cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Rewritten Content Textbook Passages on Middle Grade Students' Comprehension of Main Ideas: Making the Inconsiderate Considerate.

This study sought to determine if content area textbook passages could be rewritten such that middle grade students' main idea comprehension ability was enhanced. Excerpts from fifth-grade science textbooks were read by fifthgrade students in one of two versions: (a) an original (inconsiderate) version in which main ideas were frequently implicit, those main ideas that were explicitly stated in the text were not always prominent (i.e., placed initially) in paragraphs and passages, and there were few, if any, headings or typographical aids to cue main ideas, or (b) a rewritten (considerate) version in which all main ideas were explicit in the text and typed in italic, each main idea appeared at the beginning of the text unit, and headings cued main ideas. Several recognition and recall items assessed students' ability to identify and generate main ideas at both the paragraph and passage levels. Results revealed that after reading the rewritten text versions, some students were able to compose significantly more passage main ideas, and all students were able to compose significantly more paragraph main ideas. Groups did not differ on a main idea recognition task. Additional data from a series of questions which required the students to compare original and rewritten versions of the science texts tended to support the finding that content area selections rewritten to make them more considerate improves students' main idea comprehension. Although main idea instruction assumes an important place in educational curricula (Armbruster, Stevens, & Rosenshine, 1977; Baumann, in press; Hare & Milligan, 1984; Jenkins & Pany, 1980; Johnson & Barrett, 1981; Rosenshine, 1980; Winograd & Brennan, 1983), research with young and developing readers suggests that students are generally not facile at recognizing,
The prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in primary Care Practices

Objective To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in a clinical population of reproductive-age women. Methods A ten-page questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of women age 18–45 years who were approached in the waiting areas of two obstetrics and gynecology practices and three family medicine practices in central North Carolina. Of 701 women approached to fill out the questionnaire, 581 (83%) returned completed forms suitable for analysis. Results The reported prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome was 90,46, 39, and 12%, respectively. Low income was found to be a risk factor for dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, and AfricanAmerican race was found to be a risk factor for pelvic pain. Pelvic pain was also more common among women 26–30 years old. Otherwise, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome were not associated with age, parity, marital status, race, income, or education. Conclusion Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome are common complaints among women of reproductive age and are not consistently associated with demographic risk factors. Therefore, inquiry about these pelvic pain complaints should be a routine part of health care for women.
Slack borrowing in flip-flop based sequential circuits

In this paper, we have modelled the flip-flop clock to output delay dependency on the data arrival time and introduced this phenomenon in timing analysis. Traditionally, finding the minimum clock period of a flip-flop based sequential design was based on the assumption that the setup-time and clock to output delay of a flip-flop are constant and hence each stage of the pipeline can be analyzed independently. However, it is well known that the delay of a flip-flop depends on the data arrival time at its input and hence there exists an interdependence among different pipeline stages. The problem of finding the minimum clock period of such a coupled system is a non-trivial problem. In this paper, we formu-late the problem of finding the minimum clock period of a flip-flop based sequential circuit accounting for these dependencies. We show that the problem is a non-linear convex optimization problem. We propose three different solution approaches and compare their results on ISCAS '89 sequential benchmark circuits. Modeling these data arrival time dependencies we have seen a consistent decrement of approximately 50-60ps compared to the traditional approach using constant setup-time and flip-flop delays. We also show how the analysis can be extended to account for hold time constraints for short paths in the circuit.
Helicobacter pylori nickel-transport gene nixA: synthesis of catalytically active urease in Escherichia coli independent of growth conditions.

Urease is a virulence determinant, a taxonomic and diagnostic marker, and immunogen for Helicobacter pylori, an aetiologic agent of gastritis and peptic ulceration. This enzyme requires Ni2+ ions in the active site for successful hydrolysis of urea. When expressed in Escherichia coli, recombinant urease is only weakly active unless urease structural subunits are overexpressed, exogenous NiCl2 is added, and the host strain is grown in medium that does not chelate free Ni2+. As wild-type H. pylori does not require such conditions for very high levels of urease expression, we reasoned that additional genes were required to accumulate the metal ion. To isolate such genes, E. coli SE5000 (pHP808), which carries the H. pylori urease gene cluster, was complemented with a lambda ZAP-derived plasmid library of the H. pylori chromosome. One of 1000 ampicillin-resistant clones, plated onto urea segregation agar, produced detectable urease. Urease activity of this co-transformant, grown in Luria broth containing 1 microM NiCl2, was 36 mumol NH3 min-1 mg-1 protein. Urease-enhancing activity, which is not directly linked to the urease gene cluster, was localized by subcloning and nucleotide sequencing. The largest open reading frame, designated nixA, predicted a polypeptide of 34,317 Da that displayed characteristics of an integral membrane protein. In vitro transcription-translation of nixA sequences yielded a polypeptide estimated to be 32 kDa in size. An in-frame Bal31 deletion within nixA abolished urease-enhancing activity. At 50 nM NiCl2, E. coli containing the nixA clone transported 1250 +/- 460 pmol Ni2+ min-1 10(-8) cells, whereas the vector control transported only 140 +/- 85 pmol Ni2+ min-1 10(8) cells, i.e. significantly less (P = 0.01). We conclude that NixA confers upon E. coli a high-affinity nickel-transport system (KT = 11.3 +/- 2.4 nM; Vmax = 1750 +/- 220 pmol Ni2+ min-1 10(-8) cells) and is necessary for expression of catalytically active urease, regardless of growth conditions.
DD-PREF: a language for expressing preferences over sets

In many application domains, it is useful to be able to represent and reason about a user's preferences over sets of objects. We present a representation language, DD-PREF (for Diversity and Depth PREFerences), for specifying the desired diversity and depth of sets of objects where each object is represented as a vector of feature values. A strong diversity preference for a particular feature indicates that the user would like the set to include objects whose values are evenly dispersed across the range of possible values for that feature. A strong depth preference for a feature indicates that the user is interested in specific target values or ranges. Diversity and depth are complementary, but are not necessarily opposites. We define an objective function that, when maximized, identifies the subset of objects that best satisfies a statement of preferences in DD-PREF. Exhaustively searching the space of all possible subsets is intractable for large problem spaces; therefore, we also present an efficient greedy algorithm for generating preferred object subsets. We demonstrate the expressive power of DD-PREF and the performance of our greedy algorithm by encoding and applying qualitatively different preferences for multiple tasks on a blocks world data set. Finally, we provide experimental results for a collection of Mars rover images, demonstrating that we can successfully capture individual preferences of different users, and use them to retrieve high-quality image subsets.
Early-acting inbreeding depression in three species of Vaccinium (Ericaceae)

Greenhouse pollinations were performed to determine whether early-acting inbreeding depression is contributing to low levels of self-fertility in three Vaccinium species: V. myrtilloides Michaux, V. angustifolium Aiton, and V. corymbosum L. All three species showed a significant reduction in self fruit set and in the proportion of fertilized ovules that developed into mature seed in self compared to outcross fruit. Reductions were more severe in V. myrtilloides and V. angustifolium than in V. corymbosum; however, early-acting inbreeding depression appeared to be the primary factor limiting self-fertility in all three species. Evidence for early- acting inbreeding depression included the presence and higher proportion of aborted ovules in self fruit than in outcross fruit, a correlation between levels of self and outcross seed set, and pollen chase experiments demonstrating that self-pollen does fertilize the ovules. Self-fertility in the three species was probably influenced by levels of genetic load, ploidy level and outcrossing rates.
Randomized ablation strategies for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: RASTA study

Background—The single-procedure efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is less than optimal in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Adjunctive techniques have been developed to enhance single-procedure efficacy in these patients. We conducted a study to compare 3 ablation strategies in patients with persistent AF. Methods and Results—Subjects were randomized as follows: arm 1, PVI ablation of non-PV triggers identified using a stimulation protocol (standard approach); arm 2, standard approach empirical ablation at common non-PV AF trigger sites (mitral annulus, fossa ovalis, eustachian ridge, crista terminalis, and superior vena cava); or arm 3, standard approach ablation of left atrial complex fractionated electrogram sites. Patients were seen at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year; transtelephonic monitoring was performed at each visit. Antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued at 3 to 6 months. The primary study end point was freedom from atrial arrhythmias off antiarrhythmic drugs at 1 year after a single-ablation procedure. A total of 156 patients (aged 599 years; 136 males; AF duration, 4750 months) participated (arm 1, 55 patients; arm 2, 50 patients; arm 3, 51 patients). Procedural outcomes (procedure, fluoroscopy, and PVI times) were comparable between the 3 arms. More lesions were required to target non-PV trigger sites than a complex fractionated electrogram (339 versus 229; P0.001). The primary end point was achieved in 71 patients and was worse in arm 3 (29%) compared with arm 1 (49%; P0.04) and arm 2 (58%; P0.004). Conclusions—These data suggest that additional substrate modification beyond PVI does not improve single-procedure efficacy in patients with persistent AF. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00379301. (Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2012;5:287-294.)
Reckless motion estimation from omnidirectional image and inertial measurements

Two approaches to improving the accuracy of camera motion estimation from image sequences are the use of omnidirectional cameras, which combine a conventional camera with a convex mirror that magnifies the field of view, and the use of both image and inertial measurements, which are highly complementary. In this paper, we describe optimal batch algorithms for estimating motion and scene structure from either conventional or omnidirectional images, with or without inertial data. We also present a method for motion estimation from inertial data and the tangential components of image projections. Tangential components are identical across a wide range of conventional and omnidirectional projection models, so the resulting method does not require any accurate projection model. Because this method discards half of the projection data (i.e., the radial components) and can operate with a projection model that may grossly mismodel the actual camera behavior, we call the method "reckless" motion estimation, but we show that the camera positions and scene structure estimated using this method can be quite accurate.
Estimation of current reliability in a Duane-based reliability growth model

In this article, I investigate the statistical inference concerning the current (field-stage) reliability of a reliability growth model. The model, assuming a step-intensity structure, evolves from the physical consideration of the Duane learning-curve property and incorporates the effect of a testanalyze- and-fix program that is typically undertaken in a developmental testing program. Both exact and large-sample distributional results are derived for the maximum likelihood and the least squares estimators of the current intensity. Under the assumption that the step-intensity model represents the reality, I provide an assessment of the extent of “misspecification” when the widely used power law process model is fit to the failure data of a system experiencing recurrent failures. Extensive simulation results are carried out to supplement the theoretical findings. An illustration with a dataset is provided as a demonstration of the application of the inference results.
Changing Patterns of Substance Use on Campus: A Four-Year Follow-up Study

In 1969 and 1973, 598 and 474 randomly selected students at a large midwestern university reported their present and past use, and extent of use of substances taken without medical prescription. Ten of the 18 substances showed a significant increase in percentage of users over time with greatest increases for marijuana, hashish, and alcohol. These three plus tobacco are those substances most used by students and used most frequently. Other substances are used by less than 7% presently and by less than 4% on an often or regular basis. The percentage of tobacco users has not diminished, but smokers report lower frequencies of use in 1973. Single undergraduates reported highest percentage of substance users, and sex differences were not evident. Methodological issues in survey research on substance use are discussed as well as implications for substance educational programming.
Parallel algorithms for large-scale computational metagenomics

Developing high performance computing solutions for modern day biological problems present a unique set of challenges. The field is experiencing a data revolution due to a rapid introduction of several disruptive experimental technologies. Consequently, computational methods that analyze biological data are currently being put to the test in their capability to scale to massive data sizes. Added to this data-intensiveness, is the brand of computation that is quite different in flavor to that in other, perhaps more traditional scientific computing fields. The problems are dominated by integer arithmetic, string matching, combinatorial space exploration, and graph-theoretic formulations that introduce irregularity in computation and communication patterns. In this thesis, we report on our efforts to bridge the gap between biological data processing and high performance computing solutions. Specifically, we focus on the problem of clustering very large collections of protein sequences on distributed memory supercomputers. Given a set of amino acid sequences we reduce the problem to one of constructing sequence homology graph and subsequently detecting arbitrarily-sized dense subgraphs. Our approach efficiently parallelizes this task on a distributed memory machine through a combination of divide-and-conquer and combinatorial pattern matching heuristic techniques. Preliminary tests on an arbitrary collection of 2 million protein sequences from the Global Ocean Sampling project database reveal that our new approach is able to improve sensitivity, recruit more sequences, while considerably reducing the time to solution and memory requirement. The algorithmic techniques developed as part of this research have a wider applicability to other applications in computational biology wherever the need for conducting large-scale sequence analysis is the primary bottleneck.
On the input-to-state stability (ISS) of a double integrator with saturated linear control laws

We show that the closed loop system consisting of a double integrator with any stabilizing saturated linear control law is not input-to-state stable (ISS) even for external disturbances with arbitrarily small magnitude.
Anatomic repair for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: A single-institution 19-year experience

Objective(s) Anatomic repair for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) has been shown to improve patient survival. We sought to examine long-term outcomes in patients after anatomic repair with focus on results in high-risk patients, the fate of the neo-aortic valve, and occurrence of morphologically left ventricular dysfunction. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-institution study of patients undergoing anatomic repair for ccTGA. A total of 113 patients from 1991 to March 2011 were included. Double-switch (DS) repair was performed in 68 patients, with Rastelli-Senning (RS)–type repair in 45. Pulmonary artery banding for retraining was performed in 23 cases. Patients were followed up for survival status, morbidity, and reinterventions. A subgroup of 17 high-risk patients in severe heart failure, ventilated, and on inotropes before repair, were included. Results Median age at repair was 3.2 years (range, 25 days to 40 years) and weight was 14.3 kg (3.2-61.4). There were 5 (of 68; 7.4%) early deaths in the DS group and 0 (of 45) in the RS group. Actuarial survivals in the DS group were 87.6%, 83.9%, 83.9% at 1, 5, and 10 years versus 91.6%, 91.6%, 77.3% in the RS group (log–rank: P = .98). Freedom from death, transplantation, or heart failure was significantly better in the RS group at 10 years ( P = .03). There was no difference in reintervention at 10 years (DS, 50.3%; RS, 49.1%; P = .44). In the DS group, the Lecompte maneuver was associated with late reinterventions on the pulmonary arteries. Overall survival in the high-risk group was 70.6%. During follow-up, 14.2% patients had poor function of the morphologically left ventricle, all in the DS group, but this was not related to preoperative status or previous banding. The majority of patients after DS had mild aortic incompetence, which appeared well tolerated. Annuloplasty of the aortic root at time of DS reduced the risk of late aortic valve replacement. Conclusions There is significant morbidity after anatomic repair of ccTGA, which is higher in the DS than the RS group. Nevertheless, the majority of patients are free of heart failure at 10 years, including high-risk patients in severe heart failure before repair. Aortic annuloplasty may reduce risk of late aortic insufficiency.
Review article: potential mechanisms of action of rifaximin in the management of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea.

SummaryBackground The role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is supported by various lines of evidence, including differences in mucosal and faecal microbiota between patients with IBS and healthy individuals, development of post-infectious IBS, and the efficacy of some probiotics and nonsystemic antibiotics (e.g. rifaximin). Aim To review the literature regarding the role of rifaximin in IBS and its potential mecha-nism(s) of action. Methods A literature search was conducted using the terms ‘rifaximin’, ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ and ‘mechanism of action’. Results Rifaximin was approved in 2015 for the treatment of IBS with diarrhoea. In contrast to other currently available IBS therapies that require daily administration to maintain efficacy, 2-week rifaximin treatment achieved symptom improvement that persisted ≥12 weeks post-treatment. The mechanisms of action of rifaximin, therefore, may extend beyond direct bactericidal effects. Data suggest that rifaximin may decrease host proinflammatory responses to bacterial products in patients with IBS. In some cases, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may play a role in the clinical symptoms of IBS. Because of the high level of solubility of rifaximin in the small intestine, rifaximin may reset microbial diversity in this environment. Consistent with this hypothesis, rifaximin has antibiotic efficacy against isolates derived from patients with SIBO. Conclusion Resetting microbial diversity via rifaximin use may lead to a decrease in bacterial fermentation and a reduction in the clinical symptoms of IBS.
Arsenic and Selenium Speciation in Aged Flue Gas Desulfurization Amended Soil

The application of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) residue to soil was thought to have potential as a viable re-use option for coal combustion waste products, as well as being a solution for nutrient deficient soil. Previous studies found that application of certain FGD materials increased crop biomass and calcium (Ca) concentration of the soil, but also added boron (B), selenium (Se) and arsenic (As). These findings are a cause for concern and could hinder research into how various by-products can be recycled. Studies of long term metalloid bioavailability arising from FGD application are lacking but are needed to assess the safety of coal by-products. We investigated the concentration and speciation of As and Se in Southeastern coastal plain soils that has been amended with a weathered, stabilized FGD material (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) five years previously, using ion chromatography coupled to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (IC-ICP-MS). We also studied the speciation of As and Se in naturally invading plant tissue (Vicia cracca L., Leguminosae), as a simulation of a site of previous FGD application that had been allowed to vegetate naturally. Total As and Se concentrations in mesocosm soils were elevated in proportion to the FGD application rate, but water soluble As and Se concentrations were low five years after application (0.04 and 0.08 mg kg−1 respectively at 10%). In all treatments arsenate [As (V)] and selenite [Se (IV)] were the predominant As and Se species. Ligand-exchangeable metal-loids were significantly elevated to a depth of 0−0.15 m only; again As (V) and Se (IV) predominated, generally considered potentially available for plant uptake. While a large proportion of the Se had leached from the soil profile or been taken up by plants, the majority of the As from applied FGD remained in the soil profile.
Constrained optimization and protein structure determination

Energy minimization is one of the main approaches to the computational determination of macromolecular structure. Due to the approximations in the empirical free-energy functions and due to the computational difficulties in locating their global minima, the problem is at present intractable when the only information available is the sequence of subunits forming the molecule. A less-demanding problem in terms of both physics and mathematics is constrained optimization, which uses additional but incomplete experimental information such as distances between certain atoms. This paper reviews methods for generating molecular structure using bond lengths and angles as variables and shows how the structure can be fully specified in terms of local geometry. The analysis permits precise statements to be made about the minimum set of distances that specify a unique structure without recourse to energy minimization. We then discuss the complementary situation, i.e., structure prediction with energy minimization based only on sequence information. Finally, we show how distance constraints can be incorporated into energy minimization methods.
Sparse-view neutron CT reconstruction of irradiated fuel assembly using total variation minimization with Poisson statistics

We inspect the nuclear fuel assembly by demonstrating the potential use of sparse-view neutron computed tomography. The projection images of the fuel assembly were collected at the Idaho National Laboratory hot fuel examination facility using indirect foil-film transfer technique. The radiographs were digitized using a commercial film digitizer and registered spatially for reconstruction. Digitized data were reconstructed using simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) with total variation minimization using a dual approach for numerical solution assuming the projection data are corrupted by Poisson noise. To validate and evaluate the performance of the algorithm, visual inspections, as well as quantitative evaluation studies using a computer simulation data and the experimental data of the fuel assembly were carried out. The proposed method provides better reconstruction for both simulated and experimental case in terms of artifact reduction, higher SNR, and better spatial resolution compared to the reconstruction yielded by filtered back projection and SART reconstruction.
Synthesizing Global and Local Datasets to Estimate Jurisdictional Forest Carbon Fluxes in Berau, Indonesia

Background Forest conservation efforts are increasingly being implemented at the scale of sub-national jurisdictions in order to mitigate global climate change and provide other ecosystem services. We see an urgent need for robust estimates of historic forest carbon emissions at this scale, as the basis for credible measures of climate and other benefits achieved. Despite the arrival of a new generation of global datasets on forest area change and biomass, confusion remains about how to produce credible jurisdictional estimates of forest emissions. We demonstrate a method for estimating the relevant historic forest carbon fluxes within the Regency of Berau in eastern Borneo, Indonesia. Our method integrates best available global and local datasets, and includes a comprehensive analysis of uncertainty at the regency scale. Principal Findings and Significance We find that Berau generated 8.91 ± 1.99 million tonnes of net CO2 emissions per year during 2000–2010. Berau is an early frontier landscape where gross emissions are 12 times higher than gross sequestration. Yet most (85%) of Berau’s original forests are still standing. The majority of net emissions were due to conversion of native forests to unspecified agriculture (43% of total), oil palm (28%), and fiber plantations (9%). Most of the remainder was due to legal commercial selective logging (17%). Our overall uncertainty estimate offers an independent basis for assessing three other estimates for Berau. Two other estimates were above the upper end of our uncertainty range. We emphasize the importance of including an uncertainty range for all parameters of the emissions equation to generate a comprehensive uncertainty estimate–which has not been done before. We believe comprehensive estimates of carbon flux uncertainty are increasingly important as national and international institutions are challenged with comparing alternative estimates and identifying a credible range of historic emissions values.
Do coyotes Canis latrans influence occupancy of prey in suburban forest fragments

With the extirpation of apex predators from many North American systems, coyotes Canis latrans have become the de facto top predator and are ubiquitous members of most ecosystems. Keystone predators aid in maintaining ecosystem function by regulating the mammal community through direct predation and instilling the landscape of fear, yet the value of coyotes regulating systems to this capacity is understudied and likely variable across environments. Since coyotes are common in the Midwestern United States, we utilized camera traps and occupancy analyses to assess their role in regulating the distribution of mammalian herbivores in a fragmented suburban ecosystem. Forest cover was a strong positive predictor of white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus detection, while coyote occurrence had a negative effect. Coyotes exerted a negative effect on squirrel (Sciurus spp.) and eastern cottontail rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus occurrence, while urban cover was a positive predictor for the prey species' occurrence. These results suggest all 3 species behaviorally avoid coyotes whereby deer seek denser forest cover and squirrels and cottontails mitigate risk by increasing use of urban areas. Although previous studies reveal limited influence of coyote on the rest of the carnivore guild in suburban systems, we suggest coyotes play an important role in regulating the herbivorous mammals and hence may provide similar ecological benefits in urban/suburban forest fragments through trophic cascades. Furthermore, since hunting may not be allowed in urban and suburban habitats, coyotes might also serve as the primary regulator of nuisance species occurring at high abundance such as white-tailed deer and squirrels.
Synthesis of lipids in cell-free extracts of yeast.

SummaryCell-free preparations, capable of incorporating acetate into fatty acids and non-saponifiable lipids, have been obtained from the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
European Economic Integration and Commercial Real Estate Markets: An Analysis of Trends in Market Determinants

Economic theory predicts economic integration in the European Community (EC) will result in single markets for individual goods, services and factors of production. The specific characteristics of ...
Canine hip dysplasia: The disease and its diagnosis

Canine hip dysplasia is a highly prevalent, genetic, osteoarthritic disease that causes mild to severe pain and variable degrees of disability in dogs afflicted with the condi- tion. Except for the most severe forms of the disease, most dogs with canine hip dysplasia show minimal to no clinical signs. Understanding the disease helps veterinarians make evi- dence-based medical decisions tailored to individual patients.
Genetic Mutation of Hemagglutinin Gene of Influenza A Virus in Guangzhou

【Objective】 To investigate the pathogen distribution of flu, and understand the genetic evolution of A / H1N1 subtype of influenza virus in Guangzhou in 2006 and 2007. 【Methods】 Forty-five representative isolates were selected from 19 influenza surveillance sentinel hospitals or labs, and the subtypes of these strains were identified by the method of serology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. The HA gene of 24 A / H1N1 isolates was then amplified, cloned, and analyzed. 【Results】 A / H1N1 and influenza B virus became predominant strain by turn in 2006 in Guangzhou. Among the A / H1N1 isolates, some point-mutations occurred at the HA antigenic sites, receptor binding sites and potential glycosylation sites in the years of 2006 and 2007. The genetic and evolutionary analysis revealed that the homology among the 24 A / H1N1 isolates, on the average, was 98.4%. Compared with the WHO recommended vaccine strains (New Caledonia / 20 / 1999 and Solomon Islands / 3 / 2006), the homologies reached up to 96.6% and 97.8%. 【Conclusion】 A / H1N1 and influenza B virus are the predominant strains in Guangzhou in 2006. The research showed that point-mutations occurred to some extent during the years of 2006 and 2007. Hence, monitor of the variant of influenza virus should be strengthened. And the WHO recommended vaccine strains of 2006 and 2007 have the immune effect on the population of our country.
Analysis of vancomycin serum concentration and adverse reaction in 235 children

Objective To investigate the relationship of vancomycin serum concentration and drug adverse reaction( ADR) in children. Methods 235 children w ho w ere treated by vancomycin and had serum concentration monitor w ere recruited. The number of cases w ith liver,kidney and hearing damage after treatment w as calculated. The correlation betw een serum concentration and ADRs w as analyzed. Results The total incidence of ADRs w as 16. 6%. The main ADRs w ere liver damage( 9. 4%) and hearing impairment( 6. 8%),and the rate of them w ere significantly higher than that of kidney damage. There w as no significant difference in the ADR rates and distribution among the different serum concentrations groups. Vancomycin serum concentration had no significant influence on liver and kidney function. Conclusion Children( especially neonates) w ho w ere treated w ith vancomycin had relatively high rates of liver damage and hearing impairment. There w as no significant correlation betw een vancomycin serum concentration and ADRs in children.
Hodgson reaction during tuberculosis treatment in 25 cases

Objective To explore mechanisms of Hodgson reaction,clinical manifestations,diagnosis and treatment turnover during tuberculosis treatment,and to improve the understanding of Hodgson reaction.Methods 25 cases of Hodgson reaction in 505 pulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted from 2006 to 2010 were retrospective analyzed.Results Hodgson reaction rate was 4.95%,most for young.Clinical manifestations were mainly s pleural effusion,a temporary deterioration of lesions,lymph nodes and chest wall tuberculosis,which mainly occurred during anti-TB treatment in the first 1 to 3 months.Conclusion Hodgson reaction occurred in the intensive phase of treatment of tuberculosis patients.It should be integrated to determine the clinical diagnosis,and active symptomatic treatment based on the maintenance of the original therapeutic schedule can achieve better therapeutic effect.
Regional Distribution Center Location Model and Solution for Petrochemical Products Based on Two-level Dynamic Programming Method

In the study of Regional Distribution Center(RDC)location,there are many proven models,such as center of gravity method,P-value method,and Baumol-Wolfe method.However,the customer is also an important factor in RDC location.So the interests of both policy makers and customers should be taken into account.While satisfying customer service requirements,the optimal RDC location should also minimize the total cost to the company.This paper takes a petrochemical sales company as an example to analyze the application of the two-level dynamic programming in RDC location.Finally,by balancing the interests of both decision makers and customers,the optimal dynamic RDC site layout in the long term is obtained so as to achieve higher customer satisfaction and better gross profit.
TEMPERATURE REGIMES OF AN OPEN SOLAR REGENERATOR

ABSTRACT The open regeneration system is one of the simplest methods of regenerating the weak desiccants used in solar applications. The thermal performance of the regenerator is measured by the amount of water evaporated from the desiccant. Assuming that the wind speed and the water vapor pressure in the ambient air fluctuate negligibly over the day, then the mass of water evaporated is a function of the desiccant temperature which in turn depends on the ambient air temperature and the intensity of solar radiation. In this paper, an expression is derived to determine the periodic variation of desiccant temperature by solving the governing energy balance equation, in which the insolation, ambient and desiccant temperatures are represented in terms of Fourier Series. Experiments have also been conducted with an open loop-open solar regenerator and it is found that the experimental results are in good agreement with predicted values.
Developing protégé to structure medical report

The paper presents a creation of an Ontological framework for the capture, integration and presentation of clinical information embedded in medical reports. The project used a hybrid method of top-down and bottom-up method started by abstracting the concept healthcare event resulting in reusable knowledge structure. The tools employed in the project are Protege 3.4, add-ins, and MySQL, which were used to structure annotated radiology reports with the focus on the reports pertaining to the heart. Furthermore, the project demonstrated how the relational database was developed from an existing ontology and how its database schema was imported to the ontology framework through Protege's DataMaster Plug-in. Then, we presented how to query the knowledge taxonomy in Protege.
Decomposition of nitrite under various pH and aeration conditions

Studies on the decomposition/oxidation of nitrite at differentpH values and aeration flow rates were investigated using abench-scale batch reactor. The conditions were pH 2.85, 3.50,5.80, 7.0, and 11.6, and with or without aeration at airflowrates of 1.50, 2.25, and 3.25 L min-1.Decomposition/oxidation of nitrite may be described by apseudo-first order expression, and the rate constants fornitrite decomposition/oxidation ranged from 1.2 ×10-6 s-1 to 1.12 × 10-4 s-1 depending on the experimental conditions. The rate ofdecomposition/oxidation of nitrite was found to increase for lowpH conditions and for high airflow rates. The experimentalresults showed that the dominant reaction in thedecomposition/oxidation of nitrite in low pH solutions and inthe presence of some aeration was most probably thedecomposition of nitrous acid to NO and NO2. Oxidation ofnitrite to nitrate appeared to proceed in a smaller proportionin comparison to the breakdown of nitrous acid to nitrogen oxidecompounds. Results from this study showed that emissions ofnitrogen oxides from nitrite-containing solutions are possible ifthe solutions were agitated and the pHs of the solutions wereless than 6.
Drugman--a computerized supplement to a hospital's drug information newsletter

A computerized supplement to a hospital's drug information newsletter, called Drugman, is described. The pharmacy department of a 452-bed teaching hospital developed Drugman. The program uses the "Converse" software, which was developed by the hospital's computer medicine department. The program provides information on new drugs recently added to the formulary and updated information on current formulary drugs. It also provides information on investigational drugs. A staff pharmacist is responsible for coordinating the writing and review of each new-drug monograph in the system, as well as the computer entry and up-dating of existing monographs. The program is available to all medical, nursing, and pharmacy personnel via computer terminals located on each nursing unit and in the pharmacy department. Survey questions at the end of the program elicit user response to the program and suggestions for additions or changes. In the initial 14-month period, the general response to Drugman has been favorable. Drugman represents a new method of disseminating drug information via computer in an individual hospital. The program complements traditional drug information sources and has been received positively in our hospital.
A 3-day schedule of fludarabine in previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and toxicity of a shorter schedule of fludarabine administration (30 mg/m2 i.v. daily for 3 days every 4 weeks) in patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Eighty patients with previously treated advanced (Rai III-IV) (54%) or progressive Rai stage 0-II (46%) were treated. The results of this trial were retrospectively compared with those of previous fludarabine trials using different schedules of administration. The complete response (CR), nodular CR and partial response rates were 10, 15 and 21%. The overall response rate (46%) was slightly lower than prior regimens using a 5-day schedule of fludarabine; however, this difference was not significant. Further evaluation by dual-parameter flow cytometry and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement analysis revealed that minimal residual disease was more common in a 3-day schedule. The overall incidence of infections per treatment course (14%) was significantly lower than that observed on the 5-day or weekly regimens (P < 0.001). The incidence of minor, atypical and viral infections were similar. There was no difference in survival in the various trials. In conclusion, a 3-day schedule of fludarabine in previously treated CLL patients was associated with a lower infection rate and similar survival to a 5-day schedule. These data support the use of a 3-day schedule of fludarabine as a single agent and in combination with other active agents.
Dynamic Changes in Clonal Clearance with Decitabine Therapy in AML and MDS Patients

Abstract To determine how AML subclonal architecture changes during decitabine treatment, and whether specific mutations might correlate with sensitivity vs. resistance to decitabine, we performed exome sequencing at multiple time points during single agent decitabine therapy. We enrolled 69 patients with either AML (age ≥ 60, or with relapsed/refractory disease, N = 45) or MDS (N = 24) on a phase I clinical trial. All subjects were treated with decitabine 20 mg/m2 on days 1-10 of 28 day cycles. With a median follow-up of 13.7 months, the intention to treat clinical response (complete remission with or without complete count recovery: CR/CRi) is 40%, with survival correlating with response (median survival - CR/CRi: 583 days; partial response/stable disease (PR/SD): 260 days; progressive disease (PD) or failure to complete cycle 1: 36 days, p Disclosures Off Label Use: Decitabine treatment of AML.. Uy: Novartis: Research Funding. Oh: CTI Biopharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Abboud: Novartis: Research Funding; Gerson Lehman Group: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Teva Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Cashen: Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Schroeder: Celgene: Other: Azacitidine provided for this trial by Celgene; Incyte: Consultancy. Jacoby: Sunesis: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland is frequently characterized by MYB rearrangement

PurposeAdenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) represents ~10-15% of salivary neoplasms and almost universally exhibits a lethal clinical course. ACC is also known to occur in the lacrimal gland. ACC is characterized by its heterogeneous morphology and may demonstrate tubular, cribriform, and/or solid architectural patterns. Unfortunately, these histopathological features are not specific to ACC and can be seen in other salivary gland-type neoplasms, introducing a diagnostic dilemma. The discovery of fusion transcripts has revolutionized the diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment of epithelial malignancies. In several anatomic subsites ACC is frequently characterized by a fusion transcript involving genes MYB and NFIB; more specifically, t(6;9)(q22-23;p23-24). This study explores the incidence of MYB rearrangement in cases of lacrimal gland ACC using fluorescent in situ hybridization.Materials and methodsRetrospective clinical and histopathological review of 12 cases of lacrimal gland ACC seen at Mayo Clinic over a 25-year period (1990-2015) was performed. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records. Surgical pathology archival material including HE9) in ACC may provide a platform for molecular-targeting strategies in the future.
Explaining Gender Differences in Interests: The Roles of Instrumentality and Expressiveness

This study integrated Holland’s themes within a modified social cognitive career theory (SCCT) model, exploring whether gender-related personality variables account for the relations between gender...
Polychromatic X-ray effects on fringe phase shifts in grating interferometry

In order to quantitatively determine the projected electron densities of a sample, one needs to extract the monochromatic fringe phase shifts from the polychromatic fringe phase shifts measured in the grating interferometry with incoherent X-ray sources. In this work the authors propose a novel analytic approach that allows to directly compute the monochromatic fringe shifts from the polychromatic fringe shifts. This approach is validated with numerical simulations of several grating interferometry setups. This work provides a useful tool in quantitative imaging for biomedical and material science applications.
The Market for Data: The Changing Role of Social Sciences in Shaping the Law

A vigorous market for scholarly data exists, as journalists, lobbyists and legislators search for facts to pepper their public statements and better influence public opinion. In the bankruptcy area, data providers, such as the Credit Research Center located at Georgetown University, have taken money from the consumer credit industry to produce studies supporting the credit industry's political positions. In the case of the CRC, the studies bear the University logo, but the Center describes the data as "proprietary," belonging exclusively to the industry funders who decide what data are released and what data are held private. This paper explores the implications of such funding arrangements on independent research and ultimately on the public debates.
Multi-megahertz quasi-square-wave flyback converter using eGaN FETs

As the fast development of the better figure-of-merits gallium nitride (GaN) devices, the switching frequency of isolated flyback converter could be pushed to multi-megahertz to evaluate the improvement of the power density. A constant frequency zero-voltage switching (ZVS) quasi-square-wave (QSW) mode is applied to the 30 W flyback in telecommunication application, and a charge conservation method including capacitor non-linearity is proposed to design the coupled inductors for soft switching over entire input and load range. Leakage inductance, eddy losses and parasitic capacitance were quantified and optimised in the design of high-frequency PCB windings. A 98% coupling planar-coupled inductors by utilising nickel-zinc ferrite material with EI-shaped core were designed by finite-element simulation. To validate all the analysis, a 30 W flyback converter was fabricated and measured with peak efficiency of 90.6% operating at 5 MHz. The coupled inductors consumed almost 2.5% of the output power with the area of 180 mm 2 occupied 30% of the power stage.
Complex multimodality central airway management of aspergillus pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis

A 69-year-old woman developed central airway obstruction due to invasive Aspergillus infection resulting in pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis (PTB). Several challenges were encountered in the airway management of this patient including her having relatively smaller airways which were more prone to obstruction by pseudomembranes and made airway interventions difficult. The patient had clinical deterioration in spite of antifungal therapy and bronchoscopic debridement. The multimodality airway techniques included the use of smaller biliary balloons for dilatation, using a hybrid stent to slowly dilate and maintain patency of right main stem and finally the insertion of right secondary carina peripheral Y stent, which resulted in clinical improvement and allowed time for antifungal therapy to take effect. To the best of our knowledge, the use of a peripheral Y stent has never been described in the setting of PTB.
Map as Weapon

Maps are everywhere. Both digital and physical maps are pervasive in the visual landscape of our daily lives, appearing in weather forecasts, news reports, social media, textbooks, and on school walls. In these venues, maps are most frequently identified as technically accurate tools used to convey information spatially that offer an appearance of authority and neutrality. Maps are viewed as uncritical sources because they are seen as scientific communiques of information.