cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Judicial innovation and policy re-invention: state supreme courts and the right to die.

n a dynamic model of the political process, demands are converted into policy, and outputs and outcomes constantly generate new pressures for fresh solutions to old and new problems. But research on the adoption and diffusion of policy innovations generally ignores most of the political cycle. Instead of portraying a continuous process of policymaking and reformulation, innovation research usually examines the initial adoption of a presumed uniform policy and its diffusion among political units, or on how deeply a particular innovation has penetrated state or local governments at a particular point in time. Little attention has been given to the probable alteration of policy by other political units, later revisions or renovations by the early adopters, and resulting variations in the content of policies among adopting units. The research presented here is an exploratory examination of judicial policy change during diffusion. The research has two purposes. The first is to expand the concept of innovation and its application to policy research, particularly to include the concept of policy change during diffusion. Change is conceptualized as policy re-invention, which is the modification by a user of a core policy during the diffusion process (Rogers 1962, 1983). The operating theory is that late adopters adapt early innovations to respond to new demands and social conditions and the experiences of previous implementation. I examine two related re-invention hypotheses: first, while many similar policies may be grouped into one broad, general category, later adopters create distinctive policies which are re-inventions of a core innovation; second, early re-inventions have unequal effects on the policy decisions of later
Breakdowns in Embodied Emotive Cognition

In the previous chapters, I have argued that our essentially embodied desire-based emotions and affective framing processes constitute essential parts of the necessary foundation for our sense of self, our ability to engage in moral evaluation, and our capacity for social cognition. It follows naturally from this account that impaired affective framing results in disruptions to these cognitive processes. Because desire-based emotions and the bodily feelings they essentially involve are linked to value and significance, diminished emotion yields a world stripped of much of its felt importance. As I argued in Chapters 4 and 5, it seems that there is no such thing as fully functional cognition stripped of affect, because the absence of emotion constitutes a state of ‘cognitive and behavioral paralysis’ and is likely the mark of a ‘sick soul’ (Ratcliffe, 2005b, p. 188).
Pamatolol: Phase I evaluation of the pharmacodynamics of a cardioselective beta adrenoceptor blocking drug

A Phase I evaluation of a new adrenoceptor blocker, pamatolol, was performed in 10 healthy male volunteers. Minor reductions in standing and exercise and isoproterenol-induced increases in heart rate were observed with the 10-mg oral dose and appeared maximal with the 400-600 mg dose. The rate of decline of effect averaged 1.5% of the exercise heart rate/hr. Neither resting systolic time intervals nor post-exercise pulmonary function was affected by this dose range of pamatolol. Based on the latter responses and the isoproterenol dose response curve, we tentatively conclude that pamatolol is relatively cardioselective in man.
Studies of controlled reperfusion after ischemia. IV: Electron microscopic studies: importance of embedding techniques in quantitative evaluation of cardiac mitochondrial structure during regional ischemia and reperfusion

This study applies the low protein-denaturation embedding technique for mitochondrial preparation to analyze control cardiac tissue, heart muscle subjected to 6 hours of regional ischemia without reperfusion, and myocardial tissue subjected to 4 to 6 hours of ischemia followed by reperfusion either with normal blood, with the heart in the beating, working state, or with substrate-enriched blood cardioplegia during total vented bypass. Parallel specimens of cardiac tissue were analyzed for ultrastructure by the conventional osmium tetroxide fixation method. Results following conventional tissue preparation with osmium tetroxide showed extensive ultrastructural damage in all hearts subjected to ischemia, with no correlation between ultrastructural findings and methods of reperfusion or functional recovery. In contrast, results following tissue preparation by the low protein-denaturation method showed (1) reperfusion with normal blood in working hearts to cause severe mitochondrial damage, (2) cardiac mitochondria that were intact structurally after 6 hours of ischemia and after controlled reperfusion, (3) a logical sequence of mitochondrial structural changes that may lead to irreversibility, and (4) a new method of quantification of such changes.
Hofmann, Reto The Fascist Effect: Japan and Italy, 1915–1952 Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press 224 pp., $35.00, ISBN 0801453410 Publication Date: June 2015

Amidst growing numbers of books re-examining the nature of Fascism in prewar and wartime Japan, Reto Hofmann's study on connections between Japan and Fascist Italy, a topic often neglected, makes a...
Policing Bias and Conflicts of Interest in Zoning Decisionmaking

This article will attempt a comprehensive review of the issues involved in policing bias and conflicts of interests in zoning decision-making. Part one will briefly discuss the nature of zoning decision-making and the value of impartial decision makers. Part two will then examine various regulatory sources that might be used to regulate bias and conflicts of interest, focusing on both statutory and non-statutory grounds. Thereafter, part three will examine the legislative/adjudicative distinction in zoning and argue that the traditional refusal to police conflicts by legislative bodies should be rejected in favor of an approach which allows policing of rezoning decisions. Part four of the article will examine the difficult issue regarding the degree of impartiality that should be required. Recognizing that some bias is inevitable, it will suggest that the basic values served by impartiality, together with pragmatic restraints, govern regulation of bias and conflicts of interest. In addition, part four will examine specific types of bias and conflicts of interest in zoning, focusing on financial conflicts, associational conflicts, prejudgment and bias, ex parte contracts, and campaign contributions. Finally, part five of the article will discuss enforcement procedures and remedies when conflicts arise. It will examine what action is required of zoning decision makers when an impermissible conflict exists and what judicial remedies should be available when a decision has been made in the face of an impermissible conflict.
Attributable harm of severe bleeding after cardiac surgery in hemodynamically stable patients

We sought to quantify the effect of severe postoperative bleeding in hemodynamically stable patients following cardiac surgery. We reviewed the charts of all cardiac surgery patients operated on at our institution between 2010 and 2014. After excluding patients with tamponade or MAP 300 mL in the first postoperative hour, >200 mL in the second, and >100 mL in the third (“bleeding” group) with patients having 24 h (33.8 vs. 7.4 %, p 24 h after surgery (0 vs. 18.4 %, p = 0.005). Even among hemodynamically stable patients, severe bleeding is associated with markedly worse outcomes following cardiac surgery.
Apical Sparing Left and Right Ventricular Uptake of Technetium Pyrophosphate in Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis

172 Objectives Nuclear scintigraphy using Technetium 99m-pyrophosphate (TcPYP) is used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR). Echocardiography has identified a pattern of decreased longitudinal strain in basal segments leading to a gradient of improved strain from basal to apical segments. The etiology of decreased basal segment longitudinal strain is unclear. We sought to examine the relative segmental uptake of TcPYP in patients with ATTR. Methods We identified 35 consecutive patients with ATTR from 2011-2015 who underwent TcPYP scintigraphy. Attenuation correction single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images were analyzed using 4DM software (Seimens) after manual image reformatting. Tracer uptake counts were determined for each of the 17 segments and average counts in the 6 basal, 6 mid and 5 apical segments were calculated. Right ventricular uptake was scored in the basal, mid and apical segments with a visual semiquantitative score (0=absent cardiac uptake, 1=mild uptake less than bone, 2=moderate uptake equal to bone, 3=high uptake greater than bone). Echocardiographic strain was assessed using velocity vector imaging. Results In our cohort (age 79 ± 11 years, 69% male, 66% Caucasian, 34% hereditary ATTR), 13 deaths occurred over a median follow up of 295 days. TcPYP scintigraphy demonstrated increased LV uptake in basal and mid segments as compared to basal segments which mimicked the apical sparing longitudinal strain pattern in echocardiography (Figure 1). RV uptake similarly showed a greater degree and intensity of uptake in the basal segments (97% basal, 49% basal+mid, 17% basal+mid+apical uptake). Conclusions There is a gradient of decreasing TcPYP uptake when progressing apically in the left ventricle, mimicking the corresponding improvement in regional echocardiographic strain. This pattern is also present in the right ventricle.
Discovery of a Novel Stem Rust Resistance Allele in Durum Wheat that Exhibits Differential Reactions to Ug99 Isolates

Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn, can incur yield losses in susceptible cultivars of durum wheat, Triticum turgidum ssp. durum (Desf.) Husnot. Although several durum cultivars possess the stem rust resistance gene Sr13 , additional genes in durum wheat effective against emerging virulent races have not been described. Durum line 8155-B1 confers resistance against the P. graminis f. sp. tritici race TTKST, the variant race of the Ug99 race group with additional virulence to wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr24 . However, 8155-B1 does not confer resistance to the first-described race in the Ug99 race group: TTKSK. We mapped a single gene conferring resistance in 8155-B1 against race TTKST, Sr8155B1 , to chromosome arm 6AS by utilizing Rusty/8155-B1 and Rusty*2/8155-B1 populations and the 90K Infinium iSelect Custom bead chip supplemented by KASP assays. One marker, KASP_6AS_IWB10558 , cosegregated with Sr8155B1 in both populations and correctly predicted Sr8155B1 presence or absence in 11 durum cultivars tested. We confirmed the presence of Sr8155B1 in cultivar Mountrail by mapping in the population Choteau/Mountrail. The marker developed in this study could be used to predict the presence of resistance to race TTKST in uncharacterized durum breeding lines, and also to combine Sr8155B1 with resistance genes effective to Ug99 such as Sr13 . The map location of Sr8155B1 cannot rule out the possibility that this gene is an allele at the Sr8 locus. However, race specificity indicates that Sr8155B1 is different from the known alleles Sr8a and Sr8b .
Creating anyons from photons using a nonlinear resonator lattice subject to dynamic modulation

We study a one-dimensional photonic resonator lattice with Kerr nonlinearity under the dynamic modulation. With an appropriate choice of the modulation frequency and phase, we find that this system can be used to create anyons from photons. By coupling the resonators with external waveguides, the anyon characteristics can be explored by measuring the transport property of the photons in the external waveguides.
Dynamic Substructuring Applied to the Decoupling of Acoustic-Structure Systems

Dynamic substructuring allows analysts to combine component structural dynamics models into a system-level model. An analogous process can be used to subtract off a component model from the system model. Here, this decoupling approach is adapted for use with acoustic-structure systems. This has applications to model validation where structural models are correlated to test data. When acoustic cavities are present, coupling with the acoustic subsystem can confound the test response and inhibit the model validation effort. Here, the Transmission Simulator method of Component Mode Synthesis is applied to extract the structure-only response from a coupled structural-acoustic system using the acoustic cavity modes as the subtracted component. This approach is demonstrated on a simple plate-box system using component modes from analytical and numerical models.
Pediatric Intussusception: The Cinnamon Bun Sign:

Acute abdominal pain in the pediatric patient is a common clinical symptom often resulting in uncertainty and thus often subsequently leads to a sonographic examination of the abdomen. Sonography i...
Reactive Oxygen Species, Synaptic Plasticity, and Memory

Increasing evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, act as signaling molecules necessary for neuronal processes underlying cognition. Specifically, ROS have been shown to be necessary in molecular processes underlying signal transduction, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation. Research from several laboratories suggests that NADPH oxidase is an important source of superoxide in the brain. Herein we review evidence showing that ROS are important signaling molecules involved in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Moreover, we will discuss the evidence that a neuronal NADPH oxidase complex is a key regulator of ROS generation in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Understanding redox signaling in the brain, including the sources and molecular targets of ROS, is important for a full understanding of the signaling pathways that underlie synaptic plasticity and memory. Moreover, knowledge of ROS function in the brain is critical for understanding aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease that may be exacerbated by the unregulated generation of ROS.
Accelerating collaboration in task assignment using a socially enhanced resource model

Knowledge-intensive business processes require knowledge workers to collaborate on complex activities. Social network analysis is increasingly being applied in organizations to understand the underlying interaction patterns between teams and foster meaningful collaboration. The social positions of a worker, i.e. the role played in working with others, can be identified through analyzing process logs to assist effective collaboration. In this paper, we present a novel resource model that incorporates the concepts of resource communities and social positions. We demonstrate our resource model through a real industry process - IT incident management process. This socially enhanced resource model is also used to accelerate the collaboration between various work groups by dedicating collaborative units in the task of incident resolution.
Brisante Dunkle Energie

Eine Kraft treibt das Universum auseinander. Aber wie? Auch zwei Jahrzehnte nach seiner Entdeckung verstehen Theoretiker das Phanomen nicht. Nun sollen neue Experimente Klarheit schaffen (aus Spektrum der Wissenschaft 9/2016).
Symptomatic Approach to Gas, Belching and Bloating with OMT Treatment Options

ABSTRACT: Intestinal gas production is a normal physiologic progress. However, there are many pathophysiologic processes that can cause patients to experience bloating, abdominal pain, and distension from abnormal gas production or mobility. It is important for primary care physicians to understand the causes and mechanisms for both physiologic and pathologic gas and bloating in order to appropriately and effectively treat our patient population. This article will review the differential diagnosis of gas, bloating and belching, the necessary work-up, and the management of these disorders.
Using Stochastic Optimization to Underwrite a Portfolio of Insurance Linked Securities - Beating Your Benchmark

Insurance Linked Securities [ILS], a.k.a. Cat Bonds, have been part of the investor’s financial opportunity set for almost 20 years. During that time they have had a strong, some would say disruptive, influence on the traditional catastrophe market. Hedge funds that have been set up to specialize in ILS portfolio management now command more capital than many traditional reinsurers, with a concomitant effect in the pricing effect on new issues. Much has been written about the nature of ILS and many have examined their pricing and proposed models to explain that pricing. But, to date, no equivalent of the Black- Scholes model has been forthcoming. Less has been written about how a portfolio of such investments should be constructed. Some have attacked the question of the position that ILS should have in a traditional asset portfolio (general answer – considerable – it diversifies) but few have attacked the composition of a portfolio exclusively made up of ILS. Just as there is no Black-Scholes for pricing, there is no obvious equivalent Modern Portfolio Theory [MPT] or Mean-Variance Optimization [MVO] for ILS. In some ways this is understandable - portfolio managers don’t give away secrets easily - but more importantly the nature of left tail risk in ILS and catastrophe coverage in general do not lend themselves to convenient calculation of variance-covariance matrices. Nevertheless, managers must still select portfolios that will outperform. Is there a scientific way to do this? In what follows we suggest an approach using stochastic optimization that allows superior portfolio selection and cast our analysis under the objective of selecting a portfolio to “beat a market benchmark”.
Integrated Omic Analyses Provide Evidence that a "Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis" Strain Performs Denitrification under Microaerobic Conditions.

ABSTRACT The ability of “Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis” to grow and remove phosphorus from wastewater under cycling anaerobic and aerobic conditions has also been investigated as a metabolism that could lead to simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by a single organism. However, although phosphorus removal under cyclic anaerobic and anoxic conditions has been demonstrated, clarifying the role of “Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” in this process has been challenging, since (i) experimental research describes contradictory findings, (ii) none of the published “Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” genomes show the existence of a complete respiratory pathway for denitrification, and (iii) some genomes lacking a complete respiratory pathway have genes for assimilatory nitrate reduction. In this study, we used an integrated omics analysis to elucidate the physiology of a “Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” strain enriched in a reactor operated under cyclic anaerobic and microaerobic conditions. The reactor’s performance suggested the ability of the enriched “Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” strain (clade IC) to simultaneously use oxygen and nitrate as electron acceptors under microaerobic conditions. A draft genome of this organism was assembled from metagenomic reads (“Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” UW-LDO-IC) and used as a reference to examine transcript abundance throughout one reactor cycle. The genome of UW-LDO-IC revealed the presence of a full pathway for respiratory denitrification. The observed transcript abundance patterns showed evidence of coregulation of the denitrifying genes along with a cbb3 cytochrome, which has been characterized as having high affinity for oxygen. Furthermore, we identified an FNR-like binding motif upstream of the coregulated genes, suggesting transcription-level regulation of both denitrifying and respiratory pathways in UW-LDO-IC. Taking the results together, the omics analysis provides strong evidence that “Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” UW-LDO-IC uses oxygen and nitrate simultaneously as electron acceptors under microaerobic conditions. IMPORTANCE “Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis” is widely found in full-scale wastewater treatment plants, where it has been identified as the key organism for biological removal of phosphorus. Since aeration can account for 50% of the energy use during wastewater treatment, microaerobic conditions for wastewater treatment have emerged as a cost-effective alternative to conventional biological nutrient removal processes. Our report provides strong genomics-based evidence not only that “Ca. Accumulibacter phosphatis” is the main organism contributing to phosphorus removal under microaerobic conditions but also that this organism simultaneously respires nitrate and oxygen in this environment, consequently removing nitrogen and phosphorus from the wastewater. Such activity could be harnessed in innovative designs for cost-effective and energy-efficient optimization of wastewater treatment systems.
The History of USA-Russia Relations in the Bering Strait

The maritime border between Russia and the United States runs directly through the Bering Strait, a narrow and shallow channel that is a critical corridor for Arctic marine species and subsistence hunting. As human activity in the Arctic increases, the Bering Strait is emerging as a maritime chokepoint, where a hostile state or nonstate actor could block access to or from the western Arctic by controlling the strait. In addition, increased traffic will pose a complicated management problem as navigational hazards, fragile ecology, and a variety of human uses must be balanced—by the two neighboring superpowers. This chapter will trace the contours of US-Russian relations in the Bering region and provide an introduction to this unique geopolitical arena.
Outcomes of a Resident-Led Early Hospital Discharge Intervention.

Early morning patient discharge from the hospital is increasingly being recognized as a key dimension of quality of care. At our institution, there is a significantly lower early discharge rate on the teaching hospitalist teams in comparison with the non-teaching teams. To implement a resident-driven intervention in the teaching medical services to increase overall discharge order rate before 11 am (DOB-11) and assess the effect of this intervention on hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission rates (RR), and resident perception. Interrupted time series as well as controlled before-after designs. All inpatients discharged from general medicine units. We implemented an educational didactic in conjunction with resident-attending daily walk rounds followed by resident-led multidisciplinary discharge huddles to identify next-day discharges. The primary outcome was DOB-11 rates 18 months pre- and 12 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes: LOS and RR. Additionally, we assessed residents’ perception of the early discharge protocol. The DOB-11 rate increased from 12 to 29% (p < 0.001), LOS increased by 1.47 days (P < 0.001), and RR increased by 0.32% (P = 0.84), respectively, on the teaching teams. Compared with the non-teaching (control) teams, the teaching teams registered a greater increase in DOB-11 rate (by 17%, p < 0.001; ratio of adjusted ORs 2.16; 95% CI, 1.65, 2.85; p value < 0.001), small increase in LOS (by 0.74 day, p = 0.39; ratio of adjusted post-/pre-intervention ratio [teaching] and post-/pre- intervention ratio [non-teaching] = 1.05, 95% CI, 0.97, 1.14, p = 0.23), and relative increase in RR (by 3.98%, p = 0.07, and ratio of ORs = 1.35, 95% CI, 1.03, 1.8), p = 0.03). Approximately 55% (16/29) of the residents agreed that the early discharge initiative helped in understanding the importance of prioritizing patients for early discharge. Additionally, 55% (20/36) of the residents “agreed” that the early discharge initiative compromised their learning during teaching rounds. Our study demonstrates that DOB-11 is an achievable goal, not only for non-teaching teams but also for resident-run teaching teams.
The 5Π u -5Σ g + transition in N2

Accurate electronic energy curves and wavefunctions of the 15Π u and 15σ g + states of N2 have been calculated using the multi-configuration self-consistent-field (MC-SCF) method. The 5Π u state was predicted by Mulliken who suggested it was important in N2 afterglow emissions. The calculated R e and D e of the 5Π u state are in reasonable accord with estimates of Carroll and Mulliken based on predissociation behaviour of the C 3Π u state. The vertical transition energy, 5Δ u -5Π g +, is calculated to be about 1·8–1·9 eV. The calculated transition probability is zero asymptotically but increases rapidly to shorter distances as the atoms overlap. At R=1·6 A the transition probability is about 2 × 105 s-1 or a lifetime of 5 μs for the ground vibrational level. The large and rapidly varying transition probability is a consequence of the difference in s-p mixing in the molecular orbitals of the two states. The dominant contributions to the transition probability arise from the non-orthogonality of the MC-SCF ...
Tolerance for specific negative affective states and coping-oriented cannabis use motives among college student cannabis users

Objective: The current study examined the unique predictive ability of tolerance of specific negative affective states in relation to frequency of past-month cannabis use and coping-oriented cannab...
Merged Logic and Memory Fabrics for Accelerating Machine Learning Workloads

Designing hardware accelerators for machine learning (ML) applications is a well-researched problem. This article presents a tutorial regarding new computing architectures, circuits techniques, and multiple promising device technologies for in-memory computing targeting ML workloads.
A Novel Penalized Joint Image Reconstruction Method for Tau-PET Imaging

99 Introduction: A strong correlation between the distribution of paired helical filament (PHF) Tau protein deposition in the brain and the appearance of cognitive decline typical of dementia and Alzheimer Disease (AD) has recently been established. The advent of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer [18F]AV-1451 has enabled in vivo imaging of PHF Tau. To develop preventive treatments for AD and to quickly refine said treatments, it is imperative to detect the disease at the prodromal stage (before symptoms appear). The conventional method to estimate PHF Tau buildup in the brain is to scan a patient at least two times every 1-2 years using [18F]AV-1451 in PET, independently reconstruct images of each scan, and analyze the difference images between scans. The drawback of this approach is the lower limit it imposes on detection of Tau burden due to increased variance in the difference image. We propose a novel penalized longitudinal Tau PET image reconstruction method where the difference image is reconstructed directly from projections and therefore exhibits less variation compared to the conventional approach. In turn, the lowered variation allows for more sensitivity to small changes, and therefore more discernibility between subject groups. Validating the Proposed Longitudinal Reconstruction Method We validated the proposed reconstruction approach in two ways: (1) we used synthetic lesions to determine the "discernibility" (sensitivity index) of a known lesion to surrounding tissues, and (2) we compared a set of regions of interest in a small sample of normal/control (NC) subjects and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Results: Figure 1 shows the sensitivity index (d’) computed as and plotted as a function of the percent intensity of the inserted lesion (see Figure 1). Here, µS and µN are the mean intensities of the lesion and the surrounding tissue respectively, while σS and σN are the standard deviations. It is apparent that d’ is retained better at smaller lesion intensities using the proposed approach. Figures 2 and 3 show the annualized dSUVR (difference standardized uptake value ratios) on a per-region basis for a small group of subjects (8 NC, 2 MCI) for the proposed and conventional methods. It is apparent that the variance in our proposed method is much lower allowing for more signification separation of dSUVR by group compared to the conventional approach despite the negative bias in the proposed Methods: Figure 4 shows two example dSUVR images reconstructed with the proposed and the conventional approach from each group. Summary Preliminary assessment of the proposed penalized longitudinal Tau PET image reconstruction shows promising results both in terms of detectability of lesions at low contrast, and separability of groups by regional uptake.
Communication: Explicitly correlated formalism for second-order single-particle Green’s function

We present an explicitly correlated formalism for the second-order single-particle Green's function method (GF2-F12) that does not assume the popular diagonal approximation and describes the energy dependence of the explicitly correlated terms. For small and medium organic molecules, the basis set errors of ionization potentials of GF2-F12 are radically improved relative to GF2: the performance of GF2-F12/aug-cc-pVDZ is better than that of GF2/aug-cc-pVQZ, at a significantly lower cost.
Expression of the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptors, ntrk1 and ntrk2a, precedes expression of other ntrk genes in embryonic zebrafish

Background The neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor (Ntrk) gene family plays a critical role in the survival of somatosensory neurons. Most vertebrates have three Ntrk genes each of which encode a Trk receptor: TrkA, TrkB, or TrkC. The function of the Trk receptors is modulated by the p75 neurotrophin receptors (NTRs). Five ntrk genes and one p75 NTR gene (ngfrb) have been discovered in zebrafish. To date, the expression of these genes in the initial stages of neuron specification have not been investigated. Purpose The present work used whole mount in situ hybridization to analyze expression of the five ntrk genes and ngfrb in zebrafish at a timepoint when the first sensory neurons of the zebrafish body are being established (16.5 hpf). Because expression of multiple genes were not found at this time point, we also checked expression at 24 hpf to ensure the functionality of our six probes. Results At 16.5 hpf, we found tissue specific expression of ntrk1 in cranial ganglia, and tissue specific expression of ntrk2a in cranial ganglia and in the spinal cord. Other genes analyzed at 16.5 hpf were either diffuse or not detected. At 24 hpf, we found expression of both ntrk1 and ntrk2a in the spinal cord as well as in multiple cranial ganglia, and we identified ngfrb expression in cranial ganglia at 24 hpf. ntrk2b, ntrk3a and ntrk3b were detected in the developing brain at 24 hpf. Conclusion These data are the first to demonstrate that ntrk1 and ntrk2a are the initial neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptors expressed in sensory neurons during the development of the zebrafish body, and the first to establish expression patterns of ngfrb during early zebrafish development. Our data indicate co-expression of ntrk1, ntrk2a and ngfrb, and we speculate that these overlapping patterns indicate relatedness of function.
The Complicit Therapist

This chapter explores therapeutic modalities that fit with a complicit theory of human being: feminist therapy, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems and intersubjectivity. It examines how to be both systems-oriented and work from a depth approach which is an element of complicit thinking. In exploring how to work therapeutically within this frame, the chapter reiterates the importance of a nonbinary understanding of human being, which has been one of the main points argued throughout the book. This, ultimately, is why the psychological humanities is important: It allows for both the art and the science of psychotherapy to co-exist in a nonbinary way. The chapter also addresses another of the ongoing themes of the book, a complicit approach to identity politics, which is connected to a social-justice-oriented psychotherapy practice.
MO‐A‐213‐01: 2015 Economics Update Part 1

The purpose of this session is to introduce attendees to the healthcare reimbursement system and how it applies to the clinical work of a Medical Physicist. This will include general information about the different categories of payers and payees, how work is described by CPT© codes, and how various payers set values for this work in different clinical settings. 2015 is a year of significant changes to the payment system. Many CPT© codes have been deleted and replaced with new CPT© codes. These codes define some of the most common work performed in our clinics including treatment planning and delivery. This presentation will describe what work is encompassed in these codes and will give attendees an overview of the changes for 2015 as they apply to radiation oncology. Finally, some insight into what can be expected during 2016 will be presented. This includes what information is typically released by the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) during the year and how we as an organization respond. This will include ways members can interact with the AAPM professional economics committee and other resources members may find helpful. Learning Objectives: 1. Basics of how Medicare is structured and how reimbursement rates are set. 2. Basic understanding of proposed changes to the 2016 Medicare rules. 3. What resources are available from the AAPM and how to interact with the professional economics committee. Ownership in pxAlpha, LLC, a medical device start up company.
Molecular predictors of clinical outcome in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) involves the upper aerodigestive tract and can destroy the structure and function of organs involved in voice, speech, taste, smell and hearing, as well as vital structures necessary for survival. HNSCC has long been a treatment challenge because of the high rate of recurrences and of advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Molecular identification of tissue biomarkers in diagnostic biopsy specimens may not only identify patients at risk for developing HNSCC but may also select patients that may benefit from more aggressive treatment modalities. Several biomarkers studied to date such as the proteins p53, cyclin D1, p16, Cox-2 enzyme, epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, matrix metalloproteinases and the Fhit marker for genomic instability could be manipulated for the therapeutic benefit of these patients. This review presents the most updated information on molecular biomarkers with the greatest prognostic potential in HNSCC and discusses some factors that contribute to the controversy concerning their prognostic importance.
Do radiation use disparities influence survival in patients with advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The authors previously identified racial/ethnic disparities in the use of radiation therapy (RT) in patients with advanced breast cancer (BC). They hypothesized that disparities in the use of RT were associated with survival differences favoring white patients. METHODS: The authors used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to identify white, black, Hispanic, and Asian patients with BC associated with ≥10 metastatic lymph nodes diagnosed between 1988 and 2005. Multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) assessed age, sex, race, tumor size, histology, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, RT, and type of surgery. The authors further stratified for use of RT and type of surgery. Risk of mortality was reported as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of 15,895 patients with advanced BC, 12,653 met entry criteria. On multivariate analysis, RT was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause (HR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.74-0.83; P < .001) and disease-specific (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.76-0.86; P < .001) mortality; black race was associated with an increased risk of all-cause (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.42-1.68; P < .001) and disease-specific (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.39-1.68; P < .001) mortality. After stratifying by type of surgery and use of RT, blacks demonstrated poorer survival than their white counterparts, regardless of surgery type or receipt of RT. CONCLUSIONS: Only black patients had poorer OS and DSS relative to whites. When stratified by type of surgery and use of RT, blacks continued to demonstrate poorer survival. This survival disparity is unlikely to be because of lack of RT. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.

Abstract Analysis of 265 patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium treated at the Yale-New Haven Medical Center showed that older patients and those with an undifferentiated tumor had a less favorable prognosis. To permit comparison between the groups who received preoperative radiotherapy with one that received operation only, it was found necessary to adjust for differences in the incidences of the histologic grades among these two groups. This had a significant influence upon the interpretation of the survival rates in the patient with a histologically well-differentiated tumor. No relationship could be determined between survival and the size of the uterus in these patients nor between the radiation response (RR), sensitization response (SR), and the response of the tumor to radiotherapy. It is the feeling of the authors that histologic grade may prove the best subdivision for evaluation of results of tumor confined to the uterus.
A High-Speed Low-Power Divide-by-15/16 Dual Modulus Prescaler in 0.6 μm CMOS

A new high-speed low-power dual modulus prescaler (DMP) topology is proposed. In this DMP, the synchronous part is designed as a divide-by-3/4 divider using a state-selection scheme. Compared with the conventional divide-by-4/5 divider, it has a higher speed by eliminating the NAND-gate introduced critical path delay, as well as a lower power consumption by minimizing the number of full-speed D-type flip-flops (DFF's) required. Based on this topology, a divide-by-15/16 DMP is implemented in the 0.6 μm standard CMOS process. Simulation result shows that a maximum operating frequency of 2.15 GHz is obtained at 3.3 V supply with a power consumption of 11.6 mW. The circuit can operate above 3 GHz with 5 V supply and down to 1.5 V supply voltage with 570 MHz input frequency.
User slot design and performance analysis for burst mode communications with fading and frequency uncertainty

High performance and reasonable complexity have made the pilot symbol assisted modulations (PSAM) of practical interest in mobile communications. However, no previous work has investigated PSAM in burst mode operation which is commonly encountered in multiple access schemes (time division or slow frequency hopped system). The paper examines the burst structure design problem in a frequency flat fading environment. The explicit relationship between error performance and the design parameters including pilot allocation, frequency offset, Doppler spread, and modulation scheme is explored. Periodic pilot insertion commonly used for continuous transmission produces degraded performance in burst mode operation. A new unequal spacing pilot insertion burst architecture is proposed to achieve better error performance. The explicit bit error probability results of the present work can be used to evaluate the potential performance improvement of a frequency offset estimator and a Doppler spread estimator.
Mechanical ventilation in severe asthma.

In their review on mechanical ventilation in severe asthma, Stather and Stewart [1] raise a concern that use of external positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) will result in increased total PEEP and worsened gas trapping [1]. Of critical importance to our understanding of whether application of external PEEP will be beneficial is assessment of the presence or absence of expiratory flow limitation [2,3]. When the severity of airflow obstruction is such that flow limitation is present, application of PEEP will not influence expiratory flow or upstream pressures. At the bedside, one can examine for this by noting the effect of applied external PEEP on the inflation pressure of subsequent breaths. In the absence of flow limitation, increased external PEEP will be transmitted upstream, causing parallel increases in alveolar pressure, peak airway pressure, and end-inspiratory pressure. The associated increase in lung volume will tend to moderate this rise in airway pressure. When flow limitation is present, upstream pressures are 'protected' from increases in downstream pressure (or PEEP). In this situation, inflation pressures are independent of external PEEP. Occasionally, inflation pressure may actually decrease with external PEEP. Here, the external PEEP may act to 'stent open' the central airways and allow reduction in gas trapping and reduction in end-expiratory lung volumes [4]. Examination of the effect of increasing external PEEP on inflation pressure may allow identification of those patients who might benefit from administration of external PEEP.
Object and motion recognition using the plane plus parallax displacement of conics

Parallax displacement is used to determine a relative 3D conic projective structure. This value is invariant between any number of views in time if the conic is not moving with respect to the plane of the homography. It can be used to determine conic correspondence between three simultaneous views. The corresponding conics may then be used to determine the epipolar geometry. This method of determining conic correspondence works with unknown and even changing epipolar geometry. The relative 3D conic projective structure may be used to segment groups of conics which have consistent motion.
Game-theory-based electricity market clearing mechanisms for an open and transactive distribution grid

This paper explores the game-theory-based market clearing mechanisms for an open and transactive distribution grid. Driven by the Smart Grid paradigm shift, hundreds of thousands of distributed electricity prosumers have the potential to participate into the residential electricity market by managing their own generators and loads. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish an efficient and effective market framework for plug-and-play of a tremendous amount of highly distributed and scalable electricity prosumers. In this paper, the novel game-theory-based methodologies and algorithms are utilized to mimic the dynamic behaviors of these distributed electricity prosumers. The concept of Distribution Locational Marginal Price (DLMP) is also adopted to provide tempo-spatial price signals to all market participants. A suite of case studies are conducted to evaluate and validate the proposed electricity market clearing mechanisms.
Palliative Care in Liver Transplantation: When to Consult a Specialist

Palliative care is an important part of the care of patients with serious illness, including patients before and after liver transplant. Specialist level palliative care can aid with advance care planning, coordination of care and communication, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial and spiritual support. Palliative care consultation can take place concurrently with curative and aggressive medical interventions and is not only for patients at the end of life.
Masses in the membranes

A 24-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus presented with a 1-year history of painless vision loss in the right eye. Examination was notable for a bitemporal hemianopia. Brain imaging revealed multiple contrast enhancing dural masses, including one along the planum sphenoidale. She underwent excisional biopsy for a presumed diagnosis of multiple meningiomas. Five years later, she developed worsening vision in the left eye, hypesthesia in the V1 distribution, and oculomotor nerve palsy. Repeat imaging showed an enhancing mass in the cavernous sinus and orbital apex. Biopsy demonstrated a lymphoplasmacyte rich infiltrate in dense extracellular material. She was diagnosed with lupus-induced hypertrophic pachymeningitis and started on immunosuppressive therapy. On further worsening of symptoms, her initial biopsy was reexamined and revealed a kappa light chain restricted B-cell and plasmacyte population. This led to the final diagnosis of central nervous system extranodal marginal zone lymphoma.
Current thoughts about the integration of field and laboratory sciences in genetic control of disease vectors

Realizing the full potential of genetic control of vectors for disease prevention will require development of a research agenda that captures the willingness of people with diverse expertise to work together toward constructive and substantive goals. Below I review the five ecological and population biology topics that are central to contemporary genetic vector-control programmes and present opportunities of collaboration between people engaged in primarily laboratory- versus field-based research activities: (1) spread and stability of introduced genes; (2) evolutionary consequences of mosquito transformation; (3) entomological risk, pathogen transmission and disease severity; (4) quantitative analyses of mosquito biology, disease and genetically modified mosquito (GMM) control; and (5) procedural issues. I point out opportunities for greater, mutually beneficial interaction between laboratory- and field-based scientists. I draw four general conclusions from this analysis. First, an improved understanding of ecological topics associated with GMMs will provide the conceptual and factual foundation for application of genetic-control technology. Second, four topics that should be considered research priorities are male biology, mating behaviour, colonization and mass-production effects, and population biology. Third, in addition to greater collaboration between ecologists and molecular geneticists, genetic-control programmes will require recruitment of expertise from outside the vector-borne disease arena, greater involvement by scientists from diseaseendemic countries (DECs), training for young scientists, adequate funding, and a sustained effort. Fourth, collaboration will be a central component of the legacy and success of genetic control for vector-borne disease prevention
Effects of shear stress cultivation on cell membrane disruption and intracellular calcium concentration in sonoporation of endothelial cells

Abstract Microbubble facilitated ultrasound (US) application can enhance intracellular delivery of drugs and genes in endothelial cells cultured in static condition by transiently disrupting the cell membrane, or sonoporation. However, endothelial cells in vivo that are constantly exposed to blood flow may exhibit different sonoporation characteristics. This study investigates the effects of shear stress cultivation on sonoporation of endothelial cells in terms of membrane disruption and changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Sonoporation experiments were conducted using murine brain microvascular endothelial (bEnd.3) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured under static or shear stress (5 dyne/cm2 for 5 days) condition in a microchannel environment. The cells were exposed to a short US tone burst (1.25 MHz, 8 μs duration, 0.24 MPa) in the presence of DefinityTM microbubbles to facilitate sonoporation. Membrane disruption was assessed by propidium iodide (PI) and changes in [Ca2+]i measured by fura-2AM. Results from this study show that shear stress cultivation significantly reduced the impact of ultrasound-driven microbubbles activities on endothelial cells. Cells cultured under shear stress condition exhibited much lower percentage with membrane disruption and changes in [Ca2+]i compared to statically cultured cells. The maximum increases of PI uptake and [Ca2+]i were also significantly lower in the shear stress cultured cells. In addition, the extent of [Ca2+]i waves in shear cultured HUVECs was reduced compared to the statically cultured cells.