cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increasing use of nonmedical analgesics among younger cohorts in the United States: a birth cohort effect

Abstract Purpose Nonmedical use of prescription pain drugs (hereafter "analgesics") has increased substantially in recent years. It is not known whether today's youth are disproportionately driving this increase or, instead, the trend is a general one that has affected cohorts of all ages similarly. To address this question we present the first age–period–cohort analysis of nonmedical use of analgesics. Methods Data come from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a series of annual, nationally representative, cross-sectional surveys of the US civilian, noninstitutionalized population. The analysis focuses on the years 1985–2009 and uses the recently developed "intrinsic estimator" algorithm to disentangle age–period–cohort effects. Results Substantial increases in the prevalence of nonmedical analgesics use (NAU) have occurred across all cohorts and ages in recent years, but this increase is significantly amplified among today's adolescents. The odds of past-year NAU for today's youngest cohort (born 1980–1994) are higher than would be expected on the basis of their age and broad, historical period influences that have increased use across people of all ages and cohorts. The independent influence of cohort on past-year NAU is about 40% higher for today's youth cohort than any of the cohorts that came before them. This finding is present among men, women, non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics. Conclusions Although nonmedical use of analgesics is evident among all ages, cohorts, and periods, today's younger cohorts warrant special attention for substance abuse policies and interventions targeted at reversing the increase in NAU.
Epidemiological study of tumors of the central nervous system in Ohio.

Historically, the first epidemiological lead of an excess risk of death due to malignancies of the brain and central nervous system among the former employees of the rubber industry was in 1949, in a study correlating causes of death with prior employment designated on the death certificates for the state of Ohio in 1947. The geographical distribution of deaths (1955) due to histologically confirmed tumors of the CNS identified one county, Summit, of the 88 counties of Ohio, as having significantly more deaths than expected for ages 25-64. Summit County represents the principal rubber manufacture center in the U.S. A series of analyses were carried out which identified a higher death risk among rubber workers compared to nonrubber worker residents of Summit County according to histologically confirmed diagnoses of tumors of the CNS in 1963. Longitudinal employee cohort studies of four different companies engaged in the manufacture of rubber products, in the same state, Ohio, indicated a higher death rate due to tumors of the central nervous system. Epidemiological leads were cited in a broad industry survey comparison in which higher death rates due to neoplasms of the central nervous system were observed among workers in electrical machinery and paper and allied products as well as the rubber industry. Potential chemical linkage of the excess of CNS neoplasm deaths among rubber workers and workers in the rayon industry was explored.
Novel high-speed integrated heterostructure transistors, photodetectors, and optoelectronic circuits

The authors propose a generation of high-speed heterostructure devices compatible with a modified MODFET. These devices include a modified MODFET with a buried p-channel, and variable threshold voltage MODFET, a lateral n-p-n bipolar transistor, and a three-terminal planar photodetector called a modulation-doped-field-effect photodetector, (MODFED). These devices can be integrated together and with an optical waveguide. The MODFED has high speed, high collection efficiency, and it may operate in either p-i-n mode with low noise or the avalanche mode with high grain. The gate terminal allows modulation of the photodetector output. >
Brief communication. Classifying genealogical origins in hybrid populations using dominant markers

In hybrid studies, potential for error is high when classifying genealogical origins of individuals (e.g., parental, F1, F2) based on their genotypic arrays. For codominant markers, previous researchers have considered the probability of misclassification by genotypic inspection and proposed alternative maximum-likelihood approaches to estimating genealogical class frequencies. Recently developed dominant marker systems may significantly increase the number of diagnostic loci available for hybrid studies. I examine probabilities of classification error based on the number of dominant loci. As in earlier studies, I assume that only parental and first- and second-generation hybrid crosses between two taxa potentially exist. Thirteen loci with dominant expression from each parental taxon (i.e., 26 total loci) are needed to reduce classification error below 5% for F2 individuals, compared to 13 codominant loci for the same error rate. Use of loci in similar numbers from both taxa most efficiently increases power to characterize all genealogical classes. In contrast, classification of backcrosses to one parental taxon is wholly dependent on loci from the other taxon. Use of dominant diagnostic markers may increase the power and expand the use of maximum-likelihood methods for evaluating hybrid mixtures.
Time use in shopping: The role of personal characteristics

Abstract This article examines the role of personal characteristics in time spent shopping, including search, purchase, and postpurchase activities. The emphasis is on understanding relationships between the psychological quality of time perceptions (the extent to which individuals view structure and purpose in their daily lives), social and demographic variables, and shopping time, including how those ages 45 and older form into segments based on those perceptions. The findings show that the addition of time perceptions to regression equations containing social and demographic variables increases the explained variance and that a time perception segmentation typology provides insights into ways retailers can benefit from a target market strategy based on how consumers view time.
The relationship between energetic electrons interacting at the sun and escaping to the interplanetary medium

The observations of energetic non-relativistic electrons interacting at the Sun and escaping to the interplanetary medium are reviewed. For large solar energetic particle events (LSEPs), the energy spectra of escaping ⪆20 keV electrons is observed to be a double power-law with a break near ∼ 100 keV. Since the bremsstrahlung cross section is well known, accurate measurement of the hard X-ray emission, such as those obtained with high resolution (∼1 keV kwhm) germanium spectrometer, can be deconvolved to obtain detailed energy distribution of the parent electrons. Such analyses indicate that the electrons interacting at the Sun in large flares may also have similar double power-law energy spectrum with a break ∼102 keV. At lower energies, almost all escaping electron events have energy spectra that extend in a power-law down to ∼2 keV, although the range of a few keV energy electrons against Coulomb collisions is much less than the path through the corona. Most escaping electron events are only observed at 2–20 keV energies with no associated chromospheric Hα phenomena. Thus, significant electron acceleration must occur in the high corona. Direct comparison of escaping electrons and electrons interacting at the Sun for the same flare over the energy range from ⪅ 5 keV to ∼ 100 keV suggests that electron acceleration occurs over a wide range of altitudes with the low-energy, few keV to ∼10 keV electrons escaping from the high corona and ⪆20 keV electrons escaping from the whole range of altitudes. Observation of large, over-the-limb flares show hard X-ray emission extending down to ⪅5 keV in a smooth power-law. The emission appears to come from the unocculted high corona, tens to hundreds of thousands of km above the photosphere. The large flares are also observed to produce emission of electrons into the interplanetary medium for many days. Thus, both X-ray and escaping electron observations show that the high corona is an important and dynamic source of electron acceleration.
Bayesian estimation of kinetic rate constants in a food-web model of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bioaccumulation

Water, sediments, fish and other biota were sampled from fixed stations along bayous in the LaBranche Wetlands of Louisiana as part of an environmental contamination study in 1996 and 1997. In order to understand the biological fate of some of these contaminants, a spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) food-web model was developed from site-specific data and established bioaccumulation modeling assumptions. Based on gut contents analysis, the gar were found to feed on terrestrial arthropods, a variety of small fish, aquatic insects, crayfish and grass shrimp. A Bayesian approach (a hierarchical model and Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation) was used to estimate the kinetic rate constants of uptake from water, dietary uptake and total elimination for the food-web model using site-specific measurements of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzanthracene concentrations, reference literature inputs, and a hierarchical statistical model. This iterative simulation method resulted in a distribution of the parameters for each chemical comprised of the last 3000 values from four separate Markov Chains of length 15,000–25,000 iterations. The posterior parameter values were found to be consistent with rate constants published in the literature for various fish species, and were used to determine distributions of predicted gar PAH concentrations. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Juvenile Hormone and Octopamine in the Regulation of Division of Labor in Honey Bee Colonies

Forager honey bees have high circulating levels of juvenile hormone (JH) and high brain levels of octopamine, especially in the antennal lobes, and treatment with either of these compounds induces foraging. Experiments were performed to determine whether octopamine acts more proximally than JH to affect the initiation of foraging behavior. Bees treated with octopamine became foragers more rapidly than bees treated with the JH analog methoprene. Bees treated with methoprene showed an increase in antennal lobe levels of octopamine, especially after 12 days. Bees with no circulating JH (corpora allata glands removed) treated with octopamine became foragers in similar numbers to bees with intact corpora allata. These results suggest that JH affects the initiation of foraging at least in part by increasing brain levels of octopamine, but octopamine can act independently of JH. Effects of JH that are not related to octopamine also are possible, as bees treated with both octopamine and methoprene were more likely to become foragers than bees treated with only octopamine or methoprene.
Effect of Isoprinosine Against Challenge with A(H3N2)/Hong Kong Influenza Virus in Volunteers

Abstract Volunteers were challenged with A(H3N2)/Hong Kong/8/68 influenza virus while being given prophylaxis with either isoprinosine or placebo in a double-blind experiment. Isoprinosine, which had demonstrable antiviral activity in animal models, did not appear to protect humans from clinical influenza. The only beneficial effect of the drug observed was a slight, but significant, reduction in virus shedding.
Producer Services Development and the Role of Telecommunications: A Case Study in Rural Washington

Information-intensive producer services, which constitute one of the fastest growing components of the U.S. economy, have been identified as a potential contributor to economic development in rural areas. This issue is examined in a case study of a community in rural Washington State. The findings indicate that producer services have not been decentralizing to rural Washington, and that opportunities for producer services development in rural communities are limited because of the inaccessibility of markets, smaller pools of skilled labor, and the lack of agglomeration economies. Opportunities for producer services are greatest in large rural communities with high-quality telecommunications systems. Although the quality of telecommunications systems is important to the economic health of communities, advances in telecommunications can be a two-way street for rural America. While telecommunications improvements increase a rural community's access to information and make it possible for rural businesses to more easily serve non-local markets, they can also make it easier for firms located in urban areas to serve rural markets via branch offices or through the telecommunications system.
Short forms of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale

Three short forms of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale were constructed from the results of principal components analysis (N = 399). Those subscales were compared with short forms developed by previous researchers who used the same methodology. Examination of the subscales indicated that 13 of the scale's 33 items were isolated by at least two of the three reported studies. Those items were used to construct a composite subscale, which appeared to offer a useful alternative to the full scale. Further analysis of the subscale's contents, however, raised questions about the dimensionality of the Marlowe-Crowne scale. Caution was urged in the use and interpretation of both the full inventory and the short form until the meaning of scale scores can be clarified.
Schistosoma-associated Salmonella resist antibiotics via specific fimbrial attachments to the flatworm

Schistosomes are parasitic helminths that infect humans through dermo-invasion while in contaminated water. Salmonella are also a common water-borne human pathogen that infects the gastrointestinal tract via the oral route. Both pathogens eventually enter the systemic circulation as part of their respective disease processes. Concurrent Schistosoma-Salmonella infections are common and are complicated by the bacteria adhering to adult schistosomes present in the mesenteric vasculature. This interaction provides a refuge in which the bacterium can putatively evade antibiotic therapy and anthelmintic monotherapy can lead to a massive release of occult Salmonella. Using a novel antibiotic protection assay, our results reveal that Schistosoma-associated Salmonella are refractory to eight different antibiotics commonly used to treat salmonellosis. The efficacy of these antibiotics was decreased by a factor of 4 to 16 due to this association. Salmonella binding to schistosomes occurs via a specific fimbrial protein (FimH) present on the surface on the bacterium. This same fimbrial protein confers the ability of Salmonella to bind to mammalian cells. Salmonella can evade certain antibiotics by binding to Schistosoma. As a result, effective bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics are unfortunately above the achievable therapeutic levels of the drugs in co-infected individuals. Salmonella-Schistosoma binding is analogous to the adherence of Salmonella to cells lining the mammalian intestine. Perturbing this binding is the key to eliminating Salmonella that complicate schistosomiasis.
Reversing chronic remodeling in heart failure

Chronic heart failure is a debilitating condition with significant morbidity, mortality and an increasing economic burden. The past 20 years have witnessed great strides in both medical and device-based therapies for heart failure. Central to these developments has been the ability to favorably reverse the chronic processes by which the failing heart remodels. In addition to pharmacotherapies, such as beta-blockade, and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, surgical remodeling, containment devices and new methods to restore synchronous contraction have been added to the armamentarium, in some instances, providing clear improvement to both symptoms and mortality. In more advanced stages of heart failure, left ventricular-assist devices provide marked unloading of the failing ventricle and such therapy has provided unique insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying reverse remodeling, given the immediate access to cardiac tissue. Genetic and cellular approaches, as well as new small molecule targets, may provide future avenues for reverse remodeling of the failing heart, improving symptoms and disease outcome.
Improving the Bandwidth of U-slot Microstrip Antenna Using a New Technique (Trough-Slot Patch)

Microstrip antennas caught the attention of many designers in the last decade due to its numerous advantages; on the other hand narrow bandwidth is a major disadvantage of microstrip antenna in practical applications. There are still lots of research done to increase the bandwidth of these antennas. In this paper the effect of increasing the finite ground plane on a probe fed U-slot microstrip antenna was proposed. Latter a new technique (Trough slot patch) was used to increase the bandwidth of the U-slot patch. The new technique gave good results since in most of the cases there were at least 3% increase.
Bringing Biology to Freshmen Engineering Students: The Approach Implemented at Notre Dame

The growing relevance of biology to diverse engineering problems has led to the suggestion that training in biological sciences should be incorporated into the core engineering curriculum. While there is growing interest in this idea, challenges to including biology in the engineering curriculum include fitting this new material into an already crowded schedule (i.e., deciding what other core topics to cut), determining what biological topics should be covered, and agreeing upon which part of the university should teach the course. This “methods” article describes Notre Dame’s approach to solving these problems, in which the second semester of general chemistry has been replaced by a semester of “biological chemistry” that is designed specifically to bring key concepts of biology to the first year engineering students while also teaching some core aspects of typical second semester chemistry. This course is now approaching its 10th year, and it has expanded to include not only all first year engineering students, but also a sizable fraction of physics and mathematics majors. We discuss some of the challenges that we faced in designing and implementing the course, and provide both a summary of the present curriculum and pointers about how to make the course run smoothly. We suggest that our approach be considered as a general solution to the problem of how to introduce biology to students in engineering as well as in mathematics and the physical sciences.
Creatinine Clearance Prediction in Spinal Cord Injury Patients: Comparison of 6 Prediction Equations

The renal function of spinal cord injury patients frequently is overestimated by 3 commonly used equations to predict creatinine clearance. Overestimation of creatinine clearance may result in aminoglycoside overdosage and resultant nephrotoxicity. Three newer prediction equations have been developed from creatinine clearances measured in neurologically abnormal patients. These 6 equations were tested in 77 male and 9 female spinal cord injury patients (48 quadriplegics and 38 paraplegics, including 38 with acute and 48 with chronic injuries). The equation developed by Sawyer and Hutchins was superior to 2 other equations developed in spinal cord injury patients and 3 equations developed in neurologically normal patients. However, creatinine clearances predicted by this equation were within 30 ml. per minute of measured creatinine clearances in only two-thirds of the spinal cord injury patients. Errors ranged from overestimation by 95 ml. per minute (151 per cent) to underestimation by 106 ml. per minute (45 per cent). The potential for large errors in creatinine clearance prediction necessitates measurement of creatinine clearance as soon as possible when renal excreted and toxic pharmaceuticals are administered to spinal cord injury patients.
Effect of AEM Energy Applicator Configuration on Magnetic Nanoparticle Mediated Hyperthermia for Breast Cancer

Magnetic nanoparticle mediated low heat hyperthermia (42~45 o C) via alternating electromagnetic (AEM) energy is a promising, cancer specific and minimally-invasive cancer therapy. Iron oxide particles frequently used for this therapy are non-toxic and already used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. One important issue in the hyperthermia is applying an appropriate amount of energy to the tumor at various sizes and depths, with a minimal damage to normal tissue. For the therapy to be desirable, the AEM energy applicator needs to be non-invasive and user-friendly. To better understand the effect of the probe on the magnetic field distribution, computer simulation was performed for the field distribution by probes with various configurations. In a solenoid-type probe, the field is mainly inside the probe and, therefore, is difficult to use on body. A pancake-shaped probe is easy to use but the field penetration is shallow and, thus, may better serve surface tumor treatment. A sandwich probe, composed of two pancake probes, has a penetration depth deeper than a pancake probe. The results also showed that the spacing between two adjacent coils and the number of coil turns are very important for controlling the field penetration depth and strength. Experiments were also performed to study the effects of the size and concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles on heating. Among the tested particle sizes of 10~50 nm, 30 nm particles showed the best heating for the same mass.
Effective Writing by Lawyer Essential for Making a Case

The article discusses the need to eliminate boilerplate language and the importance of clear writing and plain English for effective and persuasive legal writing.
Human Trafficking and Development: The Role of Microfinance

This essay considers the potential of microfinance, or the provision of financial services to poor or low-income persons, as a means for countering human trafficking. Exacerbated by globalization, human trafficking is causing immense social degradation within and across national borders. It is particularly serious in the parts of the world where microfinance is widely implemented: Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. With its inherent ability to offer employment and income opportunities to poor women and young adults who are vulnerable to traffickers, microfinance is a powerful anti-human trafficking tool. As such, microfinance institutions could and should make a significant contribution in the fight against human trafficking.
Postmenopausal hypertension: Insights from rat models

The increase in blood pressure following menopause sets women up for increased risk of negative cardiovascular outcomes. The increase in blood pressure occurs 5-10 years following cessation of menses which suggests that mechanisms other than loss of female sex hormones may play roles in mediating the hypertension. Recent studies using rat models of aging have begun to shed light on some of possible mechanisms responsible for postmenopausal hypertension. This review outlines the most recent studies and addresses questions remaining to be addressed.
Implementation and validation of a CubeSat laser transmitter

The paper presents implementation and validation results for a CubeSat-scale laser transmitter. The master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) design produces a 1550 nm, 200mW average power optical signal through the use of a directly modulated laser diode and a commercial fiber amplifier. The prototype design produces high-fidelity M-ary pulse position modulated (PPM) waveforms (M=8 to 128), targeting data rates > 10 Mbit/s while meeting a constraining 8W power allocation. We also present the implementation of an avalanche photodiode (APD) receiver with measured transmitter-to-receiver performance within 3 dB of theory. Via loopback, the compact receiver design can provide built-in self-test and calibration capabilities, and supports incremental on-orbit testing of the design.
Erratum to: Role of luxS in Bacillus anthracis growth and virulence factor expression

It has come to the attention of the Editorial Staff that Figure 1 was erroneously printed in Virulence Volume 1, Issue 2 in manuscript Jones MB, Peterson SN, Benn R, Braisted JC, Jarrahi B, Shatzke...
Abstract 4100: The anticancer effects of calorie restriction on Panc 02 pancreatic tumors are associated with decreased activation of NF-kB

Calorie restriction (CR), an anti-obesity dietary regimen with potent anti-cancer effects, reduces serum levels of metabolic hormones and protumorigenic cytokines. Independent of diet, metabolism-related hormones such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and leptin have been shown to activate the inflammatory signal transduction pathway regulated by nuclear factor (NF)-κB. NF-κB is a transcription factor that is upregulated in over 70% of human pancreatic cancer cell lines and primary tumors. In this study we tested the hypothesis that CR inhibits pancreatic tumor cell growth in part through modulation of hormone-stimulated NF-κB activation and downstream protumorigenic gene expression. Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (n=12 per diet) were singly housed and randomized to either a control diet consumed ad libitum (which results in an overweight phenotype) or a 30% CR diet regimen for 22 weeks, at which time mice were fasted and blood was collected for serum metabolic hormone analysis. At week 23, mice were injected subcutaneously (left flank) with 1 × 10^6 syngeneic mouse pancreatic cancer cells (Panc 02) and maintained on their diet regimens while tumor growth was monitored for an additional 4 weeks. Excised tumors underwent real-time RT-PCR analysis of protumorigenic cytokine gene expression. CR mice had lower body weight (19.0 g +/− 0.4 vs. 33.0 +/− 0.6 (mean +/− SEM) p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4100.
Using Reframing to Reduce Negative Statements in Social Conversation for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study examined the effects of teaching the reframing of negative statements through self-management and video-feedback on social conversation in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A m...
Charles Hamilton Houston: Black Social Critique and The New Deal

Considered from a liberal-"progressive" perspective, American public policy history typically constructs FDR's New Deal as a model achievement, on par Johnson's Great Society. Where the exclusion of blacks from New Deal citizenship is acknowledged, it is usually treated as a minor deviation from FDR's egalitarian and democratic break from the laissez faire tradition. The protests and social critique mounted by African Americans during the 1930s against discrimination within the New Deal and against lynching are rarely integrated into the mainstream account. This paper deals with key texts written and delivered by Charles Hamilton Houston on behalf of the NAACP that gives voice to this alternative history and makes his roots in pragmatism and Garveyism evident.
Educating the STEM Leaders of Tomorrow

In this paper, we discuss our contribution to the field of computer science and education technology through various projects we have designed and implemented at Auburn University. We begin by introducing a very successful computer proficiency course called Personal Computer Applications (PCA). The goal of this course is not only to impart useful computer skills to the students but also to attract them to computer technology so that they can solve problems and make better decisions in their day-to-day lives. Then, we discuss two more courses designed and offered by us in the area of web development. This paper particularly discusses our unique teaching methodologies and how these techniques led to the success of our courses. Finally, we discuss our contribution in introducing young kids to the world of programming, and encouraging women participation in technology. We achieve these two goals through our K-12 camps offered on Auburn University campus.
Pediatric otolaryngologic conditions: Racial and socioeconomic disparities in the United States

Objectives/hypothesis Determine the national incidence and disparities for common pediatric otolaryngologic conditions. Study design Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative database. Methods The National Health Interview Survey (2012) was analyzed, extracting children with frequent ear infections (FEI), nonstreptococcal sore throat (NSST), streptococcal pharyngitis (SP), hay fever, and sinusitis. Demographic data including age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, geographic region, poverty level, and insurance status were extracted. The annual incidences of these conditions were determined. Disparities in the incidence of each condition was determined according to race and ethnicity, adjusting for other demographic variables. Results Among 73.3 million children (average age, 8.6 years; 51.1% male), the incidences were: FEI (4.0 million, 5.5% of children), NSST (11.9 million, 20.6% of children), SP (8.0 million, 13.8% of children), hay fever (6.6 million, 9.0% of children), and sinusitis (4.5 million, 7.9% of children). Black and Hispanic children were less likely to be diagnosed with FEI than white children (odds ratio: 0.503 [95% confidence interval: 0.369-0.686] and odds ratio: 0.661 [95% confidence interval: 0.515-0.848]), adjusting for all other demographic variables. Black and Hispanic children were also less likely to be diagnosed with SP than white children (odds ratio: 0.433 [95% confidence interval: 0.342-0.547] and odds ratio: 0.487 [95% confidence interval: 0.401-0.592], respectively). Similar decreased odds ratios for black and Hispanic children were evident for hay fever (odds ratio: 0.704 [95% confidence interval: 0.556-0.890] and odds ratio: 0.708 [95% confidence interval: 0.565-0.888], respectively) and for sinusitis (odds ratio: 0.701 [95% confidence interval: 0.543-0.905] and odds ratio: 0.596 [95% confidence interval:0.459-0.773], respectively). Conclusions Black and Hispanic children are consistently less likely to be identified or diagnosed with FEI, hay fever, SP, and sinusitis compared to white children. These data likely highlight a significant health care disparity according to race/ethnicity in otolaryngology. Level of evidence 2b Laryngoscope, 127:746-752, 2017.
Future Trends and Projections

In the first edition of this book, published in 1986, I made nine projections about the future of the counseling profession (Seligman, 1986). This chapter will begin with a review and discussion of those projections, most of which have been fulfilled between the first and second editions of this book.
Developing a standardized measurement of alcohol intoxication

Abstract Introduction We assessed multiple examinations and assessment tools to develop a standardized measurement of alcohol intoxication to aid medical decision making in the Emergency Department. Methods Volunteers underwent an alcohol challenge. Pre- and post-alcohol challenge, subjects were videotaped performing three standardized clinical examinations: (1) Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) examination, (2) Hack's Impairment Index (HII) examination, and (3) Cincinnati Intoxication Examination (CIE). Emergency clinicians evaluated the level of intoxication using five standardized assessment tools in a blinded and randomized fashion: (1) SFST assessment tool (range 0–18), (2) HII assessment tool (range 0–1), (3) St. Elizabeth Alcohol Intoxication Scale (STE, range 0–17), (4) a Visual Analog Scale (VAS, range 0–100), and (5) a Binary Intoxication Question (BIQ). Construct validity was assessed along with inter- and intra-rater reliability. Results Median scores pre- and post-alcohol challenge were: SFST 6 (interquartile range 5) and 11 (3), respectively; HII 0 (0.05), 0.1 (0.1); STE 0 (1), 1 (2); VAS 10 (22), 33 (31). For BIQ, 59% and 91% indicated intoxication, respectively. Inter-rater reliability scores were: SFST 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.48–0.86) to 0.93 (0.88–0.97) depending on examination component; HII 0.90 (0.82–0.95); STE 0.86 (0.75–0.93); VAS 0.92 (0.88–0.94); BIQ 0.3. Intra-rater reliability scores were: SFST 0.74 (0.64–0.82) to 0.87 (0.81–0.91); HII 0.85 (0.79–0.90); STE 0.78 (0.68–0.85); VAS 0.82 (0.74–0.87); BIQ 0.71. VAS reliability was best when paired with the HII and SFST examinations. Conclusions HII examination, paired with either a VAS or HII assessment tool, yielded valid and reliable measurements of alcohol intoxication.
Children, Parents and the State

In this chapter we discuss both the moral and constitutional conception of children’s rights. The moral conception has been debated since the seventeenth century by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, John Stuart Mill and Herbert Spencer. All except Spencer accept the idea that children have none of the so-called “liberty rights” possessed by adults. This idea is reflected in state laws denying such rights to children, including the right to freedom of expression when at school. But in a series of Supreme Court cases beginning in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that children are persons who are possessed of fundamental rights that the state must respect. Included among these rights is the right to freedom of expression. In this chapter we consider several Supreme Court cases introducing this right and later restricting its scope because of its inevitable conflict with another idea: children are human beings who are always in custody of their parents, of the school they attend, or ultimately of the State. We conclude the chapter by discussing several theories that attempt to resolve the dilemma of conceiving children as both persons with fundamental rights and as human beings who are always in some form of custody.
Open and Endovascular Management of Inferior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysms: A Report of Two Cases.

Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) aneurysms are a rare entity, attributing to 1% of Splanchnic aneurysms (Edogawa S, Shibuya T, Kurose K et al. Inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm: case report and literature review. Ann Vasc Dis 2013;6:98–101), often found incidentally on evaluation for other intra-abdominal pathologies. Similar to other visceral arterial aneurysms, there is an estimated 20–50% risk of potentially fatal rupture and repair is generally recommended. We report 2 patients with IMA aneurysms, using them as cases to illustrate feasibility of both open and endovascular management options. Patient 1 is a 69-year-old male with bilateral claudication found to have an asymptomatic 20-mm IMA aneurysm. This patient underwent aortobifemoral bypass with branch polytetrafluoroethylene graft to distal IMA after excision of IMA aneurysm. Patient 2 is a 32-year-old male who underwent an ex vivo renal artery aneurysm repair and was noted on routine follow-up to have an incidental saccular 1.5-cm IMA aneurysm for which he underwent endovascular coil embolization. Both patients had an unremarkable postoperative course with a notable absence of stigmata of bowel ischemia.
Exploration of Shape Memory Polymer for Automotive Coating Applications

Shape memory polymer (SMP) is one special kind of polymer which can recover back to permanent shape after being mechanically deformed. As for automotive coating, most of the defects occurs on the clear coat layer, if it can be replaced by shape memory polymer, the defects can be easily removed due to the self-healing ability of shape memory polymer. In this experiment, the self-healing ability of epoxy based shape memory polymer thin lm (around 100μm) is examined. Five indents on the thin lm shape memory polymer with depths from 4.9μm to 5.5μm are all disappeared after 15 minutes heating at 70 o C. The average hardness of the polymer is 165 ± 2MPa and the modulus is 5.76 ± 0.02GPa (assume Possion’s ratio 0.4).
An engineering model for Fe-Ga magnetostrictive strain sensor

This study will present an engineering modeling methodology for magnetostrictive materials based on a piezo-electric governing equation.
Mental health practitioners’ strategies in equine-assisted psychotherapy: implications for social work

Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), in this study, which included a mental health practitioner, an equine specialist, at least one horse, and a client in therapy sessions, is emerging in social wo...
Polarization Control with Plasmonic Antenna Tips: A Universal Approach to Optical Nanocrystallography and Vector-Field Imaging

Controlling the propagation and polarization vectors in linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopy enables us to probe the anisotropy of optical responses providing structural symmetry selective contrast in optical imaging. Here, we present a novel tilted antenna-tip approach to control the optical vector-field by breaking the axial symmetry of the nanoprobe in tip-enhanced near-field microscopy. This gives rise to a localized plasmonic antenna effect with significantly enhanced optical field vectors with control of both in-plane and out-of-plane components. We use the resulting vector-field specificity in the symmetry selective nonlinear optical response of second-harmonic generation (SHG) for a generalized approach to optical nanocrystallography and imaging. In tip-enhanced SHG imaging of monolayer MoS2 films and single-crystalline ferroelectric YMnO3, we reveal nanocrystallographic details of domain boundaries and domain topology with enhanced sensitivity and nanoscale spatial resolution. The approach is applicable to any anisotropic linear and nonlinear optical response and enables the optical nanocrystallographic imaging of molecular or quantum materials.
Case report of a mysterious myocardial mass: an aetiological conundrum

Introduction Atypical chest pain is frequently an aetiological conundrum, and missing a diagnosis of underlying cardiac disease can have detrimental consequences. The investigation of this may rule out cardiac disease but often provides no clear answers to the underlying pathology. Case presentation An 80-year-old man with a background of bilateral inguinal hernia repairs but no cardiac disease presented to his general practitioner with intermittent chest pain of approximately 15 min duration, felt inside his chest under his right nipple. His episodes of chest discomfort had increased in frequency, occurring both at rest and upon exertion. He was seen by the cardiology team at his local hospital and reassured following normal coronary angiography and outpatient echocardiography. The pain persisted, so cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was arranged to exclude the underlying myocardial disease. This demonstrated a mass within the right ventricular free wall, which MRI was unable to characterize. Follow-up cardiac computed tomography showed this to be a metallic object within the right ventricular wall, but despite thorough examination of his medical and social history, there remains no obvious explanation to its aetiology other than potentially due to clip migration from his hernia repair. Discussion Metallic foreign bodies within the myocardium are described in case reports but almost entirely in the setting of intentional self-injury. There is no previous case evidence of migration of distal surgical clips to the heart, but there appears to be no other clear aetiology for this gentleman's pathology, thus representing a novel description of iatrogenic injury.
Delegating Away Democracy: How Good Representation and Policy Successes Can Undermine Democratic Legitimacy:

Theories of democratic legitimacy argue that people who believe the government is well managed and represents their interests are likely to defend the democratic status quo. Principal-agent theory ...
Habitat partitioning by zooplankton and the structure of lake ecosystems

Models of trophic chains commonly simplify interactions among species in a given trophic level. However, resource competitors within a trophic level can often interact strongly with one another, and the mechanisms of interaction may modify how such competitors participate in trophic interactions. Here we examine the role of habitat partitioning by Daphnia, commonly important grazers in lake ecosystems. We review the history of research on habitat partitioning in Daphnia, and suggest that habitat partitioning commonly reflects the conflicting constraints of avoiding predators and using environments that maximize growth. Based on such conflicting demands, we develop a graphical model of habitat partitioning under resource competition mediated by habitat-specific predators. Previous work has supported many of the predictions of the model except for some effects on the participation of Daphnia in trophic interactions. Using a standard D. pulex clone bioassay of food quality, we present evidence that these deviations can be accounted for by variable responses of algal communities that can alter their edibility of Daphnia.
Asymptotic Rates of Convergence of SQP-Type Methods of Feasible Directions

A modified SQP-type MFD was presented by Chen and Kostreva and its global convergence under rather mild assumptions has been proved. The numerical results showed that this modified MFD converges faster than Piron-neau — Polak’s MFD and Cawood — Kostreva’s norm-relaxed MFD. However, the rate of convergence and especially the relationship between this rate and the choice of the introduced speed-up factors have not been investigated yet. This paper studies the asymptotic rates of convergence of SQP-type MFD based on the modified MFD. Our analysis is completely focused on a direction finding subproblem (DFS) which is a QP problem like that of the modified MFD. Based on the modified MFD, we have analyzed the rate of convergence of SQP-type MFD and its bound. This paper shows that SQP-type MFD is at least linearly convergent and induced a better bound on convergence ratio than the Cawood — Kostreva’s analysis. In addition, for the case that all constraints are linear, we show that the modified MFD is superlinearly convergent under the assumptions.
The Formal Structure of Argument in Professor Apter’s

Science in general, and social science in particular, seem to be divided according to the use of mathematical technique. In many areas elegant and sophisticated mathematical reasoning has found an important place, but in many others, there has been hardly any attempt to introduce mathematics at all. This is a pity, for the advantages of employing mathematical methods are many: concepts and propositions are forced to be described more precisely; the logic and consistency of argument is exposed more openly; and the role of each assumption must be identified more clearly. The upshot is deeper understanding. Furthermore, errors are easier to prevent and discover, and unforeseen extensions may become apparent.
The Renilla Luciferase-Modified GFP Fusion Protein is Functional in Transformed Cells

The cDNA of Renilla reniformis luciferase (ruc) has been cloned and used successfully as a marker gene in a variety of transgenic species. Similarly, the transfer and expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) cDNA (gfp) and its mutants from Aequorea victoria resulted in high levels of GFP in transformed cells, allowing convenient visualization of gene expression under the microscope.
Abstract 13303: Folic Acid Reverses Nitric Oxide Synthase Uncoupling and Prevents Insulin Resistance-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction: Role Of Ca2+/calmodulin Activated Kinase II (CaMKII)

It has been shown that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) becomes uncoupled in diabetes and switches from producing nitric oxide to superoxide (O 2 - ) enroute to cardiac dysfunction. However, the downstream effector(s) from NOS uncoupling in diabetic cardiomyopathy remain elusive. In this study we examined the impact of folic acid supplement (15mg/kg/d for 4 wks), which reverses NOS uncoupling, on cardiac dysfunction cause by sucrose diet-induced insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was confirmed by glucose tolerance test while whole heart echocardiographic function and isolated cardiomyocyte contractile function were assessed. Tetracaine inhibitable rise in cytosolic Ca 2+ was used to measure ryanodine receptor (RYR) leak. O 2 - production was monitored using DHE staining in the absence or presence of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME to examine NOS uncoupling and oxidative/phosphorylation state of CaMKII was evaluated by western blot. Our data revealed increased NOS dependent O 2 - production following sucrose diet feeding, (-2.4±5.7 vs. 30.8±7.1) which was reversed with folic acid administration (p 2+ rise and prolonged intracellular Ca 2+ clearance, which was nullified by folic acid (n=3, p 2+ leak from RYR (1.37±0.45 vs. 3.65±0.64), and spontaneous Ca 2+ transients (0.007±0.003 per sec. vs. 0.087±0.018 per sec.) were observed in insulin resistance, both of which were alleviated by folic acid (n=3, p
Genetic characterization of outbred Sprague Dawley rats and utility for genome-wide association studies

Sprague Dawley (SD) rats are one of the most commonly used outbred rat strains. Despite this, the genetic characteristics of SD are poorly understood. We collected behavioral data from 4,625 SD rats acquired predominantly from two commercial vendors, Charles River Laboratories and Harlan Sprague Dawley Inc. Using double-digest genotyping-by-sequencing (ddGBS), we obtained dense, high-quality genotypes at 234,887 SNPs across 4,061 rats. This genetic data allowed us to characterize the variation present in Charles River vs. Harlan SD rats. We found that the two populations are highly diverged (FST > 0.4). We also used these data to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of Pavlovian conditioned approach (PavCA), which assesses the propensity for rats to attribute motivational value to discrete, reward-associated cues. Due to the genetic divergence between rats from Charles River and Harlan, we performed two separate GWAS by fitting a linear mixed model that accounted for within vendor population structure and using meta-analysis to jointly analyze the two studies. We identified 18 independent loci that were significantly associated with one or more metrics used to describe PavCA; we also identified 3 loci that were body weight, which was only measured in a subset of the rats. The genetic characterization of SD rats is a valuable resource for the rat community that can be used to inform future study design.
The Maximum Principle: Discrete Time

For many purposes it is convenient to assume that time is represented by a discrete variable, k = 0, 1, 2, …, T, rather than by a continuous variable t ∈ [0, T]. This is particularly true when we wish to solve a large control theory problem by means of a computer. It is also desirable, even when solving small problems which have state or adjoint differential equations whose solutions cannot be expressed in closed form, to formulate them as discrete problems and let the computer solve them in a stepwise manner.
Methodological Pluralism: Reflections on China

When Mary Guy asks you to board a plane to China, you just say yes.Even for someone like me, who has a fear of flying, the only answer was yes. Her invitation felt like a wonderful chance to engage...