cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene patents can be ethical.

When one examines the emerging debate about genetic patenting, it becomes clear that those who oppose so-called “gene patents” misunderstand genetics or apply inappropriate moral and jurisprudential theory. In this brief essay I examine some arguments against gene patents of the “methods for detection” variety, and conclude that patents on methods for detecting the presence of a genetic correlation with disease-related (and other) phenotypes can be appropriate, and that with several precautions the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office should continue granting patent protection to investigators who generate genetic disease diagnostic innovations.
Predict-2nd

Motivation: Predictions of protein local structure, derived from sequence alignment information alone, provide visualization tools for biologists to evaluate the importance of amino acid residue positions of interest in the absence of X-ray crystal/NMR structures or homology models. They are also useful as inputs to sequence analysis and modeling tools, such as hidden Markov models (HMMs), which can be used to search for homology in databases of known protein structure. In addition, local structure predictions can be used as a component of cost functions in genetic algorithms that predict protein tertiary structure. We have developed a program (predict-2nd) that trains multilayer neural networks and have applied it to numerous local structure alphabets, tuning network parameters such as the number of layers, the number of units in each layer and the window sizes of each layer. We have had the most success with four-layer networks, with gradually increasing window sizes at each layer. Results: Because the four-layer neural nets occasionally get trapped in poor local optima, our training protocol now uses many different random starts, with short training runs, followed by more training on the best performing networks from the short runs. One recent addition to the program is the option to add a guide sequence to the profile inputs, increasing the number of inputs per position by 20. We find that use of a guide sequence provides a small but consistent improvement in the predictions for several different local-structure alphabets. Availability: Local structure prediction with the methods described here is available for use online at http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/compbio/SAM_T08/T08-query.html. The source code and example networks for PREDICT-2ND are available at http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus/predict-2nd/ A required C++ library is available at http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus/ultimate/ Contact: karplus@soe.ucsc.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Systematic Review of Fidelity of Implementation in Parent-Mediated Early Communication Intervention

This article examined the reporting of four elements of fidelity of implementation (FOI) in parent-mediated early communication treatment studies. Thirty-five studies were reviewed to extract infor...
Good code sets based on Piecewise Linear FM

This paper introduces a new scheme of Piecewise Linear Frequency Modulation (PLFM) for generating good code sets. Each code in the set has a good autocorrelation with small peak sidelobes, and any code pair in the set has small cross-correlation. For a given time-bandwidth product, the number of codes per code set is varied and the Multiple Code Interference (MCI) is tabulated. The new class of code sets is shown to have good ambiguity functions with a good ability to tolerate a realistic range of Doppler shifts. At the receiver, an extended matched filter is used, which introduces improvement in Doppler Detection at the cost of a slightly higher MCI and lower SNR.
The Mere Exposure Effect: An Uncertainty Reduction Explanation Revisited

A misattribution explanation for the mere exposure effect posits that individuals misattribute perceptual fluency to liking when they are not aware that the fluency comes from prior exposure. The uncertainty reduction explanation posits that individuals prefer stimuli that are familiar and is consistent with findings that stimuli judged old were preferred to those judged new. The present research provides evidence to support an uncertainty reduction account of the mere exposure effect. The results of Experiment 1 show that three different operationalizations of uncertainty reduction—prior exposure, subjective familiarity, and confidence—all led to enhanced affect. The results in Experiment 2 show that participants corrected their cognitive responses but not their affective responses at higher levels of exposure frequency, suggesting that misattribution may be accountable for exposure effects in cognitive judgments but not in affective judgments.
Role of mitochondrial DNA in cell death induced by 125I decay.

SummaryThe role of mitochondrial DNA in radiation-induced cell death was determined by selective [125I]iododeoxyuridine (125IUdR) incorporation into exclusively nuclear sites compared to labelling in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of Chinese hamster cells. Such selectivity was achieved by using berenil (25 µg/ml for 24 h), a drug which inhibits mitochondrial DNA synthesis without affecting incorporation of 125IUdR into nuclear DNA but does not result in reduced clonogenicity or cell cycle perturbations or alteration in the X-ray response of cells. There was no difference in cell killing between cells with nuclear labelling alone compared with nuclear plus mitochondrial labelling. The absence of decays in mitochondrial DNA does not affect the ability of 125I to induce lethal cell damage. The two treatment groups have superimposable curves with a Do of 96 decays/cell. These findings indicate that mitochondrial DNA is not the most sensitive target for radiation-induced cell death from 125I decay.
On Stochastic Differential Equation and Modified Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model

This paper presents a theoretical analysis for option pricing in finance markets. Two modified Black-Scholes equations models are derived based on general stochastic differential equation. It is shown that one equation characterized only by volatility coefficient but another characterized by the coefficients of both drift and volatility. The constitutive conditions for the stochastic equation can be used to describe the Black-Scholes dynamic processes are established.
The Kids Aren't Alright but Older Adults Are Just Fine: Effects of Medical Marijuana Market Growth on Substance Use and Abuse

Almost half of the US states have adopted “medical marijuana” laws (MMLs), and 58% of Americans now favor marijuana legalization. Despite public support, federal law continues to prohibit the use and sale of marijuana due to public health concerns of increased abuse, drugged driving, and youth access. Using evidence from MMLs, this is the first paper to study whether growth in the size of legal marijuana markets affects illegal use and its associated health consequences. By collecting new data on per capita registered medical marijuana patient rates, I investigate how state supply regulations and changes in federal enforcement affect the size of this legal market. I then study how illegal marijuana use and other health outcomes respond to changes in legal availability. I find that growth in the legal medical marijuana market significantly increases recreational use among all age groups. Increased consumption among older adults has positive consequences in the form of an 11% reduction in alcohol- and opioid-poisoning deaths. However, increased consumption among youths leads to negative externalities. Raising the share of adults registered as medical marijuana patients by one percentage point increases the prevalence of recent marijuana use among adolescents and young adults by 5-6% and generates negative externalities in the form of increased traffic fatalities (7%) and alcohol poisoning deaths (4%).
Study on the preparation of biodiesel with rare earth modified solid superacid catalysts

A series of rare earth solid superacid catalyst were prepared from SO2-4/ZrO2 catalyst precursor composition,and modified by the introduction of rare earth elements.The catalysts were characterized by means of FTIR,XRD and BET.Various reaction parameters,such as the molar ratio of methanol to waste oils,amount of catalyst,reaction temperature,reaction time and other factors influencing the synthesis were discussed and the optimum conditions were established.An analysis of XRD patterns revealed that the incorporation of rare earth into tetragonal zirconiacan stabilize the compound,and it can be seen from the FTIR spectra that superacid structures were formed in the catalysts and the acidity was strengthened remarkably and the activated centre of the catalyst was increasesed.The experimental results indicated that SO2-4/ZrO2-La2O3 has a higher activity and the optimum reaction conditions obtain as follows:10∶1 of molar ratio of methanol to waste oils,catalyst dosage 4% of oil mass used,250 ℃of reaction temperature,9 hours of reaction time.The yield of the biodiesel can reach 73.46%.The catalyst can be used repeatedly and the yield of the biodiesel can be more than 60% after the catalyst is used for three times.
Transition-Metal Compounds, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of

This article covers electronic and magnetic properties of transition-metal compounds, including metal–ligand interactions and metal–metal interactions. Spinels and rutiles are covered as additional illustrative examples. Electron energies, rare-earth compounds, and transition-metal d-block compounds are covered in a section on energy bands and redox couples. Actinides are not covered in this article.
Cancer and Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract Nephrologists will encounter patients who develop kidney disease associated with malignancy or its treatment or will be faced with the challenges of treating patients with chronic kidney disease and cancer. To optimize clinical outcomes, knowledge regarding these issues is critically important. As the population age increases and as newer therapeutic options emerge, these issues will likely be more common and require the expertise of the nephrologist to optimize patient outcomes.
Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and p-AKT are involved in neuroprotective effects of transcription factor Brn3b in an ocular hypertension rat model of glaucoma.

Purpose Brn3b is a class IV POU domain transcription factor that plays an important role in the development of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), RGC survival, and particularly axon growth and pathfinding. Our previous study demonstrated that recombinant adenoassociated virus serotype 2 (rAAV-2)-mediated overexpression of Brn3b in RGCs promoted neuroprotection in a rodent model of glaucoma. However, the mechanisms underlying neuroprotection of RGCs in rats overexpressing Brn3b in animal models of glaucoma remain largely unknown. The goal of this study was to understand some of the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotection of RGCs overexpressing Brn3b during intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in Brown Norway rats. Methods One eye of Brown Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) was injected with an AAV construct encoding either green fluorescent protein (GFP; recombinant adenoassociated virus-green fluorescent protein, rAAV-hSyn-GFP) or Brn3b (rAAV-hSyn-Brn3b). Expression of antiapoptotic proteins, including B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) family proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and p-AKT, was observed following immunostaining of rat retinas that overexpress Brn3b. In a different set of experiments, intraocular pressure was elevated in one eye of Brown Norway rats, which was followed by intravitreal injection with AAV constructs encoding either GFP (rAAV-CMV-GFP) or Brn3b (rAAV-CMV-Brn3b). Retinal sections were stained for prosurvival factors, including Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and p-AKT. Results AAV-mediated expression of transcription factor Brn3b promoted statistically significant upregulation of the Bcl-2 protein and increased expression of p-AKT in RGCs of Brown Norway rats. In addition, following IOP elevation, AAV-mediated Brn3b expression also statistically significantly increased levels of Bcl-2 in the RGC layer in Brown Norway rats. Conclusions Adenoassociated virus-mediated Brn3b protein overexpression may promote neuroprotection by upregulating key antiapoptotic proteins, including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and p-AKT, in animal models of glaucoma.
An Evaluation of the Ecohydrological Separation Hypothesis in a Semiarid Catchment

The ecohydrological separation hypothesis states that transpiration through plants and drainage to streams and groundwater are sourced from separate soil water pools, which possess distinct isotopic signatures. Evidence for ecohydrological separation has relied on the globally ubiquitous observation that plant water and draining water are isotopically distinct. We evaluated the ecohydrological separation hypothesis in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed in the semiarid, snow-dominated landscape of southwest Idaho, USA. We found that plant water is indeed isotopically distinct from streams and groundwater. However, we were unable to track those waters to subsurface soil waters, nor were we able to relate soil water mobility to isotopic composition. Soil waters of different mobility can be isotopically similar, and isotopic distinction in soil water can occur for reasons not related to mobility. We suggest that isotopic distinction between root-absorbed and draining waters may not be an appropriate indicator of ecohydrological separation of soil waters, and that hydrologic explanations for such isotopic distinction may not be sufficient.
Making progress toward understanding the genetic architecture of asthma in the most affected US ethnic group.

Asthma GWAS of Puerto Rican individuals finds strongest association within the 17q21 ORMDL3/GSDMB locus http://ow.ly/M23930ayVbG
Axial InGaAs/GaAs nanowire separate absorption-multiplication avalanche photodetectors (Conference Presentation)

In0.53Ga0.47As/InP single photon avalanche detectors (SPADs) have a high photon detection efficiency in the near-IR, however the dark count rate is prohibitively high at room temperature. A nanowire-based In0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs SPAD can significantly reduce the DCR through a nearly three order of magnitude reduction in bulk InGaAs volume, as well as by reducing the indium composition for operation at 1064 nm. As a first step, we have successfully grown axial InGaAs/GaAs heterostructures using catalyst-free selective-area epitaxy. We will present the electrical characterization of a vertically oriented nanowire array InGaAs/GaAs SPADs operating at 1064 nm and use 3-dimensional modeling to aid in the analysis.
Culture, the formation of ingroups, and policing: A response to Holmes and Smith: A response to: Holmes, Malcolm D., and Brad W. Smith. 2017. Social-Psychological Dynamics of Police-Minority Relations: An Evolutionary Interpretation. Journal of Criminal Justice

Abstract I outline a policy-oriented research agenda in response to Holmes and Smith (this issue). This response focuses on the elements of their argument that are most amenable to policy formation at the organizational level. My response also highlights the nexus between ingroup formation, and the formation and alteration of police organizational culture.
All-electronic free-space subpicosecond pulse generator/detector and its application to a terahertz spectroscopy system

We have developed an all-electronic free-space subpicosecond pulse generator and detector system. The system uses nonlinear transmission lines (NLTL's) and high-frequency Schottky diodes on gallium arsenide as harmonic multipliers and mixers. With the system, spectral lines extending above 1 THz and tunable to sub-Hz precision are generated and detected.
Measuring adhesion between steel and early-hydrated Portland cement using particle probe scanning force microscopy

Abstract Particle probe scanning force microscopy was used to measure adhesion between steel and early-hydrated cement in the study. Particle probes, created by attaching steel microspheres to microcantilevers, were successfully used to collect adhesive forces between steel and early-hydrated Portland cement in air and in saturated lime water. Mixed Gaussian models were applied to predict phase distributions in the cement paste, i.e., low density calcium silicate hydrate, high density calcium silicate hydrate, calcium hydroxide, other hydrated products and the unreacted components. Consistent correlations were achieved for volume fractions between areas with different adhesion measurements and predictions from the hydration model. Results showed that low density calcium silicate hydrate, high density calcium silicate hydrate and other hydrated products exhibit intermediate adhesion to steel microspheres. Calcium hydroxide exhibits the smallest adhesion, while the unreacted components exhibits the largest adhesion among all groups.
Physics of Film Growth from the Vapor Phase

Thin film nucleation from the vapor phase, the early stages of film growth, and microstructure evolution are reviewed for three-dimensional, two-dimensional, and Stranski-Krastanov growth systems. Computer simulations and direct experimental observations are used to describe the relationship between film growth parameters -- including deposition rate, temperature, and low-energy ion irradiation -- and film growth kinetics, microstructure development, and defect formation and annihilation rates.
Agglutinating Antigens from Root Nodules

This experiment is designed to demonstrate that the Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids in soybean (Glycine max) nodules share common antigenic properties with its bacterial genotype in culture. Therefore, bacteroids from fresh, desiccated, or oven-dried nodules can be used directly for identifying the occupant strain by simple agglutination. This direct method eliminates the time-consuming steps of isolating the strain in pure culture prior to its use as an antigen in an agglutination reaction.
Attack Advertising and the Incumbency Advantage in State Supreme Courts

This project evaluates whether televised attack advertising has had detrimental effects on the electoral performance of state supreme court justices. I examine this question by estimating theoretically specified models of incumbent vote shares that include all televised messages by incumbents and challengers and that distinguish between partisan and nonpartisan elections. My specific empirical focus is on 76 supreme court justices seeking reelection in nineteen states from 2002 through 2006. I also rely on CMAG advertising data and campaign finance measures in order to disentangle the effects of campaign spending from television advertising. Overall, I find that attack ads have deleterious effects on the incumbency advantage but only in nonpartisan elections. Interestingly, positive messages favoring incumbents also influence the election returns in both types of elections, ceteris paribus. Finally, factors indicative of discerning choices by voters still have predictive power, even after significant transformations in the electoral context and the rise of attack advertising. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the powerful force of institutional arrangements in shaping electoral politics while raising questions about whether several leading assumptions are overdrawn about the impact of negativity and the new politics of campaigns on the state court bench.
The Effect of Scatter Radiation and its Removal on the DQE of Digital Mammography Systems

The detective quantum efficiency (DQE) is often used as a figure-of- merit of imaging systems. The DQE of different digital mammography detectors have been measured. However, digital mammography systems usually employ some means to reduce the deleterious effects of scattered radiation. There are two different anti-scatter methods being used in full-field digital mammography: anti-scatter grids and slot scanning. These two approaches have different effectiveness in reducing scatter and require different amounts of extra radiation. We calculated the theoretical DQE of an anti-scatter device based on standard performance metrics. The DQE of a grid ranges from 0.4 to 0.6 depending on breast thickness and kVp. The DQE of a slot system ranges from 0.7 to 0.9 depending on breast thickness and slot width. The advantage of the slot-scanning systems in terms of DQE over grid systems disappears if the width of x-ray beam is not closely matched to the width of the detector.
Intracellular pH regulation in fresh and cultured bovine corneal endothelium. II. Na+:HCO3- cotransport and Cl-/HCO3- exchange.

The comparison of intracellular pH (pHi) regulation between fresh (FBCE) and cultured (CBCE) bovine corneal endothelium was extended to HCO3- transport mechanisms. Upon introduction of CO2/HCO3- Ringer's solution, there was a small, sharp acidification followed by an alkalinization .09 and .18 pH U above the HCO3- free resting pHi for FBCE and CBCE, respectively. This increase in pHi totally depended upon the presence of Na+, independent of Cl- and blocked by the anion transport inhibitor, H2DIDS (0.5 mmol/l). Recovery from an (NH4)2SO4-induced acid load also was blocked by Na+ removal and inhibited 62% and 84% by 0.5 mmol/l H2DIDS for FBCE and CBCE, respectively. These results indicate the presence of a Na+ dependent HCO3- transporter. Additions of 22 mmol/l K+ or 5 mmol/l Ba2+ led to substantial H2DIDS-inhibitable base influx in HCO3- Ringer's, which was significantly reduced in the absence of HCO3- for FBCE and CBCE, consistent with the presence of electrogenic Na+:nHCO3- cotransport. Using the Na+ sensitive intracellular dye, SBFI, we confirmed that the addition of HCO3- resulted in a H2DIDS-sensitive Na+ influx. The mean steady-state [Na+i] = 14 +/- 3 mmol/l in bicarbonate-free Ringer's and 31.5 +/- 2 mmol/l in CO2/HCO3-. HCO3- induced Na+ influx was reduced 74% by 0.5 mmol/l H2DIDS. Removal of Cl- from bicarbonate Ringer's alkalinized FBCE and CBCE by .12 +/- .01 and .21 +/- .03, respectively. The increased pHi was completely blocked by 0.5 mmol/l H2DIDS. Similar alkalinizations were seen when Cl- was removed from air equilibrated bicarbonate-free Ringer's. However, because of the lowered buffering capacity in the absence of HCO3-, the flux was reduced by 80%. Cl- free alkalinizations were eliminated by equilibrating the bicarbonate-free Ringer's with 100% nitrogen gas, indicating that residual CO2 can act as a substrate. Bicarbonate efflux on readdition of Cl- was Na+ independent and pHi sensitive (inactivated by low pHi), and showed simple saturating kinetics with respect to bath Cl, K1/2 = 22 and 16 mmol/l for FBCE and CBCE, respectively. These data are consistent with the presence of Cl-/HCO3- exchange in FBCE and CBCE. Application of 0.5 mmol/l H2DIDS to resting cells in HCO3- Ringer's significantly reduced pHi by .23 +/- .03 and .18 +/- .02 in FBCE and CBCE, respectively, indicating net HCO3- influx in resting cells and suggesting that the stoichiometry of the Na+:nHCO3- cotransporter favors Na+ and HCO3- uptake, ie, n < or = 2.
Change and Consistency in the 2008 Canadian General Election

The Canadian general election of 2008 was not as much a victory for the governing party as it was a defeat for the opposition leader. The Conservative minority government of Stephen Harper elected January 23, 2006 was remarkably resilient; it was the longest uninterrupted minority government in Canadian history. This owed in no small part to the election of Stephane Dion as leader of the Liberal Party at the end of 2006. Dion is widely believed to have been elected because he was the second choice of most of the delegates. He spent most of his brief leadership fighting his adversaries within the party and had little time to prepare a strategy for taking down Harper. This was the opposite of what had occurred during the previous minority government of the Liberals under Paul Martin. From its election on June 28, 2004 until its defeat on November 28, 2005, Martin was ruthlessly shadowed by an official opposition under Harper that doggedly pursued the defeat of the government. On the other hand, Harper actively solicited the defeat of his government, which never happened. Harper was boxed in by a pledge of fixed election dates, which precluded an election before October 2009 without an awkward act of reneging on Harper's part. By the end of August 2008, Harper was apparently more eager to defeat Dion at the polls than he was reluctant to renege on his fixed election dates pledge, and the election was called for October 14.
Variations in Chromosome Number

The creation of new plant genotypes through gene recombination was discussed in the two preceding chapters. In the conventional breeding procedure, gene recombinations are obtained by hybridizing varieties, or species, with different agronomic characteristics, and then selecting in the segregating generations for the genotype, or genotypes, with the most favorable combination of the characteristics of the parent strains.
Recent findings regarding let-7 in immunity.

Let-7 was one of the first microRNAs discovered in Caenorhabditis elegans. It exerts various biological functions, and shows strong evolutionary conservation from nematodes to humans. Recent research findings identify the let-7 cluster as a crucial player in the regulation of B-cell antibody production and macrophage responses. Since increasing evidence supports the let-7 cluster's role in immune system regulation, here we review the latest knowledge regarding the activities of let-7 in both innate and adaptive immune cells—including macrophages, B cells, and subsets of T cells—and the targets regulated by members of the let-7 family. This summary of knowledge acquired from collective studies will help guide future physiological and pathological studies to further elucidate the potential uses of this microRNA in immunity and other different biological outputs.
A high-voltage amplifier for traveling-wave Stark deceleration

Controlling high voltage is a critical aspect of Stark deceleration, a technique that uses electric fields to produce slow molecules. Traditionally, Stark deceleration required only commercial high-voltage switches to operate. However, a new continuous version of Stark deceleration, which promises significantly improved performance, requires chirped sinusoidal voltages. The complexity of the electronics needed to run this new decelerator has restricted the implementation for all but a few groups. The challenge is to create high-voltage amplifiers that have a frequency range of tens of kilohertz down to DC and that can source and sink enough current (∼1 A) to drive the capacitive load of the decelerator. We present a new high-voltage linear amplifier for driving in-vacuum electrodes for traveling-wave Stark deceleration. The amplifier has a gain of 12 000, output voltages up to ±10 kV, instantaneous currents up to 1.5 A, and a frequency range from 30 kHz down to DC. This makes the amplifier suitable for traveling-wave Stark deceleration of a supersonic molecular beam down to rest.
Imaging Intralesional Heterogeneity in Multiple Sclerosis using a T2 Filter

Magnetic resonance imaging of lesion heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis (MS) allows the discrimination of the severity of neural injury, and provides insight into the progression of the MS lesions. We propose a new method to visualize lesion heterogeneity based on the brain transverse relaxation time (T2) values obtained from dual-echo spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging. We show that visualization of the different components of the lesion can be enhanced using a T2 filter that nulls moderately prolonged T2 values. In seven MS patients, the reconstructed T2-filtered images showed regions of dark and bright intensity, presumably corresponding to mild and severe tissue injury, respectively, which were similar to those produced by a previous algebraic method. The proposed filter provides a simpler and insightful formulation for characterizing MS lesion heterogeneity.
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Prescribing and transcribing-2013.

Purpose The results of the 2013 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in U.S. hospital settings are presented. Methods A stratified random sample of pharmacy directors at 1433 general and children’s medical–surgical hospitals was surveyed by mail. IMS Health supplied data on hospital characteristics; the survey sample was drawn from IMS’s hospital database. Results In this national probability sample survey, the response rate was 28.9%. Drug policies developed by pharmacy and therapeutics committees continue to be an important strategy for improving prescribing. Strict formulary systems were maintained in 60.4% of hospitals, and 77% used clinical practice guidelines that included medications. Direct clinical services by pharmacists are becoming a more important way to identify and resolve medication-related problems with prescribing. Therapeutic interchange policies were used in 87.2% of hospitals, and pharmacist consultation to improve prescribing was common. Pharmacists most commonly provided consultations to prescribers for dosage adjustment (98.3%), drug information (93.2%), recom mendations for antibiotic therapy (91.7%), and pharmacokinetics (91.5%). Electronic health records (EHRs) have been implemented partially or completely in most hospitals (92.6%). Computer prescriber-order-entry systems with clinical decision support were used in 65.2% of hospitals, 80% had barcode-assisted medication administration systems, 80.8% had smart infusion pumps, and 93.9% had electronic medication administration records. EHRs were used in 60.7% of outpatient clinics, with electronic prescribing to outpatient pharmacies used in 59.6% of hospitals. Pharmacists practiced in 27.1% of hospital ambulatory or primary care clinics, which is an increase from 18.1% compared with 2010. The most common service offered by pharmacists to outpatients was anticoagulation management (63.5%). The percentage of hospitals using performance metrics increased from 58.7% in 2010 to 68.7%. Conclusion Pharmacists continue to expand their role in improving the prescribing of medications in both the hospital and outpatient settings. The adoption of EHRs and medication-use technologies has contributed to this growth.
Putting qualitative methodology in perspective: reflections on the relevance of fieldwork into the field of Environmental Criminology

This study reflects upon ethical issues and methodological lessons learned by the researcher in conducting fieldwork involving ‘hang-outs’ with law enforcement and gang members in a dangerous favel...
Direct molecular simulation of internal energy relaxation and dissociation in oxygen

A variant of the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, referred to as direct molecular simulation (DMS), is used to study oxygen dissociation from first principles. The sole model input to the DMS calculations consists of 12 potential energy surfaces that govern O2 + O2 and O + O2 collisions, including all spin-spatial degenerate configurations, in the ground electronic state. DMS calculations are representative of the gas evolution behind a strong shock wave, where molecular oxygen excites rotationally and vibrationally before ultimately dissociating and reaching a quasi-steady-state (QSS). Vibrational relaxation time constants are presented for both O2 + O2 and O + O2 collisions and are found to agree closely with experimental data. Compared to O2 + O2 collisions, vibrational relaxation due to O + O2 collisions is found to be ten times faster and to have a weak dependence on temperature. Dissociation rate constants in the QSS dissociation phase are presented for both O2 + O2 and O + O2 collisions and agree (within experimental uncertainty) with rates inferred from shock-tube experiments. Both experiments and simulations indicate that the QSS dissociation rate coefficients for O + O2 interactions are about two times greater than the ones for O2 + O2. DMS calculations predict this to be a result of nonequilibrium (non-Boltzmann) internal energy distributions. Specifically, the increased dissociation rate is caused by faster vibrational relaxation, due to O + O2 collisions, which alters the vibrational energy distribution function in the QSS by populating higher energy states that readily dissociate. Although existing experimental data appear to support this prediction, experiments with lower uncertainty are needed for quantitative validation. The DMS data presented for rovibrational relaxation and dissociation in oxygen could be used to formulate models for DSMC and computational fluid dynamics methods.A variant of the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, referred to as direct molecular simulation (DMS), is used to study oxygen dissociation from first principles. The sole model input to the DMS calculations consists of 12 potential energy surfaces that govern O2 + O2 and O + O2 collisions, including all spin-spatial degenerate configurations, in the ground electronic state. DMS calculations are representative of the gas evolution behind a strong shock wave, where molecular oxygen excites rotationally and vibrationally before ultimately dissociating and reaching a quasi-steady-state (QSS). Vibrational relaxation time constants are presented for both O2 + O2 and O + O2 collisions and are found to agree closely with experimental data. Compared to O2 + O2 collisions, vibrational relaxation due to O + O2 collisions is found to be ten times faster and to have a weak dependence on temperature. Dissociation rate constants in the QSS dissociation phase are presented for both O2 + O2 and O + O2 collisions...
A Two-Grid and Nonlinear Diffusion Acceleration Method for the SN Equations with Neutron Upscattering

Nonlinear diffusion acceleration (NDA), also known as coarse-mesh finite difference, is a well-known technique that can be applied to accelerate the scattering convergence in neutronics calculation...
Minimal Cooperation and Group Roles

Within philosophy, cooperation has primarily been analyzed in the context of theories of collective intentionality. These discussions have largely focused on interactions between pairs or small groups of agents who know one another personally. Cooperative game theory has also been used to argue for a form of cooperation in large unorganized groups. Here I consider a form of minimal cooperation that can arise among members of potentially large organized groups (e.g., corporate teams, committees, and governmental bodies). I argue that members of organized groups can be minimally cooperative in virtue of playing roles in an organizational structure and having a common goal. The minimal form of cooperation considered here is not grounded in collective intentions involving symmetric mental states, special collective intentional modes, or joint commitments. More generally, I show how considering minimal cooperation in the context of organized groups provides an opportunity to reevaluate the extent to which the social world and social phenomena depend on internalist mental factors (e.g., intentions, beliefs) and externalist non-mental factors (e.g., laws, job descriptions). The view of minimal cooperation among members of organized groups developed here provides support for an externalist rather than internalist theory of at least one social phenomenon.
Meditation alters representations of peripersonal space: Evidence from auditory evoked potentials.

Abstract Meditation commonly gives rise to the feeling that the self and the surrounding world are no longer separate, as if the boundary between them has dissolved. We propose this may occur due to alterations in representations of peripersonal space (PPS), the reachable space surrounding the body which is integral to a sense of where one’s bodily “self” is located in space. Thirty-one participants completed an auditory oddball paradigm before and after a guided meditation, during which we measured their P3 evoked potential, a marker of attentional salience. Pre-meditation, participants exhibited an enhanced attentional response to stimuli presented within PPS, relative to beyond PPS. Post-meditation, this PPS attentional enhancement was negated, with no distinction between responses to stimuli within versus beyond PPS. The results suggest that meditation leads to a constriction of PPS boundaries, even in novice meditators, elucidating one potential cause of the perceptual changes associated with meditation.
Molecular Dissection of the Eb Recombinational Hotspot in the Mouse

Meiotic crossing over within the I region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has been shown to be limited to a number of well-defined recombinational hotspots. Twenty cases of recombination mapping to the Eb gene of the I region have been sequenced to more precisely define the segment of DNA carrying meiotic crossover sites. This analysis was based on positioning recombination breakpoints between nucleotide polymorphisms found in the nucleotide sequences of parental haplotypes. Each of the twenty cases of recombination mapped to the second intron of the Eb gene. The exact sites of crossing over could not be determined in these recombinants since the nucleotide sequences of the parental alleles are identical between the polymorphic sites, and because no deletion or duplication of nucleotides was observed in recombinant sequences. These studies indicate that the second intron of the Eb gene contains at least two closely linked clusters of recombinational breakpoints or, alternatively, a broad area of approximately 800–1000 bp in which recombination can occur at multiple sites.
DUI-VIO: Depth Uncertainty Incorporated Visual Inertial Odometry based on an RGB-D Camera

This paper presents a new visual-inertial odometry, term DUI-VIO, for estimating the motion state of an RGB-D camera. First, a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to is employed to model the uncertainty of the depth data for each pixel on the camera’s color image. Second, the uncertainties are incorporated into the VIO’s initialization and optimization processes to make the state estimate more accurate. In order to perform the initialization process, we propose a hybrid-perspective-n-point (PnP) method to compute the pose change between two camera frames and use the result to triangulate the depth for an initial set of visual features whose depth values are unavailable from the camera. Hybrid-PnP first uses a 2D-2D PnP algorithm to compute rotation so that more visual features may be used to obtain a more accurate rotation estimate. It then uses a 3D-2D scheme to compute translation by taking into account the uncertainties of depth data, resulting in a more accurate translation estimate. The more accurate pose change estimated by Hybrid-PnP help to improve the initialization result and thus the VIO performance in state estimation. In addition, Hybrid-PnP make it possible to compute the pose change by using a small number of features with a known depth. This improves the reliability of the initialization process. Finally, DUI-VIO incorporates the uncertainties of the inverse depth measurements into the nonlinear optimization process, leading to a reduced state estimation error. Experimental results validate that the proposed DUI-VIO method outperforms the state-of-the-art VIO methods in terms of accuracy and reliability
Mental health disorder symptom prevalence and rates of help-seeking among University-Enrolled, emerging adults.

Objective. Examine mental health symptom prevalence and rates of campus services utilization among Black male, White male and Black female college students. Participants. 2500 students from an ongoing, student survey at a public university; launched in 2011. Methods. Measures included data for anxiety and depressive symptoms and utilization of campus health services (counseling center, health services, etc.). Descriptive analyses determined prevalence and utilization rates. Mann Whitney U tests compared prevalence. Chi-squared tests compared utilization rates. Results. Anxiety prevalence: greater than 60% of students from each ethnic group reported symptoms; reporting rates decreased significantly for Black men (49.6%); p < 0.001. Depression prevalence: greater than 80% reported symptoms; there were significant differences in reporting between Black men and Black women (72.7% vs. 87.1%, p < 0.001). Utilization: Black men utilized counseling services less than White men (20.4% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.024). Conclusion. Black men report depressive and anxiety symptoms but underutilize campus health resources.
Cognitive Science and Theological Education in Technologically Developing Countries

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of human thoughts, feelings, and the associated processes, including learning. In the past 50 years, tremendous progress has been made in understanding how people learn. These principles can be used to make theological education more effective in the majority world. Missionaries and other educators can make theological education more effective by being familiar with the concepts of automatic and effortful processing, the spacing effect, and the testing effect. Since the use of technology is rapidly evolving in many parts of the world, cognitive science also provides insights into some of the educational pitfalls associated with technology. Technology-based distraction in the classroom prevents effortful processing from occurring. Outside of the classroom, technology may make time-management more difficult, leading to poor study habits. An inappropriate use of multimedia in the classroom may impede learning rather than enhance it. Increasing use of technology in the majority world is often accompanied by economic growth which may also impact theological education.
Reducing recidivism through restorative justice: an evaluation of Bridges to Life in Dallas

We employed a quasi-experimental design to assess the effect of participation in Bridges to Life (BTL), a restorative justice program, on reincarceration. Drawing from Texas Department of Criminal ...
A data-driven framework for mapping domains of human neurobiology.

Functional neuroimaging has been a mainstay of human neuroscience for the past 25 years. Interpretation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data has often occurred within knowledge frameworks crafted by experts, which have the potential to amplify biases that limit the replicability of findings. Here, we use a computational approach to derive a data-driven framework for neurobiological domains that synthesizes the texts and data of nearly 20,000 human neuroimaging articles. Across multiple levels of domain specificity, the structure–function links within domains better replicate in held-out articles than those mapped from dominant frameworks in neuroscience and psychiatry. We further show that the data-driven framework partitions the literature into modular subfields, for which domains serve as generalizable prototypes of structure–function patterns in single articles. The approach to computational ontology we present here is the most comprehensive characterization of human brain circuits quantifiable with fMRI and may be extended to synthesize other scientific literatures. Beam et al. created a data-driven mapping of human brain function, drawing on full texts and coordinate data reported in neuroimaging studies. This validated framework outperformed leading and widely used knowledge frameworks, namely Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Lentivirus-Mediated Oncogene Introduction into Mammary Cells In Vivo Induces Tumors

We recently reported the introduction of oncogene-expressing avian retroviruses into somatic mammary cells in mice susceptible to infection by transgenic expression of tva, encoding the receptor for subgroup A avian leukosis-sarcoma virus (ALSV). Because ALSV-based vectors poorly infect nondividing cells, they are inadequate for studying carcinogenesis initiated from nonproliferative cells (e.g., stem cells). Lentivirus pseudotyped with the envelope protein of ALSV infects nondividing TVA-producing cells in culture but has not previously been tested for introducing genes in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that these vectors infected mammary cells in vivo when injected into the mammary ductal lumen of mice expressing tva under the control of the keratin 19 promoter. Furthermore, intraductal injection of this lentiviral vector carrying the polyoma middle T antigen gene induced atypical ductal hyperplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ-like premalignant lesions in 30 days and palpable invasive tumors at a median latency of 3.3 months. Induced tumors were a mixed epithelial/myoepithelial histologic diagnosis, occasionally displayed squamous metaplasia, and were estrogen receptor-negative. This work demonstrates the first use of a lentiviral vector to introduce oncogenes for modeling cancer in mice, and this vector system may be especially suitable for introducing genetic alterations into quiescent cells in vivo.
Overcoming taxane and anthracycline resistance.

: With more and more breast cancer (BC) patients receiving taxanes and anthracyclines in the adjuvant setting, the number of patients resistant to these drugs is rising. Herein, we review cellular mechanisms (e.g., overexpression of drug efflux pumps) that are associated with clinical anthracycline and/or taxane-resistant BC. We also discuss therapeutic approaches that have received Food and Drug Administration approval in this setting or are in clinical development, including targeted agents that do not employ a cytotoxic mechanism, as well as novel chemotherapeutics such as the epothilones, a class of microtubule stabilizers less susceptible to common cellular resistance mechanisms.
Unsafe Loans in a Deregulated U.S. Mortgage Market

This article explores actual market outcomes in a deregulated mortgage market to ascertain if market discipline can be relied upon to ensure safe and sound loan products. In part one of this article the bank regulators' decisions to deregulate the mortgage market are set forth. In part two the outcomes generated by such a legal environment are presented. Such outcomes reveal steadily increasing availability and acceptance of risky loan products, resulting in equity stripping due to subsequent defaults. In part three of the article an alternative regulatory approach is offered - one that imposes a minimum, required level of safety for all loan products.
Technology Portfolio Assessments Using a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm

This paper discusses the use of a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm to optimize a technology portfolio for a commercial transport. When incorporating technologies into a conceptual design, there are often multiple competing objectives that determine the benefits and costs of a certain portfolio. The set of designs that achieves the best values of these objectives will fall along a Pareto front that outlines the tradeoffs which will give the optimal design. Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms determine the Pareto set by giving higher priority to dominant portfolios in the evolutionary optimization techniques of selection and reproduction. When determining the final Pareto optimal set it is important to ensure that only compatible portfolios of technologies are present. The technology compatibility represents a constraint on the optimization that can be handled internal to the genetic algorithms or through imposed logic that eliminates incompatibilities through a procedure known as gene correction. In order to properly benchmark the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm approach a comparison will be made with a traditional genetic algorithm utilizing a single fitness value incorporating the various objectives.
Extracorporeal Photopheresis in the Treatment of Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an immunomodulating procedure that leads to an expansion of peripheral blood dendritic cell populations and an enhanced TH1 immune response in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Because of its excellent side effect profile and moderate efficacy, ECP is considered first-line therapy for erythrodermic mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome. Patients with a measurable but low blood tumor burden are most likely to respond to ECP, and the addition of adjunctive immunostimulatory agents may also increase response rates. There may be a role for ECP in the treatment of refractory early stage MF, but data are limited.