cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Blocks in Provision of Pharmacy Services in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs)

The obstacles in the area of needs assessment, selling the idea, human resources, and finance are addressed. Needs assessment should be addressed in the planning stage of implementing a new or revised pharmacy service to the elderly. It is the first of many stages in which the involvement of people from different departments and levels of authority is crucial to the success of the project. The advantage of involving many different people within and outside of the pharmacy department in the needs assessment is that the foundation is established for their ultimate acceptance of the new service or project. The greatest obstacle to the implementation of services in a LTCF is also the greatest resource, people. Identifying the people who are resistant to change will enable management to address the root of the resistance early in the implementation process. Working within the LTCF organizational and authority structure will increase the acceptance of the change. Most facilities operate on a budget that has lim...
Glucosaminidase and Dedifferentiation of Newt Iris Epithelium

To try to understand the mechanism of the dedifferentiation process which occurs during metaplastic transformation of iris epithelial cells into lens cells in newt lens regeneration, the activity of N-acetylglucosaminidase in iris and iris epithelium was studied as a function of time after lentectomy. The activity was found to increase during the dedifferentiation phase of the iris epithelium. The dorsal iris, where definite dedifferentiation occurs side by side with incomplete dedifferentiation, shows significantly greater enhancement of the activity than the ventral iris, where only incomplete dedifferentiation takes place. When the cells complete dedifferentiation and engage in redifferentiation into lens cells, the level of activity drops, approaching that of the normal lens. Evidence is also presented for release of the enzyme into the ocular fluid during dedifferentiation. The possibility that the enzyme is involved in surface alterations of iris epithelial ceils engaged in dedifferentiation is discussed.
Development of High-Protein Low-Cost Nigerian Foods

Nigerian foods, akara, chin-chin, and puff-puff, were supplemented with full-fat cottonseed, defatted cottonseed, peanut, sesame or soybean flours. The foods were evaluated using a nine-point Hedonic scale by African and non-African panels. Foods were evaluated for appearance, texture, absence of greasiness, palatability and overall acceptability. The African panel rated all food products for all characteristics significantly (P=0.001) higher than the non-African panel. Protein quality evaluations indicated that full-fat cottonseed, defatted cottonseed and defatted peanut flours could be used to increase the quantity and quality of protein in traditional Nigerian foods.
GC-MS methods to quantify the 2-deoxypentos-4-ulose and 3′-phosphoglycolate pathways of 4′-oxidation of 2-deoxyribose in DNA: Application to DNA damage produced by γ-radiation and bleomycin

DNA oxidation plays a substantive role in the pathophysiology of human diseases, such as cancer. While the chemistry of nucleobase lesions has dominated studies of DNA damage, there is growing evidence that the oxidation of 2-deoxyribose in DNA plays a critical role in the genetic toxicology of oxidative stress. As part of an effort to define the spectrum of 2-deoxyribose oxidation products arising in vitro and in vivo, we now describe methods for quantifying products arising from 4′ oxidation of 2-deoxyribose in DNA. The chemistry of 4′ oxidation partitions between either of two pathways to form either a 2-deoxypentos-4-ulose abasic site (oxAB) or a strand break comprised of a 3′-phosphoglycolate (3PG) residue and a 5′-phosphate, with the release of either malondialdehyde and free base or a base propenal. Highly sensitive gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods were developed to quantify both lesions. The abasic site was converted to a 3′-phosphoro-3-pyridazinylmethylate derivative by treatm...
Distribution and pharmacokinetics of methamphetamine in the human body: clinical implications.

Methamphetamine is one of the most toxic of the drugs of abuse, which may reflect its distribution and accumulation in the body. However no studies have measured methamphetamine's organ distribution in the human body. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) was used in conjunction with [{sup 11}C]d-methamphetamine to measure its whole-body distribution and bioavailability as assessed by peak uptake (% Dose/cc), rate of clearance (time to reach 50% peak-clearance) and accumulation (area under the curve) in healthy participants (9 Caucasians and 10 African Americans). Methamphetamine distributed through most organs. Highest uptake (whole organ) occurred in lungs (22% Dose; weight {approx}1246 g), liver (23%; weight {approx}1677 g) and intermediate in brain (10%; weight {approx}1600 g). Kidneys also showed high uptake (per/cc basis) (7%; weight 305 g). Methamphetamine's clearance was fastest in heart and lungs (7-16 minutes), slowest in brain, liver and stomach (>75 minutes), and intermediate in kidneys, spleen and pancreas (22-50 minutes). Lung accumulation of [{sup 11}C]d-methamphetamine was 30% higher for African Americans than Caucasians (p < 0.05) but did not differ in other organs. The high accumulation of methamphetamine, a potent stimulant drug, in most body organs is likely to contribute to the medical complications associated with methamphetamine abuse. In particular,more » we speculate that methamphetamine's high pulmonary uptake could render this organ vulnerable to infections (tuberculosis) and pathology (pulmonary hypertension). Our preliminary findings of a higher lung accumulation of methamphetamine in African Americans than Caucasians merits further investigation and questions whether it could contribute to the infrequent use of methamphetamine among African Americans.« less
Intrathecal non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists inhibit pain behaviors in a rat model of postoperative pain

Evidence indicates that excitatory amino acids (EAAs) like glutamate and aspartate are important in the processing of nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Recently, the role of particular EAA receptors in pain transmission and facilitated pain states has been examined utilizing spinal administration of specific receptor antagonists. Most investigators have studied the involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) EAA receptors in hyperalgesia and nociception; less is known about the importance of non-NMDA EAA receptors in animal models of persistent pain. To study the role of spinal non-NMDA EAA receptors in pain behaviors caused by an incision, we examined the effect of i.t. administered non-NMDA EAA receptor antagonists in a rat model of postoperative pain. Rats with i.t. catheters were anesthetized and underwent a plantar incision. Withdrawal threshold to punctate stimulation applied adjacent to the wound using von Frey filaments, response frequency to application of a non-punctate stimulus applied directly to the wound and non-evoked pain behaviors were measured before and after administration of i.t. 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide (NBQX), 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), or vehicle. A separate group of animals were also tested for motor impairment caused by these drugs. In the vehicle-treated group, the median withdrawal threshold for punctate hyperalgesia decreased from 522 mN before surgery to 39 mN 2 h later; hyperalgesia was persistent. Intrathecal administration of 5 or 10 nmol of NBQX returned the withdrawal threshold toward preincision values; the median withdrawal thresholds were 158 and 360 mN, respectively. Intrathecal administration of 10 nmol of DNQX similarly increased the withdrawal threshold after incision. In separate groups of animals, i.t. administration of 5 or 10 nmol of NBQX decreased the response frequency to a non-punctate stimulus applied directly to the incision from 100+/-0% 2 h after surgery to 22+/-11 and 0+/-0% 30 min after drug injection, respectively. Similar results were observed with i.t. administration of 10 nmol of DNQX. Intrathecal NBQX also inhibited non-evoked pain behavior. In conclusion, non-NMDA receptor antagonists produced a marked decrease in pain behaviors in this model of postoperative pain. Thus, non-NMDA receptors are important for the maintenance of short-term pain behaviors caused by an incision and drugs blocking these receptors may be useful for the treatment of postoperative pain in patients.
Onset of natural convection in a fluid-saturated porous medium inside a cylindrical enclosure bottom heated by constant flux

Abstract The critical Rayleigh number of a fluid-saturated porous cylindrical enclosure heated from below by constant flux is determined.
Volatile Metal Oxide Evaporation during Aerosol Decomposition

The role of particle evaporation during synthesis of volatile metal oxide powders (Bi2O3, MoO3, PbO, and V2O5) by aerosol decomposition (spray pyrolysis) in a heated flow reactor was investigated. Solid particles (0.1–0.6 (Am) of predominantly β-Bi2O3 were formed with smooth spherical shape at all reactor temperatures (673–1173 K) employed. Solid MoO3 particles (0.1–1.2 μm) produced at low temperatures (673–773 K) had a roughly spherical or faceted morphology and at high temperatures (873 K) had a platelike or layered structure. Solid V2O5 particles produced at low temperatures (573–673 K) were spherical and at high temperatures (973–1073 K) were platelike. The PbO particles were solid and spherical for all temperatures studied (773°–1073°C). Evaporative losses of up to 100% to the reactor walls were observed for all the metal oxides, due to their substantial vapor pressures. The evaporative losses were modeled by considering simultaneous particle evaporation and mass transfer of the metal oxide vapor to the reactor walls. The calculations indicated that, for most of these volatile metal oxides, evaporative losses were limited by diffusional transport of the vapor to the reactor walls and that evaporative losses occur when the vapor pressure of the oxides in the reactor is above 10-5-10-3 mm Hg.
Regulation of lactate dehydrogenase activity in Actinomyces viscosus by adenosine-5'-triphosphate.

Abstract The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from Actinomyces viscosus strain T-6-1600 was inhibited by adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP). Enzyme activity was inhibited 100 per cent at ATP concentrations greater than 2 mM. The inhibition was specific for ATP since other mono-, di- and trinucleotides had little or no effect on the A. viscosus LDH. ATP appeared to exert its inhibitory effect through allosteric modulation of enzyme activity since kinetic data indicated that there are at least two ATP binding sites on the LDH from A. viscosus with some degree of cooperative interaction between them. The LDHs from a variety of A. viscosus strains studied showed this same type of allosteric interaction with ATP. Fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP), a positive effector for LDHs from several other microbial sources, had no effect on the enzyme from A. viscosus.
Communication technology: Pros and cons of constant connection to work

We examined the relationship between employees' attitudes related to communication technology (CT) flexibility, communication technology (CT) use, work-to-life conflict and work satisfaction. Based on data obtained from 193 employees, CT flexibility predicted more CT use. Further, CT use was associated not only with increased work satisfaction, but also with higher levels of work-to-life conflict. Finally, work-to-life conflict negatively predicted work satisfaction. Our findings point toward various trade-offs associated with CT use.
An Autosomal Dominant Form of Low-Tension Glaucoma

A condition causing glaucomatous optic atrophy and visual field loss at normal or borderline intraocular pressure affected eight members of a family of consecutive generations. The disease was detectable in early adulthood and progressed slowly throughout life. The pattern of inheritance is autosomal dominant. One affected individual died of a myocardial infarction, and his eyes were obtained post mortem. Light and electron microscopic examination demonstrated glaucomatous optic atrophy with loss of ganglion cells. The trabecular meshwork, choroidal and optic nerve vasculature, retinal pigment epithelium, and photoreceptors were normal in appearance. We believe this family has an autosomal dominant genetic condition that is a distinct type of low-tension glaucoma.
Parana, a new Tacaribe complex virus from Paraguay.

Parana virus, an agent isolated fromOryzomys buccinatus rodents trapped in the Misiones Department of Paraguay, was found to be related to the Tacaribe complex of viruses by complement-fixation tests, but was distinct by neutralization and direct immunofluorescent tests. It shares the basic properties of chloroform sensitivity, a ribonucleic acid core, and similar morphologic appearance with other viruses in the complex. No evidence for human infection was found in a limited survey. Neutralizing antibody was not demonstrable in 111 rodent sera, three of which were the animals from which the virus was isolated.
Association between Mammography Timing and Measures of Screening Performance in the United States

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether there is an association between the number of months since previous mammography (MSPM) and performance measures (sensitivity, specificity, recall rate, cancer detection rate, and positive predictive value) in women who underwent U.S. community-based screening mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from seven registries (Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium) and mammographic data and cancer outcome in regard to 1 213 754 screening mammographic examinations performed in 680 641 women who were 40–89 years old for the years 1996–2000 were used in this study. These data are submitted annually in a standard format to a central statistical coordinating center that is subject to institutional review board approval, quality control, and confidentiality standards. Performance measures were calculated for first and subsequent screening mammography. For subsequent mammography, performance measures were calculated according to categories of MSPM (9–15, 16–20, 21–27, and ≥28 months). Rec...
IM-TORNADO: a tool for comparison of 16S reads from paired-end libraries.

Motivation 16S rDNA hypervariable tag sequencing has become the de facto method for accessing microbial diversity. Illumina paired-end sequencing, which produces two separate reads for each DNA fragment, has become the platform of choice for this application. However, when the two reads do not overlap, existing computational pipelines analyze data from read separately and underutilize the information contained in the paired-end reads. Results We created a workflow known as Illinois Mayo Taxon Organization from RNA Dataset Operations (IM-TORNADO) for processing non-overlapping reads while retaining maximal information content. Using synthetic mock datasets, we show that the use of both reads produced answers with greater correlation to those from full length 16S rDNA when looking at taxonomy, phylogeny, and beta-diversity. Availability and Implementation IM-TORNADO is freely available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/imtornado and produces BIOM format output for cross compatibility with other pipelines such as QIIME, mothur, and phyloseq.
A Telescopic Imaging System Employing 10.6 Micron Laser Illumination

In order to test the effectiveness of spatial diversity averaging as a method of reducing laser image speckle, an experimental 10.6-micron active imaging breadboard was constructed and used for obtaining day and night distant images at ranges exceeding one kilometer. The system was unusual in its use of employing dual acoustic-optic units for both generation of optical local oscillator signal and for beam combining of object reflected power and local oscillator power in an optical heterodyne detection system.
Continuous and fixed ratio reinforcement effects in extinction one day and three weeks after acquisition

The influence on response rate during extinction of the reinforcement schedule during acquisition and the time interval between acquisition and extinction was studied in a 2 by 2 factorial design with each condition represented by 10 female albino rats. Two groups were continuously reinforced and 2 groups were intermittently reinforced on a graduated schedule terminating in a fixed ratio-5 schedule at the end of acquisition. Under each reinforcement contingency, 1 subgroup was extinguished 24 hr. after acquisition and another 3 weeks after acquisition. An analysis of variance on the rate of responding in the first 35 min. of extinction revealed significant influences attributable to reinforcement schedule and to the interaction of schedule with time interval; the latter arising from a greater response rate with increased acquisition to extinction time interval following the continuous reinforcement contingency and a lesser rate following the intermittent contingency. The results are interpreted in terms of changes over time in the stimulus generalization gradients of the stimuli controlling the behavior chains associated with the 2 reinforcement schedules.
T lymphocyte costimulatory molecules in host defense and immunologic diseases.

Background Costimulation is an essential component for the optimal induction of T cell-mediated immune responses. Manipulation of the costimulatory pathway with antibodies or genetically-engineered fusion proteins is an important strategy to treat immune-related diseases including allergy, asthma, transplantation and cancer. Recent advances have revealed several new costimulatory molecules, and the functional characteristics of each costimulatory pathway are now becoming clearer. Learning Objectives In this review, we summarize basic outlines of the costimulatory systems in terms of molecular structure, expression kinetics and immunological function. We further discuss involvement and therapeutic manipulation of costimulation in several clinical diseases. Data Source The MEDLINE database was used to review the literature related to costimulation. Conclusion Costimulatory pathways play an essential role in the activation and regulation of T cell immune responses and the induction of T cell tolerance. Therapeutic manipulation of the costimulatory system demonstrates beneficial effects to treat immunological diseases in murine models as well as some clinical situations.
Wind Field Climatology, Changes, and Extremes in the Chukchi–Beaufort Seas and Alaska North Slope during 1979–2009

AbstractWind field climatology, changes, and extremes at ~32-km resolution were analyzed for the Chukchi–Beaufort Seas and Alaska North Slope region using 3-hourly North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) from 1979 to 2009. The monthly average wind speeds show a clear seasonal cycle with a minimum of 2–4 m s−1 in May and a maximum up to 9 m s−1 in October. The 95th percentile winds show a similar seasonality with a maximum up to 15 m s−1 in October. The 31-yr domain averaged 3-hourly wind speeds display a clear diurnal cycle over land and sea ice areas during the warm seasons. Weaker radiation during winter and larger heat capacity over open water reduce the diurnal signal in the wind field diurnal variations. There were increasing trends of areal averaged monthly mean and 95th percentile wind speeds for July through November. The strongest increase in the areal averaged 95th percentile wind speeds occurred in October from 7 m s−1 in 1979 to 10.5 m s−1 in 2009. The frequency of extreme wind events (speed...
Aging and the perception of nasal irritation.

Abstract Three types of measurement were employed to assess the effects of aging on nasal irritation (common chemical sense). These were (1) measurement of detection threshold of CO 2 mixed with air, (2) measurement of the threshold concentration of CO 2 that causes a transient reflex apnea, and (3) measurement of the suprathreshold perceived strength of five levels of CO 2 by the method of magnitude matching. Ancillary measurements included nasal airflow resistance and magnitude matching of an odorant (l-butanol). Twenty elderly (67 to 93) and twenty young persons (19 to 31) served as subjects. The young and elderly gave no evidence of average difference in detection threshold. In contrast, the elderly group showed a strong elevation of the threshold of apnea and a marked weakening of perceived CO 2 suprathreshold strength. CO 2 and butanol approximated power functions of concentration level [21], functions for the elderly being depressed relative to those for the young. Although the elderly had on the average slightly higher nasal resistance than the young, the differences played at most a minor role in the perception of nasal stimuli.
Common variance fractional factorial designs and their optimality to identify a class of models

Fractional factorial designs with n treatments for 2m factorial experiments are considered to identify a class of (m2) models with the common parameters representing the general mean and the main effects while the uncommon parameter in each model represents a two factor interaction. A new property Pg(v1,. .,vg) of designs is introduced in this context to least squares estimate the uncommon parameters in g groups of models so that the estimates of vi such parameters in the ith group have a common variance (CV), where g is an integer satisfying 1≤g≤(m2), i=1, ..., g, v1+⋯+vg=(m2). The property P1(v1) is desirable to have for the fractional factorial designs to identify the (m2) models. The concept of CV designs having the property P1(v1) is introduced for the model identification. Several series of CV designs for general m and n are presented. For fixed values of n and m, Dn,m represents the class of all fractional factorial CV designs having the property P1(v1). CV designs in Dn,m have possible unequal values for the common variance. The smaller the common variance, the better the CV designs for the model identification. The concept of optimum common variance (OPTCV) design having the smallest common variance in Dn,m is also introduced. This paper presents some OPTCV designs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Potentiated transmission and prevention of further LTP by increased CaMKII activity in postsynaptic hippocampal slice neurons

Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a necessary component of the cellular machinery underlying learning and memory. Here, a constitutively active form of this enzyme, CaMKII(1-290), was introduced into neurons of hippocampal slices with a recombinant vaccinia virus to test the hypothesis that increased postsynaptic activity of this enzyme is sufficient to produce long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP), a prominent cellular model of learning and memory. Postsynaptic expression of CaMKII(1-290) increased CaMKII activity, enhanced synaptic transmission, and prevented more potentiation by an LTP-inducing protocol. These results, together with previous studies, suggest that postsynaptic CaMKII activity is necessary and sufficient to generate LTP.
Career Indecision: A Family Systems Perspective

In existing theories of vocational development career indecision is generally attributed to character deficits in the young adult. The authors present an alternative, family systems perspective on career indecision. Also, they speculate on the family patterns that contribute to career indecisiveness and on the functions that this problem may serve within the larger family network.
Adaptively controlling deep brain stimulation in essential tremor patient via surface electromyography

Abstract Objectives: We present patient test outcomes to show that on–off control of deep brain stimulation sequences in essential tremor patients is achievable in a self-adaptive manner via non-invasive surface-electromyography, to prevent tremors in these patients. Method: In our study, an essential tremor patient, who underwent bilateral deep brain stimulation implantation 8 years earlier, was subjected to deep brain stimulation at 130 pulses/second, with a 90-microsecond pulse-width, in packets of durations from 20 to 73 seconds and was monitored with surface-electromyography. Results: At the end of these stimulation packets, tremor-free intervals followed, averaging over 20 seconds, before tremor reappeared. Wavelet analysis of the eletromyographic signals allowed predicting onset of tremors at the end of the tremor-free intervals and was successful in all test cycles. Furthermore, once stimulation was restarted, the tremors disappeared within 0.5 seconds on average. When restarting stimulation appro...
Divalent cations selectively alter the voltage dependence of inactivation of A-currents in chick autonomic neurons.

A-currents were studied in acutely dissociated chick autonomic neurons. Switching from salines containing 4 mM Mg2+ to salines containing 4 mM Ca2+ caused a large positive shift in the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation, but had no effect on the voltage dependence or kinetics of activation, deactivation, the rate at which channels became inactivated, or the rate at which channels recovered from inactivation. This effect saturated with increasing concentrations of Ca2+. Other group IIA divalent cations were less effective than Ca2+, in the order Ca2+ >Ba2+ >Mg2+=Sr2+. Application of 4 mM Mg2+ partially antagonized the effects of 4 mM Ca2+. The results suggest that divalent cations selectively alter the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation by acting at sites accessible from the outside of the cell.
Oral cyclophosphamide for treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus

Abstract Background Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating adjuvant used in refractory cases of pemphigus. Objective We sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral cyclophosphamide in the treatment of patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) with refractory disease. Patients We studied 23 patients with pemphigus (20 with PV; 3 with PF) who failed to achieve clinical remissions with the use of prednisone and antimetabolites. Results Complete remission was achieved in 17 patients with PV and 2 with PF. A total of 3 patients with PV failed therapy. A partial remission was achieved in 1 patient with PF. The treatment was administered for a median duration of 17 months with a follow-up period of 27 months. The median time to complete remission was 8.5 months. A total of 9 patients who were severely affected received concomitant plasma exchange. Adverse reactions included 5 cases of hematuria, 6 nonlife-threatening infections, and the development of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder 15 years after discontinuation of cyclophosphamide in 1 patient. No death was associated with cyclophosphamide treatment. Conclusion Oral cyclophosphamide is an effective adjuvant in the treatment of severe and refractory PV and PF, but requires close monitoring.
Important Relationships Between Diet, Nutrition, and Oral Health

Nutritional factors are important for dental health. Diet and nutritional status contribute to the development of caries, periodontal disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions. Primary care clinicians can play an important role in the maintenance of oral health; likewise, dentists should not neglect nutritional issues. This review describes the role of various nutritional factors on oral health; special concerns for pregnant women, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and elders; and specific oral health concerns of individuals with various medical conditions.
Percutaneous therapy of structural heart disease: Pediatric disease

Interventional therapy of congenital heart lesions at cardiac catheterization has greatly increased during the past decade. At the authors' institution, the frequency of such procedures among catheterizations has increased from 5% to more than 60%. The variety of lesions so treated continues to expand and equipment continues to improve. These procedures may be divided into 2 groups, namely (1) those involving balloon dilation of stenotic valves and vessel obstructions with stent placement being increasingly used in the latter and (2) those involving occlusion of lesions with (a) coils, such as aortopulmonary collaterals, patent ductus arteriosi and coronary artery fistulae and (b) umbrella devices, such as atrial and ventricular septal defects. These have replaced surgery as the initial procedure of choice in many lesions including valvar pulmonary and aortic stenoses, and postoperative aortic coarctation in young patients. In addition, use of the double-umbrella device even in noncongenital lesions appears promising.
Downstream Drift of Fishes in the Upper Mississippi River during Winter

ABSTRACT Many moribund and dead fish were found drifting in the main channel of the Mississippi River during late winter. A total of 3,574 fish representing 37 species were collected with an effort of 214 net-days in the tailwater habitat below Lock and Dam 13 and Lock and Dam 14 of the Mississippi River during February 1984 and March 1985. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were the most abundant species, composing 87% of the total catch. Most of these were small fish, probably age 0 or age 1. Catch was not correlated with discharge, but was related to location of the net in the channel with more fish collected near the shores than the center.
Fast computation of efficient decision feedback equalizers for high speed wireless communications

Decision feedback equalization (DFE) structures have been proposed for the efficient equalization of wireless channels with long postcursor response, which is a bottleneck problem for high speed communications over multipath channels with large delay spread. These structures are equivalent to the conventional DFE, but remove postcursor intersymbol interference (ISI) prior to feedforward filtering. We investigate the relationship between these structures and fast equalizer coefficient computation. Based on this relationship, we obtain a fast algorithm for computing optimal DFE settings which has significantly lower complexity than other known approaches for these high speed wireless channels. An example is given for data rates and channel profiles of the type considered for the proposed North American high definition television (HDTV) terrestrial broadcast mode.
Lymphoblastoid cell lines in pharmacogenomics: how applicable are they to clinical outcomes?

Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) are widely used in pharmacogenomic studies and the applicability of LCLs for various clinical phenotypes is emerging. Early studies have yielded promising results for LCLs as a proxy for genetic variants in treatment outcome for a number of cancers, as well as toxicity in varying tissue types including taxane-induced neuropathy. Although LCLs have demonstrated utility in the elucidation of functional mechanisms for results of clinical genotype–drug phenotype studies, there are more relevant cell-based models developing. Utility of LCLs as a resource in pharmacogenomic discovery
Fabrication of thin scintillator foils

Abstract Self-supporting scintillator foils with thicknesses between 10–80 μm can be fabricated reliably using the spin coating technique.
Diffuse Neuroaxonal Involvement in Mucolipidosis IV as Assessed by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging

Mucolipidosis IV is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in MCOLN1, which codes for mucolipin, a transient receptor potential protein. In order to investigate brain metabolic abnorma...
Saturation of beat-excited plasma waves by electrostatic mode coupling.

The nature of plasma waves which are resonantly excited when two laser beams beat in a rippled-density plasma is explored both theoretically and experimentally. A theoretical model is presented which, for commonly encountered experimental parameters, predicts rapid saturation of the high---phase-velocity beat wave at an amplitude below that expected for relativistic detuning. Results of experimental studies of this process are presented.
A single gene encodes a selective toxin causal to the development of tan spot of wheat

The identification and characterization of pathogenicity factors are essential to an understanding of the molecular events that regulate the interaction of plant-pathogenic microbes with their hosts. We have isolated the gene that encodes a host-selective toxic protein produced by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis and confirmed that this gene functions in the plant as the primary determinant of pathogenicity in the Pyrenophora-wheat interaction. These results demonstrate that a single gene encodes the production of a host-selective toxin and that transformation of this gene into a non-toxin-producing isolate of P. tritici-repentis leads to both toxin production and pathogenicity.
Hepatic Cytochrome P450 Degradation: Mechanistic Diversity of the Cellular Sanitation Brigade

Hepatic cytochromes P450 (P450s) are monotopic endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored hemoproteins that exhibit heterogenous physiological protein turnover. The molecular/cellular basis for such heterogeneity is not well understood. Although both autophagic-lysosomal and nonlysosomal pathways are available for their cellular degradation, native P450s such as CYP2B1 are preferentially degraded by the former route, whereas others such as CYPs 3A are degraded largely by the proteasomal pathway, and yet others such as CYP2E1 may be degraded by both. The molecular/structural determinants that dictate this differential proteolytic targeting of the native P450 proteins remain to be unraveled. In contrast, the bulk of the evidence indicates that inactivated and/or otherwise posttranslationally modified P450 proteins undergo adenosine triphosphate-dependent proteolytic degradation in the cytosol. Whether this process specifically involves the ubiquitin (Ub)-/26S proteasome-dependent, the Ub-independent 20S proteasome-dependent, or even a recently characterized Ub- and proteasome-independent pathway may depend on the particular P450 species targeted for degradation. Nevertheless, the collective evidence on P450 degradation attests to a remarkably versatile cellular sanitation brigade available for their disposal. Given that the P450s are integral ER proteins, this mechanistic diversity in their cellular disposal should further expand the repertoire of proteolytic processes available for ER proteins, thereby extending the currently held general notion of ER-associated degradation.
Voices From Beyond: A Thematic Content Analysis of Transgender Employees’ Workplace Experiences

The present study examined the gender transition experiences of transgender employees while in the workplace. Participants were 139 transgender-identified individuals currently employed at the time of the study. Participants were asked to respond to open-ended questions related to their experiences transitioning at work and provide any advice they might share with other transgender individuals considering a gender transition while employed. Using a thematic content analysis informed by grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967), participants’ responses were coded into 4 main domains: (a) interpersonal issues, (b) intrapersonal factors, (c) systemic and organizational issues, and (d) logistics and planning. Each of these domains was comprised of thematic categories and subcategories that further elucidated participants’ experiences related to these domains. Findings highlighted key areas of stress (e.g., hostile coworkers, gendered spaces, no employee protection policies) and strategies for preparing to transition genders at work (e.g., informing human resources, identifying allies). Implications of these results for practitioners, employers, and activists are discussed.
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Mental Health Court Participants by Psychiatric Diagnosis

Objective:The goal of mental health courts (MHCs) is to decrease incarceration and recidivism while increasing continuity of mental health treatment. Although previous research has found positive o...
Automated processing and identification of benthic invertebrate samples

We present a visually based method for the taxonomic identification of benthic invertebrates that automates image capture, image processing, and specimen classification. The BugID system automatically positions and images specimens with minimal user input. Images are then processed with interest operators (machine-learning algorithms for locating informative visual regions) to identify informative pattern features, and this information is used to train a classifier algorithm. Naive Bayes modeling of stacked decision trees is used to determine whether a specimen is an unknown distractor (taxon not in the training data set) or one of the species in the training set. When tested on images from 9 larval stonefly taxa, BugID correctly identified 94.5% of images, even though small or damaged specimens were included in testing. When distractor taxa (10 common invertebrates not present in the training set) were included to make classification more challenging, overall accuracy decreased but generally was close to 90%. At the equal error rate (EER), 89.5% of stonefly images were correctly classified and the accuracy of nonrejected stoneflies increased to 96.4%, a result suggesting that many difficult-to-identify or poorly imaged stonefly specimens had been rejected prior to classification. BugID is the first system of its kind that allows users to select thresholds for rejection depending on the required use. Rejected images of distractor taxa or difficult specimens can be identified later by a taxonomic expert, and new taxa ultimately can be incorporated into the training set of known taxa. BugID has several advantages over other automated insect classification systems, including automated handling of specimens, the ability to isolate nontarget and novel species, and the ability to identify specimens across different stages of larval development.
An Attempt to Improve Prediction of College Success of Minority Students by Adjusting for High School Characteristics

A validity study was conducted to determine whether the addition of a high school rating factor would increase the predictivity of freshman grade point average (GPA) for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The rating factor for each high school was the mean difference between the high school GPA and the UC freshman GPA of the previous year's graduates from the same high school who attended the University of California (UC). The subjects were the 161 EOP students who entered UCSD in fall quarter, 1972, and persisted for at least one year. All students had taken the College Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) prior to college admission. A stepwise multiple regression analysis yielded no significant increase in the multiple correlation when the high school factor was added to high school GPA, SAT verbal, and SAT mathematics scores as predictors of freshman GPA. Implications of these results for recruitment and counseling of EOP students are discu...
Conditions for Optimality of the Huffman Algorithm

A new general formulation of Huffman tree construction is presented which has broad application. Recall that the Huffman algorithm forms a tree, in which every node has some associated weight, by specifying at every step of the construction which nodes are to be combined to form a new node with a new combined weight. We characterize a wide class of weight combination functions, the quasilinear functions, for which the Huffman algorithm produces optimal trees under correspondingly wide classes of cost criteria. In addition, known results about Huffman tree construction and related concepts from information theory and from the theory of convex functions are tied together. Suggestions for possible future applications are given.
Should anyone be riding to glory on the now-descending limb of the crack-cocaine epidemic curve in the United States?

Abstract Background Many pre-clinical and clinical researchers do not appreciate the recent decline in United States (US) population-level incidence of crack-cocaine smoking. At present, no more than about 200 young people start using crack-cocaine each day. Ten years ago, the corresponding estimated daily rate was 1000. This short communication looks into these trends, surrounding evidence on this important public health topic, and checks whether duration-reducing treatment interventions might be responsible, versus selected alternatives. Methods Via analyses of standardized computer-assisted self-interview data from the US National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2002–2011; n > 500,000), we evaluated change in incidence estimates, perceived difficulty to acquire crack, risk of using cocaine, treatment entries, and persistence once crack use has started. Results We draw attention to a marked overall decline in year-specific incidence rates for crack-cocaine smoking from 2002 to 2011, especially 2007–2011. There is some variation in estimates of difficulty to acquire crack ( p p p > 0.05) or in proportion of crack users receiving treatment ( p > 0.05). Conclusions Changing epidemiology of crack-cocaine smoking may rest largely on reductions in newly incident use with no major direct effects due to US cocaine treatment, incarceration, or interdiction. Concurrently, we see quite modest declines in survey-based estimates of cocaine-attributed perceived risk and cocaine availability. As such, we posit that no specific US agency should claim it is ‘riding to glory’ on the descending limb of this epidemic curve.
The last step in converting the surface plasmonic energy into heat by nanocages and nanocubes on substrates.

The phonons of the vibrationally excited nanoparticle lattice couple to the environment on a time scale of tens to hundreds of picoseconds. The dynamics of electron–phonon, phonon–phonon, and vibrational processes in plasmonic nanoparticles may be followed optically through time-resolved pump–probe spectroscopy. [ 3–7 ] Vibrational motion of the lattice causes instantaneous modulation of the nanoparticle size, which modulates the electron density and results in periodic variations of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectrum at the lattice vibration frequency. The relaxation of these oscillations by coupling the nanoparticle lattice phonons to the phonons of the surrounding medium could lead to observed coherent oscillation of the medium phonons. The oscillations thus modulate the dielectric function of the medium around the nanoparticle resulting in modulations in the LSPR spectrum. In this manner, the excited medium phonons can be optically determined. The strength of the signal depends, among other factors, on the coupling between the nanoparticle and the medium as well as the coherence lifetime of the medium phonons produced. We recently reported on the lattice oscillations of gold nanocages having single and double shells [ 8 ] and showed that the value of the frequencies of the totally symmetric coherent oscillations observed refl ected the mechanical strength of these hollow nanoparticles. In the present study, we extend our time scale to that beyond the phonon–phonon relaxation
Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Students' Affective Response and Ability to Discriminate between Melody and Improvisation after Receiving Instruction in Singing and/or Playing a Piece in the Blues Style.

The purpose of this study was to assess fourth- and fifth-grade students’ (9- and 10-yearolds’) affective response and ability to discriminate between melody and improvisation after receiving instruction in singing and/or playing a piece in the blues style. Subjects (N= 102) were assigned to one of three equal-sized groups. Group 1 learned to sing a blues melody, group 2 learned to play a blues melody on the recorder, and group 3 subjects acted as the control and were given non-specific instruction in both singing and playing various melodies. Data were gathered as subjects manipulated the dial of the Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) to indicate ‘likeability’ and ‘recognition’ along a positive continuum, while listening to five musical examples. A descriptive analysis of group graphs indicated that groups receiving specific instruction in melodic and improvisatory discrimination responded with a higher level of discriminatory skill and positive affective response.
LANDSAP: a coupled surface and subsurface cellular automata model for landform simulation

Recent computer models of landform evolution have focused on surface processes of river networks and hillslopes (e.g., Ahnert, 1976; Kirkby, 1986; Willgoose et al., 1991a, b; Koltermann and Gorelick, 1992; Howard, 1994; Howard et al., 1994; Smith et al., 1997). Most of these models are based on complicated differential equations that are difficult to solve. Chase (1992) developed a cellular automata model (named Gilbert) that uses simple local rules of diffusion, erosion, and deposition to simulate the synoptic effects of fluvial processes. The Gilbert model applies simple rules iteratively to individual cells of a digital topographic grid after storm events (termed precipitons) randomly fall onto the grid. The rules are in a sense analogous to the natural processes. For example, precipitons move to lower elevations, simulating water running downhill; the amount of erosion is proportional to the local slope and to the erodibility of the rock, simulating speedier erosion of steeper slope and less erosion of hard rocks (Chase, 1992). The advantage of this approach is that it is simple and yet can still produce realistic first-order geomorphologic features and provide insights into landform evolution processes. The Gilbert model demonstrates that complex landscapes do not require complicated laws (Chase, 1992). Thus the cellular automata approach is ideal for simulating long-term landscape evolution that involves multiple interacting processes. This short note presents a model (LANDSAP) that extends the Gilbert model to combine both surface and subsurface processes. LANDSAP is designed to simulate the long-term landscape evolution from these processes and to test the effects of climatic changes. It is not designed to simulate every detail of the processes, but to help us understand the interactions among different processes and the overall effects of such interactions by comparing different simulation scenarios with field observations. A previous version of LANDSAP has been successfully used to model the groundwater sapping processes in Western Desert, Egypt and has provided insights into the paleoclimatic conditions of that area (Luo et al., 1997). The purposes of this Short Note are to describe the programming details in general terms and to make the updated program publicly available. LANDSAP could also be used as a teaching tool to demonstrate system interactions among surface, subsurface, and climatic processes.
Understanding Poverty Rates and Gaps: Concepts, Trends, and Challenges

I survey key developments in applied and theoretical research on poverty rates and poverty gaps over the past two decades, and provide a detailed analysis of poverty trends across a variety of income measures and poverty indexes. Included is an extensive summary of how poverty thresholds and economic resources are measured and several proposed recommendations for revision. In addition I discuss axiomatically derived alternatives to the standard poverty rate that provide estimates not only of the incidence of poverty, but also the intensity and the inequality of poverty. The empirical analysis shows that while poverty rates fell in the late 1990s, deep poverty held steady and even rose for broad income measures that include the usual private and public income sources along with in-kind transfers such as food stamps and subsidized housing, and tax credits such as the EITC. I conclude with a discussion of a number of new challenges facing poverty measurement, especially issues of data quality in the Current Population Survey, and recommendations for future research and policy on poverty measurement.