cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prime Time: 18-Month Violence Outcomes of a Clinic-Linked Intervention

Prime Time, a youth development intervention, aims to reduce multiple risk behaviors among adolescent girls seeking clinic services who are at high risk for pregnancy. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether Prime Time involvement produced changes in relational aggression, physical violence, and related psychosocial and behavioral outcomes. Qualitative case exemplars illustrated social contexts of intervention participants with differing longitudinal patterns of relational aggression and physical violence. Data were from a randomized efficacy trial with 13–17 year-old girls (n = 253) meeting specified risk criteria. Intervention participants were involved in Prime Time and usual clinic services for 18 months, control participants received usual clinic services. Participants in the current study completed self-report surveys at baseline and 18 months following enrollment. Outcomes analyses revealed significantly lower levels of relational aggression perpetration in the intervention group versus controls. In contrast, Prime Time involvement did not result in significant reductions in physical violence. Exploratory dose–response analyses indicated that reductions in relational aggression may have been most pronounced among girls actively involved in Prime Time case management and peer leadership activities. Qualitative findings suggested that the intervention’s emphasis on modeling and building supportive relationships contributed to reductions in relational aggression. This study contributes to what has been a very limited evidence base regarding effective approaches to preventing violence among high-risk adolescent girls. Findings suggest that offering youth development interventions through clinic settings hold promise in reducing violence risk among vulnerable youth.
First Report of Colletotrichum capsici Causing Postharvest Anthracnose on Papaya in South Florida.

Postharvest anthracnose of papaya, Carica papaya, is an important disease in most production areas worldwide (2). Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes two types of anthracnose symptoms on papaya: (i) circular, sunken lesions with pink sporulation; and (ii) sharply defined, reddish brown and sunken lesions, described as ‘chocolate spot’ (2). Colletorichum spp. were isolated from lesions of the first type on papaya fruit from the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead in December 2007 and from fruit imported from Belize in March 2008 (4). Single-spore isolates were identified using colony morphology and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mating type (MAT1-2) sequences. Two taxa were identified in both locations: (i) C. gloeosporioides (MAT1-2; GenBank Nos. GQ925065 and GQ925066) with white-to-gray, fluffy colonies with orange sporulation and straight and cylindrical conidia; and (ii) C. capsici (ITS; GenBank Nos. GU045511 to GU045514) with sparse, fluffy, white colonies ...
Investigation of the oxygen reduction reaction on the carbon electrodes loaded with MnO2 catalyst

The oxygen reduction reaction has been studied on gas diffusion electrodes made with various activated carbon materials and on the edge/basal orientations of pyrolitic graphite. A MnO2 catalyst was loaded on all carbon surfaces. The MnO2 catalyst demonstrated significant catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. The specific catalytic activity was found to relate to the concentration of the edge orientation of carbon materials loaded with MnO2 catalyst. The higher the percentage of edge orientations, the higher the specific catalytic activity would be. MnO2 may not participate in the reduction of O2, but catalyze the disproportionation of HO2−.
Evaluation of an optimal guidance algorithm for aero-assisted orbit transfer

A detailed evaluation is performed of a guidance algorithm for aeroassisted orbit transfer that was developed earlier based on the method of matched asymptotic expansions. It is shown that, by exploiting the structure of the matched asymptotic expansion solution procedure, the original problem which requires the solution of a set of 20 implicit algebraic equations can be reduced to a problem of six implicit equations in six unknowns. The main contribution here is that it was possible to obtain a solution that is near optimal, requires a minimum of computation, and thus can be implemented in real time and on-board the vehicle. Guidance law implementation entails treating the current state as a new initial state and repetitively solving the matched asymptotic expansion problem to obtain the feedback controls.
The Causal Effect of Health Insurance on Utilization and Outcomes in Adults : A Systematic Review of US Studies

Background:No current consensus exists on the causal effect of gaining or losing health insurance on health care utilization and health outcomes.Objective:To systemically search and review available evidence of estimated causal effects of health insurance on health care utilization and/or health out
High-throughput screening of high-capacity electrodes for hybrid Li-ion–Li–O2 cells

Recent experiments have shown that lithium and oxygen can be electrochemically removed from Li5FeO4 (5Li2O·Fe2O3) and re-accommodated during discharge, creating the possibility of its use as a high-capacity electrode in a hybrid Li-ion/Li–O2 electrochemical cell. Taking this novel chemistry as a model, we use density functional theory (DFT) within a high-throughput framework to screen for analogous reactions in other materials. We search for candidate materials possessing high capacity, voltages compatible with existing electrolytes, and reasonable electrical conductivity. We identify several promising candidate materials that may operate by a similar reaction mechanism and are worthy of investigation, such as Li6MnO4, Li6CoO4, Li4MoO5 and Li8IrO6. This work paves the way for accelerated exploration of this intriguing new battery chemistry.
Binding isotope effects: boon and bane.

Kinetic isotope effects are increasingly applied to investigate enzyme reactions and have been used to understand transition state structure, reaction mechanisms, quantum mechanical hydride ion tunneling and to design transition state analogue inhibitors. Binding isotope effects are an inherent part of most isotope effect measurements but are usually assumed to be negligible. More detailed studies have established surprisingly large binding isotope effects with lactate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, thymidine phosphorylase, and purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Binding reactants into catalytic sites immobilizes conformationally flexible groups, polarizes bonds, and distorts bond angle geometry, all of which generate binding isotope effects. Binding isotope effects are easily measured and provide high-resolution and detailed information on the atomic changes resulting from ligand–macromolecular interactions. Although binding isotope effects complicate kinetic isotope effect analysis, they also provide a powerful tool for finding atomic distortion in molecular interactions.
Identification of indigenous vitrinites for improved thermal maturity evaluation

Abstract The four methods that we use to improve the analysis of vitrinite reflectance of well cuttings samples are discussed: • ⊎ The criteria for properly identifying the indigenous vitrinites. • ⊎ A five-fold classification of dispersed vitrinites in sediments—first-cycle, second-cycle, low-gray, high-gray and gray vitrinites. • ⊎ A recording of the reflectance-value/vitrinite-type data for each vitrinite particle analyzed. • ⊎ A computer-assisted microscope system that generates reflectance histograms of the identified vitrinite-type data for easy interpretation. Using this approach we have minimized inaccuracies caused by the presence of mud additives, cavings, reworked vitrinites, and solid bitumen.
Reactions of the Ethyl Radical. III. The Effect of Deuteration upon the Metathetical Reaction

The photolysis of 3-pentanone-d$\_{10}$ has been studied over a temperature range from 25 to 314 degrees C, and the kinetic results agree closely with those observed with 2,2,4,4-(3-pentanone)-d$\_{4}$. The reaction Et$\cdot $ + Me $\cdot $CD$\_{2}$$\cdot $CO$\cdot $CD$\_{2}\cdot $ Me$\rightarrow $Et$\cdot $D + Me$\cdot \dot{{\rm C}}$D$\cdot $CO$\cdot $CD$\_{2}$$\cdot $Me is common to both systems and no significant difference was found between the two possible values, either of the energy of activation or of the frequency factor. A value of 1$\cdot $6 kcal/mole was found for the mean difference in activation energy for the abstraction of D or H, respectively, by the ethyl radical from the $\alpha $-methylene group of 3-pentanone (-d$\_{10}$, -d$\_{4}$ or -d$\_{0}$). This agrees well with the corresponding value of 1$\cdot $6 kcal/mole for the abstraction of D or H by the methyl radical from acetone (-d$\_{6}$ or -d$\_{0}$). All five reactions share the same value of the frequency factor within the limits of experimental error. We may conclude that an appreciable isotopic effect is observed only when the substitution of D for H has increased the strength of the bond to be broken, and that this effect is an increase in the activation energy alone, the frequency factor remaining unaltered.
Improved joint source-channel decoding for variable-length encoded data using soft decisions and MMSE estimation

Summary form only given. We develop improved joint source-channel (JSC) methods for decoding variable length encoded data based on residual source redundancy. Until very recently, all JSC methods based on residual redundancy assumed fixed length codewords. Recently, a practically realizable system which performed best over a significant range of channel conditions consisting of inner binary convolutional (BC) (bit-level) decoding, followed by outer (symbol-level) approximate maximum a posteriori (MAP) JSC decoding was suggested. Here we suggest two ways of improving on this method. First, a straightforward improvement is realized by using soft/probabilistic bit decisions output by the BC decoder, rather than hard decisions. Second, the JSC decoder can itself generate soft/probabilistic output, at the symbol level. The exact VLC minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) decoder has large complexity, similar to the exact MAP method, because the number of states increases with time. Thus we suggest an approximate MMSE method. In this approximate scheme, we first form a reduced directed graph, using the same MAP state reduction procedure as used for approximate MAP JSC decoding. Next, we rearrange the remaining states to form an (equivalent) directed graph. We then apply the forward/backward algorithm and a state merging procedure to this reduced graph to get approximate a posteriori probabilities, used for MMSE estimation.
New vegetation index data set available to monitor global change

A consistent, 2-decade or longer vegetation record is needed to detect trends in global land cover and climate change. With the longest record starting in 1981, vegetation data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) have played a key role in detecting changes in vegetation caused by global temperature increases. NASA's Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) group has recently produced a new global vegetation data set at 8-km resolution from 1981 to 2004. Maximizing the length, stability, and quality of the AVHRR data set, the GIMMS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data will enable new Earth science conclusions and continuous monitoring of vegetation dynamics during the next decade.
A Model for Continuous Clustering in the Large-Scale Distribution of Matter

A new view of the nature of the large-scale distribution of matter is suggested by the fact that the covariance function for the distribution varies smoothly, like a power law, over a wide range of separations. This leads one to ask whether superclusters are entities distinguishable in some natural and fundamental way from clusters, or from groups, or even from individual galaxies. I discuss here an attempt to find an acceptable model for clustering consistent with the picture of a continous hierarchy.
Modeling phase volume constraints under repetitive decompression

Extending the critical volume (separated phase) hypothesis in time integral form to repetitive decompressions, we show that reduced gradients following repetitive exposures are necessary in time, in any model, to maintain the separated nitrogen in tissue (bubbles) below a limit point. A realistic bubble model is then discussed, systematized, and applied to some marginal decompression profiles. The focus is permissible bubble excess, not dissolved gas per se, though reductions affect all compartments, fast and slow, requiring a systematic lowering of repetitive tensions. Deep repetitive and shallower multi-day exposures are impacted by the procedure. Within nucleation theory, deeper- than-first exposures are also treated. A set of exposure fractions, @x, accounting for micronuclei excitation and regeneration, reduced bubble elimination in repetitive activity and coupled effects on tissue tension is discussed, with @x representing a set of multiplicative factors (less than one) reducing critical parameters controlling exposures. These factors penalize repetitive activity between short time spans, deeper-than-previous and continuous multi-day activities,compared to standard algorithms using a fixed slow compartment. Within the approach, fast compartments, controlling deeper exposures, are impacted the most, but slow compartments are also affected.
Bounds on cosmic strings from WMAP and SDSS

We find the constraints from Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe (WMAP) and Sloan digital sky survey (SDSS) data on the fraction of cosmological fluctuations sourced by local cosmic strings using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis. In addition to varying the usual 6 cosmological parameters and the string tension ({mu}), we also varied the amount of small-scale structure on the strings. Our results indicate that cosmic strings can account for up to 7 (14)% of the total power of the microwave anisotropy at 68 (95)% confidence level. The corresponding bound on the string mass per unit length, within our string model, is G{mu}<3.4(5)x10{sup -7} at 68 (95)% C.L. We also calculate the B-type polarization spectra sourced by cosmic strings and discuss the prospects of their detection.
Relation of parental affective illness to family, dyadic, and individual functioning: an observational study of family interaction.

Family, dyadic, and individual functioning were examined in 18 control families and 41 families with a history of maternal affective illness—including 26 in which husbands also had a history of psychiatric illness. Assessments of functioning, based on observed family interactions, indicated that families with a history of affective illness are more likely to have functional problems, and that problems may differ as a function of type of diagnosis and number of ill parents. Findings suggest that clinical program planning should take into account variability within groups, as well as individual competencies.
Investor protection and corporate cash holdings around the world: new evidence

We provide new evidence that firms under weak governance regimes hold less cash than firms operating under strong governance, contrary to previous literature. Our findings also establish that there are two independent effects for the de jure and de facto aspects of governance that protect minority shareholders. Consistent with managerial empire building prediction, our study reveals that firms deplete their excess cash by overinvesting and this effect is exacerbated in countries with weak governance. The excess cash depletion has an adverse impact on firm performance, more so in countries with weak investor protection which is in support of the agency costs explanation.
Chronic hepatitis B management based on standard guidelines in community primary care and specialty clinics.

Prior studies have underlined the need for increased screening and awareness of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), especially in certain high-risk populations. However, few studies have examined the patterns of evaluation and management of CHB between primary care physicians (PCP) and specialists according to commonly-used professional guidelines. Our goal was to examine whether necessary laboratory parameters used to determine disease status and eligibility for antiviral therapy were performed by PCPs and specialists. We conducted a retrospective study of 253 treatment-naive CHB patients who were evaluated by PCP only (n = 63) or by specialists (n = 190) for CHB at a community multispecialty medical center between March 2007 and June 2009. Criteria for CHB management and treatment eligibility were based on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 2007 guideline and the US Panel 2006 algorithm. Required parameters for optimal evaluation for CHB included hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Preferred antiviral agents for CHB included pegylated interferon, adefovir, and entecavir. The majority of patients were Asians (90 %) and male (54 %) with a mean age of 43 ± 11.6 years. Compared to PCPs, specialists were more likely to order laboratory testing for ALT (94 vs. 86 %, P = 0.05), HBeAg (67 vs. 41 %, P < 0.0001) and HBV DNA (83 vs. 52 %, P < 0.0001). The proportion of patients having all three laboratory parameters was significantly higher among those evaluated by specialists compared to PCP (62 vs. 33 %, P < 0.0001). A total of 55 patients were initiated on antiviral treatment (n = 47 by specialists and n = 6 by PCPs). Lamivudine was prescribed more often by PCPs than specialists (33 vs. 2 %, P = 0.05). Preferred agents were used 96 % of the time by specialists compared to 67 % of those treated by PCPs (P = 0.05). Patients evaluated by specialists for CHB are more likely to undergo more complete laboratory evaluation and, if eligible, are also more likely to be treated with preferred longer-term agents for CHB compared to those evaluated by PCPs only. A collaborative model of care involving both PCP and specialists may further optimize management of patients with CHB.
Mitochondria mediate amplification of luteinizing hormone action by adenosine in luteal cells.

Adenosine markedly amplifies the response of isolated rat and human luteal cells to LH via an intracellular site of action that is associated with an increase in cell ATP levels. This effect of adenosine is maximal in midstage cells and minimal at the onset of functional regression in late stage luteal cells. The objective of the present studies was to evaluate the role of mitochondria in mediating the action of adenosine in isolated rat luteal cells and to assess whether mitochondrial function may be compromised in regressing luteal cells. The present studies show that adenosine produced a significant increase in luteal cell levels of ADP and ATP, but had no effect on cell levels of GTP. Since ADP stimulates oxidative phosphorylation, we evaluated the role of mitochondria in mediating the amplification of LH action by adenosine in luteal cells with two mitochondrial inhibitors, oligomycin and dinitrophenol. Both inhibitors markedly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, LH-stimulated cAMP accumulation in t...
Spatiotemporal characteristics and vascular sources of neural-specific and -nonspecific fMRI signals at submillimeter columnar resolution

The neural specificity of hemodynamic-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals is dependent on both the vascular regulation and the sensitivity of the applied fMRI technique to different types and sizes of blood vessels. In order to examine the specificity of MRI-detectable hemodynamic responses, submillimeter blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) fMRI studies were performed in a well-established cat orientation column model at 9.4 T. Neural-nonspecific and -specific signals were separated by comparing the fMRI responses of orthogonal orientation stimuli. The BOLD response was dominantly neural-nonspecific, mostly originating from pial and intracortical emerging veins, and thus was highly correlated with baseline blood volume. Uneven baseline CBV may displace or distort small functional domains in high-resolution BOLD maps. The CBV response in the parenchyma exhibited dual spatiotemporal characteristics, a fast and early neural-nonspecific response (with 4.3-s time constant) and a slightly slower and delayed neural-specific response (with 9.4-s time constant). The nonspecific CBV signal originates from early-responding arteries and arterioles, while the specific CBV response, which is not correlated with baseline blood volume, arises from late-responding microvessels including small pre-capillary arterioles and capillaries. Our data indicate that although the neural specificity of CBV fMRI signals is dependent on stimulation duration, high-resolution functional maps can be obtained from steady-state CBV studies.
Extension of oxygen tolerance by treatment with endotoxin: means to improve its potential therapeutic safety in man.

Treatment of adult rats with low doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) consistently results in a marked protective effect against 02-induced lung damage and lethality. We report here two means to improve the therapeutic ratio of endotoxin (ratio of dose producing desired beneficial effect/dose producing undesired toxic effects), which could make it a more acceptable pharmacologic agent for possible use in patients who require prolonged hyperoxic therapy, (a) Rats made “tolerant” to the lethal/toxic effects of high doses of endotoxin (25 mg/kg) by pretreatment with very low doses of endotoxin (10 ng 10 μg/kg) were found to still respond to a standard protective dose of endotoxin (500 μ.g/kg) with marked resistance to 02 toxicity. (Survival in 95% O2 72 h = 19/20 (95%), vs. 4/17 (24%) for controls.) (b) Two chemically modified native endotoxin preparations (“endotoxoids”), with −100 decreased toxic potential, were found to have retained their ability to protect adult rats from prolonged hyperoxi...
Echocardiographic assessment of adults with tetralogy of Fallot.

Advances in medical and surgical management of congenital heart disease in the last three decades have resulted in a great many survivors to adulthood. Proper care requires intimate knowledge of the basic malformations and their surgical anatomy and results. Tetralogy of Fallot, the most common cyanotic malformation in adults, represents a spectrum from mild right ventricular outflow tract obstruction to complete pulmonary atresia. Evaluation of surgical residua and sequelae includes imaging of aortic-to-pulmonary arterial palliative shunts, detection of residual ventricular septal defect patch leaks or right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, definition of extracardiac conduit patency, and quantitation of ventricular function and valvular regurgitation. Refined echocardiographic imaging and hemodynamic definition is a mainstay in precise segmental anatomical and hemodynamic assessment. Transesophageal echocardiography is particularly important for intraoperative evaluation of surgical results. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 10, November 1993)
Study of impurity radiation on the PLT and TFTR tokamaks with high-resolution, time-resolving spectrometers

Soft‐x‐ray (5–300 A) spectra of intrinsic impurities have been recorded with a high‐resolution multichannel XUV spectrometer (SOXMOS). Measurements of line intensity ratios as a function of time are applied to the determination of the impurity contribution to the energy balance. Results from TFTR Ohmic heated plasmas, including radiation due to carbon, oxygen, iron, nickel, chromium, titanium, and zirconium, are presented. The spatial ion distribution will be directly observed by a radial scanning spectrometer (FLOPSY). This instrument, under construction, will cover the spectral range from 1500 to 7000 A and use mirrors and lenses for fast scanning. The spatial ion distribution, deduced from forbidden and allowed lines, will be compared to both theoretical models based on impurity concentrations and transport coefficients, as well as experimental data from bolometer measurements.
Spin Transfer from an Optically Pumped Alkali Vapor to a Solid

We report enhancement of the spin polarization of {sup 133}Cs nuclei in CsH salt by spin transfer from an optically pumped cesium vapor. The nuclear polarization was 4.0 times the equilibrium polarization at 9.4 T and 137 deg. C, with larger enhancements at lower fields. This work is the first demonstration of spin transfer from a polarized alkali vapor to the nuclei of a solid, opening up new possibilities for research in hyperpolarized materials.
The Distributions of Coumaphos on Cattle from Limited-Volume Mist Sprays and One-Gallon Saturating Sprays

The distributions of coumaphos deposited on cattle by automatic mist sprayers and more conventional large volume power sprayers were determined by analyzing hair samples pulled from selected locations on treated animals. Wind and incorrect nozzle placement caused much of the variation in spray deposits left by automatic sprayers. Hair characteristics affected the spray deposits left by power sprayers. A linear correlation between the spray deposits from power sprayers and the weight of hair was positive and highly significant. The data indicated that automatic sprayers are capable of providing distributions as uniform as those provided by power sprayers.
Aircraft measurements of ammonia and nitric acid in the lower troposphere

The first simultaneous measurements of ammonia and nitric acid in the troposphere have been made from an aircraft using a tungsten oxide denuder system. Vertical profiles of NH3 and HNO3 taken over coastal Virginia and Maryland in March and September, 1983, at altitudes from 150 m to 3000 m, show mixing ratios that decrease with altitude. Ammonia profiles show substantial seasonal variation, while nitric acid profiles do not. Using the measured profiles and a one-dimensional photochemical model, lifetimes due to heterogeneous loss of one day for HNO3 and ten days for NH3 are calculated. In contrast, NH3 profiles up to 5300 m over the North Atlantic Ocean during August 1982 show mixing ratios that increase slightly with altitude. These data represent the first ammonia profiles measured over the ocean. It is suggested that the increase in NH3 with altitude is a result of an ammonia-rich continental air mass advected over the ocean, followed by the dissolution of NH3 in the marine boundary layer on water-covered sea salt particles.
Citations to critical criminologists in introductory criminology textbooks

This paper examines the citation patterns to critical criminologists in 25 introductory criminology textbooks published from 1992 to 1996. We identify the 30 most‐cited critical criminologists in the textbooks. By comparing our findings to an earlier study that lists the most‐cited scholars in publications specifically devoted to critical criminology, we evalaute and rank the 25 textbooks by how they cite and cover critical criminologists. Our analysis uncovers several prominent scholars and perspectives in critical criminology that are inadequately recognized and insufficiently discussed in the textbooks.
Benchmarking Drug Prescribing Using Clinical Databases: A Tool for Practice Model Enhancement:

The Director's Forum series is written and edited by Robert Weber and Scott Mark and is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems....
Steady spatial asymptotics for the Vlasov–Poisson system

A collisionless plasma is modelled by the Vlasov–Poisson system in three space dimensions. A fixed background of positive charge, which is independent of time and space, is assumed. The situation in which mobile negative ions balance the positive charge as ∣x∣ tends to infinity is considered. Hence, the total positive charge and the total negative charge are infinite. Smooth solutions with appropriate asymptotic behaviour were shown to exist locally in time in a previous work. This paper studies the time behaviour of the net charge and a natural quantity related to energy, and shows that neither is constant in time in general. Also, neither quantity is positive definite. When the background density is a decreasing function of ∣v∣, a positive definite quantity is constructed which remains bounded. A priori bounds are obtained from this. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The habitual brain: An "adapted habit" theory of substance use disorders

Behavioral habits are essential to human and animal life. We consider the many ways that habits—which are normally adaptive—can be expressed as drug use behavior and addiction. Although habit theories of substance use disorders have been proposed (e.g., ), the behavioral science and underlying neurobiology of habit development, maintenance, and change is only now being studied. We first define “adapted habit.” We then propose that the etiology of an adapted habit represents the combination of: (a) initial “capture” of a habit, (b) development of behavioral action schemata, and (c) an overlay of cognitive expectancies concerning aspects of the habit. This combination conspires to make an intractable adapted habit such as substance abuse and addiction. Many intractable habits change, including substance use disorders such as cigarette smoking. As part of a science of habits, we need a real understanding of how to change habits to avoid or minimize harm.
The nature of ethical conflicts and the meaning of moral community in oncology practice.

Purpose/objectives To explore ethical conflicts in oncology practice and the nature of healthcare contexts in which ethical conflicts can be averted or mitigated. Research approach Ethnography. Setting Medical centers and community hospitals with inpatient and outpatient oncology units in southern California and Minnesota. Participants 30 oncology nurses, 6 ethicists, 4 nurse administrators, and 2 oncologists. Methodologic approach 30 nurses participated in six focus groups that were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Twelve key informants were individually interviewed. Coding, sorting, and constant comparison were used to reveal themes. Findings Most ethical conflicts pertained to complex end-of-life situations. Three factors were associated with ethical conflicts: delaying or avoiding difficult conversations, feeling torn between competing obligations, and the silencing of different moral perspectives. Moral communities were characterized by respectful team relationships, timely communication, ethics-minded leadership, readily available ethics resources, and provider awareness and willingness to use ethics resources. Conclusions Moral disagreements are expected to occur in complex clinical practice. However, when they progress to ethical conflicts, care becomes more complicated and often places seriously ill patients at the epicenter. Interpretation Practice environments as moral communities could foster comfortable dialogue about moral differences and prevent or mitigate ethical conflicts and the moral distress that frequently follows.
Interpreting long-term changes in benthic community structure: a new protocol

Documentation of long-term change in benthic ecosystems is important for assessing and managing the effects of such change on: 1) secondary production, particularly leading to commercially important food webs, 2) pollutant transfer within the food web, 3) the ability of the ‘new’ assemblage to metabolically burn-off labile detritus that might otherwise accumulate, contributing to long-term hypoxia, and 4) recyling of nutrients from the seafloor back to primary producers.
A distributed multi-party key agreement protocol for dynamic collaborative groups using ECC

We present a multi-party key agreement protocol based on a novel authenticated two-party elliptic curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key-exchange protocol for dynamic collaborative peer groups. The security of our two-party and multi-party key agreement protocols is based on the computational intractability of the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem (ECDLP). The strength-per-key-bit is substantially greater in keys generated using ECDH than in keys generated using Diffie-Hellman (DH) key exchange. Thus, with much smaller parameters like the key size, ECDH keys provide equivalent security compared to DH keys. We show that the proposed protocols establish an authenticated, distributed, and contributory group secret key among a group of members. Our multi-party key agreement protocol supports group dynamics like member-join, member-leave, group-fusion, and group-fission securely. Further, it introduces array-based binary key-trees (ABKTs), which are balanced trees that bound the key-computation cost of handling member dynamics to O(log n), where n is the number of members in the group.
Identification of metabolites of the herbicide safener benoxacor isolated from suspension-cultured Zea mays cells 3 and 24 h after treatment

The metabolic fate of the herbicide safener benoxacor was studied in suspension cultures of Zea mays (cv. Black Mexican Sweet) 3 and 24 h after treatment (HAT) with [14C]benoxacor. Following purification by reversed phase HPLC, metabolites were subjected to 1H-NMR or mass spectrometry for structural analysis. A catabolic α-hydroxyacetamide derivative was detected as well as several amino acid conjugates either containing GSH or presumably derived from GSH. A relatively abundant di(GSH) conjugate, which consisted of two GSH molecules linked to benoxacor, was biosynthesized following the apparent addition of a suitable activating group to the benzoxazine-ring C2 atom of the previously described mono(GSH) conjugate. The remaining metabolites identified were all presumably derived from either the mono(GSH) or di(GSH) conjugates of benoxacor. A disaccharide conjugate was identified as S-O-(diglycoside)GSH and was apparently formed by one or more glycosyl transferases which used the mono(GSH) conjugate as a sub...
P-type InGaAsP coolers for integrated optic devices

Single stage thin film coolers based on thermoelectric and thermionic cooling in p-type InGaAsP superlattice structures have been fabricated. Devices with different sizes and at various ambient temperatures have been characterized. Experimental results showed 0.5 degree centigrade cooling below the ambient temperature at 25C. This cooling over 1 4mu2m thick superlattice barrier corresponds to cooling power densities on the order of 200 W/cm2. The device cools by a factor of two better at higher temperatures (70C). This is due to the reduction of the superlattice thermal conductivity and the broadening of the electronic distribution function at higher temperatures. 150x150 micrometers 2 devices provide largest cooling at room temperature while the optimum device size shrinks as the temperature increases. Simulations results that take into account finite thermal resistance of the InP substrate, the effect of the contact resistance, heat generation in the wire-bonds and metallic pads on top of the device predict accurately the optimum cooling of these micro refrigerators. By eliminating the major parasitic sources of heating (Joule heating in the substrate, heat conduction through the side contact and reducing the contact resistance to 5x7-7 ohm-cm2) simulations show that, ultimately, one can achieve 15 degree(s)C cooling (10's of kW/cm2 cooling power) with single stage p-InGaAsP thin film coolers.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The dental student as a technician: preclinical and clinical laboratory programs in fixed prosthodontics.

Purpose A 2-part survey of United States dental schools was conducted. The first part of the survey was published in 1998 and determined the curricular structure, techniques taught, and materials used in predoctoral fixed prosthodontics courses. The purpose of the second part of the survey was to ascertain the delegation of laboratory procedures in preclinical and clinical fixed prosthodontic programs. Materials and Methods The survey was mailed to the course directors of predoctoral fixed prosthodontic programs at 53 US dental schools. Of these, 42 schools returned the completed survey, resulting in a response rate of 79%. Results Results from this survey show that certain laboratory procedures in preclinical and clinical fixed prosthodontics are completed by dental laboratories (either in-house or commercially available laboratories). Conclusions For the preclinical programs of fixed prosthodontics, there is more student involvement in the completion of laboratory procedures in the dental schools surveyed. In clinical fixed prosthodontic programs, there is a high emphasis on patient care and less on laboratory techniques that can be delegated to laboratory technicians.
The Abnormally Phosphorylated Tau Lesion of Early Alzheimer’s Disease

The perirhinal cortex (area 35) is well-known locus for neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in initial Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and fully developed AD and may contain tau alterations in non-demented elderly. The topography and location of this vulnerable cortex, however, is difficult to appreciate because of its variable architecture and to deviations imposed by temporal sulcal patterns. We have immunostained human brains with a short duration of dementia using antibody AT8, which recognize abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau, calcium binding protein-parvalbumin and other phenotype markers to more fully appreciate the extent of area 35 before it is obscured by pathology. We have observed in the mildly affected AD tau immunoreactive lesion that extends from the temporopolar/insular region anteriorly to the posterior parahippocampal cortex. In its anterior–posterior course, it covers the medial bank of the collateral sulcus. Although the tau lesion encroaches slightly into the temporopolar cortex (area TG) anteriorly and medially and the ectorhinal cortex (area 36) laterally, area 35 is unambiguously defined. Ventromedial temporal pathology as revealed by AT8 suggests the presence of a relatively large lesion early in AD involving all of the perirhinal cortex and other non-isocortical areas. The present study demonstrated that the early stage AD patients exhibited AT8 immunoreactive cells in the temporopolar, hippocampus, perirhinal, entorhinal, and insular cortices.
Interleukin-12 Overcomes Paclitaxel-Mediated Suppression of T-Cell Proliferation

AbstractThe antineoplastic agent paclitaxel (TAXOL®) is a potent inhibitor of tumor cell division and a useful chemotherapeutic for the treatment of refractory ovarian and breast carcinoma. Multiple immune system actions have been ascribed to paclitaxel, including the capacity to induce macrophage antitumor cytotoxic molecule production. However, T-cells are susceptible to paclitaxel's cytostatic functions, and no studies have investigated the effects of direct paclitaxel administration on lymphocyte function in the tumor-bearing host (TBH). Because paclitaxel is currently used as an antitumor chemotherapeutic agent and tumor growth alters leukocyte functions, we assessed T-cell function following chemotherapeutic-type paclitaxel treatment. Paclitaxel administration significantly compromised the proliferative capacity of both normal host and TBH lymphocytes in vitro. Although tumor growth impaired T-cell interferon-y (IFN-y) production, paclitaxel treatment did not alter IFN-γ. We speculate that the immun...
Analysis of eye-tracking experiments performed on a Tobii T60

Commercial eye-gaze trackers have the potential to be an important tool for quantifying the benefits of new visualization techniques. The expense of such trackers has made their use relatively infrequent in visualization studies. As such, it is difficult for researchers to compare multiple devices - obtaining several demonstration models is impractical in cost and time, and quantitative measures from real-world use are not readily available. In this paper, we present a sample protocol to determine the accuracy of a gaze-tacking device.
The Canon Law as a Legal System - Function, Obligation, and Sanction

pursuit of justice was allowed to overshadow the necessities of the concrete pursuit of justice through the mechanics of a legal system. The same didacticism affected other aspects of the canonical system, albeit not always in as obvious ways. We see it, for instance, in the area of appellate procedure where the canon law seems to show less concern than either the Roman law or the medieval English law with using appeals to elicit the best decision the system is capable of affording, more with using 19. C. 5, X, II, 26. 20. Can. 41, 4 Lateran 1215, 22 MANSI 1027, c. 20, X, II, 26. 21. Naz, loc. cit. supra note 18. 22. Gaius in DiGEST bk. 41, title 3, law 1.
Gap junction development is correlated with insulin content in the pancreatic B cell

The development of gap junctions between insulin-containing B cells was quantitatively analyzed in islets of Langerhans isolated from rats treated with the sulfonylurea glibenclamid for 1, 2, or 7 days. Glibenclamid treatment was associated with a marked depletion of the insulin content of B cells and with an increase in the number and size of gap junctions between these cells. A significance correlation was found between these two events.
Isothermal p, x, y relations, activity coefficients, and excess Gibbs free energies for heptamethyltrisiloxane + toluene at 343.15, 363.15, and 383.15 K

Vapour-liquid equilibrium relations have been determined at 343.15, 363.15, and 383.15 K for heptamethyltrisiloxane + toluene. The isothermal variation of the total pressure with the composition of the equilibrium liquid and vapor phases was determined experimentally in a recirculating still over the entire composition range. Using Barker's method to calculate the vapour-phase composition, the activity coefficients and excess Gibbs free energy were calculated for each liquid composition. At 343.15 K, the curve of GE against x is asymmetric but as the temperature is increased GE decreases and passes through a minimum point in the heptamethyltrisiloxane-rich region, whereas, in the toluene-rich region, the maximum value of GE decreases and goes through a minimum. The S-shaped curves that are formed indicate an interesting variation in the intramolecular forces of the components with the temperature. Vapour pressures, the normal boiling temperature, liquid densities, and the critical properties are reported for heptamethyltrisiloxane.
The frequency of advising and mentoring as salient work roles in academic job advertisements

Although advising and mentoring students are important activities for professors in most academic settings, faculty job ads seldom mention these roles. We reviewed issues of the Monitor on Psychology from the past three decades in order to discern how frequently advising and mentoring are named as job requirements, and the frequency of requests for evidence of effectiveness in these roles. Only 7.5% of ads included advising and 3.9% of ads identified mentoring as salient job components. Among 636 ads reviewed, only 1 requested evidence of efficacy as an advisor and mentor. We consider the implications of these findings for psychology and offer recommendations for candidate search committees designed to enhance attention to candidate potential and success in the role of mentor.
Information use environments of African-American dementia caregivers over the course of cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression.

Abstract Caregivers of older adults with dementia face significant challenges associated with their care recipients' condition and with their own mental and physical wellbeing. Qualitative research data were collected via interviews with caregivers who participated in the African-American Alzheimer's Caregiver Training and Support (ACTS) research project. Analysis of these data with a focus on information use indicated that participating caregivers' information use environments were shaped by key individuals, settings, and information sources. These included the ACTS counselors, ACTS intervention guidebook, fellow caregivers, use of a personal calendar/datebook, and the identification of key problems and development of goals to help ameliorate those problems. CBT groups fostered sharing, synthesizing, and validating information about dementia caregiving and dementia care resources; the ACTS CBT guidebook served as an important physical touchstone of reliable and portable information. Understanding the specific needs, behaviors, and constraints of African-American caregivers is important to the future development of information components of tailored, depression–reduction interventions.
Bromodomain containing 2 (Brd2) is expressed in distinct patterns during ovarian folliculogenesis independent of FSH or GDF9 action.

We previously observed high levels of Brd2 (also known as female sterile homeotic related gene-1, Fsrg1) expression in several hormonally responsive tissues, including the ovary. Here, we report distinct localization patterns of Brd2 transcripts throughout ovarian folliculogenesis in normal mice as well as in two strains of mice with aberrant folliculogenesis: mice with mutated growth differentiation factor 9 (Gdf9) and follicle stimulating hormone β (Fshb) genes. The highest level of expression was seen in granulosa cells of growing follicles. Within the oocyte, three patterns of Brd2 RNA localization were observed: diffuse distribution in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, then intense nuclear expression, followed by an absence of Brd2 transcripts from the nucleus. The transition from intense nuclear localization to nuclear exclusion was found to correlate with oocyte maturation and meiotic competence, as determined by nuclear chromatin patterns. These same expression patterns were also seen in oocytes from Gdf9−/− and Fshb−/− mice. Thus, Brd2 expression appears to correlate with stages of oocyte maturation, independent of FSH or GDF9 action and the subsequent disruption in normal follicle development in these models. The distinct patterns of Brd2 localization within the adult ovary supports a role for Brd2 in mitotic and possibly meiotic cell cycle regulation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 68: 261–268, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The relationship between neuron activity and cortical steady potentials.

Abstract Simultaneous recordings of single neuron activity and of the EEG, recorded with nonpolarizable electrodes and a DC amplifier, were obtained from the posterior lateral gyrus in cat encephale isole preparations. The cortex was usually negative relative to the reference electrode in one of the frontal sinuses, voltages near −1.2 mV and −3.1 mV being the most frequently encountered values. The neurons observed tended to fire during surface positive waves and to cease firing during surface negative waves, both during evoked potentials produced by light flashes and during spontaneous activity after section of the optic nerves. This correlation was less marked in the cells recorded from when the cortical steady potential level was around −3.1 mV than in those studied when the steady potential was around −1.2 mV. The amplitude of the negative components of the evoked potential was usually smaller when the steady potential was near −3.1 mV. A few neruons studied whent he steady potential level was much more negative showed a reverse relationship, firing mostly during surface negative waves.