cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Significance tests for the wavelet power and the wavelet power spectrum

Abstract. Significance tests usually address the issue how to distinguish statistically significant results from those due to pure randomness when only one sample of the population is studied. This issue is also important when the results obtained using the wavelet analysis are to be interpreted. Torrence and Compo (1998) is one of the earliest works that has systematically discussed this problem. Their results, however, were based on Monte Carlo simulations, and hence, failed to unveil many interesting and important properties of the wavelet analysis. In the present work, the sampling distributions of the wavelet power and power spectrum of a Gaussian White Noise (GWN) were derived in a rigorous statistical framework, through which the significance tests for these two fundamental quantities in the wavelet analysis were established. It was found that the results given by Torrence and Compo (1998) are numerically accurate when adjusted by a factor of the sampling period, while some of their statements require reassessment. More importantly, the sampling distribution of the wavelet power spectrum of a GWN was found to be highly dependent on the local covariance structure of the wavelets, a fact that makes the significance levels intimately related to the specific wavelet family. In addition to simulated signals, the significance tests developed in this work were demonstrated on an actual wave elevation time series observed from a buoy on Lake Michigan. In this simple application in geophysics, we showed how proper significance tests helped to sort out physically meaningful peaks from those created by random noise. The derivations in the present work can be readily extended to other wavelet-based quantities or analyses using other wavelet families.
Etiology of blindness in an urban community hospital setting.

Abstract Objective To determine the cause of monocular and binocular blindness in a predominately nonwhite urban community hospital setting. Design Retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study. Participants All 3562 unique subjects examined in the New and General Ophthalmology clinic at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas, from July 1 to September 30, 1998. Methods The EYEstation program by Datamedic was queried to conduct a detailed review of electronic medical records of the participants listed previously. Main outcome measures Blindness was defined as visual acuity ≤20/200 in at least one eye. Records of blind subjects were subjected to further review. Results Of the 3562 subjects examined, 321 (9.0%) were blind in one eye and 76 (2.1%) were blind in both eyes. Retinal disease was the leading cause of blindness (90 = 22.7%), with retinal vascular occlusions and retinal detachments accounting for more than half of retinal causes. Trauma (71 = 17.9%), diabetes (68 = 17.1%), and glaucoma (62 = 15.6%) were the next most frequent causes. Trauma was the leading cause of blindness among subjects less than 40 years old and among blind new subjects. The most common cause of blindness among the 40- to 59-year-old age group was diabetes, accounting for 26.1% of cases. Age-related macular degeneration accounted for only 1.3% (n = 5) of blindness. Conclusions Retinal diseases, especially retinal vascular occlusions and retinal detachments, are leading causes of blindness in this predominately nonwhite and uninsured subject population. Trauma is a significant cause of severe, unilateral vision loss, especially in the young and in newly presenting subjects. Diabetes was the leading cause of blindness among the 40- to 59-year-old population. Age-related macular degeneration plays a relatively minor role in the cause of blindness in the study population.
Dose-response to cytoskeletal-antigen specific immunoliposome therapy for preservation of myocardial viability and function in langendorff instrumented rat hearts.

Background: Treatment with Cytoskeketal-antigen Specific ImmunoLiposomes (CSIL) has resulted in the preservation of cell and organ viability and function. The current study investigates whether CSIL-intervention is dose-dependent in Langendorff instrumented adult rat hearts undergoing global ischemia. Method and Results: Rat hearts undergoing experimental global ischemic insult for 25 minutes were treated with CSIL, IgG-liposomes (IgG-L), plain-liposomes (PL) or placebo. Infarct sizes were assessed by histochemical staining method and quantitated by computer planimetry. Mean infarct size of CSIL treated globally ischemic rat hearts was about 5 times smaller than that of control hearts (P ≤ 0.02). Recovery to normal heart function was achieved with CSIL therapy at 1 mg antimyosin antibody dose, where as significant decreases in functional recovery were seen in hearts treated with 0.5 and 0.2 mg antimyosin antibody doses Dose-dependent preservation of cardiac function, and reduction in infarct sizes in CSIL...
Alterations in CSF-1 Receptor Expression and Protein Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Autonomous Mutants of a CSF-1 Dependent Macrophage Cell Line

AbstractOne approach to the problem of growth factor signal transduction is to identify alterations in growth factor-regulated events in mutants possessing an altered proliferative response. This approach was used in a study of the alterations in protein tyrosine phosphorylation in 22 independently-arising autonomous mutants of the CSF-1-dependent mouse macrophage cell line, BACl.2F5. Only 4 of the mutants produced CSF-1 and/or factors that were capable of down-regulating the CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R), suggesting that the majority were altered in the signal tranduction pathway for proliferation. All of the mutants possessed lower numbers (13-89%) of cell surface CSF-1Rs than wild type cells. With two possible exceptions, the phosphorylation of the anti-phosphotyrosine-reactive cell surface CSF-1 Rs from CSF-1 stimulated cells was directly proportional to cell surface CSF-I R number. In the absence of CSF-I, three of the 22 mutants exhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins that was not observed in wild ...
The effect of epidural analgesia on labour progress and mode of delivery

The use and method of intrapartum obstetric analgesia has remained controversial since the late 16th Century. In 1591, during the reign of James, VI, Eufame MacCalzean (a Scottish midwife) was the first to attempt pain relief during labour and childbirth. At that time, the provision of pain relief during labour was an unacceptable medical practice due mainly to religious and social objections. Because of these objections, and historical accounts that claimed the midwife had consulted with a witch during the delivery, both MacCalzean and the midwife were found guilty of witchcraft and subsequently executed.
A new North American record for Haliaspis nakaharai (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Diaspididae).

While searching for the prey of the newly described scale-feeding beetle Cybocephalus kathrynae T. R. Smith (Smith & Cave 2006) on the coastal sand dunes of Bahia Honda State Park, Monroe Co., Florida, we collected a diaspidid scale on seashore dropseed, Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth (Poaceae), in a habitat dominated by sea oats, Uniola paniculata L (Poaceae) (Fig. 1). The scale was identified as Haliaspis nakaharai Howell, which represents a new North American record for this species. Prior to this record, H. nakaharai had only been collected in Puerto Rico and Vieques Island on the same host plant species. Voucher specimens are deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, FL, and labeled as follows: USA: Florida, Monroe Co., Bahia Honda State Park, N24039'54"-W81015'21"; V-14-2005; Trevor Smith & R. D. Cave (E2005-2555-301).
What They Learned: Using Multimedia to Engage Undergraduates in Research

Today’s employers seek high levels of creativity, communication, and critical thinking, which are considered essential skills in the workplace. Engaging undergraduate students in critical thinking is especially challenging in introductory courses. The advent of YouTube, inexpensive video cameras, and easy-to-use video editors provides opportunities to increase students’ skill levels in these areas. In this article I explain the assignment of producing a public service announcement that integrates research, collaborative learning, and creativity into an introductory survey course; and I discuss the support necessary for students’ success. Their products demonstrate increased levels of media literacy, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
Insulin and the transport of sugars across cell membranes.

The material to be discussed here represents a departure from the usual investigations of active transport across cell membranes, in that it deals with organic molecules that are not ionized and are not normally present within the mammalian organism. The data obtained do bear on the subject of transport of glucose across cell membranes. The experiments derive from the postulate of Levine (1) that insulin acts in someway to facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane, particularly of striated muscle. Since it is not possible to use glucose itself in this type of experiment, Levine had recourse to monosaccharides which were not metabolized under his experimental conditions. He measured the disappearance from the blood stream of sugars injected intravenously into eviscerated nephrectomized dogs, and the effect of injected insulin on this rate of removal. From the equilibrium concentrations obtained, he calculated the apparent volume of distribution. In general, his findings were that in the absence of injected insulin, the volume of distribution was of the order of that represented by the extracellular phase. Those sugars which had the same stereochemical configuration about carbon atoms 1, 2, and 3 as had D-glucose became distributed into a volume equivalent to total body water in the animals injected with insulin, but insulin had no effect on the volume of distribution of sugars of different stereochemical configurations. The experiments which were carried out in this laboratory (2) were designed to determine which organs and tissues showed this insulin effect on transport of sugars. While some question may be raised about the validity of transferring the conclusions from non-metabolized sugars to the case of glucose, the data obtained do contribute to our knowledge of active transport. While they may not serve as proof that an active process is involved, they do rule out passive diffusion as the mechanism in most organs. On the other hand, in the case of liver, there is a strong presumption in favor of a passive process.
Optimal apodization design for medical ultrasound using constrained least squares part I: theory

Aperture weighting functions are critical design parameters in the development of ultrasound systems because beam characteristics affect the contrast and point resolution of the final output image. In previous work by our group, we developed a metric that quantifies a broadband imaging system's contrast resolution performance. We now use this metric to formulate a novel general ultrasound beamformer design method. In our algorithm, we use constrained least squares (CLS) techniques and a linear algebra formulation to describe the system point spread function (PSF) as a function of the aperture weightings. In one approach, we minimize the energy of the PSF outside a certain boundary and impose a linear constraint on the aperture weights. In a second approach, we minimize the energy of the PSF outside a certain boundary while imposing a quadratic constraint on the energy of the PSF inside the boundary. We present detailed analysis for an arbitrary ultrasound imaging system and discuss several possible applications of the CLS techniques, such as designing aperture weightings to maximize contrast resolution and improve the system depth of field
GraphTerm: A notebook-like graphical terminal interface for collaboration and inline data visualization

The notebook interface, which blends text and graphics, has been in use for a number of years in commercial mathematical software and is now finding more widespread usage in scientific Python with the availability browser- based front-ends like the Sage and IPython notebooks. This paper describes a new open-source Python project, GraphTerm, that takes a slightly different approach to blending text and graphics to create a notebook-like interface. Rather than operating at the application level, it works at the unix shell level by extending the command line interface to incorporate elements of the graphical user interface. The XTerm terminal escape sequences are augmented to allow any program to interactively display inline graphics (or other HTML content) simply by writing to standard output. GraphTerm is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the standard unix terminal, with additional features for multiplexing sessions and easy deployment in the cloud. The interface aims to be tablet-friendly, with features like click- able/tappable directory listings for navigating folders etc. The user can switch, as needed, between standard line-at-a-time shell mode and the notebook mode, where multiple lines of code are entered in cells, allowing for in-place editing and re-execution. Multiple users can share terminal sessions for collaborative computing. GraphTerm is implemented in Python, using the Tornado web framework for the server component and HTML+Javascript for the browser client. This paper discusses the architecture and capabilities of GraphTerm, and provides usage examples such as inline data visualization using matplotlib and the notebook mode.
Studying injustice in the macro and micro spheres: four generations of social psychological research

Building from Deutsch’s intellectual contribution to social justice, this chapter situates examples of recent justice scholarship within classical and contemporary theory and research. It takes the genealogy of academic mentorship and research seriously and positions four generations of justice scholarship in relationship to one another: Kurt Lewin’s work on the psychology of groups and social norms; Morton Deutsch’s work on conflict and justice; Susan Opotow’s work on the scope of justice and moral exclusion; and Sara I. McClelland’s work on evaluations of satisfaction in intimate relationships. Over the course of this chapter, we use justice concepts as a way to discuss how individuals are influenced by history, status, and power when they evaluate experiences of injustice in the private sphere.
Predictors of Locoregional Failure and Impact on Overall Survival in Patients With Resected Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose Resection of exocrine pancreatic cancer is necessary for cure, but locoregional and distant relapse is common. We evaluated our institutional experience to better understand risk factors for locoregional failure (LRF) and its impact on overall survival (OS). Methods and Materials We reviewed 1051 consecutive patients with nonmetastatic exocrine pancreatic cancer who underwent resection at our institution between March 1987 and January 2011. Among them, 458 had adequate follow-up and evaluation for study inclusion. All patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (n=80 [17.5%]) or chemoradiation therapy (n=378 [82.5%]). Chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy most frequently consisted of 6 cycles of gemcitabine and 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with concurrent 5-fluorouracil, respectively. Locoregional control (LRC) and OS were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazards regression models incorporating propensity score. Results Median patient age was 64.5 years (range: 29-88 years). Median follow-up for living patients was 84 months (range: 6-300 months). Extent of resection was R0 (83.8%) or R1 (16.2%). Overall crude incidence of LRF was 17% (n=79). The 5-year LRC for patients with and without radiation therapy was 80% and 68%, respectively ( P =.003; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-0.76). Multivariate analysis, incorporating propensity score, indicated radiation therapy ( P P =.02; HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.10-2.9) were associated with LRC. In addition, LRF was associated with worse OS ( P Conclusions In our analysis of 458 patients with resected pancreatic cancer, positive lymph node ratio of ≥0.2 and no adjuvant chemoradiation therapy were associated with increased LRF risk. LRF was associated with poor OS. Radiation therapy should be considered as adjuvant locoregional treatment following pancreatic cancer resection.
Implications of carbon monoxide bias for methane lifetime and atmospheric composition in chemistry climate models

Abstract. A low bias in carbon monoxide (CO) at northern high and mid-latitudes is a common feature of chemistry climate models (CCMs) that may indicate or contribute to a high bias in simulated OH and corresponding low bias in methane lifetime. We use simulations with CO tagged by source type to investigate the sensitivity of the CO bias to CO emissions, transport, global mean OH, and the hemispheric asymmetry of OH. We also investigate how each of these possible contributors to the CO bias affects the methane lifetime. We find that the use of specified meteorology alters the distribution of CO compared to a free-running CCM simulation, improving the comparison with surface observations in summer. Our results also show that reducing the hemispheric asymmetry of OH improves the agreement of simulated CO with observations. We use simulations with parameterized OH to quantify the impact of known model biases on simulated OH. Removing biases in ozone and water vapor as well as reducing Northern Hemisphere NOx does not remove the hemispheric asymmetry in OH, but it reduces global mean OH by 18 %, bringing the simulated methane lifetime into agreement with observation-based estimates.
Microstrategy, Incorporated (a)

This case examines the use of PIPEs (private investments in public equities) to finance a troubled business. See also the B case (UVA-F-1384).
R. H. Wilenski, Modern French Painters

(1940). R. H. Wilenski, Modern French Painters. The Art Bulletin: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 109-111.
A robust workflow for detecting azimuthal anisotropy

Summary The prestack analysis of amplitude variation with offset/angle (AVO/AVA) has been a useful hydrocarbon exploration tool for a number of years. As this technology matured, forward modeling became an important tool to understand the seismic response, to ensure acquisition parameters were adequate for its detection, and to calibrate and validate the data processing sequence and analysis tools. There has been significant recent interest in using azimuthal variations in seismic amplitudes to detect high productivity sweet spots related to in situ natural fractures. The role of forward modeling has not been as significant in azimuthal AVO as in conventional AVO. We describe a robust azimuthal processing analysis workflow based on a series of 1D and 3D elastic modeling exercises designed to validate the azimuthal processing flow and extracted azimuthal attributes. Our results indicate that forward modeling is necessary to understand the offset range that might exhibit an azimuthal amplitude variation and the magnitude of the variation, and its detectability in the presence of noise.
Increasing Energy Storage in Electrochemical Capacitors with Ionic Liquid Electrolytes and Nanostructured Carbon Electrodes

The potential pathways to increase the energy storage in electric double-layer (EDL) supercapacitors using room-temperature ionic liquid electrolytes and carbon-based nanostructured electrodes are explored by molecular dynamics simulations. A systematic comparison of capacitances obtained on nanoparticles of various shape and dimensions showed that when the electrode curvature and the length scale of the surface roughness are comparable to ion dimensions, a noticeable improvement in the capacitive storage is observed. The nanoconfinement of the electrolyte in conductive electrode pores further enhances the capacitance due to mismatch in ion–electrode surface interactions and strong electrostatic screening. We show that nanoporous structures made of arrays of conductive carbon chains represent a synergy of all three favorable factors (that is, high curvature, atomic scale roughness, and nanoconfinement) and can generate non-Faradic capacitance ranging from 260 to 350 F/g, which significantly exceeds the pe...
The Science of Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID): A Framework for Advancing Research Priorities in the Cerebrovascular Biology of Cognitive Decline

The World Health Organization reports that 47.5 million people are affected by dementia worldwide. With aging populations and 7.7 million new cases each year, the burden of illness due to dementia approaches crisis proportions. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the biology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading dementia diagnosis, the actual causes of dementia in affected individuals are unknown except for rare fully penetrant genetic forms. Evidence from epidemiology and pathology studies indicates that damage to the vascular system is associated with an increased risk of many types of dementia. Both Alzheimer's pathology and cerebrovascular disease increase with age. How AD affects small blood vessel function and how vascular dysfunction contributes to the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's are areas of intense research. The science of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) integrates diverse aspects of biology and incorporates the roles of multiple cell types that support the function of neural tissue. Because of the proven ability to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and hypertension with population benefits for heart and stroke outcomes, it is proposed that understanding and targeting the biological mechanisms of VCID can have a similarly positive impact on public health.
Text2Quit: an analysis of participant engagement in the mobile smoking cessation program

ABSTRACTBackground: Text2Quit, an interactive text-messaging program aimed at smoking cessation, has been shown to increase quit rates, but engagement has not been thoroughly explored. Understanding the program features associated with engagement and behavior change is integral for effective program design. Objectives: This study explored participants’ interaction with the Text2Quit text-messaging program and associations between engagement and smoking cessation. Methods: The study included the 262 participants who received the Text2Quit intervention. Self-reported engagement measures, primarily usage of Text2Quit keywords and survey responses, were collected through computer records of participant use. Demographic variables and self-reported smoking abstinence were recorded in surveys at baseline and 6-month assessment. Results: The majority of participants (73%) maintained their subscription during the 6-month intervention. On average, participants received 210.51 text messages, 23.75 emails, and logged...
Monitoring Results of Drinking Water of Rural Primary and Middle Schools in Baokang County of Hubei Province in 2009

[Objective] To understand the sanitary condition of drinking water of rural primary and middle schools in Baokang County of Hubei province,provide the scientific basis for decision-making by government and education departments.[Methods]According to the Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water(GB/T 5750-2006),58 water samples collected from rural primary and middle schools were tested.[Results]The unqualified items were mainly the bacteriological indexes,total hardness,turbidity and so on.There was significant difference in qualified rate of water quality between township central schools and village primary schools(P0.05).[Conclusion]The qualified rate of drinking water of rural primary and middle schools in Baokang County was low.The hidden danger existed in drinking water should be eliminated,so as to ensure the drinking water safety of rural students.
Relationship Dynamics and Partner Beliefs About Viral Suppression: A Longitudinal Study of Male Couples Living with HIV/AIDS (The Duo Project).

Accurate beliefs about partners’ viral suppression are important for HIV prevention and care. We fit multilevel mixed effects logistic regression models to examine associations between partners’ viral suppression beliefs and objective HIV RNA viral load tests, and whether relationship dynamics were associated with accurate viral suppression beliefs over time. Male couples (N = 266 couples) with at least one HIV-positive partner on antiretroviral therapy completed five assessments over 2 years. Half of the 407 HIV-positive partners were virally suppressed. Of the 40 % who had inaccurate viral load beliefs, 80 % assumed their partner was suppressed. The odds of having accurate viral load beliefs decreased over time (OR = 0.83; p = 0.042). Within-couple differences in dyadic adjustment (OR = 0.66; p < 0.01) and commitment (OR = 0.82; p = 0.022) were negatively associated with accurate viral load beliefs. Beliefs about a partner’s viral load may factor into sexual decision-making and social support. Couple-based approaches are warranted to improve knowledge of partners’ viral load.
Advances in Surgery of the Tip Intact Rim Cartilage Techniques and the Tip-Columella-Lip Esthetic Complex

There is no one technique best for all noses. The sensitive, versatile, and experienced cosmetic surgeon should select from his choices the combination of modalities best tailored to the needs of each patient. Among these modalities should be cartilaginous septal transfixion combined with the three techniques for changing the quantity and shape of the tip cartilages. The most important factor in choosing from the three tip techniques is the decision as to where the rotation points and major thrusts should be. Then come the choices as to tip width and infratip lobule length and the fine points of cartilage incision levels and directions and cartilage excisions or morselization. The decision to detach or not detach the septal strut below the cartilaginous septal transfixion incision is predicated mainly on tip-columella-lip esthetic complex requirements. Proper selection of these methods and attention to the tip-columella-lip esthetic complex should allow the surgeon to construct pleasing, relatively natural looking profiles with fewer radical hump removals and nostril base resections and with rare complications from nostril notching or collapse. No magic is involved in rhinoplasty; the surgeon's incision, removals, and additions, plus scar formation and contraction, produce the results.
A Historical Overview of Art and Music-Based Activities in Social Work with Groups: Nondeliberative Practice and Engaging Young People’s Strengths

ABSTRACTThis article provides a historical overview of the use of art and music-based activities in social work with groups. The authors review archival, empirical, and theoretical literature that explores the use and effectiveness of these activities in the recreation movement and group work practice from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, the Hull House settlement in Chicago from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, and in recent group practice in social work and related fields. Findings suggest that art and music-based activities encourage and facilitate nondeliberative practice and allow for important opportunities to engage young people’s strengths.
Normal Cellular Uptake of Thyroxine (T4) from Serum of Patients with Familial Dysalbuminemic Hyperthyroxinemia (FDH) or Elevated Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG): T4 Bound to Albumin is not Preferentially Transferred to Tissue

Only free thyroid hormone is thought to enter cells and be metabolically active while protein bound thyroid hormone, in equilibrium with the free fraction, remains in the intravascular compartment (1). Evidence that albumin-bound T4 preferentially enters hepatocytes (2) and that subjects with FDH have increased hepatic T4 delivery (3) have challenged this concept. We examined the in vitro cellular uptake of T4 by human hepatocytes, Hep G2 (4), from serum of subjects with FDH. Results were compared to those from sera matched to the FDH sera by total T4 concentrations and obtained from individuals with high TBG or thyrotoxicosis.
The Middle Ground: Indians, Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650-1815

List of abbreviations Introduction 1. Refugees: a world made of fragments 2. The middle ground 3. The fur trade 4. The alliance 5. Republicans and rebels 6. The clash of empires 7. Pontiac and the restoration of the middle ground 8. The British alliance 9. The contest of villagers 10. Confederacies 11. The politics of benevolence Epilogue Index.
Murder, Miscarriage, and Women’s Choice: Prudence in the Colorado Personhood Debate

This article analyzes texts circulated in the 2014 debate over Colorado’s Amendment 67, the so-called Personhood Amendment, to demonstrate that value claims within the abortion debate are subordinated in favor of discussing the potential legal and philosophical implications of granting fetuses personhood. Using prudence, Robert Hariman’s (1991) framework for understanding political action, as a theoretical lens, I argue the personhood debate offers scholars an opportunity to identify and evaluate competing value claims of and in relation to potential impacts of the amendment. Prudence offers a compelling area for political communication and rhetorical scholars to expand and develop in light of policy failures in the abortion debate, and other key areas.
Diagnosis and management of neuropathies associated with plasma cell dyscrasias.

Neuropathies associated with plasma cell dyscrasias are a major cause of morbidity for patients managed by medical oncologists. Because of similarities in clinical presentation and on nerve conduction studies, identifying the underlying disease leading to a paraproteinemic neuropathy can often be difficult. In addition, the degree of neurologic deficit does not strictly correlate with the extent of abnormalities on common clinical laboratory testing. Fortunately, with increasing understanding into the biologic mechanisms of underlying hematologic diseases, additional biomarkers have recently been developed, thus improving our diagnostic capacity. Neuropathies associated with plasma cells dyscrasias are seen with Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) particularly IgM subtype, followed by IgG and IgA MGUS, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, amyloid, Castleman's disease, and POEMS syndrome. The mechanisms of neuronal injury associated with plasma cell dyscrasia vary based on underlying diagnosis and include malignant infiltration, immune-mediated antibody deposition, or local compression of nerve roots. The polyneuropathies are frequently demyelinating, although axonal and mixed neuropathies can also be seen. As demonstrated by the cases included in this review, patients frequently present with symmetric sensory disturbance, followed by progressive motor weakness. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of diagnostic testing, patients are frequently examined late, often after receiving several ineffective therapies. The aim of this case-based review is to provide clinicians with insight on how to properly recognize these atypical neuropathies and send the appropriate diagnostic work, increasing the likelihood of accurately classify the patient's underlying hematologic disorder.
The Perks of Being a Lawmaker: Returns to Office as a Legislative Goal

Extant literature demonstrates that holding public office is financially lucrative. Yet little is known about which sitting legislators profit from office. Relying on original data of members of the Florida legislature, I estimate predictors of income growth among sitting legislators. I find that legislators whose vote share increases by 10 percentage points between elections report income growth of nearly $20,000. This finding is robust to estimation technique and model specification, indicating that electoral safety is tied to income growth. Lawmakers appointed to legislative posts with agenda‐setting power do not obtain additional income. These data demonstrate the market values of electorally dominant legislators.
4D nucleome Analysis Toolbox: analysis of Hi-C data with abnormal karyotype and time series capabilities

Motivation The availability of powerful analysis tools will further understanding of genome organization and its relationship to phenotype in dynamical settings. Results The 4D Nucleome Analysis Toolbox (NAT) is a user-friendly and powerful MATLAB toolbox for time series analysis of genome-wide chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data and gene expression (RNA-seq). NAT can load and normalize data, define topologically associating domains, analyse translocations, produce visualization, and study time course data. We provide examples that include time series data sets and karyotypically abnormal cell lines demonstrating the flexibility of NAT. Availability and implementation https://github.com/laseaman/4D_Nucleome_Analysis_Toolbox. Contact indikar@umich.edu.
Do juveniles help or hinder? Influence of juvenile offspring on maternal behavior and reproductive outcomes in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Abstract Compared to great apes, humans maintain a relatively rapid reproductive pace despite long periods of dependency. This seemingly contradictory set of traits is made possible by weaning offspring before nutritional independence and alloparents who help provide care. In traditional societies, this help may be provided to mothers in part by their juvenile offspring who carry, supervise, or provision younger siblings. In contrast to humans, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are nutritionally independent after weaning, yet juveniles continue to travel with their mother and younger sibling for an additional 4–5 years. This continued association could be costly to the mother if she continues to invest in weaned offspring. Alternately, while juvenile chimpanzees do not typically provision younger siblings, their presence and social interaction with infants may allow mothers to focus on other tasks. In this study, we investigate the costs and benefits to mothers of continued association with juveniles in wild chimpanzees. Using 26 years of long-term behavioral data we examined how maternal activity budgets varied based on the presence of a dependent juvenile offspring. We found that continued social interaction between mothers and juveniles does not influence the mother's time allocated to interacting with the younger infant, her feeding, resting, or travel time, or time socializing with other community members. Instead, mothers may benefit from the additional social interaction and/or relationship with their older offspring. Using 45 years of demographic data we found that those offspring who had an older sibling tended to be more likely to survive each year from birth to 8 years than those without an older sibling. Additionally, interbirth intervals were more likely to end when the female had an older offspring present. A mutually beneficial mother-juvenile dynamic in great apes provides insight into continued association between mothers and offspring after nutritional independence and the emergence of juvenile helping during hominin evolution.
3-D position sensitive CZT PET system: Current status

A cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) based small animal positron emission tomography (PET) system is under development at the Molecular Imaging Instrumentation Laboratory (MIIL) at Stanford University (Fig. 1) [1,2]. A goal for this system is to advance the ability to detect, visualize, and quantify low concentration of molecular probes. Key technologies of this work are: (1) CZT detector technology, instead of scintillation crystals, to achieve ultrahigh (≤ 1 mm3) resolution, 3-dimensional (3-D) event positioning and excellent energy resolution. (2) A novel edgeon arrangement of these semiconductor crystals in a four-sided panel geometry that facilitates an order of magnitude greater photon detection efficiency [3].
Simple models to predict grassland ecosystem C exchange and actual evapotranspiration using NDVI and environmental variables

Semiarid grasslands contribute significantly to net terrestrial carbon flux as plant productivity and heterotrophic respiration in these moisture-limited systems are correlated with metrics related to water availability (e.g., precipitation, Actual EvapoTranspiration or AET). These variables are also correlated with remotely sensed metrics such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We used measurements of growing season net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE), NDVI from eMODIS and AVHRR, precipitation, and volumetric soil water content (VSWC) from grazed pastures in the semiarid, shortgrass steppe to quantify the correlation of NEE with these driving variables. eMODIS NDVI explained 60 and 40% of the variability in daytime and nighttime NEE, respectively, on non-rain days; these correlations were reduced to 41 and 15%, respectively, on rain days. Daytime NEE was almost always negative (sink) on non-rain days but positive on most rain days. In contrast, nighttime NEE was always positive (source), across rain and non-rain days. A model based on eMODIS NDVI, VSWC, daytime vs. nighttime, and rain vs. non-rain days explained 48% of observed variability in NEE at a daily scale; this increased to 62% and 77%, respectively, at the weekly and monthly scales. eMODIS NDVI explained 50–52% of the variability in AET regardless of rain or non-rain days. A model based on eMODIS NDVI, VSWC, Potential EvapoTranspiration (or PET), and rain vs. non-rain days explained 70% of the observed variability in AET at a daily scale; this increased to 90 and 96%, respectively, at weekly and monthly scales. Models based on AVHRR NDVI showed similar patterns as those using eMODIS, but correlations with observations were lower. We conclude that remotely-sensed NDVI is a robust tool, when combined with VSWC and knowledge of rain events, for predicting NEE and AET across multiple temporal scales (day to season) in semiarid grasslands.
Prevalence and Correlates of Prescription Drug Misuse Among a Racially Diverse Sample of Young Sexual Minority Men

Abstract Purpose: Sexual minority men (SMM) are at greater risk than heterosexual men for misusing prescription psychotropic medications. However, community prevalence estimates of prescription drug misuse among young SMM are lacking. The current study described lifetime and past-6-month stimulant, painkiller, and depressant/tranquilizer misuse in a large, racially diverse sample of 967 SMM aged 16–29 in Chicago, Illinois, and investigated demographic and other substance use associations. Methods: Data came from the baseline visit of the RADAR longitudinal cohort study. Associations were examined using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Results: A quarter of the sample reported ever misusing any prescription drug, and 14.2% reported recent misuse. Lifetime class-specific misuse was 16.9% for stimulants, 11.0% for painkillers, and 11.4% for depressants/tranquilizers; recent misuse was 8.0%, 5.7%, and 6.2%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, Non-Hispanic black participants had lower odds...
Pregnancy Reclaimed: Art Therapy as Intervention for Depression and Anxiety

Depression and related mental health disorders are common during pregnancy and the postpartum. Despite cautions against the use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy, many physicians continue to use medication as a frontline treatment. A number of theories have been put forth in an attempt to explain mental health struggles during pregnancy, yet there is inconclusive evidence that hormones or other physiological changes during pregnancy precipitate this occurrence. Instead, it is theorized that sociocultural factors are at the root of female struggle during pregnancy and into the postpartum. Women find themselves in a culture that sexualizes, commodifies, and medicalizes pregnancy then capriciously and callously evaluates and criticizes the postpregnancy recovery. For these reasons, art therapy is perfectly positioned to support the depression and anxiety symptoms experienced by women during pregnancy. If women during pregnancy are allowed opportunities to use the expressive arts for wellness, it is anticipated that this means of coping will carry over to the period of the postpartum and beyond.
Perceptions and Beliefs Motivating Parental Discussions of Marijuana Use With Children.

Background Parents can influence their children's use of marijuana and other substances through targeted parent-child discussions. Little is known about what factors motivate parents' decisions to discuss marijuana use with their children. Purpose Guided by an elaborated prototype-willingness model, we tested hypotheses that: (a) parental perceived risk of harms and negative prototypes of youth who use marijuana positively predict worry about their child using marijuana; (b) higher perceived risk and worry predict higher intentions to discuss marijuana use with one's child; (c) negative prototypes and worry positively predict willingness to have discussions; and (d) higher intentions and willingness predicts having discussions. Method We administered a longitudinal survey to 499 American parents of youth ages 10 to 17 assessing risk perceptions, prototypes, worry, discussion intentions, and willingness. One month later, 409 participants completed another survey assessing whether they had discussed marijuana use with their child. Results At follow-up, 40% of participants reported having marijuana use discussions in the previous month. Structural-equation modeling revealed that perceived risks and negative prototypes positively predicted worry about their child using marijuana. Worry positively predicted intentions and willingness to discuss marijuana use with children. Worry mediated the relationship between perceived risks and intentions, but not the relationship between prototypes and willingness. Intentions positively predicted likelihood of marijuana use discussions, whereas willingness did not. Conclusions These findings support most predictions of the adapted model and identify cognitive and affective factors that could be targeted in health communications promoting parental discussions of marijuana use with children.
Total parenteral nutrition in critically ill and injured patients

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is common in critically ill and severely injured patients. Many factors are responsible for the development of malnutrition in critically ill and injured patients, including the hypercatabolic states associated with trauma, sepsis, often repeated surgical intervention, long periods of inability to take nutrition by mouth and many other factors. While oral or enteral nutrition is the preferable technique of provision nutrition support, often this is impossible, impractical or ill advised. To this end, the total parenteral nutrition (TPN), in clinical practice since 1968, as developed by Dr. Stanley J. Dudrick, has been an instrumental technique in providing all needed nutrient substrates and calories intravenously to all those patients who cannot eat, will not eat or should not eat. METHODS: Review of literature. RESULTS: TPN is efficacious in patients who are malnourished and unable to receive adequate oral or enteral nutrients in particular in short gut syndromes, severe gut dysfunction, mesenteric vascular insufficiency, prolonged bowel obstruction, high volume fistulas, sepsis with hemodynamic instability, and many other conditions. CONCLUSIONS: TPN can remain the primary technique of providing all nutrient substrates and caloric needs until the GI tract can safely and effectively be used.
Transonic Solutions for the Mach Reflection of Weak Shocks

We present numerical solutions of the steady and unsteady transonic small disturbance equations that describe the Mach reflection of weak shock waves. The solutions contain a complex structure consisting of a sequence of triple points and tiny supersonic patches directly behind the leading triple point, formed by the reflection of weak shocks and expansion waves between the sonic line and the Mach shock. The presence of an expansion fan at each triple point resolves the von Neumann paradox. The numerical results and theoretical considerations suggest that there may be an infinite sequence of triple points in an inviscid weak shock Mach reflection.
Commentary: Changing the Channel: Public Health Communication in the 21st Century

This commentary asserts the need for research examining the use and efficacy of social media as a tool for meeting public health stakeholders’ information needs. The author points to several potential research questions for the field, situates studies addressing these questions within the PHSSR Research Agenda, and introduces the work of Harris et al. that is included in this issue of Frontiers. The commentary closes with a call for horizontal stakeholder communication that supports evidence-based decision-making.
Creating a Patient Complaint Capture and Resolution Process to Incorporate Best Practices for Patient-Centered Representation

Background A growing body of evidence suggests that patient (including family) feedback can provide compelling opportunities for developing risk management and quality improvement strategies, as well as improving customer satisfaction. The Patient Representative Department (PRD) at Stanford Health Care (SHC) (Stanford, California) created a streamlined patient complaint capture and resolution process to improve the capture of patient complaints and grievances from multiple parts of the organization and manage them in a centralized database. Methods In March 2008 the PRD rolled out a data management system for tracking patient complaints and generating reports to SHC leadership, and SHC needed to modify and address its data input procedures. A reevaluation of the overall work flow showed it to be complex, with over-lapping and redundant steps, and to lack standard processes and actions. Best-practice changes were implemented: (1) leadership engagement, (2) increased capture of complaints, (3) centralized data and reporting, (4) improved average response times to patient grievances and complaints, and (5) improved service recovery. Standard work flows were created for each category of complaint linked to specific actions. Results Complaints captured increased from 20 to 270 per month. Links to a specific physician rose from 16%-36% to more than 80%. In addition, 68% of high-complaint physicians improved. With improved work flows, responses to patients expressing concerns met a requirement of less than seven days. Conclusions Standardized work flows for managing complaints and grievances, centralized data management and clear leadership accountability can improve responsiveness to patients, capture incidents more consistently, and meet regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Tending the flock: German Lutherans, reconstruction, and prisoners of war

This article examines how German pastors played a critical role in the rehabilitation of German prisoners of war (POWs) interned in Britain. The author focuses on a particular group of German Luthe...
Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition in Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen-Fuel Mixtures for Propulsion

Nitrous oxide (N2O) has gained popularity as a unique oxidizer for propulsion applications due to its ability to decompose exothermically, producing nitrogen and oxygen. In the current work, the fl...