cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Consumer-Directed Health Benefits Favor The Young And Healthy?

This paper demonstrates through a simulation and demographic analysis of consumers’ out-of-pocket payments for premiums and medical care that the young and healthy are potential winners with consumer-directed health benefits (CDHBs), and the moderately sick are the losers. However, benefit design constraints and job tenure realities limit the savings opportunities for the young. As employee cost sharing continues unabated, one potential remedy is to cap expenses as a percentage of income, thereby placing a limit on the burden to the sick and ensuring that all Americans share the burden equally according to ability to pay.
Indentation-Debonding Test for Adhered Thin Polymer Layers

The indentation-debonding test is basically a nondestructive test for checking the adherence of thin polymer films to hard substrates (such as epoxy film adhered to copper). A small pointed indenter is pressed to the surface in the normal direction. The tensile stresses arising in the bond outside the contact area may exceed the limiting value and debonding would then take place. Observation of this phenomenon is often facilitated by the appearance of Newton’s rings created by the diffraction of light passed through and reflected from the debonded film. Mechanical analysis of the deforming polymer film is based on the computation of displacements of a thin plate segment confined between the rim of the indentation and the edge of the debonded area. It is experimentally found that the radial bending strain in the film limits the adherence, i.e., determines the onset of “peeling”. Cases of pure interfacial debonding have been treated, and experimental data are described, for a wide variation of parameters.
The Democratic Syllabus

The ideal of the “democratic classroom” has been discussed in educational circles for several years. This article answers the question of whether there are specific advantages to be derived from a democratization of the political science classroom, especially one in which democracy itself is a focus of study. Can giving students more power over course content enhance their understanding of democratic authority and process? The author approached these questions by adding several “democratizing” elements to a seminar course, most notably a “democratic syllabus” in which students determined discussion topics, led class sessions, and submitted work of their own choosing. Student surveys and the author’s reflection suggest that the democratic syllabus was a success in terms of the classroom dynamics that it engendered and the thinking about democratic politics and citizenship that it encouraged. Both students and professor agreed that the democratic syllabus presented challenges that should be considered by anyone thinking about creating or modifying a course on this model. Yet this article argues that many political science courses would benefit from similar endeavors in classroom democratization.
Classification of functions and enumeration of bases of set logic under Boolean compositions

This paper discusses some classification and enumeration problems in r-valued set logic, which is the logic of functions mapping n-tuples of subsets into subsets over r values. Boolean functions are convenient choice as building blocks in the design of set logic. B-maximal sets are maximal sets containing all Boolean functions, where Boolean functions are those obtained from /spl cup/, /spl cap/ and /sup -/ by composition (constants are not involved in the compositions). We give the number of n-place functions in each B-maximal set and find some properties of intersection of B-maximal sets in r-valued set logic. These properties are used to classify all 2-valued and 3-valued set logic functions according to the B-maximal sets to which they belong to. We prove that there are 8 and 200 such classes of functions respectively in 2-valued and 3-valued set logic. For each class of functions we give a one-place example function and its total number of one-place set logic functions. Finally, we study the B-Sheffer functions, i.e. functions which are complete under compositions with Boolean functions. We find the number of n-place B-Sheffer functions of 2-valued set logic and give a lower bound and an upper bound on the number of n-place B-Sheffer functions of 3-valued set logic. Also we enumerate all the classes of B-bases of 2-valued and 3-valued set logic.
Spiral tubular bioreactors for hydrogen production by photosynthetic microorganisms

Spiral tubular bioreactors were constructed out of transparent PVC tubing for H2 production applications. Both a cyanobacterial Anabaena variabilis mutant that lacks uptake hydrogenase activity and the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sp. CBS were tested in the bioreactors. Continuous H2 photoproduction at an average rate of 19 mL · min-2 · h-1 was observed using the A. variabilis mutant under an air atmosphere (without argon sparging or application of a partial vacuum). The cyanobacterial photobioreactor was run continuously for over one month with an average efficiency of light energy conversion to H2 of 1.4%. Another H2-producing approach employed a unique type of activity found in a strain of photosynthetic bacteria that shifts CO (and H2O) into H2 (and CO2) in darkness. Continuous dark H2 production by Rhodobacter sp. CBS from CO (in anticipation of using synthesis gas as the future substrate) at rates up to 140 mL · g cdw-1 · h-1 was observed in a bubble-train bioreactor for more than 10 d.
Novel methods for generating fractional epidermal micrografts

Summary Background Epidermal suction blister grafts are an effective treatment for chronic wounds or vitiligo, but this treatment is time consuming and limited to small areas. Objectives To compare two novel strategies to create fractional epidermal grafts. Methods Epidermal blisters were raised from fresh human skin ex vivo at 38–40 °C, with suction of 380–510 mmHg. In Strategy 1, a 1-cm blister was micromeshed into approximately 500 pieces, transferred to elastic adhesive dressing, then pneumatically expanded to approximately nine times the original blister area. In Strategy 2, a 25-cm2 array of 100 small blisters was raised, simultaneously harvested and captured directly onto an adhesive dressing. Measurements were taken for the pneumatic expansion limit, the release of microblisters upon hydration of the dressing adhesive, light microscopy, epidermal cell viability and positive L-3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine melanocyte presence in blisters. Results Both strategies yielded viable fractional epidermal microblister arrays, carried on a dressing for transfer to graft recipient sites. The microblisters were gradually released upon hydration of the dressing adhesive. Strategy 2 has major advantages as only small blisters are made at the donor site, skilful dissection and physical expansion are not required and the strategy can be scaled to create large-area grafts. Conclusions Strategy 2 is the more practical method for fractional epidermal micrografting to treat larger lesions with less donor-site trauma and has recently been commercialized.
Cells and tissue interactions with glycated collagen and their relevance to delayed diabetic wound healing

Dermal accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) has increasingly been implicated as the underlying cause of delayed diabetic wound healing. Devising an in vitro model to adequately mimic glycated tissues will facilitate investigation into the mechanism of glycation in conjunction with exploration of new approaches or improvement of current therapies for treating diabetic chronic wounds. Collagen matrices were artificially glycated and the presence of AGEs was demonstrated by immunostaining. Both the mechanical properties of the collagen matrices and their interactions with fibroblasts (morphology, attachment, proliferation, and migration) were altered after glycation, moreover, there was evidence of impairment on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling as well as inhibition of cell-induced material contraction. The actin cytoskeletons of the fibroblasts residing in the glycated collagen matrices were reorganized. In vivo mice full-thickness dermal wound models implanted with glycated collagen matrices showed delayed wound healing response. Thus, the glycated collagen matrix is an adequate in vitro model to mimic glycated tissues and could serve as a facile experimental tool to investigate the mechanism of glycation in conjunction with exploration of new approaches or improvement of current therapies for treating diabetic wounds.
An Algorithm for Converting Ordinal Scale Measurement Data to Interval/Ratio Scale

The extensive use of survey instruments in the social sciences has long created debate and concern about validity of outcomes, especially among instruments that gather ordinal-level data. Ordinal-level survey measurement of concepts that could be measured at the interval or ratio level produce errors because respondents are forced to truncate or round off their responses to fit a given ordinal scale. This article presents a Markov chain Monte Carlo modeling technique that converts ordinal measurements to interval/ ratio. Simulated data demonstrate the robustness of this technique, and implications of this technique are discussed.
Reduced Neutrophil Apoptosis in Diabetic Mice during Staphylococcal Infection Leads to Prolonged Tnfα Production and Reduced Neutrophil Clearance

Diabetes is a frequent underlying medical condition among individuals with Staphylococcus aureus infections, and diabetic patients often suffer from chronic inflammation and prolonged infections. Neutrophils are the most abundant inflammatory cells during the early stages of bacterial diseases, and previous studies have reported deficiencies in neutrophil function in diabetic hosts. We challenged age-matched hyperglycemic and normoglycemic NOD mice intraperitoneally with S. aureus and evaluated the fate of neutrophils recruited to the peritoneal cavity. Neutrophils were more abundant in the peritoneal fluids of infected diabetic mice by 48 h after bacterial inoculation, and they showed prolonged viability ex vivo compared to neutrophils from infected nondiabetic mice. These differences correlated with reduced apoptosis of neutrophils from diabetic mice and were dependent upon the presence of S. aureus and a functional neutrophil respiratory burst. Decreased apoptosis correlated with impaired clearance of neutrophils by macrophages both in vitro and in vivo and prolonged production of proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha by neutrophils from diabetic mice. Our results suggest that defects in neutrophil apoptosis may contribute to the chronic inflammation and the inability to clear staphylococcal infections observed in diabetic patients.
Visual Following and Pattern Discrimination of Face-like Stimuli by Newborn Infants

Forty newborn infants, median age 9 minutes, turned their eyes and heads to follow a series of moving stimuli. Responsiveness was significantly greater to a proper face pattern than to either of two scrambled versions of the same stimulus or to a blank. The demonstration of such consistent response differences suggests that visual discriminations are being made at this early age. These results imply that organized visual perception is an unlearned capacity of the human organism. The preference for the proper face stimulus by infants who had not seen a real face prior to testing suggests that an unlearned or "evolved" responsiveness to faces may be present in human neonates.
Robust cognitive networks interfacing with cognitive antennas

Cognitive Radios (CRs) are able to operate in a large attribute space and operational parameters are chosen from this space, depending on the sensed environment, to achieve best performance. In this paper we demonstrate that such choice of parameters and the attribute space impact robustness of the network under electronic and information attacks. Such impact results in various tradeoffs to be considered when designing a policy-based CR system. More specifically, we discuss two of the design issues: attribute space size and network cluster size based on these tradeoff considerations. Discussions in the paper show that security and robustness should become an integral part of CR design considerations.1
Applying Social Psychology to Avoid Ecological Disaster

The danger of humans producing irreversible harmful changes to the environmental conditions that support life on earth is grave and imminent. Since this threat to the environment is caused by human behavior, behavioral and social scientists have an important role to play in reducing it. The goal of their efforts must be to determine and encourage patterns of life that can be sustainable into the indefinite future. The most central factor producing our environmental problems is the worldwide population explosion, which must be curtailed as soon as possible in order to provide any hope of a sustainable world. This article gives examples of valuable social science research related to population control, global environmental change, energy conservation, and reducing and recycling solid wastes.
Staggered TESLA: a multicast authentication scheme resistant to DoS attacks

Many techniques for multicast authentication employ the principle of delayed key disclosure. These methods introduce delay in the verification of authentication, employ receiver-side buffers, and consequently are susceptible to denial of service (DoS) attacks. This paper introduces a method to reduce the delay needed to filter forged multicast packets, and consequently mitigates the effects of DoS attacks. Specifically, this paper introduces suitable modifications to the popular multicast authentication scheme, TESLA, through the use of multiple, staggered authentication keys that are used in creating message authentication codes (MACs) for a multicast packet. We provide guidelines for determining the appropriate buffer size, and show that the use of multiple MACs allows the receiver to flush potentially forged packets quicker than in conventional TESLA. As a result, staggered TESLA provides an advantage against DoS attacks as it requires an adversary to attempt a DoS at a higher attack rate than is necessary in conventional TESLA.
Isolated visceral leishmaniasis presenting as an adrenal cystic mass.

Abstract A 69-year-old woman presented with a large left retroperitoneal suprarenal mass. Radical resection of the left kidney and the mass revealed a cystic adrenal tumor with a weight of 1500 g. Histologic examination showed that the cyst was composed mostly of partially organized clotted blood. The periphery of the mass consisted of a thin rim of cortical and medullary adrenal tissue with superimposed granulomatous chronic inflammation. The infectious nature of the process was manifested by the scattered intracellular and extracellular Leishmania amastigotes that were found throughout the lesion. The differential diagnosis of cystic adrenal masses and the unusual presentation of visceral leishmaniasis are discussed in this context.
Soluble oligonucleosomal complexes in synovial fluid from inflamed joints.

Objective. To determine whether soluble oligonucleosomal DNA, typical of that released during apoptotic cell death, is present in synovial fluids from inflamed joints and, if so, whether it is present in sufficient concentrations to have pathophysiologic significance. Methods. Fifty synovial fluid specimens from 46 patients were studied, 41 from joints with a variety of inflammatory disorders and 9 from osteoarthritic joints. DNA from freshly collected synovial fluid was isolated and quantitated by microfluorometry, and the oligonucleosomal fraction was measured by radiolabeling, gel electrophoresis, and autoradiography. Specific immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antihistone antibody, after DNA radiolabeling in whole synovial fluid, was used to detect histone binding. Results. DNA with a typical oligonucleosomal ladder was observed in most specimens. The mean ± SD oligonucleosomal DNA concentration was 14.1 ± 18.5 μg/ml in synovial fluids from inflamed joints, considerably higher than that in osteoarthritic synovial fluids. Additionally, the DNA was shown to be complexed with histone, as would be expected. Control experiments were performed to show that the oligonucleosomal DNA was present in soluble form and did not arise due to in vitro artifact. The DNA concentrations were found to correlate significantly with the concentrations of synovial fluid leukocytes, most of which were neutrophils. Conclusion. Synovial fluids from inflamed joints contain oligonucleosomal DNA typical of that released during apoptotic cell death. The probable source is fluid-phase neutrophils undergoing apoptotic cell death, although this was not directly demonstrated. The concentrations are sufficient to have biologic activity similar to that shown in vitro, including lymphoproliferation and stimulation of interleukin-6 secretion. A mechanism by which oligonucleosomal DNA may contribute to perpetuation of rheumatoid synovitis is proposed. If it is generalizable to other sites of inflammation, as seems probable, similar oligonucleosomal DNA release accompanying inflammation may play a pathogenetic role in other disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus.
Behavior of MLSE-EDC With Self-Phase Modulation Limitations and Various Dispersion Levels in 10.7-Gb/s NRZ and Duobinary Signals

We investigate experimentally the effectiveness of maximum likelihood sequence estimation electronic dispersion compensation (MLSE-EDC) for signals limited by self-phase modulation (SPM) and with various dispersion levels. We study nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) and duobinary signals modulated at 10.7Gb/s and find that the improvement obtained with an MLSE-EDC receiver depends strongly on the level of residual chromatic dispersion (after partial optical compensation) in both cases. In general, greater SPM tolerance to high channel powers is derived from the MLSE in the presence of larger residual dispersion values. An increase in the allowable channel launch power of more than 2 dB is observed for NRZ signals, whereas, the increase for duobinary may be almost 6 dB.
A short history of psychological theories of learning

University, where he teaches principally in the School of Law. With George Miller he founded Harvard's Center for Cognitive Studies in the early 1960s. He has published widely, his work principally focusing on the interaction of mind and culture. His latest book is "Making Stories: Law, Literature, Life" (2002). -L/earning remains an elusive topic, de spite the endless research lavished on it. And what we mean by it, of course, is shaped by how we choose to study it. Concentrate on how children master
American College of Medical Informatics Fellows and International Associates, 2005

Alan R. Aronson “Lan” Aronson received his bachelor's degree in mathematics magna cum laude from the University of Washington in Seattle, a master's degree in mathematics, and both master's and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Maryland. He has been a computer scientist at the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications since 1988. In a highly productive research program, he has developed a broad array of applications that use the Metathesaurus and other UMLS (Unified Medical Language System) knowledge components. Among these are MetaMap, which is a program that automatically maps text to concepts in the Metathesaurus, and a Medical Text Indexer System, which produces automated MeSH indexing of meeting abstracts and suggests appropriate MeSH headings to NLM's MEDLINE indexers. He also developed a Natural Language Processing (NLP) subset tag that has been incorporated into the Metathesaurus assist NLP researchers. Dr. Aronson's election to the College recognizes the substantial impact his innovations have had on the productivity of other researchers, and the utility of NLM's global information services. Olivier Bodenreider Dr. Bodenreider received his MD degree from the University of Strasbourg, France; a research degree in informatics, statistics and epidemiology; a master's degree in computer science and another one in medical information; and a PhD in medical informatics, all from the Henri Poincare University. He began his career as a junior faculty member in France, working on the informatics of clinical toxicology and took a sabbatical year at the NLM. He has been there ever since, working as a staff scientist within the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications. His work has focused on applications of the UMLS. He has developed concept mapping algorithms that are used in national information resources, such as ClinicalTrials.gov, Genetics Home Reference, and Profiles in …
Dispersion in Rivers as Related to Storage Zones

Longitudinal dispersion is considered as simple stochastic process in which a particle travels random time periods at constant velocity, with travel periods separated by random time periods during which the particle is trapped in storage zones. The average number per unit time of entries into storage is considered to be a function of time. The resulting model is a nonhomogeneous compound Poisson process defined by three parameters. Methods for estimating the parameters are given, and predicted concentration distributions are shown to agree reasonably well with observed field data.
Nonideal Effects Limit the Efficiency Gain for Angle-Restricted Solar Cells

Performance of a conventional solar cell at 1 sun is limited to ∼31%, defined by the Shockley–Queisser (SQ) limit. The thermodynamic limit can be improved to ∼41% by reducing the angle mismatch between incident light and emitted rays. This can be achieved either by increasing the range of incident angles (as in a concentrator cell; CPV) or by reducing the emission angle from the device (angle-restricted photovoltaics; APVs). The equivalence is exact in the radiative limit. However, the gains of angle-restricted cells may erode rapidly once nonradiative recombination and other optical losses are accounted for, suggesting the need for quantitative/careful design. Here, we report a detailed self-consistent absorption-emission-transport study to 1) define the limiting efficiency of APV scheme and 2) explain the efficiency loss due to practical constraints, such as Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) and Auger recombination, and mirror reflectivity. Our analysis reflects a growing consensus in the field that any imperfection of the mirror quickly diminishes the advantages of angle restriction. We conclude that a 50-nm angle-restricted cell with moderate material quality, but with nearly perfect mirror and Lambertian trapping, may be ∼36–37% efficient.
Sequential divergence and the multiplicative origin of community diversity

Phenotypic and genetic variation in one species can influence the composition of interacting organisms within communities and across ecosystems. As a result, the divergence of one species may not be an isolated process, as the origin of one taxon could create new niche opportunities for other species to exploit, leading to the genesis of many new taxa in a process termed “sequential divergence.” Here, we test for such a multiplicative effect of sequential divergence in a community of host-specific parasitoid wasps, Diachasma alloeum, Utetes canaliculatus, and Diachasmimorpha mellea (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), that attack Rhagoletis pomonella fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). Flies in the R. pomonella species complex radiated by sympatrically shifting and ecologically adapting to new host plants, the most recent example being the apple-infesting host race of R. pomonella formed via a host plant shift from hawthorn-infesting flies within the last 160 y. Using population genetics, field-based behavioral observations, host fruit odor discrimination assays, and analyses of life history timing, we show that the same host-related ecological selection pressures that differentially adapt and reproductively isolate Rhagoletis to their respective host plants (host-associated differences in the timing of adult eclosion, host fruit odor preference and avoidance behaviors, and mating site fidelity) cascade through the ecosystem and induce host-associated genetic divergence for each of the three members of the parasitoid community. Thus, divergent selection at lower trophic levels can potentially multiplicatively and rapidly amplify biodiversity at higher levels on an ecological time scale, which may sequentially contribute to the rich diversity of life.
The First Year: The Role of a Modern Lender of Last Resort

Insufficient liquidity can trigger fire sales and wreak havoc on a financial system. To address these challenges, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and other central banks have long had the authority to provide financial institutions liquidity when market-based sources run dry. Yet, liquidity injections sometimes fail to quell market dysfunction. When liquidity shortages persist, they are often symptoms of deeper problems plaguing the financial system. This Essay shows that continually pumping new liquidity into a financial system in the midst of a persistent liquidity shortage may increase the fragility of the system and, on its own, is unlikely to resolve the deeper problems causing those liquidity shortages to persist. This Essay suggests that when facing persistent liquidity shortages, the Fed should instead use the leverage it enjoys by virtue of controlling access to liquidity to improve its understanding of the ailments causing the market dysfunction to persist and to help address those underlying issues. When liquidity shortages persist, they will often indicate that market participants lack critical information about risk exposures or that they are concerned financial institutions or other entities lack sufficient capital in light of the risks to which they are exposed. Providing credible information and working with other policymakers to ensure the overall financial system is sufficiently capitalized are thus among the issues that the Fed should prioritize when facing persistent liquidity shortages. This Essay thus provides a new paradigm for how the Fed can utilize its lender-of-last-resort authority to prevent a nascent financial crisis from erupting into one that inflicts significant harm on the real economy.The heart of this Essay brings these dynamics to life through a close examination of the Fed’s actions during the early stages of the 2007--2009 financial crisis (the Crisis). Using transcripts from Fed meetings and other primary materials, the Essay reconstructs the first thirteen months of the Crisis. The analysis reveals more than a year during which Fed officials could have taken an array of actions that may have reduced the size of the Great Recession and the amount of credit risk and moral hazard stemming from the government’s subsequent interventions. The analysis also demonstrates specific ways that the Fed’s lender-of-last-resort authority could serve as the type of responsive and dynamic regulatory tool that the Fed requires when seeking to restore stability during the early phases of a panic.
A 20 Kilohertz Optical Strain Gage

The endurance limit for steels is traditionally taken at one million cycles, but modern machinery such as gas turbines and high-speed train wheels can expect lifetimes of one billion cycles or more. Further, microdevices such as digital light projection mirrors and RF switches operate at high frequencies and last for long times. It is possible, in both cases, to cycle test specimens at 20 KHz and produce one billion cycles in 14 hours or so. However, force and strain measurement are difficult.
Independent central and peripheral mediation of morphine-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal transit in rats.

The individual contributions of central (brain) and peripheral (enteric) sites in the mediation of the systemic actions of opioids are not well established. In this study, we made use of naltrexone methobromide, a quaternary analog of naltrexone, to separate the central and peripheral components of the slowing action of morphine on gastrointestinal transit in rats. It was established that i.c.v., but not s.c., administration of quaternary naltrexone antagonized morphine-induced analgesia in the radiant-heat tail-flick assay in rats. Thus, quaternary naltrexone probably does not enter the central nervous system in significant amounts after systemic administration. Systemic quaternary naltrexone antagonized, in a dose-related manner, the delaying effects of morphine on the movement of a charcoal meal along the gastrointestinal tract. Quaternary naltrexone was 30 or 100 times less potent than naltrexone when administered s.c. or i.c.v., respectively. Unlike naltrexone, quaternary naltrexone antagonized morphine-induced slowing of gastrointestinal transit only when administered by the same route (i.e., both s.c. or both i.c.v.). The apparent pA2 for s.c. quaternary naltrexone against s.c. morphine was not significantly different from the apparent pA2 for i.c.v. quaternary naltrexone against i.c.v. morphine. Distinct and independent central and peripheral systems appear to mediate morphine-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal transit in rats. However, the receptors are probably of the same type. Peripherally selective antagonists such as quaternary naltrexone may be useful in reversing morphine-induced inhibition of gastrointestinal transit without affecting analgesia.
Transborder Surface Movements Of Nafta CommoditiesTruck vs Rail

The boom in NAFTA trade has created a corresponding surge in the demand for surface transportation capacity to move the goods. So far, trucks have provided the major capacity to meet the requirements. Intensive lobbying efforts are being made for authority to utilized longer and heavier trucks along certain U.S. highway corridors to move the imports and exports from and to Canada and Mexico. In addition, a serious debate has erupted over allowing Mexican trucks to travel significant distances within the U.S. The surge in surface NAFTA based commodity movement via truck has serious economic, social and infrastructure consequences. The paper examines the surface transborder export-import flows between the U.S. and Canada and the U.S. and Mexico. Delineating these flows by the types of commodities, origins and destinations, and modal movements is an essential ingredient in any attempt to determine if the transportation infrastructure is being and will be utilized in optimum manner. Specifically, the paper finds that the overwhelming percentage of commodity movements is by truck regardless of distance traveled with very little moving by rail. The paper looks at the potential for commodity adaptability and flows to rail movement. Environmental considerations are also integrated into the trade-offs. Cost and service of trucking versus rail are the key ingredients to the conclusions.
Microhabitat Associations of Three Sympatric Species of Naucoridae (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Samples (0.5 m2) were taken from the South Llano River, Kimble County, Tex., to determine inter- and intraspecific differences in microhabitat association for the three most abundant species of Naucoridae. Various aspects of substratum condition, current speed, temperature, depth, as well as complex key hydraulic features, were used to characterize the microhabitat for each sample. Eight species of naucorids occur in the river; however, only Ambrysus circumcinctus Montandon, Cryphocricos hungerfordi Usinger, and Limnocoris lutzi La Rivers occurred with sufficient frequency in our samples to allow statistical analysis. None of the three species exhibited age-related differences in microhabitat association based on multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and none of the examined abiotic variables yielded significant differences between nymphs and adults when analyzed from a univariate perspective except Froude number for L. lutzi . Both A. circumcinctus and C. hungerfordi exhibited highly significant differences (MANOVA) in abiotic characteristics between quadrats of occurrence and nonoccurrence. Results of individual analyses of variance (ANOVAs) indicated that 9 of the 10 abiotic variables were significant for A. circumcinctus and 8 for C. hungerfordi . In contrast, quadrats where L. lutzi occurred could not be distinguished from those in which it was absent based on MANOVA, and only two abiotic variables exhibited significance in the ANOVAs. Associations between age groups (nymphs and adults) within a species and between all possible species pairs (combined age groups) also were evaluated with contingency X 2 tests using presence-absence data and with Pearson's product–moment correlations using density data. In all cases, significant negative associations were not detected, suggesting that neither age groups nor species exhibit microhabitat segregation. Discriminant function analysis for each species supported MANOVA results on presence–absence data. Separate multiple step-up regressions were used to evaluate which abiotic factors were most related to the density for each species. Significant variables included mean current speed, which accounted for 23.8% of the variation in density of A. circumcinctus ; rock standard error of the mean, which accounted for 43.1% of the variation in density of C. hungerfordi ; Froude number and depth range, which together accounted for 39.0% of the variation in densitiy of L. lutzi . In summary, each common naucorid clearly shows microhabitat associations, but the evidence of interspecific differences is indirect.
Maximizing the Taxonomic Resolution of MALDI-TOF-MS-Based Approaches to Bacterial Characterization: From Culture Conditions Through Data Analysis

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been shown to be a rapid, effective, and sensitive tool for characterizing diverse bacteria. Historically, the primary application of this technology has been to identify bacteria at the genus and species levels in a few minutes. The most commonly used identification method involves matching mass spectra of unknown bacteria to reference spectra in commercially available databases with the assistance of manufacturer-created algorithms. Recently, there has been keen interest in enhancing the taxonomic resolution of MALDI to characterize bacteria at the strain and subspecies levels. Often, categorization of strains sharing similar traits, differentiation of closely related strains, and/or identification of a single strain are desired. Strain-level characterization is important in the development of counter-bioterrorism strategies, prevention of food contamination, and rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections. This chapter focuses on factors, including culture medium, sample preparation, data acquisition, and data analysis that affect strain-level characterization. In addition, the chapter highlights techniques and treatments that offer promise to improve the taxonomic resolution of MALDI-TOF MS-enabled approaches to bacterial characterization.
Post-marketing evaluation on the safety and immunogenicity of domestic split influenza virus vaccine

Objective To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of post-marketing domestic split influenza virus vaccine. Methods A multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in Changge, Yuzhou and Dengfeng, Henan province during August~ October, 2011. 6 171 healthy persons were divided into vaccine group and control group randomly. Each one was inoculated one dose of vaccine in vaccination group. The control group did not receive any treatment. The adverse reaction rates between vaccination group and control group were compared. In vaccination group,599 cases were randomly selected as evaluation objects for immune effects. The blood samples were collected before immunization and 28 days after immunization. The antibodies were measuredby hemagglutination inhibition(HI)test. Results The systemic and local reaction rates in vaccination group were 7.14 %(220/3083)and 1.36 %( 42/3083). Systemic reaction rate in control group was 1.17 %(36/3088). There was no local reaction in control group. The systemic and local reaction rates in vaccination group were significantly higher than those in control group(χ2=138.285, P0.001 χ2=42.356, P0.001). The antibody positive rates of H1N1, H3N2 and B in vaccine group were 79.30 %, 82.80 and 67.60 %, respectively. The antibody protective rates of H1N1, H3N2 and B were 89.30 %, 98.30 % and 93.00 %, respectively. The geometric mean titers were 1∶416, 1∶796 and 1∶180, respectively. Conclusions The domestic influenza split vaccine has good safety and immunogenicity, and might be suitable for mass vaccination.
Helping Hands: Requirements for a Prototyping Methodology for Upper-limb Prosthetics Users

This paper presents a case study of three participants with upper-limb amputations working with researchers to design prosthetic devices for specific tasks: playing the cello, operating a hand-cycle, and using a table knife. Our goal was to identify requirements for a design process that can engage the assistive technology user in rapidly prototyping assistive devices that fill needs not easily met by traditional assistive technology. Our study made use of 3D printing and other playful and practical prototyping materials. We discuss materials that support on-the-spot design and iteration, dimensions along which in-person iteration is most important (such as length and angle) and the value of a supportive social network for users who prototype their own assistive technology. From these findings we argue for the importance of extensions in supporting modularity, community engagement, and relatable prototyping materials in the iterative design of prosthetics.
Medical care of the HIV-infected child.

The medical care of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children begins with recognition of the child at risk for infection, and familiarity with common and uncommon presentations of disease. Subsequent care entails management of HIV related complications and preventive care, including immunizations, nutritional support, infectious prophylaxis, and antiviral therapy when indicated.
Health promotion in older adults: The role of lifestyle in the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome, also known as dysmetabolic syndrome, Syndrome X, or insulin resistance syndrome, is an amalgam of obesity-related health risks that significantly increases the chance of developing diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke. Progress in understanding the metabolic syndrome has confirmed the importance of metabolic imbalances in the development of serious and chronic cardiovascular, neurologic, immunologic, renal, and endocrine diseases. Crucial to planning treatment is the understanding that the metabolic syndrome is largely a disorder caused by behavior, thus its most important therapeutic intervention entails lifestyle change: Significant behavioral change can dramatically modify and even reverse all factors of the metabolic syndrome and its consequences. We examine the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome and provide strategies to encourage weight loss and dietary modifications and to promote increased physical activity.
Pricing Sovereign Debt: Discretion v. Expropriation

The Greek restructuring of March 2012 illustrates how non-price contract terms can have a significant effect on the pricing of sovereign debt. In the Greek restructuring, bonds governed by local law suffered NPV haircuts in the range of 60-75%, whereas those bonds governed by foreign law were paid in full and on time. Other contract parameters such as the currency in which the debt is denominated and the exchange on which it is listed can also affect the leeway a sovereign debtor has in dealing with its creditors. In general, we find that sovereigns with strong institutions and investor protections are able to issue bonds under local parameters at relatively lower interest rates. In contrast, sovereigns with relatively weak investor protections have lower bond ratings and are forced to pay relatively higher interest rates on their debt. The important exceptions are those lower rated sovereigns who issue debt under foreign parameters. We believe that these sovereigns are able to obtain lower rates because by issuing bonds under foreign parameters, they reduce (eliminate) their ability to expropriate investors’ wealth once the debt is issued.
Nonreligion and Atheism

Nonreligious people (those without a religious affiliation) and atheists (individuals without a belief in a god) make up a sizable proportion of the world’s population. In this chapter I provide definitions for the various terms used in the sociological study of nonreligion and atheism. I then examine findings regarding the characteristics of nonreligious people and atheists. I summarize research findings on the reasons why people leave religion and/or adopt an atheistic worldview and examine the growing body of research exploring the pervasive prejudice and discrimination against atheists, in particular, and the nonreligious in the US and around the world. I conclude with some suggestions for future areas of research related to the sociology of nonreligion and atheism.
Cone beam filtering using artificial neural networks

The authors introduce a possible method to determine and implement cone beam filters that perform in-slice and axial filtering through the use of an artificial neural network. In-plane and interslice filtering are accomplished separately in order to decrease the complexity of this initial neural network experiment. This particular procedure utilized supervised training with the modified delta rule that minimized the mean-squared error through a gradient descent. The in-slice filtering problem was to test if the network could learn the ramp filter for a cone beam geometry. This study used simulated Monte Carlo data that represented a geometry of a point source located off the axis of rotation. Though preliminary data were promising, it was not possible to determine a general axial filter. This is due to insufficient sampling in the axial direction by the cone beam geometry. >
Abstract 4871: A new multiple feature approach for rapid and highly accurate somatic structural variation discovery from whole cancer genome sequencing

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA We present SWAN, a statistical framework with implemented software package for accurate detection of genomic structural variants in next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from cancer. SWAN is designed to sensitively detect submicroscopic and lesser size genome structural variants that could possibly present at low allele frequency in the sample as may be the case in clonal subpopulations of a primary tumor. The likelihood ratio scan statistics module of SWAN collectively quantifies evidence from read-pair, hang-reads based on Marked Poisson Process models while the softclipping module additionally integrates the evidence from remapped soft-clipped reads. Using a spike-in dataset, we compared SWAN against established structural variant callers in recovering simulated homozygous and heterogeneous variants of various sizes and types. SWAN maintained high accuracy, high precision and low false positives across this broad spectrum and outperformed all the other callers. In additional benchmark with golden standard real data from sample NA12878, SWAN again showed the best-balanced accuracy among all callers and was 30% more sensitivity in detecting validated deletions than the next runner-up caller LUMPY in 50x coverage. Even at 5x coverage, SWAN was able to find 40% of the validated deletions while LUMPY did less than 20%. As an application to whole cancer genome sequencing, we analyzed a matched sequenced colorectal adenocarcinoma sample and found 39 somatic deletions, insertions and duplications, some of which could potentially drive the cancer progression. SWAN is quite efficient in memory utilization and speed, and can be used for large-scale genome-wide structural variant genotyping and discovery based on NGS data. Citation Format: Li C. Xia, John Bell, Jiamin Chen, Nancy R. Zhang, Hanlee P. Ji. A new multiple feature approach for rapid and highly accurate somatic structural variation discovery from whole cancer genome sequencing. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4871. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4871
A Bundle of Relations: Collections, Collecting, and Communities*

Anthropology has always involved collections and collecting. Collections helped give rise to the discipline's formation and were integral to theoretical perspectives rooted in hierarchies of race and technology in the nineteenth century. With the disavowal of these perspectives, collecting, and its resulting collections, remained an ongoing but unacknowledged activity. The material (re)turn in the 1980s brought anthropology's material legacies under renewed scrutiny by repositioning objects as having histories and agency. Ethnographies of collecting have helped reveal the often obscured collaborations that were, and are, critical to anthropological knowledge. Collaborations with indigenous communities involving collections are helping to address the discipline's asymmetry by challenging anthropological categories and authority. In the process, experimental ethnographies through digital and nondigital means are demonstrating that collections are profoundly relational. This relational perspective is helping...
Could recurrent aphthous stomatitis be linked to cancer development

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a common multifactorial oral mucosal disorder. Genetic and local factors causing RAS may contribute to the development of cancer. This study aims to explore this connection by examining a family with a history of RAS and ovarian cancer. Case Description: The family described in the case exhibits a history of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The severity of this condition increases with each generation. One member of the family has no history of RAS but was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Genetic testing for BRCA mutations was negative indicating a different genetic cause of the cancer. All affected members of the family indicate high levels of stress or difficulty responding to stressful situations. No treatment for RAS was performed due to its self-limiting nature. Practical Implications: Further research is needed before dentists begin to tell their patients with RAS they may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Diligent oral cancer screening and stress management counseling can decrease the risk to the patient.