cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entangled exchange: verkehr and rhetorical capitalism

ABSTRACTThis essay develops the concept of verkehr as a site of conversation between Marxian and new materialist theories of rhetoric. Marx and Engels use verkehr, conventionally translated as “intercourse,” to describe a spectrum of processes of economic, military, semantic, and sexual exchange. I place verkehr in conversation with posthumanist philosopher Karen Barad’s concept of entanglement, which describes the processes of intra-active exchange that “produce determinate boundaries and properties of entities” within a larger causal field. I use this conversation between verkehr and entanglement to facilitate a rethinking of being as a field of entangled exchanges, and of capitalism as a set of apparatuses of capture that code semantic and bodily capacities of exchange into systems of surplus value, underwriting the fantasized immortality of some with the exploitation of bodies whose sexual, geographic, racial or class position capital deems fungible. I argue that this conversation between rhetoric and...
Educational Materials for Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Education and Training

We must spur the development of a new generation of technologies that prevent pollution ... President Bill Clinton (NSTC, 1994). Schools, colleges and universities must be proactive in incorporating pollution prevention and clean production technology into their curriculum if we are to provide the future scientists and engineers necessary to carry out this vision.
MEG/EEG Data Analysis Using EEGLAB

EEGLAB (sccn.ucsc.edu/eeglab) is an easily extensible, highly evolved, and widely used open source environment for signal processing and visualization of electroencephalographic data running on MATLAB (The Mathworks, Inc.). Methods central to EEGLAB include time- and time-frequency analysis and visualization of individual datasets and complete studies, independent component analysis (ICA), and rich tools for connectivity analysis, brain computer interface (BCI) development, and tools for fusion and joint analysis of simultaneously recorded motion-capture and brain data. We introduce a new MEEG plug-in that enables MEG and simultaneously recorded MEG/EEG (MEEG) data to be readily analyzed using EEGLAB. Its use is demonstrated by the analysis of an MEEG dataset. Here we show a first ICA decomposition of an MEEG data set and use MEEG plotting tools to localize and evaluate maximally independent joint MEG/EEG component processes in the data. The analysis naturally recovers a range of artifact sources, as well as brain sources common to MEG and EEG, as well as sources primarily visible only to EEG.
Patterns of care and treatment outcomes of patients with Craniopharyngioma in the national cancer database

To investigate the patterns of care and outcomes in patients with craniopharyngioma in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). This study included 697 patients (166 pediatric and 531 adult cases) treated for craniopharyngioma between 2004 and 2012 in the NCDB. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) was defined if within 6 months of surgery. Limited surgery (LS) was defined as biopsy or subtotal resection. Proportional-hazards models were used to evaluate associations between covariates and overall survival (OS). A time-dependent analysis of RT was performed to account for early deaths after surgery. Median follow-up was 46 months. Overall, 21% of patients received adjuvant RT. Of patients with known surgical extent (n = 195), 71% had LS. Utilization of adjuvant RT increased from 18% in 2004–2007 to 24% in 2008–2012. Patterns of care regarding adjuvant RT or LS were not significantly different between adult and pediatric patients. Tumor size, low comorbidity, and LS were associated with increased utilization of adjuvant RT. The 5-year OS among patients treated with LS, LS+RT, and gross total resection were 75, 85, and 82% (p = 0.02). On multivariate analysis of the 195 patients with known surgical extent, LS+RT was associated with improved OS compared to LS (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05–0.99, p = 0.04), but was not significant when early deaths (<2 months from surgery) were removed to adjust for immortal-time bias. Medical practice regarding surgical approach and adjuvant RT are similar for pediatric and adult craniopharyngiomas. Immortal-time bias may confound assessment of OS for adjuvant RT. Prospective studies comparing adjuvant RT versus observation after LS are warranted.
Quantum Interference: How To Measure the Wavelength of a Particle

The concept of wave–particle duality in quantum theory is difficult to grasp because it attributes particle-like properties to classical waves and wave-like properties to classical particles. There seems to be an inconsistency involved with the notion that particle-like or wave-like attributes depend on how you look at an entity. The concept comes into more clear focus with the precise language of mathematics and with an experiment or demonstration of quantum interference that involves the scattering of photons by a single slit. After describing a photon as a quon, a quantum-sized entity, a precise description of the interference of quantum probability amplitudes allows determination of the photon wavelength by classical measurements of laboratory observations.
Searching for Low Mass Axions with an LC Circuit

Axions are a promising cold dark matter candidate. Haloscopes, which use the conversion of axions to photons in the presence of a magnetic field to detect axions, are the basis of microwave cavity searches such as ADMX. To search for lighter, low frequency axions in the unexplored < 2 × 10−7 eV (50 MHz) range a tunable LC circuit has been proposed. Progress in the development of such an LC circuit based search is presented here. This will include preliminary results from prototypes using electrical tuning, superconducting loop antenna, and aluminum shielding.
EFFECT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEBT COLLECTION IN COMMERCIAL BANKS

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the effect of financial resources on the effectiveness of debt collection in commercial banks.Methodology: The research was carried out through descriptive survey design. The total population of the study was 1118credit managers/supervisors or branch managersof the 37 commercial banks. A sample size of 118 respondents was selected through random sampling technique, which represents a 10% of the population. The study used both secondary and primary data specifically the study used a questionnaire as the preferred data collection tool. The questionnaire had close ended questions only. Secondary data on the level of Nonperforming loans/Gross loans was also collected. This study used the quantitative method of data analysis. Quantitative methods of data analysis included inferential and descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and measures of tendency mainly mean. Inferential statistics include correlation and regression analysis. The tool for data analysis was Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 program. The results were presented using tables and pie charts to give a clear picture of the research findings.Results:Correlation results led to the conclusion that the relationship between financial resources and non-performing loans is negative and significant. This implies that an increase in the financial resources led to a decrease in non-performing loans. This further implies that financial resources influenced or affected non-performing loans negatively.Policy recommendation:it is recommended that staff competence be emphasized in the banks as it has an effect on the overall achievement of effective debt collection practices. Therefore the management is urged to encourage sharingofpotentially sensitive information on costs, quality, and productivity on financial performance with other employees.
Clival paragangliomas: a report of two cases involving the midline skull base and review of the literature

Head and neck paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that arise from paraganglion cells of the parasympathetic nervous system. Paragangliomas arising from the midline skull base have only rarely been reported. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment and adjuvant radiation is often recommended. These tumors can rarely secrete metanephrines and normetanephrines which can complicate operative management. Here we present two cases of clival paragangliomas with unique clinical presentations and review the previous literature on skull base paragangliomas.
Animal models of Wilson disease

Wilson disease (WD) is caused by ATPase copper-transporting beta (ATP7B) mutations and results in copper toxicity in liver and brain. Although the defective gene was identified in 1993, the specific mechanisms underlying copper toxicity and the remarkable phenotypic diversity of the disease are still poorly understood. Animal models harboring defects in the ATP7B homolog have helped to reveal new insights into pathomechanisms of WD. Four rodent models with ATP7B gene defects have been described - the Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat, inbred mouse models (toxic milk (tx), the Jackson Laboratory toxic milk (tx-j)), and the genetically engineered ATP7B-/- (knockout) mouse - all of which develop liver disease to different extents. Copper accumulation in parts of the brain accompanied by some neurologic involvement was revealed in LEC rats and tx/tx-j mice, but the pathology is less severe than human neurologic WD. Several dogs show hepatic copper toxicity resembling WD; however, brain involvement has not been observed and the underlying genetic defect is different. These models are of great value for examination of copper distribution and metabolism, gene expression, and investigation of liver and brain pathology. The availability of disease models is essential for therapeutic interventions such as drug, gene, and cell therapy. Findings made by animal studies may facilitate the development of specific therapies to ameliorate WD progression.
UV-induced effects on toxicity of model disinfection byproducts

UV (Ultraviolet)-based treatment has been demonstrated to be effective for removal of some disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and to be beneficial for reduction of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in chlorinated water. However, to a large extent, UV-induced effects on chemistry and toxicology have been treated as a black box, in the sense that little or no UV dose-dependent behavior has been reported. To address this issue, the effects of UV254 irradiation on 1,4-dibenzoquinone (BQ), 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ), and chlorocreatinine (Cl-Cre) as model DBPs were examined, both in terms of photodegradation and cytotoxicity. These compounds have been identified as DBPs that are relevant in swimming pool settings; however, these compounds will be relevant in other water treatment settings, including drinking water production and wastewater reuse. UV254 irradiation was shown to promote photodecay of all three compounds. However, for BQ and DCBQ, the corresponding cytotoxicity of the UV-irradiated samples remained essentially unchanged, even when the compound was completely photodegraded. These results indicate that the photodegradation products of BQ and DCBQ carry similar cytotoxicity as their respective parent compounds. On the other hand, UV254-irradiation of Cl-Cre yielded a decrease in cytotoxicity that correlated with photodechlorination of Cl-Cre. These experiments also demonstrated a reduction in cytotoxicity in connection with photodechlorination of an N-chlorinated organic compound. Overall, the results of these experiments indicate the importance of defining products of UV photodecay processes, both in terms of chemistry and toxicity; these attributes are expected to be important in many UV-based applications, including potable water production, water reuse, and recreational water settings.
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator LY353381.HCl-Mediated Neuroprotection and BCL-2 Expression After Experimental Stroke

62 Estrogen replacement in ovariectomized rats reduces cerebral tissue infarction sustained after experimental stroke. We hypothesized that LY353381.HCl, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), reduces cerebral tissue infarction after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and that the mechanism of protection is not related to preservation of blood flow. After 5–9 days of treatment with LY353381.HCl (LY) or vehicle (VEH), ovariectomized rats were subjected to 2 hours of MCAO under halothane anesthesia, followed by 22 hours of recovery. Ischemia was confirmed by laser-Doppler flowmetry. MAP, blood gases, and rectal and temporalis muscle temperature were controlled. Infarct volumes were measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and digital image analysis. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with LY (n=16) had smaller infarct volumes in the caudoputamen (CP) than VEH (n=14) treated rats, 49%±6% vs. 64%±4% of ipsilateral CP, respectively, P 14 C-iodoantipyrine autoradiography in LY (n=4) and VEH (n=3) treated rats. Absolute ischemic CBF and tissue volume distribution to low flow zones were similar in both groups. In a final cohort, 22 hours post MCAO, tissue was sampled from representative regions of CTX and CP in OVX (n=5) and LY (n=4) treated groups and analyzed for BCL-2 mRNA expression using ribonuclease protection assay. LY increased BCL-2 mRNA in both ipsilateral CTX and CP. We conclude that LY353381.HCl confers protection from focal cerebral ischemia by mechanisms that are not related to CBF but may involve increased BCL-2 expression.
Mapping the Ottomans: sovereignty, territory, and identity in the early modern Mediterranean, by Palmira Brummett

With its nearly 100 images (plus an additional 17 colour plates), Mapping the Ottomans would rank as a grand achievement for its visual appeal alone, an elegant testament to the artistry of generat...
Effect of increasing meropenem MIC on the killing activity of meropenem in combination with amikacin or polymyxin B against MBL- and KPC-producing Enterobacter cloacae

Abstract Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a growing threat worldwide. Infections caused by these organisms have exhibited high rates of mortality (50%) for which there is no standard of care and a dearth of clinical trials. Most in vitro data on CRE focus on Klebsiella pneumoniae, but it is known that effective therapy may depend on species or even strain. To address this, meropenem, amikacin, and polymyxin B alone and in combination were evaluated by time kill against four carbapenem-producing Enterobacter cloacae clinical isolates representing a range of meropenem nonsusceptibility (2–32 mg/L) and resistance mechanisms (KPC 2 and/or VIM 1). As meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) increased, bactericidal activity and synergy were maintained for 48 hours in isolates exposed to meropenem and amikacin, but synergy and bactericidal activity were not maintained in all isolates exposed to meropenem and polymyxin B.
If It Matters, Write About It: Using Legal Scholarship to Effect Social Change

This essay centers on the concept of "intellectual activism," discussing how legal scholarship can be used as the foundation for social change work. It recounts and reflects upon the author's ongoing work in advancing issues such as workplace bullying and the rights of student interns. It concludes with advice on how to be effective in an intellectual activist mode. The essay will be published in the inaugural issue of Bearing Witness: A Journal of Law and Social Responsibility, a new student-run periodical at Suffolk University Law School.
Mitya Karabash and a Tiling Conjecture

In 2005, the brilliant young freshman from Columbia University Dmytro (Mitya) Karabash came to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where I supervised his summer research. We looked at problems of tiling and covering, the chromatic number of the plane, and other problems posed by Paul Erdős and I. Mitya and I wrote a joint research paper on covering triangles with triangles. A year later, Mitya was first to solve Problem 5.3 posed in this book. He also proved some interesting related results.
The Emergence of Empathy in the Context of Cross-Species Mind Reading

Evolutionary accounts of the origins of mind reading and empathy have emphasized the reproductive and social value of understanding other human minds. On this view, selective pressures within human communities contributed to our capacity to imagine ourselves in the spatiotemporal and cognitive place of other individuals. I argue that these social accounts of empathy neglect the phenomenon of mind reading between humans and other species. In particular, I argue that the cognitive demands on early human hunters privileged the ability to take on the perspective of potential prey in tracking. These selective pressures on mind reading not only have serious consequences for how we view empathy but may also have had substantive consequences for how we read other human minds.
Efficient Public-Key Revocation Management for Secure Smart Meter Communications Using One-Way Cryptographic Accumulators

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) forms a communication network for the collection of power data from smart meters in Smart Grid. As the communication within an AMI needs to be secure, public-key cryptography can be used to reduce the overhead of key management. However, it still has certain challenges in terms of certificate revocation and management. In particular, distribution and storage of the Certificate Revocation List (CRL), which holds the revoked certificates, is a major challenge due to its overhead. To address this challenge, in this paper, we propose a novel revocation management scheme by utilizing cryptographic accumulators which not only reduces the space requirements for revocation information but also enables convenient distribution of revocation information to all smart meters. We implemented this one-way cryptographic accumulator-based revocation scheme on ns- 3 using IEEE 802.11s mesh standard as a model for AMI and demonstrated its superior performance with respect to traditional methods of CRL management through extensive simulations.
Social Navigation and the Refugee Crisis: Traversing “Archipelagos” of Uncertainty

This reflection considers the thematic issue “Refugee Crises Disclosed: Intersections between Media, Communication and Forced Migration Processes” through the lens of social navigation which takes into account the fluidity and uncertainty of the refugee and forced migrant condition whether in flight, emplaced, or at a temporary stopping point. Refugees who are able to “read” their social environment will be more successful in developing practices to navigate through unpredictable migration processes, including responding to information uncertainty. Yet even as some of the displaced adapt, other actors—particularly those part of the refugee regime—are also operating in unstable conditions such that the actions of refugees/forced migrants may in turn keep the circumstances of those purporting to help also in flux.
Randomized placebo-controlled trial of emricasan for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related cirrhosis with severe portal hypertension

Background & Aims Emricasan, an oral pan-caspase inhibitor, decreased portal pressure in experimental cirrhosis and in an open-label study in patients with cirrhosis and severe portal hypertension, defined as a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥12 mmHg. We aimed to confirm these results in a placebo-controlled study in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related cirrhosis. Methods We performed a multicenter double-blinded study, randomizing 263 patients with NASH-related cirrhosis and baseline HVPG ≥12 mmHg to twice daily oral emricasan 5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg or placebo in a 1:1:1:1 ratio for up to 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in HVPG (ΔHVPG) at week 24. Secondary endpoints were changes in biomarkers (aminotransferases, caspases, cytokeratins) and development of liver-related outcomes. Results There were no significant differences in ΔHVPG for any emricasan dose vs. placebo (−0.21, −0.45, −0.58 mmHg, respectively) adjusted for baseline HVPG, compensation status, and non-selective beta-blocker use. Compensated patients (n = 201 [76%]) tended to have a greater decrease in HVPG (emricasan all vs. placebo, p = 0.06), the decrease being greater in those with higher baseline HVPG (p = 0.018), with a significant interaction between baseline HVPG (continuous, p = 0.024; dichotomous at 16 mmHg [median], p = 0.013) and treatment. Biomarkers decreased significantly with emricasan at week 24 but returned to baseline levels by week 48. New or worsening decompensating events (∼10% over median exposure of 337 days), progression in model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh scores, and treatment-emergent adverse events were similar among treatment groups. Conclusions Despite a reduction in biomarkers indicating target engagement, emricasan was not associated with improvement in HVPG or clinical outcomes in patients with NASH-related cirrhosis and severe portal hypertension. Compensated patients with higher baseline HVPG had evidence of a small treatment effect. Emricasan treatment appeared safe and well-tolerated. Lay summary Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) is the main consequence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Cirrhosis leads to high pressure in the portal vein which accounts for most of the complications of cirrhosis. Reducing portal pressure is beneficial in patients with cirrhosis. We studied the possibility that emricasan, a drug that improves inflammation and scarring in the liver, would reduce portal pressure in patients with NASH-related cirrhosis and severe portal hypertension. Our results in a large, prospective, double-blind study could not demonstrate a beneficial effect of emricasan in these patients. Clinical Trial Number Clinical Trials.gov #NCT02960204.
Lacing up: Reflections from returning to run the 2014 Boston marathon.

Abstract In this narrative essay, the author, a pediatric medical social worker and young adult cancer researcher, recounts her experience of returning to run the 2014 Boston Marathon. She shares lessons learned about community and coping in the wake of tragedy.
Postpartum NSAID Use and Adverse Outcomes among Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective This study was aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between postpartum nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and risks of adverse postpartum outcomes. Study Design Studies were eligible if they included women who had been diagnosed with HDP and were postpartum, reported exposure to NSAIDs, were written in English, and were published between January 2000 and November 2019. Assessment of bias was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for observational studies or the Cochrane Collaborative tool for randomized trials. The primary outcome was maternal blood pressure ≥ 150 mm Hg systolic and/or 100 mm Hg diastolic. Secondary outcomes were persistent blood pressures ≥ 160 mm Hg systolic and/or 110 mm Hg diastolic, mean arterial pressure (MAP), initiation or up-titration of antihypertensive medication, length of hospital stay, rehospitalization for blood pressure control, and postpartum opioid use. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed using RevMan, with a p-value Results Among 7,395 abstracts identified, seven studies (four randomized and three cohort studies, n = 777 patients) met inclusion criteria. All cohort analyses exhibited low levels of bias, while two randomized controlled trials exhibited a high risk of bias in blinding and inclusion criteria. There was no association between NSAID use and blood pressures ≥ 150 mm Hg systolic and/or 100 mm Hg diastolic (risk ratio [RR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89–1.64). Conversely, NSAID use was associated with a statistically significant, but clinically insignificant, increase in length of postpartum stay (0.21 days, 95% CI: 0.05–0.38). No other secondary outcomes were significantly different between groups. Conclusion Postpartum NSAID use among women with HDP was not associated with maternal hypertension exacerbation. These findings support the recent American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' guideline change, wherein preeclampsia is no longer a contraindication to postpartum NSAID use. Key Points
Investigation into the Energy and Scatter Response of OSLDs at Diagnostic Energies Using a C-arm System.

ABSTRACT Optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) are radiation detectors commonly used in a clinical setting to monitor the dose to patients undergoing imaging or interventional procedures, especially those involving fluoroscopy. In dose tracking using OSLDs, it is important to consider that photons at the diagnostic energy range are prone to energy spectrum shifts from scattering interactions in the medium and that OSLDs have been reported to yield a somewhat strong energy-dependent response in the diagnostic energy range. This study examines the response of OSLDs exposed to a spectrum of photons in the diagnostic energy range (60-120 kVp), both free-in-air and on the surface of a PMMA phantom, within and just outside of the exposure field. From these measurements, it was observed that the response differs substantially (as high as 30%) in OSLDs irradiated under identical exposure settings but with differences in beam quality and scattering conditions. Furthermore, this study devises a method of weighted averages to calculate the calibration factors for OSLDs exposed to both primary and scatter photons, which were approximately 2-5% less than their corresponding measured values. This study emphasizes the need to develop different calibration factors in the clinical use of OSLDs for diagnostic imaging procedures, especially for procedures in which more precise dose measurements may be necessary.
Trauma―Focused Treatment for PTSD With Comorbid Psychosis: A Case Report:

Post-traumatic stress disorder is often a condition left untreated in patients also meeting criteria for psychotic disorders. While many clinicians who treat patients with these co-occurring condit...
"We're, Like, the Most Unhealthy People in the Country": Using an Equity Lens to Reduce Barriers to Healthy Food Access in Rural Appalachia.

Introduction Obesity disproportionately affects rural communities, and Appalachia has some of the highest obesity rates in the nation. Successful policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions to reduce obesity must reflect the circumstances of the population. We used a health equity lens to identify barriers and facilitators for healthy food access in Martin County, Kentucky, to design interventions responsive to social, cultural, and historical contexts. Methods We conducted 5 focus groups in Martin County, Kentucky, in fall 2019 to obtain perspectives on the local food system and gauge acceptability of PSE interventions. We used grounded theory to identify perceived barriers and facilitators for healthy eating. Results Thirty-four adults (27 women; median age, 46 years) participated in 5 groups. One prominent theme was declining interest in farming; many participants believed this decline was generational. One participant noted, "Most of my adult male relatives worked in the coal mines, and they worked 6 days a week. . . . My grandpa had the garden, but then my dad's generation is the one quit gardening." Another shared, "You would probably have to have someone to teach [gardening]." Instead of enhancing farmers markets, participants suggested building community capacity for home gardens to increase vegetable consumption. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the importance of obtaining community input on the development of PSE interventions to mitigate inequities in obesity. Although farmers market interventions were deemed not feasible, other solutions to enhance access to produce were identified. Developers of community-responsive PSE interventions to improve healthy eating in rural, food-insecure locations should consider using an equity-oriented prevention framework to ensure acceptable interventions.
1713. Factors Associated with Viral Rebound post Blip in Patients from a Community HIV Clinic

Background Blips are detectable increases in the HIV viral load (VL) that occur after therapy has effectively suppressed the virus to an undetectable level. There is no clear etiology for the development of blips. The association between blips and viral failure remains unclear.
Vasopressin antagonism in heart failure: a review of the hemodynamic studies and major clinical trials:

For decades, plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels have been known to be elevated in patients with congestive heart failure (HF). Excessive AVP signaling at either or both the V1a and V2 receptors could contribute to the pathophysiology of HF by several mechanisms. V1a activation could cause vasoconstriction and/or direct myocardial hypertrophy as intracellular signaling pathways are closely related to those for angiotensin II. V2 activation could cause fluid retention and hyponatremia. A hemodynamic study with the pure V2 antagonist tolvaptan (TV) showed minimal hemodynamic effects. Compared with furosemide in another study, the renal and neurohormonal effects of TV were favorable. Several clinical trials with TV as adjunctive therapy in acute HF have shown beneficial effects on fluid balance and dyspnea, with no worsening of renal function or neurohormonal stimulation. Two smaller studies, one in acute and one in chronic HF, have shown comparable clinical and more favorable renal and neurohormonal effects of TV compared with loop diuretics. However, long-term treatment with TV did not alter outcomes in acute HF. No data are available other than single-dose studies of an intravenous pure V1a antagonist, which showed a vasodilating effect if plasma AVP levels were elevated. One hemodynamic study and one short-duration clinical trial with the balanced intravenous V1a/V2 antagonist conivaptan (CV) showed hemodynamic and clinical effects largely similar to those with TV in similar studies. A new orally effective balanced V1/V2 antagonist (pecavaptan) is currently undergoing phase II study as both adjunctive and alternative therapy during and after hospitalization for acute HF. The purpose of this review is to summarize what we have learned from the clinical experience with TV and CV, and to suggest implications of these findings for future work with newer agents.
A Holographic Metasurface for Microwave Power Transmission Applications

Microwave power transmission has become a hot research topic in recent years. To overcome the constrain of traditional MPT techniques, a holographic metasurface antenna which can focus the radiation microwaves at 5.8GHz band is proposed in this paper. Simulation results show that the proposed antenna has a good impedance matching and excellent focusing ability as predicted. The proposed focusing method can pave the way to promising applications in MPT area, dramatical increasing the efficiencies.
Full Implementation under Ambiguity

This paper introduces the maxmin expected utility framework into the problem of fully implementing a social choice set as ambiguous equilibria. Our model incorporates the Bayesian framework and the Wald-type maxmin preferences as special cases and provides insights beyond the Bayesian implementation literature. We establish necessary and almost sufficient conditions for a social choice set to be fully implementable. Under the Wald-type maxmin preferences, we provide easy-to-check sufficient conditions for implementation. As applications, we implement the set of ambiguous Pareto-efficient and individually rational social choice functions, the maxmin core, the maxmin weak core, and the maxmin value.
Social Networks and Cognitive Function: An Evaluation of Social Bridging and Bonding Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Social connectedness has been linked prospectively to cognitive aging, but there is little agreement about the social mechanisms driving this relationship. This study evaluated nine measures of social connectedness, focusing on two forms of social enrichment - access to an expansive and diverse set of loosely connected individuals (i.e., social bridging) and integration in a supportive network of close ties (i.e., social bonding). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study used egocentric network and cognitive data from 311 older adults in the Social Networks in Alzheimer Disease (SNAD) study. Linear regressions were used to estimate the association between social connectedness and global cognitive function, episodic memory, and executive function. RESULTS Measures indicative of social bridging (larger network size, lower density, presence of weak ties, and proportion non-kin) were consistently associated with better cognitive outcomes, while measures of social bonding (close ties, multiplex support, higher frequency of contact, better relationship quality, and being married) largely produced null effects. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS These findings suggest that the protective benefits of social connectedness for cognitive function and memory may operate primarily through a cognitive reserve mechanism that is driven by irregular contact with a larger and more diverse group of peripheral others.
Hippocampal and rostral anterior cingulate blood flow is associated with affective symptoms in chronic traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF) and its association with self-reported symptoms in chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants Sixteen participants with mild to severe TBI and persistent self-reported neurological symptoms, 6 to 72 months post-injury were included. For comparison, 16 age- and gender-matched healthy normal control participants were also included. Main Measures Regional CBF and brain volume were assessed using pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labeling (PCASL) and T1-weighted data respectively. Cognitive function and self-reported symptoms were assessed in TBI participants using the national institutes of health (NIH) Toolbox Cognition Battery and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System respectively. Associations between CBF and cognitive function, symptoms were assessed. Results Global CBF and regional brain volumes were similar between groups, but region of interest (ROI) analysis revealed lower CBF bilaterally in the thalamus, hippocampus, left caudate, and left amygdala in the TBI group. Voxel-wise analysis revealed that CBF in the hippocampus, parahippocampus, rostral anterior cingulate, inferior frontal gyrus, and other temporal regions were negatively associated with self-reported anger, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Furthermore, region of interest (ROI) analysis revealed that hippocampal and rostral anterior cingulate CBF were negatively associated with symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Conclusion Regional CBF deficit was observed in the group with chronic TBI compared to the normal control (NC) group despite similar volume of cerebral structures. The observed negative correlation between regional CBF and affective symptoms suggests that CBF-targeted intervention may potentially improve affective symptoms and quality of life after TBI, which needs to be assessed in future studies.
Systems-based approach for optimization of a scalable bacterial ST mapping assembly-free algorithm

Epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens requires real-time data analysis with a fast turn-around, while aiming at generating two main outcomes: 1) Species level identification; and 2) Variant mapping at different levels of genotypic resolution for population-based tracking, in addition to predicting traits such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With the recent advances and continual dissemination of whole-genome sequencing technologies, large-scale population-based genotyping of bacterial pathogens has become possible. Since bacterial populations often present a high degree of clonality in the genomic backbone (i.e., low genetic diversity), the choice of genotyping scheme can even facilitate the understanding of ancestral relationships and can be used for prediction of co-inherited traits such as AMR. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) fits that purpose and can identify sequence types (ST) based on seven ubiquitous genome-scattered loci that aid in genotyping isolates beneath the species level. ST-based mapping also standardizes genotyping across laboratories and is used by laboratories worldwide. However, algorithms for inferring ST from Illumina paired-end sequencing data typically rely on genome assembly prior to classification. Genome assembly is computationally intensive and is a bottleneck for speed and scalability, which are important aspects of genomic epidemiology. The stringMLST program uses an assembly-free, kmer-based algorithm for inferring STs, which can overcome the speed and scalability bottlenecks. Here we have systematically studied the accuracy and scalability of stringMLST relative to the standard MLST program across a wide array of phylogenetically divergent Public Health-relevant bacterial pathogens. Our data shows that optimal kmer length for stringMLST is species-specific and that genome-intrinsic and -extrinsic features can affect performance and accuracy of the program. While suitable parameters could be identified for most organisms, there were a few instances where this program may not be directly deployable in its current format. More importantly, we integrated stringMLST into our freely available and scalable hierarchical-based population genomics platform, ProkEvo, and further demonstrated how the implementation facilitates automated, reproducible bacterial population analysis. The ProkEvo implementation provides a rapidly deployable genomic epidemiology tool for ST mapping along with other pan-genomic data mining strategies, while providing specific guidance on how to optimize stringMLST performance for a wide variety of bacterial pathogens.
How do we use molecular red blood cell antigen typing to supplement pretransfusion testing

The molecular basis of many blood group antigens is known, and it provides a means for predicting the red blood cell phenotype. Molecular typing methods are useful when serologic typing cannot be performed, due to sample or reagent limitations. We discuss the implementation of a commercial molecular typing assay at our Transfusion Service, the indications for testing, and the advantages and drawbacks of the assay. We also present our algorithm for selecting candidates for testing.
Praying, Playing, and Successful Families: An Examination of Family Religiosity, Family Leisure, and Family Functioning

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family religiosity, family leisure, and family functioning. The sample consisted of 121 parents and 99 youth from various religious groups. Results indicated a positive relationship between family religiosity and family leisure. Both family religiosity and family leisure had a significant relationship with family functioning in this sample. Data collected from both parents and youth provided insight into the influence of family religiosity and family leisure on family functioning. Family religiosity was the strongest predictor of family functioning for parents. For youth, both family leisure and family religiosity were significant predictors of family functioning. Findings provide specific implications for future family leisure research, as well as for parents and professionals who work with families.
Learning discriminative models with incomplete data

Many practical problems in pattern recognition require making inferences using multiple modalities, e.g. sensor data from video, audio; physiological changes etc. Often in real-world scenarios there can be incompleteness in the training data. There can be missing channels due to sensor failures in multi-sensory data and many data points in the training set might be unlabeled. Further; instead of having exact labels we might have easy to obtain auxiliary labels that correlate with the task. Also, there can be labeling errors, for example human annotation can lead to incorrect labels in the training data. The discriminative paradigm of classification aims to model the classification boundary directly by conditioning on the data points; however, discriminative models cannot easily handle incompleteness since the distribution of the observations is never explicitly modeled. We present a unified Bayesian framework that extends the discriminative paradigm to handle four different kinds of incompleteness. First, a solution based on a mixture of Gaussian processes is proposed for achieving sensor fusion under the problematic conditions of missing channels. Second, the framework addresses incompleteness resulting from partially labeled data using input dependent regularization. Third, we introduce the located hidden random field (LHRF) that learns finer level labels when only some easy to obtain auxiliary information is available. Finally the proposed framework can handle incorrect labels, the fourth case of incompleteness. One of the advantages of the framework is that we can use different models for different kinds of label errors, providing a way to encode prior knowledge about the process. The proposed extensions are built on top of Gaussian process classification and result in a modular framework where each component is capable of handling different kinds of incompleteness. These modules can be combined in many different ways, resulting in many different algorithms within one unified framework. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework on a variety of problems such as multi-sensor affect recognition, image classification and object detection and segmentation. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Innocuous IFNγ induced by adjuvant-free antigen restores normoglycemia in NOD mice through inhibition of IL-17 production

The role of Th17 cells in type I diabetes (TID) remains largely unknown. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) sequence 206–220 (designated GAD2) represents a late-stage epitope, but GAD2-specific T cell receptor transgenic T cells producing interferon γ (IFNγ) protect against passive TID. Because IFNγ is known to inhibit Th17 cells, effective presentation of GAD2 peptide under noninflammatory conditions may protect against TID at advanced disease stages. To test this premise, GAD2 was genetically incorporated into an immunoglobulin (Ig) molecule to magnify tolerance, and the resulting Ig-GAD2 was tested against TID at different stages of the disease. The findings indicated that Ig-GAD2 could not prevent TID at the preinsulitis phase, but delayed TID at the insulitis stage. More importantly, Ig-GAD2 sustained both clearance of pancreatic cell infiltration and β-cell division and restored normoglycemia when given to hyperglycemic mice at the prediabetic stage. This was dependent on the induction of splenic IFNγ that inhibited interleukin (IL)-17 production. In fact, neutralization of IFNγ led to a significant increase in the frequency of Th17 cells, and the treatment became nonprotective. Thus, IFNγ induced by an adjuvant free antigen, contrary to its usual inflammatory function, restores normoglycemia, most likely by localized bystander suppression of pathogenic IL-17–producing cells.
Effect of Oral Administration of Pure Gossypol and of Pigment Glands of Cottonseed on Mortality and Growth of Chicks

Abstract NUMEROUS investigations have established the high nutritive value of properly heated cottonseed meal. The deleterious physiological properties of unheated cottonseed meal have been attributed to the presence of gossypol, a yellow pigment, which in the intact seed is localized in so-called pigment glands. Boatner et al. (1948) presented an extensive literature review on the different methods of gossypol removal from cottonseed meal and on the effects of extracted cottonseed meal upon the growth and mortality of chicks. They also reported that pure gossypol when incorporated in the diet produced relatively little retardation in the growth of chicks. This finding conflicted with the generally accepted views of gossypol toxicity. It seemed possible that pure gossypol added to a feed mixture might react with other constituents and be detoxified, and that gossypol occurring in pigment glands or in cottonseed meal might be protected from such a reaction. Therefore experiments were planned in . . .
A biorepository for ophthalmic surgical specimens

Biorepositories are collections of surgically obtained human tissues for current and future investigations of disease mechanisms, therapeutics, and diagnostics. In ophthalmology, a critical challenge is how to interface the operating room with the laboratory. To attain standards required for basic research, clinical and research teams must cooperate to collect, annotate, and store specimens that yield consistent results required for advanced molecular techniques. We developed an efficient platform for obtaining vitreous and other eye tissues from the operating room and transferring them to the lab. The platform includes a mobile lab cart for on-site tissue processing, a multi-user, web-based database for point-of-care phenotypic capture, and an integrated data tracking system for long-term storage. These biorepository instruments have proven essential for our studies in ophthalmic disease proteomics. This system can be implemented in other operating rooms and laboratories for a variety of biological tissues.
Research at the U. of Massachusetts at Amherst

Computational linguistics is a central area of research at in cognitive science at UMass, involving eight professors and nine graduate students with thesis work in this area across three departments. Interdisciplinary cooperation is our hallmark, with contributions from the perspectives of linguistics, artificial intelligence, and brain theory. Our work is broken down into five major projects:
Analysis of caching algorithms for distributed file systems

When picking a cache replacement policy for file systems, LRU (Least Recently Used) has always been the obvious choice, because of the temporal locality found in programs and data. However, in the case of Sun NFS servers much of the locality is filtered out by the client cache. It has been conjectured that this filtering of locality by the client caches render LRU ineffective as a server cache replacement policy. This study disproves the conjecture by simulating a NFS server cache with real world traces. Traces were taken of NFS read and write requests sent to an NFS server. These traces were then run through a cache simulator using six different cache replacement policies: Least Recently Used (LRU), Least Frequently Used (LFU), Frequency Based Replacement (FBR), First In First Out (FIFO), Random (RAND), and Optimal (OPT). RAND and OPT were used to provide lower and upper bounds on performance. Results show that LRU is an effective NFS server cache replacement policy and frequency based tend to exhibit erratic behavior in the presence of temporal locality and sequentially accessed files.
Pervasive Computing: Migrating to Mobile Devices: A Case Study

The concept of pervasive computing is that computers and their applications will seamlessly integrate into our daily lives. There are many areas of research in pervasive computing such as context-awareness, device and network heterogeneity issues, power consumption, and connectivity. Each area intends to address problems such as how devices interpret their environment, and how devices communicate with each other. While there is much potential for developers to create pervasive applications from scratch, it is much more likely that they are able to reuse existing applications and documentation for mobile devices. This paper addresses the specific problems of porting pervasive applications on mobile devices in general as well as the unique problems presented by mobile devices which restrict implementation methods. It proposes a framework based on model driven engineering concepts for developing software for restrictive pervasive systems. The paper also considers the implications of the preliminary framework on the iPhone, which forces developers to work through its Safari browser.