cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Haemorrhagic stroke in term and late preterm neonates

Objective Few data regarding causes and outcomes of haemorrhagic stroke (HS) in term neonates are available. We characterised risk factors, mechanism and short-term outcomes in term and late preterm neonates with acute HS. Design Prospective cohort. Setting Single-centre tertiary care stroke registry. Subjects Term and late preterm neonates (≥34 weeks gestation), born 2004-2010, with acute HS ≤28 days of life were identified, and clinical information was abstracted. Short-term outcomes were assessed via standardised neurological exam and rated using the Paediatric Stroke Outcome Measure (PSOM). Results Among 42 neonates, median gestational age was 39.7 weeks (IQR 38-40.7 weeks). Diagnosis occurred at a median of 1 day (IQR 0-7 days) after delivery. Twenty- seven (64%) had intraparenchymal and intraventricular haemorrhage. Mechanism was haemorrhagic transformation of venous or arterial infarction in 22 (53%). Major risk factors included congenital heart disease (CHD), fetal distress and haemostatic abnormalities. Common presentations included seizure, apnoea, and poor feeding or vomiting. Acute hydrocephalus was common. Mortality was 12%. Follow-up occurred in 36/37 survivors at a median of 1 year (IQR 0.5-2.0 years). Among 17/36 survivors evaluated in stroke clinic, 47% demonstrated neurologic deficits. Deficits were mild (PSOM 0.5-1.5) in 9/36 (25%), and moderate-to-severe (PSOM ≥2.0) in 8/36 (22%). Conclusions In our cohort with acute HS, most presented with seizures, apnoea and/or poor feeding. Fetal distress and CHD were common. Nearly two-thirds had intraparenchymal with intraventricular haemorrhage. Over half were due to haemorrhagic transformation of infarction. Short-term neurologic deficits were present in 47% of survivors.
Real-Time Traffic Scheduling and Routing in Packet-Switched Networks Using a Least-Laxity-First Strategy

In this paper, we address the problem of transmission scheduling and buffer management at a switch in a high-speed packet-switched network. Future computer networks are expected to carry bursty real-time multimedia traffic with specific time-delay requirements. We propose a technique to schedule competing packets at a switch in a packet-switched network with two objectives--(i) maximizing the number of packets that would reach their destination before their deadline has been reached (ii) minimizing the number of packets dropped in transit in the network. The method is broadly based on the popular least-laxity heuristic in real-time process scheduling and is combined with buffer management at the switch.
Forced Saving in China

The explanation offered here for the high rates of saving in China is that much of the saving has been “forced” in two Benthamite senses. Involuntary saving, the first of Bentham's meanings, includes taxes which finance investment. These have made up more than half of the total savings in China in recent years. There is also forced saving in China in the form of Bentham's second sense, conduced saving, resulting from bank loans which have financed investment. While the existence of a savings glut has been suggested for China, a better characterization would be that it has had a high rate of investment.
Bad Faith: A Dilemma

Leslie Stevenson has made a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion in this journal of Sartre's concept of 'bad faith'.' He has the courage to advocate the heretical (but, as I see it, eminently sound) view that Sartre never intended the famous case of the waiter-the focus of so much recent attention in these pages-as an illustration of bad faith. Had Sartre intended it this way, he would surely have said so, and he could not have been clearer in explaining the point the case does illustrate in his view. More importantly, drawing upon key concepts in Being and Nothingness, Stevenson attempts to provide a clear Sartrean account of the phenomenon. I am in bad faith, according to Stevenson's analysis, when I reflectively deny what I pre-reflectively take to be true. It is this latter point that I wish to discuss. This seems a quite promising suggestion, after all. After careful reflection, however, I think we are forced to reject it-not as a misreading of Sartre, but as a philosophical indefensible account of had faith. I want to take a few moments now to set out my reasons for this Judgment. In the last sentence of his article, Stevenson wonders whether the position he has outlined 'is philosophically defensible-in particular whether the distinction between reflective and pre-reflective awareness can be made and used in the way that Sartre requires. ...'3 I think the answer to the question whether the distinction can be mnade is Yes, but that the answer to the question whether the distinction can be used as Stevenson wishes to use it is No. Neither Stevenson nor Sartre claims to provide us with a precise analysis of the nature of 'pre-reflective awareness'. Sartre says rather more on the subject than Stevenson does, but there is still much room (and need) for clarification. In any case, as I see it, we can take either a 'hard' view in interpreting this concept or a 'soft' view. The hard view will see the pre-reflective as a deeply submerged domain of awareness, accessible only with great difficulty to reflective consciousness. The soft view will see it as a sort of peripheral awareness, the contents of which are available with no extraordinary effort or specialised
How African-American ministers communicate HIV/AIDS-related health information to their congregants: a survey of selected black churches in Houston, TX

Throughout history, black churches have played a significant role in the spiritual, social, and political life of African-American communities. Yet attitudes about morality surrounding HIV/AIDS have hampered unconditional involvement of black churches in dealing with the disease. Although the black church's attitudes toward the disease have evolved in the last 25 years, research suggests that a lingering negative disposition still exists. This study examines the current status of church-based HIV/AIDS education and support services provided by the black churches in the Houston area. The data were drawn from 319 church members and 12 ministers, using two separate questioners. Members and ministers were surveyed on a variety of issues related to HIV/AIDS education and support services, and their attitudes and behavior towards the disease. The results seem to confirm the much needed involvement of the black church in providing education and support in dealing with the disease.
Buoyant Plumes and Wakes

The problem of mixing of pollutants induced by vehicular motions is considered as an example of dispersion that is initially unaffected by atmospheric turbulence. Some models are discussed that have proven helpful in understanding certain aspects of the problem of dispersion of air pollutants in the atmosphere. However, the considerable variability of atmospheric flow, as compared with a laboratory flow, makes the application of these models, both experimental and theoretical, of limited scientific usefulness to the prediction of ambient air-pollutant levels.
Isocyanate formation in the catalytic reaction of CO + NO on Pd(111): an in situ infrared spectroscopic study at elevated pressures

The catalytic CO + NO reaction to form CO2, N2, and N2O has been studied on a Pd(111) surface at pressures up to 240 mbar using in situ polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRAS). At 240 mbar, for a pressure ratio of PCO:PNO = 3:2 and under reaction conditions, besides adsorbed CO, the formation of isocyanate (-NCO) was observed. Once produced at 500-625 K, the isocyanate species was stable within the entire temperature range studied (300-625 K). On the other hand, its formation required a total CO + NO pressure of at least 0.6 mbar, illustrating the importance of in situ infrared experiments under high-pressure conditions. The significance of the isocyanate formation for the CO + NO reaction on Pd(111) is discussed.
Review of Henriette's Herbal

This column reviews Henriette's Herbal, a website devoted to the medicinal and culinary uses of herbs. Modeled after traditional herbal books, the website includes information about herbal remedies for minor health conditions and methods of processing herbs. The site also contains the digitized contents of classic herb texts and an extensive image library. Henriette's Herbal stands out as an excellent website for herb aficionados who are seeking to expand their knowledge.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN INITIAL SETTLEMENT AND JUVENILE RECRUITMENT OF MYA ARENARIA L. (SOFT-SHELL CLAM) IN MAINE

ABSTRACT Clam landings have dramatically decreased in eastern Maine since 1982. Earlier studies demonstrated that densities of 0-y-old individuals of Mya arenaria L. were lower in Washington County on the eastern Maine coast than in Cumberland County on the southern Maine coast. Reduced juvenile recruitment could result from reduced larval abundances, high postsettlement mortality, or a combination of these factors. Attempts to assist recovery of populations experiencing reduced recruitment would vary depending on which combination of factors inhibited recruitment. In this study we measured initial settlement, short-term (<4 wk) postsettlement densities, and longer term (several months) postsettlement densities of 0-y-old juvenile M. arenaria in both eastern and southern Maine. Although there were seasonal and spatial differences, densities of juvenile clams were significantly greater in southern Maine over eastern Maine at each of these life history stages (initial settlement, and early and later postset...
THE STATUS OF MORAL STATUS

This paper investigates whether moral status talk gets us anywhere in our search for answers to questions in the ethics of marginal cases. I consider the usefulness of moral status talk first on the assumption that an individual's possession of moral status is not a further fact about that individual, and then on the assumption that it is. Finally, I offer an expressivistic interpretation of moral status talk. In each case, I argue that such talk conveys nothing that cannot be conveyed more clearly in other words. My conclusion is that we should stop using moral status and its cognates.
High-performance lossless RF fiber optic link

This paper describes an RF high-performance wide-bandwidth fiber optic link that achieves significant-compared to current commercial-off-the-shelf links-improvements in key RF link parameters of bandwidth, gain, signal-to-noise ratio, noise figure, spur-free dynamic range, and noise.
Measuring Global Galaxy Metallicities Using Emission-Line Equivalent Widths

We develop a prescription for estimating the interstellar medium oxygen abundances of distant star-forming galaxies using the ratio EW R23 formed from the equivalent widths of the [O II] λ3727, [O III] λλ4959, 5007, and Hβ nebular emission lines. This EW R23 approach is essentially identical to the widely used R23 method of Pagel and coworkers. Using data from three spectroscopic surveys of nearby galaxies, we conclude that the emission-line equivalent-width ratios are a good substitute for emission-line flux ratios in galaxies with active star formation. The rms dispersion between EW R23 and the reddening-corrected R23 values is σ(log R23) ≤ 0.08 dex. This dispersion is comparable to the emission-line measurement uncertainties for distant galaxies in many spectroscopic galaxy surveys, and is somewhat smaller than the uncertainties of σ(O/H) ~ 0.15 dex inherent in strong-line metallicity calibrations. Because equivalent-width ratios are partially insensitive to interstellar reddening effects, emission-line equivalent-width ratios should be superior to flux ratios when reddening corrections are not available. The EW R23 method presented here is likely to be most useful for statistically estimating the mean metallicities for large samples of galaxies to trace their chemical properties as a function of redshift or environment. The approach developed here is used in a companion paper by Kobulnicky and coworkers to measure the metallicities of star-forming galaxies at z = 0.2-0.8 in the Deep Extragalactic Evolutionary Probe spectroscopic survey of the Groth strip.
ANGER DISORDERS: BASIC SCIENCE AND PRACTICE ISSUES

Anger plays a significant role in everyday life. Sometimes it is shortlived, moderate in intensity, and, perhaps, even helpful. At other times it is persistent, severe, and highly disruptive. Overt anger can lead to negative evaluations by others, a negative self-concept, low self-esteem, interpersonal and family conflict, verbal and physical assault, property destruction, and occupational maladjustment (Deffenbacher, 1992). Suppressed anger is related to a number of medical conditions including essential hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cancer (Greer & Morris, 1975; Harburg, Gleiberman, Russell, & Cooper, 199 1 ; Harburg, Blakelock, & Roeper, 1979; Kalis, Harris, Bennett, & Sokolow, 1961; Spielberger, Crane, Kearns, Pellegrin, & Rickman, 1991). These detrimental effects of anger have been known for a long time. More than 60 years ago, Meltzer (1933) reported that, “Anger has been called the worst propensity of human nature, the father and mother of craft, cruelty, and intrigue, and the chief enemy of public happiness and private peace” (p. 285). More recently, Dix ( 199 1 ) concluded that even the common experience of parenting is constantly associated with anger. He noted that, “. . . average parents report high levels of anger with their children, the need to engage in techniques to control their anger, and fear that they will at some time lose control and harm their children” (p. 3). Anger is also a frequent experience. According to Averill (1 983), “Depending upon how records are kept, most people report becoming mildly to moderately angry anywhere from several times a day to several times a week (Anastasi, Cohen, & Spatz, 1948; Averill, 1979, 1982; Gates, 1926; Meltzer, 1933; Richardson, 1918)” (p. 1146). His reference list spans 75 years, suggesting stability of the anger experience as well as the everyday frequency. Given these observations, it is no surprise that anger is a common reason that leads people to seek professional help.
2-Methoxyestradiol, an endogenous estrogen metabolite, induces thyroid cell apoptosis.

Abstract The etiology of autoimmune thyroid diseases is unclear; however, the extreme female predominance suggests that sex hormones may have a pathogenic role. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME) is present in the serum of women during the ovulatory and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy. We investigated the actions of 2-ME and estrogen on thyroid follicular cells. 2-ME induced dramatic changes in cell morphology and decreased the viability of the cells, as well as disrupted the structural integrity of cultured thyroid follicles. Flow cytometric analysis showed that 2-ME halted cell proliferation by arresting the cells in the G2/M cell-cycle compartment. Prolonged exposure to 2-ME led to apoptosis and to increased release of the autoantigen thyroid peroxidase (TPO). 17β-estradiol failed to produce a similar effect even in 40-fold molar excess to 2-ME. Co-treatment with estrogen receptor antagonists did not alter the 2-ME effect, indicating that 2-ME was not operating through a classic nuclear estrogen receptor. In conclusion, this study indicates that 2-ME induces G2/M cycle arrest, apoptosis and the disruption of thyroid follicles. This process results in the release of thyroid antigens that may play a role in high incidence of thyroid autoantibodies and autoimmune thyroid disease in women.
Transient Solidarities: Commitment and Collective Action in Post-Industrial Societies

Solidarity has long been considered essential to labour, but many fear that it has declined. There has been relatively little scholarly investigation of it because of both theoretical and empirical difficulties. This article argues that solidarity has not declined but has changed in form, which has an impact on what kinds of mobilization are effective. We first develop a theory of solidarity general enough to compare different forms. We then trace the evolution of solidarity through craft and industrial versions, to the emergence of collaborative solidarity from the increasingly fluid ‘friending’ relations of recent decades. Finally, we examine the question of whether these new solidarities can be mobilized into effective collective action, and suggest mechanisms, rather different from traditional union mobilizations, that have shown some power in drawing on friending relations: the development of member platforms, the use of purposive campaigns and the co-ordination of ‘swarming’ actions. In the best cases, these can create collective actions that make a virtue of diversity, openness and participative engagement, by co-ordinating groups with different foci and skills.
Three-Station Three-dimensional Bolus-Chase MR Angiography with Real-time Fluoroscopic Tracking

Three-station bolus-chase MR angiography with fluoroscopic tracking provides high-spatial-resolution arteriograms along the extent of the peripheral vasculature, enables patient-specific triggering of table motion, and is a promising alternative to contemporary MR angiography and CT angiographic methods.
Chronic diarrhoea in cats Part 1: Establishing a diagnosis

Chronic diarrhoea is a frustrating problem in feline patients, as numerous underlying causes must be considered. This article outlines the diagnostic tests available and highlights the reasons for selecting one test over another. Key features regarding patient history, physical examination, faecal testing, metabolic screening and imaging are reviewed, along with suggestions regarding how and when to collect intestinal biopsies. Treatments for non-specific diarrhoea are discussed in Part 2 of this series.
Issues in Online Focus Groups: Lessons Learned from an Empirical Study of Peer-to-Peer Filesharing System Users

The development of easy-to-use Internet tools for synchronous communications has made a new research method possible: online focus groups. Attempts to apply them to questions formerly addressed by face-to-face focus groups have resulted not only in promising avenues for research, but also in substantive criticism. We have chosen to adopt online focus groups as a research methodology for a qualitative study of user beliefs and attitudes concerning peer-to-peer filesharing systems. This project is still in its early stages, so herein we describe not confirmatory findings of rigorous research, but the issues raised by our exploratory study, and indications of important issues to address in the use of online focus groups. This paper also demonstrates a novel analysis method which visually maps one of the unique characteristics of such groups, multi-threaded simultaneous conversations, and uses such maps to identify some notable tendencies and behaviors. We also identify some typical participant strategies we have observed, describe some skills and techniques for use in moderating such sessions, identify some powerful advantages provided by the instant and automatic transcript generation capabilities of chat session software, and characterize some important research questions to be addressed in future research.
Infant Outcomes after Periviable Birth: External Validation of the Neonatal Research Network Estimator with the BEAM Trial.

Objective The objective of this study was to use data from the 20-center beneficial effect of antenatal magnesium sulfate (BEAM) trial to assess the external validity of the Neonatal Research Network (NRN) estimator, a widely employed web-based counseling tool to estimate the probability of an adverse outcome for periviable infants given intensive care. Study Design The probability of different adverse outcomes predicted from the NRN estimator was compared with observed rates at 18 to 22 months for ventilated, nonanomalous infants born at 23 to 25 weeks and assessed in BEAM as in the NRN. Results were assessed using rigorous validation methods for prediction models. Results Among 289 eligible infants, 26% died, 40% died or had profound neurodevelopmental impairment (PNDI), and 71% died or had NDI. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.78) for death, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.56-0.71) for death or NDI, and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65-0.78) for death or PNDI. Observed and predicted rates were somewhat different for death or NDI but quite similar for death and for death or PNDI in different risk groups. Brier scores for accuracy were favorable (0.17-0.22) for all outcomes. Conclusion Our results provide external validation of the NRN estimator for assessing the probability of adverse outcomes at 18 to 22 months for periviable infants given intensive care.
Saluretic activity of hydrochlorothiazide (6-chloro-7-sulfamyl-3, 4-dihydro-1, 2,4-benzothiadiazine-1, 1-dioxide) in the dog.

SummaryHydrochlorothiazide is a potent saluretic agent. It resembles chlorothiazide qualitatively, but is several times more active, intravenously and orally, in the dog.
From Farm to Factory: Structuring and Location of the U.S. Farm Machinery Industry

This article examines the organizational and locational dynamics of the U.S. farm machinery industry during the nineteenth century with two related goals. First is illuminating the role of the agro-commercial complex in propelling the nation along its distinctive path of capitalist development. Second is demonstrating how the farm machinery industry's location process, at both inter- and intra-regional levels, was embedded within the organizational passage of production from artisanal households to manufacturing firms. The article extends theoretical insights derived from contemporary industrial restructuring and location change into a prior era by showing how the continual concentration of capital underwrote the changing spatial structure of farm machinery production.
“That’s Just the Tip of It Because It Goes Deeper Than That”: A Qualitative Exploration Into the Role of Mental Illness in Offending Onset and Subsequent Offending Behavior:

There continues to be considerable debate regarding the most effective ways to reduce the number of mentally ill offenders in the adult criminal justice system. What is often missing from this nati...
Clinical Components of Cancer Care

This chapter addresses the basic components of cancer care. Topics include epidemiology, etiology, detection and diagnosis, and treatment. In addition, students are questioned about the characteristics of malignant and benign tumors. Chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy concepts is also tested.
Functional characteristics of sperm obtained by electroejaculation.

AbstractSperm obtained by electroejactuation in 32 anejaculatory men were examined for functional characteristics. Raw specimens showed high sperm counts but motility averaged only 11%. Average viability was 10% for antegrade and 5% for retrograde fractions. Bovine cervical mucus penetration was normal (30mm. or more in 30 minutes) in only 24% of the electroejaculation samples but it was normal in all of the donor samples tested. Processed sperm motility averaged 30% with 71% forward progression. At 20 hours patient samples retained 46% of the original motility, while donor controls retained 81%. In the hamster egg penetration assay patient sperm penetrated 14% of the oocytes while donor sperm penetrated 40%. Therefore, we identified 4 characteristics of sperm obtained by electroejaculation: 1) low viability, 2) poor survival after overnight incubation, 3) moderately impaired cervical mucus penetration and 4) moderately poor fertilizing capability as measured by the hamster egg penetration assay. Poor spe...
Complications associated with suction lipectomy.

The medical and aesthetic complications of lipoplasty are discussed. The author suggests strategies for avoiding complications and presents techniques for managing those that do occur.
Autologous stimulation of YY1 transcription factor expression: role of an insulin-like growth factor

YY1 is believed to be a constitutive factor, present in all cell types, affecting the transcription of a large number of genes. Experiments in this report demonstrated that YY1 RNA expression in NIH3T3 cells was modulated by media factors, either exogenously added to the media or elaborated by the NIH3T3 cells themselves. This autologous stimulation of YY1 expression was in proportion to the density of cells and was time dependent. Sparsely plated cells lost YY1 RNA expression within hours after being placed under fresh, serum-free media and lost YY1 protein expression by 24 h. Subsequent recurrence of YY1 expression in serum-deprived NIH3T3 cells was significantly decreased by adding monoclonal anti-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 to the media. Radioimmunoassay showed that NIH3T3 cells secreted IGF-1 into the media for up to 72 h after being deprived of serum in the media but did not do so after they became quiescent. In quiescent NIH3T3 cells, YY1 expression was low or absent but was rapidly stimulated by exposure of the quiescent cells to media-containing serum. Exogenous growth factors, either whole serum or purified IGF-1, stimulated YY1 expression equally well. The rapid responses of YY1 expression to growth factor deprivation and replacement suggested the possibility that YY1 may mediate some of the intranuclear responses to autologous stimulation by IGF-1.
Affluence and Social Imbalance

John Kenneth Galbraith’s The Affluent Society is one of the most famous books of the last twenty-five years. Its fame and, with the qualification that its basic message has gone unheeded, its influence, are indicated by its large sales; the adoption of its terminology; and the reviews, citations, and discussion given it (Sharpe, 1972; Hession, 1972; Gambs, 1975; Munro, 1977; Reisman, 1980).
The power spectrum of cosmic ray arrival directions

Various experiments show that the arrival directions of multi-TeV cosmic rays show significant anisotropies at small angular scales. It was recently argued that this small scale structure may arise naturally by cosmic ray diffusion in a large-scale cosmic ray gradient in combination with deflections in local turbulent magnetic fields. We show via analytical and numerical methods that the non-trivial power spectrum in this setup is a direct consequence of Liouville's theorem and can be related to properties of relative diffusion.
Purposes, concepts, misfits, and a redesign of git

Git is a widely used version control system that is powerful but complicated. Its complexity may not be an inevitable consequence of its power but rather evidence of flaws in its design. To explore this hypothesis, we analyzed the design of Git using a theory that identifies concepts, purposes, and misfits. Some well-known difficulties with Git are described, and explained as misfits in which underlying concepts fail to meet their intended purpose. Based on this analysis, we designed a reworking of Git (called Gitless) that attempts to remedy these flaws. To correlate misfits with issues reported by users, we conducted a study of Stack Overflow questions. And to determine whether users experienced fewer complications using Gitless in place of Git, we conducted a small user study. Results suggest our approach can be profitable in identifying, analyzing, and fixing design problems.
Efficient specific-to-general rule induction

RISE (Domingos 1995; in press) is a rule induction algorithm that proceeds by gradually generalizing rules, starting with one rule per example. This has several advantages compared to the more common strategy of gradually specializing initially null rules, and has been shown to lead to significant accuracy gains over algorithms like C4.5 RULES and CN2 in a large number of application domains. However, RISE'S running time (like that of other rule induction algorithms) is quadratic in the number of examples, making it unsuitable for processing very large databases. This paper introduces a method for reducing RISE's running time based on partitioning the training set, evaluating rules from one partition on examples from another, and combining the final results at classification time. Partitioning guarantees a learning time that is linear in the number of examples, even in the presence of numeric attributes and high noise. Windowing, a well-known speedup method, is also studied as applied to RISE. In low-noise conditions, both methods are successful in reducing running time whilst maintaining accuracy (partitioning sometimes improves it significantly). In noisy conditions, the performance of windowing deteriorates, while that of partitioning remains stable.
Clinical Application of the QRS-T Angle for the Prediction of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with the Fontan Palliation

Fontan palliation patients are at risk for ventricular arrhythmias post-operatively. This study aimed to evaluate whether differences in the spatial QRS-T angle can reliably predict ventricular arrhythmias in patients who had undergone Fontan palliation. A total of 117 patients who had the Fontan palliation and post-Fontan catheterization were included. Ventricular arrhythmias were identified in nine patients. Measurements of ECG parameters including QRS vector magnitude, QRS duration, corrected QT interval, and spatial peaks QRS-T angles were performed, and compared between those with and without ventricular arrhythmias. The only ECG parameter to distinguish those with versus those without VA was the SPQRS-T angle (p < 0.001), which at a cut-off value of 102.9° gave sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 100.0, 57.0, 17.6 and 100.0%, respectively. Only the spatial peaks QRS-T angle differentiated those with and without ventricular arrhythmia development with a univariate HR 1.237 (95% CI 1.021–1.500) and a multivariate HR of 1.032 (1.009–1.056) when catheter measured parameters were taken into account. In Fontan patients, the spatial peaks QRS-T angle is a significant independent predictor of ventricular arrhythmias. Clinical usefulness of this parameter remains to be seen and should be tested prospectively.
Fabrication and characterization of multi-point side-firing optical fiber by laser micro-ablation (Conference Presentation)

Compared to traditional optical fibers, which are designed to transmit light from one end to the other, a multi-point side firing optical fiber can be useful in several applications such as phototherapy, optogenetics brain stimulation and remote sensing. We present the fabrication and characterization of an optical fiber capable of launching light from virtually any point along its circumferential surface by laser micro-ablation. Continuous wave (CW) laser radiation was employed to form a conical-shaped cavity (side window) in the fiber core. Because of the total internal reflection, when the laser beam reached the side window-outside medium interface, the beam was reflected to the side of the optical fiber. A single side window on 730 μm fiber can deliver more than 8% of the total coupled light. Light-firing output can be increased to more than 19% by using femtosecond (fs) laser ablation on smaller optical fiber (65 µm). In addition, the fiber also exhibited 3-dimensional light emission by placing side-windows of various orientations on its axis. We envision the 65 um-OD multi-point side-firing optical fiber to be employed in optogenetics brain neuron stimulation in vivo. To test the feasibility of this approach, ablated fibers were investigated in agar-based tissue mimicking material (0.5% w/v in water). Successful multi-point side-firing capability has been demonstrated in the tissue phantom with similar refractive index. Furthermore, this experiment was also used to test the side-firing fiber’s mechanical strength in order to optimize the window’s depth.
A Global Political Morality: Human Rights, Democracy, and Constitutionalism

In A Global Political Morality, Michael J. Perry addresses several related questions in human rights theory, political theory and constitutional theory. He begins by explaining what the term 'human right' means and then elaborates and defends the morality of human rights, which is the first truly global morality in human history. Perry also pursues the implications of the morality of human rights for democratic governance and for the proper role of courts - especially the US Supreme Court - in protecting constitutionally entrenched human rights. The principal constitutional controversies discussed in the book are capital punishment, race-based affirmative action, same-sex marriage, physician-assisted suicide and abortion.
Fungal dysbiosis in cirrhosis.

Objective Cirrhotics have a high rate of infections, which are increasingly fungal or culture-negative in nature. While infected cirrhotics have bacterial dysbiosis, the role of fungi is unclear. We aimed to evaluate gut bacterial and fungal dysbiosis in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of outpatient and inpatient cirrhotics and prediction of hospitalisations. Methods Cross-sectional: Age-matched controls, outpatients (with/without antibiotics) and hospitalised uninfected, culture-negative and culture-positive cirrhotics were included and followed for 90 days. Longitudinal: Three studies were conducted: (1) cirrhotics followed over 6 months, (2) outpatient cirrhotics administered antibiotics per standard of care for 5 days and (3) cirrhotics and controls administered omeprazole over 14 days. In all studies, stool bacterial/fungal profiles were analysed. Results Cross-sectional: In 143 cirrhotics and 26 controls, bacterial and fungal diversities were significantly linked. Outpatients on antibiotics and patients with culture-positive infections had the lowest diversities. Bacterial and fungal correlations were complex in uninfected, outpatient and control groups but were markedly skewed in infected patients. 21% were admitted on 90-day follow-up. A lower Bacteroidetes/Ascomycota ratio was associated with lower hospitalisations. Longitudinal: Fungal and bacterial profiles were stable on follow-up (5 days and 6 months). After antibiotics, a significantly reduced bacterial and fungal diversity, higher Candida and lower autochthonous bacterial relative abundance were seen. After omeprazole, changes in bacterial diversity and composition were seen but fungal metrics remained stable. Conclusion There is a significant fungal dysbiosis in cirrhosis, which changes differentially with antibiotics and proton pump inhibitor use, but is otherwise stable over time. A combined bacterial–fungal dysbiosis metric, Bacteroidetes/Ascomycota ratio, can independently predict 90-day hospitalisations in patients with cirrhosis. Clinical trial number NCT01458990.
RESIDUAL STRESSES IN COMPOSITE MATERIALS: AN OVERVIEW OF MEASUREMENT METHODS USED

Residual stress is a significant property of composite materials from the point of view of both practical applications and mechanical response. The paper presents a short review of the various residual stress measurement techniques that have potential use in filamentary and planar composites. The origin of the residual stresses at the interface between matrix and fiber are discussed. They involve differences in coefficient of expansion between the components as well as differences in mechanical response. The potenital measurement techniques include x-ray, neutron, optical, ultrasonic and magnetic probes. Some of the advantages and limitations for each method in measuring residual stresses in composites are discussed.
Palliative Radiotherapy and Management of the Pediatric Oncology Patient

Although pediatric malignancies are rare, approximately 17% of children diagnosed with cancer will die of their disease or treatment related complications. The appropriate palliative care of pediatric cancer patients encompasses quality of life, minimizes suffering, optimizes functioning, and provides support for spiritual, psychosocial, and personal growth. Care required by pediatric cancer patients differs from the care of adult cancer patient care because of different types of common malignancies, expected disease presentations, various stages of cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development, treatments available and response. The limited defined best practices of pediatric palliative radiotherapy have already demonstrated effectiveness of radiotherapy in relieving symptoms from progressive and metastatic disease involving bone, soft tissue, and solid organs. Pediatric oncology patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy in conjunction with an evolving interdisciplinary approach benefit from honest and unarmed communication, systematic symptom management, and incorporation of innovative research and technology for optimal support for the patient, family, and primary care team.
Using stereoretention for the synthesis of E-macrocycles with ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts

The synthesis of E-macrocycles is achieved using stereoretentive, Ru-based olefin metathesis catalysts supported by dithiolate ligands. Kinetic studies elucidate marked differences in activity among the catalysts tested, with catalyst 4 providing meaningful yields of products in much shorter reaction times than stereoretentive catalysts 2 and 3. Macrocycles were generated with excellent selectivity (>99% E) and in moderate to high yields (47–80% yield) from diene starting materials bearing two E-configured olefins. A variety of rings were constructed, ranging from 12- to 18-membered macrocycles, including the antibiotic recifeiolide.
Investigating the Components of Psychopathic Traits in Youth Offenders

Despite widespread acceptance of the importance of psychopathic traits in youth, the relative importance of different components of psychopathy remains controversial. This study was conducted to examine whether the interpersonal and lifestyle facets of psychopathy as measured with a valid clinical measure of psychopathic traits contribute to predicting relevant external criteria on top of the contributions of the affective facet. To address this issue, we conducted multiple regressions predicting antisocial behavior, exposure to violence, and psychopathology in a sample of 225 incarcerated adolescents. Results indicated that ratings on the affective component of psychopathy were important in helping to explain variance in many of the external criterion variables but that ratings on the interpersonal and lifestyle facets also helped to explain unique variance in a range of criteria including violent and non-violent crime, exposure to violence, impulsivity, and anger expression. These studies suggest that multiple components of psychopathy are likely to be important both in predicting real world outcomes and in understanding mechanisms involved in the development and manifestation of these traits.
Updating Literacy Estimates in the Oklahoma City Metro

Project SCHOLAR (Statistical Consulting Help for Organizational Leaders and Academic Researchers) is an undergraduate student statistical consulting service at the University of Central Oklahoma. SCHOLAR students work under the supervision of faculty mentors from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics on various projects submitted from researchers on campus as well as off campus. This year, a SCHOLAR group was asked by the Oklahoma City Metro Literacy Coalition to update estimates of literacy levels in the Oklahoma City (OKC) Metropolitan Area and find factors related to below basic literacy proficiency. The group started by organizing and cleaning the data. Explanatory variables were collected from the 2010 US Census, and were used to develop a model for predicting the 2003 State Assessment of Adult Literacy estimates. The group performed a univariate analysis for each explanatory variable, using the p-value, residual plots, and QQ-plots to determine which variables were significantly related to literacy. The group performed multiple regression with stepwise selection, using all of the explanatory variables resulting from the univariate analysis after eliminating variables due to collinearity. The group intends to use the model along with the 2015 American Community Survey data to compute updated literacy estimates for every zip code in the OKC metro. The software used to perform this research is SAS and R.
Sustainability of Social Systems by Suppleness

This white paper proposes that one of the next grand challenges in the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences is to understand mechanisms of how dynamic meta‐states of a complex system may be sustained through continual adaptive changes, or “suppleness,” and to investigate how one could implement such mechanisms in our social, economical and political systems to achieve or enhance their sustainability. The idea of sustainability by suppleness is foundational because it is fundamentally different from existing ideas of sustainability by robustness or resilience. It is also transformative because it may provide novel perspectives to many of today’s socio‐economical and socio‐ecological problems that call for new strategies to cope with inevitable environmental changes.
Propagation, detection and containment of mobile malware

Today's enterprise systems and networks are frequent targets of malicious attacks, such as worms, viruses, spyware and intrusions that can disrupt, or even disable critical services. Recent trends suggest that by combining spyware as a malicious payload with worms as a delivery mechanism, malicious programs can potentially be used for industrial espionage and identity theft. The problem is compounded further by the increasing convergence of wired, wireless and cellular networks, since virus writers can now write malware that can crossover from one network segment to another, exploiting services and vulnerabilities specific to each network. This dissertation makes four primary contributions. First, it builds more accurate malware propagation models for emerging hybrid malware (i.e., malware that use multiple propagation vectors such as Bluetooth, Email, Peer-to-Peer, Instant Messaging, etc.), addressing key propagation factors such as heterogeneity of nodes, services and user mobility within the network. Second, it develops a proactive containment framework based on group-behavior of hosts against such malicious agents in an enterprise setting. The majority of today's anti-virus solutions are reactive, i.e., these are activated only after a malicious activity has been detected at a node in the network. In contrast, proactive containment has the potential of closing the vulnerable services ahead of infection, and thereby halting the spread of the malware. Third, we study (1) the current-generation mobile viruses and worms that target SMS/MMS messaging and Bluetooth on handsets, and the corresponding exploits, and (2) their potential impact in a large SMS provider network using real-life SMS network data. Finally, we propose a new behavioral approach for detecting emerging malware targeting mobile handsets. Our approach is based on the concept of generalized behavioral patterns instead of traditional signature-based detection. The signature-based methods are not scalable for deployment in mobile devices due to limited resources available on today's typical handsets. Further, we demonstrate that the behavioral approach not only has a compact footprint, but also can detect new classes of malware that combine some features from existing classes of malware.
Cell-surface proteases in cancer

Proteases of the serine, cysteine, aspartic, and metallo classes are capable of degrading extracellular matrix and basement membrane components thus contributing to the invasive and metastatic properties of tumor cells. The localization of proteases to tumor cell surfaces may be important for their ability to invade and may also be a way to regulate protease expression and activity. Proteases found to be associated with the tumor cell surface and which are also correlated with tumor invasion and metastasis include: urokinase plasminogen activator, cathep-sin B, and matrix metalloproteinase-2. Cell surface receptors have been identified for urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase-2. Although regulation of protease expression and activity can occur at several levels, the interaction of proteases with cell surface receptors may be most crucial to protease function. Increased expression of proteases, cell surface receptors, and endogenous inhibitors have been observed in many cancers.
Similarity of functional connectivity patterns in patients with multiple sclerosis who void spontaneously versus patients with voiding dysfunction

AIM To investigate if Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesion characteristics affect functional brain connectivity (FC) during bladder voiding. METHODS Twenty-seven ambulatory female patients with MS completed our functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)/urodynamic testing (UDS) platform. Individual fMRI activation maps were generated at initiation of voiding. FC patterns of these regions were calculated and compared. Similarity of the FC pattern from one patient relative to all others was expressed by a parameter FC_sim. A statistical analysis was performed to reveal the relationship of the existence of an enhancing brain lesion, the size of the largest lesion and the ability to void spontaneously to this FC similarity measure. RESULTS FC_sim values were significantly lower for patients with an enhancing MS lesion (11.7 ± 3.1 vs 5.3 ± 2.1 P < 0.001). Lesion size smaller than 20 mm inversely correlated significantly with FC_sim (R = -0.43, P = 0.05). Patients with the ability to void spontaneously had a higher FC_sim value (12.0 ± 2.8 vs 9.3 ± 4.4 s, P = 0.08). Patients that exhibited a decrease of compliance also showed a significantly lower FC_sim value (11.3 ± 3.5 vs 4.7 ± 0.7, P < 1e-5). CONCLUSION FC connectivity analysis derived from an fMRI task-based study including repetitive voiding cycles is able to quantify the heterogeneity of connectivity patterns in the brain of MS patients. FC similarity decreased with maximum lesion size or the presence of enhancing lesions affecting the ability to void spontaneously.
Mucosal bromodomain-containing protein 4 mediates aeroallergen-induced inflammation and remodeling.

Background Frequent exacerbations of allergic asthma lead to airway remodeling and a decrease in pulmonary function, producing morbidity. Cat dander is an aeroallergen associated with asthma risk. Objective We sought to elucidate the mechanism of cat dander–induced inflammation-remodeling. Methods We identified remodeling in mucosal samples from allergic asthma by using quantitative RT-PCR. We developed a model of aeroallergen-induced experimental asthma using repetitive cat dander extract exposure. We measured airway inflammation using immunofluorescence, leukocyte recruitment, and quantitative RT-PCR. Airway remodeling was measured by using histology, collagen content, myofibroblast numbers, and selected reaction monitoring. Inducible nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)–BRD4 interaction was measured by using a proximity ligation assay in situ. Results Enhanced mesenchymal signatures are observed in bronchial biopsy specimens from patients with allergic asthma. Cat dander induces innate inflammation through NF-κB signaling, followed by production of a profibrogenic mesenchymal transition in primary human small airway epithelial cells. The IκB kinase–NF-κB signaling pathway is required for mucosal inflammation-coupled airway remodeling and myofibroblast expansion in the mouse model of aeroallergen exposure. Cat dander induces NF-κB/RelA to complex with and activate BRD4, resulting in modifying the chromatin environment of inflammatory and fibrogenic genes through its atypical histone acetyltransferase activity. A novel small-molecule BRD4 inhibitor (ZL0454) disrupts BRD4 binding to the NF-κB–RNA polymerase II complex and inhibits its histone acetyltransferase activity. ZL0454 prevents epithelial mesenchymal transition, myofibroblast expansion, IgE sensitization, and fibrosis in airways of naive mice exposed to cat dander. Conclusions NF-κB–inducible BRD4 activity mediates cat dander–induced inflammation and remodeling. Therapeutic modulation of the NF-κB–BRD4 pathway affects allergen-induced inflammation, epithelial cell-state changes, extracellular matrix production, and expansion of the subepithelial myofibroblast population.