cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health information technology capacity at federally qualified health centers: a mechanism for improving quality of care

The adoption of health information technology has been recommended as a viable mechanism for improving quality of care and patient health outcomes. However, the capacity of health information technology (i.e., availability and use of multiple and advanced functionalities), particularly in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on improving quality of care is not well understood. We examined associations between health information technology (HIT) capacity at FQHCs and quality of care, measured by the receipt of discharge summary, frequency of patients receiving reminders/notifications for preventive care/follow-up care, and timely appointment for specialty care. The analyses used 2009 data from the National Survey of Federally Qualified Health Centers. The study included 776 of the FQHCs that participated in the survey. We examined the extent of HIT use and tested the hypothesis that level of HIT capacity is associated with quality of care. Multivariable logistic regressions, reporting unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, were used to examine whether ‘FQHCs’ HIT capacity’ is associated with the outcome measures. The results showed a positive association between health information technology capacity and quality of care. FQHCs with higher HIT capacity were significantly more likely to have improved quality of care, measured by the receipt of discharge summaries (OR=1.43; CI=1.01, 2.40), the use of a patient notification system for preventive and follow-up care (OR=1.74; CI=1.23, 2.45), and timely appointment for specialty care (OR=1.77; CI=1.24, 2.53). Our findings highlight the promise of HIT in improving quality of care, particularly for vulnerable populations who seek care at FQHCs. The results also show that FQHCs may not be maximizing the benefits of HIT. Efforts to implement HIT must include strategies that facilitate the implementation of comprehensive and advanced functionalities, as well as promote meaningful use of these systems. Further examination of the role of health information systems in clinical decision-making and improvements in patient outcomes are needed to better understand the benefits of HIT in improving overall quality of care.
Fabrication and analysis of GaN nanorods grown by MBE

GaN nanorods were grown on c-plane sapphire substrates under N-rich conditions by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. Scanning electron microsopy revealed densely packed nanorods of hexagonal cross section with diameters ranging from roughly 40 to 100 nm. Atomic force microscopy indicated that the rods protruded 50 to 75 nm above the average height of the surface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the nanorods were approximately 1.4 micrometers in length but an accurate measurement of the rod separation was difficult to assess. Contrary to expectations for GaN grown under N-rich conditions, a high density of basal plane stacking faults were not revealed in TEM under typical imaging conditions. X-ray diffraction using the (0002), (0004), (0006), (104), and (105) reflections yielded c = 0.5188 ± 0.0002 nm and a = 0.3188 ± 0.0004 nm. Low temperature photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence showed broad near-bandgap emission around 3.4 eV that shifted to the blue with reduced temperature in the usual manner, and the presence of a similarly blue-shifting peak near 3.2 eV. The spectra were deconvolved using nine lineshape functions revealing 2 phonon replicas asssociated with the peak near 3.2 eV. Room temperature spectroscopic reflection fited to the standard Aspnes third-derivative lineshape function yielded a transition energy of 3.407 eV for the A exciton and 3.490 eV for the B+C excitons (not spectrally resolved). Both the x-ray and photoreflectance results indicate that the nanorods are fairly relaxed. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Robust Control of Parabolic PDE Systems

This chapter focuses on the control problem for quasi-linear parabolic PDEs with time-varying uncertain variables, for which the eigenspectrum of the spatial differential operator can be partitioned into a finite-dimensional (possibly unstable) slow one and an infinite-dimensional stable fast complement. The objective is to develop a general and practical methodology for the synthesis of nonlinear robust state and output feedback controllers that guarantee boundedness of the state and output tracking with arbitrary degree of asymptotic attenuation of the effect of the uncertain variables on the output of the closed-loop system
Placement of PMUs with channel limits

Synchronized phasor measurements are changing the way power systems are monitored and operated. Their efficient incorporation into various applications which are executed in energy management control centers, require strategic placement of these devices. Earlier studies which consider placement of PMUs to be used for state estimation, assume that these devices will have unlimited channel capacities to record as many phase voltages and currents as needed. However, all existing PMUs come with a limited number of channels and their costs vary accordingly. In this study, a revised formulation of the placement problem and its associated solution algorithm will be presented. Examples will be used to illustrate the impact of having limited number of channels on the location and number of required PMUs to make the system observable. Developed methods will take into account existing injections measurements, in particular the virtual measurements such as zero injections that are available at no cost at electrically passive buses.
Fathering in intact and divorced families: Ethnic differences in retrospective reports

The present study was designed to investigate whether ethnicity moderates the effects of divorce on young adults’ retrospective reports of fathering. An ethnically diverse sample of 1,989 university students completed measures of nurturant fathering, reported father involvement, and desired father involvement. Compared with participants from intact families, those from divorced families indicated lower levels of nurturant fathering and reported father involvement. These differences varied considerably by ethnicity. Reported fathering differences between participants from intact and divorced families were greatest in African Americans, Caribbean Islanders, and foreignborn Cubans. These differences were smallest in non-Hispanic Whites and Asians. Participants from divorced families reported greater levels of desired father involvement than did participants from intact families. These differences were not moderated by ethnicity.
Acrolein-induced vasomotor responses of rat aorta

Acrolein is a highly reactive aldehyde pollutant and an endogenous product of lipid peroxidation. Increased generation of, or exposures to, acrolein incites pulmonary and vascular injury. The effec...
Mutations in the cytosolic DnaJ homologue, YDJ1, delay and compromise the efficient translation of heterologous proteins in yeast

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae YDJ1 gene encodes a yeast homologue of DnaJ, an Escherichia coli molecular chaperone and regulator of Hsp70 function. We examined the function of Ydj1p in vivo by analyzing the activity and production of firefly luciferase (FFLux) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) after inducible expression in yeast strains containing a wild type or a mutant YDJ1 gene. Although FFLux and GFP mRNA levels were similar in the wild type and mutant strains, the FFLux protein was translated about half as efficiently in the ydj1-151 mutant compared to the wild type strain; the lower FFLux level was not the result of increased FFLux turnover in the mutant. In contrast, GFP translation was significantly delayed in the ydj1-151 mutant compared to the wild type strain. Surprisingly, we observed that FFLux and GFP mRNA bound efficiently to polysomes in the ydj1-151 mutant. Analysis of polysome profiles also revealed a modest increase in the amount of 60S ribosomal subunits in the ydj1-151 strain, consistent with a translation defect in the mutant, although the Ydj1 protein was not found to be associated with polysomes. To determine whether the inducible expression of an endogenous yeast protein was also less efficient in the ydj1-151 strain, we examined the inducible synthesis of the yeast TATA-binding protein (TBP) but observed no translation defect. Statistical analysis of the FFLux, GFP, and TBP encoding genes suggests that Ydj1p facilitates the expression of proteins that are poorly translated because both FFLux and GFP contain an abundance of codons that are rarely used in yeast.
Strategies for Information Systems candidates and job seekers in the twenty-first century workplace

Information system is a dynamic changing area since information technology changes rapidly. The technology advances trigger the challenge of how information and information technology can be used for strategic and competitive purpose (Waston et al., 1988). These developments demand that IS professionals be equipped with technology and management skills. These changes impact the job seeking process for IS graduates. Recently, the process of job search has attracted empirical scrutiny. This article is intent to analyze a variety of job search strategies’ effect on employment outcome specialized in information system field. We will examine a variety of strategies and their correlation with employers’ recruiting decisions. We intent to identify what kind of strategy will increase the possibility for the IT job seekers to be hired. Moreover, this article tries to identify the factors that contribute to the gap between the employed and the unemployed. The difference between this research and prior is that it uses qualitative method rather than a quantitative approach.
Clinical outcomes of palliative radiation therapy for children

Abstract Purpose In contrast to studies of adults, there are limited published data regarding palliative radiation therapy (RT) for children, and further study is greatly needed. Methods and materials We performed a retrospective review of all pediatric patients referred to our radiation oncology department over a 5-year span from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011. Results Of 244 total pediatric patients referred, a subset of 45 (18.4%) were treated specifically with palliative intent for a total of 83 courses of RT. Follow-up data until study closure or death were available for 98% of patients. The median survival after initiation of palliative RT was 6.5 months. Overall, 23% of the children were alive at last follow-up visit, and 77% were deceased. The prescribed RT was completed in 93% of courses; 7% of courses were discontinued because of clinical deterioration due to systemic disease progression. The overall symptom response rate (partial or complete) was 72%. Overall response rate by symptom was 80% for bone pain, 55% for dyspnea or chest pain, 58% for neurologic symptoms, 50% for bleeding, and 100% for liver pain or ascites. Response rates by histology were 100% for leukemias, 91% for neuroblastoma, 76% for Ewing sarcoma, 64% for rhabdomyosarcoma, 54% for osteosarcoma, and 50% for primary central nervous system neoplasms. For responders, the median time from RT initiation to response was 1 week. For 7% of patients, a repeat course of RT for the same site and symptom was performed. No patients experienced RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) grade 3 or greater acute or late toxicities. Conclusions RT is a useful palliative tool for pediatric patients that merits continued use and further study.
Community effects and desired schooling of parents and children in Mexico

Abstract This paper investigates community effects in the determination of desired schooling in a sample of more than 300 school children and their parents in three Mexican cities. Community residence is found to be a significant predictor of desired schooling of parents and children, even with comprehensive controls for child and family traits. Measurement error and omitted variable bias are considered, but rejected, as principal causes of this result. A comparison of recent and long-term residents of a community reveals that the predictive power of residence is much stronger for long-term residents. This result is interpreted as evidence of community effects, since the alternative hypothesis of Tiebout behavior predicts a stronger common effect for recent migrants. Potential sources of the community effects are then investigated with neighborhood-level data from the 1990 Mexican Census.
Transduction of Long-Term and Mobilized Peripheral Blood-Derived NOD/SCID Repopulating Cells by Foamy Virus Vectors

Foamy virus (FV) vectors are a promising gene delivery system for use in hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy. Previous FV vector marking studies in the NOD/SCID xenotransplantation model used umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived SCID repopulating cells (SRCs) that were assayed 5-10 weeks posttransplantation. We now report efficient FV vector transduction (>65%) of UCB-derived primitive, long-term SRCs engrafted for 18 weeks. In addition, we evaluated gene transfer into mobilized peripheral blood (MPB)-derived SRCs by improved, deleted FV vectors containing minimal cis-acting sequences and packaged by split helper constructs that would be appropriate for use in clinical trials. When used at a multiplicity of infection of 1 in a 10-hr transduction protocol, these improved vectors transduced 34% of engrafted MPB-derived SRCs.
Using MATLAB/Simulink for Data Acquisition and Control

MATLAB's graphical simulation interface is adapted for real-time data acquisition and control. This allows students to incorporate Simulink's powerful control and signal processing functions into a control strategy for a physical system. A sampling period of one second or greater is required, but this is compatible with typical process control lab experiments. Advanced techniques, such as Model Predictive Control, are easy to implement. Other advantages and disadvantages of the approach are discussed. The software is available at no charge for classroom use.
An unusual case of jaundice in a 2-month-old boy

A 2-month-old previously healthy infant presented to the emergency department with a complaint of projectile vomiting for 4 days and jaundice for the last 2 days. An ultrasound of the abdomen showed no sign of pyloric stenosis. All results of laboratory workups related to gastrointestinal cause for vomiting and jaundice were normal. The patient was admitted for further gastrointestinal workup. Finally, a computed tomographic scan of the head showed active and chronic subdural bilateral hematomas with multiple calvarial fractures consistent with nonaccidental trauma.
The Essential Indexicality of Intentional Action

Cappelen and Dever challenge the widely accepted idea that some key aspect of intentional action is essentially indexical. They argue that the classical arguments for this coming from Perry are in fact arguments for a different phenomenon: the opacity of explanatory contexts. I agree with Cappelen and Dever that what Perry says about the ineliminability of indexical terms from explanations of intentional action fails to amount to an argument for this indexicality being essential. But this should not lead us to be sceptics. In this paper, I present a different argument for the essential indexicality of intentional actions. The key premise of this argument is that intentions themselves are essentially indexical. I provide evidence for this premise and defend it against potential criticism. I also show how the essential indexicality of intentions can be used to vindicate Perry’s original claims about the essential indexicality of certain beliefs and desires.
The Value of Dynamic Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and MagneticResonance Spectroscopy in Diagnosing Breast Tumours

Objective To compare the value of dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant breast tumours. Methods Breast DCE-MRI and MRS were performed in 65 patients with breat tumors, including 39 malignant lesions and 26 benign lesions confirmed histologically. The early enhancement rate, time-intensity curves(TIC) and signal-noise rate(SNR) of choline peak in all benign and malignant tumours were calculated in GE ADW4.2 workstation.Results The early enhancement rate, time-intensity curves of T1W dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and choline peak SNR of magnetic resonance spectroscopy were significantly different (P0.01) between benign and malignant lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of early enhancement rate , TIC and MRS were 97.4, 30.7 ; 87.2 ,69.2 ; and 61.5 , 92.3 respectively. The accuracy were 70.7, 80.0 and 73.8 respectively . The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 67.8, 88.9; 80.9, 78.3; and 92.3, 61.5,respectively. The sensitivities of early enhancement rate(97.4) and time-intensity curves(87.25) of T1W DCE-MRI were higher than that of MRS(61.5)(P0.01), but the specificities(30.7 and 69.2 respectively) were lower than that of MRS(92.3)(P0.01), and the positive predictive values(67.8 and 80.9 respectively) were lower than that of MRS(92.3)(P0.01).Conclusion DCE-MRI combined with MRS can raise the diagnostic accuracy of breast cancer.
Practice and Thinking of Quality Administration of National Essential Drugs Circulation

OBJECTIVE:To propose for ensuring the quality of national essential drugs.METHODS:The problems existing in the practice of national essential drugs administration at present were analyzed to find out the reasons and discuss the way of essential drugs administration.RESULTS:The quality of essential drugs could be ensured by implementing the national essential drug system,strengthening the source administration and standardizing the wholesale and distribution of essential drugs.CONCLUSION:We can play the role of technical support system and establish the intervention mechanism of medicine production in order to promote the implementation of the national essential drug system.
Intravenous Acetaminophen versus Morphine for Analgesia in Labor: A Randomized Trial.

Objective To compare the effectiveness of intravenous acetaminophen with that of morphine in reducing pain in the first stage of labor. Methods An open-label, randomized controlled trial of women ≥ 34 weeks gestation in the first stage of labor, assigned to either intravenous acetaminophen or morphine. The primary outcome was improved analgesia measured by difference of visual analog scale (VAS) score at 120 minutes from baseline. Secondary outcomes were request for rescue analgesia, maternal side effects, and fetal heart rate changes. Statistical analyses performed were chi-square, Student's t-test, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results Of 40 women randomized, 18 received acetaminophen (2 did not receive study drug), and 20 received morphine. Because of difficulties in recruitment, the sample size of 88 was not achieved. The primary outcome was similar between groups (p = 0.53). Within 120 minutes of initial treatment, more women receiving intravenous acetaminophen required rescue analgesia (acetaminophen: 52.9% vs. morphine: 17.6%, p Conclusion There was no difference in VAS scores between groups. However, as half of women receiving intravenous acetaminophen required rescue analgesia within 120 minutes of treatment, intravenous acetaminophen may be less effective for analgesia in early labor compared with intravenous morphine.
No evidence of increase in birth defects and health problems among children born to Persian Gulf War Veterans in Mississippi.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs, Jackson, Mississippi, and the Mississippi State Department of Health conducted a collaborative investigation of an apparent increase in the numbers of birth defects and other health problems among children born to veterans of two Mississippi National Guard units who had served in the Persian Gulf War. The medical records of all children conceived by and born to veterans of the two units after deployment were reviewed ; observed numbers of birth defects and other health problems were compared with expected numbers using rates from birth defect surveillance systems and previous surveys. The total number of all types of birth defects was not greater than expected, but whether the number of specific birth defects was greater than expected could not be determined. The frequency of premature birth, low birth weight, and other health problems appeared similar to that in the general population.
Family medicine specialty selection: a proposed research agenda.

Background and objectives Our objectives were to provide an update on the status of selection by medical students of family medicine as a specialty, to summarize what is known about influences on this specialty choice, and to propose a research agenda for the future. Methods Data from the National Resident Matching Program and the American Academy of Family Physicians residency database were obtained. Past reviews of research on family medicine specialty selection were summarized, and recent research was reviewed. Gaps in the knowledge base and common research design weaknesses were listed. Results As a result of our analysis, a set of 12 research questions are posed and a set of 11 study design recommendations made. Conclusions Family medicine specialty choice research must be planned and conducted with the most robust methodology possible, building on past research, to produce results that can assist in formulating effective policy.
P-28 When time is of the essence: Optimising shared decision making and advanced care planning processes in the emergency department

Background Emergent situations and settings actively present a unique range of barriers to meaningful conversations about treatment preferences that can derail authentic shared decision making processes in the context of advanced care planning. Aims Aim 1: Identify parameters/dimensions and conditions that support high quality advanced care planning decision making processes. Aim 2: Describe language choices that facilitate/constrain healthcare providers achieving a shared understanding of care needs and optimal advance care planning. Methods This study uses observational and recorded data from interactions between patients, their caregivers and health care providers within a local Emergency Department to examine specific patterns of participant language use that ensure mutually productive and sustainable patient-family-provider advanced care planning conversations. Results Preliminary results indicate interactional opportunities for creating and sustaining effective advanced care planning conversations as a process at hospital admission, during clinical deterioration, and following transfer to hospice, a nursing home or the ICU. Discussion and conclusion Emergent settings force healthcare professionals to reconceptualize advanced care planning conversations as living, evolving processes. Doing so provides interactional partners with multiple opportunities to negotiate and overcome barriers to shared decision making in emergent settings. Focused communication and decision-making guides as well as specific education in interaction design for advanced care planning conversations can advance the efficiency and effectiveness of decision making processes in emergent settings and establish quality standards for clinician-patient communication, in the advance care planning context.
Evaluation of dosimetric effect caused by slowing with multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaves for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)

Background This study is to report 1) the sensitivity of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) QA method for clinical volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans with multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaf errors that will not trigger MLC interlock during beam delivery; 2) the effect of non-beam-hold MLC leaf errors on the quality of VMAT plan dose delivery. Materials and methods. Eleven VMAT plans were selected and modified using an in-house developed software. For each control point of a VMAT arc, MLC leaves with the highest speed (1.87-1.95 cm/s) were set to move at the maximal allowable speed (2.3 cm/s), which resulted in a leaf position difference of less than 2 mm. The modified plans were considered as 'standard' plans, and the original plans were treated as the 'slowing MLC' plans for simulating 'standard' plans with leaves moving at relatively lower speed. The measurement of each 'slowing MLC' plan using MapCHECK®2 was compared with calculated planar dose of the 'standard' plan with respect to absolute dose Van Dyk distance-to-agreement (DTA) comparisons using 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria. Results All 'slowing MLC' plans passed the 90% pass rate threshold using 3%/3 mm criteria while one brain and three anal VMAT cases were below 90% with 2%/2 mm criteria. For ten out of eleven cases, DVH comparisons between 'standard' and 'slowing MLC' plans demonstrated minimal dosimetric changes in targets and organs-at-risk. Conclusions For highly modulated VMAT plans, pass rate threshold (90%) using 3%/3mm criteria is not sensitive in detecting MLC leaf errors that will not trigger the MLC leaf interlock. However, the consequential effects of non-beam hold MLC errors on target and OAR doses are negligible, which supports the reliability of current patient-specific IMRT quality assurance (QA) method for VMAT plans.
Vertical Integration and Program Access in the Cable Television Industry

Effective competition for local monopoly cable systems would seem to offer a natural solution to nagging problems widely attributed to the cable industry, such as high prices and poor service. In regulatory and legislative proceedings leading up to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992,(note 1) however, potential or existing competitors to local cable systems complained that cable programming networks(note 2) either refused to do business with them or offered them programming only on discriminatory terms.(note 3) These competitors include home satellite dish (HSD) owners and program distributors, satellite master antenna system (SMATV) operators, multichannel multipoint distribution system (MMDS) operators, "overbuilt" cable system operators, and operators of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems.(note 4) According to these complaints, established cable system operators are to blame for pressuring the networks, many of which are vertically affiliated with those operators, to engage in this discrimination and thus handicap the cable operators' competitors.
3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography using fluoroscopic triggering and an elliptical centric view order.

Although a variety of timing techniques and data acquisition strategies have been used for three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography, many are still limited by inadequate overall reliability, limited spatial resolution, or complexity. A technique is presented in this work in which contrast arrival is detected in the targetted vasculature in real time using MR fluoroscopy. Upon detection the operator triggers a 3D MR angiographic acquisition which uses an elliptical centric view order. It is shown that the view order intrinsically provides a high degree of venous suppression which in turn allows acquisition times of 30seconds or longer, permitting high spatial resolution. The reliability of fluoroscopic triggering in bolus detection is shown to be over 90%. The technique provides high quality contrast-enhanced MR angiograms for many vascular regions.
Blossoms and Blood: Postmodern Media Culture and the Films of Paul Thomas Anderson Jason Sperb. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2013.

Blossoms and Blood: Postmodern Media Culture and the Films of Paul Thomas Anderson Jason Sperb. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2013.One of the most acclaimed filmmakers to arise out of the 1990's American independent scene, Paul Thomas Anderson has drawn substantial critical and audience praise for the seven films he has directed, including his most recent, Inherent Vice (2014), but scholarly publications have been sparse, with only a handful of articles. In Blossoms and Blood, the first major book devoted to Anderson, Jason Sperb takes a chronological approach, allotting a chapter to each of his first five films: Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), and There Will Be Blood (2007), exploring the themes, production history, and reception for each of the films in light of Anderson's evolving aesthetic of postmodern excess.His introduction clarifies what is meant by the "postmodern media culture" of his title. Beyond the typical postmodern attributes of self-reflexivity, intertextuality, and hyper mediation, Sperb understands postmodernism historically, as, for decades now, "reality and media are irresolvably intertwined" (11) and thus reflects on the "trickle-down" postmodernism identified in Anderson's work. Some due attention is also given to Anderson's biography, including his having been "born into wealth and comfort in the shadow of his TV legend dad" (20), a biographical point that bears remembering when viewing Magnolia.The chapter on the almost forgotten Hard Eight details aspects of its troubled production history and how the then twenty-five-year-old director was able to make such an ambitious debut. When addressing Boogie Nights, Anderson's first significant hit on a cultural level, the author positions it within the "soundtrack film" genre popular to the late 1990s. Sperb's critique of the "cinephiliac pastiche" Boogie Nights-"On many technical, narrative, and historical levels, the film is all show" (71)-seems unduly harsh but helpfully points to those troubling aspects in the film that have continued to plague Anderson's work: problematic representations of women, the lack of consideration to race struggle, and homophobic undercurrents. The subtitle of the Magnolia chapter, "Melodramatic Ambivalence, Hyp er masculinity, and the Autobiographical Impulse in Magnolia (1999)," alludes to only some of the topics Sperb explores; even if he ultimately discredits the film for its indulgence and thinks that Anderson's having right to final cut for the first time may have been more of a burden than a blessing, this chapter may be the strongest. …
Finding Redundancy in Web Mutation Operators

New web development technologies enhance functionality of web applications but also introduce challenges in testing the software. As mutation analysis has been shown to be effective at designing tests for traditional software, we previously proposed web mutation testing. However, applying mutation analysis can be computationally expensive due to an extensive number of test requirements. This paper introduces, evaluates, and refines web mutation operators with the goal of reducing the number of test requirements. This paper evaluates redundancy among web mutation operators by analyzing the types of mutants that can be killed by tests generated specifically to kill other types of mutants and the types of mutants (and the operators that generate them) that can be excluded from testing while maintaining the same level of fault detection. An experimental study was conducted on 12 subject web applications using 15 web mutation operators. The redundancy in web mutation operators is computed as the percentage of the mutants of each operator that are killed by tests designed specifically to kill mutants of other operators. Tests designed specifically to kill mutants of some operators can also kill mutants generated from other operators. Three overlapping web mutation operators (WFUR, WHID, and WLUD) are redundant and can be excluded from mutation testing with minimal loss in fault detection capability.
Germann, Picturing Marie Leszczinska (1703-1768): Representing Queenship in Eighteenth-Century France (Routledge, 2015).

Picturing Marie Leszczinska (1703-1768): Representing Queenship in Eighteenth-Century France .
Power radiated by a binary system in a de Sitter universe

Gravitational waves emitted by high redshift sources propagate through various epochs of the Universe including the current era of measurable, accelerated expansion. Historically, the calculation of gravitational wave power on cosmological backgrounds is based on various simplifications, including a $1/r$-expansion and the use of an algebraic projection to retrieve the radiative degrees of freedom. On a de Sitter spacetime, recent work has demonstrated that many of these calculational techniques and approximations do not apply. Here we calculate the power emitted by a binary system on a de Sitter background using techniques tailored to de Sitter spacetime. The common expression for the power radiated by this source in an Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker spacetime, calculated using far wave-zone techniques, gives the same expression as the late time expansion specialized to the de Sitter background in the high-frequency approximation.
Model-based Transcriptome Engineering

The ability to rationally manipulate the transcriptional states of cells would be of great use in medicine and bioengineering. We have developed an algorithm, NetSurgeon, which uses genome wide gene-regulatory networks to identify interventions that force a cell toward a desired expression state. We first validated NetSurgeon extensively on existing datasets. Next, we used Net-Surgeon to select transcription factor deletions aimed at improving ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures that are catabolizing xylose. We reasoned that interventions that move the transcriptional state of cells using xylose toward that of cells producing large amounts of ethanol from glucose might improve xylose fermentation. Some of the interventions selected by NetSurgeon successfully promoted a fermentative transcriptional state in the absence of glucose, resulting in strains with a 2.7-fold increase in xylose import rates, a 4-fold improvement in xylose integration into central carbon metabolism, or a 1.3-fold increase in ethanol production rate. We conclude by presenting an integrated model of transcriptional regulation and metabolic flux that will enable future efforts aimed at improving xylose fermentation to prioritize functional regulators of central carbon metabolism.
Simplicity, Economy, and Intensity

This chapter is a brief for economy in fine writing and speaking. Even as economy and simplicity are treated as virtues in the sciences, so too—and for similar reasons—they are virtues in sturdy prose. Following a brief review of philosophers and scientists who celebrate economy in their theories and explanations, the chapter moves to a selection of common words, idioms, and phrases that good writers ought to avoid. A surprise is that the short and simple word “own,” employed as an adjective, is among these words.
Metabolism of an eutrophic reservoir (Western Illinois University, USA): With 2 tables in the text

1. The effective net primary production, i. e., the biomass that remained in the water mass, was determined for an eutrophic reservoir (40.1 gm C/m2/mo).2. The utilization of potential carbon amoun...
Evaluating the influence of spatial resolution of Landsat predictors on the accuracy of biomass models for large-area estimation across the eastern USA

Aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates for regional-scale forest planning have become cost-effective with the free access to satellite data from sensors such as Landsat and MODIS. However, the accuracy of AGB predictions based on passive optical data depends on spatial resolution and spatial extent of target area as fine resolution (small pixels) data are associated with smaller coverage and longer repeat cycles compared to coarse resolution data. This study evaluated various spatial resolutions of Landsat-derived predictors on the accuracy of regional AGB models at three different sites in the eastern USA: Maine, Pennsylvania-New Jersey, and South Carolina. We combined national forest inventory data with Landsat-derived predictors at spatial resolutions ranging from 30–1000 m to understand the optimal spatial resolution of optical data for large-area (regional) AGB estimation. Ten generic models were developed using the data collected in 2014, 2015 and 2016, and the predictions were evaluated (i) at the county-level against the estimates of the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis Program which relied on EVALIDator tool and national forest inventory data from the 2009–2013 cycle and (ii) within a large number of strips (~1 km wide) predicted via LiDAR metrics at 30 m spatial resolution. The county-level estimates by the EVALIDator and Landsat models were highly related (R 2 > 0.66), although the R 2 varied significantly across sites and resolution of predictors. The mean and standard deviation of county-level estimates followed increasing and decreasing trends, respectively, with models of coarser resolution. The Landsat-based total AGB estimates were larger than the LiDAR-based total estimates within the strips, however the mean of AGB predictions by LiDAR were mostly within one-standard deviations of the mean predictions obtained from the Landsat-based model at any of the resolutions. We conclude that satellite data at resolutions up to 1000 m provide acceptable accuracy for continental scale analysis of AGB.
High-performance integral-imaging-based light field augmented reality display

A new design of a head-mounted optical see-through light field display based on integral imaging is proposed to achieve both a wide see-through view and a high resolution light field display over a large depth volume. The design, which incorporates custom-designed freeform optics, a tunable lens and an aperture array, offers a true 3D display view of 30° by 18° in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, and a crosstalk-free eyebox of 6mm by 6mm. Owning to the capability of dynamically tuning the position of the central depth plane using the tunable lens, the virtual display is able to render the light field of a true 3D scene and maintains the spatial resolution of 3 arc minutes across a depth range of over 3 diopters. Due to the unique design of the freeform eyepiece, the see-through optics provides a field of view of 65° by 40° with an angular resolution as high as 0.5 arc minutes and very low distortion to the see-through view.
Comparative transcriptomics reveals shared gene expression changes during independent evolutionary origins of stem and hypocotyl/root tubers in Brassica (Brassicaceae)

Plant succulence provides a classic example of evolutionary convergence in over 40 plant families. If evolutionary parallelism is in fact responsible for separate evolutionary origins of expanded storage tissues in stems, hypocotyls, and roots, we expect similar gene expression profiles in stem and hypocotyl / root tubers. We analyzed RNA-Seq transcript abundance patterns in stem and hypocotyl / root tubers of the Brassica crops kohlrabi (B. oleracea) and turnip (B. rapa) and compared their transcript expression profiles to those in the conspecific thin-stemmed and thin-rooted crops flowering kale and pak choi, respectively. Across these four cultivars, 38,192 expressed gene loci were identified. Of the 3,709 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in the turnip: pak choi comparison and the 6,521 DEGs in the kohlrabi: kale comparison, turnips and kohlrabies share a statistically disproportionate overlap of 841 DEG homologs in their tubers (p value < 1e-10). This overlapping set is statistically enriched in biochemical functions that are also associated with tuber induction in potatoes and sweet potatoes: sucrose metabolism, lipoxygenases, auxin metabolism, and meristem development. These shared expression profiles in tuberous stems and root / hypocotyls in Brassica suggest parallel employment of shared molecular genetic pathways during the evolution of tubers in stems, hypocotyls and roots of Brassica crops and more widely in other tuberous plants as well.
Introduction to Active Origami Structures

Origami, the ancient art of paper folding, has inspired the design and functionality of engineering structures for decades. The underlying principles of origami are very general, it takes two-dimensional components that are easy to manufacture (sheets, plates, etc.) into three-dimensional structures. More recently, researchers have become interested in the use of active materials that convert various forms of energy into mechanical work to produce the desired folding behavior in origami structures. Such structures are termed active origami structures and are capable of folding and/or unfolding without the application of external mechanical loads but rather by the stimulus provided by a non-mechanical field (thermal, chemical, electromagnetic). This is advantageous for many areas including aerospace systems, underwater robotics, and small scale devices. In this chapter, we introduce the basic concepts and applications of origami structures in general and then focus on the description and classification of active origami structures. We finalize this chapter by reviewing existing design and simulation efforts applicable to origami structures for engineering applications.
Environmental Risk and Uncertainty

Abstract Environmental risks may comprise the most important policy-related application of the economics of risk and uncertainty. Many biases in risk assessment and regulation, such as the conservatism bias in risk assessment and the stringent regulation of synthetic chemicals, reflect a form of ambiguity aversion. Nevertheless, there is evidence that people can learn from warnings and risk information, such as Toxics Release Inventory data, consistent with Bayesian models. The fundamental uncertainties with respect to environmental risks are coupled with irreversibilities, making sequential decisions and adaptive behavior desirable. Uncertainties over the benefits and costs of mitigating environmental risks pose challenges for any regulator, but insights drawn from the instrument choice literature can inform the design and implementation of welfare-maximizing environmental pollution control policies. The problem of mitigating climate change risks motivates a series of illustrations of how uncertainty affects policy.
Quantifying the Causal Effects of Conservative Fourth Down Decision Making in the National Football League

In part driven by academic research, perception in the sports analytics community asserts that coaches in the National Football League are too conservative on fourth down. Using 13 years of data, we confirm this premise and quantify the unobserved benefit that teams have missed out on by not utilizing a better fourth down strategy. Formally, teams that went for it are paired to those who did not go for it via a nearest neighbor matching algorithm. Within the matched cohort, we estimate the additional number of wins that each NFL team would have added by implementing a basic but more aggressive fourth down strategy. We find that, on average, a better strategy would have been worth roughly an extra 0.4 wins per year for each team. Our results better inform decision-making in a high-stakes environment where standard statistical tools, while informative, have possibly been confounded by extraneous factors.
Healthcare Value Proposition: Creating a Culture of Excellence in Patient Experience

Never before in the healthcare industry has there been such intense emphasis and open debate on the issue of quality. The steady rise in the cost of healthcare coupled with the need for quality have combined to put the healthcare industry at the top of the national agenda. Quality, costs, and service are not just socially provocative ideas. They are critical criteria for decision-making by patients, physicians, and many key constituents of healthcare organizations. The pursuit of improved performance has driven a host of executives and managers in search of techniques for structuring, rehabilitating, redesigning, and reengineering the organizations they serve. Unfortunately, the narrow-mindedness with which programs are implemented and the discontinuity in their application weaken the promise of success. The process of quality improvement can become an undisciplined search for illusions rather than reality. For many years, healthcare managers have embraced the narrow definition of performance solely in the context of financial success. Forward-thinking executives now realize that the road to financial success begins with success in quality and service. Quality and service are no longer separate issues – they are the same. Neither one by itself will bring about lasting success. The ultimate measure of performance is in an organization’s ability to create value for its customers, and true performance must be measured in the context of the customers’ total experience. This book is about how to manage performance in the context of value to the customer or patient. It brings together the many pieces of the performance improvement puzzle – quality, technology, costs, productivity, and customer service. The author also covers process improvement tools including Lean and Six Sigma, and how to create a culture of continuous improvement as well as how to improve the patient experience and productivity improvement strategies. The book is filled with examples, illustrations, and tools for improving key aspects of a healthcare organization’s performance.
Family Management of Down Syndrome: Cross-Cultural Perspectives

Aims With a worldwide incidence of one in every 1000 – 1100 live births, Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. How families incorporate the child's special needs into everyday family life (family management) influences both child and family adaptation. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the internal consistency reliability of seven translations of the Family Management Measure (FaMM) and to examine cross-cultural differences in family management of DS. Methods 2740 parents of individuals with DS (2387 mothers and 353 fathers) from 11 countries completed the 53-item FaMM as part of a cross-cultural study of adaptation in families of individuals with DS. Selected descriptive statistics were computed. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Cross-cultural comparison of family management was addressed by rank ordering FaMM subscale means with a higher rank indicating greater ease in family management. Results Parents from Portugal, Spain and the US had mean scores reflecting greater ease in family management across all FaMM subscales; parents from Ireland, Italy, Korea, and Thailand had mean scores across all FaMM subscales indicating more problematic family management. The rankings for Brazil, Netherlands, and United Kingdom reflected areas of both management ease and difficulty. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest there are cross-cultural differences in family management of DS. More research is needed to fully understand if these differences are related to social determinants of health such as culture, societal attitudes towards DS and national approaches to integrating non-invasive prenatal testing into clinical practice.
Chunkflow: Distributed Hybrid Cloud Processing of Large 3D Images by Convolutional Nets

It is now common to process volumetric biomedical images using 3D Convolutional Networks (ConvNets). This can be challenging for the teravoxel and even petavoxel images that are being acquired today by light or electron microscopy. Here we introduce chunkflow, a software framework for distributing ConvNet processing over local and cloud GPUs and CPUs. The image volume is divided into overlapping chunks, each chunk is processed by a ConvNet, and the results are blended together to yield the output image. The frontend submits ConvNet tasks to a cloud queue. The tasks are executed by local and cloud GPUs and CPUs. Thanks to the fault-tolerant architecture of Chunkflow, cost can be greatly reduced by utilizing cheap unstable cloud instances. Chunkflow currently supports PyTorch for GPUs and PZnet for CPUs. To illustrate its usage, a large 3D brain image from serial section electron microscopy was processed by a 3D ConvNet with a U-Net style architecture. Chunkflow provides some chunk operations for general use, and the operations can be composed flexibly in a command line interface.