cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous biopsy facilitates modern treatment of renal masses

Contemporary approaches to cancer therapy have moved away from a one-size-fits-all model. Precision treatments are based on patients and their individual tumor characteristics. In general, incidental renal masses fall into three categories: aggressive cancers, indolent cancers, and benign tumors. Treatments may include surgery, thermal ablation, or observation. Choosing the best treatment based solely on radiologic information is uninformed and unnecessary, and may lead to overtreatment of benign tumors or inappropriate treatment of aggressive tumors. Percutaneous biopsy is a safe and effective tool that provides prognostic information about unknown masses to guide treatment decision making. The first step for improving personalized treatments for small renal masses is clear: increase utilization of pretreatment renal mass biopsy.
Standard Particle Swarm Optimization on Source Seeking Using Mobile Robots

In this paper, we explore the implementation of standard particle swarm optimization (SPSO) on a swarm of physical mobile robots conducting a source seeking task. The signal source is electromagnetic, whose strength is non-differentiable at many points making most gradient based source seeking strategies ineffective in this scenario. We analyze the physical limitations of the robots and modify SPSO accordingly to make them compatible with each other. We also compare different SPSO topology models to determine the one best suited for our problem. Finally, we incorporate obstacle avoidance strategies into PSO, and compare the performance of original PSO, SPSO 2006 and SPSO 2011 in a complex environment with obstacles. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of implementing SPSO to robot source seeking problem. Moreover, it is shown that SPSO 2011 is not only superior as an optimization method, but also provides better performance in robotic implementation compared to SPSO 2006 and original PSO.
Gas Phase and Gas Surface Kinetics of Transient Silicoin Hydride Species

This paper presents a summary of the current state of our understanding of the absolute reactivity of transient silicon hydride species, such as SiH, SiH2 and SiH3 in the gas phase and at the surface of thin films.
STEM Training and Early Career Outcomes of Female and Male Graduate Students: Evidence from UMETRICS Data linked to the 2010 Census.

Abstract Women are underrepresented in science and engineering, with the underrepresentation increasing in career stage. We analyze gender differences at critical junctures in the STEM pathway--graduate training and the early career--using UMETRICS administrative data matched to the 2010 Census and W-2s. We find strong gender separation in teams, although the effects of this are ambiguous. While no clear disadvantages exist in training environments, women earn 10% less than men once we include a wide range of controls, most notably field of study. This gap disappears once we control for women's marital status and presence of children.
Understanding the management system of electronics voluntary in hospital.

system of electronics Voluntary management in hospital is an organic component with software and hardware,based on internet,collected skilles of computer multimedia.we discussed Its thinking of design systematic component,work program and systematic characteristic,from the discusstion we realized that It could normalized order of see a doctor,improved humane enviroment for patients,reduced cross infection and improved the level of management.
5-(N, N-Hexamethylene) amiloride is a GABA-A ρ1 receptor positive allosteric modulator

ABSTRACTGuanidine compounds act as ion channel modulators. In the case of Cys-loop receptors, the guanidine compound amiloride antagonized the heteromeric GABA-A, glycine, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. However, amiloride exhibits characteristics consistent with a positive allosteric modulator for the human GABA-A (hGABA-A) ρ1 receptor. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the positive allosteric modulation was influenced by the GABA-A ρ1 second transmembrane domain 15′ position, a site implicated in ligand allosteric modulation of Cys-loop receptors. There are a variety of amiloride derivatives that provide opportunities to assess the significance of amiloride functional groups (e.g., the guanidine group, the pyrazine ring, etc.) in the modulation of the GABA-A ρ1 receptor activity. We utilized 3 amiloride derivatives (benzamil, phenamil, and 5-(N, N-Hexamethylene) amiloride) to assess the contribution of these groups toward the potentiation of the GABA-A ρ1 receptor. Benzamil and phenamil fai...
Evaluation Criteria Employed by to Store Patronage and Womens’ Clothing Selection - A Comparative Analysis of Blacks and Whites Based on Selected Socio-Economic Variables

Store patronage practices and store patronage motives are examined to determine if there are significant differences between black and white females when purchasing their own clothing. The styles/types of womens’ clothing preferred/purchased most frequently, and the product evaluation criteria utilized by the female buyer are also analyzed to determine if there are significant differences between black and white females.
Relativistic Nuclear Field Theory

Matter and energy warp spacetime and in turn are shaped and moved by the curvature of spacetime. Accordingly, any theory of matter in the presence of strong gravitational fields should be examined within the context of curved spacetime. We are guaranteed by the equivalence principle that, at any spacetime point in a star, a local Lorentz frame can be erected. We found that, at the highest densities in a neutron star hovering at the verge of collapse to a black hole, the relative change in the metric over the average distance of baryons is exceedingly small (≤ 10−19) (Section 3.4). Therefore, the extent of a local Lorentz frame in a neutron star is so large on the scale of particle spacings that we may treat the matter at a given density as if it were of infinite extent and neglect the energy associated with boundaries in comparison with the bulk energy. This establishes the frame in which we may work—a Lorentz frame—and the approximation in which we may work—the bulk approximation.
A MOST PROBABLE POINT BASED METHOD FOR UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS

Uncertainty is inevitable at every stage of the life cycle development of a product. To make use of probabilistic information and to make reliable decisions by incorporating decision maker’s risk attitude under uncertainty, methods for propagating the effect of uncertainty are therefore needed. When designing complex systems, the efficiency of methods for uncertainty analysis becomes critical. In this paper, a most probable point (MPP) based uncertainty analysis (MPPUA) method is proposed. The concept of the MPP is utilized to generate the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of a system output by evaluating the probability estimates at a serial of limit states. To improve the efficiency of locating the MPP, a novel MPP search algorithm is presented that employs a set of searching strategies, including evaluating derivatives to direct a search, tracing the MPP locus, and predicting the initial point for MPP search. A mathematical example and the Pratt & Whitney (PW) engine design are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. With the MPPUA method, the probabilistic distribution of a system output can be generated across the whole range of its performance.
Early Development and Neoplasia

Most of the studies cited in earlier chapters deal with molecular mechanisms of basic cellular processes of relatively homogeneous cell populations. Much of what is significant in biomedical science is concerned with complex, organized cell mixtures: tissues and organs. Thus, it is important to see how the principles we have previously defined apply to such systems. To address some of the questions involved in more complex systems, we have chosen to briefly discuss two topics, early development and neoplasia. In our view these represent two important aspects of multicellularity: 1) the initial and presumably simplest form of the organization of cells; and 2) the failure or reversal of the normal organization.
Land Use Change Dynamics in Southern California: Does Geographic Elasticity Matter?

This article examines how municipal planning contexts can shape urban land use dynamics by investigating the parcel-level land use changes in a five-county Southern California metropolitan area between 1990 and 2005. An analysis, based on a multinomial logit model, shows that land use change patterns significantly vary by municipalities that were situated in heterogeneous planning contexts. More specifically, cities with limited ability to expand their jurisdictional boundaries are found to provide more recreational areas and urban open spaces, while restricting nonconventional land uses. However, no evidence of a shift from single-family to multifamily residential development is detected for such cities.
Performance assessment of a noninvasive swallowable biosensor deployment system in microgravity

Ingestible capsule endoscope technology has been a topic of research since the middle of the 20th century and has become a prominent area of study since the commercialization of capsule endoscopy in 2000. Ingestible telemetry capsules have been investigated by NASA in the last 20 years as a means for monitoring human body temperature during periods of physical exhaustion, but are limited in sensing time due to passage through the digestive system. In this work, we present a feasibility study on a sensor that attaches to the intestinal mucosa after being delivered to the bowel via ingestible capsule to be used on long distance space flights. This study included experiments conducted on NASA’s Weightless Wonder aircraft and replicated in a laboratory setting on the ground. During these experiments, a capsule was activated, manually inserted into excised porcine small intestine, and then automatically implanted a sham sensor onto the mucosal lining. The purpose of the experiment was to determine if the automated implantation sequence is affected by microgravity. Eight trials conducted in each setting yielded successful implantation of four sham sensors in microgravity and three in earth gravity. Results suggest that automated implantation is feasible in both 1G and microgravity environments though design changes are necessary to significantly improve repeatability in both environments. Though improvements in reliability of the device are needed, this experiment is a benchmark for transferring capsule technology currently used only for visual screening of the bowel to health monitoring systems for space flights.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Diversity and impact of herbivorous insects on Brazilian peppertree in Florida prior to release of exotic biological control agents

Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is a South American plant that is highly invasive in Florida. The impact of insect herbivores on the performance of Brazilian peppertree was evaluated at two locations in Florida using an insecticide exclusion method. Although 38 species of insect herbivores were collected on the invasive tree, there were no differences in growth or reproductive output of insecticide protected and unprotected trees, providing evidence that insect feeding had no measurable impact on tree performance. The majority of insects collected on Brazilian peppertree were generalists, and several were serious agricultural pests.
A mathematical model of the immuno-pathogenesis of the within human-host dynamics of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite

A mathematical model involving a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations that describe the within human-host dynamics of the malaria parasite is developed. The model integrates known major parasite form actors-the blood stage pathogenic asexual forms and the blood stage transmissible sexual forms, involved in the development and progression of the malaria disease within the human body. It also incorporates the mechanisms involved in the activation of the human immune response in inhibiting and diminishing the success of the malaria parasite within the human. We evoke some assumptions on the rate of production and depletion of healthy red blood cells in the presence and absence of innate and adaptive immunity in the formulation of our model. Basic mathematical properties of boundedness, existence and uniqueness of solutions for our model are established. Our analysis reveals the existence of a threshold parameter that determines the existence of a non-trivial steady state solutions which can be driven to oscillatory solutions that are reminiscent of malaria parasitemia in humans. The existence of a positive merozoite parasite form that leads to the depletion of the human’s healthy red blood cells in an immune-suppressed model allows for us to investigate the role of immunity in in habiting parasite success. A sensitivity analysis is done to reveal the parameters that are necessary for control. Conditions for the onset of sexual forms of the malaria parasites that can be infective to mosquitoes and consequent control measures are discussed.
Maximizing Operating Room Performance Using Portfolio Selection

Abstract The operating room (OR) is responsible for most hospital admissions and is one of the most cost and work intensive areas in the hospital. From recent trends, we observe an ironic parallel increase among expenditure and waiting time. Therefore, improving OR scheduling has become obligatory, particularly in terms of patient flow and benefit. Most of the hospitals rely on average patient arrivals and processing times in OR planning. But in practice, variations in arrivals and processing times causes high instability in OR performance. Our model of optimization provides OR schedules maximizing patient flow and benefit at a fixed level of risk using portfolio selection. The simulation results show that the performance of the OR has a direct relationship with the risk.
Chaos Theory and Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions

Henri Poincare introduced researchers to the concept of sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Edward Lorenz mapped trajectory changes for atmospheric systems to demonstrate these ubiquitous effects. As a result, long-term patterns can be roughly predicted, but never exactly. The Lyapunov exponent λ represents a measure of chaos, at the same time representing change in entropy δ2S, the inverse of coherence length ξ−1, as well as Kolmogorov entropy and fractal dimensions. The human body has positive and negative feedback processes that self-regulate. Nevertheless, perturbations to system trajectories can alter the periodicities of trajectories over time and even plunge some systems into chaos. Health interventions are designed to restore stability either by maintaining stable desirable conditions or by phase shifting undesirable conditions.
Comparing the Air Medical Prehospital Triage Score With Current Practice for Triage of Injured Patients to Helicopter Emergency Medical Services: A Cost-effectiveness Analysis.

Importance Little evidence exists to guide helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) triage, and current practice is inefficient. The Air Medical Prehospital Triage (AMPT) score was developed to identify patients most likely to benefit from HEMS compared with ground EMS. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the potential effect on costs and outcomes of a more targeted HEMS triage strategy, such as the AMPT score. Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of current practice compared with the AMPT score for HEMS scene triage of trauma patients. Design, Setting, and Participants A cost-effectiveness Markov model was developed for the US health care system to compare current practice with the AMPT score as HEMS scene triage strategies from the health care system perspective over a patient lifetime horizon. A base case was estimated using national data of patient characteristics from the National Trauma Databank from 2007 to 2012. Model inputs, including demographic information, health care costs, survival, and utility estimates, were derived from literature and national registries. Triage strategies were modeled as probability of HEMS transport. Multilevel logistic regression was used to evaluate survival probability between HEMS and ground EMS under the triage strategies. Costs considered included transport reimbursements, hospitalization, cost of health care in the first year postinjury, and annual cost of health care after the first year postinjury. Several sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate robustness of model assumptions. Main Outcomes and Measures Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, with a threshold of $100 000 or less per quality-adjusted life-year defining cost-effectiveness. Results The base case had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $255 333 per quality-adjusted life-year for current practice compared with the AMPT score. Assuming 20% of patients have severe injuries and assuming HEMS only benefits these patients, current practice had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $176 686 per quality-adjusted life-year. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that current practice is inferior in 85% of iterations, only becoming favored when the cost-effectiveness threshold is greater than $310 000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Conclusions and Relevance Current practice is not cost-effective compared with the AMPT score for HEMS scene triage. The AMPT score was the preferred strategy across a range of model input values in sensitivity analyses. The AMPT score identifies patients most likely to benefit from HEMS while potentially reducing costs to the health care system and should be considered in air medical transport protocols for trauma patients.
Field Experiments in Robotic Subsurface Science with Long Duration Autonomy

A next challenge in planetary exploration involves probing the subsurface to understand composition, to search for volatiles like water ice, or to seek evidence of life. The Mars rover missions have scraped the surface of Mars and cored rocks to make ground breaking discoveries. Many believe that the chance of finding evidence of life is expected to increase by going deeper. Deploying a system that probes the subsurface brings its own challenges and to that end, we designed, built and field tested an autonomous robot that can collect subsurface samples using a 1 m drill. The drill operation, sample transfer, and sample analysis are all automated. The robot also navigates kilometers autonomously while making decisions about scientific measurements. The system is designed to execute multi-day science plans, stopping and resuming operation as necessary. This paper describes the robot and science instruments and lessons from designing and operating such a system.
Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma aggressiveness is associated with differential expression of collagen and STAT1.

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (vSCC) is a rare but debilitating disease. One vSCC variant comprises tumor cells that grow and expand as a cohesive sheet of cells that “pushes” and compresses the associated lymphoplasmacytic (LPC) stroma. Another vSCC variant features tumor cells that grow in loose association with one another and infiltrate the associated fibromyxoid (FMX) stroma consisting mainly of extracellular matrix. Clinically, infiltrative vSCC with FMX stroma (Inf/FMX) is significantly associated with lymph node metastases and recurrence. An unbiased proteomic approach was used to identify pathways involved in the development of the different vSCC variants. Proteins extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of 10 cases of pushing vSCC with LPC stroma (Push/LPC) and eight cases of Inf/FMX were subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Analysis identified 2265 different proteins in the 18 samples of vSCC. Of these, 282 proteins were differentially expressed between vSCC variants. Of these, 45 were higher and 237 lower in Inf/FMX compared to Push/LPC tumors. Consistent with the desmoplastic morphology and increased picrosirius red staining, expression of subunits of several collagens (Col 1, 3, 6, 14) was higher in the more aggressive Inf/FMX tumors. In contrast, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), an important regulator of several inflammatory pathways, was expressed at lower levels in the Inf/FMX tumors. This finding was confirmed by immunohistochemistry using an antibody to STAT1. Informatics analysis of the differing profiles identified differences in pathways associated with integrin signaling and inflammation mediated by chemokines and cytokines. Comparing the proteomic profiles of vSCC morphologic variants indicates that increased expression of collagen subunits and decreased expression of STAT1 are associated with a more aggressive tumor variant, defined by increased incidence of nodal metastases and tumor recurrence. Informatic analyses further identify that both alterations in cell interaction with matrix and immune function differ with tumor aggressiveness. Identification of these pathways provides a molecular basis for understanding aggressiveness of vSCC.
Nest predators, but not nest survival, differ between adjacent urban habitats

Growing human populations make it imperative for ecologists to identify strategies to conserve biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes, such as cities. Effects of urbanization on birds are particularly well-studied, but questions remain regarding the best conservation approaches. Debate about the relative utility of focusing conservation efforts on nature reserves versus developed lands has focused largely on comparing species abundance or presence, with few studies addressing underlying behavioral or demographic mechanisms. Here we evaluated differences in avian reproductive success in nature reserves and matrix habitats to test the assumption that nest predation is lower within areas protected from development. Specifically, we investigated 1) whether nest survival differed in replicated pairs of forest parks and residential neighborhoods and 2) whether differences in nest survival were associated with changes in which species most frequently depredated nests. From April–August 2007–2014, we monitored nests of two native birds, American robin (Turdus migratorius) and northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), and video-documented nest predators in paired forest-matrix habitats in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area. We found similar rates of nest survival in the two habitats for both robins (Χ21 = 0.715, p = 0.398, n = 741 nests) and cardinals (Χ21 = 0.926, p = 0.336, n = 1156 nests), but interactions between predators and prey differed. In particular, domestic cats (Felis catus) were over five times as likely to depredate cardinal nests in matrix habitats versus forest parks (Χ21 = 7.24, simulated p = 0.010; nforest = 3, nmatrix = 7). Our results suggest that at least in some circumstances, nest success of native birds may be equivalent between nature reserves and adjacent residential matrix habitats, and thus residential neighborhoods may contribute positively to bird conservation in urban landscapes.
Update on Intracavitary Radiation in the Treatment of Bladder Tumors

AbstractA 15-year experience with intracavitary radiation for the treatment of selected bladder tumors is presented. The age range of these patients was 39 to 91 years, with an average of 65 years. There were 38 men and 17 women with multiple stage A bladder tumors and carcinoma in situ. Some patients were poor risks for treatment by total extirpative surgery.A simplified technique using a 25mg. radium capsule as a central source is described for administration of 4,000 to 5,000 rad to the surface of the bladder. Most patients tolerate the presence of the radium catheter with little difficulty. No morbidity and no mortality were reported.In this series more than 60 per cent of the patients benefited from the therapy, with no recurrence noted in some cases after up to 8½ years of followup.Intracavitary radiation is used in few clinics. Use of this modality does not preclude or complicate the subsequent use of other conservative measures or radical therapy if required. It is an effective procedure for treat...
Relation between plasma concentration of indomethacin and its effect on prostaglandin synthesis and platelet aggregation in man

The dose and plasma levels of indomethacin correlated with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis as measured both by urinary excretion of the major metabolite of prostaglandin E2 (PGE-M) and by the release of prostaglandin E2 from thrombin-stimulated platelets. Considerable intersubject variability was observed in the suppression of PGE-M excretion. In some patients 37.5 mg indomethacin daily, usually considered subtherapeutic, caused suppression. Maximal suppression (greater than 90%) occurred in some after a daily dose of 75 mg, whereas 150 mg was required to achieve this level of inhibition in others. Suppression of the excretion of PGE-M by 60% occurred when the end of the dosage interval plasma levels of indomethacin were in the range 0.05 to 0.3 microgram/ml, which implies that a somewhat higher average steady-state concentration during the dosage interval was required to achieve this effect. A similar degree of inhibition of the release of PGE2 on thrombin-stimulated platelets was associated with the same range of plasma levels. Upon discontinuation of the drug, the levels of indomethacin in plasma decreased exponentially; inhibition of the release of PGE2 from platelets by indomethacin declined linearly with time and in parallel with the logarithm of the diminishing plasma levels.
The Transiting Planet

The first step in understanding the transit light curve is to define the appropriate coordinate system. In defining the so-called orbital elements, a Cartesian coordinate system is usually adopted. I begin with the simplest reference frame possible, where the planet orbits the star in the \(\hat{x}\)–\(\hat{y}\) plane with the star at one focus, defined to be the origin, as shown in Fig. 3.1. By working in the rest frame of the star, the reflex motion is inherently accounted for by the model.
A note on groups of p-length 1∗

Abstract The finite group G is said to have p-length 1 if there exist normal subgroups H ⊆K ⊆G such that H and G K are p′-groups and K H is a p-group. In this note, we give some character-theoretic characterizations of groups with p-length 1. These concern the restrictions of characters to a Sylow p-normalizer. We also prove a sufficient (but hardly necessary) condition for a p-solvable group to have p-length 1. This condition also involves the Sylow p-normalizer.
Transcription Factor EB Activation Rescues Advanced αB-Crystallin Mutation-Induced Cardiomyopathy by Normalizing Desmin Localization.

Background Mutations in αB‐crystallin result in proteotoxic cardiomyopathy with desmin mislocalization to protein aggregates. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a novel approach to activate transcription...
Irving Thalberg’s Film Production, 1934–1936

This chapter discusses Irving Thalberg’s early production plans for a biopic of Marie-Antoinette in terms of a dialectic operating among story editor, producer, star, director, and contract writers at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It begins by locating Thalberg’s film productions of the early to mid-1930s in relation to past trends in European and American biopics. It then discusses the development of the screenplay according to standards of historical research and narrative plausibility, attending to Marie-Antoinette’s flirtation with the duc d’Orleans as an ambitious politician and the comte de Fersen as an absorbing lover in the first half, and her loyalty to Louis XVI and the institution of monarchy in the second half. The discussion further shows that the producer’s script stayed relatively faithful to the biography’s thesis about the king’s crucial sexual problem and queen’s consequent desire for diversion despite pressure from the censor to pursue a traditional “sin and atonement” narrative. Finally, it presents Thalberg’s assessment of Shearer’s suitability for such a role.
Differential Diagnosis of Ulceration

The presence of epidermal destruction is an important histopathologic finding in the evaluation of skin biopsies with lymphoid infiltrates. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous lymphoma. Ulceration is generally absent in MF, except for advanced tumor-stage disease, which only occurs in a small subset of patients after several years. Therefore, the presence of ulceration would raise the possibility of a non-MF cutaneous lymphoproliferative process. Some pseudolymphomas may also demonstrate ulceration.
REACTOR TRANSFER FUNCTIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview on reactor transfer functions. The amplitude and the argument of the transfer function over the imaginary axis are, respectively, the ratio of amplitudes of the output and input and their phase difference in the steady state. This form of the transfer function on the imaginary axis is called the frequency response. If the frequency response is known over the positive imaginary axis, it is defined over the entire imaginary axis and by analytic continuation over the complex plane. To determine whether there are zeros of the denominators of the transfer function for values of the variable with a positive real part, it is possible to use a topological property of the mapping defined by an analytic function. Transfer functions have been computed for reactors with a circulating fuel. These require that the delayed neutron terms be modified to take into consideration both the decay of delayed neutron precursors outside the core and undecayed precursors entering the loop. Circulation affects the transfer function by increasing the gain and by introducing some mild resonances at the harmonics of the circulation frequency.
FPGA Accelerated Analysis of Boolean Gene Regulatory Networks

Boolean models are a powerful abstraction for qualitative modeling of gene regulatory networks. With the recent availability of advanced high-throughput technologies, Boolean models have increasingly grown in size and complexity, posing a challenge for existing software simulation tools that have not scaled at the same speed. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are powerful reconfigurable integrated circuits that can offer massive performance improvements. Due to their highly parallel nature, FPGAs are well suited to simulate complex molecular networks. We present here a new simulation framework for Boolean models, which first converts the model to Verilog, a standardized hardware description language, and then connects it to an execution core that runs on an FPGA coherently attached to a POWER8 processor. We report an order of magnitude speedup over a multi-threaded software simulation tool running on the same processor on a selection of Boolean models. Analysis on a T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGL) demonstrates that our framework achieves consistent performance improvements resulting in new biological insights. In addition, we show that our solution allows to perform attractor detection at an unprecedented speed, exhibiting a speedup ranging from one to three orders of magnitude compared to alternative software solutions.
Republished: Intracranial pseudoaneurysm after intracranial pressure monitor placement

Traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms are a rare but severe complication following arterial injury. Pseudoaneurysm formation can occur secondary to blunt or penetrating trauma or iatrogenic injury. We report a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm secondary to placement of an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor. A 27-year-old man was involved in a motorcycle accident resulting in multiple intracranial hemorrhages. The patient underwent craniectomy and placement of an ICP monitor. 17 days later he developed dilation of his left pupil, with imaging demonstrating a new hemorrhage in the vicinity of the previous ICP monitor. A cerebral angiogram confirmed a left-sided distal M4 pseudoaneurysm which was treated by n-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization. Intracranial pseudoaneurysm formation following neurosurgical procedures is uncommon. Delayed intracranial hemorrhage in a region of prior intracranial manipulation, even following a procedure as ‘routine’ as placement of an ICP monitor, should raise the suspicion for this rare but potentially lethal complication.
Nautical Collision Avoidance: The Cognitive Challenges of Balancing Safety, Efficiency, and Procedures

ObjectiveExperimentally investigate maneuver decision preferences in navigating ships to avoid a collision. How is safety (collision avoidance) balanced against efficiency (deviation from path and ...
Analysis of Modulation Schemes for Balanced Inverter

With the adoption of wide bandgap devices (WBGs), motor drive systems become more power-dense and efficient. However, the high switching frequency and the high switching speed introduce severe electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can significantly affect the system function. The balanced inverter was introduced to improve the EMI performance by canceling the common-mode voltage at the motor end with ideal switching conditions. In this paper, the operation principle of the balanced inverter under ideal operating conditions is summarized. Then a detailed analysis of possible switching states under non-ideal switching conditions is provided, and an alternative novel space vector modulation scheme with non-ideal switching states is proposed considering the common-mode cancelation requirement. Finally, the verification results for the proposed modulation scheme are demonstrated.
Impact of Lockdown during the COVID-19 Outbreak on Multi-Scale Air Quality.

One of the multi-facet impacts of lockdowns during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic was restricted economic and transport activities. This has resulted in the reduction of air pollution concentrations observed globally. This study is aimed at examining the concentration changes in air pollutants (i.e., carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) during the period March-April 2020. Data from both satellite observations (for NO2) and ground-based measurements (for all other pollutants) were utilized to analyze the changes when compared against the same months between 2015 and 2019. Globally, space borne NO2 column observations observed by satellite (OMI on Aura) were reduced by approximately 9.19% and 9.57%, in March and April 2020, respectively because of public health measures enforced to contain the coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19). On a regional scale and after accounting for the effects of meteorological variability, most monitoring sites in Europe, USA, China, and India showed declines in CO, NO2, SO2, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations during the period of analysis. An increase in O3 concentrations occurred during the same period. Meanwhile, four major cities case studies i.e. in New York City (USA), Milan (Italy), Wuhan (China), and New Delhi (India) have also shown a similar reduction trends as observed on the regional scale, and an increase in ozone concentration. This study highlights that the reductions in air pollutant concentrations have overall improved global air quality likely driven in part by economic slowdowns resulting from the global pandemic.
Synthesis of 9- and 12-nitro conjugated linoleic acid: Regiospecific isomers of naturally occurring conjugated nitrodienes

Abstract Conjugated diene-containing fatty acids (rumenic and rumelenic acids) are major substrates for nitration under physiological conditions. Their nitrated products are present in human urine. These nitrodiene-containing lipid electrophiles contain a strongly electron-withdrawing pair of conjugated double bonds amenable to nucleophilic attack in biological milieu, which affords them pluripotent signaling capabilities. We report synthetic methods to obtain useful quantities of three main biological nitrated fatty acids (9- and 12-nitro-conjugated linoleic acids and 9-nitro-conjugated linolenic acid) in six or seven steps from commercially available starting materials, for biological evaluation of these naturally occurring biomolecules.
Gramsci in the Era of Posthegemony

This review examines a collection of essays that engage with the thought of Antonio Gramsci in relation to the postcolonial. I argue that some of the chapters display a symptomatic tendency to read into Gramsci’s concepts a moral charge that detracts from their theoretical value, and that on the whole here Gramsci is either read in a post-Marxist key or dismissed as inoperable for the globalised postcolony of the present.
Accounting Quality, Corporate Acquisition, and Financing Decisions

This paper examines the extent to which the quality of financial accounting information disciplines manager interests to align with stockholder interests in corporate acquisition and financing decisions. I find that, after controlling for financing constraints, recent performance, and payout policy, the tendency of firm managers to time the market is significantly constrained for firms with high-quality financial accounting information. Further, I find that the disciplining impact of accounting information is mostly driven by firms that bid for acquisitions financed with stock issuance. I also provide corroborating evidence by examining a similar disciplining role of financial accounting information in the seasoned public offering markets. I find no such effect for potential acquisitions financed through cash. The evidence suggests that high-quality accounting information allows stockholders to discipline firm managers that are motivated to take advantage of the misevaluation. Further, the results suggest the effectiveness of accounting information as a control mechanism is pronounced for firms that pursue more value-decreasing investment projects. JEL Classification: G02, G32, G34, M41
Differential abundance of proteins in response to Beet necrotic yellow vein virus during compatible and incompatible interactions in sugar beet containing Rz1 or Rz2

Abstract Rhizomania, caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), is an important disease affecting sugar beet. Control is achieved through planting of resistant varieties; however, following the introduction of Rz1, new pathotypes that overcome resistance have appeared. To understand how BNYVV overcomes resistance, we examined quantitative protein differences during compatible and incompatible interactions when sugar beet is infected with either a traditional A-type strain or with an Rz1 resistance breaking strain. Proteomic data suggest distinct biochemical pathways are induced during compatible and incompatible sugar beet interactions with BNYVV. Pathways including the detoxification of reactive oxygen species, UB/proteasome, and photosynthesis should be studied in more depth to characterize roles in symptom development.
The effect of passing an "anti-immigrant" ballot proposition on the use of prenatal care by foreign-born mothers in California.

This study examines whether the passage of California's Proposition 187, a proposition designed to restrict undocumented immigrants from using public services, had a negative effect on the use of prenatal care and birth outcomes. Comparisons of prenatal care use and birth outcomes before and after the passage of the proposition are made between low-education foreign-born and U.S.-born mothers using California's Birth Public Use files. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to control for regional and maternal characteristics. We find a significant but small decline in the use of prenatal care by low-education foreign-born women after Proposition 187 passed; however, there was no detectable deterioration of birth outcomes. Whether future reductions in the availability of prenatal care would damage the health of children is unclear.
A European Mandate for Financial Sector Supervisors in the EU

The EU is deliberating the introduction of an explicit "European mandate" for financial sector supervisors to supplement national mandates. Suggestions are made on (i) the formulation of a European mandate; (ii) the policy areas to which it should apply; (iii) which institutions should be given a European mandate; (iv) the legal basis for the mandate; (v) how to implement the mandate in practice; and (vi) how to achieve accountability for fulfilling a European mandate. Decisions on these issues are needed if the introduction of a European mandate is to have a substantive positive effect.
Expansins in growing tomato leaves

An expansin-like protein from growing tomato leaves was identified by its ability to restore the 'acid-growth' response to heat-inactivated tomato walls and by its similarity to expansins from cucumber hypocotyls. Native walls from growing tomato leaves exhibit an endogenous acid-induced extension (creep) that resembles in various biochemical characteristics the acid-growth activity of cucumber hypocotyls. For example, the acid-growth activity is lost when the walls of tomato leaves are briefly heated and is largely restored by addition of a crude protein extract from the walls of growing leaves. Wall proteins from growing leaves enhance the stress relaxation spectrum of tomato walls in a fashion characteristic of cucumber expansins. HPLC fractionation of the crude wall protein from tomato leaves yielded an active fraction containing a major 27 kDa protein that cross-reacts with an antibody raised against cucumber expansin. The results show that tomato leafwalls possess at least one expansin that is responsible for the acid-growth property of leaves and indicate that cell wall extension in leaves shares an underlying protein mechanism common to cell wall expansion in stems.
Back to the user [open source]

Open source is incomplete as a software creation process, somebody has to understand needs, design an architecture accommodating long-term evolution; create a working prototype as starting point; provide a talented; centralized person or group to coordinate and govern; and provide support, training, certification. These critical tasks hardly differ between open source and traditional processes. Application often have a diversity of uses and legitimate variations in needs that evolve over time. Efficiently capturing commonalities while accommodating variation and evolution is crucial to expanding the application base. Open source can't accommodate this gracefully. So open source fails organizational and nonprogrammer users.
Geocaching is Catching Students' Attention in the Classroom

Geocaching is described as both orienteering and a worldwide treasure hunt. Tracking geocaches, locating waypoints, and hiding caches are part of this incredibly popular pastime and have begun to b...
Tending Neocolonial Gaps

In The Dreamkeepers, Gloria Ladson-Billings describes philosophies and instructional strategies of several teachers who have created powerful learning environments with African American students. One teacher, Ms. Rossi, begins the school year with supererogatory efforts designed to break through the tension that often inhabits the space between her and her students. Ms. Rossi says she distributes a questionnaire to her students at the beginning of the year, so she can learn more about their leisure time pursuits and their interests in schoolwork. She says,
Better Never to Have Been?: The Unseen Implications

This paper will directly tackle the question of Benatar’s asymmetry at the heart of his book Better Never to have Been and provide a critique based on some of the logical consequences that result from the proposition that every potential life can only be understood in terms of the pain that person would experience if she or he was born. The decision only to evaluate future pain avoided and not pleasure denied for potential people means that we should view each birth as an unmitigated tragedy. The result is that someone who seeks to maximize utility could easily justify immense suffering for current people in order to prevent the births of potential people. This paper offers an alternative framework for evaluating the creation of people that addresses Benatar’s asymmetry without overvaluing the potential suffering of potential people.
Strategy execution in cognitive skill learning: an item-level test of candidate models

This article investigates the transition to memory-based performance that commonly occurs with practice on tasks that initially require use of a multistep algorithm. In an alphabet arithmetic task, item response times exhibited pronounced step-function decreases after moderate practice that were uniquely predicted by T. C. Rickard's (1997) component power laws model. The results challenge parallel strategy execution models as developed to date and they demonstrate that the shift to retrieval is an item-specific, as opposed to task-general, learning phenomenon. The results also call into question the entire class of smooth speed-up functions as global empirical learning laws. It is shown that overlaying of averaged item fits on averaged data can provide a sensitive test for model sufficiency. Strategy probes agreed with strategy inferences that were based on step-function speed-up patterns, supporting the validity of the probing technique.
A practical and robust inter-domain marking scheme for IP traceback

A practical and robust inter-domain marking scheme for IP traceback is proposed. We first identify six drawbacks of Probabilistic Packet Marking (PPM), and then contrive a synergic scheme to address all of them. To relieve the victim from the daunting computational overhead, we derive the optimal marking probability with respect to the number of packets required for path reconstruction, and explore two different approaches to enhance PPM. In so doing, computational burden and spoofed marking inscribed by the attacker are thwarted. Next, we study the issue of bogus marking incurred by subverted routers. By coupling the marking and routing information, a downstream router can examine the correctness of the marking provided by upstream routers, thus eliminating the spurious marking embedded by subverted routers. Our coarse-grained marking tactic (marking at the AS level rather than hop-by-hop) brings two additional benefits: our scheme can effectively suppress false positives, and partial deployment of our scheme may achieve the similar effect as global deployment in the power-law Internet. Finally, we evaluate and analyze the performance of our proposal on empirical Internet measurement data. Results show that as many as 90.67% of marked packets required for path reconstruction may be reduced on average while false positives are greatly suppressed and robustness is significantly enhanced.
Pulsed-jet discharge matrix isolation and computational study of CX2Br+ (X = H, F)

Abstract Pulsed-jet discharge matrix isolation spectroscopy and computational methods were used to characterize the CX 2 Br + (X = H, F) ions. Our experiments combined matrix isolation techniques with a pulsed DC discharge nozzle, where a dilute CX 2 Br 2 :Ar sample was discharged and the products deposited onto a KBr window held at ∼8 K. This study represents the first spectroscopic observation of CH 2 Br + , and the first report of the C–Br stretching frequency of CF 2 Br + . Our results suggest that the primary mechanism for ion formation is ionization/fragmentation of the precursor by collision with metastable rare gas (Ar) atoms.