cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Best Laid Plans: How the Failure to Effectively Implement DDR and Transitional Justice Fueled Iraq's Instability

A decade after the US invasion, Iraq's security situation remains fragile. The failure to enact a DDR program resulted in large numbers of armed individuals idle around the country. Fearful of reprisals and disgruntled over losing their privileged positions, many Sunnis joined the insurgency. Combined with easy access to weapons, Iraq's history of interethnic tension was exacerbated by the pursuit of transitional justice. Trials and vetting processes were politicized by Shias, which reinforced many Sunnis' belief that the new political order held no benefit for them. Violence and instability have hampered reconstruction and de-Ba'athification robbed the country of professional and technical expertise that was sorely needed for the effort. The author argues that, while transitional justice may still have value in Iraq, current circumstances are not propitious.
The Application of Virtual Reality in Patient Education.

Background Virtual reality (VR) provides an immersive image-viewing experience that has recently been expanding in use in clinical medicine. We developed a three-dimensional (3D) model of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) for patients with a diagnosis of an AAA to view in VR to assess the use of VR in patient education. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using an educational intervention. A standardized 3D model of an AAA was generated from a computed tomography scan and uploaded onto a 3D image-hosting website. Patients with an AAA who participated in the study wore a Google Cardboard VR headset, with a mobile device displaying the digital 3D AAA image in VR. Patients completed a survey afterward for assessing satisfaction with VR on a 5-point agreement Likert scale. Results Between September 2017 and January 2018, 19 patients participated in our study (90% participation rate). Most participants had no prior experience with VR (n = 15; 79%), and the mean age was 69 ± 8 years. Seventeen (89%) participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt better informed about their health status after using VR and would like to see VR used more in their health care, while sixteen (84%) agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more engaged in their health care because of using VR. Almost all participants felt comfortable using VR (n = 17; 90%) and enjoyed using the technology (n = 16; 84%). Conclusions VR proved to be an engaging learning tool that patients perceived as beneficial in understanding their health status. Further efforts to investigate the role of VR in education and health care should be explored.
Steps Toward Scalability: Illustrations From a Smoke-Free Homes Program.

Scalable interventions remain effective across a range of real-world settings and can be modified to fit organizational and community context. “Smoke-Free Homes: Some Things are Better Outside” has...
The Promise and Perils of Direct Democracy: An Introduction

Direct democracy promises politics that improve links between citizens and their representatives, and satisfies popular demand for increased engagement. In practice it may fall well short, given limited citizen capacity, poor information from campaigns, and ill-designed processes. The articles here represent the opportunities that direct democracy offers for the study of these promises and perils.
Comprehensive shear stress analysis of turbulent boundary layer profiles

Motivated by the need for accurate determination of wall shear stress from profile measurements in turbulent boundary layer flows, the total shear stress balance is analysed and reformulated using several well-established semi-empirical relations. The analysis highlights the significant effect that small pressure gradients can have on parameters deduced from data even in nominally zero pressure gradient boundary layers. Using the comprehensive shear stress balance together with the log-law equation, it is shown that friction velocity, roughness length and zero-plane displacement can be determined with only velocity and turbulent shear stress profile measurements at a single streamwise location for nominally zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. Application of the proposed analysis to turbulent smooth- and rough-wall experimental data shows that the friction velocity is determined with accuracy comparable to force balances (approximately 1 %–4 %). Additionally, application to boundary layer data from previous studies provides clear evidence that the often cited discrepancy between directly measured friction velocities (e.g. using force balances) and those derived from traditional total shear stress methods is likely due to the small favourable pressure gradient imposed by a fixed cross-section facility. The proposed comprehensive shear stress analysis can account for these small pressure gradients and allows more accurate boundary layer wall shear stress or friction velocity determination using commonly available mean velocity and shear stress profile data from a single streamwise location.
Development of High Aperture Efficiency Fabry-Perot Cavity Antenna System

A Fabry-Perot cavity antenna (FPCA) system with high efficiency is proposed. The design consists of a source antenna with a frequency selective surface (FSS). The source antenna is an aperture coupled microstrip slot antenna with cavity backing. The FSS is a square aperture with rectangular unit cells. The E-field in the near and far field is compared for the FPCA system and the source antenna without the FSS (i.e. source antenna only). The FPCA has low phase variation of approximately 10° in the E-plane compared to high sinusoidal phase variation of 90° of the source antenna. The far-field gain of the FPCA system is 11.3 dB, which is a 4.5 dB improvement of the source antenna gain. The aperture efficiency of the FPCA system is 84% compared to the source antenna efficiency of 30%.
Results from Submillimeter Wave Propagation Experiments at 325.153 GHZ Water Vapor Absorption Line Using the THZ Atmospheric and Ionospheric Propagation and Scattering (TAIPAS) System

This paper presents submillimeter wave (SMMW) propagation and meteorological measurements obtained using the TAIPAS system operated continuously over a period from August 15 to August 30, 2018. The TAIPAS system is a 320-340 GHz, coherent, line-of-sight transmissometer which can be used to measure propagated power and spectral properties of directional electromagnetic (EM) waves at SMMW frequencies at and around the 325.153 GHz water vapor absorption line.The overall goal of the TAIPAS project is to develop a comprehensive predictive model relevant for atmospheric propagation in the range of ~1 MHz - 3000 GHz.
Convolutional neural network-based tool condition monitoring in vertical milling operations using acoustic signals

Abstract Sonic monitoring presents itself as one of the least invasive but easiest to implement methods of machine condition characterization. This work investigates the viability of categorically classifying cutting tool wear using only sonic output from a vertical milling center and proposes a statistical model of milling acoustic signals as well as a novel machine learning-integrated method of acoustic signal differentiation. To this end, a deep convolutional neural network is used for data classification. Experimental results support the proposed sonic model and demonstrate that tool wear classification accuracy as high as 99.5% is possible using a two-dimensional deep convolutional neural network.
Neurologic Manifestations of Systemic Disease: Sleep Disorders

Sleep is intimately involved in overall health and wellbeing. We provide a comprehensive report on the interplay between systemic diseases and sleep to optimize the outcomes of systemic disorders. Spanning the categories of endocrinologic disorders, metabolic/toxic disturbances, renal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, malignancy, and critical illness, the review highlights the prevalent coexisting pathology of sleep across the spectrum of systemic disorders. Although it is rare that treating a sleep symptom can cure disease, attention to sleep may improve quality of life and may mitigate or improve the underlying disorder. Recent controversies in assessing the cardiovascular relationship with sleep have called into question some of the benefits of treating comorbid sleep disorders, thereby highlighting the need for an ongoing rigorous investigation into how sleep interplays with systemic diseases. Systemic diseases often have sleep manifestations and this report will help the clinician identify key risk factors linking sleep disorders to systemic diseases so as to optimize the overall care of the patient.
Natural Killer Cell Therapy in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Natural killer (NK) cells are the first cells to recover post allogeneic transplant, and early recovery has been associated with improved outcomes. Cellular therapies utilizing NK cells hold great promise for improving patient outcomes. This chapter reviews the current landscape of NK cellular therapies and discusses opportunities for future exploration.
Perioperative blood transfusions and complication rates in total elbow arthroplasty

Aim: Complication rates for total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to analyze its utilization rate, the use of perioperative packed red blood cell transfusions, overall rates of surgical complications, and any association of perioperative transfusions with short-term postoperative medical and long-term surgical complications. Materials and Methods: We queried a large Medicare Standard Analytic Files database from 2005 to 2014 to identify index surgery, perioperative blood transfusions, and postoperative complications. Incidence, odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals, and P values were calculated for 30-day, 90-day, and 2-year postoperative complications. Results: We identified a total of 7480 primary TEA procedures with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. 577 of these patients received perioperative blood transfusion, whereas 2058 age- and gender-matched controls did not. The transfusion cohort had statistically significantly higher rates of 30-day medical complications such as anemia (OR, 7.54), acute kidney injury (OR, 5.55), sepsis (OR, 4.97), myocardial infarction (OR, 3.36), respiratory failure (OR, 3.17), heart failure (OR, 2.56), pneumonia (OR, 2.46), and urinary tract infection (OR, 2.19). They also had higher rates of infection-related surgical complications within 90 days such as periprosthetic infection (OR, 3.36) and cellulitis/seroma (OR, 2.12) and more blood transfusions (OR, 2.59), which remained significantly elevated at 2 years after surgery. Conclusions: Patients requiring perioperative transfusions after surgery have higher rates of complications. Clinical Significance: Surgeons should preoperatively mitigate transfusion risk and preemptively counsel patients during admission and discharge. Further evidence is needed to determine whether perioperative transfusion is a marker of overall poor health or whether transfusion has an immunomodulatory effect that increases complication risk.
Coupling of Flavonoid Initiation Sites with Monolignols Studied by Density Functional Theory

Lignin recalcitrance presents a challenge for the development of a bioeconomy that employs lignocellulosic feedstocks. The efficiency of lignin deconstruction is improved by a reduction of molecula...
Torsional incomitance after asymmetrically adjusted Harada-Ito procedures for the simultaneous correction of vertical and torsional deviations in bilateral trochlear nerve palsy.

Abstract Background Adjustable bilateral Harada-Ito procedures have been described, sometimes with asymmetric adjustment used to correct vertical misalignment when coexisting with torsional strabismus. We investigated the causes of significant postoperative torsional incomitance noted in some patients undergoing these procedures. Methods The medical records of patients who underwent bilateral Harada-Ito procedures for bilateral trochlear nerve palsy between 1980 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases with simultaneous operation on any other oblique or vertical rectus muscle were excluded. Surgical results, especially using Lancaster red-green (Lan R-G) plots, were correlated with the procedures performed. Results A total of 17 patients were included. At their last follow-up visit (mean, 12 months after surgery), 9 were diplopia free. Of the 8 with continuing diplopia, 2 had undercorrection and 1 had Brown syndrome. In 5 patients with continuing diplopia, there was relative intorsion of the eye movement paths in upgaze and relative extorsion of these paths in downgaze, a type of torsional incomitance. Asymmetric adjustment with tightening of one superior oblique tendon, and often loosening of the contralateral superior oblique tendon, had been performed in those 5 cases. Only 1 of the successful cases had the same type of asymmetric adjustment. There was a positive association between the severity of the preoperative Lan R-G pattern and postoperative diplopia. Conclusions Asymmetric adjustment of bilateral Harada-Ito procedures when attempting to correct the coexisting vertical misalignment can cause significant torsional incomitance with incomplete correction of extorsion in downgaze and intorsion in upgaze. This pattern may result in postoperative diplopia that is surgically challenging to correct.
Genetic mapping with polymorphic sequence-tagged sites.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on genetic mapping with polymorphic sequence-tagged sites (STSs), and its advantages. This mapping method offers a number of advantages over standard procedures. (1) It is rapid and requires only a single interstrain cross rather than a succession of crosses involving many different strains and requiring an elapsed time of several weeks. (2) STSs behave as dominant markers, permitting efficient and sensitive mapping strategies. In contrast, most conventional mapping in Caenorhabditis elegans uses recessive visible markers and less efficient strategies to detect linkage. (3) STSs can be scored in embryos. This permits efficient mapping of lethal mutations because the markers can be scored in lethal homozygotes that have arrested during embryonic development. (4) X-linked STS markers can be easily introduced into a mapping strain through males. In contrast, mapping on X with visible markers is often complicated by ineffective mating of hemizygous mutant males, and may require the construction of XX tra-l males. This mapping technique may permit new kinds of genetic analysis in C. elegans. One example is the mapping of multiple factors that contribute to quantitative traits.
New collective zero-resistance states in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures

Exponentially small resistance in crossed static magnetic and microwave fields occurs in ultrapure two dimensional electron gases (2DEG), while in less pure systems the magnetoresistance oscillates but is always positive. A non-perturbative theory of self-organization explains the new collective states in terms of open orbits. There are analogies to many other anomalous physical phenomena, as well as to scaling and evolutionary principles of biophysics.
Transforming growth factor β2 is negatively regulated by endogenous retinoic acid during early heart morphogenesis

Vitamin A-deficient (VAD) quail embryos lack the vitamin A-active form, retinoic acid (RA) and are characterized by a phenotype that includes a grossly abnormal cardiovascular system that can be rescued by RA. Here we report that the transforming growth factor, TGFβ2 is involved in RA-regulated cardiovascular development. In VAD embryos TGFβ2 mRNA and protein expression are greatly elevated. The expression of TGFβ receptor II is also elevated in VAD embryos but is normalized by treatment with TGFβ2-specific antisense oligonucleotides (AS). Administration of this AS or an antibody specific for TGFβ2 to VAD embryos normalizes posterior heart development and vascularization, while the administration of exogenous active TGFβ2 protein to normal quail embryos mimics the excessive TGFβ2 status of VAD embryos and induces VAD cardiovascular phenotype. In VAD embryos pSmad2/3 and pErk1 are not activated, while pErk2 and pcRaf are elevated and pSmad1/5/8 is diminished. We conclude that in the early avian embryo TGFβ2 has a major role in the retinoic acid-regulated posterior heart morphogenesis for which it does not use Smad2/3 pathways, but may use other signaling pathways. Importantly, we conclude that retinoic acid is a critical negative physiological regulator of the magnitude of TGFβ2 signals during vertebrate heart formation.
Preparation, properties and crystal structure of 1,2,5,6-tetrathiacyclooctane : The elusive mesocyclic bis-disulfide

Abstract The synthesis of the eight-membered ring containing two disulfides, 1,2,5,6-tetrathiacyclooctane, is described. It is characterized by x-ray crystallography as well as by mass, IR, Raman, 1H-NMR und UV spectroscopy
Can Eco-Systems be Subjects of Justice? No, but ... Schlosberg, Nussbaum & Structural Injustice

An emerging debate: David Schlosberg – in Defining Environmental Justice (2007) - and Martha Nussbaum – in Creating Capabilities (2011) - disagree about whether eco-systems can be subjects of justice. Schlosberg says “yes”, and Nussbaum says “no”. This debate first appeared in 2007 and 2008 when Schlosberg and Nussbaum were on panels together. Despite differences, there may be a way to make sense of both sides. In structural injustice, a system within a society bears poorly on individual subjects of justice, leading to widespread patterns of injustice. While an eco-system cannot be a subject of justice, it can be a site of justice – or of injustice. Could, additionally, an ecosystem be a site of structural injustice, where an unjust system rains injustice down on individuals deserving justice? Some of these individuals, following Nussbaum, can be non-humans. So could “injustice to an eco-system” be precisely re-described as turning the eco-system into, e.g., a cesspool of injustice?
ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE CORROSION OF CARBON STEEL IN OXALIC ACID CLEANING SOLUTIONS

The Savannah River Site (SRS) will disperse or dissolve precipitated metal oxides as part of radioactive waste tank closure operations. Previously SRS has utilized oxalic acid to accomplish this task. Since the waste tanks are constructed of carbon steel, a significant amount of corrosion may occur. Although the total amount of corrosion may be insignificant for a short contact time, a significant amount of hydrogen may be generated due to the corrosion reaction. Linear polarization resistance and anodic/cathodic polarization tests were performed to investigate the corrosion behavior during the process. The effect of process variables such as temperature, agitation, aeration, sample orientation, light as well as surface finish on the corrosion behavior were evaluated. The results of the tests provided insight into the corrosion mechanism for the iron-oxalic acid system.
Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) encapsulated poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel as a drug delivery system.

Purpose. The efficiency of encapsulation of water-soluble drugs in biodegradable polymer is often low and occasionally these microcapsules are associated with high burst effect. The primary objective of this study is to develop a novel microencapsulation technique with high efficiency of encapsulation and low burst effect. Method. Pentamidine was used as a model drug in this study. Pentamidine/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel was prepared by freeze-thaw technique. Pentamidine loaded hydrogel was later microencapsulated in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) using solvent evaporation technique. The microcapsules were evaluated for the efficiency of encapsulation, particle size, surface morphology, thermal characteristic, and drug release. Results. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies revealed that the microcapsules were porous. The microcapsules were uniform in size and shape with the median size of the microcapsules ranging between 27 and 94 μm. The samples containing 10% PLGA showed nearly three times increase in drug loading (18-53%) by increasing the hydrogel content from 0-6%. The overall drug release from the microencapsulated hydrogel, containing 3% and 6% PVA, respectively, was significantly lower than the control batches. Conclusions. The use of a crosslinked hydrogel such as PVA can significantly increase the drug loading of highly water-soluble drugs. In addition, incorporation of the PVA hydrogel significantly reduced the burst effect and overall dissolution of pentamidine.
Rat insulin II gene expression by extraplacental membranes. A non-pancreatic source for fetal insulin.

Abstract Using cDNA cloning, ribonuclease protection, and Northern hybridization analysis, we showed that insulin gene expression occurs in yolk sac-derived fetal extraplacental membranes throughout the last half of rat fetal development. The mRNA product of the ancestral rat insulin II but not the duplicated rat insulin I gene was present in high copy number, and its abundance was regulated during development. Insulin mRNA was present in extraplacental membranes before pancreatic differentiation; membrane insulin mRNA content greatly exceeded that in pancreas until the last 2 days of gestation when content in each tissue became similar. Polyadenylation and intron splicing occurred at the same sites used in pancreas, but initiation of transcription occurred at multiple sites in membranes. Minces of membranes maintained in culture produced approximately 10 ng of radioimmunoassayable insulin/mg membrane protein/day. Over a 4-day period, approximately 50 times more insulin accumulated in medium than that present in membranes at the time of isolation. These studies indicate that yolk sac is a source for insulin during fetal development and that the mechanisms regulating insulin gene expression in this tissue differ from those in pancreatic beta cells.
Relative Impact of Smoking and Reduced Pulmonary Function on Peptic Ulcer Risk

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine whether reduced pulmonary function is an independent risk factor for peptic ulcer. Among 5933 Japanese men studied in Hawaii, 243 developed gastric ulcers and 99 developed duodenal ulcers 20 yr after an examination completed in 1968. The examination included measurement of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and a detailed smoking history. The percent predicted forced expiratory volume was significantly and inversely related to ulcer incidence, but not after adjustment for smoking or among those who had never smoked. Cigarettes were associated with increased ulcer risk in both stomach and duodenum but showed a dose-response in pack years only for gastric ulcer. We conclude that the association of reduced pulmonary function with peptic ulcer in the Japanese in Hawaii is largely attributable to smoking and that smoking is more strongly related to gastric than duodenal ulcer. The especially strong link between cigarettes and gastric ulcer suggests that decreased smoking or synchronous decrease in cigarette tar content may have contributed to the recent unexplained decrease in male gastric ulcer.
Individualism within conformity A brief history of Waz’dārī in Delhi and Lucknow

Islamicate societies produced an abundance of texts laying down Adab or rules for correct/ideal behaviour in professional and personal life. That literature, avidly read and invoked in South Asia too, gives one an impression that conformity must have been the rule. One must then ask: were there any efforts to not conform, and be more individualistic? And if there were, how did the society at large respond? This article traces a brief history of one form of acceptable individualism called waz’dari, which was for a while in the nineteenth century a notable feature of the Islamicate elite society at Delhi and Lucknow, and is still considered a cherished value by many. From it we learn that minor breaches in the observance of normative protocols were not only considered acceptable but were in fact admired if they were committed with elaborate consistency, instead of randomly or at whim. In other words, ‘consistency in non-conformity’ was also a cherished value for the civilised men of Delhi and Lucknow, thoug...
The Long Horizon: The Shared Value of Museums

Probably as far back as we humans go, we have been dependent on cultural continuity. Essential parts of culture exist on multiple levels: individual, family, community, region, nation, and so on. It’s the sharing of critical elements across these levels that maintains a working society. The value of a geographical or physical space for culture-keeping lies in those shared values, for which museums provide a living matrix.
Initial resuscitation with plasma and other blood components reduced bleeding compared to hetastarch in anesthetized swine with uncontrolled splenic hemorrhage

Background Damage control resuscitation recommends use of more plasma and less crystalloid as initial resuscitation in treating hemorrhage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate resuscitation with either blood components or conventional fluids on coagulation and blood loss. Study design and methods Isofluorane-anesthetized, instrumented pigs (eight per group) underwent controlled hemorrhage of 24 mL/kg, 20-minute shock period, splenic injury with 15-minute initial bleeding, and hypotensive fluid resuscitation. Lactated Ringer's (LR) was infused at 45 mL/kg while hetastarch (high-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch 6%, Hextend, Hospira, Inc., Lake Forest, IL) and blood component (fresh-frozen plasma [FFP], 1:1 FFP:[red blood cells] RBCs, 1:4 FFP : RBCs, and fresh whole blood [FWB]) were infused at 15 mL/kg. Postresuscitation blood loss (PRBL), hemodynamics, coagulation, hematocrit, and oxygen metabolism were measured postinjury for 5 hours. Results Resuscitation with any blood component reduced PRBL of 52% to 70% compared to Hextend, with FFP resulting in the lowest PRBL. PRBL with LR (11.5 ± 3.0 mL/kg) was not significantly different from Hextend (17.9 ± 2.5 mL/kg) or blood components (range, 5.5 ± 1.5 to 8.6 ± 2.6 mL/kg). The volume expansion effect of LR was transient. All fluids produced similar changes in hemodynamics, oxygen delivery, and demand despite the oxygen-carrying capacity of RBC-containing fluids. Compared with other fluids, Hextend produced greater hemodilution and reduced coagulation measures, which could be caused by an indirect dilutional effect or a direct hypocoagulable effect. Conclusions These data suggest that blood products as initial resuscitation fluids reduced PRBL from a noncompressible injury compared to Hextend, preserved coagulation, and provided sustained volume expansion. There were no differences on PRBL among RBCs-to-FFP, FWB, or FFP in this nonmassive transfusion model.
Characterization of Highly Stable Mid-IR, GaSb-Based Laser Diodes

Highly stable, room-temperature mid-IR, GaSb-based laser diodes have been characterized at various temperatures and driver currents. Up to 54 mW of output power was demonstrated in a 3150-3180-nm wavelength range with <20-nm FWHM spectral width.
A micromethod for the measurement of estrogen receptors using high pressure liquid chromatography

Adequate sample size has been one of the difficulties encountered in routine determination of estrogen receptors in prostatic disease. The recent commercial availability of protein analysis columns for use with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipment has made the achievement of a considerable reduction in sample size feasible. We present a method for determination of ER which includes the use of 16 alpha-125-iodo-estradiol ( [125I]-E2) of 1600 Ci/mmol specific activity, the use of G-25 column chromatography, followed by fractionation by HPLC and finally relation of the fmol specifically bound to mg protein measured in the HPLC peak. Data obtained upon determination of ER in the immature rat uterine model system are given to show consistent recoveries, ligand specificity, saturability, inhibition, and commonly accepted KD and n values for this system. Also, in a pilot study on 13 samples from human prostatectomies, the utility of the HPLC technique for ER measurement in that tissue using single point analysis is demonstrated. For comparison, all receptor determinations reported were also made using conventional methods.
A study of individuals' ethical beliefs and perceptions of electronic mail privacy

While electronic mail has enjoyed rapid growth in the workplace, many companies have failed to establish clear expectations among employees about their e-mail privacy rights. This has resulted in controversy and even lawsuits against employers where employees later learned that management personnel monitored or read their electronic communications. It has been speculated that most employees underestimate the legal right of their employer to engage in e-mail monitoring activities. However, this issue has been virtually unexplored from a research perspective. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to assess individuals' ethical beliefs and perceptions about electronic mail privacy. This study of more than 200 e-mail users reveals that there is significant resistance to e-mail monitoring, and that many individuals have a relatively poor understanding of their e-mail privacy rights. The results also suggest that companies need to develop and communicate a policy to employees that addresses this issue. Finally, this study suggests several possibilities for further research. Building a greater body of knowledge of this domain should assist business leaders and lawmakers as they work to formulate an effective response to this workplace challenge that will equitably balance the rights of employees and employers.
The Bahadur representation for sample quantiles under weak dependence

Abstract In this paper, we give a Bahadur representation of sample quantiles based on strongly mixing random variables under polynomially decaying rate. Our results extend Theorems 1 and 2 of Yoshihara [1995. The Bahadur representation of sample quantile for sequences of strongly mixing random variables. Statist. Probab. Lett. 24, 299–304].
Locking in on the human methylome

Two groups have combined padlock probes and massively parallel sequencing to characterize cytosine methylation in targeted regions of the human genome.
The Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Gene Is a Key Modulator of Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling and Inflammation

Pulmonary vascular remodeling and inflammation often coexist in clinical and experimentally induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In some instances, the pulmonary hypertension may be the primary, or at least the initial, problem, while inflammatory or autoimmune responses appear to initiate or dominate the picture in other cases. Based on studies in a model of PAH resulting from targeted deletion of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene, we propose that, at least in this experimental model, but possibly also in other situations, both vascular remodeling and inflammation may be mediated by one and the same mechanism: uncontrolled activation of calcineurin-NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) signaling. If this hypothesis is validated, VIP would emerge as an endogenous modulator of pulmonary vascular remodeling and inflammation, through its suppression of NFAT activation.
Management of nausea and vomiting in children

When children experience nausea and vomiting (N/V) as side effects of anesthesia or chemotherapy, a major role for nurses is to promote comfort. In addition to the discomfort of N/V in children, other detrimental effects include dehydration, weight loss, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and emotional distress. This article describes the physiological pathways through which the vomiting center is stimulated to cause nausea and vomiting and identifies appropriate interventions for blocking these pathways using both pharmacological and nonpharmacological means. Medications used to control nausea and vomiting, including phenothiazines, substituted benzamide, corticosteroids, benzodiazepines, antihistamines, and serotonin antagonists, are discussed. Nonpharmacological interventions that are described include reducing anxiety, music therapy, hypnosis, progressive muscle relaxation, dietary modifications, and acupressure.
Early Intervention Strategies to Lower Cardiovascular Risk in Early Nephropathy: Focus on Dyslipidemia

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high cardiovascular risk and we can consider them to have a risk equivalent to coronary heart disease, putting them into the high-risk category. A mixed dyslipidemia with high triglyceride levels; low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels; and small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles is a common pattern in patients with CKD, contributing to their high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. A treatment strategy to reduce LDL cholesterol to the current high-risk category goals reduces risk similar to patients without CKD. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting non-HDL cholesterol can have the potential to bring about further CVD risk reduction. Non-HDL cholesterol should be a secondary target for all patients with CKD. Further studies are needed to determine the magnitude of the risk reduction we can expect to gain by targeting non-HDL cholesterol and the most effective way to treat this target.
The Effects of Climate and Personal Influences on Individual Behavior and Attitudes in Organizations

Abstract This study investigated the relative, combined, and interactive effects of organizational climates and personal orientations on individuals′ attitudes and behaviors in organizations. It was proposed that congruence between organizational climates and individuals′ personal orientations would lead to higher satisfaction, commitment, involvement in work, adjustment to work, and performance, and less stress, turnover intent, and absenteeism. Questionnaires assessing personal orientations and work outcomes were completed by 533 teachers from 29 secondary schools. Climate scores were assigned to these individuals based on the perceptions of their peers. Results of canonical correlational analyses and moderated regressions indicated that work responses could be explained by a joint, additive function of organizational climates and personal orientations. However, multiplicative climate–person interactions did not significantly explain variance in individuals′ behaviors and attitudes beyond that explained by the main effects of climate and personal orientations. Implications of these findings are discussed.
An end-game strategy for construction of the G-H-I rings of penitrem D, A tremorgenic indole alkaloid

Abstract A synthetic approach to the G-H-I ring system of penitrem D has been developed in a model study. To generate the requisite carbon framework, the Stork protocol was utilized for coupling of a scalemic metalloenamine with an epoxide derived from D-glyceraldehyde. Pyran ring formation was then effected via BF3·OEt2-promoted cyclization of a δ-hydroxy allylic acetate.
An information-pattern-based approach to novelty detection

In this paper, a new novelty detection approach based on the identification of sentence level information patterns is proposed. First, ''novelty'' is redefined based on the proposed information patterns, and several different types of information patterns are given corresponding to different types of users' information needs. Second, a thorough analysis of sentence level information patterns is elaborated using data from the TREC novelty tracks, including sentence lengths, named entities (NEs), and sentence level opinion patterns. Finally, a unified information-pattern-based approach to novelty detection (ip-BAND) is presented for both specific NE topics and more general topics. Experiments on novelty detection on data from the TREC 2002, 2003 and 2004 novelty tracks show that the proposed approach significantly improves the performance of novelty detection in terms of precision at top ranks. Future research directions are suggested.
The menstrual bleeding questionnaire: development and validation of a comprehensive patient-reported outcome instrument for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Objective To develop and validate a patient-reported outcome measure for women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Study design Prospective cohort and cross-sectional studies. Setting Outpatient women's health facility. Population Women aged between 18 and 55 years with and without self-reported HMB. Methods Using data from patients and clinicians, we developed a patient-reported outcome measure for HMB; the Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire (MBQ). Participants in the validation studies completed demographic and general health questionnaires and either (1) bleeding and quality of life data collected daily on handheld computers and the MBQ after 1 month or (2) the MBQ at enrolment only. A subset of women also completed the Short-form-36 (SF-36) generic quality of life questionnaire. We performed psychometric analyses of the MBQ to assess its internal consistency as well as its content and concurrent validity and ability to discriminate between women with and without HMB. Main outcome measures Psychometric properties of the questionnaire. Results Overall, 182 women participated in the MBQ validation studies. We found that the MBQ domains were internally consistent (Cronbach's α = 0.87-0.94). There was excellent correlation between daily bleeding-related symptom data and the MBQ completed at 1 month (ρ > 0.7 for all domains). We found low to moderate correlation between the MBQ scores and SF-36 scores (ρ = -0.15 to -0.45). The MBQ clearly discriminated between women with and without HMB (mean MBQ score = 10.6 versus 30.8, P Conclusions The MBQ is a valid patient-reported outcome measure for HMB that has the potential to improve the evaluation of women with self-reported HMB in research and clinical practice.
Far-field modeling of Moiré interferometry using scalar diffraction theory

Abstract A far-field model of Moire Interferometer (MI) using the mode decomposition method is proposed using the analytical formulation of the scalar diffraction theory. The wave propagation within the defined MI far-field domain is solved analytically for a single frequency surface relieved grating structure, following the Rayleigh−Sommerfeld formulation under the paraxial approximation. It is shown that the electrical field solution of the single frequency grating structure follows the linear relationship in the spatial frequency domain. Furthermore, we show that the far-field electrical field and the intensity interferogram can be calculated using the mode deposition method. A series of MI interferograms is obtained from the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) deformation field using chirp-z transform and inverse chirp-z transform. By performing strain extraction using Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT), the simulated interferograms are validated and matched against the FEA deformation field. It is concluded that the proposed far-field modeling of MI is accurate and computationally efficient. The proposed method can help design high resolution and high sensitivity MI and interpret complex MI interferogram patterns.
The hydrodynamics of a bent cylinder in a viscoelastic fluid

Abstract The hydrodynamics of a bent cylinder specimen moving in a viscoelastic fluid and a Newtonian fluid has been studied experimentally by observing the falling motion of the specimen with different initial orientations. The effect of the end-to-end distance on the terminal velocity of the specimen was also investigated in both fluids. In the Newtonian fluid, no matter what the initial position or the bend angle of the specimen was, it always reoriented to the open-end-up position and kept this shape while it fell. In the viscoelastic fluid, however, the open-end-up specimen always fell down as it was, while open-end-down specimen did not always flip to the open-end-up position as in the Newtonian fluid, but, if the bend angle was smaller than a critical value, it fell down with open-end-down shape. The effect of the end-to-end distance on the specimen terminal velocity was found to be significantly different between the Newtonian and the viscoelastic fluid. These observations represent new experimental findings, unique to a viscoelastic fluid, and may be attributed to the existence of a polymer network in viscoelastic solutions created by high molecular-weight polymer chains.
Long range dispersal in checkerspot butterflies: Transplant experiments with Euphydryas gillettii

Transfers of eggs and larvae from montane Wyoming populations of Euphydryas gillettii south to locations in the central Colorado mountains have resulted in the establishment of at least one Colorado population. This result shows that the previous absence of the species from Colorado was the result of its inability to cross the barrier of the Wyoming Basin, not the ecological unsuitability of Colorado habitats. This, in turn, supports the contention that Euphydryas do not easily disperse long distances.
Deranged bone mineral metabolism in chronic alcoholism

Abstract Chronic alcoholic subjects may suffer from osteopenia with either osteomalacia or osteoporosis as the main histologic finding. The reasons may be multifactorial, including nutrition, direct effects of alcohol on bone, and deranged liver function. Seventeen asymptomatic subjects with chronic alcoholism were studied. Serum PTH (carboxyl and midmolecule fragments), 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], 1–25 dihydroxyvitamin D [1–25(OH)2D], and ionized calcium were measured in each subject. In addition to these tests, we employed a sensitive technique of dual photon absorptiometry to measure vertebral bone density and a radioimmunoassay of serum bone gla protein (BGP) to estimate osteoblast function. Our results show that subjects suffering from chronic alcoholism had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D and higher ionized calcium, BGP, PTH (midmolecule) and 1,25(OH)2D while four patients had bone density values below the fracture threshold (0.96 g/cm2). These findings demonstrate that asymptomatic patients with chronic alcoholism have deranged bone mineral metabolism including abnormal BGP and some subjects may even have abnormal dual photon absorptiometry measurements. These particular subjects may be at risk in the future for developing osteopenia and consequent vertebral compression fractures.
Carbonate apron models: Alternatives to the submarine fan model for paleoenvironmental analysis and hydrocarbon exploration

Sediment gravity flow deposition along the deep-water flanks of carbonate platforms typically does not produce submarine fans. Rather, wedge-shaped carbonate aprons develop parallel to the adjacent shelf/slope break. The major difference between submarine fans and carbonate aprons is a point source with channelized sedimentation on fans, versus a line source with sheet-flow sedimentation on aprons. Two types of carbonate aprons may develop. Along relatively gentle (< 4°) platform-margin slopes, aprons form immediately adjacent to the shallow-water platform and are referred to as carbonate slope aprons. Along relatively steep (4–15°) platform margin slopes, redeposited limestones accumulate in a base-of-slope setting, by-passing an upper slope via a multitude of small submarine canyons, and are referred to as carbonate base-of-slope aprons. Both apron types are further subdivided into inner and outer facies belts. Inner apron sediments consist of thick, mud-supported conglomerates and megabreccias (Facies F) as well as thick, coarse-grained turbidites (Facies A) interbedded with subordinate amounts of fine-grained, peri-platform ooze (Facies G). Outer apron sediments consist of thinner, grain-supported conglomerates and turbidites (Facies A) as well as classical turbidites (Facies C) with recognizable Bouma divisions, interbedded with approximately equal proportions of peri-platform ooze (Facies G). Seaward, aprons grade laterally into basinal facies of thin, base-cut-out carbonate turbidites (Facies D) that are subordinate to peri-platform oozes (Facies G). Carbonate base-of-slope aprons grade shelfward into an upper slope facies of fine-grained peri-platform ooze (Facies G) cut by numerous small canyons that are filled with coarse debris, as well as intraformational truncation surfaces which result from submarine sliding. In contrast, slope aprons grade shelfward immediately into shoal-water, platform-margin facies without an intervening by-pass slope. The two carbonate apron models presented here offer alternatives to the submarine-fan model for paleoenvironmental analysis and hydrocarbon exploration for mass-transported carbonate facies.
The partitioning behavior of K-562 cells associated with different stages of culture growth.

Partitioning behavior of cells in dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous phase systems is a sensitive reflection of the cells' surface properties. A decrease in partition ratio, in charge-sensitive phases, of a variety of cell lines as a function of culture growth has been reported by a number of investigators. The basis for this phenomenon remains unclear. We have now studied the surface properties of K-562 cells (a human cell line originally derived from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis) during suspension culture growth by countercurrent distribution. The mean partition ratio of viable cells remained constant during 220 h of culture (i.e., well into stationary phase). The decrease in mean partition ratio of the cell population as a whole during culture, previously observed and reported by others, is attributed to the lower partition ratio of non-viable cells which increase with time of culture.
Postictal violence and epilepsy

Received April 8, 1997; revised July 8, 1997; accepted July 21, 1997. From the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles; and the Neurobehavior Unit, West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. Address reprint requests to Dr. Mendez, Neurobehavior Unit (691/116AF), West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073. E-mail: mmendez@UCLA.edu. Copyright 1998 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. The belief that epilepsy is linked with violence has existed since ancient times. This belief peaked in the 19th century when the criminologist Cesare Lombroso promoted the association of epilepsy with aggressive, sociopathic tendencies. Modern studies reject the notion that most persons with epilepsy are prone to violence; however, epidemiological studies reveal a greater occurrence of violence among those with seizures as compared with those without seizures. Most of this violence occurs during seizure-free periods and results from associated factors such as poor impulse control, cognitive impairments, or psychopathology. Although uncommon, violent acts may also result directly from seizures. Aggressive behaviors can occur as seizure prodrome, as ictal behaviors, as violent automatisms, or as part of the postictal confusional period. These violent acts are usually not well organized or specifically directed. Epileptic patients rarely have purposeful, organized violence as a direct manifestation of seizures or ictal discharges. I report the case of a rare patient with directed aggression as a postictal phenomenon and review the literature on epilepsy and violence. Case Report