cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exact performance of STAP algorithms with mismatched steering and clutter statistics

Adaptive algorithms for receivers employing antenna arrays have received significant attention for radar systems applications. In the majority of these algorithms, the covariance matrix for the clutter-plus-noise is characterized by using samples taken from range cells surrounding the test cell. If the underlying covariance matrix of the test cell is different from the average covariance matrix of the surrounding range cells, significant performance degradation may result. Exact expressions for performance are derived for such cases, when any of a set of popular space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms are used. Numerical evaluation of these expressions illustrates how variations in the parameters of these equations affect probability of detection and probability of false alarm. The equations are utilized to determine an upper bound an the performance of this class of STAP algorithms.
Quantitative case-studies in musical composition: the development of creativity in popular-songwriting teams

In the present study, we examined the development of expertise in the careers of three collaborative songwriting teams, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and George and Ira Gershwin. The primary goal of the study was to extend to collaborative songwriting teams the results of previous research (Hass & Weisberg, 2009), which examined the career development of two seminal composers of American popular music, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, who wrote both music and lyrics. A quantitative case-study methodology was employed here, using the proportion of hit songs per year within collaborators’ active careers as a measure of aesthetic significance (hit ratio). Regression analysis revealed significant positive hit-ratio trends over the careers of the Rodgers—Hart team, and the Gershwin team. In contrast, the Rodgers—Hammerstein team began at a high level of success and exhibited no significant hit-ratio trends. That team began their collaboration when both members were mature professionals, with years o...
Effects of 17β-Estradiol on Serum Hormone Concentrations and Estrous Cycle in Female Crl:CD BR Rats: Effects on Parental and First Generation Rats

increased and P4 concentrations were decreased at a dietary concentration of 2.5 ppm 170-estradiol, while serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and PRL were similar to the control. Dietary administration of 17/J-estradiol at concentrations of 2.5 (both generations) and 10 and 50 ppm (P, generation only) produced marked effects on the estrous cycle: decreased number of cycles, increased mean cycle length, and decreased number of normally cycling rats. The estrous cyclicity of rats fed 2.5 ppm 170-estradiol appeared more severely affected in rats of the Fj generation than in rats of the P, generation. Whether this increase in severity is related to an in utero exposure and/or greater mean daily intake of 17/3-estradio l in the F, generation rats in the postnatal period is unclear. Another goal of this study was to evaluate whether a single time point sampling strategy using cycling female rats could be used to detect compound-related changes in serum hormone concentrations. In evaluating a sampling strategy for measuring serum hormone levels, it appears that detection of compound-related alterations in serum hormone concentrations can be best detected by sampling during diestrus. Since the stage of the cycle dramatically influences hormone concentrations, large sample sizes (n = 50) are needed if serum hormone measurements are not matched with the stage of the cycle. The data indicate that this strategy of measuring serum hormone concentrations has utility in detecting compoundrelated effects within the confines of a traditional guideline study (subchronic, chronic, or multigenerati onal reproduction study). C 1998 Sodtty of Toxicology.
Land, ethnic, and gender change: Transnational migration and its effects on Guatemalan lives and landscapes

Migration to the United States of America from Guatemala effects many aspects of Guatemalan life. We document, through extensive ethnographic fieldwork, how migrants and their remittances effect gender relations, ethnicity, land use, and land distribu- tion. Our evidence is drawn from research in four communities. San Pedro Pinula and Gualan represent communities of eastern Guatemala. San Cristobal Totonicapan is an Indigenous town in Guatemalas western highlands, and San Lucas is a lowland fron- tier community in the Guatemalan department of Ixcan, which borders Chiapas, Mexico. Our results reveal that migrants and their remittances, both social and tangible, result in significant changes in land use and land distribution in Ixcan. Migrant money permits the conversion of rainforest into cattle pasture and also results in the accumulation of land in the hands of migrants. In terms of land use, we see in San Pedro Pinula that migrant money also allows the Pokoman Maya to make small entries into the Ladino (non- indigenous) dominated cattle business. In San Pedro Pinula, the migration and return of Maya residents also permits them to slowly challenge ethnic roles that have developed over the last five centuries. When we look at how migration effects gender roles in Gualan and San Cristobal we also note that migration and social remittances permit a gradual challenge and erosion of traditional gender roles in Guatemala. We point out, however, that migration-related changes to traditional gender and ethnic roles is gradual because migrants, despite their increased earnings and awareness, run into a social structure that resists rapid change. This is not the case when we examine land transformations in Ixcan. Here, migrants encounter few barriers when they attempt to put their new money and ideas to work. Despite the advantages that migration brings to many families, especially in the face of a faltering national econ- omy and state inactivity regarding national development, we conclude that migration and remittances do not result in community or nation-wide development. At this stage migrant remittances are used for personal advancement and very little money and effort is invested in works that benefit communities or neighborhoods. We call for continued studies of the effects of international migration on Guatemalan hometowns that build on our initial studies to better understand the longer-term ramifications of migration in a country where no community is without migrants. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Laparoscopic grasper with an integrated tactile feedback system

Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery offers advantages over open procedures, such as improved recovery time, decreased trauma, and decreased hospital expenses. One drawback to laparoscopic surgery is that tactile feedback provided to the hands of the surgeon is attenuated. Additional tactile feedback may allow surgeons to better control grip force and better identify tissue characteristics, potentially decreasing the learning curve associated with laparoscopic surgery. A tactile feedback system has been developed and integrated into a modified laparoscopic grasper, allowing the forces applied at the grasper tips to be felt by the surgeon's hands. Piezoresistive sensors transmit force data to a microcontroller, which then controls a solenoid valve-based pneumatic system. Feedback is provided using silicone-based balloon actuators, which inflate to apply pressure to the surgeon's hand. The actuators are flush with the handles, such that they do not hinder movements during surgical task performance. Preliminary tests have shown successful operation of the system with latency less than 50 ms, high actuation pressures (15 PSI), and high perceptual accuracy of the balloon-based stimuli (≫ 90%).
Crizotinib Induces PUMA-Dependent Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cells

Oncogenic alterations in MET or ALK have been identified in a variety of human cancers. Crizotinib (PF02341066) is a dual MET and ALK inhibitor and approved for the treatment of a subset of non-small-cell lung carcinoma; and in clinical development for other malignancies. Crizotinib can induce apoptosis in cancer cells while the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we found that crizotinib induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells through the BH3-only protein PUMA. In cells with wild-type p53, crizotinib induces rapid induction of PUMA and Bim accompanied by p53 stabilization and DNA damage response. The induction of PUMA and Bim is mediated largely by p53, and deficiency in PUMA or p53, but not Bim, blocks crizotinib-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, MET knockdown led to selective induction of PUMA, but not Bim or p53. Crizotinib also induced PUMA-dependent apoptosis in p53-deficient colon cancer cells, and synergized with gefitinib or sorafenib to induce marked apoptosis via PUMA in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, PUMA deficiency suppressed apoptosis and therapeutic responses to crizotinib in xenograft models. These results establish a critical role of PUMA in mediating apoptotic responses of colon cancer cells to crizotinib, and suggest that mechanisms of oncogenic addiction to MET/ALK-mediated survival might be cell-type specific. These findings have important implications for future clinical development of crizotinib.
Theory of fatigue crack growth based on a BCS crack theory with work hardening

Our theory of fatigue crack growth, which is based on the Bilby, Cottrell, and Swinden crack theory, is modified to take into account work hardening at fatigue crack tips. In this analysis stress rather than cumulative displacement or cumulative damage is the quantity whose critical value controls the crack growth. The material at the tip of a fatigue crack progressively work hardens until the stress there reaches a critical value. The material then tears apart and the crack advances until it reaches a region in which the stress is smaller than the critical value. An equation which describes the growth of fatigue cracks is derived; it is essentially the same as the crack growth equation found in the earlier analysis. The major change is the replacement of the yield stress term in the older equation with an ultimate stress term in the newer equation. The chief change is the substitution for the average yield stress in the older equation with the ultimate stress in the present equation.
Pneumatosis intestinalis after pediatric thoracic organ transplantation.

Objective. To review and describe pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in children who have undergone thoracic organ transplantation and evaluate potential risk factors. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed abdominal radiographs obtained from June 1992 through September 2000 in all pediatric (age Results. Over this 8-year period, PI occurred in 8 (7%) of 116 patients (0.86% annual risk). No child had >1 diagnosed episode of PI. Of these 8 cases, 7 presented with 1 or more abdominal symptoms. Three of these children had rotavirus antigen isolated in their stool, 2 others were noted to have stool positive for Clostridium difficile toxin, and in the other 3, no pathogen was identified. All cases were treated with a regimen of intravenous antibiotics and total parenteral nutrition. There were no deaths; however, 1 patient developed an Aspergillus pulmonary infection during his course of antibiotic therapy, and another underwent an exploratory laparotomy without bowel resection. Significant risk factors included black race (unadjusted odds ratio: 16), younger age at presentation (age 0.5 mg/kg/d; unadjusted odds ratio: 7), and a higher tacrolimus level at presentation (tacrolimus level >1; unadjusted odds ratio: 6). PI did not occur with a steroid dose Conclusions. Significant risk factors for the development of PI in our pediatric thoracic organ transplantation population included black race, younger age, higher daily steroid dosing, and a high tacrolimus level at presentation. In the children diagnosed with PI, there were no related deaths, significant gastrointestinal sequelae, or complications. These findings suggest that in this population, PI will often have a benign course when treated aggressively, and that steroid dosing should be reduced to
Regulated Expression of ATF5 Is Required for the Progression of Neural Progenitor Cells to Neurons

An important milestone in brain development is the transition of neuroprogenitor cells to postmitotic neurons. We report that the bZIP transcription factor ATF5 plays a major regulatory role in this process. In developing brain ATF5 expression is high within ventricular zones containing neural stem and progenitor cells and is undetectable in postmitotic neurons. In attached clonal neurosphere cultures ATF5 is expressed by neural stem/progenitor cells and is undetectable in tau-positive neurons. In PC12 cell cultures nerve growth factor (NGF) dramatically downregulates endogenous ATF5 protein and transcripts, whereas exogenous ATF5 suppresses NGF-promoted neurite outgrowth. Such inhibition requires the repression of CRE sites. In contrast, loss of function conferred by dominant-negative ATF5 accelerates NGF-promoted neuritogenesis. Exogenous ATF5 also suppresses, and dominant-negative ATF5 and a small-interfering RNA targeted to ATF5 promote, neurogenesis by cultured nestin-positive telencephalic cells. These findings indicate that ATF5 blocks the differentiation of neuroprogenitor cells into neurons and must be downregulated to permit this process to occur.
Artifact suppression in imaging of myocardial infarction using B1-weighted phased-array combined phase-sensitive inversion recovery†

Regions of the body with long T1, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), may create ghost artifacts on gadolinium-hyperenhanced images of myocardial infarction when inversion recovery (IR) sequences are used with a segmented acquisition. Oscillations in the transient approach to steady state for regions with long T1 may cause ghosts, with the number of ghosts being equal to the number of segments. B1-weighted phased-array combining provides an inherent degree of ghost artifact suppression because the ghost artifact is weighted less than the desired signal intensity by the coil sensitivity profiles. Example images are shown that illustrate the suppression of CSF ghost artifacts by the use of B1-weighted phased-array combining of multiple receiver coils.
Effectiveness of routine ultrasonographic surveillance of patients with low-risk papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Background Over the last 15 years, there has been a change in clinical practice for the detection of recurrence in all patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). In the past, recurrence was detected by clinical examination supplemented with fine-needle aspiration cytology; however, routine neck ultrasonography (US) and measurements of serum thyroglobulin were introduced for follow-up in 2000 and are now used widely for recurrence surveillance. The aim of this study was to describe the effectiveness of this changing trend in the use of routine surveillance ultrasonography for the detection of recurrence in low-risk PTC at a single institution. Methods Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for PTC between January 2000 and December 2010 were identified from an institutional database. Of these, 752 (43.1%) were categorized as low risk by the risk stratification of the American Thyroid Association and included for analysis. The number of US examinations per patient per year of follow-up was then determined. The number of recurrences and deaths from disease was recorded similarly. Results The median age was 48 years (range, 16–83) and the median follow-up was 34 months (range, 1–148). Between 2003 and 2012, the number of US examinations per patient-year of follow-up increased by 5.3-fold. Over the same time period, 3 structural recurrences (clinically evident neck masses or nodes) were detected with no disease-related deaths. Conclusion At our institution, the annual rate of neck US examination increased by 5.3-fold per low-risk PTC patients between 2003 and 2012. Despite this increase, only 3 structural recurrences were detected. The routine use of neck US for surveillance of low-risk PTC patients requires review.
Mathematical Knowledge Management

This virtual presentation shares technology, techniques, and a more demanding use of the mathematical register to promote a better understanding of mathematics within a teacher preparation program. Knowledge of mathematics managed under these higher expectations should inevitably promote more creative and productive thinking that will extend to the elementary, middle and high school classrooms. Experts in knowledge and knowledge management are reminding us of the need to produce more curious, inventive, and productive math/science instruction to satisfy the technological needs of the twenty-first century. This presentation will share examples of how this is already being done at a university teacher-preparation program.
A Cognitive Perspective on Mathematics: Issues of Perception, Instruction, and Assessment

In this paper, concerns systemic to educational theory and practice are discussed in relation to the current state of mathematics education research and mathematics instruction. These concerns are synthesized into three general issues addressing the perception of the discipline, the nature of schooling, and measurement models and assessment practices. Potential solutions to these issues are offered.
Carcinoembryonic antigen and L-fucose in malignant and benign mammary disease.

A prospective study of 123 patients was undertaken to determine whether carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or Lfucose could be used as “tumor markers” to distinguish patients who had mammary cancer (41) from patients who had benign mammary disease (41) and patients who did not have mammary cancer (41). The predictive value of positive test results for both L-fucose and CEA was lower for patients who smoked than for those who did not. The sensitivities of CEA and L-fucose indicators are both below 55%. There were frequent false-positive and false-negative results. A substantial overlap in the levels of CEA and L-fucose was found for the patients who had mammary cancer and those who had benign mammary disease. CEA and L-fucose performed similarly in distinguishing cancer from benign disease. For patients who smoked, however, the predictive value of L-fucose was only 44%. The effect of smoking on L-fucose levels may account for discrepancies in L-fucose data reported in previous studies of mammary cancer. Neither CEA nor L-fucose were found to be of value in screening for mammary cancer.
Gas Flow Rate and Temperature Dependence of the Kinetics of Difluoromethane Clathrate Hydrate Formation from CF2H2 Gas and Ice Particles

The effects of temperature and gas flow rate on the formation kinetics of difluoromethane clathrate hydrate from CF2H2 gas and <38 μm diameter ice particles were investigated. The early stage of the reaction exhibits a negative correlation with temperature that is characterized by an activation energy of −7.2 ± 0.7 kJ/mol(H2O) for the 6 mmol/h flow rate and −6.7 ± 1.5 kJ/mol(H2O) for 19 mmol/h. We surmise that the origin of the negative activation energy involves the existence of an unstable structure or gas adsorption to the ice surface. Although the effect of flow rate on the observed activation energy is modest, other aspects of the kinetics are more dramatically affected. Initially, the reaction is faster for the higher flow rate simply because more gas is available for the reaction. However, the reaction stalls for a lower percent yield for the faster flow rate. We postulate that the fast flow rate creates more uniform hydrate formation over the ice surface, resulting in the onset of stage III kineti...
Computational Modeling of Micrometastatic Breast Cancer Radiation Dose Response

Purpose Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) involves giving radiation to the entire brain with the goals of reducing the incidence of brain metastasis and improving overall survival. Experimentally, we have demonstrated that PCI prevents brain metastases in a breast cancer mouse model. We developed a computational model to expand on and aid in the interpretation of our experimental results. Methods and Materials MATLAB was used to develop a computational model of brain metastasis and PCI in mice. Model input parameters were optimized such that the model output would match the experimental number of metastases per mouse from the unirradiated group. An independent in vivo–limiting dilution experiment was performed to validate the model. The effect of whole brain irradiation at different measurement points after tumor cells were injected was evaluated in terms of the incidence, number of metastases, and tumor burden and was then compared with the corresponding experimental data. Results In the optimized model, the correlation between the number of metastases per mouse and the experimental fits was >95. Our attempt to validate the model with a limiting dilution assay produced 99.9% correlation with respect to the incidence of metastases. The model accurately predicted the effect of whole-brain irradiation given 3 weeks after cell injection but substantially underestimated its effect when delivered 5 days after cell injection. The model further demonstrated that delaying whole-brain irradiation until the development of gross disease introduces a dose threshold that must be reached before a reduction in incidence can be realized. Conclusions Our computational model of mouse brain metastasis and PCI correlated strongly with our experiments with unirradiated mice. The results further suggest that early treatment of subclinical disease is more effective than irradiating established disease.
The Status Quo and Tendency of Drug Traffic through Computer Networks and the Precautions

The emergence and rapid development of the computer networks have brought conveniences for drug traffic.The analysis of the present situation and the developing tendency of drug traffic through computer network,and the combination of technology,law and morality,can help perfect the corresponding measures to effectively prevent the crime.
Exploring Similarities Across High-Dimensional Datasets

Very often, related data may be collected by a number of sources, which may be unable to share their entire datasets for reasons like confidentiality agreements, dataset size, etc. However, these sources may be willing to share a condensed model of their datasets. If some substructure of the condensed models of such datasets, from different sources are found to be unusually similar, policies successfully applied to one may be successfully applied to the others. In this paper, we propose a framework for constructing condensed models of datasets and algorithms to find similar substructure in these models. The algorithms are based on the tensor product and Gibbs sampling. We test our framework on synthetic datasets and compare our algorithms with an existing one. Finally, we apply it to two time-course microarray datasets of different dimensionality. The results are statistically, more interesting than results obtained from independent analysis of the datasets.
Generic Aging Management Programs for License Renewal of PWR Reactor Coolant System Components

The paper reviews the existing aging management programs (AMPs) for the reactor coolant system (RCS) components in pressurized water reactors (PWRs), including the reactor pressure vessel and internals, the reactor coolant system and connected lines, pressurizer, reactor coolant pumps, valves, and steam generators. These programs have been evaluated in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) report Generic Aging Lessons Learned (GALL), NUREG-1801, for their use in the license renewal process. These AMPs include both generic and plant-specific programs. The generic AMPs are acceptable for managing aging effects during an extended period of operation and do not require further evaluation; the plant-specific AMPs require further evaluation. The use of the GALL report should facilitate both preparation of a license renewal application and timely and uniform review by the NRC staff.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
All Incontinence is Not Created Equal: Impact of Urinary and Fecal Incontinence on Quality of Life in Adults with Spina Bifida

Purpose: We previously reported that the self-reported amount of urinary incontinence is the main predictor of lower health related quality of life in adults with spina bifida. In this study we sought to determine the impact of fecal incontinence on health related quality of life after correcting for urinary incontinence.Materials and Methods: An international sample of adults with spina bifida was surveyed online in 2013 to 2014. We evaluated fecal incontinence in the last 4 weeks using clean intervals (less than 1 day, 1 to 6 days, 1 week or longer, or no fecal incontinence), amount (a lot, medium, a little or none), number of protective undergarments worn daily and similar variables for urinary incontinence. Validated instruments were used, including QUALAS-A (Quality of Life Assessment in Spina bifida for Adults) for spina bifida specific health related quality of life and the generic WHOQOL-BREF (WHO Quality of Life, short form). Linear regression was used (all outcomes 0 to 100).Results: Mean age of...
Some Problems Related to Near-Rings of Mapping

In this paper we discuss three areas of research relative to near-rings of mappings and mention several open questions.
Eukaryotic Translesion DNA Synthesis on the Leading and Lagging Strands: Unique Detours around the Same Obstacle

During S-phase, minor DNA damage may be overcome by DNA damage tolerance (DDT) pathways that bypass such obstacles, postponing repair of the offending damage to complete the cell cycle and maintain cell survival. In translesion DNA synthesis (TLS), specialized DNA polymerases replicate the damaged DNA, allowing stringent DNA synthesis by a replicative polymerase to resume beyond the offending damage. Dysregulation of this DDT pathway in human cells leads to increased mutation rates that may contribute to the onset of cancer. Furthermore, TLS affords human cancer cells the ability to counteract chemotherapeutic agents that elicit cell death by damaging DNA in actively replicating cells. Currently, it is unclear how this critical pathway unfolds, in particular, where and when TLS occurs on each template strand. Given the semidiscontinuous nature of DNA replication, it is likely that TLS on the leading and lagging strand templates is unique for each strand. Since the discovery of DDT in the late 1960s, most ...
Terahertz emission from ultrafast spin and charge currents at a Rashba interface

We demonstrate the efficient single-cycle THz emission from a Rashba interface, i.e., Ag/Bi, in a spintronic heterostructure. Different from the previously reported inversed spin Hall effect mechanism in bulk systems, the observed ultrafast spin-to-charge conversion in a 2D Rashba interface is due to the inversed Rashba-Edelstein effect.
Wildlife Hunting in Eastern Mongolia: Economic and Demographic Factors Influencing Hunting Behavior of Herding Households

Much of Mongolia’s rangelands are under state control and managed via traditional land use practices and are habitat for numerous wildlife species harvested for their meat and fur. Political and economic transformations that have been occurring since the early 1990’s continues to affect all aspects of Mongolian society. To cope during periods of economic hardship, many turned to harvesting wildlife resources for income and subsistence and this resulted in precipitous declines of some populations, marmots for example. Interviews with herding households in Mongolia’s eastern steppe region were conducted to better determine how wildlife resources (Mongolian gazelle, Siberian marmot, red foxes, corsac foxes, and gray wolf) are utilized and valued by herding families. Hunting, carried out by 65% of interviewees, returned an average of $103±172 dollars per household. The number of individuals hunted of any particular species during the previous year ranged widely - 46% of households hunted an average of 8±9 Mongolian gazelles (the equivalent of a small cow), 31% hunted 5±5 corsac foxes, 29% hunted 42±47 marmots, 22% hunted 3±3 red foxes, and 17% hunted 3±2 gray wolves. Differences in mean annual income between hunting and non-hunting households were similar ($1,292±1,132 vs. $1,080±1,196) however the median difference was greater ($1,009 vs $749). However, non-hunting households owned significantly more livestock than hunting households (168±183 vs. 93±92 Livestock Units), and the proportion of hunting households living below the poverty line was higher. Households that were larger or had few numbers of livestock were more likely to engage in hunting than smaller households with more livestock. Household and livestock variables were also significant predictors of a households likelihood of hunting Mongolian gazelle, Siberian marmot, and corsac fox, but not for red fox or gray wolf. Wildlife management policies will likely receive greater acceptance and compliance if subsistence hunting needs were incorporated.
3.12 – MR Imaging of the Prostate

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid in the detection of prostate cancer and is useful for guiding targeted biopsy in patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels and negative ultrasound-guided biopsy results. In addition, MRI has been shown to contribute significant incremental value to clinical variables in the localization and staging of prostate cancer. By revealing the anatomical location of prostate tumors, MRI can provide a road map for surgery, radiation treatment, or focal therapy. Metabolic and functional imaging techniques such as MR spectroscopic imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced MRI can improve cancer localization while providing an indication of tumor aggressiveness. This chapter provides an overview of prostate MRI techniques.
Heel impact forces during barefoot versus minimally shod walking among Tarahumara subsistence farmers and urban Americans

Despite substantial recent interest in walking barefoot and in minimal footwear, little is known about potential differences in walking biomechanics when unshod versus minimally shod. To test the hypothesis that heel impact forces are similar during barefoot and minimally shod walking, we analysed ground reaction forces recorded in both conditions with a pedography platform among indigenous subsistence farmers, the Tarahumara of Mexico, who habitually wear minimal sandals, as well as among urban Americans wearing commercially available minimal sandals. Among both the Tarahumara ( n = 35) and Americans ( n = 30), impact peaks generated in sandals had significantly ( p
Evoked Potentials: Clinical

Evoked potentials (EPs) are neural responses time-locked to some stimulus. Used clinically and in research, EPs are objective physiological markers of clinically relevant abnormalities in sensory or motor systems. In this article, clinical applications of event-related potentials (P3 or P300) and visual, somatosensory, brain stem auditory, motor, and premotor EPs are discussed. The use of EPs for intraoperative neuromonitoring is also discussed. An overview of the methodology of clinical EP recording is provided, with a description of pathologic and nonpathologic factors that can significantly alter EPs.
Calculus and Algebra

The idea is to represent physics via algebra and use algebraic or discrete variations and extensions of techniques based on calculus to study the algebra and related geometry. This can be approached in many ways and we concentrate at first on some themes from Majid and collaborators (cf. in particular [61, 95, 96, 98, 99, 376, 456, 457, 458, 460, 462, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 523, 477, 544, 545, 547, 551, 546]).
Specification of Cell Fate in the Vertebrate Retina

The strategies and mechanisms that govern commitment and differentiation in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) remain largely unknown. The retina is an attractive part of the CNS in which to investigate these questions. It is made up of a small number of cell types organized into laminae; each major cell type has a relatively well-defined morphology and can be identified using antibodies. Progenitor cells in retinal explants divide and produce progeny that can commit and differentiate in vitro, in the absence of signals from other CNS locations. Studies of cell lineage, proliferation, and differentiation have begun to lend insight into the developmental mechanisms which bring about retinal cell specification.
Rules for Reasonable Belief Change

When probability is applied to events or propositions it depends upon a concept of necessity: Every necessary proposition has unit probability and a disjunction of pairwise necessarily incompatible propositions has as probability the sum of the probabilities of the disjuncts. Thus different concepts of necessity give different concepts of probability. Truth may be thought of as the limit of concepts of necessity; in this limit there is just one probability measure, that which assigns unity to every true proposition and zero to every false proposition.
Image Zooming Using Corner Matching

This work was intended to direct the choice of an image interpolation/zoom algorithm for use in UND's Open Prototype for Educational Nanosats (OPEN) satellite program. Whether intended for a space-borne platform or a balloon-borne platform, we expect to use a low cost camera (Raspberry Pi) and expect to have very limited bandwidth for image transmission. However, the technique developed could be used for any imaging application. The approach developed analyzes overlapping $3\times 3$ blocks of pixels looking for “L” patterns that suggest the center pixel should be changed such that a triangle pattern results. We compare this approach against different types of single-frame image interpolation algorithms, such as zero-order-hold (ZOH), bilinear, bicubic, and the directional cubic convolution interpolation (DCCI) approach. We use the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and mean squared error (MSE) as the primary means of comparison. In all but one of the test cases the proposed method resulted in a lower MSE and higher PSNR than the other methods. Meaning this method results in a more accurate image after zooming than the other methods.
Which Apps Have Privacy Policies

Smartphone app privacy policies are intended to describe smartphone apps’ data collection and use practices. However, not all apps have privacy policies. Without prominent privacy policies, it becomes more difficult for users, regulators, and privacy organizations to evaluate apps’ privacy practices. We answer the question: “Which apps have privacy policies?” by analyzing the metadata of over one million apps from the Google Play Store. Only about half of the apps we examined link to a policy from their Play Store pages. First, we conducted an exploratory data analysis of the relationship between app metadata features and whether apps link to privacy policies. Next, we trained a logistic regression model to predict the probability that individual apps will have policy links. Finally, by comparing three crawls of the Play Store, we observe an overall-increase in the percent of apps with links between September 2017 and May 2018 (from 41.7% to 51.8%).
Structure and Dynamics of Polysulfide Clusters in a Nonaqueous Solvent Mixture of 1,3-Dioxolane and 1,2-Dimethoxyethane

Molecular clustering and associated dynamic processes of lithium polysulfide species were unraveled using classical molecular dynamics and ab initio metadynamics calculations. The spectroscopic signatures of polysulfide clusters were analyzed using a multimodal analysis including experimental and computational nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Lithium polysulfide solutes (Li2S4, Li2S6, and Li2S8) and their mixtures in a 1,3-dioxolane and 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DOL/DME) solvent undergo aggregation driven by intramolecular lithium–sulfur (Li–S) interactions, leading to distributions of cluster sizes, which could critically influence the functioning of lithium–sulfur batteries. Representative polysulfide clusters with systematic increases in molecular size were extracted from the classical molecular dynamics trajectories for subsequent structural and spectroscopic property calculations using density functional theory analysis. Structural analysis of these clusters reveals pr...
Diverse glutamatergic inputs target spines expressing M1 muscarinic receptors in the basolateral amygdala: An ultrastructural analysis

Although it is known that acetylcholine acting through M1 muscarinic receptors (M1Rs) is essential for memory consolidation in the anterior basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLa), virtually nothing is known about the circuits involved. In the hippocampus M1R activation facilitates long-term potentiation (LTP) by potentiating NMDA glutamate receptor (NMDAR) currents. The majority of NMDAR+ profiles in the BLa are spines. Since about half of dendritic spines of BLa pyramidal neurons (PNs) receiving glutamatergic inputs are M1R-immunoreactive (M1R+) it is possible that the role of M1Rs in BLa mnemonic functions also involves potentiation of NMDAR currents in spines. However, the finding that only about half of BLa spines are M1R+ suggests that this proposed mechanism may only apply to a subset of glutamatergic inputs. As a first step in the identification of differential glutamatergic inputs to M1R+ spines in the BLa, the present electron microscopic study used antibodies to two different vesicular glutamate transporter proteins (VGluTs) to label two different subsets of glutamatergic inputs to M1R+ spines. These inputs are largely complimentary with VGluT1+ inputs arising mainly from cortical structures and the basolateral nucleus, and VGluT2+ inputs arising mainly from the thalamus. It was found that about one-half of the spines that were postsynaptic to VGluT1+ or VGluT2+ terminals were M1R+. In addition, a subset of the VGluT1+ or VGluT2+ axon terminals were M1R+, including those that synapsed with M1R+ spines. These results suggest that acetylcholine can modulate glutamatergic inputs to BLa spines by presynaptic as well as postsynaptic M1R-mediated mechanisms.
Gluon pseudo-distributions at short distances: Forward case

Abstract We present the results that are necessary in the ongoing lattice calculations of the gluon parton distribution functions (PDFs) within the pseudo-PDF approach. We give a classification of possible two-gluon correlator functions and identify those that contain the invariant amplitude determining the gluon PDF in the light-cone z 2 → 0 limit. One-loop calculations have been performed in the coordinate representation and in an explicitly gauge-invariant form. We made an effort to separate ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) sources of the ln ⁡ ( − z 2 ) -dependence at short distances z 2 . The UV terms cancel in the reduced Ioffe-time distribution (ITD), and we obtain the matching relation between the reduced ITD and the light-cone ITD. Using a kernel form, we get a direct connection between lattice data for the reduced ITD and the normalized gluon PDF. We also show that our results may be used for a rather straightforward calculation of the one-loop matching relations for quasi-PDFs.
Knowledge management in practice in academic libraries

Developments in higher education present disruptions in the normal operations of an academic library. Shrinking budgets, technological innovations, and changes in staffing each cause organizations ...
Underappreciated Bias Created by Measurement Error in Risk Factor Assessment—A Case Study of No Safe Level of Alcohol Consumption

This quality improvement study assesses the potential consequences of systematic underreporting of alcohol use on the observed results in a recent, well-publicized study.
Heterologous Antibody Responses Conferred by A(H3N2) Variant and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Against Newly Emerged 2016-2018 A(H3N2) Variant Viruses in Healthy Persons.

Background Swine origin A(H3N2) variant [A(H3N2)v] viruses continue to evolve and remain a public health threat. Recent outbreaks in humans in 2016-2018 were caused by a newly emerged A(H3N2)v cluster 2010.1, which are genetically and antigenically distinct from the previously predominant cluster IV. To address the public health risk, we evaluated the levels of heterologous cross-reactive antibodies to A(H3N2)v cluster 2010.1 viruses induced from an existing cluster IV A(H3N2)v vaccine and several seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) in adults, elderly individuals, and children. Methods Human vaccine sera and ferret antisera were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralization assays against representative A(H3N2)v viruses from clusters IV and 2010.1 and seasonal A(H3N2) viruses. Results Ferret antisera detected no or little cross-reactivity between the 2 A(H3N2)v clusters or between A(H3N2)v and seasonal A(H3N2) viruses. In humans, cluster IV A(H3N2)v vaccine induced antibodies cross-reactive to cluster 2010.1 viruses in approximately one-third of the 89 adult and elderly vaccinees. Seasonal IIVs did not induce seroprotective antibodies (≥40) to A(H3N2)v viruses in young children, but induced higher antibodies to A(H3N2)v viruses in cluster 2010.1 than those in cluster IV in adults. Conclusions Cluster IV A(H3N2)v vaccine did not provide sufficient heterologous antibody responses against the new 2010.1 cluster A(H3N2)v viruses. Seasonal IIV could not induce seroprotective antibodies to 2010.1 cluster A(H3N2)v viruses in young children, suggesting that young children are still at high risk to the newly emerged A(H3N2)v viruses. Continued surveillance on A(H3N2)v viruses is critical for risk assessment and pandemic preparedness.
Comparing Surgical Site Infection for Open and Endoscopic Component Separation

In March 2016, we reported the SSI rate at LSU Health for all abdominal wall hernia repairs performed between 2011 and 2013. Among the 263 repairs, the infection rate averaged 6.8 per cent. Given t...
Appropriate pneumoperitoneum pressure during laparoscopic surgery in infants and children at different ages

Objective To observe changes of cardiorespiratory function and blood gas analysis in different pneumoperitoneum pressure during age-specific pediatric laparoscopic surgery and to find a compatible pneumoperitoneum pressure for different age-specific children.Methods One hundred and fifty cases undergoing laparoscopic surgery were divided into three groups:A(1～3y),B(4～6y),C(7～12y).Each group was divided into two subgroups again by different pneumoperitoneum pressure:A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2.Monitoring the cardiorespiratory function and blood gas analysis in different time point before and after pneumoperitoneum.Results Compared with the baseline value,PETCO2,Paw,MAP,HR,PaCO2 significantly increased after peritoneal insufflation in each group.And the increase in A2,B2,C2 were more obvious than in A1,B1,C1 (P<0.05).The eligible pneumoperitoneum pressures for A,B,C were 9,11,13mm Hg respectively.Conclusion Using a compatible pneumoperitoneum pressure for different age-specific children can meet the requirement of operation and attenuate the interference with physiological function. Key words: Laparoscopy; Anesthesia,general; Pneumoperitoneum pressure; Child
Reduced Activation in the Pallidal-Thalamic-Motor Pathway Is Associated With Deficits in Reward-Modulated Inhibitory Control in Adults With a History of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms persist into adulthood and are associated with functional impairments. Neuroimaging studies of reward-modulated inhibitory control can identify potential objective markers of impairment and may deepen our understanding of why probands engage in costly behaviors leading to adverse outcomes. The study aimed to identify reward-modulated inhibitory control neural circuitries, their association with ADHD symptoms, and real-world implications of a decreased capacity to engage in reward-modulated inhibitory control. Methods A total of 106 adults (90% male) with rigorous childhood diagnoses of ADHD were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging during the Monetary Incentive Go/NoGo task. Adulthood symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity based on self- and informant report were assessed. The number of lifetime attempts taken to quit smoking were also assessed as an exemplar real-world outcome. Results Hyperactivity/impulsivity was negatively associated with activation in the pallidum and primary motor cortex when inhibiting a previously rewarded Go stimulus that yielded a small immediate reward in order to obtain a larger reward later on. Reduced recruitment of the pallidal-thalamic-motor circuit mediated the negative association between hyperactivity/impulsivity and reward-modulated inhibitory control accuracy. Reduced pallidum activation, in response to reward-modulated inhibitory control, was also associated with more attempts made to successfully quit smoking. Conclusions Probands with persistent hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms have alterations in brain regions that calculate the value of inhibiting an action that yields an immediate reward in order to obtain delayed larger rewards. This deficit results in poor inhibitory control on basic tasks and during real-world behaviors that rely on similar processes.
Structural determinants of calcium binding beyond the EF-hand binding site: A study of alpha parvalbumins

1Parvalbumin (PV) is a calcium binding protein expressed in humans, fish and avian species. In these organisms, the calcium (Ca2+) affinities of specific PV isoforms can vary by orders of magnitude. Despite the availability of high resolution structural data for many PV isoforms, the structural bases for how such proteins confer widely-varying divalent Ca2+ affinities and selectivities against common ions like magnesium (Mg2+) has been difficult to rationalize. We therefore conducted molecular simulations of several -pavalbumin (-parvalbumin (PV)) constructs with Ca2+ affinities in the micromolar to nanomolar ranges to identify properties of conformations that contribute to their wide-ranging binding constants and selectivities against Mg2+. Specifically, we examined a D94S/G98E construct with a reported lower Ca2+ affinity ({approx} -18.2 kcal/mol) relative to the WT ({approx} -22 kcal/mol), an S55D/E59D variant with enhanced affinity ({approx} -24 kcal/mol), and a truncated variant of PV with weak affinity ({approx} -12.6 kcal/mol). We performed molecular dynamics simulations of these constructs and assessed their Ca2+ and Mg2+ binding properties using scores from molecular mechanics generalized Born approximation (MM/GBSA), ion/oxygen coordination patterns and thermodynamics via mean spherical approximation (MSA) theory, as well as via metrics of protein structure and hydration. Our key findings are that although MM/GBSA and MSA scores successfully rank-ordered the variants according to their previously-published affinities and Mg2+ selectivity, importantly, properties of Ca2+ loops in CBPs such as coordination, and charge are alone insufficient to rationalize their binding properties. Rather, Ca2+ affinity and selectivity against Mg2+ are emergent properties stemming from both local effects within the proteins ion binding sites as well as non-local contributions from protein folding and solubility. Our findings broaden our understanding of the molecular bases governing PV ion binding that are likely shared by many Ca2+ binding proteins.