cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying HIV care enrollees at-risk for cannabis use disorder.

ABSTRACTIncreased scientific attention given to cannabis in the United States has particular relevance for its domestic HIV care population, given that evidence exists for both cannabis as a therapeutic agent and cannabis use disorder (CUD) as a barrier to antiretroviral medication adherence. It is critical to identify relative risk for CUD among demographic subgroups of HIV patients, as this will inform detection and intervention efforts. A Center For AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort (N = 10,652) of HIV-positive adults linked to care at seven United State sites was examined for this purpose. Based on a patient-report instrument with validated diagnostic threshold for CUD, the prevalence of recent cannabis use and corresponding conditional probabilities for CUD were calculated for the aggregate sample and demographic subgroups. Generalized estimating equations then tested models directly examining patient demographic indices as predictors of CUD, while controlling for history an...
Drug availability adjustments in population-based studies of prescription opioid abuse.

Purpose Population-based prescription opioid abuse studies in which one drug is compared to another, or drugs are compared across time, often account for the availability of those drugs in the community. The objective of this investigation is to assess consistency in the relative abuse ratios (RARs) across different approaches for adjusting for drug availability. Methods For the years 2004 through 2010, RARs for each of four prescription opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and morphine) were calculated using negative binomial regression. Measures of abuse (outcome) were misuse/abuse-related emergency department visits obtained from the Drug Abuse Warning Network. Measures of drug availability (offsets) were drug utilization estimates obtained from IMS Health. Separate regression models were run using each of five measures of drug utilization: unique patients (URDD), prescriptions dispensed (RX), tablets dispensed (TD), kilograms (KGs) sold, and morphine-equivalents (MEs) of kilograms sold. These results were compared for consistency. Results Aside from oxycodone-combination products, across molecules, RARs adjusted by RXs, TDs, and URDDs were generally similar to each other while RARs adjusted by KGs and MEs were different. For example, compared to hydrocodone, oxycodone had statistically significantly increased RARs of 3.6 (95%CI: 2.0–6.5), 3.5 (95%CI: 1.9–6.4), and 2.7 (95%CI: 1.5–5.0) when adjusted by URDDs, RXs, and TDs, respectively, but not when adjusted by KGs or MEs. Conclusions Different drug utilization adjustment approaches may yield inconsistent RAR estimates in population-based prescription opioid abuse analyses. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Chapter 7 – Resilient Ribonucleases

Publisher Summary The difficulties associated with the isolation of full-length, intrinsically labile RNA are further compounded by the ubiquity of ribonuclease (RNase) activity. RNases are a family of enzymes, present in virtually all living cells, that can degrade RNA molecules through both endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic activity. The control of RNase activity must be considered from two perspectives: extrinsic RNase activity must be controlled and intrinsic RNase activity must also be controlled. The method selected for controlling RNase activity must demonstrate compatibility with the cell lysis procedure. Several RNase inhibitors are used to control the RNase activity and these compounds fall under two broad categories, specific and non-specific RNase inhibitors. Some of these inhibitors are added directly to lysis and reaction buffers to control RNase activity, whereas others are used in the standard preparation of reagents intended for RNA work. The effectiveness of an RNase inhibitor in a particular system can be ascertained by a short incubation of RNase A, test RNA, and the putative inhibitor. The preparation of equipment and reagents is of utmost importance. It is necessary to wear gloves during the preparation of reagents and equipment and during the actual RNA extraction procedure. Individually wrapped serological pipettes and separate containers of chemicals as well as stock solutions should be used to avoid any discrepancy.
Effects of allyl mercaptan and various allium-derived compounds on cholesterol synthesis and secretion in Hep-G2 cells.

The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of allyl mercaptan (AM), a major metabolite of garlic, with several garlic constituents and extracts on cytotoxicity, cholesterol synthesis and its secretion in Hep-G2 cells. The cells were grown in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and treated with 5, 25, 50, 125, 250 and 500 μg/ml of AM, diallyl disulfide (DD), diallyl trisulfide (DT), steam-distilled garlic oil (SD) or vinyl-dithiin oil of garlic (VD) for 4 h. At concentrations up to 50 μg/ml, no significant cytotoxic effect was found in any group, but at concentrations above 250 μg/ml, the cell viability decreased drastically in all groups compared to the control. The treatment of cells with 25 μg/ml (non-cytotoxic concentration) of AM, DD, DT, SD for 4 h significantly inhibited [3H]acetate incorporation into cholesterol compared to that of the control (P<0.05). The secretion of cholesterol into the medium was also significantly decreased in all groups except for VD. The treatment of cells with those allium constituents had no effect on either [3H]acetate incorporation into fatty acids or [3H]glycerol incorporation into triglyceride or phospholipid.
Cryotherapy and thermal ablation for renal malignancy over 3cm: Comparative analysis of survival with small renal masses.

531Background: Ablative treatments achieve good oncological outcome for renal parenchymal tumors 3 cm or smaller. Larger renal malignancies are increasingly being treated with ablation. This comparative study determines the survival following ablation in these large renal masses. Methods: Patients undergoing cryotherapy or thermal ablation (Procedure codes 13, 15, or 23) for renal tumors were identified from SEER database (1998-2013). Exclusions: T stage not recorded, more than one primary, metastatic, or node positive disease. Demographics, stage, and overall (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) were analyzed. T1a tumors were compared to T1b or T2 tumors. Tumors 3 cm or less were compared to greater than 3 cm. Results: 4886 patients were identified, and 2340 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 66.5 years, 1943 were white, 243 were black, and 1419 were male. The stage distribution included T1a (n=2159), T1b (n=172), and T2 (n=9). 1186 tumors had right sided, 1149 had left ,and the others ...
Cooperative collision avoidance and formation control for objects with heterogeneous shapes

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of formation control with collision avoidance, in scenarios comprising robots of heterogeneous shapes and with double integrator dynamics, moving on a plane. The exact shapes of the robots are taken into account in developing two cooperative collision avoidance strategies, and these are based on the collision cone approach. The two collision avoidance strategies treat the acceleration magnitude and direction, respectively, as inputs to facilitate cooperative collision avoidance. Analytical expressions for these cooperative collision avoidance laws are presented. These are then integrated with formation control laws, and simulations demonstrate the satisfactory performance of the overall system.
Do What You Mean or Mean What You Say? Testing Explicit and Implicit Prosocial Motivation

Advancements in public management and organization research identify “public service motivation” (PSM) as a common characteristic of individuals who choose to enter careers in public or nonprofit s...
Storage and Handling of Dried Citrus Pulp

Dried citrus pulp is an important by-product of the citrus processing industry. It is a bulky, granular, carbohydrate concentrate livestock feed produced by drying the peel, seed, and rag refuse of citrus fruit. Approximately 324,159 tons of citrus pulp were produced in 1964–65 (2). This amount will probably increase by more than 60 percent during the next 10 years, since the orange crop is expected to increase from the 1964–65 estimate of 83,000,000 boxes to 183,000,000 by 1975 with 80 percent of the oranges being processed (7). The 1975 grapefruit crop is expected to be 30,000,000 boxes with over one-half being processed. These increases in citrus production could mean that by 1975 over 650,000 tons of dried pulp would be produced in the State.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
Genome Sequences for Three Strains of Kocuria rosea, Including the Type Strain.

ABSTRACT Genomes from three strains of Kocuria rosea were sequenced. K. rosea ATCC 186, the type strain, was 3,958,612 bp in length with a total G+C content of 72.70%. When assembled, K. rosea ATCC 516 was 3,862,128 bp with a 72.82% G+C content. K. rosea ATCC 49321 was 4,018,783 bp in size with a 72.49% G+C content.
Nurses' Experience With Health Information Technology: Longitudinal Qualitative Study.

Background: Nurses are the largest group of health information technology (HIT) users. As such, nurses’ adaptations are critical for HIT implementation success. However, longitudinal approaches to understanding nurses’ perceptions of HIT remain underexplored. Previous studies of nurses’ perceptions demonstrate that the progress and timing for acceptance of and adaptation to HIT varies. Objective: This study aimed to explore nurses’ experience regarding implementation of HIT over time. Methods: A phenomenological approach was used for this longitudinal qualitative study to explore nurses’ perceptions of HIT implementation over time, focusing on three time points (rounds) at 3, 9, and 18 months after implementation of electronic health records and bar code medication administration. The purposive sample was comprised of clinical nurses who worked on a medical-surgical unit in an academic center. Results: Major findings were categorized into 7 main themes with 54 subthemes. Nurses reported personal-level and organizational-level factors that facilitated HIT adaptation. We also generated network graphs to illustrate the occurrence of themes. Thematic interconnectivity differed due to nurses’ concerns and satisfaction at different time points. Equipment and workflow were the most frequent themes across all three rounds. Nurses were the most dissatisfied approximately 9 months after HIT implementation. Eighteen months after HIT implementation, nurses’ perceptions appeared more balanced. Conclusions: It is recommended that organizations invest in equipment (ie, wireless barcode scanners), refine policies to reflect nursing practice, and improve systems to focus on patient safety. Future research is necessary to confirm patterns of nurses’ adaptation to HIT in other samples.
Ligand induced molecular weight transitions in Rhodopseudomonas palustris fructose 1,6-diphosphatase.

Abstract Fructose 1, 6-diphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) from the photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas , palustris , undergoes reversible dissociation from a catalytically diminished 130,000 molecular weight species to a catalytically enhanced 65,000 molecular weight form in the presence of the allosteric ligands, fructose diphosphate and Mn++ ions. In addition, alkaline pH was observed to mimic the effect of allosteric ligands on the quaternary structure of the enzyme. The mild conditions (25°C, pH 7.4) under which dissociation is induced by allosteric ligands suggest that these molecular weight transitions with the accompanying changes in catalytic activity may occur in , vivo and play a role in regulating the Calvin-Bassham carbon reduction cycle.
Bulk Flow and Near Wall Hemodynamics of the Rabbit Aortic Arch and Descending Thoracic Aorta: A 4D PC-MRI Derived Computational Fluid Dynamics Study

Animal models offer a flexible experimental environment for studying atherosclerosis. The mouse is the most commonly used animal, however, the underlying hemodynamics in larger animals such as the rabbit are far closer to that of humans. The aortic arch is a vessel with complex helical flow and highly heterogeneous shear stress patterns which may influence where atherosclerotic lesions form. A better understanding of intra-species flow variation and the impact of geometry on flow may improve our understanding of where disease forms. In this work we use Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) and 4D Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) to image and measure blood velocity in the rabbit aortic arch. Measured flow rates from the PC-MRI were used as boundary conditions in computational fluid dynamics models of the arches. Helical flow, cross flow index (CFI) and time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) were determined from the simulated flow field. Both traditional geometric metrics and shape modes derived from statistical shape analysis were analyzed with respect to flow helicity. High CFI and low TAWSS were found to co-localize in the ascending aorta and to a lesser extent on the inner curvature of the aortic arch. The Reynolds number was linearly associated with an increase in helical flow intensity (R=0.85, p<.05). Both traditional and statistical shape analysis correlated with increased helical flow symmetry. However, a stronger correlation was obtained from the statistical shape analysis demonstrating its potential for discerning the role of shape in hemodynamic studies.
Determining Optimal Gait Parameters for a Statically Stable Walking Human Assistive Quadruped Robot

In this paper we propose a method to determine an optimal statically stable gait for a quadruped robot walking in the presence of an expected disturbance. There exists a tradeoff between a stable gait and an energy efficient gait. Our goal is to determine an energy efficient quadruped gait that will maintain stability while a human uses the device to stabilize themselves while walking. In order to determine an optimal gait, we present a cost function consisting of an energy term and a stability term. A method of evaluating the cost function using dynamics and quasi-static analysis is demonstrated. The optimization is implemented for a human assistive device currently being designed and the results are verified in simulation.
Bowel obstruction with stage IV cancer: The benefit of introduction of formal palliative care service.

e20573 Background: Patients with stage IV cancer and bowel obstruction (BO) present a complicated management problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of introduction of an organized ...
Birds of a Feather: Deciphering the Didactic Iconography and Humour of Adriaen van de Venne’s Hoe dienen wij bij een!

Delft-born Adriaen van de Venne (1580–1662) is an artist well-known for his genre scenes, portraits, and book illustrations. He also created images with great moralistic and comic value, such as hi...
Effect of sequestering agents based on a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product and clay on the ruminal bacterial community of lactating dairy cows challenged with dietary aflatoxin B1

This study was conducted to examine the effects of clay (CL) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) on the ruminal bacterial community of Holstein dairy cows challenged with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A second objective was to examine correlations between bacterial abundance and performance measures. Eight lactating dairy cows stratified by milk yield and parity were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 2 replicate squares, four 33-d periods, and a 5-d washout between periods. The treatments included (1) control (basal diet, no additive); (2) T (control + 63.4 µg/kg AFB1, oral dose); (3) CL (T + 200 g/head per day of sodium bentonite clay, top-dress); and (4) CL+SCFP [CL + 19 g/head per day Diamond V NutriTek (Diamond V Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA) + 16 g/head per day MetaShield (Diamond V Inc.), top-dress]. Cows were adapted to diets containing no AFB1 from d 1 to 25 (predosing period). From d 26 to 30 (dosing period), AFB1 was orally dosed and then withdrawn for d 31 to 33 (withdrawal period). During the predosing period, compared with the control, feeding CL and CL+SCFP increased the relative abundance of the most dominant phylum, Bacteroidetes (55.1 and 55.8 vs. 50.6%, respectively), and feeding CL+SCFP increased Prevotella abundance (43.3 and 43.6 vs. 40.0%, respectively). During the dosing period, feeding AFB1 did not affect the ruminal bacterial community, but the relative abundance of Fibrobacteraceae increased with CL+SCFP compared with T (1.45 vs. 0.97%); Fibrobacter abundance also tended to increase with CL+SCFP compared with T and control, respectively (1.45 vs. 0.97 and 1.05%, respectively). Feeding AFB1 with or without CL or CL+SCFP did not affect ruminal pH or concentrations of NH3-N, total volatile fatty acids, or individual volatile fatty acids. Milk yield and milk component yields were positively correlated with the relative abundance of unclassified Succinivibrionaceae, unclassified YS2, or Coprococcus. Feed efficiency was positively correlated (r ≥ 0.30) with the relative abundance of unclassified YS2, Coprococcus, or Treponema. Feeding aflatoxin at 63 µg/kg, a common contamination level on farms, did not affect the abundance of dominant bacteria or rumen fermentation. When aflatoxin was fed, CL+SCFP increased the abundance of Fibrobacter, a major fibrolytic bacteria genus. Milk yield and DMI were positively correlated with abundance of Succinivibrionaceae and Coprococcus. Feed efficiency was positively correlated with abundance of Coprococcus, Treponema, and YS2. Future studies should speciate culture and determine the functions of the bacteria to elucidate their roles in the rumen and potential contribution to increasing the performance of dairy cows.
Total and Near-Total Nasal Reconstruction

Total and near-total nasal reconstruction is uncommon in trauma but may still be required. Noses can be avulsed or bitten off, or tissue may be lost following complications of repair. Techniques used in nasal reconstruction following cancer resection are commonly used. These utilise the same tools as with all posttraumatic defects, with an emphasis on functional reconstruction of all missing tissues. The workhorse for large nasal defects remains the paramedian forehead flap.
Defending Qualified Immunity

Damages actions against public officials are often the only effective vehicle for challenging the constitutionality of governmental conduct. Yet, they face the defense of qualified immunity, which bars actions for damages against government officials, unless the defendant violates a “clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known.” Qualified immunity has come under sustained attack. One line of argument questions its lawfulness, noting that nothing in statutory text or the background principles of common law supports the defense. Another attacks its consequences, albeit from different directions. Some argue that the defense is so powerful that it renders damages actions ineffective as a check on official misconduct. Others argue that qualified immunity is ineffective because it too rarely protects public officials from the threat of litigation and liability. This article is the first to offer a direct response to the emerging case against qualified immunity. Part I defends the lawfulness of qualified immunity. While acknowledging that the conventional defenses of qualified immunity wither under scrutiny, it offers a novel justification: Congress’s delegation of authority to the federal courts to develop common-law rules for the administration of liability under the civil rights laws in the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Part II similarly acknowledges that the conventional justifications offered for qualified immunity are unpersuasive, but contends a functional justification emerges by examining qualified immunity’s incentive effects. In light of the practical necessity for public employers to indemnify their employees for their legal costs, indemnification effectively shifts the financial burden of litigation from public employees to their employers. Qualified immunity, in turn, encourages public employers wishing to minimize the cost of indemnification to train their employees to comply with extant legal rules. It also discourages plaintiffs’ lawyers from bringing a wide variety of novel damages claims, and minimizes the costs imposed on innocent third parties if public officials faced liability in cases in which the legality of their conduct was unclear. This last point is of particular import. After all, money state and local governments must devote to litigation costs necessarily comes from raising taxes or, more likely, from reductions in funding public services. These costs are likely to hit hardest those with the least political power in government budgeting — the poor and disadvantaged.
Exploration of Biomass-Derived Activated Carbons for Use in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Increasing redox reaction rates on carbon electrodes is an important step to reducing the cost of all-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Biomass-derived activated carbons (ACs) hold promise as ...
In Vivo Evaluation of Effect of Preoperative Ibuprofen on Proinflammatory Mediators in Irreversible Pulpitis Cases.

Abstract Introduction Preoperative administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been suggested as a method for increasing the efficacy of local anesthetics and decreasing postoperative pain in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis cases. However, the effects of ibuprofen at the molecular level are still unknown. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare the levels of proinflammatory mediators in the dental pulp of teeth with irreversible pulpitis in patients who medicated with preoperative ibuprofen versus those who did not. Methods Thirty-four patients undergoing conventional endodontic therapy for teeth with irreversible pulpitis were selected and randomly assigned into either the ibuprofen or nonibuprofen group. Four patients undergoing endodontic therapy for prosthodontic reasons served as controls. Patients in the ibuprofen group were instructed to take 600 mg ibuprofen 1 hour before treatment, whereas patients in the nonibuprofen and control groups were asked to avoid analgesics before treatment. Blood samples obtained from the pulp upon access were tested for levels of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis efactor alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and interferon gamma using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Postoperative pain levels were recorded for the groups. Data for the cytokine levels and postoperative pain were analyzed using statistical analysis. Results There was a significant decrease in the levels of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, and interferon gamma in the ibuprofen group compared with the nonibuprofen group. No significant differences were noted in the postoperative pain levels between these groups. Conclusions The data showed that preoperative ibuprofen significantly decreased the levels of most proinflammatory cytokines in the dental pulp, which could possibly help with anesthesia in irreversible cases.
A Bellwether for Jury Selection Jurisprudence

The case of Flowers v. Mississippi recently reached a decision in the United States Supreme Court, and has implications for interpretation of both the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution concerning discrimination and fair jury selection. The outcome of this case has the potential to mark a profound shift in future state and federal rulings on intent of bias in jury selection. Curtis Flowers was tried and convicted of murder in Winona, Mississippi following an armed robbery of a furniture store in 1996. Flowers was ultimately sentenced to death following his conviction for the murder of one of the employees of the store. Flowers challenged the ruling on the grounds that his right to a fair trial had been violated as a result of evidence presented against him by three of the store employees. The decision was reversed and remanded. Five more trials took place after Flowers was again convicted and sentenced to death, but Flowers challenged the subsequent rulings on the basis of racial discrimination in the jury selection process. Flowers’ case was taken up by the United States Supreme Court following his conviction at his sixth trial, with his petition alleging violations of his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The Sixth Amendment provides the accused with the procedural right to a trial by an impartial jury in all criminal prosecutions. It represents an important check, placed in the hands of individual citizens, against arbitrary prosecution by the government. The Fourteenth Amendment contains the Equal Protection Clause, which maintains that no state shall deprive any person within its jurisdiction of equal protection of the laws.These amendments hold significant power in the determination of what is considered to be fair concerning jury selection in criminal law proceedings.
Hegemony versus pluralism: Ayurveda and the Movement for Global Mental Health.

Under the aegis of the World Health Organization, the Movement for Global Mental Health and an Indian Supreme Court ruling, biomedical psychiatric interventions have expanded in India augmenting bi...
Coherent Parallel Binary-Weighted Digital-to-Analog Converter in Silicon Photonics

Here, we introduce a coherent parallel photonic DAC concept along with an experimental demonstration based on binary-weighted bits in a silicon PIC platform unlike other concepts capable of performing the conversion without optical-electronic-optical domain crossings.
A small-molecule oral agonist of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor

Abstract Peptide agonists of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) have revolutionized diabetes therapy, but their use has been limited by the requirement for injection. Here we describe the first effective, orally bioavailable small molecule GLP-1R agonists. A sensitized high-throughput screen identified a series of small molecule GLP-1R agonists that were optimized to promote endogenous GLP-1R signaling with nM potency. These small molecule agonists increased insulin levels in primates but not rodents, which is explained by a cryo-EM structure that revealed a binding pocket requiring primate-specific tryptophan 33. Importantly, oral administration of agonist PF-06882961 to healthy humans produced dose-dependent declines in serum glucose (NCT03309241). This opens the door to a new era of oral small molecule therapies that target the well-validated GLP-1R pathway for metabolic health. One Sentence Summary PF-06882961 is an orally administered small molecule that activates the GLP-1 receptor to lower blood glucose in humans.
The supernova-gamma-ray burst connection

SN 1998bw and its corresponding relativistically expanding radio source are coincident with the γ-ray burst source GRB 980425. We searched for other possible supernova-γ-ray burst associations among 101 recent Type Ia and 17 Type Ib/c supernovae (SNe) for which the dates of optical maximum are relatively well known. We show that Type Ia SNe can be excluded as the source of γ-ray bursts (GRBs) at a high significance level (greater than 4 σ) and that the current data are consistent with Type Ib/c SNe as GRB producers. If the Type Ib/c event SN 1998bw does not represent a special class of GRBs, but is representative of the general mechanism for GRBs, it would imply GRB energies that are some fraction of an SN energy. This in turn demands strong collimation into perhaps 10-3 sr to explain GRBs at higher redshifts. Such collimation requires a high rate of occurrence, perhaps consistent with an SN rate. The collimated flow may be generated by core collapse to produce rotating, magnetized neutron stars. Having lost most or all of their hydrogen and helium envelope before explosion, Type Ib/c SNe are particularly amenable to SN-GRB associations. Asymmetries in line profiles and spectropolarimetry of Types II and Ib/c SNe, pulsar runaway velocities, soft γ-ray repeaters, and GRBs may be associated phenomena.
Variation in taste ganglion neuron morphology: insights into taste function and plasticity

Chemical information from food is transduced by cells in the taste bud (taste-transducing cells) and carried to the brain by peripheral taste ganglion neurons. These neurons are thought to act simply as cables without any transformation of the signal or circuitry between the taste-transducing cells and the neurons. However, these neurons vary in structure, particularly in the extent of their peripheral axon branching. Such structural differences would be expected to underlie differences in the number of taste-transducing cells providing convergent information to these neurons. However, axon branching may vary over time and morphological differences between neurons might also reflect neuron plasticity. Because taste-transducing cells die and are replaced, the morphology of neurons may change as they form connections with new cells within the taste bud. Modern genetic approaches may permit investigations of the complex relationship among gustatory neuron morphology, circuitry, and function. This review discusses potential relationships among peripheral taste neuron morphology, function, and plasticity to help advance our understanding of taste system function and dysfunction.
Identifying Potential High-Risk Medication Errors Using Telepharmacy and a Web-Based Survey Tool.

Background and Introduction: Obtaining patient medication histories during emergency department (ED) admissions is an important step towards identifying potential errors that could otherwise remain in the patient’s active medication list. This is a descriptive report of a standardized, electronic data collection tool created to document potential medication errors in patients receiving high-risk medications during ED admissions. Materials and Methods: Trained pharmacy technicians completed a survey following medication history collection using a secure web platform called REDCap®. Data collected included patient-specific information, the number and type of high-risk medications, and potential medication errors identified in the collection process. Results: During a pilot period of April 2019 to October 2020, 191 patient records were completed using the survey tool. Out of a total of 1088 medications recorded, 41% were considered high-risk medications. 42% of potential medication errors were classified as high-risk medication errors. Results from this survey tool demonstrated that 58% of high-risk medication orders could potentially result in a medication error that can be carried through patient admission and discharge. Discussion: Accurate medication history and transitions of care can significantly impact patient quality of life. The cost of addressing a medication related-adverse event is also substantial. Based on published reports, annual gross savings to a hospital is estimated to be $4532 per harmful error in 2020, after adjusting for inflation. This equated to approximately $1,182,852 in estimated savings for Ascension Texas in 18 months. Nationwide, preventing potential medication errors in an outpatient setting can save on average $3.5 billion per year. Conclusion: This web-based survey tool has improved the quality and efficiency of potential error identification during medication history collection by pharmacy technicians. This information can be easily retrieved and aid in discussions regarding medication reconciliation at the leadership level and impact patient treatment outcomes by developing virtual processes that may result in fewer medication related events.
Running gait biomechanics in females with chronic ankle instability and ankle sprain copers.

Limited evidence exists comparing running biomechanics between individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and those who fully recover (copers). The purpose of this study was to simultaneously...
Oxidation chemistry of 3,7-dimethyluric acid: Electrochemical and peroxidase-catalyzed mechanisms

3,7-Dimethyluric acid gives two voltammetric oxidation peaks (Ia and IIa) at a pyrolytic graphite electrode in aqueous solution. The peak Ia oxidation is a two-electron reaction giving a very unstable quinonoid cation that ultimately gives 4,8-dimethylallantoin as the sole organic product product at pH 7–9. At lower pH values 4-methyl-5-hydroxyhydantoin-5-carboxamide is also observed as a product. The peak IIa reaction is due to a Kolbe-type oxidation of the anion of 1-carbohydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-2,4,6,8-tetraaza-3,7-dioxo-5-ene-bicyclo [3.3.0] octane, an unstable peak Ia product. The expected tertiary alcohol product of this reaction is apparently unstable and undergoes further chemical and electrooxidation reactions to give two new products, 1-methyl-2,5-diketo-4-N-methylimino-imidazole and N(1)-methyl-N(1)′-amido-N(3)-N-methylamidourea. The oxidation of 3,7-dimethyluric between pH 5–7 follows the same chemical reaction pathways as is observed for the peak (a plus peak IIa electrooxidation processes.
Learning control of linear iteration varying systems with varying references through robust invariant update laws

Iterative learning control (ILC) has long been recognized as an efficient way of improving the tracking performance of repetitive systems. While ILC can offer significant improvement to the transient response of complex dynamical systems, the fundamental assumption of iteration invariance of the process limits potential applications. Utilizing abstract Banach spaces as our problem setting, we develop a general approach that is applicable to the various frameworks encountered in ILC. Our main result is that robust invariant update laws lead to stable behavior in ILC systems, where iteration varying systems converge to bounded neighborhoods of their nominal counterparts when uncertainties are bounded. Furthermore, if the uncertainties are convergent along the iteration axis, convergence to the nominal case can be guaranteed.
An Honest Approach to Plea Bargaining

In this Article, the author argues that differential sentencing of criminal defendants who plead guilty and those who go to trial is, primarily, a punishment for the defendant exercising the right to trial. The proposed solution requires an analysis of the differential sentencing motivation in light of the benefit to society and the drawbacks inherent in the plea bargaining system.
Stability of high voltage modulators for nonlinear loads

Gyrotrons have a nonlinear voltage - current characteristic such that the small signal or ac impedance changes as operational voltage and currents are reached. The ac impedance determines the stability of a voltage or current control system. This can become particularly challenging when several gyrotrons are connected in parallel to a single modulator. With all gyrotrons hooked to a common ground, large current loops can be generated as well as non-canceling currents in individual coaxial lines. These inequalities can provide the required feedback impulse to start an oscillation condition in the power system for the tubes. Recent operation of two CPI 110 GHz gyrotrons in the MN class from a single modulator on DIII-D has shown instability in the power system. An oscillation in the drive current occurs at various points in the ramp up and flat top portions of the 80 kV voltage pulse with each tube drawing 40 A at full voltage. Efforts to stabilize these instabilities are presented along with some modeling and examination of the issues for gyrotron modulators.
Geomorphic limits to climate-induced increases in topographic relief

Recognition of the potential for strong dynamic coupling between atmospheric and tectonic processes has sparked intense cross-disciplinary investigation and debate on the question of whether tectonics have driven long-term climate change or vice versa. It has been proposed that climate change might have driven the uplift of mountain summits through an isostatic response to valley incision. Because isostasy acts to compensate mean elevations, the debate hinges on the question of whether climate change can significantly increase topographic relief or, more precisely, increase the volume of ‘missing mass’ between summits and ridges. Here we show that, in tectonically active mountain ranges, geomorphic constraints allow only a relatively small increase in topographic relief in response to climate change. Thus, although climate change may cause significant increases in denudation rates, potentially establishing an important feedback between surficial and crustal processes, neither fluvial nor glacial erosion is likely to induce significant isostatic peak uplift.
Empty‐headed dynamical model of infant visual foraging

Visual foraging is one important way that very young infants explore and learn about their environment. We recently showed that a simple stochastic dynamical model acts quantitatively like free-looking 1-month-old infants, even though it does not include any components that directly represent the perceptual-cognitive processes that operate on the input from visual foraging. This suggested that early in development, generic low-level processes like noise and hysteresis in the mechanisms controlling gaze may drive visual foraging behavior and therefore regulate the input to higher-level perceptual-cognitive processes that later come to have more influence on free looking. Here we evaluate the model's ability to behave like 3-month-olds studied under the same experimental conditions as 1-month-olds. The results show that the empty-headed model can also behave like 3-month-old infants, although not as well as 1-month-olds. Its partial success at 3 months suggests that generic low-level processes controlling gaze remain important in visual foraging. Its pattern of failure suggests that by 3 months time-dependent processes like attention have become especially important.
Talking voices: “Oh talking voice that is so sweet”: constructing dialogue in conversation

Oh talking voice that is so sweet, how hold you alive in captivity, how point you with commas, semi-colons, dashes, pauses and paragraphs? Stevie Smith, Novel on yellow paper , p. 46 The previous chapter examines synchronic repetition: repeating one's own or another's words within a discourse. It also, however, says a bit about diachronic repetition: repeating words from a discourse distant in time. One way that people frequently talk about a situation in which a speaker repeats another's words at a later time is the situation generally referred to as “reported speech,” generally assumed to come in two forms: “direct” and “indirect” speech, discourse, or quotation. “Direct quotation” is commonly understood to apply when another's utterance is framed as dialogue in the other's voice (“Sam said, ‘I'll come”’). “Indirect quotation” (or “indirect discourse” or “speech”) iscommonly understood to apply when another's speech is paraphrased in the current speaker's voice (“Sam said hewould come”). In this widely-accepted schema, “direct quotation” and “indirect quotation” are clearly distinguished in the abstract, but in actual discourse many equivocal cases arise. For example, Voloshinov ([1929]1986:131) describes the power of what he calls “texture-analyzing” indirect discourse in the novel which incorporates into indirect discourse words and locutions that characterize the subjective and stylistic physiognomy of the message viewed as expression. These words and locutions are incorporated in such a way that their specificity, their subjectivity, their typicality are distinctly felt …
23 GHz InP-based (1.55 /spl mu/m) pseudomorphic MQW ridge waveguide lasers

We have studied the characteristics of InP-based multiple quantum well (MQW) coplanar ridge waveguide lasers in order to obtain large bandwidth under weakly index-guided conditions at relatively low photon density. We have also investigated the benefits of the strain compensated structure in achieving low-threshold, high-speed lasers. A maximum modulation bandwidth of 23 GHz was measured for a 2/spl times/200 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ laser. This is the highest bandwidth measured for a ridge waveguide laser operating at 1.55 /spl mu/m. The photon density for this modulation bandwidth was only 1.8/spl times/10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/, compared to /spl sim/10/sup 17/ cm/sup -3/ typical in buried heterostructure devices.
유전자검사와 유전자치료에 관한 쟁점사항과 사회적 수용도

Genetic technology including genetic test and screening, gene therapy and genetic enhancement is developing rapidly. As genetic technology and other technologies relevant to human biology are developed, society will faced a host of complex ethical, legal, and social issues. One of the most complex sets of issues involves our choices over who will access to these technologies. There is a great concern that the mischiefs of genetic technology may outstrip its benefits. In addition, another question has been raised who should benefit from the development of genetic technology. Problems of distributional justice arise under the condition of scarce resources. Whether achievements of genetic research should be distributed according to need or ability-to-pay needs to be answered. The aim of this study is to investigate Korean citizens' perception on genetic technology and distributional justice, specifically focusing on application and limit of genetic test and screening, gene therapy and genetic enhancement. A national survey was carried out using telephone interview from April 20th to May 20th in 2004. A total of 1,004 citizens (male : female = 48.2% : 51.8%) were randomly sampled in proportion to the number of population of 16 regions. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions about overall impact of genetic technology, application of genetic test, potential for discrimination on the basis of genetic information, permissibility of and intent to use gene therapy, access to genetic technology, and so on. First, 71.0% of the respondents perceived that the development of genetic technology would ensure healthier life whereas 17.8% were worried about its adverse effects. In terms of application of genetic test, 90.3% responded that genetic test would be helpful for finding missing children 71.2% for criminal investigation. 75.9% and 56% were worried about the adverse effects if genetic information was used for recruiting and subscribing to insurance, respectively. Given the benefits that people will obtain from genetic technologies, people will not be able to satisfy their demand. In the past, society encountered shortages of supply of medical services. Sooner or later certain conditions must be satisfied in order for someone to gain access to genetic technologies. Overall, Korean citizens seem to have both positive and negative perception on the development and use of genetic technology. They have intention to use genetic technology for treating diseases while they feel concern about potentials for genetic discrimination or genetic class. Achievements of genetic research should be distributed according to need or ability-to-pay needs. The government needs to play an important role in ensuring equal access to genetic technology for every citizen.
Training Medical Students in Empathic Communication

Empathy is an important component of the doctor–patient relationship, yet previous studies point to its steady decline in medical students as they progress through medical school and residency programs. Empathy training has thus been identified as a goal of instruction, yet it is unclear how this training can best be implemented within the medical curriculum. This article describes the content of an exploratory empathy training program for 2 groups of 3rd-year medical students, and discusses changes made between the groups to enhance training outcomes. Preliminary results, important considerations for group process, group member characteristics, and future interventions are presented.
Carbon‐13 n.m.r. studies of methylquinolines and methylisoquinolines

Spectra are reported for all seven methylquinolines, nine dimethylquinolines, six methylisoquinolines and one dimethylisoquinoline. Substituent effects for the α, ortho, meta, para, vinylogous para and peri positions are reported for the monomethylcompounds. Additivity of these substituent effects is demonstrated for the dimethyl compounds which also exhibit a vicinal dimethyl steric effect.
NUCLEON ESCAPE WIDTHS OF THE GIANT DIPOLE RESONANCES IN SPHERICAL NUCLEI.

Abstract The proton and neutron escape widths for the various giant resonances in 54Mn, 56Fe, 60Ni, 72Ge, 74As, 90Zr and 106Ag have been calculated. The giant resonances are described in the Dynamic Collective Model (DCM) where giant resonance phonons are coupled with surface quadrupole vibrations. The initial states are given by the collective wavefunctions of the DCM while the final states are particle-hole states which are coupled to surface phonons. Up to two surface phonons have been considered in the final states. The particle wavefunctions are computed in a Saxon-Woods potential obtained from low-energy neutron scattering. All partial widths for protons and neutrons are represented in tables. The total widths are represented together with the dipole strengths for the various giant dipole resonances in figures. Typical total widths are varying between 0.5 and 1.5 MeV. In general the total escape widths for those giant resonances which are at higher energies are larger than for those at lower energies. Formulas for the angular distributions of the escaping nucleons in terms of the various partial widths are furnished.
TaqMan real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid detection of Flavobacterium columnare

Flavobacterium columnare is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium that causes columnaris disease in a wide variety of fish worldwide. Timely detection of this bacterium is important to prevent its spreading and to reduce the economic loss to fish farmers. We developed a TaqMan-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting a 113 bp nucleotide region of the chondroitin AC lyase gene of F. columnare G4. Specificity of the assay evaluated with 20 isolates of F. columnare and 15 other taxonomically or ecologically related bacteria revealed that the primers and probe were 100% specific for detection of F. columnare. The sensitivity limit of detection of F. columnare in pure cultures, over a range of dilutions [3.1 × 100–3.1 × 106 colony-forming units (CFU) mL−1], was observed to be ∼3 bacterial cells. The lowest limit of detection in nucleic acids from pure culture of F. columnare was 5.4 fg and the assay was linear with the log of amount of nucleic acid (R2=0.994) over that range (5.4 ng–5.4 fg). In tissues (blood, gills and kidney) of F. columnare experimentally infected fish, the bacterial numbers measured by TaqMan real-time PCR ranged from 3.4 × 100 to 9.5 × 105 CFU mL−1. In both F. columnare experimentally infected and spiked samples, positive PCR results were confirmed by bacteriological culture with 100% agreement. The TaqMan real-time PCR developed in this study is specific, sensitive and reproducible for the detection and quantitation of F. columnare in infected fish.
Conditions of Employment and Income Distribution in Mexico as Incentives for Mexican Migration to the United States: Prospects to the End of the Century.

This paper examines the factors contributing to the flow of undocumented migrants from Mexico, demonstrating the problem to be both massive and enduring. The authors focus on the inadequate growth ...