cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical family therapy: A model for addressing mental health disparities among Latinos.

The Latino population in the United States is growing at an exponential rate. As a medically underserved population, Latinos experience many health disparities, including those related to mental health. Current research suggests that Latinos in the United States are at high risk for problems such as anxiety, depression, somatization disorders, and substance abuse, yet, often these health needs go unmet. This article suggests that an effective method of reaching and treating more Latinos is through medical family therapy. Because Latinos may be more likely to seek help from a physician for mental health complaints, and because marriage and family therapists may be most culturally congruent in their orientation to therapy, collaboration between health care providers and medical family therapists is logical.
Ophthalmology on the Internet: What Do Our Patients Find?

The Internet has become a favorite source of medical information for a growing number of patients. At the same time, content on the Internet represents an amalgamation of viewpoints, commercial interests, and various biases. A common way to access Internet information is through commercial portals with proprietary search engines. Often these search engines prioritize their rank list based on commercial interests. We evaluated whether Internet searches of ophthalmic issues are slanted toward commercial sites and whether any differences exist among the various search engines. We used age-related macular degeneration as an example. In this study, we found that some search engines are heavily tilted toward commercial partnerships, whereas others emphasize sites run by nonprofit and educational organizations. Our findings may guide physicians in recommending to their patients some internet portals rather than others. This type of evaluation can be conducted intermittently by physicians and other health care professionals to assess the type of information that reaches their patients and what biases may be influencing patient knowledge and decision making.
On the Theory of Groups with Extremal Layers

If m is a positive integer or co, the m layer of a group is the subgroup generated by all the elements of order m. Following Cemikov we call a group extremal if it is a finite extension of an abelian group satisfying the minimal condition for subgroups: extremal groups turn up frequently in the theory of infinite groups and it is an unsolved problem whether every group satisfying the minimal condition is extremal. In this paper we study groups all of whose layers are extremal or EL groups for short. It is clear that an EL group is countable and locally finite since extremal groups have these properties and since each layer is a normal subgroup. Some years ago interesting characterizations of EL-groups were given by Ya. D. Polovickii ([12], Theorems 1 and 3) and we begin by giving another, more direct proof of his results. * In order to state these we need some further terminology. A group is said to be locally extremal and normal if every finite subset lies in a normal extremal subgroup. A direct product of groups is called prime-thin if for each prime p only a finite number of the direct factors contain elements of order p. PolovickiI’s theorem is as follows.
Historical trajectories and restoration strategies for the Mississippi River alluvial valley

Abstract Unlike upland forests in the eastern United States, little research is available about the composition and structure of bottomland forests before Euro-American settlement. To provide a historical reference encompassing spatial variation for the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley, we quantified forest types, species distributions, densities, and stocking of historical forests using General Land Office (GLO) records from Missouri. For modeling historical species distributions, we applied random forests classification and predictor variables included terrain and soil characteristics. Historical forest types predominantly were sweetgum, black and white oak, and elm. Contemporary forests increased in maples and hickories, which are replacing sweetgum and oaks. Forest densities increased from 215 to 350 trees/ha to 350 to 400 trees/ha for trees ⩾12.7 DBH. Basal area historically was greater by a factor of 1.6–2.6 and percent stocking historically was full, except in an open oak-dominated ecosystem, whereas forests today have lower stocking comprised of young, small diameter trees. Land types, elevation, and soil texture determined historical species distributions, and we expect that with loss of fire and flooding, ecological separation by site factors has become less influential for current species distribution. Selection of sweetgum and oaks for planting would restore historical composition better than planting of ash and other shade-tolerant species, which promotes conversion to forest types under undisturbed conditions rather than restoration of forests under historical disturbance regimes. We also recommend managing for large diameter trees by thinning to promote more rapid growth of residual trees. Although there is uncertainty in historical reconstruction, these results provide new information about the presence and spatial variability of sweetgum and oak in historical forests of the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley and post-settlement transformation of alluvial landscapes.
Linear systems formulation of scattering theory for rough surfaces with arbitrary incident and scattering angles

Scattering effects from microtopographic surface roughness are merely nonparaxial diffraction phenomena resulting from random phase variations in the reflected or transmitted wavefront. Rayleigh-Rice, Beckmann-Kirchhoff. or Harvey-Shack surface scatter theories are commonly used to predict surface scatter effects. Smooth-surface and/or paraxial approximations have severely limited the range of applicability of each of the above theoretical treatments. A recent linear systems formulation of nonparaxial scalar diffraction theory applied to surface scatter phenomena resulted first in an empirically modified Beckmann-Kirchhoff surface scatter model, then a generalized Harvey-Shack theory that produces accurate results for rougher surfaces than the Rayleigh-Rice theory and for larger incident and scattered angles than the classical Beckmann-Kirchhoff and the original Harvey-Shack theories. These new developments simplify the analysis and understanding of nonintuitive scattering behavior from rough surfaces illuminated at arbitrary incident angles.
Isoelectric focusing of proteins exposed to sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Abstract We have found that proteins that have been dissolved in sodium dodecyl sulfate, an anionic detergent, can be successfully analyzed by isoelectric focusing. Optimal results are obtained if the protein in SDS solution is dialyzed against a large excess of 10 m urea, to remove as much SDS as possible, prior to focusing.
GERIATRIC BIOSCIENCE: Speech Perception in Older Adults: The Importance of Speech‐Specific Cognitive Abilities

OBJECTIVE: To provide a critical evaluation of studies examining the contribution of changes in language-specific cognitive abilities to the speech perception difficulties of older adults. DESIGN: A review of the literature on aging and speech perception. CONCLUSIONS: The research considered in the present review suggests that age-related changes in absolute sensitivity is the principal factor affecting older listeners' speech perception in quiet. However, under less favorable listening conditions, changes in a number of speech-specific cognitive abilities can also affect spoken language processing in older people. Clinically, these findings suggest that hearing aids, which have been the traditional treatment for improving speech perception in older adults, are likely to offer considerable benefit in quiet listening situations because the amplification they provide can serve to compensate for age-related hearing losses. However, such devices may be less beneficial in more natural environments, (e.g., noisy backgrounds, multiple talkers, reverberant rooms) because they are less effective for improving speech perception difficulties that result from age-related cognitive declines. It is suggested that an integrative approach to designing test batteries that can assess both sensory and cognitive abilities needed for processing spoken language offers the most promising approach for developing therapeutic interventions to improve speech perception in older adults.
On the spectra of universal relational sentences

The problem of deciding whether two universal relational sentences have the same spectrum is solvable by an algorithm whose run time is bounded by a linear stack of 2s, but not by an algorithm whose run time is bounded by a fixed stack of 2s.
Editing Wikipedia content by screen reader: easier interaction with the Accessible Rich Internet Applications suite.

Purpose. This study aims to improve Wikipedia usability for the blind and promote the application of standards relating to Web accessibility and usability.Method. First, accessibility and usability of Wikipedia home, search result and edit pages are analysed using the JAWS screen reader; next, suggestions for improving interaction are proposed and a new Wikipedia editing interface built. Most of the improvements were obtained using the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) suite, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) within the framework of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Last, a scenario of use compares interaction of blind people with the original and the modified interfaces.Results. Our study highlights that although all contents are accessible via screen reader, usability issues exist due to the user's difficulties when interacting with the interface. The scenario of use shows how building an editing interface with the W3C WAI-ARIA suite eliminates many obstacles that can...
DISCRIMINATION OF RANDOM, TIME-VARYING SPECTRA WITH STATISTICAL CONSTRAINTS

In the present study, a sample‐discrimination procedure is used to examine how various statistical constraints on random, time‐varying spectra might aid listeners in discriminating among these signals. Time‐varying spectra were constructed by adding five sequences of tones, five tones in each sequence, centered at the octave frequencies from 250 to 4000 Hz. The levels, frequencies, and durations of the tones varied randomly from one presentation to the next. The signal to be detected was an increment in the level of tones comprising the sequence centered at 1000 Hz (the target sequence). Three main conditions were examined in which the parameter values of tones varied independently of one another (equal‐variance condition), covaried across tone sequences (cross‐channel covariance condition), or covaried among themselves for each tone (cross‐parameter covariance condition). For the latter two conditions, two special cases were examined in which the target sequence varied independently of nontarget sequence...
Toward the Compilation of Books into Teaching Machine Programs

A computer program is described which attempts to compile written text into teaching machine programs. A discussion of the nature of the output is included. Several strategies are outlined.
POLYRIBOSOMES AND THE LOSS OF HEMOGLOBIN SYNTHESIS IN THE MATURING RETICULOCYTE.

The fate of the protein-synthesizing system in rabbit reticulocytes as they mature to erythrocytes has been examined. Reticulocytes were fractionated by buoyant density centrifugation on a 21 to 30% bovine serum albumin gradient. The least dense cells at the top of the gradient are larger, stain as very immature reticulocytes, and are most active in protein biosynthesis. The cells banding in denser regions of the albumin are less active in protein synthesis, are smaller, and have very little stained reticulum. Most erythrocytes present in the population are pelleted at the bottom of the tube. Therefore, from these cytological and biochemical criteria, the albumin gradient separates the cells according to their degree of maturation. Cells from six fractions of the bovine serum albumin gradient were incubated for 5 to 20 minutes with radioactive leucine, lysed, and the ribosomal material purified by centrifugation through 30% sucrose. Ribosomes from each fraction were examined by zone centrifugation on sucrose gradients. Samples from the gradients were analyzed for ribonucleoprotein and acid-precipitable radioactive material. While the most immature reticulocytes contained up to 40 times as much ribosomal material as the most mature ones, the percentage of this material present as polyribosomes decreased only from 68 to 34%. The pentamer persisted as the major ribosomal aggregate throughout maturation. This evidence indicates that the process of maturation involves primarily the loss of total ribosomal material rather than a sequential breakdown of polyribosomes to 80 S particles. The specific activity of the polyribosomes was highest in the youngest reticulocytes and decreased with increasing cell age. However, in all fractions the amount of newly synthesized soluble protein was directly proportional to the amount of growing peptide chain associated with the polyribosomes, rather than the total amount of polyribosomal material. This indicates that there is an increasing fraction of inactive polyribosomes with progressive cell maturation. Polyribosomes were also studied in the analytical ultracentrifuge, with band centrifugation over 90% D2O. Five discrete peaks were seen, with S20.w values of 80, 130, 153, 190 and 220, corresponding to the single ribosomal particle (monomer) and the dimer, trimer, tetramer and pentamer respectively.
JOHN HUNTER ON SPONTANEOUS INTERSEXUALITY.

Available information is assembled from published and unpublished accounts and pictures, and from study of surviving specimens, of cases of spontaneous intersexuality, pseudohermaphroditism, and other reproductive anomalies in mammals and birds which were studied by John Hunter (1728–1793). An effort is made to interpret this information in terms of current endocrine theory.
The ethnopharmacopoeia of Rotuma

The traditional Rotuman herbal pharmacopoeia consists of many plants, each of which is used in a specific way for specific disease states. The practitioners of traditional medicine are specialists recognized by the culture as having spiritual power to promote health. These individuals have been interviewed in order to determine which plants are presently in use. The healers interviewed represent a disappearing tradition which is not being passed on to the next generation. An effort has been made to record all of the plants used by all of the healers which remain in the Rotuman culture (on the island). This information is presented as a table of plant species and their respective indications.
Structure of intrinsic membrane proteins

Abstract Several intrinsic membrane proteins have now been characterized in some detail. These are all positioned in their respective membranes by one or more transmembrane, hydrophobic, helical amino acid stretches.
ViscoSim Earthquake Simulator

Synthetic seismicity simulations have been explored by the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Earthquake Simulators Group in order to guide long‐term forecasting efforts related to the Unified California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (Tullis et al. , 2012a). In this study I describe the viscoelastic earthquake simulator (ViscoSim) of Pollitz, 2009. Recapitulating to a large extent material previously presented by Pollitz (2009, 2011) I describe its implementation of synthetic ruptures and how it differs from other simulators being used by the group. ### Generation of Synthetic Slip Events Model faults are assumed to reside in an elastic crust that overlies a viscoelastic crust and mantle with a Maxwell viscoelastic rheology. The evolving physical variable is the Coulomb failure function, which is a linear combination of the shear stress and normal stress resolved upon an a priori slip direction along the considered fault surface (Simpson and Reasenberg, 1994). Following Ben‐Zion et al. (2003), a static stress threshold σ s determines the initiation of a slip event. During an event, stress on an initially failing patch drops by an amount Δ σ (a stress‐reduction parameter assigned to a given patch) to the arrest stress level σ a (more precisely, the slip is that which would reduce the stress to σ a in the absence of slip on other patches). After a set of slip events so determined, stress is transferred from slipped patches to neighboring patches, which may fail first at the static stress threshold σ s and subsequently (during the same event) at the dynamic stress threshold σ d . It is useful to define a dynamic overshoot coefficient D =Δ σ /( σ s − σ d ), where Δ σ = σ s − σ a (i.e., the reduction in stress on one initially failing patch). The parameter D characterizes how far the stress in each subevent …
Special Section Guest Editorial: Holistic/Hybrid Metrology

This PDF file contains the editorial “Special Section Guest Editorial: Holistic/Hybrid Metrology” for JM3 Vol. 13 Issue 04
Histamine H3 receptor activation inhibits sympathetic-cholinergic responses in cats.

Abstract Experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of the selective histamine H 3 receptor agonist ( R )- α -methylhistamine on the amplitude of neurally evoked electrodermal (sudomotor) responses in anesthetized cats. ( R )- α -Methylhistamine produced comparable dose-related depressions of these evoked sympathetic-cholinergic electrodermal responses elicited by either pre- or postganglionic nerve stimulation. Responses evoked by i.a.methacholine were not depressed by pretreatment with ( R )- α -methylhistamine. ( R )- α -Methylhistamine inhibition of preganglionic evoked responses was antagonized by pretreatment with the histamine H 3 receptor antagonist thioperamide, but not by pretreatment with selective blockers of histamine H 1 or histamine H 2 receptors (chlorpheniramine or cimetidine). Pretreatment with thioperamide did not antagonize presynaptic inhibition produced by i.v. (−)-epinephrine, nor did rauwolscine block the inhibition produced by ( R )- α -methylhistamine. These results suggest that ( R )- α -methylhistamine stimulates presynaptic histamine H 3 receptors located on sudomotor postganglionic nerve endings to depress neurally evoked release of acetylcholine. ( R )- α -Methylhistamine does not appear to act at an autonomic ganglionic site in this system.
Psychiatric disease and drug abuse

Purpose of reviewThe term ‘dual diagnosis’ most commonly refers to the combination of severe mental illness and substance-use disorder (SUD). It is estimated that 7–10 million people in the USA alone have at a minimum one psychiatric disorder in addition to a SUD. As many of the psychiatric illnesse
The social construction of mental illness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in the United States:

In A Sociological Approach to Social Problems, Noel Timms underscores the importance of understanding how historical and social contexts shape the framing of social problems—insights that remain true as we approach the book’s semicentennial. This article applies Timms’ concepts to the social construction of mental illness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons over time in the United States, by comparing changes in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Variations between versions reflect how mental illness diagnoses associated with LGBT persons are highly intertwined with dominant social and cultural norms of sexuality and gender at a given time.
Design strategies for shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are polymeric materials capable of recovering from a ‘fixed’ temporary shape to a ‘memorized’ permanent shape upon exposure to an external stimulus. Two structural elements are required for a polymer to exhibit useful shape memory: a network structure that defines the permanent shape (the ‘memory’), and a switching segment that induces a significant change in the mobility of the network chains. Four common strategies based on various chemical/physical principles and with different advantages/disadvantages have been established for the design and preparation of SMPs. A new design strategy, based on the concept of functional composite materials, allows for a greater control over material properties and functions and has shown great promise in designing SMPs for a wide variety of applications.
Parallel Declines in Fos Activation of the Medial Anteroventral Periventricular Nucleus and LHRH Neurons in Middle-Aged Rats

The middle-age decline in reproductive function is manifested by reduced LHRH release, resulting in a decreased magnitude and delay of onset of the LH surge. Earlier studies suggested that the reductions in LHRH neural activation in middle-aged rats resulted from deficits in the afferent drive to the LHRH neurons. One critical afferent to the LHRH neurons lies in the anteroventral periventricular preoptic area (AVPv) nucleus. The neurons of the medial AVPv are synchronously activated to express Fos with LHRH neurons at the time of an LH surge in young adult animals. The present study examined whether, in middle age, reductions in the activation of AVPv neurons accompany the reduction in Fos activation in LHRH neurons. Young (3- to 4-month-old) and middle-aged (10- to 12-month-old) spontaneously cycling and ovariectomized steroid-replaced rats were killed during peak and early descending phase of the LH surge, and their brains were examined for Fos in LHRH and AVPv neurons. Young animals had a characterist...
Digital Library Infrastructure: A Case Study on Sharing Information Resources in China

Abstract This paper investigates how information resources are shared electronically between libraries at the national level in China. It examines the digital library project related issues for both information policy and information-technology. Issues pertaining to information policy include co-operation and collaboration between information service providers, collection development, intellectual property protection, management and administration on the digital library projects, and public information services (user clients). Issues pertaining to information technology include use of UNICODE, metadata, interface standards (Z39·50) and others. Using a combination of system analysis and program evaluation methods, the current practice of developing a national digital library infrastructure is investigated, issues regarding national information countermeasures toward these digital library projects are studied, and suggestions for developing further nation's countermeasures in the digital library project are presented. Successful and/or failure experience is shared and compared with the US Digital Asia Library (DAL) project.
III, Phosphate Adsorption by Clay and Bond Migration

The adsorption of monoaluminum phosphate on Florida plastic kaolin was found to be 13.3 m.e. per 100 gm., whereas North Carolina kaolin adsorbed 9.6 m.e. per 100 gm. The effects of time, solution concentration, and pH were slight. Ball milling of North Carolina kaolin for 98 hours reduced the particle size of the clay considerably and increased the adsorption to 92.5 m.e. per 100 gm. A logarithmic plot of adsorption of monodisperse fractions of the ground material vs. equivalent spherical diameter gave a straight line, indicating the phenomenon to be surface adsorption. The ground material had a higher adsorption capacity than unground material of the same particle size. The rate of drying and of migration of sodium chloride and monoaluminum phosphate with unground clay and clay ground 98 hours was determined. The rate of drying of sodium chloride solutions depended on the salt content and was similar for ground and unground materials, as was the final salt distribution. Ground monoaluminum phosphate having a high adsorption capacity showed almost no salt migration, a rate of drying like that of water, and no surface deposition of monoaluminum phosphate.
Ethnic Competition in the Retail Trade in Northern U.S. Cities in 1900: A Test of the Saturation Theory of Entrepreneurship

The idea that the success of some ethnic groups limits the opportunities of others was a major theme of the Chicago School ecologists, who argued that ethnic groups naturally engage in zero-sum contests for prized occupations. This idea underlies the saturation theory of entrepreneurship, which holds that, in urban economies, the presence of highly enterprising groups impedes the entry of less-enterprising groups into small businesses. I test this theory, analyzing census data on retail enterprise in the urban North in 1900. I found virtually no evidence that retail enterprise among highly entrepreneurial ethnic groups (e.g., Russians and Italians) depressed retail enterprise among less-entrepreneurial ethnic groups (e.g., Irish and Blacks). I reject the saturation theory and conclude that the results support the theory of the ethnic division of labor, which implies that the activities of highly enterprising groups are compartmentalized into occupational niches and thus do not adversely affect other groups.
iPads, iPods and Technology-Enabled Isolation: If We're So Connected, Why are We so Alone?

In the past twenty-five years, we have witnessed and absorbed incredible technological advances into our lives. The new technologies in many ways have been liberating and empowering – in our age, we have become accustomed to and dependent upon the immediacy of electronic delivery. However, these technological innovations have not come without a cost. As we have become more connected and aware of our online selves, we have become less available and less connected to our offline worlds. We are in danger of not merely transforming our humanity, but forever losing what makes us human. We are more connected than ever before in history, we are more medicated than at any point in history, and we are more isolated from one another than ever before. It is important to consider and reflect upon technology’s contribution to these issues and decide whether or not the benefits brought on by the innovations are truly worth the societal, communal, familial and individual costs. We must decide if it is worth reframing our lives with a consideration of balance between what is digital and what is real.
The admission of blacks to high-deficiency nursing homes.

Background Although the presence of racial and ethnic disparities in nursing home care has been established, there is no work to date examining the relationship between race and government-cited nursing home deficiencies. Deficiencies are evaluations of poor quality made by state surveyors under the federal nursing home certification regulations. Objective The objective of this study was to examine whether blacks and other minority elders are disproportionately admitted to high-deficiency nursing homes. Research design This observational study used a merged file containing individual-level data from the Nursing Home Component of the 1996 Medical Expenditures Panel Study (MEPS) and facility-level quality information from the Online Survey, Certification, and Reporting System. Subjects The subjects were a 1996 nationally representative sample of 2690 nursing home admissions from the MEPS. Measures The key variables of interest were the race and ethnicity of newly admitted nursing home residents and the facility's count of government-assigned deficiency citations. Results Controlling for individual, facility, and market characteristics, blacks were disproportionately admitted to nursing homes with a higher number of deficiencies. In a model that controlled for resident and home characteristics, blacks were admitted to nursing homes that exceeded the mean state deficiency level by 1.32. Conclusions Policymakers might wish to consider initiatives that provide better quality information to black nursing home consumers, and, to the extent that black consumers lack choice, provide greater resources and better oversight of facilities that care for predominantly black residents.
Rheumatoid arthritis and the use of medical services

Although there have been several studies examining the direct and indirect costs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), no studies have analyzed the group and individual factors that are associated with the use of services among RA patients. The present study applies the behavioral model of health services utilization developed by Andersen to data derived from interviews with 288 RA patients. The behavioral model proposes that the use of services is related to predisposing, enabling, and need variables. All visits within 6 months of the interview that were initiated by the patient, requested by the physician, in response to RA flare-ups and/or for physical therapy were analyzed. Ever having had surgery for RA also was analyzed. The results indicate that predisposing and enabling variables are related to use among these RA patients and, therefore, use is not a simple function of need.
Modeling uncertainty using enhanced tree structures in expert systems

Network structures, called belief networks, have been shown to be effective for representing uncertainty in expert systems. A problem faced when making inferences in belief networks is that schemes to propagate beliefs are generally of exponential complexity. A special class of networks, called trees, have been shown to provide an efficient framework for propagating beliefs. In this paper, we present a scheme called star-decomposition, originally proposed by Lazarsfeld [1966], to convert belief networks into trees. This scheme introduces auxiliary variables to represent higher order dependencies in tree structures. Such structures are called enhanced tree structures. We also describe a simple partitioning technique that creates local event groups which extends the applicability of star-decomposition. A framework is presented that identifies classes of belief networks that may be exactly represented using enhanced tree structures. For belief networks that are not amenable to exact representation, an enhanced tree structure preserves more dependencies in the belief network than representations that do not use the star-decomposition technique. The potential benefit of using enhanced trees as compared to simple tree structures is demonstrated. >
Objective and Subjective Physical Attractiveness Judgments among Young Adults

The pervasive nature of physical attractiveness stereotypes in Western culture has been amply documented. Negative attributes are assigned to unattractive persons, while positive attributes are assigned to attractive persons (2). Moreover, interjudge agreement concerning target subjects' levels of attractiveness is generally high, which suggests that attractiveness is both scaleable and culturally-defined (1). However, the correspondence between targets' self-assessments and judges' assessments of them remains unclear. When such comparisons have been made, targets have usually been aware that their own ratings were to be compared with judges' ratings of them. The present study examined correspondence between subjects' self-assessments of attractiveness and judges' assessments when subjects were unaware they were being judged and when two separate indices of attractiveness were used by both judges and subjects. The targets included 53 female and 28 male undergraduates while the judges included three female and three male undergraduates who were unacquainted with the targets. Targets completed the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (3) in which two items (physical attractiveness, physical appeal to others) were embedded. While targets completed the 42-item questionnaire, judges independently assessed both the attractiveness and appeal of each target on 1-5 scales. Targets were told only that judges were verifying subjects' identification numbers and seat assignments. Targets were later carefully debriefed. Mean interjudge correlations (Pearson) were hlgh for both attractiveness (.86) and appeal (.82) and were similar for both male and female judges. The mean correlation for judges' assessments of attractiveness and appeal was .72. Correlations between targets' and judges' estimates of attractiveness were low (range = .24 to .31), as were those for appeal (range = .09 to .28). The correlation between targets' self-judged attractiveness and appeal was generally high (.56), but was significantly (p< .05) higher for male targets (.63) than for female targets (.52). While assessments of attractiveness and appeal appear consistent across judges, these assessments are only moderately related to targets' self-assessments. Moreover, self-assessments of attractiveness and appeal were related, but especially among men. The lack of correspondence between judges' and targets' ratings, and the sex-divergent pattern of self-ratings of attractiveness and appeal deserve lrther empirical work.
Gauge field strength tensor from the overlap Dirac operator

Abstract We derive the classical continuum limit of the operator tr s σ μ ν D ov ( x , x ) with D ov being the overlap Dirac operator and show that it corresponds to the gauge field strength tensor F μ ν ( x ) .
Fear of flying in agoraphobia and simple phobia: Distinguishing features☆

Abstract We conducted structured interviews with 17 agoraphobics and 17 simple phobics, all of whom were seeking behavioral treatment for fear of flying. Although all subjects had a flying phobia, the groups differed in their motivation for flight avoidance. In general, agoraphobics avoided flying because they feared having panic attacks while in flight, whereas simple phobics avoided flying because they feared crashing. Conversely, agoraphobics worried little about plane crashes, and simple phobics worried little about panic per se. These data support the retention of apprehension about panic as a diagnostic criterion for panic disorder in DSM-IV, and underscore the nosological significance of the fear of anxiety concept.
Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptomatology Among Mexican and Mexican American Students in the U.S.: Examining Associations with Cultural Incongruity and Intragroup Marginalization

This study examined associations of intragroup marginalization and cultural incongruity with acculturative stress and depressive symptoms among 155 undergraduate U.S. college students of Mexican heritage. Findings indicate that perceived interpersonal distancing by the family (intragroup marginalization) and perceived lack of cultural fit between the respondent and academic institution (cultural incongruity) had statistically significant direct and indirect effects on depressive symptoms via acculturative stress. Results also show that 39.7 % of the variance corresponding with depressive symptoms was accounted for by intragroup marginalization, cultural incongruity, acculturative stress, and other exogenous variables.
The transition from bench to bedside: lessons learned in the creation of a new T-cell product for the clinic

While the technology of translational research is sometimes considered a poor relation to ‘basic science’, it has become a central focus of work to turn exciting new concepts into practical therapies. Here we use the example of selective T-cell depletion of allografted lymphocytes to illustrate the problems of scale-up, reproducibility, sterility, safety and regulatory concerns encountered during the bench to bedside process.
Decreased prefrontal cortex dopamine activity following adolescent social defeat in male rats: role of dopamine D2 receptors

Rationale Adverse social experience in adolescence causes reduced medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) dopamine (DA) and associated behavioral deficits in early adulthood.
Cyclic homopentapeptides 3. Synthetic modifications to the capreomycins and tuberactinomycins: Compounds with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci

Abstract Modification and replacement of the β-lysine side chain of capreomycin and tuberactinomycin cyclic pentapeptide derivatives resulted in compounds with good antibacterial potency against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Automatic stabilization of the pressing forces on SM-143 and PK-630 presses

Automatic stabilization of the pressing force on toggle presses, reducing the spread in the weight of the products, enables us to maintain and somewhat increase (compared with manual) the pressing force, as a result of which there is a slight improvement in the quality of the products.
Computational screening of conserved genomic DNA in search of functional noncoding elements

tools. The protocol is divided into four major steps: defining the genomic region of interest, based on the user’s starting point (gene of interest, a region between two genetic markers, and other regions); selecting a subset of cross-species conserved elements within this region, based on a hidden Markov model that defines and scores genomic intervals for conservation; mapping the different properties of the interval set (such as transcript overlap and species coverage extent); and, finally, ranking the set for further analysis, based on a characteristic profile of the functional class of interest. The same protocol may be used to search for different functional classes of elements in all branches of the tree of life available in the UCSC Genome Browser, including vertebrate, insect, nematode and yeast. It can also easily incorporate custom types of information that the user has access to and allows for easy replacement of parts of the protocol, as our understanding of the relationship between function and sequence conservation, and of the different functional classes, improves. As an example, we present an informatic profile of vertebrate enhancer sequences and discuss a case for which such a method has led to the discovery of several functional enhancers. An accompanying protocol describes a complementary approach to identification of cis-regulatory DNA regions in complex genome assemblies by clustering of sequence motifs corresponding to known transcription factor binding sites 9 .
β-Alanine N-Methyltransferase of Limonium latifolium. cDNA Cloning and Functional Expression of a Novel N-Methyltransferase Implicated in the Synthesis of the Osmoprotectant β-Alanine Betaine

Beta-alanine (Ala) betaine, an osmoprotectant suitable under saline and hypoxic environments, is found in most members of the halophytic plant family Plumbaginaceae. In Limonium latifolium (Plumbaginaceae), it is synthesized via methylation of beta-Ala by the action of a trifunctional S-adenosyl L-methionine (Ado-Met): beta-Ala N-methyltransferase (NMTase). Peptide sequences from purified beta-Ala NMTase were used to design primers for reverse transcriptase-PCR, and several cDNA clones were isolated. The 5' end of the cDNA was cloned using a 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends protocol. A 500-bp cDNA was used as a probe to screen a lambda-gt10 L. latifolium leaf cDNA library. Partial cDNA clones represented two groups, NMTase A and NMTase B, differing only in their 3'-untranslated regions. The full-length NMTase A cDNA was 1,414 bp and included a 1128-bp open reading frame and a 119-bp 5'-untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence of 375 residues had motifs known to be involved in the binding of Ado-Met. The NMTase mRNA was expressed in L. latifolium leaves but was absent in Limonium sinuatum, a member of the genus that lacks the synthetic pathway for beta-Ala betaine. NMTase mRNA expression was high in young and mature leaves and was enhanced by light. NMTase cDNA was expressed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) under the control of a galactose-inducible promoter. Protein extracts of galactose-induced recombinant yeast had Ado-Met-specific NMTase activities that were highly specific to beta-Ala, N-methyl beta-Ala, and N,N-dimethyl beta-Ala as methyl acceptors. NMTase activities were not detectable in comparable protein extracts of yeast, transformed with vector control. The NMTase protein sequence shared homology with plant caffeic acid O-methyltransferases and related enzymes. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that beta-Ala NMTase represents a novel family of N-methyltransferases that are evolutionarily related to O-methyltransferases.
Weather, Climate, and Worldviews: The Sources and Consequences of Public Perceptions of Changes in Local Weather Patterns*

This paper analyzes the changes Americans perceive to be taking place in their local weather and tests a series of hypotheses about why they hold these perceptions. Using data from annual nationwide surveys of the American public taken from 2008 to 2011, coupled with geographically specific measures of temperature and precipitation changes over that same period, the authors evaluate the relationship between perceptions of weather changes and actual changes in local weather. In addition, the survey data include measures of individual-level characteristics (age, education level, gender, and income) as well as cultural worldview and political ideology. Rival hypotheses about the origins of Americans’ perceptions of weather change are tested, and it is found that actual weather changes are less predictive of perceived changes in local temperatures, but better predictors of perceived flooding and droughts. Cultural biases and political ideology also shape perceptions of changes in local weather. Overall, the analysis herein indicates that beliefs about changes in local temperatures have been more heavily politicized than is true for beliefs about local precipitation patterns. Therefore, risk communications linking changes in local patterns of precipitation to broader changes in the climate are more likely to penetrate identity-protective cognitions about climate.
H∞ Based Adaptive Fuzzy Control of a Tower Crane System

Tower cranes are very complex mechanical systems and have been the subject of research investigations for several decades. Research on tower cranes has focused on the development of dynamical models (linear and nonlinear) as well as control techniques to reduce the swaying of the payload. Inherently, the dynamical model of the tower crane is highly nonlinear and classified as under-actuated. The crane system has potentially six degrees of freedom but only three actuators. Also, the actuators are far from the payload which makes the system non-colocated. The dynamic model describing the motion of the payload from point to point is affected by uncertainties, time delays and external disturbances which may lead to inaccurate positioning, reduce safety and efficacy of the overall system. It is proposed here to use an H∞ based adaptive fuzzy control technique to control the swaying motion of a tower crane. This technique will overcome modeling inaccuracies, such as drag and friction losses, effect of time delayed disturbances, as well as parameter uncertainties. The proposed control law for payload positioning is based on indirect adaptive fuzzy control. A fuzzy model is used to approximate the dynamics of the tower crane; then, an indirect adaptive fuzzy scheme is developed for overriding the nonlinearities and time delays. The advantage of employing an adaptive fuzzy system is the use of linear analytical results instead of estimating nonlinear system functions with an online update law. The adaptive fuzzy scheme fuses a Variable Structure (VS) scheme to resolve the system uncertainties, and the external disturbances such that H∞ tracking performance is achieved. A control law is derived based on a Lyapunov criterion and the Riccati-inequality to compensate for the effect of the external disturbances on tracking error so that all states of the system are uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB). Therefore, the effect can be reduced to any prescribed level to achieve H∞ tracking performance. Simulations are presented here to illustrate the performance of the proposed control design.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis is not necessary for wheel running to abolish conditioned place preference for cocaine in mice

Recent evidence suggests that wheel running can abolish conditioned place preference (CPP) for cocaine in mice. Running significantly increases the number of new neurons in the hippocampus, and new neurons have been hypothesised to enhance plasticity and behavioral flexibility. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that increased neurogenesis was necessary for exercise to abolish cocaine CPP. Male nestin–thymidine kinase transgenic mice were conditioned with cocaine, and then housed with or without running wheels for 32 days. Half of the mice were fed chow containing valganciclovir to induce apoptosis in newly divided neurons, and the other half were fed standard chow. For the first 10 days, mice received daily injections of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label dividing cells. On the last 4 days, mice were tested for CPP, and then euthanized for measurement of adult hippocampal neurogenesis by counting the number of BrdU-positive neurons in the dentate gyrus. Levels of running were similar in mice fed valganciclovir-containing chow and normal chow. Valganciclovir significantly reduced the numbers of neurons (BrdU-positive/NeuN-positive) in the dentate gyrus of both sedentary mice and runner mice. Valganciclovir-fed runner mice showed similar levels of neurogenesis as sedentary, normal-fed controls. However, valganciclovir-fed runner mice showed the same abolishment of CPP as runner mice with intact neurogenesis. The results demonstrate that elevated adult hippocampal neurogenesis resulting from running is not necessary for running to abolish cocaine CPP in mice.
Fast optimization of weighted vector median filters

In this paper, we analyze several previous optimization approaches for weighted vector median (WVM) filters and show their deficiencies. We then propose two fast adaptive WVM optimization algorithms. Proposed algorithm I computes the optimal weight changes at each iteration, and updates weights accordingly. Proposed algorithm II extends the results from weighted median optimization to the vector case by a generalization of an error metric. Both algorithms are fast and stable, and perform well under a wide variety of circumstances.
Across boundaries of influence and accountability: the multiple scales of public sector information systems

The use of ICTs in the public sector has long been touted for its potential to transform the institutions that govern and provide social services. The focus, however, has largely been on systems that are used within particular scales of the public sector, such as at the scale of state or national government, the scale of regional or municipal entity, or at the scale of local service providers. The work presented here takes aim at examining ICT use that crosses these scales of influence and accountability. We report on a year long ethnographic investigation conducted at a variety of social service outlets to understand how a shared information system crosses the boundaries of these very distinct organizations. We put forward that such systems are central to the work done in the public sector and represent a class of collaborative work that has gone understudied.
An interview with Thea Astley 1

(1986). An interview with Thea Astley. World Literature Written in English: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 264-269.
Effect of Parenterally Administered Ethanol on the Tissue Distribution of Phencyclidine Following Percutaneous Absorption

At 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr after percutaneous absorption of phencyclidine hydrochloride in the hairless mouse, concentrations of the drug in blood, brain, liver, lung, and heart were much lower in mice that had been pretreated with hypertonic ethanol by intraperitoneal injection than in control mice pretreated with water. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that hypertonic ethanol inhibits the percutaneous absorption of phencyclidine. The relative pattern of tissue distribution of phencyclidine, however, appeared to be essentially the same for both groups. It appears that the magnitude of percutaneous absorption of phencyclidine does not alter its relative tissue distribution.