cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Challenges to implementing expanded team models: lessons from a centralised nurse-led cholesterol-lowering programme

Background Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is critical to lowering morbidity and mortality. To increase the percentage of patients with DM and CVD at target LDL (<100 mg/dL), we launched an expanded team-based quality improvement programme in which centralised registered nurses (RNs) followed a detailed protocol to adjust cholesterol-lowering medications. Despite the growing use of team-based approaches to improve quality of care, little remains known about how best to implement them. Program evaluation To share our experiences and lessons from operating a team-based programme, we conducted a retrospective observational analysis of administrative and clinical data on programme performance. We measured: primary care physician (PCP) and patient acceptance of the programme, number of medication adjustments, change in LDL, per cent of patients achieving target, time to LDL target and the efforts required to achieve these goals. Results Using administrative data, we initially identified 374 potential patients for enrolment. Chart review revealed that 203 (54%) were clinically eligible. PCPs agreed to enrol 74% (150/203) of these patients. Thirty-six per cent of PCP-approved patients (54/150) could not be reached via phone and 5.3% (8/150) declined enrolment. Of patients enrolled (n=64), 50% did not complete the programme. Of those enrolled, median LDL decreased by 21 mg/dL and 52% (33/64) achieved the LDL target. Programme RNs spent 12 023 min on programme activities, of which 44.4% (5539) was related to non-enrolled patients. Conclusions Our adoption of a centralised expanded team-based programme for the management of LDL cholesterol uncovered many barriers to efficiency and success. Even though expanded team programmes may be supported by PCPs, the administrative efforts required to identify, enrol and continually engage eligible patients raise many concerns regarding efficiency and highlight infrastructure changes needed for successful team-based approaches.
DOWNSTREAM CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AND REVASCULARIZATION AFTER ABNORMAL MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION IMAGING IN PATIENTS WITH POSSIBLE ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES PRESENTING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

After negative cardiac biomarkers, many patients with possible acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are further risk stratified with myocardial perfusion imaging. We investigated whether rest-stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) could identify patients with possible ACS that would
Junction Adhesion Molecule Is a Receptor for Reovirus

Abstract Virus attachment to cells plays an essential role in viral tropism and disease. Reovirus serotypes 1 and 3 differ in the capacity to target distinct cell types in the murine nervous system and in the efficiency to induce apoptosis. The binding of viral attachment protein σ1 to unidentified receptors controls these phenotypes. We used expression cloning to identify junction adhesion molecule (JAM), an integral tight junction protein, as a reovirus receptor. JAM binds directly to σ1 and permits reovirus infection of nonpermissive cells. Ligation of JAM is required for reovirus-induced activation of NF-κB and apoptosis. Thus, reovirus interaction with cell-surface receptors is a critical determinant of both cell-type specific tropism and virus-induced intracellular signaling events that culminate in cell death.
The Incremental Marketization and Centralization of State Control of Public Higher Education: A Hermeneutic Interpretation of Legislative and Administrative Texts

In this article, the author reports on an analysis and interpretation of institutional accountability legislation enacted by the Colorado General Assembly from 1985 to 2005. The method of inquiry for the study was grounded in the principles of hermeneutics and narrative policy analysis. Analysis and interpretation of legislative and administrative texts reveal how they rationalize marketized higher education and centralized state control of public colleges and universities. This interpretation also explains how a new integrated funding and accountability framework creates de facto institutional missions validated by marketization and secured by centralization of state control.
Hypoxia downregulates p53 but induces apoptosis and enhances expression of BAD in cultures of human syncytiotrophoblasts

Hypoxia is commonly assigned a role in the placental dysfunction characteristic of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. We previously showed that hypoxia upregulates p53 and enhances apoptosis in primary cultures of human cytotrophoblasts. Here we tested the hypothesis that hypoxia also induces apoptosis in syncytiotrophoblasts by upregulation of p53. Primary cultures of human cytotrophoblasts that had differentiated into syncytiotrophoblasts by 52 h were exposed for ≤24 h to 20% or <1% oxygen in the presence or absence of staurosporine or the p53 modulators nutlin-3, pifithrin-α, and pifithrin-μ. Proteins were detected by Western blot analysis or immunofluorescence. Compared with 20% oxygen, exposure of syncytiotrophoblasts to <1% oxygen upregulated hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and rapidly downregulated p53. Activity of p53 in hypoxic syncytiotrophoblasts was reduced by the higher expression of the negative p53 regulator MDMX and by the reduction of phosphorylation of p53 at Ser392, which reduces p53 activity. Conversely, staurosporine, a kinase inhibitor, and nutlin-3, a drug that enhances p53 expression, both raised p53 levels and increased the rate of apoptosis in syncytiotrophoblasts compared with vehicle controls. Immunofluorescence staining showed p53 immunolocalized to both cytoplasm and nuclei of nutlin-3-exposed syncytiotrophoblasts. The hypoxia-induced apoptosis in syncytiotrophoblasts correlated with enhanced expression of the proapoptotic BAD and a reduced level of antiapoptotic BAD phosphorylated on Ser112. We surmise that cell death induced by extreme hypoxia in syncytiotrophoblasts follows a non-p53-dependent pathway, unlike that of a nonhypoxic stimulus and unlike hypoxic cytotrophoblasts. We speculate that downregulation of p53 activity in response to hypoxia reduces or eliminates the apoptosis transduced by the p53 pathway in syncytiotrophoblasts, thereby limiting cell death and maintaining the integrity of this critical villous component.
The K-Vector ND and its Application to Building a Non-Dimensional Star Identification Catalog

A multi-dimensional orthogonal range-searching algorithm, the multi-dimensional k-vector (K-Vector ND), is presented. The algorithm is analyzed and found to have an execution time that is independent of the size of the database, for well-distributed data sets. Numerical tests are performed to determine the performance advantage as compared to a Quad-Tree for the two-dimensional data set. Results range from break-even to a factor of 14, depending on the database size. The K-Vector ND is then applied to the problem of building a non-dimensional star-identification database that contains all visible star triples. The performance of the K-Vector ND algorithm in that task is then compared to a simple nested loop, and found to range from break-even to a factor of 200, depending on the size of the database.
Observation of laser-induced collisional energy transfer in xenon–argon mixtures

By using a multiphoton ionization technique, we observed a laser-induced energy-transfer process of fifth order in Xe–Ar atoms. Through four-photon excitation of the 4f[5/2]J = 2 level of Xe in collision with a ground-state Ar atom and the absorption of one additional photon, the 5s[3/2]J = 1 level of Ar is excited and subsequently ionized. By coincidence the same photon energy required for four-photon excitation of the chosen state in Xe is also adequate for absorption by Ar during the Xe*–Ar collision, thus permitting observation of a fifth-order laser-induced energy transfer in a simple one-color experiment.
THE STRENGTH IN WEAK TIES

Although communication may take place more easily among people who share similar attributes and have similar attitudes and beliefs, such communication may be in large measure redundant: no new informtion enters the system. For the diffusion of new information, the existence of some "heterophilous" relationships seems to be a structural prerequisite. The following article offers evidence bearing on this proposition. The authors are, respectively, Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame and Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Portland.
Effect of depleting vesicular and cytoplasmic dopamine on methylenedioxymethamphetamine neurotoxicity.

The mechanism by which 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxicity is unknown but considerable evidence suggests that endogenous brain dopamine (DA) is involved. However, it has recently become apparent that some of the data implicating brain DA in MDMA neurotoxicity may be confounded by drug effects on thermoregulation. The purpose of the present studies was to examine the role of DA in MDMA neurotoxicity, while controlling for possible confounding effects of drug- induced changes in core temperature. Rats were treated with reserpine, alone and in combination with α-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT), to deplete vesicular and cytoplasmic stores of DA. When drug-induced hypothermia was averted (by raising ambient temperature), the 5-HT neuroprotective effects of reserpine and AMPT were no longer apparent. The lack of neuroprotection by AMPT and reserpine, alone and in combination, in studies that control for the effects of these drugs on core temperature, suggests that DA per se is not essential for the expression of MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity.
Adaptive Targeting: Engaging Farmers to Improve Targeting and Adoption of Agricultural Conservation Practices†

Targeting of agricultural conservation practices to cost-effective locations has long been of interest to watershed managers, yet its implementation cannot succeed without meaningful engagement of agricultural producers who are decision makers on the lands they farm. In this study, we engaged 14 west-central Indiana producers and landowners in an adaptive targeting experiment. Interviews carried out prior to targeting provided rich spatial information on existing conservation practices as well as producers' preferences for future conservation projects. We targeted six of the most accepted conservation practices using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool and spatial optimization using a genetic algorithm approach. Fairly optimal conservation scenarios were possible with even the most limiting constraints of farmer-accepted practices. We presented in follow-up interviews a total of 176 conservation practice recommendations on 103 farm fields to 10 farmers whose lands were targeted for conservation. Primary findings indicated producers were interested in the project, were open to hearing recommendations about their lands, and expressed a high likelihood of adopting 35% of targeted recommendations. Farmers generally viewed the interview process and presentation of results quite favorably, and the interviews were found to build trust and make the targeting process more acceptable to them.
A novel approach to computer based I/O in an ME instructional lab

The authors describe the philosophy and implementation of computer-based data acquisition and I/O used in the renovation of a required mechanical engineering (ME) instrumentation laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In the first part of the course, an inexpensive single-board computer is used to familiarize the student with the basic components of a computer, such as binary logic, analog and digital I/O, interrupt structures, RAM, and EEPROM A control-oriented resident BASIC interpreter is used to program hardware interactions. Sixteen single-board computers are networked to an IBM PC host computer which is used for downloading, data storage, and printing. Later in the course, PCs with menu-driven data acquisition systems are used. The authors describe the hardware and software used in the first part of the course. >
Efficiency of ATM networks in transporting TCP/IP traffic

Finds the efficiency of ATM networks in transporting TCP/IP traffic. Different kinds of protocols and compression techniques are used for these calculations. RFC 1483 is used to map IP packets into AAL-SDUs. Efficiency with respect to different packer sizes and payloads are also calculated.
Male Circumcision in the United States for the Prevention of HIV Infection and Other Adverse Health Outcomes: Report from a CDC Consultation

In April 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a two-day consultation with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to obtain input on the potential role of male circumcision (MC) in preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the U.S. Working groups summarized data and discussed issues about the use of MC for prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with women, men who have sex with men (MSM), and newborn males. Consultants suggested that (1) sufficient evidence exists to propose that heterosexually active males be informed about the significant but partial efficacy of MC in reducing risk for HIV acquisition and be provided with affordable access to voluntary, high-quality surgical and risk-reduction counseling services; (2) information about the potential health benefits and risks of MC should be presented to parents considering infant circumcision, and financial barriers to accessing MC should be removed; and (3) insufficient data exist about the impact (if any) of MC on HIV acquisition by MSM, and additional research is warranted. If MC is recommended as a public health method, information will be required on its acceptability and uptake. Especially critical will be efforts to understand how to develop effective, culturally appropriate public health messages to mitigate increases in sexual risk behavior among men, both those already circumcised and those who may elect MC to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV.
Inflammation directs waning vaccine immunity during the aging proces (IRM12P.653)

Aging is a risk factor for disease characterized by complex changes to the immune system and increased disease susceptibility. Vaccination remains the key strategy to prevent infections (e.g., Influenza) in adults. We hypothesized that the age-dependent increase in inflammation directs vaccination outcomes. We tested our hypothesis using commercial Fluzone or TDaP vaccines and BALB/c mice of three ages: young adult (14 weeks), middle-aged (50 weeks), and old (100 weeks). Naive mice exhibited a progressive increase in inflammation (inflammatory cytokines, cellular proliferation) with age. Vaccinated mice exhibited a progressive decrease in development of vaccine antigen-specific immunity with age. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from young mice did not rescue vaccine responsiveness in older mice. Curiously, we found progressively higher expression of IκBζ with age and vaccination. Lastly, we confirmed our findings using human blood samples and ex vivo PBMC cultures. Overall, our results supported our hypothesis. Altered IκBζ activity (a non-classical NFκB inhibitor) was unexpected as age is linked to higher NFκB expression. However, IκBζ has been linked to cellular senescence and inflammatory cytokine secretion. This suggests that waning vaccine efficacy with age is not a “failure to respond” but a nonproductive immune response post-antigen challenge within a setting of chronic inflammation, much like the theory of Inflammaging.
A Whole-Body Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model of Gefitinib in Mice and Scale-Up to Humans

Gefitinib (Iressa) is a selective and potent EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It received an accelerated FDA approval in 2003 for the treatment of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and represents the first-line therapy for NSCLC with EGFR mutations. In the work presented herein, the disposition of gefitinib was investigated extensively in mouse in both plasma and 11 organs (liver, heart, lung, spleen, gut, brain, skin, fat, eye, kidney, and muscle) after a single IV dose of 20 mg/kg. Gefitinib demonstrated extensive distribution in most tissues, except for the brain, and tissue to plasma partition coefficients (K pt) ranged from 0.71 (brain) to 40.5 (liver). A comprehensive whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of gefitinib in mice was developed, which adequately captured gefitinib concentration-time profiles in plasma and various tissues. Predicted plasma and tissue AUC values agreed well with the values calculated using the noncompartmental analysis (<25% difference). The PBPK model was further extrapolated to humans after taking into account the interspecies differences in physiological parameters. The simulated concentrations in human plasma were in line with the observed concentrations in healthy volunteers and patients with solid malignant tumors after both IV infusion and oral administration. Considering the extensive tissue distribution of gefitinib, plasma concentration may not be an ideal surrogate marker for gefitinib exposure at the target site or organ of toxicity (such as the skin). Since our whole-body PBPK model can predict gefitinib concentrations not only in plasma but also in various organs, our model may have clinical applications in efficacy and safety assessment of gefitinib.
Tax Reform And Bank Asset Quality: Did 1986 Tax Law Changes Contribute To Banks Loan Problems?

The escalation of bank loan losses in the mid/late 1980s, attended by a marked decrease in banking industry profits and an increase in bank failures, has raised numerous questions about the factor contributing to these events. The present study continues this inquiry by examining the effects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (TRA86) on the quality of banks assets in the late 1980s. Specifically, the study seeks to attribute changes in bank asset quality following enactment of TRA86 to 1) the two major provisions of the law targeted at banks, namely, interest expense allocable to tax-exempt obligations and the tax reserve for bad debts, particularly bad debts of large banks, along with 2) the pre-TRA86 level of real estate loans that were devalued by other provisions of the statute. Using alternative measures of asset quality, a single-equation regression analysis was applied to a sample of 205 large commercial banks. Empirical results indicate some linkage between TRA86 and changes in bank asset quality during the late 1980s, though not in all areas examined.
EVOLUTION AND COADAPTATION OF THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR AND WING PIGMENTATION PATTERN IN PIERID BUTTERFLIES.

This paper addresses the question of how the relationship between morphological structure and functional performance differs in related groups of organisms. I describe the relationship between a suite of phenotypic characters (behavioral posture and the pattern of wing pigmentation) and one function of these characters (thermoregulatory performance) for two groups of butterflies in the family Pieridae, focusing on how behavior and wing pattern interact to affect specific aspects of thermoregulation. Using both natural and experimentally created variation in wing-melanization patterns, I develop and test a series of predictions about the relations among thermoregulatory posture, melanization pattern, body temperature, and flight activity. Results show that increased melanization in different wing regions has positive, negative, or neutral effects in increasing body temperature of Pieris butterflies. The angle of the wings used during basking alters the relative importance of different modes of heat transfer and thereby determines the contribution of different dorsal wing regions to thermoregulation. Experimentally increased dorsal melanization can either increase or decrease the onset of flight activity and can directly alter thermoregulatory posture. For Pieris, dorsal melanization affects basking and flight, while ventral melanization primarily affects overheating. These results are used to generate a functional map relating melanization pattern to thermoregulatory performance in Pieris. Reflectance-basking posture, white background color, and melanization pattern represent coadapted characters in Pieris that interact to determine thermoregulatory performance. The differences in thermoregulatory posture and background color between pierid butterflies in the subfamilies Pierinae and Coliadinae have led to a reorganization and partial reversal of the thermoregulatory effects of melanization pattern. I suggest that this change in the physical mechanism of thermoregulatory adaption in pierids has qualitatively altered the nature of selection on wing-melanization pattern.
Regulatory mechanisms that prevent re-initiation of DNA replication can be locally modulated at origins by nearby sequence elements.

Eukaryotic cells must inhibit re-initiation of DNA replication at each of the thousands of origins in their genome because re-initiation can generate genomic alterations with extraordinary frequency. To minimize the probability of re-initiation from so man
Does Poor Economic Performance Explains the End of Dominant-Party Regimes?

This paper analyzes how the survival chances of a dominant-party regime are affected by its economic performance. I test this relationship using two economic datasets and three different operationalizations of economic performance that aim to capture short- and mid-term trends, as well as drastic variations with respect to the average growth of the previous years. In contrast to previous studies, the evidence used in this paper (it covers more than 65 dominant-party regimes during the period 1950-2009) strongly suggest that these type of autocracies have very good chances to stay in power even after experiencing sustained periods of bad economic results. For instance, even when a dominant-party regime experiences an average economic growth of -3% over a five-years period (a terrible economic situation registered in less than 6% of the observations), its chances of ending are only 2.6%.
Robust Voice Activity Detection Using Sub-band Long-term Signal Variability Features

To improve the accuracy of voice activity detection( VAD) in low signal-to-noise ratio( SNR) environments,an algorithm based on the sub-band long-term signal variability features is proposed. Each frame of speech signal is firstly divided into several non-repetitive sub-bands and the long-term signal variability features of each sub-band are then calculated. The speech and non-speech models on an utterance-by-utterance basis are then trained on-line using GMM. A likelihood ratio detector is used for VAD decision at the final step. Experimental results show that the algorithm significantly increases the accuracy of voice activity detection at low SNR and provides better noise robustness in various noisy environments at any SNR. In addition,the speech recognition system utilizing the proposed VAD algorithm can achieve better performance in noisy environments.
Effectiveness of four outreach modalities to patients overdue for cervical cancer screening in the primary care setting: a randomized trial

Papanicolaou (Pap) testing has dramatically decreased cervical cancer incidence in the USA, but only 83 % of women screen according to guidelines. Our study aimed to examine the real-world effectiveness of various outreach methods in engaging patients who are overdue for cervical cancer screening. In total, 1,100 patients at an urban federally qualified health center overdue for Pap testing were randomized to receive usual care (control), letter outreach, email outreach, telephone outreach, or multimodal (letter/email/telephone) outreach over a period of 3 months. Eighteen months after randomization, medical records were used to determine whether and when each patient had obtained a Pap. Compared to patients receiving usual care, patients in the multimodal (36 vs. 21 %, AOR 2.3, 95 % CI 1.4, 3.6) and telephone (29 vs. 21 %, AOR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.1, 2.8) outreach groups were significantly more likely to receive cervical cancer screening during the follow-up period. Intervention effects were similar among older and younger patients. Telephone, multimodal, and letter outreach resulted in significantly lower median time to screening among patients who did screen (119, 122, and 157 days, respectively) in those groups as compared to the usual care group (270 days). This is the first study to perform a direct, randomized comparison of four distinct cervical cancer outreach intervention modalities with a control usual care group, ensuring comparability across intervention methods. In an urban primary care setting, a multimodal outreach strategy was most effective at increasing the proportion of overdue patients who undergo cervical screening and decreasing time to screening. ClinicalTrials.gov ; Registration Number: NCT02427399; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02427399 .
Integrating Big Data in Metropolitan Regions to Understand Driving Volatility and Implications for Intelligent Transportation Systems

Higher driving volatility, e.g., hard accelerations or hard braking, can imply unsafe outcomes, more energy use, and higher emissions. This presentation will demonstrate how large-scale data, increasingly available from sensors, can be transformed into useful knowledge. This is done by creating a framework for combining data from multiple sources and comparing counties/regions in terms of driving volatility of resident drivers. The unique database was created from four sources that include large-scale travel surveys, historical traffic counts from California and Georgia Department of Transportation, socio-demographic information from Census, and geographic information from Google Earth. The database provides a rich resource to test hypothesis and model driving decisions at the micro-level, i.e., second-by-second. The database has 117,022 trips made by 4,560 drivers residing in 78 counties of 4 major US metropolitan areas across two states. They represent significant variations in land use types and populations; all trips were recorded by in-vehicle GPS devices giving 90,759,197 second-by-second speed records. The data integration helps explore links between driving behaviors and various factors structured in hierarchies, i.e., the data are structured at the levels of trips, drivers, counties, and regions. Appropriate hierarchical models are estimated to study correlates of driving performance and to compare traffic performance across regions. The implications of our analysis for intelligent transportation systems will be discussed.
Nitrogen fixation in North American forestry: research and application

In most North American forest soils, nitrogen, in a form readily assimilable by plants, is not in sufficient supply to support best tree growth. Forest managers usually respond to this fact by accepting less than maximum productivity from their lands. Some apply synthetic fertilizers. But neither of these actions solves the critical problem of maintaining forest ecosystem productivity at a high level of the long term. New technology obviously is needed.
Examining rating criteria used to assess U.S. college students’ Chinese oral performance

This study empirically examines the rating criteria used to assess U.S. college students’ CSL (Chinese as a Second Language) oral performance by analyzing teachers’ assessment of these performances at different proficiency levels. The researcher videotaped ten speeches, and three ACTFL-trained raters assessed oral performance in these samples. The researcher then selected three samples (Samples 1, 2, and 3) to represent Novice High, Intermediate High, and Advanced Low levels. The researcher developed 20 rating items through interviewing ten experienced CSL teachers and running an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on teachers’ assessments of speech samples. After that, 104 CSL teachers used these rating items to assess the aforementioned samples. The EFAs of teachers’ assessments led to three corresponding rating criteria models (Models 1, 2, and 3). Both Models 2 and 3 for Samples 2 and 3, respectively, were five-criterion models, consisting of fluency, conceptual understanding, content richness, communication appropriateness, and communication clarity. Model 1 for Sample 1 was a four-criterion model, in which the items in communication appropriateness and content richness showed high correlations, and therefore were merged into one category; the other three criteria remained the same. Comparisons of the three models demonstrated that the criteria were constant. The ANOVAs showed that the proficiency levels of these oral performances differed significantly across all five rating criteria. This study empirically supports CSL teachers’ use of constant rating criteria to assess different levels of oral performance. It also provides Chinese teachers with rating criteria they can use to assess U.S. college students’ CSL oral performance.
Use of granulocytes concentrates from a single high yield apheresis to support more than one patient.

6622 Background: Allogeneic granulocyte transfusion therapy is sometimes the only therapeutic option in immunocompromised neutropenic leukemic/HSCT patients with life threatening bacterial and fung...
Dynamic Characteristics of VCSELs with Combined Optical Injection and Feedback

We explore dynamics of a VCSEL with simultaneous optical injection and feedback. Broadband dynamics is achieved for combination of feedback of different polarizations and parallel injection.
Abstract 16000: Impaired Fasting Glucose Increases Risk for an Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background: Almost 25% of initial myocardial infarctions (MI) are unrecognized or clinically-silent (UMI). The prognostic implications of a UMI parallel those of symptomatic MIs. With diabetes mellitus (DM) being a known risk factor for UMI, further investigation is warranted regarding impaired fasting glucose (IFG) as a risk factor for UMI. Up to one-third of Americans have IFG . Therefore the relationship between UMI and IFG may have significant public health and clinical ramifications. Methods: The relationship between IFG and UMI was examined in the Cardiovascular Health Study: a cohort of individuals aged ≥ 65 years old. At year 2, there were 5,018 participants who had an initial 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Of these participants, those with prior coronary heart disease (CHD), incident CHD, or a UMI on initial ECG were excluded. Our study population consisted of 1,714 participants without exclusions with measured fasting glucose (normal fasting glucose, NFG; n = 844), IFG (n=679), and DM (n=191) who underwent a baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Using Minnesota code, an UMI was identified by the presence of pathological Q waves or minor Q waves with ST-T abnormalities. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated. Cox proportional hazard models were used to adjust for age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, anti-hypertensive medication use, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, lipid-lowering medication use, and cigarette use. Results: The sample was 36% male, 95% white, and had a mean age of 72.4 ± 5.6 years. Over a mean follow-up of 8.1 years, there were 94 UMIs identified among NFG subjects, 110 among IFG subjects, and 35 among DM subjects. Relative to NFG, the crude risk ratio estimates for UMI with IFG and DM were 1.53 (95% CI: 1.16-2.01) and 1.85 (1.24-2.70), respectively. With adjustment, the HR for UMI in IFG compared with NFG was 1.37 (95% CI: 1.03-1.83; p=0.032), and the HR for UMI in DM compared with NFG was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.24-2.70; p=0.035). Conclusion: Impaired fasting glucose increased the risk for a subsequent unrecognized myocardial infarction. Considering the enormous number of individuals at risk, these findings suggest the need for more aggressive CVD prevention activities.
Referring Expression Generation under Uncertainty: Algorithm and Evaluation Framework

For situated agents to effectively engage in natural-language interactions with humans, they must be able to refer to entities such as people, locations, and objects. While classic referring expression generation (REG) algorithms like the Incremental Algorithm (IA) assume perfect, complete, and accessible knowledge of all referents, this is not always possible. In this work, we show how a previously presented consultant framework (which facilitates reference resolution when knowledge is uncertain, heterogeneous and distributed) can be used to extend the IA to produce DIST-PIA, a domain-independent algorithm for REG under uncertain, heterogeneous, and distributed knowledge. We also present a novel framework that can be used to evaluate such REG algorithms without conflating the performance of the algorithm with the performance of classifiers it employs.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTIBIOTIC BIOSYNTHESIS AND SPORULATION

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the relationship between antibiotic biosynthesis and sporulation. Antibiotics, particularly the peptides made by members of the Bacillus species, are under scrutiny as possible effectors in sporulation. Some role for antibiotics in sporulation is suggested by a number of observations. Practically all sporulating microorganisms produce antibiotics. The antibiotics appear during the stationary phase of growth, which leads to spore formation. Both processes are repressed by glucose, and both are induced by the depletion of an essential nutrient. Peptide antibiotics inhibit, specifically, cellular processes such as DNA synthesis, cell-wall synthesis, and cell-membrane function, and they are made at levels sufficient to act on these functions in their producers. Antibiotics may serve as detergents or as ion carriers to modify the permeability properties of the sporulating cell, or may actually repress or inhibit some stage of macromolecular synthesis, permitting sporulation to proceed.
The Power of the Church - The Role of Roman Catholic Teaching in the Transmission of HIV

We use the appointment of a Kenyan Roman Catholic archbishop as a natural experiment to analyze the impact of church authorities' teaching on sexual behavior. Using a triple-difference approach, we find that following the archbishop's counter-doctrinal assertion that condom use within a marriage can be acceptable to reduce HIV infections, Catholic married couples within the archdiocese who had access to condoms were 7.0 percentage points more likely to use condoms than unmarried Catholics in the diocese, non-Catholics within the diocese, or Catholics in other dioceses. These results are quantitatively large and robust to a number of econometric specifications. The evidence for whether advocating condom use leads to an increase in infidelity or a decrease in respect for women is not conclusive. Our results suggest an important role for the Catholic church in the fight against HIV. This is especially relevant in light of Pope Benedict XVI's recent reconciliatory statement about condom use.
Singlet and Triplet (π, π*) Excited States of Zinc(II) Octaalkylporphyrins: A Time-Resolved Resonance-Raman Study

The excited states of porphyrins and hydroporphyrins act as primary intermediates in processes ranging from biological energy transfer and electron transfer to photocatalysis and photodynamic therapy. We report resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the singlet S1 and triplet T1 excited states of zinc(II) octaethylporphyrin (ZnOEP) and zinc(II) etioporphyrin-I (ZnEtio), using picosecond and nanosecond RR techniques. Picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman experiments were performed using 532 nm photoexcitation pulses and 436 nm probe pulses (both 100 ps, 50 Hz); the experimental apparatus consisted of a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser (Coherent) in combination with a Nd:YAG regenerative amplifier (Continuum) and an H2 cell for stimulated Raman shifting. The apparatus used for nanosecond time-resolved RR experiments has been described previously [1]. Porphyrin samples were prepared in a nitrogen atmosphere at a concentration of 0.5 mM (tetrahydrofuran solvent).
Numerical Analysis of Hybrid Collector PV/T

The Hybrid Photovoltaic thermal solar panel (PV/ T) offers an interesting option now; because the absorbed solar radiation is converted into heat and power (conversion can be performed separately or simultaneously). The aim of our work is to make a dynamic study of a cell of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal solar collector PV/ T using the ANSYS Workbench v.15 Software for predicting a prototype realization of this system. The results suggest that this type of collector is a good alternative to conventional photovoltaic modules and thermal collectors installed separately.
Nonlinear Robust Safety Factor Profile Control in Tokamaks via Feedback Linearization and Nonlinear Damping Techniques

Tokamaks are toroidal devices in which a plasma is confined by means of helical magnetic fields with the purpose of obtaining energy from nuclear fusion reactions. The safety factor, $q$ , measures the pitch of the helical magnetic field lines in a tokamak. Active control of the $q$ profile (i.e., spatial shape) is needed due to its relationship with plasma performance, steady-state operation, and magneto-hydrodynamic stability. However, the responses of some plasma magnitudes, such as the electron temperature, are difficult to model and introduce a high level of uncertainty in the model used for $q$ -profile control design. Control algorithms that are robust against such model uncertainties must be developed in order to ensure successful q-profile regulation. In this work, a nonlinear, robust $q$ -profile controller is designed using feedback linearization and nonlinear damping techniques. The controller makes use of plasma current modulation, neutral beam injection, electron-cyclotron heating & current drive, and electron density modulation as actuation methods. A simulation study is carried out for a DIII-D scenario to test the controller's performance under the presence of electron temperature uncertainties.
Resveratrol improves a murine model of asthma through alterations in the gut microbiome

Asthma is a condition characterized by bronchial spasms, inflammation, and mucous hypersecretion which leads to difficulties in respiration. Asthmatic patients are usually presented with recurrent attacks of coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath which could be life-threatening. More than three million cases of asthma in the United States are diagnosed annually. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic stilbene, is known to be useful in controlling asthmatic attacks via different molecular mechanisms within the lung epithelium and infiltrating immune cells. However, few studies mentioned the effect of resveratrol on the microbiome in ovalbumin-induced asthma mouse model. In this study, we induce asthma in BALB/c mice by injecting ovalbumin (OVA) with aluminum hydroxide intraperitoneally followed by 7 days treatment with resveratrol (100mg/kg) by oral gavage. Intranasal ovalbumin was given on day 8 to induce asthma followed by 7 more days of treatment with resveratrol. We performed 16S rRNA microbial analysis on cecal flushes between disease and treatment groups, noting changes in microbial diversity among disease and treated groups. Specifically, we identified alterations in gut microbial composition, which included significantly higher levels of Prevotella in the disease groups, which was reduced upon treatment with resveratrol. In addition, Bacteroides acidifaciens species were significantly lower in the asthma-induced mice and significantly increased in resveratrol treated. Supported in part by NIH grants P01AT003961, R01AT006888, R01ES019313, R01MH094755, P20GM103641, MoHESR and R01AI129788
Which humanity would space colonization save

Abstract Arguments in favor of space colonization often work from an intriguing pair of assumptions: 1) the interests of intellectual and political elites are equivalent to those of most or all of Earth’s population, and 2) an (ethnocentric) Abrahamic view of the world that humanity is special and, thus, there is a moral requirement to preserve its creaactivities. In this article, I explore and unpack some of the problems with these assumptions in relation to the justification of space colonization. I do not take a position either for or against colonization; rather, I argue that we need to be careful in thinking through—deeply—what we mean when we talk about the interests of “humanity” and the moral necessity of preserving the species.
Gestational weight gain and group prenatal care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Group visits for chronic medical conditions in non-pregnant populations have demonstrated successful outcomes including greater weight loss compared to individual visits for weight management. It is plausible that group prenatal care can similarly assist women in meeting gestational weight gain goals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of group vs. traditional prenatal care on gestational weight gain. A keyword search of Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar was performed up to April 2017. Studies were included if they compared gestational weight gain in a group prenatal care setting to traditional prenatal care in either randomized controlled trials, cohort, or case-control studies. The primary and secondary outcomes were excessive and adequate gestational weight gain according to the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Heterogeneity was assessed with the Q test and I2 statistic. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and confidence intervals (CI) were reported with random-effects models from the randomized controlled trials (RCT) and cohort studies. One RCT, one secondary analysis of an RCT, one study with “random assignment”, and twelve cohort studies met the inclusion criteria for a total of 13,779 subjects. Thirteen studies used the CenteringPregnancy model, defined by 10 sessions that emphasize goal setting and self-monitoring. Studies targeted specific populations such as adolescents, African-Americans, Hispanics, active-duty military or their spouses, and women with obesity or gestational diabetes. There were no significant differences in excessive [7 studies: pooled rates 47% (1806/3582) vs. 43% (3839/8521), RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.97–1.23] or adequate gestational weight gain [6 studies: pooled rates 31% (798/2875) vs. 30% (1410/5187), RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.79–1.08] in group and traditional prenatal care among the nine studies that reported categorical gestational weight gain outcomes in the meta-analysis. Group prenatal care was not associated with excessive or adequate gestational weight gain in the meta-analysis. Since outcomes were overall inconsistent, we propose that prenatal care models (e.g., group vs. traditional) should be evaluated in a more rigorous fashion with respect to gestational weight gain.
The Solar and Wind Economy in Ohio: Industry Analysis and Policy Implications

After historically being driven by coal and, in more recent years, natural gas, Ohio’s energy industry has experienced notable growth in installed solar and wind capacity. Due to changes in consumer tastes and preferences, an overall decline in expenses, and environmental concerns about coal mining and hydraulic fracturing, among others, both public and industry support for renewables has grown. However, Ohio’s renewable energy policies have not consistently aligned with this support. This paper synthesizes reports and analyzes energy industry employment and capacity data in order to summarize the trends within Ohio’s present-day energy industry. After a brief surge, wind activity has stagnated, in part due to expansion of the turbine property line setbacks law. Wind employment has also been relatively erratic, seeing spikes and rapid declines that average to a growth of 13.6% per year from 2013–2016. Conversely, solar energy capacity has grown a bit more steadily due to fewer regulatory restrictions as well as supportive state net metering policies. Correspondingly, solar employment has grown more consistently at a rate of 11.3% per year during our study years. This paper highlights these trends, discusses policy implications moving forward, and makes recommendations for Ohio to stimulate the deployment of additional renewable energy capacity in future years. To accomplish this task, and to enhance sustainable development via renewable energy, we suggest that Ohio ease its wind setbacks and continues to protect the state’s renewable portfolio standard and net metering laws.
Effects of short‐ and long‐term administration of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs on osteotomy healing in dogs

Objective To determine the influence of short-term administration of carprofen on bone healing in dogs. Study design Randomized controlled experimental study. Animals Eighteen purpose-bred sexually mature hound dogs. Methods Tibial osteotomies were performed, and dogs were divided into three groups: no carprofen (n = 6), 2-week administration of carprofen at 2.2 mg/kg twice daily (n = 6), and 8-week administration of carprofen at 2.2 mg/kg twice daily (n = 5). Bone healing was evaluated radiographically at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively. Postmortem, fracture healing was assessed via biomechanical testing (three-point bending), histological cartilage:callus ratio, and bone mineral density (BMD) with quantitative computed tomography. Results No biomechanical difference was detected between dogs that received no carprofen and those that received 2 weeks of carprofen or between those that received 2 weeks vs 8 weeks of carprofen. Stiffness (P = .035) and maximum stress (P = .042) were higher in dogs that received no carprofen than in those that received 8 weeks of carprofen. Radiographic healing did not differ between dogs without carprofen and those with 2-week administration of carprofen (P = .9923). However, tibias of dogs without carprofen and those with 2-week administration of carprofen were more healed compared with those in the 8-week-carprofen group at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery (P = .0011). No treatment effect was detected by cartilage:callus ratio or BMD. Conclusion Long-term administration of carprofen had a negative effect on bone healing compared with short-term or no administration of carprofen. Clinical significance Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be used cautiously in dogs at risk for delayed bone healing, and administration should be discontinued beyond the perioperative period in dogs with fractures or osteotomies.
How Many of These Surgeries Have You Done

In this chapter, we will explore a case involving a patient who needs surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient and her family ask you, the surgical resident, many questions including what your role will be in the operating room and how many times your attending surgeon has performed this procedure. At the conclusion of the case discussion, learners will be able to describe the ethical and legal models of informed consent; analyze the nature and extent of the duty to obtain informed consent, including whether there is an ethical or legal obligation to tell patients about surgical experience or other personal characteristics of the surgeon; appreciate the complex relationship between ethics, law, and medicine at the bedside; and demonstrate the ability to take the perspective of the patient and family in the healthcare provider-patient-family interaction with awareness of issues of health literacy and cultural difference.