cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-I-40: Reconstruction of Sparse Images from Few-View Cone-Beam Data

Purpose: In current cone‐beam CTimaging, one acquires data at hundreds of views, at the cost of a non‐negligible amount of radiation dose as well as prolonged scanning time. Enabled by advanced, iterative algorithms, progress has recently been made on image reconstruction from sparse‐view data, which can potentially reduce imaging radiation dose and scanning time. For cases where data are highly sparse, such as when only a few (e.g. <10) projections are available, accurate image reconstruction becomes challenging. However, prior knowledge of the imaged subject such as sparse structures may be utilized to improve reconstruction fidelity. In this work, we investigated the incorporation of image sparsity into the framework of novel iterative algorithms for few‐view image reconstruction of sparse objects. Methods: We incorporated image sparsity by combining the hard‐thresholding technique into the framework of the adaptive‐steepest‐descent‐POCS (ASD‐POCS) algorithm. We performed simulation studies by using a numerical artery phantom, and real‐data studies by using micro‐CT data of a human coronary artery specimen. The number of projections under study ranged from 3 to 10. A number of quantitative metrics were used to evaluate the image‐reconstruction performance. Results: Images of numerical phantoms and the real coronary artery specimen were accurately reconstructed from as few as <5 projections. Quantitative metrics showed that the quality of few‐view image reconstruction using the proposed algorithm is comparable to that of image reconstruction using existing algorithms from data acquired at 360 to 720 views. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that by incorporating appropriate image‐sparsity information into novel iterative algorithms, CBCTimages can be reconstructed accurately from a few projections. The proposed technique may potentially be used for in‐vivo and in‐vitro coronary arteryimaging.
Estrogen protects neuronal cells from amyloid beta-induced apoptosis via regulation of mitochondrial proteins and function

Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease is associated with increased apoptosis and parallels increased levels of amyloid beta, which can induce neuronal apoptosis. Estrogen exposure prior to neurotoxic insult of hippocampal neurons promotes neuronal defence and survival against neurodegenerative insults including amyloid beta. Although all underlying molecular mechanisms of amyloid beta neurotoxicity remain undetermined, mitochondrial dysfunction, including altered calcium homeostasis and Bcl-2 expression, are involved in neurodegenerative vulnerability. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of 17β-estradiol-induced prevention of amyloid beta-induced apoptosis of rat hippocampal neuronal cultures. Estradiol treatment prior to amyloid beta exposure significantly reduced the number of apoptotic neurons and the associated rise in resting intracellular calcium levels. Amyloid beta exposure provoked down regulation of a key antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and resulted in mitochondrial translocation of Bax, a protein known to promote cell death, and subsequent release of cytochrome c. E2 pretreatment inhibited the amyloid beta-induced decrease in Bcl-2 expression, translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and subsequent release of cytochrome c. Further implicating the mitochondria as a target of estradiol action, in vivo estradiol treatment enhanced the respiratory function of whole brain mitochondria. In addition, estradiol pretreatment protected isolated mitochondria against calcium-induced loss of respiratory function. Therefore, we propose that estradiol pretreatment protects against amyloid beta neurotoxicity by limiting mitochondrial dysfunction via activation of antiapoptotic mechanisms.
Effects of a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (T-Bind) on mycotoxicosis in young broiler chickens

Experiments were conducted to determine the ability of a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (T-Bind) sorbent to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxins (AF) or T-2 toxin in male broiler chickens from day of hatch to 21 d of age. In Experiment 1, the sorbent was added at 0.250 or 0.375% to diets containing AF at 5 or T-2 toxin at 8 mg/kg of diet. When compared with controls, AF reduced BW gain by 27% and T-2 toxin reduced BW gain by 17%. The addition of the sorbent at 0.250 or 0.375%, in the absence of added mycotoxins, did not alter the performance of the chicks. The sorbent reduced the toxic effects of 5 mg AF/kg of diet on BW gain by 43% but did not significantly diminish the toxic effects of 8 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet. The decreased efficiency of feed utilization and the increased relative organ weights caused by AF were significantly diminished to differing degrees by the sorbent. Oral lesions caused by T-2 toxin were not affected by the sorbent. In Experiment 2, the sorbent was added at 0.80% to a diet containing 8 mg T-2 toxin/kg of diet. The sorbent did not diminish the toxic effects of T-2 toxin when added at 0.80% of the diet. These data demonstrate that this specific sorbent can provide protection against the toxicity of AF, but not T-2 toxin, in young broiler chicks.
Casting and machining of devices of high temperature superconducting BSCCO

Magnetic shields for SQUID applications were successfully fabricated using high {ital T}{sub {ital c}} superconducting Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O (BSCCO). In order to produce shields with adequate superconducting properties and close dimensional control, it was necessary to develop several new processing techniques. Shields were produced by casting liquid BSCCO into molds, heat treating, and machining. A series of BSCCO alloys with different compositions were cast from the molten state into metal molds and subsequently heat treated to render the castings superconducting. The heat-treating cycles were studied with the aid of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and dilatometer measurements. The phases and microstructures after various heat-treating cycles were monitored by x-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Superconducting properties were measured after various stages of heat treatment and machining. Prototype magnetic shields were machined from bulk castings and found to perform successfully. The most significant factor in shield quality was the nominal composition of the shield, which was shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to affect the grain boundary chemistry.
Revisiting the quality and use of race-specific homicide data exploring substantive implications

Our research revisits prior work by Neapolitan (2005) on the quality and use of race-specific homicide data. Neapolitan reported that correlations between Black homicide offending rates based on arrest data and rates based on data from the Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR) for samples of large U.S. cities are only moderately strong. He proposed that, given these findings, the respective rates cannot be regarded as valid indicators of the same concept. We extend Neapolitan's research by estimating regression models to determine the extent to which conclusions about the structural covariates of Black homicide offending rates differ depending on the specific measure of the dependent variable. In addition, we have computed three different Black homicide offending rates with the SHR data: (1) A rate based on single victim/single offender incidents; (2) a rate based on all offenders of known race; and (3) a rate based on the number of Black offenders when the race of offender has been imputed. Our analyses reveal that, consistent with Neapolitan's findings, the correlations between the Black offending rate based on the arrest data and the various SHR-based rates are only moderately strong. In the regression analyses, explained variance is comparatively low in the model with the Black offending rate based on arrest data. However, the regression coefficients do not diverge much across models. Overall, our results suggest that empirical findings and substantive conclusions about city-level covariates of Black offending rates might be less sensitive to the selection of data source than is often assumed. Language: en
Initial results on the development of a new wafer inspection paradigm

A new paradigm for wafer inspection is being developed that would resolve many of today's pending wafer inspection issues. This paradigm integrates 1) a DRAM fabrication line simulation model, producing synthetic images of "typical" wafer maps and associated defects, to 2) fuzzy clustering/declustering algorithms that identify various defects and 3) a unique defect tracking mechanism to monitor patterns of defects across wafer maps. This approach holds promise for in-line process control by allowing for off-site analysis of fabrication line problems and unsupervised adaptation and optimization of application-specific inspection algorithms. The paper reports on the progress made towards the fulfilment of this paradigm.
Sequence determinants of folding and stability for the P22 Arc repressor dimer

The Arc repressor is a small, homodimeric protein. Studies of mutant proteins show that the side chains that form the hydrophobic core are the most important determinants of structure. A variety of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges also contribute to stabilization of the native structure, but these can often be replaced by hydrophobic interactions. The transition state for folding/unfolding is dimeric and contains a large amount of buried hydrophobic surface, but the beta-sheet of native Arc is not formed. Moreover, relatively little side chain information appears to be used in the transition state, suggesting that tight packing of the hydrophobic core and optimization of hydrogen-bond geometry are events that occur later in folding.
Estimating ages of late Quaternary stream terraces from analysis of weathering rinds and soils

Rates of growth of rock weathering rinds and rates of changes of soil morphologic and chemical properties that are calibrated at sites of known ages produce powerful tools for estimating ages of geomorphic surfaces, particularly when materials datable by conventional methods are not widespread. Sequences of latest Quaternary stream terraces from the South Island of New Zealand are ideally suited for application of these calibrated-age techniques because climate and source materials for terrace deposits are internally consistent within two regions, West-land and Marlborough. Modal and mean thicknesses of weathering rinds formed in surface cobbles of Torlesse graywacke provide age estimates for latest Pleistocene and Holocene stream terraces in Marlborough with uncertainties estimated at ±5% to ±40%. Modal rind thickness of subsurface cobbles provides age estimates for latest Quaternary Westland sites with uncertainties of ±10% to more than ±50%. Few dated soils are available to constrain rates of soil development in Westland and Marlborough. Furthermore, soils were sampled from only one pedon on each surface. Morphologic data, however, provide least-squares age estimates for Westland sites with uncertainties typically greater than ±100%, and the calibration data can further bracket likely soil ages to less than 50% uncertainty. The regression data from Marlborough are less reliable, but profile-index ratios help bracket ages to at least ±50%. Distributions of oxalate-extractable Fe and AI and total major-element concentrations allow age estimates for Westland and Marlborough soils with uncertainties estimated at ±15% to ±50%. Despite these uncertainties, the three techniques combine to provide age estimates with the high resolution needed to examine details of fault-slip rates or stream downcutting. The calibration data and weathering rates used herein are applicable only to the New Zealand region studied, although similar calibrated-age techniques should provide high-resolution dating in many other regions. Such techniques are particularly useful when multiple approaches are available to provide independent cross-checks.
Use of health information technology to reduce diagnostic errors

Background Health information technology (HIT) systems have the potential to reduce delayed, missed or incorrect diagnoses. We describe and classify the current state of diagnostic HIT and identify future research directions. Methods A multi-pronged literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, backwards and forwards reference searches and contributions from domain experts. We included HIT systems evaluated in clinical and experimental settings as well as previous reviews, and excluded radiology computer-aided diagnosis, monitor alerts and alarms, and studies focused on disease staging and prognosis. Articles were organised within a conceptual framework of the diagnostic process and areas requiring further investigation were identified. Results HIT approaches, tools and algorithms were identified and organised into 10 categories related to those assisting: (1) information gathering; (2) information organisation and display; (3) differential diagnosis generation; (4) weighing of diagnoses; (5) generation of diagnostic plan; (6) access to diagnostic reference information; (7) facilitating follow-up; (8) screening for early detection in asymptomatic patients; (9) collaborative diagnosis; and (10) facilitating diagnostic feedback to clinicians. We found many studies characterising potential interventions, but relatively few evaluating the interventions in actual clinical settings and even fewer demonstrating clinical impact. Conclusions Diagnostic HIT research is still in its early stages with few demonstrations of measurable clinical impact. Future efforts need to focus on: (1) improving methods and criteria for measurement of the diagnostic process using electronic data; (2) better usability and interfaces in electronic health records; (3) more meaningful incorporation of evidence-based diagnostic protocols within clinical workflows; and (4) systematic feedback of diagnostic performance.
Modeling and analysis of transaction execution in database systems

The controlled-generator model of P.J. Ramadge and W.M. Wonham (1988) is used to formulate the concurrent execution of transactions in database systems as a control problem for a partially observed discrete-event dynamical system. The control objectives of this problem (for concurrency control and recovery) and the properties of some important transaction scheduling techniques are characterized in terms of the language generated by the controlled process and in terms of the stage of an ideal complete-information scheduler. Results about the performance of these techniques are presented. >
Circumscription implies predicate completion (sometimes)

Predicate completion is an approach to closed world reasoning which assumes that the given sufficient conditions on a predicate are also necessary. Circumscription is a formal device characterizing minimal reasoning i.e. reasoning in minimal models, and is realized by an axiom schema. The basic result of this paper is that for first order theories which are Horn in a predicate P, the circumscription of P logically implies P's completion axiom.
Support for the euro, political knowledge, and voting behavior in the 2001 and 2005 UK general elections

This article examines the effect of political knowledge on support for the euro and voting on the euro issue in the 2001 and 2005 UK general elections. Political knowledge increased support for the...
The Closet, Its Conventions, and Anti-Racist Criticism

There have been many things said in the popular press about Steven Spielberg’s sensationalist rendition of American history in his award winning film Lincoln (2012), but as far as I know no one has accused him—yet—of being just a bit too interested in Thaddeus Stevens’s bedroom. If you saw the film, you no doubt remember that the last time we see Senator Stevens, played by Tommy Lee Jones, he is in his nightgown, giving his mistress, Lydia Hamilton Smith, the signed 13th Amendment. In the landscape of U.S. national fantasy, the black woman as housekeeper-slash-mistress functions here, as Erica Edwards has brilliantly argued, as the suture of national unity; it is literally in her hands—and indeed across her supine body—that the nation and its future are symbolically secured (2013). While the scene is rich in annoyance, what provokes me today is its particular reliance on the narrative language of the closet, as Spielberg positions the viewer inside the house with Smith, played by S. Epatha Merkerson, when Stevens enters and hands over his cane and wig. Seconds later, employer and employee are in bed. In psychoanalytic terms, they have taken up residence in the space of the dream, which means that interracial sex not only plays the role of national secret but animates the film’s own wish to convert the modern world-making trauma of slavery and violence into a domestic tale of interracial love. I raise the specter of U.S. national fantasy for two primary reasons. First, I want to make sure that the specific interdisciplinary domain of American Studies is present in our discussions today in its long-standing commitment to an anti-racist
Investigating the Use of Voice and Ink for Mobile Micronote Capture

Despite the potential benefits of digital note taking tools, research has found that people continue to use paper for creating micronotes, informal personal notes such as reminders and to-dos. Design recommendations from formative studies suggest that "natural" input modalities such as voice and digital ink could help to overcome the drawbacks of text entry on phones and PDAs. We conducted an 18-person lab study to understand the perceived and actual trade-offs that these non-traditional input methods offer for micronote capture. We found that people preferred ink (8 participants) and voice (8 participants) input over keyboard (2 participants) input. Half our participants varied the input method they used in different environments, while the rest did not. However, paper remains popular and was preferred by 8 participants when given the option. The 9 participants whose ink and voice micronotes were transcribed with higher error rates had a noticeably different experience using voice including slower capture times, and higher mental and physical demand survey responses. The percentage of participants that preferred ink, voice, and keyboard was the same for both transcription quality groups.
Determining Ground Winds for Gear-on-the-Ground Accidents Using FDR Data

On December 20, 2008, Continental Airlines flight 1404, a Boeing 737-500, departed the left side of runway 34R at Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado, while attempting to take off, resulting in 6 serious and 41 minor injuries. To investigate the Continental flight 1404 takeoff accident, it was necessary to determine the winds acting on the aircraft during the takeoff run. Determining winds in the air can be done readily with long established techniques, but these techniques are not suitable on the ground due to ground reactions. This paper will discuss the techniques for estimating wind on the ground and their application to the Continental flight 1404 investigation. The broader results from the Continental flight 1404 investigation and the lessons learned for enhanced aviation safety will be discussed.
Conceptual design of a capture RF system for muon colliders

A conceptual RF system design provides the basis for a more detailed engineering study to explore the technical issues involved in fabricating and testing a capture RF system in a proton-driver target experiment. A large bore 71 MHz cavity design is detailed which is self-consistent with a proton-driver target experiment at BNL. Analysis of cell to cell coupling in a linac composed of a string of such cavities is presented.
Defects are weak and self-dual solutions of the Cross-Newell phase diffusion equation for natural patterns

Abstract We show that defects are weak solutions of the phase diffusion equation for the macroscopic order parameter for natural patterns. Further, by exploring a new class of nontrivial solutions for which the graph of the phase function has vanishing Gaussian curvature (in 3D, all sectional curvatures) excetp at points, we are able to derive explicit expressions which capture the anatomies of point and line (and surface) defects in two and three dimensional patterns, together with their topological characters and energetic constraints.
Age and gender effects on contact sensitization and photoimmune suppression in young and middle-aged adults.

Summary Background/purpose: The contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response has been used to assess ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced immunosuppression and to evaluate the photoimmune protection of different sunscreen preparations in vivo. Earlier reports of the effect of age and gender on CHS response have led to variations in inclusion criteria for participants in regards to age and gender in the study of sunscreen immune protection factor (IPF). Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of data from 73 volunteers from prior CHS studies with the goal of determining the effect of age and gender in young and middle-aged adults on CHS response to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in unirradiated and UV-irradiated skin. Results: In patients aged 18–63 years, the effect of age on CHS response as well as on UV suppression of CHS response was not statistically significant. In the unirradiated (n=45) and UV-irradiated (n=28) groups, the CHS response between men and women was similar when the timing of DNCB application avoided the period within 5 days before or after the first day of the menstrual cycle. Conclusion: Within a certain range, 18–63 years, age does not significantly affect the normal CHS response and the suppression of CHS response by UV. This study also demonstrated that as long as certain days of the menstrual cycle are avoided when sensitizing women of reproductive age, gender does not significantly affect CHS response. Thus, within these parameters, CHS can be appropriately evaluated in healthy individuals without much concern regarding independent effects of age and gender.
Active Seismic Imaging Experiment

In September 1985 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) will conduct an active seismic experiment in the Medicine Lake area of northern California. The work is supported by the Geothermal Research Program of USGS and by the Geothermal and Hydropower Technologies Division of the U.S. Department of Energy. We invite interested organizations or individuals to record our explosions from Medicine Lake volcano and surrounding areas not covered by the USGS-LLNL array.
A simple method for finding structurally similar RNAS using two-dimensional discrete convolution

As many noncoding RNA (ncRNA) families have well-conserved secondary structures, it is important to consider structural similarity when searching for RNA homologues. However, algorithms for detecting structural similarity tend to have high computational costs, making them unsuitable for large-scale genome screening. In this paper, we introduce a simple method that can find structurally similar RNAs at a low computational cost. The method uses matched filtering of base-pair matrices to identify structurally similar RNAs in a given database. As the matched filtering involves a simple two-dimensional discrete convolution, it has a relatively low complexity of O(L2N) for any kind of RNA secondary structure, where L is the length of the target RNA and N is the number of base-pairs in the reference RNA.
On the complex residue arithmetic system (CRNS)

Recently, a number of papers has been published on the subject of performing complex arithmetic in the residue number system. Methods have been proposed which reduce the arithmetic complexity of a complex multiply by more than 50 percent. In this correspondence it is shown that these methods achieve Winograd's lower bound, and how these efficient mappings can be derived in terms of polynomial rings.
Training attention improves decision making in individuals with elevated self-reported depressive symptoms

Depression is often characterized by attentional biases toward negative items and away from positive items, which likely affects reward and punishment processing. Recent work has reported that training attention away from negative stimuli reduced this bias and reduced depressive symptoms. However, the effect of attention training on subsequent learning has yet to be explored. In the present study, participants were required to learn to maximize reward during decision making. Undergraduates with elevated self-reported depressive symptoms received attention training toward positive stimuli prior to performing the decision-making task (n = 20; active training). The active-training group was compared to two other groups: undergraduates with elevated self-reported depressive symptoms who received placebo training (n = 22; placebo training) and a control group with low levels of depressive symptoms (n = 33; nondepressive control). The placebo-training depressive group performed worse and switched between options more than did the nondepressive controls on the reward maximization task. However, depressives that received active training performed as well as the nondepressive controls. Computational modeling indicated that the placebo-trained group learned more from negative than from positive prediction errors, leading to more frequent switching. The nondepressive control and active-training depressive groups showed similar learning from positive and negative prediction errors, leading to less-frequent switching and better performance. Our results indicate that individuals with elevated depressive symptoms are impaired at reward maximization, but that the deficit can be improved with attention training toward positive stimuli.
Evolution of weakly nonlinear short waves riding on long gravity waves

A nonlinear Schrodinger equation, describing the evolution of a weakly nonlinear short gravity wavetrain riding on a longer finite-amplitude gravity wavetrain, is derived. This equation is then used to predict the steady envelope of the short wavetrain relative to the long wavetrain. It is found that approximate analytical solutions agree very well with numerical solutions over a realistic range of wave steepness. The solutions are compared with corresponding studies of the modulation of linear short waves by Longuet-Higgins & Stewart (1960) and Longuet-Higgins (1987). We find that the effect of the nonlinearity of the short waves is to increase the modulation of their wavenumber, significantly reduce the modulation of their amplitude, and reduce the modulation of their slope when compared with the predictions of Longuet-Higgins (1987) for linear short waves on finite-amplitude long waves. The question of the stability of these steady solutions remains open but may be addressed by solutions of this nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
The neural correlates of social connection

Cultivating social connection has long been a goal of psychology, philosophy, religion, and public policy. Yet the psychological and neural responses that accompany a feeling of connection to others remain unclear. In the present study, we used functional neuroimaging to shed light on the neural correlates of self- and other-focused processes during the successful self-generation of feelings of social connection. To do this, we used a trait judgment task to localize functional activation related to self-focused thought. We then examined brain responses during guided exercises designed both to encourage feeling love and connection from others (i.e., self-focused) and to generate feelings of love and connection toward others (i.e., other-focused). Our results indicated that generating feelings of social connection recruited a portion of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) implicated in thinking about both the self and others. Within this larger area, we observed distinct profiles of activation within different subregions. Although rostral anterior cingulate cortex was more strongly activated by other-focused components of the task, a more dorsal portion of MPFC was comparatively more active during primarily self-focused components of the task. Somewhat surprisingly, stronger feelings of social connection were not associated with greater activation in the anterior cingulate, but rather with less activation in the dorsal region of the MPFC related to self-focused thought. These results are consistent with the possibility that reducing certain kinds of self-focused thought might yield a greater sense of social connection to and care for others.
Clinical Research: Outcome of Home Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Malignant Dysphagia

Neoplastic diseases account for approximately one-half of all patients receiving home enteral nutrition, most of them with dysphagia due to the underlying cancer or antineoplastic therapies (malignant dysphagia). A review of the records of all patients with malignant dysphagia receiving home enteral nutrition for greater than 1 year was undertaken. The following factors were identified: age, primary cancer, type of enteral access, calories received, duration of therapy, complications, and need for tube replacement. Eighty-two patients were studied. On average, patients received 1978 cal/day (range: 500 to 3000) and were maintained on home enteral nutrition for 976 days (range: 367 to 3026). Complications at the tube site were infection in 4 patients (4.8%) and significant leakage in 2 patients (2.4%). Average durability of the enteral access devices was percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEG) = 690 days, low profile gastrostomy = 1701 days, percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomies (PEJ) = 591 days, low-p...
Sale and value of radio stations

Appraisal of a broadcasting station for the purpose of sale is an activity involving considerable risk and even more guesswork. It is very hard to determine value, particularly when the purchase price is determined more by intangible assets and prospects than real property, and a cursory examination of the public record of the purchase price yields insufficient information about these prospects, assets and attributes. Most of the important information desirable is available, however, in the public records of the Federal Communications Commission, on file in Washington. Obtaining the desired information from these records requires considerable effort, from first finding out just what is available and then performing the time‐consuming task of abstracting from the records. In this activity, knowledge of FCC procedures is a valuable asset. In the report that follows, data were gathered by Dr. Walter B. Emery, former FCC staff member and presently Professor in the Television and Radio Department of Michigan S...
Caregiver Voices: Coordinating Care for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions

Children with complex chronic conditions (CCC) receive care from multiple providers and agencies for a prolonged period of time. Coordination of care between providers is essential in the care of children with CCC. The purpose of this study was to determine which aspects of care coordination are important to caregivers and explore the challenges faced by caregivers in coordinating care. Using focus group methodology, the authors elicited experiences of caregivers relative to care coordination for children with CCC. Several themes emerged: (a) more information sharing and quality communication is needed among all those involved in providing care for children with CCC, (b) caregivers need help in navigating the system of care, and (c) caregivers develop strategies to cope with care coordination demands. Caregiver burden of coordinating care for children with CCC can be alleviated in part through improved communication and collaboration between agencies and providers and through developing easier ways to navigate a complex health system.
Tracking replication-competent HIV reservoirs in infected individuals.

Purpose of reviewProlonged suppression of plasma viremia is now achievable in a majority of HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, ART alone cannot eradicate HIV in infected individuals. The purpose of this review is to discuss the importance of tracking levels of
Permitting States to Rescind Ratifications of Pending Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Among the troublesome questions still surrounding the U.S. constitutional amending process is whether states should be allowed to rescind ratifications of pending amendments. The Constitution is silent about this issue. Arguments from fairness and contemporary consensus, and concerns about hasty changes, support the acceptance of rescissions. Arguments for finality, the desirability of encouraging state legislatures to make serious decisions, and the difficulty of the current process suggest that rescissions should not be permitted, but these concerns are not as weighty as they might appear at first. A law accepting or rejecting all rescissions is preferable to a system where Congress makes partisan judgments in individual cases.
Teaching Robotics Using ROS (Abstract Only)

The deployment of autonomous and semi-autonomous robots is likely to increase dramatically over the next decade. Recent autonomous vehicle prototypes illustrate both the rapid progress of the underlying technology and the commercial possibilities of robotics. The next few years are likely to see increased interest in robotics among both students and employers.The Robot Operating System (ROS) is an open-source software framework for developing robotics applications. It has become a standard platform with a wide range of supported robots and a vibrant software ecosystem.This workshop will provide a hands-on introduction to ROS. Participants will have the opportunity to write ROS-based Python programs to control a Turtlebot educational robot. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of using ROS in an undergraduate robotics course. The workshop is intended for CS educators with an interest in teaching robotics. Laptops will be provided. No experience with ROS or Python is required.
A Hidden Agenda

Stage A 35-year-old man presented to the hospital in December 1996 with a 10-day history of fever (temperature as high as 40°C [104°F]) and 1-day history of nausea, vomiting, and mild abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. He denied having headache, rash, diarrhea, or neurologic, respiratory tract, musculoskeletal, or genitourinary tract symptoms. Evaluation by a physician eight days earlier had not revealed the source of the fever. The patient appeared healthy, with no pallor, jaundice, or stigmata of liver insufficiency. Except for the presence of mild tenderness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and moderate hypotonia of . . .
Effect of Oxtr knockout on estrogen regulating bone mineral density

Objective: To explore the effect of Oxtr knockout on estrogen regulating bone mineral density(BMD).Methods: Three-month old Oxtr+/+ and Oxtr-/-female BABL/c mice(20 mice per genotype) were randomly divided into wild type group(WT),wild type + estradiol group(WT+E2),wild type OVX group(WT OVX),wild type OVX + estradiol group(WT OVX+E2),Oxtr knockout group(KO),Oxtr knockout + estradiol group(KO+E2),Oxtr knockout OVX group(KO OVX) and Oxtr knockout OVX + estradiol group(KO OVX+E2),5 mice per group.After injecting 17β-estradiol(50 μg·d-1,subcutaneous injection) for 4 weeks,spine and femur BMD of all group mice were measured.Results: BMD of WT OVX group mice were markedly lower than that of WT group mice.Injecting 17β-estradiol observably increased BMD of WT E2 group mice compared with WT group mice.Moreover,the decline in BMD of WT OVX mice was remarkably reversed by 17β-estradiol.But there was no significant difference on BMD between KO group and KO OVX group mice,and both of KO E2 group and KO OVX E2 group mice failed to respond to 17β-estradiol.Conclusion: Oxytocin is required for the anabolic action of estrogen on the skeleton.
Genetic Studies on Gel Consistency of Rice(Oryza sativa)

Inheritance and gene effects of gel consistency,one of important quality indexes,werestudied in a 6×6 full diallel cross by the modified single grain analysis.The result showed that hard gelconsistency was expressed as dominant trait over medium and soft one,and medium gel consistency wasdominant over soft one.Graphic analysis of Vr-Wr indicated the possible involvement of one major genealong with several minor genes(modifiers)in governing the expression of the trait.The regression linecutting the Wr axis above the point of the origin suggested the average dominance being within the rangeof incomplete dominance.Analysis of genetic components of variation showed both additive andnonadditive gene effect being of importance.The narrow-sense heritability of the trait was high:h~2(ns)=0.78.The importance on the parentage selection in the cross and the offspring selection in theearlier segregating generations in gel consistency improvement of rice is also discussed.
Methods to measure cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) concentration using Ca(2+)-sensitive dyes.

Ca(2+) is a ubiquitous second messenger that is involved in regulation of various signaling pathways. Cytoplasmic Ca(2+) is maintained at low concentrations (~100 nM) by many active mechanisms. Increases in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) indeed can initiate multiple signaling pathways, depending both on their pattern and subcellular localization. In T cells, the stimulation of T-cell receptor leads to an increase in [Ca(2+)]i upon the opening of Ca(2+) release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels. T cells can actually sustain high [Ca(2+)]i for several hours, resulting in the activation of transcriptional programs orchestrated by members of the nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) protein family. Here, we describe an imaging method widely employed to measure cytoplasmic [Ca(2+)] in naive and effector T cells based on the ratiometric dye Fura-2. Furthermore, we discuss a pharmacological method relying on an inhibitor of CRAC channels, 2-aminoethyldiphenyl borate, to validate the role of CRAC channels in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) elevation. Finally, we describe an approach to measure mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] based on another fluorescent dye, Rhod-2. With appropriate variations, our methodological approach can be employed to assess the effect and regulation of cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) waves in multiple experimental settings, including cultured cancer cells.
Effect of electrical stimulation on thermal shrinkage temperature of bovine muscle collagen.

The effect of beef carcass electrical stimulation on the thermal stability of intramuscular collagen was determined. Differential scanning calorimetric determinations of thermal shrinkage temperature revealed that electrical stimulation lowered the shrinkage temperature of collagen by an average of .6 C in the population of cattle studied. No difference between Hereford x Angus crossbreds and Charolais crossbreds were found, but the extent of the reduction of collagen shrinkage temperature caused by electrical stimulation was greater in animals that did not receive high grain diets or received grain for only a short period than in those fed grain for up to 210 days. Furthermore, panel tenderness and Warner-Bratzler shear tests showed that stimulation-induced tenderization was also greater in animals fed no grain or fed grain for a short time. No evidence of stimulation effects on myofibrillar proteins was observed from data on sarcomere length or myofibrillar fragmentation index. The reduction of thermal stability of bovine intramuscular collagen by electrical stimulation may result from a decrease in the number or strength of the collagen cross-links.
S+ and S- control in Macaca fascicularis using a discriminative switching procedure*

Monkeys were trained using a discriminative switching procedure in which S+ and S− were never presented simultaneously, but in which the S could switch back and forth between the two before making a choice response. S+ and S− substitution tests were conducted following problems in which a relatively large number of training trials were given. Results indicated that S− control was sufficient to maintain discriminative performance at the level attained during training and that S+ control was considerably weaker. Contrasting results from previous experiments using the simultaneous procedure and fewer training trials were discussed in terms of observing behavior.
Inward diffusion and loss of radiation belt protons

Radiation belt protons in the kinetic energy range 24 to 76 MeV are being measured by the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope on each of the two Van Allen Probes. Data have been processed for the purpose of studying variability in the trapped proton intensity during October 2013 to August 2015. For the lower energies (≲32 MeV), equatorial proton intensity near L = 2 showed a steady increase that is consistent with inward diffusion of trapped solar protons, as shown by positive radial gradients in phase space density at fixed values of the first two adiabatic invariants. It is postulated that these protons were trapped with enhanced efficiency during the 7 March 2012 solar proton event. A model that includes radial diffusion, along with known trapped proton source and loss processes, shows that the observed average rate of increase near L = 2 is predicted by the same model diffusion coefficient that is required to form the entire proton radiation belt, down to low L, over an extended (∼103 year) interval. A slower intensity decrease for lower energies near L = 1.5 may also be caused by inward diffusion, though it is faster than predicted by the model. Higher-energy (≳40 MeV) protons near the L = 1.5 intensity maximum are from cosmic ray albedo neutron decay. Their observed intensity is lower than expected by a factor ∼2, but the discrepancy is resolved by adding an unspecified loss process to the model with a mean lifetime ∼120 years.
Violence, Trauma, and Resistance: A Feminist Appraisal of Metz's Mysticism of Suffering unto God.

The trauma that results from violence against women presents a challenge to theological reflection on the meaning of suffering. The mysticism of suffering unto God in the theology of J.B. Metz offers an essential contribution to this reflection. There is a remarkable compatibility between women's experiences of trauma and healing and Metz's understanding of suffering unto God, especially in its refusal to glorify suffering. Further, Metz's understanding presents a much needed mystical-political dimension to theological reflection on violence against women, because of its capacity to nurture on going resistance to the victimization of all women, past and present. Metz's mystical stance, holding together both anguish and radical hope, challenges feminist theology, in its treatment of violence against women, to attend to the relationship between the mystical and political.
Buffer-controlled cache for low-power multicore systems

This paper proposes a buffered dual-access mode cache to reduce power consumption in multicore embedded systems. This cache is called as Buffer-Controlled Cache (BCC). The proposed cache includes a pre-cache buffer to determine how to access the cache in two different ways. The BCC scheme shows better prediction rates and lower power consumption than other popular low-power caches, such as Phased cache and Way-prediction cache. We have used Multi2Sim and McPAT simulators to evaluate various cache systems by using the multicore-oriented Parsec benchmark programs. Our experimental results show that the proposed cache scheme improves the power consumption by 54% over the other popular cache scheme, such as Way-prediction cache.
From 6D superconformal field theories to dynamic gauged linear sigma models

Compactifications of six-dimensional (6D) superconformal field theories (SCFTs) on four- manifolds generate a large class of novel two-dimensional (2D) quantum field theories. We consider in detail the case of the rank-one simple non-Higgsable cluster 6D SCFTs. On the tensor branch of these theories, the gauge group is simple and there are no matter fields. For compactifications on suitably chosen K\"ahler surfaces, we present evidence that this provides a method to realize 2D SCFTs with $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ supersymmetry. In particular, we find that reduction on the tensor branch of the 6D SCFT yields a description of the same 2D fixed point that is described in the UV by a gauged linear sigma model (GLSM) in which the parameters are promoted to dynamical fields, that is, a ``dynamic GLSM'' (DGLSM). Consistency of the model requires the DGLSM to be coupled to additional non-Lagrangian sectors obtained from reduction of the antichiral two-form of the 6D theory. These extra sectors include both chiral and antichiral currents, as well as spacetime filling noncritical strings of the 6D theory. For each candidate 2D SCFT, we also extract the left- and right-moving central charges in terms of data of the 6D SCFT and the compactification manifold.
Locomotion in Virtual Reality for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Virtual reality (VR) has been used as an effective tool for training individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recently there have been an increase in the number of applications developed for this purpose. One of the most important aspects of these applications is locomotion, which is an essential form of human computer interaction. Locomotion in VR has a direct effect on many aspects of user experience such as enjoyment, frustration, tiredness, motion sickness and presence. There have been many locomotion techniques proposed for VR. Most of them were designed and evaluated for neurotypical users. On the other hand, for individuals with ASD there isn't any study to our knowledge that focuses on locomotion techniques and their evaluation. In this study, eight locomotion techniques were implemented in an immersive virtual reality test environment. These eight VR locomotion techniques may be categorized as follows: three commonly used locomotion techniques (redirected walking, walk-in-place and joystick controller), two unexplored locomotion techniques (stepper machine and point & teleport) and three locomotion techniques that were selected and designed for individuals with ASD based on their common characteristics (flying, flapping and trackball controller). A user study was performed with 12 high functioning individuals with ASD. Results indicated that joystick and point & teleport techniques provided the most comfortable use for individuals with ASD, followed by walk in place and trackball. On the other hand, flying and hand flapping did not provide comfortable use for individuals with ASD.
Fleet management for rail car transport of ethanol

Abstract Rail and truck transport modes are the most frequently used in the movement of ethanol. Rail transport, however, with its cost and capacity to carry large amounts of ethanol, has become the preferred choice for shippers. Although ethanol producers are often smaller, there is a need to acquire and manage enough rail cars to meet demand, through lease or purchase. We use a stochastic programming model to determine the optimal number of cars of each type needed over a finite number of time periods. Decision variables include the number of rail cars leased, sub-leased, outsourced, and owned. Additional parameters such as capital costs, use of unit trains or individual transport, running costs, and the opportunity to sublease unused cars for a fixed duration, in the face of stochastic demand are considered. The results indicate that the model with an Average Cost Per Period strategy, based on the Silver-Meal algorithm, for subleasing offered good performance with a single adjustment over the 15-month horizon, compared to a chase strategy that adjusted the number each quarter at considerable setup cost.