cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bringing Back the State: The Role of Government in Civil Conflict

Intra-state Conflict, Governments and Security: Dilemmas of Deterrence and Assurance. Edited by Stephen M. Saideman, Marie-Joelle Zahar. London and New York: Routledge, 2008. 252 pp., $140 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-415-46050-7). Much of the current literature on civil conflicts assigns little agency to state governments. The most popular debate surrounding the onset of civil war, Greed versus Grievance, focuses almost exclusively on rebel motivations. Either rebels are spurred to violent action due to economic or cultural grievances such as income inequality (Besancon 2005), land inequality (Muller and Seligson 1987), demographic concerns (Urdal 2005), or discrimination based on cultural characteristics (Ellingsen 2000), or rebel leaders are motivated by the riches to be gained by capturing the state for avaricious purposes (Collier and Hoeffler 2004) or to finance the rebellion (Ross 2004; Regan and Norton 2005). Indeed, the most common explanation for the role of the state in facilitating civil conflict is state weakness (Fearon and Laitin 2003) or state failure (Bates 2008), statuses implying a lack of state action. Even Walter's (2006) study of the strategic use of information uses as motivation the rebels’ desire to learn what type of government they face before staging a rebellion, not why a government is resolved against or permissive in granting concessions in the first place. The literature on civil war duration, prosecution, and resolution similarly neglects the role of the state in favor of rebel motivations to extend or inability to conclude the war (Fearon 2004; Cunningham 2006), selectively or indiscriminately kill civilians (Kalyvas 2006; Weinstein 2007), or spoil the peace (Stedman 1997; Kydd and Walter 2002). Indeed, Cunningham's (2006) adoption of the popular veto player framework to explain civil war duration treats the government as a single veto …
The effectiveness of peer health coaching in improving glycemic control among low-income patients with diabetes: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Although self-management support improves diabetes outcomes, it is not consistently provided in health care settings strained for time and resources. One proposed solution to personnel and funding shortages is to utilize peer coaches, patients trained to provide diabetes education and support to other patients. Coaches share similar experiences about living with diabetes and are able to reach patients within and beyond the health care setting. Given the limited body of evidence that demonstrates peer coaching significantly improves chronic disease care, this present study examines the impact of peer coaching delivered in a primary care setting on diabetes outcomes. The aim of this multicenter, randomized control trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing peer coaches to improve clinical outcomes and self-management skills in low-income patients with poorly controlled diabetes. A total of 400 patients from six primary health centers based in San Francisco that serve primarily low-income populations will be randomized to receive peer coaching (n = 200) or usual care (n = 200) over 6 months. Patients in the peer coach group receive coaching from patients with diabetes who are trained and mentored as peer coaches. The primary outcome is change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes include change in: systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), LDL cholesterol, diabetes self-care activities, medication adherence, diabetes-related quality of life, diabetes self-efficacy, and depression. Clinical values (HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure) and self-reported diabetes self-efficacy and self-care activities are measured at baseline and after 6 months for patients and coaches. Peer coaches are also assessed at 12 months. Patients with diabetes, who are trained as peer health coaches, are uniquely poised to provide diabetes self management support and education to patients. This study is designed to investigate the impact of peer health coaching in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Additionally, we will assess disease outcomes in patients with well controlled diabetes who are trained and work as peer health coaches. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01040806
In Situ Analysis of the Defect Texture in Liquid Crystal Polymer Solutions under Shear

A combination of two in situ small-angle scattering techniques are employed to compare the texture and molecular order in flowing LCPs that exhibit constant viscosities (region II) and shear thinning (region I) at low shear rates. The microstructure is characterized by an overall molecular orientation S eff , a texture correlation length a c , and an aspect ratio a r . Results indicate that in region I the texture has a high density of defects and a low overall molecular order, with shear primarily acting to distort the texture. In region II the texture is distorted in the shear direction and the overall molecular orientation is higher, while the primary influence of shear is to refine texture size. The critical Ericksen stress balance is also tested experimentally.
Determination of methylamines and trimethylamine-N-oxide in particulate matter by non-suppressed ion chromatography.

Abstract An ion chromatography method with non-suppressed conductivity detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of methylamines (methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine) and trimethylamine- N -oxide in particulate matter air samples. The analytes were well separated by means of cation-exchange chromatography using a 3 mM nitric acid/3.5% acetonitrile (v/v) eluent solution and a Metrosep C 2 250 (250 mm × 4 mm i.d.) separation column. The effects of the different chromatographic parameters on the separation were also investigated. Detection limits of methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, and trimethylamine- N -oxide were 43, 46, 76 and 72 μg/L, respectively. The relative standard deviations of the retention times were between 0.42% and 1.14% while the recoveries were between 78.8% and 88.3%. The method is suitable for determining if methylamines and trimethylamine- N -oxide are a significant component of organic nitrogen aerosol in areas with high concentration of these species.
Zinc, copper, and nickel availabilities as determined by soil solution and DTPA extraction of a sludge‐amended soil

Abstract Extracting sludge‐amended soil with DTPA does not always give a reliable measure of plant‐available heavy metals. The major purpose of this greenhouse pot study was to help explain why. Two anaerobically digested sludges from sewages treated with either Ca(OH)2or FeCl3were applied to 3‐kg samples of a Mollic Albaqualf previously limed with Ca(OH)2rates of 0, 2.5, and 10g/pot that resulted in pHs in the check pots of 5.4, 6.2, or 7.7 after the first harvest. Sludge rates provided 0, 200, 40, 800, and 1600 mg Zn kg‐1of soil. Two consecutive crops of soybeans (Glycine MaxL.) were grown for 42 d each in the greenhouse. DTPA‐extractable, soil‐solution, and plant concentrations of Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+were measured. Dry matter yields were depressed due to salt toxicity, while DTPA‐extracted Cu2+correlated with plant uptake of Cu2+for both sludges. DTPA‐extracted Ni2+also correlated with plant Ni2+from the Ca(OH)2‐sludge‐amended soil, although DTPA‐extracted Ni2+did not correlate with plant uptake of Ni2...
Incorporation of Si4+–N3− into Ce3+ -Doped Garnets for Warm White LED Phosphors

The effect of Si4+−N3− incorporation on Ce3+ doped RE3Al5O12:Ce3+ (RE = Lu3+, Y3+, or Tb3+) garnet phosphors is described in this report. The addition of Si4+−N3− leads to distinct low-energy Ce3+ absorption and emission bands that are assigned to Ce3+ ions that have N3− in their local coordination. The combination of the typical Ce3+ emission in garnets with the low energy Ce3+ emission band results in a broad emission spectrum suited for white LED lamps with low color temperatures and good color rendering using only a single phosphor. The low-energy Ce3+ emission band has stronger quenching at high temperatures, a potential limitation. The mechanism for this quenching is discussed.
Epidemiologic Studies of Occlusion IV. The Prevalence of Malocclusion in a Population of 1,455 School Children

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUASTUDIOS EPIDEMIOLOGIC DE OCCLUSION. IV. LE PREVALENTIA DE MALOCCLUSION IN UN POPULATION DE 1455 JUVENILES DE ETATE SCHOLAR.—Le prevalentia de malocclusion esseva determinate per le methodo de Angle-Dewey in 1455 juveniles de etate scholar in Suitland, Maryland. Le resultatos reflecte nulle significative differentias inter le sexos con respecto al tres relationes fundamental inter le mandibula e le maxilla. Significative excessos de prevalentia esseva notate in masculos con respecto a sever supramorsura anterior e malocclusion Typo I de Dewey. Morsura antero-aperte esseva observate plus frequentemente in femininas. Iste differentias va esser evalutate plus criticamente quando le resultatos de nostre studio a longe termino es complete.
Fetuses aren't small children

Although great strides in prenatal diagnosis have been made by sonography, interpretation has been complicated by failure to recognize fundamental differences between the uterine and extra-uterine environment. Furthermore, extrapolation of knowledge concerning the same disorders in childhood to fetuses produces misleading information about diagnosis and often, prognosis.
Oxygenated-graphene-enabled recombination barrier layer for high performance dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract Wide-bandgap multilayer oxygenated graphene (MLOG) is used as the recombination barrier layer (RBL) in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The MLOG is derived from multilayer graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and oxygenated with high density/low power oxygen plasma. We observe 19% improvement in photoconversion efficiency of the DSSC with MLOG RBL, as compared with DSSC without RBL. Lifetime of photo-injected electrons at the conduction band of TiO 2 nanoparticle electrode is increased due to the presence of MLOG. This is attributed to effective collection of electrons at the transparent conductor electrode by suppressing interfacial-recombination via TiO 2 surface states. The control over dark current of the DSSC is also significantly enhanced with MLOG as compared with that without RBL as the direct result of improved interfacial quality of the TiO 2 /dye/electrolyte structure.
Otolith chemistry can discriminate signatures of hatchery-reared and wild spotted seatrout

Abstract A central goal of stock enhancement is to increase species abundance and potential harvest by supplementing recruitment of wild populations. The efficacy of these efforts is predicated upon the survival of these hatchery-reared organisms after release, and determining their fate is essential to understanding the success of these programs. Along the northern Gulf of Mexico, spotted seatrout ( Cynoscion nebulosus ) represent the number one recreational fishery and in Texas are stocked in coastal bays and estuaries to enhance natural fish abundance. The natural chemical properties of fish otoliths represent one mechanism to track the fate of hatchery-reared fish in the wild and make inferences about their movement and survival. Establishing a baseline signature pattern to discriminate hatchery-reared from wild fish is an essential first step in this process. Spotted seatrout fingerlings were collected from three Texas bays and three Texas saltwater fish hatcheries. Sagittal otoliths were analyzed for stable isotopes ( δ 13 C and δ 18 O) and a suite of twelve trace elements. Multivariate and univariate analysis of variance tests indicated significant differences among natal origins and reduced the number of chemistry predictors to nine. Linear discriminant function analysis using jack-knife cross-validation successfully classified 92% of fish to their correct natal origin. These results show that otolith chemistry is a powerful tool for discriminating hatchery-reared from wild spotted seatrout; therefore, chemical signature patterns reflected in the otoliths establish a baseline for tracking the fate of hatchery-reared fish in the wild. This information can provide more quantifiable estimates of stock enhancement success to fishery managers by improving our understanding of the fate and contribution of hatchery-reared fish to wild populations.
Thermotropic Poly(Ester-Amides) Based on Naphthalene Monomers

Abstract The structure and properties of a range of thermotropic poly(ester-amides) derived from 2,6-naphthalene derivatives is described. Many of these polymers may be melt-processed into fibers, monofils, and molded structures having very attractive physical and mechanical properties. A variety of monomers has been used and structure/composition/property relationships are described along with details of synthesis and processing conditions. Both fibers and molded articles may be heat-treated to enhance their tensile properties. Molded articles and extruded rods have exceptional tensile moduli in the unfilled state.
The hyperspaces Cn(X) for finite ray-graphs

In this paper we consider the hyperspace Cn(X) of non-empty and closed subsets of a base space X with up to n connected components. The class of base spaces we consider we call finite ray-graphs, and are a noncompact variation on finite graphs. We prove two results about the structure of these hyperspaces under different topologies (Hausdorff metric topology and Vietoris topology).
The basal flux of Akt in the mitochondria is mediated by heat shock protein 90

Akt is a known client protein of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). We have found that HSP90 is responsible for Akt accumulation in the mitochondria in unstimulated cells. Treatment of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and human embryonic kidney cells with the HSP90 inhibitors novobiocin and geldanamycin caused substantial decreases in the level of Akt in the mitochondria without affecting the level of Akt in the cytosol. Moreover, intracerebroventricular injection of novobiocin into mice brains decreased Akt levels in cortical mitochondria. Knockdown of HSP90 expression with short interfering RNA also caused a significant decrease in Akt levels in the mitochondria without affecting total Akt levels. Using a mitochondrial import assay it was found that Akt is transported into the mitochondria. Furthermore, it was found that the mitochondrial import of Akt was independent of Akt activation as both an unmodified Akt and constitutively active mutant Akt; both readily accumulated in the mitochondria in an HSP90-dependent manner. Interestingly, incubation of isolated mitochondria with constitutively active Akt caused visible alterations in mitochondrial morphology, including pronounced remodeling of the mitochondrial matrix. This effect was blocked when Akt was mostly excluded from the mitochondria with novobiocin treatment. These results indicate that the level of Akt in the mitochondria is dependent on HSP90 chaperoning activity and that Akt import can cause dynamic changes in mitochondrial configuration.
Clinical characteristics and treatment of perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano in infants.

Abstract Purpose The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano in infants and to identify factors that affected the clinical outcomes. Method The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 112 infants who were treated for perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano by a single pediatric surgeon from January 2006 to December 2008. Results All patients were male and the mean age of infants presented to our hospital was 6.0 ± 4.5 months. One hundred one patients (90.2%) had 1 or 2 perianal lesions, and 76 (67.9%) had lesions at the 3 and/or 9-o'clock directions. The use of oral antibiotics did not improve or aggravate the lesions in 29 of 37 cases. Ninety-seven patients (86.6%) were cured by conservative treatment with a mean duration of 5.2 ± 3.9 months from the onset of the disease to the cure. The mean age of curing was 9.0 ± 4.9 months. Feeding formula change showed improvement of stooling in 38 (62.3%) of 61 patients but did not affect the duration of conservative treatment. Multiple linear analysis revealed that the presence of multiple lesions was a significant independent variable ( P = .001) for the duration of conservative treatment, but age of the onset and location of the lesion were not. Twelve patients (10.7%) underwent fistulectomy at a mean age of 15.0 ± 5.1 months. None of the patients had recurrences after operation for the mean follow-up period of 23.7 ± 11.7 months. Conclusion Conservative treatment of perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano has an excellent outcome and could be the first choice of treatment of these diseases.
Cognitive versus stimulus-response theories of learning

In his 1948 address to the Division of Theoretical-Experimental Psychology of the American Psychological Association, Kenneth W. Spence discussed six distinctions between cognitive and stimulus-response (S-R) theories of learning. In this article, I first review these six distinctions and then focus on two of them in the context of my own research. This research concerns the specification of stimulus-stimulus associations in associative learning and the characterization of the neural systems underlying those associations. In the course of describing Spence's views and my research, I hope to communicate some of the richness of Spence's S-R psychology and its currency within modern scientific analyses of behavior.
Does intracoronary infusion of fluosol-DA 20% prevent left ventricular diastolic dysfunction during coronary balloon angioplasty ?

Distal intracoronary infusion of the perfluorochemical Fluosol-DA 20% has been shown to prevent systolic dysfunction during coronary artery balloon occlusion in coronary angioplasty. To assess its effect on global diastolic dysfunction, a randomized, single-blind, crossover protocol comparing intracoronary infusion of Fluosol or no infusion (control) was performed during 60 s balloon inflations in 10 patients (mean age 67 years) undergoing coronary angioplasty. Assessment of global systolic and diastolic function was obtained with high fidelity micromanometer measurements of left ventricular pressure. Eighteen pairs of balloon inflations (Fluosol versus control) were analyzed. Patients reported significantly less severe chest pain during inflations accompanied by Fluosol compared with control. However, during coronary balloon occlusion, no significant differences in the changes from baseline values were observed between Fluosol and control with regard to ventricular relaxation, including the time constant of early ventricular relaxation (tau) and maximal rate of fall in left ventricular pressure (maximal negative dP/dt). No differences between Fluosol and control were observed in terms of the increase in end-diastolic pressure or minimal distolic pressure during balloon inflation. Mean systolic pressure decrease from baseline values was greater during control than during Fluosol inflations (−9.0 ± 3.3 mm Hg, p = 0.013), but no significant difference was observed in the change in maximal rate of rise in left ventricular pressure (maximal positive dP/dt). These results suggest that Fluosol does not preserve global left ventricular diastolic function during coronary balloon occlusion, possibly because of its limited oxygen delivery capability relative to arterial blood.
Evolution of depleted mantle: The lead perspective

Abstract Isotopic data have established that, compared to estimated bulk earth abundances, the sources of oceanic basaltic lavas have been depleted in large ion lithophile elements for at least several billions of years. Various data on the Tertiary-Mesozoic Gorgona komatiite and Cretaceous Oka carbonatite show that those rocks also sample depleted mantle sources. This information is used by analogy to compare Pb isotopic data from 2.6 billion year old komatiite and carbonatite from the Suomussalmi belt of eastern Finland and Munro Township, Ontario that are with associated granitic rocks and ores that should contain marked crustal components. Within experimental error no differences are detected in the isotopic composition of initial Pb in either of the rock suites. These observations agree closely with Sr and Nd data from other laboratories showing that depleted mantle could not have originated in those areas more than a few tenths of billions of years before the rocks were emplaced. On a world-wide basis the Pb isotope data are consistent with production of depleted mantle by continuous differentiation processes acting over approximately the past 3 billion years. The data show that Pb evolution is more complex than the simpler models derived from the Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd systems. The nature of the complexity is still poorly understood.
Environmental controls, oceanography and population dynamics of pathogens and harmful algal blooms: connecting sources to human exposure

Coupled physical-biological models are capable of linking the complex interactions between environmental factors and physical hydrodynamics to simulate the growth, toxicity and transport of infectious pathogens and harmful algal blooms (HABs). Such simulations can be used to assess and predict the impact of pathogens and HABs on human health. Given the widespread and increasing reliance of coastal communities on aquatic systems for drinking water, seafood and recreation, such predictions are critical for making informed resource management decisions. Here we identify three challenges to making this connection between pathogens/HABs and human health: predicting concentrations and toxicity; identifying the spatial and temporal scales of population and ecosystem interactions; and applying the understanding of population dynamics of pathogens/HABs to management strategies. We elaborate on the need to meet each of these challenges, describe how modeling approaches can be used and discuss strategies for moving forward in addressing these challenges.
Fragile site in chromosome 12 in a patient with two miscarriages.

A heritable fragile site at 12q 13 is described in lymphocytes from a woman with a history of multiple miscarriage. The fragile site was not typically folate-sensitive, being expressed in standard medium. The presence of this fragile site may have led to meiotic chromosome breakage and consequent infertility.
ANALYSIS OF AMELOGENIN PROTEINS USING MONOSPECIFIC ANTIBODIES TO DEFINED SEQUENCES

Amelogenins are the predominant proteins found in the developing enamel matrix and are believed to play a crucial role in normal mineralization. Although the amelogenin gene is found as a single copy in all species in which it has been examined, multiple amelogenin polypeptides ranging in size from 5 to 25 kDa are obtained upon extraction of developing enamel matrix, making identification and characterization of individual components difficult. This heterogeneity may be ascribed to transcription of divergent genes located on the X and Y chromosomes, alternative splicing of the primary transcripts, physiologic degradative processing, and artefactual degradation. In order to characterize individual components, antibodies were produced to the following peptides: (1) QPLQPMQPMQPLQPLQPL (corresponding to the repeat sequence encoded only in the bovine X chromosome gene), (2) IRHPPLPP (corresponding to a unique sequence generated by alternative splicing found in leucine-rich amelogenin peptide (LRAP), (3) LPDLPL...
Catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae for production of aromatics and ammonia

We report an economically- and environmentally-promising microalgae biorefinery pathway, which uses catalytic pyrolysis with HZSM-5 catalyst to convert whole microalgae into aromatic hydrocarbons. This process produces valuable petrochemicals and ammonia, the latter of which can be recycled as a fertilizer for microalgae cultivation. We tested samples of lipid-lean green microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, at various reaction temperatures and catalyst loads. We also tested samples of lignocellulosic biomass, red oak, for comparison. Our results demonstrated that catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae produces better aromatic yields and better aromatic distributions than catalytic pyrolysis of red oak. The maximum carbon yield of aromatics from microalgae was 24%, while that from red oak was 16.7%. Moreover, catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae produced more monocyclic aromatics than were produced by catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Microalgae present many advantages as a feedstock for biofuel. With the promise catalytic pyrolysis offers for solving some of microalgae's disadvantages, microalgae biorefineries move one step closer to economic and environmental feasibility.
Fetal heart rate variability: An approach to automated assessment

Three hundred seventy-five hours of fetal heart rate (FHR) data derived from the direct fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) were studied. This data had been stored on magnetic tape from 83 intrapartum patients. By means of a computerized technique, the FHR variability was assessed quantitatively. The degree of variability was then related to: (1) state of labor, (2) fetal scalp pH values, and (3) the 1-minute Apgar score. FHR variability was computed from differences between consecutive R-R intervals measured from the R wave of each fetal ECG. A trend of increasing variability was seen with advancing labor, defined by either time prior to delivery or cervical dilatation, but values were not statistically significant. Significantly less FHR variability was encountered when fetal scalp pH values below 7.20 were compared to higher values. FHR variability assessed during the 20 minutes immediately preceding delivery was significantly lower in infants with 1-minute Apgar scores less than 7. Machine assessment of FHR variability thus could be correlated with fetal condition as determined by scalp pH and neonatal outcome determined by Apgar score.
THE BIOECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF CULTURING TRIPLOID CRASSOSTREA ARIAKENSIS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Abstract The collapse of the native oyster Crassostrea virginica fishery along the eastern United States has prompted resource managers to consider introducing a nonnative oyster for restoration of the wild fishery and/or for culture as a nonreproductive triploid. Evaluation of the profitability of a medium-sized C. ariakensis culture operation (500,000 oysters per year on ∼3 acre lease), assuming constancy of present market price despite increased supply, indicated that grow-out over winter resulted in an estimated ∼27% to 29% return on the annual investment at salinities >10 ppt because survivorship was high and Polydora spp. infestation did not occur. The greater cost of a longer grow-out phase at intermediate (10–25 ppt) salinities compensated for slightly higher mortality rates at high (>25 ppt) salinity sites, such that profitability did not vary with salinity during winter. In contrast, operations in summer always lost revenue (−28 to −37% return on investment) because of higher mortality rates at ...
Retail Price Fixity as a Facilitating Mechanism

Previous theoretical explanations for retail price fixity show that fixed retail prices can be consistent with either competitive or imperfectly competitive behavior. We develop a conceptual model of retail pricing wherein fixed price points are facilitating mechanisms for tacit collusion. A non-cooperative equilibrium in fixed retail prices is supported through credible threats to revert to Nash pricing if cheating is suspected. We test the implications of this model using a two-stage, ordered probit approach in weekly supermarket pricing data. The results show that price fixity does support collusive equilibria among retailers, but other factors may also explain retail price behavior.
Completions of UFDs with Semi-Local Formal Fibers

ABSTRACT Let (T, M) be a complete local ring such that |T/M| = | T |. Given a finite set of incomparable nonmaximal prime ideals C of T, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for T to be the completion of a local UFD A, whose generic formal fiber is semilocal with maximal ideals the elements of C. We also show that, given the T above, we can find necessary and sufficient conditions for T to be the completion of a UFD, whose formal fiber over a height one prime ideal is semilocal. Communicated by I. Swanson.
Can colon cancer incidence and death rates be reduced with calcium and vitamin D

It was proposed in 1980 that vitamin D and calcium could reduce the risk of colon cancer. This assertion was based on the decreasing gradient of mortality rates from north to south, suggesting a mechanism related to a favorable influence of ultraviolet-induced vitamin D metabolites on metabolism of calcium. A 19-y prospective study of 1954 Chicago men found that a dietary intake of greater than 3.75 micrograms vitamin D/d was associated with a 50% reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer, whereas an intake of greater than or equal to 1200 mg Ca/d was associated with a 75% reduction. Clinical and laboratory studies further support these findings. A nested case-control study based on serum drawn from a cohort of 25,620 individuals reported that moderately elevated concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, in the range 65-100 nmol/L, were associated with large reductions (P less than 0.05) in the incidence of colorectal cancer.
Regaining a Valued Self: The Process of Adaptation to Living with Genital Herpes

This study describes the experience of young adults' adaptation to living with the chronic sexually transmitted disease genital herpes. Interview data from 70 adults with a diagnosis of genital herpes were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Findings from the study indicated that the process of adaptation to living with genital herpes involves regaining a valued sense of self. The process occurs in three stages. In the first stage, young adults strive to protect themselves from devaluation due to the stigmatization connected with the disease. In the second stage, they try to renew their sense of self by reaching out and balancing their lives. In the third stage, they adopt a management style that enables them to preserve their sense of self Implications for further research and for practice are suggested.
Seebeck Coefficient Effects of Nanoscale Conductors in a Gaseous Flow Environment

The surrounding ambient introduces a gaseous boundary to many potential nanotechnology applications such as nanoscale thermoelectric devices and low dimensional thermal control devices. Despite the large surface area to volume ratio of nanostructures, a formal study of the surface scattering effects induced by a gaseous boundary has received little attention. In this work, we consider the perturbing effects to the electron cloud or jellium of conducting nanostructures when submitted to a gaseous interface of varying interaction energies. Specifically, we incorporate the novel experimental method of Dynamic Electron Scattering (DES) to measure the Seebeck coefficient of 30 nm thick Au and Cu metal films in He and Ar atmospheres. The gas particle impact energy is varied by changing the flow speed from stationary (non-moving gas field) to high speed flow over the metal films. The scattering effects of each gas are clearly observable through a Seebeck coefficient increase as the gas impact energy increases. We find the high collision density of He to induce a greater increase in thermopower than the much heavier Ar with lower collision density. The perturbed transport properties of the Au and Cu thin films are explained by kinetic surface scattering mechanisms that dominate the scattering landscape of high surface area to volume ratio materials as suggested by comparative measurements on bulk Cu.
Food and Culture: A Reader (2nd Ed.), by Carole Counihanand Penny Van Esterik

Food and Culture: A Reader is a weighty collection of thirty-six essays written by social researchers from diverse fields of inquiry. These essays examine the theoretical foundations of food studie...
A New Text Categorization Technique Using Distributional Clustering and Learning Logic

Text categorization is continuing to be one of the most researched NLP problems due to the ever-increasing amounts of electronic documents and digital libraries. In this paper, we present a new text categorization method that combines the distributional clustering of words and a learning logic technique, called Lsquare, for constructing text classifiers. The high dimensionality of text in a document has not been fruitful for the task of categorization, for which reason, feature clustering has been proven to be an ideal alternative to feature selection for reducing the dimensionality. We, therefore, use distributional clustering method (IB) to generate an efficient representation of documents and apply Lsquare for training text classifiers. The method was extensively tested and evaluated. The proposed method achieves higher or comparable classification accuracy and F1 results compared with SVM on exact experimental settings with a small number of training documents on three benchmark data sets WebKB, 20Newsgroup, and Reuters-21578. The results prove that the method is a good choice for applications with a limited amount of labeled training data. We also demonstrate the effect of changing training size on the classification performance of the learners
Partial Foot Amputations for Salvage of the Diabetic Lower Extremity

Lower extremity infections are a common yet unfortunate complication of diabetes-related ulcers often requiring surgical intervention. The main goals of surgical treatment consist of selecting the appropriate procedure to effectively eradicate nonsalvageable tissue, achieve primary healing, and maximize subsequent dynamic functionality. An overview of each partial foot amputation procedure is discussed with a focus on procedure selection as well as standard and advanced surgical techniques. The effective application of partial foot amputations in the high-risk diabetic population can act to minimize the need for major proximal lower limb amputations.
Using Stochastic Approximation for Parameter Estimation in Option Pricing

This paper focuses on option pricing using a stochastic optimization algorithm. The underlying stock price changes according to a set of geometric Brownian motions coupled by a continuous- time finite state Markov chain. A recursive stochastic optimization algorithm is constructed to estimate the implied volatility. Convergence analysis of the algorithm is provided together with rate of convergence. Real market data is used to compare our algorithm with other schemes.
X- and Ku-band amplifiers based on Si/SiGe HBT's and micromachined lumped components

A double mesa-structure Si/SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) and novel micromachined lumped passive components have been developed and successfully applied to the fabrication of X- and Ku-band monolithic amplifiers. The fabricated 5/spl times/5 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ emitter-size Si/SiGe HBT exhibited a DC-current gain /spl beta/ of 109, and f/sub T/ and f/sub max/ of 28 and 52 GHz, respectively. Micromachined spiral inductors demonstrated resonance frequency of 20 GHz up to 4 nH, which is higher than that of conventional spiral inductors by a factor of two. Single-, dual-, and three-stage X-band amplifiers have been designed, based on the extracted active- and passive-device model parameters. A single-stage amplifier exhibited a peak gain of 4.0 dB at 10.0 GHz, while dual- and three-stage versions showed peak gains of 5.7 dB at 10.0 GHz and 12.6 dB at 11.1 GHz, respectively. A Ku-band single-stage amplifier has also been designed and fabricated, showing a peak gain of 1.4 dB at 16.6 GHz. Matching circuits for all these amplifiers were implemented by lumped components, leading to a much smaller chip size compared to those employing distributed components as matching elements.
Energy harvesting from fluid-induced buckling of ionic polymer metal composites:

In this article, we assess the feasibility of energy harvesting from mechanical buckling of ionic polymer metal composites induced by a steady fluid flow. Specifically, we consider an underwater en...
Boniface VIII, Philip the Fair, and the sanctity of Louis IX

Pope Boniface VIII canonized Louis IX in 1297. Historians have generally regarded the canonization as part of Boniface’s capitulation to Philip IV (the Fair) of France at the end of the first phase of their famous conflict. This paper argues that in spite of this capitulation, Boniface, in three canonization-related texts, defined Louis’ sanctity as rooted in his good kingship as a way of criticizing Philip. Between Louis’ death in 1270 and canonization in 1297, advocates of Louis’ sanctity tended to focus on his humility, his acts of piety, and his crusades. Because their task was to distinguish Louis from other kings as a saint, his kingship was generally seen as incidental to his sanctity. In 1297, however, Boniface described Louis’ sanctity in terms of his ideal rule, drawing on language reminiscent of the speculum principis tradition. This characterization stood in juxtaposition to the pope’s criticism of Philip’s kingship and, I argue, was designed to establish a standard of royal conduct by which t...
Microeconomic Analysis of Innovative Environmental Programs in Developing Countries

AbstractEnvironmental management programs that attempt to cope with institutional weaknesses in developing countries by being less reliant on governments’ formal regulatory apparatus are becoming i...
GWAtoolbox: an R package for fast quality control and handling of genome-wide association studies meta-analysis data.

Summary The GWAtoolbox is an R package that standardizes and accelerates the handling of data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), particularly in the context of large-scale GWAS meta-analyses. A key feature of GWAtoolbox is its ability to perform quality control (QC) of any number of files in a matter of minutes. The implemented workflow has been structured to check three particular data quality aspects: (i) data formatting, (ii) quality of the GWAS results and (iii) data consistency across studies. Output consists of an extensive list of quality statistics and plots which allow inspection of individual files and between-study comparison to identify systematic bias. Availability http://www.eurac.edu/GWAtoolbox Contact cfuchsb@umich.edu; daniel.taliun@eurac.edu Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Medicine, Modernization, and Cultural Crisis in China and India

Students of modernization commonly assume that, whatever else from the West may be rejected or modified to fit particular cultural and political preferences, science and technology are essential for any conscious effort to transform a traditional society. Indeed, despite the Western origins of modern science, would-be modernizers in Asia and Africa can reasonably claim that science is now universal. The degree to which it is possessed and practiced in various countries may differ, but in principle the spirit, methodology, and fruits of modern science are cosmopolitan, not bound to any particular culture. They are the legitimate property of all men aspiring to be modern. And from Tokyo to Nairobi all such men have passionately sought to possess them.
Dignidad y justicia global

With strong resonance across cultures, the word “dignity” has become increasingly prominent in international law and in discussions of global justice. It is used in two distinct but closely related senses. In one sense, dignity is a high worth which all human beings possess as human beings and which commands that they be treated with respect and consideration. In another sense, dignity is a characteristic of human lives that, for many, remains yet to be achieved. Because human beings have dignity in the first sense, it is imperative to enable them to lead a life with dignity. This paper explicates the two related senses of “dignity” and explores how they can inform and support a conception of global justice and efforts at its realization.
Delay-optimal ARQ protocol design for channels with memory

Automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocols are utilized as a flexible way to adapt data transmission to channel variations whenever a feedback channel is available. The transmitter encodes the information into a packet and the receiver attempts to decode it. If decoding is not successful, the receiver signals the transmitter to either resend the same information or send additional information about the data. In this paper we consider ARQ protocols where the transmitter controls the amount of error correction capability introduced in the information sequence to minimize the expected delay. We formulate this problem as a stochastic control problem and study two cases of interest depending on whether or not the receiver feeds back information about the channel state. Some of the benefits of this formulation are an expression for the optimal packet size and delay as a solution of a fixed point equation and a unified treatment for channels with Markov statistics and for receivers with memory.
'The Taking of the Springtime Out of the Year': Romance, Tragedy, and the Politics of Homecoming

Lamenting the passing of young Athenians abroad, Pericles declared the loss "the taking of the springtime out of the year": his romantic characterization of the war dead echoing that set out in his famous funeral oration. The object of Socrates' scorn in the Menexenus, such responses to loss continue into the present day with the current war dead lauded as heroes of liberty at the expense of any critical examination of the war or its goals. Such homecoming for the dead, this paper argues, poses considerable problems for the homecoming of the living, forcing their war experiences into a pre-existing narrative of patriotic sacrifice and service that does damage to those who return. Drawing on the work of Jonathan Shay, a psychiatrist who specializes in working with returning veterans, and that of the Philoctetes Project - a non-profit organization who present dramatized readings of Greek tragedies for the current US military - the paper seeks to consider the ways in which our current practices of patriotism, public mourning, and the rituals of homecoming might be reconfigured by a tragic understanding of war and politics.
What is the Problem of Judicial Review

The "problem" of judicial review turns out to be a number of different problems that should be disaggregated. There are two main categories of such problems. The first concerns the fact that the legal norms being judicially enforced have nondemocratic provenances. I shall call this the "democratic" critique of judicial review. What is important to note about the democratic critique is that democratic majoritarianism comes in various shapes and degrees. The democratic critique may or may not apply to constitutional entrenchments of rights, constitutional entrenchments of powers, bicameralism and even parliamentary systems (as opposed to plebiscitary rule). Moreover, the democratic critique applies, not to the subjecting of legal norms to judicial interpretation, but to the origin of the legal norms so subject. The second category of problems concerns the fact that it is the courts rather than some other institution that is interpreting the legal norms. Here, it is important to ask how the problems are affected by (1) whether judges are elected; (2) whether the norms they are interpreting are constitutional or statutory; (3) whether those norms deal with the separation of governmental powers, federalism, or individual rights; and (4) whether those norms are determinate rules or vague standards. In sum, the judicial review "problem" is not one thing but potentially many, some more serious than others.
The Effect of a Comprehensive Medicaid Expansion on Physicians' Obstetric Practices in Washington State

Background In 1989 Washington State implemented a comprehensive expansion of its Medicaid perinatal program, augmenting services, increasing provider reimbursement, and broadening eligibility. This study examines the influence of this legislation on physicians' obstetric practices and attitudes toward caring for pregnant Medicaid patients. Methods Family physicians and obstetrician-gynecologists were surveyed at the start and 18 months after the Medicaid expansion. The study sample comprised physicians responding to the survey in both years. Results A greater proportion of family physicians provided unlimited obstetric care to Medicaid patients after the expansion. Sixty percent of family physicians and 56 percent of obstetrician-gynecologists were more willing to provide prenatal care to Medicaid patients as a result of the expansion. Physicians and their office staff were more comfortable with Medicaid patients in the later time period. Many physicians felt that they were better able to link their patients to a variety of social services after the expansion. Conclusions A Medicaid expansion program can increase provider participation in Medicaid and increase provider comfort in caring for Medicaid patients.
IC Package Route Planning Methodology Designs Better Products

As package design complexity increases, and design cycle times are increasingly subject to aggressively truncated timelines, the need to achieve efficient one-pass physical routing of complex, I/O dense, IC packages becomes critical. Critical high-speed interfaces such as DDR2, DDR3, PCI Express, and HDMI now constitute a high percentage of signals in an electronic package. This presentation will focus on utilizing an integrated route-planning tool to quickly and effectively plan the physical layout of package design interfaces, without the expenditure of time and dedication of resources required to perform traditional routing iterations. Route-planning allows package design teams to easily communicate with customers and other engineering teams to make intelligent trade-off decisions for layer usage, space allocation, Power Delivery Network (PDN) solutions, signal referencing and Die-to-Pkg netlist feasibility and optimization.
Mathematical Models, Values of Parameters, and the Sensitivity Analysis of Management-Decision Rules

Numbers are useful but oftentimes potentially hazardous abstractions. Models of behavior which give decision rules are useful but at times deceptive representations of reality. If not used carefully, "good" decision rules based on meaningful and accurate data and meaningful models of behavior can have severely disrupting effects upon the profitable operation of businesses. In the article that follows, marketing situations will be described in which it is more fruitful for a decision maker to think in terms of a decision range rather than in terms of a single-valued decision parameter. The examples will be descriptive rather than analytical in any formal mathematical sense. It is fair to state that attempts at a mathematical formulation of