cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using conservation systems to alleviate soil compaction in a Southeastern United States ultisol

Abstract Coastal Plain soils are prone to compaction layers which restrict root growth and reduce yields. The adoption of non-inversion deep tillage has been recommended to disrupt compacted soil layers and create an adequate medium for crop development. In spite of its efficacy, increased fuel prices could reduce in-row subsoiling adoption due to the cost of the operation. We evaluated three subsoiling implements against a non-subsoiled treatment with and without a rye ( Secale cereale L . ) cover crop on a 4-year cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L . )–peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation experiment in Headland, AL on a Dothan loamy sand (Plinthic Kandiudult). Results showed consistently lower yields for non-subsoiled treatments (11 and 51% lower yields for peanuts and cotton, respectively). Soil strength values had a 2 fold increase or greater (1.5–4.0 MPa) in less than a year due to natural reconsolidation and normal vehicle traffic. On average, in-row subsoiling returned $698/ha/year for cotton and $612/ha/year more for all in-row subsoiling than non-subsoiled treatments. No differences between implements were found. A conservation system consisting of annual paratilling combined with a winter cover crop proved to be the most productive and profitable system.
Looking at Nature as a Computer

Although not always identified as such, information has been a fundamental quantity in Physics since the advent of Statistical Mechanics, which recognized “counting states” as the fundamental operation needed to analyze thermodynamic systems. Quantum Mechanics (QM) was invented to fix the infinities that arose classically in trying to count the states of Black Body radiation. In QM, both amount and rate of change of information in a finite physical system are finite. As Quantum Statistical Mechanics developed, classical finite-state models naturally played a fundamental role, since only the finite-state character of the microscopic substratum normally enters into the macroscopic counting. Given more than a century of finite-state underpinnings, one might have expected that by now all of physics would be based on informational and computational concepts. That this isn't so may simply reflect the stubborn legacy of the continuum, and the recency and macroscopic character of computer science. In this paper, I discuss the origins of informational concepts in physics, and reexamine computationally some fundamental dynamical quantities.
Accelerating Reed-Solomon coding in RAID systems with GPUs

Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) have been applied to more types of computations than just graphics processing for several years. Until recently, however, GPU hardware has not been capable of efficiently performing general data processing tasks. With the advent of more general-purpose extensions to GPUs, many more types of computations are now possible. One such computation that we have identified as being suitable for the CPU's unique architecture is Reed-Solomon coding in a manner appropriate for RAID-type systems. In this paper, we motivate the need for RAID with triple-disk parity and describe a pipelined architecture for using a GPU for this purpose. Performance results show that the GPU can outperform a modern CPU on this problem by an order of magnitude and also confirm that a GPU can be used to support a system with at least three parity disks with no performance penalty.
Interactive Features of Online Newspapers: Identifying Patterns and Predicting Use of Engaged Readers

This study seeks to identify 1) categories of interactivity, which are promoted through different types of interactive features, 2) patterns of online newspaper readers’ uses of interactive features, and 3) factors, if any, that predict the use of different types of interactive features. Based on an online survey of 542 respondents, four categories of interactive features were identified. Findings show that interactive features are generally used infrequently, especially the features that facilitate human-to-human communication and the features that allow audiences to express their views. Regression analyses show that different user characteristics and backgrounds predict the use of specific types of interactive features. This study illustrates that news organizations need not worry about applying all types of interactive features to engage their readers as the features serve distinct functions. Instead, news organizations should focus on building credibility and may seek to identify their online news audiences and then subsequently provide interactive features accordingly. (152)
Defining the interorgan communication network: systemic coordination of organismal cellular processes under homeostasis and localized stress

Following the acquisition of multicellularity, organisms with increasing levels of specialized cells, tissues, and organs emerged during evolution. To coordinate specialized organs, long-distance interorgan communication systems appeared. The central nervous system evolved to regulate many organ behaviors, using hormones or neurons. In addition, organs developed systems to directly communicate their states to one another. This is illustrated by the lack of nervous systems in plants and simple animals like sponges, which can perform complex systemic functions (Lough and Lucas, 2006; Srivastava et al., 2010). Developmental or homeostatic events within cells or tissues have been extensively studied. For example, maintenance of the integrity of the Drosophila gut involves stem cell proliferation and differentiation, partially driven by local JAK/STAT, EGF, MAPK, and Wnt signaling (Panayidou and Apidianakis, 2013). Recently, it has become clear that individual organs themselves are also able to communicate their states. However, the nature of the interorgan signaling mechanisms remains largely a mystery. Here, we review the emerging data supporting the existence of a vast interorgan communication network (ICN). The ICN is the network of peptides, proteins, and metabolites that act between organs to coordinate essential and specialized cellular processes under homeostasis and stress (Figure ​(Figure1).1). We propose that studies in Drosophila, where, unlike in mammals, biochemical studies can be combined with genome-wide in vivo tissue-specific genetic screens, are poised to identify many ICN components. Characterization of the ICN will further understanding of systemic diseases such as cancer-associated muscle cachexia. Figure 1 Overview of the interorgan communication network (ICN). The ICN is the network of peptides, proteins, and metabolites that act between organs to coordinate organismal cellular processes under homeostasis and stress. Organs in the body secrete factors ...
A model for communication skills assessment across the undergraduate curriculum

Physicians' interpersonal and communication skills have a significant impact on patient care and correlate with improved healthcare outcomes. Some studies suggest, however, that communication skills decline during the four years of medical school. Regulatory and other medical organizations, recognizing the importance of interpersonal and communication skills in the practice of medicine, now require competence in communication skills. Two challenges exist: to select a framework of interpersonal and communication skills to teach across undergraduate medical education, and to develop and implement a uniform model for the assessment of these skills. The authors describe a process and model for developing and institutionalizing the assessment of communication skills across the undergraduate curriculum. Consensus was built regarding communication skill competencies by working with course leaders and examination directors, a uniform framework of competencies was selected to both teach and assess communication skills, and the framework was implemented across the Harvard Medical School undergraduate curriculum. The authors adapted an assessment framework based on the Bayer-Fetzer Kalamazoo Consensus Statement adapted a patient and added and satisfaction tool to bring patients' perspectives into the assessment of the learners. The core communication competencies and evaluation instruments were implemented in school-wide courses and assessment exercises including the first-year Patient-Doctor I Clinical Assessment, second-year Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE), third-year Patient-Doctor III Clinical Assessment, fourth-year Comprehensive Clinical Practice Examination and the Core Medicine Clerkships. Faculty were offered workshops and interactive web-based teaching to become familiar with the framework, and students used the framework with repeated opportunities for faculty feedback on these skills. A model is offered for educational leaders and others who are involved in designing assessment in communication skills. By presenting an approach for implementation, the authors hope to provide guidance for the successful integration of communication skills assessment in undergraduate medical education.
Low Temperature Transparent Nanoplatelet Hybrid Gas Barrier Coating Materials via Sol-gel Process

A novel hybrid coating based on a combination of nanoparticles, sol-gel and organic chemistry is reported. It can be applied to a large variety of surfaces even at low processing temperatures, and it cures below 150°C. Furthermore, fabrication of the hybrid films on polymer sheets can be done under ambient conditions. No vacuum techniques are required. Boehmite nanoplatelet composite hybrid organic/inorganic coating materials have been successfully prepared via this approach. The coating process involves the dispersion of boehmite nanoparticles that are suspended without significant agglomeration. 3-glycidoxy propyl trimethoxy silane (GPTMS) was adopted as dispersant for the nanoplatelets and functions also as a network former. This induces flexibility in the hybrid film due to the organic functional groups. Transparent cured coatings from flexible to brittle were obtained from a single coating step with thicknesses in excess of 10 μm depending on the ratio of the inorganic/organic reagents and their concentrations. Barrier coatings with more than 60wt% ceramic nanoplatelets were achieved, yet they still display transparency of more than 95% to visible light with no cracks or other discernable defects. Several substrates have been successfully tested including poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Moreover water permeability for cured coated PET films is reduced to less than 0.01 g/m2/d. Excellent mechanical properties such as flexibility and hardness are demonstrated by nanoindentation and scratch tests.
Social Media and the Paradox of Cooperation

There is ample evidence that while the ratio of contributions to their consumption is indeed small, the growth in content provision in social media persists at levels that are hard to understand if analyzed from a public goods point of view.Our studies show that the puzzle is explained by the fact that those contributing to the digital commons perceive it as a private good rather a public one, in which payment for their efforts is in the form of the attention that their content gathers in the form of media quotes, downloads or news clicked on.
Creating Successful Price and Placement Strategies for Social Marketing

A successful marketing strategy includes the design of a marketing mix with the right combination of products, offered at the right price, in the right place, and then promoted in such a way that makes it easy and rewarding for the individual to change his or her behavior. A price is incurred in exchange for receiving a bundle of benefits. The social marketer can use various pricing tactics to make the desired behavior appear to have fewer costs and more benefits while making the undesired behavior to have less benefit and greater cost. Place is where and when the target population will perform the desired behavior, purchase or obtain a tangible product, and/or receive associated services. Involving partners in the placement strategy can make products more accessible and increase opportunities for people to perform a behavior. Strategies for making the product available at a desirable price and in places that are convenient are integral to the overall social marketing plan to facilitate behavior change.
Measuring Victimization Inside Prisons: Questioning the Questions

Violence and victimization inside the prison setting are accepted as facts, although the facts about their prevalence remain uncertain. Variation in the methods used to estimate rates of sexual and physical victimization contribute to the wide range in estimates appearing in the prison literature. This article focuses on the questions used in the prison victimization literature to elicit information on victimization from inmates, compared to questions used in the general victimization literature. The questions used in the National Violence Against Women and Men Surveys are used to estimate sexual and physical victimization rates for an entire prison system. Rates of victimization were found to vary significantly by specificity of the question, definition of perpetrator, and clustering of behaviors. Facts about victimization inside prison will become more certain when the methodology becomes more standardized and consistent with definitions of victimization.
Analysis of fixed point FFT for fourier domain optical coherence tomography systems

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new imaging modality gaining popularity in the medical community. Its application includes ophthalmology, gastroenterology, dermatology etc. As the use of OCT increases, the need for portable, low power devices also increases. Digital signal processors (DSP) are well suited to meet the signal processing requirements of such a system. These processors usually operate on fixed precision. This paper analyzes the issues that a system implementer faces implementing signal processing algorithms on fixed point processor. Specifically, we show the effect of different fixed point precisions in the implementation of FFT on the sensitivity of Fourier domain OCT systems.
Replication of a cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain group protocol by therapists in training

AbstractAccording to the American Psychological Association (Division 12), there is strong, long-standing research support for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat chronic pain. Furthermore, meta-analytic comparisons have shown CBT to be highly efficacious. However, not all researchers agree with this conclusion. The purpose of the current pilot study was to determine whether a CBT outpatient, group-based treatment facilitated by junior therapists benefited veterans who suffer from mixed idiopathic, chronic, noncancer pain, thus replicating results from effective CBT programs from the past. A sample of 46 veterans aged 33 to 81 years with chronic, noncancer pain who participated in an outpatient CBT pain group therapy protocol at a Midwestern Veterans Affairs Medical Center between November 3, 2009, and September 2, 2010 was evaluated. All participants completed a pre- and postintervention assessment. Paired-samples t tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of the program on veterans’ scores on...
Smart Classrooms And Hybrid Courses

Many new technologies have expanded the capabilities of what educators may accomplish in the classroom. This paper points out how some of these technologies have been incorporated into the Spanish Curriculum at the US Coast Guard Academy. Specifically addressed are issues of how these technologies may be used while maintaining sound pedagogical practice, an issue which remains unclear to many, and which is continually changing with each new technological advance. The paper discusses: how the internet is being used in and out of the classroom, to what extent students are using it, what student reactions to it have been, how it enhances the student learning process and some ways in which these methods may be used in other disciplines.
Bandlimited OLAP cubes for interactive big data visualization

Visualizations backed by data cubes can scale to massive datasets while remaining interactive. However, the use of data cubes introduces artifacts, causing these visualizations to appear noisy at best and deceptive at worst. Moreover, data cubes highly constrain the space of possible visualizations. For example, a histogram backed by a data cube is constrained to have a bin width that is a multiple of the data cube bin size. Similarly, for dynamic queries backed by data cubes, query extents must be aligned with bin boundaries. We present bandlimited OLAP (online analytical processing) cubes (BLOCs), a technique that uses established tools from digital signal processing to generate interactive visualizations of very large datasets. Based on kernel density plots and Gaussian filtering, BLOCs suppress the artifacts that occur in data cubes and allow for a continuous range of zoom/pan positions and continuous dynamic queries.
Axial torsion of the pregnant uterus

Abstract Three new cases of axial torsion of the gravid uterus are presented. One was diagnosed and treated without benefit of laparotomy.
Social Entrepreneurship and All That Funk..

Social Entrepreneurship as a concept, while new to some, has become a buzzword in recent years; so much so that its usage far outpaces its understanding. That state of affairs is troubling because it risks undermining the promise of social entrepreneurship (Pirson & Bloom, 2012), while at the same legitimizing all kinds of organizing by sticking new labels on old (and sometimes bad) practices (Pirson, 2012a). While the claim is that the term social entrepreneurship has first been used by Bill Drayton, the founder of Ashoka, in the 1970’s, the practice of social entrepreneurship has been in existence for centuries. However, in current times the term can describe an ever increasing and ever more relevant phenomenon. A phenomenon that is and probably will never be narrowly defined and therefore provides many ways of understanding: as entrepreneurship in a social context, as the social component of the entrepreneurial process, as socially conscious business, as revenue generating non-profit, as different from non-profit, yet overlapping with social mission work etc. etc. etc.In this chapter I wish to propose a clarification of what social entrepreneurship is and how it differs from other socially oriented and entrepreneurially oriented activities. I will also propose that one of the more productive uses of the term implies a certain mindset (Pirson, 2015). I will then highlight some versions of social entrepreneurship as case examples and argue that social entrepreneurship can be studied at a university (Pirson, 2015). I then propose an outline of the process along which it can be studied and put in practice process as based on my teaching experience in SE for now almost 10 years (Bloom & Pirson, 2010).
Between Merit and Politics: The Selection of Federal Judges in Argentina

In 1998, Argentina established a Judicial Council to select lower federal Courts Judges. The Judicial Council administers examinations to applicants to determine their ranking based upon professional merit. A short list of the top three candidates is sent to the President who then nominates one candidate and asks for the consent of the Senate for his appointment to the bench. The establishment of the Judicial Council resulted from reforms promoted by International Development agencies, such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and USAID. It was meant to depoliticize judicial nominations, according to a meritocratic model used mainly by European countries. However, Argentina did not adopt a purely meritocratic system: the membership of the Judicial Council includes politicians (Senators and Representatives), the process permits the modification of merit-based rankings, and the ultimate selection of judges relies upon political decisions by the President and the Senate. In this study, I examine empirically the decisions of the Judicial Council over the last ten years, including all the short-lists and nominations for lower federal Court Judges, to analyze to what extent merit was a determinative factor in the process. Among other findings, the results show that around 70% of the candidates were included in the short-list because of merit, but in the remaining 30% of cases, politics also played a role. At the same time, 70% of the short-lists included at least one candidate chosen because of political factors. These results give an accurate description of how the system works, and illustrate that politics are an important factor in selecting judges in Argentina. Consequently, I argue, the institutional design of the process should be modified to permit an open and public discussion of ideology or moral values of the candidates.
Packaging: Corrugated Paperboard

The most common use of paper-based materials in packaging is as corrugated boxes. These provide extraordinary strength for their weight due to the column and arch construction created through the fluted inner layer combined with the flat linerboard. Different flute sizes provide different properties to the board and to the finished box. Compression strength of boxes can be predicted through use of the McKee equation combined with factors related to the distribution environment.
Macular Pigment Optical Density and Measures of Macular Function: Test-Retest Variability, Cross-Sectional Correlations, and Findings from the Zeaxanthin Pilot Study of Response to Supplementation (ZEASTRESS-Pilot)

We report on the short-term test-retest baseline variability in macular function tests in ZEASTRESS-Pilot participants (n = 18), on their cross-sectional correlation with macular pigment optical density (MPOD), and on the effects of four months (FUV4) of 20 mg/day zeaxanthin (ZX), followed by a four-month washout (FUV8; n = 24, age 50–81 years old). Outcomes included: MPOD at 0.5 and 2.0 deg eccentricity (MPOD-0.5 and -2.0); contrast sensitivity (CS); pattern-reversal electroretinogram (PERG) amplitude; dark-adapted 650 nm foveal cone sensitivity (DA650-FCS); and 500 mn parafoveal rod sensitivity (DA500-PFRS). All measures of macular function showed close test-retest correlation (Pearson’s r range: 0.744–0.946) and low coefficients of variation (CV range: 1.13%–4.00%). MPOD correlated in a complex fashion with macular function. Following supplementation, MPOD-0.5 and MPOD-2.0 increased at both FUV4 and FUV8 (p ≤ 0.0001 for all measures). Continued, delayed MPOD increase and a small, but significant (p = 0.012), CS increase was seen at FUV8 only in females. PERGs increased significantly at FUV4 (p = 0.0006), followed by a partial decline at FUV8. In conclusion, following ZX supplementation, MPOD increased significantly. There was no effect on DA-650 FCS or DA-500 PFRS. Both CS and PERG amplitudes increased following supplementation, but the effect varied between males and females. Additional studies appear warranted to confirm and characterize further these inter-gender differences.
Current Situation of Notifiable Infectious Disease Report Management in Medical Institutions in Luzhou

Objective To understand the current satuation of notifiable infectious diseases report management in medical institutions in Luzhou in 2010,and provide evidences to improve the management of infectious diseases reporting system.Methods Totally 48 medical institutions were selected by stratified sampling,and surveyed with reference to "The Scheme for Inspecting and Supervising the Monitoring Report Management of Notifiable Infectious Disease in 2008".Results A total of 686 registered(prescription) signs were checked randomly,the compliance rate of out-patient log was 80.76%;670 patients registration logs were checked randomly,the integrity rate of registration was 68.66%;the registering integrity rate of the admission and discharge register was 34.77%(n=440),and that of the infectious disease register was 66.82%(n=440);the laboratory department and radiology department completed 72.73%(n=220) and 76.69%(n=429) of their registers;109 health care workers were surveyed,the failure rate of the test for knowledge of reporting infectious disease was 68.81%;426 infectious disease cases were sampled,and the reporting rate,reporting timely rate,the integrity rate,the accuracy rate and the consistency rate were 98.36%,99.12%,97.80%,96.48%,92.95% respectively.Conclusion The management and reporting quality of infectious diseases need to be improved among all levels of medical institutions in Luzhou.In particular,registration records from departments such as inpatient,clinic,laboratory,radiology,infection control,have many missing items,registration is not complete.Furthermore,the training for medical personnel need to be strengthened urgently.
A comparison of specularly reflective boundary conditions and rotationally invariant formulations for Discrete Ordinate Methods in axisymmetric geometries

Abstract In simulations of periodic or symmetric geometries, computational domains are reduced by imaginary boundaries that exploit the symmetry conditions. Two boundary conditions are proposed for Discrete Ordinate Methods to solve axisymmetric radiation problems. Firstly, a specularly reflective boundary condition similar to that is used in Photon Monte Carlo methods is developed for Discrete Ordinate Methods. Secondly, the rotational invariant formulation is revisited for axisymmetric wedge geometries. Correspondingly, a new rotationally invariant boundary condition specially designed for axisymmetric problems on wedge shape is proposed to enforce the rotational invariance properties possessed by the radiative transfer equation (RTE) but violated by three-dimensional conventional Discrete Ordinate Methods. Both boundary conditions have the advantage that the discretization and linear equation solution procedures of conventional three-dimensional DOM are not affected by changing to a reduced geometry. Consistency, accuracy and efficiency of the new boundary conditions are demonstrated by multiple numerical examples involving periodic symmetry and axisymmetry. A comparison between specularly reflective boundary conditions and the rotationally invariant formulation shows that the latter offers several advantages for wedge geometries. In other symmetry conditions, when the rotational invariant formulation is not applicable, specular reflective boundary conditions are still effective.
Influence of prepubertal consumption of zearalenone on sexual development of boars.

Littermate pairs of crossbred boars were fed 40 ppm zearalenone from 14 to 18 weeks of age, and the effects on reproductive development were examined. Compared to controls, boars fed zearalenone subsequently had reduced libido scores (P greater than.05), and fewer treated animals exhibited mating behavior. Plasma concentrations of testosterone were depressed (P greater than .05) during consumption of zearalenone. Zearalenone did not significantly affect age at which sperm were first voided in the urine (P greater than .25). Body weight and testicular size were not affected by zearalenone. At 36 weeks of age, testicular weight, epididymal weight, spermatid numbers, motility of cauda epididymal sperm and testicular morphology did not differ between control boars and those that had consumed zearalenone.
The use of an N-of-1 randomised clinical trial in resolving therapeutic doubt. The case of a patient with an 'attention disorder'.

OBJECTIVE To describe the use of an N-of-1 randomised clinical trial (N-of-1 RCT) in general practice as illustrated by the case of a 16 year old boy with a learning and attention problem whose parents were convinced that amphetamines were necessary. DESIGN The N-of-1 RCT with a double blind technique was used in which a single patient served as his own control in testing whether amphetamine had any advantage over placebo. RESULTS No difference was noted in the boy's teachers' behavioural assessment scores nor in his own self reported ability to concentrate when taking either amphetamine or placebo. CONCLUSION This study showed that this patient obtained no objective improvement from amphetamine and the result was well accepted by his parents. N-of-1 RCTs are a relatively easy technique for tackling any area of therapeutic doubt. They can help the thoughtful GP to feel 'more like a scientist and less like a quack'.
Factors Influencing Bacterial Diversity and Community Composition in Municipal Drinking Waters in the Ohio River Basin, USA

The composition and metabolic activities of microbes in drinking water distribution systems can affect water quality and distribution system integrity. In order to understand regional variations in drinking water microbiology in the upper Ohio River watershed, the chemical and microbiological constituents of 17 municipal distribution systems were assessed. While sporadic variations were observed, the microbial diversity was generally dominated by fewer than 10 taxa, and was driven by the amount of disinfectant residual in the water. Overall, Mycobacterium spp. (Actinobacteria), MLE1-12 (phylum Cyanobacteria), Methylobacterium spp., and sphingomonads were the dominant taxa. Shifts in community composition from Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria to Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria were associated with higher residual chlorine. Alpha- and beta-diversity were higher in systems with higher chlorine loads, which may reflect changes in the ecological processes structuring the communities under different levels of oxidative stress. These results expand the assessment of microbial diversity in municipal distribution systems and demonstrate the value of considering ecological theory to understand the processes controlling microbial makeup. Such understanding may inform the management of municipal drinking water resources.
Mathematical Description of Operant Behavior: an Introduction

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses mathematical description of operant behavior. The language of mathematics encourages descriptions that are precise, succinct, and general. An equation, for example, describes precisely and succinctly how the terms are related to one another. The term on the left specifies the dependent variable, and the term on the right specifies the independent variable. A common strategy for generating ideas for mathematical models is to conceptualize the behavioral phenomenon as analogous to some other phenomenon for which effective mathematical descriptions have already been developed. Then, with appropriate adjustments and translations, the mathematical description can be applied to the new case. Under many learning procedures, the probability of a response increases as a function of trials. But the size of the increase progressively decreases with each successive trial.
Measurement of Time-Dependent \overline {{B^0}} - \overline {{B^{10}}} Flavor Oscillation at CDF

The time dependence of \({B^0} - \mathop B\limits^ \multimap \) oscillations has been studied using several techniques by the CDF experiment at Fermilab. The data comprise 110pb−l of \(p\bar p\) collisions at \(\sqrt s = 1.8TeV\). Preliminary measurements of the \({B^0} - \mathop B\limits^ \multimap \) oscillation frequency (Δm d ) will be presented.
General Features of Entrainment: the Type Model

Most experiments designed to examine the synchronization of circadian rhythms have used square-wave light-dark regimes, in which lighting is simply switched on and off at regular intervals. The obvious advantage of this method is its convenience; providing intervening twilights, so as to mimic natural illumination, requires more expensive equipment. An animal’s responses to a square-wave light regime might conceivably differ in important ways from those to natural light regimes, but much experimental evidence indicates that simple on-off light cycles are at least adequate stimuli to synchronize circadian wake-sleep rhythms. Regardless of whether this process resembles what happens in nature, such observations must be accounted for by any satisfactory model. In this chapter we will therefore first ask how the type model responds to simulated on-off light-dark cycles; gradual changes in intensity will be treated later in the chapter.
Associations between residential greenness and birth outcomes across Texas.

Abstract Background The amount of greenness around mothers’ residences has been associated with positive birth outcomes; however, findings are inconclusive. Here we examine residential greenness and birth outcomes in a population-based birth cohort in Texas, a state with large regional variation in greenness levels, several distinct cities, and a diverse population. Methods We used Vital Statistics data to create a birth cohort (n=3,026,603) in Texas from 2000 to 2009. Greenness exposure measures were estimated from full residential addresses across nine months of pregnancy, and each trimester specifically, using the mean of corresponding MODIS satellite 16-day normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) surfaces at a 250 m resolution, which have not been previously used. Logistic and linear mixed models were used to determine associations with preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA) and term birth weight, controlling for individual and neighborhood factors. Results Unadjusted results demonstrated consistent protective effects of residential greenness on adverse birth outcomes for all of Texas and the four largest cities (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin). However, in fully adjusted models these effects almost completely disappeared. For example, mothers with the highest (>0.52) compared to the lowest ( Conclusions In this large population-based study, across multiple urban areas in Texas and diverse populations, we did not observe consistent associations between residential greenness and birth outcomes.
Pentostatin Therapy for Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft Versus Host Disease: Identifying Those Who May Benefit

Patients with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) have dismal outcomes. Historically, anti-thymocyte globulin has been used in this setting with prior reports demonstrating that even when patients respond, long-term survival occurs in only 5% of patients (Arai et al, 2012). Unfortunately, no therapy has been shown to improve outcomes for this high-risk group. Pentostatin, a potent adenosine deaminase inhibitor, was previously tested in a phase 1/ 2 study in steroid-refractory aGVHD and demonstrated an overall survival (OS) of 25% with a median follow-up of Methods: All patients transplanted at MD Anderson Cancer Center from January, 2006 to December, 2014 who received at least one dose of pentostatin for steroid-refractory aGVHD were included in this analysis. Pentostatin was dosed at 1.5 mg/m2 on days 1-3 and repeated every two weeks as indicated. Patients who received the drug as GVHD prophylaxis, upfront therapy, beyond third-line, for classic chronic GVHD or following relapse were excluded. Primary endpoints included day 28 response and OS. Results: A total of 60 patients received pentostatin as second (n=22) or third line (n=38) treatment for steroid-refractory aGVHD. The median age was 52 years (range, 2-70). First dose of pentostatin was administered at a median 69 days post-transplant (27-595) with a median of 3 doses provided (range, 1-9). A majority of patients had steroid-refractory lower GI (78%) and/or liver (43%) GVHD. Baseline characteristics described in table 1. The median time from initiation of steroids to pentostatin was 15 days (range, 4-172). OS at 18 m after pentostatin initiation was 21%, with median follow-up of 19 m (range, 7-77).A total of 22 (37%) patients died before day 28 and were considered non-responders. Day 28 response rate was 33% with 20 patients achieving a complete (n=11) or partial response (n=9). Pentostatin administration 60 (HR 1.9, 95% CI 0.99-3.6, p=0.05). Within our analysis, patients destined for early mortality within 30 days of pentostatin exhibited all these features: liver GVHD, receipt of pentostatin >100 days from transplant, and age >60, with an OS of 35% at 30 days compared to 72% in the absence of these features (p=0.001). Conclusions: Patients with steroid refractory aGVHD have dismal outcomes. However, long-term survival does occur, especially when additional therapy is administered promptly. Novel strategies to identify patients who are destined to fail upfront therapies are likely to improve outcomes. We identified that earlier dosing of pentostatin after recognition of steroid refractoriness improved response rates. Further, patients without liver GVHD and who were ≤60 had better OS, identifying those who will benefit most from this therapy. Conversely, pentostatin should be avoided in patients >60 with liver GVHD as these patients had extremely high mortality with two-thirds dying by day 30. Disclosures Alousi:Therakos, Inc: Research Funding.
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation – Specific Comorbidity Index As An Instrument to Predict Survival in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit Early After Allogeneic Transplantation

Abstract 147 Background: Hematopoietic cell transplantation – specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) based on pre-transplant comorbidities was shown to be predictive of survival and non-relapse mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We assessed HCT-CI as a predictive instrument for survival in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) early after ASCT. Methods: Patients older than 18 who were admitted to ICU between the preparative regimen initiation and post-transplant day 100 were included. Demographics, pre-transplant comorbidities, disease characteristics, transplant data, dates of transplantation, ICU admission, and last follow-up were gathered from institutional registries. Reason for ICU transfer, date and survival status at the time of hospital discharge were gathered from individual medical records. HCT-CI scores were calculated as previously described by Sorror et al. Patients who were transferred to a hospice and died within 7 days of the transfer were considered to have died in the hospital for the purpose of current analyses. Results: Of 3039 patients who underwent ASCT between June 2001 and December 2011 at MD Anderson Cancer Center, 377 patients (12%) were transferred to ICU within 100 days of the transplant. Disease and transplant characteristics of the patients are demonstrated in the Table. The most common reasons for ICU transfer were respiratory failure (n=230), septic shock (n=44), altered mental status (n=33), hemorrhage (excluding intracranial, n=28), and arrhythmias (n=20). Median age was 53 years with a range of 19–80. The most common pre-transplant comorbidities were pulmonary in 302 (80%) and cardiac in 73 patients (19%). Overall 240 patients (64%) died in the hospital. A comprehensive logistic regression model demonstrated HCT-CI score ≥3 to be associated with a higher risk of death in the hospital (Table). Patients with myeloproliferative diseases and those admitted to ICU during the preparative regimen had less risk of dying in the hospital while those who received ablative regimens had an increased risk. One-year overall survival (OS) rates were 22%, 16%, 16%, and 10% among patients with HCT-CI scores of 0–1, 2, 3, and ≥4, respectively. A Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated HCT-CI score of ≥4 to be a poor prognostic factor on OS (HR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.21–2.44). The only other significant prognostic factor on OS was the age. Conclusion: Overall prognosis in patients who are transferred to ICU within 100 days of ASCT is poor. HCT-CI score could aid clinicians to identify the worst-to-perform patients within this population. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Sinus Node Dysfunction and Atrial Fibrillation: A Reversible Phenomenon?

Background: Symptomatic sinus node dysfunction (SND) consists of a variety of manifestations, including tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly associated with SND, which complicates the management of both conditions. This paper reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical trial data investigating therapeutic approaches for treatment of patients with both SND and AF. Methods: The authors reviewed articles published in English describing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutic approaches for patients with SND and AF. The search was conducted using PubMed. Keywords included: sick sinus syndrome, sinus node dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, pacing, and pulmonary vein isolation. Results: SND affects up to one in five patients with AF. AF can lead to anatomical and electrophysiological remodeling in both atria, including the region of sinoatrial node. Changes including atrial fibrosis, altered calcium channel metabolism, and transformed gene expression have been demonstrated in patients with AF and SND. Nonrandomized clinical trial data have failed to demonstrate whether any pacing strategy can reduce the risk of AF. Pulmonary vein isolation appears to decrease episodes of tachybrady syndrome and sinus pauses. Conclusions: SND affects up to one in five patients with AF. The pathophysiological derangements in gene expression, ion channel metabolism, and alterations in myocardial architecture associated with AF may lead to anatomic and electrical changes in the region of the sinoatrial node. Ablation may improve symptoms associated with SND in patients with AF. Future randomized trials are needed to clarify the epidemiology and optimal management of patients with SND and AF.
Sleep Perception and Misperception in Chronic Cocaine Users During Abstinence.

Study objectives During abstinence, chronic cocaine users experience an objective worsening of sleep that is perceived as qualitatively improving. This phenomenon has been termed "occult insomnia." The objective of this study was to determine whether chronic cocaine users experience positive sleep state misperception during abstinence. Methods Forty-three cocaine-dependent persons were admitted to an inpatient research facility for 12 days and 11 nights to participate in a treatment study of modafinil. Polysomnographic sleep recordings were performed on study nights 3, 4, 10, and 11, when participants were on average 1 and 2 weeks abstinent from cocaine. Participants also completed sleep diary questionnaires every evening before bed and every morning upon awakening. Polysomnographic and sleep diary measurements of total sleep time, sleep latency, time awake after sleep onset, and time in bed after final awakening were compared. Results Chronic cocaine users accurately reported total sleep time after 1 week of abstinence but overreported total sleep time by an average of 40 min after 2 weeks of abstinence. Underestimating sleep latency and time spent awake after sleep onset were responsible for this difference. Conclusions Positive sleep state misperception is revealed in chronic cocaine users after 2 weeks of abstinence and is consistent with the previously identified "occult insomnia" in this population.
Introduction to Metrics in Person Centered Medicine Research.

The articulation of science and humanism is at the core of Person Centered Medicine (PCM). Thus, applying the scientific method to advance our understanding of health and the improvement of health actions towards the fulfillment of the whole person is a permanent concern of PCM .
Transforming Early Childhood Systems for Future Generations: Obligations and Opportunities

In a rapidly shifting twenty-first century context, early childhood education and care (ECEC) must consider contextual, scientific, and policy realities in order to realize its social obligations to young children. The current status of ECEC globally bears both good and bad news; many countries are paying attention to the importance of the early years, yet challenges remain related to quality, inequity, and sustainability. Given the surging importance of ECEC and the many challenges at hand, a new strategy is needed to suit the current context. Systems research represents one promising and exciting method for addressing a new set of global issues. This mode of inquiry takes the ECEC system as its unit of analysis, addressing far more than individual classroom pedagogy or even clusters of programs. Systems research advances the thinking that in order for an early childhood system to exist, in addition to quality programs, there must be a solid infrastructure that supports the programs. An emerging systems approach to ECEC considers sociocultural and temporal variables and transcends traditional domains.
Introducing Liberative Theologies

Miguel De La Torre brought together a team of writers to offer an excellent introduction to liberative theologies. Most readers would be more familiar with the term “liberation theology.” The globa...
Adult Associations of Childhood Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: A Prospective, Longitudinal Analysis

Objective Suicidal thoughts and behavior (STBs) have their peak period of onset in adolescence, but little is known about how such behavior is associated with later functioning. The aim of this study is to test whether childhood STBs are related to adult psychiatric, suicidal, and functional outcomes. Method This is a prospective, population-based community study of 1,420 participants assessed with structured interviews up to 7 times in childhood/adolescence (ages 9−16 years; 6,674 observations) for STBs including passive and active ideation, plans, and attempts. Participants were then assessed 4 times in young adulthood (ages 19, 21, 24, and 30 years; 4,556 observations of 1,273 participants) for psychiatric diagnoses, STBs, and functional outcomes. Results By age 16 years, 7.0% of participants had reported some type of STBs, with 3.9% reporting an attempt. Both ideation only and suicide attempts were associated with higher levels of anxiety disorders and STBs in adulthood, as well as poor functioning across financial, health, risky/illegal, and social domains. These observed effects generally were attenuated after adjusting for other psychiatric and psychosocial factors that predict childhood STBs (particularly maltreatment, depression, and disruptive behavior disorders). The exception was adult suicidal behavior, which was predicted by both childhood ideation and attempts, even in the fully adjusted model. Children and adolescents with STBs were more likely to have had a disrupted transition to adulthood. Conclusion Childhood STBs are a marker for a multitude of poor psychiatric and functional outcomes in adulthood, but these effects are largely accounted for by other factors. In contrast, childhood STBs are a robust risk factor for adult suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Epigenetic Modulation of CD8⁺ T Cell Function in Lentivirus Infections: A Review.

CD8+ T cells are critical for controlling viremia during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. These cells produce cytolytic factors and antiviral cytokines that eliminate virally- infected cells. During the chronic phase of HIV infection, CD8+ T cells progressively lose their proliferative capacity and antiviral functions. These dysfunctional cells are unable to clear the productively infected and reactivated cells, representing a roadblock in HIV cure. Therefore, mechanisms to understand CD8+ T cell dysfunction and strategies to boost CD8+ T cell function need to be investigated. Using the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) model for lentiviral persistence, we have demonstrated that CD8+ T cells exhibit epigenetic changes such as DNA demethylation during the course of infection as compared to uninfected cats. We have also demonstrated that lentivirus-activated CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells induce forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression in virus-specific CD8+ T cell targets, which binds the interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ promoters in these CD8+ T cells. Finally, we have reported that epigenetic modulation reduces Foxp3 binding to these promoter regions. This review compares and contrasts our current understanding of CD8+ T cell epigenetics and mechanisms of lymphocyte suppression during the course of lentiviral infection for two animal models, FIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).