cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Satisfaction with ambulatory care of persons with AIDS: predictors of patient ratings of quality

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation of patient characteristics and site of care to the perception of ambulatory care quality by persons with AIDS (PWAs). DESIGN: Patient surveys and medical record review were used to determine PWAs’ perceptions of their ambulatory care, self-perceived health status, primary care relationships, sociodemographic characteristics, and severity of illness. SETTING: A public-hospital HIV clinic, an academic group practice, and a staff-model health maintenance organization (HMO) that together care for 20% of all Massachusetts PWAs. PATIENTS: All active patients as of February 12, 1990, and all new AIDS patients at each of the three sites during the subsequent 13 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN BESULTS: The primary outcome measure was a six-item scale of patient-rated quality of care (PRQC), a newly developed measure that combined patients’ ratings of their physician care, nursing care, involvement in medical decisions, and overall quality of care. Multiple logistic regression was carried out with low PRQC (lowest quart He) as the dependent variable, to identify correlates of patient perceptions of poor quality. Patients who had a primary nurse were significantly less likely to have low PRQC scores (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.26 to 0.97). Black patients and patients who used injection drugs were significantly more likely to rate their care in the lowest quartile (OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.04 to 4.78; and OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.13 to 5.23, respectively), as were those who had lower self-perceived health status, after controlling for confounders; no association was found by site or severity. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that primary nursing may be an important determinant of how PWAs rate the quality of their ambulatory care. Furthermore, PWAs who are black or who are injection drug users are less satisfied than are others with the quality of their ambulatory AIDS care.
MobiDiC: Exploiting the untapped potential of mobile distributed computing via approximation

Mobile computing is one of the largest untapped reservoirs in today's pervasive computing world as it has the potential to enable a variety of in-situ, real-time applications. Yet, this computing paradigm suffers when the available resources — such as device battery, CPU cycles, memory, I/O data rate — are limited. In this paper, the new paradigm of approximate computing is proposed to harness such potential and to enable real-time computation-intensive mobile applications in resource-limited and uncertain environments. A reduction in time and energy consumed by an application is obtained via approximate computing by decreasing the amount of computation needed by different tasks in an application; such improvement, however, comes with the potential loss in accuracy. Hence, a Mobile Distributed Computing framework, MobiDiC, is introduced to determine offline the ‘approximable’ tasks in an application and a light-weight algorithm is devised to select the approximate version of the tasks in an application during run-time. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through extensive simulation and testbed experiments by comparing approximate versus exact-computation performance.
Depression in nursing home residents

Although their extent remains unclear, major and minor depressions are widespread in the nursing home population. This statement appears intuitively to be correct when consideration is given to the inactivity, decline in functional competence, loss of personal autonomy, and unavoidable confrontation with the process of death and dying that are associated with nursing home placement. In addition, some nursing home residents have had previous episodes of depression or are admitted to the facility already dysthymic or with other chronic forms of the illness. Such circumstances provide a favorable culture for the development and persistence of depressive illness. When the high frequency of other psychiatric disorders among nursing home residents is factored in, it is not surprising that long-term health care facilities have come to be regarded as de facto psychiatric hospitals. Nursing homes largely lack the treatment resources of psychiatric hospitals, however. Nursing home physicians are often unprepared to make psychiatric diagnoses, and a perfunctory annual psychiatric evaluation is insufficient to manage the complex depression syndromes of nursing home residents. Because nursing home psychiatrists typically work on a consultation basis, recommendations are not necessarily acted upon by the primary physicians. The consequences of undiagnosed and untreated depression are substantial. From the psychiatric perspective, the possibility that depression increases the risk for eventual development of permanent dementia highlights the importance of early identification for cases of reversible dementia. From the rehabilitation point of view, persistent depression among individuals with physical dependency following a catastrophic illness is associated with failure to improve in physical functioning. Depression can probably be linked to increased medical morbidity in nursing home residents, a relationship that also has been suggested for elderly medical inpatients. If so, the use of nursing time and other health-care facility services would be greater for depressed than nondepressed residents, and financial costs would be higher as well. Finally, recent data point to increased mortality in nursing home residents with major depressive disorder. It is apparent that depression in long-term care facilities is a condition with doubtful prognosis and negative medical, social, and financial consequences. The highest costs of all may be paid by nursing home residents who experience the unrelieved suffering of depressive illness. Only epidemiologic research using standard diagnostic criteria and direct resident assessment will adequately establish the magnitude of the need for intervention among depressed residents in long-term care.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The economics of nutrition planning.

The development and utilization of economics-based nutrition models should be an area of fruitful cooperative research by economists and dietitians.
Pathogenesis of anti-Ro/SS-A autoantibody-associated cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Patients with several clinically distinctive types of cutaneous LE (e.g., SCLE, neonatal LE) frequently are found to have autoantibodies to the Ro RNP particle present in their circulation. Some studies suggest that these antibodies might be capable of directly triggering the type of histopathologic changes seen in SCLE and neonatal LE through immunologic effector mechanisms such as ADCC. Other investigative results, however, are not compatible with this hypothesis. A better understanding of the molecular configuration of the Ro small cellular RNP particle, the factors that regulate the expression of this complex autoantigen system in epidermal keratinocytes, and the overall pathogenetic potential of the Ro autoimmune response should provide some insight into this seeming paradox.
The Third Extracellular Loop of the β2-Adrenergic Receptor Can Modulate Receptor/G Protein Affinity

Chimeric receptors of the β 2 -adrenergic receptor in which the extracellular loops were replaced with the corresponding amino acids of the α 1a -adrenergic receptor were generated to measure changes in α 1 -antagonist affinity. Although no changes in α 1 -antagonist affinity were measured in the β 2 /α 1a chimeras, a decreased IC 50 (10-fold) for agonists as compared with wild type β 2 control was found because of the replacement of the third extracellular loop (EX3). These agonist high affinity changes were because of a greater proportion of high affinity sites (2-fold) that were convertible to low affinity sites with guanosine 5′-3- O -(thio)triphosphate. Adenylate cyclase activity evoked by the EX3 chimera showed commensurate increases in the basal signal transduction as well as the isoproterenol-stimulated potency, suggesting constitutive activity. However, unlike other constitutively active adrenergic receptor mutants in which the mutation causes G protein-independent changes, the mechanism of the EX3 chimera seems to be attributable to a greater ease with which the active ternary complex is formed because of a higher affinity/coupling of the G protein. Although the changes because of EX3 are indirect and most likely affect helical packing, they support an emerging hypothesis that G protein-coupled receptors have evolved their structure-function relationships to constrain the receptor in an inactive state.
Total heat loss as a predictor of physiological response in wildland firefighter gear

In most types of protective clothing heat strain is an important issue. The wildland firefighter clothing system in the USA has seen no major revision over the last decades. In this project the wil...
Training engaged student employees: A small college library experience

ABSTRACTStudent employees are often the first people patrons contact when they enter an academic library, and thus their knowledge level and service skills are crucial to academic library success. This article presents a case study of the job-related knowledge and customer service skills of undergraduate student employees in a small liberal arts college after the implementation of a training program more focused on patron service. Both successes and failures are discussed.
Clinical Reasoning: A 64-year-old man with visual distortions

A 64-year-old right-handed man presented to the emergency department with a 4-week history of bilateral blurred and distorted vision. He reported that objects in his central visual field appeared to change shape and were disproportionately large or small. He also reported intermittent flashes of light with altered color perception. His medical history was notable for prostate cancer treated with prostatectomy, Bell palsy at age 25, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and bilateral refractive errors. His family had also noted intermittent episodes of confusion and anger over the preceding weeks along with difficulty recognizing family members. He endorsed minimal right-sided periorbital headache but reported no diplopia, weakness, paresthesiae, numbness, speech changes, or history of similar symptoms. He had no recent history of fever, illness, or infectious exposures. He had no history of seizures or migraine. He was taking omeprazole and did not smoke or use alcohol or illicit drugs.
Microvascular Flaps in Nasal Reconstruction.

Nasal reconstruction for subtotal and total rhinectomy defects is a challenging endeavor, which requires technical finesse, a keen artistic eye, and the ability to anticipate long-term changes that accompany postoperative healing. While local and regional flaps have traditionally been utilized to reconstitute missing nasal elements, certain situations may not provide sufficient or acceptable tissue for optimal reconstruction. In these situations, the three major components of the nose—lining, structural support, and external skin—may require reconstruction with tissues harvested from distant sites through microvascular free tissue transfer. Our objective in this article is to discuss the general approach to nasal reconstruction and present the considerations for free tissue transfer with regard to each nasal component. The virtues of free flap transfer as well as its shortcomings and potential complications are discussed.
Safety and Feasibility of a Protocolized Approach to In-Bed Cycling Exercise in the Intensive Care Unit: Quality Improvement Project.

Background In-bed, supine cycle ergometry as a part of early rehabilitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) appears to be safe, feasible, and beneficial, but no standardized protocol exists. A standardized protocol may help guide use of cycle ergometry in the ICU. Objective This study investigated whether a standardized protocol for in-bed cycling is safe and feasible, results in cycling for a longer duration, and achieves a higher resistance. Design A quality improvement (QI) project was conducted. Methods A 35-minute in-bed cycling protocol was implemented in a single medical intensive care unit (MICU) over a 7-month quality improvement (QI) period compared to pre-existing, prospectively collected data from an 18-month pre-QI period. Results One hundred and six MICU patients received 260 cycling sessions in the QI period vs. 178 MICU patients receiving 498 sessions in the pre-QI period. The protocol was used in 249 (96%) of cycling sessions. The QI group cycled for longer median (IQR) duration (35 [25-35] vs. 25 [18-30] minutes, P < .001) and more frequently achieved a resistance level greater than gear 0 (47% vs. 17% of sessions, P < .001). There were 4 (1.5%) transient physiologic abnormalities during the QI period, and 1 (0.2%) during the pre-QI period ( P = .031). Limitations Patient outcomes were not evaluated to understand if the protocol has clinical benefits. Conclusions Use of a protocolized approach for in-bed cycling appears safe and feasible, results in cycling for longer duration, and achieved higher resistance.
Software Testing Techniques in Information Systems Curricula

Software testing is an important part of information systems (IS) development process. To achieve effectiveness in software testing, the participating IS professionals must apply software testing techniques. A review of the current IS curriculum models reveals that specific pedagogical guidelines are not available for instructing software testing techniques. This paper discusses the importance of software testing to IS development and maintenance, reviews the existing software testing techniques, and provides a pedagogical guideline for instructing software testing techniques in IS curricula.
Synergistic Effects of Depression and Poor Impulse Control on Physical Partner Violence; A National Study in United States.

Background Although major depressive disorder (MDD) also increases the risk of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) perpetration, poor mental health has been mostly conceptualized as a consequence of IPV victimization rather than a risk factor for IPV perpetration. Poor impulse control is another IPV risk factor. Building on a risk / risk framework, this study investigates additive and multiplicative effects of male partners' MDD and poor impulse control on physical IPV victimization reported by female partner. Methods This national longitudinal study followed a random sample of 2,500 male and female cohabiting partners for two years in United States. Data came from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). Male partner's MDD was the independent variable. Baseline socio-demographic factors (age, relation status, education level, income, and minority status) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) were covariates. Outcome was female partner's physical IPV victimization measured at baseline and two years later. Male partner's impulse control was the moderator. Model I tested independent effects of MDD and impulse control on physical IPV. Model II used multi-group structural equation model to test the effect of MDD in those with low and poor impulse control. All participants provided written consent and SPSS and AMOS were used for data analysis. Results In Model 1 that tested additive effects of SES, GAD, AUD, MDD, and poor impulse control did not show main effects of MDD or impulse control on an increase in perpetration of physical IPV over two years. Model 2 showed that MDD predicts an increase in perpetration of physical IPV of men with poor impulse control, but not men with high impulse control. Conclusion Based on the findings, poor impulse control and MDD have synergistic effects on IPV committed by men. Given the synergistic effects of psychological determinants of IPV, there is a need for prevention of IPV in male partners who have multiple risk factors such as MDD and poor impulse control. Self-regulation trainings of depressed men with poor impulse control may reduce IPV risk among men.
Labor Supply and the Size Distribution of Firms

It is shown that a firm’s optimum size depends on labor market conditions. Firms in the same industry using the same production function differ in size if they hire from different labor markets.
Osteoporosis, Activities of Daily Living Skills, Quality of Life, and Dietary Adequacy of Congregate Meal Participants

Osteoporosis, a chronic disease that results in low bone mass with an increased risk of fragility fractures, is prevalent in older adults. Diet can prevent or lessen the severity of osteoporosis. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess differences in diet, quality of life, self-rated health, and physical function between congregate meal participants with and without osteoporosis. Data were from telephone survey, 10th Annual National Survey of Older American Act Participants, a representative sample of congregate meal attendees across the United States. (N = 888). Osteoporosis was present in 20% of this population. Participants with, as compared to without, osteoporosis reported that their physical health limited moderate activities (31.5% vs. 18.9%, p = 0.026), stair climbing (32.2% vs. 22.8%, p = 0.032), and shopping (27.4 vs. 15.3, p = 0.018). More than half of the participants consumed less than the recommended servings of dairy, meat, grains, and fruits/vegetables regardless of osteoporosis status. Participants with osteoporosis had lower self-rated health and more physical limitations than people without osteoporosis. Although congregate meals are a way to improve nutritional intake, additional methods to improve nutrition (including education) may be of benefit, since undernutrition is a concern in this population.
Cadmium-induced anemia in growing pigs: protective effect of oral or parenteral iron.

Forty-two weanling Yorkshire pigs were used in two experiments to determine the effect of oral or injected Fe on the anemia and growth depression induced by dietary Cd. In both experiments 154 ppm Cd (as CdCl/sub 2/) added to a corn-soybean meal diet significantly (P < .01) depressed hemoglobin; in experiment 2, daily weight gain and feed consumption were significantly (P < .01) depressed by Cd. The depression in hemoglobin induced by Cd was prevented by oral (400 ppm Fe as FeSO/sub 4/ 7H/sub 2/O) or intramuscular (800 mg Fe as iron dextrin) Fe (experiment 1) or by intramuscular (1000 mg Fe as iron dextrin) Fe (experiment 2). Daily weight gain of pigs fed the basal diet was not significantly different from that of pigs fed Cd when Fe was injected (experiment 2). Oral Fe was incorporated into the feed throughout the experiment; parenteral Fe was administered as a single intramuscular injection on day 1 of each experiment. The protective effect of Fe on Cd-induced anemia observed previously in the rat is apparently operative in the pig as well.
Diagnoses and other predictors of patient absenteeism in an outpatient neurology clinic.

Background We sought to determine the neurologic diagnosis or diagnostic categories that are associated with a higher probability of honoring a scheduled follow-up visit in the outpatient clinic. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients evaluated over a 3-year period (July 2014–June 2017) at a single neurology clinic in an urban location. Adult patients who honored an initial scheduled outpatient appointment were included. Only diagnoses with a ≥0.5% prevalence at our center were analyzed. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to determine association of independent variables and honored follow-up visits. Results Of 61,232 scheduled outpatient subsequent encounters for 20,729 unique patients, the overall absenteeism rate was 12.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.2%–12.8%). Independent risk factors associated with absenteeism included younger age, black or Latino race/ethnicity, Medicaid/Medicare payor status, and longer delay from appointment scheduling to appointment date. In mixed-effects logistic regression, diagnoses associated with the lowest odds of showing were medication overuse headache (show rate 79.2%, odds ratio [OR] for honoring appointment 0.67, 95% CI 0.48–0.93) and depression (rate 85.9%, OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70–0.97), whereas the diagnoses associated with the greatest odds of showing included Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (rate 96.3%, OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.44–4.49) and aphasia (rate 95.9%, OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.28–4.30). Conclusions Certain chronic neurologic diseases, such as medication overuse headache and depression, were associated with a significantly lower odds of honoring scheduled follow-up conditions. As these conditions influence quality of life and productivity, patients with these illnesses may benefit from selective targeting to encourage adherence with scheduled follow-up appointments.
A Model for School Evaluation

School evaluation can be defined as the systematic investigation of the quality of a school and how well it is serving the needs of its community, and it is one of the most important investments we can make in K-12 (kindergarten through high school) education. It is the way we learn of strengths and weaknesses, the way we get direction, and the way critical issues get identified and resolved. It addresses the needs of many parents who want to know how to choose a good school and the needs of teachers, school administrators, and school board members who want to know how to improve their schools. It also provides important information to local, state/province, and national leaders by informing their decisions. As an integral part of good management practice, it contributes to (i) identifying needs; (ii) establishing goals; (iii) clarifying goals; (iv) selecting strategies to achieve goals; (v) monitoring progress; and (vi) assessing outcomes and impact. It can be used for public relations and communications, as school report cards to the public (Jaeger, Gorney, Johnson, Putnam, & Williamson, 1994), as well as to give direction to planning or to select materials or programs for adoption. In light of contemporary proposals for site-based management, school choice, and school restructuring, evaluation at the school level is needed more today than ever before.
Solution of Quasi-Harmonic Equations

A significant class of physical problems representing phenomena, such as heat conduction, torsion of shafts, and distribution of electric potential are known as field problems. These field problems have the characteristic that they all are governed by similar partial differential equations in terms of the concerned field variable.This chapter discusses the solution of the governing partial differential equation without identifying the field variable ф as a particular physical quantity. The steady-state (time-independent) field problems are governed by the quasi-harmonic equation. The finite element equations for steady-state problems are explained in detail. Poisson's equation is a special case of the general field equation. The chapter discusses the solution of the Poisson's equation in the context of torsion of prismatic shafts. A subroutine called TǾRSǾN is developed for the solution of torsion of prismatic shafts using triangular elements. The chapter also presents the input data required for this subroutine.
Tracing race, ethnicity, and civilization in the Anthropocene:

This study critically reconsiders how the Anthropocene concept defines today’s trends in rapid anthropogenic climate change. As the proposed label for a new geological epoch, it is influencing cont...
Abstract WP94: MCC950, a Novel Selective NLRP3-inflammasome Inhibitor Provides Protection in a Murine Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Hypothesis: Activation of the NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP3) inflammasome has been postulated in mediating inflammatory responses to brain damage during ischemic reperfusion (I/R)...
Maternal lipid levels during pregnancy and child weight status at 3 years of age.

BACKGROUND The intrauterine environment is critical in the development of child obesity. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between maternal lipid levels during pregnancy and child weight status. METHODS Maternal lipid levels (total cholesterol, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides) collected from fasting blood samples collected at less than 20 and 24-29 weeks' gestation and child weight status at age 3 were examined prospectively among 183 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition. Measured height and weight at 3 years were used to calculate age- and sex-specific body mass index z-scores. Child risk of overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index greater than or equal to 85th percentile for age and sex. Regression models estimated the association between maternal lipid levels and child body mass index z-score and risk of being affected by overweight/obesity, respectively. RESULTS Higher triglyceride levels at less than 20 and 24-29 weeks of pregnancy were associated with higher body mass index z-scores (β = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07-0.38 and β = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.01-0.29; respectively) after adjusting for confounders. There was no evidence of an association between total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and child weight status at age 3. CONCLUSIONS Early childhood body mass index may be influenced by maternal triglyceride levels during pregnancy.
Post-Stroke Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Poor Functional Outcome in Patients Receiving Thrombolytic Therapy.

Background and purpose The role played by post-stroke inflammation after an ischemic event in limiting functional recovery remains unclear. One component of post-stroke inflammation is disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study examines the relationship between post-stroke BBB disruption and functional outcome. Methods Acute stroke patients treated with thrombolysis underwent magnetic resonance imaging scanning 24 h and 5 days after their initial event. BBB permeability maps were generated from perfusion weighted imaging. Average permeability was calculated in the affected hemisphere. Good functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin score of 0 or 1, was compared with average permeability using logistic regression. Results Of the 131 patients enrolled, 76 patients had the necessary data to perform the analysis at 24 h, and 58 -patients had data for the 5-day assessment. Higher BBB permeability measured at 24 h (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.33-0.99, p = 0.045) and at 5 days (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.09-0.66, p = 0.005) was associated with worse functional outcome 1-3 months after the acute ischemic stroke. For every percentage increase in BBB disruption at 5 days, there was a 76% decrease in the chance of achieving a good functional outcome after stroke. Multivariate analysis found this to be independent of age, stroke volume, or clinical stroke severity. Conclusions Post-stroke BBB disruption appears to be predictive of functional outcome irrespective of stroke size.
Draft Genome Sequence of Kroppenstedtia sanguinis X0209T, a Clinical Isolate Recovered from Human Blood

ABSTRACT Kroppenstedtia sanguinis X0209T, a thermoactinomycete, was isolated from the blood of a patient in Sweden. We report on the draft genome sequence obtained with an Illumina MiSeq instrument. The assembled genome totaled 3.73 Mb and encoded 3,583 proteins. Putative genes for virulence, transposons, and biosynthetic gene clusters have been identified.
Redox potential measurement of AgCl in molten LiCl-KCl salt using chronopotentiometry and potentiodynamic scan techniques

Abstract Here we report an innovative application of chronopotentiometry (CP) and potentiodynamic scan (PD) techniques to the measurement of redox potentials in a molten salt. Commonly, a stable Cl2/Cl− reference electrode is achieved by direct injection of chlorine gas to a graphite electrode, which requires rigorous design and operation for the high-temperature system to be studied. Instead, in situ techniques (CP and PD) were introduced to generate chlorine gas on the working graphite electrode, which then acts as the chlorine gas source. The measurements of formal potential and activity coefficient of AgCl/Ag at different AgCl mole fractions (X = 0.0039 and X = 0.0145) and temperatures (723–823 K) in molten LiCl-KCl salt were carried out using these two techniques. Moreover, these simple methods can be applied to measure the equilibrium potentials, formal potentials and activity coefficients of other metal chlorides in molten chloride salt as well as in other molten salt systems.
Prevalence and Risk of Metastatic Thyroid Cancers and Management Outcomes: A National Perspective.

OBJECTIVES Examine the prevalence and risk of metastasis in thyroid cancers and management outcomes. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database, 2004-2014. METHODS The study population included adult (≥ 18 years) patients with thyroid cancer. Analysis included multivariate logistic regression and Cox hazard ratio modeling. RESULTS A total of 152,979 patients were included. Distant metastasis was reported in 1,867 (1.22%) patients. The distribution of metastatic cases based on pathology and tumor size were as follows in descending order: papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) 1 to 4 cm (30.53%), PTC > 4 cm (19.34%), undifferentiated (UTC) > 4 cm (14.14%), PTC 4 cm (7.28%), FTC 1 to 4 cm (5.52%), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) ≤ 4 cm (3.96%), MTC > 4 cm (3.91%), UTC ≤ 4 cm (3.32%), Hurthle (HCC ) > 4 cm (2.09%), and HCC 1 to 4 cm (1.45%). Significant predictors of distant metastasis, while controlling for tumor pathology and size, included older age, male gender, non-White minorities, presence of multiple comorbidities, minimal, gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and concomitant central and lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM) (P 4 cm. CONCLUSION Although the risk of metastasis in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) is low, the prevalence of metastatic thyroid cancer is highest in WDTC population because it is the most common type of thyroid cancer. Certain pathological features, including minimal ETE and central LNM, are associated with a higher prevalence of metastatic disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 131:237-244, 2021.
Extended Horizon ECMS Control of PHEVs With 2D Electricity Price Adaptation Policy

This article proposes new improvements to the ECMS-based control of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) using macro-level trip forecast information. First, the dynamic programming (DP) optimization is applied to a power-split PHEV model to obtain the optimal powertrain trajectories for benchmarking the energy economy of the proposed controllers. An instantaneous energy cost minimization process is then formulated to compute the optimal mix of fuel and electricity, subject to the state and input constraints. To improve the speed and accuracy of the energy management system, the Nelder-Mead simplex search algorithm is used for the instantaneous optimizations. To account for the battery capacity limitation, an adaptive electricity pricing policy is introduced to control battery discharge rate based on the remaining trip distance, average speed, and elevation forecasts. The parameters of the proposed policy are optimized for a group of 5 urban and highway drive cycles to obtain a robust controller which can serve a wide spectrum of driving patterns. To further improve the energy economy, an extended-horizon optimization algorithm is proposed to account for control input transitions between consecutive time steps. Finally, a revised speed forecast formula is implemented during the low-SOC intervals to lift battery SOC ahead of high-demand periods. The combination of the proposed schemes enables reaching over 99% average optimality compared to a finely discretized DP optimization for the adopted drive cycles, and above 98% optimality for a test PHEV drive cycle.
Opioid days’ supply limits: an interrupted time-series analysis of opioid prescribing before and following a Massachusetts law

Background: In 2016, Massachusetts passed the first-in-the-nation law limiting opioid naive adults and all minors to a 7-day supply of opioids when prescribed in the outpatient setting.Objective: We hypothesized this policy would be associated with declines in the percent of opioid prescriptions with more than a 7-day supply among opioid naive adults and minors for select prescriber groups.Methods: Interrupted time series analyses were conducted using measures from the Massachusetts Prescription Monitoring Program database for 2015 through 2017 (n = 13,672,325 opioid prescriptions; 54% to females). Outcomes were the monthly percent of opioid prescriptions greater than 7 days' supply in opioid naive adults and in minors among select prescriber groups. Model estimates of the pre-policy trend, the average changes in the level pre/post-implementation, and the trend changes post-implementation were assessed.Results: Pre-policy trends showed significant monthly declines in the percent of opioid prescriptions greater than 7 days' supply for all prescriber groups. Policy implementation was associated with significant reduction in the level for opioid naive adults among surgeons (-2.92%, p < .01), dentists (-0.23%, p < .01), and general medical providers (-2.22%, p = .04), and for minors among all-included prescribers (-2.97%, p < .01) and surgeons (-3.8%, p < .01). Post-implementation changes in trends were not significant except among opioid naive adults for dentists (0.02%, p = .04).Conclusion: Within a context of significant reductions occurring in opioid prescriptions greater than 7 days' supply during this period, the Massachusetts policy was associated with further declines for opioid naive adults and minors among select prescriber groups.
Optimal Sequential Search

We introduce a simple new model of sequential search among finitely many options that fits many economic applications. Each payoff is the sum of a random “known factor” and a “hidden factor”, learned at cost. Weitzman (1979) solved the ex post Pandora’s box problem, given known factors. Ours is the ex ante model for estimation, unconditional on known factors, and so resolves major selection effects. 1. Search intensifies over time, as one increasingly exercises the current option, recalls a prior one, or quits. If one recalls, earlier options are recalled more often. 2. We solve a long open question in all search models: which stochastic changes lead one to search longer? Answer: more dispersed payoffs. 3. The stationary search model poorly approximates search with many options: If the known factor density lacks a thin tail (eg. exponential), the recall chance is boundedly positive with vastly many options. 4. Search lasts longer with more options. Hence, if low search frictions increase worker applicant pools of firms, vacancy duration increases.
Prospective Associations of Discrimination, Race, and Sexual Orientation with Substance Use in Adolescents.

Objective: Adolescents are at high risk for alcohol and cannabis use. Emerging evidence suggests that discrimination exposure is prospectively associated with risk for alcohol use among adolescents of marginalized race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. However, it is unknown whether prospective discrimination-substance use associations among marginalized adolescents are also present for cannabis use. This study examined prospective associations of race, sexual orientation, and discrimination exposure with alcohol and cannabis use over one year. Methods: Data were drawn from a two-wave longitudinal health survey study of 9-11th graders (n = 350 for the current analyses; Year 1 Mage=15.95 [SD = 1.07, range = 13-19]; 44% male; 44% Black, 22% White, 18% Asian, 16% Multiracial; 16% LGB; 10% Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity) at an urban high school. Two multinomial logistic regressions examined associations of Year 1 race, sexual orientation, and discrimination experiences with Year 2 alcohol and cannabis consumption separately. Results: Year 1 Discrimination exposure was associated with increased risk for Year 2 past-year alcohol use among Asian (OR = 1.34) and past-month alcohol use among Multiracial (OR = 1.30) adolescents, but not Black or LGB adolescents. Discrimination exposure was not associated with any cannabis use pattern in any group. Independent of discrimination, LGB adolescents were at greater risk for monthly alcohol (OR = 3.48) and cannabis use (OR = 4.07) at Year 2. Conclusions: Discrimination exposure is prospectively associated with risk for alcohol use among adolescents of understudied (Asian, Multiracial) racial backgrounds, and should be considered in alcohol prevention and intervention strategies. Risk factors for alcohol and cannabis use among LGB adolescents should continue to be explored.
Statistical Mechanics in Optimization Problems

The idea of treating certain difficult combinatorial optimization problems using the concepts and techniques in statistical mechanics is discussed. The NP-complete problem of graph coloring is used as a simple illustration.
Robust Stability of Constrained Model Predictive Control

A new design technique for a robust model predictive controller is proposed using an uncertainty description expressed in the time-domain. Robust stability of the resulting closed-loop system is guaranteed for a set of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) models. Both necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability are stated. If the uncertainty is described as lower and upper bounds on impulse response coefficients, then the resulting optimization problem can be cast as a linear program of moderate size.
Dose reconstruction for real-time patient-specific dose estimation in CT.

Purpose: Many recent computed tomography (CT) dose reduction approaches belong to one of three categories: statistical reconstruction algorithms, efficient x-ray detectors, and optimized CT acquisition schemes with precise control over the x-ray distribution. The latter category could greatly benefit from fast and accurate methods for dose estimation, which would enable real-time patient-specific protocol optimization. Methods: The authors present a new method for volumetrically reconstructing absorbed dose on a per-voxel basis, directly from the actual CT images. The authors’ specific implementation combines a distance-driven pencil-beam approach to model the first-order x-ray interactions with a set of Gaussian convolution kernels to model the higher-order x-ray interactions. The authors performed a number of 3D simulation experiments comparing the proposed method to a Monte Carlo based ground truth. Results: The authors’ results indicate that the proposed approach offers a good trade-off between accuracy and computational efficiency. The images show a good qualitative correspondence to Monte Carlo estimates. Preliminary quantitative results show errors below 10%, except in bone regions, where the authors see a bigger model mismatch. The computational complexity is similar to that of a low-resolution filtered-backprojection algorithm. Conclusions: The authors present a method for analytic dose reconstruction in CT, similar to the techniques used in radiation therapy planning with megavoltage energies. Future work will include refinements of the proposed method to improve the accuracy as well as a more extensive validation study. The proposed method is not intended to replace methods that track individual x-ray photons, but the authors expect that it may prove useful in applications where real-time patient-specific dose estimation is required.
Graphs with prescribed connectivity and line graph connectivity

Chartrand and Stewart have shown that the line graph of an n-connected graph is itself n-connected. This paper shows that for every pair of integers m > n > 1 there is a graph of point connectivity n whose line graph has point connectivity m. The corresponding question for line connectivity is also resolved.
Dielectric Sphere Diffracted Fields of a Dielectric Coated Conical Horn

Analytical and experimental investigations into the radiation characteristics of a high gain antenna feed system with a variable beamwidth facility are reported. The antenna consists of a homogeneous dielectric sphere placed in front of, but displaced from, the aperture of a dielectric coated conical horn. First the analysis of the fields in the dielectric coated conical horn is presented briefly using spherical hybrid modes, and the characteristic equation for the separation constant is derived. The condition for the support of balanced hybrid modes that contribute to low cross polarization is also derived. Then the theoretical expressions for the radiated far field components of the feed system are derived by treating the homogenous dielectric sphere as a scatterer of electromagnetic waves based on scattering theory approach, and also by treating the displaced dielectric sphere as a microwave lens illuminated by an aperture source. There is good overall agreement between the theoretical and experimental...
Importance of the propeptide sequence of human preproparathyroid hormone for signal sequence function

The function of amino-terminal pro-specific peptides (propeptides), sequences often found on intermediate precursor forms of secreted proteins, is poorly understood. Human preproparathyroid hormone (prepro-PTH), a precursor protein containing such a propeptide, is initially synthesized as a precursor containing a 25-amino acid signal sequence, a 6-amino acid propeptide, and the 84-amino acid mature secreted peptide. Cloned cDNA encoding prepro-PTH and synthetic oligonucleotides were used to generate a mutant missing precisely the pro-specific sequences. The effects of this deletion on signal sequence function and on secretion per se were assessed after expression of the mutant cDNA in intact cells and in a cell-free translation system using synthetic mRNA in the presence of microsomal membranes. The mutant precursor protein was inefficiently translocated and cleaved, and cleavage occurred both at the normal site and within the signal sequence. Thus, for the eukaryotic protein prepro-PTH, sequences immediately downstream and separate from the classically defined signal sequence facilitate accurate and efficient signal function.
Over-expression of α-galactosidase in pea seeds to reduce raffinose oligosaccharide contentThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in a Special Issue from the National Research Council of Canada – Plant Biotechnology Institute.

The raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFO) is a series of complex carbohydrates stored in seeds of many plant families, especially in legumes. The digestive system of nonruminant animals, inclu...
PMF: a multicore-enabled framework for the construction of metaheuristics for single and multiobjective optimization

This paper describes the design and implementation of the Parallel Metaheuristics Framework (PMF), a C++ framework for the construction of single and multiobjective metaheuristics utilizing Intel's Threading Building Blocks library to allow easy parallelization of computationally intensive algorithms. The framework demonstrates a generic approach to the construction of metaheuristics, striving to provide a general representation of core operators and concepts, thus allowing users to more easily tailor the system for novel problems. The paper describes the overall implementation of the framework, demonstrates a case study for implementing a simple metaheuristic within the system, and discusses a range of possible enhancements.
Reflections on Teaching—North Central Sociological Association 2015 John F. Schnabel Lecture: Tales from a Classroom Ninja: What Martial Arts Can Teach Us About Transformative Learning Experiences

The recipient of the 2014 John F. Schnabel Distinguished Contributions to Teaching award delivered this keynote address at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the North Central Sociological Association in Cleveland. The author outlines the lessons that sociology instructors can derive from the martial arts. Although the parallels between martial arts and university classrooms may not be apparent at first glance, Holtzman demonstrates that the primary lessons of Ninjutsu—to know your enemy, to persevere, and to embrace the unconventional—are also fundamental lessons for sociology professors.
Why Meta-Analysis Doesn’t Tell Us What the Data Really Mean: Distinguishing between Moderator Effects and Moderator Processes

Traditional approaches to detecting the presence of moderators in meta-analyses involve inferences drawn from the residual variance in criterion-related validities (a) after correcting for sampling error and statistical artifacts. James, Demaree, Mulaik, and Ladd (1992) argued that these residualized interpretations of meta-analytic results may be spurious when statistical artifacts covary with true moderators. We extend their model to suggest that situational moderators might also covary with sample size and content (i.e., nonrandom sample selection error), causing meta-analysis to be uninterpretable and a significant correlation between criterion-related validities and ni. We investigate this possibility on studies examining criterion-related validities ofpeer nominations originally reported by Kane and Lawler (1978). Application of residualized meta-analysis suggests the presence of moderator effects, but a significant correlation between ri and ni precludes interpretation of the moderator process behi...
The determination of the leading coefficient in the monotone potential Sturm-Liouville operator from boundary measurements

This paper deals with the problem of determining the leading coefficient k=k((u')2) of the nonlinear (monotone potential) Sturm-Liouville operator Au=-(k((u')2)u'(x))'+q(x)u(x), x?(a,b). As an additional condition only two measured data at the boundary (x=a, x=b) are used. Solvability and linearization of the corresponding nonlinear direct problem are given. An existence of a quasi-solution of the inverse problem is obtained in a suitable compact class of admissible coefficients. In the second part of the paper an approximate analytical solution for the inverse problem is derived. The approach presented permits to analyze well-posed, as well as, all ill-posed situations for the inverse coefficient problem. Numerical examples corresponding to the all considered situations are presented.
Increased glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA and GAD activity in cerebellar Purkinje cells following lesion-induced increases in cell firing

Abstract Lesions of the inferior olive-climbing fiber projection to the cerebellar Purkinje cell were produced in adult rats using the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine. At 7 days post-lesion, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity in Purkinje cell axons terminating in the lateral divison of the deep cerebellar nucleus was significantly increased (+58%) above control levels. GAD mRNA levels in Purkinje cell bodies from the same animals were measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry using a radiolabeled cRNA probe for GAD mRNA. GAD mRNA was significantly elevated (+42%) above control at 7 days post-lesion. Because lesions of the climbing fiber system increase Purkinje cell firing rates, the results suggest that increased Purkinje cell activity induces transcription of GAD mRNA, which in turn results in increased GAD availability in Purkinje cell terminals.