Strong Influential Factor Research Articles

Factors Causing Overpassivisation of Unaccusative Verbs by Japanese Learners of English

It has been reported that second language (L2) learners of English including Japanese learners of English (JLEs) overpassivise unaccusative verbs although it is a kind of intransitive verbs. In order to account for the phenomenon, several assumptions have been proposed. However, so far, it is unclear which assumption is the most effective for explaining the overpassivisation of unaccusatives. Thus, this study tries to examine which of the three factors, animacy of subjects, existence of conceptualizable agents, or telicity of verbs, the most strongly affects overpassivisation of unaccusative verbs by JLEs. In this study, we conducted two experiments to examine this question. Study 1 was conducted with 100 university JLEs to compare the effect of animacy of subjects with that of the existence of conceptualizable agents. As a result, it was found that the animacy of subjects more strongly affected the overpassivisation of unaccusatives than the existence of conceptualizable agents. We conducted Study 2 with 101 university JLEs to examine which of the two factors, the existence of conceptualizable agents or the degree of telicity, is more influential. The results showed that the former was influential, but the latter was less so on the overpassivisation of unaccusatives. From the results of the two experiments, we concluded that the animacy of subject is the strongest influential factor among the three. On the other hand, the telicity of verbs hardly influences any errors.

The Utilization of Mobile Phones in Health Information Seeking in Rural China

Abstract This study aims to investigate the mobile phone utilization for health information seeking among adults who are 45 years or older in rural areas in China. Using Andersen’s Behavioral Model (BM), we examine the factors that influence the target group’s behaviors of online health information seeking and contacting healthcare providers via mobile phones. By using stratified sampling method, we conducted a survey among 607 rural adults who were 45 years or older from six villages in Jiangsu Province, China. The results reveal that participants can be excluded from such services for not using a smartphone. eHealth information literacy could serve as a strong influential factor for online health information seeking and contacting healthcare providers via mobile phones. Participants with lower emotional wellbeing are more inclined to seek health information online via mobile phones. The results indicate variables such as utilization of technological devices and eHealth literacy should be included in Andersen’s model when investigating the utilization of mHealth services. This study contributes to the literature on mHealth adoption in rural areas in China and has implications for practitioners to tailor the mHealth service for socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

The initial effects of microclimate and invertebrate exclusion on multi-site variation in the mass loss of temperate pine and oak deadwoods

Quantifying deadwood decomposition is prioritized by forest ecologists; nonetheless, uncertainties remain for its regional variation. This study tracked variations in deadwood decomposition of Korean red pine and sawtooth oak in three environmentally different regions of the Republic of Korea, namely western, eastern, and southern regions. After 24 months, dead pine and oak woods lost 47.3 ± 2.8% and 23.5 ± 1.6% in the southern region, 13.3 ± 2.6% and 20.2 ± 2.8% in the western region, and 11.9 ± 7.9% and 13.9 ± 2.3% in the eastern region, respectively. The regional variation in the decomposition rate was significant only for dead pine woods (P < 0.05). Invertebrate exclusion treatment reduced the decomposition rate in all region, and had the greatest effect in the southern region where warmer climate and concentrated termite colonization occurred. The strongest influential factor for the decomposition of dead pine woods was invertebrate exclusion (path coefficient: 0.63). Contrastingly, the decomposition of dead oak woods was highly controlled by air temperature (path coefficient: 0.88), without significant effect of invertebrate exclusion. These findings reflect the divergence in regional variation of deadwood decomposition between pine and oak, which might result from the different sensitivity to microclimate and decomposer invertebrates.

What Are the Reasons for the Different COVID-19 Situations in Different Cities of China? A Study from the Perspective of Population Migration.

Understanding the reasons for the differences in the spread of COVID-19 in different cities of China is important for future epidemic prevention and control. This study analyzed this issue from the perspective of population migration from Wuhan (the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in China). It reveals that population outflow from Wuhan to other cities in Hubei Province (the province where Wuhan is located) and metropolises and provincial capitals outside of Hubei province exceeded those to other cities. This is broadly consistent with the distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Additionally, model analysis revealed that population outflow from Wuhan was the key factor that determined the COVID-19 situations. The spread of COVID-19 was positively correlated with GDP per capita and resident population and negatively correlated with the distance from Wuhan and the number of hospital beds, while population density was not a strong influential factor. Additionally, the demographic characteristics of population migration from Wuhan also affected the virus transmission. Particularly, businesspeople (who tend to have a high frequency of social activities) were more likely to spread COVID-19. This study indicated that specific measures to control population outflow from the epicenter at the early stage of the epidemic were of great significance.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Oral Conditions, and Risk of Malnutrition in Older German People in Need of Care-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The present cross-sectional study assessed oral health, nutritional condition, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in older German people in need of care. Methods: The participants were recruited from eight nursing homes (including three nursing homes with assisted living) and one mobile nursing service. Oral health, including dental status (decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMF-T), root caries), periodontal treatment needs, and prosthetic conditions, was recorded. Nutritional status was assessed using the screening of the “Mini Nutritional Assessment” (MNA). The OHRQoL was measured using the German short-form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G14) and summarized as a total sum score as well as the four dimensions “oral function”, “psychosocial impact”, “pain” and “orofacial appearance”. Statistics: Linear logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 151 participants (age: 84.17 ± 7.8 years) were included. Most participants (60.3%) were nursing home residents. Nearly half of the individuals (47%) were edentulous and 75.4% of the dentate subjects required periodontal treatment. A total of 115 of the subjects had at least one denture. According to the MNA screening, 107 (70.9%) older people were at risk of malnutrition or already suffered from malnutrition. The median OHIP-G14 sum score was 3 (mean 5.7 ± 7.67). Regression analysis revealed MNA to be influenced by DMF-T, D-T, M-T and OHIP G14 sum score and root caries (pi < 0.01). Within the regression model, missing teeth (β: −11.9, CI95: −6.4–−1.9; p < 0.01) were the strongest influential factor on MNA, followed by DMF-T (β: 5.1, CI95: 1.7–6.2; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Older people in nursing settings show a high prevalence of oral diseases, risk of malnutrition and nearly unimpaired OHRQoL. Dental care should be fostered in these individuals, whereby OHRQoL might be a further hint for increased risk of malnutrition.

Effect of dietary protein and genetic line of Litopenaeus vannamei on its hepatopancreatic microbiota

Host genetics and diet can exert an influence on microbiota and, therefore, on feeding efficiency. This study evaluated the effect of genetic line (fast-growth and high-resistance) in Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) on the hepatopancreatic microbiota and its association with the feeding efficiency in shrimp fed with diets containing different protein sources. Shrimp (2.08 ± 0.06 g) from each genetic line were fed for 36 days with two dietary treatments (animal and vegetable protein). Each of the four groups was sampled, and the hepatopancreatic metagenome was amplified using specific primers for the variable V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The PCR product was sequenced on the MiSeq platform. Nineteen bacterial phyla were detected, of which Proteobacteria was the most abundant (51.0 – 72.5 %), Bacteroidetes (3.6 – 23.3 %), Firmicutes (4.2 – 13.7 %), Actinobacteria (1.9 – 12.1 %), and Planctomycetes (1.3 – 9.5 %). Diet was the most influential factor in the taxonomic composition of the microbiota, while genetic line was not a strong influential factor. The results suggest that the taxonomic profile of the bacteria colonizing shrimp hepatopancreas was determined by the diet consumed, similar to what occurs in the intestine. Shrimp in the fast-growth line had greater feeding efficiency regardless of the diet supplied. Finally, the results suggest that Proteobacteria influenced ( p < 0.05) the feeding efficiency of shrimp fed with a vegetable diet. Nevertheless, further studies are required to explore how shrimp genetic line–diet interaction influences microbiota for probiotic development and functional food formulation for farmed shrimp according to the genetic line.

Students With Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Inclusive Classes: A Critical Incident Analysis

In this study, critical situations relating to students with emotional and behavioral problems in inclusive German secondary schools were analyzed. The objective was to identify behaviors and behavioral patterns that impede or even terminate the inclusive education of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Critical situations, their antecedent conditions, and consequences were collected using Flanagan’s critical incident technique in group discussions with teachers ( N = 77). The situations were categorized using qualitative content analysis. Students’ behaviors in the critical incidents were disruptive behaviors, displays of aggression toward classmates, and behaviors perceived as unusual. A distinctive category involved situations on students enjoying special treatment because more favorable conditions for examinations were provided and misbehaviors were handled in lenient ways. This elicited feelings of unfair advantage from other students and had an adverse impact on class dynamics. A strong influential factor was parents prohibiting disclosure of information about their children’s disorder(s). Therefore, measures especially on class level are expedient, such as sensitizing processes making students understand that misbehavior and disorders lead to disadvantages and that special treatment is to compensate for these disadvantages. Moreover, individual agreements between schools and parents may be arrived at to negotiate the modalities of an information disclosure.

Supportive Implant Therapy (SIT): A Prospective 10-Year Study of Patient Compliance Rates and Impacting Factors.

The main objective of this study is to present patient compliance rates and influential factors for regular attendance in a systematic implant aftercare program (Supportive Implant Therapy; SIT) within a 10-year observation period. From 2005 to 2008, we identified 233 patients with 524 implants and implant-supported restorations at the study center. They had been instructed to attend an SIT program with 3-month recall intervals. A 2019 clinical prospective cohort study on 10-year compliance rates was performed. Data were assessed yearly in regression analyses to identify influential factors. Noncompliance rates increased during the period (4.8%, year 1; 39.7%, year 10). Total noncompliance was observed in four patients (1.7%) with 10 implants. “Age,” “Gender,” “Diabetes”, and “Surgical case complexity” showed no correlation with patient compliance. “Smoking” and “Cardiovascular diseases” significantly influenced patients in one of ten years, while “Number of implants per patient”, “Type of implant-supported prostheses”, and “Pre-existing experience in a prophylaxis program” reached significance after several years. When patients with implant-supported restorations are strongly recommended and frequently remotivated to comply with an SIT program with 3-month recall, an approximately 60% compliance rate after 10 years is achievable. Previous prophylaxis program experience, increased number of implants per patient, and removable implant-supported prostheses may be strong influential factors for increased patient compliance.

Emerging study on the transmission of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from urban perspective: Evidence from China

This study presents an in-depth investigation on the transmission of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from the urban perspective. It focuses on the “aftermath” of the outbreak and the spread of the infection among cities. Especially, this study provides insights of the fundamentals of the factors that may affect the spread of the infection in cities, where the marginal effects of some most influential factors to the virus transmission are estimated. It reveals that the distance to epicenter is a very strong influential factor, and is negatively linked with the spread of COVID-19. In addition, subway, wastewater and residential garbage are positively connected with the virus transmission. Moreover, both urban area and population density are negatively associated with the spread of COVID-19 at the early stage of the epidemic. Furthermore, this study also provides high precision estimation of the number of COVID-19 infection in Wuhan city, which is the epicenter of the outbreak in China. Based on the real-world data of cities outside Wuhan on March 2, 2020, the estimated number is 56,944.866 (mean value), which is very close to the officially reported number. The methodology and main conclusions shown in this paper are of general interest, and they can be applied to other countries to help understand the local transmission of COVID-19 as well.

Integrated Data Analysis of Six Clinical Studies Points Toward Model-Informed Precision Dosing of Tamoxifen.

IntroductionAt tamoxifen standard dosing, ∼20% of breast cancer patients do not reach proposed target endoxifen concentrations >5.97 ng/mL. Thus, better understanding the large interindividual variability in tamoxifen pharmacokinetics (PK) is crucial. By applying non-linear mixed-effects (NLME) modeling to a pooled ‘real-world’ clinical PK database, we aimed to (i) dissect several levels of variability and identify factors predictive for endoxifen exposure and (ii) assess different tamoxifen dosing strategies for their potential to increase the number of patients reaching target endoxifen concentrations.MethodsTamoxifen and endoxifen concentrations with genetic and demographic data of 468 breast cancer patients from six reported studies were used to develop a NLME parent-metabolite PK model. Different levels of variability on model parameters or measurements were investigated and the impact of covariates thereupon explored. The model was subsequently applied in a simulation-based comparison of three dosing strategies with increasing degree of dose individualization for a large virtual breast cancer population. Interindividual variability of endoxifen concentrations and the fraction of patients at risk for not reaching target concentrations were assessed for each dosing strategy.Results and ConclusionsThe integrated NLME model enabled to differentiate and quantify four levels of variability (interstudy, interindividual, interoccasion, and intraindividual). Strong influential factors, i.e., CYP2D6 activity score, drug–drug interactions with CYP3A and CYP2D6 inducers/inhibitors and age, were reliably identified, reducing interoccasion variability to <20% CV. Yet, unexplained interindividual variability in endoxifen formation remained large (47.2% CV). Hence, therapeutic drug monitoring seems promising for achieving endoxifen target concentrations. Three tamoxifen dosing strategies [standard dosing (20 mg QD), CYP2D6-guided dosing (20, 40, and 60 mg QD) and individual model-informed precision dosing (MIPD)] using three therapeutic drug monitoring samples (5–120 mg QD) were compared, leveraging the model. The proportion of patients at risk for not reaching target concentrations was 22.2% in standard dosing, 16.0% in CYP2D6-guided dosing and 7.19% in MIPD. While in CYP2D6-guided- and standard dosing interindividual variability in endoxifen concentrations was high (64.0% CV and 68.1% CV, respectively), it was considerably reduced in MIPD (24.0% CV). Hence, MIPD demonstrated to be the most promising strategy for achieving target endoxifen concentrations.

Perceptual exploration of credit cards' adoption: Customer perspective

Despite the increased dissemination of online tools to execute financial transactions, the level of credit card usage adoption among consumers still encounters many challenges. The dissemination and adoption of credit cards to execute online purchases is influenced by certain factors that impact customers' consumption behavior. Exploring and perceiving these factors and challenges is imperative for enhancing the operations of online businesses. This study aims to examine specific factors that affect the adoption of credit cards among customers within the Jordanian online market. The factors this study explores are: Expenditure Level, Welfare of the Individual, Psychological Behavior, Credit Card Knowledge, Regulations and Laws and, finally, Theft and Fraud. This research was conducted through employing the quantitative approach; utilizing a questionnaire on a total of (335) credit card users in Jordan. The research subjects were credit card users (customers) from three Jordanian banks: Arab Banking Corporation, Housing Bank for Trade and Finance, and the Bank of Jordan. The study findings indicated that ‘Individual Welfare’ and ‘Psychological Behavior’ are the strongest influential factors on individuals' adoption of credit cards, followed by ‘Theft and Fraud’, ‘Laws and Legislation’, ‘Credit Card Knowledge’ and ‘Expenditure Level’ respectively in influence. The study recommendation encourages banks to focus more on increasing their clients' awareness regarding credit cards usage in order to enhance their perception of how to behave in case of fraud and theft and increasing their clients' awareness of the financial burdens, pitfalls, and tricks while using a credit card. Moreover, it suggests that banks should increase their marketing efforts for credit cards which can change the behavior and acceptance of individuals towards credit cards adoption.

Effectiveness of a high-temperature-programmed experimental system in simulating particle size effects on hazardous gas emissions in bituminous coal

In mining, coal is crushed into particles of various sizes. The size of these reactant particles affects the combustion risk profiles in mine safety, thus affecting industrial safety considerations. Therefore, this study explores the influence of particle size on hazardous gas emissions during the high-temperature oxidation of coal. A custom-designed and built high-temperature experimental system was developed and implemented. This practical experiment was conducted with the aforementioned system to analyze three coal samples from Huainan, Anhui Province, China. The gas concentration data were recorded for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, alkanes, and alkenes, with six different particle sizes, and covered a temperature range of 30 to 500 °C. As the oxygen consumption rate and normal temperatures are equally strong influential factors of spontaneous combustion, the oxygen consumption rate was simultaneously captured using the indicator gas growth rate method to determine the five characteristic temperatures was captured using the indicator gas growth rate analytical method. The five characteristic temperatures for the six particle sizes were determined as follows: critical, crack, active, speedup, and ignition.

The effect of early-life outdoor experiences on residents’ attitudes towards sustainable tourism within an urban context

The rapid development of tourism in recent years has brought benefits but also detrimental impacts for tourism destinations. Sustainable tourism has become an important choice for tourism development. This study attempted to explore residents' attitudes toward sustainable tourism from the viewpoint of their early-life outdoor experiences based on the study site of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A survey was conducted using quota sampling from the 11 districts in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, using structured questionnaires. The data were collected from 800 local residents in Kaohsiung city aged between 20 and 60 years with 462 valid questionnaires completed and returned. The findings demonstrated that the more outdoor experiences residents have in early life, the stronger are their positive attitudes towards sustainable tourism. Specifically, witnessing negative environmental events was found to be a particularly strong influential factor on sustainable tourism among residents. Based on the research result, it is suggested that the public and private tourism sectors need to provide good outdoor recreation opportunities for children, adolescents, and families to enhance their connection to outdoor environments. Other managerial applications and recommendations for future research are suggested based on the research results. Management implicationsResidents’ attitudes towards sustainable tourism could be developed from the linkage between the residents themselves and nature. For both the public and private tourism sectors, providing good outdoor recreation opportunities for children, adolescents, and family is necessary. Second, although witnessing the degradation of the environment can arouse residents’ awareness of and concerns about sustainable tourism, they are not willing to see those negative events happen. Good interpretations or guidance may help to transfer the shock caused by witnessing negative environmental events into powerful change. Related associations could therefore play an important role in integrating the power and advocacy required for sustainable development in tourism.

DO ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE PERCEPTIONS INFLUENCE HEALTHCARE WORKERS' ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR?

Employees in complex and chaotic hospitals have become important for the perception of organizational justice to see themselves as a citizen of the institution. This study aims to investigate the effect of sub-dimensions of organizational justice perceptions on the sub-dimensions of organizational citizenship perceptions in the hospital sector. It will then try to explain how managers' decisions and practices are reflected to hospital staff. Study analyzes were conducted at the individual level. The study was conducted with 346 health workers who volunteered to fill the Likert type questionnaire in three hospitals. Moorman's organizational justice scale was used to measure Organizational Justice Perception, and the scale developed by Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Moorman and Fetter was used to measure Organizational Citizenship Behavior. The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between the perceptions of organizational justice (OJP) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) of the health care workers with the model created in the framework of the aims and assumptions of the research. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to test the developed model. In research findings, it was seen that the perception of organizational justice of health workers affected organizational citizenship behavior. From the sub-dimensions of organizational justice perception, it has been understood that procedural justice is the strongest influential factor in organizational citizenship perception. It has been determined that the justice of interaction in health care workers affects consciousness and courtesy behaviors positively and distribution justice has a negative relation. It is thought that health managers are required to support the sense of organizational justice in health workers positively, for to strengthen institutional peace and order.

Impact of Excess Control, Ownership Structure and Corporate Governance on Firm Performance of Diversified Group Firms in Pakistan

This paper attempts to explore the effect of excess control, ownership structure and corporate governance on firm performance in Pakistan. The study takes a sample of 184 non-financial sectors' group firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) covering a period from 2004 to 2012. The multiple regression models are applied using panel data framework to test the significance of relationship. The results are consistent with the findings of the prior studies conducted in both advanced and emerging economies. The results show that firm ownership is a strong influential factor in affecting firm performance in Pakistan. Both inside ownership and ownership concentration are negatively related to firm performance consistent with divergence of interest effect and entrenchment effect. However, inside ownership squared is strongly positively related to firm performance indicating that inside ownership beyond a certain threshold level started to influence firm performance positively consistent with incentives effect. Ownership disparity affects strongly negatively the financial performance of group firms consistent with the divergence of interest effect. Institutional ownership contributes positively towards firm performance. Noticeably, board independence and outside block holdings play a significantly positive role in affecting financial performance of the group firms in Pakistan. The results show strong evidence that ultimate controllers in group firms use complex ownership and pyramidal structures to extend their ultimate control over many firms with least cash flow rights. The higher the divergence between ownership and control, the greater the potential of the ultimate controllers exerted their entrenched behavior in group firms. These results highlight the internal corporate governance problems faced by the group firms and suggest the need for strengthening the corporate governance mechanism in Pakistan.

Comparisons of the body Composition and the effects of Physical activity on the Upper and Lower Limbs of the Female Post-Stroke Patients

Background/Objectives: Various factors influence sarcopenia including neurological disorders such as stroke. However, little is known about the denervative influence of stroke in limb composition. Therefore, this study aims to compare upper and lower limb imbalances in Korean post-stroke females. Methods/Statistical analysis: The Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) with body composition results obtained from DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were used for this study. Muscle and fat masses were utilized to compare composition imbalances and changes between the left and right upper and lower limbs of post-stroke group with reported limb paralysis and healthy. Furthermore, effects of physical activity were observed by comparing muscle and fat masses of regular walkers (=3 days/week) and non-walkers (<3 days/week). Findings: First, the left and right limb muscle and fat mass differences were compared. Although significances were not observed, greater tendency for fat contents were observed in both upper and lower limbs of the post-stroke patients. Significantly greater muscle mass ratios were shown in the body upper and lower limbs of two groups. In order to further clarify influence of stroke in body composition, strong influential factor of physical activity was observed in post-stroke group. Significantly greater amount of muscle mass in both the upper and lower limbs were shown in the post-stroke group who performed regular physical activity. The results suggested that stroke may expatiate muscle and fat imbalances in both the upper and lower limbs. Moreover, fat accumulation seemed more prominent in post-stroke patients. However, regularly performed physical activity seemed to deter muscle atrophy. Improvements/Applications: Results of this study may be utilized to further inform the stroke patients of the deterring effects of stroke and provide a guideline to prevent atrophic imbalance by regularly participating in physical activity.

Pure Erythroid Leukemia Is Characterized By TP53mutations, a Complex Karyotype with Chromosome 17 Abnormalities, and Adverse Risk Independent of Therapy Type

INTRODUCTION: Pure erythroid leukemia (PEL) is a rare form of acute leukemia characterized by a neoplastic proliferation of immature erythroblasts with an extremely aggressive clinical course. Although there are previous reports describing its association with a complex karyotype and chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities, there is no knowledge on the mutational landscape of this disease. Also, further evaluation of the optimal treatment strategy for this subset of patients is still required.METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated all patients with pure erythroid leukemia treated at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1980 to 2016. Cytogenetic analysis was reported following the ISCN 2013 nomenclature. Sequencing data was obtained by use of a 28-gene targeted PCR-based next generation sequencing (NGS) platform. Clinical and demographic data was obtained from clinical records. Response was defined following 2003 IWG criteria. Generalized linear models were used to study the association of overall response (OR), complete response (CR) and risk factors. Kaplan-Meier produce limit method was used to estimate the median overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS).RESULTS: A total of 27 patients had PEL. Patient characteristics are shown in Table 1. Median age at diagnosis was 67 years (range 33-65). Eleven (41%) patients had therapy related disease, 10 (37%) evolved from a prior myelodysplastic syndrome and 1 (4%) from chronic myeloid leukemia. Presence of a complex karyotype was observed in 96% (25/26) patients. A total of 13 (48%) patients with PEL had mutation analysis available. Twelve (92%) had at least one detectable mutation. Median number of mutations was 1 (range 0-3). TP53 mutations were found in 11/12 (92%) patients, and ASXL1, PTPN11 and DNMT3A each found in 1 (8%) patient. Type and frequency of TP53 mutations is shown in Figure 1A. Fifteen (58%) patients with PEL had chromosome 17 abnormalities including monosomy 17, del(17p) and add(17)(p11.2). Five (50%) patients with cytogenetic and mutation data available had both TP53 mutation and chromosome 17 abnormalities. Nine (27%) patients were treated with hypomethylating agent based therapy, 11 (41%) with intensive chemotherapy, 1 (4%) with targeted therapy and 6 (22%) died before receiving any form of therapy. We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with PEL with that of 162 patients with acute erythroid/myeloid leukemia (AEL) treated at MDACC during the same time period. Patients with PEL tended to be older (p=0.006), have lower platelet count (p=0.009) and lower peripheral blast percentage (p=0.022), higher LDH levels (p<0.001) and a higher frequency of a complex karyotype (96 vs 61%, p<0.001) (Table 1). Patients with PEL were less frequently treated with intensive chemotherapy (p<0.001) and had lower CR rates compared to patients with AEL treated with chemotherapy (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.58-0.90, p=0.051). Median follow up was 8 months (range 0-269 months). The median OS for patients with PEL was 3.8 months compared to 10 months for AEL (HR 2.895, 95% CI 1.843-4.55, p<0.001) (Figure 1B). No differences in survival were observed with chemotherapy compared to hypomethylating agents for both patients with PEL (median OS 4.4 months vs 3.9 respectively, p=0.794) (Figure 1C) or AEL (median OS 10 vs 6.9 months respectively, p=0.556) (Figure 1D).CONCLUSION: Pure erythroid leukemia represents 14% of cases of all erythroid leukemia. We establish, in the largest series to date, PEL is characterized by a very complex karyotype. There is also a high prevalence of chromosome 17 abnormalities and mutations in TP53; interestingly, in several patients, there was co-occurrence of both, or double TP53 mutations. Our data demonstrates that severely impaired and completely lost of TP53 function, resulting in genomic instability, is a strong influential factor for PEL pathogenesis in particular, and is consistent with its associated dismal prognosis irrespective of currently available therapies. In view of PEL outcomes and older age at diagnosis, enrollment in clinical trials targeting or circumventing mutant p53, and less intensive approaches is the current optimal strategy for this subset of patients. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresRavandi:BMS: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Cortes:ARIAD: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding. Daver:Sunesis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding; Kiromic: Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Research Funding. DiNardo:Daiichi Sankyo: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Agios: Other: advisory board, Research Funding. Jabbour:ARIAD: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy. Konopleva:Reata Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Stemline: Consultancy, Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Calithera: Research Funding. Kantarjian:Amgen: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; ARIAD: Research Funding; Pfizer Inc: Research Funding; Delta-Fly Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding.

Influence of roof topology on the air distribution and ventilation effectiveness of wind towers

The performance of wind towers, which depends on external wind speed, is often reduced when still-air conditions prevail. As a solution to this, this research used a combination of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel tests to evaluate the influence of five different roof configurations – flat roof, pitched roof, narrowed roof, curved roof and tilted curved roof – on the ventilation performance of commercial wind towers to identify the potential of accelerating wind passively to enhance natural ventilation within a building’s microclimate. This assessment was carried out by analysing the static pressure, supply air velocity, supply flow rate, mean age of air and air change effectiveness which were computed for each model and compared against the CIBSE Environmental Design Guide and ASHRAE 129 set standards. This was followed by the evaluation of supply flow rates under varying wind directions from 0° to 90°. The results revealed that the narrowed roof produced an air change effectiveness of 0.96 and flow rates greater than 10L/s/person when the wind direction was prevalent at 0° and 45°, thus being the only roof that complied with the recommended guidelines. Conclusively, roof design being a strong influential factor upon wind properties is a keystone which, if meticulously designed, can be used to passively enhance the air distribution and ventilation effectiveness of wind towers.

Factors Influencing Intermittent Smoking in Male and Female Students in Korea

Background/Objectives: To evaluate influential factors associated with intermittent smoking in male and female students in Korea. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study is the second analytic research on the 2014 10th adolescents’ health behavior online raw data. The participants in this study were 35,904 high school students. Collected data were statistically analyzed using a Rao- Scott Chi-Square test and a logistic regression analysis. Findings: For male students, influential factors were domicile, the perceived economic status of a household, and the undertaking of physical activities; while for female students, influential factors were having family members who smoke, perceived levels of happiness, and having suicidal ideas. In particular, a detailed analysis of the influential factors showed that having friends who smoke and alcohol use was most strong influential factors. Moreover, a common influential factor for both male and female students was feelings of despair, which can lead to depression and possibly to having suicidal ideas. Applications/Improvement: Consideration of gender is important in smoking cessation programs for intermittent smoker. It is also necessary to provide programs to prevent depression in intermittent smoking adolescents.

“I chose to become a teacher because”. Exploring the factors influencing teaching choice amongst pre-service teachers in Ireland

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the suitability of the FIT-Choice scale for use within an Irish Initial Teacher Education setting with a cohort of first year pre-service teachers (n = 143), from across five different subject disciplines. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted to examine participants’ motivations for choosing teaching as a career, as well as their perceptions about teaching. The results were found to be consistent with the original FIT-Choice structure thus supporting the validity of the FIT-Choice scale within this Irish Initial Teacher Education context. Prior teaching and learning experiences, as well as perceived ability, were found to be the strongest influential factors in participants’ decision to become a teacher. These findings further highlight the prominence given to subject-based knowledge in Ireland. The relationships between participants’ motivations for becoming a teacher and their satisfaction with career choice were also examined. Choosing teaching as a fallback career was negatively related to satisfaction, whereas a desire to work with children was found to be a significant positive predictor.