cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MANAGEMENT OF ISSUES AND RELATIONSHIPS DURING INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT: OR HOW (NOT?) TO END A WAR

The goal of this essay is to examine the conflict resolution activities during political diplomacy as a dynamic and interactive process. In an application of Relational Order Theory (Donohue, 1998), this essay employs a model highlighting the instrumental, relational, and identity‐based issues involved in conflict resolution. To illustrate the utility of this model of Relational Process Management, this essay examines the process of diplomacy leading to the Dayton Accords in the areas of the Former Yugoslavia. For years the international community's efforts at intervention in this conflict were quite meager, as ceasefires and peace plans were brokered and dissolved with some regularity. Ultimately, a final coordinated effort by multiple external parties finally brought the combatants to the table in Dayton, Ohio to negotiate a formal agreement. The complex process by which the parties came to the negotiating table provides a rich case study by which to explore the interactive processes of diplomacy. An examination of the events in this case through the lens of instrumental, relational, and identity‐bound issues culminates with lessons learned from this interactionally‐based analysis of international conflict.
RADIATION-INDUCED LOSS OF REPRODUCTIVE INTEGRITY IN THE STAMEN HAIRS OF TRADESCANTIA BLOSSFELDIANA MILDBR., A TWELVE-PLOID SPECIES.

Abstract Inflorescences of Tradescantia blossfeldiana (2n = 72), a 12-ploid species, were exposed to 0·5 to 4 kR of 137Cs γ-rays for 16 hr. Stamen hairs from the irradiated inflorescences and from the control plants were observed daily for 27 days after irradiation. Decrease in cell number per hair and various morphological abnormalities at the hair apex were observed after certain postirradiation periods. Both effects were dose-dependent. They can be seen first 10 to 12 days after irradiation, with maximum effects at 13 to 20 days. The higher the exposure, the later the effects were observed to occur. The total number of new hair cells produced fell with increasing exposures. In the lower and medium exposure range, many hairs were only a few cells shorter than normal, and very few hairs were badly stunted. With increasing exposures the variability in hair length (cell number) increased, i.e. more and more short hairs were seen. However, in only a few cases was this increased variability accompanied by a clear bimodal distribution of hair lengths. The relatively large number of intermediate length hairs was not expected but it is concluded that they were the result largely of lengthened cell cycle times. However, delayed loss of reproductive integrity is also a possibility which cannot be ruled out. The frequency of stunted hairs which had lost most of their reproductive integrity (those with 15 cells or less) increased with increasing exposure. The survival curve for the terminal cells of the young stamen hairs was drawn based on the stunted hair frequencies, with a resultant D37 of 1880 R. This value was compared with the D37 (270 R) for a diploid Tradescantia published earlier. The difference between the two values is best explained by the difference in the interphase chromosome volumes of the two materials, hence genetic redundancy appears to have little or no effect. The postirradiation growth (total increase in cell number) of the stamen hairs was estimated for each exposure. On a semi-log plot it showed an inverse linear relationship with increasing exposure. No shoulder was apparent.
Synthesis and application of highly ordered arrays of TiO2 nanotubes

Highly ordered, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by potentiostatic anodization of titanium constitute a material architecture that offers a large internal surface area without a concomitant decrease in geometric and structural order. The precisely oriented nature of the crystalline (after annealing) nanotube arrays makes them excellent electron percolation pathways for vectorial charge transfer between interfaces. Herein are briefly considered their fabrication, as well as their initial application to hydrogen gas sensing, solar generation of hydrogen by water photoelectrolysis, and in heterojunction solar cells.
Identification and Prevention of Antiretroviral Medication Errors at an Academic Medical Center

Background: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) taking antiretroviral therapy are at an increased risk for medication-related problems when transitioning into the inpatient setting.Methodology: A retrospective chart review was used to find common highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)–related medication problems for 50 adult and pediatric patients who were admitted during the calendar year 2007 with a diagnosis of HIV at a 478-bed academic medical center. The results from the retrospective review were used to design a pilot program that consisted of a pharmacist making interventions when potential medication-related problems were identified. Data were collected after implementation of the program to assess whether this corrective measure decreased medication concerns associated with HAART.Results: Results from the retrospective review revealed that 24% of patients did not have a complete home medication list on admission. HAART was discontinued in 21 patients (42%) and, of these, 14 pat...
The impact of tropical convection and cirrus on upper tropospheric humidity: A Lagrangian analysis of satellite measurements

[1] Geostationary satellite observations are used in conjunction with an objective pattern-tracking algorithm to describe the Lagrangian evolution of convection, clouds and water vapor in the tropical upper troposphere. This analysis reveals that larger convective events within a Lagrangian air mass are associated with larger and longer-lived cirrus anvil shields. Convective systems which generate larger cirrus shields are, in turn, associated with higher downstream humidity levels following the anvil's dissipation. In the absence of cirrus, the clear-sky upper troposphere is shown to dry at a rate consistent with radiatively-driven subsidence. The presence of cirrus anvils following a convective event is shown to reduce the rate of drying and for large anvils can even change its sign. Analysis of the Lagrangian tendencies suggests that this moistening effect is not attributable to the evaporation of cirrus condensate, but instead results from the same dynamical mechanisms responsible for the formation and maintenance of the cirrus anvil.
Structure, Morphology, and Properties of Methyl-Pendant Poly(p-phenylene benzobisimidazole) and Methyl-Pendant Poly(p-phenylene benzobisthiazole)

Monomethyl-pendant poly(p-phenylene benzobisimidazole) (MePBI) has been spun into fiber and compared with an analogous methyl-pendant poly(p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) (MePBZT). From FTIR and WAXD, the former system has been found to exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding, while the latter possesses only weak van der Waals interactions. The thermomechanical properties of both systems, as examined by TGA, TMA, and DMS, are presented and discussed. A crystal structure of MePBI is proposed, which suggests intermolecular hydrogen bonding only between pairs of chains within the MePBI crystal. As compared to MePBZT and other rigid-rod polymers where the intermolecular hydrogen bond is not present, MePBI has higher compressive strength. The relatively high compressive strength of MePBI is attributed to increased intermolecular association, as opposed to differences in morphology.
Sonographic biometry of liver and spleen size long after closure of abdominal wall defects

Little is known about the fate of the liver and spleen after closure of the abdominal cavity in patients with abdominal wall defects (AWD). Therefore, counselling families for long-term follow-up and in the case of surgery for acute disease, pregnancy or trauma may be difficult. A total of 18 patients ranging in age from 7 to 18 years, with AWD closed at birth, underwent ultrasound evaluation of liver and spleen size by determination of the index of liver size (ILS) and splenic volume (SV). These values were then correlated with some anthropometric parameters such as body mass index (BMI) and weight; correlation was also sought with some clinical features such as type of defect and direct or staged closure. Nearly all subjects exhibited weight above and BMI below the 50th percentile for age. ILS and SV were significantly above normal limits in all cases and no difference was found with regard to the type of defect. Conclusion:in patients having undergone surgery for abdominal wall defects, liver and spleen usually regain their normal shape and position even though size and volume appear to be larger than in normal controls.
Production Lot Sizing Under A Learning Effect

Abstract Models are developed for determining optimal production lot sizes under a learning effect. These models consider situations in which both bounded and unbounded learning is assumed to occur. Bounded learning occurs when some nonzero lower limit is set on the time allowed to produce one unit of product.
Daily variations in HVAC system electrical energy consumption in response to different weather conditions

Abstract The daily variation in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system electrical energy consumption in response to different weather conditions was derived for four commercial buildings located in two different climate zones in the Pacific Northwest. An objective classification methodology was used to identify typical weather day types for one year of National Weather Service (NWS) station data. This methodology uses a combination of principal component analysis and cluster analysis to identify distinctive weather day types. These weather day types represent repeatable weather conditions that typically occur at each site. HVAC system energy consumption data for each day were grouped by these weather day types, and daily total and hourly load profiles were developed for each day type. From this, the response of the HVAC system to different weather conditions was determined. Developing set building HVAC energy consumption characteristics and hourly load profiles by weather day type is advantageous. The extensive information contained in the annual set of hourly data is condensed into relatively few typical days that essentially characterize the response of the building to external weather changes.
Effect of Gsk3 inhibitor CHIR99021 on aneuploidy levels in rat embryonic stem cells

Germline competent embryonic stem (ES) cells can serve as a tool to create genetically engineered rat strains used to elucidate gene function or provide disease models. In optimum culture conditions, ES cells are able to retain their pluripotent state. The type of components present and their concentration in ES cell culture media greatly influences characteristics of ES cells including the ability to maintain the cells in a pluripotent state. We routinely use 2i media containing inhibitors CHIR99021 and PD0325901 to culture rat ES cells. CHIR99021 specifically inhibits the Gsk3β pathway. We have found that the vendor source of CHIR99021 has a measurable influence on the level of aneuploidy seen over time as rat ES cells are passaged. Karyotyping of three different rat ES cell lines passaged multiple times showed increased aneuploidy when CHIR99021 from source B was used. Mass spectrometry analysis of this inhibitor showed the presence of unexpected synthetic small molecules, which might directly or indirectly cause increases in chromosome instability. Identifying these molecules could further understanding of their influence on chromosome stability and indicate how to improve synthesis of this media component to prevent deleterious effects in culture.
Representations by k-th powers in GF(q)☆

Abstract A lower bound is computed for the number of elements of a finite field F represented by a1x1k + … + alxlk, where ai ≠ 0 are fixed elements of F and (x1,…,xl) varies over Fl
Factorization and the couplings of the vacuum trajectory

Abstract The decoupling theorems associated with an isolated factorizable pomeron pole of unit intercept are re-examined. It is found that the coupling of three such poles, Γ ( t , t , 0), need not vanish, precisely at the point t = 0. This is demonstrated by summing only over states in the appropriate unitarity sum, and sum rule, which are consistent with the M 2 , s / M 2 → ∞ limit. The triple-Regge region then makes a constant contribution to σ total , insteadsb of the ln ln s result obtained if the isolated pole is assumed to couple also to states such that s / M 2 = constant. The physical implications regarding factorization and the pole-cut relationship are discussed. The relationship between higher order optical theorems (Mueller discontinuities) and particular terms in the unitarity sum for the two → two absorptive part A 22 is exploited. Consistent contributions to the triple-Regge region contribute constant vertex corrections to pure pole behaviour in A 22 . There is no cut contribution and the magnitude of the vertex corrections reflects the relative amount of diffractive production. The analysis is extended to multiple fireball production where pure multipole structures emerge. The series naturally terminates if the diffractive component is sufficiently small. The implications for the behaviour of the total cross section at machine energies are discussed.
Optical Fiber Sensor for Non-Contact Monitoring of ICSI-Pipettes

The injection of cells (e.g., sperm), subcellular organelles (e.g., nucleus), and solutes into cells (e.g., eggs) for cloning, embryology and molecular biology purposes are broadly practiced biological procedures. These cellular micro-injection operations are performed using drawn glass pipettes of microscopic diameters (as small as a few microns), which are extremely compliant structures. The pipette is pressed on the cell membrane causing a dimple until a predetermined tension is created. In the next phase, the membrane is pierced using various forcing techniques, and the pipette is driven into the cell. A non-contact sensor with high motion sensitivity is needed to monitor this delicate microscopic motion. We present an optical micro-device in this paper to achieve this objective. The main principle of the sensor is to detect the position and the orientation of a laser beam, which emanates from the pipette that is being monitored. We provide the technical specifications and the experimental verification of the concept.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Fire-induced reddening of dune sands

Abstract Small campfire sites in the Erg of Azaouad, north-central Mali, reveal locally-reddened sands, as do campfire sites in many settings. The sand surface temperatures reached in such campfires are achieved in some cases of range fire or forest fire. To measure the extent to which such fires can affect dune sand color, sand samples were heated to temperatures commonly reached during brush and forest fires. Munsell colors and laboratory spectral reflectance measurements were used to quantify color changes. Reddening occurred in sands heated above 200°C. Munsell colors and reflectance values closely match the color of naturally-red dune sands. Characteristic hematite spectral features are absent. Sand from both active and stable dunes reddened substantially, and the red color is persistent through time.
Consumers' Evaluation of Unethical Marketing Behaviors: The Role of Customer Commitment

While there is a significant amount of research investigating managerial ethical judgments, a limited amount examines consumer judgments of unethical corporate behavior and its impact on the marketplace. This study examines how consumers’ commitment to a company impacts not only their ethical judgment of corporate behavior but also the outcomes of that judgment. The authors test hypotheses with data from 334 consumers and find that consumers’ level of commitment attenuates the level of perceived fairness. More specifically, highly committed consumers may forgive companies for behaviors when perceived harm is low, but become progressively dissatisfied as the level of perceived harm increases. Results of the study point to the importance of considering ethical behavior from a consumer perspective. If corporate actions are perceived as unethical, the company stands to lose favor with their most committed customers. Considering that more time, effort and investment is required to gain a new customer as to retain an old, this study shows that engaging in behavior perceived as unethical by consumers risks alienating the most committed customers.
Mechanism of increased femoral arterial flow during body warming.

Summary and Conclusion1. The mechanisms of vasodilatation in the femoral arterial bed which follow contact of the body with warm water were investigated in intact, skinned and sympathectomized dogs subjected to immersion hypothermia. 2. The femoral vasodilatation was found to be due to a reflex inhibition of the sympathetic vasoconstrictor tone triggered by the immediate contact of any part of the body with warm water. no. “32”
The Production of Spallation Radionuclides for Medical Applications at BLIP

The Brookhaven LINAC Isotope Producer (BLIP) is the first facility to demonstrate the capability of a large linear accelerator for efficient and economical production of difficult-to-make, medically useful radionuclides. It utilizes the excess beam capacity of a LINAC that injects 200 MeV protons into the 33 GeV Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. The LINAC provides an integrated beam current of 60 ?A for radionuclide production, operating 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The 200 MeV proton energy is very suitable for isotope production since the spallation process provides a route to copious quantities of radionuclides unavailable at lower energy accelerators, or reactors. Further, the energy is high enough to allow simultaneous irradiation of multiple targets leading to reduced cost per nuclide. Careful choice of target position in the array makes it possible to select the proper proton energy range to maximize the yield of a particular nuclide from a given target and minimize the amounts of undesirable by-products. The proton beam enters the BLIP irradiation chamber under 32 feet of water which serves as a transparent shield for gamma rays and the high energy neutrons produced by spallation interactions. Guide tubes are used for introducing independent target assemblies into the proton beam, enabling both very short irradiations and very long ones. The targets are individually water cooled by means of a flexible stainless steel water hose that travels with the assembly. The basic target types are encapsulated salt pellets, gases, and metallic foils.
A linguistic approach to geometric reasoning

Abstract The objective of the research considered in this paper is to develop a theoretical foundation for the representation of large-scale hierarchical complex systems, the so-called Linguistic Geometry. The research relies on the formalization of heuristics of highly-skilled human experts which have resulted in the development of successful decision support systems. This approach is based on a broad application of the theory of formal languages and grammars as well as theories of formal problem-solving and planning on the basis of the first-order predicate calculus. This paper reports new results in the investigation of geometrical properties of the first-level subsystems (paths of elements) unified as one-dimensional Linguistic Geometry. Theoretical constructions considered in this paper are illustrated employing comprehensive examples from power maintenance scheduling, robot control, and the chess game. A program implementation of this approach should generate decision support systems for a wide class of practical problems.
Influence of a cooperative early field experience on preservice elementary teachers' science self‐efficacy

The influence of a cooperative early field experience on preservice elementary teachers' science self-efficacy was investigated in this study. The sample was comprised of 120 preservice elementary education students enrolled in an elementary science methods course at a large midwestern university. Cooperative learning groups were formed within each of five laboratory sections of the methods course. Each cooperative group witnessed several modeled science lessons employing cooperative techniques prior to planning and teaching a cooperative elementary science lesson in a local public school. Two randomly selected elementary science methods laboratory sections were tested directly before and three other sections immediately after the performance of a cooperative teaching field experience. Testing involved obtaining scores from subjects' response to the Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Inventory, form B (STEBI-B). The STEBI-B measures science teaching self-efficacy beliefs. A random sample of personal interviews were also given by the researcher to a selected subsample of study participants at the end of the semester. The significant ANOVA findings reported for the data collection subgroup (time of teaching) main effect (F = 8.63, p < 0.01), lack of significant correlations between the alternative predictor variables, and the STEBI-B scores provides evidence to support an inference that early cooperative field experience had a positive influence on the subjects' science teaching self-efficacy. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Vigilance and Justification as Explanations of Complex Cognition

Summary Cognitive complexity scores were obtained from 146 undergraduate students who were asked to rate four persons with positive affect and four persons with negative affect on a series of bipolar trait scales. The latter were responded to with more complex ratings. Indications were also obtained as to the extent to which Ss felt that negative persons were threatening to them and also whether or not they felt that unfavorable comments about a person required justification. Both the feeling of threat and the need for justification were found to be related to the tendency of subjects to perceive negative persons more complexly than positive persons.
Bilingual computerized speech-recognition screening for clinical depression: Evaluating a cellular telephone prototype

This exploratory field study evaluated a bilingual computerized speech-recognition cellular telephone prototype of the Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression scale (CES-D). Thirty Spanish and 22 English speakers completed both computer-telephone and face-to-face CES-D methods and an oral depression checklist in counterbalanced order. Both language groups reported high positive ratings for the computer-telephone method, with the English sample preferring the computer-telephone over the face-to-face method. In both samples, the computer-telephone method yielded high internal consistency estimates, strong alternate form reliabilities, and similar high correlations to the depression checklist. Both groups reported significantly elevated scores with the computer-telephone method, but total score variances for both methods did not differ. Computer-telephone limitations included occasional misrecognitions and template training constraints.
Homozygosity mapping identifies a bile acid biosynthetic defect in an adult with cirrhosis of unknown etiology.

Bile acids are synthesized in the liver from cholesterol by a complex series of enzymatic reactions (1). The rate-limiting step in the pathway is the addition of a hydroxyl group to the carbon at the 7 position (C7) of the sterol ring, a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). This is followed by isomerization of the Δ5 bond to the Δ4 position and oxidation of the 3β-hydroxyl group to a 3-oxo moiety. Both of these reactions are catalyzed by 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-C27-steroid oxidoreductase (3β-HSD), a 369 amino acid membrane-bound protein in the endoplasmic reticulum that is encoded by HSD3B7 (2). Mutations in HSD3B7 cause 3β-HSD deficiency (#OMIM 607765) (3), a rare autosomal recessive disorder that represents the most common inborn error of bile acid synthesis (2, 4). The disorder was originally described by Clayton et al. (5) in 1987. The diagnosis was established by measuring bile acids in the urine using mass spectrometry in a consanguineous Saudi Arabian family in which several family members presented as neonates with giant cell hepatitis and bridging cirrhosis (5). Over 50 patients with this disorder from at least 40 unrelated families have subsequently been reported (3, 6–16). HSD3B7 was cloned by Schwarz et al. in 2000 (17) and 21 different mutations have been described that cause 3β-HSD deficiency (3, 6, 7, 12, 13). 3β-HSD deficiency usually presents in the neonatal period or in early childhood with cholestatic jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, steatorrhea, rickets, bleeding and failure to thrive (2). The disease invariably progresses to cirrhosis. In a few cases of late-onset 3β-HSD deficiency, the disease presents in the second or third decades of life (3, 6, 18). Typical clinical features that distinguish 3β-HSD deficiency from other causes of early-onset liver disease include the absence of pruritus, a normal serum level of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and normal or low levels of total serum primary bile acids when measured by routine methods, despite the presence of cholestasis (2, 7, 19, 20). The diagnosis is established by finding high levels of sulfated 3β,7α-dihydroxy-5-cholenoic and 3β,7α-trihydroxy-5-cholenoic acids in the urine or serum (2, 5, 20). Here, we describe an Arab-Iranian family in which several individuals developed cirrhosis of unknown etiology. Homozygosity mapping was used to identify homozygous regions of genomic DNA that were shared by 2 affected cousins but not by an unaffected family member. The two affected individuals in the family that were available for sampling were homozygous for an inactivating mutation in HSD3B7. The family is remarkable for the variability in age of onset and clinical severity of the disease among affected members.
Role of structural birth defects in preterm delivery.

The proportion of preterm births associated with structural birth defects has not been adequately quantified. We explored the proportion of preterm infants with structural birth defects diagnosed in the first year of life, as well as the specific phenotypes of birth defects occurring among preterm infants. The data used were from the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program, a population-based registry, as well as data from California vital records corresponding to births and fetal deaths in the period 1984–96. The prevalence of structural birth defects exceeded 8% among deliveries with gestational ages 30 weeks, and prevalence decreased to 2% as gestational age increased to 37 weeks gestation. The decreasing prevalence pattern with increasing gestational age was observed for a variety of anatomically defined birth defect groups suggesting that certain birth defects were not the sole contributors to the elevated prevalences among preterm births. Decreasing prevalence with increasing gestational age was also observed across strata of maternal race/ethnicities, ages, infant’s sex and each year studied. These data indicate that structural birth defects may contribute significantly to the proportion of infants who are delivered before 37 weeks gestation.
Expanding ecomorphological methods: geometric morphometric analysis of Cervidae post-crania

Abstract This study presents ecomorphological methods for reconstructing paleohabitats using three-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses of Cervidae (deer and relatives) post-cranial elements. Cervids are often the most abundant taxon in Eurasian Plio-Pleistocene sites, yet their post-cranial remains are rarely utilized in paleoecological reconstructions. Cervids are found in a wide variety of habitats, and thus their ecomorphology spans an appropriate range to serve as a proxy for paleohabitat. Four morphological features are examined in this study; the calcaneus as a whole ( n = 122), the medial margin of the patellar surface of the femur ( n = 133), the lateral margin of the tibial plateau ( n = 136), and the plantar margin of the third phalanx ( n = 62). These features were chosen because they represent various aspects of cervid locomotion important for power generation, stability, and substrate interaction. For each feature, canonical variates analyses with cross-validations were used to assess how well landmark configurations distinguish among specimens from different habitat types. Cross-validations returned correct reclassifications rates ranging from 38.9% to 66.3% in a four-habitat system, with resubstitution rates of 55.4% to 79.1% correct. Most habitat groups were found to be significantly different at p
Surgical management of pyogenic complications of Crohn's disease.

Abstract Patients with Crohn's disease are prone to the development of pyogenic complications. These complications are most commonly in the form of perianal or intraabdominal abscesses and/or fistulas. Complications in these 2 distinct areas are managed differently; however, they are similar in the fact that initial treatment relies on medical or minimally invasive management to achieve a nonacute condition prior to definitive surgical procedure. This article reviews the current surgical management of obtaining pyogenic control in both anorectal and intraabdominal Crohn's disease.
A new algorithm for learning parameters of a Bayesian network from distributed data

We present a novel approach for learning parameters of a Bayesian network from distributed heterogeneous dataset. In this case, the whole dataset is distributed in several sites and each site contains observations for a different subset of features. The new method uses the collective learning approach proposed in our earlier work and substantially reduces the computational and transmission overhead. Theoretical analysis is given and experimental results are provided to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of our method.
GPS targeting methods for non-lethal systems

Non-lethal systems consist of devices and methods which can be used to incapacitate an adversary's capability, while minimizing casualties and collateral property or environmental damages. Examples of military non-lethal concepts include wire mesh entanglements to snag tank treads, highly expansive sticky foams to immobilize personnel and material, anti-material agents to degrade supplies, and information warfare tactics such as the use of computer viruses to interfere and disrupt the adversary's command and control systems. Law enforcement is also interested in developing additional less-than-lethal weapons to augment traditional weapons, such as tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. This paper reviews the wide array of possible non-lethal concepts and separates their employment depending on target class. The associated weapon system accuracy required for the various methods of targeting and guidance is approximated notionally. Representative GPS based targeting methods applicable to non-lethal weapons are then presented. The targeting concepts are sorted in terms of absolute, differential, and relative methods. >
The Colonial Harem

The Colonial Harem. By Malek Alloula. English translation by Myma Godrich and Wlad Godzich. Introduction by Barbara Harlow. University of Minnesota Press. 1986. 121 pages. Notes. Bibliography.
Evaluation of Online Training on the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism

Author(s): Wolpin, Seth; Lee, Jung-Ah; Glenny, Robb W; Wittkowsky, Ann K; Wolf, Fredric M; Zierler, Brenda K | Abstract: IntroductionThe integration of new evidence into clinical practice can be a prolonged process, with delays of years or even decades. One approach to speed this integration is through the use of online provider education.ProblemVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious patient safety issue. Prevention requires coordinated care and adherence to evidence-based guidelines, supported by provider education.PurposeThis study reports how an interdisciplinary team developed and piloted an online provider training program for the prevention of VTE.HypothesisIf providers use the online educational training, they will demonstrate increased mastery of key content areas related to VTE prophylaxis.MethodsWe used a prospective test-retest study design in which medical residents and fellows served as their own controls. All participants were given a pretest followed by educational content and then a posttest. We also assessed 2 different types of learning content (ie, with and without case studies/questions) and randomized participants to each type prior to assessment.ResultsUsing the McNemar test we found a trend for knowledge gains related to VTE guidelines on the posttest for clinicians (n = 67) with a 14.5% improvement in content mastery (P = .05, 2-tailed). We did not find any significant differences between training modalities. Clinicians overall reported high levels of satisfaction with the application.ConclusionOur online education efforts indicate the potential for increasing mastery of VTE prophylaxis concepts. If resources are limited, we suggest a static approach to content delivery and an exploration of standardized methods for portability of online curriculums across learning management systems.
The Strain Index and TLV for HAL: Risk of lateral epicondylitis in a prospective cohort

Background This study's objective was to quantify exposure-response relationships between job physical exposure (JPE) and incidence of lateral epicondylitis (LE). Methods A cohort of 536 workers was enrolled from 10 manufacturing facilities and followed monthly for 6 years to ascertain changes in JPE and health status. JPE was individually measured and quantified using the Strain Index (SI) and TLV for HAL. Worker demographics, medical history, psychosocial factors, and current musculoskeletal disorders were obtained. Results Fifty-six workers developed LE. In multivariate models JPE, age, family problems, and swimming were associated with increased risk of LE. SI showed an exposure-response relationship with maximum hazard ratio (HR) of 4.5(P = 0.04). TLV for HAL showed a non-statistically significant trend for increased risk of LE (P = 0.19). Conclusion JPE is associated with increased risk of LE. The SI and TLV for HAL are useful metrics for estimating JPE. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:286–302, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigating Neurocognitive Features of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Drug Users: Potential Challenges and Lessons Learned from the HIV Literature

Studies of neurocognition in drug users with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are urgently needed but face many challenges. We review similarities between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV infection in their neurocognitive features, discuss challenges associated with research among drug users, advocate that the HIV literature can usefully inform studies of HCV, and review findings by our group on neurocognition among substance users with HIV and/or HCV infection. It is increasingly apparent that a strong scientific initiative is needed to better understand the neurocognitive effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its potential consequences for treatment and quality of life, particularly for the population of infected drug users. Approximately 2.2% of the world’s population is infected with HCV, and estimates indicate that 20,000 persons were newly infected in the United States alone during 2001. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the vast majority of new HCV infections in the United States are associated with injection drug use. Available studies have documented a higher prevalence and earlier onset of neurocognitive impairment among HCV-positive persons than among persons with other types of liver disease. Neurocognitive impairment is frequently predictive of higher rates of unemployment and poorer adherence to treatment regimens. Investigations aimed at understanding the severity of neurocognitive deficits of HCV-infected persons may inform the characterization of the brain
Rawls's “Political” Philosophy and American Democracy.

John Rawls has recently argued that political philosophy can significantly contribute to making democratic societies stable. He seeks moral principles that can ground what he calls an overlapping consensus and argues that his well-known principles of justice can serve in this capacity. I criticize both Rawls's general claims about the role of political philosophy and his particular defense of the principles of justice. Both arguments commit Rawls to specific empirical claims about existing liberal societies that are highly questionable. In particular, the Kantian moral views that Rawls believes to be central to liberal culture are controverted by extensive empirical research on the actual beliefs of liberal citizens. Despite the problems with Rawls's arguments, I suggest that a rather different overlapping consensus appears to contribute to stable democracies. This centers on support of the political system rather than more substantive moral principles.
Active zones of mammalian neuromuscular junctions: formation, density, and aging

Presynaptic active zones are synaptic vesicle release sites that play essential roles in the function and pathology of mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The molecular mechanisms of active zone organization use presynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) in NMJs as scaffolding proteins. VDCCs interact extracellularly with the muscle-derived synapse organizer, laminin β2 and interact intracellularly with active zone-specific proteins, such as Bassoon, CAST/Erc2/ELKS2alpha, ELKS, Piccolo, and RIMs. These molecular mechanisms are supported by studies in P/Q- and N-type VDCCs double-knockout mice, and they are consistent with the pathological conditions of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and Pierson syndrome, which are caused by autoantibodies against VDCCs or by a laminin β2 mutation. During normal postnatal maturation, NMJs maintain the density of active zones, while NMJs triple their size. However, active zones become impaired during aging. Propitiously, muscle exercise ameliorates the active zone impairment in aged NMJs, which suggests the potential for therapeutic strategies.
A Wide-Range Digital Power/Energy Meter for Systems with Nonsinusoidal Waveforms

A versatile, precision power/energy measurement system is described which is now in use gathering data on electric vehicle drive systems. It was designed to improve the measurement accuracy of systems with nonsinusoidal waveforms. At a continuous 1-MHz rate, it simultaneously digitizes the voltage and current for the input and output of a power converter under test. At the same 1-MHz rate the samples are multiplied together to get instantaneous power, and accumulated. Every half second the accumulations are used to calculate the average input and output voltage, current and power, total energy, amp-hours, and input-output efficiency. When used with coaxial shunts the operating range extends from milliwatts to megawatts. The efficiency measurements are accurate to within a few tenths of a percent for chopper frequencies up to 10 kHz.
Transcriptional Profiling of Equine Conceptuses Reveals New Aspects of Embryo-Maternal Communication in the Horse

Establishment and maintenance of pregnancy are critically dependent on embryo-maternal communication during the preimplantation period. The horse is one of the few domestic species in which the conceptus-derived pregnancy recognition signal has not been identified. To gain new insights into the factors released by the equine conceptus, transcriptional profiling analyses of conceptuses retrieved 8, 10, 12, and 14 days after ovulation were performed using a whole-genome microarray. Selected array data were confirmed using quantitative PCR, and the expression of proteins of interest was confirmed using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Gene ontology classification of differentially regulated transcripts underlines the ongoing embryo-maternal dialogue. Transcript showing higher expression levels as conceptus' development proceeds mainly localizes to the extracellular environment, thereby having the potential to act upon the uterine environment. Genes involved in the positive regulation of the immune system are enriched among transcripts displaying decreased expression, reflecting the need of the semiallograft conceptus to be protected from the immune system. A subset of differentially expressed genes, such as BRCA1 and FGF2, has previously been described to be expressed by early stages of embryonic development, whereas other transcripts are apparently unique to equine conceptuses, as their expression has not been reported in other species. These transcripts include fibrinogen subunits, the expressions of which were confirmed at the mRNA and protein level. Furthermore, results indicate the counteraction of trophoblast invasion, and that the conceptus appears to regulate changes in sialic acid content of its capsule, an event suggested to be essential for successful establishment of pregnancy.
Processability and properties of novel glass-polymer melt blends

Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to study the viscoelastic properties of two novel highly filled phosphate glass-polymer melt blends to accelerate efforts to optimize their melt processing. The melt of one blend was thermally stable while that of the other blend was not, as evidenced by modulus growth over time of the latter. The frequency dependencies of storage and loss moduli for both blends at 400°C showed evidence of incomplete relaxation. Recrystallization, formation of some fibrillar structures within the polymer phase during flow, transesterification of the polymer phase, or interactions between the polymer and glass are thought to be responsible for the observed differences between the viscoelastic properties of the two blends.
The Origins of Cooperative Bacterial Communities

Bacteria live in complex multispecies communities. Intimately interacting bacterial cells are ubiquitous on biological and mineral surfaces in all habitats. Molecular and cellular biologists have unraveled some key mechanisms that modulate bacterial interactions, but the ecology and evolution of these associations remain poorly understood. One debate has focused on the relative importance of cooperation among cells in bacterial communities. Some researchers suggest that communication and cooperation, both within and among bacterial species, have produced emergent properties that give such groups a selective advantage. Evolutionary biologists have countered that the appearance of group-level traits should be viewed with caution, as natural selection almost invariably favors selfishness. A recent theory by Morris, Lenski, and Zinser, called the Black Queen Hypothesis, gives a new perspective on this debate (J. J. Morris, R. E. Lenski, and E. R. Zinser, mBio 3(2):e00036-12, 2012). These authors present a model that reshapes a decades-old idea: cooperation among species can be automatic and based upon purely selfish traits. Moreover, this hypothesis stands in contrast to the Red Queen Hypothesis, which states that species are in constant evolutionary conflict. Two assumptions serve as the core of the Black Queen model. First, bacterial functions are often leaky, such that cells unavoidably produce resources that benefit others. Second, the receivers of such by-products will tend to delete their own costly pathways for those products, thus building dependency into the interactions. Although not explicitly required in their model, an emergent prediction is that the initiation of such dependency can favor the spread of more obligate coevolved partnerships. This new paradigm suggests that bacteria might often form interdependent cooperative interactions in communities and moreover that bacterial cooperation should leave a clear genomic signature via complementary loss of shared diffusible functions.
The number of all possible meaningful or discernible pictures

The paper provides lower bounds on the number of all possible images that appear meaningful to a human observer as well as the number of all possible images that appear pair-wise distinct to a human observer. These numbers suggest that it is impractical to construct training or testing sets of images that are dense in the set of all images unless the class of images is restricted.
Competitive context and price as moderators of country of origin preferences

In a lab experiment setting, subjects exercised product choices in which country of origin and other variables were manipulated. Findings suggest that consumers are more wary of products from less developed countries when the financial risk is higher and when they are seeking a product with superior tangible attributes. However, within a given product class, manipulating price did not produce interaction effects with country of origin.
Proteomic profiling of mucosal and submucosal colonic tissues yields protein signatures that differentiate the inflammatory colitides.

BACKGROUND—Differentiating ulcerative colitis (UC) from Crohn's colitis (CC) can be difficult and may lead to inaccurate diagnoses in up to 30 percent of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Much of the diagnostic uncertainty arises from the overlap of clinical and histologic features. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) permits a histology-directed cellular protein analysis of tissues. As a pilot study, we evaluated the ability of histology-directed MALDI-MS to determine the proteomic patterns for potential differences between CC and UC specimens. METHODS—Mucosal and submucosal layers of CC and UC colon resection samples were analyzed after histologic assessment. To determine whether MALDI-MS would distinguish inflammation, the uninflamed [n=21] vs. inflamed submucosa [n=22] were compared in UC and the uninflamed [n=17] vs. inflamed submucosa [n=20] in CC. To determine whether there were proteomic differences between the colitides, the uninflamed UC submucosa [n=21] was compared vs. the uninflamed CC submucosa [n=17], the inflamed UC submucosa [n=22] was compared vs. the inflamed CC submucosa [n=20], and inflamed UC mucosa vs. inflamed CC mucosa. Pair-wise statistics comparisons of the subsets were performed. RESULTS—Pair-wise comparative analyses of the clinical groups allowed indentifying subsets of features important for classification. Comparison of inflamed vs. uninflamed CC submucosa
Heritage Tourism, Conflict, and the Public Interest: An Introduction

This special issue explores how and why conflicts arise in the development and practice of heritage tourism. From New York City’s Ground Zero and the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in Yucatan,...
Low Froude number limiting dynamics for stably stratified flow with small or finite Rossby numbers

Abstract Recent numerical simulations reveal remarkably different behavior in rotating stably stratified fluids at low Froude numbers for finite Rossby numbers as compared with the behavior at both low Froude and Rossby numbers. Here the reduced low Froude number limiting dynamics in both of these situations is developed with complete mathematical rigor by applying the theory for fast wave averaging for geophysical flows developed recently by the authors. The reduced dynamical equations include all resonant triad interactions for the slow (vortical) modes, the effect of the slow (vortical) modes on the fast (inertial gravity) modes, and also the general resonant triad interactions among the fast (internal gravity) waves. The nature of the reduced dynamics in these two situations is compared and contrasted here. For example, the reduced slow dynamics for the vortical modes in the low Froude number limit at finite Rossby numbers includes vertically sheared horizontal motion while the reduced slow dynamics i...