cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial Response of Health Care Institutions to Emergence of H1N1 Influenza: Experiences, Obstacles, and Perceived Future Needs

Background The emergence of H1N1 influenza is cause for great concern. Although one of the most important components of the response to the H1N1 crisis is the work of health care epidemiology professionals, the beliefs and experiences of this community are unknown, and the optimal approach to managing H1N1 in the future has not been delineated. Methods To assess attitudes and responses of health care epidemiology professionals to the H1N1 influenza crisis, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. We assessed beliefs regarding (1) importance of H1N1, (2) institutional preparedness, (3) time spent on the H1N1 crisis, and (4) the institution's response to H1N1. Results Of 323 respondents, 195 (60.4%) reported that their hospitals were well prepared for a pandemic. Furthermore, the majority reported that senior administrators provided adequate political support and resources (85.1% and 80.2%, respectively) to respond to H1N1. However, 163 (50.9%) respondents reported that other important infection prevention activities were neglected during the H1N1 crisis. Shortages of antiviral medication were reported by 99 (30.7%) respondents. Furthermore, 126 (39.0%) reported that personal stockpiling of antiviral medications occurred at their institution, and 166 (51.4%) reported that institutional actions were initiated to prevent personal stockpiling. Also, 294 (91.0%) respondents believed that H1N1 influenza would reappear later this year. Vaccine development, health care worker education, and revisions of pandemic influenza plans were identified as the most important future initiatives. Finally, 251 (77.7%) respondents felt that health care workers should be mandated to receive influenza vaccine. Conclusions Although generally institutions are well prepared for the H1N1 crisis, substantial revisions of pandemic preparedness plans appear to be necessary. Future efforts to optimize the response to H1N1 should include curtailing personal stockpiling of antivirals and vaccine development with consideration of mandatory vaccination of health care workers.
Barriers to the Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Care

I am conflicted in writing this Editorial Perspective. For over 20 years, I have been advocating for greater inclusion of patients’ perspectives of their disease into the outcomes of clinical trials, into the methods for quality assessment/improvement, and as a basis for shared medical decision making. I have developed disease-specific measures for coronary artery disease, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease.1–3 Although some may say this perspective is self-serving, I think I have gained important insights into the barriers of health status assessments and wish to articulate the challenges I see. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) quantify patients’ perspectives about the frequency and severity of their symptoms, how their disease impacts their functioning, and the degree to which it limits their quality of life. Over the past several decades, numerous PROs, both generic and disease-specific, have been created, and the methodology for creating such measures has become increasingly codified. A PRO should be valid, reproducible over time in stable patients, and sensitive to clinical changes when they occur.4 Accordingly, PROs can be selected for a variety of conditions that are not only valid, reliable, sensitive to changes in disease status (or treatment), but also prognostic of clinical events, costs, and mortality. Moreover, they are probably the best assessment of the impact of a disease on patients’ health status and are far more reproducible than clinician-reported outcomes, such as the New York Heart Association (NYHA) or the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification.5,6 Yet, despite over a decade of calls for these measures to be included in routine clinical care, they are seldom used.7 In November 2013, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute held a 2-day conference in which multiple healthcare stakeholders assembled to discuss the importance of including PROs in electronic health records and clinical care. Numerous …
Room-temperature mid-infrared laser sensor for trace gas detection

Design and operation of a compact, portable, room-temperature mid-infrared gas sensor is reported. The sensor is based on continuous-wave difference-frequency generation (DFG) in bulk periodically poled lithium niobate at 4.6 µm, pumped by a solitary GaAlAs diode laser at 865 nm and a diode-pumped monolithic ring Nd:YAG laser at 1064.5 nm. The instrument was used for detection of CO in air at atmospheric pressure with 1 ppb precision (parts in 109, by mole fraction) and 0.6% accuracy for a signal averaging time of 10 s. It employed a compact multipass absorption cell with a 18-m path length and a thermoelectrically cooled HgCdTe detector. Precision was limited by residual interference fringes arising from scattering in the multipass cell. This is the first demonstration of a portable high-precision gas sensor based on diode-pumped DFG at room temperature. The use of an external-cavity diode laser can provide a tuning range of 700 cm-1 and allow the detection of several trace gases, including N2O, CO2, SO2, H2CO, and CH4.
Co-Flow Laminar Diffusion Flames of Monodisperse Sprays: Structure, Evaporation and Microgravity Effects

An experimental investigation was performed on co-flow laminar diffusion flames of monodisperse sprays that were generated electrostatically. Self-sustained, axisymmetric, stable laminar flames were successfully stabilized in a co-flow of air, using heptane as the fuel. The overall flame appearance was similar to that of a candle flame. Rather than burning, the majority of the droplets simply evaporated at relatively low temperatures in the inner core of the flame, which appeared as a relatively dark region. This inner core was enveloped by a higher temperature region where soot was present. Outside of the sooty region, a flame characterized by a soft blue luminescence could be clearly seen in the lower half of the luminous combustion region. Phase Doppler anemometry and sizing were used to examine the droplet life-histories along the centerline trajectory of five flames that were operated at different fuel flow rates. Droplet evaporation was found to follow the d-square law, with evaporation coefficients...
Bayesian Population Genomic Inference of Crossing Over and Gene Conversion

Meiotic recombination is a fundamental cellular mechanism in sexually reproducing organisms and its different forms, crossing over and gene conversion both play an important role in shaping genetic variation in populations. Here, we describe a coalescent-based full-likelihood Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method for jointly estimating the crossing-over, gene-conversion, and mean tract length parameters from population genomic data under a Bayesian framework. Although computationally more expensive than methods that use approximate likelihoods, the relative efficiency of our method is expected to be optimal in theory. Furthermore, it is also possible to obtain a posterior sample of genealogies for the data using this method. We first check the performance of the new method on simulated data and verify its correctness. We also extend the method for inference under models with variable gene-conversion and crossing-over rates and demonstrate its ability to identify recombination hotspots. Then, we apply the method to two empirical data sets that were sequenced in the telomeric regions of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Our results indicate that gene conversion occurs more frequently than crossing over in the su-w and su-s gene sequences while the local rates of crossing over as inferred by our program are not low. The mean tract lengths for gene-conversion events are estimated to be ∼70 bp and 430 bp, respectively, for these data sets. Finally, we discuss ideas and optimizations for reducing the execution time of our algorithm.
Representations of the Body in Pain: Anthropological Approaches

This chapter addresses the symbolic problem of pain. The symbolic problem of pain refers to the distinct and too infrequently nonoverlapping visual symbolic worlds of pain that practitioners and patients inhabit. Both systems find an allure in the visual for understanding pain. However, while the epistemology of medicine limits the validity and applicability of pain images to those produced by diagnostic imaging tools, for patients, their own personal production of images is treated as equally valid and applicable evidence of pain, perhaps even more so when the diagnostic mechanisms fail to uncover and show the sources of pain. After a review of the use of the visual in pain diagnosis and management, I argue for an ethics of looking that places individuals in both systems, as well as the lay public, in conversation. An ethics of looking is based on the idea that looking at an image is never an isolated act, devoid of historical, institutional, and ideological pressures. How we look at pain images, diagnostic or patient-produced, implicates a politics of care and power relationships among the creator, viewer, and subject of the image. It is our obligation as viewers to not just look at the images in isolation, but at the relationships underlying the images.
Statistical tests of genetic association for case-control study designs

SUMMARY The central theme in case–control genetic association studies is to efficiently identify genetic markers associated with trait status. Powerful statistical methods are critical to accomplishing this goal. A popular method is the omnibus Pearson’s chi-square test applied to genotype counts. To achieve increased power, tests based on an assumed trait model have been proposed. However, they are not robust to model misspecification. Much research has been carried out on enhancing robustness of such model-based tests. An analysis framework that tests the equality of allele frequency while allowing for different deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) between cases and controls is proposed. The proposed method does not require specification of trait models nor HWE. It involves only 1 degree of freedom. The likelihood ratio statistic, score statistic, and Wald statistic associated with this framework are introduced. Their performance is evaluated by extensive computer simulation in comparison with existing methods.
HMM-neural network monophone models for computer-based articulation training for the hearing impaired

A visual speech training aid for persons with hearing impairments has been developed using a Windows-based multimedia computer. Previous papers (Zahorian, S. et al., Int. Conf. on Spoken Language Processing, 2002; Zahorian and Nossair, Z.B., IEEE Trans. on Speech and Audio Processing, vol.7, no.4, p.414-25, 1999; Zimmer, A. et al., ICASSP, vol.6, p.3625-8, 1998; Zahorian and Jagharghi, A., J. Acoust. Soc. Amer., vol.94, no.4, p.1966-82, 1993) have describe the signal processing steps and display options for giving real-time feedback about the quality of pronunciation for 10 steady-state American English monopthong vowels (/aa/, /iy/, /uw/, /ae/, /er/, /ih/, /eh/, /ao/, /ah/, and /uh/). This vowel training aid is thus referred to as a vowel articulation training aid (VATA). We now describe methods to develop a monophone-based hidden Markov model/neural network recognizer such that real time visual feedback can be given about the quality of pronunciation of short words and phrases. Experimental results are reported which indicate a high degree of accuracy for labeling and segmenting the CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) database developed for "training" the display.
Youth Audience Segmentation Strategies for Smoking-Prevention Mass Media Campaigns Based on Message Appeal

Mass media interventions are among the strategies recommended for youth cigarette smoking prevention, but little is known about optimal methods for reaching diverse youth audiences. Grades 4 through 12 samples of youth from four states (n = 1,230) rated smoking-prevention messages in classroom settings. Similar proportions of African American, Hispanic, and White youth participated. Impact of audience characteristics on message appeal ratings was assessed to provide guidance for audience segmentation strategies. Age had a strong effect on individual message appeal. The effect of gender also was significant. Message ratings were similar among the younger racial/ethnic groups, but differences were found for older African American youth. Lower academic achievement was associated with lower appeal scores for some messages. Age should be a primary consideration in developing and delivering smoking-prevention messages to youth audiences. The unique needs of boys and girls and older African American adolescents should also be considered.
Current technological challenges in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

In cases where high efficiency is required to resolve complex mixtures of either thermally labile or nonvolatile organic compounds, capillary supercritical fluid chromatography may be the most desirable analytical method. While great strides in this new technology have been made over the last few years, several problem areas are requiring increased attention. These include sample introduction systems, pressure reduction at the end of the column, column stability in various supercritical mobile phases, and migration of polar solute molecules. This paper describes the state-of-the-art in capillary SFC with emphasis on the progress made and future needs in the solutions to these specific problems.
From Action to Abstraction Using the Hands to Learn Math

Previous research has shown that children benefit from gesturing during math instruction. We asked whether gesturing promotes learning because it is itself a physical action, or because it uses physical action to represent abstract ideas. To address this question, we taught third-grade children a strategy for solving mathematical-equivalence problems that was instantiated in one of three ways: (a) in a physical action children performed on objects, (b) in a concrete gesture miming that action, or (c) in an abstract gesture. All three types of hand movements helped children learn how to solve the problems on which they were trained. However, only gesture led to success on problems that required generalizing the knowledge gained. The results provide the first evidence that gesture promotes transfer of knowledge better than direct action on objects and suggest that the beneficial effects gesture has on learning may reside in the features that differentiate it from action.
Through the Back Door: Applying Theories of Legal Compliance to Illegal Immigration During the Chinese Exclusion Era

This article applies theories of legal compliance to analyze the making of this country's first “illegal immigrants”—Chinese laborers who crossed the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican borders in defiance of the Chinese exclusion laws (1882–1943). Drawing upon a variety of sources, including unpublished government records, I explore the ways in which Chinese laborers gained surreptitious entry into the United States during this period and ask, what explains their mass noncompliance? I suggest that while an instrumental perspective is useful for understanding these border crossings, it overlooks other important determinants of noncompliance: normative values and opportunity structures. Specifically, the exclusion laws were widely perceived by the Chinese as lacking social and moral legitimacy, and thus not worthy of obedience. In addition, the existence of smuggling networks and liberal immigration policies in Canada and Mexico played a critical role in facilitating noncompliance. The article concludes with a discussion about the benefits and challenges of using this theoretical framework to analyze noncompliance in immigration law.
Jejunal Rupture Caused by a Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube

In a patient with cirrhosis and bleeding esophageal varices, who had previously undergone a partial gastric resection, the gastric balloon of a Sengstaken—Blakemore tube was inadvertently placed into the efferent jejunal limb of the gastrojejunostomy. Inflation of the balloon to the standard volume of 150 ml resulted in rupture of the jejunum. Precautions in the use of the Sengstaken—Blakemore tube that might prevent this complication are described.
Shareholder voting rights in early American corporations

In early American corporations, the power of large shareholders was frequently limited by voting rules that partially disenfranchised them. In particular, stock held in an individual's name was granted a number of votes per share that decreased with the number of shares held. Using data from the corporations created in New York up to 1825, this paper analyses the use of these ‘graduated’ voting rights. Consistent with the view that they were intended to help small investors protect themselves against the predations of controlling shareholders, the data indicate that graduated voting rights were imposed in industries that attracted small investments from ordinary households. The results highlight the importance of concerns over the controlling influence of large shareholders in early corporate governance.
Neural Network-Based Vision for Precise Control of a Walking Robot

This article describes a connectionist vision system for the precise control of a robot designed to walk on the exterior of the space station. The network learns to use video camera input to determine the displacement of the robot's gripper relative to a hole in which the gripper must be inserted. Once trained, the network's output is used to control the robot, with a resulting factor of five fewer missed gripper insertions than occur when the robot walks without sensor feedback. The neural network visual feedback techniques described could also be applied in domains such as manufacturing, where precise robot positioning is required in an uncertain environment.
Prudence in a nut shell: For technology managers in the middle muddle between right and wrong behavior

The wide world of ethics and law and related systems telling us how and what to do is well established, if not also clear and widely accepted. In a simplistic trine, it might be divided among things generally considered “right,” things generally considered “wrong,” and a no-man's land in between. For many of us, this in between is not all that clear, and is complicated by the fact that we receive consequences for our decisions, sometimes because we “just didn't know” or just disagreed with a client or stakeholder.
Specific Interaction of the Actin-binding Domain of Dystrophin with Intermediate Filaments Containing Keratin 19

Cytokeratins 8 and 19 concentrate at costameres of striated muscle and copurify with the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, perhaps through the interaction of the cytokeratins with the actin-binding ...
Grid adaptation for functional outputs: application to two-dimensional inviscid flows

This paper presents an error estimation and grid adaptive strategy for estimating and reducing simulation errors in integral outputs (functionals) of partial differential equations. Adaptive criteria are derived using an adjoint-based error correction technique that relates the local residual errors of both the primal and adjoint solutions to the global error in the prescribed functional. This relationship allows local error contributions to be used as indicators in a grid adaptive strategy designed to produce specially tuned grids for accurately estimating the chosen functional. In this paper, attention is limited to two-dimensional inviscid flows using a standard finite volume discretization, although the procedure may be readily applied to other types of multidimensional problems and discretizations. Numerical examples demonstrate that the proposed adaptive procedure compares favorably in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and robustness relative to a commonly used gradient-based adaptive method.
Mortality differences by APOE genotype estimated from demographic synthesis

The 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is associated with increased risk of two major causes of death in low-mortality populations: ischemic heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. It is less common among centenarians than at younger ages. Therefore, it is likely that it is associated with excess risk of death. This article extends demographic models that estimate relative mortality risks from changes in gene frequencies with age. The resulting demographic synthesis combines gene frequencies with data on mortality by genotype from cohort studies. The model was applied to data from Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Sweden, and the United States. Near age 50, the 3/4 genotype is associated with a risk of death of 1.34 times that of the 3/3 (95% CI 1.18-1.67). The relative risk for 4/4 is the square of the relative risk for 3/4, 1.81. The 2/3 genotype is protective with a relative risk of 0.84 (0.68-0.93) near age 50. These relative risks move toward 1.0 at the oldest ages and APOE genotype is associated with little variation in mortality over age 100. There are no significant differences in the relative risks by sex. There is little evidence of differences within Europe in the effects of APOE. This approach can be generalized to combine data on genetic risk factors for disease from a wide variety of study designs and sample characteristics.
Psychosocial Adjustment and Sibling Relationships in Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Risk and Protective Factors

This study compared sibling adjustment and relationships in siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD-Sibs; n = 69) and siblings of children with typical development (TD-Sibs; n = 93). ASD-Sibs and TD-Sibs demonstrated similar emotional/behavioral adjustment. Older male ASD-Sibs were at increased risk for difficulties. Sibling relationships of ASD-Sibs involved less aggression, less involvement, and more avoidance than those of TD-Sibs. Partial support for a diathesis–stress conceptualization of sibling difficulties was found for ASD-Sibs. For TD-Sibs, broader autism phenotype (BAP) was related to psychosocial difficulties regardless of family stressors. For ASD-Sibs, BAP was related to difficulties only when family stressors were present. This suggests that having a sibling with ASD may be a protective factor that attenuates the negative impact of sibling BAP.
Renal duplex ultrasound findings in fenestrated endovascular aortic repair for juxtarenal aortic aneurysms

Objective This study characterized duplex ultrasound (DUS) findings and clinical outcomes associated with covered stent placement in renal arteries during fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR) to determine if velocity criteria for native renal artery stenosis can be applied. Methods Data from a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent FEVAR between January 2010 and August 2014 were obtained before FEVAR (preoperative or baseline) and at follow-up assessments at 30 days, 6 months, and 1, 2, and 3 years. The established DUS threshold criteria for ≥60% stenosis in native renal arteries were applied at baseline and all follow-up intervals: renal artery peak systolic velocity (PSV) ≥200 cm/s or renal-aortic velocity ratio (RAR) ≥3.5. Results Forty-nine patients underwent placement of 88 covered renal artery stents during FEVAR. At least 30-day follow-up was available for 43 patients with 80 stents. A ≥60% stenosis was identified in seven renal arteries of six patients on baseline DUS, and these patients were analyzed separately. The remaining 73 renal arteries were classified as normal or Conclusions Covered stent placement in nonstenotic renal arteries during FEVAR is safe and durable, with PSV and RAR remaining in the normal or
Experimental Use Exceptions: Changes in Research Tool Patent Protection in the United States and a Comparison to Japan

The scope and impact of the statutory experimental use exception provided by 35 U.S.C. Section 271(e) of the Patent Act has created much controversy and uncertainty since it was enacted as part of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984. For nearly twenty years, 35 U.S.C. Section 271(e) had been interpreted in an increasingly broad manner most favorable to parties who were utilizing the patented discoveries of others to perform research directed toward attaining Food and Drug Administration approval for pharmaceutical products prior to the expiry of the patents. In contrast, the parties that expended time and resources to perform the initial development work to obtain these patents saw their protection waning. In 2003, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in Integra Lifesciences I, Ltd. v. Merck KGaA, attempted to reverse this trend, but the Federal Circuit decision was vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court approximately two years later. Because the economy and intellectual property have become increasingly globalized, such decisions can have far reaching implications. This comment considers the potential legal and economic impact of the Federal Circuit and Supreme Court decisions on research tool patent owners and the parties that were utilizing such tools under the previous court interpretations. Further, this article discusses how such decisions may result in the movement of research activities abroad, where there may be more favorable patent laws regarding experimental use. Japan's approach to the issue of experimental use and whether that approach would benefit the U.S. system is also examined in this comment.
Competition-based phenotyping reveals a fitness cost for maintaining phycobilisomes under fluctuating light in the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon

Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are pigment-rich super-complexes required for efficient harvest and transfer of light energy to photosynthetic reaction centers of cyanobacteria. The model cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon is able to adjust PBS pigmentation and size in response to the prevailing light spectrum through a process called complementary chromatic acclimation to optimize spectral light absorption, concomitantly optimizing photosynthesis and growth. We explored the fitness costs versus advantages of modulating antennae size and composition under sinusoidal continuous and fluctuating light conditions in F. diplosiphon by comparing growth of wild-type (WT) cells with a mutant strain deficient in PBSs in both monoculture and polyculture conditions. Comparative analyses of WT and the PBS-deficient FdCh1 strain under continuous vs. fluctuating sinusoidal light suggest a potential fitness advantage for maintaining PBSs in WT cells during continuous light and a fitness cost during transitions to and acclimation under fluctuating light. We explored the physiological changes correlated with the observed differential growth to understand the dynamics and biochemical bases of comparative fitness of distinct strains under defined growth conditions. Wild-type F. diplosiphon appears to accumulate longer PBS rods and exhibits higher oxidative stress under fluctuating light conditions than continuous sinusoidal light, which may impact responses and the fitness of cells that do not adapt to rapid changes in external light.
Hepatic gluconeogenesis influences 13C enrichment in lactate in human brain tumors during metabolism of [1,2-13C]acetate

(13)C-enriched compounds are readily metabolized in human malignancies. Fragments of the tumor, acquired by biopsy or surgical resection, may be acid-extracted and (13)C NMR spectroscopy of metabolites such as glutamate, glutamine, 2-hydroxyglutarate, lactate and others provide a rich source of information about tumor metabolism in situ. Recently we observed (13)C-(13)C spin-spin coupling in (13)C NMR spectra of lactate in brain tumors removed from patients who were infused with [1,2-(13)C]acetate prior to the surgery. We found, in four patients, that infusion of (13)C-enriched acetate was associated with synthesis of (13)C-enriched glucose, detectable in plasma. (13)C labeled glucose derived from [1,2-(13)C]acetate metabolism in the liver and the brain pyruvate recycling in the tumor together lead to the production of the (13)C labeled lactate pool in the brain tumor. Their combined contribution to acetate metabolism in the brain tumors was less than 4.0%, significantly lower than the direct oxidation of acetate in the citric acid cycle in tumors.
UAS Sense and Avoid Development - the Challenges of Technology, Standards, and Certification

The routine integration of unmanned aircraft into civil airspace is important to enable a host of national defense, homeland security, and commercial operations. However, many policy, operational, and technical issues exist before safe integration becomes routine. Foremost among these is the lack of an on-board capability to see and avoid other aircraft. Based upon their experience with the National Airspace System (NAS), the authors examine several high-level integration challenges of replacing the see and avoid capability, and discuss the activities underway to address these challenges. The challenges for developing a Sense and Avoid (SAA) capability include defining the extent and applicability of SAA standards, determining the appropriate certification methods, and defining the target and methods of proving the safety of the SAA system. Of a number of activities that have attempted to address these SAA challenges, two major activities are discussed that have provided recent progress.
Porphyria Presenting as Diffuse Encephalopathy

An 18-year-old female presenting with seizures, myalgias, abdominal pain, headache and vomiting had multiple large contrast-enhancing white matter lesions on MRI and was diagnosed with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), in a report from the Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Evaluating cognitive effort in a randomized controlled trial

Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of neuropsychiatric conditions involve cognitive outcome measures; however, validity of cognitive data relies on adequate effort during testing, and such screening is seldom performed. Given well-established rates of 10 to 30% poor effort in clinical settings, this is not a trivial concern. This preliminary study evaluated effort during cognitive testing in an RCT of omega-3 supplementation to reduce suicidality in a high-risk psychiatric population. An interim analysis of sustained attentions measures from the Connors Performance Test (CPT-2) at baseline for the first 60 participants was conducted. Previously validated cut points to detect insufficient effort on the CPT-2 were applied. At baseline, 12% (7) were identified as giving poor effort. Follow-up analyses indicated less psychiatric distress and suicidality among those who gave poor effort. RESULTS suggest comparable likelihood of a poor effort on cognitive testing in clinical and RCT participation. Reduced psychiatric distress in the poor effort group raises concern regarding interpretation of other measures. The importance of screening cognitive data for effort in RCTs is highlighted. Future studies will examine effort at follow-up visits, and explore relationships to attrition, adherence, and response to treatment.Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
FEA OF STRESS CONCENTRATION COEFFICIENT OF PERFORATED CASING

The finite element mechanical model of perforated casing was established in the paper. Under the out pressure condition, the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of Stress Concentration Coefficient (SCC) in perforated casing was studied with the different perforating diameter, shot density and phasing. The objective is to discuss the effects of SCC and collapse strength of perforated casing in the elastoplastic range. It provided the detail data for the effects of SCC and collapse strength, and presented the optimize scheme for perforating.
Clinical application of recombinant erythropoietin in the anemia of chronic disease.

The anemia of chronic diseasse is associated with a blunted increase in erythropoietin (EPO) production in response to anemia, and with impaired erythroid progenitor response to EPO. Recombinant human (rh) EPO can correct this impaired erythropoiesis in vivo and in vitro. Although most patients with the anemia of chronic disease are only moderately anemic, certain subsets may benefit from rhEPO therapy.
Role of pore–scale heterogeneity on reactive flows in porous materials: validity of the continuum representation of reactive transport

Understanding multi-component reactive transport in porous media is critical to a wide range of fields. It poses great challenges to theoretical, experimental, as well as numerical studies, because it usually involves multiple processes (advection, diffusion, reaction) and multiple scales (molecular, pore, laboratory, field). Current modeling approaches commonly employ a continuum description and rely on volume averages. Because in porous media, averages are taken over length scales much larger than typical grain sizes, spatial heterogeneity at smaller scales is unresolved. This loss of information includes pore-scale velocities and geometry, mineral texture, and other features. Therefore, understanding the impact of pore-scale spatial heterogeneity on reactive processes in porous materials is a key aspect in validating continuum models of reactive transport, and developing predictive capabilities of system behavior. However, due to the complexity of the multi-process, multi-scale problem, the majority of pore-scale modeling studies have focused on the basic transport properties of porous media including effective diffusion, conductivity, permeability, and elasticity. In this study, using a Lattice Boltzmann (LB) model for multi-component reactive transport in porous media, we investigate the role of spatial heterogeneity related to pore geometry on mass transport and reaction rates in porous materials and its impact on the validity of the continuum representation of reactive transport. Because of the ability of the LB method to accurately represent pore-scale phenomena, it provides the most comprehensive approach to investigate the influence of pore-scale heterogeneity on continuum formulations of reactive transport. We apply our model to various chemical systems for two-dimensional, artificially- constructed and natural multi-scale fractured and porous media. The reactive- transport processes are simulated at the pore scale, with systematic consideration of the pore-scale flow field, diffusion, homogeneous reactions among multiple aqueous species, heterogeneous reactions between the aqueous solution and minerals, as well as the resulting changes in solid and pore geometry. The results are averaged over vertical slabs which are considered as REVs, and are compared with one-dimensional continuum-scale simulations. From the LB simulations, it is possible to determine macro-scale properties of the medium such as tortuosity, permeability, and reactive surface area. In addition, the LB simulations also enable the most appropriate continuum formulation—single, dual, or multiple continua—to be determined. Our results confirm that a multiple continuum model is required to describe upscaled pore-scale results derived from multi-scale geometries.
Research on Duplex Mode of Railway Next Generation Wireless Communication

This paper analyze the difference of LTE FDD and LTE TDD,including specification evolution ,protocol stack ,frame structure ,synchronous signal ,HARQ , beamforming ,frequency band and so on. Mainly focuses on the network performance analysis of LTE-R in FDD and TDD, including coverage, capacity, network redundancy, service characteristic and high speed adaptability. Industry chain is also be compared, in the end the duplex mode selection advice of railway next generation wireless communication is proposed.
Does everyday corruption affect how Russians view their political leadership

AbstractDo Russians’ personal experiences with corruption influence how they evaluate their political leaders and, if so, in what direction? In addressing this question, we focus specifically on small-scale corruption that arises when Russians encounter employees of service provision organizations. We analyze survey data gathered in the summer of 2015 from Russia to trace the links between personal corrupt behavior and political attitudes. We show that participation in everyday corruption lowers a person’s support for the political regime, both as a bivariate relationship and in a multivariate model with controls. Being involved in corrupt transactions reduces support for the regime through two indirect mechanisms: by making the political leadership’s performance seem worse and by heightening perceptions that corruption is widespread among the country’s leaders. We find no support for arguments in the literature that bribery and other forms of bureaucratic corruption help citizens pursue their needs in th...
Genetic Predictors of Hydroxyurea Response in Children with Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract 820 Introduction: Hydroxyurea therapy has proven laboratory and clinical efficacy for ameliorating the signs and symptoms of sickle cell anemia, primarily by increasing the level of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Virtually all treated pediatric patients will have symptomatic benefit and improvement in laboratory parameters associated with disease severity, including increased HbF and decreased white blood cell (WBC) count and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). However, significant inter-patient variability exists in the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of hydroxyurea and some patients have exaggerated toxicity (excessive myelosuppression) at relatively low doses. Similarly, there is substantial variation in the degree of response for relevant laboratory parameters such as HbF and LDH. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms may play an important role in the observed inter-patient variability for both hydroxyurea response and toxicity. Methods: Pediatric patients enrolled in the prospective Hydroxyurea Study of Long-term Effects (HUSTLE, NCT00305175) were eligible for analysis, including 72 subjects who had reached hydroxyurea MTD based on standardized criteria with dose escalation to mild bone marrow suppression. Candidate genes were selected based on a presumed effect on hydroxyurea pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD) such as putative HbF modifiers, ribonucleotide reductase, and urea transporters. For these candidate genes, sequencing was performed for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery. In addition, published genetic modifiers were studied to validate the proposed effect on hydroxyurea responses. Each SNP was first tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and then tested for association with three variables: MTD HbF, MTD LDH, and MTD hydroxyurea dose (mg/kg/day) using Least Squares Regression in dominant, co-dominant, and recessive genetic models. Results: The average age (mean ± 1SD) at hydroxyurea treatment initiation was 8.4 ± 4.9 years, with 58% males. The average MTD dose was 25.8 ± 4.2 mg/kg/day (median 26.7, range 14.2 – 35.5 mg/kg/day). The average MTD laboratory values for this cohort included hemoglobin (Hb) = 9.7 ± 1.1 gm/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 110 ± 12 fL, HbF = 24.5 ± 7.4%, and LDH 432 ± 158 U/L, all significantly different than baseline values (p Summary and Conclusion: In the prospective HUSTLE study that includes standardized hydroxyurea dose escalation to MTD, significant associations were identified between candidate gene variants and the MTD phenotype for HbF, LDH, and hydroxyurea dose. SNPs in candidate genes previously reported to be important in basal HbF regulation were significant for MTD dose and novel SNPs in the urea transporter UTB were also significantly associated with MTD HbF. These results support the hypothesis that genetic modifiers play an important role in the treatment and toxicity responses to hydroxyurea therapy for children with SCA. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia.
Use of Manipulated Stem Cells for Prenatal Therapy

Prenatal stem cell therapy has broad potential for therapeutic application. "Stem cells" of interest include multipotent adult-derived stem cells, cord blood, amniotic fluid, or fetal stem cells, and embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells. Potential manipulations of stem cells prior to their administration may include harvest, processing, enrichment, expansion, and genetic transduction. A complete description of the methodology related to all of the above is well beyond the scope of this chapter. In the interest of practical application and proven efficacy, we limit our description to adult-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their application to in utero transplantation with or without HSC-targeted gene transfer.
A 72‐year‐old with eyelid opening apraxia in Steele–Richardson–Olszewski syndrome

In our patient with Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome presenting with apraxia of eyelid opening, there is a possibility to be readily confused with conditions presenting in similar pattern such as blepharospasm and eyelid ptosis. Therefore, it is essential to correlate the clinical findings with electromyographic recordings and dopamine transporter scan (DaT).
Lignocellulosic Feedstock Improvement for Biofuel Production Through Conventional Breeding and Biotechnology

Biofuels are the class of fuels derived from biological sources. Plant-based fuels are derived from renewable sources, produce less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than fossil fuels, and provide an attractive alternative to fossil fuels for future energy security. By using a variety of materials as biofuel-producing feedstocks, several generations of biofuels have been created. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant organic material for biofuel production. Both the biomass yield of a biofuel crop and the cell wall components of the lignocellulosic biomass will determine the efficiency of overall biofuel production. This chapter presents details of biofuel production from its launch through three generations and includes discussion of their respective advantages and disadvantages. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology promises carbon-negative results in fourth-generation production, with the hope of mitigating climate change. Research involving conventional breeding, marker-assisted breeding, and transgenic breeding to improve quantity and quality of lignocellulosic biomass is explored. Advanced CRISPR/Cas9 technology for modification of cell walls in plants used as biomass sources is also highlighted. Case studies from credible, scientific journals are provided in all discussions.
The Law and Operation of Genetic Screening Programs

My charge in this volume is to discuss legal issues related to genetic screening programs. As I have had no legal training and few run-ins with the law, of necessity my discussion will be based on my viewpoint as a practicing medical geneticist. I have sought to serve community needs by participating in the planning, initiating, operating, upgrading, and justifying of various genetic screening programs. My contribution will be the only one in this volume based on personal practical experiences in the health services.
The surprising recovery of red spruce growth shows links to decreased acid deposition and elevated temperature

Abstract Following growth declines and increased mortality linked to acid deposition-induced calcium depletion, red spruce ( Picea rubens Sarg.) in the northeastern United States are experiencing a recovery. We found that more than 75% of red spruce trees and 90% of the plots examined in this study exhibited increasing growth since 2001. To understand this change, we assessed the relationship between red spruce radial growth and factors that may influence growth: tree age and diameter, stand dynamics, plot characteristics (elevation, slope, aspect, geographical position), and a suite of environmental variables (temperature, precipitation, climate and precipitation indices (degree days, SPEI [standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index], and acid deposition [SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , pH of rainfall, cation:anion ratio of rainfall]) for 52 plots (658 trees) from five states (spanning 2.5°N × 5°W). Examining the growth relationships from 1925 to 2012, we found that while there was variability in response to climate and acid deposition (limited to 1980–2012) by elevation and location, plot and tree factors did not adequately explain growth. Higher temperatures outside the traditional growing season (e.g., fall, winter, and spring) were related to increased growth. Nitrogen deposition (1980–2012) was associated with lower growth, but the strength of this relationship has lessened over time. Overall, we predict sustained favorable conditions for red spruce in the near term as acid deposition continues to decline and non-traditional growing season (fall through spring) temperatures moderate, provided that overall temperatures and precipitation remain adequate for growth.
On The Log-Linear Analysis Of Multiple Response Data

Log-linear procedures have been recommended for analyzing data that are in the form of counts or frequencies (Iacobucci and McGill 1990). In its current form, the recommended procedure does not deal with multiple response data (i.e., more than one thought per response category). The paper proposes analytical modifications that researchers need to consider when fitting models with this type of data. The problems and recommended modifications are illustrated with two distinct data sets. The first involves consumers' attribution responses to negative word-of-mouth communication about a brand whereas the second pertains to consumers' cognitive responses toward an advertisement. Results in each case indicate that researchers may generate erroneous conclusions about the significance of estimated parameters if the recommendations are ignored.
Design for Testability Using State Distances

The average distance between states is proposed as a new testability measure for finite state machines (FSMs). Also proposed is the concept of center state to reduce distances in FSMs. This test function embedding technique has been shown to improve the testability of sequential circuits with minimal overhead. An overview of several design-for-testability (DFT) and synthesis-for-testability (SFT) methods for sequential circuits will also be given in this paper. Experimental results have shown that the DFT approach is more advantageous than the SFT approach to implement our test function. The contribution of this paper is to analyze the trade-offs between several aspects of DFT and SFT techniques.
DESCRIBE IT: A Strategy for Teacher Candidates Implementing Behavior Interventions.

AbstractTeachers with years of experience in the classroom rely on that experience to help them develop behavior intervention plans for students with behavioral challenges. New teachers, however, m...
Force Generated by Two Kinesin Motors Depends on the Load Direction and Intermolecular Coupling

Kinesins are molecular motors that carry cellular cargoes. While the mechanics of single kinesins are well characterized experimentally, the behavior of multiple kinesins varies considerably among experiments. The basis for this variability is unknown. Here, we resolve single-motor force measurements into a vertical component, which accelerates kinesin detachment, and a horizontal component, which decelerates the detachment when resisting the motor. This directionality, when the different experimental geometries are considered, can account for much of the variation in multiple motor dynamics.