cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of belt use by rear-seat occupants on injury severity of belted drivers in New Jersey

In January 2010, legislation in New Jersey required all occupants of vehicles to wear seatbelts regardless of seating positions. Although it is known that an unbelted rear-seat passenger affects the safety of the driver, the level of the impact is not clear. The objective of this research was to identify the factors that influenced the injury severity of a belted driver with and without rear-seat occupants. Injury severity models were developed with crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for New Jersey for 2004 to 2006. The results indicated that the probability that a driver or right-front-seat occupant would sustain more-severe injuries was higher when a left-backseat, middle-backseat, or right-backseat occupant was unbelted. For vehicles with two backseat occupants (left-back and right-back), coefficient values for these variables indicated that lack of seat belt use by either occupant affected the injury severity level of a belted driver. The results showed that the right-backseat occu...
Discovering how to think about a hospital patient information system by struggling to evaluate it: a committee's journal.

Parallel to the monumental problem of replacing paper-and-pen–based patient information management systems with electronic ones is the problem of evaluating the extent to which the change represents an improvement. All clinicians must grapple with this daunting challenge; those with little or no informatics expertise may be particularly surprised by the attendant difficulties. To do so successfully, they must be able to explicitly conceptualize the daily clinical work—a prerequisite for appreciating and reasonably evaluating it. Further, few of these evaluators may have reflected on the dynamic interaction between their work and their tools—how changing a tool necessarily changes the work. This article illuminates these problems by telling the story of how one patient care information systems committee first learned to think about the purpose of a patient information management system, and second, how to evaluate the impact of its implementation.
Torture and Extradition: Using Trinidad y Garcia to Develop a New Role for Courts

The Ninth Circuit’s recent extradition decision Trinidad y Garcia v. Thomas creates new space for assessing the current doctrine that forecloses courts from protecting individuals that face torture upon extradition. This Note sets out the history of extradition law with respect to judicial review over conditions in the country requesting extradition, concluding that no statute or precedent precludes judicial review of extradition torture claims and argues that the current scope of review afforded by the circuit courts fails to provide extraditees with adequate legal protection. It analyzes the development of the rule of non-inquiry in the Supreme Court and the lower courts. It then addresses more recent cases, which take account of the signing of the CAT and its implementing legislation, the FARR Act. Next, this Note analyzes the current circuit split surrounding the availability of judicial review of the torture determination. Lastly, this Note explores the unique position extradition law occupies in domestic law, and the striking lack of judicial process afforded to those who face torture upon extradition. It then proposes that allowing courts to hear torture claims at the trial level can alleviate fairness concerns without sacrificing the interests important to the State Department.
Dynamics of Communicator and Audience Power: The Persuasiveness of Competence versus Warmth

The current research offers a new theoretical perspective on the relationship between power and persuasion. An agentic-communal model of power is presented that proposes power affects both the messages generated by communicators and the messages that persuade audiences. Compared to low-power states, high-power states produce a greater emphasis on information that conveys competence. As a consequence, high-power communicators generate messages with greater competence information, and high-power audiences are persuaded more by competence information. In contrast to high-power states, low-power states produce a greater emphasis on information that conveys warmth. As a result, low-power communicators generate messages with greater warmth information, and low-power audiences are persuaded more by warmth information. Because of these two outcomes, a power-matching effect occurs between communicator and audience power: high-power communicators are more effective in persuading high-power audience members, whereas low-power communicators are more effective in persuading low-power audience members. Four experiments find support for these effects in oral and written contexts with three distinct manipulations of power. Overall, these experiments demonstrate that the persuasiveness of messages can be affected by the alignment between the psychological sense of power of the communicator and the audience.
Human development modifies the functional composition of lake littoral invertebrate communities

Residential shoreline and watershed development by humans are leading agents of environmental change in lake ecosystems that reduce abundances and diversity of littoral invertebrates. Invertebrate functional and life history traits are robust indicators of environmental quality and ecosystem functioning, yet surprisingly few studies have utilized trait-based approaches to assess impacts of human development to lake littoral communities. We assessed environmental characteristics of human development that impact functional diversity and structure the trait composition of invertebrate communities in lakes of northwestern United States. Multiple linear regressions revealed that functional diversity declined with increasing watershed development, lake total phosphorus, and littoral macrophyte cover. Results from multivariate constrained ordination and fourth corner analysis indicated that high phosphorus concentrations and abundant macrophyte cover removed taxa with semivoltine life histories and filter feeders from lake communities, and that both regional ecosystem and local habitat characteristics of human development were important determinants of invertebrate community structure. Human development had particularly pronounced effects on invertebrate communities in the sublittoral zone, for which overall community abundances declined. Our study indicates that human development favors lake communities dominated by multivoltine taxa and herbivores, which may have important implications for energy flow among terrestrial, littoral, and pelagic food webs.
An Examination of the Organizational Antecedents of Stressors at Work

This paper identifies seven sources of stress in the work environment and examines the relationship of contextual, task, and role-related variables to such stressors. Both the type and magnitude of...
A new method for studying mechanics of breathing using cathode ray oscillograph.

Summary(1) Pressure-volume curves of the chest and lungs may be portrayed directly on the cathode ray oscilloscope to show the elastic and viscous properties described by previous authors (1,2). Alterations of muscle tone of the thorax affect the pressure-volume curve in such a way as to aid or resist artificial respiration and are immediately detectable by this method. (2) Pressure-flow curves may be recorded in a similar manner. This method permits the easy evaluation of the constants: involved in the equation P = KV + K'V2 which are determined by the physical characteristics of the lung tree. (3) Inertia of the thorax causes a small lag between pressure around the chest and flow at the mouth. This time lag is of the order of one-sixtieth of a second.
Mole Cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) Damage to Hemarthria altissima: Resistance or Nonpreference?

Six pasture grasses (bahia grass, Paspalum notatum Flugge, ‘Pensacola’ and ‘Argentine’ and Hemarthria altissima [Poir] Stapf & C. E. Hubb ‘greenalta’, ‘redalta’, ‘bigalta’, and ‘floralta’) were screened for relative susceptibility to damage by mole crickets, Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder and S. acletus Rehn & Hebard. In tests where all six grasses were available, all Hemarthria cultivars suffered less reduction in yield and loss of stand than either of the bahia grasses when infested with S. vicinus. In particular, ‘f1oralta’ seemed to suffer less from mole cricket infestation. However, in tests for resistance or tolerance of ‘floralta’ to mole cricket damage when no alternative food was available, S. vicinus caused damage that was as severe (>90% reduction of yield) as damage inflicted on the more widely used bahia grasses.
Analysis of vaccination certificate of children at admission to child care setting and school in Yaohai District of Hefei in 2011

Objective To investigate the new primary school students' vaccination in 2011 of Yaohai District,Hefei City,to provide evidence for further improvement of the vaccination rate and to enhance infectious disease control and prevention.Methods The reporting data of the vaccination certificate survey were collected,then classified and statistically analyzed.Results The inspection rate about kindergartens and primary schools was 100%.The possession rate about vaccination certificate of children was 99%.Except the vaccination rate of A+C(epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis vaccine) and DT were less than 90%,others all reached over 90%.Conclusion It is suggested that various measures should be taken to promote the inspection about vaccination certificate and EPI.
Use of Nerve Stimulator for Simple and Accurate Obturator Nerve Block before Transurethral Resection

AbstractAdductor contraction from obturator nerve stimulation occurs frequently in certain situations during transurethral operations. Bladder perforation is a common result. A simple and safe technique involving use of a nerve stimulator for accurate obturator blockade is described. There have been no adductor contractions in more than 275 transurethral resections during a 2-year interval. There were no complications from the block itself or use of the nerve stimulator.
Uncertainty quantification and robust predictive system analysis for high temperature kinetics of HCN/O2/Ar mixture

Abstract In this paper, a stochastic system based Bayesian approach is applied to quantify the uncertainties involved in the modeling of the HCN/O2/Ar mixture kinetics proposed by Thielen and Roth (1987). This enables more robust predictions of quantities of interest such as rate coefficients of HCN + Ar → H + CN + Ar and O2 + CN → NCO + O by using a stochastic Arrhenius form calibrated against their experimental data. This Bayesian approach requires the evaluation of multidimensional integrals, which cannot be done analytically. Here a recently developed stochastic simulation algorithm, which allows for efficient sampling in the high-dimensional parameter space, is used. We quantify the uncertainties in the modeling of the HCN/O2/Ar mixture kinetics and in turn the two rate coefficients and the other relevant rate coefficients. The uncertainty in the error including both the experimental measurement error and physical modeling error is also quantified. The effect of the number of uncertain parameters on the uncertainties is investigated.
A Preliminary Methodology for Broken Rail Caused Freight Train Derailment Risk Analysis

This paper investigates the influence of rail age, annual traffic density, and inspection frequency on broken-rail-caused train derailment risk. First, we estimate the probability of a broken-rail-caused train derailment based on a sequence of stochastic processes including rail defect formation, growth, detection and the likelihood that a broken rail causes a derailment. In addition to derailment frequency, we also estimate derailment severity, which is measured by the average number of railcars derailed per train derailment, based on FRA-reportable train derailment data. The preliminary risk analysis model provides a quantitative approach to understand broken rail risk, and potentially aid in development of effective ways to mitigate derailment risk.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Bevameter testing on simulant Fillite for planetary rover mobility applications

Abstract This paper examines pressure-sinkage and shearing behavior via bevameter testing of a light-weight, granular simulant called Fillite in support of laboratory modeling of rover mobility in high-sinkage, high-slip environments typically found on Mars, the Moon, and other planetary bodies. Normal bevameter test results helped to determine parameters for the Bekker model, the New Model of Mobility (N2M) sinkage model, and the Bekker-Wong model. A case study used the Bekker-Wong model parameters to predict the possible sinkage of 84% into Fillite of a wheel on the Mars Spirit rover, a value within the observed sinkage of 50–90% of the wheel diameter of the Spirit rover on Mars. Shear bevameter testing of Fillite provided a second set of parameters to assess shear behavior, this time simulating the stresses and shear deformations imparted by rotating wheels. The results compared well to the estimated shear stresses and deformations of Martian soil caused by the wheels of the Spirit rover. When compared to other simulants (e.g. GRC-1), the results confirm that Fillite is possibly more suitable for high-sinkage and high-slip rover studies than other typical simulants derived from natural terrestrial soils and rocks.
Description, Normative Data, and Utility of the Hearing Aid Skills and Knowledge Test.

The ability to manage hearing aids is crucial for successful outcomes and for maintaining hearing aid use. It is therefore important to have a tool that can effectively identify which hearing aid management skills are lacking so that the audiologist can provide additional education and training on that skill. Such a tool can also provide useful quantitative data for researchers. To collect normative data (Experiment 1) and assess inter- and intrarater reliability (Experiment 2) for a hearing aid management assessment tool known as the Hearing Aid Skills and Knowledge (HASK) test. Two hundred thirty-six new hearing aid users recruited from the VA Portland Health Care System and 126 experienced hearing aid users recruited from the local Portland community participated in Experiment 1. The veteran participants were taking part in a larger hearing aid study, and the community participants were recruited at community events that took place around Portland, OR. Three clinical audiologists and two AuD students completing their fourth year externship participated in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, HASK data were collected from the new hearing aid users at 4–8 wk and 6–8 mo after the fitting of their first pair of hearing aids, and from experienced users on a single occasion. In addition, self-reported hearing aid use, benefit, and satisfaction were assessed for all participants. The audiologists/students in Experiment 2 watched and independently scored videos of six individuals completing the HASK. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) across audiologists were computed for HASK scores. Three audiologists/students rated at least one video on two occasions to provide interrater reliability data. Mean performance on the HASK was about 70% for knowledge and 80% for skills for both the new and experienced hearing aid users. Performance did not change among the new users between the 4–8 wk and 6–8 mo administration. The specific skills lacking were associated with advanced management abilities (cleaning and troubleshooting). Experiment 2 revealed ICCs for inter- and intrarater reliability for HASK to range from 0.76 to 0.94, showing acceptable to excellent reliability. The HASK is a quick and easy test with good-to-excellent inter- and intrarater reliability. It can effectively identify which hearing aid management skills are lacking so that the audiologist can provide additional education and training on those skills. Data show performance is ∼70% for knowledge and 80% for skills and this does not change with hearing aid experience. The significant positive correlations between HASK scores and hearing aid use and satisfaction highlight the notion that ability to manage hearing aids successfully is integral to good hearing aid outcome.
Design of Microbial Consortia for Industrial Biotechnology

Presented on September 17, 2014 from 4-5 pm in room G011 of the Molecular Science and Engineering Building.
High priority violations and intra-firm pollution substitution

Abstract We examine the sign and the magnitude of pollution leakage associated with the High Priority Violations Policy (HPVP) under the Clean Air Act. Using 46,012 facility-year observations for 7947 polluting facilities across all industries in the U.S., we find strong evidence of intra-firm pollution substitution associated with the HPVP. On average, a compliant facility increased its toxic air emissions by about 35–56 percent (3600 to 6000 lbs.) if it had at least one other sister facility, within the same 6-digit NAICS industry code and belonging to the same parent firm, concurrently under violation. The magnitude of such intra-firm pollution substitution was stronger towards compliant facilities with no prior history of high priority violation as well as towards those owned by private parent companies. We also find that substitution of pollution from a sister facility under violation increases the risk of violation among currently compliant facilities.
Bedside Laparoscopy in the Intensive Care Unit

Intra-abdominal sepsis has a high mortality and significant incidence in severely ill intensive care patients. Early recognition with prompt diagnosis and treatment are imperative to improve survival. Current common diagnostic modalities such as laboratory data, conventional X-rays, ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT), and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) are limited by the amount of information each provides and the lack of any therapeutic benefit. Bedside diagnostic laparoscopy (BDL), a relatively novel approach for diagnosing intra-abdominal pathology, has several advantages over conventional methods. BDL can provide a definitive diagnosis on intra-abdominal bowel viability and confirm the presence of purulent or fecal peritonitis. In addition, BDL has a similar risk profile to DPL and may provide a therapeutic benefit. Therefore, in the hemodynamically unstable patient, BDL is a low-risk, potentially therapeutic procedure capable of accurately diagnosing intra-abdominal pathology and avoiding nontherapeutic laparotomy.
Optimizing Scientist Time through In Situ Visualization and Analysis

In situ processing produces reduced size persistent representations of a simulations state while the simulation is running. The need for in situ visualization and data analysis is usually described in terms of supercomputer size and performance in relation to available storage size.
Research Challenges of Digital Misinformation: Toward a Trustworthy Web

The deluge of online and offline misinformation is overloading the exchange of ideas upon which democracies depend. Fake news, conspiracy theories, and deceptive social bots proliferate, facilitating the manipulation of public opinion. Countering misinformation while protecting freedom of speech will require collaboration across industry, journalism, and academia. The Workshop on Digital Misinformation — held in May 2017 in conjunction with the International Conference on Web and Social Media in Montreal, Quebec, Canada — was intended to foster these efforts. The meeting brought together more than 100 stakeholders from academia, media, and tech companies to discuss the research challenges implicit in building a trustworthy Web. Below we outline the main findings from the discussion.
Model-Interpolated Gating for Magnetic Resonance Image-Guided Radiation Therapy.

Purpose To develop and validate a technique for radiation therapy gating using slow (≤1 frame per second) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a motion model. Proposed uses of the technique include radiation therapy gating using T2-weighted images and conducting additional imaging studies during gated treatments. Methods and Materials The technique uses a physiologically guided breathing motion model to interpolate deformed target position between 2-dimensional (2D) MRI images acquired every 1 to 3 seconds. The model is parameterized by a 1-dimensional respiratory bellows surrogate and is continuously updated with the most recently acquired 2D images. A phantom and 8 volunteers were imaged with a 0.35T MRI-guided radiation therapy system. A balanced steady-state free precession sequence with a 2D frame rate of 3 frames per second was used to evaluate the technique. The accuracy and beam-on positive predictive value (PPV) of the model-based gating decisions were evaluated using the gating decisions derived from imaging as a ground truth. A T2-weighted gating offline proof-of-concept study using a half-Fourier, single-shot, turbo-spin echo sequence is reported. Results Model-interpolated gating accuracy, beam-on PPV, and median absolute distances between model and image-tracked target centroids were, on average, 98.3%, 98.4%, and 0.33 mm, respectively, in the balanced steady-state free precession phantom studies and 93.7%, 92.1%, and 0.86 mm, respectively, in the volunteer studies. T2 model-interpolated gating in 6 volunteers yielded an average accuracy and PPV of 94.3% and 92.5%, respectively, and the mean absolute median distance between modeled and imaged target centroids was 0.86 mm. Conclusions This work demonstrates the concept of model-interpolated gating for MRI-guided radiation therapy. The technique was found to be potentially sufficiently accurate for clinical use. Further development is needed to accommodate out-of-plane motion and the use of an internal MR-based respiratory surrogate.
Conformal doping of high aspect ratio trenches by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII)

Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) has been used to conformally dope trenches with aspect ratio up to 12 and trench openings from 1 to 5 μms. The substrate bias affects the directionality of the incoming ions. Optimal processing conditions for conformal doping were found to depend on the aspect ratio of the trench.
Grinding and finishing processes

Abstract: Grinding and finishing processes are fast becoming the standard choice of machining, especially in the rapidly growing areas of automotive and aerospace industrial sectors. This chapter provides practical data for the selection of grinding and finishing operations applied to these industrial sectors and includes a guide on the selection of grinding wheels, dressing wheels and process parameters. The chapter concludes with a brief explanation of superfinishing processes that are highly dependent upon the skills of the machine operator.
Preoperative cystoscopy could determine the severity of placenta accreta spectrum disorders: An observational study

Aim In the surgical treatment of placenta accreta spectrum disorders, cystoscopy for prophylactic stent placement is performed to protect the ureters from potential injury. Despite its frequent use, the use of cystoscopy in assessing the severity of these disorders has not been explored. Our objective was to find out if the abnormal findings documented during cystoscopy are associated with disease severity. Methods In this retrospective, observational cohort study (n = 56), the bladder wall was evaluated at the time of ureteral stent placement via cystoscopy in prenatally diagnosed placenta accreta spectrum cases. Three abnormal findings were commonly present in these cases: bulging of the posterior bladder wall, neovascularization and arterial pulsatility in the area of neovascularization. These findings were stratified according to severity in histologically confirmed specimens. Continuous variables were compared via two-tailed t-tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Categorical data were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results Neovascularization affected 84%, bulging 71% and pulsatility 54% of the cases. Bulging and neovascularization increased with disease severity. Pulsatility occurred exclusively in percretas. Bulging was associated with a 12-fold (OR = 11.6, 95% CI 2.94-46.33, P = 0.0005) increased likelihood of percreta and neovascularization with a 17-fold (OR = 17.06, 95% CI 2.98-97.79, P = 0.0014) increase. Neovascularization and/or the presence of bulging of the bladder have high positive predictive value for placenta increta and percreta (91.5% and 95.0%, respectively). Cystoscopy can be used to assess the severity of placenta accreta spectrum cases preoperatively, especially when placentation is over the previous uterine scar and is in proximity to the bladder wall.
Scour reduction by air injection at a cylindrical bridge pier: Experimental determination of optimal configuration

AbstractTo reduce bridge scour-induced collapse, experiments were performed to determine the optimal ratio of air to water velocity values for the least amount of scour at a cylindrical bridge pier...
Driverless Technologies and Their Effects on Insurers and the State: An Initial Assessment

This article explores the impacts of new auto technologies and their financial effects on insurance markets, a set of complementary services, and state revenues. We use data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Census Bureau to create a data set that links industry and state finance variables to a set of variables related to driving. Our purpose in this initial assessment is to estimate the sensitivity of these financial variables to different indices of driving including the number of drivers, the number of cars licensed per year, and the number of vehicle miles driven. The resulting estimates are used to create elasticities to show how sensitive each is to changes brought about by the new technologies.
RESEARCH AWARD Session: ADVENTURES IN DEMENTIA EPIDEMIOLOGY: Session 200

Abstract The study of dementia epidemiology, now embedded within the larger field of population neuroscience, examines cognitive decline and dementia at the population or community level. Minimizing the selection bias which is unavoidable in clinical settings, we are able to look at the distribution as well as the determinants of these conditions in the population at large. Over the past 30 years, our group has conducted population-based studies of aging, cognition, and dementia both in the Monongahela Valley of Southwestern Pennsylvania and in the rural area of Ballabgarh in India. This presentation will cover key themes and findings from this body of research, emphasizing their relevance for clinicians and clinical researchers.
Early-Life Adversity Accelerates Child and Adolescent Development:

Most developmental work regards adverse developmental experiences as forces that undermine well-being. Here, I present an alternative—or complementary—view, summarizing recent evidence on puberty, ...
Gender Income Disparity Among White-Collar Regular Employees: Explaining the Causes Responsible for 80% of the Disparity and Its Mechanisms

This chapter presents the results of the decomposition analysis of the gender income disparity among white-collar regular employees using the DFL model, which relies on propensity score standardization. First, the main results of the analysis show that six variables collectively explain 78% of the disparity. Gender differences in three human capital variables for age, educational attainment, and years of service account for 35% of the gender income disparity, whereas three variables for occupation, working hours, and positional rank account for additional 43%. Individually, gender differences in positional rank possess the strongest explanatory power. Next, the disparity in the portion that cannot be explained by gender differences in the six variables is analyzed. Also demonstrated is the degree by which decreases in gender income disparity vary among each of the categories of age, educational attainment, occupation, working hours, and positional rank given the hypothetical situations when human capital characteristics are equalized between men and women and when positional rank is also equalized between men and women. The following results were obtained. (1) The tendency for gender disparities in income to increase with age is mostly explained by increases in gender disparities in positional rank after the age of 40. (2) Most of the gender disparity in income among college graduates can be resolved by eliminating gender differences in years of service and positional rank, whereas most of the gender income disparity among advanced training school graduates can be gotten rid of by eliminating differences in positional ranks. However, a large portion of the gender disparity in income among high school graduates cannot be eliminated even with identical years of service and positional rank. (3) Large gender income disparities remain among professionals and among female-dominated clerical workers even when human capital and positional rank are equalized between men and women. (4) The realization of gender equality in income opportunities among men and women employed in the position of section chief ( kacho ) and above is much greater than those of lower positional ranks.
Vaccine stockouts and vaccination rate: examination of unique administrative data from Nigeria.

Background Universal access to vaccines is crucial in protecting the population from deadly diseases. This study presents the prevalence of vaccine stockouts in Nigeria and examines the correlation between the vaccine stockouts and vaccine take-up. Methods We use the unique administrative data of monthly vaccine stockouts at each health facility in Nigeria. To evaluate the correlation between the stockouts and the vaccine take-up, the administrative data were merged with the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2013. We used logistic regression for the correlational study. Results The prevalence of vaccine stockouts in Nigeria is high: 82.7% between 2012 and 2013. We find a negative correlation between vaccine stockouts and vaccine take-up. However, we observe the differential correlational pattern depending on the regional vaccine coverage, which we consider as the proxy of the level of demand for vaccines. Conclusions We find that, while vaccine stockouts are correlated with the low vaccine take-up on average, this negative correlation between stockouts and vaccination rate is observed only in regions with low demand for vaccines. Reducing vaccine stockouts in regions with the low vaccination coverage might be an effective way to increase the overall vaccination rate.
An Integrated Billing Application to Streamline Clinician Workflow

Between 2008 and 2010, our academic medical center transitioned to electronic provider documentation using a commercial electronic health record system. For attending physicians, one of the most frustrating aspects of this experience was the system’s failure to support their existing electronic billing workflow. Because of poor system integration, it was difficult to verify the supporting documentation for each bill and impractical to track whether billable notes had corresponding charges. We developed and deployed in 2011 an integrated billing application called “iCharge” that streamlines clinicians’ documentation and billing workflow, and simultaneously populates the inpatient problem list using billing diagnosis codes. Each month, over 550 physicians use iCharge to submit approximately 23,000 professional service charges for over 4,200 patients. On average, about 2.5 new problems are added to each patient’s problem list. This paper describes the challenges and benefits of workflow integration across disparate applications and presents an example of innovative software development within a commercial EHR framework.
Functions and mechanisms of symbionts of insect disease vectors

Abstract Insects are the most significant vectors of human disease. Disease-transmitting insects often rely on vertebrate blood (haematophagy) either as a sole food source or as a significant component of their diet. While blood is a nutrient-rich resource, it also lacks key vitamins necessary for host development. Many insects which feed obligately on blood rely on bacterial symbionts to overcome this dietary limitation. Microbes associated with vectors have also been demonstrated to play essential roles in host development, immune system modulation, and vector competency. These microbes range from irreversibly specialized symbionts that are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring, to facultatively symbiotic, free-living microbes acquired from the local environment. Some may be found at variable frequencies and yet still shape numerous aspects of host physiology. Here we focus our attention on three groups of insect disease vectors and their varied associations with symbiotic microbes. This review will examine tsetse flies (Glossina), vectors of Trypanosoma species responsible for human and animal African trypanosomiasis, kissing bugs (Triatominae), the vectors of T. cruzi that causes Chagas’ disease, and mosquitoes (Culicidae), vectors of a wide array of pathogens from Plasmodium to arboviruses. We explore the rapidly growing understanding of how microbes contribute to the development, physiology, and pathogen transmission of these insects.
Regulation of venous thrombosis by platelet protein S.

In this issue of Blood, Calzavarini et al solve the long-standing puzzle of the function of protein S (PS) that has been derived from platelets (PSplt) by showing that PSplt limits thrombin formation in large veins.
A Roadmap for Sustainability for a Community in The Netherlands

The sustainability transition is a systems of systems challenge to the power ‘n’. The amount of systems and organizations that is involved is inconceivable for most humans. A roadmap is a means to structure much information and to help humans and organizations to understand their role in this transition. This paper describes a roadmap for a local municipality in the Netherlands. It explains the roadmap contents and the current experiences in using and evolving the roadmap. The general response to the roadmap is quite positive. However, we need to evolve the roadmap to turn it into a living entity that is helping the sustainability transition.
The impact of variable relative biological effectiveness in proton therapy for left-sided breast cancer when estimating normal tissue complications in the heart and lung.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) variations in proton beam scanning treatment (PBS) for left-sided breast cancer versus the assumption of a fixed RBE of 1.1, particularly in the context of comparisons with photon-based three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Ten patients receiving radiation treatment to the whole breast/chest wall and regional lymph nodes were selected for each modality. For PBS, the dose distributions were re-calculated with both a fixed RBE and a variable RBE using an empirical RBE model. Dosimetric indices based on dose-volume histogram analysis were calculated for the entire heart wall, left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left lung. Furthermore, normal tissue toxicity probabilities for different endpoints were evaluated. The results show that applying a variable RBE significantly increases the RBE-weighted dose and consequently the calculated dosimetric indices increases for all organs compared to a fixed RBE. The mean dose to the heart and the maximum dose to the LAD and the left lung are significantly lower for PBS assuming a fixed RBE compared to 3DCRT. However, no statistically significant difference is seen when a variable RBE is applied. For a fixed RBE, lung toxicities are significantly lower compared to 3DCRT but when applying a variable RBE, no statistically significant differences are noted. A disadvantage is seen for VMAT over both PBS and 3DCRT. One-to-one plan comparison on 8 patients between PBS and 3DCRT 3DCRT shows similar results. We conclude that dosimetric analysis for all organs and toxicity estimation for the left lung might be underestimated when applying a fixed RBE for protons. Potential RBE variations should therefore be considered as uncertainty bands in outcome analysis.
Challenging the Role of Rubrics: Perspectives from a Private University in Lebanon

One problematic aspect of classroom assessment is in how rubric instruction, specifications, and marking scales are planned and used. Using illustrations of student work and rubrics, I consider the use of rubrics and allude to behavioral, constructivist, and social learning theories as I discuss critical thinking, score inflation, and real-life learning. Through action research I investigate how using rubrics differently in the learning process maximized student learning.
Studying subjective hearing loss in older adults measured by speech, spatial, and quality of hearing scale within the framework of the ICF core set for hearing loss

This study aimed to assess categories underlying subjective hearing loss (SHL) in older adults using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability (ICF) and Health-Brief Core Set for ...
The final challenge of aging: Death and dying

Abstract Age-related changes in health require constant adaptation and culminate in the final challenge of aging—death and the dying process. This chapter focuses on psychological aspects of death and dying, with an emphasis on the experiences, perspectives, and needs of older adults. Research concerning age-related differences in response to mortality is reviewed, and applied work relating to specific aspects of death and dying, such as hospice and palliative care, the role of the medical community (and their own death-anxiety) is also explored. We consider the concept of a “good death” and how older adults may be uniquely equipped to contemplate and cope with approaching mortality.
Long noncoding RNAs: Emerging regulators of normal and malignant hematopoiesis.

Genome wide analyses have revealed that long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are not only passive transcription products, but also major regulators of genome structure and transcription. In particular, lncRNAs exert profound effects on various biological processes, such as chromatin structure, transcription, RNA stability and translation, and protein degradation and localization, which depend on their localization and interacting partners. Recent studies have revealed that thousands of lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in various cancer types and some of them are associated with malignant transformation. Despite extensive efforts, the diverse functions of lncRNAs and molecular mechanisms in which they act remain elusive. Many hematological disorders and malignancies are primarily resulted from genetic alterations that lead to the dysregulation of gene regulatory networks required for cellular proliferation and differentiation. Consequently, a growing list of lncRNAs has been reported for their involvement in the modulation of hematopoietic gene expression networks and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HS/PC) function. Dysregulation of some of these lncRNAs has been attributed to pathogenesis of hematological malignancies. In this review, we will summarize current advances and knowledge of lncRNAs in gene regulation, focusing on the recent progresses on the role of lncRNAs in CTCF/cohesin mediated three-dimensional (3D) genome organization, and how such genome folding signals in turn regulate transcription, HS/PC function and transformation. The knowledge will provide mechanistic and translational insights into HS/PC biology and myeloid malignancy pathophysiology.
Republished: Manual reduction of a radial artery loop under direct fluoroscopic visualization.

Transradial access has become increasingly used in neurointerventions because it reduces access site complications. However, radial artery anomalies can be difficult to navigate, often necessitating conversion to femoral access. We describe the case of a female patient in her early 70 s who underwent preoperative embolization of a carotid body tumor via right transradial access. Her radial angiogram demonstrated the presence of a radial artery loop which was successfully navigated with a triaxial system but would not spontaneously reduce even after the guide catheter was advanced into the subclavian artery. However, manual manipulation of the catheters in the antecubital fossa under direct fluoroscopic visualization reduced the loop allowing the procedure to continue transradially. Although a majority of radial loops can be traversed and reduced using standard techniques, this case demonstrates that manual reduction can be successful when other measures fail. We recommend attempting this method before converting the access site.
Hospital and Operator Variation in Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral and Participation After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Insights From Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium.

Background: Despite its established benefit and strong endorsement in international guidelines, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) use remains low. Identifying determinants of CR referral and use may help...
The Effect of Subtotal Gastrectomy Upon External Pancreatic Secretion in Dogs

The influence of gastric juice upon external secretion of the pancreas was first suggested by the classic work of Bayliss and Starling2, in which it was shown that dilute hydrochloric acid, introduced into the duodenum, is capable of provoking a pancreatic response. The mechanism of this ' reaction was shown to involve the release of a hormone, secretin, from the duodenal mucosa into the blood stream, which conveys it to the pancreas. The same observers reported that the more proximal portions of the small intestine (i.e., duodenum and upper jejunum) contain larger quantities of secretin than its more distal segments, and extracts of mucosa from the terminal ileum evoked no pancreatic response at all. Purified secretin, on injection, stimulates the secretion of water and bicarbonate, but the output of enzymes is relatively low. Secretion of the pancreatic enzymes depends either upon stimulation by way of the vagus nerves3, or upon another hormone, pancreozymin, which is elaborated in the intestinal mucosa • Clinical interest in the secretin mechanism of pancreatic secretion has recently been enhanced by the observation that acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas may be produced by voluminous pancreatic secretion in the presence of obstructed pancreatic ducts5• 6. As a result, attempts have been made to lessen the daily output of pancreatic juice in patients with acute pancreatitis by gastric aspiration7 and administration of anti-cholinergic drugs such as Banthine8, the rationale being to reduce the amount of gastric acid entering the duodenum, and thus minimize stimulation by secretin. With similar reasoning, chronic pancreatitis has been treated by subtotal gastrectomy9. However, a recent report of ThistlethwaitelO on the effect of subtotal gastrectomy upon pancreatic secretion in dogs indicates that the influence of this operation is variable. In spite of this report it seems reasonable to suppose that some change in pancreatic response must be expected as a result of the decrease in acidity and the diversion of gastric chyme which accompanies the operation. In fact, Annis and Hallenbeckll have shown a decisive reduction in the pancreatic response to food following subtotal gastrectomy. Accordingly, to clarify this point effectively, a project * Submitted for publication Nov. 11, 1953. A preliminary report of this work was presented before the Clinical Research Forum of the N. Y. Academy of Medicine, April 23, 1952, (1). This work was supported in part by grants from the Altman Foundation and Wyeth, Inc.
Connecting by breaking and repairing: mechanisms of DNA strand exchange in meiotic recombination

During prophase of meiosis I, homologous chromosomes interact and undergo recombination. Successful completion of these processes is required in order for the homologous chromosomes to mount the meiotic spindle as a pair. The organization of the chromosomes into pairs ensures orderly segregation to opposite poles of the dividing cell, such that each gamete receives one copy of each chromosome. Chiasmata, the cytological manifestation of crossover products of recombination, physically connect the homologs in pairs, providing a linkage that facilitates their segregation. Consequently, mutations that reduce the level of recombination are invariably associated with increased errors in meiotic chromosome segregation. In this review, we focus on recent biochemical and genetic advances in elucidating the mechanisms of meiotic DNA strand exchange catalyzed by the Dmc1 protein. We also discuss the mode by which two recombination mediators, Hop2 and Mnd1, facilitate rate-limiting steps of DNA strand exchange catalyzed by Dmc1.
The Preparation, Polymerization and Copolymerization of Substituted Derivatives of Cynichrodene (eta5-C5H5)Cr(CO)2NO.

Abstract : The novel vinyl organometallic monomer (vinyl-cyclopentadienyl)-dicarbonylnitrosylchromium (hereafter called vinylcynichrodene), was prepared and homopolymerized and copolymerized in solution and neat using azo initiators. Reactivity ratios were obtained in radical initiated copolymerizations with styrene and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. When M2 was styrene, r1 = 0.30 and r2 = 0.82. The value of the Alfrey-Price parameter e for vinylcynichrodene was -1.98 and the resonance interaction parameter Q was 3.1. copolymerizations with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (M2) gave r1 = 5.3, r2 = 0.079 and e = -2.07. Thus, vinylcynichrodene is an exceptionally electron-rich vinyl monomer resembling vinyl-ferrocene and vinylcymantrene. Vinylcynichrodene readily copolymerized with vinylcymantrene. (Author)
Software interface design for home-based assistive multi-robot system

In many assistive robotic systems, the interface to the user is simply a tablet computer or a monitor attached to a single robot. Missing from approaches are the system extensibility made possible with a tablet computer and a division of work between multiple agents. In this paper we present the design for a software interface to connect users to an assistive robot system for the disabled and elderly. The system is comprised of heterogeneous low-cost assistive robots, a home management portal and a cloud computing backend. The system is designed with the premise that all components do not need to be present for the system to function, but it will be improved when expanded by addition of robots and expanded computing capabilities. This paper focuses on developing the interfaces necessary to connect the user to these systems in a simple and easy to comprehend manner for the target user population.
Beam steering dynamics in coupled oscillator based phased arrays with coupling delay

[1] A continuum solution for the phase evolution of a coupled oscillator array with coupling delay, when one oscillator is step detuned in time, is derived from the discrete model solution previously published. From this Green's function a differential equation is derived for the Laplace transform of the phase dynamics. The solution of this differential equation is expressed as a sum of the eigenfunctions of the differential operator for a finite length array with one oscillator detuned. The dynamic behavior of the aperture phase for beam steering is obtained by superposing two of the Green's function solutions corresponding to antisymmetric excitation at each end of the array. The far zone beam steering behavior is obtained by summing the elemental radiated signals. Generalization to planar arrays appears to be straightforward. An alternative more flexible formulation suitable for early times is also presented.