cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gradient Vector Flow Field and Mass Region Extraction in Digital Mammograms

Mass detection is one of the main computer-aided mammographic breast cancer detection techniques. Precisely selecting the regions that contain masses is an important step in mass segmentation using mammographic computer-aided detection. In this paper, an algorithm for extracting mass regions in digital mammograms is proposed, in which we use adaptive histogram equalization to enhance mammograms, use a gradient vector flow field to generate region boundaries, select N candidate locations according to the means and the standard deviations of intensities of the points with top brightness, use these points and the region boundaries to generate the convex hulls of the regions as the mass regions. 161 down-sampled mammogram images from the Digital Database for Screening Mammography project were test, and a detection rate of 82.6% is obtained. The experimental results indicated that the method is efficient and robust.
The Effects of Demographics on Computer Literacy of University Freshmen

AbstractFour-year colleges and universities have invested time, faculty resources, and financial support in teaching introductory courses in Management Information Systems (MIS). Are these courses necessary? This article reports the development of a questionnaire on computer literacy that was administered to 430 freshmen students taking an introductory MIS course and to 43 students who had completed the course. Differences in performance are analyzed from the perspective of a variety of demographic factors, and the results of the study are reported.
A Framework for Architecture-Level Lifetime Reliability Modeling

This paper tackles the issue of modeling chip lifetime reliability at the architecture level. We propose a new and robust structure-aware lifetime reliability model at the architecture-level, where devices only vulnerable to failure mechanisms and the effective stress condition of these devices are taken into account for the failure rate of microarchitecture structures. In addition, we present this reliability analysis framework based on a new concept, called the FIT of reference circuit or FORC, which allows architects to quantify failure rates without having to delve into low-level circuit- and technology-specific details of the implemented architecture. This is done through a onetime characterization of a reference circuit needed to quantify the reference FITs for each class of modeled failure mechanisms for a given technology and implementation style. With this new reliability modeling framework, architects are empowered to proceed with architecture-level reliability analysis independent of technological and environmental parameters.
Poisoning with 4-Aminopyridine: Report of Three Cases

(1980). Poisoning with 4-Aminopyridine: Report of Three Cases. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 487-497.
Identification and initial characterizations of free, glycosylated, and phosphorylated ceramides of Paramecium

Paremecium tetraurelia contains high concentrations of six ethanolamine sphingolipids in the cell surface membrane surrounding somatic cilia. Three have phosphoryl groups and the other three have phosphonyl groups, and each contains either dihydrosphingosine, sphingosine, or phytosphingosine. In the present study, free, phosphorylated, and three major glycosylated ceramides were identified in the neutral sphingolipid fraction of this organism when it was grown on a crude medium. Individual lipids were characterized by specific staining on thin-layer chromatographic plates and the fatty acids derived from them were identified by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Unlike the esterified fatty acid composition of the ciliate's phospholipids, which have only small amounts of fatty acids greater than 20 carbons in length, the neutral sphingolipids mainly contain fatty acids greater than 22 carbons in length as well as high concentrations of long chain hydroxy fatty acids. The sugars, glucose, galactose, and fructose, were identified in total neutral sphingolipid fraction. The long chain bases in the neutral sphingolipid fraction were mainly C18 compounds and were identified as C18 dihydrosphingosine, C20 sphingosine, and isomers of C18 sphingosine. Phytosphingosine was not detected in the neutral sphingolipid fraction obtained from whole cells. Because most of the cell's phytosphingosine-containing ethanolamine sphingolipids are in cilia, the inability to detect phytosphingosine as part of putative precursor ceramide compounds suggests that conversions of the long chain base moiety of ethanolamine phospho- and phosphonosphingolipids occur in situ in the ciliary membrane.
Exploiting Heterogeneity for Collective Data Downloading in Volunteer-based Networks

Scientific computing is being increasingly deployed over volunteer-based distributed computing environments consisting of idle resources on donated user machines. A fundamental challenge in these environments is the dissemination of data to the computation nodes, with the successful completion of jobs being driven by the efficiency of collective data download across compute nodes, and not only the individual download times. This paper considers the use of a data network consisting of data distributed across a set of data servers, and focuses on the server selection problem: how do individual nodes select a server for downloading data to minimize the communication makespan - the maximal download time for a data file. Through experiments conducted on a pastry network running on PlanetLab, we demonstrate that nodes in a volunteer-based network are heterogeneous in terms of several metrics, such as bandwidth, load, and capacity, which impact their download behavior. We propose new server selection heuristics that incorporate these metrics, and demonstrate that these heuristics outperform traditional proximity-based server selection, reducing average makespans by at least 30%. We further show that incorporating information about download concurrency avoids overloading servers, and improves performance by about 17-43% over heuristics considering only proximity and bandwidth.
Hilbert Transform Based FBP Algorithm for Fan-Beam CT Full and Partial Scans

This paper presents a new type of filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm for fan-beam full- and partial-scans. The filtering is shift-invariant with respect to the angular variable. The backprojection does not include position-dependent weights through the Hilbert transform and the one-dimensional transformation between the fan- and parallel-beam coordinates. The strong symmetry of the filtered projections directly leads to an exact reconstruction for partial data. The use of the Hilbert transform avoids the approximation introduced by the nonuniform cutoff frequency required in the ramp filter-based FBP algorithm. Variance analysis indicates that the algorithm might lead to a better uniformity of resolution and noise in the reconstructed image. Numerical simulations are provided to evaluate the algorithm with noise-free and noisy projections. Our simulation results indicate that the algorithm does have better stability over the ramp-filter-based FBP and circular harmonic reconstruction algorithms. This may help improve the image quality for in place computed tomography scanners with single-row detectors
The Role of camera Networks in Construction Automation

Due to the complexity and variability of capital construction sites, real-time monitoring remains an elusive goal. As unit price continues to fall, camera networks are becoming increasingly viable sensing modalities. The benefits of combining multiple, overlapping image sources include the ability to produce 3D scene reconstruction as well as localize and track objects. In the construction domain, these benefits enhance situation awareness by facilitating tracking of construction equipment and material, generating progress reports, and providing automated alerts in the event of a safety hazard. In this paper we describe the use of a camera network with a discussion of practical considerations in calibration and tracking. We conclude with a demonstration of a usage example.
Iodine absorption, excretion, recycling, and tissue distribution in the dairy cow.

Research on iodine metabolism was reviewed with special reference to cattle and milk secretion. Iodine metabolism in the fetus and thyroid activity as related to milk secretion and iodine feeding have also been considered. Between 70 and 90% of dietary iodine is absorbed directly from the bovine rumen, reticulum, and omasum. In the abomasum, rate of iodide secretion is approximately 18 times the rate of absorption. Circulating thyroxine is not secreted into the abomasum but enters the small intestine in the bile. Most of the iodide secreted into the abomasum is reabsorbed from the small and large intestines; absorption of thyroxine averages less than 10%. The thyroid usually contains an amount of iodine equal to the daily dietary intake; extrathyroidal tissues concentrate only .006 to .04% as much radioiodine per unit weight as the thyroid. At normal iodine intake (less than 10 mug/kg body weight daily), iodine losses average 30% of the daily intake in feces, 40% in urine, and 8% in milk. Milk iodine is influenced by amount and chemical form of dietary iodine, stage of lactation or milk yield, seasonal effects, goitrogens, and thyroid status. Cows secrete less iodine into milk than most other species and have an efficient iodine recycling system via the gastrointestinal tract which conserves iodine and can protect them against low dietary iodine.
Model-Based Image Reconstruction for Dynamic Cardiac Perfusion MRI from Sparse Data

The paper presents a novel approach for dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cardiac perfusion image reconstruction from sparse k-space data. It formulates the reconstruction problem in an inverse-methods setting. Relevant prior information is incorporated via a parametric model for the perfusion process. This wealth of prior information empowers the proposed method to give high-quality recon- structions from very sparse k-space data. The paper presents reconstruction results using both Cartesian and radial sampling strategies using data simulated from a real acquisition. The proposed method produces high-quality reconstructions using 14% of the k-space data. The model-based approach can potentially greatly benefit cardiac myocardial perfusion s tudies as well as other dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI applications including tumor imaging.
Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of myo-inositol oxygenase from mouse, rat, and human kidney

Abstract myo-Inositol oxygenase (MIOX) is a non-heme iron enzyme, which catalyzes the conversion of myo-inositol to d -glucuronic acid, the first committed step in myo-inositol catabolism. Full-length cDNAs of 858 bp each coding for 33 kDa protein were cloned from kidney cDNA libraries of mouse, rat, and human. The individual clones were expressed in Escherichia coli and recombinant MIOX proteins were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. A hydrophobic interaction chromatography step yielded multiple conformers, with mouse and human MIOX showing three peaks and rat enzyme revealing two peaks. Individual MIOX peaks exhibited distinct Vmax and Km values. Interestingly, upon storage, the 33 kDa protein was degraded to a ∼30 kDa truncated protein in each species, and formed small amounts of dimers of identical subunits. While MIOX is a highly conserved enzyme in all mammalian species, the labile nature and tendency to degrade in solution may be the source of significant differences in size previously reported in the literature. Regardless of the source, our results strongly dispel previous conflicting literature reports on the size of the protein and confirm that MIOX is a 33 kDa protein.
The software testing automation framework

Software testing is an integral, costly, and time-consuming activity in the software development life cycle. As is true for software development in general, reuse of common artifacts can provide a significant gain in productivity. In addition, because testing involves running the system being tested under a variety of configurations and circumstances, automation of execution-related activities offers another potential source of savings in the testing process. This paper explores the opportunities for reuse and automation in one test organization, describes the shortcomings of potential solutions that are available "off the shelf," and introduces a new solution for addressing the questions of reuse and automation: the Software Testing Automation Framework (STAF), a multiplatform, multilanguage approach to reuse. It is based on the concept of reusable services that can be used to automate major activities in the testing process. The design of STAF is described. Also discussed is how it was employed to automate a resource-intensive test suite used by an actual testing organization within IBM.
Nutritional assessment: lean body mass depletion at hospital admission is associated with an increased length of stay

Background: Low fat-free mass may be an independent risk factor for malnutrition that results in an increased length of hospital stay (LOS). Objectives: The objectives were to compare differences in fat-free mass and fat mass at hospital admission between patients and healthy control subjects and to determine the association between these differences and the LOS. Design: Patients (525 men, 470 women) were prospectively recruited at hospital admission. Height-corrected fat-free mass and fat mass (fat-free-mass index or fat-mass index; in kg/m 2 ) were determined in patients at admission by bioelectrical impedance analysis and were compared with values for sex-, age-, and height-matched control subjects. Patients were classified as well-nourished, moderately depleted, or severely depleted on the basis of a Subjective Global Assessment questionnaire and a body mass index (in kg/m 2 ) or 20. Results: Low fat-free mass was noted in 37% and 55.6% of patients hospitalized 1–2 d and 12 d, respectively. The odds ratios were significant for fat-free-mass index and were higher in patients with a LOS of 12 d [men (odds ratio: 5.6; 95% CI: 3.1, 10.4), women (4.4; 2.3, 8.7)] than in those with a LOS of 1–2 d [men (3.3; 2.2, 5.0), women (2.2; 1.6, 3.1)]. Severe nutritional depletion was significantly associated only with a LOS 12 d. Conclusion: Fat-free mass and fat-free-mass index were significantly lower in patients than in control subjects. Because the fatfree-mass index is significantly associated with an increased LOS, provides nutritional assessment information that complements that from a Subjective Global Assessment questionnaire, and is a more sensitive determinant of the association of fat-free mass with LOS than is a weight loss 10% or a body mass index 20, it should be used to evaluate nutritional status. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79: 613– 8.
Surgeon, implant, and patient variables may explain variability in early revision rates reported for unicompartmental arthroplasty.

Background: The reported revision rates for cemented unicompartmental knee arthroplasties have varied widely. The effect of implant selection, patient characteristics, and surgeon characteristics on revision risk has not been evaluated fully. The purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of these variables on the risk for aseptic revision arthroplasty. Methods: We identified all cemented primary unicompartmental knee arthroplasties performed in our health-care system from 2002 to 2009 (median follow-up time = 2.6 years) to assess the risk for aseptic revision. A multivariate marginal Cox proportional-hazards model with robust standard errors (to adjust for the nesting of surgical cases within surgeons) was used to calculate the differential risk for revision of implants after adjusting for surgeon and hospital volume of unicompartmental knee arthroplasties performed; surgeon experience with unicompartmental knee arthroplasties at the time of surgery; surgeon fellowship training; and patient age, sex, weight, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score. Results: A total of 1746 unicompartmental knee arthroplasties were identified. The overall revision rate during the study period was 4.98% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.0% to 6.1%). In a multivariate Cox model, the hazard ratio (HR) for aseptic revision relative to a modern, fixed, metal-backed tibial bearing was significantly higher for an all-polyethylene tibial tray (HR = 3.85, 95% CI = 1.54 to 9.63, p = 0.004) but not significantly higher for a mobile-bearing implant (HR = 2.42, 95% CI = 0.55 to 10.65, p = 0.242) or an older-design, fixed, metal-backed bearing (HR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.67 to 5.33, p = 0.23). Younger age was associated with increased risk (age less than fifty-five years compared with more than sixty-five years: HR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.60 to 8.96, p < 0.001), and a higher ASA score (≥3 compared with <3 points: HR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.93, p = 0.027) and a greater mean yearly surgeon volume of unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (twelve or fewer compared with more than twelve: HR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.28 to 3.74, p = 0.004) were associated with reduced risk. Conclusions: Implant selection can have a considerable effect on the risk for aseptic revision following a cemented unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, as can patient and surgeon factors. Therefore, the variation among risk estimates reported in the literature for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty revision may be explained by differences in patient characteristics and implant selection as well as the surgeons’ yearly volume of unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Service recovery: a framework and empirical investigation

Abstract Although recovery activities are primarily managed by the operations function, service recovery has received little attention in the operations management literature. This paper outlines a framework for examining the service recovery process and then reports on an empirical study to test this framework. The results not only validate much of what is anecdotally claimed by researchers and casual observers of service industries, but also highlight the role of operational activities in service recovery. The paper then points to the need for an array of operations-based research efforts that will lead to better understanding of the recovery process and to more empirically based descriptive and prescriptive models.
DECIDES: An expert system tool for physical database design

This paper describes the development of the DECIDES database design tool. It contains a description of the database design phase of the ITT 1240 Digital Telephone Switch, explains the organization of the program itself, and gives some conclusions based on the experience gained by prototyping this tool.
Phyllosphere Microbiota Composition and Microbial Community Transplantation on Lettuce Plants Grown Indoors

ABSTRACT The aerial surfaces of plants, or phyllosphere, are microbial habitats important to plant and human health. In order to accurately investigate microbial interactions in the phyllosphere under laboratory conditions, the composition of the phyllosphere microbiota should be representative of the diversity of microorganisms residing on plants in nature. We found that Romaine lettuce grown in the laboratory contained 10- to 100-fold lower numbers of bacteria than age-matched, field-grown lettuce. The bacterial diversity on laboratory-grown plants was also significantly lower and contained relatively higher proportions of Betaproteobacteria as opposed to the Gammaproteobacteria-enriched communities on field lettuce. Incubation of field-grown Romaine lettuce plants in environmental growth chambers for 2 weeks resulted in bacterial cell densities and taxa similar to those on plants in the field but with less diverse bacterial populations overall. In comparison, the inoculation of laboratory-grown Romaine lettuce plants with either freshly collected or cryopreserved microorganisms recovered from field lettuce resulted in the development of a field-like microbiota on the lettuce within 2 days of application. The survival of an inoculated strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was unchanged by microbial community transfer; however, the inoculation of E. coli O157:H7 onto those plants resulted in significant shifts in the abundance of certain taxa. This finding was strictly dependent on the presence of a field-associated as opposed to a laboratory-associated microbiota on the plants. Phyllosphere microbiota transplantation in the laboratory will be useful for elucidating microbial interactions on plants that are important to agriculture and microbial food safety. IMPORTANCE The phyllosphere is a habitat for a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria with significant relevance to plant and human health. Some indigenous epiphytic bacteria might affect the persistence of human food-borne pathogens in the phyllosphere. However, studies on human pathogens are typically performed on plants grown indoors. This study compares the phyllosphere microbiota on Romaine lettuce plants grown in a Salinas Valley, CA, field to that on lettuce plants grown in environmental chambers. We show that phyllosphere microbiota from laboratory-grown plants is distinct from that colonizing plants grown in the field and that the field microbiota can be successfully transferred to plants grown indoors. The microbiota transplantation method was used to examine alterations to the phyllosphere microbiota after Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculation on lettuce plants in a controlled environment. Our findings show the importance and validity of phyllosphere microbiota transplantation for future phyllosphere microbiology research.
Revisiting Raz: Inclusive Legal Positivism and Our Concept of Authority

Joseph Raz has argued that the very possibility of moral criteria of legality is precluded by a proper understanding of our concept of authority - a concept that figures prominently in our understanding of law and the concepts that figure into legal practices. Given the way we understand the notion of authority, he argues, there cannot be a legal system with moral criteria of legality. The existence of moral criteria of legality is, on his view, as problematic as the existence of a married bachelor - and, ultimately, for the same reason: both are logically precluded by the content of the relevant concepts. In this essay, I wish to explain and evaluate Raz's argument for this idea, an argument that depends on claims about our concepts of both law and authority. His argument in grounded, most immediately, in two claims. First, he argues it is conceptually true that law claims morally legitimate authority. Second, he argues the content of an authoritative directive must be identifiable without reflecting on the dependent reasons that justify the directive. I argue both claims are mistaken.
Microencapsulation I. Phase Separation or Coacervation

Phase separation or coacervation is one of the oldest and perhaps the most widely used method of microencapsulation. This paper discusses phase separation or coacervation as a technique of preparin...
Complex Quality Assurance of Historical Hourly Surface Airways Meteorological Data

Abstract A new complex quality assurance (QA) procedure is developed for historical hourly surface airways meteorological data, recently digitized in a U.S. government–sponsored effort that extends the digital period of record back as early as the late 1920s. The procedure builds upon an existing, three-pronged framework and incorporates several checks previously employed for hourly data. New or enhanced checks were also developed, partly with the goal of accommodating the peculiarities of historical observation practices or reporting standards, but also to improve our ability to flag suspicious data. The latter goal is sought by use of more elaborate physics or empirical relationships than are employed in existing checks, or by modifying or replacing them to sharpen their intended focus. Each of the three prongs checks for consistency, whether for internal or temporal consistency or against limits. Six internal consistency and three temporal consistency checks are developed or adapted from recent researc...
A Case of Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn due to Di (a) Antibody.

Anti- is a clinically significant red cell antibody known to cause hemolytic disease of the newborn. Here, we report on a case of mild hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by antibody. The mother had three prior pregnancies with no history of blood transfusion. She delivered a preterm 35-week-old female newborn by cesarean section. The neonate developed anemia and mild icterus on postnatal day five with hemoglobin of 9500 mg/dL and total bilirubin of 10 mg/dL. The direct antiglobulin test on the neonate’s red blood cells was positive. The maternal serum and an eluate from the infant RBCs were negative in routine antibody detection tests but were positive using commercially prepared Di(a+) red cells. The neonate was discharged home in stable condition following treatment with erythropoietin and phototherapy. When a newborn has a positive DAT in the absence of major blood group incompatibility or commonly detected RBC antibodies, an antibody to a low frequency antigen such as must be considered. Further immunohematology tests are required to determine presence of the antibody and the clinician must be alerted to closely monitor the infant for signs of anemia and hemolysis.
High-Performance Public Involvement: Frameworks, Performance Measures, and Data

In the light of social and political currents calling for increased accountability for public processes and discussions between federal officials about the performance of the public involvement process, this paper examines public involvement in transportation and develops frameworks for identifying suitable approaches and evaluating outcomes. The aims of this paper are to (a) foster analytic, evidence-driven discussion between public involvement professionals, project managers, consultants, and other members of the transportation community about process quality metrics and (b) propose strategies for increasing performance of such processes by developing multidimensional process evaluation frameworks for public involvement design and outcomes. A significant Arnstein gap is identified in the quality of public involvement in transportation. A critical overview of current practice that draws on the literature on public involvement and participation is presented. Using a soft systems approach, the authors fram...
An Econometric Study of the Determinants of Tourism Competitiveness in the Caribbean

This paper analyzes the main determinants of competitiveness in the Caribbean tourism stay-over industry using panel data for the period 1995 to 2006, based on an augmented version of an empirical model by Craigwell (2007). The analysis is based on observations available for the 34 member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), except for Mexico. The ex-post measure of competitiveness used is the share of world outbound tourists from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America arriving in a Caribbean destination. The paper finds evidence that Caribbean tourism competitiveness can be enhanced through policy measures that favor increases in investment, private sector development, better infrastructure, lower population density, lower government consumption, lower trade openness, a more flexible labor market, reduced vulnerability to natural disasters, better health and cheaper oil prices. When disaggregated by source markets, the analysis reveals that British tourists are relatively price insensitive while Canadian tourists are very price sensitive. This seems to suggest that destinations that rank low on price competitiveness indicators could target price insensitive and upper market tourists coming from, say, the United Kingdom market.
Evaluating POMDP rewards for active perception

One popular approach to active perception is using POMDPs to maximize rewards received for sensing actions towards task accomplishment and/or continually refining the agent's knowledge. Multiple types of reward functions have been proposed to achieve these goals: (1) state-based rewards which minimize sensing costs and maximize task rewards, (2) belief-based rewards which maximize belief state improvement, and (3) hybrid rewards combining the other two types. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the differences between these function types and their impact on agent sensing and task performance. In this paper, we begin to address this deficiency by providing (1) an intuitive comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the various function types, and (2) an empirical evaluation of our comparison in a simulated active perception environment.
Can SPECT-CT VQ imaging reduce the number of non diagnostic lung scans and what ancillary findings are important

383 Objectives Studies of ventilation and perfusion (VQ) imaging comparing SPECT to planar have shown improved sensitivity(SENS), specificity(SPEC) and lower indeterminate(IN) rate for diagnosing pulmonary embolism(PE)(1). SPECT-CT(S-CT) offers added advantage for increased accuracy by providing better correlation of anatomic opacities or lucencies(OPD) in the lungs that may mimic PE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether S-CT can reduce the number of non diagnostic(NDx) VQ studies due to IN(triple match(3X)) xray/V/Q findings or the presence of extensive OPD (eg > 50% of the lungs with matched VQ) on planar imaging and chest x-ray. A second consideration was to see which, if any, S-CT criteria are useful to achieve such reduction. Methods This was a retrospective review of VQ studies with planar & S-CT for acute PE over two years. Cases with an interpretation of NDx for PE due to 3X IN or extensive OPD were selected. Two readers were blinded to CT angiogram(CTA) or venous(DVT) studies. Final diagnosis of PE + required at least one segmental or ≥2 subsegmental wedge shaped defects(2, 3) for planar and S-CT. Readers also assigned a level of low or high confidence(HC) for PE + or PE -. Added criteria included: size of Q defect >>> size of opacity, loss of pleural stripe, or defect(s) matched to areas of gas trapping or lung lucency. Planar & S-CT were read utilizing the same criteria and confidence score. Any disagreements were reread to reach consensus. Results Of 217 VQ studies, 34 were initially NDx (16%). A final diagnosis of PE +(n=4) or -(n=23) was based on CTA and/or DVT study. SENS of planar for PE was 25% with SPEC of 73% compared to 50% and 95% for S-CT. Accuracy was 67% for planar and 81% S-CT. S-CT HC improved by 60% over planar. S-CT findings noted to help exclude or confirm PE were better delineation of the pleural stripe, better concordant size of P with CT opacity, and concordant Q with lucent lung on CT. Conclusions S-CT improves accuracy and reader confidence over NDx planar imaging. Specific S-CT findings can be of benefit to rule in or rule out PE. Research Support None
Metastable States of Dimethylammonium, (CH3)2NH2•

Hypervalent dimethylammonium radical, (CH3)2NH2•, and its deuterium-labeled isotopomers (CH3)2ND2•, (CH3)2NHD•, (CD3)2NH2•, and (CD3)2ND2• were generated as transient species by collisional neutralization of their cations in the gas phase and studied by neutralization−reionization mass spectrometry, laser photoexcitation, and ab initio theory. (CH3)2ND2•, (CH3)2NHD•, and (CD3)2NH2• gave fractions of metastable species of ≥3.3 μs lifetimes, whereas (CH3)2NH2• and (CD3)2ND2• dissociated completely on the same time scale. Metastable (CD3)2NH2• and (CH3)2ND2• were photoexcited but not photoionized with the combined 488 and 514.5 nm lines from an Ar-ion laser. Ab initio calculations with effective PMP4(SDTQ)/6-311++G(3df,2p) identified the (X)2A1 ground state of vertical ionization energy, IEv = 3.70 eV. RRKM calculations on the ab initio potential energy surface of the (X)2A1 state predicted predominant N−H and N−D bond dissociations but did not allow for competitive loss of CH3 or CD3. The four lowest exci...
The FasX small regulatory RNA negatively regulates the expression of two fibronectin-binding proteins in group a streptococcus

The group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) causes more than 700 million human infections each year. The success of this pathogen can be traced in part to the extensive arsenal of virulence factors that are available for expression in temporally and spatially specific manners. To modify the expression of these virulence factors, GAS use both protein- and RNA-based regulators, with the best-characterized RNA-based regulator being the small regulatory RNA (sRNA) FasX. FasX is a 205-nucleotide sRNA that contributes to GAS virulence by enhancing the expression of the thrombolytic secreted virulence factor streptokinase and by repressing the expression of the collagen-binding cell surface pili. Here, we have expanded the FasX regulon, showing that this sRNA also negatively regulates the expression of the adhesion- and internalization-promoting, fibronectin-binding proteins PrtF1 and PrtF2. FasX posttranscriptionally regulates the expression of PrtF1/2 through a mechanism that involves base pairing to the prtF1 and prtF2 mRNAs within their 5′ untranslated regions, overlapping the mRNA ribosome-binding sites. Thus, duplex formation between FasX and the prtF1 and prtF2 mRNAs blocks ribosome access, leading to an inhibition of mRNA translation. Given that FasX positively regulates the expression of the spreading factor streptokinase and negatively regulates the expression of the collagen-binding pili and of the fibronectin-binding PrtF1/2, our data are consistent with FasX functioning as a molecular switch that governs the transition of GAS between the colonization and dissemination stages of infection. IMPORTANCE More than half a million deaths each year are a consequence of infections caused by GAS. Insights into how this pathogen regulates the production of proteins during infection may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic or preventative regimens aimed at inhibiting this activity. Here, we have expanded insight into the regulatory activity of the GAS small RNA FasX. In addition to identifying that FasX reduces the abundance of the cell surface-located fibronectin-binding proteins PrtF1/2, fibronectin is present in high abundance in human tissues, and we have determined the mechanism behind this regulation. Importantly, as FasX is the only mechanistically characterized regulatory RNA in GAS, it serves as a model RNA in this and related pathogens.
Ecological quality assessment of Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi

According to the special ecological background of Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi,representative indexes reflecting the natural conditions in the region,the impact of human activities were selected to build a system for evaluation and analysis of the ecological quality. The quality of the ecological context of the study area, the fragile ecology,human interference and human fitness were calculated and sorted,and the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of the ecological values were obtained.
Postoperative management of total joint replacements.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Total joint replacement has been one of the major breakthroughs in the field of orthopedics during the past 25 years. Performance of these procedures has enabled many severely disabled individuals to resume a virtually normal way of life. Unlike many other operative procedures, however, the ultimate success of total joint replacement depends not only on the surgery itself, but on appropriate preoperative planning and postoperative management. This does not end when the patient leaves the hospital but should be made a part of the patient's way of life forever. With an appropriate postoperative routine, the average patient can expect many years of satisfactory use of his or her total joint. A realistic approach must be adopted and certain simple restrictions and limitations must be clearly borne in mind. The patient must be conscious of the fact that although the artificial joint causes little or no pain and functions extremely well, it is, in fact, an artificial joint and not a normal joint. In simple terms he or she must be instructed to use it, not abuse it.
Studies in Religious Ethics: Taking Human Life

Over the past decade I have periodically taught an undergraduate course entitled “Studies in Religious Ethics: Taking Human Life.” Three traditions are studied: Judaism, Catholicism and Protestantism. “Studies in Religious Ethics” has precedence in the title in order to convey the intention that the readings would be in the ethics of religious traditions, and that the principal purpose of the course is to come to a better knowledge and understanding of ethics in the context of religious thought and communal life. I intend, thereby, to deflect the interest of persons who are interested only in the moral questions of taking human life. “Taking Human Life” was chosen for two reasons. First, the moral teachings on these questions and the ethical and theological justifications for them provide specific points of reference around which particular comparisons between Judaism, Catholicism, and Protestantism can be made. One can, for example, look at the questions of capital punishment, and by following the arguments of a standard Catholic source, an article that assesses the classic Jewish tradition, and a Protestant theologian like Karl Barth, begin to indicate both the methods and the contents of each tradition. The practical moral questions become avenues which one can take into the history of each tradition, into the ethical theories of each tradition, and into the patterns of moral authority of each tradition. A second reason for “Taking Human Life” is that the questions used are those to which contemporary students frequently have affective responses of considerable depth, and also opinions which have not been thoroughly considered. While it is not a major purpose of the course to bring students’ opinions under critical scrutiny, their interest in the questions motivates their participation in the class, and a latent consequence of their reading and the discussions is a critical examination of the reasons they hold their frequently outspoken opinions.
Large nanoscale electronic conductivity in complex oxide heterostructures with ultra high electron density

We study the two-dimensional electron gas at the interface of NdTiO3 and SrTiO3 to reveal its nanoscale transport properties. At electron densities approaching 1015 cm−2, our terahertz spectroscopy data show conductivity levels that are up to six times larger than those extracted from DC electrical measurements. Moreover, the largest conductivity enhancements are observed in samples intentionally grown with larger defect densities. This is a signature of electron transport over the characteristic length-scales typically probed by electrical measurements being significantly affected by scattering by structural defects introduced during growth, and, a trait of a much larger electron mobility at the nanoscale.
Tracking the time-varying sparsity of channel coefficients in shallow water acoustic communications

Sparse estimation techniques typically assume a fixed weighting between the L 1 norm of the coefficients to be estimated, and the L 2 norm of the estimation error. This weighting reflects the sparsity assumption on the distribution of coefficients being estimated, and therefore, is sensitive to potential mismatch with the actual sparsity of the distribution. In this paper, we address this issue from the perspective of tracking the delay-Doppler spread of the shallow water acoustic channel, where the sparsity of the distribution itself is unknown and changes over time. We justify the need to track the sparsity based on simulation results as well as experimental field data collected at 15 meters depth and 200 meters range under moderate to high wind conditions. We propose a heuristic update to the sparsity weighting based on the normalized prediction error, which measures the mismatch between the predicted observation based on the current estimate and the actual observation in the next time step. The proposed heuristic update for the channel sparsity is designed to adapt towards lower values of the normalized prediction error and thus, by design, ensures that the estimator performance increases, or in the worst case, stays stable as the channel sparsity undergoes changes with time.
Assessment of depth and turbidity with airborne Lidar bathymetry and multiband satellite imagery in shallow water bodies of the Alaskan North Slope

Abstract Airborne Lidar bathymetry (ALB) is an effective and a rapidly advancing technology for mapping and characterizing shallow coastal water zones as well as inland fresh-water basins such as rivers and lakes. The ability of light beams to detect and traverse shallow water columns has provided valuable information about unmapped and often poorly understood coastal and inland water bodies of the world. Estimating ALB survey results at varying water clarity and depth conditions is essential for realizing project expectations and preparing budgets accordingly. In remote locations of the world where in situ water clarity measurements are not feasible or possible, using multiband satellite imagery can be an effective tool for estimating and addressing such considerations. For this purpose, we studied and classified reflected electromagnetic energy from selected water bodies acquired by RapidEye sensor and then correlated findings with ALB survey results. This study was focused not on accurately measuring depth from optical bathymetry but rather on using multiband satellite imagery to quickly predict ALB survey results and identify potentially turbid water bodies with limited depth penetration. For this study, we constructed an in-house algorithm to confirm ALB survey findings using bathymetric waveform information. The study findings are expected to contribute to the ongoing understanding of forecasting ALB survey expectations in unknown and varying water conditions, especially in remote and inaccessible parts of the world.
A motivational account of the undergraduate experience in science: brief measures of students’ self-system appraisals, engagement in coursework, and identity as a scientist

ABSTRACTAs part of long-standing efforts to promote undergraduates’ success in science, researchers have investigated the instructional strategies and motivational factors that promote student learning and persistence in science coursework and majors. This study aimed to create a set of brief measures that educators and researchers can use as tools to examine the undergraduate motivational experience in science classes. To identify key motivational processes, we drew on self-determination theory (SDT), which holds that students have fundamental needs – to feel competent, related, and autonomous – that fuel their intrinsic motivation. When educational experiences meet these needs, students engage more energetically and learn more, cumulatively contributing to a positive identity as a scientist. Based on information provided by 1013 students from 8 classes in biology, chemistry, and physics, we constructed conceptually focused and psychometrically sound survey measures of three sets of motivational factors:...
Who Owns the World? Recognizing the Repressed Small Gods of Southeast Asia

Protestant highlanders in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, engage in a symbolic struggle over small gods. Although missionaries reclassified their spirit “owners” and ancestor spirits as satans, devout locals resist the reframing. This chapter explores why many Southeast Asians still view their indigenous deities within God’s cosmic plan. What do local deities do that the Christian God cannot? My fieldwork data on small gods as local resource owners in Sulawesi suggest comparative cases concerning land ownership, revivals of tradition, and copyright law. Together they show how small gods serve small peoples as intellectual resources for contemporary moral engagement and creative local politics.
Upper bound on the slope of steady water waves with small adverse vorticity

Abstract We consider the angle of inclination (with respect to the horizontal) of the profile of a steady 2D inviscid symmetric periodic or solitary water wave subject to gravity. There is an upper bound of 31.15° in the irrotational case [1] and an upper bound of 45° in the case of favorable vorticity [13] . On the other hand, if the vorticity is adverse, the profile can become vertical. We prove here that if the adverse vorticity is sufficiently small, then the angle still has an upper bound which is slightly larger than 45°.
Polypharmacy and adverse drug events among propensity score matched privately insured persons with and without spinal cord injury.

Retrospective quasi-experimental design. To compare the incidence of adverse drug events (ADEs) between persons with and without spinal cord injury (SCI), while controlling for all potential and available risk factors. A commercially available claims dataset consisting of ~170 million patient cases in the United States between 2012 and 2013. Participants (aged 18–64 years) included 2779 persons with polypharmacy and traumatic or non-traumatic SCI and 2779 propensity score-matched persons with polypharmacy without SCI. The cohorts were matched using demographic variables including number of concomitant prescriptions, comorbidities, hospital admissions, age, gender, and geographic region. Inpatient and outpatient claims records containing 395 distinct IDC-9 codes indicative of ADEs were extracted. Incidence and frequency of ADEs were compared between groups using logistic and Poisson regression, respectively. Persons with SCI were significantly more likely to experience an ADE than matched controls (Odds Ratio = 1.45, p < 0.0001). Among persons with ADEs (n = 1552), individuals with SCI experienced fewer ADEs over time than matched controls (Incidence Rate Ratio = 0.91, p < 0.0001). While persons with SCI and polypharmacy are at a greater risk for experiencing an ADE, their medical care after an ADE may be better managed than that of a matched control population. There may be a need for practice guidelines that facilitate proactive identification of persons with SCI at the highest risk of ADE. Steps may then be taken to mitigate risk, in contrast to current practice trends that appear to take a reactive approach after an ADE has occurred.
Scaling up: introducing undergraduates to data science early in their college careers

It has historically been the case that most data science and analytics programs are offered at the Master of Science level. What few undergraduate offerings exist are frequently limited to either a standalone course or a small number of courses targeted to upper level undergraduates. Literature on how best to teach data science to undergraduate students is practically nonexistent. We review recent work on establishing standards and learning objectives for undergraduate data science education, and we make the case that undergraduate students should be exposed to data science early in their college career. We describe the strategy used to teach an introductory course in data science aimed not at upper-level students, but at undergraduate students in their first or second year of study. This course assumes no prerequisite knowledge in computing, mathematics, or statistics, aligns well with recently outlined objectives for undergraduate data science education, and has a track record of success for five consecutive semesters.
The Role of Arthroscopy in Elbow Instability

The two most common types of clinically encountered elbow instability are valgus instability and posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI). Although relatively rare, elbow instability syndromes can pose significant limitations on upper extremity function. Consequently, appropriate treatment is paramount to the restoration of elbow stability and return of function. This chapter reviews the causes of elbow instability and emerging arthroscopic techniques that have allowed surgeons to both accurately diagnose and treat these conditions.