cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Practice Theories for Medical Social Work with Veterans

Social workers increasingly practice in medical settings; however, there are few applications of clinical practice theories at their disposal. Using fictional composite cases based on the writers’ ...
Improving the accuracy of simulated chaotic N-body orbits using smoothness

Symplectic integrators are a foundation to the study of dynamical $N$-body phenomena, at scales ranging from from planetary to cosmological. These integrators preserve the Poincare invariants of Hamiltonian dynamics. The $N$-body Hamiltonian has another, perhaps overlooked, symmetry: it is smooth, or, in other words, it has infinite differentiability class order (DCO) for particle separations greater than $0$. Popular symplectic integrators, such as hybrid methods or block adaptive stepping methods do not come from smooth Hamiltonians and it is perhaps unclear whether they should. We investigate the importance of this symmetry by considering hybrid integrators, whose DCO can be tuned easily. Hybrid methods are smooth, except at a finite number of phase space points. We study chaotic planetary orbits in a test considered by Wisdom. We find that increasing smoothness, at negligible extra computational cost in particular tests, improves the Jacobi constant error of the orbits by about $5$ orders of magnitude in long-term simulations. The results from this work suggest that smoothness of the $N$-body Hamiltonian is a property worth preserving in simulations.
Trends in the Use of Administrative Codes for Physical Abuse Hospitalizations

This time series study analyzes use of administrative codes for child physical abuse hospitalizations before and after the transition from use of ICD-9-CM codes to ICD-10-CM codes.
Contrasting user generated videos versus brand generated videos in ecommerce

Abstract This empirical research (n = 177) compared the impact of user generated videos and brand generated videos on online shopper perceptions, attitudes and purchase intentions. The study was guided by the technology acceptance model. Source of videos was a between-subjects factor. The findings indicated that online shoppers did not differentiate between the two video sources when evaluating the perceived usefulness of the videos. Conversely, user generated videos had a significantly greater impact on attitude toward the ad and attitude toward the brand than brand generated videos. Further, there was no significant main effect of video source on shopper purchase intentions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Anomaly Detection-Based Recognition of Near-Native Protein Structures

The three-dimensional structures populated by a protein molecule determine to a great extent its biological activities. The rich information encoded by protein structure on protein function continues to motivate the development of computational approaches for determining functionally-relevant structures. The majority of structures generated in silico are not relevant. Discriminating relevant/native protein structures from non-native ones is an outstanding challenge in computational structural biology. Inherently, this is a recognition problem that can be addressed under the umbrella of machine learning. In this paper, based on the premise that near-native structures are effectively anomalies, we build on the concept of anomaly detection in machine learning. We propose methods that automatically select relevant subsets, as well as methods that select a single structure to offer as prediction. Evaluations are carried out on benchmark datasets and demonstrate that the proposed methods advance the state of the art. The presented results motivate further building on and adapting concepts and techniques from machine learning to improve recognition of near-native structures in protein structure prediction.
Application of hydrological model to acidified watersheds: A study on Mersey River and Moosepit Brook, Nova Scotia

A hydrological model has been applied to Mersey River and Moosepit Brook watersheds, Nova Scotia. The computed hydrograph and snow water equivalent, sulfate in the snowpack and DOC are reasonably good agreement with observed data. Contrasts have also been made on the calibrated model coefficients for the different watersheds. An attempt to relate them to the geology and soil characteristics has led to realistic estimation of the soil contact times.
126 EMS response time to sports injuries: a role for on-scene responders

Statement of Purpose Emergency medical services (EMS) often respond to injuries sustained during team athletics and sports. The interval between injury and EMS arrival allows on-scene responders to provide immediate care. Methods/Approach We identified EMS runs associated with team or group sports (ICD-10 activity code Y93.6x), to a school or an athletic field or facility, using National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) 2017 data. We calculated EMS response times to scene as the difference between dispatch time and on-scene time. Initial patient acuity was defined as ‘green’ (lower acuity), ‘yellow’ (emergent), ‘red’ (critical), or ‘black’ (deceased). We compared mean response time by patient acuity group. Results Of 1107 EMS runs identified, initial acuity for the majority was green (764, 70.2%), with a substantial yellow group (302, 27.8%), and relatively few red cases (22, 2.0%); there were no on-scene fatalities. Response times did not differ significantly by acuity. Approximately one quarter (292, 27.0%) of EMS responses were within five minutes, with greater proportions in the 5–10 minute (472, 43.6%) and 10+ minute (319, 29.5%) range; all but 76 responses (7%) were greater than two minutes. Conclusions In over 90% of EMS responses identified in the 2017 NEMSIS data involving response to a team sporting or athletic event, response time was greater than 2 minutes; approximately 75% were greater than 5 minutes. For every injury, but particularly for emergent and critical injuries, this represents an important interval during which patient assessment, stabilization, treatment, and packaging by on-scene responders could improve outcomes. Emergency action plans can formalize pre-EMS on-scene emergency response in athletic settings. Significance and Contributions to Injury and Violence Prevention Science The presence of trained and equipped on-scene responders (e.g. athletic trainers, coaches) would enable effective initial care during the interval until EMS arrival, and improve patient outcomes.
An Exploration of Mindfulness in Speech-Language Pathology:

For decades, mindfulness practices have been studied and applied across professions such as health care, business, education, law, and counseling as a means to reduce workforce stress and improve p...
Genome-Wide Analysis of RNA Decay in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7002

RNA degradation is an important process that influences the ultimate concentration of individual proteins inside cells. While the main enzymes that facilitate this process have been identified, global maps of RNA turnover are available for only a few species. Even in these cases, there are few sequence elements that are known to enhance or destabilize a native transcript; even fewer confer the same effect when added to a heterologous transcript. To address this knowledge gap, we assayed genome-wide RNA degradation in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 by collecting total RNA samples after stopping nascent transcription with rifampin. We quantified the abundance of each position in the transcriptome as a function of time using RNA-sequencing data and later analyzed the global mRNA decay map using machine learning principles. Half-lives, calculated on a per-ORF (open reading frame) basis, were extremely short, with a median half-life of only 0.97 min. Despite extremely rapid turnover of most mRNA, transcripts encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis were both highly expressed and highly stable. Upon inspection of these stable transcripts, we identified an enriched motif in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) that had similarity to Rho-independent terminators. We built statistical models for half-life prediction and used them to systematically identify sequence motifs in both 5' and 3' UTRs that correlate with stabilized transcripts. We found that transcripts linked to a terminator containing a poly(U) tract had a longer half-life than both those without a poly(U) tract and those without a terminator.IMPORTANCE RNA degradation is an important process that affects the final concentration of individual mRNAs, affecting protein expression and cellular physiology. Studies of how RNA is degraded increase our knowledge of this fundamental process as well as enable the creation of genetic tools to manipulate RNA stability. By studying global transcript turnover, we searched for sequence elements that correlated with transcript (in)stability and used these sequences to guide tool design. This study probes global RNA turnover in a cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002, that both has a unique array of RNases that facilitate RNA degradation and is an industrially relevant strain that could be used to convert CO2 and sunlight into useful products.
Mail and Telephone Outreach from Electronic Health Records for Research Participation on Cognitive Health and Aging

This report describes the efficacy and utility of recruiting older individuals by mail to participate in research on cognitive health and aging using Electronic Health Records (EHR). Individuals age 65 or older identified by EHR in the Mount Sinai Health System as likely to have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) were sent a general recruitment letter (N=12,951). A comparison group of individuals with comparable age and matched for gender also received the letter (N=3,001). Of the 15,952 individuals who received the mailing, 953 (6.0%) responded. 215 (1.3%) declined further contact. Overall rate of expression of interest was 4.6%. Of the 738 individuals who responded positively to further contact, 321 indicated preference for further contact by telephone. Follow-up of these individuals yielded 30 enrollments (0.2% of 15,952). No differences in response rate were noted between MCI and comparison groups, but the comparison group yielded higher enrollment. 6 individuals who were not the intended recipients of mailing but nevertheless contacted our study were also enrolled. Mailings to individuals identified through a trusted source, such as a medical center from which they have received clinical care, may be a viable means of reaching individuals within this age group as this effort yielded a low rejection rate. However, EHR information did not enhance study enrollment. Implications for improving recruitment are discussed.
Evidence Based Approach to Capacity Assessment for Hospitalized Patients.

Medical decision-making capacity (MDMC) is inherent to the legal and ethical principles of respect for autonomy and is an essential element of informed consent. Qualitative and quantitative evidence to support a final decision of capacity should be the gold standard. General hospital policies and state laws mandate that a licensed provider make the final determination of capacity, but they do not specifically mandate who is responsible for those assessments. When a patient s decisional capacity fluctuates, the role of the nurse in a hospital setting is valuable because they have the most direct contact with the patient. Objective: Determine receptiveness of nursing staff to assessing capacity, to gather feedback on the Aid to Capacity Evaluation (ACE) tool, and to ascertain awareness of capacity by sixty nurses working on progressive care, trauma orthopedic, and medical/surgical units. Method: This project was completed at a Midwestern academic level I trauma center. Nurses on a medical/surgical, orthopedic trauma, and progressive care unit participated. Education about MDMC and the ACE tool were given to nurses verbally and in writing. They were asked to utilize the Aide to Capacity Evaluation (ACE) tool to assess patients whom they believed lacked decision-making capacity. After four weeks the nurses completed an evaluation. Results: Thirty nurses (50%) responded. Over 70% of those respondents used the tool at least once. 63% agreed that the format helped to systematically evaluate a patient and they found it easy to incorporate into practice. Overall, 73% of respondents would welcome more education about capacity. Conclusion: Given a standardized tool in conjunction with proper and continuous education, bedside nurses are in an optimal position to identify mental changes early, alert the provider so steps can be taken to optimize mental capacity, and assist with assessment of capacity with minimal disruption of care. Implementation of a tool such as the ACE can ensure accurate, reliable, and consistent assessments. Furthermore, providers would benefit from the extra time to gather information and complete focused assessments to make a determination of capacity with confidence.
Pattern Recognition and Interpretation

This note explores the ways in which pattern recognition is central to strategic, managerial, and branding activities. Excerpt UVA-BC-0252 Aug. 11, 2013 Pattern Recognition and Interpretation What could a work of science fiction have to do with corporate communications? Consider that science fiction authors are less interested in predicting what will happen in the future than extrapolating from the present, given a set of technological, political, or cultural trends, what could happen. That some works end up predictive is an instructive byproduct, yet an imaginative and talented writer can capture a kind of speculative accuracy not found in works of fact. Without question, the most famous example of this is George Orwell's 1984. Whether evoked to argue that Orwell was wrong and that the world did not succumb to totalitarian rule or that, as intrusive technologies rapidly increase and consumers seem increasingly less worried about them, his predictions about Big Brother have in fact remained a danger, the book is hard to ignore. But Orwell was writing about Britain in 1948, and what might happen to liberal democracy, at a time before the Berlin Wall had been constructed, let alone torn down. The grey and depressing atmosphere experienced by Winston Smith was London under the grey horizon of life after six years of war. For the Ministry of Truth, Orwell drew on his time working on radio propaganda for the BBC. All this was well noted by William Gibson in a centenary tribute to Orwell. Gibson is best known for having helped popularize the subgenre of cyberpunk, as depicted in films such as The Matrix (1999). But his more recent work—three related books—is set in the near future, and is centered on the world of cutting-edge marketing and coolhunting. In Pattern Recognition, the heroine, Cayce, is allergic to brands. In one scene at Harvey Nichols in London, she becomes physically ill at the sight of a Tommy Hilfiger clothing display because Hilfiger's designs are “simulacra of simulacra of simulacra” (a copy of Ralph Lauren/Polo, which is a copy of Brooks Brothers, which itself adapted English Savile Row style). This innate sensitivity, and her ability to tell on sight whether a logo will work, makes Cayce a sought-after coolhunter. She becomes uneasily employed by a marketing mogul who exemplifies much of the new-age management sensibility of the turn of the century. She is also obsessed with something called “the footage”—segments of a film gaining notoriety in the days before YouTube and chat rooms. Gibson's point is that, at a time of data saturation, the best coping mechanism for making sense of things is pattern recognition. . . .
Trends and Risk Factors for Leishmaniasis among Reproductive Aged Women in the United States.

Background and Objective: Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, is endemic in several regions globally, but commonly regarded as a disease of travelers in the United States (US). The literature on leishmaniasis among hospitalized women in the US is very limited. The aim of this study was to explore trends and risk factors for leishmaniasis among hospitalized women of reproductive age within the US. Methods: We analyzed hospital admissions data from the 2002-2017 Nationwide Inpatient Sample among women aged 15-49 years. We conducted descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses for factors associated with leishmaniasis. Utilizing logistic regression, we assessed the association between sociodemographic and hospital characteristics with leishmaniasis disease among hospitalized women of reproductive age in the US. Joinpoint regression was used to examine trends over time. Results: We analyzed 131,529,239 hospitalizations; among these, 207 cases of leishmaniasis hospitalizations were identified, equivalent to an overall prevalence of 1.57 cases per million during the study period. The prevalence of leishmaniasis was greatest among older women of reproductive age (35-49 years), Hispanics, those with Medicare, and inpatient stay in large teaching hospitals in the Northeast of the US. Hispanic women experienced a statistically significant increased odds of leishmaniasis diagnosis (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.19-4.06), compared to Non-Hispanic (NH) White women. Medicaid and Private Insurance appeared to serve as a protective factor in both unadjusted and adjusted models. We did not observe a statistically significant change in leishmaniasis rates over the study period. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Although the prevalence of leishmaniasis among women of reproductive age appears to be low in the US, some risk remains. Thus, appropriate educational, public health and policy initiatives are needed to increase clinical awareness and timely diagnosis/treatment of the disease. Copyright © 2021 Ikedionwu, et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0.
Editorial Comment: Discrepancy Rates on Common Cases May Downplay the Benefits of Fellowship Training.

This Editorial Comment discusses the following AJR article: Interpretations of Examinations Outside of Radiologists' Fellowship Training: Assessment of Discrepancy Rates Among 5.9 Million Examinati...
Development of Fiberboard Concepts for New Vehicle Applications

Fiberboard substrates for interior trim components are becoming increasingly popular for new vehicle applications. The design process and timing, from the initial theme selection to the first production vehicle, are reviewed. Specific design requirements for fiberboard substrates are discussed and future development considerations are given.
Energy Scrambling in Molecules: Two Examples from Molecular Beam Spectroscopy

In this article I would like to discuss two systems in which we have observed intramolecular energy scrambling in some detail. The two cases, free base phthalocyanine and rare gas-iodine van der Waals molecules, would appear to be about as unrelated as it is possible to get given the finite size of the periodic table, and yet the phenomena that we observe in these two systems can be described using very similar langauge.
A 2.4 GHz Fully Integrated Class-A Power Ampifier In 0.35&#956;m SiGe BiCMOS Technology

This paper presents a 2.4 GHz fully integrated class-A power amplifier designed and implemented in a commercial 0.35 mum SiGe BiCMOS technology for a single-chip dual-band transceiver. It delivers a power output of 18.5dBm at an input power of -8dBm with a PAE of 17%. The 2nd and 3rd harmonics are -37.5dBc and -32.2dBc, respectively. The power amplifier draws a DC current of 126mA from a 3.3 V supply and achieves a linear gain of 27.6 dB. The fabricated die size is only 1.2 mm times 1 mm. An improved PA model is introduced for optimal power matching analysis that was verified in this design
Design Principles and Constraints Underlying the Construction of Brain-Based Devices

Without a doubt the most sophisticated behavior seen in biological agents is demonstrated by organisms whose behavior is guided by a nervous system. Thus, the construction of behaving devices based on principles of nervous systems may have much to offer. Our group has built series of brain-based devices (BBDs) over the last fifteen years to provide a heuristic for studying brain function by embedding neurobiological principles on a physical platform capable of interacting with the real world. These BBDs have been used to study perception, operant conditioning, episodic and spatial memory, and motor control through the simulation of brain regions such as the visual cortex, the dopaminergic reward system, the hippocampus, and the cerebellum. Following the brain-based model, we argue that an intelligent machine should be constrained by the following design principles: (i) it should incorporate a simulated brain with detailed neuroanatomy and neural dynamics that controls behavior and shapes memory, (ii) it should organize the unlabeled signals it receives from the environment into categories without a priori knowledge or instruction, (iii) it should have a physical instantiation, which allows for active sensing and autonomous movement in the environment, (iv) it should engage in a task that is initially constrained by minimal set of innate behaviors or reflexes, (v) it should have a means to adapt the device's behavior, called value systems, when an important environmental event occurs, and (vi) it should allow comparisons with experimental data acquired from animal nervous systems. Like the brain, these devices operate according to selectional principles through which they form categorical memory, associate categories with innate value, and adapt to the environment. This approach may provide the groundwork for the development of intelligent machines that follow neurobiological rather than computational principles in their construction.
Beyond Words: Pragmatic Inference In The Behavioral Variant Of Frontotemporal Dementia (P3.223)

Objectives: Investigate pragmatic-inference making in patients with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Background: bvFTD patients exhibit deficits in executive and social domains. Previous work has related non-aphasic bvFTD patients’ language difficulties to their decision-making limitations. Here we study scalar implicatures. These are paradigmatic cases of pragmatic-inferences that involve decision-making, where a speaker9s use of a term like SOME (e.g., “Some students passed the exam”) indicates that the speaker had reasons not to use a stronger term, e.g. ALL. Several studies have shown that the computation of scalar implicatures involves executive resources. We expected that bvFTD patients would have difficulty understanding pragmatic-inferences in scalar implicatures due to their decision-making deficits. Methods: 9 bvFTD patients and 15 match healthy controls were presented with arrays containing pictures of animals or objects (e.g., dogs and goats). A subgroup of those pictures was included in a square. In the target condition all the pictures of one kind (e.g., all the dogs) were in the square, and participants were asked to evaluate the truth-value of a sentence containing SOME (e.g., “Some dogs are in the box”). Results: 89% bvFTD patients were considered “logical” because they accepted SOME as a valid interpretation of a picture displaying all of the target objects in the square for more than 70% of the trials, while only 46% of controls were similarly “logical”. A Chi-Square test confirmed that a significant difference between the two groups (p<.05). Structural MRIs of 6 bvFTD patients revealed significant gray matter atrophy in both orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (p<.001 FDR-corrected), consistent with decision-making deficits. Conclusions: This study shows that comprehension of scalar implicatures is impaired in bvFTD, and this is related to the anatomic distribution of frontal lobe disease. Study supported by: NIH. Type: R01-NS044266 - NIH. Type: P01-AG017586 Disclosure: Dr. Spotorno has nothing to disclose. Dr. McMillan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Clark has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grossman has received personal compensation for activities with Allon Therapeutics.
Retransmission control of capture-ALOHA systems

The authors study an infinite-user slotted ALOHA system operating over a capture channel. In a capture channel differences in the levels of received power and time of arrival enable the receiver to successfully receive a packet even when two or more have been transmitted simultaneously. Using a Markovian model, they prove that the slotted ALOHA system with capture channel is not stable unless a control policy is used. The authors use a retransmission control algorithm, and show that significant improvements in the throughput may occur. An equilibrium point analysis of drift function is presented. >
A problem-solving environment for subsurface flow and transport phenomena

We describe a problem solving environment to transform a range of model formulations describing subsurface flow and transport phenomena into numerical simulators. In our prototype implementation, the problem description is presented as a set of differential equations written in a coordinate-free operator form using LATEX. The simulator is assembled from algorithmic skeletons and solvers represented as components following the Common Component Architecture standard, and executed under the control of the Ccaffeine runtime system. In this paper, we describe the structure and operation of our prototype problem solving environment, and illustrate its operation on a simple problem.
The role of the defense psychiatrist in workmen's compensation cases.

Tomorrow's psychiatrist should be more cognizant, competent, and comfortable in forensic science matters. Psychiatric cases are increasingly the subjects of litigation, but justice in the courts depends on able advocacy by all parties. Advocacy for patient-plaintiffs is more similar to customary clinical roles than is advocacy for defendant insurance companies, which nevertheless are as needful of competent psychiatric experts as patient-plaintiffs if justice is to be done. Ironically, defense psychiatrists can do much to help patient-plaintiffs if they understand their roles correctly. Since legal systems are designed to produce justice, not therapy, the forensic competence of future psychiatrists will help to make litigation more therapeutic and just for patients. This paper describes the peculiarities of psychiatric work in litigated workmen's compensation cases, focusing on the role of the defense psychiatrist. We will highlight the constructive and therapeutically gratifying potentials of this work. Greater familiarity with the process will help to enlist the interest and participation of psychiatrists in workmen's compensation cases for the ultimate benefit of the patients and improvement of the legal system.
Occurrence of diphthamide in archaebacteria.

We examined the nature of the diphtheria toxin fragment A recognition site in the protein synthesis translocating factor present in cell-free preparations from the archaebacteria Thermoplasma acidophilum and Halobacterium halobium. In agreement with earlier work (M. Kessel and F. Klink, Nature (London) 287:250-251, 1980), we found that extracts from these organisms contain a protein factor which is a substrate for the ADP-ribosylation reaction catalyzed by diphtheria toxin fragment A. However, the rate of the reaction was approximately 1,000 times slower than that typically observed with eucaryotic elongation factor 2. We also demonstrated the presence of diphthine (the deamidated form of diphthamide, i.e., 2-[3-carboxyamide-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]histidine) in acid hydrolysates of H. halobium protein in amounts comparable to those found in hydrolysates of similar preparations from eucaryotic cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and HeLa). Diphthine could not be detected in hydrolysates of protein from the eubacterium Escherichia coli. Whereas both archaebacterial and eucaryotic elongation factors contain diphthamide, they differ importantly in other respects.
Mis16 Independently Recognizes Histone H4 and the CENP-ACnp1-Specific Chaperone Scm3sp

CENP-A is a centromere-specific histone H3 variant that is required for kinetochore assembly and accurate chromosome segregation. For it to function properly, CENP-A must be specifically localized to centromeres. In fission yeast, Scm3sp and the Mis18 complex, composed of Mis16, Eic1, and Mis18, function as a CENP-A(Cnp1)-specific chaperone and a recruiting factor, respectively, and together ensure accurate delivery of CENP-A(Cnp1) to centromeres. Although how Scm3sp specifically recognizes CENP-A(Cnp1) has been revealed recently, the recruiting mechanism of CENP-A(Cnp1) via the Mis18 complex remains unknown. In this study, we have determined crystal structures of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus Mis16 alone and in complex with the helix 1 of histone H4 (H4α1). Crystal structures followed by mutant analysis and affinity pull-downs have revealed that Mis16 recognizes both H4α1 and Scm3sp independently within the CENP-A(Cnp1)/H4:Scm3sp complex. This observation suggests that Mis16 gains CENP-A(Cnp1) specificity by recognizing both Scm3sp and histone H4. Our studies provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying specific recruitment of CENP-A(Cnp1)/H4:Scm3sp into centromeres.
A spline approach to speech analysis/Synthesis

Vocoders based on linear models of the vocal tract such as LPC result in an inverse polynomial fit of the spectrum, and along with homomorphic vocoders require pitch estimation. Analysis/synthesis using B-spline basis functions is proposed in this preliminary paper. This is a local approximation scheme which permits a concentration of parameters in regions of greater importance and employs easily computed least square coefficients. It can be used with pitch based vocoders or as a standalone nonpitch based vocoder. An experimental system, not yet optimized using special properties of human speech, has been applied to samples of male speech, female speech, simultaneous speech with two speakers, and noisy speech. Empirical results on tape will be presented.
Neurobiology of Grooming Behavior: An ethological analysis of barbering behavior

Summary “Barbering” is an abnormal behavior in mice. Barbering mice pluck fur and/or whiskers from cage-mates and/or themselves, leaving idiosyncratic patches of hair loss. The behavior is a paradox: barbering is common in laboratory mice, but it is not seen in wild mice, it does not benefit the plucker, and it is costly to the recipient. This chapter will attempt to resolve the barbering paradox by asking how and why barbering behavior occurs. Using Tinbergen's (1963) framework for an ethological analysis, we assess barbering in terms of adaptive function, phylogeny, development, and mechanism. The first section discusses hypotheses of adaptive function. The dominance hypothesis is refuted by several studies; the coping hypothesis remains untested; and the pathology hypothesis is supported by multiple lines of evidence. The pathology hypothesis therefore provides the best resolution to the barbering paradox. Accordingly, throughout, we compare and contrast barbering to trichotillomania (TTM) and other human disorders characterized by repetitive behavior. The second section assesses the phylogenetic underpinnings of barbering by comparing and contrasting hair-plucking behavior across species and between mouse strains. The third section reviews the developmental processes that underlie barbering behavior, particularly developmental risk factors, learning, the laboratory environment, and transgenic effects. The final section reviews the behavioral mechanisms, eliciting stimuli, and physiological mechanisms that might mediate barbering. Here, we outline the role of cortico–striatal circuitry in abnormal repetitive behavior in general, how it can be used to delineate disorders, and insights it provides into barbering.
Assessing the Functional Status of Older Cancer Patients in an Ambulatory Care Visit

Functional status assessment is a useful and essential component of the complete history and physical exam of the older patient diagnosed with cancer. Functional status is the ability to conduct activities that are necessary for independence and more executive activities, such as money management, cooking, and transportation. Assessment of functional status creates a portal into interpreting the health of in older persons. Understanding limitations and physical abilities can help in developing cancer treatment strategies, patient/family teaching needs, and in-home services that enhance patient/family care. This article will review the benefits of functional assessment, instruments that can be used during an ambulatory care visit, and interventions that can address potential limitations.
On the uniqueness of the ergodic maximal function

We give a new (shorter) proof of a result of L. Ephremidze showing that if two functions have the same ergodic maximal function, then they are equal a.e.
Developmental effects of barium exposure in a marine bivalve (Mytilus californianus)

Produced water, an aqueous waste of variable composition associated with petroleum and natural gas extraction, is frequently discharged into the marine environment in significant quantities. Concern and controversy exist regarding potential adverse environmental effects related to such discharges. Previous reports indicated that barium (Ba) and/or strontium (Sr) were primarily responsible for the toxicity of a southern California produced water to developing marine embryos. To further investigate toxicity of Ba and Sr in seawater, mussel embryos (Mytilus californianus) were subjected to static exposures of barium acetate and strontium chloride from fertilization through veliger formation. Only Ba exhibited bioactivity at environmentally relevant levels. Adverse effects occurred between 200 and 900 {micro}g/L (ppb); higher concentrations were associated with decreased toxicity and apparent precipitation of Ba salts from seawater. Nominal Ba exposure concentrations between 100 and 900 {micro}g/L yielded measured concentrations of 100 to 550 {micro}g/L soluble Ba when analyzed by inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectroscopy. Adverse developmental effects included abnormal shell calcification and embryo morphology. Exposure of embryos to Ba in state-specific experiments revealed that developmental stages were differentially affected, though they exhibited similar abnormalities. Gastrulae were the most sensitive, while blastula and trochophore larvae were less so. Adverse effects in embryosmore » exposed during the gastrula stage were not reversible despite washing and return to clean seawater. These findings are among the first to demonstrate that low concentrations of soluble Ba in seawater can be toxic and are of potential concern in the marine environment.« less
Inclusion of the Baltic Republics in the Nordic nuclear-free zone

INCLUSION OF T H E BALTIC R E P U B L I C S IN T H E N O R D I C N U C L E A R - F R E E Z O N E Rein Taagepera University of California, Irvine A nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ) in Northern Europe has been dis- cussed for several decades as an international confidence-building measure. It is usually envisaged to include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, which presently have no nuclear weapons on their soil. Such delineation should facilitate the establishment of the NWFZ, since no changes in the status quo are required: the zone would only represent a commitment not to introduce nuclear weapons in the future. Yet nothing has come of the proposal, largely because the area proposed is lopsided: it includes two NATO countries (Denmark and Norway) and two neutral ones (Sweden and Finland), but no Warsaw Pact territories. As such, the NWFZ proposal has too little to offer to the NATO countries; it could tie their hands in some future contingency without imposing the least obligation on the Warsaw Pact countries. A compensating inclusion of Warsaw Pact territories is difficult because the only geographically thinkable areas are the Soviet Baltic and Arctic coasts, and including a slice of a superpower's territory in the Nordic NWFZ would involve an asymmetry of its own. In the 1970s such inclusion was considered too unrealistic to be even mentioned by anyone. However, in its absence the Nordic NWFZ has remained unrealized. This is regrettable for two reasons. (1) A continued lack of tension in Northern Europe cannot be taken for granted (witness the recent submarine incidents), and the nuclear-weapon-free status quo should be formalized before frictions arise. (2) A formal NWFZ in Northern Europe would be a confidence-building measure with potential for imitation in other areas of the world. Since 1981 the inclusion of the Soviet Baltic republics in the proposed Nordic NWFZ has become thinkable in may quarters, although the establishment of the zone (with or without the Baltic republics) remains problematic. Such inclusion was proposed in an Open Letter by fBS Vo[ ~ V f N~ I (.~Drin~ Lc~sJ ,%R
Arrhythmia Management in the Fontan Patient

With longer duration of follow-up, as many as 50% of Fontan patients will develop atrial tachycardia, usually in association with significant hemodynamic abnormalities. Arrhythmia management in the Fontan patient is reviewed. The incidence and type of arrhythmia occurrence are examined, including macro-reentrant rhythm which involves the right atrium, reentrant rhythm localized to the pulmonary venous atrium (seen in patients with lateral tunnel procedures), and atrial fibrillation. Risk factors for development of these arrhythmias are considered, and short- and long-term therapeutic options for medical and surgical treatment are discussed. Surgical results are presented for 117 patients undergoing Fontan conversion and arrhythmia surgery (isthmus ablation (9), modified right atrial maze (38) or Cox-maze III (70)). Operative mortality is low (1/117, 0.8%). Seven late deaths occurred, and include two patients who died shortly following cardiac transplantation (2/6, 33%) after Fontan conversion and arrhythmia surgery. Overall arrhythmia recurrence is 12.8% during a mean follow-up of 56 months. Fontan conversion with arrhythmia surgery can be performed with low operative mortality, low risk of recurrent tachycardia, and marked improvement in functional status in most patients. Because the development of tachycardia is usually an electromechanical problem, attention to only the arrhythmia with medications or ablation may allow progression of hemodynamic abnormalities to either a life-threatening outcome or a point at which transplantation is the only potential option. Because cardiac transplantation in Fontan patients is associated with high early mortality, earlier consideration for surgical intervention is warranted.
Comparative metabolism of N-tert-butyl-N-[1-(1-oxy-pyridin-4-yl)-ethyl]- and N-tert-butyl-N-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-nitroxide by the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system.

The use of spin-trapping agents for a direct ESR detection of ·OH in biological systems is limited by the low stability of the hydroxyl radical-derived nitroxides. Among the various probes used for trapping of ·OH, DMSO has proven to be highly efficient. The reaction between ·OH and DMSO yields methyl radical (CH3·), which can react with N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN) and α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN) to form stable, ESR-detectable nitroxides. The latter approach has been successfully used in in vivo experiments for analysis of ·OH; in these experiments, POBN/·CH3 and PBN/·CH3 were detected in the bile duct and the urine of the treated animals. However, the sites of generation of ·OH produced in vivo are unknown. Currently, no ESR data is available for the formation of ·OH in liver of animals subjected to oxidative stress. Since nitroxides containing aromatic rings are likely to be substrates of cytochrome P450, experiments were carried out for assessing the ability of the cytochrom...
The synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides containing 2-thiothymine and 5-methyl-4-pyrimidinone base analogues

Abstract A procedure is described for the Preparation of two thymidine analogues in which the O 2 -carbonyl is deleted (d H 2 T) or converted to an O 2 -thione (ds 2 T). The phosphoramidites of these nucleosides have been synthesized and used to incorporate the analogues site-specifically into oligodeoxynucleotide sequences.
Serial passage of murine K-papovavirus in primary cultures of mouse embryo cells

Murine K-papovavirus was serially passaged 10 times in primary cultures of mouse embryo cells, using cell suspensions and media from infected cultures to inoculate fresh flasks at each passage level. Titers of K virus infectivity in cell suspensions and media rose during serial passage, but viral hemagglutinating activity was not detected in cells or media before the 10th passage. Although the infectivity of K virus for mouse embryo cultures was enhanced by serial passage, lethality of the virus for suckling mice was lost. The present study represents the first successful serial transmission of K virus infectionin vitro.
Automatic feature extraction in a noniteratively learned pattern recognizer

After a frequency-domain-preprocessing of any standard 2D images, the standard patterns to be learned can generally be presented by N-D analog vectors. When these vectors satisfy the most general separability condition, the positive linear independency (or PLI) condition, these vectors can definitely be learned by a one-layered, hard-limited perceptron in a noniterative manner. From this noniterative learning scheme, an automatic feature extraction and automatic feature competition method can be derived which will enhance significantly the robustness in the recognition mode. This paper reports the theoretical analysis of this novel feature extraction scheme and the experimental result demonstrating the robustness of recognition and the speed of learning of this scheme. Comparison of this novel feature extraction scheme with Karhunen-Loeve scheme and the SVD (singular value decomposition) scheme is discussed in detail.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Steroid sulfation by expressed human cytosolic sulfotransferases.

Abstract The human cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (DHEA-ST) and the phenol-sulfating form of phenol sulfotransferase, (P-PST), have been expressed in bacteria and used to investigate the ability of the cloned enzymes to conjugate steroids and related compounds. DHEA-ST was capable of sulfating all of the 3-hydroxysteroids, testosterone and estrogens tested as substrates. The 3-hydroxysteroids, androsterone, epiandrosterone and androstenediol, were conjugated at 50–60% of the rate of DHEA. Of the steroids tested, P-PST was capable of conjugating only the estrogens. The catechol estrogens, 2-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestradiol and 4-hydroxyestrone, and compounds with estrogenic activity such as 17α-ethynylestradiol and trans -4-hydroxytamoxifen, were also tested as subtrates. DHEA-ST showed little or no sulfation activity with these compounds; however, all of these compounds were sulfated by P-PST. These results indicate that the expressed human STs are valuable in analyzing the overlapping substrate specificities of these enzymes and that P-PST may have an important role in the metabolism of estrogens and estrogenic compounds in human tissues.
The generality of the stimulus-binding hypothesis across drinking behavior and task performance in alcoholics

This experiment investigated the validity of applying the stimulus-binding hypothesis of obesity to conceptualize drinking and task performance behaviors in alcoholics. Twenty alcoholics and 12 nonalcoholics participated in two counterbalanced experimental sessions. One session involved an assessment of subjects' voluntary consumption of preferred and nonpreferred nonalcoholic beverages. The other session involved their performance of four tasks that involved or manipulated the presence of salient external cues. The prediction of heightened externality in alcoholics was supported on the beverage consumption measures and was marginally supported on the task performance measures. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for models and treatments of alcohol problems.
A Review of the Health Benefits of Greenness

Researchers are increasingly exploring how neighborhood greenness, or vegetation, may affect health behaviors and outcomes. Greenness may influence health by promoting physical activity and social contact; decreasing stress; and mitigating air pollution, noise, and heat exposure. Greenness is generally measured using satellite-based vegetation indices or land-use databases linked to participants' addresses. In this review, we found fairly strong evidence for a positive association between greenness and physical activity, and a less consistent negative association between greenness and body weight. Research suggests greenness is protective against adverse mental health outcomes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality, though most studies were limited by cross-sectional or ecological design. There is consistent evidence that greenness exposure during pregnancy is positively associated with birth weight, though findings for other birth outcomes are less conclusive. Future research should follow subjects prospectively, differentiate between greenness quantity and quality, and identify mediators and effect modifiers of greenness-health associations.
Effect of outside air ventilation rate on volatile organic compound concentrations in a call center

Abstract A study of the relationship between outside air ventilation rate and concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated indoors was conducted in a call center office building. The building, with two floors and a total floor area of 4600 m 2 , is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Ventilation rates were manipulated with the building's four air handling units (AHUs). VOC and CO 2 concentrations in the AHU returns were measured on 7 days during a 13-week period. VOC emission factors were determined for individual zones on days when they were operating at near steady-state conditions. The emission factor data were subjected to principal component (PC) analysis to identify groups of co-varying compounds. Potential sources of the PC vectors were ascribed based on information from the literature. The per occupant CO 2 generation rates were 0.0068–0.0092 l s −1 . The per occupant isoprene generation rates of 0.2–0.3 mg h −1 were consistent with the value predicted by mass balance from breath concentration and exhalation rate. The relationships between indoor minus outdoor VOC concentrations and ventilation rate were qualitatively examined for eight VOCs. Of these, acetaldehyde and hexanal, which likely were associated with material sources, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, associated with personal care products, exhibited general trends of higher concentrations at lower ventilation rates. For other compounds, a clear inverse relationship between VOC concentrations and ventilation was not observed. The net concentration of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate isomers, examples of low-volatility compounds, changed very little with ventilation likely due to sorption and re-emission effects. These results illustrate that the efficacy of ventilation for controlling VOC concentrations can vary considerably depending upon the operation of the building, the pollutant sources and the physical and chemical processes affecting the pollutants. Thus, source control measures, in addition to adequate ventilation, are required to limit concentrations of VOCs in office buildings.