cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Benefits of Combining Acoustic and Electric Stimulation for the Recognition of Speech, Voice and Melodies

Fifteen patients fit with a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other ear were presented with tests of speech and melody recognition and voice discrimination under conditions of electric (E) stimulation, acoustic (A) stimulation and combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS). When acoustic information was added to electrically stimulated information performance increased by 17–23 percentage points on tests of word and sentence recognition in quiet and sentence recognition in noise. On average, the EAS patients achieved higher scores on CNC words than patients fit with a unilateral cochlear implant. While the best EAS patients did not outperform the best patients fit with a unilateral cochlear implant, proportionally more EAS patients achieved very high scores on tests of speech recognition than unilateral cochlear implant patients.
What's the (end) point?

Well-established disease correlates may be inadequate surrogate end-points for outcomes in paediatric and adult PAH http://ow.ly/EUYOQ
Gene Expression Changes Reflect Clinical Response in a Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial of Abatacept in Patients with Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. We sought to assess the clinical and molecular effects associated with response to intravenous abatacept in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic. Adult diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis patients were randomized in a 2:1 double-blinded fashion to receive abatacept or placebo over 24 weeks. Primary outcomes were safety and the change in modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) at week 24 compared with baseline. Improvers were defined as patients with a decrease in mRSS of ≥30 % post-treatment compared to baseline. Skin biopsies were obtained for differential gene expression and pathway enrichment analyses and intrinsic gene expression subset assignment. Ten subjects were randomized to abatacept (n = 7) or placebo (n = 3). Disease duration from first non-Raynaud’s symptom was significantly longer (8.8 ± 3.8 years vs. 2.4 ± 1.6 years, p = 0.004) and median mRSS was higher (30 vs. 22, p = 0.05) in the placebo compared to abatacept group. Adverse events were similar in the two groups. Five out of seven patients (71 %) randomized to abatacept and one out of three patients (33 %) randomized to placebo experienced ≥30 % improvement in skin score. Subjects receiving abatacept showed a trend toward improvement in mRSS at week 24 (−8.6 ± 7.5, p = 0.0625) while those in the placebo group did not (−2.3 ± 15, p = 0.75). After adjusting for disease duration, mRSS significantly improved in the abatacept compared with the placebo group (abatacept vs. placebo mRSS decrease estimate −9.8, 95 % confidence interval −16.7 to −3.0, p = 0.0114). In the abatacept group, the patients in the inflammatory intrinsic subset showed a trend toward greater improvement in skin score at 24 weeks compared with the patients in the normal-like intrinsic subset (−13.5 ± 3.1 vs. −4.5 ± 6.4, p = 0.067). Abatacept resulted in decreased CD28 co-stimulatory gene expression in improvers consistent with its mechanism of action. Improvers mapped to the inflammatory intrinsic subset and showed decreased gene expression in inflammatory pathways, while non-improver and placebos showed stable or reverse gene expression over 24 weeks. Clinical improvement following abatacept therapy was associated with modulation of inflammatory pathways in skin. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00442611 . Registered 1 March 2007.
Query expansion and MEDLINE

Abstract This paper evaluates the retrieval effectiveness of query expansion strategies on a MEDLINE test collection using Cornell University's SMART retrieval system. Three expansion strategies are tested on their ability to identify appropriate McSH terms for user queries: expansion using an inter-field statistical thesaurus, expansion via retrieval feedback and expansion using a combined approach. These expansion strategies do not require prior relevance decisions. The study compares retrieval effectiveness using the original unexpanded and the alternative expanded user queries on a collection of 75 queries and 2334 MEDLINE citations. Retrieval effectiveness is assessed using eleven point average precision scores (11-AvgP). The combination of expansion using the thesaurus followed by retrieval feedback gives the best improvement of 17% over a baseline performance of 0.5169 11-AvgP. However this improvement is almost identical to that achieved by expansion via retrieval feedback (16.4%). Query expansion using the inter-field thesaurus gives a significant but lower performance improvement (9.9%) over the same baseline. This study recommends query expansion using retrieval feedback for adding McSH search terms to a user's initial query.
Competing risk analysis for life table data with known observation times.

Several models have been proposed for the analysis of cohort mortality in the presence of competing risks (a recent account is given by ELANDT- JOHNSON and JOHNSON, 1980, Chapter 12). This paper describes a maximum likelihood approach to the analysis of followup data in life table format for the case of two competing risks—a specific cause and its competing complement. The model developed uses a robust survivorship assumption — the piecewise exponential — and takes into account information on time to death and time to withdrawal.
Illusions of Management Control? Effects of Self-Serving Attributions on Resource Commitments and Confidence in Management

Past research has demonstrated that executives discussing the performance of their organizations tend to take credit for good performance and lay blame on the environment for poor performance. Two experiments were conducted to test the effects of this pattern of self-serving attributions on student subjects' confidence in management and their allocation of financial resources. Results of both experiments showed that executives' communications taking credit for good performance reduce recipients' confidence in management and resource commitments. Implications of these results for management practice and for future research are discussed.
Nonlinear self-training adaptive equalization for partial-response systems

The authors discuss a new self-training algorithm for adaptive equalization of multilevel partial-response class-IV (PRIV) systems. Adaptive distributed-arithmetic equalizers are considered, where the process of multiplying the tap signals with tap gains and summing the resulting products is replaced by a procedure involving only table look-up and shift-and-add operations. Classical self-training adaptation schemes for linear adaptive equalizers do not converge if applied to distributed-arithmetic equalizers, because of the inherent nonlinearity of the system during the adaptation process. The authors show that, by adopting a generalized stochastic gradient to adjust the look-up tables, the mean-square error converges to a value which depends on the system parameters. For practical system implementation, a two-step modified algorithm is proposed to closely approach in the steady state the minimum achievable mean-square error. Numerical results are presented for multilevel PRIV systems for high-rate data transmission over twisted-pair cables. >
Survival of patients transferred to tertiary intensive care from rural community hospitals

Accessibility to tertiary intensive care resources differs among hospitals within a rural region. Determining whether accessibility is associated with outcome is important for understanding the role of regionalization when providing critical care to a rural population. In a prospective design, we identified and recorded the mortality ratio, percentage of unanticipated deaths, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and survival time of 147 patients transferred directly from other hospitals and 178 transferred from the wards within a rural tertiary-care hospital. The two groups did not differ significantly in the characteristics measured. Differences in access to tertiary critical care in this rural region did not affect survival or length of stay after admission to this tertiary ICU. The odds ratio (1.14; 95% confidence interval 0.72-1.83) for mortality associated with transfer from a rural community hospital was not statistically significant. Patients at community hospitals in this area who develop need for tertiary critical care are just as likely to survive as patients who develop ICU needs on the wards of this rural tertiary-care hospital, despite different accessibility to tertiary intensive-care services.
Dry-Cooled Supercritical CO2 Power for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

Currently, waste heat rejection from electrical power systems accounts for the largest fraction of water withdrawals from the U.S. fresh water table. Siting of nuclear power plants is limited to areas with access to a large natural supply of fresh or sea water. Due to a rise in energy needs and increased concern over environmental impact, dry air cooling systems are poised to play a large role in the future energy economy. In practice, the implementation of dry air-cooled condensing systems at steam plants has proven to be capital-intensive and requires the power cycle to take a significant efficiency penalty. These shortcomings are fundamental to dry-air steam condensation, which must occur at a fixed temperature. Closed-cycle gas turbines are an alternative to the conventional steam Rankine plant that allows for much improved dry heat rejection compatibility. Recent research into advanced nuclear energy systems has identified the supercritical CO2 (s-CO2) Brayton cycle in particular as a viable candidate for many proposed reactor types. The s-CO2 Brayton cycle can maintain superior thermal efficiency over a wide range of ambient temperatures, making these power systems ideally suited for dry air cooling, even in warm climates. For a sodium fast reactor (SFR) operating at 550 °C, thermal efficiency is calculated to be 43% with a 50 °C compressor inlet temperature. This is achieved by raising CO2 compressor inlet pressure in response to rising ambient temperatures. Preliminary design studies have shown that s-CO2 power cycle hardware will be compact and therefore well-matched to near-term and advanced integral small modular reactor (SMR) designs. These advantages also extend to the cooling plant, where it is estimated that dry cooling towers for an SFR-coupled s-CO2 power cycle will be similar in cost and scale to the evaporative cooling tower for a light-water reactor (LWR). The projected benefits of the s-CO2 power cycle coupled to dry air heat rejection may enable the long-awaited rise of next-generation nuclear energy systems, while redrawing the map for siting of small and large nuclear energy systems.
Bio-optical classification and model of natural waters. 21

A bio-optical tcchniquc is presented which allows both the classification and optical modeling of natural waters. The spectral diffllse attenuation coefficient for irradiance (300-700 nm) has been related to two biological quantities: the total concentration of chlorophyll-like pigments and the dissolved organic material (DOM). Th c model is a component model which nllgmcnts our previous work in that it includes new data in the analysis, utilizes an improved analytic fit, extends into the UV region of the spectrum, and adds a DOM component. Our model, which permits quantitative calculation of spectral irradiance at any point in the water column in a variety of nontcrrigcnous water types, facilitates prcdictivc modcling. The term bio-optical state was coined (Smith and Baker 1978u) to represent a measure of the total effect of biological material on the optical properties of natural waters. WC then introduced (Smith and Baker 1978b) a general technique for optically classifying and predictively modeling natural waters in terms of the total chlorophyll-like pigment concentration in these waters, hereafter referred to as SBl. The method was built upon two concepts: the pioneering insight of Jcrlov (1951, 1976) that ocean waters could be optically classified; and the idea that the diffuse attenuation coefficient for irradiance could be partitioned (Riley 1956; Steele and Menzel 1962; Yentsch 1963) into the components responsible for the total attenuation (e.g. water, phytoplankton, and other attenuating substances). Our first classification (SBl) was based on spectral irradiance data from a wide range of ocean waters varying in chlorophyll concentrations from 0.01 to 10 mg Chl LL * mP3 (Tyler and Smith 1967, 1970; Smith and Tyler 1968; Smith 1973; Smith and Baker 1978u,b) whose dissolved and suspended materials are primarily of bio
INTERACTION EFFECTS IN MULTIELEMENT DESIGNS: INEVITABLE, DESIRABLE, AND IGNORABLE

A single-subject design often used to compare the effectiveness of two or more independent variables (like treatment programs) is the multielement (alternating treatments or simultaneous treatments) design. Variants of this design approximate the concurrent comparison of the effects of two or more variables (or levels of variables) by programming the variables (or levels) in rapid alternation, typically across or within daily sessions. Properly combined with conventional reversal designs, these designs can also display a variety of interaction effects, some of them worrisome, others highly desirable for the future development of the field. A worrisome model is the possibility that when Treatment B alternates rapidly with Treatment C, the effects of each will not be the same as when each is the only treatment used. A desirable model is the use of the multielement design as a fast-paced component of an otherwise conventional reversal design examining contextual control of some relationship; the possibility that some behavior responds differently to Controlling Variables A and B in Context X than in Context Y. This second possibility opens single-subject designs to the more efficient examination of all interactive effects and is highly desirable, considering the prevalence and importance of interactions in determining the limits and the generality of currently understood behavioral phenomena.
Operational anomalies as a cause of safety-critical requirements evolution

This paper reports the results of a small study of requirements changes to the onboard software of seven spacecraft subsequent to launch. Only those requirement changes that resulted from operational (i.e., post-launch) anomalies were of interest here, since the goal was to better understand the relationship between critical anomalies during operations and how safety-critical requirements evolve. The results of the study were surprising in that anomaly-driven requirements changes during operations were rarely due to previous requirements having been incorrect. Instead, changes involved new requirements either (1) for the software to handle rare but high-consequence events or (2) for the software itself to compensate for hardware failures or limitations. The prevalence of new requirements as a result of post-launch anomalies suggests a need for increased requirements-engineering support of maintenance activities in these systems. The results also confirm both the difficulty and the benefits of pursuing requirements completeness, especially in terms of fault tolerance, during development of critical systems.
The Necessity and Quandaries of Dengue Vaccine Development

to dengue occur annually [19]. There is no specific, licensed anti-DENV therapeutic or preventative vaccine. The financial, social and individual cost of dengue is significant, underestimated, and underappreciated [20–25]. The strategic administration of a safe and efficacious dengue vaccine, in coordination with efforts to educate about personal protective measures and sustained vector control, is the best hope to reduce the global dengue burden. There are numerous dengue vaccine candidates in clinical development. Early efforts to develop a dengue vaccine date back more than 70 years, with attempts to prevent virus transmission using infectious human plasma treated with ox bile or virus grown in live mosquitoes
C-reactive protein in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined in the sera of 70 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 17 patients hospitalized with acute infections. CRP (precipitin reaction > 3 mm) was present in only 2 of 50 patients with active, uncomplicated SLE (4%). However CRP was found in the sera of 11 patients with active SLE in the presence of superimposed infection. Treatment of the intercurrent infection resulted in the loss of CRP from the sera of these SLE patients. CRP was found in 85% of patients with active RA and in 100% of non-SLE infected patients. Appropriate treatment of the latter group resulted in loss of CRP from the convalescent sera. Corticosteroid therapy did not appear to influence the presence of CRP in the RA or SLE groups. Fourteen of 50 noninfected patients (28%) with active SLE were not receiving steroids at the time of CRP negativity. Appropriate experiments with mixed sera failed to demonstrate serum factors that could influence CRP precipitation in the CRP-negative SLE group. These studies suggest that patients with active SLE usually do not have CRP in their sera, and the results distinguish this group of patients from those with active RA, a disease generally marked by CRP positivity. Moreover, the finding of significant CRP precipitin in the sera of SLE patients may suggest the presence of superimposed infection.
Morphology of quenched polypropylene

The morphology of the quenched form of polypropylene was investigated. Thin films of the quenched form consist of small ball-like structures which we suggest are defective hexagonal crystals. In thicker films they aggregate to form spherulites with no observable fine structure. Quenching of thin films of molten polypropylene to a temperature below 0°C results in the formation of numerous, isolated monoclinic spherulites with a better defined morphology than the smectic spherulites obtained by quenching above 0°C. This result suggests that the films (quenched below 0°C) were quenched to the glass and subsequently crystallized to the monoclinic form upon heating to room temperature.
Liouville-space descriptions for intense-field coherent electromagnetic interactions

Liouville-space (reduced-density-operator) descriptions are developed for resonant and coherent electromagnetic interactions of quantized electronic systems, taking into account environmental decoherence and relaxation phenomena. Applications of interest include electromagnetically-induced transparency and related pump-probe optical phenomena in many-electron atomic systems (in electron-ion beam interactions, gases, and high-temperature plasmas) and semiconductor materials (bulk crystals and nanostructures). Time-domain (equation-of-motion) and frequency-domain (resolvent-operator) formulations are developed in a unified manner. The standard Born (lowest-order perturbationtheory) and Markov (short-memory-time) approximations are systematically introduced within the framework of the general non-perturbative and non-Markovian formulations. A preliminary semiclassical description of the entire electromagnetic interaction is introduced. Compact Liouville-space operator expressions are derived for the linear and the general (n'th order) non-linear electromagnetic-response tensors occurring in a perturbation-theory treatment of the semiclassical electromagnetic interaction. These expressions can be evaluated for coherent initial electronic excitations and for the full tetradic-matrix form of the Liouville-space self-energy operator representing the environmental interactions in the Markov approximation. Intense-field electromagnetic interactions are treated by means of an alternative, non-perturbative method, which is based on a Liouville-space Floquet-Fourier representation of the reduced density operator. Electron-electron quantum correlations are treated by the introduction of a cluster decomposition of the reduced density operator and a coupled hierarchy of reduced-density-operator equations.
Violence Against Girls Provokes Girls' Violence From Private Injury to Public Harm

Young women adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court report suffering inordinate amounts of emotional, physical, and sexual trauma in early childhood and adolescence. In addition, adolescent girls' arrests for violent crimes rose dramatically in the 1990s. This article explores the relationship between those two factors. Drawing from interviews with court-involved girls, this article highlights two contexts in which girls committed aggressive offenses: an incidence of intimate violence in a lesbian relationship and a stabbing in self-defense against sexual assault. I argue that the trauma witnessed and experienced from prior childhood and adolescent injuries—much of it experienced in private—contributed to girls' coming to the attention of public authorities.
Multi-modal image registration for localization in Titan's atmosphere

We study the problem of localizing a balloon in the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan by registering onboard imagery with orbital imagery. This is critical for both autonomous navigation purposes and acquisition and sampling of scientifically interesting sites. Because of Titan's atmospheric opacity, we require the ability to match combinations of visible, infrared (IR) and synthetic aperture RADAR (SAR) images. For both localization and direct use as a multi-modal data product for science analysis, match results must be sub-pixel accurate. We demonstrate the feasibility of matching orbital SAR data to visible and IR imagery and outline a framework for using this data as a navigation product. We demonstrate a technique to compensate for local distortions to enable accurate data registration in spite of differences in sensor return and imaging geometry. Finally, we show match results using both terrestrial imagery and the limited amount of available Titan data acquired by the Cassini orbiter and Huygens probe.
Vascularized bone graft reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint using the tunneled, anchored suture technique.

To describe a novel technique that provides a simple, flexible and safe method to approximate and secure the neocondyle into the glenoid fossa in reconstruction of hemi-mandibulectomy defects. METHODS: Three patients underwent composite resection of the hemi-mandible with condylectomy. A minimally invasive tunneled suture, anchored with a miniplate to the zygomatic root, was used to approximate the neo-condyle into the glenoid fossa. Postoperative outcomes were assessed with clinical and radiographic measures. CONCLUSION: The described approach introduces a simple, safe, flexible and effective technique for neocondylar suspension and appropriate realignment during mandibular reconstruction. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a diarthroidial joint in which the mandibular condyle articulates into the glenoid fossa. Reconstruction of the TMJ may be required for tumor extirpation, trauma or osteonecrosis. Re-approximation of an osseous graft within the glenoid fossa is critical to reestablish occlusion and allow mastication. We describe a novel technique to promote and sustain this approximation.
Covariance Localization with the Diffusion-Based Correlation Models

Improving the performance of ensemble filters applied to models with many state variables requires regularization of the covariance estimates by localizing the impact of observations on state variables. A covariance localization technique based on modeling of the sample covariance with polynomial functions of the diffusion operator (DL method) is presented. Performance of the technique is compared with the nonadaptive (NAL) and adaptive (AL) ensemble localization schemes in the framework of numerical experiments with synthetic covariance matrices in a realistically inhomogeneous setting. It is shown that the DL approach is comparable in accuracy with the AL method when the ensemble size is less than 100. With larger ensembles, the accuracy of the DL approach is limited by the local homogeneity assumption underlying the technique. Computationally, the DL method is comparable with the NAL technique if the ratio of the local decorrelation scale to the grid step is not too large.
A Genetic Network Associated With Stress Resistance, Longevity, and Cancer in Humans

Human longevity and diseases are likely influenced by multiple interacting genes within a few biologically conserved pathways. Using long-lived smokers as a phenotype (n = 90)-a group whose survival may signify innate resilience-we conducted a genome-wide association study comparing them to smokers at ages 52-69 (n = 730). These results were used to conduct a functional interaction network and pathway analysis, to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms that collectively related to smokers' longevity. We identified a set of 215 single nucleotide polymorphisms (all of which had p <5×10(-3) in the genome-wide association study) that were located within genes making-up a functional interaction network. These single nucleotide polymorphisms were then used to create a weighted polygenic risk score that, using an independent validation sample of nonsmokers (N = 6,447), was found to be significantly associated with a 22% increase in the likelihood of being aged 90-99 (n = 253) and an over threefold increase in the likelihood of being a centenarian (n = 4), compared with being at ages 52-79 (n = 4,900). Additionally, the polygenic risk score was also associated with an 11% reduction in cancer prevalence over up to 18 years (odds ratio: 0.89, p = .011). Overall, using a unique phenotype and incorporating prior knowledge of biological networks, this study identified a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms that together appear to be important for human aging, stress resistance, cancer, and longevity.
The Extraperitoneal Spaces

The extraperitoneal spaces are compartmentalized spaces defined by peritoneum internally and parietal muscular fascia, including transversalis fascia, externally.
Temperature-Dependence of the Age-Related Difference in the Inotropic Effect of Norepinephrine in the Rat Myocardium

The influence of temperature on the myocardial inotropic response to norepinephrine was studied in rats of different ages. Right papillary muscles isolated from 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old rats were superfused at two temperatures (29 degrees C and 37 degrees C) with progressively larger doses of norepinephrine. At 29 degrees C, the contraction duration was longer and the inotropic effect of norepinephrine was significantly smaller in 24-month muscles than in 3- and 12-month preparations. In muscles superfused at 37 degrees C, these age-related differences in the contraction duration and in the response to norepinephrine disappeared. Analysis of variance and covariance showed that temperature, but not age, is responsible for the differences in the inotropic response to norepinephrine observed. These results show that experimental conditions, among which temperature may play a major role, deeply affect the responsiveness of cardiac preparations to beta-adrenergic agonists.
Abstract 375: Fluorescence-guided surgery leads to improved resection of primary pancreatic cancer and prolonged survival

The aim of this study was to determine if fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) could improve surgical outcomes, reduce recurrence rates and improve overall survival in orthotopic mouse models of human pancreatic cancer. Orthotopic mouse models of human pancreatic cancer were established using the BxPC-3 RFP-expressing pancreatic cancer cell line in nude mice. Two weeks after implantation, the mice were randomized to undergo bright light surgery (BLS) or fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS). Pre- and postoperative images were obtained with the Olympus OV-100 Small Animal Imaging System to assess completeness of surgical resection. Whole body imaging of the mice was performed weekly in the postoperative period to assess for recurrence and follow tumor progression. Additionally, half of the mice were randomly selected to undergo 4 weeks of postoperative gemcitabine treatment. At six weeks postoperatively, or when premorbid, the mice were sacrificed and primary pancreatic tumor burden was measured using ImageJ v1.440. A more complete resection of pancreatic cancer was achieved using FGS compared to BLS: 98.9% vs 77.1%, p=0.005. Sixty-three percent of the mice undergoing BLS had evidence of gross residual disease, whereas 20% of mice undergoing FGS received a complete resection and an additional 75% of the mice were left with minimal residual disease (p=0.0001). At six weeks, the primary pancreatic tumor burden was significantly less with FGS compared to BLS: 19.341 ± 5.26 mm2 vs. 6.194 ± 3.61 mm2, p=0.048. In a pilot survival study, FGS alone was associated with a decreased risk of tumor recurrence (HR=0.093, 95% CI 0.013-0.645), and mean overall survival was lengthened from 18.5 weeks to 28.2 weeks. The addition of adjuvant gemcitabine (GEM) to FGS further lengthened mean overall survival to 42.75 weeks (p=0.019). Three of the four mice in the FGS with adjuvant gemcitabine group were alive at 12 months postoperatively and all of the mice (n=4) were free of tumor at time of sacrifice. In this study, we achieved improved surgical outcomes in primary pancreatic cancer under fluorescence-guidance. FGS afforded a more complete resection of primary tumor and improved disease-free survival and overall survival. The combination of FGS and GEM lengthened disease-free survival and improved overall survival. This novel approach has potential to improve outcomes in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 375. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-375
Two Confirmed Mutations in the Boll Weevil

Only one visible phenodeviant has previously been reported in the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Thomas and Brazzel 1960). The single individual showing an abnormal antennal character did not pass the trait on to any descendant in F1, F2, F3, or backcross generations. Since a need exists for genetic markers suitable for use in boll weevil research and control programs, a screening investigation was undertaken to find new genetically controlled phenodeviants.
Sales Negotiation Cost Planning for Corporate Level Sales

Little attention has been paid to negotiation cost planning for large corporate level sales. Often in industrial selling, negotiation costs represent a significant percentage of a firm's sales. Thi...
Diel Flight Activity of Migrating Alfalfa Weevils, Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Data from flight traps and 5-minute counts of weevils observed in flight indicated that most alfalfa weevils, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), flew between 5 and 11 PM (especially 6:30–8:30 PM), very few between 11 PM and 9 AM, and some between 9 AM and 5 PM. At any given moment, the accuracy of the flight-trap method as an estimator of the density of flight was highly dependent on wind speed, though over a period of several hours it gave about the same results as the flight-count method. Pre- and post- take-off behavior of the weevil was like that of other migrating insects. Adults ascended to plant tips, the site of feeding as well as take-off, earlier on evenings when large numbers flew and later on evenings when there was little or no flight. The factor most strongly influencing flight activity was light intensity. A decrease in light, rather than a certain low threshold value of light, seemed to initiate flight, but only after the condition of sufficiently high temperature had been satisfied. In most fields, substantial afternoon flight occurred only if lower light intensity was accompanied by sufficiently high relative humidity. However, sudden removal of the alfalfa, as in harvest, created conditions so unfavorable to the weevil that (soil temperatures permitting) large numbers flew, irrespective of light intensity.
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF CALCIFIC MITRAL STENOSIS OVERESTIMATES SEVERITY COMPARED TO RHEUMATIC MITRAL STENOSIS

Calcific mitral stenosis (MS) is increasingly prevalent in industrialized nations, however its assessment by echocardiography is poorly characterized. Because diminished left atrial compliance may impact mitral gradients in calcific MS, we sought to compare the accuracy of echocardiography in
Physical Functioning After 1, 3, and 5 Years of Exercise Among People With Parkinson's Disease: A Longitudinal Observational Study

Regular physical activity is thought to be crucial to maintaining optimal physical function in people with Parkinson's disease (PWP), and it may have neuroprotective effects. As with many medical treatments, exercise is most effective when performed consistently over a period of years. The primary aim of this study was to examine multiyear adherence to a community-based group exercise program for PWP. A secondary aim was to document how physical functioning progressed after 1, 3, and 5 years for participants who consistently attended a community-based, group, exercise program. Forty-six individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, who were at modified Hoehn and Yahr stage I, II, or III and were community ambulators, were recruited on a rolling basis between 2008 and 2013. Each provided yearly medical clearance to exercise. Participants engaged in a free, community-based, group exercise program offered 2 days per week, 1 hour per day, for three 10-week sessions per year. The program included supervised floor exercises for balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility along with resistance training on dual-action exercise machines. Participants who attended more than half the classes for 1, 3, or 5 years (n = 27, n = 14, n = 7, respectively) were considered to have completed the fitness program (consistent exercisers) and were included in the longitudinal data analysis; participants who either dropped out or attended less than half the classes (n = 19) were not included. Physical functioning was evaluated at baseline for all participants and yearly thereafter for consistent exercisers. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare baseline data with data collected after 1, 3, and 5 years of consistent exercise. Over half of the participants initially evaluated completed at least 1 year of the fitness program (27 of the 46 = 59%) and a proportion completed 3 years (14 of the 39 = 39%), and 5 years (7 of the 24 = 29%). At baseline, consistent exercisers were younger than those who dropped out (63.9 vs 69.9 years, P < .05), but had similar modified Hoehn and Yahr medians (2.0 vs 2.3), and similar time since diagnosis (8.0 vs 5.6 years). Consistent exercisers showed small statistically significant improvements in grip strength (8.9% change), Berg Balance scores (5.1% change), and 6-minute walk test (11% change) from baseline to year 1. No significant differences were found in these variables after 3 or 5 years, or for gait speed and timed up and go after 1, 3, or 5 years. Despite the progressive nature of Parkinson's disease, many PWP can sustain a regular program of varied modes of community-based, group exercise over a period of years. Participants who did so maintained initial performance levels on key measures of physical functioning. By working with an interprofessional team in a supportive community-based exercise program, physical therapists can help many PWP engage in consistent and sustained exercise activity over multiyear periods.
Low-level Lead Exposure and Renal Function in the Normative Aging Study

Occupational and environmental lead exposure has been associated with significant impairment in renal function. The authors studied the cross-sectional relation between creatinine clearance and blood lead concentration in a population of 744 men participating in the Normative Aging Study of the Department of Veterans Affairs between July 1988 and April 1991. These men, aged 43-90 years, were recruited from communities in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts, area and were selected without regard to lead exposure. The mean values for blood lead concentration and creatinine clearance rate were 8.1 micrograms/dl (standard deviation, 3.9 micrograms/dl) and 88.2 ml/minute (standard deviation, 22.0 ml/minute), respectively. Independent relations of creatinine clearance to blood lead were assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis, with adjustment for various potential confounders. In multivariate linear regression models, the rate of creatinine clearance was significantly and negatively associated with increasing levels of blood lead, even after adjustment for age, body mass index, and use of diuretic and analgesic medications (the beta-coefficient for ln blood lead measured in microgram[microgram/dl]-1 was -0.030; standard error = 0.014, p = 0.037). A rise in ln blood lead of 10.0 micrograms/dl was associated with a decrease in the ln creatinine clearance rate of 10.4 ml/minute. These results support the hypothesis that exposure to low-level environmental lead correlates with a significant decrement in renal function.
Advances in detection of insecticide resistance in cockroaches

The detection of insecticide resistance in cockroaches is mostly done by a traditional biological test.However,recent studies have indicated that changes in a range of biochemical indicators and resistance genes are highly associated with the occurrence of such resistance,suggesting the possibility of timely,rapid and accurate detection of this occurrence by identifying the changes by biochemical and molecular biological means.Advances in such techniques are summarized in this article.
The effect of heparin on components of the human fibrinolytic system.

It was demonstrated with human urokinase, human fibrinolytic euglobulins and human pyrogen plasma as enzyme source, and with bovine fibrin plates and human plasma plates as substrate, that high heparin concentrations inhibit fibrinolysis of preformed fibrin, in contrast to small ones which may enhance this phenomenon, provided albumin is present. No interference could be observed in the absence of plasma, serum or albumin fraction. Albumin or substances associated with the albumin fraction are required for interference of heparin with fibrinolysis. This interference probably takes place with the action of plasmin on fibrin.
Turbulent pressure fluctuations on surface of model vascular stenoses

Turbulence frequently develops when blood passes through a stenosis. To study the hypothesis that turbulence near a plaque surface can cause pressure fluctuations that may promote plaque rupture, m...
Reflections on Reflection: Kūtastha, Cidābhāsa and Vrttis in the Pañcadaśī

Le Pancadasī (Les quinze chapitres)(PD) est une introduction tres connue des XIII-XIVe siecles a l'Advaita Vedānta. Il comprend des references a des concepts Sāmkhya et a des pratiques yogiques. L'A. discute sur des points de vue de Bhāratītīrtha (l'auteur presume du PD) sur le «processus mental» dans la lumiere de «brahman» (le soi), a savoir comment le soi illumine l'activite mentale et comment nous connaissons le monde. La conception la plus distinctive de Bhāratītīrtha est celle de «cidābhāsa», la reflexion de la conscience, eclairee par «brahman» et a son tour eclaire l'esprit («citta», «buddhi») et ses modifications («vrtti»).
Teaching Strategic Management from A Christian Perspective

Martinez presents ideas for integrating Christian principles into the teaching of strategic management. He does so in an attempt to spark discussion in the pursuit of developing a Christian framework for analyzing business principles.
Another Piece of the Puzzle: Wait Times Call for Integrated Patient, Provider, and System Solutions for Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a multidisciplinary, systematic approach for reducing morbidity and mortality across a spectrum of cardiovascular conditions.1,2 Yet, in spite of the class IA recommendations for CR, ≤80% of eligible patients are not referred; many of those referred do not attend; and many participants do not complete the program.3,4 A large body of literature over many decades has emphasized the complexity of patient, provider, and healthcare system factors influencing the uptake and adherence to CR. Documented barriers range from cost, access to care and health professional endorsement, and solutions apparent.5 Article see p 608 Considering CR within the framework of disease management, with a particular focus on the coordination of healthcare interventions to defined patient populations, may improve access to CR. Marzolini et al6, in this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes , have identified another piece of the puzzle in accessing CR by investigating wait times. To date, the relationship between longer wait times and the commencement of CR has not been well described, and this analysis may elucidate how system-based factors can moderate access to evidence-based care and as a consequence …
Lower Urinary Tract Anomalies

Urethral and bladder anomalies are commonly found during routine evaluation for hematuria, urinary tract infections, and other urological conditions. Many of these conditions present with voiding dysfunctions which may not only confound the diagnosis but also affect therapeutic options. Urodynamics are used in order to better understand baseline voiding function in urethral and bladder anomalies, as well as to better counsel patients and plan surgical repair. Herein we discuss both urethral and bladder anomalies, with case reports and urodynamic evaluations for each of these conditions.
Multifunctional High-Throughput Single-Cell Analysis using Reconfigurable Amplifier Array

In recent years, an introduction of CMOS bioelectronic systems to biotechnology gave unprecedented opportunities in extremely high-throughput (1k - 10M parallel recordings) and improved noise performance. However, recent developments of CMOS bioelectronic devices mostly focused on Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) in which the mode of operation is fixed from the design phase. Thus, ASIC devices offer little flexibility and a new design is mandatory to support alternative modes. We developed a reconfigurable design that can switch into different operational modes to suit the type of demanded analysis. The presented CMOS device contains a reconfigurable array of 32 × 32 electrodes and amplifiers. Memory cells are embedded in each unit of the array to store the amplifier configuration and allow for rapid re-programming. The benefit of this approach is the full customizability, conceptually similar to a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). With the demonstrated multifunctionality of the CMOS-based biosensor design, various types of single-cell analysis, including amperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and patch-clamp, can be conducted from a low cost, high-throughput device.
Is Annual Volume Enough? The Role of Experience and Specialization on Inpatient Mortality After Hepatectomy.

Objective To investigate the effect of subspecialty practice and experience on the relationship between annual volume and inpatient mortality after hepatic resection. Background The impact of annual surgical volume on postoperative outcomes has been extensively examined. However, the impact of cumulative surgeon experience and specialty training on this relationship warrants investigation. Methods The New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System inpatient database was queried for patients' ≥18 years who underwent wedge hepatectomy or lobectomy from 2000 to 2014. Primary exposures included annual surgeon volume, surgeon experience (early vs late career), and surgical specialization-categorized as general surgery (GS), surgical oncology (SO), and transplant (TS). Primary endpoint was inpatient mortality. Hierarchical logistic regression was performed accounting for correlation at the level of the surgeon and the hospital, and adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidities, presence of cirrhosis, and annual surgical hospital volume. Results A total of 13,467 cases were analyzed. Overall inpatient mortality was 2.35%. On unadjusted analysis, late career surgeons had a mortality rate of 2.62% versus 1.97% for early career surgeons. GS had a mortality rate of 2.98% compared with 1.68% for SO and 2.67% for TS. Once risk-adjusted, annual volume was associated with reduced mortality only among early-career surgeons (odds ratio 0.82, P = 0.001) and general surgeons (odds ratio 0.65, P = 0.002). No volume effect was seen among late-career or specialty-trained surgeons. Conclusions Annual volume alone likely contributes only a partial assessment of the volume-outcome relationship. In patients undergoing hepatic resection, increased annual volume did not confer a mortality benefit on subspecialty surgeons or late career surgeons.
Needed: Coherent Budgeting for Science and Technology

A new report from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine suggests changes in the processes for allocating federal funds for science and technology. The author of this Policy Forum, the chair of the report committee, describes the key recommendations of the report for a new way of budgeting federal investments in science and technology, why the committee urges the change, and the implications for both the federal budget process in the Administration and Congress and the future strength of American science and technology.
Improving text classification with word embedding

One challenge in text classification is that it is difficult to make feature reductions based on the definition of the features. An ineffective feature reduction may even worsen the classification accuracy. Word2Vec, a word embedding method, has recently been gaining popularity due to its high precision rate of analyzing the semantic similarity between words at relatively low computational cost. However, there is limited research about feature reduction using Word2Vec. In this project, we developed a method using Word2Vec to reduce the feature size while increasing the classification accuracy. We achieved feature reduction by loosely clustering similar features using graph search techniques. Similarity thresholds above 0.5 were used in our method to pair and cluster the features. Finally, we utilized Multinomial Naive Bayes classifier, Support Vector Machine, K Nearest Neighbor and Random Forest classifier to evaluate the effect of our method. Four datasets with dimensions up to 100,000 feature size and 400,000 document size were used to evaluate the result of our method. The result showed that around 4–10% feature reduction was achieved with up to 1–4% improvement of classification accuracy in terms of different datasets and classifiers. Meanwhile, we also succeeded in improving feature reduction and classification accuracy by combining our method with other classic feature reduction techniques such as chi-square and mutual information.