cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Omaha System: a systematic review of the recent literature

Background The Omaha System (OS) is one of the oldest of the American Nurses Association recognized standardized terminologies describing and measuring the impact of healthcare services. This systematic review presents the state of science on the use of the OS in practice, research, and education. Aims (1) To identify, describe and evaluate the publications on the OS between 2004 and 2011, (2) to identify major trends in the use of the OS in research, practice, and education, and (3) to suggest areas for future research. Methods Systematic search in the largest online healthcare databases (PUBMED, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, Ovid) from 2004 to 2011. Methodological quality of the reviewed research studies was evaluated. Results 56 publications on the OS were identified and analyzed. The methodological quality of the reviewed research studies was relatively high. Over time, publications' focus shifted from describing clients' problems toward outcomes research. There was an increasing application of advanced statistical methods and a significant portion of authors focused on classification and interoperability research. There was an increasing body of international literature on the OS. Little research focused on the theoretical aspects of the OS, the effective use of the OS in education, or cultural adaptations of the OS outside the USA. Conclusions The OS has a high potential to provide meaningful and high quality information about complex healthcare services. Further research on the OS should focus on its applicability in healthcare education, theoretical underpinnings and international validity. Researchers analyzing the OS data should address how they attempted to mitigate the effects of missing data in analyzing their results and clearly present the limitations of their studies.
Toward an Iranian conception of giftedness

ABSTRACTUsing a grounded theory approach to the study of historical texts and an expert interview, this study investigates culturally embedded conceptions of giftedness as evidenced in one of the most important Iranian literary canons, The Gulistan, to guide the development of education and programming for gifted and talented students in Iran. The Gulistan depicts the real world in its stories. Historically, The Gulistan has provided guidance to gifted and wise individuals regarding how to live life. Investigating these conceptions in The Gulistan’s stories gives us significant insight into what historically has counted as giftedness in the Iranian culture. Main themes arising from this study include Saheb Ferasat (insighted), Shukhdideh (wit), Dana & Aghel (practical intelligent), Kheradmand (wise), and Hakim (sage). This study is an exploration of an approach to developing an Iranian conception of giftedness that is embedded in the culture. The framework and findings may be of interest to scholars, poli...
Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Monocyte Differentiation Into Polarized M2 Macrophages Promotes Stellate Cell Activation via TGF-β.

Background & Aims Monocyte and macrophage (MΦ) activation contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Disease pathogenesis is regulated by both liver-resident MΦs and monocytes recruited as precursors of MΦs into the damaged liver. Monocytes differentiate into M1 (classic/proinflammatory) or M2 (alternative/anti-inflammatory) polarized MΦs in response to tissue microenvironment. We hypothesized that HCV-infected hepatoma cells (infected with Japanese fulminant hepatitis-1 [Huh7.5/JFH-1]) induce monocyte differentiation into polarized MΦs. Methods Healthy human monocytes were co-cultured with Huh7.5/JFH-1 cells or cell-free virus for 7 days and analyzed for MΦ markers and cytokine levels. A similar analysis was performed on circulating monocytes and liver MΦs from HCV-infected patients and controls. Results Huh7.5/JFH-1 cells induced monocytes to differentiate into MΦs with increased expression of CD14 and CD68. HCV-MΦs showed M2 surface markers (CD206, CD163, and Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN)) and produced both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. HCV-induced early interleukin 1β production promoted transforming growth factor (TGF)β production and MΦ polarization to an M2 phenotype. TGF-β secreted by M2-MΦ led to hepatic stellate cell activation indicated by increased expression of collagen, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, and α-smooth muscle actin. In vivo, we observed a significant increase in M2 marker (CD206) expression on circulating monocytes and in the liver of chronic HCV-infected patients. Furthermore, we observed the presence of a unique collagen-expressing CD14 + CD206 + monocyte population in HCV patients that correlated with liver fibrosis. Conclusions We show an important role for HCV in induction of monocyte differentiation into MΦs with a mixed M1/M2 cytokine profile and M2 surface phenotype that promote stellate cell activation via TGF-β. We also identified circulating monocytes expressing M2 marker and collagen in chronic HCV infection that can be explored as a biomarker.
Data mining in mining engineering: results of classification and clustering of shovels failures data

AbstractThe high ownership cost of mining equipment mean that downtimes are expensive and should be avoided with smart and efficient maintenance planning. Modern mines have large data sets on equipment performance and reliability, from dispatch and manufacturer health monitoring systems, that can be mined for more efficient maintenance planning. This study explores the application of classification and clustering approaches for pattern recognition and failure forecasting on mining shovels. The failure behaviour of a fleet of ten mining shovels during 1 year of operation was investigated using these techniques. The shovels were classified into four clusters using k-means clustering algorithms. Future failures were predicted using the support vector machine (SVM) classification technique. Historical failure and time to repair data were used to predict the next failure type for all shovels. The SVM technique was shown to be successful with prediction accuracy of over 75%. This is the first attempt (to the be...
von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Review of Genetics and Imaging

von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal-dominant, hereditary, multisystem neoplasia syndrome with increased susceptibility to several benign and malignant tumors. VHL occurs in about 1 in 36,000 live births and is associated with germline mutation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. VHL disease exhibits diverse genotype and phenotype correlations, exhibits variable intrafamilial and interfamilial expressivity, and can manifest with benign and malignant tumors of the central nervous system, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, and reproductive organs. Imaging and management of this entity are therefore multidisciplinary. An overview of VHL disease is presented.
ECHO DERIVED RIGHT VENTRICULAR CONTRACTION PRESSURE INDEX PREDICTS RIGHT VENTRICULAR FAILURE AND MORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH DURABLE LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a major determinant of poor outcomes after continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation but can be difficult to evaluate prior to surgery. The simplified Right Ventricular Contraction Pressure Index (sRVCPI=TAPSE × RV-Right atrial
Evaluation of commercial enzyme immunoassays compared to immunofluorescence and double diffusion for autoantibodies associated with autoimmune diseases.

A commercially available enzyme immunoassay system for detecting autoantibodies to double-stranded DNA, deoxyribonuceloprotein, Smith, ribonuclearprotein, Sjogren’s syndrome-associated antigens A and B, and scleroderma-associated antigen 70 was compared to the conventional immunofluorescence assay for double-stranded DNA and double diffusion assays for extractable nuclear antigens. There was excellent correlation between methods, but it appears that the enzyme immunoassays are more sensitive. Based on the results of this study, the authors recommend performing anti-nuclear antibody screening at two dilutions, with enzyme immunoassay follow-up of appropriate patient sera that are positive on anti-nuclear antibody testing. Nucleolar and centromere pattern anti-nuclear antibodies are diagnostic for variants of scleroderma and need no further evaluation. Negative anti-nuclear antibody tests performed using HEp-2 tissue culture cells require no further evaluation.
A New Unsteady-Based Turbulence Model to Predict Shear Layer Rollup and Breakdown

This paper documents the computational investigation of the unsteady rollup and breakdown of a turbulent separated shear layer. This complex phenomenon plays a key role in many applications, such as separated flow at the leading edge of an airfoil at off-design conditions; flow through the tip clearance of a rotor in a gas turbine; flow over the front of an automobile or aircraft carrier; and flow through turbulated passages that are used to cool turbine blades. Computationally, this problem poses a significant challenge in the use of traditional RANS-based turbulence models for the prediction of unsteady flows. To demonstrate this point, a series of 2-D and 3-D unsteady simulations have been performed using a variety of well-known turbulence models, including the “realizable” k-e model, a differential Reynolds stress model, and a new model developed by the present authors that contains physics that account for the effects of local unsteadiness on turbulence. All simulations are fully converged and grid independent in the unsteady framework. A proven computational methodology is used that takes care of several important aspects, including high-quality meshes (2.5 million finite volumes for 3-D simulations) and a discretization scheme that will minimize the effects of numerical diffusion. To isolate the shear layer breakdown phenomenon, the well-studied flow over a blunt leading edge (Reynolds number based on plate half-thickness of 26,000) is used for validation. Surprisingly, none of the traditional eddy-viscosity or Reynolds stress models are able to predict an unsteady behavior even with modifications in the near-wall treatment, repeated adaption of the mesh, or by adding small random perturbations to the flow field. The newly developed unsteady-based turbulence model is shown to predict some important features of the shear layer rollup and breakdown.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Synthesis, photophysics, and reverse saturable absorption of 7-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-9,9-di(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl tethered [Ir(bpy)(ppy)2]PF6 and Ir(ppy)3 complexes (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, ppy = 2-phenylpyridine)

We report the synthesis, photophysics, and reverse saturable absorption of five iridium(III) complexes 1–5 with 7-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-9,9-di(2-ethylhexyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl (BTF) pendant attached to the 2-phenylpyridine ligand (1: [Ir(bpy)(BTF-ppy)2]PF6; 2: [Ir(bpy)(BTF––ppy)2]PF6; 3: Ir(ppy)2(BTF-ppy); 4: Ir(ppy)(BTF-ppy)2; 5: (BTF-ppy)3, where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and ppy = 2-phenylpyridine). The effects of the extended π-conjugation of the ppy ligand and the increased number of BTF-ppy ligand, as well as the effects of neutral complex vs. cationic complex were evaluated. All complexes exhibit predominantly ligand-localized 1π,π* transitions below 430 nm and charge-transfer transitions between 430 and 550 nm. They all emit at room temperature and at 77 K, mainly from the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3MLCT)/ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (3LLCT) states for 1 and 2, and from the BTF-ppy ligand-centered 3π,π* excited states with significant contributions from the 3MLCT states for 3–5. The triplet excited states of 1–5 also manifest broad transient absorption (TA) in the visible to the near-IR spectral region. The electronic absorption, emission, and ns transient absorption are all red-shifted by extending the π-conjugation of the ppy ligand or increasing the number of BTF-ppy ligand. The energies of the lowest singlet and triplet excited states of the neutral complex 4 are lowered compared to those of its cationic counterpart 1; while the transient absorbing triplet excited state of 4 is much longer lived than that of 1. These complexes all exhibit strong reverse saturable absorption (RSA) for ns laser pulses at 532 nm, with a trend of 5 < 4 < 1 ≈ 3 < 2. This trend is primarily determined by the ratio of the excited-state absorption cross section to that of the ground state (σex/σ0) at 532 nm with the triplet quantum yield also playing a role for complexes 3–5. It appears that the increased number of BTF-ppy ligand reduces the RSA of the neutral complexes while the increased π-conjugation of the ppy ligand in the cationic complexes improves the RSA. However, the neutral complex 4 exhibits a weaker RSA at 532 nm than its cationic counterpart 1.
Microfluidic fabrication of polymersomes enclosing an active Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction: Effect on their stability of solute concentrations in the external media

Core/shell double emulsions were fabricated using glasscapillary based microfluidic techniques. Poly(butadiene) 46-bpoly(ethylene oxide)30 in mixture with cyclo-hexane/chloroform were contained as the shell part of droplets, whose core part was the full 1,4-cyclohexadiene based Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction solution of unknown osmolality. The droplets were collected in solutions of both low and relatively high concentrations of salt. This resulted in the respective increase or decrease of the core part diameter. In both cases, after an incubation period, the droplets eventually evolved into polymer vesicles. In solutions with low concentration of salt, the droplets evolved into polymer vesicles after the evaporation of the vola-tile solvent contained in the shell part. Due to the dewetting of the shell and core parts＿droplets in solutions of relatively high salt concentration evolved into polymer vesicles only after three days of incubation. The dewetted shell part displayed crescent-moon-shapes with different curvatures. The final diameter of the vesicles differed from the diameter of the initial core droplets. We demonstrate that vesicles with unknown osmolality core parts are formed in both solutions of very low or relatively high concentration of salt; furthermore, we also demonstrate that they follow different formation pathways. In the appropriate conditions, the vesicles experienced a form of ⿿collapsing⿿ behavior due to the activity of the entrapped chemical reaction.
Bird relics: grief and vitalism in Thoreau

Branka Arsic’s Bird Relics finds in Thoreau an original philosophy of vitalism, an inquiry into the ontology of life. Through a wide recovery of Thoreau’s sources and thinking, Bird Relics presents...
Synthesis and Evaluation of Tetraarylethylene-based Mono-, Bis-, and Tris(pyridinium) Derivatives for Image-Guided Mitochondria-Specific Targeting and Cytotoxicity of Metastatic Melanoma Cells.

Metastatic melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal form of skin cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that differences in melanoma metabolism relative to nonmalignant cells represent potential targets for improved therapy for melanoma. Specifically, melanoma cells exhibit increased mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) activity and concomitant hyperpolarized mitochondrial membrane potential relative to nonmalignant cells. We have synthesized several new fluorescent lipophilic vinylpyridinium cations built from tetraarylethylene scaffolds that target mitochondria via attraction to the hyperpolarized mitochondrial membrane potential. Mitochondria-specific accumulation in melanoma cells relative to normal human fibroblasts was demonstrated using confocal fluorescence microscopy and resulted in the disruption of oxidative metabolism leading to melanoma specific cell death in vitro. Thus, the pyridinium tetraarylethylene platform represents a promising new mitochondrial-targeted delivery vehicle with po...
Previous Suicide Attempt and Its Association With Method Used in a Suicide Death

Introduction Non-fatal suicide attempts are a risk factor for suicide, but less is known about its effect on the method of injury used in an eventual suicide death. This study examines the association between history of non-fatal suicide attempt and the risk of a poisoning suicide versus firearm or hanging suicide in Colorado. Methods Nine years (2004–2012, N=7,020) of suicide deaths in Colorado were compiled through the National Violent Death Reporting System. With these data, a retrospective cohort study was conducted in 2015, examining the risk associated with a history of suicide attempt and an eventual suicide death by poisoning versus a firearm or hanging suicide death. Multivariable log-binomial regression modeling was used to analyze the possible confounders of age and county type and gender as an effect modifier. Results Suicide decedents with evidence of prior suicide attempt were twice as likely to eventually die by suicide via self-poisoning rather than by firearm injury (relative risk=1.94, 95% CI=1.8, 2.1, p p p p Conclusions Individuals with a history of non-fatal suicide attempt are more likely to die by suicide via poisoning rather than firearm. Gender has a significant effect on this association. This information can be useful when discussing means restriction and suicide prevention efforts.
Inter-granular exchange coupling control by oxygen ratio in CoPtCrO perpendicular media

Perpendicular recording is the most promising candidate to achieve areal densities exceeding 1 Tbit/in/sup 2/. To achieve this goal, small grains with high uniaxial anisotropy and good magnetic isolation are required for the media. However, the optimum exchange coupling is also necessary to reduce DC-erase noise caused by the reversed grains due to the high demagnetization field. The high nucleation field H/sub n/, and the low noise of the CoPtCrO perpendicular medium are attractive features. In this paper, the medium noise and exchange coupling correlation has been investigated by changing the oxygen ratio in the sputter gas.
At the bench: chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for the treatment of B cell malignancies

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) represents the epitome of cellular engineering and is one of the best examples of rational biologic design of a synthetic molecule. The CAR is a single polypeptide with modular domains, consisting of an antibody-derived targeting moiety, fused in line with T cell-derived signaling domains, allowing for T cell activation upon ligand binding. T cells expressing a CAR are able to eradicate selectively antigen-expressing tumor cells in a MHC-independent fashion. CD19, a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) present on normal B cells, as well as most B cell-derived malignancies, was an early target of this technology. Through years of experimental refinement and preclinical optimization, autologously derived CD19-targeting CAR T cells have been successfully, clinically deployed, resulting in dramatic and durable antitumor responses but not without therapy-associated toxicity. As CD19-targeted CAR T cells continue to show clinical success, work at the bench continues to be undertaken to increase further the efficacy of this therapy, while simultaneously minimizing the risk for treatment-related morbidities. In this review, we cover the history and evolution of CAR technology and its adaptation to targeting CD19. Furthermore, we discuss the future of CAR T cell therapy and the need to ask, as well as answer, critical questions as this treatment modality is being translated to the clinic.
Relationship between geometry of the extensor mechanism of the knee and risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The complex inter-segmental forces that are developed across an extended knee by body weight and contraction of the quadriceps muscle group transmits an anteriorly-directed force on the tibia that strain the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). We hypothesized that a relationship exists between geometry of the knees extensor mechanism and the risk of sustaining a non-contact ACL injury. Geometry of the extensor mechanism was characterized using MRI scans of the knees of 88 subjects that suffered their first non-contact ACL injury and 88 matched control subjects with normal knees that were on the same team. The orientation of the patellar tendon axis was measured relative to the femoral flexion-extension axis to determine the extensor moment arm (EMA), and relative to tibial long axis to measure coronal patellar tendon angle (CPTA) and sagittal patellar tendon angle (SPTA). Associations between these parameters and ACL injury risk were tested with and without adjustment for flexion and internal rotation position of the tibia relative to the femur during MRI data acquisition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Severity of alcohol dependence is negatively related to hypothalamic and prefrontal cortical gray matter density in heavy drinking smokers.

ABSTRACTBackground: While research has examined brain structure in individuals who use alcohol or nicotine, heavy drinking smokers comprise a unique subpopulation of substance users for whom less is known about the relationship between alcohol or nicotine use and structural brain abnormalities. Objectives: The present study examined gray matter morphometry in a sample of 39 heavy drinking smokers (24 males, 15 females) in relation to alcohol and nicotine dependence and quantity of use. Methods: Traditional voxel-based morphometry techniques were employed for preprocessing of imaging data. One multiple regression analysis for alcohol and nicotine dependence severity and another for alcohol and nicotine quantity of use were conducted, while controlling for age, gender, and total intracranial volume (ICV). Results: Alcohol dependence severity was significantly negatively associated with gray matter density in the hypothalamus (p < 0.001, uncorrected) and the right superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrect...
Fast, On-line Collision Avoidance for Dynamic Vehicles Using Buffered Voronoi Cells

This letter presents a distributed collision avoidance algorithm for multiple dynamic vehicles moving in arbitrary dimensions. In our algorithm, each robot continually computes its buffered Voronoi cell (BVC) and plans its path within the BVC in a receding horizon fashion. We prove that our algorithm guarantees collision avoidance for robots with single integrator dynamics. We show that our algorithm has computational complexity of $O(k)$ , which is the same as that of the optimal reciprocal collision avoidance (ORCA) algorithm, and is considerably faster than model predictive control (MPC) and sequential convex programming (SCP) based approaches. Moreover, ORCA and MPC-SCP require relative position, velocity, and even other information, to be exchanged over a communication network among the robots. Our algorithm only requires the sensed relative position, and therefore is well suited for on-line implementation as it does not require a communication network, and it works well with noisy relative position sensors. Furthermore, we provide an extension of our algorithm to robots with higher-order dynamics like quadrotors. We demonstrate the capabilities of our algorithm by comparing it to ORCA in multiple benchmark simulation scenarios, and we present results of over 70 experimental trials using five quadrotors in a motion capture environment.
Participatory Design: Repositioning, Transferring, and Personal Care Robots

In our ongoing survey, we examine the feedback of robotic aids that increases independence of persons with physical disabilities. Participants are asked to evaluate the perceived pros and cons of prototypes for repositioning, transferring, and personal care by viewing 3D video simulations. Using participatory design, our goal is to develop robotics aids by actively involving prospective consumers to achieve functionality and long-term acceptability.
Head-Impact-Measurement Devices: A Systematic Review.

Context: With an estimated 3.8 million sport- and recreation-related concussions occurring annually, targeted prevention and diagnostic methods are needed. Biomechanical analysis of head impacts ma...
Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in cardiac tissue from individuals with and without coronary artery disease.

The cellular environment associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) can lead to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Mitochondrial variants in some copies of mtDNA (heteroplasmy) and mtDNA content are potential genetic biomarkers for CAD-associated disease states. Massively parallel sequencing and qRT-PCR techniques were used to measure heteroplasmic variants and mtDNA content in heart samples from donors with (n = 8) and without (n = 7) documented CAD. Both groups showed increased numbers of heteroplasmic mtDNA variants in the control region (CR) (p < .0010, ANOVA). The donors with CAD displayed a 41.07% increase in heteroplasmic mtDNA variant number in the CR (p = .043), an 87.50% increase in the number of heteroplasmic mtDNA deletions (p = .12), and a 48.76% increase in the number of heteroplasmic mtDNA single nucleotide variants (p = .029). These data suggest potential trends towards higher cardiac mtDNA heteroplasmy levels in heart samples from donors with CAD.
Mg Incorporation Efficiency in Pulsed MOCVD of N-Polar GaN:Mg

We report on the effect of growth polarity and pulsed or $$\delta $$ -doped growth mode on impurity incorporation in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition-grown GaN. In Ga-polar orientation, up to 12× enhancement in Mg concentration for given Mg flow rate is observed, resulting in enhanced p-type conductivity for these samples. In contrast, this enhancement effect is greatly diminished for N-polar samples, falling off with increasing Mg flow and showing maximum enhancement of 2.7× at 30 nmol/min Mg flow. At higher Mg flow rates, Mg incorporation at normal levels did not correspond to p-type conductivity, which may be due to Mg incorporation at nonacceptor sites. Concentrations of C, O, and Si were also investigated, revealing dependence on Mg flow in N-polar pulsed samples. Carbon incorporation was found to decrease with increasing Mg flow, and oxygen incorporation was found to remain high across varied Mg flow. These effects combine to result in N-polar samples that are not p-type when using the pulsed growth mode.
An evaluation of stove and its usage in key coal-burning fluorosis areas in Guizhou

Objective To investigate the usage of the stoves in the severe endemic areas of coal burning fluorosis, sum up experience timely, find problems and adjust strategy for making prevention and control measures. Methods In 23 counties of Guizhou Province in the severe endemic areas of coal burning fluorosis, a town was selected according to the east, west, south, north and center positions, three villages were selected from each town, and 20 families were selected from each village; household stoves and usage were investigated in 2013. And the data of 14 conties was compared with the survey results of 2007. Results A total of 6 916 families from 341 villages in 115 towns of the 23 counties were investigated. Average utilization rate of coal-fired furnace and electric cooker was relatively high, which was 91.34% (6 317/6 916) and 92.93% (6 427/6 916), respectively. Utilization rate of coal stove, firewood oven, gas stove and liquefied gas stove oven was 7.75% (536/6 916)-21.56% (1 491/6 916). The correct utilization rate of coal-fired furnace was 92.80% (5 862/6 317). The correct utilization rate of coal stove was 66.80% (839/1 256); 92.93%(6 427/6 916)of the families used electric cooker year around. Totally 89.82%(5 674/6 317) of the farmers used iron stove in winter. Compared with those of 2007, in 14 of the counties; the differences of coal-fired furnace, coal stove, firewood oven, electric cooker, gas stove, and liquefied gas stove utilization rate were statistically significant (χ2 = 888.35, 6 210.71, 165.54, 9 194.29, 36.98, 729.76, all P < 0.05). Conclusion After positive and effective comprehensive treatment for many years, great changes have taken place in energy structure, clean energy is widely used, the correct utilization rate of coal-fired stoves is increased, and indoor fluorine pollution caused by coal-burning is under control. Key words: Coal; Fluorine; Stoves; Outcome Assessment
RUL estimation in rotary machines using linear dimension reduction and Bayesian inference

Condition based maintenance and fault prognosis is an important need for modern mission-critical industry. In this paper, a novel estimation method for remaining useful lifetime of rotary machines using the vibration signal is introduced. The proposed method employs a linear dimension reduction for extracting a health indicator from wavelet packet transform of vibration signal picked by accelerometers. Then, Bayesian inference is used to estimate the machines failure probability. The proposed method is validated using PRONOSTIA benchmark dataset and the average accuracy of 92% is obtained.
The Coming-Out Process of Gay and Lesbian Individuals from Islamic Malaysia: Communication Strategies and Motivations

AbstractThis exploratory study was an attempt to understand the coming-out process and lived experiences of gay and lesbian individuals in Islamic Malaysia. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted, and data were subjected to qualitative thematic analysis. Three themes which centered on the “coming-out” process were uncovered, and they include: disclosure as self-acceptance, concealment as self and other protection, and sexual identity is not public identity. Even though the specific condition for disclosure and concealment vary from individual to individual, relationship with others and safety appeared to be the two most common reasons for why disclosure and concealment were enacted by the participants.
Diagnostic Value of Quantitative Chest CT Scan in a Case of Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

An 18-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented to an outside hospital facility with acute chest pain. She had mild shortness of breath, particularly with exertion, for the prior 2 months.
Optimal design of battery energy storage in stand-alone brownfield microgrids

Battery energy storage (BES) is an indispensable resource in stand-alone microgrids. A reliable and cost effective microgrid operation can be achieved when the BES is optimally designed and deployed. The BES lifetime, however, is greatly impacted by its operation where two important operation factors must be considered to prolong its lifetime, namely the depth of discharge and the number of cycles. This paper proposes a stand-alone brownfield microgrid expansion model that determines the optimal size of installed BES while taking into consideration the impact of the operation factors on the BES lifetime. Based on the relationship between the BES depth of discharge and lifecycle, the proposed model can determine the depth of discharge impact on the installed BES lifetime. Mixed-integer linear programming (MIP) is used to formulate the problem and a test microgrid is used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Memory requirements of hadoop, spark, and MPI based big data applications on commodity server class architectures

Emerging big data frameworks requires computational resources and memory subsystems that can naturally scale to manage massive amounts of diverse data. Given the large size and heterogeneity of the data, it is currently unclear whether big data frameworks such as Hadoop, Spark, and MPI will require high performance and large capacity memory to cope with this change and exactly what role main memory subsystems will play; particularly in terms of energy efficiency. The primary purpose of this study is to answer these questions through empirical analysis of different memory configurations available on commodity hardware and to assess the impact of these configurations on the performance and power of these well-established frameworks. Our results reveal that while for Hadoop there is no major demand for high-end DRAM, Spark and MPI iterative tasks (e.g. machine learning) are benefiting from a high-end DRAM; in particular high frequency and large numbers of channels. Among the configurable parameters, our results indicate that increasing the number of DRAM channels reduces DRAM power and improves the energy-efficiency across all three frameworks.
Care Values in Dementia: Patterns of Perception and Incongruence Among Family Care Dyads

Background and Objectives Persons with dementia (PWDs) often place greater importance on their care values (i.e., maintaining autonomy and social relations, choosing caregivers, avoiding being a burden) than family caregivers (CGs) perceive, which can detract from dementia care planning (e.g., care arrangements or surrogate decisions). Notable variability has been found across family care dyads (PWD and CG) in their perceptions of care values, suggesting that there may be multiple patterns of perception. The purpose of this study was to characterize distinct patterns of perception of care values in family care dyads. Design and Methods Using cross-sectional data from 228 community-dwelling family care dyads, we quantified dyads’ average perceptions and incongruence in perceptions of the importance of everyday care values using multilevel modeling. These scores were then used in a latent class analysis to identify distinct patterns of perception, with the dyad as the unit of analysis. Results Two distinct patterns of care value perception were identified. 25% of dyads were labeled as “CG underestimating” due to lower average estimations of the importance of PWDs’ care values, and a significant amount of dyadic incongruence. Underestimating dyads were characterized by a confirmed diagnosis of dementia, lower cognitive function, and younger age in PWDs, and higher relationship strain in the dyad. Implications Care dyads that fall into an underestimating pattern may be at greater risk for inadequate dementia care planning. Interventions to improve care planning in this higher-risk group may include care values identification with the PWD, strategies for alleviating relationship strain, early-stage planning, and disease education.
Changes in Hepatic Blood Flow and Liver Function during Closed Abdominal Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy following Cytoreduction Surgery.

Background. The increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during closed abdominal hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) leads to major haemodynamic changes and potential organ dysfunction. We investigated these effects on hepatic blood flow (HBF) and liver function in patients undergoing HIPEC following cytoreductive surgery and fluid management guided by dynamic preload indices. Methods. In this prospective observational clinical study including 15 consecutive patients, we evaluated HBF by transesophageal echocardiography and liver function by determination of the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR). Friedman’s two-way analysis of variance by ranks and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for statistical analysis. Results. During HIPEC, HBF was markedly reduced, resulting in the loss of any pulsatile Doppler flow signal in all but one patient. The ICG-PDR, expressed as median (interquartile 25–75), decreased from 23 (20–30) %/min to 18 (12.5–19) %/min ( ). Despite a generous crystalloid infusion rate (27 (22–35) ml/kg/h), cardiac index decreased during the increased IAP period, inferior vena cava diameter decreased, stroke volume variation and pulse pressure variation increased, lung compliance dropped, and there was an augmentation in plateau pressure. All changes were significant ( ) and reversed to baseline values post HIPEC. Conclusion. Despite optimizing intravenous fluids during closed abdominal HIPEC, we observed a marked decrease in HBF and liver function. Both effects were transient and limited to the period of HIPEC but could influence the choice between closed or open abdominal cavity procedure for HIPEC and should be considered in similar clinical situations of increased IAP.
ELOVL4-Mediated Production of Very Long-Chain Ceramides Stabilizes Tight Junctions and Prevents Diabetes-Induced Retinal Vascular Permeability

Tight junctions (TJs) involve close apposition of transmembrane proteins between cells. Although TJ proteins have been studied in detail, the role of lipids is largely unknown. We addressed the role of very long-chain (VLC ≥26) ceramides in TJs using diabetes-induced loss of the blood-retinal barrier as a model. VLC fatty acids that incorporate into VLC ceramides are produced by elongase elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 4 (ELOVL4). ELOVL4 is significantly reduced in the diabetic retina. Overexpression of ELOVL4 significantly decreased basal permeability, inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)– and interleukin-1β–induced permeability, and prevented VEGF-induced decrease in occludin expression and border staining of TJ proteins ZO-1 and claudin-5. Intravitreal delivery of AAV2-hELOVL4 reduced diabetes-induced increase in vascular permeability. Ultrastructure and lipidomic analysis revealed that ω-linked acyl-VLC ceramides colocalize with TJ complexes. Overall, normalization of retinal ELOVL4 expression could prevent blood-retinal barrier dysregulation in diabetic retinopathy through an increase in VLC ceramides and stabilization of TJs.
The relative burden of community-acquired pneumonia hospitalizations in older adults: a retrospective observational study in the United States

The risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) increases with age and significantly impacts morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. The burden of illness and cost of preventing CAP has not been compared to other serious diseases. This retrospective analysis used claims data from 2014 to 2015 and compared hospitalizations for CAP, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and osteoporotic fractures (OF) in adults aged ≥65 years enrolled in a Medicare Advantage insurance plan. Individuals who had not already been hospitalized for one of these conditions and did not have evidence of long-term care were included in the study. Hospitalizations for each condition were described by length of stay, readmissions, mortality, and total costs. Preventive measures included vaccinations for CAP and medications for MI, stroke, and OF. A total of 1,949,352 individuals were included in the cohort. In 2015, the rate of CAP-related hospitalizations was the highest at 846.7 per 100,000 person-years compared to 405 for MI, 278.9 for stroke, and 343.9 for OF. Vaccination costs for CAP were $40.2 million including $14.1 million for pneumococcal and $26.1 million for influenza vaccines. The cost of preventive medications for MI and stroke reached over $661 million and OF totaled $169 million. Although CAP has a higher burden of hospitalization and total costs than MI, stroke, and OF in the elderly population, prevention efforts were disproportionately smaller for CAP. Prioritization of CAP prevention is needed to substantially reduce the burden of CAP.
Planet Orbit—Lunar Orbit Resonances and the History of the Earth-Moon System

After reviewing a number of geology and astronomy textbooks, a reader gets the feeling that the Moon is not all that important in the development of our habitable planet. The Moon raises ocean tides on the planet and it serves as a “night lantern” and these features of the Moon have been important for some human endeavors (e.g., in production of food crops in coastal areas and, in some special circumstances, in military campaigns at specific times in human history). But the question posed here is: HAS THE MOON BEEN IMPORTANT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANET EARTH INTO THE ONLY PLANET THAT WE KNOW OF THAT IS HABITABLE TODAY, AFTER NEARLY 4.6 BILLION YEARS OF GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION?
Potential pitfalls in analyzing structural uncoupling of eNOS: aging is not associated with increased enzyme monomerization.

Structural uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is considered central to endothelial dysfunction. However, reported levels of eNOS dimers and monomers vary widely, even in healthy...
Recurrent Neural Network-Based Stencil Cleaning Cycle Predictive Modeling

Abstract This paper presents a real-time predictive approach to improve solder paste stencil printing cycle decision making process in surface mount assembly lines. Stencil cleaning is a critical process that influences the quality and efficiency of printing circuit board. Stencil cleaning operation depends on various process variables, such as printing speed, printing pressure, and aperture shape. The objective of this research is to help efficiently decide stencil printing cleaning cycle by applying data-driven predictive methods. To predict the printed circuit board quality level, a recurrent neural network (RNN) is applied to obtain the printing performance for the different cleaning aging. In the prediction model, not only the previous printing performance statuses are included, but also the printing settings are used to enhance the RNN learning. The model is tested using data collected from an actual solder paste stencil printing line. Based on the predicted printing performance level, the model can help automatically identify the possible cleaning cycle in practice. The results indicate that the proposed model architecture can predictively provide accurate solder paste printing process information to decision makers and increase the quality of the stencil printing process.
Low area-level socioeconomic status and breast cancer biologic features in a diverse population-based sample.

6575 Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and breast cancer biology controlling for demographic factors and comorbi...
Contemporary Issues in Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion CMR Imaging

This review highlights the development and application of quantitative myocardial perfusion by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and discusses recent innovations in this area. First pass, contrast-enhanced CMR can accurately quantify myocardial perfusion in order to diagnose obstructive coronary artery disease and microvascular dysfunction. Quantitative analysis conveys additional prognostic information beyond other CMR findings. New, fully automated techniques may aid standardization of methods across centers. CMR quantitative perfusion has robust performance for the diagnosis of obstructive coronary disease and microvascular dysfunction and conveys prognostic information. Adoption of automated post-processing and standardized protocols will further strengthen CMR in its position as the modality of choice for the evaluation of possible myocardial ischemia.
Course of Concomitant Bell's Palsy and Trigeminal Neuralgia Shortened with a Multi-Modal Intervention: A Case Report

A 60-year-old man presented to the ER with lancinating right-sided facial pain following a URI. He was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, yet returned several days later with right-sided facial paralysis. He was then also diagnosed with Bell's palsy and treated with corticosteroids and antiviral medication. He continued to experience facial pain and paralysis, and sought out integrative medical care including acupuncture, nutritional supplements, diet and lifestyle changes, and parenteral therapy with intravenous vitamins and minerals. Eight weeks later he reported near complete resolution of symptoms. Multi-modal interventions may shorten recovery time in some patients with trigeminal neuralgia or Bell's palsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on concomitant trigeminal neuralgia and Bell's palsy. The CARE (CAse REport) guidelines were used in the writing of this case report.
In vitro production of colony-stimulating factors by Listeria-immune spleen cells.

The survival of mice during Listeria monocytogenes infection is dependent on the efficiency of the early phases of host defenses. These early host defenses consist primarily of the production of bone marrow-derived monocytes and granulocytes and their accumulation at the site of infection. Two important parameters that are believed to affect the production of leukocytes during early infection are the number of leukocyte progenitors in bone marrow and the secretion of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). At least four discrete CSFs, as determined by an in vitro colony forming assay, have been described: macrophage CSF (M-CSF), granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF), and multi-CSF (IL-3) (1). CSFs not only help to regulate the production of phagocytic cells, but also affect the function of mature phagocytes. For example, macrophages stimulated by CSFs secrete increased levels of oxygen reduction products (2) and have increased anti-tumor activity (3,4).
Age- and Lesion-Related Comorbidity Burden Among US Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: A Population-Based Study.

Background As patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are living longer, understanding the comorbidities they develop as they age is increasingly important. However, there are no published pop...
Modeling mathematics achievement using hierarchical linear models

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of student-level and school-level variables on mathematics achievement in four countries including Finland, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. Based on eighth grade students’ responses to a student questionnaire and a mathematics test, and school principals’ responses to a school questionnaire, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011 dataset was analyzed using Hierarchical Linear Models. The results revealed that students’ having educational resources at home, their self-confidence in mathematics, and schools’ emphasis on academic standards were the common variables that influenced mathematics achievement in all four countries. On the other hand, no significant effects of education levels of parents (except education levels of mothers in Turkey), fights or physical injuries to other students, and lack of resources for mathematics instruction on students’ mathematics achievement were found in these countries. Implications of the results are discussed.
Ex Vivo Murine Skin Model for B. burgdorferi Biofilm

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, has been recently shown to form biofilm structures in vitro and in vivo. Biofilms are tightly clustered microbes characterized as resistant aggregations that allow bacteria to withstand harsh environmental conditions, including the administration of antibiotics. Novel antibiotic combinations have recently been identified for B. burgdorferi in vitro, however, due to prohibiting costs, those agents have not been tested in an environment that can mimic the host tissue. Therefore, researchers cannot evaluate their true effectiveness against B. burgdorferi, especially its biofilm form. A skin ex vivo model system could be ideal for these types of experiments due to its cost effectiveness, reproducibility, and ability to investigate host-microbial interactions. Therefore, the main goal of this study was the establishment of a novel ex vivo murine skin biopsy model for B. burgdorferi biofilm research. Murine skin biopsies were inoculated with B. burgdorferi at various concentrations and cultured in different culture media. Two weeks post-infection, murine skin biopsies were analyzed utilizing immunohistochemical (IHC), reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), and various microscopy methods to determine B. burgdorferi presence and forms adopted as well as whether it remained live in the skin tissue explants. Our results showed that murine skin biopsies inoculated with 1 × 107 cells of B. burgdorferi and cultured in BSK-H + 6% rabbit serum media for two weeks yielded not just significant amounts of live B. burgdorferi spirochetes but biofilm forms as well. IHC combined with confocal and atomic force microscopy techniques identified specific biofilm markers and spatial distribution of B. burgdorferi aggregates in the infected skin tissues, confirming that they are indeed biofilms. In the future, this ex vivo skin model can be used to study development and antibiotic susceptibility of B. burgdorferi biofilms in efforts to treat Lyme disease effectively.