cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementing a Healthcare Worker Pertussis Immunization Program: Benefits and Barriers

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program To create an education plan to empower healthcare workers to understand their susceptibility to pertussis and to receive the pertussis vaccination. Proposed Change To increase the number of pertussis immunized healthcare workers from approximately 20% to 90% at one healthcare facility. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation By increasing the number of healthcare workers who have received the pertussis vaccination through a comprehensive healthcare worker pertussis immunization program, the likelihood that a newborn infant and mother would be exposed to pertussis from a healthcare worker would be greatly decreased. This would increase fortify the pertussis cocoon the healthcare facility attempts to establish around the newborn and his/her family. Pertussis immunization also would protect healthcare workers from exposure to pertussis from patients, family members, and visitors. Pertussis infection in newborns carries a significantly high morbidity and mortality rate because these infants are too young to have received their pertussis vaccination. A comparison of healthcare worker immunization rates before and after program implementation will be calculated. A survey of healthcare workers will also be conducted using the Health Belief Model framework to determine their reasons for receiving the pertussis vaccination and the perceived barriers to pertussis immunization. These results will be used to modify the immunization plan to increase adherence. If the healthcare worker immunization rate does not reach the goal of 90% then a mandatory pertussis immunization policy may be implemented. Implications for Nursing Practice Pertussis is a completely preventable disease that can be almost completely eradicated through proper immunization. Currently most healthcare workers are not aware of their potential susceptibility to pertussis or that they could acquire pertussis from patients and individuals in the community in which they live. According to a study by Calagar et al. (2006), healthcare workers are at 1.6 times higher risk of acquiring pertussis than the general population. Increasing pertussis immunization rates for healthcare workers to 90% would protect the healthcare workers, newborns, the newborns’ mothers and family members, other patients and visitors, and the community from pertussis infection. The pertussis healthcare worker immunization plan also could benefit the employee and healthcare facility by decreasing potential employee absence due to pertussis illness.
SIMULTANEOUS ABSORPTION AND OXIDATION OF NO AND SO2 BY AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF SODIUM CHLORITE

Abstract Complete and simultaneous removal of NO and SO2 is achieved in a laboratory bubble column reactor at about room temperature using aqueous solutions of NaClO2 buffered with Na2HPO4and KH2PO4The influence of reaction medium chemistry (pH and concentrations of buffer and NaOH) on NOx and SO2 removal efficiencies was also evaluated. The buffered NaClO2 solution is determined to be more effective in absorbing NOx and SO2 and in controlling chlorine dioxide (ClO2) leakage. The presence of SO2 greatly reduces the scrubbing solution absorption rate for NO as evidenced by shorter breakthrough times, irrespective of the absorbent solution used. The scrubbing solution pH is determined to be very critical in the simultaneous absorption and oxidation of NO and SO2. NO2 control is enhanced significantly as the buffer concentration increases from 0.1 M to 0.5 M, with no NO2 detected in the effluent gas at buffer concentration levels ≥ 0.5 M. Optimal removal efficiencies were observed at the following conditions...
"If these walls could talk": designing with memories of places

This work explores the potential value of using the enormous amount of activity traces latest ubicomp environments have started to capture. We sought to understand potential practices of using these traces in the long term through a field-based study in the USA that examines how today's people use traces left by their predecessors in the houses where they live. We found that our participants received, discovered, and made use of many small traces held by artifacts, people, and building materials. Those traces were used to provide practical assistance to participants' appropriation of their houses as well as to connect participants with the past in an evocative manner. Our analysis highlights the roles played by the social context and the mutability of the house in the experience of remembering the house as well as in shaping participants' attitudes of passing on traces of prior appropriation of the place. To illustrate the design implications of those findings, we offer three design concepts to characterize potential ways of using traces captured by ubicomp environments in the long term.
Role of genetics and drug metabolism in human cancer risk

Abstract The research field concerning responses to drugs having a hereditary basis is called ‘pharmacogenetics’. At least 5 dozen pharmacogenetic polymorphisms have been described in clinical medicine; many are responsible for marked differences in genetic predisposition toward toxicity or cancer. Three are detailed here: the acetylation, the debrisquine, and the AH locus polymorphism. All 3 are very common among the United States' population: 1 in 2 is a ‘slow acetylator’, 1 in 12 is a ‘poor metabolizer’ for more than 2 dozen commonly prescribed drugs in the debrisoquine panel, and the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 (cytochromes P 1 450 and P 3 450 genes are highly inducible by cigarette smoke in 1 of 10 patients. Differences in xenobiotic metabolism between individuals in the same family can be greater than 200-fold, suggesting that occupationally hazardous chemicals, as well as prescribed drugs having a narrow therapeutic window, might cause strikingly dissimilar effects between patients of differing genotypes. Our ultimate goal is ‘preventive toxicology’, i.e. the development of simple, inexpensive, unequivocal and sensitive assays to predict individual risk of toxicity or cancer. These tests could help the individual in choosing a safer life style or place of work and might aid the physician in deciding which drug to prescribe.
Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in bronchogenic carcinoma: considerations for implementation

Abstract Lung cancer continues to be a major health problem worldwide. In spite of significant technological and scientific medical progress, the final outcome of this disease is still dismal. Except for a small percentage of patients with early stage who undergo complete surgical resection, local control continues to be disappointingly low. In a recent report by Arriagada et al. (Arriagada R, Le Chevalier T, Quoix E, Rufie P, de Cremoux H, Douillard J-Y, Tarayre M, Pignon, J-P, LaPlanche, A. Effect of chemotherapy on locally advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma: a randomized study of 353 patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1991; 20: 1183–1190), biopsy proven local control by RT alone was only 17%. This team also found that the addition of combination chemotherapy, although it has decreased distant metastasis, has not had any impact on local control. There are some indications in the literature to suggest that higher doses of radiation to the target volume (tumor) may result in improved local control in inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. This temptation for increasing dose to target volume, however, should not result in inappropriate normal tissue side-effects and complications. Three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiation therapy has shown a significant potential for improving radiation treatment planning in several sites, both for tumor coverage and sparing normal tissue. Using this technology, progress in uncomplicated locoregional control of lung cancer may become a reality. The following is a review of literature and analysis of the currently available information on this subject.
The relationship of social support to psychological adjustment in end-stage renal disease patients

The present study examined the social support system of patients suffering from end stage renal disease. Patients reported receiving considerable support from family, friends, and the medical treatment staff. Patients reported receiving considerably less support from voluntary associations (including religion) and leisure activities. This study also tested the proposition that social support lessens the impact of the stress of kidney disease. Multiple regression analysis indicated that social support variables increased the prediction (i.e. beyond the variance explained by demographic variables) of psychological adjustment. The hypothesis derived from crisis theory that social support would be more predictive of psychological adjustments in patients who recently became ill than in patients who had been ill longer was also supported.
A Coevolutionary Tale

Writing for nonspecialists, Hazen presents the geological and biological history of our planet from the perspective of his "mineral evolution" hypothesis.
Study of impact demagnetization at Mars using Monte Carlo modeling and multiple altitude data

[1] The magnetic field signatures of large demagnetized impact basins on Mars offer a unique opportunity to study the magnetic properties of the crust and the processes of basin formation and impact shock demagnetization. We present a framework for determining the effects on such signatures due to the dominant direction, strength, thickness, and vertical and horizontal coherence wavelengths of the surrounding crustal magnetization, as well as the demagnetization radius and the width of the demagnetization gradient zone caused by impact shock. By comparing model results with observed magnetic field profiles at 185 km and 400 km over the five largest apparently demagnetized impact structures, we find that (1) the dominant lateral size of coherently magnetized regions of crust falls in the range ∼325 km to 600 km, (2) the magnetic field observed over a circular demagnetized region is such that clear demagnetization signatures should only be visible in magnetic field maps at 185 km and 400 km altitude for demagnetization diameters larger than ∼600 km and ∼1000 km, respectively, (3) demagnetization radii can be meaningfully constrained despite relatively poor constraints on associated demagnetization gradient zone widths, (4) the ratio of demagnetization diameter to the outer topographic ring diameter is close to 0.8 for the Isidis, Hellas, Argyre, and Utopia basins, suggesting that similar basin-forming and shock demagnetization processes occurred in each of these four ancient impacts, and (5) if used in conjunction with impact simulations, such modeling may lead to improved constraints on peak pressure contours and impact energies for these basins.
Nonideal Phenomena in Countercurrent Distribution

Abstract An equation is presented that predicts the number of inputs required to produce a step-function (frontal) output in countercurrent distribution (CCD). When a portion of both phases is transported during experiments, the published equations for CCD are inappropriate. Expressions have been derived that predict the properties of elution and frontal outputs when biphasic flow occurs. When phase volumes and partition coefficients vary during the course of the distribution, computer simulation of the process, using the appropriate ternary phase diagram becomes necessary for adequate prediction of solute profiles. Shifts in position, shape, and height of frontal outputs and the nature of excess lower phase in the effluent are predicted and compare well with experimental results.
Core-annular flow of liquid membrane emulsion

A modeling and experimental study of the core-annular flow (CAF) was carried out with a viscous liquid membrane emulsion as the core and an aqueous solution as the annulus. A hydrodynamic model has been developed for stable CAF with a centered, nondeformable core surrounded by a turbulent aqueous annulus with or without a drag reducer. This model has been verified with data from flow tests with viscous emulsions in a horizontal flow loop of 3/4-in. (19-mm) tubing and a fullscale, down-hole well tubing of 2-7/8 in. (73 mm). By the use of this model along with the data, the effects of annular size on total and core flow rates and pressure drop are investigated for annuli with and without a drag reducer.
Revision Surgery Following Operations for Lumbar Stenosis

Background: For carefully selected patients with lumbar stenosis, decompression surgery is more efficacious than nonoperative treatment. However, some patients undergo repeat surgery, often because of complications, the failure to achieve solid fusion following arthrodesis procedures, or persistent symptoms. We assessed the probability of repeat surgery following operations for the treatment of lumbar stenosis and examined its association with patient age, comorbidity, previous surgery, and the type of surgical procedure. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of Medicare claims. The index operation was performed in 2004 (n = 31,543), with follow-up obtained through 2008. Operations were grouped by complexity as decompression alone, simple arthrodesis (one or two disc levels and a single surgical approach), or complex arthrodesis (more than two disc levels or combined anterior and posterior approach). Reoperation rates were calculated for each follow-up year, and the time to reoperation was analyzed with proportional hazards models. Results: The probability of repeat surgery fell with increasing patient age or comorbidity. Aside from age, the strongest predictor was previous lumbar surgery: at four years the reoperation rate was 17.2% among patients who had had lumbar surgery prior to the index operation, compared with 10.6% among those with no prior surgery (p < 0.001). At one year, the reoperation rate for patients who had been managed with decompression alone was slightly higher than that for patients who had been managed with simple arthrodesis, but by four years the rates for these two groups were identical (10.7%) and were lower than the rate for patients who had been managed with complex arthrodesis (13.5%) (p < 0.001). This difference persisted after adjusting for demographic and clinical features (hazard ratio for complex arthrodesis versus decompression 1.56, 95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 1.92). A device-related complication was reported at the time of 29.2% of reoperations following an initial arthrodesis procedure. Conclusions: The likelihood of repeat surgery for spinal stenosis declined with increasing age and comorbidity, perhaps because of concern for greater risks. The strongest clinical predictor of repeat surgery was a lumbar spine operation prior to the index operation. Arthrodeses were not significantly associated with lower rates of repeat surgery after the first postoperative year, and patients who had had complex arthrodeses had the highest rate of reoperations. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Vesicle-mediated steroid hormone secretion in Drosophila melanogaster.

Steroid hormones are a large family of cholesterol derivatives regulating development and physiology in both the animal and plant kingdoms, but little is known concerning mechanisms of their secretion from steroidogenic tissues. Here, we present evidence that in Drosophila, endocrine release of the steroid hormone ecdysone is mediated through a regulated vesicular trafficking mechanism. Inhibition of calcium signaling in the steroidogenic prothoracic gland results in the accumulation of unreleased ecdysone, and the knockdown of calcium-mediated vesicle exocytosis components in the gland caused developmental defects due to deficiency of ecdysone. Accumulation of synaptotagmin-labeled vesicles in the gland is observed when calcium signaling is disrupted, and these vesicles contain an ABC transporter that functions as an ecdysone pump to fill vesicles. We propose that trafficking of steroid hormones out of endocrine cells is not always through a simple diffusion mechanism as presently thought, but instead can involve a regulated vesicle-mediated release process.
Tris(trimethylsilyl)silane and diphenylsilane in the radical chain dideoxygenation of 1,6-anhydro-D-glucose: A comparative study

Abstract The 2,4-bis-thinocarbonate 3 of 1,6-anyhydro-D-glucose 1 can be transformed to the corresponding dideoxy compound 5 with diphenylsilane 7 as well as with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane 4 in a radical chain reaction.
Morphology of late Quaternary submarine landslides along the U.S. Atlantic continental margin

article The nearly complete coverage of the U.S. Atlantic continental slope and rise by multibeam bathymetry and backscatter imagery provides an opportunity to reevaluate the distribution of submarine landslides along the margin and reassess the controls on their formation. Landslides can be divided into two categories based on their source areas: those sourced in submarine canyons and those sourced on the open continental slope and rise. Landslide distribution is in part controlled by the Quaternary history of the margin. They cover 33% of the continental slope and rise of the glacially influenced New England margin, 16% of the sea floor offshore of the fluvially dominated Middle Atlantic margin, and 13% of the sea floor south of Cape Hatteras. The headwall scarps of open-slope sourced landslides occur mostly on the lower slope and upper rise while they occur mostly on the upper slope in the canyon-sourced ones. The deposits from both landslide categories are generally thin (mostly 20-40 m thick) and comprised primarily of Quaternary material, but the volumes of the open-slope sourced landslide deposits can be larger (1-392 km 3 ) than the canyon- sourced ones (1-10 km 3 ). The largest failures are located seaward of shelf-edge deltas along the southern New England margin and near salt domes that breach the sea floor south of Cape Hatteras. The spatial distribution of landslides indicates that earthquakes associated with rebound of the glaciated part of the margin or earthquakes associated with salt domes were probably the primary triggering mechanism although other processes may have pre-conditioned sediments for failure. The largest failures and those that have the potential to generate the largest tsunamis are the open-slope sourced landslides. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Appetite‐focused dialectical behavior therapy for the treatment of binge eating with purging: A preliminary trial

Objective: This treatment development study investigated the acceptability and efficacy of a modified version of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for bulimia nervosa (BN), entitled appetite focused DBT (DBT-AF). Method: Thirty-two women with binge/ purge episodes at least one time per week were randomly assigned to 12 weekly sessions of DBT-AF (n 5 18) or to a 6-week delayed treatment control (n 5 14). Participants completed the EDE interview and self-report measures at baseline, 6 weeks, and posttreatment. Results: Treatment attrition was low, and DBT-AF was rated highly acceptable. At 6 weeks, participants who were receiving DBT-AF reported significantly fewer BN symptoms than controls. At posttest, 26.9% of the 26 individuals who entered treatment (18 initially assigned and 8 from the delayed treatment control) were abstinent from binge/purge episodes for the past month; 61.5% no longer met full or subthreshold criteria for BN. Participants demonstrated a rapid rate of response to treatment and achieved clinically significant change.
Investigation of a Multi-Anode Microchannel Plate PMT for Time-of-Flight PET

We report on an investigation of a mulit-anode microchannel plate PMT for time-of-flight PET detector modules. The primary advantages of an MCP lie in its excellent timing properties (fast rise time and low transit time spread), compact size, and reasonably large active area, thus making it a good candidate for TOF applications. In addition, the anode can be segmented into an array of collection electrodes with fine pitch to attain good position sensitivity. In this paper, we investigate using the Photonis Planacon MCP-PMT with a pore size of 10 μm to construct a PET detector module, specifically for time-of-flight applications. We measure the single electron response by exciting the Planacon with pulsed laser diode. We also measure the performance of the Planacon as a PET detector by coupling a 4nmmt4nmmt10nmm LSO crystal to individual pixel to study its gain uniformity, energy resolution, and timing resolution. The rise time of the Planacon is 440 ps with pulse duration of about 1 ns. A transit time spread of 120 ps FWHM is achieved. The gain is fairly uniform across the central region of the Planacon, but drops off by as much as a factor of 2.5 around the edges. The energy resolution is fairly uniform across the Planacon with an average value of 18.6 ± 0.7% FWHM. While the average timing resolution of 252 ± 7 ps FWHM is achieved in the central region of the Planacon, it degrades to 280 ± 9 ps FWHM for edge pixels and 316 ± 15 ps FWHM for corner pixels. We compare the results with measurements performed with a fast timing conventional PMT (Hamamatsu R-9800). We find that the R9800, which has significantly higher PDE, has a better timing resolution than the Planacon. Furthermore, we perform detector simulations to calculate the improvement that can be achieved with a higher PDE Planacon. The calculation shows that the Planacon can achieve significantly better timing resolution if it can attain the same PDE as the R-9800, while only a 30% improvement is needed to yield a similar timing resolution as the R-9800.
Beitrag zur Theorie des Dünnschichtverdampfers

In der Literatur(1) wurde der Versuch unternommen, Zusammenhange zur Vorausberechnung von Dunnschichtverdampfern bei binarem Gemisch anzugeben. Dabei wurde zur Losung der aufgestellten Differentialgleichungen eine vereinfachende Annahme gemacht, welche die Allgemeingultigkeit einschrankt. Hier werden allgemeingultigere Beziehungen abgeleitet. An einem Beispiel wird gezeigt, welche Unterschiede beide Verfahren ergeben.
CSRI-an expert system tool and its applications

CSRL is a tool for building expert systems for the generic task of classification. It provides programming constructs to organize knowledge and to encode control strategies for the expert system to perform its classification problem solving. During the design phase, CSRL provides the framework for the designers to focus on the application and formalize the classification aspect. The programming phase is almost trivial, given the language constructs of CSRL. If the application for which an expert system is being designed is largely a classification task, then CSRL is an ideal tool. CSRL's language constructs are described, and its advantages are discussed. Several industrial applications of CSRL are described. >
Increasing Incidence of Legionellosis in the United States, 1990–2005: Changing Epidemiologic Trends

Background. An abrupt increase in the incidence of legionellosis in the United States has been noted since 2003. Whether the recent increase is associated with shifting epidemiologic trends has not been well characterized. Methods. We analyzed all cases of legionellosis reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System from 1990 through 2005. Results. A total of 23,076 cases of legionellosis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1990 through 2005. The number of reported cases increased by 70% from 1310 cases in 2002 to 2223 cases in 2003, with a sustained increase to 12000 cases per year from 2003 through 2005. The eastern United States showed most of the increases in age-adjusted incidence rates after 2002, with the mean rate in the Middle Atlantic states during 2003–2005 exceeding that during 1990–2002 by 96%. During 2000–2005, legionellosis cases were most commonly reported in persons aged 45–64 years. Persons aged !65 years comprised 63% of total cases in 2000–2005. Age-adjusted incidence rates in males exceeded those in females for all age groups and years. Legionellosis incidence showed marked seasonality in eastern states, with most cases reported in the summer or fall. Conclusions. Reported legionellosis cases have increased substantially in recent years, particularly in the eastern United States and among middle-aged adults. Legionella infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with pneumonia. Public health professionals should focus increased attention on detection and prevention of this important and increasing public health problem.
THE TWO-SIGNAL MODEL AND 'SELF'-REACTIVITY : ARE THEY REALLY COMPATIBLE ? A REPLY TO FARO& CARNEIRO

Given that the associative recognition of antigen (two signal) model permits a certain level of 'autoreactivity', Faro & Carneiro argue that this unavoidable 'autoreactivity' is required as part of the regulation of the general physiology of the animal. This paper gives the author's reply pointing out two facets of the functioning of the immune system. (1) Under an associative recognition of antigen model, the scenarios of B-cell activation postulated by them are ruled out. (2) There is no way to use a destructive ridding effector function to regulate the self/non-self discrimination because autoimmune reactivity would accompany any postulated regulatory mechanism.
Epidemiological profile of patients admitted with closed fractures of shaft of tibia in a tertiary government hospital

Nutrition is the focal point of health and well-being. Nutrition is directly linked to human resource development, pro¬ductivity and ultimately to the national growth. Malnutrition is a complex phenomenon. It is both the cause and effect of poverty and ill health, and follows a cyclical, inter-generational pattern. It is inextricably linked with illiteracy, especially female illiteracy, ignorance, ill health, lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation (Krishnaswamy: 2004). It creates its own cycle within the large cycle of poverty. The aim of the paper is to give status of surveillance of nutrition in India.
USING EHR DATA TO DYNAMICALLY PREDICT INCIDENCE OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED PRESSURE ULCERS: Table 1

Background Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) are costly to treat and can result in Medicare reimbursement penalties. Statistical models can identify patients at greatest HAPU risk and improve prevention. Objectives To use electronic health record (EHR) data to predict HAPUs among hospitalized patients. Methods EHR data were obtained from an academic medical center that included hospitalized patients with at least 1 skin examination between 2011–2014. These data contained encounter-level demographic variables, diagnoses, prescription drugs and provider orders. HAPUs were defined by stages III, IV or unstageable pressure ulcers not present-on-admission as a secondary diagnosis, and excluded diagnosis of paraplegia/quadriplegia. Random forests and k-means clustering were applied to reduce the dimensionality of the large dataset. A 2-level mixed-effects logistic regression of patient-encounters evaluated associations between covariates and HAPU incidence (Equation 1). Results The approach produced a sample population of 23,054 patients with 1,549 HAPUs. The mixed-effects model predicted HAPUs with exceptional (99%) accuracy for a rare event (table 1). The greatest odds ratio (OR) of HAPU incidence was among patients diagnosed with spinal cord injury (ICD-9 907.2: OR=247.4; P<0.001). Other high ORs included osteomyelitis (ICD-9 730: OR=27.7, P<0.001), bed confinement (ICD-9 V49.84: OR=31.7, P<0.001), and prescribed topical/subcutaneous enzymes (OR=5.7, P<0.001). Conclusions Early detection of HAPUs is feasible and the results of these statistical predictions can allow providers to better target prevention to specific patients. This model also implicates spinal cord injury as a potential risk-factor for unavoidable HAPUs. Providers may be missing opportunities to co-diagnose spinal cord injury with paraplegia/quadriplegia which could improve hospital performance measures. Equation 1. Mixed-effects Logistic Regression Model Level-1: Encounter-level Fixed Effects ![Formula][1] Level-2: Patient/Cluster-level Random Effect![Formula][2] Where··· i: Patient j: Encounter[⇓][3] View this table: Table 1 Results of 2-level Mixed-effects Logistic Regression and population-average estimates for HAPU incidence by patient-encounter. [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/graphic-2.gif [3]: #T1
Micromechanics-Based Modeling of Interfacial Debonding in Multilayer Structures

Classical approaches to modeling fracture have proved successful in applications for which the highly deformed region near a crack tip is small compared to any other relevant dimensions in the structure. The classical theory relies on phenomenological criteria for material failure that lack a physics-based description of the fracture process itself. Small scale, thin film structures pose difficulties for analysis by these approaches because they contain complicated geometry and many interfaces within the fracture process zone itself. Moreover, plastic flow in metal layers is often severely constrained by the surrounding structure, causing the plastic dissipation part of the overall fracture energy consumed by debonding to be a strong function of geometry. Therefore, it can no longer be regarded as an intrinsic material property. To improve the fracture characterization of these structures, one must develop a physically sound methodology capable of separating the contribution of plastic flow, and other sources of dissipation, from the work of adhesion consumed at the crack tip. In this study, we investigate the parameters affecting energy dissipation by interfacial debonding in a multilayered structure. Interlayer decohesion is modeled using the Virtual Internal Bond constitutive model. We compare our predicted variations in the macroscopic fracture energy with experimental results for varying layer geometry. We also characterize the effect of variations in material properties and other experimental uncertainties in the resulting debonding behavior.
Society of Behavioral Medicine’s (SBM) position on emerging policy issues regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS): A need for regulation

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), are widely available in the USA, yet almost entirely unregulated on a national level. Researchers are currently gathering data to understand the individual and public health effects of ENDS, as well as the role that ENDS may play in tobacco treatment. Given these uncertainties, regulatory efforts should be aimed at understanding and minimizing any potential harms of ENDS. The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) supports stronger regulation of ENDS, incorporation of ENDS into clean air policies, and special consideration of safety standards to protect vulnerable populations. SBM also supports research on ENDS to guide policy decisions.
NATO Decision-Making: The ‘Consensus Rule’ Endures Despite Challenges

Decision-making by consensus is practised within a range of international organizations, including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, European Union, and International Monetary Fund. In these organizations, consensus is not the only form of decision-making, however. Specific provisions exist to reach decisions by alternative means (for example, majority or weighted voting) or to formally block a proposal altogether, for example through exercising a veto in the UN Security Council (Movsisyan 2008;Payton 2010). In NATO, however, decision-making by consensus is so deeply rooted in the ethos of the Alliance that it permeates all layers of its deliberations and practical procedures, although the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty does not specify (with a single exception) how collective decisions are to be made (NATO 1949).
Numerical analysis of breaking depth of coal floor caused by mining pressure

With coal resources are exploited and deepened, mining above aquifer has already became a coal mining method generally employed in deep mine of China. So the problem of coal floor inrush water becomes more serious. Water inrush coefficient theory, as evaluating the fatalness of coal floor inrush water, is a primary basis of mining above aquifer. Making sure that strata pressure causes the destructive deepness of coal floor,it is important to obtain reliable water inrush coefficient value. According to exploiting practice of Chengjiao coal mine,this paper utilized F-RFPA2D software to carry out the analysis of numerical simulation about destructive deepness of coal floor, dynamically reproducing the destructive course of coal floor, and obtaining the destructive depth to coal floor during the different course of strata pressure.
Hox genes and evolution

Hox proteins are a deeply conserved group of transcription factors originally defined for their critical roles in governing segmental identity along the antero-posterior (AP) axis in Drosophila. Over the last 30 years, numerous data generated in evolutionarily diverse taxa have clearly shown that changes in the expression patterns of these genes are closely associated with the regionalization of the AP axis, suggesting that Hox genes have played a critical role in the evolution of novel body plans within Bilateria. Despite this deep functional conservation and the importance of these genes in AP patterning, key questions remain regarding many aspects of Hox biology. In this commentary, we highlight recent reports that have provided novel insight into the origins of the mammalian Hox cluster, the role of Hox genes in the generation of a limbless body plan, and a novel putative mechanism in which Hox genes may encode specificity along the AP axis. Although the data discussed here offer a fresh perspective, it is clear that there is still much to learn about Hox biology and the roles it has played in the evolution of the Bilaterian body plan.
El Niño's impact on California precipitation: seasonality, regionality, and El Niño intensity

California has experienced severe drought in recent years posing great challenges to agricultural production, water resources, and land management. El Nino, as the prime source of seasonal to interannual climate predictability, offers the potential of amelioration of drought in California. Here El Nino's impacts on California winter precipitation are examined, focusing on variations by season, region, and the strength of El Nino using observational data for the period 1901–2010. The El Nino influence on California precipitation strengthens from early to late winter and is stronger in the south than the north. Eight of ten moderate-to-strong El Ninos in the late winter put southern California in the wettest tercile and none of these ten events put northern California in the driest tercile. The early to late winter strengthening of the El Nino impact on precipitation occurs even as El Nino weakens and is associated with a strengthening and eastward extending tropical deep convection anomaly allowed by the late winter warming of the climatological mean sea surface temperature over the tropical eastern Pacific.
Ovarian carcinoma; a review of 200 primary and 51 secondary cases.

Abstract 1. 1. Two hundred cases of primary carcinoma of the ovary with at least fiveyear follow-up are presented. The papillary serous cystadenocarcinomas make up almost two-thirds of the total series. 2. 2. The five-year over-all survival rates are 30.8 per cent absolute and 27.5 per cent relative. 3. 3. The so-called borderline papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor. 4. 4. Prognosis depends chiefly upon the histogenetic type of tumor and upon the histological degree of malignancy, both of which largely control the clinical extent of disease. Ovarian tumors of low-grade histological malignancy have the most favorable prognosis. Similarly, tumors still confined to the adnexa are most favorable to treat. Clinical extent of disease is usually greater in tumors of high-grade histological malignancy. 5. 5. The following tumors are regarded as being of low-grade histological malignancy; papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma, borderline and Grade I; most papillary pseudomucinous cystadenocarcinomas; and most granulosa cell tumors. The best chances for survival occur in these cases. 6. 6. Complete surgical removal of the internal genitals remains the treatment of choice in ovarian carcinoma. Conservative surgery is rarely justifiable. 7. 7. Radiation therapy has a definite place in the treatment of certain cases of ovarian carcinoma chiefly to prolong survival time and perhaps occasionally (although rarely) to cure residual disease. It should be administered to all patients with tumors of high-grade histological malignancy even if localized to one or both ovaries. It seems of no value in tumors of low-grade histological malignancy unless there is operative evidence of spread beyond the ovaries; in the latter event, x-ray should be given. It should be given to all patients with extension of tumor beyond the ovaries regardless of the amount of spread and regardless of histological type.
Investigation of gas dispersion characteristics in stirred tank and flotation cell using a corrected CFD-PBM quadrature-based moment method approach

Abstract In this study, the population balance model (PBM) is coupled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the steady-state bubble size distribution in two types of process equipment namely, a standard Rushton turbine stirred tank reactor and a generic lab-scale flotation cell. The coupling is realized using Fluent 15.07 software, and the numerical model is validated for the stirred tank reactor. The population balance equation (PBE) is solved using the quadrature method of moments (QMOM) technique along with a correction procedure implemented to check and correct invalid moment sets. The breakage and coalescence of bubbles due to turbulence are considered. The breakage rate and daughter size distribution models proposed by Laakkonen et al. (2007) are considered. For modeling coalescence rate, models proposed by Coulaloglou and Tavlarides (1977) are considered. The interaction between the phases is handled by considering the drag model proposed by Lane et al. (2005) while ignoring the other interphase forces. The correction algorithm has been successfully implemented, and improved predictions of gas volume fraction and Sauter mean diameter (SMD, d 32 ) have been observed with a good match between the predictions and experimental measurements. The local SMD predictions are compared against predictions from the past studies and the superiority of the current approach for moderate gassing rates is established. The CFD-PBM approach is then used to study and characterize different flow regimes occurring in a generic mechanical flotation cell at different aeration rates and impeller rotation speeds. Also, power numbers are calculated from torque data and are found to drop considerably with an increase in aeration rate and impeller rotation speed as the flow regime approaches recirculating flow. The predicted SMD for flotation cell indicates that smaller bubbles are concentrated near the high turbulence impeller stream, the lower recirculation region, and close to the tank walls. On the other hand, large bubbles are formed in the upper tank region and are concentrated around the shaft during the flooding, loading, and transition flow regimes. In the future, the corrected QMOM approach will be further extended by implementing kinetic models capable of predicting the flotation rate constant using local bubble size information obtained from CFD-PBM simulations.
SU-G-IeP1-07: Inaccuracy of Lesion Blood Flow Quantification Related to the Proton Density Reference Image in Arterial Spin Labeling MRI of Brain Tumors

Purpose: Cerebral blood flow quantification in arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI requires an estimate of the equilibrium magnetization of blood, which is often obtained by a set of proton density (PD) reference image. Normally, a constant blood-brain partition coefficient is assumed across the brain. However, this assumption may not be valid for brain lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of lesion-related PD variations on ASL quantification in patients with brain tumors. Methods: MR images for posttreatment evaluation of 42 patients with brain tumors were retrospectively analyzed. These images were acquired on a 3T MRI scanner, including T2-weighted FLAIR, 3D pseudo-continuous ASL and post-contrast T1-weighted images. Anatomical images were coregistered with ASL images using the SPM software. Regions of interest (ROIs) of the enhancing and FLAIR lesions were manually drawn on the coregistered images. ROIs of the contralateral normal appearing tissues were also determined, with the consideration of approximating coil sensitivity patterns in lesion ROIs. Relative lesion blood flow (lesion/contralateral tissue) was calculated from both the CBF map (dependent on the PD) and the ΔM map for comparison. Results: The signal intensities in both enhancing and FLAIR lesions were significantly different than contralateral tissues on the PD reference image (p<0.001). The percent signal difference ranged from −15.9 to 19.2%, with a mean of 5.4% for the enhancing lesion, and from −2.8 to 22.9% with a mean of 10.1% for the FLAIR lesion. The high/low lesion-related PD signal resulted in inversely proportional under-/over-estimation of blood flow in both enhancing and FLAIR lesions. Conclusion: Significant signal differences were found between lesions and contralateral tissues in the PD reference image, which introduced errors in blood flow quantification in ASL. The error can be up to 20% in individual patients with an average of 5- 10% for the group of patients with brain tumors.
Energy efficient, context-aware cache coding for mobile information-centric networks

In a mobile, intermittently connected information-centric network (ICN), users download files either from the original source or from caches assembled during previous downloads. Network coding has helped to increase download robustness and overcome "missing coupon" delays. Prior work has also shown that network coding depletes energy resources much faster than no coding. Our contribution here is to make coding more efficient, and to detect when it is not necessary, in order to prolong the life of mobile handhelds.In the network coding context, Cache Coding (i.e., coding performed only on fully cached files) can prevent pollution attacks without significantly reducing diversity and performance with respect to unrestricted code mixing. Cache Coding introduces the first important means to reduce energy consumption by avoiding the extremely processor-intensive homomorphic code used in conventional unrestricted mixing networks. Our second contribution is to detect when Cache Coding is not required and disable it to save precious energy. The proposed Context-Aware Cache Coding (CACC) toggles between using Cache Coding and no coding based on the current network context (e.g., mobility, error rates, file size, etc). Our CACC implementation on Android devices demonstrates that the new scheme improves upon network coding's file delivery rate while keeping energy consumption in check.
Revisiting comparative planning cultures: is culture a reactionary rhetoric?

In The rhetoric of reaction: Perversity, futility, and jeopardy Albert Hirschman (1991) traced six arguments which were commonly used by politically conservative policymakers to discredit progressi...
The Clinical Significance of Alterations in Transaminase Activities of Serum and Other Body Fluids

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the mechanisms of alterations in serum transaminase activity, and discusses the clinical significance of alterations in transminase activity of serum and other body fluids. Extensive biochemical studies of enzymatic transamination have foreshadowed the clinical implications of transaminase activity in body fluids. Although a number of transaminase activities have been demonstrated in human serum (M2), the two serum transaminases currently of clinical import are serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGO-T) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGP-T). Both serum enzymes have been measured chromatographically , spectrophotometrically, and colorimetrically. Significant alterations of these serum enzymes have been observed during the course of cardiac, hepatic, and muscular diseases, and reflected enzyme changes at the intracellular level of the respective tissues. Although a multiplicity of diseases is associated with serum transaminase elevations, diagnostic aid is afforded when these serum enzyme alterations are correlated with the clinical facts. The chapter demonstrates that the assessment of the clinical significance of alterations in transaminase activity in body fluids other than serum requires further study.
Time Trends and Predictors of Abnormal Postoperative Body Temperature in Infants Transported to the Intensive Care Unit.

Background. Despite increasing adoption of active warming methods over the recent years, little is known about the effectiveness of these interventions on the occurrence of abnormal postoperative temperatures in sick infants. Methods. Preoperative and postoperative temperature readings, patient characteristics, and procedural factors of critically ill infants at a single institution were retrieved retrospectively from June 2006 until May 2014. The primary endpoints were the incidence and trend of postoperative hypothermia and hyperthermia on arrival at the intensive care units. Univariate and adjusted analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with abnormal postoperative temperatures. Results. 2,350 cases were included. 82% were normothermic postoperatively, while hypothermia and hyperthermia each occurred in 9% of cases. During the study period, hypothermia decreased from 24% to 2% ( ) while hyperthermia remained unchanged (13% in 2006, 8% in 2014, ). Factors independently associated with hypothermia were higher ASA status ( ), lack of intraoperative convective warming ( ) and procedure date before 2010 ( ). Independent associations for postoperative hyperthermia included lower body weight ( ) and procedure date before 2010 ( ). Conclusions. We report an increase in postoperative normothermia rates in critically ill infants from 2006 until 2014. Careful monitoring to avoid overcorrection and hyperthermia is recommended.