cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using beta-binomial regression for high-precision differential methylation analysis in multifactor whole-genome bisulfite sequencing experiments

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing currently provides the highest-precision view of the epigenome, with quantitative information about populations of cells down to single nucleotide resolution. Several studies have demonstrated the value of this precision: meaningful features that correlate strongly with biological functions can be found associated with only a few CpG sites. Understanding the role of DNA methylation, and more broadly the role of DNA accessibility, requires that methylation differences between populations of cells are identified with extreme precision and in complex experimental designs. In this work we investigated the use of beta-binomial regression as a general approach for modeling whole-genome bisulfite data to identify differentially methylated sites and genomic intervals. The regression-based analysis can handle medium- and large-scale experiments where it becomes critical to accurately model variation in methylation levels between replicates and account for influence of various experimental factors like cell types or batch effects.
Detecting laboratory DNA contamination using polyester-rayon wipes: A method validation study

Abstract Due to the high sensitivity of many PCR assays, extraneous target DNA in a laboratory setting can lead to false positive results. To assess the presence of extraneous DNA, many laboratories use gauze wipes to sample laboratory surfaces. The accuracy, precision, limits of detection, linearity, and robustness of a wipe test method and each associated wipe processing step were evaluated using E. coli genomic DNA. The method demonstrated a limit of detection of 108 copies of DNA, which equates to detectable surface concentration of 4.5 × 10 5 copies of DNA per area sampled. Recovery efficiency or accuracy is 22 ± 10% resulting from a > 58% loss of DNA occurring at the wipe wash step. The method is robust, performing consistently despite deliberate modifications of the protocol.
High-resolution thermoreflectance microscopy

We present very high-resolution thermal microscopy using the technique of thermoreflectance, a non-contact measurement of the temperature in and around active semiconductor devices. By measuring the local change in reflectivity and comparing to the optical index versus temperature for the interface materials, thermoreflectance can determine the local temperature distribution. Thermoreflectance allows us to work at wavelengths much smaller than those used in typical blackbody imaging, and thus the spatial resolution is significantly improved over that of traditional thermal microscopy. In our experimental setup, we have a confocal scanning optical microscope with a tunable laser, where reflected light is detected by a silicon photodiode in a heterodyne scheme. The sample consists of a 600 nm wide poly-silicon wire embedded in silicon dioxide on top of a silicon substrate. Varying the amount and temporal shape of the current through the poly-silicon wire, we generate a controlled thermal profile to test the imaging capability. Our preliminary results indicate sub-micron thermal resolution.
Principal components for non-local means image denoising

This paper presents an image denoising algorithm that uses principal component analysis (PCA) in conjunction with the non-local means image denoising. Image neighborhood vectors used in the non-local means algorithm are first projected onto a lower-dimensional subspace using PCA. Consequently, neighborhood similarity weights for denoising are computed using distances in this subspace rather than the full space. This modification to the non-local means algorithm results in improved accuracy and computational performance. We present an analysis of the proposed method's accuracy as a function of the dimensionality of the projection subspace and demonstrate that denoising accuracy peaks at a relatively low number of dimensions.
CHARLIE: a computer-managed homework, assignment and response, learning and instruction environment

CHARLIE is a new asynchronous learning system which was developed for engineering technology students at Buffalo State College. CHARLIE contains many fully-electronic and fully-automated features including: individualized homework with graphics, course agenda, course syllabus, tutorials, lecture summaries, student bulletin board, laboratory descriptions, grades, and access to the Internet. In this paper, CHARLIE is compared to other asynchronous learning systems. The distinguishing features of CHARLIE are ease of creation and administration by the instructor who has a knowledge of the DEC VMS operating system and C, simple exercise development concurrent with its use, and implementation on text-only terminals which are networked to a central computer. The goals of CHARLIE include: improved student learning, reduced homework grading, alternative teaching and learning opportunities, and efficient delivery of course information.
Parameterized Petri nets and their application to planning and coordination in intelligent systems

A new class of Petri nets (PNs), called parameterized Petri Nets (PPNs), is proposed and applied for planning and coordination of intelligent systems. The PPN approach uses a hierarchical organization to deal with the complexity characteristic of net representations, through parameterization of transitions and the use of generalized or parameterized places in higher level nets. A unique useful characteristic of PPNs is that they can be used to generate a high level, abstract plan, even in the absence of complete information, which may be mapped into a specific plan at a lower level of the hierarchy. The PPN system model structural properties are verified based on the corresponding PN model. >
A fault diagnosis technique for flash ADC's

This paper addresses the problem of diagnosis of flash ADC's and proposes a fault diagnosis technique which employs the Differential NonLinearity (DNL) test data for fault location and identification of the analog components in the converter. In the flash ADC, a fault causes deviation of DNL data from the ideal one. Hence, DNL data can be considered as a functional signature of the ADC. This property is employed for fault diagnosis. DNL patterns are used for fault location, and DNL data are used to calculate the fault values. Both single fault cases and multiple fault cases are considered. The technique proposed here relies only on DNL test data and not on the test method, thus the diagnosis can be carried out using at-operating-speed test data. This paper describes the concept and the detailed diagnosis algorithm. Experiments have been carried out to verify the practicality of the technique. They are presented and discussed in detail. The limitations and practical implementation issues relating to the technique are also addressed.
Women as agents of change: Female income and mobility in India

Economic globalization will give many women in developing countries access to steady and relatively remunerative employment for the first time, potentially shifting bargaining power within their households and changing the choices that are made for their children. This paper exploits a unique setting — a group of tea plantations in South India where women are employed in permanent wage labor and where incomes do not vary by caste — to anticipate the impact of globalization on mobility across social groups in the future. The main result of the paper is that a relative increase in female income weakens the family's ties to the ancestral community and the traditional economy, but these mobility enhancing effects are obtained for certain historically disadvantaged castes alone. Although the paper provides a context-specific explanation for why the women from these castes emerge as agents of change, the first general implication of the analysis is that the incentive and the ability of women to use their earnings to influence household decisions depends importantly on their social background. The second implication is that historically disadvantaged groups may, in fact, be especially responsive to new opportunities precisely because they have fewer ties to the traditional economy to hold them back.
Interaction of Vasopressin and the Baroreceptor Reflex System in the Regulation of Arterial Blood Pressure in the Dog

The hemodynamic effects of 1-hour intravenous infusions of vasopressin were evaluated in trained, unanesthetized dogs in the normal state and following sinoaortic baroreceptor denervation. Pressor sensitivity to vasopressin was greatly enhanced following baroreceptor denervation; threshold sensitivity was increased 11-fold and sensitivity at higher dose levels was increased 60-100-fold. Infusion of physiological levels of vasopressin caused an average increase in arterial blood pressure of 33 mm Hg in conscious, baroreceptor-denervated dogs compared with an increase of 5 mm Hg in normal dogs. In contrast, similar intravenous infusions of norepinephrine at physiological levels resulted in a 3-fold increase in pressor sensitivity with no change in threshold dose. Hy-pophysectomy of baroreceptor-denervated dogs did not significantly alter their pressor sensitivity to vasopressin in the conscious state. The arterial blood pressure response to intravenous vasopressin infusions was greatly depressed when a high...
A review on PEDOT-based counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

SUMMARY The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a promising alternative for the Si solar cell due to its low-cost and easy fabrication. As a novel conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has attracted much attention for DSSCs. In this review article, the progress of PEDOT-based counter electrodes for DSSCs is presented. First, the properties and structure of PEDOT are briefly described, and its feasibility as a DSSC counter electrode is demonstrated. Then, the effect of various treatments on the electrical conductivity and catalytic activity of PEDOT as well as its stability is examined. Furthermore, efficient and low-cost composite counter electrodes consisting of PEDOT and other materials are deeply discussed. Finally, an outlook for PEDOT counter electrodes is provided. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design properties of hydrogel tissue-engineering scaffolds

This article summarizes the recent progress in the design and synthesis of hydrogels as tissue-engineering scaffolds. Hydrogels are attractive scaffolding materials owing to their highly swollen network structure, ability to encapsulate cells and bioactive molecules, and efficient mass transfer. Various polymers, including natural, synthetic and natural/synthetic hybrid polymers, have been used to make hydrogels via chemical or physical crosslinking. Recently, bioactive synthetic hydrogels have emerged as promising scaffolds because they can provide molecularly tailored biofunctions and adjustable mechanical properties, as well as an extracellular matrix-like microenvironment for cell growth and tissue formation. This article addresses various strategies that have been explored to design synthetic hydrogels with extracellular matrix-mimetic bioactive properties, such as cell adhesion, proteolytic degradation and growth factor-binding.
NO-donating aspirin isomers downregulate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)δ expression in APCmin/+ mice proportionally to their tumor inhibitory effect: Implications for the role of PPARδ in carcinogenesis

Nitric oxide donating aspirin (NO-ASA), consisting of a traditional ASA to which a NO-releasing moiety is covalently attached, is a promising chemopreventive agent against colon cancer. Its mechanism of action is not fully delineated. Here we examined its effect on the expression of the nuclear receptor PPARdelta, whose role in colon carcinogenesis remains highly controversial. We studied histochemically the effect of the meta and para positional isomers of NO-ASA on PPARdelta expression in Min (multiple intestinal neoplasia) and wild-type mice, and on cell proliferation and apoptosis. PPARdelta, minimally expressed in wild-type mice, was significantly expressed in Min mice. para NO-ASA inhibited intestinal tumor incidence (59%) and PPARdelta expression (55.3%) more than meta NO-ASA (38 and 41.5%, respectively). Neither isomer affected cell proliferation, but both induced apoptosis in Min mice (para 52.5% for normal mucosa and 70.3% for tumors; meta 31.4 and 21.9%, respectively). The changes in PPARdelta expression correlated significantly with changes in apoptosis. Furthermore, NO-ASA induced areas of necrosis in intestinal tumors are probably resulting from the induction of atypical apoptosis. Our data suggest that NO-ASA suppresses intestinal tumorigenesis possibly in part through its inhibitory effect on PPARdelta, the expression of which may contribute to intestinal carcinogenesis.
Interferon-γ-secreting NK cells promote induction of dry eye disease

NK cells have been increasingly reported to be an important effector in autoimmune diseases. However, nothing is known in this regard in DED, the most common eye pathology, which is characterized by sustained inflammation on the ocular surface. In the present study, we have examined the profile of NK cells on the ocular surface as well as in the draining lymphoid tissues during the development of this disease. Our data demonstrate activated NK cells during the disease-induction phase. Moreover, in vivo depletion of NK cells in mice results in reduced disease severity and diminished proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we show that NK cells are also able to modulate the maturation of APCs, which is correlated with IFN-γ from NK cells. Together, our findings provide new in vivo evidence that IFN-γ-secreting NK cells can promote induction of DED via direct target tissue damage and indirect influence on the priming phase of an adaptive immune response in secondary lymphoid tissue.
Contributions to the knowledge of excess noise

This paper describes measurements on the noise behavior of a long, magnetically focused electron beam with a convergent Pierce-type electron gun having a shielded cathode. It is found that the excess noise phenomenon is initiated by a scallop-beam amplification and is essentially dependent on the nonlaminarity of electron flow in the beam. The beam reaches a state of high thermal equilibrium which may be caused by strong electron-electron interaction. An estimation shows that this should be theoreticaly possible.
Niche Agricultures Producers' Acquisition of Capital

Capital acquisition is one of the most challenging and important issues facing small firms. This paper examines issues related to the acquisition of capital by niche agricultural producers. Niche agricultural producers face greater capital acquisition challenges than traditional small firms because their business models are not well understood and, thus, often considered high risk. Few studies have examined the capital acquisition of niche agricultural producers despite the importance of the overall agricultural industry and niche producers. The findings show firms that are more familiar with sources of capital are more likely to acquire capital. Commercial banks have a pivotal role in providing financial advice and are an important source of capital.
Single daily dosing of gentamicin: pharmacokinetic comparison of two dosing methodologies for postpartum endometritis.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the pharmacokinetics of two methods for dosing gentamicin for the treatment of postpartum endometritis with the goal of achieving adequate peak serum concentrations (>12 mg/L) and prolonged trough levels below 2 mg/L. METHODS: Group-I subjects (n = 5) received intravenous gentamicin, 5 mg/kg per total body weight over 60 min., with a maximum dose of 500 mg. Group-II subjects (n = 17) were dosed intravenously according to the following formula: Dose = desired peak concentration (fixed at 14 mg/L) * (volume of distribution, i.e., 0.35 L/kg) * adjusted body weight (in kilograms). Serum gentamicin levels were obtained 1 hr. and 8-12 hr. after infusion of the second dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters for the subjects in each group were calculated according to standard formulas. RESULTS: Subjects in Group I had significantly higher doses and peak drug concentrations (P < 0.01), while in Group II, 76% of patients had peak levels less than desired (<12 mg/L). Both groups maintained trough levels of <2 mg/L in excess of 12 hr. CONCLUSIONS: Changing to the adjusted body weight formula for Group I, while maintaining a dose between 4 and 5 mg/kg, would reduce excessive peak concentrations. Using a calculated volume of distribution of 0.4 L/kg in Group II would improve peak serum concentrations to the desired levels. Both dosing regimens ensure adequate aminoglycoside pharmacokinetic parameters and avoid the need for monitoring serial serum drug concentrations, provided the expected clinical response is also achieved. While the first dosing formula is simpler to calculate, the second dosing formula allows for more individualized dosing considerations.
On The Credibility Of GAAP: Do Preparers, Auditors, And Users See Eye To Eye?

The purpose of this study was to apply social-psychological research methods to address an issue in the development of general accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Of concern to the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) in the development of GAAP is the attitudes of its constituent groups with respect to the credibility of GAAP. Our main objective was to assess any differences in the credibility perception of GAAP, as indicated by the three main groups of FASB constituents: corporate preparers of financial statements (preparers), CPAs who audit financial reports to ensure their adherence to GAAP (auditors), and accountants who us financial reports to make lending and investment decisions (users). The results indicated that auditors perception of the credibility of GAAP along eight credibility dimensions was significantly different than that of preparers and users of financial reporting. These results are important to the standard setting process because they indicate a lack of consensus among the three main FASB constituent groups, and may indicate an elevation of auditor views over those of users and preparers. Some implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN NESTLING GROWTH RATE AND BODY CONDITION IN THE TREE SWALLOW

Abstract Nestlings can exhibit considerable variation in developmental patterns both within and among locations due to differences in environmental conditions and parental investment. I investigated trade-offs between nestling growth rate and residual body mass (body condition) at three locations across the range of the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). Nestlings at the northern extreme of the range in Alaska had slower growth rates, lower body mass, and higher residual body mass than nestlings in New York and Tennessee. High insect availability was correlated with increased growth rates of nestlings in New York and Tennessee, but not in Alaska. Conversely, nestlings in Alaska showed increased residual body mass with high insect availability, but nestlings in New York and Tennessee did not. The trade-off between growth rate and residual body mass varied among sites, with fast-growing nestlings in Tennessee maintaining a higher residual body mass than those in Alaska. These results suggest that factors a...
Pharmacodynamic modeling of anesthetic EEG drug effects.

The integration of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics using pharmaco­ dynamic modeling concepts has been advanced by investigative efforts with anesthetic drugs. By simultaneously measuring the drug plasma concentration and the drug effect, it becomes possible to dissect the dose vs response relationship into its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic components (Fig­ ure 1). There are several reasons why anesthetic drugs are ideal compounds for understanding integration of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. These include the common use of intravenous ( IV) or pulmonary administra­ tion, the relatively rapid blood:biophase equilibration that is necessary for an anesthetic drug to be clinically useful, the rapid dissipation of drug effect from a combination of redistribution and elimination mechanisms, and finally the relatively profound degree of drug effect that anesthetic drugs create. Dl'4g effect that is relatively intense makes pharmacodynamic measurement and quantitation an easier task. Finally, it has been possible to develop "surrogate" measures of drug effect with many anesthetic dt1.lgs. Surrogate drug effects are secondary drug-induced measurable changes of body physi-
A self-lysis pathway that enhances the virulence of a pathogenic bacterium

In mammalian cells, programmed cell death (PCD) plays important roles in development, in the removal of damaged cells, and in fighting bacterial infections. Although widespread among multicellular organisms, there are relatively few documented instances of PCD in bacteria. Here we describe a potential PCD pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that enhances the ability of the bacterium to cause disease in a lung infection model. Activation of the system can occur in a subset of cells in response to DNA damage through cleavage of an essential transcription regulator we call AlpR. Cleavage of AlpR triggers a cell lysis program through de-repression of the alpA gene, which encodes a positive regulator that activates expression of the alpBCDE lysis cassette. Although this is lethal to the individual cell in which it occurs, we find it benefits the population as a whole during infection of a mammalian host. Thus, host and pathogen each may use PCD as a survival-promoting strategy. We suggest that activation of the Alp cell lysis pathway is a disease-enhancing response to bacterial DNA damage inflicted by the host immune system.
Analytical Assessment of Simplified Transient Fuel Tests for Vehicle Transient Fuel Compensation

Good air/fuel ratio (A/F) control is essential to high quality combustion performance, drivability and emissions in internal combustion engine powered vehicles. Cold start and transient fuel wall wetting effects cause significant A/F control challenges in port fuel injected (PFI) engines. Transient fuel compensation (TFC) strategies are used to help control the A/F during cold starts and transient load and RPM conditions for good vehicle performance, but developing optimum TFC strategies and calibrations in a vehicle with many competing effects is very difficult. Thus, simplified transient tests such as fuel or throttle perturbation tests are often used to develop and validate new strategies or calibrations for use in vehicle. This paper will illustrate the use of a validated physical model to analytically assess the value of fuel and throttle perturbation tests for developing a TFC calibration for vehicle use.
Combination immunosuppressant and topical steroid therapy for treatment of recurrent major aphthae

A 32-year-old woman with a 3-month history of severe major aphthous stomatitis covering the anterior dorsal third of the tongue was treated successfully with topical dexamethasone mouthrinse and oral azathioprine tablets. The lesion was resolved within 90 days without side effects.
Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Weekly clinicopathological exercises. Case 5-2002. A 15-year-old boy with a retro-orbital mass and impaired vision.

Presentation of Case A 15-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital because of a retro-orbital mass. The patient had been well until three weeks earlier, when he began to have right retro-orbital and frontal pain graded 2 to 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 indicating the worst possible pain. The episodes occurred two or three times weekly, lasted one or two hours, and were relieved by ibuprofen. The pain had no positional features, and there was no accompanying photophobia, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to noise, weakness, numbness, or tingling; the pain tended not to occur in the . . .
Principles of Optics for Engineers: Diffraction and Modal Analysis

Introduction 1. Optical plane waves in unbounded medium 2. Superposition of plane waves and applications 3. Scalar wave equation and diffraction of optical radiation 4. Optical resonators and Gaussian beams 5. Optical waveguides and fibers 6. Guided wave interactions 7. Passive guided wave devices 8. Active optoelectronic guided wave components Appendix.
Guidelines and consensus: statement on pregnancy in pulmonary hypertension from the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.

Editor: We read with interest the 2015 Statement on Pregnancy in Pulmonary Hypertension from the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute.1 It aimed to provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of pregnancies complicated by pulmonary hypertension. Specifically, the authors staunchly recommend cesarean delivery between 34 and 36 weeks gestation as the preferred mode of delivery. The authors assert that cesarean delivery “bypasses the hemodynamic complications associated with labor … and also the auto transfusion associated with vaginal contractions.”1(p454) We find fault with both this recommendation and its justification, and we are troubled that the authors obtained limited obstetric input (only 1 of the 9 authors was affiliated with a department of obstetrics) and did not utilize specialty and interdisciplinary working groups when drafting pregnancy-related guidelines. We assert that route and timing of delivery in the setting of pulmonary hypertension complicating pregnancy remains controversial. Although recent management trends favor planned cesarean delivery, there is little evidence that cesarean delivery improves maternal outcomes over vaginal delivery.2,3 Although cardiac output can increase by up to 25% in active labor and by 50% during maternal pushing efforts, assisted second-stage labor and laboring in the lateral decubitus position can both greatly offset these changes.4 Moreover, cardiac output in the postpartum period can increase by as much as 80% regardless of delivery route. It is also relevant to consider that induction of regional anesthesia for cesarean delivery can result in hypotension in up to 30% of cases.4 Overall, cesarean delivery results in higher rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality, including higher rates of death, hemorrhage, shock, cardiac arrest, renal failure, venous thromboembolic event, and infection.5 Both the severity of pulmonary disease and the woman’s pregnancy history must be considered in any delivery recommendation. A woman with mild, stable pulmonary hypertension is very different from one with severe right ventricular failure requiring, for example, parenteral prostanoid or nitric oxide therapy. Likewise, an urgent cesarean delivery involving a multiparous woman presenting in rapidly progressive labor can cause more harm than vaginal delivery. Successful management of the gravid woman with pulmonary hypertension requires a multidisciplinary team comprising individuals from obstetrics, anesthesiology, and neonatology departments, as well as a pulmonary hypertension specialist, working with experienced support staff. We advocate for an individualized delivery plan taking relevant maternal and pregnancy characteristics into consideration.
Bethanechol Denervation Supersensitivity Testing in Children

AbstractBethanechol supersensitivity testing was performed upon 130 children undergoing comprehensive urodynamic testing. The test proved to be acceptably reliable in either identifying neurogenic bladder dysfunction or excluding its presence.
Will the Precision Medicine Initiative Transform Cardiovascular Translational Research

President Obama announced in his 2015 State of the Union address that he was launching the Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI), calling it “a bold new research effort to revolutionize how we improve health and treat disease” [(1)][1]. Under the auspices of the PMI, the National Institutes of
Anionic and Mononuclear Phosphinidene and Imide Complexes of Niobium

The reactivity of a terminal methylidene complex of niobium, [(ArO)2Nb═CH2(CH3)(CH2PPh3)] (1), with the primary phosphine PhPH2 results in formation of the anionic phosphinidene complex [H3CPPh3][(ArO)2Nb═PPh(CH3)2] (2), where both the methylidene and ylide ligands of the precursor experience protonation. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies indicate formation of a bent phosphinidene ligand. Similar reactivity is also observed with primary amines, specifically AdNH2 (Ad = 1-adamantyl) and MesNH2 (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl), resulting in formation of the corresponding imide complexes [H3CPPh3][(ArO)2Nb═NR(CH3)2] (R = Mes, (3), Ad, (4)). Whereas 2 has a bent phosphinidene ligand and pseudo trigonal bipyramidal structure, the solid-state structure determination of complex 4 reveals a linear imide ligand and square-pyramidal geometry, where the imide enjoys significant Nb–NR multiple-bond character.
HARDINESS SCRIPTS: HIGH‐ACHIEVING AFRICAN AMERICAN BOYS IN A CHICAGO CHARTER SCHOOL NAVIGATING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL

Youth exposure to violence, criminal activities and deviant peer affiliation may impact overall development and the transition into adulthood. Low income African American youth are disproportionately exposed to chronic stressors, but little is known about how they conceptualize challenges and success once they enter adulthood. We examine how low incomes African Americans reflect on exposure to chronic stressors during adolescence that impact their description of challenges and successes in emerging adulthood. We interviewed thirteen African American males and females who are former participants of Chicago Youth Programs. Participants identified three challenges: neighborhood violence, familial stress and financial instability as barriers to success in emerging adulthood. Participants identified conditions that facilitated success in emerging adulthood: perseverance and access to Chicago Youth Programs. Understanding challenges and successes associated with emerging adulthood for low-income African Americans may lead to better informed support services for low income African Americans across the life course.
Mimi and Dona by Sophie Sartain (2015)

“…And when we’re gone, long goneThe only thing that will have matteredIs the love that we sharedAnd the way that we cared…”(Kieran Kane & Paul O’Hara)In the closing scene of Sophie Sartain’s docume...
Bandit Problems with Random Discounting

One of k independent stochastic processes with unknown characteristics is observed at each of a possibly infinite number of stages. Future stages are discounted: the mth observation is weighted by αm. The αm are random variables. They may be dependent and their distributions unknown; in such a case one can learn about the character of the discounting as well as about the processes. The objective is to maximize the expected sum of the weighted observations. The decision problem is shown to be equivalent to one with nonrandom discounting in some versions. The important case of geometric discounting arises in a natural way. Other versions are intrinsically more complicated than the nonrandom case. Examples are carried out.
Adaptive support vector machine for time-varying data streams using martingale

A martingale framework is proposed to enable support vector machine (SVM) to adapt to timevarying data streams. The adaptive SVM is a onepass incremental algorithm that (i) does not require a sliding window on the data stream, (ii) does not require monitoring the performance of the classifier as data points are streaming, and (iii) works well for high dimensional, multi-class data streams. Our experiments show that the novel adaptive SVM is effective at handling time-varying data streams simulated using both a synthetic dataset and a multiclass real dataset.
Graham Molitor: A Futurist for the Third Millennium:

The Molitor Model of Change is a unique approach, yet has largely been overlooked as a futures studies method. This article traces the influences that led Graham Molitor to develop Emerging Issues ...
The subgingival microbiome in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives To profile and compare the subgingival microbiome of RA patients with OA controls. Methods RA (n = 260) and OA (n = 296) patients underwent full-mouth examination and subgingival samples were collected. Bacterial DNA was profiled using 16 S rRNA Illumina sequencing. Following data filtering and normalization, hierarchical clustering analysis was used to group samples. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations of patient factors with membership in the two largest clusters. Differential abundance between RA and OA was examined using voom method and linear modelling with empirical Bayes moderation (Linear Models for Microarray Analysis, limma), accounting for the effects of periodontitis, race, marital status and smoking. Results Alpha diversity indices were similar in RA and OA after accounting for periodontitis. After filtering, 286 taxa were available for analysis. Samples grouped into one of seven clusters with membership sizes of 324, 223, 3, 2, 2, 1 and 1 patients, respectively. RA-OA status was not associated with cluster membership. Factors associated with cluster 1 (vs 2) membership included periodontitis, smoking, marital status and Caucasian race. Accounting for periodontitis, 10 taxa (3.5% of those examined) were in lower abundance in RA than OA. There were no associations between lower abundance taxa or other select taxa examined with RA autoantibody concentrations. Conclusion Leveraging data from a large case-control study and accounting for multiple factors known to influence oral health status, results from this study failed to identify a subgingival microbial fingerprint that could reliably discriminate RA from OA patients.
To Accept or Not to Accept: The Question of Supplemental Discount Offers in Mobile Data Plans

As demand for Internet usage increases, Internet service providers (ISPs) have begun to explore pricing-based solutions to dampen data demand. However few explicitly consider the dual problem of monetizing idle network capacity at uncongested times. PopData is a recent initiative from Verizon that does so by offering supplemental discount offers (SDOs) at these times, in which users can pay a fixed fee in exchange for unlimited data in the next hour. This work is the first of its kind to assess the benefits and viability of SDOs by modeling user and ISP decisions as a game, considering both overall monthly decisions and hour-to-hour decisions throughout the month. We first use our monthly model to show that users are generally willing to accept some SDO offers, allowing the ISP to increase its revenue. We then show that users face a complex hourly decision problem as to which SDOs they should accept over their billing cycles, since they are unaware of their exact future needs or when future SDOs will be made. The ISP faces a similarly challenging problem in deciding when to offer SDOs so as to maximize its revenue, subject to users' decisions. We develop optimal decision criteria for users and ISPs to decide whether to make or accept SDO offers. Our analysis shows that both users and ISPs can benefit from these offers, and we verify this through numerical experiments on a one-week trace of 20 cellular data users. We find that ISPs can exploit user uncertainty in when future SDOs will be made to optimize its revenue.
Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylation of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids

Herein we disclose an efficient method for the conversion of carboxylic acids to trifluoromethyl groups via the combination of photoredox and copper catalysis. This transformation tolerates a wide range of functionality including heterocycles, olefins, alcohols, and strained ring systems. To demonstrate the broad potential of this new methodology for late-stage functionalization, we successfully converted a diverse array of carboxylic acid-bearing natural products and medicinal agents to the corresponding trifluoromethyl analogues.
Background to an Analysis of Quantum Mechanics

The quantum analog of the classical phase space is a complex Hilbert space, and the quantum analog of a phase-space point is a vector lying in this Hilbert space. A complex Hilbert space has many properties in common with a complex, _nite-dimensional, Euclidean space. In particular, such a space is a linear vector space with an inner product.
Imaging Metabolic and Molecular Functions in Brain Tumors with Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Molecular imaging is the amalgamation of molecular biology and imaging technology in a unique way that enables in vivo observation of molecular biological processes without altering the process or organism being studied. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is the most advanced form of molecular imaging suitable for broad application in human. Since positron-emitting radionuclides of elements such as C, N, O, and F can replace the stable analogues in drugs and biomolecules of fundamental biochemical principles, it is possible to synthesize PET probes with the same chemical structure as the parent unlabeled molecules without altering their biological activity. Fundamental biochemical principles comprise several potential targets including the receptors on the tumor surface, targeting agents based on increased metabolic demands of the cancer, and potentially enzymes or processes which are related to cell growth and survival. Characteristics of the microenvironment of tumors, including tumor perfusion and hypoxia, can also be targeted as well as elements of the tumor stroma.
PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE MEASUREMENTS OF HYDROGEN BONDING

Abstract The proton resonance signal of the hydrogen in the hydrogen bond is shifted to lower magnetic field relative to its position in the unassociated molecule. These “association” shifts are surprisingly large, often exceeding the chemical shifts between different H—X molecules, and are measurable even for rather weak interactions. The “association” (or hydrogen bond) shifts have been measured for a wide variety of simple hydride molecules. The results are compared with those from infrared measurements. The “association” shifts of hydrogen iodide and acetylene appear anomalously large. The proton shifts of chloroform in a variety of donor solvents (including olefinic and aromatic donors as well as n-donors) have been measured. The results yield information about donor strength, except for aromatic donors where an anomalous “high field” shift is observed. A large proton resonance shift is observed between monomeric and dimeric species of acetic acid, the signal for the OH group of the dimer occurring at lower field. Concentrated solutions of acetic acid, as well as pure acetic acid itself, give a proton signal which lies intermediate, suggesting a disordered or chain association. The type of information which can be derived from proton resonance measurements is discussed and compared with that obtained by other methods.
Increasing valence pushes DNA nanostar networks to the isostatic point

The classic picture of soft material mechanics is that of rubber elasticity, in which material modulus is related to the entropic elasticity of flexible polymeric linkers. The rubber model, however, largely ignores the role of valence (i.e., the number of network chains emanating from a junction). Recent work predicts that valence, and particularly the Maxwell isostatic point, plays a key role in determining the mechanics of semiflexible polymer networks. Here, we report a series of experiments confirming the prominent role of valence in determining the mechanics of a model system. The system is based on DNA nanostars (DNAns): multiarmed, self-assembled nanostructures that form thermoreversible equilibrium gels through base pair-controlled cross-linking. We measure the linear and nonlinear elastic properties of these gels as a function of DNAns arm number, f, and concentration [DNAns]. We find that, as f increases from three to six, the gel’s high-frequency plateau modulus strongly increases, and its dependence on [DNAns] transitions from nonlinear to linear. Additionally, higher-valence gels exhibit less strain hardening, indicating that they have less configurational freedom. Minimal strain hardening and linear dependence of shear modulus on concentration at high f are consistent with predictions for isostatic systems. Evident strain hardening and nonlinear concentration dependence of shear modulus suggest that the low-f networks are subisostatic and have a transient, potentially fractal percolated structure. Overall, our observations indicate that network elasticity is sensitive both to entropic elasticity of network chains and to junction valence, with an apparent isostatic point 5 f c ≤ 6 in agreement with the Maxwell prediction.
Interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy in the treatment of keloids: Moving toward a volumetric approach.

Abstract Purpose Brachytherapy (BT) after surgical resection of keloids reduces the risk of local recurrence, but standardization of dose/technique is lacking. Typical keloid BT treatment utilizes a single-channel source prescribed to 5-mm depth. We investigated the dosimetry of a volume-based target definition for interstitial high-dose-rate BT treatment of keloids. Methods and Materials We retrospectively identified consecutive 14 patients who had a total of 20 keloids treated with interstitial high-dose-rate BT for keloids at our institution between 2004 and 2014. Keloids were treated with a single 8 Gy fraction prescribed to 5 mm beneath the scar within 36 h of surgery. Retrospectively, a 3-mm skin high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was contoured under the scar for volume-based dose calculations. Results Mean (SD) HR-CTV was 3.91 cm3 (3.1) and mean (SD) HR-CTV dose was 11.3 Gy (3.6). Mean D90 (SD) was 62.9% (25.8) and mean V100 (SD) was 56.5% (26.4). The mean V150 (SD), V200 (SD), and V300 (SD) were as follows: 37.6% (19.9), 25.1% (14.4), and 11.3% (6.5), respectively. No local failures were reported at 9 months median followup. There were no Grade 2 or higher late toxicities. Conclusions Using a volume-based target definition, a wide range of target coverage was observed. This is likely a consequence of the curvature of the skin and the challenges of keeping the catheter equidistant from the skin across the target. Additional data are needed to define the potential clinical impact on outcomes/toxicities of dosimetric correlates with single-catheter BT keloid treatment.
High-intensity exercise to promote accelerated improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (HI-PACE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

African Americans have a disproportionate prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes compared with Caucasians. Recent evidence indicates that low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level, an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, is also more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasians. Numerous studies in Caucasian populations suggest that vigorous exercise intensity may promote greater improvements in CRF and other type 2 diabetes risk factors (e.g., reduction of glucose/insulin levels, pulse wave velocity, and body fat) than moderate intensity. However, current evidence comparing health benefits of different aerobic exercise intensities on type 2 diabetes risk factors in African Americans is negligible. This is clinically important as African Americans have a greater risk for type 2 diabetes and are less likely to meet public health recommendations for physical activity than Caucasians. The purpose of the HI-PACE (High-Intensity exercise to Promote Accelerated improvements in CardiorEspiratory fitness) study is to evaluate whether high-intensity aerobic exercise elicits greater improvements in CRF, insulin action, and arterial stiffness than moderate-intensity exercise in African Americans. A randomized controlled trial will be performed on overweight and obese (body mass index of 25–45 kg/m2) African Americans (35–65 years) (n = 60). Participants will be randomly assigned to moderate-intensity (MOD-INT) or high-intensity (HIGH-INT) aerobic exercise training or a non-exercise control group (CON) for 24 weeks. Supervised exercise will be performed at a heart rate associated with 45–55% and 70–80% of VO2 max in the MOD-INT and HIGH-INT groups, respectively, for an exercise dose of 600 metabolic equivalents of task (MET)-minutes per week (consistent with public health recommendations). The primary outcome is change in CRF. Secondary outcomes include change in insulin sensitivity (measured via an intravenous glucose tolerance test), skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity (via near-infrared spectroscopy), skeletal muscle measurements (i.e., citrate synthase, COX IV, GLUT-4, CPT-1, and PGC1-α), arterial stiffness (via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity), body fat, C-reactive protein, and psychological outcomes (quality of life/exercise enjoyment). The anticipated results of the HI-PACE study will provide vital information on the health effects of high-intensity exercise in African Americans. This study will advance health disparity research and has the potential to influence future public health guidelines for physical activity. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02892331 . Registered on September 8, 2016.
Would an Audit Judgment Rule Improve Audit Committee Oversight and Audit Quality

The current regulatory environment encourages auditors to engage in "defensive auditing". That is, auditors must show that their audits complied with widely accepted standard procedures in order to...
Influence of farm size and insured type on crop insurance returns

In this article, we empirically examine the impact of farm size and insured type on returns from crop insurance participation in four regions using unit‐level crop insurance contract data. Our quasi‐panel empirical model provides guidance on whether larger producers are riskier than smaller producers and whether cash producers are riskier than landlords. In our sample, we did not find evidence that large producers obtain higher returns from insurance participation than their smaller counterparts. In fact, we found evidence of the opposite that larger producers in Iowa and Nebraska receive less than their smaller counterparts. Our farm size results suggest that any legislation limiting crop insurance participation from large producers would negatively influence the insurance pool, driving up premiums and consequently administrative and operational subsidies and per‐acre premium subsidy dollars. We did find evidence that cash insured types get more back in insurance than landlords in both Montana and Oklahoma, suggesting the possibility of moral hazard in input usage. Our results also highlight spatial differences in crop insurance outcomes.