bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel Assay to Detect RNA Polymerase I Activity In Vivo
Authors: Guner Gunes , Sirajuddin Paul , Zheng Qizhi , Bai Baoyan , Brodie Alexandra , Liu Hester , af Hällström Taija , Kulac Ibrahim , Laiho Marikki , De Marzo Angelo M. 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
This report develops an analytically validated chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) assay using branched DNA signal amplification (RNAscope) for detecting the expression of the 5′ external transcribed spacer (ETS) of the 45S ribosomal (r) RNA precursor in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tissues. 5′ETS/45S CISH was performed on standard clinical specimens and tissue microarrays (TMA) from untreated prostate carcinomas, high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and matched benign prostatic tissues. Signals were quantified using image analysis software. The 5′ETS rRNA signal was restricted to the nucleolus. The signal was markedly attenuated in cell lines and in prostate tissue slices after pharmacologic inhibition of RNA polymerase I (Pol I) using BMH-21 or actinomycin D, and by RNAi depletion of Pol I, demonstrating validity as a measure of Pol I activity. Clinical human prostate FFPE tissue sections and TMAs showed a marked increase in the signal in the presumptive precursor lesion (high-grade PIN) and invasive adenocarcinoma lesions (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively) compared with non-neoplastic luminal epithelium. The increase in 5′ETS rRNA signal was present throughout all Gleason scores and pathologic stages at radical prostatectomy, with no marked difference among these. This precursor rRNA assay has potential utility for detection of increased rRNA production in various tumor types and as a novel companion diagnostic for clinical trials involving Pol I inhibition.
Implications: Increased rRNA production, a possible therapeutic target for multiple cancers, can be detected with a new, validated assay that also serves as a pharmacodynamic marker for Pol I inhibitors. Mol Cancer Res; 15(5); 577–84. ©2017 AACR.
A Transcriptional Program for Detecting TGFβ-Induced EMT in Cancer
Authors: Foroutan Momeneh , Cursons Joseph , Hediyeh-Zadeh Soroor , Thompson Erik W. , Davis Melissa J. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractMost cancer deaths are due to metastasis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a central role in driving cancer cell metastasis. EMT is induced by different stimuli, leading to different signaling patterns and therapeutic responses. TGFβ is one of the best-studied drivers of EMT, and many drugs are available to target this signaling pathway. A comprehensive bioinformatics approach was employed to derive a signature for TGFβ-induced EMT which can be used to score TGFβ-driven EMT in cells and clinical specimens. Considering this signature in pan-cancer cell and tumor datasets, a number of cell lines (including basal B breast cancer and cancers of the central nervous system) show evidence for TGFβ-driven EMT and carry a low mutational burden across the TGFβ signaling pathway. Furthermore, significant variation is observed in the response of high scoring cell lines to some common cancer drugs. Finally, this signature was applied to pan-cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to identify tumor types with evidence of TGFβ-induced EMT. Tumor types with high scores showed significantly lower survival rates than those with low scores and also carry a lower mutational burden in the TGFβ pathway. The current transcriptomic signature demonstrates reproducible results across independent cell line and cancer datasets and identifies samples with strong mesenchymal phenotypes likely to be driven by TGFβ.Implications: The TGFβ-induced EMT signature may be useful to identify patients with mesenchymal-like tumors who could benefit from targeted therapeutics to inhibit promesenchymal TGFβ signaling and disrupt the metastatic cascade. Mol Cancer Res; 15(5); 619–31. ©2017 AACR.
The Effects of Total Harmonics Distortion for Power Factor Correction at Non-Linear Load
Authors: Rani R. A. , Saat Shakir , Yusop Yusmarnita , Husin Huzaimah , Abdul Rahman F. K. , Isa A. A. 
Published: January 2017

This paper presents the effect of total harmonic distortion (THD) in power factor correction (PFC) at non-linear load. This study focuses on the relationship between THD and PFC. This is beacuse,the power factor affects THD. This occurs in power system as we have variety of loads, i. e linear load or non-linear load. The variety of loads will influence the sinusoidal waveform, which comes out from harmonic distortion. Thus, based on this study, we can compare the effective method in improving the power factor as it will not disturb the performance of THD. The focus of study is on the single phase load, where the voltage restriction is 240 V. The analysis will only focus on the consumer, which depends on the variety of non-linear load. Besides, the parameters for analysis are based on the percentage of THD and the value of power factor. The instrument for measuring the parameter is based on power factor correction device or technique. On the other hand, the method that was used for this study is based on simulation which incorporated the Multisim software. At the end of ths study, we can choose the most effective method that can be used to improve the power factor correction without disturbing the THD.
Impact of an Expanded Hospital Recognition Program for Stroke Quality of Care
Authors: Heidenreich Paul A. , Zhao Xin , Hernandez Adrian F. , Schwamm Lee H. , Smith Eric , Reeves Mat , Peterson Eric D. , Fonarow Gregg C. 
Published: January 2017

Background

In 2009, the Get With The Guidelines‐Stroke (
GWTG
‐Stroke) program offered additional recognition if hospitals performed well on certain stroke quality measures. We sought to determine whether quality of care for all hospitals participating in
GWTG
‐Stroke improved with this expanded recognition program.

Methods and Results

We examined hospital‐level performance on 6 quality of care (process) measures and 1 defect‐free composite quality measure for stroke following expansion of the existing performance measure recognition program. Compliance with all measures improved following launch of the expanded program, and this rate increased significantly for all 9 measures. When evaluated as the relative rate of increase in use over time, process improvement slowed significantly (
P
<0.05) following launch of the program for 2 measures, and accelerated significantly for 1 measure. However, when evaluated as a gap in care, the decrease in the quality gap was greater following launch of the program for 5 of 6 (83%) measures. There was no evidence that other processes of stroke care suffered as the result of the increase in measures and expanded recognition program.

Conclusions
While care for stroke continues to improve in this country, expanded hospital process performance recognition had mixed results in accelerating this improvement. However, the quality gap continues to shrink among those participating in provider performance programs.
Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness Score, Positive Coronary Artery Calcium Score, and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Polak Joseph F. , Szklo Moyses , O'Leary Daniel H. 
Published: January 2017

Background

Common carotid artery and internal carotid artery intima‐media thicknesses (
IMT
) are associated with coronary heart disease (
CHD
) and increase with age. Using age, sex, and race/ethnicity
IMT
percentiles may improve
CHD
prediction when added to Framingham risk factors and coronary artery calcium score. We study these possibilities in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a multi‐ethnic cohort of whites, Chinese, blacks, and Hispanics.

Methods and Results

IMT
data were acquired in the age range 45 to 84 years. Common carotid artery and internal carotid artery
IMT
, sex, and race/ethnic specific normative values were calculated for each
MESA
participant and combined as an
IMT
score. Multivariable Cox‐proportional hazards models and logistic regression models were generated with
CHD
as outcome adding the
IMT
score to (1) a base model with Framingham risk factors, sex, race/ethnicity and (2) the base model with coronary artery calcium added. Harrell's C‐statistics and area under the curve were estimated. Median follow‐up was 10.2 years (interquartile range: 9.7, 10.7 years) with 429 first‐time
CHD
events. Mean age was 62.1 years and 52.6% of participants were women.
IMT
score increased the base area under the curve from 0.7210 to 0.7396 (
P
=0.0008) and with positive coronary artery calcium score added to the model, from 0.7627 to 0.7714 (
P
=0.02).

Conclusions

A carotid
IMT
score based on normative data incrementally adds to Framingham risk factors and a positive calcium score in predicting first‐time
CHD
in an ethnically diverse cohort.
Winter Precipitation Liquid–Ice Phase Transitions Revealed with Polarimetric Radar and 2DVD Observations in Central Oklahoma
Authors: Bukovčić Petar , Zrnić Dušan , Zhang Guifu 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObservations and analysis of an ice–liquid phase precipitation event, collected with an S-band polarimetric KOUN radar and a two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) in central Oklahoma on 20 January 2007, are presented. Using the disdrometer measurements, precipitation is classified either as ice pellets or rain/freezing rain. The disdrometer observations showed fast-falling and slow-falling particles of similar size. The vast majority (>99%) were fast falling with observed velocities close to those of raindrops with similar sizes. In contrast to the smaller particles (<1 mm in diameter), bigger ice pellets (>1.5 mm) were relatively easy to distinguish because their shapes differ from the raindrops. The ice pellets were challenging to detect by looking at conventional polarimetric radar data because of the localized and patchy nature of the ice phase and their occurrence close to the ground. Previously published findings referred to cases in which ice pellet areas were centered on the radar location and showed a ringlike structure of enhanced differential reflectivity ZDR and reduced copolar correlation coefficient ρhv and horizontal reflectivity ZH in PPI images. In this study, a new, unconventional way of looking at polarimetric radar data is introduced: slanted vertical profiles (SVPs) at low (0°–1°) radar elevations. From the analysis of the localized and patchy structures using SVPs, the polarimetric refreezing signature, reflected in local enhancement in ZDR and reduction in ZH and ρhv, became much more evident. Model simulations of sequential drop freezing using Marshall–Palmer DSDs along with the observations suggest that preferential freezing of small drops may be responsible for the refreezing polarimetric signature, as suggested in previous studies.
An Interactive Computer-Based Training System for Electrical Engineering Education
Authors: Li Xin , Pudlowski Zenon J. 
Published: January 2017

An interactive computer-based training system for electrical engineering education A computer learning network including an interactive computer-based training system (ICBTS) for electrical engineering has been developed. This article discusses the integration of instruction design, courseware delivery and students' performance analysis into one flexible system through computer-based learning. It considers the design and development of ICBTS, which is suitable for engineering students at university level.
Static and High Strain Rate Response of a Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic
Authors: Peterson Brenda L. , Pangborn Robert N. , Pantano Carlo G. 
Published: January 2017

The mechanical response of an impact-modified, discontinuous fiber reinforced styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA) polymer has been characterized at static and high strain rates and under both dry and wet test conditions. Five different material configurations were tested, including unreinforced S/MA as a reference material and composites incorporating fiber reinforcement with different average diameters, the presence or absence of an interfacial silane coupling agent, and fibers prepared with an acrylonitrile/butadiene latex coating. The ultimate tensile strengths, strains to failure, fracture energies, and effective moduli for each of the materials were evaluated as a function of strain rate, which was varied between 1.67 × 10−3 and 6.0 mm/mm·s. The results of the tests performed on the unreinforced S/MA revealed a 60% increase in the ultimate strength and marked reductions of 80% and 50% in the strain to failure and fracture energy, respectively, with increasing strain rate. While all of the composites exhibited on the order of twice the strength, 2.5 times the stiffness, and less than a tenth of the strain to failure compared to the unreinforced S/MA, the dependence of these properties on the strain rate was much weaker. Significantly, the work of fracture more than doubled with the strain rate for all the composite configurations tested due to the comparatively small reduction in fracture ductility of about 25%. All of the materials showed some degradation in the mechanical properties when tested wet, a result that was particularly evident for the composites having no silane coupling agent which suffered about a 15% loss in strength and stiffness. A simple rule of mixtures calculation revealed that as the rate of testing was increased, more efficient reinforcement by the fibers was realized. Fractographic observations using a scanning electron microscope, viewed in conjunction with the experimental results, indicated that fiber debonding during composite deformation was limited by the inhibition of viscoelastic flow in the matrix material at high strain rates.
Risk Factors for Delay in Age-Appropriate Vaccination
Authors: Dombkowski Kevin J. , Lantz Paula M. , Freed Gary L. 
Published: January 2017

Objective. To estimate the risk factors of children experiencing delay in age-appropriate vaccination using a nationally representative population of children, and to compare risk factors for vaccination delay with those based on up-to-date vaccination status models. Methods. The authors compared predictors of delay in age-appropriate vaccination with those for children who were not up-to-date, using a nationally representative sample of children from five years of pooled data (1992–1996) from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Immunization Supplement. Duration of delay was calculated for the DTP4, Polio3, MMR1 doses and 4:3:1 series using age-appropriate vaccination standards; up-to-date status (i.e., whether or not a dose was received) was also determined. Adjusted odds ratios were estimated using multivariate logistic regression for models of vaccination delay and up-to-date vaccination status. Results. Absence of a two-parent household, large family size, parental education, Medicaid enrollment, absence of a usual provider, no insurance coverage, and households without a telephone were significantly related to increased odds of a child experiencing vaccination delay ( p≤0.05). Conclusions. Many of the risk factors observed in models of vaccination delay were not found to be significant in risk models based upon up-to-date status. Consequently, risk models of delays in age-appropriate vaccination may foster identification of children at increased risk for inadequate vaccination. Populations at increased risk of inadequate vaccination can be more clearly identified through risk models of delays in age-appropriate vaccination.
Age and Race Impact the Association between BMI and CVD Mortality in Women
Authors: Abell Jill E. , Egan Brent M. , Wilson Peter W.F. , Lipsitz Stuart , Woolson Robert F. , Lackland Daniel T. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. In previous studies, we have shown that obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in white women but not in black women. Earlier research suggests that body mass index (BMI) has a greater effect on CVD mortality in younger white females than older white females, whereas this relationship in black women is not as clear. This study examines the effect of age on the association of BMI to CVD in black and white women. Methods. The Black Pooling Project includes data on 2,843 black women with 50,464 person-years of follow-up, and 12,739 white women with 214,606 person-years of follow-up. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association between BMI and CVD mortality for specific age/race groups. The younger group was <60 years of age and the older group was >60 years of age. Results. In younger white women, the relative risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) for CVD mortality was significant in obese women (BMI >30 kg/m2) vs. women of normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) (1.59 [CI 1.20, 2.09]). Similarly, in older white women, the relative risk for CVD mortality in obese women vs. women of normal weight was significant (1.21 [CI 1.04, 1.41]). There were no such associations for black women. Overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2) was not associated with increased risk in black or white women. Conclusion. These findings indicate that obesity is associated with a significantly greater risk of CVD mortality among white women, with the strongest association among white women <60 years of age.
Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program Patients and Infectious Diseases Treated in Emergency Departments: U.S., 2003
Authors: Adekoya Nelson 
Published: January 2017

Objective. Emergency departments (EDs) are a critical source of medical care in the U.S. Information is sparse concerning infectious disease visits among Medicaid entitlement enrollees nationwide. The objective of this study was to describe infectious diseases in terms of Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an expected source of payment. Methods. Data for 2003 from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) were analyzed for infectious disease visits. NHAMCS is a national probability sample survey of visits to hospital EDs and outpatient departments of nonfederal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the U.S. Data are collected annually and are weighted to generate national estimates. Results. Nationally in 2003, an estimated 21.6 million visits were made to hospital EDs for infectious diseases (rate = 76 visits/1,000 people). Medicaid/SCHIP was the expected source of payment for an estimated 6.7 million infectious disease-related visits (rate = 200 visits/1,000 people covered by Medicaid). Children aged <15 years made 39% of visits nationwide (nationwide rate = 139 visits/1,000 people). Of Medicaid visits, 63% were made by children <15 years of age (Medicaid enrollees rate = 255 visits/1,000 people). The rate of visits for Medicaid enrollees was comparable for females and males (198 visits vs. 201/1,000 people). The rate of visits for black Medicaid enrollees was 33% higher than for white Medicaid enrollees (255 vs. 192 visits/1,000 people). Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is the most frequent infectious condition recorded at ED visits. An estimated 47% of ED visits with an expected pay source of Medicaid relate to URTIs (93 visits/1,000 people), compared with 38% of ED visits in general (29 visits/1,000 people). Conclusion. Medicaid enrollee-specific ED visit rates for infectious diseases were higher by age group, gender, race, and region, compared with national rates. Because approximately half of visits relate to URTIs for a Medicaid payment group, URTIs should form the basis for development of appropriate control strategies.
Scope of Rapid HIV Testing in Urban U.S. Hospitals
Authors: Bogart Laura M. , Howerton Devery , Lange James , Becker Kirsten , Setodji Claude Messan , Asch Steven M. 
Published: January 2017

Objective. The present study examined the scope of rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in urban U.S. hospitals. Methods. In a multistage national probability sample, 12 primary metropolitan statistical areas (three per region) were sampled randomly, with weights proportionate to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) populations. All 671 eligible hospitals within areas were selected. Laboratory staff from 584 hospitals (87%) were interviewed by telephone in 2005. Results. About 52% reported rapid HIV test availability (50% in occupational health, 29% in labor and delivery, and 13% in emergency department/urgent care), and 86% of hospitals offering rapid tests processed them in the laboratory. In multivariate models, rapid test availability was more likely in hospitals serving more patients, and located in high-poverty, high-AIDS prevalence areas, and in the South or Midwest vs. West. It was less likely in hospitals serving areas with large percentages of people who were black/African American or Hispanic/Latino ( p<0.05). Conclusions. Rapid HIV testing is increasing across urban U.S. hospitals, primarily for occupational exposure and in hospitals with greater resources and need. To achieve routine HIV screening, policies should encourage greater breadth of diffusion of rapid testing at the point of care, especially in smaller facilities, the West, and communities with racial/ethnic diversity.
Socioeconomic Status and Risk of Diabetes-Related Mortality in the U.S.
Authors: Saydah Sharon , Lochner Kimberly 
Published: January 2017

Objective. We examined disparities in diabetes-related mortality for socioeconomic status (SES) groups in nationally representative U.S. samples. Methods. We analyzed National Health Interview Survey respondents linked to their death records and included those eligible for mortality follow-up who were aged 25 years and older at the time of interview and not missing information on covariates ( n=5527,426). We measured SES by education and family income. There were 5,613 diabetes-related deaths. Results. Having less than a high school education was associated with a twofold higher mortality from diabetes, after controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, and body mass index, compared with adults with a college degree or higher education level (relative hazard [RH] = 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78, 2.35). Having a family income below poverty level was associated with a twofold higher mortality after adjustments compared with adults with the highest family incomes (RH=2.41, 95% CI 2.05, 2.84). Approximately one-quarter of the excess risk among those in the lowest SES categories was explained by adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion. Findings from this nationally representative cohort demonstrate a socioeconomic gradient in diabetes-related mortality, with both education and income being important determinants of the risk of death.