cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship of biomedical science content acquisition performance to students' level of PBL group interaction: are students learning during PBL group?

This study assessed biomedical science content acquisition from problem-based learning (PBL) and its relationship to students’ level of group interaction. We hypothesized that learning in preparation for exams results primarily from individual study of post-case learning objectives and that outcomes would be unrelated to students’ group involvement. During dental curricular years 1 and 2, student-generated biomedical learning issues (LIs) were identified from six randomly chosen PBL cases. Knowledge and application of case concepts were assessed with quizzes based on the identified LIs prior to dissemination of the learning objectives. Students and facilitators were surveyed on students’ level of group involvement for the assessed LI topics. Year 1 students had significantly higher assessment scores (p=0.0001). For both student classes, means were significantly higher for the recall item (Q1) than for the application item (Q2). Q1 scores increased along with the student’s reported role for Year 1 (p=0.04). However, there was no relationship between the student’s reported role and Q1 for Year 2 (p=0.20). There was no relationship between the student’s reported role and Q2 for Year 1 (p=0.09) or Year 2 (p=0.19). This suggests that students’ level of group involvement on the biomedical learning issues did not significantly impact students’ assessment performance.
Prime Numbers and Fractions

Given a large integer, how can one determine whether or not it is divisible by the prime numbers 2, or 3, or 5, or other numbers?
The Effect Of Accounting Conservatism And Life-Cycle Stages On Firm Valuation

This paper investigates how accounting conservatism affects the value-relevance of accounting information under different economic attributes. A firm’s value is driven by the underlying economics, such as its production function, investment opportunity set, and risk. The corporate life-cycle stage can capture general differences in these underlying economics. From the perspective of the Feltham and Ohlson (1995)’s valuation model, this suggests that firms in different life-cycle stages have different financial characteristics that affect the value-relevance of the accounting information. Their valuation model depicts theoretically that, under conservative accounting, the expected growth in net operating assets affects a firm’s market valuation. This paper predicts that the pricing multiples of the value components of the valuation model will differ in different corporate life-cycle stages and accounting conservatism will have a joint effect with the life-cycle stage on the value-relevance of accounting information. This study conducts its hypothesis tests using comprehensive proxies such as conservatism estimates from the valuation model and corporate life-cycle stages. These enable this study to examine the overall effects of accounting information, accounting conservatism as well as economic attributes on firm value. According to those comprehensive proxies, sample firms are classified into two conservatism groups, and three life-cycle stages. The results of this study provide evidence that accounting conservatism has a joint effect with the life-cycle stage on the value-relevance of accounting information.
Thailand in 2010: Rupture and Attempts at Reconciliation

In the first half of 2010, political tensions in Thailand rose steadily until they literally burst into flames as anti-government protesters set a commercial district on fire in response to the government9s crackdown to reclaim the area. The country9s other internal conflict, communal violence in the Muslim-majority provinces of the South, was all but ignored in the broader political emergency.
Feminist Praxis: Administering for a Multicultural, Multigendered Public

The dominant model of administering in public administration is fundamentally liberal and, we contend, significantly restricts the potential for ongoing feminist praxis. Although we have witnessed progress in achieving women's rights and improving their status in the public sphere following the liberal tradition, our work continues in a narrow conceptual framework that leaves many frustrated and wondering if real change for women will ever be fully realized. This paper addresses some of the challenges to traditional feminist theories of organizing and to conventional approaches to feminist praxis in public administration. We propose a multicultural, multigendered administration that challenges the restrictive constructs that define us and determine our relationships to one another and to the organizations in which we work. We suggest that this new paradigm, grounded in postmodern feminist and queer theories, problematizes extant PA methods and encourages engagement in an introspective evaluation of our ow...
Evidence-based medicine and life-long learning competency requirements in new residency teaching standards

The objective of this study is to compare accreditation standards across medical and surgical specialties in the USA to determine the requirements for evidence-based medicine (EBM) and information management (life-long learning) skills education in residency training programmes in the USA. We performed a descriptive analysis of ‘milestones’ statements that form the basis for oversight of residency training of the Next Accreditation System for the 28 major specialties and the transition year residency, searching the milestone statements for competency requirements for 15 EBM or information management topics. The search was performed independently by pairs of researchers, with a third researcher independently verifying their findings. No specialty requires all 15 topics. Basic EBM knowledge is required by fewer than half of all specialties. Only 14% of milestone statements specify the ability to identify bias in clinical research trials. Most specialties (79%) require demonstration of the use of evidence in practice. MEDLINE searching capability is required by 52% of specialties; competence in using secondary sources is required by 69%. There is little emphasis (22%) on evaluation of these information sources. Evaluation of information from experts, colleagues or pharmaceutical representatives is required by only 38%. Competence in developing methods of keeping up with new evidence is specified by only four specialties (14%). The results signal a shift in teaching requirements during residency training, away from classic evidence-based and towards information management skills. However, requirements are limited to published materials and rarely extend to information from human sources.
Development and evaluation of an ultrasound imaging reproductive index based on the ovarian cycle of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.

Commercial production of hybrid catfish (female channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus) is reliant on interdependent biological, environmental, and technical procedures. This study addresses one of these critical components – the evaluation of channel catfish ovarian development based on sonographic analysis. The objectives were to: (1) develop a channel catfish ovarian ultrasonography index, (2) test the effect of the spawning trials on fertilization estimates of fish assessed using the ultrasonography index, and (3) evaluate the expected (hypothesized) and observed outcome of the ultrasonography assessments. Seven ovarian morphology classifications were developed based on ultrasonography of 915 channel catfish (N = 915 images), and 210 females were selected for spawning. The predictions based on the classifications prior to hormone injection showed a significant effect (P < 0.002) on the observed outcomes (viable or nonviable eggs). The probability of correct classification was 0.86–0.89 for Categories 3 (developing), 4 (advanced), and 5 (mature), and 0.93–1.0 for Categories 1 (undeveloped), 2 (underdeveloped), 6 (spawned), and 7 (atretic). The ultrasonography index covered the full range of ovarian dynamics (i.e., recrudescence through spawning). It provided an unobtrusive, direct method of ovarian assessment to work toward improving the efficiency of broodstock selection.
Diseases of Obscure Etiology: Sarcoidosis, Wegener’s Granulomatosis, and Midline Granuloma

Three distinct diseases of undetermined etiology have been presented: sarcoidosis, Wegener's granulomatosis, and midline (nonhealing) granuloma, all of which have similar clinical presentations in the midface. The correct diagnosis is essential because the treatment of each disease is different. Sarcoidosis responds best to corticosteroids, Wegener's granulomatosis to cyclophosphamide, and midline granuloma to radiation therapy. The otolaryngologist should be familiar with these diseases, since their important clinical manifestations are most frequently found in the nose, sinuses, and related structures. Early recognition by the otolaryngologist may determine the fate of patients with these disorders.
MR appearance of intracranial chloromas.

This report describes the MR appearance of intracranial chloromas in a patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia
The Graphing of Difference: Numerical Mediation and the Case of Google’s Knowledge Graph

This article offers a critical examination of contemporary graph databases, such as Google’s Knowledge Graph, from the perspective of media theory, philosophy of difference, and epistemology. It ar...
Data mining and statistical methods for analyzing microarray experiments

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) microarrays are part of a promisingclass of biotechnologies that allow the simultaneous monitoring of expressionlevels in cells for thousands of genes. One of important issues in microarray experimentsis the classification of biological samples and predicting clinical orother outcomes using gene expression data. A closely related issue is the identificationof marker genes that have good predictive power for an outcome of interest.Although classification is not a new subject in the statistical literature,the large number of genes with relatively small sample size generated by microarrayexperiments raises new computational challenges. In this study, thegene expressions of breast cancer tumors are investigated and the performanceof several popular classification methods, including decision tree, logistic regression,linear discriminant analysis, and k-nearest neighbor are compared.The results show that certain genes are significantly differentially expressedacross groups of patients, and k-nearest neighbor method achieves better performancein class prediction than the other classification methods. In addition to reviewing and illustrating the implementation of standard statisticaltests and classification methods in modeling genome data, we will alsoaddress some important issues in the study, such as the role of experimental design(e.g., split-plot experimental design and analysis), the impact of correlation(within plate, between plates, between probe, etc.), the sampling issue in crossvalidation and training-testing splitting. While these issues have been discussedin simple statistical problems, they have not been well understood by bioinformaticsresearchers in modeling complex microarray data. In this talk, we willaddress these issues and their impact on various standard testing and classificationmethods and illustrate the potential problems through the cancer tumor microarrayexperiments.
Agriculture and use of wild and weedy greens by the Piik AP Oom okiek of Kenya

This study documents patterns of use of wild and weedy greens in a previously little studied context among the Piik ap Oom Okiek of Kenya. The Piik ap Oom have a hunter-gatherer history and at the time of the study lived at low population densities in a high altitude forest habitat. Leafy greens, both wild and domesticated, were the most commonly eaten fresh plant food documented. Wild greens,Solanum nigrum L. andAmaranthus graecizans ssp.sylvestris L. were the most preferred. Patterns of harvesting wild greens, a few leaves from many plants and a variety of taxa together, resulted in greater dietary diversity associated with consumption of wild than domesticated greens. Greens provided contemporary Okiek households with nutritious and low maintenance plant food. Increased use of wild and weedy greens was an important benefit of the adoption of the agricultural complex by the Okiek.
Physician trust and depression influence adherence to factor replacement: a single‐centre cross‐sectional study

Introduction Poor adherence to factor replacement therapy among patients with haemophilia can lead to joint bleeding and eventual disability. Aim The aim of this study was to determine patient-related characteristics associated with adherence to factor replacement in adults with haemophilia. Methods Adults with haemophilia were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Adherence was measured using either the Validated Hemophilia Regimen Treatment Adherence Scale (VERITAS)-Pro or the VERITAS-PRN questionnaire. Simple and multiple regression analyses that controlled for confounding were performed to determine the association between patient-related characteristics and adherence to factor replacement therapy. Results Of the 99 subjects enrolled, all were men; 91% had haemophilia A and 78% had severe disease. Age ranged from 18 to 62 years. Most (95%) had functional health literacy; but only 23% were numerate. Mean adherence scores were 45.6 (SD 18) and 51.0 (SD 15) for those on a prophylactic and those on an episodic regimen, respectively, with a lower score indicating better adherence. On multivariable analysis, being on any chronic medication, longer duration followed at our haemophilia treatment centre, higher physician trust and better quality of life were associated with higher adherence. A history of depression was associated with lower adherence. Conclusion Two potentially modifiable characteristics, physician trust and depression, were identified as motivator and barrier to adherence to factor replacement therapy. Promoting a high level of trust between the patient and the healthcare team as well as identifying and treating depression may impact adherence to factor replacement therapy and accordingly reduce joint destruction.
Kinetic study of hydrodeoxygenation of palmitic acid as a model compound for microalgae oil over Pt/γ-Al2O3

Abstract The kinetics of hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of palmitic acid over the 1% Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst was investigated in a microreactor using integral method. Kinetic data were collected under process conditions of industrial interest but in the regime with negligible heat and mass transfer limitations. For the first time, rate equations derived from three kinetic models (Power law, Langmuir-Hinshelwood, and Eley-Rideal) were investigated in data fitting through nonlinear regression using Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, and evaluated based on proposed statistical and thermodynamics criteria. H 2 was found to be adsorbed on the catalyst surface without dissociation, which is different from gaseous reaction with consistent dissociative adsorption of H 2. The apparent activation energy is 60.3 kJ/mol, which is lower than the intrinsic activation energy of 92.9 kJ/mol due to the exothermic adsorption of reactants. The proposed rate equations are expected to be applicable to liquid phase HDO of fatty acids, and not limited to palmitic acid. This complete kinetic study (including rate equations with specified kinetic parameters) fills an important knowledge gap in green diesel production from algae, and can be used for rational design of reactors and the determination of optimum operating conditions. Moreover, the presented work develops a systematic procedure for kinetic study by identifying the challenges that need to be overcome to obtain meaningful kinetic data.
An Alternate Approach to Pseudo-Likelihood Model Selection in the Generalized Linear Mixed Modeling Framework

In this paper, we propose and investigate an alternate approach to pseudo-likelihood model selection in the generalized linear mixed modeling framework. The problem with the natural approach to the computation of pseudo-likelihood model selection criteria is that the pseudo-data vary for each candidate model, leading to criteria based on fundamentally different goodness-of-fit statistics, rendering them incomparable. We propose a technique that circumvents this problem. This new approach can be implemented using a SAS macro that obtains and applies the pseudo-data from the full model to fitting candidate models based on all possible subsets of predictor variables. We justify the propriety of the resulting pseudo-likelihood selection criteria through an extensive study designed as a factorial experiment. We then illustrate this new method in a modeling application pertaining to bullying in public schools. The data set for the application is taken from three waves of the Iowa Youth Survey.
Infection Rates in Tacrolimus versus Cyclosporine Treated Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients on a Rapid Discontinuation of Prednisone Protocol: 1-year Analysis

AR is lower in pKTx recipients on Tac vs CsA. Data comparing infection outcomes for children treated with these agents are limited. We retrospectively studied infection outcomes in 96 pKTx recipients on a RDP. PS, DCGS, AR, and infection-free survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier/log-rank tests and proportional hazards models. There were no differences in 1-year PS, DCGS, or AR between Tac and CsA recipients. After adjusting for AR, the hazard of CMV viremia was 4.0 times higher (95%CI: 1.04, 15.5; P = .044) and that of BK viremia was 3.8 times higher (95%CI: 1.5, 10.2; P = .007) in Tac recipients. The incidence of EBV viremia was similar between the groups (P = .56). PostTx lymphoproliferative disease was only observed in Tac recipients (3%). There was no difference in the incidence of pneumonia, urinary tract, or Clostridium difficile infections between Tac and CsA recipients. Among KTx recipients on RDP, the hazards of CMV and BK viremia within 1 year post-KTx were significantly higher in Tac recipients compared to CsA. Regular assessment for infections and lower Tac trough levels may be warranted in Tac recipients.
From shape-based object recognition and discovery to 3d scene interpretation

This dissertation addresses a number of inter-related and fundamental problems in computer vision. Specifically, we address object discovery, recognition, segmentation, and 3D pose estimation in images, as well as 3D scene reconstruction and scene interpretation. The key ideas behind our approaches include using shape as a basic object feature, and using structured prediction modeling paradigms for representing objects and scenes. In this work, we make a number of new contributions both in computer vision and machine learning. We address the vision problems of shape matching, shape-based mining of objects in arbitrary image collections, context-aware object recognition, monocular estimation of 3D object poses, and monocular 3D scene reconstruction using shape from texture. Our work on shape-based object discovery is the first to show that meaningful objects can be extracted from a collection of arbitrary images, without any human supervision, by shape matching. We also show that a spatial repetition of objects in images (e.g., windows on a building facade, or cars lined up along a street) can be used for 3D scene reconstruction from a single image. The aforementioned topics have never been addressed in the literature. The dissertation also presents new algorithms and object representations for the aforementioned vision problems. We fuse two traditionally different modeling paradigms Conditional Random Fields (CRF) and Random Forests (RF) into a unified framework, referred to as (RF)2. We also derive theoretical error bounds of estimating distribution ratios by a two-class RF, which is then used to derive the theoretical performance bounds of a two-class (RF)2. Thorough experimental evaluation of individual aspects of all our approaches is presented. In general, the experiments demonstrate that we outperform the state of the art on the benchmark datasets, without increasing complexity and supervision in training.
The Psychosocial Trauma of ACL Ruptures in Young Athletes

Objectives:Sustaining severe injuries requiring operative fixation causes emotional harm in addition to physical damage in young athletes. While the fear of re-injury following an anterior cruciate...
Extended abstract: Assigning reflection essays in a chemical engineering product design course

Reflection has been shown to be an important aspect of the design process, as it forces designers to think about challenges, obstacles, decisions, or ideas. This presentation will address how reflection essays were assigned in a two-semester chemical engineering product design capstone course to assist students in their design thinking. In addition to providing sample writing prompts and student and instructor responses, the benefits, challenges, and limitations will be presented.
Surface tension behavior of aqueous solutions of a propoxylated surfactant and interfacial tension behavior against a crude oil

Abstract Equilibrium interfacial tensions (EIFTs) are important in determining the oil recovery efficiency in surfactant-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes, in which ultralow IFT values (less than 10 −2 mN m −1 ) are often needed. The dynamic IFTs (DIFTs) for un-pre-equilibrated drops in contact with aqueous solutions and the adsorption mechanisms at the oil-water interface are important for the initial stages of EOR and for screening various surfactants for field applications. The IFT behavior of a commercial anionic surfactant, termed S13D, a single-chain propoxylated sodium sulfate salt has been studied. The synthetic brine used (9700 ppm total dissolved solids) was similar to that in an actual reservoir of oil, from which purified crude oil samples were prepared. The dynamic and equilibrium surface tensions (DSTs and ESTs) and the IFTs were measured at 24 °C, with the emerging bubble/drop method, or the spinning bubble/drop method. The DSTs for surfactant concentrations from 0.1 to 10,000 ppm by weight have a simpler adsorption mechanism than the DIFTs, involving only diffusion from the aqueous phase and adsorption/desorption. Surface and interfacial tension relaxation tests after surface area perturbation were performed for establishing the validity of the ESTs and EIFTs. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) was 12 ppm in water and 1 ppm in brine. The lowest observed EIFT was 1 mN m −1 with water and ultralow, 2 × 10 −3 mN m −1 , with brine. The equilibration timescales were shorter with brine than with water, for both DSTs and DIFTs, and slightly longer for DIFTs, because evidently the adsorbed surfactant desorbed and diffused away from the interface, for partitioning in the oil phase. The results suggest that the IFTs were associated with the typical adsorbed soluble monolayers at the oil-water interface, and that solubilization effects did not affect the measured DIFTs and EIFTs.
Japanese Company's Cultural Shift for Gender Equality at Work

AbstractThe article provides an overview of Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s womanomics policy for gender equality (GD), and poses a question as to why despite a large amount of GD initiatives, Japan’s GD progress has been painfully slow. It then introduces an ethnography of the GD implementation by a Japanese multinational firm (2013–2017). It analyzes the firm’s pedagogical effort to correct the unconscious cultural bias to retool the existing habitus of managers and employees. The firm’s cultural strategies parallel its human resources (HR) reforms in its attempt to change organizational norms regarding how corporate men and women should work. Deploying theoretical perspectives of cultural neuroscience, semiotics, learning theory and interpretive anthropology, the author then identifies seven strategic foci for this firm’s cultural transformation, and terms this habitus-shifting program as MRS-PARC: M = magical messages and messengers; R = rites of passage and rituals; S = signs and symbols; P = rewarding...
Academic ableism: disability and higher education

Jay Timothy Dolmage’s Academic Ableism: Disability and Higher Education is the latest volume in the University of Michigan Press’ series on Corporealities: Discourses of Disability. In keeping with...
Deployment and Testing of Optimized Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Trajectories at a Closed-Course Signalized Intersection

In this paper, we discuss the deployment and testing of an intelligent real-time isolated intersection traffic control system (IICS), designed to optimize simultaneously signal control and automate...
On cubic polynomials: IV. systems of rational equations

It is shown that a system ofr homogeneous cubic equations with rational coefficients has a nontrivial solution in rational integers if the number of variables is at least (10r)5. For most such systems, an asymptotic formula holds for the numberzPof solutions whose components have modulus <P.
Oblique Backscatter Sounders

Having discussed sounders which transmit and receive RF energy at vertical incidence to the ionosphere in the previous chapter, we now turn our attention to a class of sounders which direct RF energy at oblique angles to the ionosphere. By Oblique Backscatter Sounders (OBS) we include any technique which uses HF through UHF radio waves coherently backscattered from ionospheric irregularities either directly or via reflection from the surface of the earth to deduce properties of ionospheric irregularities. Examples of recently or currently deployed OBS systems are the STARE (Scandinavian Twin Auroral Radar Experiment, Greenwald et al. 1978) the SABRE VHF radar (Nielsen et al. 1983), the HF phased array radar located at Goose Bay, Labrador (Greenwald et al. 1985), the Cornell University CUPRI Radar (Riggin et al. 1986) Swedish/French SAFARI radar in Scandinavia (Hanuise et al. 1981) and the PACE (Goose Bay and Antarctic HF radars Baker et al. 1989). Table 4.4 lists all the known currently operating OBS systems.
PÉDAGOGIE ET DIDACTIQUE DIFFÉRENCIÉE EN SCIENCES PHYSIQUES ET NATURELLES / DIFFERENTIATED PEDAGOGY AND DIDACTICS IN PHYSICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES

Dans cet article est approchee la question d’une pedagogie et didactique differencie en sciences physiques et naturelles. De maniere succincte, la question des multiples dimensions de l’heterogeneite a l’ecole est presentee. Le travail se concentre ensuite sur les problemes d'apprentissage des sciences physiques et naturelles et les representations sont discutees en tant que facteur de differenciation dans l'enseignement. Dans ce contexte, un exemple d'enseignement de l'optique geometrique est presente. C'est-a-dire que les representations de l'entite « lumiere » sont abordees en tant que cause du phenomene de formation d'ombres. In this article is approached the issue of a differentiated pedagogy and didactics in physical and natural sciences. The question of the many dimensions of the heterogeneity in school is succinctly presented. The work then focuses on the issues of learning the sciences and the representations are discussed as a factor of differentiation in teaching. In this context, an example of the teaching of geometric optics is presented. That is to say that the representations of the "light" entity are discussed as cause of shadow formation phenomenon. Article visualizations:
Effects of acoustic nonlinearities on the ultrasonic backscatter coefficient estimation

The backscatter coefficient (BSC) is a fundamental property of tissues and can be used to classify tissues. Two BSC calibration methods are the planar reflector method and the reference phantom method. In both methods, linear acoustic propagation is assumed. In this study, the calibration methods were evaluated when acoustic nonlinear distortion was present. Radio frequency data were acquired from two physical phantoms using a 5 MHz single-element transducer and low power (one excitation level) and high power (six increasing excitation levels) excitation signals. BSCs estimated from the high power settings were compared to the BSCs estimated using the low power by calculating the root mean square error (RMSE). The BSCs were parameterized by fitting the BSC curve to a power law and estimating the power law exponent and by estimating the effective scatterer diameter (ESD). When using the planar reflector method, estimates of the exponent were observed to monotonically increase in value versus increasing excitation level and the ESD decreased with increasing excitation level. The RMSE increased monotonically versus excitation level using the planar reflector method but did not increase using the reference phantom method. The results suggest that the effects of nonlinear distortion are minimized using the reference phantom method.
Hearing loss in police K9 handlers and non-K9 handlers

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess and compare the hearing of police K9 handlers and non-K9 handlers.Design: Cross-sectional design.Study sample: Hearing was assessed on 30 police officers, 12 K9 handlers and 18 non-K9 handlers, from Northeast Ohio.Results: There were no significant differences in audiologic test results between police K9 handlers and non-K9 handlers. Audiometric results revealed that 66.7% of K9 handlers and 83.3% of non-K9 handlers presented with hearing loss. Noise notches, consistent with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and asymmetric hearing losses were observed for both groups. Subjective questionnaires indicated low awareness regarding the risks and identification of NIHL in this population.Conclusions: This study represents one of the few studies that focus on hearing assessments in police K9 handlers and non-K9 handlers in the United States and internationally. Significant differences between these two groups were not found, suggesting that K9 handlers do not present a higher risk for NIHL than non-K9 handlers. Nonetheless, the high prevalence of hearing loss identified for both groups in this study suggests the need for increased conservation efforts to raise awareness regarding hearing loss prevention and the need for routine audiologic monitoring for this underserved population.
The use of anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent bleaching-induced tooth sensitivity is ineffective and unnecessary.

Data sources The authors searched Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov for published and unpublished clinical trials. Only randomised clinical trials, with either a parallel or crossover design, reporting the tooth sensitivity of participants undergoing in-office dental bleaching and comparing pain frequency and severity with oral premedication of a non-steroidal or other anti-inflammatory drug compared with a placebo were used in the review. Studies that evaluated the topical administration of drugs or desensitising agents were not reviewed.Study selection In total,5,050 randomised clinical studies were screened and 11 studies were included in the various meta-analyses. Nine studies examined the effect of pre-emptive analgesics on the risk of sensitivity and ten studies evaluated the effect of drugs on the severity of sensitivity; seven of these studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias.Data extraction and synthesis This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted a priori and registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. There were two reviewers who extracted data from the study tables and independently performed quality assessments of the selected trials using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation risk of bias rating tool for human and animal studies. Risk ratios were calculated for the dichotomous sensitivity risk data and mean difference for measures of sensitivity intensity.Results The authors found no effect of the drugs on the risk of sensitivity. Using a visual analogue scale, the authors identified a small but clinically insignificant reduction in the level of sensitivity in the drug-treated group evaluated up to one hour after bleaching. This was not observed when a numerical rating scale was used to measure pain intensity. For the 24-hour pain data, the authors did not find any significant intensity difference between groups. Mean pain intensity scores were generally low in both experimental groups in all randomised controlled trials reviewed. Based on a visual inspection of the funnel plots of all outcomes, the authors concluded that there was no publication bias.Conclusions The data did not support the pre-emptive use of anti-inflammatory drugs in preventing or reducing the intensity of pain caused by in-office tooth bleaching.
Can multidrug-resistant organisms become resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light following serial exposures? Characterization of post-UV genomic changes using whole-genome sequencing.

Objectives No-touch disinfection systems like xenon- or mercury-based ultraviolet (UV) are now commonly being used for hospital room disinfection. However, serial exposure to UV light can potentially lead to the development of bacterial resistance. We sought to determine whether UV resistance develops due to serial exposure to UV light using 3 epidemiologically important multidrug-resistant microbial strains. Methods Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC) and metallo-β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (MBL) were serially exposed to 25 growth-irradiation cycles of UV produced by a xenon-based UV (Xe-UV) lamp for 5 minutes or a mercury-based UV (Hg-UV) lamp for 10 minutes. After each UV exposure cycle, the surviving colony-forming units (CFUs) were measured and compared with the initial inoculum of each cycle for each strain, respectively. Results In each cycle, ˜1-10 million of MRSA, KPC, and MBL were used to test the effect of UV irradiation. Postexposure colony counts remained low (3-100 colonies) throughout the 25 serial exposures to both xenon- and mercury-based UV. The log-kill rate after each exposure showed no changes following UV disinfection by Xe-UV. The MRSA log-kill rate increased after repeated exposure to Hg-UV unlike KPC and MBL K. pneumoniae, which did not change. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses performed on these 3 strains demonstrated no significant genetic changes after multiple UV irradiation cycles. Conclusions Exposure of multidrug-resistant bacteria to UV produced from 2 different UV sources did not engender UV resistance after 25 serial exposures, as demonstrated by WGS analysis; thus, UV disinfection is unlikely to generate UV-resistant hospital flora.
Relative Frequency Distribution of D125 C Values for Spore Isolates from the Mariner-Mars 1969 Spacecraft

Bacterial spore crops were prepared from 103 randomly selected aerobic mesophilic isolates collected during a spore assay of Mariner-Mars 1969 spacecraft conducted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. D125 c values, which were determined by the fractional-replicate-unit-negative-most-probable number assay method using a forced air oven, ranged from less than 5 min to a maximum of 58 min. Subsequent identification of the 103 isolates indicated that there was no relationship between species and dry-heat resistance. A theoretical dry-heat survival curve of the “population” was nonlinear. The slope of this curve was determined almost exclusively by the more resistant organisms, although they represented only a small portion of the “population.”
Analytics-Driven Lossless Data Compression for Rapid In-situ Indexing, Storing, and Querying

The analysis of scientific simulations is highly data-intensive and is becoming an increasingly important challenge. Peta-scale data sets require the use of light-weight query-driven analysis methods, as opposed to heavy-weight schemes that optimize for speed at the expense of size. This paper is an attempt in the direction of query processing over losslessly compressed scientific data. We propose a co-designed double-precision compression and indexing methodology for range queries by performing unique-value-based binning on the most significant bytes of double precision data (sign, exponent, and most significant mantissa bits), and inverting the resulting metadata to produce an inverted index over a reduced data representation. Without the inverted index, our method matches or improves compression ratios over both general-purpose and floating-point compression utilities. The inverted index is light-weight, and the overall storage requirement for both reduced column and index is less than 135%, whereas existing DBMS technologies can require 200-400%. As a proof-of-concept, we evaluate univariate range queries that additionally return column values, a critical component of data analytics, against state-of-the-art bitmap indexing technology, showing multi-fold query performance improvements.
Adaptive Optics with Laser Guide Stars: Basic Concepts and Limitations

Artificial guide stars generated by backscattering of laser light in the Earth’s atmosphere are intended to solve one of the main problems of astronomical adaptive optics: the limited sky coverage due to the requirement of having a bright object within the isoplanatic angle, which is needed for wavefront sensing. This article gives a brief introduction into the formation of laser guide stars, either through Rayleigh backscattering in the lower atmosphere, or through resonant backscattering from the sodium layer at an altitude of 90 km. The main limitations of these methods are explained: the tilt determination problem and focal anisoplanatism. The most important properties of the sodium layer are summarized, and some technical issues relevant to the generation of sodium guide stars are discussed.
Regulation of cellular senescence by p53

Many normal cells respond to potentially oncogenic stimuli by undergoing cellular senescence, a state of irreversibly arrested proliferation and altered differentiated function. Cellular senescence very likely evolved to suppress tumorigenesis. In support of this idea, it is regulated by several tumor suppressor genes. At the heart of this regulation is p53. p53 is essential for the senescence response to short telomeres, DNA damage, oncogenes and supraphysiological mitogenic signals, and overexpression of certain tumor suppressor genes. Despite the well-documented central role for p53 in the senescence response, many questions remain regarding how p53 senses senescence-inducing stimuli and how it elicits the senescent phenotype.
An efficient and accurate approximation to time-dependent density functional theory for systems of weakly coupled monomers.

A novel formulation of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is derived, based on non-orthogonal, absolutely-localized molecular orbitals (ALMOs). We call this approach TDDFT(MI), in reference to ALMO-based methods for describing molecular interactions (MI) that have been developed for ground-state applications. TDDFT(MI) is intended for efficient excited-state calculations in systems composed of multiple, weakly interacting chromophores. The efficiency is based upon (1) a local excitation approximation; (2) monomer-based, singly-excited basis states; (3) an efficient localization procedure; and (4) a one-step Davidson method to solve the TDDFT(MI) working equation. We apply this methodology to study molecular dimers, water clusters, solvated chromophores, and aggregates of naphthalene diimide that form the building blocks of self-assembling organic nanotubes. Absolute errors of 0.1–0.3 eV with respect to supersystem methods are achievable for these systems, especially for cases involving an excited chromophore that is weakly coupled to several explicit solvent molecules. Excited-state calculations in an aggregate of nine naphthalene diimide monomers are ∼40 times faster than traditional TDDFT calculations.
Model Health Information Disclosure Act (MHIDA)

Recent technological advances in the health care delivery and payment system have complicated the traditional notions of confidentiality between patients and physicians, other health care providers, employers and insurers. While new laws are enacted to reflect the increasing concerns with the issue, they often fail to create certainty. The Model Health Information Disclosure Act represents an effort to provide clearer guidance in the area. Regulating the disclosure and maintenance of health care information, the Act focuses on the confidentiality of all forms of health care information. The Act imposes a general duty of nondisclosure and proposes criminal sanctions as well as civil remedies for breach of confidentiality. However, in certain instances, disclosure may become permissive or mandatory, depending on whether the benefit of disclosure outweighs the patient's privacy interest.
Comparison of thermal manikins to human thermoregulatory responses

Immersion suits are lifesaving appliances (LSA) designed to protect the wearer if they become accidently immersed in cold water by reducing the cold shock response and delaying the onset of hypothermia. Immersion suits are certified to both national and international standards; some of which require the thermal protective properties to be tested using humans or thermal manikins. The ethical nature of testing with humans has been questioned [1] due to the physically grueling nature of these tests, thus testing with manikins may be preferential. However, previous work has shown that discrepancies exist between thermal manikins and humans that could result in immersion suit selection that would benefit the former more than the latter who would ultimately use it [2]. This study investigated the thermoregulatory responses of humans and compared them to a thermal manikin while wearing immersion ensembles with insulation distributed in various configurations hypothesized to be beneficial to humans and manikins.
400-photon-per-pulse ultrashort pulse autocorrelation measurement with aperiodically poled lithium niobate waveguides at 1.55 /spl mu/m

We demonstrate accurate ultrashort pulse autocorrelation measurements for coupled energy of 52 aJ per pulse using aperiodically poled lithium niobate waveguides. The corresponding sensitivity is 3.2/spl times/10/sup -7/ mW/sup 2/, about 500 times better than the previous record.
Inactivation of α-Chymotrypsin by a Water-soluble Carbodiimide

Abstract 1-Cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinyl-(4)-ethyl)carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate (CMC) was shown to inactivate α-chymotrypsin. The close correspondence between efficiency and all or none assays during the inactivation reaction shows that CMC reacts with α-chymotrypsin to produce a derivative completely devoid of catalytic activity and that inactivation is probably caused by a reaction between CMC and a single aminoacyl residue on the enzyme. The dependence of the pseudo-first order rate constant for inactivation on the concentration of CMC and indole indicates that CMC interacts with the substrate-binding site of α-chymotrypsin and forms an adsorption complex with the enzyme before the inactivation reaction. At pH 7 and 25°, the first order rate constant (k2) for the formation of inactivated enzyme from the adsorption complex is 0.10 min-1, and the dissociation constant (Kd) for the adsorption complex is 0.013 m. The following results secured the conclusion that a seryl residue at the active site of α-chymotrypsin adds to CMC or 14C-CMC (1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinyl-(4)-ethyl)carbodiimide metho-14C-p-toluenesulfonate) to form a catalytically inactive isoureylene derivative of the enzyme (CMC-chymotrypsin or 14C-CMC-chymotrypsin). (a) The inactivation reaction is associated with the incorporation into protein of 1 mole of 14C-CMC per mole of enzyme inactivated. (b) 2-Mercaptoethylamine displaces CMC (probably as 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinyl-(4)-ethyl)ureylene metho-p-toluenesulfonate from CMC-chymotrypsin to yield 1 S-aminoethylcysteinyl residue per inactivated enzyme molecule. (c) On standing in 5% acetic acid, 14C-CMC-chymotrypsin liberates radiochemical label, and the amino group of a seryl residue is exposed. (d) NH2OH reacts with 14C-CMC-chymotrypsin, regenerating active enzyme and liberating radiochemical label from protein in roughly equivalent amounts. (e) 14C-CMC is bound to an active center peptide obtained by digesting 14C-CMC-chymotrypsin with pepsin. In order to establish precedent for the reaction between 2-mercaptoethylamine and CMC-chymotrypsin, O-methylisourea was shown to S-methylate cysteine.
Ray-effect mitigation in discrete ordinate-like angular finite element approximations in neutron transport

A generalization is made of a previous phase-space finite element approximation of the second-order form of the one-group, two-dimensional neutron transport equation in x-y geometry. Three angular ...
Gradient‐modulated SWIFT

Purpose Methods designed to image fast-relaxing spins, such as sweep imaging with Fourier transformation (SWIFT), often utilize high excitation bandwidth and duty cycle, and in some applications the optimal flip angle cannot be used without exceeding safe specific absorption rate (SAR) levels. The aim is to reduce SAR and increase the flexibility of SWIFT by applying time-varying gradient-modulation (GM). The modified sequence is called GM-SWIFT. Theory and Methods The method known as gradient-modulated offset independent adiabaticity was used to modulate the radiofrequency (RF) pulse and gradients. An expanded correlation algorithm was developed for GM-SWIFT to correct the phase and scale effects. Simulations and phantom and in vivo human experiments were performed to verify the correlation algorithm and to evaluate imaging performance. Results GM-SWIFT reduces SAR, RF amplitude, and acquisition time by up to 90%, 70%, and 45%, respectively, while maintaining image quality. The choice of GM parameter influences the lower limit of short T2* sensitivity, which can be exploited to suppress unwanted image haze from unresolvable ultrashort T2* signals originating from plastic materials in the coil housing and fixatives. Conclusions GM-SWIFT reduces peak and total RF power requirements and provides additional flexibility for optimizing SAR, RF amplitude, scan time, and image quality. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rethinking idleness, productivity, and time management: a call to do nothing, more.

Edited byMona M. Shattell, PhD, RNUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro, School of Nursing, Greensboro, North Carolina, USAOur world is filled with distractions. We are incessantly “connected”...
Primary Care Appointment Availability For New Medicaid Patients Increased After Medicaid Expansion In Michigan

The Affordable Care Act expands health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, but the availability of health care services for the newly insured population remains uncertain. We conducted a simulated patient (or “secret shopper”) study to assess primary care appointment availability and wait times for new patients with Medicaid or private insurance before and after implementation of Michigan’s Medicaid expansion in 2014. The expansion, which was made possible through a section 1115 waiver, has a unique requirement that new beneficiaries must be seen by a primary care provider within 60–90 days of enrollment. During a period of rapid coverage expansion in Michigan, we found that appointment availability increased 6 percentage points for new Medicaid patients and decreased 2 percentage points for new privately insured patients, compared to availability before the expansion. Wait times remained stable, at 1–2 weeks for both groups. Further research is needed to determine whether access to primary care ...