cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embedment of structural monitoring algorithms in a wireless sensing unit

Complementing recent advances made in the field of structural health monitoring and damage detection, the concept of a wireless sensing network with distributed computational power is proposed. The fundamental building block of the proposed sensing network is a wireless sensing unit capable of acquiring measurement data, interrogating the data and transmitting the data in real time. The computational core of a prototype wireless sensing unit can potentially be utilized for execution of embedded engineering analyses such as damage detection and system identification. To illustrate the computational capabilities of the proposed wireless sensing unit, the fast Fourier transform and auto- regressive time-series modeling are locally executed by the unit. Fast Fourier transforms and auto- regressive models are two important techniques that have been previously used for the identification of damage in structural systems. Their embedment illustrates the computational capabilities of the prototype wireless sensing unit and suggests strong potential for unit installation in automated structural health monitoring systems.
A Survey of Analytical Methods for Dynamic Simulation of Cable-Body Systems.

The purpose of the report is to review the available methods for analyzing the dynamic motions of cable-body combinations used as either mooring or towing systems. These methods are grouped according to the manner by which the cable, as a component in the whole system, is simulated. The central idea, merits, and demerits of each group of methods are presented. Minor differences between the methods belonging to the same group are not discussed. An introduction to various types of cable-body systems and a discussion of the motivations for dynamic analysis of these systems are initially presented. (Author)
Self-Esteem: Moderator or Mediator between Perceived Stress and Expectancy of Success?

Relationships between perceived stress, self-esteem, and expectancy of success were examined, and the moderating and mediating effects of self-esteem between perceived stress and expectancy of success were explored. Participants (48 women, 27 men) completed self-rating scales measuring perceived stress, self-esteem, and expectancy of success. Negative relationships were obtained between perceived stress and self-esteem and between perceived stress and expectancy of success. Self-esteem and expectancy of success were positively associated. Moderated multiple regression analysis yielded no moderating effect of self-esteem between perceived stress and expectancy of success; however, a moderating effect of self-esteem was obtained using regression techniques.
Primate color vision: A comparative perspective

Thirty years ago virtually everything known about primate color vision derived from psychophysical studies of normal and color-defective humans and from physiological investigations of the visual system of the macaque monkey, the most popular of human surrogates for this purpose. The years since have witnessed much progress toward the goal of understanding this remarkable feature of primate vision. Among many advances, investigations focused on naturally occurring variations in color vision in a wide range of nonhuman primate species have proven to be particularly valuable. Results from such studies have been central to our expanding understanding of the interrelationships between opsin genes, cone photopigments, neural organization, and color vision. This work is also yielding valuable insights into the evolution of color vision.
Reinforcing language model for speech translation with auxiliary data

Language model domain adaption usually uses a large quantity of auxiliary data in different genres and domains. It has mostly been relying on scoring functions for selection and it is typically independent of intended applications such as machine translation. In this paper, we present a novel domain adaptation approach that is directly motivated by the need of translation engine. We first identify interesting phrases by examining phrase translation tables, and then use those phrases as anchors to select useful and relevant sentences from general domain data, with the goal of improving domain coverage or providing additional contextual information. The experimental results on Farsi to English translation in military force protection domain and Chinese to English translation in travel domain show statistical significant gain using the reinforced language models over the baseline.
Prior hypothermia attenuates malignant hyperthermia in susceptible swine

This study was designed to determine the extent by which mild or moderate hyperthermia attenuates the triggering of malignant hypothermia (MH) induced by the combined administration of halothane and succinylcholine. Sixteen susceptible swine were initially anesthetized with nontriggering drugs and then either kept normothermic (approximately equal to 38 degrees C, n = 6) or cooled to induce mild (approximately equal to 35 degrees C, n = 6), or moderate (approximately equal to 33 degrees C, n = 4) hypothermia. Next, after a 30-min control period, the normothermic and mildly hypothermic animals were administered 1 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) halothane followed by a bolus dose of succinylcholine (2 mg/kg). Within 10 min all normothermic animals developed fulminant MH, whereas the onset of MH was slowed or was absent in the mildly hypothermic group. To test whether moderate hypothermia could more effectively minimize the signs of a MH episode, this group of animals was exposed to 1.5 MAC halothane followed 10 min later by a 3-mg/kg bolus of succinylcholine. MH was not induced and anesthesia was then changed to nontriggering drugs (ketamine and pancuronium). The animals were then aggressively rewarmed to 38 degrees C: a slight increase in the ETCO2 was detected, but MH episodes did not spontaneously occur. Subsequently, the readministration of halothane and succinylcholine rapidly provoked fulminant MH. We concluded that the induction of mild hypothermia impairs triggering and reduces the progression of MH induced by the combined administration of halothane and succinylcholine, whereas moderate hypothermia was completely protective and thus could be considered for prophylaxis.
From father to son: transgenerational effect of tetracycline on sperm viability

The broad-spectrum antibiotic tetracycline is used in animal production, antimicrobial therapy, and for curing arthropods infected with bacterial endosymbionts such as Wolbachia. Tetracycline inhibits mitochondrial translation, and recent evidence indicates that male reproductive traits may be particularly sensitive to this antibiotic. Here, we report the first multi-generation investigation of tetracycline's effects on ejaculate traits. In a study of the pseudoscorpion, Cordylochernes scorpioides, in which siblings were randomly assigned to control and tetracycline treatments across replicate full-sibling families, tetracycline did not affect body size in either sex, female reproduction or sperm number. However, tetracycline-treated males exhibited significantly reduced sperm viability compared to control males, and transmitted this toxic effect of tetracycline on sperm to their untreated sons but not to their F2 grandsons. These results are consistent with tetracycline-induced epigenetic changes in the male germline, and suggest the need for further investigation of transgenerational effects of tetracycline on male reproductive function.
Copyright Questions and Answers for Information Professionals, by Laura N. Gasaway

Copyright dos and don’ts have never been more complicated. With the rise of digital content and technologies such as ebooks, video streaming, file sharing and click-through licensing, librarians could hardly be blamed for throwing up their hands in desperation and conceding defeat. Copyright Questions and Answers for Information Professionals could just be the reference they need to continue the good fight.
Nonlinear filtering approach to 3-D gray-scale image interpolation

Three-dimensional (3-D) images are now common in radiology. A 3-D image is formed by stacking a contiguous sequence of two-dimensional cross-sectional images, or slices. Typically, the spacing between known slices is greater than the spacing between known points on a slice. Many visualization and image-analysis tasks, however, require the 3-D image to have equal sample spacing in all directions. To meet this requirement, one applies an interpolation technique to the known 3-D image to generate a new uniformly sampled 3-D image. The authors propose a nonlinear-filter-based approach to gray-scale interpolation of 3-D images. The method, referred to as column-fitting interpolation, is reminiscent of the maximum-homogeneity filter used for image enhancement. The authors also draw upon the paradigm of relaxation labeling to devise an improved column-fitting interpolator. Both methods are typically more effective than traditional gray-scale interpolation techniques.
Fuzzy Logic-Based Performance Assessment in the Virtual, Assistive Surgical Trainer (VAST)

The Virtual Assistive Surgical Trainer (VAST) is an approach developed to train surgeons in minimally invasive procedures. It uses surgical instruments augmented with micro-sensors, and knowledge-based inference techniques to provide objective, data-driven feedback and performance assessment for complex exercises. The assessment is typically based on the expertise of senior surgeons and, thus, a single objective standard is difficult to define. To formulate such a standard, and to provide an accurate scoring method, a fuzzy logic method is proposed in this paper. This makes it easier to mimic tasks that are already successfully performed by human experts. A multi-level fuzzy inference engine and new performance metrics are implemented. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of this method and the efficacy of the new performance metrics.
Structure-Dependent Photophysics of First-Generation Phenyl-Cored Thiophene Dendrimers

We have prepared two series of first-generation thiophene-bridge dendrimers, with either three (3G1) or four (4G1) arms attached to a phenyl core, to elucidate their structure−property relationships. Optical properties were investigated with a combination of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Steady-state spectroscopic data for the 3-arm dendrimers suggests that the exciton is delocalized over the α-conjugated thiophene segment and the phenyl core, but that the meta-linking of the dendrons prevents their electronic communication. In contrast, conjugation through the core to dendrons in the ortho and para positions is permitted in the 4-arm dendrimers, although the data suggest that the conjugation length does not extend over the full length of the α-conjugated sections of two coupled dendrons. This observation is due to steric interactions between neighboring arms, which forces the arms to twist and bend out of the plane of the phenyl core, and is particularly prevalent in disrupting...
Emergence of Polyclonal FLT3 Tyrosine Kinase Domain Mutations during Sequential Therapy with Sorafenib and Sunitinib in FLT3-ITD–Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical activity of sequential therapy with sorafenib and sunitinib in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD)-positive acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and monitor the emergence of secondary FLT3 tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations during treatment. Experimental Design: Six children with relapsed/refractory AML were treated with sorafenib in combination with clofarabine and cytarabine, followed by single-agent sorafenib if not a candidate for transplantation. Sunitinib was initiated after sorafenib relapse. Bone marrow samples were obtained for assessment of FLT3 TKD mutations by deep amplicon sequencing. The phase of secondary mutations with ITD alleles was assessed by cloning and sequencing of FLT3 exons 14 through 20. Identified mutations were modeled in Ba/F3 cells, and the effect of kinase inhibitors on FLT3 signaling and cell viability was assessed. Results: Four patients achieved complete remission, but 3 receiving maintenance therapy with sorafenib relapsed after 14 to 37 weeks. Sunitinib reduced circulating blasts in two patients and marrow blasts in one. Two patients did not respond to sorafenib combination therapy or sunitinib. FLT3 mutations at residues D835 and F691 were observed in sorafenib resistance samples on both ITD-positive and -negative alleles. Deep sequencing revealed low-level mutations and their evolution during sorafenib treatment. Sunitinib suppressed leukemic clones with D835H and F691L mutations, but not D835Y. Cells expressing sorafenib-resistant FLT3 mutations were sensitive to sunitinib in vitro . Conclusions: Sunitinib has activity in patients that are resistant to sorafenib and harbor secondary FLT3 TKD mutations. The use of sensitive methods to monitor FLT3 mutations during therapy may allow individualized treatment with the currently available kinase inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res; 19(20); 5758–68. ©2013 AACR .
A recursive approach for enumerating minimal cutsets in a network

This paper presents a new recursive labelling algorithm for determining all minimal cutsets in a directed network, using an approach adapted from dynamic programming algorithms for the classical shortest route problem. The algorithm produces all minimal cutsets, and uses comparison logic to eliminate any redundant cutsets. Computational experience shows that: (1) the time per cutset varies linearly with the number of nodes but decreases exponentially with the density of the graph; and (2) whereas the algorithm's performance with regard to 'change in the time per cutset vs. the number of nodes' is similar to other algorithms, it appears to exhibit superior performance where the time/cutset is compared to the density of the graph. >
Oral Dimethyl Fumarate in Children With Multiple Sclerosis: A Dual-Center Study

Abstract Background First-line injectable therapies for multiple sclerosis in children may be ineffective or not well-tolerated. There is therefore an urgent need to explore oral medications for pediatric multiple sclerosis. We review our dual-center experience with oral dimethyl fumarate. Methods This study was a retrospective review of children 18 years of age or less with multiple sclerosis treated with dimethyl fumarate at Yale University and the University of Colorado. Clinical, demographic, and magnetic resonance imaging parameters were analyzed. Results We identified 13 children treated with oral dimethyl fumarate for a median of 15.0 months (range, 1 to 25). Dimethyl fumarate was utilized as first-line therapy in five children (38%). Ten children (77%) tolerated dose escalation to the usual adult dose of 240 mg twice daily. Nine children had ≥12 months of follow-up on treatment. Eight of nine (89%) displayed stabilized or reduced relapse rates and disability scores on treatment. Nine children underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging performed after 12 or more months of therapy. New T2 lesions were observed in three children (33%), one of whom had been nonadherent to treatment. Common side effects included facial flushing (8/13, 62%), gastrointestinal discomfort (7/13, 54%), rash (3/13, 23%), and malaise (2/13, 15%). Three children (23%) discontinued treatment because of side effects. No patients displayed laboratory abnormalities including lymphopenia or abnormal liver transaminases. There were no reported infections. Conclusions Oral dimethyl fumarate appears to be safe and generally well tolerated in children with multiple sclerosis. Formal clinical trials to evaluate efficacy are ongoing.
The TGF-β Signal Transduction Pathway

This resource provides and describes two animated lessons that illustrate the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signal transduction pathway. They are designed for any collegiate-level course that presents the basic steps of the prototypical pathway. Courses that might employ these animations include Introductory Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Physiology, and Pharmacology.
Posttraumatic stress symptom severity and cognitive-based smoking processes among trauma-exposed treatment-seeking smokers: The role of perceived stress

Trauma exposure and smoking co-occur at an alarmingly high rate. However, there is little understanding of the mechanisms underlying this clinically significant relation. The present study examined perceived stress as an explanatory mechanism linking posttraumatic stress symptom severity and smoking-specific avoidance/inflexibility, perceived barriers to smoking cessation, and negative affect reduction/negative reinforcement expectancies from smoking among trauma-exposed smokers. Participants were trauma-exposed, treatment-seeking daily cigarette smokers (n=179; 48.0% female; Mage=41.17; SD=12.55). Results indicated that posttraumatic stress symptom severity had an indirect significant effect on each of the dependent variables via perceived stress. The present results provide empirical support that perceived stress may be an underlying mechanism that indirectly explains posttraumatic symptoms relation to smoking-specific avoidance/inflexibility, perceived barriers to smoking cessation, and negative affect reduction/negative reinforcement expectancies among trauma-exposed smokers. These findings suggest that there may be clinical utility in targeting perceived stress among trauma-exposed smokers via stress management psychoeducation and skills training.
Behaviors Associated with Seasonal Reproduction and Long-Term Monogamy in Canada Geese

We measured seasonal changes in the incidence of various social behaviors performed by members of a captive flock of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis moffitti) in order to determine (a) which of these behaviors were associated with reproduction in a species with long-term monogamy, (b) sexual differences in their expression, and (c) their temporal relationship with nesting events. Breeding and nonbreeding geese were compared. Aggression, Triumph Ceremony, and Calling by breeding male geese reinforced pair bonds and were performed most frequently in the context of territorial display. The Triumph Ceremonies of breeding females also strengthened pair bonds and were probably essential for establishing a territory and reproductive success. Breeding males behaved aggressively most frequently before the initiation of nesting through the incubation period. During incubation, females became increasingly unresponsive to their mate's Triumph Ceremony and by the time their goslings were two weeks old the frequency of their aggressive behaviors was closer to that of their mates than at any other time of the year. These changes coincided with an increase in social gregariousness during brood rearing and molt. Retreat was more common in nonbreeding than breeding geese. Nonbreeding males were not aggressive and performed few Triumph Ceremonies. Their behavior did not elicit supportive responses from nonbreeding females and probably inhibited pair formation. The timing of reproduction of many avian species in seasonal habitats is confined by the periodic availability of resources (Lack 1968). Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) nest predominantly in northern latitudes (Delacour 1954, Palmer 1976) and reproductive events occur within a relatively short period of time. Nesting generally begins as soon as secure nest sites become available, and growth of goslings coincides with the growth of sedges and grasses during the summer (Maclnnes 1962, Vermeer 1970, Maclnnes et al. 1974, Raveling and Lumsden 1977, Raveling 1978). The timing of nesting is also influenced by intra-pair activities (Lofts and Murton 1973:81, Silver 1978) and social conditions (Lott et al. 1967). Formation of life-long pair bonds and intensification of mutual behaviors by pairs of Canada Geese before arrival on their breeding grounds permit nesting to begin without the delay of pair formation. The social behavior of Canada Geese is well documented (e.g., Hanson 1953, Collias and Jahn 1959, Klopman 1962, 1968, Brakhage 1965, Raveling 1970), but few investigators have quantified such behavior using individuals with known histories in a well defined social environment. In this paper, we report the frequency with which previously described behaviors were performed by breeding and nonbre ding Canada Geese (B. c. moffitti). Our objective was to identify behaviors that were important to intra-pair synchrony and nesting success in order to increase our understanding of the behavioral role of the sexes in a species that has long-term pair bonds and nests within a restricted period of time.
Surface Roughness Theory and Low-Temperature Epitaxy

A single-and multilayer growth model is presented. Surface order-disorder transitions are studied with the entropy calculated in the Bragg-William approximation and in the quasi-chemical approximation. A plausible explanation for high-quality growth obtained with energy-assistance is given. The model has been extended to study low-temperature epitaxial growth of HgTe and CdTe on different surfaces. The relevant surface energies are evaluated in a Green’s function approach.
Intra-Individual Variability of Physical Activity in Older Adults With and Without Mild Alzheimer's Disease.

Physical activity shows promise for protection against cognitive decline in older adults with and without Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To better understand barriers to adoption of physical activity in this population, a clear understanding of daily and weekly activity patterns is needed. Most accelerometry studies report average physical activity over an entire wear period without considering the potential importance of the variability of physical activity. This study evaluated individual differences in the amount and intra-individual variability of physical activity and determined whether these differences could be predicted by AD status, day of wear, age, gender, education, and cardiorespiratory capacity. Physical activity was measured via accelerometry (Actigraph GT3X+) over one week in 86 older adults with and without AD (n = 33 and n = 53, respectively). Mixed-effects location-scale models were estimated to evaluate and predict individual differences in the amount and intra-individual variability of physical activity. Results indicated that compared to controls, participants with AD averaged 21% less activity, but averaged non-significantly greater intra-individual variability. Women and men averaged similar amounts of physical activity, but women were significantly less variable. The amount of physical activity differed significantly across days of wear. Increased cardiorespiratory capacity was associated with greater average amounts of physical activity. Investigation of individual differences in the amount and intra-individual variability of physical activity provided insight into differences by AD status, days of monitor wear, gender, and cardiovascular capacity. All individuals regardless of AD status were equally consistent in their physical activity, which may have been due to a highly sedentary sample and/or the early disease stage of those participants with AD. These results highlight the value of considering individual differences in both the amount and intra-individual variability of physical activity.
Verbal Memory Abilities in Severe Childhood Psychiatric Disorders and the Influence of Attention and Executive Functions

Despite prior adult research regarding the influence of executive functions on memory performance, there has been inconsistent prior research on the role of executive functions on memory performance in children, particularly those children with severe psychiatric disorders. A medical chart review was conducted for 76 children (ages 6-12 years) who received a neuropsychological evaluation during children's psychiatric inpatient program hospitalization. A series of hierarchical regression analyses investigated the role of attention/executive and non-executive functions in verbal memory performance (immediate recall, delayed recall, and delayed recognition). Demographic and verbal measures were entered into blocks 1 and 2 for all analyses, followed by attention and executive functions (i.e., attention span, sustained attention, verbal fluency, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and planning/organization). Nearly 15% of the participants displayed memory impairment. Results of regression analyses indicated attention/executive dysfunction severity predicted overall memory performance. Attention span predicted performance on all three memory conditions. Planning/organization accounted for unique variance in immediate recall condition while inhibitory control accounted for unique variance in delayed recall condition. These results indicate that verbal memory problems frequently occur in severe childhood psychiatric disorders. Further, planning/organization deficits may influence immediate recall, while inhibitory control deficits may influence delayed recall. Alternatively, delayed recognition memory may be the most resistant to the negative influence of executive deficits on verbal memory performance in childhood psychiatric disorders.
Improvement of Indoor Air Quality through Dual-airflow Window Ventilation

In this paper,using the indoor CO2concentration as an indicator,a multi-zone airflow network model of CONTAM was applied to study the indoor air quality under the infiltration and dual-airflow window ventilation conditions of a residential building in Harbin.The results demonstrated that infiltration could not achieve acceptable indoor air quality,while dual-airflow window ventilation could improve the indoor environment effectively.
Analysis of the distribution difference of active power and the experimental verification for parallel generator sets

As to two parallel generators,this paper discusses the influence of single generator's rated frequency's setting point and the steady state frequency regulation upon the division difference of active power and gives the formula derivation of the interacting factors.A parallel experiment of two motor-generator sets is done,the experiment's result proves that the theoretical analysis is correct.
A Rapid Method for Refolding Cell Surface Receptors and Ligands

Production of membrane-associated cell surface receptors and their ligands is often a cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming process that limits detailed structural and functional characterization of this important class of proteins. Here we report a rapid method for refolding inclusion-body-based, recombinant cell surface receptors and ligands in one day, a speed equivalent to that of soluble protein production. This method efficiently couples modular on-column immobilized metal ion affinity purification and solid-phase protein refolding. We demonstrated the general utility of this method for producing multiple functionally active immunoreceptors, ligands, and viral decoys, including challenging cell surface proteins that cannot be produced using typical dialysis- or dilution-based refolding approaches.
Effect of Prednisolone on the Randomization of Glucose Incorporated into Glycogen

Prednisolone administration stimulated glucose incorporation into glycogen with no change in the degree of randomization of carbon atoms 1 and 6 of the glucose residues incorporated. From this result it is concluded that the hormone produces an effect on the direct pathway from hexose to glycogen.
Dimensionality reduction in neuroscience.

Summary The nervous system extracts information from its environment and distributes and processes that information to inform and drive behaviour. In this task, the nervous system faces a type of data analysis problem, for, while a visual scene may be overflowing with information, reaching for the television remote before us requires extraction of only a relatively small fraction of that information. We could care about an almost infinite number of visual stimulus patterns, but we don't: we distinguish two actors' faces with ease but two different images of television static with significant difficulty. Equally, we could respond with an almost infinite number of movements, but we don't: the motions executed to pick up the remote are highly stereotyped and related to many other grasping motions. If we were to look at what was going on inside the brain during this task, we would find populations of neurons whose electrical activity was highly structured and correlated with the images on the screen and the action of localizing and picking up the remote.
Antegrade cerebral perfusion at 25 °C for arch reconstruction in newborns and children preserves perioperative cerebral oxygenation and serum creatinine.

Background: Antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) typically is used with deep hypothermia for cerebral protection during aortic arch reconstructions. The impact of ACP on cerebral oxygenation and serum creatinine at a more tepid 25 °C was studied in newborns and children. Methods: Between 2010 and 2014, 61 newborns and children (<5 years old) underwent aortic arch reconstruction using moderate hypothermia (25.0±0.9 °C) with ACP and a pH-stat blood gas management strategy. These included 44% Norwood-type operations, 30% isolated arch reconstructions, and 26% arch reconstructions with other major procedures. Median patient age at surgery was 9 days (range, 3 days–4.7 years). Cerebral oxygenation (NIRS) was monitored continuously perioperatively for 120 hours. Serum creatinine was monitored daily. Results: Median cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross clamp times were 181 minutes (range, 82–652 minutes) and 72 minutes (range, 10–364 minutes), respectively. ACP was performed at a mean flow rate of 46±6 mL/min/kg for a median of 48 minutes (range, 10–123 minutes). Cerebral and somatic NIRS were preserved intraoperatively and remained at baseline postoperatively during the first 120 hours. Peak postoperative serum creatinine levels averaged 0.7±0.3 mg/dL for all patients. There were 4 (6.6%) discharge mortalities. Six patients (9.8%) required ECMO support. Median postoperative length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were 16 days(range, 4–104 days) and 9 days (range, 1–104 days), respectively. Two patients (3.3%) received short-term peritoneal dialysis for fluid removal, and none required hemodialysis. Three patients (4.9%) had an isolated seizure which resolved with medical therapy, and none had a neurologic deficit or stroke. Conclusions: ACP at 25 °C preserved perioperative cerebral oxygenation and serum creatinine for newborns and children undergoing arch reconstruction. Early outcomes are encouraging, and additional study is warranted to assess the impact on late outcomes.
Theoretical comparison of uniform resolution penalized likelihood dynamic PET images with multiframe penalized likelihood static PET images

We validate our theoretical approximations for the mean and variance properties of instantaneous activity estimates obtained via penalized likelihood (PML) dynamic PET reconstructions. We then use these approximations together with their previously derived and validated counterparts for static PET to compare the bias/variance (equivalently resolution/noise) tradeoffs involved in both dynamic and static reconstructions from simulated data. For the dynamic case, the degree of spatial and temporal smoothing is controlled by the spatial and temporal smoothing parameters. For the static case, spatial smoothing is controlled by the spatial smoothing parameter while the degree of temporal smoothing is determined by the number of temporal frames and the amount of interframe overlap. By varying these parameters we were able to compute approximate bias and variances for activity estimates over a large range of spatial and temporal smoothing levels. Theoretical approximations showed that dynamic reconstructions result in lower variance at matched bias levels and vice versa. We also show how spatial resolution can be kept uniform over space and time by applying spatiotemporally varying smoothing and also performing the reconstruction in a transformed time domain. The combination of these results indicate that our penalized ML dynamic PET reconstruction algorithm is capable of outperforming multiframe static reconstructions interms of the bias/variance tradeoff while preserving resolution uniformity in space and time
RYGB Produces more Sustained Body Weight Loss and Improvement of Glycemic Control Compared with VSG in the Diet-Induced Obese Mouse Model.

Weight regain and type-2 diabetes relapse has been reported in a significant proportion of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) patients in some studies, but definitive conclusions regarding the long-term comparative effectiveness of VSG and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery are lacking both in humans and rodent models. This study’s objective was to compare the effects of murine models of VSG and RYGB surgery on body weight, body composition, food intake, energy expenditure, and glycemic control. VSG, RYGB, and sham surgery was performed in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, and the effects on body weight and glycemic control were observed for a period of 12 weeks. After the initial weight loss, VSG mice regained significant amounts of body weight and fat mass that were only marginally lower than in sham-operated mice. In contrast, RYGB produced sustained loss of body weight and fat mass up to 12 weeks and drastically improved fasting insulin and HOMA-IR compared with sham-operated mice. Using weight-matched control groups, we also found that the adaptive hypometabolic response to weight loss was blunted by both VSG and RYGB, and that despite large weight/fat regain, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were markedly improved, but not reversed, in VSG mice. VSG is less effective to lastingly suppress body weight and improve glycemic control compared with RYGB in mice. Given similar observations in many human studies, the run towards replacing RYGB with VSG is premature and should await carefully controlled randomized long-term trials with VSG and RYGB.
Research in prosthodontics: a 10-year observation of trends in topics, collaboration, and funding.

Purpose The objectives of this study were to investigate the nature of recently published prosthodontic literature, to investigate the types of collaboration and funding as well as their relationship, and to analyze the associations between collaboration and extramural funding. Materials and methods Three peer-reviewed prosthodontic journals were used for the analysis of articles published in 1998, 2003, and 2008. The articles were analyzed based on associations between the type of article, type of original research, collaboration, and funding. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis (a = .05). Results From 998 articles, a significant decrease in reviews (P Conclusion An increase in original research and collaboration was observed from 1998 to 2008. Studies that reported funding remained constant. A strong association with collaboration and funding was observed, along with studies involving clinical care, education, public health, and dental materials.
Spin Coherence in Semiconductors

The potential for spin-based information processing in spintronic devices has spurred significant research on spin coherence in semiconductors. We review some recent advances in the physics of semiconductor spin coherence, focusing on phenomena in both bulk and heterostructure systems. Coherent spin ensembles can be generated and manipulated optical, electrical, and magnetic interactions. Optical measurement techniques enable both temporal and spatial resolution of spin dynamics, allowing observation of electrical control and generation of spin polarization, including the recent discovery of the spin Hall effect. Spin dynamics are also studied for spins confined in quantum dots.
What If Your Project's Timeline is a 100 Years?: Reflections on Computational Literacies

What could it mean to have a project with goals that take decades or even a century to realize? In this talk, I reflect on my own intention to work toward a genuinely new and deep literacy-computational literacy--which I would place in eventual impact about halfway between algebra/calculus (as a literacy) and the root prototype, mass literacy centered on written text. I start by explaining what I mean by computational literacy and what experiences have concretized it for me and made it an attractive and plausible goal. Because of its nature as a cultural phenomenon, a literacy can only be achieved by a long and meandering path of social genesis. I illustrate the nature of such development with phenomena-cultural memes, movements, sensitivities, and values (MMSVs)--as they influence development. Example MMSVs include "computational thinking" as construed by the computer science community, and the widespread current popularity of "coding academies." Finally, I position some of the best modern allies in the quest for computational literacy--such as constructionism and computer modeling--in what I take to be the larger frame: the development of a true computational literacy.
Invited Commentary: Causal Inference Across Space and Time - Quixotic Quest, Worthy Goal, or Both?

The g-formula and agent-based models (ABMs) are 2 approaches used to estimate causal effects. In the current issue of the Journal, Murray et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2017;186(2):131-142) compare the performance of the g-formula and ABMs to estimate causal effects in 3 target populations. In their thoughtful paper, the authors outline several reasons that a causal effect estimated using an ABM may be biased when parameterized from at least 1 source external to the target population. The authors have addressed an important issue in epidemiology: Often causal effect estimates are needed to inform public health decisions in settings without complete data. Because public health decisions are urgent, epidemiologists are frequently called upon to estimate a causal effect from existing data in a separate population rather than perform new data collection activities. The assumptions needed to transport causal effects to a specific target population must be carefully stated and assessed, just as one would explicitly state and analyze the assumptions required to draw internally valid causal inference in a specific study sample. Considering external validity in important target populations increases the impact of epidemiologic studies.
Chapter 27 – Water Decontamination Using Iron and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

The enhancement of environmental quality and sustainability through pollution prevention, treatment, and remediation can be provided by the usage of nanoscale materials. These benefits are derived from the enhanced reactivity, surface area, and subsurface transport characteristics of nanomaterials. Among this material family, nanoparticles have great promise for uses in many areas including catalyst, optical, biological, microelectronic, and environmental applications. Nanoparticles can be designed and synthesized to act as separation and reaction media for pollutants, proving revolutionary opportunities to develop more efficient and cost-effective water purification processes and systems relative to current conventional approaches. Water pollutants, such as waterborne bacteria, toxic metals, and chlorinated hydrocarbons, are introduced into the environment from natural sources and are produced from municipal, industrial, and agricultural processes. The remediation of contaminants in water, such as arsenic, chromium, phosphate, chloro-organics, and waterborne bacteria (e.g., E. coli), have been achieved by adsorption or dechlorination methods using iron and iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized from various methods. Current challenges associated with the usage of nanoscale materials for water purification applications include further research to determine methods that increase the stability of nanoparticles used in remediation, and the need to develop manufacturing techniques for mass production of these materials.
Purinergic Signaling in Neuron-Astrocyte Interactions, Circadian Rhythms, and Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a debilitating condition marked by cyclic patterns of craving, use, and withdrawal. These pathological behaviors are mediated by multiple neurotransmitter systems utilizing glutamate, GABA, dopamine, ATP, and adenosine. In particular, purines such as ATP and adenosine have been demonstrated to alter the phase and function of the circadian clock and are reciprocally regulated by the clock itself. Importantly, chronic ethanol intake has been demonstrated to disrupt the molecular circadian clock and is associated with altered circadian patterns of activity and sleep. Moreover, ethanol has been demonstrated to disrupt purinergic signaling, while dysfunction of the purinergic system has been implicated in conditions of drug abuse such as AUD. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge regarding circadian disruption by ethanol, focusing on the reciprocal relationship that exists between oscillatory neurotransmission and the molecular circadian clock. In particular, we offer detailed explanations and hypotheses regarding the concerted regulation of purinergic signaling and circadian oscillations by neurons and astrocytes, and review the diverse mechanisms by which purinergic dysfuction may contribute to circadian disruption or alcohol abuse. Finally, we describe the mechanisms by which ethanol may disrupt or hijack endogenous circadian rhythms to induce the maladaptive behavioral patterns associated with AUD.
Getting to Scale With Moral Education: The Demands of Reproducibility and the Case of the Chicago Manual Training School, 1884–1904

BackgroundGetting educational reforms “to scale” continues to be a primary preoccupation of scholars, but such studies tend to remain focused on the organizational or other characteristics of the s...
Diet and Anthropometrics of Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comparison With the General Population

Background There is a lack of knowledge regarding the diet of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we investigated dietary intake in pediatric IBD compared to the general population and assessed anthropometrics and food avoidance. Methods In this cross-sectional cohort study, patients younger than 18 years with IBD were included (2014-2017). Dietary intake (total energy, macro nutrients, food types) was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and compared with a matched reference population (n = 306). Results There were 102 patients included (55% male, median age 15.0 years). Median height Z-score was -0.39 (interquartile range [IQR]: -1.17 to 0.26). Growth failure (height Z-scores<-1.64) was present in 11% of patients. Median BMI Z-score was 0.36 (IQR: -0.70 to 0.96). Acute malnutrition (weight-for-height Z-score<-2) was present in 3% of patients. Energy intake was lower in pediatric IBD compared to the reference population (mean kilojoule/day: 8286 vs 9794, P < 0.001). Protein intake did not differ, while fat intake was higher in pediatric IBD (mean gram/day: 101 vs 91, P < 0.001), with higher intake of vegetable oils/fats. Carbohydrate intake was lower in pediatric IBD (mean gram/day: 267 vs 305, P < 0.001), with lower intake of food types high in sugar. Food avoidance was reported in 53% of patients, with frequent avoidance of spicy (46%), high-fat food (30%), and dairy (30%). Conclusions The diet of children with IBD differs from the general pediatric population, with lower energy intake and high rates of food avoidance. Evaluation of the dietary intake alongside anthropometrics may be important to prevent nutrition deficiencies and promote health.
Present Trends in Collective Excitations in Solids

Excitations of solids are in general identified as collective because of the many-body interactions. Single particle descriptions are therefore approximations, and well-known quasi-particle excitations such as phonons, excitons and plasmons are themselves approximations. The exact many-body excitations are designated “collectons.” The formulation is further generalized to include probes, sources and applied stresses in interpreting phenomena. Examples include the polariton which results from coupling of the electromagnetic probe with transverse polarization in solids, atomic beams coupled to surface phonons, and solid bodies coupled to high pressure apparatus. General trends in research on collective excitation are reviewed, including extremal conditions for experiments, applied research and sophisticated formulations such as quantum field analyses. Finally, trends specific to particular classes of collective excitations are reviewed.
Perioperative Care: Physiology and Practicality

Anaesthesiologists and critical care practitioners are increasingly responsible not only for satisfactory clinical outcomes following surgery, but also for insuring appropriate utilization of the resources involved. Indeed, clinical pathways have provided a powerful tool to track patients’ progress, and early intervention stimulated by physiological deviation from the expected course may prove beneficial and decrease total length of hospital stay despite the possibility of increasing time in the ICU. To accommodate these responsibilities, physicians must hone traditional clinical skills while learning the new behaviors associated with integrating business practices into medical care. Certainly, the art as well as the science of medicine are still alive, but the understanding of medicine as a business is a reality that clinicians ignore at their peril. The following discussion will focus on two traditional areas of perioperative care. It will conclude by introducing a third arena in which physician interest and direction will dictate future success.
Infrared survey of the Pisgah Crater area, San Bernardino County, California - A geologic interpretation

Infrared survey of Pisgah crater area, San Bernardino county, California - geologic interpretation
Early Response Genes in Endothelial Cells

The vascular endothelial cells initiate angiogenesis when stimulated by growth factors and cytokines. While the cellular activities of the angiogenic factors such as the fibroblast growth factors (FGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and type-β transforming growth factor are well-characterized, molecular mechanisms involved in the different phases of angiogenesis, namely, migration, proliferation and differentiation are not well-understood. Protein kinase-C pathway is involved in the regulation of angiogenesis because the tumor promoter phorbol myristic acetate (PMA) is a potent inhibitor of FGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation and an inducer of differentiation into capillary-like tubules. Because immediate-early (IE) genes have been shown to be involved in critical regulatory events, we have cloned and characterized PMA-inducible IE genes from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Collagenase type-I and a novel gene termed edg-1 were isolated as abundant PMA-inducible transcripts. The structure of edg-1 suggests that it encodes a novel G-protein coupled receptor. Furthermore, an isotype of cyclooxygenase (Cox) enzyme, Cox-2, was also induced as an IE gene in HUVEC. The expression of immunoreactive Cox isotypes in vivo correlates with the angiogenesis that occurs in chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Because prostaglandins induce inflammation and angiogenesis, exaggerated and persistent expression of the Cox-2 may be important in maintaining the inflammatory disease phenotype. Regulated induction of IE genes such as edg-1, collagenase type I and Cox-2 may be important in physiological events that require angiogenesis; however, exaggerated and dysregulated expression of IE genes may result in enhanced angiogenesis, a characteristic of chronic inflammatory diseases and solid tumor growth.