cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mating-activated brainstem catecholaminergic neurons in the female rat.

Central catecholaminergic systems play an important role in the control of reproductive activities including sexual behavior, luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin secretion. It has been reported that catecholaminergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (A6) are activated by mating in rabbits and ferrets, animals known as reflex ovulators. This study used Fos as a marker of neuronal activity to examine whether brainstem catecholaminergic neurons are activated by mating in the spontaneous ovulator, the female rat. Proestrous rats receiving intromissions (mated group) from males or mounts-without-intromission (mounted group) were sacrificed along with rats taken directly from their home cage (control group) 90 min after the beginning of mating or mounting. Double-label immunocytochemistry was used to examine the expression of c-Fos in catecholaminergic neurons labeled by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody, or adrenergic neurons labeled by phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) antibody. Double label immunofluorescent immunohistochemistry was used to determine the number of neurons containing the estrogen receptor (ERα) that were activated by mating in these brain areas. The results showed that mating-with-intromissions induced a significant increase in the percentage of TH/Fos colabeled neurons in both A1 and A2 cells compared to mounting-without-intromission or control. In both these areas, over 50% ERα-ir neurons were activated after mating while mounting-without-intromission did not affect the percentage of colabeled Fos/ERα neurons. In A6 region, neither the expression of Fos nor the percentage of TH/Fos colabeled cells was influenced by either mating or mounting compared to controls. The percentage of PNMT-containing neurons colabeled with Fos was not different in C1 and C2 among the three experimental groups. The results indicate that catecholaminergic neurons were activated by mating in A1 and A2 but not in adjoining adrenergic C1 and C2 cells. In contrast to the findings that catecholaminergic neurons in A6 are activated by mating in induced ovulators, mating did not affect neuronal activity in A6 neurons in the female rat. In A1 and A2 areas, a high percentage of neurons containing ERα were activated by mating suggesting both tactile and hormonal information may converge on these populations of neurons. The activated catecholaminergic neurons in A1 and A2 may be an important pathway by which sensory information generated during sexual interaction modulates both behavior and pituitary function.
Perceptions of Males and Females' Use of Aggressive Affirming and Nonaffirming Messages in an Interpersonal Dispute: You've Come a Long Way Baby?

This study examines perceptions of argumentative and verbally aggressive conduct, and also five relationship-outcome factors contingent upon dyad sex and communicator style. Participants viewed one of four videos that manipulated the sex and the communicator style of a dyad in an interpersonal dispute. Significant main effects were observed for each independent variable. The results suggest that perceptions of argumentative and verbally aggressive conduct, and three relationship-outcome factors varied according to dyad sex. In addition, dyads engaging in an interpersonal dispute with an affirming versus nonaffirming communicator style were perceived as less verbally aggressive. Implications of these findings are offered.
Incidence of extreme hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients during the month of July in teaching hospitals.

Introduction: Blood glucose control has been found to be an important component in the care of hospitalized patients. Maintaining blood glucose within a target range using insulin intensively is a challenging task for physicians and requires skill and experience. We hypothesized that there may be more hyper- and hypoglycemia in July in teaching hospitals when new resident physicians begin their training. Methods: We reviewed point-of-care blood glucose data from hospitalized patients at four community teaching hospitals for 2010. We defined severe hypoglycemia as blood glucose 399 mg/dL. Occurrence of hyper- and hypoglycemic events was assessed overall at the particular hospital globally and based on individual nursing units. Monthly occurrence rates were compared against the annual mean for that unit. Results: The occurrence of hyper- and hypoglycemic events in July 2010 did not differ from the mean annual percentage of events at the applicable hospital. However, when the data were analyzed by the nursing unit, these extreme glucose events were significantly more common in 4 of the 11 units studied. Three of those four units were resident teaching units. Conclusions: These data suggest that there is some potential for increased risk of extreme hyper- and hypoglycemia at teaching hospitals in July, when new residents begin training. Keywords: hyperglycemia; hypoglycemia; hospital; residents; insulin; diabetes (Published: 16 July 2012) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2012, 2 : 17469 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v2i2.17469
Histologic features of placentas and abortion specimens from women with antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndromes

Abstract Objective Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by recurrent pregnancy loss, thrombosis, and antiphospholipid antibodies. However, some women with clinical features of antiphospholipid syndrome test negative for antiphospholipid antibodies (“antiphospholipid-like syndrome”). Women with antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndromes have serum immunoglobulin G that harms murine pregnancy, suggesting that the mechanisms of fetal death may be similar in both groups. The objective of our study was to determine whether patients with antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndromes share pathophysiology by comparing the histology of gestational tissues from these groups. Methods Placenta and abortion specimens were obtained from 44 pregnancies in 26 women with antiphospholipid syndrome and 37 pregnancies in 21 women with antiphospholipid-like syndrome. Of these, 16 pregnancies with antiphospholipid syndrome and 8 with antiphospholipid-like syndrome were treated with a variety of medications intended to improve pregnancy outcome. Placentas from 31 elective pregnancy terminations and 40 pregnancies complicated by idiopathic preterm delivery served as an additional control group. Twenty histologic parameters were systematically assessed by a single investigator who was blinded to the clinical status of the specimens. Histopathologic findings were compared among groups using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Antiphospholipid syndrome pregnancies included 15 spontaneous abortions, 13 fetal deaths, and 16 live births. Pregnancies in the antiphospholipid-like syndrome group resulted in 5 spontaneous abortions, 30 fetal deaths, and one live birth. Gestational tissues from antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndrome pregnancies were similar for every histologic feature tested. Decidua from women with both antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndromes had more necrosis, acute and chronic inflammation, and vascular thrombus compared to controls. Placental tissue from antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndrome pregnancies showed more infarction, intravascular fibrin deposition, syncytial knot formation, and fibrosis than controls. Histologic features were variable within groups. There were no histologic differences in tissues from live births and pregnancy losses, or in treated and untreated pregnancies. Conclusions Placental histopathology is similar in antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndrome pregnancies, suggesting that these disorders may share pathophysiology. Histologic findings in women with APS are non-specific and may not differentiate between women with APS and APS-like syndromes.
Arms races and instability

(1986). Arms races and instability. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 9, Dilemmas of Nuclear Strategy, pp. 113-131.
Relations between impulsivity, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in a non-clinical sample

Abstract Debate exists on the relationships between impulsivity, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Due to the heterogeneity in impulsive symptoms, various symptoms of impulsivity (e.g., pathological gambling, chronic hair pulling) were analyzed to allow for comparisons between impulsive and compulsive symptoms. From this analysis, three distinct impulsivity factors emerged. The first factor consisted of measures of chronic hair pulling and impulsivity (e.g., rash impulsiveness), the second contained measures of impulsivity (e.g., rash impulsiveness) without hair pulling symptoms, and the third factor contained only symptoms of pathological gambling. Secondly, associations between impulsive and compulsive symptoms were explored for males and females in a non-clinical sample of 330 participants. Anxiety symptoms were associated with obsessive–compulsive symptoms for both males and females. However, for males, no differences were found in the strength of associations between obsessive–compulsive symptoms and anxiety or the hair pulling impulsivity factor and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. For females no differences were found in the strength of associations between obsessive–compulsive symptoms and anxiety symptoms or between the impulsivity factor without hair pulling symptoms and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Thus, these results support a clear relationship between obsessive–compulsive symptoms and anxiety but only provide partial support for the association between obsessive–compulsive symptoms and impulsivity.
Cartilage responses to a novel triaxial mechanostimulatory culture system.

We have developed a novel mechanically active cartilage culture device capable of modulating the interplay between compression and shear, at physiologic stress levels (2–5 MPa). This triaxial compression culture system subjects cylindrical cartilage explants to pulsatile axial compression from platen contact, plus pulsatile radially transverse compression from external fluid compression. These compressive loads can be independently modulated to impose stress states that resemble normal physiologic loading, and to investigate perturbations of individual components of the multi-axial stress state, such as increased shear stress. Based on the observation that joint incongruity predisposes cartilage to premature degeneration, we hypothesized that cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis would be inhibited under conditions of low transverse buttressing (high shear stress). To test this hypothesis, we compared ECM synthesis in human cartilage explants exposed to axial compression without transverse compression (high shear stress), versus explants exposed to axial compression plus an equal level of transverse compression (low shear stress). Both total 35SO4 incorporation and aggrecan-specific 35SO4 incorporation were significantly inhibited by axial compression, relative to axial plus transverse compression.
Applications of wavelet data reduction in a recommender system

Memory-based collaborative filtering (CF) recommender systems have emerged as an effective technique for information filtering. CF recommenders are being widely adopted for e-commerce applications to assist users in finding and selecting items of interest. As a result, the scalability of CF recommenders presents a significant challenge; one that is particularly resilient because the volume of data these systems utilize will continue to increase over time. This paper examines the impact of discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) as an approach to enhance the scalability of memory-based collaborative filtering recommender systems. In particular, a wavelet transformation methodology is proposed and applied to both synthetic and real-world recommender ratings. For experimental purposes, the DWT methodology's effect on predictive accuracy and calculation speed is evaluated to compare recommendation quality and performance.
Smoking cessation 1: pharmacological treatments.

In part 1 of this 3-part review of interventions for tobacco dependence, the authors present evidence regarding the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for smoking cessation.1 They also present evidence and recommendations included in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: Clinical Practice Guideline (the Guideline), evidence from studies published after the Guideline, and recommendations of their own. The authors review nicotine replacement therapies, antidepressants, and other pharmacotherapies, followed by pharmacological treatments for special populations. The evidence indicates that a variety of effective smoking cessation medications are available. First-line medications include nicotine replacement therapies and bupropion. Pharmacotherapy is a vital component of smoking cessation interventions and should be offered to all smokers who want to quit unless contraindicated. There is a need for further research on pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation,...
Cerebral slow waves related to the perception of pain in man.

Abstract Significant amplitude and temporal augmentation occurred in later time segments of human somatosensory evoked responses (60–700 ms) when percutaneous electrical pulse stimulation, delivered to finger, toe, or lip, indicated subjectively both crossing of a perceptual pain threshold and somatotopic movement associated with a noxious, qualitative change. Sequential pseudorandomizing of stimulus intensity (noxious and nonnoxious) or modality (contingent acoustic clicks) suggested that the waveform changes represented, at least in part, stimulus-specific information due to differential activation of peripheral fiber systems, rather than stimulus-nonspecific processing of event significances. The late waves were localizable, on scalp, to parietal and vertex regions, with insignificant contralateralization for finger stimuli. Their augmentation was related to subjective reports rather than to physical stimulus parameters, confirming previous data on potentially noxious mechanical stimulation of digits and palm, and another laboratory's noxious stimulation of tooth pulp. Subsequent data from a third laboratory, resulting from noxious laser stimulation of forearm, have replicated this late, slow-wave activity.
Developing the Online Atlas of Oregon Lakes

In 2012, a team of researchers at Portland State University published the online Atlas of Oregon Lakes. The team included limnologists, cartographers, GIS specialists, and web map developers. This article describes the process from the print Atlas of Oregon Lakes, published by Oregon State University Press in 1985, to web mapping and digital publication of the online atlas in 2012. It also discusses the library-like issues of cataloging lakes, keeping on track with standards for scientific water data, and cooperating with other organizations.
Quantitating intestinal ischemia with nitroblue tetrazolium salts.

We evaluated a spectrophotometric nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay as a technique to quantitate experimental intestinal ischemic injury. NBT is a tetrazolium salt that is reduced by mitochondrial coenzymes to form a blue formazan dye which can be measured on a spectrophotometer. We used a rat model of progressive intestinal ischemia to compare NBT reduction with standard histologic grading by light microscopy. Isolated segments of small intestine were made ischemic for periods of 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min in each of five rats (no reperfusion). A portion of each segment was prepared for both NBT reduction assay and blinded histologic grading. The reproducibility of these results was then tested in a second identical study of four rats (Part 2). When compared to nonischemic segments of intestine, NBT reduction was significantly decreased after 30 min of ischemia (P or = 30 min in Part 2. We conclude that the spectrophotometric NBT assay in an accurate technique for quantitating small intestinal ischemic injury which also gives useful information about the functional status of mitochondria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An in-depth empirical investigation of non-greedy approaches for the minimum spanning tree problem

Abstract This paper details the design, implementation, and testing of a one edge pass non-greedy algorithm for the minimum spanning tree problem. The use of network labeling procedures, and path weights to screen entering edges, provides a novel implementation of this algorithm. The choice of data structures also allows for an efficient implementation of reoptimization procedures, which have hitherto never been studied. Comprehensive results on the performance of both the greedy and non-greedy algorithms in optimization and reoptimization modes under various screening criteria, graph topologies, sizes and densities, and weight distributions are presented. The empirical results based on 855 problems bear out Tarjan's conjecture that greedy algorithms have a competitive advantage over non-greedy algorithms for the minimum spanning tree problem, except in special cases. However, for the problems tested, when a small percentage of edge weights are changed, non-greedy approaches are competitive with greedy algorithms in reoptimization mode.
Systemic Risk in the United States banking industry

This project examines the Sustainability and Systemic Risk Index (SSRI) as a new macroeconomic index for the United States banking industry. The SSRI measures the aggregate level of risk across all federally insured banks and indicates the industry's sensitivity to systemic events. Since the 2008 recession, the government and the public have searched for ways to analyze elevated levels of risk to prevent future recessions or financial collapses, and this index hopes to address those concerns. The focus of this study was to examine the SSRI as a leading indicator of banking risk and determine the index's relationship with other macroeconomic variables. The SSRI has been compiled for every quarter since 1984, so time series analyses were performed. Additionally, simple and vector autoregressive models were created to assess the relationships between the SSRI and economic indicators. Finally, hidden Markov models were created to examine how relationships changed during different states of the economy, particularly in conditions pre-and post-2008. A two state hidden Markov approach provides the most revealing and intuitive model to interpret changing market risk. The results of these comparisons yielded a statistically significant ability to detect risk. The preliminary simple and vector autoregressive models show that the SSRI is significantly correlated with factors such as 90-day Treasury bill rates, unemployment, commercial loans, and the consumer price index. The complexity of these modeling techniques presents a barrier to understanding for non-engineers. The team will utilize visualization techniques to present the results in an accessible form for individuals without a background in advanced statistics. These techniques will follow best design principles for clarity of graphics and intuitively explain the underlying models.
Variation in Foot Strike Patterns during Running among Habitually Barefoot Populations

Endurance running may have a long evolutionary history in the hominin clade but it was not until very recently that humans ran wearing shoes. Research on modern habitually unshod runners has suggested that they utilize a different biomechanical strategy than runners who wear shoes, namely that barefoot runners typically use a forefoot strike in order to avoid generating the high impact forces that would be experienced if they were to strike the ground with their heels first. This finding suggests that our habitually unshod ancestors may have run in a similar way. However, this research was conducted on a single population and we know little about variation in running form among habitually barefoot people, including the effects of running speed, which has been shown to affect strike patterns in shod runners. Here, we present the results of our investigation into the selection of running foot strike patterns among another modern habitually unshod group, the Daasanach of northern Kenya. Data were collected from 38 consenting adults as they ran along a trackway with a plantar pressure pad placed midway along its length. Subjects ran at self-selected endurance running and sprinting speeds. Our data support the hypothesis that a forefoot strike reduces the magnitude of impact loading, but the majority of subjects instead used a rearfoot strike at endurance running speeds. Their percentages of midfoot and forefoot strikes increased significantly with speed. These results indicate that not all habitually barefoot people prefer running with a forefoot strike, and suggest that other factors such as running speed, training level, substrate mechanical properties, running distance, and running frequency, influence the selection of foot strike patterns.
Telestroke: time is brain and the time is now.

tean disease state, public awareness of stroke symptoms, and resource limitations in provision of care. Telestroke cannot solve most of these issues. Where telestroke plays a role is in the expansion of vascular neurologist availability in the emergency management of complex stroke patients. The continued need for vascular neurologists in acute ischemic stroke is highlighted by continued undertreatment of potentially eligible patients. Despite more than15to20yearsofclinicalexperiencewithstrokethrombolytic therapies, even now only 5% of eligible stroke patients undergo thrombolytic therapy. 4 Yet overtreatment with thrombolytic therapy is also an ongoing concern of many physicians. At one stroke center, among 512 treated patients, 21% were found to have no infarct on follow-up imaging after thrombolytic therapy, of which two-thirds (14%) were deemed to be ‘‘stroke mimics’’; the most common stroke-mimicking etiologies were seizure, complicated migraine, and conversion disorder. 5 While there wasno increasedriskofbleeding,theoveruse ofresources shown in this study highlights the need for greater presence by experienced vascular neurologists who are capable of adequately assessing the risk and benefits of
Impact of prebiotic synthesis and diagenesis on the distribution, stereochemistry, and stable isotope composition of amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites

Simulation experiments for prebiotic synthesis result in racemic mixtures (D/L = 1.0) for protein and non-protein amino acids, irrespective of the composition of the precursor gas mixtures or the energy sources employed. It is therefore not surprising that it was commonly assumed that if amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites were formed by similar reactions they would also be racemic. Engel and Nagy 1 and more recently Glavin et al.2 have shown that protein amino acids in carbonaceous meteorites often exhibit a moderate to strong L-amino acid excess (D/L ˂ 1.0). Engel 3 hypothesized that this extraterrestrial L-excess might be the precursor material from which life as we know it originated. Stable isotope analyses e.g 4 confirmed that the L-amino acid excess in meteorites was indigenous rather than the result of contamination subsequent to impact on Earth. A key question that arises is that since there are no known mechanisms for the direct prebiotic synthesis of amino acids with an L-enantiomer excess, how did these compounds come to exist in carbonaceous meteorites? It has been proposed 5 and references therein that a series of diagenetic reactions subsequent to synthesis are responsible for the L-enantiomer excess. In this paper, this hypothesis is further explored with respect to explaining the range of D/L values for amino acids in the various types of carbonaceous meteorites as well as in different stones of the same meteorite. Possible effects of diagenesis on the stable isotope compositions of these compounds are also addressed.
Combined and Multimodal Treatments in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Issues, Challenges, and Research Directions

Combinations of treatment are used increasingly in child and adolescent therapy research, following a pattern long evident in clinical practice. The present article evaluates the multiple influences leading to the use of combined treatments, different ways in which treatments are combined, and challenges that combined treatments raise for research and practice. The central thesis is that combined treatments are unlikely to contribute to treatment outcome unless there are significant changes in the way research is conceptualized and conducted. Limitations in methods of combining treatment, the absence of explicit and empirically defensible decision rules for individually tailored treatments, perpetuation of current limitations in the ways treatments are tested and delivered, and methodological obstacles for evaluating combined treatments are used to bolster the thesis. Recommendations are made for Improving research on combined treatments, such as investigating the decision-making process guiding the combinations of treatment, the constituent techniques that are used to form combinations, novel models of delivering services to bolster outcome, and processes and mechanisms of therapeutic change.
Functional genomic analysis reveals cross-talk between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and calcium signaling in human colorectal cancer cells

Activation of PPARgamma in MOSER cells inhibits anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth and invasion through Matrigel-coated transwell membranes. We carried out a longitudinal two-class microarray analysis in which mRNA abundance was measured as a function of time in cells treated with a thiazolidinedione PPARgamma agonist or vehicle. A statistical machine learning algorithm that employs an empirical Bayesian implementation of the multivariate HotellingT2 score was used to identify differentially regulated genes. HotellingT2 scores, MB statistics, and maximum median differences were used as figures of merit to interrogate genomic ontology of these targets. Three major cohorts of genes were regulated: those involved in metabolism, DNA replication, and migration/motility, reflecting the cellular phenotype that attends activation of PPARgamma. The bioinformatic analysis also inferred that PPARgamma regulates calcium signaling. This response was unanticipated, because calcium signaling has not previously been associated with PPARgamma activation. Ingenuity pathway analysis inferred that the nodal point in this cross-talk was Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1). DSCR1 is an endogenous calcineurin inhibitor that blocks dephosphorylation and activation of members of the cytoplasmic component of nuclear factor of activated T cells transcription factors. Lentiviral short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of DSCR1 blocks PPARgamma inhibition of proliferation and invasion, indicating that DSCR1 is required for suppression of transformed properties of early stage colorectal cancer cells by PPARgamma. These data reveal a novel, heretofore unappreciated link between PPARgamma and calcium signaling and indicate that DSCR1, which has previously been thought to function by suppression of the angiogenic response in endothelial cells, may also play a direct role in transformation of epithelial cells.
Negative and positive schizophrenic syndromes after the acute phase: A prospective follow-up

Abstract To study the stability and predictive significance of positive and negative syndromes, we assessed a group of young acute schizophrenics at index admission (N = 37) and upon 2-year follow-up (N = 19). We found these syndromes longitudinally unstable, though equally prevalent in both phases. The baseline negative score was predictive of favorable outcome. The prognostic value of negative symptoms was independent of premorbid ratings, and, in combination these predictors, correlated strongly with follow-up level of functioning. The relationship between negative syndrome and outcome was partly explained by depression, which correlated significantly with baseline negative score. Theoretical and clinical implications of this overlay of a negative syndrome with depression in young acute schizophrenics are presented.
Central vs. peripheral administration of ethanol, acetaldehyde and acetate in rats: Effects on lever pressing and response initiation

The metabolites of ethanol, acetaldehyde and acetate, are biologically active, and different effects may be produced depending upon the particular metabolite and the route of administration. These studies characterized the effects of intraperitoneal (IP) vs. intraventricular (ICV) administration of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetate administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Operant behavior was assessed by conducting a detailed temporal analysis of lever pressing with rats responding on a fixed ratio 5 schedule of food reinforcement. IP administration of all three drugs produced a rate-decreasing effect on the total number of responses. Acetaldehyde and acetate were much more potent than ethanol at reducing lever pressing. The interresponse time (IRT) distribution also was more potently altered by IP administration of ethanol metabolites than by ethanol itself. The total lever pressing and IRT distributions of ethanol- and acetaldehyde- treated rats were not significantly affected when these drugs were administered ICV, while acetate produced a marked suppression of fast responses and an increase in pausing. The metabolites of ethanol are more potent than ethanol itself in terms of altering patterns of lever pressing. Thus, the effects of ethanol administration could in part be due to the actions of its biologically active metabolites.
What do we know about rhinogenic headache? The otolaryngologist’s challenge.

Sinus headache is a common presenting complaint in the otolaryngology office. Although most patients with this presentation are found to have migraine headache, many do not, and others fail therapy. This review focuses on the current understanding of nonneoplastic rhinogenic headache: headaches that are caused or exacerbated by nasal or paranasal sinus disease or anatomy. The literature regarding this topic is reviewed, along with a review of surgical series seeking to correct these abnormalities and the outcomes obtained with intervention. Suggestions are provided regarding patient diagnosis and management, and options for intervention are reviewed.
Conditions affecting the survivial of constitutional rules

Massive changes in the effective constitution—primarily bearing on the economic powers of the federal government, primarily in the past 60 years—have revived interest in the problem of constitutional maintenance. This paper finds the conventional American theory of constitutional maintenance to have at least three major problems. The paper then suggests three propositions about constitutional maintenance, building on the developing theory ofproprietary government. The most important conclusion is how little we know about this subject.
Assessment of treatment provided by dental health aide therapists in Alaska: a pilot study.

ABSTRACT Background Dental health aide therapists (DHATs) in Alaska are authorized under federal law to provide certain dental services, including irreversible dental procedures. The author conducted this pilot study to determine if treatments provided by DHATs differ significantly from those provided by dentists, to determine if DHATs in Alaska are delivering dental care within their scope of training in an acceptable manner and to assess the quality of care and incidence of reportable events during or after dental treatment. Methods The author audited the dental records of patients treated by dentists and DHATs who perform similar procedures for selected variables. He reviewed the records of 640 dental procedures performed in 406 patients in three health corporations. Results The author found no significant differences among the provider groups in the consistency of diagnosis and treatment or postoperative complications as a result of primary treatment. The patients treated by DHATs had a mean age 7.1 years younger than that of patients treated by dentists, and the presence or adequacy of radiographs was higher among patients treated by dentists than among those treated by DHATs, with the difference being concentrated in the zero- to 6-year age group. Conclusions No significant evidence was found to indicate that irreversible dental treatment provided by DHATs differs from similar treatment provided by dentists. Further studies need to be conducted to determine possible long-term effects of irreversible procedures performed by nondentists. Clinical Implications A need to improve oral health care for American Indian/Alaska Native populations has led to an approach for providing care to these groups in Alaska. The use of adequately trained DHATs as part of the dental team could be a viable long-term solution.
Technical Note-Cost Formulas for Continuous Review Inventory Models with Fixed Delivery Lags

In continuous review models with a fixed delivery lag T, the state of the system is conveniently described by the net inventory position = inventory on hand plus outstanding orders, in spite of most cost components depending on the actual inventory on hand. To relate these two inventory concepts one observes that the distribution of the inventory on hand at time t + T is determined by the inventory position at time t. This explains the standard convention of charging the expected costs incurred in [Sn + T, Sn+1 + T to the decision made at time Sn, where Sn denotes the nth decision epoch. This paper derives simple expressions for the expected costs in [Sn + T, Sn+1 + T as a function of the inventory position just after decision epoch Sn.
A Regional Scale Investigation of Climatological Tropical Convection and Precipitation in the Amazon Basin

This study constructs a regional scale climatology of tropical convection and precipitation from more than 15 years of monthly outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and precipitation data on 2.5°× 2.5° latitude-longitude grid to examine the spatial and temporal patterns and variability of convection and precipitation in the Amazon Basin. A linear regression analysis also detects if any trends exist in the two datasets. The region of study extends from 15°N to 25°S and 30° to 80°W that encompass the Amazon Basin and surrounding fringe areas for the period from January 1979 through December 1995 for the OLR data and up to 1996 for the precipitation dataset. The basin-average mean monthly and seasonal climatology serve as a ‘baseline’ reference for comparison with the full time series of basin-average monthly OLR and precipitation to illustrate the interannual variability and identify anomalous periods of wet and dry conditions. A linear trend analysis of OLR data found small negative values across the Amazon Ba...
Competitive Location on a Network

In this paper we study the problem of locating facilities on a network in the presence of competition. Customers at each node in the network choose from the available facilities so as to minimize the distance traveled. The problem is to find a set of facilities that is stable in the sense that each facility is economically viable and no competitor can successfully open any facilities. We define several versions of stability and establish certain relationships between them. We then present integer programming formulations that identify stable sets, and describe an enumeration algorithm for constructing a profit-maximizing stable set.
A Brief Introduction to Social Work Theory

A Brief Introduction to Social Work Theory DAVID HOWE Houndmills, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009 240 pp., ISBN-10: 0230233120, ISBN-13: 978-0230233126, £11.99 (Internet) This is truly a brie...
BILE AND BLOOD PLASMA CHOLESTEROL AS INFLUENCED BY BLOOD DESTRUCTION IN NORMAL AND BILE FISTULA DOGS

Destruction of large amounts of red cells in normal and bile fistula dogs by means of acetyl phenylhydrazine causes no significant alterations of the blood plasma but there is some decrease in the bile cholesterol. During Bartonella canis infection the splenectomized bile fistula dog periodically breaks down large quantities of red cells with slight decrease in the plasma cholesterol and marked decrease in the bile cholesterol. In the periods of blood regeneration following such acute anemias there are no significant alterations in the values for plasma or bile cholesterol.
The Case for Cooperative Networking

In this paper, we make the case for Cooperative Networking (CoopNet) where end-hosts cooperate to improve network performance perceived by all. In CoopNet, cooperation among peers complements traditional client-server communication rather than replacing it. We focus on the Web flash crowd problem and argue that CoopNet offers an effective solution. We present an evaluation of the CoopNet approach using simulations driven by traffic traces gathered at the MSNBC website during the flash crowd that occurred on September 11, 2001.
MPTG: a portable test generator for cache-coherent multiprocessors

Cache-coherent multiprocessors are typically verified by extensive simulation with randomly generated testcases. With this methodology, certain aspects of test coverage can be measured using monitors that record the occurrence of specific events during simulation. If certain events do not occur sufficiently often, the designer must somehow bias the random test generator or write hand-written testcases to improve coverage of the desired event. This is usually a labor-intensive process that is made worse by frequent changes in design specifications and the high cost of simulating large multiprocessor models. This paper describes MPTG (MultiProcessor Test Generator): a portable test generator that automates much of this labor-intensive component of the simulation process. MPTG does this by deterministically generating sets of testcases that are guaranteed to cause specific events to happen. For example, with a single, compact test specification it is possible to generate a set of tests that exercise all transaction types and current cache state combinations at a particular cache in the system. Alternatively, it is easy to generate a set of tests that exercise all two-way races that can occur at a particular cache. Test generation at this level of detail requires the incorporation of a system-wide coherence protocol within the test generator, which can make it difficult to port the test generator to different systems. Portability is achieved in MPTG by breaking the test generator into two parts: a generic test generation engine and a system-specific set of protocol tables. >
Less good but not bad: In defense of epicureanism about death

In this article I defend innocuousism– a weak form of Epicureanism about the putative badness of death. I argue that if we assume both mental statism about wellbeing and that death is an experiential blank, it follows that death is not bad for the one who dies. I defend innocuousism against the deprivation account of the badness of death. I argue that something is extrinsically bad if and only if it leads to states that are intrinsically bad. On my view, sometimes dying may be less good than living, but it is never bad to die.
Frequency limitations of a conventional phase-frequency detector

The phase and frequency discriminator characteristics of a digital phase-frequency detector (DPFD) are analyzed in detail. Analytical expressions that correctly predict the high-frequency behavior of the circuit are derived. The results show excellent agreement with measurements and computer simulations. >
Using Plasma-Lipid Metabolites to Index Changes in Lipid Reserves of Free-Living Lesser Scaup ( Aythya affinis )

Abstract Understanding daily lipid-reserve changes in migrating wild birds is important for habitat assessment and species conservation. Plasma-lipid metabolites have been used to estimate rates of lipid accumulation or catabolism in small-bodied wild birds (<75 g), but this has not been validated for larger-bodied wild birds such as waterfowl. We developed an index for detecting whether individual birds accumulate or catabolize lipid reserves by regressing plasma-lipid metabolite levels (triglyceride and β-hydroxybutyrate) and known one-day mass changes (daily mass change) of 22 free-living Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis; a larger-bodied species with typical mass range 600–1,000 g). Triglyceride and β-hydroxybutyrate predicted 75% of the variation in daily mass change (F = 28.85, df = 2 and 19, P < 0.001). Triglyceride was positively correlated (P = 0.029) with mass change, and β-hydroxybutyrate was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with mass change (daily mass change = −54.49 + 11.82 [triglyceride] − 28.6...
Tumor-Derived Cell Lines as Molecular Models of Cancer Pharmacogenomics

Compared with normal cells, tumor cells have undergone an array of genetic and epigenetic alterations. Often, these changes underlie cancer development, progression, and drug resistance, so the utility of model systems rests on their ability to recapitulate the genomic aberrations observed in primary tumors. Tumor-derived cell lines have long been used to study the underlying biologic processes in cancer, as well as screening platforms for discovering and evaluating the efficacy of anticancer therapeutics. Multiple -omic measurements across more than a thousand cancer cell lines have been produced following advances in high-throughput technologies and multigroup collaborative projects. These data complement the large, international cancer genomic sequencing efforts to characterize patient tumors, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). Given the scope and scale of data that have been generated, researchers are now in a position to evaluate the similarities and differences that exist in genomic features between cell lines and patient samples. As pharmacogenomics models, cell lines offer the advantages of being easily grown, relatively inexpensive, and amenable to high-throughput testing of therapeutic agents. Data generated from cell lines can then be used to link cellular drug response to genomic features, where the ultimate goal is to build predictive signatures of patient outcome. This review highlights the recent work that has compared -omic profiles of cell lines with primary tumors, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of cancer cell lines as pharmacogenomic models of anticancer therapies.
Using Formative Content Analysis to Improve Learning Outcomes in a Pharmaceutical Care Course

ABSTRACTThe Introduction to Pharmaceutical Care course sequence exposes first-year professional phase (P1) pharmacy students to basic practical knowledge including pharmaceutical calculations, prescription abbreviations and interpretation, and drug information resources. The objective of this study was to compare baseline student knowledge to post-instruction knowledge in content areas of a pharmaceutical care course. A pre- and post-instruction assessment was completed by each student. The results of this evaluation showed that 91% of students would have failed the course prior to instruction, while 88% passed the post-instruction assessment. The effect of previous work experience was also evaluated. The results of this evaluation may be used to improve learning outcomes and potentially focus course content.
Cross‐Coupling Reactions between Stable Carbenes

By utilizing stable carbenes with low-lying LUMOs, coupling with the stable nucleophilic diaminocyclopropenylidene was achieved. This reaction resulted in the formation of two new and rare examples of a bent allene as well as the isolation of the first carbene–carbene heterodimer.
MPS data-acquisition software system☆

Abstract A description of the software for a FASTBUS based data-acquisition system in use at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Multiparticle Spectrometer is presented. Data reading and formatting is done by the SLAC scanner processors (SSP's) resident in the FASTBUS system. A multiprocess software system on VAX computers is used to communicate with the SSP's, record the data, and monitor on-line the progress of high energy and heavy ion experiments. The structure and the performance of this system are discussed.
Survival in pulmonary fibrosis combined with emphysema: likely defined by characteristics of specific patient subpopulations

Authors’ Reply to letter from Cottin et al. Please see related letter http://www.fibrogenesis.com/content/4/1/16
Long glutamine tracts cause nuclear localization of a novel form of huntingtin in medium spiny striatal neurons in HdhQ92 and HdhQ111 knock-in mice

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expanded N-terminal glutamine tract that endows huntingtin with a striatal-selective structural property ultimately toxic to medium spiny neurons. In precise genetic models of juvenile HD, Hdh Q92 and Hdh Q111 knock-in mice, long polyglutamine segments change huntingtin's physical properties, producing HD-like in vivo correlates in the striatum, including nuclear localization of a version of the full-length protein predominant in medium spiny neurons, and subsequent formation of N-terminal inclusions and insoluble aggregate. These changes show glutamine length dependence and dominant inheritance with recruitment of wild-type protein, critical features of the altered HD property that strongly implicate them in the HD disease process and that suggest alternative pathogenic scenarios: the effect of the glutamine tract may act by altering interaction with a critical cellular constituent or by depleting a form of huntingtin essential to medium spiny striatal neurons.
Frontier Orbital Control of Molecular Conductance and its Switching

For transmission of electrons through a π system, when the Landauer theory of molecular conductance is viewed from a molecular orbital (MO) perspective, there obtains a simple perturbation theoretic dependence, due to Yoshizawa and Tada, on a) the product of the orbital coefficients at the sites of electrode attachment, and b) the MO energies. The frontier orbitals consistently and simply indicate high or low transmission, even if other orbitals may contribute. This formalism, with its consequent reinforcement and/or interference of conductance, accounts for the (previously explained) difference in direct vs. cross conjugated transmission across an ethylene, as well as the comparative ON/OFF ratios in the experimentally investigated dimethyldihydropyrene and dithienylethene-type single-molecule switches. A strong dependence of the conductance on the site of attachment of the electrodes in a π system is an immediate extrapolation; the theory then predicts that for some specified sites the switching behavior will be inverted; i.e. the “open” molecular form of the switch will be more conductive.
Auction-based spectrum sharing

We study auction mechanisms for sharing spectrum among a group of users, subject to a constraint on the interference temperature at a measurement point. The users access the channel using spread spectrum signaling and so interfere with each other. Each user receives a utility that is a function of the received signal-to-interference plus noise ratio. We propose two auction mechanisms for allocating the received power. The first is an auction in which users are charged for received SINR, which, when combined with logarithmic utilities, leads to a weighted max-min fair SINR allocation. The second is an auction in which users are charged for power, which maximizes the total utility when the bandwidth is large enough and the receivers are co-located. Both auction mechanisms are shown to be socially optimal for a limiting "large system" with co-located receivers, where bandwidth, power and the number of users are increased in fixed proportion. We also formulate an iterative and distributed bid updating algorithm, and specify conditions under which this algorithm converges globally to the Nash equilibrium of the auction.