cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase measurement and adjustment of digital signals using random sampling technique

This paper introduces a technique to measure and adjust the relative phase of on-chip high speed digital signals using a random sampling technique of inferential statistics. The proposed technique as applied to timing uncertainty mitigation in the signaling of a digital system is presented as an example; the relative phase information is used to minimize the timing skew. The proposed circuit captures the state of the signals under measurement simultaneously at random instants of time and gathers a large sample data to estimate the relative phase between the signals. By carefully premeditating the sample size, the accuracy and confidence of the result can be set to a level as high as desired. Accurately sensed value of relative phase enables the correction circuit to reduce the maximum correction error, less than half the maximum delay resolution unit available for adjustment. A pure standard cell based circuit design approach is used that reduces the overall design time and circuit complexity. The test results of the proposed circuit manifest a very close correlation to the simulated and theoretically expected results. The random sampling unit (RSU) circuit proposed for phase measurement in this paper occupies 3350 (/spl mu/m)/sup 2/area in 130nm technology, which is an order of magnitude smaller than what is required for its analog equivalent in the same technology.
The Development and Validation of the Comprehensive Counseling Skills Rubric

The authors provide psychometric support for the comprehensive counseling skills rubric (CCSR). The CCSR is designed to assess trainee’s counseling proficiency, identify how counseling skills are u...
Object permanence: results from developmental robotics

Object permanence is an important theoretical construct that has been researched with infants. For the last twenty years, a debate as whether object permanence is an innate conceptual knowledge or a gradually constructed perceptual capability has been raised. However, the lack of autonomous computational models leaves this issue still widely open. A neurologically inspired computational model based on priming is proposed and tested on our developmental SAIL robot. By nurturing the robot baby with different living experiences, we conduct the well-known "drawbridge" experiment on eleven experience-tuned "brains". The implication of our experimental results is informative, which not only sheds light on the controversial issue of object permanence, but might produce long lasting effects on the way AI community approaches highly perceptual machines.
Intra-application cache partitioning

Efficient management of shared on-chip resources such as the shared level 2 (L2) cache has become an important problem with the emergence of chip multiprocessors (CMPs). Partitioning the shared cache in chip multiprocessors (CMPs) among concurrently executing applications can provide important benefits such as throughput improvement, fairness guarantees, and quality of service (QoS) enhancements. We pose an interesting related question, which is, if partitioning the shared cache space among concurrently executing threads of the same application can enhance the application performance. We address this problem by identifying and speeding up the slowest thread, also termed as the critical path thread, during each execution interval since the overall performance of a multithreaded application is determined by the critical path thread. To do so, we propose a dynamic, runtime system based, cache partitioning scheme that partitions the shared cache space dynamically among the individual threads of a given application. In a nutshell, we wish to take some cache space away from the faster threads and give it to the critical path thread at each execution interval. We show that speeding up the critical path thread this way, results in overall performance enhancement of the application execution in the long term. Our experimental evaluation indicates that, the proposed dynamic cache partitioning scheme yields benefits up to 15% over a shared cache with no partitions, up to 23% over a statically partitioned cache (private cache) and up to 20% over a throughput-oriented scheme.
Effect of Membrane Characteristics on Phase Separation and Domain Formation in Cholesterol-Lipid Mixtures

We examine, using an analytical mean-field model, the distribution of cholesterol in a lipid bilayer. The model accounts for the perturbation of lipid packing induced by the embedded cholesterol, in a manner similar to that of transmembrane proteins. We find that the membrane-induced interactions between embedded cholesterol molecules vary as a function of the cholesterol content. Thus, the effective lipid-cholesterol interaction is concentration-dependent. Moreover, it transitions from repulsive to attractive to repulsive as the cholesterol content increases. As the concentration of cholesterol in the bilayer exceeds a critical value, phase separation occurs. The coexistence between cholesterol-rich and cholesterol-poor domains is universal for any bilayer parameters, although the composition of the cholesterol-rich phase varies as a function of the lipid properties. Although we do not assume specific cholesterol-lipid interactions or the formation of a lipid-cholesterol cluster, we find that the composition of the cholesterol-rich domains is constant, independent of the cholesterol content in the bilayer.
Using AD biomarker research results for clinical care A survey of ADNI investigators

Objective: To inform whether the Alzheimer9s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) should change its policy of not returning research results to ADNI participants, we surveyed investigators and research staff about disclosing ADNI biomarker information to research participants, with particular emphasis on amyloid imaging results. Methods: In April 2012, just before Food and Drug Administration approval of the amyloid-binding radiotracer, florbetapir, all ADNI investigators and personnel were recruited to complete an anonymous online survey that contained fixed choice and free-text questions. Results: Although ADNI participants often requested amyloid imaging results (the proportions of investigators who reported requests from more than half of their participants with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment were 20% and 22%, respectively), across all diagnostic groups, the majority of ADNI investigators (approximately 90%) did not return amyloid imaging results to ADNI participants. However, the majority of investigators reported that, if the Food and Drug Administration approved florbetapir, they would support the return of amyloid imaging results to participants with mild cognitive impairment and normal cognition, but they emphasized the need for guidance on how to provide these results to participants and for research to assess the value of returning results as well as how returning results will affect study validity and participant well-being. Conclusions: A majority of ADNI investigators support returning amyloid imaging results to ADNI participants. The findings that they want guidance on how to do this and research on the impact of disclosure suggest how to develop and monitor a disclosure process.
Updated clusters of orthologous genes for Archaea: a complex ancestor of the Archaea and the byways of horizontal gene transfer

Collections of Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COGs) provide indispensable tools for comparative genomic analysis, evolutionary reconstruction and functional annotation of new genomes. Initially, COGs were made for all complete genomes of cellular life forms that were available at the time. However, with the accumulation of thousands of complete genomes, construction of a comprehensive COG set has become extremely computationally demanding and prone to error propagation, necessitating the switch to taxon-specific COG collections. Previously, we reported the collection of COGs for 41 genomes of Archaea (arCOGs). Here we present a major update of the arCOGs and describe evolutionary reconstructions to reveal general trends in the evolution of Archaea. The updated version of the arCOG database incorporates 91% of the pangenome of 120 archaea (251,032 protein-coding genes altogether) into 10,335 arCOGs. Using this new set of arCOGs, we performed maximum likelihood reconstruction of the genome content of archaeal ancestral forms and gene gain and loss events in archaeal evolution. This reconstruction shows that the last Common Ancestor of the extant Archaea was an organism of greater complexity than most of the extant archaea, probably with over 2,500 protein-coding genes. The subsequent evolution of almost all archaeal lineages was apparently dominated by gene loss resulting in genome streamlining. Overall, in the evolution of Archaea as well as a representative set of bacteria that was similarly analyzed for comparison, gene losses are estimated to outnumber gene gains at least 4 to 1. Analysis of specific patterns of gene gain in Archaea shows that, although some groups, in particular Halobacteria, acquire substantially more genes than others, on the whole, gene exchange between major groups of Archaea appears to be largely random, with no major ‘highways’ of horizontal gene transfer. The updated collection of arCOGs is expected to become a key resource for comparative genomics, evolutionary reconstruction and functional annotation of new archaeal genomes. Given that, in spite of the major increase in the number of genomes, the conserved core of archaeal genes appears to be stabilizing, the major evolutionary trends revealed here have a chance to stand the test of time. This article was reviewed by (for complete reviews see the Reviewers’ Reports section): Dr. PLG, Prof. PF, Dr. PL (nominated by Prof. JPG).
Effect of aging on muscle mitochondrial substrate utilization in humans

Previous studies have implicated age-associated reductions in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation activity in skeletal muscle as a predisposing factor for intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation and muscle insulin resistance (IR) in the elderly. To further investigate potential alterations in muscle mitochondrial function associated with aging, we assessed basal and insulin-stimulated rates of muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase (VPDH) flux relative to citrate synthase flux (VCS) in healthy lean, elderly subjects and healthy young body mass index- and activity-matched subjects. VPDH/VCS flux was assessed from the (13)C incorporation from of infused [1-13C] glucose into glutamate [4-13C] relative to alanine [3-13C] assessed by LC-tandem MS in muscle biopsies. Insulin-stimulated rates of muscle glucose uptake were reduced by 25% (P<0.01) in the elderly subjects and were associated with ∼70% (P<0.04) increase in IMCL, assessed by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Basal VPDH/VCS fluxes were similar between the groups (young: 0.20±0.03; elderly: 0.14±0.03) and increased approximately threefold in the young subjects following insulin stimulation. However, this increase was severely blunted in the elderly subjects (young: 0.55±0.04; elderly: 0.18±0.02, P=0.0002) and was associated with an ∼40% (P=0.004) reduction in insulin activation of Akt. These results provide new insights into acquired mitochondrial abnormalities associated with aging and demonstrate that age-associated reductions in muscle mitochondrial function and increased IMCL are associated with a marked inability of mitochondria to switch from lipid to glucose oxidation during insulin stimulation.
Wafer-scale growth of silicon microwire arrays for photovoltaics

Silicon microwire arrays have recently demonstrated their potential for low cost, high efficiency photovoltaics. These high aspect ratio, radial junction wire arrays allow for the absorption of nearly all the incident sunlight while enabling efficient carrier extraction in the radial direction. One of the remaining challenges to make this technology commercially viable is scaling up of the microwire array growth. We discuss here a technique we have developed for vapor liquid solid growth of microwire arrays over full six-inch wafers using a cold-wall RF-heated chemical vapor deposition furnace. This geometry allows for fairly uniform growth over large areas, rapid cycle time, and improved run-to-run reproducibility. We have studied these large-area microwire arrays using scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy to assess their structural fidelity and uniformity. We have also developed a technique to embed these large-area arrays in polymer and peel them off the substrate, which could enable lightweight, flexible solar cells with efficiencies as high as crystalline Si solar cells. We have tested the energy conversion properties of these microwire array samples grown using a liquid junction contact and a photoelectrochemical cell. Initial efficiencies measured in this way suggest that the material quality of these microwire arrays is similar to earlier small-area wire arrays that we have grown, meaning that this technique is a viable way to scale up microwire array devices.
CLONAL ANALYSIS OF DELAYED KARYOTYPIC ABNORMALITIES AND GENE MUTATIONS IN RADIATION-INDUCED GENETIC INSTABILITY

Many tumors exhibit extensive chromosomal instability, but karyotypic alterations will be significant in carcinogenesis only by influencing specific oncogenes or tumor suppressor loci within the affected chromosomal segments. In this investigation, the specificity of chromosomal rearrangements attributable to radiation-induced genomic instability is detailed, and a qualitative and quantitative correspondence with mutagenesis is demonstrated. Chromosomal abnormalities preferentially occurred near the site of prior rearrangements, resulting in complex abnormalities, or near the centromere, resulting in deletion or translocation of the entire chromosome arm, but no case of an interstitial chromosomal deletion was observed. Evidence for chromosomal instability in the progeny of irradiated cells also included clonal karyotypic heterogeneity. The persistence of instability was demonstrated for at least 80 generations by elevated mutation rates at the heterozygous, autosomal marker locus tk. Among those TK- mutants that showed a loss of heterozygosity, a statistically significant increase in mutation rate was observed only for those in which the loss of heterozygosity encompasses the telomeric region. This mutational specificity corresponds with the prevalence of terminal deletions, additions, and translocations, and the absence of interstitial deletions, in karyotypic analysis. Surprisingly, the elevated rate of TK- mutations is also partially attributable to intragenic base substitutions and small deletions, and DNA sequence analysis of some of these mutations is presented. Complex chromosomal abnormalities appear to be the most significant indicators of a high rate of persistent genetic instability which correlates with increased rates of both intragenic and chromosomal-scale mutations at tk.
A steganalysis-based approach to comprehensive identification and characterization of functional regulatory elements

The comprehensive identification of cis-regulatory elements on a genome scale is a challenging problem. We develop a novel, steganalysis-based approach for genome-wide motif finding, called WordSpy, by viewing regulatory regions as a stegoscript with cis-elements embedded in 'background' sequences. We apply WordSpy to the promoters of cell-cycle-related genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana, identifying all known cell-cycle motifs with high ranking. WordSpy can discover a complete set of cis-elements and facilitate the systematic study of regulatory networks.
Prisoners of the White House: The Isolation of America's Presidents and the Crisis of Leadership

Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Trapped in "the Bubble" PART I Four Who Lost the People Chapter 2 Lyndon B. Johnson: From Outreach to Isolation Chapter 3 Richard Nixon: In the Bunker Chapter 4 Jimmy Carter: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes Chapter 5 George H. W. Bush: Missing the Obvious PART II Two Defiant Princes Chapter 6 John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush: Strange Bedfellows PART III Five Who Stayed Connected Chapter 7 Franklin Roosevelt: Reading the Nation's Pulse with Eleanor Chapter 8 Harry Truman: Connected to Everyman Chapter 9 Ronald Reagan: Middle-Class Roots Chapter 10 Bill Clinton: Escapes from Disaster Chapter 11 Barack Obama: Beyond the Beltway PART IV From Wizards to Chicken Peddlers Chapter 12 The Wizards of the White House Chapter 13 Breaking Out of the Bubble Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
A normal distribution for tensor-valued random variables: applications to diffusion tensor MRI

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) provides a statistical estimate of a symmetric, second-order diffusion tensor of water, D, in each voxel within an imaging volume. We propose a new normal distribution, p(D) /spl prop/ exp(-1/2 D : A : D), which describes the variability of D in an ideal DT-MRI experiment. The scalar invariant, D : A : D, is the contraction of a positive definite symmetric, fourth-order precision tensor, A, and D. A correspondence is established between D : A : D and the elastic strain energy density function in continuum mechanics-specifically between D and the second-order infinitesimal strain tensor, and between A and the fourth-order tensor of elastic coefficients. We show that A can be further classified according to different classical elastic symmetries (i.e., isotropy, transverse isotropy, orthotropy, planar symmetry, and anisotropy). When A is an isotropic fourth-order tensor, we derive an explicit analytic expression for p(D), and for the distribution of the three eigenvalues of D, p(/spl gamma//sub 1/, /spl gamma//sub 2/, /spl gamma//sub 3/), which are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations. We show how A can be estimated from either real or synthetic DT-MRI data for any given experimental design. Here we propose a new criterion for an optimal experimental design: that A be an isotropic fourth-order tensor. This condition ensures that the statistical properties of D (and quantities derived from it) are rotationally invariant. We also investigate the degree of isotropy of several DT-MRI experimental designs. Finally, we show that the univariate and multivariate distributions are special cases of the more general tensor-variate normal distribution, and suggest how to generalize p(D) to treat normal random tensor variables that are of third- (or higher) order. We expect that this new distribution, p(D), should be useful in feature extraction; in developing a hypothesis testing framework for segmenting and classifying noisy, discrete tensor data; and in designing experiments to measure tensor quantities.
Energy Efficient Wireless Multicasting

This letter proposes an energy-efficient wireless multicasting scheme in which the base station (BS) and the mobile users cooperate to reduce the total power consumption in wireless multicasting. Minimizing the power consumption under the scheme is an NP-hard problem. The gradient guided approximation algorithm is thus proposed to achieve low computational complexity. The proposed energy-efficient wireless multicasting scheme consumes less energy than other multicasting schemes without cooperation. The energy savings are validated through well designed simulations.
Evolutionary optimization of electromagnetic devices using advanced operators and population structures

Because of their relative simplicity and robustness in solving difficult design problems, evolutionary techniques such as genetic algorithms (GAs) are quickly becoming widespread tools for the synthesis of electromagnetic devices. Unfortunately, the inherent randomness in these techniques often renders them quite sluggish for optimization problems involving heavy computational loads, e.g. the design of microwave filters without tuning screws or frequency selective surfaces (FSSs). Furthermore, evolutionary techniques may fail even for objective functions involving light computational loads if their nonlinearity deceives the evolutionary technique into settling for a local optimum. As evolutionary techniques are applied to optimization problems of ever increasing difficulty, the algorithms need to be modified to obtain a quality solution with realistic CPU resources. We report on our development of a general software toolbox which extends the art of the evolutionary optimization making difficult problems more tractable by using two separate ideas: advanced operators and a communal population structure. We emphasize our work on the evolution strategies and communal structure, primarily by illustrating their application to the problem of iris coupled waveguide filter design.
Remember Foucault, Remember Baudrillard

Forget Foucault. By Jean Baudrillard. Translated by Nicole Dufresne (Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e), 2007), 144 pp. £9.95/$14.95 paper. Few today would contest the claim that Michel Foucault was one...
Adenomatous Intestinal Hyperplasia (Proliferative Ileitis) of Swine

a reparative process in areas denuded of epithelium in the previous inflammatory reaction. The lesion was found in 3 80-to-100-pound pigs, presumably from the same herd, in which cases of enteritis caused by Salmonella cbolerae suis (S. mipestafe) and coccidial infection had frequently occurred. However, in only 1 of the 3 cases of intestinal adenoma was a Salmonella organism isolated. An acute dysentery was induced in 12 pigs by feeding intestinal contents and scrapings of the cecal and colonic mucosae from naturally occurring cases of acute enteritis. Four of these experimentally affected pigs had the same epithelial proliferation as the spontaneous cases, in the cecum and colon. The lesion occurred consistently at and beyond the ileo-cecal valve, but in only 1 spontaneous case was it found in the terminal ileum as well. A prominent histologic feature was the absence of goblet cells. The adenomas were formed principally of poorly differentiated tall columnar cells free of mucin. To the naked eye the mucosa was said to be formed of diffuse polypoid growths, some of which were over %'' across. A review of the literature on intestinal growths in man and animals up to 1929 was given. At that time there were 2 views on the origin of adenomas of the intestine: one claimed that they were spontaneous, with a familial disposition, and the other, that the dysplastic and neoplastic growth occurred after an enteritis in certain susceptible individuals. The authors favored the latter view and supported it by referring to the adenomatous proliferations in the lungs of sheep with pneumonia and lungworm infestation, to the proliferation of bile ducts in coccidial infection of the rabbit liver, and to the adenomatous formations caused by nematodes in the equine stomach. Although BIESTER and SCHWARTE~ recognized that this condition had rarely been described in swine their explanation for this is difficult to understand. They suggested that because pigs are young when killed for food, it is possible for advanced adenomatous formations to pass unnoticed, Whatever the reason, in
Bovine enterovirus 2: complete genomic sequence and molecular modelling of a reference strain and a wild-type isolate from endemically infected US cattle

Bovine enteroviruses are members of the family Picornaviridae, genus Enterovirus. Whilst little is known about their pathogenic potential, they are apparently endemic in some cattle and cattle environments. Only one of the two current serotypes has been sequenced completely. In this report, the entire genome sequences of bovine enterovirus 2 (BEV-2) strain PS87 and a recent isolate from an endemically infected herd in Maryland, USA (Wye3A) are presented. The recent isolate clearly segregated phylogenetically with sequences representing the BEV-2 serotype, as did other isolates from the endemic herd. The Wye3A isolate shared 82 % nucleotide sequence identity with the PS87 strain and 68 % identity with a BEV-1 strain (VG5-27). Comparison of BEV-2 and BEV-1 deduced protein sequences revealed 72–73 % identity and showed that most differences were single amino acid changes or single deletions, with the exception of the VP1 protein, where both BEV-2 sequences were 7 aa shorter than that of BEV-1. Homology modelling of the capsid proteins of BEV-2 against protein database entries for picornaviruses indicated six significant differences among bovine enteroviruses and other members of the family Picornaviridae. Five of these were on the ‘rim’ of the proposed enterovirus receptor-binding site or ‘canyon’ (VP1) and one was near the base of the canyon (VP3). Two of these regions varied enough to distinguish BEV-2 from BEV-1 strains. This is the first report and analysis of full-length sequences for BEV-2. Continued analysis of these wild-type strains should yield useful information for genotyping enteroviruses and modelling enterovirus capsid structure.
Axisymmetric hypersonic flow with strong viscous interaction

Abstract : Stewartson's theory for axisymmetric hypersonic flow of a model gas with strong viscous interaction and strong shock wave is extended to power-law viscosity variation, nonunit Prandtl number, and body shapes other than power laws. For power-law bodies, the generalized theory is obtained in closed form without recourse to numerical integration. In addition, numerical computations are presented for axisymmetric flow over a three-quarter power-law body with strong shock wave and viscous interactions that range from weak to strong. (Author)
Traversing Lines of Control: Feminist Anthropology Today

Feminist anthropology has been a forerunner in debates about power differentials between those observing and those being observed. This article explores how theoretical interventions made by third-wave feminists have led to revisions of the canon, particularly in the understandings of methodology (fieldwork), subject matter (culture), and ethnographic writing. It also highlights some of the problems of placing gender at the center of experience, over differences based on race, class, or sexual orientation. While some feminists have pointed to the impossibility of an ethical feminist anthropology, others have suggested that interdisciplinary ideas and linkages outside academia can lead to greater participation in public policymaking and social struggles that affect the lives of women being studied.
Dynamic Natural Monopoly Regulation: Time Inconsistency, Moral Hazard, and Political Environments

This paper quantitatively assesses time inconsistency, moral hazard, and political ideology in monopoly regulation of electricity distribution. We specify and estimate a dynamic model of utility regulation featuring investment and moral hazard. We find that (1) there is under-investment in electricity distribution capital aiming to reduce power outages, (2) more conservative political environments have higher regulated returns, and (3) more electricity is lost in distribution in more conservative political environments. We quantify the value of regulatory commitment in inducing more investment. Conservative regulators mitigate welfare losses due to time inconsistency, but worsen losses from moral hazard.
Water Permeability of the Lipid Bilayer: Experimental Studies of the Structure of Some Simple Bilayers

The past few years I have been studying the water permeability of some simple lipid bilayers with the goal of finding out to what extent the lipid bilayer looks like an appropriately chosen bulk hydrocarbon liquid to the water molecules passing through (Petersen, 1980). Let me point out right off that the membranes I am studying have no special water channels--I am talking about water permeation through the lipid matrix.
Effects of Uniaxial and Biaxial Strain on Few-Layered Terrace Structures of MoS2 Grown by Vapor Transport

One of the most fascinating properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is its ability to be subjected to large amounts of strain without experiencing degradation. The potential of MoS2 mono- and few-layers in electronics, optoelectronics, and flexible devices requires the fundamental understanding of their properties as a function of strain. While previous reports have studied mechanically exfoliated flakes, tensile strain experiments on chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown few-layered MoS2 have not been examined hitherto, although CVD is a state of the art synthesis technique with clear potential for scale-up processes. In this report, we used CVD-grown terrace MoS2 layers to study how the number and size of the layers affected the physical properties under uniaxial and biaxial tensile strain. Interestingly, we observed significant shifts in both the Raman in-plane mode (as high as −5.2 cm–1) and photoluminescence (PL) energy (as high as −88 meV) for the few-layered MoS2 under ∼1.5% applied uniaxial tens...
Anti-jamming Strategy Versus a Low-Power Jamming Attack When Intelligence of Adversary’s Attack Type is Unknown

In this paper, we suggest a new class of anti-jamming problems where the type of intelligence associated with a jamming attack is unknown. Specifically, we consider a problem where the nodes of a peer-to-peer network do not know whether the network is under attack by a random jammer (which might be considered as a natural background noise), or an intelligent one (i.e., the jammer who can adapt his strategy based on knowledge gained during attacks). The goal of the nodes is to identify the type of the attack based on knowledge obtained from the attack in previous time slots, and thereby to reduce the efficiency of the jamming attack. First, we model the problem as a Bayesian game for a single time slot attack, and reduce it to the solution of dual linear programming (LP) problems. Additionally, the convergence of the fictitious play algorithm for finding the equilibrium is established. Then, we develop the problem for a repeated jamming attack, where the nodes adapt their beliefs based on history of the previous attacks. In particular, we have shown that it is possible for the nodes in the network to always be able to identify the jammer’s type within a finite number of time slots.
Real-Time Visualization of Tissue Surface Biochemical Features Derived From Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements

Fiber based fluorescence lifetime imaging has shown great potential for intraoperative diagnosis and guidance of surgical procedures. Here we describe a novel method addressing a significant challenge for the practical implementation of this technique, i.e., the real-time display of the quantified biochemical or functional tissue properties superimposed on the interrogated area. Specifically, an aiming beam (450 nm) generated by a continuous-wave laser beam was merged with the pulsed fluorescence excitation light in a single delivery/collection fiber and then imaged and segmented using a color-based algorithm. We demonstrate that this approach enables continuous delineation of the interrogated location and dynamic augmentation of the acquired frames with the corresponding fluorescence decay parameters. The method was evaluated on a fluorescence phantom and fresh tissue samples. Current results demonstrate that 34 frames per second can be achieved for augmenting videos of 640 $\times $ 512 pixels resolution. Also we show that the spatial resolution of the fluorescence lifetime map depends on the tissue optical properties, the scanning speed, and the frame rate. The dice similarity coefficient between the fluorescence phantom and the reconstructed maps was estimated to be as high as 93%. The reported method could become a valuable tool for augmenting the surgeon's field of view with diagnostic information derived from the analysis of fluorescence lifetime data in real-time using handheld, automated, or endoscopic scanning systems. Current method provides also a means for maintaining the tissue light exposure within safety limits. This study provides a framework for using an aiming beam with other point spectroscopy applications.
Direct sagittal image registration and tumor delineation on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging sequences for image-guided brachytherapy of cervical cancer.

AIM To test and evaluate direct sagittal-plane tumor delineation for MRI-based image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) planning for patients with cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS An image registration method based on the sagittal source MR images was developed and employed in ten patients with an indwelling ring/tandem applicator. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was delineated separately on the sagittal (GTV-S) and axial images (GTV-A). GTV conformity indices and dose-volume histogram analyses were compared among GTV-S and GTV-A (paired t-test). RESULTS Image quality and delineation in the sagittal images was graded superior to the axial images. The ratio of common volume of the axial and sagittal volumes to that of the axial volume was 0.77 +/- (standard deviation) 0.2. The GTV-S mean volume (19.6 +/- 13.8 mL) was significantly larger than the GTV-A mean volume (10.3 +/- 7.3 mL, p=0.003). The GTV-S mean D99 (5.2 +/- 2.5 Gy) was significantly lower than the GTV-A mean D99 (6.9 +/- 2.7 Gy, p=0.013). The GTV-S mean D90 (6.8 +/- 2.8 Gy) was significantly lower than the GTV-A mean D90 (8.5 +/- 3.1 Gy, p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS Registration of the sagittal source MRI and contouring the GTV directly on the sagittal images is feasible and practical for IGBT. Consistently larger sagittal GTVs may be explained by the better visualization and more continuous tumor topology in the sagittal plane, compared to the discrete oblique sectioning of the uterus/tumor and partial volume loss in the axial plane.
Gemcitabine and Pemetrexed disodium in treating breast cancer.

Pemetrexed disodium (Alimta, LY231514) is a novel, multitargeted antifolate that inhibits thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase. This agent is broadly active in a wide
Fair Value Accounting, Disclosure and Financial Stability

The mixed attribute accounting practices adopted by most financial institutions are analyzed with emphasis on how the wider adoption of fair value accounting (FVA) may have exacerbated financial instability. Contrary to widely expressed criticism of FVA, this chapter concludes that the main difference between FVA and historical cost accounting (HCA) with regard to procyclicality is likely to be in the transition from boom to bust. By forcing the recognition of economic shocks more quickly, FVA is most likely to limit the duration of a boom and the depth of a bust relative to HCA. Rather than blame FVA for exacerbating financial crises, critics might focus on the lack of transparency, comparability in current financial statements, and regulatory disclosures regarding financial institutions. These factors appear to have contributed more to the delocalization of financial markets than the limited application of FVA.
Gentrification, Property Tax Limitation, and Displacement:

Scholars have long argued that gentrification may displace long-term homeowners by causing their property taxes to increase, and policy makers, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have cited this arg...
Beyond the Demographics

When Dominic returned home from college with his Bachelor’s degree, he wanted to contribute to the working class community in which he was raised. In his former school district, Black males were disproportionately suspended and expelled (California Department of Education [CDE], 2015). They had the lowest graduation rates, and the highest school dropout rate of any group across the city (CDE, 2015). As an African American math major, the district jumped at the chance to enroll Dominic in their alternative teacher credential program.
Immune-related endocrine disorders in novel Immune checkpoint inhibition therapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibition against advance malignancies was named breakthrough discovery by the science magazine in 2013. In numerous clinical studies, monoclonal antibodies against the immune checkpoints, CTLA4, PD1 and PD1 ligand PDL1 have shown promising tumor response in different type of metastatic malignancies. The adverse events are autoimmune-related. The endocrine disorders, hypophysitis and thyroiditis are among the most common side effects associated with immune checkpoint inhibition treatment. Hypophysitis, a very rare endocrine disorder occurs in about one tenth of the patients receiving anti-CTLA4 treatment. Thyroiditis, on the other hand, is more commonly seen in patients receiving anti-PD1 treatment. In addition, both thyroiditis and hypophysitis are common in patients receiving combination treatment with anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 treatment. The time to onset of hypophysitis and thyroiditis is short. Most of the endocrine disorders occur within 12 weeks after initiation of the immune checkpoint inhibition therapy. Hypophysitis can manifest as total anterior pituitary hormone deficiency or isolated pituitary hormone deficiency. Diabetes insipidus is rare. TSH and gonadotropin deficiencies may be reversible but ACTH deficiency appears permanent. Thyroiditis can present as hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis followed by hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism appears irreversible. Early identifying the onset of hypophysitis and thyroiditis and proper management of these endocrine disorders will improve the quality of the life and the outcome of this novel immunotherapy.
The effects of reactor design on the synthesis of titanium carbide-derived carbon

Abstract Titanium carbide-derived carbon with residual metal is synthesized by partial chlorination at 500 °C. This partial metal removal in the carbide creates vacancies, about which the carbon reorganizes to form an amorphous, porous carbon structure. To understand the titanium removal process on a bulk scale, three reactor designs were tested: (1) a flow-over horizontal-bed reactor, (2) a vertical flow-through packed-bed reactor, and (3) a fluidized-bed reactor. These reactors were chosen to investigate how various Cl 2 flow patterns impact the etching uniformity on individual TiC-CDC particles. Both the horizontal- and packed-bed reactors lost approximately 10–15 wt% of the original Ti content in 0.5 h and lost more than 95 wt% of the Ti content at 3 h of etching; however, the fluidized-bed reactor lost approximately 85 wt% of the original Ti content in 0.5 h and reached a level of etching corresponding to more than 95 wt% at 1 h. Additionally, the horizontal- and packed-bed reactors were found to etch the TiC-CDC particles non-uniformly, while the fluidized-bed reactor produced samples with uniformly etched particles that followed the core-shell model of Ti extraction.
The FMCAD 2016 graduate student forum

The FMCAD Student Forum provides a platform for graduate students at any career stage to introduce their research to the wider Formal Methods community, and solicit feedback. In 2016, the event took place in Mountain View, California, as integral part of the FMCAD conference. Ten students were invited to give a short talk and present a poster illustrating their work. The presentations covered a broad range of topics in the field of verification and synthesis, including automated reasoning, model checking of hardware, software, as well as hybrid systems, verification and synthesis of networks, and application of artificial intelligence techniques to circuit design.
Trending Longitudinal Agreement between Parent and Child Perceptions of Quality of Life for Pediatric Palliative Care Patients.

Pediatric palliative care studies often rely on proxy-reported instead of direct child-reported quality of life metrics. The purpose of this study was to longitudinally evaluate quality of life for pediatric patients receiving palliative care consultations and to compare patient-reported quality of life with parent perception of the child’s quality of life across wellness domains. The 23-item PedsQL™ V4.0 Measurement Model was utilized for ten child and parent dyads at time of initial palliative care consultation, Month 6, and Month 12 to assess for physical, emotional, social, and cognitive dimensions of quality of life as reported independently by the child and by the parent for the child. Findings were analyzed using Bland–Altman plots to compare observed differences to limits of agreement. This study revealed overall consistency between parent- and child-reported quality of life across domains. Physical health was noted to be in closest agreement. At the time of initial palliative care consult, children collectively scored their social quality of life higher than parental perception of the child’s social quality of life; whereas, emotional and cognitive quality of life domains were scored lower by children than by the parental report. At the one year survey time point, the physical, emotional, and social domains trended toward more positive patient perception than proxy perception with congruence between quality of life scores for the cognitive domain. Findings reveal the importance of eliciting a child report in addition to a parent report when measuring and longitudinally trending perceptions on quality of life.
Abstract 233: DJ-1 Gene Therapy Opposes the Development of Ischemic Heart Failure

Background: DJ-1 is a cytoprotective protein that is activated in response to various pathological stimuli. The ability of DJ-1 to perform its cellular actions is dependent on a conformational chan...
Evaluating the role of public health in implementation of genomics-related recommendations: a case study of hereditary cancers using the CDC Science Impact Framework

Public health plays an important role in ensuring access to interventions that can prevent disease, including the implementation of evidence-based genomic recommendations. We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Science Impact Framework to trace the impact of public health activities and partnerships on the implementation of the 2009 Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) Lynch Syndrome screening recommendation and the 2005 and 2013 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing recommendations. The EGAPP and USPSTF recommendations have each been cited by >300 peer-reviewed publications. CDC funds selected states to build capacity to integrate these recommendations into public health programs, through education, policy, surveillance, and partnerships. Most state cancer control plans include genomics-related goals, objectives, or strategies. Since the EGAPP recommendation, major public and private payers now provide coverage for Lynch Syndrome screening for all newly diagnosed colorectal cancers. National guidelines and initiatives, including Healthy People 2020, included similar recommendations and cited the EGAPP and USPSTF recommendations. However, disparities in implementation based on race, ethnicity, and rural residence remain challenges. Public health achievements in promoting the evidence-based use of genomics for the prevention of hereditary cancers can inform future applications of genomics in public health.
Limiting Identity Theft in an E-Commerce World

The author recounts the pre-E-SIGN history of statutory treatment of electronic transactions, outlines the central features of E-SIGN, and compares the consumer protection aspects of E-SIGN to the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). The paper then turns to the subject of identity theft and shows why E-SIGN is deficient, not only because it failed to address the problem, but because it created additional opportunities for identity theft and related security problems for consumers.
The Pathophysiology of Spinal Metastases

The American Cancer Society estimated that more Americans than ever, 1.33 million, were diagnosed with cancer in 2003 (1). Reportedly, metastases develops in two-thirds of cancer patients (2). After the lung and liver, the skeletal system is the third most common site of cancer metastasis (3). These cancer metastases are also the most common skeletal tumors seen by orthopaedists, and the ratio of metastatic lesions to primary bone tumors is 25:1 (4,5). Delamarter et al. (6) reported that only 29 (1.5%) cases had primary neoplasms of the lumbar spine in their study of 1971 patients with neoplastic disease. The prevalence of metastases increases with age. Patients who are 50 yr or older are at greatest risk for the development of metastatic disease. The gender ratio varies for each type of malignancy. However, when all neoplasms with the potential to metastasize are considered, men and women are equally at risk for metastatic lesions.
A Framework for Legacy Source Code Audit Analytics

ABSTRACT An internal audit engagement at a large bank revealed that legacy software code can represent significant risk to an organization. In this engagement, several instances of malicious COBOL ...
FSLE analysis and validation of Lagrangian simulations based on satellite-derived GlobCurrent velocity data

Abstract We present an independent validation of the satellite surface velocity fields released by the ESA Data User Element GlobCurrent Project. The validation methodology is based on the analysis of Lagrangian numerical trajectories integrated from satellite-based sea surface currents. Two case studies were considered: Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean.The Finite-Scale Lyapunov Exponents provide a rigorous, quantitative tool to evaluate Lagrangian simulations with respect to real drifter trajectories. An accuracy threshold scale can be identified as the scale above which the error size, propagating along a numerical trajectory, grows no faster than the relative separation between real drifters. Below this threshold, the error growth rate tends to diverge linearly as the error decreases. The mean error growth speed, at early stage, is found to be related to the kinetic energy of the missing scales of motion, not resolved by the GlobCurrent products. Established kinematic Lagrangian models are, also, exploited to compensate the energy gap between real and numerical trajectories in the unresolved scale range. Ultimately, GlobCurrent surface velocity fields are shown to have overall good ‘Lagrangian skills' for large-scale transport and dispersion numerical simulations.
A Chemical Category-Based Prioritization Approach for Selecting 75 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for Tiered Toxicity and Toxicokinetic Testing.

Summary: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of fluorinated substances of interest to researchers, regulators, and the public due to their widespread presence in the environment...
Christian Higher Education in the United States: The Crisis of Evangelical Identity.

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is the most successful higher education organization to emerge from the modern American evangelical movement. Especially within the context of the United States, higher education has been a key element of neo-evangelicalism since the 1940s. Rather than choosing between biblical truth and cultural outreach, post–World War II neo-evangelicals called the church toward a thoughtful approach to address the needs of the world. The early movement was focused not only on evangelistic ministry efforts, but also on education as a primary means for shaping the culture. As modern evangelicalism took shape in the 1950s, the movement struggled to find a consistent moral voice. From early challenges related to the civil rights movement to current debates over poverty and immigration, evangelicals have engaged with cultural issues, but with a wide variety of strategies and viewpoints. Political issues have brought evangelicals into public life, and some lea...