cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relative impact of brief treatment versus brief intervention in primary health-care screening programs for substance use disorders.

Aims To assess the relative impact of brief treatment (BT) compared with brief intervention (BI) on changes in substance use behavior in primary care screening programs for substance use disorders, overall and by patient severity. Design and participants A total of 9029 patients with both baseline and follow-up interviews were identified in the US Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) data from October 2004 and February 2008. Using a propensity score framework, multiple generalized linear mixed models and a local linear matching method with a difference in difference estimator, patients from the BI group that resemble BT patients were used to determine the relative treatment effect of BT. A total of 3218 of these US patients with baseline and follow-up interviews were used in the final analysis sample after the propensity score-matching procedure (1448 patients assigned to a BI service category and 1770 assigned to a BT service category). Setting United States. Measurements Dependent variables were the number of days of use in the past 30 days of any alcohol, alcohol to intoxication, illicit drugs and marijuana. Findings The relative impact of BT was not significant for alcohol (0.269; P > 0.1) or alcohol to intoxication (0.462; P > 0.1). BT was found to reduce the frequency of use of illicit drugs at follow-up by 0.634 days more than BI (P 0.1). Higher severity patients assigned to BT had a decrease in days of illicit drug use of 1.765 (P < 0.05). Conclusions In the United States, brief treatment appears to have a stronger impact on reducing illicit drug use than brief intervention but is similar to brief intervention for reducing alcohol use, alcohol to intoxication and marijuana use alone.
Ultrabright fluorescent silica particles with a large number of complex spectra excited with a single wavelength for multiplex applications

We report on a novel approach to synthesize ultrabright fluorescent silica particles capable of producing a large number of complex spectra. The spectra can be excited using a single wavelength which is paramount in quantitative fluorescence imaging, flow cytometry and sensing applications. The approach employs the physical encapsulation of organic fluorescent molecules inside a nanoporous silica matrix with no dye leakage. As was recently demonstrated, such an encapsulation allowed for the encapsulation of very high concentrations of organic dyes without quenching their fluorescent efficiency. As a result, dye molecules are distanced within ∼5 nm from each other; it theoretically allows for efficient exchange of excitation energy via Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here we present the first experimental demonstration of the encapsulation of fluorescent dyes in the FRET sequence. Attaining a FRET sequence of up to five different dyes is presented. The number of distinguishable spectra can be further increased by using different relative concentrations of encapsulated dyes. Combining these approaches allows for creating a large number of ultrabright fluorescent particles with substantially different fluorescence spectra. We also demonstrate the utilization of these particles for potential multiplexing applications. Though fluorescence spectra of the obtained multiplex probes are typically overlapping, they can be distinguished by using standard linear decomposition algorithms.
Can glenoid wear be accurately assessed using x-ray imaging? Evaluating agreement of x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Walch classification

Background The Walch classification is the most recognized means of assessing glenoid wear in preoperative planning for shoulder arthroplasty. This classification relies on advanced imaging, which is more expensive and less practical than plain radiographs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Walch classification could be accurately applied to x-ray images compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the gold standard. We hypothesized that x-ray images cannot adequately replace advanced imaging in the evaluation of glenoid wear. Methods Preoperative axillary x-ray images and MRI scans of 50 patients assessed for shoulder arthroplasty were independently reviewed by 5 raters. Glenoid wear was individually classified according to the Walch classification using each imaging modality. The raters then collectively reviewed the MRI scans and assigned a consensus classification to serve as the gold standard. The κ coefficient was used to determine interobserver agreement for x-ray images and independent MRI reads, as well as the agreement between x-ray images and consensus MRI. Results The inter-rater agreement for x-ray images and MRIs was “moderate” (κ = 0.42 and κ = 0.47, respectively) for the 5-category Walch classification (A1, A2, B1, B2, C) and “moderate” (κ = 0.54 and κ = 0.59, respectively) for the 3-category Walch classification (A, B, C). The agreement between x-ray images and consensus MRI was much lower: “fair-to-moderate” (κ = 0.21-0.51) for the 5-category and “moderate” (κ = 0.36-0.60) for the 3-category Walch classification. Discussion The inter-rater agreement between x-ray images and consensus MRI is “fair-to-moderate.” This is lower than the previously reported reliability of the Walch classification using computed tomography scans. Accordingly, x-ray images are inferior to advanced imaging when assessing glenoid wear.
Current comprehensive management of cranial base chordomas: 10-year meta-analysis of observational studies.

Object The role of surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy for cranial base chordomas is not well established. This meta-analysis measures the relationship of complete resection and type of adjuvant radiation therapy to 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of cranial base chordomas. Methods A systematic MEDLINE search (1999-present) yielded 23 observational studies and 807 patients who fit inclusion criteria. The following analyses were performed: 1) Kaplan-Meier 5-year PFS and OS compared based on the extent of resection and type of adjuvant radiation therapy using the log-rank method; 2) a random-effects model comparing 5-year PFS with complete or incomplete resection; and 3) paired z-test comparisons of weighted average 5-year OS and PFS grouped by type of adjuvant radiation therapy. Results The weighted average follow-up was 53.6 months. The weighted average 5-year PFS and OS were 50.8% and 78.4%, respectively. Complete resection conferred a higher 5-year PFS than incomplete resection from the random effects model (mean difference in PFS 20.7%; 95% CI 6.57%-34.91%). Patients with incomplete resection were 3.83 times more likely to experience a recurrence (95% CI 1.63-9.00) and 5.85 times more likely to die (95% CI 1.40-24.5) at 5 years versus patients with complete resection. There was no difference in 5-year OS by type of adjuvant radiation, although 5-year PFS was lower in patients receiving Gamma Knife surgery relative to carbon ion radiotherapy (p = 0.042) on paired z-test. No survival difference occurred between radiation therapy techniques on Kaplan-Meier analysis of compiled patient data. Conclusions Patients with complete resection of cranial base chordomas have a prolonged 5-year PFS and OS. Adjuvant proton-beam, carbon ion, and modern fractionated photon radiation therapy techniques offered a similar rate of PFS and OS at 5 years.
Pharmacies versus doctors’ offices for adolescent vaccination

Abstract Purpose We sought to understand the relative advantage of pharmacies compared to doctors’ offices for delivering HPV vaccination to adolescents. Methods Participants were a national sample of 1500 U.S. parents of adolescents ages 11–17 recruited in 2014–15. In an online survey, items informed by Diffusion of Innovation Theory assessed parents’ perceptions of the relative advantages of HPV vaccine delivery in pharmacies and doctors’ offices. Principle findings Many parents believed doctor’s offices offered a better health care environment than pharmacies, with more privacy (77%) and a safer place for vaccination (70%). However, many parents also believed pharmacies were more accessible than doctors’ offices, requiring less time for vaccinations (71%) and offering more convenient hours (59%). Parents were more willing to get their children HPV vaccine from pharmacists if they indicated more relative advantages in vaccine delivery in pharmacies (β = .29; p Conclusions To be more appealing to parents as HPV vaccine providers, pharmacy providers within community and hospital settings should build on their relative advantage with respect to accessibility and enhance their appeal of their healthcare environment.
The combined effect of ambient ozone exposure and toxic air releases on hospitalization for asthma among children in Harris County, Texas.

This study represents an analysis of the effect of exposure to ambient ozone and toxic air releases on hospitalization for asthma among children in Harris County, Texas. Our study identified tempor...
Preparation of Soluble Dinitrophenyl Proteins

The method described in Exercise No, 44 yields an insoluble dinitrophenyl (DNP) protein which is suitable for chemical analysis, but cannot be used for immunobiologic assays. Eisen (1964) prepared DNP protein derivatives which are readily soluble in water or saline using a mild procedure. Using dinitrophenyl sulfonate instead of dinitrofluorobenzene, more selective dinitrophenylation could be achieved. This reagent is water soluble; its removal requires simple dialysis (or gel filtration). The number of DNP groups introduced on a protein can be measured photometrically.
Plasticity in One Hemisphere, Control From Two: Adaptation in Descending Motor Pathways After Unilateral Corticospinal Injury in Neonatal Rats.

After injury to the corticospinal tract (CST) in early development there is large-scale adaptation of descending motor pathways. Some studies suggest the uninjured hemisphere controls the impaired forelimb, while others suggest that the injured hemisphere does; these pathways have never been compared directly. We tested the contribution of each motor cortex to the recovery forelimb function after neonatal injury of the CST. We cut the left pyramid (pyramidotomy) of postnatal day 7 rats, which caused a measurable impairment of the right forelimb. We used pharmacological inactivation of each motor cortex to test its contribution to a skilled reach and supination task. Rats with neonatal pyramidotomy were further impaired by inactivation of motor cortex in both the injured and the uninjured hemispheres, while the forelimb of uninjured rats was impaired only from the contralateral motor cortex. Thus, inactivation demonstrated motor control from each motor cortex. In contrast, physiological and anatomical interrogation of these pathways support adaptations only in the uninjured hemisphere. Intracortical microstimulation ofmotor cortex in the uninjured hemisphere of rats with neonatal pyramidotomy produced responses from both forelimbs, while stimulation of the injured hemisphere did not elicit responses from either forelimb. Both anterograde and retrograde tracers were used to label corticofugal pathways. There was no increased plasticity from the injured hemisphere, either from cortex to the red nucleus or the red nucleus to the spinal cord. In contrast, there were very strong CST connections to both halves of the spinal cord from the uninjured motor cortex. Retrograde tracing produced maps of each forelimb within the uninjured hemisphere, and these were partly segregated. This suggests that the uninjured hemisphere may encode separate control of the unimpaired and the impaired forelimbs of rats with neonatal pyramidotomy.
Cloud-Assisted Privacy-Preserving Classification for IoT Applications

The explosive proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is generating an incomprehensible amount of data. Machine learning plays an imperative role in aggregating this data and extracting valuable information for improving operational and decision-making processes. In particular, emerging machine intelligence platforms that host pre-trained machine learning models are opening up new opportunities for IoT industries. While those platforms facilitate customers to analyze IoT data and deliver faster and accurate insights, end users and machine learning service providers (MLSPs) have raised concerns regarding security and privacy of IoT data as well as the pre-trained machine learning models for certain applications such as healthcare, smart energy, etc. In this paper, we propose a cloud-assisted, privacypreserving machine learning classification scheme over encrypted data for IoT devices. Our scheme is based on a three-party model coupled with a two-stage decryption Paillier-based cryptosystem, which allows a cloud server to interact with MLSPs on behalf of the resource-constrained IoT devices in a privacy-preserving manner, and shift load of computation-intensive classification operations from them. The detailed security analysis and the extensive simulations with different key lengths and number of features and classes demonstrate that our scheme can effectively reduce the overhead for IoT devices in machine learning classification applications.
Hierarchical Agency: Double vs. Specialized Audits for Management Control

This paper examines the economic consequences of using double audits vs. specialized audits in a hierarchical agency in order to mitigate the risk incentive problem of a risk-averse manager (agent). The distinguish feature of our model is that the auditors (supervisors) may collude on their information signals (audit reports) about the firm’s risk exposure, which are used in the manager’s performance evaluation. We show that shareholders (principal) prefer double audits to specialized audits if audit reports are of high quality, low correlation, or both; otherwise, the preference reverses. Furthermore, specialized audits are auditor-collusion proof, but double audits are not. We refer to double audits as a policy that shareholders deploy auditors to acquire information about the firm’s overall risk, and specialized audits as a policy that auditors focus on the firm’s individual risk components. Our analysis contributes to the PCAOB’s recent proposal on changes in auditors’ annual audit reports.
Ethical Autonomous Weapons?: Practical, Required Functions

Autonomous weapons systems (AWS) used in offensive combat should be subject to further ethical evaluation. The IEEE's "Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems" [1] and the Future of Life Institute's AI principles [2] are recent stages marking the significance of this inquiry.
Potential for Healing and Harm: Teaching Trans Narratives to Trans Students

We who teach or are interested in teaching transgender and gender variant narratives have a great deal of power to help heal and harm our gender variant students.1 By gender variant, I mean student...
Proceedings of the 11th ACM Workshop on Hot Topics in Networks

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the eleventh ACM SIGCOMM Workshop on Hot Topics in Networks---HotNets XI. As with previous instances of this workshop, the goal has been to provide a venue for publication and discussion of early-stage, provocative research. We received 120 submissions and accepted 23 papers. The accepted papers cover topics ranging from novel network architectures to wireless networks, data center networks, software defined networks, privacy and security, routing and performance optimization.
Palmitate is not an effective fuel for pancreatic islets and amplifies insulin secretion independent of calcium release from endoplasmic reticulum

The aim of the study was to determine the acute contribution of fuel oxidation in mediating the increase in insulin secretion rate (ISR) in response to fatty acids. Measures of mitochondrial metabo...
Serine/Arginine-Rich Splicing Factor 3 Modulates the Alternative Splicing of Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding Protein 2.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has an unusually low 5-year survival rate linked to higher metastatic rates. Our laboratory recently delineated a role for the alternative RNA splicing (AS) of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 2 (CPEB2), via inclusion/exclusion of exon 4, in the metastasis of TNBC. In these studies, the mechanism governing the inclusion/exclusion of exon 4 was examined. Specifically, the RNA trans-factor, SRSF3, was found to be explicitly associated with CPEB2 exon 4. A SRSF3 consensus sequence was identified in exon 4, and mutation of this sequence abolished the association of SRSF3. The expression of SRSF3 was upregulated in TNBC cells upon the acquisition of anoikis resistance correlating with a reduction in the CPEB2A/B ratio. Importantly, downregulation of SRSF3 in these cells by siRNA induced the exclusion of exon 4 in cells increasing the ratio of CPEB2A (exon 4 excluded) to CPEB2B (exon 4 included). Downregulation of SRSF3 also reversed the CPEB2A/B ratio of a wild-type CPEB2 exon 4 minigene and endogenous CPEB2 pre-mRNA, but not a mutant CPEB2 minigene with the SRSF3 RNA cis-element ablated. SRSF3 downregulation ablated the anoikis resistance of TNBC cells, which was "rescued" by ectopic expression of CPEB2B. Finally, analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database showed a positive relationship between SRSF3 expression and lower CPEB2A/B ratios in aggressive breast cancers. Implications: These findings demonstrate that SRSF3 modulates CPEB2 AS to induce the expression of the CPEB2B isoform that drives TNBC phenotypes correlating with aggressive human breast cancer.
Avoidance of scapular winging while approaching tumors of the middle scalene region

Large tumors arising from the middle scalene region can displace the middle scalene muscle and distort regional anatomy, placing nerves at risk. Understanding the surgical anatomy of these nerves is key to approaching pathology of the middle scalene muscle and avoiding damage to the dorsal scapular, long thoracic, and spinal accessory nerves, each of which can cause scapular winging and associated morbidity if injured. IRB approval was obtained for this study, allowing cases with relevant pathology to be reviewed and presented to highlight the relevant surgical technique. Anatomical depictions were created to correlate intraoperative images with known anatomical relationships. Key to this approach is consideration of the regional anatomy in a standard supraclavicular approach, the superficial plane, containing the anterior scalene muscle and brachial plexus, and the oblique plane containing the middle scalene muscle, long thoracic, spinal accessory, and dorsal scapular nerves. Identification and mobilization of each of these structures prior to lesion removal can not only provide likely boundaries of the tumor, but also allow for protection of the nerves to avoid injury that may lead to scapular winging with associated morbidity and functional impairment of the upper extremity. Lesions of the middle scalene region often split two important anatomical planes, the superficial and deep, creating an advantageous surgical corridor through an anterolateral approach. Through early identification of known anatomy, these two planes can be developed, and a safe approach to the lesion of the middle scalene region can be exploited.
Behavior Regularized Offline Reinforcement Learning

In reinforcement learning (RL) research, it is common to assume access to direct online interactions with the environment. However in many real-world applications, access to the environment is limited to a fixed offline dataset of logged experience. In such settings, standard RL algorithms have been shown to diverge or otherwise yield poor performance. Accordingly, recent work has suggested a number of remedies to these issues. In this work, we introduce a general framework, behavior regularized actor critic (BRAC), to empirically evaluate recently proposed methods as well as a number of simple baselines across a variety of offline continuous control tasks. Surprisingly, we find that many of the technical complexities introduced in recent methods are unnecessary to achieve strong performance. Additional ablations provide insights into which design choices matter most in the offline RL setting.
Lessons Learned From Medical Malpractice Claims Involving Critical Care Nurses

BACKGROUND Medical malpractice data can be used to improve patient safety. OBJECTIVE To describe the types of harm events involving nurses that lead to malpractice claims and to compare claims among intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments, and operating rooms. METHODS Malpractice claims closed between 2007 and 2016 were extracted from a national database. Claims with a nurse as the primary provider were identified and then compared by location of the harm event: ICU, emergency department, or operating room. Multivariable regression was used to determine predictors of claims payment. RESULTS Of 54 699 claims, 314 involved ICU nurses as the primary provider. The majority (59%) of claims involving ICU nurses resulted in death or permanent injury. The most common allegation of claims involving ICU nurses was failure to monitor (47%), which was higher than among claims against nurses in the emergency department (9%) or the operating room (4%) (P < .001). The most common diagnosis in claims involving ICU nurses was decubitus ulcers (26%). Despite equivalent numbers of defendants per claim, the median indemnity for paid claims involving ICU nurses was higher ($125 000) than that paid for claims originating in the emergency department ($56 799) or operating room ($43 910) (P < .001). In multivariable regression, 2 variables increased the risk of claim payment: ICU location (odds ratio, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.29-2.48]) and permanent injury (odds ratio, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.07-2.09]). CONCLUSIONS Malpractice claims involving ICU nurses were distinct from claims in comparably fast-paced settings. Focusing harm-prevention efforts in the ICU on skin integrity and monitoring of patients would most likely mitigate many highly severe harms involving ICU nurses, which would benefit both patients and nurses.
APOE and Alzheimer's disease: advances in genetics, pathophysiology, and therapeutic approaches

The APOE e4 allele remains the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease and the APOE e2 allele the strongest genetic protective factor after multiple large scale genome-wide association studies and genome-wide association meta-analyses. However, no therapies directed at APOE are currently available. Although initial studies causally linked APOE with amyloid-β peptide aggregation and clearance, over the past 5 years our understanding of APOE pathogenesis has expanded beyond amyloid-β peptide-centric mechanisms to tau neurofibrillary degeneration, microglia and astrocyte responses, and blood-brain barrier disruption. Because all these pathological processes can potentially contribute to cognitive impairment, it is important to use this new knowledge to develop therapies directed at APOE. Several therapeutic approaches have been successful in mouse models expressing human APOE alleles, including increasing or reducing APOE levels, enhancing its lipidation, blocking the interactions between APOE and amyloid-β peptide, and genetically switching APOE4 to APOE3 or APOE2 isoforms, but translation to human clinical trials has proven challenging.
Preserving Print Legal Information

Ms. Seo reviews the preservation options for print materials and considers current efforts by law and other disciplines. She suggests how law librarians should proceed in the future to address the challenge of preserving deteriorating legal materials in print.
Randomized clinical trial investigating the effect of a more liberal milk allowance in the days after birth on the health and growth of pre-weaned dairy calves

While the level of milk intake from birth to weaning is positively associated with pre-weaning health, growth, and improved milk production in the adult dairy cow, producers are still reluctant to offer large volumes of milk during the first week or two of life due to concerns that increasing the daily allowance too quickly may cause nutritional (milk) scours. However, recent observational studies have reported a positive association between levels of milk consumption in the first days of life and future health events. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of offering a more liberal volume of milk immediately from day 1 of life, as compared to a traditional ramp-up program. We hypothesized that calves offered more milk early in life would not experience more scours, but rather would experience improved health and growth as compared to calves that were slowly ramped up in their daily milk allowance over a period of 7 - 14 days.
Toward modeling of turbulent flow over surfaces of arbitrary roughness

The problem of Reynolds-averaged modeling of turbulent boundary-layer flow over surfaces of arbitrary roughness is studied using the results of direct numerical simulations of turbulent flow over many different rough surfaces. The complexity of flow in the roughness sublayer is such that the most effective general strategy appears to be to model it as a prescribed velocity profile, either at a coarse level as a conventional roughness-specific log-linear wall function, or at a fine level as a modeled roughness-specific velocity profile across the roughness sublayer, together with a standard Reynolds-averaged closure in the outer flow. Calculations made with sandgrain roughness wall functions and velocity-profile models were in excellent agreement with channel-flow simulation data and, after correction for effects of Reynolds number and roughness height, were in good agreement with friction coefficients for a wide range of reference pipe-flow data. Equally good predictions of friction coefficients were made of flows over wavy walls, walls with spaced arrays of semi-ellipsoids, and walls with roughness elements of random size and orientation, when either sublayer velocity profiles or wall functions for the corresponding roughnesses were used. This modeling approach is made possible by the availability of relevant data from a library of roughness-sublayer velocity profiles from simulations of flow over many different kinds of rough surfaces.
Hume'S Changing Views on the ‘Durability’ of Scepticism1

While Hume is famous for his development and defence of various arguments for radical scepticism, Hume was bothered by the tension between his ‘abstruse’ philosophical reflections and ordinary life: If he often felt intensely sceptical in his study, he nonetheless felt genuinely unable to take these sceptical views seriously when he returned to the concerns and activities of everyday life. Hume's published work shows a deep and ongoing preoccupation with this tension, and I believe it also shows that Hume's view about the ‘durability’ of scepticism (that is, the extent to which sceptical insights can have an abiding impact on our cognitive lives) underwent an evolutionary development throughout the course of his publishing career. In this paper I propose to trace these textual developments in detail. In particular, I will argue that Hume's concern for intellectual stability is what drives the evolution, as he struggled to understand the ‘durable value’ in scepticism.
Sediment Exchange Between the Created Saltmarshes of Living Shorelines and Adjacent Submersed Aquatic Vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay

Rising sea levels and increasing frequency of extreme events put coastal communities at serious risk. In response, shoreline armoring for stabilization has been widespread; however, this solution does not take ecological aspects of the coasts into account. The “living shoreline” technique includes coastal ecology by incorporating natural habitat features, such as saltmarshes, into shoreline stabilization. However, impacts of living shorelines to adjacent benthic communities, like submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV), are not clear yet. In particular, while both marshes and SAV trap sediment necessary for their resilience to environmental change, synergies between the communities are not well understood. To help quantify the ecological and protective (shoreline stabilization) aspects of living shorelines, we present modeling results using the Delft3D-SWAN system on sediment transport between the created saltmarshes of the living shorelines and adjacent SAV in a subestuary of Chesapeake Bay. We used a double numerical approach, first to validate deposition measurements made in the field and second to quantify a sediment balance between the two vegetation communities using an idealized model. This model uses the same numerical domain with different wave heights, periods, and basin slope and includes the presence of rip-rap, often used together with marsh plantings in living shorelines, to look at influences of artificial structures on the sediment exchange between the plant communities. Study results indicate lower shear stress, lower erosion rate, and higher deposition rates within the SAV bed compared to the scenario with only marsh, which helps stabilize bottom sediments by making the sediment balance positive (deposition within the two vegetations higher than sediment loss). The presence of rip-rap resulted in a positive sediment balance especially in case of extreme events, where sediment balance was magnified. Overall, SAV helps stabilize bed level and shoreline, and rip-rap works better with extreme conditions, demonstrating how the right combination of natural and built solutions can work well in terms of ecology and coastal protection.
A Knowledge-Based Approach to Syntactic Disambiguation of Biomedical Noun Compounds

A Noun compounds (NCs) provide a convenient way of communicating complex biomedical concepts in natural language. NewNCs evolvewith scientific progress in various fields and are often not included in standard dictionaries. Thus, semantic analysis of NCs is an important task in applications including ontology alignment, semantic data integration, information extraction, and question answering. A first step in such analysis is the syntactic grouping or bracketing of the constituent nouns. The state-of-the-art in bracketing is mostly limited to compounds with three nouns using empirical studies involving corpora like the Web or Medline biomedical research article citations. Here, we present an alternative knowledge-based approach using the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) concept labels and definitions for NCs with three or four tokens. Experiments indicate that our method offers comparable accuracy with those that use the Web or Medline for 3-token NCs. Preliminary evaluations with 4-token NCs also point to the potential of our approach to bracketing longer NCs.
Learning from Hourly Household Energy Consumption: Extracting, Visualizing and Interpreting Household Smart Meter Data

In this paper, we present the Energy Visualization and Insight System for Demand Operations and Management platform (VISDOM), a collection of smart meter data analysis algorithms and visualization tools designed to address the challenge of interpreting patterns in energy data in support of research, utility energy efficiency and demand response programs. We provide an overview of how the system works and examples of usage, followed by a discussion of the potential benefits of using VISDOM to identify and target participants whose electricity consumption is best aligned with the goals of efficiency and demand response programs.
Expanding Electrochemical DNA Biosensors to Detect Ricin

Ricin toxin chain A (RTA), a byproduct of the production of castor oil from castor bean plants, can cause serious health problems if ingested, inhaled, or injected. In this project, we have designe...
Open label study of ambrisentan in patients with exercise induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (EiPAH)

EiPAH, defined by: mPAP>30mmHg at peak exercise, PVRmax>80 dynes sec cm-5, and PCWPmax Methods: Single-center, open-label 6-month study to evaluate the effects of ambrisentan on exercise capacity utilizing invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET) in EiPAH. Patients were recruited after a clinically indicated ICPET for evaluation of unexplained exertional dyspnea. After 6-months of treatment patients underwent repeat iCPET, and exercise capacity, symptoms and hemodynamics were assessed. We compared change from baseline in peak exercise values of VO2, mPAP, PAWP, PVR, and CO. Results: To date 5 patients (4/5 male, age 58.2±7.0 years) have completed the 6-month treatment phase and undergone repeat ICPET. Baseline resting hemodynamics were mPAP=18.4±4.2mmHg, PAWP=9.4±4.3mmHg, CO=4.3±1.3l/min and PVR=141.2±70.8 dynes sec cm-5; peak values were mPAP=37.6±5.2, PAWP=14.0±4.1, CO=9.8±2.0 and PVR=176.4±63.7 dynes sec cm-5. After 6 months of treatment there was an increase in peak CO (+3.4±2.4l/min), with a decline in peak mPAP (-7.6±3.5, range -2 to -11; p=0.008) and PVR (-94.8±59.2, range -35 to -176; p=0.02). Neither peak PCWP (+0.8±8.2, p=0.84) nor peak VO2 (+48.4mL/min, p=0.29) changed significantly. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that treatment of EiPAH with ambrisentan results in improved hemodynamics over a 6-month period. Further study of EiPAH and early treatment is warranted.
Climate, paleoecology and abrupt change during the Late Proterozoic: A consideration of causes and effects

This chapter examines the influence of the biosphere on the initiation, and termination of, the glaciations of the late Proterozoic. Recent considerations suggest that the biosphere controlled the timing of the onset of glaciation and also controlled the timing of the end of glaciation. Massive carbonate accumulation and giant stromatolites of the Late Proterozoic, combined with major blooms of phyto-plankton, led to significant drops in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere, and forced climate from greenhouse to icehouse conditions. Cryoconites and hyperscums, each with a distinctively adapted cryophilic microbiota, developed during the Proterozoic ice ages and may have been a factor in melting the ice. The Proterozoic Tindir Group, Alaska provides evidence for such a cryophilic microbiota. Only by invoking the activity of such organisms can we explain the rapidity of deglaciation. A propensity to accumulate massive carbonates was present before the glaciation as well as after the deposition of the cap carbonates. Substrate disturbance by burrowing metazoa after the ice ages disrupted the microbial mat component of Proterozoic carbonate sequestration. Stromatolites after the glaciation tend to have porous, clotted and thrombolitic textures instead of evenly laminated textures and would therefore be less effective at retaining carbon dioxide (as carbonate and organic matter) and keeping it out of marine circulation. Newly emergent, burrowing metazoa of the Late Proterozoic eventually halted the development of ice-age inducing conditions, and may have prevented even worse glaciations by releasing hydrocarbons sequestered in seafloor sediment.
Slowing Down the Bandwagon: The Misapplication of Functional Assessment for Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Despite the tremendous attention being given to functional assessment and legal mandates regarding its use, little is known empirically about this process for students with emotional or behavioral ...
Scaffold Design for Integrative Tendon–Bone Repair

This chapter will discuss integrative tendon–bone repair using rotator cuff as an example. Rotator cuff injuries often occur as the result of tendon avulsion at the tendon–bone interface. Cuff repair surgeries are associated with high failure rate with reoccurring tears, which are caused by the lack of biological fixation of the tendon to bone. Currently, augmentation scaffolds are used with a focus on improving initial mechanical loading of the repaired cuff, or biological healing of the tendon. However, an ideal tendon graft for this application should also facilitate functional graft integration with the bone through the regeneration of the native tendon–bone interface. The native insertion exhibits controlled heterogeneity in its compositional, organizational, and mechanical properties that enable its function of minimizing stress concentration and transferring loads between tendon and bone. Tissue engineering strategies are employed for regenerating this tissue. Specifically, complex scaffolds that recapitulate the compositional and organizational properties are designed to enable the well-defined, region-dependent changes in mechanical properties, as well as support interactions between heterotypic cell populations. This chapter will conclude with a summary and discussion of future directions.
Axial specification for sensory organs versus non-sensory structures of the chicken inner ear

A mature inner ear is a complex labyrinth containing multiple sensory organs and nonsensory structures in a fixed configuration. Any perturbation in the structure of the labyrinth will undoubtedly lead to functional deficits. Therefore, it is important to understand molecularly how and when the position of each inner ear component is determined during development. To address this issue, each axis of the otocyst (embryonic day 2.5, E2.5, stage 16–17) was changed systematically at an age when axial information of the inner ear is predicted to be fixed based on gene expression patterns. Transplanted inner ears were analyzed at E4.5 for gene expression of BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein), SOHo-1 (sensory organ homeobox-1), Otx1 (cognate of Drosophila orthodenticle gene), p75NGFR (nerve growth factor receptor) and Msx1 (muscle segment homeobox), or at E9 for their gross anatomy and sensory organ formation. Our results showed that axial specification in the chick inner ear occurs later than expected and patterning of sensory organs in the inner ear was first specified along the anterior/posterior (A/P) axis, followed by the dorsal/ventral (D/V) axis. Whereas the A/P axis of the sensory organs was fixed at the time of transplantation, the A/P axis for most non-sensory structures was not and was able to be re-specified according to the new axial information from the host. The D/V axis for the inner ear was not fixed at the time of transplantation. The asynchronous specification of the A/P and D/V axes of the chick inner ear suggests that sensory organ formation is a multi-step phenomenon, rather than a single inductive event.
Equilibrium Unfolding of Bombyx mori Glycyl-tRNA Synthetase

Unfolding of Bombyx mori glycyl-tRNA synthetase was examined by multiple spectroscopic techniques. Tryptophan fluorescence of wild type enzyme and an N-terminally truncated form (N55) increased at low concentrations of urea or guanidine-HCl followed by a reduction in intensity at intermediate denaturant concentrations; a transition at higher denaturant was detected as decreased fluorescence intensity and a red-shifted emission. Solute quenching of fluorescence indicated that tryptophans become progressively solvent-exposed during unfolding. Wild type enzyme had stronger negative CD bands between 220 and 230 nm than the mutant, indicative of greater alpha-helical content. Urea or guanidine-HCl caused a reduction in ellipticity at 222 nm at low denaturant concentration with the wild type enzyme, a transition that is absent in the mutant; both enzymes exhibited a cooperative transition at higher denaturant concentrations. Both enzymes dissociate to monomers in 1.5 m urea. Unfolding of wild type enzyme is described by a multistate unfolding and a parallel two state unfolding; the two-state component is absent in the mutant. Changes in spectral properties associated with unfolding were largely reversible after dilution to low denaturant. Unfolding of glycyl-tRNA synthetase is complex with a native state, a native-like monomer, partially unfolded states, and the unfolded state.
Mortality From the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919: The Case of India

Estimates of worldwide mortality from the influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 vary widely, from 15 million to 100 million. In terms of loss of life, India was the focal point of this profound demographic event. In this article, we calculate mortality from the influenza pandemic in India using panel data models and data from the Census of India. The new estimates suggest that for the districts included in the sample, mortality was at most 13.88 million, compared with 17.21 million when calculated using the assumptions of Davis (1951). We conclude that Davis’ influential estimate of mortality from influenza in British India is overstated by at least 24%. Future analyses of the effects of the pandemic on demographic change in India and worldwide will need to account for this significant downward revision.
Nanomechanical and Nanotribological Properties of Carbon, Chromium, and Titanium Carbide Ultrathin Films

The nanomechanical and nonotribological properties of 10-nm-thick amorphous carbon (a-C) films and 100-nm-thick polycrystalline chromium (Cr) and titanium carbide (TiC) films were investigated using a surface force microscope (SFM). The films were deposited on Si(100) substrates by radio frequency (RF) sputtering and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) techniques. The experiments were performed with diamond tips of nominal radius of curvature equal to 20 nm, 100 nm, and 20 μm, and contact forces in the range of 3-400 μN. Nanoindentation experiments performed with the 20-nm-radius pyramidal diamond tip revealed that, for a 20 μN maximum contact force, the deformation of the a-C films was purely elastic, whereas that of the Cr film and Si(100) substrate was predominantly plastic. Although the RF sputtered a-C films and the PLD films of TiC exhibited similar nanohardness (∼40 GPa), the a-C films showed a superior nanowear resistance. Despite the identical hardness-to-elastic modulus ratio values of the RF sputtered polycrystalline Cr films and the single-crystal Si(100) substrate, the Cr films demonstrated a greater nanowear resistance. The wear behavior of the films is interpreted in terms of the relative specific energy dissipated during the nanowear process. Results from nanowear tests show that, in addition to the nanohardness and hardness-to-elastic modulus ratio, the microstructure, type of atomic bonding, and deposition process affecting the composition and residual stress in the films influence the nanowear resistance of the films.
Analysis of isoflavones by capillary electrophoresis

A simple capillary electrophoresis method is described for the assay of several isoflavones and coumestrol isolated from plant extracts. The method has good reproducibility; it compares well to HPLC, and it can be performed in less than 10 min.
Expected Long‐Run Return on Equity in a Residual Income Valuation Model

I show that the common residual income model assumption that return on equity approaches zero in the long run as competitive advantage dissipates is incorrect. This erroneous assumption comes from the common misinterpretation of the spread between return on equity and the cost of equity as a measure of economic profit. I also show that an unbiased accounting system (Feltham and Ohlson, 1995), which would make such an interpretation acceptable, is unlikely to exist in actual financial statements. Finally, I argue that because an accounting system can be deemed to be unbiased only if the firm's value is already known, the concept is of little practical use for actual valuation work.
System for making scientific videotapes

This paper presents vuemovie, a program for the interactive production of scientific videotapes. Vuemovie provides an environment for composing, previewing, editing, and recording a script representation of a videotape. A script contains animation sequences, titles, and transitions that are easily manipulated with a text editor. Animation sequences can be precomputed or generated on-the-fly and can be recorded in real-time or frame-by-frame. Components of the system include a videotape recorder server, a script command language, and a user interface. Implementations of vuemovie on two visualization workstations are described.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Specialty retail center's impact on downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment

Purpose – To examine the impact of Baltimore, Maryland USA festival market called Harbor Place on area residents' shopping, dining, and entertainment behavior over a 23‐year period.Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal study utilizing a telephone survey of a random sample of Baltimore area residents in 1982, 1992, and 2005.Findings – A significant decline in shopping for non‐food items at Harbor Place and the Inner Harbor after the initial excitement following the opening of Harbor Place in 1980. A substantial and stable percentage of area residents visited the Inner Harbor and Harbor Place in each wave of the study for dining and entertainment purposes.Practical implications – The festival market attracts the recreational shopper/shopper tourist but is likely to attract the convenience shopper as more residential development occurs in areas adjacent to the Inner Harbor. The area is likely to continue attracting area residents for dining and entertainment.Originality/value – The paper compares and ...
CLASSICAL HAMILTONIAN DESCRIPTION OF A TWO-LEVEL QUANTUM SYSTEM : THE QUANTUM ZENO EFFECT

We consider the simplest quantum system, namely the two-level system with real matrix elements, and exhibit its specific phase properties related to the complex Hamiltonian formalism provided by a simple canonical transformation between the Schroedinger equation and a classical dynamical system that actually describes the dynamics of a spin 12. In the case of the quantum Zeno effect, it yields the provocative theoretical suggestion and experimental prediction that an energy measurement should always yield the same energy value (which is either the upper or the lower energy level, depending on the value of the energy expectation value), contrary to the standard quantum rule stating that an energy measurement should share the probabilities between the two energy levels (except for the eigenstates). This makes a quasi-continuously observed two-level quantum system very similar to a classical system from the point of view of energy measurements.