cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and drug use correlates of extra-medical use of prescription medications for sleep among adults in the United States: Results of the 2015-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Abstract Background This paper examines the epidemiology of extra-medical use of prescription medications for sleep among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Methods We analyzed data from the 2015–2018 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. The sample includes 3410 U.S. adults who reported extra-medical use of prescription medications for sleep. Multinomial logistic regression models identified correlates of type of drug used [i.e., sedatives and/or tranquilizers-only (ST-only), prescription pain relievers-only (PPR-only), or sedatives, tranquilizers, and prescription pain relievers (ST + PPR)], and logistic regression models identified correlates of reasons for extra-medical use (i.e., sleep-only vs. sleep and recreational). Results About 60% (95%CI = 58.9, 63.5) of the sample reported extra-medical use of ST-only, followed by PPR-only (29.9%, 95%CI = 27.5, 32.5), and ST + PPR (8.9%, 95%CI = 7.7, 10.4). Recreational use was reported by 28.4% (95% CI = 26.5, 30.4) of the sample. The odds of extra-medical use of PPR-only (aRRR = 3.1, 95%CI = 2.1, 4.5) and ST + PPR (aRRR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.2, 3.1) as opposed to ST-only, were greater among Non-Hispanic Blacks than Non-Hispanic Whites. Compared to non-alcohol users, those with a past-12 months diagnosis of alcohol use disorder were more likely to use ST + PPR rather than ST-only (aIRR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.1, 3.7). Non-Hispanic Blacks (aOR = 0.6, 95%CI = 0.4, 08) and individuals living in rural areas (aOR = 0.5, 95%CI = 0.3, 09) were less likely to report extra-medical use of prescription medications for recreational reasons than Non-Hispanic Whites and those residing in large metropolitan areas, respectively. Conclusions Extra-medical use of PPR-only and ST + PPR as an aid to sleep, is prevalent among Non-Hispanic Blacks, young adults, and those residing in rural areas. Most individuals reported that extra-medical use of prescription medications was primarily motivated by sleep reasons, rather than by sleep and recreational reasons. Potential interventions include access to sleep treatments, education on the effectiveness and risk associated with extra-medical use and co-use of prescription medications for sleep, and research on sleep-related disparities.
Characteristics of hydrocephalus expression in the LEW/Jms rat strain with inherited disease.

Abstract Materials and methods. The expression and severity of hydrocephalus was characterized in LEW/Jms rats with inherited hydrocephalus. Results. The frequency of overt disease (lethal) was 27.7%, but varied depending on breeding line. It increased to 31.5% when rats with mild disease were included. Most breeding pairs (48/51) produced hydrocephalic offspring with significantly more males than females affected. Some adult rats were also found to have mild (nonlethal) ventricular dilatation. When bred to Fisher F344 rats, 3% of the F1 progeny had overt hydrocephalus, indicating that the trait is not recessive. Overt hydrocephalus was 9–20% in N2 rats (F1 rats × LEW/Jms). The frequency of hydrocephalus and the presence of an excess of hydrocephalic males, varied depending on the direction of the cross. Mild hydrocephalus in N2 rats was 3.1%. Conclusion. It is concluded that the inheritance of hydrocephalus in LEW/Jms strain is probably not mendelian recessive but may be semidominant or involve more than one gene and has a male bias indicating possible linkage to sex chromosomes.
Modeling Strategy for Assessing Interaction and Confounding

This chapter continues the previous chapter (Chapter 6) that gives general guidelines for a strategy for determining a best model using a logistic regression procedure. The focus of this chapter is the interaction and confounding assessment stages of the model building strategy.
Salivary cotinine levels in human tobacco smokers predict the attentional validity effect size during smoking abstinence

Abstract. Rationale. The link between attention and brain cholinergic neurotransmission is widely accepted. Human chronic tobacco smokers maintain high levels of nicotine in plasma and body tissues and show enhanced attentional orienting and other attentional tasks. Objective. We wished to test whether abstinence from smoking caused levels of the nicotine metabolite cotinine to decline and attentional enhancement to be reduced in a correlated manner. Methods. The levels of salivary cotinine and behavioral performance on a cued target detection task were measured in chronic, adult tobacco smokers over a 5-day abstinence period. Control groups assessed over the same time period include non-smokers, smokers that did not abstain from tobacco, and smokers that abstained for 4 days and smoked on the last day. Results. In all groups with tobacco exposure, the levels of cotinine declined steadily with time after abstinence, reaching near zero levels at day 5. During this period, reaction times declined as well for all groups, due in part to task practice effects. In contrast, the validity effect, which indexes attentional allocation, increased with abstinence and was inversely related to cotinine levels in groups exposed to tobacco. Conclusions. We conclude that 1) nicotine abstinence increases the attentional validity effect, and 2) this increase is indexed by salivary cotinine, and 3) that control levels of attentional performance are achieved after 3–4 days of tobacco abstinence.
Influences of Perinatal Team Counseling on Women's Perceptions and Coping after Fetal Diagnosis

Poster Presentation Objective To assess and describe women's cognitive, emotional, and coping responses after meeting with a perinatal interdisciplinary team of specialists regarding the diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. Design A qualitative descriptive design guided by the stress, appraisal and coping transactional model of Lazarus and Folkman. Setting A Midwest referral program. Sample Fourteen pregnant women, between 25 to 36 weeks gestation, diagnosed with correctable fetal anomalies, and who participated in interdisciplinary counseling were recruited. Methods Qualitative descriptive, semistructured telephone interviews were completed with each participant. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis procedures were used to guide the data analysis. Four hundred and thirty‐four selected interview incidents resulted in an initial 37 codes. Code tag application (the number of times a participant used a particular code during an interview) resulted in 851 code tags among the 37 initial codes. We examined inductively to derive in vivo codes, subthemes, and emergent themes. Data analysis continued with a deductive process relating the emergent themes to the main component themes of the stress, appraisal and coping transactional model. Results Three themes and six subthemes emerged. The themes were defining the issue, establishing trust, and learning to deal . The subthemes were coping behaviors, effects of additional testing, seeking stability, information gathering, creating bonds with the interdisciplinary team , and integrating the information on the fetal condition . The themes and subthemes represented women's various coping behaviors. Stress appraisal was consistent with the stress, appraisal and coping transactional model. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Counseling strategies used prenatally influence women's perceptions, help establish trust, and ultimately facilitate coping. Understanding how women perceive provider interactions during pregnancy offers a unique opportunity to facilitate coping for the remainder of pregnancy and into the postpartum period.
Language, ethnicity and religion: a complex and persistent linkage

. Among the markers of ethnonational identity, language and religion have figured with equal prominence. In many cases, religion has been the bedrock of nation-building; and even today, it is difficult to separate a number of national identities from their religious matrices. Religious identity is based on, and perpetuated in, narratives expressed in a specific language. Language and religion are related; in our secular age, however, that relationship is no longer consistent. The two may feed upon one another; language may substitute for religion; or religion may trump language. This article explores the varying relationships between language and religion.
Remaining useful lifetime estimation for degraded power MOSFETs under cyclic thermal stress

Power semiconductor devices are the major cause of the power converter failures together with the electrolytic dc bus capacitors. In harsh operating environments, the power devices are subjected to various mechanical and electrical stresses, wear, and vibration that contribute to increased equipment failure rate, where a failed component can cause unexpected interruptions, serious safety issues, or easily account for millions of dollars in repair costs. Developing prognosis tools is vital for the reliability of these systems. This paper focuses on the remaining useful lifetime (RUL) estimation of degraded power MOSFETs which are stressed by thermal cycling. The relative change in on-state resistance is identified as the fault signature. A multiple device ageing platform is designed and built to collect experimental data. An exponential degradation model that fits successfully with the experimental data is developed. The experimental data is processed with Kalman Filter, and RUL estimation with limited field data is demonstrated.
Diagnosis of arbitrary defects using neighborhood function extraction

We present a methodology for diagnosing arbitrary defects in digital integrated circuits (ICs). Rather than using one or a set of fault models in a cause-effect or effect-cause approach, our methodology derives defect behavior from, the test set, the circuit and its response, and the physical neighbors that surround a potential defect location. The defect locations themselves are identified using a model-independent stage. The methodology enables accurate identification of defect location and behavior through validation via simulation using passing and additional diagnostic test patterns. A byproduct of our methodology is the distinction that can be made among stuck-fault equivalencies which results in improved diagnostic resolution. Several types of shorts and opens are used to demonstrate the applicability of our approach to the diagnosis of arbitrary defects.
SOURCES, SINKS AND SELECTIVITY

. A model, which consists of a system of several nonlinear ordinary differential equations, is developed to describe a metapopulation. Results regarding the location and stability of fixed population vectors are obtained, including conditions for the existence of multiple stable equilibria. The convergence of all solutions is established.
Creating a Peripheral Trading Zone: Satyendra Nath Bose and Bose–Einstein Statistics, Doing Science in the Role of an Outsider

The term ‘boson’ appears in almost all discussions on elementary particles and carries a reference to the name of Satyendra Nath Bose, the co-founder of quantum statistics. Yet, in spite of this wide use of a term coined after his name, Bose himself remains a shadowy figure in the history of science. This article is an attempt to reconstruct how Bose arrived at the statistics for which he is now remembered, and his subsequent two-year brief role in international science. Through the lens of Bose's practice, I seek to grasp the contexts of those peripheral scientists who enter the practice of science from outside of the main group, and yet somehow manage to create a lasting contribution within it.
Higher-order shear-deformable two dimensional hierarchical beam elements for laminated composites

This paper presents a new two dimensional curved beam element formulation with higher-order transverse shear deformation for linear static analysis of laminated composites. The derived displacement approximation in the transverse direction can be of an arbitrary desired polynomial order p thereby permitting strains of at least order (p - 1). The element formulation provides displacement continuity across the interelement boundaries. The element properties are derived using the principle of virtual work and the hierarchical element approximation. The formulation is presented for generally orthotropic and laminated composite materials. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy, simplicity of modelling, effectiveness, faster rate of convergence and overall superiority of the present formulation.
The use of Landsat to monitor Deep Water Dumpsite 106

Since the early 1970's, remote sensing has been used to study ocean dumping at some of the hearshore ocean dump sites off the coast of the United States, but little remote sensing had been done over the deep water ocean disposal sites. This report summarizes what has been learned from the remote sensing of ocean dumping by the Landsat satellites at Deep Water Dumpsite 106. Of the three major types of waste material discharged at Deep Water Dumpsite 106, only the titanium pigment process acid waste has been sighted. From early in 1977 to May 1979, 11 acid dumps were observed by Landsat. All five of the dumps sighted in 1977 occurred within warm core Gulf Stream eddies and the plumes moved clockwise within the eddies. Four of those dumps were seen to be located northeast of the original dump location while the fifth one was sighted south of the original dump location. The six remaining observed dumps, discharged in the absence of an eddy, were seen to be located generally south of the original dumping locations. The average speed of the dump movement was 0.68 kt with a range from 0.17 to 1.17 kts. Plume dispersion showed a tendency toward greater dispersion as the plume got older with the widest plume cross section measured on the order of 2100 m.
Whole-mantle versus layered mantle convection and the role of a high-viscosity lower mantle in terrestrial volatile evolution

Terrestrial noble gas isotope geochemistry provides one of the most powerful geochemical tools presently available for understanding the volatile evolution of the Earth. The data require the existence of isolated reserviors with very different time integratedU/He ratios within discrete portions of the mantle. One mechanism proposed to account for the apparent isolation is a high-viscosity lower mantle. We have conducted numerical experiments to study the influence of a higher viscosity lower mantle on the mixing efficiency of mantle convection and the rate of mantle degassing. We consider cylindrical mantle convection models in which the lower mantle viscosity is increased to up to two orders of magnitude higher than that of the upper mantle, while maintaining the overall vigor of convection as measured by the total surface heat flow. The models incorporate radiogenic ingrowth and degassing of He. We show with models that match the present day heat flow that the high viscosity of the lower mantle alone does not prevent large-scale mixing of the mantle. Both3He and3He4He remain relatively homogeneous through the entire mantle, showing only small-scale heterogeneity. Degassing is more rapid in the case of the high-viscosity lower mantle. Present day plate velocities, heat flow and estimates for the amount of degassed radiogenic noble gases over the age of the Earth are best matched by the model with a 30-times increase of viscosity in the lower mantle.
Mutagenesis of highly conserved histidines in lecithincholesterol acyltransferase: identification of an essential histidine (His 377).

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is responsible for the formation of cholesterol esters in plasma and is implicated in the removal of excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues. It is generally accepted that the catalytic mechanism of LCAT is similar to that of serine proteases and lipases involving a Ser, a His, and an acidic amino acid residue. Ser181in LCAT has been previously identified as a catalytic residue; however, the active site His and acidic residue have not yet been identified. In this study we have used a variety of approaches to identify the putative active site histidine. Alignments of LCAT sequences across various species indicate that the four histidines at positions 180, 263, 368, and 377 are conserved and could be involved in catalysis. Based on the observation that the members of the triad preserve the same orientation in the primary sequence of a large number of lipases, we eliminated His180as a potential candidate. Mutational analysis along with functional assays show that, in contrast to the replacement of His263and His368, the replacement of the His at position 377 with Gly, Ala, or Ser obliterates LCAT activity with interfacial and water-soluble substrates, thus indicating a role of His377in catalysis.
Tactile Temperature Analysis of Home Theater System

In this work, the tactile temperature of home theater systems under natural convection conditions has been investigated through numerical approaches and experiment. The CFD analysis method was used to observe temperature changes of both the case top and the heat source. Based on numerical simulation results, four types of steel sheet mock-up having different vent sizes and locations were tested. As a consequence of the experiments, relationships in temperature variation between the case top and the heat source were investigated and verified. In addition, by using the validated and improved vent system, a fanless home theater system was proposed under high heat dissipating heat sources.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Synergistic brainstem interactions for morphine analgesia.

Abstract Morphine is a potent analgesic when microinjected into the periaqueductal gray (PAG), the rostral ventral medulla (RVM) which contains the nuclei raphe magnus and reticularis gigantocellularis and the dorsolateral pons (DLP) which includes the locus coeruleus. Coadministration of low morphine doses which are inactive alone into combinations of these three regions elicits dramatic analgesic responses, implying the existence of synergy. The most effective combination is the PAG/RVM, whereas the PAG/DLP and RVM/DLP combinations are much less efficacious. In addition to fixed combinations, inclusion of a low morphine dose in one region shifts the analgesic dose-response curves in the others. The marked synergy between the PAG and the RVM is sensitive to naloxonazine, implying a role forμ 1 receptors. Thus, these studies indicate the presence of intrinsic brainstemμ 1 receptor systems with synergistic interactions which can be pharmacologically distinguished from the brainstemμ 2 receptors mediating supraspinal/spinal synergy.
Resist Dissolution Kinetics And Submicron Process Control

The details of photoresist dissolution kinetics play a major role in image quality and process control, especially at sub-micron geometries. Kinetic parameters for photoresist dissolution are obtained using methods familiar to most lithography engineers. For example, activation energies can be extracted from the temperature dependence of dissolution rate while chemical reaction orders are obtained from the variation of dissolution rate with developer concentration. Taken together, these data provide valuable insight, not only about the mechanism of dissolution but also about the details of resist performance. Large chemical reaction orders and negative activation energies are observed at low to medium exposure doses, which prevail at the edges of lithographic features. The decrease in exposure selectivity at lower temperatures might suggest that higher resolution can be obtained at higher developer temperatures. Furthermore, a resist-developer combination which exhibits a strong dependence of reaction order on exposure energy is expected to show higher selectivity than a system with a lower reaction order-exposure dependence. Other desirable lithographic properties such as sidewall angle, latitude and resolution will follow the same trend. In this paper, the results of experiments in dissolution kinetics are tied to submicron lithography through semiempirical Prosim modeling. Activation energies are measured for various exposures and developer concentrations. Dissolution reaction orders are obtained for various developer temperatures and exposure energies. The computer modeling program, Prosim, is then used to model resist characteristics under various conditions. These include exposure, focus and mask-matching latitudes as well as resist profiles. Prosim calculations are verified by selected applications results which illustrate the influence of kinetic parameters on lithographic performance.
Dose-response characteristics of mibefradil, a novel calcium antagonist, in the treatment of essential hypertension.

The aim of this study was to determine the dose-response characteristics of the calcium antagonist, mibefradil, and to evaluate its antihypertensive efficacy and safety in varying doses in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Three hundred and three eligible patients were randomized to receive once-daily 6.25-, 12.5-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 150-, or 200-mg mibefradil doses or placebo for 4 weeks. Repeated blood pressure measurements and electrocardiographic recordings were obtained for the 24 h following the last dose of the placebo run-in period and for the first and last doses of randomized treatment. A statistically significant (P 85% for the 50- and 100-mg doses and 68% and 69% for the 150- and 200-mg doses, respectively. The full antihypertensive effect of mibefradil was achieved within 1 week of treatment. Reductions in sitting systolic blood pressure (SSBP) closely paralleled those in SDBP. The antihypertensive effect of mibefradil was associated with a slight dose-dependent decrease in heart rate and increase in the pulse rate (PR) interval. The appropriate therapeutic dose range of mibefradil in the management of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension is 50 to 100 mg.
The Hydrophobic Environment of Met35 of Alzheimer's Aβ(1-42) is Important for the Neurotoxic and Oxidative Properties of the Peptide

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain increased lipid peroxidation is found. Amyloid beta-peptide [Abeta(1-42)] induces oxidative stress (including lipid peroxidation) and neurotoxicity, and the single methionine residue (Met35) is important for these properties. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that removal of Met35 from lipid bilayer would abrogate the oxidative stress and neurotoxic properties of Abeta(1-42), i.e. we tested the hypothesis and found that lipid peroxidation initiated by oxidation of the Met35 is an early event in Abeta(1-42) neurotoxicity. Substitution of negatively charged aspartic acid for glycine residue 37 is not predicted to bring the Met35 residue out of the hydrophobic lipid bilayer. In this study, we showed that G37D substitution in Abeta(1-42) completely abolishes neurotoxic and oxidative processes associated with the parent peptide. This is demonstrated by the lack of cell toxicity and protein oxidation in contrast to the treatment with native Abeta(1-42). Additionally, the G37D peptide does not display the aggregation properties that are associated with native Abeta as seen in the thioflavin T (ThT) assay and fibril morphology. The results presented in this work are thus consistent with the notion of the importance of methionine 35 of Abeta(1-42) in the lipid-initiated oxidative cascade and subsequent neurotoxicity in AD brain.
Role of growth hormone and prolactin in the control of reproduction: What are we learning from transgenic and knock-out animals?1

Growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), and prolactin (PRL) can influence various aspects of reproductive functions in both females and males. However, the physiological role of PRL and the GH-IGF-I axis in the control of reproduction has been difficult to define, and the recent availability of knock-out (KO) animals allows re-examination of this issue. PRL-receptor (R)-KO and PRL-KO females are sterile because of luteal failure. In addition, these mice have severe deficits in the development of oocytes and early embryos. However, male fertility is not affected in the PRL-KO and in most of the PRL-R-KO animals. IGF-KO animals have an infantile reproductive system and are sterile. GH-R-KO mice can reproduce, but their breeding performance is reduced, particularly in females. These data indicate that IGF-I signaling is required for normal reproductive development and confirm the requirement for PRL for fertility in the female mouse. GH resistance leads to quantitative deficits in reproductive development and functions, but does not preclude fertility in either sex. We suspect that PRL and the GH-IGF-I axis provide partially overlapping (redundant) regulatory inputs to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and consequently, targeted disruption of either signaling pathway has relatively mild consequences on many functions related to reproduction. Overexpression of heterologous or homologous GH in transgenic animals can lead to severe reproductive deficits, including female sterility in some of the lines. Studies in GH transgenics should allow the identification of mechanisms that mediate the effects of chronic overexposure to GH on reproduction.
A new macromolecular inhibitor of yeast ribonuclease mediated through purine nucleotides

Abstract Ribonuclease activity in cell-free extracts of Candida lipolytica is strongly inhibited by purine nucleoside di-, tri- and tetraphosphates and only slightly by the corresponding pyrimidine nucleoside phosphates. The inhibition by the purine nucleotides is noncompetitive, and K i values for ATP and GTP are approximately 2·10 −5 M. The inhibitory principle is nondialyzable and heat-labile. Purified ribonuclease from the same organism is slightly inhibited by nucleotides in buffer solution but greatly inhibited by nucleotides in the presence of the crude cell-free extracts. These facts suggest that a macromolecular ribonuclease inhibitor exists in C. lipolytica , and its activity is mediated by purine nucleoside polyphosphates.
A weak utopianism of postcolonial nationalist Bildung: Re-reading Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born

Most criticism of Ayi Kwei Armah’s 1968 novel The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born has concentrated on the pessimistic aspects of the text, highlighting the failures of postcolonial nationalist movements, and ranking Armah’s work “among the bleakest and most disenabling texts to be produced during the first decade of independence in Africa” (Lazarus, “(Re)turn to the People” in The World of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, ed. Charles Cantalupo [Trenton, NJ: African World, 1995]). This article contests such readings and works towards the recovery of a latent, weak utopianism that works similarly to Derrida’s conception of messianicity without messianism and the promise for the event yet to-come. Instead of viewing the novel as an historical account of the failures of postcolonial nationalism, this weak-utopian reading privileges the promise and possibility that arise from the text itself. Thus the article underscores the need for a negative dialectical or weak-utopian politics, recognizing, in Adorno’s words, the “consc...
Structure and function of the bristles of Pediastrum boryanum (Chlorophyta)

Tufts of long delicate bristles were detected on mature colonies of Pediastrum boryanum (Turp.) Meneghini. The bristles are not uniform in length and can exceed 100 μm. Bristle number per tuft can exceed eighty. Ultrastructure studies revealed that tufts are an aggregate of hexagonal tubules arranged in staggered rows. Each hexagonal tubule has an inner diameter of 6 nm and is made up of six interconnected subunits 4 nm in diameter that are shared by adjoining tubules. The bristles can be easily removed from mature colonies with a vortex stirrer. Removal of bristles from mature colonies in culture results in the loss of buoyancy and subsequent settling to the bottom of the flask.
Small businesses do plan and it pays off

Abstract An examination of the performance of 135 small businesses revealed that, in general, planners outperformed non-planners. The specific relationship depended on the type of business and the nature of planning their activities. Two types of activities were identified—one dealing with the active or analytical aspects of planning, the second with the more formalized aspects of planning. Only the former showed any significant relationship with planning. In fact, for one sub-group there was a negative relationship between formalized planning and performance. Avenues for further research in this area are explored as well as recommendations for improving small business planning effectiveness.
Preparation and evaluation of hemoglobin-polyethylene glycol conjugate (pyridoxalated polyethylene glycol hemoglobin) as an oxygen-carrying resuscitation fluid.

: Human hemoglobin was pyridoxalated and subsequently coupled with the activated ester of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to provide an oxygen-carrying resuscitation fluid. The PEG conjugate of pyridoxalated hemoglobin (pyridoxalated PEG hemoglobin) has a longer half-life in the circulation (12.8 h) than does hemoglobin (2.2 h) when the solutions are exchange-transfused by ˜60%. The P50 of pyridoxalated PEG hemoglobin, which is the partial pressure of oxygen at which one-half of the absorbed oxygen is released, was 21.3 ± 1.4 mm Hg (mean ± SD, n = 5) (37°C, pH = 7.4), which is close to that of human whole blood (25.9 ± 0.6 mm Hg). The colloidal osmotic pressure and the viscosity were 36.5 ± 2.4 mm Hg (n = 5) and 2.6 ± 0.4 cp (n = 5), respectively. The results indicate that the pyridoxalated PEG hemoglobin solution has favorable properties for use as an oxygencarrying resuscitation fluid.
Google glass based immunochromatographic diagnostic test analysis

Integration of optical imagers and sensors into recently emerging wearable computational devices allows for simpler and more intuitive methods of integrating biomedical imaging and medical diagnostics tasks into existing infrastructures. Here we demonstrate the ability of one such device, the Google Glass, to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) using a voice-commandable hands-free software-only interface, as an alternative to larger and more bulky desktop or handheld units. Using the built-in camera of Glass to image one or more RDTs (labeled with Quick Response (QR) codes), our Glass software application uploads the captured image and related information (e.g., user name, GPS, etc.) to our servers for remote analysis and storage. After digital analysis of the RDT images, the results are transmitted back to the originating Glass device, and made available through a website in geospatial and tabular representations. We tested this system on qualitative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) RDTs. For qualitative HIV tests, we demonstrate successful detection and labeling (i.e., yes/no decisions) for up to 6-fold dilution of HIV samples. For quantitative measurements, we activated and imaged PSA concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL and generated calibration curves relating the RDT line intensity values to PSA concentration. By providing automated digitization of both qualitative and quantitative test results, this wearable colorimetric diagnostic test reader platform on Google Glass can reduce operator errors caused by poor training, provide real-time spatiotemporal mapping of test results, and assist with remote monitoring of various biomedical conditions.
The effects of a subjective monitoring task in the physiological measure of genital response to erotic stimulation.

Instrumentation has been developed which promises to further our understanding of the relationship between cognitive and physiological factors in the sexual arousal process. Past research has examined this relationship by continuous measurement of genital response, and discrete posttest measurement of subjective arousal. The self-report or “cognitive lever” allows individuals to rate feelings of arousal continuously throughout a stimulus interval by positioning a lever device along a calibrated scale. In this way, structural patterns of physiological and cognitive response can be examined. However, since attention has been shown to be an important cognitive operation in the processing of sexual stimuli, there is concern that this subjective measuring task may confound laboratory assessment by altering genital responsivity through distractive or possibly facilitative mechanisms. In order to test the methodological limitations of the cognitive lever, 14 male and female college students were exposed to duplicate viewings of erotic videotapes while alternately using and not using the self-report device. Results indicated that lever usage was not obtrusive in females, but was in males to the point of altering physiological response. In addition, the study took advantage of the continuous, concurrent measurements and examined patterns of convergence and divergence between the two. Results of correlational analyses indicated, in line with past research, that for men greater degrees of erection result in significantly higher subjective-objective agreement. Patterns for women as a group were much less clear, with only two significant correlations appearing. Finally, the limitations of the cognitive lever were discussed.
Spatial chromatic tessellation: conception, interpretation, and implication

A novel spatial tessellation scheme, spatial chromatic tessellation (SCT), is proposed for representing and exploring space–entity relationship. The objective of this article is briefly introducing the basic concepts, structure, and properties of SCT. Our study mainly focuses on the arranged chromatic diagram (ACD), which is the most typical type of SCT. A few examples show that ACD can be used to analyze spatial topology, statistics, computations, database, and Voronoi diagrams. ACD also contains many implications on spatial analysis theory. With respect to each entity in a space, SCT partitions the space into a number of small unit cells and gives each cell a unique chromatic code. The spatial topological relationships among these cells are able to be represented and computed by their codes. Based on the different statistical rules on cellular codes, cells could be merged into larger clusters, such as a variety of Voronoi diagrams. Moreover, because cells are coded with the same data structure, it is ea...
Parts in object concepts: experiments with artificial categories.

Previous research has demonstrated that basic-level categories are associated with the parts of objects. Five experiments were conducted to investigate whether this correlation is caused by a psychological principle that requires basic concepts to have common parts. This hypothesis was investigated in the experiments by separating part and nonpart information in-artificial categories. Basic-level structure was measured in two ways: as the level with the highest ratio of within-category similarity to between-category similarity, and as the level with the fa8test categorization time in an object-identification task. The results revealed that basic-level structure could be found in categories that did not have parts in common. Furthermore, nonpart information, such as size, color, and texture, could both enhance the basic level and eliminate the basic-level advantage, depending on whether the nonpart information was consistent with or contradicted the part information. These results suggest that, psychologically, parts are neither necessary nor sufficient to form a basic level.
Reconstructing MR images from undersampled data: data-weighting considerations.

Data which are sampled more densely than the Nyquist limit in k-space are weighted prior to reconstruction by the inverse of the local sampling density. This work considers the effects of weighting data that are sampled less densely than the Nyquist limit. It specifically analyzes azimuthally undersampled projection reconstruction, variable density spirals, and variable density phase encoding. Effects on resolution, aliasing, and SNR are given. Higher resolution is obtained by weighting undersampled data according to the inverse of sampling density, while better SNR and less aliasing artifact are obtained by weighting undersampled data uniformly. Magn Reson Med 43:867-875, 2000.
Effects of insulin and glucose on the production and utilization of glucose in sheep (Ovis aries).

Abstract 1. 1. The rates of appearance (RA) and metabolic clearance rates (MCR) of glucose were determined during the infusion of insulin plus glucose in sheep. 2. 2. During euglycaemia 50% inhibition of RA of endogenous glucose occurred at insulin concentrations of 60 μU/ml in arterial plasma. 3. 3. During euglycaemia the MCR of glucose doubled with an increment of about 100 μU/ml of insulin. 4. 4. Hypoglycaemia was associated with a reduction in insulin's suppression of RA of endogenous glucose and hyperglycaemia significantly reduced the increase in MCR due to insulin.
Dynamics of rotating multicomponent turbomachinery systems

The ultimate objective of turbomachinery vibration analysis is to predict both the overall, as well as component dynamic response. To accomplish this objective requires complete engine structural models, including multistages of bladed disk assemblies, flexible rotor shafts and bearings, and engine support structures and casings. In the present approach each component is analyzed as a separate structure and boundary information is exchanged at the inter-component connections. The advantage of this tactic is that even though readily available detailed component models are utilized, accurate and comprehensive system response information may be obtained. Sample problems, which include a fixed base rotating blade and a blade on a flexible rotor, are presented.
Exact analytical loop closure in proteins using polynomial equations

Loop closure in proteins has been studied actively for over 25 years. Using spherical geometry and polynomial equations, several loop-closure problems in proteins are solved exactly by reducing them to the determination of the real roots of a polynomial. Loops of seven, eight, and nine atoms are treated explicitly, including the tripeptide and disulfide-bonded loop-closure problems. The number of valid loop closures can be evaluated by the method of Sturm chains, which counts the number of real roots of a polynomial. Longer loops can be treated by three methods: by sampling enough dihedral angles to reduce the problem to a soluble loop-closure problem; by applying the loop-closure algorithm hierarchically; or by decimating the chain into independently moving rigid elements that can be reconnected using loop-closure algorithms. Applications of the methods to docking, homology modeling and NMR problems are discussed. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 819–844, 1999
Linking four libraries 9,012km apart: steps to global resource sharing

Understanding challenges like restrictive licenses, fees to recover costs that price information out of reach of some patrons, and high shipping costs help libraries provide focus on what needs to be researched to make improvements. Successful tools to facilitate resource sharing such as the power of groups, ability to easily discover holdings and transmit interlibrary loan requests in efficient methods using standards all contribute to improved resource sharing. This should eventually help improve resource sharing for libraries in Kansas and in Bulgaria even if they do not necessarily need to exchange information to meet the needs of their local patrons.
Localpiecewise linear regression

In this paper, we propose a new nonparametric estimator called the local piecewise linear regression estimator. The proposed estimator has the advantages of the regression spline and the local linear regression estimator but overcomes the drawbacks of both. Here we study the asymptotic behavior of the proposed estimator. Under suitable conditions, we derive the leading bias and variance terms of the local piecewise linear regression estimator at the interior and boundary points for both the fixed design and the random design. As a result, we are able to see clearly many optimal properties of the local piecewise linear regression estimator. For example, the proposed estimator is efficient, designadaptive and computationally inexpensive, and it suffers no boundary effects.
Vertebral location of cord segments innervating cat hind limb musculature

To facilitate future studies requiring efficient surgical access to spinal cord segments innervating cat hind limb muscles, lumbosacral cord segments L3 through S2 were located with reference to the dorsolateral tips of the rostral articular processes of the surrounding vertebrae. A map showing means and ranges of vertebral loci of these segments from 20 cats was constructed. Correlation analysis was then used to find a practical way of narrowing the predicted range of loci of segments supplying the lower hind limb muscles in a particular cat. Several of the midlumbar junctions were determined to be good predictors of the position of the S2-S3 junction, the caudal limit of hind limb innervation. However, L4-L5 was found to be the most feasible to use experimentally, because of the ease of exposing and identifying it. Because all of the lumbosacral segments L3 through S2 in a given cat show a similar tendency with regard to relative length, the positions of the segments L6 through S1 can be interpolated from the prediction of the S2-S3 junction.
Convergence toward a single sexual standard

Male and female participants in a “computer dating” study completed a sexual experience questionnaire as well as attitudinal and experiential questionnaires. The degree of a participant’s sexual experience was found to be related to interpersonal attraction, physical attractiveness, dating experience, and attitudes regarding religious, moral, and political issues. The sexual experiences for both sexes were demonstrated to be cumulative and follow a fixed pattern but the sequence of sexual experiences differed for males and females.
Numerical Simulation of the Performance of a Salt-Gradient Solar Pond

A one-dimensional mathematical model which simulates the dynamic performance of stratified solar brine ponds is described. The model simulates the upper convective zone, the middle nonconvective zone, and the lower convective zone. In addition to the energy flux, the model simulates the varying brine densities as a function of temperature and salt concentration, and thus is able to examine various pond stability criteria. On the basis of model operational studies, the following results are presented: (i) a study of overall pond efficiency in terms of the upper convective layer; (ii) an optimization study of the thickness of the nonconvective zone in terms of net energy transmission to the lower convective zone; (iii) an investigation of the heat storage efficiency and of the overall pond efficiency as a function of pond loading rate for a particular depth of storage zone.
Managing manure nutrients through multi-crop forage production.

Concentrated sources of dairy manure represent significant water pollution potential. The southern United States may be more vulnerable to water quality problems than some other regions because of climate, typical farm size, and cropping practices. Dairy manure can be an effective source of plant nutrients and large quantities of nutrients can be recycled through forage production, especially when multi-cropping systems are utilized. Linking forage production with manure utilization is an environmentally sound approach for addressing both of these problems. Review of two triple-crop systems revealed greater N and P recoveries for a corn silage-bermudagrass hay-rye haylage system, whereas forage yields and quality were greater for a corn silage-corn silage-rye haylage system, when manure was applied at rates to supply N. Nutrient uptake was lower than application during the autumn-winter period, and bermudagrass utilized more of the remaining excess than a second crop of corn silage. Economic comparison of these systems suggests that the added value of the two corn silage crop system was not enough to off-set its increased production cost. Therefore, the system that included bermudagrss demonstrated both environmental and economic advantages. Review of the N and P uptake and calculated crop value of various single, double, and triple crop forage systems indicated that the per hectare economic value as well as the N and P uptakes tended to follow DM yields, and grasses tended to out-perform broadleaf forages. Taken across all systems, systems that included bermudagrass tended to have some of the highest economic values and uptakes of N and P. Manure applied at rates to supply N results in application of excess P, and production will not supply adequate quantities of forage to meet the herd's needs. Systems that lower manure application and supply supplemental N to produce all necessary forage under manure application will likely be less economically attractive due to additional costs of moving manure further and applying it to greater land areas, but will be environmentally necessary in most cases. Intensive forage systems can produce acceptable to high quality forage, protect the environment, and be economically attractive. The optimal manure-forage system will depend on the farm characteristics and specific local conditions. Buffers and nutrient sinks can protect streams and water bodies from migrating nutrients and should be included as a part of crop production systems.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in choline deficiency-induced apoptosis in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Our recent studies have demonstrated that generation of ROS is associated with choline deficiency (CD)-induced apoptosis in CWSV-1 cells, an immortalized rat hepatocyte that becomes tumorigenic by stepwise culturing in decreasing levels of choline. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CD on loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), using the JC-1 probe by FASCAN assay. Our data demonstrate that MMP in CD-cultured cells was decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner and that significant disruption occurred at 24 h, relative to high choline (HC, 70 μM) cultured cells. In order to investigate further the relationship among the CD-induced ROS, MMP collapse, and apoptosis, we examined the effects of different inhibitors on ROS production, MMP disruption, and apoptosis in CD or HC-cultured CWSV-1 cells. These data indicate that the disruption of MMP is an upstream event in CD-induced apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in mediating CD-induced apoptosis in CWSV-1 cells.
Child custody evaluations: Fair and unfair professional practices

Mental health professionals are frequently called upon to conduct psychological evaluations of the adult parties and minor children in contested child custody actions. Whether Court-appointed or as an agreed examiner, the professional's essential role is that of expert consultant to the court. He or she can only assist the trier of fact by conducting an evaluation that is fair, impartial and objective, that protects the personal and legal rights of all parties, and that is consistent with professional and ethical standards. Ethical principles require the mental health professional to accept the burden of responsibility for protecting and preserving the clients' rights and welfare throughout the evaluation period, from the initial referral to the rendering of recommendations. Language: en
α-D-Glucose: Precise Determination of Crystal and Molecular Structure by Neutron-Diffraction Analysis

This analysis provides the first precise crystal and molecular structural parameters for alpha-D-glucose. The C-C, C-H, and O-H bond lengths deviate only slightly from their means of 1.523 A, 1.098 A, and 0.968 A. The C(1)-O(1) bond length, 1.389 A, is significantly shorter than the mean value, 1.420 A, of the other C-O bonds. The valence angle of the ring oxygen is 113.8 degrees.