cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pair spectra, edge emission, and the shallow acceptors in melt-grown ZnSe

The nature of edge emission bands in the photoluminescence spectra of as-grown, annealed, and electron-irradiated melt-grown ZnSe crystals at 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K has been investigated. Five different edge emission bands associated with donor-acceptor pair recombination are identified. These bands have their zero-phonon peaks at 4566, 4587, 4595, 4606, and 4625 \AA{}. A high-energy series, free-to-bound recombination band, is observed at 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in association with the band at 4625 \AA{}. The bands at 4566, 4587, and 4595 \AA{} are seen only in annealed crystals; the band at 4625 \AA{} is seen only in as-grown crystals; whereas the band at 4606 \AA{} is observed in annealed and as-grown crystals. Discrete pair lines have been resolved only for the bands at 4566 and 4587 \AA{}. It is recognized that the band at 4606 \AA{} is the previously studied group-III-donor-${\mathrm{Li}}_{\mathrm{Zn}}$ recombination band and that the band at 4587 \AA{} is the as yet unidentified complex pair band reported by Dean and Merz. A study of the bound exciton lines occurring with the edge emission indicates that the band at 4625 \AA{} arises from group-III-donor-${\mathrm{Na}}_{\mathrm{Zn}}$ recombination. The acceptor ionization energy, ${E}_{A}$, of ${\mathrm{Na}}_{\mathrm{Zn}}$ is deduced to be 122 meV. From the analysis of the discrete pair lines associated with the bands at 4566 and 4587 \AA{} and from the results of electron irradiation and annealing experiments it is suggested that these two bands involve the same donor and acceptor and that the shorter-wavelength band arises from preferential pairing and the longer-wavelength band from random pairing of the donor and acceptor centers. The donor and the acceptor are tentatively assigned to be the doubly ionized zinc interstitial, ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{i}$, and the singly ionized complex (${\mathrm{Na}}_{\mathrm{Zn}}{V}_{\mathrm{Se}}$), respectively. The ionization energy of the complex center, (${\mathrm{Na}}_{\mathrm{Zn}}{V}_{\mathrm{Se}}$), is estimated from the corresponding bound exciton line to be 80-100 meV. The pair band at 4595 \AA{} is tentatively assigned to a group-III-donor-(${\mathrm{Li}}_{\mathrm{Zn}}{V}_{\mathrm{Se}}$) transition, and this acceptor has ${E}_{A}=110\ensuremath{-}130$ meV, estimated from the corresponding bound exciton line.
Compartmentation of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyl transferase in developing castor bean endosperm

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyl transferase are present in the proplastid and mitochondrial fractions of developing castor bean endosperm. Three forms of prenyl transferase have also been separated in extracts of germinating seeds. One of these enzymes, farnesyl transferase, is present in the proplastid. The precise subcellular locations of the other two, geranyl transferases I and II, have not yet been determined. These results are consistent with the proposal that enzyme segregation plays an important role in governing the flow of carbon in isoprenoid pathways.
A short way of solving advanced problems in electromagnetic fields and other linear systems

A linear system is characterized in the abstract by a source vector a , a response vector \alpha and a system matrix R , connected by \alpha = Ra . Specific interpretations for a , \alpha and R are given for electromagnetic fields, the scalar product a \dot Rb being the reaction. The advantages of this method are illustrated by application to various problems. Mode expansions are defined by the eigenvector equation Rm = C_{m}m , C_{m} being the eigenvalue and m the mode source. This means the mode is generated by a combination of electric and magnetic sources which, apart from the constant multiplier C_{m} , are everywhere equal to the electric and magnetic fields, respectively. Such mode expansions are applied to typical waveguide problems. Waveguide theory is set up in terms of unit voltage and unit current mode sources, v and i , where v \dot v = 1 = i \dot i . Then the definitions of waveguide current and voltage coincide with those for circuit theory, e.g., the mode current at cross section P is the reaction on a unit voltage source placed at P . The method also greatly simplifies scattering and antenna problems, such as the pattern of a monopole antenna which is immersed in a layer of gyrotropic plasma.
Kalman filtering, smoothing, and recursive robot arm forward and inverse dynamics

The inverse and forward dynamics problems for multilink serial manipulators are solved by using recursive techniques from linear filtering and smoothing theory. The pivotal step is to cast the system dynamics and kinematics as a two-point boundary-value problem. Solution of this problem leads to filtering and smoothing techniques similar to the equations of Kalman filtering and Bryson-Frazier fixed time-interval smoothing. The solutions prescribe an inward filtering recursion to compute a sequence of constraint moments and forces followed by an outward recursion to determine a corresponding sequence of angular and linear accelerations. An inward recursion refers to a sequential technique that starts at the tip of the terminal link and proceeds inwardly through all of the links until it reaches the base. Similarly, an outward recursion starts at the base and propagates out toward the tip. The recursive solutions are O(N), in the sense that the number of required computations only grows linearly with the number of links. A technique is provided to compute the relative angular accelerations at all of the joints from the applied external joint moments (and vice versa). It also provides an approach to evaluate recursively the composite multilink system inertia matrix and its inverse. The main contribution is to establish the equivalence between the filtering and smoothing techniques arising in state estimation theory and the methods of recursive robot dynamics. The filtering and smoothing architecture is very easy to understand and implement. This provides for a better understanding of robot dynamics. While the focus is not on exploring computational efficiency, some initial results in that direction are obtained. This is done by comparing performance with other recursive methods for a planar chain example. The analytical foundation is laid for the potential use of filtering and smoothing techniques in robot dynamics and control.
A dualist analysis of abortion: personhood and the concept of self qua experiential subject

There is no issue more central to the abortion debate than the controversial issue of whether the fetus is a moral person. Abortion-rights opponents almost universally claim that abortion is murder and should be legally prohibited because the fetus is a moral person at the moment of conception. Abortion-rights proponents almost universally deny the crucial assumption that the fetus is a person; on their view, whatever moral disvalue abortion involves does not rise to the level of murder and hence does not rise to the level of something that should be legally prohibited. In this essay, I argue that, under dualist assumptions about the nature of mind, the fetus is not a person until brain activity has begun.(i) First, I argue it is a necessary condition for a thing to be a moral person that it is (or has) a self. Second, I argue it is a necessary condition for a fetus to be (or have) a self, under dualist assumptions, that there has been some electrical activity in the brain. I conclude that a dualist can take the position that abortion ought to be legally permitted at least until the beginning of brain activity in the fetus.iI make no attempt to determine what conditions are sufficient for moral personhood; for this reason, the relevant claim about personhood is purely negative.
Adaptive Analytical Model-Based Control for SI Engine Air–Fuel Ratio

An adaptive, state-space, model-predictive controller for spark ignition (SI) engine air-fuel ratio control is developed and presented in this brief. The linear model-based controller is an analytical controller that does not require online optimization. The model parameters for the predictive controller and the time-varying delay compensation are adapted based on the current measured engine speed and load. These process model parameters and time delays are identified from engine operating data. A Kalman filter is used to estimate the model and disturbance states of the system. The controller is demonstrated on a Ford 2-L I4 engine.
Leaving home ain't easy: non-local seed dispersal is only evolutionarily stable in highly unpredictable environments

It is widely understood that in the presence of asynchronous environmental variation, seeds disperse to escape disturbances, avoid crowding or colonize newly favourable habitat before a superior competitor can arrive. If seeds are dispersing for any of these reasons, it seems intuitive that they should travel far enough to reach conditions uncorrelated with their natal environment: why ‘escape in space’ only to land somewhere more or less like where they started? However, in this paper, I present a series of mathematical experiments which show that the evolutionarily stable mean dispersal distance remains well short of the spatial correlation length of the environmental variation, regardless of disturbance severity, coevolution with a superior competitor or the presence of a small fraction of seeds which travel well beyond the mean distance. Non-local dispersal arises only as part of a polymorphism that evolves when favourable conditions are fleeting. To the degree that non-local dispersal is a response to environmental variation, it appears to be a response to environmental unpredictability.
Intra- and inter-exam reproducibility of left ventricular twist measurements using Fourier analysis of STimulated Echoes (FAST)

Background Assessing the reproducibility of new quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers is an important part of validation [1-3]. Fourier Analysis of STimulated Echoes (FAST) [4] is a new MRI tissue tagging method that has recently been shown to compare favorably to conventional estimates of left ventricular (LV) twist from cardiac tagged images, but with significantly reduced user interaction time (less than ~3 minutes) and low intra- and interobserver variability. The purpose of this study was to assess the intra- and inter-exam reproducibility of LV twist using FAST.
NMR-BASED METABOLOMICS

Similar to genomics and proteomics which yield vast amounts of data about the expression of genes and proteins, metabolomics refers to the whole metabolic profile of the cell. The focus of this report concerns the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for metabolic analyses and, in particular, its use in toxicology for examining the metabolic profile of biofluids. Examples from the literature will demonstrate how 1H NMR and pattern recognition methods are used to obtain the urinary metabolic profile, and how this profile is affected by exposure to various toxicants. These particular studies which focus on the metabolic profiles of biofluids, specifically urine, are referred to as metabonomics. NMR-based metabonomics provides a means to categorize organ-specific toxicity, monitor the onset and progression of toxicological effects, and identify biomarkers of toxicity. A future challenge, however, is to describe the cellular metabolome for purposes of understanding cellular functions (i.e., metabolomics). Thus the capabilities and advantages of multinuclear NMR to provide metabolic information in cells and tissues will also be discussed. Such information is essential if metabolomics is to provide a complementary dataset which together with genomics and proteomics can be used to construct computer network models to describe cellular functions.
Wee-1 Kinase Inhibition Sensitizes High-Risk HPV+ HNSCC to Apoptosis Accompanied by Downregulation of MCl-1 and XIAP Antiapoptotic Proteins

Purpose: Although the majority of patients with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancers have a favorable prognosis, there are some patients with tumors that are resistant to aggressive chemoradiotherapy with unusual patterns of locoregional and systemic recurrences. Therefore, more effective therapies are needed. In this study, we investigated the chemosensitizing efficacy of the selective Wee-1 kinase inhibitor, AZD-1775, in HPV+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Experimental Design: Clonogenic survival assays and an orthotopic mouse model of HPV+ oral cancer were used to examine the in vitro and in vivo sensitivity of HPV+ HNSCC cell lines to AZD-1775 in combination with cisplatin, respectively. Cell-cycle analysis, DNA damage (γH2AX), homologous recombination (HR), and apoptosis were examined to dissect molecular mechanisms. Results: We found that AZD-1775 displays single-agent activity and enhances the response of HPV+ HNSCC cells to cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo. The sensitivity of the HPV+ HNSCC cells to AZD-1775 alone or in combination with cisplatin was associated with G2 checkpoint abrogation, persistent DNA damage, and apoptosis induction. This finding of AZD-1775 increasing the sensitivity of HPV+ HNSCC cells to cisplatin through apoptosis was not seen previously in the HPV− HNSCC cancer cells and is accompanied by a decreased expression of the antiapoptotic proteins, MCl-1and XIAP, which appear to be cleaved following AZD-1775 treatment. Conclusions: AZD-1775 selectively sensitizes HPV+ HNSCC cells and orthotopic oral xenografts to cisplatin through apoptosis and support the clinical investigation of AZD-1775 in combination with cisplatin particularly in patients with advanced and recurrent metastatic HPV+ HNSCC tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 21(21); 4831–44. ©2015 AACR.
Conduction velocity in motor, cutaneous afferent, and muscle afferent fibers within the same mixed nerve

Mammalian axons subserving different functions have different conduction velocities (CV); motor fibers conduct more slowly than cutaneous fibers, which conduct slower than muscle afferents. However, human studies have yielded conflicting results. We studied isolated fiber populations in human sciatic nerve to examine further this question. Motor studies were performed in standard fashion, stimulating at gluteal fold (GF) and popliteal fossa (PF) and recording soleus. In addition, conduction velocity of a pure motor nerve volley was calculated for 3 subjects. Stimulating and recording electrodes were needles placed close to the nerve. Cutaneous afferents were studied by stimulating the sural nerve at the ankle and recording at PF and GF. Muscle afferent velocity was assessed by comparing soleus H reflex latency with stimulation at PF and GF. Results in 10 subjects showed muscle afferent CV of 57.6, cutaneous afferent CV of 55.1, motor CV of 52.4, and mixed nerve CV of 56.3 m/s. Although statistically significant, these differences are much smaller than in animal studies. These results have implications for understanding what fibers contribute to spinal reflexes.
Sub-pixel Mapping of Coarse Satellite Remote Sensing Images with Stochastic Simulations from Training Images

Super-resolution or sub-pixel mapping is the process of providing fine scale land cover maps from coarse-scale satellite sensor information. Such a procedure calls for a prior model depicting the spatial structures of the land cover types. When available, an analog of the underlying scene (a training image) may be used for such a model. The single normal equation simulation algorithm (SNESIM) allows extracting the relevant pattern information from the training image and uses that information to downscale the coarse fraction data into a simulated fine scale land cover scene. Two non-exclusive approaches are considered to use training images for super-resolution mapping. The first one downscales the coarse fractions into fine-scale pre-posterior probabilities which is then merged with a probability lifted from the training image. The second approach pre-classifies the fine scale patterns of the training image into a few partition classes based on their coarse fractions. All patterns within a partition class are recorded by a search tree; there is one tree per partition class. At each fine scale pixel along the simulation path, the coarse fraction data is retrieved first and used to select the appropriate search tree. That search tree contains the patterns relevant to that coarse fraction data. To ensure exact reproduction of the coarse fractions, a servo-system keeps track of the number of simulated classes inside each coarse fraction. Being an under-determined stochastic inverse problem, one can generate several super resolution maps and explore the space of uncertainty for the fine scale land cover. The proposed SNESIM sub-pixel resolution mapping algorithms allow to: (i) exactly reproduce the coarse fraction, (ii) inject the structural model carried by the training image, and (iii) condition to any available fine scale ground observations. Two case studies are provided to illustrate the proposed methodology using Landsat TM data from southeast China.
Survey paper: Static output feedback-A survey

This paper reviews the static output feedback problem in the control of linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems. It includes analytical and computational methods and presents in a unified fashion the knowledge gained in the decades of research into this important open problem. The paper shows that although many approaches and techniques exist to approach different versions of the problem, no efficient algorithmic solutions are available.
Data fusion in a relay network

The distributed detection of a binary source communicated through parallel relays to a common fusion point is examined. There is independent noise on the links from the source to the relays and noiseless but limited alphabet size communication from the relays to the fusion point. We show that if the link from one relay to the fusion point is limited to an M-ary alphabet, then maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) detection at the fusion point can be achieved using at most an (M+1)-ary alphabet from the other relay. The solution structure for the optimal relay and fusion strategies is characterized for arbitrary channels, and the complete solution is provided to the additive Gaussian noise channel.
Optimum receivers and low-dimensional spreaded modulation for multiuser space-time communications

The jointly optimum receiver is obtained for multi- user communications in a frequency nonselective Rayleigh-fading channel with N/sub T/ transmit antennas per user and N/sub R/ receive antennas. Based on a general analysis of quadratic receivers in zero-mean complex Gaussian vectors, asymptotically tight expressions (for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)) for the pairwise error probabilities are derived. Subsequently, it is shown that N/sub T/-dimensional single-user signaling suffices to provide full diversity order N=N/sub T/N/sub R/ for all the users. In other words, the presence of other users does not increase the minimum dimension required beyond what is needed for the single-user space-time channel. For the special case of low-rank "code-division multiple-access (CDMA)" signaling with N/sub T/=1 and provided the signatures of any two users are linearly independent, it is shown that the error probability of a K-user system asymptotically approaches single-user-like performance for every user. Remarkably, therefore, an increase in the number of users, and hence an increase in the aggregate spectral efficiency, does not require the users to transmit with more power to achieve single-user-like performance asymptotically. A signal design algorithm is proposed to illustrate this point and examples are given. These results are then generalized to the multiple transmit antenna case. A new (N/sub T/+1)-dimensional signaling strategy is proposed for the multiuser channel that leverages existing single-user space-time signal designs while ensuring full diversity order and single-user-like performance asymptotically for every user.
Preoperative localization of intracranial lesions on MR.

Intraoperative identification of small or diffusely infiltrative subcortical lesions may be difficult. The apparent position of an abnormality demonstrated on higher CT sections may be particularly misleading. Lesions seen in the center of the image may be located in the frontal or parietal lobes, depend­ ing on the angulation of the plane of the section. Surgical exploration of these lesions is aided considerably by preop­ erative localization. The procedure is usually performed by using CT in the coronal or axial plane. However, in many cases, coronal planes may be difficult or impossible to obtain on CT. Several localization methods have been described. Most refer the position of the lesion to the skull landmarks or to devices placed externally on the scalp. The proposed method allows for simple and accurate localization of the intracranial process on MR.
BCNU toxicity presenting with a large pericardial and pleural effusion.

Background Carmustine (BCNU), 1, 3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitosourea, is an alkylating agent which is commonly used as a part of conditioning regimen for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Despite the widespread use of BCNU therapy in adults, cardiopulmonary toxicity presenting with cardiac tamponade has not been reported. Case report We present a patient who received BCNU as part of her conditioning regimen followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. This patient subsequently developed bilateral upper lobe pulmonary infiltrates with bilateral pleural effusions and a large pericardial effusion which was a result of BCNU toxicity. Conclusions Early institution of glucocorticoids for patients receiving high dose BCNU containing chemotherapeutic regimens has shown to significantly reduce BCNU induced cardio-pulmonary toxicity.
Ensembling Predictions of Student Post-Test Scores for an Intelligent Tutoring System

Over the last few decades, there have been a rich variety of approaches towards modeling student knowledge and skill within interactive learning environments. There have recently been several empirical comparisons as to which types of student models are better at predicting future performance, both within and outside of the interactive learning environment. A recent paper (Baker et al., in press) considers whether ensembling can produce better prediction than individual models, when ensembling is performed at the level of predictions of performance within the tutor. However, better performance was not achieved for predicting the post-test. In this paper, we investigate ensembling at the post-test level, to see if this approach can produce better prediction of post-test scores within the context of a Cognitive Tutor for Genetics. We find no improvement for ensembling over the best individual models and we consider possible explanations for this finding, including the limited size of the data set.
Age-dependent arylsulphatase and sulphotransferase activities in the southern armyworm: a possible insect endocrine regulatory mechanism? (Short Communication)

Arylsulphate and sulphotransferase activities were determined during the late larval development of the southern armyworm. Arylsulphatase titre attains a maximum during the moult and is at a minimum between moults. Sulphotransferase titre appeared to follow the inverse course. A possible enzymic regulatory mechanism for insect steroid hormones is discussed.
Effect of bilirubin on the distribution, elimination and anticoagulant action of dicumarol in Gunn rats-1-2 (38547).

SummaryJaundiced Gunn rats were found to have a significantly larger apparent volume of distribution and higher rate constant for elimination of dicumarol than their nonjaundiced littermates. Anticoagulant effect-log plasma dicumarol concentration lines were parallel in the two groups of animals, with the line for the jaundiced rats shifted to a lower concentration range. In vitro studies showed that bilirubin can displace dicumarol from serum protein binding sites. There are indications of a genetic influence on the distribution and anticogu-lant effect of dicumarol in Gunn rats.
Spices, Smells and Spells: The Use of Olfactory Substances in the Conjuring of Spirits

This article examines five inter-connected conjuration spells, found in the sixteenth-century Bijapuri astrological encyclopaedia, the Nujūm al-ʿulūm (The Stars of the Sciences, 1570), each of which is used to summon one of a family of jinn sisters, known as the ‘children of the heart-ravishing houris’. Through an examination of these spells, I direct attention to the ways in which knowledge of the esoteric sciences became a useful skill in courtly society in the Deccan, and intersected with widely shared understandings of both the physical body and the cosmos, which it inhabited. Focusing particularly on the importance of olfactants and olfactory techniques in magical practices, this article will also highlight an oft-forgotten sense – smell – and the practices associated with it in the sixteenth-century Deccan. Finally I also consider the importance of practices of conceptual translations in sixteenth-century courtly culture and statecraft.
Complete Tissue Submission to Increase Lymph Node Detection in Pelvic Lymph Node Packets Submitted for Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy and Radical Cystectomy.

Background. Pelvic lymphadenectomy has prognostic and therapeutic implications in both bladder and prostate cancer. Pelvic lymphadenectomy specimens are fatty and identification of lymph nodes (LNs...
Perfect Equilibrium with Incomplete Financial Markets: An Elementary Exposition

Value and Capital is a real masterpiece, clearly and forcefully demon strating the importance of treating time explicitly, and thus recognis ing that economic plans made today unavoidably depend on beliefs about potential opportunities available tomorrow. Hicks focused his analysis on price uncertainty, starting from the position that, even in the absence of more fundamental sources of uncertainty, there is no convincing rationale for assuming either that individuals’ future price expectations will be identical, or if they were, that individuals’ future plans (based on these expectations) will be coordinated. In other words, self-fulfilling expectations, or perfect foresight, or—in Hicks’s own term—perfect equilibrium is unlikely even under the best of circumstances. But then why not a full range of current markets for trading forward, obviating the need for individuals to guess the potential course of future prices? Because in fact there is also fundamental uncertainty in the economic environment. In Hicks’s own words: Thirdly, even if price expectations are consistent, still people may foresee their own wants incorrectly, or make wrong estimates of the results of the technical processes of production….Generally, then, it is uncertainty of the future, and the desire to keep one’s hands free to meet that uncertainty, which limit the extent of forward trading under capitalism; the ultimate cause why the first two kinds of disequilibrium cannot be met more efficiently reduces itself to the unavoidable presence of the third and fourth kinds.1
Surgical repair of large cyclodialysis clefts

PurposeTo describe a new surgical technique to effectively close large (>180 degrees) cyclodialysis clefts.MethodsOur method involves the use of procedures commonly associated with repair of retina...
Work Reentry for RNs After Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Implications for the Nursing Profession

Introduction This grounded theory research study was conducted with the purpose of explicating a theoretical model that describes the basic social processes present in successful work reentry of registered nurses (RNs) after substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Methods Semistructured interviews were done with a purposive sample of 22 participants from various regions of the United States who met the research inclusion criteria. Results Using constant comparative analysis, the core variable of the theoretical model emerged as "self-redefinition," described as acceptance and internalization of self as a person and a nurse with SUD. Factors contributing to successful work reentry were recovery support, use of healthy self-care strategies, strong professional nursing identity, compliance with regulatory mandates, and honesty about SUD and recovery status. Underlying factors to the beginning of "self-redefinition" included taking adequate time off to establish a solid foundation of recovery before reentry to work. Barriers to successful work reentry were stigma, reluctance to change behaviors or the view of self, knowledge deficits about SUD among work colleagues, financial stressors, and lengthy wait times for license status decisions from state boards of nursing. Conclusion Future research is recommended to address the multiple issues associated with the topic of SUD among nurses to augment these findings.
The many facets of mindfulness and the prediction of change following mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).

Objectives Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) promotes numerous psychological benefits, but few studies have identified for whom MBSR is most effective. The current study tested the hypothesis that lower baseline mindfulness invites more "room to grow" and, thus, predicts greater improvement during MBSR. Method We examined three facets of mindfulness (awareness, acceptance, decentering) among 131 MBSR participants prior to enrollment, to test the hypothesis that lower baseline mindfulness predicts greater improvements in perceived stress, positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) following MBSR. Results Lower acceptance and decentering predicted greater decreases in perceived stress. Higher awareness, acceptance, and decentering predicted greater increases in PA. Higher awareness predicted greater reductions in NA. Lower decentering predicted greater reductions in NA. Conclusion Findings partly supported the hypothesis that lower baseline mindfulness predicts greater improvement following MBSR and emphasize the importance of assessing multiple mindfulness facets given their unique, contrasting relations to outcomes.
Near-Field Ultrasound Imaging of Ablation Lesion Formation: More Than Meets the Eye?

See Article by Haines et al Effective lesion formation with radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in current practice relies on the monitoring of variables which serve as surrogates to tissue destruction. Impedance drop, electrogram diminution, adequacy of contact force and power titration, and lack of pace capture after ablation all suggest effective RF delivery to targeted tissue, but none come close to a gold standard of pathological examination (Figure).1–5 Intracardiac echocardiography can improve the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation because of its ability to offer direct visualization of the catheter-tissue interface, but in most cases provides insufficient resolution to adequately assess the depth of lesions created during RF delivery.6,7 Near-field imaging to directly visualize lesion formation would offer a substantial improvement with potential to improve the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation; not only could near-field imaging confirm that targeted tissue was truly being affected by RF, but the power, contact force, and duration of RF delivery could be titrated in a manner to avoid delivery of excessive or unnecessary ablation which could otherwise put neighboring structures (phrenic nerve, periesophageal vagal nerve, or the esophagus itself) at risk.8–10 The near-field ultrasound (NFUS) ablation catheter is designed to offer just that—NFUS imaging from the catheter tip to directly monitor lesion formation in hopes to ultimately improve the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation. Figure. Parameters which can be used to assess or predict the effectiveness of radiofrequency delivery and ablation lesion formation. NFUS indicates near-field ultrasound. In the current issue of Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology , Haines et al11 investigate the application of …
A randomized intervention study to evaluate the effect of calcitriol therapy on the renin-angiotensin system in diabetes.

Background:Prior studies suggest that vitamin D therapy may decrease cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) by lowering renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity. However, randomized h...
Computational Methods to Understand Deviant Mental Wellness Communities

My research uses computational methods to understand deviant online communities to assess their health and well-being. My prior work studies the pro-eating disorder community, a specific deviant community that glorifies disordered eating behaviors. In my dissertation, I expand on this work in three ways: to help moderators manage deviant mental wellness content, to understand normative behaviors of support in communities, and ethical issues of predicting individualized mental wellness. Understanding these behaviors at-scale can help medical research develop better intervention strategies through social media as well as understanding bad behavior to make better online communities.
Stress-related eating, mindfulness, and obesity.

Objective This study explored how experiences of stress in adulthood, including the occurrence of stressful life events and psychosocial strains in various life domains, might be related to stress-related eating and indicators of obesity, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Method Cross-sectional data were examined from 3,708 adults in the Midlife in the U.S. study (MIDUS II). Results Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that experiences of stress were associated with higher BMI and waist circumference, even after controlling for age, annual household income, education level, race, and sex, although the additional variance accounted for was small. A nonparametric bootstrapping approach indicated that stress-related eating mediated the association between experiences of stress and indicators of obesity. Moderated-mediation analyses indicated that the relationship between experiences of stress and stress-related eating was amplified for women and individuals with obesity in comparison to men and individuals without obesity. Mindfulness did not moderate the experiences of stress and stress-related eating association. Conclusions These results provide further evidence of the contributions of psychosocial factors to chronic disease risk. (PsycINFO Database Record
Convergence in Distribution on Polish Spaces

We want to extend the concept of convergence in distribution to probability spaces other than (ℝ, 𝛣). Certain metric spaces, known as ‘Polish spaces’, play a central role. Particularly important examples of Polish spaces are the real line, the extended real line, d-dimensional Euclidean space, infinite products of intervals, and spaces of continuous functions. Thus, this chapter may be viewed as a mechanism for extending the concepts and results discussed in Chapter 14 to a wide variety of settings. (Basic facts about metric spaces are treated briefly in Appendix B. Some of the topology in Appendix C is also relevant.)
TNFα, Endothelium, and Microcirculation in Stroke Initiation, Progression, and Tolerance

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) can activate luminal endothelium in intraparenchymal segments of the cerebral vasculature and predispose those segments to thrombosis. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) have increased numbers of perivascular macrophages around their intraparenchymal brain vessels and release increased amounts of TNFα in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). They develop more strokes after LPS administration than normotensive rats. In addition, normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats can be made susceptible to strokes induced by LPS by activating their macrophages with bacillus Calmette Guerin. TNFα is acutely expressed following focal cerebral ischemia, and blocking its activity with TNFbp has been demonstrated to reduce infarct volume in several models of focal ischemia. These studies indicate that TNFα participates in secondary brain injury during the early hours of ischemia. Evidence has been developed that TNFα is involved in the signaling pathways that regulate the development of tolerance to ischemia. Although tolerance is generally attributed to an increase in neuronal resistance to ischemia, studies of the microcirculation after a preconditioning exposure that generated the requisite TNFα activity in SHRs revealed that preservation of microcirculatory perfusion is a feature of the tolerant state.
An experimental evaluation of capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger performance with alternative refrigerants HFC-134a and HFC-152a

Worldwide environmental concerns have resulted in mandates that CFC refrigerants be replaced with alternative refrigerants. The most common refrigerant used in household refrigerators is CFC-12, and alternative refrigerants HFC-134a and HFC-152a are potential replacements. The capillary tube is the predominant expansion device found in household refrigerators. It is usually soldered to the suction line for three to five feet of length, thus, creating a simple counter-flow heat exchanger. Heat exchanger performance is characterized by both the refrigerant mass flow rate and a heat transfer effect, commonly referred to as effective subcooling. Capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger performance was experimentally evaluated with alternative refrigerants HFC-134a and HFC-152a. In accomplishing this task, a test facility simulating a household refrigerator was designed and constructed with the capability of controlling the appropriate operating conditions. Next, efficient experimental test plans were designed using statistical methods. Performance databases were then obtained with each refrigerant of an applicable range of heat exchanger geometries and operating conditions including; capillary tube inner diameter (0,026 to 0.031 in), capillary tube length (96 to 130 in), heat exchanger length (30 to 70 in), condenser temperature (85 to 132 °F), evaporator pressure (16 to 26 psia), capillary tube inlet condition (15 °F subcooled to 5% quality), and oil concentration level (0% to 3%). Measured mass flow rate ranged between 6 and 21 Ibm/hr. Variables having the greatest effect on mass flow rate included condenser temperature.
a-f BLAST: Non-Iterative Radial k-t BLAST Reconstruction for Real-Time Imaging

Non-Cartesian trajectories are advantageous in the collection and reconstruction of dynamic MR images. Like many other fast imaging methods, the reconstruction technique k-t broad-use linear acquisition speed-up technique (BLAST) has been extended to non-Cartesian k-t BLAST through a conjugate gradient-based approach. However, it is necessary to transform and grid the data to a Cartesian domain as part of the reconstruction, a process which can be time consuming and computationally intensive. In this paper, a new non-iterative reconstruction, a-f BLAST, is proposed to extend k-t BLAST to radial sampling. The a-f BLAST reconstruction is performed in a previously unexplored domain termed the angular frequency-temporal frequency (a-f) space and uses similar steps to Cartesian k-t BLAST. The performance of this method was demonstrated on retrospectively undersampled numerical phantoms and compared with k-t BLAST, non-Cartesian k-t BLAST, and the sliding window technique. In addition, the reconstruction was tested on retrospectively and prospectively undersampled in vivo cardiac data. The a-f BLAST is shown to have a similar reconstruction time as k-t BLAST as well as outperform k-t BLAST in terms of root-mean-square error.
Perspective and Prospectus on Single-Entity Electrochemistry.

Single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) describes a recent trend in state-of-the-art electrochemistry applied to the study of individual “things.” Conceptually, SEE covers fundamentals and applications of SEE, as well as methods and tools to make SEE measurements. SEE is especially appealing, as it unifies different branches of electrochemistry and comingles diverse approaches and techniques toward similar goals. In this Perspective, motivations and advantages of SEE are considered. A brief historical perspective and overview of recent ideas and directions in research in SEE are considered. In closing, future challenges, opportunities, and destinations related to SEE are discussed.
Using Carbon Isotope Equilibrium to Screen Pedogenic Carbonate Oxygen Isotopes: Implications for Paleoaltimetry and Paleotectonic Studies

Stable isotope compositions of pedogenic carbonates (δ13Ccarb, δ18Ocarb) are widely used in paleoenvironmental and paleoaltimetry studies. At the same time, both in vertical stratigraphic sections and in horizontal transects of single paleosols, significant variability in δ18Ocarb values is observed well in excess of what could reasonably be attributed to elevation changes. Herein, a new screening tool is proposed to establish which pedogenic carbonate δ18Ocarb compositions reflect formation in isotopic equilibrium with environmental conditions through the use of the co-occurring δ13Corg composition of carbonate-occluded or in profile organic matter, where Δ13C = δ13Ccarb – δ13Corg. Based upon 51 modern soils from monsoonal, continental, and Mediterranean moisture regimes, Δ13C = +15.6 ± 1.1‰ (1σ), which closely matches theoretical predictions for carbonates formed at carbon isotope equilibrium through Fickian diffusion. Examples from both disequilibrium and equilibrium cases in the geologic record are examined, and it is shown that previous δ18Ocarb records used to infer Cenozoic uplift in southwestern Montana do not provide any constraint on paleoelevation because >90% of the pedogenic carbonate isotopic compositions are out of equilibrium. Guidelines for future paleoaltimetry studies include collection of both vertical stratigraphic sections and lateral transects, of at least three nodules per horizon, petrographic screening of nodules for diagenesis, collection of at least one independent proxy for paleoclimate or paleovegetation, and screening δ18Ocarb values using Δ13C measured for each paleosol.
Root Cause Detection using Dynamic Dependency Graphs from Time Series Data

Change detection in system behavior and its root cause detection is essential for many large-scale systems such as, manufacturing plants, in order to keep systems running uninterrupted and avoid costly machine breakdown via predictive maintenance. In this paper, we present a novel graph based technique that uses time variant interdependencies and lagged dependencies among different components of a system to detect changes in the system behavior. We further find the root causes for these detected changes by pointing out the component and its historical values that are responsible for initiating and changing the system to the new state. The proposed mechanism extracts these time variant dependencies using a deep learning system and converts them into weighted directed graphs and applies graph based techniques for change detection. For each detected change, our system uses graph theoretic techniques to uncover the root causes for the change. Such a mechanism provides us with valuable insights about the inner workings of a system from a different perspective as opposed to traditional techniques for root cause analysis that directly apply statistical models to the time series data for analysis. Experimental results on real manufacturing data show, that we can detect changes in system behavior and accurately identify the root causes in almost 71% of the cases for which we have the ground truth. For synthetic data, our system can correctly identify root causes in 87% of the cases.
Multivariate survival analysis of adult malignant melanoma in Florida: An analysis from a population-based cancer registry (1981-2009).

e20100 Background: Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the most aggressive neoplasms of melanocytes. In the US, melanoma of the skin accounts for 4.6% of all new cancers and 1.7% of all cancer deaths...
Organometallics in Acidic Media: Catalytic Dimerization of Ethylene by (Perfluoroalkyl)phosphine Complexes of Platinum and Palladium in Trifluoroacetic Acid†

Catalytic ethylene dimerization by (dfepe)Pt(Me)X complexes in aprotic and trifluoroacetic acid solvents is described. In CH2Cl2, catalyst deactivation due to acid loss and generation of (dfepe)Pt(η2-C2H4) is observed. In contrast, long-term ethylene dimerization activity takes place in trifluoroacetic acid at 80 °C and produces 2-(trifluoroacetato)butane as the sole organic product. Under these reaction conditions, the catalyst resting state is (dfepe)Pt(Et)(O2CCF3). At 20 °C, reversible acid elimination from (dfepe)Pt(Et)(O2CCF3) and ethylene ligand exchange results in catalytic vinylic H+/D+ exchange with CF3CO2D (t1/2 ≈ 40 min). Analogous palladium systems exhibit enhanced dimerization activity at 25 °C (340 turnovers/h, 100 psi C2H4) and form (dfepe)2Pd as a catalyst resting state. Inhibition of catalytic activity in the presence of added dfepe was noted. Comparisons between catalytic runs in CF3CO2H and CF3CO2D gave an apparent solvent kinetic effect of 3.5(2), based on an initial second-order rate ...
4) Teaching the Skill of Shared Decision Making to Pediatric Critical Care Physicians

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of an open, online curriculum teaching the skills of shared decision making to Pediatric Critical Care Fellows and other pediatric trainees who help care for critically ill children. Methods: Pediatric Fellows from the PICU, NICU, Heme/Onc, and Pulmonology fellowships were recruited and randomized to intervention and control groups. All participants were video-recorded in a simulated patient encounter in which parents were deciding to either go forward with a life-extending procedure for their child or transition to …
Plasmon-enhanced hierarchical photoelectrodes with mechanical flexibility for hydrogen generation from urea solution and human urine

We have demonstrated plasmon-enhanced flexible and hierarchical photoanodes for hydrogen production from human urine in a photoelectrochemical cell. The photoanodes consist of cobalt-doped α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays functionalized with Au nanoparticles and Ni(OH)2. The Au nanoparticles and Ni(OH)2 work as plasmonic nanostructures and urea oxidation catalyst, respectively. Benefiting from the plasmonic and catalytic effects, the photoanodes exhibit an AM 1.5 photocurrent of 5.0 ± 0.1 mA cm−2 (urea solution) and 7.5 ± 0.1 mA cm−2 (human urine) at 0.3 V versus Ag/AgCl. At a Pt counter electrode, continuous hydrogen gas evolution is achieved at a small bias. With their high performance and mechanical flexibility that facilitates the large-scale transportation and implementation in the field, the photoanodes are paving a sustainable way towards hydrogen production and urine treatment.
Non-rigid MRI-CT image registration with unsupervised deepdlearning-based deformation prediction

In this study, we propose to use an unsupervised deep learning-based method to directly register the MRI to CT with the help of synthetic MRI (sMRI). Our synthesis results showed that CT-generated sMRI could partially restore soft-tissue contrast in the pelvic region, which helps to improve the image registration accuracy near the prostate, rectum and bladder. Additionally, sMRI has similar intensity value to the true MRI which make it easier to register the images. The registration network was trained in an unsupervised manner, meaning ground truth DVF is not required. The trained network can predict the deformation vector field (DVF) in a single shot. After registration, the structural similarity index metric (SSIM) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) between the deformed sMRI and the fixed MRI were on average 0.79 and 25.15 dB respectively.