cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics Influencing the Visual Analysis of Single-Subject Data: An Empirical Analysis

A study explored various graphic characteristics associated with the visual analysis of single-subject data. A sample of 20 rehabilitation therapists used visual analysis to rate 24 graphs of data sets using a traditional baseline/treatment (AB) format. Using the intraclass correlation approach, the authors assessed the interrater reliability and found that it ranged from .52 to .66 for each graph. Data analysis revealed that the graphic characteristics of level and mean shift were associated with consistent judgments across the raters, and that changes in slope across the two phases of a graph were associated with substantial rater disagreement. The authors discuss the implications of using visual and statistical procedures to analyze single-subject data, and argue that quantitative adjuncts to visual analysis may facilitate the reliable interpretation of graphed data for a single subject.
Body Mass Index in Midlife and Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Vascular Dementia

Prior work has suggested that obesity and overweight as measured by body mass index (BMI) increases risk of dementia. It is unknown if there is a difference in the risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) versus vascular dementia (VaD) associated with high body weight. The goal of this study was to examine the association between midlife BMI and risk of both AD and VaD an average of 36 years later in a large (N= 10,136) and diverse cohort of members of a health care delivery system. Participants aged 40-45 participated in health exams between 1964 and 1968. AD and VaD diagnoses were obtained from Neurology visits between January 1, 1994 and June 15, 2006. Those with diagnoses of general dementia from primary care providers were excluded from the study. BMI was analyzed in WHO categories of underweight, overweight and obese, as well as in subdivisions of WHO categories. All models were fully adjusted for age, education, race, sex, marital status, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease and stroke. Cox proportional hazard models showed that compared to those with a normal BMI (18.5-24.9), those obese (BMI > or = 30) at midlife had a 3.10 fold increase in risk of AD (fully adjusted model, Hazard Ratio=3.10, 95% CI 2.19-4.38), and a five fold increase in risk of VaD (fully adjusted model, HR=5.01, 95% CI 2.98-8.43) while those overweight ( BMI > or = 25 and <30) had a two fold increase in risk of AD and VaD (fully adjusted model, HR=2.09, 95% CI 1.69-2.60 for AD and HR=1.95, 95% CI 1.29-2.96 for VaD). These data suggest that midlife BMI is strongly predictive of both AD and VaD, independent of stroke, cardiovascular and diabetes co morbidities. Future studies need to unveil the mechanisms between adiposity and excess risk of AD and VaD.
High-resolution deep sequencing reveals biodiversity, population structure, and persistence of HIV-1 quasispecies within host ecosystems

Deep sequencing provides the basis for analysis of biodiversity of taxonomically similar organisms in an environment. While extensively applied to microbiome studies, population genetics studies of viruses are limited. To define the scope of HIV-1 population biodiversity within infected individuals, a suite of phylogenetic and population genetic algorithms was applied to HIV-1 envelope hypervariable domain 3 (Env V3) within peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a group of perinatally HIV-1 subtype B infected, therapy-naive children. Biodiversity of HIV-1 Env V3 quasispecies ranged from about 70 to 270 unique sequence clusters across individuals. Viral population structure was organized into a limited number of clusters that included the dominant variants combined with multiple clusters of low frequency variants. Next generation viral quasispecies evolved from low frequency variants at earlier time points through multiple non-synonymous changes in lineages within the evolutionary landscape. Minor V3 variants detected as long as four years after infection co-localized in phylogenetic reconstructions with early transmitting viruses or with subsequent plasma virus circulating two years later. Deep sequencing defines HIV-1 population complexity and structure, reveals the ebb and flow of dominant and rare viral variants in the host ecosystem, and identifies an evolutionary record of low-frequency cell-associated viral V3 variants that persist for years. Bioinformatics pipeline developed for HIV-1 can be applied for biodiversity studies of virome populations in human, animal, or plant ecosystems.
In vitro and in situ visualization of cytoskeletal deformation under load: traumatic axonal injury

It is difficult to obtain insight into the mechanisms occurring within live cells during mechanical loading, because this complex environment is dynamic and evolving. This is a particular challenge from a subcellular mechanics perspective, where temporal and spatial information on the evolving cytoskeletal structures is required under loading. Using fluorescently labeled proteins, we visualize 3-dimensional live subcellular cytoskeletal populations under mechanical loading using a high-resolution confocal microscope. The mechanical forces are determined using a computational (finite element) model that is validated by integrating instrumentation into the testing platform. Transfected microtubules and neurofilaments of E17 rat neuronal axons are imaged before, during, and after loading. Comparisons between unloaded and loaded live cells demonstrate both spatial and temporal changes for cytoskeletal populations within the imaged volume. NF signal decreases by 24%, yet the microtubule signal exhibits no significant change 20-35 s after loading. Transmission electron microscopy assesses cytoskeletal structure spatial distribution for undeformed and deformed axons. While cytoskeletal degeneration occurs at prolonged time intervals following loads, our data provides insights into real time cytoskeletal evolution occurring in situ. Our findings suggest that, for axons undergoing traumatic injury in response to applied mechanical loads, changes at the substructural level of neurofilaments may precede microtubule rupture and degeneration.
A composite likelihood approach for estimating HIV prevalence in the presence of spatial variation

Since 1990 the World Health Organization has recommended HIV surveillance among pregnant women as an essential surveillance activity for countries with generalized HIV epidemics. Despite the widespread availability and potential usefulness of antenatal HIV surveillance analyses of such data present important challenges. Within an individual clinic the HIV status of its attendees may be correlated because of similarities in HIV risk among women close in age. Between-clinic correlation may also arise as women often seek antenatal care at clinics located close to their home and individuals living in nearby communities may share important characteristics or behaviours related to susceptibility. A general estimating equation-based approach for spatially-correlated binary data such as that antenatal HIV surveillance based on a pairwise composite likelihood has been described. We present an extended version of this model that can accommodate penalized spline estimators and apply it to antenatal HIV surveillance data collected in 2011 in Botswana to estimate the effects of proximity to the hotspot of the countrys HIV epidemic and age on HIV prevalence. Finally we compare the results with a logistic regression analysis which ignores potential correlation of responses. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Alignment of the SLC final focus system using beam orbits

A generalized technique for dealing with linear optical element offsets in a complicated beamline is discussed. It has been tested in the SLC final focus and proved to be successful. A certain limitation to the method such as uncertainty about the energy/bend strength mismatch is expected to be overcome with the incorporation of extra monitoring devices in future alignment attempts. >
Le complexe ERMES - Une connexion haut débit entre le réticulum endoplasmique et les mitochondries

On se souvient du film MATRIX [1] ou les machines reduisaient les humains en esclavage en faisant deux leur source majeure denergie. Elles les cultivaient dans des cocons remplis de matiere nutritives et les plongeaient dans un monde virtuel - la matrice - en injec-tant des informations dans leur tronc cerebral grâce a une connexion branchee au niveau de leur nuque. En maitrisant lapport de nourriture materielle et spi-rituelle, les machines sassuraient un controle total sur les humains.Il est des cas ou la science rejoint la fic-tion. A une tout autre echelle, lhistoire des cellules eucaryotes nous montre qua un moment de levolution, une cellule protoeucaryote (la cellule mere de toute la lignee) a reduit en esclavage des bacteries. Ces bacteries, ayant evolue en mitochondries, sont devenues la source principale denergie des cellules euca-ryotes. Comme les machines de MATRIX, la cellule a besoin dune emprise sur ses esclaves afin de controler leur acti-vite et leur croissance et de les adap-ter a ses besoins propres. Pour parvenir a ce niveau de controle, levolution a depouille les mitochondries de nombreu-ses fonctions presentes dans la bacterie originelle et les a transferees a la cellule hote. Lexemple le plus spectaculaire est la faculte de synthetiser des protei-nes. En effet, si les mitochondries ont conserve une molecule dADN, celle-ci ne represente plus quun vestige de genome, tout juste bon a coder une douzaine de proteines [10, 11]. Et cest la cellule hote qui effectue et controle la synthese de la majorite des proteines mitochon-driales qui sont ensuite importees dans la mitochondrie [2] .Dautres composants mitochondriaux sont egalement synthetises hors de la mitochondrie. Ainsi, les lipides consti-tuant la double membrane de la mito-chondrie sont synthetises dans le reticu-lum endoplasmique (RE). Ils sont ensuite transportes et inseres dans la membrane externe de la mitochondrie. Les lipi-des etant par nature insolubles dans le cytosol, ils transitent directement de la membrane du RE a la membrane de la mitochondrie, et ce dune facon encore non elucidee. On soupconnait cependant que ce transfert avait lieu au niveau de sites specialises ou les membranes des deux organites sont en contact. Ces sites dattachement sont visibles par micros-copie et expliquent la cosedimentation du RE et des mitochondries lors dexpe-riences de fragmentation cellulaire [3] . Ce processus, et en particulier le meca-nisme responsable de lattachement entre RE et mitochondries, echappait neanmoins a notre comprehension.
SINGULAR HIGHER ORDER BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS FOR ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

We study singular boundary value problems for differential equations with left focal boundary conditions of the form,
The Use of Theory in Psychology

Eysenck’s nonrealist account of the role of theory in psychology is new and provocative. In what follows, I compare his view to other kinds of nonrealism in psychology and then state a realist’s response.
Magnetic susceptibility of very dilute CuFe and AuFe alloys in the range 6–300°K

The magnetic susceptibility of polycrystalline samples of α-phase Cu-Fe and Au-Fe alloys (<220 atomic ppm) has been measured in the range 6–300°K. The results can be described by a Curie-Weiss law from which a mean value of the effective Bohr magneton value of the Fe ion is 3.68 ±0.20. There is no significant dependence of this value upon either the solute concentration or the base metal. This value is interpreted in terms of an atomic configuration for the Fe ion of 3d74s1 (where the 4s electron is itinerant in the solid); i.e. approximately 3 magnetic electrons per ion and a total spin moment S = 32. These values produce changes in the semiquantitative application of the usual Friedel model for such an ion, and lead to slightly improved values of the calculated residual resistance of the solute in Cu and Au. The measured Weiss temperatures for Cu and Au are respectively −32±2 and −10±2°K. These suggest a weak long-range antiferromagnetic interaction between the solute ions co-existing with the much stronger short-range ferromagnetic interaction which is manifested in alloys of much higher concentration than those studied here.
An xml-based implementation of the parametric model for ad-hoc query of temporal and spatiotemporal data

The parametric model is one of the data models for dimensional data. Values in the parametric model are defined as functions. Such modeling concept helps one achieve a one-to-one correspondence between objects in the real world and records in a database. One of the important requirements is that domains of values should be closed under the set theoretic operations such as union, intersection, and complementation. Because of this, ParaSQL, a query language of the parametric model, is able to mimic natural languages more closely. In this dissertation we validate and implement the parametric model for temporal and spatiotemporal data. We also develop a preliminary prototype for the users of NC-94, an interesting dataset in agriculture. Viewing values as functions leads variable-length tuples. Potentially, such values vary in size ranging from a few bytes to gigabytes and beyond. This makes implementation of the parametric model a challenging problem. To meet the challenge, we develop an XML-based storage and deploy it in our implementation. Incidentally, XML is also used for interfacing various modules and artifacts like parse tree, expression tree, and iterators to fetch data from a disk. The NC-94 dataset, mentioned above, contains the most complete record of spatiotemporal variables that characterize the dynamics of agriculture covering the north central region in the United States. To support ad-hoc query of data in its geospatial context, a novel hybrid structure is designed and implemented. We use GML to describe geospatial information. Use of GML is a good match, because it is XML-based. More importantly, it meets the set theoretic closure requirements proposed by the parametric model. Validation and implementation methodologies introduced in this dissertation will contribute to database and GIS communities. The validation demonstrates the ease of use and efficiency of the parametric model for temporal and spatiotemporal data. This should help settle a debate in temporal database community which has continued since the mid 1980s. The findings also extend to spatial and spatiotemporal data. It is an important baby-step toward full-fledged implementation of the parametric model. We hope that this work will also help bring database and GIS communities together.
The Effect of Wrist Guards on Bone Strain in the Distal Forearm

There are increasing epidemiologic and biomechanical data suggesting that wrist guards are effective in preventing wrist injuries in snowboarders and in-line skaters. However, there have been few studies designed to determine how they function. In this study we explored the load-sharing function of wrist guards at subfailure loading levels. To do so, we measured bone strain in the distal radius, distal ulna, and midshaft of the radius in cadaveric forearms with and without two types of commercially available wrist guards. We also measured construct stiffness and energy absorption during testing. Our most significant findings were that dorsal and volar distal radius bone strain were reduced with both wrist guards, and wrist guards increased energy absorption. We also found a reduction in dorsal distal ulnar bone strain, but only with the one guard in which the volar plate was elevated off the heel of the hand. In our loading configuration, wrist guards did not increase bone strain at the radial midshaft. These findings provide insight into how wrist guards protect the wrist: during low-energy falls they function partly by load-sharing, as well as by absorbing impact energy.
Limitations of high-level microcomputer languages in software designed for psychological experimentation

The execution times of microcomputer high-level-language commands can be long enough to be of concern in experiments in which precise timing is a consideration. The problems in de­ veloping standard BASIC timing routines are addressed. A technique for using the Model III TRS-80-real-time clock to calibrate BASIC timinig routines is described, and representative execution times of selected commands are reported. It is concluded that high-level languages are too slow and that execution times are too variable for critical timing in experiments. On the other hand, machine language programs can provide the needed precision and control. Timing with millisecond precision is a major require­ ment for microcomputers used in research. The timing of stimulus exposures, interstimulus intervals, and re­ sponse latencies can be accomplished by a software timer or by having the computer input signals from an external clock. Each technique has advantages and disadvantages. An external clock is reliable, but it is also an additional expense and must be interfaced with the computer. A software timer requires no additional equipment, but it can be sensitive to tampering. More­ over, timers written in high-level languages (e.g., BASIC or PASCAL) are too slow for millisecond precision. This has led some researchers to rely on external timers for critical timing. Regardless of the timer used, how­
Orts- und Impulsdarstellung

Wir betrachten nun die konventionellere Darstellung der Komponenten des Impulses pvec als Ableitungen nach den entsprechenden konjugierten Koordinaten. Wir betrachten also pvec als Gradienten bezuglich des Ortsvektors rvec, genauer pvec → -I h grad, und damit px → -I h Dt [..., x] usw. Auf diese Weise erfullen wir die fundamentalen Vertauschungsrelationen in der Ortsdarstellung, in der die Wellenfunktion eine Funktion von x, y und z ist. Andererseits konnen wir in der Impulsdarstellung rvec als Gradienten bezuglich des Impulsvektors pvec und die Wellenfunktion als Funktion der Impulse px, py und pz betrachten. Die beiden Darstellungen sind mathematisch aquivalent; die Wellenfunktionen sind durch die Fourier-Transformation miteinander verknupft (s. Kap. 11 und auch Aufg. 20.2.1).
From an Ethnic Island to a Transnational Bubble: A Reflection on Korean Americans in Los Angeles

In the aftermath of the Los Angeles civil unrest of 1992, one of the few areas of agreement within the Korean American community was that Korean Americans do not live on a ethnic island. No matter how much Korean Americans built up the walls of ethnic insularity, the civil unrest unequivocally asserted that the lives of Korean Americans are enmeshed with lives of others and that Korean Americans ignore this at their own peril. The rage of African Americans in South Central after the Rodney King verdict, the crushing poverty of Central Americans in Pico Union, the brutality and the indifference of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the cluelessness of elected politicians all mattered in what happened to Korean Americans before, during, and after the civil unrest.
Some thoughts about administration of mydriatics and Takotsubo syndrome.

Article history: Received 24 February 2016 Accepted 19 March 2016 Available online 24 March 2016 phenotype. What could be the mechanism of TTS immediately after subconjunctival injection ofmydricaine, containing atropine and adrenaline [2]? The authors attribute it to the emotional and/or physical stress (extremely uncomfortable discomfort of subconjunctival injection) of the procedure, to the higher dose of atropine (2 mg) and adrenaline
Legal Briefs: Prolonged Labor and Ischemic Encephalopathy

A 4,232-g 40-3/7-week-gestation male infant was delivered by a 38-year-old gravida 1, para 0 woman after 4 days of uterine contractions. Eighteen hours before delivery when the cervix was 5 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and the fetus was at –2 station, the obstetrician artificially ruptured the membranes and placed an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC). The plaintiff obstetrical expert pointed out that the IUPC was not calibrated and this was below the standard of care. A caput was discovered at this point. The plaintiff obstetrical expert pointed out that much pressure must have been exerted on the fetal head thus far to have produced a caput before the second stage of labor. The presence of the caput did not allow the obstetrical team, which consisted of a midwife, a remotely distant supervising obstetrician, and several shifts of bedside nurses, to accurately assess the station and position of the fetus. The midwife noted variable decelerations with increasing frequency and severity 24 hours before delivery, prompting her to perform an amnioinfusion. The anesthesiologist provided an epidural. The plaintiff obstetrical expert maintained that because there were multiple and deep variables during the first stage of labor, it was very probable that the fetus would not be able to tolerate the contractions during the second stage. He further contended that delivery was remote, considering the slow progress of labor up to this point, and it was unlikely that a safe vaginal delivery could be reasonably expected. In fact, multiple attempts were made with intravenous boluses, position changes, and supplemental oxygen to help the fetus recover from the deep decelerations during the first stage of labor. The recovery to the prior baseline heart rate (HR) after decelerations initially was good. However, as time went on, by 16 hours before delivery, the fetus was not recovering well …
Pollution of ground water by nutrients and fecal coliforms from lakeshore septic tank systems

The fate of wastewater effluents discharged from 17 septic tank disposal systems located near the shores of eight lakes in northeastern and eastern New York State was investigated. Fecal coliforms chloride, conductivity, dissolved 02, phosphate and various forms of N in ground water samples were analyzed. Of 46 ground water samples, 23 were found to be highly contaminated and 16 slightly contaminated. Only 7 were not contaminated by the wastewater effluent. Seventeen of the 23 highly contaminated samples were collected within 30.5 m of the discharge point of the septic systems. Eleven of these were collected from ground water less than 122 cm below ground level. Eight of the 16 slightly contaminated samples and 3 of the 7 noncontaminated samples were collected at a distance greater than 30.5 m. The depth to the ground water from ground surface and the distance of the ground water from the discharge point of the sewage system are main factors influencing pattern and severity of ground water contamination. This survey indicated that significant nutrient and fecal coliform contamination of lakeshore ground waters was occurring.
Effects of ligand modification and protonation on metal oxime hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts.

The design of hydrogen-evolving electrocatalysts that operate at modest overpotentials is important for solar energy devices. The MII/I reduction potential for metal diimine-dioxime and diglyoxime electrocatalysts is often related to the overpotential required for hydrogen evolution. Herein the impact of ligand modification and protonation on the MII/I reduction potentials for cobalt, nickel, and iron diimine-dioxime and diglyoxime complexes is investigated with computational methods. The calculations are consistent with experimental data available for some of these complexes and additionally provide predictions for complexes that have not yet been synthesized. The calculated pKa’s imply that ligand protonation is likely to occur at the O–H–O bridge but not at other ligand sites for these complexes. Moreover, the calculations imply that a ligand-protonated CoIII-hydride intermediate is formed along the H2 production pathway for catalysts containing an O–H–O bridge in the presence of sufficiently strong ac...
Five-year clinical results of cervical total disc replacement compared with anterior discectomy and fusion for treatment of 2-level symptomatic degenerative disc disease: a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter investigational device exemption clinical trial

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to report the outcome of a study of 2-level cervical total disc replacement (Mobi-C) versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Although the long-term outcome of single-level disc replacement has been extensively described, there have not been previous reports of the 5-year outcome of 2-level cervical disc replacement. METHODS This study reports the 5-year results of a prospective, randomized US FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) study conducted at 24 centers in patients with 2-level, contiguous, cervical spondylosis. Clinical outcomes at up to 60 months were evaluated, including validated outcome measures, incidence of reoperation, and adverse events. The complete study data and methodology were critically reviewed by 3 independent surgeon authors without affiliation with the IDE study or financial or institutional bias toward the study sponsor. RESULTS A total of 225 patients received the Mobi-C cervical total disc replacement device and 105 patients received ACDF. The Mobi-C and ACDF follow-up rates were 90.7% and 86.7%, respectively (p = 0.39), at 60 months. There was significant improvement in all outcome scores relative to baseline at all time points. The Mobi-C patients had significantly more improvement than ACDF patients in terms of Neck Disability Index score, SF-12 Physical Component Summary, and overall satisfaction with treatment at 60 months. The reoperation rate was significantly lower with Mobi-C (4%) versus ACDF (16%). There were no significant differences in the adverse event rate between groups. CONCLUSIONS Both cervical total disc replacement and ACDF significantly improved general and disease-specific measures compared with baseline. However, there was significantly greater improvement in general and disease-specific outcome measures and a lower rate of reoperation in the 2-level disc replacement patients versus ACDF control patients. Clinical trial registration no. NCT00389597 ( clinicaltrials.gov ).
Review of Studies on Cultural Awareness from the Perspective of Enterprises

The author is aware of the basic position of cultural awareness in corporate culture and makes a summary in theory and research.Although there are many defects in its definition,fundamental proposition,boundary and theoretical system of it,the term-cultural awareness,put forward by famous Chinese sociologist FEI Xiao-tong for the first time,should be paid much more attention,because it has much research value to corporate culture.Meanwhile,the prospect of cultural awareness research in the future is studied in this article.
Comments and suggestions on professional accreditation of civil engineering programs in China

In this paper,the author presents briefly the comments on the characteristics and achievements of the accreditation of the Chinese National Board of Civil Engineering Accreditation(NBCEA),and puts emphasis on the suggestions as to its innovations and developments.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Thiocyanate and Selenocyanate Derivatives of Adenosine and Phenylalanine as Vibrational Reporters

Two novel modified 2’-deoxyadenosine (dA) molecules, Si2-dA-SCN and Si2-dA-SeCN, and two novel modified phenylalanine (Phe) molecules, Boc-Me-PheCH2SCN and Boc-Me-PheCH2SeCN have been synthesized and the -SCN and -SeCN functional groups evaluated as vibrational reporters. The syntheses of Si2-dA-SCN and Si2-dA-SeCN were accomplished in three steps in 16% and 32% overall yields, respectively, from commercially available adenine 9-β-D-arabinofuranoside. Similarly, the syntheses of Boc-Me-PheCH2SCN and Boc-Me-PheCH2SeCN were completed in four steps in 8.9% and 2.3% overall yields, respectively, using commercially available N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-4-iodo-L-phenylalanine as the starting material. The absorbance bands resulting from the -SCN and -SeCN stretch vibrational modes are in a clear region of the IR spectrum, and are narrow and symmetrical suggesting that they are not complicated by anharmonic coupling. These stretch vibrational modes are also sensitive to local environment as shown by change in position and full width half maximum (fwhm) of the absorbance bands in different solvents, including tetrahydrofuran (THF), H2O/THF mixtures, and ethanol (EtOH). For example, the -SeCN absorbance band of Boc-Me-PheCH2SeCN shifted from 2151.2 to 2150.7 cm−1, and broadened from 7.1 to 11.0 cm−1, going from 0-40% (v/v) H2O/THF. In addition, the same band in ethanol shifted to 2154.1 cm−1 and the fwhm increased to 12.7 cm−1. These reporters also have longer vibrational lifetimes than other commonly used probes as determined by two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D IR) experiments using Si2-dA-SCN and Si2-dA-SeCN. The increased lifetimes and the solvent sensitivity make -SCN and -SeCN moieties highly promising for their utility in studying several processes, including protein and nucleic acid hydration dynamics.
Bundled payment care initiative: How this all started

Abstract For the past 40 years health care policymakers have attempted to come up with creative ways to deal with uncontrolled medical inflation. Medicare has enacted multiple changes to their reimbursement system and experimented with different payment models. Bundled payments were first implemented for hospital in 1984. Since then experimental models that bundled both hospital and physician payments have been attempted with moderate success. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, CMS was required to pilot a bundled payment model. As a result the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative was announced and piloted at multiple hospitals around the country.
Scrambler: dynamic layout adaptation

Developers and compiler writers spend significant effort on performance tuning and optimizations. However, the impact of these efforts must be taken with a grain of salt. Prior work has shown that changes to a program's layout—the placement of code and data in memory—can change performance by more than the effect of standard optimization techniques. This paper presents Scrambler, a system that dynamically changes the layout of programs to improve their performance. Scrambler runs C and C++ programs with a randomized layout, and monitors these programs for evidence of layout-related performance issues. When an issue is detected, Scrambler relocates the offending code to eliminate the layout issue. We evaluate Scrambler on eight SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks, and find that Scrambler can provide speedups as large as 4.6% by fixing layouts that hurt branch predictor performance. These early results are encouraging, and we plan to extend this work to support additional layout-related performance issues in the future.
Tidal Fluctuation of the Tsugaru Warm Current as Determined from the Historical Gek Observations

Abstract A new method of measuring the tidal signal from randomly spaced observations has been presented and applied to the historical GEK observations for the Tsugaru Warm Current. At the western Tsugaru Strait, the amplitude of the tidal fluctuation of current speed has been shown to be 26 cm/sec on the average. The signal of the diurnal tide is more conspicuous than that of the semi-diurnal tide, indicating that the tidal fluctuation is controlled by the sea level difference between both sides of the strait. The current direction is almost settled toward the east-northeast at the phase of higher current speed, whereas the hodograph shows an anti-clockwise rotation at the phase of lower current speed.
Microbial Growth on Plate Beef During Extended Storage After Washing and Sanitizing.

Plate beef was washed and/or sanitized with cold water, hot water, steam, sodium hypochlorite, or acetic acid before being stored for up to 28 days at 3.3 C and 90% relative humidity. Microbial counts initially and at regular intervals thereafter disclosed that, compared with untreated controls, time to reach counts of 108 bacteria per cm2 were (a) 1 day less with steam- or water-treated samples, (b) 2 to 3 days more with hypochlorite-treated samples, (c) 5 days more with hot-water-treated samples, and (d) 16 to 17 days more with acetic acid-treated samples. Re-sanitization with acetic acid extended time to reach equivalent counts by 7 additional days.
Beyond hemoglobin polymerization: the red blood cell membrane and sickle disease pathophysiology.

This review will discuss the current level of understanding of these membrane defects, including their potential pathophysiologic roles which, depending on defect, vary from unlikely to conceivable to virtually certain. The concluding sections will examine the broader perspective of overall pathophysiology and put forth the hypothesis that the true impact of sickle RBC membrane defects on clinical phenotype is to add a stochastic influence, thereby modulating (and obscuring the theoretical predictability of) the fundamental predisposition to disease severity conferred by genetic determinants of Hb polymerization
Comparison of Morcellation Techniques at the Time of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Myomectomy.

Abstract Study Objective To compare perioperative outcomes associated with the use of 3 techniques for tissue removal at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy and myomectomy. Design A retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting An academic hospital in Boston, MA. Patients Women who underwent a laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy involving tissue morcellation in 2014. Interventions One of 3 morcellation techniques: electronic power morcellation (PM), manual vaginal morcellation via the vagina (VM), or manual morcellation via minilaparotomy (ML). Measurements and Main Results Of the 297 cases included in this study (137 myomectomies, 62 total laparoscopic hysterectomies, and 98 laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomies), 96% of the cases were performed by fellowship-trained surgeons using conventional laparoscopy. Containment bags were used at the time of tissue extraction in 77% of the cases. Baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes were similar in all groups. In hysterectomy cases, the average specimen size was largest in the ML group (591 ± 419 g in the ML group compared with 368 ± 293 g in the PM group and 449 ± 175 g in the VM group, p = .0009). After multivariate regression, no significant difference was found in blood loss, length of stay, or complications. The operative time was shorter in the PM group compared with the ML group by 16 minutes (mean = 140 minutes [95% confidence interval, 130–149 minutes] compared with 156 [95% confidence interval, 146–167], p = .02); this association remained significant once additionally adjusting for the use or nonuse of containment bags (p = .05). Conclusion We did not detect a significant difference between the 3 morcellation techniques when comparing the perioperative complications although the longest operative times were noted for the minilaparotomy approach. All 3 morcellation techniques represent viable options for tissue extraction at the time of minimally invasive surgery.
Origins of Stereoselectivity of Enamine–Iminium-Activated Nazarov Cyclizations by Vicinal Diamines

The mechanism and sources of asymmetric induction in Nazarov reactions reported by Tius and co-workers have been determined with quantum chemical calculations. A chiral vicinal diamine forms an enamine–iminium adduct with α-ketoenones, and this undergoes a cationic conrotatory electrocyclization. The chiral diamine imparts stereocontrol in the enamine–iminium complex by forming a six-membered ring that favors one helicity of the electrocyclization transition state.
An R-completion of groups and its relation to the R-completion of spaces

In this chapter we introduce, for any solid (Ch.I, 4.5) ring R, an Artin-Mazur-like R-completion of groups and show that it can be used to construct, up to homotopy, the R-completion of spaces. The theoretical basis for this is in Chapter III, where we developed a flexible “tower lemma” approach to R-completions.
The Pelvic Bridge: A Subcutaneous Approach for Anterior Pelvic Fixation.

Overview Introduction An alternative method to external fixation for the treatment of unstable anterior pelvic ring injuries, termed the pelvic bridge technique, provides equivalent results with fewer complications and is performed using occipital cervical rods subcutaneously, with fixation into the iliac wings and parasymphyseal bone. Indications & Contraindications Step 1: Preoperative Planning For preoperative planning, review the appropriate imaging, including radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans, to mesh the findings on imaging to the clinical picture of the patient and ensure that the patient meets operative criteria and that none of the contraindications are present. Step 2: Patient Positioning Position the patient to facilitate anterior and posterior fixation. Step 3: Approach Make the incisions necessary to expose the osseous contour where fixation will be utilized. Step 4: Contouring the Plate-Rod Construct Carefully contour the plate-rod construct, which is necessary to minimize postoperative complications. Step 5: Passing the Plate-Rod Construct Use care when inserting the rod as doing so will help to avoid neurovascular complications. Step 6: Achieving Adequate Reduction To recreate pelvic stability, the pelvic ring needs to heal in as close to anatomic position as possible and there are multiple methods that help to obtain an adequate reduction. Step 7: Fracture Fixation Multiple constructs may be used to stabilize the anterior pelvic ring, but the fundamental principle is to attach the 2 hemipelves to achieve stability, and the location where fixation can be achieved depends on the fracture pattern. Step 8: Wound Closure Ensure meticulous closure to reduce the chance of infection and achieve appropriate soft-tissue coverage over hardware. Step 9: Rehabilitation Early mobilization is a fundamental goal of this procedure, but the time to full weight-bearing is dependent on fracture characteristics and healing. Results Anterior pelvic internal fixation (APIF) using the pelvic bridge technique has been demonstrated to have significantly fewer complications than APEF 2 . Pitfalls & Challenges
Visual Analytics Techniques for Exploring the Design Space of Large-Scale High-Radix Networks

High-radix, low-diameter, hierarchical networks based on the Dragonfly topology are common picks for building next generation HPC systems. However, effective tools are lacking for analyzing the network performance and exploring the design choices for such emerging networks at scale. In this paper, we present visual analytics methods that couple data aggregation techniques with interactive visualizations for analyzing large-scale Dragonfly networks. We create an interactive visual analytics system based on these techniques. To facilitate effective analysis and exploration of network behaviors, our system provides intuitive, scalable visualizations that can be customized to show various traffic characteristics and correlate between different performance metrics. Using high-fidelity network simulation and HPC applications communication traces, we demonstrate the usefulness of our system with several case studies on exploring network behaviors at scale with different workloads, routing strategies, and job placement policies. Our simulations and visualizations provide valuable insights for mitigating network congestion and inter-job interference.
Tracking functional tumor cell subpopulations of malignant glioma by phasor fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of NADH

Intra-tumoral heterogeneity is associated with therapeutic resistance of cancer and there exists a need to non-invasively identify functional tumor subpopulations responsible for tumor recurrence. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is a metabolic coenzyme essential in cellular respiration. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of NADH has been demonstrated to be a powerful label-free indicator for inferring metabolic states of living cells. Using FLIM, we identified a significant shift towards longer NADH fluorescence lifetimes, suggesting an increase in the fraction of protein-bound NADH, in the invasive stem-like tumor-initiating cell (STIC) subpopulation relative to the tumor mass-forming cell (TMC) subpopulation of malignant gliomas. By applying our previously studied model to transition glioma from a majority of STIC to a majority of TMC in serum-adherent culture conditions following serial passages, we compared changes in NADH states, cellular respirations (oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis), EGFR expression, and cell-growth speed over passages. We identified a significant positive correlation between free-NADH fraction and cell growth, which was related to an increase of TMC fraction. In comparison, the increase of EGFR and cellular respirations preceded all these changes. In conclusion, FLIM of NADH provides a non-invasive method to monitor the dynamics of tumor heterogeneity before and after treatment.
A Genetic Toolbox for Modulating the Expression of Heterologous Genes in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Cyanobacteria, genetic models for photosynthesis research for decades, have recently become attractive hosts for producing renewable fuels and chemicals, owing to their genetic tractability, relatively fast growth, and their ability to utilize sunlight, fix carbon dioxide, and in some cases, fix nitrogen. Despite significant advances, there is still an urgent demand for synthetic biology tools in order to effectively manipulate genetic circuits in cyanobacteria. In this study, we have compared a total of 17 natural and chimeric promoters, focusing on expression of the ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We report the finding that the E. coli σ70 promoter Ptrc is superior compared to the previously reported strong promoters, such as PcpcB and PpsbA, for the expression of EFE. In addition, we found that the EFE expression level was very sensitive to the 5′-untranslated region upstream of the open reading frame. A library of ribosome binding sites (RBSs) was ration...
What can social work do to mitigate caregiver-perpetrated physical aggression? A study among caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable female adolescents in South Africa

ABSTRACTMany children in South Africa live outside of parental care due to orphanhood, parental labour migration, unemployment, and unstable formal partnerships. Few studies have examined risk factors for parent-to-child physical aggression (PCPA), a term encompassing varying severities of physically aggressive acts, among children residing outside of parental care. In this context prior custody preparation is uncommon,and alternative caregivers have been found to experience high levels of psychological distress and burden. This study examined these risk factors using secondary analysis of baseline cross-sectional survey data drawn from a bereavement support group evaluation. A logistic regression analysis was applied among a subgroup of 190 female adolescents residing with alternative caregivers, in an effort to inform preventative social work interventions. Half of the adolescents in the subgroup had lost a parent, while a third were double orphans. Eleven per cent of adolescents reported experiencing P...
Squaring the Vienna Circle with Up-To-Date Logic and epistemology

Logical empiricists are dead. I used to know some of them, including Rudolf Carnap, Peter Hempel, Herbert Feigl, Freddy Ayer, and Eino Kaila. But this is not news. More relevantly, the main proponents of the philosophical movements that are generally thought of as having replaced logical empiricism are also dead. By these movements, I mean in the first place the so-called “New Philosophy of Science,” Quine’s epistemology as well as to some extent Popper’s philosophy. Of philosophers of such persuasions that I used to know, Quine, Popper, Kuhn, and Lakatos are all gone. Does this constitute an invitation to nostalgia? No, nostalgia just is not what it used to be in the good old days. Instead of incipient nostalgia, I find at the bottom of my mind a disturbing reaction to the flood of historical studies of the Vienna Circle and its members. I am beginning to think that we are insulting the logical empiricists by considering them predominantly as objects of historical curiousity. Who are more dead philosophically, I am tempted to ask, Carnap and his friends or Quine and Kuhn and their ilk? Slowly an unzeitgemassig conviction has formed in my mind. Perhaps it was the logical empiricists, not the new philosophers of science in the stamp of Quine and Kuhn, who were on the right track. Perhaps it is the likes of Quine and Kuhn that we should have come here to bury and not to praise.
Is the posterior cruciate ligament destabilized after the tibial cut in a cruciate retaining total knee replacement? An anatomical study.

Abstract Introduction/purpose Cruciate retaining total knee replacement has been shown to effectively improve pain and quality of life. Successful outcomes depend on many factors, including the maintenance of a competent posterior cruciate ligament. This study sought to anatomically analyze the percentage of PCL injured during a full transverse, tibial cut, thus altering normal function. Materials and methods One hundred and thirty five consecutive knee MRIs taken from 2006 to 2011 were selected from a single surgeon's database for this study. Only subjects with non-arthritic knees were considered for this study; the lack of degenerative joint disease (DJD) was confirmed via a radiological report. The optimal view of the PCL's tibial attachment was observed using the sagittal view of the knee, with a T1 signal. One hundred and twenty two usable images were viewed electronically, and measurements were made using the standardized transverse cut implant guidelines. The percentage of PCL remaining following the cut was categorized into five different groups: 0% (no PCL undermined), 1–49%, 50–74%, 75–99% and 100% (PCL undermined entirely). Results Overall only 9.0% ( n =11) would have not endured any damage to the PCL with a transverse tibial saw cut, while 79.6% ( n =98) would have had 50% or more of the PCL undermined. Of the 98 patients with more than 50% resected, 52.1% ( n =51 patients) presented complete destabilization of the PCL. The percentage of PCL destabilized was not significant across age groups ( p =0.280), gender ( p =0.586), or operative side ( p =0.460). Conclusion Independent of age, gender, and operative side, a majority of PCLs are more than 50% destabilized following the standard transverse tibial cut. Level of evidence II
In vitro activity of second and third generation cephalosporins against ampicillin susceptible and resistant haemophilus influenzae.

One hundred seventy-five clinical isolates ofHaemophilus influenzae (including 74 β-lactamaseproducing strains) were examined for susceptibility to ampicillin, cefonicid, cefamandole, cefuroxime and cefotaxime. Cefonicid and cefamandole exhibited similar activity against ampicillin-susceptible strains (MIC90 = 0.2 mg/l for both antibiotics); cefuroxime was slightly less active (MIC90 = 0.01 mg/l). However, cefonicid, cefuroxime and cefotaxime were all more active against β-lactamase-producingH. influenzae than cefamandole (MIC90 = 1.0 mg/l for cefonicid, MIC90 = 2.0 mg/l for cefuroxime, MIC90 = 0.01 mg/l for cefotaxime, MIC90 = 5.0 mg/l for cefamandole). One hundred twenty-five of the 175 isolates were also tested for susceptibility to cefonicid and cefamandole by disc diffusion technique and a plot of zone diameter vs. MIC was analyzed for the β-lactamase-producing strains.