Unequal Error Protection Querying Policies for the Noisy 20 Questions Problem

In this paper, we propose an open-loop unequal-error-protection querying policy based on superposition coding for the noisy 20 questions problem. In this problem, a player wishes to successively refine an estimate of the value of a continuous random variable by posing binary queries and receiving noisy responses. When the queries are designed non-adaptively as a single block and the noisy responses are modeled as the output of a binary symmetric channel the 20 questions problem can be mapped to an equivalent problem of channel coding with unequal error protection (UEP). A new non-adaptive querying strategy based on UEP superposition coding is introduced whose estimation error decreases with an exponential rate of convergence that is significantly better than that of the UEP repetition coding introduced by Variani et al. (2015). With the proposed querying strategy, the rate of exponential decrease in the number of queries matches the rate of a closed-loop adaptive scheme where queries are sequentially designed with the benefit of feedback. Furthermore, the achievable error exponent is significantly better than that of random block codes employing equal error protection.Comment: To appear in IEEE Transactions on Information Theor

Cigarette smoking and food insecurity among low-income families in the United States, 2001

The goal of this research is to quantify the association between food insecurity and smoking among low-income families. This analysis is a retrospective study using data from the 2001 Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a longitudinal study of a representative sample of U.S. men, women, and children and the family units in which they reside. Family income is linked with U.S. poverty thresholds to identify 2,099 families living near or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Food insecurity (that is, having insufficient funds to purchase enough food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle) is calculated from the eighteen core items in the food security module of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The results indicate that smoking prevalence is higher among low-income families who are food insecure compared to low-income families who are food secure (43.6 percent versus 31.9 percent). Multivariate analysis reveals that smoking is associated with an increase in food insecurity of approximately 6 percentage points. Given our finding that families near the federal poverty level spend a large share of their income on cigarettes, perhaps it would be prudent for food assistance and tobacco control programs to work together to help low-income people quit smoking.

Multi-port Beam Combination and Cleanup in Large Multimode Fiber Using Stimulated Raman Scattering

We demonstrated the successful combination and cleanup of four laser beams via stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) using a multi-port fiber combiner and a large multimode fiber. Multiple Stokes orders were observed in the output, but loss at longer wavelengths reduced the transmission of the higher Stokes orders and limited the SRS conversion efficiency. SRS beam cleanup was also investigated using a single laser beam. The output beam had a measured M 2 better than 2 for fiber lengths from 400–1400 meters

Differential responsiveness of MET inhibition in non-small-cell lung cancer with altered CBL.

Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (CBL) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a molecule of adaptor that we have shown is important for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated if MET is a target of CBL and if enhanced in CBL-altered NSCLC. We showed that CBL wildtype cells have lower MET expression than CBL mutant cells. Ubiquitination of MET was also decreased in CBL mutant cells compared to wildtype cells. Mutant cells were also more sensitive to MET inhibitor SU11274 than wild-type cells. sh-RNA-mediated knockdown of CBL enhanced cell motility and colony formation in NSCLC cells, and these activities were inhibited by SU11274. Assessment of the phospho-kinome showed decreased phosphorylation of pathways involving MET, paxillin, EPHA2, and VEGFR. When CBL was knocked down in the mutant cell line H1975 (erlotinib-resistant), it became sensitive to MET inhibition. Our findings suggest that CBL status is a potential positive indicator for MET-targeted therapeutics in NSCLC

EPHA2 mutations with oncogenic characteristics in squamous cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are thoracic malignancies with very poor prognosis and limited treatment options. It is an established fact that most of the solid tumors have overexpression of EPHA2 receptor tyrosine kinase. EPHA2 is known to exhibit opposing roles towards cancer progression. It functions in inhibiting cancer survival and migration via a ligand and tyrosine kinase dependent signaling (Y772). Whereas it is known to promote tumor progression and cell migration through a ligand-independent signaling (S897). We analyzed the expression profile and mutational status of the ephrin receptor A2 (EPHA2) in SCC and MPM cell lines and primary patient specimens. The EPHA2 receptor was found to be either overexpressed, mutated or amplified in SCC and MPM. In particular, the EPHA2 mutants A859D and T647M were interesting to explore, A859D Y772 dead mutant exhibited lower levels of phosphorylation at Y772 compared to T647M mutant. Molecular Dynamics simulations studies suggested that differential changes in conformation might form the structural basis for differences in the level of EPHA2 activation. Consequently, A859D mutant cells exhibited increased proliferation as well as cell migration compared to controls and T647M mutant. Kinomics analysis demonstrated that the STAT3 and PDGF pathways were upregulated whereas signaling through CBL was suppressed. Considered together, the present work has uncovered the oncogenic characteristics of EPHA2 mutations in SSC and MPM reinstating the dynamics of different roles of EPHA2 in cancer. This study also suggests that a combination of doxazosin and other EPHA2 inhibitors directed to inhibit the pertinent signaling components may be a novel therapeutic strategy for MPM and Non-small cell lung cancer patients who have either EPHA2 or CBL alterations

Asthma and Risk of Non-Respiratory Tract Infection: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVES: Asthmatics have increased risks of airway-related infections. Little is known about whether this is true for non-airway-related serious infections such as Escherichia coli bloodstream infection (BSI). We assessed whether asthma is associated with a risk of developing community-acquired E coli BSI. DESIGN: The study was designed as a population-based retrospective case-control study. SETTING: This population-based study was conducted in Olmsted County, Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 259 all eligible community-acquired E coli BSI cases in Olmsted County, MN between 1998 and 2007 and 259 birthday-matched, gender-matched and residency-matched controls. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Only community-acquired E coli BSI cases as the primary outcome was included. Asthma status as an exposure was ascertained by predetermined criteria. An adjusted OR and 95% CI for the association between asthma and risk of community-acquired E coli BSI was calculated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 259 eligible cases, 179 (69%) were women and mean age was 61±22 years. Of the 259 cases 37 (14%) and 16 (6%) of 259 controls had a prior history of asthma (adjusted OR 2.74; 95% CI 1.11 to 6.76; p=0.029). The population attributable risk of asthma for community-acquired E coli BSI was 9%. Although not statistically significant, there was a borderline association between having a history of food allergy and increased risk of community-acquired E coli BSI (6% vs 2%; adjusted OR 3.51; 95% CI 0.94 to 13.11; p=0.062). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of the current population-based, case-control investigation, a history of asthma may be associated with risk of community-acquired E coli BSI. The impact of asthma on risk of microbial infections may go beyond airways

CMB polarimetry with BICEP: instrument characterization, calibration, and performance

BICEP is a ground-based millimeter-wave bolometric array designed to target the primordial gravity wave signature on the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) at degree angular scales. Currently in its third year of operation at the South Pole, BICEP is measuring the CMB polarization with unprecedented sensitivity at 100 and 150 GHz in the cleanest available 2% of the sky, as well as deriving independent constraints on the diffuse polarized foregrounds with select observations on and off the Galactic plane. Instrument calibrations are discussed in the context of rigorous control of systematic errors, and the performance during the first two years of the experiment is reviewed.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, updated version of a paper accepted for Millimeter and Submillimeter Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, Proceedings of SPIE, 7020, 200

The Determining Risk of Vascular Events by Apnea Monitoring (DREAM) Study: Design, Rationale and Methods

Purpose The goal of the Determining Risk of Vascular Events by Apnea Monitoring (DREAM) study is to develop a prognostic model for cardiovascular outcomes, based on physiologic variables—related to breathing, sleep architecture, and oxygenation—measured during polysomnography in US veterans. Methods The DREAM study is a multi-site, retrospective observational cohort study conducted at three Veterans Affairs (VA) centers (West Haven, CT; Indianapolis, IN; Cleveland, OH). Veterans undergoing polysomnography between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004 were included based on referral for evaluation of sleep-disordered breathing, documented history and physical prior to sleep testing, and ≥2-h sleep monitoring. Demographic, anthropomorphic, medical, medication, and social history factors were recorded. Measures to determine sleep apnea, sleep architecture, and oxygenation were recorded from polysomnography. VA Patient Treatment File, VA–Medicare Data, Vista Computerized Patient Record System, and VA Vital Status File were reviewed on dates subsequent to polysomnography, ranging from 0.06 to 8.8 years (5.5 ± 1.3 years; mean ± SD). Results The study population includes 1840 predominantly male, middle-aged veterans. As designed, the main primary outcome is the composite endpoint of acute coronary syndrome, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or death. Secondary outcomes include incidents of neoplasm, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Laboratory outcomes include measures of glycemic control, cholesterol, and kidney function. (Actual results are pending.) Conclusions This manuscript provides the rationale for the inclusion of veterans in a study to determine the association between physiologic sleep measures and cardiovascular outcomes and specifically the development of a corresponding outcome-based prognostic model

Comprehensive Genetic Testing Identifies Targetable Genomic Alterations in Most Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Specifically Adenocarcinoma, Single Institute Investigation

This study reviews extensive genetic analysis in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in order to: describe how targetable mutation genes interrelate with the genes identified as variants of unknown significance; assess the percentage of patients with a potentially targetable genetic alterations; evaluate the percentage of patients who had concurrent alterations, previously considered to be mutually exclusive; and characterize the molecular subset of KRAS. Thoracic Oncology Research Program Databases at the University of Chicago provided patient demographics, pathology, and results of genetic testing. 364 patients including 289 adenocarcinoma underwent genotype testing by various platforms such as FoundationOne, Caris Molecular Intelligence, and Response Genetics Inc. For the entire adenocarcinoma cohort, 25% of patients were African Americans; 90% of KRAS mutations were detected in smokers, including current and former smokers; 46% of EGFR and 61% of ALK alterations were detected in never smokers. 99.4% of patients, whose samples were analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS), had genetic alterations identified with an average of 10.8 alterations/tumor throughout different tumor subtypes. However, mutations were not mutually exclusive. NGS in this study identified potentially targetable genetic alterations in the majority of patients tested, detected concurrent alterations and provided information on variants of unknown significance at this time but potentially targetable in the future