cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 20288: Quantification and Z-Score “Normalization” of Regional Myocardial Contractile Data in Ischemic Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Introduction: Left ventricular (LV) regional contractile information is currently limited to subjective interpretation of low-resolution echocardiography. In order to establish a more specific and ...
Mobile health considerations for kidney disease and transplantation.

Early on, home-based medical technology products were stand-alone devices used for patient health measurements. These included an array of devices that were modified from their clinic-based counterparts such as blood pressure monitors, glucometers, baby weight scales, and electrocardiogram devices.
The effectiveness of a rebt training program in increasing the performance of high school students in mathematics

The efficacy of an REBT-based skill training program on the mathematics performance of disadvantaged black eleventh graders enrolled in Upward Bound was examined. Fifty-six students (18 males and 37 females) were randomly assigned to Perception Analysis Training (PAT) or an attention control group (ACG). The two groups met at the same hour each week for eight-weeks. PAT consisted of instruction in the application of RET strategies to the management of emotions that interfere with the development of proficiency in mathematics. ACG group members discussed films pertaining to career and personal development. Pre-test results confirmed a relationship between beliefs and mathematics achievement. Three measures of problematic beliefs concerning mathematics were significantly correlated (p>.01) with high school math grades and performance on the California Achievement Test-Math (CAT). At post-test PAT participants were less committed to self-defeating beliefs regarding mathematics than AGC members. ANCOVAs showed that PAT students made significantly greater pre- to post-test gains in their mathematical performance than control group members. PAT group members out performed AGC subjects in terms of Upward Bound math grades (ES=0.61; p >.0008), high school math grades (ES = 1.09; p>.0001), and scores on the CAT (ES=0.40; p >.02).
Valve surgery in the elderly

Over the next two decades, the aging of the population will force a major shift in clinical care in the U.S. By 2010, over 40 million Americans will be age 65 years and older, 18 million Americans will be over the age of 75 years, and the burden of cardiac disease among older persons will continue
Optimal Resource Allocation for Energy-Harvesting Communication Networks Under Statistical QoS Constraints

In this paper, we characterize the optimal strategies focusing on the throughput and the system energy efficiency of wireless-powered communication networks (WPCNs) in the presence of delay-limited sources. Each energy-harvesting user equipment is assumed to be subject to limitations on the buffer overflow probability, specified by the quality of service (QoS) exponent $\theta $ . Correspondingly, the time allocation strategies for downlink energy harvesting and uplink information transfer depend on these QoS constraints, potentially overriding the doubly near-far problem of WPCNs. We consider the non-orthogonal transmission and time-division multiple access protocols for the uplink information transfer of WPCN, and for both cases, we formulate energy efficiency and throughput maximizing problems to obtain the globally optimal solution that satisfy the statistical QoS constraints. Since these optimization problems fall into concave or pseudo-concave categories, Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions are necessary and sufficient for global optimality, using which we obtain analytical expressions for the optimal operating intervals. In addition, in several cases, due to difficulty in providing closed-form expressions, we develop algorithms to solve the problems numerically. Finally, we provide the simulation results to confirm and further analyze the theoretical characterizations. We mainly observe that QoS constraints primarily affect the optimal time allocation policies as well as achievable rate distribution among the users, enabling us to overcome the doubly near-far problem of energy-harvesting communications networks pointed out as one of the critical issues in the literature.
Relative and almost linking systems

Collections of difference sets called linking systems have been used to construct new families of linked systems of symmetric designs. In this paper, we define relative and almost linking systems, collections of difference sets and almost difference sets with very similar linking properties to linking systems. These linking systems have connections to bent sets and vectorial bent functions. We construct examples of relative and almost linking systems using a technical lemma.
The Consequence of Postpartum Uterine Disease on Dairy Cow Fertility

This new 4-page document discusses the reproductive consequences of uterine disease in the dairy cow, potential mechanisms, and current treatments. Written by Rachel L. Piersanti and John J. Bromfield, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, March 2019. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an354
InSight searches high to see below

Mars’s newest seismometer needed to separate marsquakes from meteorology. Continuous weather observations to keep it honest are revealing new facets of Mars’s churning atmosphere.
The role of experiential avoidance in the relation between racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes

Objective: Racial discrimination has been shown to be associated with negative mental health outcomes among people of color (POC), and students of color (SOC) specifically. The current study examin...
Effects of CFTR modulators on pharmacokinetics of tobramycin during acute pulmonary exacerbations in the pediatric cystic fibrosis population.

Background Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) require higher dosages of aminoglycosides due to an increased volume of distribution (Vd ) and clearance. Optimal dosing of aminoglycosides in the CF population is essential as repeated exposure to aminoglycosides during acute pulmonary exacerbations increases risk of nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. To date, no studies have evaluated whether chronic cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy affects pharmacokinetics of aminoglycoside antibiotics in patients with CF. The objective of this study was to determine if the addition of a CFTR modulator affects elimination rate (Ke ) for intravenously administered tobramycin in the pediatric CF population. Methods This retrospective study included patients aged 2 to 18 years with CF receiving chronic therapy with a CFTR modulator. Patients included had an admission both pre- and post-chronic CFTR modulator therapy during which they received therapy with IV tobramycin. Results Thirty-four patients were included in the study. The median time between pre- and post-modulator admissions was 16.5 (13.8) months. Duration of CFTR modulator therapy before post-modulator admission was a median of 8 (10.3) months. There was no significant difference in Ke (hr-1 ) between pre- and post-modulator therapy, 0.41 (0.21) pre and 0.39 (0.09) post (P = .5). Vd and peak concentration were similar between both groups. There was no difference in nephrotoxicity as defined by the pRIFLE criteria (P = .25). Conclusions The pharmacokinetic parameters of intravenously administered tobramycin during admission for acute pulmonary exacerbation do not appear to change significantly after initiating chronic therapy with a CFTR modulator. Empiric dose adjustments for patients on CFTR modulators are not recommended.
Type 2 Diabetes and HbA1c Predict All-Cause Post-Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Hospital Readmission.

Objective The main goal of this analysis was to determine whether type 2 diabetes and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) predict all-cause 30-day hospital readmission after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). It was hypothesized that a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or high HbA1c values would predict all-cause hospital readmission rates post MBS. Methods A retrospective analysis from the 2015-2018 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) cohort was completed (N = 744,776); 30,972 participants were readmitted during the 30 days post MBS. Results Mean age of the MBSAQIP sample was 45.1 (11.5) years, and the majority were female (80.7%) and non-Hispanic White (59.4%). The all-cause hospital readmission rate was 4.2% and increased by 10% in those with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (HbA1c > 7.5% [> 58 mmol/mol]); after adjustment, diabetes was not associated with increased readmission. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and prediabetes resulted in less weight loss 30 days post MBS. Conclusions These results based on a national MBS cohort showed that uncontrolled type 2 diabetes is associated with a greater likelihood of all-cause hospital readmission and reduced weight loss 30 days post MBS. Both type 2 diabetes and prediabetes were also associated with decreased weight loss 30 days post MBS. These findings highlight the need to classify and optimize glycemic control prior to MBS.
Elementary Bayesian Analyses

Before considering more advanced models which might be used in lieu of standard non-Bayesian approaches such as linear regression or Poisson regression, we start with some relatively simple Bayesian models. These will set the stage for the more sophisticated models covered in later chapters.
Spontaneous order and civilization: Burke and Hayek on markets, contracts and social order:

In light of a growing body of scholarship that has cast doubt on the analytic import of spontaneous order, the purpose of my article is to rethink the intellectual relationship between Edmund Burke...
Validation of a Brief Screen to Identify Persons With Dementia at Risk for Behavioral Problems.

Objectives:Clinical assessment of persons with dementia should include potential causes of behavioral problems, including pain, depression, and caregiver–patient relationship quality. Many validate...
Finally, Effective Inhibitors of Mutant KRAS.

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) is one of the most highly mutated oncogenes in human cancer, occurring in 95% of pancreatic, 50% of colorectal, and 32% of lung adenocarcinomas a...
The Restoration of the American Dream: A Case for Abolishing Welfare

For all too long the government of the United States has been dreaming a very long and costly dream. In this dream, the government is the ultimate hero, battling poverty. But like all other dreams, this one is not what it seems. The ideals of the welfare state are, in fact, a nightmare of economic and social decline. It is time to restore the values upon which this country was founded. It is time to abolish the welfare state.
Effect of Microstructure of the Anode Support Tubes Towards SOFC Performance

This manuscript describes the effect of microstructure of the anode support tubes (AST) fabricated by techniques such as freeze casting, isostatic press, and additive manufacture; towards the SOFC performance. A direct correlating has been observed between the performance of the cell and the anode support tube microstructure. Under similar test conditions, cells with higher interconnected pores were better in delivering the fuel towards the electrolyte and had a higher power generation capacity. The isolated pores in the tubes had little/no contributions towards the fuel cell performance. The tested cell had the following configuration: Ni+YSZ/Ni+10Sc1CeSZr/10Sc1CeSZr/SDC/SDC+LSCF/LSCF.
The Role of Anti-Establishment Orientations During the Trump Presidency

Growing levels of polarization and out-group hostility have become fashionable explanations for the caustic politics of the Trump presidency. However, partisan and ideological identities cannot explain popular attraction to Trump’s anti-elite and populist rhetoric, nor can polarization and sorting account for rising levels of mass identification as political independents. In light of these discrepancies, we offer an explanation for the Trump era unrelated to traditional left-right identities and ideologies: anti-establishment orientations. We argue that much of what is interpreted as an expression of partisan and ideological extremism or polarization is actually the product of a deep-seated antagonism toward the broader political establishment. We first exhibit the individual-level correlates of anti-establishment orientations, finding that people holding strong anti-establishment views exhibit relatively high levels of anti-social personality traits and distrust of others. We then show that anti-establishment orientations are more predictive than left-right orientations of beliefs in conspiracy theories regarding COVID-19, QAnon, and voter fraud. Most importantly, we demonstrate that, while anti-establishment orientations are positively related to support for Donald Trump, they are negatively related to support for Joe Biden and both major parties. In short, the toxicity emblematic of the Trump era—support for outsider candidates, belief in conspiracy theories, corrosive rhetoric, and violence—are derivative of antipathy towards the established political order, rather than a strict adherence to partisan and ideological dogma. We conclude that Trump’s most powerful and unique impact on American electoral politics is his activation, inflammation, and manipulation of preexisting anti-establishment orientations for partisan ends.
Open reading frame correction using antisense oligonucleotides for the treatment of cystic fibrosis caused by CFTR-W1282X

Abstract CFTR gene mutations that result in the introduction of premature termination codons (PTCs) are common in cystic fibrosis (CF). This mutation type causes a severe form of the disease, likely because of low CFTR mRNA expression as a result of nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD), as well as production of a non-functional, truncated CFTR protein. Current therapeutics for CF, which target residual protein function, are less effective in patients with these types of mutations, due in part to low CFTR protein levels. Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) designed to induce skipping of exons in order to restore the mRNA open reading frame have shown therapeutic promise pre-clinically and clinically for a number of diseases. We hypothesized that ASO-mediated skipping of CFTR exon 23 would recover CFTR activity associated with terminating mutations in the exon, including CFTR p.W1282X, the 5th most common mutation in CF. Here, we show that CFTR lacking the amino acids encoding exon 23 is partially functional and responsive to corrector and modulator drugs currently in clinical use. ASO-induced exon 23 skipping rescued CFTR expression and chloride current in primary human bronchial epithelial cells isolated from homozygote CFTR-W1282X patients. These results support the use of ASOs in treating CF patients with CFTR class I mutations in exon 23 that result in unstable CFTR mRNA and truncations of the CFTR protein. Significance Statement Frameshift and nonsense mutations pose a major problem for disease therapeutic development. Eliminating these mutations from the mRNA by inducing exon skipping is a relatively unexplored treatment approach, though it has shown promise for some diseases. Here, we show that eliminating a common stop mutation associated with cystic fibrosis by inducing skipping of the exon it is located in, results in a restoration of the open reading frame and recovers CFTR protein function in a manner expected to be therapeutic in CF patients who don’t currently have effective treatment options. These results are an important advancement for the cystic fibrosis community but also have implications for other diseases where terminating mutations are responsible for dysfunction.
Antipsychiatric Medication Errors in Children Boarded in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES Mental health visits to the pediatric emergency department (PED) have increased significantly. Our objective was to describe medication errors in children with mental health illness who were boarded in a PED for more than 6 hours. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study from 2014 to 2015 of children 6 to 18 years with psychiatric complaints and a length of stay of more than 6 hours. Admitted patients and those not on home medications were excluded. We collected demographics, number, types, and doses of antipsychiatric medications and errors. RESULTS A total of 676 patients (53.1% males) with a median age of 14 (interquartile range, 12, 15) years were included. The median length of stay was 11.7 (interquartile range, 8.5, 20.5) hours. A total of 974 medication errors occurred in 491 (72.7%) patients. Omission errors were noted in 376 patients (76.6%), commission in 44 patients (9.0%), and both in 71 patients (14.4%). Among commission errors, 8 (18.1%) were serious and 8 (18.1%) were significant. One third of patients (30.5%) had 1 medication error, 23.9% had 2, 11.7% had 3, and 5% had 4.Medication errors were most commonly noted in antidepressant and antipsychotic classes. One third (35.8%) of errors involved 2 medication classes. Being on 3 (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.9) or 4 or more (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-5.34) antipsychiatric medications was significantly associated with a prescription error. CONCLUSION There is a high incidence of medication errors, particularly those of omission, among antipsychiatric prescriptions in children boarded in the PED. A refinement of current medication reconciliation and integration of psychiatric medication databases between the PED and pharmacies are urgently needed to reduce these errors.
A summary of the clinical status of asparaginase.

Asparaginase is an agent for the treatment of leukemia which differs from other agents in that it takes advantage of a unique requirement of certain leukemic cells for asparagine, which most normal cells apparently do not have. It has been reported here to produce rapid remissions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in from 40 to 100% of patients in small series and the average is probably in the order of 60%. There does not appear to be any real cross-resistance with any of the other active agents, but it may be that somewhat higher remission rates are achieved in the previously untreated cases. This seems not to be a question of cross-resistance but rather a reflection of the patient’s better physical condition when seen soon after diagnosis has been made. In small series — and I stress small series because I am afraid of small numbers — approximately the same percentages of remissions are achieved with daily doses from 10 IU/kg to 5000 IU/kg. There may be some evidence, however, that longer unmaintained remissions are achieved by doses of 1000 IU/kg or higher. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), children seem to respond perhaps somewhat better than adults. Asparaginase is also active against the meningeal manifestation of the disease, whether the drug is given intravenously or intrathecally.
Flannelmouth Suckers: Movement in the Glen Canyon Reach and Spawning in the Paria River

Flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis) spawn March through April in the Paria River, a tributary of the Colorado River 25 km downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. We followed 50 ultrasonic-tagged, adult flannelmouth suckers in the Glen Canyon reach to determine if this native species was displaced downstream by the controlled flood. We also seined and made visual observations over known spawning areas in the Paria River during the flood, and surveyed for presence of young-of-the-year (YOY) during the summer rearing season to determine if the flood preempted or delayed spawning. Conservatively, forty-two (84%) tagged fish stayed within the Glen Canyon reach; the majority (33) used a low-velocity ponded habitat formed when high Colorado River flows ponded the lower 0.76 km of the Paria River. Spawning in the Paria River during 1996 was successful as evidenced by the presence of ripe fish over known spawning areas and by capture of a strong year-class of YOY in late spring and summer. Thus, we found no obvious deleterious effects of the controlled flood on movement of flannelmouth sucker in the Glen Canyon reach or on spawning in the Paria River.
[40] φX174-Type primosomal proteins: Purification and assay

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the preparation of crude soluble extracts that are capable of supporting φX174 ss(c) → RF DNA replication. It is a complementation assay used to score the activity of some of the replication proteins. It is also used to score the purification of the primosomal proteins from Escherichia coli strains engineered to overproduce them, and the reconstitution of φX174 ss(c)→RF DNA replication with purified proteins. Resolution and reconstitution of the enzymatic activities required for conversion in vitro of φX174 single-stranded (circular) DNA [ss(c)] to the double-stranded replicative form (RF) have resulted in the identification of the two major cellular replication machines, the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme (DNA Pol III HE) and the primosome. The primosome contributes the priming and DNA helicase functions at the replication fork. Seven proteins are required for primosome assembly: DnaB, DnaC, DnaG, DnaT, PriA, PriB, and PriC. Assembly occurs at a specific sequence [a primosome assembly site (PAS) 8] on φX174 ss(c) DNA coated with the single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB). Once assembled, the primosome can both translocate in either direction along the ssDNA and act as a DNA helicase in either direction. 3 The 3' → 5' movement and helicase activity is fueled by the ATPase (or dATPase) activity of PriA, whereas 5' → 3' movement and helicase activity is fueled by the NTPase activity of DnaB. Primase (DnaG) does not remain stably associated with the primosome. When associated with the preprimosome, forming the primosome, primase catalyzes the synthesis of RNA or DNA primers utilized by the DNA Pol III HE to initiate nascent strand synthesis.
Describing and Recognizing 3-D Objects Using Surface Properties

1 Introduction.- 1.1 The Input.- 1.2 Issues in Shape Description.- 1.2.1 Criteria for shape description.- 1.2.2 Choosing segmented surface descriptions.- 1.3 Issues of Recognition.- 1.3.1 Description of models.- 1.3.2 Matching primitives and algorithms.- 1.4 Questions for the Research.- 1.5 The Contribution of the Research.- 1.6 Organization of the Book.- 2 Survey of Previous Work.- 2.1 Survey of Shape Descriptions.- 2.1.1 Volume descriptions.- 2.1.2 Curve/line descriptions.- 2.1.3 Surface descriptions.- 2.1.4 Summary.- 2.2 Survey of Recognition Systems.- 2.2.1 3DPO.- 2.2.2 Nevatia and Binford.- 2.2.3 ACRONYM.- 2.2.4 Extended Gaussian Image (EGI).- 2.2.5 Oshima and Shirai.- 2.2.6 Grimson and Lozano-Perez.- 2.2.7 Faugeras and Hebert.- 2.2.8 Bhanu.- 2.2.9 Ikeuchi.- 2.2.10 Summary.- 3 Surface Segmentation and Description.- 3.1 Curvature Properties and Surface Discontinuities.- 3.2 Detecting Surface Features.- 3.2.1 Method 1: using directional curvatures and scale-space tracking.- 3.2.2 Method 2: using principal curvatures at a single scale.- 3.2.3 Method 3: using anisotropic filtering.- 3.3 Space Grouping.- 3.4 Spatial Linking.- 3.5 Segmentation into Surface Patches.- 3.6 Surface Fitting.- 3.7 Object Inference.- 3.7.1 Labeling boundaries.- 3.7.2 Occlusion and connectivity.- 3.7.3 Inferring and describing objects.- 3.8 Representing Objects by Attributed Graphs.- 3.8.1 Node attributes.- 3.8.2 Link attributes.- 4 Object Recognition.- 4.1 Representation of Models.- 4.2 Overview of the Matching Process.- 4.3 Module 1: Screener.- 4.4 Module 2: Graph Matcher.- 4.4.1 Compatibility between nodes of the model view and scene graph.- 4.4.2 Compatibility between two pairs of matching nodes.- 4.4.3 Computing the geometric transform.- 4.4.4 Modifications based on the geometric transform.- 4.4.5 Measuring the goodness of a match.- 4.5 Module 3: Analyzer.- 4.5.1 Splitting objects.- 4.5.2 Merging objects.- 4.6 Summary.- 5 Experimental Results.- 5.1 The Models.- 5.2 A Detailed Case Study.- 5.2.1 Search nodes expanded in recognition.- 5.3 Results for Other Scenes.- 5.4 Parallel Versus Sequential Search.- 5.5 Unknown Objects.- 5.6 Occlusion.- 6 Discussion and Conclusion.- 6.1 Discussion.- 6.1.1 Problems of segmentation.- 6.1.2 Problems of approximation.- 6.2 Contribution.- 6.3 Future Research.- 6.3.1 From surface to volume.- 6.3.2 Applications.- A Directional Curvatures.- B Surface Curvature.- C Approximation by Quadric Surfaces.
Design space exploration for efficient computing in Solid State drives with the Storage Processing Unit

Computer architects face two major challenges in building future exa-scale systems: high energy consumption and the increasing gap between processor and storage speeds. Moving the processing closer to the data, inside the persistent storage, will help mitigate these challenges. This will result in a hierarchical compute structure across the system with a major component of the processing hierarchy inside the Solid State Drive. This new architecture is called the Storage Processing Unit. We perform design space exploration and propose several optimizations to the application space and the architectural space. This research significantly improves the energy use and performance of the system. We observe energy savings from 11 – 423X and performance gains from 4 – 66X for applications including k-means, Sparse BLAS, and others.
Abundance Ratios in the Galactic Bulge and Super Metal-Rich Type II Nucleosynthesis: Pitfalls of the Analysis

We present abundance results from our Keck/HIRES observations of giants in the Galactic Bulge. We confirm that the metallicity distribution of giants in the low-reddening bulge field Baade's Window can be well-fit by a closed-box enrichment model. We also confirm previous observations that find enhanced [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe] and [Ca/Fe] for all bulge giants, including those at super-solar metallicities. However, we find that the [O/Fe] ratios of metal-rich bulge dwarfs decrease with increasing metallicity, contrary to what is expected if the enhancements of the other a-elements is due to Type II supernovae enrichment. We suggest that the decrease in oxygen production may be due to mass loss in the pre-supernova evolution of metal-rich progenitors.
Optimal Hold Functions for Digital Control Systems

This chapter presents the solutions to two classes of optimal design problems in GSHF control: regulation and tracking in a standard 4-block configuration. The basic premise is that the hold function itself is the design variable. The distinguishing feature of the design procedure is that the performance index explicitly penalizes the intersampling behavior of the closed loop system by using penalty indices that are time integrals of a quadratic function of the state vector and control input of the analog plant. For regulation, it presented solutions to the optimal LQG and LQ regulation problems. It was found that for fixed monodromy problems, existence and uniqueness of an optimal hold function could be guaranteed and computed directly by solving a linear two point boundary value problem of Hamiltonian structure. The chapter provides a sufficient condition under which the optimal GSHF is exactly a ZOH. Several examples are presented to illustrate the point that, under certain conditions, regulation by optimal GSHF control that results in significant improvement of performance, as measured by the performance index; however, in other cases the optimal GSHF is far from a ZOH with corresponding little improvement in performance. A limitation of this result is that it is not known a priori the circumstances under which the optimal GSHF gives a significant improvement in performance. It also presents a solution to the deterministic tracking problem using GSHF control. A necessary and sufficient condition is given for suppressing the dynamics of the reference model from the error signal at the sample times. An optimal hold function for minimizing a criterion that reflects the intersample output tracking error and the control energy is proved to exist and be unique.
Methamphetamine and Driving Impairment

Following a review of the effects of methamphetamine on human performance, actual driving and behavior were evaluated in 28 cases in which drivers arrested or killed in traffic accidents had tested positive for methamphetamine. The circumstances surrounding the arrest or accident were examined, together with any observations by the arresting officer regarding behavioral irregularities. The investigators also made a determination of culpability. Most of the arrests resulted from accidents in which the driver was determined to be culpable. Typical driving behaviors included drifting out of the lane of travel, erratic driving, weaving, speeding, drifting off the road, and high speed collisions. Behavioral manifestations of methamphetamine use in arrestees included rapid or confused speech, rapid pulse, agitation, paranoia, dilated pupils, violet or aggressive attitude. Combined alcohol and methamphetamine use was uncommon, however use of marijuana was evident in about one third of the cases. In addition to impairing judgment and increasing risk taking, the effects of withdrawal from methamphetamine use including fatigue, hypersomnnolence, and depression are likely contributors to many of these accidents. A consideration of the literature and the cases discussed here, leads to the conclusion that methamphetamine at any concentration is likely to produce symptoms that are inconsistent with safe driving.
Ultrastructural properties of rat tail tendon

The correlation between the structural hierarchy of soft connective tissues and the structural properties of these tissues continues to be an area of research interest in biomechanics. This paper presents current research to quantify the effects of the structural organization of collagen type I connective tissues on its load bearing function from ultrastructural properties obtained from tensile tests. The aim of the present paper is to determine if the structural properties, specifically the modulus in the high stress region, vary within the fascicle and sub-fascicle organizational level.
Tracking differential incorporation of dissolved organic carbon types among diverse lineages of Sargasso Sea bacterioplankton

Summary Bacterioplankton are the primary trophic conduit for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and linking community structure with DOC utilization is central to understanding global carbon cycling. We coupled stable isotope probing (SIP) with 16S rRNA pyrosequencing in dark seawater culture experiments on euphotic and mesopelagic communities from the Sargasso Sea. Parallel cultures were amended with equimolar quantities of four DO13C substrates to simultaneously evaluate community utilization and population-specific incorporation. Of the substrates tested – two cyanobacterial products (exudates or lysates from a culture of Synechococcus) and two defined monosaccharides (glucose or gluconic acid) – the cyanobacterial exudates were incorporated by the greatest diversity of oligotrophic bacterioplankton populations in surface waters, including taxa from > 10 major subclades within the Flavobacteria, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria (including SAR11). In contrast, the monosaccharide glucose was not incorporated by any taxa belonging to extant oligotrophic oceanic clades. Conversely, proteobacterial copiotrophs, which were rare in the ambient water (< 0.1% of sequences), grew rapidly on all DOC amendments at both depths, but with different substrate preferences among lineages. We present a new analytical framework for using SIP to detect DOC incorporation across diverse oligotrophic bacterioplankton and discuss implications for the ecology of bacterial–DOC interactions among populations of diverging trophic strategies.
An analytical model for flame propagation in low-mach-number, variable-density flow

A simple model problem is formulated to describe the coupling between premixed-flame and flow-field dynamics resulting from gas expansion within the flame. The energy conservation equation is integrated analytically across the flame in order to reduce the number of governing equations for the computational problem. A system of six equations and associated boundary conditions are formulated for computation of the time evolution of an initially prescribed three-dimensional velocity field and the flame surface.
Clinical features of 16 and 50 MeVd→Be neutrons

Abstract The clinical trial of 16 and 50 MeVd→Be neutron therapy is discussed and a comparison of the neutron beams and an outline of the development of dosage schedules are given.
The cutaneous photosynthesis of previtamin D3: a unique photoendocrine system

The skin has been recognized as the site for the sun-mediated photosynthesis of vitamin D3; until recently, however, very little was known about either the sequence of events leading to the formation of vitamin D3 in human skin or the factors that regulate the synthesis of this hormone. It is now established that, during exposure to sunlight, the cutaneous reservoir of 7-dehydrocholesterol (principally in the stratum Malpighii) converts to previtamin D3. Once this thermally labile previtamin is formed, it undergoes a temperature-dependent isomerization to vitamin D3 over a period of 3 days. The plasma vitamin-D binding protein preferentially translocates vitamin D3 from the skin into the circulation. During prolonged exposure to the sun, the accumulation of previtamin D3 is limited to about 10 to 15% of the original 7-dehydrocholesterol content because the previtamin photoisomerizes to 2 biologically inert photoproducts, lumisterol3 and tachysterol3. Increases in either latitude or the melanin concentration in the skin diminish the epidermal synthesis of previtamin D3. A single total body exposure to 3 minimal erythemal doses of ultraviolet radiation increased the vitamin-D3 levels in the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels after 7 days. The unique mechanism for the cutaneous synthesis, storage, and steady release of vitamin D3 into the circulation prompted an investigation into the potential therapeutic benefits of using the skin as the site for the synthesis and absorption of vitamin-D3 metabolites.
A SIMPLE IDIOTYPIC NETWORK MODEL WITH COMPLEX DYNAMICS

According to the network theory of the immune response, the various B and T lymphocyte clones that comprise the immune system respond to antigen in a coordinated way due to idiotypic interactions. Many models of idiotypic interactions have ignored the fact that cells communicate by secreting soluble molecules, and that the chemical reactions between these soluble molecules and cell surface receptors control key features of the immune response. Here we develop and analyze a set of simple idiotypic network models in which cells and molecules are distinguished, and which incorporate realistic chemical interactions among the various cellular and molecular species. Our first, most complete model involves a set of eleven ordinary differential equations. Using two time scale analysis we find that on a long time scale the chemical reactions reactions come to equilibrium, and we need only consider a set of six differential equations with algebraic constraints. We then show that a reduced four differential equation model captures most of the dynamic features of the full model. Using numerical bifurcation techniques we study the steady state and dynamic behavior of the reduced model for a range of realistic parameter values. Our models exhibit multiple steady states, limit cycle oscillations and chaotic behavior. Comparison with experimental data collected in vivo show that these dynamical features are characteristic of certain immune phenomena.
Hypertension and Cerebrovascular Dysfunction

Essential hypertension has devastating effects on the brain, being the major cause of stroke and a leading cause of dementia. Hypertension alters the structure of cerebral blood vessels and disrupts intricate vasoregulatory mechanisms that assure an adequate blood supply to the brain. These alterations threaten the cerebral blood supply and increase the susceptibility of the brain to ischemic injury as well as Alzheimer's disease. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which hypertension disrupts cerebral blood vessels, highlighting recent advances and outstanding issues.
Structural insights for activation of retinal guanylate cyclase by GCAP1.

Guanylyl cyclase activating protein 1 (GCAP1), a member of the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) subclass of the calmodulin superfamily, confers Ca2+-sensitive activation of retinal guanylyl cyclase 1 (RetGC1) upon light activation of photoreceptor cells. Here we present NMR assignments and functional analysis to probe Ca2+-dependent structural changes in GCAP1 that control activation of RetGC. NMR assignments were obtained for both the Ca2+-saturated inhibitory state of GCAP1 versus a GCAP1 mutant (D144N/D148G, called EF4mut), which lacks Ca2+ binding in EF-hand 4 and models the Ca2+-free/Mg2+-bound activator state of GCAP1. NMR chemical shifts of backbone resonances for Ca2+-saturated wild type GCAP1 are overall similar to those of EF4mut, suggesting a similar main chain structure for assigned residues in both the Ca2+-free activator and Ca2+-bound inhibitor states. This contrasts with large Ca2+-induced chemical shift differences and hence dramatic structural changes seen for other NCS proteins including recoverin and NCS-1. The largest chemical shift differences between GCAP1 and EF4mut are seen for residues in EF4 (S141, K142, V145, N146, G147, G149, E150, L153, E154, M157, E158, Q161, L166), but mutagenesis of EF4 residues (F140A, K142D, L153R, L166R) had little effect on RetGC1 activation. A few GCAP1 residues in EF-hand 1 (K23, T27, G32) also show large chemical shift differences, and two of the mutations (K23D and G32N) each decrease the activation of RetGC, consistent with a functional conformational change in EF1. GCAP1 residues at the domain interface (V77, A78, L82) have NMR resonances that are exchange broadened, suggesting these residues may be conformationally dynamic, consistent with previous studies showing these residues are in a region essential for activating RetGC1.
Code design for multihop wireless relay networks

We consider a wireless relay network, where a transmitter node communicates with a receiver node with the help of relay nodes. Most coding strategies considered so far assume that the relay nodes are used for one hop. We address the problem of code design when relay nodes may be used for more than one hop. We consider as a protocol a more elaborated version of amplify-and-forward, called distributed space-time coding, where the relay nodes multiply their received signal with a unitary matrix, in such a way that the receiver senses a space-time code. We first show that in this scenario, as expected, the so-called full-diversity condition holds, namely, the codebook of distributed space-time codewords has to be designed such that the difference of any two distinct codewords is full rank. We then compute the diversity of the channel, and show that it is given by the minimum number of relay nodes among the hops. We finally give a systematic way of building fully diverse codebooks and provide simulation results for their performance.
The Association of Parent Mindfulness with Parenting and Youth Psychopathology Across Three Developmental Stages.

The primary purpose of the current study was to test a model examining the process by which parent dispositional mindfulness relates to youth psychopathology through mindful parenting and parenting practices. The universality of the model across youth at three developmental stages was examined: young childhood (3–7 years; n = 210), middle childhood (8–12 years; n = 200), and adolescence (13–17 years; n = 205). Overall, participants were 615 parents (55 % female) and one of their 3-to-17 year old children (45 % female). Parents reported on their dispositional mindfulness, mindful parenting, positive and negative parenting practices and their child’s or adolescent’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Consistent findings across all three developmental stages indicated that higher levels of parent dispositional mindfulness were indirectly related to lower levels of youth internalizing and externalizing problems through higher levels of mindful parenting and lower levels of negative parenting practices. Replication of these findings across families with children at different developmental stages lends support to the generalizability of the model.
A study of the outcomes of probation officers and risk-screening instruments classifications

Risk-screening instruments have become quite popular in assisting probation officers in determining the level of supervision which their clients should receive while they serve their sentence in the community. This study compares the outcome of probation officers' classifications with predictions of likelihood of success derived from four risk-screening instruments. The results indicate that probation officers' predictions were better than two of the risk-screening instruments, were as accurate as another, and not as accurate as the fourth in determining the probability that the probationer would successfully complete the terms of probation. The findings of this study are discussed in terms of the cost issue involved in classifying offenders for probation supervision.
The Evolving Undergraduate Information Systems Education: A Survey of U.S. Institutions

Abstract To keep up with the fast-changing world of information technologies (IT), information systems (IS) education programs need to be assessed regularly in terms of curriculum and teaching methods. This article reports the results of a survey of 240 faculty members in its undergraduate programs representing 193 higher education institutions in the United States. Analyses of the data suggest that during the period 1991-1996 these programs have undergone dramatic changes to include coverage of the Internet, networking, and client/server-related topics. Meanwhile, traditional IS courses in such areas as mainframe operating systems, COBOL programming, and decision support systems have declined in importance. The information provided in this article should be valuable to IS educators and curriculum designers and could aid practitioners in their understanding of IS graduates. It also sheds some light on the future of IS education programs.
A Method for the Measurement of Thermal Diffusivity of Molten Glass

Thermal diffusivity data have been obtained on two typical soda-lime-silica glasses in the temperature range from 700° to 1400°C. The thermal diffusivity of a typical glass increases exponentially from 0.016 at 700° to 0.21 cm.2 per second at 1400°C. The measurement gives the total heat transferred by both conduction and radiation. The glass sample is held in a long crucible having cylindrical symmetry. A small sinusoidal temperature variation is superimposed on the mean temperature of the sample, and the time lag for the sinusoidal heat wave to travel radially from a point on the circumference of the sample to the center is measured. Furnace construction, method of controlling sinusoidal heat input, and methods of measurement are described.
“Is This Something You Want?”: Genetic Counselors’ Accounts of Their Role in Prenatal Decision Making†

With the widespread availability of prenatal genetic diagnosis, bioethical concerns have emerged about why women make use of these technologies, and the potential eugenic implications. Research on women's experience with genetic screening often suggests that genetic counselors encourage women to undergo prenatal testing and to terminate pregnancies with abnormalities. Yet, this key professional remains relatively understudied. To fill this lacuna, this article examines genetic counselors’ accounts of their role in the decision-making process, drawing on 26 qualitative interviews with master's-trained genetic counselors and illustrative observations of a prenatal counselor. In the context of debates about reproductive politics and genomic medicine, I identify the ways in which genetic counselors view their work and position themselves. I find that contrary to assumptions, genetic counselors provide accounts of being just as likely to discourage as to encourage invasive testing, and persuade against instead of promote termination of affected pregnancies. These findings suggest that genetic counselors may play a more nuanced and less coercive role than their critics contend, challenge assumptions about genetic counselors’ roles in prenatal genetic testing uptake and abortion, and shed light on how this specific professional may curb rather than promote eugenic tendencies feared with the normalization of prenatal screening.
Hyponatraemia: Identification and evaluation in the marathon medical area

Exercise-associated hyponatraemia (EAH) in marathon runners has been reported in the medical literature with incidence varying from 0-130 per 1000 finishers. EAH assessment is enhanced utilising a combination of race weight changes, screening questions, vital signs and clinical examination. Those who fail to lose 0.75kg are seven times more likely to be hyponatraemic than those who lose >0.75kg. Because EAH presentations vary, a three-level surveillance system may help identify mild to moderate cases of EAH that may progress and speed treatment for those in need. After the initial evaluation, the clinical response to treatment is very important to evaluating the severity of EAH. For mild symptomatic hyponatraemia, restrict hypotonic fluids until the runner is urinating and give oral hypertonic solutions if the runner can take oral fluids. For severely symptomatic EAH, intravenous 3% sodium chloride solution will speed recovery and improve outcomes. Pre-race education addressing early symptoms and expected weight changes as well as follow-up instructions detailing the appropriate post-race fluids should be available to all registered runners and specifically given to those runners monitored/treated in the medical area.
TU-C-211-03: Increasing X-Ray Tube Output for Small Focal Spot, Region-Of-Interest Imaging

Purpose: High‐resolution region‐of‐interest (ROI) imaging requires the use of a small focal spot with sufficient output to maintain spatial and contrast resolution. We investigate methods to increase the x‐ray output while maintaining the focal‐spot size for a small field‐of‐view (FOV) as needed for endovascular‐image‐guided interventions (EIGIs). Materials and Methods: We evaluated the increase in tube output made possible by reducing the anode angle and lengthening the filament for the small focal spot to maintain a constant effective focal‐spot size. Since the area of heat deposition on the anode is increased, tube‐loading capacity increases and the mA can be increased proportionally if the electron flux density at the target is unchanged. “Spek Calc” software was used to calculate the change in inherent tube filtration and in x‐ray spectrum and intensity as a function of anode angle. The gain in tube output achievable while maintaining focal‐spot size was determined for the small‐FOV of our custom high‐resolution, ROI imager. When the same tube is used for both large‐FOV imager and the small‐FOV ROI imager, angling the tube and adjusting filament length can allow a tradeoff between spatial resolution, tube loading and FOV. Results: For the 5‐cm FOV needed in neurovascular ROI imaging, the x‐ray output could be increased substantially with decreasing anode angle while the focal‐spot size and FOV is maintained. Considering both increased anode‐target area and increased inherent anode filtration, a net output increase of 3.3 times could be achieved with a 2‐ degree anode angle compared to the standard 8‐degree target with an increase of 4 times in filament length. Conclusions: For EIGIs where high resolution is essential but only over a small FOV, higher tube output while maintaining a small focal spot should be achievable with only small modification of standard x‐ray tube geometry. Support: NIH Grants R01‐EB008425, R01‐EB002873