cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geographical variability and network structure

Abstract In this paper, we explore the potential implications of geographical variability for the structure of social networks. Beginning with some basic simplifying assumptions, we derive a number of ways in which local network structure should be expected to vary across a region whose population is unevenly distributed. To examine the manner in which these effects would be expected to manifest given realistic population distributions, we then perform an exploratory simulation study that examines the features of large-scale interpersonal networks generated using block-level data from the 2000 U.S. Census. Using a stratified sample of micropolitan and metropolitan areas with populations ranging from approximately 1000 to 1,000,000 persons, we extrapolatively simulate network structure using spatial network models calibrated to two fairly proximate social relations. From this sample of simulated networks, we examine the effect of both within-location and between-location heterogeneity on a variety of structural properties. As we demonstrate, geographical variability produces large and distinctive features in the “social fabric” that overlies it; at the same time, however, many aggregate network properties can be fairly well-predicted from relatively simple spatial demographic variables. The impact of geographical variability is thus predicted to depend substantially on the type of network property being assessed, and on the spatial scale involved.
ECG changes in response to diuresis in an ambulatory patient with congestive heart failure.

This case report describes an ambulatory patient with congestive heart failure and peripheral edema who lost 18 Ib in response to enhanced diuresis over the course of 1 week. The ECG showed increases in the amplitude of P waves, QRS complexes, and T waves; the duration of P waves, QRS complexes, and QT intervals; and the dispersion of P and QT. The clinical implications of these ECG changes are discussed.
Loop Current Impact on the Transport of Mississippi River Waters

ABSTRACT Schiller, R.V. and Kourafalou, V.H., 2014. Loop current impact on the transport of Mississippi river waters. River plume studies have traditionally focused on coastal and shelf circulation. Here, we examine novel interactions of a large river plume with offshore flows, which introduces additional export pathways for the riverine waters. We show the impact of the Loop Current System (LCS) on the offshore transport and fate of Mississippi River (MR) plume waters. The high-resolution Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) model, nested in a data-assimilative, regional, Gulf of Mexico model, was employed for a 5-year, realistically forced simulation. Model results, in tandem with satellite data, demonstrate that the entrainment of MR waters by the LCS varies interannually and extends pathways of shelf cross-marginal transport to the basin interior and beyond. Plume-to-LCS interactions are determined by episodic northward intrusions of the LCS in the NGoM. If the intrusion is very close to the MR Delta, plume...
A family of new Rudin's theorem type results for scattering Schur polynomials

The author proves a class of results which can be considered to be the scattering Schur counterpart of the Rudin type results well known in the context of strict sense Schur polynomials. These results establish that test for zeros of a multivariable polynomial in a polydisc can be equivalently broken up into a set of simpler tests, the latter tests being a search for zeros in domains which are subsets of the unit polydisc. The author classifies the results of the present work into two categories. Results of the first type require test for zeros of the polynomial on the distinguished boundary and a set of 1-D tests for zeros in the unit disc. Results of the second type require a test for zeros of the polynomial on the distinguished boundary and only one 1-D test in the unit disc. >
Mobile phones and Mipoho's prophecy: The powers and dangers of flying language

In this article, I examine the ideologies surrounding the poetic forms of Giriama text messaging in the town of Malindi, Kenya. I argue that young people use rapid code-switching and a global medialect of condensed, abbreviated English as an iconic index of a modern, mobile, self-fashioning, sexy, and irreverent persona, whereas their use of the local vernacular (Kigiriama) tends to reroot them in the gravitas of social obligations and respect relationships. In text messages, then, English and local African tongues are sometimes treated as foils for each other, suggesting that, rather than merely being mimicked, the English medialect is flavored by distinctly local concerns. Indeed, among many Giriama elders, the poetic patterns of text messaging are construed as a special breed of witchery in which hypermobility and linguistic innovation threaten ethnic coherence and even sanity itself. I suggest, however, that the use of Kigiriama in text messaging may point not to the abandonment of ethnicity but to new ways of being Giriama that are simultaneously local and modern. [mobile phones, text messaging, globalization, Kenya, witchcraft, language ideology, code switching]
Monozygotic twins discordant for major depression: a preliminary exploration of the role of environmental experiences in the aetiology and course of illness.

Background Genetic effects upon behaviour are pervasive. To what extent are the many correlates of major depression (MD) due to individual-specific environmental experiences versus genetic factors correlated with risk for MD? Methods From a population-based twin registry, we identified 72 female monozygotic pairs discordant for a lifetime history of MD and compared the affected and unaffected members on a wide range of putative correlates of MD. Results The affected twin differed from her unaffected co-twin on many variables, eight of which were maximally discriminating: (i) maternal protectiveness; (ii) conflictual parent-child relationship; (iii) low optimism; (iv) current stressful life events; (v) financial difficulties and a history of (vi) phobia, (vii) nicotine dependence; and (viii) divorce. A cluster analysis suggested three 'environmental pathways' to MD characterized by: (i) childhood vulnerability and anxiety; (ii) acting-out and demoralization; and (iii) interpersonal difficulties. Conclusion Important precursors and sequelae of MD originate in environmental experiences unique to the individual and are not mediated through genetic factors or family-of-origin effects. Such environmental factors cause pervasive differences in monozygotic twins discordant for MD, especially in the areas of interpersonal difficulties, psychopathology, social problems and self-concept. These findings should be interpreted in the context of possible retrospective recall bias and the difficulty of distinguishing risk factors from sequelae in co-twin-control studies.
How Does the Heart Heal

Suffering a heart attack is a life-changing event. Adding to patients’ unease is the inability of their doctors to predict whether their heart will heal or progressively deteriorate. Although cardiologists can often make rough predictions, little definitive guidance is possible until several months have elapsed. This uncertainty is only partially driven by clinical circumstances; there are many uncharacterized pathophysiological factors at play in the days, weeks, and months after a heart attack. Heart remodeling is known to be influenced by reprogramming of the cardiac gene regulatory network in response to physiological stress, but the factors that drive reprogramming are unknown. Now, Ounzain et al. investigate factors that modulate cardiac gene regulation in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. Regulation of gene expression was once considered to be a fairly simple process, with RNA involved primarily as a passive intermediary for the translation of DNA into proteins. Over time, scientists have learned that RNA that is not translated into protein—so-called noncoding RNA—can dynamically regulate gene transcription and posttranscriptional processing. Of the many forms of noncoding RNA, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are one of the most common and least understood. Ounzain et al. undertook an extensive evaluation of factors that affect cardiac gene regulation in mice after an experimentally induced myocardial infarction. They found lncRNA transcription patterns that were well correlated with specific adverse cardiac changes and identified related DNA segments in the human genome that could encode similar lncRNAs. Their work established that there are distinct patterns of lncRNA transcription in areas of the heart that are adjacent to versus distant from the infarction, as well as different temporal patterns of lncRNA transcription after a heart attack. Subsequent research may identify lncRNAs that serve as markers of adverse outcomes or targets for new myocardial infarction treatments that regulated cardiac remodeling. S. Ounzain et al. , Genome-wide profiling of the cardiac transcriptome after myocardial infarction identifies novel heart-specific non-coding RNAs. Eur. Heart J . 10.1093/eurheartj/ehu180 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/04/30/eurheartj.ehu180.abstract
Variability in same-day discharge for pediatric appendicitis.

Abstract Background Recent single-institutional data point to the feasibility of same-day discharge (SDD) after appendectomy for nonperforated appendicitis and its potential as a quality-of-care indicator. Opportunities for SDD are greatest the sooner the appendectomy is performed after admission. We examine a national database to assess the pattern of SDD utilization among children who underwent appendectomy on the day of admission and potential limitations to SDD. Methods The 2009 Kids Inpatient Database (KID) was queried for children with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis who had appendectomy. Exclusion criteria included those children with perforated appendicitis or those in whom the procedure code was missing. Day from admission to procedure day and total length of stay (LOS) were then analyzed by demographics, type of procedure (laparoscopic versus open), children's hospital designation, and hospital region. After stratifying all patients undergoing appendectomy on day of admission into two groups by LOS (≤1 d, SDD versus >1 d, non-SDD), a multivariate analysis was then performed to determine the predictors of SDD. Results A total of 38,959 records, representing a weighted estimate of 56,077 patients with a diagnosis of nonperforated appendicitis, met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 14 y with interquartile range of 10–17 y. Median LOS was 1 d (interquartile range, 1–2 d), and the majority (71.8%) had laparoscopic appendectomy. On adjusted analysis, laparoscopic cases were 50% less likely to be non-SDD compared with their open counterparts (odds ratio [OR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47–0.53). Compared with Caucasians, significantly more Hispanics (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.36–1.56) and African Americans (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.42–1.73) were non-SDD. Hospitals in the midwest and south were more likely to be non-SDD. Conclusions SDD is increasingly used for children with nonperforated appendicitis, but there is significant variability in the utilization of SDD for different ethnicities and hospital regions. These variations need to be further investigated to better delineate its potential role as a quality-of-care indicator.
The Evolving Structure of Plasma Formed From the Surface of Aluminum Rods Driven to Megaampere Current

Plasma formation from thick Al rods ohmically heated during the diffusion of pulsed multimegagauss magnetic field is examined experimentally. Rods in the Z-pinch configuration are driven to 1.0-MA peak current. The evolution of the resultant surface plasma is complex yet highly reproducible. Surface plasmas first form at discrete hot spots. As the pulsed current grows, plasma filaments form, first along the current, and then transverse to it. As the plasma temperature rises, emissions become increasingly uniform until instabilities grow and modulate the surface.
Reassessment of fistula puncture site blood loss.

Fistula puncture site blood loss during and after hemodialysis was measured in 12 patients with end-stage renal disease. It was found to be 0.74 ± 0.32 ml per dialysis and 115.4 ± 49.9 ml per year in patients with Cimino A-V fistulas. Puncture site blood leak in patients with heterologous grafts was 1.77 ± 0.36 ml per dialysis and 276.1 ± 56.1 ml per year. The values obtained in this study are 5 to 10 folds less than those found in the original reports. Recent advances in dialytic technology are probably responsible for the observed improvement. The results also suggest that Cimino A-V fistulas are superior to the heterologous graft.
Using Letter-Naming Speed to Diagnose Reading Disability:

Letter-naming speed was investigated to determine if it measures cognitive speed, a theoretical factor that purportedly influences or limits reading rate. A group of 47 students in Grades 2 through 10 were administered a large battery of computerized tests. A factor analysis of seven rate measures resulted in two factors that correlated .37: a cognitive speed factor (Cs) and a rauding rate level factor (Rl.), with the two measures of letter-naming speed loading highly on the Cs factor. Empirical measures of these two factors were derived by averaging across tests that loaded highly on each factor, and these new measures of Cs and Rl. correlated substantially---.51. Cs correlated near zero (-.18) with a traditional measure of intelligence, called cognitive power (Cp). Thus, cognitive speed and cognitive power seem to be two independent factors influencing reading ability. Whereas cognitive power has traditionally been used to diagnose reading disabilities, it now appears that letter-naming speed can be use...
Standards-Based Quantification in DTSA-II—Part II

This article is the fourth in a series describing the setup and use of NIST DTSA-II. The previous articles may be viewed in the Microscopy Today archives at www.microscopy-today.com. Part I of this article described how to use DTSA-II to quantify an energy dispersive X-ray spectrum from a material of unknown composition. That presentation covered each step and provided background material but lacked a concrete example. This follow-up article provides two such examples.
Effects of Leptin Replacement Therapy on Pancreatic β-Cell Function in Patients With Lipodystrophy

OBJECTIVE Leptin administration is known to directly modulate pancreatic β-cell function in leptin-deficient rodent models. However, human studies examining the effects of leptin administration on β-cell function are lacking. In this study, we examined the effects (16-20 weeks) of leptin replacement on β-cell function in patients with lipodystrophy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a prospective, open-label, currently ongoing study, we studied the effects of leptin replacement on β-cell function in 13 patients with congenital or acquired lipodystrophy. Insulin secretory rate (ISR) was calculated by C-peptide deconvolution from plasma glucose and C-peptide levels measured during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) performed at baseline and after 16-20 weeks of leptin replacement. β-Cell glucose sensitivity and rate sensitivity were assessed by mathematical modeling of OGTT. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in triglycerides, free fatty acids, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (A1C) after leptin therapy. Patients with lipodystrophy have high fasting and glucose-stimulated ISR. However, leptin therapy had no significant effect on fasting ISR, total insulin secretion during OGTT, β-cell glucose sensitivity, rate sensitivity, or insulin clearance. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to the suppressive effects of leptin on β-cell function in rodents, 16-20-week treatment with leptin in lipodystrophy patients did not significantly affect insulin secretion or β-cell function in leptin-deficient individuals with lipodystrophy.
Multi-Level Shape Representation Using Global Deformations andLocally Adaptive Finite Elements

We present a model-based method for the multi-level shape, pose estimation and abstraction of an object‘s surface from range data. The surface shape is estimated based on the parameters of a superquadric that is subjected to global deformations (tapering and bending) and a varying number of levels of local deformations. Local deformations are implemented using locally adaptive finite elements whose shape functions are piecewise cubic functions with C^1 continuity. The surface pose is estimated based on the model‘s translational and rotational degrees of freedom. The algorithm first does a coarse fit, solving for a first approximation to the translation, rotation and global deformation parameters and then does several passes of mesh refinement, by locally subdividing triangles based on the distance between the given datapoints and the model. The adaptive finite element algorithm ensures that during subdivision the desirable finite element mesh generation properties of conformity, non-degeneracy and smoothness are maintained. Each pass of the algorithm uses physics-based modeling techniques to iteratively adjust the global and local parameters of the model in response to forces that are computed from approximation errors between the model and the data. We present results demonstrating the multi-level shape representation for both sparse and dense range data.
Matters of the mind, heart, and soul

D r Martha Rogers is a Canadian nurse-futurist whose research re- veals that adult responses to learning about the future can be classified 3 ways. Accord- ing to Dr Rogers, learning about the future involves patterns of the mind, heart, and soul. 1,2 Future thinking requires a keen mind that understands and appreciates the complexity of systems thinking; taken se- riously, future-oriented discussions and consequences of human action generate strong feelings; and finally, learning and wondering about the future taps existen- tial anxieties and confronts people with questions of meaning, purpose, and soul. scenarios. Dr Rogers suggests use of the fol. lowing questions 3 to aid reflection: How plausible does the scenario seem? What thoughts does it bring to mind? What feel- ings does it generate? What are the impli- cations for society, health care, and nurs- ing? If parts of the scenario are desirable, what actions need to be taken to increase the chances of the scenario happening? If parts are undesirable, what actions need to be taken to prevent them from happening? The first 2020 scenario is "Technology Eclipses Care." In this story, health care is driven by technology. Hospitals become high-tech centers. Sensors, monitors, voice-activated equipment, and smart ma- chines monitor and adjust care param- eters. Genetic engineering decreases or eliminates disease development. A cast of health supporters develops, which in- cludes massage therapists, palliative care assistants, elder care assistants, health communication specialists, and child de- velopment specialists. Nursing disappears. Analysis reveals that the reason for nursing's disappearance was that nursing was defined by skills and tasks rather than by knowledge. The second 2020 scenario is "Control, Manage, and Measure." In this scenario, social programs are eliminated because of debt. The business of health care is orga- nized around programs of managed care. Health activities are centralized. Genetic fingerprints result in predicted illness pat- terns. People are given personalized care maps based on genetic analysis. Compli- ance with the care maps is monitored via personal health record smart cards. Persons who do not follow the care map are re- quired to finance their own health care. Doctors choose whom to hire. i The num- ber of nurses on the teams decrease because others are cheaper to employ. A small band of nurses who believe in the power of nurs- ing continues to exist.
Reliability Connections Between Conceivability and Inconceivability

Conceivability is an important source of our beliefs about what is possible; inconceivability is an important source of our beliefs about what is impossible. What are the connections between the reliability of these sources? If one is reliable, does it follow that the other is also reliable? The central contention of this paper is that suitably qualified the reliability of inconceivability implies the reliability of conceivability, but the reliability of conceivability fails to imply the reliability of inconceivability.
Adaptive thermogenesis in adipocytes: Is beige the new brown?

One of the most promising areas in the therapeutics for metabolic diseases centers around activation of the pathways of energy expenditure. Brown adipose tissue is a particularly appealing target for increasing energy expenditure, given its amazing capacity to transform chemical energy into heat. In addition to classical brown adipose tissue, the last few years have seen great advances in our understanding of inducible thermogenic adipose tissue, also referred to as beige fat. A deeper understanding of the molecular processes involved in the development and function of these cell types may lead to new therapeutics for obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.
Optical diffraction studies of crystalline structures in electron micrographs. II. Crystalline inclusions in mitochondria of human hepatocytes.

Unit cell dimensions of mitochondrial crystals were determined by optical diffraction analysis of electron micrographs of human liver biopsy specimens. Identical unit cells were found in pathologic material obtained from six patients with Wilson9s disease, from one patient with sickle-cell hepatitis, and from two normal subjects. These measurements led to the conclusion that the crystals observed in patients and in normal subjects were probably chemically identical. Furthermore, the relatively large size of the unit cell limits the choices for its constituents to phospholipid micelles or to relatively large protein molecules.
Dynamics of task-set carry-over: evidence from eye-movement analyses.

Trial-to-trial carry-over of task sets (i.e., task-set inertia) is often considered as a primary reason for task-switch costs. Yet, we know little about the dynamics of such carry-over effects, in particular how much they are driven by the most recent trial rather than characterized by a more continuous memory gradient. Using eye-tracking, we examined in a 3-task, switching paradigm whether there is a greater probability of non-target fixations to stimuli associated with the previously relevant attentional set than to those associated with the less-recent set. Indeed, we found strong evidence for more interference (expressed in terms of non-target fixations) from recent than from less-recent tasks and that in particular the interference from pre-switch trials contributed substantially to the overall pattern of response-time switch costs. Moreover, task-set carry-over was dominated by the most-recent trial when subjects could expect task repetitions (with a 33 % switch rate). In comparison, when tasks were selected randomly (with a 66 % switch rate), interference from the most recent trial decreased, whereas interference from less-recent trials increased. In sum, carry-over interference dynamics were characterized both by a gradual recency gradient and expectations about task-transition probabilities. Beyond that, there was little evidence for a unique role of the most-recent trial.
Design for Disassembly and Deconstruction - Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract Construction waste management has become extremely important due to stricter disposal and landfill regulations, and a lesser number of available landfills. There are extensive works done on waste treatment and management of the construction industry. Concepts like deconstruction, recyclability, and Design for Disassembly (DfD) are examples of better construction waste management methods. Although some authors and organizations have published rich guides addressing the DfD's principles, there are only a few buildings already developed in this area. This study aims to find the challenges in the current practice of deconstruction activities and the gaps between its theory and implementation. Furthermore, it aims to provide insights about how DfD can create opportunities to turn these concepts into strategies that can be largely adopted by the construction industry stakeholders in the near future.
Selection of Alfalfa Weevil Larval Instars by, and Mortality due to, the Parasite Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson)

The relationship of Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) larval age to attack by the parasite Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) was studied in the laboratory. The rates of parasitism of the alfalfa weevil instars indicated the first 3 are preferred and are more susceptible to attack by the parasite than the 4th. Survival of younger weevil larvae after exposure to female parasites was markedly poorer than that of unparasitized larvae. Weevil larvae died from an apparent combination of puncturing by the parasite ovipositor and effects of parasite larvae. Mortality of host larvae was greater with multiple punctures than with single.
Generalized Invertible Spaces

(1966). Generalized Invertible Spaces. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 150-154.
Bulb Cleanser for Incandescent Lamps

The history of incandescent lighting has been characterized by a succession of advances in the efficiency of light production. Through various steps in development from the early carbon lamps to the gas-filled MAZDA types of today, efficiency increases have come one after another. There have been major improvements in filament materials as when tantalum and tungsten were introduced, and minor changes which produced less spectacular increases. Neglecting the lower cost of electrical energy, and taking all sizes of lamps into consideration, the public receives over ten times as much light for the same power as it did when incandescent lighting was first introduced. The highest wattage lamps regularly used today give seventeen times as much light per watt as did the early carbon lamps. Electrical energy costs much less today than in past decades and lamp prices are but a fraction of what they once were. The effect of all these factors is that on the average, electric lighting costs but one-sixteenth as much as in 1890, and for the largest lamp the cost is only one-nineteenth.
The Effect of Methoprene as a Feed Additive on House Fly Emergence in Poultry Houses

Abstract Field trials were conducted in 1974 and 1975 using an encapsulated formulation of methoprene (Altosid™) applied as a feed additive at rates of 7.5 and 10.0 ppm (AI in feed) to control Musca domestica L. in poultry houses. Only limited inhibition of house fly emergence was obtained. In addition, the percentage of house fly emergence in each trial gradually increased as the season progressed. Comparison bioassays were conducted at the end of the 1975 season between field-pressured strains and lab-reared susceptible strains. Results from the field trials and comparison biassays indicated that the causes of the poor inhibition were an exisiting cross-resistance to methoprene followed by an induction of resistance resulting from the continuous exposure to methoprene.
Adaptive quantum particle swarm algorithm based on phase encoding

To improve the performance of particle swarm optimization,an adaptive quantum particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed.In proposed algorithm,the position of particles is described by the phase of quantum bits,and the position mutation of particles is achieved by Pauli-Z gates.By studying the relationship among inertia factors,self-factors and globalfactors,an adaptive determination of the global-factors is proposed.Taking function extremum optimizing and samples clustering for example,the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is obviously superior to the standard particle swarm optimization.
Study on Extraction and Stability of Red Cabbage Pigment

Taking the red cabbage as raw material,this article researched the extraction and purification technology as well as the stability of the red cabbage pigment(RCP).The result indicated that under the conditions of temperature 40 ℃,extraction time 90 min,the ratio of raw material to solution 1∶20,the RCP extraction rate reached to 99.5%.Light and heat had a great influence on the stability of RCP.The degradation dynamics research indicated that the heat degradation of RCP followed the dynamic law of first class reaction,at temperature 98 ℃,the half-life of RCP was 8.74 h.
Epidemiological factors of cancer in California

California has 12% of the U.S. population. In 1991, the newly diagnosed cancer cases in California represented 10% of all new cancer cases in the country, and the yearly toll was 10% of all cancer deaths. Relative to all new cancer cases in the U.S., California had 10, 9.8, 9.8, and 9.3% of breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers, respectively. Because of its large population and cancer incidence, the epidemiology of cancer in California is of particular interest. Epidemiological factors reviewed in this article include ethnicity, lifestyle, occupation, and environmental conditions. Ethnic factors: There is an increased incidence of cervical and gallbladder cancer among Hispanic women, and of stomach cancer in Hispanic men and women. In U.S.-born Chinese men, the most prevalent cancers are those of the lung and colon, which is also seen in American white men. In U.S.-born Chinese women, there is an upward displacement of breast cancer incidence. In U.S.-born Japanese men and women, the mortality rate is closer to that of American whites. Life-style: Members of the Mormon Church and Seventh-Day Adventists have only 50% of the U.S. standardized mortality rate for cancer associated with smoking. Increased coffee consumption has been found to be associated with increased occurrence of colon and bladder cancer; alcohol use has been reported to have a positive association with colorectal cancer. The large AIDS population in San Francisco has a 144-fold odds ratio of Kaposi's sarcoma and a fivefold odds ratio of lymphoma when compared with the general U.S. population. Occupational factors: An increased incidence of mesothelioma in asbestos workers, of gastric cancer, skin cancer, and lymphoma in men working in dusty environments, and of astrocytoma in individuals with prolonged exposure to low-frequency electric and magnetic fields has been recorded. Environmental factors: The drinking-water pool in northern California is contaminated with asbestos of the serpentine type, which is associated with mesothelioma of the peritoneum and carcinoma of the lung, gallbladder, and pancreas. Petrochemical fumes in the heavily industrialized San Francisco Bay area have not been associated with an increased occurrence of cancer. No significant incidence in cancer has been noted in the counties surrounding the nuclear power plant at San Onofre during 18 years of close observation.
There's never enough time to do all the testing you want

Abstract Software is present in nearly every aspect of our daily lives and also dominates large parts of the high-tech consumer market. Consumers love new features, and new features are what makes them buy software products, while features like reliability, security, and privacy are assumed. To respond to the consumer market demand, many software producers are following a trend to shorten software release cycles. As a consequence, software developers have to produce more features in less time while maintaining, or even increasing, product quality. Here at Microsoft (as well as other large software organizations) we have learned that testing is not free. Testing can slow down development processes and cost money in terms of infrastructure and human involvement. Thus, the effort associated with testing must be carefully monitored and managed.
Switched robust tracking/impedance control for an active transfemoral prosthesis

A novel control method for an active transfemoral prosthesis is developed based on the combination of two previously published controllers, robust tracking/impedance control and switched impedance control. This controller is simulated and optimized to provide desired gait features and energy regeneration. Specifically, an evolutionary optimization algorithm termed biogeography-based optimization is used. Across all optimization trials a tracking error on the order of 10−2 rad rms or less results for both the knee and ankle joints. This is accompanied by ground reaction forces approximating able-bodied gait data and an energy regeneration capacity of about 9.6 J per stride.
Role of BMP receptor traffic in synaptic growth defects in an ALS model

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is genetically and functionally linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and regulates transcription, splicing, and transport of thousands of RNA targets that function in diverse cellular pathways. In ALS, pathologically altered TDP-43 is believed to lead to disease by toxic gain-of-function effects on RNA metabolism, as well as by sequestering endogenous TDP-43 and causing its loss of function. However, it is unclear which of the numerous cellular processes disrupted downstream of TDP-43 dysfunction lead to neurodegeneration. Here we found that both loss and gain of function of TDP-43 in Drosophila cause a reduction of synaptic growth-promoting bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Further, we observed a shift of BMP receptors from early to recycling endosomes and increased mobility of BMP receptor-containing compartments at the NMJ. Inhibition of the recycling endosome GTPase Rab11 partially rescued TDP-43-induced defects in BMP receptor dynamics and distribution and suppressed BMP signaling, synaptic growth, and larval crawling defects. Our results indicate that defects in receptor traffic lead to neuronal dysfunction downstream of TDP-43 misregulation and that rerouting receptor traffic may be a viable strategy for rescuing neurological impairment.
Effective Reduction of Acute Ethanol Withdrawal by the Tetracycline Derivative, Tigecycline, in Female and Male DBA/2J Mice

Background Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a spectrum disorder characterized by mild to severe symptoms, including potential withdrawal signs upon cessation of consumption. Approximately five hundred thousand patients with AUD undergo clinically relevant episodes of withdrawal annually (New Engl J Med, 2003, 348, 1786). Recent evidence indicates potential for drugs that alter neuroimmune pathways as new AUD therapies. We have previously shown the immunomodulatory drugs, minocycline and tigecycline, were effective in reducing ethanol (EtOH) consumption in both the 2-bottle choice and drinking-in-the-dark paradigms. Here, we test the hypothesis that tigecycline, a tetracycline derivative, will reduce the severity of EtOH withdrawal symptoms in a common acute model of alcohol withdrawal (AWD) using a single anesthetic dose of EtOH in seizure sensitive DBA/2J (DBA) mice. Methods Naive adult female and male DBA mice were given separate injections of 4 g/kg i.p. EtOH with vehicle or tigecycline (0, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg i.p.). The 80 mg/kg dose was tested at 3 time points (0, 4, and 7 hours) post EtOH treatment. Handling-induced convulsions (HICs) were measured before and then over 12 hours following EtOH injection. HIC scores and areas under the curve were tabulated. In separate mice, blood EtOH concentrations (BECs) were measured at 2, 4, and 7 hours postinjection of 4 g/kg i.p. EtOH in mice treated with 0 and 80 mg/kg i.p. tigecycline. Results AWD symptom onset, peak magnitude, and overall HIC severity were reduced by tigecycline drug treatment compared to controls. Tigecycline treatment was effective regardless of timing throughout AWD, with earlier treatment showing greater efficacy. Tigecycline showed a dose-responsive reduction in acute AWD convulsions, with no sex differences in efficacy. Importantly, tigecycline did not affect BECs over a time course of elimination. Conclusions Tigecycline effectively reduced AWD symptoms in DBA mice at all times and dosages tested, making it a promising lead compound for development of a novel pharmacotherapy for AWD. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of tigecycline action.
Adaptive Transmission Protocols for Fountain-Coded Multicast in Packet Radio Networks

Fountain coding is a valuable tool for multicast transmissions in half-duplex packet radio networks if it is supported by an adaptive transmission protocol that compensates for fluctuations in the propagation losses on the radio links. Our goal is to devise low-complexity packet-by-packet adaptive modulation and channel coding protocols that provide high throughput for a broad range of multicast channels and operate with limited feedback and no knowledge of the fade levels or even the probability distribution for the fading on the radio links. The only control information for the protocols is derived from simple receiver statistics that are obtained by the demodulators and channel decoders in the receiving radios. Performance results are presented for practical fountain coding with low-complexity adaptive modulation and channel coding. Results on ideal fountain coding with adaptive transmission based on hypothetical perfect channel-state information are employed as performance benchmarks.
How decoherence affects the probability of slow-roll eternal inflation

Slow-roll inflation can become eternal if the quantum variance of the inflaton field around its slowly rolling classical trajectory is converted into a distribution of classical spacetimes inflating at different rates, and if the variance is large enough compared to the rate of classical rolling that the probability of an increased rate of expansion is sufficiently high. Both of these criteria depend sensitively on whether and how perturbation modes of the inflaton interact and decohere. Decoherence is inevitable as a result of gravitationally sourced interactions whose strength are proportional to the slow-roll parameters. However, the weakness of these interactions means that decoherence is typically delayed until several Hubble times after modes grow beyond the Hubble scale. We present perturbative evidence that decoherence of long-wavelength inflaton modes indeed leads to an ensemble of classical spacetimes with differing cosmological evolutions. We introduce the notion of per-branch observables—expectation values with respect to the different decohered branches of the wave function—and show that the evolution of modes on individual branches varies from branch to branch. Thus, single-field slow-roll inflation fulfills the quantum-mechanical criteria required for the validity of the standard picture of eternal inflation. For a given potential, the delayed decoherence can lead to slight quantitative adjustments to the regime in which the inflaton undergoes eternal inflation.
The Impact of Race, Age, and Sex in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): A Comprehensive SEER Analysis in the Pre and Post Rituximab (R) Eras.

Abstract 2877 Background: Racial disparity has been well documented in a number of cancers but the impact of race on CLL in the contemporary era is unclear. While preliminary evidence suggests that Black (B) patients (pts) have worse survival than their White (W) counterparts (Shenoy et al, Clin Lymph Myleoma Leuk, 12/2011), the importance of sex, age, socioeconomic status (SES), and whether the wide use of single use or combined therapy with R in CLL over the last decade plus has affected overall survival (OS) have not been fully explored. Further, outcome of Hispanic (H) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PI) CLL pts has not been fully studied. Methods: We examined population based survival data from SEER 13 (1993–2008) for CLL within and across various races. We also investigated the impact of sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) on their clinical outcome. Outcomes were examined over two consecutive 8-year (yr) periods: Era-1 (1993–2000) and Era-2 (2001–2008) with the assumption of R therapy in CLL patients being more frequent after 2001 (market research data not shown). Results: We identified 24,964 pts [W =21,363 (85.5%), H =1,197 (4.7%), B =1,709 (6.8%), and A/PI =695 (2.7%)]. Differences were notable for a greater male predominance among A/PI [62% vs. 57% (B), 56% (H), 58% (W); P=0.03]; a higher proportion of pts >80 among W [22% vs. 17% (H), 15% (B), 16% (A/PI); P 80 yrs (P Conclusions: The OS of CLL pts has improved in the contemporary era for both sexes, all age groups, and all races except A/PI individuals. The improvement in outcome in Era-2 might be partially explained by increased use of R and other novel agents that became available after 2001. Despite the broad nature of these improvements, racial and SES differences in the survival persist and deserve further validation and pursuit of the causes. Disclosures: Shanafelt:Genentech: Research Funding; GlaxoSmith Klein: Research Funding; Teva/Cephalon: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Kay:Genentech: Research Funding; Glaxosmith Klein: Research Funding.
Probabilistic performance-based design for high performance control systems

High performance control systems (HPCS) are advanced damping systems capable of high damping performance over a wide frequency bandwidth, ideal for mitigation of multi-hazards. They include active, semi-active, and hybrid damping systems. However, HPCS are more expensive than typical passive mitigation systems, rely on power and hardware (e.g., sensors, actuators) to operate, and require maintenance. In this paper, a life cycle cost analysis (LCA) approach is proposed to estimate the economic benefit these systems over the entire life of the structure. The novelty resides in the life cycle cost analysis in the performance based design (PBD) tailored to multi-level wind hazards. This yields a probabilistic performance-based design approach for HPCS. Numerical simulations are conducted on a building located in Boston, MA. LCA are conducted for passive control systems and HPCS, and the concept of controller robustness is demonstrated. Results highlight the promise of the proposed performance-based design procedure.
Pelvic floor symptoms and quality of life changes during first pregnancy: a prospective cohort study

We describe pelvic floor function in nulliparous pregnant women. Nulliparous midwifery patients completed the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), Wexner Fecal Incontinence Scale (W), and answered questions about sexual activity and perineal pain at baseline during the first (T1), second (T2), or third trimester (T3) and repeated in late T3. They also underwent a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) exam at their baseline visit. Data were compared across trimesters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression accounted for repeated measures and was controlled for age and education. We recruited 627 women. In T1, 124 women gave baseline data and completed questionnaires; in T2, 403; and in early T3, 96 (496 repeated questionnaires in later T3). Besides an increase in genital hiatus and perineal body (all adjusted p 0, all comparisons p < .02) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) scores increased. Fecal incontinence (FI) increased (T1 = 8, T2 = 15, T3 = 16% from T2 to T3, p = .04); the Colorectal–Anal Impact Questionnaire (CRAIQ-7) scores did not. Perineal pain increased (T1 = 17, T2 = 18 and T3 = 40%, all adjusted p < .001), and sexual activity decreased (T1 = 94, T2 = 90, T3 = 77% sexually active, T1 vs T3 and T2 vs T3, p < .001) as pregnancy progressed. During pregnancy, women experience worsening UI, FI, and perineal pain. UI symptoms are associated with a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). Sexual activity decreased and POP-Q stage did not change.
Autonomous UAV search planning with possibilistic inputs

Many aspects of decision making processes for autonomous systems involve human subjective information in some form. Methods for informing decision making processes with human information are needed to inform probabilistic information used in an autonomous system. This can provide better decisions and permit a UAV to more quickly and efficiently complete tasks. Specifically we use possibility theory to represent the subjective information and apply possibilistic conditioning of the probability distribution. A simulation platform was developed to evaluate approaches to using possibilistic inputs and showed that is was feasible to make effective usage of such information.
High-dose hydroxocobalamin for vasoplegic syndrome causing false blood leak alarm

Blood leak alarms are important safety features in a hemodialysis machine to protect patients from loss of blood through a rupture in the dialyzer membrane (true alarms). A false blood leak alarm can be triggered by air bubbles or detector malfunction (such as deposits of grease or scale). Hydroxocobalamin is an injectable form of vitamin B12 approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of confirmed or suspected cyanide toxicity. Due to observations of an increase in arterial pressure after high-dose hydroxocobalamin infusion for the treatment of acute cyanide poisoning, it has recently been reported as an off-label rescue treatment for post-cardiopulmonary bypass vasoplegic syndrome. We report an 83-year-old man who received hydroxocobalamin following cardiac surgery for treatment of vasoplegic syndrome. The patient developed severe acute kidney injury with volume overload. Hydroxocobalamin interference with the blood leak detector compromised his dialysis treatment. We describe the use of continuous renal replacement therapy to overcome the hydroxocobalamin-related interference with hemodialysis. As the utility of hydroxocobalamin potentially expands, physicians must be aware of its inadvertent effect on renal replacement therapy.
Impact of tobacco industry and other corporations in the defeat of the 1994 Clinton health care plan.

Abstract Background The primary reason cited by many scholars for the defeat of the Clinton Administration’s 1994 health care reform bill has long been identified as Health Insurance Association of America and National Federation of Independent Businesses opposition to the bill. Given this predominant consensus combined with sizeable proposed funding for the bill by a large tobacco product tax, this manuscript examined what the tobacco industry’s role was in whole or part in defeating the Clinton health care bill. Methods This research occurred through crosschecking internal tobacco industry documents and Clinton White House documents. Results Prior to the passage of the bill, the tobacco industry accepted a compromise of 45 cents per pack increase phased in over five years. Due to this compromise, the industry or third party allies had no role in the ultimate defeat in the bill. Conclusions The primary reason for the bill’s ultimate defeat was general business (but not tobacco industry and third party ally) opposition, the bill running out of time, and conflicting bills. Secondary reasons for the bill’s defeat included issues with: employer mandates, high taxes on insurance plans, impacts on medical research and education, Congressional attention to other issues, election year politics, and possible future excise tax possibilities.