cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of Tobacco Use Disorder and Mood Disorders in Adolescents

To update the literature on treatment of tobacco use in the context of comorbid mood disorders among adolescents, focusing on the last 5 years (2013–2017). We review tobacco use prevalence, the association between adolescent tobacco use and mood disorders, and interventions for adolescent tobacco users and those with concurrent mood disorders. Advances were made in behavioral treatments for adolescent tobacco users, but minimal research focused on innovative approaches such as social media, family-based approaches or alternative therapies. There is a dearth of research on adolescents with comorbid mood disorders. Few studies targeted diverse populations. Minimal research was conducted within this patient cohort using nicotine/tobacco products other than cigarette smoking. Research has not been done to clarify the role of depression/mood severity on treatment outcomes. Current gaps in the tobacco treatment science for adolescents with mood disorders are highlighted and directions for future research offered.
Evidence for impact melt sheets in lunar highland smooth plains and implications for polar landing sites

Abstract Smooth plains units attributed to fluidized basin ejecta occur over much of the lunar highlands. We examined 4–20 km diameter Imbrian- and Eratosthenian-period craters in the southern highlands that have high 12.6-cm wavelength radar backscatter and circular polarization ratios associated with their interior walls but not with their proximal ejecta. Of these craters, about 70% occur on or very near deposits of Imbrian highland plains. We propose that melt-rich ejecta from basin-forming impact events, near the top of the stratigraphic section, supplies fragmental material that is exposed in the interior wall regolith of these small craters. These results support previous interpretations of 70-cm radar data, which provide insight on the near-surface morphology and rock provenance in proposed smooth plains landing sites such as that of Chandrayaan-2.
An L 2 theory for the quadratic optimal cost problem of hyperbolic equations with control in the dirichlet B.C.

We take the opportunity of this Workshop to announce and proof in a general outline some very recent results of work still in progress [6], which give a fully L2-theory of the quadratic optimal control problem on [O,T] for boundary input (linear) hyperbolic equations of order two. Here, we shall confine ourselves to the most challenging case, which occurs when the L2[O,T: L2(r)) -boundary control acts through the Dirichlet B.C., as then the regularity of the corresponding solutions is the lowest, as compared to the Neumann or elastic B.C. cases. A more complete exposition will be given in the full paper [6] , which will also include the Neumann or elastic B.C. cases (where the theory is Urioher"), and other related topics. The crux of the case that we study is that we penalize both the Oirichlet boundary control and the corresponding solution in the L2-norm; i.e., in LI[O,T~ L2(F)) and L2(O,T~ L2(£)), respectively. This is the distinguishing feature which differentiates the present results from those already existing in the literature, e.g., [I],[7],[10]. In fact, the basic difficulty encountered in the study of our problem is, of course, a question of regularity of the solutions, In face of this, one may either take smoother boundary controls (e.g. u E HI([o,T] x £] O as in [7 , p. 325], or u E LI(O,T; HV2(r)] as in [I], [I0]], or else take LI[O,T; L2(r)) Oirichlet controls but penalize the corresponding solutions in a space larger and less smoother than LI[O,Tj Ll(fl)), typically involving H-S(£), for some s > O. It was for this reason that the regularity question was studied per se in our paper [3]; here we managed to prove that the following desired implication holds true: the map from the Dirlchlet control into the solution is continuous from LI(O,T; LI(r)) + L2(O,TI L2(£)).
Dormancy of Seeds of White Ash (Fraxinus americana )

Seeds of many species of angiosperms and gymnosperms will not germinate immediately after ripening even under conditions of moisture, temperature and oxygen tension generally favorable for growth. Such dormancy, like dormancy of buds, is of obvious survival value to plants, since it tends to restrict germination to environmental circumstances suitable for seedling establishment and survival. Different seeds in one seed crop often vary in their degree of dormancy, causing germination of the crop to occur over an extended period of time and thus increasing the probability that at least part of them will germinate under conditions favorable for survival.
The role of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α in peroxisome proliferation, physiological homeostasis, and chemical carcinogenesis.

Peroxisomes are single membrane-bound organelles, found in all cells, that contain a variety of enzymes involved in a number of metabolic processes1. The most well characterized reactions carried out by peroxisomes are those involved in fatty acid I3-oxidation. The peroxisomal β-oxidation system metabolizes very long chain and long chain fatty acids and cannot metabolize short chain fatty acids (<6 units) whereas the mitochondrial system most efficiently oxidizes long, medium and short chain fatty acids down to two carbon units. The peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase enzyme generates H2O2 while the corresponding mitochondrial enzymes lead to production of NADH. Since plants lack mitochondria, peroxisomes are solely responsible for their fatty acid β-oxidation. The production of H2O2 by peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase has been used as a cytological marker for the organelle through staining with diaminobenzidine and historically accounts for the name “peroxisomes”1. Peroxisome proliferation can result in an excess of H2O2 that can potentially result in toxicity as discussed below. Under usual circumstances H2O2 is decomposed to molecular oxygen and water by catalase and glutathione peroxidase.
Prospects for Human Settlements in the Anthropocene: Challenges to Equality, Sustainability, and Agency

In this chapter, Bowen and Gleeson use the general systems theory (GST) model as the intellectual context for shaping today’s debate about the future of our globalizing, industrialized civilization. Human settlements are the most complex creation of the human brain. Our uncertainties come from creating a global system of settlements that threaten to overwhelm our ability to collaboratively solve dire problems in our material systems, our living systems, and our social systems. Industrial culture has evolved the material components of each system faster than their non-material components, resulting in existential threats from material inequality and global climate change. Solutions will come from ensuring the broadest range of decentralized, evolutionary, problem-solving, enabled by cultural and institutional diversity that ensures the freedom of human agency.
The development of “digressive” discourse-topic shift markers in English

Abstract Mittwoch et al. (2002:779) list by the way, incidentally, and parenthetically as clause adjuncts that in contemporary English “signal the informational status of their clause” and “indicate a change of topic or digression, generally suggesting that the new information is less important”. This supports Pons and Estelles's (2009) argument that “digression” involves topic shift. I address the question how the three metatextual discourse markers and the now obsolescent marker by the by developed out of adverbials into topic shift markers. This development is a case of subjectification. By the way has recently also come to be used “transgressively” In the context of Oh, to signal disapproval of someone else's actual or imagined statement. This is a case of evaluative intersubjectification evoking social norms. The approach is constructionalist (see Traugott and Trousdale 2013). After briefly outlining the history of the four “digressive” discourse markers, the question is posed whether it is reasonable to posit an abstract schematic construction for the markers that Mittwoch et al. regard as a set.
Psychedelic Aesthetics, Political Theology, and Religion

This chapter frames some of the discursive moves in discussions about political-theological underwriting of liberalism. It argues that taking a longer view of European-inflected thought helps us to see more clearly what is manifested in psychedelic aesthetics. It gives background on the concept of “political theology” and explains why the concept is important for an analysis of psychedelic aesthetics. It connects European pessimism about contemporary life with social experiments of the merry pranksters in the 1960s, addressing some of the New Journalism of the period. It incorporates pessimistic turns toward the end of the 1960s and the political mythologies liberals and conservatives use when referencing the period, suggesting that psychedelic aesthetics blur the lines between political metaphors of “left” and “right.”
Analysis of discharge pulses in micro-EDM milling of Si3N4-TiN composite workpiece by means of power spectral density (PSD)

Abstract In this paper, the acquired voltage waveforms monitored during micro-EDM milling experiments were evaluated by means of the power spectral density (PSD) method. The spectral analysis was performed to address the following significant issue: the effective contribution of the normal discharges to the energy density at the operation frequency in relation to pulse waveform and duration, discharge conditions and workpiece materials. This method showed that since normal pulses do not have same time evolution in every acquisition window, their spectral content at the operation frequency changes. This variation depends on the duty cycle and on the fulfillment of the discharge condition mainly due to electrical properties of the workpiece material. The spectral performance of the micro-EDM milling experiments was also carried out by means of Q factor (which estimates the losses). All the analyses pointed out that a higher number of normal pulses does not always guarantee the highest energy density delivered at the set process frequency.
Impact of Rossby wave breaking on ozone variation in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, 1985–2015

Abstract This paper studies the influence of Rossby wave breaking (RWB) on ozone variations in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere on isentropic surfaces between 330 K and 370 K during 1985–2015 over two U.S. sites (Boulder in Colorado and Wallops Island in Virginia), using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis data and ozonesonde measurements. We have analyzed the occurrence of elevated ozone days and its association with the two types of RWB: anticyclonic wave breaking (AWB) and cyclonic wave breaking (CWB). Our results show that AWB and CWB are associated with higher ozone levels in summer at isentropic surfaces below 350 K, and the ozone enhancement associated with AWB is more significant than with CWB. Together, AWB and CWB account for 20–30% of elevated ozone days. Both AWB and CWB are associated with lower ozone levels in winter at all the isentropic surfaces, and such an effect is more significant at Boulder than at Wallops Island.
Human skeletal physiology and factors affecting its modeling and remodeling

Human skeleton is a living tissue that performs structural and metabolic functions. It is not only the largest storehouse for calcium and other essential ions but also a depot for toxic chemicals faced by human body throughout life. Skeletal modeling starts at conception and then throughout life undergoes constant remodeling to adopt its shape and strength according to human needs. With the passage of time, like other tissues in the body, bones also bear the brunt of life and in this life long process loses its strength and vitality. Multiple genetic and environmental factors play an integral part in its formation, strength, and decline.
Bregman Augmented Lagrangian and Its Acceleration.

We study the Bregman Augmented Lagrangian method (BALM) for solving convex problems with linear constraints. For classical Augmented Lagrangian method, the convergence rate and its relation with the proximal point method is well-understood. However, the convergence rate for BALM has not yet been thoroughly studied in the literature. In this paper, we analyze the convergence rates of BALM in terms of the primal objective as well as the feasibility violation. We also develop, for the first time, an accelerated Bregman proximal point method, that improves the convergence rate from $O(1/\sum_{k=0}^{T-1}\eta_k)$ to $O(1/(\sum_{k=0}^{T-1}\sqrt{\eta_k})^2)$, where $\{\eta_k\}_{k=0}^{T-1}$ is the sequence of proximal parameters. When applied to the dual of linearly constrained convex programs, this leads to the construction of an accelerated BALM, that achieves the improved rates for both primal and dual convergences.
A ‘Bad Rap’: R. v. Skeete and the Admissibility of Rap Lyric Evidence

This paper explores the evidentiary treatment of violent and prejudicial defendant-authored rap lyrics in Canadian criminal trials. It argues that the current evidentiary threshold jeopardizes trial fairness by allowing the Crown to adduce highly prejudicial rap lyric evidence at trial. It also problematizes the judicial reliance on corroborative evidence, which does not establish the truthfulness of the lyrics tendered, to admit these violent rap lyrics at trial. It argues that the reliance on such corroborative evidence results in a misapprehension of the lyrics’ evidentiary value and ultimately in the admission of defendant-authored rap lyric evidence of low probative value at trial. This result is particularly concerning in the case of young black male defendants, since the introduction of their lyrics at trial can prime a jury’s unconscious anti-black bias and therefore serve to increase the distortive effect of this type of evidence on the fairness and integrity of criminal proceedings. It concludes by advocating for a rap specific approach to the admissibility of this evidence.
Comparisons of Monopolar Lesion Volumes with Hypertonic Saline Solution in Radiofrequency Ablation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Ex Vivo Study.

Background Chronic degeneration of the zygapophyseal joints in the cervical or lumbar spine are common causes of axial back pain. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a treatment modality in the denervation of facet joint-related pain. Although multiple factors have been theorized to contribute to the size of the optimal RF lesion, the addition of hypertonic saline solution has been posited to create larger RF lesion sizes. Objectives This study compares lesion of 20-gauge RF monopolar probe using 2% lidocaine, 0.9% normal saline solution, and 3% saline solution administered through the RF needle prior to ablation, with subsequent lesion sizes recorded. Study design Randomized, double-blinded, ex vivo study using clinically relevant conditions. Setting Procedural laboratory in an academic institution. Methods RF ablation lesions were reproduced in room temperature (21°C ± 2°C) chicken breast specimens with 20-gauge monopolar RF probes inserted. RF was applied for 90 seconds at 80°C after injection of 1 mL of either 2% lidocaine, 2% lidocaine and 0.9% normal saline solution in a 1:1 ratio, or 2% lidocaine and 3% saline solution in a 1:1 ratio. Tissues were dissected, measured, and ellipsoid volumes of burn calculated. Homogeneity of variances was assessed via the Bartlett's test, and heteroskedasticity with the studentized Breusch-Pagan test. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (alpha of 0.05) was used to evaluate statistical significance between volume means across groups. When the null hypothesis of no difference in burn volume between samples could not be rejected, a predefined equivalence volume of ± 0.05 cm3 was used with Welch's 2 one-sided t-tests (TOST) with a Bonferroni adjusted alpha of 0.0167 to evaluate for null acceptance. Results The mean lesion volume for monopolar RF with 1 mL 2% lidocaine was 0.16 cm3. Monopolar RF with 1 mL 2% lidocaine + 0.9% normal saline solution had a mean lesion volume of 0.15 cm3, and treatment with 1 mL 2% lidocaine + 3% saline solution measured 0.17 cm3. ANOVA failed to reject the null, and TOST accepted as equivalent all 3 comparisons. Limitations In vivo anatomy and physiology of a human organism was not used for this study. Samples were not warmed to physiologic temperature. Randomization resulted in slightly unequal sample sizes, although all groups were of sufficient size that the central limit theorem should apply. Conclusions Three commonly used solutions were found to have equivalent lesion sizes from monopolar probe RF ablation. Key words Radiofrequency, ablation, lesion shape, lesion size, monopolar RF, hypertonic saline solution.
III – Discrete revolution

Publisher Summary First used in the 1950s at the service of analog signal processing to simulate analog transforms, digital algorithms have invaded most traditional fortresses, including television standards, speech processing, tape recording and all types of information manipulation. Analog computations performed with electronic circuits are faster than digital algorithms implemented with microprocessors, but are less precise and less flexible. Thus analog circuits are often replaced by digital chips once the computational performance of microprocessors is sufficient to operate in real time for a given application. Whether sound recordings or images, most discrete signals are obtained by sampling an analog signal. Conditions for reconstructing an analog signal from a uniform sampling are studied. Once more, the Fourier transform is unavoidable because the eigenvectors of discrete time-invariant operators are sinusoidal waves. The Fourier transform is discretized for signals of finite size, and implemented with a fast computational algorithm.
Socialization Experiences of First-Year Adapted Physical Education Teachers With a Master’s Degree

The purpose of this study was to examine the meaning that first-year adapted physical education teachers with a master’s degree ascribed to their occupational socialization experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach was used, and occupational socialization theory was adopted as the theoretical framework. Five teachers participated in this study. The sources of data were a semistructured focus group interview, semistructured one-to-one interviews, and reflective interview notes. Thematic development involved a three-step analysis process informed by the research approach. Three themes were constructed: (a) interactions with individuals with disabilities and activity experiences, (b) recruitment of adapted physical education teacher education students, and (c) graduate training and initial workplace experiences. The constructed themes provide unique insight into how teachers are socialized into adapted physical education and the meaning they ascribe to various socialization experiences, such as the limited impact that interactions with individuals with disabilities had on the decision to pursue this career
Cultivating a Civic Mindset: Assessing Public Relations Student Perceptions of Service Learning and Community Involvement Beyond the Course

Literature in service-learning offers examples of professional, social, and civic value to students, faculty, and community. The literature has not fully examined the impact of student participation on their levels of civic involvement among graduates several years removed from the coursework. This study is a case analysis of seven years of graduates with public relations course experience to examine graduates’ perceptions of the value of service-learning projects, and how this translates to community engagement.
True Value and Justification of Law Libraries: Application of U.S. Law Library Values to Law Libraries in Korea

A crisis of law libraries in the U.S. originates in capitalism and too much emphasis on the economic value of law libraries. Law library administrators and librarians who make efforts to justify the existence of law libraries have been wearing the wrong economic lens to divert stakeholders’ views away from the traditional unique value of law libraries. The economic analysis and “show-off” of law libraries such as ROI will direct stakeholders to only consider law libraries’ economic value ignoring other cultural and social values. This article investigates: (1) What is the true value of law libraries and librarians?; and (2) How are law libraries appreciated and justified by their stakeholders and patrons? Furthermore, the article attempts to analyze whether the value created by the American law libraries can be commonly shared by the Korean law libraries and functionally benefit the Korean law libraries.
Recovery of Renal Function following Kidney-Specific VEGF Therapy in Experimental Renovascular Disease.

Background Chronic renovascular disease (RVD) can lead to a progressive loss of renal function, and current treatments are inefficient. We designed a fusion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) conjugated to an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) carrier protein with an N-terminal kidney-targeting peptide (KTP). We tested the hypothesis that KTP-ELP-VEGF therapy will effectively recover renal function with an improved targeting profile. Further, we aimed to elucidate potential mechanisms driving renal recovery. Methods Unilateral RVD was induced in 14 pigs. Six weeks later, renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were quantified by multidetector CT imaging. Pigs then received a single intrarenal injection of KTP-ELP-VEGF or vehicle. CT quantification of renal hemodynamics was repeated 4 weeks later, and then pigs were euthanized. Ex vivo renal microvascular (MV) density and media-to-lumen ratio, macrophage infiltration, and fibrosis were quantified. In parallel, THP-1 human monocytes were differentiated into naive macrophages (M0) or inflammatory macrophages (M1) and incubated with VEGF, KTP-ELP, KTP-ELP-VEGF, or control media. The mRNA expression of macrophage polarization and angiogenic markers was quantified (qPCR). Results Intrarenal KTP-ELP-VEGF improved RBF, GFR, and MV density and attenuated MV media-to-lumen ratio and renal fibrosis compared to placebo, accompanied by augmented renal M2 macrophages. In vitro, exposure to VEGF/KTP-ELP-VEGF shifted M0 macrophages to a proangiogenic M2 phenotype while M1s were nonresponsive to VEGF treatment. Conclusions Our results support the efficacy of a new renal-specific biologic construct in recovering renal function and suggest that VEGF may directly influence macrophage phenotype as a possible mechanism to improve MV integrity and function in the stenotic kidney.
Africa’s Post-Colonial Foreign Policy: Assessing History, Imagining the Future

This chapter addresses some of the other issues that African nations face, that require regional and continental approaches, collaboration and joint actions, especially in the context of the future of Africa as a future global player. Many current issues manifest, including the COVID-19 100-year global pandemic affecting tens of millions, killed millions and devastated global and therewith, African economies. Africa’s foreign policy was driven, from the beginning, by purpose: ending colonialism in all its manifestations, neutrality during the Cold War, avoiding internal conflicts, civil wars, interstate wars and secession, leveraging global institutions to achieve economic development, regional integration and pursuing the long-cherished Pan-African dream of continental unity. Africa has also had to contemplate global changes, for instance the subtle changes in the concept of sovereignty into Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the resolution of conflicts that have seen millions killed through war and genocides such as Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, the Rome Statute and the ICC and external intervention in African nations, where African countries, the OAU and AU are unwilling or unable to halt conflicts. Libya’s 2011 experiences are a good example, given NATO’s involvement. The chapter finds, and argues, that Africa has also had to address—and will likely continue to—challenges of state failure that began with Somalia and persisted for half of the country’s post-colonial life, becoming a haven for violent non-state actors and imperiling other nations through terrorism and related issues. The chapter addresses other issues and their impact on Africa: climate change and global warming, global governance, population growth and global pandemics, and Africa’s responses to these.
Campaign Contributions by Nonprofit Executives and Government Grants

U.S election candidates seek monetary support for their campaigns and many individuals oblige. A recurring question is whether donors receive anything for their support. Between 1998 and 2003, nonprofit officers, directors, trustees, and foundation managers gave over 20 million in campaign contributions; within the same time period, their affiliated nonprofits received over 265 billion in government grants. This paper investigates whether there are signs of reciprocity between nonprofits and Members of Congress. Specifically, I consider the extent to which contributions relate to grant amounts, controlling for factors that are predictive of both. I pair nonprofit audits and Federal Election Commission records to form the first large-scale panel linking nonprofit executive contributions and firm level financials. I find a robust positive relationship with a 14 to 1 average return on contributions.
Bursting the Hidden Curriculum Bubble: A Surgical Near-Peer Mentorship Pilot Program for URM Medical Students

The hidden curriculum of unspoken professional expectations negatively impacts medical student interest in surgery. Medical student mentorship and early surgical exposure have been shown to demystify the hidden curriculum. Although residents and faculty play a vital role, near-peer mentorship may aid in uncovering the hidden curriculum and promoting medical student interest in surgery, especially for those learners who are underrepresented in medicine. We developed and implemented a formalized near-peer mentorship program composed of quarterly small group Surgical Peer Teacher led lessons and one-on-one Surgical Support Team mentorship meetings covering surgical curriculum topics for medical students at an academic medical school. This structured near-peer mentorship model provides a mechanism to demystify surgical culture, increase early access to surgical mentorship, and develop mentorship skills amongst students. This program aims to uncover the surgical hidden curriculum to improve surgical career support and interest among medical students with less exposure and access to physician role models. This longitudinal mentorship model is student-run and can be easily adapted to enhance existing support models at medical schools. Future studies will evaluate utilization, impact on surgical specialty interest, and efficacy in demystifying the surgical hidden curriculum.
Vestibular migraine

Vestibular symptoms such as vertigo and dizziness are quite common in migraine. There is no specific category in the new International Headache Society Classification for vestibular migraine. However, given the symptomatology often described, it would fit best under basilar-type migraine, even though by definition monosymptomatic attacks with rotational vertigo for a few seconds to minutes do not strictly fit the criteria. Vestibular migraine must be regarded as a migraine equivalent because it is a prominent symptom in many migraineurs.
Idolizing Mary. Maya-Catholic icons in Yucatán, Mexico: by Amara Solari, University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2019, 200 pp. (ISBN 9780271083322)

The clash of cultures during the sixteenth-century Spanish wars for control of the Americas are storied but the clash of ontologies and corresponding ritual practices have defied easy storytelling....
Automation of NERSC Application Usage Report

Tracking and monitoring the applications run on the NERSC super computers is an important endeavor central to understanding NERSC workloads, providing targeted application support, and predicting future software needs. Annually and upon request, we report to our stakeholder, the Department of Energy (DOE), how computing cycles are split between applications, repositories (projects), DOE offices, and Science Categories. In the past, generating the application usage report was a time consuming process and required much duplication of work from year to year. The results yielded were not extensible to new date ranges nor readily available to curious developers who wanted to see how their programs were being used and how that use compared to the use of other programs over time. This work aimed to streamline the application usage data retrieval and presentation process and remedy these inconveniences. Our work has made it possible for anyone on the web to view a NERSC application usage report for any date range of interest. The website we created can generate a machine time breakdown by applications, repositories, DOE Offices, or Science Categories for any given time period in less than 15 seconds.
Cosmic web, multistream flows, and tessellations

Understanding the structure of the matter distribution in the Universe due to the action of the gravitational instability---the creation of the ``cosmic web''---is complicated by lack of direct analytic access to the complex nonlinear domain of structure formation. Here, we suggest and apply a novel tessellation method designed for cold dark matter (CDM) N-body cosmological simulations. The method is based on the fact that the initial CDM state can be described by a 3-dimensional manifold (in a 6-dimensional phase space) that remains continuous under evolution. Our technique uses the full phase space information and has no free parameters; it can be used to compute multistream and density fields, the main focus of this paper. Using a large-box $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\mathrm{CDM}$ simulation we carry out a variety of illustrative initial analyses with the technique. These include studying the correlation between multistreaming and density, the identification of structures such as Zel'dovich pancakes and voids, and statistical measurements of quantities such as the volume fraction as a function of the number of streams---where we find a remarkable scaling relation. Cosmological implications are briefly discussed.
Effects of screening and brief intervention training on resident and faculty alcohol intervention behaviours: a pre- post-intervention assessment

Many hazardous and harmful drinkers do not receive clinician advice to reduce their drinking. Previous studies suggest under-detection and clinician reluctance to intervene despite awareness of problem drinking (PD). The Healthy Habits Project previously reported chart review data documenting increased screening and intervention with hazardous and harmful drinkers after training clinicians and implementing routine screening. This report describes the impact of the Healthy Habits training program on clinicians' rates of identification of PD, level of certainty in identifying PD and the proportion of patients given advice to reduce alcohol use, based on self-report data using clinician exit questionnaires. 28 residents and 10 faculty in a family medicine residency clinic completed four cycles of clinician exit interview questionnaires before and after screening and intervention training. Rates of identifying PD, level of diagnostic certainty, and frequency of advice to reduce drinking were compared across intervention status (pre vs. post). Findings were compared with rates of PD and advice to reduce drinking documented on chart review. 1,052 clinician exit questionnaires were collected. There were no significant differences in rates of PD identified before and after intervention (9.8% vs. 7.4%, p = .308). Faculty demonstrated greater certainty in PD diagnoses than residents (p = .028) and gave more advice to reduce drinking (p = .042) throughout the program. Faculty and residents reported higher levels of diagnostic certainty after training (p = .039 and .030, respectively). After training, residents showed greater increases than faculty in the percentage of patients given advice to reduce drinking (p = .038), and patients felt to be problem drinkers were significantly more likely to receive advice to reduce drinking by all clinicians (50% vs. 75%, p = .047). The number of patients receiving advice to reduce drinking after program implementation exceeded the number of patients felt to be problem drinkers. Recognition rates of PD were four to eight times higher than rates documented on chart review (p = .028). This program resulted in greater clinician certainty in diagnosing PD and increases in the number of patients with PD who received advice to reduce drinking. Future programs should include booster training sessions and emphasize documentation of PD and brief intervention.
Amplifying the benefits of design patterns: from specification through implementation

The benefits of design patterns are well-established. We argue that these benefits can be further amplified across the system lifecycle. We present two contributions. First, we describe an approach to complementing existing informal pattern descriptions with precise pattern specifications. Our specification language captures the properties common across all applications of a pattern, while accommodating the variation that occurs across those applications. Second, we describe an approach to monitoring a system's runtime behavior to determine whether the appropriate pattern specifications are respected. The monitoring code is generated automatically from the pattern specifications underlying the system's design. We conclude with a discussion of how our contributions are beneficial across the software lifecycle.
Factors influencing the determination of dNA with indole. II. Recovery of hydrolyzed dNA from protein precipitates.

Abstract DNA can be measured by the indole method in hydrolyzates containing large concentrations of nonspecific chromogen without exceeding the sufficiency of the color reagents or the efficiency of the chloroform extraction procedure. Since TCA is nonessential for the completeness of the color reaction, there is considerable latitude in the choice of extraction procedures. The action of hot acid hydrolysis to release the indole chromogen from DNA is opposed by two major factors: ( 1 ) the capacity of the hot hydrolysis to entrap solubilized but incompletely hydrolyzed DNA in a protein precipitate and ( 2 ) the ability of the hydrolysis to destroy the chromogen for the reaction. Because of these factors and since the rate of chromogen release is eventually exceeded by the rate of its destruction, the hydrolysis should be run with internal and external DNA standards and not exceed 20, 40, 50, or 120 min at 90, 85, 80, or 70°C, respectively. If the recovery of internal standard indicates that regnificant amounts of DNA have been left unmeasured, an increase in the volume of the system is preferable to an increase in the strength of the acid or the number of extractions.
Evidence for the importance of host-derived osteopontin in distant metastasis of breast cancer using osteopontin-null mice

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 3975 Osteopontin (OPN) is overexpressed in various types of human cancers including breast, lung, colorectal, gastric, ovarian cancers and in melanoma. Most recently, it has been also found that OPN expression is elevated in pleural mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. Accordingly, tumor-produced OPN has been implicated in malignant behaviors of these tumors. In support of this notion, animal studies including ours have shown that OPN promotes distant metastases. Of note, OPN is expressed in normal host tissues as well, raising the possibility that host-derived OPN can also influence tumor aggressiveness. To address this, we studied the 4T1 mouse breast cancer that produced large amounts of OPN and metastasized to bone and lung following orthotopic inoculation in syngeneic female Balb/c mice. We established 4T1 cells stably transfected with a firefly luciferase cDNA (4T1/luc) for quantitative assessment of tumor burden and with an anti-sense OPN cDNA (4T1/ASOPN/luc) or empty vector (4T1/EV/luc). OPN-deficient (OPN-/-) mice of Balb/c background were generously provided by Dr. Cantor. Orthotopic tumor formation of 4T1/EV/luc or 4T1/ASOPN/luc did not differ between WT and OPN-/- mice. In contrast, histological examination revealed that 4T1/EV/luc metastases to bone and lung were significantly decreased in OPN-/- mice compared with WT mice. Similarly, bone and lung metastases of 4T1/ASOPN/luc were also reduced in OPN-/- mice. Furthermore, the development of osteolytic lesions was markedly impaired in OPN-/- mice compared with WT mice following direct inoculation of 4T1 cells into the marrow cavity of tibiae. These results collectively suggest that the host-derived OPN enhances the capacity of 4T1 cell to spread to and colonize bone. To understand the mechanism underlying reduced distant metastases in OPN-/- mice, adherence, proliferation and apoptosis of 4T1 cells in plates coated with or without varying concentrations of OPN were examined. The attachment and growth of 4T1/EV/luc and 4T1/ASOPN/luc cells in OPN-coated plates were greater than non-coated plates. Furthermore, these cells displayed decreased apoptosis in OPN-coated plates. These results suggest that host-derived OPN contributes to the stimulation of arrest and colonization and protection from apoptosis of metastatic cancer cells in target organs. Taken together, our results using OPN-/- mice suggest that not only tumor-produced but also host-derived OPN is critical to bone and lung metastases in breast cancer. The results also suggest that OPN plays an important role in non-bone as well as bone metastases. Thus, OPN is a potential molecular target in designing the therapeutic interventions for metastatic breast cancer.
Overview of: “Assessing the Earned Discharge Pilot Project: The Importance of Context, Capacity, and Content”

Research Summary Largely as a result of punitive measures passed in the 1980s and 1990s, prison and parole populations have soared across the United States. California's policies are reflective of these tendencies, and as a result, the state has experienced especially acute crises in parole and prison operations. The Earned Discharge pilot program was introduced in 2007 in an effort to improve parolees’ outcomes by incentivizing early release for low-risk offenders performing well on parole, and reallocating resources from these parolees to higher-risk parolees. To accomplish this goal, the pilot used a risk-assessment instrument to screen for nonviolent, low-risk offenders, and a case review process to further identify ideal candidates. However, the pilot program faced several obstacles and was downgraded to a simulation exercise. The implementation analysis found that the most salient of these obstacles were: • a challenging political “context,” which created barriers to adopting an Earned Discharge program in concordance with evidence-based standards. • parole administration's limited “capacity” to provide strong leadership, and problems achieving agency-level coordination. • lack of stakeholder buy-in related to the “content” of the Earned Discharge Program and the translation of initial program concepts into practice. Policy Implications Analysis of the Earned Discharge program implementation highlighted a number of barriers to nonpunitive criminal justice innovations. These barriers must be overcome in order to implement programs whose principles are supported by scientific research. The results of the Earned Discharge program simulation suggest that, due to program design changes based on political exigencies, few benefits would be achieved by the program even if it had been fully implemented. Such interventions must overcome the political difficulties involved in reducing punitive control of some low-level, but politically unpopular groups, such as gang members and sex offenders. Buy-in from prosecutors and other local politicians and crime control agents, who have little incentive to support such programs, must be achieved. Parole agency coordination and leadership should also be strengthened in order to instill confidence in the agency's ability to provide program integrity.
Selection of Functional Test Sequences With Overlaps

Functional test sequences may be generated for simulation-based design verification, and used as manufacturing tests or for speed binning. A class of earlier procedures selects functional test sequences for target faults from a set of available sequences in order to reduce the storage requirements and test application time. This paper describes a procedure that reduces the storage requirements further by using the selected sequences for producing additional sequences, which are referred to as overlaps. In an overlap, the first vectors of one selected sequence and the last vectors of another are combined. Overlaps thus combine initialization, fault activation and fault propagation conditions from two sequences to detect additional faults, making it unnecessary to select other sequences. Overlaps can also be used for increasing the fault coverage with respect to a fault model that was not targeted during the selection of the sequences.
Is Talk 'Cheap'? An Initial Investigation of the Equivalence of Alcohol Purchase Task Performance for Hypothetical and Actual Rewards

Background: Behavioral economic alcohol purchase tasks (APTs) are self-report measures of alcohol demand that assess estimated consumption at escalating levels of price. However, the relationship between estimated performance for hypothetical outcomes and choices for actual outcomes has not been determined. The present study examined both the correspondence between choices for hypothetical and actual outcomes, and the correspondence between estimated alcohol consumption and actual drinking behavior. A collateral goal of the study was to examine the effects of alcohol cues on APT performance. Methods: Forty-one heavy-drinking adults (56% men) participated in a human laboratory protocol comprising APTs for hypothetical and actual alcohol and money, an alcohol cue reactivity paradigm, an alcohol self-administration period, and a recovery period. Results: Pearson correlations revealed very high correspondence between APT performance for hypothetical and actual alcohol (ps Language: en
III-nitride quantum cascade detector grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition

Quantum cascade (QC) detectors in the GaN/AlxGa1−xN material system grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition are designed, fabricated, and characterized. Only two material compositions, i.e., GaN as wells and Al0.5Ga0.5N as barriers are used in the active layers. The QC detectors operates around 4 μm, with a peak responsivity of up to ∼100 μA/W and a detectivity of up to 108 Jones at the background limited infrared performance temperature around 140 K.
Raman Detection of Proteomic Analytes

The compatibility of nonenhanced Raman spectroscopy with chromatographic and mass spectroscopic proteomic sensing is demonstrated for the first time. High-quality normal Raman spectra are derived from protein solutions with concentrations down to 1 μM and 1 fmol of protein nondestructively probed within the excitation laser beam. These results are obtained using a drop coating deposition Raman (DCDR) method in which the solution of interest is microdeposited (or microprinted) on a compatible substrate, followed by solvent evaporation and backscattering detection. Representative applications include the DCDR detection of insulin derived from an HPLC fraction, nondestructive DCDR followed by MALDI-TOF of lysozyme, the DCDR detection of protein spots deposited using an ink-jet microprinter, and the identification of spectral differences between glycan isomers of equal mass (such as those derived from posttranslationally modified proteins).
Perceived Benefits of VFW Post Participation for Older Adults

Older adults, as active members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), describe multiple benefits of participation in the organization to their overall well-being. This qualitative study examined the perspectives of 20 active participants of a VFW Post and its Ladies Auxiliary. Findings indicate that, for the study participants, the VFW serves as a primary source of cross-generational influence, emotional support, and meaningful activity and provides a safe and secure environment for members. This article provides valuable information that social work researchers and practitioners can use to help increase older adults' civic engagement and address service gaps.
Characterization of an enzyme that is capable of processing pro-gonadotropin-releasing hormone protein

Abstract A new membrane bound protease has been identified in bovine hypothalamic neurosecretory granules using synthetic substrates that we prepared based on the sequence in pro-gonadotropin-releasing hormone protein that overlaps gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin-associated peptide (thought to be prolactin-releasing hormone-inhibiting hormone). The enzyme was solubilized from neurosecretory granules using the detergent Triton X-100 and was further purified by high-performance gel permeation liquid chromatography. The enzyme hydrolyzes the Arg-2-napthylamide (NA) bond of benzoyl(Bz)GlyLeuArgProGlyGlyLysArg2-NA which contains two likely processing sites, ArgPro and LysArg. On the basis of the ratio of Vmax to Km as a measure of substrate specificity, BzGlyLeuArgProGlyGlyLys Arg2-NA is about 50-fold better than BzGlyGlyLysArg2-NA. BzLeuArg2-NA and BzGlyLeuArgProGlyGly are not hydrolyzed. The pH optimum for hydrolysis is 7.2 (BzGlyGlyLysArg2-NA substrate). As determined by gel permeation chromatography, the apparent molecular weight of the enzyme depends on the chromatography conditions; in the absence of NaCl, the Mr is ≈160,000 but is ≈ 80,000 if NaCl is included in the eluting buffer. After high-performance gel permeation liquid chromatography, the peak fraction containing the enzyme was lyophilized and then subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; silver staining revealed a single protein band, Mr ≈ 70,000.
Computation of pressure effects of inert-gas mixtures on atomic line shapes.

Recent line-shape experiments on the absorption series of cesium pressurized by various concentration ratios of argon and helium provide an opportunity to study the additivity of perturber interactions. Calculations which assume additivity and which assume additive adiabatic collisions agree well with the reported data. The results suggest that a systematic study of such experiments using accurate digitized data can furnish criteria for the valid applications of the additivity approximation.
Toward an applied technology for quality measurement in health care

Cost containment, financial incentives to conserve resources, the growth of for-profit hospitals, an aggressive malpractice environment, and demands from purchasers are among the forces today increasing the need for improved methods that measure quality in health care. At the same time, increasingly sophisticated databases and the existence of managed care systems yield new opportunities to observe and correct quality problems. Research on targets of measurement (structure, process, and outcome) and methods of measurement (implicit, explicit, and sentinel methods) has not yet produced managerially useful applied technology for quality measurement in real-world settings. Such an applied technology would have to be cheaper, faster, more flexible, better reported, and more multidimensional than the majority of current research on quality assurance. In developing a new applied technology for the measurement of health care quality, quantitative disciplines have much to offer, such as decision support systems, criteria based on rigorous decision analyses, utility theory, tools for functional status measurement, and advances in operations research.