cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Model to Predict the Severity of Acute Pancreatitis Based on Serum Level of Amylase and Body Mass Index.

Background & Aims Most patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) develop mild disease, but up to 20% develop severe disease. Many clinicians monitor serum levels of amylase and lipase in an attempt to predict the disease course, but this strategy has not been recommended by practice guidelines. We performed a retrospective analysis to determine whether the percentage changes in amylase and lipase were associated with the severity of disease that developed in patients with AP. Methods We analyzed data collected from 182 consecutive patients with AP (21 with severe AP) admitted to the Cleveland Clinic from January 2008 through May 2010 (discover cohort). The association between 11 different factors and the severity of AP were assessed by univariable analysis; multivariable models were explored through stepwise selection regression. The percentage change in the serum level of amylase was calculated as follows: ([amylase day 1 – amylase day 2]/amylase day 1) × 100. The percentage change in amylase and body mass index (BMI) were combined to generate a z-score (z = -5.9 + [0.14 × BMI] + [0.01 × percentage change in amylase]), which was converted into a probability distribution called the change in amylase and BMI (CAB) score. The CAB score was validated using the AP database at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (140 patients, 35 with severe AP); we calculated p-scores for each patient and estimated the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve values. Results Univariable analysis identified the percentage change in the serum level of amylase and other factors to be associated significantly with the severity of AP ( P = .017). The CAB score was best at identifying patients who developed severe AP, with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve value of 0.79 in the discovery cohort (95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.87) and 0.731 in the validation cohort (95% confidence interval, 0.61–0.84). Conclusions We developed a model to identify patients most likely to develop severe AP based on the percentage changes in serum level of amylase during the first 2 days after admission to the hospital and BMI.
Multi-user spatial diversity in a shadow-fading environment

In a wireless network, communication between a source and a destination mobile station (DMS) fails to establish if the source or the DMS is located inside a deep shadow-fading region. In this situation, intermediate mobile stations may be used to relay the signal between the two nodes. In a cellular system the source is a base station (BS) and the DMS is a weak mobile station (MS) while in an ad-hoc network, the source and the DMS are two nodes of the network. In this paper we study the scheme of "multi-user spatial diversity" as a new method of diversity to combat the undesired shadow-fade situation. We study the case where one or several mobile stations (MSs) relay the signal between the source and the DMS, in a shadow-fading environment. We derive a formula for the average outage probability of the received signal to noise ratio at the DMS, when M intermediate MSs relay the signal from the source to the DMS according to a particular protocol. The outage probability improves as the number of the relays increases.
Magnetic structure and spin excitations in BaMn2Bi2

We present a single crystal neutron scattering study of BaMn2Bi2, a recently synthesized material with the same ThCr2Si2type structure found in several Fe-based unconventional superconducting materials. We show long range magnetic order, in the form of a G-type antiferromagnetic structure, to exist up to 390 K with an indication of a structural transition at 100 K. Utilizing inelastic neutron scattering we observe a spin-gap of 16 meV, with spin-waves extending up to 55 meV. We find these magnetic excitations are well fit to a J1-J2-Jc Heisenberg model and present values for the exchange interactions. The spin wave spectrum appears to be unchanged by the 100 K structural phase transition.
Comparison of transformation protocols in Streptococcus gordonii and evaluation of native promoter strength using a multiple-copy plasmid

An active area of research in the development of Streptococcus gordonii for use as a bacterial commensal vector involves the identification and utilization of strong promoters for high-level expres...
Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to Improve Understanding of Disability and Functioning

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a useful framework and classification to better situate disability, health, and functioning. The ICF recognizes disability and functioning as the dynamic individual and environment interaction, promoting a more realistic perspective. This article describes the ICF, its utility, and its strengths/weaknesses.
On the Danger of Using Too Few Points in a Rating Scale: A Test of Validity

The authors investigate the question of the optimal number of points to use on a rating scale using validity as the major criterion for comparison. In the reported study, perhaps surprisingly, the results suggest that the 11-point rating scale may be the best performer.
Development of F-18 labeled inflammation-reporting PET tracer using click chemistry

59 Objectives CXCR4/SDF-1 has been reported to play a critical role in the recruitment of inflammatory cells during early phase of inflammation. Blocking CXCR4 has been shown to significantly suppress inflammation in vivo (Zhu A. et al 2010, J Med Chem 53, 8556-68; Liang Z. et al 2012, PLoS ONE 7, e34038, 1-12). Therefore, in vivo imaging of CXCR4 receptor has significant potential to detect inflammation early. Methods We have identified a novel sulfonamide and cyclic sulfonamide derivatives as small molecule CXCR4 antagonists through rational design by molecular modeling and cell-based functional assays (Mooring S.R. 2010 American Chemical Society 241st Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA). Their binding potency was evaluated by an affinity binding assay using the potent peptidic CXCR4 antagonist TN14003. For the secondary functional assays, Matrigel invasion assay and cAMP assay were used to rank-order their inhibitory efficacy against CXCR4/CXCL12 interaction. To generate 18F-labeled PET tracer candidates, [18F]fluoroethylazide was synthesized by reacting the corresponding azide derivative with K18F in the presence of K222 prior to conjugating alkyne derivatives of the selected sulfonamides with high potency through click reactions. Results The click chemistry approach for labeling yielded higher radiochemical conversion. To determine the specificity of labeled antagonists, we tested them in competition assays against corresponding 19F derivatives and CXCL12 at various concentrations. microPET images of labeled compounds in a carrageenan-induced paw edema model exhibited significant radioactivity in the inflamed area. Conclusions We designed and synthesized a novel series of CXCR4-PET tracers using molecular docking computer modeling and cell-based screening assays, which were labeled by high-yield click chemistry method. Our CXCR4-reporting 18F-PET tracer has a great potential to become a clinical diagnostic agent for inflammation. Research Support This research is supported by NCI R01 CA165306 and P50 CA128301.
Quality of life for critical care patients: a concept analysis

Confusion, misunderstanding, and ethical concerns may interfere with patients' choices for appropriate treatment and subsequent quality of life. Such concerns did not originate from recent technological advances but from the ancient Greeks and Romans who honored health more than life, and the early Christians who honored life more than health. These opposing concepts reflect differing notions of quality of life. Determining the quality of life involves personal issues--the cognitive ability to evaluate one's own life; the perception of a satisfactory state of social, emotional, physical, and mental health; and an acceptable feeling of well-being despite physical limitations. In contrast, and often conflict, are objective evaluations of treatment outcomes, morbidity/mortality statistics, cost/benefit analyses, and age studies performed in an attempt to determine quality of life by persons other than the patient.
Matching Logic - Extended Abstract (Invited Talk)

This paper presents matching logic, a first-order logic (FOL) variant for specifying and reasoning about structure by means of patterns and pattern matching. Its sentences, the patterns, are constructed using variables, symbols, connectives and quantifiers, but no difference is made between function and predicate symbols. In models, a pattern evaluates into a power-set domain (the set of values that match it), in contrast to FOL where functions and predicates map into a regular domain. Matching logic uniformly generalizes several logical frameworks important for program analysis, such as: propositional logic, algebraic specification, FOL with equality, and separation logic. Patterns can specify separation requirements at any level in any program configuration, not only in the heaps or stores, without any special logical constructs for that: the very nature of pattern matching is that if two structures are matched as part of a pattern, then they can only be spatially separated. Like FOL, matching logic can also be translated into pure predicate logic, at the same time admitting its own sound and complete proof system. A practical aspect of matching logic is that FOL reasoning remains sound, so off-the-shelf provers and SMT solvers can be used for matching logic reasoning. Matching logic is particularly well-suited for reasoning about programs in programming languages that have a rewrite-based operational semantics.
Pricing and revenue sharing in secondary market of mobile internet access

There is a fast growing number of public spaces offering Wi-Fi access to meet the rising demands for Internet access. It is common for such service to be offered to users at no charge or for a flat fee. Both situations provide very little incentive for Wi-Fi providers to offer better service to the users. Similarly, Wi-Fi providers pay a monthly flat rate to ISP for Internet access and, this too does not incentivize ISP to offer better service to Wi-Fi users. As a result, Wi-Fi users may experience poor connection when network becomes congested during peak hours. In this paper we propose a dynamic pricing scheme for Internet access and a revenue sharing mechanism that provides incentives for both ISP and Wi-Fi providers to offer better service to their users. We build our revenue sharing model based on Shapley value mechanism. Importantly, our proposed revenue sharing mechanism captures the power negotiation between ISP and Wi-Fi providers, and how shifts in power influences revenue division. Specifically, the model assures that the party who contributes more receives a higher portion of the revenue. In addition, our simulation demonstrates that our model captures the bargaining power shifts between Wi-Fi providers and ISP, and shows that the division of revenue asymptotically converges to a percentage value.
Mortality Among California Seventh-Day Adventists for Selected Cancer Sites

In previous reports concerning cancer among Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA), comparisons were made only with the general population. This report compared California SDA to a sample of non-SDA who were demographically similar to SDA. The study consisted of 17 years of follow-up (1960--76) on 22,940 white California SDA and 13 years of follow-up (1960--72) on 112,725 white California non-SDA. Both groups completed the same base-line questionnaire in 1960. Deaths were ascertained by annual contacts with each study member and by computer-assisted record linkage with the California State death certificate file. Results indicated that, with the exception of colon-rectal cancer and smoking-related cancers, the difference in risk of fatal cancer between SDA and non-SDA was substantially reduced when SDA were compared with a more socioeconomically similar population. The persistence of the low risk for colon-rectal cancer can probably be attributed to some aspect of the diet or life-style of the SDA.
Managing to mitigate abuse: Bureaucracy, democracy, and human rights, 1984 to 2010:

Hundreds of millions of people live in weak states that are functionally incapable of protecting their citizens, yet few studies consider the implications of state weakness for human rights practic...
A reproducible ex vivo model for transanal minimally invasive surgery.

BACKGROUND Rectal tumors can be excised through a number of minimally invasive transanal techniques including transanal excision, transanal endoscopic microsurgery, and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS). Specialty training is often required to master the nuances of these approaches. This study aimed to create a reproducible transanal excision training model that is suited for laparoendoscopic techniques. METHODS Frozen porcine rectum and anus with intact perianal skin were commercially obtained. Thawed specimens were then cut to approximately 20 cm in length. The proximal end of the rectum was then everted and suction applied to the mucosa to create pseudopolyps of various sizes (sessile and pedunculated). Larger pedunculated lesions were made by tying the base of the pseudopolyps with 5-0 monofilament sutures to gather more tissue. Methylene blue dye was injected submucosally into the lesions to simulate tattoos. The proximal rectum was then closed with sutures. The model was suspended in a trainer box by clamping the distal end in a ringed clamp and the proximal end to the box. Transanal excisions using TAMIS were then performed. The procedures were done by trained community colorectal surgeons attending courses on transanal minimally invasive surgery. RESULTS Both partial- and full-thickness excisions of sessile and pedunculated rectal lesions were successfully performed during simulated TAMIS by trained community surgeons learning this laparoendoscopic technique. CONCLUSION Transanal laparoendoscopic procedures to excise rectal tumors can be successfully and reproducibly performed in an ex vivo porcine anorectal model.
Comparative aspects of bovine leukemia.

The discovery of particles resembling mouse leukemia virus in cow's milk from a herd with a high incidence of leukemia and in lymph node cells of leukemic cattle and the finding of similar viruslike particles in human leukemic plasma and in pasteurized market milk are disquieting developments calling for intensive investigation to determine the biologic significance of the particles. The features of bovine leukemia are reviewed, and experiments are described which suggest the presence of a “resistance factor” in leukemic milk.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities in Advanced Acute Bilirubin Encephalopathy Highlight Dentato-Thalamo-Cortical Pathways

A distinct pattern of acute restricted diffusion on magnetic resonance imaging localized to key regions within the dentato-thalamo-cortical pathway was observed early in a term newborn during advanced stages of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. These findings demonstrate that vulnerability to bilirubin toxicity extends across specific neuroanatomic tracts.
Philosophy and modern liberal arts education: freedom is to learn. By Nigel Tubbs

I admire the determination of Nigel Tubbs to examine in some detail intricacies of the philosophical dimensions of the evolution of the idea of a liberal arts education. While the analysis is by no...
The cytoskeletal system of red blood cells.

The membrane skeleton is the critical intermediary at the interface between the cell membrane and the cytoplasm. A detailed understanding of the structure, function, and abnormalities of the red cell's skeletal system will provide valuable insight into the biology of normal red cell function and the pathology of the hemolytic anemias.
Anterior Openbite and its Treatment with Multiloop Edgewise Archwire

Etiologies and various treatment modalities regarding anterior openbite are discussed to elucidate the pros and cons of different approaches, with emphasis on understanding of the true nature of anterior openbite. Subjective interpretation in a diagnosis invariably leads into an erroneous description of a malocclusion, which can lead to a disastrous result. Cognizance of the anatomy, histology, physiology, and dynamics of orthodontic mechanotherapy can bring most openbite malocclusions into the realm of treatability, with a high degree of success and stability without surgical intervention. A Multiloop Edgewise Archwire (MEAW) technic developed over the past nineteen years is introduced, and three illustrative cases are presented.
Superoxide-forming enzyme from human neutrophils: evidence for a flavin requirement.

The superoxide-forming activity of 27,000-g particles prepared from homogenates of zymosan-treated human neutrophils is lost if the assay is conducted in the presence of 0.045% Triton X-100. This loss in activity in the presence of detergent is prevented by 40 micron flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), but not by flavin mononucleotide, riboflavin, adenosine 5′-diphosphate, or adenosine 5′-monophosphate. With resting particles or particles from zymosan-treated chronic granulomatous disease neutrophils, no superoxide-forming activity is detectable even in the presence of FAD; this is true whether or not detergent is present in the assay. Particles extracted with detergent prior to assay are fully active if assayed in the presence of FAD, but show little activity if FAD is omitted from the assay mixture. These results suggest that the superoxide-forming enzyme from human neutrophils is a FAD-requiring enzyme.
The International Court of Justice

Key facts Headquarters: The Hague Members: 192 states Mandate: to settle inter-state legal disputes with the consent of both parties. Key structure: fifteen international judges provide definitive legal judgments when requested by states. Key obligations: states agree to follow the decisions of the Court in cases to which they are a party, and to carry out provisional measures as requested by the Court. Enforcement: a party that is unsatisfied with the performance of the losing party in a case may refer the matter to the UN Security Council. Key clauses in the ICJ Statute: Articles 2, 3, and 4 on the composition of the Court. Article 34 on states as parties. Article 36 on jurisdiction. Article 38 on the sources of law. Article 41 on provisional measures. Article 59 on the absence of precedent. UN Charter Article 94 on the obligation to comply with the ICJ. UN Charter Article 96 on advisory opinions. When countries find themselves in a dispute with another over their international legal obligations, the International Court of Justice can provide a decisive and binding judgment. The Court is an international legal body that hears cases involving legal complaints between consenting states. Its jurisdiction is carefully defined in order to preserve the sovereignty of the states involved, and much controversy comes out of the complicated relationship between state sovereignty and the binding nature of international law. For instance, it expressly forbids its decisions from serving as precedents for future cases. The Court provides two important functions in world politics: first, its decisions constitute formal and explicit legal judgments regarding who is right and wrong in a given dispute; and second, these decisions enter into the political discourse of states, despite the absence of precedent, and may have substantial influence beyond their legal terms.
Ageing and the resting state: is cognition obsolete?

Recent years have seen the rise in popularity of the resting state approach to neurocognitive aging, with many studies examining age differences in functional connectivity at rest and relating these differences to cognitive performance outside the scanner. There are many advantages to the resting state that likely contribute to its popularity and indeed, many insights have been gained from this work. However, there are also several limitations of the resting state approach that restrict its ability to contribute to the study of neurocognitive aging. In this opinion piece, we consider some of those limitations and argue that task-based studies are still essential to developing a mechanistic understanding of how age affects the brain in a cognitively relevant manner - a fundamental goal of neuroscientific research into aging.
The proportional fair sharing algorithm under i.i.d. models

The proportional fair sharing (PFS) algorithm has been used in multi-user systems as an attempt to balance fairness and performance of the system throughput. Motivated by the cellular downlink scheduling problem, it is shown that when the rates of each user are i.i.d., the performance of the PFS scheduling algorithms is asymptotically equivalent to a purely greedy scheduling algorithm. The mean asymptotic throughput of the PFS algorithm is characterized and the rate of convergence to this limit is derived under i.i.d. models. Additionally the asymptotic covariance matrix about the convergence point is stated.
Electronic Structure and the Superconducting Gap of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

During the last several years, extensive photoemission studies have been performed on the cuprate superconductors1. These studies revealed, among other things, details near the Fermi level which are sensitive to the shape of the Fermi surface, the highly correlated nature of these oxides, as well as the superconducting gap states. These are arguably the most fundamental questions raised by the novel oxide superconductors. Most of the angle-resolved photoemission efforts were concentrated on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (referred as Bi2212 in the rest of the paper) because of its superior material properties (stability in vacuum and ability to cleave)2–4. In this short paper, we give a brief summary of the experimental work on Bi2212 involving the Stanford group in collaboration with groups from Los Alamos, Ames and IBM. We intend to make this paper a “road map” so that the readers can get a general picture of our results, and can find more detailed information about specific issues in the references listed.
Keeping up with the Joneses: How Households Fared in the Era of High Income Inequality and the Housing Price Bubble, 1999–2007

Sociologists conceptualize lifestyles as structured hierarchically where people seek to emulate those higher up. Growing income inequality in the United States means those at the top bid up the pri...
Helping Struggling Students: The Impact of Three Instructional Interventions on College Students’ Exam Scores and Exam-Skipping Behavior:

Whether instructional-communication feedback sent to struggling students and succeeding students following course exams would significantly increase their exam scores and significantly decrease the...
Advances in surrogate based modeling, feasibility analysis, and optimization: A review

Abstract The idea of using a simpler surrogate to represent a complex phenomenon has gained increasing popularity over past three decades. Due to their ability to exploit the black-box nature of the problem and the attractive computational simplicity, surrogates have been studied by researchers in multiple scientific and engineering disciplines. Successful use of surrogates shall result in significant savings in terms of computational time and resources. However, with a wide variety of approaches available in the literature, the correct choice of surrogate is a difficult task. An important aspect of this choice is based on the type of problem at hand. This paper reviews recent advances in the area of surrogate models for problems in modeling, feasibility analysis, and optimization. Two of the frequently used surrogates, radial basis functions, and Kriging are tested on a variety of test problems. Finally, guidelines for the choice of appropriate surrogate model are discussed.
Simple goitre (non-endemic, non-toxic goitre) and multinodular goitre

Simple goitre is one of the least simple thyroid disorders with particular regard to its pathogenesis. Henneman’s [1] clinical definition of simple goitre as ‘a benign, diffuse or multinodular enlargement of the thyroid of unknown etiology with normal hormone production occurring sporadically’ is difficult to improve. Studer and Ramelli [2] have defined the condition ‘as a slowly developing diffuse or nodular enlargement of the thyroid gland resulting from excessive replication of epithelial cells with subsequent generation of new follicles of widely differing structure and function’. By convention, goitres whose causes are known are not included under the term simple goitre. Therefore, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, euthyroid Graves’ disease, iodine deficiency, and goit-rogen induced goitre are excluded.
A new approach for FPGA-based real-time simulation of power electronic system with no simulation latency in subsystem partitioning

Abstract In real-time Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test applications for power electronic systems, the main hurdle is to tackle with the mathematical models of variable topology of complex and high frequency driven converter. The most widespread solution is to separate the whole system into subsystems. However, partitioning method usually introduces simulation time step latency between different subsystems, which causes numeric instabilities especially when stiff situation occurs. In this paper, we propose a novel parallel simulation approach which has no time step latency in the whole system division, from which a numerically stable system modeling can be realized. Its numerical accuracy of the solution, the architecture design, and the issue pertaining to the parallel calculation are discussed in detail in this paper. The pertinence of the developed solution is also tested using a case study relating to a traction system power electronic application. For this case study, implementations are made both on a 3 GHz Xeon CPU of RT LAB real-time simulator with a 2 μs simulation step and a Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) Kintex-7 embedded in National Instruments FlexRIO PXIe-7975 enabling a simulation step below 50 ns. Besides, comparison with results obtained from Simpower system in Matlab allows to evaluate the accuracy of our proposed modeling approach.
Neonatal adoptive transfer of lymphocytes rescues social behaviour during adolescence in immune-deficient mice.

Accumulating evidence has shown that lymphocytes modulate behaviour and cognition by direct interactions with the central nervous system. Studies have shown that reconstitution by adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from wild type into immune-deficient mice restores a number of neurobehavioural deficits observed in these models. Moreover, it has been shown that these effects are mostly mediated by T lymphocytes. Studies of adoptive transfer thus far have employed adult mice, but whether lymphocytes may also modulate behaviour during development remains unknown. In this study, neonate lymphocyte-deficient Rag2-/- mice were reconstituted within 48 hours after birth with lymphoid cells from transgenic donors expressing green fluorescent protein, allowing for their identification in various tissues in recipient mice while retaining all functional aspects. Adolescent Rag2-/- and reconstituted Rag2-/- along with C57BL/6J wild-type mice underwent a series of behavioural tests, including open field, social interaction and sucrose preference tests. At 12 weeks, they were evaluated in the Morris water maze (MWM). Reconstituted mice showed changes in almost all aspects of behaviour that were assessed, with a remarkable complete rescue of impaired social behaviour displayed by adolescent Rag2-/- mice. Consistent with previous reports in adult mice, neonatal reconstitution in Rag2-/- mice restored spatial memory in the MWM. The presence of donor lymphocytes in the brain of neonatally reconstituted Rag2-/- mice was confirmed at various developmental points. These findings provide evidence that lymphocytes colonize the brain during post-natal development and modulate behaviour across the lifespan supporting a role for adaptive immunity during brain maturation.
The Changing Function of Art Education in Pakistan

(1964). The Changing Function of Art Education in Pakistan. Studies in Art Education: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 12-20.
A functional analysis of mentalistic terms in human observers

This paper, and the following paper by M.J. Dougher (1989), were originally given as part of a symposium presented at the 1984 meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis (R. Schnaitter, Chair). The symposium included two other papers on the same theme by Diane Spooner and Diane Mercier, and the discussant was Willard Day. The concept of the symposium was to use the following paper (Leigland) as a basis for a demonstration of what has been termed the “Reno methodology,” a method for the interpretation of verbal behavior developed by Willard Day and his students at the University of Nevada, Reno. Essentially, the project may be described in the following way: the controlled environment-behavior interactions of a pigeon in an operant chamber gave rise to explanatory verbal behavior on the part of observing human subjects, and the controlling relations with respect to the latter gave rise to the verbal behavior contained in Leigland’s report. The controlling relations to be discriminated with respect to Leigland’s verbal behavior were then the subject of Dougher’s analysis in the report that follows. Dougher’s report, then, uses Leigland’s report as a source of verbal behavior to be interpreted, using the practices developed by the Reno group as a method.
For Every Generalization Action, Is There Really an Equal and Opposite Reaction? Analysis of the Conservation Law for Generalization Performance

Abstract The “Conservation Law for Generalization Performance” [Schaffer, 1994] states that for any learning algorithm and bias, “generalization is a zero-sum enterprise.” In this paper we study the law and show that while the law is true, the manner in which the Conservation Law adds up generalization performance over all target concepts, without regard to the probability with which each concept occurs, is relevant only in a uniformly random universe. We then introduce a more meaningful measure of generalization, expected generalization performance. Unlike the Conservation Law's measure of generalization performance (which is, in essence, defined to be zero), expected generalization performance is conserved only when certain symmetric properties hold in our universe. There is no reason to believe, a priori, that such symmetries exist; learning algorithms may well exhibit non-zero (expected) generalization performance.
Thymus, Spleen, Lymph Nodes, and Immunodeficiency

Accessory spleen is the most common congenital anomaly, encountered in about 16 % of pediatric splenectomies. Accessory spleens are usually solitary and are most commonly located in the splenic hilum, although they may be found in the omentum, gastrosplenic and splenocolic ligaments, or retroperitoneum. The primary importance of accessory spleens is that they must be removed along with the spleen in therapeutic splenectomies for diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura to prevent recurrence.
Learning Resolution-independent Image Representations

Humans are well-known to be highly effective at comprehending continuous patterns within digital images. We present a collection of methods that enable analogous capabilities in deep neural networks. These methods train neural networks to represent images with continuous resolution-independent representations. They utilize an MCMC algorithm that directs attention during the learning phase to regions of the image that deviate from the current model. An encoding hypernetwork learns to generalize from a collection of images, such that it can effectively compute resolution-independent representations in constant time. These methods have immediate applications in super-resolution scaling of images, image compression, and secure image processing, and additionally suggest improved capabilities for image processing with neural networks in several future applications.
Partnering Across Race

In this chapter we offer a multidisciplinary review of research pertinent to the process of partnering across race. We use quantitative and qualitative investigations in the fields of communication, psychology, sociology, and demographic studies to illustrate how the process of partnering is multilayered and is impacted by forces known and unknown to the couple. We explore the ways in which interracial partner attraction, courting, and relationship initiation are influenced by factors such as individual beliefs about race, social network approval or disapproval, demography, and communication patterns. We conclude this chapter with a discussion on future trends and the impact of a diverse American population on these trends.
Are All Oral COX-2 Selective Inhibitors the Same? A Consideration of Celecoxib, Etoricoxib, and Diclofenac

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been widely used for the treatment of arthritic conditions. Drugs in this heterogeneous class alleviate pain and inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibition has traditionally been associated with increased gastrointestinal (GI) harm, whereas increased COX-2 selectivity has more recently become associated with greater risk of cardiovascular (CV) harm. When the entirety of data is considered, NSAIDs can be seen to exhibit a range of COX isoform selectivity, with all oral NSAIDs appearing to be associated with an increase in CV events. This review focuses on a comparison of the efficacy and the GI and CV safety profiles of three commonly used NSAIDs—celecoxib, etoricoxib, and diclofenac—using direct comparisons where available. While all three treatments are shown to have comparable efficacy, there are differences in their safety profiles. Both celecoxib and etoricoxib are associated with less GI harm than diclofenac despite the similarity of its COX-2 selectivity to celecoxib. Each of the three medicines under consideration is associated with a similar overall risk of CV events (fatal and nonfatal heart attacks and strokes). However, there are consistent differences in effects on blood pressure (BP), reported both from trials using ambulatory techniques and from meta-analyses of randomized trials, reporting investigator determined effects, with etoricoxib being associated with a greater propensity to destabilize BP control than either diclofenac or celecoxib.
Integrated photoacoustic microscopy and optical coherence tomography image-guided laser induced branch retinal vein occlusion in living rabbits

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) were integrated to improve the visualization of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and retinal neovascularization (RNV). RVO and RNV were observed in living, New Zealand rabbits by Rose Bengal laser-induced retinal vein thrombosis. Multimodal imaging techniques including PAM, OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), and color fundus photographs were utilized to observe and analyze changes in the retinal vasculature. Spectral domain OCT identified RNV cross-sectional structures, and progressive changes in retinal anatomy due to angiogenesis from the photothermal treatment were monitored at 4, 28, 35, 49, and 90 days post-laser. Compared to alternative methods, PAM in vivo high-contrast imaging possesses the capabilities to accurately visualize the treatment margins of occluded vasculature and areas of RNV. Results were obtained using a laser energy of 80 nJ, which is half a dose below the American National Standards Institute safety limit. The PAM system also demonstrated an increased depth of penetration, which provided high resolution images of the choroid and retinal vasculature when the optical absorption of hemoglobin was used to improve the visualize blood flow. Current modalities of imaging possess the ability to visualize RNV and RVO in two-dimensional and three-dimensional angiography. However, the system integrating both PAM and OCT can better visualize the depth and position of microvessels as well as surrounding structures. This specific multimodal ocular imaging technique may therefore be an improved technology to document minute changes in rabbit eye retinal vasculature while proving to be both safe and efficient.
Proton Transfer and Carbon−Carbon Bond Cleavage in the Elimination of Indole Catalyzed by Escherichia coli Tryptophan Indole-Lyase

Tryptophan indole-lyase from Escherichia coli catalyzes the reversible cleavage of l-tryptophan to indole and ammonium pyruvate. This reaction is mechanistically interesting since it involves the elimination of an aromatic carbon leaving group. We have been studying the mechanism of tryptophan indole-lyase using rapid-scanning stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Recently, we demonstrated that the rate constant for α-aminoacrylate intermediate formation from α-2H-l-tryptophan exhibits an isotope effect of 3.0 (Sloan, M. J.; Phillips, R. S. Biochemistry 1996, 35, 16165−16173). We have confirmed this previous result (Dk = 2.99 ± 0.30) and we have now found that β,β-di-2H-l-tryptophan also exhibits a secondary isotope effect (Dk = 1.17 ± 0.03) on the elimination reaction. Furthermore, α,β,β-tri-2H-l-tryptophan exhibits a multiple isotope effect (Dk = 4.42 ± 0.67) on the elimination of indole. In addition, there is a significant solvent isotope effect (Dk = 1.79 ± 0.11) on indole elimination in D2O. This solvent i...
Recent Developments of Eddy Current Inspection Simulator

This paper reports on development of simulation software for eddy current (EC) inspections.
Quantitative Phase Imaging: Principles and Applications

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is an emerging label-free imaging approach. QPI measures the optical phase delay associated with the object, and the resulting image provides an objective measure of morphology and dynamics, in the absence of contrast agents. As tremendous advances have been made in the past one–two decades, the QPI field continues expanding and gaining popularity. It has found applications in many different fields, especially in biomedicine. In this chapter, we provide a review of the principles associated with this exciting field, with discussion focused on optical physics, experimental principles, and applications.
Preliminary evaluation of probiotic effects on gastrointestinal signs in dogs with multicentric lymphoma undergoing multi-agent chemotherapy: A randomised, placebo-controlled study.

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is a major dose-limiting factor in dogs undergoing chemotherapy. A proposed mechanism of GI toxicity includes chemotherapy-driven GI dysbiosis. This study was designed to determine the effects of probiotic administration on GI side-effects in dogs receiving multi-agent chemotherapy. Methods Ten client-owned dogs with multicentric lymphoma were enrolled in a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled single-blinded study. On the first day of the cyclophosphamide doxorubicin vincristine prednisone (CHOP)-based chemotherapy protocol, dogs were randomised to receive either daily oral probiotic at a dose of 200 × 109 cfu/10 kg (n = 5) or daily oral placebo (n = 5). Complete blood count, faecal score (FS), faecal microbiome analysis (qPCR) and adverse events scores were performed at baseline and on the day of each subsequent chemotherapy dose, as well as 3 days after doxorubicin (days 0, 7, 14, 21, 24 and 28). Results Overall, 40% of dogs had an abnormal GI microbiome at baseline, specifically decreased faecal C. hiranonis and Fusobacterium abundances. Dogs receiving probiotics had increased faecal Streptococcus (p = 0.02) and E. coli. (p = 0.01). No dogs receiving probiotics experienced diarrhoea (FS ≥ 3.5) compared to four of five receiving placebo. (F 2.895; p = 0.13). Conclusion GI microbiome dysbiosis was common in this group of dogs with multicentric lymphoma. Probiotics were well-tolerated, with no negative side effects. Further studies are needed to explore broader microbiome and metabolome changes, as well as clinical benefit.
Polarization in Lepton-Induced Relations

These lecture notes are organized in the following way: in Sec. II the nature of the leptonic tensor is reviewed (see also Ref. [1]) and extensions to include both incident and scattered electron polarizations incorporated. The general problem was treated in Ref. [2] — here I have chosen to present some new results for the leptonic polarization transfer process. In Sec. III the nature of the hadronic tensor and the electromagnetic hadronic (nuclear) response functions for single-arm, inclusive electron scattering are discussed. Recent work on the inclusive process \( A(\overset{\lower0.5em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\rightharpoonup}$}} {e} ,\overset{\lower0.5em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\rightharpoonup}$}} {e} ') \) is summarized after repeating the familiar arguments leading to the unpolarized inclusive electron scattering cross section. The subject of inclusive scattering from polarized targets, on the other hand, is not discussed in these lectures and the reader is directed to Ref. [2] for detailed treatment of those ideas. In Sec. IV the concepts involved in two-arm coincidence electron scattering are introduced from a general perspective. The relevant kinematics are treated in some detail and connections are made with inclusive electron scattering — the latter are especially important in circumstances where inclusive electron scattering in the quasielastic region is being studied. Following these general considerations, in Sec. V a specific simple model is discussed, namely the polarized plane-wave impulse approximation (PWIA), to provide a tool for treating the two-arm coincidence electron scattering of polarized electrons from polarized targets in the quasielastic region (the general formalism for such studies is presented in Ref. [3]). After introducing the model and briefly revisiting inclusive scattering, a few selected examples of polarized two-arm coincidence scattering are presented. The lectures conclude with a brief discussion of multi-particle coincidence electron scattering in Sec. VI and finally a summary of the material presented in these lectures is given in Sec. VII.
Senior design project: ABET 2000 certification

The senior design course sequence SYST 490/495 at George Mason University (GMU), USA, is designed to give systems engineering students hands-on experience in applying the methods taught in the Systems Engineering Undergraduate degree. The 1998-1999 Systems Engineering Senior Design class project was to create a system to aid the Systems Engineering Operations Research (SEOR) Department in the preparation for ABET 2000 certification of the Systems Engineering Undergraduate degree. The purpose of the project is: to provide systems engineering seniors with hands-on experience in applying the systems engineering process to the problem of developing and maintaining a real-world system; to provide systems engineering seniors with hands-on experience in interacting with clients to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet the clients' needs; and to provide the SEOR department at GMU with an ABET 2000 program evaluation process. This paper documents the process the students and the professor went through in developing a viable system to help in this endeavor.
Reproducibility of liver and mediastinal blood pool F-18 activity as normal reference tissues

536 Objectives Stability of normal tissue background radiotracer activity is essential for reliable FDG tumor quantification across sequential studies. However, only limited data demonstrates stability of F-18 activity in the liver and descending aorta on test-retest in FDG PET imaging. We evaluated the stability of background activity in normal liver and mediastinal blood pool structures as determined by manual ROI placement. Methods We reviewed 52 patients(26M, 26F, 9diabetics) with consecutive clinical FDG PET/CT studies performed a mean of 62 days apart(range 7-104d). Scan parameters(injected dose, uptake time) and patient variables(height, weight, serum glucose level) were compared. Average SUV corrected for lean body mass(SUL) was measured with a 3cm diameter spherical ROI in the right liver lobe, 2x2x1cm ROI in the descending aorta(DA), 2cm cubed ROI in the left atrium(LA) and left ventricle(LV). Reproducibility for each background SUL was assessed. Results The mean SUL for all 104 studies were, liver=1.47, DA=1.18, LV=1.33, LA=1.17. There is a very strong correlation between the 1st and 2nd study in SUL of the liver(r=0.776,p Conclusions The mean SUL of a 3cm diameter sphere in the right liver lobe is a reproducible measure of background activity that is more reliable than measurements of multiple mediastinal blood pool structures. When the liver SUL is unavailable, the DA SUL can be used as alternative background measurement that is more reproducible than the LA or LV. These findings support the normal tissue ROI recommendations outlined in PERCIST 1.0
Systemic cancer therapy with a tumor-selective vaccinia virus mutant lacking thymidine kinase and vaccinia growth factor genes.

We have demonstrated previously the oncolytic effects of a systemically delivered, replicating vaccinia virus. To enhance the tumor specificity of this vector, we have developed a combined thymidine kinase-deleted (TK-) and vaccinia growth factor-deleted (VGF-) vaccinia virus and investigated its properties in vitro and in vivo. The gene for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was inserted into the TK locus of a VGF- vaccinia virus by homologous recombination creating a double-deleted mutant vaccinia virus (vvDD-GFP). Infection of resting and dividing NIH3T3 cells with vvDD-GFP yielded reduced viral recovery compared with wild-type (WT), TK-, or VGF- viruses from resting cultures but equivalent virus recovery from dividing cultures. Eight days after nude mice were injected i.p. with 10(7) plaque-forming units (pfu) of WT, TK-, VGF-, or vvDD-GFP vaccinia virus, tissues and tumor were harvested for viral titer determination. No virus was recovered from the brains of mice injected with vvDD-GFP compared with the other viruses, which ranged from 130 to 28,000 pfu/mg protein; however, equivalent amounts were recovered from tumor. There was no toxicity from vvDD-GFP because nude mice receiving 10(8) pfu of IP vvDD-GFP lived >100 days, whereas mice receiving WT, VGF-, or TK- virus had median survivals of only 6, 17, and 29 days, respectively. Similar results were seen when 10(9) pfu of vvDD-GFP were given. Nude mice bearing s.c. murine colon adenocarcinoma (MC38) had significant tumor regression after treatment with 10(9) pfu of systemic (i.p.) vvDD-GFP compared with control (mean tumor size, 180.71 +/- 35.26 mm(3) versus 2796.79 +/- 573.20 mm(3) 12 days after injection of virus). Our data demonstrate that a TK- and VGF- mutant vaccinia virus is significantly attenuated in resting cells in vitro and demonstrates tumor-specific replication in vivo. It is a promising vector for use in tumor-directed gene therapy, given its enhanced safety profile, tumor selectivity, and the oncolytic effects after systemic delivery.