cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity and specificity of NMP-22, telomerase, and BTA in the detection of human bladder cancer.

Abstract Objectives. The recent introduction of novel molecular markers into clinical urology has created a need to evaluate the efficacy and utility of these potential markers. The ideal assay for bladder cancer should be noninvasive, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective. We compared the Matritech nuclear maxtrix protein (NMP)-22 assay, telomerase activity, and the Bard bladder tumor antigen (BTA) assay for the detection of human bladder cancer. Methods. A single voided urine sample was obtained from patients with hematuria without bladder cancer and from patients with known bladder cancer before any treatment. Approximately 50 to 100 mL of voided urine sample was collected and aliquoted for the various assays. The results were compared to single cytologic results and ultimately to pathologic findings. Results. In 47 patients with bladder cancer, the overall sensitivity was 81% for NMP-22, 80% for telomerase, 40% for BTA, and 40% for cytology. For Ta tumors (n = 31), sensitivity was 81% for NMP-22, 70% for telomerase, 32% for BTA, and 26% for cytology. For T1 or higher stage tumors (n = 13), sensitivity was 82% for NMP-22, 91% for telomerase, 64% for BTA, and 64% for cytology. The remaining 3 patients had carcinoma in situ (CIS). When tumors were stratified by tumor grade, grade I tumors (n = 16) were detected at 69% with NMP-22, 65% with telomerase, 13% with BTA, and 6% with cytology. Grade II tumors (n = 14) were detected at 86% with NMP-22, 72% with telomerase, 36% with BTA, and 36% with cytology. Grade III tumors (n = 14) were detected at 93% with NMP-22, 93% with telomerase, 79% with BTA, and 79% with cytology. Patients with CIS (n = 3) were detected at 67% with NMP-22, 100% with telomerase, 33% with BTA, and 67% with cytology. In 30 patients with hematuria but without bladder cancer, the overall specificity of the assays was 77% for NMP-22, 80% for telomerase, 73% for BTA, and 94% for cytology. Conclusions. In the population tested, NMP-22 and the telomerase assays gave similar sensitivity and specificity for the detection of bladder cancer, and appear to offer a greater sensitivity than the BTA assay and/or conventional cytology.
Provider counseling, health education, and community health workers: the Arizona WISEWOMAN project.

Background: The Arizona Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) project used provider counseling, health education, and community health workers (CHWs) to target chronic disease risk factors in uninsured, primarily Hispanic women over age 50. Methods: Participants were recruited from two Tucson clinics participating in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Women were randomly assigned into one of three intervention groups: (1) provider counseling, (2) provider counseling and health education, or (3) provider counseling, health education, and CHW support. At baseline and 12 months (1998–2000), participants were measured for height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and blood pressure. Blood tests were conducted to check blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. At each time point, participants also completed 24-hour dietary recalls and questionnaires focusing on their physical activity levels. Results: A total of 21...
Alternative animal models with maternal effects and foster dams.

Effects of foster dams can be included in genetic evaluations using animal models with maternal effects in several ways. The alternatives discussed involve minor changes in computing strategies from strategies used with reduced animal models that predict breeding values for direct and maternal effects. The easiest alternative is to assign foster dams to groups by breed and time period and add equations for fixed effects of breedperiod. Random and, assumed, independent effects of foster dams can be nested in breed-period groups. If foster dams do not repeat. then those effects can be absorbed into equations for other fixed effects, additive direct breeding value and breed-period effects by slightly modifying least squares contributions to coefficients of those equations. A third alternative for foster dams of the same breed is to add breeding values for foster dams for direct and maternal effects to solution vectors for breeding values. Equations are similar to those without foster dams, except that least squares contributions to coefficient matrix and right-hand sides are to equations for maternal breeding values and nongenetic maternal effects of foster dams rather than biological dams. Relationships and covariance between direct and maternal effects contribute mixedmodel coefficients to direct and maternal breeding value equations of biological dams. This alternative basically requires only larger solution vectors for direct and maternal breeding values to accommodate foster dams that might not be included. The fourth alternative includes a vector of maternal breeding values for foster dams of each breed of foster dams and would require using rules of Westell to calculate coefficients due to relationships and fixed maternal genetic groups within each breed of foster dam. These alternatives do not require much additional computational effort compared with full or reduced animal model equations when the transformation to predict breeding values is used with Westell's rules to calculate coefficients due to relationships and genetic group effects due to prior genetic selection. (Key Words: Mixed Model Method, Genetic Models, Breeding Value, Embryo Transfer.)
Affinity maturation and hypermutation in a simulation of the humoral immune response.

By experimenting with a cellular automaton model of the immune system, we have reproduced affinity maturation of the antibody response, a somatic adaptation to a changing environment. The simulation allowed the isolation of a number of variables, e.g. the fraction of repertoire available, the magnitude of the change in affinity with mutation, the mutation frequency and its focus on the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) of the antibody. Multiple series of immunizations were run in machina where the contribution of each variable was evaluated against the maturation observed. We found that hypermutation is not necessary for affinity maturation if the repertoire of B cell specificities is sufficiently complete, but is essential when the B cell diversity is limited (which happens to be the case in vivo), as it fills the holes in the repertoire and allows selection by antigen. Maturation also depends on the magnitude of the change in affinity with mutation, and we supply some necessary limits on this parameter. For mutations confined to the CDR, the most efficient maturation occurs at mutation rates of 0.2 per paratope and per cell division. When mutations also affect the framework regions, the peak of the most effective CDR mutation rate moves progressively to lower values. A most sensitive parameter is the speed of maturation, which reflects the rate of expansion of mutated clones. Comparing it with biological observations can help to discriminate between alternative hypotheses on the phenomena of hypermutation and affinity.
Interpretation of Soil Resistivity Measurements: Experience with the Model SOMIP

A method and a computer program for interpreting soil measurement data are presented. The method employs a statistical estimation of soil parameters from four pin or three pin measurements. The analysis provides (1) the best estimate of soil parameters, (2) the error of the parameters versus confidence level, (3) a pictorial view of how well the estimated soil model fits the measurements, and (4) the measurements which are not consistent (bad measurements). The methodology is applicable to data obtained with four or three pin method over a small or a large area. It performs best when applied to measurements taken at various locations of the area of interest. A computer program has been developed based on this methodology with the symbolic name SOMIP (SOil Measurements Interpretation Program). Implementation details are discussed in this paper. The performance of the methodology is compared with test model data. In addition, the experience gained in interpreting soil resistivity measurement with the program SOMIP is presented in this paper. Specifically, many sets of actual data, taken from four major utilities, has been analyzed and the results are presented and discussed.
Chrysler Leverages Its Suppliers' Improvement Suggestions

We examined Chrysler's SCORE (supplier cost reduction effort) supplier-suggestion process from the perspectives of Chrysler and its suppliers. Chrysler used SCORE to save over $2 billion and to build collaborative relationships with its suppliers. In our study, we observed four elements in Chrysler and its suppliers' organizations that contributed to SCORE's success: (1) designating a process champion, (2) engaging suppliers in the process, (3) motivating employees, and (4) facilitating evaluation and implementation. Companies designing a supplier-suggestion process should consider ways to reduce delays during evaluation, to minimize the number of low value suggestions, and to involve the entire supply chain.
The Two-User Compound Interference Channel

We introduce the two-user finite state compound interference channel. The main contributions involve both novel inner and outer bounds. For the Gaussian case, we characterize its capacity region to within one bit. The inner bound is multilevel superposition coding but the decoding of the levels is opportunistic, depending on the channel state. The genie aided outer bound is motivated by the typical error events of the achievable scheme.
Voxel-based Morphometric Multisite Collaborative Study on Schizophrenia

Regional gray matter (GM) abnormalities are well known to exist in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) has been previously used on structural magnetic resonance images (MRI) data to characterize these abnormalities. Two multisite schizophrenia studies, the Functional Biomedical Informatics Research Network and the Mind Clinical Imaging Consortium, which include 9 data collection sites, are evaluating the efficacy of pooling structural imaging data across imaging centers. Such a pooling of data could yield the increased statistical power needed to elucidate effects that may not be seen with smaller samples. VBM analyses were performed to evaluate the consistency of patient versus control gray matter concentration (GMC) differences across the study sites, as well as the effects of combining multisite data. Integration of data from both studies yielded a large sample of 503 subjects, including 266 controls and 237 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorder. The data were analyzed using the combined sample, as well as analyzing each of the 2 multisite studies separately. A consistent pattern of reduced relative GMC in schizophrenia patients compared with controls was found across all study sites. Imaging center-specific effects were evaluated using a region of interest analysis. Overall, the findings support the use of VBM in combined multisite studies. This analysis of schizophrenics and controls from around the United States provides continued supporting evidence for GM deficits in the temporal lobes, anterior cingulate, and frontal regions in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Cross-Institutional Online Engineering Tutoring: Implementation of Tutoring at a Distance

This paper describes a cross-institutional online engineering and math tutoring program. Students at a four-year institution tutor students at community colleges throughout the state using a simple platform of technology and training. Additionally, a brief description of the proposed evaluation plan is included.
Team-based learning on a third-year pediatric clerkship improves NBME subject exam blood disorder scores.

Purpose : At our institution, speculation amongst medical students and faculty exists as to whether team-based learning (TBL) can improve scores on high-stakes examinations over traditional didactic lectures. Faculty with experience using TBL developed and piloted a required TBL blood disorders (BD) module for third-year medical students on their pediatric clerkship. The purpose of this study is to analyze the BD scores from the NBME subject exams before and after the introduction of the module. Methods : We analyzed institutional and national item difficulties for BD items from the NBME pediatrics content area item analysis reports from 2011 to 2014 before (pre) and after (post) the pilot (October 2012). Total scores of 590 NBME subject examination students from examinee performance profiles were analyzed pre/post. t -Tests and Cohen’s d effect sizes were used to analyze item difficulties for institutional versus national scores and pre/post comparisons of item difficulties and total scores. Results : BD scores for our institution were 0.65 (±0.19) compared to 0.62 (±0.15) nationally ( P =0.346; Cohen’s d =0.15). The average of post-consecutive BD scores for our students was 0.70 (±0.21) compared to examinees nationally [0.64 (±0.15)] with a significant mean difference ( P =0.031; Cohen’s d =0.43). The difference in our institutions pre [0.65 (±0.19)] and post [0.70 (±0.21)] BD scores trended higher ( P =0.391; Cohen’s d =0.27). Institutional BD scores were higher than national BD scores for both pre and post, with an effect size that tripled from pre to post scores. Institutional BD scores increased after the use of the TBL module, while overall exam scores remained steadily above national norms. Conclusions : Institutional BD scores were higher than national BD scores for both pre and post, with an effect size that tripled from pre to post scores. Institutional BD scores increased after the use of the TBL module, while overall exam scores remained steadily above national norms. Keywords: curriculum; medical students; performance on examinations; teamwork; clinical application (Published: 13 October 2015) Citation: Med Educ Online 2015, 20: 29021 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v20.29021
Rose: compressed, log-structured replication

Rose is a database storage engine for high-throughput replication. It targets seek-limited, write-intensive transaction processing workloads that perform near real-time decision support and analytical processing queries. Rose uses log structured merge (LSM) trees to create full database replicas using purely sequential I/O, allowing it to provide orders of magnitude more write throughput than B-tree based replicas. Also, LSM-trees cannot become fragmented and provide fast, predictable index scans.Rose's write performance relies on replicas' ability to perform writes without looking up old values. LSM-tree lookups have performance comparable to B-tree lookups. If Rose read each value that it updated then its write throughput would also be comparable to a B-tree. Although we target replication, Rose provides high write throughput to any application that updates tuples without reading existing data, such as append-only, streaming and versioning databases.We introduce a page compression format that takes advantage of LSM-tree's sequential, sorted data layout. It increases replication throughput by reducing sequential I/O, and enables efficient tree lookups by supporting small page sizes and doubling as an index of the values it stores. Any scheme that can compress data in a single pass and provide random access to compressed values could be used by Rose.Replication environments have multiple readers but only one writer. This allows Rose to provide atomicity, consistency and isolation to concurrent transactions without resorting to rollback, blocking index requests or interfering with maintenance tasks.Rose avoids random I/O during replication and scans, leaving more I/O capacity for queries than existing systems, and providing scalable, real-time replication of seek-bound workloads. Analytical models and experiments show that Rose provides orders of magnitude greater replication bandwidth over larger databases than conventional techniques.
The Nile Floods as a Global Climatic/Solar Proxy

Flood levels of the Nile are available since the year AD 622, with some gaps (during periods of political instability). The maxima represent the summer monsoonal rains of Ethiopia and Sudan, furnished largely by the Blue Nile, whereas the minima in winter reflect the equatorial rains of East Africa supplied more sluggishly by the White Nile. Fourier and Maximum Entropy analyses have disclosed what appear to be the lunar nodal nutation cycle of 18.6 yr and the Gleissberg solar cycle of 78 yr, and other longterm periodicities, but only a weak representation of the 11–22 yr solar cycles. Statistical smoothing provides a chronology of trends, and a third technique, a search for climatic “singularities” (exceptional seasons) in comparison with computed celestial events, each provides further insight.
Benefit of anticoagulation for the treatment of lower extremity superficial venous thrombosis

Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) of the lower extremity is an acute disorder characterized by thrombosis and inflammation of superficial veins. This most commonly affects varicose veins but can also occur in patients with nonvaricose veins, who may have an underlying condition such as a malignant disease or thrombophilia. It is important to be aware that SVT confers a significant risk for the development of the more serious and debilitating condition of deep venous thrombosis and the potentially life-threatening condition of pulmonary embolism. Recognition of SVT, determination of appropriateness of therapy, and institution of timely therapy are paramount to prevention of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in properly selected patients. The objective of this evidence-based summary was to provide clinically applicable information from the current literature and guidelines regarding the best treatment options for SVT. There are no randomized trials that compare the efficacy and outcomes of newer therapies, such as the novel oral anticoagulants and endovenous ablation, with traditional therapies, such as traditional anticoagulant and surgery exclusion, in the treatment of SVT.
Increased Adipose Protein Carbonylation in Human Obesity

Insulin resistance is associated with obesity but mechanisms controlling this relationship in humans are not fully understood. Studies in animal models suggest a linkage between adipose reactive oxygen species (ROS) and insulin resistance. ROS oxidize cellular lipids to produce a variety of lipid hydroperoxides that in turn generate reactive lipid aldehydes that covalently modify cellular proteins in a process termed carbonylation. Mammalian cells defend against reactive lipid aldehydes and protein carbonylation by glutathionylation using glutathione-S-transferase A4 (GSTA4) or carbonyl reduction/oxidation via reductases and/or dehydrogenases. Insulin resistance in mice is linked to ROS production and increased level of protein carbonylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased insulin-stimulated glucose transport, and altered adipokine secretion. To assess protein carbonylation and insulin resistance in humans, eight healthy participants underwent subcutaneous fat biopsy from the periumbilical region for protein analysis and frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance testing to measure insulin sensitivity. Soluble proteins from adipose tissue were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the major carbonylated proteins identified as the adipocyte and epithelial fatty acid-binding proteins. The level of protein carbonylation was directly correlated with adiposity and serum free fatty acids (FFAs). These results suggest that in human obesity oxidative stress is linked to protein carbonylation and such events may contribute to the development of insulin resistance.
Simulating effects of land use policies on extent of the wildland urban interface and wildfire risk in Flathead County, Montana

This study used a wildfire loss simulation model to evaluate how different land use policies are likely to influence wildfire risk in the wildland urban interface (WUI) for Flathead County, Montana. The model accounts for the complex socio-ecological interactions among climate change, economic growth, land use change and policy, homeowner mitigations, and forest treatments in Flathead County's WUI over the five 10-year subperiods comprising the future evaluation period (i.e., 2010–2059). Wildfire risk, defined as expected residential losses from wildfire [E(RLW)], depends on the number of residential properties on parcels, the probability that parcels burn, the probability of wildfire losses to residential structures on properties given the parcels on which those properties are located burn, the average percentage of wildfire-related losses in aesthetic values of residential properties, and the total value (structures plus land) of residential properties. E(RLW) for the five subperiods is simulated for 2010 (referred to as the current), moderately restrictive, and highly restrictive land use policy scenarios, a moderate economic growth scenario and the A2 greenhouse gas emissions scenario. Results demonstrate that increasingly restrictive land use policy for Flathead County significantly reduces the amount and footprint of future residential development in the WUI. In addition, shifting from the current to a moderately restrictive land use policy for Flathead County significantly reduces wildfire risk for the WUI, but shifting from the current to a highly restrictive land use policy does not significantly reduce wildfire risk in the WUI. Both the methods and results of the study can help land and wildfire managers to better manage future wildfire risk and identify residential areas having potentially high wildfire risk.
Expression of the Adenovirus Early Gene 1A Transcription-Repression Domain Alone Downregulates HER2 and Results in the Death of Human Breast Cancer Cells Upregulated for the HER2 Proto-Oncogene.

Adenovirus (Ad) early gene 1A 243 residue protein (E1A 243R) possesses a potent transcription-repression function within the N-terminal 80 amino acids (E1A 1-80). We examined the ability of E1A 243R and E1A 1-80 to repress transcription of both an exogenous and the endogenous HER2 promoter in a human breast cancer cell line upregulated for the HER2 proto-oncogene (SK-BR-3). Both moieties repressed HER2 expression by over 90%. When E1A 1-80 was expressed from a nonreplicative Ad vector, levels of expression were lower than anticipated. Addition of nonspecific sequences to the E1A 1-80 C-terminus (E1A 1-80 C+) enhanced its expression 10- to 20-fold. Because “oncogene addiction” suggests that repression of HER2 could kill HER2 upregulated cells, we examined the ability of full-length E1A 243R and E1A 1-80 C+ delivered by an Ad vector to kill HER2 upregulated SK-BR-3 cells. Expression of both E1A 243R and E1A 1-80 C+ killed SK-BR-3 cells but not normal breast cells. E1A 1-80 C+ is a particularly effective killer of SK-BR-3 cells. At 144 h post infection, over 85% of SK-BR-3 cells were killed by a 100 moi of the Ad vector expressing E1A 1-80 C+. As controls, Ad vectors expressing E1A 243R with deletion of all known functional domains or expressing unrelated β-galactosidase had no effect. Three additional human breast cancer cells lines reported to be upregulated for HER2 or another EGF family member (EGFR) were found to be efficiently killed by expression of E1A 1-80 C+, whereas three additional “normal” cell lines (two derived from breast and one from foreskin) were not. The ability of the E1A transcription-repression domain alone to kill HER2 upregulated breast cancer cells has potential for development of therapies for treatment of aggressive human breast cancers and potentially other human cancers that overexpress HER2.
Skin blood flow in adult human thermoregulation: how it works, when it does not, and why.

The thermoregulatory control of human skin blood flow is vital to the maintenance of normal body temperatures during challenges to thermal homeostasis. Sympathetic neural control of skin blood flow includes the noradrenergic vasoconstrictor system and a sympathetic active vasodilator system, the latter of which is responsible for 80% to 90% of the substantial cutaneous vasodilation that occurs with whole body heat stress. With body heating, the magnitude of skin vasodilation is striking: skin blood flow can reach 6 to 8 L/min during hyperthermia. Cutaneous sympathetic vasoconstrictor and vasodilator systems also participate in baroreflex control of blood pressure; this is particularly important during heat stress, when such a large percentage of cardiac output is directed to the skin. Local thermal control of cutaneous blood vessels also contributes importantly—local warming of the skin can cause maximal vasodilation in healthy humans and includes roles for both local sensory nerves and nitric oxide. Local cooling of the skin can decrease skin blood flow to minimal levels. During menopause, changes in reproductive hormone levels substantially alter thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow. This altered control might contribute to the occurrence of hot flashes. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the ability of skin blood vessels to dilate is impaired. This impaired vasodilation likely contributes to the increased risk of heat illness in this patient population during exposure to elevated ambient temperatures. Raynaud phenomenon and erythromelalgia represent cutaneous microvas-cular disorders whose pathophysiology appears to relate to disorders of local and/or reflex thermoregulatory control of the skin circulation.
An Investigation of Relationships Between Social Behavior and ADHD in Children and Youth Construct Validity of the Home and Community Social Behavior Scales

This article describes two related studies focusing on the relationship of social behavior and ADHD characteristics of children and youth.The primary purpose of these studies was to empirically investigate the construct validity of the Home and Community Social Behavior Scales (HCSBS), a new behavior rating scale for use by parents in assessing social and antisocial behavior of children and youth. A secondary purpose was to examine in detail relationships between ADHD characteristics and social behavior in children. Results of these studies indicated that as ADHD symptoms increased, antisocial behaviors increased and positive social behavior decreased. Overall, the results indicated an exceptionally strong link between social behavior and ADHD, and provide strong evidence in support of the validity of the HCSBS. Practical applications of these findings are discussed.
Fixed-Point Structure of (ϕ 6 ) 3 at Large N

For a $N$-component isovector field $\ensuremath{\phi}$, ${({\ensuremath{\phi}}^{6})}_{3}$ is free in the infrared limit for all $N$. If $N$ is sufficiently large there is also an ultraviolet stable fixed point, calculable within perturbation theory, at which anomalous dimensions are $\ensuremath{\sim}{N}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
I Bury the Dead: Poe, Heidegger, and Morbid Literature

This essay investigates the way in which dying and dead bodies resist poetic incorporation and the way in which such bodies can be fugitively attested to through fictive prose. It examines Heidegger's treatment of dead and dying bodies from Being and Time to his later work on poetry and language, and it offers as a counterpoint another mode of addressing these bodies found in the fiction of Poe. It also shows how even the poetry of Trakl, heralded by Heidegger as an exemplar of poetic address, can be fruitfully understood in prosaic terms, terms which more faithfully reveal both the content of his poetry itself as well as the true nature of the wounds of dying life.
Cytomegalovirus Infection in Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: a Focus on Prevention

Solid organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure that has changed the prognosis for infants and children with end-stage organ disease. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common infections that occur after organ transplantation in pediatric patients, yet the standard of care for CMV prevention remains unclear. We review the literature regarding CMV disease effects, risk factors, diagnostics, prevention strategies, and antiviral treatment in pediatric solid organ transplantation. This discussion focuses on the current prevention strategies: prophylaxis, preemptive, and hybrid therapy, as well as novel strategies that may help better prevent the CMV disease in the pediatric solid organ transplant population.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Continuation, Completion, and Missed Opportunities.

Abstract Study Objective To examine human papillomavirus (HPV) series completion in older adolescents and assess vaccination completion opportunities missed by providers. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures Electronic medical records were queried for women 18-24 years old who initiated the HPV vaccine in the Adolescent Medicine, Young Mother's, or Family Planning clinics at Children's Hospital Colorado from January 1, 2010-December 31, 2012. Clinic visits during appropriate dosing intervals of HPV vaccine at which the second (4-14 weeks after first dose) or third (21-40 weeks after first dose and >12 weeks after second dose) doses were not administered were counted as “missed opportunities.” Results A total of 1072 female adolescents initiated the HPV series during the study period; 20.9% completed the series within 1 year. Of these, 33.7% who did not receive their second dose had at least 1 missed opportunity and 25.5% who received the second but not the third had a missed opportunity. Women who initiated the vaccine in the Family Planning clinic were less likely to have missed opportunities than those in other adolescent clinics (36.2% vs 56.4%; P Conclusion A significant number of female adolescents who initiated the HPV vaccine attended clinic visits at which opportunities for vaccine continuation and completion were missed. This emphasizes the importance of provider awareness of vaccine updates at every adolescent visit. Our overall completion rate is significantly lower than published rates and might reflect older adolescents' inexperience in managing their own preventive health care. Our results clearly identify the need for provider and patient interventions to improve vaccine series completion.
Crowdsourcing HRI through Online Multiplayer Games

The development of hand-crafted action and dialog generation models for a social robot is a time consuming process that yields a solution only for the relatively narrow range of interactions envisioned by the programmers. In this paper, we propose a data-driven solution for interactive behavior generation that leverages online games as a means of collecting large-scale data corpora for human-robot interaction research. We present a system in which action and dialog models for a collaborative human-robot task are learned based on a reproduction of the task in a two-player online game called Mars Escape.
Examination of Factors Potentially Influencing Osteon Size in the Human Rib

Previous research demonstrates that the size of secondary osteons varies considerably between individuals, though what factors act in the delineation of osteon size remain uncertain. This study explores the influence of age, sex, percent cortical area (%Ct.Ar), percent cortical porosity (%Po.Ar), and loading environment on osteon area (On.Ar) in human ribs. The sample consisted of midshaft 6(th) ribs from 80 individuals, 6-94 years of age. T-tests demonstrated no significant differences in On.Ar between the sexes (P=0.383). Age showed a significant correlation with both %Ct.Ar and %Po.Ar, so a hierarchical regression model was used to control for the effects of age on the other variables. Results indicate that age is the most significant factor of those tested in this study (P=0.004), with %Ct.Ar playing a much smaller but still significant role (P=0.014), while %Po.Ar had no significant influence on On.Ar (P=0.443). Age demonstrates an inverse relationship with On.Ar, while %Ct.Ar has a direct relationship with On.Ar. Significant differences in On.Ar between the pleural and cutaneous cortices are attributed to variation in %Ct.Ar of each cortex. Therefore, age and %Ct.Ar account for the majority of osteon size variability in this study, although it is likely genetics play an important role as well. Understanding the biological mechanisms that act in remodeling and determine osteon size is essential for accurately addressing and interpreting histological findings, work that is invaluable in its implications for bone biology.
Obesity and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Obesity and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are prevalent in the United States and cause significant morbidity in those affected. However, it is unclear whether obesity is more prevalent in those affected by IBS or if IBS is more prevalent in obese persons. To evaluate the association between obesity and IBS, a comprehensive review was performed by searching MEDLINE and Embase from 1980 through July 2012. Studies were included if 1 of the outcomes examined the relationship between excess body weight or obesity and IBS. A total of 11 studies (2 pediatric and 9 adult) investigated the relationship between obesity and IBS. The prevalence of obesity in children with IBS ranged from 24.8% to 42%. In adults, the prevalence of IBS in obese subjects varied from 11.6% to 24%, depending on the study population. Two studies did not show increased odds of IBS in obese patients; however, 2 studies showed that symptoms were more severe in obese patients affected by IBS, while 1 of these studies demonstrated that IBS symptom severity improved after bariatric surgery. The findings of this comprehensive review of the literature suggest that the frequency of IBS in obese children and adults is variable and depends on the study population. Due to the heterogeneity in study populations, outcome assessment, and methodology in the existing literature, further studies are needed to determine whether obesity is associated with IBS.
Alterations in ET-1, not nitric oxide, in 1-week-old lambs with increased pulmonary blood flow.

Altered pulmonary vascular reactivity is a source of morbidity and mortality for children with congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary blood flow. Nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET)-1 a...
Specialty Pharmaceuticals for Hyperlipidemia — Impact on Insurance Premiums

The approval of PCSK9 inhibitors with broad indications sets the practice of cardiology on a collision course with specialty pharmaceutical pricing models that were previously reserved for drugs that benefited relatively limited patient populations.
Hybrid Energy Storage Scheduling Based Microgrid Energy Optimization Under Different Time Scales

According to different features of energy-based energy storage and power-based energy storage in hybrid energy storage system an economic optimization model of microgrid,which corresponds with actual demand,is established.Based on different time scales the day-ahead and real-time scheduling strategies are proposed.Considering poor prediction accuracy of day-ahead scheduling,using chance constrained programming and taking satisfying the demand on reserve under a certain confidence level as reliability constraint and taking the minimum operation cost as the optimization objective and utilizing the difference of TOU price the optimal coordination of the output of micro energy sources and energy storage systems are performed.In allusion to power fluctuation brought about by such uncertain factors as wind turbine,photovoltaic generation and load,in real-time scheduling the first-order low-pass filtering algorithm is applied to smooth the power fluctuation,and the moving average filtering method is utilized to reasonably allocate the post-filtering fluctuating power among hybrid energy storage systems to make the battery energy storage system taking on more low-frequency power fluctuation and the supercapacitor taking on high-frequency power fluctuation.The real-time scheduling iscarried out according to day-ahead plan to monitor operating states of all units in real time and to modify the deviation of day-ahead plan caused by the cumulation of power fluctuation in time.
Building Lighting Energy Consumption Prediction for Supporting Energy Data Analytics

Abstract Recent studies emphasized the importance of building energy consumption prediction for improved decision making. Data-driven models are being widely used for building energy consumption prediction. Among these, support vector machines (SVM) gained a lot of popularity due to its capability of handling non-linear problems. This paper presents an SVM-based lighting energy consumption prediction model for office buildings. For this study, an office building in Philadelphia, PA was instrumented and the required lighting energy consumption data to train the model were collected from this building. The developed model predicts daily lighting energy consumption based on two features: daily average sky cover and day type. The results showed that the developed model could be a good baseline model for predicting lighting energy consumption, which could be further extended by taking occupant behavior into account.
Multiparameter Predictor of Fluid Responsiveness in Cardiac Surgical Patients Receiving Tidal Volumes Less Than 10 mL/kg

Introduction We hypothesize that respiratory variation in the pulmonary artery tracing predicts fluid responsiveness (primary hypothesis) and that inclusion of multiple physiologic waveforms as well as ventilator settings in a predictive model of fluid responsiveness would lead to improvements in the clinical utility of this class of metrics (secondary hypothesis). Methods Blood pressure tracings were prospectively recorded in 35 patients immediately following cardiac surgery. Fluid bolus administration data, ventilator settings, and cardiac output were recorded prospectively before and after fluid boluses given at the discretion of the treating physician. Results We observed statistically significant but limited relationships between pulmonic (r(2) = .26, P = .0052) and systemic (r(2) = .13, P = .011) pulse pressure variation and changes in cardiac index. A multiparameter estimate of fluid responsiveness, which included respiratory variation in central venous pressure and pulmonary artery pressure, indexed tidal volumes, positive end-expiratory pressure, and mean airway pressure, was also correlated with change in cardiac index (r(2) = .42, P = .0056). Using the area under the curve (AUC) technique to compare specificity and sensitivity, dynamic indicators (AUC = 0.74, 0.67, and 0.81 for systemic arterial respiratory [pulse pressure] variation, pulmonic arterial respiratory [pulse pressure] variation, and the multiparameter estimate, respectively) outperformed static estimates (0.49 and 0.48 for central venous pressure and pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, respectively). Conclusion While integration of multiple physiologic waveforms as well as ventilator parameters improves the predictability of fluid responsive metrics in the setting of lung-protective ventilation, the composite index may still be of limited predictive value.
Benign Intrascrotal Neoplasms

AbstractWe analyzed the surgical and pathological records of 90 patients who underwent surgical exploration of solid scrotal masses during a 5-year period. Sixteen patients had benign lesions, including 10 adenomatoid tumors, 3 fibrous pseudotumors, 2 fibromas and 1 dermoid cyst. Twelve patients with benign lesions were treated by local excision and 4 by orchiectomy. Identification of benign intrascrotal lesions, aided by examination of frozen sections and combined with an understanding of the lesions, allows the intraoperative decision for local excision and the avoidance of needless orchiectomy.
Current pulse shapes of discharges in air gaps limited by series dielectrics

When gas voids in solid dielectrics break down under the application of an electric field, the current flow (as observed in the external circuit) is discontinuous, usually consisting of very short (ca. 10−7 sec) pulses. This general behavior is not unexpected, since the charge produced by breakdown of the gas cannot flow through the solid insulation, and therefore reduces the potential across the void, causing extinction of the discharge. If circuit time constants can be reduced below the times taken for charge movements in the gap, the current flow as a function of time should provide information on the nature of the charge carriers and on the breakdown mechanisms operative.
Characterization of spin polarization for cesium vapor confined within hollow core fibers

We have performed time-resolved measurements on cesium vapor to measure the dependence of the spin relaxation time on confinement area. Lifetime results obtained for cesium vapor trapped inside capillaries with diameters ranging from 75 μm to 1.4 mm are up to 75% shorter than that obtained within a 4.5 cm chamber.
Development and validation of an electronic medical record-based alert score for detection of inpatient deterioration outside the ICU.

Abstract Background Patients in general medical-surgical wards who experience unplanned transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) show evidence of physiologic derangement 6–24 h prior to their deterioration. With increasing availability of electronic medical records (EMRs), automated early warning scores (EWSs) are becoming feasible. Objective To describe the development and performance of an automated EWS based on EMR data. Materials and methods We used a discrete-time logistic regression model to obtain an hourly risk score to predict unplanned transfer to the ICU within the next 12 h. The model was based on hospitalization episodes from all adult patients (18 years) admitted to 21 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) hospitals from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2013. Eligible patients met these entry criteria: initial hospitalization occurred at a KPNC hospital; the hospitalization was not for childbirth; and the EMR had been operational at the hospital for at least 3 months. We evaluated the performance of this risk score, called Advanced Alert Monitor (AAM) and compared it against two other EWSs (eCART and NEWS) in terms of their sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (c statistic). Results A total of 649,418 hospitalization episodes involving 374,838 patients met inclusion criteria, with 19,153 of the episodes experiencing at least one outcome. The analysis data set had 48,723,248 hourly observations. Predictors included physiologic data (laboratory tests and vital signs); neurological status; severity of illness and longitudinal comorbidity indices; care directives; and health services indicators (e.g. elapsed length of stay). AAM showed better performance compared to NEWS and eCART in all the metrics and prediction intervals. The AAM AUC was 0.82 compared to 0.79 and 0.76 for eCART and NEWS, respectively. Using a threshold that generated 1 alert per day in a unit with a patient census of 35, the sensitivity of AAM was 49% (95% CI: 47.6–50.3%) compared to the sensitivities of eCART and NEWS scores of 44% (42.3–45.1) and 40% (38.2–40.9), respectively. For all three scores, about half of alerts occurred within 12 h of the event, and almost two thirds within 24 h of the event. Conclusion The AAM score is an example of a score that takes advantage of multiple data streams now available in modern EMRs. It highlights the ability to harness complex algorithms to maximize signal extraction. The main challenge in the future is to develop detection approaches for patients in whom data are sparser because their baseline risk is lower.
High-precision acoustic motion tracking: demo

Video games, virtual reality, augmented reality, and smart appliances all call for a new way for users to interact and control them. This paper develops high-preCision Acoustic Tracker (CAT), which aims to replace a traditional mouse and let a user control various devices by moving a smartphone in the air. At its heart lies a distributed Frequency Modulated Continuous Waveform (FMCW) that can accurately estimate the distance between a transmitter and a receiver that are separate and unsynchronized. We further develop an optimization framework to combine FMCW estimation with Doppler shifts to enhance the accuracy. We implement CAT on a mobile phone. The performance evaluation and user study show that our system achieves high tracking accuracy and ease of use using existing hardware.
A Machine Intelligence Designed Bayesian Network Applied to Alzheimer's Detection Using Demographics and Speech Data

Abstract Bayesian networks (BNs) have classically been designed by two methods: expert approach (ask an expert for nodes and links) and data driven approach (infer them from data). An unexpected by-product of previous Alzheimer's / dementia research (presented at CAS2015) was yet another approach where the results of a hybrid design were used to configure a BN. A complex adaptive systems approach, (e.g. GA-SVM-oracle hybrid) can sift through the combinatorics of feature subset selection, yielding a modest set of only the most influential features. Then using known likelihoods of demographics associated to dementia, and assuming direct and independent influence of dementia upon speech features, the BN is specified. The conditional probabilities needed can be estimated with far fewer data than the traditional BN data-driven approach. Although BNs have advantages (intuitive interpretation and graceful handling of missing data) they also have challenges. We report initial implementation results that suggest the need to reduce continuous variables to discrete categories, and the still-remaining need to estimate a substantial number of conditional probabilities, remain challenges for BNs. We suggest some ways forward in the application of BNs with the objective of improving / refining Alzheimer's / dementia detection using speech.
Discretization of Time-delay Systems

In this chapter, the discretization of time-delay continuous systems will be presented through time-delay and nontime-delay discrete nodes. The explicit and implicit discrete maps will be discussed for numerical predictions of time-delayed continuous systems. Basic discrete schemes are presented which include forward and backward Euler methods, midpoint and trapezoidal rule method. The second-order Runge–Kutta method is discussed first, and then the explicit Runge–Kutta methods of the third and fourth orders are presented.