cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlled heating and alignment platform enhances versatility in colloidal probe fabrication.

A colloidal probe, comprising a colloidal particle attached to an atomic force microscope cantilever, is employed to measure interaction forces between the particle and a surface. It is possible to change or even destroy a particle while attaching it to a cantilever, thus limiting the types of systems to which the colloidal probe technique may be applied. Here, we present the Controlled Heating and Alignment Platform (CHAP) for fabricating colloidal probes without altering the original characteristics of the attached particle. The CHAP applies heat directly to the atomic force microscope chip to rapidly and precisely control the cantilever temperature. It minimizes particle heating and enables control over the viscosity of the thermoplastic adhesive to prevent it from contaminating the particle surface. 3D-printed components made the CHAP compatible with standard optical microscopes and streamlined the fabrication process, while increasing the platform’s versatility. To demonstrate the utility of CHAP, we conducted a case study using a thermoplastic wax adhesive to fabricate colloidal probes bearing polystyrene and silica particles between 0.7 and 40 μm in diameter. We characterized the properties and interactions of the adhesive and particles, as well as the properties of the completed probes, to demonstrate the retention of particle features throughout fabrication. Pull-off tests with CHAP’s probes measured adhesive force values in the expected ranges and demonstrated that particles were firmly attached to the cantilevers.A colloidal probe, comprising a colloidal particle attached to an atomic force microscope cantilever, is employed to measure interaction forces between the particle and a surface. It is possible to change or even destroy a particle while attaching it to a cantilever, thus limiting the types of systems to which the colloidal probe technique may be applied. Here, we present the Controlled Heating and Alignment Platform (CHAP) for fabricating colloidal probes without altering the original characteristics of the attached particle. The CHAP applies heat directly to the atomic force microscope chip to rapidly and precisely control the cantilever temperature. It minimizes particle heating and enables control over the viscosity of the thermoplastic adhesive to prevent it from contaminating the particle surface. 3D-printed components made the CHAP compatible with standard optical microscopes and streamlined the fabrication process, while increasing the platform’s versatility. To demonstrate the utility of CHAP, we...
Bidirectional conditioning: Revisiting Asratyan's 'alternating' training technique.

Abstract The study of bidirectional conditioning began more than a century ago, yet it has failed to take strong root in psychology and neuroscience. We revisit this topic by exploiting E. A. Asratyan’s alternating procedure of stimulus presentation, in which both forward (e.g., A → B) and backward (e.g., B → A) training trials are concurrently given, in order to analyze their potential interaction. Specifically, using a two-alternative, forced-choice task, we trained humans and pigeons to learn associations between stimuli depending on whether they were presented as sample stimuli or choice stimuli. Trials were selected from an associative network in which forward and backward associations between sample and choice stimuli were synergistic (bidirectional network) or from an associative network in which these associations were not synergistic (unidirectional network). Humans were faster to learn associations from the bidirectional network than from the unidirectional network; additionally, they performed poorly on unidirectional trials that allowed for the expression of (incorrect) bidirectional associations. Unlike humans, pigeons showed no evidence of bidirectional associations. The reasons for this species difference as well as future directions for research deploying Asratyan’s two-way training technique are discussed.
Policy Changes and Child Blood Lead Levels by Age 2 Years for Children Born in Illinois, 2001-2014.

Objectives. To evaluate how lowering the blood lead level (BLL) intervention threshold affects childhood lead testing policy.Methods. We geocoded 4.19 million Illinois lead testing records (2001–20...
Self-Esteem and Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs among College Students: Coping as a Mediator

Objectives: Non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) has become a threat to public health. In the United States, NMUPD is especially common in young adults (aged 18-25). Self-esteem is a robust psychosocial factor of substance use. The substance use literature also documents that self-esteem is associated with alcohol use through other cognitive factors, such as coping. Given the important role of coping in substance use intervention, it is important to understand how coping alters mechanisms underlying the effects of self-esteem on NMUPD. However, little research has explored mediational mechanisms among self-esteem, coping, and NMUPD. The current study sought to examine a hypothesized mediation model among self-esteem, coping, and NMUPD in college students. Methods: Data were collected online from 1052 undergraduates (aged 18 to 25; 723 females) in a large public university in Virginia. Participants reported their past-three-month NMUPD (i.e. opioids, sedatives, anxiolytics, and stimulants), self-esteem, and coping (13 domains; e.g. active coping and self-blame). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to identify the factorial structure of coping. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for examining the hypothesized mediation model. Results: EFA and CFA identified a two-factor structure of coping (i.e. adaptive coping and maladaptive coping). SEM suggested that adaptive coping together with maladaptive coping completely mediated the relationship between self-esteem and NMUPD. The goodness-of-fit indicators suggest a good model fit (RMSEA = .04; CFI = .95; TLI = .93; WRMR = 1.11). Conclusion: Self-esteem appears to be a protective factor for NMUPD in college students, and its relationship with NMUPD is mediated by two types of coping. Future interventions targetting NMUPD among college students should attend to self-esteem and coping.
The search for mechanisms of cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol or other drug use disorders: A systematic review.

Abstract The emphasis in addictions research has shifted toward a greater interest in identifying the mechanisms involved in patient behavior change. This systematic review investigated nearly 30 years of mediation research on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for alcohol or other drug use disorders (AUD/SUD). Method Study inclusion criteria targeted analyses occurring in the context of a randomized clinical trial where both intervention/intervention ingredient to mediator (a path) and mediator to outcome (b path) paths were reported. Between- and within-condition analyses were eligible, as were studies that formally tested mediation and those that conducted path analysis only. Results The review sample included K = 15 reports of primarily between-condition analyses. Almost half of these reports utilized Project MATCH (k = 2) or COMBINE (k = 4) samples. Among the mediator candidates, support for changes in coping skills was strongest, although the specificity of this process to CBT or CBT-based treatment remains unclear. Similarly, support for self-efficacy as a statistical mediator was found in within-, but not between-condition analyses. Conclusions A coherent body of literature on CBT mechanisms is significantly lacking. Adopting methodological guidelines from the Science of Behavior Change Framework, we provide recommendations for future research in this area of study.
Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections at a Midwestern Tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective Study of 365 Patients.

Background The prevalence of infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing worldwide, yet little is known about the epidemiology and pathophysiology of these ubiquitous environmental organisms. Pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium avium complex is most prevalent, but many other NTM species can cause disease in virtually any organ system. As NTM becomes an increasingly common cause of morbidity and mortality, more information is needed about the epidemiology of NTM disease. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with cultures that grew NTM at a Midwestern tertiary hospital from 1996 to 2017. Information on demographics, medical history, clinical findings, treatment, and outcome was obtained from medical records of all NTM isolates. American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria were used to define pulmonary NTM infections. Results We identified 1064 NTM isolates, 365 of which met criteria for NTM infection. Pulmonary cases predominated (185 of 365; 50.7%), followed by skin/soft tissue (56 of 365; 15.3%), disseminated (40 of 365; 11%), and lymphatic (28 of 365; 7.7%) disease. Mycobacterium avium complex was the most common species (184 of 365; 50.4%). Individuals aged >50 years were most affected (207 of 365; 56.7%). Common comorbidities included structural lung disease (116 of 365; 31.8%), use of immunosuppressive medications (78 of 365; 21.4%), malignancy (59 of 365; 16.2%), and human immunodeficiency virus (42 of 365; 11.5%). Conclusions This large cohort provides information on the demographics, risk factors, and disease course of patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary NTM infections. Most patients had medical comorbidities that resulted in anatomic, genetic, or immunologic risk factors for NTM infection. Further population-based studies and increased disease surveillance are warranted to further characterize NTM infection prevalence and trends.
Interprofessional collaboration and housing resource groups increase access to care for homeless veterans

Abstract The Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) is leading change and transforming the lives of homeless veterans served by combining two evidenced-based practice models to improve overall outcomes for ending veteran homelessness. To increase access to and quality of care for homeless veterans, a structure including Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) regional teams and Housing Resource Groups (HRGs) was developed, to provide coordinated assistance in the communities where veterans reside. This paper reports the results of a longitudinal, repeated measures program evaluation. Outcome measures of the combined practice models indicated increased access to care for homeless veterans, and provider self-report of increased collaboration, coordination, and communication of stakeholders.
Xanthohumol Microbiome and Signature in Healthy Adults (the XMaS Trial): Safety and Tolerability Results of a Phase I Triple-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

SCOPE Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid from hops, has been extensively studied preclinically but has undergone limited research in human subjects. A triple-masked, placebo-controlled phase I clinical trial was conducted to examine the safety and tolerability of xanthohumol. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty healthy volunteers were randomized to 24 mg day-1 xanthohumol (99.8% pure) or placebo for eight weeks. Comprehensive metabolic panels, complete blood counts, body weight, vital signs, and health-related quality of life questionnaires were assessed every two weeks. Participants were interviewed for adverse events (AEs) throughout the trial. Thirteen of 14 (93%) and 14 of 16 (88%) participants completed the trial in the placebo and xanthohumol groups, respectively. There were no withdrawals due to AEs. There were no clinically relevant, between-group differences in laboratory biomarkers, body weight, vital signs, or health-related quality of life. There were no severe or FDA-defined serious AEs, but non-serious AEs are documented in both the placebo (n = 42) and xanthohumol (n = 58) groups. CONCLUSION Over an eight-week period, 24 mg daily xanthohumol was safe and well-tolerated by healthy adults.
CoWiz: Interactive Covid-19 Visualization Based On Multilayer Network Analysis

Covid Wizard or CoWiz is a Covid-19 visualization dashboard based on Multilayer Network (MLN) analysis underneath1. Online dashboards typically plot/visualize statistical information gleaned from raw data, such as daily cases, deaths, recoveries, tests, etc. However, for a better understanding, we need aggregate analysis (e.g., community, centrality) and its visualization which is the purpose of CoWiz. As an example, grouping counties across a country/region based on similarity of increase/decrease in cases, deaths, hospitalizations over intervals is not possible without aggregate analysis. This is where CoWiz utilizes community and other concepts over MLNs that are inferred from Covid and other relevant data sets for visualization.This demo presents a flexible, interactive dashboard which is capable of visualizing various aspects of Covid-19 data, including composition of Covid data with demographics (population density, education level, average earning, vehicle movements, and change in purchase patterns) at the granularity of county for USA. This paper elaborates on the types of analysis, underlying model, and how a flexible visualization dashboard has been developed using open source software and data sets. As new data becomes available, they can be incorporated into the visualization with no manual intervention.
GPU parallel computing for mapping urban outdoor heat exposure

Urban microclimate modeling helps to quantitatively understand the fine level urban heat exposure distribution, which would provide an important reference for urban heat management. Fine level continuous sky view factor (SVF) maps are usually needed for modeling how the solar radiation fluxes reach the urban surface and impact the urban microclimate dynamics. However, the estimation of continuous SVF maps is very time-consuming, which limits the urban microclimate modeling to small geographical areas. In this study, we proposed to use graphics processing unit (GPU) parallel computing to accelerate the computing of SVF. The high-resolution digital surface models were used as the input to generate the continuous SVF maps of Philadelphia, PA, USA. Results show that the GPU-accelerated algorithms can reduce the time consumption of SVF computing by more than 99% using one NVIDIA GPU. Based on the computed SVF maps, this study further calculated and examined the spatial distribution of mean radiation temperature (Tmrt) as an indicator of outdoor heat exposure using the SOlar and LongWave Environmental Irradiance Geometry (SOLWEIG) model. There is an uneven distribution of the outdoor heat exposure in Philadelphia, and the eastern and southern parts have a higher heat exposure level. Increasing the tree canopy cover is an effective measure to reduce the heat exposure by providing more shade, especially for the eastern and southern parts of Philadelphia where shade is needed most.
Accounting for uncertainties in compound flood hazard assessment: The value of data assimilation

Abstract Compound flood hazard assessment (CFHA) and modeling are prone to various sources of uncertainty including model structure, model parameters, input/forcing data, and those associated with nonlinear interactions among flood drivers. Data assimilation (DA) is an efficient method that helps quantify and reduce uncertainty in many hydrological applications and has proven to be effective in water level (WL) predictions and/or flood forecasts. However, research to date has not yet explored the benefits of DA in coastal to inland transition zones where pluvial, fluvial, and coastal flood drivers interact. Here, we present a DA scheme consisting of the Ensemble Kalman Filter technique and hydrodynamic modeling to provide (i) reliable WL predictions and (ii) accurate (near real-time) flood hazard maps within a 6 h-assimilation cycle. The DA scheme is tested on two well-known compound flood events and study sites in the United States, namely Hurricane Harvey for Galveston Bay and Hurricane Sandy for Delaware Bay. WL predictions and compound flood hazard maps are validated against observational data collected from coastal and inland gauge stations and high-water marks obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey, respectively. We show that DA is an effective method that accounts for all sources of uncertainty, reduces errors in peak WL estimates (up to 0.55 m) and mean absolute bias in CFHA (up to 40%). We conclude that, regardless of the dominant fluvial/pluvial or coastal drivers, DA can improve CFHAs in low-lying areas including coastal to inland transition zones.
Prison Violence: Causes, Consequences and Solutions

Contents: An introduction to prisons, punishment and prison violence Prison, by the numbers Prisons and prison violence in other countries Prison violence: explanations and theoretical underpinnings The effects of prison violence Challenges to understanding the problem What is being done? The long road ahead: the future of prison violence References Index.
The Roles of Exogenous Organic Matter in the Physiology of Chemolithotrophic Bacteria

Publisher Summary Chemolithotrophy is defined as the production of metabolically useful energy by the oxidation of inorganic compounds. Chemolithotrophy is coupled to a specific assimilatory physiology, the utilization of carbonic acid as the exclusive carbon source, as well as to exogenous organic matter. Attempts have been made to unify into a single concept, the aspects of physiology, energy generation, and carbon assimilation that are independent, in all possible combinations. This chapter deals with the roles of exogenous organic compounds in the physiology of chemolithotrophic bacteria. The chapter considers autotrophy and mixotrophy, the former refers to a completely inorganic medium or cells grown in such a medium and latter to a commingling of alternative modes of energy generation or carbon assimilation. Facultative autotrophs that oxidize either molecular hydrogen or reduced inorganic sulfur compound and obligate autotrophs in which energy is derived chemolithotrophically by the oxidation of ammonia or nitrite, reduced inorganic sulfur compounds, or ferrous ion are also presented.
Micro-XRD characterization of a single copper filled through-silicon via

Abstract Three single through-silicon vias (TSVs) of 6×50 µm2 in size with Ta barrier-Cu seed only, barrier-seed electroplated un-annealed and annealed at 420 °C for 30 min have been investigated by conventional XRD technique using 20 µm and 50 µm beams. The cross section of the Cu seed TSV was divided into three zones, 10 µm in depth for the bottom zone, the middle and the top zone each 20 µm in depth. The diffractograms obtained with the 20 µm beam indicated the presence of CuTa2O6 at top and bottom zones along with additional α-Ta planes at the bottom zone compared to the 50 µm beam. After electroplating, the β-Ta phase and an additional Cu (200) plane appeared. The annealed TSV showed the existence of predominantly α-Ta phases. The stress measurements revealed that annealed TSVs have a tensile stress compared to the un-annealed. This can be attributed the Cu grain growth. It is clearly observed that conventional XRD can greatly help to understand and optimize the TSV's development parameters.
Restricting the Freedom of Contract: A Fundamental Prohibition

This article argues that the general right to contract, that is to say the ability of one to obligate himself in exchange for another’s obligation in return, is a fundamental (or basic) though not all-encompassing right and one that is subject to additional legal protections especially when limitations are sought to be imposed discriminatorily or based on status rather than capacity or subject matter of the contract. While post-Lochner decisions have given states considerable leeway to regulate the scope of freedom of contract, restrictions based on status, especially the status of unauthorized immigrants, are invidious and go beyond the ambit of the type of state regulation previously permitted. This article concludes that a prohibition on the right to contract based solely on unauthorized immigration status in the United States likely violates the Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution on preemption, due process and equal protection grounds, and, to the extent executed contracts are involved, on Contract Clause grounds as well. The article analyzes other circumstances in which states and the federal government have previously restricted the right to contract based on status, and finds in nearly every case that the restriction of the right to contract affected members of a suspect class based on immutable characteristics such as race, national origin, alienage, gender, or servitude. While the Supreme Court has previously concluded immigration status is not a suspect class, this article argues that states' illicit use immigration status as a proxy for race, national origin or alienage satisfies the Arlington Heights test for disparate impact and therefore qualifies for strict scrutiny. In a modern, mercantile society, the right to contract is ubiquitous and now should be found to be fundamental. Laws such as the Hammon-Beason Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act which purport to discriminatorily restrict or prohibit the right to contract should be struck down on multiple statutory and constitutional grounds.
Does Consumer Irrationality Trump Consumer Sovereignty? Evidence from Gifts and Own Purchases

Scholars working on the border of economics and psychology have assembled an impressive body of evidence that consumer behavior is not fully rational. As a result some observers (see Kahneman, 1994) question whether consumer choice warrants deference. We address this question by asking whether consumers or others are better situated to make consumption choices. Based on a new survey of both holiday gifts and items consumers purchase for themselves, we present direct evidence that consumers’ own purchases generate between 10 and 18 percent more value, per dollar spent, than items received as gifts. Our estimates therefore support economists’ faith in consumer sovereignty, place some limit on the reach of the behavioralist critique of economics, and, in addition, confirm the substantial deadweight loss of Christmas.
Affecting operator trust in intelligent multirobot surveillance systems

Homeland safety and security will increasingly depend upon autonomous unmanned vehicles as a method of assessing and maintaining situational awareness. As autonomous team algorithms evolve toward requiring less human intervention, it may be that having an “operator-in-the-loop” becomes the ultimate goal in utilizing autonomous teams for surveillance. However studies have shown that trust plays a factor in how effectively an operator can work with autonomous teammates. In this work, we study mechanisms that look at autonomy as a system and not as the sum of individual actions. First, we conjecture that if the operator understands how the team autonomy is designed that the user would better trust that the system will contribute to the overall goal. Second, we focus on algorithm input criteria as being linked to operator perception and trust. We focus on adding a time-varying spatial projection of areas in the ROI that have been unseen for more than a set duration (STEC). Studies utilize a custom test bed that allows users to interact with a surveillance team to find a target in the region of interest. Results show that while algorithm training had an adverse effect, projecting salient team/surveillance state had a statistically significant impact on trust and did not negatively affect workload or performance. This result may point at a mechanism for improving trust through visualizing states as used in the autonomous algorithm.
Finite Element Analysis

The finite-element method is a numerical procedure for obtaining approximate solutions to boundary value problems. It is a general, preeminent approach to solving a wide variety of problems occurring in engineering practice, including those in RF and microwave engineering. It is a powerful tool in the design and characterization of RF and microwave devices. The popularity of the finite-element method can be ascribed to its ability to model very complex geometries and to deal with a variety of media, including inhomogeneous and anisotropic cases. Moreover, the method yields a very sparse matrix that can be generated, stored and solved efficiently. This article describes the basic principle, the numerical formulation, and some applications of the finite-element method for analysis of electromagnetic problems in RF and microwave engineering. It also briefly discusses some computational aspects and advanced topics associated with the method. Keywords: computational electromagnetics; finite-element method; RF and microwave devices; antennas; scattering
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide priming of P388D1 macrophage-like cells for enhanced arachidonic acid metabolism. Platelet-activating factor receptor activation and regulation of phospholipase A2

P388D1 cells are stimulated by platelet-activating factor (PAF) to release arachidonic acid metabolites (Lister, M. D., Glaser, K. B., Ulevitch, R. J., and Dennis, E. A. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 8520-8528). While the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in response to PAF is only two to three times the constitutive PGE2 production, bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are able to prime P388D1 cells for enhanced arachidonic metabolism, increasing PAF-stimulating PGE2 production to 9-12 times the constitutive PGE2 production. The extent and rate of [3H]arachidonic acid release from prelabeled P388D1 cells are also increased in primed cells relative to unprimed cells in response to PAF-stimulation. LPS from either Salmonella Re595 or Escherichia coli 0111:B4 prime P388D1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner but have themselves no ability to stimulate arachidonic acid metabolism. LPS priming is sensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D, while primed PAF-stimulation of PGE2 production is blocked by cyclohexamide which implicates a protein which is rapidly turning over. Primed PAF stimulation is also inhibited by the phospholipase A2 inhibitor manoalogue and the tyrosine-specific protein kinase inhibitor genistein, but not by the kinase inhibitor H-7. These results suggest that priming amplifies signal transduction pathways for PAF, which results in increased arachidonate availability. The multiple levels at which primed PAF-stimulated PGE2 production appears to be regulated are discussed.
Using Curvilinear Spline Regression To Empirically Test Relationships Predicted By Prospect Theory

Prospect theory (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979) suggests that decision makers compare decision criteria against a reference point when evaluating alternatives. Specifically it posits that decision makers are risk-seeking for losses (below the reference point) and risk-averse for gains (above the reference point). It further proposes that the degree of risk aversion above the reference point is greater than the risk seeking below it. This theory has received widespread acceptance due to intuitive appeal and theoretical support. However the theory does not have strong evidentiary support in actual practice because it is rarely empirically tested in non-experimental situations involving real market data. Often the type or amount of data available does not lend itself to the examination of relationships posited by prospect theory, however even if he data is appropriate, difficulties may arise in modeling and testing. In this paper, after a brief discussion of prospect theory and situations where it is applicable, we present an approach to the empirical testing of prospect theory predictions using curvilinear spline (piecewise polynomial) regression. Among the issues addressed are adequacy of data, choice of inflection point, modeling the curves and hypothesis testing.
Calculated Production of High-Energy Neutrons by 800-MeV Protons

High Energy Transport Code calculations were performed for 800 MeV protons incident on thin targets of various materials. The objective was to enhance the fraction of high energy neutrons while maintaining a reasonable yield. A high yield of neutrons with energies greater than 100 MeV in comparison to neutrons in the MeV range can provide an experimental tool to study high energy neutron radiation damage effects, activation and other transmutation. It is shown that the preferential production of high energy neutrons requires the use of light nuclei such as boron or beryllium. This is due to the fact that the intranuclear cascades in light nuclei are small enough that very few nucleons share the energy of incoming particles. Furthermore, production of low energy neutrons is suppressed since neutrons are mainly produced by direct particle-neutron interactions in the target material. It is also shown that fairly large variations in the target thickness do not effect the neutron spectrum for all targets studied. This is because mean free paths of both incoming protons and outgoing neutrons are much larger than the target dimensions. In the current work an effort is made only to maximize the high energy neutron production in targets. However,more » to build a useful experimental facility for high energy neutrons one would need to calculate in detail the angular dependence of primary and secondary proton fluxes as well as scattered neutron fluxes from surrounding materials.« less
Revisiting Paulozzi et al.'s “Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Death Rates from Drug Overdose”

The ecological study by Paulozzi et al. (Online Early: 18 Feb. 2011) raised many critical questions about the use and effectiveness of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) for a serious public health problem: fatal drug overdose. Despite a rigorous statistical modeling approach, we have two fundamental concerns: the premise and exposure measurement. The premise of this analysis had two important flaws. First, PDMPs were conceived of and have been implemented and funded primarily by mechanisms that are extensions of the criminal justice system. Law enforcement, not public health practitioners or health providers, has been the primary beneficiary of PDMPs since inception, a trend which is only recently beginning to change [1]. Given their current form and common usage, it may be inappropriate to expect PDMPs to have any significant effect on prescription drug overdose mortality. The authors state that PDMPs “employ various interventions … to reduce the abuse and/or diversion of controlled substances” and, by doing so, may alter the rate of overdose death in a state, but they give no examples of states that have used their PDMP effectively in this manner. The most common intervention during the study period of 1999 to 2005 was law enforcement investigation. The authors provide no theory to explain how law enforcement investigation might mitigate drug overdose risk. …
Stem Cell Fates: Control by Small Molecules

Stem cells hold great promise for the treatment of many devastating diseases and will also provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms that control developmental and regenerative processes. Realization of the therapeutic potential of stem cells will require a better understanding of the signaling pathways that control stem cell fate as well as an improved ability to manipulate stem cell proliferation, differentiation and reprogramming. Cell-based phenotypic and pathway screens of synthetic compounds have led recently to the discovery of several small molecules that can be used to control stem cell fate. Such molecules will not only provide new insights into stem cell biology but will also facilitate the development of therapeutic agents for regenerative medicine.
Profound Hypoglycemia with Ecstasy Intoxication

Background. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy is a synthetic drug that is commonly abused for its stimulant and euphoric effects. Adverse MDMA effects include hyperthermia, psychomotor agitation, hemodynamic compromise, renal failure, hyponatremia, and coma. However, endogenous hyperinsulinemia with severe persistent hypoglycemia has not been reported with MDMA use. Case Report. We report the case of a 29-year-old woman who remained severely hypoglycemic requiring continuous intravenous infusion of high-dose dextrose solutions for more than 24 hours after MDMA intoxication. Serum insulin and C-peptide levels confirmed marked endogenous hyperinsulinemia as the cause of the severe hypoglycemia. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Immediate and frequent monitoring of blood glucose should be instituted in patients presenting with MDMA ingestion particularly if found to be initially hypoglycemic. Early recognition can help prevent the deleterious effects of untreated hypoglycemia that can add to the morbidity from MDMA use. Clinicians need to be aware of this side effect of MDMA so they can carefully monitor and treat it, especially in patients presenting with altered mental status.
3 CALCIUM AND BONE MINERAL STATUS OF LACTATING TEENS CONSUMING VARIOUS CALCIUM INTAKES

Lactating adolescent mothers have been shown to have decreased bone mineral content (BMC). The present study was to evaluate an increased dietary calcium (Ca) intake on the Ca and BMC of lactating teens. Three groups of women were studied: 14 adolescent (Low Adol) consuming 900 mg Ca (56% RDA), 20 adolescents (High Adol) consuming 1600 or 2000 mg (100 or 125%, RDA), and 12 adults consuming 1200 mg (100% RDA). All lactating subjects were studied at 2, 8 and 16 wks postpartum. Serum Ca, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, 25-OH vitamin D parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT) and albumin remained normal for all 3 groups. By 16 wks, the CT levels were higher in the Low Adol group compared to the High Adol and adult groups (13.78±5.06, M±SD vs 9.94±8.12, 9.13±3.87 pg/ml, p<.05). PTH and CT levels increased during lactation for the Low Adol while the other 2 groups remained unchanged. BMC was similar at 2 wks, but after 16 wks, the Low Adol group had a decrease in BMC of 10% (p<.05). This was significantly different than the High Adol and adult groups which maintained their BMC. All adol dietary Ca and P intakes were correlated with changes in their BMC during lactation (r= 0.45, p<0.01 for Ca; r=0.47, p<.01 for P). By 16 wks, the adult group had a higher BMC than either the Low Adol (1.003 vs 0.866, p<.01) or the High Adol (0.899, p<.02) groups. These results suggest that bone loss during lactation for teens is accompanied by increased PTH and CT levels and that a high Ca intake appears to protect against this bone loss.
Ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring in clinical practice.

Ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring provides automated measurements of brachial-artery pressure over a 24-hour period while patients are engaging in their usual activities. This method has been used for more than 30 years in clinical research on hypertension. Initially, it was performed in cardiovascular research units with the use of direct intraarterial recordings during physical activity, work, rest, and sleep. These studies demonstrated that blood pressure has a highly reproducible circadian profile, with higher values when the patient is awake and mentally and physically active, much lower values during rest and sleep, and an early-morning surge lasting three to five hours during . . .
A comparison of the short and long forms of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R).

Brief, reliable, and valid assessment instruments are very important for clinical psychology research and practice. The possible equivalency of a short form and the long form of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R; Zuckerman & Lubin,1985) was studied by correlating both forms of the MAACL-R with the State Trait Personality Inventory (Spielberger,1995); the Affect Balance Scale (Bradburn,1969); and the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman,1978). Reliability and validity of the two forms were equivalent.
A multi‐dimensional perspective on salesperson commitment

Although the study of organizational commitment (OC) is prevalent in the sales literature, multiple commitments have yet to be considered with respect to their impact on OC and work‐related outcomes. Four original measures that tap a salesperson’s commitments to: an immediate supervisor; peer salespeople; customers; and the sales profession itself were developed and tested. Using these, a series of regression models suggests that overall OC is enhanced by commitment to peers and the supervisor, with the former having a greater impact than the latter. Job satisfaction was affected by OC and professional commitment. Propensity to leave the organization was negatively associated with OC only.
Establishment and characterization of an immortalized Z310 choroidal epithelial cell line from murine choroid plexus.

The choroid plexus plays a wide range of roles in brain development, maturation, aging process, endocrine regulation, and pathogenesis of certain neurodegenerative diseases. To facilitate in vitro study, we have used a gene transfection technique to immortalize murine choroidal epithelial cells. A viral plasmid (pSV3neo) was inserted into the host genome of primary choroidal epithelia by calcium phosphate precipitation. The transfected epithelial cells, i.e., Z310 cells, that survived from cytotoxic selection expressed SV40 large-T antigen throughout the life span, suggesting a successful gene transfection. The cells displayed the same polygonal epithelial morphology as the starting cells by light microscopy. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrate the presence of transthyretin (TTR), a thyroxine transport protein known to be exclusively produced by the choroidal epithelia in the CNS, in both transfected and starting cells. Western blot analyses further confirm the production and secretion of TTR by these cells. The mRNAs encoding transferrin receptor (TfR) were identified by Northern blot analyses. The cells grow at a steady rate, currently in the 110th passage with a population doubling time of 20-22 h in the established culture. When Z310 cells were cultured onto a Trans-well apparatus, the cells formed an epithelial monolayer similar to primary choroidal cells, possessing features such as an uneven fluid level between inner and outer chambers and an electrical resistance approximately 150-200 omega-cm(2). These results indicate that immortalized Z310 cells possess the characteristics of choroidal epithelia and may have the potential for application in blood-CSF barrier (BCB) research.
Responses of photosynthesis and water relations to rainfall in the desert shrub creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) as influenced by municipal biosolids

Responses of photosynthesis (P-n), stomatal conductance (g(s)), pre-dawn leaf water potential (Psi (1p)) and leaf water content (omega (1)) of creosote bush to 10 rainfall events in the Chihuahuan Desert were investigated. Infiltration of rainwater was manipulated by applying municipal biosolids. The responses of P-n and water relation parameters to rainfall ( > 10 mm) were mainly dependent upon drought severity: (1) following a moderate drought, P-n, g(s), Psi (1p) and omega (1) recovered to corresponding values of irrigated plants within 2 days after a 23-mm rainfall; (2) Psi (1p) and g(s) responded to a 15-mm rainfall within 2 days, following a 25-day drought, whereas responses of P-n and w, were delayed for several days; (3) responses of P-n, g(s), Psi (1p) and omega (1) to a 14.7-mm rainfall were all delayed for several weeks following a 110-day drought, but the delay was longer in P-n, g(s) and omega (1) than in Psi (1p). Creosote bush responded to small rainfall events (approximately 6 to 8 mm) with an increase in Psi (1p), but without noticeable changes in g(s) and P-n, suggesting a strong stomatal control of water loss even though xylem embolism was reduced. Biosolids applied at high rates (3.4 and 9 kg m(-2)) decreased the soil water by 2 to 4 mm following rainfall events, and this in turn delayed and decreased the responses of P-n and water relation parameters to rainfall. P-n and g(s) were linearly related to omega (1) and exponentially related to Psi (1p). With the generally coincidental responses of P-n or g(s) and omega (1) to rainfall, We concluded that the responses of P-n and g(s) to rainfall were dependent on leaf rehydration which resulted from restored hydraulic conductance following drought.
Nasal Magnetic Foreign Body: A Sticky Topic

Abstract Background: Magnetic earrings are becoming a popular item for both adults and children. In recent years, there have been case reports describing how two magnetic rings become affixed to the nasal septum. Discussion: We report the use of two cardiac pacemaker magnets and two micro polypus forceps to remove the magnetic rings via induced magnetism. Conclusions: The use of magnetized instruments demonstrates a safe and effective way to remove impacted magnetic foreign bodies from the nose.
ZEKE-PFI spectroscopy of 1:1 complexes of sodium with water and ammonia

ZEKE-PFI (zero kinetic energy pulsed field ionization) photoelectron spectra of the Na(H_2O), Na(D_2O), Na(NH_3), and Na(ND_3) complexes are reported. Spectra of all four complexes were obtained by single-photon ionization, and, for the Na(NH_3) and Na(ND_3) complexes, by two-color (1 + 1′) photoionization as well, with the A^2E state serving as the intermediate resonance. Improved values for the ionization energies (IE) and intermolecular vibrational frequencies of the complexes were determined. The single-photon ZEKE-PFI spectra show transitions only between states of the same vibrational symmetry, in accord with the selection rule for allowed electronic transitions. Some of the two-color ZEKE-PFI spectra, however, show strong transitions between states of different vibrational symmetry which we attribute to vibronic coupling in the intermediate state.
On the linear theory of equatorial plasma instability: Comparison of different descriptions

[1] Three theoretical descriptions, namely, the local description, the flux tube integrated description and the ballooning-mode type description, of the equatorial plasma instability are presented for comparisons. On the basis of physical considerations it is argued that the ballooning-mode type description is comparatively the most accurate and complete description of plasma instability in the equatorial ionosphere where the inhomogeneous plasma is embedded in a dipole magnetic field. The growth rates obtained from the ballooning-mode type description are therefore the most accurate growth rates. In comparison, the local description overestimates the growth rates up to a certain altitude and then underestimates them, while the flux tube integrated description underestimates the growth rates at almost all altitudes where the growth rates are significant. This is shown for two sets of ionospheric plasma conditions. It is further pointed out that only the ballooning-mode type description provides useful information on the wavelength dependence of the growth rates as well as on the spatial profiles of the excited modes. The localized spatial structures of the linear modes along the magnetic field line that are found in the ballooning-mode type description are expected to impose topological constraints on the nonlinear evolution of the instability and thus to play an important role in the determination of the nonlinear state of the plasma.
A quorum-based algorithm for parameterized semaphore operations

Abstract In a centralized operating system, semaphores are commonly used to coordinate processes. To solve more complex problems, several extensions of semaphore operations have been proposed. One extension allows the semaphore operations to be parameterized with test and decrement/increment parameters. Using parameterized semaphore operations, complex problems, such as coordination of prioritized processes and various reader/writer problems, may be easily solved. Many distributed mutual exclusion algorithms and their extensions have been proposed. However, none of these algorithms is as powerful as parameterized semaphore operations. In this article, we present an efficient algorithm to implement parameterized semaphore operations in a distributed system.
Texture Development by Templated Grain Growth in Liquid-Phase-Sintered α-Alumina

The distribution and orientation of platelet-shaped particles of α-alumina in a fine-grained alumina matrix is shown to template texture development via anisotropic grain growth. The textured microstructure ranges from 4 wt% oriented platelet particles in calcined samples to nearly 100% oriented α-Al2O3 grains after sintering at 1400°C. A CaO + SiO2 liquid phase creates favorable thermodynamic and kinetic conditions for anisotropic grain growth and grain reorientation during sintering. Important criteria for templated grain growth include (1) anisotropic crystal structure and growth, (2) high thermodynamic driving force for template grain growth, and (3) modification of diffusion in the system to continuously provide material to the anisotropically growing template grains.
Microbial Reduction of Fe(III) and Sorption/Precipitation of Fe(II) on Shewanella putrefaciens Strain CN32

The influence of Fe(II) on the dissimilatory bacterial reduction of an Fe(III) aqueous complex (Fe(III)−citrateaq) was investigated using Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN32. The sorption of Fe(II) on CN32 followed a Langmuir isotherm. Least-squares fitting gave a maximum sorption capacity of Qmax = 4.19 × 10-3 mol/1012 cells (1.19 mmol/m2 of cell surface area) and an affinity coefficient of log K = 3.29. The growth yield of CN32 with respect to Fe(III)aq reduction showed a linear trend with an average value of 5.24 (±0.12) × 109 cells/mmol of Fe(III). The reduction of Fe(III)aq by CN32 was described by Monod kinetics with respect to the electron acceptor concentration, Fe(III)aq, with a half-saturation constant (Ks) of 29 (±3) mM and maximum growth rate (μmax) of 0.32 (±0.02) h-1. However, the pretreatment of CN32 with Fe(II)aq significantly inhibited the reduction of Fe(III)aq, resulting in a lag phase of about 3−30 h depending on initial cell concentrations. Lower initial cell concentration led to long...
“Hired hand research” revisited

This article reconsiders the arguments of Roth (1966) concerning “hired band research.” Problems associated with different types of employees, research tasks, and research organizations are distinguished. It is argued that researchers who hire assistants can minimize the hired hand mentality by: 1) hiring persons who are able to stay on the job long enough to develop commitment to the project; 2) involving both hired hand workers and researchers in the research process to the fullest extent possible; 3) designing a flexible research project; 4) justifying theoretically each variable, interview question, observation, etc.; 5) collecting qualitative as well as quantitative data; and 6) remaining highly involved in the research project.
Toward a Sociology of “Security”

Security as a phenomenon has come to occupy increasing social energy and thus merits sociological attention. But the question of how to go about studying “security” is somewhat vexing, because the concept of “security” is both highly polysemous (Ranasinghe 2013) and one that can potentially be located within a wide spectrum of social sites, ranging from the feelings of individuals to the practices of states. I suggest that we must first clarify what we are talking about when we talk about “security.” Here, I present several ideas for fully articulating the concept.