cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biculturality among Puerto Rican adults in the United States

Identified the concept of acculturation as a cornerstone of immigration research, while questioning assumptions about zero-sum cultural change in acculturation scales and in procedures assessing biculturality. Involvements in the host society culture and the culture of origin should be assessed separately in order to reflect the complexities of the cultural interactions immigrants and their offspring experience. To evaluate this prescription, we convened focus groups of Puerto Rican adults to discuss their cultural experiences in Puerto Rico and in the United States. Discussions were content analyzed to develop acculturation items. Factor analysis of the responses of 403 first- and second-generation adults yielded two general factors, involvement in American culture and involvement in Puerto Rican culture, which demonstrated modest reliability, relative independence, and moderate correlations with traditional acculturation scale validators. Results of the study challenge the assumption of mutual cultural exclusivity in acculturative change; enable the measurement of degree of biculturality; and provide future directions for the assessment of acculturation in domains other than language usage. The concept of acculturation is integrated with recent formulations in community psychology which advocate a deeper and more extensive commitment to studying the implications of cultural phenomena and greater focus on the growing cultural diversity in the United States.
Perinatal neuroblastoma of the pancreas

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor in infancy. Arising from the neural crest these tumors are usually located along the sympathetic chain from the neck to the pelvis and in the adrenal medulla. We report the case of a 3-week-old boy presenting with recurrent episodes of colicky pain. After ultrasound examination, magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory data a pancreatic neuroblastoma was suspected. Tumor resection via distal pancreatectomy and histologic investigation confirmed the diagnosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice in children with pancreatic masses, and is usually well tolerated even in the neonatal period. Conclusive diagnosis can be frequently established only by tumor resection or biopsy. Pancreatic neuroblastoma is an extremely rare tumor with only a few cases described in literature.
Effect of hinge position on corneal sensation and dry eye after laser in situ keratomileusis using a femtosecond laser.

Purpose To determine whether hinge position has an effect on corneal sensation and dry-eye symptoms after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) performed with the IntraLase femtosecond laser (IntraLase Corp.). Setting University-based academic practice, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Methods Sixty-six consecutive eyes of 33 patients were prospectively evaluated in a randomized contralateral-eye study to compare the difference between superior-hinge and temporal-hinge locations after bilateral myopic LASIK with the IntraLase femtosecond laser. Central Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer test with anesthesia, tear breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein, and conjunctival lissamine green staining were evaluated preoperatively as well as 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results Corneal sensation was reduced with both superior-hinged and temporal-hinged LASIK flaps 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery ( P P Conclusions Mild dry-eye disease was present early after myopic LASIK with the IntraLase laser. Hinge position had no effect on central corneal sensation or dry-eye disease.
Microencapsulation of drugs with aqueous colloidal polymer dispersions.

Abstract Sustained-release polymer particles containing drugs with various solubility characteristics (ibuprofen, theophylline, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine HCI) were prepared with colloidal polymer dispersions in a completely aqueous environment as an alternative to conventional microencapsulation techniques, which use organic solvents. Spherical particles were prepared by spraying or dropping dilute sodium alginate solutions (0.67%, w/w) containing the dissolved or dispersed drug and colloidal polymer particles into calcium chloride solutions. The gelled particles, which formed by ionotropic gelation of the polysaccharide with calcium ions, were dried and cured at 60 °C to cause fusion of the colloidal polymer particles into a homogeneous matrix system. Actual drug contents close to 50% and encapsulation efficiencies of between 80 and 98% were achieved with all drugs. Guaifenesin and ibuprofen acted as plasticizers for the ethyl cellulose pseudolatex, whereas with theophylline and pseudoephedrine HCI, dibutyl sebacate had to be added as a plasticizer to yield a nondisintegrating polymer matrix. The stirring time before separation of the particles from the gelation medium had to be minimized with the water-soluble drugs to maximize drug loading; however, it was not critical with the water-insoluble drugs. Drug release was a function of the solubility of the drug, drug loading, and the type of polymer dispersion used.
Computer-aided design of electromagnetically-coupled and tuned, wide band microstrip patch antennas

It has been demonstrated, both experimentally and analytically, that a two-layer, electromagnetically coupled microstrip patch antenna has a wider bandwidth than a conventional patch. Since the feed network in this case is placed on a much thinner substrate, spurious radiation can be greatly minimized without degrading the performance of the patch antenna itself. However, unlike the conventional one-layer design. the two-layer configuration requires additional matching or 'tuning' elements. Ideally, these elements should be placed either under or in the immediate vicinity of the patch; however, the unknown nature of the mutual coupling between them and the antenna has so far prevented the actual implementation in this manner. In the present work, the authors discuss an accurate numerical modeling of the two-layer structure and then consider the computer-aided design of such an antenna. >
What Colored the Transition from Madder to Alizarine

Madder, an ancient natural dyestuff used in 19th-century textile printworks, demonstrated great persistence in the marketplace before it was gradually replaced by alizarine, a coal-tar synthetic discovered in 1868. Alizarine's cheaper price has been cited as the reason for the change. Available American company records from 1870-1890 were examined for consumption of these red dyes and the prices paid for them. Comparisons reveal that price alone does not explain the transition. Other factors including easier use, greater variety of color, advanced awareness of chemistry, and increased economic pressures may have played a part also.
A Structural Model for Weight Satisfaction, Self-Consciousness and Women's Use of Clothing in Mood Enhancement

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the causal relationships among three variables: women's weight satisfaction, women's self-consciousness (public self-consciousness, private self-consciousness, and social anxiety), and women's use of clothing in mood enhancement. Data from 344 females were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis and structural modeling using LISREL 8. The results indicated that weight satisfaction had direct, negative correlations with all three dimensions of self consciousness. In addition, weight satisfaction had an indirect, negative correlation with social anxiety through both public and private self-consciousness. Both public self consciousness and private self-consciousness were positively correlated with women's use of clothing in enhancing their mood. As hypothesized, no direct effects were noted between weight satisfaction and women's use of clothing in mood enhancement: the effects of women's weight satisfaction were primarily indirect through public and priv...
Wideband periodic array of random subarrays

The properties of a periodic array of identical random subarrays are investigated. Repetition of identical subarrays helps mitigate a common complaint against random and other aperiodic arrays: that their lack of repetition makes fabrication more difficult. Pattern multiplication shows that interaction between the random and periodic aspects substantially reduces the magnitude of grating lobes compared to a periodic array.
The Distribution of the Number of False Discoveries in DNA Microarray Data

In drawing inferences from differential analysis of DNA microarray data, it is important to have a reliable estimate of the number of falsely rejected null hypotheses, also known as false discoveries. When hypothesis tests are assumed to be independent, estimation of the number of false discoveries (NoFD) is straightforward; however, due to strong causal relationships among genes, proper analysis requires a model of highly correlated tests. Correlation greatly complicates the inference of the NoFD, and understanding and correcting its effects have proven to be a challenging problem. A novel method for inferring the complete distribution of the NoFD in a general correlation setting is presented. The method is based on estimating the moments of test statistics histogram counts and then constructing their joint distribution via entropy maximization. Results on widely-studied BRCA data are reported.
An Initial Study on Monetary Cost Evaluation for the Design of Automotive Electrical Architectures

One of the many challenges facing electronic 1 system architects is how to provide a cost estimate related to design decisions over the entire life-cycle and product line of the architecture. Various cost modeling techniques may be used to perform this estimation. However, the estimation is often done in an ad-hoc manner, based on specific design scenarios or business assumptions. This situation may yield an unfair comparison of architectural alternatives due to the limited scope of the evaluation. A preferred estimation method would involve rigorous cost modeling based on architectural design cost drivers similar to those used in the manufacturing (e.g. process-based technical cost modeling) or in the enterprise software domain (e.g. COCOMO). This paper describes an initial study of a cost model associated with automotive electronic system architecture. The model's intended use is to evaluate system cost drivers in response to various architectural decisions (e.g. choosing a communication bus topology or mapping a function to hardware). The primary cost driver categories explored are design and development, part fabrication, assembly and in-service costs. The preliminary version of this cost model focuses on describing the key influences on cost, but not the entire mathematical model. The paper presents the cost model with the help of influence diagrams and illustrates the use of the cost modeling methodology through an automotive case study – a steer-by-wire system. As future work, we propose to build a cost model and supporting methodology that accounts for architecture evolution to address the issue of evolving architecture requirements as well as when and where to employ new technology in the architecture.
Breaking Down Barriers: Successful Transition Planning for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Students

While transition services provided to the majority of students with disabilities may be seen as beneficial and as having the potential to lead to positive post-school outcomes, involvement and expectations of several students’ families are taking a backseat to the involvement and expectations of professionals in this process. Discrepancies between family and school expectations and desires can only lead to the failure of students’ transition plans. It is increasingly more likely that service providers who develop individual education plans and collaborate on transition planning teams will work with culturally and linguistically diverse students and families. Despite growing diversity in our school systems, many legal mandates and transition components are based on European-American cultural beliefs regarding disability, optimal post-school outcomes, and how best to achieve these outcomes. These beliefs about disability and post-school outcomes are not necessarily shared by all cultures, and thus, cultural conflicts are quite probable when service providers simply comply with transition mandates. This article addresses the challenges that culturally diverse families face as they go through the transition process of their children with disabilities as well as discusses practices that will lead to more successful transition planning for these students and their families.
Isoform-specific retinoid-X receptor (RXR) antibodies detect differential expression of RXR proteins in the pituitary gland.

There are three known isoforms of the retinoid-X receptor (RXR): RXR alpha, RXR beta, and RXR gamma. RXR alpha and RXR beta messenger RNAs are widely expressed, whereas RXR gamma messenger RNA is restricted to only a few tissues, including embryonic pituitary gland. Little is known about the level of expression and cell distribution of RXR proteins in the adult pituitary gland. To examine these issues further, we raised isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies against each of the known mouse RXR isoforms using synthetic peptides containing isoform-specific epitopes from the amino-terminal region. The specificity of each antibody was confirmed by immunoprecipitation, Western immunoblot analysis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay with supershift studies of in vitro translated RXR isoforms. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that anti-RXR alpha and anti-RXR beta antisera stained the nuclei of most pituitary cells. In contrast, anti-RXR gamma antiserum stained the nuclei of only a few cells throughout th...
Catheter-Based Drainage and Agitation for Definitive Cytological Diagnosis of a Ciliated Hepatic Foregut Cyst in a Child

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is an uncommon lesion, which rarely presents in the pediatric population. It is congenital in origin and manifests because of the migration of a bronchiolar bud of the foregut through the pleuroperitoneal canal. CHFC is accompanied by a broad list of differential diagnoses and is difficult to diagnose by means of radiologic evaluation. Therefore, fine-needle aspiration with cytology has been used in an attempt to diagnose this lesion. In previously reported cases, this approach has been moderately successful in the diagnosis of CHFC, while in others, no definitive diagnosis was achieved because of the retrieval of scattered, irregular cells insufficient for cytologic evaluation. We report a case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with a CHFC and discuss a promising alternative for obtaining large, intact cellular specimens to facilitate cytologic evaluation and definitive diagnosis.
Planning Charrettes Using the Project Definition Rating Index

The Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) is a weighted score sheet used for determining the level of scope definition of building projects during preproject planning, e.g., during conceptual design, schematic design and design development. Developed by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) in 1999, this tool has been widely adopted by various owners and contractors in the building industry. Using the PDRI while conducting planning charrettes (i.e., intense focus meetings involving key stakeholders) provides a collaborative environment that has been shown to significantly enhance the preproject planning process by integrating the perspectives of the various project participants. This paper will give background of the PDRI and its benefits for the project. It will then discuss usage of the PDRI in planning charrettes, including real project examples. The planning charrette process will be outlined, including key participants, required resources and outcomes. The benefits of planning charrettes will be discussed, including key findings. Finally, recommendations will be given to project professionals concerning the use of the charrette approach for planning.
Robust SIMD: Dynamically Adapted SIMD Width and Multi-Threading Depth

Architectures that aggressively exploit SIMD often have many data paths execute in lockstep and use multi-threading to hide latency. They can yield high through-put in terms of area- and energy-efficiency for many data-parallel applications. To balance productivity and performance, many recent SIMD organizations incorporate implicit cache hierarchies. Examples of such architectures include Intel's MIC, AMD's Fusion, and NVIDIA's Fermi. However, unlike software-managed streaming memories used in conventional graphics processors (GPUs), hardware-managed caches are more disruptive to SIMD execution, therefore the interaction between implicit caching and aggressive SIMD execution may no longer follow the conventional wisdom gained from streaming memories. We show that due to more frequent memory latency divergence, lower latency in non-L1 data accesses, and relatively unpredictable L1 contention, cache hierarchies favor different SIMD widths and multi-threading depths than streaming memories. In fact, because the above effects are subject to runtime dynamics, a fixed combination of SIMD width and multi-threading depth no longer works ubiquitously across diverse applications or when cache capacities are reduced due to pollution or power saving. To address the above issues and reduce design risks, this paper proposes Robust SIMD, which provides wide SIMD and then dynamically adjusts SIMD width and multi-threading depth according to performance feedback. Robust SIMD can trade wider SIMD for deeper multi-threading by splitting a wider SIMD group into multiple narrower SIMD groups. Compared to the performance generated by running every benchmark on its individually preferred SIMD organization, the same Robust SIMD organization performs similarly -- sometimes even better due to phase adaptation -- and out per-forms the best fixed SIMD organization by 17%. When D-cache capacity is reduced due to runtime disruptiveness, Robust SIMD offers graceful performance degradation, with 25% polluted cache lines in a 32 KB D-cache, Robust SIMD performs 1.4× better compared to a conventional SIMD architecture.
Biomarker-guided therapy in chronic heart failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background Measurement of circulating natriuretic peptides has been shown to play an important role in diagnosis and prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure. Whether serial natriuretic peptide measurements to aid in the titration of therapy can improve heart failure outcomes remains uncertain. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials to determine whether titration of therapy based on natriuretic peptide measurements improves mortality in chronic heart failure. Methods We identified potentially relevant studies through a search of MEDLINE (1996-2009), ISI Web of Knowledge (1996-2009), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (1996-2009), clinicaltrials.gov, proceedings of major US and European cardiology meetings (2000-2009), and bibliographic review of secondary sources. Search terms were “biomarker,” “natriuretic peptide, ”“ B-type natriuretic peptide, ”“ N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide,” and “heart failure.” Studies were included if they were prospective, randomized controlled trials of patients with chronic heart failure, they randomized patients to a strategy of titrating medical therapy based on the level of a circulating biomarker compared to a parallel control group, and they reported all-cause mortality. Results Six studies randomizing 1627 patients met criteria for inclusion. Pooled analysis showed a significant mortality advantage for biomarker-guided therapy (hazard ratio was 0.69, 95% CI 0.55-0.86) compared to control. There was no quantitative evidence of heterogeneity between studies (P = .42). Conclusions Titration of therapy incorporating serial BNP or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels is associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality compared to usual care in patients with chronic heart failure. (Am Heart J 2009;158:422-30.)
Classification of storm events using a fuzzy encoded multilayer perceptron

Volumetric radar data are used to detect severe summer storm events but discriminating between storm event types is a challenge due to the high dimensionality and amorphous nature of the data, the paucity of data labeled through an external independent reference test, and the imprecision of the class labels. Two multilayer perceptron architectures are used to discriminate between two types of storm events, hail and tornado. The first architecture uses the original meteorological feature vectors whereas the second transforms some of these features using a method known as fuzzy interquartile encoding. Both architectures are benchmarked against linear discriminant analysis. It is shown that the fuzzy encoded multilayer perceptron significantly outperforms the other two methods.
Colonialism, the Shuar Federation, and the Ecuadorian State:

This author suggests new avenues for thinking about the relationship between formerly stateless societies and the state. It does so through a detailed study of one particular group, the Shuar, indigenous to the Ecuadorian Amazon. Formerly an acephalous society of hunter-gardeners, the Shuar now constitute a federation with a democratically elected, hierarchical leadership and are at the forefront of indigenous movements in Latin America. The author analyzes this transformation in the context of colonialism but argues that colonialism involves far more than the movement of people from one place to another or the extension of state authority over new territory. Rather, he reveals colonialism to hinge on the transformation of sociospatial boundaries. Such transformations were critical not only to Shuar ethnogenesis but also to Ecuadorian state-building. That is, colonialism involves a dialectical reorganization both of the state and of its new subjects.
Estimating incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and their confidence intervals with different terminating events for survival time and costs

Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is an important component of the economic evaluation of new treatment options. In many clinical and observational studies of costs, censored data pose challenges to the CEA. We consider a special situation where the terminating events for the survival time and costs are different. Traditional methods for statistical inference offer no means for dealing with censored data in these circumstances. To address this gap, we propose a new method for deriving the confidence interval for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. The simulation studies and real data example show that our method performs very well for some practical settings, revealing a great potential for application to actual settings in which terminating events for the survival time and costs differ.
Role of the plasmin‐generating system in the developing nervous tissue: I. Proteolysis as a mitogenic signal for the glial cells

The role of the plasmin-generating system, a serum component, in the development of dissociated embryonic chick spinal cord cells in culture was studied. Studies were performed in a defined system where the cells were maintained in a serum-free medium. Under these conditions the cells produce plasminogen activator. It was found that plasminogen, when added to the chemically defined culture medium at concentrations of 0.2-0.75 microgram/ml, stimulates [3H]thymidine uptake (as expressed per total DNA) in a dose-response manner. This mitogenic effect is abolished by the protease inhibitors leupeptin and aprotinin. Trypsin, but not chymotrypsin, can produce similar effects. It is concluded that plasmin, which is produced as a result of the activation of plasminogen, is a component that serves as a proliferation factor in developing spinal cords in culture.
A Consideration of Style in Archaeology

Few concepts are more central to the endeavors of archaeologists, yet more ambiguous, than style. This is in part due to a general lack of theoretical and methodological consideration of the phenomena of style. However, despite the conceptual muddle style represents, most archaeologists have an intuitive feel for what style is. There is general agreement that style is some aspect of artifact variability and most researchers would accept decoration on pottery or the difference between corner notching and side notching of projectile points as being stylistic. This general intuition allows researchers to discuss stylistic variability with a fair degree of agreement on what formal properties of artifacts are in question. However, the lack of conceptual clarity results in ad hoc interpretation of the meaning of this variability for past cultural systems.
Application of An Ontology for Characterizing Data Quality For a Secondary Use of EHR Data.

Objective: The goal of this study is to apply an ontology based assessment process to electronic health record (EHR) data and determine its usefulness in characterizing data quality for calculating an example eMeasure (CMS178). Methods: The process uses a data quality ontology that references separate data quality, domain and task ontologies to compute measures based on proportions of constraints that are satisfied. These quantities indicate how well the data conforms to the domain and how well it fits the task. Results: The process was performed on a de-identified 200,000 encounter sample from a hospital EHR. CodingConsistency was poor (44%) but DomainConsistency (97%) and TaskRelevance (95%) were very good. Improvements in the data quality Measures correlated with improvements in the eMeasure. Conclusion: This approach can encourage the development of new detailed Domain ontologies that can be reused for data quality purposes across different organizations’ EHR data. Automating the data quality assessment process using this method can enable sharing of data quality metrics that may aid in making research results that use EHR data more transparent and reproducible.
Getting Serious about Inequality

Sociologists have spent a great deal of energy studying social inequality, but in this presentation I suggest that we need to refocus our efforts a bit. I examine four popular myths among the gener...
Effect of Administration of Estrogenic Factor upon Hypophyseal Hyperactivity in the Menopause

SummaryIn 14 menopause cases in which a hyperexcretion of gonadotropic factor was observed, injection of 4,000 to 22,000 R.U. of estrogenic factor was followed by a rapid decrease of gonadotropic factor in the blood and urine. The disappearance of the prepituitary hormone persisted for from 28 to 70 days but was regularly followed by a return to the condition noted before treatment. The amelioration of subjective symptoms roughly paralleled the decrease of the gonadotropic factor in the urine.From these studies it appears that the hypophyseal hyperactivity which follows castration or appears in the spontaneous menopause (Zondek,4 Fluhman5) can be temporarily ameliorated by the administration of estrogenic factor in high dosage.Graph of a typical case is appended.
Charge Dependence of POPG:POPC-Liposome Repulsions in Deionized Water

Shear moduli of deionized suspensions of electrostatically interacting 100 nm POPG:POPC liposomes were measured by microrheological methods. Liposome compositions spanned the entire range of POPG:POPC ratios. The liposomes were sized by extrusion and diluted in deionized water at volume fractions between 0.094 and 0.167. Liposome mean size, polydispersity, and electrophoretic mobility were also measured. Polydispersity indices ranged from 0.08 to 0.15, indicating quite monodisperse suspensions. When illuminated by white light, POPG:POPC =20:80 suspensions displayed optical Bragg scattering, indicative of particle ordering. At volume fraction 0.167 the dependence of shear modulus on composition was non-monotonic, first increasing to 6000 d/cm2 at POPG:POPC ∼20:80, then decreasing to 1000 d/cm2 at POPG:POPC =100:0. Other concentrations behaved similarly. This effect may be attributed to the screening behavior of fully deionized suspensions, where counterion screening due to dissociated protons depends exponentially on particle charge. A 100 nm POPG liposome has ∼50,000 phosphate groups on its outer surface, each bearing 1 negative charge when dissociated. Since shear moduli reflect the mean particle charge of an interacting suspension, they provide information on interaction-mediated surface-charge regulation (protonation). Shear moduli were analyzed by the DLVO theory of screened Coulomb repulsions between charged spheres. Liposomes are well-suited to such studies since their titratable charge can be accurately controlled.
The Big Phish: Cyberattacks Against U.S. Healthcare Systems.

Phishing, the practice of obtaining computer credentials from users through manipulation or deceit, dates back at least 20 years to America Online (AOL), where users would impersonate AOL staff members and send instant messages to other users convincing them to disclose their passwords or credit card numbers. The term itself was coined by Koceilah Rekouche, a hacker known online by the pseudonym BDa Chronic,^ who created a tool for automating and accelerating this process in 1995. The manual process had sometimes been called fishing (as in fishing for passwords), and Rekouche termed the password-stealing function of his software Bphishing^—the term stuck, and the behavior has subsequently expanded far beyond AOL over the last two decades. The email above was sent to users at our hospital and is one of many like this we receive every month. It encourages recipients to click a link where they are asked to enter their username and password. However, the site is operated not by our IT department, but by hackers seeking to gather passwords. When a user takes the bait and enters a password on the hacker’s site, the hacker gains the ability to access a range of online services by impersonating the user. While most users who receive an email like this one should know better than to click the link, phishing exercise results show otherwise. Users do fall victim to these manipulations, and some provide information, such as passwords, that is useful to hackers. The success of phishing messages is often tied to realism and authority—they may appear to be from an authority such as a hospital IT department and warn users that their accounts will be shut off if they don’t Bupdate^ them by entering their passwords. Phishing websites, which users access after clicking links in emails, are often designed to mimic institutional sites with misappropriated logos and similar designs, and they have addresses that resemble official sites, sometimes with minor misspellings or a lowercase letter L replaced with the number 1. Over time, phishing attacks have become more sophisticated, with higher quality emails and more convincing sites for capturing credentials. Although many phishing attacks are indiscriminate, targeting large numbers of users, a variant called Bspear phishing^ focuses on smaller groups of users or even specific individuals. Spear phishing attacks can be particularly effective because they can be carefully targeted to the sorts of links and deception most likely to trap a particular user—for example, a note apparently from the user’s boss or even a journal that the user regularly submits to.
SURVEILLANCE AFTER FILARIASIS WAS BASICALLY ELIMINATED IN ZHEJIANG PROVINCE

Objective To observe the dynamics of prevalence and the regularity of transmission after filariasis has been basically eliminated and to provide scientific evidence for the elimination. Methods A cross-sectional and longitudinal survey by using parasitological, entomological and serological methods were extensively carried out from 1997 to 2000 in 65 counties previously endemic for filariasis. Results In 65 counties previously endemic for filariasis, cross-sectional surveillance on the disease has been executed for 13-23 years. The results showed that microfilaria cases had not been found for 7-23 years, and filaria larvae had failed to detect from mosquito vectors for 9-23 years. In 41 of 65 counties, the surveillance covering rates of township, population were 43.65% and 5.08 %, respectively in the first ten years, whereas in the following ten years the covering rates were 15.96% and 1.25%. For the more ten years parasitological surveillance of 24 counties where the disease had been basically eliminated, the covering rates of township, population were 39.14% and 3.94% respectively. The results of the 13-20 years observation of 11 longitudinal surveillance stations demonstrated that 14 microfilaremia cases could convert negatively next year with no treatment. There was no significant difference between the filarial antibody levels of inhabitants both living in endemic area and in non-endemic area. Conclusion The transmission of filariasis in Zhejiang has been interrupted and filariasis has been eliminated.
A Bayesian Framework for Modeling Human Evaluations

Several situations that we come across in our daily lives involve some form of evaluation: a process where an evaluator chooses a correct label for a given item. Examples of such situations include a crowd-worker labeling an image or a student answering a multiple-choice question. Gaining insights into human evaluations is important for determining the quality of individual evaluators as well as identifying true labels of items. Here, we generalize the question of estimating the quality of individual evaluators, extending it to obtain diagnostic insights into how various evaluators label different kinds of items. We propose a series of increasingly powerful hierarchical Bayesian models which infer latent groups of evaluators and items with the goal of obtaining insights into the underlying evaluation process. We apply our framework to a wide range of real-world domains, and demonstrate that our approach can accurately predict evaluator decisions, diagnose types of mistakes evaluators tend to make, and infer true labels of items.
Hypoferremia of Fasting in Mice Is Associated with Increased Hepcidin and Decreased Erythroferrone Expression

Background: Protein-calorie restriction in humans is associated with changes in iron metabolism that differ from dietary iron-deficiency. Dietary iron absorption and tissue iron distribution and are regulated by the hepatocellular peptide hormone hepcidin, which mediates a decrease in circulating iron concentrations and increase in cellular iron stores. Hepcidin is upregulated in response to increased serum and tissue iron, upregulated in response to ER-stress via the transcription factor CREB-H, and down-regulated in response to erythroid iron demand via the circulating signaling molecule erythroferrone/myonectin (ERFE). An overnight fast was reported to decrease expression of skeletal muscle ERFE in mice. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of hepcidin in the hypoferremia of fasting. Design/Methods: We analyzed parameters of iron homeostasis in five 5 week old male AKR mice fasted for 18 hours overnight (and allowed access to water) compared with mice with access to chow ad libitum. Serum and tissue iron concentrations were measured. Liver hepcidin mRNA was quantified by real-time RT-PCR and verified by Northern blot analysis. Marrow ERFE and liver CREB-H mRNA expression was quantified by RT-PCR and normalized to beta actin. Results: As anticipated, fasted mice had significantly lower serum iron concentrations (203 vs 321 mcg/dL, P<0.001) and transferrin saturations (64.4 vs 79.6%, P<0.05). Duodenal iron concentrations were increased in fasted mice, 2.3-fold (P<0.01). Histochemical staining demonstrated iron retention in the absorptive enterocytes. Liver (916 vs 735 mcg/g, P=0.1) and splenic (480 vs 414 mcg/g, P=0.001) iron concentrations were modestly higher in the fasted mice. Despite hypoferremia, the fasted mice demonstrated increased liver hepcidin expression (1.9 fold, P < 0.05). Liver CREB-H mRNA expression was increased ~10 fold, P<0.01; however there was no change in liver XBP-1 processing (marker of ER stress). Marrow ERFE expression was downregulated by approximately one third (P<0.01). Conclusions: The fasting state in mice is associated with increased hepcidin expression, iron retention in absorptive enterocytes, and decreased circulating iron. These observations suggest that the hypoferremia of fasting is not consequent to limited iron availability, but rather to hepcidin-mediated retention of iron in the duodenum and storage tissues. They moreover support a role for nutritional state, independent of iron status, as a regulator of hepcidin and mediated by changes in expression of ERFE and CREB-H. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Small intestinal epithelial renewal in the Syrian hamster exposed to cholera enterotoxin.

Epithelial renewal of the small intestine was measured in the Syrian hamster utilizing tritiated thymidine by standard autoradiographic and a scintillation counting technique. Scintillation counting of intestinal replicates proved to be as accurate as standard autoradiography. Average mucosal cell turnover was 71 ± 3.0 hr in jejunum and 79 ± 4.2 hr in ileum. Scintillation counting was utilized to study the effect of a maximum cholera enterotoxic secretory stimulus on small intestinal mucosal cell turnover. No significant change in epithelial cell migration occurred during cholera enterotoxin (CT)-induced fluid and electrolyte secretion. The rate of decline in radioactivity as a measure of cell turnover in CT-exposed animals was no different from controls. Epithelial cell proliferation 1 to 42 hr after CT exposure showed no difference from controls. Intestinal fluid and electrolyte secretion persisted for 24 hr after CT exposure. It is concluded that (1) the small intestinal epithelial cell migration was unaltered by this metabolic secretory stimulus, and (2) the data are consistent with the concept that epithelial migration after CT exposure was one factor, although not necessarily the major determinant of the progressive decline in intestinal secretory activity.
UV photodissociation dynamics of the CH3CHOO Criegee intermediate: action spectroscopy and velocity map imaging of O-atom products

UV excitation of jet-cooled CH3CHOO on the B1A′–X1A′ transition results in dissociation to two spin-allowed product channels: CH3CHO X1A′ + O 1D and CH3CHO a3A″ + O 3P. The O 1D and O 3P products are detected using 2 + 1 REMPI at 205 and 226 nm, respectively, for action spectroscopy and velocity map imaging studies. The O 1D action spectrum closely follows the previously reported UV absorption spectrum for jet-cooled CH3CHOO [Beames et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2013, 138, 244307]. Velocity map images of the O 1D products following excitation of CH3CHOO at 305, 320, and 350 nm exhibit anisotropic angular distributions indicative of rapid (ps) dissociation, along with broad and unstructured total kinetic energy (TKER) distributions that reflect the internal energy distribution of the CH3CHO X1A′ coproducts. The O 3P action spectrum turns on near the peak of the UV absorption spectrum (ca. 324 nm) and extends to higher energy with steadily increasing O 3P yield. Excitation of CH3CHOO at 305 nm, attributed to absorption of the more stable syn-conformer, also results in an anisotropic angular distribution of O 3P products arising from rapid (ps) dissociation, but a narrower TKER distribution since less energy is available to the CH3CHO a3A″ + O 3P products. The threshold for the higher energy CH3CHO a3A″ + O 3P product channel is determined to be ca. 88.4 kcal mol–1 from the termination of the TKER distribution and the onset of the O 3P action spectrum. This threshold is combined with the singlet-triplet spacings of O atoms and acetaldehyde to establish the dissociation energy for syn-CH3HOO X1A′ to the lowest spin-allowed product channel, CH3CHO X1A′ + O 1D, of ≤55.9 ± 0.4 kcal mol–1. A harmonic normal-mode analysis is utilized to identify the vibrational modes of CH3CHO likely to be excited upon dissociation into the two product channels.
A marker-less technique for measuring kinematics in the operating room.

Background Often in simulated settings, quantitative analysis of technical skill relies largely on specially tagged instruments or tracers on surgeons’ hands. We investigated a novel, marker-less technique for evaluating technical skill during open operations and for differentiating tasks and surgeon experience level. Methods We recorded the operative field via in-light camera for open operations. Sixteen cases yielded 138 video clips of suturing and tying tasks ≥5 seconds in duration. Video clips were categorized based on surgeon role (attending, resident) and task subtype (suturing tasks: body wall, bowel anastomosis, complex anastomosis; tying tasks: body wall, superficial tying, deep tying). We tracked a region of interest on the hand to generate kinematic data. Nested, multilevel modeling addressed the nonindependence of clips obtained from the same surgeon. Results Interaction effects for suturing tasks were seen between role and task categories for average speed ( P = .04), standard deviation of speed ( P = .05), and average acceleration ( P = .03). There were significant differences across task categories for standard deviation of acceleration ( P = .02). Significant differences for tying tasks across task categories were observed for maximum speed ( P = .02); standard deviation of speed ( P = .04); and average ( P = .02), maximum ( P P = .03) of acceleration. Conclusion We demonstrated the ability to detect kinematic differences in performance using marker-less tracking during open operative cases. Suturing task evaluation was most sensitive to differences in surgeon role and task category and may represent a scalable approach for providing quantitative feedback to surgeons about technical skill.
Analysis of the Solid-Vapor Equilibrium System Carbon Dioxide-Nitrogen

The two-phase binary equilibrium system in which the concentration of one component In the condensed phase is negligibly small is of particular Interest because such a system affords a comparatively easy means for analytically predicting composition In the second phase. The various methods used for the analytical calculations and the assumptions made therein can then be evaluated by direct comparison with experimental data on the system.
Integration of Probabilistic Information

We study the problem of data integration from sources that contain probabilistic uncertain information. Data is modeled by possible-worlds with probability distribution, compactly represented in the probabilistic relation model. Integration is achieved efficiently using the extended probabilistic relation model. We study the problem of determining the probability distribution of the integration result. It has been shown that, in general, only probability ranges can be determined for the result of integration. We show that under intuitive and reasonable assumptions we can determine the exact probability distribution of the result of integration. Our methodologies are presented in possible-worlds as well as probabilistic-relation frameworks.
Development, Implementation, and Assessment of a Genetics Curriculum Across Institutions

Objective Many residency programs offer limited exposure and minimal didactic time genetics, despite its frequent use in obstetrics and gynecology. The objective of this study was to develop, pilot, and assess a three-module women's health genetics curriculum for residents that was easily transferable between institutions. Methods An interactive three-module genetics curriculum covering basic principles, prenatal screening/diagnosis, and cancer genetics was developed. A pre- and posttests were used to assess improvement in knowledge. Subjective feedback was obtained to assess curricular satisfaction. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results The curriculum was administered at two institutions. Forty-eight residents attended ≥ 1 session. Twenty completed the pretest, and 23 completed the posttest. At the first institution, using audience response system, the percentage correct per question increased on 10/14 questions between pre- and posttests. All students felt the curriculum was useful and would strongly recommend to other residents. At the second institution, pre/posttests were distributed on paper. Mean scores significantly improved between pre- and posttests (p = 0.007). On the pretest, no residents scored > 70%. However, 8/13 scored > 70% on the posttest (p = 0.002). Instructors at both institutions described the curriculum as easy to use/implement. Conclusion This three-module workshop on women's health genetics was easily implemented across institutions and led to increased knowledge.
Paraprotein–Related Kidney Disease: Attack of the Killer M Proteins

Paraproteins are monoclonal Igs or their components (light or heavy chains) that are produced by a clonal population of mature B cells, most commonly plasma cells. These paraproteins or monoclonal proteins are secreted into the blood and subsequently filtered by the glomerulus before entering into urine, where they can cause various types of kidney disease, including both glomerular and tubulointerstitial injuries. Furthermore, a monoclonal protein that causes a specific glomerular or tubulointerstitial lesion in a human can reproducibly cause the same pathology when injected into an animal, supporting unique paraprotein characteristics. This Moving Points in Nephrology will provide an update for the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology readership on some of the clinically relevant kidney lesions associated with monoclonal paraprotein production and the pathophysiology underlying these kidney lesions.
The Relation between Sleep Disruption and Cataract in a Large Population-Based Study.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To investigate the relation between sleep disruption and nuclear cataract, as well as the impact of cataract removal on sleep, in two discrete population-based cohorts.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 5070 participants from three large longitudinal epidemiologic studies of age-related eye disease, hearing, olfaction, and cognition. Slit-lamp photos of the lens were obtained to grade nuclear cataract using a standardized protocol. The quality of sleep was assessed using a modified Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between levels of nuclear cataract/cataract extraction and the number of sleep problems. Systemic co-morbidity data were included as potential confounders, including diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, thyroid disease, tobacco and alcohol use, and physical component summary score and mental component summary score.Results: The mean age of the cohort was 57....