cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mental health burden of social distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had far-reaching economic and mental health impacts on a global scale Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and overall distress may have been exacerbated by the mental health tolls of the pandemic It is also important to consider the impact of gender, socioeconomic status and whether one is a frontline worker involved in the treatment of critically ill patients In order to fully recover from the pandemic, we must be able to identify and treat any mental health disorders that may emerge from the effects of social distancing Improving access to mental health screening and treatment opportunities through platforms that utilize telehealth may be a part of the solution In addition, providing institutional support for health-care workers, promoting a safe work environment, and encouraging a robust conversation about mental health will aid in mitigating the negative impacts of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Interpersonal and communication skills, Practice-based learning, Systems-based practice
Understanding Fundamental and Applied Aspects of Oxidative Pretreatment for Lignocellulosic Biomass and Lignin Valorization

Oxidative pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass improves the efficacy of plant cell wall polysaccharides in biochemical conversion processes. In presence of oxidants, recalcitrant lignins are oxidized and dissolved to enhance the access of cellulose and hemicellulose to pretreatment chemicals and hydrolytic enzymes. This chapter focuses on the common types of oxidative pretreatments, their applications in biomass conversion, and the physiochemical changes in biomass structure during the pretreatment.
Felix: A Model for Affective Multi-agent Simulations.

This article introduces the Felix model, which utilizes concepts based on human physiology to simulate the influence of emotions in decision-making, the performance of actions, and memory mechanics. The model implements a fuzzy affective system, a genetically inspired emotive arousal modulation component that influences the agent’s performance. The goal of this project is to create multi-agent environments that simulate human behavior in emotionally charged situations. In addition to the model introduction, preliminary data for a sample situation is presented as well as a brief discussion of future work.
Community Practice: A Training Ground for Social Work Students

Providing services to communities while providing education and training for social work practice in communities is at the core of this paper. These activities are discussed and reviewed in the context of social work in communities. Social work field placements (internships) in communities can provide positive learning experiences for students and excellent services to communities. The Winslow Project, a two-year community-focused placement for two group of first year master of social work (M.S.W.) Students is described and the results of this project are discussed. In order to fulfill a commitment to the community concept, students need a well-defined concept of group and community practice in order to provide the range and quality of services that are required for social work practice in the 21st's century global community paradigm. Providing social work intervention practices in the community is paramount to the further development of social work as a profession. It will also provide support and encouragement for communities to provide these supportive services within the community context. Social work history is rich with the type of models necessary for this to occur. This article is available in The Qualitative Report: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol6/iss1/1 Community Practice: A Training Ground for Social Work
Effect of reduced glutathione on rat erythrocytes: Production of PNH-like features

Reduced glutathione producing paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria-like features in rat erythrocytes
Lawson method for obtaining wave functions and g factors of Ar isotopes

Lawson has shown that one can obtain sensible wave functions even in the weak deformation limit of the Nilsson model as long as one projects out states of good total angular momentum. We apply this...
On-Line Model Identification and Control Using the Kalman Filter.

Abstract : For some systems a model determined off-line can be satisfactorily used to design control systems. However, for many systems, the best values for the model parameters will change as the system operation varies. For effective control these parameter changes must be identified on-line and incorporated into the digital control strategy. Equally as important as the identification of changing parameters is the identification of unmeasured disturbances which upset the system operation. Ideally, the identification of model parameters and unmeasured disturbances would be accomplished by measuring only the controlled variable. One method which holds promise is the extended Kalman filter. The Kalman filter, which was developed for rejecting noise from measurements, is applied in this paper to problems of parameters and disturbance identification and state estimation of first- and second-order processes. The primary objective is to evaluate its performance for estimating the unmeasured disturbances encountered so frequently in operating control systems. (Author)
Implications of the Reduction Principle for Cosmological Natural Selection

Smolin (1992) proposed that the fine-tuning problem for parameters of the Standard Model might be accounted for by a Darwinian process of universe reproduction - Cosmological Natural Selection (CNS) - in which black holes give rise to offspring universes with slightly altered parameters. The laws for variation and inheritance of the parameters are also subject to CNS if variation in transmission laws occurs. This is the strategy introduced by Nei (1967) to understand genetic transmission, through the evolutionary theory of modifier genes, whose methodology is adopted here. When mechanisms of variation themselves vary, they are subject to Feldman's (1972) evolutionary Reduction Principle that selection favors greater faithfulness of replication. A theorem of Karlin (1982) allows one to generalize this principle beyond biological genetics to the unknown inheritance laws that would operate in CNS. The reduction principle for CNS is illustrated with a general multitype branching process model of universe creation containing competing inheritance laws. The most faithful inheritance law dominates the ensemble of universes. The Reduction Principle thus provides a mechanism to account for high fidelity of inheritance between universes. Moreover, it reveals that natural selection in the presence of variation in inheritance mechanisms has two distinct objects: maximization of both fitness and faithful inheritance. Tradeoffs between fitness and faithfulness open the possibility that evolved fundamental parameters are compromises, and not local optima to maximize universe production, in which case their local non-optimality may point to their involvement in the universe inheritance mechanisms.
The effect of selected antiepileptic drugs on the chromosomes of human lymphocytes in vitro.

Abstract Three anticonvulsive drugs, phensuximide, primidone, and mephenytoin, were studied in tissue culture for effects on the chromosomes of human leukocytes in concentrations of 100.0, 10.0, 1.0, and 0.1 μg per cubic centimeter of culture media. No significant increase in chromosome breaks, gaps, or abnormal forms was noted for any of the drugs studied when compared with control cultures. While these data are reassuring with respect to chromosome damage, it must be pointed out that these drugs may still cause congenital malformations as chromosome damage is but one cause of teratogenesis. The obstetrician is cautioned to use only those drugs during pregnancy which are necessary for the mother's well-being as potential risk must always be considered to be present.
Saudi consumer preference of fast food outlets: the influence of restaurant attributes.

Abstract The study empirically examines the attributes of fast food restaurants that influence the consumer preference of fast food outlets in Saudi Arabia. Based on the existing literature and an examination of the socio-cultural and economic environment of Saudi Arabia, two hypotheses have been developed. The hypotheses are that the fast food restaurant attributes of nutrition, price, taste, speed, delivery service, variety, seating capacity, location, novelties, friendliness, and cleanliness influence the consumer preference of fast food outlets and such an influence does not vary across age groups, genders, and income groups in Saudi Arabia. A sample of 250 fast food restaurant patrons, Saudi Arabians, was examined. The results by and large support the hypotheses.
The Dr. Sam Sheppard Trial

On July 4, 1954, Marilyn Sheppard, the wife of a handsome thirty-year-old doctor, Sam Sheppard, was brutally murdered in the bedroom of their home in Bay Village, Ohio, on the shore of Lake Erie. Sam Sheppard denied any involvement in the murder and described his own battle with the killer he described as bushy-haired. Did Sam do it? It's rare for a murder mystery to endure for over half a century. Almost always, if the mystery is not fully resolved at the trial, subsequent admissions, previously uncovered clues, or more sophisticated forensic tests reveal what the trial did not. Not so with the Sam Sheppard case. Facing two different juries, twelve years apart, Sam Sheppard was found guilty by one jury, not guilty by the next. Even over the past decade, partisans continued the debate. A third jury in 2000, asked to consider awarding the Sheppard family damages for wrongful imprisonment, sided with county prosecutors. In 2001, a book on the Sheppard case concluded that Sam was clearly innocent. Two years later, another book on the case argued just as forcefully that the first jury got it right: Sam was guilty as charged. Apart from the large unanswered question of guilt, the Sheppard case deserves to be considered among the nation's most famous because it produced a landmark U. S. Supreme Court decision on fair trial rights and launched the career of a flamboyant young defense attorney named F. Lee Bailey. The case is also is remarkable for the unlikely collection of notable figures that touched the case, including columnist and quiz show star Dorothy Kilgallen, Cleveland Browns quarterback and NFL Hall-of-Fame member Otto Graham, and chief Nazi propagandist, Joseph Goebbels. The case also was widely associated with a popular early 60s' television show, The Fugitive.
Cad For Manufacturability of Integrated Circuits

The sections in this article are 1 Concepts of CAD for Manufacturability 2 The Role of CAD for Manufacturability in the Development Life Cycle 3 Models and Methods for CAD for Manufacturability 4 Research Directions in CAD for Manufacturability
Extreme Value Theory: An Introduction

(2008). Extreme Value Theory: An Introduction. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 103, No. 482, pp. 882-883.
How Computer Games Help Children Learn

Foreword: Seeing the Future J.P.Gee Introduction Epistemology: The Debating Game Knowledge: The Digital Zoo Skills: Escher's World Values: The Pandora Project Identity: Science.net Beyond the Industrial School: The Future of Education and How We Get There
Microhabitat differentiation in Chihuahuan Desert plant communities

The effects of microhabitat differentiation on small-scale plant community structure in the Chiuhuahuan Desert were studied using multivariate analysis. The results showed that microhabitats (i.e., kangaroo rat mounds, ant mounds, shrubs, half-shrubs, and open areas) played a critical role in structuring small-scale plant community structure and maintaining species diversity. Annual plants were much more sensitvive to the presence of differentiated microhabitats than perennials and winter annuals exhibited stronger microhabitat perferences than summer annuals. Species diversity was highest on ant mounds while open areas supported the lowest diversity during both winter and summer. Biomass was highest in the shrub habitats followed by kangaroo rat mounds, ant mounds, half-shrubs, and open areas. Much of the diversity of these plants could be explained by the individualistic responses of species to the biotic effect of other plants or to disturbance by animals, or individualistic responses of species to differences in microenvironments.
Behaviorally inhibited temperament is associated with severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and faster eyeblink conditioning in veterans

Prior studies have sometimes demonstrated facilitated acquisition of classically conditioned responses and/or resistance to extinction in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is unclear whether these behaviors are acquired as a result of PTSD or exposure to trauma, or reflect preexisting risk factors that confer vulnerability for PTSD. Here, we examined classical eyeblink conditioning and extinction in veterans self-assessed for current PTSD symptoms, exposure to combat, and the personality trait of behavioral inhibition (BI), a risk factor for PTSD. A total of 128 veterans were recruited (mean age 51.2 years; 13.3% female); 126 completed self-assessment, with 25.4% reporting a history of exposure to combat and 30.9% reporting current, severe PTSD symptoms (PTSS). The severity of PTSS was correlated with current BI (R2 = 0.497) and PTSS status could be predicted based on current BI and combat history (80.2% correct classification). A subset of the veterans (n = 87) also completed the eyeblin...
“To Restore the National Faith”: Abraham Lincoln's 1854 Peoria Address and the Paradox of Moral Politics

This essay examines how Abraham Lincoln's Peoria address of 1854 negotiated central paradoxes in antebellum American politics in order to construct a viable framework for decisions about the place of slavery in the United States and to open a space for compromise on a volatile issue. Analysis of the Peoria address illuminates the emergence of a rhetorical framework that characterized Lincoln's rise to power, shaped many of his most significant symbolic acts and enabled him to consistently oppose slavery yet adapt his position on the issue to address evolving circumstances.
The Feeding Value of Meat and Bone Meal Protein

Abstract KRAYBILL and Wilder (1947) investigated the feeding value of meat scrap protein and found that some samples of meat scrap were deficient in methionine and tryptophan. Meat scrap in general was a good source of lysine. March, Biely and Young (1950) also studied the supplementation of meat scrap with amino acids. They found that lysine was the principal amino acid deficiency in a practical-type ration which contained meat scrap protein. Patrick (1953) studied supplements for a meat scrap-type chick ration containing 67.5% corn and found lysine to be the principal amino acid deficiency. The severity of the deficiency depended upon the batch of meat scrap which was used. A comparison of the amino acid content of meat scrap, as reviewed by Almquist (1957), with the amino acid requirement of chicks indicated that methionine and tryptophan are probably the amino acids which limit growth. Since amino acid analyses do not necessarily …
Not just your average structures.

Structures determined by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy are averages, whereas many important biological functions require significant departure from the ‘average’ conformation.
Effect of diffusion on the model of a capillary gas permeator

Abstract A model of a capillary gas permeator with an axial diffusion term is developed. This model removes the singularity of the plug-flow model encountered at the bottom of a stripping column. The axial diffusion effect is also important whenever the convective transport in the permeator becomes very low. The model equations are solved by the orthogonal collocation method. The computer program is numerically stable and can predict permeator performance over a wide range of operating conditions. This model has produced remarkable agreements with those experimental data which could not be simulated based on the simple plug-flow model.
Algorithms for dynamic multicast key distribution trees

Many secure group communication systems rely on a group key, which is a secret shared among the members of the group. Secure messages are sent to the group by encrypting them with the group key. Because group membership is dynamic, it becomes necessary to change the group key in an efficient and secure fashion when members join or leave the group. We present a series of algorithms for solving this problem based on 2--3 trees, where each internal node has degree 2 or 3. The algorithms attempt to minimize the worst case communication cost of updating the group key and the auxiliary keys needed by the algorithms. The algorithms are analyzed for the worst case performance and evaluated empirically via simulations. We focus on the trade-off between the communication cost due to the structure of the tree and that due to the restructuring of the tree to maintain its structure.
Regulation of RhoA GTP hydrolysis by the GTPase-activating proteins p190, p50RhoGAP, Bcr, and 3BP-1.

The small GTP-binding protein RhoA becomes inactivated by hydrolyzing bound GTP to GDP through its intrinsic GTPase activity which is further stimulated by a family of Rho GTPase-activating protein...
Multiple forest activities, multiple purpose organizations: Organizing for complexity in a grassroots movement in Guatemala’s Petén

Abstract Forest community-based social movements are today assuming increasingly important roles in environmental governance in the world’s forests. As these “forest community stewards” promote local resource access and management, their organizations often take on greater internal complexity. This paper draws on the experience of the Association of Forest Communities of Peten (ACOFOP), Guatemala and the community-based concessions it serves to examine interactions among multiple forest activities, participants, interests and objectives in increasingly complex community-based organizations. Interntal interactions and tensions among multiple activities inevitably arise as these organizations seek to maintain their responsiveness and legitimacy amid rapidly changing social, political and environmental contexts. This paper suggests that rather than seek to eliminate tensions emerging from increased internal diversity and complexity, grassroots forest organizations should confront and manage these tensions to ensure continued viability while responding appropriately to moments of “structural choice”. Seeing these community-based forest organizations as social movement processes managed over time by their participants rather than as sets of static principles best designed a priori allows more accurate analysis of the complex factors that shape success or failure, and of how appropriate external support may be provided.
The art of tolerance

In a mouse skin transplant model in which donor and recipient mice differ by only one minor histocompatibility antigen, graft tolerance can be induced up to ten days after transplantation, but endures only if there is persistence of migratory antigen ( pages 1015-1019 ).
An efficient and fast parallel-connected component algorithm

A parallel algorithm for computing the connected components of undirected graphs is presented. Shared memory computation models are assumed. For a graph of e edges and n nodes, the time complexity of the algorithm is O(e/p + (n log n)/p + log2n) with p processors. The algorithm can be further refined to yield time complexity O(H(e, n, p)/p + (n log n)/(p log(n/p)) + log2n), where H(e, n, p) is very close to O(e). These results show that linear speedup can be obtained for up to p ≤ e/log2n processors when e ≥ n log n. Linear speedup can still be achieved with up to p ≤ ne processors, 0 ≤ e
Comparison of the in vitro activity of ciprofloxacin and 24 other antimicrobial agents against clinical strains of Chromobacterium violaceum

Abstract Eleven clinical strains of Chromobacterium violaceum were tested for their susceptibility to 25 antimicrobial agents. Ciprofloxacin was the most active of the compounds tested although norfloxacin and pefloxacin were highly active. No resistance was detected to mezlocillin, piperacillin, apalcillin, imipenem, and aztreonam while a single strain was resistant to ticarcillin. Among the cephalosporin/cephamycin group only cefotetan showed good in vitro activity. Gentamicin was more active than amikacin and tobramycin. Good in vitro activity was also noted for chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole while C. violaceum strains were highly resistant to rifampin and vancomycin. The bactericidal activity of selected agents was shown to be concentration dependent using time-kill kinetic studies. Addition of clavulanic acid did not increase the activity of ticarcillin and in one case was shown to induce beta-lactamase. High correlation was noted between the broth microdilution and disk diffusion susceptibility tests in predicting the susceptibility patterns of C. violaceum .
Integrative Medicine Centers: Moving Health Care in a New Direction

Increasing consumer demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has led many health care organizations to create “integrative medicine centers” (IMCs) that combine the use of biomedical and CAM therapies. This article explores institutional issues in the emergence of IMCs affiliated with hospitals in academic medical centers. We assess efforts at integration, analyze the challenges, and comment on the balance between factors that support and hinder the continued expansion of IMCs. Our conclusion is that, although obstacles remain, they are not insurmountable. One former concern, physician skepticism, is now much less intense. However, achieving financial viability continues to be a major hurdle for IMCs. We offer some policy considerations for those establishing IMCs in order to broaden the options available to consumers of health care.
The human foramen magnum--normal anatomy of the cisterna magna in adults.

The goal of this study was to radiologically describe the anatomical characteristics of the cisterna magna (CM) with regard to presence, dimension, and configuration. In this retrospective study, 523 records were reviewed. We defined five CM types, the range of which covered all normal variants found in the study population. Characteristics of the CM were recorded and correlations between various posterior fossa dimensions and CM volume determined. There were 268 female (mean age 50.9 ± 16.9 years) and 255 male (mean age 54.1 ± 15.8 years) patients. CM volume was smaller in females than in males and correlated with age (Pearson correlation, r = 0.1494, p = 0.0006) and gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.0608, p < 0.0001). Clivus length correlated with CM volume (Pearson correlation, r = 0.211, p < 0.0001) and gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.2428, p < 0.0001). Tentorial angle did not correlate with CM volume (Pearson correlation, r = −0.0609, p < 0.1642) but did correlate with gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.0163, p < 0.0035). The anterior–posterior dimension of cerebrospinal fluid anterior to the brainstem correlated with CM volume (Pearson correlation, r = 0.181, p < 0.0001) and gender (unpaired t test, r 2 = 0.0205, p = 0.001). The anatomical description and simple classification system we define allows for a more precise description of posterior fossa anatomy and could potentially contribute to the understanding of Chiari malformation anatomy and management.
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Coactivator 1α or 1β Overexpression Inhibits Muscle Protein Degradation, Induction of Ubiquitin Ligases, and Disuse Atrophy *

Overexpression of the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha), like exercise, increases mitochondrial content and inhibits muscle atrophy. To understand these actions, we tested whether PGC-1alpha or its close homolog, PGC-1beta, influences muscle protein turnover. In myotubes, overexpression of either coactivator increased protein content by decreasing overall protein degradation without altering protein synthesis rates. Elevated PGC-1alpha or PGC-1beta also prevented the acceleration of proteolysis induced by starvation or FoxO transcription factors and prevented the induction of autophagy and atrophy-specific ubiquitin ligases by a constitutively active FoxO3. In mouse muscles, overexpression of PGC-1beta (like PGC-1alpha) inhibited denervation atrophy, ubiquitin ligase induction, and transcription by NFkappaB. However, increasing muscle PGC-1alpha levels pharmacologically by treatment of mice with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-D-ribofuranoside failed to block loss of muscle mass or induction of ubiquitin ligases upon denervation atrophy, although it prevented loss of mitochondria. This capacity of PGC-1alpha and PGC-1beta to inhibit FoxO3 and NFkappaB actions and proteolysis helps explain how exercise prevents muscle atrophy.
Early Neolithic Skeletons from Çatal Hüyük: Demography and Pathology

The opportunity to study the early farming population at Catal Huyuk came to me through the foresight and kindness of the excavator, Mr. James Mellaart, and the successive Directors of the British Archaeological Institute Mr. Michael Gough and Dr. David French. I am most grateful to them for the opportunity to publish this report. In the autumn of 1967 I worked in collaboration with Dr. Denise Ferembach of the CNRS in Paris, who is reporting on the morphology and geographic relations of the population. We worked in the laboratory of Professor Enver Bostanci, head of the department of Palaeoanthropology at the University of Ankara, who most kindly aided us and allowed us facilities for study. The successive Directors General of Antiquities and Museums, Bay Mehmet Onder and Bay Hikmet Gurcay, also gave us permission to study this material and expressed gracious interest in it.
Variations in prenatal care and well-child supervision in a New England city

It was found that time of the initial visit for prenatal care, the frequency of visits for infant health supervision, and whether the child was cared for by a pediatrician or a general practitioner were associated with the extent of the mother's formal education, parity, and husband's social class. More visits to a physician because of illness were reported by mothers residing in less favorable areas of the city. A suggestion is made regarding case finding of pregnancies among those groups now receiving inadequate prenatal care and infant health supervision.
Pex18p and Pex21p, a Novel Pair of Related Peroxins Essential for Peroxisomal Targeting by the PTS2 Pathway

We have identified ScPex18p and ScPex21p, two novel S . cerevisiae peroxins required for protein targeting via the PTS2 branch of peroxisomal biogenesis. Targeting by this pathway is known to involve the interaction of oligopeptide PTS2 signals with Pex7p, the PTS2 receptor. Pex7p function is conserved between yeasts and humans, with defects in the human protein causing rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP), a severe, lethal peroxisome biogenesis disorder characterized by aberrant targeting of several PTS2 peroxisomal proteins, but uncertainty remains about the subcellular localization of this receptor. Previously, we have reported that ScPex7p resides predominantly in the peroxisomal matrix, suggesting that it may function as a highly unusual intraorganellar import receptor, and the data presented in this paper identify Pex18p and Pex21p as key components in the targeting of Pex7p to peroxisomes. They each interact specifically with Pex7p both in two-hybrid analyses and in vitro. In cells lacking both Pex18p and Pex21p, Pex7p remains cytosolic and PTS2 targeting is completely abolished. Pex18p and Pex21p are weakly homologous to each other and display partial functional redundancy, indicating that they constitute a two-member peroxin family specifically required for Pex7p and PTS2 targeting. * AOX : acyl CoA oxidase GFP : green fluorescent protein HA : hemagglutinin pex : peroxin PTS : peroxisomal targeting sequence RCDP : rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata
Fourier Transform Emission Spectroscopy of theA′3Φ–X3Φ System of CoH

Abstract The emission spectrum of CoH has been investigated in the red and infrared regions using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The bands observed in the 1 μm–800 nm spectral region have been classified into 3 Φ 3 – 3 Φ 3 and 3 Φ 4 – 3 Φ 4 subbands of a new electronic transition A′ 3 Φ–X 3 Φ. The rotational analysis of the 0–1 and 0–0 bands of the 3 Φ 4 – 3 Φ 4 subband and the 0–0 band of the 3 Φ 3 – 3 Φ 3 subband has been obtained and the spectroscopic constants have been determined. The effective principal equilibrium constants for the lowest energy spin component, X 3 Φ 4 , obtained from this work are Δ G (1/2) = 1858.7932(32) cm −1 , B e = 7.255382(74) cm −1 , α e = 0.212444(93) cm −1 , and r e = 1.531291(8) A.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: One Answer to Managed Mental Health Care:

This article presents relative historical events responsible for bringing about the need to use treatment methods capable of delivering low-cost, quality mental health services. Furthermore, a review of current literature is provided to support this need. The Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Model is presented as one means of service delivery in an age of managed mental health care. This model has been designed to meet the mental health needs of individuals, couples, and families for which effective brief therapeutic intervention is demanded. The reader is provided with a basic understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the model, which are defined and synthesized into an applied approach. Basic solution-focused language and examples of its application are included so that each aspect of the model can be immediately used with clients.
Heuristics Based on Spacefilling Curves for Combinatorial Problems in Euclidean Space

We describe a family of heuristics to solve combinatorial problems such as routing and partitioning. These heuristics exploit geometry but ignore specific distance measures. Consequently they are simple and fast, but nonetheless fairly accurate, and so seem well-suited to operational problems where time or computing resources are limited. We survey promising new application areas, and show how procedures may be customized to reflect the structure of particular applications.
Abstract A50: Impacts of poverty threshold and health insurance on breast cancer screening in California

Background: Breast cancer screening rates have been stabilized in California. Although the effect of health insurance on breast cancer screening is well-documented in United States, the effect in California is not clear. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between having health insurance and being screened for breast cancer by different poverty threshold after controlling for observed factors Methods: Data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey were used to examine the association of health insurance coverage on breast cancer screening among all women ages ≥40 years (N= 24,060) using logistic regression model. After adjusting for educational attainment, employment status, race, marital status, age, nativity, smoking and doctor visit, potential effects of health insurance on breast cancer screening were analyzed by different groups: all women, women with ≤199 FPL (Federal Poverty Line) and women with 200+ FPL. All analyses accounted for the California Health Interview Survey sampling design. Results: Overall, participants who reported having health insurance coverage were twice as likely to report being screened for breast cancer compared with those who reported having none [OR, 2.11; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.73-2.57]. After adjusting for independent variables, self-reported insurance coverage had positive associations with report of being screened among women below federal poverty line (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.40-2.55) and among women above federal poverty line (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.78-3.24). Conclusions: Women who reported having health insurance were more likely to report having breast screening than those who reported not having insurance coverage. This effect was higher for women at a higher income level. These findings, if confirmed in other study populations, indicate that improving breast cancer screening coverage may require not only insurance coverage but also income level for poverty. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A50.
Endothelial Cell VE-cadherin Functions as a Receptor for the β15–42 Sequence of Fibrin

Abstract The contact of fibrin with the apical surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) can induce capillary tube formation via the interaction of fibrin β15–42 with a putative cell receptor (Chalupowicz, D. G., Chowdhury, Z. A., Bach, T. L., Barsigian, C., and Martinez, J. (1995) J. Cell Biol. 130, 207–215). To characterize this interaction, we studied the binding of the thrombin-cleaved N-terminal disulfide knot of fibrin (NDSK II), a dimeric fragment with exposed β15–42, to HUVEC in three separate assay systems. Time-course binding of125I-NDSK II to HUVEC monolayers or suspensions revealed that binding was specific at 50–60%, as determined by the addition of unlabeled NDSK II. Specific binding of 125I-NDSK II to HUVEC was 70% reversible by dilution or by competition, and was found to be divalent cation-independent. Binding plateaued after 10 min at a saturation of 15–20 nm. Scatchard analysis using the LIGAND computer program defined a single population of receptors with aK D of 7.7 ± 1.6 nm and approximately 21,000 ± 7000 binding sites/cell. N-terminal disulfide knot derivatives in which β15–42 was absent (NDSK 325) or unexposed (NDSK, NDSK I) did not show specific binding. Specific binding of 125I-NDSK II could not be inhibited by RGDS or by antibodies to the αvβ3 or β1 integrins, PECAM-1, ICAM-1, or N-cadherin. In contrast, a synthetic β15–42/ovalbumin conjugate inhibited total125I-NDSK II binding by 47 ± 19% (corresponding to 95% of specific 125I-NDSK II bound) and a monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) inhibited binding by 35 ± 8% (corresponding to 70% of specific125I-NDSK II bound). Another assay was based on the capture of cadherins from HUVEC lysates by a polyclonal pan-cadherin antibody immobilized on plastic dishes. Binding of NDSK II to the captured cadherins was 89 ± 5% specific, while specific binding of NDSK 325 and NDSK was negligible. An immortalized line of human adipose-derived microvascular endothelial cells, which express N-cadherin but not VE-cadherin, demonstrated no specific binding of NDSK II by the capture assay. These data define a novel interaction of fibrin with VE-cadherin, which is mediated by the fibrin N-terminal β15–42 sequence, and may contribute to the mechanism through which fibrin induces angiogenesis.
Metal mobility due to storm events on an impacted hillslope in Palmerton, PA

Abstract Water samples were collected continuously from perennial springs on a hillslope impacted by historical metal deposition to study the hydrologic and geochemical behavior of a watershed during storm events, and assess the natural attenuation of metals in soil. Water samples were collected throughout storm hydrographs for inorganic chemistry analyses, and a sequential extraction was performed on watershed soil samples. Despite 30 a of natural attenuation at the site, Zn is mobilized into streamwater during storm events, with concentrations ranging from 18 to 452 μg/L. While Cd and Pb concentrations in water samples remained relatively constant, Zn concentration increased corresponding with the peak in the hydrograph indicating this metal is being released from adsorption sites located in an unsaturated zone that is temporarily inundated during storm events. Zinc is held on exchangeable, water and acid soluble sites, and in the reducible fraction, further indicating Zn may be released as a result of the downward movement of water through the soil profile. Equilibrium geochemical modeling predicts Zn desorption with a decrease in pH, which may occur as a result of site re-vegetation. The long legacy of metal emissions from a historical smelting operation will continue to limit the attenuating ability of this site.
Wound infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus and other marine bacteria

Infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus were first reported in 1979 by Blake et al. of the US Centers for Disease Control. At that time described as a 'rare, unnamed halophilic lactose-fermenting Vibrio species', V. vulnificus has emerged as the most virulent foodborne pathogen in the United States with a hospitalization rate of 0.910 and a case-fatality rate of 0.390. It is in addition a significant cause of potentially life-threatening wound infections. Infections following ingestion of raw or undercooked seafood, commonly raw oysters, can lead to a primary septicaemia with a fatality rate of 50-60%. An unusual symptom, occurring in 69% of 274 cases reviewed by Oliver, is the development of secondary lesions, typically on the extremities, which are generally severe (often a necrotizing fasciitis) and require tissue debridement or amputation. These cases occur almost exclusively in males over the age of 50 years. Interestingly, this gender specificity has been found to be due to the female hormone oestrogen, which in some manner provides protection against the lethal V. vulnificus endotoxin. Further, most cases occur in persons with certain underlying diseases which are either immunocompromising or which lead to elevated serum iron levels (e.g. liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, haemochromatosis). V. vulnificus infections resulting in primary septicaemia have been extensively studied, and the subject of several reviews. This review concentrates on the wound infections caused by this marine bacterial pathogen, including the more recently described biotypes 2 and 3, with brief discussions of those caused by other marine vibrios, and the increasingly reported wound/skin infections caused by Mycobacterium marinum, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, and Aeromnonas hydrophila.
A multi-pixel room-temperature local oscillator subsystem for array receivers at 1.9 THz

We report on the first room-temperature modular multi-pixel Schottky diode-based, tunable, frequency-multiplied local oscillator sub-system at 1.9 THz. This source has been developed to enable efficient high-resolution mapping of the C+ line using suborbital platforms such as the SOFIA aircraft and balloons, as well as space instruments. This compact LO source features four multipliers (X3X2X3X3) to up-convert Ka-band power to 1.9 THz. Preliminary results at 300 K demonstrate more than 5 μW per pixel at 1.9 THz. The source is designed to provide a large output power dynamic range and can be expanded to larger array receivers.
Combined aerial and ground technique for assessing structural heat loss

The results of a combined aerial and ground based structural heat loss survey are presented. Theaerial imagery was collected by a thermal infrared line scanner. Enhanced quantitative analysis of thisimagery gives the roof heat flow and insulation level. The ground images were collected by a video vanand converted to still frames stored on a video disk. A computer based presentation system retrieves theimages and other information indexed by street address for screening and dissemination to owners. Weconclude that the combined aerial and ground survey effectively discriminates between well insulatedand poorly insulated structures, and that such a survey is a cost-effective alternative to site audits.
Adolescents: daughters or alien sociopaths?

Teenage females suffer much lower rates of suicide, homicide, and accidental death than do adult females or males of all ages. However, US health policy increasingly embraces the essence of the "teenage alien" and "teenage dementia" hypotheses, addressing adolescents as innately dangerous, separate from adults, and requiring stepped-up behaviour-modifying education and punishment regimens. In tandem, politicisation of US health agencies and institutions over the past two decades has increasingly led officials to emphasise the issues that play well in the popular media and political forums rather than those that most menace the young. For example, health officials in the administration of President William Clinton have never addressed a major policy statement to the deleterious effects of poverty and of adult-inflicted abuses on children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's many surveys of teenage behaviour risks have not publicised the threats posed by family violence, adult drug abuse, or sexual behaviour toward children and youths. Thus, US adolescent females suffer the worst of both worlds--a political/legal system that increasingly restricts their rights with respect to those of adults at the same time as it fails to protect them from adult misbehaviours. Language: en
Structural and metabolic brain changes in the striatum associated with methamphetamine abuse.

Aims To review structural, chemical and metabolic brain changes, particularly those in the basal ganglia, in individuals who used methamphetamine, as well as in children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies that evaluated brain structural, chemical and metabolite changes in methamphetamine subjects, or children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure, were reviewed and summarized. Relevant pre-clinical studies that provided insights to the interpretations of these imaging studies were also reviewed. Results In adults who used methamphetamine, MRI demonstrates enlarged striatal volumes, while MR spectroscopy shows reduced concentrations of the neuronal marker N-acetylasparate and total creatine in the basal ganglia. In contrast, children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure show smaller striatal structures and elevated total creatine. Furthermore, PET studies consistently showed reduced dopamine transporter (DAT) density and reduced dopamine D2 receptors in the striatum of methamphetamine subjects. PET studies also found lower levels of serotonergic transporter density and vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) across striatal subregions, as well as altered brain glucose metabolism that correlated with severity of psychiatric symptoms in the limbic and orbitofrontal regions. Conclusion Neuroimaging studies demonstrate abnormalities in brain structure and chemistry convincingly in individuals who used methamphetamine and in children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure, especially in the striatum. However, many important questions remain and larger sample sizes are needed to validate these preliminary observations. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the effects of treatment and abstinence on these brain changes and to determine whether imaging, and possibly genetic, markers can be used to predict treatment outcome or relapse.
FIELD NOTE: A PRELIMINARY LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN MSW FIELD PLACEMENTS AT NONURBAN U.S. CAMPUSES

International students are a valuable asset to MSW programs and deserve faculty support. However, sustaining international students in their field placements can be especially challenging for progr...
An equipotential function of the cerebral cortex

Rats were prepared with serial injuries to the neocortex. Their postoperative performance of a learned task, when measured after each procedure, confirmed two predictions from a quantitative theory that the neocortex is equipotentially involved in remembering of memories.
A DC Motor Control System for Electric Vehicle Drive

A control system of a dc separately excited motor for electric vehicle drive is described. The armature of the motor is controlled by a thyristor chopper, whereas the field is regulated by a highfrequency transistor chopper. The control scheme combines the advantages of both series and shunt motors and permits maximum possible acceleration within the transient thermal ratings of the motor. In addition, motor torque becomes smoother under all operating conditions. A complete drive system has been formulated, designed, and analyzed, and performances have been evaluated on a hybrid computer. At present, the breadboard of the drive system is being tested in the laboratory.
Comparison of the effects of prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2 stimulation of the rat kidney adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP systems☆

Prostacyclin (Prostaglandin I2) effects on the rat kidney adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system were examined. Prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2, from 8 · 10−4 to 8 · −7 M stimulated adenylate cyclase to a similar extent in cortex and outer medulla. In inner medulla, prostaglandin I2 was more effective than prostaglandin E2 at all concentrations tested. Both prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2 were additive with antidiuretic hormone in outer and inner medulla. Prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2 were not additive in any area of the kidney, indicating both were working by similar mechanisms. Prostaglandin I2 stimulation of adenylate cyclase correlated with its ability to increase renal slice cyclic AMP content. Prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2 (1.5 · 10−4 M) elevated cyclic AMP content in cortex and outer medulla slices. In inner medulla, with Santoquin® (0.1 mM) present to suppress endogenous prostaglandin synthesis, prostaglandin I2 and prostaglandin E2 increased cyclic AMP content. 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1α, the stable metabolite of prostaglandin I2, did not increase adenylate cyclase activity or tissue cyclic AMP content. Thus, prostaglandin I2 activates renal adenylate cyclase. This suggests that the physiological actions of prostaglandin I2 may be mediated through the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system.
Effect of shear deformation on vibration of antisymmetric angle-ply laminated rectangular plates

Abstract The title problem is solved in closed form for the case of all edges simply supported. A displacement formulation of the heterogeneous shear-deformable plate theory originated by Yang, Norris and Stavsky is used. Material properties typical of a highly directional composite material (high-modulus graphite/epoxy) are used and numerical results are presented showing the parametric effects of aspect ratio, length/thickness ratio, number of layers, and lamination angle. The effects of deleting rotatory inertia and in-plane inertia, singly and in combination, were also investigated. The information presented should be useful to composite-structure designers, to researchers seeking to obtain better correlation between theory and experiment, and to numerical analysts in checking out finite-element programs.
Theory and design of local interpolators

Abstract This paper shows that an error spectrum can be used to describe the performance of any convolutional interpolator used to shift an oversampled image. This spectrum is linear in the image power spectrum and in an error factor that depends only on the interpolator and the shift. The same form is shown to describe the interpolation of undersampled data, in an average sense. Simple formulas are derived for the error factor in either Fourier or real space, and standard interpolators are evaluated with them. Optimal interpolators are derived for various theoretical spectra: constant inband, Lorentzian, power law, and Gaussian. Practical methods of interpolator design are devised for use with image spectra that are known only partially or are not easily characterized analytically.