cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Possible polytypism in FeO at high pressures

Examination of X-ray diffraction intensities for FeO collected in situ at high pressure and high temperature reveals that the atomic arrangements of FeO in the hexagonal structure are not the same as those in the simple NiAs-type structure (B8) where Fe takes the place of Ni. The observed diffraction intensity can be explained by adding an anti-B8 component (where Fe takes the place of As). Substitution of Fe and O atoms for each other is crystallochemically unique. The exchange of Fe and O positions provides a critical measure of the change in chemical bonding. Our conclusion is consistent with the observed transition of FeO from an ionically bonded structure to a strongly covalent and metallic one. First-principles electronic structure computations using the linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) method with the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) indicate that both B8 and anti-B8 should be antiferromagnetic, but only anti-B8 should be an insulator. The GGA and local density approximation (LDA) incorrectly compute anti-B8 as the ground state structure.
Agent Orange exposure, Vietnam War veterans, and the risk of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND. It has been demonstrated that Agent Orange exposure increases the risk of developing several soft tissue malignancies. Federally funded studies, now nearly a decade old, indicated that there was only a weak association between exposure and the subsequent development of prostate cancer. Because Vietnam War veterans are now entering their 60s, the authors reexamined this association by measuring the relative risk of prostate cancer among a cohort of men who were stratified as either exposed or unexposed to Agent Orange between the years 1962 and 1971 and who were followed during the interval between 1998 and 2006. METHODS. All Vietnam War era veterans who receive their care in the Northern California Veteran Affairs Health System were stratified as either exposed (n = 6214) or unexposed (n = 6930) to Agent Orange. Strata-specific incidence rates of prostate cancer (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code 185.0) were calculated. Differences in patient and disease characteristics (age, race, smoking history, family history, body mass index, finasteride exposure, prebiopsy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, clinical and pathologic stage, and Gleason score) were assessed with chi-square tests, t tests, a Cox proportional hazards model, and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS. Twice as many exposed men were identified with prostate cancer (239 vs 124 unexposed men, respectively; odds ratio [OR], 2.19; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.75-2.75). This increased risk also was observed in a Cox proportional hazards model from the time of exposure to diagnosis (hazards ratio [HR], 2.87; 95% CI, 2.31-3.57). The mean time from exposure to diagnosis was 407 months. Agent Orange-exposed men were diagnosed at a younger age (59.7 years; 95% CI, 58.9-60.5 years) compared with unexposed men (62.2 years; 95% CI, 60.8-63.6 years), had a 2-fold increase in the proportion of Gleason scores 8 through 10 (21.8%; 95% CI, 16.5%-27%) compared with unexposed men (10.5%; 95% CI, 5%-15.9%), and were more likely to have metastatic disease at presentation than men who were not exposed (13.4%; 95% CI, 9%-17.7%) than unexposed men (4%; 95% CI, 0.5%-7.5%). In univariate analysis, distribution by race, smoking history, body mass index, finasteride exposure, clinical stage, and mean prebiopsy PSA were not statistically different. In a multivariate logistic regression model, Agent Orange was the most important predictor not only of developing prostate cancer but also of high-grade and metastatic disease on presentation. CONCLUSIONS. Individuals who were exposed to Agent Orange had an increased incidence of prostate cancer; developed the disease at a younger age, and had a more aggressive variant than their unexposed counterparts. Consideration should be made to classify this group of individuals as ‘high risk,’ just like men of African-American heritage and men with a family history of prostate cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Exercise training for depressed older adults with Alzheimer’s disease

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 16 weeks of a comprehensive exercise routine to supervised walking and social conversation on depression in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Method: This study was a three-group, repeated-measures design with random assignment to treatment group. Forty-five nursing home residents with moderate to severe AD were randomly assigned to a 16-week programme of comprehensive exercise, supervised walking or social conversation. Raters were blinded to treatment group assignment. Major outcome variables were depression measured by the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, mood measured by the Dementia Mood Assessment Scale and the Alzheimer's Mood Scale, and affect measured by the Observed Affect Scale. Depression was reduced in all three groups with some evidence of superior benefit from exercise. Depression is a common problem with serious and costly consequences for nursing home residents with AD. Exercise as a behavioural approach ...
The Ethnicity and Public Recreation Participation Model

Eleven conceptual models that illustrate the relationship between ethnicity/race and recreation are examined. From Lindsay and Ogle (1972) to Floyd, Gramman, and Saenz (1993), the reader is taken through the array of theoretical models that have been used to determine recreation participation by ethnic/racial groups in America. A new conceptual model is created that incorporates elements from each of the previous 11 models. This new model is termed the Ethnicity and Public Recreation Participation Model (EPRP Model) © . The EPRP Model is introduced as a viable theoretical framework for studying and measuring the relationship between ethnic/racial factors and recreation participation.
Thermal effects of acrylic cementation at bone tumour sites.

The use of acrylic bone cement as an adjunct to surgical excision of giant cell tumour of bone appears to reduce the incidence of tumour recurrence. Possible mechanisms for this apparent tumour inhibition include cytotoxic effects from the methylmethacrylate monomer and tissue hyperthermia from the heat of polymerization of the cement. This work presents a method for the prediction of temperature fields and resulting tissue necrosis arising from the implantation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) at the site of a curretted giant cell tumour of bone. This is accomplished using a two-dimensional model based on geometry obtained from digitized MRI images of the distal femur. A general-coordinate, non-orthogonal grid generation technique is used and solutions are obtained with an alternating-direction implicit (ADI) finite-difference scheme. The nodal temperature histories are then used to evaluate the effect of variable defect size on the zone of thermally induced cell necrosis. The results suggest the depth o...
Lensing reconstruction with CMB temperature and polarization

Weak gravitational lensing by an intervening large-scale structure induces a distinct signature in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) that can be used to reconstruct the weak-lensing displacement map. Estimators for individual Fourier modes of this map can be combined to produce an estimator for the lensing-potential power spectrum. The naive estimator for this quantity will be biased upwards by the uncertainty associated with reconstructing individual modes; we present an iterative scheme for removing this bias. The variance and covariance of the lensing-potential power spectrum estimator are calculated and evaluated numerically in a LambdaCDM universe for Planck and future polarization-sensitive CMB experiments.
Consistent t(1;10) with Rearrangements of TGFBR3 and MGEA5 in both Myxoinflammatory Fibroblastic Sarcoma and Hemosiderotic Fibrolipomatous Tumor

Despite their shared predilection for superficial soft tissue of distal extremities and frequent local recurrences, myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) and hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor (HFLT) have distinct morphologic appearances. Recent studies have identified an identical t(1;10)(p22;q24) in five cases of MIFS and two of HFLT, as well as common amplifications on 3p11-12. To investigate further their potential relationship and to determine the incidence of t(1;10) in a larger cohort, we subjected seven MIFS, 14 HFLT, and three cases with mixed morphology, to molecular and cytogenetic analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for rearrangements of TGFBR3 on 1p22 and of MGEA5 on 10q24 was performed in all cases, whereas the status of VGLL3 gene amplification on 3p12.1 was investigated in 12 cases. Conventional karyotyping was performed in one HFLT and two cases with mixed MIFS/HFLT histology. Overall 83% of cases showed rearrangements in both TGFBR3 and MGEA5. All three cases with mixed features of MIFS and HFLT were positive. Cytogenetic analysis performed in three cases confirmed an unbalanced der(10)t(1;10)(p22;q24). VGLL3 gene amplification was noted in 10/12 cases of both histologies. The high incidence of t(1;10) in MIFS and HFLT reinforces a shared pathogenetic relationship. Furthermore, the co-existence of both components either synchronously or metachronously in a primary or subsequent recurrence, suggest either different morphologic variants or different levels of tumor progression of a single biologic entity. FISH analysis for TGFBR3 and MGEA5 rearrangements can be applied as a reliable diagnostic molecular test when confronted with limited material or a challenging diagnosis.
Female brown-headed cowbirds', Molothrus ater, organization and behaviour reflects male social dynamics

Abstract In four large aviaries, we studied social assortment and reproductive behaviour of female brown-headed cowbirds housed with males differing in age class and in corresponding levels of intrasexual interaction. Juvenile and adult females resided with either (1) adult males, (2) juvenile males, (3) adult and juvenile males, or (4) no males. We observed social behaviour of males and females from September 1999 through to the 2000 breeding season. Throughout the year, males in the different conditions showed different levels of social interaction, with adult males being most engaged in male–male interactions and juvenile males being least engaged in male–male interactions. Females in the four conditions differed in their associations with males and with other females. In conditions with adult males, females spent more time near males, approached males more often, and associated with females less. During the breeding season, females in conditions with more adult males copulated more and produced more fertile and viable eggs. In the condition where females were housed with juvenile males, they copulated less, laid fewer eggs and destroyed more of their eggs. Results indicate that throughout the year, females are sensitive to male age and behaviour in their social group, and that this sensitivity can have reproductive consequences. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Myometrial hypertrophy: A clinical pathologic study and review of the literature

Abstract 1. The criteria of normal and enlarged uteri are poorly defined and vary widely. 2. In this study, the term “myometrial hypertrophy” has been used to designate symmetrically enlarged uteri weighing 120 grams or more in which no pathologic changes other than increased size can be demonstrated. 3. Evidence is presented that the increase in weight of the uterus is due to hypertrophy of the smooth muscle fibers of the myometrium. 4. The frequency of this condition in this series of 1,000 consecutive hysterectomies is 5.7 per cent. 5. No characteristic clinical syndrome was found to be associated with myometrial hypertrophy. 6. Myometrial hypertrophy is an anatomic diagnosis to be made in the laboratory. 7. The etiology of the excessive menstrual bleeding remains obscure.
Crystallographic Texture Analysis as a New Method for Material Characterization

For the major processes of metal production, i.e., casting (solidification), rolling (plastic deformation) and annealing (recrystallization) of FCC metals, some of the evolving typical textures are presented and examples of characteristic effects of important material and process parameters on microstructure and related textural features are discussed. It is emphasized that texture analysis can be applied to investigate these processes and their underlying physical mechanisms and so better understand, control and improve related fabricating processes.
Privacy Nudges for Mobile Applications: Effects on the Creepiness Emotion and Privacy Attitudes

To assist users' privacy decision-making with mobile applications, prior research has investigated ways of enhancing information transparency, via improving privacy permission interfaces. This study takes a soft paternalism approach by proposing two interface cues as "privacy nudges" in a mobile permission interface: the frequency nudge indicates how frequently user information is used, and the social nudge presents the percentage of other users approving certain data permission. We compared the effects of these privacy nudges on users' creepiness emotion and privacy attitudes, through a between-subject online experimental study (n=387). Our results suggest that privacy nudges are effective in altering privacy attitudes, but the direction of effects depends on the nudge's framing valence. In addition, the creepiness emotion mediates the relationship between nudging and privacy attitudes.
A Polynomial-Chaos-Based Bayesian Approach for Estimating Uncertain Parameters of Mechanical Systems

In this study, a new computational approach for parameter identification is proposed based on the application of the polynomial chaos theory. The polynomial chaos method has been shown to be considerably more efficient than Monte Carlo in the simulation of systems with a small number of uncertain parameters. In the new approach presented in this paper, the maximum likelihood estimates are obtained by minimizing a cost function derived from the Bayesian theorem. Direct stochastic collocation is used as a less computationally expensive alternative to the traditional Galerkin approach to propagate the uncertainties through the system in the polynomial chaos framework. The new parameter estimation method is illustrated on a four degree­of­freedom roll plane model of a vehicle in which the vertical stiffnesses of the tires are estimated from periodic observations of the displacements and velocities across the suspensions. The results obtained with this approach are close to the actual values of the parameters even when only measurements with low sampling rates are available. The accuracy of the estimations has been shown to be sensitive to the number of terms used in the polynomial expressions and to the number of collocation points, and thus it
Regulatory Forum Opinion Piece*: Immunotoxicology Assessments in Nonhuman Primates—Challenges and Opportunities

The immune system has been recognized for decades as a potential "target organ" of toxicity. Immune system activation can result in cytokine release resulting in severe systemic toxicity. Immunosuppression can result in impaired host defense and an increase in opportunistic infection, reemergence of latent infection, poor responses to vaccination, or increased risk of certain cancers. Several regulatory documents have addressed various aspects of immunotoxicity assessments. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) and in particular macaques are often the only relevant species for biotechnology-derived investigational new drugs based on cross-reactivity with human and NHP targets. This article reviews the challenges and opportunities associated with monitoring immune function in NHPs in the context of regulatory expectations. The article emphasizes how a comprehensive assessment of immunotoxicity remains a challenge due to interanimal variability associated with certain parameters (e.g., T-dependent antibody response)and it identifies gaps, such as the stage of development of certain assays (e.g., cytotoxic T-cell function). Despite these challenges, a thorough assessment of target biology-driven theoretical risks, in combination with proper integration of all information from the standard toxicology studies, and the refinement of certain assays should enable proper risk assessment. To this effect, emphasis should be placed on leveraging predictive in vitro assays using human cells.
Tracing Reversible and Irreversible Li Insertion in SiCO Ceramics with Modeling and Ab-Initio Simulations

We present combined modeling and simulation studies of Li insertion in amorphous SiCO ceramics. Atomistic models of amorphous SiCO with and without so-called “free” carbon have been crafted using a network modeling approach and subsequently relaxed and optimized within density functional theory. In a first series, Li atoms are randomly inserted to test for sites with high binding energy. We find that Li prefers always bonding to O. The enthalpy of insertion, however, depends strongly on electronic states available in the SiCO host matrix. While Li inserted into insulating SiO2 is an energetically unfavorable process, the enthalpy of insertion in SiCO glass is decreased. Some glassy SiCO models exhibit favorable sites for Li insertion, which share a common motif in their local atomic environment. The presence of “free” carbon in SiCO then promotes Li insertion, because carbon-related structural imperfections give rise for low-lying unfilled electronic states. Consequently, strong and irreversible bonding of Li into SiCO is provided, if bonding of Li-cations in Li-O bonds outweighs the promotion energy for the electron to occupy unfilled electronic states.
An open-chamber flow-focusing device for focal stimulation of micropatterned cells

Microfluidic devices can deliver soluble factors to cell and tissue culture microenvironments with precise spatiotemporal control. However, enclosed microfluidic environments often have drawbacks such as the need for continuous culture medium perfusion which limits the duration of experiments, incongruity between microculture and macroculture, difficulty in introducing cells and tissues, and high shear stress on cells. Here, we present an open-chamber microfluidic device that delivers hydrodynamically focused streams of soluble reagents to cells over long time periods (i.e., several hours). We demonstrate the advantage of the open chamber by using conventional cell culture techniques to induce the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes, a process that occurs in 7–10 days and is difficult to achieve in closed chamber microfluidic devices. By controlling the flow rates and altering the device geometry, we produced sharp focal streams with widths ranging from 36 μm to 187 μm. The focal streams were reproducible (∼12% variation between units) and stable (∼20% increase in stream width over 10 h of operation). Furthermore, we integrated trenches for micropatterning myoblasts and microtraps for confining single primary myofibers into the device. We demonstrate with finite element method (FEM) simulations that shear stresses within the cell trench are well below values known to be deleterious to cells, while local concentrations are maintained at ∼22% of the input concentration. Finally, we demonstrated focused delivery of cytoplasmic and nuclear dyes to micropatterned myoblasts and myofibers. The open-chamber microfluidic flow-focusing concept combined with micropatterning may be generalized to other microfluidic applications that require stringent long-term cell culture conditions.
Strategy analysis of revitalizing the economy based on SWOT in Heilongjiang Province

In order to revitalyze the economy of Heilongjiang Province,using the SWOT analysis method,the paper analyzes the superiorities in geography,location and resources,and inner inferiorities in financy and technology.The paper also discusses the chances and threats in some aspects such as national policy and local environment during the period of time for economic development.Based on this,Heilongjiang Province should seize the opportunity of developing special agriculture,improve the invest environment,build a prosperous Heilongjiang through science and education,transform the way of economic growth,create an ideal economic developing environment and seek for a strategy of revitalize economy fitting for inner characteristics.
A multi-center study of current status on clinical control of hypercholesterolemia in China: success rate and related factors

Objective To assess the current status on clinical control of hypercholesterolaemia among Chinese patients Methods 25 top level hospitals from 12 metropolitan cities in China were selected to recruit 2 136 patients suffering from hypercholesterolaemia and having been receiving the lipid lowering treatment (the same medication and same dosage)for at least 2 months Serum lipids level was determined for each patient at the time of enrollment, to assess whether the patients's serum lipid level reached the goal for treatment The success rate defined as the proportion of patients whose lipid level, both of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL C) and total cholesterol (TC), achieved the goal for treatment according to the Chinese National Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment of Dislipidaemia Results 1) Among the 2 136 hypercholesterolaemia patients from the top hospitals in China, 47 2% were men,63 4% aged 60 years and over, 75 4% from outpatient departments, 66 4% treated by cardiologists, 62 5% with combined hypercholesterolaemia, 36 5% with atherosclerotic diseases(ASD), 70 3% using statin and 18 3% not in control of diet 2) The overall success rate was 26 5% It was 16 6% for patients with established ASD such as coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and peripheral arteries diseases, 31 7% for patients without ASD but with risk factors (RF) including hypertesion, diabetes, smoking , family history, male gender, age, overweight /obesity and so on, 44 9% for patients without ASD and RF ( P =0 001 among the 3 groups) And it was 30 1% for patients using statin, 19 7% for those using fibrate, and 14 3% for those using other lipid lowering medications ( P =0 001 among the 3 groups) In addition, other factors related to the success rate included baseline lipid level, number of risk factors affected, education level of patients, etc Conclusions The current status in clinical control of hypercholesterolaemia is still lag far behind the goals of treatment established by Chinese National Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment of Dislipidaemia Putting treatment of hyercholesterolaemia in a key position, enhancing patient health education, strengthening non pharmaceutical treatment, choosing right medication and adjusting to the right dosage should be effective measures to improve as soon as possible the current status in clinical control of hypercholesterolaemia in China
Progress in the Fight Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria? A Review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration–Approved Antibiotics, 2010–2015

A weak antibiotic pipeline and the increase in drug-resistant pathogens have led to calls for more new antibiotics. Eight new antibiotics were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between January 2010 and December 2015: ceftaroline, fidaxomicin, bedaquiline, dalbavancin, tedizolid, oritavancin, ceftolozane-tazobactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam. This study evaluates the development course and pivotal trials of these antibiotics for their innovativeness, development process, documented patient outcomes, and cost. Data sources were FDA approval packages and databases (January 2010 to December 2015); the Red Book (Truven Health Analytics); Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (FDA); and supplementary information from company filings, press releases, and media reports. Four antibiotics were approved for acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infection. Seven had similar mechanisms of action to those of previously approved drugs. Six were initially developed by small to midsized companies, and 7 are currently marketed by 1 of 3 large companies. The drugs spent a median of 6.2 years in clinical trials (interquartile range [IQR], 5.4 to 8.8 years) and 8 months in FDA review (IQR, 7.5 to 8 months). The median number of patients enrolled in the pivotal trials was 666 (IQR, 553 to 739 patients; full range, 44 to 1005 patients), and median trial duration was 18 months (IQR, 15 to 22 months). Seven drugs were approved on the basis of pivotal trials evaluating noninferiority. One drug demonstrated superiority on an exploratory secondary end point, 2 showed decreased efficacy in patients with renal insufficiency, and 1 showed increased mortality compared with older drugs. Seven of the drugs are substantially more expensive than their trial comparators. Limitations are that future research may show benefit to patients, new drugs from older classes may show superior effectiveness in specific patient populations, and initial U.S. prices for each new antibiotic were obtained from public sources. Recently marketed antibiotics are more expensive but have been approved without evidence of clinical superiority.
Public-sector Unions and Government Policy: Reexamining the Effects of Political Contributions and Collective Bargaining Rights

Recent events, including the failed recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the Chicago teachers strike, have shed light on the relationship between state fiscal policy and public-sector unio...
Composable Multi-Threading for Python Libraries

Python is popular among numeric communities that value it for easy to use number crunching modules like [NumPy], [SciPy], [Dask], [Numba], and many others. These modules often use multi-threading for efficient multi-core parallelism in order to utilize all the available CPU cores. Nevertheless, their threads can interfere with each other leading to overhead and inefficiency if used together in one application. The loss of performance can be prevented if all the multi-threaded parties are coordinated. This paper describes usage of Intel® Threading Building Blocks (Intel® TBB), an open-source cross-platform library for multi-core parallelism [TBB], as the composability layer for Python modules. It helps to unlock additional performance for numeric applications on multi-core
Radiation Effects On DNA: Theoretical Investigations Of Electron, Hole And Excitation Pathways To DNA Damage

Radiation induced DNA damage is the most significant biological effect of radiation. Initially, radiation interacts with each component of DNA randomly resulting in DNA holes, electrons and excited states. Holes and electrons undergo rapid transfer to the most stable sites followed by proton transfer processes. These initial effects depend on the fundamental properties of DNA such as ionization potentials and electron affinities which are amenable to high level ab initio theories such as density functional theory. In this review, the recent theoretical treatments of these likely radiation intermediates are discussed. Topics include DNA base and base pair electron affinities, ionization potentials, proton transfer processes, solvation effects on the electron affinity of bases and base pairs, the role of low energy electrons (LEEs) in DNA damage, and sugar radical formation from hole excited states. These results clearly show a role for molecular orbital theories in developing a full explanation of the radiation damage processes
Regulation of lipid metabolism by obeticholic acid in hyperlipidemic hamsters

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays critical roles in plasma cholesterol metabolism, in particular HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) homeostasis. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a FXR agonist being developed for treating various chronic liver diseases. Previous studies reported inconsistent effects of OCA on regulating plasma cholesterol levels in different animal models and in different patient populations. The mechanisms underlying its divergent effects have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) is a FXR-modulated gene and the major receptor for HDL-C. We investigated the effects of OCA on hepatic SR-BI expression and correlated such effects with plasma HDL-C levels and hepatic cholesterol efflux in hyperlipidemic hamsters. We demonstrated that OCA induced a time-dependent reduction in serum HDL-C levels after 14 days of treatment, which was accompanied by a significant reduction of liver cholesterol content and increases in fecal cholesterol in OCA-treated hamsters. Importantly, hepatic SR-BI mRNA and protein levels in hamsters were increased to 1.9- and 1.8-fold of control by OCA treatment. Further investigations in normolipidemic hamsters did not reveal OCA-induced changes in serum HDL-C levels or hepatic SR-BI expression. We conclude that OCA reduces plasma HDL-C levels and promotes transhepatic cholesterol efflux in hyperlipidemic hamsters via a mechanism involving upregulation of hepatic SR-BI.
MYBL2 Is a Candidate Tumor Suppressor Gene In MDS

Abstract Abstract 1865 Cytogenetic changes, mainly deletions, can be found in about 30–50% of patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). To identify a tumor suppressor candidate within a commonly deleted region on chromosome 20q, we performed gene expression analysis on CD34+ bone marrow cells obtained from 8 patients with a 20q aberration and 18 with a normal karyotype. However, we were unable to identify genes that were significantly differentially expressed in aberrant 20q karyotype as compared to normal karyotype MDS patients. In contrast, a comparison of CD34+ cells from all MDS cases analyzed (n=26) with CD34+ cells obtained from normal bone marrow (n=4) revealed 108 genes that were differentially expressed. Interestingly, one of the top-scoring genes was MYBL2, which is located on chromosome 20q. MYBL2 levels were downregulated more than two-fold in 18 out of 26 cases. RNAi-mediated knockdown of MYBL2 in CD34+ normal bone marrow cells revealed a signature of genes functionally associated with the G2/M cell cycle phase confirming the well-documented role of MYBL2 as key transcription factor governing the onset of cell division. We hypothesize that in a subset of MDS cases the control of cell division may be impaired by low levels of MYBL2 such that altered cell fates established during cell division in early hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells will lead to clonal expansion with imbalanced or impaired differentiation. Indeed, gene set enrichment analysis revealed a strong enrichment of MYBL2 signature genes in MDS CD34+ cells. In support of a potential role as tumor suppressor, resequencing of MYBL2 (144 patients) identified 2 somatic mutations, pinpointing an additional mechanism to reduce expression of normal levels of wild-type MYBL2. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Mindfulness treatment for substance misuse: A systematic review and meta-analysis

High rates of relapse following substance misuse treatment highlight an urgent need for effective therapies. Although the number of empirical studies investigating effects of mindfulness treatment for substance misuse has increased dramatically in recent years, few reviews have examined findings of mindfulness studies. Thus, this systematic review examined methodological characteristics and substantive findings of studies evaluating mindfulness treatments for substance misuse published by 2015. The review also includes the first meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of mindfulness treatments for substance misuse. Comprehensive bibliographic searches in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science, identified 42 pertinent studies. Meta-analytic results revealed significant small-to-large effects of mindfulness treatments in reducing the frequency and severity of substance misuse, intensity of craving for psychoactive substances, and severity of stress. Mindfulness treatments were also effective in increasing rates of posttreatment abstinence from cigarette smoking compared to alternative treatments. Mindfulness treatment for substance misuse is a promising intervention for substance misuse, although more research is needed examining the mechanisms by which mindfulness interventions exert their effects and the effectiveness of mindfulness treatments in diverse treatment settings.
Regional myosin heavy chain isoform expression in response to exercise training in old rat myocardium

It is recognized that with ageing of the rodent heart there is a shift in myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform from α-MHC to β-MHC. Previous studies have shown evidence of significant regional differen...
Dataflow in MATLAB: Algorithm Acceleration Through Concurrency

In this paper, we present a novel Data-Flow architecture for MATLAB. This architecture provides thread-level pipelining of MATLAB functions as well as general concurrency support. The proposed approach yields a significant speedup of current MATLAB implementations that rely on streaming data or employ data-dependent operations. Following the development of increased CPU core counts, this proposed framework will provide additional benefit only as this trend continues. A performance analysis of the proposed framework is performed, and we are able to demonstrate high-level throughput gains of specific applications. Discussions on implementation guidelines, as well as limitations of the framework, are proposed in this paper. Through the use of this tool, we have demonstrated a 802.11a receiver employing Software-Defined Radio hardware running in real time. From the user’s perspective, this tool requires interaction only from the MATLAB language, handling all threading and data transfer without user intervention.
Long-Term Column Testing of Zeolite-Amended Backfills. I: Testing Methodology and Chemical Compatibility

AbstractEight column tests were performed with specimens comprising unamended and zeolite-amended sand-bentonite backfills for vertical cutoff walls permeated with solutions of either 35 mM KCl (fi...
Cable cars in urban transport: Travel time savings from La Paz-El Alto (Bolivia)

Abstract Recently cable cars have come to be considered as an urban transport alternative in many cities. After the successful implementation of Metrocable in Medellin, Colombia, in 2004, other Latin American cities developed projects to incorporate cable cars as part of their public transport network. The system in La Paz and El Alto is the longest urban cable car network in the world. It connects two geographically complex areas with about two million inhabitants and high rates of poverty. This paper provides quantitative evidence of the effect of the La Paz–EL Alto cable car on users’ commuting time, which may have an important impact on many dimensions of people's lives. Because cable cars have only recently been used for urban transit, literature on the subject is scarce. No paper has addressed the case of La Paz and El Alto in Bolivia, as most previous studies have focused on anecdotical information of the case of Medellin. From a mobility survey carried out in La Paz-El Alto, we compare the average commuting travel times of using cable cars (treatment group) over other transport modes (control group). We estimate that travel by cable car cuts commuting times by an average of 22% over other transport modes. This translates into a daily reduction of nine minutes in travel time and an average net benefit of US$0.58 per commute. The effect holds across the distribution of commuting times: No matter how short or long the commute, it takes less time when the cable car network is used.
Postmarketing safety surveillance of trivalent recombinant influenza vaccine: Reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System

On January 16, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration approved recombinant hemagglutinin influenza vaccine (RIV3) (Spodoptera frugiperda cell line; Flublok), which is the first completely egg-free flu vaccine licensed in the United States. To improve our understanding of the safety profile of this vaccine, we reviewed and summarized reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) following RIV3. Through June 30, 2016, VAERS received 88 reports. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, were the most common type of adverse event. Based on medical review, 10 cases met the Brighton Collaboration case definition of anaphylaxis, 21 reports described allergic reactions other than anaphylaxis, and 11 reports described signs and symptoms that suggested hypersensitivity. Other adverse events included injection site reactions, fatigue, myalgia, headache, and fever. The occurrence of anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions in some individuals may reflect an underlying predisposition to atopy that may manifest itself after an exposure to any drug or vaccine, and it does not necessarily suggest a causal relationship with the unique constituents that are specific to the vaccine product administered. Further research may elucidate the mechanism of allergic reactions following influenza vaccination: it is possible that egg proteins and influenza hemagglutinin play little or no role. Vaccination remains the single best defense against influenza and its complications. The information summarized here may enable policy makers, health officials, clinicians, and patients to make a more informed decision regarding vaccination strategies.
Mind-Body Interventions for Individuals With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials.

Background The effects of mind-body interventions (MBIs) (eg, Tai Chi, yoga, meditation) for individuals with heart failure (HF) have not been systematically evaluated. Methods and results We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of MBIs in HF. We extracted participant characteristics, MBI procedure, outcomes assessed, and main results of English-language RCTs before October 2016. We identified 24 RCTs (n = 1314 participants) of 9 MBI types: Tai Chi (n = 7), yoga (n = 4), relaxation (n = 4), meditation (n = 2), acupuncture (n = 2), biofeedback (n = 2), stress management (n = 1), Pilates (n = 1), and reflexology (n = 1). Most (n = 22, 95.8%) reported small-to-moderate improvements in quality of life (14/14 studies), exercise capacity (8/9 studies), depression (5/5 studies), anxiety and fatigue (4/4 studies), blood pressure (3/5 studies), heart rate (5/6 studies), heart rate variability (7/9 studies), and B-type natriuretic peptide (3/4 studies). Studies ranged from 4 minutes to 26 weeks and group sizes ranged from 8 to 65 patients per study arm. Conclusions Although wide variability exists in the types and delivery, RCTs of MBIs have demonstrated small-to-moderate positive effects on HF patients' objective and subjective outcomes. Future research should examine the mechanisms by which different MBIs exert their effects.
Effect of circulating tumor cell aggregate configuration on hemodynamic transport and wall contact.

Abstract Selectin-mediated adhesion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to the endothelium is a critical step in cancer metastasis, a major factor contributing to the mortality of cancer. The formation of tethers between tumor cells and endothelial selectins initiates cell rolling, which can lead to firm adhesion, extravasation and the formation of secondary metastases. Tumor cells travel through the bloodstream as single cells, or as aggregates known as circulating tumor microemboli (CTM). CTM have increased survivability and metastatic potential relative to CTCs, and the presence of CTM is associated with worse patient prognosis. The motion of cells and cellular aggregates in flow is a function of their size and shape, and these differences influence the frequency and strength of their contact with the endothelium. In this study, a computational model consisting of the hydrodynamic component of the Multiparticle Adhesive Dynamics simulation analyzed the effects of model aggregate conformation and orientation on adhesive binding potential. Model aggregates of the Colo205 colorectal cancer cell line were created, consisting of two, three, and four cells in simple geometrical conformations. Contact time, contact area, and time integral of contact area were measured as a function of fluid shear rate, initial centroid height, and initial orientation for model aggregates that experienced hydrodynamic collisions with the plane wall. It was found that larger CTM conformations with intermediate nonsphericities had the highest adhesion potential. The results of this study shed light on the correlation between environmental conditions and extravasation efficiency, which could inform the development of new anti-metastatic drugs.
Temporal dynamics of flooding, evaporation, and desiccation cycles and observations of salt crust area change at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

Abstract The Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) in Utah is a dynamic saline playa environment responding to natural and anthropogenic forces. Over the last century, the saline groundwater from below BSF has been harvested to produce potash via evaporative mining, mostly used as agricultural fertilizers, while the surface halite crust has provided a significant recreational site for land speed racing. Perceptions of changes in the salt crust through time have spurred debates about land use and management; however, little is known about the timescales of natural change as the salt crust responds to climatic parameters that drive flooding, evaporation, and desiccation (FED) cycles that control surface salt growth and dissolution. Climate data over the last ~ 30 years are examined to identify annual patterns in surface water balance at BSF to identify annual and seasonal climate constraints on FED cycles. Landsat satellite data from 1986 to the present are used to map the areal extent of the surface halite salt crust at BSF at the end of the desiccation season (between August 15 and October 30) annually. Overall, the observed area of the desiccation-stage BSF halite crust has varied from a maximum of 156 km2 in 1993 to a minimum of 72 km2 in 2014 with an overall trend of declining area of halite observed over the ~ 30 years of analysis. Climatic variables that influence FED cycles and seasonal salt dissolution and precipitation have also varied through this time period; however, the relationship between surface water fluxes and salt crust area do not clearly correlate, suggesting that other processes are influencing the extent of the salt. Intra-annual analyses of salt area and weather illustrate the importance of ponded surface water, wind events, and microtopography in shaping a laterally extensive but thin and ephemeral halite crust. Examination of annual to decadal changes in salt crust extent and environmental parameters at BSF provides insights into the processes driving change and the sustainability of land use in this dynamic environment.
Association between rainfall and diagnoses of joint or back pain: Retrospective claims analysis

Abstract Objective To study the relation between rainfall and outpatient visits for joint or back pain in a large patient population. Design Observational study. Setting US Medicare insurance claims data linked to rainfall data from US weather stations. Participants 1 552 842 adults aged ≥65 years attending a total of 11 673 392 outpatient visits with a general internist during 2008-12. Main outcome measures The proportion of outpatient visits for joint or back pain related conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders, and other non-traumatic joint disorders) was compared between rainy days and non-rainy days, adjusting for patient characteristics, chronic conditions, and geographic fixed effects (thereby comparing rates of joint or back pain related outpatient visits on rainy days versus non-rainy days within the same area). Results Of the 11 673 392 outpatient visits by Medicare beneficiaries, 2 095 761 (18.0%) occurred on rainy days. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, the difference in the proportion of patients with joint or back pain between rainy days and non-rainy days was significant (unadjusted, 6.23% v 6.42% of visits, P Conclusion In a large analysis of older Americans insured by Medicare, no relation was found between rainfall and outpatient visits for joint or back pain. A relation may still exist, and therefore larger, more detailed data on disease severity and pain would be useful to support the validity of this commonly held belief.
Teaching Introductory Programming Concepts through a Gesture-Based Interface

The goal of our research is to create and evaluate a visual and gesture-driven interface to teach computer programming to non-traditional programmers, typically school-age children. By making the interface more enjoyable for young students, we hope to keep students engaged and increase their attention span while learning how to program.
Understanding the concept of adoption: a qualitative analysis with adoptees and their parents

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of children’s and adults’ experiences with adoption. This qualitative study used individual interviews to examine 25 participants—8 adoptive mothers and fathers, and their 5to 14-year-old sons (n=5) and daughters (n=4) adopted before 18 months. Data were collected using a phenomenological methodology and analysis of the data was guided by the following research questions: (a) What are children’s and parents’ 1 overall experiences with adoption? (b) What is the social construction of adoption? (c) What do children understand about the concept of adoption and how do they construct that understanding? (d) How do language and word choices influence the concept of adoption? (e) What would you like others to know about adoption? Analysis followed steps defined by Moustakas and others and revealed five interactive themes that resonated among all families (a) parents’ beliefs/experiences, (b) the need for education and change to promote adoption and positive adoption terminology, (c) communication, (d) children’s understanding, (e) and identity. Limitations, future research possibilities, policy implications and implications for those who counsel, teach, and work with parents and children who have experienced adoption were identified. 1 The term “parent (s)” used throughout this paper, unless otherwise noted, refers to the parent (s) who adopted a child. The terms “birth parent (s)” or “biological parent (s)” refer to the parent (s) to whom a child was
Automatic Subpixel Detection: Unsupervised Subpixel Detection

The subpixel detection studied in Chapters 3 and 4 requires either full or partial target knowledge. In the target abundance-constrained subpixel detection, a linear mixture model is required where the complete knowledge of the target signature matrix M must be given a priori. In the target signature-constrained subpixel detection, there is no need of a linear mixture model, but the desired target signature d must be provided in advance. In many practical applications, such prior knowledge may not be available. One way to remedy this situation is to obtain target information directly from the image data in an unsupervised manner. This chapter considers unsupervised subpixel detection where three unsupervised learning algorithms, unsupervised vector quantization (UVQ) algorithm, unsupervised target generation process (UTGP) and unsupervised NCLS (UNCLS) algorithm are presented. These algorithms extract necessary target information directly from the image data for unsupervised subpixel detection when no prior target information is available. Such generated unsupervised target information is referred to as a posteriori target information and can be also used to perform target classification as will be discussed in Chapter 13. One dilemma associated with these unsupervised algorithms is how much target information is sufficient for detection and classification. This is a challenging problem. On many occasions, it is closely related to the virtual dimensionailty, which will be discussed in Chapter 17.