cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benefit-Cost Analysis of Prevention and Intervention Programs for Youth and Young Adults: Introduction to the Special Issue

Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) and related economic evaluation methods (cost analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis) have increasingly been applied to prevention and intervention programs for youth and young adults to assess their costs as well as the gains that may be anticipated from investing in these programs. This work reflects in part the growing prominence of evidence-based programs, policies, and practices as well as evidence-informed decision making. The papers included in this special issue represent a range of topics and issues, including the need for accurate and comprehensive assessment of program costs, high-quality BCAs of prevention and intervention programs, increasing recognition of the importance of monetizing noncognitive outcomes, and the role of BCA in pay for success financing arrangements. This introduction (a) describes the evidence-based context in which this work plays a role, (b) summarizes the practical and theoretical contributions of the papers, and (c) identifies the common themes.
Nanocomposite Polymers with “Slimy” Surfaces that Refresh Following Abrasion

Creating polymeric biomaterials with antifouling surface properties that persist after mechanical abrasion is a significant challenge. We report a simple but effective approach based on nanocomposites consisting of a bulk biocompatible polymer, polycaprolactone (PCL), admixed with a minute fraction (1–3 wt %) of nanoparticles consisting of a hyaluronic acid (HA)-PCL graft copolymer (HA-g-PCL). In a nonaqueous solvent such as chloroform, the HA-PCL graft copolymer adopts a reverse-micelle-like structure with a shell dominated by PCL chains, allowing it to be mixed well with high-molecular-weight PCL in the same solvent and cast into a nanocomposite film. Upon exposure to aqueous buffer, the HA-g-PCL nanoparticles reveal the hydrophilic chains of HA to face the outside, conferring a hydrophilic “slimy” or “artificial mucus” layer to the bulk PCL film that resists protein and cell adhesion, without altering bulk mechanical properties. After mechanical abrasion, the nanoparticles replenish the newly exposed m...
Edge Programming

Complex systems of the future will often comprise networks of distributed programmable parts without centralized control over the programming of the parts. In other words, programming will happen at the edge. In this position paper I suggest that edge programming will create interesting and important problems for the field of software design and engineering. Chief among them will be to maintain conceptual integrity, thus ease of use, software quality, thus system dependability, and a coherent global view, thus system understandability and analyzability (at some level) in the absence of what to now has been a centralized control paradigm of software development. Edge programming is related to but distinct from end-user programming and from open-source development.
Untethered microrobots actuated with focused permanent magnet field

This paper investigates the actuation of untethered microrobots with a focused magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet wand. The microrobots are chrome-steel spheres or Neodynium cubes with a size of 250 μm, which perform desired planar motions directed by the movement of the wand. We propose and evaluate novel methods to enhance the focused magnetic field of the wand by sharpening its tip, increase microrobot velocities via novel mechanical amplifiers, and reduce environmental forces via inexpensive anti-friction coatings. We document results of automated operation and teleoperated control of the microrobot during competition at the Mobile Microrobotics Challenge (MMC) held in 2013. Experimental results from the mobility and microassembly challenge indicate an excellent degree of precision motion control over the robot, at a price of a slightly lower maximum speed when compared to conventional electromagnetic actuation.© 2014 ASME
Observations on pollen processing by Pneumolaelaps longanalis (Acari: Laelapidae), a mite associate of bumblebees

Pneumolaelaps longanalis feeds on nectar and surface compounds of bumblebee-collected pollen grains by dissolving these materials in salivary secretions applied to the grain as it is manipulated by the mite's mouthparts. Observations suggest that sugars applied to the pollen grain during bee-processing serve as a feeding stimulus for the mite.
Quantitative Study on Formation Conditions of Different Reserves Abundance of Gas Reservoirs in Xujiaweizi Depression

In order to study the formation conditions of the different reserve abundance of gas reservoirs quantitatively,main controlling factors for formation of gas reservoirs,formation conditions of gas reservoirs and reserves abundance are studied by dissection of gas reservoirs and matching relations among accumulation conditions of gas reservoirs,and concluded supply gas capacity of source rock,transporting gas capacity of fault and seal and preservation ability of gas reservoirs are 3 main controlling factors for formation of gas reservoirs.K1sh rock supply capacity of source is mainly better and bad grade,transporting gas capacity of faults is mainly good grade and seal and preservation capacity of gas reservoirs is also mainly good.The comprehensive evaluation of gas reservoirs formation conditions was mainly in middle grade,secondly in good grade,the least in bad grade.Gas reserves abundance is mainly middle grade,and high and low abundance is less.Relationship between comprehensive evaluation value for the formation conditions and gas reserves abundance was considered to have a direct.To form gas reservoirs with high reserves abundance,comprehensive evaluation of gas reservoir formation conditions should be good,and to form gas reservoirs with middle reserves abundance,comprehensive evaluation of gas reservoir formation conditions should be middle.
Fault-Tolerant Control for a Class of Markov Jump Systems with Actuator Failures

The problem of adaptive fault-tolerant control was studied for a class of Markov jump linear systems with partly known transition probabilities. The considered transition probabilities were more general,in which the completely known case,partly unknown with known lower and upper bounds case and completely unknown case were all included. Firstly,the adaptive fault estimator was designed for actuator degradation. Then,based on the values estimated online,the robust controller with compensation effect was designed to guarantee the robust stability of the system with faults. At the same time,the free-connection weighting matrix method was used to deal with the unknown transition probabilities so that the proposed sufficient conditions were less conservative. Finally,numerical example was given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
PD Radar Signal Detection-PDID

Most PD radars employ HPRF MPRF modes.In both modes the PRF is precisely stable for all the pulse train or a train during every CPI.Taking advantages of this characteristic,a PD signal detection method(PDID) is put forward which is similar to the signal processing method of PD radar receiver.The algorithm is analyzed on its improvement of system sensibility and signal de-interleaving and identifying ability.It's simulated on computer and tested by experiment.
Vector magnitude using orthogonal ECG leads during ventricular fibrillation is associated with defibrillation outcome.

Random fluctuations of ventricular fibrillation (VF) affect defibrillation; in addition, the heart is more susceptible to defibrillation at a higher absolute VF voltage (AVFV). Shocks delivered at higher AVFV waveforms from a single lead of the electrocardiogram (ECG) are more effective than conventional shocks. The authors investigated a new sensing method using multiple leads for better representation of the depolarization state of the heart. In this non-thoracotomy defibrillation study, a vector waveform derived from three orthogonal surface leads X, Y, and Z was analyzed in real time using two distinct defibrillation lead configurations, P1: RV-coil electrode (-) (SVC-coil electrode + SCP) (+); and P2: RV-coil electrode (+) (SVC-coil electrode + SCP) (-), where (-) represents cathode and (+) anode for the first phase of biphasic shock (RV = right ventricle, SVC = superior vena cava, SCP = subcutaneous patch). A PC-based closed-loop waveform-processing system, the peak-shock method (PSM), was developed to analyze the vector waveforms and trigger a biphasic shock at an AVFV peak. In using this defibrillation technique, an empirical threshold was applied to a weight function consisting of short-term and long-term moving averages of the vector VF waveform. A total of 340 shock trials in nine canine studies resulted in a significantly higher defibrillation success rate for the PSM compared with the conventional random-shock method (RSM), which involved shocking after a fixed VF time (54% for the PSM versus 42% for the RSM, p < 0.03). This further confirms that a susceptible period for defibrillation occurs during VF. The hardware/software design satisfied the requirements for processing the VF vector waveform in real time, and with the help of signal-processing techniques the high VF voltage could be detected at it occurred in real time. In addition, the P2 defibrillation lead configuration was significantly better than the P1 (p < 0.006).
Gas Phase Mercury Oxidation by Halogens (Cl, Br, I) in Combustion Effluents: Influence of Operating Conditions

Control of mercury emissions is one of the major challenges faced by power generation in coal burning and incineration plants, due to the increasing emission control regulations in the electricity generating sector. This study focuses on the elimination of mercury from the combustion flue gases via the oxidation of elemental mercury (nonsoluble) into its oxidized form (soluble) by the addition of halogens (chlorine, bromine, and iodine). A detailed reaction mechanism is developed and comparisons of mercury loss versus halogen, NO, SO2, and H2O presence in a typical combustion effluent stream are presented. The influence of different air-fuel equivalence ratios is also illustrated. The removal of mercury is evaluated with an elementary reaction mechanism (957 reactions, 203 species) developed from fundamental principles of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Thermochemistry and rate constants are from the literature or calculated at the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ-PP (mercury species) and CBS-QB3 (nonmercury ...
Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Young Cancer Patients: The Role of Carnitine

While the increased rates of survival in childhood cancers have increased progressively in recent decades, many childhood cancer survivors will have at least one chronic health condition within 40 years of age. In this regard, cardiovascular complications have emerged as a leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality in long-term survivors of childhood cancer, likely due to exposure to anthracycline chemotherapy, and outcomes in patients with anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy remain poor. Some progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms at the basis of anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy, which appear to involve generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, followed by myocyte apoptosis and maladaptive left ventricular remodeling. Even if several guidelines currently exist for monitoring cancer patients treated with cardiotoxic therapies who are at high risk for heart failure, much work remains to be done in finding reliable markers for screening for cardiac dysfunction. Studies from our group have identified alterations in L-carnitine in cancer survivors. While additional investigations are needed, preliminary studies suggest a role for carnitine in primary prevention (during treatment) and secondary prevention (to improve function after treatment).
Floodplain inundation response to climate, valley form, and flow regulation on a gravel-bed river in a Mediterranean-climate region

Abstract Floodplain inundation regime defines hydrological connectivity between river channel and floodplain and thus strongly controls structure and function of these highly diverse and productive ecosystems. We combined an extensive LiDAR data set on topography and vegetation, long-term hydrological records, as well as the outputs of hydrological and two-dimensional hydraulic models to examine how floodplain inundation regimes in a dynamic, regulated, gravel-cobble river in a Mediterranean-climate region are controlled by reach-scale valley morphology, hydroclimatic conditions, and flow regulation. Estimated relative differences in the extent, duration, and cumulative duration of inundation events were often as large as an order of magnitude and generally greatest for large and long duration events. The relative impact of flow regulation was greatest under dry hydroclimatic conditions. Although the effects of hydroclimate and flow impairment are larger than that of valley floor topography, the latter controls sensitivity of floodplain hydroperiod to flow regime changes and should not be ignored. These quantitative estimates of the relative importance of factors that control floodplain processes in Mediterranean, semiarid rivers contributes to better understanding of hydrology and geomorphology of this important class of channels. We also discuss implications of our findings for processes that shape floodplain habitat for riparian vegetation and salmonid fish, especially in the context of ecological restoration.
The characterization of tenable Pólya urns

Abstract We characterize tenable Polya urn schemes via a decomposition of their replacement matrices into small submatrices with certain conditions on the determinants. The characterization also involves an interplay between the submatrices and the initial conditions, as well as certain divisibility conditions.
The use of dry needling as a diagnostic tool and clinical treatment for cervicogenic dizziness: a narrative review & case series

Abstract Study design Narrative Review & Case Series. Background No "gold standard" test presently exists to confirm a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness, a condition whereby the neuromusculoskeletal tissues of the cervical spine are thought to contribute to imbalance and dizziness. Clusters of tests are presently recommended to provoke signs and symptoms of the condition. In this regard, dry needling may provide a valuable diagnostic tool. Targeting the musculoskeletal structures of the upper neck with dry needling may also provide a valuable treatment tool for patients that suffer from cervicogenic dizziness. While dry needling has been used to treat various musculoskeletal conditions, it has not been specifically reported in patients with cervicogenic dizziness. Case description Three patients were screened for signs and symptoms related to cervicogenic dizziness in an outpatient physical therapy clinic. These patients presented with signs and symptoms often associated with (though not always) cervicogenic dizziness, including a positive flexion-rotation test, altered cervical range of motion, and tenderness with manual assessment of the upper cervical extensors. In addition, dry needling targeting the obliquus capitis inferior muscle was used diagnostically to reproduce symptoms as well as to treat the patients. Outcomes Two of the patients reported full resolution of their dizziness and a significant improvement in their function per standardized outcome measures. While the third patient did not report full resolution of her cervicogenic dizziness, she noted significant improvement, and dry needling was helpful in guiding further treatment. Importantly, the effect of the treatment was maintained in all three patients for at least 6 months. Discussion This case series with narrative review covers various testing procedures for cervicogenic dizziness and explores the use of dry needling targeting the suboccipital muscles to evaluate and treat this patient population. The physiologic changes that occur in the periphery, the spine and the brain secondary to dry needling and their potential relevance to the mechanisms driving cervicogenic dizziness are discussed in detail.
Remediation in Nursing Education: A Concept Analysis

Abstract A need for academic remediation in prelicensure nursing education has presented over the past several years. Presently, it remains unclear as how best to provide effective remediation for underperforming nursing students. This article presents a concept analysis of remediation within the context of nursing education using the Walker and Avant method. Developing a standardized definition and implementation strategies for remediation in nursing education will allow nurse educators to meet the remediation needs of underperforming students.
Adherence to reporting guidelines and clinical trial registration policies in oncology journals: a cross-sectional review

Reporting guidelines (RG) aim to improve research transparency and ensure high-quality study reporting. Similarly, clinical trial registration policies aim to reduce bias in results reporting by ensuring prospective registration of all trial outcomes. Failure to adhere to quality standards documented in RGs may result in low-quality and irreproducible research. Herein, we investigate the adherence to common RGs and trial registration policies in 21 oncology journals. We surveyed the Instructions for Authors page for each of the included oncology journals for adherence to common reporting guidelines and trial registration policies. We corresponded with editors to determine accepted study types and cross-referenced this information with a journal's RGs and trial registration policies to calculate the per cent of journals that adhere to a specific guideline or policy. 76.2% (16/21) of oncology journals surveyed adhere to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines for clinical trials while only 33.3% (7/21) adhere to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology for observational studies. Similarly, 76.2% (16/21) of oncology journals adhere to clinical trial registration policies. We further demonstrate that journal adherence to RGs positively affects author reporting, despite adherence to trial registration policies showing no such benefit. Our results show that oncology journals adhere to RGs and trial registration policies at a higher rate than other specialties, but nonetheless show room for improvement. We conclude that oncology journal adherence to RGs and trial registration policies is encouraging, but nonetheless suboptimal. We recommend the adoption of RGs and trial registration policies by all oncology journals.
Simulating Fine-Scale Marine Pollution Plumes for Autonomous Robotic Environmental Monitoring

Marine plumes exhibit characteristics such as intermittency, sinuous structure, shape and flow field coherency, and a time varying concentration profile. Due to the lack of experimental quantification of these characteristics for marine plumes, existing work often assumes marine plumes exhibit behavior similar to aerial plumes and are commonly modeled by filament based Lagrangian models. Our previous field experiments with Rhodamine dye plumes at Makai Research Pier at Oahu, Hawaii revealed that marine plumes show similar characteristics to aerial plumes qualitatively, but quantitatively they are disparate. Based on the field data collected, this paper presents a calibrated Eulerian plume model that exhibits the qualitative and quantitative characteristics exhibited by experimentally generated marine plume. We propose a modified model with an intermittent source, and implement it in a Robot Operating System (ROS) based simulator. Concentration time series of stationary sampling points and dynamic sampling points across cross-sections and plume fronts are collected and analyzed for statistical parameters of the simulated plume. These parameters are then compared with statistical parameters from experimentally generated plumes. The comparison validates the simulated plume exhibits fine-scale qualitative and quantitative characteristics similar to experimental plumes. The ROS plume simulator facilitates future evaluations of environmental monitoring strategies by marine robots, and is made available for community use.
Piezoelectric Converter Design

A qualitative comparison of electrostatic, electromagnetic, and piezoelectric converters was presented in chapter 3. Chapter 4 will consider the modeling, design, and optimization of piezoelectric converters. Basic design configurations will first be discussed and evaluated. Models are then developed and validated. These models are then used as a basis for optimization.
Investigating Shared Mental Models in Critical Care

Clinical care is increasingly recognized as a highly collaborative practice [1]. The complexity of modern medicine, particularly of intensive care, requires deep specialization and honing of skills and expertise that can take years to acquire. As a result, clinical teams in intensive care units can include over a dozen of specialists, each contributing their unique knowledge to the overall patient care. And while speedy and successful patient recovery is an underlying objective of their combined efforts, each specialist may have their own goals and priorities, dictated by their training, experience, and focus.
The Role of DNA Methylation and Histone Modifications in Transcriptional Regulation in Humans

Although the field of genetics has grown by leaps and bounds within the last decade due to the completion and availability of the human genome sequence, transcriptional regulation still cannot be explained solely by an individual’s DNA sequence. Complex coordination and communication between a plethora of well-conserved chromatin modifying factors are essential for all organisms. Regulation of gene expression depends on histone post translational modifications (HPTMs), DNA methylation, histone variants, remodeling enzymes, and effector proteins that influence the structure and function of chromatin, which affects a broad spectrum of cellular processes such as DNA repair, DNA replication, growth, and proliferation. If mutated or deleted, many of these factors can result in human disease at the level of transcriptional regulation. The common goal of recent studies is to understand disease states at the stage of altered gene expression. Utilizing information gained from new high-throughput techniques and analyses will aid biomedical research in the development of treatments that work at one of the most basic levels of gene expression, chromatin. This chapter will discuss the effects of and mechanism by which histone modifications and DNA methylation affect transcriptional regulation.
Does taste sensitivity matter? The effect of coffee sensory tasting information and taste sensitivity on consumer preferences

Abstract Product sensory information, an external cue, could greatly influence consumer enjoyment of hedonic products like coffee. The question is what type of sensory information, subjective (e.g., aroma, flavor and body) or objective (e.g., origin, varieties and production practices), has a higher impact on consumer product experience accounting for heterogeneous taste sensitivity. We examine this question using a between-subject experiment where participants were either given subjective, objective or no sensory information of a specialty coffee. Participants were classified as either supertasters or other tasters using the 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) paper strip. The results indicate that, compared to objective sensory information and no information, subjective sensory information results in a higher taste rating and a higher preference level for the coffee. More importantly, subjective information positively influences PROP supertasters’ purchase likelihood for coffee, without necessarily affecting their bitterness perception of the coffee tasted.
The aspergillic acid biosynthetic gene cluster predicts neoaspergillic acid production in Aspergillus section Circumdati

The fungus Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic crop pathogen that produces aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic and hepatotoxic secondary metabolites that are highly regulated in most ...
A randomized placebo-controlled trial of omega-3 and sertraline in depressed patients with or at risk for coronary heart disease

Objective Studies of depressed psychiatric patients have suggested that antidepressant efficacy can be increased by adding eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of EPA improves the response to sertraline in depressed patients with or at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods Between May 2014 and June 2018, 144 patients with DSM-5 major depressive disorder seen at the Washington University School of Medicine with or at high risk for CHD were randomized to receive either 50 mg/d of sertraline and 2 g/d of EPA or 50 mg/d of sertraline and corn oil placebo capsules for 10 weeks. The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) was the primary outcome measure. Results After 10 weeks of treatment, there were no differences between the arms on the mean baseline-adjusted BDI-II (placebo, 10.3; EPA, 12.1; P = .22), the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (placebo, 7.2; EPA, 8.0; P = .40), or the 10-week remission rate (BDI-II score ≤ 8: placebo, 50.6%; EPA, 46.7%; odds ratio = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.68; P = .63). Conclusions Augmentation of sertraline with 2 g/d of EPA for 10 weeks did not result in greater improvement in depressive symptoms compared to sertraline and corn oil placebo in patients with major depressive disorder and CHD or CHD risk factors. Identifying the characteristics of cardiac patients whose depression may benefit from omega-3 and clarifying the pathways linking omega-3 to improvement in depression symptoms are important directions for future research. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02021669; FDA IND registration number: 121107.
Least Square Regressor Selection Based Detection for Uplink 5G Massive MIMO Systems

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is a core component of next-generation 5G networks which groups together antennas at both transmitter and the receiver to provide high spectral and energy efficiency. However, uplink signal detection in massive MIMO system becomes inefficient and computationally complex with a larger number of antennas. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for the uplink detection based upon least square regressor selection problem. The results through simulations show that the proposed algorithm is computationally efficient and achieves near-optimal bit error rate (BER) performance in comparison to the conventional uplink detection algorithms. The proposed algorithm can provide a good tradeoff between BER and computational complexity and is suitable for uplink detection in massive MIMO systems.
The Impact of Immigration Enforcement on the Nation’s Schools:

In response to growing concerns about the impact of harsh immigration enforcement policy since the 2016 presidential campaign, we examined its overall impact on the nation’s schools, using survey d...
Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycles Applied to a Longitudinal Research Protocol in a Family Medicine Residency

Background and objectives Barriers to research in family medicine are common. Resident studies are at risk of remaining incomplete. This report describes a process improvement (PI) to optimize survey data collection in a longitudinal research protocol led by family medicine residents. The protocol subject to the process improvement sought to evaluate maternal outcomes in group prenatal care vs traditional care. In the months preceding the PI, the resident researchers noted many surveys were not completed in their intended timeframe or were missing, threatening study validity. We describe a practical case example of the use of a PI tool to resident-led research. Methods The residents applied three plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles over 8 months. Throughout the cycles, we solicited barriers and proposed solutions from the research team. Process measures included percentage of surveys completed within 2 weeks of the deadline ("on-time" response rate), and percentage of surveys completed overall. Results A secure, shared survey tracker was created and optimized during three PDSA cycles to calculate and track survey deadlines automatically upon enrollment in the study. Automated colored flags appeared for due or overdue surveys. On-time response rates did not improve. Overall response rates did improve meaningfully from 57% (19 of 33 eligible) to 84% (16 of 19 eligible). Conclusions The PDSA cycles improved survey response rates in this research protocol. This intervention incurred no cost, was easily implemented, and was impactful. Other research teams can apply this PI tool to barriers in their research processes with minimal risk and cost.
Association of the Work Schedules of Hospitalists With Patient Outcomes of Hospitalization.

Importance The working schedules of hospitalists vary widely. Discontinuous schedules, such as 24 hours on and 48 hours off, result in several hospitalists providing care during a patient’s hospital stay. Poor continuity of care during hospitalization may be associated with poor patient outcomes. Objective To determine whether admitted patients receiving care from hospitalists with more discontinuous schedules experience worse outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study used conditional models to assess Medicare claims data for 114 777 medical admissions of patients with a 3-day to 6-day length of stay from January 1, 2014, through November 30, 2016, who received all general medical care from hospitalists in 229 hospitals in Texas. Data were analyzed from November 2018 to June 2019. Exposures For each admission, the weighted mean of schedule continuity for the treating hospitalists, assessed as the percentage of all their working days in that year that were part of a block of 7 or more consecutive working days, was calculated. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was patient mortality in the 30 days after discharge. Secondary outcomes were readmission rates and Medicare costs in the 30 days after discharge, and discharge destination. Results Of the 114 777 patient admissions, the mean (SD) age was 79.9 (8.3) years, and 70 047 (61.0%) were women. For admissions in the lowest quartile for continuity of hospitalist schedules, the hospitalists providing care worked 0% to 30% of their total working days as part of a block of 7 or more consecutive days vs 67% to 100% for hospitalists providing care for patients in the highest quartile for continuity. Patient characteristics were not associated with the continuity of working schedules for the hospitalist(s) providing care. In conditional logistic regression models, admitted patients cared for by hospitalists in the highest quartile of schedule continuity (vs the lowest quartile) had lower 30-day mortality after discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.81-0.95), lower readmission rates (aOR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90-0.99), higher rates of discharge to the home (aOR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.13), and lower 30-day postdischarge costs (−$223; 95% CI, −$441 to −$7). The results were similar across a range of different methods for defining continuity of hospitalist schedules and selecting the cohort. Conclusions and Relevance Hospitalist schedules vary widely. Admitted patients receiving care from hospitalists with schedules that promote inpatient continuity of care may experience better outcomes of hospitalization.
Using transact-SQL and simulation techniques to create virtual M&M'S

The M&M problem is an example of a nontrivial yet simple method for summarizing sampled data that are then used in making decisions. Previous work by the author used client-side JavaScript and Active Server Pages to create virtual M&M's. This paper moves the generation of the virtual M&M's to a SQL Server database server. In doing so, a number of interesting and practical problems in database design and implementation are explored. In particular, the use of the programming language Transact-SQL as used in SQL Server is used to create and test a database stored procedure to generate the requested M&M's and store them in a database table structure to be used by the requesting program. As such, the paper serves as a short introduction to database design as might be used in experimental data collection applications, programming in Transact-SQL and SQL as can be used with Query Analyzer, and in simulating discrete events.
Advances in transcriptomics of Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease is one of the most common congenital digestive system malformations in Pediatric Surgery. The incidence of it is 1∶5 000. The incidence ratio of male to female is 4∶1. It’s more common in term infants, caused by multiple factors, such as genetics, environment and so on. Surgery interventions are needed. The basic pathological changes of it is aganglionic hindgut in variable length. Researches now have always been focused on changes on gene level, which cannot explain the differences of incidence of different genders, and the difference of penetrance and phenotype and so on. So, as the key process of regulation of genetic expression, transcription should be the next key point. Transcriptomics is a new discipline that studies the expression of genes in RNA levels. This article is written for discussing the advances in transcriptomics of Hirschsprung's disease. Key words: Hirschsprung disease; Transcriptomics; Non-coding RNA
Protective effects of sodium ferulate in vascular endothelial function during cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and its related ischemia reperfusion injury may cause endothelial cell injury.To study the protective effects of sodium ferulate in vascular endothelial function during CPB by testing the changes of vascular endothelial cell( CEC),nitric oxide( NO) and endothelin-1 ( ET-1 ) in children with congenital heart disease.Methods Sixty patients with congenital heart disease,including 28 males and 32 females were studied.The mean age was (19.7 ±10.4) months and body weight (10.5 ±6.1) kg.There were 37 VSD,8 ASD,7 TOF,5 TAPVC and 3 CAVC,among them 26 patients had pulmonary hypertension.They were randomly divided in to two groups:sodium ferulate group ( group S,n = 30),and control group ( group C,n =30) .Sodium ferulate (8 mg/kg) was given intravenously before CPB.Blood samples were taken from the arterial line at following time points:before CPB (TO),bypass 30 min(Tl ),the termination of CPB (T2 ),2h after operation ( T3 ) and 6h after operation ( T4 ),respectively for determination the concentration of vascular endothelial cell (CEC) in the blood,the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 ( ET-1) in the plasma.Results There were no significant difference for the two groups regarding above parameters at TO ( P > 0.05).The level of CEC was significantly elevated after CPB in both groups ( P < 0.05 ) .CEC were lower at T2 in group S than in group C ( P < 0.05 ) .NO was decreased in both groups,but was higher in group S at T2,T3 and T4 ( P < 0.05 ) .The concentration of plasma ET-1 was not significantly different before CPB,but there was a slight decrease at T1,and then it was significantly increased in both groups (P<0.05).But it was lower in group S than in group C at T1,T2,T3 and T4(P<0.05 orP<0.01).Conclusion There was severe endothelial cell damage during CPB.Sodium Ferulate can effectively antagonize the secretion of ET-1 to promote the formation of NO.Therefore,it reduces CPB-induced endothelial cell damage and protects vascular endothelial function during CPB. Key words: Cardiopulmonary bypass; Heart diseases,congenital; Cytoprotection; Vascular endothelial cells; Sodium; Ferulate
Study on the Influence of Large-Scale Wind Power Integration on Transient Stability of Power System

With the increase of installed capacity of wind power and the increasing proportion of wind power in the power grid, all kinds of wind turbines will have more and more prominent influence on the safety and stability of power system. Different types of wind turbines with different capacity have different effects on the stability of power grid. In this paper, PSD simulation software is used to build a power grid with wind farms in a certain area. The influence of large-scale wind turbines connected to the grid on the transient stability of the power grid is studied according to different types, different capacities of the same type and different manufacturers of the same type of wind turbines.
The Teacher's Dilemma: A Game-Based Approach for Motivating Appropriate Challenge Among Peers

In classroom-based studies, peer tutoring has proved to be an effective learning strategy, both for the tutees and for their peer tutors. Today, the increasingly widespread availability of computers and Internet access in the homes and after-school programs of students offers a new venue for peer learning. In seeking to translate the successes of peer-assisted learning from the classroom to the Internet, one major hurdle to overcome is that of motivation. When teachers are no longer supervising student activity and when participation itself becomes voluntary, peer tutoring protocols may stop being educationally productive. In order to successfully leverage these peer interactions, we must find a way to facilitate and motivate learning among a group of unsupervised peers. In this dissertation, we respond to this challenge by reconceptualizing the interactions among peers within the context of a different medium: that of games. In designing a peer tutoring experience as a two-player game, we gain a valuable set of tools and techniques for affecting student participation, engagement, goals, and strategies. Our contributions: (1) We define a criteria for games—the Teacher's Dilemma criteria—that motivates players to challenge one another with problems of appropriate difficulty; (2) We show three games that satisfy the Teacher's Dilemma criteria when played by rational players under idealized conditions; (3) We demonstrate, using computer simulations of strategic dynamics, that game-play will converge towards meeting these criteria, through time, under more realistic conditions; (4) We design a suite of software that incorporates a Teacher's Dilemma game into several web-based activities for different learning domains; (5) We collect data from thousands of students using these activities, and examine how the games actually affected the game-play strategy and learning among these students. The game-theoretic analysis establishes the possibility for a game-based mechanism for motivating appropriate challenges, the simulations support the plausibility of this approach given non-optimal players, the implemented software systems demonstrate the scalability of this model, and the data analysis supports the real-world applicability of this game-based approach to motivating appropriate challenges for learning among unsupervised peers.
Alternative model for administration and analysis of research-based assessments

Research-based assessments represent a valuable tool for both instructors and researchers interested in improving undergraduate physics education. However, the historical model for disseminating and propagating conceptual and attitudinal assessments developed by the physics education research (PER) community has not resulted in widespread adoption of these assessments within the broader community of physics instructors. Within this historical model, assessment developers create high quality, validated assessments, make them available for a wide range of instructors to use, and provide minimal (if any) support to assist with administration or analysis of the results. Here, we present and discuss an alternative model for assessment dissemination, which is characterized by centralized data collection and analysis. This model provides a greater degree of support for both researchers and instructors in order to more explicitly support adoption of research-based assessments. Specifically, we describe our experiences developing a centralized, automated system for an attitudinal assessment we previously created to examine students' epistemologies and expectations about experimental physics. This system provides a proof-of-concept that we use to discuss the advantages associated with centralized administration and data collection for research-based assessments in PER. We also discuss the challenges that we encountered while developing, maintaining, and automating this system. Ultimately, we argue that centralized administration and data collection for standardized assessments is a viable and potentially advantageous alternative to the default model characterized by decentralized administration and analysis. Moreover, with the help of online administration and automation, this model can support the long-term sustainability of centralized assessment systems.
The Revolutionary American Jury: A Case Study of the 1778-1779 Philadelphia Treason Trials

Between September 1778 and April 1779, twenty-three men were tried in Philadelphia for high treason against the state of Pennsylvania. These trials were aggressively prosecuted by the state in an atmosphere of widespread popular hostility to opponents of the American Revolution. Philadelphia juries, however, convicted only four of these men, a low conviction rate even in an age of widespread jury lenity; moreover, in three of these four cases, the juries petitioned Pennsylvania's executive authority for clemency. Since it is unlikely that most of the defendants were factually innocent, these low conviction rates are a mystery that has never been adequately explained. This Article offers such an explanation, and, in the process, uses these trials as a case study of jury service in late eighteenth-century America. We know surprisingly little about this important subject, as legal historians have focused almost exclusively on the more visible role of judges. Drawing on a wide variety of sources, this Article seeks to remedy this imbalance by providing the most thorough study yet written of a group of eighteenth-century American jurors. The Article demonstrates, for the first time, how eighteenth-century American defense counsel creatively used peremptory challenges, deployed along religious, political, and economic lines, to create favorable juries, composed almost entirely of men who had previously served in treason cases. Through careful study of demographic records, this Article reconstructs the Philadelphia jury box and allows us to identify not only the social status of the jurors, but also the intricate network of connections linking the grand jurors, the trial jurors, and the defendants. It explains how Philadelphia jurors repeatedly balked at the death penalty, effectively nullifying Pennsylvania's capital law of treason. It also examines the subsequent attacks on jury independence triggered by these acquittals, ranging from strident newspaper criticism to a deadly militia attack on the home of James Wilson, signatory to the Declaration of Independence and defense counsel in many of the treason trials. By examining the actions of juries in a convulsive, violent civil war, the Article also illuminates the jury's historical role in balancing liberty and national security, an issue that continues to confront America today.
Purification of yeast actin and actin-associated proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the purification of actin and actin-associated proteins from yeast and presents updated methods for isolating yeast actin and actin-associated proteins that may facilitate the biochemical analyses of the yeast actin cytoskeleton. It also presents a detailed outline of the DNase I affinity method for purifying yeast actin. This method is based on the reconstitution of actin assembly in soluble yeast extracts and allows a one-step isolation of a semi-intact actin cytoskeleton. Some of the most common uses for purified yeast actin are (1) testing the ability of a protein to cosediment with filamentous actin, (2) testing the effects of an actin-binding protein on actin assembly and/or actin disassembly kinetics, (3) determining the structures and/or activities of mutant actins. Using additional chromatography steps, various components can be isolated, providing the opportunity to study the activities of native actin-associated proteins from wild-type and mutant strains.
Ionospheric electrodynamics : A tutorial

This paper gives a tutorial overview of ionospheric electrodynamics, including the observed behavior of ionospheric electric fields and currents, the physics of ionospheric electrical conductivity and Ohm's law, the operation of the ionospheric wind dynamo, and the transfer of energy between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The ionosphere forms an important part of the magnetospheric electrodynamic system. It is a region where ion-neutral collisions cause ions and electrons to move at different velocities across magnetic field lines, thereby violating the frozen-in flux condition and resulting in significant flow of ohmic current. Ionospheric conductivity is a function of the geomagnetic field, the plasma density, and the collision rate. Neutral winds cause generation of electric current through a dynamo effect. The winds result from diurnally varying solar heating, from upward-propagating global atmospheric waves, and from the Ampere force and Joule heating resulting from the electric current flow. Electromagnetic energy flow is normally directed from the magnetosphere into the ionosphere, as can be evaluated with the aid of Poynting's theorem, but strong thermospheric winds can sometimes reverse the direction of this energy flow.
Fabrication of fully released aluminum nitride nanoresonators

Piezoelectric aluminum nitride (AlN) clamped-clamped beam nanoresonators having widths as small as 250 nm have been fabricated. The devices consist of a SiO/sub 2/ structural layer, a platinum bottom electrode, an AlN piezoelectrically active layer, and top platinum driving and sensing electrodes. An additional SiO/sub 2/ layer is used for electrical isolation from the silicon substrate and between the top and bottom electrode traces.
Innovating knowledge communities : An analysis of group collaboration and competition in science and technology ()

A useful level of analysis for the study of innovation may be what we call “knowledge communities”—intellectually cohesive, organic inter-organizational forms. Formal organizations like firms are excellent at promoting cooperation, but knowledge communities are superior at fostering collaboration—the most important process in innovation. Rather than focusing on what encourages performance in formal organizations, we study what characteristics encourage aggregate superior performance in informal knowledge communities in computer science. Specifically, we explore the way knowledge communities both draw on past knowledge, as seen in citations, and use rhetoric, as found in writing, to seek a basis for differential success. We find that when using knowledge successful knowledge communities draw from a broad range of sources and are extremely flexible in changing and adapting. In marked contrast, when using rhetoric successful knowledge communities tend to use very similar vocabularies and language that does not move or adapt over time and is not unique or esoteric compared to the vocabulary of other communities. A better understanding of how inter-organizational collaborative network structures encourage innovation is important to understanding what drives innovation and how to promote it.