cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemically Accurate ab Initio Potential Energy Surfaces for the Lowest ^3A' and ^3A' ' Electronically Adiabatic States of O(^3P) + H_2

The electronic energies of the lowest ^3A‘ and ^3A‘‘ states of the O(^3P) + H_2 system were calculated for 951 geometries using MOLPRO. The calculations were fitted by a rotating Morse spline method and independently by a generalized London−Eyring−Polanyi−Sato (LEPS) double-polynomial method. A higher accuracy calculation for 112 of these geometries was also performed for both ^3A‘ and ^3A‘‘ to obtain correction potential energy surfaces (PESs) used to raise the accuracy of the original surfaces to about 0.3 kcal/mol. The resulting fitted PESs are presented and compared to each other and to a previous empirical LEPS surface.
Experimental study of high sensitivity infrared spectrometer with waveguide-based up-conversion detector 1

We have developed an up-conversion spectrometer for signals at single photon levels near the infrared region based on a tunable up-conversion detector that uses a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide as the conversion medium. We also experimentally studied its characteristics including sensitivity, dark count rate, spectral scan speed, signal transfer function of the waveguide, and polarization sensitivity. The overall single photon detection efficiency of the up-conversion spectrometer is about 32%. With its ultra high sensitivity the spectrometer can measure spectra for signals at a level as low as -126 dBm. We have demonstrated the spectrometers high sensitivity by measuring the spectrum of a greatly attenuated multimode emission from a laser diode at the 1310 nm band.
General hospital psychiatry U.S.A.: Retrospect and prospect

Abstract If one needed any outside confirmation that general hospital psychiatry had indeed “come of age” in the United States, one had only to read the August 25, 1964 issue of the Wall Street Journal (that conservative and respected arbiter of national trends) for a major story on the subject. On the first page of that issue appeared the headline: “MORE GENERAL HOSPITALS OPEN PSYCHIATRIC UNITS OFFERING INTENSIVE CARE.” The ensuing article gave the reader a remarkably detailed and accurate report of the growing importance of psychiatric services in general hospitals at that time. Psychiatric units of general hospitals are now firmly established in the United States as a major resource for the quick and effective treatment of a wide variety of psychiatric disorders. The phenomenal growth of these units, especially since the end of World War II, is a uniquely American development. Because of its potential importance in influencing the delivery of mental health services in this country, the quality and character of this development deserves careful evaluation and analysis. The purpose of this article is to review the history and current status of general hospital psychiatry in the United States. In this article, certain aspects of the movement such as the role of the private practice sector, the role of the unit as a training center, the rich variety of existing units in terms of organization and philosophy—aspects that have not been adequately dealt with elsewhere—will be discussed in some detail. Finally, a projection for the future of general hospital psychiatry will be made.
Structural Aspects of Plant Ferredoxin : NADP+ Oxidoreductases

Ferredoxin reductase (FNR) is ubiquitous among photosynthetic organisms as the enzyme directly responsible for the generation of NADPH. Structural studies over the last 15 years have generated over 30 crystal structures of wild-type and mutant FNRs that have yielded a great deal of insight into its structure–function relations. These insights are summarized and combined to propose a structurally informed cycle for FNR catalysis in vivo.
Surface-initiated growth of ionomer films from pt-modified gold electrodes.

The ability to chemically wire ionomer films to electrode surfaces can promote transport near interfaces and impact a host of energy-related applications. Here, we demonstrate proof-of-concept principles for the surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP) of norbornene (NB), 5-butylnorbornene (NBH4), and 5-perfluorobutylnorbornene (NBF4) from Pt-modified gold substrates and the subsequent sulfonation of olefins along the polymer backbones to produce ultrathin sulfonated polymer films. Prior to sulfonation, the films are hydrophobic and exhibit large barriers against ion transport, but sulfonation dramatically reduces the resistance of the films by providing pathways for proton diffusion. Sulfonated films derived from NBF4 and NBH4 yield more anodic potentials for oxygen reduction than those derived from NB or unfunctionalized electrodes. These improvements are consistent with hydrophobic structuring by the fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon side groups to minimize interfacial flooding and ...
Risk of skin cancer in the drug treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: It is well established that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an increased risk of lymphoproliferative disorders when compared to the general population. It remains unclear whether this risk is owing to underlying inflammation and immune dysregulation, effects of disease modifying medications or a combination of the two. With increasing use of targeted biologic therapies, including those that may theoretically interfere with innate tumor surveillance, there is increasing concern about the development of other malignancies. Methods: The English language literature was searched to identify observational studies and clinical trials reporting incidence and relative risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) among RA patients. Results/conclusions: The numbers of melanomas reported were too small to draw conclusions regarding increased or decreased risk with underlying RA or commonly used medications. Relative incidence of NMSCs is difficult to assess given the lack of standardi...
Lack of effect of fluoroquinolone resistance on mortality in subjects with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia

Summary Objectives Despite the well-documented increase in fluoroquinolone resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa , the effect on pathogenicity is unknown. This paper will explore the clinical effect. Methods A retrospective, observational, cohort study of 215 hospital inpatients was performed. Subjects with fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa (FQRPA) bacteraemia were compared to subjects with fluoroquinolone-sensitive P. aeruginosa (FQSPA) bacteraemia from January 2000 to December 2003. Mortality prior to discharge, time to discharge, and time to negative culture were assessed. Additionally, baseline morbidity/mortality risk factors including Charlson morbidity score (CMS) were assessed. Results Mortality prior to discharge (32 vs. 29%, P =0.73), mean days to discharge (17.5 vs. 14.6, P =0.24), and mean days to negative culture (3.6 vs. 3.2, P =0.1) did not differ between FQRPA and FQSPA, respectively. Active antibiotic treatment within 24h of drawn blood culture (FQRPA 63% vs. FQSPA 93%, P P =0.004) differed significantly between the groups. Conclusions Subjects with FQRPA received active antibiotics less often within 24h of obtained culture. A large difference in mortality does not likely exist based on fluoroquinolone susceptibility. A study with greater enrollment must be conducted to determine if fluoroquinolone resistance imparts a smaller yet clinically significant impact on clinical outcomes.
Effects of US 1 Project on Florida Key Deer Mortality

Approximately 26% of annual mortality for the endangered Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) occurs as deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) on the 5.6-km section of United States Highway 1 (US 1) on Big Pine Key (BPK), but extensive urban development adjacent to sections of US 1 complicates efforts to reduce DVCs. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the US 1 Project (continuous 2.6-km system of 2.4-m fencing, 2 underpasses, and 4 experimental deer guards constructed on US 1 on BPK) in reducing DVCs along US 1. Deer used the underpasses all 3 postproject years (2003-2005); however, we observed higher underpass use in 2004 and 2005 compared to 2003. Exclusion fencing reduced deer intrusions onto the fenced section of US 1 during the 3-year period (2003, n = 7 deer; 2004, n = 4; 2005, n = 12). With a reduction of deer intrusions onto this section of US 1, DVCs decreased in the fenced area by 73-100%; however, US 1 DVCs within the unfenced sections of US 1 also increased (40%) as expected. In controlling for effects of increasing deer density and traffic volume, study results suggest that highway improvements have decreased the net risk of DVCs along US 1, which indicates that use of deer fencing, deer guards, and underpasses is applicable in other urban communities experiencing unacceptable levels of DVCs.
On Delayed Oscillation in Nonspatially Uniform Fitzhugh Nagumo Equation

Abstract We study the problem of the slow passage through a Hopf bifurcation point for the FitzHugh Nagumo equation (FHN) v t = Dv xx − f(v) − w + φ(x)(I i + ϵt) (0.1a) w t = bv − bγw, (0.1b) where f has some properties so that the system has a Hopf bifurcation at I = I− when ϵ = 0 and I = Ii + ϵt is regarded as a parameter independent of t. The experimental results of E. Jackobsson and R. Guttman (1981, in "Biophysical Approach to Excitable Systems," Plenum, New York) showed that large amplitude oscillations occurred only after I reached a value well above I− when ϵ is positive and small. S. M. Baer, T. Erneux, and J. Rinzel (1989, SIAMAppl. Math.49, 55-71) studied these phenomena numerically and produced a prediction of the ignition (jumping) time for the system. J. Su (1993, J. Differential Equations105, 180-215; 1990, "Delayed Oscillation Phenomena in FitzHugh Naguma Equation," Ph.D. thesis) proved the delayed oscillation phenomena when φ(x) = 1. In this work, we show that delayed oscillations occur when ϵ is small enough for any φ(x) > 0.
Reference intervals: new guidelines for an essential resource

REGARDLESS of the species of animal that has been examined and the type of assay used, there is a point at which the interpretation of a result falls to the veterinarian who must call upon his/her experience, scientific knowledge and available empirical data by which to compare and interpret results as part of the overall decision process. These data are often referred to as reference ranges, normal limits, normal values, and the preferred term of reference intervals. These can vary widely by laboratory and by test method and, in veterinary medicine, have often been generated in a less than controlled manner. This is especially true for the field of avian and exotic pet medicine where sample size in the generation of reference intervals is often quite limited. To generate reference intervals to support a valid comparison of patient results, certain tenets are essential to this systematic process (Horn and Pesce 2003, Geffre and others 2009b, Friedrichs and others 2011). This starts with the assurance that information regarding all animals is clearly addressed. This is inclusive not only of the definition of clinical health but also age, sex, husbandry, geographic location, season, reproductive cycle and breed. Other concerns include fasting status, stress, exercise and …
Environmental factors and sense of community in a planned town

Previous community psychology research has suggested that sense of community can be a powerful explanatory tool for understanding community development and individual well-being, but has not focused on the relationship of environmental variables to the construct. In other disciplines—especially urban planning—this construct has received more attention but it has not been empirically and systematically studied. The three-phase qualitative study reported here sampled people representative of those who live and work in Seaside, FL, a town designed to induced sense of community. The data strongly suggest a relationship between a variable set that may define sense of community—membership, need fulfillment, shared emotional connections, loyalty—and the environmental variables of town design, architecture, and urban planning philosophy.
Role of routine transthoracic echocardiography in evaluation and management of stroke.

. Beattie JR, Cohen DJ, Manning WJ, Douglas PS (Harvard Medical School, Harvard-Thorndike Laboratory, and Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA). Role of routine transthoracic echocardiography in evaluation and management of stroke. J Intern Med 1998; 243: 281–91. Objective To determine the value of routine transthoracic echocardiography in patients with cerebral ischemia without known cardiac disease. Design The literature from 1990 to 1995 was searched and relevant bibliographies from these papers reviewed. Articles reporting the prevalence and/or risk of stroke for myxoma, vegetation, mitral stenosis, left atrial thrombus, left ventricular thrombus or cardiomyopathy, patent foramen ovale, and atrial septal aneurysm were used. Prevalences and recurrent stroke risk were examined for adult patients less than and greater than 45 years. Results Both the prevalence of transthoracic echocardiographic findings and recurrent risk of stroke differ by age. The finding of a patent foramen ovale can be expected in nearly half of younger patients with stroke, whilst transthoracic echo can be expected to yield no relevant lesion in three quarters of patients > 45 years. Warfarin anticoagulation appears beneficial in patients with mitral stenosis, left atrial thrombus, left ventricular thrombus, and left ventricular dysfunction, but is of unproven benefit for patent foramen ovale, atrial septal aneurysm, or in the absence of a risk-associated abnormality. Conclusion For most transthoracic echo findings in stroke, optimal management strategies have not been well defined. Future research is needed to evaluate the appropriate therapeutic approaches.
Notch signaling mediates G1/S cell-cycle progression in T cells via cyclin D3 and its dependent kinases

Notch signaling plays a role in normal lymphocyte development and function. Activating Notch1-mutations, leading to aberrant downstream signaling, have been identified in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). While this highlights the contribution of Notch signaling to T-ALL pathogenesis, the mechanisms by which Notch regulates proliferation and survival in normal and leukemic T cells are not fully understood. Our findings identify a role for Notch signaling in G1-S progression of cell cycle in T cells. Here we show that expression of the G1 proteins, cyclin D3, CDK4, and CDK6, is Notch-dependent both in vitro and in vivo, and we outline a possible mechanism for the regulated expression of cyclin D3 in activated T cells via CSL (CBF-1, mammals; suppressor of hairless, Drosophila melanogaster; Lag-1, Caenorhabditis elegans), as well as a noncanonical Notch signaling pathway. While cyclin D3 expression contributes to cell-cycle progression in Notch-dependent human T-ALL cell lines, ectopic expression of CDK4 or CDK6 together with cyclin D3 shows partial rescue from γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI)-induced G1 arrest in these cell lines. Importantly, cyclin D3 and CDK4 are highly overexpressed in Notch-dependent T-cell lymphomas, justifying the combined use of cell-cycle inhibitors and GSI in treating human T-cell malignancies.
Children in Harlem's Community Controlled Schools

A community controlled school district in Harlem compared with a non-community controlled district showed: stronger intellectual and expressive climate in the schools, greater parent use of school buildings, more positive teacher-pupil-classroom interactions, and shifts in children's expectancies toward greater awareness of the power of parents and teachers in the schools. Children's achievement improved. Within the district, preschool children showed increased racial preference for same race dolls. The success of this community controlled school district was related to its small size, frequent parent-teacher contacts, and unified social ideology. The district studied no longer exists. Although unsanctioned social experiments in public organizations are quickly subverted by the larger organization, such social experiments yield data on new forms for urban public organizations, their optimal size, and how they can be made accountable to the people they serve.
Trends in broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for children with acute otitis media in the United States, 1998–2004

Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics is associated with antibiotic resistance. Acute otitis media (AOM) is responsible for a large proportion of antibiotics prescribed for US children. Rates of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for AOM are unknown. Analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1998 to 2004 (N = 6,878). Setting is office-based physicians, hospital outpatient departments, and emergency departments. Patients are children aged 12 years and younger prescribed antibiotics for acute otitis media. Main outcome measure is percentage of broad-spectrum antibiotics, defined as amoxicillin/clavulanate, macrolides, cephalosporins and quinolones. Broad-spectrum prescribing for acute otitis media increased from 34% of visits in 1998 to 45% of visits in 2004 (P < .001 for trend). The trend was primarily attributable to an increase in prescribing of amoxicillin/clavulanate (8% to 15%; P < .001 for trend) and macrolides (9% to 15%; P < .001 for trend). Prescribing remained stable for amoxicillin and cephalosporins while decreasing for narrow-spectrum agents (12% to 3%; P < .001 for trend) over the study period. Independent predictors of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing were ear pain, non-white race, public and other insurance (compared to private), hospital outpatient department setting, emergency department setting, and West region (compared to South and Midwest regions), each of which was associated with lower rates of broad-spectrum prescribing. Age and fever were not associated with prescribing choice. Prescribing of broad-spectrum antibiotics for acute otitis media has steadily increased from 1998 to 2004. Associations with non-clinical factors suggest potential for improvement in prescribing practice.
Multi-institutional professional social network for rapid course development

This paper summarizes an on-going project conducted to facilitate course development process. A multi-institutional faculty team is formed based on the similarity of course contents and expected outcomes. Teamwork is conducted to convert the existing curriculum adopted from NSF's ATE (Advanced Technological Education) centers to online course modules with rich multimedia formats and universal access through the Internet. The collaborative work is performed on a dedicated professional social network system supported by an NSF education and an HP equipment grants. The instructors are exposed to the advanced computing power and cutting-edge collaboration software. This team course development method creates a multi-institutional peer-reviewed teaching environment that is difficult to implement in the traditional non-cyber collaboration methods. During the collaboration and online interaction, instructors can obtain professional support from the team from anywhere at any time. Workload is reduced as multiple people are sharing their efforts to develop similar courses while teaching is able to be standardized among institutions due to the adaptation of the same course modules.
Using expert systems to select software the traffic analysis

An expert system was developed by the Texas Transportation institute (TTI) to assist users in selecting computerized software currently being supported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U. S. Department of Transportation. This system was designed to investigate the potential expert systems applications in transportation engineering. This study was performed to serve three basic purposes. First, it investigates the feasibility of developing small-scale traffic engineering knowledge-based expert systems using a simple knowledge engineering tool. Secondly, it develops an alternative method of recommending computer programs for user-specified applications. Thirdly, it investigates a possible approach for implementing advisory expert systems to be operated in the IBM PC/XT/AT microcomputer environment.This paper describes the development of this expert system using a commercially available knowledge engineering tool developed by Level Five Research, Inc. INSIGHT 2+ was used to explore with the expert system programming in an inexpensive microcomputer environment. In operation, this system reviews and analyzes the user input information, evaluates with various reasoning paths and offers a conclusion. With the proper combination of knowledge programming tools and pre-identified decision-making processes, individual users can develop their applications faster than if they had to learn complex Artificial Intelligence programming languages. It is recommended that the expert advisory system design concept of this prototype model be extended to assist practicing traffic engineers in selecting software packages to optimize traffic control strategies. With proper improvement, this type of expert system design can assist the user as a stand-alone expert advice system.
Effect of Human Serum on the pH-Induced Rheological Properties of Polymethacrylic Acid

AbstractThe use of polyelectrolytes have been proposed for the production of pH sensitive microcapsules and liposomes. Polymethacrylic acid (PMA) has been synthesized for this purpose and has been shown to be extremely effective in increasing the release from these delivery systems a pH's below 6.0 in distilled water. The current studies show that serum and ionic strength conditions dramatically effect the rate and extent of any PMA conformational changes. The rate of conformational change was found to be proportional to time in contrast to the cube root of time reported within molecular probe investigations. Conformational changes in this study have been monitored using a cone/plate rotational viscometer. The results of this study suggest that under biologically relevant conditions, PMA (Mv 400,000) may not be suitable for use in pH sensitive delivery systems but may have other important uses.
Subtracted differential display: genes with amphetamine-altered expression patterns include calcineurin.

Genes whose expression changes with administration of abused substances provide candidate biochemical mechanisms for drug-induced long-term brain changes. To identify such genes, and to avoid the false-positive results frequently obtained from differential display PCR, we applied a subtracted differential display (SDD) approach. We subtracted single-stranded cDNA prepared from drug-treated animals with excess mRNA from saline-treated animals, and visa versa, prior to differential display amplifications. Two of the initial amphetamine-regulated cDNAs identified in this fashion encoded calcineurin A, a neuron-specific protein phosphatase catalytic subunit whose striatal expression was upregulated ca. 1.5-fold. SDD may enhance the utility of differential display approaches to identifying regulated genes in tissues in which mRNA complexities are high.
Theory of Coherent Systems

A circuit theory model is derived for coherent radar, communication, sonar and antenna systems. The model involves linear time invariant operators and hence can be thought of as cascaded filters. The model provides insight for such systems not previously available, and it provides a unified approach to the analysis of all the above systems. The analysis is concerned with continuously distributed target fields and point targets, perturbed by both additive noise and random phase errors. The model in general consists of two filters, a pre-filter and a post-filter. For radar, sonar, and antenna systems the input is the reflectivity of the target field to be sensed. For the radar and sonar case the impulse response of the pre-filter is the transmitted pulse while for antenna systems the impulse response is the current distribution. For communications, radar, and sonar the post-filter is the receiver while for antennas the post-filter is a combination of the receiver and the receiving antenna. Additive receiver noise is accounted for at the input of the post-filter. Lack of perfect coherence or phase errors can be due to many causes, e.g., atmosphere or ocean inhomogeneities. To account for the various sources of phase errors, one must consider both the pre-filter and post-filter as random parameter systems and include a multiplicative error at the input of the post-filter. This also accounts for fading. Optimum detection has been considered extensively in the literature; in this report we emphasize two other related criteria, namely resolution and mean-square error.
The Formation of Oxalic Acid During Bleaching of Kraft Pulp

Abstract Calcium oxalate scaling is a major practical problem in a paper mill, especially in the evaporators, pulp digesters, and the bleach room. The sources of oxalic acid were determined by analysis of mill samples. In the unbleached pulp mill, the source of oxalic acid is the wood. In addition, a major amount of oxalic acid was found to be formed in the bleach room. A laboratory bleaching study was undertaken to establish a quantitative relationship betweeen bleaching conditions and oxalic acid production. Hardwood kraft pulp was bleached using three sequences. The amount of oxalic acid produced was dependent upon the available lignin content of the pulp (Kappa number) and not the oxidant concentration or reaction temperature.
Precocious virulent coronary atherosclerosis in the very young.

BACKGROUND The incidence of Myocardial Infarction (MI) in patients under the age of 30 has been rarely addressed. Moreover, it is not understood why these patients develop symptomatic Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) at such an early age. Traditional risk factor assessment has not been successful in identifying these patients before they present with MI. METHODS Retrospective, single cohort, observational study of 14,704 cardiac catheterizations performed in a community hospital between January 2006-January 2010 identified 12 cases age <30 with MI secondary to a fixed atherosclerotic lesion requiring angioplasty and stenting. The angiograms and charts were reviewed to assess the incidence and frequency of traditional risk factors such as smoking, dyslipidemia and diabetes and family history. RESULTS All the patients had single vessel disease. Many of the patients were noted to have traditional CAD risk factors. 2 patients had an intervention and then months later sustained another acute MI secondary to a new culprit lesion despite aggressive risk factor modification. CONCLUSION Evaluating patients for premature CAD by screening for traditional risk factors has not effectively identified at risk patients prior to presentation with MI. There is a role for studies evaluating new and novel risk factors and imaging modalities so that these patients can be identified prior to experiencing MI.
Relation between interastral distance, time of furrow initiation, and rate of furrow progress in cylindrical sand dollar eggs

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether measurable characteristics of furrow activity were affected when the distance between the asters was manipulated. The mitotic apparatus of cleaving Echinarachnius parma eggs was broken by passing the egg several times through a constricting pipet nozzle. Manipulated eggs were then confined in 80 μm i.d. silicone rubber capillaries. When the astral pairs developed before second cleavage, the distances between the pairs often differed. When the difference between interastral distances was 8.6 μm or less, furrows developed in the normal relation to both astral pairs within 1 minute in 31 of 35 cases. When the difference of interastral distances was greater than 8.6 μm, the furrow appeared first in association with the smaller distance in 53 of 54 cases. In all (24) cases in which the rates of progress of each astral pair were measured, the furrow formed between the closer astral pair progressed more rapidly when the distance was greater than 8.6 μm. No significant correlation between the rates of furrow progress and the magnitude of interastral distances measured 4 minutes before the beginning of furrowing could be demonstrated.
Smallholder Settlement of Tropical South America: The Social Causes of Ecological Destruction

This paper examines the relationship between social cycles of indebtedness and differentiation and cycles of ecological destruction and decline in three newly settled regions of Latin America. In contrasting the case of colonization along the Transamazon Highway in Brazil with that of the Lago Agrio colonization in northeastern Ecuador and with seasonal migration into the Tambopata Valley of southern Peru, significant patterns of interaction between social context, producer decisions and environmental deterioration emerge. Structural incentives to produce for short-term gain are described in each case, as are the ways in which these factors work against sustained yield production systems. Identification of the complex interactions between ecological and social processes in each area challenges assumptions that the failure of many efforts to open new lands in the tropics can be attributed to the unsuitability of the soils or to the inefficiency of small producers in these environments.
Training Physicians to Do Office-based Smoking Cessation Increases Adherence to PHS Guidelines

Cigarette Smoking is the leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in the United States. Healthcare providers can contribute significantly to the war against tobacco use; patients advised to quit smoking by their physicians are 1.6 times more likely to quit than patients not receiving physician advice. However, most smokers do not receive this advice when visiting their physicians. The Morehouse School of Medicine Tobacco Control Research Program was undertaken to develop best practices for implementing the “2000 Public Health Services Clinical Practice Guidelines on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence” and the “Pathways to Freedom” tobacco cessation program among African American physicians in private practice and healthcare providers at community health centers. Ten focus groups were conducted; 82 healthcare professionals participated. Six major themes were identified as barriers to the provision of smoking cessation services. An intervention was developed based on these results and tested among Georgia community-based physicians. A total of 308 charts were abstracted both pre- and post-intervention. Charts were scored using a system awarding one point for each of the five “A’s” recommended by the PHS guidelines (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) employed during the patient visit. The mean pre-intervention five “A’s” score was 1.29 compared to 1.90 post-intervention (P < 0.001). All charts had evidence of the first “A” (“asked”) both pre- and post-intervention, and the other four “A’s” all had statistically significant increases pre-to post-intervention. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that, with training of physicians, compliance with the PHS tobacco guidelines can be greatly improved.
Observation and Inversion of Surface-Wave Dispersion

Abstract Rayleigh wave phase velocities have been measured to periods in excess of 160 sec for a number of profiles, worldwide and for many different geologic structures. It is found that at least five structural provinces must be established; these include shields, aseismic continental platforms, rifts, ocean basins, and mountains. The inversion of these profiles shows that the shields probably have a little or no low-velocity channel in the mantle, the aseismic platforms have a low-velocity channel with high contrast to a thick lid, the oceans have a high-contrast channel and a thin lid, the rifts have low-velocity material but probably without a lid. Comparison is made between regional observations and the great-circle decomposition methods for determining phase velocities in type regions.
Mapping innovations in spatial demography

Recently, advances in spatially centered analytic methods and the application of geographic information systems (GIS) to the investigation of social processes have made the use of maps and mapping ...
Patient-Level Home Health Care Outcomes Secondary to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997

The National Association for Home Care estimated 26% of all home health agencies (HHAs) have gone out of business since October 1997 when Medicare began to change the funding structure for home health care reimbursement. This study aims to answer two questions: Did HHAs that went out of business abandon patients? and Are HHAs that remained in business providing less-than-adequate services? Telephone interviews were conducted with 64 randomly selected elders receiving home care services during the funding transition from fee-for-service to an interim payment system. The findings indicate that HHAs that closed down primarily transferred their patients to other agencies and that 22% of patients experienced an increase in the number of hospital admissions following the funding structure transition. These preliminary results indicate that no substantial ill-effects have come to this sample of home health care patients as a result of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
The tumor-suppressor gene, p53, is induced in injured brain regions following experimental traumatic brain injury

A growing body of evidence suggests that neurons undergo apoptotic cell death following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since the expression of several tumor suppressor and cell cycle genes have been implicated in neuronal apoptosis, the present study used in situ hybridization (ISH) histochemistry to evaluate the regional and temporal patterns of expression of the mRNAs for the tumor suppressor gene, p53, and the cell cycle gene, cyclin D1, following lateral fluid-percussion (FP) brain injury in the rat. Anesthetized adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=16) were subjected to lateral FP brain injury of moderate severity (2.4-2.7 atm), while sham controls (n=6) were surgically prepared but did not receive brain injury. Animals were killed by decapitation at 6 h (n=6 injured and 2 sham), 24 h (n=6 injured and 2 sham), or 3 days (n=4 injured and 2 sham), and their brains processed for ISH. Little to no expression of p53 mRNA was observed in sham brains. At 6 h post-injury, p53 mRNA was induced predominantly in cells that are vulnerable to TBI, such as those in the contused cortex, lateral and medial geniculate nuclei of the thalamus, and the CA(3) and hilar neurons of the hippocampus. Increased p53 mRNA was also detected in hippocampal CA(1) neurons, cells that are relatively resistant to FP brain injury. Levels of p53 mRNA returned to sham levels in all regions of the injured brain by 24 h. In contrast to p53, cyclin D1 mRNA was detectable in the brains of uninjured animals and was not altered by brain injury. These results suggest that the tumor suppressor gene p53, but not cyclin D1, is upregulated and may participate in molecular response to TBI.
Na‐Ca interactions in barley seedlings: relationship to ion transport and growth

Abstract Salt-stressed plants often show Ca deficiency symptoms. The effects of NaCl salinity (1 to 150 mol m-3) and supplemental Ca (10 mol m-3) on Na and Ca transport in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and their relationship to growth were investigated. The adjustment of Na and Ca transport was investigated by examining young seedlings exposed to short-term (immediate) and long-term (7 d) exposure to salinity. When the plants were exposed to long-term treatments of salinity, the rate of sodium accumulation in roots was approximately 10 to 15% of short-term treatments. No significant adjustment in the transport to the shoot was observed. Rates of tracer (22Na) transport were compared to calculated rates based on relative growth rates and tissue element concentrations. Comparisons between measured tracer and calculated rates of transport indicate that 22Na transport may underestimate transport to the shoot because of dilution of the tracer in the root cytoplasm. Calcium uptake showed only minor adjustment with time. Measured rates of tracer transport to the shoot correlated well with calculated values. The transport and tissue concentrations of Na were significantly affected by supplemental Ca. Calcium transport and tissue concentrations were markedly inhibited by salinity. Supplemental Ca increased Ca transport and accumulation at all NaCl treatments above that of control plants without supplemental Ca. Salinity inhibited plant growth at 150 mol m -3NaCl, but not at 75 mol m-3. Supplemental Ca significantly improved root length but not fresh weight after 7d of salinity, although differences in fresh weight were detected after 9d. There were significant Na-Ca interactions with ion transport, ion accumulation, and growth. The effects of salinity on Na and Ca transport to the shoot do not appear to play a major role in shoot growth of barley.
Amperometric TNT biosensor based on the oriented immobilization of a nitroreductase maltose binding protein fusion.

The preparation and characterization of an amperometric 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) biosensor based on the surface immobilization of a maltose binding protein (MBP) nitroreductase (NR) fusion (MBP−NR) onto an electrode modified with an electropolymerized film of N-(3-pyrrol-1-ylpropyl)-4,4‘-bipyridine (PPB) are described. The MBP domain of MBP−NR exhibits a high and specific affinity toward electropolymerized films of PPB with the immobilized enzyme retaining virtually all of its enzymatic activity. Under similar conditions, the wild-type NR enzyme (i.e., without the MBP domain) loses most of its enzymatic activity. The kinetics of the catalytic reaction between the biosensor and TNT and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) were characterized using rotated disk electrode and cyclic voltammetry techniques, and values of 1.4 × 104 and 7.1 × 104 M-1 s-1 were obtained for TNT and DNT, respectively. The apparent Michaelis−Menten constants (KM) for MBP−NR in solution and on the surface, using TNT as substrate, were determi...
Hybrid ray optics and continuum mechanics modeling of cell deformation in the optical stretcher

There is no direct method for measuring the optical pressures that stretch biological cells in the optical stretcher. A hybrid computational method has been developed to quantify the deformation of living cells.
The Heroic Monster Dexter, Masculinity, and Violence

In this essay, I advance a reading of Dexter—the character and series—that focuses on the complicated ways that the construction of normative masculinity serves to define, and sometimes legitimate,...
YouTube: a promotional vehicle for little cigars and cigarillos?

Objective As the third most popular website in the world, messages embedded in the video-sharing site, YouTube, have the potential to influence tobacco-related attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. Despite the growing number of videos depicting little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs), there has been no examination of the portrayal of these products on YouTube. Methods Researchers identified up to the top 20 search results on YouTube by relevance and view count for the following search terms: ‘little cigars’, ‘cigarillos’, ‘Black and Mild’, ‘Swisher Sweets’, ‘White owl’, ‘Garcia y Vega’, and ‘Winchester’. Reviewers rated whether videos were ‘pro’, ‘anti’ or ‘neutral’ to the use of LCCs, and documented statistics on the reach and viewer demographics. Several main themes around LCCs were noted, as was video quality (amateur vs professional) and demographics of video participants. Results Of the 196 videos retrieved, only 56 were unique, eligible videos. The majority of these (n=43) were ‘pro’ LCCs, 11 were ‘neutral’, and only two were ‘anti’ LCCs. Videos were primarily viewed by males in the USA and Canada and most were amateur. Common themes included where to purchase LCCs, their candy flavours, and that they are cheap or cheaper than cigarettes, and ‘smooth’. Conclusions The vast majority of information on YouTube about LCCs promotes their use. It is critical to monitor content on LCCs posted on YouTube, and develop appropriate health messages to counter pro-LCC content, and appropriately inform potential consumers of the harms associated with their use.
Aquatic manoeuvering with counter-propagating waves: a novel locomotive strategy

Many aquatic organisms swim by means of an undulating fin. These undulations often form a single wave travelling from one end of the fin to the other. However, when these aquatic animals are holding station or hovering, there is often a travelling wave from the head to the tail, and another moving from the tail to the head, meeting in the middle of the fin. Our study uses a biomimetic fish robot and computational fluid dynamics on a model of a real fish to uncover the mechanics of these inward counter-propagating waves. In addition, we compare the flow structure and upward force generated by inward counter-propagating waves to standing waves, unidirectional waves, and outward counter-propagating waves (i.e. one wave travelling from the middle of the fin to the head, and another wave travelling from the middle of the fin to the tail). Using digital particle image velocimetry to capture the flow structure around the fish robot, and computational fluid dynamics, we show that inward counter-propagating waves generate a clear mushroom-cloud-like flow structure with an inverted jet. The two streams of fluid set up by the two travelling waves ‘collide’ together (forming the mushroom cap) and collect into a narrow jet away from the cap (the mushroom stem). The reaction force from this jet acts to push the body in the opposite direction to the jet, perpendicular to the direction of movement provided by a single travelling wave. This downward jet provides a substantial increase in the perpendicular force when compared with the other types of fin actuation. Animals can thereby move upward if the fin is along the bottom midline of the body (or downward if on top); or left–right if the fins are along the lateral margins. In addition to illuminating how a large number of undulatory swimmers can use elongated fins to move in unexpected directions, the phenomenon of counter-propagating waves provides novel motion capabilities for systems using robotic undulators, an emerging technology for propelling underwater vehicles.
Relationship of trophic and chemical conditions to photobleaching of dissolved organic matter in lake ecosystems

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a major light-absorbing substance, responsible for much of the color in water bodies. When sunlight energy is absorbed by DOM, some color can be lost by the process of photobleaching. We measured rates of DOM photobleaching in thirty lakes that varied greatly in color, trophic status and ionic composition. Loss of color (measured as absorbance at 440 nm and expressed as absorption coefficients) was a first order function of sunlight dose, and rates were nearly identical for 0.2 m- and GF/F-filtered samples suggesting that the process was predominantly abiotic. Photobleaching rates were rapid (color loss of 1-19% d 1 ) and varied about seven-fold among lakes. Our method under- estimated the actual rate by 15-20% based on comparisons between the glass bottles we used in the survey and quartz containers. The large variation in photobleaching rates was examined in relation to lake trophy and chemical conditions. The best predictor of this variability was acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) (r 2 = 0.94; p< 0.001) such that photobleaching was most rapid in the most alkaline lakes. The relationship between ANC and photobleaching suggests that differences in ionic conditions among lakes may influence the solubility and configuration of humic and fulvic acids and hence their susceptibility to photobleaching.
Effect of regional precursor emission controls on long-range ozone transport – Part 2: Steady-state changes in ozone air quality and impacts on human mortality

Abstract. Large-scale changes in ozone precursor emissions affect ozone directly in the short term, and also affect methane, which in turn causes long-term changes in ozone that affect surface ozone air quality. Here we assess the effects of changes in ozone precursor emissions on the long-term change in surface ozone via methane, as a function of the emission region, by modeling 10% reductions in anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from each of nine world regions. Reductions in NOx emissions from all world regions increase methane and long-term surface ozone. While this long-term increase is small compared to the intra-regional short-term ozone decrease, it is comparable to or larger than the short-term inter-continental ozone decrease for some source-receptor pairs. The increase in methane and long-term surface ozone per ton of NOx reduced is greatest in tropical and Southern Hemisphere regions, exceeding that from temperate Northern Hemisphere regions by roughly a factor of ten. We also assess changes in premature ozone-related human mortality associated with regional precursor reductions and long-range transport, showing that for 10% regional NOx reductions, the strongest inter-regional influence is for emissions from Europe affecting mortalities in Africa. Reductions of NOx in North America, Europe, the Former Soviet Union, and Australia are shown to reduce more mortalities outside of the source regions than within. Among world regions, NOx reductions in India cause the greatest number of avoided mortalities per ton, mainly in India itself. Finally, by increasing global methane, NOx reductions in one hemisphere tend to cause long-term increases in ozone concentration and mortalities in the opposite hemisphere. Reducing emissions of methane, and to a lesser extent carbon monoxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds, alongside NOx reductions would avoid this disbenefit.
On computing the inverse of a rational matrix

In this paper, we develop a method for computing the inverse of a rational or polynomial matrix via Wolovich's Structure Theorem. By using Leverrier's algorithm with the above result, the inverse can be obtained using only arithmetic operations.
The impact of winter storage of live carp on discharge water quality

Summary Changes in water quality were studied in two flow-through winter storage facilities for carp from October 1994 to April 1995 (173 days), where unfed marketable carp (1.7 ± 0.3 kg) from the autumnal pond harvest were held before marketing. The quality characteristics of the inflow and outflow water and organic and nutrient loadings were summarized. Water quality parameters appeared to be affected little in these rearing conditions. The storage facilities had no serious environmental effects, particularly when using a water flow rate greater than 2.6 L t-1s-1 and a storage time exceeding 30 or 100 days. Dissolved oxygen (DO) uptake resulted in 410 g per tonne of fish biomass per day (gt-1day-1) for an average flow rate of 1.7Lt-1s-1 and was related to the flow rate (P < 0.05) and storage time (P <0.01) of the carp. On average, pH values fell by 0.15 units and relationships between pH and temperature (P< 0.001), storage time (P<0.01) and DO uptake (P < 0.001) were indicated. The amount of organic matter released into the water was 37 and 69g t-1day-1 in the case of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. Correlations between BOD production and water temperature and storage time were registered (P < 0.01). Nutrient enrichment reached 18g t-1 day-1 as total ammonia N, and 1 and 9 g t-1day-1 as orthophosphate and total P, respectively; all were accompanied by high variability in the data.