cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Structure and Political Participation: Developmental Relationships, Part I

Economic development has consequences for many aspects of social life. Some of these social consequences, in turn, have an impact on a nation's political life. Studies of social mobilization, for example, have demonstrated that economic development is associated with sharp increases in the general level of political participation. These studies report strong relationships between aggregate socio-economic measures such as per capita income, median level of education, and percentage of the population in urban areas, on one hand, and aggregate measures of political participation, such as voting turnout, on the other. Simultaneously, scholars conducting surveys of individual political participation consistently have reported that an individual's social status, education, and organizational memberships strongly affect the likelihood of his engaging in various types of political activities.In spite of the consistency of both sets of findings across many studies and although the findings appear frequently in analysis of political stability, democracy, and even strategies of political growth, we know little about the connections between social structure and political participation. With few exceptions the literature on individual participation is notable for low level generalizations (the better educated citizen talks about politics more regularly), and the absence of systematic and comprehensive theory. While the literature on the growth of national political participation has been more elaborate theoretically, the dependence on aggregate measures has made it difficult to determine empirically how these macro social changes structure individuals' life experiences in ways which alter their political behavior.
Status of VERITAS

VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, is a major new ground-based observatory for studying nonthermal astrophysics in the gamma-ray band above 100 GeV. Stereo observations with the first two of four telescopes began in March, 2006 at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona, USA. Construction and commissioning of the remainder of the array has taken place during the Summer and Fall of 2006, in parallel with engineering and science observations by the first two telescopes. We present the performance of the VERITAS telescopes during this commissioning period and discuss the key science program planned for VERITAS during the first two years of routine array operation, beginning in March, 2007. This program includes a sky survey in the galactic plane, observations of SNRs and PWNe, studies of TeV-emitting AGN, and a search for dark matter.
The effect of nifedipine on lipid and monocyte infiltration of the subendothelial space.

Abstract Purpose: Calcium channel blockade has been shown to inhibit experimental atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed animals, and early clinical trials suggest its benefit in human subjects as well. Methods: To determine the effect of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine on lipid and monocyte infiltration of the subendothelial space, an endothelial cell (EC)—smooth muscle cell (SMC) bilayer model of the arterial wall was incubated for 18 hours with nifedipine (0.1 μg/ml). Iodine 125—labeled low-density lipoprotein ( 125 I-LDL) (10 μg protein/ml) was then added to the upper-well medium. Results: After a 3-hour incubation period, nifedipine-treated bilayers showed an increased permeability to LDL ( p −7 ). Nifedipine had no effect on the membrane binding or cellular uptake of LDL by the EC but did increase SMC binding and uptake ( p 125 I-LDL in a concentration-dependent fashion, without saturation to 25 μg/ml, the highest concentration studied. Nifedipine increased monocyte uptake of LDL (10 μg/ml; p p −7 ). A study of the selective preincubation of each cell type (EC, SMC, and monocyte) with nifedipine indicated that this reduction was likely the result of a direct effect on the monocyte. Conclusions: Given the potential cytotoxic effects of the monocyte within the subendothelial space, nifedipine-induced inhibition of monocyte infiltration and enhancement of lipoprotein uptake by the SMC may be protective. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:841-8.)
Molecular thermodynamics for some applications in biotechnology

As biotechnology sweeps the world, it is appropriate to remember that the great virtue of thermodynamics is its broad range of applicability. As a result, there is a growing literature describing how chemical thermodynamics can be used to inform processes for old and new biochemical products for industry and medicine. A particular application of molec- ular thermodynamics concerns separation of aqueous proteins by selective precipitation. For this purpose, we need phase diagrams; for constructing such diagrams, we need to understand not only the qualitative nature of phase equilibria of aqueous proteins, but also the quantita- tive intermolecular forces between proteins in solution. Some examples are given to show how aqueous protein-protein forces can be calculated or measured to yield a potential of mean force and how that potential is then used along with a statistical-thermodynamic model to establish liquid-liquid and liquid-crystal equilibria. Such equilibria are useful not only for separation processes, but also for understanding diseases like Alzheimer's, eye cataracts, and sickle-cell anemia that appear to be caused by protein agglomeration.
Further Speedup of a Large Word-Width High-Speed Asynchronous Multiply and Accumulate Unit

This paper further optimizes the previously developed high-speed architecture for asynchronous Multiply and Accumulate (MAC) feedback, resulting in a speedup of 1.36 over the previous fastest 72+32×32 asynchronous MAC in the literature, while also decreasing area by 8%.
Elimination of the carboxy-terminal sequences of parathyroid hormone-related protein 1-173 increases production and secretion of the truncated forms

The endoproteolytic processing of polypeptides at basic residues into distinct biologically active peptides is a common theme in prohormone maturation and processing. PTH-related protein (PTHrP) 1-173 contains eight putative endoproteolytic consensus sites that include a mono-arginyl (R37), paired basic (RR154-155), and related basic residue motifs (RLKR-4 to -1, RRR19-21, KKKK88-91, KRK96-98, KKKRR102-106, and KKKK147-150). To analyze the primary structural determinants involved in the posttranslational processing and secretion of PTHrP 1-173, we constructed a series of nonsense mutants that code for carboxy-terminal truncated polypeptides. Since the basic residue motifs are probable sites of endoproteolysis, these sites and the residues downstream were serially eliminated, thereby creating PTHrP 1-152, 1-146, 1-101, 1-95, 1-87, 1-36, and 1-18. The wild type PTHrP 1-173 and nonsense mutant constructs were transiently transfected into two cell lines, COS-1 and SK-N-BE(2). The COS-1 cells have a constitutive secretory pathway, whereas the neuroblastoma-derived BE-2 cells have, in addition, a regulated secretory pathway. PTHrP was measured in the conditioned media and cell extracts of the transfected cells with two peptide-specific RIAs. In COS-1 cells, PTHrP truncation mutants 1-152, 1-146, 1-101, 1-95, and 1-87 were present relative to wild type isoform 1-173, at 4.4-, 3-, 19-, 12-, and 57-fold excess, respectively; a similar pattern was also detected with BE-2 transfected cells, although the relative increases above the quantities of PTHrP 1-173 were not as dramatic. As the carboxy-terminal sequences were eliminated, the amount of total and secreted PTHrP increased, and the percentage found within the cell decreased. In COS-1 cells, 10.5% of the total PTHrP 1-173 was intracellular, whereas only 1% of the total PTHrP 1-87 was intracellular. In BE-2 cells, 54% of the total PTHrP 1-173 and only 9% of the total 1-87 mutant were intracellular. In COS-1 cells, a time course analysis demonstrated that PTHrP 1-87 and 1-95 were detectable in media 3 h after transfection, whereas 1-173 was barely detectable after 24 h. Our studies suggest that the carboxy-terminal sequence of PTHrP 1-173 is responsible for the intracellular degradation of this polypeptide, which may be the endogenous cellular mechanism that regulates the amount of processed and secreted PTHrP.
Multiple path planning for a group of mobile robot in a 2-D environment using genetic algorithms

We present the development, simulation and testing of a new approach using genetic algorithms for planning optimum paths for a group of mobile robots to be moved from arbitrary starting positions to final a number of targets in a known multi-obstacle 3D environment. The factors considered for fording optimum paths for the group of mobile robots are the size and location of obstacles in the environment and the topographical elevations of the environment. First, a digital picture of the environment is transformed into a grid map by a graphic simulator. The obstacles are mapped according to their location, shape and size. The ground elevations are represented using a color-coding scheme. The resulting grid map of the environment contains information about initial positions of the robots, target positions, obstacle locations and ground elevation. Hence, the location and size of obstacles and altitudes of the elevation of the environment are presented in the map. The genetic algorithm modules takes information about the environment from the grid map and search for optimum paths to move a group of mobile robots to the specified targets.
Effects of Aging on the Fracture Behavior of Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene

Abstract The thermoxidative aging behavior of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) vulcanizates has been investigated. Aging rates were determined by measuring isothermal oxidative induction times in a differential scanning calorimeter. Aging rates were also determined by measuring the decrease in the critical tearing energy of compounds as a function of aging time and temperature. Rate constants determined from induction time and tearing energy experiments displayed typical Arrhenius behavior. Below 240°C, rate constants from both experiments fell on the same line, suggesting that both experiments probe the same reaction. Activation energies for degradation of CSM and CPE were 88 and 108 kJ/mol respectively. Above 240°C, the mechanism of degradation changes with a corresponding change in activation energy to 190 and 232 kJ/mol for CSM and CPE, respectively. In the unaged state, the critical tearing energy of the carbon black-filled CPE compound is 50% higher than that of...
A response to Mimics of child abuse: Can choking explain abusive head trauma? [35 (2015) 33–37]

In the recently published article in this journal, "Mimics of Child Abuse: Can Choking Explain Abusive Head Trauma?",(1) the author chose to revisit a discussion prompted by a case report from 5 years ago which was inappropriate in his opinion. He went further to suggest that bringing an unvalidated mechanism of injury into the legal setting "obstructs justice", is a "further victimization of the child", and is a "travesty of justice".(1) Given the "Shaken Baby Syndrome: Rotational Cranial Injuries" has always been only an unvalidated hypothesis lacking experimental confirmation, the exploring of alternative injury mechanisms should be entirely appropriate. In 2010, the post publication discussion ended with a challenge to the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect (AAP COCAN) to either support the pure shaking mechanism with quality EBMS or eliminate any positive support for it from any official policy statement until the exact nature of each injury that pure abusive shaking has the potential to cause is clearly defined and supported with quality experimental research.(4) Since this is an area of acknowledged controversy by the AAP, it is appropriate to examine the evidence based experimental literature that has emerged over the last five years that is relevant to the abusive shaking hypothesis and the hypothesis of any primary brain-lethal hypoxic event leading to the findings of retinal hemorrhages, extra-axial bleeding, and brain injury when an infant presents to medical attention after an Acute/Apparent Life Threatening Event. In that light, this review was undertaken.
Selected References on Leadership in Organizations

This alphabetical listing of references on leadership is designed for participants in leadership courses and executive seminars who want guidance for further reading and study. Many of the references are annotated.
Modeling and Adaptive Control of Spacecraft with Fuel Slosh: Overview and Case Studies

The presence of fuel sloshing during a spacecraft maneuver can lead to tracking error or instability. In this paper, we give an overview of the pendulum analogy model of spacecraft with fuel slosh dynamics and conduct a study of adaptive control for such a model. We begin by presenting the nonlinear dynamics of the chosen models. We then find the key non-minimum phase feature of such a dynamic system. We derive a linearized version of a realistic spacecraft dynamic model with fuel slosh and develop control designs for stability and tracking objectives. We develop an adaptive pole placement control scheme and apply it to the nonlinear model. We evaluate the adaptive control system performance using simulation results and formulate future problems for this research.
Flame-driven Aerosol Synthesis of Copper–Nickel Nanopowders and Conductive Nanoparticle Films

We report the continuous one-step synthesis of bimetallic copper–nickel nanostructured coatings by deposition and sintering of metal nanoparticles produced as an aerosol using a flame driven high t...
Determining the Flowering Requirements of Two Aquilegia Cultivars

Flowering of the herbaceous perennial Aquilegia is generally considered to require vernalization after seedlings are mature, whereas photoperiod has little or no effect. We performed experiments to determine the flowering responses for two Aquilegia · hybrida varieties, one of which reportedly has reduced cold requirements. Seedlings of Aquilegia 'Origami Blue and White' and 'Winky Double Red and White' withthree tofive leaves were either placed directly into a 5 8C cooler with low-intensity lighting for 9 hours/ day or transplanted to 13-cm containers and grown (bulked) for 0, 3, or 6 weeks at 20 8C under 9-hour short days (SDs) or 16-h long days (LDs). Plants were then cooled at 5 8C for 0, 5, or 10 weeks and placed in a common forcing environment at 20 8C under LDs. Flowering response of the two cultivars differed markedly. All Aquilegia 'Origami Blue and White' plants placed directly into the forcing environment flowered and in a mean of 93 days. Flowering percentage of plants cooled in the plug tray decreased with increasing duration of cold treatment, and only 15% flowered after a 10-week cold treatment. All plants bulked for 3 or 6 weeks before cold treatment flowered after 25 to 36 days in the forcing environment. Adding bulking and forcing time together, time to flowering of 'Origami Blue and White' was complete and most rapid (62 days) when plants were bulked for 3 weeks under SDs and then forced under LDs. In contrast, no 'Winky Double Red and White' plants flowered without cold treatment, and 6 weeks of bulking followed by 10 weeks of cold was required for 100% flowering. These results indicate that 'Origami Blue and White' has a relatively short juvenile phase and flowering was promoted by SD bulking or cold treatment, whereas 'Winky Double Red and White' has a longer juvenile phase and requires cold for flowering.
Recurrent "spontaneous" pneumoperitoneum: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

AbstractThe finding of intraperitoneal free gas usually indicates a perforated abdominal viscus, and requires emergency surgery. In a minority of cases, no perforation can be found, a situation that can be classified as “spontaneous” pneumoperitoneum. A conservative approach may be considered if clinical signs are minimal, particularly when peritoneal signs, fever and leucocytosis are absent. The various causes of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum are discussed.
Cardiovascular Perspective of the Promises and Perils of E-Cigarettes.

The use of tobacco products remains the major preventable cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Although much progress has been made in reducing the prevalence of smoking, new opportunities to regulate tobacco products and the recent introduction of e-cigarettes in the market have radically redefined the tobacco landscape. These developments have heightened the need for a more in-depth understanding of the effects of tobacco products on heart disease, and for identifying which components of tobacco products cause cardiovascular damage and which biomarkers and subclinical measures of cardiovascular disease are most reflective of tobacco-induced injury. This understanding is essential not only for developing new regulatory policies, but also for evaluating disease risk that might be associated with the use of new devices such as e-cigarettes. Because the concentration of several harmful and potentially harmful constituents present in cigarette smoke is decreased in e-cigarettes, it has been suggested that the use of e-cigarettes could significantly lessen the burden of cardiovascular disease. E-cigarettes have also been claimed to promote smoking cessation. However, the extent of residual risk associated with carbonyls, particulate matter, nicotine, flavors, and other constituents of e-cigarettes is unclear, and the efficacy of e-cigarettes as cessation devices remains uncertain. Widespread acceptance of these devices could renormalize the use of tobacco products and recruit a new generation of users to nicotine addiction. Therefore, further toxicological, clinical, economic, and marketing research is required to chart a clear, evidence-based pathway for alleviating the cardiovascular disease burden of tobacco products. Even after decades of aggressive antismoking campaigns, after banning cigarettes from most public places, after social denormalization of tobacco use, and after the accumulation of extensive evidence linking tobacco products to early mortality, smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, killing >480 000 American every year, accounting for ≈5 million premature deaths …
mGluR2/3 mechanisms in primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: evidence for both presynaptic and postsynaptic actions

mGluR2/3 mechanisms in primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: evidence for both presynaptic and postsynaptic actions
The impact of argumentativeness and verbal aggression on communicator image: The exchange between George Bush and Dan Rather

In previous research argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness have been conceptually differentiated. This study sought to determine the effect of each concept on the image of participants in an actual public argument, the CBS news interview of George Bush by Dan Rather in January, 1988. Results indicate that both argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness have a significant relationship to communicator image, but unexpected results occur when comparing the images of the two participants. Verbal aggressiveness negatively affected Bush's communicator image, but positively influenced Rather's. Results also suggest differences in the effects of argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness on specific characteristics of communicator image.
Voltage and frequency control of islanded microgrid based on combined direct current vector control and droop control

The increased integration of distributed energy sources into microgrids presents a major challenge in voltage and frequency stability of the microgrids, especially in islanded conditions. Microgrid control is typically classified into a three-level hierarchical control involving primary, secondary, and tertiary control, where primary and secondary levels are related to the operation of a microgrid itself, and tertiary level takes care of the coordinated operation of network microgrids. A key challenge associated with the microgrid control is how to maintain voltage and frequency stability in microgrid islanded operation conditions. This paper proposes to integrate a direct current vector control mechanism with the droop control method to overcome the challenges. Compared to the conventional control methods, the proposed method improves microgrid stability, relibility, and power quality. Simulation study shows the effectiveness and excellent performance of combining direct current vector control with droop control for islanded microgrids.
Four Factors that Regulate Teen Technology Use in Everyday Life

We examine how teens from an urban area in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA regulate their use of technology. We framed our research using everyday life information seeking theory [43] and information ecologies [35]. Using a survey, audio and photo diary study, creative free response activity, and semi-structured interviews, we examine teens' perceptions of their everyday life technology use and factors that influence changes in that use, with a focus on understanding non-use, low use, and intentional self-regulation. We describe four factors impacting these practices, including local policies and access, affective factors, life stage and future goals, and relationships. We describe how shifting use practices function in the lives of these teens and discuss the importance of acknowledging teens' skills and preferences for supporting their technology use management.
Word Reading and Decoding

For individuals to learn to read, the brain must encode and decode incoming visual and auditory information, making use of previously learned procedural information about how to process stimuli. Attention, motivation, emotions, and adequate sleep all play roles in helping the brain learn to read. A sense of print and phonemic and morphemic awareness are necessary to learn to decode words. Children must have an adequate working memory, and an awareness of the sounds, or phonology, of a language. They must map those phonemes onto specific graphemes, which are made up of individual letters or combinations of letters. This matchup between sounds and letters is called a language’s orthography. Some languages—such as Spanish, Greek, and Italian—have regular orthographies and learning to read them takes a few months. Others—such as English—have irregular orthographies and take a few years to learn. Some educators believe that a child who can read a language with a regular orthography does not have a specific learning disability; however, this is not the case. There are differences related to learning to read in languages with different orthographies. This chapter highlights the clinical signs of decoding and word recognition disabilities, as well as appropriate formal and informal measures to use in assessing the reading of English learners. We focus on specific ways to assess reading decoding and word recognition as a part of specific learning disability identification eligibility decisions. The chapter concludes with interventions that can be put into place with English learners who struggle with decoding.
Genome-wide signals of positive selection in strongylocentrotid sea urchins

Comparative genomics studies investigating the signals of positive selection among groups of closely related species are still rare and limited in taxonomic breadth. Such studies show great promise in advancing our knowledge about the proportion and the identity of genes experiencing diversifying selection. However, methodological challenges have led to high levels of false positives in past studies. Here, we use the well-annotated genome of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, as a reference to investigate the signals of positive selection at 6520 single-copy orthologs from nine sea urchin species belonging to the family Strongylocentrotidae paying careful attention to minimizing false positives. We identified 1008 (15.5%) candidate positive selection genes (PSGs). Tests for positive selection along the nine terminal branches of the phylogeny identified 824 genes that showed lineage-specific adaptive diversification (1.67% of branch-sites tests performed). Positively selected codons were not enriched at exon borders or near regions containing missing data, suggesting a limited contribution of false positives caused by alignment or annotation errors. Alignments were validated at 10 loci with re-sequencing using Sanger methods. No differences were observed in the rates of synonymous substitution (d S), GC content, and codon bias between the candidate PSGs and those not showing positive selection. However, the candidate PSGs had 68% higher rates of nonsynonymous substitution (d N) and 33% lower levels of heterozygosity, consistent with selective sweeps and opposite to that expected by a relaxation of selective constraint. Although positive selection was identified at reproductive proteins and innate immunity genes, the strongest signals of adaptive diversification were observed at extracellular matrix proteins, cell adhesion molecules, membrane receptors, and ion channels. Many candidate PSGs have been widely implicated as targets of pathogen binding, inactivation, mimicry, or exploitation in other groups (notably mammals). Our study confirmed the widespread action of positive selection across sea urchin genomes and allowed us to reject the possibility that annotation and alignment errors (including paralogs) were responsible for creating false signals of adaptive molecular divergence. The candidate PSGs identified in our study represent promising targets for future research into the selective agents responsible for their adaptive diversification and their contribution to speciation.
Unrecognized failed airway management using a supraglottic airway device.

Abstract Background 911 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems utilize supraglottic devices for either primary advanced airway management, or for airway rescue following failed attempts at direct laryngoscopy endotracheal intubation. There is, however, limited data on objective confirmation of supraglottic airway placement in the prehospital environment. Furthermore, the ability of EMS field providers to recognize a misplaced airway is unknown. Methods Retrospective review of patients who underwent airway management using the King LTS-D supraglottic airway in a large urban EMS system, between 3/1/15-9/30/2015. Subjective success was defined as documentation of successful airway placement by the EMS provider. Objective success was confirmed by review of waveform capnography, with the presence of a 4-phase waveform greater than 5 mmHg. Sensitivity and specificity of the field provider’s assessment of success were then calculated. Results A total of 344 supraglottic airway attempts were reviewed. No patients met obvious death criteria. 269 attempts (85.1%) met criteria for both subjective and objective success. 19 attempts (5.6%) were recognized failures by the EMS provider. 47 (13.8%) airways were misplaced but unrecognized by the EMS provider. 4 attempts (1.2%) were correctly placed but misidentified as failures, leading to the unnecessary removal and replacement of the airway. Sensitivity of the provider’s assessment was 98.5%; specificity was 28.7%. Conclusion The use of supraglottic airway devices results in unrecognized failed placement. Appropriate utilization and review of waveform capnography may remedy a potential blind-spot in patient safety, and systemic monitoring/feedback processes may therefore be used to prevent unrecognized misplaced airways.
Social Networks and Gender

This article reviews the last two decades of research on men's and women's work networks and proposes a social structural perspective to integrate findings about differences in network characteristic and their consequences. The evidence suggests that three broad sets of factors moderate the relationship between gender and work-related networks: sex stratification, interaction dynamics, and gender beliefs and identities. As well, different network configurations appear to be effective in promoting the careers of men and women. Macrostructural demographic and job stratification patterns interact with the micro dynamics of interpersonal exchange and identity construction to reinforce gender differences in networks as well as in the types of networks that each need in order to further their attainment.
Virtual reality in education: a tool for learning in the experience age

Educators face major challenges as a result of the shift from the Information Age to the Experience Age (Wadhera, 2016). For example, students are passive and disengaged (Capps and Crawford, 2013) and may struggle to see the relevance of what they are learning to their lives (Gee, 2009); also, important skills needed for 21st century learners - such as empathy, systems thinking, creativity, computational literacy, and abstract reasoning - are difficult to teach (Smith and Hu, 2013). Virtual reality, an immersive, hands-on tool for learning, can play a unique role in addressing these educational challenges. In this paper, we present examples of how the affordances of virtual reality lead to new opportunities that support learners. We conclude with a discussion of recommendations and next steps.
A Two-Center Validation of "Patient Does Not Follow Commands" and Three Other Simplified Measures to Replace the Glasgow Coma Scale for Field Trauma Triage.

Study objective Out-of-hospital personnel worldwide calculate the 13-point Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score as a routine part of field trauma triage. We wish to independently validate a simpler binary assessment to replace the GCS for this task. Methods We analyzed trauma center registries from Loma Linda University Health (2003 to 2015) and Denver Health Medical Center (2009 to 2015) to compare the binary assessment "patient does not follow commands" (ie, GCS motor score Results In this analysis of 47,973 trauma patients, we found that the binary assessment "patient does not follow commands" was essentially identical to GCS score less than or equal to 13 for the prediction of all 5 trauma outcomes, with slightly superior positive likelihood ratios (eg, those for mortality 2.37 versus 2.13) offsetting slightly inferior negative ones (eg, those for mortality 0.25 versus 0.24) and its graphic depiction of sensitivity versus specificity superimposing the GCS prediction curve. We found similar results for the 3 other simplified measures. Conclusion In this 2-center external validation, we confirmed that a simple binary assessment—"patient does not follow commands"—could effectively replace the more complicated GCS for field trauma triage.
Developing Diplomatic Communication Models and Strategies for Africa: Some Key Issues

Now more than ever, the character and structure of the international system present obstacles to effective diplomacy. Various means of communication have been utilized ranging from the traditional mode of negotiation to the now-rampant form of coercion. Many groups across the world adopt kidnapping tactics or damage to human life and property as a means of communicating their grievances internationally. We cannot easily call this period and its obsession with nondiscursive means of communicating their grievances a flight from rationality. Rationality has to be determined contextually. It is quite difficult to talk about international standards when the system reflects resistance to modification, much more change. The overall nature of the composition of states in the international system requires modification. We see however that the older nations get more defensive and reactionary and the newer nations still groping with growth pains. In this essay, I propose-to examine three key issues that have a direct relationship to communication effectiveness at the international level. Though the title of the work indicates a discussion on diplomatic communication strategies, the discus-
Unified Approach to Characterize Microstructure

A unified and general formalism has been developed by Torquato (1986c) to characterize statistically the microstructure of heterogeneous materials composed of d-dimensional spherical inclusions distributed throughout a matrix phase. He accomplished this by introducing a general n-point correlation function H n and by deriving two different series representations for it in terms of the probability density functions that characterize the particle configurations (quantities that are known, in principle). This methodology provides a means of calculating any of the various types of microstructural correlation functions that have arisen in rigorous expressions for the transport, electromagnetic, and transport properties (see Chapter 2 and Part II) for such nontrivial models of two-phase disordered media as well as generalizations of these correlation functions. For this reason, H n is referred to as the canonical n-point correlation function.).
A study of the transamination reaction by use of isotopic nitrogen.

SUMMARY 1. An examination of the transamination reaction in a pig heart homog- enate with N15-labeled substrates has been undertaken. An experimental method has been developed whereby it is possible to determine whet,her an amino donor undergoes transamination to a-ketoglutarate. 2. Besides alanine and aspartic acid, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, serine, glycine, and lysine are capable of entering such trans- amination. Histidine appears to be inert as an a-amino donor. Ammonia is not an intermediate in the amino group transfer. 3. Pyridoxamine labeled with N15 in the aminomethyl group has been synthesized. It transaminat’es readily with a-ketoglutarate in this sys- tem. The relationship of these findings to the mechanism of transamina- tion has been discussed. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Braunstein, A. E., and Kritzmann, M. G., EnzymoZogia, 2, 129 (1937). Braun- stein, A. E., Enzymologia, 7, 25 (1939). 2. Tanenbaum, S. W., and Shemin, D., Pederation PTOC., 9, 236 (1950). 3. Cammarata, P. S., and Cohen, P. I’., J. Biol. Chem., 187, 439 (1950). 4. Hird, F. J. R., and Rowsell, E. V., Nature, 166, 517 (1950). 5. Feldman, I,. I., and Gunsalus, I. C., J. Biol. Chem., 187, 821 (1950). 6. Rudman, D., and Meister, A., J. Biol. Chem., 200, 591 (1953). 7. Rowsell, E. V., Nature, 168, 104 (1951). 8. Schlenk, F., and Snell, E. E., J. Biol. Chem., 167, 425 (1945). 9. Friedman, L., and Kosower, IS., Org. Syntheses, 26, 42 (1946). 10. Fischer, E., and Jacobs, W. A., Ber. them. Ges., 39, 2942 (1906). 11. Shemin, D., J. Biol. Chem., 162, 297 (1946). 12. Schoenheimer, It., and Ratner, S., J. Biol. Chem., 127, 301 (1939). 13. Foster, G. I,., J. Biol. Chem., 169, 431 (1945). 14. Doherty, D. G., Stein, W. H., and Bergmann, hr., J. Biol. Chew., 135, 487 (1940).
Corporate Bond Specialness

Using data on all corporate bond loans by one of the world’s largest custodian banks, we study the main determinants of shorting costs as measured by rebate rate specialness. We find that 3.0% of corporate bonds are on loan, and 11% of loaned bonds have substantial shorting costs above 50 basis points. In the cross section, specialness is higher for bonds that are of worse credit rating, higher yield spread, smaller issues, less time to maturity, more illiquid, and bonds that appear expensive relative to the corresponding credit default swap. Bonds that are downgraded to speculative grade are more likely to be on special for several weeks before and after the downgrade, and have large shorting activity. Finally, equity specialness is positively related to the firm’s bond specialness and the bond-CDS basis.
3D-Printed Phase Controlled Focusing Metalens at 1550 nm Wavelength

Conventional focusing lenses are bulky and thick. The use of metalenses with sub-wavelength resolution allows us to reduce the size and amount of material needed for lenses. This work presents a metalens utilizing 3D printed dielectric unit cells with different height to focus IR light at a predetermined distance. It allows for a planar like structure which can be used for many applications such as medical imaging.
Orchestrating intercontinental advance reservations with software-defined exchanges

Abstract To interconnect research facilities across wide geographic areas, network operators deploy science networks, also referred to as research and education networks. These networks allow experimenters to establish dedicated circuits between research facilities for transferring large amounts of data by using advanced reservation systems. Intercontinental dedicated circuits typically require coordination among multiple administrative domains, which need to reach an agreement on a suitable advance reservation. The success rate of finding an advance reservation decreases as the number of participant domains increases for traditional systems because the circuit is composed over a single path. To improve provisioning of multidomain advance reservations, we have designed and implemented an architecture for end-to-end service orchestration in multidomain science networks that leverages software-defined exchanges for providing multipath, multidomain advance reservations. Our orchestration architecture improves the reservation success rate from 50% in single-path systems to 99% when four paths are available.
Ninety-day readmissions following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background An adequate characterization of 90-day readmissions after primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) on a national level remains to be undertaken. As bundled payment models become more prevalent, an improved understanding of readmission data will help to predict resource utilization and expenses. Methods All adult patients who underwent elective primary RTSA in 2014 in the National Readmission Database were included in the analysis. Two cohorts were created based on 90-day readmission status. Multivariate analysis was then performed to determine predictors of 90-day readmissions. Reasons for 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions were identified. Total hospital resource utilization was calculated. Results An estimated 25,196 patients were identified. The 30-, 60-, and 90-day rates of readmissions were 0.6%, 1.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. Diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.78), hypertension (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.28-2.08), paralysis (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.63-7.97), and solid tumor without metastasis (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.21-6.12) were identified as independent predictors of 90-day readmission. Ninety-day readmissions were associated with a significant increase in cost (P = .02). The most common related reason for 90-day readmission was hardware-related complications at all time points. Conclusion Although uncommon, 90-day readmissions after primary RTSA are associated with significant patient morbidity and consequently substantial hospital costs.
Worldmaking: race, performance, and the work of creativity: by Dorinne Kondo, Durham, NC, Duke University Press, 2018, 376 pp., 8 color illustrations, USD$104.95 (cloth), ISBN 9781478000730, US$27.95 (paperback), ISBN 9781478000945

Worldmaking: Race, Performance, And the Work of Creativity by Dorinne Kondo blends theory and practice as it examines race-making strategies within the work of theater luminaries Anna Deavere Smith...
Testing Causal Hypotheses in the Study of Geographical Variation

Divergence of character states among OTU’s may arise from both random and non-random factors. If characters change states or values at random over evolutionary time, then historical accident is the primary determinant of the character state distributions among OTU’s. Such distributions can in principle be used to reconstruct phylogenies (Wiley, 1981). If characters are subject to nonrandom or ecological factors which act rapidly over a short time scale (natural selection, gene flow, epistasis, etc.), then the resulting parallelisms and convergences will obscure the effects of history (Endler, 1982a,b). Clearly, both history and current ecology will contribute to the geographical distribution of character states observed among OTU’s:
Neutropenic Fever During Stem Cell Mobilization Is Associated with Decreased CD34+ Cell Collection and Poor Survival Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation,

Abstract 4053 High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant can improve long-term outcome of patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma. Stem cell mobilization with chemotherapy in addition to G-CSF improves stem cell collection, however it is also associated with increased risk of neutropenic fever. We analyze whether hospitalization for neutropenic fever (NF) affects outcomes after transplantation. From 1/1998 to 12/2008, 599 patients underwent chemotherapy priming with etoposide + G-CSF (27 patients also received rituximab). Forty five (8%) did not proceed to transplant. Of the 554 (92%) patients who were transplanted, the median age was 51 years, and 348 (63%) were male. The diagnoses were 422 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (63%) and 132 Hodgkin lymphoma (24%). A majority of these patients (92%) had received 3 or less prior chemotherapy regimens. Only 6% had been exposed to fludarabine therapy. Most patients had chemosensitive disease (88% were in CR or PR) at time of transplant. For preparative regimen: 517 (93%) received busulfan/etoposide/cyclophosphamide, 32 (5.8%) received melphalan, 5 (0.9%) received other chemotherapy. Of the transplanted patients, 121 (21.8%) were admitted for NF during stem cell mobilization. The median duration of admission for NF was 5 days (range 1–20). Six (5%) patients had bacteremia, 1 ( In conclusion, admission for neutropenic fever during stem cell mobilization is associated with significantly increased number of apheresis days required for adequate stem cell collection, lower CD34+ cell collection, higher 30-day re-admission rates, and poorer survival. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Deep machine learning for detection of acoustic wave reflections

Acoustic emission signals are information rich and can be used to estimate the size and location of damage in structures. However, many existing algorithms may be deceived by indirectly propagated ...
The comprehensive primary care initiative: what you need to know.

A promising new multipayer demonstration project led by Medicare brings a blended payment model closer to reality.
Psychosocial Distress Among Oncology Patients in the Safety Net

OBJECTIVE Psychosocial distress among cancer patients leads to poor health outcomes and lower satisfaction. However, little is known about psychosocial distress among disadvantaged populations. We examined the prevalence, predictors, and follow-up experience of psychosocial distress among cancer patients within a diverse, urban, and multi-lingual safety-net setting. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cancer patients undergoing psychosocial distress screening at initial medical oncology visits from 2014-2016. The primary outcome was self-reported moderate to severe psychosocial distress, defined by the NCCN as a Distress Thermometer score ≥ 4. Predictors of distress were assessed using logistic regression. Patients reporting distress were contacted by telephone 1-12 months later to reassess distress and assess completion of supportive service referrals. RESULTS Among 200 screened patients, 61% had moderate to severe psychosocial distress. African-American race, psychiatric illness, greater number of emotional problems, and reported problems with housing, money, worry, sleep, memory or homelessness were associated with psychosocial distress. Among 39 patients with moderate to severe psychosocial distress who completed follow-up (42% of eligible patients), mean distress scores decreased from 6.5 at screening to 4.5 at follow-up (P < .02). 56% of the supportive service referrals made at the initial visit were not completed. CONCLUSIONS Cancer patients in the safety-net experience more psychosocial distress than other populations, with persistently elevated distress levels and difficulty accessing supportive services. We identified subgroups that may be at higher risk for psychosocial distress. Closer follow-up and assistance for patients who report high distress levels may be needed.
Demographic, Social, and Personal Factors Associated With Lactation Cessation by 6 Weeks in Mothers of Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

BackgroundAlthough mother’s own milk decreases prematurity-associated morbidities, mothers of infants born preterm and very low birth weight experience a significantly shorter lactation duration. L...
Relationship between individual differences in a steady pace endurance running performance and maximal oxygen intake.

Abstract The relationship between individual differences in a steady-pace endurance running test and maximal oxygen intake (L/min., ml/kg·min, ml/kg LBW·min) was determined in 25 college men. In the running test subjects attempted to maintain an initial running speed of 10 mph (4.89 yd/sec) for 10 min. as they were paced around a 440-yd. track. Running performance was scored as running time between consecutive sections of the track, and an endurance score was calculated as the cumulated distance run during each minute. Max VO2 (ml/kg-min) correlated r = .61 with cumulative distance after 5 min. of running. Validity correlations were only slightly increased by including minutes 8 to 10. Expressing max VO2 in either L/min. or ml/kg LBW·min did not improve the correlation. Percent drop-off in running speed from the initial pace averaged 16% at minute 5 and 31% at minute 10. Body weight and percent body fat were inversely correlated with 10 min. of cumulative performance (r = -.33 and -.43, respectively). At ...
Population Improvement Bias Observed in Estimates of the Impact of Antenatal Steroids to Outcomes in Preterm Birth.

Objective To examine the hypothesis that increasing rates and differential uptake of antenatal steroids would bias estimation of impact of antenatal steroids on neonatal death and severe (grade III-IV) intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Study design The study population included infants born between 24 and 28 weeks of gestational age in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative. Outcomes were in-hospital mortality and severe IVH. Mixed multivariable logistic regression models estimated the effect of antenatal steroid exposure, one model accounting for individual risk factors as fixed effects, and a second model incorporating a predicted probability factor estimating overall risk status for each time period. Results The study cohort included 28 252 infants. Antenatal steroid exposure increased from 80.1% in 2005 to 90.3% in 2016, severe IVH decreased from 14.5% to 9.0%, and mortality decreased from 12.8% to 9.1%. When stratified by group, 3-year observed outcomes improved significantly in infants exposed to antenatal steroids (12.5%-8.6% for IVH, 11.5%-8.8% for death) but not in those not exposed (20.7%-19.1% and 16.6%-15.5%, respectively). Women not receiving antenatal steroids had greater risk profile (such as no prenatal care) and greater predicted probability for severe IVH and mortality. Both outcomes exhibited little change (P > .05) over time for the group without antenatal steroids. In contrast, in women receiving antenatal steroids, observed and adjusted rates for both outcomes decreased (P Conclusions As the population's proportion of antenatal steroid use increased, the observed positive effect of antenatal steroids also increased. This apparent increase may be designated as the “population improvement bias.”