cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Electronic Health Record Use and Quality of Care over Time

Objective: Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to advance the quality of care, but studies have shown mixed results. The authors sought to examine the extent of EHR usage and how the quality of care delivered in ambulatory care practices varied according to duration of EHR availability. Methods: The study linked two data sources: a statewide survey of physicians' adoption and use of EHR and claims data reflecting quality of care as indicated by physicians' performance on widely used quality measures. Using four years of measurement, we combined 18 quality measures into 6 clinical condition categories. While the survey of physicians was cross-sectional, respondents indicated the year in which they adopted EHR. In an analysis accounting for duration of EHR use, we examined the relationship between EHR adoption and quality of care. Results: The percent of physicians reporting adoption of EHR and availability of EHR core functions more than doubled between 2000 and 2005. Among EHR users in 2005, the average duration of EHR use was 4.8 years. For all 6 clinical conditions, there was no difference in performance between EHR users and non-users. In addition, for these 6 clinical conditions, there was no consistent pattern between length of time using an EHR and physicians performance on quality measures in both bivariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, we found no association between duration of using an EHR and performance with respect to quality of care, although power was limited. Intensifying the use of key EHR features, such as clinical decision support, may be needed to realize quality improvement from EHRs. Future studies should examine the relationship between the extent to which physicians use key EHR functions and their performance on quality measures over time.
C-reactive protein is significantly associated with prostate-specific antigen and metastatic disease in prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE To further analyse the relationship of c-reactive protein (CRP) levels to prostate cancer, by measuring CRP in men with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), as chronic inflammation has long been linked to cancers with an infectious cause and CRP is a nonspecific marker for inflammation, associated with prostate cancer incidence and progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from 114 men, most of whom had had radioactive seeds implanted, were evaluated from November 1990 to April 2002. In addition, 27 men were included who had biopsy-confirmed BPH. CRP was assessed with an automated chemiluminometric high-sensitivity assay kit. RESULTS There was no significant difference in CRP levels in men with localized prostate cancer or BPH but levels were significantly higher in men with bone metastases. There was also a significant correlation of CRP level with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in those with cancer. Because PSA is correlated with disease stage, multiple linear regression was used with CRP as the dependent variable, and PSA and disease stage as independent variables. The regression was significant overall (P < 0.001) and the effect of disease stage on CRP (P < 0.001) was independent of the effect of PSA level (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION The strong association of CRP with PSA, independent of tumour stage, suggests that inflammation might be fundamental in prostate cancer, and that chronic inflammation may be a legitimate target for prostate cancer chemoprevention and treatment.
Paraoxonase-2 Is a Ubiquitously Expressed Protein with Antioxidant Properties and Is Capable of Preventing Cell-mediated Oxidative Modification of Low Density Lipoprotein

Abstract The oxidation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and cell membrane lipids is believed to play an integral role in the development of fatty streak lesions, an initial step in atherogenesis. We have previously shown that two antioxidant-like enzymes, paraoxonase (PON)-1 and PON3, are high density lipoprotein-associated proteins capable of preventing the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) (Reddy, S. T., Wadleigh, D. J., Grijalva, V., Ng, C., Hama, S., Gangopadhyay, A., Shih, D. M., Lusis, A. J., Navab, M., and Fogelman, A. M. (2001)Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 21, 542–547). In the present study, we demonstrate that PON2 (i) is not associated with high density lipoprotein; (ii) has antioxidant properties; and (iii) prevents LDL lipid peroxidation, reverses the oxidation of mildly oxidized LDL (MM-LDL), and inhibits the ability of MM-LDL to induce monocyte chemotaxis. The PON2 protein was overexpressed in HeLa cells using the tetracycline-inducible (“Tet-On”) system, and its antioxidant capacity was measured in a fluorometric assay. Cells that overexpressed PON2 showed significantly less intracellular oxidative stress following treatment with hydrogen peroxide or oxidized phospholipid. Moreover, cells that overexpressed PON2 were also less effective in oxidizing and modifying LDL and, in fact, were able to reverse the effects of preformed MM-LDL. Our results suggest that PON2 possesses antioxidant properties similar to those of PON1 and PON3. However, in contrast to PON1 and PON3, PON2 may exert its antioxidant functions at the cellular level, joining the host of intracellular antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative stress.
Adaptive Linear Prediction for Resource Estimation of Video Decoding

Current systems often assume "worst case" resource utilization for the design and implementation of compression techniques and standards, thereby neglecting the fact that multimedia coding algorithms require time-varying resources, which differ significantly from the "worst case" requirements. To enable adaptive resource management for multimedia systems, resource-estimation mechanisms are needed. Previous research demonstrated that online adaptive linear prediction techniques typically exhibit superior efficiency to other alternatives for resource prediction of multimedia systems. In this paper, we formulate the problem of adaptive linear prediction of video decoding resources by analytically expressing the possible adaptation parameters for a broad class of video decoders. The resources are measured in terms of the time required for a particular operation of each decoding unit (e.g., motion compensation or entropy decoding of a video frame). Unlike prior research that mainly focuses on estimation of execution time based on previous measurements (i.e., based on autoregressive prediction or platform and decoder-specific off-line training), we propose the use of generic complexity metrics (GCMs) as the input for the adaptive predictor. GCMs represent the number of times the basic building blocks are executed by the decoder and depend on the source characteristics, decoding bit rate, and the specific algorithm implementation. Different GCM granularities (e.g., per video frame or macroblock) are explored. Our previous research indicated that GCMs can be measured or modeled at the encoder or the video server side and they can be streamed to the decoder along with the compressed bitstream. A comparison of GCM-based versus autoregressive adaptive prediction over a large range of adaptation parameters is performed. Our results indicate that GCM-based prediction is significantly superior to the autoregressive approach and also requires less computational resources at the decoder. As a result, a novel resource-prediction tradeoff is explored between: 1) the communication overhead for GCMs and/or the implementation overhead for the realization of the predictor and 2) the improvement of the prediction performance. Since this tradeoff can be significant for the decoder platform (either from the communication or the implementation perspective), we propose complexity (or communication)-bounded adaptive linear prediction in order to derive the best resource estimation under the given implementation (or GCM-communication) bound
Gender similarities in the relationship between psychological aspects of disordered eating and self-silencing.

A recent and major focus in the psychology of men and masculinity has been the attempt to better understand men’s experiences of disordered eating. Previously, research with women suggested emotional self-denial in the context of interpersonal relationships, self-silencing, predicted disordered eating. Based on evidence suggesting that both men and women share the same basic psychological aspects underpinning disordered eating, the current study sought to document a relationship between selfsilencing and disordered eating. Measures of the psychological aspects of disordered eating (Eating Disorders Inventory) and the standard measure of self-silencing (Silencing the Self Scale) were administered and analyzed in a non-clinical, collegiate sample of 82 men and 140 women between the ages of 18 –22 years. Results show that self-silencing predicted disordered eating equally well in both men and women, and the magnitude of the relationship was large (r .63, p .001; r .75, p .001). Canonical correlations suggest that the factor structures of the measures that assessed these relationships were similar for both men and women. Implications of these findings for further research and practice are discussed.
Ecological adaptation and reproductive isolation in sympatry: genetic and phenotypic evidence for native host races of Rhagoletis pomonella

Ecological speciation with gene flow may be an important mode of diversification for phytophagous insects. The recent shift of Rhagoletis pomonella from its native host downy hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) to introduced apple (Malus domestica) in the northeastern United States is a classic example of sympatric host race formation. Here, we test whether R. pomonella has similarly formed host races on four native Crataegus species in the southern United States: western mayhaw (C. opaca), blueberry hawthorn (C. brachyacantha), southern red hawthorn (C. mollis var. texana) and green hawthorn (C. viridis). These four southern hosts differ from each other in their fruiting phenology and in the volatile compounds emitted from the surface of their fruits. These two traits form the basis of ecological reproductive isolation between downy hawthorn and apple flies in the north. We report evidence from microsatellite population surveys and eclosion studies supporting the existence of genetically differentiated and partially reproductively isolated host races of southern hawthorn flies. The results provide an example of host shifting and ecological divergence involving native plants and imply that speciation with gene flow may be commonly initiated in Rhagoletis when ecological opportunity presents itself.
New agents for bacillus Calmette-Guérin-refractory bladder cancer.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin has been established as the primary treatment of high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. If patients do not respond or later recur, the most reliable treatment option is cystectomy. For those who are unwilling or unable to undergo this significant procedure, there is a multitude of alternative intravesical therapies. This article provides an overview of treatment options for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who have failed intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy. It includes information on recent and ongoing trials and serves as a guide for clinicians regarding available therapies and a reference for researchers in this field.
Observed octameric assembly of a Plasmodium yoelii peroxiredoxin can be explained by the replacement of native "ball-and-socket" interacting residues by an affinity tag.

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitous and efficient antioxidant enzymes crucial for redox homeostasis in most organisms, and are of special importance for disease-causing parasites that must protect themselves against the oxidative weapons of the human immune system. Here, we describe reanalyses of crystal structures of two Prxs from malaria parasites. In addition to producing improved structures, we provide normalizing explanations for features that had been noted as unusual in the original report of these structures (Qiu et al., BMC Struct Biol 2012;12:2). Most importantly, we provide evidence that the unusual octameric assembly seen for Plasmodium yoelii Prx1a is not physiologically relevant, but arises because the structure is not of authentic P. yoelii Prx1a, but a variant we designate PyPrx1aN* that has seven native N-terminal residues replaced by an affinity tag. This N-terminal modification disrupts a previously unrecognized, hydrophobic “ball-and-socket” interaction conserved at the B-type dimer interface of Prx1 subfamily enzymes, and is accommodated by a fascinating two-residue “β-slip” type register shift in the β-strand association at a dimer interface. The resulting change in the geometry of the dimer provides a simple explanation for octamer formation. This study illustrates how substantive impacts can occur in protein variants in which native residues have been altered.
Clinical Review: Dermatoglyphics in Medicine

This review outlines the rudiments of dermatoglyphics and gives normal values for the various dermatoglyphic abnormalities which occur with certain chromosomal aberrations and with rubella embryopathy.
Carrera académica: análisis empírico de su estructura y organización en Chile

This article reveals results from the research “Standards and perceptions regarding to the academic career: analysis on the institutional context and teachers’ experiences in Chilean universities”, including 67 interviews to teachers belonging to seven public and private universities at southern, northern and central areas of the country. The study shows advanced degrees (such as PhD and post-PhD) and research skills (measured by the number of projects awarded and ISI or SciELO articles published) have a wider impact and are more significant to reach success and stability in a career. Although less valued, teaching and managing roles are indispensable conditions institutions request to their teachers. The analysis includes how variables such as age, gender, discipline (knowledge field) and type of institution (public or private) increase complexity in defining what career to choose and become an interesting field for the future managing of university system in Chile.
Multi-sensor integration in intelligent robotic workstation

The method of relaxation labeling, which is a parallel distributed processing mechanism, is presented. Relaxation labeling is able to integrate the sensor data with some known knowledge. Such an integration is implemented by forcing constraint satisfaction. One type of constraint satisfaction in intelligent robotic systems is described. A relaxation labeling algorithm is presented. The local convergence properties of a labeling process are established. Its global behavior was examined numerically. To illustrate its potential applications in robotic workstations, the relaxation labeling algorithm was applied to perform an object identification task in an intelligent robotic workstation with two cameras. >
Data Interrogation Approaches with Strain and Load Gauge Sensor Arrays

This article considers how strain gauges and load gauges are being used as sensors (hardware) in conjunction with feature extraction algorithms (software) in structural health monitoring and damage prognosis applications. A concise review of mature strain gauge and load gauge technologies is presented, followed by a discussion on how the community has implemented data mining with these specific types of sensor arrays to make a system assessment of some kind. Examples from current SHM literature are provided for illustration where appropriate. Keywords: strain gauges; load cells; data mining; strain monitoring; strain features
Inappropriate Medication Use and Health Outcomes in the Elderly

Inappropriate medication use is a major problem for the elderly. Although increasing attention has been paid to inappropriate prescription medication use, most previous research has been limited to the investigation of prevalence and trends. Few studies provide the empirical evidence for the adverse effect of inappropriate medication use on health outcomes at the national level. This study is the first attempt to assess the relationship between inappropriate prescription use and health status for the elderly in the United States. Based on the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, inappropriate medication use in a national representative elderly population was first identified using Beers criteria. A survey type of ordered probit model was then estimated to quantify the effect of inappropriate drug use on patient self-perceived health status measured using a five-point scale (poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent). After controlling for a set of possible confounding factors, it was found that individuals using inappropriate medications in Round 1 were more likely than those not using inappropriate medications to report poorer health status in Round 2. Other risk factors for poor health status include a higher number of prescriptions, being black, having low education, and having one or more chronic diseases. This study provides strong evidence of a significant adverse effect of inappropriate medication use on patient health status. These findings lend partial support to the use of Beers criteria in assessing the quality of prescribing and the appropriateness of medication use in the elderly population.
Ethical decision making in software piracy: initial development and test of a four-component model

Software piracy costs the software industry billions of dollars each year. To better understand piracy, we propose a model of ethical decision making that is an adaptation of the four-component model of morality. This model defines four internal processes that result in external moral behavior: recognition, judgment, intention, and behavior. We test our model with a sample of Information Systems students in Hong Kong who provided measures of self-reported behavior regarding levels of buying and using pirated software. Using partial least squares, we investigated the causal pathways of the model and the effects of age and gender. We find that use is determined by buying, buying is determined by intention, and intention is determined by judgment. Although respondents recognized software piracy as an infringement of intellectual property rights, this fact did not affect their judgment of the morality of the act. Significant differences are also found in the ethical decision-making process based on age but only limited differences based on gender. The implications of these results, including the development of a professional ethics program, are discussed.
When tight is too tight: Dasatinib and its lower affinity analogue for profiling kinase inhibitors in a three-hybrid split-luciferase system

The development of methods for profiling inhibitors of protein kinases has seen tremendous progress over the last decade. We have previously reported a split-luciferase based three-hybrid approach for determining kinase inhibitor selectivity that utilized the promiscuous staurosporine warhead for designing chemical inducers of dimerization (CID). Herein we describe the extension of this methodology to target the tyrosine kinase (TK) group using a Dasatinib warhead based CID. We found that though the Dasatinib enabled CID provided a means for assembling the split-protein fragments, it had too tight an affinity in the context of the three-hybrid system for several TKs and could not be displaced with inhibitors. By tuning the affinity of Dasatinib, we were able to successfully target multiple TKs that could subsequently be assayed for inhibition by small molecules. We further demonstrated that the new CID allowed for the screening and identification of inhibitors against ABL.
Multiwavelength optical content-addressable parallel processor for high-speed parallel relational database processing.

We present a novel, to our knowledge, architecture for parallel database processing called the multiwavelength optical content-addressable parallel processor (MW-OCAPP). The MW-OCAPP is designed to provide efficient parallel data retrieval and processing by means of moving the bulk of database operations from electronics to optics. It combines a parallel model of computation with the many-degrees-of-processing freedom that light provides. The MW-OCAPP uses a polarization and wavelength-encoding scheme to achieve a high level of parallelism. Distinctive features of the proposed architecture include (1) the use of a multiwavelength encoding scheme to enhance processing parallelism, (2) multicomparand word-parallel bit-parallel equality and magnitude comparison with an execution time independent of the data size or the word size, (3) the implementation of a suite of 11 database primitives, and (4) multicomparand two-dimensional data processing. The MW-OCAPP architecture realizes 11 relational database primitives: difference, intersection, union, conditional selection, maximum, minimum, join, product, projection, division, and update. Most of these operations execute in constant time, independent of the data size. We outline the architectural concepts and motivation behind the MW-OCAPP’s design and describe the architecture required for implementing the equality and intersection–difference processing cores. Additionally, a physical demonstration of the multiwavelength equality operation is presented, and a performance analysis of the proposed system is provided.
Fish intake guidelines: incorporating n−3 fatty acid intake and contaminant exposure in the Korean and Japanese communities

Background:Fishconsumptionadvisoriesaredevelopedtoprevent overexposuretovariouscontaminants.Recently,discussionhascenteredontheneedtoconsiderthebenefitsoffishconsumptionalongside possible risks when providing guidance. Objective: As part of the Arsenic Mercury Intake Biometric Study involvingtheJapaneseandKoreancommunitieslivinginWashington State, we obtained fish and nutrient intake data. Japanese and Korean women of childbearing age (n 214) participated in this longitudinalstudy.Weusedthesedata,alongwithhair-mercurydata to determine the need for both the nutritional benefits and concern about contaminants to be included when providing guidance. Design: We examined the intake of 2 n3 long-chain fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish and associated with a variety of beneficial health effects. Intakes of these lipids were used as surrogates to characterize the beneficial effect from fish consumption, and the intake of mercury was used to establish the risk from consumption. Results: These 2 populations provided an ideal basis from which to examine this issue because their fish consumption rates were identical and higher than national rates, but their mercury intakes vary substantiallybecauseofdifferentconsumptionbehaviors.Resultsindicatethat basing fish consumption guidelines on contaminant concentrations alone can have the unintended consequence of causing a portion of the population to have inadequate intake of required nutrients. Conclusion: Public health goals may be better served if nutritional elementsandcontaminantconcernsarequantitativelyincorporatedinto fish consumption guidelines. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87:1867–75.
Interplay of multiple vibrational spectral densities in femtosecond nonlinear spectroscopy of liquids

The multimode Brownian oscillator model of nonlinear response functions is generalized to include a multielectronic level system interacting with several spectral densities representing solvent and vibrational coupling to electronic energies, transition dipoles, and permanent dipoles. Applications to resonant and off‐resonant transient grating as well as to infrared and fifth‐order Raman photon echoes illustrate how the various spectral densities may be probed separately.
40 Gb/s transmission over 140 m 62.5 /spl mu/m multimode fiber using polarization controlled launch

Launch polarizations excite different modes in commercial-grade multi-mode fiber. By controlling input polarization and monitoring output eye-diagram, 40 Gb/s transmission over 140 m 62.5/125 mum fiber is demonstrated using return-to-zero format with readily available single-mode transceivers
Determinant of the null return-difference matrix

Relations between the determinant of the null return-difference matrix and the generalised cofactors of the elements of the network matrices are presented.
A Contrast of the East Asian Summer Monsoon–ENSO Relationship between 1962–77 and 1978–93*

Abstract Using station rainfall data and the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis, the authors investigate changes in the interannual relationship between the east Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the late 1970s, concurrent with the Pacific climate shift. The present study focuses on decaying phases of ENSO because changes in developing phases of ENSO are less significant. Remarkable changes are found in the summer rainfall anomaly in northern China and Japan. From pre- to postshift period, the summer rainfall anomaly in eastern north China during decaying phases of El Nino changed from above to below normal, whereas that in central Japan changed from negative to normal. Consistent with this, the barotropic anticyclonic anomaly over the Japan Sea changed to cyclonic; the associated anomalous winds changed from southerly to northerly over the Yellow Sea–northeastern China and from northeasterly to northwesterly over central Japan. The change in the ENSO–related east Asian summer circu...
Cocoa, Coffee, Tea and Yerba Maté

These beverages have certain characteristics in common: all are natural products that have been heat-treated to develop their characteristic flavors; all contain caffeine; the flavoring ingredients of all four are complex and partially due to tannins; and all are drunk as aqueous infusions (or emulsions in the case of cocoa).
The Reverse Racism Effect

Research Summary Race-related debates often assume that implicit racial bias will result in racially biased decisions to shoot. Previous research has examined racial bias in police decisions by pressing “shoot” or “don't-shoot” buttons in response to pictures of armed and unarmed suspects. As a result of its lack of external validity, however, this methodology provides limited insight into officer behavior in the field. In response, we conducted the first series of experimental research studies that tested police officers and civilians in strikingly realistic deadly force simulators. Policy Implications This article reports the results of our most recent experiment, which tested 80 police patrol officers by applying this leading edge method. We found that, despite clear evidence of implicit bias against Black suspects, officers were slower to shoot armed Black suspects than armed White suspects, and they were less likely to shoot unarmed Black suspects than unarmed White suspects. These findings challenge the assumption that implicit racial bias affects police behavior in deadly encounters with Black suspects.
Behaviour disorders in adults with learning disabilities: Effect of age and differentiation from other psychiatric disorders

Objective : To clarify the effect of age on behaviour disorders in adults with learning disabilities, and the differentiation of behaviour disorders from other psychiatric disorders. Method : Detailed assessments, measuring maladaptive behaviours, psychiatric disorders and demographic factors were completed on 93.7% of all people with learning disabilities aged 65 years and over, living in Leicestershire, UK (n = 134), and also a random sample of adults with learning disabilities aged 20-64 years (n = 73). Behaviour disorders were distinguished from other psychiatric disorders. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Result : Equal rates (15%) and types of behaviour disorder were found in the two groups. The presence of behaviour disorder was associated with the severity of learning disabilities, but age was not associated, and nor was presence of epilepsy or gender. In many cases, positive scores on the behavioural assessment, which carers attributed to challenging behaviour/ behaviour disorder, were actually symptoms of psychiatric illness. Conclusion : Behaviour disorders persist into old age, and therefore require management from the appropriate services. This need will increase, due to increasing lifespan. The accurate interpretation of behaviour scales requires that a comprehensive psychiatric assessment is also undertaken, particularly in elderly people where rates of psychiatric disorders are higher than for younger adults.
Surgical Treatment of Pleuritis and Pericarditis

Surgery of the bovine chest is rarely attempted; however, there are distinct indications and procedures available to treat both pericarditis, suppurative pleuritis and pleural effusions. Open lavage of the pericardial sac or pleural space has proven successful in carefully selected cases. The surgical procedures for pericardiotomy and thoracotomy are discussed.
Clinical and Epidemiological Characterization of the First Recognized Outbreak of Dengue Virus-Type 2 in Mozambique, 2014

Since the first reported epidemic of dengue in Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado province, in 1984-1985, no further cases have been reported in Mozambique. In March 2014, the Provincial Health Directorate of Cabo Delgado reported a suspected dengue outbreak in Pemba, associated with a recent increase in the frequency of patients with nonmalarial febrile illness. An investigation conducted between March and June detected a total of 193 clinically suspected dengue patients in Pemba and Nampula, the capital of neighboring Nampula Province. Dengue virus-type 2 (DENV-2) was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in sera from three patients, and 97 others were classified as probable cases based on the presence of DENV nonstructural protein 1 antigen or anti-DENV immunoglobulin M antibody. Entomological investigations demonstrated the presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitos in both Pemba and Nampula cities.
A review of heartwater and the threat of introduction of Cowdria ruminantium and Amblyomma spp. ticks to the American mainland.

Heartwater, caused by the rickettsial agent Cowdria ruminantium, is one of the most devastating livestock diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to domestic cattle, sheep, and goats, a variety of nondomestic species can acquire subclinical and clinical infections. Recent epidemiologic findings that demonstrate a long-term host carrier state in domestic and wild ruminants, intrastadial transmission by the tick vectors (Amblyomma spp.), vertical transmission of the agent from cows to their calves, and the presence of both C. ruminantium and Amblyomma variegatum in the Caribbean suggest that the introduction of this exotic disease to the American mainland is a significant threat. Veteri narians working with wildlife should be familiar with this disease and should follow appropriate preventive measures to minimize the risk of infection in captive and wild populations of ruminants.
Undergoing varicocele repair before assisted reproduction improves pregnancy rate and live birth rate in azoospermic and oligospermic men with a varicocele: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective To evaluate how varicocele repair (VR) impacts pregnancy (PRs) and live birth rates in infertile couples undergoing assisted reproduction wherein the male partner has oligospermia or azoospermia and a history of varicocele. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Azoospermic and oligospermic males with varicoceles and in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) with IUI, IVF, or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) with IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Intervention(s) Measurement of PRs, live birth, and sperm extraction rates. Main Outcome Measure(s) Odds ratios for the impact of VR on PRs, live birth, and sperm extraction rates for couples undergoing ART. Result(s) Seven articles involving a total of 1,241 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that VR improved live birth rates for the oligospermic (odds ratio [OR] = 1.699) and combined oligospermic/azoospermic groups (OR = 1.761). Pregnancy rates were higher in the azoospermic group (OR = 2.336) and combined oligospermic/azoospermic groups (OR = 1.760). Live birth rates were higher for patients undergoing IUI after VR (OR = 8.360). Sperm retrieval rates were higher in persistently azoospermic men after VR (OR = 2.509). Conclusion(s) Oligospermic and azoospermic patients with clinical varicocele who undergo VR experience improved live birth rates and PRs with IVF or IVF/ICSI. For persistently azoospermic men after VR requiring TESE for IVF/ICSI, VR improves sperm retrieval rates. Therefore, VR should be considered to have substantial benefits for couples with a clinical varicocele even if oligospermia or azoospermia persists after repair and ART is required.
Equality, Trust and Universalism in Europe, Canada and the United States: Implications for Health Care Policy

A number of theoretical explanations seek to describe the factors that have led to the position of the United States as the last industrialized Western nation without a universal health care program. Theories focus on institutional arrangement, historic precedent, and the influence of the private sector and market forces. This study explores another factor: the role of underlying social values. The research examines differences in values among ten European countries, the United States and Canada, and analyzes the associations between the values that have been seen to contribute the individualism-collectivism dynamic in the United States. The hypothesis that equality and generalized trust are positively associated with universalism is only partially true. Equality is positively associated (β = .301, p < .001), while generalized trust is negatively associated with universalism (β = –.052, p < .001). Not only do Americans show lower levels of support for income equality and universalism than Europeans, but the effect of being American holds even after controlling for socio-demographic and religious variables (β =.044, p < .01). When the model tests the association of equality and trust on universalism in each region, it explains approximately 17 percent of the variance of universalism for the United States, and approximately 13 percent in Europe and Canada.
An Advection-Diffusion Model for the Vacancy Migration Memristor

This paper proposes the advection-diffusion equation for modeling the bipolar memristor. The model identifies limiters to switching speed, reproduces general experimental results including those relating temperature dependence of $I$ – $V$ curves, and abstracts the contemporary dual variable resistor model. The model also reveals implicit complex resistors that cause the fleeting negative resistance characteristic in the memristor, as observed by Chua. Elegant closed-form solutions with remarkable scope are produced even under simplified modeling conditions. Numerical methods verify the closed form model. The proposed model uniquely derives all memristive behavior from a single governing advection-diffusion equation and bridges the vacancy and circuit domain abstractions.
Optimal network topologies for mitigating security and epidemic risks

We consider networked environments under security and epidemic risks, where the probability of successful attack or infection at each vertex depends on the actions or states of its neighbors. In such settings, we consider the problem of designing an optimal network topology with a given number of vertices and edges in order to minimize the expected fraction of attacked or infected vertices. We show that such problems can be cast as minimizing the sum of a concave function of the vertex degrees, and generalize existing results on network design to obtain insights about the optimal network topologies. We first consider a class of interdependent security games where each vertex represents a user that invests in security to protect herself. The probability of successful attack at any given vertex is a function of the security investments in the neighborhood of that vertex. We introduce the notion of behavioral risk-attitudes, where each user perceives the security risks in a skewed manner (as prescribed by established models from the behavioral economics literature). We characterize an upper bound on the expected number of vertices that are successfully attacked under the Nash equilibrium security investments in such settings, and identify the network topologies that minimize this bound. We then consider the N-intertwined approximation of SIS epidemic dynamics, and characterize graphs that minimize (bounds on) the fraction of infected vertices in steady state.
A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF EXERCISE TESTING IN DIAGNOSING PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

Background: Although the resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) is commonly used to diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD), limited data suggest several indices measured after exercise may have increased sensitivity for identifying PAD. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of resting ABI
Bending properties of loblolly pine

Abstract A three-point bending test was used to assess the effects of moisture content, radial location, and tree height on the specific toughness and bending stress of loblolly pine. Test samples were collected at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of the radial distance between the tree pith and bark, across four heights (0 mm/tree base, 116.84 mm/breast height, 304.80 mm, and 457.20 mm) of five randomly selected loblolly pine tree trunks. The wood samples were cut into cuboid shapes (40 mm by 10 mm by 5 mm). The samples from the various tree radius and tree height combinations were then adjusted to 10%, 20%, or 30% moisture content (wet basis). The average specific toughness of loblolly pine varied between 14.41 kJ/m2 and 100.75 kJ/m2 whereas the average bending stress of loblolly pine varied between 35.14 MPa and 117.65 MPa. Increase in the moisture content of loblolly pine caused increase in its specific toughness and decrease in its bending stress. The bending stress and specific toughness of loblolly pine decreased with decreasing tree radius and increasing tree height. This result show that wood materials get tougher and stronger as they mature. Regression analysis revealed that moisture content was the most important factor influencing the specific toughness and bending stress of loblolly pine. The r2 for the polynomial regression model developed to predict specific toughness and bending stress from moisture content, tree height, and tree radius were 0.614 and 0.662, respectively.
Comprehensive Magnetic Study of Nanostructured Mesoporous Manganese Oxide Materials and Implications for Catalytic Behavior

Magnetic behavior of nanostructured mesoporous manganese oxide materials, designated UCT-1 and UCT-18, were studied using a combination of superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry and 55Mn zero-field spin–echo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Curie–Weiss fits to the magnetic susceptibility for the UCT-1 and UCT-18 samples calcined at 550 °C yielded paramagnetic moment values consistent with spin-only Mn3+ ions in the α-Mn2O3 phase (S = 2, 4.90 μB). However, the magnetization and NMR results reported here clearly identify a small amount of the Mn3O4 second phase (ferrimagnetic with TC ≈ 43 K) that does not appear in X-ray diffraction (XRD). The study resulted in the observation of fascinating magnetic behavior: (1) exchange bias, which occurs in cases where a ferromagnetic (or ferrimagnetic) phase forms a boundary with an antiferromagnetic phase and (2) a magnetic contribution attributed to uncompensated spins on the surfaces of the α-Mn2O3 nanoparticles. The presence of Mn3O4 and ...
Normalizing the Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheet: The Impact on the Mortgage-Backed Securities Market

The Federal Reserve’s purchase of large quantities of assets from the private sector between November 2008 and September 2014, known as quantitative easing, resulted in the Fed’s ownership of $1.77 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and $2.45 trillion of U.S. Treasury securities as of September 2017. In October 2017, the Fed began to reduce these holdings. This brief examines the plans to reduce these holdings and the impact these actions will have on the MBS market. The authors show that both MBS and Treasuries will run off less quickly than the targeted run-off amounts, and that under similar assumptions to what the Fed has used, there will still be about $1.18 trillion of MBS on its books when the Fed balance sheet normalizes. They also argue that the Fed may want to take advantage of its remaining reinvestment period to do some minor rebalancing. Moreover, the Fed can take additional action at no cost that will help launch the single government-sponsored enterprise security.
Understanding and Improving the Scale Dependence of Trigger Functions for Convective Parameterization Using Cloud-Resolving Model Data

AbstractAs the resolution of global climate model increases, whether trigger functions in current convective parameterization schemes still work remains unknown. In this study, the scale dependence...
SELECTING FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THE STATE OF THE ART.

In developing a selection system for air traffic controllers — or any occupation, for that matter — considerations do not stop with selecting predictors. The paper presented at this conference by Della Rocca, Manning, and Wing (1991) briefly described the present political climate in which selection occurs in the United States, as well as the technical support for procedures the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses to select air traffic controllers. This paper will be more theoretical, or, at least, less empirical and more thoughtful, about the concepts personnel psychologists are currently using in evaluating selection systems.
English-as-a-Second Language (Esl) Nursing Students: Strategies for Building Verbal and Written Language Skills

With the growing number of foreign-born residents in the United States, nurse educators face the challenge of educating students who may have difficulty with the English language. There are an estimated 28.4 million foreign-born residents in the United States, which is the largest number in the history of this country (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). The U.S. census report (2001) shows that the Hispanic/Latino population has increased by 57.9% since 1990 and now accounts for 12.5% of the total population. Another fast growing group is the Asian population that has increased by 48.3% since 1990 and now accounts for 3.6% of the total population. The Annual Report of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2001) shows that the minority representation in baccalaureate programs has also increased with the Hispanic/Latino students at 4.8% and the Asian/Pacific Islander/Hawaiian students at 4.7% of the undergraduate nursing student population. Several authors (Abriam-Yago, Yoder, & Kataoka-Yahiro, 1999; Lester, 1998; Davidhizar, Dowd, & Geiger, 1998; Dowell, 1996; Andrews, 1992) have discussed the importance of increasing the number of ethnic minority nurses to insure the quality of healthcare to an increasingly diverse population. As the nursing shortage deepens, recruiting minorities into nursing is essential to meet the increasing demand. This change presents unique challenges and opportunities in nursing education. Colleges and universities will need to develop innovative programs to attract these nontraditional students, and support programs to help them complete the nursing curriculum.
Delivering Internal Business Intelligence Services: How Different Strategies Allow Companies to Succeed by Failing Fast

This chapter reviews opportunities and issues propelling and limiting the success of business intelligence and analytics services for a company’s internal use. We describe three strategies for providing these services internally (on-premises, cloud, and hybrid) and explore issues of importance in the shaping of current demand and of future offerings by web-based providers. It also discusses opportunities for the development of academic curricula to offer better training to graduate and improve recruiting outcomes for organizations and for the development of more relevant academic research to address topics of current and strategic importance to the firm.
Matching Needs to Services: Prison Treatment Program Allocations:

The criminogenic needs of prison inmates are assessed to help guide their treatment plans, but inmates are often not matched to corresponding services to address those needs. A sample of 69,129 inm...
CS0: Introducing Computing with Raspberry Pis

This paper presents our experience implementing a newly designed introduction to computing course for first year undergraduate students. The redesigned course focuses on the use of Raspberry Pi microcomputers as a common computing platform in order to encourage student experimentation and fun in a relatively low-cost environment. The course we describe represents a departure at our university from a traditional first-semester introduction to computing which emphasized foundational technical and mathematical skills but less exploration of the field of computing in a more wholistic manner. Our new course focuses on exposure to computing through experimentation. Additionally, it emphasizes community building among the students as well as affording them the opportunity to bring their creativity to bear in a final project showcase. As a result, the course is proving to be attractive not just to traditional computing majors but to a wider swath of the university community. This paper describes the topics selected in the redesign of the course, a summary of the labs involved, a discussion of assignments, and a description of the final project process. We discuss feedback received from students and the overall perception of the course among students and faculty. We also reflect on our experiences from redesigning the course and provide advice for those wishing to adopt a similar introductory course.
Ban the Box: A Call to the Federal Government to Recognize a New Form of Employment Discrimination

As the number of Americans with criminal histories grows significantly, states and cities across the nation have reacted by adopting ban-the-box laws. Ban-the-box laws received their name because they ban the criminal history box on initial hiring documents. The goal of the ban-the-box movement is to promote job opportunities for persons with criminal records by limiting when an employer can conduct a background check during the hiring process and encouraging employers to take a holistic approach when assessing an applicant‟s fit for a position. There is no federal ban-the-box law, but states have taken varying approaches to adopting ban-the-box statutes. States have diverged on whether an employer can conduct a background check, the type of information an employer may consider, and enforcement techniques. The various state approaches, however, can potentially lead to compliance issues for employers that operate their businesses in multiple states. This Note proposes that the federal government adopt a federal ban-thebox law, which would create a uniform framework for employer compliance. This new federal law should task the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with enforcement responsibilities, because the agency has consistently proven capable of enforcing employment discrimination statutes.