cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of occupational noise exposure of workers in 2 foreign enterprises of Jiangyin City

[Objective]To analyze the status of noise hazards in foreign enterprises of Jiangyin City,and provide evidence for developing control measures so as to protect workers' hearing.[Methods]The noise intensity in workplace of investigated enterprises was tested. Pure tone audiometry test was performed on 1 202 noise exposed workers. The relationship between their hearing loss and noise intensity was analyzed statistically.[Results]The mean of noise intensity was( 89. 30 ± 4. 57) dB( A),86. 2% noise intensity among 109 noise monitoring sites exceeded national health standards,and 89. 9% workers worked there. The total detection rate of hearing loss in high frequency and language frequency was 20. 7%. Under the effective protection of protective measures,the main cause of hearing loss was the long-term exposure to high noise intensity. [Conclusion]Noise is one of the main occupational hazards in foreign enterprises. To strengthen Three Simultaneousness System and personal hearing protection measures,to improve workers' awareness of self-protection are main measures to prevent occupational noise hazards in foreign enterprises.
Effect of Haze Weather on Leakage Current of Insulators

Based on the measurement of haze equivalent tested through the capacitive current, the acquisition range of haze equivalent is determined for preventive monitoring. Considering the insulators are actual operation, the component characteristics of haze are simulated in artificial climate laboratory by leakage current monitoring device of insulator. The effects of haze on leakage current of insulators are analyzed based on three main features of haze. Through the accumulation of a large amount of test data, the haze flashover hazard warning threshold and leakage current monitoring hazard warning threshold are determined to revise the limit values of leakage current, which have the instruction significance to the construction of power transmission line.
Nonlinear Analysis in Counseling Research

Nonlinear effects are both underreported and underrepresented in counseling research. We provide a rationale for evaluating nonlinear effects and steps to evaluate nonlinear relationships in counseling research. Two heuristic examples are provided along with discussion of the results and advantages to evaluating nonlinear effects.
Human cannabinoid receptor CB2:Expression, functional and structural studies

T human cannabinoid receptor CB2 belongs to the class A of heptahelical G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and is an attractive target for the development of drugs for management of pain, inflammation, osteoporosis and treatment of immunological disorders. High resolution structural studies are critical to obtain insights into the molecular mechanisms of ligand binding and activation of CB2.We developedmethods for expression in milligram quantities, purification, reconstitution in lipid bilayers and stabilization of the functional recombinant CB2 as well as efficient stable isotope labeling of CB2 by high density fermentation were developed enabling NMR studies. NMR analysis of labeled receptor reconstituted in proteoliposomes in agonist or inverse-agonist-bound form will be reported.Monoclonal antibodies wereraised against the purified CB2 and the affinity of interaction with CB2 was determined by surface plasmon resonance.Finally, we demonstrate the specific effects of lipids with negatively charged head group in activation of CB2 reconstituted in proteoliposomes as measured by an in vitro G protein activation which may have important physiological significance as manifested in natural membranes of various lipid compositions.
EGOMiner: a comprehensive genomics and proteomics data analysis and biological function interpretation system

EGOMiner, stands for enhanced gene ontology mining system, is a CORBA based tool developed for genomic and proteomic data analysis. One key function of EGOMiner is to provide biological data interpretation based on gene ontology with quantitative and statistical analysis and visualization by direct acyclic graph. Cross comparison of multiple experimental studies is supported. The other function is quality analysis of microarray chip images. The input is raw chip data and output is visualization of the data quality of the chip image. This is system significantly improves the GoMiner system that was designed and developed by the authors.
The Proof Is in the Pizza

Symmetry, circumcircles, and angles of intercepted chords are some of the ingredients, as mathematicians give dissection proofs of the pizza theorem to show that they can get their fair share, even...
Working to Make the Hospital Smarter

Imagine in the not too distant future, you are rounding on a child who was admitted with gastroenteritis. You want to know whether he is ready for discharge, so you ask your hospital for an update: Hospitalist, talking aloud : “Hospital computer, when was Johnny’s last bowel movement?” Overhead voice: “Patient Jonathan Smith had a bowel movement at 0538. It was yellow and seedy in appearance. He had 5 bowel movements in the last 24 hours, decreased from 10 the day prior. Would you like other vital information?” Hospitalist : “No, thank you, hospital computer.” Although this scenario may seem straight out of an episode of Star Trek, is it really that far off? Everywhere we look these days, smart technology has infiltrated our lives. From Siri reminding me I am on call, or wearables that track our every biologic function, it seems you cannot make a move without generating measurable data. But what about hospitals? Why am I still faxing discharge summaries while my friends in the tech sector make fun of me for using the word fax? Why have our work environments not kept pace with the rest of the world? When I started working after my pediatric hospital medicine fellowship, the first quality improvement project assigned to me was to lead a group to improve hand hygiene on the wards. Over time, as our efforts evolved, a unique opportunity came my way. I learned that scientists at our university working in the field of artificial intelligence were interested in partnering with us. Initially, the only way we monitored compliance was with physical audit cards done by hand, mainly by nursing staff. Consequently, we had little data on every other role. How could we recreate a fly on the wall to monitor compliance in real time, all the …
IMPACT OF PRESENT-ORIENTED SAVORING ON OLDER ADULTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

AbstractSavoring is the use of positive emotion regulation strategies to increase awareness, enjoyment, and appreciation of positive experiences. Savoring can encompass past (positive reminiscence), present (savoring the moment), or future (positive anticipation) positive experiences. According to socioemotional selectivity theory, older adults tend to prioritize emotional goals in the present moment. The current study examined whether the ability to savor the moment may be more strongly associated with measures of well-being in older adults compared to the ability to savor past or future experiences. Participants (n = 266, mean age = 73.4 years, 81% female, 74% White) completed a survey that measured past-, present-, and future-oriented savoring ability, happiness, depression, and resilience. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with past, present, and future savoring ability predicting psychological well-being (i.e., happiness, depression, or resilience). Higher levels of present-oriented savoring were significantly related to greater happiness, lower depression, and higher resilience, = .65, β = .57, < .001, = -.23, β = -.45, < .001, and = .51, β = .43, < .001, respectively. Past- and future-oriented savoring were not significant predictors after accounting for present-oriented savoring. These findings suggest that the ability to savor the moment contributes to greater psychological well-being in older adults. Interventions designed to enhance older adults’ savoring the moment may be more beneficial for enhancing psychological well-being than interventions focused on positive reminiscence or positive anticipation.
'Why are we not doing more for them?': genocide prevention lessons from the Kindertransport.

Abstract Objectives Genocide remains one of the most widespread forms of preventable mortality and morbidity for children today. Despite the creation of multiple human rights treaties, genocide has not been eliminated and its effects disproportionally impact children. The Kindertransport was a series of rescue efforts that brought thousands of refugee children to the United Kingdom from Nazi Germany between 1938 and 1940. This qualitative study asks what public health professionals can learn from the prevention efforts of the Kindertransport by examining the experiences and reflections of individuals rescued as children. The specific aims of the study were (1) to analyze qualitatively the impact of the rescue on rescued children; (2) to evaluate the strengths and limitations of the Kindertransport as a prevention effort; and (3) to draw implications for contemporary public health responses to global genocide. Study design Qualitative research study. Methods In-depth interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide, were conducted with 27 survivors of the rescue. The data were thematically coded, and excerpts exported and interpreted in reflection of patterns and themes using Dedoose. Results Five inductive themes emerged from the data related to the broad spectrum of antisemitic persecution: the breakup of families; integration in the UK via the Kindertransport; the challenges of adapting to a new environment; and the implications for global rescue efforts. Conclusions The results suggest that the public health community should act to prevent genocide through rapid intervention and rescue; at the same time, the effects of persecution must be addressed and sustained social, emotional, and psychological support must be provided to those rescued.
Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the “Indies”: It Can Be Disastrous to Stubbornly Refuse to Recognize That You Have Falsified Your Own Hypothesis

Christopher Columbus fabricated a complete plan for his “enterprise of the Indies,” a voyage west from the Canary Islands to Japan, which was deeply flawed by a series of assumptions seriously underestimating the sailing distance. Remarkably, his projected distance to Japan corresponded closely to the distance he actually sailed to make his first landfall in San Salvador. In his series of four voyages of exploration, Columbus obsessively tried to prove that he had arrived in the East Indies rather than accommodating himself to his real achievement of discovering a new world. His failure to modify his initial hypothesis allowed the credit for his discoveries to be claimed for many years by Amerigo Vespucci.
Hidden Markov Model-Based Detection and Classification of Foreign Objects in Heat-Exchanger Tubes

In recent years, there has been significant interest in prognosis and health management of heat exchanger tubes in steam generators (SG) using eddy current (EC) non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. One of the recent challenges encountered in SG tube inspection is the presence of foreign objects lodged outside the tubes. Extreme vibrations cause these loose parts to rub against the tube wall and form wears on their outer surfaces which can be dangerous in the high pressure environment. Hence, there is a strong need for reliable automated signal analysis systems for early detection of foreign objects and prevention of harmful radioactive leaks at nuclear facilities. In this paper, a hidden Markov model (HMM) based classifier is proposed which can estimate the material of the foreign object from EC inspection signal. Unknown loose part material interferes with EC analysis results and lead to errors in signal processing parameters which in turn can degrade performance and reliability of automated detection systems. The proposed algorithm implements a continuous HMM classifier by using magnitude and phase based measurements obtained from the foreign object. Results of applying the algorithm on experimental data from SG tube inspection is presented, demonstrating its benefits in increasing the robustness and performance of automated signal analysis systems in detecting loose parts.
Assessment of CYGNSS Wind Speed Retrieval Uncertainty

Measurements of near surface wind speed made by the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation of GNSS-R satellites are evaluated and their uncertainty is assessed in two ways. A bottom-up assessment begins with a model for the error in engineering measurements and propagates that error through the wind speed retrieval algorithm analytically. A top-down assessment performs a statistical comparison between CYGNSS measurements and coincident “ground truth” measurements of wind speed. Results of the two approaches are compared. Overall performance, as determined by the top-down method, is decomposed using the bottom-up approach into its contributing sources of error. Overall root mean square (RMS) uncertainty in the CYGNSS retrievals is 1.4 m/s at wind speeds below 20 m/s. At higher wind speeds, an increase in the retrieval error is primarily caused by a decrease in the sensitivity of the ocean scattering cross section to changes in wind speed. In tropical cyclones, retrieval errors are compounded by unaccounted departures from a fully developed sea state. Overall RMS uncertainty in the CYGNSS retrievals is 17% at wind speeds above 20 m/s.
Quality of life among women diagnosed with breast Cancer: A randomized waitlist controlled trial of commercially available mobile app‐delivered mindfulness training

OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available mobile app-delivered mindfulness training (AMT), compared with waitlist control (WC), on quality of life (QOL) among women diagnosed with breast cancer. The secondary outcome was dispositional mindfulness. Enrollment, app utilization, and study completion are reported as feasibility objectives. METHODS Women diagnosed with breast cancer ≤5 years (n = 112) were randomized to AMT (n = 57) or WC (n = 55), over 8 weeks, with 4 weeks of follow-up. We conducted linear mixed effects models to examine group by observation interactions on QOL and dispositional mindfulness at baseline, during intervention (5-weeks), post-intervention (9-weeks), and follow-up (12-weeks post-baseline). RESULTS Participants assigned to AMT reported higher QOL, compared with those assigned to WC, from baseline through follow-up t(258.40) = 3.09, P < 0.01, 95% CI [2.71, 11.90]. Participants assigned to AMT also reported higher dispositional mindfulness, compared with those assigned to WC, from baseline through follow-up t(268.44) = 2.04, P = 0.04, 95% CI [0.01, 0.57]. App utilization data was obtained from 34 participants. Fewer participants assigned to AMT completed all study assessments, compared with participants assigned to WC, (χ21 = 7.07, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest commercially available AMT may proffer some benefit to women seeking to enhance their QOL following breast cancer diagnosis.
Posterior cricoid-graft mismatch in laryngotracheal reconstruction

Abstract Introduction/Objective In laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) with sutureless posterior cricoid grafting (PCG), the inset graft's thickness may not precisely approximate the anterior-posterior depth of the divided posterior cricoid plate. This case series highlights this phenomenon and describes the clinical profiles and airway characteristics of children with similar subglottic stenosis grades undergoing LTR with PCG with varying degrees of graft-cricoid mismatch. Methods This is a case series with retrospective chart review of children who underwent LTR with PCG by a single surgeon at a tertiary care urban children's hospital from 2008 to 2014. Results Twenty-one patients with twenty-two operations were identified. Varying degrees of graft-cricoid mismatch were present. Of the 22 operations, 15 were classified as grade I (flush), 5 grade II ( 3 mm). Median preoperative grade of stenosis was III in all groups. Mean one month granulation grade was 1.84, compared to 1.92 in grade I, 1.6 in grade II mismatch, 2 in grade III mismatch, and 1.7 in any mismatch (p = 0.65). Mean follow up was 24 months. Conclusion Graft-cricoid mismatch may occur at variable degrees during laryngotracheal reconstruction utilizing sutureless posterior cricoid grafting. Our preliminary data suggest several millimeters of graft-cricoid mismatch can be tolerated without significantly affecting postoperative granulation formation or adding to postoperative morbidity.
Atrioventricular and intraventricular block after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease in industrialized countries and the most common cause of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for intermediate to high-risk surgical candidates with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Conduction system abnormalities, including atrioventricular (AV) and intraventricular (IV) block, are the most common complication of TAVR. In this review, we aim to explore the anatomical issues relevant to atrioventricular block, the relevant clinical and procedural aspects, and the management and long-term implications of AV and IV block.
The role of complement in innate and adaptive immunity.

The complement system is an ancient element of innate immunity present at progressively more evolved forms in the blood or lymph of all vertebrates studied and in at least some invertebrate species (Nonaka 1998). It provides one of the best examples of an effective first line of host defense system. Complement can recognize conserved repetitive structural elements important for the survival of pathogens and therefore shared by large groups of them. Recognition leads to the activation of the system and elimination of the pathogens either by direct killing or by opsonophagocytosis and intracellular killing. In parallel, complement also provides signals to adaptive immunity instructing it to respond vigorously against pathogens (Carroll 1998; Fearon 1998). Furthermore, through its ability to discriminate between free and antigen-bound immunoglobulins, complement serves as an effector arm of adaptive humoral immunity leading to elimination of pathogens recognized by specific antibodies. Finally, complement appears to have a special relationship with natural antibodies depending on them for recognition of important pathogens and in turn providing signals for clonal selection and expansion of CD5+ B-1 cells that produce natural antibodies (Carroll and Prodeus 1998).
Ultrasonic Evaluation of Composite Fatigue Damage

Damage in composite materials has been detected using ultrasonic nondestructive techniques.1–5 These studies were all performed on thin composite samples subjected to either a quasi-static tensile force or a constant amplitude tensile fatigue load. Changes in basic ultrasonic parameters, attenuation or velocity, were used as an indicator of damage. Damage was detected once a sufficient amount was present. Attenuation was observed to be dependent on the frequency of the ultrasonic transducers that provides an indication of the dispersive nature of these materials.
Acquisition of procedural knowledge from domain experts

Procedural knowledge forms an important part of expertise. This paper describes a system which allows domain experts to themselves enter procedural Knowledge into a knowledge base. The system, a stylized form of scientific English embodied within the Unit System for knowledge acquisition and representation, has been used successfully within the domain of molecular biology.
Multilevel Regression Models

Throughout the discussion of regression models—both OLS and logistic—we have assumed a single sample of cases that represents a single sample frame. What happens if there are clusters of cases in our data? For example, it is common in community-based surveys to first select a set of neighborhoods from a larger population of neighborhoods. Then, within these neighborhoods, a sample of individuals is selected to respond to the survey questions. A second example may involve researchers collecting data from a survey of youth by first sampling schools and then administering the survey to students within the selected schools, which may be further complicated by selecting a limited number of classrooms within each school. A third example might involve an experiment with multiple treatment and control sites, but the statistical analysis only distinguishes treatment from control group, ignoring information about site. This kind of design, where there are different levels of sampling, has the potential to allow the researcher to look at the effects of the larger sampling unit (e.g., classroom, neighborhood, school, or research site) on individual responses or outcomes.
Recovery of UWB Radar Signals in Spectrally Restricted Environments

This paper presents a novel technique to recover the missing spectral information due to RF spectral restriction in ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. We address a critical problem in UWB radar imaging: radar transmission is prohibited in reserved frequency bands specified by local frequency management agencies. We model the problem in a compressed sensing setup where a time-sparse received radar signal at each aperture is collected in the incoherent frequency domain using a stepped-frequency implementation. Using electromagnetic (EM) finite-difference, time-domain (FDTD) data of various targets and clutter objects computed at all viewing aspect angles, we show that the proposed technique can successfully recover the relevant information on targets of interest even from a large percentage of missing frequency bands.
Esthetic Management of Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma Affecting a Dental Implant in the Esthetic Zone.

Introduction A size increase of the gingiva can be a manifestation of gingival disease. While gingival lesions can affect periodontal tissue, only few reports described the association between peripheral giant-cell granuloma (PGCG) with dental implants and their clinical management. Their clinical relevance is of a great interest since some lesions may lead to extensive bone resorption, esthetic alterations, or even tooth/implant loss. To the author's best knowledge, no specific guidelines for the treatment of PGCG affecting dental implant in the esthetic zone have been reported. The aim of this paper was to report an extensive PGCG associated with a dental implant in the esthetic area and its surgical management. Case presentation A 39-year-old suffered from concussive trauma on her anterior maxillary dentition leading to an expanded, purplish soft tissue lesion surrounding the implant provisional crown on right central maxillary incisor. After complete lesion excision, the implant neck was carefully and gently debrided. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of PGCG. The patient was then evaluated weekly for the first 3 weeks then monthly. No episodes of recurrence were identified. After 16 weeks of undisturbed healing, a soft tissue augmentation via tunnel technique was elected as the first treatment option to improve esthetics. Final implant restoration was delivered. Follow up at 22 months from biopsy excluded any recurrence of PGCG with stability of peri-implant soft tissues. Conclusion Excisional biopsy, careful removal of irritating factors, monitoring, and connective tissue grafting can esthetically improve a malpositioned implant and showed no recurrence over a period of 22 months.
Embedding a Wiki Platform Within a Traditional Survey: A Novel Approach to Assess Perceived Argument Strength in Communication Research

Several prominent theories predict that argument strength plays an important role in message processing and effects. Traditional strategies to measure perceived argument strength have limitations in responsivity to emerging arguments in public discourse. This article examines the utility of a survey-embedded wiki platform (wiki survey) to identify strong and weak arguments in dynamic information environments. Participants completed two wiki surveys, embedded within a larger survey of U.S. adults ( N = 1,506), asking them to choose between randomly selected pairs of arguments related to marijuana legalization or to add new arguments to the item pools. The method identified 32 novel, user-generated arguments, over and above an original set of 26 arguments identified by study authors through a review of the literature and a content analysis of news media coverage on the topic. The wiki survey also produced variation in perceived strength of arguments among relevant demographic and social groups.
Effect of Mutual Interactions on the Bit-Rate in Soliton Communication Systems

We discuss the influence of soliton interactions on information transmission. It is shown that the short-range mutual interaction of neighboring time slots can lead to non-Gaussian tails on the distribution function and a substantial increase in the bit error rate. The long-range interactions via the acoustic effect significantly increase the timing jitter of solitons in communication lines. We calculate the correlation in near-neighbor soliton time shifts due to the acoustic interaction and show that the acoustic effect can cause correlated errors that cannot be corrected using standard, simple error correction codes like the Hamming code. We argue that similar effects will appear in NRZ systems.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Structure, Dispute Settlement and Case Law

This paper combines three entries regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) prepared by the author for the Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law. These papers were initially published in the online edition in 2009, and in 2012 appeared in the hard copy bound volumes. The papers are presently updated through 2014. The first contribution describes the genesis of the NAFTA and the resulting treaty arrangement. The second contribution describes those various dispute settlement mechanisms.The third contribution summarizes and analyzes the decisions of the various dispute settlement mechanisms under the NAFTAThe North American Free Trade Agreement (‘NAFTA’) establishes a free trade area comprised of the territories of Canada, Mexico, and the US (‘the Parties’). The NAFTA entered into force on 1 January 1994. Negotiation of the NAFTA was initiated during the US presidency of George HW Bush at the suggestion of President Carlos Salinas of Mexico. This was during a period in which Mexico was undergoing a transition from State ownership to private ownership of key industries, as well as more generally opening the economy to imports and foreign investment. From the standpoint of the Mexican government, the NAFTA was an important element in a broader transition from a closed to an open market economy. The US had long sought to establish more favorable investment and trading terms with Mexico, and the proposal for a free trade agreement was consistent with expressed US interests. Two-way trade between Canada and the US far exceeded trade between Canada and Mexico, and the CUSFTA already promised to liberalize trade between Canada and its major trading partner. Nonetheless, Canada's participation in the negotiations allowed it to revisit some important subject matter and to otherwise remain engaged in a broader US plan for an eventual hemispheric Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).The NAFTA follows the customary ‘free trade area’ agreement model described in Art. XXIV, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1947 and 1994)). The NAFTA is structured to reduce or eliminate tariffs and quotas on trade in goods between the Parties. The NAFTA extends to liberalization of trade in services, as now covered by Art. V, General Agreement on Trade in Services (1994). In addition, the NAFTA provides for liberalization of restrictions on foreign direct investment (‘FDI’), and establishes protection against nationalization or expropriation. The NAFTA is thus broader in terms of regulating economic activity than the classical ‘free trade area’ agreement as described in the GATT 1947 and 1994.The NAFTA incorporates three distinct dispute settlement mechanisms within the main text of the agreement, and several additional mechanisms in its supplementary agreements.
The management of embedded metal fragment patients and the role of chelation Therapy: A workshop of the Department of Veterans Affairs—Walter Reed National Medical Center

Exposure to retained metal fragments from war-related injuries can result in increased systemic metal concentrations, thereby posing potential health risks to target organs far from the site of injury. Given the large number of veterans who have retained fragments and the lack of clear guidance on how to medically manage these individuals, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) convened a meeting of chelation experts and clinicians who care for embedded fragment patients to discuss current practices and provide medical management guidance. Based on this group's clinical expertise and review of published literature, the evidence presented suggests that, at least in the case of lead fragments, short-term chelation therapy may be beneficial for embedded fragment patients experiencing acute symptoms associated with metal toxicity; however, in the absence of clinical symptoms or significantly elevated blood lead concentrations (greater than 80 µg/dL), chelation therapy may offer little to no benefit for individuals with retained fragments and pose greater risks due to remobilization of metals stored in bone and other soft tissues. The combination of periodic biomonitoring to assess metal body burden, longitudinal fragment imaging, and selective fragment removal when metal concentrations approach critical injury thresholds offers a more conservative management approach to caring for patients with embedded fragments.
Mathematical Methods for Oscillations and Waves

Anchored in simple and familiar physics problems, the author provides a focused introduction to mathematical methods in a narrative driven and structured manner. Ordinary and partial differential equation solving, linear algebra, vector calculus, complex variables and numerical methods are all introduced and bear relevance to a wide range of physical problems. Expanded and novel applications of these methods highlight their utility in less familiar areas, and advertise those areas that will become more important as students continue. This highlights both the utility of each method in progressing with problems of increasing complexity while also allowing students to see how a simplified problem becomes 're-complexified'. Advanced topics include nonlinear partial differential equations, and relativistic and quantum mechanical variants of problems like the harmonic oscillator. Physics, mathematics and engineering students will find 300 problems treated in a sophisticated manner. The insights emerging from Franklin's treatment make it a valuable teaching resource.
Regime Threats and State Solutions: Bureaucratic Loyalty and Embeddedness in Kenya

The administrative state is a powerful tool because it can control the population and, in moments of crisis, help leaders put down popular threats to their rule. But a state does not act; bureaucrats work through the state to carry out a leader's demands. In turn, leaders attempt to use their authority over the state to manage bureaucrats in a way that induces bureaucratic behavior that furthers their policy and political goals. Focusing on Kenya since independence, Hassan weaves together micro-level personnel data, rich archival records, and interviews to show how the country's different leaders have strategically managed, and in effect weaponized, the public sector. This nuanced analysis shows how even states categorized as weak have proven capable of helping their leader stay in power. With engaging evidence and compelling theory, Regime Threats and State Solutions will interest political scientists and scholars studying authoritarian regimes, African politics, state bureaucracy, and political violence.
Time to Achievement of Clinically Significant Outcomes After Isolated Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy: A Multivariate Analysis.

Purpose To define the time required to achieve the minimally clinically important difference (MCID), substantial clinical benefit (SCB) and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) for isolated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM), and define preoperative and intraoperative factors that predict both early and late achievement of the stated metrics. Methods Patients who underwent isolated APM between 2014 and 2017 were retrospectively included. Patients without preoperative and 6-month patient-reported outcome measure scores, revision procedures, and significant concomitant procedures were excluded. The MCID, SCB, and PASS were calculated for knee-based patient-reported outcome measure scores using receiver operating curve analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis established the time required to achieve MCID, SCB and PASS. Hazard ratios from multivariate Cox regression allowed for the isolation of demographic and intraoperative factors predictive of the delayed time required to achieve MCID, SCB and PASS. Results A total of 126 patients (42.86% female, age: 48.9 ± 12.4 years) were included. Overall achievement rates ranged between 73.0% and 89.7% for MCID, 43.7% and 68.2% for SCB, and 50.8% and 68.3% for PASS. Median achievement time for MCID was 5.68-5.78 months, 5.73-6.05 months for SCB and 6.54-7.72 months for PASS. Multivariate Cox regression identified older age, workers’ compensation status, diabetes, and various tear types (i.e., longitudinal, transverse, bucket handle, complex) as predictors of early clinically significant outcome achievement (hazard ratio: 1.02-24.72), whereas subsequent steroid injection, higher preoperative scores and root and flap tears predicted delays in clinically significant outcome achievement (hazard ratio: 0.12-0.99). Conclusions The majority of patients undergoing APM achieve benefit within 6 months of surgery, with diminishing proportions at later timepoints. Important factors for consideration of the the timeline of achieving clinically significant outcome include age, diabetes, workers’ compensation, preoperative score, and tear type. The timeline for achieving improvement that was established by this study may aid in setting patient expectations and designing future outcome studies involving APM. Study design Level IV, Therapeutic Case Series.
NMR determination of Van Hove singularity and Lifshitz transitions in the nodal-line semimetal ZrSiTe

ZrSiTe is of great interest due to its nonsymmorphic symmetry-protected Dirac nodal line close to the Fermi energy. Here, the authors show that the nodal line behaves energetically as a quasi-two-dimensional feature using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. They furthermore identify a 2D Van Hove singularity, an unusual occurrence in a bulk material akin to the analogous feature in twisted bilayer graphene. These results drive a temperature-dependent Lifshitz transition, opening the prospect for engineering new electronic transformations with Fermi level tuning.
Exfoliated epithelial cell transcriptome reflects both small and large intestinal cell signatures in piglets

The transcriptome of exfoliated epithelial cells in stool contain gene signatures from both small and large intestinal mucosa affording a noninvasive approach to assess gut health and function.
Becoming Giuliana: Antonioni's Red Desert and the Capitalist Social Machine

This essay employs Deleuze and Guattari's analysis of the capitalist social machine to explore Michelangelo Antonioni's Red Desert (1964). More specifically, it addresses the psychological struggle...
Renal Effects of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs

America's population is aging, and there is a direct relationship between advancing age and sensitivity to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The number of the old old, those 85 years and older, will increase by 114% by the year 2000, and by another 44% in the subsequent 20 years.1 The largest absolute and relative increases are seen and will continue to be seen for unmarried women older than 85 years (women are more sensitive to ADRs than are men). Importantly, the population 95 years of age and older has increased by about twice the rate of the aggregate population 85 years and older. Activity limitations among community-living elderly rise precipitously with age, afflicting about 12% of those 65 to 74 years old but almost 46% of those 85 years and older.2 It has been estimated that approximately 4.6 million community-living elderly are limited in activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs, cognitive impairment),3 and that number may double, triple, or even quadruple in the next 50 years.
Quantifying Consolidation and Reordering in Natural Granular Media from Computed Tomography Images

Abstract : Packing of granular media is an extremely important determinant in reservoir rock evolution, sound speed propagation, fluid flow and sediment compressibility. X-ray microfocus computed tomography (XMCT) images with high-resolution were evaluated using a grain-based algorithm that quantifies discrete components and bulk properties of sedimentary systems at different states of compaction or at approximately minimum and maximum packing densities. Angularity of these sands ranges from rounded to subrounded to subangular. Network permeability compares reasonably well to measured values; grain aspect ratios and coordination number are reasonable for sands. The grain-based algorithm provides a robust and efficient capability.
A Guide to Parallel Computation and Some Cray-1 Experiences

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses parallel computation and some Cray-1 experiences. A slowdown in the rate of growth of computing power available from a single processor and a dramatic decrease in the hardware cost of executing an arithmetic operation have stimulated users and developers of large-scale computers to investigate the feasibility of parallel computation. The chapter discusses the principles of parallel processing and the experiences with the Cray-1 vector computer. It provides an account of taxonomy of parallel computers that contains existing parallel computers, as well as some under development. The chapter describes hardware modeling. Concerning complexity, a distinction is required between the algorithms suited for sequential processing and those suited for parallel processing. In sequential processing, the time required to process an algorithm is correlated with its complexity, whereas for parallel processing, the time required is to be determined by the number of parallel steps, that is, parallel complexity needed to implement a given algorithm. The chapter focuses on the problems that cannot be coded optimally in FORTRAN.
Does Drinking Reduce Stress

For centuries, people have used alcohol to relieve stress--that is, the interpretation of an event as signaling harm, loss, or threat. The organism usually responds to stress with a variety of behavioral, biological, and cognitive changes. Alcohol consumption can result in a stress-response dampening (SRD) effect, which can be assessed using various measures. Numerous individual differences and situational factors help determine the extent to which a person experiences SRD after consuming alcohol. Individual differences include a family history of alcoholism, personality traits, extent of self-consciousness, cognitive functioning, and gender. Situational factors influencing alcohol's SRD effect include distractions during a stressful situation and the timing of drinking and stress. The attention-allocation model and the appraisal disruption model have been advanced to explain the influence of those situational factors.
The quantitative Gleason score improves prostate cancer risk assessment.

Author(s): Reese, Adam C; Cowan, Janet E; Brajtbord, Jonathan S; Harris, Catherine R; Carroll, Peter R; Cooperberg, Matthew R | Abstract: BackgroundIn the current study, the authors propose the quantitative Gleason score (qGS), a modification of the current Gleason grading system for prostate cancer, based on the weighted average of Gleason patterns present in the pathology specimen. They hypothesize that the qGS can improve prostate cancer risk stratification and help prevent the overtreatment of patients with clinically indolent tumors.MethodsThe qGS was applied to patients in the University of California San Francisco urologic oncology database with tumors determined to have a GS of 7 on prostate biopsy or final pathology after radical prostatectomy (RP). Using multivariable logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analyses, the ability of qGS to predict pathological GS and the risk of disease recurrence after RP was assessed.ResultsA total of 225 men were included in the analysis of biopsy specimens and 618 men were included in the assessment of RP specimens. Compared with traditional Gleason scoring, the qGS improved concordance between biopsy and pathological GS on decision curve and ROC analyses (area under the curve ROC curve, 0.79 vs 0.71). On regression analysis, the qGS of biopsy specimens was found to be significantly associated with pathological grade after RP (hazard ratio [HR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.49-2.12) and the qGS of RP specimens was significantly associated with the risk of biochemical disease recurrence after RP (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.24).ConclusionsThe qGS, a simple modification of the current Gleason system, appears to improve the correlation between biopsy and pathological GS, as well as the prediction of biochemical disease recurrence after RP. This scoring system may allow more men to pursue active surveillance, thereby avoiding the morbidity of prostate cancer treatment modalities.
Electrophysiology of the gastric musculature

The sections in this article are: 1 Resting Membrane Potential 1.1 Contribution of Diffusion Potential 1.2 Contribution of Electrogenic Pumps 2 Excitable Events in Gastric Muscles 2.1 Gastric Slow Waves 2.2 Action Potentials 2.3 Electrical Arrhythmias 2.4 Electrical Events of Fundus 2.5 Electrical Activity of Muscularis Mucosa 2.6 Electrical Activity of Amphibian Stomach 3 Excitation-Contraction Coupling 3.1 Mechanical Threshold 3.2 Anatomical Variation of Voltage-Tension Relationship 3.3 Voltage Dependence of Ca2+ Channels 4 Electropharmacology of Endogenous Substances 4.1 Adrenergic Agonists 4.2 Cholinergic Agonists 4.3 Peptides 4.4 Prostaglandins 5 Propagation of Electrical Events 5.1 Cell-to-Cell Coupling 5.2 Passive Characteristics of Gastric Syncytium 5.3 Measurements of Conduction Velocity 5.4 Use of Conduction- Velocity Measurements to Determine Site of Slow-Wave Origin 5.5 Myogenic Regulation of Propagation 6 Models of Excitability and Propagation 6.1 Relaxation-Oscillator Models 6.2 Cable Models 7 Directions for Future Research
Structure, composition and morphogenesis of the cell wall of Chlamydomonas reinhardi: I. Ultrastructure and preliminary chemical analysis

Using improved fixation techniques we have reinvestigated the cell wall of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. A model derived from sectioned material is presented, showing seven main cell wall layers. Using wild-type cells and various cell wall mutants, it has been shown that the central wall layers house an elaborate strctured lattice which can be revealed by negative staining and surface replicas. SDS removes this lattice, which we show to contain several distinct glycoproteins, each of which contains hydroxyproline. A specialized area of cell wall surrounds the flagellar collar. The implications of this cell wall structure for the problems of self assembly in biological structures and its genetic control are discussed.
A Review of: “Amy Louise Wood, Lynching and Spectacle: Witnessing Racial Violence in America, 1890–1940.”

In 2000, a small gallery in New York City mounted an exhibit called Without Sanctuary, a disturbing and important collection of lynching photographs and postcards. Featuring images that had not cir...
Bioconjugates of intelligent polymers and recognition proteins for use in diagnostics and affinity separations.

Polymers that respond to small changes in environmental stimuli with large, sometimes discontinuous changes in their physical state or properties are often called “intelligent” or “smart” polymers. We have conjugated these polymers to different recognition proteins, including antibodies, protein A, streptavidin, and enzymes. These bioconjugates have been prepared by random polymer conjugation to lysine amino groups on the protein surface, and also by site-specific conjugation of the polymer to specific amino acid sites, such as cysteine sulfhydryl groups, that are genetically engineered into the known amino acid sequence of the protein. We have conjugated several different smart polymers to streptavidin, including temperature-, pH-, and light-sensitive polymers. The preparation of these conjugates and their many fascinating applications are reviewed here.
Comment on 'Novel Biodegradable Polyurethanes Reinforced With Green Nanofibers for Applications in Tissue Engineering. Synthesis and Characterization'

ue to the growing interest in green products and greenprocesses, many studies close with speedy conclusions onthe green nature of their research without substantialsupportingdata.Inthisletter,arecentpublicationisidentiﬁedandscientiﬁc questions about the greenness of the product are raised.Utilization of tools such as ‘12 Principles of Green Chemistry’ and‘iSUSTAIN
New anti-inflammatory treatment strategy in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Numerous reports have indicated that patients suffering from inflammatory diseases (e.g., arthritis) who take anti-inflammatory medication have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Thus, the first generation of anti-inflammatory cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, such as aspirin and indomethacin, have been tested as potential therapeutics in AD. Because the inhibition of COX-1 is also known to cause tissue damage in the gastrointestinal system from the resultant reduced cytoprotection, selective COX-2 inhibitors are being investigated and tested clinically as potentially better therapeutics for AD patients. However, such drugs may also trigger unwanted effects; for example, the COX-2 inhibitors, which reduce the production of one type of eicosanoids, the prostaglandins, may increase the production of other eicosanoids; i.e., the leukotriene B4 (LTB4), which is one of the most potent endogenous chemotactic/inflammatory factors. LTB4 production is initiated by the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). The expression of the 5-LOX gene is upregulated during neurodegeneration and with aging. In spite of the fact that 5-LOX and leukotrienes are major players in the inflammation cascade, their role in AD pathobiology/therapy has not been extensively investigated. We propose that the 5-LOX inflammatory cascade may take part in the process of aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases, and we point to the role of 5-LOX in neurodegeneration and discuss its relevance for anti-inflammatory therapy of AD.