Empire State Development

Northern and Indigenous rural communities in the Yukon face unique food security challenges as a result of higher costs of living, fewer services, loss of traditional practices and remoteness. Food in Place will discuss some of these challenges drawing on a recent paper published by Dr. Sara McPhee-Knowles and David Gattensby as well as anecdotal evidence collected through community engagement sessions. The vulnerability of these communities also presents an opportunity for innovative food programming and community driven food systems change. This is demonstrated by the success of the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate’s Rural Nutrition Program in addressing food security while creating a culture around food and wellness. Other potential community-driven initiatives are explored such as the building of community wild meat processing facilities in rural communities that would reduce barriers to using wild meat in community food programs. We will also explore opportunities to increase innovation through targeted funding streams that will allow rural communities to step into their full potential as leaders in food systems change.

Abstract BackgroundOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. While resuscitation advancements have increased survival, many survivors suffer cognitive impairments that affect their quality of life. Most research has focussed on neurological outcomes, while little attention has been paid to cognitive function.AimTo investigate the proportion of cognitive impairment in OHCA survivors at discharge and six months after cardiac arrest and to investigate the association between the duration of cardiac arrest and level of cognitive function.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 184 OHCA survivors were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening tool. Duration of cardiac arrest was defined by no-flow, low-flow and time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Multiple logistic regression analysis provided odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe study indicates a significant improvement in cognitive function among OHCA survivors from discharge to the six-month follow-up. The proportion of patients with normal cognitive function increased from 26% to 67%, while the number of patients with severe and moderate cognitive impairment decreased. These results suggest a general enhancement in cognitive function over time. No significant association was found between the duration of cardiac arrest and cognitive function, either at discharge or follow-up.ConclusionsCognitive function improved considerably within six months following cardiac arrest, with the proportion of patients exhibiting normal cognitive function increasing from 26% to 67%. This study found no association between the duration of cardiac arrest and cognitive function.

In this article, we present AR3n (pronounced as Aaron), an assist-as-needed (AAN) controller that utilizes reinforcement learning (RL), to supply adaptive assistance during a robot-assisted handwriting rehabilitation task. Unlike previous AAN controllers, our method does not rely on patient-specific controller parameters or physical models. We propose the use of a virtual patient model to generalize AR3n across multiple subjects. The system modulates robotic assistance in real time based on a subject’s tracking errors while minimizing the amount of robotic assistance. The controller is experimentally validated through a set of simulations and human subject experiments. Finally, a comparative study with a traditional rule-based controller is conducted to analyze differences in the assistance mechanisms of the two controllers.

El crecimiento de la economía de la innovación en la ciudad de Nueva York es el resultado de una estrategia de desarrollo económico basado en el talento como promotor del crecimiento. Este trabajo presenta un caso de estudio sobre cómo iniciativas de construcción de ecosistemas innovadores, inversiones urbanas estratégicas y la política industrial promovieron el crecimiento del ecosistema tecnológico de la ciudad. Esto provee de un marco para la comprensión de la innovación urbana y la diversificación industrial.

ABSTRACT The Wafer Thickness Sensor (WTS) is an optical, non-destructive, sensor that directly measures the etch depth of vias, without regard to aspect ratio. The high throughput measurements of via depth after the etching of through silicon vias (TSV) will allow timely feedback for process control, process development, and the prevention of process excursions in 3D IC process technology. In this paper, we report the capabilities and limitations of the WTS for the measurement of TSV etched depth. Etch depth measurement results are presented for a variety of vias, including 1μm, 3μm, and 5μm diameter vias, vias with an aspect ratio of 28:1, and both isolated and densely packed vias. Results include accuracy and repeatability data, with a route towards providing a high volume manufacturing TSV etch metrology solution for 3D IC process technology.

Travel forecasters generally understand that an iterative solution of the sequential travel forecasting procedure is required to bring specific model inputs and outputs into consistent agreement. In particular, the congested interzonal travel time inputs to the trip distribution and mode choice steps should equal the user-equilibrium travel times obtained from the assignment step. The process of achieving consistency is called solving the sequential procedure with feedback. The Capital District Transportation Committee of Albany, New York, maintains a travel forecasting model with 1,000 traffic analysis zones. This model was used to evaluate feedback procedures for three applications drawn from its planning activities. Three alternative feedback solution procedures were applied to the model: (a) naïve or direct feedback (no averaging of trip matrices or link flows), (b) averaging of trip matrices with constant weights, and (c) the method of successive averages (MSA) applied to trip matrices. The convergence of the feedback procedures was measured by comparing the results as follows: total misplaced flow (trip matrices), relative gap (route-based user-equilibrium traffic assignments), and root squared error (travel cost matrices). The test results showed that (a) averaging of trip matrices by using constant weights converges to a single, stable solution with consistent travel costs; (b) a single pair of weights is most effective for all three applications; (c) neither naïve feedback nor MSA is as effective as use of constant weights; and (d) the relative gaps of the traffic assignment reach values of less than 10-7. Tests with different models and software systems are needed to generalize the findings.

Ultrasound reports describe carotid plaque as being located within the bulb or bifurcation. These terms are used interchangeably; however they refer to two distinct regions. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of a bulbous region within the common (CCA), internal (ICA) or external (ECA) carotid arteries by using ultrasound. Ultrasound images were examined from 100 carotid systems from 53 males and 47 females ranging in age from 17–88 years (mean age 65 ± 15 years). An outward dilation, consistent with the expected appearance of a carotid bulb, was observed in the ICA in 49 patients. Nineteen patients had a bulb in both the ECA and ICA. In 10 patients, a bulb was present within both the ICA and CCA. In 5 patients, the CCA, ICA and ECA all contained bulbous regions. A bulb was present only within the CCA in five patients and only within the ECA in three patients. No bulb was present in nine patients. These data reveal that a bulbous region occurs in multiple segments. Defining plaque as being present within the carotid bulb is ambiguous since this applies to more than one vessel. Based on these findings, it is more appropriate to define plaque by using terms such as proximal, mid or distal. Carotid bifurcation refers to a specific anatomic region and would be acceptable as defining the location of disease. However, given carotid bulb variability, the term “carotid bulb” should be removed from common use within carotid duplex interpretations.

As part of the Census Bureau's effort to prove the operational feasibility of the American Community Survey (ACS), the Bureau contracted with local ex- perts to conduct comparative analyses of the 1999-2001 ACS estimates with the 2000 Census data for various test counties. One of the goals of the ACS is to replace the decennial census long form. The resulting research papers analyzed various quality measures (response rates, allocation rates, and so on), conceptual differences in the two instruments, and statistical reliability in an effort to add to our assessment of the ACS as an adequate replacement instrument for collecting long form data. This paper discusses the results of these four research efforts and presents conclusions and recommendations for further Census Bureau action and research. The quality of traditional long form data, the importance of accurate population estimates and an accurate Master Address File (MAF), and continued research on the quality of small area data are discussed.