cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching and hospital production: the use of regression estimates.

Medicare's Prospective Payment System pays U.S. teaching hospitals for the indirect costs of medical education based on a regression coefficient in a cost function. In regression studies using health care data, it is common for explanatory variables to be measured imperfectly, yet the potential for measurement error is often ignored. In this paper, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data is used to examine issues of health care production estimation and the use of regression estimates like the teaching adjustment factor. The findings show that measurement error and persistent multicollinearity confound attempts to have a large degree of confidence in the precise magnitude of parameter estimates.
Deep-Sea Deposit-Feeding Strategies Suggested by Environmental and Feeding Constraints

The principle of lost opportunity from optimal foraging theory, coupled with recent information about fluxes in the deep sea, allows prediction of feeding behaviours potentially specific to deep-sea deposit feeders. One possible strategy, thus far documented only indirectly, is to ‘ squirrel ’ away rich food from the seasonal or episodic pulses that recently have been shown to fuel meiofaunal growth. Echiurans and sipunculids show morphological and faecal handling patterns consonant with this suggestion. Where it is prevalent, this foraging strategy can have profound effects on stratigraphy. Autocoprophagy is another expected behaviour across a wider taxonomic spectrum, but one that is especially difficult to document. The principle of lost opportunity also predicts highly selective ingestion, not necessarily accomplished by the assessment of individual particles but possibly through pit building in areas where fluids move near-bed material. Under many depositions regimes, small but abundant feeding depressions may be the primary sites where deposition occurs. Conversely, digestive utilization of heterogeneous refractory substrates like humic acids seems as unlikely as an effective municipal waste recycling system that starts with mixed garbage. High gut: body volume ratios in deep-sea deposit feeders, rather than representing an adaptation to use this heterogeneous and refractory end of the food spectrum, instead may allow (through greater residence time of ingested material) greater conversion and absorption of the labile fraction of sediments as it becomes scarcer. Intense natural selection for particle selection ability in fact is one possible reason for the prevalence of meiofauna in the deep sea, and for the diminutive size of macrofaunal taxa there. This selective pressure probably imposes a very restrictive bottleneck on the initial developmental stages of deposit feeders.
Organic matter deposition in the Saskatchewan River floodplain (Cumberland Marshes, Canada): effects of progradational avulsions

Abstract This paper examines organic matter deposition in the avulsion-controlled floodplain of the Saskatchewan River at the Cumberland Marshes, east-central Saskatchewan. Organic-rich deposits were formed throughout the late Holocene in fen/bog (coarse brown peat) and lacustrine (fine dark-brown and black organic-rich mud) environments. The thicknesses of individual organic-rich layers reach 3.2 m but are typically less than 1 m thick. Lateral extents of these beds are limited by elevated alluvial ridges, but they may attain exceptional dimensions of 15 km in transverse and 50 km in longitudinal directions. Conditions for organic deposition on avulsion-controlled floodplains appear to be different from those on other floodplains. In addition to floods, terrigenous sediments are delivered by progradational avulsions into parts of the floodbasin previously accumulating organic-rich sediments. Elevated alluvial ridges resulting from former avulsions, however, block large parts of the floodplain from normal flooding and therefore prevent clastic deposition. Total organic content of floodplain sediments is inversely related to sediment grain size and sedimentation rate. The composition of organic-rich layers reflects a predominantly progradational avulsion style. The center portions of many organic-rich layers are commonly composed of brown fen/bog peat overlain successively by organic-rich and organic-poor lacustrine mud, eventually passing upwards into coarser deposits. The rate of avulsive progradation is roughly reflected in the vertical organic-content gradient within the alluvial sections. Rapid progradation, typical for most portions of the most recent (1870's) avulsion belt, results in relatively abrupt changes of organic content, whereas slower progradation is accompanied by more gradual decreases in organic content.
A Systems Engineering approach to Occupant Protection System design and optimization through modeling and simulation

Occupant Protection Systems (OPS) have become a very important part of today's automotive systems. The extensive government regulations and consumer information programs make the design and optimization of the OPS a complex and challenging task. A Systems Engineering (SE) approach is implemented throughout the OPS design and optimization process. The SE process includes customer requirements analysis, system concept design, system design, analysis and optimization, and system verification and validation. To fully evaluate the performance of the OPS and ensure its compliance of government regulations, the system needs to be tested in a large number of crash scenarios. Using physical tests alone to develop the OPS is cost-prohibitive. Therefore, computer modeling and simulation are utilized as one of the primary tools in the process. A frontal impact OPS design and optimization example is presented in the paper to demonstrate the process. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 8: 51–61, 2005
Method for Accelerating the Destruction of Aircraft Wake Vortices

The wake vortices shed by large aircraft and their associated hazard to following aircraft remain an important issue in commercial aviation. Extensive research into methods for alleviating this wake vortex hazard has been continuing for many years. This paper presents results from numerical simulations detailing a potentially useful mechanism for accelerating the destruction of the aircraft vortex wake and reducing the wake vortex hazard. The term destruction is used to refer to the progressive annihilation of the wake caused by mixing of vorticity of opposite sign and the associated elimination of large coherent structures. The emphasis here is on a description of the mechanism and its connection to previous work.
Selection of prestress for optimal dynamic/control performance of tensegrity structures

This paper concerns prestress optimization of a tensegrity structure for its optimal LQR performance. A linearized dynamic model of the structure is derived in which the force-density variables that parameterize the prestress of the structure appear linearly. A feasible region for these parameters is defined in terms of the extreme directions of the prestress cone. A numerical method for computing this basis for a structure prestress cone is proposed. The problem is solved using a gradient method that provides a monotonic decrease of the objective function inside the feasible region. A numerical example of a cantilevered planar tensegrity beam is shown.
The interaction of Lewis bases with (acyrlic acid) iron tetracarbonyl in solution

Abstract (Acrylic acid) iron tetracarbonyl has been found to react with PCl3 to give the complex (CH2CHCOCl)Fe(CO)4 which undergoes further reaction with amines to give the amide derivatives. In addition, (acrylic acid) iron tetracarbonyl is found to form 1 1 complexes, (CH2CHCOOH)Fe(CO)4L, in hexane solution with a variety of phosphine ligands (L).
How does knowledge promote memory? The distinctiveness theory of skilled memory

Abstract The robust effects of knowledge on memory for domain-relevant information reported in previous research have largely been attributed to improved organizational processing. The present research proposes the distinctiveness theory of skilled memory, which states that knowledge improves memory not only through improved organizational processing but also through more effective processing of differences between items in the context of the similarity defined by organization. Individuals with either high or low knowledge about NFL football were presented with lists containing items from the target domain (NFL football) or a control domain (cooking). Individuals either performed a category sorting task, a pleasantness rating task, or both. Results on a surprise free recall test later showed knowledge effects on memory (high knowledge individuals had greater recall than low knowledge individuals for football items but not for cooking items). Secondary measures established that the knowledge effect on memory was due not only to better organizational processing but also to more effective item-specific processing.
Effect of cooling on cutaneous microvascular adrenoceptors in vivo in the rabbit ear.

Previous studies have suggested that moderate cooling increases the responsiveness of vascular alpha2-adrenoceptors. However, limited information is available documenting the influence of temperature changes on adrenoceptor responses in the microvasculature of thermoregulatory organs (e.g., the human digit and the rabbit ear) subjected to a wide range of temperatures. In the present study, the effect of local cooling (24 degrees C) on cutaneous microvascular adrenoceptors in the ear was observed in vivo in male New Zealand White rabbits (total: 66 ears). The rabbit ear was studied in a temperature-controlled tissue bath; the ear preparation was pretreated with terazosin (an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist) (10(-5) M) or a combination of terazosin (10(-5) M) and propranolol (a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist) (10(-6) M). The microvascular diameter responses of the ear to norepinephrine (10(-11)-10(-4) M) then were determined at 24 or 34 degrees C, respectively, to determine the influences of low temperature on adrenoceptor responses to norepinephrine stimulation. The results demonstrated that low concentrations of norepinephrine induced vasodilation in arterioles and arteriovenous anastomoses. This vasodilation was followed by vasoconstriction with an increased concentration of norepinephrine in animals with alpha1-adrenergic blockade at 34 degrees C. Moderate tissue cooling increased the microvascular maximal response of the rabbit ear to norepinephrine and abolished the vasodilatation induced by a low concentration of norepinephrine. There was no significant difference in the microvascular response to norepinephrine between the two temperature conditions after simultaneous blockade of alpha1-adrenoceptors and beta-adrenoceptors. Data from the present study indicate that moderate cooling does not enhance the responsiveness of alpha2-adrenoceptors to norepinephrine. In contrast, cooling reduced the beta-adrenergic activity of arterioles and arteriovenous anastomoses after norepinephrine stimulation.
Influence of hysterectomy on long-term fracture risk

Objective To assess long-term fracture risk after hysterectomy, with or without oophorectomy. Design Population-based, cohort study. Setting Olmsted County, Minnesota. Patient(s) Women residing in Olmsted County (n = 9,258) who underwent hysterectomy in 1965–2002, compared to an equal number of age- and sex-matched community controls. Intervention(s) Observational study of the effect of hysterectomy for various indications on subsequent fractures. Main Outcome Measure(s) Fractures of any type, and at osteoporotic sites (e.g., hip, spine, or wrist) alone, as assessed by electronic review of inpatient and outpatient diagnoses in the community. Result(s) Compared with controls, there was a significant increase (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–1.29) in overall fracture risk among the women with a hysterectomy, but osteoporotic fracture risk was not elevated (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.98–1.22). Most hysterectomy indications were associated with fractures generally, although these were not often statistically significant. Only operations for a uterine prolapse were associated with osteoporotic fractures (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.01–1.74). Oophorectomy was not an independent predictor of fracture risk (HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.98–1.15). Conclusion(s) Hysterectomy does not appear to pose much long-term risk for fractures, but the association of fractures with surgery for uterine prolapse deserves further attention.
Predicting concentration of total phosphorus and chlorophyll a in a lake with short hydraulic residence time

The relationship between total phosphorus and chlorophyll a concentration was determined for Skinner Lake, Indiana over an annual cycle in 1978–79. Total nitrogen:total phosphorus ratios in the epilimnion ranged from 19 to 220 suggesting a phosphorus-dependent algal yield in the epilimnion. Approximately 90% of annual TP loading reached the lake via streamflow, and 93% of this entered during snowmelt and spring-overturn periods. At that time incoming water flushed the lake 2.4 times. Atmospheric loading accounted for 1.4% of annual TP load. Internal hypolimnetic TP loading occurred during summer stratification. Mean [chl a] for the ice-free period was 15.15 mg m−3, within the range expected for eutrophic lakes.
Changes in Grafted and Nongrafted Coronary Arteries Following Saphenous Vein Bypass Grafting

Progression of disease in the native coronary arterial circulation was studied in 121 patients who underwent saphenous vein bypass graft surgery at the University of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham, between 1969 and 1972, and who had a second coronary arteriogram at a mean interval of 11.7 months later. Two hundred thirteen arteries (10 triple, 74 double, 37 single) were grafted and 148 were not. Graft patency rate was 72%. Stenotic obstructive lesions in defined arterial segments and major branches were recorded for each artery at each examination. Pre and postoperative arteriograms were reviewed at the same time. Disease was expressed as "% stenosis" of each segment or branch examined. An arterial score, which was the sum of segments and branches seen on each occasion, was calculated for each artery and the scores were compared. New total occlusion, new obstructive lesions, and progression of pre-existing lesions were five times more frequent in grafted than in nongrafted arteries with comparable initial disease. New and progressive lesions were encountered with the same frequency in arteries with patent and occluded grafts. They occurred more frequently in segments proximal to the graft than in distal segments. Arteries with moderate (less than 75%) and arteries with severe (75-99%) stenosis had similar progression rates. Only 2% of segments of ungrafted arteries showed new total occlusions as compared to 60% of grafted arteries. The arterial score fell by 34% in grafted arteries and did not change in nongrafted arteries. These findings suggest that significantly fewer branches and segments of grafted arteries are seen following bypass grafting. New totally occlusive lesions are considerably more frequent in grafted than in nongrafted arteries and are not related to graft patency at one year after surgery. Disease progression in ungrafted vessels is relatively slow. These changes in the coronary arteries should be considered when assessing patients, particularly those with moderate degrees of stenosis, for bypass grafting.
A Prolog knowledge base for drug interactions

This article describes a Prolog knowledge base for drug interactions. The knowledge base combines information from two databases: one of drug interactions and the second of drug chemical names and structures. Researchers can interrogate this knowledge base to answer questions about relationships between interacting drugs and their chemical components.
Mitoxantrone-induced cardiotoxicity

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity has been well documented in the literature. Doxorubicin has been most commonly implicated; however, electrocardiogram changes have also been reported with the use of mitoxantrone. We report a case of a 55-year-old female with recurrent acute myelogenous leukemia who underwent reinduction therapy with mitoxantrone and etoposide daily for five doses. Nearing completion of her fifth mitoxantrone dose, she complained of chest tightness and developed bradycardia. Her symptoms resolved with discontinuation of the agent; however, upon rechallenge, she again developed sinus bradycardia with premature ventricular contractions and a corrected QT interval of 0.499 seconds. Clinicians should be aware of the risk factors for mitoxantrone-induced cardiotoxicity and monitor their patients appropriately while on therapy.
The IGF‐I receptor sub‐membrane domain is intact in GH‐secreting pituitary tumours

Summary BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Clinical acromegaly is Characterized by dysregulation of somatotroph GH secretion In the presence of high circulating serum IGF-I levels. Physiologically, IGF-I exerts a negative feedback on GH secretion at both the hypothalamic and the pituitary levels. We have previously shown that the 943 and 950 tyrosine residues In the IGF-I receptor β-subunit are required for ligand signalling to the GH gene, as substitution of these residues abrogates IGF-I signal transduction. To determine whether a mutation within the IGF-I receptor sub-membrane domain may be Involved In the pathogenesis of GH secreting tumours, we studied this region In these tumours. DESIGN Exon 15 of the IGF-I receptor containing both the 943 and 950 tyrosines was analysed In 19 GH-secreting tumours by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Tumour DNA and patients’lymphocyte DNA, which served as normal controls, were analysed. RESULTS All samples exhibited normal migration patterns In the SSCP analysis which was further confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that mutations In the IGF-I receptor sub-membrane domain which disrupt the negative feedback loop are not Involved In the pathogenesis of acromegaly.
Characterization of the geometric distribution using properties of order statistics

Abstract Using certain properties of order statistics, the geometric distribution has been characterized when the components are independent and identically distributed. When the components are independent, the geometric distribution has been characterized in the class of either IFR or DFR discrete distributions. In particular, Ferguson's (1967) characterization theorem for independent components in a sample of size two has been extended in several directions.
Cell surface differences in ducts from cancerous and noncancerous human breasts

The scanning electron microscope reveals structural differences between the apical microvilli of duct cells from cancerous and noncancerous human breasts. The alterations in the microvilli from carcinomatous breasts appear to be highly specific, to extend throughout the affected breast, and may be pathognomonic for this condition.
Ratio-based and net benefit-based approaches to health care resource allocation: proofs of optimality and equivalence.

Both incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and net benefits have been proposed as summary measures for use in cost-effectiveness analyses. We present a unifying proof of the optimality and equivalence of ICER- and net benefit-based approaches to the health resource allocation problem, including both ‘fixed budget’ and ‘fixed price’ decision rules. If internally consistent willingness-to-pay values are used, ratio- and net benefit-based decision rules identify the same optimal allocation. Because they have identical resource allocation implications, use of one or other of the two approaches must be based on other criteria, such as their behaviour under conditions of uncertainty. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determining the binding affinity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies towards their native unpurified antigens in human serum.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a growing segment of therapeutics, yet their in vitro characterization remains challenging. While it is essential that a therapeutic mAb recognizes the native, physiologically occurring epitope, the generation and selection of mAbs often rely on the use of purified recombinant versions of the antigen that may display non-native epitopes. Here, we present a method to measure both, the binding affinity of a therapeutic mAb towards its native unpurified antigen in human serum, and the antigen’s endogenous concentration, by combining the kinetic exclusion assay and Biacore’s calibration free concentration analysis. To illustrate the broad utility of our method, we studied a panel of mAbs raised against three disparate soluble antigens that are abundant in the serum of healthy donors: proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), progranulin (PGRN), and fatty acid binding protein (FABP4). We also determined the affinity of each mAb towards its purified recombinant antigen and assessed whether the interactions were pH-dependent. Of the six mAbs studied, three did not appear to discriminate between the serum and recombinant forms of the antigen; one mAb bound serum antigen with a higher affinity than recombinant antigen; and two mAbs displayed a different affinity for serum antigen that could be explained by a pH-dependent interaction. Our results highlight the importance of taking pH into account when measuring the affinities of mAbs towards their serum antigens, since the pH of serum samples becomes increasingly alkaline upon aerobic handling.
Automatic speech recognition using hidden Markov models and artificial neural networks

An algorithm is presented for isolated-word recognition, taking into consideration the duration variability of the different utterances of the same word. The algorithm is based on extracting acoustical features from the speech signal and using them as the input to multilayer perceptrons neural networks. The backpropagation algorithm is used to train the networks. The hidden Markov model (HMM) is implemented to extract temporal features (states) from the speech signal. The input vector to the network consists of 16 cepstral coefficients, two delta cepstral coefficients, and five elements to represent the state. The networks are trained to recognize the correct words and to reject the wrong words. The training set consists of ten words (digit zero to digit nine), each uttered seven times, by three different speakers. The test set consists of three utterances of each of the ten words. The authors' results show the ability to recognize all of these words. >
Vagaries of the Modal Auxiliaries in German1

HIS paper1 essays to bring together and classify some of the vagaries of the German modal auxiliaries and near modals such as lassen and brauchen. No attempt is made at an historical treatment, at regional distinctions, or distinctions between colloquial and literary style. A few dialect examples are included. A peculiarity common in Lessing, less so in Goethe and E. T. A. Hoffmann, now long since out-moded, is the omission of the tense auxiliary in subordinate clauses involving the so-called double infinitive, as: Es ist gekommen, wie es kommen miissen (Lessing); so dass das Freudengeschrei gar kein Ende finden konnen (Goethe); dass ich ihm bereiten lassen (Hoffmann). Another vagary is the uncertainty of the position of the finite modal before or after the double infinitive in transposed order. Before: wenn ich mir das Behagen musste vorwerfen lassen (Goethe); dass du aber nicht das Notigste solltest bewdltigen konnen (E. Strauss); wie man uns immer will glauben machen (Mehnert). After: der keine Melancholie aufkommen lassen wollte (H. Johst); dass man sich nicht unterkriegen lassen darf (G. Fink). There is a similar vacillation of the finite modal with a past participle plus an infinitive in transposed order. Both positions are possible when this combination constitutes a passive infinitive. Modal first: dass etwas Ahnliches von ihr an mich kdnnte gerichtet werden (Goethe); die... koinnten hervorgebracht werden (Goethe). Modal last: wenn ein Vers verlangt werden sollte (Goethe); das nicht halb so innig ausgesprochen werden kann (Strauss). Again, when the past participle and the infinitive constitute a perfect infinitive, the same fluctuation in order appears, as: dass mir so wunderliche Dinge konnten begegnet sein (Goethe); was die Mittel... Umbequemliches mogen gehabt haben (Goethe); wo Euch das Midel auch mag aufgelesen haben (Gerstacker); was dich wohl
Differentiation of the South Pole–Aitken basin impact melt sheet: Implications for lunar exploration

We modeled the differentiation of the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) impact melt sheet to determine whether noritic lithologies observed within SPA formed as a result of the impact. Results indicate differentiation of SPA impact melt can produce noritic layers that may accommodate observed surface compositions but only in specific scenarios. One of nine modeled impact melt compositions yielded layers of noritic materials that account for observations of noritic lithologies at depths of ~6 km. In this scenario, impact occurred before a hypothesized lunar magma ocean cumulate overturn. The 50 km deep melt sheet would have formed an insulating quenched layer at the surface before differentiating. The uppermost differentiated layers in this scenario have FeO and TiO2 contents consistent with orbital observations if they were subsequently mixed with the uppermost quenched melt layer and with less FeO- and TiO2-enriched materials such as ejecta emplaced during younger impacts. These results verify that noritic lithologies observed within SPA could have formed as a direct result of the impact. Therefore, locations within SPA that contain noritic materials represent potential destinations for collecting samples that can be analyzed to determine the age of the SPA impact. Potential destinations include central peaks of Bhabha, Bose, Finsen, and Antoniadi craters, as well as walls of Leibnitz and Schrodinger basins. Additionally, potential remnants of the uppermost quenched melt may be preserved in gabbroic material exposed in “Mafic Mound.” Exploring and sampling these locations can constrain the absolute age of SPA, a task that ranks among the highest priorities in lunar science.
Networked control systems with packet delays and losses

We investigate the effect of packet delays and packet drops on networked control systems. First we consider the problem of where to locate a controller or state estimator in a network, and show that under a long packets assumption (LPA) it is optimal to collocate it with the actuator. We then show that under the LPA, stabilizability is only determined by the packet drop probability and not the packet delay probabilities. We also consider a sub-optimal state estimator without the LPA, based on inverting submatrices of the observability Krylov sequence.
Vainshtein mechanism in Λ 3 -theories

Abstract We explore the space of spherically symmetric, static solutions in the decoupling limit of a class of nonlinear covariant extensions of Fierz–Pauli massive gravity obtained recently in arXiv:1007.0443 . In general, several such solutions with various asymptotic limits exist. We find their approximate short- and long-distance behaviour and use numerical analysis to match them at the Vainshtein radius, r ⁎ . Our findings indicate, that for a broad range of parameters, the theory does possess the Vainshtein mechanism, screening the scalar contribution to the gravitational force within r ⁎ . In addition, there exists a class of solutions in the literature, for which the 1 / r gravitational potential is completely screened within the Vainshtein scale. However, numerical analysis indicates, that for this type of solutions, the gravitational potential does not decay at spatial infinity.
Congenital rhabdomyosarcoma of the tongue: A case report

Abstract Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents the third most common neoplasm in children. RMS most commonly presents in the head and neck region, at a rate of 35%. Within the head and neck, however, the tongue is an uncommon site for this tumor. We present a report of a congenital rhabdomyosarcoma of the tongue treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. A discussion with a review of the literature follows.
One Strike against Low-Carbohydrate Diets

There is intense controversy over whether low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets are more efficacious for weight management. Using precise methodology, Hall et al. (2015) demonstrated that a low-carbohydrate diet promoted greater fat oxidation than an isocaloric low-fat diet but, in contrast to popular speculation, did not cause greater body fat loss.
Numerical simulation of VOC emissions from dry materials

Abstract This paper presents a numerical approach for simulating volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from dry materials. The approach has been used to examine the VOC emissions from two particleboards. The emission study for the particleboards shows that a fairly good agreement of VOC concentrations between the model prediction and experimental data can be achieved by pre-calculating the partition coefficient (Kma) and material age (AGE) and adjusting the diffusion coefficient (Dm) and initial concentration (C0). Further, the study shows that Kma only affects short-term emissions while Dm influences both the short- and long-term emissions.
Structural Adaptations that Modulate Monosaccharide, Disaccharide, and Trisaccharide Specificities in Periplasmic Maltose-Binding Proteins

Abstract Periplasmic binding proteins comprise a superfamily that is present in archaea, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. Periplasmic binding protein ligand-binding sites have diversified to bind a wide variety of ligands. Characterization of the structural mechanisms by which functional adaptation occurs is key to understanding the evolution of this important protein superfamily. Here we present the structure and ligand-binding properties of a maltotriose-binding protein identified from the Thermus thermophilus genome sequence. We found that this receptor has a high affinity for the trisaccharide maltotriose (Kd
Sparsity-based correction of exponential artifacts

This paper describes an exponential transient excision algorithm (ETEA). In biomedical time series analysis, e.g., in vivo neural recording and electrocorticography (ECoG), some measurement artifacts take the form of piecewise exponential transients. The proposed method is formulated as an unconstrained convex optimization problem, regularized by smoothed ?1-norm penalty function, which can be solved by majorization-minimization (MM) method. With a slight modification of the regularizer, ETEA can also suppress more irregular piecewise smooth artifacts, especially, ocular artifacts (OA) in electroencephalography (EEG) data. Examples of synthetic signal, EEG data, and ECoG data are presented to illustrate the proposed algorithms. HighlightsWe proposed a method to suppress piecewise exponential transient.We proposed a method to suppress smooth protuberance transient.We give mathematical proof of quadratic majorizer of smoothed penalty functions.
Potatoes and Related Crops: Role in the Diet

Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is extensively consumed and produced globally as a staple food crop. From origins in the highlands of South America, potatoes have adapted to growing conditions around the world and provide a satiating, inexpensive, and nutrient-dense source of calories. This article aims to highlight the historical and current context of potato in the diet, including production trends, consumption habits, and nutritional content.
The 21st-Century Trajectory for Global Health

Much of what happens in our world is linear and predictable, like clockwork in some cases. In other areas, nonlinear and startling trajectories best describe the behavior of economies, political movements, or complex health systems. In global health, progress has been surprising and dramatic in some areas, but discouraging and slow in others. Its future might be more plodding slowly forward, or it might behave as other complex open systems do, in spectacular and nonlinear ways. Many complex physical processes, such as chemistry “saturation” curves, the growth curve of populations, and improvements in national longevity follow a sigmoid (S-shaped) curve. Input in the early stages does not create much response, until reaching a tipping point and breaking into an exponential rise, when return on investment vastly outruns input. After the dramatic rise, output stabilizes and reaches a plateau, when saturation or carrying capacity is achieved, and additional input produces diminishing returns. I believe that 21stcentury growth in most global health indices will describe a sigmoid curve. Samuel Preston demonstrated this behavior in his description of the relationship of longevity to per capita gross national product (GNP). At relatively low GNP values ($2000), average national longevity rises dramatically with small incremental increases in economic activity. Many of the developing world nations are poised today at the base of the
Taxing Marriage: Microeconomic Behavioral Responses to the Marriage Penalty and Reforms for the 21st Century

Politicians often stress that marriage is a key institution that promotes family values. However, many aspects of the federal tax code do not promote marriage and may in fact provide disincentives and penalize marriage. As an alternative to marriage, cohabitation is a common choice for low-income couples facing significant fiscal penalization from the joint income filing requirement, particularly when qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In part because of the additional tax liability associated with joint tax filing, many middle-income and upper-income people are forgoing marriage as well. As more women enter the labor force and female wages rise, the marriage penalty becomes increasingly important to horizontal tax equity concerns and for economic growth. Today, the United States is one of only seven Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries to employ joint taxation for married couples.
Time Varying, Ensemble Averaged Turbulent Flame Speed in Harmonically Forced, Turbulent Premixed Flames

T eff S has an inverse dependence upon the instantaneous, ensemble averaged flame curvature, an effect that scales with turbulence intensity and harmonic excitation amplitude. We show that this curvature dependence follows from basic application of Huygens propagation to flames with stochastic wrinkling superposed upon base curvature. Finally, we propose a model equation to describe the ensemble averaged turbulent flame dynamics which includes this effect.
The Use of ROI in Sales Management

The shift in emphasis from sales volume to profitability as a measure of field sales management marked a real forward step in marketing management. One further step is necessary. The measure of effectiveness of business management should be return on investment (ROI), and not merely sales volume produced or profits as a percentage of sales. The field sales manager should be evaluated on the return on investment he produces in his segment of the business. The author believes that attention to ROI will not only result in harmonizing the objectives of the field sales organization with the over-all objective of the company, but will also equip field sales management with an effective businessman's tool for decision making. MUCH time and effort has been expended by marketing management to convince the field sales manager that he should operate as a "businessman." This change in role from a manager of an order-getting activity to one of a profit-making function is consistent with top management's concern with profitable marketing. This stress on profits rather than volume forces field sales management to be concerned with product-mix and control of field sales costs, and to be concerned with field sales management. But is this enough? Is the profit-motivated field manager really a "businessman" ? Whatever the size of the organization, the businessman is concerned with profits and survival and growth. He must "stay in the ball game" and grow. Profits by themselves will not assure achievement of these vital objectives. A business may earn what appears to be a substantial profit, but when the profit is related to the investment risked, the return may be inadequate. While a business may survive or perhaps subsist, growth is impossible because negligible returns will not attract investment capital. ROI-that is, Return on Investment-is the important measurement which should be used by marketing men to evaluate their performance and to make decisions. What does ROI mean to field sales management? Traditionally the sales district or region is viewed as an integral part of a large organization. But this district or region is in effect a business. It is separated geographically, it is revenue producing, it incurs costs, and its manager makes vital decisions. It can be said that the field manager conducts a business for an absentee owner. This absentee owner, the company, in turn is a business run for absentee owners. The ultimate owners, stockholders, evaluate corporate management on the return yielded, profits or dividends related to investment risked. If the business as a whole is judged on return yielded, each of the segments of the business should be evaluated and guided by the same measure. The sales district or region is a decentralized unit, the critical one, because it is the source of revenue or sales on which profits are made. It, too, can and should be evaluated by the return it produces.
Abstract 5075: Targeting TSP1 and inhibiting angiogenesis in UV-induced skin cancer by apigenin.

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a major health problem in the United States, with over two million new cases diagnosed yearly. Among many genetic and environmental factors contributed to NMSC, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is the major carcinogen. As with all solid tumors, angiogenesis is a necessary prerequisite for the progression and metastasis of NMSC. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is the first endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis to be identified, and its expression is markedly downregulated in epidermis following UVB irradiation and throughout distinct steps of skin carcinogenesis. Apigenin (4’, 5, 7-trihydroxyflavone), a nonmutagenic plant flavonoid, inhibits UV-induced NMSC in mice. However, the molecular mechanisms of apigenin9s chemopreventive function remain elusive. For the first time, we found that apigenin restores normal TSP1 levels in UVB-irradiated skin keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. The regulation of TSP1 expression in UVB/apigenin-treated keratinocytes occurs post-transcriptionally and is mediated by RNA-binding protein Human antigen R (HuR). Importantly, HuR has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in translation of TSP1 mRNA, and we showed that apigenin promotes cytoplasmic localization of HuR, where polyribosomal translation of TSP1 occurs. In addition, knockdown of HuR by siRNA abrogates the ability of apigenin to maintain normal TSP1 levels in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes. Furthermore, apigenin inhibits microvascular density (MVD) in superficial dermis that occurs in response to UVB irradiation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that apigenin promotes TSP1 expression in UVB-irradiated epidermis via HuR leading to inhibition of angiogenesis. Identifying TSP1 as a key target of apigenin and demonstrating its important role in chemoprevention by apigenin will provide a compelling rationale to use apigenin for maintaining the expression of protective TSP1 in the skin as a novel strategy for NMSC prevention and treatment. Citation Format: Xin Tong, Bryan B. Bridgeman, Salida Mirzoeva, Susan E. Crawford, Olga V. Volpert, Jill C. Pelling. Targeting TSP1 and inhibiting angiogenesis in UV-induced skin cancer by apigenin. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5075. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5075
Effects of flaxseed and chia seed on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and long-chain fatty acid flow in a dual-flow continuous culture system

Flaxseed (FS) and chia seed (CS) are oilseeds rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may change meat and milk composition when added to ruminants' diets and may have health benefits for humans. Literature on the effects of CS supplementation on ruminal metabolism is nonexistent. A dual-flow continuous culture fermenter system consisting of 6 fermenters was used to assess the effect of FS and CS supplementation in an alfalfa hay-based diet on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and long-chain fatty acid flow. Diets were randomly assigned to fermenters in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, with 3 consecutive periods of 10 d each, consisting of 7 d for diet adaptation and 3 d for sample collection. Each fermenter was fed a total of 72 g of DM/d divided in 6 equal portions. Treatments were 1) alfalfa hay + calcium soaps of palm oil fatty acid (MEG; 69.3 g DM/d of alfalfa hay plus 2.7 g DM/d of calcium soaps of palm oil fatty acid), 2) alfalfa hay + FS (FLAX; 68.4 g DM/d of alfalfa hay plus 3.6 g DM/d of ground FS), and 3) alfalfa hay + CS (CHIA; 68.04 g DM/d of alfalfa hay plus 3.96 g DM/d of ground CS). Dietary treatments had similar amounts of total fat, and fat supplements were ground to 2-mm diameter. Effluents from the last 3 d of incubation were composited for analyses. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Ruminal apparent and true nutrient digestibility of all nutrients did not differ ( > 0.05) among treatments. Compared with MEG, FLAX and CHIA increased the flows of C18:3 -3, C20:4 -6, and total PUFA ( 0.05) by treatments. Lastly, there were no differences ( > 0.05) among diets for total VFA concentration and molar proportions of individual VFA. Results from this study indicate that FS and CS supplementation did not impair ruminal fermentation, digestibility, microbial efficiency, and ruminal N metabolism. Overall, CS appears to be as effective as FS as a fat source when added to ruminants' diets using a dual-flow continuous culture system.
Pediatric penile reconstruction using autologous split-thickness skin graft

This video provides a case report of penis entrapment secondary to excessive skin removal during circumcision. It highlights the technical aspects of pediatric penile reconstruction using autologous split-thickness skin graft (STSG). Key points include: 1. Infection prevention is paramount and antibiotic prophylaxis is routine. 2. The usual harvest site for the STSG is the lateral thigh because of its source of glabrous skin and convenient proximity to the penis. The lateral thigh is also outside of the diapered area, which helps lessen postoperative pain and infectious risks. 3. A dermatome is used to harvest the STSG. Skin thickness for penis coverage at this age is usually 10-12/1000 of an inch. 4. Direct contact of the graft and wound bed is essential for graft uptake. Hemostasis of the wound bed is critical to prevent hematoma formation. Elimination of redundant tissue is also important to ensure maximal contact between the graft and underlying wound bed. 5. A pressure dressing or bolster is used to prevent shear, and provide contact between the graft and wound bed for at least the first 5 days. 6. A semi-occlusive dressing, Tegaderm, was used on the donor site and it is believed that it provides a moist environment conducive for epithelial and dermal healing. 7. Lymphedema can result if excess distal penile skin is not excised. It is prudent to limit the amount of mucosal collar or consider direct anastomosis to the glans.
Characterization of Compacted Silty Sand Using a Double-Walled Triaxial Cell With Fully Automated Relative-Humidity Control

A fully automated relative-humidity (auto-RH) control unit has been adapted to a newly implemented double-walled triaxial cell to test unsaturated soils under higher total suction states via the vapor-pressure technique, allowing for direct measurement and control of the relative humidity inside the pores of the test soil. The triaxial system is also suitable for implementing the axis-translation technique. With the operational and fully integrated servo-controlled triaxial system, a series of conventional triaxial compression (CTC) tests were conducted on identically prepared specimens of compacted silty sand under constant total suction states of 20 MPa and 300 MPa, induced and controlled via the automated auto-RH control unit. The suitability and reliability of the integrated system was demonstrated by closely repeatable results obtained from the series of suction-controlled CTC tests. Suitable shearing rates for suction-controlled testing of compacted silty sand, via both axis-translation and relative-humidity-based techniques, were also empirically assessed through a series of strain-/suction-controlled tests. The latter were conducted at different axial loading rates (% axial strain per unit time) under either constant matric suction (0.5 MPa) or constant total suction (300 MPa). In both cases, the most suitable shearing rate was identified as the maximum rate for which the test soil continued to be subjected to a constant matric or total suction throughout the entire shearing stage.
Metastatic Breast Cancer With ESR1 Mutation: Clinical Management Considerations From the Molecular and Precision Medicine (MAP) Tumor Board at Massachusetts General Hospital

UNLABELLED : The last decade in oncology has witnessed impressive response rates with targeted therapies, largely because of collaborative efforts at understanding tumor biology and careful patient selection based on molecular fingerprinting of the tumor. Consequently, there has been a push toward routine molecular genotyping of tumors, and large precision medicine-based clinical trials have been launched to match therapy to the molecular alteration seen in a tumor. However, selecting the "right drug" for an individual patient in clinic is a complex decision-making process, including analytical interpretation of the report, consideration of the importance of the molecular alteration in driving growth of the tumor, tumor heterogeneity, the availability of a matched targeted therapy, efficacy and toxicity considerations of the targeted therapy (compared with standard therapy), and reimbursement issues. In this article, we review the key considerations involved in clinical decision making while reviewing a molecular genotyping report. We present the case of a 67-year-old postmenopausal female with metastatic estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, whose tumor progressed on multiple endocrine therapies. Molecular genotyping of the metastatic lesion revealed the presence of an ESR1 mutation (encoding p.Tyr537Asn), which was absent in the primary tumor. The same ESR1 mutation was also detected in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) extracted from her blood. The general approach for interpretation of genotyping results, the clinical significance of the specific mutation in the particular cancer, potential strategies to target the pathway, and implications for clinical practice are reviewed in this article. KEY POINTS ER+ breast tumors are known to undergo genomic evolution during treatment with the acquisition of new mutations that confer resistance to treatment.ESR1 mutations in the ligand-binding domain of ER can lead to a ligand-independent, constitutively active form of ER and mediate resistance to aromatase inhibitors.ESR1 mutations may be detected by genomic sequencing of tissue biopsies of the metastatic tumor or by sequencing the circulating tumor cells or tumor DNA (ctDNA).Sequencing results may lead to a therapeutic "match" with an existing FDA-approved drug or match with an experimental agent that fits the clinical setting.