cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacodynamics of GPIIb-IIIa Receptor Blockade

Platelet activation and aggregation are implicated in the pathophysiology of unstable angina, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attacks, and stroke (1, 2, 3). Currently available oral antiplatelet agents (aspirin, ticlopidine, and clopidogrel) suppress arachidonic acid or adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-mediated platelet aggregation and have proven clinical benefit in reducing the adverse outcomes from these vascular events (4, 5, 6, 7). More complete blockade of platelet function could potentially achieve even greater reductions of acute and secondary vascular events. In fact, the more potent antiplatelet agents, such as platelet glycoprotein (GP)IIb-IIIa receptor antagonists, have shown additional clinical benefit beyond that conferred by aspirin, especially in intermediate-to-high risk patients (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14). Data have suggested that combination therapies targeting multiple thrombotic pathways are superior to single-agent use (11, 13, 15, 16, 17). The understanding of the pharmacodynamics of all agents—singly or in combination—is critically important to the treatment of patients presenting with vascular disease.
A Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Dextroamphetamine in the Plasma and Hair of Healthy Adults.

Hair is an attractive matrix for amphetamine drug testing; however, little is known about the rate at which amphetamines are deposited into hair. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of oral dextroamphetamine in plasma and quantify the rate of deposition into hair in healthy adults using a linked population pharmacokinetic model. Healthy adults >18 years of age received dextroamphetamine 10 mg orally for 7 days. Plasma samples were collected over 48 h following the final dose, and hair was collected 5 weeks following the first dose. NONMEM 7.2 was used to estimate dextroamphetamine oral absorption rate constant, apparent clearance and volume of distribution of the plasma compartment, the plasma to hair incorporation rate constant, and the apparent volume of distribution in the hair compartment. Dextroamphetamine pharmacokinetics were well-described by a one-compartment model with combined additive and proportional error for the plasma compartment, which was linked to a single compartment for the hair. Apparent clearance and volume of distribution in the plasma compartment were scaled by current body weight (centered on the mean). Melanin hair concentration was included as a significant covariate on the hair compartment. Absorption rate constant, clearance, and volume of distribution for the plasma compartment were estimated as 0.527 h−1 (95 % CI 0.467–0.586), 28.7 L/h (95 % CI 27.1–30.3), and 377 L (95 % CI 326–428), respectively. The incorporation rate constant from plasma to hair was 1.60e−6 h−1 (95 % CI 1.06e−6–2.14e−6) and apparent volume of distribution in hair was 17.7 mg (95 % CI 12.5–22.8). A one-compartment plasma model linked to a single compartment for hair successfully described the pharmacokinetics of dextroamphetamine in healthy adults. The volume of distribution and clearance of dextroamphetamine increased with weight, and the volume of distribution of the hair compartment increased with greater melanin concentrations.
MO-D-BRD-00: Electronic Brachytherapy

Electronic brachytherapy (eBT) has seen an insurgence of manufacturers entering the US market for use in radiation therapy. In addition to the established interstitial, intraluminary, and intracavitary applications of eBT, many centers are now using eBT to treat skin lesions. It is important for medical physicists working with electronic brachytherapy sources to understand the basic physics principles of the sources themselves as well as the variety of applications for which they are being used. The calibration of the sources is different from vendor to vendor and the traceability of calibrations has evolved as new sources came to market. In 2014, a new air-kerma based standard was introduced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to measure the output of an eBT source. Eventually commercial treatment planning systems should accommodate this new standard and provide NIST traceability to the end user. The calibration and commissioning of an eBT system is unique to its application and typically entails a list of procedural recommendations by the manufacturer. Commissioning measurements are performed using a variety of methods, some of which are modifications of existing AAPM Task Group protocols. A medical physicist should be familiar with the different AAPM Task Group recommendations for applicability to eBT and how to properly adapt them to their needs. In addition to the physical characteristics of an eBT source, the photon energy is substantially lower than from HDR Ir-192 sources. Consequently, tissue-specific dosimetry and radiobiological considerations are necessary when comparing these brachytherapy modalities and when making clinical decisions as a radiation therapy team. In this session, the physical characteristics and calibration methodologies of eBt sources will be presented as well as radiobiology considerations and other important clinical considerations. Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the basic principles of electronic brachytherapy and the various applications for which it is being used. 2. To understand the physics of the calibration and commissioning for electronic brachytherapy sources 3. To understand the unique radiobiology and clinical implementation of electronic brachytherapy systems for skin and IORT techniques Xoft, Inc. contributed funding toward development of the NIST electronic brachytherapy facility (Michael Mitch).The University of Wisconsin (Wesley Culberson) has received research support funding from Xoft, Inc. Zoubir Ouhib has received partial funding from Elekta Esteya.
A new approach of generating scheduling in power system with wind power using electrical paths between generators and loads

SUMMARY Due to wind power fluctuation, it is difficult to make generating schedule of power system with wind power. This paper presents a new approach to make generating schedule using electrical relationships between generators and loads. A two-layer structure is used in the approach, i.e. generating schedule is made and revised in on-line time scale in upper layer, and automatic generating control (AGC) is carried out in real-time time scale in lower layer. Both generating schedule-making and AGC are implemented using power transmission factors among wind farms, related traditional generators and loads. And generating schedule is revised taking the operation limit of generators and transmission congestion into consideration. At last, the technical and economic benefits are analyzed in case study. The results show that the approach can effectively track fluctuation and forecasting error of wind power and enhance the operation quality of entire power system. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An experience in Japanese academic medicine.

Abstract The Japanese health care system has been highly praised for its universal access, freedom of patient choice, maintenance of a private system, and creative funding. Japanese citizens enjoy general good health, low infant mortality, and long life expectancy. Nevertheless, aspects of Japanese medical education, both graduate and undergraduate, and the structure of academic departments differ from those seen in the United States. A sabbatical spent teaching general internal medicine in Japan provided the experience for this review of the Japanese system. I describe the structure and function of departments of medicine and observations made at daily clinical teaching exercises in hospitals throughout the country.
Fine Structure of Spirochaeta stenostrepta, a Free-living, Anaerobic Spirochete

The fine structure of Spirochaeta stenostrepta strain Z1, a free-living anaerobic spirochete, was studied by electron microscopy. The organism possessed a coiled protoplasmic cylinder, an axial filament inserted subterminally, and a loosely fitting sheath which enclosed both the protoplasmic cylinder and the axial filament. The axial filament consisted of two fibrils partially overlapping in a 1-2-1 arrangement. The axial fibrils appeared to possess a sheath surrounding an inner core. Both inner core and sheath were apparently enclosed in a cross-striated tubular structure, which was itself surrounded by an outer sheath. The axial filament exhibited a basal hook. A disc- or mushroom-shaped structure, possibly consisting in part of cytoplasmic membrane, was observed at the insertion end of isolated filaments. The protoplasmic cylinder had a distinctive surface structure consisting of an array of tightly packed, longitudinally arranged helices measuring 2.0 to 2.5 nm in diameter. This layer of helices lay below the outer cell sheath and the axial filament. Ballistic disintegration loosened the helical array, causing individual helices or segments of helices to become separated from the cell. The function of this layer of helices is still obscure.
NMR solution structure of the N3' --> P5' phosphoramidate duplex d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 by the iterative relaxation matrix approach.

High-resolution 2D NMR spectra of the duplex CGCGAATTCGCG with deoxyribose sugars but with the normal phosphodiester linker replaced by an N3' --> P5' phosphoramidate (NP) group have been used to establish a solution structure for the duplex. Distance, angle, and base pair hydrogen-bonding constraints were used to refine the structure by use of the iterative relaxation matrix approach (IRMA). The phosphoramidate NH proton signal could be observed in DMSO at low temperature but not in H2O and D2O. For this reason, the structure was refined with the -NH in each of the two possible low-energy configurations. The structure with the nitrogen lone pair located between the nonbridging oxygen atoms of the 5'-phosphate group consistently had the lowest energy and RMSD values, consistent with an X-ray analysis of the same duplex [Tereshko, V., Gryaznov, S. , and Egli, M. (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120, 269-283]. In the refined structure, the sugars are in the C3'-endo conformation with the change from the normal C2'-endo conformation of deoxyribose apparently being driven by the gauche effect and the change in electronegativity from the 3'O to the 3'NH group. In agreement with preliminary studies [Ding, D., Gryaznov, S. M., Lloyd, D. H., Chandrasekaran, S., Yao, S., Ratmeyer, L., Pan, Y., and Wilson, W. D. (1996) Nucleic Acids Res. 24, 354-360], the backbone conformation in the NP duplex is very close to classical A-form values. Comparison of phosphodiester and phosphoramidate structures suggests that their backbones have global conformations that are primarily a function of the low-energy state of the sugar ring. A somewhat more complex situation arises when base pair conformation is analyzed with many of the base pairs having a conformation between those of classical A- and B-form helices. The effects of the 2' substituent are obviously important in specifying the final conformation of the stacked bases in either an A-form or B-form helix. It is clear, however, that conversion of the normal phosphodiester of DNA into a phosphoramidate linkage yields a nucleic acid that behaves much more like RNA than DNA, and it has been shown that NP sequences can bind to RNA-directed proteins [Rigl, C. T., Lloyd, D. H., Tsou, D. S., Gryaznov, S. M., and Wilson, W. D. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 650-659].
Voice merging and self‐making: The epistemology of “I have a dream”

(1989). Voice merging and self‐making: The epistemology of “I have a dream”. Rhetoric Society Quarterly: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 23-31.
Central insulin enhances sensitivity to cholecystokinin

Insulin acts in the brain to reduce food intake and body weight. Cholecystokinin (CCK) reduces meal size when administered peripherally. The purpose of these experiments was to examine their interaction. In Experiment 1, Long-Evans rats were infused with vehicle or insulin at doses from 0.5 to 2.0 mU/day into the third cerebral ventricles. Doses of 1.0 mU/day and higher caused reduced body weight. A dose of 0.5 mU/day was therefore taken to be subthreshold. In Experiment 2, rats receiving 0.5 mU/day of insulin intracerebroventricularly had greater suppression of 30-min meal size in response to intraperitoneal CCK-8 at doses from 0.25 to 8 mg/kg than did rats receiving intracerebroventricular saline. By itself, the insulin had no effect on body weight or meal size. However, a change of sensitivity to CCK by control rats over the course of the experiment clouded the interpretation. A third experiment was therefore conducted in which rats received an acute intracerebroventricular injection of insulin (0.1 mU) or saline 1 h prior to a 30-min meal, and IP CCK-8 (4 mg/kg) or saline immediately prior to the meal. As in Experiment 2, insulin, itself, had no effect on meal size but enhanced the anorexic effect of CCK. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that central insulin acts by altering sensitivity to satiety agents.
Determination of the thermodynamic contribution to peak asymmetry of basic solutes in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Abstract To this day packing materials manufacturers are still trying to develop reversed-phase stationary phases that have silica more completely reacted with bonding ligands to afford more homogeneous particle surfaces. Incomplete bonding causes inhomogeneous effects that are readily observed when separating basic solutes because of the acidic silanols that are unreacted. However, it is still not understood exactly what types of silanol sites are unreacted or if metal impurities are contributing to the resulting peak asymmetry observed. A method is presented which utilizes (1) the frontal analysis method of chromatography to obtain adsorption/partition isotherms, (2) a heterogeneous Langmuir distribution model for the resulting isotherm, (3) an expectation-maximization numerical procedure to solve the mathematical problem to yield the most probable distribution of adsorption parameters, and (4) the equilibrium–dispersive model of chromatography incorporating the fitted isotherm model to check the validity of the sorption model with experimental observations. Correlation of packing materials characterization parameters with results obtained by this procedure will indicate what type of silanols or other sites are responsible for observed tailing behavior. Developers and manufacturers will then be able to more efficiently target their synthetic designs for “base-deactivated” reversed-phase silicas.
The Making of an siRNA.

Abstract An array of gene silencing pathways share a common early step: Dicer cleaves double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into ∼20–25 nucleotide fragments that direct the silencing machinery to specific targets. A recent report in Cell reveals how Dicer's two RNase III domains collaborate during dsRNA processing and sets the stage for a deeper understanding of Dicer's roles in later phases of silencing complex assembly.
Progress and problems of world fertility control.

The objective of this special issue of "Demography" on progress and problems of world fertility control is to review efforts throughout the world in reducing population growth. It is evident that the world is actively concerned with the threat of population pressure. Because hard data from censuses is for the most part unavailable this issue assembles other evidence on the impact of population programs carried out in the past few years. The issue attempts to report on efforts in developing countries by international agencies and in the U.S. among the poor. These programs represent aggressive efforts at transforming cultural prescriptions for childbearing and demonstrate that this can occur as one of the first steps toward modernization.
Mutations of IDH1 and IDH2 are not detected in brain metastases of colorectal cancer.

Somatic mutations of codon 132 of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) were recently described in a genome-wide analysis of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) [1]. IDH1 is involved in the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) by catalyzing the oxidative carboxylation of isocitrate to a-ketoglutarate. While only about 12% of the analyzed GBMs were found to have a mutation of IDH1, this alteration was detected in most secondary GBMs, and it appeared to be associated with comparatively younger age and improved survival. Mutations of IDH1 were also found in high frequency (over 70%) in WHO grades II and III astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas [2, 3]. Tumors without mutations of IDH1 were often found to have mutations at the analogous position R172 of the closely related IDH2 gene [2]. These data suggest that mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 play an important role in the evolutionary, stepwise development of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Mutations of IDH, however, were not found in other solid tumors including colorectal cancer, prostate, breast and lung cancer [2, 4]. Hypothesizing that the selection pressure in the brain environment warrants certain constitutional adjustments of the cancer cells including mutational changes, we tried to address the question of whether mutations of IDH1 and IDH2 might be required for the development of brain metastasis in non-primary CNS tumors. We analyzed tissue sections of brain metastases of seven patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The slides were reviewed together with a neuro-pathologist and areas of metastatic colorectal cancer were extracted using the lasercapture microdissection technique. The dissected material was digested overnight with proteinase K (Invitrogen), and DNA was purified using the QIAmp Micro Kit (QIAGEN). Exon 4 of the IDH1 gene and exon 4 of the IDH2 gene (containing IDH1 residue 132 and IDH2 residue 172, respectively) were PCR-amplified and sequenced as previously described [1]. None of the seven analyzed samples showed mutations in either the R132 residue of IDH1 or the R172 residue of IDH2, suggesting that these mutations are not required for the development of brain metastasis in these tumors.
Who Moved My Cheese? Adjusting to Age-Related Changes

The popular book, Who Moved My Cheese? (Johnson, 1998) is a metaphor for change. This parable-like story has particular resonance with older adults who face many potential life-altering changes. The four characters in the book are looking for their cheese in a maze. Cheese represents whatever makes people happy. How each character adjusts to the loss of cheese parallels the process of adjusting to one or more of the many transitions in the lives of older adults. The character Hem fears change, so he resists and denies it while Haw learns to adapt when he is confronted with change. Sniff senses change early while Scurry gets right down to action in the light of impending changes. The straightforward lesson of “moving with the cheese” may help adults understand and cope with changes as they age. It may also propel health care and social service professionals toward a workable approach to change with their clients that provides positive opportunities for effective adaptation.
Spin resonance, hall effect, and transport properties of poly(N-vinyl carbazole)—iodine complex†

The results and interpretations of Hall effect, resistivity, electron spin resonance, Dember effect, and thermoelectric measurements on the poly(N-vinyl carbazole)—iodine complex are presented. The existence of a charge-transfer state in this system is demonstrated by three independent techniques: (1) the variation of resistivity with iodine content; (2) study of unpaired spin concentration; (3) optical absorption measurements. Many complexes have high impedances that have prohibited heretofore measurement of fundamental characteristics such as Hall mobility. The development of an AC technique9 for the measurement of the Hall effect in materials of high resistivity and low mobility has permitted the measurement of the Hall mobility in compressed pellets of poly(N-vinyl carbazole) complexed with iodine (impedance ∼1 megohm). It is believed that the Hall mobilities are the first to be reported for a charge-transfer complex. A discrepancy in the sign of the majority carriers is observed: the Hall coefficient is negative, the Seebeck coefficient is positive. The Dember voltage supports n-type conduction as found in the Hall effect. It is suggested that this sign discrepancy can be resolved by consideration of surface states. The concentration of carriers deduced from Hall measurements is four orders of magnitude smaller than the unpaired spin concentration. The mechanism of conduction proposed invokes a hopping process in which a localized electron in an unpaired spin state makes phonon-assisted jumps from site to site.
Electronic transport in underdoped YBCO nanowires: possible observation of stripe domains

Abstract We have fabricated and measured the transport properties of a series of YBa2Cu3O7−δ nanowires ranging from 100 to 200 nm in width. In all samples we observe hysteretic steps in the current–voltage characteristics below the superconducting transition temperature Tc and switching fluctuations in the resistance as the temperature is varied well above Tc. The data may be evidence for the formation of a domain structure such as charge stripes.
Radiochemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia: A joint venture with chemistry, nuclear engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, and the Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR)

The United States, the Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Laboratories, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), are facing a serious attrition of nuclear scientists and engineers and their capabilities through the effects of aging staff. Within the DOE laboratories, 75p of nuclear personnel will be eligible to retire by 2010. It is expected that there will be a significant loss of senior nuclear science and technology staff at PNNL within five years. PNNL's nuclear legacy is firmly rooted in the DOE Hanford site, the World War II Manhattan Project, and subsequent programs. Historically, PNNL was a laboratory where 70p of its activities were nuclear/radiological, and now just under 50p of its current business science and technology are nuclear and radiologically oriented. Programs in the areas of nuclear legacies, global security, nonproliferation, homeland security and national defense, radiobiology and nuclear energy still involve more than 1,000 of the 3,800 current laboratory staff, and these include more than 420 staff who are certified as nuclear/radiological scientists and engineers. This paper presents the current challenges faced by PNNL that require an emerging strategy to solve the nuclear staffing issues through the maintenance and replenishment of the human nuclear capital needed to support PNNL nuclear science and technology programs.
Weak Localization, Spin Relaxation, and Spin-Diffusion: Crossover Between Weak and Strong Rashba Coupling Limits

Disorder scattering and spin-orbit coupling are together responsible for the diffusion and relaxation of spin density in time-reversal invariant systems. We study spin relaxation and diffusion in a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba spin-orbit coupling and spin-independent disorder, focusing on the role of Rashba spin-orbit coupling in transport. Spin-orbit coupling contributes to spin relaxation, transforming the quantum interference contribution to conductivity from a negative weak localization (WL) correction to a positive weak antilocalization (WAL) correction. The importance of spin channel mixing in transport is largest in the regime where the Bloch state energy uncertainty $\ensuremath{\hbar}/\ensuremath{\tau}$ and the Rashba spin-orbit splitting ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{SO}}$ are comparable. We find that as a consequence of this spin channel mixing, the WL-WAL crossover is nonmonotonic in this intermediate regime, which can be related to recent experimental studies of transport at two-dimensional oxide interfaces.
Toward a standardized training curriculum in cardiac imaging.

In this issue of Academic Radiology, Dr. Minocha et al present the results of a survey to evaluate the current state of training in cardiac imaging among radiology residency programs (1). Responses from 52 programs demonstrate that most do have some form of a cardiac imaging rotation, but that the rotations vary in length and that most programs have fewer than 5 hours of cardiac conference time for the residents per year. Only 17% of residents feel that their training in cardiac imaging is adequate. The overall message of the manuscript is clear: ‘‘Where is the curriculum for cardiac imaging in radiology residency? How can radiologists deliver high-quality imaging for cardiac patients when our residents get minimal training in cardiac imaging? How can organized radiology expect others medical specialties to respect our training in cardiac imaging if there is no standard curriculum?’’ Cardiac imaging consists of plain films, nuclear perfusion studies, echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) angiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (MR), and conventional cardiac angiography. Our discussion will focus on the four ‘‘high-tech’’ forms of cardiac imaging. Echocardiography and nuclear scintigraphy have been integral components of the imaging of cardiac disease over the past few decades, and CT/MR have more recently become valuable components of the cardiac evaluation. Many radiology training programs now offer elective rotations in advanced cardiac imaging (2). Most academic radiologists would agree that radiology residents have an inadequate number of rotations and lectures in cardiac imaging. However, the training problem is not simply in the quantity of rotations and lectures, but is also qualitative in nature. Training in ultrasound (US)/CT/MR of the heart is frequently left to an imaging section whose members themselves have not been trained in cross-sectional imaging of diseases of the heart. Although most radiology programs have shifted from an emphasis on modality based sections (US, CT, and MRI) to body system–based sections (neurology, thoracic, abdominal, and musculoskeletal), there is no clear home for cardiovascular imaging in many radiology
n -Butyrate causes histone modification in HeLa and Friend erythroleukaemia cells

LEDER and Leder1 have reported that low concentrations of n-butyrate cause Friend erythroleukaemia cells to begin globin synthesis. Apparently n-butyrate can reverse that part of viral transformation which prevents the expression of differentiation in these cells. Prasad and Sinha2 have summarised the effects of n-butyrate on neuroblastoma, HeLa, and other cell types. They and others3–10 have seen reversible inhibition of proliferation, decrease of DNA content, morphological modifications, and increases in the production of specific enzymes, such as adenylate cyclase, alkaline phosphatase, and a sialyltransferase. The present paper describes rapid, dramatic, and reversible increases in histone acetylation in the presence of n-butyrate.
Roles of the NKG2D immunoreceptor and its ligands

According to present concepts, innate immunity is regulated by receptors that determine danger levels by responding to molecules that are associated with infection or cellular distress. NKG2D is, perhaps, the best characterized receptor that is associated with responses to cellular distress, defined as transformation, infection or cell stress. This review summarizes recent findings that concern NKG2D, its ligands, its signalling properties and its role in disease, and provides a framework for considering how the induction of immune responses can be regulated by cellular responses to injury.
Time Well Spent: Integrating Simulation into an Accelerated 1-Year BSN Program

Abstract This article describes the incorporation of clinical simulation into an accelerated BSN program. The use of high-fidelity simulation as an adjunct to clinical experiences has gained favor with nursing faculty in most types of programs; however, no studies were found that described the use of simulation in accelerated BSN programs. At a major university, faculty members have effectively merged simulation strategies as a complement to clinical learning activities in a one-year second-degree BSN program. This article outlines the strategies for utilization and progression of simulation activities as well as the challenges overcome. Initial outcomes from evaluations are also shared.
A FAULT DIAGNOSIS AND OPERATION ADVISING COOPERATIVE EXPERT SYSTEM BASED ON MULTI-AGENT TECHNOLOGY

Abstract In this paper, a new fault diagnosis and operational processing approach based on cooperative expert system combining with multi-agent architecture is proposed. For solving the complex and correlative faults, the cooperative expert system can overcome the deficient of single expert system. It can be used not only for diagnosing complex fault in real time but also giving operation advice timely. It introduces the agent technology, designation of the cooperative expert system combining with multi-agent architecture, the realization of the system and application case.
Randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral social skills training for older consumers with schizophrenia: defeatist performance attitudes and functional outcome.

Objectives To determine whether Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) is an effective psychosocial intervention to improve functioning in older consumers with schizophrenia, and whether defeatist performance attitudes are associated with change in functioning in CBSST. Design An 18-month, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting Outpatient clinic at a university-affiliated Veterans Affairs hospital. Participants Veteran and non-veteran consumers with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N = 79) age 45–78. Interventions CBSST was a 36-session, weekly group therapy that combined cognitive behavior therapy with social skills training and problem-solving training to improve functioning. The comparison intervention, goal-focused supportive contact (GFSC), was supportive group therapy focused on achieving functioning goals. Measurements Blind raters assessed functioning (primary outcome: Independent Living Skills Survey), CBSST skill mastery, positive and negative symptoms, depression, anxiety, defeatist attitudes, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Results Functioning trajectories over time were significantly more positive in CBSST than in GFSC, especially for participants with more severe defeatist performance attitudes. Greater improvement in defeatist attitudes was also associated with better functioning in CBSST, but not GFSC. Both treatments showed comparable significant improvements in amotivation, depression, anxiety, positive self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Conclusions CBSST is an effective treatment to improve functioning in older consumers with schizophrenia, and both CBSST and other supportive goal-focused interventions can reduce symptom distress, increase motivation and self-esteem, and improve life satisfaction. Participants with more severe defeatist performance attitudes may benefit most from cognitive behavioral interventions that target functioning. Trial Registry: ClinicalTrials.Gov #NCT00237796 (http://clinicaltrials. gov/show/NCT00237796)
Use of Enantiomeric Bupropion and Hydroxybupropion to Assess CYP2B6 Activity in Glomerular Kidney Diseases

Chronic kidney disease affects more than 50 million people in the U.S.1. The top three etiologies for end-stage kidney disease are diabetes mellitus (45% of patients), hypertension (29% of patients), and glomerulonephritis (19% of patients).2 While it is well established that chronic kidney diseases can result in decreased elimination of drugs via the kidneys, the effects of kidney disease on non-renal clearance processes, especially specific metabolic routes, are less well described. Experimental models of chronic kidney disease have reported reductions in hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes including 3A1, 3A2, 2C11, and N-acetyltransferases.3–5 Reductions in nonrenal clearance ranging from 30% to 67% have been reported for substrates of the CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2B6, and CYP2C9 enzymes in patients with kidney disease.6 In order to fully understand the clinical significance of altered metabolic routes associated with kidney disease, it will be necessary to evaluate the effects that specific forms of kidney diseases have on these pathways and whether these processes effect drug disposition. Numerous studies have reported various probe drugs or cocktail approaches to evaluate the in vivo function of various drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters in patients.7, 8 However, only a few studies9–12 were actually conducted in chronic kidney disease patients, and hence applicability of most of the published studies beyond the healthy control population remains to be established. As chronic kidney disease patients are commonly prescribed ~10–12 different daily medications13, studies that evaluate metabolic pathway alterations should address requirements for modifications in drug regimens as well as drug interaction potential. While studies designed to assess and report the pharmacokinetics of bupropion exist14, 15, studies designed specifically to assess the influence of chronic kidney diseases on CYP2B6 activity are currently nonexistent. CYP2B6 is responsible for the metabolism of 3–8% of the currently marketed drugs16, 17 including bupropion, cyclophosphamide, efavirenz, selegiline, methadone, and sertraline18–22 and several drugs, including clopidrogrel, ticlopidine, clotrimazole, itraconazole, sertraline, and raloxifene have been purported to inhibit CYP2B6.23 Data from healthy subjects demonstrate that both the R and S enantiomers of bupropion and its hydroxy-metabolite are present in plasma, but only stereoselective S bupropion and (S,S) hydroxybupropion formation clearance have been shown to be a phenotypic probe for CYP2B624, complicating the assessment of in vivo activity. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of enantiomeric bupropion and its hydroxybupropion metabolite in patients with kidney diseases affecting the glomerulus in order to provide an assessment of CYP2B6 activity in this disease state.
Re-examination of the earth's free oxcillations excited by the Kamchatka earthquake of November 4, 1952

Benioff's suggestion that the 58-min period sinusoidal oscillation found on a Pasadena strain seismogram after the Kamchatka earthquake of November 4, 1952 may represent the earth's gravest normal mode is re-examined in terms of a slow large-scale post-seismic deformation. The mechanism and the seismic moment of the main shock of the Kamchatka earthquake are determined by using the amplitude and the initial phase of G_2 and R_2 recorded at Pasadena and R_6 recorded at Palisades. By constraining the dip angle and the strike of the fault at 30° (towards NW) and N34°E, respectively, on the basis of the geometry of the Benioff zone, the slip angle is determined as 110° which represents 74% thrust and 26% right-lateral faulting. The direction of the slip angle agrees with the slip direction of the Pacific plate. A seismic moment of 3.5 · 10^(29) dyn cm is obtained. If a fault area of 650 · 200 km^2 is assumed, an average dislocation of 5 m is obtained. Spectral analyses of the Pasadena strain records show that the 58-min sinusoidal oscillation in fact consists of a spectral peak near 54 min which is very close to the _0S_2 mode and other high-frequency peaks which can be correlated to the earth's normal modes. The records from two independent recording galvanometers correlate with each other very well, indicating that the recorded oscillation represents a real strain and not instrumental noise. The phase relation between the NS and EW components is consistent with the strain field associated with _0S_2 mode. Although these results provide positive evidence for a slow post-seismic deformation, the cause of the abrupt termination of the oscillation and the excitation mechanism remain unresolved.
Optimization of a Monte Carlo variance reduction method based on sensitivity derivatives

Abstract We propose an optimization technique for an efficient sampling method known as sensitivity derivative enhanced sampling (SDES). It has been shown in certain cases that SDES can bring no improvement over or even slow crude Monte Carlo sampling. Our proposed optimized version of SDES guarantees variance reduction and improved accuracy in estimates. The optimized SDES can also improve randomized quasi-Monte Carlo (RQMC) sampling, which converges at a higher rate compared to the Monte Carlo sampling. Numerical experiments are performed on three test cases including the generalized steady-state Burgers equation and the Korteweg–de Vries equation. The results show that the optimized SDES can improve crude Monte Carlo (or RQMC) and SDES by up to an order of magnitude. RQMC coupled with the optimized SDES provides the largest efficiency gains, which can be as high as 1800.
Demonstrating error-correction modelling for intraday statistical arbitrage

Applying cointegration analysis to security price movements illustrates how securities move together in the long-term. This can be augmented with an error-correction model to show how the long-run relationship is approached when the security prices are out of line with their cointegrated relationship. Cointegration and error-correction modelling promises to be useful in statistical arbitrage applications: not only does it show what relative prices of securities should be, but it also illuminates the short-run dynamics of how equilibrium should be restored along with how long it will take. Cointegration, coupled with error-correction modelling, promises to be a profitable way of implementing statistical arbitrage strategies. 1 Bondarenko (2003) and Hogan et al. (2004) defined statistical arbitrage as an attempt to exploit the long-horizon trading opportunities revealed by cointegration relationships. Alexander and Dimitriu (2005) showed how cointegration is a better way of implementing a statistical arbitr...
Power transformer design with an IBM 650

THE OBJECTIVE of a power transformer design and estimate cost program is to supply accurately and quickly output data which not only meets the desired design characteristics, but also results in the most efficient utilization of labor and materials. A program to supply complete core and winding, tank and cooling equipment and estimate cost data for any two or three winding power transformer of 2,500 to 50,000 kva requires 7 times the available internal storage of the IBM (International Business Machines) 650 digital computer. The 650 magnetic drum permits a maximum storage space of 2,000 ten-digit words, with each instruction or constant constituting one word space. The program instructions and constants are loaded by punched cards, which makes it desirable to maintain iterative calculations within the capacity of the drum; the alternative is to reload data. Some iterations would necessitate the loading and reloading of decks of punched cards a number of times.
Effects of Experimental Choices and Analysis Noise on Surveys of the “Rare Biosphere”

When planning a survey of 16S rRNA genes from a complex environment, investigators face many choices including which primers to use and how to taxonomically classify sequences. In this study, we explored how these choices affected a survey of microbial diversity in a sample taken from the aerobic basin of the activated sludge of a North Carolina wastewater treatment plant. We performed pyrosequencing reactions on PCR products generated from primers targeting the V1-V2, V6, and V6-V7 variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. We compared these sequences to 16S rRNA gene sequences found in a whole-genome shotgun pyrosequencing run performed on the same sample. We found that sequences generated from primers targeting the V1-V2 variable region had the best match to the whole-genome shotgun reaction across a range of taxonomic classifications from phylum to family. Pronounced differences between primer sets, however, occurred in the “rare biosphere” involving taxa that we observed in fewer than 11 sequences. We also examined the results of analysis strategies comparing a classification scheme using a nearest-neighbor approach to directly classifying sequences with a naive Bayesian algorithm. Again, we observed pronounced differences between these analysis schemes in infrequently observed taxa. We conclude that if a study is meant to probe the rare biosphere, both the experimental conditions and analysis choices will have a profound impact on the observed results.
Adding momentum to supersymmetric geometries

Abstract We consider general supersymmetric solutions to minimal supergravity in six dimensions, trivially lifted to IIB supergravity. To any such solution we add a traveling wave deformation involving the additional directions. The deformed solution is given in terms of a function which is harmonic in the background geometry. We also present a family of explicit examples describing microstates of the D1–D5 system on T 4 . In the case where the background contains a large AdS region, the deformation is identified as corresponding to an action of a U ( 1 ) current of the D1–D5 orbifold CFT on a given state.
Management perceptions of government incentives to technological innovation in england, Trance, West Germany and Japan

Abstract This paper reports on four studies (in France, Germany (FRG), Japan, and United Kingdom) exploring reactions of industrial managers to government incentives (GIs), laws, policies, regulations, and other interventions intended to stimulate technological innovation. Propositions supported by the results are: (1) there are significant differences among industrial managers in different countries in their attitudes toward government actions relevant to the RD/I process; (2) Government actions to stimulate innovation are not perceived as salient to industrial RD/I (RD and (3) Government actions in general are perceived to delay introduction of innovations into the market. German and Japanese firms seemed most aware of, and favorably disposed toward, GIs. Low technology firms in the UK were more supportive of GIs than high technology firms. The opposite was the case in Japan and France, while little overall difference existed among firms in Germany. One must exercise care, however, in drawing inferences from such international comparisons; countries differ in the nature, scope, and administration of programs, as well as the effect of cultural characteristics. Managers in all countries were unanimous that general government policies (economic and otherwise) and general market and competitive conditions have a more significant impact on firm RD/I decision making than the specific incentive programs. Incentive programs were, with some exceptions, considered orders of magnitude too small to be of significance. The burden of administering procedurally complex and inflexible incentive programs and dealing with cumbersome government bureaucracy were considered significant detriments. General infrastructural elements such as the educational system, social recognition and support, and government standards-setting were considered more important than direct incentives.
A Review of Noninvasive Staging of the Mediastinum for Non–Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Lung cancer and bronchogenic carcinoma are malignancies originating from the airways and pulmonary parenchyma. Most (approximately 90%) lung cancers are classified as non-small cell lung cancer. This distinction carries important differences for staging, treatment, and prognosis. This article presents a review of mediastinal staging for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Information encoding in the temporal aspects of electromagnetic fields consequent to human cortical neuronal activation

Abstract This study investigates the temporal signature of neuronal responses to auditory stimuli and, specifically, encoding of pitch and timbre characteristics in the auditory evoked neuromagnetic field. Recordings are made with a 37-channel biomagnetometer with stimuli consisting of (a) sinusoidal waves, (b) square waves, (c) amplitude-modulated (AM) sine waves and (d) synthesized speech sounds. For (a) and (b), frequencies in the range 100–5000 Hz were examined. For the AM sounds, a carrier frequency of 500–1500 Hz was used with 100 Hz and 200 Hz modulation. Speech sounds of pseudo-male and pseudo-female utterance were used. All stimuli elicited neuromagnetic fields characterized by distinct peaks of coherent activity approximately 100 ms post-stimulus (M100). Source localization estimates indicated that all neuronal sources lay in the superior temporal gyrus. However, no tonotopic organization was resolvable. For sine-wave tones, frequency-dependence of the M100 latency was detected, being up to 30 ms longer at low frequencies, and largely invariant from 1000–5000 Hz. This effect was mimicked using square-wave tones, although the magnitude of latency shift was attenuated to 15 ms. AM and speech sounds demonstrated M100 latencies more characteristic of carrier frequency and formants rather than modulation frequency and fundamental, respectively. Information is encoded in the time domain of neuronal response to auditory stimulation. The frequency of a stimulus gives rise to a specific latency of neuronal coherence. Timbre is also encoded, since more complex sounds give rise to latencies reflecting their spectral energy distribution. High temporal resolution recording of electromagnetic activity allows new insights into the brain's functional encoding of stimulus attributes.
The Nature of Counseling Expertise in Adult Education Practice

Through extensive diagnoses and analyses, practicing adult educators identified 63 areas of knowledge, attitude, and skill which they believed would help them to work more effectively with people on many levels and in many situations. The needs were judged to be part of the counseling process. Much of the knowledge, attitudes, and skills identified is not being provided in graduate adult education programs and could represent needs brought about by the ever changing social milieu of adult education.Based upon the outcomes of the diagnoses, a potentially useful label has been suggested which interpolates counseling expertise into adult education terminology. The term is "interpersonal expertise" and is based upon the assump tions, philosophies, and processes of the field of adult education.
Stepwise assembly of europium sesquioxide nanocrystals and nanoneedles

The stepwise self-assembly of europium sesquioxide nanocrystals into larger, anisotropic europium hydroxychloride nanostructures is observed. This involves the thermally assisted growth of 4.0 nm nanocrystals into elongated structures, called nanoneedles, and the subsequent assembly of those nanoneedles into larger, oriented bundles, called nanospindles. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy provides the size distribution, shape and atomic spacing of the nanostructures, whereas selective area electron diffraction and x-ray diffraction measurements identify their crystallinity. The optical properties, attributed to the environment of the host lattice for the europium ions, are investigated through photoluminescence measurements.