cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increasing hand hygiene compliance by use of a novel hand held device at a university hospital - biomed 2013.

Issue Hand hygiene (HH) is the single most effective modality to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare. HH is also one of the most difficult quality measures to monitor. In a 722 bed tertiary referral teaching hospital, collection of accurate and timely HH compliance data on 25 inpatient units was problematic. We needed a process that avoided confrontation and keep secret the identity of HH surveyors to avoid compromise of professional work relationships. Our solution was to employ a unique handheld device. Project iScrub®, a hand-held application developed by The University of Iowa, was used to record compliance with HH. Dates of intervention were January 1st  December 31st, 2011. HH observations were collected by trained nursing volunteers and displayed on a central intranet based database using SharePoint software®. Data was then included in quality scorecards, and in the Infection Prevention (IP) monthly report. Episodes of non-compliance generated e-mail notifications with escalating consequences that might end with termination of employment. Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) surveillance was performed by the infection prevention department (IPD). HH and MDROs monthly data analysis was published on SharePoint® for stakeholders review. Results During the intervention we collected 26,657 observations. Average HH compliance was 95%,( average physicians compliance was 88%, and average nurses compliance was 98%). Non-compliance occurred at a similar frequency both before and after patient contact. Alcohol hand rub was the most frequently used method to perform HH. Physicians demonstrated the lowest compliance rates among healthcare workers. Time and date of observations had no effect on compliance. Lessons learned Shielding the identity of HH observers eliminated confrontation, and probably increased the accuracy of collected data. Applying strict consequences for non-compliance with HH aided in increasing compliance among staff and physicians. Publishing HH data analysis aided in increasing the compliance with HH. Data analysis identified issues related to the use of the current application and led to the creation of a new HH application.
Technical Surgical Failures: Presentation, Etiology, and Evaluation

Esophagectomies have come a long way since first being described more than 100 years ago. However, they remain a very challenging procedure that can come with significant morbidity and mortality. The most recent major advance in this field is the advent of minimally invasive esophagectomies. While there are many different methods for performing the surgery and minimally invasive techniques seem to have further reduced some of the associated morbidity and mortality, however, most of the pitfalls remain the same. This chapter is dedicated to the surgical failures that may present during and following a minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) including presentation and evaluation.
Direct numerical simulation of ductile spall failure

Large-scale direct numerical simulations of void growth and coalescence from 3-dimensional distributions of void nucleating particles are used to investigate the effect of material strain hardening and strain rate sensitivity on spall response. The computational model spans multiple particle spacings in the in-plane directions, and several finite elements span the initial particle diameters in the mixed-zone Arbitrary Lagrange–Eulerian (ALE) simulations. The matrix material is represented by traditional plasticity models in which material failure is not permitted. The 1000 $$+$$ particles are represented by the same material model as the surrounding matrix except the particles have low tensile strength to permit fracture, which is used to simulate particle cracking or decohesion. Voids grow and coalesce naturally in the ALE framework, and the simulations produce dimpled failure surfaces similar to those observed experimentally in spalled samples. The strain hardening and strain rate sensitivity of the matrix material are altered to explore their influence on the void growth and coalescence processes and on the simulated free surface velocity. The details available from the computational model permit association of the longitudinal stress evolution with features on the free surface velocity profile.
The effects of display fidelity, visual complexity, and task scope on spatial understanding of 3D graphs

Immersive display features can improve performance for tasks involving 3D, but determining which types of spatial analysis tasks are affected by immersive display features for different applications is not simple. This research adds to the knowledge of how the level of display fidelity (i.e., the realism provided by the display output) affects task performance for a variety of 3D spatial understanding tasks. In this study, we control visual display fidelity with the combination of stereoscopy, head-based rendering, and display area and study performance analysis of 3D graphs. Through a controlled study, we evaluated the relationship among display fidelity, visual complexity, task scope, and a user's personal spatial ability. Over a variety of task types, our results show significantly better overall task performance with higher display fidelity. We also found that visual complexity and task scope affect speed, with higher levels of either type of complexity leading to slower performance. These results show the importance of considering multiple factors when calculating the overall difficulty and complexity of a spatial task, and they suggest that visual clutter makes a greater impact on speed than correctness. Further, the study of different task types suggest enhanced virtual reality displays offer more benefits for spatial search and fine-grained component distinction, but may provide little gain than for sense of scale or size comparison.
Transcription-driven DNA methylation setting on the mouse Peg3 locus.

ABSTRACTThe imprinting of the mouse Peg3 domain is controlled through the Peg3-DMR, which obtains its maternal-specific DNA methylation during oogenesis. In the current study, we deleted an oocyte-specific alternative promoter, termed U1, which is localized 20 kb upstream of the Peg3-DMR. Deletion of this alternative promoter resulted in complete removal of the maternal-specific DNA methylation on the Peg3-DMR. Consequently, the imprinted genes in the Peg3 domain become biallelic in the mutants with maternal transmission of the deletion. Expression levels of the imprinted genes were also affected in the mutants: 2-fold upregulation of Peg3 and Usp29 and downregulation of Zim1 to basal levels. Breeding experiments further indicated under-representation of females among the surviving mutants, a potential sex-biased outcome from the biallelic expression of the Peg3 domain. Overall, the results suggest that U1-driven transcription may be required for establishing oocyte-specific DNA methylation on the Peg3 do...
Streptococcus suis intranasal challenge model and identification of a potential anti-phagocytic virulence factor in S. suis supernatant

35 General Introduction 37 Experiment 1 39 Introduction 39 Materials and Methods 40 Results 44 Discussion 45 Experiment 2 46
Photosynthetic Reaction Center Spectroscopy and Electron Transfer Dynamics in Applied Electric Fields

This chapter discusses the application of photosynthetic reaction center spectroscopy and electron transfer dynamics in applied electric fields. As the transmembrane potential generated by electron transfer reactions is a vectorial property, and the dipole moments within the photosynthetic unit have unique orientations relative to the direction of the transmembrane potential, the potential can have a significant effect on the energies of dipoles and consequently on the rates of various steps in photosynthesis. Therefore, in addition to being a very useful probe of the mechanisms of photosynthetic reactions, electric fields may play a significant physiological role in regulating various aspects of photosynthesis. The effects of applied electric fields have been measured for reaction centers in planar lipid bi-layers, in Langmuir–Blodgett films, in polyvinyl alcohol films, and in frozen glycerol/buffer glasses. Electric field effect measurements can be made either optically or electrically. Although the effects of an applied electric field on the energies of dipolar states are conceptually simple, the field also may affect the electronic coupling between the initial and final state. Because electronic coupling depends on the overlap of the wave functions of the donor and acceptor, the applied field may polarize the orbitals, changing the overlap.
Equal Protection, Due Process, and the Stereoscopic Fourteenth Amendment

In his famous concurrence in Railway Express Agency v. New York, Justice Jackson offered a powerful vision of the relationship between equality and liberty. The two major strands of existing case law and scholarship about the relationship between the equal protection clause and the (substantive) due process clause find their roots in Justice Jackson's observations. One strand treats the clauses as virtually fungible - different verbal formulations that produce essentially identical results. The other strand stresses the differences between the two clauses and argues that a court faced with a constitutional challenge should apply one clause rather than the other, either because the claim is intrinsically better addressed under one rubric or because, as a tactical matter, precedent forecloses resort to the other clause. This essay builds on Justice Jackson's concurrence to offer a different approach. It examines the possibility of looking at questions "stereoscopically" - through the lenses of both the due process clause and the equal protection clause - and suggests that this approach can have synergistic effects, producing results that neither clause might reach by itself. I begin with two cases where the Supreme Court viewed the issue stereoscopically. Harper v. State Board of Elections shows how this approach can trigger doctrinal development - in that case, the articulation of a heightened standard of review for cases involving restrictions on the franchise. M.L.B. v. S.L.J., by contrast, reflects a doctrinal area - the access of indigent litigants to the courts - in which the Court's jurisprudence remains anchored in simultaneous reliance on principles of due process and equal protection because fundamental rights analysis can provide a limiting principle for claims of equality. I then turn to two cases where the Court failed to view the issue before it stereoscopically. In Romer v. Evans, recognizing the liberty interests at stake would have put the Court's equal protection decision on a firmer footing, by providing a conceptual underpinning for the holding that singling out gays, lesbians, and bisexuals constituted impermissible animus, rather than a legitimate distinction. By contrast, in Bush v. Gore, the Court's failure to see the due process-based dimensions of the right to vote blinded it to two fatal flaws in its equal protection analysis of the Florida recount. Thus, we might revise Justice Jackson's observation in Railway Express to say that just as courts can take no better measure to assure that laws will be just than to require that laws be equal in operation, so too, they often can have no better measure of how to achieve the requirements of equality than to understand the underlying claims of justice embodied in the due process clause's concept of liberty.
Pre- and early postnatal nicotine exposure exacerbates autoresuscitation failure in serotonin-deficient rat neonates

KEY POINTS Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of death during the first year of life and abnormalities linked to serotonin (5-HT) have been identified in many SIDS cases. Cigarette smoking and associated exogenous stressors, e.g. developmental nicotine exposure, may compound these serotonergic defects and any associated defects in cardiorespiratory function. Using neonatal rodent pups subjected to medullary 5-HT deficiency and perinatal nicotine exposure, we examined the impact of this interplay of factors on the neonates' ability to autoresuscitate at specific ages. In perinatal nicotine-exposed 5-HT deficient pups, impaired autoresuscitation along with significantly delayed post-anoxic recovery of normal breathing and heart rate was observed at postnatal day 10 (P10). We found that the interaction between 5-HT deficiency and perinatal nicotine exposure can significantly increase pups' vulnerability to environmental stressors and exacerbate defects in cardiorespiratory protective reflexes to repetitive anoxia during the development period. ABSTRACT Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and nicotine replacements, a key ingredient of cigarettes, have been recently prescribed to women who wish to quit smoking during their pregnancy. Serotonin (5-HT) abnormalities have been consistently identified in many SIDS cases. Here we investigated the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure in mild 5-HT deficiency rat neonates on autoresuscitation, a protective cardiorespiratory reflex. The mild 5-HT deficiency was induced by a maternal tryptophan-deficient diet, and nicotine was delivered from embryonic day (E) 4 to postnatal day (P) 10 at 6 mg kg-1 day-1 through an osmotic pump. In P10 rats, nicotine exposure exacerbates autoresuscitation failure (mortality) in mildly 5-HT-deficient rats to a greater extent than in controls (P = 0.029). The recovery of eupnoea and heart rate to baseline values following repetitive anoxic events (which elicit an apnoea accompanied by a bradycardia) is significantly delayed in 5-HT-deficient rats treated with nicotine, making them more susceptible to failure of autoresuscitation (eupnoea recovery: P = 0.0053; heart rate recovery: P = < 0.0001). Neither 5-HT deficiency nor nicotine exposure alone appears to affect the ability to autoresuscitate significantly when compared among the four treatments. The increased vulnerability to environmental stressors, e.g. severe hypoxia, asphyxia, or anoxia, in these nicotine-exposed 5-HT-deficient neonates during postnatal developmental period is evident.
Low-Grade Glioma

Approximately 3000 new cases of low-grade glioma (LGG) will be diagnosed annually in the United States. LGG includes grade I and grade II glioma and represents a heterogeneous group of tumors. The pathologic criteria for diagnosis of LGG have been updated per the World Health Organization 2016 classification system. Pilocytic grade I astrocytoma is the most common grade I lesion, and grade II lesions are mainly diffuse astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma, which comprise the majority of adult LGG and are the focus of this chapter.
Large-Scale Implementation of Collaborative Care Management for Depression and Diabetes and/or Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Collaborative care models have been shown to improve mental and physical health, but their effectiveness varies. Implementation science frameworks identify measures at the structural (eg, sociocultural context, public policies), organizational, provider, innovation, and patient levels that may facilitate or impede collaborative care effectiveness. Objective: To describe commonalities and variation in multilevel measures associated with the implementation of Care of Mental, Physical, and Substance-Use Syndromes (COMPASS), a large-scale collaborative care intervention for depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Design: Qualitative study using semistructured descriptive data obtained from annual site visit reports and supplemental site surveys. Participants: COMPASS care teams from 8 health care systems serving 3854 patients with active depression and poorly controlled diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. Intervention: COMPASS included weekly case reviews with a consulting physician and psychiatrist, a patient-tracking registry, and monitoring of hospital and emergency department use. Main Measures: Site visit reports were analyzed with Atlas.ti software to qualitatively describe implementation measures and their variation across sites. Key Results: Nine measures were identified that impacted implementation efforts across health systems: (1) challenges in health systems9 organizational environments, (2) prior care coordination experience, (3) physician engagement, (4) care team trust and cohesion, (5) care manager training and experience, (6) patient enrollment length, attainment of clinical targets, and frequency/content of care manager contacts, (7) patient-tracking registries, (8) quality improvement and outcomes monitoring reports, and (9) patients9 social needs. Conclusions: Understanding multilevel measures impacting COMPASS implementation could increase the success of future collaborative care implementation efforts.
The Selenium Transport Protein, Selenoprotein P, Requires Coding Sequence Determinants to Promote Efficient Selenocysteine Incorporation

Selenoproteins are an essential and unique group of proteins in which selenocysteine (Sec) is incorporated in response to a stop codon (UGA). Reprograming of UGA for Sec insertion in eukaryotes requires a cis-acting stem-loop structure in the 3' untranslated region of selenoprotein mRNA and several trans-acting factors. Together these factors are sufficient for Sec incorporation in vitro, but the process is highly inefficient. An additional challenge is the synthesis of selenoprotein P (SELENOP), which uniquely contains multiple UGA codons. Full-length SELENOP expression requires processive Sec incorporation, the mechanism for which is not understood. In this study, we identify core coding region sequence determinants within the SELENOP mRNA that govern SELENOP synthesis. Using 75Se labeling in cells, we determined that the N-terminal coding sequence (upstream of the second UGA) and C-terminal coding sequence context are two independent determinants for efficient synthesis of full-length SELENOP. In addition, the distance between the first UGA and the consensus signal peptide is also critical for efficiency.
Attenuation of Mitophagy Exacerbates the Deleterious Effects of Statins on Skeletal Muscle

BackgroundStatins are a family of cholesterol lowering drugs that afford proven cardiovascular benefits. However, due to the complications that arise from developing skeletal muscle myopathy, patie...
Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Software Product Line

Welcome to SPLC 2015, the 19th International Software Product Lines Conference. SPLC is the premier forum for practitioners, researchers and educators to present and discuss the most recent ideas, innovations, trends, experiences, and concerns in the area of software product lines, software product family engineering and, more in general, systems family engineering.
Qualitative Software Engineering and Event-B Modeling for Communication and Use Case Diagrams

Now a days distributed and parallel applications are most popular because of their wide usage and advantages. Some of the applications like telecommunications and aircraft systems have many interactions between their sub-systems in order to fulfil the requirements which include complex computations and calculations in them. It is very important to define the exact properties and features of these systems along with the workflow. Unified Modeling language provides a great opportunity of modelling complex applications like these by defining the structure, flow and the work topologies of the distributed applications. But inspite of having wide range of usage, UML lacks in providing the detailed semantics of the various subsystems in these distributed applications which indeed is important in defining the exact features of them. In this paper, we will understand the importance of implementation of specifications using formal methods like event-B through a simple example and verify its results using ProB. Later, we have defined the UML diagrams like use case and communication diagrams in various scenarios and have performed the Event B modeling for these examples.
Solder Bond Degradation of Fielded PV Modules: Climate Dependence of Intermetallic Compound Growth

Solder bond degradation is typically ranked in the top two degradation modes observed in the field deployed modules. One of the main reasons for the solder bond degradation is the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMC) at the solder-cell metallization interfaces. The growth of IMC layer is dictated by the microclimate factors in which the modules are being exposed over several years. This paper presents the characterization and analysis of IMC layer of the modules, with identical model/type (Siemens M55), retrieved from two different field climates – Arizona (hot and dry) and Florida (hot and humid) along with an unexposed control module. The modules were tested with current-voltage (I-V), electroluminescence imaging and infrared thermography. The series resistance (Rs) and other electrical parameters of individual cells were obtained from dark I-V curves. The field induced degradation of Cu ribbon-solder and solder-Ag busbar interfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) profiling. The IMC thickness is calculated, which exhibits a good correlation with cell Rs. Arizona modules operating at elevated operating temperatures suffered from thermomechanical fatigue, leading to the detachment of soldered ribbon from both top and rear cell contacts, while Florida modules showed higher degradation predominantly at the rear contacts due to the moisture transport and attack through the backsheet.
Chemical cues of an invasive turtle reduce development time and size at metamorphosis in the common frog.

In aquatic systems, chemical cues are one of the major sources of information through which animals can assess local predation risk. Non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) have the potential to disrupt aquatic ecosystems in Central Europe because of their superior competitive abilities and omnivorous diets. In this study, we examined whether continuous predator-borne cues are tied to changes in the developmental rates, growth rates and sizes at metamorphosis of common frog tadpoles (Rana temporaria). Our results show rather rarely documented types of amphibian prey responses to caged predators. The presence of turtles shortened the time at metamorphosis of tadpoles from 110 ± 11.7 days to 93 ± 13.0 days (mean ± S.D.). The first metamorphosed individuals were recorded on the 65th day and on the 80th day from hatching in the predator treatment and in the control group, respectively. The froglets were significantly smaller (12.8 ± 0.99 mm) in the presence of the predator than in the control treatment (15.2 ± 1.27 mm). The growth rate trajectories were similar between the predator treatment and the control. Thus, predator-induced tadpole defences were evident in higher developmental rates and smaller sizes at metamorphosis without significant changes in growth.
Impact of the ADA on the Employment and Promotion of Persons who are Visually Impaired

Unemployment and underemployment have plagued people who are visually impaired (including those who are blind and those who have low vision) since long before the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936. Fiv...
Life-Threatening Hemoptysis

Life-threatening hemoptysis (LTH) is any amount of hemoptysis that causes significant hemodynamic decompensation or respiratory distress which may lead to death if left untreated. While the amount of hemoptysis that qualifies as massive hemoptysis has continued to be debated, any amount between 100 to 1,000 mL/day is considered significant. Up to 15% cases of hemoptysis are LTH and need urgent life-saving intervention. Understanding of pulmonary vascular anatomy is of paramount importance to manage LTH. The goal of treatment lies in airway protection, appropriate oxygenation, and prevention of exsanguination. Once the airway is stabilized, a quick diagnosis and control of bleeding site is targeted. This chapter highlights current practices and approach to LTH including medical management, bronchoscopic approach, and advanced therapies such as bronchial artery embolization and surgical resection. We review situations, such as bronchiectasis, vascular malformation, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, and tracheostomy bleed and specific approach to management of these conditions in a systematic and evidence-based manner.
Fundamental investigation into characteristics of particulate matter produced from rapid pyrolysis of biochar in a drop-tube furnace at 1300 °C

Abstract This paper reports the emission characteristics of leaf and wood biochar (LC500 and WC500) pyrolysis in a drop tube furnace at 1300 °C in argon atmosphere. The char yields at 1300 °C are ∼ 65% and ∼ 73% respectively for LC500 and WC500. Over 60% Mg, Ca, S, Al, Fe and Si are retained in char after pyrolysis at 1300 °C. The retentions of Na and K in the char from LC500 pyrolysis are lower than those in the char from WC500 pyrolysis due to release via enhanced chlorination as a result of much higher Cl content in LC500. Particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter of
A de novo pathogenic BMP2 variant‐related phenotype with the novel finding of bicuspid aortic valve

A rare autosomal dominant syndrome with craniofacial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, short stature, and congenital heart defects has recently been described, associated with monoallelic truncating and frameshift bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) variants and deletions. We describe a patient harboring a novel de novo BMP2 nonsense variant, who exhibited craniofacial and skeletal features previously described for this trait and the novel findings of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and aortic root and ascending aortic aneurysm. This first instance of aortic valve involvement provides another potential cause of BAV and confirms the role of BMP2 in left ventricular outflow development.
Automation of Rail Gate Control with Obstacle Detection and Real Time Tracking in the Development of Bangladesh Railway

It has been noticed that a lot of fatalities of lives occur every day due to manually operated rail gates all over Bangladesh. These happen mainly at places where the rail road passes through a city, locality or unmanned gates of the crossing zones. Currently, gatemen mainly operate on the assumption of a train departure schedule from the station to reach a crossing zone. But at times there are departure delays or maybe the train reaches crossing zones earlier, leaving the gateman unprepared to close the gate. Accidents are more likely to happen in such cases, causing severe damage to human lives and properties near the rail crossings. This paper presents the development and implementation of automatic rail gate control system as well as real time monitoring of train and obstacle detection for developing countries like Bangladesh. This research project was carried out using Arduino Nano along with IR Sensor, IR LED, Flame Sensor, Servo Motor, Ultrasonic sensor, DC Gear Motor and USB UART Board. This project is a combination of old technology with recent wireless technology and analytics to provide the best possible service to the nation. This paper also suggests the effectiveness of real time information of train position. The main objective of the proposed humanitarian project is to ensure the efficiency, quality, time management, and most importantly public safety, using wireless based communication network for the development of the railway industry in Bangladesh.
Ancient DNA reveals that few GWAS loci have been strongly selected during recent human history

Abstract Genetic data from ancient humans has provided new evidence in the study of loci thought to be under historic selection, and thus is a powerful tool for identifying instances of selection that might be missed by methods that use present-day samples alone. Using a curated set of disease-associated variants from the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog, we provide an analysis to identify disease-associated variants that bear signatures of selection over time. After accounting for the fact that not every ancient individual contributed equally to modern genomes, a Bayesian inference method was used to infer allele frequency trajectories over time and determine which disease-associated loci exhibit signatures of natural selection. Of the 2,709 variants analyzed in this study, 895 show at least a weak signature of selection (|s| > 0.001), including multiple variants that are introgressed from Neanderthals. However, only nine disease-associated variants show a signature of strong selection (|s| > 0.01). Additionally, we find that many risk-associated alleles have increased in frequency during the past 10,000 years. Overall, we find that disease-associated variants from GWAS are governed by nearly neutral evolution. Exceptions to this broad pattern include GWAS loci that protect against asthma and variants in MHC genes. Ancient samples allow us an unprecedented look at how our species has changed over time, and our results represent an important early step in using this new source of data to better understand the evolution of hereditary disease risks.
The Effects of Fibrinogen's Interactions with Its Neuronal Receptors, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 and Cellular Prion Protein.

Neuroinflammatory diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), are associated with the extravascular deposition of the fibrinogen (Fg) derivative fibrin and are accompanied with memory impairment. We found that during the hyperfibrinogenemia that typically occurs during AD and TBI, extravasated Fg was associated with amyloid beta and astrocytic cellular prion protein (PrPC). These effects coincided with short-term memory (STM) reduction and neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms of a direct Fg–neuron interaction and its functional role in neurodegeneration are still unclear. Cultured mouse brain neurons were treated with Fg in the presence or absence of function-blockers of its receptors, PrPC or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Associations of Fg with neuronal PrPC and ICAM-1 were characterized. The expression of proinflammatory marker interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial superoxide, and nitrite in neurons were assessed. Fg-induced neuronal death was also evaluated. A strong association of Fg with neuronal PrPC and ICAM-1, accompanied with overexpression of IL-6 and enhanced generation of ROS, mitochondrial superoxide, and nitrite as well as the resulting neuronal death, was found. These effects were reduced by blocking the function of neuronal PrPC and ICAM-1, suggesting that the direct interaction of Fg with its neuronal receptors can induce overexpression of IL-6 and increase the generation of ROS, nitrite, and mitochondrial superoxide, ultimately leading to neuronal death. These effects can be a mechanism of neurodegeneration and the resultant memory reduction seen during TBI and AD.
Patient-reported outcomes in the post-approval environment: Opportunities and challenges

This paper explores the US context of the opportunities and challenges of collecting and using patientreported outcomes (PROs) in the post-approval environment. Firstly, an overarching goal of real-world comparisons of therapies based on their benefits and harms is borne in mind whilst placing PROs in the landscape of comparative effectiveness research. Secondly, a review of opportunities and challenges relating to the collection and use of real-world patient-reported outcome (PRO) data in clinical and community settings is presented, highlighting patient monitoring such as in post-marketing/post-approval (phase IV) studies, through formulary management and reimbursement systems, and the utilization of available technologies. The paper ends with a summary of policy considerations in optimizing these opportunities and addressing the related challenges. Throughout this paper, the use of the term ‘preapproval environment’ is intended to refer to the time and efforts preceding the regulatory approval of a pharmaceutical product, and ‘post-approval environment’ on the other hand refers to the time and efforts proceeding the attainment of product approval and the respective labeling claims. ‘Real-world’ is intended to refer to settings other than clinical trials (i.e., clinical practice and community settings, and similar patient monitoring programs).
Capacitative detection of phase separation in 3He-4He mixtures near the tricritical point

We have used two different types of capacitative sensors for detecting the phase separation boundary in 3He-4He mixtures.
EMG Biofeedback as a Tool for Simulating the Effects of Specific Leg Muscle Weakness on a Lifting Task

This study investigated the use of EMG biofeedback to simulate weakened rectus femorii and gastrocnemii muscles during the performance of a lifting task. Eight healthy women performed 15 kg free-style lifts from floor level. Three conditions were tested: unconstrained lifting, lifting with rectus femorii activity volitionally limited bilaterally through EMG biofeedback to less than 45% of maximal EMG activity, and lifting with the gastrocnemii limited to a similar level. Limiting leg muscle activity through biofeedback led to an alteration of lifting strategy, with resulting performance variables (joint angles and torques, angular velocities, center of pressure excursion, and segment coordination) comparing favorably with those from lifting trials performed by six women with moderate leg muscle weaknesses. The data indicate that EMG biofeedback can be used to simulate the effects of leg muscle weakness during these lifts, providing a new tool to study the biomechanics of muscle weakness.
C/sup 3/ planning for theater combined operations

In a global environment greatly influenced by the perception of a reduced threat and the reality of tighter fiscal planning, the Department of Defense is faced with the need to reduce theater resources and increase combined operations. The authors identify major command, control, and communications (C/sup 3/) issues associated with combined operations and recommend a methodology for developing a C/sup 3/ structure to satisfy them. The structured methodology can be used by the US and its allies to develop, assess, and implement a C/sup 3/ infrastructure. The methodology is a top-down driven approach that ensures the commander's ability to conduct assigned missions. It is presented in the following four phases: definition of capability objectives: assessment of C/sup 3/ systems; development of alternative C/sup 3/ improvement packages; and development of a C/sup 3/ implementation plan. These four steps describe a structured approach that focuses on the C/sup 3/ resources necessary to execute a combined force's mission. >
Bridging the academic/practitioner divide in marketing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a course in data mining as an example of an interdisciplinary mechanism of bridging the academic/practitioner divide in marketing.Design/methodology/approach – The academic/practitioner divide in marketing education is first examined along with current challenges for increasing curricular relevancy. Alternative approaches for pedagogically satisfying marketing academicians and, at the same time, meeting practitioner needs is explored.Findings – Developing a course in data mining is presented as a holistic way of providing subject knowledge in relationship marketing, information technology and analytics coupled with experiential learning.Practical implications – The course in data mining provides practical skills in information technology, marketing analytics and problem‐solving that provide students with a strong point of differentiation in the job market that has proven attractive to employers.Originality/value – This paper provides a ...
Systolic architectures for high order correlation artificial neural nets

Systolic architectures for high-order correlation neural nets are proposed. They are based on using a multiply associated high-order correlation tensor as a mathematical model. The case of triple-order correlation nets is analyzed. A design procedure based on developing a triple-order correlation dependence graph is presented. The developed method is flexible. Several implementation issues are discussed. >
Effects of nifedipine on esophageal motor function in humans: Correlation with plasma nifedipine concentration

Abstract We studied the effects of the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine on esophageal smooth muscle function in 10 normal volunteers. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure and relaxation and esophageal contraction amplitude, peristalsis, velocity, and duration after wet swallows were determined before and for 120 min after the sublingual/buccal administration of placebo and of nifedipine in doses of 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg. Blood samples for measurement of plasma nifedipine concentration were obtained at baseline and every 30 min during this 120-min period. Nifedipine led to decreases in sphincter pressure of 13.3%, 29.9%, 34.3%, and 35.1% as the dose was increased from 10 mg to 40 mg. These changes were significantly (p
Heme-heme orientation and electron transfer kinetic behavior of multisite oxidation-reduction enzymes

Analysis of the polarized single-crystal absorption spectra of cytochrome cd1 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa shows that the heme c and heme d1 groups in each subunit are oriented perpendicularly to each other in both oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme. These results, together with those of previous kinetic studies, indicate that a perpendicular heme-heme orientation may be an important factor in specifying kinetically slow steps in a sequential series of electron transfer reactions.
Cognitive Impairment in Bipolar Disorder: An Overview

Research on cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder (BD) has prompted significant insights about the illness. New studies challenge previous notions about the episodic nature of BD, and account for psychosocial disability unrelated to mood disturbance. This article provides a conceptual overview of the growing body of research on cognitive dysfunction in BD. We discuss the evidence in light of the complexity inherent in the connection between cognitive deficits and neurological abnormalities in BD. This article also addresses issues related to etiology, advancing an integration of neurological, clinical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors into a model that elucidates how these factors interact to negatively impact persons with BD with a more severe course of illness. Lastly, this article discusses implications for patient care and future considerations.
8.3: Operation of FEAs in Hydrogen and the Development of Thin Film Metal Hydrides for Integration into FEDs

We demonstrate that having hydrogen inside the operational ambient of field emission displays results in significantly improved display life. However, improving device performance by incorporation of gas phase hydrogen into thin glass packages is a difficult task. In this paper, we report on the development of solid state hydrogen sources utilizing thin film metal hydrides, which can be easily integrated into field emission displays. We show that these metal hydride thin films provide a practical means to incorporate solid state hydrogen sources into field emission displays. Using stainless steel anodes coated with TiH2 thin films, we demonstrate the successful operation of molybdenum field emitter arrays without emission current loss for 400 hours of continuous operation. Comparable arrays operated in the absence of hydrogen, but in an ultrahigh vacuum had emission current degradation of over 50% in less than 100 hours of operation.
TEMPORAL TRENDS IN OLD WORLD PATTERNS OF MORBIDITY

Extensive research by many investigators with archeologically recovered human remains in the Americas indicates pre-Columbian temporal patterns of increased morbidity in many areas. Although dietary factors may also be involved, much of this pattern can be explained by temporal shifts in population density and settlement pattern. This paper explores the existing published evidence for comparable patterns in the Old Word. Analysis includes newly acquired data from northeastern Hungary, spanning several thousand years.
Plate Half-Empty or Half-Full? Dietary Continuity and Change Among the Blackfeet

Perceptions about Native American health and food habits are shaped in part by the intensive research focus on rates of Type 2 diabetes and obesity among these populations. The emphasis on the problematic characteristics of modern Native American food habits and lifestyles may unwittingly foster undesired outcomes as members of these communities internalize negative messages about their own ways of eating and living. This approach also may lead to missed opportunities to discover diversity within a community that can offer models of positive deviance. Data from the diets of four generations of Blackfeet women show that not only have food habits changed in ways that may contribute to the prevalence of chronic diseases, but there is a pattern of dietary continuity from the past, even among some of the youngest women, that carries some recipes for a healthier approach to food choice as well as some inherently healthful preferences. Anthropologists must continue the effort to provide a balance in the messages...
Inadequacy of Recombination as the Source of Light from Enduring Meteor Trains

IT has been suggested1,2 that the enduring column of light left by a meteor in its passage across the sky is produced by radiative recombination of the meteoric ions and free electrons. We wish to criticize this hypothesis on a quantitative basis.
Enzymatic transfer of the acyl group from acyl dihydroyxacetone phosphate to different substrates

Abstract The acyl group of acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate was shown to be enzymatically transferred in guinea pig liver mitochondria to various acceptors such as lysolecithin, lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine and sn -glycerol-3-phosphate to form lecithin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidate, respectively. Coenzyme A and Mg++, but not ATP, were required for this reaction. A rapid exchange of acyl group between acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate was also observed.
Peroxide Formation by Mycoplasmas which Infect Man

SummaryThe hemolytic activity of 8 human and 3 animal species of mycoplasmas was studied. With the exception of T-strains of human origin, each of the mycoplasmas tested hemolyzed guinea pig red blood cells.
Reactive nanolayers for physiologically compatible microsystem packaging

This paper described a novel physiologically compatible wafer bonding technique for bio-microelectromechanical systems (bio-MEMS) packaging. Room temperature bonding was performed between Parylene-C and silicon wafers with a thin Parylene-C coating using reactive Ni/Al nanofilms as localized heaters. Live NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells were encapsulated in the package and they survived the bonding process owing to the localization of heating. A numerical model was developed to predict the temperature evolutions in the parylene layers, silicon wafer and the encapsulated liquid during the bonding process. The simulation results were in agreement with the cell encapsulation experiment revealing that localized heating occurred in this bonding approach. This study proved the feasibility of reactive nanofilm bonding technique for broad applications in packaging bio-MEMS and microfluidic systems.
Improved Fast Calculating Climate Surface Calculation Method Combined with Multi-parameter Building Optimization for Early Design Stages

Abstract This study presents a fast-calculating building optimization method for the early design stages in building renovation. It is used in combination of Climate Surface calculation method for predicting heating and cooling energy demand. The advantage of the presented calculation method is its short calculation time. The use of the Climate Surface method enables the application of holistic building optimization methods in the early design stages, where optimization methods based on dynamic simulation tools are too time consuming. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the advantages of the Climate Surface method in applications where many building predictions are needed as in holistic optimizations and in statistical evaluations like Monte Carlo simulations. In this study, an improvement of the Climate Surface is demonstrated and the accuracy and calculation time of the Climate Surface method is compared to the dynamic simulation software EnergyPlus. Statistical error indicator methods are used to verify the accuracy of the Climate Surface Method. The Equi-Marginal building optimization method is applied in combination with the Climate Surface to illustrate its reliable and fast calculation results. Evaluation criterion for the optimization process is the Life Cycle Cost. The results show that the presented optimization achieves reliable calculation results in a reasonable time period for early design stages.
Psychotic features and illness severity in combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract Background: Psychotic symptoms may be present in up to 40% of patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we hypothesized that severity of psychotic symptoms would also reflect severity of PTSD symptoms in patients with well-defined psychotic features. Methods: Forty-five Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD but without a primary psychotic disorder diagnosis underwent a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R with Psychotic Screen, and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Patients identified as having psychotic features (PTSD-P), ( n = 22) also received the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the CAPS and PANSS global ratings ( p p Conclusions: As postulated, patients with more severe psychosis ratings are likely to have more severe PTSD disease burden if psychotic features are present. This study further documents the occurrence of psychotic features in PTSD that are not necessarily due to a primary psychotic disorder, suggesting that this may be a distinct subtype; however, a significant interaction likely exists between PTSD, depression, and psychotic features.
Baculovirus-expressed virus-like particles of Pea enation mosaic virus vary in size and encapsidate baculovirus mRNAs.

Abstract Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV: family Luteoviridae ) is transmitted in a persistent, circulative manner by aphids. We inserted cDNAs encoding the structural proteins of PEMV, the coat protein (CP) and coat protein-read through domain (CPRT) into the genome of the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus with and without a histidine tag or an upstream Kozak consensus sequence. The Sf21 cell line provided the highest level of CP expression of the cell lines tested and resulted in production of virus-like particles (VLPs). The CPRT was not detected in recombinant baculovirus-infected cells by Western blot. Addition of a Kozak sequence increased the yield of baculovirus produced VLPs. Baculovirus-expressed VLPs purified on a nickel NTA column were of variable size (13–30 nm) and contained CP mRNA. The purified VLPs were also shown by RT-PCR to contain 70% of 154 baculovirus mRNAs, indicative of non-specific RNA encapsidation in the absence of viral RNA replication. When fed to the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), the VLPs entered the aphid hemocoel, demonstrating that CPRT is not required for uptake of PEMV from the aphid gut. Baculovirus expression of PEMV VLPs provides a useful tool for future analysis of RNA encapsidation requirements and molecular aphid–virus interactions.