Seppa, 18 and 25 December 1999). Pasteur’s experiments, which confirmed germ theory, had important implications for using scientific method in the making of medicine. This method was articulated in Pasteur’s book, An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine in 1865. Pasteur and Robert Koch, who discovered tubercle bacillus in 1882, cholera bacillus in 1883, and Koch’s postulates, founded bacteriology (Wikipedia, 2007a).
Privies and the Public Health Service.

T he lowly privy might not seem to be a subject worthy of much attention in the history of the Public Health Service (PHS), but in the early decades of this century, the privy was an important focus of PHS work in rural sanitation. The campaign for improved privies facilitated PHS's efforts to organize public health at the local level while helping to curb infectious diseases such as typhoid fever. In turn-of-the-century America, typhoid fever was still a serious infectious disease problem, with a death rate of 31 per 100,000 in 1900. Typhoid received increased public attention beginning about 1906 thanks to the publicity given to the case of "Typhoid Mary," a New York City cook who became the most famous carrier of the disease. When Rupert Blue became Surgeon General of the Public Health Service in 1912, he placed typhoid high on the list of diseases that he wanted to see eliminated. Even before Blue became Surgeon General, however, the PHS was actively combatting the disease. A study conducted by the PHS in the period 1906-1910, for example, identified contaminated milk and water as major factors in the transmission of the disease in Washington, DC. One of the participants in this study, PHS medical officer Leslie Lumsden, became a typhoid expert and conducted similar investigations in a number of states. For instance, he traced a violent outbreak of the disease at a girls' school in Forest Glen, Maryland, to a polluted spring from which the school received its water supply. In May of 1911, Lumsden was sent to Yakima County, Washington, at the request of state and local health authorities to investigate why that area had an incidence of typhoid fever that was three times the national average. It had been recognized in the 19th century that typhoid could be carries in feces, and Lumsden's thorough study of the situation in the state of Washington led him to conclude:
Fluorescent Excitation Analysis for In Vitro Tests

Use of fluorescent excitation analysis for in vitro tests eliminates patient exposure to radiation. Tests already developed measure extracellular fluid volume, red cell volume, and glomerular filtration rates. These compare favorably with alternate techniques.
Quality Management in Andrology Laboratory

Every clinical laboratory must have a system in place to ensure accurate results are obtained and reported to the ordering clinician. In the case of the andrology laboratory, semen processing is performed in addition to semen analysis, and quality management extends to producing high-quality specimens that are free from contamination. Quality management involves developing and following standard operating procedures that cover every aspect of laboratory testing, including regular evaluation and maintenance of the facility, maintenance and function checks of equipment, ensuring the quality of supplies, controlling microbial contamination, evaluating the competency of personnel, and securing of data integrity. In addition, test methods must be established and verified, the performance specifications of each test determined, and the accuracy and precision of each test monitored. Quality management is an ongoing process designed not only to produce a quality product and reduce risk to patients and workers, but to improve the quality of performance over time through research and innovation. This chapter discusses the application of quality management techniques to the andrology laboratory.
3D porous chitosan–alginate scaffolds promote proliferation and enrichment of cancer stem-like cells

Cancer stem cells are increasingly becoming a primary target for new cancer treatment development. The ability to study their transient behavior in vitro will provide the opportunity for high-throughput testing of more effective therapies. We have previously demonstrated the use of 3D porous chitosan–alginate (CA) scaffolds to promote cancer stem-like cell (CSC) proliferation and enrichment in glioblastoma. Here we use 3D porous CA scaffolds to promote cancer stem-like cell enrichment in cell lines from prostate, liver, and breast cancers, and investigate the proliferation, morphology, and gene expressions of cells cultured in CA scaffolds as compared to 2D controls. The 3D CA scaffold cultures for all three cancer types showed reduced proliferation, formation of tumor spheroids, and increased expression of CSC associated mark genes (CD133 and NANOG), as opposed to monolayers. Additionally, we present a putative mechanism for the cancer stem-like cell enrichment on CA scaffolds. This study demonstrates that the cancer stem-like cell enrichment in CA scaffolds is a robust process that is not restricted to particular cancer types.
QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH

Abstract We have implemented a set of factor analytic techniques, based on such aspects as examination of factor orthogonality and the recreation of original variable sets, which can be used to evaluate the results of factor analysis, both within and between groups. Preliminary studies have now been carried out using ongoing EEG power and asymmetry from frontal and posterior leads, and posterior AVEP data, in three different groups of subjects. The results to date have been very encouraging, both from the point of view of the appropriateness of applying such analytic techniques to the data, and to the goal of obtaining more efficient and reliable use of the data for subsequent tests. In addition, we have evidence suggesting that the factor structure for frontal power and asymmetry in schizophrenics is fundamentally different from the factor structure in control subjects and in alcoholics. Also, work is in progress on the EEG-laterality profiles of various schizophrenic subgroups and on the effects of medication and treatment.
LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH RAW PLANT FOOD MATERIAL

The lactic acid group of bacteria occur on plants with some degree of constancy, but not of consistency, and seldom at high levels of population. Their role on the surfaces of plants is unknown, and apparently passive, for no functional, concrete role in an intimate bacterium to plant relationship has been detected.
Incorporating Urban Spatial Structure in Agent-Based Urban Simulations

The spatial equilibrium approach to urban systems has been criticized for lack of geographic details and realism. Agent-based urban simulation takes a bottom-up approach as an alternative perspective on urban modeling. The architecture of many urban simulation frameworks, though built upon geographical features, does not necessarily provide a structural understanding of urban systems. Structural understanding of urban systems requires taking into account all geographic, social, economic components, and their interrelationships in a unified framework. Urban spatial structure models integrate two major components: socio-economic behavior and landscape. Incorporating urban spatial structure, therefore, provides simulation of an urban system with solid behavioral foundation and socio-economic intuition. From a public policy perspective, explicit urban spatial structure can help to identify more general policy implications out of simulation results, for example, on land use, transportation, housing, and other aspects of urban life. In this chapter, necessary components of agent-based urban simulations are discussed, with an agent-based modeling (ABM) simulation on transportation cost and congestion effects developed to illustrate the role that urban spatial structure models can play in urban simulations.
On the Performance Overhead of BPMN Modeling Practices

Business process models can serve different purposes, from discussion and analysis among stakeholders, to simulation and execution. While work has been done on deriving modeling guidelines to improve understandability, it remains to be determined how different modeling practices impact the execution of the models. In this paper we observe how semantically equivalent, but syntactically different, models behave in order to assess the performance impact of different modeling practices. To do so, we propose a methodology for systematically deriving semantically equivalent models by applying a set of model transformation rules and for precisely measuring their execution performance. We apply the methodology on three scenarios to systematically explore the performance variability of 16 different versions of parallel, exclusive, and inclusive control flows. Our experiments with two open-source business process management systems measure the execution duration of each model’s instances. The results reveal statistically different execution performance when applying different modeling practices without total ordering of performance ranks.
Facet Joints of the Spine: Structure–Function Relationships, Problems and Treatments, and the Potential for Regeneration

The zygapophysial joint, a diarthrodial joint commonly referred to as the facet joint, plays a pivotal role in back pain, a condition that has been a leading cause of global disability since 1990. Along with the intervertebral disc, the facet joint supports spinal motion and aids in spinal stability. Highly susceptible to early development of osteoarthritis, the facet is responsible for a significant amount of pain in the low-back, mid-back, and neck regions. Current noninvasive treatments cannot offer long-term pain relief, while invasive treatments can relieve pain but fail to preserve joint functionality. This review presents an overview of the facet in terms of its anatomy, functional properties, problems, and current management strategies. Furthermore, this review introduces the potential for regeneration of the facet and particular engineering strategies that could be employed as a long-term treatment.
Mutual Peer Tutoring: A Collaborative Addition to the Cognitive Tutor Algebra-1

Although the Cognitive Tutor: Algebra-1 is effective at increasing individual learning, it lacks support for collaboration between students. We intend to explore the potential benefits of integrating a mutual peer tutoring script with the cognitive tutors, such that students take turns tutoring each other on problem-solving tasks, rather than being tutored directly by the computer. The script is based on current Algebra-1 curriculum goals and situated within the cognitive tutor environment, but requires collaborative additions to the interface and cognitive model. We expect that the script, in conjunction with the cognitive tutors, will improve domain learning and knowledge of problem-solving skills.
Public Perception of Animal Biotechnology

The commercialization of any product hinges on consumer acceptance. Genetic engineering has faced an uphill battle in this regard since the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the 1990s. Public perception of GE animals is generally negative, with biomedical applications being more positively perceived than agricultural applications. To date most GE animals have been developed in private or university laboratories for research purposes. Opposition to GE animals is often conflated with opposition to use of animals in research in general, as well as opposition to aspects of intensive animal agriculture. In general, concerns about animal biotechnology are influenced by (1) views around the moral status of animals, the boundary between “natural” and “unnatural,” and perceived risks and benefits of GE animals to health and the environment (personal and cultural characteristics); (2) the purpose of the application, the method(s) being used, and the motivation of the research group making the genetic modification (research characteristics); (3) the species being modified (animal characteristics). As such, it is difficult to generalize about public perception of GE animals as a discrete category. The first GE food animal approval, the AquAdvantage salmon, in 2015, followed years of regulatory delay partially resulting from the negative public perception of genetic engineering. There are a number of new animal applications in development, enabled by new methods, which specifically target traits for animal health and well-being. A nuanced consideration of these applications by those that are not intrinsically opposed to the technology may positively impact public perception of GE animals.
Juvenile (In)justice: A System Developed to Facilitate Youth Development that Challenges Healthy Outcomes

Youthful offenders in the USA were at one time treated no differently than adult offenders. It was not until the mid-1800s that social reformers began to establish specifically designed programs for juvenile offenders. The crux of the movement was to rehabilitate youth so as to minimize their social isolation, marginalization, and discrimination/prejudice expressed toward juvenile offenders regarded as vagrants and villains. Despite efforts to rehabilitate youth, juvenile justice programs continue to have both a primary and secondary impact on social prejudice toward youthful offenders. This chapter will examine and discuss macro-, community-, and individual-level factors (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender) that continue to result in prejudice expressed toward juvenile offenders.
Applying evolution and novelty search to enhance the resilience of autonomous systems

We investigate the integration of evolutionary algorithms and novelty search in order to improve the performance and resilience of autonomous systems. We have developed two tools for this purpose: Evo-ROS and Enki. Evo-ROS combines evolutionary search with physics-based simulations of autonomous systems whose software infrastructure is based on the Robot Operating System (ROS). Enki uses novelty search to discover operational scenarios that lead to the most diverse behavior in the target system. Combining these tools yields an automated approach to explore the operational landscape of the target system, identify regions of poor performance, and evolve system parameters that better respond to adverse situations. In this paper, we present results of a case study of the throttle controller on AutoRally, a 1:5-scale autonomous vehicle designed by researchers at Georgia Tech for the study of aggressive autonomous driving. Preliminary experiments demonstrate the ability of the proposed methods to identify and characterize input speed signals that cause the existing controller to perform poorly. The ability to identify these troublesome signals enables development of a control system capable of handling a wider range of conditions by autonomously switching among controller modes that are optimized for different conditions.
Surgical Techniques: Tagging the Ureter for Improved Identification

Video Objective To illustrate a laparoscopic surgical technique of tagging the ureter for improved ureteral identification Setting In patients with severe pathology such as stage IV endometriosis with an obliterated cul-de-sac, identification of the ureters can be challenging. Furthermore, the natural course of the ureter may be altered due to the distorted surrounding structures and significant fibrosis. Retroperitoneal identification of the ureter and ureterolysis is often required to avoid inadvertent injury to the ureter and safely complete a hysterectomy with or without an oophorectomy. The dissection involved may be both time-consuming and challenging. We describe a technique where a vessel loop can easily be placed around the ureter, used as a tag, and referenced throughout the remainder of a difficult surgical case. At the end of the case, the vessel loop is cut and removed through the laparoscopic port. This surgical technique is widely used in Urologic Surgery and may have applications within Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. Here, we present this surgical technique in a 38 year old woman who presents with pelvic pain and a known history of endometriomas. Interventions Robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, ureterolysis, and cystoscopy with laparoscopic tagging of the ureter. Conclusion Laparoscopic tagging of the ureter is a technique that may be used in select challenging cases to efficiently and safely complete the procedure.
Competitiveness of Otolaryngology Residency Applicants without a Home Program

Purpose:Investigate if otolaryngology residency home programs (HP) are associated with advantages in National Resident Matching Program match compared to applicants without HPs.Methods:Surveys were...
Myxedema ascites complicated by ischemic colitis

Myxedema Ascites is a rare finding of primary hypothyroidism, thereby leading to delayed diagnosis. However, prompt treatment with levothyroxine leads to complete resolution of the condition. We present a rare case of myxedema ascites in an elderly female and highlight the importance of early diagnosis and management. We also present ischemic colitis in the same patient, which has not been reported thus far in literature as a complication of myxedema ascites.
Racial differences in sleep duration intersect with sex, socioeconomic status, and U.S. geographic region: The REGARDS study.

Abstract Objectives Short and long sleep duration are associated with poor health outcomes and are most prevalent among racial/ethnic minorities. Few studies have investigated the intersection of other sociodemographic characteristics with race/ethnicity on sleep duration prevalence. Design Longitudinal retrospective analysis of continental U.S. cohort, the RE asons for G eographic A nd R acial D ifferences in S troke (REGARDS) Participants Black (n = 7,547) and white (n = 12,341) adults, 56% women, ≥45 years Measurements At baseline (2003–07), participants reported age, sex, race, education, income, marital status, U.S. region, and employment status. The weighted average of reported sleep duration on weekdays and weekends, assessed at follow-up (2008–10), was categorized as Results Average sleep duration was 7.0 h (SD=1.3). Prevalence of short ( Conclusions Race in the context of socioeconomic, sex, and regional factors should be examined as key modifiers of sleep duration.
Abstract 16347: Simplified Workflow to Improve the Precision of Non-invasive Radio-ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia Storm

Background: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SAbR) is an emerging therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm, but the feasibility and outcomes guided by computational 12-lead ECG mapping and...
Post-Marketing Surveillance: Hypothetical Problems

A special committee of the “Erician Drug Registration Agency” must consider the following problems which relate to the “Post-Marketing” surveillance issue.
Abstract PO022: Somatic mutations in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes can affect the expression of immune system genes in the tumor microenvironment

Avoiding immune destruction is an emerging hallmark of cancer. It includes tumor cell mutations and epigenetic modifications that allow tumor cells to either evade detection by the immune system, or render the immune response ineffective. However, mutations in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes that inhibit immune response to tumor growth, have not been specifically identified as a hallmark of cancer. We have identified four distinct somatic mutations in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes that affect the expression of immune system genes in tumor samples, suggesting that these lymphocytic mutation may cause a deficient immune response, contributing to cancer progression. These rare mutations occurred frequently in specific cancer types. The T292Nfs*18 mutation in the FETUB gene, R216Gfs*20 in CCDC43, N377D in CLEC4M and V78Gfs*46 in RAB11FIP4 occurred in 13% of breast invasive carcinoma, 41% of colon adenocarcinoma, 12% of ovarian cystadenocarcinoma (OV) and 16% of OV samples respectively, compared to 0.002%, 0.003%, 0.014% and 0.001% in aggregated variant databases. These variants were found in 7-20% of DNA sequences in both tumor and matched normal blood samples, indicating that they originated in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, rather than in the tumor cells. We argue that these mutations are unlikely to be passenger mutations since each of them occur in only 0-2% of normal tissue samples and in less than 2% of tumor samples from 24-32 of 32 cancer types other than the one noted above for each of the four mutations. The set of differentially expressed genes (FDR Citation Format: Ramu Anandakrishnan, Robin T. Varghese, Nicholas A. Kinney, Harold R. Garner. Somatic mutations in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes can affect the expression of immune system genes in the tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Virtual Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2020 Oct 19-20. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2021;9(2 Suppl):Abstract nr PO022.
The Use of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound to Evaluate Acute Abdomen: A Case of Bowel Perforation After Unknown Single Magnet Ingestion

A 3-year-old healthy male presented to the pediatric emergency department with worsening abdominal pain and vomiting. He had been seen earlier in the day for fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain. On exam, he had normal vital signs and soft abdomen with diffuse tenderness to palpation. Workup included labs consistent with dehydration (decreased Cl, elevated BUN/Cr ratio) and negative US for appendicitis and intussusception. He had decreased urine output, despite a NS bolus, which prompted a point-of-care US (POCUS) of the bladder that measured a total volume of 180 cm3. Bladder catheterization was performed, and his UA was unremarkable. Although he had improvement after anti-emetics and pain medication, the clinical team had persistent concerns about the underlying diagnosis. Due …
Monte Carlo Simulation of the Galactic 26Al Gamma-Ray Map

The observed map of 1.809 MeV gamma rays from radioactive 26Al shows clear evidence of a Galactic plane origin with an uneven distribution. We have simulated the map using a Monte Carlo technique together with simple assumptions about the spatial distributions and yields of 26Al sources (clustered core-collapse supernovae and Wolf-Rayet stars, low- and high-mass AGB stars, and novae). Although observed structures (e.g., tangents to spiral arms, bars, and known star-forming regions) are not included in the model, our simulated gamma-ray distribution bears resemblance to the observed distribution. The major difference is that the model distribution has a strong smooth background along the Galactic plane from distant sources in the disk of the Galaxy. We suggest that the smooth background is to be expected and probably has been suppressed by background subtraction in the observed map. We have also found an upper limit of 1 M☉ to the contribution of flux from low-yield, smoothly distributed sources (low-mass AGB stars and novae).