cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of Age at Menarche and Menstrual Characteristics with Adult Onset Asthma among Reproductive Age Women.

Background: Observations of increasing asthma incidence, decreasing age at menarche, and common risk factors have led investigators to hypothesize potential associations of age at menarche or menstrual characteristics with incidence of adult onset asthma. We evaluated these associations among reproductive age women. Methods: Study participants were selected from among women enrolled in a pregnancy cohort study. Information on age at menarche, menstrual characteristics, and history of asthma was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Adult onset asthma was defined as asthma first diagnosed after onset of menarche. Women who had no information on asthma and menstrual history and those who were diagnosed with asthma before menarche were excluded. A total of 3,461 women comprised the analytic population. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) relating age at menarche and menstrual characteristics with adult onset asthma. Results: Mean age at menarche was 12.8 years (standard deviation=1.46). Among study participants, 7.5% were diagnosed with asthma after the onset of menarche. After controlling for potential confounders (age, race, body mass index, and socio-economic status), women who had early menarche (<12 years old) had 60% higher risk of being diagnosed with adult onset asthma as compared with women who did not have early menarche (≥ 12 years old) (aRR=1.59, 95% CI 1.19-2.13). Menstrual irregularities or abnormal (short or long) cycle length were not associated with risk of adult onset asthma. In addition, no significant interaction was observed between age at menarche or menstrual characteristics with body mass index or physical activity (in adolescence) in relation to adult onset asthma. Conclusion: Early menarche is associated with a higher risk of developing adult onset asthma among reproductive age women. Mechanisms for this association are potential areas of future research.
Membrane-Targeted Biochemical Effects and the Role of Cellular Differentiation in the Selective Antitumor Actions of Alkylmethoxyglycerophosphocholine

Various studies of the selective antitumor activity of unnatural derivatives of platelet-activating factor (PAF), including clinical trials in Germany, have been reviewed by Berdel and Munder (1) and Berdel et al. (2). The close structural relationship between the antitumor agent, 1-alkyl-2-methoxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylmethoxy-GPC) and PAF is illustrated in Figure 1. It appears that there is an inverse relationship between phospholipids of similar structure (i.e., those with a short chain aliphatic group at the sn-2 position) that possess PAF biological activities versus those that exhibit selective cytotoxic properties toward sensitive tumor cells. The natural enantiomer of PAF (L form) exhibits no cytotoxicity toward undifferentiated cells, whereas in stark contrast, D-PAF is highly toxic under the same conditions (3).
Surface Patterning Using Diazonium Ink Filled Nanopipette.

Molecular grafting of diazonium is a widely employed surface modification technique. Local electrografting of this species is a promising approach to surface doping and related properties tailoring. The instability of diazonium cation complicates this process, so that this species was generated in situ in many reported studies. In this Article, we report the egress transfer of aryl diazonium cation across the liquid/liquid interface supported at the nanopipette tip that can be used for controlled delivery this species to the external aqueous phase for local substrate patterning. An aryl diazonium salt was prepared with weakly coordinating and lipophilic tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate anion stable as a solid and soluble in low polarity media. The chemically stable solution of this salt in 1,2-dichloroethane can be used as “diazonium ink”. The ink-filled nanopipette was employed as a tip in the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) for surface patterning with the spatial resolution controlled by the...
The Arrival of the New Reader: The Post-Stalin Period

By 1932 the Soviet reader, as featured in Soviet public discourse, was a thoroughly ideologized and homogenized figure. We now need to examine how this myth of the Soviet reader stood up to the real behaviour and values of the post-Stalin reading public and in what ways the practices and representations of reading changed from the mid-1950s onwards.
Gaullists and the Repatriate Challenge

Since the mass evacuation of the French of Algeria in 1962, the most contentious point of debate between the repatriate community and the Fifth Republic has been the question of indemnification for properties left behind in Algeria. For repatriates, the dispute over indemnities was really about the responsibilities of the state. For the French in Algeria, the Fifth Republic had relinquished sovereign territory and displaced one million citizens from their homeland. For the French state, repatriation was the tragic outcome of an unavoidable historical event. As far as the government was concerned, the state could not recompense the repatriates for their losses; it had not instigated the mass departure.
Mid-Infrared Localized Plasmons through Structural Control of Gold and Silver Nanocrescents

Metal nanoarchitectures producing optical responses in the visible and near-infrared form the foundation for most plasmonic studies. In contrast, a relative lack of infrared-active substrates has limited the exploration of plasmonic behavior beyond the near-infrared. In this study, we investigate the polarization-dependent, multimodal localized plasmon resonances of asymmetric nanocrescents for large diameter structures composed of gold and silver. The extended size (0.5–3.0 μm) shifts the plasmon resonances into the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range. Polarization-dependent localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) behavior is maintained for nanocrescent diameters up to several microns due to the preservation of nanoscale structural features that result in high aspect ratios. Simulations of the extinction spectra and near-field distributions support experimentally observed plasmonic behavior. Manipulation of nanocrescent plasmon resonances in the mid-IR spectral range through structural-based tuning a...
Review: Women Building History: Public Art at the 1893 Columbian Exposition by Wanda M. Corn

Wanda M. Corn. Women Building History: Public Art at the 1893 Columbian Exposition . Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2011, xi + 266 pages, 9 color and 144 b/w illus. $49.95, ISBN 9780520241114 The 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition requires little introduction for readers of this journal. What Wanda Corn accomplishes with her marvelous study is to shift the emphasis away from Daniel Burnham, the exposition’s formidable Director of Works, to the women who designed and decorated its Woman’s Building. The result is an important reinterpretation of the fair and of the importance of gender for understanding public art and architecture. Women Building History is divided into four parts that address the history of the exposition, the history of the Woman’s Building, the history and content of the mural decorations, and the critical responses to the design and decorations of the building. Two additional features of this book are notable. First, it includes short biographical entries about the women who contributed to designing the Woman’s Building. Second, it includes sidebars to tell parallel and alternative stories about topics ranging from “the feminization of the banjo” to the “skirt dance,” subjects that shed light on the content of the building’s decorations where, Corn contends, there is more to the story than meets the eye. Designed by Sophia Hayden, the Woman’s Building was situated at the intersection of the forces …
Persistent Epstein-Barr viral load in Epstein-Barr viral naïve pediatric heart transplant recipients: Risk of late-onset post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease

Persistent Epstein-Barr viral load in Epstein-Barr viral naive pediatric heart transplant recipients: Risk of late-onset post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease
Reactive optimal UAV motion planning in a dynamic world

Navigation in a dynamic environment requires reactive actions to avoid collision and navigate safely. This paper deals with optimal and reactive motion planning for unmanned air vehicles in a dynamic world. A virtual space representation is used to formulate and solve the problem and derive real time optimal trajectories. This formulation allows for the construction of different control subspaces from which optimal control laws for the speed, the flight path angle, and the heading angle are derived. The safety margins are translated to the control subspaces as speed and orientation margins. Closed-form reactive optimal solutions are calculated to achieve reactive motion and avoid collision in each subspace. The dynamic and kinematic constraints are taken into account when planning motion in the control subspaces. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Relationships Among Chewing Tobacco, Cigarette Smoking, and Chronic Health Conditions in Males 18-44 Years of Age

As more public places are designated “non-smoking,” chewing tobacco could be an alternative choice for tobacco use; however, controversy exists over the long-term health effects associated with it. This study assessed the relationship between chewing tobacco, cigarette smoking, and chronic health conditions in a representative sample of males 18–44 years of age, while controlling for other variables known to be related to tobacco use. This cross sectional analysis used 2013 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The results indicated that about 41% of males reported one or more chronic health conditions, and that about 15% used chewing tobacco only, 21% smoked cigarettes only, and 6% did both. From adjusted analyses, those who chewed tobacco only were 49% more likely to report one or more health conditions; those who smoked cigarettes only were 34% more likely to report one or more health conditions; and those who did both were 95% more likely to report at least one health condition. Overall, any combination of tobacco use was significantly and similarly related to the increased prevalence of chronic health conditions in males aged 18–44 years. Although chewing tobacco use may not be as prevalent in the general population as cigarette smoking, clinicians should be aware of the similar health risks associated with all tobacco use at ages younger than may be expected, and encourage cessation of any tobacco use.
Postmodernism and public administration: Implications for the cia in an age of uncertainty

This article discusses the concept of the "postmodern administrative mentality" and employs it to explain the mindset behind the administrative reforms currently being enacted at the Central Intelligence Agency. The postmodern administrative mentality is characterized by a.) a hostility to the notion of objectivity and objectively grounded truth; b.) a call for "flattened" administrative hierarchies; and c.) an insistence on "gray," or ill-defined mission boundaries. The paper concludes that should the postmodern administrative mentality continue to guide administrative reform of the CIA, the results would be that the CIA would no longer be an effective intelligence-gathering agency and that there would be a return to unethical and possibly illegal activities by the CIA.
Grassmanians and Pseudosphere Arrangements

We extend vector configurations to more general objects that have nicer combinatorial and topological properties, called weighted pseudosphere arrangements. These are defined as a weighted variant of arrangements of pseudospheres, as in the Topological Representation Theorem for oriented matroids. We show that in rank 3, the real Stiefel manifold, Grassmannian, and oriented Grassmannian are homotopy equivalent to the analogously defined spaces of weighted pseudosphere arrangements. As a consequence, this gives a new classifying space for rank 3 vector bundles and for rank 3 oriented vector bundles where the difficulties of real algebraic geometry that arrise in the Grassmannian can be avoided. In particular, we show for all rank 3 oriented matroids, that the subspace of weighted pseudosphere arrangements realizing that oriented matroid is contractible. This is a sharp contrast with vector configurations where the space of realizations can have the homotopy type of any primary real semialgebraic set.
Surgical Mortality and Race as a Risk Factor: A Compass, Not a Destination.

Remarkably, few national estimates of inpatient pediatric surgical mortality have been published.1 Pediatric inpatient mortality has been reported mostly for cardiovascular and neurosurgical procedures.2,3 In this issue of Pediatrics , Akbilgic et al4 broaden and extend this literature by examining 30-day postoperative mortality for more than 260 000 surgical procedures performed on children from 2012 to 2015. By using a novel approach, network analysis, and classification trees, the authors developed race-specific models using preoperative risk factors to predict 30-day surgical mortality for African-American versus white children. Risk factors such as ventilator use, oxygen support, wound infections, transfusions, and neonatal status were more prevalent in African-American children and positively associated with death after surgery. Moreover, risk factors more prevalent in white children (eg, sepsis, malignancy, emergent case status) carried a higher risk of death when present in African-American children.4 Although this study lacked data about social and structural risk factors, which are often experienced differentially among racial groups and known to contribute to overall health outcomes and mortality, race-specific risk models may have implications for surgical practice. For example, surgical teams might use the models … Address correspondence to Nia Heard-Garris, MD, MSc, Division of Academic General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 Chicago Ave, Box 162, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: nheardgarris{at}luriechildrens.org
Static and dynamic electro-optical properties of liquid crystals mediated by ferroelectric polymer films

This paper reports the electro-optical properties of high resistivity nematic liquid crystals sandwiched between ferroelectric polymer films. Interactions between liquid crystals and the film result in a series of interesting optical and electro-optical features. For example, the visualization of ferroelectric domains by means of liquid crystals has been known for decades. However, here we demonstrate that liquid crystals can also reveal the fractal dimension of multi—domain poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based films. Unidirectionally rubbed films made of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based (PVDF) materials align liquid crystals (LC) homogeneously, with the pretilt angle on the order of 1–2 degrees. This property was implemented in the design of hybrid cells composed of liquid crystals sandwiched between PVDF-based films. The designed PVDF|LC|PVDF cells exhibit tunable electro-optical performance originating from the presence of the PVDF-based films. More specifically, (i) the threshold voltage characterizing the transition of liquid crystals from a planar to a homeotropic state can be tuned by varying the film thickness, and (ii) total fall time (turn-off time) can be controlled by varying the frequency and amplitude of the driving voltage. This frequency dependence of the fall time is strongly pronounced at a relatively high voltage applied across the cell. In the low frequency regime, an increase in the turn-off time can be approximated as a linear function of the applied electric field. An electric-field induced polarization of the PVDF-based films is considered a major reason leading to the afore-mentioned amplitude and frequency dependence of the switching time.
Improving Post-silicon Validation Efficiency by Using Pre-generated Data

Post-silicon functional validation poses unique challenges that must be overcome by bring-up tools. One such major challenge is the requirement to reduce overhead associated with the testing procedures, thereby ensuring that the expensive silicon platform is utilized to its utmost extent. Another crucial requirement is to conduct high-quality validation that guarantees the design is bug-free prior to its shipment to customers. Our work addresses these issues in the realm of software-based self-tests.
Minimaxity, Statistical Thinking and Differential Privacy

We discuss the role of minimax statistical theory for privacy theory. Minimax theory gives a way to measure information loss for sanitized databases. We also discuss some differences between privacy theory from the statistical perspective versus the computer science perspective.
Host defense mechanisms in protein energy malnutrition.

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is one of the more prevalent conditions in the world. A recent estimate indicated that perhaps one quarter of the worlds population could be considered to be malnourished (World Food and Nutrition Study, 1977). The vast majority suffer from undernutrition; however, an important and probably increasing percentage are overly nourished and there is reason to suspect that if too little is not good, too much may not be any better. Nutritional status, then, spans a wide spectrum of states of inadequacy, adequacy, and excess of which a limited segment is conducive to good or optimal physiological functioning. There is, in a sense, a middle way, for excess in either direction may lead to physiological changes or frank disease. However, this middle way is not necessarily midway between starvation and bulemia, but may rather be somewhat to the left of our current standards for weight, height, or dietary intake. This chapter will examine the relationship between nutritional state and immune function in human PEM in the undernourished of both mild-moderate and severe degree.
Quality of care in services to family members of people with serious mental illnesses.

This paper discusses the current status, importance, and future directions of quality of care work regarding support and information services for family members of people with serious mental illnesses. In reviewing existing literature, it highlights the need for research that documents the services currently received by family members in more depth and detail, the importance of including family-member services in quality-of-care standards and evaluations, and the necessity of grappling with fundamental questions such as who defines “quality” and “optimal” care, whose outcomes are foregrounded in such inquiry, and the development of methodologies to advance this area of inquiry.
GENERATION OF INFRAGRAVITY WAVES

In this paper the deptz-integrated, short wave-averaged nearshore circulation model SHORECIRC is used to study the generation of infragravity waves due to normally incident short wave groups on a plane beach. After linear separation of the incident and reflected long waves, it is shown that the incoming long wave shoals faster than Green's Law predicts for free waves. This indicates that energy is transferred from the short wave groups to the long wave. However, it does not shoal as quickly as Longuet-Higgins & Stewart's (1962) steady state theory for bound waves suggests. The outgoing long wave deshoals according to Green's Law but it is shown that energy is traded back and forth with the incoming short wave groups. Different shoaling and deshoaling curves can be found for different parameter choices. The work term in the long wave energy equation is used to explain these differences and ratio of the number of short wave groups to the surf zone width is confirmed to be an important parameter. As a consequence, the energy of the outgoing long wave can be larger or smaller than that of the incoming long wave, depending on the value of that parameter. Finally, the nonlinear version of the model shows the importance of the mean set-up on the generation of long waves, in particular very close to the shoreline.
The Spectrum of Cutaneous Patch-Test Reactions in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

We have outlined rationale and problems associated with three types of patch tests that may provide diagnostic help in patients with difficult-to-manage AD. Each of these methods is imperfect and in need of greater study using a critical approach, better techniques, more attention to irritant controls, and better definition of atopic populations. Proof of validity for aeroallergen patch testing will necessarily require large quantities of purified antigens. In spite of all these problems, patch testing can be useful and sometimes essential for the diagnosis and management of difficult AD.
P085 Improving hla laboratory workflow management and “Going paperless”

Aim Using an electronic workflow in the lab has many benefits, including the efficient use of physical space. We sought to identify a solution that in addition would allow us to analyze and annotate raw data from patient testing and archive previous paper files to maintain a continuous and accessible patient record. We implemented Docuware, a cloud-based document management software, which we use along with Histotrac for clinical testing. Methods We worked with Docuware to customize and adapt their existing software to fit our complex HLA laboratory testing workflow. The software allows for two-way travel within the workflow as the review process and reflex testing is performed. An important function is the ability to direct certain documents to a specific individual for the next step in the workflow. Docuware has built-in annotation tools, enabling seamless and trackable review. In addition, a full text search function was added to allow for easy recall of results from specific instrument runs for QA purposes. Results An example of the workflow for antibody testing is shown in Fig. 1. Test requisitions are scanned and indexed with patient and sample information. All documents associated with the sample (e.g. raw data from testing and final reports) are converted to PDFs and attached. This “packet” travels through the workflow with the use of electronic “stamps” and signed final reports can be exported as PDFs for easy distribution to individual providers. Conclusions An electronic system dramatically reduces paper waste and allows for remote access to raw data. Files can be viewed at any step during testing, and all results for a given patient can be easily collated and compared for clinical and QA purposes. While other tools exist for annotation of results, such as Adobe Acrobat, Docuware is specifically designed for this purpose, and is easily customizable to the lab’s specific needs, rather than adapting procedures to fit an existing tool. Download : Download high-res image (214KB) Download : Download full-size image
Strengthening mechanisms in directed energy deposited austenitic stainless steel

Abstract Microstructures and mechanical properties are evaluated in austenitic stainless steel structures fabricated by directed energy deposition (DED) considering the effects of applied loading orientation, build geometry, and distance from the deposition baseplate. Locations within an as-deposited build with different thermomechanical history display different yield strength, while those locations with similar history have approximately the same yield strength, regardless of test specimen orientation. Thermal expansion of deposited material near the baseplate is inhibited by the mechanical constraint imposed by the baseplate, promoting plastic deformation and producing a high density of dislocations. Concurrently, high initial cooling rates decrease away from the baseplate as the build is heated, causing an increased spacing of cellular solidification features. An analysis of strengthening mechanisms quantitatively established for the first time the important strengthening contribution of high dislocation densities in the materials (166–191 MPa) to yield strength that ranged from 438 to 553 MPa in the present DED fabricated structures. A newly adopted mechanistic relationship for microsegregation strengthening from the literature indicated an additional important contribution to strengthening (123–135 MPa) due to the cellular solidification features. These findings are corroborated by the measured evolution of microstructure and hardness caused by annealing the DED material. These results suggest that the mechanical properties of deposited austenitic stainless steels can be influenced by controlling thermomechanical history during the manufacturing process to alter the character of compositional microsegregation and the amount of induced plastic deformation.
Carrier Transport in the Valence Band of nBn III-V Superlattice Infrared Detectors

Mid-wavelength infrared detectors have been fabricated in the nBn configuration using the InAs/InAsSb superlattice as the absorber. Possible impediments in the valence band can interfere with the transport of holes that represent the signal. We demonstrate that the thermal activation energy of the photocurrent density, as a function of the applied bias voltage, can be a very sensitive probe of the valence band features. We identify and measure two types of impediments, the hole-block due to a band misalignment and the localization sites formed by fluctuations in the superlattice layer thicknesses. The latter are found to dominate the temperature dependence of the hole mobility. Our inferred localization characteristics are consistent with published results obtained by other techniques.
Expression patterns of l -amino acid receptors in the murine STC-1 enteroendocrine cell line

Regulation of gut function depends on the detection and response to luminal contents. Luminal l-amino acids (l-AA) are detected by several receptors including metabotropic glutamate receptors 1 and 4 (mGluR1 and mGluR4), calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), GPRC family C group 6 subtype A receptor (GPRC6A) and umami taste receptor heterodimer T1R1/T1R3. Here, we show that murine mucosal homogenates and STC-1 cells, a murine enteroendocrine cell line, express mRNA for all l-AA receptors. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of all l-AA receptors on STC-1 with CaSR being most commonly expressed and T1R1 least expressed (35% versus 15% of cells); mGluRs and GPRC6a were intermediate (~ 20% of cells). Regarding coexpression of l-AA receptors, the mGluRs and T1R1 were similarly coexpressed with CaSR (10–12% of cells) whereas GPRC6a was coexpressed least (7% of cells). mGluR1 was coexpressed with GPRC6a in 11% of cells whereas coexpression between other receptors was less (2–8% of cells). CaSR and mGluR1 were coexpressed with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) in 20–25% of cells whereas T1R1 and GPRC6a were coexpressed with GLP-1 and PYY less (8–12% of cells). Only mGluR4 showed differential coexpression with GLP-1 (13%) and PYY (21%). l-Phenylalanine (10 mM) caused a 3-fold increase in GLP-1 release, which was strongly inhibited by siRNA to CaSR indicating functional coupling of CaSR to GLP-1 release. The results suggest that not all STC-1 cells express (and coexpress) l-AA receptors to the same extent and that the pattern of response likely depends on the pattern of expression of l-AA receptors.
Scenario-Selection for Hosting Capacity Analysis of Distribution Feeders with Voltage Regulation Equipment

The distributed energy resource (DER) hosting capacity of distribution feeders is commonly analyzed with scenario-based methods considering assumed worst-case scenarios such as minimum and maximum load conditions. For distribution feeders with load-tap changers, line voltage regulators, or capacitor banks, it can be challenging to accurately identify the realistic worst-case conditions that limit the hosting capacity. In particular, considering only minimum and maximum load conditions may not correspond to the feeder worst-case scenarios and may lead to under or over estimating the hosting capacity. This paper proposes a scenario-selection method for hosting capacity analysis, which identifies the feeder key load conditions and the corresponding voltage regulation equipment states for accurate determination of hosting capacity.
Semi-Recumbent Vibration Exercise in Older Adults: A Pilot Study of Methodology, Feasibility, and Safety:

Objectives:Older adults with impaired physical function are at risk for further functional decline in part due to limited ability to engage in regular exercise. Effective approaches to exercise in ...
Gender and worker productivity issues associated with sport betting from an ethical perspective

Using selected intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors grounded in consequentialism, deontology, and virtue perspectives, an empirical study was conducted on highly educated professionals in the Pittsburgh, PA area. The working business professionals that were targeted for this research were those that the primary investigator has accumulated over time as part of the researcher's LinkedIn™ social network. Many male respondents felt that engaging in sport-related betting within the workplace was more acceptable than their females and tended to feel more utilitarian in their approach to justify such actions. Typically a deontology-based ethical perspective suited males as they felt that sport-related gambling activities had a more positive impact on the emotional state of the office atmosphere and were more willing to become personally less productive and use company resources at work during sporting events.
Expression of quasi-equivalence and capsid dimorphism in the Hepadnaviridae

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of liver disease. The capsid is an essential component of the virion and it is therefore of interest how it assembles and disassembles. The capsid protein is unusual both for its rare fold and that it polymerizes according to two different icosahedral symmetries, causing the polypeptide chain to exist in seven quasi-equivalent environments: A, B, and C in AB and CC dimers in T = 3 capsids, and A, B, C, and D in AB and CD dimers in T = 4 capsids. We have compared the two capsids by cryo-EM at 3.5 A resolution. To ensure a valid comparison, the two capsids were prepared and imaged under identical conditions. We find that the chains have different conformations and potential energies, with the T = 3 C chain having the lowest. Three of the four quasi-equivalent dimers are asymmetric with respect to conformation and potential energy; however, the T = 3 CC dimer is symmetrical and has the lowest potential energy although its intra-dimer interface has the least free energy of formation. Of all the inter-dimer interfaces, the CB interface has the least area and free energy, in both capsids. From the calculated energies of higher-order groupings of dimers discernible in the lattices we predict early assembly intermediates, and indeed we observe such structures by negative stain EM of in vitro assembly reactions. By sequence analysis and computational alanine scanning we identify key residues and motifs involved in capsid assembly. Our results explain several previously reported observations on capsid assembly, disassembly, and dimorphism.
No more Iraqs: analysing use of force decisions during the Obama administration

In this article, I focus on a subset of Obama’s foreign policy views, namely his beliefs about the appropriate circumstances under which the United States should engage in armed conflict. I argue t...
The Dynamics of Public Opinion

A central question in political representation is whether government responds to the people. To understand that, we need to know what the government is doing, and what the people think of it. We seek to understand a key question necessary to answer those bigger questions: How does American public opinion move over time? We posit three patterns of change over time in public opinion, depending on the type of issue. Issues on which the two parties regularly disagree provide clear partisan cues to the public. For these party-cue issues we present a slight variation on the thermostatic theory from (Soroka and Wlezien (2010); Wlezien (1995)); our “implied thermostatic model.” A smaller number of issues divide the public along lines unrelated to partisanship, and so partisan control of government provides no relevant clue. Finally, we note a small but important class of issues which capture response to cultural shifts.
New insights to the interactions between amorphous georgite pigment and linseed oil binder that lead to a drastic color change

Abstract Understanding pigment-binder interactions is very important to predict final paint colors and paint stabilities, which is vital for art-making and art conservation. However, previous effort has been focused on long-term chemical stabilities following exposure to the elements, while initial interactions between the pigment and the binder are less understood. Here, we report an investigation into two polymorph basic copper carbonate pigments, georgite and malachite synthesized by varying reaction time and their interactions with linseed oil directly following the paint curing process. Despite the drastic differences in color of these two pigments, incorporation of them into linseed oil binders, resulted in a surprising color change for the georgite based paints from blue to green. FTIR showed a new peak ∼1575 cm−1 in both paint samples, which was assigned to a Cu2+-carboxylate vibration. Furthermore, EPR spectra of the paints exhibited anisotropic Cu2+ signal, indicating a square-planar Cu2+ molecular complex. These results indicated that carboxylic acid biproducts of the linseed oil autooxidation process were able to efficiently extract Cu2+ from the georgite structure to form new and well-distributed Cu2+ molecular complexes throughout the paint, leading to a color change which resulted in similar final paint color compared to the malachite pigment-based paint. This work has demonstrated the structure-property relationship of two polymorph pigment materials, provided new insights to the interactions between amorphous georgite pigment and linseed oil binder that lead to a drastic color change, and revealed the importance of understanding pigment-binder interactions which can be used to predict final paint colors and enhance pigment stabilities.
DEHAM2 - teaching an old memory to do new tricks

Resurrecting an old model of associative memory, the authors find a way to give it surprising new life. DEHAM memories, (DEmon HeteroAssociative Memory), depend on communities of cell like processing entities that become specialists on what the output should be when they see certain numeric features at the input side of the memory. A voting-like process is used to correct weak information. Here we investigate a way to extend DEHAM memories to real numbers (not just binary data) and we observe that their inherent ease of implementation makes them fit nicely into an undergraduate artificial intelligence course.
Compression of pulmonary artery and bronchus by descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Perfusion and ventilation changes after aneurysmectomy.

Abstract In a 49 year old man with a history of sudden onset of dyspnea that had increased progressively for 10 months, angiographic studies revealed a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm compressed the left pulmonary artery and the left main bronchus, severely compromising perfusion and ventilation to the left lung. After aneurysmectomy, there were striking increases in perfusion and ventilation, as documented by lung scans, angiograms and pulmonary function studies, and the patient's clinical status was greatly improved.
Gravity wave variations during the 2009 stratospheric sudden warming as revealed by ECMWF‐T799 and observations

[1] ECMWF-T799 is used to study gravity wave (GW) variations during the 2009 stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) in the Arctic. The magnitude and occurrence of GWs correlate with the location and strength of the polar vortex that is strongly disturbed by planetary wave (PW) growth. This location dependence on PW phase explains the observed GW variability during SSWs. During the development and the onset of SSW, the zonal-mean GW potential energy density (GW-Ep) increases on January 5 and 15–22 in association with the growth of PW wavenumber 1 and wavenumber 2, respectively. As the initial prominent PW magnitude in the lower mesosphere progresses downward, GW-Ep enhancement also seems to show a corresponding descent from January 5–22. GW-Ep peaks before the wind reversal occurrence and significantly weakens after the SSW. These variations are confirmed by COSMIC/GPS observations. Lidar data from Antarctica are also used to validate GWs as derived in ECMWF.
2.6B The History of the German Society for Electron Microscopy

Publisher Summary The history of the German Society for Electron Microscopy is inextricably bound up with the existence of the electron microscope. The same pioneers who had taken part in the development of the electron microscope were also prominent in the founding of the German Society. For this reason, it is difficult to state a point in time at which the history of the society can be said to have begun. The actual founding day is certainly later, because many important preliminary efforts had already been taken. The early development of electron lenses and electron microscopes in Germany has been competently described in several publications, so here one is referred to the relevant literature. One of the most important development phases of the electron microscope was attained in 1939. In this year, the firm of Siemens and Halske unveiled the first model of a serially produced set of electron microscopes, designed by Bodo von Borries and Ernst Ruska.
Boundary Layer Structure over a Two-Dimensional Rough Wall

Turbulence measurements for a zero pressure gradient boundary layer over a two-dimensional (2-D) roughness are presented and compared to previous results for a smooth wall and a three-dimensional (3-D) roughness [5]. The present experiments were made on transverse square bars in the fully-rough flow regime. The 2-D bars lead to significant changes in the turbulence in the outer flow. Reynolds stresses, particularly \({\overline{{v^{\prime}}^{2}}}^{+}\)and \(-{\overline{u^{\prime} v^{\prime}}}\,^{+}\), increase, although the mean flow is not as significantly affected. Large scale turbulent motions originating at the wall lead to increased spatial scales in the outer flow. The dominant feature of the outer flow, however, remains hairpin vortex packets which have similar inclination angles for all wall conditions. The differences between boundary layers over 2-D and 3-D roughness are attributable to the scales of the motion induced by each type of roughness. It is also noted that there are fundamental differences in the response of internal and external flows to strong wall perturbations, with internal flows being less sensitive to roughness effects due to their boundary conditions.
Chapter 30 Differential mRNA Display

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on differential ribonucleic acid (RNA) display, which was devised to compare gene expression in two or more cell types and to clone differentially expressed genes rapidly. The principle of the technique is to amplify specific subpopulations of messenger RNA (mRNA), using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to produce a set of “RNA fingerprints.” To do this, mRNA is reverse-transcribed in subsets using specific anchored oligo(dT) primers that recognize different fractions of the total mRNA population. The resulting complementary DNA (cDNA) is then amplified with the same anchored oligo(dT) primer and a short arbitrary primer. Labeled deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) is included in the reactions and the labeled products are separated on a DNA sequencing gel and visualized by autoradiography. This method has several major advantages over other methods such as differential hybridization and subtractive hybridization. As it is based on PCR, it is more sensitive than these methods and has a better chance of detecting less abundant mRNAs. It requires little RNA, an advantage in systems where large amounts of tissue are hard to come by. It allows comparison of multiple samples in one experiment, so several tissues, treatments, or time points are examined in parallel.
Proresolving lipid mediators: potential for prevention and treatment of periodontitis

Van Dyke TE. Proresolving lipid mediators: potential for prevention and treatment of periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 119–125. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2010.01662.x. Abstract Aim: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease initiated by microbial biofilm. The host response to the biofilm destroys the periodontium mediated by an overly robust inflammatory response in susceptible individuals. Whether the excessive host response is genetic, epigenetic or mediated by environment is unknown. New pathways of resolution of inflammation have been discovered. Resolution of inflammation is an active, agonist-mediated, programmed return to tissue homeostasis. Materials and Methods: Various computer-based search engines were employed to identify papers relevant to resolution of inflammation. Results: Recent data suggest that chronic inflammatory periodontal disease may be a failure of resolution pathways as well as overexpression of proinflammatory pathways. In this review, the biology of resolution of inflammation will be examined in normal tissues and periodontal disease. Anti-inflammatory pharmacologic agents [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] have been shown to prevent and slow the progression of periodontitis in animals and humans. However, the side effect profile of NSAIDS or other inhibitors or receptor antagonists preclude their use in periodontal therapy. Conclusion: The isolation and characterization of proresolving lipid mediators that are receptor agonists has opened a new area of research for potential therapeutic agents for the management of inflammatory periodontitis.
2 Daoist Inner Cultivation Thought and the Textual Structure of the Huainanzi

The issue of the intellectual filiation of the Huainanzi has vexed scholars for generations. The concepts form a unique field of discourse and techniques that can be used to differentiate distinctive intellectual lineages in pre-Han China. The direct results of apophatic psychological practices are similar across many early texts of the inner cultivation tradition, thus indicating a consistency of actual methods and some sharing of ideas and texts. "Integrating Customs", while superficially about the importance of maintaining a fluid approach to enforcing customs and rituals throughout the empire, is really a treatise that proffers the clearest statement of a Daoist theory of human nature written to this point. There are some who would challenge this assertion, insisting instead that the philosophy of the 'Inner Chapters' of the Zhuangzi is distinctly different from that of the Laozi and that both differ in kind from the ungrounded 'eclecticism' of the Huainanzi . Keywords: apophatic psychological practices; Daoist theory; Huainanzi ; Laozi ; pre-Han China; Zhuangzi
Discontinuities in the earth's upper mantle as indicated by reflected seismic energy

Thirty-three seismograms from nine large quarry blasts ranging in size from 50,000 to 2,138,000 lb of explosives were analyzed for possible reflections from inhomogeneities in the earth's upper mantle. Of the 33 seismograms, four were obtained at temporary seismograph stations positioned between 90 and 243 km from the explosions and an array of three to four seismometers was used at each of the stations. The remaining twenty-nine seismograms were obtained from ten permanent seismograph stations located between 76 and 1,009 km from the explosions. Seven of these latter seismograms were obtained from the seismograph station at Salt Lake City, Utah, and six were obtained from the seismograph station at Eureka, Nevada. Each arrival on these 13 seismograms was noted and then correlated to determine which arrivals were common to all seismograms having nearly constant epicentral distances. Of the nine quarry blasts recorded, seven were detonated at Promontory, Utah, and two were detonated at Lakeside, Utah, which lies about 33 km west of Promontory. This multiplicity of blasts resulted in two groups of seismograms for both the Salt Lake City and Eureka stations with one group at each station having a different epicentral distance from the other group at the same station. A comparison was made between the seismograms of each station based on the apparent velocity of the arrivals across this difference in epicentral distance. Seismic arrivals having apparent velocities that would be representative of deep reflections were selected from the aforementioned arrivals common to most records. The remaining 16 seismograms, which were from eight permanent seismograph stations located at epicentral distances in excess of 500 km, were used to check the results from the analysis of the Salt Lake City, Eureka, and temporary stations. Times of possible reflected events are presented which could result from energy reflected at discontinuities in the upper mantle at depths of about 190, 520, and 910 km. The depths were computed using average velocities based on velocity-depth curves given by Jeffreys and Gutenberg (Jacobs 1953, p. 187) for the deeper portions of the upper mantle and assuming that linear ray paths pertained.
An online algorithm for matching noisy space curves with statistical error analysis

In this thesis, we presents a new algorithm that finds the longest partial match between two space curves. The algorithm iteratively extends an initial matching portion of two curves within some tolerance over the matching quality. Each iteration adjusts the matching transformation (rotation, scale, and translation) to handle noisy data more robustly and to enlarge the matched portion. To control the matching accuracy, a statistical threshold is introduced to stop the iterative extension. Experiment shows that the algorithm has a comparable accuracy to that of the well known ICP algorithm [3] but its efficiency is improved by an order of magnitude. The algorithm has been demonstrated over synthetic and range data. Experiment shows that it adjusts well to noise distributions and performs effectively over curves of complex shapes.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antifungal Agents

Despite a dramatic increase in the number of commercially available agents to treat invasive fungal infections, they remain a common and devastating problem in a variety of patients. The impact of these infections has furthered interest in optimizing antifungal therapy. Therapeutic drug monitoring has emerged as a potentially important area allowing the efficacy of select antifungals to be optimized. This article reviews emerging data examining the utility and rationale for voriconazole and posaconazole therapeutic drug monitoring.