cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computer-Based Practice: Future Dream or Current Technology?

A growing number of new information Clinical Assessment System technologies are likely to have a pro found impact on the conduct of social An example of a computerized prac work practice. Until recently, computer tice system is the Clinical Assessment applications have received attention System (CAS) program, a microcompu primarily for administrative and reter-based evaluation tool that interac search purposes.1 Direct practice aptively enables workers and their clients plications have been addressed much to assess client problems and monitor less, although the microcomputer is treatment progress over time. CAS was receiving increasing attention to its designed specifically for the needs of varied potential roles in the conduct of social workers, psychiatrists, psycholo everyday practice.2 gists, family therapists, and other pro This momentum has not been withfessional counselors. The program is out controversy.3 The process of criuser-friendly and sufficiently flexible to tique and challenge is vital to maintainapply across a broad spectrum of clients ing internal checks and balances as and settings. CAS functions on many significant innovations are undertaken, personal computers with sufficient particularly when the rate of change is memory and was designed with the rapid and the consequences of poor computer novice in mind.5 Programs planning are great because lag between such as CAS enable clients, caregivers, advances in technology and the developpractitioners, and administrators with ment of substantive guiding principles virtually no computer training to bene is considerable.4 As with any body of infit from computer use in clinical terventions, what is needed for compractice, puter usage is a better understanding of
What Is the Most Stable Fixation Technique for Mandibular Condyle Fracture

Purpose Mandibular condylar fractures are relatively common fractures, accounting for 29 to 52% of all mandibular fractures. Recently, the debate between closed versus open treatment of the condylar fracture has shifted toward more specific surgical questions concerning the number and pattern of the fixation method for the condylar region. We have attempted to resolve the controversy with the systematic review and meta-analysis. The purpose of the present study was to compare the outcomes of different methods of fixation for mandibular condylar fractures. Materials and Methods We conducted an electronic database search for clinical studies evaluating the stability of internal fixation of condylar fractures. The search was restricted to studies reported in the English language from January 2000 to July 2018. The review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement guidelines. Results The initial search returned 285 studies reported from January 2000 through July 2018. After reviewing the full-text reports, only 16 studies were deemed eligible for the review. The total sample size was 831 patients with mandibular subcondylar fractures. The patients were classified into 25 groups according to the fixation method, follow-up period, use of intermaxillary fixation, and the presence of associated fractures. Conclusions The results of our systematic review and meta-analysis showed that single plate fixation has been associated with more complications with poor outcomes, including hardware failure, screw loosening, and postoperative malocclusion.
An algorithm for calculation of own ship's course over ground and speed over ground using ARPA, by acquiring a fixed object

The safety of navigation is the main goal for all seafarers on the ship's bridge and this goal should be achieved using all available means and methods. The automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA) is one of the most commonly used aids to navigation of preventing collisions at sea. Essentially, ARPA is a high-tech computer system, which receives and processes information from various sources on the bridge. Its main application is to solve the problems for ships' collision avoidance, but its huge computational capacity allows the development of methods for further navigational application.This article provides a methodology for calculating own ship's course over ground and speed over ground using ARPA. Experimental data, which confirms the successful implementation of the concept, is also presented.
Student- and School-Level Predictors of High School Students’ Perceptions of School Climate: Implications for School Counselors

Assessing school climate provides schools and school counselors with critical information about the social and physical health of a school. Researchers have examined predictors of students’ percept...
Predicting the mutagenic potential of chemicals in tobacco products using in silico toxicology tools.

Tobacco products contain thousands of chemicals, including addictive and toxic chemicals. We utilized in silico toxicology tools to predict in a validation test and in a separate screening test, th...
Automating decontamination of N95 masks for frontline workers in COVID-19 pandemic: poster abstract

In response to the N95 mask shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the US CDC has recognized moist-heat as one of the most effective and accessible methods for decontaminating N95 masks for reuse. However, it is challenging to reliably deploy this technique in healthcare settings due to a lack of specialized equipment capable of ensuring proper decontamination conditions. To this end, we developed a wireless sensor platform for moist-heat decontamination process verification, capable of monitoring hundreds of masks simultaneously in commercially available heating systems. Our easy-to-use, low-power, low-cost, scalable platform can be broadly deployed to protect front-line healthcare workers by lowering their risk of infection from reused N95 masks.
The 100 Most-disruptive Articles in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Sub-specialties (1954-2014).

Alternative bibliometrics have recently been the subject of significantly increased interest. The disruption index is a new bibliometric that was recently applied to surgery and urology and identifies papers that shift paradigms and eclipse previous research in a given field. Methods The 100 most-disruptive publications in the 14 most prominent plastic and reconstructive surgery and subspecialty journals were identified. Results We present the 100 most-disruptive studies as well as the 100 most-cited studies for comparison in n=14 of the most popular plastic and reconstructive surgery (and subspecialty) journals between 1954 and 2014. The 100 most-disruptive publications in these journals were more disruptive than 99.8% of all PubMed papers. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) had the most papers in the top 100 (n=64) followed by British Journal of Plastic Surgery (currently Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, n=15), and Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (n=7). PRS had 9 of the top 10 papers. However, Clinics in Plastic Surgery had the highest average disruption score for all its published papers (0.0029). The correlation coefficient linking disruption scores and citation counts was 0.01 and 0.11, respectively. The most common decade represented in the top 100 was the 1980's (n=31) and the least common was the 2000's (n=9). Conclusions This is the first application of the disruption index to plastic and reconstructive surgery. The disruption score provides a unique ability to identify research that has shifted paradigms and driven the innovation that defines our specialty.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to multiple and de novo aneurysms: a case report

BACKGROUND Neurofibromatosis type 1 causes various lesions in many organs including the skin, and the incidence of complications with intracranial aneurysms is 9-11%. Here we report a case of neurofibromatosis type 1 with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to multiple and de novo aneurysms. CASE PRESENTATION The patient was a 49-year-old Japanese woman with a history of neurofibromatosis type 1. She was transported to our hospital owing to disturbance of consciousness and was diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage by computed tomography. Computed tomography angiography revealed multiple, small intracranial aneurysms, and we suspected that one of them in the peripheral branch of the left middle cerebral artery was the source of hemorrhage based on the distribution of hematoma. The patient underwent emergency surgery. Because it was difficult to identify an aneurysm in the most peripheral part of the left middle cerebral artery in the initial surgery, only one aneurysm was clipped. Later, a peripheral aneurysm was clipped using the navigation system. Because both aneurysms were small intracranial aneurysms (< 2 mm), either of them could be the source of hemorrhage. The postoperative course was good, and the patient was discharged in healthy condition. Because brain magnetic resonance imaging performed in the previous year did not find aneurysms at the same site, she was diagnosed with rupture of a de novo aneurysm. Neurofibromatosis type 1 might have caused the rupture of multiple intracranial aneurysms in a short period in this patient. CONCLUSION Neurofibromatosis type 1 may be complicated by the formation of multiple intracranial aneurysms in a short period.
Wave Functions for Electron-Excess Color Centers in Alkali Halide Crystals

Publisher Summary The chapter describes wave functions for electron-excess color centers in alkali halides of the NaCl structure. The importance of color centers in the alkali halides derives not only from their inherent significance, but also from the fact that they are among the simplest defects in some of the simplest solids. Thus, they provide an important testing ground for various theories of deep traps. Methods of calculation may be worked out for these simple centers, and they can be checked by comparison with a wide variety of experimental data. The material discussed in this chapter indicates that the effective mass approximation cannot be trusted in deep trap problems. Nor can the MO-LCAO method be employed, except where the orbitals used in the expansions do not overlap to any appreciable extent. Methods entailing the use of orthogonalized orbitals, localized in the vacancy (or vacancies), are far more accurate, and are likely to assume increasing importance in the study of other deep trap problems.
Transference and Countertransference in an Ethical Context

Issues of transference and countertransference are generally conceived of as clues to the development of a better understanding of the client and a deeper self-awareness on the part of the therapist. However, when not addressed appropriately, issues of transference and countertransference—co-transference—may also give rise to ethical issues related to practice competence. A failure to recognize and/or address issues of transference and/or countertransference appropriately could potentially subject a client to a risk of harm. This chapter utilizes experience with several clients to illustrate issues of co-transference that may arise in working with sandplay clients whose trays evidence spiritual elements and to explore the potential associated ethical issues.
Epicardial adipose tissue volume by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging predicts abnormal myocardial relaxation in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background Inflammation may be a key trigger in the accumulation of extracellular matrix that leads to fibrosis, abnormal myocardial relaxation, diastolic dysfunction and eventual heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active organ releasing various adipokines and inflammatory mediators which may promote fibrosis in adjacent myocardium altering the structural properties of the ventricle leading to abnormal diastology. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of EAT volume using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and parameters of diastolic dysfunction as assessed by 2Dtransthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
The influence of virtual representatives on recommender system evaluation

Virtual representatives are increasingly used in recommender systems to guide users and add conversational aspects. However, the impacts of virtual representatives on users’ evaluations of the recommender system have not been investigated. This study specifically examined the influence of virtual representatives’ anthropomorphism cues on system users’ perceptions of system credibility and liking. The results revealed that system users’ perceptions of the virtual representative’s credibility have a significant influence on users’ perceived credibility and liking of the system. Also, the human-like appearance of a virtual representative significantly influences users’ perceived attractiveness of the virtual representative, while voice outputs from the representative were found to have a significant influence on users’ liking of the recommender system.
Abstract 16451: Dose-Escalation Study Using Novel Continuous Flow Intracoronary Delivery of Allogeneic Cardiosphere-Derived Stem Cells: Is There a Threshold for Cell Therapy?

BACKGROUND: Intracoronary (IC) infusion of cardiosphere-derived stem cells (CDCs) under stop-flow conditions has proven efficacious in producing myocardial regeneration in preclinical and clinical studies. However, the minimally-effective dose is not known, nor is it clear whether benefit is straightforwardly dependent on CDC dose. OBJECTIVE: To determine the dose-efficacy relationship of allogeneic CDCs in a large-animal chronic myocardial infarction (MI) model. METHODS: Escalating doses of allogeneic CDCs (3.125M, 6.25M, 12.5M, 25M; or vehicle as a control) were infused into the left anterior descending coronary artery using a nonocclusive guiding catheter in an anterior chronic MI minipig model. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess structural and functional endpoints. RESULTS: CDCs were infused in a total of 25 animals under continuous flow at a rate of 1.25M CDCs/min. An additional 5 control animals underwent continuous flow of vehicle over 10 min. No animals experienced adverse events ...
Efficient estimation for longitudinal data by combining large-dimensional moment conditions

The quadratic inference function approach is able to provide a consistent and efficient estimator if valid moment conditions are available. However, the QIF estimator is unstable when the dimension of moment conditions is large compared to the sample size, due to the singularity problem for the estimated weighting matrix. We propose a new estimation procedure which combines all valid moment conditions optimally via the spectral decomposition of the weighting matrix. In theory, we show that the proposed method yields a consistent and efficient estimator which follows an asymptotic normal distribution. In addition, Monte Carlo studies indicate that the proposed method performs well in the sense of reducing bias and improving estimation efficiency. A real data example of Fortune 500 companies is used to compare the performance of the new method with existing methods.
Industry–University Research Centers: A Multivariate Analysis of Member Retention

Although a growing literature documents the benefits of industry–university research centers, most centers experience a significant amount of turnover among their industrial members. In order to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon, the current study attempts to identify factors that predict member renewal (DV). Questionnaire data were collected from industrial respondents (N=249) participating in 39 centers funded by the NSF IUCRC program. Structural, member benefits and administrative process variables were used to predict the dependent variable. Logistic regression analyses identified three significant predictors: professional networking benefits, research relevance and administrative operations. Implications of these findings for public policy, cooperative research management and future research are discussed.
Web Search Technology

The World Wide Web has become the largest information source in recent years and search engines are indispensable tools for finding needed information from the Web. The coverage of the Web by a single search engine may be limited. One effective way to increase the search coverage of the Web is to combine the coverage of multiple search engines. Systems that do such combination are called metasearch engines. When a metasearch engine receives a query from a user, it invokes the underlying search engines to retrieve useful information for the user and combines the returned results from multiple search engines into a single ranked list before displaying it to the user. In this chapter, we describe the inner workings of search engines and metasearch engines. Specifically, we describe techniques used to build search engines and metasearch engines. Keywords: collection fusion; metasearch engine; pagerank; search engine; text retrieval; web robot
Fundamental Questions in Personality

The network perspective represents a novel contribution to personality theory by conceptualising personality traits as emerging from the mutual dependencies between fundamental and causal affective...
Inflammation, endoleaks, and aortic remodeling-the chicken or the egg

Shalaby and colleagues1have taken a fresh look at inflammationandaortic aneurysmsbyexamining thecontinued remodeling of the residual aneurysmal sac after endovascular repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms (endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]). Two long-term pitfalls for EVAR areendoleaksandcontinuedexpansionof the residual sac.The rate of type II endoleaks may be as low as 15%2 or as high as 27%.3Type II endoleaksusually involve continued flowwithin the aneurysm sac. Approximately 60% resolve within 6 months, but persistence of a type II endoleak after the first 6 months is associatedwith higher rates (55%) of aneurysm sac enlargement.2 The search for risk factors for type II endoleaks and sac expansion have primarily focused on anatomical factors (after all, it is a plumbingproblem): thenumber of patent lumbars, the sizeof the inferiormesenteric artery, theburden of laminated thrombus in the aneurysm, or the technical complexities of the endovascular procedure. Inflammation in the arterialwall has long been suspected as a causative factor for thedevelopment and expansionof an infrarenal aortic aneurysm, which is the most common type of sporadic, nonsyndromic aneurysm. An abundance of inflammatory cells can be found in the aneurysm wall, as well as increases in proteolytic activity and matrix protein degradation.4 This article1 suggests that increased systemic inflammationmay play a role in the failure of sac shrinkage and the development of endoleaks. In a retrospective group of 79 patients undergoingEVAR, 65%had some type of inflammatory condition (eg, allergic rhinitis, osteoarthritis, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis). The “inflammatory” group showed comparable long-termsurvival, experiencedmorepostoperativecomplications (no surprise), and had a significantly higher rate of type II endoleaks, as well as less sac shrinkage in the longterm. Their observations support the intuitive idea that excessive systemic inflammation leads to a failure of aorticwall fibrosis and contraction, resulting in retarded sac shrinkage. Why should this cause more endoleaks, primarily an anatomic problem? Instead of the conventional wisdom that endoleaks cause a failure of sac shrinkage, perhaps the reverse is true: does failure of sac shrinkage foster endoleaks? Themain caveat to their conclusions is that their classification of systemic inflammatory diseasewas based on a diagnosis proffered by others and lacked independent confirmation or, even better, some objective measurements of inflammation.Without confirmatorydata, itwouldbehard to understandhowallergic rhinitisandrheumatoidarthritismight confer a similar derangement of the systemic inflammatory state. This points to a key therapeutic question: what aspect(s) of systemic inflammationmightbeassociatedwith failure of aortic remodeling and which pathways are involved? Some directions for further study may be found in disorders in transforminggrowth factor–βsignalingandtheSMADgenes, bothofwhich share clinical associationswith aneurysmal diseases and osteoarthritis.4,5
The pathogenesis of cancer metastasis: Relevance to therapy

Metastasis — the spread of malignant tumor cells from a primary neoplasm to distant parts of the body where they multiply to form new growths — is a major cause of death from cancer. The treatment of cancer poses a major problem to clinical oncologists, because by the time many cancers are diagnosed, metastasis may already have occurred, and the presence of multiple metastases makes complete eradication by surgery, radiation, drugs, or biotherapy nearly impossible (Table 1). Metastases can be located in different organs and in different locations within the same organ. These aspects significantly influence the response of tumor cells to therapy and the efficiency of anticancer drugs, which must be delivered to tumor foci in amounts sufficient to destroy cells without leading to undesirable side effects. Similarly, immune effector cells of current biotherapeutic regimens may have difficulty reaching or localizing in some metastatic sites.
Quantitative analysis of chromosome motion in Drosophila melanogaster

We present an algorithm for estimating nonrigid motion of chromosomes in 4D microscopic images. Chromosomes are represented by a graph and motion estimation is formulated as a graph matching problem. All chromosomes within the graph are located, and then simulated annealing is used to find the mapping of chromosomes at time t onto chromosomes at time t+1 that minimizes the integrated displacement along each chromosome. Results with actual 4D images indicate that this model-based approach is sufficiently robust to correctly track the motion of chromosomes under conditions of limited spatial and temporal resolution. Using the motion estimate, previously developed methods for the quantitative analysis of 3D structure are extended to four dimensions, allowing chromosome mobility, flexibility, and interactions to be measured. Application of these algorithms to 4D images of Drosophila metaphase chromosomes in vivo allows visualization of clearly defined domains of high chromosomal flexibility, as well as other regions of distinctly lower chromosomal mobility which may coincide with centrometers.
The indole alkaloid tryptamine produced in transgenic Petunia hybrida

Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) from Catharanthus roseus (periwinkle) converts tryptophan to the indole-alkaloid tryptamine, an anti-insect compound. This TDC cDNA was transformed and expressed in transgenic Petunia hybrida under the control of the strong and constitutive 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus. Kanamycin screening and Southern hybridization with the TDC cDNA confirmed plant transformation. Northern analysis indicated greater TDC mRNA accumulation in transgenic plants compared to non-transformed plants. Additionally, eight-fold more tryptamine accumulated in leaves of kanamycin resistant transgenic plants compared to non-transformed plants. Flower petals from the transgenic plants contained lower tryptamine levels than their leaves. Because tryptamine titers were higher in transformed plants compared to controls, over-expression of the TDC enzyme may partially overcome endogenous tryptamine catabolism and/or other negative biosynthetic regulation. Future alteration of tryptamine breakdown in Petunia may further increase total endogenous tryptamine concentrations, potentially discouraging insect reproduction on these transgenic plants.
Explosive Cyclogenesis and Large-Scale Circulation Changes: Implications for Atmospheric Blocking

Abstract Large-scale circulation changes attending explosive surface cyclogenesis are quantitatively examined in two cases selected from recent winter seasons. Both cases feature a rapidly deepening surface cyclone over the western Atlantic Ocean, but changes in the 500 mb geopotential height field near the cyclone differ in each case. One event, during January 1977, is characterized by the retrogression of an anticyclonic vortex (blocking high) in the 500 mb height field downstream of the surface cyclone. The second case, in February 1978, is distinguished by the formation of a 500 mb cyclonic vortex (cutoff low) upstream of the surface cyclone, but no downstream anticyclonic vortex is observed. The retrogression of the January 1977 block over the Atlantic Ocean coincides with the migration of a 500 mb synoptic-scale perturbation (associated with the surface cyclone) from a planetary- scale trough over North America toward a planetary-scale ridge over Europe. In the February 1978 case, the blocking cyclo...
The expression of the myc proto-oncogene in a dimethylsulfoxide resistant HL-60 cell line

A cell line partially resistant to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was derived from the HL-60 cell line. Cycloleucine, theophylline, sodium butyrate and elevated levels of DMSO were found to induce myeloid differentiation in this cell line while TPA induced monocytic differentiation. The levels of myc RNA and the genomic structure of the c-myc proto-oncogene were found to be the same in HL-60 and the resistant cell line. Differentiation of the DMSO resistant line was accompanied by a reduction in myc RNA levels.
Summarization and sentiment analysis from user health posts

Online health communities continue to offer huge variety of medical information useful for medical practitioners, system administrators and patients alike. In this work we collect real time health posts from reputed websites, where patients express their views, including their experiences and side-effects on drugs used by them. We propose to perform Summarization of user posts per drug, and come out with useful conclusions for medical fraternity as well as patient community at a glance. Further, we propose to classify the users based on their ‘emotional state of mind’. Also, we shall perform knowledge discovery from user posts, whereby useful ‘patterns’ about the triad ‘drugs-symptoms-medicine’ is done by Association Rule Mining.
Anomalous temperature dependence of sub-critical crack growth in silica glass

Abstract The effects of temperature, water vapor, and stress on the rate of sub-critical crack growth (SCG) in fused silica are reported. The crack velocity was measured using the double-cleavage-drilled compression method. In contrast to other inorganic oxide glasses, crack growth velocities (in region I) were found to decrease with increase in temperature. Hence a small temperature rise has the apparent effect of improving the mechanical strength of a stressed-glass part. Despite the anomalous temperature dependence, SCG in fused silica is still likely governed by the established water-enhanced stress–corrosion mechanism; another competing phenomenon is proposed to cause the observed temperature dependence. Measured crack velocities are described using an empirical model (for region I) and a mass-transport model limited by Knudsen diffusion (for region II).
Black and Asian Self-Employment in Large Metropolitan Areas: A Comparative Analysis

This paper examines factors affecting the self-employment of Asian and black workers in large U.S. metropolitan areas. Self-employment is analyzed as a function of individual attributes and dimensions of local area social and economic organization. This individual/ecological distinction is based on the notion that self-employment is influenced by the entrepreneur's personal characteristics, social relationships, and the larger environment providing the setting for business ownership. Data are from the 1980 Public Use Microdata Sample, U.S. Census volumes, and other published sources. Major implications of the findings are: first, differences in the use of family members and social networks may account for at least part of the Asian-black discrepancy in self-employment. Second, there is evidence that as the share of public sector employment of blacks increases, individual black workers are disinclined to be self-employed. Third, Asian immigrants do not squeeze blacks out of entrepreneurial niches. Finally, directions for future research are described.
Impact of risk factors on the performance of the nuclear matrix protein 22 point-of-care test for bladder cancer detection

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of different risk factors and symptoms on the performance characteristics of the nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) BladderChek® test (Matritech Inc., Newton, MA, USA) for the detection of bladder cancer, as this is a point-of-care assay that measures NMPs in voided urine. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 23 academic, private practice and veterans’ facilities in 10 states prospectively enrolled consecutive patients from September 2001 to May 2002. Participants included 1328 patients at elevated risk of bladder cancer from factors such as a history of smoking or symptoms including haematuria and/or dysuria. Patients at risk of malignancy of the urinary tract provided a voided urine sample for analysis of NMP22 protein and cytology before cystoscopy. RESULTS Of the 1328 patients: no urinary disease, benign disease and malignancy were found in 545 (41%), 704 (53%) and 79 (6%) patients, respectively. Overall, the positive predictive value (PPV) for detection of bladder cancer was 20.3% (45/222) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 96.9% (1072/1106). The PPV was higher in men (24.0%) than women (13.2%). In men, the PPV increased with smoking (35.4%), gross haematuria (51.2%) and a combination of both factors (70.6%). The impact on the PPV of smoking (9.7%) and gross haematuria (28.6%) was less dramatic in women. The PPV increased from 16.8% in patients aged 65 years. The NPV remained almost always >95% except in men with gross haematuria where it decreased to 77% in smokers and 94% in non-smokers. CONCLUSION The PPV of the BladderChek test improves in patients at higher risk of bladder cancer reaching 77% in men presenting with gross haematuria who are aged >65 years and smoke. The NPV is highest in women aged <65 years, up to 100%.
Financial performance surrounding CEO turnover

Abstract We document the behavior of a variety of financial variables surrounding CEO departures, and estimate the extent to which changes in potentially discretionary variables are explained by poor economic performance rather than direct managerial discretion. We conclude that turnover-related changes in R&D, advertising, capital expenditures, and accounting accruals are due mostly to poor performance. To the extent that outgoing or incoming managers exercise discretion over these variables, the discretion appears to be limited to firms where the CEO's departure is preceded by poor performance. We find no evidence of managerial discretion in strongly performing firms where the CEO retires as part of the normal succession process.
The Third Sector, Human Security, and Anti-Terrorism: The United States and Beyond

This paper, a revised version of the keynote address to the Seventh International Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (Bangkok, July 2006), explores the increasing tendency of governments to view the third sector as a source of human insecurity and uncivil society in the wake of terrorist attacks. The paper discusses the means governments use to control third sector activity that they view as potentially linked to terrorism, the need for comparative analysis of these measures, and the role of the third sector and scholars in recognizing the responsibilities of governments to prevent third sector organizations being used in terrorism while preserving the independence and vitality of the third sector.
A Random-Effects Model for Multiple Characteristics with Possibly Missing Data

Abstract The use of random-effects models for the analysis of longitudinal data with missing responses has been discussed by several authors. This article extends the random-effects model for a single characteristic to the case of multiple characteristics, allowing for arbitrary patterns of observed data. Two different structures for the covariance matrix of measurement error are considered: uncorrelated error between responses and correlation of error terms at the same measurement times. Parameters for this model are estimated via the EM algorithm. The set of equations for this estimation procedure is derived; these equations are appropriately modified to deal with missing data. The methodology is illustrated with an example from clinical trials.
SIR 2005 Annual Meeting Film Panel Case: Klippel-Trénaunay-Weber Syndrome

A 49-year-old man was referred to the interventional radiology clinic because of severe right lower-extremity varicosities. He brought to his appointment an arteriogram (Fig 1) and a descending venogram (Fig 2) obtained when he was 9 years of age. Those studies were done because of leg length discrepancy (right side longer than left). Subsequent to that, his condition was managed by keeping a prosthetic lift in his left shoe. He teaches high school woodshop and is physically active but has had increasing problems with right lower-extremity pain, heaviness, and swelling. Recently, he developed intermittent “weeping” of clear fluid between his toes and occasional right calf cellulitis, which responds to oral antibiotics. Except for wearing a support stocking, the patient has had no intervention for his vascular condition. Family history was negative. On physical examination (Fig 3), the right lower extremity was larger than the left, longer and greater in girth. Large varicosities were noted in the foot, calf, and lower thigh. Signs of chronic venous insufficiency were noted in the foot and lower calf including skin thickening, discoloration, and scaliness (venous eczema; Clinical, Etiology, Anatomic, Pathophysiology classification of 4). There was no active cellulitis and no ulceration. No cutaneous vascular malformations such as “port wine” stain were noted. Lowerextremity pulses were intact. Heart sounds were normal and lungs were clear. Subsequent to the initial visit, the patient underwent right lower-extremity venous duplex ultrasonography (US) and right lower-extremity arteriography (Fig 4) with ascending (Fig 5) and descending venography (not shown).
A possible route to small, flexible fusion units☆

Abstract Conceptual desigh studies of a small D-3He field-reversed mirror fusion plant are described. If achieved, the basic unit, termed SAFFIRE, would produce a few megawatts of power. By “stacking” of units, however, plants could be built in the 10s of megawatt size. This would make relatively clean fusion power available for applications requiring small, decentralized, power plants.
Expanding the Literature on Job Satisfaction in Corrections A National Study of Jail Employees

While few variables have been studied with greater frequency than job satisfaction, outcomes have largely reflected ambiguous and inconsistent findings. To advance empirical knowledge as it relates to job satisfaction in corrections, this research design addresses a number of shortcomings prevalent in extant correctional literature. In that regard, it uniquely focuses on the rarely explored work environment of jails in the United States, incorporates a nationwide target population, includes both personal and organizational variables in the analysis, and employs a multifaceted inferential methodology based on the strength of causal analysis. Results indicate that it is not the personal variables such as age, race, gender, or ethnicity that primarily account for the job satisfaction of jail line staff, but rather, organizational variables. These include a supportive work climate, empowerment/autonomy, and compensation/benefits, with the greatest contributor being the employee’s overall work environment. Imp...
Seasonal variation in human reproduction: environmental factors.

Almost all human population exhibit seasonal variation in births, owing mostly to seasonal variation in the frequency of conception. This review focuses on the degree to which environmental factors like nutrition, temperature and photoperiod contribute to these seasonal patterns by acting directly on the reproductive axis. The reproductive strategy of humans is basically that of the apes: Humans have the capacity to reproduce continuously, albeit slowly, unless inhibited by environmental influences. Two, and perhaps three, environmental factors probably act routinely as seasonal inhibitors in some human populations. First, it seems likely that ovulation is regulated seasonally in populations experiencing seasonal variation in food availability. More specifically, it seems likely that inadequate food inatake or the increased energy expenditure required to obtain food, or both, can delay menarche, suppress the frequency of ovulation in the nonlactating adult, and prolong lactational amenorrhea in these popu...
Discrimination of and memory for dimension and value information by pigeons

Abstract Three experiments used a variety of delayed conditional discrimination procedures to explore pigeons' discrimination of and memory for color (orange and green) and line orientation (vertical and horizontal) stimuli. When information about the specific color and line orientation stimuli had to be retained, colors proved to be much more effective sample stimuli than did lines; however, when only information about the dimension of a stimulus had to be retained, colors and lines were similarly effective as sample stimuli. Moreover, when errors in discrimination performance diagnosed subjects' remembering the dimension or the value of a prior sample stimulus, evidence suggested that pigeons may more easily discriminate and remember the dimension to which a stimulus belongs than its particular value along the dimension. These findings better fit a multicomponent model of memory than they fit a single-trace model.
An initial-value method for integral operators. II. Complex eigenfunctions

Combining classical results from the theories of integral equations and complex variables with a recent technique for transforming Fredholm integral equations into Cauchy systems yields a new method for characterizing complex eigenfunctions. Numerical examples show the computational efficacy of the approach.
Yield loci of anisotropic sheet metals

Abstract Four sheet metals, having quite different combinations of R- values and strain-hardening behavior were tested in uniaxial tension, uniaxial (through thickness) compression, balanced biaxial tension (bulge test), and plane-strain compression. The results were compared with predictions based upon three different anisotropic yield criteria. Although no single yield criterion proved to describe adequately all of the test results, different criteria provided the best agreement with particular metals. Results from through-thickness compression and bulge tests were nearly identical. In bulge testing, strains were determined from photographs of printed grids while the radius of curvature at the top of the dome was obtained using a projected fringe technique that involved a holographic grating. Radii measured by this technique were smaller for all materials than those measured by the conventional spherometer.
Boundary-layer-induced potential flow on an elliptic cylinder

The application of slender-body theory to the evaluation of the three-dimensional surface velocities induced by a boundary layer on an elliptic cylinder is considered. The method is applicable when the Reynolds number is sufficiently large so that the thin-boundary-layer approximation is valid. The resulting potential problem is reduced to a two-dimensional consideration of the flow over an expanding cylinder with porous boundary conditions. The limiting solutions for a flat plate of finite span and a nearly circular cross-section are obtained in a simple analytic form. In the former case, within the limitations of slender-body theory, the results are in exact agreement with the complete three-dimensional solution for this geometry.
Increased mixing improves hydrogel homogeneity and quality of three-dimensional printed constructs.

As the tissue engineering and drug delivery communities place greater emphasis on producing constructs of prescribed geometry and organization, three-dimensional printing is becoming as an increasingly important technique. While numerous tissue printing techniques have emerged, little has been done to characterize the properties of printing inks and the resultant effects on geometric fidelity, cell viability, and mechanical integrity. These questions have been neglected largely because of the lack of methods to characterize the real-time properties of printing inks. We present a novel technique for characterizing the homogeneity of hydrogel tissue printing inks that measures loads during ink deposition and its temporal variation, called, mechanical noise. We then used this technique to determine the effects of increased mixing on the homogeneity of alginate hydrogels and determined whether this results in improved geometric fidelity of printed constructs. We also studied potential adverse effects on cell ...
High-fat diet activates pro-inflammatory response in the prostate through association of Stat-3 and NF-κB.

BACKGROUND Signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)-3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) are important signaling pathways constitutively activated during inflammation. We previously reported that high-fat diet (HFD) intake induces oxidative stress in the prostate through elevated expression of NADPH oxidase subunits causing NF-κB activation. We sought to determine whether Stat-3 is involved in the activation of NF-κB in the prostate as a result of HFD feeding, leading to inflammation. METHODS C57BL/6 mice were either fed with regular diet (RD) or HFD for 4 and 8 weeks. Plasma cytokine levels were determined by multiplex analysis. Western blotting was performed to determine the expression of NF-κB, Stat-3, Akt, PDK1, PKCe, and their phosphorylated forms along with pathologic evaluation of the prostate. Immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were conducted to study the association between Stat-3 and NF-κB. RESULTS C57BL/6 mice fed with HFD showed a significant increase in the plasma levels of IL-1s, IL-6, IL-17, and TNFα after 4 and 8 weeks of feeding, compared with RD controls. HFD feeding elevated the intraprostatic expression of IL-6 and caused activation of PKCe and Akt, the upstream kinase regulating Stat-3 and NF-κB. Nuclear extracts from the prostates of mice fed with HFD exhibited constitutively activated levels of Stat-3 and NF-κB/p65. Increased association between the activated forms of Stat-3 and NF-κB/p65 was observed in the nucleus as a result of HFD feeding, a finding that was accompanied by morphologic evidence of increased intraprostatic inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that HFD activates Stat-3 and NF-κB/p65 in the prostate, and their interaction is associated with increased inflammation in the prostate. Prostate 72:233–243, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radiation from channeled leptons

Abstract Radiation from planar- and axial-channeled positrons (56 MeV) and electrons (28 and 56 MeV) in Si has been observed. In axial channeling a large, almost featureless, low-energy enhancement is observed, but in planar channeling relatively sharp features occur. For planar-channeled positrons the energies of the spectral peaks (ranging from 35 to 50 keV) agree well with a theory based on transitions between eigenstates in an almost-harmonic potential. A Monte-Carlo simulation of the positron motion coupled with a classical calculation of the emitted radiation gives agreement with the results and also gives the classical equivalent of coherent bremsstrahlung (CB). It further predicts strong coupling between planar oscillation frequencies and CB frequencies with the formation of strong sidebands. For planar-channeled electrons sets of spectral peaks are observed in the range from 30 to 130 keV. An analysis based on a V 0 exp[− k | x |] potential yields energies in close agreement with experiment.
Differentiation of the vaccine F-strain from other strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum by restriction endonuclease analysis

The electrophoretic patterns of the nucleic acids (DNA) of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains digested with the restriction enzymes Bam HI, Eco RI and Hind III were useful for differentiating the vaccine F-strain from other strains of M. gallisepticum. The procedure was more sensitive than the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) technique. The vaccine F-strain, represented by cultures designated F-K810 and F-F2F10 was clearly differentiated from other strains of M. gallisepticum. This procedure may be useful in field studies to determine if the vaccine strain will replace wild-type M. gallisepticum in commercial layers.
Study of the characteristics of protease-activated NIR fluorescent probes in tumors by using a 3D high-resolution image system

The objective of this paper is to study the distribution of the near infrared (NIR) contrast agents delivered to mice bearing with small tumors in subsurface. Two kinds of contrast agents,NN382:ex760nm/em800nm and CY5.5: ex660nm /em700nm, which were activated by specific enzymes in tumors after bounded with certain delivery vehicle ,were studied by using the 3D high spatial resolution image system. Flavoprotein(fp) and Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) (Pn) in tissue are measured simultaneously as intrinsic agents for study the effect of extrinsic contrast agents on redox state in tumor. Preliminary experiments show:1) the released contrast agents have the maximum concentration around 1000-2500um under the epidermis which suggest the Cathepsin B (CaB) in tumor is mostly accumulated in the tumor capsule, the vasculate of the peripheral circulation, 2),the released contrast agents in central tumor have more concentration in small tumor than in the peripheral circulation, 2),the released contrast agents in central tumor have more concentration in small tumor than in big tumor.3),there is some correlation of the molecular beacons localization and the NADH signal. The beacon has more concentration, the NADH signal is stronger. 4).Fp/(fp+pn) data show a fairly oxide tumor with some material (muscle) outside tumor that is very oxide.
Soccer Spectatorship and Identity Discourses Among Latino Immigrants

This study examined the role of soccer spectatorship in identity development and community-building processes among Latino immigrants. Transnationalism and social identity theory were used as a theoretical foundation of this study. Twelve interviews with immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, and Argentina were conducted between June 2009 and January 2010. Interviews took place in two sports bars following the soccer games between the U.S. men's National Team and that of Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. The findings showed that the interviewees developed three types of identities: national, pan-ethnic (Latino), and transnational. Common interest in soccer led to forging bonds with other Latinos and in creating a community feeling and allegiances. Reinforcing identities and displaying togetherness and, at the same time, difference from others, was often achieved through symbolic means. The findings are analyzed in the context of the literature on (new) nationalism, identity politics, and imagined ...
The organization of expert systems, a tutorial☆

Abstract This is a tutorial about the organization of expert problem-solving programs. We begin with a restricted class of problems that admits a very simple organization. To make this organization feasible it is required that the input data be static and reliable and that the solution space be small enough to search exhaustively. These assumptions are then relaxed, one at a time, in case study of ten more sophisticated organizational prescriptions. The first cases give techniques for dealing with unreliable data and time-varying data. Other cases show techniques for creating and reasoning with abstract solution spaces and using multiple lines of reasoning. The prescriptions are compared for their coverage and illustrated by examples from recent expert systems.