cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Androgens and stroke: Good, bad or indifferent?

Cerebral ischemia caused by loss of blood supply to the brain during cardiac arrest or stroke are major causes of death and disability. Biological sex is an important factor in predicting vulnerability of the brain to an ischemic insult, with males being at higher risk for cardio-cerebrovascular events than females of the same age. However, relative incidence of stroke between the genders appears to normalize at advanced ages. Therefore, many scientists have focused on the mechanisms of sex differences in outcome following brain ischemic injury, with a particular emphasis on the role of sex steroids. The majority of studies indicate that female sex steroids, such as estrogen and progesterone, play important roles in the relative neuroprotection following cerebral ischemia observed in females. However, less is known about male sex steroids and brain damage. This review describes the state of our knowledge of androgen-related contributions to neurological injury and recovery following cerebral ischemia that occurs following stroke. Experimental studies examining the effects of castration, androgenic agonists and antagonists and aging provide valuable insights into the role of androgens in clinical outcome following cerebrovascular events.
Vocalizations and Other Behavioral Responses of Male Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) During Experimental Separation and Reunion Trials

In this study we assessed the extent of psychological attachment between male cheetahs living in same sex pairs in zoos by recording the behavior and vocalizations of two male coalitions (siblings and nonsiblings) during four experimental separations and reunions of each coalition. Both coalitions showed higher vocalization rates and walking rates during separations than during reunions, and during separations cheetahs spent less time resting and more time vocalizing, walking, or standing than during baseline observations. Compared to the nonsibling coalition, the sibling coalition showed a significantly higher vocalization rate during separations and more affiliative behavior during reunions. The most common calls emitted during separations were chirps, followed by eeaows and stutters. The chirps showed the highest level of individual distinctiveness. Eeaows comprised a significantly higher percentage of the calls during separations for nonsiblings that for siblings. The only vocalization heard during reunion was the stutter. We hypothesize that chirps emitted during separations communicate desire to reunite, individual identity, and have a structure that facilitates locating the caller. The results of this study suggest that male cheetahs, both sibling and nonsibling, develop strong psychological attachments to each other. The separation of existing coalitions can create stressful conditions for coalition members. We suggest that raising and maintaining coalitions of male cheetahs in coalitions in zoos is a viable husbandry technique. Zoo Biol 17:1–16, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Operator orientation and compatibility in visual-motor task performance

This experiment assessed three alternative forms of directional compatibility between control and display movement, to examine their degree of dependence on the orientation of the operator. Subjects performed a target acquisition task in each of 11 conditions which embodied the three compatibility types alone or in combination. Visual-motor (VM) compatibility was defined as display movement in a given direction in the subject's visual field produced by control movement in the same direction in the subject's ‘virtual’ visual field (i.e., were he or she looking at the control rather than the display). Control-display (CD) compatibility referred to congruence between control and display movements. Visual-trunk (VT) compatibility was present if a control movement was in the same direction relative to the operator's trunk as the movement of the display in the visual field. VM compatibility produced performance superior to that under CD or VT compatible conditions in all phases of the task, and was independent ...
Symbolically automated direct kinematic equations solver for robotic manipulators

Solving the direct kinematic problem in a symbolic form requires a laborious process of successive multiplications of the link homogeneous transformation matrices and involves a series of algebraic and trigonometric simplifications. The manual production of such solutions is tedious and error-prone. Due to the efficiency of the Prolog language in symbolic processing, a rule–based Prolog program is developed to automate the creation of the following processes: Link transformation matrices; forward kinematic solutions; and the Jacobian matrix. This paper presents the backward recursive formulation techniques, the trigonometric identity rules, and some heuristic rules for implementing the System. A verification of the System has been demonstrated in case of several industrial robots.
Product diffusion and pricing with market frictions

We study pricing and product diffusion in a dynamic general equilibrium framework with product market frictions. Ongoing R&D activity leads, with an endogenously determined probability, to continual improvements in product quality. We characterize the steady-state equilibrium with endogenous product diffusion in which a number of different goods co-exist on the quality ladder. We show that the severity of the economy's market frictions is a crucial determinant of the pricing structure, the product diffusion pattern, the level of R&D investment, the rate of endogenous growth, the length of Schumpeterian product cycles and the possibility of multiple growth paths. Eliminating market frictions leads to a degenerate product ladder of precisely one step, containing only the most recent product, as in the monopolistic competition literature.
Neurons in the sacral parasympathetic nucleus that project to the hypothalamus do not also project through the pelvic nerve--a double labeling study combining Fluoro-gold and cholera toxin B in the rat.

Abstract We recently reported that neurons in the sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN) project directly to the hypothalamus. In the present study, we examined the possibility that individual neurons in SPN send both an axon into the hypothalamus. We used a new double-labeling technique in which two sensitive retrograde tracers (Fluoro-gold and cholera toxin subunit B immunocytochemically stained with rhodamine-labeled antibodies) were combined. The effectiveness of this combination for singly and doubly labeling neurons was established in experiments in which both tracers were injected into overlapping areas of the tongue or ventrobasal thalamus. These injections doubly labeled large numbers of neurons in the hypoglossal or dorsal column nuclei, respectively. In studies of the projections of neurons in the SPN, injection of one tracer into the hypothalamus and the other into the pelvic nerve and/or pelvic ganglion singly labeled many neurons (more than 3300 in the 7 examined cases). However, no SPN neurons were doubly labeled. These findings indicate that the SPN in the rat consists of at least two distinct groups of cells, parasympathetic preganglionic neurons and neurons that project to the hypothalamus.
Do Physicians’ Legal Duties to Patients Conflict with Public Health Values? The Case of Antibiotic Overprescription

Among the many explanations for antibiotic overprescription, some doctors cite the risk of malpractice liability if they deny a patient's request for an antibiotic and the patient's condition worsens. In this paper, I examine the merits of this concern—i.e., whether physicians could, in fact, face malpractice liability for refusing to prescribe an antibiotic when, from a public health perspective, the use of the antibiotic would be considered inappropriate. I conclude that the potential for liability cannot be dismissed entirely, but the risk is remote—even in cases where there is a chance that the antibiotic might have benefited the patient.
Nanotribology and lubrication mechanisms of inorganic fullerene-like MoS2 nanoparticles investigated using lateral force microscopy (LFM)

Inorganic fullerene-like (IF) MoS2 nanoparticles were produced by arc discharge in water, and their tribological properties were investigated using a lateral force microscope in dry nitrogen and humid air. Two types of tips – Si and Si3N4 tips were used in this work. The sharp Si tip produced a much higher contact stress than the blunt Si3N4 tip. The measurement of lateral forces using a Si3N4 tip resulted in almost no wear, while the measurement made using a Si tip resulted in MoS2 transfer due to the high contact stress. For comparison, measurements were also made on MoS2 films grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The experimental results demonstrated that IF-MoS2 nanoparticles had significantly lower friction than the MoS2 films prepared by PLD. Variation of the test environment from dry to wet did not affect the tribological performance of the IF material as much as it did PLD films due to the chemical inert structure of the IF-MoS2 nanoparticles. The multi-wall-encapsulated structure of inorganic fullerenes has a nearly isotropic geometry. They can supply a slippery surface in all orientations, though only the basal planes of 2H–MoS2 crystals are optimum for lubrication. Therefore, the inorganic fullerenes do not have to be oriented by rubbing as does most layer-structured solid lubricants. However, the lack of reactive edge planes impedes bonding of the lubricant to the surface. The lubrication mechanisms of IF-MoS2 nanoparticles are discussed in detail.
The limits of Russian derivation

"lhe present article seeks to answer the following questions: When and under what circumstances does successive suffixal derivation in Russian stop ? Does suffixation taper off =lue to decreasing numbers of potential deri~ng bases, or is it blocked by certain conditions which necessarily terminate the derivational process as a function of language competence, not performance ?rl Such an investigaticn requires the examination of derivation as a system, not as a series of individual relationships. This global view of Russian derivational morphology has begun to emerge in the literature only recently. ~) The most significant departure fr)m established procedure in the present work is that we shall deal w ith relationships which have been treated by scholars as being beyond the realm of derivational morphology; specifically, those which may be interpreted as 'etymological' (voda'water' : vodka 'vodka'; beda 'misfortune' : bedny~'poor') on the one hand, and those which are commonly dealt with as part of x) The data used in this reso~rch all assume the original aeriving base, 'the point-of-origin' to be a non-derived substantive. The material for this a~ic!e is taken from a work in preparation Russian desubstantival derivation. ~) See for e~ample V. P. Danilenko 'Imena su~estvitel'nye (naricatel'nye) kak proizvodja~ie osnovy sovremelmogo slovoobrazovan~ja' and 'Imena sobstvennye kak proizvodja~ie osnovy sovremenv.ogo slovoobrazovanij~', Razvitie gratnmatiki i leksiki sovreme~mogo russkogo ~azyka., (Moscow, 1964), p. 63-76 and p. 77-92, respectively; N. A. Janko-Triinickaja, 'Osnovy su~estvitel'nyx na -onok, -ata v kafiestare proizvodja~ix i suffiksy soder~a~ie -at-', Ogerki po slovoobrazovaniju i slovoupoi~.rebleniju, (Leningrad, 1965), p. 159-167; D. S. Worth, A. S. Kozak, D. B. Johnson, Russian Derivational Dictionary, (New York, 1970) G.S. Zenkov, Voprosy teorii slovoobrazovanija, (Frunze, 1969); O.G. Revzina, Struktura slovoobrazovatel'nyx polej v slavjanskix jazykax, (Moscow, 1969).
Personifying Objects/Objectifying People: Handling Questions of Mortality and Materiality through the Archaeological Body

Death and the bodies of the dead are managed and handled in contemporary Western society by various professions that include archaeology. The bodies of the dead exist in a variety of material forms, and generate conflicting responses from the archaeologists who work with them. Positioning archaeologists as professionals within a wider society, this article explores the relationship between the physicality of the body, the (de)construction of personhood and the problem of mortality in contemporary Western (British) society.
2‐Chlorodeoxyadenosine and cytarabine combination therapy for idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

BACKGROUND Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare, disabling, and incurable disease. In this study, a combination of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) chemotherapy was evaluated in patients with HES. METHODS Nine patients with HES were treated with ara-C (1 g/m2) given intravenously over 2 hours at 0 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, and 120 hours; and 2-CdA (12 mg/m2 per day) was given as a continuous intravenous infusion over 5 days starting at 24 hours. A second course of the same therapy was administered in patients who had a response. RESULTS All patients had signs and symptoms of end-organ involvement. The median time from diagnosis to therapy was 25 months. Seven patients had received prior therapies. Five patients (55%) achieved a complete remission (CR), 1 after receiving 2 courses of therapy. Elimination of eosinophilia was accompanied by the resolution of symptoms. The median disease-free survival and overall survival after the diagnosis for patients who achieved CR was 26 months and 44 months, respectively. Treatment was tolerated well. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 28% of the 14 courses that were given. The median time to recovery from neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was 17 days and 39 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combined 2-CdA and ara-C chemotherapy regimen had activity in patients with HES. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Heparin: An emerging, counterintuitive therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Heparin’s promise has begun to be confirmed as a useful therapy in IBD. The counterintuitive nature of the therapy may reveal under-appreciated elements of the pathophysiology of UC and Crohn’s disease as central to the pathophysiology of these diseases. The possible therapeutic benefit of heparin likely extends beyond its action as an anticoagulant, and includes anti-inflammatory mechanisms as well as promotion of endothelial and mucosal healing. The full potential of heparin remains to be defined with further ongoing and planned studies.
Perineural Invasion Affects Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival in Patients with Prostate Cancer Treated with Definitive External Beam Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVES To assess the prognostic effect of perineural invasion (PNI) for patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer. METHODS We evaluated 657 consecutive patients who had undergone external beam radiotherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer. The clinical/treatment parameters used for analysis included PNI, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason score, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen, radiation dose, and androgen deprivation. The primary endpoint was biochemical recurrence defined by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group-American Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology Phoenix consensus; the secondary endpoint was prostate cancer death. RESULTS Of 586 men with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up, 112 (19.1%) had PNI present in the biopsy specimen. When patients were stratified into risk groups using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria, PNI was more prevalent in patients within higher risk groups (6.8% in low-risk versus 18.3% in intermediate-risk versus 30.1% in high-risk groups; P <0.001). The presence of PNI was associated with lower biochemical recurrence-free (P = 0.003) and cancer-specific (P = 0.040) survival rates by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox regression analysis showed that PNI was a statistically significant prognostic factor of biochemical recurrence on both univariate (hazard ratio [HR] 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19 to 2.46, P = 0.004) and multivariate (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.32, P = 0.025) analyses. Regression analysis after stratification by risk group and adjustment for treatment covariates demonstrated a significant association between PNI and the risk of biochemical recurrence for low-risk (HR 4.14, 95% CI 1.55 to 11.02, P = 0.005) and intermediate/high-risk patients (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.29, P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that the presence of PNI is an independent risk factor associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence in patients with prostate cancer undergoing external beam radiotherapy.
THE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING FIRM SIZE AND MEMBER RANK ON PROFESSIONALISM.

Abstract The relationship between the number of employees in a firm, their rank, and the level of professionalism among firm members is evaluated in 19 accounting firms, involving 325 accountants engaged in public practice. Professionalism is measured using five individual traits plus a composite. Results indicate that one trait (i.e. a belief that the profession provides a service to society) and the composite were inversely related to firm size. Rank or position in the firm hierarchy demonstrated an even stronger, independent effect on three professionalism traits and the composite, with higher member rank associated with higher levels of professionalism. Issues related to the future study of professionalism among accountants are discussed.
Multicultural Institutions, Distributional Politics, and Postelectoral Mobilization in Indigenous Mexico

Contrary to the predictions of “power sharing” to mitigate ethnic conflicts, multicultural rights recognition can actually increase the frequency of local postelectoral mobilizations. This article demonstrates that the adoption of an ethnic rights regime for electing local government representatives may actually increase conflict if these multicultural laws are not carefully circumscribed to avoid violating human rights. Focusing on the 1995 multicultural rights reforms in Oaxaca, it presents evidence that legal changes purportedly implemented to recognize indigenous rights actually increased postelectoral disputes due to conflicts between county seat communities and peripheral population hamlets over access to funding by the central government. Based on this finding, the article addresses normative implications of “power-sharing” multiculturalism, recommending that multicultural laws be implemented only together with legal mechanisms to solve postelectoral disputes.
TIARA: Interactive, Topic-Based Visual Text Summarization and Analysis

We are building an interactive visual text analysis tool that aids users in analyzing large collections of text. Unlike existing work in visual text analytics, which focuses either on developing sophisticated text analytic techniques or inventing novel text visualization metaphors, ours tightly integrates state-of-the-art text analytics with interactive visualization to maximize the value of both. In this article, we present our work from two aspects. We first introduce an enhanced, LDA-based topic analysis technique that automatically derives a set of topics to summarize a collection of documents and their content evolution over time. To help users understand the complex summarization results produced by our topic analysis technique, we then present the design and development of a time-based visualization of the results. Furthermore, we provide users with a set of rich interaction tools that help them further interpret the visualized results in context and examine the text collection from multiple perspectives. As a result, our work offers three unique contributions. First, we present an enhanced topic modeling technique to provide users with a time-sensitive and more meaningful text summary. Second, we develop an effective visual metaphor to transform abstract and often complex text summarization results into a comprehensible visual representation. Third, we offer users flexible visual interaction tools as alternatives to compensate for the deficiencies of current text summarization techniques. We have applied our work to a number of text corpora and our evaluation shows promise, especially in support of complex text analyses.
Impact of color hard copy on instructional technology applications

Hard copy is still preeminent in the form of textbooks or lab manuals in most training environments despite inroads made by microcomputer delivery. Cost per copy is still a major factor but one that is offset by convenience and the capability of including a small number of crucial color illustrations for low run laboratory manuals. Overhead transparencies and color displays are other major educational applications in which electronically generated color hardcopy is just starting to make an impact. Color hardcopy has been perceived as out of reach to the average educator because of probatively high costs in the recent past. Another reason for the underutilization of color in instruction is research that suggests that color distracts instead of directing attention among learners. Much of this research compares visuals which are designed to convey simple visual information, and in this case complexity does often get in the way of comprehension. Color can also act as an advanced organizer that directs visual perception and comprehension to specific instructional objectives. Color can elicit emotional responses from viewers which will assist them in remembering visual detail. Not unlike any other instructional tool, color can add or distract from instructional objectives. Now that color is more accessible in the hard copy format, there are many new ways it can be utilized to benefit the public or corporate educator. In the sections that follow color hard copy is considered in its present areas of application, in context to the suitability of visuals for instruction, as a important component of visual literacy and lastly in the development of measures of picture readability.
Maximum likelihood paired comparison ranking by linear programming

SUMMARY The problem of ranking n objects from 'best' to 'worst', using the results of a paired comparison experiment, is formulated as a linear programming problem with the logarithm of the likelihood as the objective function. The constraints are determined by the transitivity relationships implied in a ranking. The linear program will determine maximum likelihood rankings for the k fold replicated paired comparison experiment with or without the possibility of ties. The method is demonstrated with two examples from recent literature.
Sham acupuncture may be as efficacious as true acupuncture: a systematic review of clinical trials.

Abstract Objective: This study sought to determine whether sham acupuncture is as efficacious as true acupuncture, as defined by traditional acupuncture theories. Methods: A systematic review was conducted of clinical trials that used sham acupuncture controls with needle insertion at wrong points (points not indicated for the condition) or non-points (locations that are not known acupuncture points). This study used a convenience sample of 229 articles resulting from a PubMed search using the keyword “acupuncture” and limited to “clinical trials” published in English in 2005 or 2006. Studies were categorized by use of wrong points versus non-points and the use of normal insertion and stimulation versus superficial insertion or minimal stimulation. Results: Thirty-eight acupuncture trials were identified. Most studies (22/38 = 58%) found no statistically significant difference in outcomes, and most of these (13/22 = 59%) found that sham acupuncture may be as efficacious as true acupuncture, especially whe...
Reconstruction of color images from a single-chip CCD sensor based on Markov random field models

In this paper, we utilize a Bayesian estimator based on a Markov random field prior image model in order to reconstruct a full-resolution color image from single-chip CCD sensor. The fact that the image is a color image is incorporated by using coupled Markov random fields, one field for each color component. The observation is the sampled color image. The Bayesian estimator is approximately computed by using a deterministic method due to Besag called iterated conditional modes. A numerical example illustrating the performance of our proposed approach and the performance of alternative interpolation approach is presented.
Sleep duration and insulin resistance in healthy black and white adolescents.

Study objectives Poor sleep may play a role in insulin resistance and diabetes risk. Yet few studies of sleep and insulin resistance have focused on the important developmental period of adolescence. To address this gap, we examined the association of sleep and insulin resistance in healthy adolescents. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Community setting in one high school. Participants 245 (137 African Americans, 116 males) high school students. Measurements and results Participants provided a fasting blood draw and kept a sleep log and wore a wrist actigraph for one week during the school year. Participants' families were from low to middle class based on family Hollingshead scores. Total sleep time across the week averaged 7.4 h by diary and 6.4 h by actigraph; homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance ([HOMA-IR] unadjusted) averaged 4.13. Linear regression analyses adjusted for age, race, gender, body mass index, and waist circumference showed that the shorter the sleep, the higher the HOMA-IR, primarily due to sleep duration during the week. No evidence was found for long sleep being associated with elevated HOMA-IR. Fragmented sleep was not associated with HOMA-IR but was associated with glucose levels. Conclusions Reduced sleep duration is associated with HOMA-IR in adolescence. Long sleep duration is not associated. Interventions to extend sleep duration may reduce diabetes risk in youth.
The Effects of the Boundary Stencils on the Field Spatial Resolution When Using Compact Finite Differences

When establishing the spatial resolution character of a composite compact finite differencing template for high-order field solutions, the stencils selected at non-periodic boundaries are commonly treated independent of the interior scheme. This position quantifies a false influence of the boundary scheme on the resultant interior dispersive and dissipative consequences of the compound template. Of the three ingredients inherent in the composite template, only its numerical accuracy and global stability have been properly treated in a coupled fashion. Herein, we present a companion means for quantifying the resultant spatial resolution properties. Compact boundary stencils with free parameters to minimize the field dispersion (or phase error) and dissipation are included in the proposed procedure. Application of the couples templates to Burgers equation at the non-periodic boundary showed significant differences in the predictive error.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Test of Cognitive Dissonance Theory in an Elementary School Setting

To test cognitive dissonance in an elementary school setting, a dissonance-producing situation was created between 18 students' performance on a simulated academic task and their self-regard with respect to academic work. The hypothesis that students performing at variance with their self-appraisals would experience more dissonance and consequently make more of an effort to reduce the dissonance than the group performing consistently with their self-appraisals, was not confirmed.
Performance Assessment of Colorimetric Devices on Dental Porcelains

The selection of an appropriate material that duplicates the appearance of natural tooth structure is very important in restorative dentistry. Photometric and colorimetric analysis techniques offer great potential as a tool for aiding in the duplication process. The degree to which these techniques will be useful depends on the accuracy and precision with which they can be applied to translucent as well as opaque surfaces. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the performance of three currently-available photometric devices. The performance capabilities of the instruments were tested on various shades of opaque and translucent dental porcelain surfaces. The performance tests were designed for evaluation of the accuracy and precision of the instrument relative to a well-studied reference instrument. CIELAB color difference metrics were used for the performance analysis. The results revealed that each of the photometric instruments evaluated was capable of producing color measurements with precision. However, the degree of accuracy with which the color measurements were made varied depending on the instrument used and the type of material surface being measured. A photo-electric tristimulus colorimeter showed the best overall performance on the porcelain surfaces, supporting its use as a valuable tool for evaluating color in dentistry.
Bayesian discriminant approach to input signal selection in parameter estimation problems

Abstract The synthesis of the input signal to inprove identification of the coefficients in a linear model of a dynamic system is considered. The unknown coefficients are assumed to belong to a discrete set of possible values. Then, measures such as the Bhattacharyya distance and divergence are compared and analyzed for their effectiveness as possible optimality criteria for accomplishing the input signal synthesis. The Bhattacharyya distance for linear gaussian systems is developed and the resulting optimization problem is formulated. The solution of this problem is given and the result is analyzed and discussed. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of different input signals in the identification problem.
A technique for resolving the low temperature recovery stage of magnesium

Abstract High purity polycrystalline magnesium samples near 4.7°K that are irradiated with 0.4 MeV electrons give an annealing behavior which is not characteristic of a simple kinetic process. It is shown that one can experimentally use a combined isothermal and isochronal annealing procedure to obtain partial resolution of the recovery data.
Risk factors for uterine prolapse in Nepal

Uterine prolapse is a significant public health problem in Nepal. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of uterine prolapse and to define possible risk factors for this disease in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. This clinical report consists of an analysis of data from Dr. Iwamura Memorial Hospital and Research Center (IMHARC) in Bhaktapur, between July 1 and September 30, 2006. This analysis was restricted to a sample that included all women with complaints of uterine prolapse (second- or third-degree prolapse) diagnosed and treated at the IMHARC. During a 3-month period, 96 women were diagnosed and treated with uterine prolapse. The median age at the time of clinical presentation was 50 years, and the median maternal weight was 45 kg. In average, the women gave birth to four children vaginally. Most of the affected women were smoking, and most of them were postmenopausal. Thirty-five percent of the affected patients had a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 16% suffered from hypertension and 5% had diabetes mellitus. The majority of the women with uterine prolapse were of Newari origin (84%), and nearly all patients reported that they were working heavily during pregnancy as well as in the postpartum period (87%). We found several risk factors for uterine prolapse in Nepal. Especially extensive physical labor during pregnancy and immediately after delivery, low availability of skilled birth attendants, smoking while having COPD and low maternal weight due to lack of nutritious food are mainly responsible for this common disease. In our opinion, extensive information, prevention programs and early management of genital prolapse should be the first steps to reduce this significant social and public health problem in Nepal.
IFITMs Restrict the Replication of Multiple Pathogenic Viruses

The interferon-inducible transmembrane protein (IFITM) family inhibits a growing number of pathogenic viruses, among them influenza A virus, dengue virus, hepatitis C virus, and Ebola virus. This review covers recent developments in our understanding of the IFITM's molecular determinants, potential mechanisms of action, and impact on pathogenesis.
Impressions in action: the socially situated construction of expertise in the workplace

Purpose – The impressions of others’ expertise are fundamental to workplace dynamics. Identifying expertise is essential for workplace functions such as task assignment, task completion, and knowledge generation. Although prior work has examined both the nature of expertise and its importance for work, formation of expertise impressions in the workplace has not received much attention. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper the author addresses the question – how do we form expertise impressions in the workplace – using data from an ethnographic study of a workplace setting. The author employs a case study of project team formation to synthesize a process framework of impression formation. Findings – The author proposes a framework that integrates sociocultural and interactional accounts to argue that actors utilize situational and institutional frames to socially construct their expertise impressions of others. These frames emerge as actors engage in activities within a community of practice. Originality/value – This practice-based explication of expertise construction moves beyond narrow conceptions of personality-based traits or credentials as signals of expertise. It explains why sharing of expertise within organizations through the use of information technology continues to be problematic – expertise is an enactment and therefore it defies reification through knowledge management.
Endogenous psychoses and season of birth.

From a register comprising all psychiatric in-patients in Denmark, a sample was selected consisting of all schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients admitted in the period 1969–1973, a total of 7,427 schizophrenic and 8,212 manic-depressive patients. A comparison was carried out between the distribution of month of birth in the patient group and in the background population of live births from the corresponding years. A surplus of schizophrenic patients born in the first trimester was found, whereas the pattern of the manic-depressive patients did not deviate from that of the background population. The monthly birth indices for the schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients were compared with the monthly birth indices found for still-births. A positive correlation was found between schizophrenia and still-birth. This is compatible with the theory which ascribes a role to obstetric complications in the genesis of schizophrenia. No evidence of such influence was found in manic-depressive psychosis.
Ground-Glass, Polyglucosan-Like Hepatocellular Inclusions: A “New” Diagnostic Entity

Background & Aims: Ground-glass (GG) inclusions within hepatocytes are an important histopathologic marker of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection but may also be seen in Lafora's disease (myoclonus epilepsy), cyanamide alcohol aversion therapy, and type IV glycogenosis. We have noted a recent increased incidence of liver biopsy and postmortem specimens with GG inclusions associated with none of these etiologic factors. This study was undertaken to further delineate the clinical and liver pathologic features in such cases and their possible pathogenesis. Methods: Ten cases with GG inclusions (8 biopsy, 2 postmortem) were examined by light and electron microscopy, and the patients' clinical records were reviewed. Results: Light microscopy demonstrated pale pink, oval to crescentic intracytoplasmic inclusions with a predilection for periportal hepatocytes but sometimes present throughout the lobules. The inclusions were intensely positive on periodic acid-Schiff stain and digested with diastase. Transmission electron microscopy of two cases showed non–membrane-bound cytoplasmic collections of granules with mild-to-moderate electron density, consistent with abnormal glycogen granules. The patients included 7 transplant recipients (liver, hematopoietic stem cell), 3 with type 2 diabetes and a child on chronic parenteral nutrition for short bowel syndrome. Medications included immunosuppressive agents, antibiotics, and insulin. Conclusions: GG hepatocellular inclusions may be seen in individuals without HBV infection or other recognized etiologies, appear to be composed of abnormal glycogen and closely resemble polyglucosan bodies described in humans, animals, and experimental models. The possible pathogenetic roles of disturbed glycogen metabolism and polypharmacotherapy are stressed.
The detection of a normal zone in inductively coupled superconducting coils

A method is described for the electrical detection of a normal zone in inductively coupled superconducting coils. Measurements are made with two kinds of bridges: mutual inductance bridges and self-inductance bridges. The bridge outputs are combined with other measured voltages to form a detector that can be realized with either analog circuits or a computer algorithm. The detection of a normal zone in a pair of coupled coils, each with taps, is discussed in detail. It is also shown that the method applies to a pair of coils when one has no taps and to a pair when one coil is superconducting and the other is not. The method is extended, in principle, to a number of coils. A description is given of a technique for balancing the bridges at near the operating currents of the coils.
Detecting outlier sections in us congressional legislation

Reading congressional legislation, also known as bills, is often tedious because bills tend to be long and written in complex language. In IBM Many Bills, an interactive web-based visualization of legislation, users of different backgrounds can browse bills and quickly explore parts that are of interest to them. One task users have is to be able to locate sections that don't seem to fit with the overall topic of the bill. In this paper, we present novel techniques to determine which sections within a bill are likely to be outliers by employing approaches from information retrieval. The most promising techniques first detect the most topically relevant parts of a bill by ranking its sections, followed by a comparison between these topically relevant parts and the remaining sections in the bill. To compare sections we use various dissimilarity metrics based on Kullback-Leibler Divergence. The results indicate that these techniques are more successful than a classification based approach. Finally, we analyze how the dissimilarity metrics succeed in discriminating between sections that are strong outliers versus those that are 'milder' outliers.
Changing to AIS 2005 and agreement of injury severity scores in a trauma registry with scores based on manual chart review

Abstract Background The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) recently underwent a major revision from AIS 98 to AIS 05. AIS injury codes form the basis of widely used injury severity scores such as the injury severity score (ISS). ISS thresholds are often used in trauma case definitions and ISS is widely used in injury research to adjust for injury severity. This study evaluated changes from AIS 98 to AIS 05, the changes’ effect on ISS distributions, and presents an application of the results. Methods Injury descriptions from medical records of 137 randomly selected patients in the Oklahoma Trauma Registry (OTR) were obtained. A single trained coder used AIS 98 and AIS 05 to code each injury. ISS values were calculated and grouped into 4 categories: 1–8, 9–14, 16–24, >24. Paired ISS was compared using Kappa statistics and tests of symmetry. We identified common injury diagnoses for which AIS severity changed between versions. Estimates of the proportion of patients changing ISS groups were applied to the entire OTR to assess the impact on reporting and on a model for reimbursement. Results OTR AIS 98 and manual AIS 98-based ISS values had a weighted Kappa of 0.71. OTR AIS 98 and manual AIS 05-based ISS values had a Kappa of 0.58. Manual AIS 98 and manual AIS 05 ISS had the highest Kappa of 0.81, however, though the scores differed by only 1 ISS category, there were 30 discordant pairs. The distribution of these discordant pairs was not symmetrical (Bowker's S = 30; df = 6; p Discussion Changing from AIS 98 to AIS 05 injury coding resulted in systematic changes in AIS codes and ISS. Specific injuries and body regions were differentially affected. Trauma registries and injury researchers that use AIS based injury coding can use this information to evaluate the potential impact of changes in AIS 2005.
Two-frequency grating used in phase-measuring profilometry

We present a method that uses two groups of fringe patterns on one grating for phase-measuring profilometry. A two-frequency grating is projected onto the object. The high frequency is N (N = 3, 4, 5, :...) times greater than the low frequency. Using a proper phase shift, we calculated the wrapped phases of the two frequencies. When the linearity of the two phases are considered, an accurate phase of the high frequency can be unwrapped. Because the low frequency is N times more insensitive to height discontinuity, the system is more tolerable to height discontinuity.
Monitoring changing dynamics with correlation integrals: case study of an epileptic seizure

Abstract We describe a procedure (and the motivation behind it) which rapidly and accurately tracks the onset and progress of an epileptic seizure. Roughly speaking, one monitors changes in the relative dispersion of a re-embedded time series. The results are robust with respect to variation of adjustable parameters such as embedding dimension, lag time, and critical distances. Moreover, the general method is virtually unaffected when the data are significantly corrupted by external noise. When the information computed for the individual channels is displayed in an appropriate space-time plot, the progress and geometric location of the seizure are easily seen. An interpretation of these results in terms of a cloud of particles moving in an abstract phase space is examined.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II Colon Cancer: Everyone Still Needs a Tailor

‘‘Personalized’’ or precision medicine is a contemporary term applied to the oldest stopgap style of medical practice, reserved for when no one set of rules intended for the masses can be applied to the individual. This tailored approach describes the adjuvant treatment strategy for stage II colon cancer patients. Unlike stage III colon cancer patients, the role of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II patients is uncertain. Overall, 25–40 % of patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon will have stage II disease, which portends a relatively good prognosis, with 5-year overall survival rates ranging from 72 to 85 %. Conversely, up to 25 % of stage II colon cancer patients will develop recurrent disease, and most of these patients will die as a result of their recurrence. With treatment en masse, routine administration of FOLFOX-based adjuvant chemotherapy to stage II colon cancer patients does not substantially improve overall survival compared with single-agent 5-fluorouracil. 1 In an effort to better identify and
Highly fluorescent dye-doped silica nanoparticles increase flow cytometry sensitivity for cancer cell monitoring

Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancer depend on rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of tumor cells. Current diagnosis of cancers, especially leukemia, relies on histology and flow cytometry using single dye-labeled antibodies. However, this combination may not lead to high signal output, which can hinder detection, especially when the probes have relatively weak affinities or when the receptor is expressed in a low concentration on the target cell surface. To solve these problems, we have developed a novel method for sensitive and rapid detection of cancer cells using dye-doped silica nanoparticles (NPs) which increases detection sensitivity in flow cytometry analyses between 10- and 100-fold compared to standard methods. Our NPs are ∼60 nm in size and can encapsulate thousands of individual dye molecules within their matrix. We have extensively investigated surface modification strategies in order to make the NPs suitable for selective detection of cancer cells using flow cytometry. The NPs are functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to prevent nonspecific interactions and with neutravidin to allow universal binding with biotinylated molecules. By virtue of their reliable and selective detection of target cancer cells, these NPs have demonstrated their promising usefulness in conventional flow cytometry. Moreover, they have shown low background signal, high signal enhancement, and efficient functionalization, either with antibody- or aptamer-targeting moieties.
Surface wave mode interactions: effects of symmetry and degeneracy

Parametrically excited surface wave modes on a fluid layer driven by vertical forcing can interact with each other when more than one spatial mode is excited. We have investigated the dynamics of the interaction of two modes that are degenerate in a square layer, but non-degenerate in a rectangular one. Novel experimental techniques were developed for this purpose, including the real-time measurement of all relevant slowly varying mode amplitudes, investigation of the phase-space structure by means of transient studies starting from a variety of initial conditions, and automated determination of stability boundaries as a function of driving amplitude and frequency. These methods allowed both stable and unstable fixed points (sinks, sources, and saddles) to be determined, and the nature of the bifurcation sequences to be clearly established. In most of the dynamical regimes, multiple attractors and repellers (up to 16) were found, including both pure and mixed modes. We found that the symmetry of the fluid cell has dramatic effects on the dynamics. The fully degenerate case (square cell) yields no time-dependent patterns, and is qualitatively understood in terms of third-order amplitude equations whose basic structure follows from symmetry arguments. In a slightly rectangular cell, where the two modes are separated in frequency by a small amount (about 1%), mode competition produces both periodic and chaotic states organized around unstable pure and mixed-state fixed points.
Practical Differences Among Aggregate-Level Conditional Status Metrics: From Median Student Growth Percentiles to Value-Added Models

Aggregate-level conditional status metrics (ACSMs) describe the status of a group by referencing current performance to expectations given past scores. This article provides a framework for these m...
Spatial modelling of the influence of corn planting and wind blocking features on catch of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) in pheromone traps and subsequent pest damage

Abstract A spatial model of capture of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) males in pheromone traps was developed as a UNIX script file running geographical information system commands (GRASS, v. 4.0). This model was developed to explain how spatial patterns of corn planting and wind-blocking features act to modify pheromone-trap-based earworm damage predictions on sweet corn. In the model, we sought to create a modified cumulative moth catch value that correlated more strongly with subsequent pest damage than unmodified cumulative trap catch values. The model looks at daily changes in wind direction and pheromone plume movement, calculates contribution to catch levels for all locations around the trap, and modifies the catch so that it only includes moths within the planting area of interest. We describe this model in detail and show field data results from 2 years.