cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using community level strategies to reduce asthma attacks triggered by outdoor air pollution: a case crossover analysis

Evidence indicates that asthma attacks can be triggered by exposure to ambient air pollutants, however, detailed pollution information is missing from asthma action plans. Asthma is commonly associated with four criteria pollutants with standards derived by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Since multiple pollutants trigger attacks and risks depend upon city-specific mixtures of pollutants, there is lack of specific guidance to reduce exposure. Until multi-pollutant statistical modeling fully addresses this gap, some guidance on pollutant attack risk is required. This study examines the risks from exposure to the asthma-related pollutants in a large metropolitan city and defines the city-specific association between attacks and pollutant mixtures. Our goal is that city-specific pollution risks be incorporated into individual asthma action plans as additional guidance to prevent attacks. Case-crossover analysis and conditional logistic regression were used to measure the association between ozone, fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide pollution and 11,754 emergency medical service ambulance treated asthma attacks in Houston, Texas from 2004-2011. Both single and multi-pollutant models are presented. In Houston, ozone and nitrogen dioxide are important triggers (RR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.09), (RR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.15) with 20 and 8 ppb increase in ozone and nitrogen dioxide, respectively, in a multi-pollutant model. Both pollutants are simultaneously high at certain times of the year. The risk attributed to these pollutants differs when they are considered together, especially as concentrations increase. Cumulative exposure for ozone (0-2 day lag) is of concern, whereas for nitrogen dioxide the concern is with single day exposure. Persons at highest risk are aged 46-66, African Americans, and males. Accounting for cumulative and concomitant outdoor pollutant exposure is important to effectively attribute risk for triggering of an asthma attack, especially as concentrations increase. Improved asthma action plans for Houston individuals should warn of these pollutants, their trends, correlation and cumulative effects. Our Houston based study identifies nitrogen dioxide levels and the three-day exposure to ozone to be of concern whereas current single pollutant based national standards do not.
Effects of copper nanoparticle exposure on host defense in a murine pulmonary infection model

Background Human exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) and environmental bacteria can occur simultaneously. NPs induce inflammatory responses and oxidative stress but may also have immune-suppressive effects, impairing macrophage function and altering epithelial barrier functions. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential pulmonary effects of inhalation and instillation exposure to copper (Cu) NPs using a model of lung inflammation and host defense.
Fluctuations in the extrinsic conductivity of disordered metal

Random fluctuations of the electrical conductance are ubiquitous in small (typical dimension L ≲ 1 µm) metallic samples at low temperatures (typically T ≲ 1K ≃ 0.09 meV). The fluctuations result from the quantum-mechanical interference of the carrier wavefunctions. The superpositions of the wavefunctions depend randomly on the placement of impurities, on magnetic field, and on the current driven through the sample. At length scale L φ (the average distance over which the carriers retain phase information), the fluctuations always have amplitude ΔG ≃ e 2 /h, and any observations at scale larger than the coherence length yield a decreased amplitude of the fluctuations. Since the carrier wavefunctions are not classical, local objects (they extend over regions of size L φ ), the conductance contains nonlocal terms. For instance, the conductance is not zero far from the classical current paths through the sample and is not symmetric under the reversal of the magnetic field. In this article, the physics of the fluctuations is reviewed, and some of the experiments which illuminate the physics are described.
A Man's Guide to a Nursing Career by Chad E. O'Lynn

In today's tough economy and job market, “nursing is one of the few careers that seems to weather hard economic times,” and, in general, offers job security, job satisfaction, attractive salaries, ...
Determining palaeomagnetic poles and anomalous skewness from marine magnetic anomaly skewness data from a single plate

SUMMARY We present a method for simultaneously determining palaeomagnetic poles and anomalous skewness from the observed skewness of marine magnetic anomalies from a single plate. Skewness is esimated by visual comparison of phase-shifted observed anomaly profiles with an ideal zero-phase synthetic anomaly calculated for sea-floor formed and observed in a vertical magnetic field. We assume that each crossing of the same anomaly or anomalies is anomalously skewed by an identical amount. This assumption is supported by the great reduction in squared error (i.e., x') obtained by adding just this one adjustable parameter. Our inversion procedure determines the palaeomagnetic pole and anomalous skewness that give a maximum likelihood best fit in a least-squares sense to the observed effective remanent inclinations, which are inferred by simple calculation from the observed phase shift. Our method determines 95 per cent confidence limits both from a constant-chisquare boundary and by linear propagation of errors and also estimates the information distribution of the data. The anomalous skewness values we determine agree with values estimated from comparison of anomalies across a spreading centre. These encouraging results suggest that further skewness studies may permit variations in anomalous skewness with age to be quantified, provide constraints for models that describe the processes affecting the magnetic source layer during its creation and evolution, and permit oceanic plate apparent polar wander paths to be determined with a fine age resolution.
Improving Adolescent Preventive Services Through State, Managed Care, and Community Partnerships

Abstract Purpose To develop and evaluate a multipronged, guideline-based initiative to improve quality of adolescent preventive care. Methods Activities included: (a) academic institution-based grand rounds and insurance company-sponsored community rounds continuing education sessions on preventive care for primary care clinicians, (b) academic detailing during chart review visits to practices by nurse reviewers, to encourage adolescent-specific confidentiality policies and use of screener or trigger questionnaires during well visits, and (c) partnerships with community corporate leaders to promote awareness of quality preventive services. Interventions were evaluated by comparing 2000 and 2001 chart reviews for rates of tobacco use, substance use, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention screening and counseling. Results A total of 285 clinicians attended continuing education (CE) sessions and 96 offices received detailing visits. Improvements in adolescent preventive health services delivery were noted in both commercial and Medicaid populations. We found the following when comparing 2001 results with those from 2000: Tobacco use screening or counseling increased from 42.5% to 45.5% for the commercial population and from 32.0% to 43.5% for the Medicaid population; substance use screening increased from 42.5% to 44.0% for the commercial population and from 32.0% to 43.5% for the Medicaid population. HIV counseling increased from 26.5% to 35.5% for the commercial population, and from 28.0% to 40.0% for the Medicaid population (all Medicaid and HIV differences are significant at p Conclusions These activities have been successful in improving adolescent preventive services for Medicaid populations in New York. Academic detailing can assist health plans in promoting preventive care improvements by primary care clinicians. Further measurement is needed to assess the effect on commercially insured populations.
The Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone System: Pathophysiological Role and Pharmacologic Inhibition

BAckgRound : The renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is a hormonal cascade that functions in the homeostatic control of arterial pressure, tissue perfusion, and extracellular volume. dysregulation of the RAAS plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal disorders. oBjec TIve S: To review the role of the RAAS in the development of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and related conditions and provide an overview of the classes of pharmacologic agents that inhibit this system. ReSulTS : The RAAS is initiated by the regulated secretion of renin, the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of angiotensin (Ang) I from the n-terminus of angiotensinogen. Ang I is in turn hydrolyzed by angiotensin-converting enzyme (A ce) to form Ang II, a potent vasocon strictor and the primary active product of the RAAS. Recent evidence has suggested that other metabolites of Ang I and II may have biological activity, particularly in tissues. development of agents that block the RAAS (e.g., beta blockers, A ce inhibitors [A ceIs], and angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]) began as a therapeutic strategy to treat hypertension. Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated important additional cardiovascular and renal therapeutic benefits of A ceIs and ARBs. However, blockade of the RAAS with these agents is incomplete. conclu SIon : Therapeutic approaches that target more complete inhibition of the RAAS may offer additional clinical benefits for patients with cardio vascular and renal disorders. These approaches may include dual blockade using A ceIs and ARBs in combination, or new therapeutic modalities such as direct renin inhibition with aliskiren, recently approved for the treatment of hypertension.
Social Workers' Final Act of Service: Respectful Burial Arrangements for Indigent, Unclaimed, and Unidentified People

Social workers have long been involved in identifying resources and making final arrangements for clients who die without an estate or have no heirs, who may be institutionalized or unknown to the community, or whose body may be unclaimed for burial. Absent quick intervention, these individuals are often at risk for an anonymous potter's field burial, sometimes in coffins stacked eight deep, with no respectful ceremony of interment. This article provides an overview of societal responses to the need for a final disposition of all people; discusses demographic and social trends that, if realized, may result in a significant increase in indigent burials; and provides information on social work interventions and the identification of resources available for a respectful and dignified final disposition for a client.
Time-Domain Analysis of Subsonic Jet Noise

Following on previous works showing that jet noise has significant intermittent aspects, the present work assumes that these intermittent events are the dominant feature of jet noise. A definition and method of detection for intermittent noise events is devised and implemented. Using a large experimental database of acoustically subsonic jets with different acoustic Mach numbers (Ma = 0.5 – 0.9), diameters (D = 2.54, 5.08, & 7.62 cm), and exit temperature ratios (ETR = 0.84 – 2.70), these events are extracted from the noise signals measured in the anechoic chamber of the NASA Glenn AeroAcoustic Propulsion Laboratory. It is shown that a signal containing only these events retains all of the important aspects of the acoustic spectrum for jet noise radiating to shallow angles relative to the jet downstream axis, validating the assumption that intermittent events are the essential feature of low angle jet noise. The characteristics of these noise events are analyzed showing that these events can be statistically described in terms of three parameters (the variance of the original signal, the mean width of the events, and the mean time between events) and two universal statistical distribution curves. The variation of these parameters with radiation direction, diameter, velocity, and temperature are discussed. A simple model for this kind of signal is formulated and used to derive a relationship between the characteristics of the noise events and the fluctuations in the integrated noise source volume.
Temperature and Pressure Dependence of the Rate Constant for the HO2 + NO Reaction

The rate constant for the reaction HO2 + NO → OH + NO2 has been measured using the turbulent flow technique with high-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the detection of reactants and products. At room temperature, the rate constant was found to be independent of pressure between 70 and 190 Torr of N2 and given by (8.0 ± 0.5) × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The temperature dependence of the rate constant was investigated between 206 and 295 K; the Arrhenius expression over this temperature range is (3.0 ± 0.4) × 10-12 exp[(290 ± 30)/T] cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The uncertainties of the room temperature rate constant and the Arrhenius parameters represent the precision of the data and are reported at the 1 standard deviation level. We estimate that possible systematic errors limit the accuracy of the determined rate constants to ±15%. Comparison of our data with the results of previous studies indicates that the rate constant for the HO2 + NO → OH + NO2 reaction does not depend on the inert gas press...
Focal mechanism analyses for Virginia earthquakes (1978-1984)

Abstract Focal mechanisms are presented for 11 earthquakes from the Giles County, Virginia, seismic zone and for 12 earthquakes from the central Virginia seismic zone. These earthquakes (0 ≦ M ≦ 4) were monitored by local networks between January 1978 and October 1984. In Giles County, six single-event focal mechanisms and five composite-event focal mechanisms were determined. In central Virginia, eleven single-event focal mechanisms and four composite-event focal mechanisms were obtained. A computer program, FOCMEC, that systematically searches the focal sphere for valid mechanism solutions, based on both P -wave polarities and ( SV/P ) z amplitude ratios, was used to determine the focal mechanism solutions. The results for the Giles County seismic zone show predominately strike-slip mechanisms on steeply dipping (73° ± 16°) NNE (right-lateral motion) and ESE (left-lateral motion) trending nodal planes. However, some (4/11) of the solutions show similar movement on nodal planes rotated 45° counterclockwise. The means and standard deviations for the trends and plunges of the P axes are N46°E ± 24° and 13.5° ± 20°, respectively, as computed from the six single-event focal mechanisms and two composite-event focal mechanisms. Focal mechanisms from central Virginia exhibit much more scatter in mechanism types and nodal plane orientations than observed in Giles County. The P axes in central Virginia are generally northeast-trending for shallow earthquakes ( 8 km). The focal mechanisms exhibit a mixture of reverse and strike slip faulting on planes that dip 62° ± 16°. The two Virginia seismic zones are separated by only 200 km, yet their seismogenic characteristics are very different. In Giles County, the earthquakes occur beneath the Appalachian decollement, and the faulting and inferred stress orientations are uniform. In central Virginia, however, the seismicity is occurring at and above the decollement and the associated fault planes and stress orientations are quite variable.
Saigh It Isn't So!

Recently, in Saigh v. Commissioner, the petitioner argued that, while conceding transferee liability up to the value of the property transferred to her from the decedent's estate, she was not liable for interest on that amount running from the estate tax return's due date. She also contended that, because all significant events occurred in New Jersey, despite the fact that she resided in Florida when she filed her petition, the applicable precedent was that of the Third, rather than the Eleventh, Circuit. (Of course, she made the latter argument because the Eleventh Circuit in Baptiste v. Commissioner held in the government's favor on that issue while the Third Circuit in Poinier, although a gift tax case, would at least arguably cause a court to rule in her favor.)
Freestanding Films of YBa2cu3O6.9

Thick (20–300 /im) freestanding films of ceramic YBa2Cu3O0–9 have been obtained by resintering YBa2Cu3O0–9 powder in air after screen printing onto fused silica substrates. An interfacial reaction occurs between the powder and the silica substrate which efficiently debonds the resintered film upon cooling. The magnetization and transport properties of these films are comparable to those for high quality bulk ceramic samples.
Polymer-Nanoparticle Electrochromic Materials that Selectively Modulate Visible and Near-Infrared Light

In this manuscript, we describe a class of hybrid electrochromic materials utilizing polythiophenes and tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanoparticles that independently modulate visible and near-infrared (NIR) light. By altering the voltage applied across electrodes modified with these composite materials, the electrodes can be repeatedly switched between three distinct modes of operation. These “bright and warm”, “bright and cool”, and “dark and cool” modes vary in their visible and NIR transmission properties and are targeted toward the development of smart windows that can control both solar lighting and heating fluxes. Electrodes containing the composite films, which are fabricated by electropolymerizing polythiophenes on transparent electrodes coated with ITO nanoparticles, possess fast switching times (<90 s), moderate durability, and contrast ratios similar to those of the individual composite components. The maximum contrast ratios of the composite systems are 47% at 700 nm and 39% at 1250 nm. After ...
Phase Separation by Rapid Thermal Annealing in Si-Sub-Oxides Andnitrides Formed by Plasma CVD

Hydrogenated silicon suboxide and subnitride films were deposited by a remote plasma enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (RPECVD) process. Rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of these alloys eliminated all of the bonded hydrogen and formed a two phase system. The microstructure of the annealed films showed silicon crystallites (c-Si) surrounded by amorphous layers. The amorphous layers were identified as SiO{sub 2} and Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} in the annealed suboxides and subnitrides, respectively. The as-deposited films showed band edge photoluminescence (PL); however, no PL was observed from the annealed films. This indicates that there was no significant suboxide or subnitride bonding in the amorphous layers at the metallurgically-sharp c-Si-SiO{sub 2} and c-Si-Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} interfaces, respectively.
Early Posterior Vault Distraction Osteogenesis for the Treatment of Syndromic Craniosynostosis

Posterior cranial vault distraction (PCVD) has become an important modality in the management of complex craniosynostosis to increase intracranial volume and improve the cranial vault appearance. This technique can safely be performed as early as 3 months of age for the initial management of patients with complex craniosynostosis. A retrospective review was performed of all the patients with syndromic, multiple-suture synostosis treated with PCVD at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, between 2012 and 2014. During this time period, a total of nine children with an average corrected age of 21.4 weeks were treated. Demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative distraction data were collected. Occipital frontal head circumferences (OFCs) were recorded pre- and postdistraction, and at 3- and 6-month follow-up examinations. All patients had a substantial increase in head circumference with subjective improvement of the posterior calvarium shape. The average increase in OFC from preoperative to postdistraction was 4.9 cm. Only two significant postoperative complications were encountered, one hardware infection and one cerebrospinal fluid leak. PCVD is an effective procedure in the management of complex craniosynostosis and can be safely initiated very early in life.
Design and Implementation of IEEE802.11s in Linux Kernel

This paper designs and implements IEEE802.11s in the 2.6.35.4 Linux kernel,including the position of the stack in the kernel,the architecture,the feature,the major functionality,the interoperation with other layers,and the use of work queue.The design thoughts and the work processes are elaborated according to different function modules,and the data structures and functions of the key implementation parts are introduced and analyzed.
The Transition to Egalitarian Development: Economic Policies for Structural Change in the Third World

(1982). The Transition to Egalitarian Development: Economic Policies for Structural Change in the Third World. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 905-907.
Do indirect bite count surveys accurately represent diet selection of white-tailed deer in a forested environment?

Context Diet selection is studied in herbivores using three predominant methods: (1) microhistological surveys (identification of plants cell walls remaining in gut contents or faecal excretions); (2) direct bite counts (of tame animals); and (3) indirect bite counts (identifying herbivory on damaged plant tissues). Microhistological surveys and direct bite counts are accurate and provide the potential advantage of linking diet selection to particular individuals. Also, they allow diet selection to be measured in systems with sympatric herbivores more easily than indirect bite counts. However, they require expertise in cell wall structure identification or access to tame animals, and generally require greater expense than indirect bite counts. Conversely, indirect bite counts have the advantages of relatively low cost and time commitment for gathering data and do not require animal observation, but may not be accurate. Aims We tested for similarity between diet-selection estimates calculated by indirect bite counts and microhistological surveys. Methods We performed concurrent indirect bite count and faecal microhistological surveys on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Fort Bragg Military Installation, NC. Key results The indirect bite count survey assignment of selection was 48% similar to assignments derived from the microhistological survey, based on Jaccard’s similarity index. Out of 23 plant species determined to be selected by indirect bite counts, 15 of those species were selected according to microhistological surveys. According to the microhistological survey, eight of the selected plants made up 51% of the overall diet, and seven of those eight were selected according to the indirect bite counts. Conclusions Our data indicate that indirect bite counts may provide a relatively accurate index of the deer-selected plants most important in the white-tailed deer diet, but may be less appropriate to determine selection of plants that infrequently occur in their diet, plants that are typically consumed in entirety, or plants where herbivory damage is poorly identified. Implications Indirect bite counts are a relatively inexpensive and time-efficient tool that may be useful to determine plant species most important to white-tailed deer within a forested landscape, particularly if additional research can improve on associated inaccuracies.
TH-CD-209-12: Spatial Mapping of Scanned Proton Biologic Effect Using the High-Throughput Technique, Continued

Purpose: To investigate the biologic effects of scanned protons by evenly sampling dose-averaged LET (LETd) values. Methods: Our previous high-throughput clonogenic study demonstrated a distinct relationship between RBE and LETd. However, our initial experimental design resulted in over-sampling the low LETd values in the plateau region of the Bragg curve while under-sampling in the region proximal to the Bragg peak as well as the high LETd values in the distal edge of the Bragg curve. To further examine the relationship between RBE and LETd, we refined the experimental design to more evenly sample proton LETd values from 1 to 20 keV/µm by optimizing the thicknesses of the irradiation jig steps. We used the clonogenic survival as the biological endpoint for the H460 lung cancer cell line cultured in 96-well plates (12 columns by 8 rows). In the irradiation, the 8 wells in each column received a uniform dose-LETd pair. The dose-LETd pairs of the 12 different columns were sampled along the Bragg curve of 81.4 MeV scanned protons. Five peak dose levels from 1.5 Gy to 7.5 Gy were delivered with an increment of 1.5 Gy in the preliminary test. Two 96-well plates were irradiated simultaneously to decrease the statistical uncertainties. Results: In the proximal region, for LETd = 5 keV/µm and 8 keV/µm, we did not observe any distinct differential biologic effects between the survival curves. At the Bragg peak (LETd = 9.5 keV/µm) and in the distal edge, irradiation with increasing LET values resulted in decreasing cell survival. Conclusion: The survival curves from the new experimental design support our previous findings that below 10 keV/µm, the LET effect in cell kill is obscured, but above 10 keV/µm, the biologic effects increase with LETd. Funding Support: U19 CA021239-35 and R21 CA187484-01
Climate Forecasts: Emerging Potential to Reduce Dryland Farmers' Risks

Agricultural management strategies are needed to improve lives of people in harsh, dryland regions. If the upcoming season’s climate was predictable, farmers could tailor practices to match anticipated climate, reducing risks during adverse seasons, while investing more to benefit from favorable seasons. Such a possibility has long been a dream, but there is reason for optimism that our ability to predict climate is improving. In this paper we describe climate forecasts and discuss potential applications at the farm level. Climate forecasts include local early indicators of future climate, correlation of local climate to global processes, and dynamic modeling of climate processes. Operational forecasts offer potential to guide production decisions, such as crop species or cultivar selection, fertility management, area to be planted, pest management, intensity and timing of grazing and purchase, sale, or movement of animals. Management decisions related to marketing, labor, and diversification, and regional decisions relating to input supply, markets, transportation, storage, or community health services could also be guided by climate forecasts. Forecasts have sufficient utility to guide decision-making in some regions for some seasons. To move forward, continued improvement and evaluation of forecasts skill are needed. Improvements in forecasting tools for regions that gain little from current forecasts and forecasts of extreme events should be a focus for further work. Uncertainty analysis for scenario simulation, tools to assess tradeoffs within a whole farm context, and better methods to communicate probabilistic outcomes are needed. Perhaps most critical is engaging farmers as partners in development of new tools to support decision-making on-farm and using seasonal climate forecasts within the context of overall risk analysis and management of an agricultural system. J. L. Steiner, J. M. Schneider, J. D. Garbrecht, and X. J. Zhang; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 7207 West Cheyenne Street, El Reno, Oklahoma 73036, USA. Corresponding author (jsteiner@grl.ars.usda.gov) Abbreviations: CLIGEN, a stochastic generator that produces daily time series estimates of weather parameters; ENSO, El NiZo-Southern Oscillation; GCM, global circulation model; IOD, Indian Ocean Dipole; NWS, National Weather Service; NOAA/CPC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Prediction Center; SOI, Southern Oscillation Index; SST, sea surface temperature; WEPP, Water Erosion Prediction Project.
Land-use effects on soil methane and carbon dioxide fluxes in forests near Ithaca, New York

Consumption of atmospheric methane (CH4) and fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) were higher for soil in (i) mixed hardwood forest on historically unplowed land than in (ii) 80-year-old mixed hardwood f...
High Rate of Second Malignancies after Reduced Intensity Double Cord Blood Transplants in Adults.

Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) double cord blood transplantation is an effective strategy in adults to provide allogeneic donors for patients with uncommon HLA types. However, the risk of second cancers has not been established. We treated 53 patients with hematologic malignancies using a RIC regimen of fludarabine 30 mg/m 2 /day Days −8 through −3 (total dose 180 mg/m 2 ), melphalan 100 mg/m 2 Day −2 and rabbit antithymocyte globulin 1.5 mg/kg Days −7, -5, -3, -1 (total dose 6 mg/kg). Cord blood units were a 4/6 or higher HLA A, B, DR allele match with the patient and each other and achieved a minimum precryopreservation cell dose of 3.7 x 10 7 NC/kg. Twenty-one patients received GVHD prophylaxis with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil and 32 patients received tacrolimus and sirolimus. Median age was 49 (range 19–67) years and the majority of patients had acute leukemia or relapsed lymphoma. Median follow-up was 27 months among the 29 patients still alive. Nine patients developed a second malignancy. Seven patients had lymphoma and two had MDS/MPD. The second cancers occurred at a median of 141 days (range 39 days-26 months) after transplant. Five second cancers (both MDS/MPD and 3 of 7 lymphomas) were donor derived; the origin of the others was not determined. Patients with Epstein Barr Virus lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-LPD) had a median EBV viral load of 445,000 copies/ml (range 3300–5.4 million). Six of seven patients with lymphoma had wide spread organ involvement; 6 patients were treated with Rituxan but only one of them had a sustained response; the rest died of EBV-LPD. Both cases of MDS/MPD were donor derived and fatal. One occurred in a patient transplanted for CLL; the other patient was transplanted for AML. The overall survival for the entire cohort of 53 patients was 55% at two years. The actuarial rate of second malignancy was 19% at 26 months post-transplant (2 year rate of 16%). The rate of donor-derived myeloid disease was 6%. Second malignancy was the leading cause of death, with relapse the second leading cause of death. Neither age, GVHD prophylaxis, HLA matching, nor total nucleated cell dose predicted for a higher rate of second malignancy. There was a trend to a higher risk of second cancer in patients who received an infused CD34+ cell dose of ≤ 1.9 x 10 5 cells/kg)—(30% vs. 7%, P=0.070). In summary, 1) Second malignancies occur at a high rate after RIC cord blood transplantation; 2) A low infused CD34+ cell dose/kg may be associated with a higher risk of second cancer; 3) Strategies to reduce thymoglobulin dose may be important to reduce the incidence of EBV-LPD; 4) It is important to assess the genetic origin of post-transplant myeloid diseases to establish the risk of donor-derived leukemia. 723: Recurrence, Secondary Neoplasia, and Late Complications
Accountable administration in operating systems

Many security models and systems are based on the assumption that super users must be trusted. It is difficult to hold super users accountable because they can erase any logs of their activities and impersonate as other users. This work proposes an accountable system administration model for operating systems where the notion of super users is removed and all system administrators must be accounted for their activities even if they are untrustworthy. The model is built upon a premise that such a system has multiple peer system administrators, and the peer system administrators ensure the logs of their activities are preserved and audited. The accountability policy and operating system primitives are designed and constructed so that the proposed model is provable. An enforcement mechanism that instantiates the model and enforces the policy is designed and implemented in Linux, a real-world operating system.
Sex-Based Assessment of Patient Presentation, Lesion Characteristics, and Treatment Modalities in Patients Undergoing Peripheral Vascular Intervention.

Background—Limited evidence suggests that women and men might be treated differently for peripheral arterial disease. This analysis evaluated sex-based differences in disease presentation and its e...
Calculations of secondary electron yield of graphene coated copper for vacuum electronic applications

The suppression of secondary electron yield (SEY) which can possibly lead to multipactor is an important goal for several applications. Though some techniques have focused on geometric modifications to lower the SEY, the use of graphene coatings as thin as a few monolayers is a promising new development that deserves attention either as a standalone technique or in concert with geometric alterations. Here we report on Monte Carlo based numerical studies of SEY on graphene coated copper with comparisons to recent experimental data. Our predicted values are generally in good agreement with reported measurements. Suppression of the secondary electron yield by as much as 50 percent (over copper) with graphene coating is predicted at energies below 125 eV, and bodes well for multipactor suppression in radio frequency applications.
Molecular Properties That Define the Activities of Antibiotics in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The permeability barrier of Gram-negative cell envelopes is the major obstacle in the discovery and development of new antibiotics. In Gram-negative bacteria, these difficulties are exacerbated by the synergistic interaction between two biochemically distinct phenomena, the low permeability of the outer membrane (OM) and active multidrug efflux. In this study, we used Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli strains with controllable permeability barriers, achieved through hyperporination of the OMs and varied efflux capacities, to evaluate the contributions of each of the barriers to protection from antibacterials. We analyzed antibacterial activities of β-lactams and fluoroquinolones, antibiotics that are optimized for targets in the periplasm and the cytoplasm, respectively, and performed a machine learning-based analysis to identify physicochemical descriptors that best classify their relative potencies. Our results show that the molecular properties selected by active efflux and the OM barriers ar...
A general protease digestion procedure for optimal protein sequence coverage and post-translational modifications analysis of recombinant glycoproteins: application to the characterization of human lysyl oxidase-like 2 glycosylation.

Using recombinant DNA technology for expression of protein therapeutics is a maturing field of pharmaceutical research and development. As recombinant proteins are increasingly utilized as biotherapeutics, improved methodologies ensuring the characterization of post-translational modifications (PTMs) are needed. Typically, proteins prepared for PTM analysis are proteolytically digested and analyzed by mass spectrometry. To ensure full coverage of the PTMs on a given protein, one must obtain complete sequence coverage of the protein, which is often quite challenging. The objective of the research described here is to design a protocol that maximizes protein sequence coverage and enables detection of post-translational modifications, specifically N-linked glycosylation. To achieve this objective, a highly efficient proteolytic digest protocol using trypsin was designed by comparing the relative merits of denaturing agents (urea and Rapigest SF), reducing agents [dithiothreitol (DTT) and tris(2-carboxyethyl)...
High-Dimensional Data Classification

Recently, high-dimensional classification problems have been ubiquitous due to significant advances in technology. High dimensionality poses significant statistical challenges and renders many traditional classification algorithms impractical to use. In this chapter, we present a comprehensive overview of different classifiers that have been highly successful in handling high-dimensional data classification problems. We start with popular methods such as Support Vector Machines and variants of discriminant functions and discuss in detail their applications and modifications to several problems in high-dimensional settings. We also examine regularization techniques and their integration to several existing algorithms. We then discuss more recent methods, namely the hybrid classifiers and the ensemble classifiers. Feature selection techniques, as a part of hybrid classifiers, are introduced and their relative merits and drawbacks are examined. Lastly, we describe AdaBoost and Random Forests in the ensemble classifiers and discuss their recent surge as useful algorithms for solving high-dimensional data problems.
Selected aspects of a general algebraic modeling language

The paper touches on the role of models in a policy/planning environment, and establishes the need for a general algebraic modeling system. Its main purpose, however, is to develop a notation which can be understood by both man and machine. The language is part of a general algebraic modeling system currently under development. A more extensive version of this paper can be obtained from the authors.
An Examination of Applicants and Factors Associated with Matriculation to Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Training Programs.

The demand for training in complex general surgical oncology (CGSO) fellowships currently exceeds the number of positions offered; however, there are scarce data defining the applicant pool or characteristics associated with successful matriculation. Our study described the applicant population and to determine factors associated with acceptance into the fellowship. Data were extracted from the Electronic Residency Application System for applicants in 2015 and 2016 and stratified based on matriculation status. Applicant demographics, including medical education, residency, and research achievements, were analyzed. Academic productivity was quantified using the number of peer-reviewed publications as well as the journal with the highest impact factor in which an applicant’s work was published. Data were gathered on a total of 283 applicants, of which 105 matriculated. The overall population was primarily male (63.2%), Caucasian (40.6%), educated at a U.S. allopathic medical school (53.4%), and trained at a university-based General Surgery residency (55.5%). Education at a U.S. allopathic school (OR = 5.63, p < 0.0001), university-based classification of the applicant’s surgical residency (OR = 4.20, p < 0.0001), and a residency affiliation with a CGSO fellowship (OR = 2.61, p = 0.004) or National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (OR = 3.16, p < 0.001) were found to be associated with matriculation. Matriculants published a higher number of manuscripts than nonmatriculants (median of 10 vs. 4.5, p < 0.0001) and more frequently achieved publication in journals with higher impact factors (p < 0.0001). This study represents the first objective description of the CGSO fellowship applicant pool. Applicants’ medical school, residency, and research data points correlated with successful matriculation.
Dual-crosslinked homogeneous alginate microspheres for mesenchymal stem cell encapsulation.

A smart hydrogel material was used in combination with custom microfluidic devices (MFDs) to create microspheres for human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) encapsulation. Methods for fabricating homogeneous stimuli-responsive microspheres for MSC encapsulation and cell delivery have gained interest to increase viability and manipulate microencapsulation within microspheres 10–1000 µm in diameter. Herein, MFDs were combined with non-toxic smart hydrogel materials to tune both the size and mechanics of the microspheres. Traditional hydrogels have a single input/stimulus for crosslinking, utilize potentially toxic ultraviolet radiation, and fail to mimic surrounding musculoskeletal tissue mechanics. Thus, it is highly beneficial to encapsulate MSCs inside a mechanically-stable microsphere made from naturally-derived materials. The objectives of this research were to optimize microsphere fabrication techniques using custom microfluidic devices (MFDs), and to encapsulate viable MSCs within visible-light crosslinked smart-alginate microspheres, with tunable mechanical properties. Microsphere production was characterized optically, and MSC viability, post-encapsulation, was verified using a standard florescence assay. Cell viability was maintained in chemically-modified alginate homogenous microspheres post encapsulation, and after subsequent crosslinking via green light exposure.
Drought during early European exploration and colonization of North America, 1500–1610CE: A comparison of evidence from the archives of societies and the archives of nature

Abstract. This article presents the historical evidence concerning the occurrence of drought in North America from 1510–1610CE based on a comprehensive review of original written records concerning all early European expeditions into the present US and Canada. It compares this evidence from the archives of societies with maps and time series of drought generated from the tree ring-based North American Drought Atlas (NADA). This comparison demonstrates the reliability of early colonial historical records as sources of evidence concerning drought, as well as the applicability of the NADA to the scale of local and regional human historical events. The comparison further verifies the occurrence and societal impacts of certain major droughts previously identified in dendroclimatological studies, but suggests that some summer hydrological deficits indicated in the tree ring record reflect a deficiency of summer rather than winter precipitation. Finally, this review of evidence from both the archives of societies and archives of nature highlights the extraordinary challenges faced by early European explorers and colonists in North America due to climatic variability in an already unfamiliar and challenging environment.
Sparse classification using Group Matching Pursuit

Abstract Group structure exists in supervised learning problems inherently. For example, in the training data of a classification problem, samples from the same class will have similar representations. These samples from the same class will form a group. Group sparse features, such as Group Lasso, can reserve this group information and improve classification accuracy by reducing noise using sparse constraints. However, Group Lasso is a sparse approximation, and its performance and solution highly depend on the choice of group sparse penalty weight. In this paper, we propose a Group Matching Pursuit (GMP) based sparse classification approach. Group Matching Pursuit features are sparse features where coefficients of exact K groups are non-zeros. Compared to Group Lasso, 1. Group Matching Pursuit based classification is stable and has no penalty parameters to tune; 2. Group Matching Pursuit features have large Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and are class discriminant; 3. Group Matching Pursuit features are also robust for occluded images. Extensive experiments on 5 data sets and different levels of occlusion show that the proposed Group Matching Pursuit can improve Group Lasso classification accuracy up to 27.2% in some situation.
Vehicle-to-vehicle wireless power transfer: Paving the way toward an electrified transportation system

Abstract To date, three major hurdles have hindered widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs): the high cost of batteries, insufficient public charging infrastructure, and the limited driving range of EVs. This study overcomes these three hurdles by introducing a new concept of vehicle-to-vehicle wireless power transfer (V2V WPT) between EVs to facilitate frequent, real-time, and on-demand charging. V2V WPT is enabled by the connected and automated vehicle technology and the sharing economy, and facilitates transfer of power between peer EVs. We formulate the problem of routing, scheduling, and matching vehicles in a V2V WPT platform on a energy-time expanded network, and devise a dynamic programming solution methodology to find the solution efficiently. We quantify the impact of adopting this technology in terms of system-wide energy savings, charging infrastructure requirements, and travel times, and investigate the possibility of reducing battery capacity in EVs as a result of this technology.
Caregiver creation of participation-focused care plans using Participation and Environment Measure Plus (PEM+), an electronic health tool for family-centred care.

Background Family-centred care (FCC) is a model for rehabilitation practice that focuses on collaborative partnerships between providers and clients (i.e., children and their caregivers). FCC is a best-practice standard and is expected to yield better outcomes for children and greater caregiver satisfaction with rehabilitation services. A commonly cited barrier to implementing FCC is perceptions about caregiver capability to contribute to designing an initial plan of care, due to lack of skill and/or interest. Objectives The aim of this study is to address FCC barriers through three objectives: (a) report the proportion of caregivers that created multiple care plans using PEM+, an electronic health tool, (b) assess the proportion of caregivers that created complete and participation-focused care plan(s) and that exceeded criteria of a complete plan, and (c) describe characteristics of caregivers that did not create a complete care plan. Methods Study objectives were addressed via secondary analyses of a subset of data from the PEM + pilot trial. Participants were caregivers (N = 18) of children with developmental disabilities (aged 0-5 years) receiving rehabilitation services in an early childhood programme. A deductive analytic approach was used to code care plan content to criteria and to determine proportion of caregivers with a complete and participation-focused care plan and those that exceeded the criteria. Results Multiple care plans were created by 72% of the caregivers, 83% caregivers created at least one care plan that was complete and participation-focused per criteria, and 83% exceeded the criteria. Conclusion The high occurrence of caregivers who developed multiple care plans and who developed high-quality care plans, in their completeness and participation-focused features, suggests that caregivers are interested and capable of participating in a collaborative goal setting process when using PEM+. This indicates that FCC is feasible to implement in clinical workflow with the use of an electronic health tool, which may better facilitate such care. PEM+ warrants further efficacy testing prior to implementation.
Student cluster competition 2018, team northeastern university: Reproducing performance of a multi-physics simulations of the Tsunamigenic 2004 Sumatra Megathrust earthquake on the AMD EPYC 7551 architecture

Abstract This paper evaluates the reproducibility of a Supercomputing 17 paper titled Extreme Scale Multi-Physics Simulations of the Tsunamigenic 2004 Sumatra Megathrust Earthquake. We evaluate reproducibility on a significantly smaller computer system than used in the original work. We found that we able to demonstrate reproducibility of the multi-physics simulations on a single-node system, as well as confirm multi-node scaling. However, reproducibility of the visual and geophysical simulation results were inconclusive due to issues related to input parameters provided to our model. The SC 17 paper provided results for both CPU-based simulations as well as Xeon Phi based simulations. Since our cluster uses NVIDIA V100s for acceleration, we are only able to assess the CPU-based results in terms of reproducibility.
An Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Large Chondral and Osteochondral Defects in the Patellofemoral Joint

Background:Cartilage lesions of the patellofemoral joint constitute a frequent abnormality. Patellofemoral conditions are challenging to treat because of complex biomechanics and morphology.Purpose...