cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lay responder naloxone access and Good Samaritan law compliance: postcard survey results from 20 Indiana counties

To reduce fatal drug overdoses, two approaches many states have followed is to pass laws expanding naloxone access and Good Samaritan protections for lay persons with high likelihood to respond to an opioid overdose. Most prior research has examined attitudes and knowledge among lay responders in large metropolitan areas who actively use illicit substances. The present study addresses current gaps in knowledge related to this issue through an analysis of data collected from a broader group of lay responders who received naloxone kits from 20 local health departments across Indiana. Postcard surveys were included inside naloxone kits distributed in 20 Indiana counties, for which 217 returned cards indicated the person completing it was a lay responder. The survey captured demographic information and experiences with overdose, including the use of 911 and knowledge about Good Samaritan protections. Few respondents had administered naloxone before, but approximately one third had witnessed a prior overdose and the majority knew someone who had died from one. Those who knew someone who had overdosed were more likely to have obtained naloxone for someone other than themselves. Also, persons with knowledge of Good Samaritan protections or who had previously used naloxone were significantly more likely to have indicated calling 911 at the scene of a previously witnessed overdose. Primary reasons for not calling 911 included fear of the police and the person who overdosed waking up on their own. Knowing someone who has had a fatal or non-fatal overdose appears to be a strong motivating factor for obtaining naloxone. Clarifying and strengthening Good Samaritan protections, educating lay persons about these protections, and working to improve police interactions with the public when they are called to an overdose scene are likely to improve implementation and outcomes of naloxone distribution and opioid-related Good Samaritan laws.
How Negative Screening According to Christian Principles Influence Stock Returns

Socially responsible investing (SRI) has grown to represent approximately one quarter of all managed assets in the world. Given this scale, it is important to understand the financial implications when financial planners offer an SRI product to a client. One of the biggest questions to ask is: does adding non-financial criteria to the investment process help or hurt risk-adjusted returns? While most academic studies in the past have compared all SRI funds to unrestricted funds, this has been problematic because of the heterogeneous nature of SRI funds. This study will narrow the focus to Evangelical, Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians (approximately 870 million people in the world). This sample group has the potential to request a portfolio that includes a negative screen for certain moral criteria consistent with fundamental Biblical principles. If these Christian investors were to restrict their portfolios (i.e., engage in negative screening) according to fundamental Biblical principles, would the resulting restricted portfolio have risk-adjusted returns that are significantly different than an unrestricted portfolio? Modern portfolio theory (MPT) argues for an underperformance hypothesis, since restricting an investment universe because of individual preferences will necessarily reduce diversification efficiencies. Stakeholder theory has the potential to argue for an outperformance hypothesis, since Christians believe that screening out certain corporate behaviors will lead to a portfolio that avoids companies that will have higher costs, lower revenue, and decreased human capital because of their un-Biblical behavior. This study will test 7 moral criteria that are consistent with fundamental Biblical principles: abortion, alcohol, entertainment, gambling, LGBTQ lobbying, human rights, and tobacco. The mapping of the 7 criteria to the investable universe has been conducted by the screening service, eValueator. eValueator carefully proscribes to fundamental Biblical principles within each moral criterion. Each Biblical principle will be tested using the Carhart 4 factor model to determine the potential cost, or benefit, when using each ethical negative screen. This study will also test whether risk-adjusted returns have a curvilinear relationship relative to screening intensity (which has been shown in other SRI studies of ethical screens). In addition, this study will test whether results are significantly different before-and-after the global financial crisis of 2008. This will be an important study for financial planners as more and more clients seek to incorporate their Christian values into their investment portfolios. Full transparency of potential costs and benefits is greatly needed for the financial planner to be able to discern the best solution for their client.
Aristotle and Phenomenology

This paper explores the centrality of seeing for phenomenological thinking. Through an in-depth discussion of Heidegger’s readings of Aristotle, this paper traces the complex relations between perception, language, truth, and falsity. What emerges is a deep connection between phenomenological concern with the philosophical theme of seeing and Aristotle’s thinking.
Clinical implications of prospective antepartum fetal heart rate testing

Nonstressed fetal heart rate testing was evaluated in the prospective management of 441 high-risk pregnancies in which delivery was effected between July 1, 1977 and May 1, 1979. In Group I, 297 patients underwent 668 nonstress tests (NSTs); all had subsequent contraction stress tests (CSTs) which formed the basis of their management. In Group II, 144 women had 293 NSTs; CSTs (99) were performed only when preceding NSTs were nonreactive; antenatal management evolved from the outcome of either nonstress testing or contraction stress testing when applicable. Perinatal outcome was correlated only with tests performed within 1 week of delivery. Both groups had equal frequencies of reactive NSTs; good fetal outcome was usually predicted by normal NST reactivity. Omission of CSTs when preceding NSTs were reactive did not alter perinatal outcome. NST nonreactivity is less specific, although generally associated with a higher incidence of perinatal morbidity and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). CSTs more effectively separate the nonreactive fetuses with low risk of compromise (CST = negative) from those most compromised (CST = equivocal or positive).
Escape-Probabilities in Asymptotic Reactor Theory

Explicit formulas are given for one-velocity escape probabilities from absorbing and (isotropic) scattering slabs in vacuo, as calculated by the methods of asymptotic reactor theory. The results are compared with exact numerical calculations, diffusion theory, and a variational principal. Even for slabs as thin as two mean free paths, the asymptotic calculations are found to be highly accurate. By comparing the asymptotic methods with some multiplescattering calculations for infinite cylinders, an extrapolated boundary is defined for the cylinder, and in this fashion explicit formulas are obtained for the escape probabilities from finite cylinders. (auth)
Contractarianism in the Business Associations Classroom: The Puzzling Case of Kovacik v. Reed and the Allocation of Capital Losses in Service Partnerships

Prepared for a symposium on teaching corporate law, this essay is an exercise in applied theory of the firm. The essay focuses on a well-known California Supreme Court partnership law decision, Kovacik v. Reed, which deals with the allocation of capital losses in a dissolving partnership in which one of the partners contributed only capital and the other contributed only services. Although the Uniform Partnership Act requires both partners to share capital losses equally, absent contrary agreement, the California court relieved the service partner of any obligation to contribute towards capital losses. Using the hypothetical bargain methodology, as well as other familiar contractarian analytical tools, the essay concludes that there is no compelling economic justification for the Kovacik result. To the contrary, the arbitrariness of the line drawn by Kovacik, the resulting tertiary costs, and the (limited) bargain-forcing potential of the UPA regime all point towards the latter as the preferable default. To be sure, the question remains a close one. Indeed, that very closeness is precisely why Kovacik is such a wonderful pedagogical tool. It allows one to explore the nexus of contracts model in a close and critical fashion. In keeping with the theme of the conference for which it is intended, the emphasis in this essay is on Kovacik as a classroom tool for evaluating the utility of contractarianism. As such, it will be of interest to legal educators interested in law and economics-based pedagogy. In addition, because the problem has considerable doctrinal interest in its own right, the analysis should be of interest to legal scholars interested in partnership law.
Effects of Chemical, Genetic and Enzymatic Modifications on Protein Functionality

The nutritional quality of a protein as well as its functional characteristics in a food is of paramount importance in the utilization of proteins in food systems. The functionality of a protein results from those combinations of physico-chemical properties which impart desirable behavior in a food. Among required functionalities in food proteins are included good solubility, water binding, fat binding, emulsification and foaming properties depending upon the food application. Because of inherent structural limitations in some food proteins, they lack the requisite physico-chemical characteristics to serve a function in foods. Consequently, there have been numerous efforts to enhance the functionalities of many food proteins using physical, chemical and enzymatic methods. Often the physical properties of a protein can be improved by solvent treatments and/or thermally induced alterations; however, these changes will not be addressed in this review. There is an extensive literature on chemical and enzymatic modifications of proteins to improve their functional behavior in foods. However, because of recent reviews on the chemical and enzymatic modifications of food proteins,1–6 only contributions to the literature within the last few years will be considered in this article. Moreover, only within the last half-decade has it become possible to manipulate the primary sequence of proteins genetically to alter their structures.
Les temps verbaux dans la presse d’actualité historique

Cette enquete a pour objectif d’examiner l’usage des temps verbaux dans la presse francaise historique. Le travail se base sur un echantillon d’environ 1,000 instances de formes verbales finies extraites de la Gazette . L’echantillon couvre la periode qui va de la parution de la Gazette en 1631 jusqu’a la Revolution en 1789. A travers une analyse quantitative de l’echantillon conjuguee a une analyse qualitative d’exemples particuliers, nous tracons l’evolution de la selection des temps verbaux dans la presse d’actualite historique. Les resultats font etat de changements touchant d’une part le genre journalistique et d’autre part la langue francaise pendant cette periode.
Moving Mobile Health Forward: Combining mHealth with Community Health Workers Bolsters Heart Failure Care

Background Telemedicine programs targeted towards vulnerable HF patients have had high expense and variable impact. Mobile Health (mHealth) based HF management has been limited by lack of frequent communication between patients and the health care team and adoption of mHealth due to failure to address both medical and social needs common to underserved patients. Community health workers (CHW) have been successful in improving self-care and reducing readmissions in many chronic diseases, however, a combination of CHW and mHealth has not been investigated. Goal of this pilot study was to implement an innovative strategy for mHealth adoption, and effectiveness by integrating it with CHWs for the management of HF in an underserved population. Methods mHealth app was provided to HF pts. Based on initial mHeath use, patients were assigned to continued mHeallth or CHW + mHealth. CHW attempted regular phone or home contacts. mHealth activity was monitored on online platform. Outcomes included mHealth adoption, medication adherence, ED visits/Hospitalization and QOL. Results A total of 111 patients were screened and 24 patients were enrolled (16 systolic; 9 male, mean age 52). Overall, adoption of mHealth was low. Eighty-seven phone contacts and 1 home visit were made over 6 months. Despite a high rate of reported medication adherence at baseline majority of the patients felt that adding CHW to mhealth was useful and their HF was better managed being in the program. Conclusion In this pilot study, combination of CHW with mHealth failed to enhance mHealth adoption. Despite poor adoption, the combination resulted in improvements in self-reported medication adherence, QOL and reduced hospitalization. Future studies need to address factors related to poor adoption among underserved HF patients.
Enhancing the Common-Modem Hardware Integrated Library (CHIL) Framework

In recent years, the advent of agile RF transceivers, software defined radios, and large Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices has both decreased the timescale for development and deployment of communications systems and increased the rate of emergence of threats resulting in the need to rapidly adapt. To shorten the timescales of inserting new technology into tactical communications systems, the Common-modem Hardware Integrated Library (CHIL) was developed. CHIL is a library of configurable digital signal processing blocks grouped together in a framework that enables waveform developers to dynamically “string” processing blocks together to form new waveforms. While CHIL has the potential to offer significant benefits to waveform development, it suffers from several limitations including: 1) tight coupling of the framework with library algorithms, 2) slow operation and large FPGA utilization, and 3) lack of documentation. In this paper, we present enhancements to CHIL to address some of these limitations and demonstrate increased reusability, reduction in FPGA utilization, and increase in operating speed.
Barriers to Age-Friendly Universities (AFU): Lessons from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute demographics and perceptions.

The age-friendliness of universities and colleges is a growing area of research and practice. This study focuses on lifelong learning institutes at universities and colleges who provide courses and...
3′ End cDNA amplification using classic RACE

Having knowledge of the entire 3' sequence of a cDNA is often important because the non-coding terminal region can contain signals that regulate the stability or subcellular localization of the mRNA. Also, some messages use alternative genomic sites for cleavage and polyadenylation that can alter the above properties, or change the encoded protein. Full-length cDNAs can be obtained from complex mixtures of cellular mRNA using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR as long as part of the mRNA sequence is known; adding non-specific tags to the ends of the cDNA allows the regions between the known parts of the sequence and the ends to be amplified. In 3' RACE, the poly(A) tail functions as a non-specific tag at the 3' end of the mRNA. cDNA ends can be obtained in 1-3 days using this protocol.
TagGraph reveals vast protein modification landscapes from large tandem mass spectrometry datasets.

Although mass spectrometry is well suited to identifying thousands of potential protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), it has historically been biased towards just a few. To measure the entire set of PTMs across diverse proteomes, software must overcome the dual challenges of covering enormous search spaces and distinguishing correct from incorrect spectrum interpretations. Here, we describe TagGraph, a computational tool that overcomes both challenges with an unrestricted string-based search method that is as much as 350-fold faster than existing approaches, and a probabilistic validation model that we optimized for PTM assignments. We applied TagGraph to a published human proteomic dataset of 25 million mass spectra and tripled confident spectrum identifications compared to its original analysis. We identified thousands of modification types on almost 1 million sites in the proteome. We show alternative contexts for highly abundant yet understudied PTMs such as proline hydroxylation, and its unexpected association with cancer mutations. By enabling broad characterization of PTMs, TagGraph informs as to how their functions and regulation intersect. A string-based computational tool enables swift, robust identification of post-translational modifications in MS/MS datasets.
Identification and Management of Progressive Enhancement After Radiation Therapy for Brain Metastases: Results from a Neurosurgical Survey.

Objective There is a lack of consensus regarding diagnosis, timing, and method of intervention for progressive enhancement on surveillance imaging after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment of brain metastases. We sought to characterize current practices among neurosurgeons in identifying and treating infield tumor recurrence (TR) or radiation necrosis (RN) after SRS for brain metastases. Methods A voluntary survey was distributed electronically to preidentified neurosurgeons. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and χ2 analysis. Results A total of 120 participants completed the survey from 72 U.S. and 17 international centers. Most (69.2%) agreed that growth over ≥2 surveillance scans spaced ≥90 days apart identified irreversible progression after SRS for brain metastases. Respondents were evenly divided on the need for tissue biopsy to distinguish between TR and RN. Preferred treatment modality and time frame to initiate treatment of suspected RN differed among neurosurgeons based on SRS case volume for brain metastases (P = 0.002 and P = 0.02, respectively). Neurosurgeons who used magnetic resonance–guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for brain metastases were more likely to prefer LITT for suspected RN, whereas those with minimal LITT experience preferred steroids (P Conclusions Our survey of practicing neurosurgeons highlights areas of controversy in distinguishing between TR and RN and preferred management of suspected RN.
Mechanism creation in tensegrity structures by cellular morphogenesis

Tensegrity structures are self-equilibrated statically and kinematically indeterminate structures. Cellular morphogenesis represents a generative process for the composition of complex tensegrity structures based on elementary cells. This article discusses the mechanism creation by the integration of mobility conditions in the generation of tensegrity structures using cellular morphogenesis. The creation of finite and infinitesimal mechanisms in tensegrity structures is described by the adhesion of cells sharing less than d nodes (d being the dimension of the workspace) and by the fusion of cells with the removal of two edges. Parametric descriptions of the infinitesimal displacements in the case of trivial and finite mechanisms are derived by the analysis of rigid assemblies corresponding to the rigid parts of the structure. In addition, an interpretation of the degeneracy of tensegrity structures in the case of self-stressable mechanisms is also presented. Analytical solutions of the degeneracy space for configurations resulting from adhesion and the fusion of two cells with the removal of two edges are described using symbolic calculations on the rigidity matrices of tensegrity structures. Although the study focuses on selected configurations and arrangements, the generalization of the ideas and findings included in this paper can lead to the generation of tensegrity structures with predefined static as well as kinematic properties, thus further enabling the application of tensegrity systems in science and engineering.
Patients with abrupt early-onset OCD due to PANS tolerate lower doses of antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Abstract Objective To characterize drug tolerability in pediatric patients with an abrupt-onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) meeting criteria for pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). Methods We reviewed charts of 188 consecutive patients with PANS seen in the PANS clinic, collecting starting, side effect, and tolerated doses, as well as side effect profile for each antidepressant and antipsychotic trial. Results Of 188 included patients: 57% had trials of antidepressants and/or antipsychotics. Patients prescribed psychotropics were older at PANS onset (mean 9.5 vs 7.1 years, p Conclusion When antidepressants and antipsychotics are prescribed to patients with PANS, intolerable side effects were noted at doses lower than or equal to suggested starting doses. Patients with PANS can benefit from these therapies. However, when treating these patients, clinicians are advised to start with significantly lower doses than they might use in other disorders.
Membrane Separation Process Design and Intensification

Membrane separation has gained significant interest from the chemical industry due to their compactness, energy efficiency, and modularity. Recent trends in process intensification also emphasizes the importance of a more widespread adoption of membrane-based processes for significant cost savings and sustainable operation. We present a prototype software framework for the automated design, optimization, intensification, benchmarking, and technoeconomic analysis of various types of membrane systems, including gas separation, pervaporation, and vapor permeation, while covering wide ranges of their operations. The framework is based on a generic building block-based representation (Demirel, Li, and Hasan, Comput. Chem. Eng. 2017, 150, 2–38) that can be used for the automated process synthesis and screening of numerous designs for selecting optimal membrane modules, processes, and network configurations. We can also generate rank-ordered lists of optimal process flowsheets based on different objectives. We present several case studies to demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach and report substantially better solutions compared to the designs reported in the literature.
Use-Dependent Prosthesis Training Strengthens Contralateral Hemodynamic Brain Responses in a Young Adult With Upper Limb Reduction Deficiency: A Case Report

The purpose of the current case study was to determine the influence of an 8-week home intervention training utilizing a partial hand prosthesis on hemodynamic responses of the brain and gross dexterity in a case participant with congenital unilateral upper-limb reduction deficiency (ULD). The case participant (female, 19 years of age) performed a gross manual dexterity task (Box and Block Test) while measuring brain activity (functional near-infrared spectroscopy; fNIRS) before and after an 8-weeks home intervention training. During baseline, there was a broad cortical activation in the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex and a non-focalized cortical activation in the contralateral hemisphere, which was non-focalized, while performing a gross manual dexterity task using a prosthesis. After the 8-week home intervention training, however, cortical activation shifted to the contralateral motor cortex while cortical activation was diminished in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Specifically, the oxygenated hemodynamics (HbO) responses increased in the medial aspects of the contralateral primary motor and somatosensory cortices. Thus, these results suggest that an 8-week prosthetic home intervention was able to strengthen contralateral connections in this young adult with congenital partial hand reduction. This was supported by the case participant showing after training an increased flexor tone, increased range of motion of the wrist, and decreased times to complete various gross dexterity tasks. Changes in HbO responses due to the home intervention training follow the mechanisms of use-dependent plasticity and further guide the use of prostheses as a rehabilitation strategy for individuals with ULD.
Stress accelerated grain boundary oxidation of incoloy alloy 908 in high temperature oxygenous atmospheres

Heat treatments of magnets utilizing INCOLOY® alloy 908* as a conduit have been successfully performed in vacuum. Similar experience with large scale heat treatment in an inert gas environment such as argon is lacking. Prior studies on other nickel-iron base superalloys that are susceptible to intergranular oxygen embrittlement and cracking emphasize the importance of establishing an allowable oxygen impurity level in argon for alloy 908. Initial screening using C-ring tests have shown that cracking can occur in an argon atmosphere if proper control over the oxygen impurity level is not maintained. Stress-rupture tests performed in air show that this material is susceptible to intergranular cracking in notched sections when subjected to stresses in excess of 300 MPa for a stress-concentration factor (Kt) of 4.1 at the notch. A series of stress-rupture tests are now underway on alloy 908 base metal in oxygen containing argon atmospheres. A double-edged notched test specimen design is used to determine the rupture time as functions of applied stress, temperature and oxygen concentration. The oxygen concentration at the specimen notches is continuously measured using an electrochemical sensor. Initial results suggest that an argon atmosphere does yield an improved stress-rupture life over air at low oxygen concentrations. Results are discussed to establish whether the possibility for heat treatments in argon exists and if so what guidelines must be used for successful heat treatment.
Experimenting with server-aided signatures

This paper explores practical and conceptual implications of using Server-Aided Signatures (SAS). SAS is a signature method that relies on partiallytrusted servers for generating public key signatures for regular users. Besides its two primary goals of 1) aiding small, resource-limited devices in computing heavy-weight (normally expensive) digital signatures and 2) fast certificate revocation, SAS also offers signature causality and has some interesting features such as built-in attack detection for users and DoS resistance for servers.
Three-loop leading singularities and Bern-Dixon-Smirnov ansatz for five particles

We use the leading singularity technique to determine the planar three-loop five-particle amplitude in N=4 super Yang-Mills in terms of a simple basis of integrals. We analytically compute the integral coefficients for both the parity-even and the parity-odd parts of the amplitude. The parity-even part involves only dual conformally invariant integrals. Using the method of obstructions we numerically evaluate two previously unfixed coefficients that appear in the three-loop Bern Dixon Smirnov ansatz.
Holding on to Your Shorts: When Do Short Sellers Retreat?

This paper studies the response of arbitrageurs to adverse price shocks. We focus on short sellers and find that they cover their positions after suffering losses and increase them after experiencing gains. While this relationship is very strong for positions established due to perceived overvaluation, it does not hold for arbitrage trades, where the investor is hedged against stock price movements. Finally, expected returns do not explain the documented behavior, with short sellers actually losing money by closing their positions in response to losses. We interpret these results as evidence that even sophisticated investors cannot or are not willing to maintain positions after adverse market movements, making arbitrage less effective in moving prices towards their fundamental value.
Galactic x-ray polarimetry and high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy

Stellar X-ray spectroscopy and polarimetry are discussed in terms of the source parameters that can be determined through such studies and in terms of the constraints that these studies will place on theoretical models. The spectroscopic and polarimetric results that have been obtained to date are reviewed. These include the recent discovery of X-ray polarization in the Crab Nebula and the recent evidence for X-ray coronal line emission in the Cygnus Loop. Finally, the properties and predicted performance of a number of satellite-borne spectrometers and polarimeters are presented.
STUDIES ON IMMUNITY TO TOXINS OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM VII. Purification and Detoxification of Trypsin-activated Type E Toxin

Fiock, Mary A. (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), Allen Yarinsky, and James T. Duff. Studies on immunity to toxins of Clostridium botulinum. VII. Purification and detoxification of trypsin-activated type E toxin. J. Bacteriol. 82:66–71. 1961.—A procedure was described for production, purification, and conversion to toxoid of the Clostridium botulinum type E trypsin-treated toxin. A medium containing 1.5% trypticase, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.075% cysteine hydrochloride, and 1.0% glucose consistently yielded activated culture toxicities of 300,000 mouse intraperitoneal ld50/ml. Purification of the toxin was accomplished by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, extraction with calcium chloride, and reprecipitation with ethanol in the cold. The resulting partially purified toxin had a specific activity of 45,000,000 ld50/mg nitrogen. Purified toxins were converted to toxoid by incubation with formalin and adsorbed on aluminum phosphate. Good immune responses were obtained to the toxoids in mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
Physiological Effects of Capturing Striped Bass in Gill Nets and Fyke Traps

Abstract Adult striped bass Morone saxatilis were captured in 20–40-min gill-net sets in the San Joaquin River, California, and in 24–48-h fyke-trap sets in the Sacramento River as part of a tagging program. They were bled by cardiac puncture for various measurements of stress responses to capture and handling. Fish caught in gill nets were more lethargic, were kept longer out of water, and were significantly more acidotic (lower blood pH and higher lactate concentration) than fyke-trapped fish. Gillnetted fish also had a significantly higher Pco2, hematocrit, and plasma glucose and potassium concentrations than fyke-trapped fish. Both capture methods induced secondary stress responses, but responses were greater in gillnetted fish, probably because gill nets restricted buccal and opercular movements.
Reconstruction of the surface temperature fields according to the fragmentary data of remote sensing

We propose a gap-filling method for the data of remote sensing of the hydrophysical and biological characteristics of the water surface. The proposed method of reconstruction is based on the representation of the fields of surface characteristics as the sums of certain numbers of empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) making the largest contributions to the total variance of the field. According to the fragmentary data obtained as a result of processing of the satellite images for the summer season, we construct estimates of the mean field and of the four-dimensional space covariance function of the surface temperature of the Black Sea. The coefficients of expansion are computed by the method of least squares or determined with the help of a genetic searching algorithm. The results of numerical experiments show that the proposed method is quite promising for applications in the problems of gap filling in the available satellite data.
Coupling impedance measurements of a model fast extraction kicker magnet for the SNS accumulator ring

Both longitudinal and transverse coupling impedance of a fast extraction kicker magnet has been measured for the design and development of beam extraction in the Spallation Neutron Source accumulator ring. The conventional wire method with improved techniques is employed in the bench test. The experimental result is explained by and compared with a newly developed resonant circuit model. The impact of the measurement on the fast extraction kicker magnet design is discussed.
Development and evaluation of the short version of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care instrument.

Objectives: The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) was developed for measuring the extent to which patients receive care congruent with the chronic care model (CCM). The purpose of this study was to develop a short version of the PACIC with better psychometric properties than the original instrument.Methods: Two samples of 529 and 361 type 2 diabetic patients completed a modified PACIC. A short-version PACIC instrument was developed and validated using parallel analysis to determine the number of factors, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) within an exploratory factor analysis framework (E/CFA) was conducted to explore the measurement structure of the full instrument, and a CFA was performed to confirm the hypothesized structure.Results: The results demonstrated that the PACIC is unidimensional and that it can be reduced to 11 items with no loss in psychometric properties. No demographic variables or clinical assays were found to be related to the PACIC.Discussion: A short-version PACIC is...
Conservation of the active site motif in Aspergillus niger (ficuum) pH 6.0 optimum acid phosphatase and kidney bean purple acid phosphatase.

Aspergillus niger (ficuum)and the kidney bean purple acid phosphatases retained all the essential amino acids in the active site despite a low degree of total sequence homology. This high degree of homology in the sequence motif ofA. nigerfungal acid phosphatase (Apase6) active site with Kidney bean metallo phosphoesterase (KBPAP) and the absence of the RHGXRXP sequence motif indicates Apase6 to be a metallo-phosphoesterase rather than a histidine acid phosphatase.
Degradation studies of methyl parathion with CuBTC metal-organic framework

Abstract Degradation of methyl parathion (MP) adsorbed in metal-organic framework (MOF-199) cages was studied using solid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Raman spectrometry, and solvent extractions. MP degradation was confirmed to be occurring when adsorbed in CuBTC MOF (MOF-199). Over 67 days of treatment, NMR results show that constitutional isomerization is an early mechanism of methyl parathion degradation with smaller amounts of oxidation (methyl paraoxon) and direct hydrolysis of MP followed by hydrolysis of these early degradation products. Raman spectrometry after 5 days and water extractions after 5 and 35 days supported this conclusion. 4-Nitrophenyl, a common MP degradation product, was observed with the amount increasing with exposure time or higher MP loading. Degradation of organic compounds such as methyl parathion, in addition to the selective physisorption, demonstrates the usefulness of MOF-199 for potential applications in protective materials and filtration.
Overwinter Survival of Age‐0 Gizzard Shad in Missouri Reservoirs Spanning a Productivity Gradient: Roles of Body Size and Winter Severity

Abstract Survival through the first winter of life can be an important bottleneck in the recruitment of fishes and is commonly size dependent, with larger fish exhibiting higher survival than smaller fish. Body size and density of age-0 gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum, an ecologically important prey species, are reportedly influenced by reservoir productivity. These differences in age-0 demographics across a productivity gradient may influence overwinter survival and subsequent year-class strength of adults. I examined fall age-0 demographics (fall mean total length, mean density, and energy density), overwinter changes in these demographics, and factors that influenced overwinter survival among five age-0 cohorts in five Missouri reservoirs spanning a productivity gradient. I specifically wanted to determine whether (1) fall age-0 demographics varied along a reservoir productivity gradient, (2) fall age-0 demographics and winter severity were related to overwinter survival, and (3) variation in the abun...
Electronic structure and x-ray near-edge core spectra of Cu 2 O

A new tight-binding band structure of ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O is presented from a fit to the valence-band density of states and low-energy band gaps. The depths of core excitons and the near-edge structure of the O $K$ edge are calculated using the $Z+1$ approximation to the core-hole potential and the local density of states of the excited atom. The chemical trends of its impurity levels are predicted and partial densities of states are found.
Conversion of angiotensin-1 to angiotensin-2 by a latent endothelial cell peptidyl dipeptidase that is not angiotensin-converting enzyme

Cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells contain a second peptidyl dipeptidase, distinct from angiotensin-converting enzyme, present in an inactive form associated with a non-dialyzable inhibitor. Partial purification by glycine affinity chromatography separates enzyme from inhibitor to yield a preparation which hydrolyzes angiotensin-1, bradykinin, substance P, atriopeptin-2, enkephalin and Hip-His-Leu. This enzyme is resistant to inhibition by lisinopril, captopril, thiorphan, phosphoramidon, soybean trypsin inhibitor, PMSF and aminopeptidase and carboxypeptidase inhibitors, but is inhibited by EDTA.
Selective enhancement of excitatory synaptic activity in the rat nucleus tractus solitarius by hypocretin 2.

Hypocretin 2 (orexin B) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide thought to be involved in regulating energy homeostasis, autonomic function, arousal, and sensory processing. Neural circuits in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) integrate viscerosensory inputs, and are therefore implicated in aspects of all these functions. We tested the hypothesis that hypocretin 2 modulates fast synaptic activity in caudal NTS areas that are generally associated with visceral sensation from cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Hypocretin 2-immunoreactive fibers were observed throughout the caudal NTS. In whole-cell recordings from neurons in acute slices, hypocretin 2 depolarized 48% and hyperpolarized 10% of caudal NTS neurons, effects that were not observed when Cs+ was used as the primary cation carrier. Hypocretin 2 also increased the amplitude of tractus solitarius-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in 36% of neurons and significantly enhanced the frequency of spontaneous EPSCs in most (59%) neurons. Spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were relatively unaffected by the peptide. The increase in EPSC frequency persisted in the presence of tetrodotoxin, suggesting a role for the peptide in regulating glutamate release in the NTS by acting at presynaptic terminals. These data suggest that hypocretin 2 modulates excitatory, but not inhibitory, synapses in caudal NTS neurons, including viscerosensory inputs. The selective nature of the effect supports the hypothesis that hypocretin 2 plays a role in modulating autonomic sensory signaling in the NTS.
Ovarian cancer screening with annual transvaginal sonography: findings of 25,000 women screened.

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic malignancies, and most women present with advanced-stage disease. The current investigation was performed to determine the efficacy of annual transvaginal sonography (TVS) as a screening method for ovarian cancer. METHODS Annual TVS screening was performed on 25,327 women from 1987 to 2005. Asymptomatic women aged ≥50 years and women aged ≥25 years who had a family history of ovarian cancer were eligible for participation in this trial. RESULTS Among 364 patients (1.4%) with a persisting ovarian tumor on TVS who underwent exploratory laparoscopy or laparotomy with tumor removal, 35 primary invasive ovarian cancers, 9 serous ovarian tumors of low malignant potential, and 7 cancers metastatic to the ovary were detected. Stage distribution was as follows: 28 patients had stage I disease, 8 patients had stage II disease, and 8 patients had stage III disease. Four patients died of disease, 2 patients died of other causes, and 38 patients were alive and well from 0.5 years to 15.8 years after diagnosis (mean, 5.3 years). Nine women developed ovarian cancer within 12 months of a negative screen (false-negative results), and 3 of these patients died of disease. TVS screening had a sensitivity of 85.0%, specificity of 98.7%, positive predictive value of 14.01%, and negative predictive value of 99.9%. After 107,276 screening years, there have been 7 ovarian cancer deaths in the annually screened population and 3 ovarian cancer deaths among women who were noncompliant. Excluding patients with nonepithelial or borderline ovarian malignancies, the survival of patients with ovarian cancer in the annually screened population was 89.9% ± 10.1% at 2 years and 77.2% ± 22.8% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS TVS screening, when it was performed annually, was associated with a decrease in disease stage at detection and with case-specific ovarian cancer mortality, but it was not effective in detecting ovarian cancers in women who had normal ovarian volume. Cancer 2007; © 2007 American Cancer Society.
EHD as sensor fabrication technology for robotic skins

Human-robot interaction can be made more sophisticated and intuitive if the entire body of a robot is covered with multimodal sensors embedded in artificial skin. In order to efficiently interact with humans in unstructured environments, robotic skin may require sensors such as touch, impact, and proximity. Integration of various types of sensors into robotic skin is challenging due to the topographical nature of skin. Printing is a promising technology that can be explored for sensor integration as it may allow both sensors and interconnects to be directly printed into the skin. We are developing Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing technology in order to co-fabricate various devices onto a single substrate. Using strong applied electrostatic forces, EHD allows the printing of microscale features from a wide array of materials with viscosities ranging from 100 to 1000cP, highly beneficial for multilateral integration. Thus far we have demonstrated EHD’s capability at printing patterns of Poly(2,3-dihydrothieno-1,4-dioxin)-poly(styrenesulfonate) for pressure sensor applications, generating patterns with modified commercial photoresist for mask-less lithography, and obtaining ZnO microstructures for direct device printing. Printed geometries range from a few tens of microns to millimeters. We have used inks with viscosities ranging from 230 to 520cp and from non-conductive to 135μS/cm. These results clearly show that the EHD is a promising multi-material printing platform and would be an enabling technology that can be used to co-fabricate various devices into robotic skin.
Fine tuning NF-κB: new openings for PKC-ζ

NF-κB is a critical transcription factor that is regulated by several post-transcriptional modifications. The characterization of their roles would help in the design of new therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammation.
An inventory and review of the wetland resources of Greece

Over 35% of the wetlands of Greece have been lost in recent years, and destruction due to pollution from agriculture and urban sources and to development continues at an alarming rate. Little information exists on their location and basic ecosystem characteristics. Most of the 124 wetlands identified in this survey occur in the north and central part of the country, and they range from coastal lagoons to peatlands. Emergent freshwater marshes and coastal lagoons are the most common wetland types. Greek wetlands are invaluable nesting and resting habitats for waterfowl, as they are located along the major north-south migratory corridors. The 1971 international convention in Ramsar, Iran, identified twelve wetlands of international importance to waterfowl. Without exception, the wetlands of Greece are in need of protection, and the first step in that direction should be the development of a comprehensive national wetland inventory.
Hyperbolic tetrad formulation of the Einstein equations for numerical relativity

The tetrad-based equations for vacuum gravity published by Estabrook, Robinson, and Wahlquist are simplified and adapted for numerical relativity. We show that the evolution equations as partial differential equations for the Ricci rotation coefficients constitute a rather simple first-order symmetrizable hyperbolic system, not only for the Nester gauge condition on the acceleration and angular velocity of the tetrad frames considered by Estabrook et al., but also for the Lorentz gauge condition of van Putten and Eardley and for a fixed gauge condition. We introduce a lapse function and a shift vector to allow general coordinate evolution relative to the timelike congruence defined by the tetrad vector field.
The influence of police officers’ decision-making style and anger control on responses to work scenarios

Abstract Decision-making within police work is a global concern. Our research attempts to contribute to the literature regarding how police officers make decisions. We examined the interactive effects of decision-making style and anger control on decision-making using a sample of 120 police officers. Police officers were presented with a realistic decision-making scenario, and asked to choose their intended action. Results suggest that analytical and intuitive cognitive processes have an interactive effect on decision-making. Results are discussed regarding the implications on officer decision-making training.
Water Adsorption and Desorption by Coals and Chars

An investigation was carried out on the adsorption and desorption of moisture in chars of low-rank coal. Equilibrium moisture sorptions of dry and moist chars were measured at room temperature and at a relative humidity of 30% and 80%. On the basis of these measurements, a simple mathematical model was developed to predict both the rate and the level of hydration for coals and chars. The formulation uses a shrinking core model which required only the measurement of the adsorbing material's equilibrium moisture content at different temperatures and humidities. The model was validated against experimental and literature data. It accurately and reliably predicted both the rate and extent of hydration and dehydration for coals and char. Using this model, the effects of varying temperatures, relative humidities, and size of the particles and coal pile were simulated. The sensitivity study demonstrated that, as expected, relative humidity and temperature had strong effects on both the rate of hydration and the equilibrium moisture of coal or char. The particle size dramatically influenced the rate of hydration but had no affect on the equilibrium moisture content. This model can be used effectively to simulate the impact of moisture on drying, storage, and spontaneous combustion of coals and coal-derived chars.
Does Learning Behavior Augment Cognitive Ability as an Indicator of Academic Achievement

Abstract Measures of cognitive ability have a rich history of accounting for meaningful levels of achievement variance. In contrast to other student characteristics, however, they are somewhat limited in terms of their intervention relevance and treatment validity. Alternatively, children's observable learning behaviors are believed to enhance both treatment validity and the predictions afforded by cognitive ability. This study examined student learning behaviors in the context of cognitive ability and academic achievement. Three structural models were evaluated on a sample of 1304 students ranging in age from 6 to 17 years. Results supported the unique relationship between learning behavior and academic achievement, beyond cognitive ability. Multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that these findings were invariant across groups differing by gender and ethnicity. These findings are consistent with previous observations that children's behavioral features in learning situations will supplement the outcome-oriented standardized tests of cognitive ability.