cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Tool for Nutrition App Quality Evaluation (AQEL): Development, Validation, and Reliability Testing.

Background: The extensive availability and increasing use of mobile apps for nutrition-based health interventions makes evaluation of the quality of these apps crucial for integration of apps into nutritional counseling. Objective: The goal of this research was the development, validation, and reliability testing of the app quality evaluation (AQEL) tool, an instrument for evaluating apps’ educational quality and technical functionality. Methods: Items for evaluating app quality were adapted from website evaluations, with additional items added to evaluate the specific characteristics of apps, resulting in 79 initial items. Expert panels of nutrition and technology professionals and app users reviewed items for face and content validation. After recommended revisions, nutrition experts completed a second AQEL review to ensure clarity. On the basis of 150 sets of responses using the revised AQEL, principal component analysis was completed, reducing AQEL into 5 factors that underwent reliability testing, including internal consistency, split-half reliability, test-retest reliability, and interrater reliability (IRR). Two additional modifiable constructs for evaluating apps based on the age and needs of the target audience as selected by the evaluator were also tested for construct reliability. IRR testing using intraclass correlations (ICC) with all 7 constructs was conducted, with 15 dietitians evaluating one app. Results: Development and validation resulted in the 51-item AQEL. These were reduced to 25 items in 5 factors after principal component analysis, plus 9 modifiable items in two constructs that were not included in principal component analysis. Internal consistency and split-half reliability of the following constructs derived from principal components analysis was good (Cronbach alpha >.80, Spearman-Brown coefficient >.80): behavior change potential, support of knowledge acquisition, app function, and skill development. App purpose split half-reliability was .65. Test-retest reliability showed no significant change over time (P>.05) for all but skill development (P=.001). Construct reliability was good for items assessing age appropriateness of apps for children, teens, and a general audience. In addition, construct reliability was acceptable for assessing app appropriateness for various target audiences (Cronbach alpha >.70). For the 5 main factors, ICC (1,k) was >.80, with a P value of <.05. When 15 nutrition professionals evaluated one app, ICC (2,15) was .98, with a P value of <.001 for all 7 constructs when the modifiable items were specified for adults seeking weight loss support. Conclusions: Our preliminary effort shows that AQEL is a valid, reliable instrument for evaluating nutrition apps’ qualities for clinical interventions by nutrition clinicians, educators, and researchers. Further efforts in validating AQEL in various contexts are needed.
So You Want to Do IMEs?: How to Develop This Service

The additional skills necessary to become a qualified independent medical evaluator require training beyond what is included in medical school and formal residency training. This is not a good thing, because physicians typically will need to seek out education and training while they are in the midst of their practice careers. However, physicians often will seek to add IME services to their menu of offerings as they consider their level of expertise and other practice economic dynamics. Several organizations are devoted to continuing medical education courses that address IME skills, and there are also certifications in IME provision that are available. It is recommended that the novice IME physician begin with the more simple and straightforward cases such as those involving the Social Security Disability system and then expand into other areas once a level of comfort is established.
Low-dimensional enhanced superpixel representation with homogeneity testing for unmixing of hyperspectral imagery

Recently superpixel-based approaches have been proposed for dimensionality reduction (DR) in hyperspectral images. The basic assumption of this approach is that the superpixel over-segmentation segments the image into small homogeneous areas. A low-dimensional (LD) image representation is obtained by using the average of the superpixels, which are then used in other image processing tasks up the processing chain. Due to superpixel-segmentation algorithm limitations, the region inside a superpixel may not be homogeneous. Therefore, the average may not be an adequate representation for the superpixel, leading to inaccuracies in the low dimensional representation resulting in errors in the image processing tasks or analysis. Here we present an enhanced superpixel-based dimensionality reduction approach that incorporates homogeneity testing of superpixels. Homogeneous superpixels are represented by their mean but heterogeneous superpixels are represented by multiple representative signatures selected using the SVDSS column subset selection algorithm. The representative signatures for the homogeneous and heterogeneous superpixels provide an improved low-dimensional representation for the hyperspectral image that better captures the image structure. We present experiments applying the proposed enhanced and the conventional superpixel dimensionality reduction approaches to unmixing using the constrained non-negative matrix factorization (cNMF). A subset of data from the Washington DC Mall HYDICE image is utilized. In the experiments, the enhanced superpixel-based dimensionality-reduction approach results in better unmixing results compared to the conventional approach and to unmixing using the full data set.
Virtual Reality Training to Enhance Motor Skills

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) as a healing aid is a relatively newer concept in the field of rehabilitation and training. Clinicians now have access to virtual worlds and games in which they can immerse their patients into interactive scenarios that would not have been possible in previous years.
Recovering Identity: A Qualitative Investigation of a Survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder

This qualitative study investigated the subjective experience of a female survivor of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The study utilized the narrative method, interviewing the participant three separate times. Each semi-structured interview reconstructed a particular time in the participant's life (past, present, and future) as it related to the disorder. Three themes emerged from the participant's experiences with DID: (a) therapeutic outcomes, (b) chronology of DID, and (c) misperceptions of DID.
Service Buildings and Ancillary Spaces

The number, type, and specifics of tunnel ancillary facilities and service buildings depend on the functional requirements of each tunnel. Broadly speaking, ventilation equipment, electrical switchgear, and other mechanical and electrical equipment required for the operation of a roadway tunnel are housed in one or more below- or above-grade buildings. There must be space to house and maintain service vehicles and emergency trucks, shops for electrical and mechanical repairs, and adequate storage for the material and equipment needed to operate and maintain the tunnel and related roadways. Traffic control and surveillance, communications and equipment monitoring functions must be accommodated,and facilities for operating personnel have to be provided. In addition, facilities for the administrative operation of the tunnel must be provided, either as part of a broader district operational facility or as stand-alone quarters.
Stress fracture of distal femur identified with musculoskeletal ultrasound after normal x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging

Introduction/Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and x-ray have traditionally been used to identify musculoskeletal pathology. Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, however, is becoming increasingly popular among physiatrists. Material and method A 35-year-old male runner with no significant past medical history presented with a complaint of right medial knee pain for the past 6 to 8 weeks. He reports that he had recently increased his running mileage significantly while running in shoes that were due to be replaced. He had stopped running but noted that the pain persisted. He described the pain as located in one specific spot on the medial aspect of the right knee, rated 4/10 most of the time, but was exacerbated by putting more force through his leg with activities including jogging, going up and down stairs, or carrying heavy objects. Results X-rays of the right knee were obtained and were normal, which prompted further imaging with an MRI one week later, which was also normal. Laboratory testing was remarkable for vitamin D deficiency of 13 ng/mL. Musculoskeletal ultrasound revealed a small fracture of the medial epicondyle of the femur measuring 3 mm × 3 mm that was tender to sonopalpation. The patient was instructed to avoid running until pain free for at least 2 weeks before starting on a graduated return to running protocol. Conclusion Musculoskeletal ultrasound may be a useful imaging modality for identifying stress fractures even in some cases where traditional imaging with x-ray and MRI are negative. This may have important implications for use in resource-limited settings where ultrasound is portable and relatively inexpensive in comparison to MRI.
Refashioning Futures: Dalit Women’s Education and Empowerment in Maharashtra

Since the end of the nineteenth century, Dalits (“Untouchables”) struggled for the right to public spaces, including temples, streets, water tanks, and education. What did education mean to Dalit men and especially to women? Why was it so important to women? How did women deal with double patriarchy: private and public, inside and outside their homes, and double discrimination—of caste and gender oppression? To examine these questions, my essay focuses on the life histories of three (Dalit) Matang, middle-class women from Pune, Maharashtra. I draw upon my book Dalit Women’s Education in Modern India: Double Discrimination to focus on education, caste and gender discrimination, Brahmani hegemony, new patriarchy, and employment after education in urban Pune.
Abstract C79: Examining the role of cultural competence in mammography adherence: Perceptions of African American residents of Harris County, Texas

Breast cancer mortality has affected African American women at a disproportionate rate. There are various factors contributing to this outcome, with medical mistrust identified as a significant determinant of screening adherence. The purpose of this research was to assess how perceptions of health professionals9 cultural competence influenced African American women9s barriers to and receipt of mammograms. To recruit participants, researchers first identified locations with large proportions of African American persons. This included grocery stores, local community centers, churches, strip malls, hair salons, and restaurants. At each site, significant efforts were made to personally interact with community members. Personal interaction included, as often as possible, matching the race/ethnicity and gender of the research team member with the potential participant. Sixty-one African American women residing in Harris County, Texas, shared their views within a series of focus groups. Participants noted various factors associated with mammography compliance. Firstly, lack of professionalism among clinicians and clerical staff caused a decrease in health care services utilization and procedural adherence. In addition, cultural insensitivity and discriminatory behavior strengthened attitudes of medical mistrust. Therefore, improving patient–provider communication, through culturally appropriate capacity building initiatives, is a beneficial strategy to facilitate healthful engagement of medically underserved and racial/ethnic minority populations. Citation Format: Marla B. Hall, Jeffrey J. Guidry, Lovell A. Jones. Examining the role of cultural competence in mammography adherence: Perceptions of African American residents of Harris County, Texas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr C79.
Using Connected Technologies in a Continuous Quality Improvement Approach in After-school Settings: The PAX Good Behavior Game.

AbstractThis demonstration study explored the use of connected technologies in a continuous quality improvement (CQI) approach to implementing evidence-based practices in after-school. Focus group ...
“Daddies,” “Cougars,” and Their Partners Past Midlife: Gender Attitudes and Relationship and Sexual Well-Being among Older Adults in Age-Heterogenous Partnerships:

Discussion of “daddies” has exploded in popular discourse, yet there is little sociological research on age-heterogenous partnerships. This paper uses data from the 2013 Midlife in the United State...
How to philosophize about religion globally and critically . . . with undergraduates

This article explores some critical issues pertinent to the practice of ‘global-critical’ philosophy of religion. Here, I focus on two general issues, especially as they have arisen in the production of a textbook and other pedagogical materials for an undergraduate course in philosophy of religion that is globally diverse and critically engaged: (1) how to restructure philosophy of religion with topics and questions suitable for ‘global’ enquiry; (2) how to philosophize about (global) religion in a manner that is ‘critically’ aware of theoretical and methodological issues in the academic study of religion, yet also pursues philosophical questions of meaning, value, and truth.
NATURAL FORMALIZATION: DERIVING THE CANTOR-BERNSTEIN THEOREM IN ZF

Natural Formalization proposes a concrete way of expanding proof theory from the meta-mathematical investigation of formal theories to an examination of “the concept of the specifically mathematical proof.” Formal proofs play a role for this examination in as much as they reflect the essential structure and systematic construction of mathematical proofs. We emphasize three crucial features of our formal inference mechanism: (1) the underlying logical calculus is built for reasoning with gaps and for providing strategic directions, (2) the mathematical frame is a definitional extension of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory and has a hierarchically organized structure of concepts and operations, and (3) the construction of formal proofs is deeply connected to the frame through rules for definitions and lemmas. To bring these general ideas to life, we examine, as a case study, proofs of the Cantor–Bernstein Theorem that do not appeal to the principle of choice. A thorough analysis of the multitude of “different” informal proofs seems to reduce them to exactly one. The natural formalization confirms that there is one proof, but that it comes in two variants due to Dedekind and Zermelo, respectively. In this way it enhances the conceptual understanding of the represented informal proofs. The formal, computational work is carried out with the proof search system AProS that serves as a proof assistant and implements the above inference mechanism; it can be fully inspected at http://www.phil.cmu.edu/legacy/Proof_Site/. We must—that is my conviction—take the concept of the specifically mathematical proof as an object of investigation. Hilbert 1918
Dual-Energy CT to Differentiate Small Foci of Intracranial Hemorrhage from Calcium

Background Diagnostic uncertainty in CT of possible intracranial hemorrhage requires short-interval follow-up imaging, resulting in reduced efficiency of care and higher costs. Purpose To quantify the diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT versus simulated single-energy CT in the differentiation of small foci of intracranial hemorrhage from calcium. Materials and Methods Images from consecutive unenhanced dual-energy CT of the head in patients from a single emergency department obtained from December 2014 to April 2016 were reviewed retrospectively for hyperattenuating intracranial foci. Ground truth was established from reference standard comparison CT or MRI. Foci were divided into development and test sets. Development set foci regions of interest were used to derive candidate CT attenuation thresholds for virtual noncalcium (VNCa) and calcium images. Test set foci were used for threshold validation, and diagnostic performance and confidence were evaluated for two readers blinded to final diagnosis. Statistical comparisons were made with exact binomial tests or repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results The study included 137 patients (65 years ± 17; 70 men) with 146 foci. Foci were divided into a development set (n = 105) and a test set (n = 41). Quantitative analysis of the development set produced candidate thresholds of 44 HU for VNCa images and 7 HU for calcium-only images, yielding diagnostic accuracies for the test set of 88% (36 of 41 foci; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 78%, 98%) and 95% (39 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 88%, 100%), respectively. Dual-energy CT improved reader accuracy from 90% (reader 1, 37 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 81%, 99%) and 93% (reader 2, 38 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 85%, 100%) to 100% (both readers, 41 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 100%, 100%). Diagnostic confidence (classifications rated as "certain") increased from 71% (29 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 57%, 85%) to 90% (37 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 81%, 99%) for reader 1 (P = .019) and from 46% (19 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 31%, 62%) to 85% (35 of 41 foci; 95% CI: 75%, 96%) for reader 2 (P = .0001). Conclusion Dual-energy CT showed high diagnostic performance in the differentiation of small foci of intracranial hemorrhage from calcium and improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence in the initial evaluation of suspected hemorrhage. © RSNA, 2019 See also the editorial by Kotsenas in this issue.
Aspergilosis pulmonar invasora en pacientes reumatológicos. Presentación de dos casos

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an infection caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus that mainly affects immunocompromised patients and corresponds to the most severe form of aspergillosis. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. Clinical manifestations are nonspecific, so an adequate study is important for diagnosis, mainly in patients with unusual risk factors. At present, diagnostic categories have been established that consider factors of the host, traditional mycological laboratory and biomarkers such as galactomannan. These, together with the better understanding and interpretation of the tomographic images, allow us to offer an adequate management. In this article, two clinical cases of API in rheumatological patients are presented, and the usefulness of the diagnostic methods is discussed.
Applications of Low Cost Optical Coherence Tomography

We have recently developed a portable, low cost OCT system. This presentation will present an updated design for the optical engine and discuss application in ophthalmology and extensions to fields such as orthopedics, gastroenterology and gynecology where this design enables new uses of OCT.
The History of DCD Liver Transplant

The advent of donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver transplantation began with Dr. Thomas Starzl performing the first liver transplant in 1963. As transplantation evolved as an acceptable therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease, the definition of brain death emerged and was accepted. Subsequently, organs were recovered predominantly from brain-dead donors with DCD essentially abandoned in liver transplantation. With the growth of liver transplantation, the disparity between available donor organs and the number of recipients on the waitlist increased with an associated increase in waitlist mortality. This resulted in renewed interest in the use of DCD donor organs as a viable approach to expanding the donor pool. As DCD liver transplantation was reintroduced by several academic medical centers, other institutions remained reluctant based on ethical concerns. However, with a focus on the core principles of organ donation including the dead donor rule, as well as the establishment of a legal and regulatory framework, DCD expanded and was ultimately endorsed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the late 1990s and the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospitals Organization in the early 2000s.
Assessing the influence of hydrogen on texture evolution in polycrystalline nickel deformed under uniaxial tension

Abstract Uniaxial tensile experiments on hydrogen-charged and non-charged polycrystalline nickel deformed to a true plastic strain of ~0.1 at room temperature and 77 K reveal that hydrogen has no measurable effect on texture evolution. Texture measurements were completed on samples of each condition, as well as an as-received reference specimen, using electron backscatter diffraction data collected from >20,000 individual grains. Crystal plasticity simulations support the conclusion that the similarity is attributable to the insensitivity of small-strain deformation texture evolution to potential hydrogen-induced modifications in deformation mechanisms.
Enhanced recovery after surgery is safe for cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Abstract Introduction Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is an effective, aggressive approach to treating intraperitoneal carcinomatosis. This study aimed to test the efficacy/safety of an enhanced recovery (ERAS) program after CRS-HIPEC surgery. Methods Review of an IRB-approved prospectively maintained HIPEC database from 2003 to 2019. Adverse events and outcomes related to the primary operation were noted. Results 125 HIPEC procedures performed met inclusion criteria, with 20 treated through ERAS. There was an improvement in LOS (ERAS: 9, 6.0–28.0; non-ERAS: 11.0, 6.0–45.1, P = 0.5), a significant reduction in opioid use during hospitalization (ERAS Total Morphine Equivalents 156 vs Non-ERAS of 856, p Conclusion ERAS for CRS-HIPEC is safe, while maintaining quality outcomes, and leads to significant reductions in hospital opioid use and discharge narcotic usage. Our experience supports the full implementation of an ERAS protocol for HIPEC.
Counting Neural Networks

This work explores a hypothesis for the observation that the accuracy of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) increases with the depth of the network. The aim of the project is to count the number of exact solutions to a simplified DNN problem. A finite family of DNN functions is defined so that the number of solutions as a function of depth can be counted. Through construction of these DNN solutions, a lower bound and an approximate rate of growth can be found for the number of solutions. This function indicates that the number of solutions grows rapidly with depth, which may offer some incite into why the accuracy of deep neural networks (DNNs) increases with the depth of the network.
Multilevel innovation policy mix: A closer look at state policies that augment the federal SBIR program

This paper examines nested, multilevel innovation policies paying particular attention to U.S. federal and state small business innovation research programs. With 45 states offering a range of SBIR Outreach and SBIR Match programs specifically designed to enhance the federal SBIR program, such programs provide a useful lens for examining the nature of the multilevel innovation policy mix. The contributions of this article are twofold. First, the article provides theoretical motivation for multilevel innovation policy responses placing emphasis on positive policy responses in which state policies enhance federal policies. Second, the article provides an empirical analysis examining the multilevel factors associated with a state government response that augments the federal SBIR program. The results from this analysis indicate these state policy actions are associated with a confluence of multilevel factors driven not only from top to down federal actions, but also from bottom to up, internal state political and economic factors as well as from lateral pressures from peer states.
Toward a Quantum Leap in Sustainable Energy: High-Performance Sodium-Oxygen Battery with Abundant, Low-Cost, and Safe Ingredients.

To search for more sustainable and higher performance alternatives than lithium-ion batteries, we need to study new battery chemistry based on sodium.
Radiosurgery dose reduction for brain metastases on immunotherapy (RADREMI): Early results from a multicenter phase I trial.

2025Background: The rate of symptomatic radiation necrosis in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and concomitant single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is as h...
Review on Challenges and Advanced Research Areas in Internet of Things

In this paper, we try to feature the idea of the Internet of Things (IoT) when all is said in done, just as auditing the principal difficulties of the IoT climate by zeroing in on the ongoing exploration headings in this subject. As of late, IoT has risen as another innovation that is utilized for communicating an advanced remote media transmission organization, and it very well may be characterized as a wise and interoperability hub interconnected in a unique worldwide foundation organization. Additionally, it tries to actualize the availability idea of anything from anyplace at whenever.
Prediction and Analysis of Heart Disease Using Machine Learning

Heart disease is one of the most significant causes of global mortality since its intricacy and the rate of misdiagnosis have brought a great challenge to medical workers. As machine learning has shown robust efficacy in decision-making and predictions, it is essential to construct a machine learning model to assist with heart disease diagnosis. In this paper, a heart-disease dataset from Cleveland was analyzed and preprocessed including cleaning, one-hot encoding, and standardization, and preliminary findings of relevant features to heart disease were discovered, such as male. In the process of model training, six machine learning algorithms (Logistic Regression, K-nearest Neighbors, Adaboost, CART, Random Forest, XGBoost) were applied, and the Random Forest was determined to be the optimal model after hyperparameter tuning and cross-validation as it outperformed other models with superior scores of accuracy (0.848), f1 (0.829), PRC-AUC (0.909), and ROC-AUC (0.917). In addition, the most relevant features, including reversible defect of thallium stress test, high ST depression caused by exercise relative to rest, and asymptomatic chest pain, etc., were unearthed by plotting permutation feature importance and partial importance plots of the Random Forest classifier.
Psychosocial characteristics of patients evaluated for kidney transplant and associations with functional and frailty metrics at a veterans affairs hospital.

BACKGROUND The effect of psychosocial problems on listing outcomes and potential interactions with functional metrics is not well-characterized among Veteran transplant candidates. METHODS The results from psychosocial evaluations, frailty metrics, and biochemical markers were collected on 375 consecutive Veteran kidney transplant candidates. Psychosocial diagnoses were compared between patients listed or denied for transplant. Functional abilities were compared among patients with or without psychosocial diagnoses and then evaluated based on reason for denial. RESULTS Eighty-four percent of patients had a psychosocial diagnosis. Common issues included substance or alcohol abuse (62%), psychiatric diagnoses (50%), and poor adherence (25%). Patients with psychiatric diagnoses, cognitive impairments, and poor adherence were more likely to be denied for transplant (P < .05). Patients with depression, PTSD, and anxiety did not have worse functional ability, but experienced more exhaustion than patients without these problems. Patients denied for medical but not purely psychosocial reasons had worse troponin and functional metrics compared with listed patients. CONCLUSION Over 80% of patients with a psychosocial diagnosis were listed; however, poor adherence was a particularly important reason for denial for purely psychosocial reasons. Patients with psychosocial diagnoses generally were not more functionally limited than their counterparts without psychosocial diagnoses or those listed for transplant.
Tungsta and platinum-tungsta supported on zirconia catalysts for alkane isomerization

Tungsta- and platinum-tungsta supported on zirconia catalysts (WZ and PtWZ) were tested for isomerization of n-butane with hydrogen at 573 K. The catalysts' reduction kinetics and the chemical state of tungsten were studied by X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and conventional temperature-programmed (TPR) techniques. Platinum was found to catalyze the reduction of the support and the tungsta co-catalyst. An effective n-butane isomerization catalyst results from the combination of high-temperature calcination and low-temperature reduction. Pyridine adsorption, as monitored by diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), indicates that water of reduction generates Bronsted acid sites.
On Reconstruction and Segmentation of Piecewise Continous Images

We evaluate an image model for simultaneous reconstruction and segmentation of piecewise continuous images. The model assumes that the intensities of the piecewise continuous image are relatively constant within contiguous regions and that the intensity levels of these regions can be determined either empirically or theoretically before reconstruction. The assumptions might be valid, for example, in cardiac blood-pool imaging or in transmission tomography of the thorax for non-uniform attenuation correction of emission tomography. In the former imaging situation, the intensities or radionuclide activities within the regions of myocardium, blood-pool and background may be relatively constant and the three activity levels can be distinct. For the latter case, the attenuation coefficients of bone, lungs and soft tissues can be determined prior to reconstructing the attenuation map. The contiguous image regions are expected to be simultaneously segmented during image reconstruction. We tested the image model with experimental phantom studies. The phantom consisted of a plastic cylinder having an elliptical cross section and containing five contiguous regions. There were three distinct activity levels within the phantom. Projection data were acquired using a SPECT system. Reconstructions were performed using an iterative maximum a posteriori probability procedure. As expected, the reconstructed image consisted of contiguous regions and the acitivities within the regions were relatively constant. Compared with maximum likelihood and a Bayesian approach using a Gibbs prior, the results obtained using the image model demonstrated the improvement in identifying the contiguous regions and the associated activities.
Studies on the electron transport system: XI. Correlation of the morphology and enzymic properties of mitochondrial and sub-mitochondrial particles

Abstract The morphological changes which mitochondria and their derivative particles undergo during isolation from beef-heart muscle have been studied by electron microscopy. Mitochondria isolated from the tissue in a 0.25 M sucrose medium are grossly modified in structure. By virtue of these modifications they can readily give rise to smaller submitochondrial particles such as ETP and PETP. Morphologically intact mitochondria can be isolated from heart tissue which is comminuted in 0.88 M sucrose but only in relatively small yield. Such mitochondria do not give rise to ETP and PETP by the methods successfully applied to the mitochondria isolated in 0.25 M sucrose. The light mitochondrial fraction contains swollen mitochondria whose outer membrane shows a marked tendency to undergo vesiculation leading to the formation of the electron transport particle. Some or all of the cristae of these swollen mitochondria can be pinched off together with a part of the outer mitochondrial membrane to form new particles which, depending upon size, conform either to the particles of the heavy mitochondrial fraction (large particle) or to PETP (small particle). When the heavy mitochondrial fraction is exposed to sonic irradiation, a smaller particle is liberated which resembles ETP closely both morphologically and chemically. It differs primarily in the respect that bound cytochrome c is readily extractable whereas the bound cytochrome c of ETP is not.
Factorizations of two families of two-dimensional IIR paraunitary matrices

Paraunitary matrices play an important role in the design of perfect reconstruction filter banks. There are building blocks that generate the whole family of both FIR and IIR one-dimensional paraunitary matrices over the complex field. Because of applications in digital signal and image processing, there has been an attempt to generalize the factorization methods to the two-dimensional case. However, no general building block that covers all two-dimensional IIR paraunitary matrices has been found yet. In this paper, we present a factorization for two families of such matrices.
Perceived Stress Levels, Chemotherapy, Radiation Treatment and Tumor Characteristics Are Associated with a Persistent Increased Frequency of Somatic Chromosomal Instability in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: A One Year Longitudinal Study

While advances in therapeutic approaches have resulted in improved survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer, subsets of these survivors develop persistent psychoneurological symptoms (fatigue, depression/anxiety, cognitive dysfunction) that compromise their quality of life. The biological basis for these persistent symptoms is unclear, but could reflect the acquisition of soma-wide chromosomal instability following the multiple biological/psychological exposures associated with the diagnosis/treatment of breast cancer. An essential first step toward testing this hypothesis is to determine if these cancer-related exposures are indeed associated with somatic chromosomal instability frequencies. Towards this end, we longitudinally studied 71 women (ages 23-71) with early-stage breast cancer and quantified their somatic chromosomal instability levels using a cytokinesis-blocked micronuclear/cytome assay at 4 timepoints: before chemotherapy (baseline); four weeks after chemotherapy initiation; six months after chemotherapy (at which time some women received radiotherapy); and one year following chemotherapy initiation. Overall, a significant change in instability frequencies was observed over time, with this change differing based on whether the women received radiotherapy (p=0.0052). Also, significantly higher instability values were observed one year after treatment initiation compared to baseline for the women who received: sequential taxotere/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (p<0.001) or taxotere/cyclophosphamide (p=0.014). Significant predictive associations for acquired micronuclear/cytome abnormality frequencies were also observed for race (p=0.0052), tumor type [luminal B tumors] (p=0.0053), and perceived stress levels (p=0.0129). The impact of perceived stress on micronuclear/cytome frequencies was detected across all visits, with the highest levels of stress being reported at baseline (p =0.0024). These findings suggest that the cancer-related exposome has an impact on both healthy somatic cells and tumor cells, and may lead to persistent chromosomal instability. In addition, stress was a significant predictor of chromosomal instability; thus, interventions that aim to reduce stress may reduce acquired soma-wide chromosomal instability for cancer survivors.
Inferring Pairwise Interactions from Biological Data Using Maximum-Entropy Probability Models

Maximum entropy-based inference methods have been successfully used to infer direct interactions from biological datasets such as gene expression data or sequence ensembles. Here, we review undirected pairwise maximum-entropy probability models in two categories of data types, those with continuous and categorical random variables. As a concrete example, we present recently developed inference methods from the field of protein contact prediction and show that a basic set of assumptions leads to similar solution strategies for inferring the model parameters in both variable types. These parameters reflect interactive couplings between observables, which can be used to predict global properties of the biological system. Such methods are applicable to the important problems of protein 3-D structure prediction and association of gene–gene networks, and they enable potential applications to the analysis of gene alteration patterns and to protein design.
Averages over classical compact Lie groups and Weyl characters

We compute $E_G (\prod_i \tr(g^{\lambda_i}))$, where $G=Sp(2n)$ or $SO(m) (m=2n, 2n+1)$ with Haar measure. This was first obtained by Persi Diaconis and Mehrdad Shahshahani, but our proof is more self-contained and gives a combinatorial description for the answer. We also consider how averages of general symmetric functions $E_G f_n$ are affected when we introduce a Weyl character $\chi^G_\lambda$ into the integrand. We show that the value of $E_G \chi^G_\lambda f_n / E_G f_n$ approaches a constant for large $n$. More surprisingly, the ratio we obtain only changes with $f_n$ and $\lambda$ and is independent of the Cartan type of $G$. Even in the unitary case, Daniel Bump and Persi Diaconis have obtained the same ratio. Finally, those ratios can be combined with asymptotics for $E_G f_n$ due to Kurt Johansson and provide asymptotics for $E_G \chi^G_\lambda f_n$.
Dynamic bandwidth management in single-hop ad hoc wireless networks

Distributed weighted fair scheduling schemes for Quality of Service (QoS) support in wireless local area networks have not yet become standard. Therefore, we propose an Admission Control and Dynamic Bandwidth Management scheme that provides fairness and a soft rate guarantee in the absence of distributed MAC-layer weighted fair scheduling. This scheme is especially suitable for smart- rooms where peer-to-peer multimedia transmissions need to adapt their transmission rates co-operatively. We present a mapping scheme to translate the bandwidth requirements of an application into its channel time requirements. The center piece of our scheme is a Bandwidth Manager, which allots each flow a share of the channel, depending on the flow's requirements relative to the requirements of other flows in the network. Admitted flows control their transmission rates so they only occupy the channel for the fraction of time allotted to them. Thus co-operation between flows is achieved and the channel time is fair shared. As the available channel capacity changes and the traffic characteristics of various flows change, the Bandwidth Manager dynamically re-allocates the channel access time to the individual flows. Our simulation experiments show that, at a very low cost and with high probability, every admitted flow in the network will receive at least its minimum requested share of the network bandwidth. We also present extensive testbed experiments with our scheme using a real-time audio streaming application running between Linux laptops equipped with standard IEEE 802.11 network cards.
Time-inconsistent preferences and social security: Revisited in continuous time

Abstract Imrohoroglu et al. (2003) prove that it is impossible in a three period partial equilibrium model for social security to improve the welfare of a naive quasi-hyperbolic agent if the program has a negative net present value. This paper first generalizes their impossibility theorem to a continuous time setting and then proves analytically that no discount function exists that can rationalize a social security program with a negative net present value.
Hospital selective contracting without consumer choice: what can we learn from Medi-Cal?

In the selective contracting era, consumer choice has generally been absent in most state Medicaid programs, including California's (called Medi-Cal). In a setting where beneficiary exit is not a threat, a large payer may have both the incentives and the ability to exercise undue market power, potentially exposing an already vulnerable population to further harm. The analyses presented here of Medi-Cal contracting data, however, do not yield compelling evidence in favor of the undue market power hypothesis. Instead, hospital competition appears to explain with greater consistency why certain hospitals choose to contract with Medi-Cal while others do not, the trends in inpatient prices paid by Medi-Cal over time, and the effect of price competition on service cutbacks, such as emergency room closures. © 2003 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Quantitative Analysis of Microtubule Transport in Growing Nerve Processes

In neurons, tubulin is synthesized primarily in the cell body, whereas the molecular machinery for neurite extension and elaboration of microtubule (MT) array is localized to the growth cone region. This unique functional and biochemical compartmentalization of neuronal cells requires transport mechanisms for the delivery of newly synthesized tubulin and other cytoplasmic components from the cell body to the growing axon. According to the polymer transport model, tubulin is transported along the axon as a polymer. Because the majority of axonal MTs are stationary at any given moment, it has been assumed that only a small fraction of MTs translocates along the axon by saltatory movement reminiscent of the fast axonal transport. Such intermittent "stop and go" MT transport has been difficult to detect or to exclude by using direct video microscopy methods. In this study, we measured the translocation of MT plus ends in the axonal shaft by expressing GFP-EB1 in Xenopus embryo neurons in culture. Formal quantitative analysis of MT assembly/disassembly indicated that none of the MTs in the axonal shaft were rapidly transported. Our results suggest that transport of axonal MTs is not required for delivery of newly synthesized tubulin to the growing nerve processes.
Magnetic force microscopy/current contrast imaging: a new technique for internal current probing of ICs

Abstract This invited paper describes recently reported work on the application of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) to image currents in IC conductors [1]. A computer model for MFM imaging of IC currents and experimental results demonstrating the ability to determine current direction and magnitude with a resolution of ∽ 1 mA dc and ∽ 1 μA ac are presented. The physics of MFM signal generation and applications to current imaging and measurement are described.
Morphological Reconstruction and Ordering in Films of Sphere-Forming Block Copolymers on Striped Chemically Patterned Surfaces

The morphology of thin films of sphere-forming block copolymers on striped chemically patterned surfaces was investigated as a function of thickness and commensurability of the pattern period (L s ) and the lattice spacing of the spherical structure (L o ), using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In all cases, a linear wetting layer forms on the chemical pattern. As the film thickness increases from 10 to 25 nm, protuberances in the wetting layer appear. In 57 nm thick films, when L s and L o are sufficiently commensurate, the protuberances in the knurled, linear wetting domain and the spheres in the overlying layer of P(S-b-MMA) coordinate during equilibration, resulting in an ordered hexagonal array of partial spherical domains. The range of commensurability over which such an ordered hexagonal structure is achieved decreases when the film thickness is increased to 70 nm. In general, the process leads to a pattern transformation from a series of parallel lines at the substrate surface to an ordered, hexagonal array of spots at the free surface of the film as the block copolymer starts to reconstruct its bulk morphology away from the chemically patterned surface.
Effect of solvent on the magnetic properties of the high-temperature V [ TCNE ] x molecule-based magnet

The different magnetic behaviors of the ${\mathrm{V}[\mathrm{TCNE}]}_{x}$ $(\mathrm{T}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{E}=\mathrm{t}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{y}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{y}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{e})$ magnet prepared via the reaction of TCNE and ${\mathrm{V}(\mathrm{CO})}_{6}$ in ${\mathrm{CH}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ and the solvent-free chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of TCNE and ${\mathrm{V}(\mathrm{CO})}_{6}$ onto a glass substrate were determined. It was shown that the presence of noncoordinating ${\mathrm{CH}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ solvent molecules in the structure of the ${\mathrm{V}[\mathrm{TCNE}]}_{x}$ magnet does not substantially influence the magnetic ordering temperature; however, it creates additional structural disorder. This results in a correlated spin-glass behavior in low magnetic fields $(Hl100\mathrm{Oe})$ at helium temperatures, small remanence, and vanishing coercive fields at room temperature. In contrast, the CVD-prepared film has increased structural order. Quantitatively, the degree of disorder was analyzed in the framework of the random magnetic anisotropy model.
Polarization in the structures of uracil and thiouracils: Implication for binding with orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase.

Abstract The structures of the uracil and thiouracils were examined using NMR spectroscopy and crystal structure data when available. The relationships between the extent of polarization and the C5–C6 bond length as well as the H5–H6 coupling constants were probed. It was found that the bond length and coupling constants correlate well with the proton affinities at the carbonyl or thiocarbonyl groups at C4 but not C2. The possible implication in the tighter binding of thiouracil based nucleotides to orotidine-5 ′ -monophosphate decarboxylase was discussed.
Ab Initio Stochastic Optimization of Conformational and Many-Body Degrees of Freedom

Moderate to large size molecules in solution have complex energy surfaces due to intramolecular (conformational) and intermolecular (many-body) interactions. The first principles Monte Carlo (FPMC) method, previously shown to effectively locate minimum-energy structures for systems with only many-body complexity, has been extended to address conformational flexibility by adding three new Monte Carlo move types. The primary advantage of the FPMC method is the ability to efficiently locate minimum energy structures of molecules with conformational flexibility in the presence of explicit solvent molecules using highly accurate quantum chemical calculations. The additions to FPMC were validated by studying conformers of glycerol, glyceraldehyde, and a large humic acid monomer unit. The structure of glyceraldehyde in the presence of one and two water molecules was also explored to demonstrate the power of FPMC to study systems with both conformational and many-body degrees of freedom.
Low-Energy Proton Production by 160-Mev Protons

Energy and angular distributions of emitted protons in the energy range 5 to 23 Mev from lead, tantalum, tin, and zinc when bombarded by 160-Mev protons were obtained. A peak was obtained in each of the energy distributions slightly below the Coulomb barrier of each element. The magnitude of the peaks increased with a decrease in thc Coulomb barrier of the element. The angular dependence of the heights of the peaks for all of the elements was approximately isotropic. The angular distributions of the emitted protons with energies above the Coulomb barrier increased in the forward direction. (auth)