cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning-Based Approaches for Energy-Efficiency Prediction and Scheduling in Composite Cores Architectures

Heterogeneous architectures offer divers computing capabilities. Composite Cores Architecture (CCA) is a class of dynamic heterogeneous architectures that empowers the system to build the most appropriate core at run-time for each application by composing cores together to make larger core or decomposing a large core into multiple smaller cores. While CCA provides more flexibility for the running application to find the best run-time configurations to maximize energy-efficiency, due to the interdependence of various tuning parameters such as the core type, run-time voltage and frequency setting, and number of threads, it makes the scheduling more challenging. In this work, we investigate the scheduling challenges of multithreaded applications on CCA architectures. This paper describes a systematic approach to predict the right configurations for running multithreaded workloads on the composite cores architecture. It achieves this by developing a machine learning-based approach to predict core type, voltage and frequency to maximize the energy-efficiency. Our predictor learns offline from an extensive set of training multithreaded workloads. It is then applied to predict the optimal processor configuration at run-time by considering of the multithreaded application's characteristics and the optimization objective. For this purpose, five well-known machine learning models are implemented for energy-efficiency optimization and precisely compared in terms of accuracy and hardware overhead to guide the scheduling decisions in a CCA. The results show that while complex machine learning models such as MultiLayerPerceptron are achieving higher accuracy, after evaluating their implementation overheads, they perform worst in terms of power, accuracy/area and latency as compared to simpler but slightly less accurate regression-based and tree-based classifiers.
The Inverse Problem of Linear Lagrangian Dynamics

Author(s): Salsa, RG; Kawano, DT; Ma, F; Leitmann, G | Abstract: A comprehensive study is reported herein for the evaluation of Lagrangian functions for linear systems possessing symmetric or nonsymmetric coefficient matrices. Contrary to popular beliefs, it is shown that many coupled linear systems do not admit Lagrangian functions. In addition, Lagrangian functions generally cannot be determined by system decoupling unless further restriction such as classical damping is assumed. However, a scalar function that plays the role of a Lagrangian function can be determined for any linear system by decoupling. This generalized Lagrangian function produces the equations of motion and it contains information on system properties, yet it satisfies a modified version of the Euler-Lagrange equations. Subject to this interpretation, a solution to the inverse problem of linear Lagrangian dynamics is provided.
A de-identified database of 11,979 verbal autopsy open-ended responses.

As part of the Gates Grand Challenge 13, the Population Health Metrics Research Consortium (PHMRC) collected data to enable the development and validation of methods that measure cause-specific mortality in populations with incomplete or inadequate cause of death coding. This work yielded 11,979 verbal autopsy interviews (VAIs). In each, a field interviewer spoke with an individual familiar with the deceased and their final illness, and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect information about the symptoms of the deceased in their final illness. The VAI collected demographic characteristics, possible risk factors (such as tobacco use), and other potentially contributing characteristics. It also included the open-ended question, “Could you please summarize, or tell us in your own words, any additional information about the illness and/or death of your loved one?” (open narrative). The VAI data were released in a de-identified format in September 2013 through the Global Health Data Exchange, in files that contain verbal autopsies that were collected at six sites in four countries (India, Mexico, Tanzania, and the Philippines). Due to research interest, we have now created redacted versions of the open narratives from the open-ended question of the questionnaire. We hope that this database will be the source of innovations that increase our knowledge about the causes of ill health and, through this knowledge, produce improvements in health for individuals and populations.
Proactive and pervasive combinatorial testing

Combinatorial testing (CT) is a well-known technique for improving the quality of test plans while reducing testing costs. Traditionally, CT is used by testers at testing phase to design a test plan based on a manual definition of the test space. In this work, we extend the traditional use of CT to other parts of the development life cycle. We use CT at early design phase to improve design quality. We also use CT after test cases have been created and executed, in order to find gaps between design and test. For the latter use case we deploy a novel technique for a semi-automated definition of the test space, which significantly reduces the effort associated with manual test space definition. We report on our practical experience in applying CT for these use cases to three large and heavily deployed industrial products. We demonstrate the value gained from extending the use of CT by (1) discovering latent design flaws with high potential impact, and (2) correlating CT-uncovered gaps between design and test with field reported problems.
Luteotropic Actions of LH on the Macaque Corpus Luteum

The primate corpus luteum of the menstrual cycle secretes progesterone for 14–16 days after ovulation in the absence of an implanted conceptus (1). In fertile cycles, the luteal life span is prolonged by the secretion of chorionic gonadotropin by the trophoblast (2). In view of its absolute requirement for implantation and early gestation, specific knowledge of the regulation of the corpus luteum is important for effective control of fertility as well as correcting the pathophysiological conditions of short and inadequate luteal phases.
Translating CBM-I Into Real-World Settings: Augmenting a CBT-Based Psychiatric Hospital Program.

Abstract Cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) is an appealing augmentation to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because it targets cognitive bias efficiently via computerized training. Few studies have tested the combination of CBM-I and CBT, and none have translated lab-based CBM-I protocols to an acute psychiatric setting. The present study describes the development and implementation of CBM-I as an augmentation to a CBT-based partial hospital. We developed a transdiagnostic CBM-I based on the word–sentence association paradigm (WSAP), which reinforces individuals for endorsing benign interpretations and rejecting negative interpretations of ambiguous sentences. Over two iterations of development, we randomly assigned patients (N = 127; M age = 34.21; 58% female, 40% male, 2% nonbinary) to either CBM-I or a control group (Phase 1: neutral WSAP task; Phase 2: treatment as usual). CBM-I comprised daily sessions (10 minutes) completed during program hours, and number of sessions varied naturalistically according to patient length of stay. Primary outcomes included feasibility, acceptability, and target engagement (interpretation bias). CBM-I was feasible and acceptable to acute psychiatric patients, and successfully shifted interpretation for novel stimuli. Patient feedback suggested that participants viewed CBM-I as bolstering their primary CBT-based care. Exploratory analyses examining clinical benefit revealed a small between-group effect on anxiety severity (d = 0.378), but no group differences on depression outcomes (d = 0.008). Findings indicate that CBM-I is a feasible and acceptable augmentation to CBT-based partial hospital care. Future studies are warranted to determine who is most likely to benefit from this low-intensity approach.
Quantifying geographic barriers to trauma care: Urban-rural variation in prehospital mortality.

Background Few studies of trauma care access and quality account for prehospital injury mortality. Little is known about geographic variation in prehospital mortality or the impact of prehospital care on injury disparities. Methods Using the Centers for Disease Control Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database, we queried county-level incidence of prehospital injury mortality from 1999 to 2016. We linked mortality incidence with county-level urban-rural classifications from the National Center for Health Statistics and population data from the US Census Bureau. We used negative binomial regression to estimate the relationship between rurality and prehospital injury mortality, adjusting for county-level distribution of race, sex, age, income, and insurance coverage. Models were then stratified by injury mechanism (motor vehicle traffic [MVT] vs. penetrating) to determine if prehospital mortality rates varied by type of injury. Results Prehospital injury mortality rates were elevated for all urban-rural county classes, relative to large central metro counties, with incidence rate ratios (IRR) ranging from 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.35) for fringe metro counties to 1.69 (95% CI, 1.58-1.82) for noncore counties. For MVT injury, IRRs for urban-rural classes compared with large central metro counties ranged from 2.02 (95% CI, 1.85-2.21) for fringe metro counties to 3.02 (95% CI, 2.76-3.30) to noncore counties. Incidence of prehospital mortality from penetrating injury was 14% higher for noncore counties compared to large central metro counties (IRR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23). Conclusion There is substantial geographic variation in prehospital injury mortality in the United States, with risk of prehospital death increasing with rurality. Patterns of prehospital death associated with penetrating and MVT injuries suggest that improvements to both trauma center access, prehospital care, and primary injury prevention are essential to reduce preventable injury deaths. Level of evidence Retrospective ecological analysis, level III.
P26 Correlation between viral respiratory panel testing result and outcomes in adults

Multi-plex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing has enabled the rapid, accurate diagnosis of viral lower respiratory tract infections in clinical practice. However, the impact of RT-PCR testing for respiratory viruses (VRP) on outcomes in adults is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients (at least 18 years old) who had VRP testing (Biofire Film Array) performed at 4 community hospitals in the northeastern USA between November 1, 2014, and June 15, 2015. Viruses detected by VRP included adenovirus, coronavirus, human metapneumovirus, influenza A and B, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Patients with positive cultures for acute bacterial or mycoplasma infections were excluded as were those with chest x-ray or chest CT findings consistent with pneumonia. Of the 475 in the study group, 214 (45%) had positive VRP while 261 (55%) had negative VRP. Of those with positive VRP, 147 (69%) were treated with antibiotics. Of those with negative VRP, 145 (56%) received antibiotics. The average duration of antibiotics after VRP testing was 3.7 days in those with positive VRP (n=147) and 4.3 days in those with negative VRP (n=145). The average hospital length of stay (LOS) following VRP was 4.8 days in those with positive VRP (n=208) and 4.5 days in patients with negative VRP (n=257). There were 25 (12%) readmissions within 30 days of discharge for inpatients with positive VRP and 40 (16%) readmissions within 30 days of discharge for inpatients with negative VRP. Positive VRP was associated with a higher frequency of antibiotic therapy but a shorter duration of antibiotics. Positive VRP was associated with a lower frequency of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge. Average hospital LOS was similar for positive VRP and negative VRP patient groups. Prospective study is warranted to further our understanding of the impact of VRP testing on clinical outcomes in adults with lower respiratory tract infections.
Cultural competency and microaggressions in the provision of care to LGBT patients in rural and appalachian Tennessee.

Abstract Purpose Lack of provider training in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) cultural competence may diminish healthcare access. Culturally competent providers may enact microaggressions when providing LGBT patient care, especially in sociopolitically conservative areas. Our study examined LGBT cultural competence and microaggressions among healthcare providers in rural Tennessee. Methods Providers (n = 85) completed a self-report survey on LGBT cultural competence. Post-survey, we invited respondents to provide an interview to contextualize quantitative findings and identify barriers to LGBT patient care (n = 6). Results Most quantitative respondents disagreed that they preferred not to care for LGBT patients (85.9%) or that they would refuse care to LGBT patients (92.9%). Only half felt competent to provide LGBT patient care (54.1%). Fewer oncology than primary care providers felt competent treating LGBT patients, and more physicians than nurses reported their training did not adequately address LGBT issues. Qualitatively, interviewees reported serving patients “equally”, yet described discomfort with LGBT patients and LGBT microaggressions in clinical practice. Principal conclusions While many providers felt competent to provide LGBT patient care, they described behaviors and attitudes that may contribute to LGBT healthcare inequities. Practice Implications Provider training must address how microaggressions negatively influence patient-provider interactions and LGBT patient care.
Measurement Effects of Modifications in Minimum Competency Test Formats for Exceptional Students.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether modifications made to the minimum competency test (MCT) improved the overall performances of learning disabled (LD) and educable mentally ...
A Statewide Assessment of Rib Fixation Patterns Reveals Missed Opportunities

Abstract Background Rib fractures are a common consequence of traumatic injury and can result in significant debilitation. Rib fixation offers fracture stabilization, resulting in improved outcomes and decreased pulmonary complications, especially in high-risk groups such as those with flail segments. However, commercial rib fixation has only recently become clinically prevalent, and we hypothesize that significant variability exists in its utilization based on injury pattern and trauma center. Methods The Pennsylvania Trauma System Foundation database was queried for all multiple rib fracture patients occurring statewide in 2016 and 2017. Demographics including the presence of flail and the occurrence of rib fixation was abstracted. Outcomes were compared between the fixation group and all other rib fracture patients. Deidentified treating trauma center was used to elicit center-level disparities. Results During the study period, there were 12,910 patients with multiple rib fractures, of which 135 had flail segments. 57 patients underwent rib fixation, and 10 of which had a flail segment. Compared with the nonoperative cohort, those who underwent rib fixation were younger (52.5 versus 61.5, P = 0.0009), similar in gender (68% versus 62% male, P = 0.373), and race (80% versus 86% White, P = 0.239). The rib fixation group had higher Injury Severity Scores (19.4 versus 15.4 P = 0.0011). The timing of rib fixation was most frequent within 1 wk of injury but extended out through 3 wk; the occurrence of pulmonary complications had a similar distribution. The frequency of rib fixation rates within trauma centers was not associated with rib fracture patient volume, and 37.1% of multiple rib fracture patients were cared for at centers that did not perform rib fixation. Conclusions Rib fixation is infrequently used at trauma centers in Pennsylvania. It is used more frequently in nonflail injuries, and its use may be associated with the occurrence of pulmonary complications. Significant center-level variation exists in rib fixation rates among multiple fractured patients. A significant number of patients are cared for at centers that do not perform rib fixation. Further research is needed to illicit better-defined indications for operative fixation, and opportunities exist to further the penetrance of this practice to all trauma centers.
Sustainable food: a conversation with jamie harvie-executive director, institute for a sustainable future.

Jamie Harvie, PE, is a civil engineer and presently serves as Director of Health Care Without Harm's Healthy Food in Health Care Initiative and as Executive Director for the Institute for a Sustainable Future, a not-for-profit organization based in Duluth, MN. He also serves on the steering committee for the Green Guide for Healthcare Construction—a best practices guide for healthy and sustainable building design, construction, and operations for the health care sector. Mr Harvie is an internationally recognized toxics expert and was instrumental in the negotiations with major pharmacy chains that successfully resulted in a national voluntary phase-out of mercury thermometer sales. In 2009, he was recognized as a “national thought leader” by the Natural Resources Defense Council for his leadership on sustainable health care food. His energy and vision are a driving force in changing the way food is produced and distributed so that it is not only nutritionally rich, but also environmentally sustainable. A Glossary of Terms used in this article may be found in the Sidebar: Glossary. Motivated by impacts on poor nutrition, increased antibiotic-resistant bacteria, poisoned air and water, food-borne pathogens, and the potential health effects of climate change, leaders from the health sector are backing practices and policies that support sustainable agriculture and a healthier food system. In this interview, sustainable food system advocate Jamie Harvie addresses the big stake the health sector has in the way food is produced and distributed.
Tyrants, Lovers and Comedy in the Green Worlds of Mansfield Park and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Several authors have noted the allusions to King Lear in Mansfield Park. This chapter does not dispute such reading, nor does it attempt to ascertain the degree to which Austen consciously cited Shakespeare. Instead, it complements these earlier studies by revisiting Mansfield Park through the eyes of a reader familiar with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Despite Mansfield Park’s explicit allusion to Shakespeare’s tragic and historic works, I suggest that there may be even deeper, if implicit, allusions to his comedy at work in the novel. In Mansfield Park, Austen alludes to the fickle emotions and wayward romances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and echoes its tortured courtship, competing rulers and self-consciously happy ending. Despite their differing historical contexts and genres, Austen and Shakespeare both portray the interchangeability of lovers and the fickle nature of romantic attachmentg in these works. Both artists combine tragic and comedic elements in their oeuvre to make an argument about the possibility of the harmonious resolution of romantic attachments within societal constraints. Through this lens it becomes apparent that Austen, like Shakespeare, is modelling a way in which to see the world.
Harnessing administrative data for humanitarian responses

The need to improve data to support effective responses in humanitarian settings and emergencies is widely recognized; and there is a growing understanding that administrative data systems can be an important source of data in these contexts. Government data systems however are often overlooked, particularly in developing countries, due to access or quality concerns. New systems are frequently established to respond to humanitarian data needs – particularly in protracted emergency settings. This may be necessary in some circumstances due to a collapse or absence of existing systems, but often duplicates government information structures. In the long term, parallel systems risk undermining national systems which may take a significant time to recover or re-build, and can divert highly limited resources. Routine government administrative data systems need to be both more responsive to changes in the environments and communities in which they are operating, and resilient enough to remain operational and secure in those changed circumstances. This work aims to explore what this means in system design, operation, governance, and preparedness for key sectors; to provide practical guidance for national governments and supporting agencies. Findings will be drawn from literature review, expert opinion, and field examples. Case studies will be undertaken in two countries that are either considered “fragile” or have recently responded to an emergency. Work will focus on areas in which UNICEF has a formal role, however it is anticipated to highlight issues relevant to a broad spectrum of humanitarian data needs. Preliminary findings are anticipated to be published towards the end of 2019; and will compliment work programs on developing an understanding of administrative data maturity, and the global standards and norms for upholding the rights of children affected by humanitarian crises, such as UNICEF's Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.
Mindfulness instruction for community-hospital physicians for burnout and patient care: A pilot study:

BackgroundConcern for the high prevalence and pervasive negative effects of clinician burnout has led to greater focus on clinician wellness programs, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MB...
Machine learning approaches for fracture risk assessment: a comparative analysis of genomic and phenotypic data in 5,130 older men

Abstract The study aims were to develop fracture prediction models by using machine learning approaches and genomic data, as well as to identify the best modeling approach for fracture prediction. The genomic data of Osteoporotic Fractures in Men, cohort Study (n = 5,130), was analyzed. After a comprehensive genotype imputation, genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated from 1,103 associated SNPs for each participant. Data were normalized and split into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) for analysis. Random forest, gradient boosting, neural network, and logistic regression were used to develop prediction models for major osteoporotic fractures separately, with GRS, bone density and other risk factors as predictors. For model training, the synthetic minority over-sampling technique was used to account for low fracture rate, and 10-fold cross-validation was employed for hyperparameters optimization. In the testing set, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and accuracy were used to assess the model performance. The McNemar test was employed for pairwise comparisons to examine the accuracy difference between models. The results showed that the prediction performance of gradient boosting was the best, with AUC of 0.71 and an accuracy of 0.88, and the GRS ranked as the 7th most important variable in the model. The performance of random forest and neural network were also better than that of logistic regression. Pairwise comparisons showed that the accuracy difference between models was significant. This study suggested that improving fracture prediction can be achieved by incorporating genetic profiling and by utilizing the gradient boosting approach.
Surface and bulk characterization of reservoir and cap-rocks: Past, present, and future

Geologic formations provide potentially some of the largest volume capacities for CO2 storage or sequestration. Potential storage sites can be deep saline aquifers, depleted oil reservoirs, and coal seams, surrounded by sealing layers to prevent CO2 from leaking. It is therefore critical to understand mechanisms contributing to CO2 trapping and CO2 leaks. Both phenomena are governed by reactions at the interfaces of the reservoir and cap-rocks and are controlled by the complex chemistry and pore structures of rocks. Mechanisms at the macroscale are affected by the processes occurring at the nanoscale. This review highlights the necessity of multitechnique, multiscale characterization of rocks and points to the importance of surface analysis and surface science studies. Two shale rocks (seals) from Niobrara and Agardhfjellet formations with complex surface chemistry are used as examples throughout the paper. Typically, evaluation of rocks with x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, gas adsorption, and electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy is conducted to provide valuable information about the bulk mineralogy, elemental composition, pore volume, and adsorbed species on the sample surface. These studies are necessary prior to designing surface sensitive experiments with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), guiding both sample preparation and sample analysis. XPS has been widely used to study the surface composition of rocks during the investigations of their fine-scale wettability, and the main findings are highlighted here. This paper also reviews the existing literature on ambient-pressure XPS, which provides new opportunities to study in situ chemical alteration due to interactions with CO2 and offers recommendations for adapting this technique to study rock-fluid interactions, allowing for the identification of fundamental interactions during CO2 sequestration and guide selection of formation sites for improved storage.
Clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in heart failure associated with methamphetamine use and cessation.

Objective Methamphetamine use is associated with systolic dysfunction, pulmonary arterial hypertension and may also be associated with diastolic dysfunction. The impact of methamphetamine cessation on methamphetamine-associated heart failure (MethHF) remains poorly characterised. We aimed to longitudinally characterise methamphetamine-associated heart failure patients with reduced (METHrEF) and preserved (METHpEF) left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), and evaluate the relationship between methamphetamine cessation and clinical outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study, and reviewed medical records of patients with METHrEF, METHpEF and heart failure controls without methamphetamine use. Echocardiographic variables were recorded for up to 12 months, with clinical follow-up extending to 24 months. Results Among METHrEF patients (n=28, mean age 51±9 years, 82.1% male), cessation was associated with improvement in EF (+10.6±13.1%, p=0.009) and fewer heart failure admissions per year compared with continued use (median 0.0, IQR 0.0–1.0 vs median 2.0, IQR 1.0–3.0, p=0.039). METHpEF patients (n=28, mean age 50±8 years, 60.7% male) had higher baseline right ventricular systolic pressure (median 53.44, IQR 43.70-84.00 vs median 36.64, IQR 29.44-45.95, p=0.011), and lower lateral E/E’ ratio (8.1±3.6 vs 11.2±4., p Conclusions METHrEF patients who cease methamphetamine use have significant improvement in left ventricular systolic function and fewer heart failure admissions, suggesting that METHrEF may be reversible. Echocardiographic parameters suggest that some patients with METHpEF may have pulmonary hypertension in the absence of overt signs of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, but additional study is needed to characterise this patient cohort.
Association of race and ethnicity in the receipt of regional anesthesia following mastectomy

Background Regional anesthetic techniques have become increasingly used for the purpose of pain management following mastectomy. Although a variety of beneficial techniques have been described, the delivery of regional anesthesia following mastectomy has yet to be examined for racial or ethnic disparities. We aimed to examine the association of race and ethnicity on the delivery of regional anesthesia in patients undergoing surgical mastectomy using a large national database. Methods We used the American College of Surgeons–National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify adult patients aged ≥18 years old who underwent mastectomy from 2014 to 2016. We reported unadjusted estimates of regional anesthesia accordingly to race and ethnicity and examined differences in sociodemographic characteristics and health status. Multivariable logistic regression was used to report the association of race and ethnicity with use of regional anesthesia. Results A total of 81 345 patients who underwent mastectomy were included, 14 887 (18.3%) of whom underwent regional anesthesia. The unadjusted rate of use of regional anesthesia was 18.9% for white patients, 16.8% for black patients, 15.6% for Asian patients, 16.5% for Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander patients, 17.8% for American Indian or Alaska Native and 17.4% for unknown race (p Conclusion Black and Asian patients had lower odds of undergoing regional anesthesia following mastectomy compared with white counterparts. In addition, Hispanic patients had lower odds of undergoing regional anesthesia than non-Hispanic counterparts. These differences underlie the importance of working to deliver equitable healthcare irrespective of race or ethnicity.
Temporal Correlation of CSF and Neuroimaging in the Amyloid-Tau-Neurodegeneration Model of Alzheimer Disease.

Objective To evaluate temporal correlations between CSF and neuroimaging (PET and MRI) measures of amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration in relation to Alzheimer disease (AD) progression. Methods A total of 371 cognitively unimpaired and impaired participants enrolled in longitudinal studies of AD had both CSF (β-amyloid [Aβ]42, phosphorylated tau181, total tau, and neurofilament light chain) and neuroimaging (Pittsburgh compound B [PiB] PET, flortaucipir PET, and structural MRI) measures. The pairwise time interval between CSF and neuroimaging measures was binned into 2-year periods. Spearman correlations identified the time bin when CSF and neuroimaging measures most strongly correlated. CSF and neuroimaging measures were then binarized as biomarker-positive or biomarker-negative using Gaussian mixture modeling. Cohen kappa coefficient identified the time bin when CSF measures best agreed with corresponding neuroimaging measures when determining amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration biomarker positivity. Results CSF Aβ42 and PiB PET showed maximal correlation when collected within 6 years of each other (R ≈ −0.5). CSF phosphorylated tau181 and flortaucipir PET showed maximal correlation when CSF was collected 4 to 8 years prior to PET (R ≈ 0.4). CSF neurofilament light chain and cortical thickness showed low correlation, regardless of time interval (Ravg ≈ −0.3). Similarly, CSF total tau and cortical thickness had low correlation, regardless of time interval (Ravg Conclusions CSF Aβ42 and PiB PET best agree when acquired in close temporal proximity, whereas CSF phosphorylated tau precedes flortaucipir PET by 4 to 8 years. CSF and neuroimaging measures of neurodegeneration have low correspondence and are not interchangeable at any time interval.
Music therapy for preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit: An overview of systematic reviews.

Aim To summarise the quantity and quality of evidence for using music therapy for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods We performed an overview of evidence for the effectiveness and safety of MT for preterm infants in the NICU. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis of data from studies that fit the definition of MT. Results We identified 12 eligible systematic reviews and the methodological quality by AMSTAR-2 ranged from moderate to critically low. We identified 14 eligible randomised trials and 7 observational studies where the intervention fits the definition of MT. Meta-analysis of the RCTs showed that MT significantly decreases heart rate, mean difference (MD) (95% CI), -3.21 [-5.22, -1.19], respiratory rate, MD -2.93 [-5.65, -0.22], and maternal anxiety, MD -17.50 [-20.10, -14.90], and increases feeding volume, MD 29.59 [12.79, 46.38]. Long-term neurodevelopmental or safety outcomes were not reported. GRADE assessment of outcomes ranged from low to very low, downgraded for high risk of bias in the included studies, inconsistency and imprecision. Conclusion Low to very low certainty evidence suggests that MT in preterm infants improves short-term physiological parameters, feeding and maternal anxiety but safety and long-term outcomes were not reported.
Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the potentiation of cell killing by ionizing radiation in MCF-7 breast tumor cells by the vitamin D3 analog EB 1089

4413 Background and Rationale: We have recently reported that MCF-7 breast tumor cells exposed to fractionated radiation (5 × 2Gy) undergo a senescence-like growth arrest that is succeeded by rapid recovery of proliferative capacity. exposure to the Vitamin D 3 analog EB 1089 (100nM) prior to irradiation converts the initial growth arrest response to cell death and profoundly reduces the rate of proliferative recovery (DeMasters et al, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004; 92(5):365–74). The present studies were designed to elucidate the biochemical and molecular basis for the potentiating effects of EB 1089. experimental Approaches: The induction and repair of DNA damage were evaluated by alkaline unwinding and 53BP1 foci formation. Effects on c-myc protein levels were assessed by Western blotting and through the use of c-myc inducible cells. The generation of reactive oxygen was monitored by dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF) fluorescence. Results: DNA Damage Bulk DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation was repaired within 4 hours both in the absence and presence of EB 1089 treatment. Similarly, DNA double strand breaks were detected within 6 hours based on 53BP1 foci formation, and the decline of foci over a period of 48 hours was not attenuated with EB 1089. c-myc EB 1089 inhibited radiation-induced down-regulation of c-myc. However, blocking c-myc down-regulation in a doxocycline-inducible MCF-7 cell line did not interfere with the induction of senescence by radiation or promote cell death by radiation. Reactive oxygen EB 1089 increased radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, an effect which was blocked by the free radical scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Current studies are focused on determining the effects of inhibition of ROS generation on the radiosensitizing effects of EB 1089. Conclusions: These studies indicate that the ability of EB 1089 to sensitize breast tumor cells to cell killing by ionizing radiation is not due to increased radiation-induced DNA damage or inhibition of DNA repair. The effects of EB 1089 also do not appear to be mediated through interference with the suppression of c-myc expression. Our studies suggest that the increased generation of reactive oxygen may play a role in the enhanced response to radiation in breast tumor cells with prior exposure to the vitamin D 3 analog, EB 1089.
Models, Definitions, and Outcome Variables of Action Learning: A Synthesis with Implications for HRD.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated model of action learning based on an examination of four reviewed action learning models, definitions, and espoused outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – A clear articulation of the strengths and limitations of each model was essential to developing an integrated model, which could be applied to Lynham's general method of theory‐building research in applied disciplines. The paper examined common themes according to the model structure, methods, and methodologies. The four models selected for this review were Gregory's Group Action Learning Process Model, Paton's Systemic Action Learning Cycle, Paton's Systemic Action Learning Spiral, and Watkins and Marsick's Continuous Learning Model.Findings – A comparison of the key variations in the definitions of action learning and desired outcomes explained differences in model designs. HRD practitioners need a better understanding of the variables that affect the outcomes of action learning through e...
Preparation of Cytoplasmic RNA from Tissue Culture Cells

The protocol described in this unit is a fast and streamlined procedure for preparing total cytoplasmic RNA from many cultures simultaneously for nuclease protection analysis. It is scaled for small cultures--1 to 2 dishes of adherent cells or 10 to 20 ml of a suspension culture. The procedure works well for many cell types. If full-length RNA is required, ribonuclease inhibitors should be added to the lysis buffer (as described in this unit) or the guanidinium isothiocyanate method should be used. Finally, if RNA is isolated from transiently transfected cells, a is provided for the treatment of RNA with deoxyribonuclease to remove transfected DNA. This modification is especially critical if the RNA is to be assayed by nuclease protection using uniformly labeled probes.
Portfolio Theory: Applications in Construction

Portfolio theory and bid strategy models are used to select construction projects and determine bid prices. Probabilistic estimates of cost of existing projects are used to generate the characteristics of the existing portfolio of projects of a construction firm. Adding new projects generates new portfolios. The desirable new portfolio is selected and the bid price for the new project is determined. This is done considering the incremental effect of the new project on the portfolio of the firm. The correlation between project costs is considered in the determination of the portfolios.
Transitividad en el español de Chile: Exploración desde la perspectiva sistémico-funcional

espanolEl objetivo de este estudio es describir, desde el marco teorico metodologico de la gramatica sistemica funcional, las configuraciones lexico-gramaticales que, en espanol de Chile, realizan las funciones centrales de la clausula como medio de representacion de la experiencia. Esto supone la identificacion y caracterizacion de las configuraciones realizantes, segun las escalas de rango, eje, detalle, continuum de la lexico-gramatica y probabilidad de ocurrencia. Para esta ultima caracterizacion, se emplea como contexto de observacion, un micro-corpus correspondiente a textos producidos por ninos, bajo el supuesto que este es el contexto en el que aparecen las formas mas congruentes de representacion. Los resultados, que constituyen la primera parte de un proyecto mayor (Fondecyt 1121082), se presentan siguiendo cada una de las funciones nucleares de la estructura de la clausula como representacion, esto es, proceso y participantes y revisando, en ese marco, la relacion con cada uno de los seis modelos linguisticos de representacion de la experiencia, propuesto por la teoria: material, conductual, mental, verbal, relacional y existencial EnglishThe purpose of this study is to describe, from the theoretical and methodological framework of the systemic functional grammar, the lexico-grammatical realization of the congruent models used to linguistically construct the representation of experience. This involves the identification and characterization of the realizing configurations, according to range scales, axis, delicacy, continuum of the lexicogrammar and probability of occurrence. For the latter characterization, a micro-corpus of child speech, collected from spontaneous speech, is used as observation context, under the assumption that this is the context in which the most congruent forms of interaction appear. The results, which constitute part of a larger project (FONDECYT 1121082), are presented in each of the core functions of the structure of the clause as representation, that is, participants and process and reviewing, in this context, the relationship to each of the six models representing linguistic experience: material, behavioral, mental, verbal, relational and existential
Psychoeducation as a Mediator of Treatment Approach on Parent Engagement in Child Psychotherapy for Disruptive Behavior

Parent engagement in treatment for child disruptive behavior has been associated with improved child outcomes in care. However, many families who enter care do not receive an adequate dose of treatment, and parents are often not involved. We examined therapists' use of psychoeducation, a therapeutic practice used to present factual information about target problems and treatments, and its association with parent engagement in child psychotherapy. Participants were drawn from the Child System and Treatment Enhancement Projects' multisite trial contrasting standard evidence-based treatments, modular treatment, or usual care. We included an ethnically diverse sample of 46 youth (ages 7-13) who received treatment for disruptive behavior in modular treatment or usual care. A reliable observational coding system was developed to assess therapists' in-session use of psychoeducation strategies (e.g., discussing causes of misbehavior, describing and providing rationale for treatment, etc.), as well as other engagement strategies (e.g., collaborative goal setting, managing expectations, etc.), in the early phase of treatment. Findings revealed that modular treatment therapists provided more psychoeducation and other engagement strategies compared with usual care therapists. Furthermore, psychoeducation strategies employed by therapists early on uniquely predicted subsequent parent involvement in treatment, over and above the use of other engagement strategies. Finally, therapists' use of the psychoeducation strategy of discussing causes of child's misbehavior mediated the effect of treatment condition on parent involvement in their child's therapy. These findings suggest that the implementation of psychoeducation strategies upon entry into care promotes parent involvement in child psychotherapy for disruptive behavior.
Tracking matrix effects in the analysis of DNA adducts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

LC-MS using electrospray ionization is currently the method of choice in bio-organic analysis covering a wide range of applications in a broad spectrum of biological media. The technique is noted for its high sensitivity but one major limitation that hinders achievement of its optimal sensitivity is the signal suppression due to matrix inferences introduced by the presence of co-extracted compounds during the sample preparation procedure. The analysis of DNA adducts of common environmental carcinogens is particularly sensitive to such matrix effects as sample preparation is a multistep process which involves "contamination" of the sample due to the addition of enzymes and other reagents for digestion of the DNA in order to isolate the analyte(s). This problem is further exacerbated by the need to reach low levels of quantitation (LOQ in the ppb level) while also working with limited (2-5 μg) quantities of sample. We report here on the systematic investigation of ion signal suppression contributed by each individual step involved in the sample preparation associated with the analysis of DNA adducts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) using as model analyte BaP-dG, the deoxyguanosine (dG) adduct of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). The individual matrix contribution of each one of these sources to analyte signal was systematically addressed as were any interactive effects. The information was used to develop a validated analytical protocol for the target biomarker at levels typically encountered in vivo using as little as 2 μg of DNA and applied to a dose response study using a metabolically competent cell line.
Leptin mediates the parathyroid hormone-related protein paracrine stimulation of fetal lung maturation.

Developing rat lung lipofibroblasts express leptin beginning on embryonic day (E) 17, increasing 7- to 10-fold by E20. Leptin and its receptor are expressed mutually exclusively by fetal lung fibro...
The oxygen microenvironment adjacent to the tissue of the scleractinian Dichocoenia stokesii and its effects on symbiont metabolism

The biology of symbiotic scleractinians is profoundly influenced by their intracellular zooxanthellae, and many studies have focused on the mechanistic basis of this influence. This has usually been accomplished by examining the metabolism of zooxanthellae under physical conditions measured in the open reef and assumed to be similar to conditions in hospite. Recent advances in the measurement of conditions near and within coral tissue suggests that this assumption may result in substantial errors. To address this possibility, the role of water flow in determining oxygen saturation adjacent to the tissue of Dichocoenia stokesii was investigated, and the effect of these measured oxygen saturations on the respiration and photosynthesis of zooxanthellae isolated from the same species was quantified. Using a microelectrode (700 μm diam), we measured oxygen saturations above (≤4 mm) the tissue in two flow speeds over 24 h periods in a flume receiving sunlight at in situ levels. The results were used as a proxy for ecologically relevant intracellular oxygen saturations, which were applied to zooxanthellae in vitro to assess their effect on symbiont metabolism. Microenvironment oxygen saturations (% air saturation) ranged from 74–159% in slow flow (2.7 cm s−1) to 88–110% in faster flow (7.5 cm s−1) over day–night cycles. Therefore, the metabolic rates of zooxanthellae were measured at 50 to 54% (hypoxia), 98 to 102% (normoxia) and 146 to 150% (hyperoxia) oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation significantly affected the metabolism of zooxanthellae, with gross photosynthesis increasing 1.2-fold and dark respiration increasing 2-fold under hyperoxia compared to hypoxia. These results suggest that the metabolism of zooxanthellae in hospite is affected markedly by their microenvironment which, in turn, is influenced by flow-mediated mass transfer.
Compensation of Hystetresis Nonlinearties in Smart Actuators

Smart actuators such shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators and piezoceramic actuators exhibit different hysteresis loops. In this paper, a generalized Prandtl-Ishlinskii model is utilized for modeling and compensation of hysteresis effects in smart actuators. In the formulated model, a generalized play operator together with a density is integrated to form the generalized Prandtl-Ishlinskii model. The capability of the formulated model to characterize hysteresis in smart actuators is demonstrated by comparing its outputs with experimental results obtained from different smart actuators. Furthermore, an analytical inverse of the generalized Prandtl-Ishlinskii model is derived for compensations in different smart actuators. Such compensation is experimentally illustrated by piezoceramic actuator.Copyright © 2008 by ASME