cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of App-Delivered Mindfulness Meditation on Functional Connectivity, Mental Health, and Sleep Disturbances Among Physician Assistant Students: Randomized, Wait-list Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: Health care provider and trainee burnout results in substantial national and institutional costs and profound social effects. Identifying effective solutions and interventions to cultivate resilience among health care trainees is critical. Although less is known about the mental health needs of physician assistants (PAs) or PA students, accumulating research indicates that they experience similarly alarming rates of burnout, depression, and emotional exhaustion. Mobile app–delivered mindfulness meditation may be an effective part of salubrious programming to bolster long-term resilience and health among PA students. Objective: This study aims to examine the impact of app-delivered mindfulness meditation on self-reported mental health symptoms among PA students. A secondary aim is to investigate changes in brain connectivity to identify neurobiological changes related to changes in mental health symptoms. Methods: We recruited PA students enrolled in their third semester of PA school and used a longitudinal, randomized, wait-list–controlled design. Participants randomized to the mindfulness group were provided 1-year subscriptions to the 10% Happier app, a consumer-based meditation app, and asked to practice every day for 8 weeks. Before randomization and again after completion of the 8-week program, all participants completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging as well as self-report assessments of burnout, depression, anxiety, and sleep impairment. App use was acquired as a measure of mindfulness practice time. Results: PA students randomized to the mindfulness group reported improvements in sleep impairment compared with those randomized to the wait-list control group (ηp2=0.42; P=.01). Sleep impairment decreased significantly in the mindfulness group (19% reduction; P=.006) but not in the control group (1% reduction; P=.71). There were no other significant changes in mental health for those randomized to app-delivered mindfulness. Across all students, changes in sleep impairment were associated with increased resting-state functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex (a component of the default mode network) and the superior temporal gyrus, as well as between areas important for working memory. Changes in connectivity predicted categorical conversion from impaired to nonimpaired sleep in the mindfulness group. Conclusions: This pilot study is the first to examine app-based mindfulness for PA students’ mental health and investigate the impact of mindfulness on PA students’ brain function. These findings suggest that app-delivered mindfulness may be an effective tool to improve sleep dysfunction and that it may be an important part of the programming necessary to reduce the epidemic of suffering among health profession trainees.
Problems of Recycling Manure for Feed Cattle Manure

Animal waste, what is it? I think today we must pretty well accept, based on the data, that it is are source out of place. It is out of place and many times we don't like to fool with it because it is so out of place. Manure to improve feed efficiency of cattle. That's why we want to use it in a feeding program and I do consider that that is a new dimension in livestock production.
Stress-induced inhibition of mRNA export triggers RNase III-mediated decay of the BDF2 mRNA.

The expression of bromodomain-containing proteins that regulate chromatin structure and accessibility must be tightly controlled to ensure the appropriate regulation of gene expression. In the yeast S. cerevisiae, Bromodomain Factor 2 (BDF2) expression is extensively regulated post-transcriptionally during stress by RNase III-mediated decay (RMD), which is triggered by cleavage of the BDF2 mRNA in the nucleus by the RNase III homologue Rnt1p. Previous studies have shown that RMD-mediated down-regulation of BDF2 is hyper-activated in osmotic stress conditions, yet the mechanisms driving the enhanced nuclear cleavage of BDF2 RNA under these conditions remain unknown. Here, we show that RMD hyper-activation can be detected in multiple stress conditions that inhibit mRNA export, and that Rnt1p remains primarily localized in the nucleus during salt stress. We show that globally inhibiting mRNA nuclear export by anchoring away mRNA biogenesis or export factors out of the nucleus can recapitulate RMD hyper-activation in the absence of stress. RMD hyperactivation requires Rnt1p nuclear localization but does not depend on the BDF2 gene endogenous promoter, and its efficiency is affected by the structure of the stem-loop cleaved by Rnt1p. Because multiple stress conditions have been shown to mediate global inhibition of mRNA export, our results suggest that the hyperactivation of RMD is primarily the result of the increased nuclear retention of the BDF2 mRNA during stress.
Unsteady Compressible Magnetic Laminar Boundary Layers in Hypersonic Flow

The unsteady hypersonic flow of a compressible, viscous, thermally and electrically conducting fluid is considered in the presence of a magnetic field. The class of non-steady flows is studied for which the velocity at the edge of the boundary layer varies hyperbolically with time.
Robust Projective Controls for Structured Perturbations

First-order eigenvalue sensitivity expressions are developed with respect to: (a) perturbations in the performance criteria of the linear quadratic regulator problem: (b) the invariant subspaces retained in the projective controls methodology; and (c) structured perturbations in the closed-loop system. and used in the design of robust controllers as illustrated on the Draper Tetrahedron Truss.
Block Diagram Reduction of the Interconnected Linear Time-Varying Systems in the Time-Frequency Domain

The problem of obtaining the time-frequency domain input-output model of a linear time-varying (LTV) system formed by linking the time-frequency domain blocks describing LTV subsystems is considered. Simultaneous input-output transformation of the constituent LTV subsystems modeled in terms of two-dimensional impulse responses into time-frequency domain is developed. It is shown that this transformation gives rise to the time-frequency domain subsystem representation which lends itself easily to: 1) deriving composition rules for obtaining the simplified overall interconnection model, and 2) revealing the constraints on individual subsystem modeling that need to be satisfied to admit such simplification. These composition rules are developed for the reduction of standard topologies including series, parallel, and feedback interconnections. The reduction of a more complicated topology using these rules is demonstrated.
LABORATORY TESTING OF ROCK STRENGTH

NEW EQUIPMENT AND TESTING TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO INVESTIGATE THE BASIC STRENGTH OF ROCK. THE EFFECT OF VARYING THE INTERMEDIATE PRINCIPAL STRESS ON THE STRENGTH APPEARS APPRECIABLE IN THE CASE OF CRYSTALLINE ROCKS SUCH AS GRANITE. FAILURE OF HOLLOW CYLINDERS OF ROCK UNDER CONDITIONS OF HIGH RATIOS OF THE INTERMEDIATE TO THE MAJOR PRINCIPAL STRESS APPEARS TO BE INITIATED AS A SPALLING FAILURE. ALTHOUGH SIMPLE TESTS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE STRENGTH OF INTACT ROCK CAN FURNISH RELIABLE DATA FOR CERTAIN DESIGN SITUATIONS, THE BEHAVIOR OF DISCONTINUOUS ROCK MASSES MUST BE EVALUATED BY MEANS OF SUITABLE MODEL STUDIES AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES. WHILE THE RESULTS WILL STILL BE ONLY APPROXIMATIONS OF THE MASS PROPERTIES, THERE ARE DEFINITE BENEFITS IN TERMS OF PLANNING AND INTERPRETING FIELD TESTS. /AUTHOR/
Estimating the Implicit Price of Convenience: A Hedonic Analysis of the US Breakfast Sausage Market

Using 52 weeks of syndicated point-of-purchase scanner data at the US-level, a hedonic pricing model was estimated and used to quantify the implicit price of convenience in the retail market for breakfast sausage products. The 45-cent per pound premium for cooked breakfast sausage was found to be statistically significant while controlling for other important observable product attributes such as package weight, product shape, fat content, sodium content, organic label, Kosher label, meat type, and brand, as well as market conditions such as merchandising, holidays, and seasonality. Additionally, the Turnbull lower-bound estimate of consumer willingness-to-pay for convenience was estimated to be 11 cents per pound. [EconLit citations: D120, M310, Q130] ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Correlations Between Sire Summaries of Progeny in Different Herds

Abstract Summaries were computed for each of two separate sets of progeny of individual Holstein sires. The two sets were based independently on different herds. Each summary contained one or more progeny in each of 20 or more herds. Summaries contained deviations of average milk production for daughters of sires from contemporaries sired by bulls in artificial insemination, contemporaries by all types of bulls, and all herdmates. Holstein sires, 222, with progeny in first lactation and 147 with progeny in the second lactation were in the analyses. As the number of herdmates in the comparisons increased, correlations between summaries containing the same progeny increased from .60 to .69 for first and from .56 to .70 for second lactations. These were slightly above correlations of .64 for first lactations and .63 for second lactations expected from sire summaries where progeny are compared to all herdmates. Adjusting progeny tests for transmitting abilities of herdmates' sires increased correlations between independent sets of progeny only .01 to .02. Second lactation yield variables were as repeatable as first. Correlations between Predicted Differences of herd-mates' sires in independent sets of herds were .80 indicating progeny groups are not compared with representative samples of sires even for large numbers of progeny. Increase in accuracy of genetic evaluation by adjustment for variation in genetic merit of herdmates' sires is almost certainly greater than is indicated by correlations between repeated, independent sets of progeny.
Joint scale-lag diversity in mobile ultra-wideband systems

In this paper, we consider the effect of mobility on an ultra-wideband (UWB) direct sequence spread spectrum communication system. Based on a uniform ring of scatterers model, we determine that the wideband scattering function has a "bathtub-shaped" scale spectrum. We compare the performances of a scale-lag Rake and a frequency-lag Rake, each capable of leveraging the diversity that results from mobility. The scale-lag Rake receiver, whose scale- and lag-shifted basis functions are matched to the dilation-delay dynamics of the wideband channel, exploits greater diversity. Finally, we suggest a low-complexity implementation of the scale-lag Rake receiver.
Urban Stream Deserts as a Consequence of Excess Stream Burial in Urban Watersheds

The Rouge River watershed, a highly urbanized watershed in southeast Michigan, has substantial impervious surface coverage, relatively high population density, and modified stream network (e.g., stream straightening and burial, dams, and underground retention). The number of stream channels and order decreases, increasing flooding, reducing water quality, and decreasing aquatic species. This study defines, identifies, and describes the progression of the geographic pattern of urban stream deserts—defined as those areas within a watershed that exhibit no surface stream channels due to the effects of human development and population growth. Urban stream deserts are identified and characterized using three data sets: (1) historical aerial imagery, (2) historical census boundary and tables, and (3) stream network data. Flowlines digitized off aerial photos from 1949 are compared against 2013 flowlines to identify areas of the watershed now devoid of stream channels. In the Rouge River watershed, stream densit...
Effects of organic nitrates on mitochondrial respiration and swelling: possible correlations with the mechanism of pharmacologic action.

Several organic nitrates (e.g., mannitol hexanitrate and erythrityl tetranitrate), were found to induce swelling of rat liver mitochondria in vitro and to inhibit the mitochondrial swelling produced by inorganic phosphate and β-hydroxybutyrate. Low concentrations of organic nitrates which are potent vasodilators stimulate oxygen consumption and cause loss of respiratory control of tightly coupled rat liver mitochondria. With organic nitrates of moderate to low pharmacologic activity high concentrations are required to produce loss of respiratory control. The organic nitrates tested which are inactive as coronary dilators do not uncouple oxidative phosphorylation even at very high concentrations. Higher concentrations of the therapeutically employed organic nitrates are required to produce loss of respiratory control with rat heart mitochondria than with liver mitochondria. There is a correlation between (a) the ability of organic nitrates to stimulate mitochondrial respiration, (b) the rate of reaction with reduced glutathione in the presence of liver organic nitrate reductase, and (c) their oil/water partition coefficients.
Magneto-resistive elements-an alternative to floating gate technology

Magnetoresistive elements have previously been fabricated and tested for storage of data. Due to the nonvolatile property of these elements they can be used to replace floating gate storage cells. A programmable logic array (PLA) using on-chip magnetoresistive elements is simulated and its layout shown to illustrate the applicability of these elements. The die size for the 6*16*4 PLA is 2000 mu m*2000 mu m with 2- mu m technology. The PLA has a delay of 20 ns during normal operation. Programming time is 20 ns/cross point, and power up time is 1 mu s. >
Frequency following and conduction speed as identifiers of major subsets among cuneothalamic neurons.

Abstract Cuneothalamic relay (CTR) neurons display heterogeneity in terms of response properties and morphological characteristics. Subsystems have been proposed in which speed of conduction and afferent synaptic strength serve as distinguishing features. The present work examined the relevance of these two parameters to other commonly measured characteristics of CTR cells. Response properties of 63 CTR cells to electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral superficial radial nerve were studied using extracellular single-cell recording methods in chloralose-anesthetized cats. The stimulus was varied in amplitude and frequency. Conduction speed was inferred from antidromic latency to stimulating of the medial lemniscus just caudal to the thalamus, and from orthodromic first spike latency to superficial radial nerve stimulation. Afferent synaptic strength was estimated by determining maximum frequency following ability (FMAX). Other properties measured include number of spikes per discharge, threshold for electrical activation at the superficial radial nerve, depth of cell within the tissue, and a latency-intensity relation. Antidromic conduction time from the medial lemniscus had a significant inverse correlation only with cell depth. Orthodromic first spike latency was correlated (inversely) only with FMAX. The shape of the latency-intensity function was significantly linked to FMAX. Cells appeared to fall into three subsets tentatively identified with subsets proposed elsewhere on the basis of responses to natural stimulation.
Quantized Control Allocation of Reaction Control Jets and Aerodynamic Control Surfaces

Amixed-integer linear programming approach tomixing continuous andpulsed control effectors is proposed. The method is aimed at applications involving reentry vehicles that are transitioning from exoatmospheric flight to endoatmospheric flight. In this flight phase, aerodynamic surfaces are weak and easily saturated, and vehicles typically rely on pulsed reaction control jets for attitude control. Control laws for these jets have historically been designed using single-axis phase-plane analysis, which has proven to be sufficient formany applications wheremultiaxis coupling is insignificant and when failures have not been encountered. Here, we propose using a mixed-integer linear programming technique to blend continuous control effectors and pulsed jets to generate moments commanded by linear or nonlinear control laws. When coupled with fault detection and isolation logic, the control effectors can be reconfigured to minimize the impact of control effector failures or damage. When the continuous effectors can provide the desired moments, standard linear programming methods can be used to mix the effectors; however, when the pulsed effectors must be used to augment the aerodynamic surfaces, mixed-integer linear programming techniques are used to determine the optimal combination of jets to fire. The reaction jet control allocator acts as a nonuniformquantizer that applies amoment vector to the vehicle, which approximates the desired moment generated by a continuous control law. Lyapunov theory is applied to develop amethod for determining the region of attraction associated with a quantized vehicle attitude control system.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2006

In August 2006 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2006. The guidelines contain and establish the standard of care for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) nationwide. This chapter summarizes the most important points and the treatment regimens recommended in the guidelines, and follows the organization of the guidelines. All treatment regimens, as well as selected text presented here, are taken verbatim from the guidelines. In addition to treatment, it is essential to understand that counseling patients routinely about prevention of STD acquisition is an important aspect of routine clinical care of adolescents and adults.
Rich, Blessed, and Tenured: A Homological Exploration of Grant Writing, Prosperity Theology, and Neoliberalism

The emergence of grant writing as a primary method of evaluating faculty accountability formally resembles the discursive structures of prosperity theology. Using the rhetorical homology, I identify a common interpretive framework underpinning both discourses. The points of homological correspondence include: 1) Alienated individualism and competitive-egotism; 2) Individual accountability to the market as a measure of personal worth; and 3) Justification of the market paradigms. I trace the features of this homology to neoliberal modes of governance.
Normal stress differences in large-amplitude oscillatory shear flow for the corotational “ANSR” model

Using the integral form of a nonlinear corotational model, we derive explicit analytical expressions for the zeroth, second, and fourth harmonics of the second normal stress difference in large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). This model yields an arbitrary normal stress ratio (ANSR) in any simple shearing deformation, including LAOS. This corotational ANSR model adds one parameter to the corotational Maxwell model, a time constant λ 0 controlling the ratio Ψ2/Ψ1 for both the real and imaginary parts of each harmonic of the normal stress difference. The explicit analytical expressions for all harmonics of the alternating shear stress and first normal stress difference responses in LAOS match those obtained previously for the corotational Maxwell model. We evaluate the corotational ANSR model for the case of a single Maxwell relaxation time fluid.
The chromosomes of CHO, an aneuploid Chinese hamster cell line: G-band, C-band, and autoradiographic analyses.

Chinese hamster ovary cells (line CHO) have been used extensively for metabolic, genetic, and radiobiological studies with only a superficial appreciation for the degree of aneuploidy characteristic of the line. A thorough karyologic analysis of CHO chromosomes using autoradiographic replication patterns, as well as centromere band (C-band) and Giemsa band (G-band) analysis, is presented. Our results demonstrate that only 8 of the 21 CHO chromosomes are normal when compared with euploid Chinese hamster chromosomes. In the 13 altered chromosomes, we found evidence of translocations, deletions, and pericentric inversions. These altered chromosomes have been characterized with respect to both origin and destination of translocated material. With the exception of the X2 chromosome, essentially all of the euploid chromatin is present in CHO cells. Autoradiographic replication patterns show that the normal sequence of chromosomal DNA synthesis is altered. Some sites which replicate late in euploid cells replicate early in CHO, and several late-replicating chromosomes in CHO cells replicate in early- or mid-S in euploid material. These studies may serve to elucidate the observed differences in mutagenic behavior between euploid fibroblasts and CHO cells.
Hydrosilation catalysis via silylmanganese carbonyl complexes: thermal vs. photochemical activation

Abstract Thermal and photochemical activation of Ph 3 SiMn(CO) 5 leads to different catalyst systems, both of which promote the addition of organosilicon hydrides to terminal alkenes. In the thermal case, major catalytic activity is due to triphenylsilyl radicals generated from SiMn bond homolysis. Upon photolysis, however, there is no evidence of SiMn homolysis during catalyst activation. These studies represent the first well-defined example of disparate behavior upon photochemical vs. thermal activation of the same catalyst precursor.
The Future of Emergency Medicine Public Health Research

This chapter addresses past successes and challenges and then elaborates on the potential for further advances in three areas that bridge emergency medicine and the broader public health and health services research agenda: (1) monitoring health care access; (2) surveillance of diseases, injuries, and health risks; and (3) delivering clinical preventive services. This article also suggests ways to advance policy-relevant research on systems of health and social welfare that impact the health of the public.
GISMO: a Generator of Internet Streaming Media Objects and workloads

This paper presents a tool called GISMO (Generator of Internet Streaming Media Objects and workloads). GISMO enables the specification of a number of streaming media access characteristics, including object popularity, temporal correlation of request, seasonal access patterns, user session durations, user inter-activity times, and variable bit-rate (VBR) self-similarity and marginal distributions. The embodiment of these characteristics in GISMO enables the generation of realistic and scalable request streams for use in the benchmarking and comparative evaluation of Internet streaming media delivery techniques. To demonstrate the usefulness of GISMO, we present a case study that shows the importance of various workload characteristics in determining the effectiveness of proxy caching and server patching techniques in reducing bandwidth requirements.
Novel optoelectronic methodology for testing of MOEMS

Continued demands for delivery of high performance micro-optoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) place unprecedented requirements on methods used in their development and operation. Metrology is a major and inseparable part of these methods. Optoelectronic methodology is an essential field of metrology. Due to its scalability, optoelectronic methodology is particularly suitable for testing of MOEMS where measurements must be made with ever increasing accuracy and precision. This was particularly evident during the last few years, characterized by miniaturization of devices, when requirements for measurements have rapidly increased as the emerging technologies introduced new products, especially, optical MEMS. In this paper, a novel optoelectronic methodology for testing of MOEMS is described and its applications are illustrated with representative examples. These examples demonstrate capability to measure submicron deformations of various components of the micromirror device, under operating conditions, and show viability of the optoelectronic methodology for testing of MOEMS.
Quasi ALE finite element method for nonlinear water waves

This paper presents a newly developed quasi arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element method (QALE-FEM) for simulating water waves based on fully nonlinear potential theory. The main difference of this method from the conventional finite element method developed by one of authors of this paper and others (see e.g. [Q.W. Ma, G.X. Wu, R. Eatock Taylor, Finite element simulation of fully non-linear interaction between vertical cylinders and steep waves. Part 1: Methodology and numerical procedure and Part 2: Numerical results and validation, Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids, 36 (2001) 265-308.] and [G.X. Wu, Z.Z. Hu, Simulation of nonlinear interactions between waves and floating bodies through a finite-element-based numerical tank, Proc. R. Soc. A 460 (2004) 2050, 3037-3058.]) is that the complex mesh is generated only once at the beginning and is moved at all other time steps in order to conform to the motion of the free surface and structures. This feature allows one to use an unstructured mesh with any degree of complexity without the need of regenerating it every time step, which is generally inevitable and very costly. Due to this feature, the QALE-FEM has high potential in enhancing computational efficiency when applied to problems associated with the complex interaction between large steep waves and structures since the use of an unstructured mesh in such a case is likely to be necessary. To achieve overall high efficiency, the numerical techniques involved in the QALE-FEM are developed, including the method to move interior nodes, technique to re-distribute the nodes on the free surface, scheme to calculate velocities and so on. The model is validated by water waves generated by a wavemaker in a tank and the interaction between water waves and periodic bars on the bed of tank. Satisfactory agreement is achieved with analytical solutions, experimental data and numerical results from other methods.
Temperature Titration: A New Approach to the Thermodynamics of Oxygen Binding to Hemoglobin

A cell was constructed in order to study hemoglobin's reaction with gaseous ligands. The temperature of the hemoglobin sample is systematically altered within a given temperature range (275-310 degrees K), while the percentage of oxygen in the equilibrating gas is kept constant. The equilibration time of the sample at each temperature step depends on sample concentration, ligand affinity, and absolute temperature; in most cases, the equilibration time is on the order of minutes. The construction of the optical compartment allows the experimenter to vary the optical pathlength using specially designed spacers, thus making it possible to study hemoglobin-ligand interactions over a wide range of protein concentrations (0.1-200 mg/ml). Optical glass is used in the construction of the cuvette in order to optimize its optical stability over a long period of time. At equilibrium the absorption spectrum of the sample is collected and decomposed into the relative contributions of oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb, and ferric-Hb, thus revealing the fraction of oxyhemoglobin as well as any baseline drifts and protein degradation. Temperature steps of 1 degree K are already sufficient to change the absorption spectra in a significant way. This type of setup is also advantageous in that the experimenter can change the sample at any point (temperature) without having to restart the entire experiment. This makes it possible to study the oxygen binding characteristics of unstable hemoglobins. Analyses of the binding curves obtained with this technique immediately yield the overall oxygen binding constants beta i together with the respective standard enthalpies delta H(i).
Studies of defects in diamond films and particles by Raman and luminescence spectroscopies

Diamond films grown under a variety of deposition conditions in hot-filament or microwave-plasma CVD reactors were characterized by Raman and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopies. The magnitudes of the following four Raman spectral features were observed to vary from specimen to specimen in a correlated manner: (1) the linewidth of the diamond Raman line (2) the intensity of the tails of the diamond Raman line at several half-widths from the peak (3) the intensity ratio of the sp2-bonded carbon Raman band to the diamond Raman line and (4) the intensity ratio of the broad photoluminescence (PL) background that underlies the Raman spectrum to the diamond Raman peak. We suggest that each of these features varies with the abundance of sp2-bonded carbon. As a function of deposition conditions the sp2-bonded carbon content increases with methane fraction and with substrate temperature and decreases with oxygen fraction. A cyclic variation with deposition time is observed for one set of hot-filament depositions. The CL spectra of these specimens consist of several distinct components attributed to impurities point defects and dislocations. The CL intensity is found to be vary from specimen to specimen approximately inversely with the intensity of the visible-excited PL background in the Raman region. This correlation is strongest for the dislocation-related 2. 85 eV CL band. A model of competing recombination between two sets of defects is proposed to explain the inverse correlation. 1 .© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Passive equalisation of four 2.5 Gbit/s WDM channels over 1000 km using notch filters

The authors experimentally demonstrate passive equalisation of the non-uniform gain of cascaded EDFAs over a 7.4 nm wavelength range by periodically using notch filters along a 1000 km transmission link. The 1000 km equalised transmission was accomplished using a recirculating loop and a single intra-loop notch filter. The signal power differential among the four WDM channels is reduced from 19 to 4 dB.
Simultaneous genotyping of multiple polymorphisms in human serotonin transporter gene and detection of novel allelic variants

The serotonin transporter, called SLC6A4, SERT or 5-HTT, modulates neurotransmission by removal of serotonin from the synapse of serotonergic neurons, facilitating serotonin reuptake into the presynaptic terminus. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors block the action of the serotonin transporter and are used to treat depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Three polymorphisms in the 5-HTT gene have been implicated in treatment response and neuropsychiatric disorders. A 44-bp promoter ins/del polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) produces primarily long and/or short alleles due to either 14 (short) or 16 (long) repeats of variably conserved 20-23 bp units. Also implicated, a 17-18 bp variable number tandem repeat found in intron2 (StIn2) is expressed as triallelic content with 9, 10, or 12 repeats (StIn2.9, StIn2.10 or StIn2.12). Finally, a single nucleotide polymorphism rs25531 located within the promoter polymorphic-linked region alters the function of the long promoter allele. We developed a PCR-based fragment analysis assay, which is analyzed on an ABI sequencer, whereby we are able to detect all three genotypes simultaneously. Using this technique, we identified novel sequences, which demonstrate promoter repeat regions containing (1) a 17 repeat with rs25531 A/G polymorphism, (2) two with 18-repeat units, (3) one with 20-repeat units and (4) a 24-repeat sequence. The novel repeats were confirmed by direct sequencing of gel-purified amplicons.
The Caribbean story on CNN report: Just what is development news?

One of the criticisms made in the 1970s of the media in the English-speaking Caribbean was that, even when given the opportunity to do so, they did not report on the region's advances, or development. This criticism is significant in light of the position taken by Caribbean and other developing countries on the New World Information Orderdebate of the 1970s. This study content analyzed news stories submitted to CNN World Report by broadcast stations of the Caribbean to determine whether the criticism made of the Caribbean media in the 1970s still have relevance. Further, the study suggests new ways to define "development news", and challenges previous definitions as being too narrow. The authors found that a large proportion of the Caribbean story, as told on World Report, comprised development news.
Herbs in Epilepsy: Evidence for Efficacy, Toxicity, and Interactions

Herbs and dietary supplements enjoy widespread use in the treatment of epilepsy although supportive data yielding efficacy and safety are lacking. Ten specific products, American hellebore, betony, blue cohosh, kava, mistletoe, mugwort, pipsissiwa, skullcap, valerian, and melatonin, have either multiple-cited recommendations for use in epilepsy or a rationale for antiepileptic action and are discussed in detail. These items paradoxically often have a proconvulsant effect in addition to potentially serious adverse effects. Herb-drug interactions also occur at the level of the P450 hepatic enzyme system of drug catabolism and the P-glycoprotein transport system regulating the entry of exogenous compounds into the vasculature or blood-brain barrier. Thus, significant pharmacokinetic interactions may occur, in addition to pharmacodynamic interactions and proconvulsant effects of alternative medications themselves. Patients should be inquired as to the nature of any alternative medicine products they are using, with the view that these products may be reasonable if traditional antiepileptic drug therapy is continued, potential adverse effects of the alternative agents are monitored, and the alternative and traditional agents do not conflict.
On multi-agent self-tuning consensus

This paper considers the consensus problem in complex networks of uncertain discrete time agents. The coupling parameters among agents are locally self tuned by least-mean square (LMS) algorithm, without using any global information. In this process each agent minimizes a local cost function dependent on the error between the agent state and the average of neighbors states. Provided that the network graph is strongly connected, it is shown that for each agent the sequence of coupling parameters is convergent, and all agent states converge toward the same constant value. It is demonstrated that in the face of unknown high-frequency gain, the proposed algorithms generate such coupling parameters so that the overall multi-agent system is marginally stable with only one pole on the unit circle, located at λ = 1 .
Decrease in as-needed sedative use by limiting nighttime sleep disruptions from hospital staff.

BACKGROUND: Hospital routines frequently interrupt nighttime sleep. Sedatives promote sleep, but increase the risk of delirium and falls. Few interventional trials have studied sleep promotion in medical-surgical units and little is known about its impact on sedative use. OBJECTIVE: To determine causes of sleep disruption, and assess whether decreasing sleep disruptions lowers sedative use in medical-surgical patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: Interventional trial with historical controls on a medical-surgical unit of a community teaching hospital. Nurses, physicians, and patients were blinded to the measurement of as-needed sedative use. PATIENTS: Consecutive eligible adults (n = 161 preintervention patients, n = 106 intervention patients). INTERVENTION: We developed the “Somerville Protocol,” which included the establishment of an 8-hour “Quiet Time” that began with automated lights-off and lullaby; staff-monitored noise; and avoidance of waking of patients for routine vital signs and medications. MEASUREMENTS: As-needed sedative use, responses to a patient questionnaire, and responses to a modified Verran Snyder-Halpern (VSH) sleep scale. RESULTS: Preintervention, “hospital staff “ was the disturbance most likely to keep patients awake. The intervention decreased the proportion of patients reporting it from 42% to 26%, a 38% reduction (P = 0.009; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0452-0.2765). Preintervention, 32% of patients received as-needed sedatives, compared to 16% with the intervention, a 49% reduction (P = 0.0041; 95% CI: 0.056-0.26), with a 62% decrease in patients over age 64 years (P = 0.005). VSH scores were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Small modifications in hospital routines, especially in the timing of vital signs and routine medication administration, can significantly reduce sedative use in unselected hospital patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Mechanical characterization of active polymer gels

Ionic polymer gels shrink and swell in response to certain environmental stimuli, such as the application of an electric field or a change in the pH level of the surroundings. This ability to achieve large, reversible deformations with no external mechanical loading has generated much interest in the use of these gels as actuators and artificial muscles. This work focuses on developing a means of characterizing the mechanical properties of such ionic gels and describing how these properties evolve as the gel actuates. A thermodynamically consistent finite elastic constitutive model of an active polymer gel is developed to describe this behavior. The mechanical properties of the gel are characterized by a strain-energy function and the model utilizes an evolving internal variable to describe the actuation state. Applications of the mode to poly(vinyl alcohol)-poly (acrylic acid) gels are presented.
The Generalized Gelfand–Graev Representations of U(3, q)

Abstract There are three distinct generalized Gelfand–Graev representations of the unitary group U(3, q). One is the regular representation and one is the usual Gelfand–Graev representation. The third generalized Gelfand–Graev representation is the one we examine in this paper.
Urban pixels: painting the city with light

Urban environments are increasingly filled with digital display systems that are inflexible, flat, bounded, high-resolution, and unresponsive. In this paper, we explore the potential of physically instantiated pixels that enable flexible, reconfigurable, unbounded, low-resolution, and responsive urban displays. Urban Pixels are nodes in a wireless network of physical pixels for urban spaces. Each pixel unit includes a microcontroller, RF transceiver (433 MHz), LED module (ten bright, white LEDs), rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack, IR sensor and renewable energy source such as photo-voltaic cells. Two acrylic half-spheres (4-inch diameter) protect the components from the elements. No additional wiring is needed for communication and the units can be mounted individually to any surface. A small-scale prototype network of fifty Urban Pixels was displayed on a facade of Eden Court Theater in Inverness, Scotland from June 1 - June 7, 2008. The public was encouraged to change display patterns via SMS or to interact with individual units via flashlights. We observed and informally interviewed theater guests and passers-by interacting with the facade for several nights. Based on these results, we outline an exciting problem space for designing displays and lighting systems in cities.
"CHROMAFFIN" CELL: ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION IN THE HUMAN DERMIS.

A granulated cell in human skin has an ultrastructure similar to that of chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. This cell is closely associated with unmyelinated axons and may be the site of peripheral store of noradrenaline.
Exploring the Context of Child Sexual Abuse in Jamaica: Addressing the Deficits

Jamaican media sources have recently noted the prevalence of child sexual abuse within the country. While research has continually noted the mental health impact of child sexual abuse, there is a dearth of literature on the relationship between the two in Jamaica. The purpose of this article is to provide the context of child sexual abuse in Jamaica, including the cultural considerations, current legislation, government created agencies, and modes of treatment. Moreover, recommendations are given for public health educators, school personnel, and mental health service providers in order to improve the psychological well-being of sexually abuse children.
CRITICAL SCATTERING OF NEUTRONS FROM CoO

The angular distribution of neutrons scattered from CoO just above the Neel temperature is observed and analyzed in the elastic approximation. It gives the correlation function for the direction of spins within each magnetic sublattice. The peaks observed are molecular field theory . (auth)
Sensors for automotive application

Techniques and devices which are currently being used or developed to provide the vital sensing functions required in automotive applications are described. Requirements for sensors for engine and transmission (powertrain) control are listed and the accuracy and temperature range over which they have to operate are noted. Future developments for sensors are also discussed.
Improved 1-butene/isobutane alkylation with acidic ionic liquids and tunable acid/ionic liquid mixtures

Abstract A new process for 1-butene/isobutane alkylation to yield C 8 -alkylates is described using binary mixtures of certain acidic imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) and strong acids such as sulfuric or trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid. Equivalent or better conversion (>95%), C 8 -alkylates selectivity (>70%) and trimethylpentane/dimethylhexane selectivity (TMP/DMH > 7) were achieved with the IL/acid mixtures over the pure acids themselves. Six types of substituted 3-methyl-imidazolium ionic liquids were investigated, wherein acidity is imparted via either the cation with sulfonic acid groups or the anion (hydrogen sulfate) or both. Long-term studies up to 30+ recycles indicate that the catalyst stability was increased by sometimes greater than 30+% with the IL/acid mixtures over the pure acid. The ionic liquid is believed to tune the acidity, solubility, and interfacial properties, resulting in these enhanced results. In addition, this concept could also be applicable to Friedel–Crafts alkylation, acylation chemistries, or other acid-catalyzed reactions.
Age, gender and daily life: An analysis of social involvements

Variety of role involvements based on the allocation of time is an alternative indicator of multiple roles. The measure of variety developed by Altergott (1982) is analyzed for a sample of U.S. adults, aged 18–88. The multivariate analysis of the structural and personal factors that account for the level of variety is presented. Age is negatively associated with variety. Women have lower levels of variety than men. While the amount of variety in men's daily life is influenced by family, health and preference, the amount of variety in women's daily life is affected by work and education. Opportunity structures and individual propensities affect levels of variety. The conclusions support the development of the behavioral measurement of multiple roles. Variety of role involvement in daily life provides a sensitive indicator that varies with age, gender and personal resources.
Concerning the Radical Character of Superoxide. The H—O Bond Energy of HO−2

The strength of the H-O bond in H−O2 should be a good indicator of the chemical reactivity of superoxide, O−2, as a hydrogen atom abstractor. This quantity can be calculated if the electron affinity of HO2 is known. A recent experimental determination of the electron affinity of HO2 [V. M. Bierbaum, R. J. Schmitt and C. H. DePuy, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 103, 6262–6263 (1981)] gave that value as 27.4 ± 0.2 kcal mol−1. The H-O bond energy of HO−−2 can then be calculated from that value to be approximately 66 kcal mol−1. Various theoretical methods may also be used to approximate the value of the electron affinity of HO2. These methods generally give values in accord with the experimental result. Based on the low H—O bond energy of 66 kcal mol−1 for HO−2, superoxide is expected to be relatively unreactive, comparable to iodine atoms but less reactive than bromine atoms or HO2 and much less reactive than chlorine atoms or hydroxyl radicals. Based on our analysis, we predict that superoxide can only react as a hydrogen atom abstractor with substrates that contain relatively weak bonds to hydrogen such as hydroxylamine or hydroquinones.
Rapid-scanning spectral evidence for catalytically nonequivalent but interconvertible forms of equine liver alcohol dehydrogenase

These rapid-scanning stopped-flow kinetic studies of the equine liver alcohol dehydrogenase-catalyzed reduction of p-nitrobenzaldehyde by NADH and (4R)-4-deuterio NADH (NADD) under single turnover conditions establish : (1) The reaction is biphasic using NADD as coenzyme, k1 approximately 200 sec-1, k2 = 0.5 sec-1 and the amplitude ratio (A1)/(A1 + A2) approximately equal to 0.5. (2) Each phase of the reaction involves the oxidation of enzyme-bound reduced coenzyme. (3) The recycling of sites in the presence of 20 mM pyrazole is negligible. (4) The rates of E(NAD-pyrazole) complex formation at all sites and oxidation of reduced coenzyme in the slow phase are limited by the same process. We conclude that the biphasicity arises from nonequivalent but interconvertible forms of the enzyme, and that interconversion of the two forms is mediated by ligand-dependent protomer-protomer interactions.
LineCast: Line-Based Distributed Coding and Transmission for Broadcasting Satellite Images

In this paper, we propose a novel coding and transmission scheme, called LineCast, for broadcasting satellite images to a large number of receivers. The proposed LineCast matches perfectly with the line scanning cameras that are widely adopted in orbit satellites to capture high-resolution images. On the sender side, each captured line is immediately compressed by a transform-domain scalar modulo quantization. Without syndrome coding, the transmission power is directly allocated to quantized coefficients by scaling the coefficients according to their distributions. Finally, the scaled coefficients are transmitted over a dense constellation. This line-based distributed scheme features low delay, low memory cost, and low complexity. On the receiver side, our proposed line-based prediction is used to generate side information from previously decoded lines, which fully utilizes the correlation among lines. The quantized coefficients are decoded by the linear least square estimator from the received data. The image line is then reconstructed by the scalar modulo dequantization using the generated side information. Since there is neither syndrome coding nor channel coding, the proposed LineCast can make a large number of receivers reach the qualities matching their channel conditions. Our theoretical analysis shows that the proposed LineCast can achieve Shannon's optimum performance by using a high-dimensional modulo-lattice quantization. Experiments on satellite images demonstrate that it achieves up to 1.9-dB gain over the state-of-the-art 2D broadcasting scheme and a gain of more than 5 dB over JPEG 2000 with forward error correction.
Leptin in renal failure

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, signals to the brain information on the amount of energy stored in adipose tissue and regulates energy homeostasis. In addition, leptin has been implicated in the regulation of neuroendocrine function, growth, hematopoiesis, and immune regulation. Plasma leptin is cleared by the kidney, and thus, leptin levels are elevated in hemodialysis patients. Whether the elevated leptin levels in hemodialysis patients contribute to the pathophysiology of the clinical manifestations of renal failure in humans remains to be conclusively shown in the future.