cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serious Illness Conversations: A Case Management Quality Improvement Project.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational program and a serious illness (SI) protocol for a case management team of nurses and social workers to achieve the following: (1) utilize an SI protocol to identify patients with SI; (2) utilize a Serious Illness Structured Communication Guide to elicit these patients' goals and preferences for SI care; and (3) document in the electronic medical record the patients' elicited values and goals using a structured SI documentation template. PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING AND SAMPLE Seventeen nurse and 3 social work case managers in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in a large health system in a western suburb of Chicago participated in this project. The practice setting was the primary care clinics associated with the health system. Patients eligible for the project met the SI criteria and were part of the organization's ACO or Bundle Payment for Care Improvement program. METHODOLOGY Twenty members of the case management staff participated in a 4-hr face-to-face educational program, based in part on review of best practices related to SI care and communication. Participants completed a pre- and posttest survey of knowledge; self-rated their confidence in conducting SI conversations; and evaluated the educational program. Participants then engaged in the established protocol inclusive of the following: (1) identify patients appropriate for an SI conversation; (2) initiate the SI conversation; and (3) document components of the SI in the electronic medical record. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS Educational Program: Ninety-five percent of the RN and SW case managers reported that that the educational module objectives were met to a moderate or great extent. One hundred percent of the participants reported that the format to deliver the program was effective, the content of the program was directly relevant to their clinical practice, and they would change their practice because of learning/understanding the content in the program. Educational program pretest scores ranged from 46.2% to 84.6%, with posttest scores ranging from 69.2% to 100%. A paired-samples t test demonstrated a statistically significant increase in posttest scores. Baseline confidence scores ranged from 1 to 4, with postproject confidence scores ranging from 2 to 4. A paired-samples t test demonstrated a statistically significant increase in confidence.Serious Illness Protocol: The case managers correctly identified 92% of patients who met the established SI identification criteria for this project. In 91.8% of cases, the case managers conducted an SI conversation in adherence to the protocol. In 76% of the cases, documentation about the SI conversation was completed in accordance with the protocol. IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE .
Thouless Pumping in Disordered Photonic Systems

We experimentally demonstrate topologically protected transport in the presence of disorder for a Thouless pump in a photonic waveguide lattice. This concept may lead to robust high density optical interconnects and slow light devices.
Women's cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy in New Hampshire

Abstract Cannabis use in the United States has been steadily increasing. Much more is known about cannabis users in states where recreational cannabis is legal, compared to states yet to legalize. Further, there is little information known about reasons for cannabis use during critical maternal and child health periods. To address this gap, we examined cannabis use among New Hampshire women during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods, and explored reasons for use. We analyzed data from the 2016–2017 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) in the Spring of 2020. For women delivering a live-born infant, PRAMS collects behavior and experience data before, during, and after pregnancy. Using data from New Hampshire, we estimated the weighted prevalence of self-reported cannabis use during the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods, and reasons for use during each period. Of the 1147 women included in the analysis, 16.8% (unweighted n = 186) reported preconception cannabis use, 5.5% (unweighted n = 68) reported prenatal cannabis use, and 6.6% (unweighted n = 73) reported postpartum cannabis use. About one-fifth (20.3%) of women who reported cannabis use reported use during all three periods. The top reason for cannabis use during preconception and postpartum was for stress or anxiety relief (64.88% and 73.06, respectively), and during the prenatal period was for its’ antiemetic properties (84.1%). Our findings support that women’s healthcare providers should screen patients for cannabis use, addressing underlying reasons (e.g., mental health issues, nausea/vomiting) for use as part of the screening process.
Spectral range within global aCDOM(440) algorithms for oceanic, coastal, and inland waters with application to airborne measurements

Abstract The optically active component of dissolved organic material in aquatic ecosystems, or colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), is represented by the coefficient of absorption due to the dissolved aquatic constituents at 440 nm, aCDOM(440). Remote sensing of aCDOM(440) enables characterization of ecosystem processes and aids in retrieval of chlorophyll a, a proxy for phytoplankton biomass. Spectrally adjacent band-ratio domains, e.g., blue to green, have previously been applied for remote sensing of aCDOM(440) in coastal and oceanic waters with similar results compared to more complex semi-analytical algorithms. Estimation of aCDOM(440) from ratios of the most spectrally separated ocean color wavebands (end members), e.g., ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR), termed end-member analysis (EMA), has previously been shown to increase the accuracy of global aCDOM(440) retrievals from in-water observations of diffuse attenuation and to enable a unified algorithmic perspective without requiring regional adjustment of internal bio-optical parameters. EMA of above-water observations is evaluated herein, with a focus on coastal and inland waters in which increasing optical complexity and likelihood of bottom reflectance challenge the oceanic algorithms developed for deep and optically simple (case-1) waters. Analysis herein of three independent, in situ, bio-optical datasets indicates significant correlation between aCDOM(440) and end-member band ratios (next-generation 320 and 780 nm or legacy 412 and 670 nm ratios) with a coefficient of determination, R2, of 0.87 (log-scale) or higher based on a dataset spanning the dynamic range of global, conservative water bodies. For applicable wavelengths, EMA algorithms are shown to agree with case-1 relationships and to produce consistent log-scale uncertainties across more than three orders of magnitude in aCDOM(440) values (0.001–2.305 m−1). EMA using UV and NIR wavelengths (320 and 780 nm) is applied to low-altitude airborne observations and satisfies 25% uncertainty based on unbiased percent differences (UPDs) within each of three dissimilar match-up sites ranging in aCDOM(440) from 0.02–0.57 m−1. Results demonstrate that EMA is a useful and robust approach for the remote sensing of aCDOM(440) in coastal and inland waters, which are generally shallower, contain more optically complex environments, and span a greater range in aCDOM(440) than oceanic waters.
Global Corpse Politics: The Obscenity Taboo

Taboos have long been considered key examples of norms in global politics, with important strategic effects. Auchter focuses on how obscenity functions as a regulatory norm by focusing on dead body images. Obscenity matters precisely because it is applied inconsistently across multiple cases. Examining empirical cases including ISIS beheadings, the death of Muammar Qaddafi, Syrian torture victims, and the fake death images of Osama bin Laden, this book offers a rich theoretical explanation of the process by which the taboo surrounding dead body images is transgressed and upheld, through mechanisms including trigger warnings and media framings. This corpse politics sheds light on political communities and the structures in place that preserve them, including the taboos that regulate purported obscene images. Auchter questions the notion that the key debate at play in visual politics related to the dead body image is whether to display or not to display, and instead narrates various degrees of visibility, invisibility, and hyper-visibility.
Toho-1 β-lactamase: backbone chemical shift assignments and changes in dynamics upon binding with avibactam

Backbone chemical shift assignments for the Toho-1 β-lactamase (263 amino acids, 28.9 kDa) are reported based on triple resonance solution-state NMR experiments performed on a uniformly 2H,13C,15N-labeled sample. These assignments allow for subsequent site-specific characterization at the chemical, structural, and dynamical levels. At the chemical level, titration with the non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam is found to give chemical shift perturbations indicative of tight covalent binding that allow for mapping of the inhibitor binding site. At the structural level, protein secondary structure is predicted based on the backbone chemical shifts and protein residue sequence using TALOS-N and found to agree well with structural characterization from X-ray crystallography. At the dynamical level, model-free analysis of 15N relaxation data at a single field of 16.4 T reveals well-ordered structures for the ligand-free and avibactam-bound enzymes with generalized order parameters of ~ 0.85. Complementary relaxation dispersion experiments indicate that there is an escalation in motions on the millisecond timescale in the vicinity of the active site upon substrate binding. The combination of high rigidity on short timescales and active site flexibility on longer timescales is consistent with hypotheses for achieving both high catalytic efficiency and broad substrate specificity: the induced active site dynamics allows variously sized substrates to be accommodated and increases the probability that the optimal conformation for catalysis will be sampled.
“Teaching ‘Process Ecology’ at the Undergraduate Level: A Curricular Response to a Latent Yearning for an Ecologically-Based Understanding of Transdisciplinary Realities”

Abstract A highly syncretic and novel course – “Process Ecology Across Lifeforms, Disciplines, and Dimensions” – was conceived as a pedagogical solution to restore an integrated metaphysics based in ecosystemics and process ecology (Ulanowicz) for the purpose of presenting to undergraduate students a possible way to understand any reality in an interconnected, ecologically-based manner. The course explores salient distinctions as well as imbrications between characteristic operations of the human mind and the greater biosphere whence that mind emerged and continues to emerge. In effect, the undergraduate course bridges currently disconnected academic encampments such as humanities, natural sciences, engineering, fine arts, social work, music, architecture, etc., at a time when the limitations of such divisions are becoming more and more obvious. Students have generally shown a bourgeoning desire for such an ecologically-based metaphysics. In 2021, the author received the Holleran Steiker Award for Creative Student Engagement specifically for the results of this course, which is now in its sixth year at The University of Texas at Austin and is being taught in two separate programs.
Voice lessons : local government organizations, social organizations, and the quality of local governance

As part the Local Level Institutions study of local life in villages in rural Indonesia information was gathered on sampled household's participation in social activities. We classified the reported activities into four distinct types of social activity: sociability, networks, social organizations, and village government organizations. Respondents were also asked about questions about their village government: whether they were informed about village funds and projects, if they participated in village decisions, if they expressed voice about village problems, and if they thought the village government was responsive to local problems. Several findings emerge regarding the relationship between the social variables and the governance activities. Not surprisingly, an individual household's involvement with the village government organizations tends to increase their own reports of positive voice, participation, and information. In contrast, the data suggest a negative spillover on other households. There is a strong "chilling" effect of one household's participation in village government organizations on the voice, participation, and information of other households in the same village. The net effect of engagement in village government organizations is generally negative, while the net effect of membership in social organizations is more often associated with good governance outcomes. These findings indicate that existing social organizations have a potentially important role to play in enhancing the performance of government institutions in Indonesia and in the evolution of good governance more generally. This paper - a product of the Environment and Social Development Sector Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to study local level institutions.
Patient Handoffs in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Vital Link in Patient Safety

Inadequate patient handoffs have been an area of focus for patient safety improvement. Insufficient communication and risks or “shortcuts” taken by staff members during handoffs could negatively affect the safety of patients in a department of obstetrics and gynecology. Other factors that contribute to inadequate handoffs are the caregiver feeling fatigued or stressed, level of urgency, volume of information, language barriers, noise, lighting, ambiguity of describing treatment, not allotting enough time for questions asked, and/ or interruptions from other staff members. There have been several methods developed for improving the handoff process, such as the mnemonic devices SBAR, SHARQ, I PASS THE BATON, and the 5 P’s. A new method for improving the quality of patient handoffs has been developed and presented in this article. It is a mnemonic device entitled “HANDOFFS”. It covers key aspects of what a handoff process should entail. Teamwork is essential to effective communication, and by using a mnemonic such as this, team members can work together in a more positive and accessible environment that will result in improved patient safety.
Augmenting Modern Superscalar Architectures with Configurable Extended Instructions

The instruction sets of general-purpose microprocessors are designed to offer good performance across a wide range of programs. The size and complexity of the instruction sets, however, are limited by a need for generality and for streamlined implementation. The particular needs of one application are balanced against the needs of the full range of applications considered. For this reason, one can "design" a better instruction set when considering only a single application than when considering a general collection of applications. Configurable hardware gives us the opportunity to explore this option. This paper examines the potential for automatically identifying application-specific extended instructions and implementing them in programmable functional units based on configurable hardware. Adding fine-grained reconfigurable hardware to the datapath of an out-of-order issue superscalar processor allows 4-44% speedups on the MediaBench benchmarks [1]. As a key contribution of our work, we present a selective algorithm for choosing extended instructions to minimize reconfiguration costs within loops. Our selective algorithm constrains instruction choices so that significant speedups are achieved with as few as 4 moderately sized programmable functional units, typically containing less than 150 look-up tables each.
Ecological prevalence, genetic diversity, and epidemiological aspects of Salmonella isolated from tomato agricultural regions of the Virginia Eastern Shore.

Virginia is the third largest producer of fresh-market tomatoes in the United States. Tomatoes grown along the eastern shore of Virginia are implicated almost yearly in Salmonella illnesses. Traceback implicates contamination occurring in the pre-harvest environment. To get a better understanding of the ecological niches of Salmonella in the tomato agricultural environment, a two-year study was undertaken at a regional agricultural research farm in Virginia. Environmental samples, including tomato (fruit, blossoms and leaves), irrigation water, surface water and sediment, were collected over the growing season. These samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella using modified FDA-BAM methods. Molecular assays were used to screen the samples. Over 1500 samples were tested. Seventy-five samples tested positive for Salmonella yielding over 230 isolates. The most commonly isolated serovars were S. Newport and S. Javiana with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis yielding 39 different patterns. Genetic diversity was further underscored among many other serotypes, which showed multiple PFGE subtypes. Whole genome sequencing of several S. Newport isolates collected in 2010 compared to clinical isolates associated with tomato consumption showed very few single nucleotide differences between environmental isolates and clinical isolates suggesting a source link to Salmonella contaminated tomatoes. Nearly all isolates collected during two growing seasons of surveillance were obtained from surface water and sediment sources pointing to these sites as long-term reservoirs for persistent and endemic contamination of this environment.
The p-Compact-regions Problem

The p-compact-regions problem involves the search for an aggregation of n atomic spatial units into p-compact, contiguous regions. This article reports our efforts in designing a heuristic framework—MERGE (memory-based randomized greedy and edge reassignment) —to solve this problem through phases of dealing, randomized greedy, and edge reassignment. This MERGE heuristic is able to memorize (ME of MERGE) the potential best moves toward an optimal solution at each phase of the procedure such that the search efficiency can be greatly improved. A dealing phase grows seeded regions into a viable size. A randomized greedy (RG of MERGE) approach completes the regions’ growth and generates a feasible set of p-regions. The edge-reassigning local search (E of MERGE) fine-tunes the results toward better objectives. In addition, a normalized moment of inertia (NMI) is introduced as the method of choice in computing the compactness of each region. We discuss in detail how MERGE works and how this new compactness measure can be seamlessly integrated into different phases of the proposed regionalization procedure. The performance of MERGE is evaluated through the use of both a small and a large p-compact-regions problem motivated by modeling the regional economy of Southern California. We expect this work to contribute to the regionalization theory and practice literature. Theoretically, we formulate a new model for the family of p-compact-regions problems. The novel NMI introduced in the model provides an accurate, robust, and efficient measure of compactness, which is a key objective for p-compact-regions problems. Practically, we developed the MERGE heuristic, proven to be effective and efficient in solving this nonlinear optimization problem to near optimality.
A Big Tent of Dark Personality Traits

Researchers have become very interested in socially aversive personality traits in recent years as reflected by the considerable number of publications concerning the Dark Triad of personality (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy). The goal of the present article is to suggest that researchers broaden their view of potentially dark personality features. We provide overviews of two dark personality features that have been largely neglected by psychologists (i.e., spitefulness and greed) and point to the darker aspects of two personality features that have been studied extensively (i.e., perfectionism and dependency). We conclude the article by advocating that researchers consider a broader conceptualization of dark personality features that extends beyond the antagonistic and externalizing features captured by the Dark Triad traits.
OPTIMAL STORAGE CONTROL IN A COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM

A control algorithm for automated operational management of detention storage in a combined sewer system is applied to a version of the proposed San Francisco Master Plan for Wastewater Management. The system is modeled with control objectives and physical system constraints expressed as a large-scale linear programming problem. The algorithm presented transforms the large-scale control problem into a multilevel series of smaller subproblems that are amenable to computer solution in real time. Results of several examples are presented which indicate that optimal or nearly optimal solutions to the large-scale problem can be obtained in real time, and that the resulting system performance is significantly better than that which could be achieved with unregulated detention storage.
Cervicomedullary compression at the craniovertebral junction by clivus hyperplasia: a case report.

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ), which is composed of the distal third of the clivus, the occiput, the atlas, the axis, and the foramen magnum, is complex anatomically and includes important neurovascular structures1,2. Together, these structures enclose the cervicomedullary junction (CMJ) and the lower four cranial nerves. Signs and symptoms of abnormal conditions affecting the CVJ are varied and typically begin insidiously. They may be referable to the brainstem, cervical cord, cerebellum, cervical nerve roots, or lower cranial nerves or the vascular supply to these structures. Anterior compression at the CVJ can occur in many types of abnormalities: malformations (basilar invagination or cranial settling, atlas assimilation, os odontoideum, and atlantoaxial fixed dislocation), tumor, trauma, chronic inflammatory diseases (most frequently, rheumatoid arthritis [RA]), and osteomyelitis3-7. Not uncommonly, congenital ventral compression of the CVJ is discovered on postmortem examination8. We present an unusual case of anterior CVJ compression in a healthy woman due to hyperplasia of the clivus with horizontal segmentation and degeneration of the atlanto-occipital and atlantoaxial joints. The presenting symptoms were suggestive of carpal tunnel syndrome. The patient was informed that the data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she provided consent. A forty-two-year-old female school bus driver presented to our neurology clinic with bilateral upper-arm, forearm, and hand numbness and tingling, which she had experienced for two years; the left side was more symptomatic than the right. She had minimally impaired sensation in the thumb and index finger of the left hand. Deep tendon reflexes were intact bilaterally. Physical examination demonstrated positive Phalen and Tinel signs over the carpal tunnel bilaterally. An electrophysiology study revealed mild demyelination in the left distal median nerve and notable demyelination in the right distal median nerve consistent with bilateral carpal tunnel …
Resisting Social Justice in Leadership Preparation Programs: Mechanisms that Subvert.

It is well documented that the achievement gap between affluent students and economically disadvantaged students and between White students and students of color continues to widen. In addition to these achievement gaps, marginalizing practices are often imbedded in the structures of schooling. These challenges require educational leadership programs that effectively prepare school principals who can meet our most pressing school challenges and who, in particular, strive for social justice ends; however, the literature on leadership for social justice provides no clear consensus on what an entire educational leadership program oriented toward social justice would include. This study attempts to fill the gap in the literature by critically examining a curriculum and instruction leadership program that has social justice embedded into the program's core practices. Specifically we ask the following questions: What critical elements underlie programs that prepare professionals for social justice in fields out...
Management of Postthrombolysis Hemorrhagic and Orolingual Angioedema Complications

Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was first approved for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the United States in 1996. Thrombolytic therapy has been proven to be effective in acute ischemic stroke treatment and shown to improve long-term functional outcomes. Its use is associated with an increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage as well as orolingual angioedema. Our goal is to outline the management strategies for these postthrombolysis complications.
Variability in micro RNA (miRNA) abundance, speciation and complexity amongst different human populations and potential relevance to Alzheimer's disease (AD)

Toward the end of his 1976 book entitled “Vitamin C and the Common Cold” Linus Pauling included an interesting chapter on “human biochemical individuality” that defined some important parameters on individual human genotypic versus phenotypic variation, based in part on studies from hemoglobin genetics (Pauling, 1976). That chapter provided theoretical calculations and novel insight on genomic diversity, discussing, that when any genetic characteristic is analyzed in a sampling of 100 human beings, wide ranges in values are invariably observed. The “normalcy” range was defined as that in which 95% of those “normal values” lie, while the remaining 5% are described as “abnormal.” Defining “normalcy” on a larger scale becomes a bit trickier however, and Pauling proposed that if we assume that 500 characters are independently inherited, then we can calculate that there is only a small chance, 10%, that one person in the entire global population would be normal (with respect to each of these 500 characters). If we assume that there are about 26,600 human genes available to be expressed in each cell and that each gene is responsible for at least one inherited trait or genetic function (a number that is probably vastly underestimated), in a global human population exceeding 7 billion it then becomes exceedingly difficult to define “human genetic normalcy.” These ideas form the basis for the evolving concept of “human genetic individuality” and our ongoing efforts to better understand the genotypic basis of human phenotypic diversity in both health and disease (Li et al., 2010; Raj et al., 2010; Lukiw, 2012a,b; Olson, 2012; this paper). More recently, large population studies have analyzed the contribution of variability in gene expression, including the impact of genetic mutations, to “human genetic normalcy,” “human genetic individuality,” phenotype, susceptibility to disease and related parameters that include the general redundancy in human gene expression that may directly impact the genetic evolution of the human species (Colangelo et al., 2002; Li et al., 2010; Zheng et al., 2011; Lukiw, 2012a,b; Ginsberg et al., 2012; Raj et al., 2012; Hulse and Cai, 2013). This “Opinion paper” addresses an observed variability in micro RNA (miRNA) abundance, speciation and complexity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a common, progressive neurological disorder unique to the aging human brain whose incidence is approaching epidemic proportions (Alzheimer Association, 2013). Here we define miRNA abundance as how much of each individual miRNA species is present, miRNA speciation as what individual miRNA species are present, and miRNA complexity as the pattern of miRNA abundance and speciation representative of a particular physiological or pathophysiological state.
Subliminal advertising and the psychology of processing unconscious stimuli: A review of research.

This article reviews progress to date on research on the effects of subliminal stimulation on subject populations and potential applications to persuasive communications. Three areas of inquiry covered in the literature include psychological, physiological, and behavioral (choice) responses, the last of which is of particular interest to advertising and marketing specialists. The article identifies several fruitful areas for continued research and experimentation, especially in areas of social marketing research. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Electron-Capture and -Transfer Dissociation of Peptides Tagged with Tunable Fixed-Charge Groups: Structures and Dissociation Energetics

Pyridiniummethylcarbonyl moieties that were previously designed on the basis of electronic structure analysis are now utilized as fixed-charge tags with tunable electronic properties to be used for N-terminal peptide derivatization and sequencing by electron-transfer dissociation. Dipeptides AK and KA were derivatized at the peptide N-terminus with 4-dimethylaminopyridinium-N-acetyl (DMAP-ac) and pyridinium-N-acetyl (pyrid-ac) tags of increasing intrinsic recombination energies. Upon the capture of a free electron or electron transfer from fluoranthene anions, (DMAP-ac-AK+H)(2+), (DMAP-ac-KA+H)(2+), (pyrid-ac-AK+H)(2+) and (pyrid-ac-KA+H)(2+) ions, as well as underivatized (AK+2H)(2+), completely dissociated. The fixed-charge tags steered the dissociation upon electron transfer to form abundant backbone N-C(α) bond cleavages, whereas the underivatized peptide mainly underwent H-atom and side-chain losses. Precursor ion structures for the tagged peptides were analyzed by an exhaustive conformational search combined with B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) geometry optimization and single-point energy calculations in order to select the global energy minima. Structures, relative energies, transition states, ion-molecule complexes, and dissociation products were identified for several charge-reduced species from the tagged peptides. The electronic properties of the charge tags and their interactions with the peptide moieties are discussed. Electrospray ionization and electron-transfer dissociation of larger peptides are illustrated with a DMAP-tagged pentapeptide.
Graphene bimetallic-like cantilevers: probing graphene/substrate interactions

The remarkable mechanical properties of graphene, the thinnest, lightest, and strongest material in existence, are desirable in applications ranging from composite materials to sensors and actuators. Here, we demonstrate that these mechanical properties are strongly affected by the interaction with the substrate onto which graphene is deposited. By measuring the temperature-dependent deflection of graphene/substrate "bimetallic" cantilevers we determine strain, thermal expansion coefficient, and the adhesion force acting on graphene films attached to a substrate. Graphene deposited on silicon nitride (SiN(x)) is under much larger strain, e(g) ∼ 1.5 × 10(-2), compared to graphene on gold (Au), e(g) < 10(-3). The thermal expansion coefficient α(g) of graphene attached to SiN(x) is found to be negative, in the range from (- 5... - 1) × 10(-6)K(-1) and smaller in magnitude than α(g) of suspended graphene. We also estimate the interfacial shear strength of the graphene/SiN(x) interface to be ∼1 GPa at room temperature.
Prostate cancer in young men: an important clinical entity

Prostate cancer is considered a disease of older men (aged >65 years), but today over 10% of new diagnoses in the USA occur in young men aged ≤55 years. Early-onset prostate cancer, that is prostate cancer diagnosed at age ≤55 years, differs from prostate cancer diagnosed at an older age in several ways. Firstly, among men with high-grade and advanced-stage prostate cancer, those diagnosed at a young age have a higher cause-specific mortality than men diagnosed at an older age, except those over age 80 years. This finding suggests that important biological differences exist between early-onset prostate cancer and late-onset disease. Secondly, early-onset prostate cancer has a strong genetic component, which indicates that young men with prostate cancer could benefit from evaluation of genetic risk. Furthermore, although the majority of men with early-onset prostate cancer are diagnosed with low-risk disease, the extended life expectancy of these patients exposes them to long-term effects of treatment-related morbidities and to long-term risk of disease progression leading to death from prostate cancer. For these reasons, patients with early-onset prostate cancer pose unique challenges, as well as opportunities, for both research and clinical communities. Current data suggest that early-onset prostate cancer is a distinct phenotype-from both an aetiological and clinical perspective-that deserves further attention.
Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from man to the guinea pig

Intracerebral and intraperitoneal inoculation of two guinea pigs with biopsy material from a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease produced a similar fatal encephalopathy characterized by status spongiosus 422 and 512 days after inoculation. Serial transmission of this disease from guinea pig to guinea pig was achieved in subsequent passages.
Book Review: Who Cares?

Books reviewed in this article: S. Danziger and J. Waldfogel, (eds.) Securing the Future: Investing in Children from Birth to College B. Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America N. Folbre, The Invisible Heart: Economics and Family Values J. Heymann, The Widening Gap: Why America's Working Families Are in Jeopardy and What Can Be Done about It
Textural-input-driven self-organization of tactile receptive fields

Sensory neurons in the primary sensory cortices preferentially respond to specific patterns of input. Our hypothesis is that tactile receptive fields (TRFs) can be self-organized using the same cortical development mechanism found in the visual cortex, simply by exposing it to texture-like inputs. We used the LISSOM model of visual cortical development [1] to test our hypothesis. The results showed that texture-like inputs lead to the self-organization of TRFs while natural-scene-like inputs lead to visual receptive fields (VRFs). We analyzed the effectiveness of the TRFs and VRFs in representing texture, using kernel Fisher discriminant analysis (KFD) [2]. The responses to different classes of textural input were more clearly separable for the TRF than for the VRF. To quantify the merit of the different RF types in dealing with textural input, we measured classification performance. We ran the experiment for 30 times and for each experiment 50% of data set were randomly used as training set and the rest as testing set. As a classifier, k-nearest neighbor (kNN) was used. Average classification rates were 89.8% (for TRF-based) and 83.4% (for VRF-based) respectively. The main results suggest that tactile RFs can be self-organized by texturelike input using a general cortical development model (LISSOM) initially inspired by the visual cortex, and that the representations from tactile RFs are better than visionbased ones for texture tasks. We expect our results to help us better understand the nature of texture as a fundamentally tactile property. References 1. Miikkulainen R, Bednar JA, Choe Y, Sirosh J: Computational Maps in the Visual Cortex New York: Springer; 2005. 2. Khurd P, Baloch S, Gur R, Davatzikos C, Verma R: Manifold learning techniques in image analysis of high-dimensional diffusion tensor magnetic resonance images. IEEE Conference on CVPR 2007. from Eighteenth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS*2009 Berlin, Germany. 18–23 July 2009
Whence topa? Models for the biogenesis of topa quinone in copper amine oxidases

Abstract Copper amine oxidases are dual function enzymes that first make their own cofactor, and then use this cofactor to catalyze amine oxidation. The cofactor, oxidized 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine (TPQ), is formed by the addition of cupric ion and dioxygen to precursor protein. Drawing on the mechanism of the oxidative half reaction in the copper amine oxidases, together with knowledge from other metal-containing enzyme systems, a new model is put forth for TPQ biogenesis.
Extraversion and the ability to decode nonverbal communication

Abstract This study examined the relationship between extraversion, as measured by the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and skill at decoding nonverbal forms of communication. Prior research has had mixed success in establishing this relationship. Because extraverts have more experience in social settings than introverts, and because extraverts have a greater desire for sensory stimulation than introverts, it was hypothesized that extraverts would decode nonverbal cues in social interaction more accurately than introverts. The data supported this hypothesis. Extraverts were significantly more accurate in interpreting the meaning of nonverbal communication than introverts; in addition, extraverts were more confident that they were accurate decoders than introverts. The results are discussed in terms of cognitive processing style: the ‘extravert advantage’ in decoding nonverbal communication may be due to extraverts' superior attentive/perceptual skills; their superior interpretive/attributional skills; or both. In addition, the results are discussed in terms of methodological issues in the nonverbal decoding literature and their impact on research on extraversion. The nonverbal decoding task used in the present study differed from that of prior research by presenting scenes of natural, spontaneous, dyadic interactions for which an objective criterion for accuracy existed.
Detecting lower extremity vascular dynamics in patients with peripheral artery disease using diffuse optical tomography

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects over 10 million Americans and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While in many cases the ankle-brachial index (ABI) can be used for diagnosing the disease, this parameter is not dependable in the diabetic and elderly population. These populations tend to have calcified arteries, which leads to elevated ABI values. Dynamic optical tomography (DDOT) promises to overcome the limitations of the current diagnostic techniques and has the potential to initiate a paradigm shift in the diagnosis of vascular disease. We have performed initial pilot studies involving 5 PAD patients and 3 healthy volunteers. The time traces and tomographic reconstruction obtained from measurements on the feet show significant differences between healthy and affected vasculatures. In addition, we found that DOT is capable of identifying PAD in diabetic patients, who are misdiagnosed by the traditional ABI screening.
Distribution patterns and morphology of sensilla on the apical segment of the antennae and palpi of Hydradephaga (Coleoptera: adephaga).

The sensilla on the terminal antennomere of selected Hydradephagans (Coleoptera) are modified in several distinct ways as compared to the sensilla on the terminal antennomere of Geadephagans (Coleoptera). There are no long sensilla of any type on antennae of Hydradephagans, the sensilla are either short, peg-like sensilla that may be recessed in the antennal surface or they are multiporous plate-like sensilla. Multiporous plate-like sensilla have not been found on the antennae of Geadephagans. A pit sensillum occurs on the antennae of one family, Gyrinidae, in the Hydradephaga whereas it is found on the antennae of several species from the families of Geadephaga. The sensilla on the terminal antennomere of Hydradephaga are often grouped into sensory fields that could be located on a particular area of the antennomere. Sensory fields are also located on the apices of the maxillary and labial palps and the most unique sensory fields occur in the Noteridae. The maxillary palpal apex of Hydrocanthus oblongus (Noteridae) is bifurcate and a sensory field with several types of sensilla is at the apex of each branch. The terminal labial palpomere is greatly enlarged and has a long, slender sensory field at the apex and a secondary sensory field on a thumb-like projection. The sensilla on the palpal apices are more diverse and complex in form as compared to the sensilla on the palps of Geadephaga. The most complex sensillum has a cuticular collar and a dome that is divided into six or seven triangular sections. The dome maybe opened or closed and a peg-like sensillum with a very wide apical pore is situated beneath the dome. Microsc. Res. Tech. 55:330–338, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Self-healing juvenile cutaneous mucinosis.

: A healthy 14-month-old black girl presented with a 3-week complaint of “knots” on the face and hands. The lesions were acute in onset and asymptomatic. Multiple, firm, nontender, skin-colored to erythematous nodules were noted on the scalp, forehead, axillae, lower legs, abdomen, and hands. A skin biopsy specimen revealed a well-circumscribed accumulation of mucin in the reticular dermis. Colloidal iron stain was positive. Radiographs showed soft tissue prominence only. Serum protein electrophoresis, thyroid function tests, complete blood count, sedimentation rate, and antinuclear antibody were normal, except for lymphocytosis. Findings were consistent with self-healing juvenile cutaneous mucinosis (SHJCM). SHJCM is a condition of unknown etiology characterized by rapid onset of asymptomatic, indurated papules or nodules. Affected children may have arthralgias, but are otherwise well. Spontaneous resolution is the rule. Most skin lesions in our patient had resolved within 6 months of onset. This patient is unique because of the young age of onset.
Variability of indoor and outdoor VOC measurements: An analysis using variance components

This study examines concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured inside and outside of 162 residences in southeast Michigan, U.S.A. Nested analyses apportioned four sources of variation: city, residence, season, and measurement uncertainty. Indoor measurements were dominated by seasonal and residence effects, accounting for 50 and 31%, respectively, of the total variance. Contributions from measurement uncertainty (<20%) and city effects (<10%) were small. For outdoor measurements, season, city and measurement variation accounted for 43, 29 and 27% of variance, respectively, while residence location had negligible impact (<2%). These results show that, to obtain representative estimates of indoor concentrations, measurements in multiple seasons are required. In contrast, outdoor VOC concentrations can use multi-seasonal measurements at centralized locations. Error models showed that uncertainties at low concentrations might obscure effects of other factors. Variance component analyses can be used to interpret existing measurements, design effective exposure studies, and determine whether the instrumentation and protocols are satisfactory.
Hydrophobic adsorption chromatography to reduce nonspecific staining by rhodamine-labeled antibodies

Rhodamine absorbed to protein was removed from rhodamine-conjugated antibody solutions by adsorption to hydrophobic macroporous beads (Bio-Beads SM-2) following gel permeation chromatography. This simple technique eliminated the contaminating free dye more effectively than gel filtration alone, but neither significantly reduced the level of fluorescently conjugated antibody nor altered the latter's binding characteristics. Passage of the fluorescent antibody solution over the SM-2 beads eliminated the high background of nonspecific staining caused by internalization of residual free dye.
Predictive value and psychological meaning of vocational aspirations

Abstract The psychological meaning and predictive value of a person's vocational aspirations were examined by applying Holland's typology to the vocational aspirations of high school juniors (N = 1005), college juniors (N = 692), employed adults (N = 140), and a second sample of college students studied over a one-year interval (N = 624). The aspirational data were obtained from the Daydreams section of the Self-Directed Search ( Holland, 1972 ). Categorical and correlational analyses show that a person's retrospective vocational aspirations have coherence and yield efficient predictions of subsequently expressed choice. In addition, the degree of coherence or similarity among a person's vocational aspirations provides a potentially useful index of a person's decision-making ability.
Behavioural Manifestations of Anabolic Steroid Use

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) for gains in strength and muscle mass is relatively common among certain subpopulations, including athletes, bodybuilders, adolescents and young adults. Adverse physical effects associated with steroid abuse are well documented, but more recently, increased attention has been given to the adverse psychiatric effects of these compounds. Steroids may be used in oral, 17alpha-alkylated, or intramuscular, 17beta-esterified, preparations. Commonly, steroid users employ these agents at levels 10- to 100-fold in excess of therapeutic doses and use multiple steroids simultaneously, a practice known as 'stacking'. Significant psychiatric symptoms including aggression and violence, mania, and less frequently psychosis and suicide have been associated with steroid abuse. Long-term steroid abusers may develop symptoms of dependence and withdrawal on discontinuation of AAS. Treatment of AAS abusers should address both acute physical and behavioural symptoms as well as long-term abstinence and recovery. To date, limited information is available regarding specific pharmacological treatments for individuals recovering from steroid abuse. This paper reviews the published literature concerning the recognition and treatment of behavioural manifestations of AAS abuse.
Evergreening patents: The Indian Supreme Court rejects patenting of incremental improvements

On April 1, 2013, the Supreme Court in India handed down its decision to dismiss Swiss drug maker Novartis AG's attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug Glivec. In doing so, the Supreme Court held that incremental improvements or modifications to an existing drug are not patentable under Indiaâ€™s patent laws. While the ruling may have allowed India to maintain its ability to manufacture generic drugs, the ruling has increased the challenges that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies face in obtaining patent protection in India. In the long term, these challenges may prove to have far greater implications for the biotechnology industry that go beyond merely the patentability of one drug product. In view of this recent decision, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are undoubtedly re-evaluating their foreign patent strategies.
Techniques for improving the throughput of VBR streams

In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism for providing deterministic service for Variable Bit Rate (VBR) streams at the disk. Previous approaches have relied on peak-rate of the stream for admission control for providing deterministic service. The proposed scheme allows statistical multiplexing of VBR streams at the storage system while providing deterministic service guarantees. We show that the proposed scheme can significantly improve stream throughput compared to peak-rate based schemes. We also evaluate the impact of other strategies such as data smoothing, statistical guarantees and higher stream startup latencies for improving the throughput of VBR streams. We show that stream startup latency can be effectively traded off for improving the stream throughput. We also show that smoothing and statistical guarantees do not provide significant additional improvements in stream throughput beyond the proposed approach.