cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving power with repeated measures: diet and serum lipids.

The inability to detect associations between diet and serum cholesterol in cross-sectional population studies has been attributed to measurement error in diet assessments and between-subject variability in lipid concentrations. Current sta- tistical methods can reduce the effects of measurement error and allow within-subject comparisons when replicate measures on individuals are available, even if the time between replicates is as long as 4 y and replicate data are not available for all subjects. Data from 928 nondiabetic participants of the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study with measures of 24-h dietary intake and fasting lipid concentrations at baseline, at a 4-y follow-up visit, or both were analyzed in a random-effects model that allowed for an unbalanced design. Sex was included as a non-time-varying covariate and age, body mass index, and energy intake were included as time-varying covariates. The findings when LDL cholesterol (mmol/L) was regressed on saturated fat intake (20 g/d) with all observations in a random-effects model ( b = 0.14, P = 0.0016) were compared with results with observations restricted to the first visit only ( b = 0.05, P = 0.52), a balanced design using averages across visits ( b = 20.12, P = 0.28), and a balanced design with random effects obtained by excluding sub- jects without two observations ( b = 0.12, P = 0.0092). Study power was greatest in the random-effects model using all obser- vations and time-varying covariates. These findings highlight the importance of even a single replicate observation on a subsample of subjects. We recommend analyzing all data rather than aver- aging measures across visits or omitting observations to create a balanced design. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;67:934-9.
Immunological assays for chemokine detection in in-vitro culture of CNS cells.

Herein we review the various methods currently in use for determining the expression of chemokines by CNS cells in vitro. Chemokine detection assays are used in conjuction with one another to provide a comprehensive, biologically relevant assessment of the chemokines which is necessary for correct data interpretation of a specific observed biological effect. The methods described include bioassays for soluble chemokine receptors, RNA extraction, RT-PCR, Real — time quantitative PCR, gene array analysis, northern blot analysis, Ribonuclease Protection assay, Flow cytometry, ELISPOT, western blot analysis, and ELISA. No single method of analysis meets the criteria for a comprehensive, biologically relevant assessment of the chemokines, therefore more than one assay might be necessary for correct data interpretation, a choice that is based on development of a scientific rationale for the method with emphasis on the reliability and relevance of the method.
The Energy Balance Study: The Design and Baseline Results for a Longitudinal Study of Energy Balance

Purpose: The Energy Balance Study (EBS) was a comprehensive study designed to determine over a period of 12 months the associations of caloric intake and energy expenditure on changes in body weight and composition in a population of healthy men and women. Method: EBS recruited men and women aged 21 to 35 years with a body mass index between 20 and 35 kg/m2. Measurements of energy intake and multiple objective measures of energy expenditure, as well as other physiological, anthropomorphic and psychosocial measurements, were made quarterly. Resting metabolic rate and blood chemistry were measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Results: Four hundred and thirty (218 women and 212 men) completed all baseline measurements. There were statistically significant differences by sex uncovered for most anthropomorphic, physiological and behavioral variables. Only percent of kcals from fat and alcohol intake, as well as energy expenditure in light activity and very vigorous activity were not different. Self-reported w...
Regulating Work in Digital Enterprises: A Flexible Managerial Framework

This paper demonstrates that work in digital enterprises-- like work in conventional enterprises--can be carried out effectively by autonomous agents, subject to a regulatory regime that combines standing enterprise-wide policies with flexible managerial controls. The proposed regulatory mechanism, which is based on the concept of Law Governed Interaction (LGI), can support a wide range of enterprise policies, and a wide spectrum of managerial styles--including the procedural style underlying the so called Workflow Management System (WfMS).
“The Hardest Thing to Turn From”: The Effects of Service-Learning on Preparing Urban Educators

In this article, the author describes her use of service-learning as a pedagogical strategy for developing preservice students' dispositions for urban teaching. Twenty-one students were enrolled in a multicultural education course with a service-learning requirement. This was the students' first teacher education course in a two-year, urban-focused strand of the university's larger teacher education program. Students engaged in tutoring in local urban elementary and high schools. They also conducted observations, interviews, and worked in a community center. The author describes how the action-reflection process differed for students from urban home and schooling backgrounds and those from suburban home and schooling backgrounds. She posits that the service-learning experience facilitated the reflection process in students that led them to be more social justice-oriented in their thoughts about urban teaching. The author also argues that the experience enhanced their commitment to and motivations for urba...
The language of breathing among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Objective To examine the consistency of language used by adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to describe and evaluate their everyday breathing. Methods A longitudinal descriptive design was used. Eleven subjects with stable COPD and moderate to severe lung impairment were enrolled at the study site and completed daily and weekly measures at home. Participants recorded descriptions of breathing in logs and rated breathing distress and effort once a day on visual analogue scales for 28 days. Participants also selected endorsed descriptors at baseline and once per week thereafter. Results Consistency was low to moderate between baseline and weekly endorsed descriptors, weekly endorsed and logged descriptors, and logged descriptors and VAS scores for breathing distress and effort. Conclusions This study provides the first naturalistic record of everyday breathing intensity logged by individuals with moderate to severe COPD. The variability in expression of breathing intensity was associated with low to moderate consistency. Because language drives care seeking, further research is essential to understand language selection for describing symptoms of breathing intensity.
The New View in Action: College Students Discuss 21st-Century Sexuality

This article explores how junior and senior college students enrolled in `Women, Health, and Medicine' discuss and critique women's sexual problems in the 21st century during one 90-minute class st...
Foliar Leaching, Translocation, and Biogenic Emission of ^(35)S in Radio‐Labeled Lobolly Pines

Foliar leaching, basipetal (downward) translocation, and biogenic emission of sulfur (S), as traced by {sup 35}S, were examined in a field study of loblolly pines. Four trees were radiolabeled by injection with amounts of {sup 35}S in the 6-8 MBq range, and concentrations in needle fall, stemflow, throughfall, and aboveground biomass were measured over a period of 15-20 wk after injection. The contribution of dry deposition to sulfate-sulfur (SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}}-S) concentrations in net throughfall (throughfall SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}}-S concentration minus that in incident precipitation) beneath all four trees was > 90%. Calculations indicated that about half of the summertime SO{sub 2} dry deposition flux to the loblolly pines was fixed in the canopy and not subsequently leached by rainfall. Based on mass balance calculations, {sup 35}S losses through biogenic emissions from girdled trees were inferred to be 25-28% of the amount injected. Estimates based on chamber methods and mass balance calculations indicated a range in daily biogenic S emission of 0.1-10 {mu}g/g dry needles. Translocation of {sup 35}S to roots in nongirdled trees was estimated to be between 14 and 25% of the injection. It is hypothesized that biogenic emission and basipetal translocation of S (and not foliar leaching)more » are important mechanisms by which forest trees physiologically adapt to excess S in the environment.« less
Engineering ethnography in the home

ABSTRACT Intel CorporationJF3-21O2111 NE 25th AvenueHillsboro,OR97124Tel: (503) 264-5766tony_salvador, jean_scholtz, doug_l_sorensen } @ccm.jf.intel.com To inform the design and development of domesticcomputing systems, we performed a pilot ethnographicstudy of the home. The resulting model of domesticactivity shows that the implicit design assumptions of thepersonal computer are inappropriate for the home. Ourmodel suggests that small, integrated, computationalappliances are a more appropriate domestic technologythan the monolithic PC. Keywords ethnography, home computing, ubiquitous computing UNDERSTANDING THE HOMEThe computer industry has a strong interest in sellingcomputer technology into the home. Yet there are fewsources of knowledge on how this technology fits into thehome. Venkatesh [3, 4] provides a valuable analysis ofhome computing diffusion trends. Kraut’s HomeNetproject [2] provides valuable quantitative data regardingInternet use in the home. However, in order to definefuture domestic technologies, we need a more completemodel of daily home life. Towards this end we ran a pilotethnographic study with ten families. During the course ofthis project we developed new data collection methods anda spatial, temporal and social model of the home.
Laboratory Scaling of the Fluid Mechanical Aspects of Large Fires

Abstract The feasibility of laboratory application of a modeling technique for the evaluation of the gross flow features of large-area fires is demonstrated with models 2 and 4 ft square. Substantial agreement is found between the low-elevation flow in a 30-acre fire and velocities recorded about the model fires. Similarity between the scaled flow environments in the different-size model fires at elevations as high as one model diameter, the highest elevation considered, suggests similar flow behavior at homologous locations in a large-area fire. Model fires having their energy release confined to the model surface are also suitable for scaling the convective thermal environment in large fires.
On the optimality of threshold control in queues with model uncertainty

We consider a single-stage queuing system where arrivals and departures are modeled by point processes with stochastic intensities. An arrival incurs a cost, while a departure earns a revenue. The objective is to maximize the profit by control- ling the intensities subject to capacity limits and holding costs. When the stochastic model for arrival and departure processes are completely known, then a threshold policy is known to be optimal. Many times arrival and departure processes can not be accurately modeled and controlled due to lack of sufficient calibration data or inaccu- rate assumptions. We prove that a threshold policy is optimal under a max-min robust model when the uncertainty in the processes is characterized by relative entropy. Our model generalizes the standard notion of relative entropy to account for different lev- els of model uncertainty in arrival and departure processes. We also study the impact of uncertainty levels on the optimal threshold control.
Reporting of critical information in studies of pharmacists in HIV care.

Objective To evaluate manuscripts documenting HIV pharmacist interventions and assess adequacy of reporting as defined by CONSORT and STROBE criteria. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, BIOSIS Previews, and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception – 1 June 2011. Studies were included if pharmacists performed an intervention to improve HIV patient care, and the study evaluated the intervention's impact. Qualitative studies, non-English language reports, abstracts and studies where the pharmacist did not intervene were excluded. Manuscripts were independently evaluated by two reviewers for the presence, absence or lack of applicability of STROBE (observational studies) or CONSORT (randomized studies) criteria, for presence or absence of description of pharmacist's duties, CD4+ cell count, HIV viral load and adherence measurement. Reviewers met to discuss the rationale behind their evaluation; a third arbiter was consulted when reviewers could not agree on a particular criterion. Key findings Twenty-two manuscripts met inclusion criteria. Observational studies of HIV pharmacists (n = 19) included 56% of applicable STROBE criteria. Randomized studies of HIV pharmacists (n = 3) adhered more closely to CONSORT reporting guidelines (average 80% of applicable criteria). Manuscripts published after 2004 more consistently evaluated pharmacist impact on HIV outcomes such as CD4+ and viral load. Conclusions Thorough reporting increases the reader's ability to critically evaluate manuscripts of HIV pharmacist services. Increasing pharmacist awareness of manuscript guidelines such as CONSORT and STROBE may improve clarity of reporting in studies of HIV pharmacist interventions and clinical programmes.
Spectral Regularization Algorithms for Learning Large Incomplete Matrices

We use convex relaxation techniques to provide a sequence of regularized low-rank solutions for large-scale matrix completion problems. Using the nuclear norm as a regularizer, we provide a simple and very efficient convex algorithm for minimizing the reconstruction error subject to a bound on the nuclear norm. Our algorithm SOFT-IMPUTE iteratively replaces the missing elements with those obtained from a soft-thresholded SVD. With warm starts this allows us to efficiently compute an entire regularization path of solutions on a grid of values of the regularization parameter. The computationally intensive part of our algorithm is in computing a low-rank SVD of a dense matrix. Exploiting the problem structure, we show that the task can be performed with a complexity of order linear in the matrix dimensions. Our semidefinite-programming algorithm is readily scalable to large matrices; for example SOFT-IMPUTE takes a few hours to compute low-rank approximations of a 106 X 106 incomplete matrix with 107 observed entries, and fits a rank-95 approximation to the full Netflix training set in 3.3 hours. Our methods achieve good training and test errors and exhibit superior timings when compared to other competitive state-of-the-art techniques.
Capacity scaling in free-space-optical mobile ad hoc networks

Wireless networking has conventionally been realized via radio-frequency-based communication technologies. Free-space-optical (FSO) communication with an innovative multi-element node design leverages spatially-diverse optical wireless links; making it a viable solution to the well-known diminishing per-node throughput problem in large-scale RF networks. Although it has the advantage of high-speed modulation, maintenance of line-of-sight between two FSO transceivers during a transmission is a challenge since FSO transmitters are highly directional. In this paper, we present our simulation efforts to make high-level assessments on throughput characteristics of FSO-MANETs while considering properties of FSO propagation and existence of multiple directional transceivers. We identify the intermittent connectivity problem that is caused by the relative mobility of nodes with multiple directional transceivers. We propose two cross-layer buffering schemes to remedy this problem and present their performance results. We conclude that sophisticated buffering mechanisms are required to properly buffer a packet during the misalignment period of two communicating nodes to avoid negative effects of this intermittency on the transport layer.
Connexins: Gaps in Our Knowledge of Vascular Function

Gap junctions are common features in the vasculature, long thought to provide a pathway for cell-cell signaling. Emerging understanding of the gap-junctional proteins (connexins) and new tools for their investigation now offer the opportunity to explore the vital role that the gap junctions may play in cardiovascular homeostasis and pathophysiology.
A high frequency core loss measurement method for arbitrary excitations

Recently, point of load (POL) converter are pushed to higher switching frequency for higher power density. As the frequency increases, magnetic core loss becomes a significant part of the total loss of POL converters. Accurate measurement of this part of loss is important for the converter design. And the core loss under non-sinusoidal excitation is particularly interesting for pulse-width modulation (PWM) converters. However, precise measurement is difficult with classical four-wire methods, because of high frequency and non-sinusoidal flux waveform (like triangular flux). In this paper, a new method is proposed for high frequency core loss measurement with arbitrary excitation. The principle is to cancel the reactive power in the core under test with a lossless or low-loss core and reduce the sensitivity to phase discrepancy. By doing this, phase discrepancy induced error can be significantly reduced, and accurate measurement can be achieved for higher frequency than conventional method.
Continuous productivity assessment and effort prediction based on Bayesian analysis

Project management is one of the most critical activities in modern software development projects. Without realistic and objective management, the software development process cannot be managed in an effective way. However, difficulty in assessment of project attributes leads a project into failure. Therefore, it is essential to keep providing objective assessment of project attributes as software development evolves. Another important aspect of a software development project is to know how much it will cost. And predicting development effort is central to the project management. However, effort prediction is one of the most difficult tasks in project management. We use Bayesian approach to update productivity and predict effort based on the updated productivity. In this work we describe an extended tool that we added to PAMPA 2 (Project Attributes Monitoring and Prediction Associate) to help manage a project.
A longitudinal study of the characteristics and performances of medical students and graduates from the Arab countries

While international physician migration has been studied extensively, more focused and regional explorations are not commonplace. In many Arab countries, medical education is conducted in English and students/graduates seek postgraduate opportunities in other countries such as the United States (US). Eligibility for residency training in the US requires certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This study investigates ECFMG application trends, examination performance, and US physician practice data to quantify the abilities and examine the career pathways of Arab-trained physicians. Medical students and graduates from 15 Arab countries where English is the language of medical school instruction were studied. The performances (1st attempt pass rates) of individuals on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, Step 2CK (clinical knowledge), and and a combination of Step 2CS (clinical skills) and ECFMG CSA (clinical skills assessment) were tallied and contrasted by country. Based on physician practice data, the contribution of Arab-trained physicians to the US healthcare workforce was explored. Descriptive statistics (means, frequencies) were used to summarize the collected data. Between 1998 and 2012, there has been an increase in the number of Arab trained students/graduates seeking ECFMG certification. Examination performance varied considerably across countries, suggesting differences in the quality of medical education programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Based on current US practice data, physicians from some Arab countries who seek postgraduate opportunities in the US are less likely to stay in the US following specialty training. Countries, or regions, with concerns about physician migration, physican performance, or the pedagogical quality of their training programs should conduct longitudinal research studies to help inform medical education policies.
Increasing Trust, Psychological Safety, and Team Performance Through Dyadic Leadership Discovery

In this article, the author uses a case-based argument to explore the idea that team members have grounded rationality, which may be actively learned by team leaders through a process of leadership discovery. The analysis reveals evidence that leaders using dyadic discovery methods learn more and more effectively customize leadership behaviors to increase trust, psychological safety, and team performance. A comparison of dyadic and group-level discovery cases lends support to the theory that dyadic-level discovery is psychologically safer and more consistently effective than is group-level discovery in most work team settings. This is an important finding, as many “action” and “organization development” methods presently rely on group-level interventions as a means of uncovering individual-level rationality.
The Future of Medical Education on the Internet

There has been a rapid growth in the development of large repositories of medical information and knowledge on the Internet. The Internet provides a new vehicle to disseminate timely information to assist in medical education. For the user, however, it is often difficult to obtain concise information or to verify the accuracy ofthat information. Advancements in technology and the development of interactive web browsers will improve the efficiency and accuracy of information, retrieval, and education. These advances will result from improvements made to the software interface and network infrastructure. Increases in data transmission rates, and more powerful computer systems will allow for extended use of graphical, video, and audio media on browsers. Many of the websites and databases will become more interactive. New program modules are already available to automatically “push” information on to the user’s computer. Additionally, rising concern about the misinformation in many databases will drive professional organizations and companies to find methods to validate their information. Advances in computer technology will result in the development of new methods and aids in medical education. virtual educational environments, simulations, and medical home visitations using tel-emedicine will add to the tools available to educators at universities and medical schools. Course instruction on the Internet already has been started at many universities and will continue to expand. Educational software programs will be designed to interact with the student, asking questions, and determining courses of action. Even with all the advances in technology and information dissemination methods, direct interaction with patients will continue to be essential to complete a medical student’s educational requirement. Additional research will be required to determine if computer-based education is an effective alternative to classroom instruction and if these educational strategies can modify behavioral attitudes.
A Comparison of Active Student Responding Modalities in a General Psychology Course.

Research on teaching has shown that incorporating active student responding (ASR) into classroom instruction facilitates learning and should be considered best practice. Nevertheless, few published...
DEFORMITIES OF THE FEMUR RESULTING FROM ARRESTMENT OF GROWTH OF THE CAPITAL AND GREATER TROCHANTERIC EPIPHYSES

1. Surgical trauma to the greater trochanter of the hip of a growing animal, produced by multiple drilling or curettage of the epiphyseal-cartilage plate, results in growth arrest with deformity and shortening of the greater trochanter. There is an associated coxa valga of the neck of the femur. 2. Surgical trauma to the epiphyseal-cartilage plate of the head of the femur by multiple drilling or by curettage uniformly results in growth arrest, which produces a short femoral neck, an irregular contour of the head of the femur, coxa vara, and a functional shortening of the shaft of the femur, as measured from the articular surface of the head to the articular surface of the knee. 3. The operation of drilling the necks of the femora of young children for the purpose of hastening revascularization of the head in cases of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a very questionable procedure.
Reprint of: Pendant allyl crosslinking as a tunable shape memory actuator for vascular applications.

Abstract Thermo-responsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) can be programmed to fit into small-bore incisions and recover their functional shape upon deployment in the body. This property is of significant interest for developing the next generation of minimally-invasive medical devices. To be used in such applications, SMPs should exhibit adequate mechanical strengths that minimize adverse compliance mismatch-induced host responses (e.g. thrombosis, hyperplasia), be biodegradable, and demonstrate switch-like shape recovery near body temperature with favorable biocompatibility. Combinatorial approaches are essential in optimizing SMP material properties for a particular application. In this study, a new class of thermo-responsive SMPs with pendant, photocrosslinkable allyl groups, x%poly(e-caprolactone)-co-y%(α-allyl carboxylate e-caprolactone) (x%PCL-y%ACPCL), are created in a robust, facile manner with readily tunable material properties. Thermomechanical and shape memory properties can be drastically altered through subtle changes in allyl composition. Molecular weight and gel content can also be altered in this combinatorial format to fine-tune material properties. Materials exhibit highly elastic, switch-like shape recovery near 37 °C. Endothelial compatibility is comparable to tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) and 100%PCL in vitro and vascular compatibility is demonstrated in vivo in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia, indicating promising suitability for vascular applications. Statement of Significance With the ongoing thrust to make surgeries minimally-invasive, it is prudent to develop new biomaterials that are highly compatible and effective in this workflow. Thermo-responsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) have great potential for minimally-invasive applications because SMP medical devices (e.g. stents, grafts) can fit into small-bore minimally-invasive surgical devices and recover their functional shape when deployed in the body. To realize their potential, it is imperative to devise combinatorial approaches that enable optimization of mechanical, SM, and cellular responses for a particular application. In this study, a new class of thermo-responsive SMPs is created in a robust, facile manner with readily tunable material properties. Materials exhibit excellent, switch-like shape recovery near body temperature and promising biocompatibility for minimally-invasive vascular applications.
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Family Study

The authors report a comprehensive evaluation of the hemo-static system in eight related patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Unlike in previous reports, they could find no evidence for abnormalities in platelet aggregation or for qualitative abnormalities of the Factor VIII complex. The authors did identify a subgroup of the more severely affected patients in whom Factor VIIIc levels were increased, with shortened activated partial thromboplastin times (APTTs) associated with mild elevations of antithrombin III.
Diagnosis and treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency

The urethra resists two expulsive forces, detrusor pressure and abdominal pressure. The high pressure area of the urethra resists detrusor pressure, while the lower pressure maximal urethra resists abdominal pressure. At the moment of flow driven by detrusor pressure, however it is produced, detrusor pressure is directly proportional to urethral resistance (pressure) at that moment. Abdominal pressure has no fixed relationship to urethral pressure. A normal urethral sphincter will not leak at any abdominal pressure, while a poorly closed maximal urethra will leak at very low abdominal pressure, despite normal high pressure zone function and pressure. A study of the abdominal pressure required to induce leakage in males after prostatectomy, and in women with incontinence or general prolapse, showed no relationship between maximum urethral pressure and the abdominal pressure required to cause leakage, or the presence or even absence of leakage. These data indicate that urethral pressure and "continence" are not directly related, that and measurement of the force produces leakage is a more accurate assessment of urethral sphincter function. Injectable agents have been found to be effective in females with involuntary urine leakage related to low or very low abdominal pressure in the absence of urethral hypermobility.
Trophoblasts and shear stress induce an asymmetric distribution of icam-1 in uterine endothelial cells.

Problem We have used an in vitro co-culture system consisting of early gestation macaque trophoblasts cultured on top of human uterine microvascular endothelial cells (UtMVECs) to investigate the inflammatory response of endothelial cells to trophoblasts under shear stress conditions. Method of study Uterine microvascular endothelial cells and trophoblasts were co-cultured in a parallel plate chamber under shear stress (15 dyn/cm2) conditions. The distribution and expression of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was quantified by immunofluorescence image analysis and flow cytometry. Endothelial regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) secretion was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and permeability was assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran. Results Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, but not vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 or platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, was re-distributed towards the downstream edge of endothelial cells when the cells were co-cultured with trophoblasts under shear stress conditions. Changes in ICAM-1 distribution were also observed when UtMVECs were co-cultured with trophoblast-conditioned medium under shear stress conditions. Incubation of UtMVECs with trophoblast-conditioned medium increased endothelial permeability, RANTES secretion, and trophoblast adhesion. Conclusion These data support the idea that trophoblasts induce an inflammatory response in uterine endothelial cells that could enhance trophoblast invasion and transmigration.
Development of inclusion bodies containing ribose nucleic acid in myeloma cells after injections of stilbamidine; determination of stilbamidine in myeloma tissue.

Abstract The cytoplasm of myeloma cells is rich in ribose nucleic acid. The basophilic inclusion bodies which develop in myeloma cells under the influence of stilbamidine contain ribose nucleic acid. The myeloma tissue of patients treated with stilbamidine contains appreciable amounts of stilbamidine. There is reason to believe that the nucleoproteins of myeloma cells differ from the nucleoproteins of other cells. This could explain why stilbamidine reacts with the nucleoproteins of myeloma cells only, and not with the nucleoproteins of other cells.
Locomotion-Induced Sounds and Sonations: Mechanisms, Communication Function, and Relationship with Behavior

Motion-induced sound is an intrinsic byproduct of essentially all animal behavior. Locomotion-induced sounds that have evolved specialization for communication are termed sonations. The null hypothesis is that locomotion-induced sounds are noncommunicative (adventitious), produced by nonspecialized morphology, and are involuntary. A sound is a sonation if it is produced by specialized morphology, or is produced voluntarily. The production of locomotion-induced sound can be examined at two levels: the animal motions (kinematics) that lead to sound production and the physical acoustic mechanism(s) that generate(s) the sound itself. The physical acoustics of locomotion induced sound are diverse, with both aerodynamic and structural mechanisms, including aeroelastic flutter, percussion, stridulation, and presumably many other undescribed mechanisms. There is a direct sound–motion correspondence between aspects of an animal’s motions and ensuing locomotion-induced sounds, especially in the time domain. This correspondence has two implications. One is experimental: sound recordings are a useful and perhaps underutilized source of data about animal locomotion. The second is behavioral: locomotion-induced sounds intrinsically contain information about an animal’s motions (such as wingbeat frequencies) that may be of interest to other animals. Therefore, locomotion-induced sounds are intrinsically suited to be mechanisms by which animals directly evaluate the locomotor performance of other animals, such as during courtship. The sound–motion correspondence is also a constraint. Sonations seem less acoustically diverse than vocalizations. Because they require discrete behaviors to be produced, animals also have somewhat fewer opportunities to produce sonations strategically, and few sonations are frequency-modulated. Sound production mechanisms of sonations are external to the animal and therefore are easy to manipulate experimentally on wild animals, making sonations an ideal, underutilized system for testing hypotheses about acoustic function.
Elastic Waves in Layered Media with Interface Features

A simple and efficient matrix method is applied to analyze the reflected waves from a layered plate with certain interface features. It is shown that a thin, adhesive layer can be modeled as an equivalent elastic interface with zero thickness characterized by two adjustable parameters. The accuracy of the model is examined through comparison with calculations from the exact case in which the adhesive layer is explicitly modeled. The influence of the imperfect interface on the velocity of layer guided waves is investigated.
Disproportionate Availability Between Emergency and Elective Hand Coverage: A National Trend?

Background: Traumatic hand injuries represent approximately 20% of emergency department visits; yet, access to emergency care remains inadequate. Recent surveys from several states report a wider availability of hand specialists providing elective care than emergency care. The authors aim to examine this phenomenon in the state of New Jersey and whether there is a national trend toward disproportionate availability between emergency and elective hand coverage. Methods: A survey was conducted of all New Jersey hospitals, excepting university hospitals, in August 2014. To assess the availability of hand surgery coverage, the following questions were asked: (1) Does your hospital provide elective hand surgery? and (2) Is there a hand specialist/surgeon on call always, sometimes, or never? Results: A total of 58 hospitals were called, with a 67.2% response rate (n = 39). The majority (87.2%) of hospitals offered elective hand surgery, whereas only 64.1% provided immediate 24/7 hand coverage. Only 38.5% of hospitals located in the same county as a level I trauma center provided 24/7 emergency hand care, whereas 76.9% of hospitals in counties without any level I trauma center did (P < .05). Cities with a higher poverty level were less likely to provide emergency coverage than cities with a lower poverty level (47.4% vs 80.0%; P < .05). Conclusions: There is a discrepancy between emergency and elective hand care in New Jersey. Similar findings across the nation suggest a concerning trend of limited access to emergency hand health care. Alternative systems that can appropriately triage and treat patients are warranted.
Natriuretic Peptides: Basic Analytic Considerations

The analysis of natriuretic peptides in blood is important and widely used for clinical practice for the diagnosis and management of patients with heart failure. As with the analysis of any biomarker, the analytical attributes of the assay for B-type natriuretic peptide and NT-proBNP can influence the interpretation of results. Point-of-care testing is an attractive alternative to sending samples to a central laboratory. The advantage of getting results sooner must be weighed into the additional costs and sacrifice in analytical performance.
Reducing inter-scanner PET image variability

168 Objectives: Our goal is to reduce systematic inter-scanner PET image variability. In spite of standardized protocols for scanner calibration, normalization, attenuation/scatter/randoms corrections, and image reconstruction, there exist differences in the scans acquired on different PET scanner models. These differences may manifest in the form of bias in gray-to-white, midline-to-lateral, anterior-to-posterior or superior-to-inferior ratios in addition to differences in image resolution. It is important to minimize these differences before pooling data in multi-center trials. Methods: This work is part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) in which FDG-PET scans of a Hoffman brain phantom were acquired at over 50 sites. All image sets were registered to a digital Hoffman phantom, producing images with a standard orientation and uniform voxel size. Scans obtained from sites having the same scanner model were reconstructed identically, normalized and averaged to obtain a single image volume per scanner model (9 models to date). We treat this as an image restoration problem and model a PET scan as a distorted form of the digital phantom (gold standard): Y ≈ a1(k)X(k) + a2(k). (Eq. 1) X(k) is the scanned phantom image from the k9th scanner model and Y is the digital phantom smoothed to match the resolution of the highest resolution scanner. a1(k) and a2(k) are restoration terms and are chosen as second order polynomials in three dimensions. Their coefficients are estimated by linear least squares fitting of Eq. 1. The corrected image is expressed as: X(corrected)(k) = â1(k)X(k) + â2(k). (Eq. 2) Results: Corrected images were produced for each scanner model. A set of 54 VOIs was applied to each image volume pre- and post-correction. The correction method removed nearly all the bias present in the gray and white matter regions and reduced the variability in various ratios (G:W, M:L, A:P) across the scanner models (see Table). Conclusions: The method successfully reduced inter-scanner variability and is a good first-order correction for PET images acquired within a multi-center study. Research Support (if any): NIH Grant: U01 AG024904
Directional Force Originating from ATP Hydrolysis Drives the GroEL Conformational Change

Protein functional mechanisms usually require conformational changes, and often there are known structures for the different conformational states. However, usually neither the origin of the driving force nor the underlying pathways for these conformational transitions is known. Exothermic chemical reactions may be an important source of forces that drive conformational changes. Here we investigate this type of force originating from ATP hydrolysis in the chaperonin GroEL, by applying forces originating from the chemical reaction. Specifically, we apply directed forces to drive the GroEL conformational changes and learn that there is a highly specific direction for applied forces to drive the closed form to the open form. For this purpose, we utilize coarse-grained elastic network models. Principal component analysis on 38 GroEL experimental structures yields the most important motions, and these are used in structural interpolation for the construction of a coarse-grained free energy landscape. In addition, we investigate a more random application of forces with a Monte Carlo method and demonstrate pathways for the closed-open conformational transition in both directions by computing trajectories that are shown upon the free energy landscape. Initial root mean square deviation (RMSD) between the open and closed forms of the subunit is 14.7 A and final forms from our simulations reach an average RMSD of 3.6 A from the target forms, closely matching the level of resolution of the coarse-grained model.
Our bodies belong to god: organ transplants, Islam, and the struggle for human dignity in Egypt

The debate around organ transplantation raises questions that cut to the core of what it means to be human. What does it mean for a body to die? How far will we go to save ourselves or our loved o...
Toward Multimodal Cyberbullying Detection

As human beings utilize computing technologies to mediate multiple aspects of their lives, cyberbullying has grown as an important societal challenge. Cyberbullying may lead to deep psychiatric and emotional disorders for those affected. Hence, there is an urgent need to devise automated methods for cyberbullying detection and prevention. While recent cyberbullying detection efforts have defined sophisticated text processing methods for cyberbullying detection, there are as yet few efforts that leverage visual data processing to automatically detect cyberbullying. Based on early analysis of a public, labeled cyberbullying dataset, we report that visual features complement textual features in cyberbullying detection and can help improve predictive results.
Inferring Probability Distributions of Graph Size and Node Degree from Stochastic Graph Grammars.

Many important domains are naturally described relationally, often using graphs in which nodes correspond to entities and edges to relations. Stochastic graph grammars compactly represent probability distributions over graphs and can be learned from data, such as a set of graphs corresponding to proteins that have the same function. In this paper we show that a stochastic graph grammar can be used to efficiently compute the probability mass functions of the number of nodes, the number of edges, and the degree of a node selected uniformly at random from a graph sampled from the distribution defined by the graph grammar. Both the expectation and variance of these quantities can be computed from the mass functions. Empirical results with standard synthetic grammars and a grammar from the domain of AIDS research demonstrate the accuracy of our methods.
Colorado & Utah Canyons Tour Company

Ron Hopkins had just finished his first year as founder, president, head mechanic, chief cook, and lead tour guide for the Colorado & Utah Canyon Tours Company (CUCTC). The first year had been a good one, and Hopkins thought he probably had made a small profit—after all, he had ended the year with a positive balance in the CUCTC checking account. Among the many roles and tasks he performed at CUCTC, however, accountant/bookkeeper was not one of them. For that task, he calls on his former college roommate, Chris Norris to prepare the financial statements needed for a $300,000 loan application he intended to make at Lofton National Bank next month. Norris plans to organize the CUCTC financial notes and records Hopkins has sent him. Excerpt UVA-C-2364 Jul. 29, 2015 Colorado & Utah Canyons Tour Company Ron Hopkins had just finished his first year as founder, president, head mechanic, chief cook, and lead tour guide for the Colorado & Utah Canyon Tours Company (CUCTC). The company offered tours of the canyon lands located in western Colorado and eastern Utah. Depending on the season, a variety of tours were available including summertime rafting, hiking, horseback riding, and ATV tours as well as wintertime snowmobile, snowshoe, and cross-country ski tours. The first year had been a good one, and Hopkins thought he probably had made a small profit—after all, he had ended the year with a positive balance in the CUCTC checking account, and he had not gone hungry. Among the many roles and tasks he performed at CUCTC, however, accountant/bookkeeper was not one of them. For that task, he had called his former college roommate, Chris Norris, and offered him a free four-day summer ATV tour in exchange for preparation of a set of financial statements suitable for a $ 300,000 loan application he intended to make at Lofton National Bank next month. Norris, an avid outdoorsman, jumped at the offer, and he planned to spend the upcoming weekend organizing the CUCTC financial notes and records Hopkins had sent him. Company Background After college, Hopkins had worked for six summers as a seasonal U.S. Forest Service employee in southwestern Colorado. In that capacity, he had helped maintain backcountry forest roads, led a small team of other seasonal employees building new hiking trails, liaised with ranchers on some recurring cattle-grazing issues, and he had even been called on to help fight some sizeable forest fires. All in all he had loved the life and the land. He also loved the fact that when forestry season ended, he signed on with a nearby ski resort as a snowmobile tour guide and mechanic. He had not saved much money during the six years he had spent cobbling together his “careers” but he was not yet 30, was fit as any big-time college athlete, and hadn't spent more than a handful of days at a desk since graduating from college. . . .
Change-point detection for monitoring clinical decision support systems with a multi-process dynamic linear model

A clinical decision support system and its components may malfunction due to different reasons. The objective of this work is to develop computational methods that can help us to monitor the system and assure its proper operation by promptly detecting and analyzing changes in its behavior. We develop a new change-point detection method using the Multi-Process Dynamic Linear Model. The experiments on real and simulated data show that our method outperforms existing change-point detection methods, leading to higher accuracy and shorter delay in the detection.
Carbohydrate and fiber intake and the risk of premenstrual syndrome.

Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are encouraged to reduce sugar and increase fiber intake to reduce symptoms. However, research supporting these recommendations is limited, and their role in PMS development is unclear. This study examines the relation between carbohydrate and fiber intake and the risk of PMS nested within the prospective Nurses’ Health Study II cohort. Carbohydrate and fiber intake were assessed at baseline and three additional times during follow up by food frequency questionnaire. Incident cases of PMS were identified by self-reported PMS diagnosis during 14 years of follow up and validated by supplemental questionnaire (n = 1234). Women were classified as controls if they did not report PMS diagnosis during follow up and confirmed minimal or no premenstrual symptoms (n = 2426). We estimated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using multivariable logistic regression. Total carbohydrate intake 2–4 years before reference year was not associated with PMS development (RR quintile 5 versus 1 = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.74–1.33). Intakes of specific carbohydrates or fibers were not associated with PMS development, except maltose. Adjusting for body mass index, smoking, and other factors, women with the highest maltose intake (median = 3.0 g/day) had a RR of 1.45 (95% CI = 1.11–1.88) compared to those with the lowest intake (median = 1.2 g/day). Overall, carbohydrate and fiber consumption was not associated with risk of PMS. As this is the first study to suggest that maltose may be associated with PMS development, further replication is needed.