cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lifestyle chemistries from phones for individual profiling

Imagine a scenario where personal belongings such as pens, keys, phones, or handbags are found at an investigative site. It is often valuable to the investigative team that is trying to trace back the belongings to an individual to understand their personal habits, even when DNA evidence is also available. Here, we develop an approach to translate chemistries recovered from personal objects such as phones into a lifestyle sketch of the owner, using mass spectrometry and informatics approaches. Our results show that phones' chemistries reflect a personalized lifestyle profile. The collective repertoire of molecules found on these objects provides a sketch of the lifestyle of an individual by highlighting the type of hygiene/beauty products the person uses, diet, medical status, and even the location where this person may have been. These findings introduce an additional form of trace evidence from skin-associated lifestyle chemicals found on personal belongings. Such information could help a criminal investigator narrowing down the owner of an object found at a crime scene, such as a suspect or missing person.
Systemic Complications of Spinal Cord Injury

Purpose of Review To review the acute and chronic systemic complications of spinal cord injury and discuss treatment recommendations.
Austral summer Southern Africa precipitation extremes forced by the El Niño-Southern oscillation and the subtropical Indian Ocean dipole

Southern Africa, defined here as the African continent south of 15°S latitude, is prone to seasonal precipitation extremes during December–March that have profound effects on large populations of people. The intensity of summertime precipitation extremes can be remarkable, with wet seasons experiencing up to a doubling of the seasonal average precipitation. Recognizing the importance of understanding the causes of Southern Africa precipitation extremes for the purpose of improved early warning, an 80-member ensemble of atmospheric model simulations forced by observed time-varying boundary conditions during 1979–2016 is used to examine the mechanisms by which December–March precipitation extremes are delivered to Southern Africa and whether the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Subtropical Indian Ocean Dipole (SIOD) modify the probabilities of extreme seasonal precipitation occurrences. The model simulations reveal that the synchronous ENSO and SIOD phasing conditions the probability of December–March extreme precipitation occurrences. The probability of extreme wet seasons is greatly increased by La Nina, especially so when combined with a positive SIOD, and greatly decreased by El Nino regardless of SIOD phasing. By contrast, the probability of extreme dry seasons is increased by El Nino and is decreased by La Nina. The mechanisms by which extreme precipitation are delivered are the same regardless of ENSO and SIOD phase. Extreme wet seasons are a result of an anomalous lower tropospheric cyclone over Southern Africa that increases convergence and moisture fluxes into the region while extreme dry seasons are a result of an anomalous lower tropospheric anticyclone that decreases convergence and moisture fluxes into the region.
Abstract 4709: Induction of enhanced tumor-specific immunity by Hsp90 targeted photodynamic therapy (Hsp90-PDT) combined with immune checkpoint inhibition

Background: Immunotherapy has become an emerging anti-cancer therapy, as immune checkpoint blockade with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibition have been active against multiple cancer types. Nonetheless, there remain many non-responders, suggesting that combinations may improve activity, particularly combinations which can target tumors and have low toxicity. Methods & Results: We have developed a novel Hsp90 targeted photodynamic therapy (Hsp90-PDT), which causes local anti-tumor responses. Hsp90-PDT can be combined with immune checkpoint blockade to generate potent anti-tumor effects. We synthesized well characterized PDT agent, verteporfin (VP) tethered to a HSP90 small molecule inhibitor, to create a Hsp90-PDT agent (Hsp90i-VP). We first compared the uptake of VP and Hsp90i-VP into the breast cancer cell lines (E0771-OVA) in vitro. Hsp90i-VP showed stronger incorporation than VP when the compounds were added 3μM or less in concentration. We next performed in vitro and vivo PDT with Hsp90i-VP and laser exposure (690 nm wavelength). Killing efficiency of VP and Hsp90i-VP was analyzed by MTT assay, which showed increased killing in a dose dependent manner for both photosensitizers (0-30µM) and laser (0-120J/cm2). Next, we treated E0771-OVA tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice with Hsp90i-VP (25nmol/mouse) administration alone, laser irradiation (240J/cm2) alone, or the combination of Hsp90i-VP and laser. Suppression of the tumor growth was confirmed only in Hsp90i-VP and laser group. In addition, induction of tumor-specific immune response by PDT was confirmed by ELISA, where the elevation of anti-OVA antibody was seen only in PDT group. Furthermore, combination treatment of Hsp90-PDT and anti-PD-L1 mAbs was able to enhance cytotoxic T-cell response and suppress tumor growth significantly even with relatively PDT-resistant cell line. Conclusions: Hsp90-PDT showed a significant ability to induce antigen-specific immune response in both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that Hsp90-PDT can play an important role in anti-cancer immune therapy. Our future plan is to investigate the effect of local photodynamic therapy combined with various types of checkpoint inhibitor in breast cancer models. Citation Format: Kensuke Kaneko, Takuya Osada, Timothy A. Haystead, Michael A. Morse, Herbert K. Lyerly. Induction of enhanced tumor-specific immunity by Hsp90 targeted photodynamic therapy (Hsp90-PDT) combined with immune checkpoint inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4709. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4709
Lab automation drones for mobile manipulation in high throughput systems

In this paper, a lab automation drone notional concept is introduced. Here, a robotic limb is attached to a robotic rotorcraft. The limb's gripper allows the unmanned aerial vehicle to dexterously manipulate objects such as micro-arrays and test tubes often used in high throughput systems (HTS). The resulting drone could augment existing HTS operations. The 6 degree-of-freedom (DOF) arm and gripper design are presented. Test-and-evaluation approach and results are also given.
The anatomy and physiology of cortical mechanisms of cardiac control

For nearly fifty years, attention has repeatedly been drawn to electrocardiographic changes accompanying acute stroke. The mechanism was unknown. These alterations, which are more frequent after hemisphere than brain stem infarction, are not solely due to concomitant myocardial ischemia. Recently, cardiac chronotropic organization has been shown within the posterior rat insular cortex. Stimulation of that site mimics both the electrocardiographic changes and the cardiac pathology accompanying acute stroke. These effects are attended by increased sympathetic activity. In addition, stimulation of the human right insula increases sympathetic cardiovascular tone, whereas parasympathetic increases are more frequent during left insula stimulation
The Values, Beliefs, and Attitudes of Elites in Jordan towards Political, Social, and Economic Development

This mixed-method study is focused on the values, beliefs, and attitudes of Jordanian elites towards liberalization, democratization and development. The study aims to describe elites’ political culture and centers of influence, as well as Jordan’s viability of achieving higher developmental levels. Survey results are presented. The study argues that the Jordanian regime remains congruent with elites’ political culture and other patterns of authority within the elite strata. However, until this “cautious liberal” political culture of Jordanian elites changes, a transitional movement cannot arise that would lead Jordan towards greater liberalism, constitutionalism and development. The study concludes with implications for transitional movements in other developing countries, particularly in the Arab region.
Event-join optimization in temporal relational databases

An Event-Join is mostly used to group several temporal attributes of an entity into a single relation. It combines temporal equi-join components into one operation. The temporal outerjoin component is different than a non-temporal outer-join operations. In this paper, we motivate the need to support the efficient processing of event- joins, and introduce several optimization algorithms, both for a general data organization and for specialized organizations (sorted and append-only databases). For the append-only database we introduce a new data structure, that can improve the performance of event-joins as well as other queries. Finally, we evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms. 24 refs., 7 figs., 5 tabs.
Cancer Stem Cells: Proteomic Approaches for New Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers

The recent identification of cells with stem cell-like behaviour in several types of human cancers has opened new avenues for a better understanding of molecular mechanisms and intracellular signalling events that drive a complex degenerative process such as carcinogenesis. The investigation of the pathophysiology of CSC represents an interesting subject for proteomic analysis that in last decade has exploded with thousands of experimental and clinical studies examining various aspects of oncology. Proteomic approaches have produced a wealth of data identifying proteins that regulate self-renewal, pluripotency and differentiation of stem cells, even though with all the limits related to protocol variability that renders rather difficult to create a definitive proteome profile. More recently, several studies directly examining CSCs proteome or showing in cancer cell proteome altered expression levels of proteins that are actually considered characteristic of stemness have been published. The possibility of applying proteomic strategies to the study of CSCs and of the complex series of molecular interactions and phosphorylation events that occur at the level of protein components of the signalling pathways involved in self-renewal and carcinogenesis could shed new light on the molecular mechanisms that form the basis of this process, with all potential clinical applications related to the physiopathology of CSCs.
Plasma acid phosphatase in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy

Abstract Plasma acid phosphatase activity was measured in nonpregnant, normal pregnant, and severely pre-eclamptic women. The third trimester of pregnancy was associated with a rise in plasma acid phosphatase and severe pre-eclampsia with a marked rise in this enzyme. Possible sources of this elevation in acid phosphatase activity are the placenta, kidneys, pregnancy-associated plasma proteins, and blood platelets—with platelets the most likely.
The Spread of Oil Slicks on a Calm Sea

It is a common observation that oil, when spilled on water, tends to spread outward on the water surface in the form of a thin continuous layer. In those instances where this layer is as thin as a wave length of visible light, an iridescent color of the film, caused by light interference, is observed. This tendency to spread is the result of two physical forces: the force of gravity which causes the lighter oil to seek a constant level by spreading horizontally, just as it would on a plane horizontal solid surface, and the surface tension force of pure water, which is usually greater than that of the oil film floating on water. While the oil layer could spread while still remaining intact until it had formed a monomolecular layer, spreading usually stops when the layer is much thicker than this, most likely because of a change in the surface tension properties of the oil.
The DAGMAR Score: D-dimer assay-guided moderation of adjusted risk. Improving specificity of the D-dimer for pulmonary embolism.

Abstract We generated a novel scoring system to improve the test characteristics of D-dimer in patients with suspected PE (pulmonary emboli). Electronic Medical Record data were retrospectively reviewed on Emergency Department (ED) patients 18 years or older for whom a D-dimer and imaging were ordered between June 4, 2012 and March 30, 2016. Symptoms (dyspnea, unilateral leg swelling, hemoptysis), age, vital signs, medical history (cancer, recent surgery, medications, history of deep vein thrombosis or PE, COPD, smoking), laboratory values (quantitative D-dimer, platelets, and mean platelet volume (MPV)), and imaging results (CT, VQ) were collected. Points were designated to factors that were significant in two multiple regression analyses, for PE or positive D-dimer. Points predictive of PE were designated positive values and points predictive of positive D-dimer, irrespective of presence of PE, were designated negative values. The DAGMAR (D-dimer Assay-Guided Moderation of Adjusted Risk) score was developed using age and platelet adjustment and points for factors associated with PE and elevated D-dimer. Of 8486 visits reviewed, 3523 were unique visits with imaging, yielding 2253 (26.5%) positive D-dimers. 3501 CT scans and 156 VQ scans were completed, detecting 198 PE. In our cohort, a DAGMAR Score By considering factors that affect D-dimer and also PE, we improved specificity without compromising sensitivity.
Randomization-based inference and the choice of randomization procedures

In testing the significance of treatment effects in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), randomization-based inference is distinguished from population-based parametric and nonparametric inference, such as the t-test or permutation tests, taking into account three properties: preservation of type I error rate, relation of power to the randomization procedure, and flexibility in choosing the test statistic. In this paper, we revisit rationale of the properties and provide justification through simulations. We propose that the choice of randomization procedures and the analysis of RCTs can be facilitated by the application of randomization-based inference.
Why did the buffalo cross the park? Resource shortages, but not infections, drive dispersal in female African buffalo (Syncerus caffer).

Dispersal facilitates population health and maintains resilience in species via gene flow. Adult dispersal occurs in some species, is often facultative, and is poorly understood, but has important management implications, particularly with respect to disease spread. Although the role of adult dispersal in spreading disease has been documented, the potential influence of disease on dispersal has received little attention. African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) are wide-ranging and harbor many pathogens that can affect nearby livestock. Dispersal of adult buffalo has been described, but ecological and social drivers of buffalo dispersal are poorly understood. We investigated drivers of adult buffalo dispersal during a 4-year longitudinal study at Kruger National Park, South Africa. We monitored the spatial movement of 304 female buffalo in two focal areas using satellite and radio collars, capturing each buffalo every 6 months to assess animal traits and disease status. We used generalized linear mixed models to determine whether likelihood of dispersal for individual female buffalo was influenced by animal traits, herd identity, environmental variables, gastrointestinal parasites, or microparasite infections. The likelihood and drivers of buffalo dispersal varied by herd, area, and year. In the Lower Sabie herd, where resources were abundant, younger individuals were more likely to disperse, with most dispersal occurring in the early wet season and during an unusually dry year, 2009. In the resource-poor Crocodile Bridge area, buffalo in poor condition were most likely to disperse. Our findings suggest that dispersal of female buffalo is driven by either seasonal (Lower Sabie) or perhaps social (Crocodile Bridge) resource restriction, indicating resource limitation and dispersal decisions are tightly linked for this social ungulate. We found no direct effects of infections on buffalo dispersal, assuaging fears that highly infectious individuals might be more prone to dispersing, which could accelerate the spatial spread of infectious diseases.
Finite-Delay Input Reconstruction for Left-Invertible Discrete-Time Systems with Zero Nonzero Zeros

This paper considers the problem of finite-delay input reconstruction for discrete-time systems whose transfer functions have full column normal rank in the case where the initial condition is unknown. The main result states that, if the transfer function has a finite-impulse-response (FIR) delayed left inverse, then input reconstruction is possible. It is also shown that an FIR delayed left inverse with minimum possible delay exists if and only if the system has zero nonzero zeros. These results provide conditions under which finite-delay input reconstruction with unknown initial conditions is possible for discrete-time linear time-invariant systems.
Healthcare Cost of Capital Handbook

Determining your weighted average cost of capital involves a number of measurement issues . . . we: - Normalize the 10 year risk free rate to about 5%, looking forward on the swap curve and also comparing with 30 year Treasuries - Estimate the market risk premium to be about 5% - Present several methods to derive reliable estimates of beta including modified direct regression, portfolio regression, constructed betas, etc. - Adjust the cost of debt for an expected value of the tax shield using an options framework as a proxy - Approximate target capital structures from the trend in your market weighted mix of debt and equity - Decompose hybrid financing instruments into their respective components for determining your weighted average cost of capital Global investments do not contribute as significantly as one might expect to the cost of capital but do bring their own set of measurement issues: - Inflation expectations, or currency risk, if carried in the cashflows must also be incorporated into the discount rate, based on expected inflation - Sovereign risk, essentially unexpected inflation and other political risks, are systematic risks - chronic recurring risks that should be incorporated into the discount rate. We estimate this premium from sovereign bond rating premiums, Eurobond yields, and stripped Brady bond yields - International capital costs, especially in softer currencies, can be a moving target that makes their application require judgment - Other international risks and costs should be incorporated into the cashflows and sensitivity analysis of the investment analysis
Effects of available phosphorus source and concentration on performance and expression of sodium phosphate type IIb cotransporter, vitamin D-1α-hydroxylase, and vitamin D-24-hydroxylase mRNA in broiler chicks.

Abstract This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of 2 phosphorus (P) sources on broiler performance to day 14. The P bioavailability was estimated using bird performance and tibia ash measurements, whereas P digestibility, intestinal P transporter, kidney vitamin D-1α-hydroxylase, and vitamin D-24-hydroxylase mRNA abundances were also determined. Slope regression analysis was used to determine the bioavailability of dicalcium phosphate (Dical P) and nanocalcium phosphate (Nano P) with dietary available P (AvP) set to 0.20% P (control) using AvP from the major ingredients and Dical P. The experimental treatments were achieved by supplementation with either Dical P or Nano P to generate 0.24, 0.28, 0.32, and 0.36% AvP. A total of 648-day-old unsexed broiler chicks were divided into 72 birds per treatment (8 replicate cages of 9 birds). Slope regression analysis showed positive linear relationships between BW, feed intake (FI), tibia ash weight (TAW), and tibia ash percentage (TAP) with dietary Dical P and Nano P levels. Comparisons between regression slopes for Dical P and Nano P fed birds were not significantly different for BW, feed intake, tibia ash weight, and tibia ash percentage, indicating similar P bioavailability from Dical P and Nano P. There were interactions between P source and AvP for feed efficiency (FE) and apparent ileal P digestibility (AIPD). Dicalcium phosphate had greater FE than Nano P at 0.28% AvP and greater AIPD than Nano P at 0.24% AvP. The addition of AvP from Dical P and Nano P resulted in reduced sodium phosphate cotransporter mRNA abundance in the duodenum in a dose–dependent response. In the kidney, vitamin D-1α-hydroxylase mRNA abundance was greater at 0.36% Nano P compared with control, but there was no difference with Dical P. There was no difference in vitamin D-24-hydroxylase mRNA abundance between control and supplementation with Nano P or Dical P. In conclusion, Nano P and Dical P had the same bioavailability but had different effects on gene expression.
Unusual mtDNA Control Region Length Heteroplasmy in the COS-7 Cell Line.

The COS-7 cell line is a workhorse of virology research. To expand this cell line’s utility and to enable studies on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcription and replication, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of its mitochondrial genome by Sanger sequencing. In contrast to other available mtDNA sequences from Chlorocebus aethiops, the mtDNA of the COS-7 cell line was found to contain a variable number of perfect copies of a 108 bp unit tandemly repeated in the control region. We established that COS-7 cells are heteroplasmic with at least two variants being present: with four and five repeat units. The analysis of the mitochondrial genome sequences from other primates revealed that tandem repeats are absent from examined mtDNA control regions of humans and great apes, but appear in lower primates, where they are present in a homoplasmic state. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mtDNA length heteroplasmy in primates.
El vínculo inflamatorio entre la enfermedad coronaria y la depresión

A narrative review of the evidence regarding the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease and depression is presented. As a common pathogenic factor, inflammation could explain the frequent association of both diseases. We discuss the benefit of exercise and diet modifications in both conditions and the effectiveness and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Finally, we recommend screening for depressive symptoms in coronary patients and the search of cardiovascular risk factors in people with depression.
Diagnosis and treatment of transthyretin-related amyloidosis cardiomyopathy

Transthyretin-related amyloidosis (ATTR) is a subgroup of amyloidosis that results from extracellular misassembled and toxic amyloid deposits affecting multiple organ systems, and cardiac tissues in particular. Because ATTR often presents as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), it has been largely underdiagnosed. Once considered incurable with a grave prognosis, ATTR cardiomyopathy has seen the development of promising alternatives for diagnosis and treatment, with early diagnosis and treatment of ATTR cardiomyopathy highly beneficial due to its high mortality rate. For instance, diagnosing ATTR cardiomyopathy previously required a cardiac biopsy, but new modalities, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and radionuclide bone scans, show promise in accurately diagnosing ATTR cardiomyopathy. Ongoing research and clinical trials have focused on identifying new treatments which primarily target amyloid fiber formation by inhibiting TTR gene expression, stabilizing the TTR tetramer, preventing oligomer aggregation, or affecting degradation of amyloid fibers. In this review, we describe the advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of ATTR in order to increase awareness of the disease and encourage a lower threshold for ATTR workup. Our review also highlights the need for improving the screening, diagnosis, and treatment guidelines for ATTR cardiomyopathy.
Heartbeat: exercise improves quality of life after acute myocardial infarction.

Although, the primary goal in patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is to reduce mortality and major adverse events, patient centred measures such as long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) also are important. The benefits of exercise for mortality reduction after AMI are well known but the effect on HRQoL has received less attention. In this issue of Heart , Hurdus and colleagues1 examined the temporal association of HRQoL with physical activity levels and cardiac rehabilitation in 4570 patients at 30 days, 6 and 12 months after AMI. Both cardiac rehabilitation and self-reported physical activity of at least 150 min/week were positively associated in improvements in HRQoL at each time point, with an additive effect for physical activity even in those receiving cardiac rehabilitation (figure 1). Figure 1 Health-related quality of life trajectories of patients with acute myocardial infarction according to their attendance at cardiac rehabilitation and/or self-reported physical activity of ≥150 min/week. EQ-VAS, EuroQol 5-Visual Analogue Scale In an editorial, Taylor and Dalal2 point out that ‘When we ask our patients why they want to participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CR), the response that we invariably hear is that they do so …
Dietary Therapy for Managing Hyperphosphatemia

Hyperphosphatemia is a prevalent complication in patients with advanced CKD, affecting approximately 50% of those treated with maintenance hemodialysis ([1][1],[2][2]). In the normal state, phosphate homeostasis is maintained through the interplay between intestinal absorption, bone deposition, soft
SANSCrypt: Sporadic-Authentication-Based Sequential Logic Encryption

Sequential logic encryption is a countermeasure against reverse engineering of sequential circuits based on modifying the original finite state machine of the circuit such that the circuit enters a wrong state upon being reset. A user must apply a certain sequence of input patterns, i.e., a key sequence, for the circuit to transition to the correct state. The circuit then remains functional unless it is powered off or reset again. Most sequential encryption methods require the correct key to be applied only once. In this paper, we propose a novel Sporadic-Authentication-Based Sequential Logic Encryption method (SANSCrypt) that circumvents the potential vulnerability associated with a single-authentication mechanism. SANSCrypt adopts a new temporal dimension to logic encryption, by requiring the user to sporadically perform multiple authentications according to a protocol based on pseudo-random number generation. We provide implementation details of SANSCrypt and present a design that is amenable to time-sensitive applications. In SANSCrypt, the authentication task does not significantly disrupt the normal circuit operation, as it can be interrupted or postponed upon request from a high-priority task with minimal impact on the overall performance. Analysis and validation results on a set of benchmark circuits show that SANSCrypt offers a substantial output corruptibility if the key sequences are applied incorrectly. Moreover, it exhibits exponential resilience to existing attacks, including SAT-based attacks, while maintaining a reasonably low overhead.
Construct validity of the enfranchisement scale of the community participation indicators

Objective:This study examined the construct validity of the Enfranchisement scale of the Community Participation Indicators.Design:We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected in a cross-sec...
Combining spike- and nucleocapsid-based vaccines improves distal control of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes respiratory insufficiency and neurological manifestations, including loss of smell and psychiatric disorders, and can be fatal. Most vaccines are based on the spike antigen alone, and although they have shown efficacy at preventing severe disease and death, they do not always confer sterilizing immunity. Here, we interrogate whether SARS-CoV-2 vaccines could be improved by incorporating nucleocapsid as an antigen. We show that, after 72 h of challenge, a spike-based vaccine confers acute protection in the lung, but not in the brain. However, combining a spike-based vaccine with a nucleocapsid-based vaccine confers acute protection in both the lung and brain. These findings suggest that nucleocapsid-specific immunity can improve the distal control of SARS-CoV-2, warranting the inclusion of nucleocapsid in next-generation COVID-19 vaccines.
Diderot: This Is Not a Story

This is not a story was published in 1772 and opens the frame for the entire collection. The title in French, Ceci n’est pas un conte, is of interest in that the word conte comes from Old French conter, to relate, recount. One of the most interesting things about Diderot is how he was influenced by two English writers: Richardson and Sterne. Both, of course, were masters of deceit, of fraud, literary counterfeiters. While Richardson was a master at the illusion of reality, Sterne was the master of undermining the artifice of reality and, at the same time, dismantling the author-reader relationship. This chapter explores the influence of those writers on Diderot and how the “story” is a clear pre-cursor of postmodern fiction.
Introduction: A Framework for Understanding the Race and Ethnic Transition

This introductory chapter provides a framework for understanding the diverse set of chapters that comprise this handbook.The chapter highlights an important demographic trend that is taking place all over the world, namely the disproportionate growth of marginalized groups compared to dominant groups. While demographers and other social scientists recognize the ensuing transitions that stem from the demographic transition, relatively little attention has been paid to the race/ethnic transition.The chapter argues for the need to incorporate theoretical perspectives from the race and ethnic literature to more fully understand the race/ethnic transition and the intersection between demography, race/ethnicity, and stratification.Subsequently, the chapter provides an overview of the chapters that form the handbook.The chapter concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the race/ethnic transition.
Second-Class Licensure: The Use of Conditional Admission Programs for Bar Applicant with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Histories

The permissibility of inquiries about mental health and substance abuse treatment histories on bar applications was actively debated in the years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Two decades after those debates began, the law remains unclear and the question is, for the most part, no longer discussed. However, the increasing use of conditional admission for applicants with treatment histories requires a renewed scrutiny of whether state bars should be allowed to use or request this information.Conditional admission programs, which allow applicants to be admitted to the bar subject to monitoring or supervision conditions, have been promoted as a way to admit disabled applicants who would previously have been denied while protecting the public from potentially impaired attorneys. However, consideration for conditional admission is frequently based on the applicants’ answers to questions that inquire about prior treatment or diagnosis, rather than current impairment. The result is that conditional admission is often used for applicants with mental health or substance abuse histories who are not impaired and who would have previously been fully licensed. As currently operated, these programs divert qualified applicants with disabilities into an unequal licensure program. This second-class licensure of applicants who are fit to practice law on the basis of their disability clearly violates the ADA. Additionally, the programs further deter law students from seeking treatment and thus potentially increase the number of impaired attorneys who pose a risk to their clients. Both the ADA and these policy concerns require that the use of these programs be reevaluated.
Internal standards in fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy

Abstract The use of internal standards in the analysis of ores and minerals of widely-varying matrix by means of fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy is frequently the most practical approach. Internal standards correct for absorption and enhancement effects except when an absorption edge falls between the comparison lines or a very strong emission line falls between the absorption edges responsible for the comparison lines. Particle size variations may introduce substantial errors. One method of coping with the particle size problem is grinding the sample with an added abrasive.
Chapter 10 Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy of Monolayers at the Air–Water Interface

Publisher Summary Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) can provide information concerning conformation, tilt angle, and head group structure as well as information about protein secondary structure and orientation. The technique in general can be extended by introducing the polarization–modulation (PM) technique to the IRRAS experiment. It takes advantage of the great difference in the absorption of p- and s-polarized light at high angles of incidence. In particular, the sensitivity can be significantly increased. Both IRRAS and PM spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) have proved to be a versatile and powerful technique for the spectroscopic characterization of biophysical monomolecular films at the air–water interface. Advances in instrumental design coupled with newly developed sampling methodology have enabled researchers to develop these techniques into methods with great sensitivity. This has allowed great insight into not only the study of monolayer structural and conformational analysis but also the study of monolayer spatial and orientational analysis, which has led to increased insights into molecular organization in two dimensions.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide regulates gene transcription in primary afferent neurons.

Although primary afferent neurons express receptors for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), understanding of the cellular effects of these receptors is limited. We determined that CGRP receptors regulate gene transcription in primary afferent neurons through a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent pathway. CGRP increased cAMP in neonatal dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in a concentration-dependent manner that was blocked by the receptor antagonist CGRP8-37. The response to CGRP also occurred in adult DRG cells. In contrast, CGRP did not alter the concentration of free intracellular calcium in neonatal or adult DRG neurons. Immunohistochemical data showed that one downstream effect of the cAMP signaling pathway was phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding (CREB) protein, suggesting that CGRP regulates gene expression. This interpretation was supported by evidence that CGRP increased CRE-dependent gene transcription in neurons transiently transfected with a CRE-luciferase DNA reporter construct. The effect of CGRP on gene transcription was inhibited by H89, myristoylated-protein kinase A inhibitor14−22-amide and U0126, indicating that protein kinase A and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular receptor kinase kinase are enzymes that mediate effects of CGRP on gene transcription. Therefore, CGRP receptors may regulate expression of proteins by primary afferent neurons during development and in response to tissue-damaging stimuli.
Supergravity coupled to chiral matter at one loop. II. Chiral and Yang-Mills matter

We present the full calculation of the divergent one-loop contribution to the effective boson Lagrangian for supergravity, including the Yang-Mills sector and the helicity-odd operators that arise from integration over fermion fields. The only restriction is on the Yang-Mills kinetic energy normalization function, which is taken diagonal in gauge indices, as in models obtained from superstrings. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Screening and brief intervention for drug use in primary care: the Assessing Screening Plus brief Intervention’s Resulting Efficacy to stop drug use (ASPIRE) randomized trial

Methods In this randomized trial (the Assessing Screening Plus brief Intervention’s Resulting Efficacy to stop drug use (ASPIRE) study) we tested the efficacy of a brief negotiated interview (BNI), and an adaptation of motivational interviewing (AMI), compared to no BI. Primary care patient participants had Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) drug specific scores of ≥4. Primary outcome at 6 months was number of days use of the drug of most concern (DOMC) in the past 30 days.
A Controlled Evaluation of Devotional Meditation and Progressive Relaxation

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of devotional meditation (DM), defined as a period of prayer and quiet reading and pondering of biblical material, on physiological and psyc...
Chinook salmon outmigration survival in wet and dry years in California's Sacramento River

Outmigration survival of acoustic-tagged, hatchery-origin, late-fall-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) smolts from the Sacramento River was estimated for 5 years (2007–2011) using a receiver array spanning the entire outmigration corridor, from the upper river, through the estuary, and into the coastal ocean. The first 4 years of releases occurred during below-average river flows, while the fifth year (2011) occurred during above-average flows. In 2011, overall outmigration survival was two to five times higher than survival in the other 4 years. Regional survival estimates indicate that most of the improved survival seen in 2011 occurred in the riverine reaches of the outmigration corridor, while survival in the brackish portions of the estuary did not significantly differ among the 5 years. For the 4 low-flow years combined, survival rate in the river was lower in the less anthropogenically modified upper reaches; however, across all regions, survival rate was lowest in the brackish portion ...
Measurement of the sheath surrounding a planar electron emitting surface in the afterglow of an RF plasma

Summary form only given. The potential of a sheath surrounding a planar, electron emitting cathode was measured in the afterglow of a capacitively coupled RF plasma. Using Langmuir and emissive probes, the electron temperature and plasma potential were measured as a function of time. The inflection point in the limit of zero emission, a highly accurate emissive probe technique to measure the plasma potential, was used to make time resolved measurements for the first time. Measurements showed that as the plasma electron temperature cooled, approaching the emitted electron temperature, the emissive sheath potential shrank to zero. These results were in good qualitative agreement with a new theory of emissive sheaths, but deviations at intermediate temperature ratios indicate that the behavior of the emissive sheath is not yet fully understood.
From frequent itemsets to semantically meaningful visual patterns

Data mining techniques that are successful in transaction and text data may not be simply applied to image data that contain high-dimensional features and have spatial structures. It is not a trivial task to discover meaningful visual patterns in image databases, because the content variations and spatial dependency in the visual data greatly challenge most existing methods. This paper presents a novel approach to coping with these difficulties for mining meaningful visual patterns. Specifically, the novelty of this work lies in the following new contributions: (1) a principled solution to the discovery of meaningful itemsets based on frequent itemset mining; (2) a self-supervised clustering scheme of the high-dimensional visual features by feeding back discovered patterns to tune the similarity measure through metric learning; and (3) a pattern summarization method that deals with the measurement noises brought by the image data. The experimental results in the real images show that our method can discover semantically meaningful patterns efficiently and effectively.
Television use and binge eating in adults seeking weight loss treatment.

Abstract Objective Binge eating has a complex etiology and is likely influenced by a wide range of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Among the environmental and behavioral contributors, television use has been strongly linked to obesity and unhealthy eating behaviors. The current study tested whether television use predicts binge eating symptomatology in adults seeking behavioral weight loss treatment. Method Participants ( N = 116) were adults seeking weight loss treatment in group-based behavioral weight loss programs. Average body mass index was 38.5; average age was 45.3. They completed measures of binge eating symptomatology, television use, internalized weight stigma, depression, body satisfaction, and habitual physical activity. Results The amount of television participants watched per week was associated with binge eating symptomatology even after controlling for relevant covariates. Binge eating symptomatology was positively associated with television use, internalized weight stigma, depression, and decreased body satisfaction. Discussion The findings of the current study support the hypothesis that television use is a significant predictor of binge eating symptomatology for adults attempting weight loss. Determining the causal nature of the relationship and whether binge eating is occurring during television viewing will be important areas of future inquiry.
A novel zebrafish gene expressed specifically in the photoreceptor cells of the retina.

Abstract We have identified and characterized a novel protein from adult zebrafish retina, which we named ES1. Database search revealed that the ES1 gene has significant similarity to two genes with unknown functions: theEscherichia colisigma cross-reacting protein 27a (scrp27a) and the human KNP-I/GT335.In situhybridization and immunohistochemistry experiments showed that both ES1 mRNA and protein are expressed specifically in adult photoreceptor cells. ES1 seems to be a cytoplasmic protein. An ES1-like antigen was also detected in photoreceptor cells of goldfish with anti-ES1 antibodies. The retina specific expression and the evolutionary conservation suggest that ES1 protein may be important for maintaining normal retina structure and function.
Patterns of tobacco use and tobacco-related psychiatric morbidity and substance use among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.

Objectives: To examine prevalence of tobacco use and identify psychiatric symptoms and substance use correlates of tobacco use comparing adults 50–64 years of age with those 65+ years of age (N = 10,891). Methods: Data were from the 2008–2009 US National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Results: Past-year tobacco use was one-half as frequent among adults aged 65+ years (14.1%) compared to adults aged 50–64 years (30.2%); the latter group surpassed the former in rates of cigarette smoking (24.8% vs. 10.6%), daily cigarette smoking (16.5% vs. 7.1%), cigar smoking (7.4% vs. 2.3%), and smokeless tobacco use (2.5% vs. 1.7%). Increased odds of cigarette smoking were noted among men, whites, African Americans, and those who had less education, had lower income, were not currently married, or were binge drinkers or illicit/non-medical drug users. In controlled analyses, odds ratio in those 65+ years of age who had smoked during the past year was 2.2 for binge drinking and 3.5 for illicit or non-medical drug use. O...
Postoperative ileus: it costs more than you expect.

Background The clinical impact of postoperative ileus (POI) after colectomy is difficult to quantify financially because of administrative coding limitations. Accurate data are important to allow pharmaco-economic analysis of methods aimed at reducing POI. The aim of this study was to assess the financial impact of POI for the 30-day episode of care for colectomy. Study Design We reviewed all colectomy patients at our institution from July 2007 to June 2008. Primary POI was defined as more than three episodes of emesis with return to NPO diet status and/or reinsertion of nasogastric tube; secondary POI was associated with intraabdominal complications. Readmission for gastrointestinal failure was defined as delayed POI (no radiologic or surgical identification of small bowel obstruction). All other complications requiring readmission were grouped together for analysis. Data reviewed included primary admission and readmission costs, reason for readmission, intervention, index and total length of stay, narcotic use, time to ambulation, and time to enteral feeds. Results One hundred eighty-six colectomies were eligible for analysis, with 45 cases (38 primary and 7 secondary) of POI during the index admission. The total cost was significantly higher for patients with POI ($16,612 versus $8,316; p Conclusions POI occurred in 24% (84% primary) of colectomy patients and disproportionately affected cost at the index admission. Interestingly, delayed POI was similar in cost to readmission for other serious adverse surgical complications.
Job stress and job dissatisfaction: influence of contextual factors.

To examine contextual factors which play a role in responses to job stress, 135 employees high in stress and high in job satisfaction and 97 employees high in stress and low in job satisfaction were identified. Comparisons of the two groups indicated that highly stressed individuals who remained satisfied perceived their jobs as more challenging and interesting, perceived organizational communication as more timely and useful, perceived fewer supervisory problems, and worked with managers whom they perceived to be high in referent power.
Reduction of light-induced anthocyanin accumulation in inoculated sorghum mesocotyls : Implications for a compensatory role in the defense response

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) accumulates the anthocyanin cyanidin 3-dimalonyl glucoside in etiolated mesocotyls in response to light. Inoculation with the nonpathogenic fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus drastically reduced the light-induced accumulation of anthocyanin by repressing the transcription of the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes encoding flavanone 3-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, and anthocyanidin synthase. In contrast to these repression effects, fungal inoculation resulted in the synthesis of the four known 3-deoxyanthocyanidin phytoalexins and a corresponding activation of genes encoding the key branch-point enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and chalcone synthase. In addition, a gene encoding the pathogenesis-related protein PR-10 was strongly induced in response to inoculation. The accumulation of phytoalexins leveled off by 48 h after inoculation and was accompanied by a more rapid increase in the rate of anthocyanin accumulation. The results suggest that the plant represses less essential metabolic activities such as anthocyanin synthesis as a means of compensating for the immediate biochemical and physiological needs for the defense response.
What's special about the specialist?

Abstract Exchange members claim that the professional relationships that evolve on exchange floors yield benefits not easily duplicated by an anonymous exchange mechanism. We show that longstanding relationships between brokers and specialists can mitigate the effects of asymmetric information. Moreover, a specialist who actively attempts to differentiate between informed and uninformed traders can achieve equilibria that Pareto-dominate an equilibrium in which the two types of trades are pooled. Our model also elucidates the role of block trading houses in mitigating information problems in the block market.