cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Stem Cell-Enhanced Regenerative Facelift

The stem cell-enhanced regenerative facelift is a combination of procedures, each of which could be used singularly or together depending on the preoperative assessment. It consists of four technical gestures. Facial hydrofilling and wide supramimetic muscle undermining of skin flap, orbiculo–zygomaticus–levator labii–platysma pexy, submuscular and subperiosteal placement of stem cell-enriched graft, and vest over pants tension-free skin closure with triangular tragus flap closure. The stem cell-enhanced regenerative facelift is designed to produce a more volume-enhanced result. The wide supramimetic muscle undermining allows a more effective skin redraping, and therefore more skin is excised. A thicker flap is also less susceptible to ischemia and necrosis. Possible complications are described.
Internal Versus External Frame of Reference in Functional Movement Disorders.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with functional movement disorders (FMDs) differ in their internal versus external locus of control (LOC) and whether LOC in th...
Assessing the accuracy of automatic speech recognition for psychotherapy

Accurate transcription of audio recordings in psychotherapy would improve therapy effectiveness, clinician training, and safety monitoring. Although automatic speech recognition software is commercially available, its accuracy in mental health settings has not been well described. It is unclear which metrics and thresholds are appropriate for different clinical use cases, which may range from population descriptions to individual safety monitoring. Here we show that automatic speech recognition is feasible in psychotherapy, but further improvements in accuracy are needed before widespread use. Our HIPAA-compliant automatic speech recognition system demonstrated a transcription word error rate of 25%. For depression-related utterances, sensitivity was 80% and positive predictive value was 83%. For clinician-identified harm-related sentences, the word error rate was 34%. These results suggest that automatic speech recognition may support understanding of language patterns and subgroup variation in existing treatments but may not be ready for individual-level safety surveillance.
It Does Matter If You Win or Lose, and How You Play the (Video) Game:

Most violent video game (VVG) research focuses on aggressive behaviors as the primary outcome variable of interest. Using pro-social behavior as the dependent variable, this study explores factors ...
Deep origins for the tectal visual processing centers in chordates

Ciona larvae have two distinct visuomotor behaviors - a looming shadow response and negative phototaxis. These are mediated by separate neural pathways that initiate from different clusters of photoreceptors. We report that input from both pathways is processed to generate fold-change detection (FCD) outputs - making the behavioral outputs reflective of relative changes in input, not absolute input values. Visual inputs from both pathways project first to the posterior brain vesicle (pBV). We find that the pBV shares hallmarks with the vertebrate midbrain optic tectum, including its anatomy, connectivity, function and gene expression - despite previous speculation that Ciona lacks a midbrain. The connectivity and properties (excitatory or inhibitory) of pBV interneurons conform to known FCD circuits, but with different circuit architectures for the two pathways. The negative phototaxis circuit forms an incoherent feedforward loop that involves interconnecting cholinergic and GABAergic interneurons. The looming shadow circuit uses the same cholinergic and GABAergic interneurons, but with different synaptic inputs to create a nonlinear integral feedback loop. Consequently, the two FCD circuits generate different behavioral profiles, with the negative phototaxis circuit resulting in a power-function relationship of behavioral output versus fold-change, while in the dimming response this relationship is linear.
Space, Time, and Systemic Leadership

While we strive for timeless generalizations that omit specific spatial references, world politics is difficult to interpret in the absence of space and time markers. In particular, the variable concentration of political–economic and military resources is critical to this interpretation. Yet concentration underlines the disproportionate significance of system leaders and lead economies. Over the past 1000 years, global (not regional) power concentration has been strongly influenced by singular centers for technological innovation and linked energy applications. High global power concentrations lead to different kinds of world political behavior than do low global power concentrations. This tendency has also been an emergent phenomenon so that each era of global power concentration is not exactly identical to the ones that preceded or followed it. Thus, space and time matter in deciphering world politics.
Implementing specifications grading in MPA courses: A potential strategy for better work-life balance

Public administration scholarship has documented the effectiveness of rubrics in assessing student competencies within classrooms and across MPA programs. Rubrics are one of many innovative techniq...
Educational Methodology: An Examination of Approach

Maximally effective educational procedures have often been lacking due to the absence of a serviceable model for research and information dissemination. Recent developments in major project networks proviae a vehicle for implementing programatic efforts toward improvement. A model is discussed which promises additional short and long term advancements in instructional methodology.
Maximum-Likelihood Comparisons of Tully-Fisher and Redshift Data. II. Results from an Expanded Sample

This is the second in a series of papers in which we compare Tully-Fisher (TF) data from the Mark III Catalog with predicted peculiar velocities based on the IRAS galaxy redshift survey and gravitational instability theory, using a rigorous maximum likelihood method called VELMOD. In Paper I (Willick et al. 1997b), we we applied the method to a $cz_{LG} \leq 3000$ km/sec, 838-galaxy TF sample and found $\beta_I=0.49\pm 0.07,$ where $\beta_I\equiv \Omega^{0.6}/b_I$ and $b_I$ is the linear biasing parameter for IRAS galaxies. In this paper we increase the redshift limit to $cz_{LG}=7500$ km/sec, thereby enlarging the sample to 1876 galaxies. The expanded sample now includes the W91PP and CF subsamples of the Mark III catalog, in addition to the A82 and MAT subsamples already considered in Paper I. We implement VELMOD using both the forward and inverse forms of the TF relation, and allow for a more general form of the quadrupole velocity residual detected in Paper I. We find $\beta_I=0.50\pm 0.04$ (1-sigma error) at 300 km/sec smoothing of the IRAS-predicted velocity field. The fit residuals are spatially incoherent for $\beta_I=0.5,$ indicating that the IRAS plus quadrupole velocity field is a good fit to the TF data. If we eliminate the quadrupole we obtain a worse fit, but a similar value for $\beta_I$ of $0.54\pm 0.04.$ Changing the IRAS smoothing scale to 500 km/sec has almost no effect on the best $\beta_I.$ We find evidence for a density-dependence of the small-scale velocity dispersion, $\sigma_v(\delta_g)\simeq (100 + 35 \delta_g)$ km/sec.
Unraveling the mechanisms of surround suppression in early visual processing.

This paper uses mathematical modeling to study the mechanisms of surround suppression in the primate visual cortex. We present a large-scale neural circuit alistic modeling work are used. The remaining parameters are chosen to produce model outputs that emulate experimentally observed size-tuning curves. Our two main results are: (i) we discovered the character of the long-range connections in Layer 6 responsible for surround effects in the input layers; and (ii) we showed that a net-inhibitory feedback, i.e., feedback that excites I-cells more than E-cells, from Layer 6 to Layer 4 is conducive to producing surround properties consistent with experimental data. These results are obtained through parameter selection and model analysis. The effects of nonlinear recurrent excitation and inhibition are also discussed. A feature that distinguishes our model from previous modeling work on surround suppression is that we have tried to reproduce realistic lengthscales that are crucial for quantitative comparison with data. Due to its size and the large number of unknown parameters, the model is computationally challenging. We demonstrate a strategy that involves first locating baseline values for relevant parameters using a linear model, followed by the introduction of nonlinearities where needed. We find such a methodology effective, and propose it as a possibility in the modeling of complex biological systems.
Trials of a Forensic Psychologist: A Casebook

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1. Waiver of Miranda Rights and Voluntary versus Coerced Confession. 2. Battered Woman Syndrome, Self-Defense, and Extreme Emotional Disturbance. 3. Insanity: Malingering versus Organic Brain Syndrome. 4. Insanity, Extreme Emotional Disturbance, or Both? 5. Voluntary or Coerced Confession? 6. Child Abuse Victim, Sexual Predator, or Both? 7. Battered Woman Syndrome, Duress, and the Death Penalty. 8. Validation of Alleged Child Sexual Abuse. 9. Murder or Manslaughter? Extreme Emotional Disturbance. 10. Insanity, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Brief Reactive Psychosis. Lessons Learned. Notes. Index.
Policy/Goal Percentaging as a Form of MCDM

The main purpose of this paper is to summarize policy/goal percentaging analysis as a form of multi-criteria decision making, and to distinguish the method from alternative approaches such as the analytic hierarchy process, multi-attribute utility theory, the electre method, and multi-objective programming. The paper also discusses advantages and similarities of policy/goal percentaging analysis.
Synthesis of nitrogenase in mutants of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 affected in heterocyst development or metabolism.

Abstract Mutants of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 that are incapable of sustained growth with air as the sole source of nitrogen were generated by using Tn5-derived transposons. Nitrogenase was expressed only in mutants that showed obvious morphological signs of heterocyst differentiation. Even under rigorously anaerobic conditions, nitrogenase was not synthesized in filaments that were unable to develop heterocysts. These results suggest that competence to synthesize nitrogenase requires a process that leads to an early stage of visible heterocyst development and are consistent with the idea that synthesis of nitrogenase is under developmental control (J. Elhai and C. P. Wolk, EMBO J. 9:3379-3388, 1990). We isolated mutants in which differentiation was arrested at an intermediate stage of heterocyst formation, suggesting that differentiation proceeds in stages; those mutants, as well as mutants with aberrant heterocyst envelopes and a mutant with defective respiration, expressed active nitrogenase under anaerobic conditions only. These results support the idea that the heterocyst envelope and heterocyst respiration are required for protection of nitrogenase from inactivation by oxygen. In the presence of air, such mutants contained less nitrogenase than under anaerobic conditions, and the Fe-protein was present in a posttranslationally modified inactive form. We conclude that internal partial oxygen pressure sufficient to inactivate nitrogenase is insufficient to repress synthesis of the enzyme completely. Among mutants with an apparently intact heterocyst envelope and normal respiration, three had virtually undetectable levels of dinitrogenase reductase under all conditions employed. However, three others expressed oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase activity, suggesting that respiration and barrier to diffusion of gases may not suffice for oxygen protection of nitrogenase in these mutants; two of these mutants reduced acetylene to ethylene and ethane.
Kinked DNA: Energetics and conditions favoring its formation

Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the formation of kinks in DNA in the manner proposed by Crick and Klug produces a conformation which corresponds to a local energy minimum when the phosphate backbone is charged. This conformation becomes the global minimum under certain conditions which neutralize the anionic backbone oxygens. A sequence preference for kink formation is predicted. The possible role of kinking in experimentally observed phenomena and experimental means of demonstrating the existence of kinks are discussed.
Image similarity and asymmetry to improve computer-aided detection of breast cancer

An improved image similarity method is introduced to recognize breast cancer, and it is incorporated into a computer-aided breast cancer detection system through Bayes Theorem. Radiologists can use the differences between the left and right breasts, or asymmetry, in mammograms to help detect certain malignant breast cancers. Image similarity is used to determine asymmetry using a contextual and then a spatial comparison. The mammograms are filtered to find the most contextually significant points, and then the resulting point set is analyzed for spatial similarity. We develop the analysis through a combination of modeling and supervised learning of model parameters. This process correctly classifies mammograms 84% of the time, and significantly improves the accuracy of a computer-aided breast cancer detection system by 71%.
Dyadic equivalence to completely positive entropy

under coordinate-wise addition. By an action T of Γ on a Lebesgue probability space, (X,F , μ) , we mean a group homomorphism T from Γ to the group Aut (X,F , μ) of μ−preserving automorphisms of X. We denote the image of g under T by T , and for each A ⊂ Γ, we denote the set {T x : g ∈ A} by T (x), or more simply, by A (x), when the action T is understood. An action T of Γ on (X,F , μ) is called free if, for all g ∈ Γ, other than the identity, μ {x ∈ X : T g (x) = x} = 0. A Γ−action T is called ergodic if every T -invariant set has measure 0 or 1. Two Γ−actions T1 and T2 on spaces (Xi,Fi, μi) , i = 1, 2, are isomorphic if there is a measure theoretic isomorphism φ : X1 → X2 such that for almost all x and for all g ∈ Γ, φT g 1 (x) = T g 2 φ (x) . T1 and T2 are orbit equivalent if there is a measure theoretic isomorphism φ : X1 → X2 such that for almost all x, φT Γ 1 (x) = T Γ 2 (φ (x)) . In this paper we study a notion of equivalence of Γ−actions that is weaker than isomorphism but stronger than orbit equivalence. Let
RFLP variation and genetic relationships in cultivated cucumber

Two sets of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) germplasm were used to determine the potential use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for estimating genetic relationships. Sixteen accessions [15 domesticated variety sativus and one feral variety hardwickii (PI 183967)] of diverse origin were used to assess RFLP variation in cucumber, and to determine if genetic relationships based on RFLPs were similar to those obtained by isozyme analysis. Additionally, 35 commercial lines or cultivars were surveyed to determine genetic relationships among and within common cucumber types (narrow genetic base). The 16 accessions were surveyed with 440 low copy clones from two libraries (Pst I partial genomic and cDNA) using two restriction enzymes. Data from a subset of 104 random (mapped and unmapped) and a set of 30 mapped RFLPs were used to estimate genetic relationships among the 16 cultigens. Variability was low among RFLPs (33% of all probes) and putative alleles (∼ 2.2 polymorphic fragments/probe). RFLP variation between sativus lines and hardwickii (21±4%) was greater than among sativus lines (12±2%). RFLPs among the 16 accessions revealed genetic relationships which agree with those obtained using isozymes. Genetic relationships estimated using mapped and unmapped RFLPs were similar. The 35 elite lines were surveyed using a set of 40 RFLPs from 3 libraries (Pst I and EcoR I partial genomic and cDNA) to evaluate the discriminatory value of RFLPs among and between commercial cucumber types. The RFLP-derived genetic relationships among this germplasm were in agreement with predictions based on fruit type and pedigree information. Thus, RFLPs are a useful addition to the morphological characters and isozyme loci currently used for taxonomic classification and plant variety protection of cucumber.
PAPA: Physiology and Purpose-Aware Automatic Playlist Generation.

In this paper we present PAPA, a novel approach for automatically generating playlists. The proposed framework utilizes the user’s physiological response to music, together with traditional song meta-data to generate a playlist the user will not only enjoy, but which will assist him or her in achieving various user-defined goals (“purpose”). In addition to outlining the generic framework, we present an exemplary application named MPTrain that (1) creates a playlist in real-time to assist users in achieving specific exercise goals; and (2) incorporates the user’s physiological response to the music to determine the next song to play.
Remote environmental measuring units

There are civilian and military justifications for the development and commercialization of free swimming survey platforms which may be carried and operated by one person. To be effective, these platforms must be capable of characterizing the spatial and vertical variability of the physical environment beneath the surface of the water. There is therefore a need to develop low risk, affordable, underwater vehicles which are easily reproduced and which provide effective solutions, but whose loss is not an economic catastrophe. Research aimed at quantifying cause and effect relationships and predicting long term trends in coastal, inland and global marine processes will benefit from such systems. One important aspect of such research is the development of coastal ocean modeling and data assimilation computer programs which permit hind-casting and forecasting of circulation patterns in coastal regions. An affordable system of vehicles, which will permit ground truthing of remotely sensed data and the rapid measurement of vertical distributions beneath the surface, will support the use of these computer programs in characterizing remote coastal regions with a minimum investment. Once operational, these models may be used in support of both military and civilian objectives. A system of remote environmental measuring unit(s) (REMUS) is intended to provide such a capability. The REMUS concept includes a number of small, low cost, free swimming vehicles which may be operated jointly or independently. They offer an appropriate technology for gathering data in the coastal and open ocean. Operations in the open ocean may be conducted from large or small ships of opportunity as well as from long term seafloor observatories such as Rutgers LEO-15, which operates at the end of an electro-optic cable buried in the seafloor. Coastal and inland, operations may be conducted from a shore station or a pier side location, as well as from a small boat. Since the vehicle weight will not normally exceed 40 kilograms, it is envisioned that the vehicle system may be transported to the site of interest in a compact car and set up and operated by one person.
nti glucocorticoid receptor transcripts lack sequences encoding the amino-terminal transcriptional modulatory domain.

Abstract Glucocorticoid induction of cell death (apoptosis) in mouse lymphoma S49 cells has long been studied as a molecular genetic model of steroid hormone action. To better understand the transcriptional control of glucocorticoid-induced S49 cell death, we isolated and characterized glucocorticoid receptor (GR) cDNA from two steroid-resistant nti S49 mutant cell lines (S49.55R and S49.143R) and the wild-type parental line (S49.A2). Our data reveal that nti GR transcripts encode intact steroid- and DNA-binding domains but lack 404 amino-terminal residues as a result of aberrant RNA splicing between exons 1 and 3. Results from transient cotransfection experiments into CV1 cells using nti receptor expression plasmids and a glucocorticoid-responsive reporter gene demonstrated that the truncated nti receptor exhibits a reduced transcriptional regulatory activity. Gene fusions containing portions of both the wild-type and the nti GR-coding sequences were constructed and used to functionally map the nti receptor mutation. We found that the loss of the modulatory domain alone is sufficient to cause the observed defect in nti transcriptional transactivation. These results support the proposal that glucocorticoid-induced S49 cell death requires GR sequences which have previously been shown to be required for transcriptional regulation, suggesting that steroid-regulated apoptosis is controlled at the level of gene expression.
Comparison of various solutions to dissolve critical care diet clots

Background Enteral feeding tubes are frequently placed in animals to provide assisted nutritional support; however, one major reported complication is clogging of the tubes. The goal of this study was to determine which solution is most effective at dissolving in vitro clots made using a veterinary canned critical care diet. Methods Various solutions were tested for their ability to dissolve enteral feed clots, including water, meat tenderizers in water, predetermined amounts of pancreatic enzymes (with and without sodium bicarbonate) in water, carbonated beverages, and cranberry juice. Results The solution that resulted in the greatest dissolution was ¼ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes and 325 mg sodium bicarbonate in 5 mL water, which was significantly better than all other solutions (water: P = 0.03; ¼ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes in water: P = 0.002; all others: P < 0.001). Water was significantly better than all carbonated beverages and cranberry juice (P < 0.001). The least successful solution was ½ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes and sodium bicarbonate in water. Clinical Relevance Despite anecdotal reports of using carbonated beverages, cranberry juice, and ½ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes to unclog feeding tubes, all were significantly less effective than water. In vivo studies to evaluate the effectiveness of methods to unclog feeding tubes are warranted to further investigate these findings.
Riluzole-Sensitive Slowly Inactivating Sodium Current in Rat Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Neurons

The persistent (i.e., slowly inactivating) fraction of the Na current (INa,P) regulates excitability of CNS neurons. In isolated rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons with a ramp-type voltage-c...
Exploration of Pluto

Two NASA-sponsored cost-constrained mission implementations for the exploration of Pluto are described. One is the Pluto Fast Flyby (PFF) mission, which utilizes an 83 kg spacecraft to be launched in 1998 aboard a Titan IV (Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade)/Centaur) for an about 7-year-long direct trajectory to Pluto, which will carry an integrated CCD-imaging/UV spectrometer, with a possible integrated IR spectrometer. The other is the Pluto-350 spacecraft, weighing about 316 kg, which will carry a broader instrument set, greater redundancy, and which will require greater than 11 year flight time. Pluto-350 will be launched in 2001 aboard a Delta or Atlas, toward earth and Jupiter swingbys to provide the energy to reach Pluto.
Uptake of Uranium from Seawater by Amidoxime-Based Polymeric Adsorbent: Field Experiments, Modeling, and Updated Economic Assessment

Uranium recovery from seawater has been investigated for several decades for the purpose of securing nuclear fuel for energy production. In this study, field column experiments have been performed at the Marine Sciences Laboratory of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) using a laboratory-proven, amidoxime-based polymeric adsorbent developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The adsorbent was packed either in in-line filters or in flow-through columns. The maximum amount of uranium uptake from seawater was 3.3 mg of U/g of adsorbent after 8 weeks of contact between the adsorbent and seawater. This uranium adsorption amount was about 3 times higher than the maximum amount achieved in this study by a leading adsorbent developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Both adsorbents were tested under similar conditions. The results were used to update an assessment of the cost of large-scale recovery of uranium from seawater using the ORNL adsorbent. The updated uranium production c...
NUCLEIC ACIDS AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS OF ISOLATED CELLS FROM CHICK EMBRYONIC SPINAL GANGLIA IN CULTURE.

Dissociated monolayer cell cultures of chick embryonic spinal ganglia were set up on collagen-coated coverslips and incubated in 5% CO2 atmosphere at 38°C. Neurons were maintained in good condition for approximately three weeks and showed regeneration of nerve fibers as well as recovery from chromatolysis to normal Nissl pattern. Synthesis and transport of nucleic acids and protein in neurons and in spindle cells were studied with tritiated precursors by means of autoradiography. Less than 3% (10 of 318) of nerve cells from 12-day-old chick embryo spinal ganglia showed tritiated thymidine incorporation, whereas 27% (511 of 1880) of spindle cells from the same source incorporated tritiated thymidine. Thus, under our cultural conditions most neurons did not synthesize DNA. Both neurons and spindle cells incorporated tritiated uridine. Newly synthesized RNA appeared in the nucleus, and after several hours it was distributed over the perikaryon of neurons and the cytoplasm of spindle cells. The label was never found in nerve fibers, even after prolonged tritiated uridine treatment. A conclusion is thus made that RNA is absent in the nerve fibers. In neurons, protein was synthesized only in the perikaryon. Nerve fibers did not show protein synthesis. Newly synthesized protein was transported from perikaryon distally along nerve fibers at a rate of approximately 10 mm per day.
Protein-protein interactions enable rapid adaptive response to osmotic stress in fish gills.

Cells respond to changes in osmolality with compensatory adaptations that re-establish ion homeostasis and repair disturbed aspects of cell structure and function. These physiologically complex processes can be separated into two functionally distinct cellular phases. The first phase operates to temporarily minimize cellular damage and stabilize critical cell functions necessary for survival. This phase is contingent upon the ability to generate a rapid adaptive response. For this reason, it occurs largely in the absence of de novo protein synthesis and instead relies upon modifying the activity of existing cellular proteins through protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications. The second phase of the osmotic stress response is centered upon adjusting the expression of specific effector proteins required to re-establish cellular homeostasis. This phase is dependent on the completion of signal transduction events, as well the transcription and translation of target genes, and is theref...
Antimicrobial susceptibility and β-lactamase testing of staphylococci isolated from dairy herds.

Evaluation of 722 staphylococcal isolates from seven dairy herds revealed marked herd differences in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. A low overall resistance to penicillin was noted for Staphylococcus aureus, although isolates from three herds had greater than or equal to 16% penicillin resistance. Other staphylococcal species demonstrated a higher resistance to penicillin than did S. aureus. The predominant staphylococci other than S. aureus were S. hyicus and S. chromogenes for six of the seven herds while S. simulans and S. epidermidis predominated in one herd. beta-Lactamase testing using a commercially available chromogenic cephalosporin was an accurate predictor of penicillin resistance for S. aureus. Staphylococcus hyicus, S. chromogenes, and S. epidermidis that were penicillin resistant by susceptibility testing demonstrated negative beta-lactamase results of 35, 11, and 9%, respectively. Retesting of these isolates after exposure to penicillin resulted in positive beta-lactamase results, indicating induction of beta-lactamase. These results indicate the variability in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for staphylococci and suggest the importance of epidemiologic knowledge of a dairy herd to guide initial therapy.
Anion Binding to Hydrophobic Concavity Is Central to the Salting-in Effects of Hofmeister Chaotropes

For over 120 years it has been appreciated that certain salts (kosmotropes) cause the precipitation of proteins, while others (chaotropes) increase their solubility. The cause of this "Hofmeister effect" is still unclear, especially with the original concept that kosmotropic anions "make" water structure and chaotropes "break" it being countered by recent studies suggesting otherwise. Here, we present the first direct evidence that chaotropic anions have an affinity for hydrophobic concavity and that it is competition between a convex hydrophobe and the anion for a binding site that leads to the apparent weakening of the hydrophobic effect by chaotropes. In combination, these results suggest that chaotropes primarily induce protein solubilization by direct binding to concavity in the molten globule state of a protein.
Personality disorder traits, risk factors, and suicide ideation among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Personality disorder traits are relatively prevalent among older adults, and can be associated with complex and chronic difficulties, including suicide risk. However, there is a lack of research regarding personality disorders and suicide ideation in older adults. Depressive symptoms and hopelessness may be important to the relation between personality disorders and suicide risk. Additionally, variables from the interpersonal theory of suicide, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, may be critical risk factors for suicide in this population. We hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, theory-based variables, would act as parallel mediators of the relation between personality disorder traits and suicide ideation, whereas depressive symptoms and hopelessness would not. METHODS: The hypothesis was tested in a sample of 143 older adults recruited from a primary care setting. Participants completed self-report questionnaires of personality traits, suicide ideation, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. RESULTS: Findings from a non-parametric bootstrapping procedure indicated that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptoms mediated the relation between total personality disorder traits and suicide ideation. Hopelessness did not act as a mediator. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptoms are likely important risk factors for suicide ideation among older adults. Clinicians should be aware of these issues when assessing and treating suicide risk among older adults. Language: en
A case report of calcinosis universalis

Calcium deposits in soft tissues without previous trauma may represent calcinosis universalis, a condition without systemic manifestations and with laboratory values of blood and urine that are consistently normal. Radiographs reveal areas of calcification with homogenous density, and microscopic examination of these deposits shows foreign body giant cell reaction without capsule formation. In this case of calcinosis universalis, wide excision and lavage of the calcium deposits were temporarily beneficial, but the deposits recurred in this patient.
Immediate and Prolonged Effects of Videogame Violence

This study examined the relationship between playing violent videogames and sensitivity to aggressive acts. In 2 experiments, college students were randomly assigned to play violent or less violent videogames. They then read a series of criminal vignettes and assigned prison sentences to violent criminals. In the second experiment, participants returned 1 hr later and completed a second series of vignettes. A significant interaction between gender and videogame was found in both experiments. Men who played the violent game gave more lenient sentences to criminals than did those who played the less violent game. In the second experiment, women, unlike men, assigned harsher sentences after playing the violent game. The effects were found to persist for at least 1 hr.
Analysis of solvent dyes in refined petroleum products by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Solvent dyes are used to color refined petroleum products to enable differentiation between gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels. Analysis for these dyes in the hydrocarbon product is difficult due to their very low concentrations in such a complex matrix. Flow injection analysis/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry in both negative and positive mode was used to optimize ionization of ten typical solvent dyes. Samples of hydrocarbon product were analyzed under similar conditions. Positive electrospray ionization produced very complex spectra, which were not suitably specific for targeting only the dyes. Negative electrospray ionization produced simple spectra because aliphatic and aromatic moieties were not ionized. This enabled screening for a target dye in samples of hydrocarbon product from a spill.
NEURONAL PIGMENTS: SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN BRAIN MELANIN

— A method has been established for the characterization of synthetic melanins obtained from dopamine, norepinephrine, and structurally related compounds which permits the identification of the precursor substrate of the melanin. This is done by interpreting the absorption spectra and the first derivative curves of these melanins solubilized in sodium borohydride. Using this method, the melanin pigment obtained from the substantia nigra of human brain has been shown to be very similar to dopamine-melanin and not DOPA- or norepinephrine-melanins.
Long-term bone ingrowth and residual microhardness of porous block hydroxyapatite implants in humans.

Purpose: This study examined the ingrowth of bone into coralline, porous hydroxyapatite (HA) block (Interpore 200) over long periods after orthognathic surgery and analyzed their microhardness as a measure of the structural integrity of the ingrown bone as well as of the HA. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five maxillary HA implants (4 to 138 months of implantation; mean, 32 months) were removed from 17 patients. These implants had been placed into the lateral maxillary wall, juxtapositioned to the maxillary sinus during orthognathic surgery, and were harvested for analysis after voluntary consent. Results: Microscopic examination showed normal bone morphology in all implants; no inflammatory response was observed. Histomorphometric measurements indicated that there was significant bone ingrowth in all implants, with an overall mean of 23 ± 7% bone (range, 7% to 31%), 51% ±7% HA matrix (range, 39% to 65%), and the remainder being soft tissue or void at 26% ± 9% (range, 10% to 40%). No significant difference in microhardness values between the bone in the implant and the bone surrounding the implant was noted, indicating that the structural integrity of the porous block HA/bone aggregate had been maintained. Bone ingrowth appeared to plateau around 20 months, reaching an equilibrium in which the relative amount of osseous tissue remained constant. Conclusion: Based on the findings in this study, porous block HA is a viable material for long-term implantation in the maxilla during orthognathic surgery.
Relations for the Fresnel reflection coefficients of a bimaterial interface independent of the angle of planewave incidence

A relation between the Fresnel reflection coefficients, for parallel and perpendicular planewave incidence, applicable to a dielectric-dielectric interface has been given by Azzam, the relationship being independent of the angle of incidence. Here, that relationship is generalized to include magnetic properties as well. Connection is also made with the Brewster angles relevant to the two polarizations.
Self-timed adder performance and area modeling

The current trend of exponential increases in clock frequency and an increase in the number of transistors per die causes increases in power consumption, total die area dedicated to the clock distribution network, and clock overhead incurred relative to the clock cycle time. Self-timed circuits may provide an alternative approach to synchronous circuit design that helps to reduce the negative characteristics of the high-speed clocks needed by synchronous circuits. This work presents a gate-level performance model and transistor-level performance, power and area approximations for both self-timed and static CMOS ripple-carry adders. These results show that for self-timed circuits with uniformly random input operands the average performance of a ripple-carry adder is logarithmic and improves performance by 37% with a 30% increase in the total transistor width as compared to a static CMOS ripple-carry adder.
First detection of microsporidia in dairy calves in North America

Fecal specimens were obtained from a total of 413 dairy calves from farms in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. After removal of fecal debris by sieving and density gradient centrifugation, specimens were examined by fluorescence microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequencing analysis for the presence of microsporidia. Microscopic examination revealed no spores. PCR using generic primers for microsporidia revealed 70 positive calves. PCR was then conducted using specific primers for Enterocytozoon bieneusi, the most frequently found microsporidian in human infections. These primers revealed 13 positive calves from six farms in five states. DNA sequencing analysis of the 13 E. bieneusi-positive specimens confirmed the PCR results and indicated 96.8-99.8% similarity with E. bieneusi sequences in GenBank. This is the first report of E. bieneusi in cattle in North America.
Efficiency of filter sampling for arsenic in the atmosphere

Abstract The efficiency of hi-vol samplers with glass fiber filters for collection of atmospheric arsenic was assessed by parallel sampling with a technique able to retain both particle and gas-phase arsenic trioxide. Sampling was done adjacent to the Kennecott copper smelter in Magna, Utah during the winter of 1981. Arsenic concentrations up to 0.2 μg m −3 (24-h average) were observed. The hi-vol sampler retained, on average, 83% of the As retained by the parallel sampler, implying at least 17% As penetration through the glass fiber filter. Laboratory evaluations of the sampling and analytical method are also presented.
New species of Neotropical leafhoppers in the tribe Teruliini with a revised key to some species (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae)

Seven new species in three genera are described and illustrated from the Neotropical region. New species include: Docalidia argutiae from Brazil, D. testa, D. acus, D. filamenta from Peru, D. lamina from Ecuador, Perulidia lobata from Ecuador and Stalolidia curta from Brazil. A revised key to species in the genera Perulidia and Stalolidia is also presented. Five species are briefly discussed and illustrated to show intraspecific variation in relation to geographic distribution.
Rare antibodies from combinatorial libraries suggests an S.O.S. component of the human immunological repertoire

Convergence of observations from different sources is the norm in science. However, when convergence occurs in man for antibodies it is remarkable because the repertoire of possible immunoglobulin products is very large and diverse. Thus, one would not expect to see the same antibody twice from divergent populations unless there is special significance as to why the immune response is constrained. Now, broadly neutralizing antibodies isolated from combinatorial libraries from three separate populations have been shown to all use the same (VH 1-69) germ line gene and interact with the influenza virus in very similar ways. Here we discuss the reasons for this convergence in terms of how the immunological repertoire responds to emergency situations where time is short as occurs, for example, in potentially lethal infections. It is suggested that there is a first responder or S.O.S. component of the antibody repertoire that evolved to initiate rapid defense against infectious agents. The discovery of the homologies between these commonly produced antibodies may have significance for the design of novel vaccines. Finally, these convergent results may give much insight into why antibodies encoded by the VH 1-69 germ line gene are highly over represented in B-cell lymphomas.
Farm structural change of a different kind: Alternative dairy farms in Wisconsin—graziers, organic and Amish

Although the emergence of large confinement operations out of a system previously dominated by mid-sized confinement has been one major structural trend in Wisconsin dairy farming since the 1990s, a second structural trend has been the significant emergence of moderate-sized dairy farms using alternative management strategies: management-intensive rotational grazing (MIRG) (25% of Wisconsin's dairy farms), organic production (3%) and Amish farm production practices (5–7%). This paper presents the first systematic and representative comparative study on the structure, behavior and performance of multiple pasture-based dairy farm strategies. Wisconsin is an ideal site for this study given the prevalence of pasture-based farms, yet many of the findings here should be relevant for other traditional dairy states where similar types of alternative farm management systems are also emerging. Divergence with respect to farm strategy has implications for structure, technology and management adoption patterns as well as farmer satisfaction levels. Our findings suggest that alternative dairy farming systems are likely to become more prevalent on the agricultural landscape of Wisconsin.
Recurrent and persistent brown tide blooms perturb coastal marine ecosystem

Throughout the summers of 1985 and 1986 a small (2–3 μm diameter), previously underscribed chrysophyte bloomed monospecifically (>109 cells 1−1) in Long Island embayments. The bloom colored the water dark brown, decimated eelgrass beds through decreased light penetration and caused starvation (tissue weight loss) and recruitment failure of commercially important bay scallop populations. These perturbations portend longterm changes in subtidal communities Similar and concurrent blooms in bays of Rhode Island and New Jersey suggest a meteorological component of the environmental conditions promoting bloom formation. Culture experiments with isolates of the microalga suggest the presence of stimulatory growth factors in the bloom seawater. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY040 00002
Rapid Determination of Domoic Acid in Serum and Urine by Liquid Chromatography−Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A rapid, selective, and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantitative determination of domoic acid in serum and urine samples. Samples were prepared for analysis using an Oasis HLB SPE column. Determination was by a reversed phase HPLC using a mixture of methanol, acetonitrile, and water containing 1% acetic acid and an electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap mass spectrometer (Finnigan LCQ). The method was validated by analyzing five replicates each of negative control bovine serum or urine fortified with domoic acid at the 0.005 microg/g method detection limit (MDL) and at the 0.05 microg/g level. Recoveries ranged from 90 to 95% for fortifications at the MDL and from 92 to 98% for fortifications 10 times higher than the MDL. The diagnostic utility of the method was tested by analyzing samples from live animals showing clinical signs suggestive of domoic acid poisoning submitted to the veterinary toxicology laboratory.
Long-term glycemic control measurements in diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis

Cardiovascular morbidity is increased in patients with diabetes mellitus and there is a great prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Control of glycemia can decrease cardiovascular and end-organ damage. Because the validity of glycemic control tests have not been rigorously studied in patients with ESRD, we evaluated the value of various measures in these patients. The overall clinical goal was to investigate whether hemoglobin A1C (A1C) accurately reflects actual glycemic control as compared with other measures in light of the importance of attaining appropriately controlled blood glucose (BG). The commonly used tests of total glycated hemoglobin (GHb) and A1C may be unreliable in patients with ESRD because of the presence of anemia, shortened red blood cell (RBC) survival, and assay interferences from uremia. The primary aim of this study was to assess the relationship of capillary BG measurements to A1C, GHb, total glycated plasma proteins (GPP), and fructosamine (Fr) in diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis. Twenty-three patients were instructed to obtain BG evaluations twice daily for 7 days by using the Elite glucometer (Bayer Corporation, Elkhart, IN). These determinations included 6 fasting, 6 preprandial, and 3 separate 2-hour postprandial levels. Blood was obtained on day 7 for measurement of A1C, GHb, GPP, and Fr. A1C was analyzed by an immunoassay, GPP and GHb were assayed by affinity high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Fr by automated nitroblue colorimetric assay. Scatter plots were generated by plotting the average BG versus A1C, GHb, GPP, or Fr. Linear regression was performed for each plot showing the following relationships: A1C = 0.0174 (BG) + 4.76 (r = 0.58; P < 0.05): GHb = 0.0371 (BG) + 3.57 (r = 0.584; P < 0.05): GPP = 0.0083 (BG) + 26.13 (r = 0.065; P = 0.77): Fr = 0.6865 (BG) + 250 (r = 0.345; P = 0.11). Despite anemia and shortened RBC lifespan in patients with ESRD, A1C in the range of 6% to 7% estimates glycemic control similarly to patients without severe renal impairment. A1C values above 7.5% may overestimate hyperglycemia in patients with ESRD. Thus, diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis may have long-term BG that are more properly controlled than previously determined, reducing their risks of the macro- and microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus.
The effects of diazepam on human self-aggressive behavior

Diazepam, a benzodiazepine with a relatively rapid onset of clinical effects, has been associated with suicide and other self-aggressive acts. The evidence for this association, however, comes exclusively from retrospective non-experimental studies. Although suggestive, the results of these studies do not support a cause-and-effect relationship between benzodiazepine consumption and self-aggressive behavior. To experimentally examine the effect of diazepam on human self-aggressive behavior under controlled laboratory conditions. Forty-six healthy men and women were randomly assigned to receive placebo, or 5 mg or 10 mg diazepam in a double-blind, between-groups design. Participants were then provided the opportunity to self-administer electric shocks during a competitive reaction-time task (the self-aggression paradigm, SAP). Self-aggression was defined by the intensity of shock chosen. Diazepam (10 mg) was associated with higher average shock self-administered than placebo. Subjects receiving 10 mg diazepam were also more likely to attempt to self-administer a shock that they were led to believe was “severe” and painful. Sedation effects were found, but diazepam consumption did not impair memory, attention, concentration, pain threshold, or reaction-time performance. Clinically relevant diazepam doses may be associated with self-aggressive behaviors at levels that do not significantly impair basic cognitive processes or psychomotor performance.