cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel metric that quantifies risk stratification for evaluating diagnostic tests: The example of evaluating cervical-cancer screening tests across populations.

Abstract Our work involves assessing whether new biomarkers might be useful for cervical-cancer screening across populations with different disease prevalences and biomarker distributions. When comparing across populations, we show that standard diagnostic accuracy statistics (predictive values, risk-differences, Youden's index and Area Under the Curve (AUC)) can easily be misinterpreted. We introduce an intuitively simple statistic for a 2 × 2 table, Mean Risk Stratification (MRS): the average change in risk (pre-test vs. post-test) revealed for tested individuals. High MRS implies better risk separation achieved by testing. MRS has 3 key advantages for comparing test performance across populations with different disease prevalences and biomarker distributions. First, MRS demonstrates that conventional predictive values and the risk-difference do not measure risk-stratification because they do not account for test-positivity rates. Second, Youden's index and AUC measure only multiplicative relative gains in risk-stratification: AUC = 0.6 achieves only 20% of maximum risk-stratification ( AUC = 0.9 achieves 80%). Third, large relative gains in risk-stratification might not imply large absolute gains if disease is rare, demonstrating a “high-bar” to justify population-based screening for rare diseases such as cancer. We illustrate MRS by our experience comparing the performance of cervical-cancer screening tests in China vs. the USA. The test with the worst AUC = 0.72 in China (visual inspection with acetic acid) provides twice the risk-stratification (i.e. MRS) of the test with best AUC = 0.83 in the USA (human papillomavirus and Pap cotesting) because China has three times more cervical precancer/cancer. MRS could be routinely calculated to better understand the clinical/public-health implications of standard diagnostic accuracy statistics.
Let's Be Explicit About the Psycholinguistic Bases of Developmental Measures: A Response to Leonard, Haebig, Deevy, and Brown (2017).

Purpose The purpose of this letter is to clarify the psycholinguistic underpinnings of the tense marker total and tense agreement productivity score and to extend the discussion of when composite d...
Introduction and Zeroth Law

Much like other scientific disciplines, thermodynamics also has its own vocabulary. For instance, while dealing with objects composed of very large numbers of particles, one might use terms like: thermodynamic system; adiabatically isolating and adiabatically enclosing walls; adiabatic and non-adiabatic enclosures; conducting and/or diathermal walls; isothermal, isobaric, isochoric, quasi-static, reversible, and irreversible processes; state functions and state variables; thermodynamic equilibrium; and, of course, temperature in its various representations.
Risk analysis of Bacillus spp. isolated from cured pork sausages

This study was undertaken to acquire information about the toxigenic potential of Bacillus strains isolated from eight cured pork sausages obtained from traditional or industrial processings. The application of RAPD-PCR protocols made it possible to identify 52 different biotypes among 220 heat-resistant Gram-positive endospore-forming colonies. The sequence analysis of the 5’ region of 16S rDNA revealed that 36 strains belonged to B. subtilis and 16 to B. pumilus species. No strains belonging to B. cereus species were isolated from the cured sausages analysed. The toxigenic potential of these strains was assayed by PCR analysis and physiological tests to identify the most important B. cereus toxins and virulence factors. No specific PCR fragment was obtained from any of the strains; however, some of them were found positive for hemolytic and lecithinase activity. These preliminary results reassure about the microbiological risk related to the presence of pathogenic Bacillus strains in cured pork sausages analysed even though the hemolytic and lecithinase activities found in some strains suggest that more in-depth analyses need to be carried out.
Reduced expression of NKp46 on CD56dim natural killer cells from MS patients (129.21)

Natural killer (NK) cells possess innate immune responses and play a crucial role in regulating autoimmune T cells. NKp46 is a natural cytotoxicity activating receptor exclusively expressed on NK cells. NKp46 plays a pivotal role in NK cell functions because it mediates the lysis of many human tumor cells lines, as well as infected cells. We investigated the expression of NKp46, CD62L and CD44 on NK cells from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy donors (HD). Apheresis blood samples were obtained from MS patients and HD, PBMCs were separated by density gradient centrifugation with lymphocytes separation medium. NK cells were negatively selected using MACS NK isolation kit, and cultured with or without 1 μg/ml influenza vaccine (Flu HA) for 4 hours. Using 6 color flow cytometry, we examined the CD56+ CD3− cells for the expression of NKp46, CD62L and CD44. We observed that MS patients’ NK cells express unusually low frequency of CD56dim CD44+ NKp46+ cells compared to HD. The levels of CD56bright cells expressing CD44+ CD62L+ NKp46+ were comparable among MS patients and HD. Four hours after incubation with Flu HA, the two CD56dim and CD56bright populations expressing NKp46+ completely disappeared leaving one population expressing only CD56dim CD44+. Our findings suggest that CD56dim CD44+ NKp46+ might be involved in the protection against development of MS.
Variation of semen measures within normal men

Variation in semen measures was assessed bimonthly in 15 healthy men over a 6-month period. Average within-subject coefficients of variation for sperm count, morphologic features, motility, and semen volume demonstrate considerable variation. Each day of abstinence increased the volume by an increment of 0.62 ml, the count by 17.6 X 10(6)/ml, and motility by 1.2%. Sperm count and semen volume correlated positively within subjects. Intraclass and serial correlations of semen measures provided an empirical clinical guide to the number and spacing of specimens. Three specimens spaced no more than 2 weeks apart established a reliable semen profile. Findings can be applied to basic research and clinical practice.
Butchering Sheep and Lambs

The ease with which lambs and sheep can be dressed makes them a convenient source of fresh meat for family use. Lamb is the flesh of young sheep. Handy-weight 25- to 45-pound lamb carcasses yield comparatively small cuts. The entire carcass is small enough so that with home refrigeration a family can consume the meat before spoilage occurs. Portions of lamb can also be frozen or canned. Some cuts can be cured satisfactorily. It can be kept as an emergency food reserve or as a source of variety in the diet.
Religious Ritual in a Scientific Space: Festival Participation and the Integration of Outsiders:

An ethnographic approach to the South Indian festival Ayudha Puja reveals that the celebration plays a role in the construction of scientific communities. Ayudha Puja has the ability to absorb west...
A Learning Path in Support of Computational Thinking in the Last Years of Primary School

A learning path supporting the development of Computational Thinking skills in students of the last years of Primary School was defined and tested in a case study involving a grade 5 class and their teacher for the whole school year. The project aimed at involving all the students regardless of their personal interest, as a standard school activity. The case study proved to be successful with respect to students’ interest and their ability to reach the main project’s objectives. Their skills increased along the project and students demonstrated to be on the right path to develop a complete and autonomous approach to Computational Thinking. Nevertheless, a longer time span would be needed to for students to master deeply the new concepts and tools. Sometimes abstraction can be difficult and concrete activities are needed to introduce new ideas. Furthermore, students showed little autonomy and a limited use of the social aspects of the chosen programming environment. Devoting a longer time to the learning path would help fostering these skills. Finally, a close integration of the learning path with the school curriculum is envisaged.
A deep learning approach to estimation of subject-level bias and variance in high angular resolution diffusion imaging.

Abstract The ability to evaluate empirical diffusion MRI acquisitions for quality and to correct the resulting imaging metrics allows for improved inference and increased replicability. Previous work has shown promise for estimation of bias and variance of generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA) but comes at the price of computational complexity. This paper aims to provide methods for estimating GFA, bias of GFA and standard deviation of GFA quickly and accurately. In order to provide a method for bias and variance estimation that can return results faster than the previously studied statistical techniques, three deep, fully-connected neural networks are developed for GFA, bias of GFA, and standard deviation of GFA. The results of these networks are compared to the observed values of the metrics as well as those fit from the statistical techniques (i.e. Simulation Extrapolation (SIMEX) for bias estimation and wild bootstrap for variance estimation). Our GFA network provides predictions that are closer to the true GFA values than a Q-ball fit of the observed data (root-mean-square error (RMSE) 0.0077 vs 0.0082, p
Interval Laparotomy with Placement of Temporary Closure

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for interval laparotomy with placement of temporary closure as performed by the following approach: open. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as that found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: laparotomy with abdominal exploration, temporary closure of the abdomen (wound VAC, silo, skin closure only, abdominal vacuum pack), and transfer to ICU for continued resuscitation.
A new species of Myxobolus (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida) infecting the medulla oblongata and nerve cord of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in southern Appalachia (New River, NC, USA)

Myxobolus neurofontinalis n. sp. infects the brain and medulla oblongata of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis [Mitchill, 1814]) in the New River, western NC. It is the first species of Myxobolus described from the brook trout and resembles another congener (Myxobolus arcticus Pugachev and Khokhlov, 1979) that infects nerve tissue of chars (Salvelinus spp.). The new species differs from M. arcticus and all congeners by myxospore dimensions and by having a mucous envelope and distinctive sutural markings. A phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit rDNA (18S) suggests that the new species shares a recent common ancestor with some isolates identified as M. arcticus and that the new species and its close relatives (except Myxobolus insidiosus Wyatt and Pratt, 1973) comprise a clade of salmonid nerve-infecting myxobolids. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that several isolates of "M. arcticus" (sensu lato) in GenBank are misidentified and distantly related to other isolates taken from the type host (Oncorhynchus nerka [Walbaum, 1792]) and from nearby the type locality (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia). Serial histological sections of infected brook trout confirmed that myxospores of the new species are intercellular and infect nerve cord and medulla oblongata only. A single infected brook trout showed an inflammatory response characterized by focal lymphocytic infiltrates and eosinophilic granulocytes; however, the remaining 4 brook trout lacked evidence of a histopathological change or demonstrable host response. These results do not support the notion that this infection is pathogenic among brook trout.
Genomewide Gene-by-Sex Interaction Scans Identify ADGRV1 for Sex Differences in Opioid Dependent African Americans.

Sex differences in opioid dependence (OD) are genetically influenced. We conducted genomewide gene-by-sex interaction scans for the DSM-IV diagnosis of OD in 8,387 African-American (AA) or European-American subjects (43.6% women; 4,715 OD subjects). Among AAs, 9 SNPs were genome-wide significant at ADGRV1 (adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor V1, lead-SNP rs2366929*(C/T), p = 1.5 × 10−9) for sex-different risk of OD, with the rs2366929*C-allele increasing OD risk only for men. The top co-expressions in brain were between ADGRV1 and GRIK2 in substantia nigra and medullary inferior olivary nucleus, and between ADGRV1 and EFHC2 in frontal cortex and putamen. Significant sex-differential ADGRV1 expression from GTEx was detected in breast (Bonferroni-corrected-p < 0.002) and in heart (p < 0.0125), with nominal significance identified in brain, thyroid, lung, and stomach (p < 0.05). ADGRV1 co-expression and disease-enrichment analysis identifying the top 10 diseases showed strikingly sexually dimorphic risks. The enrichment and transcriptome analyses provided convergent support that ADGRV1 exerts a sex-different effect on OD risk. This is the first study to identify genetic variants contributing to sex differences in OD. It shows that ADGRV1 contributes to OD risk only in AA men, a finding that warrants further study.
Click Chemistry in Proteomic Investigations

Despite advances in genetic and proteomic techniques, a complete portrait of the proteome and its complement of dynamic interactions and modifications remains a lofty, and as of yet, unrealized, objective. Specifically, traditional biological and analytical approaches have not been able to address key questions relating to the interactions of proteins with small molecules, including drugs, drug candidates, metabolites, or protein post-translational modifications (PTMs). Fortunately, chemists have bridged this experimental gap through the creation of bioorthogonal reactions. These reactions allow for the incorporation of chemical groups with highly selective reactivity into small molecules or protein modifications without perturbing their biological function, enabling the selective installation of an analysis tag for downstream investigations. The introduction of chemical strategies to parse and enrich subsets of the "functional" proteome has empowered mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods to delve more deeply and precisely into the biochemical state of cells and its perturbations by small molecules. In this Primer, we discuss how one of the most versatile bioorthogonal reactions, "click chemistry", has been exploited to overcome limitations of biological approaches to enable the selective marking and functional investigation of critical protein-small-molecule interactions and PTMs in native biological environments.
Proposal for a Global Renewable Energy Production and Storage Initiative

In this chapter attention is drawn to the necessity of challenging the engineering community and the global community at large into taking specific actions to initiate an Apollo-type global project for the conversion of the fossil-based economy to an emission-free economy by mid-century.
Fault Location Using the Natural Frequency of Oscillation of Current Discharge in MTdc Networks

This paper discusses a novel offline-fault location approach using single ended measurements. The natural dissipation of the circuit parameters are considered for fault location. A relationship between the damped natural frequency of oscillation of the transmission line current and fault location is established. The hybrid dc circuit breaker (dcCB) interrupts the fault current, whereby the transmission line current attenuates under the absence of any driving voltage source. The line capacitance discharges into the fault at a specific frequency of oscillation and rate of attenuation. Utilizing this information, the fault location in a multi-terminal direct current (MTdc) network can be obtained. A three terminal radial model of a MTdc is used for performance evaluation of the proposed method using Power System Computer Aided Design (PSCAD)/Electromagnetic Transients including dc (EMTdc).
High entropy alloys – Tunability of deformation mechanisms through integration of compositional and microstructural domains

Abstract The paradigm shift of alloying approach that led to high entropy alloys (HEAs) is now well established. Although the initial years were dominated by equiatomic approach, recent years have seen expansion in non-equiatomic compositional space that can be termed as complex concentrated alloys (CCAs). These HEAs/CCAs provide opportunities for tunable performance by manipulating deformation mechanisms. Understanding has advanced to the point that certain aspects of core effects (entropy of mixing, lattice distortion, sluggish diffusion, and cocktail effect) can be critically examined. In addition, new aspects of metastability engineering and emergence of a wide range of processing strategies has put this field on an exponential growth path. In this review, we categorize the compositional and microstructural approaches that exhibit potential for a combination of shear induced phase transformation and twinning, thereby expanding beyond the slip based mechanisms. The emerging HEAs give greater flexibility for tailoring transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), which have guided design of next-generation steels over the last 20 years to a new level. For TRIP HEAs, the ductility can be extended to as high as 50% while maintaining a strength exceeding 1 GPa. On the other hand, hierarchical microstructural engineering in AlxCoCrFeNi alloys can lead to over 2 GPa strength and >10% ductility. Observations of evolving c/a ratio in HCP phase of certain HEAs hint at possibility of new micromechanisms. While crack tip twin-bridging has been shown as a key mechanism to extend the toughness, concurrent phase transformation at the crack tip has been shown to push the fatigue endurance limit. Tunability of deformation mechanisms in HEAs is unprecedented as compared to the conventional metallic materials, particularly in compositions that exhibit shear induced transformation. The opportunities can be further enhanced by integrating the compositional and microstructure domains, and these aspects are highlighted in this review. The microstructural tailoring can take advantage of high enthalpy states in metastable HEAs with low stacking fault energy values of
Corruption and Political Mobilization: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

How do voters react to news of political corruption? Information about corruption may mobilize citizens to demand political and institutional reform, but existing empirical evidence is mixed. We argue that the effects of information about corruption on citizen attitudes and voting behavior is moderated by political efficacy (perceived influence of activism on political outcomes), which varies considerably across and within emerging democracies. To test the argument, we draw on survey data from Afghanistan collected during the 2010 Kabul Bank crisis, which revealed corruption in the formal banking system. The unanticipated scandal unfolded midway through the collection of the survey, allowing us to adopt a novel quasi-experimental approach. The scandal led to an increase in perceived corruption in government and heterogeneous effects on voting via a political efficacy mechanism. Our argument and results clarify an important puzzle in the cross national literature on corruption and voter mobilization.
Retroviral proteases

The proteases of retroviruses, such as leukemia viruses, immunodeficiency viruses (including the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV), infectious anemia viruses, and mammary tumor viruses, form a family with the proteases encoded by several retrotransposons in Drosophila and yeast and endogenous viral sequences in primates. Retroviral proteases are key enzymes in viral propagation and are initially synthesized with other viral proteins as polyprotein precursors that are subsequently cleaved by the viral protease activity at specific sites to produce mature, functional units. Active retroviral proteases are homodimers, with each dimer structurally related to the larger class of single-chain aspartic peptidases. Each monomer has four structural elements: two distinct hairpin loops, a wide loop containing the catalytic aspartic acid and an α helix. Retroviral gene sequences can vary between infected individuals, and mutations affecting the binding cleft of the protease or the substrate cleavage sites can alter the response of the virus to therapeutic drugs. The need to develop new drugs against HIV will continue to be, to a large extent, the driving force behind further characterization of retroviral proteases.
The Production of Technical Knowledge

For decades, researchers have investigated the government’s general role in stimulating private-sector innovation. However, with the productivity-growth slowdown in U.S. industries that began in the mid-1960s and that accelerated in the early 1970s, researchers began to focus on the direct impact of governmental actions on private-sector research and development (R&D), asking particularly whether governmental R&D allocations to industry complement or substitute for privately-financed R&D. While empirical evidence supported a complementary relationship, absent from all investigations was a theoretical framework to explain why such a complementary relationship exists.
NDAS: the nondeterministic agent system for engineering drawing analysis

We describe the use of nondeterministic agent systems (NDAS) to achieve a more flexible system for technical drawing analysis. They are called nondeterministic because the agents explore alternative parts of the solution space simultaneously, and every agent works to produce some result which may or may not contribute to the final result. (This is a form of speculative parallelism [N. Carriero et al., (1990)]; this can also be viewed as a distributed blackboard system [P. Winston (1984)].) The final result derives from only a subset of the work put in by all the agents. We explore nondeterminism in this problem domain since deterministic systems usually make irrevocable decisions (e.g., threshold selection) that eliminate possible solutions. The technical drawing problem domain contains many factors that vary with the drawing: thresholds, text fonts and size, noise levels, etc., and this variation makes it interesting to explore the possible solution space dynamically and in a breadth-first way.
Some results and challenges on codes and iterative decoding with non-equal symbol probabilities

Modern telecommunication and error control coding are largely designed to handle equiprobable symbols. In this paper, we present challenges and several results in designing codes and iterative decoding when we extend to non-equiprobable symbols, which may lead to better understanding of bio-signal processing in future. We first demonstrate the limitation of XOR operation in dealing with non-equiprobable symbols. We then present two possible ways to mitigate the limitation: quasi-XOR operation and intermediate transformation layer. We also show how to construct codes for non-equiprobable symbols using quasi-XOR operation and prove the codes are very poor in terms of error correction capability. We further compute probabilistic messages for sum-product algorithm using XOR, AND, and OR operations with non-equiprobable symbols. We outline further challenges to design codes for non-equiprobable symbols.
Functional Analysis of Dynactin and Cytoplasmic Dynein in Slow Axonal Transport

The neuron moves protein and membrane from the cell body to the synapse and back via fast and slow axonal transport. Little is known about the mechanism of microtubule movement in slow axonal transport, although cytoplasmic dynein, the motor for retrograde fast axonal transport of membranous organelles, has been proposed to also slide microtubules down the axon. We previously showed that most of the cytoplasmic dynein moving in the anterograde direction in the axon is associated with the microfilaments and other proteins of the slow component b (SCb) transport complex. The dynactin complex binds dynein, and it has been suggested that dynactin also associates with microfilaments. We therefore examined the role of dynein and dynactin in slow axonal transport. We find that most of the dynactin is also transported in SCb, including dynactin, which contains the neuron-specific splice variant p135 Glued , which binds dynein but not microtubules. Furthermore, SCb dynein binds dynactin in vitro . SCb dynein, like dynein from brain, binds microtubules in an ATP-sensitive manner, whereas brain dynactin binds microtubules in a salt-dependent manner. Dynactin from SCb does not bind microtubules, indicating that the binding of dynactin to microtubules is regulated and suggesting that the role of SCb dynactin is to bind dynein, not microtubules. These data support a model in which dynactin links the cytoplasmic dynein to the SCb transport complex. Dynein then may interact transiently with microtubules to slide them down the axon at the slower rate of SCa.
What Happens in the Cloud Stays in the Cloud, or Why the Cloud's Architecture Should Be Transformed in 'Virtual Territorial Scope'

The most common used adjective for cloud computing is “ubiquitous”. This characteristic poses great challenges for law, which might find itself in the need to revise its fundamentals. Regulating a “model” of “ubiquitous network access” which relates to “a shared pool of computing resources” (the NIST definition of cloud computing) is perhaps the most challenging task for regulators worldwide since the appearance of the computer, both procedurally and substantially. Procedurally, because it significantly challenges concepts such as “territorial scope of the law” - what need is there for a territorial scope of a law when regulating a structure which is designed to be “abstracted”, in the sense that nobody knows “where things physically reside” ? Substantially, because the legal implications in connection with cloud computing services are complex and cannot be encompassed by one single branch of law, such as data protection law or competition law. This paper contextualizes the idea of a global legal regime for providing cloud computing services, on one hand by referring to the wider context of global governance and, on the other hand, by pointing out several solutions for such a regime to emerge.
An Architecture for Computer-Aided Detection and Radiologic Measurement of Lung Nodules in Clinical Trials

Computer tomography (CT) imaging plays an important role in cancer detection and quantitative assessment in clinical trials. High-resolution imaging studies on large cohorts of patients generate vast data sets, which are infeasible to analyze through manual interpretation. In this article we describe a comprehensive architecture for computer-aided detection (CAD) and surveillance on lung nodules in CT images. Central to this architecture are the analytic components: an automated nodule detection system, nodule tracking capabilities and volume measurement, which are integrated within a data management system that includes mechanisms for receiving and archiving images, a database for storing quantitative nodule measurements and visualization, and reporting tools. We describe two studies to evaluate CAD technology within this architecture, and the potential application in large clinical trials. The first study involves performance assessment of an automated nodule detection system and its ability to increase radiologist sensitivity when used to provide a second opinion. The second study investigates nodule volume measurements on CT made using a semi-automated technique and shows that volumetric analysis yields significantly different tumor response classifications than a 2D diameter approach. These studies demonstrate the potential of automated CAD tools to assist in quantitative image analysis for clinical trials.
The performance of consistent checkpointing

Consistent checkpointing provides transparent fault tolerance for long-running distributed applications. Performance measurements of an implementation of consistent checkpointing are described. The measurements show that consistent checkpointing performs remarkably well. Eight computation-intensive distributed applications were executed on a network of 16 diskless Sun-3/60 workstations, and the performance without checkpointing was compared to the performance with consistent checkpoints taken at two-minute intervals. For six of the eight applications, the running time increased by less than 1% as a result of the checkpointing. The highest overhead measured was 5.8%. Incremental checkpointing and copy-on write checkpointing were the most effective techniques in lowering the running time overhead. It is argued that these measurements show that consistent checkpointing is an efficient way to provide fault tolerance for long-running distributed applications. >
A design methodology for an analog module generator that includes operational sensitivities

The stringent requirement of precision in the design of analog integrated circuits (for correct functionality and reasonable performance) warrants the use of parametrized module generators. A methodology for the design of a module generator which outputs the mask-level topological description of the layout of the specified analog circuit and a circuit-level simulation model that includes the operational sensitivities of the circuit is developed. The effectiveness of this methodology is demonstrated by an example of a generator for an operational transconductance amplifier. >
The association between cardiovascular health and health-related quality of life and health status measures among U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2001–2010

This study was conducted to examine the association between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) and health-related quality of life and health status indicators. This cross-sectional study included adult NHANES participants from 2001 to 2010 without CVD (N = 7115). CVH was defined according to AHA definitions with poor, intermediate and ideal levels of the seven factors (diet, BMI, physical activity, smoking, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol) assigned scores of 0, 1, and 2, respectively. A CVH score (CVHS) was calculated as the sum of the scores from each individual health factor (range 0–14; higher score indicating greater CVH). CVHS was categorized as poor (0–7), intermediate (8–10), and ideal (11–14). Linear regression models examined the association between CVHS category with health status and number of unhealthy days per month, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics and disability. Among US adults 20–79 years, 14, 46 and 40 % had ideal, intermediate and poor CVHS, respectively. Compared to those with poor CVH, individuals in intermediate and ideal CVH were 44 and 71 % less likely to report being in fair/poor health. Participants with ideal CVH scores reported a mean of 2.4 fewer unhealthy days over the past month, including one less day in which their physical health was not good and two fewer days in which their mental health was not good. Ideal CVH is associated with greater overall health status and fewer physically and mentally unhealthy days.
The importance of work-up (verification) bias correction in assessing the accuracy of SPECT thallium-201 testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease

Noninvasive testing is often evaluated by the sensitivity and specificity in comparison with a more invasive, but more definitive "gold" standard. However, work-up or verification bias, which occurs when the results of a noninvasive test impact the decision to perform the gold standard invasive test, increases the "observed" sensitivity and decreases the "observed" specificity of the noninvasive test. Most large clinical studies utilizing a noninvasive technique to diagnose coronary artery disease have biases, particularly work-up bias. To obtain more accurate measurements of sensitivity and specificity, we determined the observed sensitivity and specificity of stress (exercise and dipyridamole) single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) thallium testing for the detection of coronary artery disease by angiography, and then applied previously published equations to correct for work-up bias. From a computerized data base, reports of 4354 stress SPECT thallium studies from January 1, 1986 through December 31, 1992 were reviewed. All patients with a known history of myocardial infarction or prior coronary angiography were excluded, leaving 2688 patients. From this total, 471 patients underwent coronary angiography within 90 days following stress SPECT thallium testing. Coronary artery disease was defined as a visually assessed stenosis of a coronary artery or a major branch > 50%. Of the 2688 stress SPECT thallium studies, 1265 were normal and 1423 were abnormal. For the 471 patients who underwent catheterization within 90 days following stress SPECT thallium testing. the "observed" sensitivity and specificity were 98 and 14%, respectively. After correction for work-up bias, the corrected sensitivity and specificity were 82 +/- 6% and 59 +/- 2%, respectively. Most studies utilizing noninvasive technologies for the detection of coronary artery disease include patients with known coronary artery disease and have work-up bias as well. By knowing the thallium results of patients with and without catheterization, we were able to correct for work-up bias. These data provide better estimate of the sensitivity and specificity of stress SPECT thallium testing.
Acquired preparedness model and impulsivity moderated expectancies: Examining predictors of marijuana use

The acquired preparedness model suggests that links between personality and substance use are mediated by expectancies. In contrast, expectancy-moderated links between personality and substance use...
The measurement of information

Abstract This paper views information as a residual or catalytic form of energy which regulates other forms of energy in natural and artificial systems. Accordingly, attempts can be made to measure information directly or indirectly through the use of conventional energy equations. Information can be measured in terms of a basic unit, I (a set consisting of one or more algorithms and heuristics plus data) which when implemented results in work equivalent to one joule of energy. The joule, an international system (SI) unit, can be translated into other standard units of energy. The impact of information use on energy expenditure or conservation can be measured by contrasting an informed system's energy effectiveness and efficiency with that of the same or an identical uninformed system, holding other factors equal. Likewise, the value of information can be measured through the use of conventional money or time units. Future research could address the two broad areas of (1) parallel algorithmic and heuristic processing, both human and computer, at different levels of complexity, and (2) development of a matrix or “periodic table” classification to represent with SI units the diverse kinds of information elements and groups. Conventional energy equations could support the derivation of new or more refined information measures. Case data could be developed to represent instances whereby intelligent systems substitute information-intensive behavior for energy-, capital- or time-intensive behavior. Ultimately, such case data could provide a basis for statistical inferences or mathematical deductions relevant to extensive development of information and software metrics.
The Validity of Functional Behavioral Assessment with Students of Average Intellectual Ability

In the United States, functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a new requirement of the 1997 Amendments to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for students who exhibit challenging behavior...
Rigorous computational shadowing of orbits of ordinary differential equations

The existence of a true orbit near a numerically computed approximate orbit -- shadowing -- of autonomous system of ordinary differential equations is investigated. A general shadowing theorem for finite time, which guarantees the existence of shadowing in ordinary differential equations and provides error bounds for the distance between the true and the approximate orbit in terms of computable quantities, is proved. The practical use and the effectiveness of this theorem is demonstrated in the numerical computations of chaotic orbits of the Lorenz equations.
Subsecond Morphological Changes in Nafion during Water Uptake Detected by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

The ability of the Nafion membrane to absorb water rapidly and create a network of hydrated interconnected water domains provides this material with an unmatched ability to conduct ions through a chemically and mechanically robust membrane. The morphology and composition of these hydrated membranes significantly affects their transport properties and performance. This work demonstrates that differences in interfacial interactions between the membranes exposed to vapor or liquid water can cause significant changes in kinetics of water uptake. In situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments captured the rapid swelling of the membrane in liquid water with a nanostructure rearrangement on the order of seconds. For membranes in contact with water vapor, morphological changes are four orders-of-magnitude slower than in liquid water, suggesting that interfacial resistance limits the penetration of water into the membrane. Also, upon water absorption from liquid water, a structural rearrangement from a di...
Efficiency and response of sunflower to rate and timing of banded nitrogen

Abstract Nitrogen use efficiency and response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to timing and rate of surface banded N was characterized in a split‐plot 4x2 factorial experiment. Nitrogen rates (main plots) were 0, 34, 67, and 134 kg ha‐1 at Mississippi State and 0, 45, 90 and 180 kg ha‐1 at Brooksville, MS. Nitrogen, applied as NH4NO3, was surface banded either at planting or at the four leaf stage (subplot). Seed yield was significantly influenced by rate of N application at both locations. Seed yield showed a quadratic response at Mississippi State and a Mitscherlich‐type response at Brooksville. Maximum seed yields of 2606 and 2380 kg ha‐1 were obtained at the respective sites. Sunflower responded to N fertilizer application when inorganic N content of the soil to 60 cm depth at planting was less than 50 kg ha‐1. Nitrogen efficiency was influenced by rate and timing of application, exhibiting exponential declines with increasing N rates. Fertilizer losses at the highest rates of applied N were 19 an...
Forequarter amputation with fasciocutaneous deltoid flap reconstruction for malignant tumors of the upper extremity

Background: Malignant tumors of the upper extremity involving a considerable portion of the medial axillary wall may require forequarter amputation to achieve gross resection of tumor. These resections frequently leave a large defect, often requiring a split thickness skin graft or free flap to close the wound. To address this problem of wound closure, we have modified our technique and devised a reconstructive component as part of our forequarter amputation procedure.
A study of the structure of petroleum asphaltenes and related substances by proton nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract The distribution of hydrogen according to structural type in a series of representative asphaltic materials was investigated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Determination of the fraction of total hydrogens, which are saturated, hs, by using the NMR technique was shown to be more accurate than by infrared spectrophotometry. Also, by utilizing data on the diameter of the aromatic sheets, La, obtained by X-ray diffraction, the shape of the aromatic centers was shown to vary but, on the whole, to be highly condensed and in no case chainlike in nature. Approximately 48 to 70 percent of the positions on the edge of the aromatic centers are substituted by atoms other than hydrogen. While the presence of naphthenic groups was confirmed, lack of reference data did not permit determination of size, shape, or degree of substitution. For the fractions prepared from crude oils, approximately 29 to 66 percent of the terminal carbons are in methyl or ethyl groups attached to the aromatic centers. NM...
The relationship of self-reported affect to performance in serial learning

Affect self-report ratings were taken before, during, and after Montague’s (1953) easy (noncompetitive) and hard (competitive) serial lists. Increased excitement, anxiety, unpleasantness, tenseness, and annoyance were related significantly to poorer performance on the hard list but not on the easy list. Compared with resting levels, significantly more negative affect was experienced during performance on the hard than on the easy list. The experience of negative affect preceded the main decrement in performance.
Intraosseous vascular access for alert patients

Nurses are often faced with the challenge of starting an IV line in a patient who is dehydrated, has suffered trauma, or is in shock. Even the efforts of the most skilled clinician may fail, while valuable time is lost. Intraosseous access is a rapid, safe, and effective route for delivering fluids and medications, and is recommended by numerous professional and specialty organizations for both pediatric and adult patients. Yet many clinicians remain unaware of the procedure. This article outlines the procedure and devices used, describes support for use in the literature, and discusses various considerations and nursing implications.
Variant-specific prion interactions: Complicating factors

Prions are protein conformations that “self-seed” the misfolding of their non-prion iso-forms into prion, often amyloid, conformations. The most famous prion is the mammalian PrP protein that in its prion form causes transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Curiously there can be distinct conformational differences even between prions of the same protein propagated in the same host species. These are called prion strains or variants. For example, different PrP variants are faithfully transmitted during self-seeding and are associated with distinct disease characteristics. Variant-specific PrP prion differences include the length of the incubation period before the disease appears and the deposition of prion aggregates in distinct regions of the brain.1 Other more common neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, type 2 diabetes and ALS) are likewise caused by the misfolding of a normal protein into a self-seeding aggregate.2-4 One of the most important unanswered questions is how the first prion-like seed arises de novo, resulting in the pathological cascade.
Tobacco retail clustering around schools in New York City: Examining “place” and “space”

This paper investigates whether tobacco retailers cluster around schools in New York City. Retail clustering is assessed through two measures: (1) proximity of retailers to schools and (2) density of retailers around schools. Through exploratory spatial statistics and OLS regression, we analyze how retailer density and proximity to schools vary in relation to socio-demographic differences across NYC community districts. As a secondary objective, we test whether patterns of retail clustering differ when assessed by proximity versus density. We identify areas of positive spatial autocorrelation in lower Manhattan and the Bronx, indicating that some NYC community districts have significantly higher density of tobacco retailers around schools than others. The density and proximity of tobacco retailers to schools co-vary with population density, commercial land use and broad indicators of social disadvantage including health insurance coverage. We also find that patterns of retail clustering differ when assessed using either density or proximity, suggesting that land use interventions that restrict tobacco retail proximity to schools might not address retailer density around schools.
Relocation of Chydorus barroisi and related species (Cladocera, Chydoridae) to a new genus and description of two new species

Five taxa already in the literature are here removed from Chydorus to their own genus Ephemeroporus, and two new species — E. acanthodes and E. archboldi — are described, with E. acanthodes being designated the type species of the genus. These taxa, plus at least nine undescribed species and others undoubtedly waiting to be sorted out, constitute a tightly circumscribed group of species morphologically. The first two species described — E. barroisi and E. poppei — are nomina dubia for the present, as no specimens exist from the original collections, nor are any available from the type localities or reasonably close thereto. E. hybridus from Brazil has been characterized in greater detail through the availability of specimens from the type series, which has enabled one of the species in the E. hybridus group from North America to be judged conspecific with reasonable certainty. E. tridentatus, from Brazil, has been restored as a valid species, and the highly distinctive E. phintonicus from Sardinia and Algeria constitutes the seventh species in the genus. Chydorus nitidulus and Chydorus tilhoi, which have been suggested to be members of the barroisi complex, are not. What are presently called E. barroisi and E. hybridus, except for E. hybridus, sens. str., each consists of a cluster of species sharing the same number of teeth on the labrum and shell. Because of their wide, distribution, abundance, and frequency of occurrence, especially in South Asia, the species in the E. barroisi group will be especially meaningful to sort out.
Predictors and Level of Sustainability of Community Prevention Coalitions

Background After many years in which evaluations had generally not found the coalition approach to be effective, the community-coalition approach has recently been shown to produce a public health impact if best practices are utilized. The next challenge is to foster sustainability among coalitions in order to achieve long-term public health outcomes. This study examined the level of and predictors of sustainability among Communities That Care (CTC) sites in Pennsylvania. Methods Board functioning and the funding of 110 CTC sites were assessed through the reports of board members, staff, and technical-assistance providers from 2003 through 2006; data were analyzed in 2007. Results Ninety percent of CTC coalitions continued after the 3-year initial funding period, with 3%–8% of sites terminating each year thereafter. Approximately two thirds of CTC sites continued to operate 4 years after the termination of the original 3-year implementation grant. Many of the sites attracted funding at a level equivalent to or greater than the initial grant. Overall coalition functioning, as reported by either board members or technical-assistance providers, along with planning for sustainability, predicted both survival and post-launch funding. Conclusions Evidence suggests that board functioning predicts survival, at least in part independently of its influence on funding; and that planning for sustainability predicts sustainability, at least in part independently of overall coalition functioning.
Claustrophobia: A Guide to Information Resources

A phobia is a condition that is caused by fear of a specific object or situation. Phobias constitute the most common form of psychiatric disorder. “People of all ages, at all income levels and in all geographic locations suffer from phobias, according to a study of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Between 5.1 percent and 12.5 percent of Americans suffer from phobias.”