cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Explaining Credit Spread Changes: Some New Evidence from Option-Adjusted Spreads of Bond Indices

We examine the question of the determinants of corporate bond credit spreads using both weekly and monthly option-adjusted spreads for nine corporate bond indexes from Merrill Lynch from January 1997 to July 2002. We find that the Russell 2000 index historical return volatility and the Conference Board composite leading and coincident economic indicators have significant power in explaining credit spread changes, especially for high yield indexes. Furthermore, these three variables plus the interest rate level, the historical interest rate volatility, the yield curve slope, the Russell 2000 index return, and the Fama-French [1996] high-minus-low factor can explain more than 40% of credit spread changes for five bond indexes. In particular, these eight variables can explain 67.68% and 60.82% of credit spread changes for the B- and the BB-rated indexes, respectively. Our analysis confirms that credit spread changes for high-yield bonds are more closely related to equity market factors and also provides evidence in favor of incorporating macroeconomic factors into credit risk models.
A resource management tool for public health continuity of operations during disasters.

OBJECTIVE: We developed and validated a user-centered information system to support the local planning of public health continuity of operations for the Community Health Services Division, Public Health - Seattle & King County, Washington. METHODS: The Continuity of Operations Data Analysis (CODA) system was designed as a prototype developed using requirements identified through participatory design. CODA uses open-source software that links personnel contact and licensing information with needed skills and clinic locations for 821 employees at 14 public health clinics in Seattle and King County. Using a web-based interface, CODA can visualize locations of personnel in relationship to clinics to assist clinic managers in allocating public health personnel and resources under dynamic conditions. RESULTS: Based on user input, the CODA prototype was designed as a low-cost, user-friendly system to inventory and manage public health resources. In emergency conditions, the system can run on a stand-alone battery-powered laptop computer. A formative evaluation by managers of multiple public health centers confirmed the prototype design's usefulness. Emergency management administrators also provided positive feedback about the system during a separate demonstration. CONCLUSIONS: Validation of the CODA information design prototype by public health managers and emergency management administrators demonstrates the potential usefulness of building a resource management system using open-source technologies and participatory design principles.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1-7). Language: en
High frequency cascaded resonant transformer rectifier power supply for neutral beam injection

Neutral beam injection for fusion requires DC megavolt power sources at several amperes. The conventional methods of using series or shunt fed multipliers cannot provide the current, whereas the 60-Hz coupled transformer method is difficult to modularize because of size and stores excessive amounts of energy. A technique which borrows from several technologies has been investigated and shows promise for a satisfactory solution. This technique uses resonant multistage high frequency (100-kHz) series coupled ferrite transformer with rectifiers to produce megavolts at several amperes of current. Modularity, high efficiency, and low energy storage are desirable features of this power source. >
A longitudinal study of genital human papillomavirus infection in a cohort of closely followed adolescent women

Background—We performed a study to better characterize the natural history of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a cohort of closely followed adolescent women. Methods—A cohort of 60 adolescent women was followed over a 2.2-year period, on average. A median of 41.5 self-collected vaginal and clinician-obtained cervical swabs were obtained from each subject Results—HPV was detected in 45.3% of all adequate specimens, by use of a polymerase chain reaction/reverse blot strip assay. Oncogenic—or high-risk (HR)—HPV types were detected in 38.6% of specimens, and nononcogenic—or low-risk (LR)—types were detected in 19.6% of specimens. During the entire study period, 49 of 60 subjects tested positive for HPV (cumulative prevalence, 81.7%). The most frequently detected HR types were HPV types 52, 16, and 59. Infections with multiple HPV types were common. The median duration of persistence of a specific HPV type was 168 days, and HR types were more persistent than LR types. Abnormal cervical cytological results occurred in 37% of the adolescent women and were significantly associated with HR HPV infection. Conclusions—The cumulative prevalence of HPV infection in sexually active adolescent women is extremely high, involves numerous HPV types, and frequently results in cervical dysplasia. The marked upsurge in coital activity, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among middle-adolescent women justifies specific focus on this demographic group. Adolescents (10–19 years of age) and young adults (20–24 years of age) account for >65% of all reported STIs [1]. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an STI of particular interest, because of its high prevalence rates and causal association with cervical malignancy. Our understanding of the epidemiology of HPV infection has grown and shifted immensely during the past 2 decades. It is well understood that infection of the genital tract with HPV leads to a range of pathologic states, including asymptomatic carriage of the virus, genital warts, cervical
Market-Weighted Trends in the Design Attributes of Headlamps in the U.S.

This report provides updated information regarding the market-weighted prevalence of various headlamp attributes in the U.S. and a summary of recent trends for these design attributes. The main findings were as follows: (1) there was a general transition from dual-filament light sources in 1997 to single-filament sources in 2007; (2) the preferred optics changed from lens-based in 1997 to mostly reflector-based optics in 2007; and (3) while mechanical aim was the most frequently specified aiming methods in 1997, the 2007 sample made nearly exclusive use of visual/optical aiming (with visual/optical right side as the most common specific type).
Fabrication of a Blue $M\times N$ Pixel Organic Light-Emitting Diode Video Display Incorporating a Thermally Stable Emitter

A 7 times 11 pixel blue OLED display was fabricated using a patterned indium-tin-oxide (ITO) substrate. The fabrication process for an M times N pixel organic light-emitting diode (OLED) video display including an electrical insulating layer and a physical pixel separator layer is presented. An efficient and thermally stable blue fluorescent organic material, 6,6'-bis((2-p -biphenyl)-4-phenylquinoline) (B2PPQ), was used in combination with an evaporated hole-transport small molecule with a high ionization potential.
Forgiveness and the Need to Belong

People who experience a strong need to belong might be particularly inclined to forgive wrongdoings to preserve social bonds. Three studies that utilized different methods and measures of forgiveness consistently demonstrated this is not the case. The authors found that individuals high in the need to belong report practicing forgiveness with less frequency and value it no more than those low in the need to belong (Study 1). In Study 2, they found that satisfying the need to belong led participants to express greater willingness to forgive hypothetical offenses compared to participants in a control group. Finally, in Study 3, the authors linked the need to belong to forgiveness of specific transgressions and found that this negative relationship was mediated by offense-related anger and perceptions of offense severity. These findings suggest that needing to belong paradoxically interferes with forgiveness, even though forgiving could promote the satisfaction of belongingness needs following transgressions.
Developing Characteristics of Nursing Exellence

In 2004, Vanderbilt Medical Center developed an initiative to improve the culture of the organization. The objective was to take already good performers and transform them into great performers in the areas of service to patients, clinical quality, staff and faculty satisfaction, growth, and finance. The surgical intensive care unit (ICU) chose the Vanderbilt pillar goals—People, Service, Quality, Growth, and Finance—as our goals to improve our performance from good to great. In 2005, I began a 2-year research internship program led by Dr Nancy Wells. In this program we learned how to enhance our skills in evidencebased practice. We wrote abstracts, made poster presentations, and listened to professionals from throughout the hospital on how to enhance our research abilities as nurses. The goal for the second year was to implement a research project in our unit. With the eager support of our manager, followed by a discussion with the other nurses in the unit, the idea to improve our excellence as ICU nurses was born. Many hospitals recognize a few of their nurses with an annual award for excellence in the work environment. Our team proposed that by using a method of habitual concentration our staff nurses could develop qualities of excellence for an improved outlook toward themselves, their work environment, and their profession. This improved outlook would lead to improved morale followed by an increase in retention within the unit, as well as progress in meeting our other goals. We recognized that our patient care, the attitudes of our nurses and staff, the helpfulness of peers, and even the cleanliness of the unit were based on tradition. During orientation, nurses learned what was expected of them in their individual units, and they continued this process by orienting others to the same routines. Often what was done, or not done, was based on habit.
Experiences with Flipping the Marketing Capstone Course

This article reviews the experiences of a flipped classroom approach in a marketing capstone course. Students completed readings, watched lecture videos, took a quiz, and submitted a short assignment for 10 course modules. While a few minutes were devoted to clarifying confusion from lecture topics, class time was used for experiential-learning activities. Learning was assessed using a pre-/postquiz of basic concepts and feedback from outside reviewers of team presentations. Preliminary results suggest that student learning improved using the flipped approach. However, students have strong, diverse opinions about its value and need training to excel in the flipped environment.
Security in Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Security is a paramount concern in mobile ad hoc network (MANET) because of its intrinsic vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are nature of MANET structure that cannot be removed. As a result, attacks with malicious intent have been and will be devised to exploit these vulnerabilities and to cripple MANET operations. In this chapter, we analyze the security problems in MANET and present a few promising research directions. On the prevention side, various key and trust management schemes have been developed to prevent external attacks from outsiders, and various secure MANET routing protocols have been proposed to prevent internal attacks originated from within the MANET system. On the intrusion detection side, a new intrusion detection framework has been studied especially for MANET. Both prevention and detection methods will work together to address the security concerns in MANET.
Wealth Related Disparities in Preventive Care, Access, and Coverage Among the Chronically Ill

Disparities in health status and health outcomes are of growing policy focus. In the U.S., there are many efforts to improve the quality of care and reduce disparities by race, ethnicity, gender and geography. It is well known that income and socio-economic status (SES) are strongly related to health status. A large body of research has documented the relationship between income and health but there are fewer studies of the relationship between wealth and health. This is likely due to the difficulty in collecting information on assets and debts in health surveys. Newly available data on asset holdings in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey allow for a more detailed examination of the relationship between wealth and health and the various factors that can mediate disparities in health status such as insurance coverage, access to care and use of services. In earlier research we find that there is a strong relationship between wealth and insurance coverage, controlling for income. In this paper, we look beyond the demand for insurance and examine the relationship between wealth and the demand for health care services. More specifically, we are interested in the association between wealth and use of preventive care, especially among persons with chronic conditions, while controlling for other factors such as income and insurance status. Victor Fuchs hypothesized that wealth and health were both affected by a third variable such as time preference. Forward-looking individuals are more likely to undertake measures that may cost them in the current period but will improve their utility in the future, such as demand preventive health care services. We hypothesize that wealth is associated with greater demand for preventive care. We test if the relationship between wealth and use of preventive care services differs by age group. The results of this research should help policymakers design targeted interventions that reduce health disparities among persons with chronic conditions.
Proposal of a simple CD roadm with contention-free add/drop function

We propose a simple configuration for colorless and directionless (CD) reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers that enables contention-free add/drop operation to be achieved. In the configuration, we apply a combination of multiple small-port-count CD add/drop banks (CD banks) and round-robin CD bank assignment. Evaluation results show that the proposed configuration can substantially reduce intra-node contention.
Embeddedness, Marketness, and Economic Instrumentalism in the Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program

U.S. farm-to-school (FTS) projects and programs promote the incorporation of locally or regionally produced food, primarily fresh fruits and vegetables, in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), a feeding program that relies on federal reimbursements and long, industrialized supply chains. FTS encourages the formation of hybrid agrifood networks that utilize shortened supply chains. This research builds upon and expands current FTS research because it examines the experiences, motivations, practices, and perceptions of farmers in a U.S. state in which FTS is facilitated by a state law. The state's promotion of FTS has reached many Oklahoma farmers through meetings with the program administrator. Some farmers have chosen to participate, while others have not. Differences in the scale of farming operations may be important in this choice. The perspectives and experiences of Oklahoma farmers vis-a-vis the state's FTS program reveals structural incompatibilities between the NSLP and FTS programs, particularly for small-scale producers. Employing the concepts of embeddedness, marketness, and economic instrumentalism, this study analyzes Oklahoma's FTS actor networks within the overarching political economy of the NSLP. It integrates literatures from alternative agrifood geographies, the sociology of agriculture, and school nutrition. Preliminary results are presented from fieldwork conducted in fall 2011 and fall 2012. Full analyses of the data will appear in future publications. Key words: farm-to-school programs, National School Lunch Program, Oklahoma Farm-to-School Program, embeddedness, marketness, economic instrumentalism
Parathyroid carcinoma: 50-year experience at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

BACKGROUND Parathyroid carcinoma is rare, with a reported prevalence of 0.6% to 4.0% in patients presumed to have primary hyperparathyroidism. This study examines the long-term results of surgical therapy and combination chemotherapy. PATIENTS From 1938 to 1988, 1260 operations for primary hyperparathyroidism were performed; only six patients (0.47%) were subsequently found to have parathyroid carcinoma. A seventh patient was referred to our institution after the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma had been made. RESULTS All patients had excessive hypercalcemia (serum calcium concentration > 12.0 mg/dL) with a range of 12.3 to 18.3 mg/dL. Locally recurrent tumors causing recurrent hypercalcemia were managed by repeated neck exploration and tumor resection. Six of the seven patients (85%) survived 5 years, while four patients (57%) survived 10 years. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma rests upon postoperative surveillance of patients who have undergone previous neck exploration and resection of apparently benign adenomas. Long-term survival is possible with repeated resection of locally recurrent tumors. Long-term survival is possible with repeated resection of locally recurrent tumors.
Decomposition of Converging Branch Multistage Systems

Abstract This article considers an alternate dynamic-programming technique for analysis of converging branch systems. This technique, like superposition, is based on decomposition of the system considered. However, it is not restricted to linear systems. The validity of the approach is shown, and an example problem is presented.
Ab initio X-ray absorption modeling of Cu-SAPO-34: Characterization of Cu exchange sites under different conditions

Abstract Copper-exchanged SAPO-34 (Cu-SAPO-34) provides excellent catalytic activity and hydrothermal stability in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by using NH3 as a reductant. We find that the 6-membered ring (6MR) site is the most energetically favorable for a Cu+ ion while the 8-membered ring (8MR) sites are less favorable by about 0.5 eV with respect to the 6MR site in Cu-SAPO-34. Upon adsorption of molecular species (H2O, O, OH, O2), the energy differences between Cu in the 8MR and 6MR sites decreases and almost disappears. Further, a thermodynamic phase diagram study shows that a Cu+ ion bound to a single H2O molecule is the most stable species at low oxygen potential values while a Cu2+ ion bound to 2 OH species is more stable when the oxygen chemical potential is sufficiently high. By comparing Cu K-edge XANES between Cu-SSZ-13 and Cu-SAPO-34 with Cu in different oxidation states, we conclude that it is difficult to differentiate the simulated XANES of Cu in these structures at a given oxidation state. By studying the Cu K-edge XANES of several favorable structures in Cu-SAPO-34 in the presence of adspecies, the simulated XANES results capture the real trend of the edge shift with oxidation state and gives new insights into the experimentally determined XANES of Cu-SAPO-34 obtained under standard SCR conditions.
Comment on “Is the regulation of the electronic properties of organic molecules by polynuclear superhalogens more effective than that by mononuclear superhalogens? A high-level ab initio case study” by M.-M. Li, J.-F. Li, H.-C. Bai, Y.-Y. Sun, J.-L. Li and B. Yin, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 20338

The Outer Valence Green Function (OVGF) and coupled-cluster singles and doubles plus approximate triples, or CCSD(T), methods yield similar results for the vertical detachment energies of superhalides studied recently by Li et al. The success of the OVGF method contradicts claims by Li et al. in their recent article.
Distribution and drug resistance of pathogens causing nosocomial infections in intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE To instruct medical workers to prevent and control nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit(ICU) by analyzing the types of most common nosocomial infections in ICU and the major characters of pathogens.METHODS All the nosocomial infection patients from Nov.2009 to Jan.2011 were monitored.Use of ventilator,urethral catheter,central venous catheter,immunosuppressant,radiotherapy and chemotherapy and other risk factors were recorded.Corresponding specimens were collected for etiological examination and drug susceptibility testing.RESULTS Among 90 nosocomial infection patients,67 patients had etiological examination.The examination rate was 74.44%.188 strains of pathogens were isolated.The main distribution sites of nosocomial infection were as the following: lower respiratory tract infection(97 cases),urinary tract infection(9 cases) and blood system(21 cases),accounting for 78.19%,5.85% and 14.36% respectively.Among the pathogens isolated from lower respiratory tract,gram-negative bacilli accounted for 96.60%.gram-negative bacilli,gram-positive cocci and fungi accounted for 27.27%,36.36% and 36.36% of pathogens from urinary tract respectively.gram-negative bacilli,gram-positive cocci and fungi accounted for 48.15%,29.63% and 22.22% of pathogens from blood system respectively,which were resistant to most common antibiotics.CONCLUSION Lower respiratory tract infection is the main nosocomial infection type in ICU.gram-negative bacilli are the main pathogenic bacteria and resistant to most common antibiotics.The management of clinic invasive treatment is the important measure to avoid nosocomial infections in the ICU.
Research Progress in Modification of Solid Superacid Catalysts

The latest research achievement of modification of solid superacid catalysts SO42-/MxOy on the carrier,accelerants and the introduction of noble metals were summarized.The catalytic mechanism and deactivation of this type of catalysts were analyzed.Effects of carrier modification,including nano-materials,rare earth elements,other metal elements(Al,V),crosslinking agents,molecular sieves on catalytic activity and stability were introduced.Meanwhile the progress in using S2O82-,rare earth ions,other ions(Ni2+,Sn4+),WO3,MoO3,PO43 as accelerants and modification with Pt、Pd were described.Finally the prospects of the research and applications of SO42-/MxOy solid superacid catalysts were predicted.
Clinical pharmacology of coronary thrombolysis.

Pharmacologic thrombolysis is dependent on activation of endogenousplasminogen to the active proteolytic enzyme, plasmin. Agents such as tissue-plasminogen activator with a high affinity for fibrin bound plasminogen result in high local concentration of plasmin. Thus, they achieve clot lysis with less tendency to induce a systemic lytic state reflecting extensive fibrinogenolytic activity in the circulation. Appropriate dose regimens for thrombolytic agents in specific clinical situations is critical to maximize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing the risk of significant bleeding.
Interleukin-1 alpha stimulates KC synthesis in rat mesangial cells: glucocorticoids inhibit KC induction by IL-1.

To assess the possible role of the production of chemokines by intrinsic glomerular cells in the generation of inflammation in glomerulonephritis, the chemokine, KC, was cloned from a rat macrophage cDNA library. Transfection of rat KC into COS-7 cells resulted in increased neutrophil chemotactic activity. The KC cDNA was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli for generation of an antibody. By using a riboprobe derived from the cDNA and the antibody, interleukin-1 (IL-1) was found to induce the expression of KC in rat mesangial cells. The induction of KC by IL-1 could be inhibited by dexamethasone (DEX). The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide reversed the DEX-mediated inhibition, which suggested that new protein synthesis was necessary for the inhibitory effect. A nuclear runoff analysis indicated that DEX inhibited the transcription of KC induced by IL-1. The stability of KC mRNA was not decreased in the presence of DEX. Furthermore, immunoblots showed that DEX also inhibited KC express...
Reframing Autism: Young Adults With Autism Share Their Strengths Through Photo-Stories.

Purpose A dearth of research describes the lives of young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the perspectives of young adults themselves. We explored young adults' strengths using Photovoice, a method in which participants use images and discussions to express themselves. Images were purposefully chosen to help young people participate in the research process. Design and Methods Eleven young adults captured their experiences growing up with ASD via images, and participated in three group photo discussions, an individual photo interview, and a photo exhibit. Qualitative data for analysis included session transcripts and photographs. We used strategies of theme analysis to understand participants' experiences. Results The mean age of the sample was 20 years, and 7 participants were male. Three sub-themes describe youth's strengths: 1) special interests that cultivated positive emotions and coping strategies; 2) skills and activities that evoked pride; and 3) reframing ASD as special versus a disadvantage. Conclusions The Photovoice method is well-suited to help young adults identify and express their strengths. Self-generated images and stories may offer a creative and effective form of communication for young adults with ASD. Practice Implications Health care practitioners can capitalize on how Photovoice helps young adults express themselves by using images to understand their health priorities and involve young adults in their care plans. With images of strength, for example, nurses can build young adults' confidence and help these individuals to identify areas of their mental and physical lives in which they can thrive and experience improved quality of life.
The Myth of Partisan Compromise

“Bipartisanship is not the opposite of principle. One can be very conservative or very liberal and still have a bipartisan mindset.” – Richard Lugar, Republican Senator, Indiana, concession statement Consider these two facts: (1) nearly 40 percent of Americans identify as political independents; (2) 58 percent of Americans believe that America needs a third party. The conditions seem perfect for a third party to emerge onto the American political scene. At the very least, one might expect that Democrats and Republicans should embrace bipartisanship in hopes of appealing to so many disaffected Americans. Yet in reality, the reverse is happening. Alternatives to the Republican and Democratic parties have declined dramatically over the past century (Tamas and Hindman 2014), as has voter support for third and minor parties (Hirano and Snyder 2007). Meanwhile, Democratic and Republican candidates are increasingly ideologically extreme (Groser and Palfrey 2014) and the American public often appears increasingly partisan, especially in their affect toward members of the opposing party (Iyengar et al. 2012; Mason 2014). How is it possible that an electorate in which nearly a plurality of people claim they are independent exists in this political climate? One of the greatest divides in American politics may well be the chasm between what we say and what we do. Throughout this book, we have shown the degree to which negative perceptions of partisanship influence the way ordinary Americans relate to politics. From self-identifying as independent to withdrawing from political conversation, eschewing outwardly partisan forms of political participation, and avoiding partisan coworkers and neighbors, many Americans are going undercover and deliberately avoiding partisanship. Throughout these chapters, however, we have not addressed the elephant in the room. How is it that Americans are both anti-partisan and politically polarized? In this chapter, we examine whether the people who reject partisanship are distinct from those who are polarized. Although undercover partisans may not actually be “independent” in the political sense of the word, perhaps they are so ashamed of parties that they have begun to seek compromise and hold their representatives accountable to bipartisan values. We explore what undercover partisans want from parties in two ways. First, we take people at their own word and we simply ask people who call themselves “independent” to tell us what they want from politics and from their representatives.
A monte carlo model for simulating dielectric properties of polymer chains

The dynamic and equilibrium properties of lattice model polymer chains in solution has been simulated using Monte Carlo techniques. This model exhibits similar behavior to the Rouse bead-and-spring model which has been the basis for most molecular model studies of the dynamical behavior of polymer chains.1,2 The lattice model chain is a particularly useful approach as it facilitates the introduction of many specific types of interactions not presently amenable to analytical treatment.3-6
Cancer Immunology with a Focus on Understudied Cancers as Targets for Immunotherapy.

A number of immune therapeutic approaches have been transitioning from being experimental to being incorporated as standard approaches, either alone or in conjunction with other therapies.[...]
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Side Effects Defined and Quantified.

Significance: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an important advanced therapy in the treatment of problem wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers and late effect radiation injury. HBOT remains among the safest therapies used today. Nonetheless, there are side effects associated with HBOT. It is important for providers to be able to identify, understand, and quantify these side effects for prevention, management, and informed consent. Recent Advances: The past two decades have seen significant advancements in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of HBOT. This has led to a better understanding of the underlying reason for clinical benefit. It has also led to a better understanding of its side effects. Moreover, more recent literature allows for better quantification of these side effects. This review will highlight these side effects. Critical Issues: Wound healing in the case of problem nonhealing wounds requires the use of various advanced treatment modalities, including HBOT. HBOT has been sho...
Socio-technical approach to engineer gigabit app performance for physicaltherapy-as-a-service

The deployment of Gigabit Apps owing to their high-bandwidth and low-latency nature pushes the limits of today's end-to-end networking, and reveals new bottlenecks at multiple layers of networking, virtualization, application and user experience. In this paper, we use an exemplar smart health related Gigabit App use case viz., PhysicalTherapy-as-a-Service to show how a multi-layer instrumentation approach of measurement points was critical to successfully deploy our lab-tested App out to residential homes with Google Fiber connections. The salient instrumentation strategies involved an organized co-design method between the App Developer and Network Engineer roles, and a multi-domain network performance monitoring featuring perfSONAR extensions, both of which were realized through our Narada Metrics framework. Our instrumentation strategies engendered a “socio-technical tool” for co-ordination between multi-layer stakeholders in identifying and overcoming the intertwined bottlenecks, and in tuning the App performance. Our results highlight the new instrumentation and measurement challenges to foster multi-layer stakeholder collaboration, and provide rare insights to the budding Gigabit App developer community for performance engineering their Apps to serve residential users.
An economic analysis of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 94-10: cost-efficacy of concurrent vs. sequential chemoradiotherapy

Cost can be a major issue in therapeutic decision-making and in particular for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). The specific aim of this analysis was to evaluate the costs and outcomes of patients treated on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 94-10, Medicare Part A and Part B costs from all for patients treated from 1991 to 1996 on RTOG 94-10, a phase III trial showing a survival benefit for concurrent chemoradiation (STD RT) over sequential (RT day 50) chemoradiation in LA-NSCLC with intermediate outcome for concurrent twice daily radiation and chemotherapy (HFX RT). Twenty-six-month expected costs for each arm of the trial in 1996 dollars were determined, with Kaplan-Meier sampling average estimates of survival probabilities for each month and mean monthly costs. The analysis was performed from a payer’s perspective. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated comparing RT on day 50 and HFX RT to the STD RT. Of the 610 patients entered, Medicare cost data and clinical outcomes were available for 92 patients. In this subset, compared to STD RT, RT on day 50 proved less costly but resulted in reduced survival at 1 year. In addition, HFX RT costs slightly more than STD RT but was less effective in this cohort of patients. In patients with Medicare insurance and with significant toxicity burden, RT on day 50 is the least expensive but also least effective treatment in this subset of patients treated on RTOG 94-10.
Adolescent Nicotine Exposure Alters GABAA Receptor Signaling in the Ventral Tegmental Area and Increases Adult Ethanol Self-Administration

Summary Adolescent smoking is associated with pathological drinking later in life, but the biological basis for this vulnerability is unknown. To examine how adolescent nicotine exposure influences subsequent ethanol intake, nicotine was administered during adolescence or adulthood, and responses to alcohol were measured 1 month later. We found that adolescent, but not adult, nicotine exposure altered GABA signaling within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and led to a long-lasting enhancement of alcohol self-administration. We detected depolarizing shifts in GABAA reversal potentials arising from impaired chloride extrusion in VTA GABA neurons. Alterations in GABA signaling were dependent on glucocorticoid receptor activation and were associated with attenuated dopaminergic neuron responses to alcohol in the lateral VTA. Importantly, enhancing chloride extrusion in adolescent nicotine-treated animals restored VTA GABA signaling and alcohol self-administration to control levels. Taken together, this work suggests that adolescent nicotine exposure increases the risk profile for increased alcohol drinking in adulthood.
Abatacept for the treatment of adults with psoriatic arthritis: patient selection and perspectives.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogeneous disease with several clinical subtypes including peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, enthesitis, nail disease, and axial arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, and conventional disease-modifying agents are used as first line in the treatment of active PsA. For moderate-to-severe PsA failing conventional therapy, antitumor necrosis factor inhibitors have historically been the drugs of choice. In recent years, novel interleukin-23/interleukin-17 pathway targets such as ustekinumab and secukinumab, and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor apremilast have been approved for use in the United States and Europe. Two sets of recommendations for the management of PsA were published in 2016 with consideration for these newer therapies. Since then, the results from a Phase III randomized controlled trial demonstrated that abatacept has efficacy in the treatment of PsA. Abatacept, a cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4)-Ig human fusion protein, acts to prevent naive T-cell activation through the inhibition of the critical CD28 co-stimulatory signal. In the 2017 Active Psoriatic Arthritis Randomized Trial (ASTRAEA), 424 participants were randomized 1:1 to receive subcutaneous abatacept 125 mg weekly versus placebo. At week 24, 39.4% of those who received abatacept achieved a minimum of 20% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response compared to 22.3% in the placebo arm, a statistically significant finding (P<0.001). The 2011 Phase II study published by Mease et al demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the ACR20 response by week 169 in participants treated with intravenous abatacept 10 mg/kg (48%) and 30/10 mg/kg (42%) when compared with placebo (19%). This article reviews the data supporting the efficacy of abatacept in the management of PsA and attempts to place this agent in the context of other biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and targeted small molecules used in the treatment of patients with PsA.
Enzymatic profile of Kluyvera species.

Kluyvera, a proposed genus formerly known as Enteric group 8, was found to have similar enzyme profiles among the present 3 groups.Kluyvera species group 3 showed the most heterogeneous enzyme reactions.
Prevalence of diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes among US adults in 2016 and 2017: population based study

Abstract Objective To estimate the prevalence of diagnosed total diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes in the US general population and the proportions of each among US adults with a diagnosis of diabetes. Design Nationwide, population based, cross sectional survey. Setting National Health Interview Survey, 2016 and 2017. Participants Adults aged 20 years or older (n=58 186), as a nationally representative sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized US population. Main outcome measures Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes in the US general population, and the proportions of each subtype in participants with a diagnosis of diabetes. Results Among the 58 186 included adults, 6317 had received a diagnosis of diabetes. The weighted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes among US adults was 9.7% (95% confidence interval 9.4% to 10.0%), 0.5% (0.5% to 0.6%), and 8.5% (8.2% to 8.8%), respectively. Type 1 diabetes was more prevalent among adults with lower education level, and type 2 diabetes was more prevalent among older adults, men, and those with lower educational level, lower family income level, and higher body mass index (BMI). Among adults with a diagnosis of diabetes, the weighted percentage of type 1 and type 2 diabetes was 5.6% (4.9% to 6.4%) and 91.2% (90.4% to 92.1%), respectively. The percentage of type 1 diabetes was higher among younger adults (age 20-44 years), non-Hispanic white people, those with higher education level, and those with lower BMI, whereas the percentage of type 2 diabetes was higher among older adults (age ≥65 years), non-Hispanic Asians, those with lower education level, and those with higher BMI. Conclusion This study provided benchmark estimates on the national prevalence of diagnosed type 1 diabetes (0.5%) and type 2 diabetes (8.5%) among US adults. Among US adults with diagnosed diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes accounted for 5.6% and 91.2%, respectively.
A machine learning approach for dynamic control of RTS/CTS in WLANs

In this paper, we proposed a novel algorithm to dynamically enable and disable IEEE 802.11 DCF's RTS/CTS handshake. We start by conducting an experimental characterization of the performance of RTS/CTS as a function of packet size, transmission rate, and network contention, which complements existing work that evaluated RTS/CTS performance analytically and empirically. Motivated by our experimental evaluation of RTS/CTS performance, our algorithm uses current packet size and transmission rate, as well as an estimate of network contention to dynamically decide whether to use RTS/CTS or not. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed algorithm is the first to enable and disable the RTS/CTS handshake based on a set of current network conditions, and automatically adapt as these conditions change. Simulation results using a variety of WLAN scenarios, including synthetic and real traffic traces, demonstrate that the proposed approach consistently outperforms current best practices, such as never enabling RTS/CTS or setting the RTS Threshold (RT), which is used to decide whether to switch RTS/CTS on or off, to a static value.
Pre-diabetes and breast cancer outcomes: Abrogating the confounding effect of anti-diabetic therapy.

1584 Background: Multiple studies indicate that type II diabetes is associated with an increased mortality in breast cancer. However, in these studies the class of anti-diabetic therapy, remains an...
The Comparative Medical Costs of 2 Major Procedures Available for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence

AbstractFemale urinary stress incontinence is a common surgical problem. We reviewed the case records of 71 women who were operated upon for stress incontinence at our medical center from 1975 to 1980. Of these women 30 underwent the Pereyra-Stamey endoscopically controlled suspension of the bladder neck and 41 underwent the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz repair.We compared the major components of care contributing to the cost of each surgical procedure. At current 1980 prices a significant saving of 4 days in hospital stay and of $2,500 in total medical costs can be effected by choosing the Pereyra-Stamey technique over the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure. No important differences were noted in complications, operating room time or surgeon’s fees.
Cultural psychopathology and the "false memory syndrome" debates: a view from psychoanalysis.

The typical “false memory syndrome” debates assume that clinicians must establish whether a recovered memory of abuse is objectively true. The present paper criticizes that assumption from three ps...
Postoperative Schmerztherapie bei Kindern

Kinder haben kein geringeres Schmerzempfinden als Erwachsene. Im Neugeborenenalter erlittene Schmerzen wirken sich moglicherweise langfristig auf das spatere Verhalten bei einem erneuten Schmerzereignis aus. Eine altersgerechte Schmerzmessung und -dokumentation ermoglicht und verbessert die Therapiekontrolle.
THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS CONTROLLING COMPLEMENTARY CHROMATIC ADAPTATION

The phycobilisome (PBS) is a macromolecular complex that can constitute up to 40% of the soluble cellular protein. These light harvesting structures, found in eukaryotic red algae, glaucocystophytes, and the prokaryotic cyanobacteria, absorb light energy in the region of the spectrum from 540 nm to 660 nm. This energy is efficiently transferred from the PBS to the photosynthetic reaction centers as a result of the close association of these complexes with the outer surface of the thylakoid membranes (Porter, 1978; Searle, 1978). Two classes of proteins make up the PBS: the phycobiliproteins, which are pigmented, and the linker polypeptides, which are nonpigmented (Tandeau de Marsac, 1977). Four major species of phycobiliproteins are found in these organisms. Allophycocyanin (AP, Amax approximately 650 nm) is found in the core substructure, the part of the PBS that is in direct association with the photosynthetic reaction center and phycocyanin (PC, Amax approximately 620 nm), phycoerythrin (PE, Amax approximately 565 nm), and phycoerythrocyanin (PEC, Amax approximately 540 nm) are present in rods that emanate from the core. Two subunit forms (α and β) of each of these phycobiliproteins exist and are assembled as heterodimers into higher order structures; these aggregates are the building blocks of the PBS. The linker polypeptides allow the assembly of these building blocks into larger, more stable structures and also assist in the efficient transfer of light energy through the PBS and into the chlorophyll-protein complexes within the thylakoid membranes (Glazer, 1982; Glazer, 1985).
Color Contrast of Single-Layer Graphene under White Light Illumination Induced by Broadband Photon Management.

Visualizing and manipulating the optical contrast of single layer graphene (SLG) and other 2D materials has continuously been an interesting topic to understand fundamental light-matter interaction down to atomic thickness. Since the optical properties of SLG can be tuned by gating, demonstrating and manipulating the color contrast of SLG also has significant potential applications in ultra-thin flexible color display. However, previous demonstrations of optical contrast of SLG are mostly limited to reflection intensity contrast under monochromatic illumination using interference effect. The reported spectral contrast in SLG has mostly been narrow-band or at resonant wavelengths, and it required precise thickness control and/or nanolithography that are hardly scalable to large enough area for display applications. In this paper, we demonstrate novel color-contrast optical visibility of SLG under white light using broad-band photon management induced by nanoneedle structured SnOx (x1) transparent conducti...
2,8,14,20-Tetra­phenyl­pyrogallol[4]arene dimethyl­formamide octa­solvate

The title compound, C52H40O12·8C3H7NO, contains substituted pyrogallolarene mol­ecules accompanied by dimethyl­formamide solvent mol­ecules. The complete main mol­ecule displays a chair structure and has inversion symmetry. A network of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds helps to consolidate the crystal packing.
Conditional GAN for timeseries generation

It is abundantly clear that time dependent data is a vital source of information in the world. The challenge has been for applications in machine learning to gain access to a considerable amount of quality data needed for algorithm development and analysis. Modeling synthetic data using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) has been at the heart of providing a viable solution. Our work focuses on one dimensional times series and explores the few shot approach, which is the ability of an algorithm to perform well with limited data. This work attempts to ease the frustration by proposing a new architecture, Time Series GAN (TSGAN), to model realistic time series data. We evaluate TSGAN on 70 data sets from a benchmark time series database. Our results demonstrate that TSGAN performs better than the competition both quantitatively using the Frechet Inception Score (FID) metric, and qualitatively when classification is used as the evaluation criteria.
Social anxiety and dissociation: the moderating role of emotion regulation

Social anxiety is associated with dissociative experiences, which are thought to occur when coping or avoidance is unavailable, and distress is experienced. Emotion regulation difficulties maintain social anxiety. The current study examined the moderating effect of emotion regulation on social anxiety and dissociation. It was hypothesized that social anxiety would be positively associated with dissociation and that emotion regulation difficulties would moderate the relationship between social anxiety and dissociation such that the relationship would be stronger at higher levels of emotion regulation difficulties. College students aged 18 or older (n = 572) were recruited from a large public university. All participants completed measures of social anxiety, emotion regulation, and dissociation as part of a larger online study. Results supported both hypotheses. Future studies should investigate dissociative symptoms during times of acute stress or anxiety in social anxiety, how emotion regulation difficulties are associated with the genesis of dissociative symptoms, and how these variables are related in more diverse community samples.