cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is an effective barrier in preventing pelvic adhesions after radical surgery for ovarian cancer

Monk BJ, Fowler JM, Burger RA, McGonigle KF, Eddy GL, Montz FJ. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is an effective barrier in preventing pelvic adhesions after radical surgery for ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8: 403–408. Objective: To determine the efficacy of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in preventing pelvic adhesions following primary surgical debulking of epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods: Twenty-one patients with advanced ovarian cancer undergoing optimal debulking including excision of the pelvic peritoneum were randomized intraoperatively to either a control group or to a subset undergoing coverage of the pelvic peritoneal defect with ePTFE. Following chemotherapy, a second look procedure was performed and adhesions scored. The pelvis was divided into quadrants, and each quadrant was assessed for the extent and type of adhesion involvement (avascular, vascular, thick) and given a composite score (range 0–20). In addition, any visceral structures involved with adhesions were noted. The number of quadrants involved with adhesions and the mean adhesion scores between the control and experimental group were compared using a two-tailed Fisher's exact and t-test, respectively. Results: Thirteen patients (six ePTFE recipients and seven-controls) were evaluable and underwent surgical reassessment while six either refused second look (N= 2) and/or chemotherapy (N= 2) or progressed (N= 2). One patient in both the ePTFE and control groups died of disease prior to reassessment. Forty-two percent (10 of 24) of the pelvic quadrants covered with ePTFE contained adhesions compared to 86% (24 of 28) in the control group (P= 0.001). The mean total quadrant adhesion score was also lower when ePTFE was used, 1.6 ± 3.2 (range 0–8) vs 8.7 ± 5.7 (range 2–17) (P= 0.01). The incidence of bowel loop adhesions, organ/structure involvement and postoperative complications was similar in both groups. Conclusions: An ePTFE membrane is effective in preventing pelvic adhesions after radical debulking for ovarian cancer. The clinical implications associated with its use, however, require further study.
Pediatric heart, heart-lung, and lung transplantation: Psychosocial, economic, and educational aspects

Transplantation in a child presents a far greater challenge to the transplant team than that of an adult because of its intrinsic psychosociat complexity. The nurse coordinator and transplant social worker must, from the beginning, deal with the very different needs and levels of understanding of the patient, the parents, step-parents or adult significant others, and all siblings. The nurse and social worker quickly learn to allow far more time for pediatric cases than for adults. There are no shortcuts to establishing a relationship and building trust with each member of the family during the initial evaluation and decision-making process. This first phase is also a time for the staff to observe parenting styles and patterns of family interaction, not in a judgmental way, but to learn how to form viable working relationships. During the initial interviews, families are usually tempted to present a harmonious, problem-free facade, to try to transform themselves into the ideal televisionperfect image they believe the transplant team expects and requires. This effort, superimposed on the family's current state of crisis, as well as the pressure to make an immediate decision regarding
Rocket measurement of nitric oxide between 60 and 96 kilometers

The height profile of the nitric oxide airglow in the gamma bands (A²Σ+ — X²Π) is presented from measurements by a sounding rocket at evening twilight. The nitric oxide density profile is deduced from these measurements. The density profile is used to deduce the dominant processes controlling nitric oxide in the 60- to 96-kilometer range. Above 75 kilometers the dominant process is found to be atmospheric mixing. The chemical reaction of nitric oxide with ozone is suggested as the dominant process below 70 kilometers.
Pelvic fractures – nursing considerations

If we think of the pelvis as a box with four sturdy sides, then breaking one side of the square weakens the whole structure. The aim of this article is firstly to review the architecture of the pelvis and, secondly, to give consideration to the nursing issues that apply to the feline patient in this situation.
Fast k-NNG Construction with GPU-Based Quick Multi-Select

In this paper, we describe a new brute force algorithm for building the k-Nearest Neighbor Graph (k-NNG). The k-NNG algorithm has many applications in areas such as machine learning, bio-informatics, and clustering analysis. While there are very efficient algorithms for data of low dimensions, for high dimensional data the brute force search is the best algorithm. There are two main parts to the algorithm: the first part is finding the distances between the input vectors, which may be formulated as a matrix multiplication problem; the second is the selection of the k-NNs for each of the query vectors. For the second part, we describe a novel graphics processing unit (GPU)-based multi-select algorithm based on quick sort. Our optimization makes clever use of warp voting functions available on the latest GPUs along with user-controlled cache. Benchmarks show significant improvement over state-of-the-art implementations of the k-NN search on GPUs.
Transgenic labeling of hair cells in the zebrafish acousticolateralis system.

Abstract The zebrafish provides a useful experimental system for investigations of aural development. To permit the controlled expression of transgenes in developing hair cells, we isolated the genomic control regions of the parvalbumin 3a (pvalb3a) and parvalbumin 3b (pvalb3b) genes. Deletion analysis and somatic-cell transgenesis restricted the cis-acting control regions for hair cells to as little as 484 base pairs for pvalb3a and 650 base pairs for pvalb3b. Using both meganuclease-mediated and standard methods, we produced transgenic animals that transmit transgenes through their germ lines. These fish express GFP in hair cells in the inner ear and lateral line. Two stable transgenic lines express GFP prior to hair-bundle formation, so the associated promoter constructs are suitable for manipulating gene expression during bundle development. We additionally identified a transgenic line that offers variable labeling of supporting cells.
Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Metastatic pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in North America and Europe. In the past, patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer have had few treatment options. However, recently, several effective palliative therapies and procedures have become available. The systemic administration of gemcitabine has been shown to result in clinical benefit and in a prolongation of median survival, and is now established as the standard first-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Clinical trials are exploring whether the use of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy combinations will result in further benefit. Several novel chemotherapeutic and biologic agents appear promising, and are likely to play a role in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer in the future. Palliative procedures, such as biliary or duodenal stenting and celiac plexus blockade, should be considered in conjunction with systemic therapy in patients with specific complications from pancreatic cancer.
A NURBS-based interface-enriched generalized finite element scheme for the thermal analysis and design of microvascular composites

Abstract Motivated by recent advances in manufacturing techniques for high-temperature microvascular composites, a NURBS-based interface-enriched generalized finite element method (IGFEM) is developed to solve a simplified thermal model of microchannels embedded in the materials. This method is capable of handling curved and branched microchannels. Solutions more accurate than those achieved with the conventional finite element method can be obtained with coarse meshes that do not conform to the geometry of the microchannels. Near-optimal asymptotic convergence rate is also achieved with this method even for highly curved microchannels. The capability of the numerical scheme is demonstrated by solving problems with complex microchannel configurations.
New occurrence and recurrence of neoplasms within 5 years of a screening colonoscopy

OBJECTIVE: The fear that colorectal adenomas were missed on initial colonoscopy or that new adenomas have developed is often a rationale for repeating a colonoscopic examination. The aim of this study was to delineate risk factors associated with recurrence of colorectal adenomas after an initial baseline screening colonoscopy. METHODS: The study population comprised 875 subjects who underwent a baseline screening colonoscopy followed by a second examination 1–5 yr later. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the influence of potential risk factors on the occurrence or recurrence of colorectal adenomas, the strength of the influence being expressed as an OR with a 95% CI. RESULTS: Colorectal adenomas were detected in 484 of all patients (55%) at baseline colonoscopy. Within a 1- to 5-yr time interval, 181 patients (37%) had recurrent adenomas (adenomas were removed during the first colonoscopy) and 73 patients (19%) had newly developed adenomas (adenomas were absent on the first colonoscopy). The occurrence of adenomas at baseline screening colonoscopy was the only factor associated with an increased risk for the recurrence of adenomas at follow-up (OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.77–3.55). Recurrence was associated with multiple baseline adenomas (4.45, 2.98–6.64) and baseline adenomas larger than 1 cm (2.62, 1.99–3.11). Recurrence was not associated with histology type or family history of colorectal cancer. There was a significant trend for adenomas to recur in the same proximal or distal segment as the baseline adenomas (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Colon adenomas tend to recur with greater frequency if the adenomas removed at baseline were either large or multiple. Although patients with large adenomas or multiple adenomas at baseline screening colonoscopy are at a 2.6- to 4.5-fold risk for recurrence of adenomas, the rate of de novo adenoma formation in patients without baseline adenomas may be large enough to warrant repeat colonoscopy at some time in the future. The exact timing of the follow-up colonoscopy needs to be determined.
Market Conditions, Productivity, and Promotion among University Faculty.

This paper contrasts the performance levels and promotion experiences of 371 faculty members under three different market conditions reflecting the supply and demand for university faculty (buyer's market, seller's market, and stable market). The central questions examined are, What is the effect of market conditions upon (1) the length of time it takes for promotion; (2) the promotion rate; (3) the productivity of assistant and associate professors before each promotion; and (4) the productivity of full professors after attaining that rank? Findings are most consistent with a market model indicating that faculty promoted during a buyer's market remain in rank longer before being promoted and exhibit a greater rate of productivity than faculty promoted during other market conditions. There is also support for the elite model in that the impact of “tight” market conditions on productivity is greatest for faculty below the rank of full professor.
Predicting emerging technologies with the aid of text-based data mining: the micro approach

Abstract Text data mining should be useful for anticipating new technologies and new uses for existing technologies, insofar as one can attempt to connect complementary pieces of information across two different domains, or subsets, of the scientific literature. The present study attempted to predict genetic engineering technologies that may impact on viral warfare in the future. The analysis was carried out using a combination of conventional Medline searches and the package of advanced informatics techniques known collectively as Arrowsmith. The findings strongly indicate that genetic packaging technologies such as DEAE-dextran, cationic liposomes and cyclodextrins are plausible candidates to enhance infections caused by viruses delivered via an aerosol route — despite the fact that no studies have yet been reported that have examined this issue directly, and certainly not in the contexts of viral disease or viral warfare. The critical factor was the overall strategy of approaching the problem: first, to define two specific fields explicitly (in this case, genetic engineering and viral warfare) that are hypothesized to contain complementary information; second, to identify common factors that bridge the two disciplines (i.e. research on viruses); and third, to progressively shape the query once initial findings are obtained. Thus, in contrast to some current perceptions, the process of text data mining is neither automatic nor is it restricted to those who have access to macro analyses using customized computer systems.
International inclusiveness Publicizing Cuba’s development of the ‘good life’

This article looks at past and present relations between the US and Cuba. Social work students, practitioners and faculty will gain insight into the historical and social events that have led to present-day confrontations. After the end of the cold war, Cuba implemented substantial changes to build civil society. The authors believe that these freedoms are irreversible and will lead Cuba to a greater acceptance of US contributions in the fields of human services, social welfare and social work. The traveler to Cuba should benefit from this succinct account, full of keen personal observations of Cuba today.
Full protection specifications in the semantic model for database protection languages

The basic model of semantics for protection languages is reviewed. Advanced protection features are introduced into the model and their impact on authorization and enforcement is discussed. History keeping allows access dependency upon the occurrence of previous data operations. Auxiliary program invocation provides for additional (procedural) protection measures. Extended authorization permits a user to utilize, via authorized procedures, data which are not directly accessible by him. Examples are used to explain each of these features. The enforcement process for full specifications is illustrated with an example.
Dicer's Helicase Domain Discriminates dsRNA Termini to Promote an Altered Reaction Mode

The role of Dicer's helicase domain is enigmatic, but in vivo it is required for processing certain endogenous siRNA, but not miRNA. By using Caenorhabditis elegans extracts or purified Drosophila Dicer-2 we compared activities of wild-type enzymes and those containing mutations in the helicase domain. We found the helicase domain was essential for cleaving dsRNA with blunt or 5'-overhanging termini, but not those with 3' overhangs, as found on miRNA precursors. Further, blunt termini, but not 3' overhangs, led to increased siRNAs from internal regions of dsRNA; this activity required ATP and a functional helicase domain. Our data suggest that blunt or 5'-overhanging termini engage Dicer's helicase domain to facilitate accumulation of siRNAs from internal regions of a dsRNA, an activity suited for processing long siRNA precursors of low abundance, but not necessary for the single cleavage required for miRNA processing.
Optimized TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) for use in treatment of sickle cell disease

TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) represent a new class of artificial nucleases capable of cleaving long, specific target DNA sequences in vivo and are powerful tools for genome editing with potential therapeutic applications. Here we report a pair of custom-designed TALENs for targeted genetic correction of the sickle cell disease mutation in human cells, which represents an example of engineered TALENs capable of recognizing and cleaving a human disease-associated gene. By using a yeast reporter system, a systematic study was carried out to optimize TALEN architecture for maximal in vivo cleavage efficiency. In contrast to the previous reports, the engineered TALENs were capable of recognizing and cleaving target binding sites preceded by A, C or G. More importantly, the optimized TALENs efficiently cleaved a target sequence within the human β-globin (HBB) gene associated with sickle cell disease and increased the efficiency of targeted gene repair by >1000-fold in human cells. In addition, these TALENs showed no detectable cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate the potential of optimized TALENs as a powerful genome editing tool for therapeutic applications.
Characterization of Alternative Cytosolic Forms and Cellular Targets of Mouse Mitochondrial Thioredoxin Reductase

Thioredoxin reductase (TR) and thioredoxin (Trx) define a major cellular redox system that maintains cysteine residues in numerous proteins in the reduced state. Both cytosolic (TR1 and Trx1) and mitochondrial (TR3 and Trx2) enzymes are essential in mammals, but the function of the mitochondrial system is less understood. In this study, we characterized subcellular localization of three TR3 forms that are generated by alternative first exon splicing and that differ in their N-terminal sequences. Only one of these forms resides in mitochondria, whereas the two other isoforms are cytosolic. Consistent with this finding, TR3 did not have catalytic preferences for mitochondrial Trx2 versus cytosolic Trx1, both of which could serve as TR3 substrates. Similarly, TR1 was equally active with Trx1, Trx2, or a bacterial Trx. We generated recombinant selenoprotein forms of TR1 and TR3 and found that these enzymes were inhibited by zinc, but not by calcium or cobalt ions. We further developed a proteomic method for identification of targets of TRs in mammalian cells utilizing affinity columns containing recombinant TR3 forms differing in C-terminal sequences. Using this procedure, we found that Trx1 was the major target of TR3 in both rat and mouse liver cytosol. The truncated form of TR3 lacking selenocysteine was particularly efficient in binding Trx1, consistent with the previously observed role of truncated TR1 in apoptosis. Overall, these data establish that the function of TR3 is not limited to its role in Trx2 reduction.
Multi-Height Precision Alignment With Selectively Developed Alignment Marks

The alignment step in fabricating multi-height photoresist masters is a critical and time-consuming process. SU8 masters that combine very thin and thick layers can be difficult to align because of low contrast visibility. We increase visual contrast by selectively developing alignment marks to ease fabrication of masters with thick resist layers deposited on much thinner ones. In addition, we use a vernier calliper based alignment mark to achieve high precision alignment.
High-Resolution Optical and Ultraviolet Absorption-Line Studies of Interstellar Gas

Recent progress in the characterization of the interstellar medium (ISM) by means of optical and UV spectral data is summarized. The gas is studied by focusing on background stars whose spectra can be accurately modeled to provide the light source for the absorption-line scans. The capabilities of earth- and space-based instruments which have been and are used for the surveys are delineated. The distributions of diffuse gas densities and characteristics of the cold, warm and hot gas in the Galaxy are described in terms of the elemental abundances, kinetics and distributions of the gas. Particular note is taken of gas in the solar neighborhood and around SNR, and of absorption-line data of cosmological significance.
Commentary on: a prospective comparison of patient body image after robotic thyroidectomy and conventional open thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

THE WORLD HAS SEEN A TREMENDOUS CHANGE during the last 200 years with regard to the operative care of cancer patients. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the goal of surgery was mere survival from oftenbarbaric operations. The late 1800s and 1900s saw tremendous headway in the care of operative patients. Operative morbidity decreased dramatically with the introduction of major advances in anesthetic management, antisepsis, antimicrobials, critical care, and surgical nutrition. By the late 20th century, the focus shifted to safe, minimally invasive surgery, with the emphasis on new outcome measures: less pain, smaller incisions, shorter hospitalizations, and a rapid return to society. Now, we have robotic surgery that we can use to carry out complex procedures, perhaps easier, and ergonomically less cumbersome than both open and laparoscopic surgery. It was only a matter of time before imaginative and innovative investigators would offer robotic surgery for thyroidectomy via an extracervical approach, with the primary purpose of eliminating a socially disfiguring scar on the neck. Considering that the current robots cost in excess of $1 million and the fact that industry does not support its use for this operation, one must question the value of
The Ideology of Homicide Detectives: A Cross-National Study:

Ideologies help guide our behavior and thought processes and have been largely neglected when studying crime and criminal justice professionals. Intensive interviews were conducted with homicide de...
Raman spectroscopic studies of explosive materials: towards a fieldable explosives detector

Abstract Raman spectroscopy, with red (632.8 nm) and near-infrared (785 and 1064 nm) excitation, has been used to obtain high quality spectra of neat explosives. Samples with dimensions from a minimum size of 10 μm have been analyzed utilizing a Raman microprobe fitted with a charge-coupled device (CCD) array detector. Little sample fluorescence is observed for 23 of the 32 high explosives using 632.8 nm excitation and all of the samples can be measured with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. 785 nm radiation affords an excellent compromise between sensitivity and fluorescence suppression. Problems of instrumentation and sample handling have been investigated. Spectra have been obtained for explosives, both neat and in plastic and glass containers. The feasibility of sampling explosives through colored glass, which is highly fluorescent in the visible, is also demonstrated.
Radiocarbon chronology of depositional regimes in the western Arctic Ocean

Abstract The foraminiferal abundance and percentage of coarse ice-rafted detritus (IRD) define glacial, deglacial, and interglacial depositional regimes in AMS radiocarbon-dated box cores from the western Arctic Ocean. Sediment deposition rates are generally less than 0.5 cm/ka for glacial regimes, greater than this for deglacial regimes and greater than 1–2 cm/ka for interglacial regimes. These differences in deposition rates might account for the much lower average sedimentation rates for the last 780 ka of 1–3 mm/ka in cores from the central Arctic Ocean if glacial regimes dominated this interval. Foraminiferal abundances are less than 500/g during glacial maxima and mostly higher than 2000/g during deglacial and interglacial regimes. Slightly higher coarse IRD percentages occur in deglacial intervals (> 5–10% up to 30%) compared with interglacial intervals (mostly ≤5%), which characterize the last 10–12 ka in the western Arctic Ocean. Glacial regimes occurred from about 40 to 11 ka except for a brief interglacial or deglacial interval around 24–28 ka in the central Arctic Ocean. The coarsest deglacial events occurred prior to 45 ka. The Late Wisconsin deglaciation sediments (approximately 9–16 ka) are difficult to detect in the central Arctic Ocean sediments because they are only slightly coarser than the Holocene and, in some box cores, less coarse than the Holocene. A previously unrecognized coarse IRD event occurred near the core tops (0–3 cm) between 1500 and 3500 radiocarbon years ago in the western Arctic Ocean. Only sediment older than 40 ka is coarser than this recent IRD event, which might correspond to a Neoglaciation recognized in the North Atlantic and elsewhere.
Wrapped M5-branes leading to five dimensional 2-branes

We study the dimensional reduction of M5-branes wrapping special Lagrangian 3-cycles of a Calabi-Yau manifold and show explicitly that they result in 2-branes coupled to the hypermultiplets of ungauged N=2 D=5 supergravity theory. In addition to confirming previously known results, the calculation proves the relationship between them and provides further insight on how the topological properties of the compact space affect the lower dimensional fields.
Improved analysis of remote sensed data using combined physical and engineering approaches

The accurate analysis of complex satellite scenes is a critical component of many environmental studies. Unfortunately, satellite data often contain noise of various kinds which can compromise scientific analysis. Moreover, a satellite scene generally contains information on many different space scales associated with a variety of geophysical and/or biogeochemical processes. Thus, an accurate segmentation of such scenes is an essential step prior to scientific analysis. Only after such steps (e.g., noise reduction, segmentation) have been done can meaningful geophysical analyses be performed. The paper shows the natural synogestic relationship between the engineering and scientific components of the aforementioned problems. The benefits obtained by such a combined approach are illustrated with specific examples (oceanic, atmospheric and terrestrial) using both polar orbiting and geostationary satellite data.
Photonic crystal biosensor with in-situ synthesized DNA probes for enhanced sensitivity

We report on a nearly 8-fold increase in multi-hole defect photonic crystal biosensor response by incorporating insitu synthesis of DNA probes, as compared to the conventional functionalization method employing pre-synthesized DNA probe immobilization.
Energetically optimal foraging strategy is emergent property of time-keeping behavior in honey bees

Forager honey bees exhibit a robust time memory, based on an endogenous circadian clock, enabling them to schedule their flights to coincide with the nectar presentation of known food sources. They retain this time memory for several consecutive days even in the absence of nectar rewards. Recent work has identified 2 classes of forager: ‘‘persistent’’ foragers that reconnoiter a known food source to ascertain its status and ‘‘reticent’’ foragers that apparently wait in the hive for a waggle dance confirming source availability. Surprisingly, a foraging group contains 40‐90% persistent foragers, depending on experience at the source. What is the benefit in sending so many foragers to investigate a source when only a few foragers are required to reactivate the entire group? We used an agent-based software model to test the energetics underlying several different ratios of persistent and reticent individuals in the foraging group while varying 6 ecological factors: forager group size, source distance, source sucrose concentration, source availability in hours, number of days the source is known to the colony, and the rate at which new unemployed foragers appear on the dance floor. Our model demonstrates 2 primary explanations. First, a large number of persistent foragers are needed to ensure that at least some foragers will reconnoiter their source early in its availability, thus enabling the group to effectively exploit the source. Second, the cost of a reconnaissance flight is negligible compared with even a single successful foraging trip. Key words: agent-based model, circadian rhythms, food-anticipatory activity, foraging, honey bees, time memory. [Behav Ecol]
Nanoscale clustering of RGD peptides at surfaces using comb polymers. 2. Surface segregation of comb polymers in polylactide.

Part 1 of these studies described poly(methyl methacrylate-r-polyoxyethylene methacrylate) P(MMA-rPOEM) comb polymers that present Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides at a surface in nanoscale clusters on a protein-resistant background for control of cell adhesion. Here in part 2, we examine surface segregation of these peptide-modified and unmodified comb polymers blended with polylactide (PLA) as a self-assembly approach suitable for surface modification of porous tissue engineering scaffolds. Multiple thermodynamic driving forces for surface enrichment of the comb polymer are exploited by annealing PLA/P(MMA-rPOEM) blends above the glass transition of the blend components but below the melting point of PLA, while in contact with water. Predictions of the interfacial composition profiles of annealed blends were made using a self-consistent field (SCF) lattice model. The calculations predict strong enrichment of the comb in the top 50 A of blends, and organization of comb molecules in quasi-2D conformations at the interface, similar to the apparent structure of pure comb surfaces in contact with water described in part 1. Experimentally, PLA/comb blend surfaces were characterized by contact angle measurements, XPS, quantification of ligand-cluster surface density and stability by AFM and fluorescent nanosphere labeling, and cell attachment assays. These data were consistent with SCF predictions, showing significant enrichment of the comb at water-annealed surfaces and RGD cluster densities consistent with 2D conformations for comb molecules in the surface layer. Bulk miscibility of the blends was verified by dynamic rheometry, small-angle neutron scattering, DSC and X-ray diffraction studies. Surface segregation of combs provided tunable cell adhesion on PLA through surface-localized nanoclusters of RGD atop a cellresistant background.
Oral Surgical Aspects of Child Abuse and Neglect

Oral trauma is a frequent manifestation of child abuse. Injuries to the oral hard and soft tissues are common in active children, but any oral injury in a young preambulatory infant should raise concern for abuse. Oral-facial trauma may be the primary presenting injury, or may accompany other severe inflicted injuries such as head injury, fractures, or abdominal trauma. Some congenital or acquired medical disorders may be mistaken for abuse or neglect. The oral surgeon is a critical participant in the collaborative management of child abuse cases.
Protection, Projection, and Paralysis: Mapping Two Decades of Hizballah’s Parliamentary Practice

Hizballah’s relationship to the Lebanese Chamber of Deputies has been marked by three distinct orientations since the party’s inception, each showing a significant tactical realignment and entailing a new set of relationships with rival parties and parliamentary blocs. This paper traces these shifts, arguing that these realignments have principally been responsive attempts to maintain the autonomy of its militia, the Islamic Resistance. During the first phase, Hizballah MPs used parliament as a reasonably straightforward platform for publicizing the successes and protecting the status of the Resistance. In the second phase, the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000 required a recalibration of party practice, as the party positioned itself as the champion of the Palestinian cause in Lebanon and regionally. Without Syria to help defend this controversial practice, the third phase has increasingly entailed the use of parliament as an instrument of negation, as Hizballah MPs have focused less on affirmative policymaking and more on preventing their rivals from achieving gains, particularly related to the autonomy of the Resistance and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, convened to investigate the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri. Based on fieldwork conducted in Lebanon between 2004 and 2008, this paper weaves together interviews, media analysis, and archival records from Lebanon’s Chamber of Deputies to map the consistency of strategy and variation in tactics across Hizballah’s first two decades.
See the Flex: Investigating Various Display Settings for Different Study Conditions

We present FlexAR, a kinetic tangible augmented reality (TAR) [5] application for anatomy education in varied learning situations. Learning anatomy is fundamental to every health profession as well as related domains such as performance, physical therapy, art, and animation. For example, dancers need to learn anatomy to care for their bodies and learn to move efficiently. Anatomy has traditionally been taught in two dimensions, particularly for those in non-medical fields such as artists and physical education practitioners. Medical students often gain hands-on experience through cadaver dissections [8]. However, with dissection becoming less practical, researchers have begun evaluating techniques for teaching anatomy through technology. Our goal is to develop TAR interfaces to enhance the effectiveness of learning gross anatomy in group and individual study settings. We believe that once expanded FlexAR could be effective as a standalone or supplementary tool for both group and individual learning.
Arthroscopy in food animal practice.

Utilization of arthroscopic surgical techniques in food animals is similar to what has been documented for horses. Arthroscopy provides better joint exploration compared with arthrotomy and can be quite beneficial in the diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis and developmental orthopedic disease. Arthroscopy is also useful for evaluation and prognostication of intra-articular disorders of unknown origin.
Fat Imaging via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Young Children (Ages 1-4 Years) without Sedation.

Introduction This pilot study developed techniques to perform Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of specific fat deposition in 18 children (age 18 months to 4 years). Methods The children engaged in a series of practice tests to become acclimated to the scanner noises, reduce claustrophobia, and rehearse holding still for a set time. The practice tests assessed if the child could remain still for two minutes while watching a video, first while lying on a blanket, second, on the blanket with headphones, and third, in the mock scanner. The children who passed the three practice tests were then scanned with a 3T Siemens Skyra magnet. Abdominal fat distribution (region of interest (ROI) from the top of the ileac crest to the bottom of the ribcage) volume was measured using 2-point DIXON technique. This region was chosen to give an indication of the body composition around the liver. Results Twelve out of eighteen participants successfully completed the actual MRI scan. Chi-squared test showed no significant difference between male and female pass-fail rates. The median age of completed scans was 36 months, whereas the median age for children unable to complete a scan was 28 months. The average total trunk fat was 240.9±85.2mL and the average total VAT was 37.7±25.9mLand liver fat was not quantifiable due to physiological motion. Several strategies (modeling, videos, and incentives) were identified to improve pediatric imaging in different age ranges. Conclusion Using an age-specific and tailored protocol, we were able to successfully use MRI for fat imaging in a majority of young children. Development of such protocols enables researchers to better understand the etiology of fat deposition in young children, which can be used to aid in the prevention and treatment of adiposity.
HEMOGLOBIN POLYMORPHISMS IN DEER MICE (PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS): PHYSIOLOGY OF BETA-GLOBIN VARIANTS AND ALPHA-GLOBIN RECOMBINANTS.

Wild populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) contain hemoglobin polymorphisms at both alpha-globin (Hba, Hbc) and beta-globin (Hbd) loci. Population gene frequencies of beta-globin variants (d0 and d1 haplotypes) are not correlated with altitude, whereas a1 c1 alpha-globin haplotypes are fixed in low-altitude populations, and a0 c0 haplotypes reach near fixation at high altitudes. We examined the effects of alpha- and beta-globin variants on blood oxygen affinity and on aerobic performance, measured as maximum oxygen consumption (V˙O2max). Exercise and cold exposure were used to elicit V˙O2max. Experiments were performed at low (340 m) and high (3,800 m) altitude to include the range of oxygen partial pressures encountered by wild deer mice. Beta-globin variants had little effect on blood oxygen affinity or V˙O2max. Oxygen-dissociation curves from a0 c0 and a1 c1 homozygotes and heterozygotes had similar shapes, but the P50 of a0 c0 homozygotes was significantly lower than that of other genotypes. Mice carrying a1 c1 /a1 c1 genotypes had the highest V˙O2max at low altitude, but mice with a0 c0 /a0 c0 genotypes had the highest V˙O2max at high altitude. Mice carrying rare recombinant alpha-globin haplotypes (a0 c1 ) had lower V˙O2max than nonrecombinant genotypes as a whole but in most cases were not significantly different from nonrecombinant heterozygotes (a0 c0 /a1 c1 ). We conclude that genetic adaptation to different altitudes was important in the evolution of deer mouse alpha-globin polymorphisms and in the maintenance of linkage disequilibrium in the alpha-globin loci but was not a significant factor in the evolution of beta-globin polymorphisms.
Response of the house fly and its parasitoids in Dimilin (TH-6040).

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of Dimilin® (1-(4-chlorophenyl) -3- (2,6- difluorobenzoyl)-urea) on Musca domestica L. and some of its parasitoids. In the laboratory, applications of Dimilin at 10,000, 100, 50, and 10 ppm had no observable effects on house fly eggs nor did the chemical affect fly pupae. Concentrations of 10, 2.5, and 1.25 ppm AI produced over 90% mortality in intermediate to late stage larvae. Dimilin had no observable effects on the emergence of the parasitoid Muscidifurax raptor Cirault and Sanders from parasitized fly pupae, nor was the parasitoid’s ability to parasitize hosts affected. When compared with dimethoate to control flies on poultry farms, the Dimilin-treated farm favored populations of parasitoids, i.e., had greater parasitoid abundance and species diversity.
Systematic review of evidence for different treatment settings in anorexia nervosa.

AIM: To compare outcomes in anorexia nervosa (AN) in different treatment settings: inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient. METHODS: Completed and published in the English language, randomized controlled trials comparing treatment in two or more settings or comparing different lengths of inpatient stay, were identified by database searches using terms “anorexia nervosa” and “treatment” dated to July 2014. Trials were assessed for risk of bias and quality according to the Cochrane handbook by two authors (Madden S and Hay P) Data were extracted on trial quality, participant features and setting, main outcomes and attrition. RESULTS: Five studies were identified, two comparing inpatient treatment to outpatient treatment, one study comparing different lengths of inpatient treatment, one comparing inpatient treatment to day patient treatment and one comparing day patient treatment with outpatient treatment. There was no difference in treatment outcomes between the different treatment settings and different lengths of inpatient treatment. Both outpatient treatment and day patient treatment were significantly cheaper than inpatient treatment. Brief inpatient treatment followed by evidence based outpatient care was also cheaper than prolonged inpatient care for weight normalization also followed by evidence based outpatient care. CONCLUSION: There is preliminary support for AN treatment in less restrictive settings but more research is needed to identify the optimum treatment setting for anorexia nervosa.
Fault Diagnosis Method of Power Transformers Using Multi-class LS-SVM and Improved PSO

We proposed a fault diagnosis method based on the multi-class least squares support vector machine(LS-SVM) and the improved particle swarm optimization(PSO) algorithm to improve the accuracy of transformer fault diagnosis. By introducing the minimum output coding, we built several two-class LS-SVMs to realize the multi-class classification of transformer diagnosis. Then we obtained the optimal parameters of LS-SVM diagnosis model using the PSO algorithm, and improved the generalization performance of this multi-class algorithm through the cross validation. Study of practical cases indicate that, after using the PSO and LS-SVM algorithm, transformer faults can be diagnosed effectively and accurately, and the accuracy is higher than that of a number of conventional transformer fault diagnosis approaches.
The Politics that Places Make: Contextual Effects and the Future of Political Behavior Research

An emerging theme of political behavior research political behavior is that individual behavior is influenced by context. However, most practitioners of contextual effects research are reluctant to engage with the theoretical foundations of their work. The concept of context, as used by political scientists, is vague and overly broad. The practice of contextual effects research has also encountered important methodological challenges, not the least of which is how to observe and measure the causal mechanisms of contextual effects. In short, contextual effects research is under theorized, and will benefit from the development of a more concrete theoretical foundation that connects context to actually existing places. I argue that conceptualizing context as connected to space and place provides a rigorous theoretical foundation that allows for analytical flexibility, as well as methodological diversity for this emerging area of political science research.
Gate-delay Method to Achieve Accurate Measurement of Ultra-sonic Flow Gauge

A New method was presented to achieve accurate time-interval.Through measuring the transmission delay gate circuit of CPLD in internal,an accurate flow measurement in small size pipeline and low flow occasion was realized.The accurate measurement of temperature was reached by measuring the discharge time of circuit.The experiment has proved that its accuracy can reach 300ps.This method has more accuracy and less error calculation than the common one.This method also meets the requirement of low consumption.
Receptor-mediated monocytoid differentiation of human promyelocytic cells by tumor necrosis factor: synergistic actions with interferon- gamma and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [published erratum appears in Blood 1988 Jan;71(1):272]

Human myeloid leukemia cells respond to various signals by differentiating to more mature cells. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a mononuclear phagocyte-derived factor, tumor necrosis factor/cachectin (TNF), on the proliferation and differentiation of the human cell lines HL-60 (promyelocytic) and U937 (monoblastic), and to characterize TNF receptors on these cells. TNF had no effect on HL-60 cell growth or thymidine incorporation, but it markedly inhibited that of U937 cells. HL-60 cells treated with TNF formed osteoclast-like polykaryons and developed nonspecific esterase positivity. In a dose-dependent fashion, TNF enhanced HL-60 cell nonspecific esterase activity, H2O2 production, NBT reduction, and acid phosphatase content. Together, TNF and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) additively and synergistically caused increases in these activities as well as the expression of HLA-DR and the monocyte antigens LeuM3 (CDw14) and OKM1 (CD11). TNF also synergistically enhanced the differentiating effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The potentiating actions of D3 of IFN-gamma on the TNF effect were maximal when the two agents were present together throughout the incubation, and pretreatment with TNF augmented the subsequent response to D3, but not IFN-gamma. HL-60 and U937 cells bound 125I-labeled TNF specifically, rapidly, and reversibly with binding constants of 227 and 333 pmol/L and receptors per cell of 4,435 and 6,806 for HL-60 and U937, respectively. Scatchard plots were linear, which suggested single classes of receptors. HL-60 TNF receptors were not changed by a three- day treatment with IFN-gamma or D3. U937 and HL-60 cells internalized and degraded 125I-labeled TNF to comparable degrees. TNF has differing effects on HL-60 and U937 cells that are apparently mediated through comparable high-affinity TNF receptors. The unique responses of different cell types to TNF may be due to postreceptor factors.
Keratin Staining in Lymphoma: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

While cytokeratins are generally accepted as markers of epithelial cells, they may rarely be seen in lymphomas. Pathologists should be aware of this diagnostic pitfall to avoid inappropriate interpretation. A 66-year-old Hispanic woman with no significant past medical history had a 4 × 3-mm left breast mass and suspicious bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy on screening …
Cloning Variable Region Genes of Clonal Lymphoma Immunoglobulin for Generating Patient-Specific Idiotype DNA Vaccine

Available therapies for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) provide no survival advantage if started before signs or symptoms of end-organ damage develop; hence, current recommendations are to follow a program of observation while patients are in the asymptomatic phase of disease. We hypothesize that using idiotypic determinants of a B-cell lymphoma's surface immunoglobulin as a tumor-specific marker, we can develop patient-specific chemokine-idiotype fusion DNA vaccines that induce an immune response against LPL. By activating the host immune system against the tumor antigen, we postulate that disease control of asymptomatic phase lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma can be maintained. These chemokine-idiotype fusion DNA vaccines provide protection in a lymphoma mouse model and have recently entered clinical trials. Herein, we describe procedures for the generation of therapeutic vaccines, particularly "second-generation" recombinant vaccines. Specifically, in the Methods section we describe how to identify lymphoma-associated immunoglobulin V (IgV) genes from patient biopsy and how to assemble these genes as single-chain variable gene fragment (scFv) in-frame with MIP-3α to generate novel DNA fusion vaccines.
Moral Motivation and Shlemut

In this chapter, I will first discuss whether the virtuous person can recognize non-virtuous reasons, whether a virtuous person’s reasons for acting are intrinsic or extrinsic, and whether his or her motivation is internal or external. I will then explain the difference between a continent person and one who has attained Shlemut.