cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of preventive care interventions on pressure ulcer rates in a national sample of rural and urban nursing units: Longitudinal associations over 4 years.

Abstract Background Pressure ulcer rates are persistently high despite years of research and practice policies focused on prevention. Prior research found crosssectional associations between care interventions, hospital and nursing unit characteristics and pressure ulcer rates. Whether these associations persist over time is unknown. Finally, comparisons of quality measures across rural and urban location have mixed findings. Objective Our study examined effects of care interventions on unit-acquired pressure ulcer rates over 4 years controlling for community, hospital, and nursing unit characteristics in rural and urban locations. Design Guided by contingency theory a longitudinal study was conducted to examine associations between context, staffing, care interventions, nurse outcomes, and pressure ulcer rates, using unit-level data from the National Database of Nursing Quality IndicatorsⓇ 2010–2013 (16 quarters) augmented with data on rural classifications and case mix index. Ulcer rates were measured as percentage of patients with a nursing unit-acquired pressure ulcer. The three care interventions were unit-percentage of patients receiving skin assessment on admission, receiving risk assessment on admission, and receiving any risk assessment before the pressure ulcer. Nursing unit characteristics were RN staffing, education, and experience. Nurse outcomes were job satisfaction and intent-to-stay. Participants We included 5761 units (332 rural and 5429 urban) in 772 hospitals (89 rural and 683 urban) that reported ulcer rates in two or more quarters during the study period. Methods Rural and urban units were examined separately using multilevel binomial regression in which within-unit changes in pressure ulcer rates were related to the within-unit changes in the explanatory variables, controlling for region, hospital size, unit type, case mix index, and percentage of patients at risk for pressure ulcers. Results An increase in the three care interventions, RN skill mix, and the two nurse outcomes were associated with a decrease in unit-acquired pressure ulcers. For example, in rural units a 10% increase in unit-percentage of any risk assessment and in urban units a 10% increase in skin assessment on admission were associated with a 21% and 5% decrease in the odds of developing an ulcer. A 10% increase in RN skill mix was associated with 17–18% and 5–6% decrease in ulcer rates in rural and urban units respectively. Conclusion Hospitals aiming to improve pressure ulcer prevention should focus on organizational structures that support improved nurses work environments and workflow that will enhance nursing care interventions. Future studies should include both contextual and patient characteristics along with care interventions.
Rapid mechanochemical synthesis of metal-organic frameworks using exogenous organic base.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) bearing coordinatively unsaturated metal centers, exemplified by the MOF-74 family of frameworks, are promising for applications ranging from gas separations and storage to Lewis acid catalysis. However, the scalable synthesis of MOF-74 analogues remains a significant challenge. Recently, mechanochemistry has emerged as a sustainable strategy for the preparation of MOFs in the solid state with minimal solvent waste. Mechanochemical methods typically rely on metal salts bearing basic anions to deprotonate the conjugate acid of the organic linker and a small amount of organic solvent or water to facilitate liquid assisted grinding. Here, we demonstrate that the liquid exogenous organic base Hunig's base (N,N-diisopropylethylamine) can fulfill both roles, enabling the mechanochemical synthesis of M2(dobdc) analogues (M = Mg, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; dobdc4- = 2,5-dioxidobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate) using metal nitrate salts in only 5 minutes at room temperature. Importantly, we demonstrate that this straightforward method can be generalized to prepare the isomeric framework Mg2(m-dobdc) (m-dobdc4- = 2,4-dioxidobenzene-1,5-dicarboxylate) and the expanded framework Mg2(dobpdc) (dobpdc4- = 4,4'-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3'-dicarboxylate) under solvent-free conditions for the first time. The MOFs prepared using this method possess high crystallinities and surface areas, with the Mg2(m-dobdc) prepared herein representing the first reported permanently porous variant of this framework. This new sustainable mechanochemical synthesis of MOF-74 analogues should enable their preparation on a large scale for industrial applications.
Focus, not point-of-care, echocardiography in prone position: It can be done in COVID-19 patients.

â¢Prone positioning improves oxygenation in patients with ARDS.â¢Reducing RV dysfunction is vital as reduced RVLS is associated with increased mortality.â¢Prone positioning may assist cardiac function by offloading pressure from the RV.
Dry needling strategies for musculoskeletal conditions: Do the number of needles and needle retention time matter? A narrative literature review.

Abstract Acupuncture and dry needling are both minimally invasive procedures that use thin, filiform needles without injectate for the management of a variety of neuromusculoskeletal pain conditions. While the theoretical constructs underlying the use of acupuncture and dry needling are unique, both appear to have the ability to elicit biochemical, biomechanical, endocrinological and neurovascular changes associated with reductions in pain and disability. However, optimal treatment dosage has yet to be determined, and there is a lack of consistency in the literature on the number of needles that should be inserted and the needle retention time. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is to further explore the importance of these two variables. While trigger point dry needling advocates single needle insertions via repetitive, quick in-and-out pistoning, most acupuncture and dry needling clinical trials have incorporated multiple needles for five to 40 min. Notably and to date, using a single needle to repeatedly prick trigger points one at a time with fast-in and fast-out pistoning maneuvers has not yet been shown to produce significant and clinically meaningful long term improvements in pain and disability in a wide array of musculoskeletal conditions. Insertion of multiple needles for typically 20–30 min durations has been shown to produce larger treatment effect sizes and longer-lasting outcomes than brief, single-needle strategies. Moreover, the number of needles and needle retention time are two variables associated with treatment dosage and must be carefully matched with specific musculoskeletal conditions and the patient's goals.
Using a report card to increase HIV screening in a large primary care group practice.

Background Despite increased efforts to promote HIV screening, a large proportion of the US population have never been tested for HIV. Objective To determine whether provider education and personalised HIV screening report cards can increase HIV screening rates within a large integrated healthcare system. Design This quality improvement study provided a cohort of primary care physicians (PCPs) a brief educational intervention and personalised HIV screening report cards with quarterly performance data. Participants Participants included a volunteer cohort of 20 PCPs in the department of adult and family medicine. Main measures Per cent of empaneled patients screened for HIV by cohort PCPs compared with PCPs at the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center (KPOAK) and the non-Oakland Medical Centers in Northern California region (Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC)). Key results Of the 20 participating PCPs, 13 were female and 7 were male. Thirteen were internal medicine and seven family medicine physicians. The average age was 40 years and average practice experience was 9 years after residency. During the 12-month intervention, the estimated increase in HIV screening in the cohort PCP group was 2.6% as compared with 1.9% for KPOAK and 1.8% for KPNC. Conclusions These findings suggest that performance-related report cards are associated with modestly increased rates of HIV screening by PCPs.
Educational Practices for Providers of Trauma-Informed Care: A Scoping Review

Abstract Background As more is learned about trauma and the ways in which trauma informed care (TIC) is provided, it is important to explore the education and training offered to those individuals who provide TIC. Purpose This scoping review examined training provided to individuals who interact with persons aged birth to 21 years old who have experienced or are experiencing trauma. Method The researchers searched six databases and identified 16 peer-reviewed articles in the areas of medicine/nursing, social work, and education published from 2012 to 2019 that met inclusion criteria. Discussion Although most training protocols had a similar foundation, the findings from this review suggested that trauma informed care training practices vary across disciplines. Conclusions As training approaches varied greatly across disciplines, a conclusion on best practice guidelines cannot be stated for the professional environments.
Uveal Melanoma Identified as Ocular Mass on Point-of-care Ultrasound.

Author(s): Spungen, Hannah; Weingrow, Daniel | Abstract: Case Presentation: A 41-year-old man presented to the emergency department with five months of progressive monocular vision loss in his right eye, which he described as a gradually descending and enlarging black spot. He had no light perception in his right eye with elevated intraocular pressure and an afferent pupillary defect, while his left eye visual acuity and pupillary exam was normal. Point-of-care ultrasound demonstrated a hyperechoic, pedunculated mass in the posterior chamber of his right eye, consistent with a diagnosis of ocular melanoma. Ophthalmology scheduled the patient for an elective, right eye enucleation the following week, after which a diagnosis of uveal melanoma (UM) was confirmed on histopathology.Discussion: Uveal melanoma is an uncommon diagnosis that requires prompt intervention and surveillance due to the possibility of distant metastases arising in up to 50% of patients. Emergency department diagnosis of UM may be confounded by features of other intraocular pathology, such as increased ocular pressure or the finding of retinal detachment on fundoscopy. When emergency providers encounter glaucoma or retinal detachment on physical exam, point-of-care ultrasonography represents a key adjunct in the timely diagnosis and referral of this potentially vision- and life-threatening malignancy.
The Semiotics of “Monk” Rehearsals: A Weaving of Two Texts

Music provides an arena for the exploration of semiotics and the meaning that individuals make of sign systems. In this chapter, I describe monk rehearsals, an activity that I used during my teaching experience, and provide a semiotic interpretation of the two texts that the rehearsal included—musical gesture and classroom management. In my analysis of the gestural signs within my rehearsal, I draw on Peirce’s (1893–1910) types of representamina (qualisigns, sinsigns, and legisigns), objects (icons, indexes, and symbols), and interpretants (rhemes, dicisigns, and arguments). The analysis indicates the insistent role of these two texts in a musical rehearsal, how they allow for communication, instruction, and the creation of music.
IN THIS ISSUE: Cutaneous Neurobiology

In recent years, it has been well established that a dynamic interaction between the skin and the nervous system plays an important role in both skin homeostasis and cutaneous disease. Neuropeptides released from the network of unmyelinated nerve fibers in the skin can interact with specific receptors on cutaneous cells including keratinocytes, Langerhans cells, melanocytes, microvascular endothelial cells, and mast cells to mediate a cascade of inflammatory and proliferative activities. While many investigators have focused on studying the role of neuropeptides secreted from sensory nerve fibers, it is clear that other neurotransmitters and their receptors are also operative in the skin in ways that have yet to be fully understood.
Fracture initiation in elastic brittle materials having non-linear fracture envelopes

A theory is outlined for determining the initiation of fracture and initial fracture propagation in elastic brittle materials having non-linear Mohr fracture envelopes. This theory is applied to a specific boundary value problem, i.e. a truncated quarter plane with arbitrary traction distribution on the truncated boundary and varying'confining pressure. This problem simulates the chipping phase of the penetration of a wedge shaped tool iiato an elastic brittle material. Numerical results are obtained for two rock materials, Blair dolomite and quartzite. Results indicate that for increasing confining pressure, a limit condition is reached for both fracture initiation location and force. This limit location is closer to the boundary than the fracture initiation points at lower confining pressures, indicating smaller chips. It is also found that initial fracture propagation is less clearly defined at higher confining pressures. Both of these results have been observed experimentally.
Punishing the Children of Immigrants: Race, Ethnicity, Generational Status, Student Misbehavior, and School Discipline

Using segmented assimilation theory, this study examines whether the children of immigrants’ experiences with being disciplined at school are disproportionate. This study draws from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 and utilizes multilevel techniques to analyze the relationships between race, ethnicity, generational status, misbehavior, and school discipline. Findings reveal that Black/African American second- and third-plus generation as well as Latina/o American third-plus generation youth have increased odds of being disciplined despite having similar levels of misbehavior as their White American peers. The implications of the racial and ethnic, as well as generational, disparities in school discipline practices are discussed.
Prenatal cocaine exposure alters maternal retrieval behavior in mice

Previous studies have demonstrated alterations in maternal retrieval behavior as a result of direct cocaine exposure. To establish the influence of prenatal cocaine exposure on pup retrieval, we exposed pups of three F1 genotypes by injecting their mothers (all C57BL/10J strain) with 20 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride or saline subcutaneously on gestation days 7 to 17. When those pups became adults, control and exposed females were mated with males of the same genotype and tested for pup retrieval on postpartum days 4 and 5. Because ultrasonic calls are known to be elicitors of maternal retrieval behavior, the rate of ultrasonic calling was measured. Prenatal cocaine exposure exerted a significant effect upon retrieval latency on day 4. No relationship was found between genotype and retrieval latency.
A study on layer correlation effects through a multilayer network optimization problem

Multilayer network design has received significant attention over the years. Despite this, the explicit modeling of three-layer networks such as IP/MPLS-over-OTN-over-DWDM in which the OTN layer is specifically considered has not been addressed before. In this paper, we present an optimization model for network planning of such multilayer networks that consider the OTN layer as a distinct layer with its unique technological sublayer constraints. More importantly, we present a comprehensive study to quantify the interrelationship between layers through change in unit cost of elements and capacity modularity, coupled with network demand. Focusing on the interrelation between the IP/MPLS and OTN layers, we present a detailed numeric study that considers various cost parameter values of each layer in the network and analyzes their impacts on individual layers and overall network cost.
Ethical Issues Raised by Epigenetic Testing for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis

Epigenetic testing is one of the most significant new technologies to provide insight into the behavioral and environmental factors that influence the development and reconfiguration of the human genetic code. This technology allows us to identify structural changes in the genome that occur due to exposure to a wide variety of substances including alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. The information gained can be used to promote health but it also raises a variety of ethical, legal, and social issues. As society progresses in understanding the epigenetic mechanisms of substance use and addiction, there is an opportunity to use these use this knowledge to enable medical, behavioral, and environmental interventions to alleviate the burden of addiction. This article describes the ethical issues associated with use of epigenetic testing for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis and the implications of this technology. A further review of the scientific basis for the relevance of epigenetics is found in the accompanying article by Philibert and Erwin in this issue.
Latin and Greek in gross anatomy

Background: Medical students and practitioners learn and use a vocabulary originating almost entirely from classical Latin and Greek languages. Previous generations required Latin or Greek prior to medical school, but the current generation does not have such requirements. Anecdotal evidence suggests that understanding Latin or Greek helps students to learn and practitioners to recall otherwise foreign terminology. This study evaluated students' familiarity with Latin and Greek etymologies before and after a gross anatomy course that incorporated etymologies into its curriculum. Methods: First-year medical students at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine were taught Latin and Greek etymologies through lectures and handouts during their gross anatomy course. They took a pretest and a posttest before and after the course to assess their understanding of etymologies. In addition, students from all four years of medical school, residents, and staff physicians also took a general etymology quiz to assess their understanding of etymologies. Results: After their gross anatomy course emphasizing etymologies, first-year students scored higher on the posttest than they did on the pretest. First-year students also reported that learning etymologies enhanced anatomy learning, made the experience more enjoyable, and proved to be less difficult than they thought it would be prior to the course. Medical students, residents, and staff physicians scored almost equally on the general etymology quiz and almost equally reported that etymologies enhanced learning and recalling terminology. Medical students, residents, and staff physicians almost equally endorsed incorporating etymologies into medical education. Conclusions: This study provides novel scientific evidence that a basic understanding of Latin and Greek etymologies enhances performance and comfort when learning and using medical terminology. Clin. Anat. 20:332–337, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hormonal and renal responses to converting enzyme inhibition during maximal exercise.

The role of angiotensin II in the hormonal and renal responses to maximal exercise was investigated by using the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. Nine male subjects performed a standardized maximal treadmill test with and without acute captopril treatment (25 mg orally). At rest, captopril elevated plasma renin activity and lowered aldosterone levels. With maximal exercise, captopril treatment reduced the increase in mean arterial blood pressure by 8 mmHg and the increase in plasma renin activity by 3.0 ng ANG I.ml-1.h-1. The responses of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, and vasopressin to maximal exercise were not altered by captopril treatment. Although aldosterone levels were reduced at rest with captopril, during maximal exercise no difference was noted between treatments. Captopril treatment had no effects on the renal handling of salts or water during exercise. In conclusion, angiotensin II plays a role in the increase in mean blood pressure during maximal exercise in normal subjects but has no effect on the exercise responses of ACTH, vasopressin, and aldosterone or on the renal handling of salts and water.
Applications of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography to evaluate the hepatic vasculature in the pediatric patient

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) offer several techniques to evaluate the hepatic vasculature. These techniques are briefly reviewed with reference to the pediatric population. Examples of MRI and MRA in the evaluation of the hepatic vasculature in pediatric patients are presented.
Are We Ready to Implant Left Ventricular Assist Devices In “Less Sick” Patients?

Left ventricular assist devices improve survival for New York Heart Association class IV patients as both destination therapy and bridge-to-transplant therapy. This clinical benefit has been demonstrated in multiple clinical trials whose medical comparator arm consists of patients with very poor survival. This article discusses the potential use of left ventricular assist devices in a less sick group of patients with end-stage congestive heart failure.
A novel approach for evaluating the impact of electric vehicles on the power distribution system

this paper presents a useful and practical approach for assessing the impact of electric vehicles on the electric power distribution system while keeping to a manageable volume of detailed circuit and equipment studies. This paper addresses electric vehicles as an electric load only and does not consider the potential of the vehicle being a generation source. It also only addresses the substation, primary and distribution transformer impacts. It does not consider impacts on the secondary system. The method uses a statistical clustering algorithm to identify a set of representative feeders for the electric utility system, each representing a certain subset of the utility feeder system. This set of representative feeders is analyzed over a series of electric vehicle market penetration scenarios from 0 to 100%, in order to determine the expected impacts on loading, losses, voltage and reliability performance and power quality that each feeder will see. Then, distribution system capacity upgrades that are required to serve uncontrolled EV loads in each area, as well as the benefits that could if EV loads were limited or re-scheduled via demand response are assessed for each. Results from these representative feeder scenario studies are then used to estimate the impacts, control and mitigation needed, and performance expected across the entire utility feeder set. This method has been used to plan for increasing amounts of electric vehicle loads on several utility systems in the USA. Results from one case study are discussed.
Asymptotic analysis of multiple class queueing networks

Abstract An asymptotic method is described for analyzing the performance of closed, multiple class queueing networks. The approximations are based on the ray method and are valid for networks with a large number of jobs and nodes. An explicit formula is given for the normalization constant from which the performance measures of the system can be calculated.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Negative Life Events From Late Childhood to Adolescence

This multiwave longitudinal study tested two quantitative genetic developmental models to examine genetic and environmental influences on exposure to negative dependent and independent life events. Participants (N = 457 twin pairs) completed measures of life events annually from ages 9 to 16. The same genetic factors influenced exposure to dependent events across time and increased in magnitude during the transition to adolescence. Independent events were less genetically influenced than dependent events in boys, but not girls. Shared environmental influences decreased in magnitude as youth transitioned into adolescence. Nonshared environmental influences were mostly age specific and contributed significantly to both types of events at all ages. Results provide theoretical implications for developmental risk pathways to stress exposure and stress-related psychopathology.
Using CRTS in Program Curriculum Evaluation

This monograph describes how criterion-referenced tests (CRTs) can be used in program and curriculum evaluations for developing information to form judgments about educational programs and curricula. The material is organized as follows: a brief introduction to the monograph, its purpose and goals, a discussion of the relationship between evaluation and CRTs, pertinent information about program and curriculum evaluation, relevant facts about CRTs, and a summation. A principal goal of the essay is to describe concepts and procedures in terms that are instructionally illuminating. The reader is guided to identify and examine particular points at which decisions must be made about how, when, and why CRTs may aid the evaluation process. These steps are each identified as “An Instructional Step” and presented in separate boxes with pertinent guiding questions. Conciseness is a further aim of this monograph, one consequence of which is that several important concepts are only cursorily described or alluded to. Annotated references are included. Accompanying this instructional monograph is a “Student's Self-Test.” An “Instructor's Guide” with expanded references and materials for photocopying or preparing transparencies is available by mail order (see “Teaching Aids” ordering information).
Spatially growing wave trails of an inviscid fluid discontinuity

The eigenvalue equation for three-dimensional waves in parallel and cross flows parallel to a fluid discontinuity has been considered for spatially growing waves. The discontinuity plane (x, y plane) is perpendicular to the gravitational acceleration and consists in general of a jump in speed, in flow direction and in density. With the assumption of waves which are periodic in time and periodic in the y direction, the eigenvalue equation is solved for the complex wavenumber α in the x direction. These waves are used to Fourier synthesize the wave trails generated by a time-periodic disturbance with a Gaussian amplitude distribution e−δy2 along the y axis. Lines of constant phase and lines of constant amplitude within the wave trail have been illustrated for some examples.
Designing Services With Function Analysis

Services exist to perform certain functions. Service functions may entail some action that the consumer wants performed orbe intended to give sensory satisfaction to the consumer. This paper describes a structured process for designing services that maps customer requirements to required functions and means. Examples are given in the nightclub industry for entertaining and protecting guests, creating excitement, and facilitating guest interaction. The process structure comes from quality function deployment and the analytical tools come from function analysis. The result is a design methodology with the capacity to engineer even intangible service qualities into delivery systems. The key is using function analysis to specify and objectify service design concepts. While traditional approaches to service design focus on means and technologies, function analysis forces the designer back to the functions. This is done because no amount of examining means can make truly innovative change possible.
Tosyl lysine chloromethyl ketone inhibition of the initiation of hemoglobin synthesis.

Abstract Tosyl lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) a potent inhibitor of cellular enzymes, rapidly and irreversibly inhibited protein synthesis in the anucleate rabbit reticulocyte. This inhibition was accompanied by a conversion of the polyribosomes to single ribosomes not attached to mRNA, without an increase in the amount of ribosomal subunits. The polyribosomal conversion to single ribosomes required ribosomal movement along mRNA, suggesting that the major effect was on polyribosome formation (initiation of globin chain synthesis). This was confirmed by demonstrating that single ribosomes do not attach to mRNA in the presence of TLCK. The level of reduced glutathione was also decreased upon treatment with TLCK. It remains to be seen if this is the cause of the inhibition of translation.
Examining the masculinity and femininity of critical attributes necessary to succeed in IT

Some research findings show that women are even more likely than men to leave the information technology (IT) field and gender segregation in the types of jobs held within the broad field of IT is marked, with women especially rare in the higher paid job categories. Therefore, this study examines whether the gender segregation and turnover of women in IT, in part, shaped by the perception that the desired characteristics of IT workers that are necessary to be successful in IT occupations fit men more so than women. Research is being conducted at two organizations: a large international consulting firm and a Fortune 500 information technology company, limited to IT employees and stakeholders in the Northwest. This study is being conducted in two phases. The first phase activities involve focus group sessions and interviews at the participating organizations. In the second phase, a web-based company-specific survey will be developed and administered to a large sample of employees and stakeholders in each organization.
Kinetics of the heterogeneous reaction CO + O → CO2 on inorganic oxide and water ice surfaces : Implications for the Martian atmosphere

The heterogeneous reaction CO + O - CO(sub 2) on water ice and varios inorganic oxide surfaces has been investigated in order to evaluate the proposition that this heterogeneous reaction may contribute to the CO(sub 2) stability in the Martian atmosphere.
Schilder's diffuse sclerosis: a biochemical and ultrastructural study of myelinoclastic demyelinaton.

A case of Schilder's diffuse sclerosis with a four-year history of progressive neurologic deterioration in a boy dying at ten years of age is reported. The asymmetry of the process was indicated during life by the clinical findings. A unicentric focus of demyelination was found with the initial stages in the occipital and temporal white matter and a subacute reaction in the rostral cerebral white matter, brain stem, and cerebellum. Electron microscopic study confirmed the extensive axonal loss. No particles compatible with a virus structure were identified. Analysis of the regional composition of cerebral lipids demonstrated large deficits of cerebroside, sulfatide, cholesterol, total phospholipid, sphingomyelin, and ganglioside in the occipital lesion. A significant but less complete deficit of lipids was found at the lesion margin in frontal white matter. An increase of cholesterol esters was demonstrated at this site as well. The normal-appearing white matter of rostral frontal lobe showed a decreased level of ganglioside and normal concentrations of the other structural lipids. This decreased ganglioside concentration of grossly normal white matter suggest the advisability of considering Wallerian degeneration in interpreting the analytical data obtained in the study of the demyelinating disorders. The morphological and biochemical findings indicate the progressive spread of the axonolytic and myelinolytic process in the pathogenesis of Schilder's diffuse sclerosis.
Status of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Wyoming Waters

Abstract Most subspecies of interior cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki have suffered dramatic declines in range and number. We assessed the status of genetically pure Yellowstone cutthroat trout O. clarki bouvieri on predominantly public lands in three major watersheds of northwestern Wyoming (Greybull River and North and South Forks of the Shoshone River) between 1994 and 1997. These river basins encompass the majority of remaining habitat outside of Yellowstone National Park with potential to contain Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and little information on them was available. Only 26% of the 104 streams found to contain trout still support genetically pure Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Extant Yellowstone cutthroat trout occupied 245 of 822 km of the perennial streams that contained trout, suggesting native trout have been displaced by or hybridized with exotic salmonids in nearly three-quarters of the available habitat in these watersheds. The four remaining populations were widely separated in the water...
Photoconductivity Processes in Low Mobility Organic Materials

Recent results obtained on anthracene crystals make it possible to calculate the number of carriers created in polymers when they are subjected to high energy radiation. These results are described and applied to some recently reported measurements on polystyrene. Reasonable values are found for such quantities as carrier mobility and trap densities.
The effect of fluoride on the electrophoretic patterns of developing rat molar enamel

Abstract Rat pups were given 4/gmg F/g × day from 3–7 days of age by intraperitoneal injection of NaF. Demineralized enamel matrix from 8- to 15-day-old rats was subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that there was a decrease in the relative proportion of high molecular-weight proteins with maturation. Enamel formed in the presence of F showed more abundant low molecular-weight proteins in the secretory stage and a delay in the decrease of high molecular-weight proteins with maturation. These observations indicate that F may influence the assembly or dis-assembly of early enamel proteins.
Breathing Reserve at the Lactate Threshold to Differentiate a Pulmonary Mechanical From Cardiovascular Limit to Exercise

Study objectives Criteria used to define the respective roles of pulmonary mechanics and cardiovascular disease in limiting exercise performance are usually obtained at peak exercise, but are dependent on maximal patient effort. To differentiate heart from lung disease during a less effort-dependent domain of exercise, the predictive value of the breathing reserve index (BRI=minute ventilation [ V ˙ E ]/maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV]) at the lactate threshold (LT) was evaluated. Design Thirty-two patients with COPD and a pulmonary mechanical limit (PML) to exercise defined by classic criteria at maximum oxygen uptake ( V ˙ o 2 max ) were compared with 29 patients with a cardiovascular limit (CVL) and 12 normal control subjects. Expired gases and VE were measured breath by breath using a commercially available metabolic cart (Model 2001; MedGraphics Corp; St. Paul, Minn). Arterial blood gases, pH, and lactate were sampled each minute during exercise, and cardiac output (Q) was measured by first-pass radionuclide ventriculography (System 77; Baird Corp; Bedford, Mass) at rest and peak exercise. Results For all patients, the BRI at lactate threshold (BRILT) correlated with the BRI at V ˙ o 2 max (BRIMAX) (r=0.85, p Conclusions The BRILT, a variable measured during the submaximal realm of exercise, can distinguish a PML from CVL.
Lipolyzed hypertriglyceridemic serum and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cause lipid accumulation in and are cytotoxic to cultured human endothelial cells. High density lipoproteins inhibit this cytotoxicity

Abstract The cytotoxic effect of hypertriglyceridemic (HTG) serum and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TG-rich lipoprotein) lipolyzed in vitro by purified lipoprotein lipase on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was studied. When confluent cultures of HUVECs (8.4 × 104/cm2 ) were incubated in the presence of control (non-lipolyzed HTG serum) or lipolyzed HTG serum or TG-rich lipoprotein, the lipolyzed HTG serum or TG-rich lipoprotein was cytotoxic to the HUVECs as indicated by their detachment from the culture dish; the lipolyzed serum at 10% of the culture medium or lipolyzed TG-rich lipoprotein at 75 μg cholesterol/ml caused the detachment of all (100%) of the cells from the culture dish after a 24 h incubation. Control (non-lipolyzed) HTG serum or non-lipolyzed TG-rich lipoprotein at the same or higher concentration was not cytotoxic to the cells. The HUVECs incubated for 48 h with low (sublethal) doses of lipolyzed TG-rich lipoprotein (10–50 μg cholesterol/ml) contained massive lipid inclusions; no lipid inclusions were seen within the cells when the culture medium contained control non-lipolyzed TG-rich lipoproteins. Finally, when high density lipoprotein (HDL) was added to the culture medium at the same concentration as the cytotoxic lipolyzed TG-rich lipoprotein (75 μg cholesterol/ml), the cytotoxic effect of the lipolyzed TG-rich lipoprotein was inhibited. These data suggest that the interaction of endothelial cells with lipolytic remnants of TG-rich lipoprotein may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and that HDL may play an important role in inhibition of the endothelial cell injury produced by the lipolytic remnants of TG-rich lipoprotein.
Rule-based segmentation for intensity-adaptive fiducial detection

This paper describes a new fiducial detection method for use under varying lighting conditions without manual control of any parameters. We developed the algorithm especially for vision-based Augmented Reality (AR) systems. The major problem in AR is the registration between the virtual world and the real world. The user's pose in both worlds should be exactly the same. Vision-based AR is an attractive approach to the registration problem, however the fiducial detection methods used in many systems operate only under restricted lighting conditions. We developed a rule-based algorithm to segment regions of an image to detect known fiducials under varying lighting conditions. The algorithm is based on simple spatial and intensity relations among fiducials and their backgrounds. Rules and membership functions are defined from those relations. Rules are applied to find transition regions, and membership functions locate an edge position within a transition region. Edges are clustered to segment regions in an image. A vision-based AR system using our method operates under varying lighting conditions, including uneven lighting. This detection method extends the operating conditions of vision-based AR systems.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Examination of Peer Rejection and Depressive Symptoms as Mediators of the Link between Rule-Breaking Behavior and Poor Academic Performance

The current study further evaluated the association between rule-breaking behavior and academic performance by examining peer rejection and depressive symptoms as potential mediators of this association. Study hypotheses were examined using a sample of 147 school-age children (54.4% male) ranging from five to 13 years of age (M = 8.22, SD = 1.99). A meditational path model was estimated, and findings suggested that peer rejection mediated the association between rule-breaking behavior and academic performance two months later when also considering the stability of academic performance. That is, high levels of rule-breaking behavior were associated with high levels of peer rejection, which in turn was associated with poor academic performance. Depressive symptoms were not indicated as a mediator of this association. Findings and their implications are discussed.
Further evidence of static strain aging of iron by substitutional solutes

Interstitial-free Fe alloys containing 1.5 or 3.0 at. pct Mn, or 2.5 at. pct Mo show static strain aging when strained in tension at room temperature, then aged at temperatures between 300 and 450°C (573 and 723 K). Alloys containing 1.5 or 3 at. pct Cr show only recovery when similarly treated. On the basis of this and previous work1 we conclude that the strain aging of Fe by substitutional solutes is a general phenomenon. Its extent increases with increasing atom size difference.
Mercury in Environmental and Biological Samples Using Online Combustion with Sequential Atomic Absorption and Fluorescence Measurements: A Direct Comparison of Two Fundamental Techniques in Spectrometry.

In this laboratory experiment, students quantitatively determine the concentration of an element (mercury) in an environmental or biological sample while comparing and contrasting the fundamental techniques of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). A mercury analyzer based on sample combustion, concentration of mercury by gold amalgamation, and AAS is coupled to a mercury-specific AFS system, allowing for the same sample to be carried through the two systems. This provides a direct and accurate comparison between the methods that is readily understandable by students. By calculating figures of merit for each technique, including the method detection limit, sensitivity, dynamic range, precision, and accuracy, students gain a better understanding of each quantity, and how they can be used to compare instruments and select the most suitable method under particular circumstances. Following an inquiry-based pedagogy, students determine mercury levels in solid samples (e.g., soil, leaves, fish, hair, tobacco, etc.) that they choose, collect, and analyze directly, without time-consuming and potentially hazardous hot-acid digestions. Overall, the lab promotes critical thinking about performance characteristics of different instruments and environmental analyses and is suitable for an instrumental analysis or environmental chemistry course.
Application of the compound strip method for the analysis of slab-girder bridges

Abstract The compound strip method is illustrated for the analysis of slab-girder bridges modeled as a linear elastic plate continuous over deflecting supports. This approach incorporates the effects of support elements in a direct stiffness methodology by creating a substructure composed of plate. beam. and column elements which is termed a “compound strip.” The theory and application of the compound strip method is presented. The finite element and compound strip methods are compared in an illustrative analysis for a slab-girder bridge. The results of the compound strip analysis compare well with the finite element method. The methodology presented herein can be used to efficiently model any slab-girder bridge configuration. Typically, the compound strip method requires significantly less computational resources than does the finite element method and is well suited for use on today's microcomputers.
The Local Games Lab ABQ: Homegrown Augmented Reality

Experiments in the use of augmented reality games formerly required extensive material resources and expertise to implement above and beyond what might be possible within the usual educational contexts. Currently, the more common availability of hardware in these contexts and the existence of easy-to-use, general purpose augmented reality design software invite much wider participation. Yet, significant obstacles to widespread use remain. A possible strategy to enable broader exploration of this space is to organize augmented reality games research and development at the local level, as relatively autonomous and informal action by educational practitioners and learners, rather than solely directed by educational researchers. The Local Games Lab ABQ is a loose confederation of faculty and students at the University of New Mexico pursuing the educational uses of augmented reality games. This paper examines how locally organized development might solve problems in a different and more efficient way of scaling educational technology.
HgCdTe Growth on 6 cm × 6 cm CdZnTe Substrates for Large-Format Dual-Band Infrared Focal-Plane Arrays

This paper describes molecular-beam epitaxy growth of mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) dual-band device structures on large-area (6 cm × 6 cm) CdZnTe substrates. Wafer-level composition and defect mapping techniques were used to investigate the limiting mechanisms in improving the cutoff wavelength (λc) uniformity and reducing the defect density. Structural quality of epitaxial layers was monitored using etch pit density (EPD) measurements at various depths in the epitaxial layers. Finally, 640 × 480, 20-μm-pixel-pitch dual-band focal-plane arrays (FPAs) were fabricated to demonstrate the overall maturity of growth and fabrication processes of epitaxial layers. The MWIR/LWIR dual-band layers, at optimized growth conditions, show a λc variation of ±0.15 μm across a 6 cm × 6 cm CdZnTe substrate, a uniform low macrodefect density with an average of 1000 cm−2, and an average EPD of 1.5 × 105 cm−2. FPAs fabricated using these layers show band 1 (MWIR) noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) operability of 99.94% and band 2 (LWIR) NETD operability of 99.2%, which are among the highest reported to date.
Validity Evidence for a Computer-Based Alternate Assessment Instrument.

This study investigated the validity of a statewide alternate assessment program, IASEP (Indiana Assessment System of Educational Proficiencies) by examining supporting profile patterns on the 100 core IASEP items of individuals with significant disabilities. Participants were 5,192 students ranging in age from 7-21 years with special education diagnoses of autism, mild cognitive disabilities, moderate cognitive disabilities, multiple disabilities, and severe cognitive disabilities. A profile analysis using a repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to examine profile patterns across the five disability groups and items in each domain. Results support existing profile patterns among disability groups, indicating that IASEP can be used as a model for an alternate assessment instrument.
On the biology of prions.

Prions cause scrapie and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD); these infectious pathogens are composed largely, if not entirely, of protein molecules. No prion-specific polynucleotide has been identified. Purified preparations of scrapie prions contain high titers (≥109.5 ID50/ml), one protein (PrP 27-30) and amyloid rods (10–20 nm in diameter ×100–200 nm in length). Considerable evidence indicates that PrP 27-30 is required for and inseparable from scrapie infectivity. PrP 27-30 is encoded by a cellular gene and is derived from a larger protein, denoted PrPSc or PrP 33-35Sc, by protease digestion. A cellular isoform, designated PrPC or PrP 33-35C, is encoded by the same gene as PrPSc and both proteins appear to be translated from the same 2.1 kb mRNA. Monoclonal antibodies to PrP 27-30, as well as antisera to PrP synthetic peptides, specifically react with both PrPC and PrPSc, establishing their relatedness. PrPC is digested by proteinase K, while PrPSc is converted to PrP 27-30 under the same conditions. Prion proteins are synthesized with signal peptides and are integrated into membranes. Detergent extraction of microsomal membranes isolated from scrapie-infected hamster brains solubilizes PrPC but induces PrPSc to polymerize into amyloid rods. This procedure allows separation of the two prion protein isoforms and the demonstration that PrPSc accumulates during scrapie infection, while the level of PrPC does not change. The prion amyloid rods generated by detergent extraction are identical morphologically, except for length, to extracellular collections of prion amyloid filaments which form plaques in scrapie- and CJD-infected brains. The prion amyloid plaques stain with antibodies to PrP 27-30 and PrP peptides. PrP 33-35C does not accumulate in the extracellular space. Prion rods composed of PrP 27-30 can be dissociated into phospholipid vesicles with full retention of scrapie infectivity. The murine PrP gene (Prn-p) is linked to thePrn-i gene which controls the length of the scrapie incubation period. Prolonged incubation times are a cardinal feature of scrapie and CJD. While the central role of PrPSc in scrapie pathogenesis is well established, the chemical as well as conformational differences between PrPC and PrPSc are unknown but probably arise from post-translational modifications.