cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caring and Curing: A Medicare Proposal

When the Medicare program for the elderly was enacted in 1965, it provided well and amply for their acute care medical needs, and it did so regardless of income. That was not true of their long-term care, which was put under the Medicaid program and its recipients subjected to an income means test. That bifurcation remains the perfect symbol of a health care system that has always given priority to cure over care--as if the preservation of life were more important to the elderly than how they would live that life. That has never been the stance of the elderly themselves, who invariably report that they fear impoverishment and dependency more than death. The time has come to correct the imbalance. The most straightforward way to do that would be to change radically the present Medicaid program for long-term care, fully subsidizing it. Yet there is, unfortunately, little likelihood that President Clinton and Congress, under great pressure to provide for those with no health insurance at all, will advance any ambitious program to reform, much less substantially expand, the long-term care program. I may be wrong about this (writing as I do prior to the 1 May date set to announce a new health care plan), but given the expected price tag of genuine reform of long-term care (the figures range from $30 to $50 billion additional funds a year) it is improbable. The greatest pressure is likely to be that of finding ways to lessen the Medicare burden on the federal government. I want to propose an exchange, which I will call Medicare: Part C. Part A of Medicare now covers hospital costs, while Part B covers physician charges (at a modest monthly cost). Part C, as I propose it, would provide the voluntary option of allowing the elderly to exchange their mandated right to extended hospital acute care coverage for enhanced long-term care coverage. At a certain age, say eighty, elderly persons could choose restricted hospital coverage and receive in return improved long-term care support. Ideally, they would be allowed to balance the two forms of coverage in any way they saw fit. The attraction of such a plan for the elderly is that it would allow them to decide what they feared most about their old age and to make a choice about the kind of care they wanted. There is simply no likelihood in the future that they are going to get both care and cure to a substantial and acceptable degree; so they could make their own determination about which mattered the most for them. For the government, it would allow a way out of the now almost impossible dilemma of trying both to maintain decent Medicare benefits and also to expand and improve long-term care coverage--and to do that while at the same time adding new programs to cover the 35 million or so uninsured Americans. There are a number of alternative way such a Medicare Part C exchange program could be organized. First, it would be important to insure that the elderly would always have access to primary care and to simple emergency care, and of course to hospice and all forms of palliative medicine. …
The Development of Marketplace Persuasion Knowledge in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults:

Abstract Conceptualizations of children's and adolescents' knowledge about advertising and persuasion have evolved considerably over the past three decades. However, empirical research on this topic has been scarce in the past two decades. The authors review the early and current models of children's marketplace persuasion knowledge for insights into the conceptual limits of prior empirical research and opportunities for research grounded in richer models of advertising knowledge. They discuss goals and directions for the next generation of research programs so that such research will yield more complete insights into children's and adolescents' advertising knowledge and provide a basis for future policy decisions.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry for monitoring and control of molecular beam epitaxially grown HgCdTe heterostructures

A systematic study of the effect of measurement perturbation on in situ monitoring of the composition of molecular beam epitaxially (MBE) grown Hg1−xCdxTe using spectroscopic ellipsometry was carried out. Of the five variables investigated, which included angle of incidence, wavelength of the light beam, modulator rotation, analyzer rotation, and modulator amplitude, the angle of incidence and the modulator rotation had the strongest effect on the in situ Hg1−xCdxTe composition monitoring process. A wobble-free sample manipulator was installed to reduce the impact of these two variables. With these improvements, the spectroscopic ellipsometer is now routinely used to monitor Hg1−xCdxTe compositions during MBE growth of heterostructures and is a useful tool in diagnosing growth-related problems. Examples are included for both application areas, that include the control of the interface between Hg1−xCdxTe layers of different compositions, i.e. device engineering.
Population genetic responses of two minnow species (Cyprinidae) to seasonal stream intermittency

Two species of minnows, Cyprinella lutrensis (Notropis) and C. umbratilis (Cyprinidae) were sampled from Denton and Hickory Creeks, respectively, in northcentral Texas during periods of continuous flow and intermittency from 1983 to 1986. Allozyme variability was assessed for 14 structural loci in each species. Average heterozygosity (H) in C. lutrensis ranged from 0.10 to 0.16, and proportion of polymorphic loci (P) ranged from 0.44 to 0.78, while H and P in C. umbratilis ranged from 0.00 to 0.08 and 0.00 to 0.44, respectively. Heterozygote deficiencies were observed during flowing and intermittent conditions for both species, accounting for deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Temporal heterogeneity, measured by FST, was higher in C. lutrensis (0.403) than in C. umbratilis (0.121). Allele frequencies fluctuated significantly in C. lutrensis but not in C. umbratilis. Genetic similarities between populations of C. lutrensis from flowing and intermittent conditions were highest between intermittent and subsequent flowing events. It is likely that intermittency resulted in a bottleneck and genetic drift, restructuring the genome of these fish as colonizers for subsequent flowing populations. These effects were less pronounced in C. umbratilis. Alternate effects of intermittency on the genomes of the species reflect differences in genetic strategies of a generalist, C. lutrensis, and a relative specialist, C. umbratilis.
Effect of Flue Gas Treatment on the Solubility and Fractionation of Different Metals in Fly Ash of Powder River Basin Coal

Studies were conducted to examine the effect of flue gas carbon dioxide (CO2) on solubility and availability of different metals in fly ash of Powder River Basin (PRB) coal, Wyoming, USA. Initial fly ash (control) was alkaline and contains large amounts of water-soluble and exchangeable metals. Reaction of flue gas CO2 with alkaline fly ash resulted in the formation of carbonates which minimized the solubility of metals. Results for metal fractionation studies also supported this fact. The present study also suggested that most of the water-soluble and exchangeable metals present in the control (untreated) fly ash samples decreased in the flue gas-treated samples. This may be due to the transfer of the above two forms to more resistant forms like carbonate bound (CBD), oxide bound (OXD), and residual (RS). Geochemical modeling (Visual MINTEQ) of water solubility data suggested that the saturation index (SI) values of dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) and calcite (CaCO3) were oversaturated, which has potential to mineralize atmospheric CO2 and thereby reduce leaching of toxic metals from fly ash. Results from this study also showed that the reaction of flue gas CO2 with alkaline fly ash not only control the solubility of toxic metals but also form carbonate minerals which have the potential to fix CO2.
SWE, A COMPREHENSIVE PLASMA INSTRUMENT FOR THE WIND SPACECRAFT

The Solar Wind Experiment (SWE) on the WIND spacecraft is a comprehensive, integrated set of sensors which is designed to investigate outstanding problems in solar wind physics. It consists of two Faraday cup (FC) sensors; a vector electron and ion spectrometer (VEIS); a strahl sensor, which is especially configured to study the electron ‘strahl’ close to the magnetic field direction; and an on-board calibration system. The energy/charge range of the Faraday cups is 150 V to 8 kV, and that of the VEIS is 7 V to 24.8 kV. The time resolution depends on the operational mode used, but can be of the order of a few seconds for 3-D measurements. ‘Key parameters’ which broadly characterize the solar wind positive ion velocity distribution function will be made available rapidly from the GGS Central Data Handling Facility.
The Many Faces of Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets

1. Terence A. Joiner, MD, MHSA* 2. Carol Foster, MD† 3. Thomas Shope, MD† 1. 2. *Clinical Assistant Professor. 3. 4. †Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Explain the relationship between breastfeeding and vitamin D deficiency. 2. List the clinical findings in rickets. 3. Delineate the clinical finding that can direct physicians toward infants who are at highest risk for rickets. 4. Describe how to evaluate a child for and diagnose vitamin D deficiency rickets. 5. Delineate the management steps that can prevent the occurrence of rickets in children at risk. Contemporary physicians may think of vitamin D deficiency rickets as a disease of the past. In fact, it remains a significant cause of nutritional disease for infants as we enter the 21st century. Unlike iron deficiency anemia, there are no clear recommendations about whether or how to screen children for rickets. The following cases illustrate the many different presentations of rickets. ### PATIENT 1 A 6-month-old African-American female developed cyanosis while breastfeeding followed by two tonic episodes consistent with infantile seizures. History revealed that she was breastfed exclusively, had received no vitamin D supplementation, and was receiving erythromycin for treatment of otitis media. Except for erythematous tympanic membranes, findings on physical examination were normal. Laboratory studies (Table 1⇓ ) demonstrated decreased serum calcium, elevated serum alkaline phosphate, decreased hydroxyvitamin D, and increased dihydroxyvitamin D. Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen values were normal. Radiography revealed osteopenic ribs and flared anterior aspects of the ribs. The distal radial and ulnar metaphyses were cup-shaped, and the distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphyses were slightly widened. View this table: Table 1. Summary of Serum Laboratory Results ### PATIENT 2 A 1-year-old African-American male presented with a 3-day history of cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Chest radiography revealed left pneumonia and a right-sided rib fracture. The infant had been breastfed without vitamin D supplementation. Findings on physical examination included intercostal retractions, a temperature of 38.7°SDC (101.7°SDF), and a weight of 7.65 kg (<5th percentile). The …
Work-related musculoskeletal back pain: the many facets

Disorders of the spine represent one of the largest public health problems in the United States, costing our country billions of dollars each year. As our population ages, the incidence of spine disorders will continue to grow, adding to our already overburdened health-care delivery system. Individuals who experience pain in the workplace often require more treatment and have poorer outcomes than those with non–work-related back pain [1]. In 2001, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics [2] reported 1998 data totaling nearly 1.9 million injuries and illnesses in private industry that required recuperation away from work at an estimated $418 billion in direct costs and (using the lower range of estimates) indirect costs of $837 billion [3]. To focus on this critical health issue, the Decade of the Spine (2001 to 2010)—conceptualized, in part, from the Bone and Joint Decade initiative—was developed and nurtured by the Council of Spine Societies (COSS), in conjunction with the North American Spine Society (NASS), the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS). The multifaceted aspects of work-related back pain will be a major issue in this Decade of the Spine.
Apparatus for maintaining bacterial cultures in the steady state.

When cultures of bacteria are transferred in the usual way, both the character of the cells, and the composition of the medium are constantly changing. If the cell concentration is held constant, on the other hand, the composition of the medium (including enzymes and viruses) in which the growth occurs, must also be constant and any change in the concentration of any substance indicates a change in the organism. This condition of a steady state is therefore the simplest to study, from a theoretical point of view. A number of devices for the maintenance of cultures in continuouslog growth have been described (Felton and Dougherty (1924); Novick and Szilard (1950); Anderson (1953); Myers and Clark (1944); Bryson (1952)). The present apparatus involves no new principles, but may be assembled from commercially available units. The flow of culture media is controlled by a photoelectric cell which is exposed to a light beam passing through the culture. Electrical equipment required: 1. Klett photoelectric colorimeter, modified to take a 22 ram. tube.
DNA-based methods for monitoring invasive species: a review and prospectus

The recent explosion of interest in DNA-based tools for species identification has prompted widespread speculation on the future availability of inexpensive, rapid, and accurate means of identifying specimens and assessing biodiversity. One applied field that may benefit dramatically from the development of such technologies is the detection, identification, and monitoring of invasive species. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of DNA-based tools for such important tasks as confirmation of specimen identity and targeted screening for known or anticipated invaders. However, significant technological hurdles must be overcome before more ambitious applications, including estimation of propagule pressure and comprehensive surveys of complex environmental samples, are to be realized. Here we review existing methods, examine the technical difficulties associated with development of more sophisticated tools, and consider the potential utility of these DNA-based technologies for various applications relevant to invasive species monitoring.
From job training to green jobs: A case study of a young adult employment program centered on environmental restoration in New York City, USA

The demand for a well-trained green-collar labor force will increase as many cities implement sustainability and green infrastructure plans. Additionally, many green jobs training programs are intended to provide pathways out of poverty for low-skilled workers. In this case study, we analyze the experiences of graduates from a New York City, USA green jobs training program targeting 18-24 year olds previously disconnected from the workforce as they transition to full-time employment. Graduates of the program work directly in arboriculture, ecological restoration, landscape design, and horticulture. Despite the well-documented benefits of nature on individual socio-psychological well-being, scant research has investigated the effects of working professionally in urban natural resources management. Our findings reveal the significant challenges facing training program graduates and their supervisors, but also the benefits of urban conservation job training and employment that are potentially transformational for these economically disadvantaged young adults. Green job training and employment present real opportunities for intellectual stimulation and an increased sense of accomplishment, due in part to the uniqueness of environmental work. Individuals reported positive environmental attitudes and behaviors as a result of green jobs training and employment.
Application of likelihood ratio to classification of mammographic masses; performance comparison to case-based reasoning.

The likelihood ratio (LR) is an optimal approach for deciding which of two alternate hypotheses best describes a given situation. We adopted this formalism for predicting whether biopsy results of mammographic masses will be benign or malignant, aiming to reduce the number of biopsies performed on benign lesions. We compared the performance of this LR-based algorithm (LRb) to a case-based reasoning (CBR) classifier, which provides a solution to a new problem using past similiar cases. Each classifier used mammographers’ BI-RADS™ descriptions of mammographic masses as input. The database consisted of 646 biopsy-proven mammography cases. Performance was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, Round Robin sampling, and bootstrap. The ROC areas (AUC) for the LRb and CBR were 0.91±0.01 and 0.92±0.01, respectively. The partial ROC area index ( 0.90 AUC ) was the same for both classifiers, 0.59±0.05. At a sensitivity of 98%, the CBR would spare 204 (49%) of benign lesions from biopsy; the LRb would spare 209 (51%) benign lesions. The performance of the two classifiers was very similar, with no statistical differences in AUC or 0.90 AUC . Although the CBR and LRb originate from different fields of study, their implementations differ only in the estimation of the probability density functions(PDFs) of the feature distributions. The CBR performs this estimation implicitly, while using various similarity metrics. On the other hand, the estimation of the PDFs is specified explicitly in the LRb implementation. This difference in the estimation of the PDFs results in the very small difference in performance, and at 98% sensitivity, both classifiers would spare about half of the benign mammographic masses from biopsy. The CBR and LRb are equivalent methods in implementation and performance.
Brief Report: Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Parent-Reported Autism Symptoms in School-Age Children with High-Functioning Autism

This pilot study tested the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on parent-reported autism symptoms. Nineteen children with autism spectrum disorders and an anxiety disorder (7–11 years old) were randomly assigned to 16 sessions of CBT or a waitlist condition. The CBT program emphasized in vivo exposure supported by parent training and school consultation to promote social communication and emotion regulation skills. Parents completed a standardized autism symptom checklist at baseline and posttreatment/postwaitlist and 3-month follow-up assessments. CBT outperformed the waitlist condition at posttreatment/postwaitlist on total parent-reported autism symptoms (Cohen’s d effect size = .77). Treatment gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Further investigation of this intervention modality with larger samples and broader outcome measures appears to be indicated.
Inhibitor of DNA Binding 4 Is Expressed Selectively by Single Spermatogonia in the Male Germline and Regulates the Self-Renewal of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in Mice

Continual spermatogenesis at a quantitatively normal level is required to sustain male fertility. The foundation of this process relies on maintenance of an undifferentiated spermatogonial population consisting of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that self-renew as well as transient amplifying progenitors produced by differentiation. In mammals, type Asingle spermatogonia form the SSC population, but molecular markers distinguishing these from differentiating progenitors are undefined and knowledge of mechanisms regulating their functions is limited. We show that in the mouse male germline the transcriptional repressor ID4 is expressed by a subpopulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia and selectively marks Asingle spermatogonia. In addition, we found that ID4 expression is up-regulated in isolated SSC-enriched fractions by stimulation from GDNF, a key growth factor driving self-renewal. In mice lacking ID4 expression, quantitatively normal spermatogenesis was found to be impaired due to progressive loss of the undifferentiated spermatogonial population during adulthood. Moreover, reduction of ID4 expression by small interfering RNA treatment abolished the ability of wild-type SSCs to expand in vitro during long-term culture without affecting their survival. Collectively, these results indicate that ID4 is a distinguishing marker of SSCs in the mammalian germline and plays an important role in the regulation of self-renewal.
Image Segmentation Based on the Mean-Shift in the HSV Space

The mean shift based on the HSV space is proposed for the image could be exactly segmented in the color image. Because the correlation of HSV was very little, H, S and V separately are segmented based on the different step size. Because the correlation of the RGB space is strong, the drawback being the image which could not be separately segmented by R, G and B was overcome. It is proved by experiment that the algorithm could get better result.
Asymmetry and probit models: the case of labour unions

Binary choice models fail to capture the strength of one's preferences. An attempt is made to measure the context and environment which influence choice. Union elections provide some insight into the process because the electorate may vote either for or against a particular union. The roles that general sentiments as well as specific preferences play in an election can be examined. Negative sentiment dominates the positive and apathy in affecting the election outcome. In the case of union elections the administrative process does not appear to have an impact.
Prospective Relationship between Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Asthma Morbidity among Inner-City African American Children

Objective To examine prospective relationships between caregiver’s depressive symptoms and child asthma morbidity among inner-city African American families. Methods Phone surveys were conducted 6 months apart with 262 African American mothers of children with asthma. Cross-lagged structural path analysis was used for data analyses. Results Using goodness-of-fit indices, the final model for asthma symptoms had a good fit to the data. Time 1 (T1) maternal depressive symptoms predicted T2 child asthma symptoms (b ¼.16, p<.01); however, T1 asthma symptoms did not predict T2 maternal depressive symptoms (b ¼.03, nonsignificant). In contrast, in the final model for emergency department (ED) visits there was no predictive association between maternal depressive symptoms and ED visits. Conclusion Maternal depressive symptoms may have a detrimental effect on child asthma morbidity among inner-city African American families, rather than vice versa. Ameliorating maternal depressive symptoms may result in better asthma outcomes for inner-city children.
Stabilization of HIF-2α Induces sVEGFR-1 Production from Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Decreases Tumor Growth in a Murine Melanoma Model

Macrophage secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in response to hypoxia contributes to tumor growth and angiogenesis. In addition to VEGF, hypoxic macrophages stimulated with GM-CSF secrete high levels of a soluble form of the VEGF receptor (sVEGFR-1), which neutralizes VEGF and inhibits its biological activity. Using mice with a monocyte/macrophage-selective deletion of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α or HIF-2α, we recently demonstrated that the antitumor response to GM-CSF was dependent on HIF-2α-driven sVEGFR-1 production by tumor-associated macrophages, whereas HIF-1α specifically regulated VEGF production. We therefore hypothesized that chemical stabilization of HIF-2α using an inhibitor of prolyl hydroxylase domain 3 (an upstream inhibitor of HIF-2α activation) would increase sVEGFR-1 production from GM-CSF-stimulated macrophages. Treatment of macrophages with the prolyl hydroxylase domain 3 inhibitor AKB-6899 stabilized HIF-2α and increased sVEGFR-1 production from GM-CSF-treated macrophages, with no effect on HIF-1α accumulation or VEGF production. Treatment of B16F10 melanoma-bearing mice with GM-CSF and AKB-6899 significantly reduced tumor growth compared with either drug alone. Increased levels of sVEGFR-1 mRNA, but not VEGF mRNA, were detected within the tumors of GM-CSF- and AKB-6899-treated mice, correlating with decreased tumor vascularity. Finally, the antitumor and antiangiogenic effects of AKB-6899 were abrogated when mice were simultaneously treated with a sVEGFR-1 neutralizing Ab. These results demonstrate that AKB-6899 decreases tumor growth and angiogenesis in response to GM-CSF by increasing sVEGFR-1 production from tumor-associated macrophages. Specific activation of HIF-2α can therefore decrease tumor growth and angiogenesis.
Estimation schemes for networked control systems using UDP-like communication

In this work we consider a class of networked control systems (NCS) when the control signal is sent to the plant via a UDP-like communication protocol, the controller sends a communication packet to the plant across a lossy network but the controller does not receive any acknowledgement signal indicating the status of reception/delivery of the control packet. Standard observer based estimators assume the estimator has knowledge of what control signal is applied to the plant, but under the UDP-like communication scheme the estimator does not know what control is applied. Continuing previous work, we present a simple estimation algorithm consisting of a state estimator and mode observer. For single input systems we can add an extra control signal that guarantees recovery of the fate of the control packet. Using a modified state feedback with the added input we can guarantee the estimation error is bounded as is the expected value of the state. This extra input is removed and sufficient conditions on the system properties are given to assure the estimation remain bounded. Comparisons are made between the algorithm presented and the method of unknown input observer. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the algorithm.
Who Are These Belligerent Democratizers? Reassessing the Impact of Democratization on War

In a key finding in the democratic peace literature, Mansfield and Snyder argue that states with weak institutions undergoing incomplete transitions to democracy are more likely to initiate an external war than other types of states. We show that the empirical data do not support this claim. We find a dearth of observations where incomplete democratizers with weak institutions participated in war. Additionally, we find that the statistical relationship between incomplete democratization and war is entirely dependent on the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire prior to World War I. We also find that the case selection in Mansfield and Snyder rarely involved incomplete democratizers with weak institutions. We therefore conclude that the finding that incomplete democratizers with weak institutions are more likely to initiate or participate in war is not supported by the empirical data.
A Complex Adaptive Notch Filter

A complex adaptive notch filter is developed, for tracking single-sided (a.k.a. analytic or complex) tones immersed in background noise. A complex all-pass based realization is pursued which inherits useful properties from its real counterpart: independent tuning of the notch frequency and attenuation bandwidth, easy realization of the complementary band-pass filter, unbiased frequency estimation, and faster convergence and tracking than a gradient descent algorithm.
The Cloning and Expression of a New Guanylyl Cyclase Orphan Receptor

A novel membrane form of guanylyl cyclase (GC-G) has been identified through the isolation of a full-length cDNA clone; it is predicted to contain an extracellular ligand binding domain, a single transmembrane segment, and intracellular protein kinase-like and cyclase catalytic domains. That GC-G represents a guanylyl cyclase was confirmed by both transient expression in COS-7 cells and stable expression in H293 cells. Endogenous cyclic GMP concentrations of transfected or stable cells, however, were much higher than control cells, suggesting an inability of the cells to effectively regulate GC-G cyclase activity. Of six Cys residues found within the extracellular domain of guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A), the receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide, five are conserved within GC-G. Ligands for the other cyclase receptors, nevertheless, failed to stimulate GC-G expressed in transient or stable cells, suggesting that the unknown ligands possess a structure different from the natriuretic peptides or heat-stable enterotoxins. 125I-ANP also failed to bind to H293 cells overexpressing GC-G. Based on Northern hybridization, mRNA for GC-G was predominantly expressed in lung, intestine, and skeletal muscle. Using the candidate gene approach to potentially define function, the gene for GC-G was mapped to the distal region of mouse chromosome 19 (syntenic with human chromosome 10q), but no human genetic defect has been ascribed to the GC-G locus. The finding of a new membrane form of guanylyl cyclase in peripheral tissues suggests the existence of another family or subfamily of ligands that signal through elevations of cGMP.
Comparative evaluation of the potential impact of rotavirus versus hpv vaccination in GAVI-eligible countries: A preliminary analysis focused on the relative disease burden

Immunization policymakers at global and local levels need to establish priorities among new vaccines competing for limited resources. However, comparison of the potential impact of single vaccination programs is challenging, primarily due to the limited number of vaccine analyses as well as their differing analytic approaches and reporting formats. The purpose of this study is to provide early insight into how the comparative impact of different new vaccines could be assessed in resource-poor settings with respect to affordability, cost-effectiveness, and distributional equity. We compared the health, economic, and financial consequences of introducing the two vaccines in 72 GAVI-eligible countries using a number of different outcome measures to evaluate affordability, cost-effectiveness, and distributional equity. We use simple static models to standardize the analytic framework and improve comparability between the two new vaccines. These simple models were validated by leveraging previously developed, more complex models for rotavirus and human papillomavirus (HPV). With 70% coverage of a single-age cohort of infants and pre-adolescent girls, the lives saved with rotavirus (~274,000) and HPV vaccines (~286,000) are similar, although the timing of averted mortality differs; rotavirus-attributable deaths occur in close proximity to infection, while HPV-related cancer deaths occur largely after age 30. Deaths averted per 1000 vaccinated are 5.2 (rotavirus) and 12.6 (HPV). Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted were ~7.15 million (rotavirus) and ~1.30 million (HPV), reflecting the greater influence of discounting on the latter, given the lagtime between vaccination and averted cancer. In most countries (68 for rotavirus and 66 for HPV, at the cost of I$25 per vaccinated individual) the incremental cost per DALY averted was lower than each country's GDP per capita. Financial resources required for vaccination with rotavirus are higher than with HPV since both genders are vaccinated. While lifesaving benefits of rotavirus and HPV vaccines will be realized at different times, the number of lives saved over each target populations' lifetimes will be similar. Model-based analyses that use a standardized analytic approach and generate comparable outputs can enrich the priority-setting dialogue. Although new vaccines may be deemed cost-effective, other factors including affordability and distributional equity need to be considered in different settings. We caution that for priority setting in an individual country, more rigorous comparisons should be performed, using more comprehensive models and considering all relevant vaccines and delivery strategies.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Is Associated with Abdominal Fat Partitioning in Healthy Adults

Abdominal adiposity, particularly visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is independently linked to the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that greater intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) may be associated with abnormal fat accumulation in VAT. We examined whether habitual SSB consumption and diet soda intakes are differentially associated with deposition of body fat. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using previously collected data in 2596 middle-aged adults (1306 men and 1290 women) from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring and Third Generation cohorts. VAT and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured using multidetector computed tomography. Habitual intake of SSBs and diet soda was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. We observed that SSB consumption was positively associated with VAT after adjustment for SAT and other potential confounders (P-trend < 0.001). We observed an inverse association between SSB consumption and SAT (P-trend = 0.04) that persisted after additional adjustment for VAT (P-trend < 0.001). Higher SSB consumption was positively associated with the VAT-to-SAT ratio (P-trend < 0.001). No significant association was found between diet soda consumption and either VAT or the VAT-to-SAT ratio, but diet soda was positively associated with SAT (P-trend < 0.001). Daily consumers of SSBs had a 10% higher absolute VAT volume and a 15% greater VAT-to-SAT ratio compared with nonconsumers, whereas consumption of diet soda was not associated with either volume or distribution of VAT.
Drainage and Cranioplasty as a Treatment for Traumatic Subdural Hygroma Secondary to Decompressive Craniectomy

Background: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is performed to accommodate life-threatening brain swelling when medical treatment fails. This procedure carries the risk of developing traumatic subdural hygroma (TSH) that can adversely affect the neurological status of the patient. The treatment for persistence of TSH includes drainage and shunt placement or drainage and membranectomy. In this paper, we present treatment of two patients whose TSH was effectively treated with simple drainage and cranioplasty. Case Presentation: Patient 1: The patient is a 34-year-old female who had bilateral craniectomy for brain swelling. Four weeks later she became less interactive. CT scan showed bilateral subdural hygroma with 2 cm midline shift to the left. Her clinical status improved and CT scans showed resolution of the hygroma after simple evacuation of the hygroma and cranioplasty. Patient 2: The patient is a 57-year-old male who had post-traumatic acute subdural hematoma and brain swelling on the left side. The clot was evacuated and the bone flap was left out. After showing initial improvement, 10 weeks after the initial surgery the patient progressively worsened and became unresponsive. CT scans showed a large subdural hygroma on the right with midline shift to the left. Simple evacuation of the hygroma and cranioplasty was done. This resulted in radiological and clinical improvement of the patient. Conclusions: Both patients underwent simple drainage and cranioplasty, which resulted in clinical and radiological improvement. This finding suggests that other procedures such as membranectomy and shunting may not be necessary to treat TSH.
Elevation of Urinary 2-Hydroxyglutarate in IDH-Mutant Glioma

Background Recurrent mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and IDH2 genes, which are frequent in gliomas, result in marked accumulation of the metabolic by-product 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) within tumors. In other malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia, presence of IDH mutation is associated with elevated 2-HG levels in serum or urine compartments. Circulating 2-HG in patients with glial malignancies has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods In this study, we analyzed 2-HG levels in the serum and urine of a large set of patients with IDH-mutant and IDH-wild-type glioma, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a subset of this cohort. Results We found that 2-HG was elevated in the urine of patients with IDH-mutant versus IDH-wild-type glioma, although no significant differences in 2-HG levels were observed in the serum or the small set of CSF samples obtained. Among patients with IDH-mutant glioma, 2-HG levels did not differ based on the histopathologic grade, genetic subtype (TP53 mutant or 1p/19q codeleted), presence of a canonical (IDH1 R132H) or noncanonical (any other IDH variant) mutation, or treatment type. Conclusion Our finding suggests that urinary 2-HG is increased among patients with IDH-mutant gliomas, and may represent a future surrogate, noninvasive biomarker to aid in diagnosis, prognosis, and management. Implications for practice Patients with glioma who harbor mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase genes showed selective elevation of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate in the urine. Similar elevations were not identified in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid. 2-Hydroxyglutarate may serve as a useful, noninvasive biomarker to stratify patients newly diagnosed with glioma with regard to prognosis and management.
A inestabilidade das categorias analiticas na teoria feminista

1. Minhas ideias sobre essas questoes valeram-se dos comentarios de Margaret Andersen e de pareceristas anonimos de Signs: Journal of Women In Culture and Soclety, bem como se beneficiaram com as discussoes travadas nos ultimos anos com varias estudiosas da ciencia mencionadas neste artigo. Agradeco ao apoio recebido por parte da Natlonal Science Foundation para esta pesquisa e para o projeto mais amplo que ela Integra; agradeco Igualmente a uma Mina Shaughnessy Fellowship concedida pelo Fund for lhe improvement of PostSecondary Education, da University of Delaware Faculty Research Grants e a uma Mellon Fellowshlp do Wesley Center for Research on Women. Informacoes sobre o projeto maior se encontram em Harding (1986). O esforco inicial da teoria feminista foi o de estender e reinterpretar as categorias de diversos discursos teoricos de modo a tornar as atividades e relacoes sociais das mulheres analiticamente visiveis no ambito das diferentes tradicoes intelectuais'. Se a natureza e as atividades das mulheres sao tao sociais quanto as dos homens, nossos discursos teoricos deveriam ser capazes de revelar nossas vidas com tanta clareza e detalhe quanto supomos que as abordagens tradicionais revelem as vidas dos homens. Acreditavamos, entao, que nos seria possivel tornar objetivas ou exatas as categorias e conceitos das abordagens tradicionais, onde elas ainda nao o fossem. Essas tentativas nos fizeram entender que nem as atividades das mulheres, nem as relacoes de genero (dentro dos generos e entre os generos) podem ser simplesmente acrescentadas aos discursos sem distorce-los e sem deturpar nossos proprios temas. O problema nao e simples, pois a teoria politica liberal e sua epistemologia empirista, o marxismo, a teoria critica, a psicanalise, o funcionalismo, o estruturalismo, o desconstrutivismo, a hermeneutica e
Automating Abstract Interpretation

Abstract interpretation has a reputation of being a kind of "black art," and consequently difficult to work with. This paper describes a twenty-year quest by the first author to address this issue by raising the level of automation in abstract interpretation. The most recent leg of this journey is the subject of the second author's 2014 Ph.D. dissertation. The paper discusses several different approaches to creating correct-by-construction analyzers. Our research has allowed us to establish connections between this problem and several other areas of computer science, including automated reasoning/decision procedures, concept learning, and constraint programming.
Swimmer risk of gastrointestinal illness from exposure to tropical coastal waters impacted by terrestrial dry-weather runoff.

This study used molecular methods to measure concentrations of four enteric viruses (adenovirus, enterovirus, norovirus GI, and norovirus GII) and fecal source tracking markers (human, ruminant, and pig Bacteroidales) in land-based runoff from 22 tropical streams on O’ahu, Hawai’i. Each stream was sampled twice in the morning and afternoon during dry weather. Viruses and human Bacteroidales were widespread in the streams. Watershed septic tank densities were positively associated with higher occurrence of human Bacteroidales and norovirus. There were no associations between occurrence of viruses and fecal indicator concentrations. Virus concentrations and previously reported culturable Salmonella and Campylobacter were used as inputs to a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to estimate the risk of acquiring gastrointestinal (GI) illness from swimming in tropical marine waters adjacent to discharging streams. Monte Carlo methods were used to incorporate uncertainties in the dilution of stre...
Lake ice ablation rates from permanently ice-covered Antarctic lakes

In the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, three large, permanently ice-covered, closed-basin lakes exist along the floor of Taylor Valley. Lake ice ablation (loss of ice mass) is calculated as the sum of sublimation and surface melt, and is the driver of ice-cover turnover in these systems. In Taylor Valley, both manual and automated lake ice ablation rates have been calculated from 2001 to 2011. Results indicate relatively consistent winter ablation of 0.07―0.21 m (0.2―0.7 mm w.e. d ―1 ). Summer ablation of lake ice is more variable and ranges from 0.25 to 1.62 m (5-31 mm w.e. d ―1 ) over an average 51 day period. Previous to this study, ablation rates have been cited as 0.35 m a ―1 in the dry valleys from sublimation modeling based on meteorological variables. We show that this value has significantly underestimated mean ablation and ice-cover turnover on the Taylor Valley lakes.
Enhanced Luminescence Properties of Pulsed Laser-Deposited Eu:Y2O3 Thin Film Phosphors Using Diamond Buffer Layer

Europium-activated yttrium oxide (Eu:Y 2 O 3 ) phosphor films have been grown in-situ on (100) bare silicon and diamond-coated silicon substrates using a pulsed laser deposition technique. Diamond-coated silicon substrates were prepared by hot filament chemical vapor deposition on (100) silicon wafer. Measurements of photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence properties of Eu:Y 2 O 3 films showed that the films grown on diamond-coated silicon substrates are brighter than the films grown on bare silicon substrates. The improved brightness of the Eu:Y 2 O 3 films on diamond-coated silicon substrates is attributed to reduced internal reflection and enhanced scattering of incident beam with lattice. These effects are primarily brought about by the presence of a rough diamond buffer layer between the phosphor film and substrate. Oxygen environment during deposition is necessary for better crystallinity but excess oxygenation of the Eu:Y 2 O 3 films during cooling degrades the brightness of the films.
Promoting Positive Behavior Using the Good Behavior Game: A Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Research

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a classroom management strategy that uses an interdependent group-oriented contingency to promote prosocial behavior and decrease problem behavior. This meta-analysis synthesized single-case research (SCR) on the GBG across 21 studies, representing 1,580 students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. The TauU effect size across 137 phase contrasts was .82 with a confidence interval 95% CI = [0.78, 0.87], indicating a substantial reduction in problem behavior and an increase in prosocial behavior for participating students. Five potential moderators were examined: emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD) risk status, reinforcement frequency, target behaviors, GBG format, and grade level. Findings suggest that the GBG is most effective in reducing disruptive and off-task behaviors, and that students with or at risk for EBD benefit most from the intervention. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
The regulatory effect of estrogens on fetal growth: III. Placental deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and proteins

Abstract The placental concentrations of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and total proteins were determined in control and oophorectomized-progesterone-treated (O/P) pregnant rabbits in order to elucidate the mechanism of the increase in placental weight observed in the O/P does. There was no significant difference in the placental DNA and protein concentrations between the control and experimental animals although the total placental DNA and protein contents were significantly higher in the latter. Both RNA concentration and total RNA were higher in the placentas from the oophorectomized group. These findings indicated that the increase in placental weight in the treated rabbits was caused by cellular hyperplasia, without demonstrable hypertrophy.
Rigorous Epidemiologic Work Shows Positive Impact of VHA's Efforts to Rein in Opioid Prescribing.

In this issue of Pain Medicine , Mosher et al. report 8 years of data indicating that, among veterans initiating opioid therapy, the proportion who transitioned to long-term use, the median duration of opioid prescribing, and number days of opioids prescribed at the index prescription all decreased in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), one of the largest integrated health systems in the U.S. [1]. While it was not Mosher et al.’s objective to make inferences about quality of prescribing (i.e., appropriate vs. inappropriate, safe or unsafe), this is good news for VHA as it is at least indirect evidence that policies and programs aimed at curtailing risky opioid prescribing are working, at least to some degree. The study also makes an important contribution to the pharmacoepidemiology methods literature by illuminating a template for future evaluations of trends in medication prescribing. While it is not possible on a population-wide or health system scale to say precisely what the “right” amount of opioids is, there has been increasing evidence and growing consensus that the marked upsurge in opioid prescribing from the mid ‘90s through the 2000s has reached the point of … william.becker{at}yale.edu
Effect of Qingzi Keli on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice

Objective To study passive cutaneous anaphylaxis(PCA) of Qingzi Keli. Methods Sixty 15~17g and ten 30g KM mice were used. Each 30g mice was injected with trichosanthin and aluminium hydroxide to get the standby serum. Sixty 15~17g mice were divided into test groups with fifty mice and blank drug group with ten mice. The test group mice were randomly distributed into five groups: model control group, high dose of Qingzi granules group, middle dose of Qingzi granules group, low dose of Qingzi granules group and chlorphenamine maleate group. After continuous intragastric administration of physiological saline group and corresponding drug for 7d,mice were injected trichosanthin 24mg/kg and killed respectively. Inhibitory effect of PCA in six groups were measured by blue-spot'area and colorimetric analysis. Results High, middle and low dose Qingzi granules could inhibit PCA in mice, the effect of high-dose Qingzi granules and chlorphenamine maleate were stronger than that of middle and low-dose Qingzi granules. Conclusions Qingzi Keli showed a significant inhibition on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis ( PCA ). It indicates Qingzi Keli has obvious antianaphylaxis effect.