cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE ACADEMIC SWOON OVER IMPLICIT RACIAL BIAS: Costs, Benefits, and Other Considerations

In recent years, there has been a surge of discussion, debate, and research on the topic of implicit bias. Implicit bias has become the go-to form of racial bias that many academics, practitioners, and policy makers have identified as important and timely to study (Eberhardt et al., 2004; Levinson and Smith, 2017). Interventions to address implicit racial bias in policing have been particularly popular (Fridell 2008). Arguably, combatting implicit racial bias presents itself as a tool for protecting civil rights. This essay examines the emergence of the implicit bias paradigm as a way to address racial bias in justice system outcomes. The first part provides an overview of implicit bias, including how it is defined, how it is measured, and how it impacts the justice system. The second part examines the term “implicit bias.” This section assesses implicit bias as a social problem and considers whether the label illuminates or obscures the reality of racial bias in the criminal justice system. The discussion considers whether “implicit bias” is viewed as a more appealing approach for dealing with racial bias because it does not assign racial blame. The third part considers the contours of the relationship between implicit bias and explicit bias. The discussion highlights the interconnectedness between the two forms of racial bias. Is the implicit bias approach a signal of racial retrenchment? The final section considers how elementary and secondary education could be used as a proactive strategy for addressing implicit racial bias.
State Boards of Education: Lesser Known Policy Actors.

Few scholars have engaged in close examinations of state boards of education (SBOEs), their make-up, or the broader implications of their influence over time. SBOE membership, authority, and impact...
Healthcare Financing and Social Determinants

As health care continues to advance along the principles of the Triple Aim with a reimbursement model of value-based care [1], there has been increasing call to include social determinants of health (SDH) in reform strategies [2]. An extensive body of evidence demonstrates that SDH play a substantial role in shaping health and health outcomes and addressing disparities [3–12]. Growing recognition of the benefits of connecting health care with non-health services has led to major initiatives focused on addressing SDH [13, 14]. Some states have implemented a “Health in All Policies Approach”, which prioritizes health as a key outcome of policymaking across sectors [15]. Private organizations and foundations have begun to address SDH through community partnerships and funding priorities [16]. However, the health care system does not routinely or systematically collect SDH data or coordinate care to address social needs. It also does not regularly reimburse providers for addressing SDH. The emerging question is how health care financing can be aligned to promote health equity through addressing SDH. The goal of this chapter is to describe the role of health care financing in addressing SDH, and in turn, health disparities among children.
On the Single Actions of the Eye Muscles

A muscle can truly turn the eye only on the axis about which it exerts rotational force if no resistances oppose this rotation, or only if such resistances exactly oppose the direction of the muscle pull. Under such circumstances only the lateral and medial recti move the line of sight in straight lines, but all other muscles move it in curved paths, and specifically the medial rectus directly inward, the lateral rectus directly outward, the superior rectus upward and inward, the inferior rectus downward and inward, the superior oblique downward and outward, and the inferior oblique upward and outward. In figure 26 I have indicated the path which the lines of sight would describe on a plane perpendicular to them in the primary position. The position of the axes of rotation is assumed as given above. The separation between the rotation point of the eye and the vertical plane is taken to be the line dd. At the end of each path I have also shown with a darker line the apparent position which at1 originally horizontal afterimage would assume at the corresponding place on the line of sight, that is, an afterimage which the eye received from a horizontal stripe in primary position. The length of each path corresponds to a rotation of the eye of 50° about the corresponding half axis.
A Portable Doppler/FSK/FMCW Multi-mode Radar With Analog DC Offset Cancellation for Biomedical Applications

This paper presents an integrated portable multi-mode radar system incorporating Doppler, frequency-shift keying (FSK), and frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) modes with an analog DC offset baseband cancellation circuit. The proposed radar system can be used for various biomedical applications such as non-contact vital signs monitoring, fall detection, and human tracking. A common problem of biomedical radar sensors is the DC offset presented at the output of the mixer caused by hardware imperfection and reflections from nearby stationary objects. This leads to signal distortion, baseband amplifier saturation, and dynamic range reduction. Therefore, an analog DC offset cancellation circuit is integrated to automatically and continuously remove the DC offset before baseband amplification. Experiment results of different modes are reported to demonstrate the multi-functionality of the proposed radar.
Real-world cardiovascular outcomes with novel anti-androgen agents in prostate cancer patients.

e16510Background: Abiraterone use is associated with significant cardiovascular (CV) morbidity in clinical trials, but the magnitude of this morbidity in contemporary US prostate cancer (PC) popula...
Simultaneous Resource Allocation and Route Optimization in Dynamic Multi-Agent Networks

The objective of simultaneous resource allocation and route optimization problem is to overlay a network of communication resources on an existing network of sensors (or sites); to facilitate the flow of information packets, originating at each sensor, to a destination center (or central processing unit) such that the total cost of communication is minimized. This is an NP-hard problem and the associated cost function is riddled with multiple poor local minima even for fixed locations of sensors and destination center. In the case when the sensors and the destination center have associated dynamics, determining resource location and routing dynamics adds significantly to the complexity. Here we propose a framework that uses the Maximum-Entropy-Principle and a smooth approximation to the total communication cost as a Lyapunov function, to solve the simultaneous resource allocation and route optimization problem in a dynamic setting. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the frame-by-frame approach with regards to the practical feasibility of the resource dynamics apart from saving heavily on the computational expense involved in the latter.
Infection with mosquito-borne alphavirus induces selective loss of dopaminergic neurons, neuroinflammation and widespread protein aggregation

Neuroinvasive infections with mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) can cause post-encephalitic parkinsonism. To understand the mechanisms underlying these neurological effects, we examined the capacity of WEEV to induce progressive neurodegeneration in outbred CD-1 mice following non-lethal encephalitic infection. Animals were experientally infected with recombinant WEEV expressing firefly luciferase or dsRed (RFP) reporters and the extent of viral replication was controlled using passive immunotherapy. WEEV spread along the neuronal axis from the olfactory bulb to the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and basal midbrain by 4 days post infection (DPI). Infection caused activation of microglia and astrocytes, selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and neurobehavioral abnormalities. After 8 weeks, surviving mice displayed continued loss of dopamine neurons in the SNpc, lingering glial cell activation and gene expression profiles consistent with a neurodegenerative phenotype. Strikingly, prominent proteinase K-resistant protein aggregates were present in the the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and basal midbrain that stained positively for phospho-serine129 α-synuclein (SNCA). These results indicate that WEEV may cause lasting neurological deficits through a severe neuroinflammatory response promoting both neuronal injury and protein aggregation in surviving individuals.
Elucidating the Dynamic Nature of Fuel Cell Electrodes as a Function of Conditioning: An ex Situ Material Characterization and in Situ Electrochemical Diagnostic Study.

To increase the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles, it is imperative to improve the activity and performance of electrocatalysts through combined efforts focused on material character...
Key to the Species of Adult Female Mosquitoes of Texas

Abstract Identification keys are provided for the species of nine genera of adult female mosquitoes of Texas. Illustrations and photographs of selected diagnostic morphological characters are used in the keys. The nine genera presented in this chapter include Aedes (28 species), Anopheles (13), Culex (19), Culiseta (3), Deinocerites (2), Orthopodomyia (3), Psorophora (12), Toxorhynchites (2), and Uranotaenia (3). Each of the three genera such as Coquillettidia, Haemagogus, and Mansonia has only one species and are presented in Chapter 3 key.
System code evaluation of near-term accident tolerant claddings during pressurized water reactor station blackout accidents

Abstract Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011, researches on Accident-tolerant fuels (ATFs) are currently of high interest in not only the nuclear industry but also governmental and international organizations. In this work, a quantitative evaluation of the performance of monolithic FeCrAl cladding and Cr-coated Zircaloy cladding has been performed for Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Station Blackout (SBO) accidents. A generic PWR model has been built in system thermal-hydraulics code TRACE based on the Surry Nuclear Power Station with counter-current natural circulation modelling capability for hotleg and steam generator U-tube components during the accidents. The base model results are then compared to MELCOR and RELAP simulations to verify the system component implementation in TRACE. Two PWR SBO scenarios were investigated, including: short-term SBO and long-term SBO with early reactor coolant pump (RCP) seal failure. These scenarios are defined to be very similar to the accidents studied in the State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analysis (SOARCA) project. TRACE code is modified to reflect the oxidation kinetics of FeCrAl and Cr-coating. Larson-Miller creep rupture model is also implemented in TARCE using its built-in control systems to simulate the creep rupture of hotlegs. The comparison between the TRACE models with and without the counter-current flow modeling resulted in significant difference when comparing ATF cladding to Zircaloy for short term SBO, while it marginal impacted the performance during long term SBO with RCP seal failure. For short term SBO, both ATF cladding underwent hot leg creep rupture ~20 min after Zircaloy cladding. While Zircaloy and Cr-coated cladding had generated significant amount of hydrogen gas (>10 kg) before the creep rupture event, FeCrAl cladding had only generated
Sensing of COVID-19 Antibodies in Seconds via Aerosol Jet Printed Three Dimensional Electrodes

Abstract Rapid diagnosis is critical for the treatment and prevention of diseases. In this research, we report sensing of antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 virus in seconds via an electrochemical platform consisting of gold micropillar array electrodes decorated with reduced graphene oxide and functionalized with recombinant viral antigens. The array electrodes are fabricated by Aerosol Jet (AJ) nanoparticle 3D printing, where gold nanoparticles (3-5nm) are assembled in 3D space, sintered, and integrated with a microfluidic device. The device is shown to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein and its receptor-binding-domain (RBD) at concentrations down to 1pM via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and read by a smartphone-based user interface. In addition, the sensor can be regenerated within a minute by introducing a low-pH chemistry that elutes the antibodies from the antigens, allowing successive testing of multiple antibody samples using the same sensor. The detection time for the two antibodies tested in this work is 11.5 seconds. S1 protein sensing of its antibodies is specific, which cross-reacts neither with other antibodies nor with proteins such as Nucleocapsid antibody and Interleukin-6 protein. The proposed sensing platform is generic and can also be used for the rapid detection of biomarkers for other infectious agents such as Ebola, HIV, and Zika, which will benefit the public health.
How spousal physical abuse impacts suicidal ideation among community-dwelling older adults: the effects of protective factors

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact on suicidal ideation (SI) of having experienced spousal physical abuse and the possible effects of protective factors on the relationship between ...
Chandra Discovery of a 300 kpc X-ray Jet in the GPS Quasar PKS1127-145

We have discovered an X-ray jet with Chandra imaging of the z=1.187 radio-loud quasar PKS1127-145. In this paper we present the Chandra X-ray data, follow-up VLA observations, and optical imaging using the HST WFPC2. The X-ray jet contains 273+/-5 net counts in 27ksec and extends ~30 arcsec, from the quasar core, corresponding to a minimum projected linear size of ~330/h_50 kpc. The evaluation of the X-ray emission processes is complicated by the observed offsets between X-ray and radio brightness peaks. We discuss the problems posed by these observations to jet models. In addition, PKS1127-145 is a Giga-Hertz Peaked Spectrum radio source, a member of the class of radio sources suspected to be young or ``frustrated'' versions of FRI radio galaxies. However the discovery of an X-ray and radio jet extending well outside the host galaxy of PKS1127-145 suggests that activity in this and other GPS sources may be long-lived and complex.
Poly'19 Workshop Summary: GDPR

Data privacy within the context of heterogenous data and data management systems continues to be an important issue. At the Poly?19 workshop, held in conjunction with VLDB 2019 in Los Angeles, CA, one of the major themes explored was the implication of data privacy regulations such as GDPR to systems composed of multiple heterogenous databases. This summary outlines some of the major approaches and directions presented by various presenters during the privacy portion of the Poly?19 workshop.
The Justice of Withholding Medical Student and Resident Education Regarding Contraceptive Techniques at Catholic Health Sponsored Hospitals and Implications for Rural General Surgeons

General surgical training for a rural area often focuses on many procedures outside the traditional scope of general surgery as there is typically a larger geographic distance to the nearest specialty surgeon. Currently there is one general surgery residency in Minnesota with a specific training track for rural general surgery; this program requires residents to spend 2 years in Duluth, part of which is at a catholic sponsored institution. Unfortunately, in catholic sponsored institutions, under normal circumstances, surgeons are not allowed to perform vasectomies as a means of contraception per the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services [1, 2]. Often, if general surgeons are not trained on a specific procedure, they will not perform this procedure as part of their practice. I believe each of the four ethical principles could be explored, but the one this article will focus on is justice. At its most basic definition justice can be described as fairness if medical decision making, but on a deeper level can be considered the equal distribution of resources or treatment [3]. The application of the principle of justice is important to a rural area because if our rural general surgeons are not being trained to perform these procedures, the procedure may not be performed at all within a large geographical area. This would require patients to either travel significant distances to attain this procedure or, if they are unable to travel, forgo the procedure entirely. Training physicians and surgeons for rural America ought to include training to equip him or her to confidently practice to the full extent of his or her education. Lack of training on a specific procedure, especially one allowing a patient to control reproductive rights, ultimately unjustly distributes medical treatment and does not allow this population the same rights/privileges afforded to those with easier access to medical care. In order for medical treatment to be delivered justly to a rural population, rural-focused general surgery residencies should train surgeons for a broad scope to meet the needs of their unique patient population which will ultimately best serve the patients in their care.
Recruitment of International Students Through a Synthesis of English as a Second Language Instruction, Social Justice, and Service Learning.

Universities across the U.S. have increasingly emphasized internationalization, leading to rising numbers of international students attending U.S. institutions of higher education. However, these students tend to gravitate toward larger research-intensive universities with many other institutions seeing no increase in international student enrollments. Little is known concerning how to attract international students to regional institutions lacking name recognition. To address the above and promote internationalization through increasing the presence of students from abroad, an academic department at a regional public U.S. college used needs analysis to develop a pilot program for Japanese university students (N = 13). The program involved a synthesis of English as a Second Language instruction, social justice as a content area, and service learning, in a two-week credit-bearing summer session course. A post-participation survey revealed highly positive reactions, particularly in terms of working with local community members, and broad agreement that the program had been life-altering. The implications for international student program development at regional institutions are discussed.
Regional variation in mercury bioaccumulation among NW Atlantic Golden (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and Blueline (Caulolatilus microps) Tilefish.

Abstract Mercury (Hg) concentrations in fishes from the NW Atlantic Ocean pose concern due to the importance of this region to U.S. fisheries harvest. In this study, total Hg (THg) concentrations and nitrogen stable isotope (δ15N) values were quantified in muscle tissues sampled from Golden (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) and Blueline (Caulolatilus microps) Tilefish collected during a fishery-independent survey conducted in the NW Atlantic to compare bioaccumulation patterns between these species. Total Hg concentrations averaged (±SD) 0.4 ± 0.4 μg/g dry weight (d.w.) for L. chamaeleonticeps and 1.1 ± 0.7 μg/g d.w. for C. microps with 70 cm fork length, exceeding the most restrictive USEPA regulatory guidelines for human consumption (THg > 0.46 μg/g w.w.), when converted to wet weight concentrations. The THg concentrations reported here for individuals from the NW Atlantic stock are comparable to those reported for similarly sized individuals collected from the SW Atlantic stock but notably lower than those reported for Gulf of Mexico L. chamaeleonticeps, indicating different Hg exposure and assimilation kinetics for fish from the NW Atlantic, and highlights the broad geographic variability of Hg bioaccumulation among Tilefish stocks. Caulolatilus microps had higher δ15N values relative to L. chamaeleonticeps and a pattern of decreasing THg concentrations was also present from south to north across the study range. It is concluded that this trophic difference and spatial pattern in Tilefish THg concentrations emphasizes the habitat and resource partitioning mechanisms described for these sympatric species that permits their coexistence in the continental shelf environment. Importantly, regional variability in THg concentrations accentuate the possible roles of fine-scale biotic and abiotic processes that can act to regulate Hg bioaccumulation among individuals and species.
Flattening the Debt Curve: Empirical Lessons for Fiscal Consolidation

This paper reviews the empirical literature to determine which forms of fiscal consolidation successfully reduce debt-to-GDP ratios and impact economic performance. We perform a cross-country analysis of fiscal adjustments in 26 democracies for 1995–2018 and find that expenditure-based fiscal adjustments are notably more successful at lowering debt levels than tax-based adjustments, with successful adjustments focusing around two-thirds on the expenditure side. Expenditure-based adjustments tend to cause small contractions, not significantly different from zero, while tax-based adjustments cause deep and long-lasting recessions. In addition, we find that periods of fiscal consolidation that last more than two years tend to be twice as successful as those that last only two years or less. We do not find the size of the fiscal consolidation to be a key determining factor in the success of fiscal adjustments.
Principal Leadership for Inclusion: Supporting Positive Student Identity Development for Students with Disabilities:

Researchers in special education and educational leadership have engaged in collective efforts to highlight the critical role of the principal when it comes to creating inclusive schools for studen...
Teammate Invitation Networks: The Roles of Recommender Systems and Prior Collaboration in Team Assembly.

Abstract Teammate invitation networks are foundational for team assembly, and recommender systems (similar to dating websites, but for selecting potential teammates) can aid the formation of such networks. This paper extends Hinds et al.’s (2000) influential model of team member selection by incorporating online recommender systems. Exponential random graph modeling of two samples (overall N = 410; 63 teams; 1,048 invitations) shows the invitation network is predicted by online recommendations, beyond previously-established effects of prior collaboration/familiarity, skills/competence, and homophily. Importantly, online recommendations are less heeded when there is prior collaboration (this effect replicates across samples). This study highlights technology-enabled team assembly from a network perspective.
Path Analysis of Internal and External Factors Associated with Parental Satisfaction over K-12 Online Learning

This study examined parents’ perception of their child’s learning experience during COVID-19. Data were collected from 153 U.S. parents’ responses to an online survey. Findings showed that parents’...
Characterization of antibodies raised to Protein I (PI) of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae by injection with PI — liposome constructs

The major outer membrane protein (PI) of the gonococcus has limited antigenic variability and is a potential vaccine candidate. In order to avoid raising anti-PIII antibodies, PI was chromato- graphically isolated from a nonpiliated, transparent, serum sensitive gonococcus, Pgh3-2. Alum was first used as an adjuvant. Rabbits injected with PI bound to alum developed significant titers to PI. These antibodies reacted with PI and PIII by western blot, but did not agglutinate the organisms and were not opsonic. In order to present the antigen in a form mimicking its in vivo disposition, PI was inserted into liposomes. Rabbits injected with liposome-PI also developed significant titers to PI. These antibodies agglutinated the organisms and mediated opsonic activity. This was significantly different from the antibodies produced by alum-PI injection, but was similar to antibodies raised with complete Freund’s adjuvant-PI injections.
Assessment of static complexity in design and manufacturing of a product family and its impact on manufacturing performance

Abstract As products and their manufacturing systems have become more sophisticated and complex, both industry and academia have widely discussed complexity in product design and manufacturing to understand its impact. However, the impact of complexity on manufacturing performance has not been clearly articulated in the previous empirical studies despite the widely expected negative relationship between them. As a response, this paper considers static complexity, which is due to inherent structural characteristics in product design and manufacturing, to elucidate the impact of design and manufacturing complexity on manufacturing performance. Metrics to properly capture design and manufacturing complexity in a product family are proposed and applied to a screwdriver product family case. Then, regression analysis is performed to identify the impact of complexity on manufacturing performance under different demand levels and manufacturing strategies. As a result, the negative impacts of design and manufacturing complexity on lead time and total production cost and their changes commensurate to the increase in demand are observed under the make-to-order policy. On the other hand, similar negative impacts are not statistically significant under the make-to-stock policy. These results indicate that static complexity negatively affects manufacturing performance only in the make-to-order system; and the inventory held of common parts in the make-to-stock system decreases the influence of static complexity on manufacturing performance.
Comparison of Signal-to-Noise Ratios, Part 2

It has been shown that previously published [1] probability density functions (PDFs) for several common signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) definitions are simply minor algebraic variants of the noncentral t distribution- based PDF results recently published by Nadarajah and Kotz [2]. The previously published, but unevaluated, integral expression for the PDF of quotients of SNRs has been shown to be in excellent quantitative agreement with Monte Carlo results. Furthermore, it has been shown that the same integral expression also yields the PDF for quotients of relative standard deviations (RSDs) and the PDF for quotients of simple detection limits. The latter was validated by comparison with detailed Monte Carlo simulations, with the result that accurate expectation values and detection limit 95% confidence intervals were obtained. As a consequence, a major step has been taken toward the goal of being able to compare simple detection limits on a fair basis and being able to perform a statistical test, precisely analogous to a standard F test, to determine whether a given pair of experimental detection limits are plausibly from the same chemical measurement system with the same measurement system parameters and measurement protocol.
The Cunei Machine Translation Platform for WMT '10

This paper describes the Cunei Machine Translation Platform and how it was used in the WMT '10 German to English and Czech to English translation tasks.
Femtosecond nonlinear dynamics of the Fermi-edge singularity with excitonic enhancement in pump-probe optical spectroscopy

Summary form only given. We study the effects of many-particle Coulomb correlations on the ultrafast nonlinear optical response of doped semiconductors with several subbands. In such structures, the Fermi energy of the occupied subband can be close to the excitonic level from the upper subband. In this case, the linear absorption spectrum has a characteristic double-peak form originating from the interference between the Fermi-edge singularity and excitonic resonances. As the electron concentration increases, the two resonances hybridize, with the oscillator strengths shifted towards the Fermi-edge singularity peak.
Opioid tolerance and the emergence of new opioid receptor-coupled signaling.

Multiple cellular adaptations are elicited by chronic exposure to opioids. These include diminution of spare opioid receptors, decreased opioid receptor density, and G-protein content and coupling thereof. All imply that opioid tolerance is a manifestation of a loss of opioid function, i.e., desensitization. Recent observations challenge the exclusiveness of this formulation and indicate that opioid tolerance also results from qualitative changes in opioid signaling. In this article, Gintzler and Chakrabarti discuss the evidence that suggests that opioid tolerance results not only from impaired opioid receptor functionality, but also from altered consequences of coupling. Underlying the latter are fundamental changes in the nature of effectors that are coupled to the opioid receptor/G-protein signaling pathway. These molecular changes include the upregulation of adenylyl cyclase isoforms of the type II family as well as a substantial increase in their phosphorylation state. As a result, there is a shift in opioid receptor/G-protein signaling from predominantly Giα inhibitory to Gβγ stimulatory following chronic in vivo morphine exposure. These adaptations to chronic morphine indicate the plasticity of opioid-signal transduction mechanisms and the ability of chronic morphine to augment new signaling strategies.
Measurement of light amplification in coherently pumped rubidium atoms

We report the observation of steady-state amplification of a weak probe laser in Doppler broadened Λ-type rubidium atoms. With the weak probe laser and a strong coupling laser arranged in a Doppler cancellation configuration, and a third laser pumping Rb atoms to the probed upper level, Doppler-free probe amplification was observed and the measured spectral linewidth of the probe gain feature approaches the Rb natural linewidth. A theoretical analysis based on a three-level Λ-type model suggests that there is no population inversion in the bare states.
Evaporation Kinematics of Polystyrene Bead Suspensions

A study of the evaporation of polystyrene sphere−H2O suspensions placed on nonwetting surfaces was conducted using a video camera and computer-imaging interface. The height, diameter, contact angle, and mass were measured as functions of time for a range of sessile drop sizes, polystyrene sphere diameters, and initial suspension concentrations. For initial concentrations of polystyrene spheres greater than approximately 8%, the drop diameter changed by less than 5%, and universal trends, independent of the sphere and droplet size, in the time dependence of the height, mass, and contact angle were observed. Those situations for which the polystyrene sphere concentration was less than approximately 8% showed a larger variation of diameter with time. For the case where the diameter remained constant, a theoretical model, which is analogous to the Landau theory of phase transitions, successfully predicts the experimental height and mass data over the entire evaporation range.
Look Who's Talking! Islamic Discourse in the Chechen Wars

In any contemporary conflict, the war of ideas may be just as important as the war on the battlefield. Throughout history, propaganda has been used as a tool of psychological warfare. The prevalence of technology makes the mass media an ever more vital tool in spreading one's message, both to combatants and throughout the world. The case of the Chechen wars demonstrates the importance both sides placed on publicity in the course of fighting. In addition to the use of print journalism, the Chechen wars witnessed the employment of television news broadcasts, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Internet as a means to spread messages. Given the importance of the media, the public and private discourse by the combatants has been seen as crucial to their cause. The language of Islam carries a set of widely shared symbols, many related to war, that can be used to manipulate public opinion. This article will analyze how Islamic language was used in the two Russian invasions of Chechnya in the 1990s (1994–1996, 1999–2002). It analyzes three pairs of variables: Russian and Chechen public discourse, especially regarding the language of Islam; Chechen public and Chechen private discourse; and the discourse of both sides in the first war compared to the second war.
Pyrolysis of bitumen-impregnated sandstones: a comparison of fluidized bed and rotary kiln reactors

Abstract A series of stationary-state pyrolysis experiments have been completed with the mined ore from the Whiterocks tar sand deposit. The C5+ hydrocarbon liquid yield decreased with increasing solids retention time at fixed operating temperatures in both fluidized bed and rotary kiln reactors. The liquid yield obtained with the rotary kiln was higher than that obtained with the fluidized bed at comparable operating conditions. The bitumen-derived hydrocarbon liquids produced in the rotary kiln reactor were significantly upgraded relative to the natural bitumen. The total asphaltene content as determined by gradient elution chromatography was reduced by 50–63%.
Implementing Integrated Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

This review addresses implementation strategies related to integrated treatment for people with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorder. The dominant model over recent years emphasizes the regional technical assistance center as a resource for planning, training, supervision, monitoring, and problem solving. Technical assistance centers have not been formally evaluated. Future implementation studies will rely strongly on learning collaboratives and modern information technology, including comprehensive electronic decision support systems. (Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 6:251–262, 2010)
By Desperate Appliance Relieved? On the Clinical Relevance of Risk Stratification to Therapeutic Decision-Making

Risk stratification is a mainstay of current cardiovascular care. Its practical relevance to therapeutic decision making depends, however, on the often unverified assumption that higher risk patients experience greater treatment benefit. The truth of this assumption depends, in turn, on the particular set of variables in the putative risk prediction model, the pathophysiology of the underlying disease, and the associated goal(s) of therapy. If the operative set of risk predictors is incomplete (ignoring variables affected by treatment) or inconsistent (including variables unaffected by treatment), this will influence the relation between pretreatment risk and post-treatment benefit in complex ways having material clinical consequences. In conclusion, the clinical appropriateness of risk stratification must not be assumed. Instead, risk stratification guidelines specific to a particular disease and a particular treatment should be founded on prospective empiric validation.
Prevention of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus.

An estimated 2 million women infected with HIV-1 have babies annually and approximately 700000 children were infected with HIV in 2003. The HIV epidemic began in Africa in the late 1970s and early 1980s and is transmitted predominantly through heterosexual intercourse as evidenced by the worldwide male: female ratio of approximately 1:1. More than 90 percent of the worlds HIV-infected children reside in Sub-Saharan Africa; the vast majority (> 90%) of infected children acquire the infection from their mothers during gestation labor and delivery or postpartum through breastfeeding. An estimated 26 million deliveries occur in sub-Saharan Africa annually with seroprevalence in pregnant women reaching levels of 20 to 39 percent based on national surveillance in countries in southern and eastern Africa. The overall seroprevalence of HIV in adults between 15 and 49 years of age is 7.5 to 8.5 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa. (excerpt)
Transplant candidates with severe left ventricular dysfunction managed with medical treatment: characteristics and survival.

Objectives. This study sought to assess the clinical characteristics and survival of patients with symptomatic heart failure who were referred as potential heart transplant candidates, but were selected for medical management. Background. Patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction referred for heart transplantation may be considered too well to be placed immediately on an active waiting transplant list. The clinical characteristics of this patient group and their survival have not been well defined. These patients represent a unique group that are characterized by comparatively low age and freedom from significant comorbid conditions. Methods. We studied 116 consecutive patients with symptomatic heart failure, severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction 20 ± 7% [mean ± SD]) and duration of symptoms >1 month referred for heart transplantation, who were acceptable candidates for the procedure but who were not listed for transplantation because of relative clinical stability. These patients were followed up closely on optimal medical therapy. A variety of baseline clinical, hemodynamic and exercise variables were assessed to define this patient group and used to predict cardiac death and requirement later for heart transplantation. Results. During a mean follow-up period of 25.0 ± 14.8 months (follow-up 99% complete), there were eight cardiac deaths (7%) (seven sudden, one acute myocardial infarction). Only nine patients (8%) were listed for heart transplantation. Actuarial 1- and 4-year cardiac survival rates were 98 ± 1% and 84 ± 7% (mean ± SE), respectively, and freedom from listing for transplantation was 95 ± 2% and 84 ± 7% (mean ± SE), respectively. Patients were mainly in New York Heart Association functional class II or III and had a preserved cardiac index (2.4 liters/min.m 2 ), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 16 ± 9 mm Hg (mean ± SD) and maximal oxygen consumption of 17.4 ± 4.3 ml/min per kg (mean ± SD). By logistic regression analysis, there was no predictor for cardiac death. Longer duration of heart failure (p = 0.013) and mean pulmonary artery (p < 0.05) and pulmonary systolic (p = 0.014) and diastolic (p < 0.05) pressures correlated significantly with listing for heart transplantation by univariate logistic regression. By multivariate logistic regression, only pulmonary artery systolic pressure (p < 0.004) and duration of heart failure (p < 0.015) remained as predictors for need for later transplantation. Conclusions. In the current treatment era, prognosis is favorable in a definable group of transplant candidates despite severe left ventricular dysfunction. This patient group can be identified after intensive medical therapy by stable symptoms, a relatively high maximal oxygen uptake at peak exercise and a preserved cardiac output.
Effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin on cochlear potentials following its application to the chinchilla middle ear.

The compound action potential (CAP) of the eighth nerve and the endocochlear potential (EP) were examined in the chinchilla as an animal model when Escherichia coli endotoxin (100μg) was applied to the middle ear cavity. A significant elevation of the CAP threshold at 2, 3, and 4 kHz was observed 48h after the instillation of endotoxin, but this hearing loss was thought to be caused by a conductive component. No significant change in the CAP threshold was recognized 30 days after instillation. The EP in either period showed no significant difference. These findings indicate that the application of endotoxin at the concentration used in the present study does not cause a cochlear disturbance.
Mechanisms of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

We review the mechanisms involved in irreversible cartilage damage in inflammatory arthritis, in the context of experimental work carried out by members of the Department of Orthopedics, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, in the author's laboratory. The importance of the superficial layer of cartilage, and the phenotypic differences between superficial and deep chondrocytes with respect to nitric oxide production are emphasized. In addition, we describe some of the consequences resulting from the interaction of nitric oxide and reacting oxygen radicals at the cartilage surface.
The onset of the Anthropocene

Abstract A number of different starting dates for the Anthropocene epoch have been proposed, reflecting different disciplinary perspectives and criteria regarding when human societies first began to play a significant role in shaping the earth's ecosystems. In this article these various proposed dates for the onset of the Anthropocene are briefly discussed, along with the data sets and standards on which they are based. An alternative approach to identifying the onset of the Anthropocene is then outlined. Rather than focusing on different markers of human environmental impact in identifying when the Anthropocene begins, this alternative approach employs Niche Construction Theory (NCT) to consider the temporal, environmental and cultural contexts for the initial development of the human behavior sets that enabled human societies to modify species and ecosystems more to their liking. The initial domestication of plants and animals, and the development of agricultural economies and landscapes are identified as marking the beginning of the Anthropocene epoch. Since this transition to food production occurred immediately following the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary, the Anthropocene can be considered as being coeval with the Holocene, resolving the contentious “golden spike” debate over whether existing standards can be satisfied for recognition of a new geological epoch.
Charge versus fermion fractionalization in the quarter-filled Hubbard-Peierls model.

We investigate the soliton excitations in the quarter-filled Hubbard-Peierls model in both the large-and small-$U$ limits. For a strictly one-dimensional system at zero temperature, we find that the solitons in both limits are in one-to-one correspondence. In the presence of weak three-dimensional coupling, the large-$U$ system differs qualitatively from the small-$U$ system in that the spin associated with the solitons ceases to be a sharp quantum observable. We suggest a natural explanation of both the magnetic and the dielectric response measured in ${(\mathrm{NPM})}_{x}{(\mathrm{Phen})}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{TCNQ}$ [${(N\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{methylphenazinium})}_{x}{(\mathrm{phenazine})}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}(\mathrm{tetracyanoquinodimethanide})$] and Qn${(\mathrm{TCNQ})}_{2}$ (quinolinium ditetracyanoquinodimethanide).
M-mode echocardiography in anteroseptal myocardial infarction. Lack of sensitivity.

Eighteen patients with documented anteroseptal myocardial infarction (ASMI) were investigated with both cardiac catheterization and M-mode echocardiography. All had greater than 75 percent occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), proximal to the first septal perforator in 12, and distal to it in 6; 17 of 18 had abnormal septal motion by angiography. In contrast, echocardiography revealed abnormal septal motion in only 5 of 18; two others had diminished septal wall thickness in relation to posterior ventricular wall. The presence of these echocardiographic signs was not dependent either on relation of stenosis to septal perforators or on presence of septal collaterals. Although abnormal septal motion by M-mode echocardiography may indicate ASMI, normal motion does not exclude it nor does it help localize stenosis of the LAD.
Specific copper transfer from the Cox17 metallochaperone to both Sco1 and Cox11 in the assembly of yeast cytochrome C oxidase.

The assembly of the copper sites in cytochrome c oxidase involves a series of accessory proteins, including Cox11, Cox17, and Sco1. The two mitochondrial inner membrane proteins Cox11 and Sco1 are thought to be copper donors to the CuB and CuA sites of cytochrome oxidase, respectively, whereas Cox17 is believed to be the copper donor to Sco1 within the intermembrane space. In this report we show Cox17 is a specific copper donor to both Sco1 and Cox11. Using in vitro studies with purified proteins, we demonstrate direct copper transfer from CuCox17 to Sco1 or Cox11. The transfer is specific because no transfer occurs to heterologous proteins, including bovine serum albumin and carbonic anhydrase. In addition, a C57Y mutant of Cox17 fails to transfer copper to Sco1 but is competent for copper transfer to Cox11. The in vitro transfer studies were corroborated by a yeast cytoplasm expression system. Soluble domains of Sco1 and Cox11, lacking the mitochondrial targeting sequence and transmembrane domains, were expressed in the yeast cytoplasm. Metallation of these domains was strictly dependent on the co-expression of Cox17. Thus, Cox17 represents a novel copper chaperone that delivers copper to two proteins.
Directing autoimmunity to nucleoprotein particles: The impact of dendritic cells and interferon α in lupus

Over half a million people in the United States have systemic lupus. Most are women in their childbearing years. They usually have arthritis and scarring rashes, and about half have kidney involvement that may progress to renal failure. With time, there is an increasing likelihood that the brain
Analgesic Prescribing for Musculoskeletal Complaints in the Ambulatory Care Setting After the Introduction and Withdrawal of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors

Abstract Wilson RD. Analgesic prescribing for musculoskeletal complaints in the ambulatory care setting after the introduction and withdrawal of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Objective To evaluate the analgesic prescribing patterns for musculoskeletal complaints in a nationally representative sample of ambulatory care visits over a dynamic period of pharmaceutical treatments. Design Sequential cross-sectional analysis of complex probabilistic survey data with multivariable logistic regression analysis. Setting National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 1999 to 2005. Participants Visits to ambulatory care physicians in the United States from 1999 to 2005 with the reason for visit being a musculoskeletal complaint. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Prescribing of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsNSAIDs), opiate analgesics, nonnarcotic analgesics, and adjuvant analgesic medications for visits related to musculoskeletal complaints. Results There were 41,804 visits for musculoskeletal complaints, representing 789 million visits from 1999 to 2005 in the weighted analyses. Prescribing for any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remained relatively stable from 1999 to 2005. It appears that COX-2 inhibitors were substituted for nsNSAIDs initially. After safety concerns arose and select COX-2 inhibitors were withdrawn, there were sharp increases in prescribing of nsNSAIDs and nonnarcotic analgesics. Opiate analgesics and adjuvant analgesics increased in usage over the study period, although apparently not in substitution for NSAIDs. Conclusions COX-2 inhibitors may have been prescribed as substitutes for nsNSAIDs initially, but nsNSAID prescriptions returned to prior levels by 2005 as COX-2 inhibitor prescriptions declined. An increase in nonnarcotic analgesic prescribing in 2005 may have been caused by a class effect concern for NSAIDs. Prescribing of opiate analgesics and adjuvant analgesics increased over the study period, although apparently not in substitution for NSAIDs.